Meaningless.5
And here we have Chapter five. I'm trying to figure out why I haven't uploaded it yet...I think I forgot I had it written. ;; And listening to Linkin Park today got me to wanting to write some more, and when I checked my notebook, there was this chapter, fully written and not submitted! So yeah, here you guys go. Everyone seems a bit less in of character than I usually keep them, in my opinion, but given the circumstances, I think their behaviors are accurate to their personalities. Enjoy. And don't forget-you can find my disclaimer and read my replies to your reviews in my profile!
-Nion Kokesu
Shadow inhales deeply. The past few days had taken a toll on him, so he had decided to blow off some steam. He exhales. Sonic had never gotten so deep under his skin before. He inhales, trying to clear his mind.
He's always getting in my way. He disrupts my missions. He disrupts my life. And now, my pursuit of happiness.
A knock sounds, and Shadow exhales through his teeth, opening his eyes just enough to direct a glare toward the door. "Faker," he knowingly mutters, mentally adding his meditation to the list of things the blue hedgehog had interrupted. Shadow gets to his feet and walks to the door, not bothering to check through the peep hole before opening it. Sure enough, he finds the Blue Blur standing before him, looking shocked. He leaves the door open and retreats back into his apartment.
Sonic remains in the doorway, looking stunned and flustered. He hadn't actually expected Shadow to be there. Upon being found alive, Shadow had been urged to rent the apartment. He had eventually given in to the annoying persuasions, but spent almost no time in the place for quite a while. Over time, however, he had found it a nice place to meditate, and started spending more time there.
"Sonic, politeness may not be in your nature, but it is rude even for you to knock upon one's door and then refuse to enter," Shadow states with impatience. The voice of his dark counterpart catches Sonic's attention and he enters Shadow's abode, closing the door behind him.
Sonic looks around, taking in the minimally furnished apartment. Nice. A little dark, but nice. "It actually looks like someone lives here," Sonic pipes up.
"Is that such a shock?" Shadow asks. "It is, lawfully, my home for the time being, is it not?"
"You never seemed like the home havin' type," Sonic responds. "And you used to be dead set against this place."
"I have managed to make some use of it," Shadow informs. "Now, I assume you have come because you wish to speak with me, and I doubt that my apartment is what you intended to discuss."
"You never were much for small talk," Sonic says, cutting his eyes to the floor as the ice he had been hoping to break is frozen solid by Shadow's cold demeanor.
"And that hasn't changed," Shadow assures, waiting for Sonic to say something worth listening to.
Sonic takes a deep breath, trying to organize his thoughts into a comprehensive sentence. He sighs and gives up, starting with a most meaningless phrase. "Shadow, I'm sorry." He looks to the ebony hedgehog for some reaction and when the Ultimate Life Form offers none, Sonic is forced to continue. "I...apologize for how I acted with you and Knux. I was outta line. I lost control of myself," the emerald-eyed hedgehog admits. "I've never felt so much rage before."
"Rage is a powerful entity," Shadow says. "Not all are fortunate enough to escape from its grasp."
"I couldn't have if it weren't for Tails," Sonic voices, smiling gently at the thought of his sibling-like friend.
"I know," Shadow states matter-of-fact-ly. "That's why I sent him."
Sonic emits an annoyed "humph" at Shadow's smug tone. An insult enters his thoughts and he, brainlessly, relays it. "You know, Faker, that smart mouth o- yours actually makes you sound alive sometimes."
Shadow remains unaffected by the poorly articulated insult. "If your perception were half as strong as mine you wouldn't need confirmation of my existence," he replies.
Sonic steps toward Shadow with a growl. "You're gonna regret that."
"You brought insults to this conversation, Faker," Shadow points out with a frown. "Now, if you have nothing intelligent to say, you know where the door is."
"Nnngh," Sonic grinds his teeth, pushing his pride away. With a sigh, he continues. "Look, Shadow. I doubt we'll ever see eye to eye, but we've got more in common than our speed. And that's Knuckles. I don't care if you two are...together. I still love him. And I'm not givin' up on 'im."
"I expected as much," Shadow intervenes. "As foolish as you may behave, your determination is admirable. However, your ambitions cannot be allowed," Shadow warns in a dark voice, approaching Sonic until they stand nose-to-nose. "The Guardian is mine."
Sonic narrow his green eyes, peering into the crimson-colored pools of the black hedgehog before him. "Sure, for now," he threatens. But I wouldn't make any wedding plans just yet. After all, has Knuckles said he loves you?" a cocky Sonic asks.
"That is none of your concern," Shadow replies, seemingly unaffected. "Now, you've made your apology and your presence is no longer welcome."
Sonic chuckles. "Fine. But if you wanna keep Knux, you better not take an eye off him," Sonic warns with a smirk. "I know I won't," he finishes, making his way to the door. "Seeya 'round, Faker," Sonic states as he exits, closing the door behind him.
The Dark One remains still, his gaze directed at the door, the irritating image of Sonic's smirk burned into his mind. He retreats to his original spot of the floor, intending to resume his meditation, but Sonic had done an exceptional job at getting under the ebony hedgehog's skin, leaving him unable to concentrate. For some reason, Sonic's words echo in his mind. Has Knuckles said he loves you? Shadow hadn't reacted to Sonic's words, but he also hadn't expected them to bother him so.
He rises back to his feet, frowning at himself with disappointment. He contemplates paying a visit to the home shared by the Blue Blur and his two-tailed sidekick, feeling it to be his best bet at locating Knuckles, confident that The Guardian was unlikely to have already returned to his shrine on Angel Island. The Master Emerald is never threated these days, after all. With that, Shadow's mind is made and he exits his apartment, not bothering to lock it up.
He exits the building, ignoring the stares of some of the other tenants. Most had been excited to know that he was moving in-until they found out he was the trouble-making hedgehog who had been mistaken for Sonic, and not the Blue Blur himself. It had never bothered him that they showed no appreciation for his role in protecting them all. He had done it for Maria, and nobody else.
"Do you really think Sonic will be alright," a still gloomy Tails asks in a muffled voice, his face buried in a couch cushion.
"Blue Boy may be an idiot," Knuckles starts, "but he can pull it together when it counts," Knuckles assures, glancing at the fox lying face down on the couch. "Heh," he chuckles to himself, getting up from his spot on the floor. No sooner than he does so, he hears a thud at the door. He looks back at Tails, whose raised head confirms that he, too, had heard the sound. He notices the young fox's expression distort.
"Do you smell that?" Tails asks, slowly getting to his feet as he sniffs the air. "It smells like-"
"Blood," Knuckles intervenes. "Sonic," he deduces, rushing for the door. A concerned Tails hurries with him, eagerly anticipating the sight of Sonic on the other side. Knuckles turns the knob and the door swings in on them forcefully, a bleeding Sonic falling unconsciously into the chest of the Rad Red.
"Sonic!" Tails exclaims with concern, crowding in to examine the condition of his beloved friend.
"Give him some air, Tails," Knuckles suggests, lifting Sonic into his arms.
"Is he alright!" Tails demands.
"He's breathing," Knuckles assures, heading for the couch. "But he may have lost a lot more blood."
"I seriously doubt that," a voice sounds from the doorway.
"Shadow!" Tails identifies as he and Knuckles turn to face the red-highlighted hedgehog.
"What brings you here?" Knuckles questions, still holding Sonic.
"Faker, and his foolish attempts to get closer to you," Shadow answers, entering the apartment. "You can stop staring at me and put him down now."
Knuckles grumbles to himself and turns back toward the couch.
"What makes you so sure Sonic's alright?" Tails asks as Shadow closes the door.
"Faker just came from my home," Shadow explains," and he was perfectly fine. Had he bled along the way I surely could have come across at least a drop of his blood. Needless to say, I did not."
"So what are you saying, Shadow! That Sonic cut himself at the door!" Tails demands. "He wouldn't do that!"
"Then how else are you gonna explain why he won't let go of me!" Knuckles voices with sudden agitation.
Tails turns around to see Knuckles bent over the couch, trying to pry Sonic's arms from around him without causing any injury. He gasps and promptly rushes to Knuckles' side.
"You're right, Tails," Shadow begins. "Sonic did not cut himself. "But I'm sure pulling out his own stitches was quite painful."
"Shut up, Shadow!" a fully conscious Sonic shouts. "Get outta my apartment!"
"Hmph. I shall stay until The Guardian leaves," Shadow announces. "Unless," he continues, "you wish to battle me. Either way, you will remove your hands from my Guardian."
"Oh yeah?" Sonic chuckles. "Make me!"
"Don't think I won't," Shadow narrows his eyes, taking a step forward. " I am not as sensitive to your weakness as some."
"Hey!" Knuckles growls, shoving Sonic into the couch before whirling to face Shadow. "Who do you think you're calling sensitive!"
"Owww...geez, Knux!" Sonic winces. "Why'd ya hafta-"
"Can it, Sonic!" Knuckles demands, glaring back at the blue-spined hedgehog. "I've had enough. I'm no longer concerning myself myself with anything that happens to you as a result of your own immaturity. I've got more important things to do."
"Like what?" Sonic asks. "Making out with your fake hedgehog? That doesn't quite qualify as important."
"I am The Guardian!" Knuckles shouts, defending his pride.
"Of what, Red! A stupid rock that nobody cares about anymore!"
"How dare you mock the Master Emerald! After the part it's played in the fate of the world!"
"You're right, Knux," Sonic responds. "It was everything once upon a time. And so were we. But that fairy tale is over."
Knuckles scowls and looks away. "I hope you allow your wounds to heal...and not just the ones on your body," he growled before leaving the apartment, followed by Shadow.
Tails looks back and forth between Sonic and the exiting pair, panic written across his face. He falls to his knees and furrows his brow, glancing at Sonic as the door to his shared abode finally eases shut.
"Don't worry about them, Sonic," the orange fox tries to comfort. Sonic remains silent as he rolls onto his side, back turned to his caring companion. Pity, anger, and sorrow tug at Tails' heartstrings, seeing his only family in so much distress being too much to bear. He gets to his feet and announces that he is thirsty, asking Sonic if he would like anything from the refrigerator. Upon getting no response, he runs to the kitchenette, fighting back tears as he retrieves a glass of water and furiously gulps it down. He takes a few deep breaths before returning to the den, determined to make Sonic talk.
"Sonic," he voices quietly as he kneels at the couch side. No response. "Sonic!" Still no response. Agitated and insulted, he forces Sonic onto his back, only to find the hedgehogs eyes closed. He notices the bloodstained couch cushion and is gripped by fear. He shakes the former hero gently, calling his name. Nothing. Frantic, he wracks his brain for a solution, wondering what Sonic would do in this situation. The answer comes to him immediately and he dives for the apartment door, opening it before returning to Sonic's side.
"I'm going to save you," he promises, willing himself the strength to life Sonic's bloody form from the couch and getting out the door as fast as his tails would propel him.
Meanwhile, The Guardian and The Ultimate Life Form had already gotten far away. Knuckles runs as fast as his legs can carry him, agitated at Shadow matching his pace without effort.
"I don't remember asking you to escort me home," Knuckles grunts, not looking to the hedgehog at his side. Shadow glides ahead and into Knuckles' path, reversing into a backward stake with ease.
"We need to talk, guardian," he speaks, his gaze burning into the eyes of the echidna. "I shall not leave you until we have."
Knuckles snorts and takes a sharp turn toward Angel Island. Shadow falls back to his side and the two of them fall silent, not uttering a word for the rest of the trip.
Once upon the airborne island, Knuckles starts through the trees, Shadow at his heels. He ignores the hedgehog as best he can, attempting to clear his mind as he walks. As their destination comes into sight, Knuckles glances back, meeting Shadow's stern expression with his eyes.
He quickly turns his head back toward the river, gazing into its clear waters as he approaches its bank. He pauses momentarily before getting to his knees and thrusting his head into the water.