Work Text:
Shadow stares ahead while everyone celebrates Christmas. Not that he never celebrates them, just that his aching heart gets reminded about Maria’s love for Christmas. It always hurts when it comes to the holidays, and he pretends it didn’t affect him around his loved ones. Sonic kept inviting him every year because he always had mutual respect for Shadow and couldn’t wait for many years to come when they came across each other. As for Shadow, he respects Sonic and doesn’t want to decline his invitation even if it hurts him with the constant reminders around him. Rouge does notice and tries to cheer him up and nudge him, but it doesn’t ease the pain. He went into the kitchen as the others sang Christmas songs and looked out at the window to see the snow while drinking hot chocolate.
The only thing he could say about this holiday is how wholesome everyone is to each other.
Which he finds hard to be, he can never be the kind of person. He’s always reminded of his painful memories during the wintertime. His ears perk up when the door opens, and he doesn’t look back; he can see Amy’s reflection through the window.
She came with a mug in her hand. ‘’You already got hot chocolate Shadow?’’
Shadow showed her the white mug he was holding. ‘’Rouge already gave me some.’’ He said, he took a sip of it while staring out at the window.
The pink hedgehog placed her mug on the kitchen table. ‘’Ah, you’re just being mysterious as always. I see you.’’ She said, grinning.
She’s fascinating to him. They spoke to each other when they got the chance, like this; they’re not close, like he would be with Rouge but he liked her more than some present in the place. ‘’I’m assuming you came looking for a certain blue hedgehog?’’ Shadow asked smirking, one time she mistakenly thought he was Sonic, which he didn’t understand how she could get confused. He still loves teasing her about it.
Amy waved it off playfully as she chuckled. ‘’Not this time, don’t worry about it. I won’t get you confused with Sonic anymore.’’ She said grinning. ‘’I just came over because I noticed you stepped off when everyone started karaoke. Was it overwhelming for you?’’ She asked, she didn’t like seeing anyone uncomfortable and feeling left out.
He shook his head. ‘’No, you don’t need to concern yourself about me. You should return with the others. I don’t want to hold you back.’’ He said, taking a sip of his hot chocolate.
She placed her mug on the kitchen table. ‘’I know you don’t want me to worry, you've just been so quiet when you got here. Like really, what’s in the mind of Shadow The Hedgehog during Christmas when he should be celebrating with his loved ones?’’ She said, smiling as she walked closer to the black hedgehog.
Shadow lowered the mug he was holding, and he also placed it on the kitchen table. His mind is filled with so much pain, he didn’t think that Amy would be ready to talk to him about Maria and especially when she should be celebrating Christmas with the others and making wishes for the next year. He knew a long time ago that Amy reminded him of his promise to Maria but she didn’t know the full story. Even he didn’t know if he was ready to be vulnerable to Amy like this. Not that he didn’t trust her, it feels too much in his chest to bear it and speak about Maria. ‘’It’s.. It’s too personal, Amy. I appreciate that you want to listen and be able to help me but I don’t think I’m ready to talk about it.’’ He wasn’t ready for it; he wasn’t ready to be vulnerable to others yet. He was only vulnerable to Maria, whenever he wanted a hug, a reminder that everything would be okay, and someone to care; he sought all of that in Maria.
He wishes he could be like the others, not to be broken like he is.
‘’Oh...’’ Amy said softly as she processed what he said. She knew that he had gone through a lot, especially when she confronted him a long time ago when he was looking out at Earth. She always wanted to help him in whatever she could but she knew that Shadow needed a lot of time to open that part of him. ‘’Is it way too long ago?’’
He observed her through the window's reflection. ‘’Yes, a long, long time ago.’’
She thinks about what to say as she smiles a little. ‘’Maybe when you’re ready, you should tell me about it.’’
He finally turned around slowly to look at her directly in silence for a moment. ‘’It might take me a long time to be able to tell you.’’ He said softly, his red eyes looking to the sides. Right, it will take forever for him to be ready for that.
‘’That’s okay Shadow, I’ll wait as long as it takes,’’ Amy said, going to hold one of his hands to reassure him. ‘’I’ll be there when the time comes. I promise you, I want to know that part of you.’’
Shadow looks down at her, holding his hand. His eyes look back at her. ‘’...You’re too kind.’’ Too kind for someone as broken as him in this cruel world.
Amy chuckles a bit. ‘’Hey, we’re friends. That’s what friends are for, to look out for each other.’’
He paused for a moment when she mentioned friends. They’re friends? Right... Friends. He forgets about that too often. He snapped out of his thoughts as he smiled before she asked him. ‘’We are friends, thank you.’’ He said softly, holding her hand back.
She grins at him. ‘’Of course.’’ She said, she’s glad that she made him feel a little better. She stopped holding his hand to ask him. ‘’Well, I think nobody asks you this but I will; what’s your wish for the new year Shadow?’’ She’s curious about it as she tilted her head.
His wishes for the new year... He hasn’t thought about it so he didn’t come prepared for the question; he thinks about it on the spot. ‘’My wishes will be... Good health and... To be vulnerable to you.’’ Shadow said smiling a little.
Amy blinks her eyes, surprised that he was hoping to tell her about his past in the next year. She grins as she nods. ‘’Me too!’’ She said happily as she couldn’t wait for the day to happen.
Shortly, Shadow came back to the Christmas party next to Amy as the others were singing a Christmas song. Probably Mariah Carey songs? He couldn’t tell as his ears were hurting since they’re not good singers at all, it’s a surprise how the pink hedgehog can stand around them with so much noise they’re making. He glances at Amy and back at the others. ‘’How can you stand them for so long?’’ He asked playfully.
Amy laughed at what he said, and she patted his arm. ‘’Oh, you’ll get used to it.’’ She joked as she tilted her head, watching the others like Shadow. The two didn't even realize it for a moment when they were holding hands and Shadow knew it made his heart skip a beat. Oh, to be loved like this... He hasn't felt that in years, and yet the pink hedgehog manages to do it all. This is probably the best Christmas party everyone has had.