Chapter Text
Maybe I’m just overthinking it.
Shadow stood by the window of his bedroom, watching the world outside from the quiet comfort of his room. The curtains were half-drawn, allowing warm afternoon sunlight to spill across the floor while the rest of the room remained wrapped in shadow.
His crimson eyes settled on the blue hedgehog laughing below.
Sonic the Hedgehog.
Hero of Mobius.
Even from a distance, Sonic seemed to radiate life. He leaned back with his hands tucked behind his head, laughing at something Tails had said as they stood together in the grass. He always looked so effortless- always moving, always smiling, always ready to sprint off the moment someone needed help.
Shadow admired that about him.
Sonic had carried the weight of being Mobius’ hero since he was a teenager, stopping Eggman’s schemes time and time again without ever asking for anything in return. He possessed an unwavering sense of responsibility, even if it often manifested in reckless, impulsive decisions that left Shadow endlessly irritated.
The idiot simply couldn’t say no.
Someone cries for help, and Sonic is already gone before anyone else has time to react.
It was infuriating.
It was also one of the many reasons why Shadow had fallen for him.
His gaze drifted from the window to the photographs decorating the bedroom walls. Even in the dim light, he could easily distinguish the older pictures from the newer ones.
Not because of their age. Because of himself.
In the older photographs, Shadow wore the same expression he always had- stoic, guarded, almost annoyed that someone had convinced him to stand still long enough for a picture. Beside him, Sonic beamed at the camera, usually with an arm slung around Shadow’s shoulders despite his half-hearted complaints.
The newer pictures were different.
Shadow was smiling.
Not much. Most people probably wouldn’t even notice it. But it was there. A small, genuine smile.
Somewhere along the way, Sonic’s optimism had begun to rub off on him. His ridiculous enthusiasm for life, his stubborn refusal to give up on anyone, his ability to make even ordinary moments feel worthwhile…
It had changed him.
Shadow would never admit it aloud, but he owed Sonic more than he could ever put into words.
The late-night conversations. The quiet reassurance. The countless nights Sonic had simply held him after the nightmares became too much.
Aside from Maria, Sonic was the only person who had ever seen him cry. He had never judged him for it. Never tried to fix him. He had simply stayed, whispering that everything would be alright until Shadow finally believed him.
He owed him everything.
Yet as Shadow’s eyes lingered on the photographs, something tugged at the back of his mind.
He stepped closer. Instead of looking at himself this time, he studied Sonic.
The smile.
It looked… different.
Not fake, exactly. Just strained, as though it required more effort than it used to.
Then there were the shorts.
Those damned shorts.
For nearly a year now, Sonic had worn the same style of athletic shorts every single day. Around the house. During missions. Even while relaxing together.
When Shadow asked about them, Sonic would just flash that familiar grin and shrug.
“They’re stylish.”
To be fair, they did match his shoes. And wearing clothes wasn’t unusual. Plenty of Mobians had wardrobes.
Still…
It felt unlike Sonic to care that much about fashion.
On their own, the shorts meant nothing. The forced smiles meant nothing. The way Sonic had become quieter lately meant nothing.
But together…
Together, they painted a picture Shadow couldn’t ignore.
Maybe he really was overthinking it.
He hoped he was.
It looked like Sonic and Tails were wrapping up whatever they had been talking about, so Shadow turned away from the window and headed downstairs.
Living with Sonic had taken some convincing.
When Shadow first suggested it, Sonic had practically laughed in his face, insisting that settling down wasn’t really his style. He was always chasing the next adventure, the next horizon, the next excuse to run. The idea of staying in one place had seemed impossible for him.
Eventually, though, he’d come around.
They weren’t teenagers anymore. At some point, they had to stop meeting between adventures and actually build a life together.
Shadow stepped into the living room just as the front door opened. Sonic waved one last time to Tails before shutting the door behind him. His shoulders sagged as he let out a quiet sigh.
Then he turned around.
The moment he spotted Shadow, the exhaustion vanished behind a bright grin.
“Shads! Mornin’, sleepyhead!”
Before Shadow could respond, Sonic crossed the room, cupped his face, and planted a quick kiss on his cheek before letting out an embarrassed little laugh.
Heat crept across Shadow’s face despite himself, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
“We’ve been dating for over a year,” he muttered. “How do you still get flustered over something like that?”
“I don’t know!” Sonic laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. “You still make me nervous. I just…” His smile softened. “I really like you. A lot.”
Shadow rolled his eyes, unable to hide his own smile as they made their way into the kitchen.
While Sonic dropped into one of the chairs, Shadow headed for the coffee machine. Making coffee together had quietly become part of their morning routine, though convincing Sonic to actually drink it had taken months of persistence.
As the machine hummed to life, Shadow glanced over his shoulder. Sonic was smiling to himself, absentmindedly tapping his fingers against the table.
Yet something lingered in Shadow’s mind.
That sigh.
It had been so small that he almost missed it.
He looked at Sonic again. The blush still lingered across his cheeks, his smile as bright as ever.
I’m reading too much into it. He’s fine. You’re worrying over nothing.
Shadow carried the mugs to the table and slid one across to Sonic.
“Thanks,” Sonic said, taking a sip before his face immediately lit up. “Okay… this is actually really good.”
Shadow chuckled quietly, taking a drink from his own cup.
Maybe he really was overthinking things.
Within moments, Sonic had already finished his coffee, setting the empty mug on the table with a soft clink.
“Alright,” he said, hopping to his feet. “I’ve gotta get going.”
He hurried the mug over to the sink. Shadow frowned.
“Already? Morning isn’t even over.”
“I know.” Sonic offered him another smile, though this one didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I’ve just got some stuff to do.”
“What stuff?”
Sonic hesitated.
“...Just stuff.”
Before Shadow could ask another question, Sonic leaned down and kissed his forehead. “I’ll be back later, okay?”
And just like that, he was gone. The front door shut. Silence settled over the house. Shadow stared at the empty chair across from him.
That… was strange.
It wasn’t unnatural for Sonic to disappear for hours at a time. It was practically part of who he was.
But now that he stopped to think about it…
When had he stopped saying where he was going?
When had he stopped asking Shadow to come with him?
A knot formed in his stomach. Guilt followed close behind. How had he only just started noticing?
It hadn’t happened overnight.
First, Sonic would disappear for an afternoon. Then entire evenings. Now he was leaving first thing in the morning.
Shadow had the next few days off. He’d been looking forward to spending them together, but now the house felt strangely empty.
He glanced toward the front door, still half expecting Sonic to walk back in with some ridiculous excuse.
Instead, all he heard was silence.
I’ll ask him tonight.
…
Shadow spent the rest of the day trying- and failing- to take his mind off Sonic’s strange behavior.
He cleaned the house. Watched television. Worked on a puzzle he’d abandoned weeks ago.
Nothing held his attention for long.
Every few minutes, his ears would perk up at the slightest sound outside. A passing car. Footsteps on the sidewalk. The creak of the house settling.
Each time, his gaze drifted toward the front door. Each time, he was disappointed.
As the afternoon faded into evening, irritation slowly gave way to worry. Where is Sonic?
By the time night settled over the neighborhood, Shadow had given up pretending he wasn’t waiting. He went upstairs with a book, hoping to pass the time until Sonic finally came home. Reading usually made the hours disappear.
But tonight, he couldn’t finish a single page.
Then-
The front door clicked open.
Shadow closed the book immediately and hurried downstairs. Sonic had just stepped inside.
His quills were noticeably ruffled, as though he’d been lying down somewhere for hours. Dark circles sat beneath his eyes, and every movement looked heavier than the last.
He looked exhausted.
Relief washed over Shadow for only a moment before concern took its place.
“Sonic.”
The blue hedgehog looked up. “Oh- hey, Shads.”
“Where have you been all day?”
Sonic let out a small, awkward laugh. “Oh… y’know.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Around.”
Shadow folded his arms. “No,” he said quietly. “I don’t.”
Silence settled between them. For the briefest moment, Sonic’s smile faltered. Then it returned.
“Don’t worry about it.” He forced a light chuckle. “I’m just gonna take a shower real quick, and then we can watch something before bed.”
He started toward the stairs.
Shadow stepped into his path.
“Sonic.”
His voice was calm, but firm.
“Do you realize how late it is?”
Sonic’s eyes dropped to the floor. “...Yeah.”
Shadow pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling slowly.
He wanted answers. Not an argument.
“I was worried.”
The words slipped out more softly than he’d intended.
Sonic looked back up, guilt flashing across his face. “I know.”
His voice was barely above a whisper.
“I’m sorry.”
He hesitated before offering another hopeful smile.
“How about we spend tomorrow together instead? You’re still off work, right?”
Shadow’s shoulders relaxed ever so slightly. “Yeah.”
Sonic’s grin brightened, though it still didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Awesome.”
He stepped closer, gently cupping Shadow’s face.
“I promise.”
A quick kiss brushed against Shadow’s lips before Sonic disappeared upstairs in a blur of blue.
A moment later, the bathroom door clicked shut. Shadow followed at a slower pace.
As he reached the top of the stairs, he found himself stopping outside the bathroom.
No running water.
No movement.
Just... silence.
His hand drifted toward the doorknob before stopping halfway. He could teleport through the door if he wanted to. He could make sure Sonic was okay. The thought alone made his stomach twist.
No.
Sonic deserved his privacy.
Still… what was he doing in there?
Sonic had never been good at keeping secrets. If anything, he usually shared too much, happily rambling about every little thing that happened throughout his day.
Now, every question was met with a smile. Every conversation ended before it truly began.
Finally, after what felt like forever, the shower sputtered to life.
Shadow let out a quiet breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. He turned away and walked back to their bedroom.
Maybe Sonic had a bad day. Maybe tomorrow really would be different.
But deep down, Shadow already knew that wasn’t just today.
Something was wrong. And whatever it was…
Sonic was carrying it alone.