Of masters and slaves
Disclaimer: I own nothing except this plotline…
Chapter IV: a warm feeling
It was a cold and long night that had Shadow's skin quivering, but how can he really be feeling cold when his whole body felt so numb to the point of dying? How can he feel at all he questioned himself? But then again nothing was every so loving and warming about his life, about this place or anything he ever went through. His black fur was severely damaged, it was ripped mostly everywhere and the angry red liquid was oozing out each torn part, the warm blood that drips down onto the cold hard ground that Shadow was currently lying onto, for how long he didn't even care to acknowledge. Yes his creator Black Doom takes pleasure in seeing him suffer, seeing him bleed half to death, seeing the pain wreaked in his fiery eyes. For all Shadow knew Black Doom didn't need him alive much to fuss over him like a first born and Shadow was thankful for that, the dark alchemist could muster up another creation better than Shadow himself, it could be more powerful than Shadow, it could be faster than Shadow, and there you go a perfect creation born, a prefect being than Shadow could ever be, but the black hedgehog never gives a damn about it, because what's perfection for when all you feel like you're trapped in a bird's cage, and the keys has been toss away far from their reach?
Slowly as Shadow pushed himself off the cold ground that is now soiled the once clean ground, as his blood smeared under him, like it was flowing on its own creating a form of art to please the black hedgehog. Shadow felt weak felt the loss of blood was taking it's toe on him, but he refused to give up, because he knew, because Shadow know this was nothing like the pain that encased in his bleeding heart, this was like a usual routine everyday thing for him to go through. The rebelling, the anger, the beating, the suffering and the pain all mixing into a mixture ready to be baked into a cake, and waiting for the icing to top it off. Finally onto his feet well barely Shadow had bite hard down onto his lips so he would not scream out again in pain, of course Black Doom would be most pleased as if he wasn't already, but too bad he was long gone before Shadow even woke up.
Shadow had wondered how long has he been out ever since Black Doom has beat up so badly, almost of his blood had dried up encrusted onto him like a second skin, but some of the deeper and larger wounds the blood were still fresh, but Shadow ignored it like he always did and making his way slowly to his chamber…because it hurts everywhere, it hurts to walk, to move and it even hurts just to breathe. Even his legs were screaming at him to stop, but he willed it away as through the dark night hopefully everyone is now asleep and won't see him like this, bloodied, vulnerable and weak he hated been weak the most…
It felt like forever for Shadow to reach his door, but here it is with the feeling of virtually drained of all energy left in his weak limb, he pushed open the door quietly. Making his way inside he notice there were two beds opposite his and it seems like the two he just bought earlier today went to sleep as their breathing rhythm was steady. It was fortunate for Shadow that is, there was no way he wanted to show this kind of stuff to the two newly bought…Erm… "Slaves"…he wondered what sort of first impression they would get from seeing the famous dark prince like this bloodied in the middle of the night, like a fresh daisy isn't it. That's what had snapped Shadow back…
"Since when did I ever care what the other thinks…?" Shadow whispered quietly to himself. 'Not ever…'
Shadow was getting too tired and he didn't even had the energy even to keep himself awake, and slump down onto his soft and comfy bed silently trying to close his stubborn eye lids. However Shadow failed to notice a pair of emerald eyes watching him ever since he opened that door and came crashing down onto his king sized bed, Sonic was at loss for words and even confused, he didn't understand what happened to the dark prince, to Shadow to make him looked like he got ran over by a herd of elephants.
Feeling the boldness Sonic stealthy got of his bed, and wondered how bad the injuries on Shadow that was showing like the clear sky itself. He was caution about Shadow though, and his ears perked up to listen to the dark prince's breathing, everything was…normal? Sonic sighed…his ears picked up at how ragged Shadow's breath has become, and it was as if Sonic can hear and feel that Shadow was having hard time breathing. The dark one was asleep alright; Sonic came even closer to Shadow by his bedside now as his green eyes scanning the damage on Shadow's form. Blue ears flatten on his head, the injuries was severe very severe and Sonic can tell, there was many small cuts along with many large wounds with blood still pouring out, Shadow's white silky gloves was all smeared in dark red colour, in simple Shadow was in a bad condition. 'Did…he get punished…?' Sonic mentally asked himself, and then it snapped, Shadow had saved him, saved Sonic from getting burn, saved Sonic from receiving the wrath of Black Doom, and in return Shadow had to take his place, Shadow took Sonic's punishment for him…
Quietly Sonic headed toward the bathroom to retrieve a bowl of warm water and a cloth, because Sonic felt like he owed Shadow a big debt, somehow. Even if the prince didn't intend to help Sonic in a way, at least Sonic could show a little compassion and help those who are hurt, because Sonic was Sonic, he didn't like seeing anyone hurt, and not even the prince deserves this…right? Finally out of the bathroom with warm Luke water in the bowl carrying in his hands, and a small cloth over his shoulder heading toward the dark figure. Sonic was cleaning the dry blood off; Shadow was slightly stirring to the touch but it didn't stop Sonic from washing Shadow of the bloodstained on his black fur, and then a crimson eye cracked opened and Sonic froze, his emerald eyes meeting crimson.
"What are you doing…?" Shadow quietly asked, even though Sonic can clearly tell his voice was hoarse and Shadow was in a lot of pain trying to talk.
"Cleaning you," Sonic replied simply and went back to what he was doing, "What do you think?"
Shadow closed his eye with a deep sigh, and slowly trying to get off the bed, and ignore the terrible pain rushing at him while at it. Sonic quickly dropped his cloth trying to push Shadow back down to rest, struggling to get the black hedgehog back to lying down only to have Shadow staring at the blue one in questioning.
"No don't get up."
"It's okay…I'm fine…" Shadow was trying to sound convincing, but Sonic only gave him that stare that said "who you're fooling" look.
"Look we either make this simple or we can do this the hard way," Sonic snapped well almost at Shadow, and his voice was stern, giving Shadow the "I don't give a fuck look" to the confused dark prince, Shadow remain silence unable to say anything right for the moment. "You either let me tend these god only knows where you got these wounds from, or I can knock you out and make my job easier…"
"…" Shadow had that rebellious look in his eyes again, the one that said "I dare you to" look.
"Look I'm serious about, and we're in the middle of the night," Sonic sighed, "You want to stir up a big commotion or what?"
"No…" Shadow quietly said which had Sonic smirking in victory.
"Then lie back down….sheesh."
Shadow kept silent and did what he was told for ONCE! Sonic then resume his cleanse for the dark hedgehog, carefully not to make the larger wound worst than it already is, working on the dark one's form silently. Crimson eyes watched Sonic helping him cleaning his wound, he was…confused to why he was helping Shadow in the first place.
"Why…?" Shadow whispered so quiet, but Sonic picked it up anyway.
"Why what?"
"Why are you doing this?"
"Because I want to…?
"…" Shadow now had a scowl on his face, and he was not in the mood to be playing around, earning a small chuckle from the blue one.
"Okay, okay, take it easy man." Sonic grinned. "I just wanted to help you, like you did with me earlier."
"Is that it?"
"I don't know, supposed so…" Sonic paused, "But there's something about you…that…"
"I what…?"
"Just say that you weren't like how I expected you to be." Sonic said with a small smile on his face, but Shadow remains impassive even though he was confused on the inside.
"Disappointed?"
"What? No! Not at all, "Sonic quietly laughed, "I just wasn't expecting you to be so…nice?"
"Hmph." Was all Shadow responded, yet his crimson eyes never leaving the blue hedgehog, not once at all.
Silence…
Sonic felt awkward at the silence, and being Sonic well he never liked the silent when there's someone to talk to, even though they are supposed to be your master and all, but hey Sonic didn't have that screaming bad feeling radiating off Shadow no, it was somehow a comforting feeling. Sonic was done cleaning up all of the bloody mess and getting up to retrieve a roll of bandage on the table he just passed along the bathroom. Once getting, and wrapping around Shadow's injuries mainly his chest, Sonic felt very uncomfortable under Shadow's intense gaze on him, Sonic now and then would meet Shadow's gaze every time he would lift his head up, but quickly falling back down again at the other's staring.
"What is it?" Sonic finally voiced out his nervousness. "Why are you staring at me?"
"Nothing…" So said the black hedgehog, and Shadow turned the other way to look out the window into the starry night.
Finally glancing up to see it was safe, Sonic saw Shadow was staring out the window and smiled. Then again taking the moment to take a good look at Shadow, beautiful sheen black fur, if it wasn't for the abused much, the luscious small patch of white fur contrasting black one, and those mysterious red stripes that runs along his arm, face and legs was fascinating sonic, and Sonic had to admit Shadow was quite attractive and his body was well build as well, but what intrigued the blue hedgehog most was those crimson eyes; even though Sonic can tell Shadow never showed his emotion but those deep red eyes held all of what he felt , like a window to his soul as they all say. What the funny thing was Sonic didn't even realised he was staring at Shadow for so long, he didn't know until he could hear a growl, snapping Sonic out of his trance like gaze.
"What?" Shadow crossed his arm, eyes somewhat glaring at Sonic giving off that questioning tone, Sonic can only sweat drop and giving that "oops" excuse, but pass the idea. "You like what you see?"
"Yes! Erm…I mean NO!" Sonic paused trying to find an excuse.
"Then what?"
"Just seeing…if…it was bleeding again…?"
Then again it was quite an excuse, but being Shadow he still gave out that scream "I don't believe you" look, and Sonic was caught staring red handed too.
"Fine, fine sorry I stared at your gorgeousness, would your highness would like to gouge out my eyes because I stared at him?" Sonic sarcastic said.
"You want me to gouge them out now or later?"
"You're kidding me right?"
"No," Shadow plainly said with a glint of evilness in his eyes and a smirk to follow at Sonic's priceless face, "come here so I can gouge them out for you."
"No way man, I need them!" Sonic squealed and jumped about 1 foot up and looking like he had seen a ghost, while earning a small chuckling from Shadow. "Don't scare me like that."
"Well you're the one who offered it."
"Wise guy…" Sonic pouted out, but somewhat too quietly laugh along with Shadow. "Anyway can I ask you something…?"
"Go ahead."
"How did you get those? You looked like you got ran over by a herd of elephants." Sonic asked in genuine concern and curiosity, much to Shadow's liking his mood just took a turn for the worst.
"It's nothing…" Shadow replied back with a sad smile. "Don't worry about it."
Sonic for a while just stared slightly eyes wide at the answer, but since Shadow didn't want to answer it Sonic just temporarily settle with that answer for now. "Does it usual happen?"
"You might say that." This shocked Shadow for the most event, because he wouldn't be talking so openly with anyone not even Knuckles, but why Sonic? Shadow didn't understand, hell there were a lot o f thing that Shadow never understood or sometime never try to, turning around to look at the somewhat innocent blue hedgehog, so contrasting to the attitude Sonic was showing much earlier on, like he trusted shadow for some part, and in return shadow somewhat trusted Sonic, yet there's this bizarre warm feeling fussing around him that when Sonic is now at his side…for now that is. Sonic then perceived that eyes were on him and turn to catch Shadow staring at him like he was at Shadow, realising he got caught staring Shadow make a quick turn and a tinge of pink across his cheek, Sonic just tilt his head slightly and worry written over his face. Despite the fact Sonic barely knew Shadow but them talking like this, the small laughter just feel everything was all right, and nothing can go wrong, so to say Sonic trusted in shadow somewhat…
"What? Am I THAT beautiful?" Sonic teased.
Shadow snorted. "Sure you are…."
"Awwww, I'm not pretty? You meanie," Sonic pouted again, while Shadow just lifted his brow.
"Sonic…right…?"
"That's my name, don't wear it out." Sonic smiled.
"I just want…Sonic thank you…"
"Uh? Thank you? For what?" Sonic blinked.
"For helping me…" Shadow said quietly.
Blinked... And he blinked again, was Sonic hearing right? Or did his brain fried on him because he just did not hear the prince say thank you to him, like hell it was Sonic who was supposed to say thank you to Shadow to getting him out of deep trouble and most of all it was Shadow who took his punishment for him!
"Wait! Don't!—
"Uh…what…?" Shadow was suddenly nearly startled at Sonic who out of the blue just jumped up as if something was really wrong, and the sudden outburst.
"Erm…how should I put this…" Sonic scratched the back of his ears, "It should be ME thanking you, and I know it's not even enough to repay you…"
Shadow just lifted his brow in confusion. "What are you talking about? Thanking me for what?"
"Well what do you think?! You helped me so many times, and I bet you even gotten punishment for it too, I should be the one thanking you!"
"…" Shadow didn't know what to say and kept quiet, but Sonic getting worked up and gotten the wrong idea about the prince's silent and continue to rant on.
"I…Erm… I really appreciated that you helped getting out of trouble, like being burn, and you took the punishment that was meant for me." Sonic's ear flapped down onto his head and looked at the quilt as if trying to find something interesting to look at, rather than Shadow.
"You don't have to worry about that." Shadow inhaled lightly closing his eyes. 'So you do know of it'
"Sorry not buying," Sonic crossed his arms and a frown on his face. "I woke up in the middle of the night to see you beating half to death, a beautiful sight isn't it? Seriously why did you take my place when you could have left me take the beatings?"
"Because you didn't deserve it…" Shadow replied blankly his features are now turning cold and emotionless. Sonic just blink, and nearly gaping at the answer, because those who defies the law gets punishment, HE defied the law and Shadow is saying he didn't deserve it? What world has he stumbled on?
"Hold on a second here 'prince'," Sonic just pressed hard, while Shadow just gave him a glare at the word 'Prince'. "I just happened to defy that sorry excuse of a king and DID or SHOULD deserve beatings for my disobedient, and now you're saying I don't?"
"So are you deciding to be obedient now?" Shadow Smirked at Sonic's priceless face once more.
"Stop answering my question with another question!"
"Does that mean you be a better slave now? So be a good boy and give me a quick massasge."
"Hey! I never said that, and quit changing the subject!" Sonic pouted and Shadow once again was lightly chuckling. "So answer my darn question already."
"Alright, I didn't agree to his rule, hell I don't even like that horn head, but it pains me to see the people are suffering, but Black Doom never cared, he only crave power." Shadow's eyes as Sonic gaze into them, they were filled with sadness and somewhat he can tell loneliness in them as well. "That's why I retaliated and rebel back because I couldn't take his misuse of power."
"But what about you…?" Sonic suddenly asked, as Shadow was caught off guarded.
"What do you mean 'What about me'?"
"Wouldn't you get punished as well? We all heard him clearly said prince or no prince you will get punishment too…"
"About that…" Shadow smiled sadly once again. "Black Doom doesn't give a rat ass about me, even if my punishment is death he still wouldn't bother…because I am easily replaced."
With that Shadow felt two arms embraced him, Sonic was embracing him in his arms, Shadow tensed and he knew his insides were all panicking, but in his mind was shouting everything about this scenario was all wrong, yet his heart begs the differ because it felt warm and so safe, even though his logic screamed that in Black Doom's land there's no such place that is safe, because Shadow knew Black Doom well enough to cower in fear. Slightly squirming trying to break free, ironically Shadow made Sonic lost his balance and fell on top of the dark Prince, and Shadow's eyes were wide opened. Sonic quickly sat up blushing like mad, and ranting his apologies.
"I'm sorry, it's just that…" Sonic didn't know what to say, biting his lips trying to find a way out.
Snapping out of his wide eyes like trance Shadow was seeing how uncomfortable Sonic was becoming, and in the addition somewhat the spark of fear in those green eyes, Shadow smiled with a sigh, and swung his arms over Sonic's neck and pulling him down onto the bed with him, with Sonic doing the panicking dance.
"S-Shadow! What the hell!"
"Shut up and go to sleep." Shadow tightly held onto Sonic feeling comfortable, as Sonic was still squirming in Shadow's arm.
"B-but—
"Just this once…" Shadow whispered and sighed in content, as he slowly drifted into sleep.
Sonic just sighed heavily, and accepted his fate. Sonic had to admit it was warm and comforting 'maybe just tonight' he told himself, and then drifted off to sleep in Shadow's warm arms, taking in the dark prince's scent, his feeling…
Unfortunately this event yet again was not gone unnoticed, as Espio silently watching and listening g to their conversations, and now that the two hedgehogs has fallen asleep, he sighed and mused over many things yet to come. 'That was certainly…unexpected. I figured Shadow was somewhat different, but this is unbelievable, and then again Sonic is also surprising himself…argh…no more thinking, need sleep, worry in the morning' thought the chameleon as he too join the deep slumber.
--TBC--
Well that's all for now, but what I want to say, sorry for not updating soon, because 1. I'm a lazy bum. 2. I was having finals, 3. I have attention span of a 5 years old , but bummer. Anyway hopefully my attention doesn't get disturbed again and I forget what I was doing…oh I forgot to mention 4. I have a memory of a fish XD.
Anyway I hope this is good enough for you guys! And hopefully not too OC Omg I'm losing it. Ah well trying to capture some special moments between the two, seeming like I did a terrible job at it, darn. Btw comments and advises are welcome, flames and criticisms are not!
