Daylight
Chapter one: Coming of Age
Summary: Just as night follows day, war is the shadow peace casts. Broken bodies can't mend broken hearts, and because apologies are short-lived, the cycle is always bound to repeat. Shadow, however, is determined to stop this cycle once and for all. Knuxadow/ Shadilver.
Note: Everyone in this is human, for the most part. They all have tails and ears like their original designs, but that's it, in terms of furriness. Also, there will be a little bit of ooc involved, but that's the same with all AUs. If it gets too much in any part, let me know and I'll rewrite it as best as I can! Please enjoy!
Disclaimer: All characters involved belong to, and are property of Sega and the Sonic Team. I don't own anything except the concept for the plot. If I did own Sonic, then everything I love would be canon.
(x)
"-ke up!" A grumble and a groan sounded from the mountain of black and red blankets, and the boy gave a determined scowl. Even with the light filtering in through the closed curtains, surely this figure's internal clock wasn't so skewed that sleeping until the middle of the day was an option, was it?
Upon hearing another weak snore, clearly, it was.
"Wake UP, Shadow!" And before the sleeping teen knew what hit him, all the blankets and comforters he had procured were ripped off of him, discarded on the floor. Somewhere in the mass of blankets his leg got caught, so he went down with his blankets- head hitting the floor none too gently. A thud resounded through the room, followed by a long string of vehement, half-asleep cursing.
"-ing shit, Sonic, what do you want?" Slurring and obnoxious, the rudely awoken teen rubbed his aching head, black and red hair unruly under his hand. Sleep was still heavy over him, as he attempted to untangle his limbs from the mess of fabric. Unfortunately, the task proved too challenging in his state, and he opted to stare at the individual who woke him. His gaze met blue hair, bright eyes, and a disgruntled look on his face that bordered amusement and disapproval. Shadow simply stared up at Sonic with an incredulous smirk plastered on his face, though he was by no means amused.
"It's almost eleven, idiot, we've been waiting on you for breakfast," He paused for a second, staring at the disgruntled teen. " Do you even remember what day it is today?" The look of amusement faltered on the blue-haired teen's face. Instead, it became a look of annoyance as his question was ignored, in favor of Shadow trying to get his bearings.
After a few moments of watching Shadow attempting to detangle himself from the mass of blankets, he let out an exasperated sigh. Sonic bent over and pulled away enough of the blankets for the black-haired teen to finally stand up. Shadow flashed an appreciative smile before becoming stoic and dusting his hands off, like it was all him. His younger brother gave him an incredulous look before continuing on.
"It's our birthday." Shadow nodded absently, walking over to his dresser –black, just like everything else in his room.
"Fuck- is it really?" His exasperated words betrayed his nonchalance as he dug through one of his drawers, trying to find a shirt to throw on that wasn't something his mother would consider 'fit for peasants' –whatever that meant. Eventually, he settled for just wrapping up his tattoos and throwing on his favorite jacket; black, with red stripes on the sleeves, and copious amounts of white fur lining the collar.
"Yeah it is, and just because we're of age doesn't mean you can just say whatever the hell you want." The blue-haired male gave him a disgruntled, but cheeky smirk. Both of them just gave each other a look, almost as though amused at how hypocritical that statement was. However, neither would admit they were mutual on any topic.
"Whatever, faker." While Shadow didn't care too horribly what his family thought of him, he felt that it would be better to change his pants before heading out. After all, his mother had told him enough times to stop looking like the help that he could hardly stand it any longer. Fortunately, he and his brother had stopped caring about seeing each other change so long ago that it didn't weird either of them out too horribly.
"No, really, you've been calling me that all month, what does that even mean?" His eyes went wide, mouth drew into a straight line, and his hands shook just so, to accentuate his speaking. Shadow ignored his question, though, opting instead to throw on some socks and shoes.
"I'm heading down to get breakfast; get out of my room." Without another word, he exited the room, and smirked when he heard Sonic walk out behind him, closing the door closed with a satisfying click. Everyone knows the rule about Shadow's room; door stays closed at all times of the day, no exceptions.
Walking down the hallway, Shadow was pleased by the usual click-clacking of his metal-toed shoes hitting the expensive marble that made up nearly every hard surface of the castle. Living the life of luxury was most certainly the only part he enjoyed about even being near this stuffy home.
"Don't have to ask twice, freak." Sonic tried to murmur under his breath, but he never really was one for being quiet, or even keeping his mouth shut. The black-haired teen stopped dead in his tracks, turning around to glare daggers into his twin's face.
"What did you say?"
"Nothing, but Mom's not gonna like your new color. Black and red? Can't say I didn't see it coming. I think some of your roots are showing, though." He practically sing-songed as he made his way past his older twin, hands resting on the back of his neck in such a way that he seemed oh-so innocent. However, the cheeky smirk plastered across his face would beg to differ. All Shadow could do in response is let out a slur of indignities and flip the teen off.
"Wipe that shit-eating grin off your face before I come over there and-"
"PRINCE SHADOW, GET OVER HERE RIGHT THIS INSTANCE!" Before either of them saw her coming, a familiar form was nearly screaming at the black-haired male from the base of the castle's marble stairs. The scowl that had been on Shadow's expression was replaced by a look of fear and disapproval.
"Busted!" Sonic hummed, relishing in his twins misery. He continued on his way, grinning like he had nothing better to do with his face.
"Shut up, faker." The black-haired teen called after his twin, just as Sonic was turning a corner, and barely caught the younger male flipping him off. He couldn't help but feel his blood boil at the gesture, but was left without any means of retaliation.
"Shadow, what on earth did you do to your hair?!" The girl's fists were curled on her hips, causing her white dress to curl up, if only enough to show more of her slim legs. Shadow would never say the girl was unattractive, but she most certainly wasn't the girl for him, no matter what his mother claimed.
"Good morning to you, too, Elise." Dead-pan and sarcastic as always, he enjoyed watching the brunette's eye twitch a bit under what he could only assume was mental strain. At least, that's what he assumed females had, considering how she and his mother acted all the time.
"Don't try dodging my question. What happened to your hair?" Tentatively, she reached up and lightly pulled on one of the red streaks that flowed out behind his ears. Not caring to be too polite, he brought a hand up, swatting hers away.
"I dyed it."
She heaved out an exasperated sigh into her hand, trying her hardest to keep her temper in check. Though, from the look on her face, she was just about ready to cry, scream, or both. He didn't care too horribly, though, and opted instead for shoving his hands in his jacket pockets and letting it be known how little he cared.
"I can that, but -our wedding is in less than a week, and you go and pull a stunt like this?" Elise's voice was more melodramatic than it was harsh, but It was clear in the way she talked to him that she was no more hurt by his changed appearance than she was in love. Arranged marriages tended to spark empty relationships.
"It's only a wedding if both people are there." His words came out cold, and he saw the hurt look on her face. There was nothing between them, so it didn't hurt to hear that they didn't truly care about one another, at least, not when it came to anything romantic. Hearing that Shadow wasn't even trying to pretend was what hurt.
"Shadow! How can you say that, after all you've done-"
"You mean, after everything my mother has done. I haven't once agreed to any of this." The heels of his shoes clicked on the floor as he tried to walk past her, stopping only to inform her of his true feelings about the situation. After all, with the wedding so close, he'd do anything to get out of it.
"But I thought you-"
"Only because my mother forced me into this." Mimicking Sonic, he placed his hands on the back of his neck, elbows out. To say he couldn't have cared less about his supposed fiancée's feelings was something of an understatement. Without so much as a final word on the subject, he set off towards the dining hall, trying to ignore the shouts of the to-be queen.
"Sha- hey, Shadow, where are you going?" Her tone was not demanding so much as it was insulted. Taking a glance back at her, he noticed her knees bent in and fists curled, lip nearly quivering. When things got tough, she always was a bit of a cry-baby, even though she liked to act tough.
"To get some breakfast, as I had intended on the first place." And without a word more, he turned the corner and could only faintly hear her fuming, before the halls became silent, besides the white noise of the help running to and fro. He never could understand just how hard it was to maintain a household where no one besides him made any messes, and no one hardly interacted with one another.
The white marble that covered the castle made it shine brilliantly in the morning sun, and if Shadow was more melodramatic, like his mother claimed he was, he may have feigned melting under the rays. However, he had not been subjected to vampirism, and simply continued on his morning walk to the dining hall, which he absently mused to himself as to why on earth is it halfway across the entire estate? Surely the people who originally designed the castle hadn't intended on making a poor, brooding teenager-turned-adult walk nearly a thousand yards just to get some bacon and toast!
Not that it really mattered, though, because when it came down to it, the morning walk he got between getting dressed and getting to eat helped him wake up and act less like the walking dead and more like a somewhat civilized human being. At least, that's what he told himself, despite how he knew how vigorously his mother would disagree if he ever said that aloud. She was always complaining to him about sitting up straight, acting like royalty, and for the love of god, Shadow, would you stop trying to summon Solaris in your mashed potatoes!
Okay, so, that was only one time. But, still.
Turning another corner, Shadow snapped out of his thoughts just in time to watch the open double doors leading to the dining hall disappear behind him. At the massive table, with its total of 52 seats, sat Sonic and his mother, as well as a white-haired girl with hedgehog ears –perhaps someone from the village? The girl and Shadow's mother were discussing something, taking every few minutes to eat, properly chew, and swallow.
Shadow didn't care too much about formalities, however, and just grabbed a seat right next to Sonic, scowling at how he was already half-done with his food.
"The Night Tribe, you say? I haven't heard anything about them since-" The look on his mother's face was one of concern and confusion, and Shadow was mildly disappointed that he hadn't heard what spawned it. What he wouldn't give to spoil his mothers mood. Apparently, the sound of him sitting down interrupted her thoughts, as her attention quickly went from the –surprisingly heavily-dressed- girl to her rebellious son.
"Oh, Shadow, I see you're finally ready to join the land of the living." The blue-haired woman's voice was hardly amused, but she tried to force a pleasant smile on her face. She had long since stopped entertaining Shadow's belligerence, but was obligated to act like the proper Queen everyone knew her to be, due to this guest.
"Not quite, but I thought I'd entertain you and, whoever this is." Red eyes scanned over the white-haired girl's face, finding her to be much less feminine up close.
'Not like that matters,' He thought to himself. 'It's not like they'll be here for long anyway.' But even then, he never fully averted his gaze. Shadow was always something of a loner, and prefered observing people than interacting with them, and this stranger seemed all but boring.
"This is Silver, the Prince of the Snow Tribe." Shadow took a double take, looking up to see that, yes, that was most definitely a male, considering the Adams apple that his fluffy collar tried to hide, and his masculine jawline. It didn't matter to him, either way. He wasn't entirely interested in anyone -be them male or female, or whatever inbetween they decided on- because regardless of who they were, they never respected his wishes above his mothers.
Elise alone was proof of that, considering how she didn't dare to stray from his mother's words. Though, he tried to not make assumptions about people, especially those with real authority. Maybe this random newcomer could be of some use to him. That was doubtful, and he ditched the idea entirely.
No, solitude fit him much better, he decided.
"Name's Shadow, Prince of the Sun Tribe." He declared with a small head nod. A tight smile formed over his lips, because out of everything his mother taught him, the only thing that stuck was that first impressions were the most important, and he wanted to give this kid every reason to think he was bad news. The fewer friends he had, the better. After all, no one can snitch on you if you take all your adventures alone.
Picking up a fork, he poked hesitantly at the eggs on his plate before diving into them, hardly even concerned about the fact that all eyes were on him and his lack of manners. Food was food, and he didn't have time to be pussy-footing around when the people he hated most sat mere feet away from him. Looking up for the briefest of moments, he felt satisfaction in the fact that his mother was staring at him in pure horror, while Silver simply sat and pleasantly smiled. To his right, he could almost feel the negative aura of his twin, and casting a glance, he could see the look of disgust on his face.
"But I heard from Queen Rune that Sonic, here, was the…"
"Yes, well, he's the one that my mother is proud of." Silver's face twisted to an expression of amusement and shock, lip drawn tight to try and hide the smirk shining through.
"Shadow!" Voice indignant, Shadow's mother gave him the most incredulous look she could muster without looking absolutely enraged. He didn't bother to make eye contact, simply ate the rest of the food he was planning on eating before getting up from his seat.
"Thanks for the food, I'm going to go hang out in my room and not talk to anyone for the next six hours. Let me know when the ceremony is; I plan on missing it." Nonchalantly, he waved his hand in a dismissing manor, not caring to push in his seat as he stood, or even taking care of his plate –surprising no one, considering how he never did on any occasion other than major gatherings.
"Shadow!"
He didn't bother to even turn around, sulking off to his room. With a glance back, once he reached the door, he noticed his family discussing something with one another, and a cautious, almost concerned look from the white-haired boy.
He didn't need sympathy, though.
All he needed was freedom.
(x)
I was really debating having it go on some more, and having each chapter be 4-6k words, but I think I'll start with a smaller chapter, so you guys don't get your hopes up. So far, I've introduced our main hero, Shadow, his shithead twin, Sonic, their mother, Rune –I'm not a huge fan of original characters, but she's the only one, and I do plan on expanding her character a bit more. And, one of the love interests, Silver.
If anything seems out of character, or generally awkward, let me know! I'm always up for suggestions, so just let me know what you're thinking! I have a bad habit of going from past to present tense, sometimes, so if anything is really obvious, and I missed it, let me know. :3
(There won't be nearly as many notes in further chapters, if anyone's concerned.)
Last Edit - 9/6/14