HAVE SOME COMFORT ZONADOW!
I've decided to expand on their relationship more. And with time, these two will be able to openly talk about things without a mask to hide it.
I just really like an emotional Zonic, not afraid to speak his mind when he thinks something's wrong and a Zhadow who can emote a little better then the prime Shadow, but not by much. Since he still is figuring out what certain things mean.
Good thing he's got a super tiny and loving boyfriend to help.
also, yes, this Zhadow has cowlicks. it helps define his lazy and easy going nature. and yes, I really like short zonic and tall zhadow.
here's the song for this! watch?v=rORPLLZzIwA
also, yes, I'm bummed I broke off of the theme of the titles for this couple, but you can only use so many lines from the "Chip and Dale's Rescue Rangers" theme
It happened a few days ago.
Zonic was returning to his shared office with his partner in the corps with a handful of files. Already irritated that the warden demanded more paperwork from the duo about a recent job they did.
When he opened the door, he was startled by how his partner was curled into himself in his desk chair. His arms wrapped tightly around himself as they shook. The helmet like visor off and on the desk to let his quills be loose and free.
Despite how his face was directed to the ground, Zonic could see the thick tears rolling down the tan cheeks. Along with the stifled sobs from the other.
The azure officer barely registered the files dropping to the ground as he rushed over to his lover.
His green gloved hands freezing at how the other seemed to flinch from his touch. Trying again with a more gentle approach, Zonic felt his heart squeeze at how anguished the other looked as he pressed his wet face to his chest. Clinging to him as if he'd disappear if he loosened his grip just a bit.
Zonic recalled how the other continued to sob against him more freely once the reassurance was there. And, after he ceased, he sniffed and excused himself for some air.
The blue hedgehog worried at how he teleported away with such a hollowed look in his tired rubies.
He didn't wait as long as he thought he would. Hearing the door click open and showing the dark male holding two cups of fresh coffee with a smile. Zonic was slightly startled at the change. The only telling of the incident was the dried marks on his cheeks. When the two sat at their desks to work, well one of them, Zonic stared at his lover.
"Are you...going to be ok?," he finally asked, making the other flick out of the bored concentration of the paperwork. "What do you mean?," he asked. "Well, I mean, I walked in on you-" "It's fine. It's not a big deal.," the other said offhandedly, resting back in his chair as he focused on the ceiling with a pencil in hand.
"But-" "Zonic," he sounded hard, a cold look entering his usually relaxed rubies. "It's. Nothing.," he said slowly. After a tense moment, the dark older male relaxed again. Taking aim with the pencil and flicking it up to the now holey ceiling.
It was then the blue officer realized how deep Zhadow's issues really were. Willing to shove down any other feeling that seemed out of place for the relaxed being. To appear fine when he really wasn't. To smile and act so nonchalant when the azure officer himself was usually one to get upset and speak out about it.
It made him incredibly upset that he didn't realize sooner, and that he literally didn't bother to be there for the other when he needed him the most. Sure, he didn't make it easy when he had these moments, but to shove it away and stuff it down...didn't sit right with the blue zone cop.
Now, at his desk across from the other, who took this work time to sit back in his rolling chair and snooze for three hours. Zonic recalled each bit of put down his partner ever occurred easily when they first met, and after they settled in alright, it became less. Though when they started dating, it seemed to return in the form of worry as "what if I'm not-". Zonic dispelled those thoughts, or at least the thought he did. Perhaps he made it worse by telling him otherwise.
He did seem to close off a bit for a week before returning to normal after that.
His heart twisted when he realized he paid no mind to it at the time.
"You've been staring at the same paper for a while now, penny for your thoughts?," a familiar deep baritone asked.
The emeralds glanced up to the warm rubies across from him, able to pick up the slight worry within them.
"...I love you.," he said, the dark brows flicking up. "I know you're going to say 'I love you too' or 'I know' but...let me finish...please," he cut the other off, noting how worried the other seemed to become at this.
"I just…," the green gloved hands played with a nearby paperclip. "I just want you to know that, if you need to talk about something...anything...you can tell me. I'm here, believe it or not...and I worry and care about you all the time."
He seemed to shrink slightly at how closed off the rubies became," Zhadow please!," he said, standing up slightly," It hurts to know that you're hurting and I can't do anything to help! I want to help! I want to make you feel better about yourself!," he said, his hands curling into fists.
"Please let me help..," he said, unaware that a tear ran down his muzzle.
Silently, he watched the other stand up. A almost strained look crossing his features before being shoved back down. Quietly, the taller male walked over. His green hover boots clicking against the ground as he paused in front of the other.
"You can easily express yourself without worry of how it will be perceived," he said softly, the blue ears perking up at the words. "When I show a strong emotion...Anger, happiness, joy, sadness, it's perceived as either a threat or there's something wrong...Afterall, why would a lab creation even be programmed with emotions? Doesn't really make sense...does it?," he asked, silently sitting on the other desk.
Zonic felt his breath hitch when he realized that Zhadow was speaking out. The emeralds shined at the open look in the deep rubies. Showing the vulnerability that had been expertly hidden for so long.
"...Maybe you were given emotions so you can experience life to the fullest possible…," he said softly, gently brushing away a tear on the tanned muzzle."So you can be your own unique person...to make your own decisions...to recount events even better….," he said softly, noticing how watery his eyes came. "There's nothing wrong with that…"
"...Does it….Do you…," he sighed, the dark male struggling a bit. Zonic gave a gentle rub to his shoulder, telling him to take his time. "...Are you fine with dating a lab freak?," he asked finally, the pain obvious in his face," Wouldn't you rather be with someone...normal?," he asked.
"Zhadow...I meant it when I said I love you," he said, giving a gentle kiss to his forehead. "I love your little quirks, your jokes, your nature, I love you," he emphasised. "And I wouldn't have you any other way…," he said, watching a few tears spill out of the rubies.
"Besides...being normal is overrated from what I hear," he said, the dark ears flicking up.
"Zonic, you're normal..," Zhadow muttered. "Honey, I run at the speed of sound. That's anything but normal.," he said, catching a tiny smile on his lover.
"Fair enough…," he said, wiping his muzzle carefully.
A small pause came between the two.
"...Do you want to be abnormal together...with me?," the blue cop asked, sounding a bit shy.
A deep laugh came from the older as he clunked their foreheads together, a large smile on his wet muzzle. "I wouldn't have it any other way.," he repeated, making the other give his own smile.