Work Text:
Sonic could almost SEE the dark thoughts that were currently ravaging his boyfriend’s mind. Shadow’s brow was furrowed more than usual, he kept muttering to himself, and he was fidgeting much more than was usual for him. All signs of distress for the hybrid. Sonic finally decided to say something when his boyfriend mixed roasted coffee beans with his fifth cup of coffee that day. “Woah, babe,” the blue hedgehog started gently. He gently wrapped his arms around Shadow from behind, glad that he remembered to verbally let the hybrid know he was there before coming up behind him. Last time that happened he got quilled.
With how high strung the Ultimate Life Form was at the moment, if he hadn’t done that it was almost a guarantee that it would have happened again. “What’s bothering you so much today?” “Nothing, I’m fine.” The dark hedgehog snapped. He obviously wasn’t fine though. The mug in his hands shaking profusely as he tried to take a sip. Sonic clicked his tongue. “Ayyy, we both know that’s not true. What did we agree on when it came to talking about our problems?” The hero gently rubbed Shadows arms up and down.
The red striped hedgehog sighed and leaned into his boyfriend’s touch. He felt guilty now about not expressing his emotions up front. He just had to remind himself that this was a learning curve. For both him and his lover. “That we would communicate them and depend on each other for support.” He replied. Sonic nodded and kissed his lover’s cheek. “That’s right. Now tell me what’s up.” Shadow almost cried when his boyfriend kissed his cheek. Ugh, he felt so sensitive! Too damn sensitive! Shadow turned around and faced Sonic, putting his cup of coffee and roasted beans onto the counter.
“Truthfully…I’ve been feeling stressed about…about not having a proper childhood.” The hybrid admitted. Sonic felt his heart break a little when he heard that. Shadow continued. “I just…I keep wondering about what my life would have been like if I was normal. If I wasn’t a science project but instead a normal Mobian experiencing normal Mobian child things. Playing with friends, getting read picture books, having…” Shadow couldn’t help the tears that rolled down his cheeks as he choked out the last six words. “having a mom and a dad.”
Sonic gently wiped away Shadow’s tears. “I’m sorry, I know it’s such a stupid thing to think about.” “No, it’s not. I promise you it’s not.” Sonic said in a voice so gentle and loving it was akin to the sensation of getting cozy under a pile warm blankets after a long day. A voice that always made Shadow unwind and unravel till he was nothing but pliant softness.
The blue hedgehog fully understood the feelings his boyfriend was experiencing. He grew up an orphan after all. He only had a few blurry memories of his parents and even then he wasn’t sure if they were actual memories or if the pictures of his parents that filled his mind were simply images of comfort his brain gave him to cope. Either way, he understood.
Shadow was currently sniffling as tears flowed freely from his eyes. He was trying his best not to sob. His chest was tight and he felt like there was something in his throat, suffocating him in the fact that he was made to be extraordinary. He was never going to be given the chance to be normal. Sonic gently rubbed the back of Shadow’s neck in the way he knew he liked, in a way he knew was soothing. “Shh, shh, it’s okay baby boy. Let it out let it all out.”
Oh Shadow couldn’t hold back from that. He wasn’t strong enough to hold back from that. From being called something so sweet and domestic. From being told it was okay. That he could let go. He sobbed. The Ultimate Life Form, a being made to be a weapon and a cure, a being made to be strong and to hold up against anything, was now sobbing in his boyfriend’s arms. He was practically screaming with how loud his cries of pain were. How pathetic…
“It’s okay love, it’s okay. You’re doing a great job.” Sonic cooed comfortingly. As he held Shadow’s shaking body an idea came to him. “Hey baby? Would you like it if I helped you go into little space?” Sonic asked in a tone so loving and gentle it helped put Shadow’s heart feel at ease despite the storm that was currently ravaging it. “You *hic!* sure?” Shadow questioned through tears. Sonic gently wiped his lover’s cheek and kissed it. “I’m certain.” He replied, gently rubbing up and down the hybrid’s arms.
“I’m so proud of you baby boy. You’ve been so strong for so long. It’s time to be little now, okay? Time to let go and be soft now.” The blue hedgehog cooed to the other. Due to the state the red striped hedgehog was in he almost immediately fell into little space with how comforting and soothing Sonic’s tone of voice was. “Don’t worry, Papa’s got you.” Now that made him fall into little space. The hybrid’s head got all fuzzy and soft. Despite the emotional pain he was experiencing, all he wanted to do was cling to Papa. To Sonic. His caretaker. His guardian. “Papa…” Shadow nuzzled into the crook of Sonic’s neck. “Papa it hurts so muuuuuch…” he hiccuped out.
“Oh, I know baby I know. But you’re safe now. Papa’s got you and he’s not gonna let anyone hurt you ever again. I promise.” Sonic comforted in a hushed tone. Sonic gently kissed his little one’s forehead. “Do you want me to carry you upstairs to bed? I can put on Mister Roger’s Neighborhood and you can get all cozy with your favorite plushie. Would you like that?” Shadow’s teary eyes lit up. He immediately nodded and made grabby hands. “Up! Up!” He said, bouncing a little on his tippy toes. Sonic chuckled happily and picked up his baby boy bridal style, knowing how he liked resting head dark little head against his chest.
Shadow had told him how he found Sonic’s heartbeat to be soothing and his little boy needed all the soothing he could get at the moment. He noted how Shadow seemed to have slipped deep into little space. Somewhere between the ages of 3 and 5. The dark little one rested his quilly head against Sonic’s chest, a purr emitting from his own chest as he felt himself calm down. Once they got to their bedroom the blue hero placed Shadow down onto their bed and scooted next to him, tucking both of them under three soft and fuzzy blankets.
“Mm!” Shadow squeaked happily. He never seemed very talkative in little space but always very vocal. He preferred squeaking and chirping over actual words. Sonic found it adorable. Shadow immediately grabbed the lavender purple alien kitty plushie on his side of the bed then snuggled close to his papa. The plush was a simple light purple kitty plushie with three eyes and two antennas. Shadow had told Sonic he found comfort in this plushie. Alien but non threatening and lovable. The blue speedster could easily see why Shadow would be drawn to that.
Sonic wrapped an arm around his baby boy, holding him close. The dark hedgehog felt secure and safe in his caregiver’s hold, letting out a happy little sigh as he rested his head against Sonic’s chest. He liked listening to the blue speedster’s heartbeat. He liked knowing he was alive and breathing and with him. The hero picked up the remote from their bedside table and turned on the TV. He typed in “Mister Roger’s’ Neighborhood” into the search bar and clicked on it. He started the episode “Playing with cardboard tubes” which Shadow happily squeaked at.
Sonic was glad to see that Shadow was feeling better already. His ruby eyes glued to the tv screen as he chewed on one of his plushie’s antennas. Sonic felt a soft purr start up in his chest and he watched Mister Roger’s’ Neighborhood with Shadow. The old TV show really was quite comforting. Amusing as well! Who would have thought an old children’s show would be so funny! He was glad Shadow had introduced it to him.
As the two hedgehog’s continued to watch the episode Shadow began nodding off. His poor heavy eyes kept softly shutting as he tried to fight the sleepiness off. He wanted to keep watching the show! Sonic noticed how sleepy Shadow was getting and chuckled. He knew exactly what to do. “Hey little one, you wanna take a nap?” Shadow shook his head. “Mm mm!” He vocalized. “But baby boy, you know I can pause the episode, yeah? I can turn it back on whenever you like. So when you wake up from your nap you can keep watching.” Sonic smiled gently. Shadow paused to think about it. “Mmmm.” Was the noise he made of uncertainty as he thought about it.
“Or maybe…” Sonic smirked, knowing how happy this would make his baby boy while he rested. “We keep the show on while you sleep. So it can go into your dreams. You can dream about making believe with Mister Roger! Wouldn’t you like that?” Sonic cooed. Shadow liked this idea. Being in the land of make believe with Mister Roger while he slept sounded really really good! “Mhm!” The dark little hedgehog nodded in agreement. Sonic giggled. “Let’s do that then.” The show continued to play as Shadow drifted off to sleep. The audio from the show going into his dreams as he began dreaming about being in the show. Simply enjoying being a wonderful neighbor!
Sure, he may not have had a chance at having a normal childhood. But he had the chance to heal now. To experience childhood joys now. That was a precious gift all in of itself. So as he dreamed of Mister Roger’s and Trolley he felt at peace. Sonic purred as he saw his little boy so at peace. He gently kissed his boyfriend’s forehead as he slept. He then went back to watching the show. He was glad he got to experience peaceful moments like this with his little one. Even if him and Sonic had to go through hell and back, it was all worth it to have moments like this. Sonic was sure of it.