Chapter Text
Tails tapped his claws against the metal of his workbench. He was holding Sonic's armband in his other hand. Questioning why he would ever take it off. ‘Unless I have no other options, it's not coming off, I promise little bro.’ Sonic was a hedgehog of his word. If he took it off then that meant something had happened.
“But what? Why would he take it off? Was he in danger? He would've called if he was, wouldn't he?” Tails thought aloud, tapping his claw more insistently than before. He stood up and grabbed his aviator jacket from his desk chair and pulled it on.
He walked into his airplane hanger and hopped up onto the wing of the Tornado. He jumped into the cockpit and started her up, checking the fuel and wind speeds.
It was only a few minutes later when Tails was pouring through the air, wind whipping through his fur and tickling his ears. He flipped a switch and the bottom hanger opened, releasing several small drones into the air to scan for signs of Chaos Energy. Hopefully, it would help him find Sonic sooner rather than later.
Sonic opened his eyes and sat up. He didn’t remember where he was or what had happened for a moment, and then it all came flooding back. He sat up and looked out the window next to him. The sun was still setting, had he only slept a few minutes? He swung his feet off the bed and tried to stand. He managed a few steps before losing his balance and falling to the ground.
His head was spinning and his body felt overwhelmingly warm. He pressed his gloved hand to his forehead. His fur was soaked in sweat.
The door in front of him opened with a slam, making Sonic jump in surprise. Shadow was standing in the doorway, framed by the light of the hallway behind him. He looked almost angelic that way. Sonic thought he felt his cheeks grow warmer, but it was hard to tell when he felt so hot all over.
“Sonic?” Shadow turned on the light and knelt down in front of the blue hedgehog. “What happened? Did you… phase out again? Are you alright?”
“Y…yeah I'm fine, and I just lost my balance. How long have I been asleep for?” Sonic asked, rubbing his eyes.
“About twenty hours.” Shadow said, pressing his gloved hand against Sonic’s forehead. “You must’ve been exhausted.”
“Mhmm…” Sonic hummed. Shadow’s hand felt nice and cool against his skin. Like an ice pop on a hot summer's day.
“You’re burning up. Looks like your fever didn’t go down at all.” Shadow helped the other hedgehog stand up, keeping one hand on his shoulder to help them keep their balance. “c'mon, you need a bath. You're covered in dirt and blood.”
Shadow led Sonic to the bathroom and leaned Sonic against the wall. Shadow turned on the facet to the tub, making sure the water was cool, but not unbearable. Sonic slid the ground with a thud, unable to hold himself up anymore. Shadow knelt down in front of him.
“You think you can manage by yourself, or do you need my help?” Shadow asked.
“I…I think I can manage,” Sonic replied, “At least for a bit.”
Shadow nodded, “I’ll bring you some clean clothes for when you get out.” The ebony hedgehog stood up and walked out of the room, sparing only a final glance over his shoulder at Sonic before closing the door.
Tails stared blankly at his computer screen. The drones he’d released had scanned the entire island, and yet there were still no signs of Sonic. The only two places that stood out were Angel Island, and Shadow’s home. There were many other places that were overflowing in Chaos Energy, but it would take days to search them all. Not to mention, Sonic was always on the move, so even if they searched an entire area thoroughly, he could show up after they’d already left.
“Tails?” Amy Rose peeked in through the half closed door to Tails’ lab. She looked worried. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah… I’m fine. Just worried,” Tails sighed, resting his head on his folded arm on the desk in front of him.
Amy walked closer and rested a hand on the twin tailed fox’s shoulder. “I understand that you're worried, Tails, but please don’t push yourself too far. Sonic will show up again, he always does. He probably just needs some time to himself right now.”
“You’re right, Amy. But I can't shake the feeling that something about him is just… off. Like he was hiding something.” Tails mumbled, not looking up at the pink hedgehog. “What if somethings really wrong, Amy? Why else would he hide something from us?”
Amy didn’t answer, just gently placed her hand on Tails’ head, rubbing it slightly. She understood why Tails was the most worried out of all of them. Sonic had practically raised the fox. Him disappearing with no warning must’ve felt like his parents disappearing all over again. No wonder he was so upset about it.
Sonic was feeling better. He had washed all the dirt and blood from his fur and Shadow had lent him some of his clothes. They were a bit big on him, but very comfy. An oversized t-shirt and soft sweatpants. He was wrapped up in a blanket, drinking soup out of a mug while Shadow brushed his quills. Sonic just about never brushed his quills. Not because he didn’t want to, but because he would simply forget. He was so used to putting others' needs before his own. Ever since he was very little and living on the street with Tails.
Being a young, supercharged, homeless orphan was hard enough. But pair that with a young, super genius, homeless orphan and things just got tricky. Sonic never knew why his parents abandoned him, just that they thought he was too high energy and would only bring them trouble. Sonic had swore long ago that if he ever became a parent, he would do better than they ever could.
Sonic was about to take another sip of his soup, when he glitched, dropping the mug and spilling the soup all over the floor. He yelped and squeezed his head between his fists.
“Sonic?” Shadow gingerly rested a hand on his back, over his slash wound. “Is there something I can do to help?”
Sonic shook his head and leaned back, resting his head on Shadow’s fluffy chest. “Nothing more than you’re already doing.”
Shadow rested his hand on Sonic's head and leaned back on the couch’s cushions. The two quickly fell asleep in eachothers embrace, content with the others presence.
Knuckles was climbing a cliff, stabbing his fist’s spikes into the hard stone and earth. He reached the top and looked around. Nothing. He sighed and started walking, searching all over. He wouldn’t have bothered to help Tails look for Sonic if he didn’t have questions for them himself. That, plus Amy would never let him live it down if he let Tails overworked himself… again.
A woosh and a flap of dark leathery wings, and Rouge the bat was standing next to him. “Evening handsome. Out here looking for Blue too?”
“Yes. I have many questions for him.” Knuckles crossed his arms and peered around the obviously deserted cliff.
“Oh? Like what?” The bat asked.
Knuckles stayed silent for a moment before responding. “I haven’t seen Sonic so tired since I first met him when he was twelve. Back then he was taking care of Tails and fighting Eggman at the same time. All by himself. All while barely managing to find food for the both of them. Apparently, he’d been taking care of Tails for two years already and had been a homeless orphan since he was four.”
Rouge took a moment to process that. “I… never knew. That Sonic had it so rough in his childhood, I mean. With how upbeat he is, you’d think he grew up in a loving home.” Rouge wrapped her arms around herself, looking like a worried mother who just found out her baby was hurt.
Knuckles gently pulled her into a hug. His large arms encasing her in a warm comforting embrace. “It’s what made him so strong today. Both of them.”
Rouge wrapped her arms around his neck. She pulled away only a moment after. “I’m going to go ask Shadow if he knows anything.” Knuckles nodded and smiled at her as she ran and jumped off the cliff before opening her wings to their full length and soaring off into the early morning sky.
Shadow blinked awake, and was startled for a moment to see Sonic asleep on his chest, before he remembered the previous night. He smiled and rubbed Sonic's cheek. The azure hedgehog didn’t wake from his sleep, but did nuzzle into Shadow’s chest and let out a content sigh. Shadow couldn’t help the bright red blush that covered his entire face at the sight of Sonic the Hedgehog looking adorably vulnerable on top of him.
“Mnn… Shads?” Sonic mumbled, blinking awake. Shadow couldn’t help but let out a small chuckle and smile down at Sonic.
“Good morning.” Shadow greeted as Sonic lifted his head, slowly sitting up. Shadow followed suit and stretched, yawning, showing each of his sharp fangs. When he opened his eyes again, he only saw Sonic, still seated on his lap, his knees on either side of the ebony hedgehog's waist.
Shadow placed his hands on Sonic's hips and gently pulled him forwards. “How did you sleep last night?”
“Very well, thank you. You make a nice pillow. Very soft.” Sonic rested his arms on Shadow’s shoulders, linking his fingers.
“Hm. Well, at least one of us was comfortable last night.” Shadow trailed one of his hands up Sonic’s back, burying his hand into the soft blue quill and pulling his head closer. They were so close now. Shadow could feel his heart, that was always at a fast pass, kick into high gear.
“Ah, I’m sorry, was it so uncomfy to have someone sleep on top of you?” Sonic gently buried both his hands into Shadow’s soft quills and leaned closer. Their chests were pressed together, their lips barely an inch apart.
A knock sounded at the door. The two hedgehogs jumped and pulled away from each other, blushing their heads off. They just stared at each other for a moment realising what they had almost done. Finally, Sonic climbed off Shadow and he stood up to answer the door.
He straightened his quills and turned the handle to open the door. Outside was a very bored looking Rouge. She was studying her gloved hand nonchalantly before she noticed Shadow. She broke into a large grin, stepping forward and hugging him. Shadow had to admit, he had missed Rouge. Her, and Amy, and Cream, and everyone really, even if he would never admit it.
Shadow tightly squeezed her back, burrowing his head into the crook of her neck, something he never did. “Oh, honey, what's wrong? Did something happen?”
“No… well, yes but,” Shadow pulled back to look down at her, she was a head shorter than him, “I just missed you.”
“Missed me? Shadow, honey, I was over just a few days ago. What happened and why-” Rouge was cut off when a scream of pain followed by a loud thud came from the living room.
“Sonic!” Shadow yelled, racing back into the living room and kneeling by the azure hedgehog. He was panting and grasping at his chest, hunched over on his knees. Tears were brimming over in his eyes. He’d clearly just suffered another glitch. His quills were raised defensively, and blue sparks were scattering throughout them. Shadow gently placed one hand on Sonic’s back, between his two back quills.
Sonic leaned into him, his breathing slowing and becoming steadier. The blue sparks in his quills died out, only leaving a slight burning smell behind. The blue hedgehog reached out with one hand and Shadow gingerly took it, helping the azure hedgehog stand.
Rouge watched as Shadow sat Sonic down on the couch, telling him to rest while he made them something to eat. He walked back into the entryway and led Rouge into the kitchen.
“So… I imagine you have some questions. I may not be able to answer them all, but you may ask.” Shadow said as he pulled a box of dry oatmeal out of the cabinet.
“Yes, I do. Starting off with, when did you start letting Sonic into your house? And why haven’t you told anyone where he was? Tails and Amy have been worried sick. And when did you care so much for Sonic?” Rouge started off the bat with the most obvious questions.
“It's… a long story, and I think it would be better if Sonic told it, when he’s ready. But I can answer these questions. I brought Sonic here because he was hurt. Badly. I stitched and cleaned him up, and now I'm letting him rest here. As for why I didn't tell anyone he was staying with me… Sonic wanted some time to just… heal and rest. Without his friends worrying about him.”
“Well, they’re still most definitely worried, but I suppose it makes sense. Especially for Sonic. But as for my last question?” Rouge pushed. Shadow couldn’t help the blush that covered his cheeks. Rouge couldn’t help the huge smile on her face.
“Wait, don’t tell me! You’re in love with him~” Rouge teased, bringing her voice down to a whisper to be sure Sonic wouldn’t overhear her.
Shadow didn’t respond for a moment, as if wondering if he could somehow come up with a good enough lie on the spot. “... I suppose I am…” he stirred the oatmeal in the pot on the stove, turning away from Rouge.
Rouge clapped her gloved together happily. Clearly excited about this recent development. Shadow ignored her and poured the oatmeal into a bowl, adding milk and sugar. He walked into the living room to hand Sonic his food, only to find him curled up like a cat on his couch, half asleep. Shadow couldn't help the smile and blush that crept up his face. Rouge was smiling while looking between the two.
Shadow sighed and set the bowl down on a side table and turned on a lamp. He knelt in front of Sonic, placing a hand between his quills and rubbing gently.
“I made oatmeal. Do you want some?” Shadow asked. Sonic nodded, blinking tiredly and sat up. Shadow leaned back as Sonic raised his arms above his head, stretching. When the azure hedgehog lowered his arm back down though, Shadow spotted something by his eyes. Little marking in the shapes of the Prism shards, changing color as the light hit them at different angles. They glowed slightly and looked beautiful, in a strange and unnatural way.
Sonic started eating the oatmeal while Shadow studied the markings. They reminded him so much of the Paradox Prism, he was so focused on the marking around Sonic’s eyes, it took him a moment to notice the markings at the tips of his quills.
“Sonic!” Rouge wrapped her arms around Sonic in a motherly embrace, pecking kisses on his forehead.
“Ah! Rouge! Stahp!” Sonic protested, smiling as he playfully waved her away with his spoon. He laughed as she squashed his face playfully and flicked at his ears.
Shadow watched the two of them with a soft smile on his face. Sonic hadn’t looked quite so relaxed or happy since they got back home. His smile faltered and he looked away. Why was that? What was keeping sonic from being happy? Was it… Him?