Missing In Action

Chapter 10

Tails went by Sonic's place once more. It had been a week. He figured that Sonic just needed a break and he could see why. With the random attacks from Eggman, the constant worries about what would happen, it would make sense that Sonic would just...up and run. The question was though, WHERE? Where could the blue hedgehog go on this island that was so secluded? Even the satellites couldn't track him and it wasn't that he had to worry bout his best friend. Sonic could handle himself. The crew had fought Shadow, Eggman, Rouge and other enemies over the years and every battle made them stronger. So a random and sudden disappearance from Sonic was normal when he just wanted to get away. Sometimes it was from Amy, other times it was just to be by himself. Tails didn't get the chance to install the cameras though like he had wanted and he really needed the job done. Well, it wasn't like the mad scientist had attacked recently. This entire week, the man had been quiet. It was as if time just...stood still.

The island had started to upgrade the defenses with help from Sticks and Tails. Both using a machine that could shelter the town while Sticks had managed to improve her skills in the more wood based defense systems should the robotic ones fail. The fox installed one thing he wouldn't tell anyone. There was a failsafe that would activate should any robot Eggman had would tried to hack the machinery. It would fry the robber until they let go and then slam a door of titanium around whatever door they made or opened. It was for good measure since a lot of the robots could melt his machines eventually. With the town safe and many taking up lessons from Amy to defend themselves, it was almost like they were there as backup should the town need actual help. It was nice and let them actually relax most of the days.

Leaving them all to question where Sonic went exactly. Sticks seemed to be well informed since she suddenly had started to receive letters from Sonic's bird. The letters made her day but since she was paranoid, she'd burn them after sending her reply. Tails asked her once why she did that and her response was to make sure no one would ever know what her business was. Plus she knew that the paper would come alive and kill her. The fox didn't question the reasons but he did question why she started to get letters but since she burned them there was no way to see what was in them. It was sad but something told him that Sonic was fine. He had left, yes but it had to be for a good reason. The blue speedster would have never up and left them without one. If there was no reason, then it was just to have a break and relax away from people then he'd come running back. At least, that was how Sonic used to do it. When they moved to this island, he would vanish but only for a few hours since...well it was an island. One couldn't hide that long unless they were really quiet.

The house was empty. Even as he walked in and saw only the signs that he had been there. Though of late, it was clean with only a slight layer of dust. Sighing as he got a drink and noticed that the food was still somewhat fresh. He walked towards the couch and sat down. Relaxing and thinking about where his blue friend could have gone. Looking towards the box of letters Sonic had kept. Getting up again, he walked over and used one arm to drag it towards the couch. Just as he sat down, Eggman burst through the door with a box in his arm and the other shouting for Shadow. Stating that he knew he was here and that he was going to get a lecture from him about love and how he had to know who the lucky one was that he was writing too.

Tails cleared his throat and got the scientist's attention. Asking why he had just burst into Sonic's and his house without knocking. Only to have the guy sit across from him and put the box down. Clearing his own throat as he spoke towards Tails. Shadow too had been missing for a full week. In the time he had, he went snooping in Shadow's room and found a box of letters he brought with him. It was actually all he brought with him. There were two boxes though and since Shadow's bird always came to his mountain base now, he just kept the box there. Eggman then said that the letters he found were love letters dating back months and months to some unknown lover of his to the present time. Apparently his lover was on this island and both had a secret spot they went to, completely off radar. In one of the letters, marking the day of his arrival here, he had a gift for him. A black and gold bandana. A sign that his heart was theirs and that no one else would steal it.

Tails then remembered that the same day Sonic got a letter, he came back the next with a black and gold bandana. When they saw Shadow again, he had Sonic's old brown bandana around his wrist and both never changed nor took it off unless taking a shower or cleaning it from what he read once in the more recent letters. If what Eggman was telling him was right. If this bandana was proof from Shadow that his heart belonged to them and Sonic had said bandana around his neck. Then...that meant Shadow was Sonic's lover. Now he knew why they never mentioned a name or gender. Why they kept it all in the dark to everyone around them. It explained why Sonic always seemed to accept that he couldn't always see his love letter sweetheart. It was Shadow. The two literally knew that if their relationship ever got outed and that if anyone be it Amy, Knuckles or Eggman found out. It would be over. Everything they worked so hard to accomplish while being a couple would be ruined. If Eggman didn't notice Sonic's new bandana though, then that meant he didn't know who it was. They were safe but it wouldn't last long since even Eggman would eventually notice it.

"Well, if you were wondering if I or Sonic could help. Go away. Sonic has been missing for two weeks," Tails lied. "So if you don't mind, go away."

"Touchy, but fine. This explains why Shadow would leave. He is always so bent out of shape whenever he can't fight Sonic," He said grabbing the box as he stood. "Well later. I have to find Shadow."

Eggman shut the door and Tails smiled. If Shadow was missing then he knew why now. Sonic and him left for a bit of time to themselves. In a strange way, it was cute. It was a relationship between good and evil rooted in deep secret with deception from both to their sides to keep the other safe. Always fighting yet when alone, apologizing if it went too far or being loving when behind closed doors. Around the public, they were enemies with the desire to battle yet in private, they were lovers. Its that...forbidden fruit based relationship but somehow this worked. It fit Sonic's style too. He never was one to share his feelings when it came to love. Friendship wise, he was the blue speedsters best friend. Sticks was the next one he considered to be a best friend, especially of late but he knew why. Knuckles was just a friend but one that Sonic clearly tolerated at times. Amy just seemed to go between annoyance and friend. In the end, it was Shadow that stole his heart.

Letters upon letters to one another for months and even when he came here for Sonic, they still wrote to one another. Even when they could see the other in person, they still wrote when they couldn't. The way the words were written too when he read them the last time showed how deeply in love the two became. Not only did Shadow pre-occupy Sonic's heart, he had his mind. All the blue hedgehog clearly wanted to was be with him. Even if it meant defying the law of good and evil, he saw Shadow worth it. And if Tails was right, Shadow felt the same way towards Sonic. He guessed they left to try and get the one they couldn't get. Time together and since Eggman was here and constantly demanding Shadow's attention, leaving was the only option they saw.

Smiling, Tails looked out the window. Before, he was worried but now something told him that it was going to be fine. The couple would come back and it would go back to how things were but they would be more in love and probably take more time for the other. Even in the midst of a battle if he guessed right but it was a guess.

"Alright Sonic," Tails muttered. "I wish you and your lover. The best in the world and more."