"My name is Jacob and it seems like I'm prisoner here. I'm in a cell right now, seems like a dungeon, although, it's freezing. My recorder was in my pocket when I went on the scene. He...my kidnapper would rarely show himself. I don't have much time. I asked for his name, but he would give no response. He would laugh and walk away."

Some sound is heard, like an unlocking sound and footsteps. The person who is recording sobs and seems to be stuttering.

"Please! No! I-"

A slice is heard and some sort of gurgling. Chocked sounds echo from the small device.

"I-Wh-WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME!?"

"Your life," A dark graving voice said," Your life and your blood."

Another slice is heard and liquid dropping toward the ground.

"HE'S A DEMON! S-"

"No one will be able to save you this time, dear Jacob."

Two hedgehogs stood side by side, one looking calm while the other disturbed. A human stood tall before them, behind a desk with the small device in his hand. He clicked it off.

"I hope you both got that," The G.U.N. officer, commander, said," And nice to see you'll be joining us Sonic."

Sonic, the blue hedgehog, glared at the human before turning his gaze toward the ground.

The black hedgehog raised a brow, confused on why his rival would even join something that would involve killing people.

"Shadow-"The black and red striped hedgehog look at the human," You'll be his partner for a long while, you see? I know you both hate each other, but you two...are compatible."

"Elaborate," Shadow growled out, crossed his arms leaning on one foot, the other leg bended slightly.

"You two are good partners, you understand each other, and you two are the only ones that can run,and fight, as fast as you both can.

"What is our mission,Commander?" Shadow growled, looking at Sonic from the corner of his eye," You wouldn't have showed us that for no reason at all would you?"

"No, I want you to find whoever might be killing these innocent people. This was the thirteenth kill this week."

Sonics eyes widened ever so little, but Shadow easily saw. He could read everyone like an open book. It was just so easy for him to know what was going on in his rivals head. Shadow always wondered about Sonic, like, why would he have joined this job, if Sonic would never, ever, hold a gun. Sonic was in discomfort, it was written all over his face.

Shadow would have to ask later.

"We haven't gotten anymore evidence, but you will be sent to the site where the person was killed."

"When? When do we go?" Sonic asked, his voice sounding strained in Shadows ears.

"Tomorrow, dismiss." The commander waved his hand as if to whoosh them away. He already had it up to here with these guys anyway.

Both hedgehogs walked to the big doors and quickly, Sonic more than Shadow(of course), walked away. As soon as both were outside, Sonic sighed and threw his belt off with the gun attached. It landed with a soft thud as it came in contact with a cushioned chair.

"Faker," Shadow started, or tried, to start something, but he really isn't known to start conversation, let alone a friendship.

"What," Sonic mumbled out, landing on a chair.

"Why'd you join G.U.N.?" Shadow asked standing in front of his rival.

For some reason, every single G.U.N. officer stared at them, staying silent and awaiting an answer.

Sonic stilled and stared blankly to the floor.

Suddenly, he smiled and stood up straight, nose to nose with the elder hedgehog.

"Because I wanna see how this job is!" Sonic grinned as Shadow backed away," And you! I want to know you a lot more. Anyway, I'll see you tomorrow!"

Shadow blinked. Sonic was all cheery and happy, but his emerald eyes did not match.

Everyone who was watching earlier, had walked off now, so they were both alone. Sonic grabbed his belt and walked off, coming to a halt at the door to stare at Shadow.

I'll tell you later.

Shadow nodded,more like a quick jerk of his head. He'll get his answer later.

...

...

Sonic growled and stomped off toward his house, well Tails' house. He opened the door knowing Tails was not home and hasn't been since that god damn day.

"I haven't been so mad before," Sonic growled out to empty air," I hope your real happy G.U.N.!"

He honestly missed Tails. Every waking second was on how well Tails was and how well they treated him. How was Tails feeling? Where did they put his little brother?

He now knew how Shadow felt, cold and heartless. Sonic knew Shadow did not want to lose a friend again, so he isolated himself from everyone, making everyone believe he was just...him. However, Sonic would never isolate himself from his other friends. He wondered if his dark companion knew how much of a friend he was to the blue hedgehog.

"I miss you Tails," Sonic sighed out and looked at a picture with him and his dear brother.

Tails and him were not even blood related, they both love each other that much, to say, the hell with DNA he's my bro and that's final!

Sonics eyes started to burn and his hand tightened into a fist.

"I love you little bro," Sonic muttered to himself," Don't worry, just one more week. "

He sat down and slumped against his chair.

"Just one week," Sonic repeated.

...

...

Shadow growled to himself, leaning against a tree and glaring at the ground. He was either waiting for the blue ignorance or not. Really, he didn't know. He wanted to know though, but he knew Faker went straight home, probably to Tails. Sonic probably didn't even know Shadow was here, but somehow...they always meet here when something bad had happened and they need to talk about it. They were always here...

It was a very small clearing with a cave with a waterfall covering it. Streams of water reached everywhere, trees hid everything from view and the Mobians rarely came this deep in the forest. Everything was beautiful here and it would always calm Shadow down, it break him. This place with all it's beauty would remind him of Maria.

And that god damn blue hedgehog would be there to see it.

The ebony hedgehog slid down, not minding the splinters that dug themselves into his back. He let a sigh loose, a gentle breeze lifting up fallen colorful leaves an fluttered them everywhere. His shoulders sagged as he finally relaxed.

Until a rather harsher breeze came and blew dirt into his face.

"Ah, you are here," A cheerful voice rang, shattering any peace of mind Shadow had.

"Faker," Shadow growled, standing up and glaring down the younger hedgehog.

"I know, I know..." Sonic, the fastest thing alive, the most brave and cheerful being ever, the one that never showed any fear...broke down.

And right in front of Shadow.

Sonic didn't even know why he did, it just happened. Maybe it was the months without Tails. It was probably the job he was forced to do without his say. Probably just the built up feelings about everything.

And he just cried right in front of Shadow!

Right in front of his rival!

To be fair, Shadow was freaked out of his mind, especially when his rival threw his arms around his startled frame. Hot tears splashed on Shadow's shoulders, Sonics head buried in the crook of the others neck. Shadow had absolutely no idea how to calm others down, Maria never needing to do that since he had no reason to cry, that past self innocent. Rouge was no help never doing that to him because he didn't want her to see her like that. But she did hug him to calm him down once, but no way in hell was he going to hug his rival. Even though Sonic still had his arms locked around him.

But he wanted to get Sonic away from him.

" Sonic," Shadow tried for a soft tone, but it came out annoyed," What's wrong?"

Shadow petted Sonic, this feeling completely alien to him. It was the same for Sonic, his blushing face hidden by fluffy chest fur.

"Look," Shadow sighed," What do you want me to do!?"

"Um," Sonic felt warm and fuzzy, but he quickly, slow actually, untangled himself from the elder hedgehog," Sorry, I didn't..."

"Why did you join G.U.N. Hedgehog," Shadow growled.

"..." Sonic was facing the ground, hiding his face," They took him."

Shadow wasn't really expecting an answer," What?"

"They, your freaking 'army', took him!" Sonic said, much louder that the last time.

Shadow blinked, trying to understand where the other was going. Slowly the words sank in and then made sense that G.U.N. apparently took someone.

"Who did they take? Shadow walked closer, wondering if Sonic would lash out, which would be uncharacteristic of him, but with Sonic, you just never know.

Again, Sonic was silent.

"Sonic, I..." Shadow shut his month, I want to help you, but no way was he going to say that aloud.

"Tails," Sonics head whipped up, his emerald eyes glaring holes into shocked ruby ones," They took him away, just for me to join their army!"

After the announcement, Sonic used his speed to pin Shadow down, his hand wrapping around the others neck. The other, simply stared. The blue hedgehog stared as well, blinking slowly.

"I'm-" Sonic gasped, backed away, and then...ran.

And still, Shadow just stared.