What You Are To Me

AN: Another one-shot of self indulgence and squeal to How Do You Do It?

Disclaimer: The Sonic the Hedgehog characters belong to good old Sega

Enjoy!

-XXX-

He knew that the regression would come sooner or later. So when Shadow got the email from his therapist saying that Sonic had a setback, he wasn't surprised.

What Shadow was surprised about was how well the hero was doing over the last few months and even the last couple of sessions Sonic had went on his own as long as email reports went to Shadow just to keep him on the loop on how he was doing (Sonic's choice).

"So what made him slip?" Shadow asked in his head to himself.

None the less, the hybrid grabbed his phone from the coffee table and texted the other.

SH-I'm home if you need me

There. Short, sweet and to the point. Now hopefully he will read it.

Shadow sighed putting is phone down, deciding on what to do next. If Sonic were to come over they would most likely end up on the couch. Blankets and pillows were a necessity for bad days like this as well as good food. He went over to the small hall closet and pulled the fuzziest of blankets down as well as some pillows and set them on the couch. Next food. Maria always like having pasta on her bad days, but Shadow was dealing with Sonic so pasta would not do. It would most likely be some sort of greasy mess things called chili dogs from that takeout spot that Sonic loved and have it ordered in for them.

Ears flicked towards the door as a quiet knock came from it. The Ultimate Lifeform strode over to the door and opened it to reveal The Blue Blur, who defiantly looked like that today was not one of his best days.

"I got your text," he said meekly as he came in. He took off his shoes and started heading towards the couch when Shadow grabbed him by the wrist and threw his body into the others for a good tight hug. Sonic could feel his problems drift away from him as he wrapped his arms around Shadow before burying his head into the crook of his neck and sighed deeply. He needed this. How Shadow knew he needed this he didn't know but he didn't care.

They let go of each other and went and sat on the couch, Sonic wrapping himself into blanket .

"So what happened today?"the hybrid asked, looking at the blue hedgehog who looked too damn comfy right now.

"I don't want to talk about it," Sonic mumbled through the blanket. His eyes gazed down at the floor, which sent a ping of pain into Shadow's heart. He knew what it feels like to keep everything in and to yourself.

"You're staying the night then."

"Am I?" Sonic asked, his eyes fully on Shadow now.

"That wasn't a question," he chuckled.

-XXX-

They did end up ordering chili dogs from that place Sonic loved, much to Shadow's displeasure. If it made Sonic happy, even if it was only for a moment, then Shadow would just about anything. After dinner the two decided to relax on the couch, watching game shows that were on the TV.

"...One of the sinks in the building was dripping today."

There it was. The crack in the wall.

"I could hear the constant dripping...that...I..."

Shadow watched his breathing pick up pace as the blue hedgehog started to spiral into a panic attack. He grabbed his hand and squeezed tight, letting the other know that he was there and wasn't going anywhere. As Sonic's breaths started to calm down he looked up to the gaze of crimson eyes. He felt his face flush and wasn't sure if it was out of embarrassment or from the now obsession that he had for the ebony hedgehog.

"I'm sorry," he muttered turning his gaze down, but Shadow's hand caught his chin and brought it back up. Gloved thumb brushed over peach lips and Sonic did everything in his power not to shudder to the touch.

"Don't be sorry," Shadow told him, "everyone regresses at some point. It's part of the fun of healing."

They sat in silence, (or as silent as you can get with a TV on) emerald eyes looking into the rubies of the other. Sonic sighed and looked away and back at his feet, tears starting to form.

"I wish I felt back to my old self. The one that was able to fix everything, not this one who needs the fixing."

The walls came down after that and Sonic threw himself back into Shadow's chest crying. Shadow rubbed his back.

"I have seen you at your highs and I have now seen you at your lows," He told the sobbing blue hedgehog , "I don't know what happened up that hellish pit in space the Doctor calls the Death Egg, and as much as it feels like he's crushed your spirit now, he didn't. There's still glimpses of it in your eyes. I can see it. You've got this, I promise."

Sonic had calmed enough to lift up his head, eyes still weeping tears.

"Thanks Shads," Sonic whispered to him, their foreheads touching. Shadow smirked at him.

"Anytime Faker," he said before pulling Sonic's head down to his and capturing his lips with his own. If the hybrid had learned one thing from the first time he kissed him, it was Sonic turns into putty and forgets about everything for a while.

They parted and Sonic looked at the hedgehog below him, flabbergasted.

"Are you...? Are we...?"the words kept stumbling out of the hero's mouth.

"Have I noticed your little crush and how it's gotten bigger over time? Yes," Shadow said looking up at him smugly.

"Is it that obvious?" he squeaked out of embarrassment. If his face could get any redder, Sonic would be the colour of his shoes at this point.

"Well it was obvious to me," Shadow laughed, "Now with that being said, the feeling is mutual."

"So wait...you like me...the way that I like you," Sonic repeated what the words in his brain that were screaming at him.

"Yes I like you more than just a friend Sonic," Shadow snorted, but then his tone turned more serious.

"What you are to me is a second shot at happiness. One in which I should not have gotten. I feel that Maria has led me down a path and led me to you. You are like her in so many ways and I know deep down she would have loved meeting you. But I do need to stop dwelling in the past and focus more on the future and if you will let me, I would like to have that future with you."

They sat there for a moment letting Sonic registered what Shadow had just said.

"Wait are you asking me out?!" Sonic asked in complete utter disbelief.

"Yes Faker. I am asking you out," Shadow sighed. Whatever he was thinking was quickly gone when Sonic kissed him. There was so much force behind it, probably from sheer joy and excitement. He wasn't sure if it was accidental or not but felt the hero's tongue slide over his bottom lip, which he gladly let that tongue into his own mouth to explore. It was very odd experience Shadow noted. A good odd but still odd.

As lips pulled back, the duo opened their eyes that they didn't noticed that had closed.

"So...I take that as a yes?" Shadow asked.

"A thousand percent yes," Sonic said with the biggest smile, one that Shadow hadn't seen since before the Death Egg incident.

"...but if you're okay with it...can we keep it private..."

Shadow understood why. The hero had an image to maintain in the public eye and having the media catch wind of this would catastrophic for Sonic, who was just starting to feel back to himself.

"Until you are ready," Shadow told him.

"Thanks," Sonic yawned out. He was so tired from the day which ended on a better note than it start at. Shadow brought himself into a laying position on the couch, having Sonic's body draped over him. The blue hedgehog laid his head down on the white tuff of fur on Shadow's chest, his eyes slowly drifting closed as he felt Shadow stroking his quills. He gave soft quiet purr of contentment which made Shadow smile.

"Sleep. You've had a day," he said. He felt Sonic give a small nod.

"Shadow?"

"Hm."

"I love you."

It felt like Shadow's perfectly engineered heart skipped a beat or five from those three words.

"I love you too," he said back.

-XXX-

AN: Just cute fluffy stuff that's in my head that needs to get out. Thanks for reading

Darko Out!~