Chapter Eighteen
It was soon evening and both Sonic and Shadow were curled up together cuddling with the TV on. Sonic held onto Shadow securely as Shadow was contently nuzzled deeply in Sonic's chest area with eyes on the screen. Both were looking calm, relaxed and happy as they silently watched the last ten minutes of a documentary on wildlife in a jungle. When it finished the clock on the wall read almost seven o'clock.
"Want a race?" Shadow asked a little anxiously as he watched Sonic grab the remote and turn the TV off.
Sonic placed the remote on the armrest by him and looked down at Shadow. He noticed the anxiousness in Shadow's voice and smiled down.
"Shads I would love a race with ya but I can't help but to feel you want one because you don't want to sleep." Sonic gently said as he ran his fingers along Shadow's jaw line until he reached under Shadow chin.
"I erm, I'm not taking those sleeping pills any more and I don't want to dream." Shadow whispered quietly with fear in his eyes as he knew he will go back to his usual nightmares.
"You scared you will go back to having nightmares babe?" Sonic softly asked with a sincere expression at Shadow.
Shadow buried his head in Sonic's chest and nodded as he would rather stay awake all night then watch Maria die.
"Ok here's what we will do, we will have that race then when we get back we can have a nice relaxing bath then go to bed. I will be right there with you and if you do have a nightmare then I'll do my best to wake you up before it gets too bad for you. So how does that sound?" Sonic calmly and gently said while he stroked Shadow's quills.
"Go for a run, have a bath then go to bed together...I can agree to that." Shadow said as he moved his head to look up at Sonic, a faint smile on his muzzle.
"Great so let's get our shoes on and go...you going to wear one of your tops?" Sonic asked with his smile turning into a teasing grin.
"I think I'll just stick with gloves and shoes." Shadow answered as they both made a move to get up.
"Aw but I think you look so adorable wearing them." Sonic whined with a slightly disappointed look at Shadow while they left the living room.
"You do?" Shadow replied with a surprised raised brow back as they stopped in the hallway by the front door where their shoes were.
"Yeah, ok I admit when I first saw you in a top I was pretty shocked and wondered why you wear tops occasionally but when I couldn't get the image out of my head of you wearing them, among other more sexy clothes, I began to think you were cute." Sonic grinned as he spoke while also slipping on his shoes.
"Y-you imagine me in sexy clothes?" Shadow softly said with a blush on his muzzle as now he was thinking about that.
"Oh yeah I do and me likes what me see too." Sonic answered as his grin grew a little then winked flirtatiously at Shadow.
Shadows blush darkened and he swallowed hard while he was now debating in getting some of those clothes just for Sonic to see.
"Come on slow-hog get those skates on and let's make tracks." Sonic lightly chuckled as he spoke, bringing Shadow out of his imagination.
An hour later...
"How about just one more lap?" Shadow anxiously called over to Sonic as they ran at top speed.
"How about that bath? I know you are really not looking forward to sleeping Shads but I promise I will be there for you, besides you might not have a nightmare." Sonic sincerely replied with a smile at Shadow.
"I just don't want to see her die especially after all the dreams I've had while under the influence of those pills. Can't I just have one more, for tonight?" Shadow asked with hope in his eyes at Sonic.
"They're gone Shadow." Sonic said with his smile turning into a frown.
"What do you mean they are gone?" Shadow gasped out with a shocked expression, slowing down until he came to a stop, Sonic following his movements.
Sonic sighed as he turned around and walked right up to Shadow.
"They were taken back to the labs and have been destroyed, they are gone and never will there be any more. Am I not good enough as a comforter, do you not trust me or something?" Sonic said with a semi serious look at Shadow, feeling a little hurt that Shadow couldn't trust that he will keep his word.
"Of course I trust you and you are more than good enough." Shadow sadly said as his eyes began to shine from tears.
"But?" Sonic asked as he softened his expressions.
"I never got to say goodbye, I never had the chance to tell them how much they both mean to me all those decades ago. My dreams of them felt so real as if they were still alive and living my life with them, the life that I should have had with them." Shadow sadly said with a broken look, his tears gathering a little more in his eyes.
"I'm sure they knew how much you loved them both and I am positive they knew they meant a great deal to you. You can't say goodbye to them in a dream but maybe we can say goodbye to them in a different way while you are awake and conscious. What happened to them was not your fault and you need to stop blaming yourself for something out of your control. Nobody could have possibly predicted what was going to happen so far into the project, no one knew it was going to end in bloodshed. We may not know how it all started and why but if you really want to know then I'm sure Rouge could help with that. Then you can finally realise it wasn't your fault, move on with your life and finally be happy." Sonic softly said as he cupped Shadows head into his hands.
"But surely those involved in the decision to shut down the ARK are dead now. I might never find out why." Shadow sadly whispered as he really did want to know exactly why his life got so violently turned upside down.
He understood it had something to do with the nature of Project Shadow and Gerald himself but never knew why.
"I'm sure someone must still be alive, humans can live passed ninety so it's possible." Sonic said with a smile, really hoping there was at least one guy still alive to shed some light and give Shadow peace.
"So one more lap?" Shadow smiled innocently as he asked his question again.
Sonic simple gave Shadow a dry expression then grabbed Shadow's hand to drag him home. They weren't that far away, maybe a twenty minute walk so walking wasn't that much of an issue. Shadow deeply frowned as he was forced to walk, grumbling unhappily under his breath. He didn't want to walk home and he didn't like Sonic dragging him against his will to go home either.
Half an hour later...
"You finished sulking Shads!?" Sonic called out, from Shadow's personal bathroom, as he turned the taps off for the bath was now perfect to get in.
"No!" Shadow called back while sitting on his rocking chair, in his bedroom, with arms crossed and lightly rocking.
"Well tuff the bath is ready and I want your sexy ass in here within the next ten seconds!" Sonic called out with a grin on his face while pealing off his gloves.
"Fine but don't expect me to be happy." Shadow grumbled as he stopped rocking then stood up.
Shadow dragged himself to his bathroom door then stood there looking in, frozen on the spot as he watched Sonic standing there facing him with no clothing on. A blush crept its way to his muzzle and now finally realised why Sonic kept acting all nervous when he was sporting no clothes of any kind on while in his presence.
"Well you just gonna stand there staring at me or you coming in?" Sonic grinned teasingly as he watched Shadows eyes move up and down his body until they were locked on his eyes.
"I er, yeah." Shadow whispered then walked in.
Shadow took his own gloves and socks off, unaware Sonic was watching his every move, then placed them with Sonic's on the floor.
"Damn." Sonic whispered as he took in Shadow form.
"You are acting like you've never seen me with nothing on." Shadow said with a roll of his eyes, crossing his arms while standing facing Sonic.
"It wouldn't matter if it was the first time or the hundredth time, you will always look breathtaking to me." Sonic softly said as he took a few steps towards Shadow and stopping right in front of him.
Shadow smiled warmly at that and uncrossed his arms. He wrapped his arms around Sonic's neck and rested his forehead on Sonic's. Sonic smiled gently and wrapped his arms around Shadows waist, bringing them both in so their body's touched.
"And you will forever be beautiful and pure in my eyes." Shadow whispered while he closed his eyes.
"Pure huh, even after sex and I'm no longer a virgin?" Sonic seductively whispered as he grinned.
"Even then hedgehog." Shadow chuckled softly then lifted his head and opened his eyes to look at Sonic's.
Sonic kept his grin in place as he let go of Shadow, Shadow doing the same to him, then took Shadows hand in his.
"Let's have that bath before the water gets too cold." Sonic said then led Shadow to the tub.