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Chapter Text

Chapter Text

The cackle of the energy emitting from her body spilled to the grass she laid in. Flickers of amber colored sparks leaped in all direction off blades of grass. She had collapsed there around noon, her little knees buckled abruptly and she had fell almost face first. 

Then the memories came again. Colder. Harsher. She couldn't escape them. 

Her throat locked as she painfully recalled the most terrifying events.

The amber glow from the streaks on her quills and along her arms started faintly but as the memories slipped into nightmares, the glow intensified.

Her aura flared violently in electric purple sparks. The pain lingered but no sound to show it left her.

All she reminisced, clutching her satchel tight, before disaster, was the faceless mastermind behind her creation.

She could almost make out a face, the unkind voices, the numbness. The memory of serum itself was like a phantom haunting her. She hadn't had a normal life in a years. The tears came when she remembered that they would come after her.

Her entire body heated with suppressed energy. Her control slipped and their was a blast of amber flickers all around her. It dispersed dirt and dust, leaving a small crater with her laying inside it already clutching her head and squeezing her eyes shut.

GUN picked it up on their radar and somewhere far away, all too familiar to her, a purple dot beeped on a small device.

"There she is."

Commander Towers sent out Shadow immediately, he was the best choice for the mission.

It wasn't long, uttering the two-worded command before vanishing, reappearing at the plain on the outskirts of Central City.

Shadow tapped his watch once and Towers' voice came through.

"Agent Shadow, identify the source of the energy spike and retrieve it."

It wasn't a problem–

"Understood."

Until Shadow heard whimpers from a smoking patch a small distance away from him.

He stiffened at the sound.

Whatever that was didn't sound mechanic or electronic.

He tugged his gloves before taking tentative steps towards the patch in the ground. Grass scorched and scattered, the smell of smoke and chaos filled his nostrils.

He narrowed his eyes as the figure came into his view.

A hedgehog; Female, he identified. No back quills in sight anyway.

Her dark violet fur was outshone by the amber glow that illuminated from her stripes, much like his but still different.

Amber and purple sparks flickered around her small frame. She looked smaller than she was as she curled up into herself, holding her knees close.

Shadow gaped at the sight. He didn't want to admit that the vulnerable display had shaken his usual resolve. He took quieter steps forward despite her sobbing, studying her as he did.

He noticed the ragged, dirty white T-shirt she wore. It was a T-shirt draped over her small, thin physique like a dress.

Her little mismatched shoes caught his eyes next. Worn and tattered, the soles were peeling, like the shoes would come apart if given the chance but she had wrapped them in ducked tape, holding the shoes together just barely.

Shadow was almost reliving that time in his life– alone, lost, deemed a danger, a weapon to be controlled for their own exploitative purposes.

Something deep and familiar formed a pit in Shadow's stomach. He couldn't deny it.

He didn't.

She shivered even under to warmth of the evening. Her pain couldn't be seen on her body but Shadow could feel it– she had been tortured and it seemed that there was no one around for miles to blame for it.

'There are still monsters in this world.' Shadow's jaw locked.

The glow of her amber streaks intensified as Shadow's air shoes made a louder than intended thud on the ground. The girl shot up to a sitting position, purple sparks flickered around her figure. She faced Shadow. Her eyes were cold, empty like she didn't understand or know how she was feeling.

It was unnatural. Shadow could see her pain but her face conveyed no real emotion, like she was hiding them. She held a brown satchel close to her chest, her fingers curled tightly around the sides like it was her lifeline.

The way her lips quivered and twitched looked like she wanted to speak but the way she trembled before Shadow was all the reason she couldn't. But there was something about her that felt too familiar...

The little hedgehog felt it too, involuntary. She felt something strange, in her chest. Her glowing amber eyes stared at his figure, studying. The red streaks in his quills, the red highlights at his eyes, his deep ruby eyes that sent a feeling through her.

He looked safe.

A juxtaposition to the hours of testing and experiments she had endured for years. Every interaction at that time ended with her screaming on the inside but compliant. It was no use fighting, she gave up entirely after the fifth syringe met her arm.

She flinched when Shadow knelt close to her but she didn't move away. She didn't want to. Not yet at least.

She hadn't seen another Mobian in quite a while. The way Shadow tilted his head as he examined her was obvious. His eyes traced her arms, legs and face–

No scars, no bruises. Suspicious.

Until they stopped at her head were her top quill rested. It was upturned, dark violet like her fur, glowing amber streak decorating it. It ended just above the space between her eyes and parted just a bit at the end into two points, one more than Shadow's.

The way Shadow blinked, slow and deliberate made the little hedgehog dart her eyes away in shame.

Great! he thinks you're disgusting.

That reaction sent an aching feeling through Shadow. She was ashamed of how she looked almost as if her skin was uncomfortable or foreign to her.

"Commander." Shadow had said, he was talking into his wrist communicator again.

"The spike was caused by an old Eggman robot. It must have reactivated, overloaded then detonated," his voice was steady, professional. He had to be convincing– Like it was hard.

Towers' voice came from the watch, "Anything salvageable ?"

Shadow glanced at the young, dark violet hedgehog, protectively hugging herself, eyes cautious and red from tears.

"No." He answered.

"...Affirmative. Good work Agent, resume tomorrow to file the report."

That was equivalent to 'take the night off'. The edge of Shadow's mouth twitched upwards. Now he could go home to chaos he much preferred– with a small addition.

"Yes sir" Shadow replied, not letting his happiness leak into his tone. He switched off the communicator and turned his full attention to the little girl in front of him.

He offered a hand to her but she leaned backwards.

Her quills raised slightly, her eyes grew wider as she coiled back into herself. She watched his hand cautiously.

Shadow knew that look, she was afraid and untrusting. She probably had memories she'd rather forget, maybe someone she lost. His stomach flipped with almost recognition, he knew that pain all too well– that of being in a new world after a terrible past. You wouldn't be able to trust anyone and anything that could make the fear and aches go away would suffice.

Destruction. Revenge. Self-erasure.

He gulped. This was unusual, it was extremely strange and away from Shadow's comfort zone. He wasn't the type to display vulnerability, not often at least, but the lost young hedgehog, curling into herself for dear life made something in his heart softened. That softness reflected on his face and words began to form.

"I understand pain y'know," he started unsure but steady. "Being used for what you can do and no one cares how you feel physically or emotionally." He pressed his other hand to his chest just closed enough to his heart. 

The little hedgehogs ear twitched, her Sparks died down and her shoulders relaxed, barely. Her mind raced with disbelief. 

Someone at least looked like that cared about her.

That's not possible.

Her gaze lingered on Shadow. 

"You're hurt." Her eyes became wide. Shadow's steady, deep voice cut through her walls. Every word was deliberate, precise and personal.

"–maybe not physically but... I can see it in your eyes.” His edge had dropped completely. Her lips quivered as  acknowledgement flooded over her... for once in years.

"I'm not going to hurt you." He uttered once as his voice dropped to an almost whisper. He nudged his offering hand closer to her and this time she didn't flinch.

Every hand offered to her in the past were violent, usually there was no room for choice. They always took from her. But the way Shadow didn't pressure her, only offering his hand and giving her a choice allowed her walls to crack further.

It was slow, still cautious like touching him could send her back to the cold lab, but soon her small paw found his gloved hand. 

Their energies glowed along all their streaks, almost like they were communicating with no words. Shadow felt oddly safe to her and she made Shadow feel a protective ache in his chest.

In a moment the glow dimmed but the smell of ozone lingered in the air. Shadow's grip around her hand was firm, he used his other hand to tap on his watch.

Almost immediately, a voice came from the watch.

"Hey Shads, are you coming home ?" The voice was bubbly and more alive than the girl. The voice sounded oddly pleasing to the little hedgehog.

"Sonic." Shadow's voice cut the other's off. "I'm bringing someone home."

Chapter Text

Shadow ended the call before Sonic could question him. With his free hand he pulled out his signature green chaos emerald from his quills.

The dazzling gem caught the girl's interest. The sparkle of the emerald in the last blink of daylight reflected in her wide eyes. She bathed in the beauty of the emerald but beneath that feeling laid a hum of life, like a steady, contained power that nothing in the world could rival.

Shadow noticed the astonished look in her eyes. He looked between the girl and the emerald in his hand. Soon something shifted in his gaze.

"Would you like to touch it ?" He found himself asking. The dark-violet hedgehog's gaze turned to Shadow, she searched for any bit of deception or dubious intent in Shadow's deep ruby eyes but after a moment, she found none.

Her small gloved hand twitched in Shadow's as an aching feeling washed over her.

She had never been given an offer like this before– she had never been given a choice before.

Her stomach twisted into knots as she tried to speak again but no words could form in her throat. Her mouth didn't even move. It seemed she could for the time being. Instead she blinked at Shadow, expecting him to retract his hand and his offer along with it.

He didn't. He just watched her but not with his usually condescending glare.

Dark-violet quills twitched as she inclined her head slightly.

Shadow took it as her way of accepting his offer. He lowered the chaos emerald carefully until it was at her face level. She stared at it for a brief moment before lifting her hand towards the emerald.

Immediately her gloved hands touched the emerald, there was a crazy rhythm she felt coursing through her fingers and into her core. It was chaotic, much like her powers but it felt weirdly harmonious.

It was alive.

"Hey" Shadow called her attention and she looked up. "Watch this." Her eyebrows rose in curiosity. Shadow took a breath, focusing his energy as he slowly lifted the emerald higher. 

"Chaos control !" he uttered and the two of them disappeared in a violet light.

They rematerialized in front of a house. A two storey that sat sturdily in the grass with small flowers surrounding it. The little hedgehog's sight was still hazy after the sudden teleportation.

She could feel the chaos energy inside her simmering under her skin. Shadow was incredible, she could still feel the familiarity to him... but she wasn't like him. That trick he had done with the made her head spin, not only because she felt kinda sick and  a burning desire to be like him. It was odd but he was everything she wasn't.

At least that's what she thought.

When her sight cleared up finally, her gaze met the house in front of them. She sat in the grass, studying the exterior of the house for a moment, taking in the white paint and black linings, the wide door beside the porch caught her eyes. There were tire tracks that led from that door to around where she sat on the ground. From the intriguing sight that made her ears flick, they flattened as she took in more of the house.

Large windows, a potted plant in the corner of the porch where two lawn chairs were placed.

A cool breeze passed by causing the girl to shiver and clutch her satchel even tighter. The sight was... strange. She didn't understand why her chest became hollow.

The next thing she noticed were metal looking shoes with red linings. "Stand." The gruff voice rang in her ears but she didn't flinch. Shadow was already standing and towering over her, although his stance wasn't exactly intimidating. She blinked once, then twice at the gloved hand he offered her. It was only at that moment that she noticed a black band that was on one of his fingers.

She didn't take his hand. She preferred to get to her feet on her own. Once on her feet, she patted any dust or dirt from her 'dress' and satchel. Her eyes didn't meet Shadow's anymore. The way she stood– as if trying to curl back into herself with one foot almost on top the other– Shadow couldn't ignore it.

He let out a sigh before he crouched down to her level. The girl flinched back when he did.

"You'll be safe here." His tone was drenched in reassurance. He needed to get through to her but he didn't try to push her too much.

She blinked up at him, once.

"I promise." Shadow lowered his voice again.

She wanted to believe him. She couldn't and yet she let Shadow lead her to the front door.

Once they got to the door, Shadow's hand hesitated at the knob. His expression was unreadable but she could feel that he was nervous.

Shadow's grip on the door knob tightened before he twisted it and opened the door to reveal a cozy living space. The smell of lavender and various spices welcomed the dark hedgehog home. Then he heard footsteps, his lips turned upwards slightly at the corners as he moved to close the door behind the dark-violet hedgehog that trailed behind him.

As the footsteps began to draw close Shadow stepped in front of the girl, while she stayed behind his tall frame. Shadow gave the little hedgehog a final glance–

"Shads !" Sonic's voice echoed through the living room as he entered. The blue hedgehog didn't wait for Shadow to speak, he cupped Shadow's cheeks and pressed a gentle kiss his lips.

It was normal for them but amber eyes went wide at the sight. It had been a long time since she witnessed closeness like that between two people.

It may have been a rather basic gesture but it was one that Shadow always cherished and began to melt each time. However, when Sonic gasped mid question about who he had brought home, Shadow snapped back to reality.

"And who's this adorable kid ?" Sonic cooed as he crouched to the dark-violet hedgehog in front of him. "Is this who you said you were bringing home?" Dark-violet quills bristled as Sonic noticed her. Her wide amber eyes fixed on Sonic's warm smile. The way he moved towards her was not threatening in any way. She let her shoulders relax momentarily until Sonic stood back up abruptly.

"Hold on Shadow, you adopted a kid without me?" Sonic's expression was mixed in a tsunami of disbelief and hurt. His green eyes held sadness the most. They hadn't even decided on when to visit some adoption centers and Shadow had already brought home a scruffy looking girl home. Although, something seemed off about the girl. Surely adoption centers didn't make kids look that way.

"No, of course not." Shadow's tone raised in firm reassurance.

"Then explain the kid in our living room that you just brought home?" Sonic crossed his arms, shifting his weight as he raised his brow, miffed.

Shadow's jaw locked for a second at his husband's unhappy and offended expression. He took a breathe before meeting Sonic's eyes again.

"There was a Chaos energy surge just outside Central city, when I got there to investigate, I found her lying there in a crater with burnt grass everywhere."

Sonic froze as he listened to Shadow speak.

"I couldn't leave her there– and I couldn't have taken her back to GUN." Shadow frown twisted to a scowl at the mention of the organization he worked for.

Sonic blinked widely at Shadow. He knew very well what they could have done. Regardless of where she came from or who her family was, GUN would have deemed her dangerous and kept her locked away as a hazard and possibly an experiment. Green eyes fell on the girl again. She was almost hiding behind Shadow.

"You still adopted a kid without me," Sonic pouted but his gaze was softer, more understanding.

Shadow almost smiled. It seem his partner was accepting the circumstances and he wasn't even angry at him for bringing a potentially dangerous child into their home. Shadow smiled softly and made a mental note to express his gratitude to Sonic later.

"Sonic." Sonic's eye ridges raised in a non-verbal answer. Shadow's voice had dropped to something serious yet with an underlying vulnerability. "I'll explain more later but right now–" Shadow stepped aside so that Sonic got a clear view of the small, thinning hedgehog he had brought home.

"She should eat something." Shadow finished

Sonic looked between Shadow and the girl, who was half-curling into herself. His eyes met Shadow's for a moment. The way ruby eyes looked protective and genuine over the girl, Sonic was baffled yet his heart melted at the sight.

"Hey there kiddo!" Sonic crouched to the floor again, slower this time. "I'm Sonic and I'll be your chef today!" Blue quills bounced along to the playful tone in Sonic's voice.

Dark-violet tail flicked at the warmth in Sonic's voice. Something edible was a nice suggestion to her and the smell of spices that filled the air only made her mouth water yet throat dry.

Although she didn't always have to eat to sustain herself, it was always comforting to taste something delicious from time to time.

To Sonic's delight, dark-violet quills bounced in a small nod. "Great! Shadow, how about you show our guest to the table." Sonic clapped once, pointing to the child afterwards. He bounced on his heels as he stood up. He put his hands on his hips in an extravagant display of pride as he walked away towards the kitchen.

'Maybe he didn't burn it this time'

As the thought passed, ruby eyes locked on big, blank ambers. Shadow's ear flicked, his stance loosened as he stared back at her.

Even though she gave empty stares, something deeper beneath her eyes was throwing Shadow off his guard.

"This way," Shadow muttered. He walked in the same direction as Sonic did, behind the large couch and through a wide archway with no door.

The kitchen was large enough. Sleek, modern wooden cabinets lined the walls. The long kitchen counter was a beautiful mixed marble and just above the cooking area was a window where a small fern sprouted out of its pot on the windowsill.

The girl took in the sight. It wasn't all sharp corners. It wasn't bland and sterile. And it smelt... different. A strange welcoming different that made her stomach twist in a tight knot. It reflected as she pressed her satchel closer to her chest.

Her feet stayed fixed to the floor. She stood close to the dining table where Shadow had left her to set up utensils. Her eyes trailed to follow Shadow's movements. The way he removed bowls, spoons and napkins with calculated precision that would look fake on anyone else. He moved carefully like everything he did was a mission of some sort. However, his polar opposite was already stepping in front of him, turning off the stove in the process.

"Move." Shadow's eyes narrowed on Sonic yet there was no edge to his tone. He didn't seem angry. Sonic, however, just existed in Shadow's space like it was natural and with no apology.

"And why should I, when you look so good when you get home?" Sonic leaned forward so close to Shadow's face.

A black ear flickered and Shadow immediately side stepped Sonic, "you're distracting." He complained with a twitch at his lips, like he was trying to hide his smile as he walked over to set the table.

Whatever the little hedgehog had witnessed at that moment was unfamiliar. They weren't being harsh towards each other. They were not pretending, as far as she knew. They didn't seem afraid of her nor did they seem like they had acquired something invaluable. Her heart swelled with a happy feeling that the world wasn't revolving observantly around her for once.

When Shadow laid down the last spoon. He took a seat and pushed back the chair closest to him at the table.

He called the girl over. Her eyes fixed on him, wide and unreadable, then flickered to the chair he offered. Her foot inched forward a few times before she finally let herself walk over. Each of her steps were cautious.

Shadow's eyes ran over her once again and he noticed that she was barely the height of the table. His attention on her didn't waver as he watched the little hedgehog blink twice at the chair before her hands began to release her satchel. She replaced her hands from clutching the sides to hold the strap which she slung over her shoulder. With her hands placed on the chair and a small hop, she climbed onto the chair.

Once she sat, her eyes flickered to Shadow beside her. He didn't say anything– and he didn't need to. She felt it in her veins, in her bones right down to her core that she wasn't there anymore.

But did that mean she could trust them entirely.

The silence wasn't empty. The smells were... more alive. The colors were classic but not stale and she wanted to embrace the atmosphere– full, warm and comfortable– not at all what she thought she could have.

It was too good to be true. So she kept her guard up.

She was in a better state of mind now, even though the chaos energy was never completely quiet, it was contained now. She could easily chaos blast and bolt if the need arose, even if it meant the house would explode. All would be worth it, if she wasn't captured again.

Almost immediately as she made her decision, Sonic came strutting in with a pot. All the scents that filled the room were familiar to her but, she couldn't clearly identify any.

"Tada! My award winning chilli" Sonic presented with a wide grin.

"Award winning? For what, arson?" Shadow quirked his brow, earning him a pointed glare from Sonic.

A noise escaped the dark violet hedgehog beside them. It was an almost snort, barely held back that made her shoulders twitch.

The two sets of eyes that landed on her were softer than she expected. Usually, any noise she made that interrupted the progression of life got her punished.

Shadow and Sonic caught the way she stiffened in the chair. She averted her eyes like she was bracing for something. They shared a questioning look, how much has she really been through, before Sonic broke the silence.

"Don't mind him kid, he didn't complain the last time I made chili. He loved it and even asked for seconds." Sonic said in between filling each bowl with hot chilli. Once he was done he took his own seat opposite Shadow and placed his chin on his interlocked fingers propped up on the dinner table.

"I did not." Shadow growled his response which Sonic shushed him to focus on the little hedgehog beside him

"Go on," he blinked expectantly at the dark violet hedgehog with a smile. "Be careful though, its still hot."

With the way she stared at the food in front of her, hesitating even to grab the spoon. Sonic thought that she probably didn't like chilli. He was a bit discouraged that she wasn't warming up to him as fast as he had hoped.

He was a delight after all. A bit loud and cheeky ? Yes, but all-round charming is what he labelled himself as.

The disappointment that weighed in him began to lift as he saw a little hand twitch by the little hedgehog's side. Her hand lifted from being clenched on her satchel in her laps and she placed it on the spoon beside her bowl with a tremble at her lips.

Sonic watched her with intent as Shadow placed a glass of water beside her hand as if knowing that she'd need it.

The time it took for the young hedgehog to scoop a portion of the chili onto her spoon wasn't long, however, the amount of time she spent staring at the spoon she let hover over the bowl was exponentially longer.

Was it going to bite, poison, destabilize me in any way? she thought.

Using up the last ounce of courage she had built up that was clouded by the mixtures of spices that tingled her nostrils with its appetizing smell, the chili cooler now, she took one spoonful and her eyes sparkled with a new feeling.

The spiciness finally reached her tongue but she didn't reach for the water immediately though, instead she let the spiciness and flavors of the chilli tingle her taste buds.

She had never tasted anything like it before. It wasn't bland. It wasn't an imitation of food, and it certainly wasn't forced. Tiny tears sat at the corner of her eyes but she dared not let them fall.

Sonic and Shadow noticed her sullen state.

"Is it bad ?" Sonic asked immediately, his blue ears flattening on his head.

A slow, tentative head shake was the only response he was graced with but it made a wide smile form on his face, like someone who'd just won a medal.

"Do you love it ?" Sonic's ears perked up again as his happiness spilled out in his tone.

Another slow response. A nod, made Sonic's heart melt. He had to savor his win. He shot a smug gaze to Shadow and once he got his attention, he began to gloat.

"Look at that Shadow, she loves my cooking!"

Shadow let out a small huff, "That makes two of us." He interjected Sonic's 'victory speech', not looking up from his meal.

Shadow's comment made Sonic gasp as a prideful expression decorated his face and soon he wouldn't stop talking.

Shadow almost regretted complimenting him. Almost.

After that, the dinner table fell into a rhythm that the girl had to adjust to. Sonic talked enough for all of them. Shadow not showing it but listening intently, making small jabs at exaggerated information or other things.

Dark-violet ears twitched and flicked as she silently watched and listened. It was a sweet rhythm that she only wanted to embrace the longer it stayed.

Later while Sonic and Shadow were washing the dishes. The little hedgehog stayed seated at the table. Her glass of water still in front of her, half empty. Her hand twitched at her side with a familiar urge. She peered around to where Sonic and Shadow stood talking and finishing with the dishes. They weren't watching her, instead they were engrossed in their own world. Dark violet ears only picked up snippets of their conversation.

"We don't need fireworks for the function Sonic"

"Yeah right, say that to the part of you that actually smiled last year."

It was an argument but smaller. A disagreement but more playful. The little hedgehog couldn't wrap her head around what she was feeling. Her feet dangled over the edge of the chair

By the time Shadow's eyes flicked to the dining table and she wasn't there. He froze, mid wiping a bowl. Sonic immediately noticed and turned around to come face to face with the reality.

"Where'd she go?"

Shadow was the first to leave, placing the bowl on the kitchen counter before darting towards the door. Sonic followed close behind him with a distraught look on his face. However, their worries disappeared once they stepped past the archway and into the living room because they saw her there.

Hunched over the coffee table on the carpet with a tattered notebook underneath her hands. The pencil she held tightly in the hand as she scribbled on the paper was smaller than her hand.

The two hedgehogs that just entered the living room watched as the girl just scribbled away, unaware of their presence. Sonic left Shadow's side and moved closer to the hunched over girl.

She didn't notice him at all. The only sound the filled the atmosphere was the scratching of pencil on paper and the soft taps of Sonic's slippers on the floor as he practically tiptoed closer.

She was totally gone, lost to her own world that was far from her past, far from the agonizing warmth of the home she had been brought to.

Sonic moved at a quiet pace until he was a small distance away from her, he crouched low, knees almost touching the carpet, "Whatcha doing?"

The girl froze. Amber sparks appeared around her fingers and her streaks glowed intensely. Electric purple flickered around her body as she shut her eyes abruptly and tightly with the chaos energy crackling under her skin. Emerald eyes could only gape in shock at the sight. When Shadow got to Sonic's side, Sonic flinched before his mind caught up with his eyes.

"Hey hey, its okay. Sorry I scared ya. I wasn't going to take your book, promise." Sonic didn't risk touching her but his words seemed to make an impact as the erratic amber sparks reduced to controllable bursts from her fingers. She stabilized again. The chaos wasn't completely silent, never had been, just contained.

"I didn't mean to scare you kiddo, honest, I was just interested in what you're doing." Sonic smiled nervously, scratching his cheek.

She made no effort to say anything. She just closed her notebook with a sharp twip and held it to her chest.

Sonic only let out a defeated sigh at her action. He thought she was being defensive until his eyes met the front page of the notebook.

Danny n drawings

Were the words sprawled out in big sloppy lettering, stacked one on top of the other.

"Is that your name?" Shadow finally spoke. His question made the girl clench her fingers tighter around the edges of the book before she nodded once.

Sonic perked up again, faster than Shadow hummed in curiosity.

"Danny huh ?" He mused tapping his chin with his pointer. "That's cool !" He grinned 

Her eyes went wide, then her cheeks warmed when she heard Shadow agree with Sonic. Her chest felt fluttery.

"So Danny," Sonic said her name with a gentle lilt, kind of testing it out in the process. "I bet you're an amazing artist." Sonic beamed.

Danny's eyes were empty again as she tilted her head at him, confused.

"Uhm, an amazing artist ?" 

Danny merely stared at him, no sign of complete understanding in her eyes. Like she knew only half of what Sonic had said.

Sonic paused for a moment. Shadow watched him silently, he wasn't the kid expert so he was learning from the best he knew.

"I'm sure your drawings are pretty!" Sonic beamed again, completely decimating any awkwardness from before.

His new choice in words seemed to resonate with the little hedgehog. She ducked her head trying to hide the sparkle in her eyes from the compliment.

There we go

It made her feel tingly inside but she wouldn't tell them that.

"Can we have a look ?"

Danny's gaze reconnected with Sonic's as the blue hedgehog was pointing at the notebook that was trapped between two small worn-gloved hands.

She loosened her grip only to wrap her arms around herself, simultaneously pressing the notebook to her chest like she wanted it to fuse into her.

It was a clear enough 'no', Sonic and Shadow understood that and they weren't going to push her.

"Fine." Sonic said with a smile masking his little disappointment.

Shadow, being an ever strong force in Sonic's life, pressed a hand to his shoulder in quiet condolence.

"How about we get you cleaned up." Shadow suggested.

The faint sound of water pouring and splashing seeped through the bathroom door. Sonic and Shadow were there, outside the door, beside each other as they both listened and waited.

Their fingers brushed against each other. Both their quills were pressed against the wall sticking up at odd angles. Sonic tapped his foot repetitively on the floor. He wasn't impatient, he was on edge, still trying to fathom what he had just seen in the living room.

"So ?" Sonic started, dragging the syllable tentatively. "She does that often or ?" He joked, trying to calm his still racing nerves.

Shadow knew exactly what he was talking about. The way Danny was basically a walking ticking chaos bomb. He turned his head to face Sonic delivering an irked expression to his husband's joke. "I wouldn't know Sonic, I only found her today." He said in a clipped, unamused tone. "But, probably." He added in a softer tone.

Sonic fell back into a heavy silence.

"I noticed something though."

Shadow blinked curiously at Sonic. He hummed an inquisitive tone, urging Sonic to continue.

A small, gentle smile appeared on Sonic's face as he revealed his thought. "She seems to gravitate towards you," his head tilted more to the side. "–like she already knows you."

There was a pause on Shadow's part as he reminisced the moment he met Danny in that crater. How it felt like their energies were similar, the familiarity in her eyes that she had gone through the same fate. It made his chest tighten. "I think I know her as well." 

The answer made Sonic gap at him, it was earnest and vulnerable. It surprised Sonic and made his heart pang with a sweet sensation, a smile appeared along with it. "That's cute Shads... but we still have some things to talk about." Sonic pointed a finger and jabbed it into Shadow's chest fur. 

Shadow huffed lowly in agreement. Just then the sound of squelching on the floor, probably from two little, wet hedgehog feet.

The door opened with a sharp creak and Danny's small frame came into view in the doorway, satchel pressed to her chest over the white towel she had wrapped tightly around herself.

Sonic's eyes lit with a bright expression as he and Shadow moved to get a better view of her. A smile grew on his face immediately on the sight he deemed 'drop dead adorable'. 

Her dripping wet but warm fur, the way she drew her knees close, her feet brushed lightly in a shy and nervous display as she blinked up at Sonic and Shadow with those empty, wide amber eyes.

"Well look who's squeaky clean!" Sonic squatted to meet Danny's gaze, his cheery voice made her ears twitch back.

Sonic smiled widely at her, behind him Shadow stood with his arms crossed over his chest, looking down at the dark-violet hedgehog, his eye ridges raised slightly even though most of his face remained unreadable.

She could feel his chaos energy though, kind of observing her then sending a thrum of quiet approval through the link they shared. It was still strange and made her feel anxious.

"Wait ! I have something for you!" Sonic chirped in, breaking Danny's focused gaze on Shadow to look back at his beaming smile.

With a bounce in his step, Sonic stood to his full length and rushed to the living room. He returned a second later with a shirt in his hands. He offered it to her, her fingers clenched then unclenched, reaching out to grab the shirt knowing that her former cloth wasn't in good condition.

Danny accepted the shirt then let Shadow lead her to the guest room that was to become hers. As she walked, her mind began to slow. The rest of the night was a blur. She pulled on the shirt Sonic had given her, it swallowed her frame almost entirely. The warmth from it soothed her more and it smelt of something living– speed and a fresh outdoor smell, like leaves, flowers and grass. Soon she climbed into the bed with her satchel still clutched close. It didn't take her long to be lulled to sleep by the excitement of the day.

Curled up under the blanket she still caught Sonic and Shadow standing at the doorway. They were watching her, but their gazes weren't stalking but protective. Soon the bright light overhead went dark but her glowing amber eyes could be seen through the darkness. Her eyes fluttered close after the soft "Goodnight," Sonic muttered standing at the door way with Shadow who was extending a warm gaze to Danny.

The word sank into Danny. Their presence made a strange safe feeling envelope her. Her heart rate steadied with the cool night outside and she felt like she could finally relax for the first time in years. It was a Thursday and she wasn't floating in a containment pod that night.

Chapter Text

Bubbles.

Soap bubbles.

In a moment of unexplained and total bliss during her slumber, Danny remembered her bath the night before.

The way she floated in the sweet scent of the warm bath water. The way all the grime and dust in her fur dissolved and washed away in the water. The smell of honey and lavender she didn't know but found solace in. She could almost feel herself in the tub again. Floating in the water.

Floating.

Then her dream shifted. She felt herself sinking into the tub, she wanted to scream but her mouth clamped shut.

She squeezed her eyes shut. She curled her hands into fists with so much force her knuckles began turning white. When Danny opened her eyes, she froze at the sight.

The glass was reinforced, she recognize it. Every scratch was hers. In front of her she saw the control panel in the dark room that was bathed in artificial green light, that shone from the controls and above her. A steady hum rippled through the room along with the green light that casted shadows in corners of the room and across her face.

The liquid that surrounded her began to ripple as she shuddered from the chill that ran down her spine. With every second that passed she remembered her nights spent in the pod. With each memory, her heart beat quickened.

Amber eyes traveled around the room, blinking as she ran through different emotions.

Anger. Sadness. Bitterness. Fear and... something close to resignation.

Danny's lip quivered as she mentally reprimanded herself for ever thinking she could go back to normal. 4 years and she had lost the will to fight, completely. That's what they made her into.

Hopeless, she thought she was until she heard the hauntingly familiar sound. 

The echoes of shoes tapping against the sterile floors but they weren't energetic like Sonic's, they also weren't heavy but strong like Shadow's. 

The footsteps were light and steady, tapping closer and closer. The pitched clacks on the grey floors made Danny flinch again. She didn't breath. Why would she? That might be the wrong reaction.

A purple glow began emitting under her fur where her veins laid. The amber sparks appeared again, she couldn't contain the fear and her energy began to flicker.

A small squeak escaped her throat as a silhouette materialized at the door. She willed herself to look away, to shut her eyes and avoid having to look at him but her attempts were vain and the uncontrolled glow of her eyes fixed on the figure.

Small, calculated steps were taken towards Danny's capsule. With each step, Danny's stomach sank further down until she was face to face with him.

She wanted to scream but once he spoke, Danny could feel herself exploding again.

"Welcome back, Project D-47"

Then, it came like the energy inside her yanked her up from sleep and drew her from her nightmare. Her eyes shot open, tears had already dried on her face but her heart rate was increasing rapidly. She gasped for air like she had been drowning previously, trying to focus drawing in air, to forget the nightmare and stabilize herself.

It didn't work. The purple glow still emitted from her arms and feet, the pattern of her veins highlighted with the bright purple.

However, her eyes traveled around the room in a haste. She wasn't really searching, she was watching, thinking that something would go wrong then and there. Her eyes darted around the room, picking up her surroundings and  soon she blinked a few times to take in reality.

Rays of soft early morning sunlight peeked through the curtains. It radiated the room in its warm glow. For a moment she noticed the scent from last night, honey and lavender, that hung in the air.

The particles in the air didn't run like static but they floated like they were at peace.

Immediately, something thrummed deep in her core. It was steady, calm. She let the level frequency flow through her. It tingled under her skin and soon her energy was stable. No more flickers, no more glowing veins.

No more nightmares lingering in her thoughts.

She let out a soft huff, her shoulders relaxed for a fraction of a second before she was interrupted but a strange noise.

It wasn't like the whir of machines or testing equipment, but it was like thunder or growling. It caused her spine to straighten instantly but oddly excited her. It quickly piqued the little hedgehog's interest.

The thundering sound continued and curiosity only further bloomed within her. She wanted to see it for herself but froze at the idea of leaving the room.

Would they let her? 

She brought her satchel that rested at her side into her laps and clutched it close as she remembered the night before. The inviting gazes of both the blue and black hedgehog sent shivers dancing around her body as she remembered. They were Mobian after all, she shouldn't have been scared.

And even if they didn't like her leaving the room and became hostile she could always just chaos blast the house. Unfortunately.

So gathering the courage she could, she climbed out of bed soundlessly pulling her satchel along. Her sock-covered feet shuffled on the floorboards as she moved to the door. It was left slightly open since last night. She didn't risk opening it more to alert either Sonic or Shadow so instead she squeezed through the small space and padded her way to the stairs.

She held on to the railings as she took one careful step after the other until she reached the ground floor. The noise was louder here but seemed to move to the front of the house. Danny followed it till she almost bumped into Sonic.

"Woah there– Hey!" Sonic said a bit startled. His quills were a bit disheveled, odd but not unusual for him.

"You're up early." Sonic added as he watched wide amber eyes dart elsewhere a few times. He could feel her radiating with curiosity. She was looking for something. He observed her quietly as she fiddled with the satchel strap, shifted her weight while her ears flicked and adjusted to face the front door.

That's when it clicked.

"Wanna know what that roaring sound is, huh?" Sonic jutted his thumb in the direction of the door.

Danny stiffened at the question. She looked up at Sonic with the wide amber eyes that were slowly becoming Sonic's new favorite thing. A small nod, once, was her reply.

Emerald eyes filled with glee at the little gesture. "Alright come on." he beamed, shooting her a friendly grin as she began to walk.

Danny, overcome by childish curiosity, padded over in a haste, falling into step beside the blue hedgehog.

With Sonic's guidance Danny found herself at the front door. She swallowed, bracing for the worst and yet... hoping for the best. Sonic stretched his hand to get hold of the door knob and twisted it. 

As the morning gold of the sun peeked through the opening, Danny sucked in breath and held it as Sonic opened the door fully to reveal what had been making that sound.

It was Shadow, today he wore a black jacket that appeared shiny under the still rising sun. The sound however came from the vehicle he sat on.

It had two wheels, it was black with red lines that designed it. Sharp and awesome like the hedgehog that sat on it. Shadow's foot was on a small platform thing that seemed to let him balance on the vehicle.

From behind her Sonic snickered. She turned to look at him, her stare became a small frown. What was he laughing at? Me?

"Sorry kid, its just," he paused, choosing his words."I can hear the gears in your head turning haha" he gave her an easy grin.

There it was again. He had done that to Shadow last night, made a joke, but this time it was directed at her. Danny's heart filled with an emotion she couldn't name. It lay between amusement and playful offense. It didn't make her sad, nor angry because she could feel his good intent.

While she was still processing Sonic's words, the blue hedgehog crouched down to her level. "It's called a motorcycle."

Danny's eyes shot up to meet Sonic's then quickly turned back to the motorcycle. Her eyes were wide with awe.

"It's really fast and Shadow loves it almost as much as he loves me, which is ridiculous." Sonic shook his head unamused as his words started bright then laced with a playful yet mildly offended tone.

Danny just stood there, not knowing what to make of his words. All she knew was that the motor cycle had unexpectedly caught her interest and its owner seated on the vehicle was so cool. Her staring was broken as Shadow noticed both of them. His serious unreadable expression softened as he waved in their direction.

Danny's quills rose slightly, she shifted a bit in that spot until Sonic's steady voice rang in her ears, "Say hi to Shadow, Danny." He said in a sing song tone that was so warm, she let go of some of the tension in her shoulders.

Slowly, a small dark-violet arm raised, bending at her elbow, the single wide amber streak glowed faintly in the sun, her hand began to mirror the movements of Shadow's. It was strange but made her feel included and fluttery.

The small smile that tugged at Shadow's lips was the last gesture he gave before revving the engine once more then speeding off and away from the house.

Amber eyes followed the motorcycle, and she was still waving until she could no longer see the black and red vehicle. After watching Shadow disappear into the distance, her quills sagged and her ears flattened, a small pit formed in stomach.

Why did he leave?

When will he come back?

Will he come back?

The questions almost brought tears to her eyes but she didn't understand why.

Sonic noticed the shift in her body language. She stood stiffer and she still stared at when Shadow had gone. It didn't take him even a second later to recognize what she was feeling.

She missed him already.

Just like he did.

Sonic understood that and just smiled beside her. He reached out to tap her shoulder but when he was zapped by an electric purple current he retracted his hand.

Woah, his eyes went wide.

Danny, turned to face Sonic, amidst feeling abandoned. The look of hurt in her eyes made Sonic's heart pang.

"Don't worry kid, he's just going to work, he'll be back." He told her, hoping that his reassurance would break through her. "Do you want breakfast?" Sonic blurted, trying to distract her looking distraught.

Danny pursed her lips into a thin line but released them immediately, failing to speak. She wasn't used to being asked questions like those. Things just kinda happened to and around her without her consent.

Sonic didn't push her, just waited. She was just a kid after all. A traumatized, overloaded, dangerous, chaos energy bomb kid.

She didn't answer and yet Sonic let a smile spread on his lips. He stood to his full length and closed the door.

"Come on kid" Sonic called as he began walking passed the couch. "First–" he span around fast, pointing a finger at her then to his mouth. "–you need to brush your teeth."

After Sonic had given Danny a spare toothbrush and the run down on the basics of tooth brushing and Danny listened even though she already knew how to do so, sparing his pride, they found themselves in the kitchen where Sonic's chatter filled the air. The kitchen was bathed in sunlight, its warmth blended with Sonic's upbeat tone as he spoke.

Sonic listed numerous people he called friends. He made cute comments about Shadow and told Danny a few stories about his adventures, all while preparing pancakes.

"All that time cooking with Amy is actually paying off !" He expertly flipped a pancake from the pan and it landed precisely.

Danny noticed that there was something about Sonic. She related it to how the wind blew free and wild. Despite scribbling in her notebook, her satchel hung on the backrest of the chair, her ears flicking with every detail of his stories.

The more Sonic talked about his adventures and friends, the more Danny felt small and insignificant. It had been years and while she was locked up, probed and harshly studied, the outside world was free.

It was never fair. She never asked for any of it. Sonic was a hero, he was amazing and lived his life happy, free and alive. But she was trapped in the lab, empty and alone.

SNAP!

The sound interrupted the stories that lingered in the atmosphere and Sonic turned around, mid-flip, almost missing the pan entirely, to see the broken remnants of a small pencil on the floor.

His eyes immediately caught purple sparks arching around Danny's chair. Following his observation, Sonic heard a few muffled sniffs from where the dark-violet hedgehog was seated. He dashed to kneel at her side and he was shocked by what he saw.

Danny was shaking, her fist balled so tight, no wonder the pencil broke. From her eyes she had squeezed shut, tears trickled down her muzzle. She continued to sniff like she was trying to hold back a flood of tears. Although her eyes were closed, he believed she knew he was there.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Sonic's voice was barely above a whisper. "Was it the part about the monster with a scary face?" He gave a nervous laugh as he failed to console her.

Jokes weren't going to work this time. He needed a different approach. Instantly, the small sharp claws that tore free from the gloves she wore and the sight caused Sonic to blink twice.

Was a kid supposed to have claws that sharp? Not naturally, he supposed but he figured he had better calm her down before she used them.

"Hey, hey, listen to me." Sonic let every ounce of calm and reassurance he could muster lace his tone. He placed his hand on her forearm, trying to avoid being electrocuted by the purple sparks.

"You're okay. I don't know what you might have been through but I promise I'll protect you from now on."

For a second it seemed that his words just hung in the air. Sonic grew worried he hadn't gotten through to her until the sparks reduced and she finally opened her eyes. Sonic was glad. He shifted his hand from Danny's forearm to rest on her shoulder. She flinched as she looked up at him, startled by the gentle touch.

Her eyes questioned Sonic, asking if he really meant what he said. Sonic didn't second guess himself. He was a hero, a friend, a husband and now a dad, "I meant every word. You don't have to be scared anymore because I've got you." His hand felt to her back, he patted her lightly, "and don't worry, I'll get you a new pencil."

Danny' amber eyes glistened with new tears but the small tug at her lips challenged that it wasn't from sadness. He continued to pat her back, "there you go, better ?" Sonic tilted his head at her, a warm smile spread across his face.

Danny nodded which meant that Sonic had gotten through to her, this time. He was happy, he felt proud and victorious. Too bad Shadow wasn't there to witness his achievement.

He'd probably say something like, 'that was passable.' with his usual unimpressed tone. Sonic's tail wagged at the thought of his grumpy husband making such a remark. It was his form of praise. However, his daydreaming came to an end when he began to pick up a bad smell. He sniffed the air, following along with his nose until–

"GAH!!" Sonic exclaimed as he dashed back to the stove and turned it off. He opened the window and waved his hand around to disperse some of the smoke. About a minute later, Sonic was face to face with his charred pancake. Burnt to perfection and Sonic could only huff with annoyance and disappointment.

He turned back to face the table, feeling a pair of eyes fixed on him. His eyes locked with Danny's instantly, she was peering from the side of the chair and she looked sad. Her eyes held an apology that pinched at Sonic's heart.

"Don't worry kid, its not your fault." 

Her pleading eyes caught him off guard and it took Sonic a large amount of restraint to not run over and hug Danny at that moment, in case she didn't like it. So he settled at a chuckle. "You don't need to be sorry, its fine."

Then a thought intruded his mind:

What had made her react like that? Maybe he overwhelmed her with his incessant talking? Maybe a memory?

He would have to find out later.

At that moment what was important was making her feel safe and at home.

"Its okay, really ! Now prepare yourself for the best breakfast you have ever had !" Sonic winked at her.

He turned away from her, "because where you came from, the people are definitely sick and twisted," he growled under his breath thinking about what Shadow had told him last night after they had put her to bed.

"I believe she was an experiment too." He had said crossing his arms

"Really ? Why do you think so ?" Sonic had looked at him (...)

"I don't know. I just– feel it"

Sonic had always despised captivity. When he learned of Shadow's past, all the experiments, the taking and never giving, it made his skin crawl and a bad taste always hesitated on his tongue. It was terrible and completely against is principles. Sonic's blood began to boil at the thought of the little hedgehog being probed and pushed around to ultimately be used and destroyed in the process.

However, he placed a plate of cutup pancakes drenched in maple syrup in front of Danny, concealing his rage with a smile. The pancakes were still warm and fluffy and Sonic hoped that they could help her to relax more.

"There you go, enjoy!" He placed a fork beside her plate and walked off to the fridge to get some fruit. He hummed as he did so, swaying a bit to follow the rhythm. The fruit bowl he was making was a part bribery, part peace offering to the chaos-charged kid.

Long after breakfast, the house was quiet. To Sonic it was the same normal comfortable space but with how much Danny sat stiff, shifting like the silence was watching her, he could tell she still felt scared. He didn't like it, not one bit.

"Hey, let me show you something." Sonic said

With her notebook in hand, Danny obeyed. She stood up from the carpet where she was drawing with the new pencil that Sonic had given her.

Sonic led her outside, through the back door, to the garden. He took a deep breathe then noticed how Danny shrank into herself again, so he took the first step.

It was a big open grassy plain, the perks of living outside the city. It wasn't hot out, but clouds filled the sky, the smell of grass, dirt and flowers Shadow grows all mixed into one. Sonic walked onto the grass and immediately laid on the ground.

He patted the open space beside him, "Come on kid, do like me," he called Danny over. She padded over carefully to Sonic's side, she held her notebook close and sat in the grass, her hand grabbed onto the blades. She could feel the soft breeze flowing around her, she released the grass and finally laid down.

Sonic was watching her the whole time. When she finally laid down in the grass, he smiled and continued to look up at the cloudy sky. 

"You know, the sky is really big," Sonic's voice was steady as he began, "and its beautiful, and under it there are so many incredible things."

Sonic smiled to himself, he closed his eyes as he continued, "like me, Shadow and–" he dragged the last word as he turned his head to face Danny who was already staring at him, "You."

Her little ear twitched, she looked stunned. Sonic didn't let her over think it.

"Shadow and I are here for you, we'll protect you. Promise."

It was like the wind carried off the rest of her tension and disbelief because she relaxed. She breathed in deeply and while beside her, Sonic could feel the storm inside her had calmed... for now at least.

In the evening, the duo was sprawled on the couch. There was a faint sound of a motorcycle pass into the garage and soon Shadow was standing in the dimmed living room lighting.

The dark hedgehog noticed the shift in the atmosphere. Sonic sat at the side of the couch, head lolled slightly over the backrest. Shadow peered over and noticed Danny, covered in a small blanket, her head was barely an inch away from Sonic's thigh. They weren't close but they looked calm and warm.

A small smile spread across Shadow's face as he walked over to Sonic. The dark hedgehog placed his hands on either side of Sonic's head, he traced lethargic circles before planting a gentle kiss to his husband's forehead. 

"Thank you Sonic." He whispered sweetly into Sonic's ear.

Shadow released Sonic to go to the kitchen, taking charge of dinner that day. Sonic, however, was already grinning in his sleep.