Another idea. I really like this. I might end up posting it, good reception or not.

Constant threat

Three years.

Three years since they blackmailed me. Three years since I've been forced to their dirty work. Three years since I've had to be so damn careful during all my missions.

I know Amy can take care of Tails, and I know he can take care of himself. But G.U.N. promised that the second I disobeyed, they'd blow him off the face of the planet, no second chances, no matter where he was. They promised they'd find him. They told me they had their ways.

I'm never off-duty. I never get a break from this deal. 24/7, every month of every year for three years. They've kept my hands chained, my feet too. But I value Tails' life more than any ten of theirs. So I listen.

So I obey.

But someday, there'll be an opening. I know there will.

A Chance for Tails to escape. A chance for me to be free.

A chance for him to be free.

XXX

The blue hedgehog leaned against the concrete wall, listening to the briefing through half-closed ears. He was barely listening. Shadow was going to give him an earful anyway, why pay attention the first time if you were only going to be told again in a much quicker fashion anyway?

He stifled another yawn as the briefing droned on and on. He could tell-even in his half-awake state that the presenter was quickly losing everyone else as well, including the people who were normally most attentive. He could see even Shadow staring at the wall absentmindedly. Hopefully the briefer would get the message soon enough and he could launch into another boring mission.

His crowd's lack of interest was finally addressed, and they were dismissed. Sonic pushed off the wall and started towards the hall. Heavy clangs sounded behind him, telling him he was being pursued, but he didn't speed up. "Did you catch all that?"

"You know I didn't." Sonic yawned in response.

The dark hedgehog glared at him through narrowed eyes. "You know I value Tails' life as much as you do, apparently more, judging by how little you seem to care." He snapped.

Sonic bristled, snarling slightly. "As long as I comply, I don't have to like what I'm doing, and I'm entitled to express it however I want so long as I do what I'm told." He hissed back, striding forward faster.

Shadow jogged to catch up with him, before slowing down to a fast walk. "So what stupid task have we been assigned this time?"

"Actually, a small group of us have been assigned to go after Eggman."

Sonic grunted. "And I'm not one of them."

"Actually," A blue ear twitched with barely suppressed interest. "it's you and me."

"I'm sorry? They're putting me on exciting mission against Eggman? Either they're trying to get me or him killed." Sonic said, starting to grin. Shadow studied his face curiously. "What?"

"Just been a long time since I've seen you smile. Kinda prefer it to my scowl on your face." He answered, looking forward again.

Sonic stopped where he was for a moment, staring at the other hedgehog, feeling like he'd been slapped. Had the threat of Tails dying constantly hanging over his head really destroyed him so much? He looked down at his shoes. They were supposed to be G.U.N. issue, but he'd destroyed them within three seconds of wearing them, so it had taken them weeks of studying his personal shoes to create ones that could stand up to the friction of running at supersonic speeds, but they looked almost the same as the standard ones. He, Shadow and Rouge were the only ones not in standard G.U.N. uniform. Rouge because they didn't bother to re-model a uniform to fit her and her wings (though both Sonic and Shadow had privately agreed that there was likely a completely different reason), and Sonic and Shadow because the speeds they ran at would likely rip the uniform to shreds. They didn't need it anyway.

Was G.U.N. beating him? Were they beating everything that made him, him out of him with the threat of Tails' life?

The crowd parted around him, and it took Shadow a moment to realize the other was gone. "Sonic? You OK?" He asked, coming back to stand next to the other curiously.

The blue hedgehog shook his head. "Yea. Fine." He started forward again. "Just a bit of a reality check." He murmured.

Shadow shrugged, grunting. "Whatever. Let's just go get the rest of the details. And for the love of Chaos, pay attention this time."

Sonic snickered, making Shadow look back at him in surprise again. "Oh, trust me, this is one that I'll probably enjoy…"

Before someone destroys me about these two being out of character, Sonic's been under a lot of pressure to keep Tails safe, so he's kinda been forced to leave his humor behind, like mentioned, and he and Shadow have been partnered up (he's been tossed into Team dark) so they got to know each other a bit better.

All of this and more would be explained in the story.

Like what you see? Review and I'll be more likely to post it!