Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The robot barely had time to blink before Sonic tore through it like a storm on rails, scattering its metal guts across the alley.

A second bot lunged from the alley’s shadow. Sonic spun low, ducked its swipe, then zipped behind it and delivered a solid kick to its back. The machine crumpled into the wall with a sparking hiss.

“Come on,” Sonic muttered, wiping dust off his quills. “You guys were scarier last week.”

Three more approached — heavier, old G.U.N. recon models that had been reprogrammed by some unknown third party. Their limbs whirred, red optics glowing in sync.

Sonic grinned. “Okay, okay. Let’s dance.”

He shot forward, bouncing off a broken traffic pole to gain momentum, then zipped straight between the trio. His speed shredded their targeting systems. Sparks flew. One fired a blast into its own ally by mistake.

By the time the last one whirled to lock on, Sonic was already airborne.

He came down hard — foot-first, Chaos-charged — and the bot split in two on impact.

Static filled the air.

Sonic landed, panting only slightly, surrounded by metal debris and glowing circuitry.

He tapped the communicator on his wrist. “East alley’s clear. That was the last group.”

Tails’ voice crackled through. “Copy that. Surveillance confirms. You heading up?”

“Yeah,” Sonic said, already moving. “I’ll take the long way.”

Sonic never really liked rooftops.

They weren’t made for someone like him — someone who always needed to move, to feel the wind in his face and have space to run.

He was at his best on long stretches of road or racing through the open wild. Rooftops just felt too cramped. Too quiet. The kind of place where your thoughts got too loud. Still, tonight, that’s where he found himself.

He leaned on the rusty railing of a broken-down parking garage, looking out at the city. Washington, D.C. was barely recognizable — burned-out cars, smashed windows, sandbags where flower beds used to be. The sun was setting, turning the sky red behind the shattered buildings.

Down below, a G.U.N. truck rattled past, coughing smoke. Someone had spray-painted a checkpoint wall in messy red letters: "We Deserve Better."

Sonic narrowed his eyes. He’d seen messages like that a lot lately. Spray paint had become a way to protest, remember people, or just feel heard in a world that barely listened.

The rooftop door creaked open.

“There you are,” said Tails.

Sonic didn’t turn. “Was it the smell of hero that gave me away?”

“More like the trail of broken stuff you left on the stairs.”

Sonic shrugged. “I call it tactical redecorating.”

Tails came to stand beside him, looking tired. His fur was messy, and his goggles were askew. He looked like he hadn’t slept properly in days. Pretty much the norm these days.

“They got checkpoint nine’s generator running,” Tails said.

“That’s good.”

“It blew up thirty minutes later.”

Sonic tilted his head. “Less good.”

“I’m holding things together with tape and luck,” Tails muttered.

“You’ve done more with less.”

“Sure. But it’s getting old.”

They stood in silence for a bit. Not awkward silence — just tired.

“They put up the markers?” Sonic asked.

“Yeah. This morning.”

“Together?”

“Yeah.”

“Nothing overdone?”

“Just their names.”

Two simple stones at the edge of the park — one with Amy’s name, one with Knuckles’. No statues. No speeches. Just a place people could go.

Amy had died during a downtown ambush while helping evacuate a flooded metro station. She stayed behind to hold off the enemy ground forces when one of the transport tunnels collapsed. The blast took out half the support beams — she never made it out.

Knuckles fell less than a week later, deep in the red zone near the Capitol ruins. He was holding up the collapsing roof of a freeway underpass after an airstrike hit a nearby weapons convoy. There were still scorch marks on the walls where it happened. Nobody had gotten to say goodbye.

Sonic nodded. “She would’ve hated a speech.”

“And Knuckles would’ve smashed the plaque.”

Sonic smirked. “I can hear him now: ‘Don’t get sappy.’”

Tails smiled faintly. “They messed up the dates at first. I fixed it.”

“Of course you did.”

A military helicopter thundered by overhead, loud and low — the kind that never stopped patrolling now. Just part of the soundtrack of a city at war.

Tails looked sideways. “You going to see it?”

Sonic paused. “Eventually.”

“‘Eventually’ isn’t really a plan.”

“I’ll go. Just... not tonight.”

Tails didn’t push. He never did. He kicked a small stone off the ledge.

“There’s a stash of chili dogs back at base. Yours are labeled.”

“You label everyone’s food now?”

“Just yours.”

Sonic raised an eyebrow, then smirked. “Weirdly flattering.”

A drone buzzed overhead. They didn’t react.

“South side’s holding. East’s getting worse,” Tails said.

“You want me there in the morning?”

Tails nodded. “Yeah. But get some sleep first.”

“I’ll sleep when D.C. stops being on fire.”

“You said that yesterday.”

“And I meant it.”

Tails gave him a look that said he cared but was too tired to argue. Sonic gave him one of his usual sideways grins.

Tails turned and headed for the door.

“If you pass out up here, I’m not carrying you while flying,” he warned.

“I’m not that heavy.”

“You’re emotionally heavy.”

Sonic laughed. “Eh, guess I’ve gotta up my cardio.”

Tails disappeared inside.

Sonic stayed behind for a while, staring out at the broken skyline.

Some days that felt like a mission. Other days, like a punishment.

Tonight, it just felt heavy.

But he hadn’t given up.

Not yet.

And that meant something.

He looked out over the city one last time, then turned and headed down the stairs.

The safehouse wasn’t far. It was a repurposed townhouse between a boarded-up store and a supply drop station. Reinforced windows, solar panels on the roof. Sonic and Tails had the top floor. It wasn’t comfortable, but it worked.

Inside, it smelled like hot metal and leftover food. Tails had a messy workspace in the corner — wires, tools, half-built machines. The U.S. government had invested a lot into his tech — backup power, clean energy systems, and other things meant to keep D.C. from shutting down.

It was all top secret. Sonic thought most of it barely held together.

Even Eggman had helped — publicly, surprisingly. He made it clear it wasn’t out of goodwill. It was about survival. He didn’t want the world to end before he had a chance to conquer it himself someday.

Tails shut the door and dropped his gear. “You should recharge.”

“You say that like I’m a phone.”

“You act like one. Always on. Never resting.”

Sonic dropped onto the couch and stretched. “I run on style and snacks.”

“Then you’re almost out of both.”

The lights flickered. One bulb popped and went out.

Tails groaned and went to fix it.

“Want me to kick it?” Sonic asked.

“Only if your foot can generate 300 volts.”

“No promises.”

Tails flipped a switch. The lights buzzed back to life.

“I need to rebuild the whole system from scratch. This stuff’s junk,” he muttered.

Sonic glanced at the fridge. A sticky note with his name was on the front.

“I labeled the chili dogs,” Tails said.

“Impressive commitment,” Sonic replied, actually smiling this time.

For a moment, the world outside didn’t seem so loud.

A knock came at the door — two short taps, then one. The rhythm was familiar: friendly.

Tails opened it to reveal a soldier — Sergeant Alvarez, someone Sonic had known since the early days of the war. The two had pulled more than a few civilians out of wreckage together, and Alvarez had a way of keeping things grounded even when the sky was falling. Sonic trusted him — which wasn’t something he said about many people in uniform.. 

“Evening,” he said, voice low but casual. “Sorry to bother. Just checking in.”

Sonic raised a brow from the couch. “We cause trouble already?”

“Not yet,” the soldier said, smiling faintly. “Command just wanted eyes on all key contributors tonight. Bit of chatter going around. Nothing serious.”

Tails stepped back to let him in. “You mean the grid failures?”

“Partly. And a few rogue bots near the Capitol ruins. We’re locking things down for the night.”

Sonic stretched his legs out with a sigh. “Always fun. You need us on call?”

“Not yet. Just wanted you in the loop.” He looked at Tails. “They still want progress updates on the portable core system by Friday.”

Tails nodded. “They’ll get one.”

“Appreciate it,” the soldier said. He looked at Sonic again, this time with a mix of respect and something else — maybe curiosity. “Also… for what it’s worth, a lot of the guys were glad to see you at the briefing last week. Thought you’d blown us off for good.”

Sonic didn’t answer right away. He glanced toward the window. “Amy wanted us to try. So… we’re trying.”

The soldier gave a small nod, respectful. “That’s enough. Stay safe.”

The silence returned.

Before the soldier could leave, he paused, reaching into a pouch on his vest. "Almost forgot," he said, pulling out a small black case. "These came through earlier. Straight from the President."

He handed the case to Tails, who opened it carefully. Inside, resting in foam lining, were several silver-toned medals. Sleek design. No flashy colors. Just the seal of the United States and a simple inscription: For Outstanding Service and Civilian Valor.

There were ones for Sonic and Tails — and also for Rouge, Shadow, Omega. Even Amy and Knuckles.

Tails’ eyes lingered on those last two. Not just tokens. Not just metal. They meant someone out there remembered.

Sonic sat up slightly. “Huh.”

He reached into the case and picked out the medal labeled for Shadow. His fingers tightened around it a little as he turned it over in his hand.

Sonic held the medal for a second longer, softer now.

“I’ll hold onto this,” he said, almost to himself.

Tails nudged him lightly with an elbow. “You keeping that one close for when he finally checks in? Or are you just collecting Shadow merch now?”

Sonic didn’t look up. “He’s been running with Team Dark. You know how he is.”

“Yeah,” Tails said with a knowing smirk. “You miss him.”

Sonic scoffed, waving him off. “I do not.”

Tails bumped his shoulder lightly. “Sure. And I totally believe that from the guy who’s been staring at the window like a puppy every night.”

“Hey,” Sonic said, mock offended. “I’m a very cool, extremely normal window-staring individual.”

“Right,” Tails grinned. “Totally unrelated to any black-and-red hedgehogs or anything.”

Sonic rolled his eyes, but the corner of his mouth twitched. He wanted to deflect, to change the subject — but the silence that followed made it clear Tails wasn’t going to let it go. Not completely.

And maybe... maybe he didn’t really want him to.

Across the room, Sergeant Alvarez had gone quiet. Still standing there, still waiting — like he was letting them have their moment before stepping back in.

He cleared his throat lightly, drawing their attention again.

“They’re not doing a ceremony,” the soldier explained. “Too risky. But the President asked us to deliver them personally. Said you earned them a hundred times over.”

Tails didn’t say anything. He just looked at the medal, then over at Sonic.

Sonic gave a half-shrug. “Not really why we do it.”

“No,” the soldier agreed. “But it matters. People notice. Even in the mess. The President wanted me to say that, too. He’s... really grateful. Said none of this holds together without you two.”

He gave them a final nod, then turned for the door. Just before leaving, Sonic spoke up.

“Tell him thanks,” he said. “For remembering.”

Tails nodded beside him. “And for not forgetting the ones we lost.”

Alvarez didn’t say anything — just gave a small, respectful salute — then slipped out into the night.

The door clicked shut.

Tails placed the case on the table.

Neither of them reached for it.

Eventually, Sonic flopped back onto the couch and stared at the ceiling, idly turning Shadow’s medal between his fingers — not like he meant to, just something his hands kept doing when his mind got too loud.

“You think she would’ve made fun of the inscription?”

Tails smiled a little. “Nah. She’d be proud.”

Sonic gave a soft snort. “Yeah. But Knuckles would’ve had a field day.”

“‘You got a shiny coin for punching robots. Great.’”

They both chuckled, just a little.

Then Sonic’s gaze drifted back to the medals.

“Still kinda wild,” he said quietly. “Getting something like that. From the actual President.”

Tails glanced at him. “You earned it.”

Sonic shrugged, like it didn’t matter. But it did.

It mattered that someone had seen the work. That it wasn’t invisible. That what they were doing — what they’d lost — meant something to someone outside of just them.

Tails shifted a little, watching Sonic quietly. “You know,” he said, “everyone’s talking about us out there. Across the country. People are scared, but they keep saying the same thing: 'Thank Chaos Sonic’s still fighting.' You're the one they look to — the one they believe in.”

Sonic rolled his eyes with a smirk. “Yeah, well, half of them don’t even know how much of that is because of you.”

Tails raised an eyebrow. “What, the chili dogs?”

Sonic snorted. “No, smart guy — the tech. The barriers. The generators. The stuff keeping whole sectors from collapsing. You're basically holding the east coast together with chewing gum and genius.”

Tails ducked his head, a little sheepish. “I just... build things. You’re the one out there getting it done.”

“Only because I’ve got you backing me up,” Sonic said. He sat forward a bit, more serious now. “You’re not just some guy in a lab, Tails. You’re my partner. My best friend. You always have been.”

Tails looked at him for a long second, then smiled — real and quiet.

“Right back at you, blue.”

Sonic sat up a little more. “Tails, come on. You’re out here designing half the gear keeping this place running. You’re the reason I’m even still standing half the time.”

Tails looked surprised again, then a bit embarrassed.

“You’re doing a lot, Tails. Don’t let them forget that.”

There was a beat of silence, warm this time.

“Thanks,” Tails said, a little softer.

Sonic leaned back again, folding his hands behind his head. “You’re the brain. I’m just the blue blur.”

Tails yawned and stretched, rubbing at one of his eyes. “We should crash soon. Big day tomorrow.”

Sonic stretched out across the couch and let out a long breath. “Finally,” he said with a grin. “I’m beat. Gonna sleep for, like, twelve hours.”

Tails nodded, heading for the back room and flicking off the hallway light as he went. “Try not to snore too loud.”

But before Sonic could settle, a sharp buzz cut through the room.

A red alert flashed across the wall panel. The voice that followed was calm, but urgent: “Sonic the Hedgehog. Immediate deployment requested. Hostile contact near East Barricade. Repeat—East Barricade.”

Sonic was already on his feet.

Tails leaned back around the doorframe, wide-eyed. “Seriously?”

Sonic was already tying his shoes. “Guess the twelve hours of sleep’ll have to wait.”

Tails let out a tired laugh. “Typical.”

“Like they say, no rest for the fast,” Sonic quipped.

Tails gave him a look. “Literally no one says that.”

“They should.”

Tails rolled his eyes but smiled. “Be safe, okay?”

Sonic flashed him a grin that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “C’mon. When am I not?”

“Always,” Tails said, softer this time.

And with that, he was gone.

Tails stood in the quiet that followed, staring at the spot where Sonic had just been. The medals still sat on the table, untouched.

Tails exhaled, grabbed a blanket, and turned off the last light.

The war wasn’t over. Not yet.

But they were still fighting.

Together.

Chapter Text

The air at the East Barricade smelled like ozone and burning metal.

Sonic skidded to a halt in the middle of the ruined street, eyes narrowing at the chaos ahead. Smoke curled through the broken buildings. Fire licked the edges of a flipped transport truck. There were bodies. Some moving, most not. Too many not.

This was supposed to be a containment sweep. Get in, clear Sectors Four through Six, secure the evac routes. That’s what they told him.

This wasn’t just another fight. Something was different this time.

He tapped the communicator on his wrist. “I’m on site. What the hell happened here?”

Alvarez’s voice crackled through, tight and low. “Not what we were briefed. They hit the front hard, then came through the east tunnels. Fast. Precise. We lost two squads already.”

“Who sent these things?”

“Not ours. Not anyone we’ve seen before. Tech’s too advanced. Doesn’t match anything on file.”

Sonic muttered something under his breath and shot forward, weaving through debris as another explosion went off to his left. A soldier screamed. Sonic reached him seconds too late.

One of the bots turned its head at the sound, scanned, and locked onto Sonic.

It was sleek — matte-black plating, blue glowing optics, no visible insignia. No hesitation. Just movement.

It charged.

Sonic braced, then spun into it with a full-speed dash. The bot flew back into a car — and got up. Instantly. Hardly a dent.

Another dropped in from above. Then another. Then five.

Sonic’s breathing picked up.

“Alvarez, I need backup—”

“We don’t have it.”

There was a beat of silence.

Then Sonic said, “I’ll handle it.”

He reached into the pouch on his belt and pulled out a glowing emerald. Just one. That would have to be enough.

The air shimmered.

A golden flash erupted outward. Time stuttered.

When it cleared, Sonic floated above the street, eyes burning white, fur glowing gold — Super Sonic, in full.

He didn’t wait.

He hit the closest bot so fast it atomized.

Another was torn apart in a burst of light and fire. Sonic tore through the sky, destroying everything in his path — but more bots poured in from side streets and rooftops. Like a wave with no end.

One fired a beam that sliced the corner off a building. The rubble fell — and took down two medics with it.

Sonic’s glow pulsed brighter.

He screamed, threw himself at the core of the swarm, burning through bot after bot, pushing his energy to the edge. The emeralds spun faster, drawing chaos energy straight from his core.

But the bots weren’t dying fast enough.

They were regrouping. Adapting.

One caught his ankle mid-flight and slammed him into the ground so hard it cracked the asphalt.

Another leapt forward, arm transformed into a blade — and drove it into his side.

The glow faltered.

Super Sonic blinked — then broke.

He collapsed to the pavement, golden energy shattering around him like glass.

His ears rang. His side burned. Blood slicked his fur. Somewhere behind him, another transport exploded. Civilians screamed.

The communicator buzzed again.

Alvarez’s voice, urgent: “Sonic?! Do you read?! What’s your status?!”

Sonic opened his mouth — coughed.

Then, hoarse but alive: “Not dead yet.”

He pushed himself up, legs shaking.

Alvarez was silent for a second. Then, quietly:
“Hold position. Reinforcements are en route — five minutes out.”

Sonic’s eyes swept the battlefield. Fires. Smoke. Bodies.

His fists clenched.

“Five minutes is a long time.”

Alvarez didn’t argue.

Sonic wiped the blood from his face, eyes sharpening.

“Tell ‘em to hurry.”

And then — limping, bleeding, barely holding together — he ran back into the fire.

The communicator crackled again, barely audible over the chaos. Alvarez’s voice came through, clipped and tense.

“Hold the line. Backup’s inbound. Two minutes out.”

Two minutes. Sonic wasn’t sure he had two more minutes in him.

He grit his teeth and staggered forward, lurching into a sprint that hurt more than it helped. His limbs felt like lead. The last flickers of Chaos energy burned off his fur in golden static, fading to nothing. Every breath cut like glass.

But people were still screaming. The bots were still moving. So he kept going.

He ducked under a claw swipe, countered with a spin dash that sent the bot flying — only for another to tackle him into a wall. The impact knocked the wind out of him. He slid to the ground, chest heaving, vision swimming.

He couldn’t keep this up.

Not alone.

Sonic forced himself to his feet, legs trembling. A sharp whine built in the distance — high-pitched, metallic, like a scream wrapped in jetfire.

The bots stopped moving.

Just for a second.

Then, from above, a blinding streak of light tore through the clouds — not gold. Not blue. But lemon-cream, sharp and radiant, like the glow of something divine.

It hit the ground like a thunderclap — and everything stopped.

Sonic shielded his eyes, blinking through the haze.

A figure hovered in the blast zone’s center, suspended just above the scorched pavement. Pale yellow-white light rippled off his fur like slow lightning. His eyes glowed with perfect clarity. Chaos energy wrapped around him.

Super Shadow.

Sonic didn’t move.

He hadn’t seen him in two weeks — not a trace, not a call. And this? This version of him? He hadn’t seen Super Shadow in months.

The glow around him pulsed once, steady and surreal.

Sonic’s breath caught — not because of the smoke, not because of the Chaos energy, and not because of the pain still searing through his side.

Just... because it was him.

Shadow stood there, glowing like some untouchable god — calm, beautiful, terrifying.

And for a second, Sonic forgot how to speak.

Shadow finally stepped forward, descending from the air with practiced ease. The glow around him didn’t fade — it just softened, pulling in closer like it was waiting for his next move.

He landed with barely a sound.

Sonic blinked, snapping out of it.

“Well,” he said, voice rough, “You vanish for two weeks, and now you show up like some glowing messiah?”

Shadow didn’t answer.

Sonic gestured weakly to the wreckage around them, to the burning trucks, the broken bots, the bodies. “Skipped the briefing, but you showed up just in time for the bloodbath. How thoughtful.”

Still, no reply.

Sonic gave a short, bitter laugh. “Guess bleeding out in the street finally made me worth your time.”

Shadow finally looked at him, eyes unreadable. “You’re still alive.”

“Barely,” Sonic muttered. “But yeah. That’s me. Still kicking.”

The silence between them stretched — heavy, familiar. The kind that only happens when too much has been left unsaid.

Then Shadow said, “You look like hell.”

Sonic rolled his eyes, but the edge in them had softened.

“You should see the other guys,” he muttered.

Behind them, a fresh explosion sent smoke into the sky. G.U.N. soldiers and Omega moved to contain it. Rouge’s voice echoed somewhere in the distance, barking orders.

But for a moment, none of that mattered.

Just them. Just that strange pull between being furious and relieved.

A second later, gunfire erupted from the rooftops — precise, professional. G.U.N. soldiers dropped in by zipline, covering the flanks. A blast rocked the south side as Rouge glided in through the fire, landing hard and throwing an explosive charge straight into a mech’s chest. Omega stormed through the wreckage behind her, dual miniguns already spinning.

Team Dark was here.

Sonic stared, stunned, swaying slightly as another bot lunged — but a Chaos spear tore it apart mid-air before it reached him.

Another bot tried to rise behind them. Shadow raised a hand. A wave of Chaos energy blew it into nothing.

More soldiers surged in, securing the area and pushing the bots back. Rouge passed Sonic with a wink, boots skimming the ground as she moved.

“Nice of you to warm ‘em up for us, handsome.”

Omega let out a mechanical growl beside them. “DESTRUCTION COUNT: INSUFFICIENT. INCREASING OUTPUT.”

Sonic couldn’t move. Could barely stand. But for the first time all night, the knot in his chest loosened.

He wasn’t alone anymore.

Not this time.

The battlefield came alive again — but it wasn’t panic anymore.

It was precision. Retaliation. The sound of momentum shifting.

Shadow launched forward, light peeling off him like burning mist. He tore through the nearest bots in a blur, no wasted movement, no hesitation. His Chaos Spears hit with surgical accuracy — straight through cores, joints, processors. The glow around him pulsed with purpose, and everything in his path fell.

Sonic had seen Super Shadow fight before — but never like this.

There was something different about him tonight. Something colder. Sharper. And maybe that glow didn’t just look angelic — maybe it was.

Above the fray, Rouge flipped mid-air and dove toward a comms tower, wings slicing the smoke. She kicked off the ledge, flipped again, and threw a cluster bomb into a tight formation of bots trying to flank the G.U.N. soldiers. The explosion turned them to scrap.

“Too easy,” she muttered, tapping her comm. “They’re funneling through the east side. Omega, light ‘em up.”

Omega didn’t need the cue.

“ACQUIRING TARGETS,” he growled, and his weapons roared. A twin spray of gunfire lit up the alley as he stormed through the field like a one-machine army. “ENGAGING FULL EXTERMINATION MODE.”

A rooftop collapsed behind him from the shockwaves. Sonic could only stare.

Soldiers shouted across the comms, calling targets, clearing corners. One of them paused beside Sonic, nearly dropping his weapon at the sight of him — covered in ash, blood, and looking like he just outran death and decided to take a break halfway through.

“Holy hell… He really showed up,” the soldier muttered. “They both did.”

Sonic didn’t respond. Just watched.

Rouge took out another wave by overloading a bot’s power cell and sending it crashing into its own squad. Omega crushed a drone mid-air with one arm and hurled its remains into a turret. Shadow ripped through a line of reinforcements with a Chaos Blast that leveled half the street — not out of rage, but control. Efficiency.

They were dismantling the threat piece by piece.

Sonic’s hand curled slightly at his side. He wanted to move — to help — but something kept him still. Maybe it was pain. Maybe it was awe. Maybe it was just the fact that, for the first time in hours, he didn’t have to save the world alone.

Shadow moved past him again, a flicker of white-gold light in the corner of his vision.

He didn’t look back.

But Sonic kept watching.

Suddenly, a static burst crackled from the soldier’s comm beside him. The man turned, adjusting the signal.

“Command to ECHO team — multiple civilian deaths reported. Sectors four through six. Casualties confirmed. Repeat, confirmed fatalities. East Barricade collapsed—no survivors recovered.”

Sonic flinched.

The words sank like glass.

Sectors four through six.

That was his route. The evac line he was supposed to hold. The place he was sent to protect.

He stared straight ahead, but his vision blurred at the edges. The glow of Chaos energy flickered in the distance — still burning, still brilliant — but it felt a hundred miles away now.

People were dead.

And he hadn’t saved them.

His breath stuttered. The noise of the fight continued — the clatter of gunfire, the whine of Omega’s weapons, the sharp command in Rouge’s voice — but it all dulled beneath the roaring in his head.

He was fast. The fastest. That was supposed to mean something.

So why hadn’t it been enough?

His shoulders slumped. Dirt shifted beneath his heels.

Out in the wreckage, Shadow dropped from the sky like a blade, slicing through another formation with grace. His Chaos aura shimmered with barely a pulse of effort. Everything in his path fell. Nothing even touched him.

Sonic watched it all — the speed, the precision, the power.

It felt like failure.

Because Shadow was doing what Sonic couldn’t.

Because while Sonic had been lying in the dirt, bleeding and breaking and failing, Shadow had arrived and taken control of the battlefield like it was nothing.

And all Sonic could do was watch.

He didn’t know if the heat in his throat was anger or shame. Maybe both. Maybe more.

But whatever it was — it hurt.

It sat in his chest like something sharp, digging deeper with every breath. He kept staring at the ground, waiting for the strength to come back, for the noise to stop.

And then — it did.

The last of the bots hit the ground with a hollow clatter.

Silence rolled in slowly, just the absence of gunfire. Smoke curled up through the broken skyline, glowing faintly orange in the fading chaos. G.U.N. soldiers moved through the rubble, sweeping the area for survivors, debris crunching beneath their boots.

It was over.

Sonic hadn’t moved.

Shadow stood ahead, still glowing faintly, not the blinding white he’d descended with, but something softer now. Controlled. Contained. He turned slowly, eyes scanning the field one last time before settling on the figure near the broken wall.

Sonic didn’t look up right away. His hands rested loosely in the dust at his sides, scraped and shaking. The adrenaline had worn off, but the weight hadn’t.

Not even close.

Rouge was the first to reach him.

Her boots landed lightly beside the shattered sidewalk.

“Still in one piece?” she asked, tone soft but dry. 

Sonic let out a breath — not a laugh. Something between exhaustion and defeat.

“Depends which piece you’re asking about.”

Omega stomped up behind them, dragging a twisted bot limb in one clawed hand.

“COMBAT COMPLETE,” he announced. “DAMAGE TO UNIT: MINIMAL. DAMAGE TO SONIC: SIGNIFICANT.”

Sonic snorted once, bitterly. “Glad someone’s keeping track.”

Shadow approached last. The glow had fully faded now, his form settling back into familiar black and red. He stopped a few feet away, arms folded, gaze unreadable.

He said nothing.

And Sonic couldn’t hold it in anymore.

“I was supposed to protect them.”

His voice was hoarse. Everything he’d swallowed since the mission started. Since the screams. 

“Four through six. That was mine.”

Nobody interrupted.

“I got there too late,” Sonic said. “And they died. While I was fighting, while I was—”
He broke off, jaw tight. “Doesn’t matter what I was doing.”

Rouge’s eyes softened, just slightly. Even Omega didn’t speak.

Shadow stepped forward.

“You’re still alive.”

Sonic looked up at him, finally. “So? You think that makes it better?”

Shadow didn’t answer immediately. The wind carried the smell of ash and scorched circuitry between them.

“No,” he said at last. “But it means you get to try again.”

Sonic blinked. And for a moment, he hated how much that hurt.

The words sat heavy between them.

Sonic looked away first.

He didn’t want to admit it, but part of him had expected a fight. A lecture. Maybe even silence. But not that…. not quiet permission to keep going.

It felt worse, somehow.

Rouge knelt beside the broken wall and set a small med pack down.

“You’re lucky Shadow got here when he did,” she said. “You were three minutes from being scrapped metal.”

“Would’ve made Omega proud,” Sonic muttered.

“DO NOT JOKE ABOUT INFERIOR HARDWARE,” Omega said immediately. Then, quieter: “...YOUR SURVIVAL IS PREFERRED.”

That almost got a smile out of him. Almost.

He let his head fall back against the wall, eyes tracing the ruins around them.. The smoke, the fire, the shape of what used to be a city block.

The silence filled in again, not awkward, just... heavy.

Shadow shifted his weight.

“We're done here,” he said. “Let’s move.”

But his voice didn’t carry the same edge it usually did. Not cold. Not commanding.

Just steady.

Sonic pushed off the wall, wincing as his side flared with pain. He stood, barely.

Rouge moved to help, but Sonic waved her off. He was already limping toward the path the others had cleared, even if his legs didn’t want to follow.

Shadow stepped into pace beside him without a word.

After a few steps, Sonic spoke — low, almost like he didn’t mean to.

“Thanks for showing up.”

Shadow didn’t look at him. “I always do.”

Sonic’s throat tightened, but he didn’t say anything else.

Not yet.

Sonic took another step. His knee buckled.

Before he could hit the ground, a hand caught his arm — firm, steady, no hesitation.

Shadow.

He didn’t say anything. Just stepped in closer, looping Sonic’s arm over his shoulder and taking the weight without comment.

Sonic blinked at him, surprised.

“...Huh.” He let himself lean in, just a little. “I never knew you were a hugger.”

Shadow didn’t miss a beat. “I’m not.”

Sonic smirked. “Could’ve fooled me.”

They walked in silence, shoulder to shoulder. Sonic still leaned into him slightly, each step slow and uneven.

Up ahead, through the haze, Rouge and Omega were waiting.

He kept his eyes on the road and asked, barely above a breath:

“Why didn’t you respond?”

Shadow didn’t answer.

Sonic didn’t look at him.

“It’s been two weeks.”

They took a few more steps.

Then Shadow stopped.

The sudden stop nearly pulled Sonic off rhythm, but he steadied himself.

Shadow stood there for a moment, his back straight, his jaw tight..like the words were iron in his mouth.

“I was busy,” he said. His voice was quiet, clipped.

Sonic turned to him, eyebrows tightening.

Shadow didn’t look at him when he added, “I show up when I choose to. Not when you want me to.”

The silence came back.. but it was sharper this time.

Sonic blinked, something colder  behind his eyes. “That’s it? That’s your reason?”

Shadow met his gaze now.

“I had work to finish. And I wasn’t going to show up until it mattered.”

Sonic stared at him. Hurt, confused. Still bleeding.

Shadow didn’t flinch.

“And tonight,” he added, “it mattered.”

Sonic didn’t move.

Didn’t speak.

Just stared at him… then his jaw tightened.

“Right,” Sonic said. “Because that’s the only time I’m worth showing up for.”

Shadow’s eyes narrowed. “That’s not what I said.”

“No,” Sonic shot back, voice sharper now. “But it’s what you meant.”

The silence between them turned razor-thin.

Shadow held his ground.

“My life doesn’t revolve around you, Sonic.”

It wasn’t angry. It wasn’t loud.

But it landed like a punch.

Sonic blinked, once. Then twice. His expression cracked,  just slightly. 

And then there was silence.

Neither of them moved.

The heat from the fight had faded, but the tension hadn't. It lingered in the air like smoke…

Finally, Sonic looked away.

“I’m heading home.”

His voice was tired. 

He shifted his weight, took a slow step forward.

“Tails is there. Probably made something half-edible. Might be chili dogs. Might be some kind of weird fox stew….”

He shrugged. “I dunno. You should come.”

Shadow didn’t answer at first.

Sonic didn’t push. He started to walk again.

“…Just him?”

Sonic glanced over his shoulder, one brow raised.

“Yeah. Just him.”

Shadow nodded once, barely perceptible.

“…Alright.”

Sonic let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. There was something easier in the way he walked after that.

“Cool,” he said softly.

They kept going.

And this time, Shadow stayed beside him.

Up ahead, Rouge and Omega waited by a crumbling barricade.

As Sonic and Shadow approached, Rouge looked over them, Sonic limping a little less, Shadow steady beside him.

“Well, would you look at that,” she said, arms crossed. “Didn’t think I’d see the day you two left a battlefield without an explosion behind you.”

She turned her attention to Shadow, not teasing now, just that subtle look she reserved only for him. “You good?”

Shadow gave a slight nod. “Yeah.”

Rouge held his gaze for a second longer, then offered her fist.

He bumped it without hesitation.

“Be safe, Batgirl,” he said quietly.

“You too, grumpy.”

Omega stepped forward with a mechanical hum.

“TEAM DARK: TEMPORARILY DISBANDING. NOTE: PROGRESS ACHIEVED.”

Sonic raised an eyebrow. “Is that your way of saying ‘we’re friends now’?”

Omega’s optics flickered.

“I AM SAYING: NO ONE EXPLODED. THIS IS AN IMPROVEMENT.”

Rouge laughed under her breath.

Sonic turned back toward the road ahead.

“We’re heading to the lab. Tails has food…. I think.”

Rouge gave Shadow one last look. “Try not to break anything. Or anyone.”

“No promises.”

And with that, he turned, falling into step beside Sonic.

They walked on in silence, the city behind them. Not fixed. Not whole. But still standing.

And for once, that was enough.

The sky was darker now, the wind quieter. The kind of silence that meant the night was finally starting to settle.

Tails’ lab sat at the edge of the district, patched together with solar scraps, reinforced panels, and just enough charm to feel like home. The lights were on. Power was still holding.

Sonic opened the door without knocking.

Inside, Tails sat at his workbench, headset on, brow furrowed, one hand dragging a stylus across a digital schematic. A voice crackled through the speaker. It was  slick, smug, and unmistakable.

“—so if you reroute the dampening protocol through the secondary core, the energy load will—”

Sonic froze.

“Ugh. Is that who I think it is?”

Tails didn’t even turn around. “Yup.”

He tapped the headset. The screen blinked dark before Eggman could finish his sentence.

Sonic walked in, slow, suspicious.

“You taking evil Zoom calls now?”

“It’s not like that,” Tails said, already moving to close a screen. “He knows things. Stuff I don’t. That I need to know.”

Sonic narrowed his eyes. “Since when do we care what he knows?”

Tails hesitated just long enough for Shadow, standing silently behind Sonic, to catch it.

“Just trust me,” Tails said, softer now. “It’s complicated.”

Sonic stared at him, but didn’t push. Not yet.

“Right. Complicated.”

Tails cleared his throat and gestured toward the counter.

“I saved you some food. It’s… mostly warm.”

There were two chili dogs wrapped in foil and a half-empty bottle of something fizzy.

Sonic approached first, unwrapping one with minimal ceremony. He dropped into a nearby chair, letting out a breath as he did. “Thanks, Tails,” he said, his voice even but genuine.

Tails offered a small nod in acknowledgment before glancing toward Shadow. “You want the other?”

Shadow approached the table, took the second foil-wrapped item without comment, and remained standing. He studied it for a moment, as if appraising a tool rather than a meal. After a pause, he placed it on the table in front of Sonic.

“I don’t require food. I am the Ultimate Lifeform.”

Sonic, mid-bite, didn’t even look up. “Cool. And I’m emotionally repressed, but I still eat.”

He grabbed the second chili dog and held it out toward him, waving it lazily. “Take the chili dog, Shadow.”

Shadow just stared.

Sonic narrowed his eyes. “You can either eat it, or I’ll launch it at your face. Your call.”

After a beat, Shadow stepped forward and took the foil-wrapped offering from Sonic’s hand.

He didn’t say thank you.

But he smirked anyway. “That’s what I thought.”

Tails watched the exchange with a tired kind of fondness, like he was just glad Sonic wasn’t still bleeding.

Shadow sat down across from Sonic, the foil-wrapped chili dog resting in his hand like it was some strange object.

He glanced at it, then at Sonic.

“I don’t need this.”

Sonic didn’t even pause mid-bite. “Didn’t ask if you did.”

“Look, Sonic, my body doesn’t depend on food to function”

He set it down between them.. like he was returning something that didn’t belong to him.

“You were just dying on the street ten minutes ago. You need it more.”

Sonic blinked.

Then he reached across the table, grabbed the foil-wrapped dog, and shoved it gently back into Shadow’s hands.

“You just vaporized twenty mechs and carried me half a mile. You’re eating the damn chili dog.”

Shadow stared at him, unmoved.

Tails looked over from his workbench. “You’re not gonna win this, by the way.”

After a long moment — with the deepest sigh anyone had ever silently exhaled — Shadow unwrapped the chili dog, brought it to his mouth, and took a single bite.

Sonic gave a satisfied nod. “There. Was that so hard?”

Shadow didn’t answer. But he didn’t stop eating either.

Tails turned back to his console, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

The room was quiet again. 

Sonic leaned back in his chair, arms behind his head.

“I’m gonna pretend this is what a normal night looks like.”

Shadow didn’t look up. “This isn’t normal.”

“Let me have the fantasy,” Sonic said, smirking.

Across the lab, Tails closed a flickering screen.

The words PROJECT RESET faded to black.

And no one noticed.

Not yet…

Tails finally stepped away from his workstation, wiping his hands on a towel as he moved to join them. He sat on the edge of a nearby bench, the tired weight of the day catching up in his shoulders.

“No offense,” he said, “but it’s weird seeing you both sitting still at the same time.”

Sonic smirked. “It’s called bonding. Look it up.”

Shadow took another bite, slower this time.

Tails watched them for a beat, then looked down at his hands. “You two should rest. Tomorrow’s gonna be another mess.”

Sonic glanced at him. “Yeah?”

Tails nodded. “There’s still a lot to patch up. Tech lines, power grids, communications… it’s… a whole thing.”

There was something in his tone.. Shadow didn’t call him on it. But he noticed.

Sonic tilted his head.

“You’ve been acting weird lately,” he said, nudging Tails with his foot. “I mean, come on, secret calls? Avoiding eye contact? Working with Ro-butt-nik?”

Tails groaned. “Do not call him that to his face.”

“Didn’t say I would,” Sonic said innocently. “But I could.”

Shadow, without looking up: “Do it.”

Tails gave him a look. “Seriously?”

But Sonic didn’t laugh this time.

He leaned back in his seat, eyes sliding toward Shadow, who was sitting right there across from him, finishing the last bite of his chili dog like none of this concerned him.

“…You know,” Sonic said, voice dipping lower, “I was kinda hoping you’d say something when you got here.”

That earned him a glance from both Tails and Shadow.

Sonic didn’t look away.

“Two weeks, Shadow.”

The words sat between them now…

“You disappeared. No comms. No message. Nothing.”

Shadow said nothing, his expression unreadable.

“I didn’t know if you were hurt,” Sonic went on. “Didn’t know if you were dead. Just silence.”

Tails shifted in his seat, uncomfortable.

“…Look,” Sonic started, quieter now. “I get it. You’ve got your own stuff. You don’t owe me a play by play every time you vanish.”

Shadow said nothing. Just listened.

“But two weeks is a long time….”

Tails shifted slightly, eyes flicking between them.

“I texted you every day,” Sonic said. “Not long messages. Just… ‘You good?’ or ‘Still breathing?’ Whatever.”

He let out a short breath, not quite a laugh.

“I wasn’t trying to be annoying. I just figured… in times like these, people check in. That’s all.”

Shadow looked at him now, expression flat — but not distant.

“I wasn’t ignoring you.”

“Yeah?” Sonic said, voice still level. “Sure felt like it.”

Tails didn’t interrupt.

Sonic picked at a crack in the table’s edge, thumb pressed to it like it was holding something in place.

“I’m not mad. I just… didn’t know if you were okay. And that kinda sucks.”

The room went quiet.

Shadow didn’t respond right away.

The silence lingered..

Tails shifted in his seat again, clearly uncomfortable. Then he coughed.

“Alright,” he said quickly, standing up like the chair was on fire. “I’m just gonna… yeah. Upstairs.”

Sonic blinked. “What?”

“I—uhm—left something charging!” Tails lied, already halfway across the room. He grabbed his headphones off the workbench, fumbled to plug them into his phone, and gave a stiff little wave on his way to the stairs.

“Enjoy your bonding,” he said over his shoulder. 

Sonic blinked again. “Dude-”

But Tails was already gone.

The door clicked shut behind him.

Sonic turned back to Shadow, slightly annoyed. “…He’s the worst at being subtle.”

Shadow stayed quiet, then he suddenly spoke. 

“I read every message.”

Sonic blinked, caught off guard.

Shadow kept his eyes on the table. “Didn’t reply. But I saw them.”

Sonic leaned back slightly, his expression unreadable.

“I was busy,” Shadow said. “Not just with missions. With decisions.”

Sonic’s jaw tightened a little. “What kind of decisions?”

Shadow met his eyes.

“Remember what I told you,” he said, voice quiet but firm. “I have my own life.”

The air between them shifted. 

Sonic looked down at his hands. 

Sonic let out a breath through his nose. “You’re here now.”

Shadow gave a small nod. “Yeah.”

“And you’re eating chili dogs.”

Shadow stared. “Against my will.”

Sonic smirked. “Whatever helps you sleep.”

Shadow met his eyes.

“I’ll try to respond more,” he said quietly. “Next time.”

Sonic’s expression shifted. The smirk faded, but not completely.

“And…” Shadow continued, slower now, “I’m sorry. For going silent.”

Sonic leaned back a little, arms folded behind his head like he needed something to do with himself.

“Wow,” he said, tone light. “Did you just apologize?”

Shadow didn’t break eye contact.

“You’re imagining it.”

Sonic grinned. “Nah, I’m pretty sure that was an apology. Might even be frame worthy.”

“Don’t push it.”

“Do I get one per year, or do I have to earn it?”

Shadow exhaled slowly.

Sonic kicked his feet up on the table. “Knew it. Annual Shadow Apology Day. I’ll mark it.”

He paused.

“...Unless I forget. Which is likely… I’m pretty sure I left my planner in another dimension...”

Shadow raised an eyebrow. “Do they prescribe Adderall in alternate timelines too?”

Sonic snorted. “Probably. I think I’m the reason they have a prescription system.”

Shadow smirked — just a little. “Explains a lot.”

Sonic grinned. “What, the hyperfocus or the impulsive life-risking behavior?”

“Yes.”

They both sat back, the tension gone now. Sonic leaned his chair back until it wobbled slightly. 

“Y’know, for someone who ghosted me for two weeks, you’re really coming in strong with the sarcasm.”

“I’m making up for lost time.”

“Yeah, well, next time I’m bleeding out in a crater, a text would be cool.”

Shadow gave him a flat look. “I arrived glowing from the sky like divine judgment. I think that counts.”

Sonic pointed at him, grinning. “Okay, yeah, you tore through those bots like Moses parting the Red Sea.”

He threw his hands up. “Except instead of water, it was fire, smoke, and chaos energy. It was kinda hot.”

Shadow blinked.

“That’s not how the story goes.”

“I skimmed the Bible for the action scenes, mkay?”

From upstairs, Tails shouted, “Do NOT compare Shadow to Moses!”

Sonic cupped his hands around his mouth. “He parted the bots, Tails! It was divine!!!”

Shadow sighed like he was physically aging. “You’re impossible.”

Sonic leaned back, smug. “You’re biblical.”

Shadow leaned back in his own seat, finally relaxed. “This is insane.”

“Welcome to my life.”

The quiet that followed didn’t need to be filled. For once, no alarms. No chaos. 

Just three idiots in a busted lab, one floor apart, pretending the world wasn’t in a war for a night.

Sonic shifted in his seat, legs stretched out, arms resting behind his head.

“You know,” he said, softer now, “if the world really wasn’t falling apart… this wouldn’t be so bad.”

Shadow glanced over. “You mean this?”

“Yeah. You. Me. Tails upstairs pretending not to eavesdrop.”

A muffled voice floated down through the ceiling.

“I’m not pretending.”

Sonic snorted. “Uh-huh.”

Shadow smirked. “It’s quieter than I expected.”

“That’s ‘cause nobody’s trying to kill us right now.”

Shadow leaned back slightly, his eyes flicking to the ceiling, then down to the table, and finally to Sonic again. “Still weird.”

“Weird good or weird bad?”

He didn’t answer right away. 

“…Weird good.”

Sonic leaned back in his seat, eyes drifting toward the corner of the lab to the crumpled paper towels sitting on the floor, stained dark red, with his own blood.  

He stared at them for a second longer than he meant to.

“…Something was different out there.”

Shadow looked over.

“I’ve fought bots before,” Sonic continued. “Plenty. But those? They weren’t just tougher. They adapted. Blocked everything. Moved like… almost like they’d studied me.”

His voice stayed light.

“I didn’t even last five minutes. You showed up and took them out like it was nothing.”

He gave a lopsided smile. “So what’s the trick? Alien genetics? Chaos steroids? Little boost from the ol’ Black Doom bloodline?”

Shadow didn’t even blink. “That’s not what kept me standing.”

Sonic tilted his head. “No?”

“You’re exhausted.”

“You haven’t slept in days. I can tell.” Shadow said calmly. “You barely eat. You haven’t stopped running since the fighting started.”

Sonic didn’t respond. 

“You’re not weak,” Shadow added. “You’re worn down. Even you have limits.”

He leaned back.

“And I don’t.”

That got a snort out of Sonic. “Wow. You should get that printed on a mug.”

“It’s not bragging. I am the—”

“Ultimate Lifeform,” Sonic cut in, dragging out the words in an overly dramatic voice, complete with finger quotes. “Yes, yes, we know, you little science project.”

Shadow’s mouth twitched, it wasn't a smile, but it was close. “You’re insufferable.”

“And yet,” Sonic said, grinning, “you’re still here.”

Shadow didn’t take the bait this time.

Instead, his eyes held Sonic’s for a second longer. His voice lowered. 

Sonic blinked. “What—”

“I mean it.”

The shift in his voice was slight, but Sonic caught it.

“Sleep,” Shadow said. “Eat something real. Go back to the gym. You're stronger than almost anyone out there — but you don’t act like your body matters.”

Sonic let the smile fade just a bit.

“You push until you break. And then you keep going anyway.”

There was no anger in it. Just the truth…

“And one of these days, I’m not going to show up in time.”

Sonic didn’t say anything.

Shadow looked at him for a long moment. 

“Don’t make that day soon.”

The air between them was heavy.

Shadow stood, pulling on his gloves.

“It’s late. I should go.”

Sonic looked up, more gently now. “You could stay.”

Shadow paused.

Just for a moment.

Then he shook his head. “Not tonight.”

Sonic didn’t look surprised. “Didn’t think so.”

Shadow moved toward the door, but as he passed the workbench, something on one of the side monitors caught his eye, a soft flicker of data, still running. Power output logs. Stabilization tests. Something… off.

He stopped.

Sonic noticed, tilting his head. “What?”

Shadow didn’t answer right away. His eyes moved across the graphs, the schematics. Nothing labeled clearly. Just strings of numbers.

Sonic caught the glance. “What, Tails forget to shut something down?”

“Maybe.” Shadow said.

“Everything okay?”

Shadow gave a shrug. “Just... odd readings for this hour.”

Sonic shrugged back. “Tails is always working on something. You know how he is.”

“I do..”

He reached the door, cracked it open, then turned back.

“Get some rest.”

Sonic offered a tired half-smile. “You too, big guy.”

Shadow held his gaze a second longer.

Then he was gone.

Sonic stayed where he was.

He didn’t know what to do with the quiet…

Chapter Text

The light in Tails’ lab had dimmed to its late night setting,  soft, warm, and still humming with the quiet noise of half-asleep machines. He’d programmed it that way himself, something about optimizing the body's circadian rhythm — though Sonic just thought it looked cozy. Most of the screens had gone dark. A few blinked, cycling standby data, but even they seemed to have called it a night.

Sonic hadn’t.

He sat on the old couch near the back wall, not quite lying down, but not upright either. His legs dangled over one armrest, a makeshift ice pack was resting on his side, and his head leaned back against a pillow that smelled faintly like oil and something citrusy. Shadow’s chili dog wrapper still sat crumpled on the table nearby.

Footsteps approached.

Tails, holding two mugs of something warm — one of which he handed off without asking.

Sonic took it, eyebrows raised. "Hot chocolate?"

"Chamomile," Tails corrected. "Because you, my dear friend, have not slept in three days."

"Rude," Sonic muttered, but he took a sip anyway. "...Acceptable."

Tails dropped into the seat across from him, one foot tucked under the other. "So... Shadow, huh?"

Sonic choked.

Tails didn’t smile. Just stared.

"What?" Sonic said, coughing slightly. "You can’t- You can’t just open with that…"

"He came over. You invited him. You gave him your chili dog."

"That’s not—" Sonic groaned. "You’re reading into it."

Tails didn’t say anything.

Sonic looked away. "Okay, fine. Maybe I’m not not into him..."

"I figured."

Silence passed between them.

Tails leaned back. "You gonna tell him?"

“Doubt it,” Sonic said. “Kind of hard to focus on anything when I’m leaking out of like eight different places.”

Another pause.

Tails nodded slowly, but his eyes drifted toward the lab’s darker corners. Toward the monitor where the readings had flashed, just briefly, when Shadow passed by.

Sonic didn’t notice. He stretched his legs out. "I’m gonna try, though."

"Try what?"

"Eating better. Cooking. Sleeping more. Going back to the gym. You know, being a functioning adult."

Tails raised an eyebrow. "Since when do you cook?"

"I’ll learn. Maybe you could help?"

Tails shrugged. "I can supervise."

Sonic smiled faintly. Then, softer: "Amy was the best cook. Everything she made tasted good and had protein. She’d yell if I skipped a meal."

Tails’ face softened.

"I miss her," Sonic said. "And Knucks."

"Me too."

Sonic leaned back again. "Knuckles would tell me to hit legs. Swear he skipped leg day more than I did, though."

"That’s why he wore those spiked gloves. Distraction technique."

They both laughed.

Their laughter faded.

Tails glanced over, his ears twitching slightly.

“…What happened out there?”

Sonic didn’t answer right away.

“I mean,” Tails added, a little more carefully, “you’ve come back hurt before. But not like that. I thought—”

He stopped himself.

Sonic scratched the back of his neck, jaw tightening like he wasn’t sure how to explain it.

“They were different,” he said finally. “The bots. Smarter. Faster. Like they knew what I was gonna do before I did it...”

Tails’ expression darkened. “That’s not possible.”

“I thought that too,” Sonic muttered. “But they tore through two squads before I even showed up. And when I did… it was like I didn’t matter. Even Super couldn’t stop ‘em.”

He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, eyes distant.

“I couldn’t save anyone, Tails. Sectors four through six were mine. They told me to hold the line, and I couldn’t….”

Tails didn’t speak. He just sat with him.

Sonic’s voice dropped.

“They adapted. That’s the word Alvarez used. The bots — they adapted to everything I threw at them.”

Tails looked toward the nearest monitor, quiet. Then he grabbed a tablet off the bench and started scribbling.

“How advanced are we talking?” he asked. “Like predictive movement? Energy absorption?”

Sonic hesitated. “They blocked spin dashes. Recalibrated mid fight. One caught me out of the air like it saw it coming.”

Tails blinked, brow furrowing. “That’s not random. That’s combat data. Behavior tracking. Someone programmed that.”

He tapped a few things into the tablet, then looked back at Sonic. “You said they didn’t match anything on file?”

“Alvarez confirmed it,” Sonic said. “Said it wasn’t tech we’ve seen before. Too sleek. No insignia.”

Tails muttered something under his breath and wrote faster.

Sonic watched him. “You think it’s Eggman?”

Tails paused. Then shook his head.

“No,” he said, a little sharper this time. “He’s been working with me. On something else.”

Sonic’s eyes narrowed. “You sure about that?”

“I’m not saying he’s innocent,” Tails muttered, fingers tightening on the edge of the desk. “But not every robot in the world is Eggman’s. You forget that.”

Sonic didn’t answer right away. His eyes lingered on the blueprints, the half-finished notes, the quiet hum of the lab.

Then he stood, stretching with a wince. “I should get some rest.”

Tails blinked. “In an actual bed this time?”

Sonic rolled his eyes. “Don’t get used to it.”

“You say that like Shadow didn’t already steal your spot on the couch.”

Sonic snorted. “He did not .”

“He kinda did.”

Sonic pointed at him as he turned toward the stairs. “This is why no one invites you to the post mission gossip sessions.”

“I'm the one who writes them down,” Tails called after him.

Sonic shook his head, but his smile was real this time. “Night, Tails.”

Tails hesitated, then said more softly, “I’m glad you’re okay.”

Sonic paused on the steps, eyes dropping for just a second before he looked back. “Me too.”

And then he was gone — heading upstairs for the first real sleep he'd let himself have in days.

The door to his room creaked softly as he pushed it open.

It was barely furnished — just a bed with sheets, an old dresser with a cracked mirror, a shelf half stacked with comics and extra gloves. The window let in a faint glow from the streetlights outside, filtering through the blinds like shadows.

Sonic didn’t bother turning on the lights. He just stood there for a second, staring at the bed like it wasn’t his.

Then he dropped onto it with a quiet grunt, curling sideways toward the wall, shoes still on, head buried in the crook of his arm.

For a while, nothing.

Just breathing. Soft, steady.

And then…

His mind wandered.

Not to sleep. Not yet.

To the battle. To the smoke. To the way that bot had slammed him into the pavement like he weighed nothing. To the blood…

To the screaming.

His throat tightened.

He saw them again — the medics crushed under rubble, the civilians behind him yelling for help. The ones he hadn’t reached. The ones who wouldn’t make it home.

“Five minutes,” he muttered aloud, eyes still closed. “That’s all I needed.”

He shifted, trying to push the thought away.

But then Shadow’s voice echoed through his head.

“Sleep. Eat something real. Go back to the gym.”

Sonic exhaled slowly, opening his eyes.

“I get it, I get it,” he whispered to the ceiling. “I’ll eat more than three Quest protein bars a day. I’ll… try cooking. Or whatever.”

It sounded fake, even to him.

But he meant it.

He’d try.

He thought about Amy — how she used to shove whole meal plans at him like he wasn’t already fast enough. “Speed’s good,” she’d say, “but being healthy is better.”

And Knuckles…

Sonic smiled faintly.

Knuckles used to mock him relentlessly for skipping leg day. Then skipped it himself.

He let out a breath that sounded like a laugh, or maybe just a sigh.

“I miss you guys,” he whispered.

The room didn’t answer.

But it didn’t have to.

He rolled onto his side, tucking his arms under his head.

And for a few seconds, it was quiet again.

But his brain didn’t turn off that easily.

His eyes drifted toward the shelf by the door, and stopped.

There it was.

A silver-toned medal.  The seal of the United States stamped into its surface, with a simple inscription beneath:

For Outstanding Service and Civilian Valor.

It wasn’t his.

It was Shadow’s.

Sonic stared at it for a long moment, the room suddenly feeling a little quieter.

Sergeant Alvarez had delivered the medals earlier, straight from the President. Sonic had held onto Shadow’s. 

Tails must’ve left it here after finding it in the lab.

Sonic’s chest tightened, something soft and sharp all at once. Maybe he just wanted to be the one to hand it over. Maybe that was stupid.

His gaze lingered on the medal a second longer.

Shadow.

That glowing entrance. 

The way he caught him before he fell. The way he stayed.

Sonic didn’t smile.

But he didn’t frown either.

“Stupid,” he mumbled into the pillow. “All dramatic and broody… always showing up at the last second like it means something.”

He shut his eyes.

“…But you did show up…”

And even now - bruised, bandaged, completely drained - he could still remember the moment Shadow appeared. That flash of lemon light ripping through the sky, it was almost tinted rose-gold. The way the ground trembled when he landed. How everything stopped..

It wasn’t just that he saved the day. 

It was the way he looked at him.

His hand curled slightly under the blanket.

He hated how much that stuck.

It wasn’t fair. Shadow wasn’t supposed to get under his skin like this. Not with his stupid entrances and his soft concern. Not with his silence. His presence. His promise to always show up — even if he didn’t say it outright.

And maybe Sonic had missed him.

He was tired. Finally.

The last thing he whispered, barely audible, like a thought slipping out before sleep could catch it—

“…Don’t disappear again.”

And for the first time in days, Sonic slept.

The door clicked shut behind him.

Shadow stepped into his apartment, remnants of Chaos energy still crackling at his Air Shoes. His quills were slightly glowing, the last traces of his Super form fading now that he was back inside.

He’d left D.C. minutes ago — flown straight to Manhattan in his Super form.

The apartment was high up in a G.U.N.-secured Manhattan tower, a rare sight of luxury in a fractured city. Team Dark had been stationed there months ago — something about strategic placement, response flexibility, and “higher value deployment.” Rouge had called it what it was: favoritism. Shadow didn’t argue. The place had power, reinforced windows, and hot water.

Compared to Sonic’s cramped safehouse in D.C….all peeling paint, ration crates, and busted pipes — this might as well have been a different planet.

Rouge was draped across the velvet couch like she owned the whole place, legs crossed, sipping from a porcelain mug that definitely didn’t come from a military ration pack. Omega stood idle near the window, but his sensors were clearly still online — tracking movement the second Shadow crossed the room.

“Well, well,” Rouge said, not looking up. “Look who finally decided to show up.”

Shadow said nothing.

Rouge raised an eyebrow, still not looking at him. “You stayed in D.C. longer than usual.”

She paused, then glanced over her shoulder with a smirk.

“That gonna be a common thing now?”

Shadow didn’t reply.

“I MEASURED AN UNUSUAL ABSENCE OF SIGNAL FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR AND THIRTY-NINE MINUTES,” Omega announced. “YOUR EXCUSE BETTER BE CATASTROPHIC.”

“I was busy.” Shadow said simply.

Rouge turned fully now, propping her chin on her palm. “Busy babysitting the fastest thing alive?”

Shadow shot her a dry look, but it didn’t land.

Omega stepped forward with a soft whirr . “YOUR HEART RATE IS ELEVATED. THIS IS UNUSUAL FOR YOU. EXPLANATION: SENTIMENTAL DISTURBANCE.”

Rouge barked a laugh. “Wow. We’re really outing all your secrets today, huh?”

“I’m not—” Shadow started, then stopped. He sighed, sinking into the armchair beside her. “It’s nothing.”

“Sure,” Rouge said. “Just a casual visit to a burned out war zone to spend quality time with Sonic the Disaster.”

Shadow’s eyes cut toward her — sharp, sudden. “Don’t call him that.”

Rouge blinked. The teasing vanished.

Shadow held her gaze. “He’s not the threat.”

Omega’s optics brightened. “OBSERVED BEHAVIOR SUGGESTS INSTABILITY.”

“He’s not unstable,” Shadow said. Then, after a pause: “Not like that…”

Rouge set her mug down, watching him closely now.

“He’s… not okay,” Shadow said, quieter this time. “But he’s still fighting. Still showing up. That means something.” 

Rouge looked at him for a second, then down at her mug.

“None of us are okay…” she said.

Her silence after that said more than she ever would out loud.

Shadow watched her — the subtle tension in her shoulders, the way she stared into the cup like it might offer something more than tea.

She hadn’t been the same since Knuckles died.

They'd never called it anything official, not to each other, not to anyone, but everyone knew. The teasing, the bickering, the way she’d mention the Emerald just to get a rise out of him. He’d grumble and scowl, but never told her to stop. He liked the attention. And she liked being the only one who could fluster him like that.

They’d driven each other crazy. Yet they made sense.

Now, Rouge filled the silence with missions. Reports. G.U.N. logistics. She hadn’t so much as mentioned his name in weeks. But Shadow could see the cracks. In the way she would always look out the window, like she was waiting for someone who’d never show up again.

He didn’t say anything.

There was nothing he could say.

Then Rouge straightened slightly, pushing past it the only way she knew how.

“He let you see that?” she asked, frowning now.

Shadow didn’t answer.

Rouge sighed. “You really are in deep.”

“I DON’T UNDERSTAND,” Omega said. “IF SONIC IS UNSTABLE, WHY NOT DETAIN OR MONITOR HIM DIRECTLY?”

“He’s just... tired.”

He leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees. “We didn’t do anything. Just chilled. He forced me to eat a chili dog.”

Rouge blinked. “You ate one?”

Shadow gave her a deadpan look. “I survived.”

Rouge laughed. “You’re evolving.”

Shadow was quiet for a second. Then, his voice dropped.

“He asked me to spend the night.”

Rouge’s smile faded.

“And you said no.”

Another pause.

Shadow’s jaw tensed slightly. “Yeah.”

The room fell quiet.

“…You wanted to,” she said softly.

Shadow didn’t answer.

Not with words.

He just looked away, eyes on the skyline. Not at the lights.. beyond them, he was seeing something else entirely.

Something, Someone, further back....

“It’s not that simple,” he said, voice almost too quiet to catch. “Getting close.”

Rouge watched him carefully. “It never is..”

Shadow’s hands curled slightly against his knees. He didn’t move. Didn’t breathe for a second.

“Anyway.”

Shadow turned to Omega. “Miles was acting strange.”

The shift was sharp, but not fake. Controlled.

Rouge raised a brow, then grinned. “You and that name. Miles .”

Shadow didn’t respond.

He’d always called him that — never “Tails.” Never the nickname Sonic used like it was a reflex. “Miles” was cleaner. Formal. 

Omega’s optics brightened. “SPECIFY.”

“He kept checking the time like he was behind on something. And when he stepped out, I saw a few windows open on his monitor.”

Rouge looked over at him now, more focused. “What kind of windows?”

“Schematics,” Shadow said. “Not G.U.N. blueprints. And not his usual stuff either. It was advanced…. He shut them fast.”

Rouge’s grin faded. “You think the fox is building something?”

“I don’t know,” Shadow said. “Could be nothing. But with the bots we fought earlier? I don’t like what it adds up to.”

Omega’s tone stayed flat. “RECOMMENDATION: IMMEDIATE FOLLOW-UP. FIELD VERIFICATION REQUIRED.”

Rouge leaned back in her seat, eyeing Shadow over the rim of her mug. “Well… if we need someone to stick close, you’ve already got a reason to hang around, don’t you?”

Shadow gave her a look. “Don’t.”

She smirked. “What? Just saying. Wouldn’t be out of character if you paid another visit to a certain blue someone. For intel purposes.”

“I’M LOGGING THIS AS AN UNDERCOVER OPERATION,” Omega added. “COVERT AFFECTIONAL SURVEILLANCE.”

Shadow groaned. “You’re both insufferable.”

Rouge just grinned wider. “You love us.”

“No,” he muttered. “But you’re useful...”

The moment passed. Rouge reached for her mug again, Omega turned his head toward the window, and the room settled into silence.

Shadow headed upstairs.

The penthouse was darker on the second floor — quieter, too. New York City’s neon bled through the blackout curtains in thin slivers, striping the hall in pale red and gold. His Air Shoes somehow made no sound on the polished floor.

In the shower, he let the water run hot. He didn’t rush. Just stood there under the water, one hand braced against the tile, as the warmth soaked into tired muscles.

He thought about earlier. Sonic's voice.

You could stay.

He’d only hesitated for a second when he said no.

At the time, it had felt… safe. Easy...

Later, he laid in bed, staring up at the ceiling with the lights off, listening to the low, distant buzz of the city below. He hadn’t even bothered to get under the blanket. Just laid there, arms folded behind his head, eyes wide open.

He thought of Sonic again.

The way he shoved a chili dog into Shadow’s hands like it was sacred. The way he laughed — it was too big for the room. And he thought about what he had said yet again...

You could stay.

Just an offering.

And Shadow had shut it. He always did.

Because letting people close… it didn’t feel like a risk. It felt like a mistake.

One he’d made once.

And paid for.

Since then, “no” had become second nature. Distance was a reflex. He wasn’t cruel about it — just consistent. The kind of consistency that made it easy to pretend he didn’t care. The kind that kept him in control. He dropped in sometimes, but never too often. 

Today felt different.

Not strategic. He sat with Sonic. Stayed longer than usual. Let himself talk..Sonic had looked at him like it meant something.

Because it had.

But then he saw Miles.

Just for a moment, there was something off. A pause that didn’t fit. A look that didn’t sit right.

It was nothing concrete. Nothing he could report.

But enough to plant doubt. Enough to change things.

Now, Shadow was already planning how he’d return.

Not just as a friend, not like today.

He’d come back with a reason.

Casual visits. Harmless questions. Watching Miles closely without making it obvious. He’d act like it was just concern — like he was checking in. But it would all be calculated. Quiet. Careful. Controlled.

That would be the plan.

And Sonic would believe it. He’d think Shadow was coming back because he wanted to. Because something had changed. Because he mattered.

Shadow shut his eyes.

And the part that made him sick was… he wouldn’t be wrong.

Because a piece of him did want to go back. Not for surveillance. Not for Miles.

For Sonic.

But now, it would be different. A genuine connection repurposed into strategy. And Sonic wouldn’t see the difference.

Shadow turned onto his side, back to the door.

And even without a word spoken, it already felt like betrayal.

He exhaled slowly, eyes still closed.

Eventually, his breathing steadied.

And, somewhere between guilt and exhaustion, Shadow finally fell asleep.

It had been a few days since they’d seen each other.

Sonic had taken time off — not just from fighting, but from everything. No patrols. No late night runs. Tails called it recovery; Sonic called it boring . But for once, he wasn’t pushing back.

He’d started sleeping seven hours a night — which, for him, was basically hibernation. His diet had improved too. He had started learning how to cook, following one of Amy’s old PDFs Tails had dug up. High protein meals, actual vegetables, stuff that didn’t come out of a wrapper.

He told himself it was just part of getting better.

But deep down, he knew he was trying.

Trying to take care of himself.

Trying to listen.

Shadow’s voice still echoed in his head sometimes — “Sleep. Eat something real. Go back to the gym.”

The gym was next on the list. Once the soreness stopped screaming every time he moved.

He wasn’t perfect, but he was trying.

Little by little, he’d been fixing his health. Fixing himself.

Shadow had been right.

He didn’t know if it was the food, the rest, or just finally giving himself a break — but something was working.

He set his plate down on the table, exhaling slowly—

And then his phone buzzed across the counter.

He picked it up lazily, expecting a ping from Sergeant Alvarez, or maybe Tails checking in, since he’d been away the past few days working on something.

But the name on the screen wasn’t Tails. And it wasn't Alvarez.

It was Shadow.

Are you home?

Sonic blinked.

Then blinked again.

Shadow had texted first?

He stared at the screen for a second, like it might change, like maybe he’d imagined it.

Nope. Still there.

He snorted under his breath and typed out a reply.

uh hi?? yeah why, you stalking me now or something ;)

A response came almost immediately.

I’ll be there in ten minutes.

Sonic lowered the phone, eyebrows raised.

“And on the seventh day, Shadow initiated contact,” he muttered. “The skies parted. Angels wept. The world tilted slightly off its axis”

He paused. 

“Also, I have ten minutes to make it look like I own a vacuum...”

He started moving fast, but not too fast. Tossed a hoodie into the laundry bin. Fluffed the couch blanket. Switched out the chili dog stained plate for the clean one in the drying rack like that somehow made him more presentable.

It was dumb. Shadow didn’t care.

Except maybe… he did?

By the time the knock hit the door, everything looked… decent.

Mostly...

He rolled his shoulders once, then walked over and opened it.

Shadow stood in the doorway, still in full gear — dirt on his gloves, Air Shoes scraped up, a faint mark across his white chest fur. His quills were windblown, eyes sharp, it looked like he hadn’t even stopped to rinse off.

Sonic looked him up and down.

Of course he looked good. Dirty, tired, and somehow still looking like he belonged on the cover of something.

Sonic blinked, then immediately looked away.

“…Uh. Hey,” he said, stepping back to let him in.

Shadow shifted slightly, holding a sleek black gym bag at his side.

“…Hi.”

There was an awkward pause.

“You, uh… just finished something?” Sonic asked, stepping aside.

Shadow nodded once as he stepped in. “Mission wrapped up half an hour ago. Figured I’d check in.”

“You texted me first,” Sonic said, not hiding the surprise.

“I did,” Shadow replied, like it hadn’t kept him pacing for ten minutes beforehand.

Sonic shut the door behind him, watching as Shadow scanned the room with that usual hyperaware sweep, like he was still half in mission mode. He stopped when his eyes landed on Sonic’s half cleaned living space and the faint smell of lunch in the air.

“You look better,” Shadow said finally.

Sonic huffed a small laugh. “Been trying. Sleep, food, fewer rooftop explosions. Taking your advice. You know — the basics.”

Shadow gave a quick nod. Then, without ceremony, he walked to the table and set the gym bag down.

“I brought something.”

Sonic raised an eyebrow. “Wow. You still had time to hit the gym right after a mission? You’re insane.”

Shadow didn’t even blink. “I didn’t.”

Sonic looked at the bag.

Just stared at it, clearly not sure what he was supposed to do.

Shadow shifted, barely, then spoke, quieter than before.

“…It’s for you.”

Sonic stepped closer, running a hand along the side of the bag.

“Man… this is actually really nice,” he said, surprised. “Perfect for the gym.”

He glanced up. “Thanks.”

Shadow didn’t answer right away.

Just stood there, hands at his sides, like he was waiting for something.

After a moment, he said, quietly, “Open it.”

Sonic blinked. “There’s stuff in it?”

No answer.

Sonic unzipped it.

Right on top was a hoodie — deep navy, thick, soft, and folded like it came from a display table. He ran his gloved hands over the fabric. Definitely not cheap.

He lifted it out, blinking at the weight of it. His size, his style. The kind of thing you didn’t find in a supply drop..

Sonic narrowed his eyes at the tag.

Yeah. No question. This was from some fancy shop in New York City.

He didn’t say anything — just looked at it for another second, then set it aside and kept digging.

Underneath the hoodie was a full set of gym clothes — black, breathable, ridiculously soft. Sonic spotted the tag and immediately raised an eyebrow.

Lululemon.

Yeah. There's no way Shadow picked that on his own.

He didn’t say anything, but the smirk on his face said it all.

Definitely Rouge.

Shadow didn’t speak, but his eyes were on him.

For a second, his gaze drifted past Sonic, toward the back corner of the safehouse, where Tails' workspace sat untouched.

It was quick. 

Then his eyes were back on Sonic, steady again.

Sonic didn’t notice. He was still focused on the bag, already reaching in for whatever came next.

His hand landed on a tub. He pulled it out, turned it over, and read the label.

Blue Lightning.

Preworkout powder.

Sonic stared at it for a second, then gave a small shake of his head. “Of course you got me the one named Blue Lightning.”

No answer, which, from Shadow, tracked.

He pulled out the matching blue shaker bottle and set it next to the hoodie. Everything was weirdly coordinated. 

And apparently, that still wasn’t everything.

He reached in again and pulled out two cookbooks.

The first looked serious — clean design, it was probably full of things like quinoa and grilled salmon. Definitely not chili dogs…

The second had bold lettering slapped across the cover like a warning label:

Simple Meals for Idiots With No Time.

Sonic blinked, then burst out laughing. “Wow. Subtle.”

Shadow, deadpan as ever: “It was the most accurate title I could find.”

Sonic couldn’t help but laugh. He flicked through the pages for a second, scanning the recipes. "Guess you really went all-in on this 'get your life together' thing, huh?"

No reply, of course. But the fact that Shadow was actually trying, that was starting to sink in.

Sonic flipped through the cookbooks, still processing the whole “Shadow really went and bought me all this stuff” situation, when his hand brushed against something small at the bottom of the bag.

A sleek, black planner. He pulled it out, flicked it open, and his eyes landed on the title stamped inside:

Planner for ADHD Minds.

Sonic blinked, staring at it for a second. Then, he let out a short laugh.

“Wow. I feel like I’m just being harassed or made fun of at this point.”

Shadow didn’t answer right away. He just stood there, watching, eyes softening ever so slightly.

Sonic shook his head, still laughing to himself. “You're never gonna let me forget my ADHD, huh?”

At that, Shadow’s lips twitched — He laughed — a short, quiet laugh — and at the same time, his hand covered his face, like he was trying to hide the rare slip of emotion.

Sonic froze.

What the hell?

Shadow quickly cleared his throat and straightened up, the moment passing as quickly as it had come. “You needed it,” he said, voice back to its usual steady tone.

Sonic just stared at him, completely confused.

Sonic kept digging through the bag, his mind still half on the planner, when he finally hit the bottom.

A couple of receipts. Nothing else.

He pulled them out, looking at the first one. A Lululemon receipt with a seriously steep price printed at the top. He stared at it for a moment, then flipped it over.

In bold pink ink, there was a note:

“He wouldn’t let me pick the Define jacket. You’re welcome. — R.”

Sonic blinked. He knew that was Rouge’s work.

As for the Define jacket? He had no idea what that was, but he shrugged.

He didn’t need to linger on the rest of them. He put the receipts back in the bag and looked up at Shadow.

Sonic blinked, a little thrown. Then, he let out a short laugh and glanced up at Shadow. “Man… you didn’t need to do all this. Seriously.”

Shadow didn’t immediately respond. He just stood there, watching Sonic for a moment. Then, in his usual tone, he finally spoke. 

“You’re recovering. You’re trying. That’s enough reason.”

Sonic looked at him for a moment, his smile fading slightly as he processed the words. Shadow, the one who barely ever showed any kind of emotion, was standing here, giving him all this... because he was trying?

“Still doesn’t mean you had to buy me all this,” Sonic muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. “I didn’t ask for—”

“I know,” Shadow cut in, his voice softer than usual. “But you needed it.”

The way he said it made Sonic pause. For a second, it felt like the usual walls Shadow kept up were slipping just a bit. Sonic wasn’t used to hearing him sound this… considerate.

Sonic shook his head, still a little unsure of how to react to the whole thing. “I don’t know, man… You’re a weirdo.”

Shadow didn’t smile, but there was the tiniest shift in his eyes, something that might’ve been a flicker of amusement.

“I’ve been told.”

Sonic stared at Shadow for a moment. Before he could say anything more, he saw that Shadow’s eyes drifted toward the back of the room.

To Tails' workspace.

Sonic noticed but didn’t say anything right away. 

After a moment of silence, Shadow asked, almost casually, “Where’s the fox?”

Sonic shrugged. “Oh, Tails? He went off to work on something… I don’t know. He didn’t really say what. Who knows with him.”

Shadow didn’t respond immediately. His gaze lingered at Tails’ desk again, just for a second longer, before he looked back at Sonic.

Sonic raised an eyebrow. “What, you worried about him or something?”

Shadow snapped his attention back to Sonic, his expression hardening slightly. “No.”

But the words didn’t sit right with him. He could feel the weight of the lie pressing against his chest. It wasn’t that he didn’t care, he really did. It was the part that was harder to admit.

He had come here, dropped off the gift, tried to make sure Sonic was recovering, all the while still trying to keep his distance. It was supposed to be about making sure the mission was on track, making sure Miles stayed under control. But when he looked at Sonic, when he saw the care in his eyes, the pain he was trying to hide,  this didn’t feel like just another undercover mission.

The tension in his chest grew. Every time he looked at Sonic, it felt like there was a tug, something that wanted to pull him closer. And that wasn’t part of the plan. He couldn’t let himself feel this way. It was dangerous.

For a second, he wondered if he should leave. Just walk out and stick to the plan. Get back to what he was supposed to be doing.

But instead, Shadow stayed. His eyes lingered on Sonic for a moment before he finally spoke, his voice quieter, almost as if he was talking to himself.

“I’m just… making sure.”

Sonic raised an eyebrow. “Making sure of what?”

“That you’re actually doing okay.”

It wasn’t much, but there was something in the way Shadow said it that made Sonic pause.

Sonic shrugged, trying to shake off the heaviness.  “So, you’re my personal trainer now?”

Shadow didn’t smile, but there was a flicker in his gaze,  something almost like relief, though he quickly hid it. He stayed quiet for a beat before responding, his voice a little more steady.

“When you’re up for it, I could help you get back to the gym. You’re not going to get any stronger just sitting around.”

Sonic blinked. “I’m still recovering. Don’t think you’ll catch me lifting weights just yet.”

Shadow looked at him for a moment, considering his words. “I’m not saying now. But when you’re ready, you’ll need someone to push you. It’ll be better with someone who knows what it takes.”

Sonic was quiet for a moment, letting the offer sink in. Shadow wasn’t just making an off hand comment; he was genuinely offering. And that meant something.

“Alright, alright, I get it,” Sonic said, trying to brush it off with a grin. “When I’m healed, you’re my spotter. But no way I’m letting you pick my workouts.”

Shadow almost smirked, though he didn’t fully break his serious expression. “Fine. But I’ll still expect you to keep up.”

Sonic laughed softly. “We’ll see about that.”

Shadow nodded, but the words didn’t feel as sharp as they should. For a moment, they just stood there in silence. Shadow’s eyes flickered over Sonic again, lingering on him longer than necessary.

He really was trying. Trying to recover. Trying to take care of himself. Shadow had seen enough to know that much. But there was still that nagging feeling in his chest, like he couldn’t let go, couldn’t just be here. Not without feeling like he was compromising something.

He shifted on his feet, about to say something, maybe give a little more of himself away than he ever had, when suddenly—

The sharp beep of his comm cut through the room, breaking the silence. Shadow immediately tensed, his posture straightening as his hand went to his comm device.

“Shadow, we need you. Immediate deployment. Code S.”

He didn’t even have to look at the screen to know what it meant. The mission. It wasn’t a request. It wasn’t optional. He had to go.

He paused for a moment, eyes darting back to Sonic. He didn’t want to leave. Not now. Not when it felt like there was something left unsaid. But the moment slipped away, just like that, as duty called.

“...I have to go,” Shadow said quietly, his voice lacking the usual edge. He glanced at the door, the weight of the situation hanging over him.

Sonic watched him, the teasing grin fading into a knowing look. “Yeah. I figured.”

Shadow turned toward the door, his hand still on the comm. He hesitated, just for a moment, before turning his head back toward Sonic.

“Keep up the good work.”

Then, without warning, Shadow smirked, that familiar edge returning.

“See you around, faker .”

Before Sonic could respond, Shadow was already running toward the door, his Air Shoes making that signature whoosh on the floor.

The door slammed shut behind him, and Sonic just stood there, staring at it.

He stared at the door for a moment, then smirked. “Shadow really just gave me a sermon. Am I supposed to start collecting loaves of bread now? Maybe a few fish?”

Sonic snorted, shaking his head. “Okay, okay, I need to stop with the Bible jokes….”

He stared at the empty doorway for a long moment, but then a thought hit him. He didn’t know how he was supposed to get over this. Shadow, acting like that — the concern, the care. Sonic had never seen it from him before.

He looked around the room, but nothing felt quite the same.

There was no way he could just continue the day normally after that. Not after everything that had just happened.

With a frustrated sigh, he leaned back, staring at the ceiling, trying to process what all of this meant. But the longer he thought, the more he realized he wasn’t sure how to make sense of any of it.

Chapter Text

Shadow tossed his jacket onto the back of the couch, letting it crumple next to a stack of forgotten field reports. The apartment was dim, lit only by the flickering screen Omega was plugged into across the room. Something about the low light made it easier to ignore everything else — the noise, the pressure, the war still simmering outside the city.

He made his way to the kitchen, muscles still aching from the workout earlier. They’d gone hard at the gym. Sonic was finally getting physically better, back to his normal fast self and had challenged him to a new circuit.

It had become part of the routine. Do whatever mission was assigned with Team Dark, Gym in the morning, sometimes lunch after. More often than not, they ended up back at Sonic’s place, wasting hours doing nothing. It was easy.

But he was also keeping his eyes out. For the fox. Miles hadn’t been home in days. He’d call and check up on Sonic occasionally. He claimed he was out on an offsite project for G.U.N.

Shadow wasn’t buying it.

He didn’t tell Sonic that, though.

What would he even say?

That he didn’t believe Miles, the one person Sonic still called family? That something about the fox didn’t sit right? That he’d started acting strange right after those new bots showed up,  the ones clearly programmed to target Sonic specifically, with reaction times and tactics tuned to his speed?

He couldn’t say any of it. Not without sounding completely insane. Not without shattering the sense of peace Sonic had just started to piece back together. 

So he kept it to himself.

Every time Sonic mentioned his name in passing — said he hoped “Tails” was doing okay, or wondered when he’d be back — Shadow said nothing. Just nodded. Kept his voice neutral. Pretended he wasn’t counting the hours or scanning every corner for signs of him.

But he was.

He didn’t trust it. Any of it.

Miles had been acting strange that one night. The way he avoided eye contact, the way his tone kept shifting like his mind was somewhere else. Like he knew something. Like he was waiting for something.

Shadow couldn’t prove anything — not yet. But he could feel it. Something was wrong.

And the longer Miles stayed gone, the more that unease twisted in his chest like a blade.

He didn’t want to drag Sonic into it. Didn’t want to plant doubt where there didn’t need to be any. Not yet.

Not until he knew, without question, what the fox was doing..

Shadow exhaled through his nose, dragging a hand down his face. He’d gotten lost in his own thoughts again.

He pushed off the wall and headed for the kitchen, muscles still aching from the workout earlier. 

“Let me guess,” she said, not looking up. “You were at his place again.”

Shadow grabbed a water bottle  from the fridge. “We trained.”

“Mhm. Sure.” She flipped the tablet over, finally glancing at him. “Could’ve fooled me. From the way you look, I figured you were doing something else.”

His eyes narrowed. “Elaborate.”

Omega stood motionless in the corner, plugged into the wall and seemingly idle — which usually meant the opposite. Shadow barely registered him until the red glow of his optics brightened and his voice cut through the room.

“I HAVE INFORMATION.”

Shadow didn’t even look up. “If this is about G.U.N.'s drone updates again—”

“THIS IS NOT G.U.N. MISSION DATA. CLASSIFIED U.S. GOVERNMENT ARCHIVE. FILE IDENTIFIED: PROJECT RESET.”

That made him stop.

Rouge glanced over, suddenly alert. “Reset?” she echoed. “The hell is that?”

Omega’s optics flared fully to life as a screen beside him powered on. “PROJECT RESET: RESTORATION ENGINE FOR SECURING EARTH’S TOMORROW. PRIMARY CONTRIBUTORS: DOCTOR MILES PROWER. DOCTOR IVO ROBOTNIK. FUNDED THROUGH UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT BLACK BUDGET. AUTHORIZED BY THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT.”

Shadow stepped forward slowly, staring at the glowing data across the screen.

“When did it start?” he asked, voice low.

“INITIALIZED: TWENTY-TWO DAYS AGO. MOST RECENT ACTIVITY: EIGHTEEN HOURS AGO. ALL FILES CURRENTLY ENCRYPTED. LOCATION: UNDISCLOSED REMOTE SERVER.”

Shadow’s jaw tightened. Twenty-two days. 

He didn’t say anything. He just headed for the door.

Rouge stood. “Where are you going?”

Shadow didn’t look back. “To ask Sonic if he knows.”

She stepped toward him. “Wait. We don’t even know what it does. You barge in now and blow your cover, and we lose everything — the mission, the intel, him .”

Still, he didn’t stop.

Rouge’s voice dropped lower. “What if he figures it out? That you’ve been watching him. That all this time, you’ve been keeping tabs, not just checking in.”

Shadow hesitated. Just for a second. His shoulders stiffened, his hand hovering on the doorknob.

“He deserves to know what his so-called brother is working on,” he said.

And then he left.

'The door clicked softly behind him as Shadow stepped inside.

The lights were low. The TV was on but muted, casting a soft glow over the room. And there was Sonic, lounging comfortably on the edge of the couch, still towel-drying the ends of his damp quills, wearing a loose tee that clung slightly to his still wet fur. His cheeks had that warm flush that came from a hot shower, and there was a faint trail of steam drifting from the hallway behind him.

Shadow hesitated for half a second. 

Shadow blinked, straightened his stance, and shoved the thought aside.

Sonic ran the towel once more through his quills, then draped it around his neck. “You again?” he said with a smile. “At this rate, I should start charging rent.”

Shadow didn’t respond, but his gaze lingered

“You just got out..” he muttered.

“Yeah.” Sonic shrugged. “Didn’t think you’d swing by again this soon.”

“Neither did I,” Shadow said.

Sonic laughed under his breath. “Guess I shouldn’t be surprised anymore.”

Sonic shrugged and leaned against the counter instead. “So? Everything okay?”

Shadow stayed standing, arms crossed, eyes trailing over the apartment before settling back on him. “Still no sign of him, huh?”

Sonic blinked. “Tails?”

A short nod.

“Yeah, no clue where he’s been. Probably working on some big tech thing for G.U.N.—whatever it is they’ve got him doing now.”

Shadow didn’t answer right away.

Sonic looked over. “Why do you keep asking about him, anyway?”

There was a pause. A little too long.

Shadow’s eyes narrowed. “Just noticed he’s been gone a long time.”

 “Yeah, well… with the way things are lately, I’m guessing they’ve got him deep in some high-level tech. Wouldn’t really be the first time he disappeared into a project.”

Shadow gave a quiet hum in response, but it was vague. His posture didn’t relax.

Sonic raised a brow. “Is there something I should be worried about?”

“Do you even know what he’s working on?”

That caught Sonic off guard. “What?”

“I mean, you trust him. But do you actually know what he’s building?”

Sonic frowned. “Alright, what’s going on with you?”

Shadow’s gaze lingered. His voice, when he spoke again, had shifted—less direct, more guarded. “Forget it.”

Sonic’s tone shifted slightly, the grin fading. “No, seriously. What’s going on with you today?”

Shadow didn’t answer right away. His eyes drifted to the window, then back to Sonic, like he was trying to decide how much to say.

“You trust him,” he said. “Don’t you.”

Sonic blinked. “Tails?”

Shadow gave a slow nod.

“Yeah,” Sonic said, like it was obvious. “Of course I do. He’s like my brother.”

Shadow didn’t react, but something in his posture tightened.

Sonic squinted at him. “Wait, why? What’s going on?”

Shadow didn’t look away. “You said he’s been working a lot. Off the grid. You don’t know what it is.”

Sonic shrugged. “I mean, no. But he’s been like that before. It’s just his role in all this, y’know? You and I are out there fighting, but Tails… he builds the stuff that keeps everyone alive. That kind of work takes time. It’s different.”

“You don’t ever ask?”

“I do sometimes,” Sonic said. “He usually tells me when it matters. I don’t need to bug him every five minutes.”

He paused, then stepped a little closer, expression tightening.

“Okay—seriously. What is this? You didn’t come here just to hang out. What’s going on, Shads?”

Shadow hesitated, his jaw tight.

"Look... I think he’s the one behind those bots. The ones we fought—"

The front door suddenly clicked open.

Both of them turned.

Tails stepped inside, shoulders weighed down by his backpack, fur slightly ruffled from the breeze outside. His goggles were pushed up on his head, and his jacket was half-zipped like he’d thrown it on without thinking. He looked like he hadn’t slept in days—his eyes dull, but that wasn’t exactly unusual for him during a project. 

He didn’t seem to notice the tension…

“Hey guys!” he called, letting the door shut behind him with a soft thud. He dropped his bag by the wall and looked between them, grinning. “Wow, again? You two really can’t stay away from each other, huh?”

Neither of them said a word.

Tails blinked, then raised a brow. “Okay… Did I walk in on something? I can totally come back later if you need a minute or-”

“No,” Shadow said flatly. “Sit down.”

Tails froze, caught completely off guard.

Before he could respond, Sonic stepped forward, frowning. “Whoa—what? No. What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

He moved slightly in front of Tails. “You don’t order him around. What’s going on?”

Shadow didn’t back off. His eyes stayed locked on Sonic.

Shadow’s voice was sharp now, pushed through clenched teeth.

“I need to talk to him. That’s it.”

Sonic stepped forward, tone flaring. “Yeah? Well, you’re not talking to him like that.”

His arms stayed at his sides, but his voice carried weight now, it was more than just irritation. “You don’t get to walk in here and start barking orders like he owes you something. If you’ve got something to say, then say it.” 

“Guys—please.”

Tails’ voice cracked into the tension like a thread pulling too tight. He stepped around Sonic, hands raised slightly like he was trying to ease them both down.

“Just stop. Both of you.”

They looked down at him. The shift in tone hit instantly.

Tails rubbed the back of his neck, trying to steady his breathing—but the guilt was already showing.

“I figured you'd find out eventually,” he said, eyes flicking briefly to Shadow. 

Shadow didn’t move.

Sonic blinked. “Find out what?”

Tails hesitated, then exhaled slowly.

“There is something I haven’t told you. Something I’ve been working on.” His voice dropped. “A project. It’s… bigger than anything I’ve built before.”

His eyes dropped to the floor.

“I wasn’t ready to explain it. Not yet. Not when it involves the kind of tech that messes with—” He cut himself off.

Shadow cut in, voice hard. “The bots. It was you.”

Tails’ eyes snapped up, startled. “What?”

“The ones we fought,” Shadow went on. “The way they moved. Adapted. Predicted him.” He nodded toward Sonic. “You and Robotnik built them, didn’t you?”

“No,” Tails said immediately, shaking his head. “No—those weren’t mine. I had nothing to do with those.”

Shadow didn’t back off. “Then who did? You’re the only ones with the knowledge to—”

“It wasn’t me!” Tails snapped, louder than he meant to. His chest rose and fell with each breath. “The project isn’t about that. It has nothing to do with combat AI or those robots. This is something else.”

Shadow stepped forward, fury simmering beneath his voice. “Don’t lie to me. Why else would you be working with Robotnik?”

“Because he’s one of the only people smart enough to help,” Tails shot back, eyes wide, voice cracking. “I didn’t go to him for machines. It’s not about the bots. It never was.”

He took a shaky breath. “I needed his knowledge for something else. Something bigger.”

Sonic’s voice came low. “Then what is it?”

Tails looked at him, then at Shadow. His mouth opened like he might dodge the question, but he didn’t. Not this time.

He let out a shaky breath, his shoulders finally dropping.

“…It’s called Project RESET.”

The room went still.

Tails glanced up, eyes flicking between them.

“Restoration Engine for Securing Earth’s Tomorrow.”

He swallowed. “We built it to fix things. To undo everything that’s happened.”

Shadow’s eyes narrowed.

“Undo?” he echoed. “What the hell does that mean?”

Tails hesitated.

Shadow took a step closer, his voice low.

“You’re talking about reversing the damage. The war. The losses. You think you can just erase it all?”

Tails didn’t answer right away.

Because yes. That’s exactly what he was trying to do.

Sonic’s voice cut through the silence, quieter now but laced with disbelief.

“Wait… undo everything?” His gaze flicked between them. “You’re not talking about time travel, are you?”

Tails shook his head. “No. It’s not like that.”

Sonic took a step back, eyes narrowing. “Then what is it?”

Tails hesitated, then finally said it.

“It’s a reset. A total rewrite. Of everything. The world, the war… all of it. Like it never happened.”

He swallowed hard.

“No one would remember. Not even us.”

Shadow stepped forward, voice sharp. “I knew you were up to something.”

Tails flinched.

“You think you can just wipe the board clean? Erase everything like it’s a bad dream?” His tone was rising now, each word sharper than the last. “You really built something that dangerous— with Robotnik —and didn’t tell anyone?”

Tails opened his mouth, but Shadow cut him off again.

“You hid this. From everyone .”

“No!” Tails snapped, voice cracking. “It wasn’t some secret lab experiment—I didn’t do this behind anyone’s back.”

He looked at both of them, breath shaking. “The government funded it. They know. G.U.N. knows. It’s authorized, it’s real, it’s not some hidden plot.”

His voice softened. “I just… I didn’t tell you because I knew how you’d react.”

He looked straight at Shadow.

“Especially you.”

Sonic had been watching the whole time—silent, eyes fixed on Tails like he didn’t recognize him.

Sonic hadn’t moved through the shouting.

But now, he took a slow step back.

His eyes stayed on Tails, wide and unblinking, voice barely audible.

“You really built something to rewrite everything,” he said. “And you didn’t tell me.”

Tails didn’t speak.

Sonic let out a quiet breath, almost a laugh, but there was nothing funny in it. Just disbelief.

“All this time… you were working on something that big, and you couldn’t even trust me with it?”

He shook his head, taking another step back. “You didn’t even give me a chance to understand.”

Tails took a shaky step forward. “Look—I was going to tell you. I swear I was.”

His voice was rising, desperate now. “We still have so much testing to do. More trials. More safety checks. It’s nowhere near finished—it’s going to take months. I was gonna tell you today. Right now. Before everything got... like this.”

He turned to Shadow, voice tightening. “You didn’t even let me finish.”

Then, quieter, accusing. “How did you find out anyway?”

Shadow said nothing.

Tails stared at him, breath unsteady, the pieces falling into place.

“…That’s why you’ve been coming around so much. Isn’t it?”

His voice stayed quiet, steady now. Certain.

“You weren’t here for Sonic. You were here for me.”

He took a step forward, gaze locked on Shadow.

“You were pretending to care about him. Acting like you actually gave a damn.”

The words hit harder now, sharper.

“But really, you were just playing him. Getting close so you could keep tabs on me.”

That finally did it.

Sonic flinched like the words hit him physically. His eyes shot to Shadow, searching his face, like he was hoping, praying , it wasn’t true.

“...Is that true?” he asked.

Shadow still didn’t speak.

And that silence? That was worse than anything he could’ve said.

Sonic’s expression twisted, hurt flashing behind his eyes. “You were just using me?”

His voice cracked on the last word.

Shadow’s jaw tightened. His voice came low, tense.

“No. Sonic… it’s not like that.”

He looked at him fully now, and for a moment, there was nothing guarded in his expression.

“I didn’t come here because of a mission. There wasn’t one. Not at first.”

Sonic’s brow furrowed. “Not at first?”

Shadow’s voice stayed steady.

“I came because I wanted to. After that first battle... I stayed. I meant to. That was real.”

He glanced at Tails.

“But when I saw how he was acting—how off he was, I started digging. And the more I found out, the more I knew something was wrong.”

He looked back at Sonic.

“I didn’t fake what I felt. Not with you.”

Sonic didn’t say anything at first.

His breathing had gone shallow. His hands were curled into loose fists at his sides, like he was holding something in, barely.

“Don’t lie to me,” he said quietly.

He looked away, shaking his head. “You knew how bad things were for me. And you still…”

His voice faltered, but he kept going.

“I was finally starting to get better. And you—”

He stopped. A breath caught in his throat.

“How could you do that to me?”

Silence.

Then, softer than before, and somehow even heavier:

“Just go.”

He didn’t look at him again.

Shadow stepped forward, slow, careful, and reached out toward Sonic.

But the moment his hand touched Sonic’s, Sonic jerked away like he’d been burned.

“Don’t,” he said.

Shadow froze, hand still half raised.

He stood there for a second, jaw clenched, breathing hard through his nose.

Then he turned to Tails.

His voice was cold now. 

“Hope it was worth it.”

He didn’t wait for a response.

And the door slammed behind him.

The silence that followed was deafening….

Tails stood frozen, shoulders tight, eyes locked on the door.

Sonic still hadn’t moved.

The silence stretched.

Then, slowly, Sonic turned, just enough to glance at him.

“You were planning to rewrite the world, and you just let me sit there thinking things were finally normal again.”

Tails took a small step forward. “I didn’t want to hurt you. ”

Sonic flinched like the words stung. “You did anyway.”

“You were texting me about him,” he whispered. “Telling me how things felt different. How maybe you were finally okay again.”

He swallowed hard.

“I didn’t want to be the one to take that away from you.”

Sonic’s breath caught, and he shook his head, slow and tired.

“You're supposed to tell me everything. That’s what we do.”

Tails’ voice cracked. “I was scared.”

“I would've helped you.”

Sonic’s voice dropped to almost nothing.

“I would've believed in you.”

Tails covered his mouth with one hand, eyes burning. “I know.”

Sonic didn’t say anything else.

He just stood there, arms at his sides, completely still—like he’d run out of words.

The silence held for a long moment, heavy and uncertain.

Then Tails took a breath, voice low and trembling. “I should’ve told you from the beginning. Not just about Eggman.. ”

He looked up.

“But about what RESET actually does.”

Sonic didn’t interrupt.

Tails kept going, slower this time, like saying it made it real.

“It’s not time travel. It doesn’t send us back. It will just reset everything to a stable point. Before the war. Before all of this. Like rewriting code and booting from a backup.”

He hesitated.

“No one would remember. Not even us. It would be like it never happened.”

He met Sonic’s eyes.

“But people would be alive. Amy. Knuckles. Everyone we lost.”

Sonic’s face was unreadable for a beat.

Then he stepped closer, just slightly.

“You think I wouldn’t understand that?” he said, quietly. “That I wouldn’t want that too?”

Tails didn’t answer.

Sonic’s voice softened further. “You’re my brother.”

A pause.

“And I trust you.”

Even now.

Even after everything.

Tails blinked, lips pressed tight like he was holding back everything at once.

And then, he stepped forward.

He wrapped his arms around Sonic.

Sonic didn’t hesitate.

He pulled him in, arms firm around his little brother like he wasn’t letting go anytime soon.

Neither of them spoke.

They didn’t need to.

They just stood there, holding each other in the middle of the wreckage, breathing, shaking, still.

Eventually, Tails pulled back slightly, not all the way, just enough to look up at him.

His voice was wrecked.

“…I’m sorry. About Shadow.”

Sonic didn’t say anything.

Tails kept going.

“I didn’t mean for that to happen. I didn’t know just how close you two were getting. I thought I was protecting you, but…”

He looked down.

“I think I made everything worse.”

Sonic was quiet for a beat.

Then he reached up and rested a hand on the back of Tails’ head.

“You didn’t make him lie,” he said softly. “That was his choice.”

Another pause.

“But yeah. It still hurts.”

Tails nodded.

“I know.”

Tails swallowed. “Maybe he didn’t mean what he said.”

There was a flicker in Sonic’s expression, pain, but no surprise.

“He did,” he said quietly.

Tails hesitated. “But maybe—”

“No,” Sonic cut in, firmer this time. “He made his choice.”

His voice was soft, but final.

“I’m done.”

Tails opened his mouth, but there was nothing left to say.

Sonic just stood there, staring past him, like the person he wanted to see was already gone.

Then he let out a breath. 

“I’m gonna go upstairs,” he said. “Lie down for a bit.”

Tails nodded slowly. “...Okay.”

“I just... need some time.”

Sonic gently gave  Tails’ shoulder a light squeeze, and turned toward the stairs.

“If you need anything…” Tails said quietly, watching him go.

Sonic paused on the first step. “I know.”

Then he climbed the rest without looking back.

His door shut a few seconds later.

And Tails was left standing in the quiet downstairs, surrounded by everything that couldn’t be unsaid.

Upstairs, the door clicked shut behind him.

Sonic didn’t bother turning on the light.

He just sat on the edge of the bed, elbows on his knees, hands hanging loosely between them.

He stared at the floor, blinking slowly.

He wasn’t mad at Tails. He couldn’t be.

That was his brother. He basically raised him. Sonic had been there for invention meltdowns, for his first real fears and first real triumphs. From the beginning, it had always been them .

And the truth was… he trusted Tails. He always had. Not just with his life, but with the hard stuff. The decisions Sonic couldn’t always make. The ones that needed more brain than instinct. More patience than speed.

If anyone was going to build something like RESET and do it for the right reasons, it would be Tails.

And honestly?

At this point, why would it even be wrong?

What was left?

Amy was gone. Knuckles too. Half the world was unrecognizable. The only person Sonic hadn’t lost yet... was Tails.

And even now, sitting in the dark, heart torn in half over Shadow’s betrayal, that was the one thing grounding him.

Tails was still here.

But Shadow wasn’t.

And that... hurt in a way Sonic didn’t know how to sit with.

He hadn’t expected it to matter this much. He hadn’t meant for it to matter.

But it did.

The quiet moments. The gym sessions. The weird, clipped conversations that somehow turned into real ones. The time Shadow just stayed , not out of obligation, not because anyone asked him to, but because he wanted to.

Or at least, Sonic thought he had.

It was hard to tell now what had been real and what wasn't. How many of those visits were just part of a plan to monitor Tails.

And maybe that was what made it worse.

Because Sonic had started to hope.

Maybe he should’ve seen it coming.

That first night after the bot battle, when everything hurt and the world felt like it was closing in—Shadow had hung with him, accepted a chili dog, and started to open up to him.

That was the night Sonic started to believe maybe he wasn’t completely broken.

Then there was the other night. The bag of gifts. 

Shadow had thought about what Sonic needed before Sonic even knew how to ask.

And for a second Sonic let himself believe it wasn’t just kindness. That maybe it meant something.

But now?

Now all of that felt like it had been calculated. Every visit. Every word. Every look.

If it was just a mission... then what did that make him ?

A distraction?

A way in?

Sonic dragged his hands down his face, trying to push the thoughts out of his head. But they didn’t leave.

They never did.

And the worst part?

He still missed him.

Even now.

Even after everything.

Sonic exhaled through his nose and leaned back, dragging a hand over his face. His thoughts were spiraling, looping in circles he couldn’t escape.

He reached for his phone without thinking.

The screen lit up.

One new message.

From Shadow.

I know you told me to go. But if you’ll let me… I still want to explain.

Sonic stared at it.

Then his fingers moved, fast, deliberate.

i don’t want your excuses. stay the hell away from me.

Send.

He locked the screen without even looking at the read receipt and tossed the phone onto the bed beside him.

No more messages.

No more chances.

He just stayed there. Numb, tired, and not ready to let go of any of it…

The message hit harder than any bullet.

i don’t want your excuses. stay the hell away from me.

Shadow stared at the screen.

No response. 

He didn’t react. 

Behind him, Omega’s red optics flickered to life from standby.

“STATUS: YOU APPEAR AGITATED.”

Shadow didn’t look at him.

“Pull up the RESET files,” he said quietly. “Everything you can find. Start at the last traceable remote access point.”

Omega whirred into motion. “INTERFACE ACQUIRED. ACCESSING… ENCRYPTED ARCHIVES DETECTED.”

Shadow sat, folding his arms.

“Bypass it.”

“I AM.”

The minutes crawled.

Shadow said nothing. Just sat there waiting.

Then Omega’s screen lit up.

“PROJECT RESET ARCHIVE FOUND. DISPLAYING CURRENT STATUS.”

A simple interface blinked to life.

PHASE 3: Calibration Complete
Neural Mapping Indexing Initialized

Memory Recode Protocol: LOCKED
World-State Anchor: STABLE

Shadow leaned forward, eyes narrowing.

“What does that mean?”

Omega’s voice dropped a pitch, unusual, even for him.

“INITIATED MEMORY RESET WILL ERASE ALL RELEVANT USER DATA. INCLUDING SELF.”

Shadow stared at the screen.

This wasn’t a weapon.

It was an eraser.

One line at the bottom of the interface stood out, highlighted in red:

Warning: Full overwrite is irreversible. No post-event recovery.

Shadow’s chest felt tight.

This wasn’t some passive defense system.

This was a goddamn reset button.

He exhaled slowly, almost under his breath.

“…What the hell did you make, Prower?”

Shadow’s voice was quiet, but it landed like a blow.

The room stayed silent for a moment, filled only by the low hum of Omega’s terminal and the pulsing glow of the RESET interface on screen.

Rouge leaned against the table nearby, arms folded, watching him.

“You thought it was the bots,” she said, voice low.

Shadow didn’t respond.

“You thought Tails built them. The ones that went after Sonic.”

His jaw flexed. Just once.

“I did.”

Rouge didn’t smirk. She didn’t tease. She just said, calm as ever, “You feel bad about that.”

“I do,” Shadow muttered. “Because it wasn’t him. And I should’ve known that.”

He looked at the screen again, the cold code detailing neural wipes, global overwrites, irreversible system anchoring.

“But this?” he added, voice hardening. “This is still reckless. Whatever his intentions were, RESET is too dangerous.”

Omega’s optics brightened as he spoke. “PROJECT RESET STATUS: ACTIVE BUT UNFINISHED. SYSTEM CALIBRATION ONGOING. ESTIMATED COMPLETION TIME: TWO TO THREE MONTHS.”

Rouge stepped closer to the terminal. “So we’ve got time.”

“No,” Shadow said. “We’ve got a countdown.”

He turned slightly toward Rouge, something colder settling behind his eyes now.

“He thinks it’s the only way to fix what we lost. But if this thing goes off…”

He didn’t finish the sentence.

Rouge raised a brow. “So what are you gonna do?”

Shadow looked at her.

And, for once, there was no mask.

“...I don’t know.”

He looked back at the screen, quieter now.

“I thought I did. But now...”

Shadow’s voice trailed off, rough around the edges.

He didn’t move. Just kept staring at the screen, eyes locked on the words he didn’t want to see anymore.

Rouge turned slightly, watching him carefully.

And then, finally, he said it.

“He told me to stay away.”

Shadow’s hands curled into fists at his sides.

“I was trying to protect him. I thought... I thought it was the right thing.”

His voice didn’t crack, but it wasn’t steady either.

“I got too close. Let my guard down. And now he thinks I used him.”

He laughed once, under his breath. It sounded more like choking.

“Maybe I did.”

Rouge took a step closer, but didn’t say anything.

Shadow’s jaw clenched. His next words barely made it out.

“He trusted me.”

He shook his head slowly.

“And I ruined it.”

Rouge didn’t look away.

“No,” she said. “You didn’t.”

Shadow didn’t respond.

She shifted her weight, arms still folded, but her voice softened just enough.

“I saw the way you looked at him. ”

She met his eyes.

“You didn’t fake that, Shadow. Not even close.”

Still, he said nothing.

She paused.

“And for what it’s worth? I think that was the most honest thing you’ve done in a long time.”

“I don’t know if that makes it better.”

Silence followed.

The air felt heavy.

Then—

“I HAVE FINISHED ANALYZING THE FILE STRUCTURE,” Omega announced, completely unbothered.

“PROBABILITY OF THIS ENDING WELL: 0.03 PERCENT.”

Rouge blinked. “That high, huh?”

Shadow exhaled, just barely. “Thanks for the optimism.”

“YOU ARE WELCOME.”

Shadow leaned forward slightly, eyes fixed on the terminal, but not really reading anymore.

He was thinking.

Not just about RESET.

But about Sonic.

About the way he looked at him—like he didn’t even recognize him anymore.

About Tails— Miles —standing there,  when Shadow accused him of things he didn’t do.

And now?

Sonic wanted nothing to do with him.

And Tails... he deserved more than an apology, but Shadow didn’t even know where to start.

He didn’t know how to fix RESET. Didn’t know how to fix Sonic. Didn’t know how to fix himself.

But he knew one thing.

He had to try.

Chapter Text

It had been a few days since Tails told him everything.

Since the truth about RESET finally came out, what it was, what it could do, what it would erase. Sonic hadn’t asked many questions at the time. He’d just gone quiet. Let it settle.

He still hadn’t said much.

Instead, he trained.

Hard.

Solo missions had started back up again. Nothing too intense. Scouting runs, quick drop-ins, recon work. The kind of jobs he used to breeze through without thinking. Now he treated them like drills. Timed every second. Sharpened every reflex.

And it was working.

Physically, he was stronger than he’d been in weeks. Faster too. His stamina was finally back, and he was moving like himself again, like the version of him that used to feel untouchable. The diet helped. He hadn’t admitted it out loud, but the cookbooks and preworkout Shadow gave him were actually doing something. He was eating real food. Getting decent sleep. Sticking to a routine.

The door creaked open as he stepped into his safehouse, towel around his neck, water bottle in one hand. His fur was still damp, chest rising and falling from the cooldown sprint. The black Lululemon gear clung to him in all the right ways.

Tails looked up from his desk when he heard the door.

“You’re back late,” he said.

Sonic didn’t respond at first. He crossed the room and opened the fridge, cracked open a bottle of water, and leaned against the counter with a quiet exhale.

“You’ve been hitting it hard,” Tails said.

“Yeah.”

“You look good,” he added, a little more sincerely. “Stronger.”

Sonic gave a small nod. “Guess I am.”

There was a pause.

The silence stretched.

Tails shifted slightly in his seat, like he was going to say something else, but Sonic beat him to it.

“…How’s it going? With RESET.”

Tails blinked. The question caught him off guard.

He straightened a little. “Uh… it’s steady. Calibration’s holding. Still a long way off, but it’s… working.”

Sonic didn’t look over. He just kept his eyes on the floor, like the answer didn’t matter, but he’d asked for a reason.

“If it actually works,” he said, voice lower now. “They’d come back. Right?”

Tails hesitated.

“…Yeah. That’s the point.”

Sonic’s jaw tightened. His grip shifted on the water bottle.

“And we wouldn’t remember.”

It wasn’t even a question. 

Tails nodded slowly. “No.”

Sonic stood still.

“…Maybe that wouldn’t be such a bad thing.”

Tails looked over, unsure. “Honestly, I didn’t think you’d say that.”

Sonic didn’t answer.

He took another drink, eyes still locked on the floor.

“I’ve been thinking about it,” he said after a moment, voice quiet. “More than I want to admit.”

Tails hesitated, then spoke.

“I mean... that’s why I built it.”

Sonic’s eyes shifted to Tails, but he didn’t say a word.

“I wasn’t trying to keep it from you,” Tails went on. “I just… I knew how it would sound. How dangerous it sounded. Rewriting everything. Starting over.”

He adjusted in his seat, gaze falling to the mess of notes in front of him like they might help him find the right words.

“But after everything we lost… after Amy, after Knuckles... I couldn’t stop thinking about it. About how wrong it all felt. How none of it should’ve happened.”

Sonic’s grip tightened around the bottle.

Tails kept going.

“I thought maybe... if I could make something that fixed it—not with more weapons, or another fight—but actually undid it, maybe it wouldn’t all feel so pointless.”

He hesitated, fingers loosely laced together.

“I figured you'd be the one to shut it down. That if you ever found out, you'd say something like... there’s no such thing as rewriting the past.”

A pause.

“But you didn’t.”

The silence that followed stretched too long to be comfortable.

Sonic stayed where he was.

Eventually, he spoke quietly.

“…Maybe I would’ve,” he said. “Before.”

He didn’t sound mad. He just sounded done.

“I don’t know anymore….”

The room went silent again.

Sonic stood there for a few more seconds, then turned without a word and headed for the stairs.

His footsteps were soft on each step, slow and steady, until they disappeared down the hall above.

A door clicked shut.

Tails stayed where he was, unsure if saying any more would’ve even mattered..

Sonic didn’t sleep much that night, but it was enough to call it rest.

By morning, he was already moving.

The gym was empty when Sonic got there. Just how he liked it.

No crowd. No distractions. Just the low hum of fluorescent lights, the occasional clink of a weight machine resetting itself, and the sound of his own breathing echoing off the walls.

It was early. 5:00 am. But Sonic had already been up, already buzzed through his morning routine, already downed a scoop of Blue Lightning and jogged the ten blocks to get here.

The hoodie Shadow gave him was tied around his waist. Same with the gym clothes—breathable, black, way too nice to be anything other than expensive. He didn’t think about that part. Not anymore. They were just... clothes now. Part of the routine. Like the planner. Like the cookbook meals. Like the run.

Now, he was mid-set.

And he was focused.

Which is probably why he didn’t hear the door open.

But he felt something.

That weird, quiet shift in the air. 

He didn’t turn around.

Not right away.

He finished the last rep, arms straining just a little harder than he wanted to admit, racked the bar, and sat up slowly.

Then—

“Didn’t think you’d be here this early.”

Sonic froze.

He didn’t have to look to know the voice. He could’ve been concussed, half-asleep, wearing headphones, and he’d still know that voice. That stupid deadpan tone that somehow managed to sound bored and confrontational at the same time.

Sonic reached for his water bottle. Took a sip.

Still didn’t turn.

“…It’s my gym,” he said finally. 

Behind him, there was a pause. Footsteps. Quiet ones.

“I told you about it,” Shadow added.

Sonic’s jaw tightened.

“Yeah,” he muttered. “You did.”

Another pause.

Then he stood up, towel in one hand, and finally turned around.

Shadow was still a few feet away. Hands in his pockets. Jacket unzipped. He looked like he hadn’t slept. He didn’t look surprised to see Sonic.

Sonic hated that his first reaction wasn’t anger.

It was relief.

But that didn’t mean anything.

Not anymore.

“…Didn’t know you were coming today,” Sonic said. His tone was unreadable. Casual, almost. But if Shadow looked close enough, he’d see the wall there.

Shadow shrugged one shoulder. “Didn’t know you would be here.”

“Well. Here we are.”

Sonic moved past him, grabbed his towel off the bench, and wiped the back of his neck. He didn’t look at him again.

Shadow stepped a little closer, but not too close.

“You’re still using the gear.”

Sonic’s hand paused on the towel, just for a second. “It’s good stuff.”

“That planner too?”

“Yup. Just finished scheduling how much I hate you from 6 to 9.”

“You’re still mad…”

Sonic snorted under his breath, grabbing the towel again. “You think?”

He didn’t look over.

“I’m not in the mood to pretend I’m not.”

Shadow didn’t answer.

Sonic dropped the towel back on the bench and finally looked at him, really looked.

“…What do you want, Shadow.”

It wasn’t even a question. It was a resignation.

Shadow’s mouth opened like he had an answer. Then closed again.

“I thought maybe we could talk.”

Sonic laughed. Short. Dry.

“You want to talk. Now.”

Shadow’s expression didn’t change. “I didn’t plan to see you here. But since we’re both here…”

Sonic stepped back. Shook his head.

“Save it. Whatever you were gonna say. Whatever damage control script you’ve been rehearsing in your head for the past week.” 

Shadow didn’t move. He just stood there, letting it settle.

“You look… you look good, Sonic.” he said, voice low. 

Sonic didn’t respond right away.

“Now that I’m hot again, playing the part will be way easier. Right, agent?”

Shadow flinched.

“…Seriously?” Shadow said, quiet. Almost breathless.

He took a small step forward, locking eyes with Sonic.

“Sonic,” he said, more serious now. “That’s not–”

But Sonic didn’t wait to hear the rest.

He reached into his bag, pulled out his headphones, and popped them in without so much as a glance.

He tapped twice on the left bud. 

Whatever music started playing—Shadow couldn’t hear it. Couldn’t even tell if Sonic was really listening. But the message was loud enough.

Sonic turned away without looking back. Head down. Shoulders squared.

He walked to the far side of the gym, set his bottle back down on the bench, and picked up the next set of weights like Shadow hadn’t just tried to talk to him at all.

Like he didn’t exist.

Shadow took a step back. Then another.

Sonic still didn’t look up.

Still didn’t acknowledge him.

Before reaching the door, Shadow paused.

Turned.

And just watched.

Sonic was across the gym, he was locked in, breath steady, arms straining with each lift like the weight didn’t matter. Like he could push hard enough to forget everything.

Shadow didn’t say anything.

He just stood there, taking in the way Sonic trained like it was the only thing left he could control.

Then Shadow finally turned and walked out.

Sonic didn’t flinch.

He just kept going. One rep at a time. Over and over.

Eyes locked on nothing.

Like he was training for something that didn’t exist.

Or maybe something that did…

The thought stuck with him longer than it should have.

Long enough that the next set blurred into the one after it, and suddenly he couldn’t remember if he’d already done this round. Didn’t matter. He did it again anyway. Muscles burning. Wrists aching. Breath too shallow.

He didn’t care.

Because this wasn’t about sets. It wasn’t about strength.

It was about distraction.

It was about the split second at the top of the lift when his brain finally shut up, when there was nothing but motion, tension, control. His arms could hold it. His back could take it. His heart didn’t get a say.

The weights clanked louder. His form slipped. Just a little. Just enough for it to feel off.

And the second it did, everything else came rushing back in.

Amy, her hammer flashing in the corner of his memory, like it always did when he thought of her.

Knuckles, blood on his gloves and still cracking jokes like they weren’t both about to die.

Tails, younger than he had any right to be, creating a machine that shouldn’t exist, saying we could fix this.

And now… Shadow.

Not dead. Just one more person he couldn’t trust.

That part stung more than he wanted to admit.

Not because he didn’t see it coming. But because a small, stupid part of him hoped he was wrong.

Because for a second, it felt real. The visits. The gifts. The gym trips. That hoodie Sonic still hadn’t taken off. He wanted to believe it was more than surveillance. That maybe, just maybe, Shadow showed up because he wanted to.

But it was all just recon. Quiet intel gathering wrapped up in care packages and smirks and half-truths.

And Sonic let it happen. Let himself fall into the routine like it meant something.

Like maybe someone finally saw him.

Sonic gritted his teeth and dropped the bar.

It hit the floor with a crash, metal-on-metal. The echo made his ears ring.

He stayed hunched there for a second. Palms pressed to his knees. Breathing hard.

The room spun just a little.

He took a step back, toward the wall. Slid down until he was sitting, legs stretched in front of him, arms limp at his sides.

And finally, he let the silence land.

No music. No reps. No mission to run to.

Just him.

The hum of the lights above. The sting in his shoulders. The cold of the gym floor seeping into his back.

He hated it.

The quiet. The stillness. 

And the fact that Shadow came at all.

Because he didn’t have to.

He didn’t have to walk through that door, or say what he said, or try.

But he did.

And Sonic still shut him out.

Because he was mad. Still hurt. Still not ready to hear whatever Shadow thought would fix it.

And yeah, maybe Shadow meant it. Maybe everything, the hoodie, the visits, even that dumb planner was real. Or at least real enough.

But that didn’t matter when all Sonic could think about was how it felt to find out he was being watched. That someone had been close for weeks and still kept secrets.

He leaned his head back against the wall and exhaled through his nose.

He missed him already.

Not the fake version. Not the stiff, stoic soldier with a mission.

The real one. The one who bought gym clothes and told him to stop skipping meals. The one who stood in front of him like he wasn’t afraid of how messy he had gotten.

The one Sonic had looked at, just for a second, and thought: Please stay. 

Please tell me why you’re really here.

Please say it’s not just because you feel bad.

Say it’s because you care. Because you meant it. 

But he hadn’t waited.

He didn’t let Shadow finish.

He’d just put his headphones in. Shut him out.

And now the silence was back.

It was worse than before…

And it followed him out the door once he left.

The gym wasn’t the only place wrapped in silence. 

Tails’ lab at the safehouse was just as quiet.

Tails sat still, eyes locked on the glowing lines of code in front of him, the hum of the monitors buzzing like static in his ears. Something was off.

It was small, one line buried deep in the calibration parameters. A single function he didn’t remember writing. He checked the timestamp.

A few hours ago.

He hadn’t touched this file since last night.

Brows pulling together, he ran a version check. Then again. Same result.

It wasn’t damaged. It wasn’t a bug. It was an adjustment. Calibrated down to the decimal. Something only someone who understood the system inside and out could’ve done.

Someone with access.

Which, as far as Tails knew, meant two people: himself… and Eggman.

He pulled up the remote logs. No trace of external pings. No known backdoors flagged. Whoever had done it had gone in clean. Too clean.

His stomach tightened.

Shadow?

He hated the thought. But it wasn’t impossible. If Omega helped him bypass the firewall…

He called Eggman. If anyone else had touched the system, it would’ve been him.

Eggman answered immediately, already irritated. “You find another logic loop to obsess over or is this one actually important?”

Tails didn’t blink.

 “Did you change anything in the RESET config today?” Tails asked.

“No,” Eggman replied flatly. “Why?”

“There’s a line in the calibration tree that wasn’t there this morning.”

A short pause. Then a sharp, irritated snort. “Wasn't me.”

Tails said nothing else.

He ended the call.

He stared at the screen for a long moment. The mod wasn’t random. It was too specific. Not a glitch. This was deliberate.

He leaned back, arms crossed tightly over his chest.

If Eggman didn’t do it… then it had to be Shadow.

Maybe Omega helped him slip past the system protections, maybe not. But the code had Shadow’s fingerprints all over it..discreet, strategic, and without permission.

Tails’ jaw tightened.

Of course Shadow didn’t trust him. And now? That went both ways.

Tails paced once across the room, then stopped short when he heard the front door click shut. He didn’t need to turn around to know who it was—he could already hear the faint thud of sneakers and the familiar rustle of a gym bag being dropped just inside the hall.

Sonic.

Still damp from the gym. Hoodie hanging off one shoulder, eyes heavy with exhaustion or something worse.

He didn’t say anything.

Tails turned. “Hey.”

Sonic grunted, heading straight for the fridge without looking at him.

“Can we talk?”

That earned a pause. Just for a second.

“About what.”

Tails glanced down, then back up.

His fingers nervously twisted the strap of his goggles, a small habit he did when he wasn’t sure what to say next.

“It’s about…”

He exhaled slowly.

“Shadow,” he said. 

Sonic froze. 

His jaw clenched. 

“Don’t,” he said.

Tails didn’t move.

Sonic didn’t turn. He just stood there, back half to him, shoulders stiff.

“You really think I wanna hear that name right now?”

Tails hesitated. “I wouldn’t bring it up if it didn’t matter.”

“I think.. I think he's been messing with the code,” Tails said quietly, voice rough around the edges. “I think he slipped past the firewalls through Omega.”

Sonic didn’t move.

Tails swallowed, the dryness in his mouth making him lick his lips. “He doesn’t understand what I’m building. He doesn’t see the whole picture.”

He pulled a breath that felt heavier than it should. “Look, I don’t want him breaking the system. But more than that… I want you two to stop shutting each other out.”

His voice cracked just slightly. “You both actually care. I saw it,  the way you looked at each other. And I know he cares too.”

Silence filled the space between them, thick and heavy. 

Tails stepped back slowly, eyes scanning the cluttered lab around them. Wires, glowing monitors, half-finished projects — a place that was supposed to be a sanctuary, but now it felt anything but.

“Please,” he said again, voice low. “Just talk to him.”

Sonic finally shifted, voice low and guarded. “How do you know it was him?”

Tails blinked, caught off guard for a moment, but his answer was immediate. “Who else would it be? I’ve gone through the logs, the firewalls. No one else has the access or the skill. It has to be Shadow. Omega probably helped him get past the security.”

Sonic said nothing, but the tension in the room thickened.

Tails took a breath, steadying himself. “I know I could reach him.”

He looked at Sonic, eyes searching for something, any sign of hope.

“But it won’t be the same. Not without you.”

“This isn’t just about the code. It’s about trust. And right now, that’s what’s broken.”

Sonic stayed silent, the weight of it pressing down between them.

Tails swallowed hard. “I know things have been rough. But shutting him out won’t fix it.”

His voice softened, almost pleading. “No one else can do this but you. Please..”

Sonic’s jaw tightened, his hands clenched into fists at his sides.

Tails took a careful step forward, voice low but earnest.

“I’m not asking for everything, just for you to reach out again. To start fixing this between you two.”

His eyes met Sonic’s, silently hoping.

“So I can explain everything to him. The project. What it means. Because you two—”

He hesitated, voice cracking.

“Because it still matters.”

Sonic’s stare was empty, and as distant as a fading memory.

“I can’t promise that. Not now.”

Without another word, he turned and walked toward the stairs.

Tails didn’t move, the silence closing in around him.

Tails lingered in the quiet lab, the weight of Sonic’s silence pressing in around him. After a moment, he pulled his phone from his pocket and tapped the screen.

“Sergeant Alvarez.”

“Yeah, bud. What’s up?”

Tails hesitated, choosing his words carefully. “I need your help. With a mission. It’s not standard. It’s… different.”

A pause. “I’m listening.”

“I want to get Sonic and Shadow together. No combat, no official business-just a chance to talk. Clear the air.”

Alvarez was silent for a moment. He already knew what this was about, having been briefed on the tension between Sonic and Shadow.

“You think that’ll work?”

Tails exhaled. “I don’t know....But it’s the only way forward I see.”

There was quiet understanding in Alvarez’s voice. “Alright. I’ll arrange it. You know I’ve got their trust.”

Tails nodded to himself, tension easing just a bit. “Thanks. This means more than you know.”

He ended the call and stood alone in the quiet lab, the weight of what was coming settling deep in his chest.

Whatever happened next, there was no turning back...

Chapter Text

The briefing room was dim, lit only by the glow of multiple monitors lining the walls. Sergeant Alvarez stood at the center, eyes sharp and voice steady as he addressed the small team gathered around the table.

“This mission isn’t about combat. It’s not about intel or extraction. It’s about two people—I mean, hedgehogs—who need to find a way back to each other.”

He tapped the screen, pulling up profiles of Sonic and Shadow side by side.

“And before anyone asks—yes, this was a special request from Tails. The kid who’s been pouring everything into that project called RESET, the Restoration Engine for Securing Earth’s Tomorrow.”

Alvarez’s fingers hovered over the keyboard, already typing orders.

“They’re both skilled, both stubborn, and neither one’s going to come to the table willingly. So we’re creating the situation for them. A controlled environment, no surprises. Just a chance to talk.”

“This isn’t a trap. It’s a conversation starter. And it’s the only way forward.”

He glanced at the team, expression grim but hopeful.

“Let’s get to work.”

Alvarez turned from the screen and motioned toward the team.

“Let’s move. Cameras in every corner—hidden, unobtrusive. Microphones everywhere. We need every word, every sound.”

Technicians dispersed, their movements efficient and practiced as they began installing sleek surveillance equipment.

Alvarez walked over to a reinforced steel door and pressed his palm against the surface.

“These walls? Bulletproof. Blast resistant. Soundproof. Whatever they throw at it, this place will hold.”

He tapped a nearby control panel, and the heavy locks engaged with a deep, mechanical thud.

“No way in, no way out until this conversation is over.”

The team nodded, understanding the gravity of what they were about to do.

Alvarez’s gaze hardened.

“This isn’t just a mission. It’s a cage. But it’s the only way they’ll finally talk…”

As the team worked, one technician paused, glancing at the array of security measures being deployed.

“Isn’t this a bit over the top? Bulletproof walls, full lockdown… sounds like we’re preparing for a war zone, not a conversation.”

Alvarez didn’t flinch. He met the technician’s eyes, voice firm.

“Tails, Dr. Miles Prower, asked for every precaution. If he says it’s necessary, then it’s necessary. We don’t get to argue with the fox who’s building RESET.”

The room fell silent, the weight of Alvarez’s words settling over them all.

Finally, all precautions were in place. Alvarez and the team retreated to a separate control room, their eyes fixed on the monitors displaying the sealed facility.

Alvarez keyed his comm and spoke into it quietly.

“Sonic, emergency. We’ve got a situation requiring your immediate attention. Coordinates are on your device. Move quickly. Be prepared for anything.”

Sonic’s voice came back sharp and clipped.

“Understood. I’m on my way.”

Alvarez ended the channel and switched frequencies.

“Shadow, we’ve detected an urgent issue. Your expertise is required. Coordinates sent. Treat this as a high-priority response.”

Shadow’s calm voice answered.

“Received. I’m en route.”

Neither knew the other had been alerted.

Behind the scenes, Tails watched the live feed from his lab, a small smile tugging at his lips.

“Baby, let the games begin..” he muttered under his breath.

It was kind of funny. Here he was, a teen caught in the middle of all this chaos, setting up a high stakes trap just to get these two stubborn hedgehogs to talk. It felt a little like a video game mission he wasn’t sure he was ready for.

But beneath the humor, his chest tightened. He was nervous, more than he wanted to admit.

This had to work.

Not just for RESET—the project he’d poured everything into—but because he suspected Shadow was the one messing with the code.

More than that, he cared. He cared for both of them. Especially Sonic.

His brother had been getting better, until things with Shadow hit that breaking point.

And now Sonic was shutting down, retreating into himself, and Tails just wanted to see him smile again.

He shook his head softly, pushing down the swirl of nerves.

This was more than just a mission. It was about family.

And he hoped his plan wouldn’t fail.

Tails adjusted his headset as Alvarez’s voice came through the comm.

“Shadow’s been sneaking around, digging into my code. Well, now I’ve got a few surprises of my own.”

He smirked, eyes on the screen. “It’s time they faced each other. Hopefully, this gets them back on the same page.”

Alvarez chuckled softly. “Sounds like you’re ready to play chess, not checkers.”

“Exactly,” Tails replied. “Let’s see if this game ends with them making up.”

Alvarez’s voice crackled through the comm, a hint of amusement in his tone.

“Dr. Prower, you ready on your end?”

There was a pause before Tails responded, a soft chuckle in his voice.

“That’s a first, you're actually using my title.”

Alvarez didn’t miss the chance to tease him.

“Yeah, well, you’re kind of a big deal now…”

Tails chuckled softly.

“Well, this was my idea. Figured I’d better be involved.”

Alvarez laughed quietly.

“Smart move. Hope it works out.”

Tails grinned.

“Me too.”

The heavy steel door slid open with a swift hiss, and Sonic was already inside before it fully retracted.

His footsteps echoed softly as he moved with sharp purpose. Every breath was steady, controlled, each step measured but quick, like a predator pacing its territory.

His eyes swept the room, taking in every detail with practiced focus.

The space was bare. Walls of thick, reinforced metal, painted a dull matte gray, absorbed sound rather than bounced it back. The low hum of hidden machinery was constant, almost like a heartbeat beneath the floor.

Fluorescent lights flickered faintly overhead, casting sharp, clinical shadows across the polished floor, too clean to be anything but carefully maintained.

Scattered across the walls were small, almost invisible cameras—lens dark and unblinking, tracking every movement. Tiny microphones were embedded in corners, blending perfectly with the metal panels.

Sonic’s gaze drifted to the far end of the room, where a second door stood closed, just like the one he’d entered. A faint glow pulsed from an electronic lock beside it.

He pulled his hoodie tighter around his waist, the familiar fabric grounding him in the strange environment.

Stepping further in, he noted the lack of furniture, just a few reinforced benches bolted to the floor, and a small console panel along one wall, dark and inactive.

Finally, Sonic’s voice broke the silence.

“Alvarez? Anyone here? What—”

He paused, pulling out his phone and checking the coordinates. The location matched perfectly.

Before he could gather his thoughts, the second door slid open silently.

Shadow stepped through, calm and deliberate, his eyes locking onto Sonic instantly.

Neither spoke. The tension between them was thick.

Suddenly, a loud series of electric clicks echoed sharply through the room. Doors locking, seals engaging.

The heavy steel door slammed shut behind Sonic with a resonating thud.

Sonic’s heart sped up. He rushed to the door, pressing his hands against the cold metal, rattling the handle, but it didn’t budge.

Frustration flickered across his face as he pushed harder, testing every inch of the door.

“No way,” he muttered, breath quickening. 

He stepped back, fists clenched, eyes narrowing, the reality sinking in.

Sonic’s mind raced, adrenaline flooding his veins. This wasn’t the usual tight spot.. There was no alarms blaring, no enemies rushing in. Just silence, and a locked door.

He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself, but the weight of the situation pressed down hard.

His eyes darted back to the door, then to Shadow, who stood quietly, expression unreadable.

Sonic clenched his fists, jaw tight. He didn’t want to be here. 

He took a step back, pacing slightly, restless and frustrated.

This felt like a trap.

Shadow stood still for a moment, calm and collected.

He shifted slightly, the black gear strapped across his chest and arms catching the faint light. It was sleek, new. He wore black gloves too, something Sonic rarely saw.

Sonic’s eyes flicked over him, an unwanted pull twisting in his chest.

Damn it, Sonic thought, he looks good. But that just makes this worse.

Shadow scanned the room quietly, his gaze sharp and focused despite the locked doors.

He pulled a small device from his jacket, tapping it as he tried to get a read on their situation.

His voice cut through the silence, low and steady.

“Why are we here? What’s the plan?”

Sonic shook his head, saying nothing.

Sonic’s comm crackled to life. He quickly keyed the button.

“Alvarez, status? What the hell is this?”

Shadow did the same on his own device, his voice calm but sharp.

“Alvarez, do you copy? Explain what’s happening.”

Static hissed through both channels. No reply.

Confusion flickered in their eyes.

Sonic frowned, glancing at Shadow.

“This isn’t normal.”

Shadow’s jaw tightened.

“Not at all.”

Silence stretched between them as the truth began to settle in...

They weren’t here by accident.

This was no random mission.

They were trapped.

Together.

Sonic’s frustration bubbled up as he looked toward Shadow.

“What the hell is Alvarez trying to pull here?”

Shadow shrugged, his tone clipped.

“Beats me. I’m not in his inner circle like you are.”

Sonic’s eyes flashed with bitterness.

His fists clenched as he looked around the room, voice tense.

“Maybe this is some kind of setup from the bad guys. Who else would want to trap us like this?”

Shadow’s eyes narrowed, a faint smirk playing at his lips.

“You’re thinking too small.”

Sonic frowned, frustration mounting.

Shadow’s gaze was cold and sharp.

“This isn’t their move. It’s one we should’ve seen coming..from the people we’re supposed to trust.”

Sonic’s jaw tightened as the truth settled heavily.

He shot Shadow a hard look.

“What exactly are you implying?”

Shadow’s eyes darkened, voice low and steady.

“I know we’re being watched. I’ve seen setups like this before..too calculated to be anything else.”

He fixed Sonic with a sharp look.

“What they want isn’t a fight.”

Sonic narrowed his eyes, suspicious.

“Then what?”

Shadow’s expression hardened.

“They want us to talk. To settle whatever this is between us.”

The weight of the words hung in the air as the two locked eyes, the reality of the situation sinking in.

Sonic’s eyes narrowed, voice tight with anger.

“Talk? After everything? What is there to talk about? You lied to me. All those visits, the gifts... I thought maybe, just maybe, you meant it.”

His gaze dropped to the hoodie tied around his waist, a silent reminder of the moments he almost believed in.

“But it was all a lie. It was just a way to keep tabs on Tails.”

Shadow’s jaw tightened, a flash of pain crossing his eyes before he masked it with a cold stare.

“That wasn’t the plan. I was watching Tails, yes.. because of RESET. I thought he was hiding something. I thought he was building those bots-”

Sonic cut him off sharply, eyes blazing,

“Why the hell would Tails build bots against me? That doesn’t make any damn sense!”

Shadow’s expression flickered, caught off guard but quickly composed.

“I don’t know. But at the time, that’s what it looked like.”

Sonic shook his head, frustration and disbelief mixing in his gaze.

“Sounds like you were ready to believe anything to justify spying on us.”

Shadow held his ground, voice steady but edged with regret.

“I’m not proud of it. But I needed to protect you...”

Sonic shook his head, voice tight and biting.

“You’re an idiot if you really thought Tails would do that. That kind of suspicion... it destroys everything. And maybe that’s exactly what you wanted.”

Shadow’s gaze hardened, but there was a flicker of something raw beneath the surface, it was regret.

“Maybe I am. But I still don’t trust what Tails is building. Resetting the world? It’s wrong. No matter how you spin it.”

He took a breath, voice softer but still firm.

“I thought you’d see it too, that this wasn’t the way. How can you just be okay with it?”

His eyes searched Sonic’s, looking for an answer he wasn’t sure he wanted to hear.

Sonic’s jaw tightened, eyes burning with a mix of anger and something far deeper..pain, confusion, and exhaustion all tangled together.

He shook his head, voice cracking despite his effort to keep it steady.

“You don’t get it. You don’t know what I’ve been through… what we’ve lost.”

His hands clenched into fists at his sides, trembling slightly.

“I’m tired, Shadow. So damn tired of fighting, of pretending everything’s okay when it’s not.”

He swallowed hard, eyes flickering toward the hoodie around his waist, then back to Shadow.

Shadow’s expression softened, the hardness in his eyes giving way to something more vulnerable—though he kept his voice steady.

“I get it more than you think. I’ve lost too. More than you know...”

He took a step closer, lowering his voice.

“But running from it won’t make it better. Pretending to be okay won’t fix what’s broken.”

His gaze locked with Sonic’s, unyielding but not without empathy.

“You don’t have to do this alone.”

Sonic’s eyes snapped back to Shadow, sharp and burning with a mix of pain and defiance.

“I’ve only got Tails. He’s the only one who’s stood by me.”

His voice dropped, raw and unguarded.

“I thought I had you too..But I was wrong.”

He swallowed hard, the weight of betrayal settling deep.

The silence between them thickened, filled with everything left unspoken.

Without a word, Shadow reached out slowly, his fingers curling gently around Sonic’s wrist.

Their eyes met. Shadow’s steady, searching. Sonic’s fierce and guarded.

Sonic yanked his arm away sharply, voice cold and biting.

“Don’t touch me. Who do you think you are?”

Shadow’s grip weakened, but his eyes remained fixed.

“You’re not listening to me…”

Meanwhile, Tails sat alone in his lab, eyes fixed on the monitor displaying the tense room. His fingers hovered nervously over the console, heart tight with worry.

This is harder than I thought. They’re both so stubborn... but if this is what it takes, then so be it.

Back in the room, the tension between Sonic and Shadow hung thick, with Sonic unwilling to listen to Shadow.

Sonic’s eyes blazed with anger, his voice cutting through the silence like a knife.

“Also, don’t think for a second we don’t know about you messing with Tails’ code.”

Shadow’s brow furrowed, surprise flickering across his features before settling into a cold, guarded expression.

“What? I haven’t touched it. I don’t have the skills for something that complex…”

He took a slow, deliberate breath, voice low but steady, the weight of the accusation heavy in the air.

“I wouldn’t dare interfere with something that serious.”

There was a flicker of vulnerability beneath the hardness in his eyes.

“I looked over the files with Omega, yeah. I wanted to understand what we were dealing with. But I didn’t change a thing..”

Sonic’s glare deepened, voice bitter and unforgiving.

“Liar. Just like all the lies you spun when you were keeping tabs on Tails. You don’t get to play innocent now.”

Shadow’s jaw tightened, a flash of regret passing through his gaze before he masked it again with steely resolve.

“Look, faker. You can be mad at me for what I did, fine. But you don’t get to throw baseless accusations about me tampering with the RESET project’s code.”

Sonic didn’t back down. If anything, the accusation hardened in his chest. His voice was low now, but no less sharp.

“Baseless?” he hissed. “Then explain the logs. The line of code Tails didn’t write.”

Shadow’s eyes narrowed. “I saw the files, yes. I looked, because I was trying to figure out what your genius little brother was really building. But I didn’t lay a hand on it.”

Sonic took a step forward, fury burning just beneath the surface.

“You don’t get to say that like you’re innocent. You lied for weeks. About watching him. About why you were around. So tell me, why would this be any different?”

Shadow’s jaw clenched. His voice dropped, steadier now, but every word hit like a weight.

“Because if I’d wanted to sabotage RESET, I wouldn’t have done it behind a firewall. I’d have told Miles to his face.”

Sonic blinked. Just once. And for a flicker of a second, the air between them shifted.

But it didn’t last.

Sonic scoffed, shaking his head.

“You’re good at playing righteous, I’ll give you that.”

Shadow said nothing. He just stood there, taking it.

And on the screen, far away, Tails watched, uncertain. His eyes narrowed as he leaned closer to the monitor.

Something doesn’t add up.

Tails leaned in closer to the monitor, trying to absorb every word, every movement. Shadow’s voice had been steady, unwavering even under Sonic’s relentless scrutiny. His face, usually so guarded, had betrayed a brief moment of regret, but then it was gone, replaced with that same stoic expression Tails had come to expect from him. It didn’t feel like a lie, but Tails couldn’t shake the growing doubt.

Shadow wouldn’t do this, Tails thought, biting his lip. He’s too careful, too precise...

But then, why had the logs shown that unauthorized change? Tails shook his head, struggling to connect the dots. It made sense, in a way. Shadow had the knowledge... but something about this didn’t sit right.

He wasn’t sure what to make of the situation. His mind was a whirlwind of questions. What am I missing?

Tails watched as Sonic, still fuming, glared at Shadow. His best friend was angry, angry in a way that Tails had never seen before. That burning intensity in Sonic’s eyes wasn’t something you could fake, not when it came to something this personal.

The accusation had cut deep. It wasn’t just about the code. It was about betrayal. And Tails knew that whatever was going on here, it had already gone beyond just the files. There was something deeper at play.

Tails let out a long breath. He had to trust his instincts. He had to trust that Shadow wasn’t lying to Sonic, that whatever happened wasn’t because of him. But that meant finding out who was behind it. And fast.

His eyes flickered back to the screen as he watched Sonic and Shadow, their faces frozen in a silent standoff. Tails’ mind raced with questions, none of which had clear answers. Sonic’s fury was still burning.

He could see it in the way Sonic’s fists were clenched, his body language tight with anger. But it wasn’t just the usual fury; it was personal.

Sonic wanted answers, and he wanted them now.

“You’re really gonna keep pretending?” Sonic’s voice was sharp, cold. 

“This whole time, you’ve been telling me you were just ‘observing’, but you’ve been watching everything. Tails, the project, me. Now, this? What else have you been hiding?”

Shadow didn’t flinch. His eyes were fixed on Sonic, intense but unyielding. 

“I’m not hiding anything, Sonic. Not from you. And not from Miles. You’ve got it all wrong.”

Sonic’s glare intensified, his hands trembling at his sides, the pressure of the moment pushing him to his breaking point. He took a step back, his chest rising and falling with each heavy breath.

“I’m done,” he muttered, his voice laced with frustration. 

“I don’t wanna be here anymore.” 

He turned his back to Shadow, fists still clenched, as if the very room itself was closing in on him. 

“Whoever’s listening to this, you need to stop it.”

Shadow’s gaze softened, and he took a step forward, his voice low and measured.

“Sonic, we need to solve this. We can’t keep avoiding it. I understand where you're coming from, and I want to talk this out with you, to fix things—”

“No.” Sonic interrupted, his tone sharp, like a blade cutting through the tension in the air.

He shook his head, not turning around to face Shadow. 

“I don’t care what you understand, Shadow. I’m not doing this.”

His voice was bitter, heavy with the weight of his frustration. 

Sonic’s voice dropped, now more quiet but still tinged with anger.

“I don’t want to be here with you. I don’t want to fix this right now. I just want out.”

There was a pause, thick with unspoken tension. 

Shadow, standing just a few feet away, watched Sonic’s posture remain rigid, his back still turned. His heart clenched. He knew he had to say what was weighing on him.

“I know I’ve made mistakes,” Shadow began, his voice soft but firm. “I shouldn’t have kept secrets from you, Sonic.”

He stepped closer, carefully choosing his words. 

“I never meant to hurt you, especially not after everything we’ve been through together. When I first started being around you, it wasn’t because I was suspicious, it wasn’t because I had a hidden agenda. I just wanted to be with you. I thought... I thought it was just us. But then everything started getting complicated. When I saw those bots adapting to your moves, I panicked. I thought Tails was building them. I thought someone was using him to hurt you. And I let my fear control me. I wanted to protect you... but I did it the wrong way. I kept an eye on you both when I should’ve been honest, should’ve trusted you.”

Sonic’s back was still turned, his fists clenched at his sides, but he didn’t move.

Shadow’s words, heavy with regret, were sinking in, but they weren’t enough to change what had happened.

“I thought I was keeping you safe,” Shadow continued, his voice quieter now, as though the weight of his guilt was pulling him down. 

“I should’ve told you the truth. I never should’ve treated you like you were part of some plan. I’m sorry, Sonic. I really am.”

Sonic stood still for a long moment, the words hanging in the air. 

Finally, he turned slowly, meeting Shadow’s eyes, his own face hardened with frustration.

“Sorry’s never going to be enough, Shadow,” Sonic said, his voice low but filled with a quiet fury. 

“You think saying sorry will just make everything okay? Just make it go away? It doesn’t work like that. You lied to me, you kept me in the dark, and I can’t just ignore that.”

Sonic’s voice cracked slightly, but he quickly regained control, shaking his head.

“I forgave you for the ghosting, Shadow. I did. You disappeared for two weeks with no explanation, no word. I sat there wondering what I did wrong. But I let it go, because I thought maybe it was just something you needed. I was willing to forgive you. But this... this ? This is different.”

Sonic’s eyes dropped to the jacket wrapped around his waist—the one Shadow had given him. 

The weight of it felt like an anchor, a constant reminder of everything he’d overlooked. 

He looked back up at Shadow, his face hardening with a bitter realization. 

“You started showing up again, bringing me gifts like that damn jacket. You thought you could just make me forget everything? You thought I’d just take it, like it was all fine?”

Sonic yanked the jacket from around his waist, holding it in his hand as he stared at it with disgust.

“Every time I see this thing, I feel sick. You made me believe in something that wasn’t real. You manipulated me, Shadow. I trusted you. And now I see it for what it really was.”

Sonic dropped the jacket onto the floor with a sharp motion, the weight of it dragging on him like a chain.

The sound of something small and metallic clinking across the floor made him pause.

He looked down, his eyes locking on the medal that had fallen out of the jacket. His breath caught in his throat.

It was the President’s medal, the one he had kept, the one he’d been planning to give to Shadow himself. 

Before Sonic could reach down to grab it, Shadow’s gaze followed the shiny object, and his voice broke the heavy silence. 

“What’s this?” 

He stepped forward, his eyes narrowing as he looked at the medal.

Sonic’s hand hovered over it for a moment before he picked it up, almost mechanically. 

He held it out toward Shadow, but not with any sense of offering—it was almost like he was throwing it in his face. 

“It’s your medal,” Sonic muttered, his voice low but heavy with emotion.

Shadow’s fingers brushed the medal, and his gaze dropped to the engraving—his name, right there, marking him for service. For honor. A quiet moment passed between them, the weight of the medal almost unbearable. 

Sonic’s voice, tinged with something raw, finally broke the silence.

“I was going to give this to you,” Sonic said, his voice quieter now, edged with frustration. 

“It’s from the President. The whole team got one. For our work, for everything we’ve been doing. It’s an honor. But ... I was planning on giving your medal to you personally. I kept it, because it... meant something to me, Shadow.”

Sonic's voice dropped, filled with hurt. He lifted the medal slightly, his eyes on the engraving. 

“I thought it meant something more. But now? It’s just another reminder of how wrong I was. I kept this because I thought I could give it to you, tell you that you earned it, and that it meant something more than just a medal.”

He dropped the medal back onto the jacket with a sharp movement, the clink of metal against fabric almost like a slap. 

“But here you go. Take it. For being so good at keeping me in the dark. For making me feel like everything we had was just... part of your plan.”

Sonic’s hand shook slightly as he reached down, grabbing the medal again, this time holding it tightly in his palm. He turned around to face Shadow, his eyes burning with the weight of everything that had happened. 

Without a word, Sonic walked over to him, stopping just a few inches away.

He lifted the medal to Shadow’s neck. He hesitated for a moment, then, with a sharp motion, Sonic placed the medal around Shadow’s neck himself. 

“You’ve earned it,” Sonic said flatly.

Shadow’s breath caught in his throat as the weight of the cold metal settled against his chest. He stood frozen, staring at the medal hanging around his neck, the act itself carrying more meaning than any words could.

The silence stretched between them, suffocating, as he tried to process the gesture. The medal, once a symbol of honor and respect, now felt like a cruel reminder of how far they had fallen.

Neither of them moved for what felt like an eternity.

Sonic’s anger simmered, raw and unfiltered, and Shadow’s regret settled like a heavy weight in his chest.

T he room seemed to shrink around them, the quiet pressing in.

Then, a loud clank shattered the silence.

The sound of locks unlocking echoed in the room, sharp and jarring, cutting through the heavy tension. The noise was too loud, too sudden. Neither Sonic nor Shadow spoke. Sonic didn’t even acknowledge it. His eyes remained on the floor, his body rigid, and the anger in him simmered just beneath the surface. The interruption felt like a reminder that even though this moment felt suffocating, the outside world was still waiting, waiting for something to break.

Shadow’s gaze was fixed on the medal, his fingers tightening around it slightly. The weight of it felt suffocating, just as the silence was.

His apology, his words, they didn’t feel like enough. He had tried, but it felt too late.

Sonic finally broke the silence, though not with words.

He didn’t speak. Instead, he turned away, his back to Shadow, and his hand brushed the door handle. The motion was mechanical, as if he had already decided what to do next, as if he could no longer stay in the room. He had heard the sound of the lock, but it didn’t matter. He had nothing more to say.

Sonic stepped away, and without a glance back, he left the room.

The door clicked shut with a finality that rang louder than any words could.

Shadow stood there for a long moment, the medal still clenched in his hand, staring at the space Sonic had just occupied. The silence felt like a weight pressing down on him, heavier than anything he had ever felt before.

He didn’t move.

The moment stretched, suspended in time, until the sound of his own breath was the only thing left in the room.

Sonic was gone...

Chapter Text

The room was colder than it needed to be.

Fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, flickering every so often like they were tired of doing their job. The backup terminal Tails had booted up hummed with an uneven rhythm, its aging fan ticking quietly beneath the metal desk. Dust clung to every wire in sight, and half the monitors were still in diagnostic mode. It was the kind of place no one visited unless they had to.

And tonight, he had to.

Tails sat with his hands clasped together in front of his face, elbows resting on the edge of the desk. His eyes didn’t blink as they scanned the scrolling lines of code on the primary monitor.

Same corrupted sequence. Same timestamp. Same feeling in his chest like something was pressing down on it, slow and steady.

Shadow. It had to be.

He reached over, tapped a few keys, and brought up the terminal access logs again. His ears flicked as he stared.

It didn’t feel right.

Tails sat back and let out a quiet breath through his nose. He hated this. Hated the second guessing. Hated how everything felt like suspicion now. Like nothing was safe anymore. Not even the code he had written with his own hands.

He whispered to the screen, voice dry.

“Come on, Shadow. If it wasn’t you… who was it?”

The cursor blinked back at him.

He shut the monitor off.

Pacing helped. Or at least, it used to. The narrow concrete floor wasn’t great for it, but Tails still moved, back and forth, one hand fidgeting with the multitool clipped to his belt.

This was never supposed to happen.

He stopped walking, and for a second, just stood there.

It hadn’t gone the way he thought it would. The locked room, the cameras, the confrontation, he had built it like a system. Predictable input, controlled environment, expected output.

But what he got was something messier. 

Sonic walked out like he didn’t even recognize the people trying to help him. Shadow didn’t chase after him. And Tails had just stood there, watching it crumble from a monitor miles away.

He ran a hand down his face, guilt settling in beneath his skin like static.

He didn’t mean to hurt them. He really thought it would help. Lock them in, make them talk, shake them into understanding each other again.

He thought he was doing the right thing.

Now he wasn’t sure anymore.

He stopped moving, eyes narrowed as he stared at the floor.

If there was even a chance that Shadow wasn’t the one behind it... he needed to know. Not later. Now.

He stared at the blank monitor a second longer, then reached for his communicator like it weighed a hundred pounds.

If Shadow was telling the truth, then it was time to find out the hard way.

He tapped out the message with stiff fingers.

We need to talk.
Not about RESET.
Just… meet me. Please.
Location attached.

He hit send, locked the screen, and pocketed the device.

This wasn’t forgiveness, and it wasn’t surrender.

It was the next move in a game he didn’t want to play.

Tails grabbed his jacket off the back of the chair and headed for the exit, pausing only once at the door to look back at the terminal.

The screen was blank, but the damage was already done.

All that was left now was to find out who left it there.

By the time Sonic made it to the rooftop, the sky was already slipping into dusk. The sun had dipped low, casting long shadows between buildings, stretching everything out like it was trying to hold on just a little longer.

It didn’t feel peaceful.

The rooftop was quiet, save for the low hum of distant generators and the occasional breeze that ruffled his quills. He crossed the concrete slowly, head down, hands fidgeting restlessly at his sides like they didn’t know what to do now that they weren’t clenched.

He used to love rooftops. The height. The wind. The view. Places like this had always been a kind of refuge. Where he could breathe, think, recalibrate.

But lately, they felt... empty.

He stopped near the edge and glanced out at the skyline. It wasn’t what it used to be. Cities changed after the war. People, too.

He shifted his weight, bounced on the balls of his feet for a second. Still couldn’t stay still. Not for long. His fingers tapped against the side of his leg. His brain jumped from the sky to the metal railing to the cracks in the ground to the meeting room earlier, like someone was flipping channels too fast.

He tried to focus.

Tried to breathe.

His brain wouldn’t shut up, just kept rewinding, fast-forwarding, playing the worst parts on repeat.

The way Shadow looked at him. The way he looked at that medal. The silence afterward. The way Sonic had walked out before anyone else could.

The whole thing had felt like standing in the wreckage of something he didn’t realize was breakable until it already was.

He dragged a hand through his quills, pacing back from the edge. Three steps forward. Stop. Turn. Two steps back. Spin in place without meaning to.

He used to be better at this.

At reading people. At smoothing things over. At caring without feeling like it cost him something.

He used to be momentum. Not just speed, but purpose. He could read a room in seconds and know exactly what someone needed. Space, a joke, a punch to the face. He was the guy who made people feel like everything was gonna be okay , just by standing there.

But lately?

He didn’t know what he was doing anymore.

Sonic finally stopped moving, sinking against the low wall with a slow exhale, like momentum was the only thing holding him together until now.

He stared out again.

Was this what people meant by burning out? Or was this just who he was now?

“Man,” he muttered under his breath, voice dry, “what happened to me..?”

The wind picked up again, tugging at the edge of his fur. He barely felt it.

His brain buzzed like a radio stuck between stations, thoughts overlapping. Tails probably wasn’t asleep yet. He was probably scanning code, checking logs, trying to make sense of something that had already gone off the rails. Shadow was probably pacing some hallway too, pretending not to care while overanalyzing everything. And Sonic—

He exhaled.

He was just here. Trying not to fall apart.

His eyes flicked toward the horizon again.

“Maybe it’d be easier to just let it all go,” he said, more to the wind than himself. “Start over. Let the world figure itself out without me messing it up more.”

The words barely left his mouth before his chest tightened. He didn’t mean it, at least, not completely. But it was the kind of thought that crept in more and more these days, whispering things he wouldn’t have dared to think back when everything made sense. When the worst thing he faced was Eggman, not the weight of his own choices.

His arms folded, but it didn’t feel like protection. It was more like containment. Like he didn’t trust himself not to fall apart.

Shadow’s face flashed in his mind. That damn unreadable expression. The way he stood there and took it. The way Sonic had practically shoved the medal at him, with words he hadn’t even fully thought through. He was angry. Hurt. But under it all, he still—

“Damn it,” he muttered.

That wasn’t how he’d wanted it to go. Not really. He didn’t know how he wanted it to go, but it wasn’t... that. He hadn’t planned to say all that. Definitely hadn’t meant to wrap the medal around Shadow’s neck like that, like some twisted ceremony. It wasn’t really fair. 

But Shadow had deserved it, hadn’t he? After all the lies, all the half truths, after treating Sonic like a side quest while secretly tracking Tails?

Still… the look in his eyes. It did hurt.

Sonic ran a hand down his face, exhaling hard.

And Tails—God. Tails had watched the whole thing. Sonic didn’t even have to ask. He knew it was him. He knew Tails was behind the locked room. It wasn’t the bad guys. It wasn’t a glitch. It was deliberate.

It was them.

He didn’t want to believe Tails would set him up like that. Not his brother. But who else could’ve done it? 

And the fact that Alvarez, the one man in uniform he trusted, had gone along with it? That stung in a different way. He wasn’t like the others. He listened. He respected them. He’d seen Sonic at his worst and still treated him like a person, not a weapon.

If even Alvarez thought this setup was necessary... what did that say about how far gone Sonic looked to everyone else?

Maybe they were right. Maybe he was too far gone.

But still…why?

Why would they do that to him?

He pressed his palms into his eyes until stars flickered behind them. They thought they were helping, probably. Thought they were being clever, getting him and Shadow to talk like it was some kind of sitcom intervention. Lock two hedgehogs in a room and wait for the trauma to work itself out.

But Sonic wasn’t someone you boxed in like that. He hated closed spaces.  Locked rooms, tight corridors, anything with four walls and no exits made his skin crawl. His whole life had been built around motion, freedom, air rushing past his face. Trapping him like that? It was cruel. It felt like betrayal.

He wasn’t okay. And none of them seemed to see it.

“They think I’ll just bounce back,” he muttered, jaw tight. “Like I always do.”

But he wasn’t bouncing. He was barely standing. The world had flipped, cracked, turned itself inside out, and somehow, he was still expected to smile through it.

He thought of how Tails looked lately. Stressed, overworked, eyes constantly scanning screens. Sonic had chalked it up to the war, the bots, the aftermath of RESET, but now he wondered how much more Tails had been hiding. How long had he been planning this? Had he told Alvarez everything? Did they sit around planning how to “fix” Sonic like he was just some mission gone sideways?

His fists curled.

And as if the betrayal from Tails wasn’t enough,

there was still everything with him —with Shadow.

Sonic exhaled through his nose, slow and bitter, like he was trying to breathe the memory out of his system.

That hoodie. Stupid thing. Too expensive, too soft, clearly picked out by someone who didn’t know how Sonic dressed… and yet it became comfort. Became his. It smelled like familiarity, like maybe things could be okay. It was warmth on nights when the cold felt like punishment. Something to hold when the silence got too loud. He’d liked it more than he admitted.

And now it was gone.

He left it on the floor where he’d thrown it, right before the medal clattered out and made everything worse.

But it started with the locks.

God, those locks. The sound still rang in his ears. And for a second, just a second, he thought maybe it was the enemy. Some ambush. 

Until Shadow, who always saw the bigger picture, who always made it sound so easy, delivered the line that cracked Sonic open more than he’d like to admit.

“You’re thinking too small.”

That was when Sonic knew. Knew it wasn’t the enemy.

It was them. His own side. His own brother.

And they thought this was okay?

What he needed was space.

He’d asked for it, begged for it in his own way, and still, they hadn’t listened. Tails, of all people, should’ve known better. Should’ve trusted that Sonic would come around when he was ready. Should’ve waited.

But he didn’t. He couldn’t.

Too worried about RESET. About Shadow. About the code.

And yeah, maybe Sonic wasn’t doing so well lately. Maybe the whole “fastest thing alive” thing didn’t count for much when you couldn’t outrun your own grief. But that didn’t mean he needed babysitting. It didn’t mean he needed—

“Protection,” Sonic scoffed aloud.

That word again. Shadow’s word.

“I wanted to protect you.”

The hell was that supposed to mean?

Protect him ? From what? He was the one who’d been fighting on the front lines. He was the one who kept going after Amy, after Knuckles, after the Capitol fell. He kept going even when his heart felt like it was bleeding out every day.

Shadow didn’t get to protect him.

Especially not like that.

And then there was the rest. The suspicions. The paranoia. Shadow actually believed that Tails, his little brother , was capable of building bots to turn on him. And worse, Shadow never even asked. He just jumped to conclusions. Used it as an excuse to keep hanging around, to monitor, to spy.

Was it just an excuse? A reason to stay close?

Sonic didn’t know.

He wanted to think there was something real in there—something honest behind the visits and the way Shadow’s eyes lingered just a little too long.

But how could he trust that now?

Especially after Shadow compared their pain like it was a contest.

"I’ve lost too. More than you know...”

Yeah. Of course he knew about her. 

But that was a long time ago. And this… this was fresh. 

Amy’s laugh. Knuckles’ voice. The smell of chili dogs on a summer afternoon, back before the sky turned red and the world started literally burning. That was all gone. And Sonic was still here, somehow expected to carry it all.

And then Shadow had the nerve to grab his hand.

Like that would fix it. Like Sonic wasn’t already breaking.

What did that mean? That touch?

Was it pity? Was it guilt? Was it something else ?

Sonic didn’t know. And he didn’t want to.

Because the second Shadow’s fingers brushed his, something in him cracked. And it wasn’t from anger.

It was from something worse.

Hope.

Because despite everything, everything , Sonic still wanted to believe in him.

And that made him hate himself even more.

So he lashed out. He said things he didn’t mean. He accused Shadow of messing with the code. He knew damn well it wasn’t true. But the guilt was festering, loud and ugly, and it needed a target.

Shadow was easy.

Because Shadow was still standing there. Still trying.

Still saying sorry.

Like that could undo everything. The betrayal. The hand.

And Sonic, idiot that he was, almost gave in.

Almost.

But then he remembered that hoodie. And he threw it.

Let it hit the floor like the words he hadn’t said.

“I kept it,” he’d told him. “Because it meant something.”

Not anymore.

Not after all this.

Now it was just another reminder that he’d been wrong.

That maybe everyone else was right.

Maybe he was slipping.

Maybe he wasn’t Sonic anymore, he was just some ghost in red shoes, stumbling through the rubble of what used to be home.

He dragged a hand down his face, breath shaky.

His voice came out low. Hollow.

“I hate this.”

No one answered.

Just the wind.

The door clicked open behind him, and Tails didn’t need to look to know who it was.

“I’m really glad you came,” he said softly.

Shadow paused in the doorway, surprised by the warmth in his voice. He stepped inside slowly, letting the door seal shut behind him with a quiet hiss.

“I’m not sure I deserve this,” Shadow said. “Not after everything I did.”

Tails finally turned from the terminal. His expression was tired, but there was no anger in it.

“You still came,” he said. “That counts for something.”

Shadow looked away, jaw tense. “Tails, I’m sorry…”

Tails froze.

It wasn’t even the apology that stunned him—it was the name. Tails. Not Miles. Not the usual formality Shadow always used that felt like a wall between them.

Shadow’s gaze dropped, his voice low.

“I accused you. Treated you like a suspect. And still you asked me to come here.” He glanced around the dim space. “Why?”

Tails shrugged, his voice quiet but steady. “Because I know you didn’t mean to hurt anyone. You’re just scared.”

Shadow’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“You think I’m scared?”

“I think we all are,” Tails said. “Just showing it in different ways.”

He stepped away from the terminal, finally facing Shadow fully. There was no judgment in his expression, just exhaustion.

“I’ve watched you circle Sonic like you’re afraid to get too close. Like if you do, something will break. And I can tell what you think about RESET—you think it’s something dangerous, something that shouldn’t exist. And maybe you’re right to be cautious. It’s still early. We’re nowhere near done. There’s a lot of debate, a lot we still don’t fully understand. But I need you to believe I’m not trying to break the world…I’m trying to help fix it..”

Shadow said nothing, but his jaw tightened.

“But yeah,” Tails continued. “I think you’re scared. For him. For all of us. And I think that’s why you overstepped. Why you went behind our backs.” He paused. “It doesn’t make it okay. But I get it.”

Shadow exhaled, the tension in his shoulders easing just slightly.

“You didn’t deserve the way I treated you. I shouldn’t have doubted you. Thinking you’d build weapons against Sonic… I don’t know what I was doing. I’m sorry.”

Tails gave a soft, tired laugh. “Don’t worry about it,” he said, waving a hand. “I know you’re just trying to do what’s right. For the world. For him.”

He glanced back at the terminal, then at Shadow. “You care. Even if you act like you don’t most of the time...”

Shadow folded his arms, eyes landing on the humming monitors. “So what exactly are you building, Tails? You said it's still early. I want to understand it. Really.”

Tails gave a small nod, but his gaze stayed soft. “I didn’t bring you here to talk about RESET. Not yet, anyway.”

Shadow looked at him, quiet.

“If you want to later, if you’re comfortable, we can go over everything. No secrets. I’ll tell you the good, the bad, the terrifying parts we haven’t even figured out yet.”

He paused, then turned from the screen to face him fully.

“But right now… I wanted to talk about something else.”

Shadow stayed quiet, watching him closely.

Tails exhaled. “It’s about Sonic...about everything.”

That name alone carried weight, enough to make Shadow’s posture stiffen, just slightly.

“I need to tell you something. I was the one who set up the locked room,” Tails said, steady despite the guilt edging into his voice. “Alvarez helped, but it was my call. I thought it might force something—make you two talk, finally. Get some kind of clarity.”

His gaze dropped. “I haven’t seen him since…”

Tails let the silence settle, heavy and unshakable.

“I just... I thought it would help. But maybe I made it worse… Honestly, I don’t even know who to talk to about this. It’s like, I’m supposed to be the one with answers, but I’ve just been... alone in it. First hiding RESET, and now this. Trapping him. Hurting him. That’s twice I’ve let him down. And I don’t know how to fix that.”

Shadow didn’t speak right away. His arms stayed folded, but his posture softened, barely.

“You’re not the only one who thought they were helping and ended up making it worse.”

Tails glanced at him.

“I mean it,” Shadow continued. “I accused you of building weapons against Sonic. Of turning on him. I was convinced you were hiding something dangerous, and I acted like it. You could’ve written me off right there, but you didn’t. You still called me here.”

His voice dipped lower.

“You didn’t set that up out of malice. You did it because you care. And that’s more than I can say for a lot of people in this mess.”

Tails looked down, his lips pressing together.

“You’re not a villain for trying,” Shadow said, gently this time. “You’re just trying to help your brother… and maybe the rest of us too. You’re building something that could change the world. You’re trying to save it. That’s not something to be ashamed of.”

“…Even if I messed it up?”

“Especially then.” Shadow almost smiled. “Trying and failing means you’re still fighting. And I’d take that over giving up any day.”

Tails breathed out slowly, something loosening in his chest. “…Thanks.”

Shadow gave a slow nod. “You’re gonna be okay, kid. And Sonic… he’ll come around. Just give him time.”

Tails leaned back against the console, arms crossed loosely. “Yeah. I’ve been thinking the same thing. Space is probably the best thing we can give him right now.”

Shadow’s brow furrowed. “I know, but sometimes it just doesn’t sit right…. Leaving him alone when he’s like this.”

“I get it,” Tails said. “I really do. But forcing things won’t help. He needs to feel like he’s in control again. Like no one’s cornering him.”

There was silence. It was brief, but full of tension.

“He’s still mad at me,” Shadow muttered. “I don’t blame him. But I don’t know.. I don't know if he’ll ever really forgive me.”

Tails looked over, steady and sure. “He will. Because you care. And because he knows that, even if he’s not ready to say it.”

Shadow’s expression flickered, something uncertain behind his eyes.

“You’ve always been honest with him in your own way,” Tails continued. “And yeah, you messed up. So did I. But Sonic sees the people who stick around. The ones who show up, even when it’s hard. That matters to him.”

​​Shadow let out a slow breath, the tension in his shoulders easing just a little.

Tails glanced sideways at him, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. 

“Besides… I saw the way Sonic looked at you in that room.”

Shadow blinked. “You mean with pure rage?”

Tails laughed. “Okay, yeah. That too. But I meant the other look. The one underneath all that anger.”

Shadow raised a brow, skeptical. “Hmm, I must’ve missed that.”

“No, you didn’t,” Tails said, still smiling. 

“You just don’t know how to recognize it. But I’ve seen it before. He’s angry, yeah, but he’s hurt because you matter to him. You think he’d react like that if you didn’t?”

Shadow didn’t answer right away. His gaze dropped to the floor, the weight of Tails’ words settling over him.

“He cares,” Tails said gently.

“Even if he looked ready to spin-dash straight through your chest.”

Shadow gave a dry huff of amusement. “That sounds more accurate.”

“Well,” Tails shrugged. “Love and rage aren’t mutually exclusive. Especially with him.”

Shadow stared at him, eyes narrowed.

“Did you just say love?”

Tails smirked.

“Hey, I just call it like I see it.”

To his surprise, Shadow actually let out a quiet chuckle.

Tails blinked, caught off guard for just a second. He didn’t say anything, just let the moment breathe before his tone shifted.

“So…umm.. you wanted to talk about RESET?”

he took a breath.

“First—whatever you found in the code… it wasn’t me.” His voice was low, firm. “I wouldn’t touch your work. Not something like that. I wouldn’t risk it. Not after everything.”

He glanced away for a second, then back at Tails. “But… if you don’t believe me, I get it.”

Tails watched him closely for a moment, then shook his head.

“I believe you.”

Shadow’s eyes flicked up, surprised, but Tails was already turning toward the bench.

“You’d never mess with something like this,” he said, clearing space on the table. “It’s too dangerous, and you’re too… you.”

He powered on one of the old monitors, the screen buzzing to life in soft blue. Lines of code scrolled, blueprints lit up, a layered map of systems built from chaos energy, memory imprints, branching paths.

“You said you didn’t understand RESET,” Tails said, pulling over a stool. “Let me walk you through it.”

He tapped a few keys. The screen shifted from raw data to visuals, schematics of the machine itself, pulse modules linked to chaos reactors, neural anchors embedded in stabilizers. Another window popped up, showing a secure underground facility. Gray walls, steel braces, reinforced chambers. Hidden. Shielded.

“That’s where it’s housed,” Tails said, pointing. “Southwest of the White House. Underground. And of course it’s government Funded.”

He clicked again. A projection emerged, an animated reconstruction of a branching timeline. One branch continued toward the war, toward destruction. The other curved cleanly away, peaceful, untouched. Whole.

“That’s the goal,” he said, voice lower now. “Not to erase everything. Just… to rewrite the one thing that broke the world. The spark that lit the war in the first place. RESET doesn’t mess with anything else.”

Shadow stood still, watching.

He hesitated, tapping the edge of the desk.

“No one would remember,” Tails continued. “That’s part of the design. The mind can’t hold two versions of reality at once—it’d fracture. RESET wipes the slate. When it runs, the world just… wakes up different. Like the war never happened. People alive. Cities standing. Everything back the way it was supposed to be.”

He hesitated, absently adjusting a loose wire near the monitor as he gathered his thoughts.

“There are neural filters built into the launch system. They’re designed to stop memory retention, block any trace of the original timeline before it can stick.”

Shadow’s gaze darkened. He stepped closer, watching the screen with quiet intensity.

“What if someone did remember?” he asked. “What happens then?”

Tails didn’t answer right away. His voice, when it came, was more cautious.

“I don’t know exactly,” he said. “But from what we’ve modeled… it wouldn’t be good. Holding both timelines at once, it could corrupt someone. Warp their perception. Change how they think, who they are.”

He looked up at Shadow, more serious now.

“That’s why we’ve built in every safeguard we could. It’s not supposed to be possible. We’re making sure it won’t happen.”

Shadow didn’t speak, but his gaze stayed locked on Tails, sharp and unreadable.

Tails turned back to the screen, flipping through several slow loading files—timelines, cause-effect chains, fragments of chaos energy patterns overlaid with date stamps.

“This is the window we’re targeting,” he said, highlighting a short stretch in the middle of a long, jagged graph. “The moment things started unraveling. If we stop it there, the rest resets naturally. No more war.”

Tails stared at the screen for a moment, voice barely above a whisper now.

“I know it sounds impossible. But we’ve run the numbers. If it works, people will wake up safe. Alive. With no idea any of this ever happened.”

Shadow didn’t speak at first. He just stood there, eyes on the screen, posture still but tense. Too still. Tails could read it in the way his shoulders held, the way his gaze lingered, not questioning the data, but everything underneath it.

“You’re not convinced,” Tails said quietly.

Shadow didn’t deny it. His expression stayed unreadable, but his silence said enough.

Tails turned slightly in his seat, folding his arms across his chest.

“Look... I know it sounds like we’re playing with fire. And maybe we are. That’s why I don’t want to do this alone.”

Shadow glanced at him then.

“You don’t trust yourself?” he asked.

Tails shook his head. “I do. I trust the math. I trust the models. But… sometimes that’s not enough. Sometimes you need someone who sees things you don’t. Someone who doesn’t just build the system, but questions it.”

He hesitated, then added, “Someone who isn’t afraid to say no.”

Shadow raised a brow, just slightly.

Tails opened his mouth to say more, then paused, something shifting behind his eyes. He had an idea.

“Actually…” he said slowly, sitting up a little straighter. “Wait. That’s it.”

He turned to face Shadow more fully, the words starting to come faster now.

“I’m asking you to be that person. You could be a supervisor. You’d review the system, help me run simulations, double check everything I think is right, and tell me where it’s not.”

He paused.

He watched Shadow carefully now.

“And I don’t mean the code. I mean the bigger picture. If I’m about to cross a line I can’t see, I need someone who will make me think twice.”

Tails’ voice dropped slightly.

“I built RESET to fix what’s broken. But I don’t want to become someone else in the process.”

“I want to do this right. And I think… I need you to help me do that.”

Shadow didn’t answer right away.

His eyes stayed on Tails, expression unreadable. For a long moment, he said nothing. Just stood there, quiet, unmoving, as the screens behind them flickered with soft blue light.

Tails felt his stomach twist. Maybe he’d said too much. Maybe it was too much to ask…

But then Shadow took a slow breath.

“You really trust me with that?” he asked, voice low.

Tails met his gaze. “Yeah. I do.”

Another pause.

Shadow looked away, just for a second, like he was weighing something heavy. Then he stepped forward, not much, just enough to close the distance that had been lingering between them for a while.

“All right,” he said quietly. “I’ll do it.”

Tails blinked, the relief hitting harder than he expected. “You will?”

Shadow nodded once. “Someone has to make sure this doesn’t spiral into something worse. Might as well be me.”

There was no softness in his voice, but the weight behind it said more than any reassurance could. 

Tails felt something in his chest ease, just a little. He hadn’t realized how badly he’d needed to hear that.

“Thank you,” he said quietly. “Really.”

Shadow gave a small nod. “Of course.”

Tails hesitated, the quiet stretching just long enough to make the next words feel heavier.

“Do you think we should… tell Sonic?” he asked. “About this? About you helping?”

Shadow’s gaze dropped for a moment, then lifted again, calm and unwavering.

“No,” he said. “Not yet.”

Tails frowned. “You sure?”

Shadow nodded. “What we said earlier still stands. He just needs time. Pushing him now would only make him run faster.”

Tails sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “I know. I just… I hate not having him in the loop.”

He didn’t say more, but the guilt was there, in his posture, in the way he avoided Shadow’s eyes.

Shadow caught it. His voice was quiet, but certain.

“You were trying to protect him.”

Tails stayed silent.

“He’ll come around,” Shadow said. “He always does. When he’s ready.”

Tails nodded a little, voice low. “We’ll tell him. Just not yet.”

Shadow didn’t argue. “Exactly. He needs time. That’s all this is.”

Tails exhaled slowly, and some of the weight eased off his shoulders.

“Yeah,” he murmured. 

Shadow turned his gaze back to the monitor, watching the pulsing lines of energy and branching timelines shift across the screen.

“In the meantime,” he said, “let’s make sure we give him something worth coming back to.”

Tails looked at him, and for once, the uncertainty didn’t feel so heavy. Like maybe things were starting to hold together.

“…Yeah,” he said. “Let’s do that.”

He turned back to the terminal, pulling up the next system diagnostics, fingers already flying across the keys. Shadow stood beside him a moment longer, arms folded, then glanced toward the door.

“It’s getting late. You should stop for the night.”

Tails didn’t look up. “I’m fine. Just want to get this last section mapped, it won’t take long.”

Shadow raised an eyebrow. “Famous last words.”

Tails gave a quiet snort. “You’ve barely been here and you’re already acting like you know my habits?”

Shadow turned toward the door. “I’m observant.”

He took a few steps, then paused. “I’ll check in tomorrow. Don’t forget to eat something.”

Tails blinked at that, then smiled. “Thanks.”

Shadow started to walk again, but—

“Hey,” Tails said, voice light, amusement threading through it. “When Sonic finds out you’re looking after me now, he’s gonna be so weird about it.”

Shadow didn’t turn around. “He’s always weird.”

Tails grinned. “I mean, yeah, but this’ll really do it. Full meltdown.”

Shadow kept walking, but his voice carried back “Good.”

He tossed one last remark over his shoulder before the door clicked shut.

“See you tomorrow, Miles .”

Tails groaned. “Oh, you’re never letting that go, are you?”

The door clicked shut.

Still smiling, Tails turned back to the screen.

And just like that, it didn’t feel like the whole world was on his shoulders anymore.

Chapter Text

It had been a month since the locked room incident, and the silence still lingered like smoke.

Not complete silence, Sonic had come back, eventually. He slipped back into the safehouse a few days after everything. And Shadow? He hadn’t shown his face at all.

Maybe that was intentional. They were just giving each other space. The fallout was too heavy for anyone to pick up yet. Either way, the distance held.

Tails didn’t push it. There hadn’t been time.

Not with the project moving into live testing and G.U.N. pressing for updates. He barely saw Sonic these days, just heard the door creak at night or noticed the used mugs on the counter in the morning. A presence, not a conversation. And as much as that stung… part of him understood.

Sonic had forgiven him. That much was clear in the quiet ways. The shared space, the unspoken routines, the fact that Sonic never looked at him like he was a stranger. The trust was still there, solid as ever.

But something else wasn’t.

Sonic was doing fine, technically. Physically, he looked better than ever. He’d been taking on high-risk missions. And he made it all look easy. He still moved like a blur, fast as ever, maybe even faster. Whatever was wrong, it wasn’t his speed.

But the energy never made it to his voice. His eyes.

He wasn’t angry anymore. He was just quiet. Worn down in a way that didn’t show on the outside, but you could feel it if you looked long enough.

And no matter how much Tails wanted to fix that.. there just wasn’t time.

The same went for Sonic and Shadow. 

Sonic and Shadow hadn’t seen each other since that night.

Not once.

Shadow had given him space. More space than Tails expected, honestly. After everything, after the medal… he’d backed off completely. 

And Sonic? He didn’t bring him up. Not once. 

He’d told Sonic about Shadow helping with the project, how he’d been running simulations, reviewing schematics, even troubleshooting some of the chaos filters.

Sonic had no reaction. Just silence, like the name didn’t matter, or it mattered too much to acknowledge.

Tails didn’t push it.

There was still something there, Tails could feel it whenever Shadow’s name came up. Sonic wasn’t upset. Just distant, like things had paused between them and no one knew how to press play again.

And maybe Shadow felt the same.

Still, Shadow hadn’t disappeared entirely. He was still in touch, quietly helping Tails from the shadows. Running simulations. Sending diagnostic notes. Checking power readings. But he never stayed long.

It was like they both agreed, silently, that the next time they spoke… it had to matter.

Until then?

They stayed out of each other’s way.

The main chamber of the facility buzzed with energy, literal and otherwise.

Glass paneled walls curved around a massive core setup in the center of the room: a containment platform wrapped in insulated coils, layered stabilization rings humming with low pulses of chaos energy, and a spiderweb of thick cables snaking across the floor to a dozen monitoring stations. Engineers in dark uniforms moved from screen to screen, speaking in low voices, running last-minute diagnostics. The air smelled faintly of ozone and heat-treated metal.

Tails stood near the center platform, tightening the strap of his goggles as he skimmed the latest readouts. The lab coat was a new addition to his usual gear, but it suited him here. 

Around him, the facility moved with practiced precision. Engineers worked in tight units across terminals, running final diagnostics, calling out sync percentages and energy levels. The RESET hardware had finally taken shape, its core suspended in a containment cradle at the heart of the chamber, powered by stabilized chaos energy and layered through safety protocols Tails had overseen himself.

The hum of it all, the machines, the science, the sheer scale, was something he could actually breathe in.

Besides, today mattered. This test was the biggest step forward yet.

“Power’s stabilized on all anchors,” someone called from one of the far stations. “Filters are synched and holding.”

“Double check the magnetic flow rate before we move to ignition,” Tails replied, his voice steady. Authoritative. “We can’t afford a variance at this scale.”

“Yes, sir.”

He stepped forward, pulling up a floating screen near the main console. The projection displayed real-time feedback from the chaos chamber: pulses reading consistent, core temperature holding steady, energy draw within optimal range.

RESET was nearly ready, for this phase, at least.

There were still months of testing ahead, maybe more. But today’s trial was a major step. The first time the full system would be powered and stabilized under controlled conditions. If it held, it would mean the containment protocols were actually working, the foundation of everything that came next.

Tails was checking the flux modulation on the core when he heard boots behind him.

“Doctor,” came a familiar voice.

Tails turned. Sergeant Alvarez stood just inside the chamber, helmet tucked under one arm, tactical gear still dusted with dirt from wherever he’d been last.

“You’re early,” Tails said, trying to smile.

Alvarez shrugged. “Didn’t want to miss this one.” He stepped closer, lowering his voice.

“By the way, Shadow won’t be here. G.U.N. pulled him for an urgent op with Team Dark, something high-priority.”

Tails blinked, disappointment flickering just briefly behind his eyes. “Oh.”

Alvarez hesitated, then added, “He told me to tell you... ‘You’re gonna do great.’ Said he wished he could be here.”

Tails was a bit disappointed. He couldn’t help it. Shadow had helped him work through the ethical questions, checking his logic, challenging his blind spots.  And now that it was finally coming together, part of Tails had really wanted him to see it. 

And Sonic—

God, he wished Sonic could be here too.

The person who believed in him before anyone else ever did. 

But things were different now….

Tails hadn’t asked him to come. Not because he didn’t want him there, because he didn’t want to make him choose. Between distance and duty. Between healing and everything RESET still meant.

So he let the space stay.

Even if a part of him kept hoping he might walk through the door anyway.

But he brushed the feeling off almost immediately.

There were bigger things to worry about. His nerves were already creeping in, tight in his chest, buzzing at the edges of his thoughts. RESET wasn’t just an idea today. It was live, humming, real. One wrong calculation and everything they’d built could short, fail, or worse.

He didn’t have time to dwell on who wasn’t in the room.

He turned back to the console. “Alright. Let’s finish pre-checks. We run the test in fifteen.”

Around the lab, the energy shifted, quieter voices, quicker movements. Engineers straightened up at their stations, fingers flying across keys as the countdown officially began.

Tails moved from terminal to terminal, checking readings, recalibrating flow regulators, confirming sync rates on each stabilizer node. Every number was where it needed to be. Every line of code holding steady.

But his anxiety didn’t budge.

Not because anything was wrong, just because everything was right. Too right. Perfect systems made him nervous.

“Core temperature?” he asked, stepping up to the primary console.

“Stable at 98.2,” one of the techs responded. “Holding.”

“Chaos energy flow?”

“Locked at 67%, no fluctuation.”

Tails exhaled and tapped the interface. “Start phase one diagnostics. Let’s go.”

The room moved with him.

Screens lit up in clean blues and greens as diagnostics kicked in. Across the chamber, engineers fell into rhythm, their voices calm, movements precise.

“Anchor points stable.”

“Mag flow within optimal range.”

“Sync curve’s perfect.”

Tails walked the line of consoles, eyes flicking from screen to screen. Every reading checked out. RESET’s pulse was steady, almost elegant, exactly where it should be. 

This was going better than expected.

“Phase one complete,” someone called. “All systems green.”

Tails nodded, already loading the next sequence. “Good. Begin low-flow circulation. Let’s take it slow and steady.”

There was a quiet sense of momentum in the room. Focused, efficient. Engineers who had been skeptical weeks ago now moved with quiet confidence, trusting the system, trusting the plan.

“Phase two initiated,” came another voice. “Circulation holding at fifteen percent. No fluctuation.”

“Core response is stable,” someone else added. “Feedback loop is clean.”

Tails watched the data roll across the screen, numbers lining up exactly as they should. Stabilizers pulsed in perfect intervals, chaos flow ticked up within range, and the energy dispersion models weren’t just holding, they were outperforming projections.

His grip on the edge of the console loosened without him realizing it.

The buzz in his chest had started to quiet.

Weeks of prep, recalibration, and sleepless nights, and it was all actually working. Not just in theory. Not just in simulation. Here, now, in real time.

“Field readings are clean,” said another tech. “Circulation at twenty-five percent and rising.”

Tails nodded to himself, voice even. “Let’s take it up to thirty. Hold it there for ten seconds, then stabilize.”

He didn’t feel great yet…. Not exactly. But the pressure behind his eyes was easing. His heartbeat was slowing. The knot of dread he’d been carrying for days was finally starting to loosen.

“Phase two stable,” came the call from across the lab.

Tails nodded once. “Alright,” he said, steady. “Let’s move to Phase Three. Full anchor sync. Begin incremental spike on my mark.”

Hands moved across consoles. Switches flipped. A low hum rose from the center of the chamber, deeper, heavier than before. The sound of a system waking up for real.

RESET’s core lit with a pulsing glow, soft at first. Beautiful, in a way.

“All anchor points online,” someone confirmed. “Ready for synchronization.”

Tails adjusted the interface, his voice calm. “Initiate sync pattern A. Increase core flow to forty percent. Let’s hold it steady.”

The pulse deepened. Energy moved through the rig.

“Containment holding. All readings nominal.”

Another nod. “Good. Take it up to fifty over the next sixty seconds.”

This was the moment it had all been building to.

The hardware. The calibration. The ethics, the politics, the nights he couldn’t sleep.

And it was working.

Tails let himself exhale. 

Behind him, the glowing rig of RESET began to hum louder, smoother, almost like it was settling in .

Then—

A flicker.

Not on the screens.  In the air.

It was subtle at first. A sudden pressure shift, almost like the whole room took a breath. A hit that was a half second before your brain catches up, when your body knows something is wrong, even if the data says everything’s fine.

Tails’ ears twitched. He turned-

And the anchor closest to the western panel flared violently, an eruption of light and force, pure Chaos energy tearing out in a jagged wave, arcing through the lab before anyone could blink.

And it hit him.

It hit Tails directly.

He didn’t even get a word out.

The wave slammed into his chest like a freight train. His body snapped back, it lifted clean off the ground and hurled across the lab. His shoulder caught a metal console. His skull struck something harder.

A sound cracked through the room.

Something between thunder and bone.

He hit the floor hard. Limbs limp. Goggles cracked wide open. His coat shredded down the back. And underneath the edge of his head…

A slow, dark pool began to spread.

For a second no one moved.

The alarms hadn’t even caught up yet. No sirens. No klaxons. Just the low, wrong hum of the core still running, flickering like it was deciding whether to kill the rest of them too.

And then chaos erupted.

“Get it off! KILL THE FEED—!”

“Pull the sync—NOW!”

“Dr. Prower is—he’s not—he’s not moving!”

Someone screamed. Another was already calling for evac.

But Alvarez was the first to reach him.

Alvarez’s jaw locked as he dropped beside Tails, but his hands hovered, shaking, and they were useless, like they didn’t know how to save him.

Blood was already soaking through the back of the fox's coat. Too much of it. Seeping into the floor in thick, awful streams. His twin tails were limp. His goggles were cracked open, one lens gone. His head was tilted just slightly.

And Tails wasn’t moving.

Alvarez’s throat seized.

“You don’t get to just—” The words tore out, rough and broken. He blinked hard, but the sting behind his eyes was already spilling over.

He pressed two fingers to Tails’ neck. Nothing.

He pressed again, harder. Still nothing.

“No, no—hey, c’mon—” His voice was rising now, his hands pressing down like he could force the life back into him. “You can’t do this, alright? Not after everything. Not when you finally got here. Not when you were just—just getting started—”

He stayed crouched beside Tails, still pressing down, still waiting for something—anything—to change. His gloves were slick with blood now. He couldn’t even tell where the worst of it was coming from. It didn’t matter. There was too much.

“MEDIC!” he finally roared, voice cracking. “NOW!”

A team was already pushing through the crowd, med-kits in hand, shouting clearance as they rushed in. One of them dropped beside Alvarez and gently pulled his hands back, but he resisted for half a second.

“He’s not breathing,” Alvarez choked out. “He’s not—he’s not—”

“We’ve got it,” one of the medics said firmly. “We’ve got him.”

Alvarez didn’t move far. He hovered just behind the medic’s shoulder, chest heaving, eyes locked on Tails’ face like sheer willpower might spark him back to life.

The medic worked fast, oxygen mask secured, vitals checked, two fingers at the neck, then the wrist. Nothing.

“Pulse is gone,” someone muttered. “Charging—clear!”

Tails’ body jerked from the shock.

Still nothing.

Alvarez swore under his breath. “Come on, kid….”

“Clear!”

Another jolt. Another stillness.

And then—

A flicker.

The faintest rise in his chest. A twitch in one of his tails.

The medic leaned in. “We’ve got something.”

A flurry of motion followed. A stretcher was brought in, someone radioed for airlift clearance, and commands started flying faster than Alvarez could track. But none of it mattered—not really, because they were moving now. They had a pulse. Tails was alive.

Barely.

“Move!” the lead medic barked. 

They lifted him carefully—too carefully—and Alvarez caught one last glimpse of the kid’s face before they wheeled him out.

Still unconscious. Still pale. Still bleeding.

But breathing.

Just barely.

Alvarez stayed frozen, hands still slick, chest pulled so tight it hurt to breathe.

Tails….

And then.

Sonic .

The thought slammed into him like a gut punch.

He’d seen him on missions lately. He was sharp, fast, brutal when he had to be. But behind the speed, behind the chaos, Alvarez had seen the truth. He was running like he was trying to outrun his own grief.

And now this?

How the hell was he supposed to tell him this ?

Alvarez’s hand trembled as he raised the comm to his mouth.

“…Sonic,” he said, voice rough, breaking at the edges. “It’s Tails. You need to come now.”

There was a pause.

“What happened.”

His voice was low, it was almost like he already knew.

Alvarez’s throat tightened. “RESET. Something went wrong. He’s-he’s critical. I don’t—” He couldn’t even finish. “I sent you the location.”

Static.

Then—

BOOM.

A sudden rush of wind exploded through the corridor. Papers flew. A medic yelped. Alvarez turned—

And there he was.

Sonic.

Standing at the far end of the hall, chest heaving like he couldn’t breathe. His quills were charged, sparking faintly with blue energy. His eyes locked on Alvarez’s, which were wide, frantic, disbelieving.

“Where is he.”

The words barely came out. They cracked halfway through.

Alvarez took one step forward, voice soft now, hoarse.

“They’re loading him now. Out back-”

Sonic was already gone.

Medics were lifting Tails inside. His body looked too small on the stretcher. Tubes already in his arm. The oxygen mask was too big for his face. Blood soaked through the white gauze along his side, and his twin tails trailed motionless over the edge.

Sonic took one staggering step forward.

Then another.

“No…”

It came out like a whisper. Like a plea.

His knees hit the pavement before he even realized he was falling. One hand braced against the asphalt. The other reached, trembling, useless toward the stretcher.

“Tails…?”

One of the medics blocked his path, firm but not unkind. “We have to move. You can meet us at–”

“No.” Sonic’s voice was sharp now. Panicked. “No, I—I’m going with him. I’m not letting him go alone.”

The medic hesitated.

Then stepped aside.

Sonic climbed into the ambulance without another word and dropped to his knees beside the stretcher, gripping the rails like they were the only thing holding him together.

Alvarez stood frozen in the doorway, watching as the doors slammed shut behind them, the red lights already flashing, engine roaring to life.

And in the sudden quiet that followed, he wiped his face roughly with the back of his hand.

God help them all.

Alvarez pressed his comm, jaw tight, voice unsteady.

“Shadow.”

A pause, then the words came out fast, like if he didn’t say them now, he wouldn’t be able to.

“There was an accident. Phase three went wrong. Tails got hit... He wasn’t breathing.”

His breath caught, but he kept going.

“They brought him back, but it’s bad. He’s being rushed to the hospital now.”

“I…I’m on my way.”

And with that, he cut the comm.

Shadow was mid mission when the comm buzzed.

Tails. Hit. Not breathing.

The rest of the world blurred.

He finished the operation like it didn’t matter, because suddenly, it didn’t. 

And then he was gone.

He just ran.

The hallway outside the operating room was too bright. Too still.

Sonic stood motionless at first, fists clenched at his sides, eyes locked on the red-lit sign above the door:

SURGERY IN PROGRESS. DO NOT ENTER.

His legs wouldn’t stop shaking.

The door hadn’t opened since they wheeled Tails through it.

No updates. No voices. Just that silence.

He didn’t sit. Couldn’t. Every time he tried, he got back up. Paced. Pressed his palms against the wall. Tried to breathe.

But it wouldn’t come.

Because on the other side of that door was the only person who had ever believed in him without question. His little brother. His partner. His family.

And Sonic hadn’t even been there.

He didn’t even know about the test. Not until Alvarez called. Not until it was already too late.

They hadn’t really talked much since the trap room. Not the way they used to. 

And now he was out here, powerless, clueless, too late because Tails hadn’t told him. Because maybe… maybe Tails didn’t think he’d care.

Sonic’s gloved hands dug into his arms, gripping tight like he could hold himself together by force alone. His breaths came faster, chest rising and falling in short, uneven bursts. He forced himself to stop pacing, to stay still, but his legs still trembled.

It was like his whole body was trying to outrun what his mind was just now catching up to.

He didn’t get to say anything.

He’d told himself he needed space. That they both did.

But this wasn’t space.

This was absence.

And if Tails didn’t make it…

Sonic’s jaw clenched hard enough to ache, eyes stinging.

He didn’t even get to say sorry .

Alvarez had been sitting quietly across the hall, close enough to reach if Sonic lost it, but far enough to give him room. He didn’t say much. There wasn’t much he could say. Not when the Tails was in surgery. Not when Sonic, who was just barely holding himself together, was starting to unravel right in front of him.

Sonic was pacing again, short, erratic steps back and forth, like staying still might kill him. His fists were clenched so tightly inside his gloves that his arms were shaking. Every few seconds, his quills sparked, just little flickers at first, like static.

Then he stopped.

His chest was rising and falling too fast, each breath sharp and uneven. For a moment, he didn’t move at all. His eyes were wide, locked straight ahead… but he wasn’t seeing the hallway. He wasn’t seeing anything. Just stuck, somewhere between the panic and the silence.

And then the air changed.

A faint hum, wrong, electric, crept into the space around him, and a subtle distortion bent the light near his edges. The purple glow started low, curling around his shoes like mist. It climbed up his arms, shimmered at the tips of his quills.

Alvarez stood slowly. “Sonic…”

He didn’t respond.

Alvarez's chest tightened. “Hey. Hey, you gotta breathe.”

Sonic didn’t answer. His breathing had gone quiet now. Too quiet.

“I said breathe,” Alvarez repeated, firmer this time. “You’re scaring the hell out of me.”

That pulled something. Sonic’s body flinched like a wire had snapped. His eyes, glowing softly violet, blinked once. His arms dropped slowly to his sides, still trembling.

Sonic stumbled back, chest heaving, and braced himself against the wall. His gloved hands slid to his face, dragging down slowly. “I wasn’t there,” he whispered, voice shredded. “I didn’t even know there was a test. He didn’t tell me. Or maybe he did and I just… I just wasn’t listening.”

Suddenly, footsteps echoed hard against the tile. They were metallic, fast, deliberate.

The distinct whirring of Air Shoes.

Shadow rounded the corner like he was tearing through a battlefield. His breathing was ragged, gloves stained with soot and ash, the mission was still clinging to him like smoke.

And then he stopped.

Eyes locking on Sonic.

Not Sonic pacing. Not Sonic sitting.

Sonic braced against the wall, quills still faintly pulsing with a soft, unnatural glow. His whole frame was trembling, What looked like Chaos energy was curling in pale violet threads beneath his gloves, along his arms like something barely leashed.

Shadow’s Air Shoes froze mid step.

Sonic didn’t even notice him yet. He was too far gone. Shadow’s breath caught.

“Sonic.”

Sonic’s head turned toward the sound, his eyes were wide, still glowing faintly at the edges, and full of something deeper. A grief Shadow had never seen in him before.

And for a moment, neither of them moved.

The silence between them pulsed with something thick and electric.

Alvarez stood a few feet away, watching the scene unfold. Watching Sonic, still shaking, still faintly glowing, like he might fall apart if touched wrong. And Shadow, eyes locked on him with something unreadable.

Alvarez took a slow breath.

He knew better than to stay.

Whatever was about to be said between them, if anything was said at all, it wasn’t meant for him. Those two had a gravity to them, their own unspoken language, a history layered in ways even he didn’t fully get. But he’d seen enough to know when to give them space.

So he gave them one last glance, at Sonic, trembling and cracking open, and at Shadow, already stepping closer, and then turned, his footsteps fading down the corridor.

As the silence closed in behind him, Shadow took a slow step forward. 

“Sonic,” he said again, quieter this time. “Are you...what was that?”

Sonic turned to him fully now, still braced against the wall. His breathing was shallow, eyes dimmer but still glowing faintly at the edges. 

“…I don’t know,” he said. His voice cracked. “I didn’t—I wasn’t trying to do anything.”

Shadow hesitated. For a second, it looked like he might press, but he didn’t. He just shook his head and stepped closer, his voice softening.

“…Never mind.”

He stopped in front of him. 

“Are you okay?” Shadow asked.

Sonic gave a laugh, dry and bitter. “Do I look okay?”

“No,” Shadow said quietly. “You don’t.”

And that was it.

That was all Sonic needed to hear.

His breath hitched, just once, and then his body gave in, tension collapsing all at once as he stepped forward. He didn’t say anything, he just leaned in, until his forehead pressed against Shadow’s shoulder.

And then he broke.

His gloves clenched at Shadow’s jacket as the first sob tore out of him, raw and unsteady. Another followed, then another. 

Shadow exhaled and raised one arm, resting it carefully around Sonic’s back. The other hovered for a second before settling gently on Sonic’s shoulder.

“You don’t have to keep it together right now,” he said softly. “It’s okay.”

Sonic didn’t say anything. He just leaned in further, jaw clenched, eyes shut tight as the tears finally came.

Shadow’s grip stayed firm. “He’s strong. If anyone can make it through this… it’s him. You know that.”

Another breath hitched in Sonic’s chest, his head still tucked against Shadow’s shoulder. He gave the faintest nod, barely there, but it was something.

They stayed like that for a while, the quiet humming around them broken only by the low beep of machines behind the surgery doors and the distant shuffle of footsteps down the hall.

Sonic’s voice came out barely a whisper. “He always believed in me. Even when I didn’t believe in myself. And I just… I left him alone.”

Shadow shook his head. “You didn’t,” he said gently. “Tails knew you needed space. He was giving it to you. He understood. That’s not the same as being alone.”

Sonic leaned in deeper, his forehead brushing against Shadow’s collarbone. His breath trembled as he exhaled, fists still gripping the fabric of Shadow’s jacket.

“I didn’t even know there was a test today,” he murmured. 

Shadow’s voice was low. “You were hurting. And he knew that. He never stopped believing in you, Sonic. Not for a second.”

Eventually, Sonic pulled back, slow and reluctant, like part of him still wasn’t ready to face the world beyond that shoulder. His eyes were red, but underneath the exhaustion, they still glowed faintly white at the edges, a stark contrast to the dim hallway lights. That strange, heavy energy had finally settled.

His hands dropped from Shadow’s jacket, though one lingered for a second longer, fingertips brushing fabric like he wasn’t quite ready to let go.

Shadow let his arm fall to his side again, watching him carefully. “You alright?”

Sonic didn’t answer right away. He dragged a gloved hand across his face, sniffling once, then nodded  “No. But… I will be. If he is.”

Shadow gave a faint hum in response.

Sonic glanced sideways, then exhaled. “You always do that, y’know.”

Shadow raised an eyebrow. “Do what?”

“Show up,” Sonic said. He didn’t look at him, just kept staring straight ahead at the glowing red light. “Every time I’m about to fall apart. Doesn’t matter what mess I’ve made, or how far gone I am. You’re just… there.”

His voice was soft, a little frayed around the edges.

“I don’t know how you do it. But I’m glad you do.”

Then Shadow said, softly, “I had to.”

Sonic turned to glance at him.

“For Tails,” Shadow continued, his voice low. “And for you.”

That hit something deep. Sonic blinked, his throat tight again, but he didn’t look away this time.

Shadow’s eyes stayed steady on his. “You think I’d be anywhere else right now?”

Sonic’s lips parted like he might try to speak, but nothing came out. So he just gave the smallest shake of his head and looked down, eyes burning again. 

They turned toward the doors together. The only thing standing between them and whatever news would change everything.

Without needing to ask, they both sat down. Close, their knees nearly touching. The bench was cold. 

Sonic leaned in a little. Then, his shoulder rested against Shadow’s.

And Shadow didn’t move.

He let him stay there, close and trembling, his own posture straight but no longer distant. 

Then Shadow shifted. Just enough to let Sonic know he was still there. That he wasn’t going anywhere.

Their tears had finally dried.

But the fear hadn’t left either of them.

And so they waited.

Together.

Chapter Text

The hallway outside the hospital had stopped feeling real about twelve hours ago.

Everything past the red SURGERY IN PROGRESS sign blurred into beeping monitors, and the occasional nurse glancing their way before quickly looking back down. 

Sonic was still curled into Shadow’s side on the bench, head tucked against his shoulder like he'd never moved. His eyes were half lidded, unfocused, like he’d stopped really seeing things hours ago. Shadow hadn’t said a word, hadn’t shifted, hadn’t let go. One arm stayed looped around Sonic’s back.

They'd been sitting like that since the night before. It was like moving would break something.

Every so often, Sonic’s hand would twitch. Or Shadow’s fingers would shift against his back, the barest reminder that they were still here. Still holding on.

Time crawled.

And then slowed even more.

Because neither of them had dared to ask how long the surgery would take. Or what it meant that no one had come out yet. Or why, even with the world technically still turning, the air felt too thin in their lungs.

And when the doctor finally walked in, neither of them were ready.

His footsteps were soft, almost silent. The kind of silence that came before bad news, not even out of respect, but out of exhaustion. He looked like he hadn’t slept either. His scrubs were wrinkled, clipboard tucked under one arm, surgical mask hanging loose around his neck. He stopped a few feet away from them, his expression neutral, unreadable.

Sonic didn’t move.

Shadow’s eyes locked on the man immediately, sharp and guarded.

The doctor cleared his throat once. Then glanced between them.

“You’re his guardian?” he asked, softly.

Sonic blinked. Slowly. Then nodded.

Shadow sat up straighter, but didn’t let go of him.

The doctor hesitated just long enough to confirm everything they didn’t want to hear.

“He made it through the surgery,” he started. “The internal bleeding was severe, but we managed to stabilize it. Skull fracture was extensive. We had to reduce the swelling before addressing the hemorrhage.”

Sonic’s eyes didn’t change. Just locked somewhere past the doctor’s face. Somewhere farther than the walls of this hallway.

“But there was a delay in resuscitation,” the doctor continued, quieter now. “We don’t know how long he was without oxygen. Long enough that… well…”

He paused again. Then looked directly at Sonic.

“He’s in a coma.”

Sonic’s breath didn’t hitch. His face didn’t change. But his body shifted almost imperceptibly, like someone had removed the last thread holding him upright.

Shadow’s hand gripped his shoulder more firmly.

“We don’t know if he’ll wake up,” the doctor added, voice flat. He had said this too many times to let it hurt anymore. “And if he does… there may be lasting damage. Cognitive deficits. Motor impairment. Possibly memory loss. There’s no way to tell yet.”

No way to tell.

No guarantees.

No hope.

Just a maybe.

Sonic finally blinked.

“…Can we see him?” Shadow asked, and though his voice stayed level, there was a tight edge to it, like it was taking effort not to break in front of the doctor.

The doctor nodded. “He’s stable. You can go in, but please keep it brief. No noise.”

Then he turned and walked away, his shoes soft on the tile, disappearing into the rest of the hospital like it had never happened.

Shadow stood first, his arm still around Sonic as he moved. But Sonic didn’t follow.

He just sat there.

Still curled in. Still silent. Still staring forward with that empty expression on his face.

Shadow didn’t pull him. He waited.

And after a moment, Sonic pushed himself up, but it was slow and unsteady.

His legs didn’t want to hold him. He swayed as he stood, one foot stumbling slightly forward like his body had forgotten how to move. His hand twitched out, aimless, uncoordinated.

Shadow caught him before he could fall.

One arm slipped under his shoulder, steadying him without hesitation. 

Sonic didn’t look at him. He just stood there for a second, eyes low, breathing shallow.

Then he started walking toward the door.

And Shadow followed.

The walk to the room felt longer than it was.

Every step echoed louder than it should have, bouncing off the sterile tile in a way that made the hallway feel hollow. Sonic’s strides were small, uncertain, like he didn’t trust the ground not to fall out from under him. Shadow stayed close behind, just half a step back, close enough to catch him again if he needed to.

The door to the room was cracked open when they reached it.

Sonic paused in the doorway.

His breath caught, not loud, but enough to make Shadow stop too.

Inside, the room was dimly lit. Machines hummed in soft, steady rhythms. Monitors glowed dull green and blue, pulsing in time with the beeping heart monitor beside the bed. The oxygen machine let out a slow hiss every few seconds, too smooth, too mechanical.

Tails was lying motionless in the middle of it all.

His fur was dulled, flattened. His head was wrapped in white gauze, just above one eye. Wires trailed from beneath the blanket, disappearing into machines Sonic didn’t want to understand. An oxygen mask covered his nose and mouth, fogging faintly with each shallow breath.

He looked small.

Too small for the bed.

Too quiet for someone who used to talk fast and fill rooms with ideas and questions.

Sonic didn’t move.

He just stood there in the doorway, frozen, eyes wide but unblinking.

Shadow placed a hand on his back. 

Sonic stepped forward.

One slow step.

Then another.

Until he was standing at the side of the bed.

He didn’t speak.

He just looked at him.

Looked at the kid, now teen, who used to hang off his arm, bounce off walls, laugh with too much energy for one body to hold. The one who’d saved the world more times than anyone gave him credit for. The one who believed in second chances.

The one who’d believed in him.

The one who, somehow, had a PhD at fifteen. Who could outthink generals, design machines from scratch, fix problems no one else could even see. Brilliant in a way that didn’t fit into words.

And now he was lying there, silent.

Now lying here, unconscious, wrapped in wires and silence, with no promise that he’d ever wake up.

Sonic’s jaw clenched.

Then, his voice came out hoarse. Barely above a whisper.

“Hey, bud…”

He reached out slowly, just enough to brush his fingers against the edge of the blanket near Tails’ hand.

It didn’t move.

Of course it didn’t.

Sonic’s shoulders trembled, but no sound came. He wouldn’t let it.

He leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice again.

“You’re gonna come back from this. I know you are.”

He waited.

Nothing.

The machines beeped. The mask hissed.

Shadow stood near the door, silent.

Watching.

Waiting.

Protecting.

But Sonic didn’t say anything else.

He just stayed there, hand resting on the blanket, head bowed, like he was trying to speak to him in some way deeper than words.

Like maybe, if he stayed long enough, Tails would feel it.

Would come back.

Would fix everything.

Because that’s what he always did.

The silence held a little longer.

Then Sonic’s shoulders started to shake.

Not all at once. It was just a tremor at first. Then, his fingers curled into the blanket. His head dipped lower.

And then the first sound escaped.

A breath that wasn’t fully a sob, but it was close.

Shadow stepped forward, slowly, saying nothing.

Another breath hitched in Sonic’s throat.

And then he broke.

He tried to stifle it, bit his lip, turned his face slightly toward the bed, but it came anyway. That sound. That kind of crying. Quiet and helpless.

Tears slipped past his cheeks and hit the blanket.

And he just stayed there, folded beside the bed, one hand gripping the edge of the sheet like it could anchor him to this world. Like if he let go, he’d disappear right along with Tails.

His voice barely made it through the shaking in his chest.

“You said we’d fix this…”

Another tear hit the back of his glove.

“We were supposed to fix it…”

Shadow didn’t say anything. Didn’t move closer yet.

He just stood there, watching as the strongest person he knew came undone. Softly, silently, in a hospital room too quiet to hold that much pain.

Sonic’s voice shook as he stared at the unconscious figure in front of him, eyes blurring with fresh tears. His hand clenched tighter around the blanket.

“You should’ve told me, Tails…”

The words cracked as they left him.

“You should’ve told me about the test. I would've come. I—I should’ve been the one in here, not you.”

His other hand lifted, hovering uselessly above Tails’ arm before pulling back again. He couldn’t bring himself to touch him. Not like this.

“You spent months building this thing. You gave up everything for it. RESET was supposed to fix everything, not break you.”

His chest hitched as another sob slipped loose, quieter this time, like he was running out of sound. Of strength.

“It wasn’t supposed to be you. You weren’t supposed to get hurt. This was supposed to save people… not put you in this bed.”

He shook his head, pressing the heel of his hand to his eyes like he could force the tears to stop.

“I should’ve been there.”

That last part barely made it out at all.

And this time, he didn’t bother wiping his face. He just sat there. Shoulders hunched. Breath trembling. Eyes locked on Tails like he was afraid to blink and miss him slipping further away.

The silence stretched, thick and motionless, until Shadow finally moved.

He stepped closer and crouched down beside the bed, beside Sonic. He didn’t reach out, he just stayed close, his jaw tight, eyes flicking to the monitors.

“I wasn’t there either,” he said quietly, his voice rougher now, guilt starting to crack through the edges.

“I should’ve been. With him. But I let G.U.N. pull me off for some mission. I wasn’t even thinking about the test.”

His fists clenched against his knees. “If I had stayed, if I had paid more attention, maybe I could’ve stopped it. Or maybe he wouldn’t be—”

“Stop.” Sonic’s voice cut in. He turned his head finally, red rimmed eyes sharp beneath the exhaustion.

“Don’t do that. Don’t take this on, too.”

Shadow blinked, caught off guard.

Sonic shook his head, slow and tired. “You were doing your job. You didn’t know. None of us did. That doesn’t make it your fault.”

Shadow looked down, jaw tight, like he didn’t know what to do with that. But Sonic wasn’t finished.

“You came the second you heard. You dropped everything. You ran straight here.” His voice softened, almost to a whisper. “You always do.”

For a moment, Shadow didn’t respond. He just looked at him, quiet, like he was trying to find the right words..

Then, slowly, he reached out.

He reached out, resting a hand lightly on Sonic’s shoulder. His touch was careful. When Sonic didn’t pull away, Shadow stepped in and wrapped his arm around him.

And Sonic leaned in.

Not all the way. Not like before. But just enough to rest his head against Shadow’s chest, the side of his face pressed into the soft warmth of him. His eyes were shut tight. The crying had quieted, but it hadn’t gone. It was still there, tucked just beneath the surface, sitting heavy in every breath.

Shadow didn’t say anything. He just held him, steady and quiet, like he wasn’t going anywhere.

And for a while, that was enough.

It hadn’t even hit him until now, how natural this had all felt. The way Sonic had been curled against Shadow’s side in the hallway for hours, without a word, without hesitation. The way Shadow had let him stay there. 

They hadn’t spoken in weeks. Not since the room. Not since everything fell apart. But none of that had mattered here. Not in this room. Not with Tails in that bed. Somewhere along the way, the space between them had just… disappeared.

A soft knock on the door pulled them both back.

One of the doctors stepped in, tired eyes, quiet voice. “I’m sorry,” he said gently. “We need to run another scan. Just a few minutes.”

Sonic slowly pulled back from Shadow’s hold and stood, his eyes still locked on Tails.

He looked at him for a long moment.

And then, just before turning toward the door, he said quietly, “He wasn’t supposed to end up like this.”

Then, without looking, Sonic’s hand reached back.

His fingers brushed against Shadow’s.

And Shadow took it.

Sonic just kept walking, hand still in Shadow’s, like letting go wasn’t even an option.

Shadow followed, something in his gut tightening.

Out in the hallway, the lights felt too bright again. The quiet hum of machines, nurses murmuring down the corridor, it all came rushing back.

Sonic stopped.

Right there in the middle of the hall, he slowed to a halt and turned toward the wall. He pressed one hand flat against it, the other still clutching Shadow’s. Then he leaned forward, forehead resting against the cold surface, eyes shut tight.

Shadow stepped closer, saying nothing, just standing there behind him, still holding on.

Suddenly, Shadow’s comm buzzed. It was soft, but jarring in the silence. He glanced down, pulling it from his belt.

He looked at Sonic, still pressed into the wall, and lowered his voice. “I need to take this. You okay?”

Sonic didn’t respond, but after a second, his hand slipped free of Shadow’s.

Shadow stepped back a few paces and answered the call from Sergeant Alvarez.

“Look,” he said, low and firm, “if this is about a mission, I’m not going. I can’t. I’m in the middle of something more important.”

There was a pause on the other end, just long enough to tell Shadow that Alvarez had expected that.

“I know,” Alvarez said quietly. “This isn’t that.”

Shadow’s grip on the comm tightened.

Alvarez exhaled, his voice dipping lower. “You're with Sonic, right?”

Shadow’s eyes flicked toward him. “Yeah. What’s going on?”

“I didn’t want him hearing this through the wrong person,” Alvarez said. “They’re shutting RESET down.”

“Just now. The order came straight from G.U.N. and higher up, way higher. Government oversight committee, full federal clearance. No warnings, no discussion. They walked in and they're starting to pull the lab apart. Said it’s a liability. Said they can’t risk another incident.”

His voice dipped again, quieter now.

“I figured he’d hear soon anyway. I just… I didn’t want him to find out like that. I thought maybe you’d want to tell him first.”

Shadow didn’t say anything at first.

He just stared at Sonic, who was still braced against the wall a few feet away.

Shadow’s grip tightened around the comm.

His hand, the one holding it, had started to shake.

He brought it to his mouth anyway.

“…Thanks for telling me,” he said, quieter this time.

“Yeah,” Alvarez replied. “Take care of him.”

Shadow ended the call and lowered his hand slowly, but the tremble didn’t stop. His fingers stayed curled around the device like he didn’t trust what would happen if he let go.

Shadow lowered the comm, but his hand didn’t stop shaking.

He stared at Sonic for another second, then finally took a slow step forward. Then another.

Each step felt too loud in the silence of the hallway.

Sonic hadn’t moved. Still leaning into the wall, both hands braced flat against it. 

Shadow stopped just behind him.

“…Sonic,” he said quietly.

Sonic didn’t turn.

“They’re shutting down Project RESET.”

There was a pause.

Shadow’s voice stayed even. “G.U.N. and the government. Full lockdown. Orders came through right now. They’re dismantling RESET. Everything.”

Then his breath hitched, and his hands curled into fists against the wall.

“...What?” he said, barely more than a whisper.

Shadow didn’t answer.

His face was a mess, still streaked from crying, still pale, but his expression was twisted now. Jaw clenched. Eyes wide, burning, like he couldn’t even process what he was hearing. Like something inside him had just snapped sideways.

“They’re shutting it down?” His voice cracked up at the end, like it couldn’t decide if it was breaking or about to explode. “ That —that’s what they decided?!”

He took a step back, shaking his head, breathing harder now.

“He worked on that for months. He gave up everything for it-his sleep, his health, his life, and they’re just gonna tear it apart?! ”

Another step. Another breath. His quills started to spark, just faint at first, but it was there. That flicker. That glow. The same glow from before...

Shadow’s eyes narrowed. “Sonic—”

Sonic punched the wall. Hard. It cracked under his fist.

Everyone in the hallway turned, and they were staring. The quiet hum of the hospital broke under the sound, replaced by the sharp, sudden tension of people realizing something was very wrong.

But Sonic didn’t care. 

“They don’t get to do that!” he yelled. “They don’t get to break him and bury everything he built like it meant nothing, like he meant nothing!”

His whole body was trembling now, not from weakness, but from energy. Raw, uncontrolled, swirling under the surface like it was looking for a way out.

His hands clenched again, and the air around him started to hum.

“I should’ve been there. I should’ve protected it. I should’ve—” He stopped, cut off by his own breathing, sharp and uneven.

“Sonic,” Shadow said sharply, stepping in. “Stop. Just breathe.”

But Sonic didn’t. Couldn’t. His breaths were short and ragged, his eyes locked somewhere ahead of him. Energy was curling at the edges of his fists now, blue, flickering violet.

His tone shifted. “They can try to shut it down if they want.”

Shadow’s brow furrowed. “What?”

He looked at Shadow.

“They can try to rip it apart. Burn it. Lock the doors.”

Shadow took a slow step forward, eyes locked on him now. “Sonic, what are you saying?”

But Sonic was already turning.

“I’m going back there.”

Not shouting now. Just deciding.

“And I’m finishing what he started.”

Before Shadow could say anything, before the words could even register, Sonic was gone.

A sudden blur of motion, a sharp rush of wind, the overhead lights flickering from the static trail he left behind.

“Damn it…Sonic!”

Shadow took off after him, sprinting down the hallway with everything he had, but Sonic wasn’t just fast.

He was angry.

He was charged.

And even at full tilt, Shadow could already feel the distance between them widening with every second. By the time he hit the end of the corridor, Sonic was long gone.

And for the first time in a long time, Shadow knew he couldn’t catch him.

The RESET facility wasn’t far. It was just outside D.C city limits, tucked behind layers of fencing and G.U.N. surveillance. It looked clean. Modern. Clinical. A research site that was never meant to be emotional. 

Sonic reached the outer perimeter in seconds.

Alarms were tripped, motion sensors lit, but it didn’t matter.

He was through the gate before the cameras could refocus.

The main access doors had been left open, wide enough to see the mess inside.

It wasn’t chaos. Not yet. But it was the beginning of something worse.

Government agents in dark suits stood near the control terminals, overseeing teams of engineers. G.U.N. soldiers lingered near the exits, weapons holstered but ready. Workers were already unbolting panels from the RESET core, logging equipment, packing up everything piece by piece, quiet, mechanical, like this was just another job.

But it wasn’t.

This was Tails’ work.

This was his life.

Sonic stepped inside.

Someone near the far terminal caught sight of him, eyes going wide, tapping another on the arm.

Whispers started. Movements slowed.

A soldier near the back instinctively shifted, hand drifting to his sidearm.

By the time the rest of the room looked up, Sonic was already standing in the center of it, still, quiet, his fur faintly sparkling with violet at the tips. His expression was unreadable.

He looked around once, at the unplugged monitors, the opened panels, the core that was still trying to glow.

And his voice came out low, flat.

“Put it back.”

No one answered.

He didn’t move.

“I said put it back.”

The hum in the room shifted, no longer just the sound of power lines and idle machines.

“I’m not gonna ask again.”

Still, no one moved.

One of the agents took a careful step forward, hands raised. “You need to calm down—”

“No,” Sonic said, sharp now. “ You need to get out of my way.”

Another soldier took a step. Sonic’s eyes snapped to him.

“I’m not bluffing,” he said, voice too calm for how much power was sparking off his body now. 

“I’ll kill every single one of you if you don’t leave.”

The room froze.

And for a second, nobody believed he meant it.

Then someone gave the order.

“Take him down!”

The shots rang out.

And the air changed.

In a split second, the Chaos inside Sonic ignited. He wasn’t just fast anymore, he was light and fury, motion and violence, wrapped in something far more unstable than before.

The Chaos Emeralds he’d absorbed surged through him like they’d been waiting for this, like they’d felt his grief.

The room exploded in color.

Gold light cracked outward in all directions, searing and alive, throwing back the first wave of bullets like they were nothing.

Sonic lifted into the air, fur flashing gold under the storm of energy, eyes glowing pure red. 

He wasn’t here to save them.

He was done.

He was in his Super form now.

And no one in that room was walking away untouched.

He didn’t wait.

The second someone raised their weapon again, he was already there.

A flash of gold.

A scream.

The man hit the far wall before anyone saw Sonic move armor cracked, breath gone, body limp.

Another tried to run. Sonic moved faster.

A crack of Chaos energy, and the floor beneath them split open.

Screams echoed. Concrete buckled. Sparks showered from broken terminals as entire consoles were ripped free of the walls.

Someone fired. He dodged without even trying.

And then he turned on them.

And when it was done, when the noise finally started to thin, there were bodies on the floor, groaning or still.

And Sonic just hovered there.

Glowing. Breathing hard. Staring at what he’d done like it didn’t even register yet.

Shadow descended from above, his form still glowing, pale gold, almost ivory, streaked with flickers of crimson and orange, his fur brighter and cooler than Sonic’s burning gold. His aura shimmered like firelight through glass, controlled. Contained.

The exact opposite of what he’d just stepped into.

He looked around.

Bodies.

Dozens of them.

Some were groaning. Others weren’t moving at all.

The lab was in ruins, consoles crushed, lights broken, the scent of ozone and blood thick in the air. Smoke curled toward the ceiling in lazy trails.

And then Shadow stepped in.

He froze.

Just inside the doorway, golden light still radiating from his form, but none of it reached his face.

Because the sight hit him like a memory.

Too familiar.

Too much like then.

The bodies. The alarms. The silence that came after.

His breathing picked up.

He couldn’t stop seeing it.

It was just like before.

Not the same room

But the same nightmare.

And for a second, he wasn’t in the present anymore.

And at the center of it all hovered Sonic.

Still glowing. 

His golden fur rippled with barely leashed Chaos energy, eyes burning like stars, hands clenched at his sides. 

Shadow just stared.

His mouth parted, but for a moment, he couldn’t speak.

Shadow’s voice wavered as he stared at the bodies.

“…What—what have you done…”

And in that moment, even lit with all the power of his Super form..

He had never felt smaller.

He wasn’t looking at an ally.

He wasn’t even sure he was looking at Sonic anymore.

Sonic didn’t answer right away.

He just floated there with Chaos energy still flickering off him.

Then he let out a soft laugh.

“…Sorry you had to see me like this, Shads.”

He tilted his head slightly, smile not quite reaching his eyes.

“But I’m done pretending.”

And even as the lights around him sparked and the room crackled with power.

He didn’t sound guilty.

He sounded free.

Sonic finally tore his gaze away from the wreckage, turning toward the inner control room, what was left of it.

He floated a few steps forward, then glanced back over his shoulder.

“C’mon. You’re gonna want to see this.”

It wasn’t a request.

He was almost... cheerful.

Shadow hesitated, but followed.

He trailed behind as Sonic descended into the central terminal, stepping over broken panels and scorched wires.

Sonic landed and reached for the console.

His fingers flew across the cracked interface, swiping, typing, overriding security barriers like he knew exactly what he was doing.

Like he’d done it before.

Shadow watched, something hard settling behind his eyes.

“…How do you know the system??”

No answer.

Just the sound of beeping commands and flickering lights.

And Sonic’s unsettling calm.

Then, something shifted in Shadow’s expression.

His eyes narrowed, just slightly. A thought rising, unwelcome. 

He took a slow step closer, watching the way Sonic bypassed another firewall like it was familiar .

Too familiar.

His stomach dropped.

“ …Wait .”

His mind was racing.

“It was you…you were the one who tampered with Tails’ code.”

Sonic let out a quiet hum, still typing.

“Tampered’s a strong word.”

Click. Beep. Another lock gone.

“I just.. gave it a little push.”

He finally looked up, smiling. 

“You’d be surprised how easy it is to lie when you’re grieving.”

Shadow took a step forward, his voice tight.

“Why?”

Sonic turned toward him fully now, still glowing, still calm in that weird, unnatural way.

Then he raised one hand and pressed two fingers gently to Shadow’s lips.

“Shh.”

Still smiling.

“You’ll understand soon.”

Shadow froze as Sonic’s fingers dropped away.

For a moment, all he could do was stare, past him, through the cracked glass lining the control room.

The hallway outside was littered with bodies.

Blood smeared the walls where Chaos energy had scorched straight through armor. 

Shadow swallowed hard, the weight of it crashing down all at once.

His mind reeled, because he’d seen this before. Not here. Not now. But years ago..

He didn’t know what to say.

What to do.

And Sonic, Sonic was still standing there, hands back on the controls, like he hadn’t just torn the room apart. Like the bodies didn’t matter.

Shadow’s hand slipped into his side pouch, fingers curling around his phone.

His grip was tight, and he unlocked it in one smooth motion, opened the map, and dropped a location pin right on top of the Project RESET site.

Sent to Sergeant Alvarez, Rouge, and Omega.

The screen dimmed.

And in the space between that blink and the next breath..

The air behind him changed.

Shadow’s fingers barely slipped the phone back into his pouch before—

SLAM.

Sonic was suddenly in front of him, his hand clamped around Shadow’s wrist with force.

His other hand ripped the phone free.

CRACK.

He didn’t even look at it, just crushed it in his palm like it was made of paper. Sparks popped. Glass shattered. Pieces clattered to the floor.

And then he leaned in. Way too close. Eyes glowing, jaw clenched.

“Don’t do that again.”

But just as fast as the fury came, it vanished .

Sonic straightened up, exhaled almost like he was shaking off a bad mood…

And..smiled?

“Anyway.”

He turned back to the console, fingers dancing across the keys again like nothing had happened.

“Let’s finish this.”

For a moment, Shadow just stood there. 

Then, he saw it.

The screen. The interface. That final partition of the system.

The trigger.

His blood ran cold.

“Wait...”

Shadow lunged forward, hand grabbing Sonic’s arm, yanking him back from the controls.

The chair scraped. Sonic stumbled. Chaos sparked at his sneakers.

“You’re trying to set it off.. ”

Sonic didn’t resist. 

He just looked at him. Calm. Too calm.

“Yeah”

He tilted his head. “I am.”

Shadow’s eyes widened.

“Do you even hear yourself?!” Shadow snapped, grabbing Sonic’s arm.

“Tails is in a coma because of this thing...and you’re about to finish what put him there?”

Sonic yanked his arm free, chest heaving now.

“Yeah, I am!” he shouted, eyes flashing.

“Because if we don’t finish it, then what the hell was all of it for?”

He took a step forward, hands clenched into fists at his sides, voice rising with every word.

“He gave everything to build this. Everything! He believed in it—believed it could fix things, undo what we lost, bring it all back—”

His voice broke, raw now, stripped down to something furious and heart shattered.

“And now he’s lying in some bed with tubes in his arms and no one’s doing a damn thing! They shut him down, they’re shutting this down…and I’m supposed to just let it happen?”

His breath hitched.

“No. Screw that. I’m not letting them take this too.”

Shadow lunged forward, grabbing Sonic by the arm again, this time harder, trying to pull him away from the console.

“You don’t get it!” he shouted.

“This thing isn’t ready, there’s months of testing, failsafes, safety checks. Tails wasn’t done—he told me that—”

“He didn’t get to finish!” Sonic roared, yanking his arm back as their bodies collided, shoving each other, sparks flaring in the air around them.

His breath was wild now, his voice raw and broken.

“None of us did! I lost everything, Shadow! Amy, Knuckles, whole cities gone, millions—”

 He shoved him again, chest to chest, their energy sparking against each other like live wires

“And you wanna wait for trials?! For protocols?!”

“There are rules for a reason!” Shadow barked.

"Do you even know what’ll happen if this overloads again?! You could wipe out everything!”

Sonic was shaking now, fur bristling, jaw clenched.

“Good.”

His voice sank, heavy with something broken underneath.

“Maybe that’s the only way to fix it.”

They stared each other down, power crackling between them, both refusing to back down.

Then it broke.

Shadow moved first, tried to grab Sonic again, drag him back from the panel, but Sonic blocked him, fast, spinning into a kick that Shadow barely dodged. The force cracked into the wall behind him, sending a shockwave down the corridor.

“Get out of my way!” Sonic snarled, lunging forward.

Shadow met him head on.

Fists collided. Bursts of golden and pale light lit up the lab in strobing flashes, glass shattering, metal groaning under the pressure of every hit. Their powers were too evenly matched, raw Chaos clashing with desperation.

Shadow landed a blow to Sonic’s side, trying to knock the wind out of him, but Sonic barely flinched. He came back harder, wild now, unhinged, chaos-blurred-

And then, in one brutal second, Sonic shoved him back with a scream.

“I said I’ve had ENOUGH!”

The floor cracked beneath them. A shockwave exploded outward. Shadow was sent flying back across the lab, crashing into the far wall with a grunt, sparks raining down from a broken panel above.

He slumped there for a second, stunned.

Sonic stood in the center of the chaos, glowing, breathing hard, gaze locked on the console.

Sonic didn’t turn around right away. Just stared at the console, fingers twitching near the final command.

Then he spoke, soft and almost to himself.

"You won’t remember any of this.”

His voice was calm. Too calm.

“None of it. Not the lab. Not the war. Not me like this.”

He finally glanced back over his shoulder, eyes glowing with that same twisted fire, but there was something else behind it too. Something human.

“Maybe we die. Maybe we’ll wake up somewhere else with no clue why everything feels… off.”

 A crooked smile.

“But hey, fresh start, right?”

His gaze landed on Shadow. Held there.

“I don’t expect you to get it. But you… you’re the only one I’d even try to explain it to.”

His voice dipped, cracked just slightly.

“I care about you, y’know.”

Then he faced forward again.

“Even if you forget.”

And he reached for the button.

Shadow’s breath caught.

“No—no, wait—don’t—”

He scrambled forward, one hand pressing to the wreckage for balance, Air Shoes skidding on the fractured floor.

“SONIC—”

But it was too late.

Sonic’s hand came down on the panel. One single press.

And then, a pulse.

Not a sound, not a tremor, a wave.

Blinding light tore through the room like a shock to the nervous system. It hit them both at once, folding time inward, collapsing space around them with a roar of static and heat.

Shadow barely had time to reach out, eyes wide, mouth open, before the light swallowed him.

His knees buckled. He hit the ground.

Sonic was still standing. But his eyes slipped shut.

And across the room, Shadow’s did too.

And far beyond the lab, across cities and continents, skies split open with the same impossible flare.

The world.. 

reset .

Chapter Text

Shadow woke up to sunlight.

He didn’t know what he expected, sirens maybe, or that low electric hum the lab used to make, but not this. Just regular morning light coming in through the curtains like nothing had ever gone wrong.

It took him a second to sit up.

The room was quiet. 

Everything was exactly where it used to be. The old desk. The same chair. His jacket, folded. His Air Shoes lined up against the wall. His old life was rebuilt perfectly, down to the smallest detail.

He hadn’t lived here in over a year.

This was the fallback apartment G.U.N. kept for him in Manhattan. One of their solo units. Quiet, off grid, barely furnished, meant for short-term stays or low-profile missions. He used to sleep here sometimes, before the war made everything permanent.

During the war, he’d been relocated across the river, still Manhattan, but closer to headquarters. A shared unit with Rouge and Omega. 

This one was his own. Tucked into a tower no one really paid attention to. Just another G.U.N. asset collecting dust.

He lingered in the center of the room for a while, letting the stillness settle. It was like nothing had ever changed. Like time hadn’t passed at all.

Or like it hadn’t reversed.

Which, technically, it had, he was in the past now. Or something like it….

Eventually, he moved toward the window.

The light poured in, low and golden, casting long shapes across the floor. He pushed the curtains open a little wider and looked out at the city.

It was... alive.

Cars moved through clean streets. People filled the sidewalks. Some headed to work, others walking dogs, talking on phones, laughing. A vendor on the corner had his cart open early, steam rising from it in soft clouds as he handed out bagels in paper wrappers.

Shadow watched for another minute, not because he expected the illusion to crack, he didn’t, but because part of him wanted it to. Something. Anything to prove he wasn’t the only one seeing how wrong this was.

But nothing changed.

Eventually, he turned from the window and crossed back into the middle of the room, slower this time. His mind was moving, though. He could feel it. Picking apart the edges of everything around him, trying to fit it together into something that made sense.

It didn’t.

He glanced around again. At the furniture. The way it hadn’t shifted an inch. The clean floor. The silence.

His jaw tightened.

None of this should be here.

He stood there, rooted to the floor, as the thought echoed back at him louder the second time..

The lab. The light.  

The war. He remembered the war.

All of it.

The things they lost. The things they did. The things they had to become to survive it.

The world had burned. He had watched it fall apart.

But it hadn’t, apparently.

Not anymore.

So why could he still see it? Feel it?

Why did his chest still carry the weight like it just happened?

Why was his head still ringing with everything they never got to fix?

RESET was supposed to erase that. All of it. That was the point. Wipe the slate. No memories. No damage. Just clean ground to build something new on.

But he remembered.

Every goddamn second of it.

The way Sonic looked right before it happened. Wild eyes, glowing with chaos.

He’d crushed Shadow’s phone like it was nothing. And the bodies…God, the bodies.

Sonic had done that.

And then he set RESET off.

Shadow had screamed for him to stop.

But it had worked. The world changed.

Clean streets. Peace. Like none of it ever happened.

Except he still remembered. Every second.

And that wasn’t supposed to be possible.

Wait—Was he the only one?

He turned, eyes locking on the small table near the door. His phone.

The phone Sonic had crushed, right before it all went to hell. 

He grabbed it fast, too fast, fingers suddenly trembling as he pulled up the news.

Nothing.

Just headlines about the mayor. A baseball game. New coffee shop opening in SoHo.

He opened X. Same thing. Trending topics were a mix of celebrity drama, Elon Musk, someone complaining about subway delays.

No mention of war. No G.U.N. No RESET. No videos of dead bodies.

The world didn’t remember.

But he did.

That thought had been haunting him from the moment he woke up, but now it snapped into focus.

Wait.

If he remembered—

Does that mean… Sonic does too?

Shit…..

His breath caught.

Sonic wasn’t okay before he triggered RESET. He wasn’t even close..

If Sonic remembered—

God. What kind of version of him had walked into this new world?

Not the one from before. Not the hero, the idiot with a heart too big and too loud.

No. That version died back in D.C. Along with everyone else.

What was left?

Whatever he’d become in that lab.

Chaos-drunk and smiling like nothing mattered. Like nothing ever had.

Shadow swallowed.

That Sonic?

That Sonic had killed people. 

If he made it through RESET, if that thing walked out into a world that didn’t know him, that hadn’t earned any of his trust—

He could be anywhere by now.

Shadow looked down at the phone in his hand. 

He swiped through his contacts without thinking, muscle memory taking over.

There it was.

Faker.

Same dumb name. Same dumb profile pic, Sonic flashing a peace sign with chili on his face. Shadow had meant to change it a hundred times. He never did.

His thumb hovered over the call button.

Then he tapped it.

Ring. Ring. Ring.

Click.

“ Yo! You’ve reached Sonic the freakin’ Hedgehog—fastest thing alive, hero of the people, blue blur, chili dog enthusiast. If I didn’t pick up, I’m either running, napping, or fighting a robot. Leave a message, or don’t. I’ll probably call you at 2 a.m. anyway. K bye. ”

Beep.

Shadow didn’t say a word at first.

His grip on the phone tightened.

What if this Sonic didn’t remember? He didn’t want to break this version. Not if he was clean. Not if RESET had actually worked on him.

He stared at the phone. 

His throat tightened.

“Hey Sonic” he said finally, his voice careful. “Call me back when you get this.”

He hung up before he could say anything else. Before he could screw it up.

Then he stood there, phone still in his hand, pulse crawling up his neck.

What the hell was happening?

His thoughts were spiraling, looping back to everything Sonic had done. Everything he’d said. The way his eyes had looked right before the reset triggered. That wasn’t a version of Sonic that could just be dropped into a peaceful world like nothing happened.

Unless RESET took it all. Unless it rewrote him too.

Unless it didn’t.

Shadow’s fingers tightened around the phone.

He had to know… He had to see it for himself.

If Sonic remembered, if that thing was still under the surface, then Shadow couldn’t just sit in a Manhattan apartment and hope for the best.

He needed to get to Green Hills. Fast.

Because if Sonic remembered, and that madness was still crawling around inside him...

Then this world didn’t have a clue what was coming.

He didn’t waste another second.

Ivory light burst to life around him, Chaos energy surging through every limb as he lifted off the ground. The familiar pressure of transformation settled on his chest, heavy, burning, focused. 

He’d gone Super.

In seconds, he was in the air.

Manhattan blurred beneath him, buildings shrinking away as the city fell behind. A sharp shockwave rippled from the rooftop where he’d stood just moments ago, glass shivering in its wake. But Shadow didn’t look back.

Green Hills wasn’t far, at least not at this speed.

That was where Sonic had “lived” before the war, before D.C., before everything fell apart. And if Shadow had woken up in his old apartment… then Sonic was probably at Green Hills too.

He clenched his fists tighter as the wind roared past him, Chaos sparks trailing off his form like falling stars.

He had no idea what he’d find there.

Maybe Sonic didn’t remember. Maybe he was fine, living his life, blending in with a world that had no clue what he’d done. Who he’d become.

Or maybe he did remember.

And if that was true, if the same Sonic who’d set off RESET, had killed without hesitation, and rewrote reality with a smile was out there–then Shadow needed to know.

The sky peeled open in streaks of white and blue, state lines vanishing beneath a blur of trees and winding roads.

Then it came into view.

Green Hills.

Small, quiet and wrapped in sunlight

Shadow dropped out of the sky fast, landing hard just outside town. Dust kicked up in a ring around him. The air was cleaner than he remembered.

Sonic never stayed anywhere for long. But this? This was his kind of place.

Long roads. Open skies. A ridiculous loop-de-loop carved into a cliffside. Somewhere he could run and run until his thoughts shut up.

Shadow stepped into town, scanning every ridge, every street corner. 

Shadow kept moving.

Every inch of town looked exactly how he remembered it. A few kids ran through sprinklers in front yards. Someone was washing their car, country music drifting faintly through an open garage. It was small, sleepy, untouched.

A sudden blur cut through the trees just ahead.

Fast. Too fast.

Shadow didn’t even need to squint.

The loop.

That same stupid loop-de-loop carved into the rock like a signature. And there, tearing through it in a perfect arc of motion, was Sonic.

Running like it was any other day. 

Sonic looped back around, hit the trail again, faster this time, his trademark blue streak painting the air behind him like a flare. He was smiling. Laughing, even. The sound was faint from this distance, but unmistakable. Light, easy, full of life.

Like he didn’t have a single memory of what he’d done.

Shadow stood still, wind catching at his quills.

That was him.

But was it the Sonic he used to know?

Or the one who ended everything?

Shadow shot forward, Chaos energy trailing in his wake, closing the gap in seconds.

Sonic caught the movement, skidding to a stop at the top of the loop, grinning like he’d just spotted an old rival at the starting line.

“Well, well, look who crawled outta the city,” Sonic called down, hands on his hips. “Didn’t think I’d see you here, faker. What, wanna race?”

Shadow stopped at the base of the hill, eyes sharp. “No.”

It wasn’t a challenge. It was a warning.

Sonic blinked. “Huh. That’s new.”

His eyes swept over Shadow’s still glowing form, Chaos energy still faintly crackling at his Air Shoes.

“Wow,” Sonic added, smirking. “Went Super just to come say hi? I’m flattered.”

Shadow didn’t smile. “I need to talk to you.”

Sonic smirked, brushing a bit of dust off his gloves. “Oof. Straight to business.” He strolled a little closer, eyes glinting with something playful. “Didn’t even bring flowers.”

Shadow’s expression didn’t change.

Sonic leaned in slightly, voice low and teasing. “What’s with the tone? You mad at me or something?” He grinned wider. “Huh. Are you punishing me?”

Shadow’s jaw tensed.

“I’m serious,” he said, flat. “We need to talk.”

That grin lingered, but there was a flicker, small, quick, in Sonic’s eyes. Just a flash of… something else.

"Huh.” Sonic’s smile faded just a notch. “Didn’t realize you came all this way just to scowl at me.”

The glow around Shadow’s body began to dim. Sparks flickered out at his Air Shoes, and the burning weight of Chaos drained from his chest, leaving only silence and static in its place. He exhaled sharply, landing hard as gravity returned. His quills settled, and his red eyes didn’t leave Sonic.

“No more games,” Shadow said.

Sonic’s expression was unreadable for a second, like he wasn’t sure what kind of conversation this was about to be. But then he gave a small shrug and turned. 

“Alright,” Sonic said, over his shoulder. “Talk.”

Shadow followed. Each step heavier than the last.

They walked a little ways up the trail, past the overgrown edge of the loop. 

Sonic shoved his hands in his quills, glancing sideways with a smirk.

“So?” he asked. “You gonna talk or just brood dramatically behind me all day?”

Shadow’s eyes narrowed.

“How have you been?” It came out more like a statement than a question.

“Aw, worried about me?” Sonic grinned. “You know me, same as always. Running fast, living free.”

He stretched his arms over his head, letting out a breath

“Honestly, kind of nice lately. No major catastrophes, no Eggman attacks. He’s been real quiet, I guess he’s finally learned his lesson.”

Sonic glanced at Shadow again, this time a little slower.

“You okay?” he asked. “You’ve got that whole ‘something’s wrong with the timeline’ face again.”

That hit a little too close.

Shadow stayed silent.

Sonic nudged him lightly with an elbow.

“Come on. I’m messing with you. You always look like that.”

Still no response.

“…Unless you’re actually serious.”

Sonic’s voice was lighter than his expression. That same easy smile stayed on his face.

Shadow kept walking.

Something about this Sonic felt so familiar it hurt.

The bounce in his step. That smug little tilt of his grin. The way he filled the silence like it was nothing, like the world hadn’t just been shattered and stitched back together.

Shadow had seen him break. He’d watched him unravel..

And now… this?

This Sonic was light again. Carefree. Annoying.

Beautiful.

Sonic rocked back on his heels, still grinning. “You always show up just to vibe check me, or is this a special occasion?”

Shadow didn’t respond.

He was too busy studying every inch of him.

The way he stood with his hands behind his head. The way he bounced slightly on the balls of his feet. The way the sun caught in his quills when he turned to look away.

“You’re acting weird,” Sonic said, finally. “Even for you.”

Shadow’s voice was quiet. “I needed to see you.”

Sonic blinked. “Uh… okay?” He gave a half laugh, like maybe this was some joke he didn’t get yet. 

“Well, here I am. In the flesh. What’s up?”

Shadow didn’t answer right away.

He looked at him again, really looked at him. That spark in his eyes that hadn’t been there in so long. Not at the end. Not when everything was falling apart.

“I…” Shadow started, then stopped. What was he even supposed to say?

That he’d watched him lose his mind? 

“I just… needed to see if you were okay.”

Sonic tilted his head a little. “Okay?” he echoed. “I mean, yeah. Kinda hard not to be, on a day like this.”

The sky stretched wide and endless above them, soft blue bleeding into gold where the sun hung low behind the hills. There wasn’t a single cloud in sight. Just warm light, gentle breeze, and the distant sound of birds. The trees swayed like they didn’t have a care in the world. The air smelled like grass and sun and something sweet from a bakery down the road.

Shadow hadn’t seen a sky like this in ages. Not one without smoke. Not one without the stench of ozone and ash. His chest tightened, and for a second, it was hard to breathe.

“I should go,” Shadow muttered, eyes drifting to the horizon.

Sonic blinked. “Seriously? You came all this way just to brood for five minutes?”

Shadow didn’t answer.

Sonic nudged him lightly with an elbow. “C’mon. Take a break from the big city. Stay a little.”

Shadow didn’t move at first. His gaze stayed fixed on the trees, the trails, the loop in the distance. All of it so untouched, so quiet. Like nothing had ever gone wrong.

Like none of it had happened.

“…Alright,” he said finally.

Sonic lit up, just a little. “Cool.” 

He turned, walking backward now, facing Shadow with that same easy grin. “Didn’t peg you for the nature-loving type, but hey, I’ve been wrong before.”

Shadow didn’t answer, just fell into step beside him. A breeze rolled across the hills, crisp and clean in a way Shadow had nearly forgotten. It didn’t feel real.

Sonic kicked a rock off the trail with his heel. “Y’know, if you keep showing up like this, people are gonna think we’re friends or something.”

Shadow gave him a look, flat and unreadable.

Sonic smirked. “Not denying it though.”

He tossed a glance over his shoulder and kept going, like this was just another afternoon, just another run. Like the world hadn’t ended. Like it hadn’t been remade.

Shadow let the silence stretch before he spoke again, voice low.

“…You really don’t remember anything, do you?”

Sonic paused mid step. Just briefly.

Then turned with a shrug, all charm again. “Should I…?”

Shadow stared at him.

Sonic just smiled. “Didn’t think so. C’mon, Hot Topic. I’ll race you to the overlook.”

And before Shadow could stop him, he was already gone. A flash of blue, vanishing into the sunlit trees.

Leaves rustled in the wake of Sonic’s sprint, the branches ahead still shaking. That sky, too blue. That sunlight, too warm. The air didn’t carry the weight it used to. It didn’t smell like ash. It didn’t feel like the end of the world.

Instead, he took a slow breath, then broke into a run.

Not to race. Not to win.

Just to keep up.

The trail curved upward, winding around old trees and scattered brush, worn smooth by years of footsteps, probably Sonic’s. Shadow caught flashes of movement ahead. That blur of color, the occasional laugh carried back on the wind. Like it was all a game.

Like nothing had happened.

He hated how much of him wanted to believe that.

When he reached the overlook, Sonic was already there, standing at the edge with his arms stretched wide like he was greeting the sky. His quills ruffled slightly in the breeze. He turned as Shadow approached, eyes bright.

“Took you long enough,” Sonic said.

Shadow didn’t answer. He walked to the edge, beside him, and stared out across the valley. Civilization was barely a thought out here. It was peaceful. 

Shadow stood still for a long moment, letting the quiet settle between them. The wind rustled through the trees below, carrying the scent of pine and something faintly sweet, wildflowers, maybe.

“…It’s beautiful,” he said, voice lower than before. “I didn’t realize how much I needed to see something like this.”

Sonic didn’t reply right away.

When Shadow glanced over, the smirk was gone. Sonic was still looking out over the valley, but his posture had changed, just a little. Less relaxed. More… aware. The fingers at his side curled slightly.

“Yeah,” Sonic said softly. “I know.”

There was something in his tone. Kinda a quiet fracture beneath the words. A crack in the carefree shell. Shadow caught it.

And suddenly, everything was still.

He studied Sonic’s face again, not the smile, not the eyes, but everything in between. The way he wasn’t quite holding himself as loose as before. The way his gaze stayed fixed on the horizon a little too long. The way his words echoed like they came from somewhere else entirely.

He knew that look. He’d worn it himself.

Was Sonic pretending?

Because if he was pretending, if all that easy laughter and loose confidence was just a shell, then there was no way to know who was underneath it now. Not really. Not until the act cracked all the way through.

And if he wasn’t pretending?

Then Shadow was the only one who remembered. The only one carrying the truth. The only one looking into the face of someone who’d once killed with his bare hands and wondering if it ever happened at all.

Either option was terrifying.

He looked back at Sonic. 

Shadow couldn’t let it end here. Couldn’t let this moment drift away on blind hope and guesswork. He needed more than that. He needed space. Time. Quiet.

A place where Sonic couldn’t just laugh and run off.

Somewhere controlled.

His apartment…

It wasn’t much, just a quiet space in Manhattan, barely lived in, but it was his. A space that grounded him. 

Would Sonic go?

More importantly… should he?

Because if this Sonic didn’t remember…

Dragging him into all of this, RESET, the war, everything they lost—

It’d feel wrong.

But if he was right…

If Sonic was breaking, piece by piece, behind all the charm,

Then maybe it was the only way to catch him.

Shadow finally turned his head.

“Sonic,” he said, voice low. “I want to take you somewhere.”

Sonic raised a brow. “Oh? Romantic dinner? Rooftop duel? Secret base reveal?”

“To New York,” Shadow added, ignoring the teasing. “My apartment.”

That shut Sonic up for half a beat. His ears perked. “Whoa. Didn’t think you were the type to invite people over. Thought your walls were made of angst and bulletproof glass.”

Shadow didn’t rise to it. “It’s… important. I think, I think it could help.”

Sonic blinked. “You okay, dude?”

“I just need to know,” Shadow said. “If you’re okay.”

There was a pause. Sonic’s gaze flickered across his face. Then he smirked, walking a little closer.

“Well damn, Shadow. Didn’t realize you cared this much.” His voice dropped to a whispery tease. “Or that you’d be so bad at asking me on a date.”

Shadow tensed. “It’s not—”

“I’m messing with you,” Sonic grinned. “But yeah. I’ll come.”

Shadow exhaled slowly. Relief, or something close to it, flickered behind his eyes.

And Sonic just added, “Better be a good view. I’m not traveling across the country just to see your couch.”

Shadow didn’t say anything. His gaze narrowed, then energy sparked at his Air Shoes, a ripple of heat twisting the air. Ivory white overtook his fur, and a golden aura snapped to life around him, flaring with sharp, controlled force.

He lifted off the ground in silence, the earth beneath him cracking just slightly from the pressure.

Sonic blinked. “Whoa.”

Then he grinned.

“Okay, hotshot,” he said, stretching his arms. “Didn’t realize we were going full Super.”

In the next instant, he burst into light, his form shifting, golden fur igniting like a firestorm. The ground trembled under him before he lifted off with ease, catching up to hover beside Shadow like he did this every day.

Shadow felt something twist in his chest.

The last time he’d seen Sonic like this, blazing with energy and chaos and purpose, it hadn’t been beside him. It had been right before he tore the world apart, and reset it.

The glow, the speed, the sheer force of him, it brought it all back. That blinding light. That impossible power. That smile.

And now he was here. Just floating next to him like it meant nothing.

Like he didn’t look—god…

Shadow looked away, jaw tight. It was too much. The way the sunlight caught in the gold. The way his quills lifted in the current. The way he still had that damn grin like none of this was heavy at all.

He steadied himself. This wasn’t the time.

But damn it, he was still nervous. Not just because of what Sonic could do, what he had done, but because this version, laughing and warm and alive, was somehow even harder to face.

Especially when he looked like that…

Sonic smirked. “Well? Lead the way.”

Shadow didn’t respond.

He just turned and launched forward, fast enough to crack the sound barrier. The air split behind him in a thunderclap, trees bending from the force.

Sonic followed a heartbeat later, golden light flaring as he shot into the sky, his voice cutting through the rush of wind—

“Hey, wait up!”

His laughter chased after them, wild and free, like an echo in the wind.

Two streaks of fire across the sky.

And just like that, they were gone.

Heading straight for Manhattan.

The skyline rose ahead of them, steel and glass and motion. Manhattan glittered in the late afternoon light, the Hudson catching gold along its surface like it had been waiting just for them.

Shadow descended first, landing on the balcony of his apartment. His boots hit with a controlled thud, Super form fading as a ripple of energy dissipated around him. The wind tugged at his fur. 

Sonic landed beside him a moment later, still glowing faintly, light trailing behind him. He touched down with that usual dramatic flair, arms spread, feet sliding a bit just to look cool.

Shadow barely noticed.

His pulse was louder than the city below.

It wasn’t just the circumstances. It wasn’t just the fear that this Sonic might still be pretending, might still be broken under all that charm.

It was the fact that he was standing here. With him. Again.

Laughing. Golden in the sunlight.

It twisted Shadow’s stomach in ways he hated to name. That left his chest too tight.

Sonic let out a low whistle, turning a slow circle to take it all in. “Phew.” He grinned. “You live in this tower? Not bad, old man.”

Shadow finally blinked.

Then turned without a word, he began walking to the glass door that led inside. The faint hum of the city buzzed behind him, but he didn’t acknowledge it. 

He just slid the door open and stepped through.

Left it open.

Sonic paused, blinking once, then gave a soft laugh. “Wow. No ‘make yourself at home’? Not even a ‘hey, thanks for flying across the country with me’?”

Still no answer.

“Man,” Sonic muttered, stepping inside after him. “You really know how to treat a guy.”

The apartment was spacious, too spacious for one person, really. Stark and modern, all steel and glass and perfectly sharp corners. No photos or plants. No mess. Just enough furniture to sit and not much more..

Sonic gave a long, slow whistle again. “Yeah… this has G.U.N. written all over it.”

He wandered a few steps deeper, eyes trailing the ceiling. “So, what, they give you a TV too? Or just twenty four seven surveillance and a really nice couch?”

Still, Shadow said nothing. He stood near the window now, arms crossed, watching the skyline with something unreadable in his eyes.

Sonic’s steps slowed.

“…You okay?” he asked, quieter now.

And finally, Shadow spoke.

“…Yeah,” he said, low. “I’m fine.”

Sonic didn’t answer right away. He just stood there for a moment, watching him, like he didn’t quite believe it, but wasn’t ready to press it either.

Then, with a soft sigh, he padded further inside.

“Cool,” he said lightly, dropping onto the couch like he owned the place. “’Cause I’d hate to think I flew all this way just to sit in awkward silence.”

Shadow finally turned from the window, slow and careful, like every movement meant something. He didn’t sit. Just stood there, arms crossed, watching Sonic with that same unreadable expression.

“You just.. you seem okay,” he said, voice low. “Better than I expected.”

Sonic raised a brow. “Gee, thanks. You always this charming to houseguests?”

“I wasn’t sure…” Shadow hesitated. His gaze flicked downward, just for a second. “If you’d still be like this.”

That knocked some of the ease out of Sonic’s face.

“…Like what?” he asked, more cautious now.

Shadow didn’t answer.

So Sonic leaned back, smile lazy but maybe a little forced now. “Still annoyingly handsome? Still faster than you? Still the whole damn package?”

“Still insufferable,” Shadow muttered.

Sonic smirked, easing back onto the couch. “There we go. Wouldn’t wanna disappoint.”

The silence that followed was charged, too casual on Sonic’s end, too tense on Shadow’s. Both of them were pretending they weren’t thinking about something else entirely.

Then Sonic flopped dramatically onto his back. “Alright, brooder. What now? You gonna glare at me all day or offer me a snack?”

Shadow didn’t respond at first. He walked to the kitchen area, opened a cabinet, and pulled out a glass. A quiet clink followed as he set it on the counter. Then another, this time, the sound of a bottle being uncorked.

Sonic lifted his head, eyebrows raised. “Oh wow, we’re breaking out the fancy stuff already?”

Shadow held up the bottle, a half full whiskey. “Drink?”

Sonic huffed a laugh, letting his head fall back. “Yeah, uh, I don’t drink. Still not my thing. You trying to loosen me up or something?”

Shadow didn’t answer. He poured himself a small amount, slow and steady, like he’d done it a hundred times before. He leaned against the counter, glass in hand, eyes fixed on Sonic.

The silence was heavy but not quite uncomfortable.

“You always drink alone?” Sonic asked.

Shadow took a sip. “Usually.”

“Figures.” Sonic sat up a little straighter, arms draped over the couch back. 

“You didn’t bring me here to hang out,” Sonic said. “So what is this?”

Shadow didn’t move. “You seemed like you needed a place to be.”

Sonic’s smirk twitched. “You always fly halfway across the country to rescue strays?”

“You’re not a stray.”

“Oh?” Sonic leaned forward a bit, the air shifting. “Then what am I?”

Shadow met his gaze, quiet. “Someone I care about.”

That shut Sonic up for a beat. His expression flickered, it was unreadable, but it vanished just as fast.

“…Okay,” he said. “Guess we’re doing the honest talk thing now.”

Shadow finished his drink and set the glass down with a soft clink.

“Only if you want to.”

Another pause.

Sonic looked away, just for a second. “Depends. You gonna keep staring at me like that the whole time?”

Shadow didn’t smile. But something in his eyes shifted.

“Probably.”

Sonic wandered toward the window. “Nice view,” he muttered. “You always up here alone?”

Shadow stayed by the counter. “Until now.”

Sonic turned, walking backwards a few steps as he eyed Shadow again. “Well hey, guess I’m your first. You better treat me right.”

That earned him nothing more than a faint flicker of a look. But something about the quiet made the moment stretch.

“…You really doing okay?” Sonic asked, voice a little softer now. “You’ve barely said anything since we got here.”

Shadow’s jaw tensed. His fingers curled slightly around the glass.

“Do you ever feel like something’s off,” he said slowly, “but you can’t prove it? Like there’s a hole in the world, and no one else seems to notice.”

Sonic’s smile faltered.

“…Dude, that’s pretty dramatic. You sure I’m the one acting weird?”

Shadow didn’t say anything back. He just looked at him again, really really looked.

And that’s when Sonic glanced away, too fast.

Shadow took a step forward.

“Sonic.”

Nothing.

“You remember anything… strange?”

Sonic blinked. “Strange how?”

“A gut feeling,” Shadow said. “Anything.”

Silence.

Then, finally, Sonic let out a breath of a laugh, but it kinda sounded too casual to be real.

“Shadow,” he said, flashing a grin that didn’t quite reach Shadow’s eyes, “If this is your weird way of hitting on me, I gotta say, there are easier lines.” 

But he still wouldn’t look at him.

That hesitation, that feeling of something underneath, said more than words ever could.

And Shadow saw it. Clear as day.

"How are they?” he asked.

Sonic blinked. “…What?” 

“Amy. Knuckles. Tails.” 

Shadow’s voice was calm, steady. “You’ve seen them, right?”

For a split second, something passed through Sonic’s eyes, confusion, guilt, but it vanished almost instantly. He leaned back on the couch, arms behind his head like he hadn’t just flinched. 

“They’re good. Y’know. Same old.” He gave a breezy shrug. “Tails is probably knee deep in some project, Knuckles is yelling at clouds or something, and Amy’s… well, Amy.”

He grinned, but it didn’t reach his eyes. 

“She’s thriving, I’m sure…” 

Sonic’s voice trailed off, but the silence that followed said plenty.

Shadow didn’t answer right away. The weight of his gaze was enough to make the air feel heavier, thicker. He could see right through his mask, see the cracks that were starting to show.

And Sonic must’ve felt it, too.

Because he sat up a little straighter, let out a breath that was just a little too sharp, and said, without looking at him, “You didn’t bring me all the way out here to talk about my friends.”

Then he stood.

Took a step toward the counter. Then another.

“Let’s cut the crap,” he said, stopping just beside Shadow now.

His tone was still light, but there was something under it, tension, challenge, maybe even fear. “Why don’t you tell me the real reason you brought me here. Stop pretending.”

Shadow didn’t look at him.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Sonic let out a soft laugh, and leaned casually against the counter beside him.

“Oh, come on. You drag me across the country, fly me to your fancy tower… and now you’re shy?”

He glanced sideways, eyes narrowing with that familiar spark.

“If this is a date, you could’ve just said so.”

Shadow’s jaw tensed.

“A date?” he said, flat. “You think this is—?”

He turned sharply, eyes locking with Sonic’s, something sparking there, frustration, confusion, something that edged on panic.

Sonic grinned wider, catching that flicker of panic in Shadow’s eyes, and stepped in before he could pull away.

He pressed his gloved hand against Shadow’s chest, right over the soft patch of white fur. His palm lingered there, light, but deliberate, fingers spread slightly like he was testing just how soft he really was beneath all that attitude.

“Relax,” he said, voice smooth, teasing. “I’m messing with you.”

But his hand didn’t move.

His fingers shifted slightly, brushing through the fur like he was testing just how far he could push this.

Sonic tilted his head, eyes glinting with something playful, almost daring, as his fingers lingered against Shadow’s chest.

“If this was a date,” he murmured, voice low, “I don’t think I’d complain.”

Then his gaze dropped, slowly, deliberately, to where his gloved hand pressed into the soft fur. And suddenly, he wasn’t smiling anymore.

For a moment, neither of them said anything.

The room felt still.

Sonic’s hand stayed right where it was, fingertips brushing faintly through the fur. His eyes stayed fixed on it, like he couldn’t decide if he was actually teasing anymore, or if something about the moment had shifted without warning.

Shadow just stared. But not blankly, not like he didn’t know what to do. His gaze was steady, almost searching, and his body had gone still in that deliberate way of his. Like every muscle was focused on this, him . On the hand pressed against his chest, the warm weight of it, even through the glove. On the closeness. On Sonic.

And despite everything, despite the weight of questions still unanswered, Shadow didn’t pull away.

Shadow continued to stare at the hand on his chest.

Suddenly, His breath caught, just slightly, and he took a step back.

Sonic let his hand drop, but he didn’t move otherwise.

Shadow’s eyes lingered on the spot where Sonic had touched. Like it still burned.

“This isn’t why I–,” he said, voice low, almost strained. “It’s not supposed to be this.”

“Yeah?” Sonic murmured. “Then what is this supposed to be?”

Shadow didn’t answer.

He just stared at Sonic for a long time. His eyes were unreadable, like he was trying to make sense of something he wasn’t ready to say out loud.

Then, without a word, he stepped forward. Close. Closer than before. So close Sonic could feel the warmth of him, even through the space that barely remained between them.

Shadow reached out.

His hand found Sonic’s, gloved, warm, familiar, and curled around it, deliberate and slow. Like he was steadying himself. 

Sonic blinked, just once, as Shadow’s fingers wrapped around his.

The touch wasn’t rough. It wasn’t hesitant either. It was intentional . 

Sonic’s breath caught, just a little, but he didn’t pull away. His eyes lifted, meeting Shadow’s now up close, searching his face for something he couldn’t name.

Then Shadow spoke quietly.

“Tell me, Sonic. You really don’t remember?”

There was a tremble underneath his voice. 

Sonic didn’t answer at first.

His lips parted like he might, but nothing came out. His brow twitched, and for the first time since they arrived, the mask really slipped.

“I—” he started, then stopped.

Shadow didn’t wait.

That flicker, just the crack in Sonic’s voice, the way his eyes dropped, the way he didn’t pull his hand away, it was enough.

In a breath, Shadow stepped forward. One hand still curled around Sonic’s, the other rising, trembling just slightly, to his jaw. He tilted Sonic’s face up, not forcefully, but with that same deliberate care, like he wasn’t sure if he was about to cross a line that couldn’t be uncrossed.

And then he kissed him.

It wasn’t soft. It wasn’t sweet. It was everything Shadow had been holding back. Grief, confusion, longing, rage at the world that it might have gave him a version of Sonic who didn’t remember, who laughed like nothing had happened.

But deep down, beneath every reason he shouldn’t , Shadow still wanted him to remember….

He hated carrying this alone.

The weight of that other timeline, of what Sonic had done, buried itself in every breath he took. And even though that Sonic had been a monster, twisted by power and loss and something unspeakable… he had still been Sonic . Still him.

And that made it worse.

Shadow couldn’t tell which fate was crueler.

Their lips finally broke apart, but only barely.

Breathless, close, they lingered in that fragile space between. Sonic’s eyes were wide, pupils blown, lips parted like he didn’t know what to say.

Shadow’s forehead rested against his, his breath shaky, chest rising and falling against Sonic’s like he’d just run a marathon. Like this, the kiss, the feeling of him again, had taken everything out of him.

But then—

Sonic moved first.

One hand slid behind Shadow’s neck, and then he closed the distance again, kissing him back like he meant it . It was need.

Shadow’s hands tightened, one still holding Sonic’s hand, the other sliding from his jaw to his waist with firm purpose. He stepped forward, guiding him back, breath quickening.

Sonic didn’t resist.

His back met the wall with a soft thud, and Shadow followed, pinning him there, not with force, but with presence. Every movement was sharp, controlled, like Shadow was pouring all that restraint into the way he leaned in, the way his body pressed against Sonic’s, one arm braced beside his head.

Sonic’s breath hitched as Shadow leaned in again, mouths colliding in another heated kiss. This one was slower at first, searching. Like Shadow needed to feel every inch, every response. Like he was chasing some spark he swore used to be there.

Their bodies pressed close, warmth building between them in the silence of the apartment, in the hum of the city beyond the windows. Sonic’s free hand slid up, fingertips brushing over Shadow’s chest again, over the steady, racing thrum of a heart that felt like it might give out.

Shadow’s control cracked with each second. The restraint that defined him unraveled with the way Sonic kissed him back, eager, unsure, but not pulling away.

When Shadow finally broke the kiss, his breath was shaky. He stayed close, forehead nearly resting against Sonic’s, his hand still against Sonic’s side, the other braced beside his head.

His voice came out ragged, barely audible.

“…Please,” he whispered. “Please, tell me you remember.”

He swallowed.

“Please Sonic.”

Sonic’s breath caught. He blinked once, twice, and then the words came, the words breaking loose after being locked up too long.

“…Yes…” he breathed. “I remember.”

His voice cracked on the last word, and suddenly it was like everything shattered. His chest heaved, eyes squeezing shut, shoulders curling inward like he was bracing for impact. Like saying it out loud made it real all over again.

“I remember all of it,” he said, hoarse, trembling. “The war. Tails...What I became. What I did.”

He shook his head, jaw tight, teeth clenched.

“I thought—” His breath hitched. “I thought if I acted like I didn’t, maybe it’d go away. Maybe you’d still look at me like… like I was worth saving. I thought if you knew, you’d hate me.”

Shadow didn’t hesitate.

His hand slid from the wall to the side of Sonic’s face, steady, grounding.

“I could never hate you,” he said, voice low and fierce. “Never.”

Sonic’s breath hitched again. His voice barely made it out.

“I’m sorry.”

Shadow didn’t hesitate.

“Don’t apologize,” he said quietly, thumb brushing just beneath Sonic’s eye. “Not for anything.”

Sonic’s breath caught. “I was so scared you’d be mad—scared you’d look at me and see—”

“Shh,” Shadow said, already closing the space between them.

And then he kissed him again, with no hesitation, just everything unspoken breaking loose at once, like if they stopped, even for a second, the whole world would shatter.

Chapter Text

Sonic woke up to warmth.

Soft light pressed in from the apartment windows, pale and golden, filtered through half closed blinds. The city buzzed faintly beyond the glass, distant car horns, the occasional bark, a delivery truck rumbling by. 

He was curled up in Shadow’s arms.

Their shoes had been thrown off sometime last night, landing in a scattered mess near the door. Their legs tangled together over the narrow couch. Sonic’s back rested against Shadow’s chest, close enough to feel every breath and the heartbeat beneath that patch of white chest fur. One of Shadow’s arms was wrapped firmly around him, the fabric of his gloves brushing Sonic’s ribs with the faintest pressure. Their quills overlapped slightly. It was messy, imperfect, but of course they'd made it work.

They always did, somehow.

Sonic was built for motion. He was restless by nature, never meant to stay in one place for long. But somehow, lying here like this, in Shadow’s arms, wrapped in warmth and quiet, it didn’t feel wrong. It felt like the first time stillness had ever made sense.

Sonic shifted slightly, turning his head just enough to glance over his shoulder.

Shadow was still asleep, eyes closed, brow relaxed, breathing slow and steady. Sonic had never seen him like this. He looked peaceful. 

Sonic smiled a little.

Then leaned in closer.

“Hey,” he whispered, voice low, teasing. “Rise and shine, Shads.”

No response.

Sonic nudged him gently with an elbow. “C’mon, you can’t sleep through your own brooding. You’ve got a reputation to uphold.”

Still, the hedgehog did not wake up.

Sonic tilted his head, grin growing. “Shadow,” he sing-songed, barely holding back a laugh. “You’re cuddling me. Just thought you should know.”

That got a reaction.

Shadow’s eyes opened slowly. He blinked once, then glanced down at the arm still wrapped around Sonic.

“..Tch...” He didn’t move.

Sonic smirked. “Not denying it, huh?”

Shadow’s voice was rough with sleep. “You’re loud in the morning.”

Sonic grinned. “You were loud last night.”

That earned him a low, barely audible groan from Shadow.

Sonic rolled onto his back a little, grinning up at him. “What? I’m just sayin’. You talk a big game for someone who nearly folded when I touched your chest.”

Shadow didn’t even open his eyes. “…You’re insufferable.”

Sonic snorted. “Still can’t believe you sleep like this. I thought the Ultimate Lifeform didn’t need sleep. Y’know, since you're genetically perfect…”

Shadow exhaled slowly. “Sleep is important for overall health.”

Sonic blinked. “Wow. You always say that….”

Shadow cracked one eye open. “Because it’s true.”

Sonic grinned. “So wise. Truly the voice of a generation.”

Shadow closed his eyes again. “Shut up...”

They laid there in silence for a while after that, neither seemed in a hurry to break.

Eventually, Sonic let out a small sigh and shifted, untangling his legs from Shadow’s.

He sat up slowly, stretching his arms above his head with a soft groan, quills shifting in the morning light. “Alright… guess we should start the day, huh?”

Shadow didn’t move at first. 

Then, with a quiet exhale, he sat up in one smooth motion. He rolled his shoulders back, spine straightening as his feet hit the floor with barely a sound.

Neither of them said anything as they moved. Sonic leaned down and grabbed his shoes from the mess near the door, slipping them on with practiced ease. Shadow followed a moment later, crouching to collect his own.

As he stood, he glanced toward the kitchen.

“Are you hungry?”

Sonic blinked, caught off guard by the question. “Uh… a little bit”

Shadow didn’t say anything else, just turned and headed for the kitchen.

Sonic watched him go, one brow raised. “Wait, are you, seriously-”

Shadow opened the fridge. “You’re not leaving on an empty stomach.”

Sonic blinked, then smirked. “Who said I was leaving?”

Shadow paused for half a second before pulling out a carton of eggs.

“Fine,” he said. “Then you’re not staying on an empty stomach either.”

Sonic grinned, padding over to lean against the counter as Shadow moved with quiet efficiency. “Look at you. So thoughtful.”

Shadow set the eggs down with a soft clack. “Don’t push it.”

Sonic eyed the fridge behind him. “You got any toaster waffles? Or like… leftover chili dogs?”

Shadow didn’t even flinch. “No.”

“Seriously?”

“I don’t eat processed food.”

Sonic shrugged. “Yeah, but c’mon, it’s not a crime to enjoy a sweet treat every once in a while.”

Shadow didn’t look up. “It is to me.”

Sonic gave a dramatic sigh. “Man. You are so lucky you’re hot.”

Shadow said nothing.

The kitchen went quiet except for the faint sizzle of eggs in the pan. Sonic stayed leaning against the counter, watching him cook. Shadow moved without saying a word, focused on the task, calm, steady, like this was routine.

Neither of them spoke for a while.

Then Sonic shifted a little, breaking the quiet.

“…Hey,” he said.

Shadow glanced over his shoulder. “Hi.”

Sonic was quiet for a second. “Thanks. For… y’know. Last night.”

He shifted, arms crossed on the counter now, gaze dropping a little.

“I really thought… if I told you the truth, about remembering RESET, about what I did, you’d look at me like I was a monster.”

Shadow didn’t turn, but he’d gone still.

A few seconds passed before he said, quietly, “You did some messed up things. In that timeline. Resetting everything… the way it happened…”

He trailed off, the sound of the stove still faint in the background.

“But,” he added, voice steady now, “Still… I could never hate you.”

Sonic’s eyes dropped. “I was so sure you would.”

Shadow turned to look at him.

Sonic held the stare for a second longer, then looked away, fidgeting lightly with the edge of the counter. “And I mean… after everything else last night. After we talked, and, uh… after you kissed me like three times in a row and then somehow we ended up on your couch and umm…”

He rubbed the back of his neck, his voice awkward now, uncertain. “I just.. well,  what does that mean? For us?”

He looked up again, eyes searching Shadow’s face.

Shadow didn’t answer right away. He just watched him for a moment, unreadable as always.

“…I don’t know,” he said quietly.

“I’ve never really… done this before. Whatever this is.”

Sonic’s smile softened, just a little.

“That’s okay,” he said. “You don’t have to know.”

He shrugged, casual on the surface, but his voice had weight to it. “We’ll just figure it out. One step at a time.”

Shadow didn’t respond right away.

He turned back to the stove, eyes on the eggs, but something in his posture shifted. It was tense.

The sizzle of the pan filled the space between them.

“Sonic….You realize it’s just us, right?” he said finally, voice low. “The only ones who remember what really happened.”

He didn’t look at Sonic. Just kept cooking.

“I remember something Tails told me. Back when I was… helping with RESET…he said the mind wasn’t meant to hold two versions of reality. That eventually, one would start to decay. Get twisted..”

At the mention of Tails, Sonic’s posture shifted.

Shadow paused.

“He said if someone remembered a world that technically didn’t exist anymore… it could break them.”

Sonic went still.

Then it hit him all at once.

“Tails,” he said quietly. “Amy. Knuckles…”

His eyes widened.

“They’re here. And they’re okay. And I haven’t—”

He pushed back from the counter, voice rising just a bit. “I haven’t even checked on them.”

Sonic’s words hung in the air..Shadow turned to look at him, the stove forgotten for the moment. His eyes had softened.

“They died, Shadow. In that other world, they were gone. Tails was in a coma… And now they’re back and just... walking around like nothing ever happened. And I’ve been here, wrapped up in—”

He stopped himself.

Shadow didn’t speak. He just looked at Sonic again. He could see through every layer Sonic was trying to hold together.

Sonic exhaled, stepping back from the counter. “I need to go.”

Shadow’s voice was calm, but firm. “You need to eat first.”

Sonic blinked. “Seriously?”

“You’re not showing up to see them without eating. Sit down.”

It wasn’t a suggestion.

And somehow… Sonic listened.

Shadow turned back to the stove, scooping the eggs neatly onto two plates. His movements were quiet, practiced. Focused.

“I’m coming with you,” he said, not looking up.

Sonic hesitated. “You don’t have to-”

“I know,” Shadow cut in, setting the plates down on the counter. “I’m coming anyway.”

He didn’t say it harshly. But still, there was a weight behind it. A quiet insistence. He’d seen Sonic fraying at the edges before RESET ever happened. And now? In this new version of the world, where everyone else got a clean slate before the war except the two of them, Shadow wasn’t about to let Sonic carry that alone.

Not again.

Without another word, Shadow moved back to the kitchen and started making coffee.

Sonic didn’t ask for anything. but Shadow still made two. He poured his own plain and black coffee. And for Sonic, without comment or question, he opened the fridge, added ice, milk, and way too much monk fruit (he doesn't have real sugar).

He slid the cup across the counter without a word, like it was the most ordinary thing in the world.

Sonic blinked at it. Then looked up at Shadow, a little caught off guard.

“God… you know me so well.”

Shadow didn’t say anything, but the corner of his mouth tugged into the smallest smirk as he turned back to his own plate.

Sonic wasted no time. He dug into the eggs and practically inhaled the iced coffee like it was the first real thing he’d tasted in days.

Shadow, on the other hand, ate slowly, like he was thinking through every bite. 

Across from him, Sonic had already finished and was now just staring at his empty plate, elbow on the table, cheek resting in his gloved hand.

He wasn’t fidgeting, and he wasn't smiling. His eyes had gone distant again. 

Sonic was nervous. Not about Shadow, but about what came next, about seeing Tails again, after the coma. About looking Amy and Knuckles in the eye, when he’d already watched them die.

Shadow watched him for a moment, then set his fork down. He reached across the small table and placed a hand on Sonic’s.

“I’ll be with you,” he said, calm and sure. “We’ll face it together. It’s gonna be okay.”

Sonic just stared at Shadow’s hand over his, like he was trying to hold it together through sheer force of will.

But suddenly, all the emotions hit him all at once.

Amy and Knuckles had died . Tails had been hooked up to machines, and Sonic had barely spoken to him in the weeks before the end. He hadn’t known how to fix anything. So he’d run

And then he’d killed it all . And killed people..

Wiped out a whole world just because it hurt too much to keep going.

His breath hitched. His throat tightened. He yanked his hand back, pressing it to his face, trying to keep it in, but the shaking gave him away.

“I shouldn't have done it,” he muttered, voice breaking. “I didn’t know what else to do and I just—I-”

Shadow got up from his seat, stepped around the table, and pulled Sonic into his arms.

Sonic froze for a second, then his fists balled into Shadow’s chest, and he leaned in like the weight of everything was too much to carry on his own.

“I’ve got you,” he murmured.

He leaned in, voice quieter but firmer.

“We’ll figure this out. Whatever this world is now… whatever it becomes. You’re not doing this alone.”

Sonic didn’t answer right away, but the way he pressed closer, the way his hands gripped tighter at Shadow’s chest, that said enough.

Sonic sniffed, pulling back slightly and swiping a hand under his eyes. “We should go. It’s a long trip.”

But before he could stand, Shadow gave him a look. The kind that said absolutely not .

“No. You’re not doing this on a full stomach” Shadow said flatly. “Sit for a bit. Let it settle. Then we’ll go.”

Sonic sighed, but didn’t argue.

He let Shadow guide him back toward the couch, the same one they’d woken up on that morning. It still had the faint imprint of where they’d laid, tangled up in warmth and sleep.

They sat down together, quieter now. 

For a while, they just stayed there. Letting the quiet, and their food settle in their stomachs.  Letting the weight of the day ahead hang, just for a little longer.

After a while, Shadow finally stood and offered a hand.

Sonic took it without a word.

They stepped out onto the balcony, the morning sun now climbing higher over the skyline. The world below moved on, unaware. But above it all, the air was still and waiting.

In a quiet flash of gold and red, their Chaos energy flared to life.

Golden light enveloped Sonic, electricity crackling across his fur as it lifted, glowing and radiant, his eyes charged with fierce, untamed energy.

Beside him, Shadow rose into the air, his fur shifting from black to a pale golden ivory, while the red streaks along his quills and arms remained sharp and defined. A sparkling magenta aura surged around him like fire caught in stardust. The light within the divots of his inhibitor rings pulsed with quiet strength.

No words were exchanged. 

With a burst of energy, they shot into the sky. The city dropped away beneath them, a blur of glass and pavement.

It wasn’t long before the familiar hills rolled into view, green, quiet, impossibly unchanged.

Green Hills, where Tails’ workshop was. Exactly like they remembered.

As they descended, the glow of their Super forms beginning to fade with the soft hiss of spent energy, Shadow’s voice finally cut through the wind.

“Where to first?” he asked, eyes scanning the town below. His tone was calm, steady, but there was something in it. He knew this wasn’t just a casual visit.

Sonic hovered in place, the wind rushing past as the world below blurred in shades of green.

“…Tails’ lab,” he said quietly. “I need to see him.”

His voice caught a little at the end.

Shadow didn’t speak, but the look he gave him was protective..

And with that, they turned, two streaks of light cutting through the sky, heading straight for the only place Sonic’s heart could handle seeing first.

Sonic didn’t know what he was walking into. Tails’ lab might look the same. The town might look the same. But he wasn’t the same.

Because in that other world, Tails had been in a coma. Tails had built RESET. Months of work, given up for a chance at saving the past neither of them would remember clearly.

Sonic remembered all of it.

And he didn’t know what scared him more, seeing Tails again, or seeing him perfectly fine. Like none of it had ever happened.

But he had to know.

Because that was his brother. And Sonic had to see him with his own eyes. 

The lab looked just like it had a year ago, before the war. It was like nothing had changed.

But Sonic had.

Tails had.

The whole damn world had.

Sonic raised a fist and knocked. Once, then twice, a little louder.

And waited.

Shadow stood just behind him, silent.

When Sonic lowered his hand, breath caught in his throat, Shadow glanced over and watched him.

Then, gently, Shadow reached out and brushed his fingers against Sonic’s arm. A quiet reminder. I’m here.

He honestly did that not just for Sonic’s sake, but his own. The truth was there in every touch, that Shadow was scared. 

Scared that the weight of both timelines might break Sonic. Scared that one day, Sonic would snap. Fade into that chaos the way he had before. Shadow hadn’t let go then, and he wouldn’t now. Not when he was the only one left who understood. Not when Sonic still had a chance to stay grounded.

So he stood at his side and didn’t pull away. A quiet vow.

The door creaked open.

Both of them instinctively looked down, and Tails was even smaller than Sonic remembered. Barely to his chest, with his fur a little messier, goggles pushed up on his forehead, and a smudge of something across his cheek. Fourteen years old, Still a kid.

Tails blinked up at them, confusion flickering across his face. His eyes landed on Sonic first, then shifted to Shadow standing just behind.

“Sonic!”

His tails twitched behind him, happily. Like nothing was out of the ordinary at all. Like it hadn’t been a year. Like he hadn’t once been hooked up to a machine, unconscious, barely alive.

And for him... it hadn’t.

Sonic’s chest tightened.

Tails leaned to the side, peeking around him. “Wait, Shadow?”

He blinked. “Why is Shadow here?” 

His voice was light, more surprised than worried, like seeing the two of them together was just barely outside the realm of normal, enough to make him pause.

Sonic froze for a second. Not because he didn’t expect the question, but because it hit him, hard, that Tails really okay. 

He swallowed it down, forcing himself to breathe through it.

“We’re cool now.”

Tails squinted up at him, a smirk already forming. “Didn’t you literally call his red highlights ‘the gayest thing you’ve ever seen’ yesterday?”

Sonic blinked. “What? Okay, wow. That just sounds like an observation.”

Behind them, Shadow let out a low grunt. Nothing more.

Sonic glanced at him and muttered, “You’re not helping.”

Shadow raised an eyebrow, but didn’t look away.

Tails just grinned wider. “So, you guys are besties now or what?”

Sonic rubbed the back of his neck, a little awkward. “Uh… yeah, I guess you could call it that.”

Tails let out a laugh, light and easy.

But Sonic didn’t laugh with him.

He just looked at him, really looked at him. This slightly younger version of his little brother. Standing there, alive, whole, smiling like the world hadn’t almost ended once already.

And for a moment, Sonic couldn’t hear anything else. The laughter faded, replaced by a rush of thoughts he couldn’t push away, memories of the hospital bed, quiet machines, and silence so heavy it nearly drowned him.

Now, here Tails was. Talking like nothing had ever gone wrong. Because for him… it hadn’t.

Sonic's grip on the doorframe tightened slightly, but he didn’t say a word. 

Shadow noticed it right away, the way his hand subtly clenched against the frame.

Without saying a word, he moved closer. Just a small step, but enough to nudge Sonic gently with his elbow, grounding him.

Sonic blinked, snapping back to the present like he’d just realized how long he’d been staring.

Tails turned as he walked deeper into the lab, waving a hand at the cluttered desk piled with books, monitors, and scrap metal. “Can you believe I’m in my last semester? It’s kinda nuts. I’ve got, like, a ridiculous amount of homework right now. Final projects, research reviews… my brain’s basically soup.”

Sonic stayed by the door for a second longer, eyes tracing the familiar space. Then he followed, his voice softer than before.

“Still crazy to think about,” Sonic said. “You’re fifteen and already doing stuff people twice your age couldn’t even dream of. You’re amazing.”

Tails glanced over his shoulder. “Fourteen.”

Sonic blinked. “Huh?”

“I’m fourteen,” Tails said, grinning as he turned back toward his workbench.

“Oh. Right.” Sonic rubbed the back of his neck. “My bad.”

Tails just snorted. Then he gave a small, sheepish smile. “Thanks, Sonic.”

Shadow remained silent by the wall, arms crossed, but watching. And Sonic? He still hadn’t stopped looking at Tails. 

And Shadow could see it, feel it, how close those thoughts were to dragging Sonic under again. So, without a word, he moved a little closer. Right where Sonic needed him.

Sonic blinked, then finally glanced away from Tails. “Looks like you’ve got a mountain of homework,” he said, voice lighter now. “We should get going.”

Tails groaned a little. “Yeah… you’re not wrong.”

He gave Sonic a quick grin. “Bye, Sonic.”

Then glanced at Shadow. “Bye, Shadow.”

Shadow gave a simple nod. 

Sonic offered a small wave before turning to go, Shadow falling into step beside him without needing to be asked.

Sonic stopped just outside the door. He lowered his head, and his eyes slipped shut.

Shoulders tight, fists clenched, jaw set, like he was holding back something sharp in his chest. 

Shadow stood a step away, watching him. Silent.

Sonic just kept his head down, eyes closed, like if he opened them the weight of it all might finally crush him.

Shadow stayed still for a moment longer. Then, quietly, he said, “It’s okay. This could be it for today. You don’t have to do it all at once. Check on the others when you're ready.”

Sonic shook his head, slow but firm.

“No,” he said, his voice low, rough at the edges. “I need to see them. I need to know they’re okay.”

He finally looked up, teary eyed.

Shadow just nodded.

Not long after, golden and magenta streaks sliced through the sky once more, chaos energy trailing behind them.

They touched down just outside a quiet apartment on the edge of a nearby city. Amy’s place.

Sonic stood still for a second, staring at the door. His Super form flickered faintly, energy humming low beneath his skin, but even that didn’t make this any easier.

Shadow hovered beside him, silent, waiting.

Sonic finally let out a breath and stepped forward. His hand hovered at the door for a moment before knocking .

For a few seconds, nothing happened.

Then, footsteps. A lock turned.

The door opened, and there she was.

Amy blinked at them, still in a loose T-shirt and shorts, quills a little messy like she hadn’t been expecting visitors. Her eyes landed on Sonic first.

“…Sonic?” she said slowly. “What are you doing here?”

There wasn’t judgment in her voice, just honest surprise. Sonic never came to her apartment. 

Her eyes flicked to the side, and then widened.

“…Shadow?”

Now she looked genuinely thrown off. “Why is he here?”

Sonic scratched the back of his head, his aura crackling faintly. “Hi, Ames…We’re, uh, uhm on better terms now.”

Shadow didn’t say anything, he just stood there, arms crossed.

Amy blinked, clearly trying to process what universe she’d just woken up in. “Okaaay. Weird. But… fine. Come in before one of you scorches my rug.”

Sonic stepped through the doorway, but it felt wrong. It was stupid, he knew it was her. The same pink quills, the same voice, the same place she always called home. But it hit him all at once, like the air was too thick in his lungs.

Amy had died. She didn’t make it in the war. And now here she was, brushing her bangs out of her eyes, fussing over her rug like it was any other day.

He hadn’t seen her in months. And God, it hurt.

Because he remembered everything. The way she died. She had stayed behind to help evacuate civilians from a flooded metro station when everything went to hell. Ground forces had broken through the barricades. She held them off so the last transport could get through.

Then the tunnel collapsed.

And now… she was here. 

His hands curled at his sides.

Sonic unclenched his fists slowly. Swallowed hard. Then stepped forward, keeping his voice even.

“How’ve you been?” he asked.

Amy brightened instantly, hands clasped in front of her. “Me? Oh, I’ve been great! Super busy, obviously, but what else is new?” She smiled, head tilting slightly. “You never visit. What’s the occasion? Finally missed me?”

Sonic managed a small smirk, but his eyes lingered on her face, like he couldn’t believe she was really standing there. 

She was glowing, honestly. The same sparkle in her eyes.

“And you,” she said, turning to Shadow with a raised brow and a playful smirk. “Didn’t think you did casual visits. What, are you two on patrol or something?”

She said it like a joke, but she actually was curious.

Sonic rubbed the back of his neck.

“Nah, nothing like that,” he said. “Just... figured it was time I stopped by.”

He glanced around the apartment like he needed to ground himself. Then back at her.

“You’ve been on my mind.”

Amy blinked, her brows lifting slightly. She was caught off guard.

“…That’s not something you say every day,” she said, tone light but curious.

Her posture relaxed a little. That old crush on Sonic? It was long gone. But this? Sonic showing up at her apartment with Shadow of all people, looking unsteady and serious? Something was definitely up.

She looked between the two of them, her gaze lingering for just a second longer than usual. The way Sonic kept looking back at Shadow. The quiet way Shadow's eyes never really left him.

A spark of realization flickered behind her eyes. Amy wasn’t the type to say anything right away, but she noticed something.

Amy shifted her weight, stretching one leg over the other as she gave Sonic a look, half amused, half thoughtful.

“So,” she started, resting her chin in her hand, “how have you actually been? Like, really been. No jokes, no dodging. I want the real answer.”

Sonic blinked. She wasn’t smirking now. There was still warmth in her voice, but also something steadier. She somehow knew there was something heavier under the surface. Typical Amy. 

And then she added, with a sideways glance at Shadow, “And don’t think I won’t ask your bodyguard if you lie.”

Sonic raised an eyebrow, a half smile tugging at his lips. “Bodyguard? Really?”

Shadow gave a quiet “Hmph”, arms still crossed, but his eyes flicked toward Sonic with the faintest smirk, like he wasn’t denying it either.

Sonic turned back to Amy, the teasing edge slipping from his expression.

“Honestly, I’ve just been overwhelmed.”

Amy didn’t hesitate. As soon as the words left him, she got up from her chair and moved around the table.

Without a word, she pulled Sonic into a hug.

Her arms wrapped around his shoulders.

“You don’t have to explain,” she murmured. “It’s okay to feel that way.”

Sonic tensed for half a second, then let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding. His head dipped slightly, resting near her shoulder.

And across the room, Shadow didn’t move. But his eyes never left Sonic. He watched the way Sonic leaned into comfort, the way his shoulders sagged with the weight he kept trying to hide. And slowly, Shadow’s gaze dropped to the floor. Shadow knew what that kind of hurt felt like.

Amy’s arms eventually loosened, her warmth lingering a second longer before she let go. Sonic stepped back, rubbing at his eyes quickly with the back of his hand like that would stop the tears before they really started. But they were already forming.

Shadow had already moved from the wall. 

“Let’s move. We’ve got places to be.”

Sonic didn’t protest..

He just nodded, barely, and turned with him.

Amy watched them head for the door, something soft and understanding in her eyes. She didn’t ask anything else.

“Take care,” she called quietly, a small wave following them out. “Both of you.”

Sonic mumbled a reply, barely audible, and Shadow gave her a nod as the door shut behind them.

And once they were outside, Sonic’s hand lingered at his face again.

Shadow stepped beside him, his voice low. “Sonic—”

But Sonic didn’t answer.

His eyes flicked upward. Then, without a word, he shot into the sky, gold flaring around him, a sharp streak of light vanishing into the clouds.

Shadow stood there for a second, watching the space Sonic had just torn through. His jaw tightened. Then he followed.

Once again, Sonic and Shadow cut through the air like living lightning, the wind roaring in their ears as the ocean rushed far below.

They didn’t speak. They both knew where they were going.

Angel Island.

It wasn’t close. Not even for them.

The island sat far from the mainland, nestled above the sea like it always had, still untouchable, still guarded. And now, after everything, it was the last stop Sonic knew he needed to make.

The cliffs came into view first, then the dense green of the forests, and finally, the stone ruins. Exactly how he remembered.

Sonic’s breath hitched in his throat as they touched down on the soft grass near the altar.

Because Knuckles was there.

Knuckles was standing at the edge, arms crossed, posture relaxed, staring out over the ocean like it was just another quiet afternoon.

Because for him, it was.

He hadn’t reacted to the sonic boom that shook the air above. He knew who it was. 

Knuckles finally turned.

“Oh, hey,” he said, voice calm, “Didn’t know you were dropping by. What’s up?”

Sonic stared at him.

Knuckles looked the exact same. Completely unchanged.

And Sonic didn’t know what to say. His throat tightened. His hands trembled before he stuffed them in his quills.

Knuckles finally glanced past Sonic, his brow quirking.

“…Why’s he here?”

His tone wasn’t aggressive, it’s just this was the last pairing he expected to see fly in together, visiting him.

He looked between them, waiting for an answer, arms still crossed.

Shadow stepped forward before Sonic could say anything, because he could tell Sonic wasn’t going to. 

“G.U.N. assigned us a joint recon operation. We figured we’d check in while we were in the area,” Shadow said.

Knuckles raised an eyebrow. “Right. Figures.”

His gaze lingered on Sonic for a second longer, long enough to notice the tension in his stance, the way his eyes didn’t meet anyone’s.

But he didn’t press. Just nodded once and said, “Well, you found me.”

Sonic finally managed to lift his head a little, voice low and strained, but steady enough to pass.

“Yeah. Just…uhm, it’s good to see you, Knucks. Glad you’re doing alright.”

Knuckles gave a small shrug, his usual no big deal attitude still firmly in place. “Of course I am.”

Sonic didn’t answer that.

He just nodded, jaw tight, his eyes flicking away again like he couldn’t hold Knuckles’ gaze for too long.

And Knuckles noticed, just like Amy had. But he didn’t call it out.

Shadow could see it happening again.

The way Sonic’s fists curled slightly. The way his chest rose just a little too fast. That flicker in his eyes, the same one that had nearly undone him outside Tails’ workshop. Outside Amy’s apartment. He was slipping.

Shadow stepped in.

“We’ve got to move,” he said, cutting in with that same even tone he always used. “Time’s tight.”

Sonic just gave Knuckles a quick nod, almost apologetic, then turned away.

Knuckles watched them go, frowning slightly, but didn’t say anything.

Shadow stayed close, closer than before, as they took off into the sky.

The flight back was quiet.

Sonic stayed close to Shadow’s side, his super form flickering softer now, golden light dimming with exhaustion. Every so often, Shadow would glance at him, just to make sure he was still there, still holding it together. He didn’t offer words, he knew they wouldn’t help, but his presence never wavered.

As the skyline of Manhattan came into view, Sonic’s eyes followed the glittering lights without really seeing them. 

They touched down on the balcony of Shadow’s apartment building, the wind still tugging at their quills as their Super forms faded. 

Sonic stepped to the edge of the balcony, his eyes trailing across the skyline. The wind had cooled, brushing gently past him as his quills settled. It was beautiful.

Even after everything, even with the weight still heavy in his chest, he could admit that. The glow of the city. 

His arms folded against the chill, more out of habit than need, and for a moment… he just stood there.

Shadow said nothing, but he didn’t go inside either. He waited, the apartment door open behind him, light spilling out like an invitation. Just in case Sonic wasn’t ready to go in yet.

But for now, above it all, it was just them.

And Shadow’s door stood open. Waiting…

Chapter Text

Even after everything, even with the weight still heavy in his chest, Sonic could admit that. The beauty of the city.

His arms folded, and for a moment… he just stood there.

Shadow said nothing, but he didn’t go inside either. He waited, the apartment door open behind him, light spilling out like an invitation. Just in case Sonic wasn’t ready to go in yet.

But for now, above it all, it was just them.

And Shadow’s door stood open, waiting for Sonic.

Sonic finally spoke. His voice was low, hoarse.

“I didn’t think it would hurt like this.”

Shadow stayed quiet, but the silence said more than enough.

Sonic laughed, and he was bitter and breathless.

“I thought… I’d feel better. Seeing them. Seeing that they were alive.”

He shook his head slowly, arms tightening across his chest. “But it’s worse. It’s so much worse.”

Shadow stepped closer. His voice came out low, careful, one of those rare moments where he let Sonic hear the softness no one else got.

“I know.”

He paused, not to find the perfect thing to say, but because the truth was sitting heavy in his chest.

“I felt it too...Seeing them again… it messes with you.”

He looked out at the skyline, just for a second, like the words were heavier than they should’ve been.

“This isn’t gonna be easy,” he said, steady but soft. “You and me, we’re gonna feel all of it. The hurt, the dissonance. The stuff no one else remembers.”

His eyes found Sonic’s again.

“But you’re not carrying it alone”

Sonic dropped his gaze, hands fidgeting at his sides. Just for a second. Then he met Shadow’s eyes again.

“…Thanks,” he murmured.

Shadow tilted his head slightly. “For what?”

Sonic’s smile was small.

“For saying that. For always saying that,” he said. “Every time I start to fall apart, you say the same thing. That I’m not alone.”

Shadow held his gaze. His voice was calm, he wasn’t just saying it to comfort him.

“Because it’s true.”

He held the silence, just for a moment.

“…We don’t know what’s going to happen, Sonic. Not really. But whatever it is, we’ll face it.”

His eyes flicked away briefly. “Tails warned us. About what remembering could do. What it might turn us into.”

Sonic let out a breath that was almost a laugh.

“Y’know…” he said, glancing off to the side, voice light in the weirdest way, “what if I’m already turning into whatever he was warning us about?”

His smirk barely held.

And for the briefest moment, something in his glow darkened, just a flicker of navy, gone as fast as it came, like a trick of the light.

Shadow spoke before the words even settled.

“What the hell do you mean by that?”

Sonic blinked. His smirk came back too fast.

“Chill. I was joking.”

Shadow’s voice dropped.

"Were you?"

Sonic cut him off with a scoff and a lopsided grin, stepping closer. “Jeez, you still take everything so seriously.”

Before Shadow could answer, Sonic reached out and dragged a finger lightly down the edge of his arm. “Don’t worry, I’m not losing it,” he added, voice lowering just a bit, too casual to be casual. “I’d know.”

Shadow stayed still, but the shift in the air was impossible to miss.

Sonic leaned in closer, his tone dipping playful, his fingers brushing against the edge of Shadow’s glove now. “If I’m gonna fall apart, I’d rather do it with you watching anyway.”

Shadow didn’t flinch. But inside, something pulled tight.

This wasn’t right.

Sonic had just stood in front of Tails, Amy, and Knuckles. After everything. After the war. After losing them.

Amy and Knuckles, they were dead. Tails, he was barely hanging on in a coma.

And now they were all alive again. And somehow, Sonic didn’t fall apart?

Sonic was here, smiling like none of it happened? Flirting and touching him like none of it happened?

No.

Shadow had been through this kind of thing before.

He remembered a certain place, white and still. The silence. The people he thought he’d lost, standing there like nothing had ever happened. Like time hadn’t moved at all.

It messed him up, it brought every memory back.

That kind of grief doesn’t just disappear. It sticks. So what the hell was Sonic doing?

And then Sonic’s hand slid a little higher, fingers brushing along the fur just above Shadow’s hip. 

Shadow stepped back.

Because whatever this was, this touch, this moment, it just didn't feel right.

Sonic froze.

He blinked, his hand still hanging in the air for a second.

Then he let it fall, exhaling through his nose.

“…Really?”

Shadow didn’t say anything right away.

He just stared at Sonic. Sonic didn’t look mad. He wasn’t even really sad, not in a way Shadow could place. But something in his face was… off.

Like the sadness was buried under something else… it’s honestly indescribable.

And for the first time in a long while, Shadow couldn’t read him.

He hated that.

“…Sorry,” Shadow muttered, stiff, like the word tasted wrong in his mouth.

Sonic blinked at him, then tilted his head slightly.

“You okay?” he asked, voice quieter now.  “You’re being weird.”

Shadow didn’t reply.

Sonic studied him a second longer, and whatever sharpness had been in his expression earlier softened.

“I can tell something’s bothering you,” he said. “You know you can tell me anything, right?”

Shadow looked at Sonic again, and something twisted deep in his gut.

Just hours ago, this blue idiot had seen his dead best friends alive. Amy, Knuckles. And Tails, who’d been in a hospital bed before the RESET, now up like nothing ever happened.

And what did Sonic do?

He grieved for maybe a second. Then, he cracked a joke about how he’s turning into what Tails warned them about… and then tried to touch Shadow.. 

Shadow’s jaw tightened.

His mind had felt off all day...Familiar scenes replayed in his head with the wrong lighting, the wrong order. 

He blinked again. Sonic was still staring at him.

Shadow’s fists curled at his sides.

“Oh, really?” he snapped suddenly, voice sharp and cutting. “ I’m the weird one?”

Sonic flinched at his tone.

Shadow stepped forward. 

“You saw Amy. Knuckles. Alive. Tails walking around like the kid wasn’t just in a coma. And you—” he let out a short, bitter laugh—“you grieve for half a second, then crack a joke about becoming what Tails warned us about? Then you try to touch me like nothing’s wrong?”

His hands were shaking now. 

“You’re weird, Sonic. And you’re the same goddamn idiot you’ve always been,” he spat. “You can go through war, lose everything, watch the whole world reset, and somehow still make jokes and act like it’s all some stupid game.”

He wasn’t yelling anymore. His voice had dropped, lower now. 

“There, that’s what’s bothering me.”

Then he turned.

But not before casting one last look over his shoulder.

Then Shadow walked off the balcony, slammed the sliding glass door shut behind him, and disappeared into his apartment inside without another word.

Sonic stood frozen.

And then he dropped to the floor, hard.

His hands hung loose at his sides for a second before curling in. He couldn’t breathe right, and his eyes stung.

And then suddenly, something hit him, it was so sharp and sudden, it felt like someone jammed a sword straight through his skull. A migraine so violent it made his vision flash white.

He grabbed at his head, his breath ragged.

He saw flashes. Then, he heard sounds, laughing, and screaming.

He squeezed his eyes shut like that would help. It didn’t.

What the hell is happening to me?

His thoughts were slipping, there were overlapping voices, moments, timelines. It was too loud in his own head.

Make it stop. Just, just make it stop.

His pulse pounded in his ears. 

I can’t think. I can’t breathe. What is this, what is this pain?

He felt like he was coming apart, like his own body didn’t know which version of him was real anymore. His head was trying to hold two different realities at once and it was failing, hard.

His hands were shaking.

Then, suddenly he let out a broken sound, half gasp, half sob, and pressed his forehead to the floor.

Everything felt like it was collapsing from the inside out.

And then more memories hit him again.

Not recent ones, though. 

Cyber corruption.

That searing pain that once crawled under his skin, glitching through his body in broken pulses of blue and red. The way his muscles failed him. The way he staggered forward anyway.

He remembered coughing so hard he could taste blood, fighting to stay conscious, his body glitching out bad data. Every step felt like he was breaking apart.

But he kept going, because Amy, Knuckles and Tails needed him.

He saw them again, flickering in his mind. Floating, fading, calling out to him through static.

Their faces blurred with pain and light.

And then, another memory hit him, The Metal Virus.

He remembered that, too.

That cold, creeping dread as it spread. He remembered watching entire cities fall. He remembered how it felt on his skin. 

But even t hat hadn’t felt like this.

This, whatever was happening to his head, was worse, way worse. 

This is different, he thought, chest heaving

Nothing I’ve felt before ever hurt like this. 

His head dropped lower, forehead against the floor, breath catching in his throat.

And suddenly, the sliding door opened behind him.

Shadow was back, his eyes wide.

His heart dropped.

He didn’t even speak for a few seconds.

Shadow just stood there, staring, frozen in the doorway, watching Sonic on the ground like the air had been knocked out of him

No , he thought. Goddamnit, no no no—

It’s starting. It’s starting already.

Shadow was moving before he processed what he was doing.

He dropped to his knees.

“Sonic—”

Sonic couldn’t respond. His hands were still clamped to his head, body twitching with each wave of pain.

Shadow pulled him up, arms slipping under his back and knees, lifting him, as if Sonic weighed nothing.

He pushed the door open wider with his shoulder, carried him inside fast, every step laced with panic.

“I’ve got you Sonic” he muttered under his breath.

He kicked his bedroom door open and lowered Sonic onto the bed, careful but fast. Sonic’s eyes were barely open, flickering like static. 

Shadow dropped to his knees at the bedside, one hand gripping the blanket tightly, the other hovering near Sonic’s arm but not touching.

Shadow had felt off all day too. He had a headache that had been there, but he hadn’t said anything. He thought he was just stressed, he didn’t know that was RESET’s side effect. He didn't think it’d be so soon.

That’s why he snapped earlier..

And now Sonic was lying in front of him, barely conscious, shaking, and it was hitting him ten times harder.

His fingers twitched where they hovered above Sonic’s arm. He didn’t know if it would help. If it would hurt.

His throat felt tight. His own head still ached a bit, like a normal headache, but it was nothing compared to this. Nothing compared to whatever the hell Sonic was going through.

“…Sonic.”

Silence.

Shadow leaned in closer.

“Hey. Look at me.”

Sonic’s eyes didn’t move. His breathing was shallow, uneven. His whole body tensed with every wave of pain.

Shadow’s heart dropped.

“…Come on. Say something…Please”

Still nothing.

Shadow stared at him, hands frozen, until something inside him gave way. His breath caught in his throat, sharp and sudden, and he leaned in even closer.

“I didn’t mean what I said earlier,” he whispered, like if he said it softer, it might hurt less.

His eyes started to sting. He bit the inside of his cheek, hard, but it didn’t stop the tears. They slipped past anyway.

“I’ve had a headache all day. I didn’t tell you because I thought it was nothing. That’s why I snapped. That’s why I—God.”

He let out a breath that came out more like a gasp, chest tight and shaking. His hands clenched the blanket by Sonic’s side.

“You were just trying to help. And I pushed you away. And now—now you’re—”

His voice broke completely.

“I thought we had more time,” he whispered.

Tears slid down his face. He didn’t bother hiding them now. He leaned forward, forehead resting against Sonic’s arm like it was the only thing keeping him upright.

“I’m sorry,” he breathed. “I’m so sorry. This is my fault.”

For a moment, there was nothing but Shadow’s breathing.

Then, there was a sudden shift.

Sonic’s fingers twitched.

Shadow froze.

Another breath, ragged, forced.

“…Shads…”

The voice was broken. But unmistakably Sonic’s.

Shadow’s head snapped up.

“…It’s… not your fault…”

Sonic’s eyes were barely open, one flickering with the faintest light. His face twisted in pain, jaw tight, like just saying that much had taken everything out of him.

Shadow stared, stunned, then shook his head, and the tears came again, harder this time.

“You don’t—” His voice cracked. “Don’t say that. You don’t even know what’s happening to you and you’re still trying to make me feel better—”

His breath hitched. He covered his mouth with one hand, like that might keep the sob in. It didn’t.

“I’m supposed to protect you,” he choked out.

He dropped his head again, shoulders shaking, still clutching Sonic’s hand like it was the only thing tethering either of them to reality.

Sonic didn’t respond again….

His fingers twitched, then went still.

Sonic had no strength left to speak.

Shadow lifted his head slowly, panic flickering behind the tears in his eyes.

“…Sonic?”

Nothing.

His grip tightened. His other hand hovered over Sonic’s chest, feeling it rise, fall.

Shadow’s mind raced.

He needs something. Medicine. 

He stood up fast, too fast, nearly stumbling as he bolted for the kitchen. Cabinet doors flew open. Bottles clattered. His hand closed around the only thing he had.

Advil. Two left in the bottle. It would have to do for now.

He grabbed a glass, filled it with water, and sprinted back down the hall. His footsteps echoed hard against the floor, loud enough to drown out the pounding that was in his head.

He dropped to his knees beside the bed again, breathing hard, pills in one hand, water in the other.

“Okay. Okay, come on,” he said under his breath, more to himself than anything. “Sonic. I’ve got something. You just have to take it.”

He lifted Sonic’s head gently, cradling it against his arm. His skin was burning up, sweat on his fur, his ears twitching with every movement.

Shadow pressed the pills to his lips.

Sonic didn’t respond. Didn’t even try.

“Come on,” Shadow muttered, voice cracking. “Just, just open your mouth. Please.”

He tapped the water to his lips next, tilting it carefully, trying not to spill it. Nothing. Sonic barely even twitched.

He wasn’t completely out, but he was fading, fast. Like his body was still here, but everything else was shutting down.

Shadow lowered him back down, cursing softly under his breath. His jaw clenched.

He needs more than this. Real medication. Something to keep his system from shorting out.  I could run to the pharmacy. I could—

His eyes flicked toward the door. Then back to Sonic.

Sonic, who was burning up, his fur damp with sweat, heat pulsing off him.

I can’t risk it.

Shadow stayed kneeling there, fists clenched, heart racing.

I can't leave him.

So he didn’t.

He climbed onto the bed slowly, carefully, like even the slightest movement might make things worse.

Shadow beside Sonic, his back against the headboard, legs pulled in. One hand gripping Sonic’s.

He didn’t sleep, he just sat there, staring into space. 

Every so often, his eyes would drift to Sonic’s face, watching for any twitch, any change, any sign he was still fighting.

Then he’d stare back at the wall again, like maybe if he kept his body still, his mind would quiet too. It didn’t.

The minutes dragged. Then hours.

Until the clock hit 2 a.m.

Shadow was still sitting there, hand wrapped around Sonic’s, eyes unfocused, half of his thoughts watching the wall, half lost in his own head.

Then, he felt a soft tap.

Sonic’s other hand, weak but moving, tapped his arm.

Shadow blinked.

His head snapped around so fast it hurt.

Sonic was looking at him, barely, but he was awake. He sat up just a bit, his shoulders trembling from the effort.

“…Shadow,” he whispered. 

Shadow stared at him, completely frozen.

And then…

Tears.

Again. They slipped out before Shadow could stop them. Tears that were out of pure, overwhelming relief.

He let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding for hours, shoulders finally sagging, hand still clutched tight in Sonic’s.

He leaned in closer, brushing a trembling hand against Sonic’s fur.

“You’re still with me..” he murmured. “Thank God.”

Sonic blinked slowly, trying to stay focused, trying to breathe through the pain.

Shadow slipped out of the bed carefully and moved to the nightstand beside Sonic. He grabbed the pills and the glass of water he’d left there earlier, hands steady now.

“Here,” he said gently. “You need to take these. It'll help.”

He supported Sonic carefully, slipping an arm behind his back to help him sit up just enough.

“Can you do it?” he asked, quietly, eyes searching his face. “You don’t have to talk. Just nod.”

Sonic gave the faintest motion, almost imperceptible, but it was enough.

Shadow brought the pills to his lips, then the glass of water. His hands were steady now.

Sonic took them with effort, slow, shaky, but he managed.

Shadow stayed close, watching Sonic’s every movement like it was life or death.

Because right now… it basically was.

Once Sonic had swallowed the last of the water, Shadow set the glass aside and eased him back down onto the pillow, careful not to jostle him too much.

Then, Shadow climbed back into the bed beside him, slower this time. 

He reached out and took Sonic’s hand again.

This time, Sonic squeezed back, although it was weak, it was real.

Shadow leaned back against the headboard, eyes still on him, his thumb brushing lightly across Sonic’s fingers.

Then, without thinking, he leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to the back of Sonic’s hand.

And finally, after hours of silence, Shadow’s panic, and Sonic’s pain, the room settled.

Shadow didn’t mean to sleep.

But the exhaustion pulled him under anyway.

And so did Sonic.

They fell asleep still holding hands.

The morning light slipped in slowly, brushing against the edge of the curtains.

Shadow woke up first.

His body ached from the awkward position he’d fallen asleep in, head tilted down slightly, fingers still curled around Sonic’s hand.

He looked over immediately.

Sonic was still asleep. Now he was breathing steady. His face was relaxed, but pale. No signs of twitching or strain like the night before.

For a long time, Shadow just sat there. He was just watching Sonic. 

He was afraid that if he let go, something might go wrong again.

But eventually, reality crept back in.

He thought about Sonic. Sonic should eat. He would need something if he woke up. When he woke up.

Shadow slowly pulled his hand back, just long enough to ease himself out of bed. Every step away from the room felt like a risk. But he forced himself to keep going.

In the kitchen, he stood for a long minute, just staring at the shelves.

Everything was clean, organized, and bland. The fridge was stocked with exactly what you'd expect from someone like him: eggs, grilled chicken, vegetables, spinach, unsweetened milk, some fruit, a container of plain Greek yogurt. 

Sonic had always complained about that, even before RESET.

Shadow exhaled through his nose.

He wasn’t hungry, not really. He didn’t get hungry the way others did, anyways. His body didn’t demand it. As the so called Ultimate Lifeform, he could go days without eating and barely feel the difference.

But Sonic would need something in his system when he woke up. 

Not just food, but also something comforting. Something familiar. Knowing him, someone who was always chasing the next rush, the next hit of dopamine, he wouldn’t want plain eggs or greek yogurt.

And then the thought hit him..

Ugh.. He’d probably want pancakes.

Shadow hated pancakes. But if Sonic wakes up..that’d probably be the first thing he asked for.

So he looked at what he had, oatmeal, protein powder, eggs, milk.

It’d work.

He grabbed a bowl and got to it, mixing everything by hand, trying to keep it quiet. The batter looked rough, but passable. He didn’t care if it tasted good.

He just cared that Sonic might wake up to it. That it might make him feel a little better. Maybe even smile.

That was the whole point.

He was flipping the last pancake when he heard footsteps behind him.

He turned, and nearly dropped the spatula.

Sonic was standing in the doorway of the kitchen. He was very pale. But there he was, awake. 

Shadow’s eyes widened. “What are you doing out of bed?”

Sonic leaned against the doorframe, breathing a little too hard for someone who’d only crossed a hallway. “It’s fine,” he said, brushing it off like it was nothing.

Shadow shook his head, stepping toward him. “It’s not. You need rest. You can’t just—”

“I SAID I’M FINE, SHADOW.” Sonic snapped.

His voice cracked at the edges, it didn’t know what tone it was supposed to land on. His stance was wobbly. His pupils were small. There was something in his eyes, something that didn’t look quite… right.

Shadow froze.

Sonic’s chest rose and fell fast, too fast, like his body was racing ahead of him.

Then, suddenly, his expression shifted. His shoulders dropped. 

“…I’m sorry,” Sonic said quietly. He honestly didn’t know where the outburst had come from either. “I didn’t mean to yell.”

Shadow nodded once, slow. 

“I know,” he said simply.

Sonic lowered his gaze. And that’s when he noticed the plate on the counter.

 A small stack of uneven pancakes, still warm, steam curling up faintly into the light.

“…Wait. Are those—” He stepped closer, brows lifting a little. “You made pancakes?”

Shadow turned back to the stove, flipping the last one onto a plate. “Sort of.”

Sonic blinked. “You hate pancakes.”

“I do,” Shadow said. 

Sonic stared at them. Then looked at the eggshells in the sink. The open oatmeal. The tub of protein powder still sitting on the counter.

“…You made these for me?” he asked, voice quieter now.

Shadow gave a small shrug, avoiding his eyes. “Yeah. I did.”

Sonic just stood there, staring at the pancakes.

His mouth watered almost instantly. He hadn’t even realized how hungry he was until that moment. His body was still sore, still shaky, but the smell hit something deep. 

He wanted to eat all of them. Right then and there.

But something about it also made him pause.

Shadow made this.

For me.

Sonic blinked slowly, trying to process that.  Shadow had stood in that kitchen and made these. Just so Sonic would have something comforting to wake up to.

And now it was sitting there. Waiting for him.

He doesn’t even know why he was surprised. Not after everything they’d been through. 

Why do the small, quiet gestures always hit harder than the rest?

Sonic swallowed the knot in his throat and looked up at Shadow.

“…Thanks,” he said softly. 

Shadow gave a nod and slid the plate toward him.

Sonic didn’t wait.

He picked up a fork, still shaky, and took a bite. The texture was a little rougher than he was used to. Definitely not sweet. None of the buttery, sugary magic he’d get at IHOP. It wasn’t that kind of pancake.

But he didn’t care.

Right now, it tasted better than any syrup drenched, powdered sugar fluff stack ever could.

Because Shadow made it.

“…Do you like them?” Shadow asked quietly, the answer mattered more than he wanted to admit.

Sonic nodded. “Yeah. I really do.”

Shadow didn’t say anything else. He pulled out the chair next to Sonic and sat down beside him, arms crossed on the table, gaze fixed on nothing. He didn’t even look Sonic’s way. His jaw was tense, shoulders locked like he was trying to hold something in.

Sonic glanced at him between bites.

When he finally finished, he set the fork down and turned toward Shadow. He reached over and slipped his fingers into Shadow’s hand.

Shadow flinched just slightly, then finally looked at him.

His eyes were tired. And filled with something Sonic couldn’t name.

Sonic tilted his head, voice softer now. “Shads?”

Shadow stared at him for a moment before speaking. When he did, it was barely above a whisper.

“Sorry.. Sorry. I’m just.. I’m really glad you're okay.”

Sonic’s chest tightened. He held onto Shadow’s hand tighter.

Shadow exhaled, Then turned slightly toward him.

“…How are you feeling?” he asked, finally. “Really.”

Sonic hesitated, then nodded slowly. “Better,” he said. His voice was rough. “A lot better now.”

And it wasn’t a lie. The pain had dulled, the static wasn’t screaming in his head anymore, and just sitting here, warm food, quiet room, Shadow beside him, it did ground him.

But even as he said it, something uneasy settled in the back of his mind.

Because now he couldn’t stop thinking about what Shadow had told him before, about the corruption, about their minds trying to hold two realities at once, and how it could corrupt them.

At the time, Sonic had brushed it off. 

But after what happened last night, after what that pain felt like?

He wasn’t brushing it off anymore.

And the worst part wasn’t just what it did to him.

It was knowing that the same could happen to Shadow.

And if this was what it did to Sonic…

Then what if Shadow was next?

He looked over at him, hand still resting in his. He didn’t just feel scared for himself.

He felt scared for both of them.

The rest of the day moved slower. 

After breakfast, they left the apartment together, carefully, with Shadow walking close at Sonic’s side, ready to catch him if anything happened. 

They hit the pharmacy first, picking up what they could, migraine relief, anti-inflammatories, anything that might help stabilize the symptoms next time. The real solution wasn’t in a bottle, but they both knew better than to leave empty handed.

Then they stopped at Target.

Sonic filled the basket with snacks, sugary cereal, spicy chips, different kinds of juice, and something called “birthday cake popcorn” that made Shadow visibly cringe.

Sonic tossed it in the cart anyway with a grin. Shadow didn’t argue.

By the time they got back to the apartment, Sonic was worn out again, but not in pain. Just tired.

He collapsed onto the couch with a blanket and a bag of candy while Shadow turned on something in the background. Transformers, because he knew Sonic loved it.

For a while, they just sat there.  

Then, softly, Sonic spoke.

“Ahh…I missed this,” he said, eyes still on the screen. “Y’know. Just… life. Like this.”

Shadow glanced at him but didn’t interrupt.

Sonic shifted under the blanket, voice a little more sure now. “No crazy missions. No panic. Just… a couch, a movie. Stores that still had shelves full of snacks, not emergency rations. Being able to walk into a place without checking if it’s been bombed.”

He paused, chewing on another candy. “I didn’t think I’d miss it this much.”

His voice got quieter again.

“But I do.”

Shadow’s chest tightened. Because suddenly, it hit him.

Missions.

Shit—missions.

He sat up straight, stiff, eyes widening as his brain caught up. He still worked for G.U.N. He still had assignments. Responsibilities.

And he hadn’t checked his phone at all.

He got up fast, too fast, and hurried to the bedroom where he’d tossed his jacket. He pulled the phone out of the pocket.

Screen black. No notifications.

He unlocked it.

Still nothing.

Frowning, he opened his contacts and tried to find Sergeant Alvarez’s name.

Wait ..

Right.

RESET happened.

His stomach sank.

Alvarez wouldn’t be in the contacts. Not yet. Because technically… they hadn’t met. Not in this timeline.

The contact wasn’t there.

Shadow stood there, phone still in his hand, staring at it. 

And the longer he stared, the colder his chest felt.

RESET didn’t just rewind time. It reconstructed it. Rebuilt a world that looked the same on the surface, but underneath, who the hell knew what was different?

He’d been so focused on Sonic. He hadn’t stopped to think about what this meant for everyone else .

The civilians. The soldiers. The diplomats, heck even the enemies.

The ones who started the war in the first place.

They could still be out there..

What if they hadn’t changed at all?

What if it all just happened again?

His grip tightened on the phone.

What if RESET didn’t fix anything?

He closed his eyes for a while, jaw clenched, letting the silence press in around him.

And then, suddenly, he felt arms around him.

It was Sonic.

Shadow opened his eyes, startled. He hadn’t even heard him get up.

“…I didn’t hear you,” he murmured.

Sonic didn’t let go. Just rested his chin lightly against Shadow’s shoulder.

“Just came to check on ya” he said quietly.

Shadow stood there for a moment, staring at the phone in his hand, then finally let it drop to the dresser.

“…Sonic.. I’ve been thinking. This isn’t looking good,” he said, voice tight. “Not just for us. For everyone . ”

Sonic stayed quiet, listening.

“I’ve been thinking about RESET. What it really did. What it didn’t do,” Shadow continued. “What if the war still happens? What if it’s starting again, and we just don’t see it yet?”

Sonic held him a little tighter.

“I don’t think it’s like that,” he said, softer now. “I mean… yeah, we remembered. The two of us. Maybe because of how close we were to it when it activated. Now we're facing the consequences..”

“But the rest of the world?” He hesitated, then added, “I trust Tails, I’m sure he and Eggman worked it out. RESET wasn’t just a rewind. It was supposed to fix things.”

He paused, then added, “Maybe not for us… But… I think everyone else will be okay.”

And even if he wasn’t fully sure… he sounded like he wanted to be.

Shadow let out a slow, quiet sigh. His shoulders eased, and he closed his eyes again.

Sonic just held him tighter. 

After a moment, Shadow finally lifted his hands and rested them over Sonic’s arms, holding them in place.

Now, there wasn’t anything left to say. 

Everything was still uncertain.

But for now, they were here.  

Chapter Text

Somehow, the days kept passing.

Shadow had stopped asking when Sonic planned to go back to Green Hills. Not because he didn’t care, but because they both knew why he hadn’t. Sonic wasn’t ready, not with how he’d been feeling lately. The headaches, the fog, the flashes of something he couldn’t explain. Whatever it was, it hadn’t stopped. And going back home, pretending everything was fine? That wasn’t something Sonic could do right now.

It wasn’t like he was locked inside. He moved around, ate, showered, and he made jokes when the timing was right. But there was something different about him now.

They hadn’t told the others. It wasn’t some big decision. Just… easier that way. What would they even say? That Sonic gets migraines now? That some days his head felt like it was splitting in two, and he couldn’t tell if it was from stress, or trauma, or the fact that his brain is literally trying to hold two versions of reality at once? Shadow knew the truth, even if he didn’t say it out loud. Tails had warned them before RESET. He said that remembering could do damage. That the mind wasn’t built to carry what theirs now did. This wasn’t random. It was the cost of keeping their memories when the world rewrote itself around them.

Whatever was happening to Sonic felt deeper than that. Because Sonic hadn’t just remembered RESET, he was the one who caused it. He triggered it in a moment of collapse, when everything in him had already started coming undone. Shadow saw that fractured look, that chaos building just under the surface. And now, his mind was just catching up to the damage.

Maybe this was all part of the aftermath.

The problem was, they didn’t have answers.

So they didn’t talk about it.

Shadow kept his routines mostly the same. He made coffee in the mornings, did his usual strength training in the afternoon, and sat near Sonic when the evenings got too quiet. Sometimes they talked. Sometimes they just sat in silence.

They were still adjusting to this version of the world, it was new, but technically old. A year before the war. A time that wasn’t supposed to exist anymore.

And deep down, Shadow couldn’t shake the quiet fear that somehow, some way, the war might still happen again. That the wrong people would make the same choices. That history might loop back around.

But he also remembered the Tails from that timeline, the one who designed RESET. The one who believed they could fix things.

And maybe more than anything, Shadow looked at Sonic….and knew none of it would matter if he lost him. Sonic was too important.

Shadow had just come back from a G.U.N. assignment. It wasn’t anything major,  no injuries, barely even worth the name “mission.” But he still made an entrance, all black gear, including gloves, boots, and that look in his eyes like the mission wasn’t fully over yet. His muzzle was dusted with grit, his eyes sharper than usual, adrenaline still faint on his breath.

Sonic glanced up from the couch when the door clicked shut. He was tucked under a blanket, hoodie drawn up, one arm draped over the back cushion.

Shadow set his gear down and rolled his shoulders with a sharp exhale.

Sonic glanced over, eyes trailing up from Shadow’s boots to the way the black gear clung to him, just long enough to be obvious. He didn’t bother hiding it at this point.

“Long mission?” he muttered. 

Shadow didn’t look at him right away.

“Yeah. Long. But nothing serious.”

He glanced over. Sonic was still curled up on the couch, same position as when he left this morning.

“…How are you feeling?”

He hesitated just slightly.

“Are your migraines any better today?”

Sonic shrugged, eyes still on the TV. “Same as usual..” he muttered. “Feels like my brain’s doing backflips..”

He turned his head then, finally meeting Shadow’s eyes with a tired grin.

“Although…” A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. “It did ease up a little when you walked in looking like that.”

Shadow let out a quiet exhale through his nose, and the corner of his mouth curved just slightly.

“Oh yeah? Is that so?”

Sonic’s grin widened just a little.

“Might be,” he said.

He leaned his head back against the couch, eyes still on Shadow.

Shadow gave a small shake of his head, like he was trying not to smile again. Then he crossed the room and sat beside Sonic.

“If it helps your headache,” he said, “then I’ll take it.”

Sonic smirked, turning slightly toward him-

-but the voice on the TV cut in, sharp and steady, breaking whatever had settled between them.

“…Officials confirmed the overpass collapse was due to years of ignored maintenance reports. At least nine injured, two critical. City officials say emergency funding is being discussed…”

Sonic’s eyes drifted to the screen. The footage was already rolling, twisted metal, flashing lights, stretchers. Someone’s voice was crying off camera.

Just another day, another preventable tragedy.

The smirk slipped from his face.

Shadow watched him for a second, then reached for the remote. He turned the TV off.

“You should go to bed,” he said quietly. “This isn’t helping your head.”

Sonic didn’t move. His eyes stayed on the screen like the images were still playing behind his eyes.

“You know what I’ve realized, Shadow?” he said, voice quieter now.

“Even though RESET happened… even though the war won’t happen this time…”

His gaze dropped to the floor, fingers curling into the edge of the blanket.

“…The world’s just gonna find a different way to screw itself up…it doesn’t matter how much you fix. People always break it again.”

Shadow didn’t answer. He sat there beside Sonic, still and silent, his eyes fixed on the spot where the screen had been glowing seconds ago.

Because Sonic wasn’t wrong.

“You ever think..” Sonic said, almost too casually, “that maybe it’s not worth saving?”

Shadow’s head turned, slow.

“What?”

Sonic didn’t look at him. He just kept staring straight ahead at the screen.

“People. The world. All of it. I mean, what’s the point if they’re just gonna screw it up again anyway?”

Shadow’s voice cut in. “Don’t say that.”

He turned to look at Sonic fully now, his expression unreadable, but the tension in his jaw said enough.

Sonic just tilted his head slightly, eyes still focused on that blank screen like he was watching something only he could see.

“Why not?” he asked, voice light. 

Then he looked at Shadow, the faintest trace of a smirk flickering across his face. “It’s not like I’m wrong.”

Shadow’s gaze darkened. He shifted closer to Sonic.  

“Thinking like that..that’s a dangerous road.”

He paused, searching Sonic’s face.

“I know where that kind of thinking can take you.”

Shadow’s face dropped, eyes darkening as memories surfaced.

“Maria… she was my reason. The world hurt her. And it broke me.”

The weight of that hung heavy between them.

“I wanted to burn it all down once. To wipe the slate clean.”

Shadow’s eyes softened just a little.

“I almost lost myself back then. But you, you were the one who pulled me back.”

He looked at Sonic, steady and sure.

Sonic met his gaze, eyes flickering guilt, and a trace of pain.

“Just, please…don’t say things like that.”

Sonic’s shoulders sagged slightly. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to...”

Shadow shook his head gently. “It’s okay. I get it.”

Shadow’s expression grew more serious as he spoke.

“Tails warned about this, about how holding onto memories like ours could twist things. Maybe it could bring out the darker parts of us.”

He glanced at Sonic, voice softer now.

“These feelings you’re having… I bet it’s part of that. Not something you’re choosing.”

“Wow,” he murmured, voice barely above a whisper. “Could it really be that?”

He glanced away, rubbing the back of his neck, uncertainty flickering in his tired eyes.

Shadow’s gaze softened as he watched Sonic shift uneasily.

“You should go to bed,” he said quietly. “Get some rest. You need it.”

Sonic didn’t respond right away, but his legs felt weak beneath him.

Without hesitation, Shadow stepped forward and gently wrapped an arm around his shoulders, steadying him.

“Come on,” Shadow urged softly. “I’ll help you.”

Sonic leaned into him, the weight of it all pressing down as Shadow guided him carefully to his bedroom.

Once inside, Shadow helped him sit down on the edge of the bed, steadying him for a moment before gently releasing his hold.

“I’ll be in the living room,” Shadow said quietly.

Without another word, he slipped out of the room, closing the door softly behind him, leaving Sonic alone with his thoughts.

Shadow stepped quietly into the living room, his face tight with worry. He pulled out his phone, thumb hovering over the contacts list. He hesitated, weighing his options.

His thumb paused over the name.

Miles Prower.

Tails… He was the only one who could possibly understand, but this Tails.. he had no idea how deep this was, and how far Sonic could be slipping.

Shadow didn’t even know how to begin to explain it: RESET, the war, Knuckles and Amy’s deaths, Tails himself lying in a coma… and so much more.

He shook the thought away. Instead, his mind settled on Sergeant Alvarez, someone who’d once meant something to Sonic, who had been close to him in the war. But in this rewritten world? It didn’t even matter. Alvarez didn’t know Sonic here. The war never happened, and Alvarez was never drafted.

Shadow pulled out his phone again and searched for “Alejandro Alvarez” on Instagram. The account popped up instantly, and there he was, a normal young guy, fresh out of college, living an ordinary life filled with photos of friends and weekend hikes.

As Shadow scrolled through the feed, a knot tightened in his chest. The Reset hadn’t just changed history, it had erased people’s realities, their connections. 

Yes, it might have fixed the war, but that didn’t matter. This wasn’t reality. The war did happen, and it couldn’t just be forgotten. There would always be causes, consequences, that didn’t simply vanish with a rewrite.

Now, Shadow was beginning to realize the true cost… Sonic was going to pay the price for trying to erase it all.

But would Shadow have to pay it too?

He didn’t know. And the thought made the weight in his chest grow.

A harsh truth settled in Shadow’s mind: Sonic hadn’t done something right. How could he be so careless? How could he rewrite the world without thinking about those who’d been wiped away, forgotten?

But… he understood Sonic. He cared for him.

In fact, because of all this, Shadow was seeing something serious, something dangerous, in Sonic.

They were practically inseparable now, bound by more than just memories or circumstance.

The two remembered a reality the rest of the world did not.

And Shadow didn’t know how to feel about it anymore.

One part of him clung to his moral compass, to what was right.

The other was tangled in his relationship with Sonic, complicated, and impossible to ignore.

Suddenly, a knock came at the door.

Shadow’s body tensed instantly, a flicker of caution sharpening his senses. 

But when he opened it, it was just Rouge, smiling like she owned the place.

His shoulders relaxed slightly, but the tension didn’t fully fade.

They were best friends, sure, but no one in this rewritten world knew about whatever was going on between him and Sonic. 

Shadow quickly masked any sign of nerves.

“Rouge,” he said, voice even. “What brings you here?”

Rouge smirked, stepping inside and holding out a compact piece of tech Shadow had left behind at the mission.

“You forgot this,” she said, voice light but teasing.

Shadow took the device, fingers brushing hers briefly.

“Thanks,” he muttered, eyes flicking toward the closed bedroom door.

Rouge glanced around the living room, her eyes narrowing slightly.

It was messier than usual, a few empty snack wrappers littered across the table.

Her gaze landed on the snacks themselves, chips, candy bars, things Shadow did not touch.

She raised an eyebrow, smirking.

“Since when do you eat junk like this?”

Shadow’s jaw tightened, but he said nothing.

Her eyes drifted toward the couch, where simple pillows lay rumpled and messy, clear signs someone had been there, restless and unsettled.

Rouge’s expression softened, and she stepped closer, lowering her voice.

“You know you can tell me anything, right?” she asked gently.

Shadow met her gaze, a flicker of hesitation passing through his eyes.

She didn’t need to say more, she could feel it.

“You’re seeing someone,” she said quietly, a smirk on her lips.

Shadow’s eyes narrowed, a flicker of surprise quickly masked by his usual guarded expression.

“What are you talking about?” he asked, voice low.

Rouge just smirked wider, stepping a bit closer.

“Come on, Shadow. Don’t try to play dumb. I’m not blind… So, who’s the lucky girl?”

He shifted uncomfortably but said nothing.

Rouge raised an eyebrow, waiting.

“Seriously, you can tell me.”

Shadow’s jaw clenched, but he finally let out a low sigh.

“None of your business.”

Rouge blinked, caught off guard by the sudden seriousness in his tone.

For a moment, there was silence between them.

Shadow’s expression softened, and he muttered,

“Sorry. That came out harsher than I meant.”

Rouge’s expression softened, and she opened her mouth to reassure him,

“You don’t have to—”

But before she could finish, the bedroom door creaked open.

Sonic stepped in, rubbing his eyes and yawning, his gaze sharp and wary despite his tired movements, breaking the moment completely.

Rouge froze, eyes wide with shock as she took in Sonic’s unexpected presence.

Shadow’s mouth went dry, and awkwardness crossed his face. He shifted uncomfortably.

Sonic blinked, rubbing his eyes as he noticed Rouge standing there.

“Oh, it’s just Rouge,” he said casually, voice still heavy with sleep.

Without another word, he turned and walked back into the bedroom, closing the door softly behind him.

Rouge stared at Shadow, disbelief clear in her eyes.

“So… you’ve been seeing him ?” she said with a raised brow, voice teasing but edged with surprise.

Shadow’s usual composure flickered for a moment, but he quickly masked it with a dismissive shrug.

“It’s complicated,” he muttered, avoiding her gaze.

Rouge blinked, then her eyes grew wider, disbelief shifting into something more.. animated.

“Hold up,” she said, pacing a little, voice rising in disbelief. “You’re telling me you are actually... hooking up with HIM?”

She shook her head, half-laughing, half-shocked.

“Wow. Just... wow.”

Shadow’s eyes narrowed, his patience thinning but his voice stays steady.

“We’re not hooking up.”

He paused, choosing his words carefully.

“It’s more complicated than that. Sonic’s sick… but not in a way I can just explain.”

His gaze flicked toward the closed bedroom door.

Rouge nodded slowly, a mischievous grin spreading across her face.

“Yeah, yeah, I get it. Some things are too complicated to explain.”

She glanced toward the bedroom door, then back at Shadow with a sly smile.

“God… just wait till Omega hears about this. He’s gonna lose it.”

Shadow rolled his eyes but couldn’t suppress a small grin.

“Yeah, yeah….”

He suddenly steps toward the door, holding it open for her.

“Come on. You should get going.”

Rouge gave him one last smirk before slipping past him and out the door.

Shadow closed it quietly behind her, then his gaze drifted back to the bedroom, lingering there for a long moment.

He started walking toward the bedroom door, each step measured and quiet.

He pushed the door open softly and stepped inside.

Sonic was lying peacefully on the bed, breathing steady, eyes closed in sleep.

A small, gentle smile tugged at Shadow’s lips as he watched him.

But just as Shadow was about to step out quietly, Sonic’s body suddenly tensed, muscles tightening as if fighting invisible chains.

His fingers clawed at the sheets, hands digging deep into the fabric as if trying to grasp something slipping away.

A low, fractured whisper escaped his lips.

“Can’t hold it……”

His brow furrowed painfully beneath closed eyelids, sweat beading on his forehead.

“ Tails… coma… lost… can’t fix…”

Sonic’s breathing hitched, shallow and ragged, his chest rising and falling unevenly.

His limbs jerked, as if he was having a battle within himself.

The faintest flicker of chaotic energy pulsed beneath his skin, a purple glow rippling softly across his quills like smoke curling in the dark.

“Worlds…can’t survive…”

His voice dropped to a tortured growl, as if something else was trying to free him.

Shadow’s heart pounded as he watched Sonic, caught in a torment that wasn’t just in his dreams.

Shadow quickly moved to the bed and sat down beside Sonic.

He reached out, voice urgent, calling softly, “Sonic…”

When there was no response, he gripped Sonic’s shoulders firmly and began to shake him gently but insistently.

“Sonic, wake up. Come on.”

He repeated the words, voice growing more urgent, his hands trembling slightly as he shook him again.

“Please…Please.”

A low, muffled murmur slipped from beneath Sonic’s lips, barely audible.

“…Shadow…”

Shadow’s breath hitched. The sound was faint, but it was there, Sonic was coming back to him.

Slowly, Sonic’s eyes fluttered open. His gaze was steady but it held an unfamiliar hardness.

He blinked once, then looked directly at Shadow, a unreadable smile on his lips.

Shadow’s eyes narrowed, concern flickering across his face.

“Sonic.. Are you okay?” he asked quietly.

Sonic’s smile lingered, calm but with a weird edge.

“Better than you think.”

A faint purple glow began to ripple beneath Sonic’s skin, subtle at first, then growing, casting soft shadows that danced across his quills.

Shadow’s gaze sharpened. “What is this… you’re glowing.”

Sonic chuckled, the sound smooth and teasing.

“Am I now? You like it?”

Shadow’s gaze flickered.

He stepped closer, eyes searching Sonic’s face.

“You were clearly struggling… in your sleep. What’s happening to you?”

Sonic’s smile deepened, dark, his voice smooth.

“Oh, I’m fine. Better than fine, actually.”

He tilted his head, eyes gleaming.

Shadow took a slow step back, his instincts knowing that something is wrong.

His eyes never left Sonic’s as he quietly backed away from the bed, the unease settling deep in his chest.

Sonic’s smile twisted.

“Where do you think you’re going?” he asked, voice teasing, it made Shadow freeze in place.

Shadow stopped mid step, a frown creasing his brow.

“You’re being really weird,” he said, trying to keep his voice steady despite the uneasy feeling  in his gut.

Sonic’s grin deepened.

“Oh, come on.  I just want to be close to you right now. Is that so wrong?”

Shadow glanced away, taking another  step back toward the door.

But before he could move further, Sonic blocked the path, eyes locked onto Shadow’s.

Shadow’s heart pounded. 

Sonic smiled, it was dark.

“C’mon Shads… Don’t walk away.”

Shadow’s eyes had worry as he took a step forward, his voice firm.

“Please, Sonic…whatever this is… snap out of it.”

He reached out, searching for any sign of the friend he knew beneath whatever this was.

Sonic’s smirk stayed, refusing to break.

Then, without hesitation, Shadow closed the distance and wrapped his arms around Sonic in a gentle, steadying embrace.

The warmth and steadiness of the hug slowly softened whatever was raging inside Sonic.