Ultraviolence
Note: thank you for the request! this one took a little longer because i tried a different style/approach with it and experimented a little with the wording, i hope you enjoy it! lore is a mix of events that took place in the movie, and some from og lore. and side note, all other requests are being on hold, as i am going out of state for my birthday in a few weeks, but ill get back to them when i return!!
The sound of shouting followed by gunshots rang through the halls of The Ark, the rushed footsteps that seemed to be gaining on you sent a jolt of fear through your body, and you instinctively held onto Maria's hand tighter. You and Shadow could've outran the soldiers, but you both silently agreed to not leave the only family you had behind. Everything was in chaos, people were scattering and pleading for their lives as they had firearms pointed in their face, ear piercing alarms had been set off, an ache beginning to form in your head. You, Shadow, Maria, and Gerald were running from agents of G.U.N, unsure of what fate laid ahead for you all. As you glanced behind you, you could see them aim, an older male was demanding they stand down, but they didn't listen. A shot fired off, the group skidded to a stop and your eyes scanned over everyone in search of where the bullet had hit. Everyone's gaze seemed to be somewhere else, before you could follow it an explosion went off. The impact sent waves of pain throughout your entire body, you felt yourself being flung across the room, your body collided with something solid, and immediately you lost consciousness.
When you came to, the first thing you felt was the throbbing of your head, then the immense pain in all of your limbs. Peeling your eyes open, you were greeted with a white ceiling. Taking in your surroundings, you immediately realized you were in some sort of hospital room. The room being a sterile white, the faint scent of a cleaning agent in the air, and the quiet sound of your heart monitor caused a pit to form in your stomach. Unfortunately, these rooms were never a good sign for you. You were another project alongside Shadow, made to help cure Maria's illness. Like clockwork, you had tests being performed on you, and you were poked and prodded with needles for hours until your skin was sore. Shadow underwent the same treatment, doctors often worked on you both in the same room, you could feel your heart break each time you saw the empty look in Shadows eyes. Luckily, Maria would come around and sneak you two away from the relentless tests to go and watch movies or do some other fun human activity.
Your mind was flooded with the memories of what transpired on The Ark, your body started moving on its own as you began to sit up. All of the wires that were hooked up to you tugged, and any needles they had under your skin pulled uncomfortably. You had to know what happened to Maria and Shadow, you didn't see what happened to them in the explosion, and you weren't sure how long you had been unconscious.
"Welcome back," A feminine voice rang out from beside you, you jumped. You didn't notice her beside you. She was dressed in purple scrubs, holding a clipboard in her hand that you could only assume held all of your information on it. You watched silently as she scribbled a few notes down, then approached you.
"Where are they?" You were surprised by the sound of your own voice, hoarse and quiet, like you hadn't spoken in weeks. The doctor sighed as she began removing some of the wires attached to you.
That was all she said, your heart sunk in your chest. You knew all too well this was doctors favorite thing to say when delivering unfortunate news to waiting families, you can thank all of the sad movies you watched with Maria for that. You sat in your thoughts as the lady in front of you began performing a basic checkup, making sure your health was in order. Shadow was created to be the ultimate lifeform, could he really be taken out by such an explosion? Did he and Maria get the worst of it? You were starting to spiral. What were you supposed to be if Maria was not around anymore, what is the purpose of your life? Would you forever be cursed with being a lab rat?
"If you'd like, I can catch you up to speed with everything." Your doctor finally broke the silence, shining a small light into your eyes. You nodded, waiting for her to continue.
"You've been in a medical induced coma for the past 50 years. The accident you were involved in left you with severe injuries, and everyone agreed to keep you asleep for our own safety," She paused, removing the blue disposable gloves from her hands. "We have woken you up because we have tests we need to run on you. With Shadow no longer around, you're the only thing left for us, and we believe you hold the key to curing even the deadliest illnesses."
A small, yet powerful flame fueled by anger ignited within your chest, providing a warmth no other emotion could. Its flames threatened to grow into something bigger, more dangerous. But you had your hands tightly secured onto its reins, having a firm grasp on the destructive emotion. She talked about keeping you asleep for their safety as if you were going to harm them, like you haven't let them constantly experiment on you without putting up a fight. You've let them draw blood from you until your head spun and vision blurred, you willingly let them bring you to your weakest state and they still think you are hazardous. The mention of Shadow being gone caused your frustration to fizzle out, instead turning into sadness and emotional pain. Your chest constricted painfully, and tears threatened to spill from your eyes. Maria would always tell you and Shadow that you were much more than things to be studied, and, in her words, you were your own people too and could exist outside of the reason you were created. You often saw Maria as the light to your dark and isolated life, she was a saint, undeserving of the illness that had her clutched tightly in its grasp. Maria deserved a long, happy life, and she deserved to return to Earth, her home, and breathe it's fresh air instead of the stuffy air onboard of The Ark. Memories of Shadow and Maria replayed in your mind as doctors and scientists crowded into your small room, approaching you with scary looking devices and whispering among themselves. This was the first time you would be without the comfort of your only family. You glanced over at the door, expecting to see a familiar blonde girl enter, ready to swoop you away from the never ending tests, but she never came. Your eyes wandered the room, looking for the comforting and reassuring gaze Shadow always gave you during times like these, but he was not here either.
Your perception of time was distorted, exacerbated by the absence of clocks or calendars in the facility. Each morning, you were awoken and examined, a routine that felt interminable. It was a grueling schedule: wake up, see several scientists, eat, sleep, and repeat.Your life had been reduced to a meaningless routine. While part of you wished to believe that this was in line with Maria's wishes, that they would find cures for diseases, you knew she would not have wanted it this way. You felt that you were not treated as a living being, but rather as a mere experiment and a subject for medical procedures. This caused you to feel angry.
In Japan, located far away from civilization was a G.U.N facility. Inside, they harbored a very dangerous and important project. Project Shadow. He was suspended inside of a tube, forced into an eternal sleep state. Inside of this tube, he could recall the memories of a girl, she played guitar, danced with him, and introduced him to movies. Next to this girl was another project, just like him. You overtook his memories and thoughts, flashbacks of the time you two spent together playing in his mind. He could vividly remember the sound of your voice, the tired look in your eyes, and the giggle that seemed to only come out when Maria was around. He remembers the explosion, he was knocked unconscious but only for a few minutes. He remembers Maria's body, the physical and emotional pain he felt upon realizing she was gone, that she was taken from him. You were his next priority, he searched the rubble for your body, but did not find it. Finally, through all of the commotion, he could see G.U.N agents carrying your unconscious body in a small, cramped crate. From where he stood he could only make out some of your injuries, broken limbs, stray metal pieces had pierced through your skin, you were in critical condition. Shadow was confused, alone, and scared. The two things he held dearest to him had just been taken from him, in the blink of an eye. It was devastating. It was infuriating. Shadow was aware that he was being held asleep, and that only angered him more. He needed to know what happened to you, if you were dead or alive.
The guards that were in charge of watching Shadow noticed a spike in his vitals, immediate worry washing over him and the others. His containment tank was destabilizing, Project Shadow was waking up. The guards readied their firearms, exchanging worried glances. Crimson eyes shot open, the atmosphere in the room growing increasingly dark. Shadows heart and mind was gripped tightly by the hands of rage, his whole body felt like it was burning. In one swift motion, he had punched through the glass that separated him from the G.U.N agents. Liquid poured from the tank, and a soaking Shadow stood, fists clenched and eyes glowing with anger. Before the guards could get a chance to shoot, the hedgehog was already taking them out. With ease, he knocked each one out, one by one. His thoughts were clouded by rage, and he would stop at nothing until he found you, and took revenge for what happened to Maria.
Under the twinkling lights of the night sky, the moon met the ocean in a passionate but momentary kiss. His fists clenched so tightly he dared to draw blood, eyes burning with a fire only the sun could possess. The water laid calm tonight, light ripples across the glimmering surface. Inside of the heart of the ebony hedgehog, waves crashed angrily against each other, roaring so loudly the calm, more reasonable thoughts could barely be heard.
The surface was disturbed by the hastened movement above it, Shadows air shoes providing reassurance that he wouldn't plummet into the dark depths of the water beneath him as he rushed toward the main land of Japan. Unfortunately, he was already drowning and he didn't know it. The neon lights that brought life to the city were the first thing he noticed when he made it onto the streets. Skidding to a stop, he took a moment to take in his surroundings. Maria always talked about how beautiful Earth was, and she couldn't wait for the day she could return. Now, as Shadow stood in the middle of the street, a passing car splashing water onto him, the only feeling that gripped his heartstrings were pain and grief for everything he had lost that day G.U.N raided The Ark. His attention then focused on a large sign on a building, it was then he realized he had been asleep for 50 years. He was treated like some sort of alien, thrown into a tube and sealed away for decades. Maria had always treated him like a brother, despite his origins she never looked at him with fear like others did. She always welcomed Shadow with open arms and reassuring words, as she did with you as well.
The sound of an overhead helicopter and approaching vehicles snapped him from his thoughts, that previous fiery rage replacing the grief and loneliness he was feeling. He had no idea where you were— if you were even alive, but he knows that G.U.N last had a hold of you, and if anyone knew where you were being kept, it was them. He made swift work of the agents, being sure to keep one alive so he could inquire about your whereabouts.
"Where… are they?" He growled into the ear of a driver, gun pressed into their temple. The driver trembled, hands shaking as he gripped the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white.
"I- I don't know who you're talking about!" The driver exclaimed, eyes screwing shut as he awaited his inevitable demise.
"Y/N? Does that ring a bell?" Shadow pushed the muzzle of the gun roughly against his skull, the driver was visibly sweating bullets upon the mention of your name. This caused Shadow to quirk his brow. "You know who I'm talking about."
"They are- they are being held in a facility off-grid!" He cried, for an agent of G.U.N he was easily shaken up, that was possibly why he was given the job of just being a driver, tasked to take experienced soldiers out on the field.
Shadow held the man at gunpoint as he drove him as close as he could get him to the facility you were being held at, other members of G.U.N were aware of the situation, and were sending reinforcements. The fiery storm that was raging within the hedgehogs mind easily burned away the reasonable thoughts that crept in his thoughts, causing him to be reckless with his decisions. In his mind, he was doing the right thing, taking revenge for what G.U.N did to Maria, and finding you. Shadow knew he was probably considered a criminal due to him taking the lives of officials, and if he were caught they would not be so nice to him. But, he was confident in his ability to get through just about anything the universe decided to throw his way, He was The Ultimate Lifeform, after all.
After not long, the armored vehicle came to a stop somewhere on the edge of Japan, and in the distance Shadow could see the lights of the building you were supposedly in. His heart drummed against his rib cage, doubt that you were even here slithered its way into his mind. He didn't know what he would do with himself if he got inside, and you were nowhere to be found. He didn't want to imagine the pain he would feel if he found out you never made it, and fell from the injuries you suffered from the explosion.
"Have you been drinking enough water?" Your doctor, who's name you learned was Shauna, asked. She had the tendency to act very caring towards you, giving you false hope that maybe she did see you as more than just something that was created in a lab, but then she would go back to acting cold and indifferent towards you, the change in her demeanor happened too quick for you to process.
"Uh, yeah." You answered slowly, watching intently as she began to take your blood pressure. You weren't sure how long it had been since you first woke up, but all of the tests had been put on a halt, which you were thankful for. Your routine now consisted of waking up, having a bland breakfast, and wandering around the building until it was time to sleep again. Much to your un-luck, there wasn't a lot for you to do, it made you miss Maria. She always had something for you to do, whether it be watching a movie, arts and crafts, or an activity that had the possibility of getting you all into trouble, there was always something to keep you entertained. Now, your days were filled with boredom and loneliness, none of the doctors had any interest in bonding with you, they probably thought you didn't possess any type of personality or had likes or dislikes.
Suddenly, an ear piercing alarm rang through the hallways, and the once blinding white lights overhead now flashed red. Your doctor visibly jumped, confusion taking over her previously blank expression. You covered your ears, shielding your eardrums from the shrieking noise. Shauna was quick to put down whatever she had in her hands, shuffling to poke her head out of the room and watch as multiple guards rushed by, shouting incoherently.
"I'm gonna go and see what's up, okay?" Shauna shouted over the alarm, swiveling her neck to look back at you. Once you had nodded, confirming you heard her, she rushed out of the door, disappearing into the crowd of confused and worried doctors and guards. This situation quickly reminded you of the events that transpired on The Ark, it caused a pit to form in your stomach, and you curled your knees into your chest in order to comfort yourself.
Due to the door being left slightly ajar, you could clearly hear the distance screams and the loud, rapid gunfire that started going off. You started questioning if yet another raid was happening, and if it was your fault. Last time, it was because you and Shadow were deemed too dangerous. Anxiety bubbled in your belly, and you silently prayed that was not the case. The alarm had thankfully ceased, giving your ears rest from its relentless blaring. You were just beginning to uncover your ears when all of the commotion outside of your room abruptly stopped, the air becoming eerily still and silent.
Light, but rapid footsteps resonated through the dimly lit hallway, accompanied by the unmistakable sounds of the doors being forcefully flung open one after another. With an intense focus, your gaze was fixed on the door in front of you, and an instinctual urge to retreat further back on the bed took over. The pounding of your heart was so overwhelming it felt as though it was echoing in your very ears, while a cold sweat began to trickle from your palms to your fingertips. You were left in a state of utter confusion and dread, uncertain of who it was that lurked outside and terrified of what their intentions could be, especially as you heard them muttering to themselves while scouring the corridor, a silent prayer whispering in your mind that weren't seeking you.
Their footsteps stopped just in front of your door, a white hand gripped the door, slowly pushing it open. You shuffled off of the bed, taking a stance and preparing to defend yourself from whomever was on the other side of the door. You were confident that you would be able to put up a fight, and possibly escape. Knowing how G.U.N operates, reinforcements and backup were probably on the way. Whoever had attacked was clearly an experienced fighter, enough that they took out several guards within minutes. You wondered if this person was alone or with a group.
Cautiously, a raven hedgehog with red highlights crossed the threshold of the room, his burning gaze scanning the vicinity.
You let out a breath you hadn't even realized you were holding, as if the weight of the world had suddenly been lifted from your shoulders. A familiar sensation kindled in your chest, igniting all of the yearning and longing you had felt for so long. Relief washed over you like a wave crashing against a rock for the first time, enveloping you in an overwhelming sense of ease and comfort. Your feet, almost guided by an invisible force, moving on their own as you took a hesitant step forward, cautiously testing the waters of this surreal moment, desperately trying to confirm whether what you were witnessing was truly real or perhaps just a vivid dream created by your mind. Could it really be that he traveled all this way just to find you and reunite? Hope ignited in your chest like a flame, flickering with the possibilities of what this moment could mean for the both of you.
Shadows eyes widened, the pressure between his brows loosening as his gaze finally landed on you. His heart had felt so empty, and cold, cobwebs and dust were all that filled his heart. For all of those years he spent in suspended animation, he only felt the icy heat of hatred towards humanity for what they had done to you and Maria, and he spent countless hours planning how he would take revenge. But, as your appalled expression reflected from his eyes, his heart warmed with someone a little more gentle, welcoming. The feeling was foreign, but he embraced it with open arms. Your name fell from his tongue in a single breath, it was so quiet you almost didn't catch it.
Without wasting another precious second, you threw your arms around his neck in a desperate embrace, warm tears cascading down your cheeks that you hadn't even noticed welling up. Shadow initially stiffened at your sudden gesture, yet he quickly relaxed, slowly enveloping your back with his reassuring arms, as if craving this connection as much as you did. Time felt as though it had come to a standstill, and you melted entirely into his embrace, his fur damp yet soft against your skin, and he radiated a comforting warmth that made you yearn to snuggle into him. In that moment, it felt like two rivers merging into one, your souls intertwined effortlessly. Sparks of forgotten flames of joy and love came to life, while the world around you faded into mere background noise, leaving only the pure bliss of your reunion to fill the air.
