Work Text:
***
It was the same thing, over and over again - but most of the time the perspectives would change, or maybe the people present in his nightmares would change.
It was dark, and if it wasn’t for the streaks of red on Shadow’s quills, he would have blended right into the darkness seamlessly. Darkness that has no end that Shadow used to think he belonged in.
Maria insisted that Shadow didn’t belong in the darkness. Even if he did, she told him that it wasn’t the darkness people usually thought of.
When one talks about darkness, one would think of all that is negative: anger, anxiousness, loss, and anything that is along those lines.
The blonde girl who was dear to Shadow told him that darkness wasn’t always a bad thing, for light couldn’t exist without darkness. She told him of how he was named Shadow so people could find their way back to light by finding ‘shadows’ that are always there when light is nearby.
The dream started pleasantly; of Maria sharing stories of the Earth she had read in books to the black hedgehog while the mentioned hedgehog listened attentively, appreciating and soaking the warmth that came with Maria’s enthusiastic and kind words.
The two of them were in Maria’s room so they could choose any storybook to their liking, and Shadow was content with just laying there and making sure his precious person stayed happy; to never have that smile on her lips wipe off her face .
Abruptly, Maria’s soothing voice was suddenly gone, and Shadow found himself falling, unable to set his feet down on anything as he frantically looked around and reached out.
No Maria was in sight.
His breath started to pick up its pace, his heart beating quickly and panicked as he tried to reach out for anything in this darkness that seemed to be all around him.
Shadow tried to breathe deeply to calm his racing heart and thoughts, yet the more he breathed, the more it felt like his throat was constricting, oxygen not entering and instead replaced by something that was slowly clogging his throat.
It’s like drowning.
Drowning in a sea with its depth unknown, vacant of life because living things weren’t supposed to be here .
Tears pricked at Shadow’s eyes, his brain convinced that he was drowning despite the hybrid knowing fully well that he was not surrounded by water.
A blue hedgehog came to mind at the mention of water, and it became all too clear to the hybrid that this was yet another one of his recurring nightmares.
He hadn’t met Sonic when it was just him, Maria, and Professor Gerald at the ARK, after all.
The black hedgehog thought of blue quills that were like the sky and the sea, thought of green eyes that were of plants and grass and emeralds he had seen throughout his time living on Earth ever since he had woken up from his 50 years of slumber.
Shadow thought of how much like Earth the faker resembled.
Shadow thought of how Maria would’ve liked to meet the faker despite how Shadow himself wasn’t such a ‘big fan’ of that hedgehog.
Shadow thought of how Maria would react to knowing that Shadow wasn’t necessarily alone; thought of how happy she would be to know that Shadow had new friends .
By the time he landed on a pane of glass, the black hedgehog found himself no longer drowning; limbs less frantically moving and breath returning to its normal pace.
Looking down once he managed to regain his bearings, he felt disoriented for a moment before he realized he was back at the escape pod he was shoved into at the ARK before he lost the closest thing he could call his family.
Looking up at where he knew where Maria would be standing to pull a lever, Shadow prepared himself to try and break the glass panel of the escape pod with his fists.
(He knew his efforts would be futile, but he wouldn’t dare stand there and watch Maria get shot without lifting a finger - regardless if it was set in stone or not.)
Instead of blonde hair and blue eyes, Shadow froze when the one standing in Maria’s place was instead a hedgehog with blue quills and green eyes.
Sonic .
Shadow had numerous versions of nightmares these past years - yet Sonic never featured in them once .
“ Sonic-! ”
Shadow’s voice felt alien even to himself, words tumbling out of his mouth before he could register them as he watched Sonic’s gloved hand on the lever, familiar determination shining in his eyes.
At the mention of his name, Sonic turned to look at him - except the nightmare morphed, and then suddenly Shadow was looking into familiar blue eyes.
Maria.
“ Sayounara, Shadow the Hedgehog. ” A distorted mix of Sonic’s and Maria’s voices said, soft and resigned as the sound of a bullet being shot rang loudly in Shadow’s ears.
Shadow screamed - and yet as much as he felt his throat strained, it was deathly silent in his ears, his voice not-at-all heard.
The sight of Maria’s limp body slowly falling onto the ground was once again engraved into his mind just as it was tattooed behind his eyelids, a rusty shackle that chained him to the past tugging every now and then as his past haunted him from time to time, unrelenting. (He was getting better at focusing on the present, but trauma had its way to worm its way to lurk in the present.)
His nightmare didn’t waste another second to throw him into another scenario: of him floating in space with no stars as the only light illuminating him was his golden quills and a falling star in front of him.
No - that wasn’t a falling star .
Dread filled Shadow’s lungs, and he immediately launched himself onto the ‘falling star’, trying his best to close the distance yet to no avail.
Why was Sonic falling?
It was supposed to be him-!
Once Shadow was close enough to make eye contact, Shadow reached out to the golden hedgehog as best as he could, and when he almost caught up, Sonic looked at him.
Soft and resignation weren’t a good look in Sonic’s usually determined and energized eyes.
“ Keep everyone safe in my stead, will you, Shadow? ”
This wasn’t real.
This wasn’t real - and yet as Shadow thought of how devastated everyone else would be at Sonic’s death, he couldn’t risk losing his rival.
Not now.
Not like this.
Not in his stead - like someone had done.
“ Do that yourself, hedgehog! ” Shadow shouted in reply, gloved hands grazing dimly lit golden quills as he tried to grab the other hedgehog.
Without any warning, all of a sudden the two of them were no longer falling, and Shadow found himself on his knees, his muzzle being grabbed roughly by gloved hands before his chin was lifted, forcing him to look into green eyes that were full of mockery and disdain.
“ Bold words coming from someone who failed to protect anything and anyone. ” Sonic drawled scornfully, looking down on Shadow who could only look back right into those hateful eyes, frozen.
This wasn’t Sonic.
Sonic wouldn’t have said such a thing; wouldn’t have so much hatred in his eyes.
Yes; this was a nightmare .
“Even if this is a nightmare, does it make my words any less false ?” Sonic quipped like he had read Shadow’s mind, his hold on Shadow’s muzzle tightening to the point of it being painful.
Before Shadow knew it, tears were steadily streaming down his muzzle, and he found himself unable to speak, left to stare into the reflection of his pathetic self in green, endless eyes.
Nauseating.
A wicked smile stretched on Sonic’s lips, and suddenly the blue hedgehog pulled Shadow close, pulling the black hedgehog into a hug that had the hybrid feeling trapped.
He thought of the warmth Maria’s hugs gave him, and couldn’t help but try to pull away from Sonic’s hug which was cold and careless.
“What are you trying to get away from? You can’t run away from the truth.
You killed Maria. ”
Shadow knew that was wrong.
Yet…
Gently yet ominously, a finger went to wipe some tears that were streaming down Shadow’s eyes, and the black hedgehog’s breath stuttered as Sonic gazed into him, eyes alarmingly distant yet glazed with something excessively predatory.
“You almost killed me too, didn’t you, darling ?
But it’s okay - I’m here. You’re here.
And you’re mine - with me. At my mercy.
Were you thinking of redeeming yourself for what you’ve done to Maria by sacrificing yourself for the world? For me?
Hopeless dreams, Shadow.
There’s nothing you can do to redeem yourself.
Maria and I are nothing alike. ”
Everything that this ‘ Sonic ’ had said was wrong . He wasn’t Sonic, after all.
Shadow knew full well that his sacrifice back then was not about redeeming himself - at least not just for that one reason specifically.
And yet as Shadow stared into those empty eyes, all he could feel was helplessness.
Shaken.
Whatever it was that was written on Shadow’s face, it had ‘Sonic’ smiling unceasingly wider, and the black hedgehog braced for pain that he knew would wake him up from his nightmare when nothing happened.
Instead, he was… shaken by his shoulders…?
“-ads! Shads! Oh my god- Note to self, Shadow cries in his sleep and is a very heavy sleeper.”
Familiar ramblings entered Shadow’s ears once the black hedgehog started regaining his consciousness, and as soon as he could abruptly sat up, and realized that he was… in a cave of some kind…? What’s with this… lingering scent …?
And why the hell was Sonic the Hedgehog here with him?
Sonic didn't seem to realize that Shadow was awake, his gloved and oddly wet hands awkwardly hovering over Shadow’s shoulders that he was shaking just a few seconds ago as he looked around in panic and continued rambling under his breath, indecipherable.
Shadow’s eyes were still droopy and barely opened, so when the next time he blinked there were suddenly unfamiliarly gentle hands cupping his face and fingers wiping at the tears Shadow hadn’t even realized he was shedding, the hybrid lurched awake and away, pulling out a startled yelp from Sonic who fell on his bum from his crouching position while Shadow looked at the blue hedgehog in a mix of alarm and confusion.
“Ouch-! What was that for, Shads?! ” Sonic complained, upset and betrayed as he furrowed his eyes at Shadow - only for his eyes to soften at the sight of the hybrid.
Feeling self-conscious, Shadow raised his hands to wipe away the tears that were still streaming down his cheeks, both embarrassed and mortified at having shown such a vulnerable side of his to his blue rival.
To distract himself, Shadow started looking around and tried to put his foggy memories together so they would make sense.
Eggman was wreaking havoc in the city again. Sonic and Shadow just happened to be there at the same time as the former was doing his daily runs while the latter lived nearby - not that many people knew he did.
Agreeing on a truce as they usually would whenever Eggman was involved, the two of them chased after the evil doctor without thinking too much about their next action, and before they knew it they fell right into the doctor’s trap - literally fell considering they were now in a cave all the way down and the only exit there was for them was up, where the slightest bit of sunlight streamed through it.
How careless; Shadow blamed the blue hero with him for their lack of planning .
Sonic had always been the guy who winged it without a detailed plan at hand, after all.
“For tainting me with your foolishness.” Shadow quipped, acting like the silence that stretched between Sonic’s complaint and his answer was never there and that the blue hedgehog didn’t see the way his hands trembled and shook when they tried to wipe away the remaining evidence of his tears.
Nightmares came often to the black hedgehog, yet this nightmare featuring his rival was new, and Shadow found himself unable to cope the way he usually would.
Crying after a nightmare isn't alien to the black hedgehog, but usually crying meant a couple of teardrops before he regained his bearings.
This; unrelentless, persistent, confused, and heart-aching tears, wasn’t a norm for Shadow.
Shadow tried his best to stop his body from trembling and for his eyes to stop crying, and while it worked for now, his body was immensely trembling at just trying to not do those two things.
When the black hedgehog realized that there was no response to his words, Shadow turned to look at Sonic, and he couldn’t help but flinch away when the blue hedgehog was suddenly sitting close to him, a hand seeming to be reaching out before the hero thought better of it and retracted his hand, looking embarrassed.
“…you were crying.” Sonic pointed out, voice unnaturally soft and caring, so unlike the smug and cocky tone he often used with Shadow.
Sonic should stop doing whatever he’s doing.
(Blue quills reminded him too much of a blue dress. Caring eyes and gentle voice reminded him too much of what he lost.
Green eyes remind him too much of the blue hedgehog in his nightmare, smile wicked and out of place. )
“For the sake of our own good, I prefer if we pretend nothing happened.” Shadow snapped, baring his fangs instinctively as he somehow felt cornered.
Was this Sonic going to take advantage of his past too? Just like how he did in his nightmare?
Sonic was capable of many things - would he be capable of regressing Shadow’s progress all this time?
The hero frowned disapprovingly at Shadow’s dismissal, yet it softened a touch when he saw whatever it was that was written on the hybrid’s face.
Of all the times Shadow prided himself on being hard to read by other people, he wished this was one of those times.
Sonic stopped himself from replying with something snarky or taunting, instead alternating his gaze between looking at Shadow and somewhere around the cave for a few moments before looking back at Shadow.
“I’ll be back. Wait here.”
With those words, Sonic stood up, and in the blink of an eye left and returned with… a couple of huge leaves…?
“While your fox may be able to turn those into a winged machine of some sort so we could fly our way out of here, you wouldn’t be able to do so.” Shadow deadpanned, watching as Sonic huffed at the black hedgehog’s words and scowled for a moment.
He was quick to ignore those words, though.
Placing and arranging the leaves on the ground nearby, Shadow came to realize that the hero was making some sort of place to sleep on at the same time the said hero spoke.
“I know I suck at what Tails is good at, jackass .
…here. For you to sleep on.”
Offended for something he couldn’t quite place and equally defensive, Shadow hit his fist onto the ground, ignoring the way Sonic jumped at the sudden and blink-and-miss action.
“ Don’t treat me like I’m broken. ” Shadow seethed, glaring at the leaves before he settled his gaze on Sonic who looked at him in disbelief and something along the lines of unimpressed.
“I’m not . I’m just- I’m trying to comfort you here, you know? Or are you alien to such a concept?” Sonic huffed, surprisingly patient with Shadow’s outbursts.
Comfort?
“Save that effort of yours for your friends. I don’t need comfort from you. I’m used to this. ”
Shadow knew the last part of his words was unnecessary, but it’s not like he could take back words that have been said.
There was a scoff that was a mix of disbelief and concern, and Shadow came to realize that perhaps he indeed had said too much.
Recently, Shadow had come to a conclusion; a conclusion that was he didn’t hate Sonic.
Sonic the Hedgehog was infuriating in the way his mere presence always took up space in everything and caught everyone’s attention, blinding people nearby with his charismatic smiles, friendly vibe, and his free way of carrying himself, doing as he pleased.
(In a corner of Shadow’s heart, he pointedly ignored how a voice pointed out how similar Maria and Sonic were.)
Despite their streak of fighting and banters, Shadow didn’t hate Sonic. It’s just that while Sonic lets the wind guide him to do as he pleases, Shadow acts according to what he thinks he has to do.
It’s not necessarily free, but it’s his guide. His free will is like a captain of a ship sailing through the sea where his next actions are commanded by this captain.
Sometimes the wind and the captain clashed, the ship rendered unable to move as it wanted to due to the strong wind of the sea.
Sometimes their objectives aligned, and the captain would find himself being supported by the wind, sailing across oceans and seas in a record amount of time.
Comparing the wind to Sonic’s freedom was fitting - which was why Shadow left the thought of the wind being a force of nature at the back of his mind.
The wind and a captain: it was clear who controls the other.
But Sonic was always generous with his wind.
(When he decided to not be so, would the Sonic in his nightmare become a reality - trapping him in a storm in the middle of an uncharted ocean, helpless to stay unmoving and vision blinded by the darkness that came with storms? )
Shadow’s train of thought was cut off by a frustrated sigh from Sonic, prompting the black hedgehog to pay his attention to the other again.
“Shadow, buddy. I know you’re not the most ‘open to connecting with people’ person, but this,” he gestured at Shadow as a whole, “is unhealthy.” Sonic lightly scolded, care and worry leaking from his voice just as concern was written all over in his eyes.
Shadow didn’t care if it was unhealthy as long as he could still move on the next day.
(It was the only way he knew.
He wouldn’t dare seek comfort from other people, attaching himself and waiting for the inevitable of losing them due to his immortality. )
Deciding that Sonic wouldn’t drop the topic until Shadow at least acknowledged the ‘problem’ at hand, the black hedgehog pondered over what to say to cut the conversation short.
“…your concern is… appreciated , but as I said: I’m used to this . This is how I… roll.
Now, rather than trying to find a solution for a problem that is already fixed, we ought to look for a way out instead.”
Those words should be enough - Shadow thought.
Except it apparently wasn’t, because Sonic let out the loudest groan before he suddenly zoomed right onto Shadow, prompting the hybrid to dodge away as Sonic zoomed right past him.
Shadow braced himself to dodge yet again, but when Sonic saw where Shadow was standing, he looked… pleased.
It took another second for Shadow to realize he was standing on the sorry excuse of a bed Sonic had made.
“There! You’re already on it! Might as well sleep on it!” Sonic beamed ecstatically, approaching Shadow and seating himself beside the leaves with crossed legs while the hybrid couldn’t find it in him to move away from where he was standing.
He had been persistently stomping on a thought that was lurking at the back of his mind at the sight of Sonic arranging these leaves for him, but facing Sonic’s genuine smile, Shadow couldn’t help but acknowledge such a thought:
‘ How thoughtful of him. ’
Leaving the thought unsaid, Shadow found himself sitting down on the leaves begrudgingly, not expecting it to be quite the comfortable alternative bed as his eyes widened just the slightest bit.
Judging from the pleased and proud look on the blue hedgehog’s face, Shadow was pretty sure the hero noticed the black hedgehog’s surprised appreciation for the leaves.
That, too, was left unsaid.
With both of them seated, Sonic with his legs crossed and Shadow with his back leaning against the wall and letting his legs stretch, awkwardness enveloped the two of them expectedly.
…
“Why aren’t you sleeping yet?”
Seriously?
“Why are you so eager for me to fall asleep? Do you like watching me sleep? Are you a creep? ”
Sonic gasped, offended, and Shadow naturally found himself grinning at being able to rub the other the wrong way.
“I- this is what I get for being considerate of your sleeping schedule?!” Sonic huffed, scowling and furrowing his eyes while Shadow found himself relaxing.
Bickering with Sonic; perhaps the normalcy of it was successfully making Shadow more droopy and sleepy.
“I didn’t ask for you to be considerate.”
“That’s literally basic decency! Or, well, something like that.”
“Well, you surely are just decent. Not all that amazing nor good.”
Clouded with growing sleepiness, Shadow let out a string of laughter, the noise coming out a bit awkward and odd coming from him due to rare usage.
Sonic’s reaction to the sound was to stare, and Shadow decided that he probably shouldn’t have laughed if it had the blue hedgehog going silent and staring at him like he had grown another head-
“Wow.” Sonic suddenly said in a mix of wonder and muted surprise before Shadow could finish his train of thoughts, sounding the slightest hint breathless.
The worst reason for the rival’s breathlessness came to mind, but Shadow realized quickly that no, the oxygen in the cave was still plenty and they were not lacking in it - yet?
Why did Sonic sound so breathless?
The black hedgehog raised an unamused eye ridge as a response instead, the gears in his head turning as he tried to figure out what was wrong with his rival - who was still staring at him, except this time it was obvious his mind was elsewhere.
It took an embarrassing while for Shadow to notice that Sonic didn’t lash out at Shadow calling him ‘mediocre’.
Concerning.
Looking the blue hedgehog up and down for any kind of anomalies, Shadow found himself the slightest bit relieved and even more so perplexed to find that nothing was going on with the other except for the glazed and faraway look in his eyes.
How odd.
A second later, Sonic coughed out of nowhere, and Shadow watched in both confusion and disinterest as the blue hedgehog cleared his throat and coughed at the same time multiple times, choking on literal air pathetically.
When Sonic seemed to have caught his breath, his cheeks seemed to be flushed. (Shadow was sure the other was embarrassed about something, but the hybrid had no clue what could be the cause of the reaction.)
“It’s- you - ugh. Whatever. Just go to sleep already so I won’t need to see your brooding face anymore.” Sonic huffed, making a point by positioning himself to sit beside Shadow instead of facing the hybrid.
(Sonic wasn’t being sleek when he positioned himself the slightest bit closer, their sides brushing every now and then.)
“I’m not going to sleep.” Shadow uncooperatively deadpanned instead.
“Would you like me to sing you a lullaby then, Your Highness ?”
“Are you trying to deafen me with your voice?”
“Rude.”
“So is watching someone cry.”
That silenced Sonic - for a short moment.
“Look; we’re both trapped here until Tails come around to look for us. I dropped one of his gadgets nearby, so it probably wouldn’t take him much longer to find us after dealing with Eggman.
You know how I just can’t stay put: I’ve been running around in circles until you…” Sonic started talking with an annoyed tone, but his voice lost its heat bit by bit before he trailed off, eyes cast downwards to his fists that he had unconsciously fisted in his lap.
“‘Until I’ what?” Shadow prompted, a bit surprised when Sonic turned to look at him and suddenly their breaths were mingling.
Sonic seemed to have not expected the proximity too, judging from his immediate spluttering before he cleared his throat and awkwardly leaned away to create more distance between his face and the other hedgehog.
There was still that faraway look in Sonic’s eyes, thoughtful and considering.
“…you were whispering Maria’s name, at first.
I… didn’t want to leave you unwatched when you’re like that ; so I stayed beside you and… well… tried my best to give you some… sort of comfort.
I’m never really the most touchy-feely person around, but seeing you look so in… pain left me no other option to soothe you than by holding your hand.
Hope you didn’t mind that.”
…Shadow stayed silent.
“But then you started crying, and I wouldn’t have noticed that you were if not for the fact that I was watching you. I… tried wiping them away so that when you wake up you wouldn’t need to address the elephant in the room that is ‘you cry in your sleep’ - I know, I’m sooo considerate!
But then you called my name, Shads.
You sounded so… resigned.
I couldn’t stop myself from shaking you awake, man. But no regrets on that part; I should’ve shaken you awake as soon as I realized you were having a nightmare. Nightmares suck.” Sonic spoke his piece, finally stopping once he said all that he wanted to as he cast his gaze into the space between him and the only other hedgehog in the cave.
Shadow thought back to his nightmare - of vicious and hateful green eyes belonging to the blue hedgehog - and looked at kind and concerned green eyes belonging to the blue hedgehog.
The blue hedgehog that is here .
Words spoken after that slipped past Shadow’s lips without much thought.
“It was the first time you appeared in my nightmare.”
Sonic went the slightest bit rigid.
“…what did I do?”
Shadow kept his gaze down-casted.
Why was he telling all these to the blue hedgehog?
“You said I failed: at protecting the ones that are worth it.
You said I was a sorry excuse of an ‘ultimate lifeform’. You said I killed Maria. You said I almost killed you, too.
You said that you’re mine, and that I am at your mercy.
You said-”
‘ You said you and Maria are nothing alike. ’
Green eyes that seemed to be like an endless blackhole came to mind, and Shadow couldn’t help but buckle from how nauseating the memory itself was, barely registering as hands were suddenly on his shoulders, pulling him to lean against peach fur as they seamlessly slotted beside and almost on top of each other, Shadow’s back to Sonic’s chest.
Since when was Sonic so close?
Fingers went through Shadow’s quills, and the hedgehog found himself being lulled into sleep in an instant, slacking against his rival against his will as his brain started to be cloudy and foggy.
Shadow focused on the fingers drawing patterns on his quills: of the hand that was scratching the back of his ear and the other drawing patterns on the side of his leg distractingly.
Odd - why was everything suddenly so overwhelming?
Sonic started humming a tune, and Shadow let Sonic do as he pleased as the blue hedgehog adjusted so that the hybrid would be comfortable enough to sleep, letting the black hedgehog see at least half of the hero’s face from the corners of his eyes.
At the brink of sleep with the unfamiliar tune and the gentle caress on him, Shadow tried blinking a few times to wave away the drowsiness to ask:
“ Why aren’t you saying anything? ”
His voice sounded slurred and sleepy even to his ears.
The movements on him didn’t cease.
“You didn’t kill Maria. You obviously didn’t kill me.”
Despite how close they were to the point that Shadow could faintly listen to Sonic’s steady heartbeat if he tried hard enough, the hero’s voice sounded distant.
“You’re created to be the ultimate lifeform; so that, you are.
You’ve protected a lot of people, Shadow - both accidentally and willingly.”
Shadow waited with bated breath for Sonic’s next words, for Sonic to deny that the black hedgehog wasn’t held captive and at the other hedgehog’s mercy.
No such words came even a minute later.
Something’s amiss.
Something’s wrong.
Shadow wanted to get away - but it appeared that he no longer had full control of his body, sleep taking its reign as the hybrid tried to stay awake.
Using as much energy as he could, Shadow tried sparing a look at Sonic’s face, hoping to be able to get a read on the hero so he could reassure himself that he wasn’t living a nightmare .
The ultimate lifeform’s body had gone too unresponsive for him to properly react to the expression on Sonic’s face.
His eyes were undeniably still kind and caring - and yet in the depth of it all Shadow found a familiar glint that caused his stomach to churn.
His smile was indeed comforting and understanding - and yet satisfaction and unplaced pride too were disguised behind it, the corners of his lips seeming to be struggling to not curl up any more than they already had.
As soon as Sonic realized Shadow was looking , the hand that had been gently scratching behind Shadow’s ear almost harshly turned Shadow’s face to look away, no longer privy to whatever expression the hero had on his face.
“Don’t start staring now, darling .
Don’t you know it’s rude to stare? ”
Heart beating erratically in his chest in contrast to how relaxed his body had become, Shadow stayed frozen as Sonic continued his gentle caress and soft humming, the sound feeling more and more foreboding as he could no longer listen to the blue hedgehog’s heartbeat.
A small part of his brain was screaming for him to stay awake, but it was left ignored as the hybrid’s vision swam with what seemed to be a mix of reality and a nightmare.
Did Eggman do something to Sonic before Shadow had gone unconscious?
“Hush, Shads. I can hear the gears in your brain turning. No more of that.”
Sonic’s voice was soothing - like a siren calling for an innocent fisherman to join them under the water, unaware of what was to come once he made the mistake of diving under .
This felt like a mistake.
“Stop working so hard.
After all, I can do all the thinking for both of us.
It’s only fair that I do so; since you’re at my mercy.
Mine.
Everyone is. ”
Sonic’s voice was barely audible, as loud as a whisper as his fingers trailed away from Shadow’s leg and upwards, carding through soft white fur with a pleased hum before he tenderly wiped away at non-existent tears at the corner of Shadow’s eyes.
( Or were they there and Shadow was unaware?
Just as he had been unaware of the power the blue hedgehog held this whole time? )
Still unable to move, shivers were running down his spine as the hand retracted back to its previous spot on Shadow’s leg, noticeably more elated than a few seconds ago as the blue hedgehog hummed appreciatively.
“You’ve always been the fastest out of them all - the fastest to be able to keep up with me.
I should have known you’d be the first to hear me.
Those nightmares… were probably just your brain coming up with nonsense. Don’t pay them any mind. However…
Tell me, Shadow .
You can’t run away from the truth.
Would you rather be living a nightmare or be dreaming a reality? ”
No longer able to respond, Shadow noted how his heartbeat had slowed down, as if forced to match the steady heartbeat of the hedgehog behind him.
( At Sonic’s mercy - is he? )
A fond chuckle rang soft yet loud in Shadow’s ears, and the black hedgehog finally found himself sleeping without nightmares, barely able to register the last few words from the hero before succumbing to unconsciousness.
“ Dream of good things, Shadow.
Keep up with me once you’re awake - just like you always do.
Don’t go and make things boring for me by scurrying away in fright later on. ”
***
“Sonic! Oh, I am so glad I pestered you hard enough to keep that gadget on you! It would’ve been impossible for me to track you down if it’s not for that gadget!” Tails cried out as soon as Sonic got out of the cave, having stood on one of Tails’ machines before it carried the blue hedgehog.
The blue hedgehog carrying an unconscious black hedgehog.
Tails was indeed informed by the civilians that Sonic ran off after Eggman with Shadow, but…
“Uh. Why is Shadow unconscious?” Tails asked, pausing from trying to pull his brother figure into a hug to instead inspect any sort of injuries on the black hedgehog.
None.
“Oh. Pfft. Don’t worry about the sleepyhead! He just hasn’t been sleeping!” Sonic said, cackling a little while he tried to not shake too much to presumably not wake the hedgehog in his arms.
While Tails wanted to believe his brother’s words, it struck him as odd for Shadow - Shadow who hated leaving himself open and vulnerable in front of anyone if he could - to be peacefully sleeping in the middle of a fight.
Doubting, Tails gave Sonic a look, but the hedgehog merely looked at him innocently.
“Are you… sure?” Tails prompted, asking again in case the blue hedgehog indeed forgot to tell him something.
Sonic scowled, and that was Tails’ cue to back off.
“Of course Shadow’s fine! I’m stuck down there with him, remember? I wouldn’t have let the guy die if there was a threat down there!” Sonic huffed, confidence thick in his words as they easily convinced the fox that nothing out of the ordinary had transpired down below.
“Yeah. I mean, you’re totally right, Sonic! In fact, if there really was a threat with you guys down there, no one would be any bigger of a threat than you are! Strong and fast!” Tails beamed half-jokingly, expecting a smug ‘exactly!’ from his older brother.
Instead of reacting like how Tails had expected him to, Sonic merely grinned, the said grin seeming to have some kind of meaning Tails wasn’t aware of as the blue hedgehog turned to look at the sleeping hedgehog in his arms.
Eyes the slightest bit hooded, Sonic gave the hedgehog in his arms a long look before chuckling.
“You are absolutely right, lil bro.”
The reaction was indeed out of the ordinary, but Tails had understood long ago that people tended to deviate from the norms at times, unlike machines which would only do what they’re programmed to do.
They started their journey back home, chatting about some of Tails’ current projects in hushed voices to not awaken the slumbering black hedgehog.
It was only when they got home did Tails recalled a missing creation of his, opting immediately to ask his brother if he had seen it anywhere.
Upon reaching the living room, Tails noticed that Sonic was casually carding his fingers through Shadow’s quills, the latter having slept with his head on the hero’s lap while the former was watching the silent TV.
Odd, but Tails had grown to not question things much - especially when he’s around Sonic the Hedgehog.
“Sonic! Have you seen that one project of mine? You know; the one that’s like a perfume of some sort to help people who struggle with sleeping to, well, sleep? I’ve been looking for it forever and I just can’t seem to find it!” Tails asked, vaguely remembering how he had talked about that project of his with Sonic a couple of days ago.
Sonic put on a thinking face before answering, voice mindful of the hedgehog sleeping on his lap.
“The one that you said may have side effects in which the one who smelt the perfume would sleep either dreaming or having nightmares?”
Tails… didn’t remember telling his brother in that much detail.
“Uh, yeah. I mean, to be more specific, the one affected would be dreaming of someone that’s in the room with them - hence why I thought that it’s best to test it when we’re in the same room since we trust each other.” Tails clarified, unable to stop himself from correcting his brother’s explanation.
Unusually, Sonic looked far more intrigued than usual.
“You didn’t tell me that their dreams or… nightmares would be so accurate,” Sonic murmured, eyes trained on Shadow and softening the slightest bit when Shadow seemed to nuzzle closer to the other.
Weird.
Tails was pretty sure both hedgehogs weren’t always so… touchy-feely and comfortable with each other.
“I mean… in all honesty, I don’t even remember telling you all that before.” Tails said, purposefully phrasing it like a joke and making sure accusation was not at all present in his tone.
Sonic, ever so quick to pick up what Tails put down, pulled out something from his quills before he finally took his eyes away from Shadow, looking apologetic.
“Well, I guess I had accidentally used it on a… stray chao .”
A chao?
“Woah- you mean it worked on a chao?! I hadn’t considered it being able to affect them!” Tails asked, eager to jot down the new details as he looked expectantly at the blue hedgehog, hoping that he would be provided with more details.
The blue hedgehog pursed his lips thoughtfully, and then carefully lifted Shadow’s head away from his lap, standing up and laying the black hedgehog back on the couch before covering the hybrid with a nearby blanket.
There was something different in Sonic’s eyes, Tails noted.
They looked… fond .
Yet it seemed to be much more than just the word.
Tails would compare it to the look he was often told he had in his eyes when he talked about his creations or machines, but then that wouldn’t have been accurate since Shadow wasn’t Sonic’s.
Beckoning for Tails to follow him, Sonic moved to a table with chairs nearby, taking a seat where he could still keep his eyes on the deeply asleep hedgehog.
It was a miracle how Shadow still hadn’t woken up.
Perhaps he really was tired…
“Stop staring at him. You know he doesn’t like being stared at. ”
Tails hadn’t even realized he was staring.
Quickly moving to follow after Sonic and taking a seat opposite the hero, Tails rubbed the back of his head apologetically, watching as the blue hedgehog merely dismissed the fox’s apology in favor of giving a long look at Shadow’s direction.
How come Sonic was allowed to stare but Tails couldn’t?
“I was running my usual route, you know? Then I bumped into a chao that seemed to have gotten lost after wandering around aimlessly. It was panicking and in distress, so… I was toggling with that gadget you gave me when I realized I accidentally brought that project of yours.
So I tried using it - to calm the chao down by making it sleep.
It worked. The chao fell asleep, and during that time I ran to the closest Chao Garden and dropped it there.
When it woke up, it seemed really fond of me. So I deduced that perhaps it had dreamt of nice things about me - because it hated my guts the moment I appeared before it while it was awake.”
Sonic’s words effectively grabbed Tails’ attention, and the fox was quick to drop his previous line of thought, quickly jotting down possible reasons why it worked on a chao in his notebook.
Amid scribbling hypotheses and well-thought reasonings, Sonic tapped the table a few times to grab Tails’ attention - which he immediately got as the fox looked away from his notebook and looked at his brother figure curiously.
“What’s up? Anything else you just remembered about the chao?” Tails prompted, waiting for another barrage of thoughts to pop up in his head so he could continue brainstorming.
Sonic drummed his fingers rhythmically on the table.
“...nothing important. Was just wondering about the other side effect that wasn’t dreaming.”
“Oh. You mean nightmares?”
“Yeah, that.
What circumstances would lead to them having nightmares instead of dreams? ”
Tails hummed, trying to remember the exact details he had written on a book he had somewhere in his room, too lazy to go grab it at this moment.
“While making the project, I didn’t want to make ‘getting nightmares’ an option at all, but to ensure it has a higher chance of providing nice dreams for people, I had to take the risk of them having to experience nightmares. The goal is for them to sleep - regardless of its means. It’s to cure insomnia, after all.
The chances of the individual getting nightmares instead of dreams are relatively small, but not zero. According to what I remember, they would only be able to conjure up nightmares if they have strong emotions for the person in the room, and if they’re plagued by something they struggle to move on from now and then - like trauma, for example.”
Sonic evidently perked up at the words ‘strong emotions’ and ‘trauma’.
“Trauma… well, that explains why the chao had dreams and no nightmares.” the blue hedgehog quipped, a hand hovering over his mouth for some reason as the fox nodded in agreement to the hedgehog’s words.
Speaking of dreams…
“Well, Shadow must definitely be having a great dream; he hasn’t budged at all ever since I saw the two of you. Dead to the world or something.
I thought Shadow would be a light sleeper, considering his past was not the safest one.”
“I thought so too. But nightmares could be quite consuming, huh? ”
…nightmares?
“ ‘Consuming’ ?” Tails repeated the word.
Sonic turned to look at Tails, and his face stayed carefree and unbothered.
“Just a guess; Shadow does look like someone who had recurring nightmares. Maybe that’s why he’s so brooding and so antsy.” the blue hedgehog said, tone casual like he was talking about the weather.
Nightmares.
“Shouldn’t we wake him up then? If he’s having a nightmare, I mean.” Tails asked, was about to stand to check up on Shadow when Sonic’s chair dragged loudly across the floor from how quickly he was standing up, prompting the fox to pause his movements.
“He needs sleep, Tails. Let’s leave him to it, yeah?”
Sonic’s tone was… unusual.
“I mean…”
“It’s like you said; regardless of the means, everyone should have a good sleep , yeah?”
There wasn’t much Tails could argue against.
Before Tails could come up with a reply, there was a grunt and a groan from the couch, and Sonic quite literally ran to the black hedgehog, eyes surprisingly filled with anticipation as he watched the hybrid grouched awake, sitting up on the couch and rubbing his head as if it was pounding.
(Since Tails trusted Sonic wholeheartedly and was too caught up over how differently his brother was acting, it went right over his head that a symptom of one having inhaled the artificial scent he made was a pounding headache upon waking up.)
Tails had expected Shadow to give Sonic an infuriated look upon seeing the blue hedgehog - but the black hedgehog seemed to be taking his annoyance of the blue hedgehog a step further as he flinched away, backing up onto the couch while Sonic chirped ecstatically.
“Shads! You’re awake! ”
The fox wondered if the discomfort in Shadow’s eyes was real or if he had misunderstood it.
Shadow didn’t regard Sonic’s words with a reply, instead giving his surroundings a short scan before realizing immediately that he was in Sonic’s and Tails’ shared house.
“Why did you bring me here?” Shadow asked, tone as curt as usual - and maybe the slightest bit… apprehensive?
What’s there to be apprehensive about when Sonic’s here with them?
Sonic laughed like Shadow had cracked the funniest joke in history, but quickly collected himself to give the hybrid a reply.
“What? Did you think I would leave what’s mine out there in the open? I’m not so irresponsible, sweetheart .”
Tails’ brain short-circuited.
“...I’m not yours.”
“ Do you even have a choice? ”
Shadow was glaring his usual fierce glare while Sonic fixed the other with his usual amused and smug smile - and yet Tails couldn’t help but feel like there was something off-putting about his brother.
Why did it look like Shadow was… apprehensive because of Sonic?
After a glaring competition that had Tails afraid of stepping in, Shadow grunted and looked away first, standing up and attempting to walk away only to be stopped by a hand on his wrist.
“I thought I told you to not scurry away,” Sonic said, voice barely audible as both hedgehogs looked into each other’s eyes - as if searching for something.
Something was… different .
Tails couldn’t place what it was.
Shadow pursed his lips, the action having captured Sonic’s eyes just the briefest moment before green eyes were boring back into red eyes.
Tails decided that yeah, he should really get out of here.
Quietly to not interrupt, Tails scurried away for his room, hoping the hedgehogs would peacefully settle whatever it was that happened between them.
***
“I’m not running away,” Shadow claimed, looking increasingly unsettled upon realizing Tails was no longer here.
Sonic was having too much fun .
He hadn't cared about power before Shadow. All he ever really cared about before ‘the ultimate lifeform’ appeared before him was to keep his peace, be free, and make sure his loved ones stayed safe and happy.
Then Shadow came along, preaching about how he’s the ultimate lifeform and that he’s stronger than the blue hedgehog.
Sonic hadn’t realized he was training to be better until his friends pointed it out.
“Going out on a run again? I know you’re bored, but with how frequent your runs have been, I feel like you’re just trying to exercise to the point of being able to teleport!” Tails had jokingly said one day as Sonic was about to go on a run, pausing for a moment to think about Tails’ words.
“You really think I would be able to do that?”
“Big bro, you’re literally Sonic the Hedgehog. You can do anything if you put your mind to it.”
The blue hedgehog had indeed boasted about his speed to his enemies and foes to taunt them into making a mistake so he could win against them - but to be able to do anything?
Tails’ words have become a frequently visited thought ever since then.
“Is it just me, or are you stronger than usual?” Knuckles had asked at some point after one of their casual sparrings, prompting Sonic’s ears to perk up.
“Are you being serious?!” Sonic asked, ecstatic.
The echidna huffed in amusement at his friend’s eagerness.
“Unfortunately, yes. Say; does this have something to do with Shadow? Tails had been saying how you’ve become obsessed with running and picking on that brooding guy. Leave him alone, would you? He’s one of the only people who could keep that bat occupied. I’m tired of having to shoo that bat away.” Knuckles said as an answer, pulling a frown from Sonic before the hedgehog refuted with words along the lines of ‘I am not obsessed with that guy!’.
“Well, you shouldn’t be.
You’re faster than him. Keep this whole ‘training’ thing up, you may even be stronger than him.”
Sonic remembered refuting and saying how he was already stronger than Shadow, but upon lying down on his bed that night, he came to realize that yeah, he is fast. Strong.
Why would anyone rely on him if he wasn’t both of those?
“Thank you for always saving everyone, Sonic. We couldn’t have done it without you! Or maybe we could, but it would’ve caused so much more collateral damage!” Amy had cheered and pulled him into a hug after a particularly tough fight with Eggman’s most recent robot, the blue hedgehog’s thoughts zeroing in on the words ‘ we couldn’t have done it without you! ’.
At first, Sonic thought he was feeling arrogant and greedy ; so he avoided thinking about those thoughts any further, afraid of being consumed by such thoughts.
Then came the moment when Shadow and Sonic had agreed on a truce to fight against Eggman.
Eggman was defeated, and the two hedgehogs were at the center of the battlefield, still just regaining back their bearings after using up so much energy.
That was the first time Shadow had smiled unabashedly around Sonic.
Laughter rang and filled the silence that enveloped them after the huge fight, and Sonic’s heart rattled erratically in his chest, focusing on how weird the sound that slipped past Shadow’s lips sounded - as if he was alien to laughing .
It felt freeing.
For the first time in what felt like decades, Shadow smiled at him.
“Not bad, Sonic .”
Sonic’s heart had never beaten as quickly as it did that very moment.
“Impressed, are ya?” Sonic found himself saying before he could think his words through, not expecting the teasing tilt in Shadow’s answer.
“ Mildly impressed, if I’m being generous.”
The blue hedgehog thought back to his locked-away thoughts; of him being the fastest thing on Earth, of him growing stronger day by day, of everyone depending on him, and of the ultimate lifeform acknowledging his strength.
Was it really greed if it’s the truth?
In the end, Sonic decided to free himself of such worries .
He has never been the type to worry himself with the norm, after all - as free as the wind, he was.
Instead of shying away from these thoughts, Sonic chose to embrace it instead.
He made an effort to start thinking through his next moves when facing a foe and he made an effort to feign indifference and smugness while trying to gauge the future according to his abilities instead of winging it and hoping for the best like he usually would.
A conclusion was made in an instant:
If he plays his pieces right, everyone is in the palm of his hand.
With the right words, he could make them act the way he wanted them to.
With the right point to a direction, most would trust his words, if not all.
Everyone except for a few; one of them being Shadow .
Sonic had always liked being free, so while knowing that he was able to manipulate people’s decisions if he wanted to, he didn’t want to do such things to his friends. It’s their freedom of choice.
It’s a different story when it comes to Shadow, though.
Shadow seemed to have noticed the extent of Sonic’s influence on the people around him - but it all seemed to have been acknowledged unconsciously.
It was obvious in the way Shadow would always look for Sonic if he knew the blue hedgehog was coming, thinking he was merely keeping an eye on the hero when his consciousness obviously had done so because he knew what Sonic’s capable of.
It’s obvious in the way that Shadow instinctively kept Sonic at an arm’s distance, thinking he was afraid of being attached to someone he was bound to lose when truthfully he’s more wary of what Sonic’s capable of than anything.
In the midst of keeping the peace, staying free, and keeping his loved ones happy and safe, ‘not experiencing boredom’ became a much more pressing need as he found himself growing increasingly bored at being able to guess his opponents’ moves and friends’ words. (Not that he disliked his friends. They were merely getting… repetitive. But there’s beauty in the repetitiveness itself that Sonic could appreciate.)
But Shadow - Shadow wasn’t boring .
His unconscious flinches when Sonic reaches out his hand only to not do so, occasionally trembling pupils at the sight of destruction caused by both him and Sonic after a huge fight, heartbeat quickening when Super Sonic approached him like he was bracing himself for a hit despite knowing that they were allies at that moment: these were all intriguing.
Before Sonic knew it, he found himself looking for the black hedgehog whenever he was bored.
When the two of them had fallen into the cave and the gadget that’s supposed to help insomniacs to sleep fell right on Shadow and enveloped the hedgehog, the said hedgehog instantly fell unconscious, leaving Sonic by himself.
The hero truly was bored out of his mind, running in place and stopping only when he heard Shadow talk in his sleep.
The blue hedgehog had gone to try and wipe the tears away, heart aching for the usually collected hedgehog.
At the touch, though, Sonic caught a glimpse of Shadow’s nightmare - it’s like he’s in there in Shadow’s head.
Shadow had said Sonic and Maria were alike.
Sonic didn’t like being a replacement - even if it was merely in a nightmare.
The black hedgehog’s nightmare morphed the moment Sonic thought of it, and then Sonic found himself gripping onto Shadow’s muzzle; Shadow who was on his knees as unshed tears welled up in his eyes.
It was an unfitting look for the usually proud hedgehog.
It was dizzying.
Dizzy with how overwhelmingly powerful Sonic felt.
Cruel words left Sonic’s lips, and the blue hedgehog somehow wasn’t able to understand what it was that he was saying despite how his lips moved to shape the words.
But then tears started streaming down Shadow’s cheeks, and Sonic’s stomach did a somersault.
Heartbeat racing, Sonic couldn’t help the smile stretching on his lips, the urge to pull the black hedgehog closer and felt it tremble overwhelming as he let himself do exactly that, stopping himself from laughing at how the hedgehog in his arms made a futile attempt to escape.
It was merely a hug - was Shadow terribly touch-starved, after all?
Sonic himself wasn’t a big fan of physical touch, but this?
This was an exception.
“What are you trying to get away from? You can’t run away from the truth.
You killed Maria. ”
Sonic wasn’t sure why he said something so obviously wrong.
He almost felt bad - Shadow was letting out these barely audible hiccups from trying to silently cry, and it was making Sonic feel bad.
Keeping his touch gentle as if to apologize for words he didn’t even mean, for words that were said merely to see how the black hedgehog would fall apart, the hero wiped some tears away, staring right into the unstable mix of emotions swirling in red pupils.
(Amused; Sonic was feeling far too entertained.
Had he gone insane, after all? )
Words tumbled out of Sonic’s lips unprompted again, as if it wasn’t even him speaking, and as Sonic stared into those red, quivering eyes, Sonic found himself realizing how unbearably boring it would be if Shadow suddenly disappeared.
“-And you’re mine - with me . At my mercy. ” the nightmare translated and interpreted the thoughts lingering in Sonic’s head, surprising the blue hedgehog himself from how possessive he sounded.
( But was it really that much of a surprise after all Sonic had done and thought of whenever it came to Shadow the Hedgehog? )
More incomprehensible words left Sonic’s lips, and as he reminded the black hedgehog that he and Maria were not the same, Sonic was helpless to the smile curling on his lips, heart thumping a steady quick pace as Shadow looked right into his eyes despite the fear that was clogging his throat.
Still - that was enough.
Messing with Shadow was a favorite pastime of his - but Sonic preferred it to be happening in reality where he could have a clear view of every little thing of his rival .
Sonic somehow managed to get out of what felt like a dreamscape, shaking Shadow gently awake and falling easily into his usual act: a hedgehog who merely likes his freedom, friends, and adventures.
Surprisingly, Shadow was holding up quite well upon waking up - minus the part where he wasn’t able to stop crying.
It was almost endearing - how persistent Shadow was to be strong .
He already was; Sonic wouldn’t waste his pastime on weak people.
Their banters came easily, and as much as Sonic’s thoughts of being ‘the most powerful’ could be pleasant, acting this charade of ‘a hero’ was a pleasant act.
Sonic had always liked to play dumb and make people feel smart; call it something like doing charity work.
But then Shadow laughed , the sound prompting Sonic’s brain to short-circuit as an old memory of Shadow admitting that he was impressed came to mind.
( He hoped that, at present, only he was privy to such a pretty laugh. )
“It’s- you - ugh. Whatever. Just go to sleep already so I won’t need to see your brooding face anymore.” was Sonic’s lame way of trying to change the topic, unable to stop himself from flushing as the pretty laugh played on repeat in his head. (Sonic wanted their sides to brush - wanted to feel black quills against his blue ones. )
But then Shadow started opening up about what he dreamt of, and he remembered .
Remembered Sonic’s words to him.
The lingering effects of the scent from before started taking its toll once again, and Sonic took that as his chance to comfort Shadow.
Comfort - Sonic was never really the best at giving comfort through physical touch.
But he desperately needed the other close.
Sonic purposefully did not address how Shadow had said that ‘nightmare Sonic’ had called him his , heart a little giddy as he wondered if the hybrid caught on - which he did.
When Shadow had gotten a good look at the sickeningly happy smile on Sonic’s lips, the blue hedgehog resigned to his fate, and realized that from now on, Shadow’s eyes would always be on him, watching his every move as he was now the only one to know Sonic’s true nature.
“Stop working so hard.
After all, I can do all the thinking for both of us.
It’s only fair that I do so since you’re at my mercy - mine.
Everyone is. ”
“ Dream of good things, Shadow.
Keep up with me once you’re awake - just like you always do.
Don’t go and make things boring for me by scurrying away in fright later on. ”
Shadow’s weight in his arms as he carried the hybrid back home was pleasant .
The mighty black hedgehog, succumbing to sleep peacefully in the arms of the hedgehog he was ‘afraid’ of the most.
And here they were back in the present; Sonic watching in barely disguised satisfaction as Shadow was eyeing the exit despite saying how he wasn’t running away.
The black hedgehog’s unconscious flinches had always been peak entertainment in Sonic’s eyes, but this ? The way Shadow caught himself feeling like he wanted to bolt away and trying to recover in the very next moment, not daring to look into Sonic’s eyes as if afraid the blue hedgehog would see his slip-up, was straight-up addicting.
Every bit of Shadow - Sonic wanted to see.
Wanted to see the effect he had on the ultimate lifeform.
“You’re eyeing the door.” Sonic pointed out, smiling in amusement when Shadow seemed to be internally cursing himself for the slip-up.
“You’re imagining things.”
“You’re the one who had just woken up, darling .”
“Stop calling me that-!”
“Tell me, Shadow .
How else am I supposed to address what’s mine? ”
Shadow started fuming.
It’s fun to see the guy losing his marbles and simultaneously looking unsure of what to do next.
Before Shadow could say something idiotic and ignorant like how he’s not Sonic’s, the blue hedgehog dropped Shadow’s wrist in favor of grabbing Shadow’s muzzle - just like he did in the hybrid’s nightmare hours prior.
Shadow certainly wasn’t kneeling - but Sonic liked it better when they were face-to-face anyway.
More to see closely.
“Being aware of who I am; are you going to tell anyone? ” Sonic asked, tracing a pattern at the corner of the black hedgehog’s lips, snickering as he tugged on the corner and giving him a full view of Shadow’s sharp fang before the hybrid growled low in his throat.
“ No one would believe me even if I tried. ” Shadow huffed, hands going up to hold Sonic’s wrist, for some reason not making any moves to push the blue hedgehog’s hands away.
“Smart fella, aren’t you?”
“You didn’t deserve any less.” Shadow drawled, yet Sonic couldn’t help but be taken aback by how genuine those words were.
“Are you trying to distract me?” Sonic asked, if only to make sure Shadow’s eyes stayed on him and only him.
“I’m planning on knocking some sense into you while you’re distracted - but you’re not.”
Shadow was truly too hilarious for Sonic to let go.
A string of laughter tumbled out of the blue hedgehog’s lips, and he finally let go of the hybrid, smiling all pleased as he watched the black hedgehog look at him skeptically.
“Don’t think I wouldn’t kick you right now.” Shadow threatened, solid voice not matching the way his fists were clenched to his sides almost anxiously.
That’s what Sonic liked about Shadow.
“Wouldn’t have it any other way, sweetheart .”
Shadow made a face at the nickname.
( How is it even possible for Sonic to want to see Shadow in both a flustered mess and a bloodied mess? )
All of a sudden, Shadow’s legs buckled, and Sonic easily caught the black hedgehog before he could fall onto the ground, relishing in the way the hybrid’s body went rigid the moment the hero’s hands made contact with him.
“Looks like Tails should tone down the potency of that thing. You’re barely able to move. ” Sonic commented, letting the black hedgehog lean his weight on him while the said black hedgehog was left with no choice but to do just that.
“Tell your brother to stop experimenting with weird shit.” came Shadow’s complaint, murmured barely audible and a little bit slurred right into Sonic’s shoulder.
With ease, Sonic seated himself on the couch and slotted Shadow to lean against his chest, snickering when Shadow grunted.
“Aren’t you tired of dragging me around? I thought you’re the type to not be able to stay still.” the black hedgehog muttered again, words becoming more and more indecipherable as he struggled to say words properly from drowsiness.
Doing the exact same thing he did with his hands on the back of Shadow’s ear and on Shadow’s leg from back when they were in the cave, Sonic hummed.
“ I can stay still if my interest is piqued. ”
It seemed like Shadow wanted to say more, but his tongue was already heavy in his mouth.
Such a shame; Sonic’s always been fond of their banters.
Grabbing the nearby blanket Shadow had discarded, Sonic draped it over the two of them, sighing contentedly at the perfect warmth.
“How does it feel to cuddle with the fastest lifeform?”
Sonic hadn’t expected a reply, but it came anyway after Shadow surprisingly scooted closer.
“ Terrifying. ”
It was sarcasm.
Sonic huffed a short, barely there amused breath at one of Shadow’s ears, chuckling when it twitched frantically at the sudden gush of air hitting it.
“Keep on being an ass, and maybe I’ll test out turning everyone against you.” Sonic joked, knowing full well that Shadow understood the implication behind his words.
“I’ll just have to beat you up, then.”
“Think you can beat me, sweetheart ?”
“I know I can.”
Interesting.
“I would expect a good fight from you, that’s for sure.
Just make sure you don’t run away when the time comes, yeah?
Although… I wouldn’t mind playing the cat-and-mouse game. Seeing you unsettled and squirming is adorable. ”
“What the hell is wrong with you?’
“Nothing. I’m perfect.
Just hoping it’ll be more perfect once you stop being so sleepy and can entertain me some more. ”
Expectedly, Shadow scoffed.
And just expectedly, Shadow’s breath evened out, falling asleep once again.
Just from Shadow’s voice alone, no one would’ve thought the black hedgehog was affected by Sonic being so close.
Yet as Sonic’s fingers traced patterns on Shadow absent-mindedly, he could feel how the other trembled and shook.
Adjusting the hedgehog in his lap, Sonic wrapped his arms around the black hedgehog securely and pulled him close.
Sonic couldn’t wait for Shadow to truly see him.
***