For a few minutes, there was complete silence. Both hedgehogs seemed impeccably comfortable as they sat softly listening to each other's soft but subtle breaths. Sonic's mind started to drift into some kind of dreamland as the sense of wellbeing seemed eerily familiar. A wellbeing he used to feel a very long time ago.
The air was quite stale as the scent of chalk roamed throughout the tight yet sufficient gym. Somehow, the bearer it got the more charming it became. It was just enough for the little cobalt who was trying to accomplish the near impossible.
PerfectionHe stood at the end of a seemingly long runway as he gently rubbed his chalk filled hands together. He was so tiny and the vaulting table placed eighty or so feet in front of him seemed so daunting. But he knew what he was there for. One reason and one reason alone, to help the desperate and futile place he called home. Jednak had been going through major and dramatic economic and government changes and the lack of funds was very apparent. The bleak area was surrounded with few and barely function apparatuses. But that was no distraction to the little hedgehog. He could feel the adrenaline running through his veins as he took a lengthy step back, preparing himself to dart. He took one last deep breath before exploding down the runway, he ran for only a few seconds before realizing he was obviously going way too fast. Within seconds, he could feel the impact of the table hitting his torso, causing him to collapse at the feet of the springboard, he would have used if he actually had control over his movement. He huffed and puffed a few more times before feeling unbelievable frustration and anger. He had done this vault so many times and made an absolute fool of himself.
"Now now... You're not going to get anywhere at this rate, now are you, Sonic?" A warm male voice echoed as footsteps could be heard approaching the nearly crying child.
"I have told you countless times that the vaulting table is not something to be feared or hated. It's your friend remember?" The warm voice was attached to a short yet slightly pudgy young man with red-ish brown hair and beautiful emerald eyes just like his star pupil.
"I'm not afraid of it... I'm just frustrated... I was doing so well." The young hedgehog mumbled as he brushed himself off before sitting on his knees as he was told to do when listening to his instructor.
"Well mistakes happen, we just need to make sure we fix them before they become a habit. Plus, don't you remember what I said was the most important part of being a gymnast?" He replied gently before giving his little hedgehog student a soft yet sufficient nudge of the shoulder.
"Being perfect under the most immense amount of pressure?" The small azure hedgehog responded as he released an incredibly horrified sigh.
"That may be what other trainers tell you but if you're going to make this dream happen, you need to remember one thing. And that is to enjoy what you are doing. Yes, this may seem very frustrating, painful and even torturing. However, you are doing something that very few other children at eight can do. Now get up and let's do this again. Remember to really get your shoulders and hands ontop of the horse. Don't forget to really bend your back but keep your arms as straight as possible so you get a really good block." He smiled caringly before tenderly patting the top of the child's head, as he did so, he walked over to the vault, fixing it with incredible ease to where it was supposed to be.
He lifted Sonic up by his hand and brushed off the chalk and dust strewn across his body. The faintest yet most genuine smile could be seen from the azure as he rubbed his teary eyes with his arm. He then confidently walked over to the end of the runway as he turned around only to see the young red-haired human at the other side of the vault beside the mat. The child took another deep breath before, once again, bolting down the runway. However, this time, he slowed down and concentrated on what needed to be done instead of worrying about failing. He then hopped onto the little springboard which bounced him up to the vault. He swiftly planted his hands down before blocking and doing a front flip. The man watched his star pupil flip near flawlessly before landing on the mat, sticking it cold. It may not have looked hard but for such a young child he was more than impressed.
"There we go! That's how ya do it!" He erupted before swooping in to give the little child a huge bear hug.
"Do that three more times and I think we can call it a day. Absolutely stunning." The man almost strangled the child as a slightly embarrassed laugh escaped the little hedgehog's mouth.
"Thanks... Mr. Robotnik." Sonic grumbled frustratedly as the man gave a slight and unsatisfied look before looking in the other direction as if he was confused.
"I'm sorry what? I didn't hear you..." He spoke sarcastically before patting the child's cheek gently.
"Ugh... I mean... Thanks, dad..." The little azure murmured softly as the word dad was obviously forced. But he knew the older man wanted to hear it even if it wasn't necessarily true.
"That's more like it." He replied gently before finally releasing the child to return back to the end of the runway.
Shadows ears perked up as he heard a very gentle chuckle from the azure and opened his eyes for a second to look up at his charming lover. For a minute, his eyes were closed but soon enough, Shadow saw a pair of very protective, loving emerald eyes and quickly glanced away as the look almost frightened him.
"Did I scare you hon?" The cobalt queried softly as he nuzzled his partner's cheek with his lips.
"Oh no... I just. I dunno. You always look like you're going to dominate me or something." Shadow replied even softer and the hairs on the back of his neck stood straight up. Whether it was because of pleasure or fear, it still made him feel slightly uncomfortable.
"Only if you want me to, my dear." He whispered back as another chuckle escaped his lips.
Shadow's face remained slightly concerned as the joke didn't really amuse him. He knew Sonic was just trying to laugh it off, but in the end, he knew that the cobalt wanted control. Specifically, he wanted to control HIM. How strange for the prince of freedom to want something like that...
Before the ebony could really think about it further a flash flicked on the tv screen and Shadow flew off the sapphire hedgehog in sheer terror. He flew to the other side of the couch as he wrapped up into a little ball to protect himself.
"Did I really make you that upset?" The azure responded as he reached his hand out apologetically before gently resting his arm on the ebony's lap.
"Not you stupid! What if the doctor sees us all cuddly and stuff?" Shadow exploded as he embarrassedly crossed his arms before looking away from his lover.
"Then he will see us being all cuddly and stuff. What's the big deal anyway? He won't judge or probably care what we do with each other. Remember, he knew that we were the prince and princess so he should be expecting us to be romantic." The cobalt replied slyly as he put his hand under the ebony's chin before staring sweetly into his ever so laminating crimson eyes.
"That's not the issue..." Shadow replied hypnotically and slowly as he felt himself drowning in that enticing feeling he was oh so familiar with.
"EHEM!" A loud low voice projected throughout the room as the hedgehogs looked around in total confusion.
They both looked over at the tv screen as they saw a chubby and slightly balding egglike creature. He stood with one hand resting on his cobalt creation, Celik, as he continued to speak.
"Right here. Enjoying each other's company? Sounds downright precious. Now we should get down to business. I assume you are here to battle my little son here. I must warn you, unlike you, I actually trained him well and he will be the toughest battle you will ever face." Eggman spoke clearly as he gently patted Čelik before taking a long deep breath.
"What battle?! You didn't tell me I was supposed to battle him Shadow. I just wanted some damn information." Sonic erupted as he groaned frustratedly while eying his lover.
"I was going to tell you... But I just couldn't do it..." The ebony replied passively as he glanced away from both the fuming males as he calmly cleared his throat.
"How could you hide something like this?!" Both Eggman and Sonic exploded as both of them agreed on something for once.
Čelik eyes quickly got big as he turned to Ivo with an incredibly stern face as if to say you insult my princess one more time and you're going to be an omelet buddy.
"Fine, I'll explain it again since SOMEONE forgot to tell his hubby the situation. Anywho, two Vozitis cannot live on this planet for very long before everything falls apart. I have raised this little guy since his creation to be an efficient and moral leader. But I believe we should let Chaos decide who shall lead the world to a new and better place by placing you too into an honest and fair battle." The doctor explained clearly as his little son looked at him with slight hesitance as he really didn't want to fight this other hedgehog.
"You do realize Chaos doesn't like you playing god right? Why in the world would he allow some creation to become a leader when it could have the real thing? Sure, I have some mental issues but we all do here in Jednak, including you. What sane person would do something like this?" Sonic responded angrily as he almost smashed the screen to a million pieces by darting at it, luckily his ebony mate caught him before he could strike.
"Shadow... Could you leave us alone for a few minutes? I think we need to have a one on one conversation and you too Čelik." Ivo asked politely before gently pushing his little son out of the room.
"Oh um. Of course. I'll be outside." Shadow replied before nodding to his cobalt as if to ask you going to be alright? His partner responded with another solid nod before watching his princess walk out the door.
Ivo's eyes drifted down as he knew this was a horrible thing to do but it had to be done. The sake of all of Mobius rests in the hands of two leaders and they needed to know exactly how to handle the situation.
"I have apologized enough Sonic. We both know I didn't know what I was doing. I was young, you were young. Unfortunately, I made some shitty decisions." Robotnik expressed sympathetically before releasing a large and somewhat emotional sigh.
Very rarely did he ever show emotion, but this was something he knew he needed to show. He raised this kid from when he was a little baby, trained him to be a world champion and there's nothing he could to change some of his bad decisions.
"NO. It has nothing to do with how you treated me. I thought of you as a father and a really great father at that... And then you decided to let the government rule your thoughts and control me like a puppet." The cobalt explained clearly and sternly before lying against the back on the couch in thought.
"What the hell do you think I've been trying to make up for, Sonic? For almost ten years I have been trying to start a new regime where Jednakians have a chance to live happy and secure lives. BUT A CERTAIN SOMEONE KEEPS STOPPING ME!" Ivo yelled in slight anger as he was so tired of having this conversation.
Every time it would be exactly the same. They would argue and it would help nothing. There is nothing he could say to this dumb kid to make him understand his motives.
"I have no choice. If I didn't, I would be living on the street like I did when I was a baby. You're the one who made me train instead of going to school. I would think a genius would make better decisions than that." The azure pestered before snickering in slight disgust.
"You know I would take care of you. Do you have no faith in me? Sure you're annoying and always trying to destroy my plans but I would never just leave you on the street. I maybe a crazy scientist but I'm not that heartless Sonic. Not the mention that I raised you for ten something years and then you decided to run off. I have good reason to be upset with you." Ivo argued irritably before crossing his arms and growling softly.
"Take care of me?! You're willing to let your own abomination kill me for the sake of the rest of the world! Do you have any idea how that makes me feel?!" The sapphire hedgehog exploded as one very slight tear came trickling out his eye as he could not believe the level of betrayal he was feeling.
Sure Ivo was always battling him and even tried attempting to "kill him". But he never outright made it apparent that he wanted Sonic dead. He had never felt so infuriated in his entire life. This kid was going to get the absolute worst of him.
"My job is to protect Voziti. Whichever survives will be who I follow. And if you win, I will do whatever you tell me to."
"That's not what I want... I just want to survive, Egghead! Like you and any other person on this planet." The azure whimpered slightly as he could see a slight flicker of sympathy and even shame in Ivo's eyes. But it was quickly replaced with his harsh, unaffected, cold stare that seemed to follow him wherever he went.
As general silence filled the room, the cobalt knew that the Eggman he knew when he was a kid was officially dead. Or at least buried so deep inside him that he could no longer find it. Of course, Sonic knew that Egghead had changed... But this was the point when he realized he may never see that other Ivo again.
"To be honest, I really don't think you'll die. I have a hard time believing Chaos would allow such a thing. However, this is for the sake of the entire world. I was way too young and didn't know how to be a father or even what a father was. I pushed you to the point where you lost all faith in me and for that I cannot be more apologetic. But now I created Čelik and I have learned my lesson." Ivo finally broke the silence as he wanted to at least show some level of understanding. But it was very small and he knew if he let out any further emotion he would be showing his 'enemy' weakness.
"You're trying to make up for what happened by attempting to murder me. Do you not understand how messed up that is?" Sonic erupted as he actually got to pound the living crap out of the television in frustration, thankfully it didn't break. He did wish it was actually stupid Ivo's head, though.
"I do... But the lives of the many outweigh the lives of the few. I am doing what I believe should be done." Eggman explained with intense and perfect articulation.
"What the hell happened man?! You were the ONLY one that cared. The absolute only! And now... Now I have no idea if I will ever see that Ivo ever again." The azure answered as he gently rubbed his fingertips into his eyes.
"We all change Sonic. It's a part of growing up. I was still a child on the inside and now I am an adult." Robotnik enlightened as he darted his eyes up in an attempt to continue holding in his emotions.
"Being an adult doesn't mean you have to hide your true emotions. You were so sympathetic Ivo..." Sonic whined slightly as he pushed his arms to his sides before standing straight.
"Look, I would love to sit here and fight about the past all day but what happened has happened and there is nothing we can do about it now. I said that I'm sorry, but you are not trained to be a leader. You either fight Čelik or watch the world crumble. It's your decision." Ivo replied sternly as he attempted to finally end this very frustrating conversation.
"I was going to kill the little shit anyway. I just really wanted to know what the actual hell is going through your head to think that this is an okay thing to do. You were a cop remember?" The cobalt continued as he tried to get just a little more information out of his enemy.
"We will not talk about the past any further. I did what I needed to do. I will give you a day to decide. Talk it over with your ebony princess."
Suddenly the tv flashed off and Sonic was left alone in complete silence. His eyes watered a little as this was the first time in years he actually felt like crying. Maybe it was better being emotionless sometimes... He knew, in reality, he was nothing more than a tool. Either to win medals, protect the town or create peace. Strangely, at this time of shame and anger, a warm feeling bubbled inside him as he looked around. He behind himself only to see the door slightly open with one singular teary crimson eye peaking in the crack.
"Um. Are you okay? I heard yelling and I got worried." A sweet and soft voice echoed, immediately bringing the azures blood pressure down.
"You suck at lying. I know you must have heard the entire thing by the way you're talking." The cobalt teased slightly as his mind was already put at ease. It's amazing what Shadow's voice can do to his body.
"I'm sorry. I just needed to know. Are you mad at me?" The ebony continued as the slight hesitation brought a smile to Sonic's face.
"Oh yes... Very mad... Infuriated even. How can you stand being so cute?" He joked sarcastically before giving the ebony a gentle wink.
"C'mon... Don't tease me... Be honest." Shadow whined as he didn't want to open the door until he was certain that the sapphire hedgehog was calm and under control.
"I am not mad at all hon. Come here. We need to talk about the situation okay?" Sonic murmured sweetly as his voice went back to its traditional protective sound.
"Alright..." Shadow whispered softly as he opened the door and gently walked in only to be tackled by his cobalt hero.
Sonic rubbed his slightly teary eyes into the ebony's chest fur as he felt almost completely better. As he did so, he felt an arm wrap around his back at pet his head gently.
"I love you... Shadow." Sonic purred gently as the three words seem to melt right into the ebony's heart.
"Me too..."