Work Text:
Another day in Green Hills, Sun was at high noon, the Flickies were chirping, Tails was tinkering in his shop. And then the peace was disrupted with Sonic frantically opening the front door to his hut, and pushing open the windows while in a coughing fit.
“Ack! Haaa!” Sonic wheezed as he picked up a dish towel and rapidly fanned the gray smoke from the house. “Those were bad chili dogs.” He coughed with a sheepish chuckle underneath. He had already extinguished the source of the fire, and went to fetch a glass of water, and waited on the patio as he took small sips with hacking fits in between.
“Sonic!” A voice called out. On the hedgehog’s right, Tails was flying closer with a large pack with a long hose and nozzle attached. “I saw the smoke! What happened? Was it Eggman?” The fox hovered on the path, his twin tails twitched with anticipation even after they ceased spinning.
“Sorry…I let the chili dogs burn…Fire’s already out!” Sonic waves his hands sheepishly. “I guess I wasn’t paying attention.” He rubs behind his ears with a forced smile.
“Really? I know waiting isn’t your strong suit, Sonic, but I never thought you would let Chili dogs catch fire, let alone burn like that. What else were you doing?” Tails asked with concern, his eye ridge poked up skeptically.
“Eh, you know just…uh…thinking…” Sonic shrugs.
“Yeah…” Tails narrows his eyes “Are you sure you are up for later? We can just hang out, instead?”
Sonic’s eyes widened. “No… I mean… I’m fine.” He insists while rubbing his nose. “I’ll just bring something that doesn’t need to be cooked. Something…fast!” He stressed with his trademark smirk.
“You really don’t have too…ah…Heh…funny.” Tails chuckled. “But really, we’ve been doing a lot these last few days, we can relax too some days, you know? Even Eggman hasn’t been doing any grandiose schemes since that time at the beach. Just throwing his badniks at us occasionally.”
“Exactly why we should have the gang together every chance we get!” Sonic nods fervently. “Trust me, I have something in the pantry…” Sonic dashes back in the house.
Tails opens his mouth to speak and makes a little pout. “I…uh…I guess I’ll meet you at Seaside Hills.” The fox shakes his head and his twin tails start to spin as he starts on back to his workshop.
Meanwhile behind one of the trees, Shadow makes his way from his hiding spot. He had also been alerted by the smoke, but seeing Sonic more frazzled than distressed or ready for battle, he hung back and listened to the conversation between the fox and hedgehog. After all, if Eggman was truly not involved, then there was no need for him. However something seemed off. The fox seemed to think so as well, judging by his body language.
Shadow waited until the Fox was out of sight before he whooshed into the hut. The smoke was nearly cleared out, however Shadow could hear Sonic letting out a few more coughs as his rump stuck out of the kitchen pantry. The dark hedgehog made a face and looked around with a slight clearing in his throat. Sonic turned around suddenly with his eyes wide with shock.
“Oh…Shadow…came for a show?” He added with a teasing voice.
“Hardly.” Shadow shakes his head. “I saw the smoke. Had the same feelings as Tails, only to find your incompetence is worse today.” He crossed his arms.
“Aww…you didn’t have to come inside and check on me, Shadow.” Sonic offers a friendly smile.
“No, I didn’t, and this whole thing is a waste of my time. However, given recent events, I felt compelled to investigate.” Shadow explains with a nod. His eyes narrow as he notices faint dark lines under Sonic’s green eyes.
“Well, I’m grateful you dropped by. Don’t know why you didn’t just come up instead of eavesdropping. I’m sure Tails would have liked to see you…Actually…maybe you can come down with us to the seaside…” Sonic squeezed at his thumb.
“Not necessary, my presence is not required for large groups.” Shadow insisted.
“Well, if it means anything, you did really well at the Grim.” Sonic shrugs with a crooked smile. “And… I know the others had questions about the paradox prism.”
“That was the exception, Sonic. And I didn’t fight in the Grim for them!” Shadow explains and inhales sharply as he shakes his head. “You got your friends back, I don’t know why you would try to involve me!” He glowers his intentions with a sharp gaze.
Sonic’s ears flatten for a moment and he shrugs. “Yeah? Sorry I just…um… well, the offer is still there.” The hedgehog offered weakly.
“Are you sleeping well?” Shadow asks, changing the topic abruptly.
“Uh…what?” Sonic replies perplexed.
“Your speed and performance diminish drastically without a proper rest. So are you getting a full eight hours of deep sleep, Sonic?” Shadow reiterates.
“Ohhhh…” Sonic nods and rubs the back of his head. “Y-yeah. Of course. I mean granted, I should be asking if you got enough sleep. Being in the Shatterspace for days maybe?”
“I am the Ultimate Life Form” Shadow dismisses. “My bodily requirements differ from yours.” The Hedgehog gestures to Sonic. “You, on the other hand, time dilation might have been different for you. Is that affecting your sleep cycles?”
“Well…it was hard to tell with one day in a Shatterspace, being weeks in another…” Sonic shrugged. “Now I think of it, the only time I slept was one time in No Place, and whatever sleep I got knocked out in the others.” He adds with a smirk. “So excuse me if my body needs a little more sleep to catch up.” He rubs under his nose with renewed charisma. “I always catch up, and overtake anything.”
Shadow exhales softly. “You need to take care of yourself too, Hedgehog.” He chides. “I’m not your keeper, and although the danger is gone, you can’t afford to let your body suffer your ego.” He starts to leave the hut.
Sonic looks down at his feet and calls out Shadow as he leaves. “I’m not asking you too!” When the black and red hybrid is just an orange streak in Hedgehog pass, Sonic adds softly. “Thanks Shadow. You take care too.”
^v^v^v^v^v^v^
Shadow had been surveying the areas around Green Hill in the last few days, and beyond. When it was just Ghost Hills the parameters only went as far as Green Hills did. Everything else; Station Square, the Mystic Ruins, Angel Island was gone. So naturally, when Green Hills was restored, as soon as Shadow hid the Paradox Prism, he ran off to see if the rest of the world was restored as well. So far it seemed as if everything was fine. Everyone was able to return to their homes safely. Shadow concluded there was nothing left on his part.
He found a small tree to rest in, just out of Red Mountain. So long as he stayed away from the creatures and badniks, it was a good space where he could get some privacy and rest.
“Hey, Shadow!” A familiar voice called.
Almost.
Shadow looked up as Rouge swooped by, bracing her feet on a nearby branch.
“Figures you might be in a place like this?” She smirked. Shadow gave her a sour look and exhaled softly.
“Here to see your boy toy?” Shadow muses, keeping his monotonous tone.
Rouge’s eyebrows scrunched with annoyance. “So then what’s your excuse? You’re on Angel Island as well!” She crosses her arms. “Regardless of why I came here, I do have a message for you, and thought we’d have a nice chat. But if you are going to be rude…”
“I’m not in the mood to hear your personal business, Rouge.” Shadow sneers. “What’s the message?”
“Hm, always business.” She shook her head. “G.U.N been messaging me non-stop. They want to know what happened…Because apparently something happened!” She exasperated, giving a skeptic glance at Shadow. The hybrid only perked up an eyebrow. “They said for about a week, Green Hills just blipped off the map. Any and all attempts to breach the area were futile. A WEEK, Shadow.” Rouge enunciated.
Shadow looked directly in her gaze, his features unmoved. “And… any conclusions?”
Rouge tilted her head “You aren’t at least a little curious? Unless…” Her mouth opened in an O shape. “Sonic! He said something… You know something!” She pointed.
Shadow, already irritated, started smoothing out his fur as he stood up. “If I know something, I’ll answer if G.U.N requests it” He angled his body, ready to take off when Rouge added something just audible enough.
“No wonder Sonic’s been so out of it.” She murmured.
Shadow’s ears flicked once. He gave a questioning look to Rouge and so she continued.
“He’s been wanting to talk to us about something that happened, but otherwise…he’s clingy, attentive…not self absorbed as much. Almost like he’s scared we’ll disappear or something.” Rouge cradled the side of her head in her hand. “And now this incident…”
“Did you ask him about it?” Shadow probed.
“Of course not, it’s classified…but are you saying he would know?” Rouge leaned in.
“Hmm…” Shadow gave a little nod. At that point, Shadow thought back to his conversation with Sonic. While he wouldn’t call the behaviors clingy, the blue hedgehog did seem intent on having everyone together, using Eggman as an excuse. However now Shadow was wondering if there was more to it. He blocked out what Rouge was saying next as his air shoes lit up and he raced down the tree, anxious to get back to Green Hills.
^v^v^v^v^v^v^
It was dark by the time Shadow arrived at the little hut. His eyes searching and ears swiveling as he surveyed the area. It seemed no one else was around. The hybrid zipped around the home, settling by one of the windows. He could hear a light snore; the blue blur was sleeping. Shadow leaned on the frame peering in. Sonic was resting one leg sticking out from his blankets, one arm tucked under his pillow and the other dangling off the cot. Shadow shifted away from the window frame, cursing to himself for what he was doing, and how pointless it was. He was about to take off when he heard a shift. Sonic’s breathing increasing, his blue legs shuffling in the sheets, and a tiny whine squeaks out.
The hybrid pauses, curious if Sonic could hear or smell him, all the more reason to leave. However Sonic started murmuring.
“Nine…don’t…No… Rusty! Dread! Prim, Catfish…Sails…Thorn…” Sonic cried out the names of the Shatterspace denizens, his voice seeming to call to them. “No… all gone … no … my fault … Tails … Knuckles … Rouge … Amy …Big …Shadow … No! S’all gone…”
Shadow heard a loud gasp as Sonic woke from his restless sleep. There were sounds of heavy panting, gagging and soft sniffles. The hybrid’s ears flicked as there was shuffling in the room, and a panicked voice ruminating.
“It’s fine…they’re all fine…I’m home? Yes! I’m home? This is home? This is Green Hills…” Footsteps tap by the window as Shadow obscures himself. Sonic leans out the window looking around aimlessly. “Yeah…Green Hills…not Ghost Hills…not gone.” He shakes his head, a few strands of fur falling out. Only some of Sonic’s face is illuminated by the moonlight, but Shadow can see his exhaustion now that the blue hedgehog assumes to be alone.
“I… Just in case… Just in case I’ll check again…” Sonic’s weary voice announces, and there is more shuffling before the Blue blur streaks out of the hut at lightning speed.
Shadow doesn’t hesitate to follow, curiosity eating at him. The hybrid follows him, while keeping some distance back to remain unseen. Where was Sonic going at this hour?
What results is Shadow tailing Sonic as he runs the length of an Artic Ultra marathon, scouring over the land, jumping across bridges and ships to the other islands. The Blue blur only stopping at each of his friend’s abodes to see if they are resting or being. As soon as Sonic seemed satisfied with his findings he would race off to the next stop. The blue hedgehog even ran a few extra laps until the Egg Carrier could be seen anchored in the sky. Finally, Sonic raced up the highest mountain range in the Green Hills, the place where the Paradox Prism was initially discovered. Sonic raced inside, running a few laps in the cavern, as if confirming that the Prism wasn’t there. After an hour of running, Sonic finally returned to his hut, diving in the window, losing his kicks and flopping on the bed. Shadow once again waited by the window listening to Sonic’s anxiety riddled ramblings as the blue hedgehog slowly drifted off to sleep. When his breathing evened out again. Shadow took it as his cue to leave. He would take a rest of his own before considering the strange events he witnessed.
^v^v^v^v^v^v^
Shadow welcomed the following day as usual, however the information from Rouge and Sonic late night escapade sat in the back of his mind. He wondered if it was just a one time event, and later that night he stalked Sonic’s hut only to witness the same events repeat. Nightmare, anxiety attack, sporadic patrol, collapsing back at home.
That following morning Sonic’s appearance had grown worse. His stability declined and the hedgehog seemed to balance his actions more carefully.
Shadow didn’t seem it necessary to intervene yet, and it’s not as if he couldn’t find other things to do, however he decided to gather some info from Tails under the guise of Eggman’s more recent failure of a scheme.
“Shadow!” Tails exclaimed as the hybrid blipped into existence next to him. The dark hedgehog quickly glanced around the area, and fortunately was alone.
“I know you have scans on the doctor’s recent upgrade, correct?” Shadow questions.
“Uh…how did you…” The fox hesitates.
“That is for me to know, and you to wonder.” Shadow rebuts. “What was the source?”
Tails shakes his head. “You know Sonic asked me something like this earlier.” The fox answered with a smile before he went solemn. “It seemed Eggman had created a prismatic titan of sorts. Thankfully it wasn’t stable enough to do any damage.” Tails pauses and gives a look to Shadow. “Its energy readings were similar to the Paradox Prism, but different.” The fox paused again and gave a look to Shadow. “Where did you go when you took it with Chaos Control?”
“Not to Dr. Robotnik, I can assure you.” Shadow explains as his gaze narrows with disgust. “And after that attack, I checked the location. The Paradox Prism is secure.”
“Wel-l-l…” Tails mused with the confirmation. “Theoretically if Eggman doesn’t have the Prism, but he had contact with the gem…” Tails spun in his office chair, punching some numbers in the computer. “There was some crazy energy emitting when he tried to take the Prism from the bedrock. Perhaps some of that energy was absorbed into his suit.”
“That wouldn’t be enough to sustain a prism structure like that.” Shadow shook his head. “It took three shards worth of stored energy to…”
“Three shards of what?” Tails asked with his eye ridge rising.
Shadow grunted. “I don’t think there is a rock or substance that could equal the Paradox Prism, aside from the Master Emerald and the Chaos.” The hybrid nodded.
Tails mirrored the gesture. “I agree. However if Eggman did have some of that energy, and had a chaos emerald, maybe he could find a way to mimic the wavelength with another gem. Obviously a single chaos emerald doesn’t have the same power so it didn’t hold up long. However if he had more, maybe he could extrapolate the energy he had from the Prism.” Tails had a worried look as he typed into his keyboard.
“Possibly.” Shadow mused. Perhaps Sonic’s nightmares were caused by the prism structure. Would it explain why he was going to such lengths at night?
“Did…something else happen in the cave? With the Prism and everything?” Tails asked out of the blue.
“Such as?” Shadow huffed. He held a glance of disinterest, but internally was hoping the fox would spill.
“Well…Sonic was running late, and then he just seemed different. You think he was gone for weeks instead of a half hour.” Tails noted. “And my computers were glitching when I turned them on. They kept trying to reset the calendar to a completely different date, but as I spoke with the scientists at the Mystic Ruins, they said that date is correct.” Tails turned to look at Shadow. “And it seems like you and Sonic are the only ones who aren’t bothered by that. However, when I ask Sonic, he seems to want to tell me. Although he gets into a state where he’s talking faster than I can understand, and then he gets frozen. It’s been getting worse. I don’t want to push my friend to talk about something that makes him upset, but I don’t know how to help him, if I don’t know what happened.” Tails sighs. “He looks tired.”
Shadow looks to the corner of the workshop briefly. “Yes.” Sensing he was not getting further with the conversation, he summoned Chaos control again, leaving before more questions could be asked.
^v^v^v^v^v^v^
Nightfall came once again, and as before, Shadow was waiting by Sonic’s hut. The hybrid massaged his eyelids with annoyance. He could have addressed this to Sonic in the day, but ever since he spoke with Tails, Sonic seemed more avoidant, instead taunting him into a race.
Shadow accepted out of pride, and won, but notably in part, because Sonic lost control of his veering several times. The blue blur turned tail with embarrassment afterward, and that was it.
Perhaps the fox told Sonic of their discussion, or possibly was not far from the fox and had eavesdropped. In either case, Shadow cursed his failings to be direct. The hybrid almost always was able to be succinct and effective in his goals, however since the Green Hills reformed, it felt as if there was a buffer in his ability to communicate with the Blue Blur.
Granted, Sonic was never one who really slowed down long enough to hear a tirade or scolding from Shadow; one could argue that such a flaw is one of the many factors that lead to the Shatterverse initially. However, in the past, that was Sonic’s misgivings, and now it seemed the burden of difficulty was on Shadow.
Perhaps it was understanding. Only the two of them knew what had happened. Or it was the mutual trust they built with their recent alliance. The possibility stands: Shadow and Sonic had grown closer with their experience. For the first time in decades, Shadow had someone who, only to himself, he may call a friend. That realization terrified him. Although Shadow wasn’t terrified of anything, and yet, Sonic’s presence added a layer of tangibility, newness, and hesitation to Shadow’s ordeal.
Shadow’s rumination was interrupted by the tell-tale cries of Sonic’s nightmare whimpering. The hybrid had decided to put an end to it tonight, and so at the first desperate plea, Shadow entered Sonic’s room.
Shadow watched for a moment as Sonic tossed and turned, kicking up his legs, his fur lighting a few flecks. It seemed as if Sonic was subconsciously reaching for the chaos emerald on Shadow, and the hybrid could not allow that.
Shadow stepped closer to the cot. He tried clearing his throat, and when that went nowhere he called out just above a whisper, in his commanding tone.
“Sonic!”
It had no effect, so Shadow tried again. “Sonic! Wake up!” He urged louder.
Sonic jolted in his sleep and his voice called out in a scratchy warble.
“Shadow? No…sorry!” The hedgehog was still in his tortured slumber.
Shadow’s frumped with his mouth in a thin line. Carefully he placed a knee on Sonic’s cot and nudged the hedgehog.
“Sonic! Wake up!”
“I’m sorry, Shadow…I couldn’t do it.” Sonic whimpered.
Shadow rolled his eyes up to the ceiling and let out a frustrated sigh. Why did it seem so much simpler in books? Or was it? Perhaps his approach was wrong. The hybrid let out another sigh and balancing on his knee, he crouched down over Sonic.
“Sonic…you’re having a nightmare.” Shadow forced his tone into something more somber, attempting to come off as nurturing. He placed a hand on his shoulder and gently rocked him.
“Sonic. It’s all here, wake up and see for yourself. It’s safe.” Shadow swallowed and dug deep again. “You didn’t fail. You’re in Green Hills. You’re safe.” He rocked Sonic again.
“I’m here. Wake up for me… please.”
Shadow bit his lip hoping Sonic wouldn’t remember any of this, but subconscious Sonic understood enough to get the memo.
Sonic whimpered again and slowly opened his eyes. Their gaze held each other for a moment.
WHACK!
Sonic kicked Shadow off the cot. The former leaped out ready to make another punch, as the latter angled his fall into an aerial flip and blocked Sonic’s panicked assault.
“What are you doing in my home!” Sonic wailed.
“Are you still having that nightmare?!” Shadow argued. “It’s me! You dumbass!”
“What…Sh-Shadow?” Sonic stuttered as the waning moonlight rippled on both of them. His hand shook against Shadow’s block, as if Sonic forgot to pull back. Instead he stepped forward, leaning into Shadow as if to embrace him.
Shadow however, was expecting another attack and grappled his arms. Sonic grunted and shook his head, before pulling back in a panicked state.
“Let me GO, Shadow!” Sonic growled trying to kick at Shadow.
“Not until you calm down!” Shadow fought back.
“W-Why were you in my home?!” Sonic bemoaned.
“Getting to the bottom of this nonsense you’ve started!” Shadow roared.
“What the heck?” Sonic pulled back again, still trapped in this gridlock. His breathing was still erratic.
“I said calm down! Then I’ll talk!” Shadow urged. Instead Sonic kept pulling and kicking. Shadow could hear small gasps and sniffles as if Sonic was trying and failing to hold back tears.
Shadow inhaled deeply to refocus. Then an idea struck; possibly a dumb one.
Shadow quickly let go of one of Sonic’s wrists, moving his hand to the back of Sonic’s head and pulled the hedgehog closer. Their foreheads touched, and just as Shadow could feel the blue blur trying to push at him he urged.
“Mirror your breath to mine, Sonic.” Shadow ordered.
“What? What are you doing?” Sonic tried to shake his head.
“You aren’t listening to me, so feel me.” Shadow let go of Sonic’s other wrist, wrapping his hand behind the small of his back, and pulling them into a sitting position.
“Mirror your breathing to mine.” And Shadow started inhaling through his nose, and exhaling slowly through his mouth.
Sonic shuddered against Shadow’s hold, but relented. The blue blur’s breaths were fast and frequent as he struggled to do anything but mouth breathe. Shadow focused on keeping his breathing even so Sonic would have a tempo to catch up with, and gently rubbed his back.
Eventually Sonic started breathing slower, then inhaling through his nose, exhaling through his mouth.
“Just…like…that…” Shadow affirmed, keeping his tempo.
“I…can…smell…your breath…” Sonic replied. “You had…espresso?”
“Don’t…act like…I can’t smell…whatever you put in your GOB, Sonic.” Shadow grumbled, losing his pace for a moment. “Don’t you brush your teeth?”
“Ah…heh…chili dogs… have a powerful … after taste…” Sonic grinned.
Shadow rolled his eyes but lessened the intensity of his hold.
“You can joke, so you must be calm, correct?” The hybrid asked.
Sonic nodded and soon after Shadow let go and the two sat idly on the floor.
“So… I must have been dreaming really loud, huh?” Sonic offers with a sheepish shrug, before looking around. “You were the only one who showed, huh.”
Shadow tilted his head with audacity, then shrugged. “No…I was waiting.”
“It’s called a doorbell, Shadow.” Sonic deadpanned.
“It took me several attempts to wake you…and I was waiting by your window.” Shadow insisted.
“Wait…why?” Sonic questioned.
“The others are worried about you.” Shadow admits. “You’ve been having these nightmares, for at least three days, then running off to check on everybody. Then you have the gall to act like you haven’t been sleep deprived.” Shadow scolds.
Sonic wilts slightly, then looks up with a faded smirk. “Ah, you do care Shadow, and you said you weren’t my keeper. What a lark.”
“I’m NOT.” Shadow defended. He grunted “But I am…you consider me an ally, a friend even.” The hybrid ignored how the statement lit up Sonic’s eyes. “And your recent behavior is concerning. You are worried about the Paradox Prism falling into the wrong hands? It is secure.”
Sonic sighed. “It’s not just that Shadow it’s…Wait.” His head shoots up. “So you’ve been keeping track of my nightmares, and following my night run for… how long?”
Shadow’s eyes widened and he quickly glared with his cheeks darkening.
“Only three days, get back on topic.”
Sonic let out a wider, shy smile. The blue hedgehog shifted a little closer to Shadow, and the latter simply adjusted for room.
“Yeah, Eggy almost replicating the Prism titan that the Chaos Council made was freaky…” Sonic started “But it was more than that… I’m worried about them, if they even still exist.”
Shadow sighed. “It is very likely they don’t.” He put bluntly. “And even if they still do exist, without the Paradox Prism no one can travel to the other Shatterspaces.”
Sonic tucks his knees under his chin. “Yeah, but would they be alright? It was also the shards that caused their worlds to go out of balance. I guess Boscage Maze and No Place, and the Grim would be fine. However, the Chaos Council…”
“Only had the power to overwhelm the resistance, because of their own shard.” Shadow insists. “Now they have none. If there even is a war at this point, it will be more evened out now.”
Sonic looked up with sad eyes. “Would everyone be fine without me? A lot of these problems only happened, because there wasn’t a version of me to help, before… you know, I helped.”
Shadow stared back with a skeptical brow. “Sonic…” he clenched his fists. “I could try to talk you into the ground about how stupid that sounds.” He opened his hands and inhaled. “What do you think that says about your place here?” Shadow gestures to Sonic as the blue hedgehog slowly looks up.
“Like it or not, your place here is invaluable. You are the key to this place remaining peaceful and safe.” Shadow explains as his gaze narrows. “So if you are going to worry yourself into an early grave, concerning yourself with what ifs you can’t confirm, then it wouldn’t have made a difference, if I didn’t get you back here in time!”
Sonic’s eyes widened as a small gasp escaped. Shadow’s eyes bore back, unaware that his own expression cracked for a moment. Sonic in turn moves closer and shifts, his gloved hand moving right by Shadow’s.
“I… don’t think I ever thanked you for saving me.” Sonic whispers.
“… You didn’t have to.” Shadow replies, his eyes darting down to their hands. “It had to be done.” His gaze softened as he focused on the floor. Sonic crouched down slightly hoping to make eye contact again, but the hybrid closed his eyes instead. They remained still for a moment.
“I… I could feel you dissipating.” Shadow whispered. “I had to keep running. You stopped responding…Wasted your breath to take one last crack at me.”
“Yeah…” Sonic nodded. “The last thing I remember was you carrying me…you…” he paused as he faintly recalled how the hybrid’s grip tightened on him and had pulled Sonic closer to his clavicle. Damn Faker really was capable of being a hugger. Sonic felt his own cheeks redden and he sat up and looked wistfully around the room. He saw his kicks laying by the cot and he scrambled over to pick them up.
“And what are you doing?” Shadow quips, causing the blue hedgehog to flinch as he turned around awkwardly.
“Heh… Well… I’m already up… Might as well make one more run…” Sonic chuckled as he held up his shoes.
“You’ll do no such thing!” Shadow’s eyes flashed as he got up and batted the kicks away and hoisted Sonic up, throwing him on the cot.
“Wo-Ah!” Sonic groaned as he flounced once. “Dude, take a guy to dinner first.”
“What?” Shadow tilted his head. “No, I’m not feeding you. I’m making you go back to sleep!”
“C’mon Shadow” Sonic offered weakly. “Just one more run.”
“No!” Shadow growls, and grabs the blanket and tucks Sonic in so tightly the hedgehog could only squirm in protest.
“Fine…” Sonic slumps in defeat. His ear flicks as he turns his head slightly to see Shadow pulling a chair next to the cot. “What are you doing?” He asks with a slit-eyed look.
“If I’m going to make sure you go to sleep, I might as well be comfortable.” Shadow replies blankly, as he settles into the chair. He crossed his arms and legs in repose.
“Wait…so you also waited for me to go to sleep each time?” Sonic gapes.
“Yes?” The hybrid shrugs.
Sonic lets out a soft chuckle and sigh as he looks up at the ceiling.
“I’m still worried about them.”
“If you are that paranoid, I’ll check for you after you sleep.” Shadow offers.
“Really?!” Sonic gasps.
“Don’t make me take it back already.” Shadow grunts and taps his fingers on his knee.
“You know…” Sonic asks quietly. “If you need comfort… you can lay on top of the blanket with me while—”
“Not a chance!” Shadow shoots him down.
“Heh, just asking, Faker.” Sonic laughs with a smirk.
Shadow gives a bemused look in return. “Answer is still no, Faker.”
“Aw…I think I almost heard a chortle.” Sonic gleams.
“You know your friends are worried about you.” Shadow changes the subject. “They also don’t know why…But the rest of the world didn’t disappear when Green Hills did. So if you don’t tell them, they are going to be more confused by whatever conclusion the world comes up with.”
Sonic pondered in thought at that. “Yeah…Tails said something about his calendar being off by a week.” He finally replied.
“Why haven’t you said anything?” Shadow asks.
“Well..I want to…but then Eggman shows up, or the time isn’t right…or not everyone is around…and…well… it feels like the longer I put it off, the harder it feels to start..” Sonic swallowed twice and sighed.
“Would it…” Shadow cleared his own throat. “If I was there to help fill in the gaps?”
Sonic turned his head with hope shining. “You would?”
“I got a bat on my tail about the details anyway…” Shadow confessed. “And I want to make sure you don’t skip anything.”
“Oh yeah, I definitely can’t wait to tell them how you were my knight in shining armor.” Sonic giggled.
“… We don’t have to tell them every detail.” Shadow rebuffed.
“Still… it means a lot, coming from you, Shadow.” Sonic gave a grateful smile. “Thank you.”
“Just go to sleep already.” Shadow scoffs.
“Okay…” Sonic agreed. “You’ll really check on everyone after this?” Sonic added.
“Yes.” Shadow confirmed.
“And… You’ll be there when I tell everyone?” Sonic asked “What if there isn’t time.”
“We’ll make time.” Shadow again confirmed.
Sonic let out a little yawn. “Thanks Shadow.” And there were no more words exchanged. It wasn’t long before Shadow could hear the light snoring of Sonic the Hedgehog.
The Ultimate Lifeform proceeded to put away the chair and took one last look to make sure the Blue Blur was sleeping. He was ~thank goodness~ but Shadow noticed the hedgehog was asleep with a deep smile on his face. The expression took Shadow aback. Did Sonic always sleep that dopey? Shadow placed the back of his hand against Sonic’s forehead before comparing it with his own. Nothing unusual. Shadow shook his head as he took out his chaos emerald and vanished into the night.
^v^v^v^v^v^v^
The Next morning, Sonic wrestled out of his bed, the blanket somehow still holding tightly. He went to the bathroom to wash his face when he noticed “Paranoid faker” written in marker on his head.
“Shado-o-ow!” Sonic growled as he grabbed a washcloth. He managed to scrub most of it off with soap, water and hand sanitizer. It left his forehead raw and the hedgehog ended up laughing heartily over the prank. But it meant that Shadow came back…or did it before leaving, but for the first time in a while, Sonic felt like he was going to pick up the pieces after all.