Emerald hues took in the sight, even through blurry tears did the planet look gorgeous from afar. He could see the entire world in front of him, oceans of heavy blue, vibrant green lands, the clouds swirled, the sun burned as the Earth of life orbited around it, splashes of stars light years away made it look glorious. Millions, even billions, will never get this chance to drink in a sight as beautiful as this so that's what he did. He gazed at it, looking on with a heart heavy as lead and as fragile as china glass with hopes higher than the clouds that maybe...maybe...he would get the dream he wished for...
A life without pressures or expectations by everybody. The struggles of never being good enough. The pain and heartache from how hard he tried only for it to be forgotten. Like him, he as a person was forgotten. Instead they forged a new him that wasn't human in their eyes, he wasn't a person at all. No he was the idol and toy they could do with whatever they pleased.
He looked back at the world, with defiant yet hopeful eyes, heart screaming out his desire for a better life! Where he isn't put down! Berated or attacked! He was himself, not a faker wearing a mask that nobody could see. Where the world he currently gazed down at didn't look down on him anymore.
"...Maria often became entranced by the sight too. She longed to live down on Earth..." Sonic, hearing the other's voice softly speak, turning his head he could see that Shadow too had been partially lost, gazing at the planet fondly. The ebony hedgehog could sense how familiar this was, all too familiar that his chest ached with longing. Memories built up within him, unwinding in the form of flashes of vivid memories he could remember. Perhaps...someday he would finally be able to let go, but he had held on for so long that he wouldn't know what to do with himself. But that, was for another day he supposed. "I want to ask, 'are you okay' but after-" He bit his tongue to keep from cursing the words he so desperately wanted to call those fools. "-Those people, celebrity chasing idiots found us I knew we couldn't stay there. Not when you are hurting and vulnerable like this. This was the only place I could think of that nobody would find you."
Separating the two from the void of emptiness and space was a sheet of glass several feet tall and even wider than that. Sonic pressed a peach hand up to the glass, the cold touch left his skin tingling from the sudden lack of warmth. Despite how utterly cold it was, the sight from here on the Space Colony ARK was always a mesmerizing one, even when he was in a state of distress like this.
"I'm sorry...it was my fault this happened. If I hadn't bothered you then the journalists would'a left you alone. I'm only bothering you guys, dumping my stupid problems onto you." Sonic stated quietly whilst turning his gaze away from Shadow's to stare back out into space, pulling his hand away he wiped at the tears harshly, hastily rubbing his hand at his eyes. Sonic's muzzle flamed red from embarrassment, his face heating up. It was his fault- that he had brought those disgusting vultures that call themselves a paparazzi over to where Shadow and Rouge lived comfortably in silence. Just like their other friends, (or rather 'friends'), nearly every one of the heroes typically lived in the outskirts of the capital Mobius City in peace until another battle had to be fought whether it was Eggman, G.U.N. or the masses. Those people...how distressed Sonic felt just thinking about them. They chased him, invaded what little privacy and freedom he could get with cameras, ready to catch whatever they could about him. That wasn't all they did though, the slander he got was sickening, the false words and lies spread about him pressured him to do better time and time again. Pushing himself to be the perfect model of a hero and straining him until he could no longer handle it himself.
"That's what you think Faker." Shadow spoke, Sonic kept himself frozen, continuing to stare out through the glass and avoid Shadow's ruby eyes narrowing at him. "Those journalists have always pestered me and the others, though it's you who has it worse. There's no need to apologize for that." He says softly, though this didn't mean there wasn't strong hints of stubborn determination. "Everybody has problems, many don't get help and it eats them up from the inside. Getting help from those who care about you isn't a bother."
Sonic shuddered in surprise when Shadow's hand lightly gripped his shoulder, the younger of the two didn't even hear the clanking of Shads shoes against the cold metal floor, but very quickly did Sonic find himself relaxing into the touch. Sonic turned to meet ruby hues that seemed to look right through his aching soul, he listening to Shadow continue speaking.
"And to answer your questions from earlier. You don't need to have a reason to help out a friend, to be there for someone." Ever so slowly did the two find themselves moving closer, each lost in ruby gems and emerald diamonds. Understanding linked them together, their growing bond is like the threads of fabric still being quilted and sewn. The piece of thread had been weak, easy to break but the more open they were the more the thread had grown and spread out. For now, the thread grew and maybe soon would there be a sheet of threads ready to overcome their pasts, to not cover or cloak it but heal the pain with compassion and love.
...Or would the pain be too much to where nothing will help? Could it be enough to help Sonic out of his false self, let him let go of the mask? For Shadow would he ever release the ghost of a girl he loved like a sister and get past the memories of the ARK?
Time, being a fickle thing could tell if it was able to speak words, but perhaps it would tell truths speckled with lies wrapped over the petals of a white rose, staining it red.
Hey...did ya like it? Please leave a review if you did! Also thank y'all so much for supporting this story! :) The cliffhanger must be leaving you wanting to know what happens next huh. Don't worry you'll find out on Christmas Eve as a sort of soft present. :D Happy holidays everybody! (Drive and travel safe, wishing positive vibes for everyone!)