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Chapter 24:

Forgiven

He ground his teeth as he instinctively pressed his palms flat against the tunnel walls, trying to slow his descent. He scowled and pressed his feet in front of him.

Too much dirt was flying in front of his face.

He sneezed, making himself lose grip. He gasped as he flipped over his feet, landing on his stomach and knocking the wind out of him. Just how steep is that? He groaned softly as he propped himself onto his elbows while he rubbed the side of his head, not noticing how smooth the cave floor was.

Shadow grunted and shook his head as he rose to his hands and knees, dust flying around him still. He coughed and sneezed as it finally began to settle. "Ugh," he groaned softly and sniffed. I hate dust.

He finally looked up to see he was in a medium sized cave. Scattered crystals, between the sizes of medium and small, flickered like candles. He got to his feet as he looked at a medium sized pool that sat at one end of the rounded corners. He looked behind himself to see a tunnel, next to the one he exited, big enough for someone his size to fit into.

He froze and folded his ears back as he heard a quiet splashing. He whirled around to see Eclipse staring at him, a soft pink coloring her cheeks. She was leaning back on her hands. Her jeans rolled up to her knees as she dangled her legs in the water.

His heart skipped and he trembled with anticipation. How long since the last he had tasted her? Too long. He blinked, noticing her boots at the edge for the very first time and small cave fish swimming around her legs in lazy circles. Shadow blinked as he looked up at her, his surprise reflecting in her scarlet eyes.

She folded her ears off to the side as he tilted his head, sensing her hesitation and her fear bitter in his mouth. "You're afraid?" Shadow furrowed his brows and studied her. "Why are you still afraid?"

"What are you doing here?" She growled, covering her fear and ignoring his question. He approached her. She flicked her ears as she ground her teeth, unable to control her fear as the pink darkened.

She folded her ears flat and bared her teeth as she growled. He ignored her as he sat next to her, Indian style. He heard her grit her teeth as she tensed beside him.

She huffed. He turned towards her when he heard jean scrapping against stone. She had scooted away from him and now refused to look at him. She was sitting straight up, her ears folded back and she was glaring at the fish with a scowl.

He frowned as he furrowed his brows together. Her body was ever so slightly trembling. From anger or fear he wasn't sure but he was betting it was from fear. Her body reflected anger while her scent oozed fear.

"Why are you still afraid of me?" He asked as she shook her head, refusing to answer. He scooted next to her till his knee touched her thigh; he was having fun with her reactions. She squeaked at the barely touch, she turned to him and pressed herself against the wall; staring at him wide eyed.

"Eclipse, please answer me. There is no need for you to fear me." He said softly, using the same soothing tone Amy had used on him when he'd been stung by the scider for the first time.

She shook her head again, turning her quills into a frizzy mess. She's going to get dizzy if she keeps doing that. "Eclipse, please, why are you afraid of me?" He asked softly as she narrowed her eyes and ground her teeth. "You already know that I don't mean you harm. So why be afraid?"

"It's –" She trailed off. "It's –" She bit her bottom lip before looking away. "I – I – I can't tell you." Frustration filled him but he quickly stamped it down. If she sensed that, she would either snap at him or never tell him.

"Yes you can. No one is stopping you." He whispered as she shook her head again. "I won't hurt you. I know you want me. Is that what's scaring you?" His heart raced as she stared at him wide eyed. He had hit it spot on.

"I don't know." Her voice shook, sounding like she was trying to fight off tears. "I can't." Shadow frowned as tears sparkled down her cheeks. She gasped with a slight jump when Shadow wiped away her tears.

"Why?"

"Because no one else understands!" She exploded as she opened her eyes and glared at him. His eyes widened as her ears flopped downwards after a minute. Her fear had melted to pain. "No one understands." She mumbled to herself. "Besides, I thought you didn't want to see me again."

He understood her pain and rage. He had felt it once too until Sonic came into his life as an annoying brotherly-friend. "I do. I understand your pain." He responded and gently grabbed her.

"Shadow." She whispered his name as she looked up at him, confused. He closed his eyes and pulled her into him, giving her a hug. She slightly pulled away and looked up at him. He gave her a friendly smile as he bent down and slightly opened his mouth. She inhaled sharply, causing him to pause as she exhaled, her breath tickling his lips; her breathing quickened with fear and anticipation. He debated with himself whether he should or not.

A small smile began to grow when he realized she had not pushed him away. She feels for him but doesn't know what to think of it. "You –" She cut him off as she launched forward, crushing her mouth against his.

Shadow stiffened, his ears perking up as his eyes flew open and wide. He wasn't expecting that. Her ears were folded back and her checks were glowing dark red. Shadow closed his eyes and kissed her back, causing her stiffen before she relaxed.

The fur along Shadow's arms tingled as she ran her hands upward then paused at his shoulders before wrapping them around his neck, pulling him closer to her and tightening her grip.

Shadow's heart hammered in his chest as the tip of her tongue teased his lips before prying them open and thrusting in. He stiffened, afraid to make the wrong move and scare her away. He wanted her so badly that it was turning into a need.

She was repeating what he had done to her in the labyrinth; and, doing more. Desire thrummed hotly in his veins as he forgot about his surroundings, too focused on what was currently happening.

She found his tongue and began teasing, playing a game of tag. A really soft sigh escaped her. She was enjoying it. "Eclipse." He moaned softly through the kiss, flexing his fingers and digging them into the stone. She froze, unsure how to continue.

After a few slow seconds passed, Shadow began to slowly pull away just as she tightened her grip and yanked him back towards her, slamming his mouth against hers. Whoa . . . . My head is going to be spinning when this is over.

Shadow jerked away a few seconds later, breathing hard and trying to keep his balance. He looked up at her before looking down only to look back up at her. She was watching him curiously as desire for another flared in her crimson gaze. Uh oh.

He grinned, panting through his teeth. "Stay with . . . me." He panted as she narrowed her eyes, processing. "Do you want to?" He asked and breathed deeply forcing his heart back to its normal pace.

She growled softly, looking unsure how to respond. He gasped when the stones beneath him crumbled, sending him in as he clung to Eclipse, dragging her down with him.

He could feel bubbles move up around him as he swam to the surface, releasing her.He surfaced, seeing flickering crystals he hadn't notice before. "Whoa." He stared in awe at the crystals reflecting the light, scattered everywhere but hidden so you can't see them if you're not in the water.

"Get out!" Eclipse snapped, making Shadow look at her as he smiled shyly. She flicked her ears as her throat flashed. She didn't feel comfortable being in the water with him.

"You're – you're power is alluring." he said softly as he folded his ears slightly downward, acting a little shy as she folded her ears back and growled quietly, unsure how to react at first.

He watched her as she grabbed the edge and pulled herself out, shaking the water off herself before she grabbed her shoes. Shadow climbed out as she darted into the large tunnel he had spotted earlier. "Quiet playing around with me!" Her voice echoed in the tunnel. Shadow chased after her, not caring that he was dripping wet. He wasn't playing with her.

So, did someone toy with her before I came along? Shadow ground his teeth, not liking the idea of her being with someone else. He appeared in front of her, making her gasp and jerk back before he slammed her into the wall. She grunted, biting back a cry of pain. She hissed through her teeth as she glared at him through her eyelashes.

"What gives?" She snarled as he ground his teeth.

"There's no need to run."

"What? You think one kiss and I'll come willingly to you like a dog?" She spat as he frowned.

"Never. You're not a dog and I'll never treat you like a one." Shadow huffed. "But I do know this: you desire me." She opened then closed her mouth as her eyes widened. "No Eclipse, I do not see right through you. I've been in the same situation you have." Except for I didn't have anybody perusing me.

She narrowed her eyes as she pushed him away. "Just stay away from me." She snapped as Shadow shook his head. "I don't want to play your game."

"I cannot if you keep coming to me in the shadows." He sighed as she froze at his words. "But I can ease your pain if you let me."

"Let you? Why should I trust you?!" She hissed and whirled around. Her hands glowing gold as she made a ball of swirling energy and launched it at him. Shadow caught it and turned it into a golden rose, reading her pain.

Because you want to but are afraid to . . . geez, can I really see right through her? "You don't hate me anymore." He huffed as he brushed the flower against his nose and looked at her through his black eyelashes. She flicked her ears as her throat flashed.

"No one ever wants me. No one ever cares for me. They all fear me." She straightened, her eyes glowing darkly while her hands glowed, Surprising Shadow with her response. "What makes you different from the rest? Am I just sport to you? Are you really brave enough to play with fire to see what you get!?" She yelled before charging him.

Shadow raised his arms, ready to defend himself. She vanished, not ever attacking him. "My heart aches knowing you're so far from me." He whispered softly, looking around for her.

"I just want to be left alone." She said softly. "I don't want to be game for anyone." Shadow didn't bother looking for her; he used his instincts to find her. He vanished.

She blinked, emerging from the shadows and wondering if he was truly gone. "I guess I am a monster." Shadow appeared behind her and locked his arms around her, catching her by surprise and making her gasp.

"I believe you've been alone for too long already." He whispered in her ear. She looked at him, giving him her profile. "You are no monster. Your reactions to me are proof of that. Your friendship with Amy as well. You're the only person I know of that can tolerate Amy."

"I – I have nothing." She said quietly after remaining silent. Shadow tilted his head before whirling her around. She looked at him curiously. She gasped as he grabbed her and pulled her into him, hugging her.

"What do you mean you have nothing? Don't you have me?" He asked softly as she blinked, startled. Shadow could smell the confusion coursing through her as he folded his ears forward. "You can remain with me." He said softly and nuzzled her, making her gasp before she pulled away.

"'Have you'?" She repeated and looked at him confused. "I don't understand what you mean by that." She took a deep breath before slowly releasing it. "I'm not perfect like you are . . . you have everything and I have nothing. You have a life and I don't. I am nothing but a monster." She said softly, tears choking her voice as Shadow folded his ears to the side, holding her against him.

"You are no monster." Shadow growled. How bad was it for her to have 'monster' pounded into her? "You have me to care for you." She pulled away from him and furrowed her brows. "I know you want to be cared for and I can do that." As well as my friends . . . but, I don't want to share her.

She buried her face into his shoulder, her body wracking with sobs. Shadow held her tightly against him as she sniffed, unaware of the lurking danger in the shadows. "You have done no wrongs. I forgive you for what you have done to me and tried to do to Sonic." He whispered into her ear. "I want you with me." He tightened his grip, afraid to say what his desire has turned into. "I – I need you with me."

Shadow cried out and arched his back when something struck him. "Shadow!" Eclipsed jerked away from him as he dropped to the ground. "No, no. Shadow." She exclaimed and grabbed him, looking at the blood pooling all around them.

"No. Please stay with me." Eclipse whispered as she pulled him close to her. "Please don't go." She pleaded as tears fell onto his cheeks. "I need you hear with me."

He felt himself sing into the black world.

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