I was afraid I wasn't going to get this up today, but I did! Whoo!
Anyway, first things first; I had someone tell me this is a slow story. And I'm quite aware. I did say this was going to be longer, it might even be more than expected. I promise, promise, PROMISE, it will get better in the future. Much more romance, much more drama, much more of everything. -wink-
Anyway, I'm pretty satisfied with this chapter. It's the first my editor didn't have to change anything, and he says it was the best so far. I don't know, you be the judge.
And about the chains and Shadow's past and such, it will be explained in a the next few chapters. I promise that too.
Alright, enjoy.
Name: 'Chained By Love'
Rating: Teen/PG-13 (might go up)
Pairings: SonicxShadow, possible KnuxRouge
Warning: Male/Male relationship; don't read if you don't like it
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When Knuckles came downstairs to get a cup of coffee, he was shocked at what he saw. If he didn't just wake up, he might of broken into a fit of laughter. At the moment, the couch, the kitchen chairs, and other random furniture was piled up against the basement door. And there was Sonic, with a bat in his hand, standing in front of the door with his quills standing.
The echidna blinked at this, watching his friend in amazement. "What...are you doing!" He asked, his eyes wide.
Sonic finally noticed his friend. He turned around with his emerald eyes just as wide as the other. He relaxed as he saw who it was, giving a shrug. "The mystery hedgehog has officially flipped out. I think he tried to kill me again!" He said, a deep frown set on his muzzle.
Knux had rolled his eyes, shifting his weight onto one leg and placing a hand on his hip. "Are you over exaggerating, Sonic?"
The blue hedgehog shook his head. "No, I'm serious. I'm a dead man if I go downstairs, Knuckles."
The echidna turned towards the kitchen and grabbed a mug from the cabinet, turning a pot of coffee on. "Well, we're going to have to open it sooner or later; we can't let him starve down there. He's probably hungry as hell. Not to mention, he's extremely dirty. We need to help him out. You said so yourself!"
Sonic slowly put the bat behind his back, looking at his shoes innocently. "That was before he wanted to kill me, though..." Sonic knew that his friend was correct, but was a bit nervous. He did not like that look from the other. He could understand why he was angry though, and he would have to try his best to prove that he meant little harm. He was a hero, anyway! It was his job to help others. "I know, I know. You're right for once, Knux." He only teased, but the echidna gave him a look.
"Yeah, says the one afraid of a little hedgehog. A guy who faces an evil scientist all the time, but a hedgehog scares the crap out of him." When his coffee was finished, he poured it into the mug and took a sip after blowing on it. "I'm surprised at you, Sonic." He said, in a soft, mocking voice.
The hedgehog glared at his counterpart, crossing his arms after he placed the bat away. "Shut up. We both know Dr. Eggman is a breeze." He rolled his eyes. "But that hedgehog certainly isn't. I think he may even be as fast as me! I can't believe it." He said, rubbing his chin. "How is that possible? I thought I was the only one..."
Knuckles shrugged, continuing to drink the cup within his grasp. "Maybe you met your match, Sonic the Hedgehog." He smirked at Sonic's annoyed reaction, finishing the hot liquid and placing the cup in the sink. "Well, if you're too chicken to go down there, I will."
Sonic growled a bit, pushing the other as he pulled away from his spot. "I'm not chicken! I just want to keep my life, thank you." He said, grabbing a glass himself. Hating coffee, he filled his glass with water, sticking his tongue out at the other before he took a gulp. Knuckles rolled his eyes and stretched, making his way to the door. He easily moved the furniture away with his strength, raising an eyebrow at his counterpart.
"Make sure you move everything back to it's place." He opened the door and smirked at the blue hedgehog, raising an eyebrow. "Wish me luck!"
Sonic crossed his arms and bit his lip. "Good luck, Knuckles." And with that, the door slammed closed without any argument.
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Shadow sat down in the cool basement, his eyes narrowed in the strongest distaste.
Great; just his luck that he landed in such a place. Right back to where he just was, in his eyes. He had to say, it was much better, but he still did not have his freedom. He was unsure what they wanted him here for, but he didn't care. He refused to listen, he wouldn't budge to the end.
He sat against the cement wall and looked across his mess, satisfied with his work. The basement, though it was cool, had a comfortable temperature. The walls were cement, but the floor was lightly carpeted. It was a deep red color with some black line designs on it, nothing interesting to say the least. Currently, it had pieces of debris scattered across it. The three upstairs left Shadow with a blanket and a pillow to curl up with, and even a bottle of water. He eagerly drank that up, his whole throat dry from the long sleep. But now he was hungry, hoping that those who captured him would feed him eventually.
He shuddered at the thought having to live in a prison again. His crimson eyes, droopy from defeat, had looked upon the door. Did fate want him to suffer this badly? Hadn't he paid enough? He placed his hands upon his face and rubbed them into his eyes gently. Now he'd have to figure a way out of here, as well. He was getting weaker and weaker though, and Shadow was unsure how much longer he could run.
His thoughts were interrupted though when the creak of a door rang in his ears. His eyes immediately shifted towards the source, seeing the light of the upper level. The next thing he saw was the door close behind whoever opened it, a low growl sounding within his throat. He then saw the red echidna make his way down the stairs with a strict look on his face, the both of them having a stare-down.
Shadow did not flinch even as Knuckles came closer, who looked around the room with a blank face. He raised an eyebrow, looking upon the streaked hedgehog as he crossed his arms. "You did a nice number on this place." Shadow continued to stare the echidna down without moving or making a sound, his breath shallow and quiet. Shadow wouldn't lie and say he wasn't intimidated by the strong echidna; his nose was still in pain.
Knuckles, getting irritated, tapped his foot on the floor. "Do you have a name...?"
There continued to be silence on the hedgehog's part, and the only response he got was a blink.
The echidna didn't budge and started to list random options. "A family, friends, past? Anything?"
This actually caused Shadow to turn his head away, breaking the eye contact he held with the other. Did Knuckles see a sense of pain in his eyes before he looked away? He didn't bring it up as he gave a soft sigh, leaning in front of the hedgehog. "You look like you've been through a lot, hedgehog. No doubt about it. I just want to tell you that none of us here mean any harm, including Sonic..." Shadow remembered the blue hedgehog and frowned a bit, but allowed the other to continue. "We plan to help you get better, and hopefully, you can leave as soon as that happens."
Shadow's ears sprang up at the last few words of the sentence, looking back up at the echidna. Did he mean that?
Knuckles smirked a bit, shrugging. "Now we're getting somewhere. Here, I'll shake on it, hedgehog. I keep my promises." He let out his hand to the other and Shadow could only stare at it, narrowing his eyes. Should he trust the other? His life was in his hands, anyway. Slowly but surprisingly Shadow took the hand in his own, feeling the other shake it. It was new to Shadow but he allowed him to, taking it back slowly.
"First thing is first though, bud; you need a bath."
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Shadow forgot the last time he had ever bathed.
Even if he had before, showering on the ARK was so much different. Knuckles had closed the door to his back minutes ago but he still stood quietly in the same spot, gazing around the walls.
It was painted with white walls and yellow designs, Shadow being unsure who's shower it was. As he stepped into the walled off area and closed the foggy door, he shivered as his back softly hit the tiles behind him. It was more long than wide, so anyone in it was slightly cramped. He turned the nozzle for cool water and felt it splash on his cheeks, his eyes closing. It was so new yet a missed feeling, his body now ridged with the cool liquid.
His eyes eventually opened as he stared up to the shower head with a blank look, and one could swear that his thoughts seemed somewhere else. His memories were beginning to flood his mind. He saw hundreds of images sliding into his head and he tried his hard to fight it, lowering his gaze to the floor. As he dropped his head his quills sagged downwards, hiding his face. If one was to peer upon his features they'd easily mistaken the droplets of water on his face as tears. Or were they just that?
As his eyes were looking downward and his hands fell to the sides of the wall, they immediately looked at the chains. So tight and scabbing at his neck and wrists, the chains adding such extra weight. They dragged on the floor, so heavily rusted, and yet so easy to break in his grasp. If he really tried, his bare hands could crack them. He ran a hand down them, so tempted to free himself; yet he didn't. He let his hand let go.
He couldn't rid of them They were the powerful yet carved in reminder of how his life went wrong. The reason why the ARK fell. The reason for why Gerald died. And last, the reason why Maria perished as well. His heart sagged at the thought of her.
He'd make himself wear them to the day he died.
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