Day Nine, Prompt: Liar

Shadow promised he wouldn't do it again. He learned that his life is just as valuable as everyone else's and he took an oath that he wouldn't try to put himself at risk of being lost to the world. However, certain circumstances made him break that promise and Sonic's not happy.

"Sonic, please sit down."

Sonic was practically fuming. He was currently in the process of cleaning out his belongings from Shadow's guest bedroom where he had been staying. He clearly wanted nothing to do with him.

"No, that's it. I'm done," Sonic muttered, frustrated.

"Please, let's talk about this. I'm sorry." Shadow practically begged.

Sonic stopped packing, he breathed trying to calm down but his anger only continued to bubble, "There's nothing to talk about. You've made it crystal clear where we stand."

Shadow started to close the space between them, "I thought it was the only way, I really thought it was."

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Two Days ago

Shadow, Sonic, and Rouge found themselves out in the field of battle, ground zero.

Eggman had the trio surrounded by robots armed with dangerous beams with voltages up to 3000 volts, it could kill anyone for that matter.

The doctor laughed, ecstatic from the success of his ambush.

"Ho ho ho ho, now I've got ya. What are you going to do now? Defeat me? Ha!" the doctor bluffed.

They were surrounded, nowhere to go. Any sudden move would cause the doctor to blast the three of them.

"So what now?" Sonic whispered.

"Not sure sweet pea. We got ourselves into a hell of a problem. Any ideas?" Rouge asked.

Shadow looked around, there was no escape. Not even anywhere to squeeze in between. He was afraid that if they stayed like this with no plan, Eggman would go on right head by pushing that red button that sat at his dashboard with no hesitation at all.

A warmth was felt within his quills, the Chaos Emerald.

He could Chaos Control them out of there but it would be hard to do so without having it physically on his hand. It didn't matter though so when it seemed like the doctor was distracted, he quickly grabbed the two in his grasp and yelled a "Chaos Control!" as quickly as he could before any chance of being hit was plausible.

They made it only a few feet away but it was enough in order to get the three moving.

Or so he thought.

It seemed like the evil doctor saw it coming and had his robots facing their way in a matter of seconds. So when he did press that red button unleashing tens of bullets of hundreds of volts worth, Shadow didn't delay jumping in front of Sonic and Rouge taking in all that voltage for himself.

"SHADOW!"

It burned. Everything hurt. It felt like he had been thrown into the sun to its very core. He couldn't even scream, his whole body feeling like it was engulfed in never-ending flames. It literally felt like hell.

Shadow fell to the ground limp. Eggman howled in laughter and amusement.

"Three was the plan but taking out your most valuable player? Now that was a treat! Until next time rodents. Hahahaha!" the doctor finished fleeing the scene with his robots.

The two ran over to the fallen lifeform. Dark black and blue burns racked throughout his body even creating open wounds. Shadow was knocked out cold. Sonic seemed to be losing his mind all the while Rouge tried to calm him down.

"He's going to be fine Blue, calm down, deep breaths." Rouge tried.

'Please don't be dead, Please don't be dead. Please oh please don't be dead.' Sonic thought.

The bat tried to examine the extent of his injuries as well as searching for any indication of life, "He's still got a pulse! He's going to be okay. You can relax." Rouge added.

Chaos he was going to kill Shadow himself for this. Thank Chaos. He was going to be okay.

Shadow was going to be okay.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

"I this, I that, Me this and that, you know what Shadow? What you think you did was selfless was actually the most selfish thing you could have done. After everything we've been through, everything I've done for you, I just can't trust that you won't do it again. I thought it was enough."

"I won't-" he stops, Shadow can't make that same promise. Sonic would be a fool to believe him again after what he pulled.

Sonic returns to packing and Shadow can't take the ruckus anymore. He takes Sonic's hands into his, forcing him to stop.

"Sonic, please look at me."

When Sonic doesn't and looks just about anywhere else but the ebony in front of him, he grabs his chin and forces him to. He felt his heart break in two as Sonic's eyes watered in frustration and betrayal.

"When I made my promise, I meant it in a way that I wouldn't try to sacrifice myself simply as an excuse to rid myself from the world. That's what I meant. If I had to break that in order to save you or everyone else I would but I want to make it clear it's not because I want to die, it's because I want you to live."

Sonic pulled away leaving Shadow's hands afloat, "If you had that intention the entire time you should've told me that from the beginning.

"Sonic, can you please- please just listen to me? You're not listening to me."

"I've heard enough." Sonic angrily muttered.

"You would've done the same thing. I know you would."

Sonic doesn't say anything.

They stay like that, silent. Sonic goes right back to packing after wiping away some stray tears and it makes Shadow even more annoyed that Sonic won't listen to him.

"Sonic are you being serious right now? Come on…"

The blue one throws one of his garments across the room and shoves a finger at Shadow's chest, "You LIED Shadow. You lied to me and to everyone else. You're a liar and I'm sick of hearing your excuses. I am listening, you've said enough."

"Clearly not, I'm standing right here, I am alive and I'm fine!"

"Well, you SHOULDN'T BE. YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW ARE YOU NOT UNDERSTANDING WHERE I AM COMING FROM? YOU COULD'VE DIED."

Shadow tries to keep an even tone despite Sonic's outburst. "What you don't understand about that hedgehog is that I didn't. I'm literally standing right in front of you. I'm fine. Sure banged up but that's really it. I need you to understand that Sonic."

Sonic brought his fingers in between his brows as they furrowed. This wasn't fair. None of this was fair. His mits then meet at his waist, he can't stand to look at Shadow but he needs him to understand how hurt he is. How much pain it caused him to know he nearly didn't get to see another day.

"Why'd you do it?" Sonic's voice cracked.

Shadow's hands found his shoulders, "I wasn't thinking. I panicked. I thought it was the only way Sonic truly. I really thought it was the only way to keep you all safe. It was in the heat of the moment."

Sonic's eyes never wavered, "We could've devised a different plan. There's always a different way Shadow. Not every impulsive idea is the right one."

"I know, I know you're right okay? I'm sorry. Like I said, I wasn't thinking."

Sonic's gaze turned to the floor.

"Faker, can you honestly tell me you wouldn't sacrifice yourself if it meant saving the people you love?" Shadow questioned.

Sonic stays quiet but after a few, "I- I suppose."

"Then see, that's where I came from—my instincts. You have taught me love and compassion. I used that as motivation to try to save the people I love in hopes that my efforts were enough. That is what I'm trying to get you to understand. I did it because I can't lose you. If I can try to save every single one of us, I will try."

Sonic swallowed hard, he knew what Shadow was trying to say and maybe he interpreted the situation wrong because of their circumstances but it didn't hurt any less of the fact that he nearly lost Shadow. Through all their conflict and arguments, they still had mutual respect for each other and a friendship that had been formed over the years. He felt really guilty.

Sonic's hands found Shadow's once again, "I'm sorry. It's just- I've lost so many loved ones over the years. People that have meant so much to me, who have helped me be the individual I am today. I just don't know if I could bare the thought of losing someone I love again. It would actually kill me Shadow."

"I didn't know that. For that, I'm truly sorry, Sonic. I can't promise I won't do it again but I can promise I'm doing it for the reason of keeping everyone I hold dear safe. I mean that."

More tears overflow and Sonic doesn't wait to crush Shadow in a bear hug. Shadow hugs back and he adores the warm feeling that grew in his heart. They'll be okay.

He knows they will be. There's nothing to worry about.

I have a Japanese oral test from the time I'm writing this and I want to literally crumble to the floor and let it soak me in. Instead of studying, I'm writing this sooo. *side eye* Japanese makes me wanna cry holy frick bro. Pray for me.