Chapter Text
When Sonic messages, it's usually one of two things. Either he's bored and deciding to make it Shadow's problem, or he's updating the other on an Eggman attack, as if Shadow doesn't already know the instant the Doctor decides to make an appearance. So when his phone starts incessantly beeping with message notifications, Shadow lets out a long-suffering groan, digging it out of his quills and bookmarking the page of the novel he had been so happily reading. His eyes glance lazily over the phone as he opens the messages, watching as more frantically appear in real time.
Hedgehog: Shadow
Hedgehog: Shadow
Hedgehog: Shadow
Hedgehog: pls
Hedgehog: emergency emergency
Hedgehog: plssw
Hedgehog: im srs this time
Hedgehog: shads plz
The messages keep flooding in, and despite the gross overuse of shorthand and the typos, Sonic seems serious. Shadow's brows furrow instinctively, a thread of concern shooting through him. Shadow's sure Sonic can handle himself, and he's grown enough to admit to both himself and others that he respects the blue hedgehog's strength. Still, he can't help but think of all the possible scenarios that might be happening to the hedgehog and his team.
Shadow: What?
Hedgehog: SHAODOW
Hedgehog: okay i need a favour
Hedgehog: serious i swear ill owe you big big time
Shadow: Spit it out, Hedgehog.
Hedgehog: tails is at home
Hedgehog: i need you to check on him
More messages roll in, but Shadow doesn't process them. His mind is reeling from the odd request. He blinks once, then again, then rapidly a few times as the words settle in his brain. Sonic wants him to...check on Tails? Out of everything Shadow was preparing for, this was NOT on the list. Sure, Shadow had gotten closer to Team Sonic throughout the years. He's had time to grow, to start the process of healing and letting others into his life. It started with Rouge pushing herself into Shadow's isolated bubble, dragging him out of his shell— kicking and biting— to bring him to holiday parties and get-togethers with the colourful bunch of Mobians. And slowly, Shadow found comfort in the corners of the room, nestled in the dark and content to watch as everyone made fools of themselves. His rivalry with Sonic also grew; instead of beating each other to a pulp and speeding off in different directions, they now sat and talked after their scuffles. They kept score of their racing wins and losses, making bets and catching lunch, treating each other more like longtime friends than sworn enemies. Getting closer to Sonic inevitably meant getting closer to his friends. He and Knuckles shared an ever-present respect for each other, which simply grew with the years. The echnida makes for an adequate sparring partner. Tails...well, sure, he used to take every opportunity to launch Sonic's younger brother into the closest building, but he couldn't deny the genius that the little kit possessed; his technical talk even losing Shadow sometimes. And Amy? He'd watched her grow into a truly formidable ally. Every time he saw the pink hedgehog, she looked more sure of herself, her smile brightening, her confidence glowing as she smashed robots left and right.
Shadow would say he's... acquainted with the group. But this request? It's so out of the ordinary realm of their interactions. He doesn't even realise he hasn't responded until the phone screen dims to black and Sonic's messages start notifying him again. He jolts, shaking himself out of his head and skims through Sonic's spam.
Hedgehog: amy, knucks and i are super far from green hills, tails didnt come cause he got sick before we left.
Hedgehog: and i would just zip back but they need me here
Hedgehog: and rouge has been on a gun mission for like forever now
Hedgehog: i know this is strange but i need you to chek on him, he hasnt answered any of my calls or messages and im worried
Hedgehog: and i just got an alert that his comm watch died he never lets it die
Hedgehog: i wouldnt have asked you if i had any other choice i know you don't really get along with tails but pls
Hedgehog: shads??
Hedgehog: hey buddy i am kinda in the middle of a fight so if you could respond anytime would be nice
Hedgehog: if you cant i understand
Shadow: Stop overthinking. I'll check on him, focus on your mission.
Hedgehog: thank gaia, thank you shads i owe you one
Shadow sighs, dropping the phone on the couch cushion before sinking into his seat, burying his face in his gloves. The request is weird, but it is slightly worrying that the fox hasn't answered any of his brother's messages. Sonic being in the middle of a fight definitely explains the urgency and the atrocious grammar—not like the hedgehog ever types normally anyway. Shadow would usually call him out on it, but he can excuse it this time. He gets up slowly, stretching his stiff joints and groans at his choices. He could've easily said no, Tails can take care of himself, and Shadow isn't in the business of welfare checks, but his mind flashes through Sonic's messages. Something tugs at his chest, the worry the blue hedgehog holds for his younger brother heavy on his thoughts, and his mind helpfully places the feeling as fondness.
He slams the door shut, leaving the peace of his uneventful evening behind, and his air shoes kick on as he starts running. Teleporting to Sonic's house would've been easier, but Shadow's been cooped up all day reading (" Hah, nerd" A voice suspiciously like Sonic's rings through his mind) and it's only as he feels the warm setting sun on his fur that he realises how much he's itching to move. The run there is short, but it's enough to satisfy him for now. He stares at Sonic and Tails' front door for a minute, unsure how to go about his task. Should he knock? Does knocking even make sense if Tails is supposedly not answering? But at the same time, it feels like an invasion of privacy to waltz into the house, especially with the kit home. Shadow hums to himself before coming to a conclusion. He's been given explicit permission to go into the house by Sonic, so he should be forgiven if he accidentally scares the kid. The extra key is under the welcome mat, and Shadow rolls his eyes at the predictability of the blue hedgehog.
The door creaks open to a dark house. Shadow would never admit it, but the atmosphere of Sonic's home has always comforted some deep part of his soul. It's an open house, with furniture and archways separating the living space from the dining and kitchen. The place is cluttered, but not necessarily messy. Pictures line the walls, and trinkets of all kinds fill the shelves. There's always evidence of life; the home has a warmth to it that settles on Shadow's shoulders when he visits.
The place he walks into is not that same comforting home. The house doesn't seem to be made for the dark, always having some lamp or light on to provide a soft glow to the rooms. But right now it's shrouded in darkness. Shadow flicks on a light and is disappointed to find that it does not help fix the drab atmosphere. He looks around for any signs of life, but there's nothing. No half-finished experiments, no dishes in the sink, no music softly playing. He can hear the hum of the electronics through the silence. There's a thin layer of dust covering most of the house, including the stove and the dining table. Another spark of worry shoots through Shadow, and he's suddenly very glad that Sonic messaged him.
His voice breaks through the quiet, rough and low, discomfort coating his words,
"Fox? You'd better have a good excuse for making me come here."
No response. Not a surprised peep or a groan of annoyance. Nothing. Shadow's quills instinctively bristle, and he scans the house again, looking for any signs of danger.
"Fox? Miles, where are you?" he tries again, but the silence deafens him. He feels annoyance bubble up alongside the concern, but he shakes it away before it can bleed into his actions. Now is not the time for irritation. His eyes flit back to the dusty dinner table, and any lingering annoyance vanishes. His heart sinks a bit more at the thought that the fox hasn't eaten since Sonic left. Tails can normally take care of himself well, that's mostly why Sonic feels so comfortable letting him basically own the house while he runs across the globe causing chaos and beating Eggman. But- Sonic did mention that Tails was sick when they left. Has the kit gotten too sick to eat?
Shadow's mind continues to run as he walks up the stairs to the bedrooms. It's dark up here, too. No hallway lights, and a quick look under the doors shows that none of the rooms have any lights either. Walking past Sonic's room to the fox's feels weird, almost too personal. It makes Shadow want to turn around. The kit's door is cracked, and Shadow takes his time as he peeks his head in, eyes briefly scanning for danger. The room is virtually the same as the rest of the house, cold and quiet, and Shadow nearly turns around to leave before his eyes lock onto a lump on the bed, below the covers. He stalks forward, ears flicking for any sign of life. Thankfully, he can hear the shallow, stuffed breathing of the kid.
"Miles." Shadow calls roughly. The lump shifts, then rolls over. No response, though, so he tries again. Swallowing whatever pride he has, he kneels next to Tails' bed, trying to soften his voice.
"Fox. C'mon, wake up." He contemplates, then slowly reaches a hand out to grip the covers, peeling them back to reveal damp yellow fur. Big, blue eyes open, blinking rapidly and tearing up.
"Huh... wha.." The kit doesn't even seem to know where he is or who's in front of him. Shadow's brows furrow worriedly,
"Miles, it's Shadow. Sonic sent me" The fox's eyes widen a bit, and then squint, trying to make out Shadow's dark figure in the already dark room.
"S-Shadow?" The voice is husky and quiet, but Shadow can hear the strain as he tries to talk. And those blue eyes are now looking up at him tiredly, their usual twinkle of mischief missing, and the yellow tufts of fur on his head are messed up and tangled, and suddenly, all Shadow can see in his eyes is Maria. Shadow's breath hitches, and he nearly staggers back at the realisation. The kit blinks blearily at him, and he questions how he'd never seen it earlier. He pushes through the initial shock, hesitantly taking off a glove and pressing his bare paw to Tails' head. Pushing back the damp fur, Shadow can feel the intense heat radiating off the child. He sighs again as Tails pushes into the contact unconsciously.
"Shadow? You didn't have to come- 'm fine." Tails' whispered words come out shakily, but confident enough to tell Shadow that he's serious. A flash of defiance in his eyes as he tries to sit up. Shadow lets out a huff, his mind flashing between the fox in front of him and visions of Maria.
Watching the young kit lie bundled up, obviously sick yet still trying to push away help, Shadow can't help but see his sister with her blonde hair and sweet blue eyes lying on a hospital bed, wires and tubes attached to her as she shakes and writhes— but her smile always remained in place, trying to bargain with the doctors to be let out. It's almost a spitting image, if you ignore the obvious species difference. It pulls at Shadow's heart in a way he hasn't felt in a very long time. It's almost like instincts, those instilled in him from his very creation, kick into action at the familiar sight. His hand moves on autopilot as he smoothes down the fur on the fox's forehead, gently pushing him down.
"The hedgehog's been trying to contact you for days, fox." Shadow starts, and he meant for the words to snap, but they instead gently fall from his mouth. Tails furrows his eyebrows,
"...days?" Is all the kit can find to ask. Shadow nods,
"He and the team left a while ago. I got some frantic messages from him today talking about how you've been MIA, and apparently, your comm just died. So he told me to check on you." Shadow attempts to explain it simply to the disoriented child. The fox blinks at him, and then even more colour drains from his face as he sinks into the bed, groaning. His eyes subconsciously start to close, tiredness and fever sticking to every part of him, and Shadow has to shake him to get those familiar blue eyes on him again. (Not familiar, he reminds himself. This isn't Maria.)
Despite his reputation as The Ultimate Lifeform, mass weapon of destruction, most forget that he was initially created to be a caretaker. A cure. It's written into his very core to protect. He can detect changes in blood pressure, sugar levels, heart rate. When Maria died, he thought those instincts died with her. He could turn around right now; he's done his duty. Sonic asked him to check on Tails; mission successful. All he has to do now is confirm to Sonic that the child is alive. He should leave. He almost does, his hand starts to pull away from Tails' forehead, the kit unconsciously following the warmth. But looking at the fox child, the brother of his...friend, he feels the cold, uncaring wall he's so carefully built start cracking. It's like Maria's voice is in his ear, asking if he'll make the right choice. He thinks of what might happen if he leaves, of Sonic coming home to find his little brother so sick he hasn't eaten in days, hasn't been able to get out of bed even. A sick sense of guilt twists around his throat at the thought of even doing that to the hedgehog and his family. Shadow breathes out, a heavy, rough sigh, but his hand lowers once again to stroke Tails' forehead soothingly.
"Okay. We need to get you up and break your fever." Shadow relents tiredly, any and all thoughts of escape leaving his mind when azure eyes peek at him. Tails shuffles and then slowly sits up, wobbling as he goes. Shadow's hands brace him on both sides, not quite touching but a steady presence in case he starts to tilt sideways.
"Can you walk?" Shadow asks bluntly, and the kit blinks at him, before shrugging.
"Uh, probably?" Tails replies, at speaking level instead of the whispers from before, and his voice makes Shadow wince. It's almost rougher than Shadow's, which is a feat very few have accomplished. The kit seems to regret his words instantly, his hand shoots up to grip his neck, and a whine of pain leaves him as the simple words grate at his sore throat. He stands, legs shaking, but after a few seconds, he stabilises. Shadow silently beckons him out into the hall and into the bathroom. The light is flicked on, and it's only then that Shadow can see the true condition of the fox. Despite being in bed since Sonic left, Tails has deep, dark circles beneath his fur, his eyes red and bloodshot. His fur is damp with sweat, his tails haven't been groomed and have turned into a mess of tangles. He looks dead on his feet. Shadow hums disapprovingly and points to the closed toilet seat.
"Sit," he orders, and he's pleased that the fox listens on the first try.
In this state, Shadow is reminded of how truly young the fox is. Just because he's a genius doesn't mean he's not still a child. As he's sat on the cold porcelain, trembling as 'fresh' air hits him for the first time in days, Shadow feels the foreign urge to take care of someone again. Again, his mind overlays Maria into this position, the room just white and sterile enough to pass for the ARK's medical wing. He remembers her sitting on clean sheets, shivering exactly how the kit is right now. The same sickly sheen on her forehead, the same sunken, tired eyes. The same tangled hair that took forever to smooth out. Shadow leaves the room before it overwhelms him. He works quickly, gathering up towels, gloves and socks. He feels little guilt in invading the kit's drawers; it's necessary right now. He makes it back in record time, and then sets the bathtub to full.
"I'm drawing a cold bath; this will suck, but I need to get your temperature down, so you have to bear with it." Shadow mindlessly explains, searching the bathroom for whatever products Sonic has stocked for the kit's fur. He finds a thermometer in the cabinet and makes quick work of shoving it into Tails' mouth before going back to his search. By the time he gathers up the shampoos and detangling brushes, the tub is full. Tails is eyeing it suspiciously, but Shadow sees the resignation in his eyes. He's smart, he knows what's best for his health, and hopefully, he won't fight Shadow on it. (Unlike his big brother, no doubt.) The thermometer beeps obnoxiously, and Tails takes it out before Shadow can. He watches as the kit's eyes widen before he silently hands it over to Shadow. 40.3°C. Not good. For a human, that'd be dangerous. For a fox Mobian, it's not ideal. Shadow hisses, no wonder he could feel the heat from a simple touch. Regardless, the bath is drawn, it's only a matter of time before the fox's fever retreats.
This is the awkward part, though. Shadow doesn't particularly care about Mobian customs, but he knows that gloves are very sacred. Your paws are only shown to those you trust. Those you consider family or lovers. Sonic's team has always been lax about these rules. Shadow knows for certain that Amy has painted Sonic's nails before, and she and Rouge play nail salon basically every weekend. Sonic and his brother have obviously seen each other's paws. Sonic basically played the role of the kit's father AND brother at the same time. They're all close like that— if you were to ask, they'd call themselves one big dysfunctional family. But Shadow wasn't a part of that. Sure, he's 'friends' with them, if that's the right word, but he's not a part of their family. He's not meant to be.
He knows the fox has to take off his gloves and socks to bathe, and he knows the kit will need help, considering the near-constant shaking and muffled coughing coming from him. But the only help around is Shadow. And as much as Shadow doesn't care for customs, he will not disrespect the fox in such a way. Still, he clears his throat and breaches the topic.
"I'll turn around for you to take off your...attire. Step into the tub if you can." Shadow instructs, turning around. He hears no movement for a second, but then the fox jumpstarts into action, shedding the dirty, sweaty gloves and socks into a pile on the floor for Shadow to deal with later. Shadow hears his feet pad against the floor, and then silence again, before a small voice pipes up.
"Uh-" he starts to speak, but is cut off by a violent cough, "-You can turn. I can't get in by myself." He confesses, sounding embarrassed. Shadow hums, not wanting to make fun of the child. Usually, he'd scoff at the display of weakness, keep up his reputation as heartless and roll his eyes while half-heartedly helping the kit. But right now, Tails is extra vulnerable. Not only because of his illness—he's put enough trust into Shadow to allow the hedgehog to see him without his gloves, despite their tentative 'friendship'. So he turns around, and with steady hands, he allows Tails to use him as a crutch to step in. The fox tests the water, hissing as the coldness touches his flushed skin, but he commits. His paws grab onto Shadow's forearm, clutching into his skin as the cold water pierces his body like needles. Shadow's eyes dart up to Tails' face, watching as it contorts in discomfort and pain. He angles his body more towards him, his other hand coming up to rub Tails' arm reassuringly. Tails' eyes flicker to him at the gesture, confusion clouding them for just a second before the discomfort comes back. Slowly, they lower Tails into the bath. Shadow can hear his teeth chattering as the cold penetrates his fur and sinks into his skin, starting its work in soothing the fever. He whines softly, eyes pinched closed, and Shadow shushes him gently before he even realises he's doing it.
Part of Shadow wants to punch himself. Shadow isn't soft. He isn't domestic, and he definitely doesn't soothe sick children while helping them get into a bath. This goes against everything he's built himself up to be. But as he ladles some of the cold water over Tails' head, he finds that another part of him truly doesn't mind. It's the part that used to pull pranks with Maria, watch movie marathons with stolen popcorn in a makeshift blanket fort, the part that smiled when he saw that blue dress in the corner of his eye after a long day of experiments. That stupid, soft part of him that somehow remained hidden underneath the heartbreak and trauma. And now, that silly part is rearing its little head, and Shadow doesn't have the heart to banish it away. Not when he's been working so hard to foster a life where it could one day exist again.
Shadow doesn't speak as he removes his gloves, opens the shampoo and starts the long process of trying to wash the fox's fur. He lathers it into Tails' head, the sweet smell of chamomile and some other floral scents he can't place filling the bathroom. Tails melts into the contact, humming happily as Shadow cautiously uses his claws to scratch away the grime and sweat from deep in the fur. After a few minutes of just relishing in the touch, Tails also gets to work, scrubbing the front of his body with as much strength as he can muster. They work in silence, but unlike when Shadow had first entered the house, this time it was comforting. The gentle sounds of water splashing and the scent of shampoo and soap have helped wash away the cold, dusty atmosphere that lingered before.
Tails seems to have finished his part of the task, and with Shadow working through the last tangles on his head and back, only Tails' tails remain. Shadow clears his throat, somewhat awkward, and asks,
"Do you...want to do your tails yourself?"
His voice bounces off the walls, cutting through the calming silence they'd carved out. Tails turns his head to study Shadow. His eyes squint, and Shadow can see the gears turning in the kit's head as he thinks long and hard about the seemingly simple question. He doesn't stop squinting until Shadow feels truly scrutinised, then he shakes his head, eyes softening as he turns back around shyly.
"Can you help?" The fox mumbles, the words almost swallowed by the room. Shadow blinks, momentarily stunned by the unexpected answer. Tails has already put far too much trust in Shadow, trust that he really has no reason to give to the dark hedgehog, yet here he is, giving more.
Shadow just hums in response and gets to work. Tails' tails are far more tangled than his head and back were, and Shadow feels itchy just looking at them. With a heap of conditioner, Shadow begins detangling, trying not to pull too hard on the poor kid's fluff. He still hears a couple of pained yelps as he works through the worst of it, and he grumbles out an apology. Oddly, Shadow gets lost in the task, its monotony familiar in some way. He's brought back to his earlier memory of Maria's tangled hair after weeks of lying down, of how it was a fight to brush because she'd hide from Shadow in all the rooms he wasn't allowed to enter. How, eventually, he'd catch her and plop her down in front of the television while he tackled the bird's nest attached to her head. She'd ramble about their shitty VHS movies and point out every scene she wanted to recreate when she was back on earth. A fond smile finds its way onto Shadow's face at the memories. Maria would've liked this, seeing Shadow be domestic again. He lets that thought soothe him while his brain frazzles at the situation he's found himself in. It feels so utterly wrong to be sitting here, letting his walls down for this kid that he barely knows, a kid he's only just learnt how to tolerate being around without the air becoming thick with tension. He feels like he's intruding on something private, not meant for his harsh eyes and hands. This is something Sonic wouldn't even bat an eye at doing, because that's what Sonic is. He's a caring, kind figure. But Shadow? His hands look wrong, covered in shampoo instead of dust and blood. Carding through soft fur instead of grabbing and striking.
He's so lost in his thoughts that he doesn't realise his task is complete. He doesn't have a way of telling how long he's been sitting here, idly brushing through the already sleek fur, but Tails isn't complaining, so he lets himself relax as he speaks up again.
"Done. Time to get out." Shadow's voice isn't soft, per se, but it's lacking the normal growl and edge that puts people off talking to him. He's relaxed, oddly. He had been on guard ever since getting those messages from Sonic, concern and suspicion about Tails' whereabouts and condition cementing itself into his mind. But knowing the kit is somewhat safe, and in his care, he's calmer. He's in control of this situation; he can handle this.
He helps Tails out of the bath, the water now room temperature instead of freezing, and he wraps the fox in a towel. The towel is instantly rendered useless as Tails' fur soaks it beyond use, so Shadow discards it into the little laundry pile, grabs another and drops it on the kit's head. He hears a scoff of indignation emerge from below the fluffy towel, and he almost smirks. The kit ruffles his fur, and Shadow nearly curses as he watches the fur he spent so long smoothing down get mercilessly scrubbed at and tousled. Shadow hits him with a glare, and part of him fills with relief as Tails shoots one back at him, a mischievous smile on his face. This suits the kit more than his sickly, depressing appearance that Shadow walked in on before.
"Out, go sit in the living room." Shadow shoos, and is happy to see the kit's balance stable as he walks out, towel still wrapped around his fur, now damp with water, not sweat. Shadow remains standing in the bathroom, suddenly feeling extremely out of place. He kicks into action, gathering up the dirty laundry and stuffing it into the washing machine. He drains the bathtub and glances around the bathroom one more time before he leaves. His eyes land on something, though, and he zeros in on it. The fresh pair of gloves and socks he brought for the kit is still lying pristine on the counter— Tails never put them on. Shadow scoffs, grabbing the garments roughly from the counter and flicking off the light. He almost starts stomping down the stairs to yell at the fox about decency when he stops in his tracks, remembering the reason he's here in the first place— Sonic. His hand fumbles as he pulls his phone out of his quills, turning it on and navigating to Sonic's contact. He hits call before he can even think, and nearly throws the phone out the nearest window as it's picked up and Sonic's distorted voice filters through the speaker.
"Shadow?" The hedgehog's usually cheery and self-confident voice is tired, and the sound sends an ache through Shadow's chest. He can tell that whatever mission they're on is draining Sonic.
"Is this about Tails? Is he okay? Why wasn't he responding?" The questions are rapid fire, and Shadow doesn't even hide his sigh of annoyance. He cuts off the rambling with a sharp tone.
"Hedgehog. Shut up." He physically hears Sonic's mouth snap shut, and after a moment of silence, Shadow continues, "Miles is fine. It seems that his sickness had developed, and he couldn't handle it alone. He had a fever—I think he's been in bed since you left."
Shadow's voice softens as he hears Sonic's breath hitch on the other side of the phone. He tries to ignore the rising feeling of concern at hearing Sonic so...affected. Shadow knows how much Tails means to Sonic, but hearing the hedgehog get so worked up over this is making him worry. He decidedly pushes those feelings away.
"I made him take a cold bath to get the fever down." Shadow informs. The silence on the other end is unsettling. Sonic is never quiet. He doesn't know how to shut up; that's part of why Shadow hates him so much. (Even Shadow can't force himself to believe he hates Sonic, the blue blur has somehow wedged his way into Shadow's heart and taken up residence.)
"Shit-" The curse sounds so unnatural coming from Sonic that Shadow startles, nearly dropping the gloves he's long since forgotten he's holding, "-I can be home in an hour. I just have to tell Amy and Knuckles how to handle the rest of this stupid mission." Sonic prattles off his plans, stress radiating from his voice. Shadow sighs gently, already accepting his fate. He doesn't know when he became this weak to Sonic's woes. So willing to give up his entire reputation and his quiet, relaxing evening just to help this stupid hedgehog and his fox brother.
Shadow shushes sharply into the mic, causing Sonic to stop dead in the middle of his rambling.
"Faker. Stop stressing. Finish your mission. I'll stay with the fox. I'll make him food, I'll clean up the house-" Shadow hasn't even mentioned the dust coating every surface, and honestly? He thinks that might give the blue hedgehog a stroke, "-and I'll give him medicine. Just stop your incessant noise and focus on your job." Shadow rolls his eyes, even though his companion can't see it. Once again, it's quiet, the only sound being Sonic's heavy breaths as he processes the words and his own simmering panic. Then,
"Shadow.." Sonic breathes his name so softly that the hairs on Shadow's arm spike up,
"Thank you, I'll make it up to you, really. Just- thank you. I-" Sonic again cuts himself off, at a loss for words. Shadow scoffs, if only to hide the bubbling fondness in his chest,
"Don't thank me yet. This fox of yours is quite troublesome; your house may be a battleground soon." Shadow jokes. Sonic exhales a laugh on the other side, the worried knot in Shadow's stomach loosening a bit. It's not even remotely true— Tails has been nothing short of a little angel, allowing Shadow to help him without complaints, but if the stupid joke got a laugh out of Sonic, it was worth it. There's a couple seconds of silence again, before Shadow hears the distant sound of Amy's voice carrying through the speaker. Sonic sighs, a tired little thing,
"I'll try to wrap up here as quick as possible. Eggman's giving us a run for our money." He promises, and before Shadow can respond, he hears more yelling in the background. Sonic rushes out a quick goodbye, and the call is dropped, leaving Shadow in the lingering silence.
There goes any hope of him leaving. It's one thing to agree to check up on a sick kid; it's another thing to tell his friend he'll take care of said kid. Shadow sighs, but alas, he has made a promise, and if there's one thing Shadow doesn't mess with, it's promises. The gloves in his hands somehow feel heavier.
Shadow descends the stairs quickly, and when Tails gives him a questioning look from the couch, he pelts the bundle of white directly into the kit's face. Tails sputters for a second, squinting until he can make out what Shadow's thrown at him, but then he rolls his eyes and pulls the garments on lazily. Tails' eyes follow him as he walks, but they furrow in confusion as Shadow walks to the kitchen instead of the door. Shadow feels his stare on the back of his quills as he rummages around the cupboards. Aha—Tea! Shadow hums, satisfied, and starts the familiar process of making tea to help the kit's throat. Sonic has a pathetic selection of teas, according to Shadow's standard at least. Some black tea, chamomile to match the fur shampoo and mint. Making an educated guess, Shadow grabs two teabags of the mint tea and steeps them in the biggest cup he can find. He rolls his eyes fondly as the said cup happens to have a big picture stamped on the front—a group photo of Team Sonic and Team Dark huddled together in front of a huge busted Eggman robot. Shadow remembers taking the picture. Rouge had grabbed him before he could shoot off, dragging him and Omega into the middle of the group, where Amy worked her magic and convinced Shadow to stand with them for at least one photo. Shadow was so close to saying no, but then Amy pulled out the puppy dog eyes, and he crumbled. Everyone had piled around them, Sonic invading his personal space to saddle up nearly on top of Shadow, and multiple photos were captured on some makeshift automated camera Tails had set up. Only one of the photos had turned out clear; the rest a blur of people falling or pushing each other down. Shadow's pretty sure they captured the exact moment of his fist meeting Sonic's terrified face after the hedgehog fell on him. Still, Sonic insisted they print out every single one, like they were all perfect.
The memory lingers warmly in his mind as he brings the steaming cup to the kit. Tails sniffs the air, eyes lighting up, and before Shadow can even set the cup down, it's snatched by the fox. He takes a big inhale, sighing happily at the scent of mint that refreshes his sick senses. Shadow lets him indulge, sneaking back to the kitchen silently to find something edible and healthy to cook. It's too late to go to the stores, and Sonic's house seems to be barren of any vegetables, so Shadow sighs, reaching into his quills and pulling out his Chaos Emerald.
He blinks out of existence, reappearing in his own house. He wasn't exactly planning on staying out, so everything is as he left it when Sonic messaged. Lights on, curtains open, and his poor half-finished book abandoned on the couch. He draws the curtains shut before getting to work, raiding his own fridge and pantry. Shadow doesn't really need to eat, being the Ultimate Lifeform and all, but he enjoys cooking, and Rouge enjoys free meals, so he keeps his refrigerator stocked with vegetables and meat. He grabs a nearby tote, not one of his, considering the large pink printed words and cutesy hearts scattered on it, and tosses in everything he needs for a simple soup. The fox's stomach won't be able to handle much more than that. Maybe tomorrow he can make something more solid.
That thought freezes Shadow for a second. Tomorrow? Why is he even thinking about that? By tomorrow, Sonic should be home, and Shadow can go back to his life. Still, he finds himself packing some extra ingredients into the tote. 'Just in case.'
He throws his book into the bag as an afterthought, then flicks off his lights and chaos controls back to Sonic's house. Tails hasn't even noticed he left, the sound of some television show now filling the air as the kit happily sips on his tea. Maybe the responsible thing to do is send the kid back to bed, but Shadow feels his chest lighten now that the kid is up and around, hopefully feeling somewhat better. And Shadow doesn't feel comfortable letting the kit back into that stuffy room yet. He can't air it out now, lest he let mosquitoes in by the thousands to carry the fox away in his sleep. Maybe a quick clean will do. But he's getting ahead of himself, again. Soup— that's his current task. He gets to it, chopping veggies and boiling water while he lets the television noise wash over him. He's quiet as he works, but his mind is racing with all the things he has to do now that he's agreed to play caretaker. Everything needs a good wipe; the dust is getting on his nerves, and it can't be good for the kit to breathe in. He needs to search this damn house for any medicine. Shadow knows Sonic is stupid, but he's competent when it comes to his brother. Shadow doesn't doubt that medicine is stowed away somewhere in the chaos for moments just like this. If he's still here tomorrow, he's definitely making Tails sit outside for a bit—take in some of that stinging morning sun, preferably with another cup of tea and a spoonful of medicine.
He feels the kit's eyes wander from the television to stare at him, but he doesn't let it deter him as he almost dances around the kitchen. Cooking is calming, something he enjoys doing, and it shows in his actions. Confidence in the way he holds the knife, precise as he flits around the kitchen, throwing things into the pot without pause. Thankfully, Sonic has some seasonings stowed away. Though they're barely used. Shadow glares daggers at the half-empty premade chilli seasoning standing front and centre. Of course, what else would he expect? That's all the faker knows how to cook, apparently. He lets Tails look at him, though he feels exposed. The kit isn't doing anything wrong—technically, Shadow is in his house, so Tails can do whatever he wants.
His task eventually comes to a standstill, the soup is bubbling away and filling the air with a savoury aroma, and all Shadow has to do now is stir it occasionally.
Finding himself lacking purpose again, he turns to meet the kit's curious eyes. He raises an eyebrow, and Tails smiles sheepishly,
"I didn't know you could cook." The fox croaks out. His voice is still gravelly and rough, but much better than before, thanks to the tea. Shadow sighs, nodding,
"I cook for Rouge." He replies simply. Tails' confusion lifts at the response, a knowing look crossing his face,
"Oh, she has mentioned that before!" Shadow's brows furrow at that, suddenly feeling embarrassed. Of course, Rouge had to mention his little hobby, that bat can't keep anything to herself. (That's a lie. Rouge is the best with secrets when it counts. If she says she won't tell, she won't. Shadow's cooking affinity does not fall under that category, though.)
"It's simply convenient. I enjoy cooking, but I don't require food often. Rouge dislikes cooking but needs to eat healthier than fast food." Shadow tries to explain away his embarrassment, stirring the pot and clicking the stove off. He grabs a bowl and carefully ladles in some of the steaming soup. He grabs a pack of crackers with his other hand and makes his way to Tails, resting the bowl on the coffee table and handing the crackers to him directly.
"See if you can stomach these. Don't force yourself." Shadow instructs. The kit nods, ripping it open and nibbling on one as the soup cools down. Shadow watches, satisfied. Task complete. On to the next one. Shadow doesn't allow himself to linger long, only watching as Tails sips the soup slowly. The fox smiles happily at the flavour, and Shadow hides his proud smile by turning around quickly, eyes scanning to find cleaning supplies.
He starts with the table first, wiping away the layer of dust to reveal the beautiful stained wood tabletop underneath. Shadow's eaten here before, but only a couple times. It's kept clean, despite the mess that Sonic can make when eating chilli dogs. Shadow vaguely remembers Sonic explaining its origin one time. Apparently, the blue blur made a lot of their early furniture, and when Tails truly got into crafting and mechanics, he had them stained and sealed to protect the natural wood from any unlucky oil spills. It didn't completely save the table, though. Shadow lets his hands linger on the scuff marks where Sonic sits. He has a bad habit of tapping the table with his nails while talking, so much so that he's completely worn away a small area where his hand naturally rests. There are a couple of deep stains embedded in the table, too, surrounded by little scratches that indicate someone tried really hard to get them out. The image of a younger Sonic scrubbing frantically at an ink stain from baby Tails' most recent blueprint nearly makes Shadow full-on chuckle in the middle of cleaning. Certain things never change, he guesses, remembering the state Tails' last experiment left his lab in. Sonic's groan could be heard for miles when he slipped on a puddle of grease. Shadow, being ever helpful, stayed on the outskirts of the mess while the others mourned their fur and outfits.
With his mind on the kit, his eyes automatically glance over to check on him. From where Shadow stands, he can barely see the kit's face, but from his relaxed posture and his occasional happy sigh, Tails seems to be fine. His ears twitch occasionally as he hears Shadow moving in the background, but he's absorbed in the television and the terrible...Christmas movie? Horror movie? Shadow actually can't tell what the disastrous acting is supposed to be portraying. It's making the fox giggle, though, so whatever. He seems to be done with his food, and it reminds Shadow to look for medicine. He leaves his cleaning supplies to lean on the back of the couch, gazing over at Tails.
"Do you guys have medicine?" He asks without warning. The kit startles at his voice, fur puffing defensively from the scare before calming. He looks up at Shadow for a second, brows furrowed, but nods, pointing to the upstairs bathroom,
"First aid cabinet." He squeaks out before going back to this show. Shadow stalks up the stairs again— passing through the hall reminds him of his brief phone call with Sonic, and his heart clenches for a second. He rifles through the cabinet, looking through the selection of medicines. Sleeping aids, antacids, pain relievers- aha! Cold medicine and cough syrup. Shadow tries not to snoop, but he can't help noticing the amount missing from the sleep aids and the pain relievers. Sonic is a hero, of course he's gonna need pain relief sometimes, but the mostly empty bottle makes worry pulse through Shadow without his permission. He closes the cabinet softly, pushing away those silly feelings of concern. After a split second of thinking, he also snatches up the thermometer before making the short trek back to Tails. The kit is bothered by the idea of taking medicine, but he doesn't put up a fuss as Shadow kneels in front of him, pills and spoon in hand. The kit swallows the pills with water, but as Shadow pours the cough syrup into the spoon, Tails' face twists in disgust. Shadow has to admit, the smell is unpleasant, and he can imagine the taste is much worse, but this is non-negotiable given how badly the kit has been coughing throughout the evening. Still, he makes no complaints, dutifully opening his mouth. It's while feeding the medicine to the kit that Shadow feels a disgusting wave of domesticity wash through him. And worse, he finds he doesn't hate it. Spooning cough medicine to his ex-rival-turned-friend's little brother—who he used to jump kick into the atmosphere just for fun— is NOT something Shadow saw himself ever doing. He watches the kit's face scrunch up as the medicine hits his taste buds, and Shadow quickly offers him water. Shadow is weirdly comfortable, despite the odd and completely unexpected scenario he's found himself in. Though something is missing from the domestic scene. He can feel it, a missing comfort that makes him unable to completely let the softness of whatever he's doing calm him. He sticks the thermometer into the kit's mouth again. It beeps much quicker this time, reading 38.5°C. Much better than before. Shadow hums, satisfied.
He leaves Tails be, picking up where he left off with the cleaning. He lets himself get lost in the motions while he prods at his own brain, trying to figure out the stupid, paradoxical nature of his emotions. He's in Sonic's house, cooking and cleaning like a '90s housewife while taking care of Sonic's sick brother, a kid who Shadow isn't all that close to. And to Shadow's absolute horror, he doesn't mind this egregious change of pace. This odd acceptance is part of why Shadow is reeling, but the other part—despite feeling at ease in this domestic, familial situation, Shadow still feels like something's missing. He squints as he thinks, hands automatically wiping through dust and dirt. This whole, stupid, soft situation that he wants to simply melt into is being thrown off because—
It hits Shadow like a brick. His breath stutters, and his hand stills where it had been wiping the last specks of dust from the kitchen counter.
Sonic. Sonic is missing.
Of all the fucked up things he could've ever thought of, it just had to be Sonic. This all feels incomplete because Shadow wants Sonic by his side as he does this. But that's stupid. If Sonic were here, Shadow would have no need to stay and take care of Tails. That's like...the entire point of this. When Sonic gets home, Shadow can leave, wash his hands of the entire situation and put his walls back up. Maybe hope that Tails was too loopy to remember his softness peeking through.
But Shadow doesn't want that. He looks over to the couch— where Tails is falling asleep on himself— and he thinks of Sonic being next to him, eating a hot bowl of soup, cuddled up to his brother under a blanket while Shadow cleans. The thought causes a warmth to stir in his chest. A warmth achingly familiar to the one he used to feel when Maria tucked him in at night, cuddling next to him and petting his quills while she sang lullabies Shadow had no business hearing.
Shadow's been ignoring his growing fondness for the blue hero; he's been refusing to acknowledge it, knowing it's sure to fuck up the delicate peace he's carved out for himself. Sonic has this ability to waltz past all of Shadow's defences and insert himself into Shadow's life in a way not even Rouge had been able to. He's stubborn, maybe more so than Shadow, and he's hopeful. His hope is what gets him to keep prodding, pushing past limits to see what buttons he can press to make Shadow tick. And Shadow has gotten accustomed to it— maybe too accustomed. Because as much as he puts on a show of bickering with the blue hedgehog at every available opportunity, he finds himself quite enjoying Sonic's company, and by extension, the company of his wild group of friends.
Though none of them have been able to wiggle in quite as snugly as Sonic has. Shadow sees the way Sonic lights up when he appears, his already bright smile becoming blinding as soon as emerald meets crimson from across the way. The way Sonic grabs for his hand before Amy's or Rouge's when he's excitedly leading the group somewhere. He feels Sonic's eyes on him while they fight Eggman, watching him fight with a reverence that has never been directed at Shadow before. How his gaze lingers for just a moment before he says goodbye.
Okay, so maybe this entire caretaking situation has stirred up the inexplicable urge to take care of Sonic. So what. It's not like the blue idiot knows how to take care of himself. Shadow can't count the number of times Sonic has nearly died in the past couple of years. Hell, even the past couple of MONTHS have had some close calls, leaving the hero bloody and bruised. (And yet, still sporting that obnoxious, wonderful smile.)
Shadow huffs to himself, the strange combination of emotions swirling together in his chest and threatening to come out in a series of chaos blasts. But then he hears a gentle snore from the couch, and his mind reboots. He's been standing still for a while now, lost in these useless thoughts. He creeps around to the living room, steps light despite his clunky air shoes. Tails is half asleep, jolting awake every few seconds, eyes blinking as he tries to focus on the television. Shadow has to hold back a coo—a WHOLLY unnatural sound for Shadow to even consider making, mind you— as he approaches the tired kit.
"Miles," he attempts to speak kindly, but the fox still startles at his voice, eyes shooting open and scanning around before landing on Shadow's form above him. Oddly, he relaxes once he realises that the jumpscare is just the dark hedgehog. Shadow doesn't allow himself to read into that unconscious display of trust.
"Miles, you need to sleep." Shadow whispers, not wanting to break the serenity of the night. Tails mumbles something incoherent, and stands lazily. Shadow doesn't bother turning off the television; the background noise is nice. He's content to let the kit walk on his own until Tails' namesakes nearly trip him, sending him tumbling. Shadow instinctively rushes forward, catching the dazed child before he can even register what's happening.
"Okay, not trying that again." Shadow mumbles, sighing. He scoops the kit up, smirking at the confused squeak that emerges. (He only smirked to cover a fond smile, but he'll never admit that.) Once again, he makes the trek up the stairs before realising he never got around to cleaning the kit's room, too wrapped up in his own head to think about the upstairs area of the house. He hesitates at the top of the stairs, then nods to himself and enters Sonic's bedroom instead.
He's been in here multiple times. Sonic is friendly; he enjoys inviting guests in, but the blue blur is oddly protective of his bedroom. His friends have only seen it a handful of times, and most of those times were just peeks through the doorway to check on the hero. Shadow, however, has had the honour of being invited in on many occasions. He thought nothing of it the first time, but when Rose's jaw went slack at the information, he figured that it was an anomaly.
Then it kept happening. Instead of hanging out on Sonic and Tails' couch, Sonic would walk straight up to his room and expect Shadow to follow. (Shadow always followed.)
Sonic's room is familiar. Untidy but in an endearing way. Packed full of memories of previous adventures like the rest of the house, but with a personal Sonic touch. There's always the distinct smell of grass and wildflowers. The smell of sunshine, too— if that was even a thing. Just entering the room is enough to make Shadow's usually tense body unwind. The room is dark, but Shadow knows it like the back of his hand. He carries the barely awake kit to Sonic's bed, hoping the hedgehog won't mind, and with careful hands, he tucks the child in. His only experience with this has been flipped— Maria hovering over him, tucking the sheets around him delicately. He tries to replicate it. He smooths down Sonic's unruly sheets and smooths down Tails' tufts of fur in a repetitive motion. He thinks the fox is asleep, but as he starts to move, a small voice speaks.
"Why are you helping me?" Tails' words are slurred, but Shadow can see his baby blue eyes in the darkness, half lidded but questioning. His tone isn't accusatory like Shadow would expect; he's just genuinely curious. Shadow contemplates just leaving, ignoring the kit's question and moving on, but the softness and strangeness of the evening have lowered his defences. He sighs quietly, electing to sit on the edge of the bed, letting his hand mindlessly pet Tails' head while he thinks through his words.
"At first, it was just because Sonic asked," Shadow replied honestly, and the kit seemed shocked that he was even bothering to answer,
"You and your little team have been given the title of being my 'friends', and it's my understanding that when a friend asks a favour, the usual answer is yes. So I told Sonic I'd check on you, make sure you were alive." Shadow is content to leave the answer there, but Tails' eyes pierce him in the dark, waiting for him to continue, and for all he claims to be 'The Ultimate Lifeform', he knows he is utterly weak right now.
"I was going to leave after I confirmed that you were, indeed, home and safe. But I looked at you, and-" This is the part he's going to regret. The part where he spills his emotions and forever breaks the image of himself in everyone's minds. This is where they find out that the Ultimate Lifeform, a superweapon made to destroy, made to survive and kill, is simply just a grieving baby brother who crumbles at anything reminding him of his sister.
"...And?" Tails' quiet voice breaks him out of his head, and he looks down to see the kit's patient expression. Shadow steels him and confesses,
"You reminded me of Maria."
He let that statement hang in the air by itself for a second. Tails' eyes widen, almost comically, at the mention of her name. Everyone knows her importance. No one dares to bring her up unless Shadow does so first. Any trace of sleep disappears from Tails as he sits up slightly, leaning in, as if trying to hang on to any information about Maria that Shadow is willing to share.
"I saw you, sick and shivering, with your-" Shadow pauses, inhaling deeply, "your gold fur and your blue eyes. And I saw her."
Tails has seen Maria's picture once, very briefly. Shadow had invited the brothers in after they got caught in a downpour. Usually, they'd run through it, but Tails happened to be carrying a truckload of electronics on him for testing, so Shadow took pity. In Shadow's home, displayed front and centre on his mantle, was a framed picture of the dark hedgehog next to a blonde girl. Both subjects had wide smiles on their faces, smushed close together, arms around each other. The picture was faded, but Tails didn't need more than one glance to tell that she was Shadow's lovely Maria.
"I never noticed it before, but you're more alike to her than I thought." Shadow thinks, eyebrows furrowing. Tails tilts his head, curious.
"Aside from the...blonde and blue. She was a genius— she was a Robotnik, of course, she was. She would make inventions out of scrap, and in between her drawings were blueprints for different experiments. She actually designed my shoes." Shadow speaks fondly as he talks, drawing Tails in like he's reading a storybook. This is the most Tails has EVER heard Shadow speak regarding Maria. He doesn't know what he's done to make Shadow trust him with this, but he's not gonna risk saying anything, in hopes that the hedgehog will continue.
"And she was mischievous, like you and Sonic are. Running around in places she shouldn't be." Shadow chuckles at that one, seemingly reliving memories.
"I guess, when I saw you sick, not having eaten in days and with a fever spiking hospital levels, I thought about Maria. About how, if she were sick, and someone I trust saw her struggling and just walked away, how I would feel. And I couldn't do that to Sonic. I couldn't do that to you. You're Sonic's Maria." Shadow's voice slowly lowers, and it's a whisper by the end of his sentence. He worries his lip, thinking. Before Tails can shake out of his stunned stupor, Shadow is speaking again.
"I know- we aren't good friends or anything. I'm not a part of your group the way Rouge or Knuckles is. But I care. I wasn't going to leave you alone. You're exceptionally smart, and skilled in many ways, but you're still a kid."
Shadow decides to shut his mouth before anything else comes tumbling without his permission. This is the most he's shared about himself with the fox. It's scary, he decides, being vulnerable. But, then again, Tails has been vulnerable all day, trusting Shadow to care for him. The least he can do is explain himself to the child. Tails stares at him for a couple of seconds, and then, with careful movements, he shifts. He leans forward, allowing his head to gently rest on Shadow's chest. Shadow remains stiff as a board, red eyes boring a hole into the kit as he telegraphs the movement. He doesn't push Tails away, though- he just waits. Waits for whatever Tails' sleep-addled mind has come up with. The unexpected contact is comforting, somehow. It reminds him of Cream. The sweet little rabbit who barrels into Shadow at top speed and buries her head in his chest fur when she's tired. His mind helpfully supplies that despite their different developmental stages, Tails is only a few years older than the girl. The same instinct to protect that flares up around Cream starts creeping in as Tails' cheek rests on his chest. Hesitantly, he raises a hand, just barely letting it rest around the kit in the world's most confusing hug. Tails inhales, and his soft voice starts speaking,
"You're... you are a part of us," is the first thing he says, letting himself relax slightly more onto Shadow,
"You just don't let yourself be."
Shadow nearly jolts at the words. He suddenly feels seen, exposed in a way he wasn't expecting. Tails must have felt him stiffen, muscles tensing as if danger had suddenly appeared. He pays no mind to it, though.
"We all know you care. You've tried hard to make up for the past. Everyone has forgiven you but yourself. You.." Tails suddenly looks up at Shadow, eyebrows furrowed. Shadow can see the tiredness dragging his eyelids down again, and a pang of guilt flows through him for keeping the kit up with his story.
"Everyone else sees you as Shadow. Just- Shadow. Our ally, and our friend. But- you still look at yourself as a weapon."
"I was created to be a weapon." Shadow retorts, scoffing lightly. Tails shakes his head and leans back onto Shadow, eyes fluttering closed,
"Weapons don't have gentle hands." Is all the kit says. The sentence runs through Shadow's brain like a lightning bolt. He's never thought of his hands as gentle before. They've always been fists. Clenched tightly around a gun or rearing to blast Chaos energy at the nearest enemy. But right now? There's nothing violent about the way he's holding Tails. He tightens his embrace slightly before sighing.
"You have to sleep." He insists again. The kit whines, but complies, the pull of slumber too welcoming. He crawls out of Shadow's arms and snuggles under the blanket. Shadow watches him wiggle for a second, getting comfortable, and within minutes, stuffy snores fill the room. He lets his hand comb through Tails' fur one more time before he leaves, leaving the door just barely open.
He has a lot of cleaning to do.