"Hey Tails?" He spoke up, his voice timid with worry and uncertainty. Sonic took a few steps into Tails lab to see Tails himself turn around from his desk after writing different equations and solutions into a notebook. The kitsune smiled, "Yeah? You need anything?" Sonic smiled back, he must've caught Tails in one of his rare good moods.

"Sorta. I just been thinking lately...do you ever...ever..." Sonic sighed as he struggled to explain what he wanted to. "Um. What I mean is...I don't really feel...like myself ya know? I kinda don't know who I am-" Sonic stopped talking when Tails flew over to him via namesakes and placed his hand over Sonic's forehead, with a look of concern on the teens face.

"Are you feeling well Sonic? You aren't making much sense." Tails asked, the fox bit the inside of his cheek as he flew away from the hedgehog and flew off to his desk and opened up a cabinet, pulled out a white first aid kit which Sonic instantly disagreed with.

"What? No Tails I'm fine! No what I mean is that haven't you ever noticed the expectations?"

"..." Sonic's statement was met with silence, he could see the kitsune's mind running. "Expectations?" Tails repeated. The hedgehog nodded his head, looking relieved that Tails was slowly getting it.

"Yes. You know? Like what people say I have to be like as a hero. Those silly descriptions? Haven't you ever noticed that it's not just with me? It's with everybody! Like Amy! Knuckles! Espio! Cream! Even you! Everybody has these expectations that we've got to live up to but nobody ever sees it!" Sonic said, speaking very fast with excitement at the thought of Tails being able to understand and see it too. He was so caught up in it that he didn't see the way Tails flinched slightly with every word or the way his face morphed into a fearful expression. Like he was afraid of Sonic at the moment.

"A-alright. Sonic. I believe you." The kitsune lied, his blue eyes critically analyzing his brother thoroughly. Sonic saw through the lame lie and his excitement dabbed away when he saw how cautious Tails was being.

"...Right. You do..." His voice trailed off. The air tense and heavy hanging over them, clinging to them. "You believe me."

A lie they both knew. Questions rose inside each of them, yet they remained silent. Tails, morbidly curious but afraid of the hedgehog cleared his throat.

"I do." He didn't. He didn't understand him at all. Despair flooded through the hedgehog's body and an empty hollow feeling dug into his chest. This further pushed the two's strained brotherly bond farther away. At one time, they were as close as can be, they took on the whole world together yet now here they stood. As they aged they changed, these changes wore the bond down. Only time could tell whether the bonds would ever be mended whole...or if it will continue to thin like a string waiting to snap.

. . .

Shadow was uncertain of how this...disagreement really started between him and Sonic once the two hedgehogs were alone after their treasure hunting friends had left. Sonic had begun to flip through the pages of the notebook after pulling away from Shadow, wiping away his tears while flashing him a grateful smile. Then that smile faded as his more darker thoughts began to plague him to the point where he just had to question just why Shadow was even here.

"Why are you helping me like this..." He whispers, his voice as soft as the petals of a flower blooming. Yet his words are what causes the flower to wilt up and die as fast as it bloomed. "You disliked me from the start until now. Everybody else chose to ignore my problems or they chose to break me into their definition of a hero." His back was turned to the other, he didn't want the other to have the satisfaction of seeing his lip tremble, his emerald eyes well up with tears slowly rolling down his cheeks as he silently wept awaiting his ebony counterpart's answer, if he would even answer him at all. With his constant shifting emotions, he was surprised to say the least that Shadow hasn't given up on him yet. Deciding he had beaten around the bush one too many times, now was the time to finally get to the point. Of asking the whys he had inside of his mind.

"...I'm not going to give up on you if that's what you're thinking. I can be as stubborn as you are, whether or not you want me to now I'm here for you." Shadow replies just as soft as Sonic's voice, however his voice was stern with determination leaking through it. "I couldn't see through your mask, I didn't bother to. I was, and still am selfish but I want to make that up to you..." Ruby red eyes drank in the sight of Sonic's tense body, he could see the tiny jerky motions of his shoulders moving up and down as if he was laughing...but he already knew the other was crying once more. Sonic began to wonder how Shadow could see through his mask, and tell what he was thinking. Though he continued to ask him more questions after his ebony counterpart failed to further elaborate his answer.

"What's changed that then? Why do you care about me now? Why bother to try with me? This shouldn't even matter to you. I shouldn't matter to you."

"You matter to me. That's why. I'm here because I do care about you Faker, more than you may think."

"Why do you keep avoiding that question. What changed?" Sonic went to face Shadow, his emerald hues sadly staring and ears drooping "I wasn't anything more than a loudmouthed annoyance getting himself into things he shouldn't have. A trouble maker hailed as a hero A fool. A f-faker. These are words you've said to me Shadow. I can't wrap my head it, if this is how you felt then what was it that changed your perspective of me."

"I see life in you that doesn't deserve to be put out like a candle, I didn't pay attention to before..." Ruby red eyes distantly could see a flicker of an outline of a young girl behind the blue hedgehog. Familiar sky blue dress, silky blonde hair, bright round eyes of joy and hope gazed at him. He blinked and it (more like she) disappeared as fast as it came. This did not deter him from speaking. "Do you not wish to be here? Do you not trust me?"

"I- of course I do. I tr-"

"Then why do continue to push me away? Is it beca-"

FLASH

The two hedgehogs were slightly blinded when a flash of light illuminate from outside. The two were paused in their moments, not knowing what or where the flash really came from when another flash of light went off again.

FLASH FLASH FLASH FLASH

FLASH FLASH FLASH FLASH

Sonic threw an arm up to cover his eyes, there was a continuous stream of- his heart skipped a few beats, dread and nausea crawling through him- these were camera flashes. Time seemed to freeze and Sonic could get a glimpse of outside where a large bay window was, the origin of the flashes of light came through and Sonic could see them. Dozens of mobians with cameras were taking photos of them and Sonic could vividly remember these people. It was a paparazzi, people who constantly chased and hounded not only Sonic but the others as well.

Shadow's ears flicked in annoyance and anger, eyes narrowed and fangs showing as he glowered toward the group of idiots who had no right to be here and invade their privacy. How he wanted to teach every single person there a valuable painful lesson! With a side glance, ebony could see cobalt blue and the light lit up and captured pictures of the two. Sonic must've been horrified, his quills were ruffled up and tears continued to fall as he stared blankly towards the floods of flashes, arms down limp at his side. Shadow knew he had to make a choice, chase these people out of his home or take Sonic away somewhere safe. Wasting no more time Shadow chose his decision with no hesitation and grabbed Sonic's wrist and the two disappeared, their figures dissolved in electric blue from Shadow's chaos control.

. . .

Rouge, Knuckles, and Tails were so close to Rouge's home, through the clearing of trees and shrubs they would be there in a minute or two. As they continued their walk Tails could feel himself growing more irritated by the second by the constant glaring aimed at the back of his head, it was making him both annoyed and paranoid! His twin namesakes twitched as well as his brows, he knew very well that Knuckles was eyeing him closely because one, Rouge was flying slowly in front of him and two the echidna guardian hasn't said a word to the fox at all, only stare at him harshly. Deciding he had enough Tails twisted himself around, placing his hands on his hips as he looked at Knuckles to ask him what his problem was.

"What is your problem? You've done nothing but silently glower at me like you're pretending to be Shadow or something." Tails didn't understand what Sonic could possibly want, for all he knew he probably injured himself pestering Shadow or somewhere along the lines of that area. That hedgehog was nothing but a distracted immature leader that Tails had to get after many times to be on his best behavior. He also didn't understand why Knuckles scoffed at his words, with his arms crossed over his chest the echidna shook his head in disbelief.

"Do you know what your actions have caused? Did you even think for a second that maybe sending Amy right to Sonic's location would be a bad idea? You remember how unhealthy her obsession is with him. Yet you still thought you were right..." Knuckles voice grew hardened and cold, angry with the kitsune for thinking that Amy's obsession with him is remotely good.

"Is this what this is about? Yes! I think having Amy with Sonic is a good idea. Chaos knows she can put him in line. I'll admit, her obsession is too strong but it's because she cares and worries for Sonic like the rest of us." Tails said smugly, he was certain he was right and expected Knuckles to apologize but he didn't. The echidna laughed coldly.

"Tails. You need a reality check. I get it, you're a genius, intelligent and all that crap. But that doesn't mean you can treat the people who care about you like nothing." Knuckles remarked, he spoke slowly, thinking that maybe Tails will actually listen to the words he said but he was wrong.

"I am a genius, therefore that means I know more than all of you. I'm only trying to help you, you have to see the bigger picture. Like Amy and Sonic, he needs someone to ground him and Amy is perfect for that. I'm the only one intelligent enough to do that."

"It's a real shame!" Knuckles snapped. "Your intelligence means fucking nothing if you're devoid of empathy and sympathy! It's all nothing! You hear me? You aren't caring or human at all if you don't have these and you don't. All you rely on is your damn intelligence. Why don't you get out of your big headed ego and see the people you have in your life like your brother Sonic. Why I outta beat this into your head ya know that you brat!" Knuckles threateningly moved towards the fox who had been verbally slapped and about to be physically slapped as well. Or he would have had Rouge not stop in her place and let out a loud gasp.

Rouge placed her hand over her mouth, teal eyes wide and big with shock at the sight they could see several yards in front of the walking trio. "What in chaos?" She uttered while her hand was clasped around Knuckles' hand, surrounding her home was regular civilian mobians clamoring about each other all around her home, trying to get a glimpse of the inside with cell phones or large expensive cameras flashing brightly. These weren't just regular mobians, they were paparazzi celebrity seeking idiots that chased Sonic across the globe. Knuckles was pissed once he figured out just why the paparazzi were here for, somehow they must've gotten word of Sonic's location once more and made their move.

"Oh hell no! Get out of here!" Knuckles yelled angrily once the trio had gotten closer to the house, his booming voice silenced the crowd of people. There had to have been dozens of men and women who stared blankly at Knuckles. Though their eyes lit up hungrily once they could see the pair of treasure hunters holding hands with Tails in tow. Not long after, cameras flashed as their pictures were taken that momentarily blinded the trio. Tails had dealt with paparazzi very little compared to the rest of the gang, typically it was Sonic or Amy who would watch over the youngest and keep him away from the prying eyes. However as the fox aged he became corrupted underneath the words of the masses. A fault of no one's really, it had just happened.

"Look!" "They're holding hands!" "I totally knew they were a couple!" "She's probably just sneaking after for more of those rock emerald thingies." "I don't know what he sees in her, she's nothing more than a common thief who got pardoned."

The ivory bat flinched at the comments they made about her but she remained resilient and stoic, looking unbothered and bored with their words. She needed to remain calm, get these people out of here. How they even found her home was a mystery she was determined and hellbent in finding out. Her fingers laced around Knuckles' hand and the bat knew that the echidna didn't believe a word they said. For Sonic. For now they needed to get out of the paparazzi's gazes and get to Sonic and Shadow...that is if they were still there at least.

Hey y'all. Please leave a review I really wanna hear your feedback! Ehhhh it's been a long week and I'm ready to just sleep. Until then! :D

OH OH! A guest left a message about the song by Charlie Puth "The way I am" fitting this story and more specifically fitting Sonic! and honestly I love it! Thank you so much guest! Sorry I didn't get back. My PM's have been acting iffy with me so I just kinda gave up on trying to open messages up until then. Many thanks friend!