Shadow fought to run against the wind as he made his way to the nearest shop, not the one he went to before, 'I think the store clerks would prefer it if I didn't turn up and cause another ruckus like earlier,' he thought, 'not like it was your fault' his mind argued back against itself. 'Yeah, but I wouldn't want to go back anyway.' He could barely see the neon sign in the window of the store, and made his way towards the door, fur soaked to his skin and the rain so heavy he could barely see his hand in front of his face.
He finally pushed himself inside, the automatic doors closing behind him keeping in the warmth. As he made his way around the aisles, he noticed not many people were around, 'probably indoors nice and warm, when Sonic feels better I need to teach him to shop every now and again'. He mindlessly grabbed items as he strode down the aisles, 'lucky I have some money left otherwise we'd be starving for the next few days.
As he finally walked down the last aisle he noticed the store clerks has started boarding up the windows, he went up to one and asked them why they were doing that.
"Last time we had a storm this bad the windows shattered and all sorts of stuff flew in here and ruined all the stock, it costs us hundreds!" The clerk resumed nailing the boards to the wall and Shadow went to pay, thankful that there was no queue due to the lack of people there. 'I guess this storm is gonna get really bad, good thing I came for food when I did.' Making his way back home was harder than ever, not only had the wind and rain picked up, but he had to carry all the shopping bags too, his fur was drenched, he couldn't see a thing and those bag weren't getting any lighter. I was half an hour before he got home. 'I hope Sonic's alright, I took way longer than expected'. He glanced into the living room and was surprised to see Sonic not lying on the couch where he had left him. 'Maybe he went to bed, ' Shadow told himself, 'I'll just be quiet and take a look, don't want to wake him up, the storm will do that well enough'
He tip-toed into the kitchen and packed away the food quietly, then went to Sonic's bedroom. He stood outside the door, listening for any noise. He was confused to hear a metallic kind of sound, like a cutting sound. Starting to worry, he opened the door as softly as he could and put his head round the door. He eyes widened in amazement to see Sonic sitting on the side of his bed, knife gliding slowly across his wrist, the blood slowly flowing down his arm to fix with the blood of the other cuts on his arm. Shadow didn't know what to say, he just stood speechless and Sonic looked up to see his black-furred counterpart standing at the door wide-eyed and open-mouthed.
Sonic panicked, he didn't know what to do, he knew what he was doing was wrong, but it felt right, he deserved the pain he told himself, but he hadn't planned on anyone finding out, especially not Shadow.
Wait, why especially not Shadow?
An eerie silence passed between the two of them as Shadow eyes the numerous cuts on his friend's arms, they were so many, they were countless. Suddenly, the shock was replaced by rage.
"Sonic, what the hell do you think you're doing?" Shadow seethed through clenched teeth. Sonic dropped the knife and looked at Shadow, scared of what he might do, he'd never seen him so angry before, and that was really saying something. Shadow advanced towards Sonic, eyes full of anger. "Answer me Sonic"
Sonic just looked at him helplessly as his mouth tried to form words.
"I-I…" He trailed off and his eyes closed as he waited for the hit, he was truly afraid of Shadow. He jumped when he heard a dull thump. He opened his eyes and was shocked to see Shadow, his friend, the strong hedgehog one might call his clone, on his knees, arms crossed on the bed, head rested on them, crying as heavily as the rain fell outside.
Sonic didn't know what to do, why was Shadow crying? It was Sonic that was hurting himself, Shadow wasn't in pain…was he? He looked at the sobbing form in front of him, he couldn't stand to see him like this. Shadow was tough, he didn't cry. Sonic's eyes widened at that thought, he was thinking just like those bastards on the news. He suddenly realised that he was doing to Shadow, exactly what the camera and reporters did to him, it was a thought that horrified him. 'He needs this,' he thought, 'whatever it is that's upset him, he needs to let it out,' and without a further thought Sonic leant down next to his weeping friend and wrapped his arms around him, eyes closed, waiting for the hedgehog to feel better, 'no matter how long it takes'
It seemed like hours until Shadow finally calmed down, leaning into Sonic's arms, his tearful eyes looked up and met with the emeralds of the blue hedgehog, full of concern for his friend.
"Shadow?" Sonic didn't need to say it, Shadow knew what he wanted to know. He took a shaky breath and took himself out of Sonic's protective embrace, wiping his eyes with his gloved hand.
"Sonic, I-I'm sorry, I just, couldn't stand to know, that you were hurting yourself, and, I couldn't do anything about it, I'm sorry," he hung his head in shame, until he felt Sonic lift it so that rubies met emeralds.
It was surprising how alike two things, or people could be without realising it. Sonic, being shocked at his friend's tears, like the media were shocked at his, but he was different, he didn't tell him to stop, he didn't hate him or make fun of him for it, he let him cry, he wasn't like those he hated so much. Shadow, upset because he knew someone was in pain and he couldn't help it, though he felt he should, like Sonic when he couldn't rescue Tails, but he was different, he wasn't going to let Sonic die, he'd do whatever it took to make Sonic happy, even if he didn't realise just what lengths he would go to yet. It was surprising how alike two people could be.
As they both gazed into each other's eyes, Sonic shook his head.
"Don't be sorry Shadow, it's not your fault, you shouldn't blame yourself, like I did for Tails' death." Shadow opened his mouth to reply but Sonic put a finger over it shushing him softly. "Listen to what I have to say." Shadow nodded slowly, and Sonic carried on. "I thought I deserved the pain, that it was my fault, I should hurt, but, now I realise, I don't deserve to be in pain…anymore than you do. It wasn't my fault Tails died, I couldn't do anything about it, and you can't do anything about these," he pointed to the deep gashes in his arms, which had eventually stopped bleeding, "neither of us deserve to hurt." Sonic gave a small to Shadow, who returned it with one his rare smiles.
'Wow', Sonic thought, ' that was deep for me, I should think like this more often.' That's when he came to a decision, one that would change his life.
"And that's why, I've decided to give up hero work," he looked at Shadow, waiting his reaction. He was pleased when Shadow gave another smile. 'As long as he's happy, I don't care,' Shadow thought. Sonic's smile widened at the sight of Shadow's. 'Why does his smile make me feel so happy? I just can't be sad when he looks so happy'. Shadow was thinking the same about Sonic.
'He makes me so happy, I've really changed a lot since the fall from the Ark.' It was a while before they moved from sitting on the floor to the kitchen.
"I'm starving," Shadow said, a hand over his rumbling stomach.
"Agreed, what are we eating?" Sonic licked his lips thoughtfully. Then came up with a totally sonic-esque idea. "How about chilli dogs?" Shadow laughed. 'Shadow laughed?' Sonic thought, 'I didn't think it possible, it sounds really nice.' Sonic's eyes half closed without him realising it, luckily Shadow didn't either.
"You must be feeling better Sonic, well, I suppose I can stomach them today, but this is the only time I will EVER eat them, be warned." Sonic nodded.
"Fair enough, fair enough." Five minutes later they were sitting on the sofa watching T.V, the news came on. It was the same report as earlier.
"God, can't they just let it die?" Shadow immediately regretted his choice of words, he looked at Sonic, apologising with his eyes.
"Don't worry, I was thinking the same thing, but, I'm sure they'll find a much better story in my retirement," he chuckled to himself, "I can just imagine their faces now." Shadow smiled, this was the Sonic he knew, making humour out of a situation that seemed totally depressing, that was something he liked about Sonic. 'What, like? Did I just…? So I like Sonic the hedgehog?' He looked at Sonic, he was smiling to himself and obviously enjoying the chilli dogs. Shadow blushed furiously when he saw Sonic turn to look at him.
"Are you OK Shadow?" Shadow nodded.
"Sure, fine." Sonic smiled and changed the channel, watching Shadow out of the corner of his eye. 'Was he blushing? That was so cute! … Cute? Oh my god, I like Shadow the hedgehog, and not just as in friend like, like as in…like like! But why was he blushing does he like me too?' He looked at Shadow. Shadow looked back.
"What?" Sonic opened his mouth but just couldn't seem to get the right words out.
"I, uhm I, do you?" He sighed, "never mind," he waved his hand at Shadow as a signal not to ask. The red-streaked hedgehog just shrugged his shoulders.
'I wonder what he wanted to ask me'. Just then there was huge rumble of thunder, and a deafening screech as a great oak came tumbling down onto the house a retired hero.
He finally pushed himself inside, the automatic doors closing behind him keeping in the warmth. As he made his way around the aisles, he noticed not many people were around, 'probably indoors nice and warm, when Sonic feels better I need to teach him to shop every now and again'. He mindlessly grabbed items as he strode down the aisles, 'lucky I have some money left otherwise we'd be starving for the next few days.
As he finally walked down the last aisle he noticed the store clerks has started boarding up the windows, he went up to one and asked them why they were doing that.
"Last time we had a storm this bad the windows shattered and all sorts of stuff flew in here and ruined all the stock, it costs us hundreds!" The clerk resumed nailing the boards to the wall and Shadow went to pay, thankful that there was no queue due to the lack of people there. 'I guess this storm is gonna get really bad, good thing I came for food when I did.' Making his way back home was harder than ever, not only had the wind and rain picked up, but he had to carry all the shopping bags too, his fur was drenched, he couldn't see a thing and those bag weren't getting any lighter. I was half an hour before he got home. 'I hope Sonic's alright, I took way longer than expected'. He glanced into the living room and was surprised to see Sonic not lying on the couch where he had left him. 'Maybe he went to bed, ' Shadow told himself, 'I'll just be quiet and take a look, don't want to wake him up, the storm will do that well enough'
He tip-toed into the kitchen and packed away the food quietly, then went to Sonic's bedroom. He stood outside the door, listening for any noise. He was confused to hear a metallic kind of sound, like a cutting sound. Starting to worry, he opened the door as softly as he could and put his head round the door. He eyes widened in amazement to see Sonic sitting on the side of his bed, knife gliding slowly across his wrist, the blood slowly flowing down his arm to fix with the blood of the other cuts on his arm. Shadow didn't know what to say, he just stood speechless and Sonic looked up to see his black-furred counterpart standing at the door wide-eyed and open-mouthed.
Sonic panicked, he didn't know what to do, he knew what he was doing was wrong, but it felt right, he deserved the pain he told himself, but he hadn't planned on anyone finding out, especially not Shadow.
Wait, why especially not Shadow?
An eerie silence passed between the two of them as Shadow eyes the numerous cuts on his friend's arms, they were so many, they were countless. Suddenly, the shock was replaced by rage.
"Sonic, what the hell do you think you're doing?" Shadow seethed through clenched teeth. Sonic dropped the knife and looked at Shadow, scared of what he might do, he'd never seen him so angry before, and that was really saying something. Shadow advanced towards Sonic, eyes full of anger. "Answer me Sonic"
Sonic just looked at him helplessly as his mouth tried to form words.
"I-I…" He trailed off and his eyes closed as he waited for the hit, he was truly afraid of Shadow. He jumped when he heard a dull thump. He opened his eyes and was shocked to see Shadow, his friend, the strong hedgehog one might call his clone, on his knees, arms crossed on the bed, head rested on them, crying as heavily as the rain fell outside.
Sonic didn't know what to do, why was Shadow crying? It was Sonic that was hurting himself, Shadow wasn't in pain…was he? He looked at the sobbing form in front of him, he couldn't stand to see him like this. Shadow was tough, he didn't cry. Sonic's eyes widened at that thought, he was thinking just like those bastards on the news. He suddenly realised that he was doing to Shadow, exactly what the camera and reporters did to him, it was a thought that horrified him. 'He needs this,' he thought, 'whatever it is that's upset him, he needs to let it out,' and without a further thought Sonic leant down next to his weeping friend and wrapped his arms around him, eyes closed, waiting for the hedgehog to feel better, 'no matter how long it takes'
It seemed like hours until Shadow finally calmed down, leaning into Sonic's arms, his tearful eyes looked up and met with the emeralds of the blue hedgehog, full of concern for his friend.
"Shadow?" Sonic didn't need to say it, Shadow knew what he wanted to know. He took a shaky breath and took himself out of Sonic's protective embrace, wiping his eyes with his gloved hand.
"Sonic, I-I'm sorry, I just, couldn't stand to know, that you were hurting yourself, and, I couldn't do anything about it, I'm sorry," he hung his head in shame, until he felt Sonic lift it so that rubies met emeralds.
It was surprising how alike two things, or people could be without realising it. Sonic, being shocked at his friend's tears, like the media were shocked at his, but he was different, he didn't tell him to stop, he didn't hate him or make fun of him for it, he let him cry, he wasn't like those he hated so much. Shadow, upset because he knew someone was in pain and he couldn't help it, though he felt he should, like Sonic when he couldn't rescue Tails, but he was different, he wasn't going to let Sonic die, he'd do whatever it took to make Sonic happy, even if he didn't realise just what lengths he would go to yet. It was surprising how alike two people could be.
As they both gazed into each other's eyes, Sonic shook his head.
"Don't be sorry Shadow, it's not your fault, you shouldn't blame yourself, like I did for Tails' death." Shadow opened his mouth to reply but Sonic put a finger over it shushing him softly. "Listen to what I have to say." Shadow nodded slowly, and Sonic carried on. "I thought I deserved the pain, that it was my fault, I should hurt, but, now I realise, I don't deserve to be in pain…anymore than you do. It wasn't my fault Tails died, I couldn't do anything about it, and you can't do anything about these," he pointed to the deep gashes in his arms, which had eventually stopped bleeding, "neither of us deserve to hurt." Sonic gave a small to Shadow, who returned it with one his rare smiles.
'Wow', Sonic thought, ' that was deep for me, I should think like this more often.' That's when he came to a decision, one that would change his life.
"And that's why, I've decided to give up hero work," he looked at Shadow, waiting his reaction. He was pleased when Shadow gave another smile. 'As long as he's happy, I don't care,' Shadow thought. Sonic's smile widened at the sight of Shadow's. 'Why does his smile make me feel so happy? I just can't be sad when he looks so happy'. Shadow was thinking the same about Sonic.
'He makes me so happy, I've really changed a lot since the fall from the Ark.' It was a while before they moved from sitting on the floor to the kitchen.
"I'm starving," Shadow said, a hand over his rumbling stomach.
"Agreed, what are we eating?" Sonic licked his lips thoughtfully. Then came up with a totally sonic-esque idea. "How about chilli dogs?" Shadow laughed. 'Shadow laughed?' Sonic thought, 'I didn't think it possible, it sounds really nice.' Sonic's eyes half closed without him realising it, luckily Shadow didn't either.
"You must be feeling better Sonic, well, I suppose I can stomach them today, but this is the only time I will EVER eat them, be warned." Sonic nodded.
"Fair enough, fair enough." Five minutes later they were sitting on the sofa watching T.V, the news came on. It was the same report as earlier.
"God, can't they just let it die?" Shadow immediately regretted his choice of words, he looked at Sonic, apologising with his eyes.
"Don't worry, I was thinking the same thing, but, I'm sure they'll find a much better story in my retirement," he chuckled to himself, "I can just imagine their faces now." Shadow smiled, this was the Sonic he knew, making humour out of a situation that seemed totally depressing, that was something he liked about Sonic. 'What, like? Did I just…? So I like Sonic the hedgehog?' He looked at Sonic, he was smiling to himself and obviously enjoying the chilli dogs. Shadow blushed furiously when he saw Sonic turn to look at him.
"Are you OK Shadow?" Shadow nodded.
"Sure, fine." Sonic smiled and changed the channel, watching Shadow out of the corner of his eye. 'Was he blushing? That was so cute! … Cute? Oh my god, I like Shadow the hedgehog, and not just as in friend like, like as in…like like! But why was he blushing does he like me too?' He looked at Shadow. Shadow looked back.
"What?" Sonic opened his mouth but just couldn't seem to get the right words out.
"I, uhm I, do you?" He sighed, "never mind," he waved his hand at Shadow as a signal not to ask. The red-streaked hedgehog just shrugged his shoulders.
'I wonder what he wanted to ask me'. Just then there was huge rumble of thunder, and a deafening screech as a great oak came tumbling down onto the house a retired hero.