Tikal jolted awake and shot up from the bed, the rate of her heart quickening as she panted heavily. A sweat broke against her temple and she reached over to the nightstand, swallowing down the rest of the water from the cup before putting it away. Her eyes then focused on the digital watch beside her, the device reading that it was three in the morning.

She sighed before rubbing her eyes, her hand moving up and down against her arm to comfort herself when her mind drifted back to her dream.

Mephiles... she couldn't describe how much she was afraid of the man. He was vile, cruel and vicious. It had been a full year and he was still making his way into her dreams, into her thoughts.

I will seal you away with me to form Solaris.

Grimacing at the memory, Tikal hunched her shoulders. In reality, that didn't happen. But in her dream, it did. She saw Mephiles managing to drain out her power somehow, she saw Chaos going berserk and sacrificing himself for her and failing. The roars of Iblis merging with her, the mercy not being shown as Mephiles dragged her inside.

She could still hear his voice. It was still ingrained into her mind. Even though he was gone, defeated, dead… Everything about him scarred her. He had those... menacing eyes that she could still see in her sleep, in the dark, anywhere that reminded her of him.

Tikal was never a fool of his antics. She never let him brainwash her into thinking she'd join his side. His attempts were futile, no matter how many times he mentally and physically tortured her. She wouldn't give in. Tikal knew she was stronger than to join forces of such evil.

However... her dreams would throw her into a scenario where she would. Where she actually did. Not by her own will, but by completely giving herself up to him. He manipulated her into thinking he wasn't going to hurt anybody, he made her think he wasn't selfish, he made her think he really was-

She let out a jittery breath before anxiously biting the corner of her lip. Her eyes slowly travelled down to Shadow who was sleeping soundly next to her. His breathing was soft and his mouth was a little open ajar as he lay on his side. His arm was stretched out as if he were reaching for her.

The sight calmed her. Tikal laid back down on the bed and moved closer to him, her hand touching the side of his face.

The fact that Mephiles had stolen Shadow's appearance made everything for her even worse. She couldn't help but remember him through Shadow and she felt horrible. Shadow was nothing like Mephiles at all. Yet… Tikal could still see those vicious green and purple eyes piercing into her soul. His hands gripped her body like she was a puppet to him.

After Solaris's defeat, it took so much time for her to recover. Shadow understood of course but... the look on his face every time she flinched near the hedgehog had obviously hurt him. He wouldn't expose himself so easily that it did, but Tikal would always catch the quick flash of guilt in his eyes and it would break her.

She tried her hardest. She was getting there. She just needed more time.

And Shadow was ever so patient with it. He did his part of comforting her, making her forget and she was so so thankful for it. She didn't want to be a burden.

Tikal smiled a little. She was so lucky to have him. She was so fortunate that they had put their differences aside to be together. Admittedly, she never thought Shadow to be so gentle and soft when she was first introduced to him but... she learned it was a side he rarely showed and found it so sweet and silly when he'd cover it up with his hard demeanour.

She didn't mean to wake him but wasn't surprised when she heard him groan, his eyes opening halfway as he looked at her drowsily. Tikal stared back at him and they stayed like that for a few more moments.

Shadow broke it first, his voice still tired. "What is it?"

Tikal gnawed against her lip and blinked hastily. "N-Nothing..."

But he wasn't fooled and squinted at her. He lifted up his hand, his thumb gently wiping off the tear falling down against her cheek. "You had that nightmare again, didn't you?"

"Y-Yes but..." Tikal sighed and clasped her hand into his, "I'm fine."

He grunted, pulling her into him as he placed soft kisses against her shoulder. "You're a terrible liar."

She blushed sheepishly. "I don't want you to worry."

"Shame I already worry about you as it is," Shadow said and began rubbing her thigh underneath her nightgown soothingly, "If you want to talk about it, you can."

"It's not so much that I'm scared to talk about it," she murmured, "I-I just want to try and forget about... him. I'm making progress, it's not as bad as it was before."

Shadow looked at her before quietly sighing through his nostrils. "It's not something so easy to forget."

"...I'm trying."

"I know."

She pressed her lips together, detecting the reluctance in his voice. "Are you okay?"

"What?"

"Sometimes... I hear you mutter his name too," she confessed lowly, "In your sleep."

Shadow made no response. Even though he was clearly tired, Tikal could see his eyes almost breaking their calm visage. His gaze seared into hers and Tikal only waited patiently.

"...I just keep thinking what he could've done to you," Shadow finally muttered.

Tikal bit the corner of her lip again. "But that's not all, is it?"

She caught wind of his jaw clenching. "No..." Shadow struggled to say, "No, it's not."

The echidna nodded. "...Were you ever scared of him?"

His hand squeezed her thigh, making her gasp suddenly. "No."

"Th-Then..." Tikal stammered, feeling her cheeks warm a little when his hand went further up her leg, "Is... Is it because-"

"I didn't want him to take away what I already worked my life for," Shadow said, a bite in his voice, "You already know that."

"But you're not him-"

"It didn't stop them from wanting to get rid of me."

Tikal said nothing, her fingers fiddling with the buttons of their bedsheets. She mulled over his words, not denying the fact that what he said was true. People were still… wary of the hedgehog. Many came around, but the few that didn't were the loudest. Word spread quickly that she was in a relationship with Shadow, and it didn't take long for the sneering and disgusted looks from individuals whom she never met before to appear against her.

Shadow would see it, but Tikal would assure him that it was fine, that she'd ignore it. She did. Yet, it took so much convincing for him to believe her until he settled. Not fully. But enough for him to not worry about her.

She'd walk with Knuckles and people knew she was related to him, and everyone knew how angry the red echidna would get- so they'd back off and not lay a single finger on her. Moreso even look at her.

And well, she had the entire G.U.N to protect her. Shadow made sure of that. His work within the organisation provided an additional layer of security, not just for her, but for both of them.

It was a silent promise between them: he would keep her safe, no matter the cost.

Shadow's grip on her thigh softened as he let out a heavy breath. "People will always fear what they don't understand."

Tikal touched his cheek gently, her thumb brushing against the familiar stripes on his fur. "But you're not Mephiles. You're stronger than he ever was, and not just in power. You have a heart, Shadow."

He closed his eyes at her touch. "You always say that."

"Because it's true," she whispered, "And I'll keep saying it until you believe it."

Shadow opened his eyes, a small, tired smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "You're stubborn, you know that?"

"I learned from the best," Tikal teased lightly, smiling at him.

He chuckled softly, the sound vibrating through his chest. It was a rare, precious moment when he allowed himself to be vulnerable.

And she cherished it.