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Sonic's been on the phone for a couple of minutes now, barely saying anything except variations of 'yes' and 'yeah', and Shadow's starting to get worried. When the blue hero's phone rang with an unknown number, Sonic initially rolled his eyes, ready to decline it until he looked at the number properly. His face dropped, and without another word to Shadow, he stood up, answering the phone blandly. Shadow stood with him, watching him fidget with his gloves uncomfortably as the caller talked inaudibly about something.
He wants to hold Sonic's hand, or grab the phone and yell at whoever's making his partner uncomfortable, but instead, he waits, eyebrows creased as he watches Sonic wrap up the call with a brief, impersonal goodbye. Then his hand simply drops, allowing his phone to slide out of his grip and bounce onto the couch cushion.
"What's wrong?" Shadow asks instantly, anxiety bleeding into his voice. Sonic looks at him, expression unreadable.
"Uhm..." The hedgehog looks past Shadow, actually, eyes unfocused and dazed. Taking a chance, Shadow reaches out, grabbing Sonic's hand and squeezing it lightly,
"Hey– Sonic? What is it?" Shadow asks again, gentle and low. He doesn't want to push. Sonic's eyes sharpen, and he squeezes back, holding Shadow's hand slightly tighter,
"My uncle's in town. He wants to meet me."
The words don't make sense in Shadow's brain. As far as he knows, Sonic's been alone for most of his life. He took in Tails when he was still a kid, and before that, he'd been wild and free, running around the world without a care or a guardian to care for him.
"Your…uncle?" He tries not to sound disbelieving, but even he can hear the confusion in his voice. Sonic smiles at him, though, not taking offence,
"Yes, my uncle. Didn't know I had one of those, didja?" He asks, a bit of his usual teasing poking through, but the words still feel sour.
"I didn't. I assumed you had no blood relatives," Shadow admits. Sonic's smile dampens a bit, and he sits down, sighing heavily. Shadow sits next to him, curious but more so just wanting to comfort the hedgehog.
"Well, I do," he reveals, turning to look at Shadow, "Do you want to know why I'm not with them?" He offers. Shadow doesn't want to be nosy, but the temptation of learning more about his partner's life eats at him, and he nods, leaning closer. Sonic laughs a bit at his eagerness, pulling Shadow closer and holding their joint hands against his chest. Shadow can feel his heart pounding, and he wants to soothe it more than anything else.
Sonic takes a deep, steadying breath and starts to explain.
"They couldn't handle my…chaos energy–" he starts, eyes darkening, "–they tried, but I was too much for them. When I was a baby, it was fine. But the more I grew, and the more I began to understand my speed, the less they wanted to deal with me."
Sonic's hand begins to tremble slightly, and Shadow watches as his mind wanders away again,
"When I turned four– or five?– They kicked me out. I don't remember much; it's all fuzzy. All I knew was that I wasn't welcome back. I ran into them a couple of years ago, but by that point I'd already built my own life– and so did they. They still didn't want anything to do with me, so I left it alone."
Shadow sees red for a second– it flashes so brightly and angrily that he feels the anger flow through his veins. Imagining Sonic– a tiny little Sonic, so new to the world and in need of love– being abandoned like that makes Shadow's chest stir with something violent. But Sonic doesn't need violence right now; he needs comfort.
He knocks his forehead on the side of Sonic's, then presses a soft kiss into his quills.
"I'm sorry, Sonic," he says earnestly, because what else are you meant to say to that? Sonic blinks a couple of times, then smiles, leaning into Shadow.
"It's fine. I made peace with it. They aren't my family anymore. They never were. I hardly think about them…" he trails off, mouth twisting as he thinks, "until now, I guess."
Shadow watches his expression, seeing every minute change happen in real time. Sonic's actually considering this. Considering giving the time of day to a person who did fuck all for him for years.
Of course, Shadow should've expected that. Sonic's practically a saint when it comes to forgiveness– hell, the only reason Shadow has the privilege of being here right now is because of Sonic's forgiveness. He's kind, to a fault, and he believes that a person can change.
Shadow can see that kindness in his eyes, despite the abandonment, despite the loss of his childhood and the people who were meant to take care of him. He's still willing to give this stranger a chance.
"You don't have to see him," Shadow reminds, frowning, but he knows those words won't sway Sonic. Sonic worries his lip, contemplating.
"I know…" Shadow knows that's not the end of that sentence, "but I have to. I can't just… say no."
"You can, Sonic," Shadow pushes. He sees a flicker of doubt in Sonic's eyes, but it disappears before Shadow can hold onto it. Sonic sighs, rubbing his face tiredly with his free hand,
"Something's telling me I have to do this, just to see what happens. Just to know," Sonic tries to explain. It doesn't make sense to Shadow, but it doesn't have to.
He wants to plead with the blue hedgehog, beg him to put himself first for once, but at the end of the day, this is Sonic's choice, and if he needs to do this, Shadow will support him.
"Alright. Did he give you a location?" Shadow relents, pulling Sonic flush against his side. The hero sags into his side, as if Shadow's validation was the last bit of confirmation he needed,
"Yeah. Some shitty bar in town. He gave me the name," Sonic answers, closing his eyes, "Will you come with me?"
That doesn't even need to be a question.
"Of course I will."
The bar is surprisingly quiet despite it being well into the after-work hours. They didn't dress up; Shadow's wearing his usual leather jacket, and Sonic's in a comfy-looking red sweater (that totally matches Shadow's quills). Sonic's hand is entwined with Shadow's, fitting together like puzzle pieces as they linger by the entrance to the bar's patio area. Shadow attempts to walk in, but Sonic remains as still as a statue, gaze distant as he grips Shadow's hand hard.
"Sonic," Shadow whispers gently, the word almost getting lost in the quiet bustle around them. The blue hedgehog inhales sharply, then turns his sights to Shadow. His green eyes flicker across Shadow's face and body, seeming to take in every aspect. Shadow squeezes his hand, reassuring and patient.
"I'm with you," he says simply. He lets Sonic stare at him for however long he needs. He must see something in Shadow's expression– or perhaps it could just be Shadow's presence itself— and finally, he relaxes, nodding.
He takes the lead, weaving through the tables and looking around. Shadow follows behind, the people crowding the area becoming blurs of colour as his focus remains on Sonic and Sonic alone. The blue hedgehog locks on a specific table in the corner of the patio, and a stifled gasp is what alerts Shadow that they've found their target.
He finally tears his eyes away from the back of Sonic's quills to look over, and the man sitting there takes the air straight out of Shadow's lungs.
It's an older version of Sonic. His fur dull and dusty instead of bright cobalt, with streaks of grey marring the dreary ocean. Instead of smile lines, the hedgehog has a permanent crease between his eyebrows from years of frowning. Tired, baggy, green eyes stare up at them, so familiar yet missing that sparkle and warmth that Shadow associates with Sonic.
Sonic's steps are slow, but he remains steadfast as he approaches the table, shoulders squared, and head held high.
"Sonic! Look at you!" The man speaks, his voice rough and painfully fake. From the corner of his eye, he sees Sonic flinch at the sound.
"Hi," Sonic greets politely. The man scans Sonic up and down, taking in his appearance as he pulls out chairs for Shadow and himself. Shadow sits down numbly, gaze still stuck on the crude, aged version of Sonic across the table.
"You look just like your old man!" He comments, and Shadow feels Sonic's hand grip his tighter. He can feel his partner's nails through the layers of fabric. Then, the man's eyes drift to Shadow, "–and who have you brought?"
That question brings a slight (real) smile to Sonic's face.
"This is Shadow. My partner." The older hedgehog's eyes widen, and if Shadow's seeing this right, a look of disgust flashes briefly before it's smoothed down into something more acceptable.
"Ah. How…lovely."
The waiter interrupts before Shadow can point it out. A young squirrel girl with a kind smile greets them.
"Hello! Are you guys ready to order?" She asks, chipper and bright. Sonic smiles at the girl, opening his mouth to greet her in return, but he's beaten by his uncle barking his order.
"Rum and Coke, double shot."
Shadow cringes at the dismissive tone. Even Shadow's not that rude to servers, and he's the most antisocial person on this planet. Sonic glances at Shadow, sighing, and then speaks in a much kinder voice to the poor girl.
"We're fine, thank you. Maybe just two waters?" The girl nods, and her previously dampened smile brightens as Sonic addresses her like an actual person rather than an object.
"That'll be right out!" She strides off, leaving them alone once again.
"It's been so long, kid! You've grown up— the last time I saw you, you were barely half my height!" He laughs like that's supposed to be funny. He laughs like they should be laughing along. All it does is make Shadow angrier. Sonic just smiles, nodding.
"I was. I've changed a lot since then."
"We've heard! Do you get our letters?" They send him letters? After abandoning him for his entire life, they still think they're allowed to send him letters like he belongs to them?
The more this man talks, the more Shadow wants to kill him. He wants to pummel this man into the depths of the earth. Scream at him, tell him how wrong he was for abandoning something as precious as Sonic.
The smell of rum fills his nose as the waitress swings by again, placing the three glasses down gracefully and nodding.
"Let me know if you need anything else!" She chirps, already off to clear a vacated table. Shadow can see the older man leering at her, and that, combined with the scent of the rum, makes Shadow's stomach turn uncomfortably.
Sonic lets go of Shadow's hand, grabs the waters and sets them in front of the duo. Then his hand rests comfortably on Shadow's leg instead. It sends shivers up Shadow's spine, but the feeling is pleasant and not unwelcome. It gives a sense of comfort in this…tense situation. He rests his own hand on top of Sonics, playing with his gloved fingers casually as his uncle prattles on about something Shadow can't be assed to listen to. He talks endlessly– not in the endearing way that Sonic does. Shadow loves when Sonic rambles. His voice is soothing and kind; Sonic speaks to a person. No, this man speaks at them, like they're his own personal audience. His voice has an egotistical air that grates on Shadow's ears painfully. He's more than happy to ignore whatever the man's saying in favour of some people watching (and specifically, Sonic watching).
It's only at the mention of a specific fox that Shadow automatically tunes back in.
"Hey, whatever became of that random little fox kid that followed you around like a leech?" The older hedgehog asks after taking a large swig of his drink. That causes Sonic to stiffen. His grip tightens on Shadow's knee, his nails practically digging into them. Still, he smiles, a tight, cold one.
"Do you mean my child?" Sonic corrects, a challenge in his voice. The man nods dismissively,
"Oh, are you still taking care of him? Thought you woulda moved on." Shadow's pretty sure Sonic's grip is going to leave a bruise on his leg. He takes a deep, steadying breath, calming himself.
"Tails is my son. I am not going to move on from caring for him like you did with me." Sonic states again. The man sighs, like the words Sonic just said were commonplace and annoying at best.
"Sonic…" he starts, speaking to the blue hedgehog like a child, "I thought you were over that. We explained it to you! We just couldn't handle an overpowered kid. Y'know, if you think about it, you should be thanking us for that! It toughened you up– made you a hero! You understand, right?" Sonic's hand trembles, and for a moment, Shadow prays that Sonic will finally explode at him. But his partner just squeezes it all down with a grace Shadow could only dream of attaining.
"Yeah, you've explained this before," Shadow's never heard Sonic speak this coldly, "–Regardless, I'll take care of Tails for as long as he lets me. He's our son, not some random kid, and certainly not a leech."
Sonic's uncle is about to roll his eyes again, but he seems to process the words, and that flash of disgust from before is now swimming in his dull, sickly green eyes.
"'Our' son?" He questions. Shadow can't stop looking into those eyes. It's so familiar. It's supposed to be comforting. It doesn't look right on this asshole's face.
"Yes. Our son. As in Shadow and me." The man's face cringes, and his gaze feels more piercing now. Hotter. Judgemental. Nothing like Sonic's.
"So you're….serious about this relationship thing?" He gestures vaguely at Shadow, hatred swirling in his eyes.
Shadow wants to press his thumbs into them, gouge them out and take them from him. He doesn't deserve to have the same eyes as Sonic. His eyes are harsh, terrible things. Sonic's are kind. It's one of Shadow's favourite things about his partner, and the more he looks at this imposter holding his lover's eyes, the more his hands shake with rage.
"–Aren't you a hero? I don't think heroes should be setting that kind of example–"
"What kind of example, pray tell?" Sonic questions with an air of forced cheerfulness. Despite it all, he still manages to keep that damn, beautiful smile on his face. Shadow doesn't know how he does it.
"Well. Shouldn't you find a nice girl to settle down with? Like that pink one, she's such a nice young lady!"
Sonic sighs, sinking into his chair a bit,
"This is the person I fell in love with. That's all there is to it," Sonic says, squeezing Shadow's leg reassuringly (Shadow doesn't know who exactly Sonic is trying to reassure). The man squints, twisting his mouth as he outwardly judges Sonic. Shadow can't do this. He can't sit here and watch Sonic hurt himself like this.
Plus, Shadow might actually snap if he sits here any longer. His mind flashes with violence. He wants to destroy this man. Crush his face into the pavement and rip his quills out fist by fist. He won't stop until the man looks nothing like Sonic. He wants him to experience every little bit of pain Sonic endured throughout the years, all the things he had to go through because they abandoned him. The people meant to protect him had abandoned him. He wants to pull this man apart at the seams, make him suffer and hurt and beg—
Shadow clears his throat, grabbing Sonic's hand from his leg gently (despite the gnawing need to hurt hurt hurthurthurt–) and standing with a resolute expression.
"We have to get home. We do have a child to care for, after all." He doesn't need to know that Tails is fully capable of taking care of himself. Sonic looks up at him, furrowing his brows for a second, but then stands alongside him, entwining their fingers and giving Shadow's hand a soft squeeze.
"Yes. We've gotta go. Lovely chat." Sonic doesn't bother with a proper goodbye. He turns, and Shadow can see the way his body is trembling despite his best efforts to stand strong.
"Oh, already?" Sonic's uncle complains, his voice whiny and annoyed, "–let me walk you home at least," he insists. Shadow's quills spike at that, and he whips around to glare at the man one last time, eyes threatening.
"No. That's quite all right. You've done enough." Shadow spits the words, despite his best effort to remain somewhat cordial. Venom leaks from him as he stares at the man, daring him to keep pushing.
To his credit, he takes the hint, rolling his eyes and throwing his hands up like he's the one who's been wronged.
"Fine, whatever." He takes another big swig of his rum and Coke, downing the glass and slamming it onto the table as he eyes Sonic and Shadow's joint hands with disgust. Shadow can feel his anger bubbling over, so he pulls his gaze away from the man for the final time as Sonic leads him out of the maze of tables. Instead, his eyes find his partner, and his anger soothes into something much sadder as he watches Sonic struggle to keep a poker face. He pulls the blue hedgehog closer as they leave the patio, the warmth of the bar's atmosphere being replaced with a cool, gentle breeze of the open streets.
"He's watching us still," Sonic whispers after a minute, his voice cracking. Shadow nods, sighing. He can feel it too— the hot, invasive eyes on his back, searing into his soul. Watching. Waiting. Stalking.
Sonic is frozen, eyes flitting between the path home and the road leading deeper into the town. He looks heartbroken, uncomfortable and angry all at the same time. He's stuck, feet glued to the ground as the weight of his uncle's stare cements him.
So Shadow walks. He tugs Sonic's hand, picks a random direction and just walks. It doesn't matter where they're going; all he knows is that he needs to get Sonic as far away from this reminder of his past.
The chilly air dances around them, streetlights casting soft yellow glows as they wander the sparse streets. The farther they get from the bar, the easier it feels to breathe. Shadow doesn't speak, nor does he ask Sonic to. Every time he glances over at his partner's face, he can see the thoughts swirling. His eyebrows are all scrunched up, his grip on Shadow's hand tightening and loosening with each thought.
They walk like that for a while— Shadow doesn't bother counting the minutes, he's content to walk with Sonic for hours if he has to. The sounds of the bar get left behind, and in its place comes the ambient soundtrack of a quiet night and footsteps on cobblestone. It's less oppressive out here. No unsettlingly familiar green eyes stare at him. No grating voice or egotistical boasting. Still, the image of Sonic's uncle lingers in Shadow's mind. He hates it. He hates that he resembles Sonic. He hates him— and the rest of Sonic's biological family— for thinking they still have the privilege of knowing Sonic. They don't have that right. But Sonic, sweet, loving Sonic, still gave his uncle one more chance. And he blew it.
They end up in a park. Shadow can feel the dewdrops falling from the shaking leaves above them. The slight layer of condensation glistening on the grass and benches. It's almost dancing in the moonlight.
Sonic stops, then. He looks around the park, as if he's just waking up from a long sleep, and then he sighs, a heavy, tired thing. His feet drag (Sonic's feet shouldn't ever drag; it feels wrong) as he pulls Shadow to a bench, dropping onto the damp, cold surface without care. Shadow sits gently beside him, watching as he pulls his hand from Shadow's and covers his face, groaning.
"I don't know why I expected anything else," Sonic mumbles, voice flat. Shadow tilts his head, ear flicking in delight at hearing his partner's voice again. He hums, both a question and encouragement to keep talking.
"They don't care. They never have. They….they're not good people. But they're supposed to be family," Sonic drags his hands down his face, and then links them behind his head, looking up at the twinkling stars with a pained, longing expression that rips Shadow's heart apart.
"I guess…I don't know. I hoped for something better this time. I hoped that… I could finally be enough for them," he lets out a humourless chuckle, rapidly blinking as his eyes grow wet, "But then I look at him— the man who's supposedly my uncle- and all I see is a stranger. Why–" He cuts himself off, inhaling sharply. Then, he speaks up again, smaller, as if he doesn't want to admit this.
"Sometimes when I think of them—my family– I wonder if I'm destined to become like them. Cold and…and uncaring. It runs in their blood. In my blood."
Those words hit Shadow like a train. He shakes his head, turning to face Sonic fully. His focus is wholly trained on the sky, eyes shining with the view of the cosmos itself. Nothing like that man's eyes.
"Sonic. Look at me?" He mumbles softly. He sees the chill run down Sonic's spine, but dutifully, the blue hedgehog lowers his watery gaze, hands falling limply to his lap as he turns his body. Delicately, Shadow cups his face between his hands. He holds it steady, taking his time to gaze into the eyes he loves oh so much. He caresses Sonic's cheek with his thumb, and the action causes tears to spill over and soak into his gloves.
"Sonic. You are not, and you will never be like them," Shadow states firmly. Sonic startles, eyes widening as he leans into Shadow's palms. Shadow lowers his voice to an intimate whisper.
"You two… you're connected by a pure coincidence," Shadow shifts closer, "You're bound to him by blood alone. But– it's all relative."
Sonic's eyes widen. His mouth opens, but no words make it out, only a choked sob.
"Blood means nothing, Sonic. Their cruelty isn't yours. You're kind. You don't abandon things because it's hard. You stay, and you fight." Sonic heaves out a heavy breath, and Shadow can't help but coo softly at him, swiping the tears away.
"I just— I've wondered why for so long. If I did something wrong to them— if I wasn't a good enough child," Sonic shudders, letting the weight of his head be held up by the dark hedgehog, "–If it was all my fault."
Shadow shakes his head before Sonic finishes his sentence.
"No, Gaia— Sonic…" He knows the expression on his own face is heartbroken, but he can't school it into anything else.
"You've been plagued by their decisions since you were a kid, but you don't have to be anymore," Shadow catches Sonic's watery eyes, serious and reverent, "You don't owe them shit, even if they say you do."
Those words are what finally break Sonic. The tears start rolling faster than Shadow can wipe them. His body trembles, those green eyes shining with anguish, but also a newfound spark that Shadow's heart leaps at.
"I don't owe them shit," Sonic whispers, his voice cracking, but as the words leave his mouth, he smiles, earnest and blinding. Shadow very nearly melts at the sight.
"There you are," He mumbles fondly, tilting his head as he admires the radiance of his partner. Sonic's face is soaked with tears, the little amount of eyeliner he dared to put on is smudged, and his nose is running, but still, Shadow has never seen anything so beautiful in his life.
Sonic eventually notices his staring, and a delightful red hue overtakes his cheeks as he hides in Shadow's palms, making the darker hedgehog chuckle. He leans closer, eyes flicking to Sonic's lips as a question. Sonic smiles, gentler this time, and Shadow closes the gap in a brief kiss. That familiar shock runs through Shadow's system, his chaos energy dancing around him as Sonic's mingles with it. Sonic pulls away, but doesn't go far– instead, he buries his head into Shadow's neck.
"Thank you, Shads," he mumbles, his breath tickling Shadow as he speaks, "for all of this. For coming with me today, for putting up with…that.."
"Thank you for letting me," Shadow responds, eyes flitting up to the sky as he relishes the embrace— in the feeling of being with his partner. Sonic squeezes him tightly, sighing.
The night will continue on. They'll eventually move, head home and drag Tails out of his workshop. They'll probably sit down for a movie, huddled up together on the couch, despite the living room being big enough for all three of them to have their own space. They might fill Tails in on the day's events, or they might not. It's up to Sonic. Shadow will support him either way.
But all that's a problem for later. Right now, Shadow is content right where he is.
The bar, the concealed insults and cold shoulders of the man they'd gone there to meet, the stifling smell of rum and Coke, those startlingly familiar, unsettling green eyes. It all disappears. Sonic doesn't have to deal with that anymore— not alone, at least. Shadow will make sure of it.