A/N: I'm pretty sure 90% of Shadow and Knuckles' relationship is pure eye contact. The other 10% is panic. I apologize for any typos.

Prompt#2 'I wish you could see yourself the way that I see you.' While Person 'B' is going through a moment of self-depreciation, Person A thinks of all the things they love about their significant other.

4/8

It was very hard to piss Shadow off this badly.

Knuckles was widely known to have an explosive temper but Shadow was a different story. Seeing him lose his cool wasn't something many at HQ got to see the hedgehog do and quite honestly, everyone was better off for it. Losing his temper wasn't exactly his style, especially when he was running around for GUN. The most people would see from the three-foot hedgehog would be annoyance or irritation at best.

Well, the GUN soldiers were about to get an unpleasant demonstration of what Shadow was like when genuinely angry. If said hedgehog was aware of the sparking coming from his gold wrist bands he made no indication of it, as Shadow was too busy glaring daggers into the cracked screen of the communicator that was slowly beginning to splinter within the tight grip of his hand.

"Shadow, listen-"

"If you do not recall every single GUN Agent you have on Angel Island I promise you, I will begin throwing your men off the island myself, one by one." A shudder of fear went down all of the surrounding agents' spines. "Your interference with the protection of the Master Emerald has proved to be nothing but a massive inconvenience to the one that is already stationed here to protect it." He spat out. "Because of you, the doctor was able to hack into all of the surveillance devices you littered throughout the island, without Knuckles permission; track the Guardian's whereabouts, take out half of your assault squad with his pathetic robots and falsify the location of your agents not only to the buffoons you have running the surveillance department at HQ but also, to the emergency response team that was already placed here on the island. Again, without the Guardians' permission."

The old veteran took in a deep inhale before opening his mouth to speak. "Our troops were simply doing what I assigned them to do for the mission-"

"And just where did that lead them, Commander?" Shadow asked with a mocking sneer.

The three GUN soldiers huddling sitting in the back of the chopper all lowered their heads in shame.

The Guardian had taken into consideration the increased amount of unwanted but non-threatening visitors on his island that could unintentionally meet their early death if he didn't put some safety precautions into play. Many of his spike pitfalls had been modified with nets that could catch nosey trespassers who ventured onto his island, sparing both the undeserving and deserving from a rather ugly end.

However, even the Guardian made a few mistakes sometimes. This particular pitfall... had not been modified. Leaving the operatives quite literally, clinging to mud and dirt for their very lives.

With the other agents unable to track their location from their devices being tampered with, they had been extremely lucky that Knuckles was fast enough to get to them in time so that they could escape with their lives. However, the detour had left the shrine unprotected long enough for Eggman to swoop in and steal the emerald while Knuckles was preoccupied.

So of course, when his boyfriend contacted him about the diabolical mess his fucking agency was causing him, it had been the last resort before Knuckles himself started throwing the bastards off his island. Shadow appreciated the consideration Knuckles seemed to take into account on his behalf but honestly, the hedgehog wouldn't have held it against him because HE was close to doing that his damn self.

"Additionally, we in fact did certify GUN presence on the island with the Guardians permission-"

"Don't play dumb with me, the only reason Knuckles let you on the island in the first place was to retrieve your trash heap of a helicopter that came crashing onto it days ago. Obviously, we know by now that those weren't your true intentions were they?" He spat out viciously.

"The intention was to provide support to the Guardian, not to-"

"Distract him? Because that's exactly what your special operatives did. He was too busy trying to save your soldiers from their imminent death in order to stand guard and protect the emerald himself! If they had left when they were supposed to the emerald would not have been stolen in the first place. Do you have any idea of what the totality of your incompetence has done? The island is already edging onto the beginning of its descent and if it does fall, it will fall right onto the bustling city-state directly below it. Wiping out the entire area! So not only did you lie about your intentions but you managed to cause an even BIGGER problem in the long run."

"It was out of necessity. There was clear evidence that the Doctor was going to target Angel Island after his failed attempt to retrieve the chaos emeralds we have in our facility. All we did was place the necessary operatives on the island to help the Guardian do his job. I didn't authorize further scouting and prolonged stasis on the island until after the operatives determined that there was no adequate protection for the Emerald besides the Guardian himself."

Shadow's fist began to shake. The device in his hand already beginning to crack further with the strength of his grip.

"No adequate protection?" He seethed through his teeth. The commander visibly swallowed, no doubt appreciative that Shadow was on the other side of the screen. "You assumed that the very being who's been guarding the Emerald for longer than you've even known of its existence is incapable of defending something so crucial to the survival of his home? Do you really think your recruits stand more of a chance fending off a serious threat compared to the one who can do everything you set your incompetent operatives out to do, alone and without weapons?!"

"Shadow..." His commander had the audacity to sound and look exhausted. The gall to rub the stress away from his eyes as if he was the one who was going to have to clean up this mess. "I called in asking for a status report, not an interrogation. We will fix this. We plan to fix this. I understand that you are upset but need I remind you that I still am your Commander; and you, agent, are stepping out of line."

Shadow's gaze immediately darkened. That... that was the last straw.

Crunch.

The communicator crumbled into pieces in his fist before the old man could even attempt to begin his next sentence. Shadow's fist shook as he felt himself boiling with rage. His response was seething enough to make the operatives that were still lingering around flinch and back away.

When he looked up from the remains of the communicator, his eyes immediately searched for his boyfriend amongst the crowd of nervous-looking GUN soldiers still warily surrounding him. It only took a few quick scans of the area before his eyes finally fell on his boyfriends' form.

Standing yards away from the temporary camp the humans had set up, the echidna was leaning underneath the cool shade of a tree. There was a defeated-looking slump to his shoulders that Shadow did not like. Knuckles while no doubt infuriated looked more dejected than anything. Shadow almost couldn't manage to bring his anger down to an acceptable level when his lover looked so fucking defeated.

"All of you leave. Now."

The soldiers looked at each other nervously. "S-Sir, with all due respect we haven't been released from duty-" The soldier stopped dead in his tracks at the dark look Shadow the hedgehog fixed him with.

"Alright, how about I make this easier for you then." He said threateningly. "If I see any one of you still on this island within the next 10 minutes I will not hesitate to throw you over the edge myself." Shadow threatened. "You have two options. Gather your equipment and leave on your own or plummet down to the surface to your imminent death. The choice is yours. Now scram."

The agents all seemed to take his threat very seriously. Watching them all scramble away from him would have been more satisfying if the situation was different. Shadow made his way over to the Guardian, who was still leaning against the tree with his arms crossed angrily over his chest. Frustration was written all over his face, no doubt holding in the anger Shadow knew he was feeling and that in itself was more concerning. Shadow's voice was notably calmer when he spoke to his boyfriend.

"Can you still feel the Emerald Knuckles?"

The echidna's face pinched in a focused frown for a few seconds, before nodding.

"Come, we don't have much time. The doctor couldn't have gone far."

Knuckles blinked but gave no acknowledgment to Shadow whatsoever. He simply uncrossed his arms and turned to march off into the direction that would lead them to the edge of the island. Shadow cast a troubled look at his boyfriend retreating back before taking off after him. It was obvious that his lover wasn't okay, but Shadow couldn't help but sense something else was wrong other than the situation at hand.

"Knuckles." He called out for the third time since they'd begun walking. The seemingly calm composure his significant other was keeping under such circumstances was beginning to cause him concern. Sure, keeping cool was the most preferred way anyone would want the echidna to process losing the Master Emerald, but it was too... un-Knuckles like for him to ignore.

Knuckles had every right to be outraged at the situation at hand, yet he wasn't. Which in itself was fine, but he wasn't talking to him either.

The silent treatment was new and unwelcome to say the least, so after the Guardian ignored him yet again for the fourth call of his name, Shadow used the speed of his hover skates to glide smoothly in front of the echidna and plant himself directly in his path. Knuckles didn't plow into him nor did he snap at him to get out the way. He just... stopped. Footfalls coming to a gentle halt.

He didn't even try to walk around him.

Shadow's concern heightened.

The echidna's eyes hadn't left the ground since he'd gotten there. Even as Shadow took calculated steps closer to try and make eye contact with him, Knuckle's gaze still didn't budge an inch. He frowned at his lover's refusal to look at him, violet orbs staring impassively at the floor beneath their feet.

For a long moment, the two of them stood in a silent stand-off. Wind whistling past their faces as if waiting for either of them to make a move. The only indication of movement being the tremble coming from Knuckles' tightly clenched fist.

The hedgehog took a step forward, the snapping of a branch beneath his foot breaking the tense silence between them before his words could. "Knuckles." His name was repeated; softer this time, and in response, the echidna slowly closed his eyes in frustration.

Then Shadow took another step forward and before the Guardian knew what was coming to him, a hand shot out and grabbed Knuckles firmly around the jaw. Knuckles eyes shot open and he was nearly knocked off balance when Shadow pulled him in by his face until he had no other choice but to look the hedgehog in the eye. 'Don't ignore me' was what those eyes said as they seared through his very own.

Knuckles lips pressed together into a frown but he didn't pull away from Shadow's grip. This caused the hedgehog to blink, now a touch of confusion revealing itself when he realized that for once, he couldn't get a read on what his boyfriend was feeling at all. This caused him to internally, falter. "Are-" He began, uncertainty staining his voice. "Are you angry with me?" It was that question that finally got a reaction out of the echidna. Knuckles eyes widened in shock, as if he was offended, and was quick to shake his head no. "Why won't you speak to me?" Shadows' voice came out softer this time and Knuckles despite himself, couldn't help but feel guilty for giving his boyfriend the silent treatment he didn't deserve.

So he spoke.

"I'm am angry." He said. "I'm pissed... but not at you."

Shadow nodded thinking he understood where this conversation was heading. "My agency has a bad habit in meddling into things that do not concern them-"

"I'm not angry at them either." Knuckles said, exasperated. Shadow's eyes narrowed together in thought before smoothing out when he suddenly came to an understanding. But before he could say anything else, Knuckles cut him off. "This is the fourth time Shadow." Knuckles frown deepened and his eyes left from Shadows again. The hedgehog watched as the emotions on Knuckles face shifted, finally revealing what had been bubbling up inside him.

Shame.

Shadow mentally scoffed at the premise.

"This wasn't your fault Knuckles." He said, it making complete and obvious sense to him. Sadly, Knuckles seemed to disagree and became even more irritated in response.

"Not my fault?" He asked as if Shadow had made some sort of bad joke. "This island is my responsibility Shadow!" He snapped, jerking his face out of Shadow's hand. "I have to take responsibility for everything that happens here! There is never an excuse to let something like this happen." Now Knuckles was snarling, letting out the anger Shadow knew he'd been repressing. Though he wouldn't have guessed it would have been anger held against himself.

"Four times. Four fucking times!" Knuckles hands gripped at the air as he frustratingly tried to reel himself in without blowing a gasket. "If my people were still around I'd of been cast from this role for even losing it once!" Shadow watched as the pain of his own perceived inadequacy shone in the Guardians' eyes.

Shadow could not find fault with the Guardian for holding himself to such high standards. The Master Emerald was extremely important to not only him but to the Island and Mobius as a whole. Knuckles was an exceptionally powerful individual... but he was still just one person. It was unfair that its protection should sit on the shoulders of just one being.

It was clear that the protection of the Master Emerald use to fall on the shoulders of many, before the massacre of Knuckles clan. Doing such a thing by yourself would have been near impossible if it were anyone else. Shadow knew this. However, none of this mattered to Knuckles. The Guardian had a deep-rooted belief that no matter the circumstance he should always rise to the occasion and surpass it. It wasn't about how he felt about it, it was about fulfilling his duty. Something Shadow could relate to all too well and also understand how unrealistic such a premise was.

But that wasn't the kind of shit Knuckles wanted to hear so, a different approach was needed.

"What would have happened were you here to defend it?" Shadow challenged. That caught the echidna's attention, for Knuckles head snapped back at him as if he had just said something moronic.

"I would have defended it!" Knuckles shouted. "Eggman wouldn't have even gotten close to the emerald if I was there to protect it! But I wasn't!"

"No, you weren't." Shadow agreed. "But, let's say you were. Let's say you were there to run Eggman and his machines off the island before they could even step foot near the altar. Protecting the emerald like you should have been doing. Where would you be right now?" Knuckles shook his head as if saying 'get to the fucking point.'

"You'd be pulling three dead bodies out of a spike pit."

The silence after his statement was deafening.

The anger on Knuckles face shifted to shock and then frustration as a rush of different emotions began to rise to the surface. He couldn't within his right mind even think that the other option would have been better. Sure the Emerald would have been safe but the deaths of those buffoons would have been on his hands if he'd chosen to ignore their call for help.

"Your choices, however, led you here instead." Shadow piped up, causing the echidna to look back at his boyfriend. Before Knuckles could even try to get anything self-deprecating out of his mouth, Shadow closed the distance between them and wrapped a hand around the Guardians' upper arm. "While they were here snooping around without your permission, they're not your enemies. If everything that happens on this Island is your responsibility as you say it is, does that directive not include their lives as well." Knuckles visibly looked taken aback, lips parting and then shutting once again.

Shadow pushed even further.

"If you were given the option to go back and have a choice between guarding the emerald and saving those idiots' lives, would you choose differently?" He asked, without judgment. Though the question was a rhetorical one because he knew the answer to that one. They both did.

Knuckles pressed his lips tighter together, knowing when he was quickly losing this argument… and winning it, simultaneously.

At the look of annoyance that crossed over Knuckles face, Shadow gave him a small grin, his hand sliding down from Knuckles red shoulder and to his tightly clenched hand. The hedgehog wedged his fingers into the echidna's fist until the gloved hand unraveled enough for Shadow to hold it in his own. "I didn't think so."

Knuckles eyes wavered, clearly still wanting to argue his point but he knew he had no room for rebuttal without possibly contradicting himself. Not when crimson eyes pinned him in place with their raw sincerity. His shoulders deflated, this time… defeated in a way that Shadow could take pleasure in.

"You cannot be everywhere at once Guardian." He said softly. "I admire that you hold yourself to such high standards, but you will not always live up to your expectations Knuckles, that is a fact, not a flaw." He spoke with reason. "Your sense of duty and imperishable loyalty to the people of his planet is more than enough. You may not be the perfect Guardian in your own eyes, but you are amazing, nonetheless." Knuckles looked taken aback, something vulnerable flashing within his eyes. Before he could step back to try and hide away those emotions with distance, Shadow pulled his lover closer by his hand. "Being a perfect Guardian pales in comparison to that."

Knuckles face didn't color like it usually would when paid a compliment. His brows perched together in distress at Shadow's words, as if he didn't understand how the other could come to such a conclusion.

Knuckles opened his mouth to speak but found he truly had nothing to say. He sighed, and let his forehead collide with Shadow's shoulder. The hedgehog felt himself relax beneath his lovers' weight and placed a hand to the back of Knuckles' head comfortingly. The echidna responded by digging his face even further into his shoulder. He could tell just by how easily the echidna had folded that Knuckles was spent. Chaos, he wished they really had the time to address this thoroughly, and he wish he could let his boyfriend just stay there in the comfort of his arms for just a few more minutes, of not an hour... a day. He deserved it, but the island wasn't going to stay afloat for long without the Master Emerald, and they were running out of time.

"We have to move. The doctor won't just sit around in one place waiting for us to show up."

Shadow involuntarily shuddered when he felt Knuckles rest a heavy hand on his hip so he could manage to pull himself from the hedgehog's shoulder. Shadow decided to ignore the moisture he could see threatening to gather in Knuckles wavering but determined eyes and cupped the side of the echidna's face to direct his gaze back to him. "Do not take my words as cheap flattery Knuckles. I always say what I mean and nothing less."

"Yea..." He whispered, leaning into the hedgehog's hand. "Yeah, I know."

A/N: I have a serious problem meeting word limits like, its so bad yall. pLs