Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“But he’s already asleep!”

The words were clearly meant to be whispered, but it was just loud enough to wake Shadow. His ear twitched as another voice piped in, so Shadow knew he was awake for good.

“Ms. Robotnik, this isn’t a negotiation. The specimen has to come with us for monitoring.”

Maria grumbled. “His name is Shadow, and you watch him every night. He can spend one night outside of a tube of goop.”

“We can’t leave something like that unsupervised for long, so he’s coming with us.”

If he knew Maria as well as he thought he did, Shadow suspected that the girl was about to escalate the argument. Shadow had always been impressed and almost frightened by her stubbornness in the face of GUN soldiers and scientists alike. But if they truly wanted to monitor Shadow, they would make sure it happened.

By any means necessary.

Maria whisking him away to play and get up to mischief had been allowed at first, the scientists too surprised by Shadow’s disobedience to even have time to protest when he would wander off with his friend, but it felt different now. Shadow was no longer sneaking away, instead staying put until whatever tests were being performed on him finished, often with a firm hand keeping him in place. They had made it more clear in the last few weeks that being with Maria was a privilege to be earned with cooperation, and that Shadow was awarded it reluctantly.

It was allowed because Maria was the Professor’s granddaughter, so many people in the lab were afraid of earning the head researcher’s ire. Maria had told Shadow once that her grandfather could never resist her “puppy dog eyes,” and she was never afraid to use it to get her way around the lab to do what she and Shadow wanted. Her power was no joke, either, since Shadow had fallen victim to it many times.

Despite her ability to get her way, Maria wasn’t going to win tonight. Shadow opened his eyes, blinking to clear his vision to make the scene in front of him visible. Maria was standing in her doorway, her arms and legs spread out to block their access to the room. Her stance was shaky; so shaky that Shadow felt like a light breeze could knock her down.

“Shadow’s staying,” Maria said firmly. “Or we could go ask my grandpa about it together.”

The scientist at the door, someone Shadow recognized instantly, hardened his gaze, so Shadow knew it was his cue to interject before things escalated. He knew he had to go, but it wasn’t like he wanted to. So, reluctantly, he pushed himself up from his spot in their pillow fort, a blanket he didn’t remember ever grabbing falling off of him. Maria must have put it on him when he fell asleep.

She was definitely going to tease him about being a lightweight later.

“Maria, it’s fine,” Shadow interjected quietly.

His friend whipped her head around to look at him, and her hardened expression melted into disappointment as their eyes met. Shadow paused as he stood up, but he didn’t let his hesitation last long with an audience and stood to his full height, exiting the pillow fort carefully to avoid stepping on the stuffed animals.

“Shadow,” Maria grumbled.

She turned around, her arms pinwheeling so that she didn’t lose her balance and fall over. She met him halfway and frowned down at him, crossing her arms.

“Are you sure,” she whispered. “‘Cause you know I’ll—”

Shadow nodded, cutting her off. “That’s Hutchinson, you can’t argue with him.”

Maria stared at him blankly, wracking her brain for what the name meant until her eyes widened. She bit her lip to stop a laugh, then asked, “That’s the guy you kicked into a wall during your reflex test, right?”

“It wasn’t funny,” Shadow tried to say, but even he knew his defense was half-hearted. Neither of them had liked him due to his loud dislike of children, and his dislike for Shadow only grew after the reflex incident.

“Not your fault he stood too close to the ultimate life form,” Maria teased, lowering her voice to imitate Shadow.

His face scrunched up, annoyed at her bad impression. “I don’t sound like that.”

“No, that was pretty perfect.”

She grinned innocently, batting her eyelashes for dramatic effect. Shadow opened his mouth to tease her back, but Dr. Hutchinson cleared his throat loudly from the doorway.

“Some of us have tight schedules, so if you could please hurry this up,” he said, none too kindly.

Maria deflated at the words, her smile falling into a worried pout. Shadow’s frown softened at her expression, and he felt guilty for making her upset. There wasn’t much he could do though without the fear of Maria receiving a punishment for his actions. And he couldn’t hurt her more.

With a soft sigh, Maria shook her head. “It’s unfortunate that a baby such as yourself has an earlier bedtime than I, but it can’t be helped. Off to your goop, young’in, or else you’ll be even crankier tomorrow.”

His eyes rolled of their own accord. “Shouldn’t old people be asleep, too, then?”

“Ouch, you got me good,” Maria laughed, bringing a small smile out of the hedgehog.

Her eyes met his, a familiar glint in her gaze, and Shadow found himself being scooped up in a hug. His feet lifted off of the ground as Maria grunted, her skinny arms barely able to hold up his weight. A quiet snort escaped him, and he helped her cause by activating his air shoes to levitate and ease her burden. Honestly, she thought of the weirdest things to do with him…but it didn’t mean he minded much. The hug continued for a little longer, Maria squeezing him tighter, and his arms lifted up to reciprocate just as Dr. Hutchinson cleared his throat even louder.

Maria quickly set him back down on the ground, and a feeling Shadow hadn’t experienced before swirled inside him as they slowly separated from each other. On auto-pilot, Shadow’s feet carried him to the doorway where the scientist and a GUN soldier gave him annoyed glares, and the two men quickly turned on their heel, expecting him to follow.

His gaze turned to Maria, who stood in the room with a small smile. She waved at him, and her expression faltered for the briefest second before being covered up with an even brighter smile.

“G’night, Shadow!”

“Goodnight, Maria,” he replied quietly.

He followed the men out and to his stasis chamber, that strange feeling clinging to his chest. It was sad, and angry, and full of sensations. Shadow stepped into the chamber, and the green “goop” emerged from the floor, surrounding him quickly. It was cold and thick, causing a brief sense of discomfort as his body grew used to gaining its oxygen supply from the liquid.

But he felt this every day, that couldn’t be what made him uncomfortable. All he could think of was that he would rather be squeezed in tightly in front of the TV, static clinging to his fur and the warmth from Maria’s body right up against his, a nice distraction from the rest of the day. And if he focused hard enough, he could hear her heartbeat quicken before an exciting scene or before a jumpscare. A hand would accidentally strike his muzzle when Maria forgot how close Shadow was to her, or he could feel the soft puffs of her breath when she whispered in his ear. Maybe even the soft, satisfying way she carded her nimble fingers through his quills as he drifted to sleep.

Shadow closed his eyes and curled into himself slightly, regretting that he didn’t hug Maria back earlier. Oh, that was the feeling that was churning inside him, leaving him upset over their goodbye.

He wanted. For the first time in Shadow’s life, he wanted something he couldn’t have.

The first thing Shadow feels is a searing pain rush through his body, and he cries out in agony. His eyes are shut tight against the pain, but he needs to open them. Through the pulsing, burning sensation, his eyes pry themselves open to see a wall of dirt in front of him. He forces himself to a sitting position to survey his surroundings, realizing that he’s…in a crater.

And, more importantly, Shadow’s brain has caught up to the fact that he is very much alive.

His eyes, blurry and unfocused, glaze over his limbs. Oh, his inhibitor rings are missing from his arms. Another wave of pain pushes through him, and he grits his teeth and waits for it to pass. There was a reason he kept them on most of the time, but it hadn’t been important when he was saving the Earth from his own actions.

Shadow glances around the crater, hoping to find one of his rings close by, but it’s night wherever he is, and his blurry vision isn’t exactly helping him adjust to the dark. There’s little light around him except from the shattered moon in the sky and a red haze on the opposite side of the sky. Shadow rubs his eyes with a tattered glove, and the sight becomes clearer.

Reds, yellows, oranges, and purples blend together against the dark sky, swirling next to the Milky Way. From Shadow’s many nights spent stargazing, it almost looks like a nebula, right next to Earth. But that isn’t scientifically possible, so he stares at it for a long, long moment. His rumination is interrupted by another surge of pain, sparks dancing across his body. Sparks…the same color as the sight above him.

The Eclipse Cannon, imploded in on itself, lights up the sky with lingering chaos energy. With the cannon looking like that, Shadow is surprised to be living and breathing down on Earth. If he wants to keep living, he needs to get up and look for his missing rings.

He places his hands underneath him, his arms trembling, and pushes himself onto his feet with the last remains of his energy. The movement kicks up dirt and ash from the crater, and he coughs. His legs feel like they’ll crumble underneath them, turning to ash like what surrounds him. Slowly, he steps forward and attempts to crawl up out of the crater he made, but his footing slips. Shadow tumbles downward and lands harshly where he just laid, gasping in pain.

Breathing hurts with the fire running through every inch of him, and he can’t do anything except lay there as his chest rises and falls rapidly. Shadow shuts his eyes and focuses on the energy doing its best to tear him apart. He has to concentrate on tamping down the energy or else the accumulation of energy inside him will hasten.

Slowly, Shadow breathes in deeply, then exhales. The chaos energy swirls and pushes against his chest.

Breathe in, then exhale. Control the power, keep it resting. Breathe through the pain and slow his heart rate to stabilize the chaos.

Shadow lays there, in soot and the cold for what must be hours, using all of his strength to halt his body from destroying itself. The pain lingers despite regaining control of himself, but it’s dulled and constant instead of the violent outbursts of before.

How long can he keep this up? With only two rings, it’ll buy him some time to locate the others, but he has no way of knowing if they even landed near him. He doesn’t have a plan or any clue on how to make one.

A sigh escapes him, and he opens his eyes to stare at the sky. The sun is off to the west, setting as the sky darkens again. Shadow grimaces, it had taken him all day to regain control? This complicates things further, making it nigh impossible to think of his next steps.

Shadow and the Professor had nearly destroyed an entire planet, and he hadn’t expected there to be a need for next steps. Revenge had consumed his every thought, and now…

Without Maria, or the Professor, or the lab, Shadow can’t imagine what this world has to offer him. After everything he did, where could he even go?

The pain flares up again, and he groans. For now, all he can do is keep himself alive—for what, he doesn’t know, but it’s something to keep himself distracted from everything that occurred.

So, he lies there, watching the stars slowly move across the sky, keeping his gaze locked onto the destruction he caused. He recognizes the constellations from what Maria taught him, and a familiar pain grips his chest as his mind drifts to her—that persistent grief that tore at him for fifty years. It’s strange that despite the last few days, this sadness suddenly returns to him now. Vengeance had kept him distracted, burying his grief, but now all he had was the pain in his heart and the pain from his own self-destruction.

Maria…

His breathing stutters, and his energy races through him again, making him grunt and curl into himself. Shadow can’t afford distractions like that, but he almost wishes that the power inside could overtake him and let him be with her.

Shadow shuts his eyes and lets himself drift. He doesn’t sleep, using the time to ensure his power is kept stable in the hopes that he can start healing, but he snaps to attention at the sound of a weapon powering up.

His body moves before he can stop it, and Shadow bites his tongue to hold back an instinctual hiss when he jostles his injuries. With his powers trying to destroy him, he hasn’t healed at all, and whoever threatens him now holds the upper hand. Shadow knows from experience that trying to teleport like this will only make things worse.

Turning his head, Shadow makes eye contact with a surprisingly familiar face. The Professor’s grandson’s…assistant? He didn’t really know what the two men were to each other, but he remembers that his name was Stone.

Stone stands at the top of Shadow’s crater, weaponized gloves and a small group of flying robots poised and ready to attack. Shadow hadn’t known what happened to the man after the crab had been washed away, but he’s glad that the man made it out. He feels guilty that he hadn’t helped him out, but there had been more important things on his mind at the time.

“Shadow,” Stone growls, taking a step forward. “I didn’t expect to find you alive after the plan you and the Professor had blew up.”

The hedgehog furrows his brow and drops his gaze. “Neither did I,” Shadow replies quietly.

Stone must not know what to do with that information since he pauses before continuing, his voice low and dangerous, “The doctor died because of you.”

That gets Shadow to look up again to meet the man’s murderous gaze. Every part of Shadow hurts, but he forces himself to his feet and gets into a defensive stance. That is a look Shadow knows very well, one that he had been sporting right up until now.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t save him. I—”

“Save him?!” Stone interrupts. “You got exactly what you wanted, except the doctor and that hedgehog stopped you from succeeding. You only cared about your revenge.”

Stone presses his fingers on his gloves, and the robots at his side flare up, aiming lasers right at Shadow’s chest. Shadow frowns. The younger Robotnik wasn’t too innocent either, having been more than willing to use the cannon for his own evil scheme, but that wouldn’t be the right thing to say.

“To keep the core from overloading, the doctor kept it stable as long as he could, and I pushed the station away from the planet. We both made our choice, but if I had thought I would’ve survived, I would have tried to save him.” Shadow stops to think of how to phrase what he wants to say, then continues, blunt but not unkind, “Ultimately, I chose to prioritize saving humanity and do the right thing.”

The man’s expression falters, surprise coloring his face before he closes his eyes. Stone breathes in shakily, then returns his angered expression to Shadow.

“You were pretty set on annihilating everyone, when did you get a change of heart,” Stone questions accusingly.

“On the moon.”

Stone just stares at him with a raised eyebrow. “The moon?”

“Sonic…was upset after I hurt someone close to him, so he came for revenge. But he chose to spare me, and we talked,” Shadow elaborated slowly, unsure of how convincing it would be to the grieving man before him.

Like Shadow predicted, Stone scoffs. “Really? A talk on the moon convinced you to stop?”

Shadow nods. “I understand if you don’t believe me. I am responsible for what happened, so I’ll take my part of the blame for his death.”

Hard brown eyes stare back at him, and Stone’s stance shifts from foot to foot, the man clearly weighing something in his head. No doubt trying to decipher whether or not Shadow could be trusted, and Shadow is questioning the same thing about the man in front of him. He really doesn’t want to fight in this condition because a win might just speed up his inevitable death, but he’ll at least try.

“Damn it!” Stone shouts suddenly, startling Shadow.

The man disengages the floating robots and drops to the ground, sitting on the edge of the crater with his head in his hands. Stone scrubs a hand across his face, and when he looks at Shadow again, his eyes are damp. Shadow’s hackles lower slightly, but he doesn’t know what this man is capable of. It would be idiotic to lower his guard.

“That sounds exactly like something that blue hedgehog would do,” Stone mutters. “So, you’re done with your whole evil era?”

Slowly, he nods. “Don’t you want revenge…?”

The man in front of him just shakes his head with a huff. “No, you can put your fists down. Unless you’re lying to me, but you don’t seem like the manipulative type.”

Shadow’s face scrunches in displeasure at the suggestion. “I’m no liar.”

“Yeah, I can believe that,” Stone says as a small smile pulls at his lips. “So, what’s the plan now, hedge—”

The black hedgehog yells suddenly, dropping to his knees in the dirt. Damn it, Shadow had gotten so distracted that he had forgotten to keep his chaos energy in check, and now it surges stronger than it did earlier. He’s running out of time, so he needs to give up on trying to control his power and just go find his rings.

“Woah, what’s up with you?” Stone asks.

Shadow pants, gripping the fur on his chest tight. Actually, maybe he does need to focus on controlling it.

“I took off my inhibitor rings in space, and now my chaos energy is out of control,” Shadow says with gritted teeth.

“Inhibitor rings…your power is too much for your body to handle?”

He can only manage a small nod as another wave threatens to tear him apart. There’s a brief sound of something rustling above him, then a dull thud as something drops into the dirt in front of him. Shadow has to wait until the pain subsides to open his eyes and look up, but it certainly isn’t anything he expected. Submerged in the loose dirt is one of his missing rings.

Shadow grits his teeth against the uncomfortable heat rushing through him and forces himself to stand, picking up the ring as he does. It clicks into place on his left wrist, and the relief is instant. He can’t help the sigh that escapes him when the excruciating pain lowers. It still hurts, but it’s more than bearable now, making it easier for Shadow to climb his way out of the crater. And, it comes with the added bonus of putting off his inevitable explosion until much later.

When he reaches the top, he stands a short distance away from Stone, still wary of the man. Shadow crosses his arms and asks, “You found my ring? How?”

Stone, now roughly at eye level with the hedgehog, turns away briefly. “I’ve been looking for any remnants from the Eclipse Cannon in case…in case. I came across that yesterday, but I haven’t picked up a similar energy signature, so I don’t know where your other missing one is. Probably lost in space or at the bottom of the ocean.”

“It’s gone?” Shadow’s eyes widen slightly, and his mouth turns down into a nervous frown. “Are you sure your scanners would have picked it up?”

At that accusation, Stone sends Shadow a glare. “The doctor’s scanners are flawless, they couldn’t miss something like that.”

“Oh. I’m sorry,” he replies quietly, his ears folding back.

Stone studies Shadow for a moment, then sighs heavily and rubs the back of his neck. “What happens to you without that ring?”

“Eventually, too much energy accumulates in my body. Then I explode.”

“Okay, that’s dark,” the man says with a wince. Stone sits there for a minute more, then stands up and starts walking away. Without turning around, Stone sighs, “I can make you a new ring, come on.”

Shadow hesitates, wary of the man’s sudden change of heart. Someone that close to the younger Robotnik certainly could have ulterior motives, not to mention the man had wanted to kill him just a few minutes ago. Shadow frowns, realizing that it could very easily be a trap.

He watches as Stone slows down and turns to see that the hedgehog isn’t following. Stone stops and rolls his eyes, then briskly walks up to Shadow. Shadow can’t help but step back and darken his gaze in warning, but it doesn’t stop Stone from leaning down with a hand outstretched…like he’s going for a handshake?

“Clearly, neither of us are going to feel entirely comfortable on this trip together after everything. But you would probably prefer not exploding right?”

Shadow grunts in agreement, leaning further away from Stone.

Stone’s eye twitches. “Okay, I’d like that too. I’m probably the only person who can make a new ring for you. So, can we just hurry this up and agree to a truce? I won’t try to kill you, you won’t try to kill me. Easy peasy, alright?”

Insistently, Stone shakes his hand for emphasis. And, reluctantly, Shadow grabs it.

They let go quickly, and Stone plasters on a too wide grin. “See? Easy. Now get in the car, we’re wasting daylight.”

Together, with a good few feet of distance between each other, they walk to the large, unmarked black car. Shadow opens the door and has to pull himself up to get in the front seat, and Stone gives him a passing glance as he starts up the car and drives away.

The ride is silent, and Shadow can barely see out of the window to even attempt to find out where he is. The building chaos energy inside him leaves Shadow with a constant dull ache, and his muzzle scrunches up in aggravation. Stone’s silence isn’t as awkward as Shadow expected it to be, the rumbling of the car driving down an empty highway helping lessen the nervous tension in his body. Shadow finds himself closing his eyes, slowing his breathing to try and reign in his chaos energy.

A guitar strums softly, a song unknown to Shadow. With his eyes closed, it feels like he’s back with Maria, listening to her try to write a new song. All of his discomfort fades away, and he falls asleep, right there with her like always.

Chapter Text

Maria laughed, turning to face Shadow as she kept making snow angels in the mess of food they crashed into. She smiled wide, and his smile widened in return. Of course, it was weird to be playing in food, but it wasn’t like Shadow was aiming to crash into the cart full of desserts.

“Now, what happened here?”

Shadow and Maria both sat up at the Professor’s sudden appearance. His smile fell immediately, and he lowered his head in embarrassment. Maria simply laughed awkwardly.

“Wouldn’t you know it, Grandpa, accidents happen when you skate through the hallway,” Maria said sheepishly.

The Professor hummed. “Shadow was going pretty fast, wasn’t he?”

The hedgehog chanced a glance up to see the Professor’s expression, expecting to see the man’s disappointment, but instead, Shadow was met with an amused grin.

“You should’ve seen it!” Maria cheered, throwing her arms up. “My skates were smoking and—aw, dang it, I’m gonna need new wheels for next time.”

She yanked her skates off of her feet and held them up for Shadow to see. The wheels had melted because of his speed, obviously not meant to withstand being dragged around by a superpowered hedgehog.

He opened his mouth to apologize, but Maria pulled him against her side and grinned up to her grandfather. “Shadow’s just too cool, my skates can’t handle him.”

“Professor!”

The kids turned to see the annoyed stares from several people, all surveying the mess in the hall. Maria had the wherewithal to wince, at least, for once probably feeling guilty about her shenanigans. Shadow couldn’t keep his eyes on their aggravated faces for long, so he turned his head away to see the Professor’s expression turn serious.

“Kids, time to get up,” the man said, gesturing for them to stand for emphasis.

The blonde girl pouted, and Shadow stood up and helped her to her feet. With her skates off now, she nearly slipped and fell down again when she stepped in jello, so the hedgehog had to catch her and steady her. He received a pat on the shoulder as thanks.

The Professor waved them towards him, and the two carefully walked through the mess towards him. With a grunt, he bent down to be closer to eye level—well, Maria’s eye level since Shadow only reached the man’s hip. Once again, Shadow was waiting for a lecture, but the Professor just smirked at them, a mischievous glint in his gaze.

“Let the old man deal with the fall out. You two, go get cleaned up. I don’t want to find chocolate cake in Shadow’s quills tomorrow.”

He placed his hands on the kids’ heads and ruffled their hair and fur, respectively, then stood with a wince and walked away. Shadow watched him start calming down the angry adults, but Maria grabbed his hand and started pulling him away before he could listen in on the conversation.

Quickly, they made their way back to Maria’s room where the blonde tossed her skates into the pile of her shoes by the entrance. She led Shadow into her bathroom and turned the faucet on in the bathtub, scrunching her face up in concentration as she turned the dial back and forth. Water rushed over her fingers, Maria tilting her head back and forth until the water was right, standing up with a firm nod.

“Alright, I’m gonna go get my swimsuit on, you get ready in here. Be right back!”

Get ready? Shadow didn’t know what he needed to do to get ready, so he stood in the room, his arms hanging uselessly at his sides. Water rushed out of the faucet, the sound rhythmic and almost calming.

The calm ended when Maria slid into the bathroom, crashing into the side of the doorway before righting herself with an excited grin. In her arms, she held various toys and bottles, and she carelessly opened her arms and dropped them all into the tub, causing a sizable splash. Shadow flinched as the warm water hit him, and he stepped cautiously away from the tub.

“Shadow,” Maria said, drawing out his name, “what’s up with you? I said get ready.”

He shrugged. “I didn’t know how.”

Maria’s mouth formed an ‘o,’ and she nodded. “Gloves, socks, and shoes off, we don’t wanna get them wet.”

Methodically, Shadow removed the mentioned items, carefully undressing one limb at a time. He apprehensively unlatched an inhibitor ring, took off his glove, then returned the ring to its rightful place. He did this for his other arm, then each of his legs, and he was left standing there awkwardly, his stuff set neatly on the floor.

An arm waved him over to the tub, and he followed the movement. Shadow tilted his head up to Maria, and she smiled down at him. She stepped into the tub, one leg at a time, and raised an eyebrow when Shadow didn’t immediately follow. He frowned, but, ultimately, he stepped in and stood there.

“Sit, sit, welcome to the Robotnik Salon, what are we doing today?” Maria said, making her voice mildly condescending like a woman from a movie they watched the other day.

Shadow, confused, sat in front of Maria and let her spin him around so he was turned away from her, practically sitting in her lap.

“Uh–”

“Mhmm, mhmm, I see,” Maria exclaimed. “Cake, ice cream, gelatin, what a mess! We’ll get you fixed up in no time. By the time I’m done with you, you’ll look ready to meet with the president!”

“Maria, what are you talking about?” Shadow asked, turning around to stare at his friend with his mouth open.

Maria fought back a smile and whispered in his ear, “Play along. Just say, ‘I’ll have the works, but make sure you touch up my highlights.’”

The hedgehog couldn’t control the exasperated expression he gave her, but he sighed quietly and turned back around. Not one to argue against Maria, he muttered the phrase he was told to say, keeping his eyes down on his criss-crossed legs.

“Sorry, what was that?” Maria shouted. “It’s just so loud in here with all the ladies chatting, I couldn’t hear you!”

Ugh. “I’ll…have the works, but make sure you touch up my highlights,” Shadow grumbled, trying his hardest to be even more monotone than usual.

“What is this, red highlights?” Shadow felt Maria’s hands on his head as she tilted his head in every direction, humming thoughtfully while she examined his quills. “Well, Miss Maria’s got you covered, honey, so sit back and relax.

“Well, don’t actually relax. Your fur is sticky, and it’s already gonna take me forever to clean bits out of your quills, so get cleaning,” Maria instructed, handing him a strange scratchy thing and a bottle labelled shampoo.

When Shadow sat there, not doing anything, she took his hands and squirted the shampoo onto the other thing. Shadow, slowly, brought it to his body and started rubbing. He looked back to Maria for approval, and she gave him a double thumbs up.

Together, the two worked quietly to get Shadow looking presentable again, Maria working gently through his quills as Shadow made his best effort to clean the gunk out of his fur. He felt a grimace form at the stickiness, and he scrubbed harder despite his hatred for the way the scratchy thing felt against his skin. Maria hummed a song from her new record, with that being her version of quiet, and the feeling of her slowly rubbing shampoo into his head and quills was actually nice.

Shadow knew that Maria was the only person he trusted enough to comb through his quills without them rising instinctively out of nervousness, so he felt…safe here with her.

Until Maria snorted, and Shadow whipped his head around with a suspicious glare.

“What’s so funny?”

Maria bit her lip and looked to the side, mumbling, “I dunno.”

Shadow, not trusting her, stood up in the water and glanced in the mirror across from them, his eyes widening at the massive amount of bubbles stuck to his head and quills. Maria couldn’t hold back her laughter any longer, and Shadow caught her doubling over in giggles out of the corner of his eye.

Slowly, he turned back to Maria with a levelled expression. Biding his time, he waited until she stopped laughing enough to open her eyes and look at him. When they made eye contact again, Shadow smiled dangerously at her. Her face paled in terror instantly, and she tried to back away from him but was only cornered further.

“Shadow, wait, no!”

Shadow shook with all of his might, sending bubbles and water flying against the blonde and the bathroom, and Maria shrieked with laughter, her grin brighter than it had been all day.

“Shadoooow. Shadow. Shadow…? Shit, did you die?”

Shadow opens his eyes to see a hand quickly approaching him, and he jumps up, banging his head on the ceiling of the car. He grits his teeth and growls at the offending hand, warning it to stay away. His eyes trail past the hand and up the arm it’s attached to, only to see that the arm is attached to…Stone.

Stone’s eyes are wide, and he retracts his hand, putting both up in surrender.

“Sorry,” the man apologizes, “you were just not moving for a long time, so I was worried I was going to have to deal with disposing of a dead alien hedgehog.”

Shadow glares at him and bares his teeth again, but then evens it out into a very displeased frown. “Did you knock me out?”

“Nope, that was just a good old fashioned nap. Thanks for the vote of confidence, though,” Stone mutters, clearly annoyed.

He fell asleep? Shadow’s shoulders hunch in on themselves, the hedgehog embarrassed and worried that he had fallen asleep so easily with a man who threatened to kill him not long ago. It isn’t even that Stone is that untrustworthy, the man had been pleasant towards him in the crab, but Shadow needs to control himself. He can’t be weak, leaving himself unguarded when he’s already in a precarious situation.

Shadow turns to the window and scrunches his brow, noticing that the car isn’t moving. “Where are we?”

“My apartment. Well, one of them,” Stone says. The man steps out of the car and motions for Shadow to follow. “Come on, let’s get you in quick before anyone sees you.”

All of Shadow feels sore as he follows, and every movement deepens the furrow in his brow. It isn’t searing pain like earlier, yet it almost irritates him more, this constant aching in his limbs.

It’s dark again, the sun’s last rays fading quickly, and Shadow surveys his surroundings. Wherever they are, the temperature is warm and humid, and the wind ruffles his fur. The building they walk into is unassuming but nice, certainly nicer than the concrete walls of a military base dug into a mountain.

Stone stops at a door, types in a code, and holds the door open for the hedgehog. Shadow enters and immediately, a little robot bumps into his shoe. Instinctively, Shadow lifts his foot to crush whatever is attacking him, but Stone shoves Shadow to the side and away from the robot before he can destroy it. The little robot, a plain black circular thing, simply rolls away and gets stuck against the wall.

“It’s just a vacuum, it’s not gonna attack you,” Stone says tiredly.

His hand is pressed against Shadow’s chest, still holding him back, and the hedgehog shrugs him off. “A vacuum? Then why did it hit me?”

Stone drags a hand across his face. “Because it’s not smart and frequently bumps into things, like it’s doing now. Don’t take it personally, it just cleans. And speaking of cleaning, you are a mess to be honest.”

Stone toes off his shoes and watches Shadow expectantly, but Shadow hesitates. With one missing ring, taking the remaining ones on and off will be more than uncomfortable. But Stone keeps watching Shadow, so he squares his shoulders and rips off the bandaid. He quickly unclips each ring and clips them back on his legs, wincing at the flare of pain for the short seconds he’s without them. With the hard part out of the way, he slips his shoes off.

When he looks back at Stone, the man is studying him intently, an emotion Shadow can’t read in his gaze. But it’s gone as quickly as it came, and Stone ushers him further into the apartment and into a small bathroom.

The man glances at him warily and asks, “Do you know how to take a shower?”

Shadow frowns at him and just crosses his arms. Stone gets the message and puts his hands up, walking out of the room and closing the door behind him.

He studies the room quickly, noting the window in case he feels the need to leave. It’s much different from Maria’s cluttered bathroom that had empty bottles and rubber ducks littered across the floor. Pristine is the best word Shadow could use to describe Stone’s bathroom. Every bottle and item is neatly organized and in a specific place.

Now alone, Shadow lets out a shaky breath he didn’t realize he was holding in. His shoulders slump, and he sits on the edge of the tub. The pain is genuinely never ending, and it frustrates him to no end. The ultimate life form should not let a little pain get to him. If he can survive crashing to Earth from space, he can handle a little soreness.

His socks and gloves come off quickly, left in a pile on the ground, and Shadow flicks the shower on and shivers when cold water hits his face. It isn’t as cold as the showers he had taken every few days back in the lab under the scientists’ supervision, where he was rushed to just get clean and not waste more of their time. Shadow figures Stone expects the same thing so that they can part ways sooner, so he tries his best to hurry.

And usually, it wouldn’t be an issue since this is so routine for him, even after fifty long years in stasis, but wounds Shadow never realized he had until now sting as water pelts him. Dried and fresh blood runs off of him, swirling down the drain. With his black fur, it’s impossible to see how bad the wounds are, let alone where they are.

Searching for his injuries, Shadow hisses as his fingers roam around. He can find a few obvious spots where his fingers feel the slick blood, but he can’t reach every spot that hurts. Surprisingly, his quills bother him a lot. He runs his paws through each section of quills, and his mouth drops open in shock as dozens of quills fall out, as if they were never attached. It isn’t like he doesn’t have plenty more, but he’s never shed this many.

He picks up one that got caught on his shoulder, studying it by turning it around over and over. There isn’t a single drop of his chaos energy lingering in the quill. Shadow just stands there, gaping at it, but staring just confuses him further.

Glancing over the others, they all look like the one in his hand. Lifeless and powerless. Something deep inside Shadow threatens to crawl out at the sight, but his thoughts are interrupted by the door opening.

He tosses the quill to the side, afraid to get caught with it. Why? Why does this make Shadow so uneasy?

“I was mostly joking when I asked if you knew how to take a shower, but I’m starting to think maybe I was right to ask,” Stone states, his arms crossed.

The man has a deep frown set on his face, an expression he’s seen time and time again. He’s not stuck in the future, but he’s back in the past, where he belongs, and Shadow didn’t give the scientists the result they were looking for, or they were furious that Shadow spent more time with Maria than being their lab rat, or he tried asking a question, or—

“You took a cold shower?”

Shadow blinks and stares up at Stone. The frown is gone, replaced by a look of utter confusion. Shadow looks away and nods.

“Woah, that is…a lot of quills. And blood,” Stone says, noticing the mess in the tub. He kneels down next to it and meets Shadow’s eyes. “Are you injured?”

Shadow nods again, and Stone clicks his tongue. No doubt bothered about having to deal with another one of Shadow’s issues. The man is already doing him a favor, and Shadow doesn’t want to impose more, so he reaches over to turn the shower off. Stone’s hand beats him to it, but he doesn’t turn it off. Instead, to Shadow’s surprise, he turns the handle until the water assaulting Shadow is warm and pleasant. Shadow raises his brow in a silent question as his sore muscles relax under the warm stream.

“Did you use soap or anything?” Shadow shakes his head, and Stone just closes his eyes and nods. “Yeah, I figured. That’s how you get infections, so we’re not doing that. If I’m doing all this to keep you alive, I’m not letting an infected wound kill you.”

Shadow bristles at the thought. “An infection can’t kill me,” he retorts.

“I think infections can kill anybody, including alien hedgehogs.”

“It didn’t work when they tried.”

That shuts Stone up, and the man just stares at him, his dark brown eyes wide. Stone’s face rapidly goes through different emotions, and Shadow takes a step back in bewilderment and apprehension. Does Stone not believe him? Shadow doesn’t understand the strange reaction, and it puts him on edge.

Stone shakes his head and rubs his forehead, then turns his attention back to Shadow. Now, he’s calm and collected, and he stands and gathers a few things from the bathroom counter.

“Alright, it won’t kill you,” Stone says deliberately, like he’s saying it just to appease Shadow. “But, keeping them clean will help them heal faster. Can I see one of the wounds?”

It’s a strange way of commanding him, but he obeys despite the different phrasing. Shadow offers him an arm, and Stone gently takes it. The man examines it closely, running a careful finger through his thick fur to search, and Shadow tenses as his finger presses against a burn.

Stone frowns at it, parting Shadow’s fur to look at it closely. “Shadow…this looks like you just got it. You crashed four days ago.”

“No, my injuries heal instantly,” Shadow argues with a firm shake of his head.

“Hm, it’s probably because your powers are unstable,” Stone mutters, tapping a finger against the side of his face, deep in thought. “You can’t heal if your powers are slowly tearing apart your body. I’d guess your chaos energy is actually making them worse, even though these are minor wounds.

“I’ll help you get clean quick, we’re going for function over fashion today. Then we’ll treat those wounds.”

Shadow yanks his arm out of Stone’s grasp, and the man’s hand lets him go easily. He glowers at him, stepping back to create some space. Granted, standing in the tub where the man is within arm’s reach isn’t really anything significant, but Shadow isn’t afraid to punch him and jump out of the bathroom window if necessary.

“I can do it myself,” Shadow growls.

Stone stares at him, almost like he doesn’t believe it, but he nods. He stands and sets the things he collected on the edge of the tub, holding out a small cloth that Shadow carefully grabs. Stone’s eyes narrow at Shadow’s deliberate movements, no doubt taking notice of how the hedgehog makes sure their hands don’t touch.

“If you need anything, yell, but I doubt Mr. Edgy will,” Stone teases with a smile. “There’s a towel over there for when you’re done.”

And the man leaves again, shutting the door behind him. Shadow blinks, then shakes his head to center himself. He doesn’t need to make a big deal out of a shower of all things, so he takes the soap and scrubs the grime away. He hurries as much as he can while his limbs scream at him to stop moving, but he doesn’t want to waste more of Stone’s time.

Despite doing this solely to appease the man, it feels good to be clean after the hectic last few days. He turns the water off and resists the urge to shake it all out, instead taking the towel and drying himself.

The towel sits on his shoulders as he exits the bathroom, and Stone turns around from where he sits at a computer interface. The man sighs when he looks at him and waves Shadow over. He approaches, and immediately flinches away when Stone snatches the towel and drops it over Shadow’s head.

“You’re practically dripping,” Stone scolds.

Shadow pops his head out of the towel and frowns at Stone who just continues drying off the hedgehog.

Stone frowns at him contemplatively. “Even after a shower, your fur is still a mess.”

He can only stare at Stone, studying the man from top to bottom. His dark hair and beard are unkempt, his clothes wrinkled, and the bags under his eyes are the most prominent feature on his greasy face.

“Speak for yourself,” Shadow bites back.

Stone huffs out a laugh at that. “Yeah, yeah. I’m cleaning up after this.”

Shadow doesn’t understand why his temporary ally is so insistent on helping him do things, but he has to begrudgingly admit that Stone is more efficient at using the towel than Shadow is. Quickly and firmly, but somehow still gently, avoiding Shadow’s several injuries, Stone towels him down until his fur is fluffed up.

Stone tosses it to the side and grabs something off of the desk. He holds a small tube, and he takes Shadow’s arm and sets it on his lap. It takes a moment for him to search for one of Shadow’s wounds, but he starts applying a cream to it. The cream stings against the cut, but he refuses to show that it bothers him in front of Stone.

“Why are you so insistent on doing this,” Shadow asks. It comes as a surprise to the hedgehog that he even asked, and Stone must think the same based on how he hesitates before continuing.

“Well,” Stone starts slowly. His brow furrows, and he takes his time before continuing. “I guess it’s a habit of mine to take care of someone. Especially when it comes to injuries. Plus, I’m not one to half-ass anything I do.”

Shadow looks down at the leg Stone now works on. “Hmph.”

Stone laughs. “So serious. Alright, I think I got them all, so you chill for a bit while I shower.”

Stone lets him take his leg back, and Shadow steps out of the way so Stone can get up. The man starts walking away, stretching his arms over his head, but then he stops and turns around. Shadow tilts his head at Stone’s curious stare.

“Do you need to eat?” Stone asks.

Shadow blinks and shakes his head.

“Really?” Stone deadpans. “I don’t think I believe that.”

“I’m the ultimate lifeform,” Shadow says as an explanation.

“Uh huh…well, if you’re hungry, there’s stuff in the cabinets. It’s probably not expired.”

Stone leaves again, and Shadow waits to move around until he hears the water running. He is hungry, so he walks into the kitchen and pouts at the cabinets. It wouldn’t be an issue if he could just teleport up to them, but his powers aren’t exactly making it easy. With an annoyed sigh, he drags a chair over and climbs it to get onto the counter.

Now standing on it, he opens the cupboards and sifts through them. His nose wrinkles, seeing things he’s never even heard of before, until his eyes land on coffee beans. Him and Maria had tried coffee once, and she had promptly gagged at the taste of it, but Shadow loved it. His hand grabs the container before he can even think, and he climbs off of the counter.

The apartment is quiet, except for the quiet buzzing of the vacuum robot as it roams around and the muffled sounds of the running shower. Taking a shower helped, but Shadow’s body still aches, so he walks over to Stone’s computer and sits down in front of it. He opens the container of coffee beans and takes a handful, crunching on the beans.

His eyes widen, and he quickly shoves another handful into his mouth.

His gaze drifts to the computer screen, watching as the computer analyzes something. The technology is so different from what he’s used to that it takes Shadow a few minutes to read the text. And then he squints at it, reading it again.

Analysis of his inhibitor rings covers the screen, along with plans for a new one. He understands only some of the scientific jargon, recognizing words the G.U.N. scientists had said over his head about him. But Stone’s analysis is incomplete, lacking a better understanding of his chaos energy. The schematics interest him, and he snacks on coffee beans as he studies them. Shadow’s never been allowed to look at information about himself before, so he’s curious what Stone’s computer has to say.

Shadow tries to ignore the part of him that tells him he isn’t allowed to be doing this. If Stone gets mad, Shadow won’t care. He won’t. He can’t.

The sound of a door opening distracts him, and Stone walks out of the bathroom. The man looks a lot better, his new button up shirt and pants wrinkle-free, and his damp hair is combed neatly. But there’s a tiredness to his shoulders and a redness in his eyes that wasn’t there earlier.

Stone perks up when he notices Shadow, his eyes locking onto Shadow’s snack.

“So the ultimate lifeform does eat—wait, are those coffee beans?”

Shadow nods, his face scrunched in confusion over Stone’s look of revulsion.

Before either of them can say anything else, the computer beeps rapidly, and Stone’s gaze hardens. He’s besides Shadow in seconds, typing rapidly until a wall of text pops up alongside several images of maps.

“Shit,” Stone swears, swiping through the images quickly with one hand and typing even faster than before with the other.

“What’s wrong?”

His ally is too busy to respond, his gaze laser-focused onto the interface. Shadow tries to read the text, but Stone scrolls quicker than Shadow can keep up with. Stone swears again under his breath, then stops what he’s doing to scrub his eyes.

“Stone, what’s wrong,” Shadow demands, his voice firm.

That gets the man’s attention, and Stone’s eyes flick to Shadow before locking onto the computer again. But for the brief second their eyes meet, Shadow swears he saw a flash of pity

“G.U.N. found you. And they’re coming.”

Chapter Text

The first time Agent Aban Stone met Dr. Ivo Robotnik, it had been the most unassuming day of his life. It was a rainy Thursday in May, and he had never been more bored of his job. Working for the government should have been more exciting, but his permanent placement at a desk had driven him up a wall.

He meandered behind the rest of his coworkers to listen to the monthly defense contractors’ pitch meeting. The conference hall was crowded, and Aban weaved between the crowd to snag a seat at a table far in the back corner. The rest of his coworkers chatted amiably between each other and filtered to the tables in the front. His more ambitious coworkers tried to sneak into the tables seating representatives from major weapons manufacturers.

Aban rolled his eyes and opened his laptop, answering an email instead of trying to cozy up to the richest people in the room. Their tech was the same every presentation. A missile that could travel slightly faster and do slightly more damage, or a new string of code that probably took someone an entire year for it to only make a miniscule difference in the program it was added to.

He scrubbed his eyes and held back a sigh. The monotony was killing him, but there wasn’t anything much better to occupy his time. Technically, his job was great, with a paycheck that seemed excessive for how little it felt like he did, so he had no reason to complain. That didn’t stop him from feeling like there was something so much better out there, that would give him a purpose and meaning to his life.

The sound of a loud chair scraping interrupted him from his rumination, and he turned with an annoyed stare to look at who could have possibly thought it was a good idea to sit by him. Aban wanted to scold whoever dared to make his day worse, but he was met with an even more pissed off person next to him.

The man was quite eccentric, his moustache perfectly curled and styled, and he was dressed in all black. His long coat bunched underneath him as he sat with his arms and legs crossed, a scowl etched onto his face. He must have felt Aban’s gaze on him because the stranger turned and locked onto him. His sharp gaze roamed up and down Aban quickly before turning back to the stage.

Aban blinked and reared his head back in offense at the man’s dismissal of him after having the audacity to sit directly next to him, but he didn’t have the energy to deal with him.

The presentations started almost immediately after that interaction, and the two sat in silence. His aggravation quickly set in, watching the blandest presentations known to man about quarterly estimations and company goals. Nothing was ever concrete at these meetings, just corporate jargon to appease everyone’s bosses.

His fingers typed notes rapidly, filtering the information for the idiots he had to write reports for, until Aban felt a presence over his shoulder. He flicked his gaze to the man next to him, and he glared at him in exasperation.

Aban turned his laptop away from his stalker and questioned incredulously, “Excuse me, what the hell are you doing?”

The man didn’t get the memo, or just didn’t care, because he stayed exactly where he was. His eyes on Aban were critical and investigative, and Aban’s hackles raised defensively. But then, the man smirked and leaned back.

“Your language is simplified, no doubt for some idiot superior, but your knowledge about these imbecilic presentations is quite above average. And, it seems you were not impressed by anyone today.”

It wasn’t phrased as a question, but the half-compliment caught Aban off guard. The man was sitting comfortably, leaned back in his chair, his hands poised in his lap. He was expecting Aban to explain himself, and the interaction was so strange, he was tempted to do it, just to have an excuse to complain.

“Of course I wasn’t impressed,” Aban began. “Their code is rudimentary, and their mechanics leave so much room for optimization. Not to even talk about the obvious lack of innovation in their design or functionality. I swear I’ve seen the same thing every month for the last few years.”

The man nodded with an almost impressed smile. “I like the way you think. If it’s innovation you want, innovation you’re about to get.”

Without explaining further, the man walked away and up towards the stage, confident in his steps. He practically pushed the speaker off stage and took hold of the podium with a flourish, an excited glint to his eye. Scanning through the crowd, he locked eyes with Aban and winked, and something in him knew that his life was about to change.

There wasn’t anything he could do except sit enraptured as the stranger, who introduced himself to the crowd as Dr. Ivo Robotnik, professed on and on about his inventions and their multi-purpose functionality. Truly, Aban couldn’t take his eyes off of the man, soaking in the words of a man who knew exactly how intelligent he was compared to the rest of the room.

And when Dr. Robotnik finished, he leaped off the stage dramatically, his coat flaring out behind him, and ignored all of the people who rushed towards him with praise. Instead, he beelined directly towards Aban, and he could feel his face flush in excitement.

“So, how did I do?” Dr. Robotnik asked confidently, smirking at him.

Aban was tongue-tied, and he stuttered in his rush to talk to the man. “That–I mean, it was incredible, Dr. Robotnik.”

The doctor’s smile widened. “Hm, I know. Walk with me.”

Aban gathered his computer into his bag before the doctor could even start walking away, and he matched his speed, walking alongside him.

“You and I sat in the back for the same reason. Why?”

“Why?” Aban asked, confused. “Because I didn’t like the present company.”

The doctor barked a loud laugh, but ultimately shook his head. “While that is true, that isn’t entirely the real reason. We were watching the idiots, trying to understand how they thought. I mean, your own notes wrote down which contractors and presentations were the most desired by your coworkers. You were analyzing everything around you. As was I.”

Aban blinked at the man’s observation. It was correct, but he couldn’t understand why Dr. Robotnik felt it necessary to bring it up. And, if he was honest, he was shocked that a total stranger was watching him that closely.

“Let me see some of your work,” Dr. Robotnik demanded.

Without thinking, or maybe he was thinking in overdrive, Aban led the way to his office. The doctor’s gaze stayed trained on Aban without faltering, except for one brief second before it turned back to him. They made it to his office quickly, and he held the door open for his companion and offered him his desk chair.

Aban quickly pulled up some of his research from graduate school and his job for the doctor to read, then stepped back to give the man space. Why was he so eager to please this total stranger? Just because he recognized that the world wasn’t living up to its full potential, like Aban did?

“Excuse me for one moment,” he said before swiftly exiting his office and sucking in a deep breath.

He was nervous, it felt like he was being tested. To distract himself and calm his nerves, he backtracked to the kitchenette down the hall and started making a latte. Using his hands had always been a surefire way to recenter himself, and Aban let auto-pilot take over. By the time he was calm again, no longer stressing about impressing the man sitting in his office, there were two lattes in his hands.

Aban entered his office again and set one down in front of Dr. Robotnik, whose eyebrow rose curiously at the offered drink. He picked it up, took a tentative sip, and quickly set the mug down again with a serious expression. Aban’s nerves flared again at the look.

“Agent Aban Stone, is it?” Aban nodded, and the doctor continued. “I’ve been searching up and down for someone to work with. Someone who could share my ideals and intellect and appreciate it.

“But you’ve got something I didn’t even know I needed in an assistant. I don’t just need someone to follow me just to follow me, I need someone to match my speed. No, I need someone to surpass me.”

Aban blinked, his mouth dropping open in surprise. “Surpass you? Dr. Robotnik, I don’t—”

The doctor cut him off by grabbing both of his hands, pulling them against his chest. Robotnik shook them emphatically and met Aban’s flustered gaze with a determined yet excited one. He smirked and squeezed Aban’s hands.

“I don’t mean surpass literally, I am the smartest person alive, after all. But my focus slipped for one second towards the coffee machine, and you returned with exactly what I needed. You’re analytical, and you can see all the tiny details while looking at the big picture. That’s what I need, Stone, a second pair of hands to know what I need before I do. To make me the most efficient genius I can be, to anticipate my every need and meet it. For innovation.”

Robotnik let go of his hands, and he missed the touch instantly. Aban could feel his face warm again under the doctor’s intense gaze. The compliments were unexpected and entirely overwhelming, but he could see exactly how his life was about to change.

“So, Stone, you’ll join me, won’t you? I won’t take no for an answer, not when you can make a mean latte like this.”

The doctor smiled with all of his teeth, a dangerous glint in his dark eyes. It was practically insane to dedicate his life to a man he met today, but his need for a purpose called louder than his rationality. Stone smirked back, knowing there was no world where he ever said no to this man.

“What?” Shadow asks, his voice quiet.

Stone’s stupid brain takes his eyes off of the computer to glance at Shadow, and he does not have time to deal with whatever emotion makes his chest clench at the hedgehog’s wide, frightened eyes. He presses his mouth into a firm line and turns back to his monitoring system, trying to locate where he fucked up his code.

They should’ve had more time before G.U.N. located Shadow’s energy signature with the cloak he put in G.U.N.’s programming. Wait, did he put a cloak over it? Stone types furiously to pull up the cloak’s code, and nope, he did not ever put it up. Well, better late than never, so he takes a second to activate the program.

Hmm, if he really wants to cover their tracks, he should try to plant a different signal to make it seem like Shadow teleported somewhere. Stone scratches his face and works quickly, creating a dummy signal to distract them for a few hours. He waits, watching for the reaction from G.U.N., and sighs in relief when most of their vehicles head the opposite direction from them. Some are still heading for them, obviously not fully trusting his bluff, but it works for now.

Stone turns to look at Shadow, who hasn’t said a word in a while, but the hedgehog is gone. He spins around to look for him, and Shadow is sitting at the doorway, putting on his now clean shoes.

“Woah, you’ve got the right idea, but slow down. We can’t leave just yet,” Stone says.

The hedgehog looks up at him, and his brow is furrowed anxiously, his frown deep and upset. Honestly, Stone expected the hedgehog to be bursting at the seams with rage, ready for a fight, but Shadow just looks…scared. It’s a weird look on the self-proclaimed ultimate lifeform.

“Why not?”

“Because I need to make sure we cover our tracks. This isn’t my first time evading capture by G.U.N., so I have a couple things to do before we head out,” Stone explains calmly.

Shadow bares his teeth at the ground and mutters, “I just want them to leave me alone.”

He understands the hedgehog’s frustration, he really does, but…, “Well, we broke into their base and tried to destroy the planet. Can’t really blame them for hunting us down.”

Stone, once again, waits for Shadow’s ferocity to rear its head, but the hedgehog just closes his eyes and sits for a few moments. Sitting on the ground, his knees pulled up to his chest with only one shoe on, he looks as if he could disappear into himself. If he needed any more proof that Shadow was done being evil, this would be it, but it had already been a little obvious.

He sighs loudly, bringing Shadow’s attention back to Stone. “They haven’t caught me once, and I’ve been on the run for years. They’ll have to try a lot harder to catch me.”

Why is he…comforting the hedgehog? If Shadow wants to run off and disappear, he’s free to do it, Stone won’t stop him. Actually, it would probably be for the best. He had offered to help the alien without even thinking, just taking on the task that was in front of him blindly, like he always did for…

He can’t go down that train of thought, not now. His eyes are still sore from his little breakdown in the shower. Stone just sighs and moves on.

“Come here, we’ve got stuff to talk about. Then we’ll leave G.U.N. in the dust,” Stone says, sitting down at the computer.

Shadow’s signature scowl is still wary and nervous, but it simmers as he stands, still wearing only one shoe. Stone sighs again.

“You can finish putting your shoes on, might as well be ready to go when we’re done.”

Shadow blinks, then sits back down slowly to pull his shoe on carefully. It takes longer than Stone expects it to, but he realizes that Shadow is trying to keep his power stable by the way he subtly winces when he has to take the inhibitor ring around his ankle off to put it around his shoe. Shadow takes his time standing and cautiously walks over to the computer, standing next to the extra seat and crossing his arms.

He doesn’t understand why Shadow doesn’t sit down again like he did mere moments ago, but they really don’t have time to worry about it.

“I figured G.U.N. would try to come after you when I realized you were alive,” Stone starts to explain. “They aren’t an organization that likes to leave loose ends out and about. Especially superpowered hedgehog ones.”

Shadow’s gaze turns down as he simply says, his voice thick, “I know.”

“Right, yeah, the stasis thing. I bought us some time by covering your energy signature, but if your power output keeps gradually increasing, it won’t last long.”

He turns to the computer and pulls up the very sparse schematics for Shadow’s new inhibitor ring, and the hedgehog inches closer to look over it curiously. Stone pulls up the other plans he made while Shadow got clean, laying them all out for the hedgehog to study.

Shadow’s gaze flicks to Stone, and he looks apprehensive. Eventually, he asks, “What’s all of this for?”

“Very unfinished plans for your new ring. I scanned it when I originally picked it up, so I understand the construction of it, but I can’t replicate it without a couple things.” Stone points out the various images of raw materials. “One, I don’t have anything on hand that can safely conduct and reign in your chaos energy, so we’ll have to make a few stops to get some supplies. And two, which is the most important, I don’t know anything about how your energy works. So, explain it to me.”

Shadow tilts his head to the side, thinking for a moment, then shrugs.

“You don’t know?”

Shadow shakes his head.

Stone, flabbergasted, pinches the bridge of his nose. “Nothing? How do you not know?”

That was the wrong thing to say because now Shadow takes a step back, the quills along his back raising as he glares at Stone. The glare only lasts a second before lessening, and the claws on Shadow’s ungloved hands dig into the hedgehog’s arms.

“The scientists didn’t talk to me. I only know how to use it, and that it’s very reactive when outside of my body,” Shadow answers quietly.

Like Shadow’s little comment in the bathroom about him being provenly unable to die due to an infection, this one helps paint a picture about the hedgehog’s life. All Stone really learned from Gerald Robotnik, from the short time he was around him, was that Project Shadow was run by him, focusing on the hedgehog bearing the project’s name. Shadow had followed the elder Robotnik without hesitation, both seeking revenge for losing something neither of them had mentioned when around Stone. Whatever their relationship had been, they were close, until Shadow decided to switch sides and thwart the Professor’s plans.

Standing before him was an actual lab rat. And if G.U.N. was willing to put him in stasis all those years ago, they’re going to do everything in their power to get their science project back.

Damn it, Stone really thought he had more time to make Shadow’s ring and send him on his way before G.U.N. recovered from their little fiasco a few days ago. The organization is still doing damage control to deal with the fallout of building a weapon capable of destroying the Earth, and the fact that it did destroy the moon. Not to even mention the internal shake up with Commander Walters dying and their headquarters being broken into.

But to Stone’s detriment, he’s a bit of a workaholic, and he can never turn down a challenge. It’s why he loved working for…him so much.

That doesn’t change that Shadow’s lack of knowledge about his own power is a massive hiccup in his plans, and if he wants to do this right, he needs to do something Shadow probably won’t like.

“If I want to understand your chaos energy, there’s nothing that’ll explain it better than the files from Project Shadow,” Stone starts slowly, keeping his voice even and calm.

“Can you get them?” Shadow asks.

He nods. “Yes, but they’re stored on an internal server that can’t be accessed remotely. So, to get to the files, we’ll have to break into a G.U.N. base.”

Shadow’s eyes widen, shock coloring his face. The hedgehog stares at him for a moment, before his brow furrows in careful consideration. Shadow continues to think for a while before nodding once firmly.

“Alright, what do we have to do?” Shadow questions, taking a more confident step closer to Stone. Like this, the hedgehog is practically standing at his side, but Shadow ignores him to analyze the computer screen.

“For supplies, most of it is going to come from a military contractor. They have metal alloys I need that I don’t have on hand. Other than that, everything else is something G.U.N. will have for us. Right now, I need to get some things ready before we head out, so just relax for a couple minutes.”

Stone dives right back into working mode, downloading everything from his server to access on the road. He double and triple checks that his exhausted and grief-addled brain didn’t mess anything else up horrifically earlier, then he scratches his beard when he does find a few errors. It’s unheard of for him to make mistakes like this, and it is so frustrating.

He huffs and continues, his eyebrows creased in concentration. Worrying about his feelings too long isn’t going to help.

Despite being very focused on his time-sensitive task, he can’t help but occasionally get distracted by Shadow’s steady presence at his side. Actually, now that he thinks about it, Shadow had stuck close to Stone while they were in the crab, with nothing for the hedgehog to do while the Robotniks had their little family bonding moments. There clearly isn’t much trust between the two of them, but Shadow slots himself next to the man as if being by someone’s side is something he defaults to.

A tiny, tiny, tiny part of Stone recognizes Shadow’s behavior in himself, and he shuts down that train of thought by pressing enter a little too hard on the interface.

Stone finishes his tasks by setting a self-destruct timer on the computer. G.U.N. can know they were here, fine, but they won’t be able to get any info out of this by the time the cavalry arrives. A USB drive pops out for him to snatch, and he shoves it in his dress shirt’s pocket.

Standing up, he moves to his unused bedroom. His tidy bed calls to him, and he can’t help but sigh in exhaustion. He had been looking forward to crashing face first onto the mattress, even though a loose hedgehog running around the space would have unnerved him, but sleep will have to wait.

Speaking of hedgehogs, Shadow follows him into the room, watching his every movement. Stone studies the hedgehog as he packs some essentials, and his behavior is quite…confusing. Shadow’s signature scowl aside, he mostly looks curious. He ignores it to continue packing, remembering to snatch the towel wrapped around Shadow’s loose quills he had collected from the bathroom. Wouldn’t be smart to leave those for G.U.N. to find later.

They walk out after that, Stone dragging a small suitcase behind him, Shadow following behind, almost dutifully. He snatches a bag of trail mix from the kitchen as he passes through the room, and his eyes drift of their own accord to Shadow’s abandoned bag of coffee beans. Stone can’t help his grimace, but his mouth moves before he can think.

“I honestly don’t know how you eat those, but feel free to bring them with you if you want.”

Shadow blinks at him, but he doesn’t move to grab his weird little snack. Stone turns to face Shadow fully, staring down at him with his lips pursed. But Shadow stays rooted next to Stone, as if he can’t be caught looking at the coffee beans.

A theory about Shadow’s behavior brews in Stone’s mind. Stone’s got nothing else to entertain him, so why the hell shouldn’t he perform a little experiment?

Stone doesn’t say anything else and just continues to the door, and Shadow follows a step behind. He slips his boots on, and Shadow just watches him without emoting more than his usual. When the man finishes lacing his boots up, he stands and opens the door. He turns his head away deliberately, and he waits a moment until he hears the soft sound of Shadow’s quills rustling against his fur that indicates the hedgehog is turning his head.

Stone tilts his own head to confirm what he’s hearing, and Shadow is staring almost longingly at the beans. He can’t help the smirk at being proven right. He told him to grab them, so the question now is why didn’t he?

Shadow must feel his gaze on him, and he turns around to meet it before dropping his red eyes to the ground, his shoulders hunching and his ears folding back ever so slightly. Stone’s smirk drops, and that new feeling he gets in his chest whenever Shadow does something unexpected rears its head once again.

Ugh, why does he feel guilty over a tiny little test to prove that Shadow was holding himself back from getting something he wanted? Shadow looks like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar, ready for a punishment. This softer version of the hedgehog doesn’t align with the one in Stone’s head, of a force to be reckoned with hellbent on destroying anyone in his way.

They really, really do not have time to dwell on this, so Stone strides over to the container and snatches them. And oh, he almost forgot. He opens a drawer and takes out Shadow’s gloves, then walks back over to the door and drops them into Shadow’s arms.

His skinny black and red arms catch them reflexively, and he tilts his head at Stone with a frown. “You fixed these?” Shadow asks, staring at the stitches in his newly cleaned gloves.

“Like I said, I don’t half-ass. Come on, I’d like to break into a building with the cover of night, so let’s get a move on.”

Stone refuses to dwell on it, shoving his weird, new emotions down. Grief must be getting to his head, making him worry about the hedgehog’s behaviors and feelings. He’ll be fine if he just remembers this is a job to keep him busy, not something new to get invested in.

They quickly pile into the SUV, Stone shoving his bag of supplies and necessities into the trunk. He hops into the driver’s seat and starts it up, setting directions to their destination on his phone. Shadow sits in the passenger seat with his legs crossed, his gloves now on and the container of Stone’s very, very expensive coffee beans sitting in his lap.

Stone drives off and merges onto the Texas highway, keeping his eyes on the road and the insane Texas drivers who love to weave in and out of traffic. There’s a reason why he’s only been here a few times, and this is number one.

Neither of them says a word for most of the ride, and Stone can’t be bothered to filter through Texas radio stations to fill the silence. Besides, it’s not as awkward as Stone expected it to be, and it hadn’t been awkward earlier during the long drive from the middle of nowhere in Oklahoma, with Shadow sleeping quietly next to him.

The hedgehog in question is staring out of the window, viewing his surroundings with wide, innocent eyes. His glower is gone, softened into careful consideration of the darkened landscape, but his little frown persists. Shadow reaches a hand into the container in his lap and shoves a handful of plain, raw coffee beans into his mouth.

Stone shudders as Shadow crunches, imagining the bitter taste. “That tastes good to you?”

“Mm.” And Shadow proves his point by eating more.

He huffs out an incredulous laugh, shaking his head. Stone’s fingers tap absentmindedly on the steering wheel. The silence isn’t bad, per se, but Stone is so accustomed to someone loud and demanding by his side that Stone finds himself asking another question.

“So, you’re done with the whole being evil thing, but stealing’s okay?”

Shadow places his elbow against the arm rest and drops his cheek against his fist, thinking for a moment before nodding. “Yes, stealing is fine. I’ll do what’s necessary for my survival.”

Stone nods in surprise. “Huh, not what I expected. Not a very heroic answer.”

Stone watches Shadow through his reflection on the window, and his gaze loses focus as he stares at nothing. His snout scrunches into a contemplative pout, and he mutters to himself, “I never said I was a hero.”

The conversation ends abruptly at that, but it doesn’t matter as Stone pulls over on the side of the road and turns the headlights off. They arrived at their destination quickly, and now it’s time to get to work.

He steps out of the car and opens the trunk, rifling through his supplies. It’s been a while since he’s been the one infiltrating, due to the last little family bonding break in, but it doesn’t mean Stone is any less prepared. Laptop, gun, USB with hacking programs pre-installed, backpack, and that’s it.

Now ready to sneak in, Stone turns around and yells, startled by Shadow standing directly behind him threateningly. Stone puts a hand over his beating heart to calm it down, taking in Shadow’s wide stance, crossed arms, and glowing eyes.

“Fuck, don’t sneak up on me like that,” Stone complains in a rush. “How the hell are you so good at being quiet?”

Shadow shrugs. “What are you doing?”

“Breaking in to steal what we need? What’s it look like?” Stone asks sarcastically.

The sarcasm is lost on the hedgehog, who turns his head to look at the lit up tech company base in the distance. Shadow turns back to Stone and squares his shoulders, taking on a determined look that more resembles the hedgehog when Stone first met him.

“Let me do it.”

Stone blinks. “Pardon me?”

“I’m faster than you,” Shadow says bluntly.

He rolls his eyes at the obvious observation. “Uh-huh, but last time you wanted to break in somewhere, you were ready to go in guns blazing. This needs to be a stealth mission.”

“You never saw me coming when I attacked you in the lab.”

Damn it, Shadow is right about that. Not to mention how the hedgehog just startled him by appearing out of nowhere.

Still, Stone doesn’t exactly trust that Shadow is up for this mission in his current state. “In case you forgot, you can’t use your powers right now.”

“I don’t need my powers to just take some metal,” Shadow says confidently.

Shadow is rather stubborn when he wants to be, Stone is realizing. It’s a sudden and stark shift from the hedgehog who was just trailing behind him like a lost puppy. But, it is such a tempting offer, solely because Stone never got to see Shadow go all out earlier, other than when the hedgehog was knocking him out and tying him up. He can still feel the bruise on his back where Shadow kicked him.

“Alright, I’ll bite,” Stone says with a sly grin. “But if you mess up, you’ve got to bail yourself out.”

Shadow nods, and Stone sets his stuff back down in the trunk. He sits down next to his bag and takes his laptop out, quickly bringing up his intel on what Shadow needs to do.

“There’s a guarded storage room on the sixth floor, so get there unseen. Since you’re going in, I can just hack their security camera feed to cover for you. There’s a couple things you need to grab in there, so take this list. I’ll guide you through with this earpiece, and this USB will get you into the locked safes, sound doable?”

The hedgehog grunts, taking the list and earpiece, placing it in his furry ear. It must irritate Shadow by the way his ear keeps twitching, and Stone purses his lips to stop himself from laughing. The USB confuses Shadow more than the earpiece, and he holds it between his fingers like it’s something to be wary of.

“Here’s a map of the building with all the guard stations and patrols for you to study quick. Seriously, do not let anyone see an alien hedgehog, and let’s try to keep violence to a minimum,” Stone warns, his voice stern. “Give me a second to get into their feed, then you’re good to go.”

“Hmph.”

Stone rolls his eyes and focuses on hacking into their security feed, double checking that his intel is accurate and that he can cover Shadow so he can move quickly through the building. The camera feed pops up on his screen, and Stone rolls his shoulders to prepare himself.

“Take the backpack to store stuff in,” Stone says, shoving his empty bag at the alien.

Shadow takes it and stares at it, obviously confused about its function. He takes pity on the guy and slips it over the hedgehog’s shoulders, Shadow flinching at the surprise contact. Shadow glares at him without any heat, then steps back and readies himself by crouching down, prepared to speed off into the distance. But Stone notices Shadow’s wince as he stretches his legs out, remembering his various injuries.

“Are you sure you’re up for this?” Stone asks quietly.

To Stone’s surprise, Shadow turns to him, his gaze steely and determined, and despite the dark cloudy sky obscuring most of Shadow’s face, Stone swears he sees the hedgehog’s lips quirk up into a smirk.

“Good luck keeping up with me.”

Before Stone can even comment on Shadow teasing him, the hedgehog pushes off and disappears into a streak of golden light. Stone scoffs at Shadow’s little banter, surprised by his returning attitude, then turns his attention back to the task at hand.

Through the grainy security feed, he tracks Shadow by the light he leaves behind in his wake. Shadow rushes towards the building, gliding across the rough ground with his shoes, and Stone replaces each feed with a loop as Shadow passes through it, covering the hedgehog’s superpowered tracks.

Stone follows him, watching Shadow skate around the perimeter until he gains enough momentum to launch himself off of a hill near the building. Shadow activates his shoes mid-air and rockets upwards, the boosters on his shoes helping him change his trajectory to send him onto the roof. Shadow catches himself right before he crashes onto the building, lowering himself gently onto the roof.

The perks of modern technology, in Stone’s opinion, is that so many things are way too easily hackable, and he easily unlocks the door of the roof to allow Shadow in. It leads to a fire escape staircase that connects to the whole building, and Shadow jumps into the hole in the center and propels downwards, catching himself with his shoes at the right floor, all while Stone’s hands work on their own to keep Shadow’s presence a secret.

To be honest, Stone was waiting for Shadow to just glide right through the floor and force his way into the room, but the hedgehog keeps surprising him. Instead, Shadow skates up the wall, avoiding the passing guard and kicks the ceiling. Stone can hear the clang the sole of his shoe makes on the camera, and it effectively distracts the guards in the area. He skates away in the same moment, avoiding detection, and inserts Stone’s USB into the port at the correct door after a moment of hesitation.

“Couldn’t figure out which way to put it, huh?” Stone teases, speaking into Shadow’s earpiece.

Shadow doesn’t reply verbally, insteading locking onto the security camera with a glare. Ignoring the glare, Stone takes a second to unlock the door, and it pops open.

“Alright, take that with you so I can unlock the boxes you need,” he instructs.

A white gloved hand plucks the USB and slides through the door, letting it close quietly behind him.

“To your left, there’s a computer, just put it in any of the slots.”

In the feed, Stone watches Shadow tilt his head around the computer, staring intently at it. Then he just starts shoving the drive in every hole he sees until it slots in, and Stone sighs loudly, his mic muted. He shakes his head and just continues, searching up the safes they need, and unlocking them all at once.

Shadow moves to find them on his own, searching up and down the aisles and grabbing everything in each safe with a door ajar. He doesn’t need to be reminded to shut it behind him, or to grab the USB once he’s done. Shadow sneaks out of there just as quickly as he came, returning to the stairwell to head up to the roof and jump off, gliding back to where Stone still sits.

The golden blur comes to a sudden halt in front of him, and Stone curiously looks down at his watch.

“Okay, five minutes is pretty impressive, Shadow,” Stone compliments, taking the backpack from the hedgehog.

Now that Shadow is standing still, he looks more worn out than he was earlier, and his brow is pinched in what might be pain.

“Of course, I’m—”

“—the ultimate lifeform,” they finish together, Stone mimicking Shadow’s overly serious voice.

Shadow’s muzzle scrunches in displeasure, his annoyed snarl exposing his teeth. He looks incredibly ticked off, but he just huffs and crosses his arms.

“I don’t sound like that,” Shadow defends half-heartedly.

Stone rolls his eyes as he checks over the contents of the bag. “Yeah, you keep telling yourself that. But anyways, good job, that was a very efficient heist.”

The hedgehog hums nonchalantly and walks over to Stone, leaning his back against the bumper of the SUV. His eyes are electric in the dark, their brightness almost blinding. That bright gaze locks onto Stone, and Shadow tilts his head, pursing his lips. Stone, curious about what Shadow is doing, keeps his attention on the hedgehog and is surprised when Shadow speaks up, his voice soft and quiet.

“You’re very competent.”

“Huh?”

Awkwardness radiates off of the hedgehog in waves, and red eyes drift away from Stone.

“I thought you were just the grandson’s assistant, your skills best suited for making guac. But your skills are wasted on menial tasks like that. Your proficiency at using modern technology is emblematic of your intelligence, and it’s quite clear that you could be the Professor’s equal. And you could keep up with me, so, it was…very impressive.”

The compliments, said in Shadow’s typical monotone, would sound backhanded coming from anyone else, yet it’s somehow earnest coming from the hedgehog. Shadow’s language is so strange; he must have learned words like that from Gerald in the lab because he sounds like a scientist reporting on his findings. It also doesn’t go unnoticed that Shadow repeats what Stone said to him just a moment ago. But it’s so similar to the doctor’s typical overly scientific manner of speech that Stone’s throat chokes up, and he has to turn away from the hedgehog before his annoying emotions get the better of him.

In the beginning, Stone had thrived off of whatever praise Dr. Ivo Robotnik had given him, encouraging him to work harder and be better for the man giving him a chance. But it became so routine, Stone’s best turning into an everyday expectation from his boss, and he had just been happy being by his side, no praise needed.

When was the last time someone had complimented him like that, unwarranted and freely given?

Stone clears his throat to rid himself of the lump of emotions stuck there and puts on a facade of being unbothered by Shadow’s words, standing up and tossing the bag of stolen materials into the trunk casually.

“Of course,” Stone scoffs, walking around to the front of the car. “Not just anyone can keep up with the doctor’s genius. Anyways, I’m starving, and I think any successful heist deserves some shitty Chinese food as a reward. You ever have it?”

The two settle into their respective seats, and Shadow frowns contemplatively. “No, does it taste like coffee?”

Stone can’t help his amused snort. “Not even close.”

Chapter Text

Stone breathed in deeply, widening his stance, then pressed the button on his palm. A person appeared from the floating egg drone, and Stone dodged a punch aimed at his head. He dropped down into a crouch and sprung up, uppercutting the hologram. With the dummy off balance, it left itself open for Stone to kick it square in the chest and knock it on its back. He pounced on it, stradling its hips and turning it over. His hands snatched the wrists, wrenching them behind and keeping them in place with one hand as his other slammed its head into the tiled floor.

“Stone, what the hell are you doing? I didn’t ask for a show with my omelette today, did I?”

His head whipped around to stare at the doctor, his hair still messy first thing in the morning, dressed in his silk button up pajamas that Stone had made a few weeks ago. His boss frowned at him in distaste, and Stone practically tripped over himself to stand up.

“Sorry, sir, did I wake you?”

Robotnik sniffed. “No, I’ve been up pondering what my latest and greatest creation could be. But seriously, what are you bothering yourself with?”

“I wanted to brush up on my takedowns before we leave on our mission in a few days,” Stone explained, walking into the kitchen to start making breakfast.

The doctor sat down at the counter and watched Stone busied himself, cracking eggs and whipping up a latte at the same time. No one was better at multitasking than him—well, the doctor was, but that was a given.

“And takedowns are a necessary skill because…?”

Stone hesitated. “Well…in case I need to protect you. Can’t be too prepared, right, sir?”

Robotnik laughed loudly, then levelled an incredulous stare at Stone. Stone froze under his boss’ scrutinous gaze, his hand stalling at the stove. He recovered quickly, more than used to Dr. Robotnik’s never-ending examination of his words and actions after having worked for him for over a year, and he masterfully flipped the omelette in the pan.

“Agent Stone, I don’t keep you around for the lackluster jokes,” the doctor stated bluntly. “You’ve lasted longer than any other lackey, not because you can kick someone, but because you’re oh so good at being bossed around. So don’t waste my precious time by learning a little trick.”

One of the doctor’s egg drones flew over at that moment, and Robotnik wrapped it up in his arms lovingly. The man gave it a little pet along its top, stroking it gently. His eyelids dropped as he turned his attention back to Stone, annoyed at him for doing something he didn’t tell him to.

“My little eggy-weggies are more than capable of ‘protecting me,’ as you would say. What kind of genius am I if my own babies can’t accomplish the basic task I built them for?”

Stone set down the now plated omelette and the doctor’s signature latte.

“Of course, sir,” he apologized, properly reprimanded. But he still smiled when he continued, saying, “Your creations are the greatest things on the planet.”

“Mmm!” Robotnik shouted, waving his fork at Stone emphatically. “Stick to your wonderful grovelling, just like that. Don’t worry your pretty little empty head about it. Now, we have work to do.”

The doctor stood with a flourish, sweeping his bathrobe out with his typical dramatic flair before stomping off. Stone couldn’t help the rush of heat to his face at the words, but he recovered and scrambled after the doctor to wait on his every need.

But Stone was just as stubborn as the doctor, and something had been nagging him that he needed to step his game up. Sure, he already took care of the doctor all day and night, and yes, his old coworkers had looked at him like he was insane when he moved in with his boss to be the best henchman he could be, but it just showed his dedication! The doctor needed him, and Stone was more than happy to oblige.

So, every night and every morning, while Robotnik was asleep, Stone practiced his combat skills. He was rusty, but the muscle memory was still there. Plus, it wasn’t like Stone didn’t have to do heavy lifting daily for the doctor, so he kept himself in shape.

Days passed as Stone studied in secret, and they went on their mission, and Stone’s intuition proved right as an explosion rocked the building they were stationed in. Stone’s hands immediately went to steady the doctor as they both stumbled from the force of the blow, and he stepped in front of him, an arm braced against Robotnik’s chest.

Footsteps thudded through the halls, rushing towards them, and Stone pushed the doctor into a corner behind a desk and crouched down with him. The doctor shoved him off, but Stone just kept his eyes on the door. A boot slammed into the door, splintering the wood, and he watched as soldiers stormed the room, guns at the ready.

Stone waited, then tackled a soldier around their legs, pinning them to the ground and disarming them in one swift move. He knocked out the one underneath him with a swift hit using the barrel of the rifle. A bullet then flew past his head, and he ducked down on reflex.

From the sound of their steps, there were four people advancing on them, so Stone took in a deep breath before peeking his head back out. He fired a shot, the bullet landing into one of the combatant’s legs. His shout of pain distracted the others, who were all clearly lacking any serious military training, and it left them all open for Stone to leap out.

He rushed up to the nearest soldier and kicked him in the back. Another rushed Stone, aiming a very wide punch at him, so Stone had no choice but to use the opening to punch him right in the throat and barrel into him, wrapping his arms around his torso and flipping the soldier over his shoulder in one swift move.

With two left, the idiots both decided to charge at him, forgetting entirely that they had firearms at their disposal. Stone rolled his eyes as they charged at him in sync, and he ducked underneath both their swings. The larger one managed to catch him off guard and get a second hit in, winding Stone briefly. But he was more maneuverable, and definitely way smarter, so Stone dodged his other hits and sweeped the man’s legs out from underneath him, landing a clean punch to the face. The man went down, and Stone thought it necessary to kick his head, knocking him out for the moment.

His eyes darted to the last one standing, who surprisingly hadn’t tried to swing at him again, only to find the remaining soldier scrapping with his doctor. Stone adored the man, revered him, even, but he would be the first to admit that Dr. Ivo Robotnik was not built for hand-to-hand combat. Robotnik could launch the most precise drone strike, or pilot a mech, or control an army of robots to perfection, but using his fists was unheard of. In the doctor’s own words, he couldn’t ruin the fingers built to put together the most innovative designs through brute force.

Stone’s eyes narrowed dangerously, and he sprinted across the room. He planted his hand against a desk and slid over it, vaulting himself forwards to kick the man in the side. It knocked the man off balance, and Stone growled, tightening his hand into a fist so tight his hand shook, and punched the man who dared to lay a finger on his doctor so hard Stone heard his nose crack under his knuckles.

Like Stone had practiced for days, he took down the assailant, wrenching his arms behind his back as Stone pinned him to the ground, and he smashed his already broken face into the ground. He huffed out a loud breath, his heart pounding as he sat on top of the soldier.

His mind kicked into overdrive as his nerves returned and his adrenaline faded, and Stone scrambled off of the guy and onto the doctor, his bloodied hands roving over the man frantically to check for injuries. What kind of a protector would he be if his negligence let the doctor get hurt?

“Sir, are you okay?” Stone asked, his voice tight. “You’re not hurt are—”

The doctor grabbed his face and pulled him in close, so close that their noses were almost touching, and Stone’s mouth snapped shut. Robotnik breathed heavily, his eyes searching for something in Stone’s face, but the stomping of boots running towards them caused them to turn towards the noise.

Familiar uniforms flooded the room, and the U.S. soldiers they flew in with took the knocked out soldiers and cuffed them. One of the soldiers approached them with an unsure expression and a raised eyebrow.

“Sirs, are you…okay?”

Stone and Robotnik turned their gazes back to each other, and Stone only realized right this second, with an audience, that he was in the doctor’s lap, his arms gripping the doctor as Robotnik held him way too close to his face. Stone gulped, his eyes wide and flustered, and the doctor narrowed his eyes at him before gripping his face harder. Robotnik shoved him away, Stone falling onto his side with a soft grunt.

The doctor stood up and dusted himself off, and instantly turned onto the soldier watching them. “And where the hell have you been?!”

The soldier froze in place. “I, uh—”

“It was rhetorical!” Robotnik yelled, right into the soldier’s face. “Because the answer we both know is that you were busy twiddling your thumbs, not a thought in your head!”

The doctor huffed and briskly walked past the gaping soldier and out into the hallway, his strides confident and agitated. Stone scrambled to his feet to follow, nearly tripping over the man whose nose he broke.

“Whoever thought it was a brilliant idea to pick on my babies and destroy their excellence will be answering to me! Their free trial of living has expired, and I’m coming to collect!” Robotnik roared, storming through the hallway.

Stone jogged to catch up. “Sir, it could still be dangerous! Wait for me!”

If Stone couldn’t be there to protect the doctor when he needed him the most, Stone didn’t know what he would do with himself. He needed to be better, so that this never happened again.

A loud bass drop startles Stone awake, and he jumps up, his fists at the ready. His eyes land on Shadow, who is sitting perfectly still, his eyes open as wide as possible in surprise, his gloved fingers still on the volume button for the radio. Shit, when did Stone fall asleep? That isn’t like him at all.

“Got bored?” Stone asks around a yawn, stretching his arms above his head. Sleeping in a car is never a fun time for him, or his bones.

Shadow’s eyes relax, and he nods.

“When did I fall asleep?”

“Not long after you finished eating.”

Stone glances at the clock in the car. It’s six in the morning, and they had picked up food at around midnight. To Stone’s surprise, Shadow had been very confused at the concept of utensils and gripped the fork in his fist like a toddler. Where Stone had inhaled his lo mein, not being able to remember the last time he ate, Shadow ate it slowly, literally noodle by noodle. So, Stone had finished first and decided to just watch the hedgehog eat, which means he must have fallen asleep around one.

Five hours, not a bad nap all things considered.

“You could’ve woken me up,” Stone states.

Shadow’s flat expression turns into a little frown, and his ears fold back a bit. It seems like guilt, an emotion Stone had seen on the hedgehog earlier. It’s not like Stone is actually mad about napping, but it’s strange that Shadow thinks he is.

Before he can comment on it, Shadow says quietly, “You looked like you needed it. I…didn’t mean to disturb you.”

That is…very unexpected, and very considerate. What can Stone even say in response to that? His instinct, for some reason, is to reassure him that everything is fine, and his mouth moves before his brain.

“Don’t worry, I’ve pulled worse all nighters before, but that nap did the trick,” Stone says, waving his hand dismissively.

It does what he intended it to, and Shadow’s shoulders lose some of their tension. He still looks high strung and uncomfortable, but his ears bounce back, satisfied with Stone’s answer. Something eases in Stone’s chest in tandem with Shadow relaxing, and his brain promptly freezes at that thought. Okay, time for them to move on with their little mission to avoid whatever that was.

Stone reaches around and snatches his laptop, opening it up to check how close G.U.N. is to finding out where they are. While he appreciates the nap, staying put for several hours isn’t exactly the best idea when they’re on the run from an organization that doesn’t know when to cut their losses.

He hacks into G.U.N.’s internal systems quickly and watches their movements on the radar. Stone’s cloak is covering them for now, but he doesn’t know how long it’ll last with Shadow’s powers on the fritz. Speaking of, Shadow hasn’t seemed to struggle with them like he did when Stone found him in the crater, unless losing all of those quills in the bath was a sign of it.

Stone glances over to Shadow, who’s watching him curiously, and it takes a second for him to notice the scattered black and red quills against the black leather seat. The quills aren’t sparking with energy like that blue hedgehog’s did whenever the doctor got his hands on one, and Stone can’t help but be curious about it.

“You shed quills like that a lot?” Stone asks casually.

Shadow looks down at the shed quills and shakes his head, another quill falling out from the motion.

“Probably relates to your powers acting up,” Stone muses. “Actually, how are your powers? You haven’t doubled over in pain since I first found you.”

“I’m keeping it under control for now, but it’s worsening,” Shadow says.

Yeah, that’s exactly what Stone has been worried about, and—wait. “You’re keeping it under control?”

The hedgehog nods, glancing down at his hand and opening and closing it repeatedly. “If I stay focused, I can stop it from overtaking my body. I can’t afford to get distracted, otherwise everything I’m holding back will come out at full force.”

Stone winces sympathetically. “Not ideal. Scale of one to ten, how bad does it hurt?”

Shadow opens his mouth, visibly confused. “One to ten…?”

The confusion makes him pause and question what he’s doing. It’s such a simple concept to rate pain on a scale like that, but has Shadow ever had to consider something like that before? There’s an obvious gap in Shadow’s knowledge of everything due to his life before this. Even if he explains it, Stone has a hunch that Shadow’s definition of what hurts badly is going to be very skewed.

He sighs. Screw it, it’s a necessary question to determine how quick they need to be in making this ring.

“When it hurt in the crater, think of that as a ten. So, one means it barely hurts, and ten is just as bad or worse,” he explains.

Shadow nods, understanding, but it still takes him a minute to consider the question. “Two. It’s tolerable for now.”

There is no world where that’s true, especially when Stone can see how all of Shadow’s movements are slow and deliberate to ensure he doesn’t strain himself. Even his breathing gives him away, the rise and fall of his chest stuttering every so often. But there’s no point in pushing it, so Stone moves on.

Since he’s already in G.U.N.’s system, he takes a moment to recalibrate the cloak, giving them a couple extra hours hopefully before he has to think about it again. He switches gears, scraping through their servers, searching for any information about where they need to go next. Just because he can easily break into a G.U.N. database, it does not mean all of G.U.N.’s files from fifty years ago are actually uploaded onto it.

The closest G.U.N. base with a large enough server to locate the Project Shadow files is all the way in Colorado which is…a twelve hour drive. Amazing. If Stone had the crab or any of the doctor’s other vehicles, it would make this whole road trip way easier, but anything the doctor had has been seized by G.U.N. or destroyed by that annoyingly adorable fox.

Stone rolls his shoulders and sighs, shutting his laptop and setting it in the back. Shadow tilts his head at him, and Stone smiles tiredly at him and turns the car on.

“Well Shadow, our next destination is a lovely twelve hours away, so we’re gonna spend some quality time together,” he says with fake cheeriness.

Shadow just tilts his head further to the side, his frown confused, but he doesn’t say anything more, turning his attention to the radio he was messing with before. Like the coffee beans, Shadow clearly wants to use it, but he holds himself back. Is it because Stone is aware of what he’s doing?

He turns the volume back up and nods at the radio. “You’re from the 70s, so you’ve definitely listened to a radio before, right?”

Shadow nods, and he continues to frustrate Stone by not touching the radio. If anything, Shadow inches backwards, curling up against the back of the seat and the door. Shadow is so passive when a dangerous task isn’t in front of him, and it contrasts harshly with his dark image, his sharp glare and red and black fur making it seem like he should be one of the most fearsome creatures on the planet, and then he isn’t.

Stone needs to stop overthinking and overanalyzing everything the hedgehog does, so he shuts his brain up by doing what Shadow won’t and goes through each radio station slowly. He goes through country, some news station, classical, another country station, and then lands on a top hits station. Whatever song is playing is extremely pop, and Stone doubts Shadow would like it. But he turns his head, and to his surprise, Shadow has leaned closer, his ears perking up in excitement as the song continues.

Huh, not what Stone expected, but he turns it up anyways.

“You okay with listening to…Sabrina Carpenter?” Stone asks.

Shadow nods instantly, but he crosses his arms and relaxes to appear disinterested. “This is…satisfactory.”

“Uh-huh,” Stone says in amusement. “Is this the kind of music you like?”

The hedgehog shrugs. “I mostly listened to Maria’s records.”

“Maria?”

Shadow doesn’t respond, and Stone decides not to push. Asking all these questions is just a way to stay entertained, he doesn’t actually want to dig into the hedgehog’s past. Of course not.

He drives on in silence, vaguely paying attention to the songs changing on the radio and Shadow’s reactions. Sabrina Carpenter seems to be the favorite, but Shadow slowly loses interest in the music and stares out the window, watching the sun slowly start to rise.

Shadow blinks slowly, as if exhaustion pulls at him, and Stone realizes Shadow must have not slept while he did. It’s good that at least one of them was awake, but Shadow had slept for hours not too long ago. Stone really is starting to think the hedgehog was lying about his pain being a two. He watches Shadow as carefully as he can while driving, and there are a few things he notices.

The hedgehog still looks horrendous, even after that bath. His fur is longer than the blue one’s, which means it gets tangled and matted, much like it is now. If Shadow had never taken a brush to himself before, it wouldn’t be a surprise to Stone. Falling through the stratosphere definitely didn’t help Shadow’s case because there are numerous spots where it burned to a crisp so badly it almost leaves him with bald patches. The more obvious burn spot is the tuft of white fur on his chest, blackened at the tips.

On the move, Shadow blurs into a perfection illusion of strength, but it crumbles when he stands still. Where Stone originally thought Shadow was a lot broader than his blue counterpart, or even that he was of a similar build, the state of Shadow’s fur shocks him into realizing that Shadow is actually very, very skinny. His long fur tricks the eyes of anyone looking, but his arms and legs are practically sticks.

Shadow shifts in his seat, taking a deep, shaky breath, and ribs peek out clear as day. Stone’s brows furrow in concentration, studying the rise and fall of Shadow’s chest, and his eyes widen as it dawns on him.

Does Shadow think he doesn’t need to eat because he hasn’t before?

His thoughts are conveniently interrupted by a yawn breaking Stone’s concentration, and he tries to stifle it. Sure, the nap helped, but it’s still been a…stressful week. And he’s unfortunately already proved to himself that his concentration and mental abilities aren’t up to par.

Coffee. He needs it badly even if he has to get the most subpar version of it on the road.

They keep on their path until Stone notices a sign for an upcoming rest stop, and he tilts his head towards Shadow. “I’m gonna stop for some breakfast, but we’re gonna need to do something to keep you hidden.”

Shadow turns to look at him with an annoyed frown. “Why should I hide?”

“There’s a lot more cars on the road now, and I think it’s a good idea to avoid attracting attention,” Stone says.

The hedgehog turns to look at the cars speeding around on the highway, now visible in the early morning sun, then his gaze drops to his hands. The annoyed scrunch of his muzzle softens with his suddenly watery eyes, and his shoulders tense as he gives in, muttering, “Fine.”

Stone doesn’t get another word in as Shadow shifts until he curls perfectly into a ball, and he blends perfectly into the seat. To any passerby, they wouldn’t see him, and anyone looking too closely would assume Shadow is just some weird stuffed animal or something along those lines. Like this, Shadow is smaller than ever, and his uneven breathing is incredibly more apparent, causing his entire body to tremble.

It’s the logical, obvious choice to make to hide the literal alien out of sight from people commuting to work, and Shadow clearly understands. That doesn’t mean Stone doesn’t feel like an asshole for it since the hedgehog is obviously upset about it.

He bites back a sigh as he pulls into the rest stop, parking away from all the cars and tractor trailers to keep Shadow hidden. There’s a second of hesitation as he turns off the car, but he shakes his head and steps outside without another word.

He weaves through the parking lot and enters the building, heading straight to the bathroom to relieve himself. No one else is in there, so he takes a moment to breathe as he washes his hands. A cold splash of water on his face helps clear his head, and he tilts his head up and meets his gaze in the mirror. Stone freezes.

Stone had done a lot to avoid catching his reflection in the mirror back at the apartment, but now, he can’t even bring himself to blink. Together, Shadow and him make for a sorry pair. His eyes are bloodshot, and has he ever had eyebags this dark before?

What would the doctor say, to see his closest confidant looking so pathetic?

Tears spring into his eyes, and Stone growls, pushing the heels of his palms hard into his eyes. It’s too early to fall apart like this, alone in a gross bathroom on the side of the highway, when he has things to do. It’s been a week since the Eclipse Cannon imploded, so he needs to stop crying every time he’s by himself.

But…it’s only been a week. One week since everything. One week since his whole world changed.

“Augh,” Stone groans, his throat thick. “Get a grip.”

He presses harder against his eyes, then swipes the tears away and walks out.

There’s a few families walking about, a couple truckers sitting and resting, and then lonely old Stone. Stalking up to the Dunkin Donuts counter in the building, he uses all of his concentration to ignore the TVs playing various news channels. He catches a glimpse of the Eclipse Cannon and tries to force out the words of a newscaster talking about the possibilities of debris falling to Earth. But Stone already knows the most important debris would have burned upon reentry or is sitting in the parking lot waiting for him, which is a weird thought.

The cashier is clearly intimidated by the harsh look Stone knows he’s sporting, and he sighs as the young woman just stares at him wide-eyed. “Two large black coffees and plain bagels toasted with cream cheese.”

The girl nods and types it in and practically disappears after completing the transaction. Stone taps his card to pay and leans against the counter, arms crossed as he waits. Then, he feels a tap against his shoulder, and he turns, ready to give whoever wanted to bother him this early in the morning a piece of his mind, but Stone bites his tongue at the cop standing behind him.

“Sir, I need you to step away from the counter and put your hands up slowly.”

Stone doesn’t comply, his eyes darting to the TV behind the cop with a picture of him plastered across it. Great, there goes this easy road trip.

He narrows his eyes at the cop and strikes right as the man tries to reach for his gun. Stone ducks down and slams his shoulder into the cop’s sternum, knocking the wind out of him, and he snatches the gun out of the holster. He grabs the man’s arms and wrenches them back, stealing the cuffs off of his belt and cuffing him. For good measure, Stone kicks the back of the cop’s knees to knock the guy face first into the ground and aims the gun at his back.

“Yeah, not in the mood for that today,” Stone drawls.

The girl at the counter stands there with her mouth agape, holding his two coffees and the bag of food. Stone stuffs the gun into the back of his pants and snatches his order before the cashier can process what’s happening. The moment she does, she screams and backs away as quickly as she can. Stone rolls his eyes at her and the other shouting he can hear behind him.

He turns to stare at all the people scrambling to stay out of his way, and he can’t help but smirk sardonically. “Boo!”

Some people actually flinch away, but there isn’t time for any more jokes. Stone jogs out of the building, beelining for the SUV, and he slides in the driver’s seat and practically throws the coffees into the cupholders. He starts the ignition and slams his foot on the gas, cutting off a minivan that blares its horn at him. The sudden movement startles Shadow out of his ball, and the hedgehog pops his head out with a confused stare.

“What’s happening?” Shadow asks, uncurling fully and sitting up on his knees to survey their surroundings.

“Nothing much,” Stone starts calmly, “just had my face plastered on the national wanted list and almost got arrested. So I think we’re going to have some company soon.”

He presses harder on the gas and starts weaving in and out traffic, and sure enough, Stone catches the red and blue lights approaching them through his rearview mirror. Shadow notices them, too, his ears perking up and swivelling around, and his head follows. His eyes narrow at the approaching vehicles, then Shadow turns to Stone, his red eyes hard and determined.

“I can handle our pursuers,” Shadow says.

Stone shakes his head. “A low stakes break-in is one thing, but how are you going to fight off a fleet of cops without your powers?”

The lights are gaining on him, and damn, that really is a fleet of cops. And well prepared ones, at that. He really wanted to save this for a last resort, but desperate times and all that.

Stone presses a button on the steering wheel, and the center console shifts into an interface, startling Shadow. Using muscle memory alone, Stone types in the passkey to unlock the weapons systems. He squares his shoulders and glances in the mirror again, seeing nothing but a group of cop cars, and hits a button that fires a missile.

The missile hits its target, and the cars explode into a fiery mess, other cars crashing into the ones in the front. Stone turns his attention back to the road in front of him and groans at the sight of the blockade a few miles ahead of him. Shit, they must’ve cleared the road of civilians to really get them cornered.

Shadow watches with interest, his eyes glancing over all of the buttons on the console, but the hedgehog’s attention is drawn to their rear.

“There’s more coming from behind,” Shadow informs him. He rolls his shoulders and rolls down the window, then turns back to Stone with that determined gaze. “You deal with the ones ahead of us, I’ll cover you from behind.”

“Shadow, wait!”

But the hedgehog is grabbing the top of the car and swinging himself out of the window. Stone watches as he curls mid-air and drops down to the pavement in a tight ball, spinning down the highway and smashing into an incoming car.

A bullet bounces off of the windshield, bringing his attention back to the blockade in front of him. Stone sighs and launches a few missiles into it, and armored police scramble out of the way to avoid getting hit. But it does what it needs to, destroying the armored vehicles and metal barriers standing in his way. He’s not an idiot, but cops are, so he types in another code that fortifies the tires right before he drives over the spike trap.

From behind, he can hear the telltale sound of cars crashing into each other, and he sends out a camera drone to keep an eye on Shadow since Stone is completely unconvinced that the hedgehog can handle all of this when he’s been hiding his pain.

The camera locks onto the hedgehog’s movements right as Shadow punches a car and sends it flying into another one. The black and red blur then jumps and kicks off a cop on a motorbike, sliding on and riding it away from the carnage littering the road. Stone eases his foot off of the gas just enough to let Shadow catch up to him on his stolen bike, and soon they’re speeding side by side.

“You okay?” Stone shouts, glancing at Shadow.

Shadow nods. “They were nothing.”

Stone laughs, letting a smile creep in. “Yeah, of course punching a car so hard it explodes is no big deal to you.”

To his surprise, Shadow’s lip curls at the edge in a tentative smile. “The missiles were a surprise.”

“What kind of evil genius would I be if I didn’t have a few tricks up my sleeve,” Stone flaunts, his grin widening. “Your new ride is fun.”

Shadow looks down at the motorcycle and shrugs. “It’ll suffice for now,” he says, which is Shadow-speak for loving it.

The banter is enjoyable in a way Stone’s never experienced before, where the two of them are in sync and…pleasant to each other. There’s no harsh insults or yelling, and compared to the other aliens Stone has had to deal with over the years, Shadow is much preferable.

“They don’t know when to realize they’re beat,” Shadow mutters with a growl, his eyes narrowing dangerously at the sight of more police vehicles driving down the highway towards them.

“If we stick around for too long, G.U.N. is gonna have an opportunity to show up. And I’d like to avoid fighting them when they’ve had time to prepare,” Stone warns. He types on the interface and frowns at the status of his weaponry supply. “I can make one more big dent in their forces before I’m out of ammo, so think you can pick off the stragglers? I’ll be right behind ya.”

“On it.”

Stone lets one last barrage of small missiles fire, taking out the few armored cars the police managed to release, but it isn’t enough to take them out completely. Shadow speeds up when the path is clear and launches off of the motorcycle, leaping into the air ready to fight. Sparks cascade out around the hedgehog, and Shadow yells as he drops to the pavement in a heap. He doesn’t get up, just curls into himself with an arm around his torso in obvious pain.

Cops in riot gear rush towards the downed hedgehog, and Stone rips the stolen gun from his back and fires shots dead in the center of three shields as a warning. He slams down on the brake and swerves, stopping the car in front of Shadow to shield him. Stone’s out of the car in a flash, dropping to his knees and shielding the growling hedgehog with his body.

“Shadow, what’s wrong?” Stone asks frantically.

His hands hover nervously over him, but Shadow is still sparking all over. And Stone is not confident that the energy that can bring Shadow to nothing but a pathetic ball on the ground wouldn’t do the same to him if he tried to touch the hedgehog right now. The knowledge doesn’t still Stone’s hands, and they flex uselessly when Shadow yells in agony, his voice strained and cracking.

“Step out from behind the vehicle!”

Stone closes his eyes with a huff at the order. If he remembers correctly, there’s at least seven riot cops waiting around the car for him. Taking down someone in heavy gear is going to be a hassle, but it has to be done.

“Stay down,” he says to Shadow, but the hedgehog just hisses in pain. Shadow definitely won’t be moving for a while.

He purses his lips and breathes, then jumps out and yanks the shield out of an unprepared cop’s hands, shoving the side into his face to knock him over. Bullets immediately fire into the shield, leaving him stuck in place, then he fires two shots with the remaining bullets, hitting two different cops in the knees. One tries to approach him, so Stone twirls the shield and slams it against the man’s side with a loud thud.

Stone crouches down and snags the baton from a downed cop, blocking more bullets with the shield. Another cop rushes at him, swinging a wide fist, and Stone elbows him in the jaw and slams the baton into the side of his neck, sending the man down with a gargled grunt.

His chest burns from the action, not used to fighting to protect since the doctor had given up on evildoing after losing to the blue hedgehog for a second time. It distracts him, thinking about all the time he spent honing his skills for the doctor’s safety and security, to be everything the man needed and more. A bullet whizzes past the shield, and Stone grimaces.

What is he doing, losing focus like this? With two lives on the line? Stone can’t see a through line to take out the few remaining cops, and his head spins, working on overdrive in all the wrong ways.

Think, Stone! If he can do anything, he can do that. And if not, then what good is he?

He can break them apart and take them on one by one if he just gets the gun away, so now the question is—

A flash of red and gold zooms into Stone’s line of sight, slamming into one of the cops and sending him flying. Shadow stops and punches a man triple his size so hard he’s pushed backwards into the remaining cops, all the cops collapsing under the weight of him.

Shadow growls at them, his appearance more menacing than the entire mini-army of cops combined. But his strength dissipates as his skinny legs shake, and Shadow falls to the ground again, the chaos energy-induced sparking returning.

Stone tosses the shield away and crouches next to the hedgehog, checking him over. Shadow is trembling, his chest heaving as he tries his hardest to breathe, and Stone’s own chest clenches at the sight.

“Shadow, look at me,” he orders, gentle but firm.

He doesn’t expect Shadow to listen, but the hedgehog turns to him with wet, terrified eyes. Stone’s heart stops, but he leans down more and meets Shadow’s gaze with his own steady and calm one. Shadow looks away, gritting his teeth and gripping the fur on his chest so hard it pulls the skin underneath.

“I shouldn’t be weak,” Shadow spits out, his chest stuttering under the strain.

“Sorry, I just watched you send a guy flying with a punch when you’re not at full strength, there’s nothing weak about that,” Stone says in disbelief. “But you’re not breathing right, so let’s focus on that. Copy me.”

It’s easy to breathe slowly, and it has the added effect of calming his own nerves over not being capable enough to help Shadow on his quest. Shadow, despite dealing with what must be excruciating pain, keeps his sharp red eyes locked onto Stone and does his best to copy him. His chest stutters, and his gloved fingers clutch harder against a wave of pain.

Shadow has stopped sparking, so he must have reigned in his powers enough. And Stone finds his hand settling on Shadow’s fuzzy back, right under the quills, his hand large enough to engulf the hedgehog. Stone is confused about why he did it, given how touch averse Shadow has been, but he doesn’t pull away and almost leans into the touch. His black fur is soft albeit messy, and when Shadow breathes in, Stone’s fingers can feel the ridges of Shadow’s spine, reminding him of their abandoned breakfast in the car and the hedgehog’s unfamiliarity with regular meals. That tightness returns to Stone’s chest, cutting off his own breathing for a second, but he recovers quickly for Shadow.

When Shadow is recovered enough, he stands slowly, scanning the wreckage around them. There’s plenty of fire and unconscious police officers, but they don’t have time to dwell on it.

“Alright, I think it’s time we ditch these imbeciles before reinforcements come,” Stone says as he stands.

Shadow follows him to the car, and they speed away. He types on the interface to scan for trackers attached to the car or in the area, and when the computer gives him the all clear, Stone types a command in that changes the exterior of the car, making it a gaudy red and giving them a new license plate to keep their location under wraps.

A loud sigh escapes him as he leans into the back of his seat, and from the corner of his eye, Shadow does the same with a small grimace.

“What happened back there?”

Shadow frowns at his lap. “I lost control. It’s getting harder.”

“You in a lot of pain?”

Shadow shakes his head, then his attention catches on the bag of food. He really doesn’t believe that, but the guy’s clearly got some issues with feeling weak in the face of a minor setback that Stone doesn’t have the energy to push.

Stone nods towards it. “Basic black coffee and a plain bagel with cream cheese. If you like the beans, I figured you’d like the drink, too, so go ahead.”

The two pick up their cups at the same time, taking tentative sips and then making matching noises of disgust at the cold sludge of a drink. Stone chugs a big sip anyways, needing the caffeine after that little fight, and rubs his face in exhaustion. He misses his espresso machine.

Chapter Text

There were a lot of men in decorated suits staring down at Shadow with scrutinizing gazes. All of their eyes were narrowed, their expressions stone cold. Shadow tried to step back away from them, but the Professor gripped his shoulder tightly and pushed him forwards, straightening Shadow’s posture with a firm hand on his back.

“Robotnik, it looks…monstrous,” one man spat.

Another huffed and elbowed the one who spoke. “Forget its looks, it could be a goddamn blob for all I care. I didn’t come for that, I want to see what it can do.”

Shadow tilted his head enough to catch the Professor’s nod. “Of course, General Drummond. Shadow is going to give you all a good show today. Right, Shadow?”

“Yes, Professor,” he replied, standing up straighter.

All of the men recoiled, and one even laughed. “Jesus, Robotnik, I thought you were joking when you said it could talk.”

“Shadow is remarkably intelligent,” the Professor stated confidently. “His mind is as nimble as his reflexes. Now, gentlemen, shall we begin?”

The men all followed the Professor into the observation room, and Shadow got himself into position, activating his shoes and flying up to the track on the wall. He stretched his limbs, readying himself to run faster than the day before. He waited and waited until the preparations were complete, then shot off at the loud buzzer.

Shadow glided across the ground, acting on instinct alone. When the buzzer sounded again, he sharpened his gaze and grunted, pushing his body harder and concentrating on the energy inside him. Sparks shot out from all of him, a blaze of light trailing behind him until it all blurred together and it felt like Shadow got absorbed into it. He skated and skated, waiting for the finishing bell, but he never heard it. Instead, the buzzer went again, and the loudspeaker crackled to life.

“Shadow, take off two rings,” the Professor’s voice commanded.

He didn’t falter, because that wasn’t who Shadow was, but his brow furrowed in confusion. The Professor never wanted to risk harming Shadow’s energy output since the first time he had removed the rings shortly after Shadow crashed to Earth. The scientists hadn’t understood why he was trapped in a meteorite decked out in alien technology and had promptly stripped him of it, only to realize immediately that the rings served a vital purpose to keep Shadow from being ripped apart from the inside by his own chaos.

But he trusted the Professor, so he twisted them until they clicked and fell off, clattering to the ground several feet below him with a loud clunk. His energy immediately swelled within him, and he gritted his teeth against the surge. The buzzer again pushed Shadow further, and he bent his knees and pumped his arms as hard as possible.

The gold and red crackles of energy around him blurred his vision, nearly blinding him until all he could see was bright, bright light engulfing him. He was surrounded by it, maybe even being consumed by it, and he growled against it. The wooshing hum of his shoes became the only thing he could hear, a constant deep rumble that entwined with his energy.

His body didn’t matter anymore, and all he felt was the powerful burst inside him. He became nothing but a light, burning as hot as the sun. If he ran forever, would he become nothing but this feeling pulsing through his veins?

“Shadow, stop!”

And just like that, Shadow opened his eyes with a gasp and lost balance, falling off the track. His reflexes caught up to his predicament before his brain could, and his legs adjusted to slide carefully down the slope under the track, the metal of his soles sparking underneath him. Shadow stumbled when his brain took control again, and he fell into a heap on his hands and knees on the cold ground.

Shadow’s breath was harsh and labored, and he clutched at his chest, trying to reign it under control. What was that feeling? If he kept running, what would have happened? He couldn’t actually remember that first time his rings had been removed, only that he had woken up to fires being put out around the lab. That had been when the Professor instructed him with all the gravity the old man could muster to never take his rings off unless told to.

His vision blurred, and he shook his head to clear it, but it only made him dizzy. The Professor and the men were talking above him, and Shadow lifted his head to see that all of their faces were adorned with wide grins, similar to the look the Professor had when Shadow’s test results were impressive.

He sucked in a greedy breath, then pushed himself to his feet and collected his rings. They snapped into place with a satisfying click, and his shoulders slumped at the feeling of his energy output shrinking, turning back into a little ball of warmth in his chest.

The Professor and the men exited the observation deck, and Shadow approached them. The men, who he assumed were from the military, walked to the other side of the room, but the Professor made his way over to Shadow.

“Why did you have me take off my rings?” Shadow questioned quietly.

“They wanted a good show, my boy,” the old man replied. “Shadow, do you know what you are?”

Shadow frowned. “What I am…?”

“To those men, and everyone in this lab, you are the most important thing in the world.”

Shadow’s heart thumped, and his hands gripped the fur on the side of his legs. Warmth spread in his chest at the words, his mouth turning up into a small smile. The Professor kneeled down with a loud grunt of exertion and set a large, calloused and wrinkled hand on his shoulder.

“Without you, Shadow, none of this would exist. The day you crashed here was the day the world changed forever. You make things that were once inconceivable a reality, and you’ve given me a wonderful opportunity to bring this world into a better future.”

The Professor’s kind words turned sour as the man’s face hardened, his bushy eyebrows and mustache turning downwards into disappointment. Shadow tried to back away from the harsh look, but the man’s hand kept him rooted to the ground.

“Which is why you need to stay put, and stop your little escapades into that town.”

Shadow froze, his eyes wide. “How did you—”

He cut him off with a dark look. “I know everything, Shadow, and I know that it was Maria’s idea. But that doesn’t change the fact that you’re too precious to wander off like that. It could compromise the integrity of the project, and how many people would that affect?”

His ears folded back in shame, and his grip on his fur tightened.

“This is your home, Shadow,” the Professor reminded him. “I need you to help me keep those men happy, so that we can be happy. Understood?”

Shadow nodded, avoiding the man’s disappointed gaze. “I’m sorry, Professor. I—”

The Professor cut him off, patting his shoulder. “You were curious, no need to explain. Let’s just keep your outings to only stargazing, hm? Now, I bet Maria is getting antsy without you.”

The two separated, and Shadow tried to shake off the guilt by shaking his hands out. He walked out of the room, past the military men that followed his every movement, but not before catching one last passing comment.

“Robotnik, you let it walk around unsupervised?”

“Drummond, don’t worry. No one is more obedient than Shadow.”

Shadow let the words rush past him as he strided quickly to Maria’s room. And he let the fearful stares from the people he passed rush past him. And the way some people jumped out of his way when they saw him approach. And the sound of a rifle cocking at the sight of him.

He opened the door to Maria’s room and shut it gently, and the girl popped her head up from the table in the kitchenette excitedly at the sound. Maria grinned at him and waved him over.

“Just in time for snacks! I peeled like four oranges, and now I’m gonna turn into one, look,” Maria said as she wiggled her stained fingers.

Shadow ignored her theatrics and dropped face first into the pillow fort. For once, doing laps in the reactor chamber actually tired him out.

“Woah-ho, you’re crushing Mrs. Cuddlekins, what did she do to you?” Maria asked as she dropped down next to him, sitting criss-crossed.

The hedgehog sighed and rolled over enough to remove Mrs. Cuddlekins from underneath his stomach. He fluffed her up and set her down gently next to Maria. “Sorry, Mrs. Cuddlekins.”

Maria nodded. “She accepts your apology ‘cause she doesn’t see you this bummed out often. What happened today?”

The blonde picked up an orange slice from the bowl she had brought with her, and she shoved it at Shadow’s closed mouth. He frowned and leaned away, but she kept shoving it at him. Shadow groaned and opened his mouth, biting the orange to free Maria’s hands. She forced him to eat a couple more, but then she nudged him gently.

“The Professor knows what we’ve been up to,” Shadow muttered.

Maria deflated with a sigh, losing all of her silly energy. “Man, I thought we were being discreet, and it’s not like anyone saw us sneak out! Or saw us in town! I mean, we didn’t even go anywhere, we just kinda stared at it,” she complained.

Shadow shrugged. “It’s too risky to do it again. What would someone say if they saw me?”

Probably something similar to what the men earlier had thought of him, that he was some inhuman monster.

Maria caught his frown turning contemplative and introspective, and she laid down next to Shadow, leaning on her side, her elbow propping up her head. Shadow turned enough to meet her gaze, and she pursed her lips, for once thinking about what she wanted to say next. That was rare for Maria, the girl who spoke first and dealt with the consequences later, so Shadow shuffled closer.

“You know you don’t deserve to be locked up all the time, right?” Shadow’s frown deepened. “I’m serious! You act like you deserve to be kept behind bars, and it makes me so—just—ragh!”

His ears folded back in shame, and an apology fell out of his mouth, Shadow mumbling, “I’m sorry, Maria.”

She huffed, changing positions so that she was laying on her stomach, mirroring her friend, and she sidled right up next to him. Maria bumped his shoulder with hers and gave him a soft smile.

“I get angry ‘cause you deserve better, it’s not your fault.” Maria sighed. “But you should know what I’m gonna say next, pal, ‘cause—”

“—if you’re mean to Shadow, I’m gonna have to beat you up for being mean to my best friend,” they finished together, Shadow muttering the saying he had heard time and time again.

Maria nudged him again, hard enough to jostle his quills, and Shadow shoved her back, making her laugh. Seeing her happy was enough for Shadow’s mouth to twitch, a brief smile appearing, and Maria poked his cheek.

“A smile? Wow, never seen that before,” she teased.

Shadow pushed her hand away, but his smile grew. “You, being annoying? I’ve definitely seen that before.”

Maria laughed, surprised at his comment. “Oh, so you wanna fight? Is that what I’m hearing?”

“You can’t possibly beat me.”

They smirked at each other, their gazes narrowing dangerously, and they striked. Shadow went for Maria’s neck, her most ticklish spot, but Maria’s longer arms beat him to his own weak spot, right behind his left ear. She scratched the sweet spot a second before his fingers reached her neck, and he couldn’t resist his base instinct to go limp at the touch, turning into a puddle of contentment and annoyance at losing to the simple problem of being short. And Maria, the sore loser that she was, snickered as she kept at it. Shadow grumbled under his breath, but it just further encouraged Maria into pulling him in close, laying down side by side, one of her arms pinned under his head.

“Shadow, have I ever told you my secret plan?”

Shadow turned to the blonde with a curious frown. “Secret plan?”

She nodded, leaning in closer. He could feel the warm puffs of her quick breaths ruffle his fur, and her fingers moved so that she was scratching the top of his head, right in the middle of the red streak. Maria looked around the room, as if worried someone could hear them, then brought Shadow even closer so that he could feel her scratchy pink sweater where it rubbed up against his arm.

“I’m gonna get my driver’s license, get a really cool expensive car ‘cause Grandpa doesn’t know how to say no to me, and then we’re gonna take a test drive. Just you and me. And we’re just gonna keep going, not looking back. We can go on an adventure! See the world!”

Maria’s eyes were sparkling with excitement, her whispered words nothing but the truth. And Shadow just couldn’t understand it.

“Maria, they won’t let me leave,” Shadow stated plainly.

She waved a hand dismissively. “Yeah, that’s why my excuse is gonna be that we’re just going on a quick test drive. They won’t suspect a thing.”

Shadow stiffened in her arms, narrowing his gaze in a way that he hoped was serious, but Maria was itching all the right spots and made it impossible to muster up a glare. “I don’t think that will work.”

“Okay, so let’s come up with a different plan.” Maria hummed as she thought, her face scrunching in concentration. “I use my Robotnik brain, become a scientist, come work here, and then I take you out for a really really important experiment called Project Shadow Needs to Get Out More.”

“Maria, seriously—”

She laughed. “I am being serious! It doesn’t matter what the plan ends up being ‘cause you and I are gonna leave this place one day. I’m not travelling the world by myself, mister, so I’m dragging you along with me. No matter what.”

Maria’s optimism in the face of impossibility always confused him. How could she be so certain that she wanted him in her life for that long? Shadow knew, deep down, that he would be G.U.N.'s for the rest of his life, however long that ended up being. But then, there was Maria, ignoring everything that could go wrong just to make this promise to him. Just to cheer him up.

He didn’t want to think about his real future, so he closed his eyes, sighing to rid himself of his residual stress. If there was anyone to trust to be able to pull off an insane scheme like that, it was Maria. And maybe he wanted to be more like her, positive and confident in a way he could never imagine himself being, having faith in a good future. Shadow opened his eyes and smiled at Maria, teasing and tentative.

“Well, someone’s got to be with you so that you don’t get lost all the time,” he said casually, nudging her for emphasis.

Maria sat up, her mouth open wide as she scoffed. “Shadow, that was one time! One…okay, maybe two or three.”

She pouted dramatically, shoving his head away from her before grabbing the TV remote and flipping through channels. But she still glanced back at him with a pleased smile, happy that she could cheer him up. Shadow popped another orange slice into his mouth, shifting until he was side by side with Maria again, the TV visible.

Maybe one day, if Maria really still wanted an alien hedgehog in her life, they would get out of here. Shadow kept the thought to himself, still unsure, but a future where he was free, Maria by his side, sounded nice.

There are seven reasons Shadow has come up with to describe how miserable he feels, ranging from the mundane to the extreme. First on the list is the way his chaos energy pulses angrily in his chest, harsher and hotter than before after his little slip up, testing Shadow’s ability to not only control his own powers but to also tamp down the temptation to just start screaming. The rest of the list consists of smaller things that just add to his overall level of discomfort, from the tension in his limbs to the way his quills itch. The radio isn’t helping either, advertising things he’s never heard of and playing songs that sound wholly different from anything Maria ever had.

But somehow the worst thing is that ever since their little run in with the cops, the car ride has been silent. Which wouldn’t necessarily be an issue if Stone could just stop staring.

For a man focused on driving and watching a police tracker on the computer in the car—which Shadow is still quietly fascinated by because he does not understand how it changed—Stone is awfully concerned about what Shadow is doing. And he isn’t doing much nor has he been. He drank the cold coffee and decided that yes, the beans were way better even though he had tried coffee hot before, the way it was intended. Then he ate the bagel and decided that it was good albeit it plain, and he switched to snacking on coffee beans until he realized Stone’s attention on him had lasted way longer than Shadow liked.

That’s the confusing part, too, because Stone’s focus on him seems to be out of concern. The man’s black brows furrow when his eyes flick to Shadow, but he clears his face of the emotion whenever Shadow catches him. It’s incredibly irritating since Stone is attempting subtlety and subsequently failing at it.

Stone’s eyes rove over the computer screen for a moment, then roll over to Shadow, and his lips purse. Shadow catches it out of the corner of his eye and whips his head to meet the man head on, glaring for good measure.

“You’re staring,” Shadow states, daring Stone to deny it.

Instead, the man turns back to the road ahead of him with a nod. “Yeah, nothing gets past you.”

Shadow huffs and rolls his eyes. “Yes, but why?”

“Because I want to make sure your powers aren’t going to have an outburst again. You doing alright?”

Stone asks the question so casually, and Shadow turns away, looking out the window instead of facing the man’s unneeded concern.

“I’m fine,” he grinds out.

Stone is being very polite considering he had watched Shadow have a breakdown over his own failures. If the Professor had been there instead, Shadow knows he would have gotten an earful, telling him to get a grip and focus on the task at hand. If Shadow can’t handle his own energy, what good is he? For god’s sake, Shadow had almost cried in front of the man, the pain was so unbearable in that moment. Stone should have told him to tough it out, but he just looked at him like Maria would when Shadow was upset.

He breathes slowly, leaning into the seat more. The leather is smooth and warm from absorbing his body heat, but his mind drifts to Stone’s calloused hand against his back. The Professor’s hands had been wrinkly and gnarly from age, but plenty of the scientists and soldiers that handled him had callouses like Stone, worn from working hard over the years. Unlike the people from the lab, Stone didn’t yank his fur or grab him hard enough to bruise.

Shadow hates the thought and the conflicting feelings it leaves him with, but it was comforting, like Maria, and firm in a grounding way, like the Professor.

“How much longer until we reach the G.U.N. base?” Shadow asks suddenly to shift his focus back to the task at hand. Stone can only be so lenient when it comes to Shadow’s failings, especially when the man is risking his safety for his sake.

Stone hums, looking over the rectangular device that shows the directions. “Five hours, so we’re getting there later than I would’ve liked after our little detour. But it’ll be a lot less waiting for the plan I have.”

“What is the plan?”

“It’s an older base with less modern tech, so it’ll be easier to sneak into than their headquarters. There’s a supply truck coming in tonight, so I’ll sneak on it to get in, then steal a uniform to blend in and head to the records room, grab what we need, and leave,” Stone explains quickly. “Should be easy.”

Shadow frowns at him. “You’re going in alone?”

The man turns to Shadow with a frown of his own, pity written across his face. It makes Shadow bristle, and Stone’s words only make it worse as he says, “Yeah, you can sit this one out and chill.”

“I don’t need to chill,” Shadow argues, crossing his arms. “You know I’m up to the task.”

“Shadow, that’s not it,” Stone sighs. “You’ve done plenty, and your powers are getting worse. I’m giving you a break, that’s all.”

Frustration boils to the surface, and he sits up straight, leaning closer to Stone. He glares until the man meets his gaze with a stubborn look of his own. All those years of his body frozen in place, left to sit in the dark until someone needed him for something, for anything. Even when the Professor woke him up, he stood and waited for instructions while the Professor and his grandson did everything, and he–he could be, he can be—

“I can be useful,” he blurts out, but it feels like he shouts it, some pathetic, desperate plea to have a purpose, and his ears fold back at the words.

If he was embarrassed earlier, he’s mortified now, and his face flushes. He wants to avert his gaze to avoid seeing whatever look of disgust Stone is going to give him, but the man turns away first. His fingers grip the steering wheel tight before loosening, his stare growing distant and unfocused, or maybe just focused on something not in front of him. But he doesn’t seem mad, just contemplative, and Shadow leans away from him and glares down at his lap.

“You’re tired of being stuck on the sidelines,” Stone says quietly.

Shadow blinks, surprised to hear his thoughts vocalized, and his eyes soften. When he chances a glance at Stone, he has a small smile on his face. But, his eyes are tight, that distant gaze keeping his smile from reaching them. He almost looks like…he understands.

Stone huffs out a quick breath and rolls his shoulders. “Yeah, I’m sick of it, too. I think we’re just a little too used to being followers, huh?”

Relief over being understood lets him sit back and untense, but the embarrassment comes back tenfold when he realizes that being understood means being understood. Stone may have similar feelings, but Shadow feels too exposed.

“Okay, how about we have a partnership?” Shadow blinks at Stone, tilting his head, and the man’s smile brightens. “No sidelining, nobody being bossy, we’ll just be…equals. How’s that sound?”

Stone’s generosity and willingness to help still surprises him, and Shadow has seen the man risk his own life for him already. Even offering to make him a new ring after everything Shadow did—almost destroying his planet and getting someone close to him killed—is a kindness he doesn’t deserve. But…it feels nice, and Shadow is very grateful for the man’s assistance, as confusing as it is.

“That will suffice,” Shadow says quietly with a small nod, and he can feel his mouth quirk up ever so slightly at the corners.

Stone laughs. “Yeah, I think it’ll suffice. Gotta say, though, you make a much better partner than the red idiot.”

Shadow’s face scrunches up, trying to remember who that refers to, then he nods. “The one who thinks with his fists.”

“Yup, that’s the one. Let me tell you, working with him was a headache and a half,” he complains.

“I thought you worked with all of them?”

Stone nods. “This time, but the doctor and I had to deal with him before this. And the blue one’s been an annoyance for years.”

“Why?” Shadow finds himself asking.

He expects Stone to shut him down and for them to go back to sitting in silence, but Stone groans dramatically and turns to Shadow. “You can probably make some guesses as to why, but you want the whole story? It’s a long one.”

The hedgehog blinks, but he nods, curious to learn about the only people who have ever looked like him.

So Stone tells him the whole story, in long parts, about working for the younger Robotnik and first meeting an alien hedgehog before the other two came to Earth. Shadow leans back into the seat and watches as the man gesticulates, his free hand waving about as he talks. And when Shadow, growing too comfortable around the man next to him, accidentally interrupts with a question, Stone isn’t annoyed. He answers it without hesitation, almost excited to have an avid listener, and hours pass like that.

By the time they reach their destination, Stone driving off of the road and into a forest to keep themselves hidden, the man has told him about so many things that Shadow can barely keep track of what he’s learned about the modern world.

“So, it’s a phone, and a GPS?” Shadow questions, holding the little rectangle that Stone said was a telephone.

“It does way more than that,” Stone responds. “I’ll let you mess with it when we’re done, we’ve got a truck to sneak onto.”

They step out of the car, and Shadow stretches, wincing as it pulls on his injuries. He can hear Stone rustling around in the trunk for the things they need, but Shadow’s focus is on the distant lights of the massive G.U.N. base. The one that they’re going to enter soon.

His hands clench and unclench repeatedly, staring at the base with a whole tangle of emotions. Why does he feel like this? It had been so easy to go into G.U.N. headquarters before, determination keeping him focused on his task to the point that he doesn’t remember thinking, just acting doggedly and on instinct. Compared to that, having to deal with the other hedgehog and all of G.U.N., this should be easy.

When did he start letting emotions get to him like this? Stone starts walking forwards, and Shadow is stuck, rooted to the ground, his heart pounding in his chest. His head should be clear, and his heart should be steady, and he shouldn’t be weak.

It’s just a G.U.N. base, something that he’s spent practically all of his life in. Familiarity is something that he’s been craving since he woke up from stasis, and here it is, waiting for him.

“Shadow, we should—are you okay?”

Stone is watching him, frowning deeply, and that centers Shadow, reminding him of who he is and what he needs to be. The ultimate lifeform doesn’t falter, he faces challenges head on without flinching, resolute and stronger than anyone.

He nods and forces his feet to move, walking past with his face collected and calm, and Stone follows after him quietly. They make their way through the forest until Shadow’s ear twitches at the sound of voices, and Shadow’s sharp vision narrows in on the two soldiers leaning against the delivery truck, smoking cigarettes.

“Look, all I’m saying is, what’s the urgency in this delivery? You know we’ve all got bigger issues to deal with than delivering some canisters.” The soldier complaining places the cigarette back in her mouth, inhaling and exhaling. “Like, do you think this is necessary right now?”

The guy next to her rolls his eyes. “Obviously not, but I’m not gonna question it. The moon exploding was already bad enough, and everyone keeps blaming it on us. Thank god we’re not in charge of damage control.”

The two keep talking as Shadow and Stone continue to sneak through the trees, hiding in the shadows. The soldiers are facing away from them, but he makes sure he softens his footsteps, hyper-aware of how his limbs feel foreign to him, his powers malfunctioning making things even worse. Stone nods towards the truck, and they crouch down low until they reach the truck and slide down into the dirt, crawling under the truck and laying there.

His ears twitch at the sound of a buzz coming from where the soldiers are, and the woman swears. “Shit, they’re ready for us.”

“Dallas better not fucking complain about the cigarettes again today or I’m losing it.”

The two enter the truck, slamming the doors shut, and Shadow and Stone wait until the truck rumbles to life to grab the undercarriage and cling to it, wrapping their arms and legs around it. The truck drives away, kicking dirt into Shadow’s quills, but it isn’t enough to distract him from the growing sense of dread pooling in his chest.

He glances at Stone, who is staring at nothing above him, his expression composed and focused. Shadow tries to copy him, but the further they go, the closer they get to G.U.N., and the more he grits his teeth.

The truck stops as a guard talks to the two delivery drivers, then it continues on its way. He lowers his head enough to look at where they’re going, and he watches as the truck passes soldiers in the yard idling, driving down a long path until it enters a large hangar and parks in between identical trucks.

They wait patiently for the truck to be unloaded, dropping down to the ground quietly as boots and carts make plenty of noise to cover them. The G.U.N. personnel slam the truck closed and loudly chat about work and personal lives as they walk away, and Shadow lays there until his heightened hearing can no longer pick up the sound of footsteps.

Shadow rolls out first, Stone following his lead, and they stand. Stone dusts himself off briefly, then glances around the closed hangar. There isn’t a single person in sight, but Shadow stays crouched low to the ground just in case.

“Fun fact,” Stone says while weaving through the trucks towards the door that leads into the base, “G.U.N. is so confident in their security systems that they don’t feel the need to have security cameras inside their bases.”

The hedgehog blinks. “That wasn’t the case in the lab.”

His companion turns to look at him, his brow furrowed, before turning back to their task. “There was probably a reason for that.”

Stone doesn’t elaborate, instead opening the door and stopping at the guard stationed in front. The guard starts to turn his head, and Shadow grabs the back of his shirt and yanks him backwards, kicking him in the face. It knocks him out instantly, and Stone carries on, stripping the man of his clothes and changing into them quickly. He tosses some rope to Shadow from the bag he brought with them, and Shadow ties him up and drags him behind some crates where no one will notice him for a while.

The sight of Stone donned in a G.U.N. uniform rattles Shadow’s already frayed nerves, and he frowns at it. Stone smiles at him, nodding his head with an amused huff.

“Yeah, not a fan of their uniforms either, but the helmet is necessary if these assholes are gonna plaster my face on the wanted posters. Now, stay close.”

Shadow follows him out, walking a step behind Stone, close to his hip. He keeps his back and shoulders straight, his fists clenched at his sides at the ready. The hallways are empty for now, but it can only last so long.

As if he asked for it, he hears the sound of footsteps rounding a corner, and he leaps up into the exposed pipes in the ceiling. Stone had told him about them earlier, in case of this exact moment, and he’s silently grateful that this base is outdated enough to have this. He swings up onto them and hovers with his shoes, gliding slowly to follow Stone from above.

They move like this, Shadow keeping an eye on their surroundings from above for a while, twisting and turning through the endless hallways until they reach an elevator. Stone waves a hand for him to come down, so he drops down as the elevator opens, sliding in without making a sound.

The doors close, and all of a sudden, all of his building nerves come to the forefront. The walls feel like they’re closing in on him, and his breathing stops. Being here, the memories of all the days and nights and decades of being stuck in a glass cage take over, and he stumbles backwards, trying to get away from the terror threatening to take over his senses. Shadow can’t escape, but he bumps into Stone’s leg, and a large hand sets itself on his head, running it gently over his quills.

“Shadow, hey,” Stone rushes out. “What’s wrong?”

He grits his teeth, forcing his lungs to take in oxygen with a sharp intake of air, and then the elevator door opens, and Shadow’s worries only double at the sight of a horde of G.U.N. soldiers surrounding a woman decorated in stars. Shadow stiffens and drops into a defensive stance, and he can see Stone’s hand fly to the gun at his hip out of the corner of his eye.

“Well, I don’t know why you two needed to come here, but I’m grateful, really.” The woman speaks with a threatening smile, her eyes icy and her smile tight and thin. “Makes it a lot easier to track you down when you know that your enemies are walking right into your trap, none the wiser.”

Shadow bares his teeth at her, growling quietly. His quills raise along his back, his whole body vibrating with the need to move, but with his powers acting up, they’re definitely outnumbered.

The woman lowers her gaze to Shadow, narrowing her eyes at him and dropping her smile. “Give up now and come along quietly, you’ve caused enough trouble for everyone already.”

Stone glowers back at her, but he turns to Shadow, a question in his gaze. Shadow meets his eyes and nods. The man sighs and drops his hands down, and the woman smiles again tauntingly. She waves her hand, gesturing for the soldiers behind her to lower their weapons. A few walk out with cuffs, one pair much more intimidating than the other, clearly intended for Shadow.

He has a really bad idea, but it’s the only option.

“This might hurt,” he whispers, grabbing Stone’s hand.

And in a flash, Shadow teleports them out, but his powers spark chaotically, and they’re falling from mid-air, crashing to the ground with matching grunts of pain. He recovers quicker than Stone, shaking his head with a groan and pushing himself up onto his knees. When he opens his eyes, the woman from before is laid out on the ground, a few soldiers scattered behind her in similar positions.

Shit, he must be holding back a lot more chaos energy than he thought if he managed to teleport all of these people.

But Shadow doesn’t have time to dwell on that thought and grits his teeth against the intense burning running through him from abusing his powers, and he grabs Stone and pulls him to his feet. Stone shakes his head and stumbles up, letting Shadow take the lead as they run away from the unrecovered G.U.N. agents.

“Shadow, why did you—,” Stone starts to ask, but Shadow cuts him off by shaking his head as they keep running.

“I didn’t have a choice. Where’s the room we need to get to?”

Stone frowns at him, concerned, but it only lasts a second before he’s analyzing their surroundings.

“We’re back on the ground level, we’ve gotta go four floors lower,” Stone says. “It should be right below us.”

Shadow nods. “Okay, prepare yourself.”

His companion furrows in brow in confusion at him, then his eyes blow open right as he realizes what Shadow means, and he teleports them with a gasp of pain.

Stone lands on his feet this time only because Shadow lets go of him instantly, but he can feel his powers building into an outburst. Before he hits the ground, he teleports unintentionally, landing a few feet away from Stone, sparking.

He pushes himself up, his limbs shaking. Stone crosses the distance in a second and helps pull him to his feet. Even when Shadow is upright, Stone doesn’t remove his grip on Shadow’s arm, and he levels the hedgehog with a stern look.

“Don’t push yourself, even if we are in a tough spot,” he scolds gently. “Are you okay?”

“Yes.”

The answer is no, and Shadow’s body shakes in Stone’s hold, giving him away to the man. But Stone lets go slowly, his hand hovering next to Shadow, as if he doesn’t trust that Shadow can stay standing without help. Shadow just stares at him, tilting his head, and after a few seconds of their staredown, Stone stands up straight and strides towards a computer in the room they’re in.

Stone sits down, taking a USB out of his pocket. Shadow honestly still doesn’t understand how it works, but he doesn’t need to. He stands next to Stone and watches him work, occasionally surveying their surroundings for incoming agents, but they’re alone in this room for now. The large rows of computer hardware is at least familiar to him, similar to the computer room in the lab, but he’s no help to Stone in here. So he stands next to him, his arms crossed.

The sound of the keyboard clacking almost drowns out the distant sound of boots pounding on the ground, but his ears twitch and swivel towards the door, his head following after.

“We’re running out of time, how much longer do you need,” Shadow asks.

Stone frowns at the computer, typing something quickly, then leans back and scrubs his face. “Fuck!”

The hedgehog tilts his head. “Is there a problem?”

“I can’t find the damn file. I’ve opened every classified file G.U.N. has, and not one of them is about you,” Stone complains. “Is there any code word related to the project you can think of? Something other than just your name?”

“No, I wasn’t allowed to know that kind of information,” he replies quietly. “There’s really nothing?”

Stone’s hard eyes soften, glancing back and forth between Shadow and the computer. The footsteps grow louder to Shadow, and he sighs, moving to grab Stone again.

“More agents are coming, we should leave now,” he forces out against the growing sense of defeat.

They’re outnumbered, outsmarted, and unable to complete their task, and Shadow…doesn’t feel anything. All this work for some stupid idea, and they’ve reached the same conclusion Shadow had reached days ago. There was nothing left for him here on this planet, no point to survival, so it’s best for him to die alongside the Robotniks, where he can’t hurt anyone anymore.

He tugs Stone’s wrist, but the man stays put. His dark brown eyes harden as he turns back to the computer, then he sighs.

“I messed up enough to get us caught in this mess, but that doesn’t mean I’m leaving until I know for sure there’s nothing,” Stone says, his voice hard. He turns back to Shadow, determined. “Can you cover me for a few more minutes? If your powers are too unstable, we’ll leave right now.”

The agents are practically at the door, so Shadow doesn’t have time to hesitate. He nods and lets go of Stone, pushing his thoughts away for now. He can spiral when Stone’s life isn’t in danger because of his desire to keep living.

Shadow stalks over to the door and steps outside, gliding straight towards the soldiers coming for them. They don’t have time to notice his presence, and he speeds up, gritting his teeth and slamming into the soldier in front, knocking her back into the ones behind her. But he’s not at full strength without his powers, relying on just what his body can manage, damaged and trembling, and they recover quickly.

He growls and grabs the soldier nearest to him, throwing them over his shoulder and taking their gun. Shadow fires at one of the soldiers getting up, hitting his leg, and glides away, dodging swings for him. He skates away, letting them chase him, building up momentum the whole time to put more power into his swings. When he’s going fast enough, he backflips and turns, sending four soldiers flying with a spin kick.

Sparks start shooting out from his hands, and he yelps at the sudden pain burning through him. Even just moving a bit energizes him, giving his chaos energy more fuel to add to the fire. Teleporting earlier didn’t help, but he has to do this. He can’t be responsible for failing someone else.

A soldier swings for him, throwing a fist, but Shadow catches it and twists the man’s arm, earning a scream as he throws him backwards. His limbs are cramping and his bones ache, leaving him winded and open for another soldier to grab him by the shoulders. Whoever has him pushes him down to the ground, slamming his head down into the concrete, and Shadow gasps in pain.

It’s enough for him to lose control of his powers again, and a wave of chaos energy spreads out across the whole floor. The blast knocks all of the soldiers to the ground with shouts and yelps, the energy arcing all across their body, practically electrocuting them. And Shadow doesn’t fare any better, clacking his teeth shut and stifling his instinctive yell.

The surge continues, quickening his breathing and heart rate so badly that Shadow wonders if this is it, the moment where his inhibitor rings become useless. Where there’s nothing to stop his body from destroying itself and everything around it. Where Shadow ceases to exist.

“Shadow!”

He gasps as if he was drowning, and his heart skips a beat, giving him a chance to slow down, to calm himself, and to get a damn grip. That thought sounds an awful lot like the Professor, reminding him that there are people that rely on him, and right now, that person is sliding on his knees in front of him, resting a calloused, gentle hand on his back, calling his name.

“Shadow, you with me?”

Shadow has never reigned his powers under control quicker than he does now, shoving and stomping down on his chaos energy until it recedes to just destroy his insides, leaving Stone unharmed. His head is spinning, and his vision blurs when he pushes himself up. His hands shake, causing him to lose his balance, and Stone is catching him in his arms, helping Shadow to sit up.

Stone huffs loudly, the sound almost a tired laugh. “You’re one damn stubborn hedgehog, you know that? Come on, let’s get out of here. Think you can run?”

Despite his body being against the task, Shadow forces himself up to his feet with Stone’s help. The ultimate lifeform shouldn’t need his assistance for the simple task of standing, but there’s no point in arguing. All he has to do is be better, be stronger, and be what he needs to be, right now.

“Let’s get out of here,” Shadow answers with a firm nod.

Stone nods, taking a rifle from one of the soldiers, and they set out, jogging down the hallway. Their pace is slower than Shadow prefers, given the circumstances, but the winding hallways could have soldiers waiting at any given spot. As they run, Shadow recovers enough to pick up the pace, and Stone matches him, making the hedgehog realize that Stone is slowing down for his sake.

He can’t decide whether he appreciates it or hates it, but he’ll have to worry about it later as they round a corner into a massive room with soldiers at the ready, guns poised to shoot. The decorated woman from before is leading the pack, a deathly cold glare aimed at them.

“Rockwell, I figured you’d have way bigger issues to deal with than chasing a hedgehog,” Stone taunts, grabbing the rifle slung over his shoulder.

Rockwell’s eye twitches in irritation. “And I thought you were just Robotnik’s little errand boy, so I guess we were both wrong. Fire.”

There’s no time to dodge, and Stone does the stupidest thing in the world by shoving Shadow behind him. His eyes widen in surprise, but he takes the opportunity to grab Stone’s hand and force a teleport again. He teleported them on instinct, simple flight or flight making it impossible to aim where they land, so they drop to the ground somewhere outside, falling and rolling around in the dirt.

A bullet whizzes past Shadow’s head, and he snaps up to see that they landed in the yard of the base. But now that he isn’t acting impulsively, jumping for the sole reason of keeping Stone from taking a bullet for him, his eyes land on the forest where the car is, and he fumbles around until his hand lands on Stone. Shadow grits his teeth and focuses with all of his might, and they pop into the forest, landing with a thud in fallen, dried leaves.

He shakes himself and pushes his chaos energy back again, but he won’t be able to hold it for long this time. There’s a high likelihood that he’ll teleport again any minute, and if he hasn’t already hurt Stone, the next time definitely will.

Speaking of, Stone hisses at his side, and Shadow turns with wide eyes. His mouth opens at the sight of blood dripping through Stone’s fingers, slick and shiny under the light of the shattered moon. His hand is pressed tightly against his arm, hiding what Shadow knows to be a gunshot wound.

“Stone—”

“It’s a graze, I’ll live,” Stone interrupts. “We’re not too far from the car, so let’s get a head start.”

The man stands with a small grunt and starts walking, but Shadow stays down, turning his attention back to the G.U.N. base in the distance. Searchlights pop on, scanning the perimeter, and his hearing picks up orders blasting over speakers that are being drowned out by the sound of cars and trucks revving to life.

“Shadow? Shit, you didn’t get hit, did you?” Shadow shakes his head before Stone reaches him. “Okay, good, come on.”

“Did you find anything?”

The sound of Stone’s boots crunching leaves stops at Shadow’s question. “What?”

Slowly, he tears his eyes away from G.U.N.’s looming presence behind them and meets Stone’s worried eyes with a frown, Shadow’s face scrunched up from his own worries.

“The files. Did you find anything,” he asks again, quieter this time, afraid to voice the question.

And Stone just stares at him, his mouth opening then closing, pressing his lips together. That’s all the answer he needs for Shadow to know that this was all for nothing, and now Stone is bleeding in front of him—because of him. Running through those hallways, their hands entwined together, only reminded him of his last moments with Maria, and he had failed her, too.

Shadow forces himself to his feet, closing his eyes against the sudden desire to curl into a ball and disappear. He can’t do that yet, not with G.U.N. as a threat over their heads.

“Shadow, just because I didn’t find anything, it doesn’t mean there’s nothing,” Stone explains quickly. “They knew we were coming, they probably moved the file. G.U.N. would never get rid of something that important, so let’s get out of here and out of dodge, then we’ll come up with a new plan.”

Words have never been easy for Shadow, to listen to or to speak them, but the blaring sirens in the background make it easy to say what comes next.

“Go to the car, and get a head start. They clearly have a way to track me, so I’ll distract them to buy you some time. I can find you if I teleport.”

Stone scoffs, and Shadow’s shoulders hunch. “It’s not gonna be enough meaningful time. You’ve already pushed yourself enough today, and I’d guess that you’re running out of time before you’re out of commission. We’ll—”

Shadow wills himself to turn away from Stone, and he cuts the man off, his voice cold and gravelly, “It wasn’t up for discussion.”

“Wait, Shadow—!”

But he teleports away before Stone can finish, reappearing above the base high up, and Shadow lets himself fall.

There is no logical explanation for why Stone felt the need to lie, to give him false hope that there is any chance for him. But if there’s anything Shadow knows, it’s that G.U.N. wants him more than anything. So, why not give them what they want.

Shadow snarls, pulling his fist back as he soars downwards, and he musters up all the energy he can control and slams into the ground, sending a shockwave that sends every vehicle on the move falling over. The explosions roar in his ears, but he just drops down and curls up, dashing forwards to knock over any people in his way. They crash to the ground with sparks radiating off of them, his fists glowing and crawling with energy too powerful for anyone to handle.

His chest heaves with every punch and kick he throws, yelling and screaming and grunting and howling as his energy consumes him. Shadow slams himself into guns and chests and legs and heads, and he doesn’t care who he hits or even if they stay down. All he needs to do is buy time for Stone, no matter the cost to himself. Bullets fire at him, and he forces a teleport, spiraling out of control, disappearing and reappearing without any rhyme or reason, dragging anyone he can reach down with him.

When he first fought G.U.N., waking up in a world that had left him behind, he had been nothing but angry and vengeful, needing to destroy everything in his path. But now, his body wrenching itself apart and doing more damage to G.U.N. than ever before, he doesn’t feel a thing. His senses fall away, leaving a loud humming from his energy growing and expanding, and he can’t feel anything except this.

Until suddenly he’s crashing to the ground with a thud, his energy fizzing out. His vision goes dark, and Shadow scrambles to push himself up.

“...got it…control, Commander Rockwell,” a voice says, cutting in and out as Shadow struggles to command his body to do what he wants.

His hand slips, and his head drops to the ground, a soft moan falling from his lips. The hedgehog blinks, but he can’t see a thing, darkness creeping in from the edges, and a sharp shot of fear runs down his spine.

He doesn’t really want this, this helplessness, all at the mercy of G.U.N., unable to defend himself. At the lab, he at least had the Professor and Maria there to advocate for him when things were complicated. And now, he was finally free of them, no longer G.U.N.’s favorite experiment. Shadow has barely tasted freedom, and he’s already losing it because of his own mistakes.

“Good, take it…hurry or…”

Hands grab at him, yanking his fur and angering his injuries, but Shadow barely has the strength to keep his eyes open, let alone shake them off.

“...moving out…need a bigger security detail…labs…”

Shadow’s chest heaves one last time, one last act of resistance, his head lolling to the side as he passes out.

Chapter Text

The sun was setting, shining from the horizon directly into the Mean Bean’s front window. It would be a pretty sight if the window didn’t create a glare that shone directly into Stone’s eye as he scrubbed down the countertops. He huffed, finishing off the counter and putting all of the cleaned dishes and pieces of equipment back in their rightful places.

“Goodnight, Stone,” Brayden called as he walked out of the door.

Stone didn’t deign him with a response, just walked over to lock the door behind him and close the blinds. Now alone, he converted the cafe into the secret lab built for the doctor’s inevitable return. Stone sat down at the main computer and checked all of the systems and programs to ensure that they were all running at perfect optimization. When he ran into a small issue, needing to update the surveillance drone monitoring the Wachowskis, he called it back to home temporarily.

The small drone flew in, landing gently in his waiting hand. Stone worked meticulously and carefully, ensuring that any changes he made only repaired it. He refused to change the doctor’s precious inventions, so he repaired them by following Robotnik’s schematics and instructions to the letter. He replaced a few wires, cleaned the drone until it shined, then sent it on its way again.

The camera feed popped up automatically as it watched the Wachowski couple through the window. Maddie washed the dishes, talking to her husband as he dried the dishes she passed to him. Stone didn’t feel like listening to their conversation, assuming, rightfully so, that it was senseless, domestic drivel about the weather or sports or something else like that. Tom dried a dish and leaned his arm down, and a little blue blur ran into frame, snatching the dish and speeding up to a cabinet. The blur solidified as it stopped next to Tom’s hip, Sonic bouncing on his feet waiting for another dish to put away.

Stone grimaced at the happy little family. He only monitored them for the doctor’s sake, so when Robotnik returned, Stone could happily report on what his archenemies had been up to. But watching them leave the kitchen and cuddle up on the couch made Stone want to gag, and he shut the feed off and moved on.

Like he did every night, he pulled up the manifesto the doctor left for him and read through it. Stone poured over every word, rereading sentences over and over again until he could picture the doctor’s intonation and inflection perfectly, as if the man was standing next to him, reading it aloud. Reaching the end, Stone lingered, trying to savor the moment.

“Stone, I entrust you with the greatest task of all, carrying on my legacy and mission in my stead. With this, you will be above all, capable of reaching heights you never once thought possible. The imbecilic masses do not deserve your attention, and your dedication must solely belong to my manifesto. I know you wouldn’t dare to disappoint me.”

He sighed as he read the final words aloud, personal and directed to the doctor’s loyal assistant. It was more meaningful than anything Stone had ever seen. A real show that the doctor cared, somewhere deep down, and that his dedication had been noticed and appreciated.

It would be so much better if the doctor was here instead of the words on a screen, leaving Stone with nothing but goals to keep him occupied as he waited, day and night, for someone he hadn’t seen in months.

Stone shut the computer down and changed the cafe back to normal, heading up to the apartment above to make dinner. He was tired enough to want takeout, but the groceries in the fridge had already been sitting there for too long. Stone resigned himself to cooking, but it felt less like a chore when he remembered that he bought all the ingredients for the doctor’s favorite stew.

He smiled, taking everything out and preparing it to perfection, chopping and dicing and sauteing. Stone needed to be ready for the doctor to return at any minute, with his favorites waiting for him in the fridge and a steam Austrian goat’s milk latte on the counter. Cooking like this helped, reminding Stone of all of the best parts of the doctor and everything the man loved.

Stone finished cooking, ate, cleaned up, then sat and read for an hour, freshening up on new robotics research that could be of use to him. And when the hour passed, Stone stood and freshened up before putting on his pajamas and crawling into bed.

Staring at the ceiling was just a habit at this point, the routine ingrained into him after months of living in this stupid, tiny town. The quiet used to be enjoyable, listening to the subtle sounds of wind or the heater kicking on, but it was so loud now without the sound of someone snoring in the room next to him. But he fell asleep quickly, and the cycle repeated the next day.

Stone would wake up, open the cafe, serve people with a thin smile, make a list in his head of the customers that deserved hell, close the cafe, and then do everything again.

It was all for a purpose. For the doctor.

He just needed to remember that on the days where staring at the ceiling at night for hours and waiting to fall asleep, thoughts and doubts of the doctor’s safety overtook him. So, Stone shook his head and rolled over, smushing his face into the pillow and reminding himself that he was worrying about Dr. Ivo Robotnik, the smartest person in the world. The doctor was fine, and the man himself would tell Stone that stressing over ridiculous ideas like this was for the idiots of the world. It was essential that Stone overcame these baseless feelings and recentered himself, focusing on his next steps.

So he repeated the cycle, over and over again, with little deviation. For what felt like forever.

Monitoring the Wachowskis annoyed him the most, of course. Having to watch the people who ruined the doctor’s plans have movie nights and play in the yard and do all the lovey dovey family stuff always left Stone with a sour taste in his mouth. More often than not, he would close out of the feed before he could watch more than a minute, his chest feeling tight and a scowl on his face.

They had everything, and he had nothing. The days continuing to pass with no word or sign from the doctor only worsened the feeling, leaving him extra angry and bothered by his day to day.

“Dude, you okay? You’ve been glaring at the syrups for the last, like, ten minutes,” Brayden asked one day.

The cafe was mostly empty at the moment, the post-lunch rush dying down during the later afternoon, so Stone had been trying to complete the inventory check so that he could restock. And every time he tried to focus, his eyes blurred after sleeping terribly.

Stone turned his glare to Brayden, the literal only employee he felt like having. Usually the young man was a great one, easy to boss around and good with the customers, but today he was breaking Stone’s cardinal rule of not participating in small talk with him.

“I’m peachy,” Stone said sarcastically, forcing a brief smile before returning to his menial task. “Go clean the tables.”

Brayden took the hint and hurried away. Stone glared at the syrups again for a whole second before the bell rang above the door, and Stone sighed as he turned around.

“Welcome to the Mean Bean, what can I get you,” he asked tiredly, not even worried about being presentable at the moment.

But the man in front of him was unbothered, flashing him a charming smile. “A large caramel macchiato to go, please.”

Stone rang him up silently and made the drink, handing it off without attempting to exchange pleasantries, but the man just smiled at him again with a polite, “Thanks.”

Stone quickly went back to inventorying and forgot about the man, until he came back the next day, and the day after that, and the day after that, and he became a regular. He even started coming in right after the lunch rush with a laptop and working right in front of the window, specifically the spot where Stone tended to look the most, right past the register.

He passed off an in house drink to a customer, and when the woman moved to the side, the man was openly staring at him. Stone’s mouth parted in surprise, and the man just smiled and waved. Stone narrowed his eyes in confusion and turned away, moving to restock the baked goods.

“Dude, he’s into you,” Brayden whispered, walking right up to Stone.

“What did I say about asking me personal questions?”

Brayden rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah, but he’s been coming in for like two weeks and always makes sure you wait on him. He literally waited for you to come out of the back the other day to order.”

Stone, out of curiosity and to get Brayden to shut up, glances back at the man, who caught his eye again and blushed, a tiny bit of color peeking through his tan skin. It halted his movements and thoughts, leaving him staring wide-eyed at the objectively attractive man, and the man stood up and approached the counter, holding out a sticky note with a phone number.

Stone stared at it, and the man smiled bashfully and set it on the counter. “I figured I might as well try to get to know you. So far all I know is that you like coffee, but maybe you like dinner, too?”

His stomach fluttered excitedly, his eyes staring deeply into the man’s light brown eyes and his long, braided dark brown hair. Stone felt his own face flush, but the feeling quickly changed, the butterflies being frozen by a pit of ice forming in his stomach.

The doctor was out there somewhere, probably stranded and fending for himself, and Stone was here being entertained by ideas of going out for dinner with a hot date. His interest in Stone was almost enough to sway him over. How little did Stone devote himself to the doctor if some stranger was able to rattle his resolve?

The sharp realization startled Stone, but his dedication to the doctor and everything he stood for weighed heavier. But it was harder than Stone thought it would be to frown at the man and push the number back.

“Sorry, not interested,” he responded harshly.

The man blinked. “Oh, okay…I still wouldn’t mind if you had my number though. I moved here recently and—”

“I’m even less interested in that. Anything else you need?” Stone interrupted, pushing the number even further.

The man’s demeanor changed at Stone’s hostility, and he frowned. “No, sorry for bothering you,” he grumbled. He walked away, gathering his things, and left the cafe, the bell jangling aggressively as the door slammed.

“That was kinda rude,” Brayden mentioned.

Stone whipped his head around, his face scrunched in agitation and disbelief. “And did I ask for your opinion?”

Brayden was awfully chatty and insubordinate today and pushed the issue with a small frown. “Don’t you get tired of being alone all the time? You clearly don’t even have any friends, and you always turn me down if I invite you anywhere.”

Stone rolled his eyes. “Because people are untrustworthy, unintelligent, and a waste of my damn time. I have better things to do than socialize. Now, let’s drop it and get back to work,” he growled.

Brayden’s frown deepened, but he gave up and took over Stone’s previous task of restocking muffins. Stone scoffed under his breath at his unsolicited opinions and stormed off to the back, walking outside and crouching down next to the dumpsters. He scrubbed his face tiredly and scowled at the ground.

Being alone was just temporary until he could return to Robotnik’s side, and then Stone would have everything he needed or wanted. He just needed to wait.

He just…needed to wait.

“Wait, Shadow—!”

Shadow doesn’t listen to a word he has to say and disappears in a flash of gold and red. A flash of light catches his eye in the distance, right above the G.U.N. base, and Shadow drops to the ground with a bang audible even from his spot miles away.

“Goddamn it!” Stone swears. He huffs aggressively, running a hand through his hair. “That damn stubborn hedgehog.”

It isn’t impossible for Stone to catch up to him, but Shadow made it obvious that his plan was the one to follow. And if Shadow is going to pull this stupid impulsive stunt, there’s nothing he can do to stop him at this point. So, Stone jogs to the car, careful to not trip over roots in the dark, and he hops in and drives off.

He speeds until he finds the main road, swerving onto it and then slowing down to avoid suspicion. There’s a chance that G.U.N. can track him after their run in with the authorities earlier, but the more likely outcome is that Stone once again implemented the cloak over Shadow’s energy incorrectly, or that G.U.N. realized it was a cloak and broke into it. He’ll have to find out when Shadow comes back.

Stone sighs, long and drawn out, gripping the steering wheel tight. What’s wrong with him, making rookie mistakes that put his and Shadow’s lives in danger? The doctor would be so disappointed if he could see what Stone has been like, relying on one of the hedgehogs to bail him out of a situation he caused.

With the hedgehog on his mind, there’s a certain black and red presence that is still absent. Stone glances at the clock, noting that it’s been ten minutes since Shadow had gone back. He forces himself to keep driving. Shadow can handle himself for a few minutes, and then he’ll be popping into the seat next to him any minute, spooking Stone.

Shadow will be fine, even though Stone was really convinced that Shadow was going to lose control and pass out earlier. He will be fine.

With that reassuring thought, Stone pushes forward since that’s all he can do.

Ten more minutes pass with no Shadow, and Stone still tries not to worry. Ten more pass, and his body starts to tense. Ten more, and he starts to wonder how far Shadow’s teleportation range is. And when the clock shows ten more minutes have passed, Stone slams his foot on the brake and swerves, pulling over onto the side of the road.

Stepping out of the car, Stone rips his laptop from the back and drops down in the trunk, typing rapidly to pull up G.U.N.’s internal communications. It takes a moment for him to gain access, but when he does, voices filter in.

“—is en route to location. Please confirm that the intake team will be prepared to receive us.”

“Copy that, the team is assembling as we speak. They’ll be ready and waiting upon arrival. What is your estimated ETA?”

“Our ETA is—what was that?” A loud thump can be heard over the frequency, followed by the sound of muffled shouting. “Shit, it’s—!”

The soldier is cut off, the line going dead. The dispatcher jumps back in, her voice mildly concerned. “Agent, what is your situation? …Hello? Agent, please report if there is an emergency. Are you compromised?”

The line stays dead, and the dispatcher grows frustrated as she orders, “Report your current condition or—”

The agent finally returns to the line, cutting her off with a loud huff. “Reporting in, everything is under control. Goddamn.”

“Please provide a detailed account of what just occurred. Do you need an extra security detail to meet you?”

“It woke up and broke out of its containment.”

It? Stone clenches his laptop where it rests on his knees, hearing the plastic casing start to crack under pressure. “It” could mean a lot of things, but he forces himself to not draw any conclusions until he knows for sure.

“They apparently didn’t sedate it before, it just passed out in the yard. Medical will be on standby when we arrive, right?”

“Yes, Medical will be waiting. And what is the status of Project Shadow?”

Stone shoves his laptop away and stands up, and it drops to the bed of the trunk with a clang. Without anything to do as he listens, he paces back and forth.

“They managed to wrestle it down and sedate it, but we don’t know how long it will last. They’re suggesting that the intake team should prepare something stronger to contain it, at least until they decide what to do with it.”

“Relaying the message now. Is anyone seriously injured?”

“Negative, minor injuries from glass and one bite wound.”

The soldiers keep talking, discussing everything around Shadow except how he’s doing, and Stone eventually slams the laptop shut and grips his hair with a frustrated sigh. He lets go of his hair before he rips it out with a groan and pinches the bridge of his nose.

He sighs and moves his hand down, noticing the blood covering it for the first time. Shit, he forgot about the graze. Stone turns his head to look down at his arm, and blood still trickles down the G.U.N. uniform’s sleeve. He huffs and decides to take care of it, ripping the uniform coat off with a wince and grabbing the small medical kit stashed in the car. He puts pressure on it and stops the bleeding, slapping some gauze and a big bandage on it. The wound is nothing compared to the other gunshot wounds he’s received over the years, and it should heal easily without stitches.

As he wipes his hands to clean them of his own blood, he sighs, his mind swerving back to the reason why he got the injury in the first place.

“Fuck, now what,” he mutters to himself.

And that really is the most pressing question, and he stops in his tracks. He surveys the contents of the car, clicking his tongue. What even is there to help him come up with a plan? Damn it, he probably should’ve left his laptop open. He practically collapses back into the trunk and opens his laptop again, tracking G.U.N.’s movements.

From the base he just left, the majority of the soldiers left there are scrambling to put out fires and clean up the destruction Shadow’s fighting caused. Destruction almost feels like too tame of a word to describe the state of the base, walls crumbled under the weight of Shadow’s teeming power and agents scattered across the ground. The rest of the base’s staff has left, going the opposite direction from Stone and carting Shadow off to who knows where. Even with Stone’s access to G.U.N.’s systems, the information is unavailable. It’s clear to him that they know there’s a high likelihood of Stone listening in, and they’re being very careful to not give anything away.

If anything, the information given to him is probably some tactic by Rockwell to dissuade him from following them. The armed escort alone is larger than anything Stone has ever seen from G.U.N. before. Stone had watched their movements when Gerald first broke Shadow out, the doctor’s systems flagging it as something to keep a careful eye on, and their response then doesn’t compare to the caution they’re using now. Shadow is under heavy lock and key, practically every armed vehicle the base could gather driving down the highway. The situation is serious enough that G.U.N. has people clearing the roads and funnelling traffic away to keep the operation under wraps.

Stone has exactly three egg drones to his name at the moment and two guns with no bullets left in them. What can he do? Realistically, nothing. To G.U.N., Shadow is enemy number one, a piece of property that they have no intention of losing again.

And that’s the truth of it, that Stone can’t do anything.

Reluctantly, he checks his cloak again, the one he had already messed up. He types, slower than he wants to, but dread stalls him, afraid of seeing the result. He pushes through it, morbid curiosity winning over, and is immediately proven right. G.U.N. had noticed the cloak shortly after he put it up and had just been watching and waiting, letting Shadow and him walk right into a trap they set up for themselves.

“Fuck,” Stone moans. He slams his laptop shut and tosses it to the side, not caring what happens to it.

Why did he ever think he was capable enough to handle this? Sure, it’s easy to evade G.U.N. on his own when they weren’t even looking or with the doctor’s genius inventions keeping them safe, but how did he even get the idea to help Shadow? Maybe he was right that he was Shadow’s only hope, but he’s probably so, so wrong.

G.U.N. kept him on ice for fifty years, so whatever happened to get him locked up wasn’t enough to get rid of him. They valued his powers more than getting rid of something dangerous that could bite them in the back, and Shadow did just that. But is his use to them more important than making someone pay for the Eclipse Cannon?

“That fucking hedgehog!” Stone shouts, standing up and kicking the car’s bumper with the sole of his shoe.

Stone’s chest heaves, anger and pessimism taking over. He stomps on the bumper, again and again and again until it finally gives, and his footing slips when his foot sinks into the dent. He manages to catch himself right before his face smashes into the car, but he still bumps his knee on the way down. He swears loudly again, and his arms give up as he slides down into the dirt, letting his forehead drop onto the hard plastic.

“What the hell do I do know,” Stone mutters, louder than he intends to. The words almost echo in the silence, the only sounds around him the passing rumbles of cars speeding past, unconcerned about his predicament. Without anyone next to him to reply, it’s like he’s back at square one, waiting for the doctor to come and enter his life again to give him something to focus on, something to keep him going.

He should…he should do something instead of just moping around. Stone is at his best with his hands moving, occupied with project or responsibility, anything that prevents him from standing still. Like this, clothed in a stolen uniform, his knees buried in the loose dirt, he could just sink down if he doesn’t hurry up and make a decision. Hesitation isn’t his forte, used to striking while the iron is hot to meet the doctor’s needs.

But, Robotnik isn’t here, and now, Shadow isn’t, either. Shadow was such an easy distraction, quiet and unobtrusive and helpful.

Stone’s eyes drift to his laptop, then the bag storing Shadow’s shed quills. From what G.U.N. was saying, he can confidently say that Shadow was pushing himself to fight when he physically couldn’t handle it. Stone can’t wrap his head around why he went back when they were in the clear, but when Shadow asked if he had found his files, he looked so defeated at Stone’s answer.

His eyes widen, realization hitting him like a truck. Shadow didn’t go back because he thought there was nothing left but to give up, did he…?

Despite Shadow frequently wearing his emotions on his face, as much as he can with his resting scowling face, Stone can’t figure him out. And if Stone stays here any longer, dirt soaking into his pants, he won’t be able to. There’s a strong possibility that once G.U.N. drops Shadow off at whatever hole in the ground they’re taking him to, no one will be able to find him, let alone Stone and his recent inadequacies.

A thought snakes its way into his mind, sounding an awful lot like Robotnik, reminding him that at the end of the day, Shadow is just another stinking hedgehog. If he wants to throw his life away and give up, letting G.U.N. do whatever it is they do to him, who is Stone to stand in his way?

Stone has done more than he ever needed to, especially after Shadow had ditched him in the crab. His brow furrows, and he pushes himself up. Shadow was just a distraction, and the hedgehog made Stone’s choice for him. He could wipe his whole hands of the affair and move on from this chapter of his life.

His body shuts the trunk and walks him up to the front, sitting back in the driver’s seat and taking the car out of park. He shoves thoughts of Shadow out of his mind, pulling back onto the road and coasting away. He’s barely aware that he’s even there, his chest clenching with repressed feelings trying to come up, so Stone just packs them down and drives.

He drives, and drives, and drives, and the night sky fades from black to red to blue and back to black again, and he drives.

Stone is only brought out of his stupor from the loud sound of the car beeping, begging him to refuel it. He blinks and startles, suddenly realizing that he had been driving for…shit, almost a whole day? With the gas low, it presents Stone with a new yet old problem of his current wanted status.

He frowns as he pulls into the nearest gas station, and he sinks down into his seat when he parks, grabbing his phone and looking himself up. But to his surprise, his name is nowhere to be found. No APBs, no hotlines to call if he’s spotted, nothing.

It’s as if G.U.N. is telling him to forget about Shadow, that for his compliance, he can be let off the hook for his involvement. Of course G.U.N. won’t just leave him be completely, and someone will probably always pop up in the background of his life, dressed uncomfortably in casual clothes to hide their presence, but they’re offering him something. A tangible and real deal that all he has to do is leave Shadow to the shadows.

And Stone sets his phone down, pumps his gas, and takes it, continuing on his endless drive to nowhere, his brain turning off. The radio tries to distract him, Sabrina Carpenter filtering through the speakers, and he slams his fist against it to shut it up and goes into autopilot once more.

He only wakes up from his daze when the car beeps at him rapidly, but his only response is to turn slowly to see what needs his attention now. There’s a warning flashing, demanding Stone to type in his access code, and his hands start to shake.

“Shit,” he whispers.

Stone forces himself to move, glancing around at his surroundings and sliding down into his seat and groaning at the desert surrounding him. How the hell did he drive here?

Reluctantly, he types in his code, and the ground itself opens up, the secret garage door opening for Stone to drive down into its depths. He does it, with nothing else to do now that he’s here, and grows more and more uneasy until he reaches the garage, parking the car next to one that looks the exact same, albeit a little older.

The gears grind loudly as the entrance closes behind him, and his feet carry him forwards into the main part of the lab. His lab. The only one G.U.N. had never known about, built in secret by the two of them for their plans to rule the world.

The lights turn on as he enters, and everything is the exact same as they left it, back when they collected the crab and everything else they needed to stay on the move. There’s a drone patiently dusting everything, keeping it clean and pristine for the doctor’s inevitable return.

But the doctor won’t return, not this time. There were only so many times the man could escape death before it caught up to him.

Stone’s breath hitches suddenly, all of the feelings he had been holding back these last couple days pushing past his walls, and Stone finds himself collapsing onto the doctor’s cot with a sob. The smell of the doctor’s cologne hits him as his head slams into the pillow, a scent he hasn’t smelled in years overwhelming him. He hadn’t even realized it was gone between the doctor’s return, his near death encounter, and his depression.

But it reminds Stone of years of service and dedication, and—and love for a man he will never see again.

His fingers claw at the pillow, clutching it to his chest as he wails and screams. Stone can’t do anything but mourn, tears soaking into the pillow and intermingling with the doctor’s lingering scent.

The doctor is gone, and all Stone has is this, a fucking memory that feels like a different lifetime. The egg drones flitting about cleaning stop and stare at him, as if they too know that Stone shouldn’t be here after letting the doctor go with his grandfather and failing to protect him. As if they know Stone should’ve been there to take the fall, and now here’s the assistant, ruining whatever legacy the man had left.

Stone cries and cries and cries, his throat raw and sore from how loudly he sobs, fading in and out of consciousness, the exhaustion of the last week catching up to him.

Eventually, between falling asleep and crying and falling back asleep, his body demands him to move. Stone doesn’t feel awake as he trudges to the bathroom and relieves himself, then he finds himself stepping into a scalding hot shower.

And then he repeats the cycle, falling deeper and deeper into misery, every step harder than the last.

Stone gets into the shower after another bout of sobbing. The water hitting his back brings some clarity back, and he heaves a dry sob, his forehead banging into the tiled wall. Stone doesn’t have the energy for anything, let alone basic self care, so he just stands there until the hot water runs out, focusing on the pain from his arm as the water pelts it, knocking the bandage off.

He steps out and dries off, then cleans the wound and rebandages it just to avoid the annoyance of blood dripping everywhere. He rifles through their storage until he finds an old pair of sweatpants and a hoodie from college he left here once, slipping them on, and walking back out to the lab.

His eyes hurt, and his stomach curls from hunger pangs. He ignores the kitchenette and walks around, endless memories of the doctor working on projects and coming up with plans flooding his head. Stone is so dehydrated that he can’t muster a single tear, but his fingers tremble as they caress the pieces of the doctor littered around.

A pair of goggles on the counter, a scrap of leftover metal, a rare hand scribbled note, and the egg drones now following Stone around like lost puppies.

Stone had never been in here alone, the doctor too worried that Stone would manage to ruin something, but the idea was and is unfathomable. He feels everything with a feather light touch, afraid of rubbing off every piece of Robotnik left. Everything he made is the most precious thing in the world.

One of the drones gets right up next to Stone, nudging his shoulder. He turns with a glare, annoyed at its behavior.

“It’s just me, the doctor…he’s not coming back,” Stone mutters, his voice sore and gravelly.

The other drones in the room circle him, whirring and beeping in their weird little language. Only the doctor understood it, programming in little repeating messages that meant nothing. Stone groans and pushes the drones away, walking to another part of the lab.

“Leave me alone, I’m not in the mood.”

But the drones persist, trailing behind him aimlessly. One of them slots itself at his hip, just like Shad—

No, he is not going there. He places both hands on the clingy drone and shoves, as hard as he can, but it just bounces in the air and flies back to him, waiting for directions.

“I said go!”

Stone grabs a wrench from a workbench and throws it. He only means it as a warning, but he’s angry and grieving and conflicted, and the wrench connects with his target, cracking the poor drone’s eye and sending it dropping to the ground.

“Shit, shit, I’m sorry,” Stone says, dropping to his knees and picking up the drone. “I didn’t mean to, I just–I wasn’t trying–ugh, how am I gonna fix you?”

His head whips around, searching for all the spare parts. His brain is so useless to him like this, fuzzy and unfocused, and it leaves him reeling and utterly, completely incapable. He stands and sets the drone gently on the main workbench, and Stone starts rifling through all of the drawers in sight until he comes across a new lens for it.

He rushes back over to the drone, but he stops when he realizes it’s gone. His gaze roams the room, and he finds all of the drones hovering in the corner, far, far away from him.

“I can fix it, I can. I just-just need a minute to get my bearings, alright? I didn’t really want you gone,” Stone pleads, walking towards the drones.

They back away at his approach, and his hands drop to his side. What the hell is wrong with him?! He could have destroyed the drone irreparably, and all that would have done is give him less things to remember the doctor by. Is he trying to make his situation even harder than it already is?

“Please, come back,” he cries. “Please, please, I need you. You’re all I have left, don’t you see that?”

Stone keeps stepping forward, reaching out to something unattainable.

“Doctor, please just come back.”

He sobs again, and he closes his eyes against the wave of grief. The palms of his hands press hard into his eyes, trying to stop the tears Stone wasn’t aware he still had left.

So, so long spent chasing after this man, waiting for him, conforming his entire life around him, and the doctor just dies. All the way in space, all the way in a place where Stone can’t reach him, and now Stone gets this? Alone again, and some stupid, hopeful, desperate part of himself thinks that maybe the doctor will come back again. Third time’s the charm, right?

Desperately, Stone waves at the egg drones, urging them to come to him.

“I’ll do anything, please come. I don’t know what to do without him, not again.”

His pleas don’t sway the drones, and they back away, further.

“Fine!” Stone shouts, turning on his heel. “I don’t need you, I don’t need anyone! I did fine on my own before, I’ll do it again! I’ve got plenty of practice.”

A laugh bursts out of his chest, wet and choked. Stone laughs again, and he stumbles back to the doctor’s cot, collapsing onto it as he dissolves into a fit of laughter or sobs, he can’t tell the difference anymore. And once more, he cries until he passes out.

Stone doesn’t wake up until much later, feeling the tiniest bit of energy in his system. The twisting of his abdomen is starting to become painful, so he rubs his face with the sleeve of his hoodie to wipe the dried tears. He breathes in and out, coughing on the exhale, and fetches himself a glass of water to chug.

Being sad is disgusting, and his skin crawls with the need to get clean and look presentable. There isn’t a point to it, and Stone just hops in the spare SUV and drives off, pointedly leaving the radio untouched and off. He orders pizza on the way and picks it up, ignoring the look of concern the kid at the counter sends him at his horrid appearance, and drives back to the underground lair.

Carrying the pizza back into the lab, he drops the whole box next to the computer console and falls down in the chair. But something catches his eye, and he swivels in his chair. The sight that greets him makes his jaw drop and his chest clench.

“Nope, get those off of there,” Stone demands, pointing at the egg drones floating about.

The drones stare at him and disregard his command, and instead, another drone flies in from the garage with another collection of Shadow’s black and red quills clutched in a tiny robotic arm. Stone stares open mouthed as the drone sets them gently on the workbench, whirring as if happy with its find. These stupid things are still operating with Robotnik’s desire to obtain more of that blue hedgehog’s quills to tap into their excess energy.

Stone stands, walking up to the workbench and waving an arm to gesture to them all. “I want these gone, they’re useless to me. Look at it, you idiot, they’re not even charged. What am I supposed to do with a dead quill, huh?”

The drones don’t understand him. Even without the control glove, they should follow his orders, but it’s like they’re as inadequate as Stone in the wake of the doctor’s loss. He growls, gesturing again.

“Get. Rid. Of. Them.”

And the drones don’t move. Great. Now, he has to do it.

Stone stares at the quills, and his mind jumps to Shadow trembling in the elevator, his eyes wide and terrified. His hand had a mind of its own, and Stone had found himself gently petting Shadow’s head, trying to ground the hedgehog to keep him calm. Running his fingers down his quills had been so different from just holding one of them, the hard keratin of the quills feeling soft mixed in with Shadow’s messy fur.

He rips open a drawer on the workbench and swipes all the quills into it, shutting it with a bang. He humphs and glares at the drones.

“Happy now?! Now I’m thinking about that damn hedgehog,” he complains loudly. “Good job, eggies! I needed another problem to think about!”

He drops back into the chair and rips out a slice of pizza, shoving the cheese and olive slop into his mouth. Now that he’s minorly out of his depressive funk, he dares to open the news. Really, Stone shouldn’t be surprised to see that no one is done talking about everything that happened.

Checking the date, it’s been four days of Stone nonstop crying since…since.

The news starts playing Robotnik’s livestream, as if the universe itself wants Stone to have a bad day, and he shuts his eyes to avoid looking at the doctor’s wonderful visage, the one he’ll never be able to see. With his eyes closed, Stone records the message and saves it to the doctor’s servers, for when he inevitably decides to torture himself with it.

Stone closes the news out after a couple minutes, the topic at hand making it impossible to eat more than a bite of shitty pizza. He does open the computer’s files, though, searching for the most recent download to ensure it ends up somewhere he’ll remember. He locates the video and starts to move it, but his blurry eyes somehow manage to catch on something else. Work mode never stops, he supposes, as he leans in close to read what the file is.

It was uploaded to the server recently, a little over a week ago, from the crab. There isn’t a name on the file, simply named ROBOTNIK in all caps, but Stone doesn’t recognize it. The doctor was too depressed to work on anything since the incident with the master emerald, so the only files worked on were by Stone.

Stone hovers over the file, hesitating, but he clicks it, opening a folder filled to the brim. His jaw clenches, and a pit forms in his stomach.

Sitting there innocuously is every G.U.N. file on Project Shadow.

Chapter Text

It watched silently as the creatures paced around. They all looked of the same species, but with minute differences in their appearances. It glanced down at itself, running a paw across its black body and noting the differences. Whatever these things were, it was not one of them.

“What is it doing?”

It lifted its head up at the sound, locking eyes with the creature that made it. The creature’s body convulsed, moving backwards, and the other creatures around it did the same. All except one, who took a confident step forward.

It felt its face contort as it narrowed its eyes and bared its teeth. The creature continued, striding right up to the clear barrier that divided them.

The thing containing it gave it little room to move, but it backed away from the creature coming towards it. The creature was larger than it, a smooth head unlike the others who had fur similar to itself, but only on their heads. Except that this one had a mass of fur under its nose that twisted as the creature’s mouth raised at the corners, flashing its teeth.

It didn’t like that look and tried to back away further, but it just bumped into the other side of the container, its bare feet pressing against the smooth surface.

The creature watched it move, then raised a paw, placing it flush against the container. It was a strange paw, smooth like the rest of the creature. It lifted its own paw to stare at the paw pads that the other creatures lacked, rubbing a thumb across them experimentally.

“Professor, what are you doing?”

One of the creatures made another noise, but it didn’t understand them. The one directly in front of it did, though, and made a sound while turning back to look at who made a noise.

“It understands that it isn’t one of us. It’s observing its surroundings and learning. Fascinating.”

They were communicating, it realized. Could it learn how to understand them? Its head tilted to the side in consideration, looking between the two communicating.

The smooth-headed one took its paw away and turned fully away from it, walking away towards a set of blinking lights surrounded by other objects. It found itself floating through the liquid it was in to move closer to the creature. It grabbed something thin that fluttered as it was torn away.

“How are its vitals? Stabilized now?” The smooth-headed one again.

A different creature responded next. “Yes, it looks like it’s reacting well to the mock-up of our atmosphere. It has a really fast heartbeat, though, but it’s reading as a baseline.”

The smooth-headed one bobbed its head and turned back to meet its gaze, and it moved back again at the stare. “Okay, release it.”

All of the creatures in the room stopped and made a cacophony of similar noises that blended together. They seemed…agitated over the smooth-headed one’s sounds.

One responded, saying, “Professor, certainly it’s too early to let it out? We still don’t know anything—”

The smooth-headed one held up a paw, and the other creature stopped. A command, it assumed.

“Ready a tranquilizer if you’re so worried. Scientific progress doesn’t reward the cautious, Dr. Simmons,” the smooth-headed one said. “Now, release it.”

There was a sudden noise directly below its container, and it tilted its head down to watch as holes opened underneath it. The liquid surrounding it started to leave, and once its head was free of it, it gasped. Its chest heaved, trying to breathe, and it took time to realize that it was breathing without the liquid sustaining it. It calmed down and slowed its breathing. As the liquid abated, its feet pressed against the cold ground, and its lip curled at the edge, not liking the feeling.

The container made a hissing noise, startling it, and slowly disappeared into the ground, as if it was never there. Its body moved on instinct, its feet taking a step forward onto the slightly warmer ground, its fur dripping liquid as it went. But before it could continue forwards, the smooth-headed one was stepping in its path.

It looked up at the towering figure and reached a paw out, but multiple sounds of clicking drew its attention away from the smooth-headed one. It turned towards the sounds and snarled, dropping down into a crouch and flashing its claws. In its sight were multiple creatures, their faces and bodies covered in matching garbs, weapons raised at it.

It didn’t know anything about what it was, where it was, or who it was with, but it knew that the strange objects pointed at it were weapons. And that anyone that stood in its way or threatened it should be disposed of immediately without hesitation.

Its knees bent, but before it could pounce, the smooth-headed one raised paw. The armed ones made a cacophony of noises again, but the smooth-headed one didn’t budge. Eventually, the armed ones lowered their weapons, and it relaxed slightly. The quills along its back stayed raised as it stood back to its full height, detracting its claws.

The smooth-headed one’s mouth widened into the strange expression it wore before, and its eyes shone bright as it kneeled down to be at its level. They still weren’t at the same height though, and it had to look up to meet the creature’s gaze.

“Can you understand me?”

It blinked, the sound unintelligible to it, and reached its paw out again to place flush against the creature’s chest. The creatures around it made more noises, loud and startling, and it flinched back, stepping away from the smooth-headed one.

The smooth-headed one reached out and grabbed its wrist, and it met the creature’s gaze again, its brow furrowed warily. It tried to pull away, but the grip tightened.

“No. Stay.”

It tilted its head at the sound, sharp and direct. That must have been a command for it, but it didn’t understand. Again, it pulled its arm, but the smooth-headed one’s paw didn’t budge.

“Stay,” it said again, very slow this time. “Stay.”

The repetition didn’t help, but it stopped trying to free its arm. That seemed to be what the creature wanted, and its mouth widened again, flashing even more teeth.

“Dr. Roberts, get your team ready to analyze these bracelets. I want to know what they do and what they’re made of.”

Then, the creature moved its paw to wrap around the shiny things around its wrist. They glinted in the light, and it could see a warped reflection of the creature on the object’s surface. The smooth headed-one twisted the shiny thing around until it clicked and came off, and something warm blossomed in its chest.

The warmth had been there before, moving and swirling, but now it grew, heating up and pushing against its chest. The creature removed a second shiny thing, and the warmth pulsed again, bigger and bigger by the second. The third one came off, and the warmth became violent, whispering things to it. Commanding it to use the warmth, begging for it to be let out.

When the fourth came off, the energy screeched inside of it. The smooth-headed one stood and walked away, handing off the shiny objects to some of the others, and the energy kept pulsing, more and more, roaring through its veins.

It growled because of the feeling, and all of the creatures whipped their heads around to look at it. A loud, high-pitched beeping started, somewhere in the room, but the energy started roaring in its ears and drowned out the beeping. The energy pushed, and pushed, and screamed, and—

Sounds it didn’t understand woke it up, and it groaned. It placed its arms underneath itself and pushed as it opened its eyes slowly, blinking and shaking its head against the wave of discomfort and dizziness. It pushed until it was upright, sitting on its behind, its legs curled underneath itself.

It surveyed its surroundings, furrowing its brow at the sight of the creatures laid out on the ground, other creatures pulling them to their feet and supporting them. Fire crackled all over, and more creatures rushed into the room, blasting a white, bubbly substance over the fires until they disappeared.

It looked down at itself, and the shiny objects were back on its wrists. When did that happen? It reached a paw out, its claws clinking quietly against them, and moved to take it off when the smooth-headed one’s voice screamed, “No!”

The creature hurried over to it and kneeled down again, closing the object and glaring at it. It flinched back, trying to pull away again, but the creature had more strength, a large, wrinkly paw keeping it firmly closed.

“Stay.”

The command was growled, and its eyes turned down to the shiny object. It removed its paw from around the object and dropped it into its lap, and the smooth-headed one eventually let go with a huff and stood up when it didn’t move to take it off again. Its wrist hurt, and it rubbed it gently to get rid of the feeling but carefully avoided touching the shiny objects.

It understood “stay” now.

Shadow wakes up slowly, listening to the sound of someone talking over him. Did he fall asleep in the car? But who would Stone be talking to?

He shifts, and his limbs don’t move the way he wants them to, almost like he’s strapped down. Wait, he is strapped down.

Shadow’s eyes snap open, and he yanks his arms with all the strength left in his body. The metal cuffs keeping him down slowly start to bend, then they snap. He flies up into a sitting position, his head sailing through the glass of his containment unit with ease, and he whips his head around frantically, staring at the G.U.N. soldiers who now realize that their captive is awake.

The soldiers jump on him, and one tries to put him in a chokehold. So Shadow bites, earning a scream of agony from the soldier, but the man doesn’t budge, continuing to choke him out. Someone approaches him from the side, and he swipes with his claws, pushing them back.

But he’s outnumbered, and his chest is heaving, and his head is spinning, and his body is running on pure fear, so it’s too easy for the other G.U.N. soldiers to jump on him, holding his body hostage. Shadow thrashes as much as he can, but he’s so weak and useless, his thrashing and bucking slowing down.

There’s a glint of silver in the corner of his eye, long and threatening. A sedative? It won’t work, Shadow knows it won’t, but his eyes widen as he thrashes again. His jaw clenches, and he grunts as the long needle is injected into his neck. Shadow stops moving, breathing heavily. He knows what happens when he moves too much with needles inside of him.

The soldier presses down on the plunger, and Shadow blinks as the sedative takes effect. His mouth drops open, blood dripping from his teeth and onto his chest, staining his chest fur. He’s supposed to be immune, isn’t he? Why is he so tired all of a sudden?

Hands grab him and move him around, and Shadow can’t do anything to stop them. His limbs don’t respond, and it terrifies him. Shadow doesn’t want to go to sleep again, he can’t. He would do anything to stay awake, and he tries to fight the sedative, urging his advanced healing to rid his body of the substance, but he fails.

His eyes drift shut, thinking of his last moments with Maria, and Shadow fears he may never wake up again.

An alarm blared, waking it up. It blinked, opening its mouth wide to yawn, and it rubbed its eyes. When it finished waking up, it watched the people mill about the lab. The usual ones sat and observed it in its containment, but there were additional people in the room today, mostly of the green group. It had sorted the people into two groups, the white and the green.

The white group was swathed in the long, white fabric, and they tended to interact with it the most, talking the most and trying to teach it to communicate. They were always there, using the objects around the room to do various things, talking loudly and quickly so that it was impossible for it to try to understand what they were saying.

The green group it liked less since they were always standing by the doors with weapons at their sides. They would openly glare at it and talk to each other quietly, just quiet enough that it couldn’t hear anything more than a whisper. They were doing it now, their eyes flicking back and forth between each other and it. Its ear flicked, trying to hear, but it wouldn’t understand the words even if it could.

“Humans are a strange species. You’re probably starting to understand that.”

It turned to meet the Professor’s gaze, and the man nodded towards the green group idling by the door. The smooth-headed one was a part of the former group, always wearing the same white cloth whenever it saw him. He had introduced himself as the Professor, pointing at his chest and repeating the word until it understood the meaning. He had been the one teaching him language, mostly, and it was progressing slowly.

“We tend to fear what we don’t understand, overall. It’s been a trend in our history. And they understand very little about you, so they’re letting their ignorance and fear get to them. They don’t trust us, not after the last time I let you out.”

Out? It knew “out,” and it leaned closer to the Professor in interest. The man chuckled, his voice deep and gruff.

“You’ve got a natural curiosity, and so do I. We don’t let fear compromise our actions.” The man leaned in close, lowering his voice, “And just between us, they’re just a bunch of grunts without brains. Pay no attention to them.”

It didn’t understand the words, but the Professor raised a hand and nodded to a member of his group. The liquid containing him started to drain, and it dropped to the ground gently, stepping out when the glass disappeared into the ground.

The Professor turned away and said a few more words to another person swathed in white, and its eyes bounced between the two. The Professor noticed it watching them, specifically its fixation on the white cloth.

He got its attention by pulling the white fabric, and it blinked at him. “Scientist. The white coats mean that we’re scientists. And those over there? The imbeciles? Soldier.”

Scientist and soldier, new words to roll around in its head.

The Professor waved his hand, making eye contact with it again, and said, “Follow.”

He started walking away, turning to watch it from over his shoulder. It didn’t move, and the Professor waved again. It took a tentative step forward, and the man nodded. That usually meant it was understanding correctly, so it took a few more steps, then the man kept walking. It trailed after him, half a step behind, having to walk quicker to keep up with his longer legs.

The scientists and soldiers followed them out of the room, and people in the hallway stopped as they passed, staring and whispering. It looked at every person it passed, trying to learn more about its surroundings, and they all backed away and closed their mouths at its wide-eyed gaze. It didn’t understand the reaction, but it continued on its path, its bare footsteps silent compared to the Professor’s soft stomping.

They reached a door and entered, and it surveyed the room. The ceiling was high, forcing it to crane its neck backwards as far as it would go to see the whole thing. The room itself was just big, and along the sides, there were scientists and soldiers waiting for them.

“Here,” the Professor said, urging it to follow again.

It walked over, and the Professor placed two hands on its shoulders and shifted it until it was standing on a white line on the ground. Next to it was a soldier, but he looked different from the others, his arms and legs exposed but still swathed in green.

“Is all of the equipment prepared,” the Professor asked the scientists. One nodded, and he began to walk away. It tried following, but the Professor put up a hand. “Stay.”

It stopped and stayed, stepping back again to be on the line. The soldier stared at it with wide eyes, liquid dripping from his face. It tilted its head at him, curious about the expression, and the soldier took a step to the side, further away from it. With the soldier trying not to look at it, it focused on the Professor again, watching as the man sat down.

“Go ahead, soldier, do a lap,” he said.

The soldier nodded and took off, walking very, very quickly to the other side of the large room, turning on his heel, and coming back until he was back on the line, his breathing labored. It watched, but it didn’t understand. What was the point of this?

“Run.”

It blinked at the Professor, not comprehending the new word, and the man waved at the soldier again. The soldier took off again, and it watched.

“Follow him.”

Glancing between the Professor and the soldier, it blinked, but the man just urged him on, pointing between it and the soldier. Slowly, it started walking, following the soldier, and the Professor nodded, leaning back in his seat.

The soldier was much faster, so it took a lot of quick steps to catch up to him, and it analyzed the way he moved. Unlike it, he pushed his arms back and forth, leaning forwards, his knees bending at a harsher angle than walking required with each step. His feet were never on the ground at the same time, and it tried to copy his movements. It was much more stilted and mechanical, but it eventually understood the movements by the time they reached the starting line, the soldier finishing first.

“Yes. Run,” the Professor confirmed, nodding at it. “Again, both of you.”

This time, it followed the soldier instantly, running alongside him and keeping pace. Its arms pumped back and forth, its feet pounding the ground, and a familiar warmth bloomed in its chest, small and tame. The warmth asked to be used, and it followed its wish. It was so focused on the feeling that it didn’t even notice that it crossed the line before the soldier until the soldier appeared next to it again.

“Soldier, you can step down now.” The soldier walked away and poured a clear liquid into his mouth at the Professor’s words, but then he was speaking again, directing his words to it this time. “Run again.”

Again. Run. Understood.

It took off again, alone this time, and without the soldier to slow it down, it crossed the room and back before it could think about the action. The Professor gave the command again, and it ran again, and again, speeding from one side to the other in a flash, the warmth growing and swirling in its chest.

Running felt natural, and it was faster and faster with each lap, until eventually it noticed there was a golden blur trailing after it as it ran across the room. Sparks followed it as it ran, the warmth pushing it to go faster and faster. It ran, and it ran, and it ran, and then the Professor’s voice was shouting a new word, ruining its concentration and bringing it to a halt.

“Stop.”

It stood in the center of the room, its breathing labored. The warmth started to fade away, leaving its limbs and recentering back in its chest. The Professor approached it and set a hand down on its head, moving it back and forth in a gentle motion and ruffling its fur. When it glanced up at the Professor under his hand, the man had that same bright glint to his eye.

“Good. Very good.”

The man walked away and started talking to the scientists, saying, “We’re going to test more of its abilities now, and then we need to quickly come up with a plan to harness its energy. Running should suffice for now until we know more about how the energy is generated.”

Good. Good.

It placed a paw on its head and smoothed its fur back. The Professor’s gaze turned once more to it, and it stood up straighter, feeling a warmth in its face, much different from the warmth constantly swirling inside it. He nodded and waved an arm, and it understood the command this time and started running laps again.

It felt good to follow commands.

“It’s waking up again, ma’am, we should sedate it again before—”

“Hm. No, leave it awake. I want to talk to it before I leave.”

“Are you sure? We’re not certain this can even contain it at all, let alone for an entire conversation.”

“Just have people at the ready in case it—!”

Shadow’s eyes snap open again, and he lunges, trying to rip his arms out of the metal restraints keeping him in place. Either he’s still fighting off the sedative, which is very possible given the way his stomach swirls uncomfortably and the way his vision blurs, or the restraints are stronger after his breakout attempt.

The woman, Rockwell, steps back with wide eyes. A soldier at her side prods Shadow with a familiar metal pole, and he shouts in pain as he’s electrocuted. They had only ever used this on him after Maria, when…when they deemed him too dangerous. He snarls against the pain, his chest heaving, and he glares daggers at the woman.

She schools her expression and straightens her back, clearing her throat. “...in case it does that. You seem to be a lot less civilized compared to your more…colorful counterparts.”

“If being civilized means imprisoning someone for fifty years, then yes, I might not compare to you humans,” Shadow spits, his voice gravelly after having been knocked out.

“Well, you’ve only proven why Walters made that decision in the last few days,” she says calmly. “And I ought to do the same, but you’ve committed quite a serious crime. Trying to destroy an entire planet deserves a much more severe punishment.”

The hedgehog bucks against the metal confining him, but there’s no way for him to break free without using his powers. And after passing out because they were too much for Shadow to handle, he doesn’t know if he can escape here—wherever here is—without that happening once more. For now, he’s stuck until he can gather intel.

“Fine,” Shadow grinds out behind closed teeth. “Kill me if you want. But if you really wanted me dead, you would’ve done it while I was unconscious like the cowards you are.”

Rockwell nods, a small, impressed smile gracing her lips. “Maybe I’m not giving you enough credit. Yes, you’re too valuable to kill, even now. But you’ve already committed two offenses worthy of your destruction, and a third won’t be tolerated, no matter your worth to G.U.N.”

Her stare is cold and lifeless, threatening another fifty years with her empty eyes alone. Shadow narrows his eyes at her, snarling. She isn’t intimidated by him, at least not visibly, and she crosses her arms casually.

“Here’s how this is going to work. You are going to behave and do whatever we tell you. You will stay quiet, and you will not attempt to escape or harm anyone, or else there will be consequences. You’ve already experienced one, so I think you can expect that they will only get worse.”

Shadow scoffs. “Your threats don’t scare me.”

Rockwell shrugs. “If that isn’t enough motivation for you, I’m sure your companion would enjoy receiving a taste of your punishments?”

He can’t let her know that her words are getting to him, or else she’ll have the upper hand. But his body doesn’t get the memo, and Shadow stiffens, going still, even his breathing halting for a moment. A heart monitor in the background picks up his quickening heartbeat, and Rockwell smirks.

“So you’re attached to the henchman…interesting. Go ahead, give Stone a taste of what’s to come for our guest.”

A scientist presses a button at her words, and Shadow hears the telltale buzzing of electrocution play through a speaker. He fights against his restraints again, his hands beginning to spark, but he forces himself to stop. As much as he wants to teleport, he doesn’t know how long he’ll be able to remain conscious for. And if Stone is hurt, Shadow needs to be able to get them both out safely.

The buzzing stops, and Shadow stills. But something feels off about the display of power. Wouldn’t it be more effective if Shadow had to watch Stone? He hadn’t even heard the man screaming, only panting barely audible with the loud buzzing.

“That should do the trick for now,” Rockwell says, turning to Shadow confidently. “Ready to give in yet?”

Shadow’s fingers twitch, and he purses his lips, hardening his stare. “No.”

That gets the woman to falter, a small, barely noticeable shift in her posture that shows her surprise.

“I thought you would have cared more, my mistake. Do it again,” she commands.

“Why not bring him here?” Shadow questions tauntingly. “Surely I would be more cooperative if I could see what you were doing.”

Rockwell stiffens more. Good, Shadow is agitating her. She inhales slowly through her nose before continuing, “You’re not in a position to be negotiating.”

“Hmph, then I won’t play your games. Do what you want to him,” Shadow says, leaning back in his restraints. It’s hard to appear unbothered and casual when he’s restrained like this, his limbs spread out like a star, but he must pull it off.

Her pointer finger taps against her forearm, her arms still crossed. Rockwell shifts her stance, her eyebrows creasing and ruining her perfect composure. She’s standing behind a console, soldiers and scientists moving around in the background, and they all subtly watch Rockwell for her next move. He knows she can feel his animosity as he narrows his eyes again, daring her to continue her bluff. He knows G.U.N.’s tricks, and they wouldn’t hesitate to use Stone as collateral to force him to do their bidding. But that doesn’t mean they have him in custody now.

Finally, Rockwell gives up, letting Shadow win. She huffs, pinching the bridge of her nose and muttering, “You’re smarter than you look, hedgehog. He won’t be able to evade us for much longer, though. His absence doesn’t change the fact that you need to watch yourself.”

She strides away, the scientists and soldiers following after her. Rockwell gathers them in the corner of the room, far away from him, but Shadow can still hear them perfectly. He forces his ears to still against their instinct to swivel towards the conversation, and he keeps his eyes narrowed in on them.

“G.U.N. wants to prioritize harvesting his energy, so focus on that rather than learning about its biology for now. HQ needs a report by the end of tomorrow so that we can decide what to do with it, but we’ll only be able to do that when we understand if it’s valuable enough to keep alive.”

Rockwell pauses, then huffs, shaking her head. “Have you found the Project Shadow files yet?”

A soldier shakes her head. “Negative. Even with the access keys, there was nothing in our classified files. It looks like they were wiped from the servers.”

Shadow’s eyes widen, his mouth parting. Not even G.U.N. has his files? If they don’t have them, then that means…all of this really was for nothing. Stone was just trying to appease him, give him false hope. There’s nothing left to be done.

His powers flare up again, and he shoves them back down, closing his eyes hard enough that it hurts. Without his inhibitor ring, Shadow is going to die in a few days.

Were these extra few days of life just to punish him for his actions? Sending him back to G.U.N. to finish him where he started? One last miserable experience to top it all off?

Shadow could escape now since it doesn’t matter if he overuses his power anymore. All it will do is quicken his already approaching death. But then the next issue is, if he escapes, where would he go? G.U.N. would surely chase him down again, and he would have to keep running endlessly until he eventually fizzled out. At the end of it all, G.U.N. will have his corpse no matter what he does.

“And where’s Stone currently? Have you triangulated his position?”

His ears flick, tuning back into Rockwell’s conversation.

A different soldier responds, “No, all we know is that he didn’t try to follow Project Shadow’s detail, and without its energy signature leading us to Stone, he’s very securely hiding his position from us.”

Relief floods Shadow’s chest with the knowledge that Stone is nowhere near him. The sight of Stone gripping an injury because he put his neck out for Shadow flashes through his mind, and he closes his eyes again. It was stupid of Shadow to think that there was any possibility of getting a new ring, and Stone must know it, too.

The man is smart, smarter than Shadow had originally assumed given his devotion to the Professor’s grandson, and Shadow knows he must have realized this task’s futility in that G.U.N. base when he was unable to find anything. Shadow is glad Stone listened to him and drove. He had been concerned that the man would further put himself in danger for him and chase after him, but G.U.N. can’t even find him now.

It’s for the best that their alliance ends here, and now Stone can move on with his life and forget about Shadow.

Rockwell hums. “Find him quickly. He’ll have information on Shadow from spending time with the two Robotniks, and I have a feeling that Stone will come back for him.”

Come back? No, Stone is smarter than that. He can recognize a lost cause when he sees one, and now, Rockwell has something to use over Shadow. Shadow frowns, thinking of what he could do to keep Stone away from them.

“Rockwell,” Shadow calls out.

Her and the other G.U.N. agents turn, looking at him in confusion. Rockwell’s brow furrows as she stalks forward. “I thought I told you to watch yourself.”

Shadow shakes his head. “I have a proposal for you.”

She walks up to him, stopping next to the soldier with the electric rod and crossing her arms. They stare at each other, both glaring, and Shadow has to force himself to ease his expression.

“You’re not in a position to negotiate,” Rockwell reminds him.

“In exchange for letting Stone go free, I’ll do what you want.”

Her eyes widen, but she’s listening. She shifts her posture, standing so that she towers over Shadow. He has to lift his head to continue glowering at her, but he’ll allow the obvious display of power over him if it means she listens.

“That sounds like negotiating,” she says sarcastically. “You’re going to do what I want whether I agree to this or not, you understand that?”

Shadow growls quietly. “I’ll fight you on everything, no matter your punishments. But, if you forget about Stone, I’ll…I’ll do anything you tell me to.”

“What makes you so sure he’ll just leave you here? I thought you two were friends,” Rockwell asks.

Friends…

Shadow glances away from her and down to the ground, his eyes landing on his air shoes. He’s only ever had one friend, and she was gone. Having friends isn’t for him, he’s realizing slowly, and trying only makes it worse.

“We weren’t friends,” Shadow mutters angrily. “It was a temporary truce. He won’t bother himself with me any further.”

He can feel Rockwell’s stare boring into his head, but she stays quiet at that. Shadow lifts his head again, his glare gone, leaving just hardened resolve. Rockwell purses her lips, examining him up and down until she stands straight, dropping her arms to her side.

She points a threatening finger at him, her ice cold glare returning. “If you violate any rule the scientists give you, this deal will be null and void, and we will resume searching for Stone. You must obey every order, or else you will face punishment. You will be silent unless spoken to, and you will not attempt to escape. Do you understand?”

It’s second nature to slip back into obedience, like he never stopped. Honestly, Shadow did nothing but follow the Professor’s orders leading up to the Eclipse Cannon, and after a few days of making his own choices, Shadow is back where he started.

In G.U.N.’s control, with nowhere to go, nothing but a tool to them. At least this will help pass the time until he’s gone, and it might even speed up the process.

Shadow bites back the sudden swell of bile in the back of his throat as he nods and says, “Yes, ma’am.”

“Good. Let’s keep using that attitude, hm?” Rockwell says. She turns on her heel and walks away, speaking to the people around her. “I want hourly updates on its progress sent to me and HQ. Cancel the search for Stone, he’s not worth the resources. If it doesn’t follow orders, you know what to do.”

As Rockwell walks away, soldiers following at her heels, Shadow hears her mutter one last thing as she rounds the corner. “I can’t wait to do more damage control with the Wachowskis.”

And then she’s gone, leaving Shadow in the hands of G.U.N.’s best scientists. He watches them flit about the room, looking at various monitors and flicking switches, talking amongst themselves. Shadow understands some of the scientific jargon, but they’re deliberately keeping their voices low to leave him out of it.

A sudden grinding sound brings Shadow’s attention to the ground, and a clear barrier starts rising out of the ground. Shadow’s heart pounds, his breathing quickening, and that sudden feeling of being trapped he experienced in the elevator takes over. It’s so overwhelming that it distracts him from reigning in his powers, and he starts sparking, his chaos energy growing more uncontrollable.

He grunts, and he tries to curl into himself against the wave of pain, but the restraints keep him in place. Shadow can’t lose control this early, they’ll think he’s trying to escape or break free, anything that would give them justification to throw his deal out the window and go hunting for Stone.

Shadow is being ridiculous, getting scared of a little barrier. A barrier that he can see through. He chose this, he chose this, he chose this.

Every day of his life that Shadow has been awake and conscious, he has been experimented on. This is what he was made to do, and it had barely bothered him before. The biggest complaint he had against it was that he couldn’t spend every hour of every day with Maria, but now…there wasn’t anything else to do.

Soldiers stand along the barrier on the other side, in case Shadow tries anything, guns and electric prods at the ready. His restraints suddenly open, and he drops to the ground. He rubs the wrist without an inhibitor ring as he glances around.

Standing is exhausting, Shadow is realizing, and he starts to tip to the side. He stumbles over to the wall and catches himself by bracing an arm against it, shaking his head to focus. The white walls of the lab are jarring compared to the drab gray concrete that he’s used to, and the fluorescent lights in the ceiling are so damn bright.

Somehow, it feels more empty than the old lab. Maybe it’s because all the faces here are unfamiliar, even down to the G.U.N. uniforms now being black and navy compared to the forest green Shadow remembers. His holding cell is much larger than the small glass tube he spent days and nights in, but it leaves him with that same trapped feeling. With nothing surrounding him, Shadow is exposed, sharp, analytical eyes watching his every movement.

Why is everything worse now? Why is he being so weak? The room’s sole purpose is for observation, and that is exactly what the scientists are doing now. Shadow shouldn’t be freaking out. The Professor would not approve of his behavior, making a scene and creating issues for the hardworking team.

Be calm. Obey. Be calm. Obey.

“How do you best produce your chaos energy?”

Shadow whips his head up, forcing himself to stop relying on the wall for support.

“What?” Shadow asks.

The scientist sitting at the front console rolls her eyes. “How do you best produce your chaos energy?”

“Running.”

She nods. “Okay, start running until we say to stop.”

Shadow glances around the small room. It doesn’t compare to the track specifically built for him to run on in the lab, or even on the Eclipse Cannon. After a second of contemplating, he starts running in circles around the room, using all of his concentration to ensure that he utilizes perfect control over his powers.

He grunts, pumping his limbs, but he can’t help but notice how it feels wrong. Shadow is obviously not at full strength, but he isn’t running anywhere close to his top speed. Every part of him feels weighed down and lethargic, something that he can’t remember ever experiencing.

But Shadow runs, for as long as he can, until he’s bent over, his hands braced against his thighs, panting aggressively.

No one talks to him, and they leave him wheezing to talk amongst themselves. He sits down and brings his knees to his chest, dropping his head down on top. A few quills shed with the movement, and Shadow groans, the sound muffled into his fur. Nothing has gone right for the hedgehog this past week, or however long it’s been since the Professor freed him from stasis.

“Run again.”

The command is so familiar, one he’s heard almost every day of his life. But even with his eyes closed as he pushes himself to his feet, Shadow cannot bring himself back to that time. It still doesn’t seem real that fifty years have passed since then, but the future is constantly staring him down.

Shadow doesn’t dwell on the thoughts, putting all of his energy into completing the task before him. As long as he does this, Stone is safe. It’s the least he can do for the man to thank him, but Shadow feels like he’s falling short, not doing enough.

Did he do enough for Maria? Did he ever thank her for being kind to him? Did he ever tell the Professor that he appreciated that the man talked to him like a person? Does Stone know that Shadow was being genuine when he complimented his skills?

The hedgehog trips, losing his focus, and subsequently his control over his chaos energy. He tumbles to the ground with a yell, pain flooding every atom of his body, and he screams.

“Get up,” the scientist orders.

Shadow buries his face into the cold ground, searching desperately for any relief from the pain. He has to get up.

“Get up.”

He made a deal, and now he must honor it. Shadow isn’t doing this for himself. He has to get up.

“Get up. Now.”

His limbs still spark, and Shadow grinds his teeth, heaving and panting through the pain. But he can still move, pushing himself up onto his knees, then standing on shaky legs.

“Run. Again.”

Shadow runs. He’s doing all he can.

And when the scientists tell him to stop, he collapses on the ground in a heap, trembling violently. His vision blurs, the white surroundings disorienting him further.

The Professor should greet him now with accolades for his performance, his smile too wide, too many teeth showing. And Maria will bounce up to him with a water bottle in hand, rambling excitedly about the day she planned, smiling so hard that her cheeks force her eyes closed. And Stone…none of them are there, though.

Despite doing everything he ever did before, it’s all so wrong. His head drops to the ground with a strained huff, and his energy is rampaging through him, pounding away at his ribs, trying to get out.

Shadow falls unconscious once again, having never felt so alone.

Chapter Text

Day in and day out, Stone was at the doctor’s side. Months spent without him were forgotten instantly when they were reunited, and Stone was nothing but ecstatic to have him back. But despite his relief, these last few months with the doctor back had been…rough.

Stone’s dedication never wavered once, in fact it even grew immensely as he nursed the doctor back to health.

Stone kept at it religiously, waking up bright and early every day to check on the doctor. He would shower and groom himself as quickly as possible, then spend the rest of the day and night focused on the doctor’s every need.

The routine was simple, and Stone did it like he did everything, with nothing but utmost focus and steadfastness.

He made soups that would last for the day and prep the ones for the next, then feed the doctor once he woke up and started grumbling. Stone tended to his injuries and checked on their progress, replacing bandages gently and swapping out the IV bag full of antibiotics and pain relievers. After that, Stone would be shooed away by the doctor in the form of a string of grunts that Stone understood to mean, “Get out of my sight and get to work.”

Not one to disobey the doctor, Stone stepped away and worked on things around the crab. Adjusting sensors, performing tune ups on the crab, monitoring their enemies, and doing all the preparations necessary for when the doctor was healed. Everything was for him, for his plans to rule the world, and Stone prepared diligently as he aided the man.

The crab was unnaturally quiet in those first few months with the doctor’s broken jaw and, well, broken everything. But Stone appreciated the silence because it allowed him to remember that this was an improvement, that there was at least someone to sit in silence with, despite the circumstances that led them here.

Stone, loyal and devout, stood at Robotnik’s side during every surgery in Mexico, every moment after, every physical therapy session, and any moment he could. There was a sense of guilt that nagged at Stone, when he was able to stand and do everything for the doctor, and his fierce, full of life doctor could do nothing but heal slowly after his brush with death.

As the doctor got out of the full body cast and was able to start working towards moving again, recovering quicker than Stone thought he could, the silence lingered. The doctor was quiet and grumpy, not as demanding as Stone was used to. He let Stone encourage him and push him between hospital visits and the crab without an ounce of fight in him. The assistant couldn’t do anything but watch as the doctor grew more reserved and less like the man he lov—the man he knew.

It was easy to blame it on exhaustion, especially considering how severe Robotnik’s injuries were. Stone was exhausted, too, after being in charge of everything, so he wasn’t worried. The doctor’s progress was much quicker than expected in his typical fashion of going above and beyond in everything he did, so Stone had no reason to worry.

And now, with the doctor fully recovered, Stone waited for everything to go back to their normal. Scheming and plotting and designing endlessly, the doctor bursting at the seams with new ideas that would force them to stay awake for days.

But it never happened.

Stone allowed himself to start worrying when the doctor didn’t start bouncing with energy as he finished out the last of his physical therapy, but it wasn’t concerning yet. It was a much deserved time to relax after working so hard, and Stone urged the doctor to get more rest without any pushback. The doctor’s behavior was strange, but Stone just chalked it up to their months apart, the doctor having changed after his experiences on the mushroom planet. So, he tried not to dwell on it and waited patiently, something Stone excelled at.

“Sir, what’s the plan for today,” Stone asked over breakfast, placing down waffles and scrambled eggs in front of the man’s near permanent new spot in front of the TV screen.

Robotnik waved his hand dismissively, not even glancing at Stone. “Leave me to my soaps.”

Stone glanced at the soap opera on the screen and narrowed his eyes at it. Scrutinizing it, it seemed…obsessively emotional and dramatic. The drama, of course, he could understand the doctor’s fascination with, but the loud declarations of love were not something the doctor ever showed interest in. Actually, the man actively gagged whenever he came across shows like these on the rare instances where he decided to relax and not be a workaholic.

But, there wasn’t anything alarming about a sudden interest in soap operas, so Stone kept an eye on the show as he did his various tasks around the crab. It was necessary to know everything on the doctor’s mind, and observation was simply the best method when Robotnik was being particularly cagey.

Watching soap operas all day, every day, without any breaks, was fine for a while. The doctor would brush him off and send him away, and it was so typical of the doctor to be independent that Stone didn’t think to wonder if anything was wrong. Honestly, he was content standing and waiting for an order, happy that the doctor was alive to even give them. Being bossy was a good sign.

But even Stone’s patience ran out eventually, and he could only do the same mechanical and technical repairs to the crab and its systems so many times before he needed a new project to work on.

He slowly approached the doctor’s new favorite spot, wiping grease off of his hands after finishing every task Stone could come up with. Too often lately Stone was doing things on autopilot without any input or directive from the doctor, and he missed hearing the man’s voice throughout the day. The most he ever heard out of him lately was loud exclamations of upset about the plot.

Like now, as the doctor screamed, “What kind of a childhood lover are you, Juan?!”

Stone stopped beside the doctor. “What’s happening now, sir?”

Robotnik scoffed. “They’ve known each other since they were five, and Juan has never picked up on the unsubtle hints that Gabriella likes to receive flowers.”

“Uh-huh…,” Stone said slowly. “Not to distract you, sir, but I was wondering if you had any plans you would like me to work on.”

Robotnik waved his hand without looking at his henchman. “No, no, buzz off and do whatever it is you do.”

Stone pursed his lips and frowned. “I’ve done everything there is to do, Doctor.”

“Really? Then go do something else. Shoo shoo, off you go,” the doctor said dismissively, still not looking at Stone.

When was the last time they talked, face to face? Stone missed it so much despite most of those times being the doctor berating him for making a mistake or just existing in his presence.

“Well,” Stone started cautiously, “I thought you would like to get back to evil-doing soon, now that you’ve recovered. I’ve been preparing a dossier to catch you up to speed on what’s been happening on Earth since you’ve been gone so that—”

The doctor paused the episode, and Stone snapped his mouth shut. The doctor’s shoulders tensed as he straightened his back and turned to Stone with a familiar scolding look. Was it bad that Stone’s heart fluttered at the glare aimed at him?

“Stone, did you spend too much time around the rabble? Because I thought you had at least part of a functioning brain, yet you’re still standing there.”

“I’ll go, I’m just…a little confused about what you want to do next, Doctor,” Stone replied unsurely, pinned to his spot by the doctor’s stare.

The doctor’s eyes hardened, then he whipped his head around to stare at the screen once more. Neither of them said a word, and Stone held his breath waiting for the doctor’s response. It was rare that the doctor sat and thought before he spoke, more confident in his own words and speaking what he meant than Stone was confident that the sky was blue. So it was strange and unnerving to sit in this moment of silence as the doctor kept his gaze averted from Stone.

“Don’t you see,” he asked quietly. “There is no plan. I’m done.”

Stone opened his mouth, searching for something to say, but he couldn’t come up with anything to express how confused he was. “Done?”

“No more plans, no more schemes. Could I be any clearer?”

The telenovela continued as the doctor hit play, but Stone stayed in the moment, rooted to the spot. It was incomprehensible to him that the headstrong man before him would just…stop. After being stranded on an alien planet with nothing but mushrooms and surviving near death over and over, this was what did the infamous Dr. Ivo Robotnik in?

Stone found the words again, taking a step forward to see the doctor’s expression. His mustache was more overgrown than usual and very unkempt, but the doctor had refused to let Stone help him with any grooming. It didn’t obstruct his deep frown and conflicted expression as he kept his attention on whatever Juan was doing now.

“Okay, I think a little rest and relaxation wouldn’t hurt before getting back to the drawing board,” Stone suggested, hoping to get a better response.

And a response he got, the doctor shooting up out of his seat and yanking Stone’s collar to pull him in close. He huffed loudly, and Stone stood wide-eyed, the doctor’s hot breath hitting his face.

“Get it through your thick skull, Stone. I’m throwing in the towel,” Robotnik growled.

“But why? Isn’t there so much more you had planned?” Stone asked urgently.

Robotnik rolled his eyes. “Damn it, you’re dumber than rocks today. What kind of evil genius loses to that little blue freak and his friends twice? Perhaps one that never was much of a genius in the first place.”

The doctor shoved Stone away and spun on his heel, but he glanced over his shoulder with an expression Stone had never seen on him before. Doubt.

“You want an order, Stone? Get out, go find an actual mastermind to trail after. I have no use for you anymore.”

In that moment, so many thoughts and emotions rushed through Stone’s head. Of all those nights, unable to sleep, worried about the doctor. Weeks of Stone pushing himself beyond his limits for one person, nothing but devotion driving him forward. Agony that the doctor thought so little of Stone that he would run at the first sign of trouble.

But what Stone landed on was anger, and he stalked forward, crossing the gap between them. He snatched the doctor’s hand, startling him, and pulled it right up against his own chest. The doctor looked ready to hit Stone to get him to let go, but Stone glared at him and started speaking.

“Don’t talk about yourself like that!” Stone shouted.

Robotnik’s eyes widened. “Oh, here comes a lecture from the one that started all of this, hm? Let it go! I’m aware of my failures now, and I can see that there’s nothing I can offer this world!”

He frowned at the doctor’s callousness and self-deprecation and shook the man’s hand, still gripped tightly in his. The doctor’s palm was sweaty but rough after years of working with machinery, and it was a much needed reminder for Stone that he wasn’t angry for nothing.

“You can keep saying it, but you know, deep down, that isn’t correct. I can’t even count how many times you’ve revolutionized the industry, discovered things no one thought possible. Don’t you ever say that you aren’t a genius when we both know that you’re the greatest thing this planet ever created.”

Stone was fuming, his breaths quick and his hand shaky against the doctor’s, but he meant every word of it.

“You’re flattery is starting to get on my nerves, Stone,” the doctor growled, trying to rip his hand away.

Stone held more firm. “I don’t care how many times you fail, that doesn’t change how I feel. Didn’t you tell me that failure was just another step towards discovery? That even when a project doesn’t turn out how you expected or wanted it to, it leads you to something even better.

“If you really want to give up the inventing and plotting, I don’t care. I just—”

Stone stopped, his throat tight, his voice cracking. His hand shook more, but he squeezed the doctor’s hand tighter.

“I chose to follow you, and I’ll follow you anywhere, whatever you do. But stop devaluing your intelligence.”

Stone sighed, closing his eyes against the wave of adoration and respect built up over the years threatening to spill out of his mouth. When he opened them again, the doctor was staring at him with his eyebrows furrowed gently, his mouth a thin line. The expression snapped Stone back to awareness, and he felt his blood run cold.

God, what the hell was he doing?! Yelling at the doctor? Demanding things of him?

Stone dropped the doctor’s hand like it was burning him and averted his gaze down to their feet. “I’m sorry, sir,” he mumbled. “I shouldn’t have been presumptuous like that.”

He turned and tried to run away, wanting more than anything to avoid seeing the doctor’s reaction to his little outburst, but a firm hand wrapped around his wrist, pulling him back. Reluctantly, Stone twisted around, expecting a very loud reprimand, but the doctor couldn’t meet his gaze for more than a second before turning away with a scoff.

“I have no intention to continue inventing, understand?” Robotnik asked calmly.

Stone blinked. “Yes.”

“And yet you want to stick around?”

“I made a promise to serve you, didn’t I?”

The doctor tsked and shook his head, red tinting his cheeks and coloring his nose. “You would flounder without my presence, wouldn’t you? If you’re not going to listen to reason, at least make yourself useful and make me some guac.”

Robotnik gently released his grip on Stone and sat back down, starting the episode again as if the conversation between them had never happened. Stone rubbed his wrist, the doctor’s touch lingering on his skin.

There were a million more things Stone wanted to say, to get out in the open, to chase away the sadness that still clung to the doctor’s shoulders as he became engrossed in the telenovela. All of them suspiciously sounded like Juan’s declarations of love, but Stone was better than that idiot. He followed through on his promises, and he never strayed from the man’s side.

He couldn’t voice all the feelings bottled up inside, so Stone did the next best thing. He smiled softly, one the doctor wouldn’t be able to see, and said the one thing he could.

“Anything for you, Doctor.”

“You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me.”

Stone drops his head into his hands and sits there, questioning where the hell his life took a turn to lead him to this absolute joke of a week.

They had the files the whole time. The entire time, they were waiting for Stone to open the doctor’s internal server and look for two whole seconds. It’s funny! It is really funny when they’ve been under his nose this whole damn time.

Stone sits back and laughs tiredly. He stares at the file, unblinking, then shakes his head with a scoff.

“Where the hell did these even come from,” he mutters to himself.

He leans forwards and swipes through the file logs, searching for the timestamp. They were uploaded…around 2100 hours UTC. That was pretty much immediately after Stone, the Robotniks, and Shadow all entered the crab together after leaving the abandoned lab once dedicated to Project Shadow.

His brow scrunches in concentration as he thinks. The doctor wouldn’t have had time nor the interest to look for Shadow’s files given his well-known hatred for the aliens, and Shadow wouldn’t have kept this a secret if he knew, which means only Gerald Robotnik himself could have left these behinds.

Clicking through the files briefly, he finds the plans for the Eclipse Cannon, including all of G.U.N.’s reports about the state of its construction. Stone even notices the reports about Gerald’s arrest and imprisonment. Gerald left G.U.N. in the dust, outplaying them at every turn and removing any and all information that would have helped them to stop Gerald’s plans. Evil genius at its finest, right there.

Stone’s hands start sifting through the files, scrolling through as his eyes follow, until he catches himself looking for files on Shadow’s chaos energy. He rips his hands off of the computer and pushes his seat back. What is he doing?

Work mode took over without him noticing, enticing him into getting involved with that hedgehog’s life. Stone frowns and closes out the files, standing and snatching the pizza box he left forgotten. He walks away and drops down in front of the other large screen in the lab and pulls up all the episodes of La Ultima Pasion.

The egg drones are flying about freely again, much quicker than they would have been if Robotnik had been the one to have a meltdown. The man’s flair for the dramatic and obsession with being the loudest person in the room meant that Stone had seen many screaming matches between the doctor and his robots when they misbehaved.

The drones are tempting Stone into copying the doctor, though, because they keep staring at him, hovering over the computer. It’s like they’re judging him, especially the one that Stone broke. Somehow, that one has found yet another of Shadow’s quills, and Stone huffs loudly.

“The hedgehog made his choice,” Stone yells. “Seriously, why should I be responsible for him? I’m taking some much deserved me time, he can deal with his own problems.”

Stone turns away from them before they can keep judging him, and he presses play on whatever episode the doctor left off on. Unfortunately, this show has been running consistently for almost a decade, which means the doctor hasn’t even come close to catching up, but Stone can’t bring himself to watch anything else.

He shoves a slice of cold pizza in his mouth and locks his eyes onto the telenovela, letting the brainless television drown out any thoughts of the hedgehog.

Juan and Pablo continue to fight over Gabriella for hours as Stone sits there, his arms crossed and an annoyed frown gradually taking over his face. If the doctor hadn’t become obsessed with it, Stone would not have been able to sit through more than an episode of it, and he is quickly realizing that.

The two brothers get so caught up in their rivalry that a new man comes into Gabriella’s life and sweeps her away. The new love interest is significantly worse than either of the brothers, and Stone finds himself groaning and rubbing his forehead tiredly.

God, Shadow was so right when he said that Gabriella should just kill them both, and Stone feels the same about the newest addition to the cast.

Stone groans again, much louder this time at the thought of the hedgehog, and sinks down into the seat. He covers his face and bangs his head into the back of the chair repeatedly. Unsurprisingly, taking his focus off of the show to clear his thoughts of Shadow doesn’t work, and now Stone desperately needs a new distraction.

It’s been a while since anyone has been in the lab, so there’s probably something to fix. Yeah, he could fix things, that always helps Stone to refocus.

He turns off the telenovela with a sigh of relief and stands. Being depressed was getting incredibly boring, especially after exiting his little fugue state from the past few days. Awareness only makes the crying embarrassing, and even though the only ones here to judge Stone are a bunch of robots, he still feels ashamed of it.

Glancing around the lab, Stone gets to work, starting on the defense mechanisms. It’s a routine he’s too familiar with, falling into it like he never stopped, and all of his thoughts about bosses and hedgehogs are pushed to the side. Work mode takes over, and Stone retraces steps he’s done time and time again, grabbing tools and opening panels, shoving himself deep into the lab’s central wiring.

He finishes that task, and throws himself into another.

The lights need to be replaced. He has to deep clean the lab in a way little drones can’t. All of his clothes smell like dust and should really get tossed in the wash. The cars should be washed and tuned up. It won’t hurt to take inventory of everything they have. The servers and computers should be updated, but Stone stops himself when he runs into that issue.

He has no clue how long it’s been since he started his overhaul, but Stone has officially run out of things to do other than update code. He wants to avoid that because even after throwing himself doggedly into chores, his brain kept finding something that reminded him of the doctor or Shadow, and his curiosity is starting to drive him crazy.

Well, there’s one more chore he could do, but Stone has been procrastinating that one, too. He drops his head and sighs, then looks around until he finds the egg drones floating around by the main computer. Not even they want to give him a break it seems.

“Come here, you all need a tune up,” Stone says, waving his hand and dropping down into a seat at the workbench.

The drones stare at him, then the computer, then back to Stone. He’s really not going to be able to avoid those Project Shadow files, is he?

He sighs and nods tiredly. “Okay, okay, I’ll look at them after. It’s the only thing left to do, anyways.”

The drones fly over after that, those little shits, and Stone works on them quietly. He updates some of their code and cleans them up, oiling their internal mechanisms and replacing the parts that are worn out. It doesn’t take long at all, but there’s still one drone that hasn’t come to get fixed up yet.

Stone searches the room for the one that he damaged the day before and frowns as it hovers about, somehow clutching even more of Shadow’s quills in its arm. Where the hell does it keep finding them?

“I really am sorry, I wasn’t mad at you,” Stone apologizes quietly. “I’m mad at…I’m mad at him.”

Whether he’s referring to the doctor or Shadow, Stone honestly doesn’t know anymore. Both of them left him behind, disappearing and ditching him just to face death.

The drone hovers a little closer, but it’s still a little wary of getting too close to him. Stone tries a smile, pointing at the quills. “Hey, good job finding those. I couldn’t find any left in the car so I’m impressed you managed to get some more. Let me fix you up, then you can keep being mad at me, it’s only fair.”

It beeps happily at the compliment and flies over as if nothing was ever keeping it away, and Stone feels even guiltier. It sets itself down on the bench, and Stone fishes around in the drawers for a replacement lens, giving it the same gentle treatment as the others as he fixes it.

The doctor was always insistent on keeping his tools in good condition, but he never would go to the lengths of apologizing to them for damaging them. The drones never cared, either, when it was the doctor. Maybe Stone is a little too similar to them. He thinks of Shadow, a living tool owned by G.U.N., and maybe the hedgehog is a little too similar to the drones, too.

They always come home, no matter how hurt they get.

Stone gently polishes the new lens, but his hands stall. He drops his head, and the drone beeps a question.

“I shouldn’t feel guilty, he made his choice,” Stone tries to defend, but it sounds weak even to him.

The drone just beeps again, and he frowns. “I’m gonna read them because they’re the only thing to entertain me other than that show, but that’s it.”

It doesn’t respond, and Stone finishes polishing the drone. Resigned to his fate, Stone stands and drops down in front of the computer, pulling up Project Shadow.

He doesn’t even know what is drawing him to these. Okay, that’s a lie, it’s the guilt, but he doesn’t want to feel like that. Hopefully, the files will tell him that Shadow was placed into stasis for doing something horrible that completely justifies why G.U.N. wants him, and Stone’s guilt will just disappear.

The files are so massive that Stone doesn’t know what to look for, so there’s no better place than the beginning. Stone skims through the initial reports about a meteor crash and the construction of the lab until he finds Gerald Robotnik’s first actual report about the hedgehog himself.

It starts as a basic observational report about Shadow’s physical features, droning on and on about his heart rate and related things, but Stone finds himself more interested in the brief section at the end.

The creature has spent the last few days in confinement and has not attempted to break free. Its eyes track anyone that passes through the observation room until they are out of its line of sight, the behavior causing stress amongst the staff, claiming it to be “creepy.” I would categorize its constant expression as one not made out of malice for its captors, but one showing its inquisitive nature. It also has not attempted communication, which leaves me wondering if it is capable of rational thought like a human, or if it is simply a very humanoid animal. In the coming days, as it settles into its new environment, I believe it will showcase an intelligent mind hidden within.

Stone skims through very similar reports from other scientists and even soldiers, but he keeps being drawn back to Gerald’s reports and personal notes. Another one catches his eye, dated two weeks after the first one.

Efforts to teach the specimen English are progressing slowly. It understands some commands and can be observed listening in to conversations, visibly trying to learn more. There are only two researchers willing to help teach it language, providing it lessons while I am away. However, it seems to learn the best from me. It still does not speak, despite prompting, but it stands at attention when it hears a word it understands and seems to show frustration when it does not understand.

I believe it landed as a blank slate, without any knowledge of itself or the world, as it startled upon seeing itself in a mirror for the first time. I watched as it turned its head back and forth, tracking its eyes in its reflection, then it seemed to compare itself to me, mimicking my posture and expression. I was correct to assume there is a unique kind of intelligence buried within it, but so far, it trails after me and follows commands like a pet. With time, it will hopefully begin communicating with us, but for now, the energy that resides within it is my first concern.

Shadow clearly knows how to talk, but it’s interesting that Shadow seemed to come to Earth much differently than the other aliens. There are still thousands of files at Stone’s fingertips, and he decides to just follow this line through Shadow’s life. Quickly, he writes a program to sort through and scan the files to find more about Shadow’s journey of learning to talk, then he lets it run as he makes himself a cup of plain black coffee.

When he returns to his seat, he finds a report dated months later about Shadow finally talking, but it isn’t just a report, but something listed as from Gerald’s personal notes, confiscated upon his arrest. It’s almost a little unsurprising given how quiet Shadow tends to be, but Stone takes a sip and reads it with his brow furrowed in concentration.

Despite all of my numerous attempts to get the hedgehog to respond verbally, it has proved fruitless for months. He has been consistently improving his understanding, and he can follow most conversations, only tilting his head in confusion at a few words that he has never heard before. He trusts me more than I expected him to initially, and it has been entertaining to watch him grow and change. But it frustrates me that this was not my accomplishment to get him to speak, but Maria’s.

When they first met, I had hopes that her presence would influence his behavior, but not to this scale. Instead of just following commands and moving around between experiments silently, he has begun to gain a personality. And desires.

Maria decided to come watch him run in the generator yesterday, and she had never been in there before then. When I told him to stop for the day, I noticed Maria waiting for him, and he noticed a second later. It was a surprise to everyone in the room when he suddenly spoke her name and ran over to her side. I elected to spend the rest of the day with them, forgoing the research on chaos energy I should have been working on, fascinated by this new development.

He only spoke two more times that evening, repeating her name to catch her attention, and Maria was as ecstatic as she was the first time. She has been helping him learn to write after deciding that he was possibly too shy to talk, hoping that writing and drawing would help him express himself better. He attempted to draw her, nothing but a bunch of scribbles similar to what a child would draw, and tugged her shirt and said her name. Apparently the yellow lines were Maria, and she had responded to his attempts by trying to draw him.

Their interactions have led me to understand that this fine specimen’s development is akin to that of a baby growing into a toddler. His need to communicate was solely to gain Maria’s attention, much like a toddler’s first words to grab the attention of a parent. But he is obviously progressing at a quicker rate than a human would, and his physical prowess and capabilities surpass most adult humans. Whatever he is, I would guess he is a child, and it opens new possibilities for experimentation.

There is much that he could be taught, and I must proceed carefully so as to not hinder his potential.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise to Stone that Shadow is a child, given the fact that he is the exact same size as the blue one. But, the written confirmation makes Stone squirm, guilt starting to eat away at him again as Gerald speaks openly about performing tests on a Shadow that was basically a toddler.

Stone has seen Shadow be kind and thoughtful, and the image of the hedgehog, just as Stone remembers, scribbling with a crayon, makes his coffee taste like ash in his mouth.

But the name Maria rings a bell. Shadow said he listened to Maria’s records. From the way it sounds in Gerald’s notes, Maria must have been someone that was close to Shadow. Stone assumes that she was a scientist tasked with keeping an eye on him when Gerald was busy.

Stone pivots to follow this rabbit hole, changing his program to search for any mention of Maria. His eyes widen as the search comes up with thousands of results. He skims through them, bouncing around between every type of document that G.U.N. could have. If Shadow was mentioned, it appeared as if Maria was never far behind.

There are incident reports written by G.U.N. soldiers.

At 2013 hours, Project Shadow was reported missing by Dr. Wilma Sutherland. Project Shadow’s containment unit was found empty, and the assistant on watch at the time, David Guthry, was asleep. The base’s alarm was sounded, all personnel alerted to the missing test subject. A search was conducted around the base and immediately outside. The search was completed at 20:27 after the subject was found in the gym playing a game of tag with Maria. Project Shadow was escorted back to its containment by Dr. Robotnik without further issue.

She appears in research findings about the experiments Shadow went through.

Tests to better understand the perceived invincibility of Project Shadow through starvation have been suspended by the order of Dr. Robotnik. All previous data acquired related to the subject’s fluctuation in weight are to be considered false. All previous data acquired related to the subject’s reported symptoms regarding the starvation are to be considered inconclusive or require further questioning. The experiment failed after it was discovered that Maria had been feeding Project Shadow without knowledge or with disregard to the experiment’s existence. This revelation came about when the subject was found eating a cupcake. Nutritional supplements are to be reintroduced into the subject’s stasis fluid by the order of Dr. Robotnik.

Even in Shadow’s assignments to test his intelligence and mental development, the hedgehog writes about almost nothing except Maria in very neat, nearly mechanical cursive.

Maria is nice. I like her. Also I like Proffossor. They arnt scared of me, Shadow writes in one, clearly written at the start of his education.

In another, Shadow writes directly to Gerald.

Professor,

Maria taught me how to knit yesterday. I believe it is a valuable skill because it allowed me to hone my fine motor skills in a new manner. I also practiced multi-tasking while Maria talked to me about subjects other than the task at hand, such as the newest book she was reading. I found knitting to be an enjoyable experience.

I would like to do it again, but Maria has instructed me to request more funding from you to pay for new knitting needles and additional yarn through this report, including examples of why you should support this idea. She claimed you “won’t waste more money on her hobbies after the last one.” She assured me that the yarn would be used towards making you a sweater if you approve of this request.

Maria and I await your response.

Shadow

Stone holds a hand over his mouth to stop the endearing smile that threatens to form. If he hadn’t heard Shadow make a joke before, Stone would have thought this was a completely serious request. Not even Shadow would actually write a whole report to ask for—wait, the Professor actually responded. On a sticky note.

Shadow,

Your request for funding has been granted.

The Professor

P.S. If you turn around, you’ll find that Maria is trying not to laugh over the fact that you fell for this.

Okay, so Shadow was very gullible, that…isn’t a surprise, honestly. Stone feels embarrassment on Shadow’s behalf, but even this paints a picture that if Shadow was willing to request funding for the woman, Maria must have been very, very important to him.

There are genuinely too many parts of this file dedicated to Maria, and Stone scrolls past them all until he reaches the end of the search results for her name. Any enjoyment he got from that last file disappears in a heartbeat as he realizes the most recent files mentioning Maria are Project Shadow’s last ones, both written by one Commander Walters.

Morbid curiosity drives him, and he looks at the two files. One is G.U.N.’s official report about shutting down the project, and the other is unclassified. He decides to read the official one first.

09/23/1974

Incident Report for Base #0481

Contains a detailed description of the events that occurred between 2200 and 0200 hours.

Upon receiving the order from G.U.N. headquarters, the stewardship of Project Shadow and all of its assets was to be transferred from the scientific research branch to the military. Somehow, Dr. Gerald Robotnik, the head researcher, learned of this order before it was put into effect. As a result, he tried to escape with the assistance of Project Shadow.

Orders were given to the soldiers stationed at the base to apprehend them. An altercation between G.U.N. soldiers and Project Shadow resulted in the subject using its powers offensively to aid in their escape. That caused structural damage to the containers holding extracted chaos energy, and the base exploded at roughly 2230 hours.

Medics and firefighters were brought onto the scene, but the fire was not put out until around 0100 hours. There were a total of 54 fatalities, 36 of which died on scene, the other 18 dying while receiving medical attention at the nearest G.U.N. medical facility in Oklahoma City.

Dr. Robotnik and Project Shadow were both taken into custody in the aftermath of the explosion. Robotnik did not resist arrest, and he has remained silent since the incident. He is to be taken to our maximum security prison to await his sentencing. Project Shadow needed to be apprehended using force. It was forced into a portable stasis containment unit. Due to its dangerous and violent nature, I ordered that it be placed into indefinite stasis until G.U.N. deems it necessary to use it.

I recommend that all files regarding Project Shadow should be scratched from the record and labelled as classified, allowing only myself and my superiors to have access to them. All personnel from the lab will be required to sign non-disclosure agreements that forbid them from speaking about what occurred during this project.

Stone wants to skim through the technical section of the report, but he can’t find where Maria’s name is mentioned. So, he continues reading, his shoulders tense as he goes through page after page. Then Stone reaches the end—the list of the dead—and he finally finds her.

Maria. Maria Robotnik.

His mind goes blank, and Stone’s hand opens up Commander Walters’ last note, and the last note about Maria Robotnik.

I am writing this as an admission of guilt, I suppose. No one will ever find these files, and they will hopefully die when I do.

From the project’s beginnings, I had thought that despite being an alien that could level the base if he put effort into it, Shadow would never be capable of committing an act of violence like that. Whenever I talked to him, he was very quiet and polite. He only ever did things against the rules when Maria urged him to, and it was only ever in the name of fun. He seemed happy, given his circumstances.

I don’t think that version of Shadow exists anymore. It is G.U.N.’s official stance that Shadow and Gerald were the instigators, but Shadow didn’t hurt anyone. Even when he was forced into containment with an electric prod, he didn’t fight. He sat there and stared at Maria’s corpse, holding back tears.

Right before I placed him into stasis, he looked at me and asked, “Is she…what’s going to happen to her?” I was too much of a coward to respond.

When the stasis fluid began to fill his containment, Shadow started trying to get out then, realization setting in that this wasn’t normal. He pounded his fists against the glass, but he didn’t try to break it. I know he could have broken it, and for some reason he didn’t. I think he was too scared to remember the powers he had. I had never seen him express so much emotion before, and his eyes were wide and terrified. But as the fluid reached his neck, anger took over, and he glared at me, and he was put to sleep, that righteous anger frozen on his face.

I’ll do all I can to bury Shadow’s existence because I know that if he is to ever escape, he will be an unstoppable force G.U.N. won’t know how to counter. And we’ll deserve it, whatever it is, for creating him.

For God’s sake, we were ordered to fire at children. We killed a kind little girl and locked away a boy for a crime he never committed. I don’t doubt that we’re all going to Hell for what happened in this lab, and I pray that Shadow stays asleep, for his sake.

Stone closes out of the file aggressively, practically pounding on the interface to close Walters’ note. His chest hurts, and his jaw clenches, and his hands shake in barely contained anger. He doesn’t want to look at this anymore, but to his detriment, Stone doesn’t like giving up halfway. There’s one thing left he hasn’t at least glanced at containing a mention of Maria Robotnik, and he opens it with a noise of discomfort.

An untitled video sits on the screen, and Stone reluctantly presses play.

The screen is black for a few seconds before muffled voices filter in, the sound of close tapping drowning out their words.

The black is pulled away, the lens cap being removed, and a young preteen girl’s face takes up the screen, her face in a pout, her mismatched colored eyes roving around the frame.

“Are you sure it's on, Grandpa,” she asks someone off camera.

Gerald’s voice responds, laughing, “Yes, Maria. I’m the brilliant head scientist, I think I know how to work a camera.”

Maria steps back so that all of her is visible, dressed in a pale blue turtleneck and bell bottom jeans, white socks on her feet. She grins mischievously, and it reminds Stone so much of the doctor’s evil grins that it hurts. It must be a family trait, to have that streak of devilishness within them.

“Well, old people are bad at technology, so I just assumed,” Maria says with a shrug.

Shadow walks into frame and up to Maria with his typical frown. “I think the Professor is smarter than the general public.”

“Thank you, Shadow,” Gerald says.

Maria rolls her eyes and coughs. “Kiss ass,” she mutters, coughing again to cover it up.

Shadow’s eyes narrow at her. “What did you just call me?”

“Kids, I would suggest that you stop squabbling and show me what was so important to require the very expensive camera. A camera that is dedicated solely for research, I might add.”

“It is research,” Maria says with a shrug.

Gerald hums. “How so?”

Maria and Shadow both point at the hedgehog in the same second, and Shadow says, “I’m the research.”

It gets a chuckle out of Gerald. “Alright, let’s see it then.”

The two kids smile, and Maria turns around, rifling through a cabinet. She searches for something, then her hands stop. She glances at Shadow with a sheepish smile, and she starts her hunt again frantically.

Shadow sighs, but he leans down to help her look. “I told you to arrange them alphabetically.”

Maria pokes Shadow’s forehead. “I’ll arrange you alphabetically.”

The hedgehog whips his head around to stare at Maria in disbelief. “What? That’s not even a threat.”

“Oh yeah? A D H O S W,” Maria challenges. She scrunches her face up as she thinks, then slowly says, “ Aaaaddhose. Adhoswuh?”

Shadow blinks, narrowing his eyes, visibly disgusted at the sound Maria made. “Professor, I think there’s something wrong with her brain.”

Maria scoffs. “Hey! I’ll show—”

“Children, children,” the Professor interrupts. They both turn to look at the man. “Is the record you’re looking for the one already on the turntable?”

The kids scramble up from the ground and stare wide-eyed at the record. They turn to each other, both embarrassed, and Maria pats Shadow’s head gently. The hedgehog nods under her hand, and they spin on their heels to face the camera. In sync, they stand up straight, placing their hands behind their backs and straightening out their expressions.

“Grandpa,” Maria says, looking into the camera, “today we have asked you here to discover the answer to a very important scientific query: can I teach a hedgehog to dance? Hit it.”

Shadow dutifully drops the arm onto the record, and a song Stone hasn’t heard in years starts playing. Rock the Boat by…he honestly doesn’t have a clue by who. But the two kids know the song well, and to Stone’s surprise, they break out into a choreographed dance.

They sway side to side until the lyrics start, and then they step to the side, still swaying, stepping back and forth and moving their arms to the beat. They roll their arms, leaning into each other, and they dance around each other just as they must have practiced dozens of times.

Maria is off-beat, but she’s so energetic that it doesn’t matter. At her side, Shadow is perfectly on beat, his face scrunched up in concentration, and it’s such a strange sight to see that deadly expression on an anthropomorphic hedgehog flawlessly pulling off disco moves.

The chorus kicks in, and Maria and Shadow jump to the center of the frame, Maria dancing behind Shadow as they mimic rowing a boat, stepping back as they go. Maria’s blonde hair whips around her face, and Shadow’s quills bounce to the beat.

They shuffle and shake their bodies, bouncing to the song with some impressive footwork. They spin, hair and quills blurring, and Maria laughs loudly, her happiness palpable through the screen. When Shadow meets her eyes, his face lights up like the sun. He grins so wide it must hurt, and Shadow looks so unabashedly happy that Stone doesn’t want to believe that he’s the same hedgehog.

“Our love is like a ship on the ocean. We’ve been sailing with a cargo full of love and devotion.”

Maria grabs Shadow’s hands as the song’s energy picks up, and they ditch their choreography. Maria pulls their arms back and forth, and Shadow shimmies in place. They vibe and jive around the room, their laughter nearly drowning out the song. They’re kids, having a blast, without a care in the world, just happy to be together. It’s chaotic and messy and so childishly free. In their own little world, this tiny frame from fifty years ago, they look like they’re home, their socked feet shuffling against a well-worn carpet.

The song ends, but neither of them let go of each other, Maria slumping to the ground and leaning against Shadow. They pant, smiles on their faces, then look towards the camera expectantly.

“So, can hedgehogs dance?” Maria asks in between breaths.

“Hm, I’d have to say yes,” the Professor responds. “Very good you two, but I think I need to teach you how to dance the proper way, none of this new generation disco junk.”

The Professor walks into the frame and quickly switches out the records for something that sounds like it’s from the 20’s. Right as the man starts to dance, Shadow turns to the camera and tilts his head, frowning.

“Why is the light flashing,” he questions, gaining the others’ attention.

Maria gasps loudly and tries to scramble to her feet, screaming, “No! The film is running—!”

And the video ends abruptly, just like Shadow’s happiness and Maria’s life.

“Oh, kid…,” slips out of Stone’s mouth gently.

He lifts a hand to cover his face against the miserable emotions coursing through him, and Stone startles when his fingers touch his wet face. He’s surprised that he had tears left to cry, but he feels like he has to, to mourn this girl he never knew, to mourn what G.U.N. took away from Shadow, a kid who had nothing of his own.

Stone furiously wipes away the tears, guilt taking over. No wonder Shadow jumped at Gerald’s plan to destroy the world. Who wouldn’t want to make a world that was nothing but cruel to him pay for killing such a kind little girl? Fuck, they were just kids, betrayed by the adults around them.

Adults like Stone, who ditched a boy mourning to die alone in a lab. God, he’s a horrible person, isn’t he? Stone likes being evil, but this is just cruel.

“Doctor, what do I do?” Stone asks to the empty space beside him. Has Shadow been trying to fill that empty space, too?

The persistent egg drone flies up to him, once again holding more of Shadow’s quills. Stone huffs a laugh at it and takes them gently, running his thumb slowly across one of the quills. He knows what he needs to do next, but…

“You’d probably hate me for this,” Stone mutters. “Me, helping one of the hedgehogs? I’m sticking my neck out for nothing in return, you’d tell me.”

His eyes move over the room and all of the reminders of the doctor’s life, sitting and waiting for Stone to do something with them. The drones beep at him, as if trying to tell him to get off his ass and make himself useful. And it’s as good of an answer as he’ll ever get.

“Sorry, sir, you can be mad at me, but I made him a promise. And we both know that I follow through, even when I probably shouldn’t,” Stone apologizes.

His chest still aches, but there’s still one thing the Robotniks left behind that needs his attention. Stone can’t honor the doctor by sitting here doing nothing when that’s how they got into this mess. He’s done waiting, and to be honest, being depressed was…very boring.

He just has to remember that even when a project doesn’t turn out how he expected or wanted it to, it might lead him to something even better. Stone has to trust in the doctor’s adage and hope it works out, for Shadow’s sake.

Stone stands, wipes the tears off of his face, and gets to work.

Chapter Text

The Professor seemed agitated and stressed in a way Shadow had never seen before. As they traversed through the base, Shadow had to continuously backtrack because he was walking much faster than the Professor. Which was unusual since the man always complained about being in a hurry and feeling like a tennis ball the way he had to bounce around the lab.

Shadow stopped in the hallway when he realized again that the Professor was moving slowly, and he huffed in annoyance. The older man frowned down at Shadow and continued his snail’s crawl to their destination, and the hedgehog frowned back at him in a challenge.

“Did I do something to annoy you?” Shadow asked bluntly.

“No, no. Why would you ask that,” he responded, sounding as agitated as he looked.

Shadow’s lips formed a thin line as he thought of what to say. “Typically, you walk faster than me. It’s almost like you’re stalling.”

The Professor scoffed. “Well, I am most certainly not.”

Shadow didn’t believe it, and the man proved Shadow’s suspicions by stopping before the entrance to the gym. His hands formed tight fists as he shoved them into the pockets of his lab coat. The hedgehog took the man’s cue and stood at his side silently, waiting to follow his lead.

“Shadow, this isn’t going to be like the other tests or experiments. I need you on your best behavior today.”

When the Professor’s gaze turned to him, it was like his eyes were commanding him, and Shadow straightened instinctively. That only deepened the man’s frown, his moustache moving with his mouth in a way that sent a jolt of nervousness through Shadow’s spine.

“Can I ask what we’re doing,” Shadow tried, but he instantly received a shake of the head.

“I have the same question.”

And with that worrisome message, the Professor typed in his access code and ushered Shadow in. His head tilted to the side at the need for a code to get in today, but his unvoiced question was answered when his eyes fell on the crowd of soldiers and generals waiting for them. He hesitated for a millisecond, a subtle twitch in his legs, but he recovered before anyone could notice.

He trailed after the Professor and stood at attention when they stopped in front of someone familiar. General Drummond, if Shadow recalled correctly. The old man’s sharp blue eyes locked onto Shadow, scrutinizing, then moved to the Professor.

“General Drummond, I’m quite curious as to the necessity of your presence today,” The Professor greeted.

“Robotnik. G.U.N. has a few ideas for Project Shadow, and I’m here to test…him.” The general hesitated as he turned back to the hedgehog and asked, “You can take an order, can’t you?”

Shadow steeled his face, standing straight with his arms at his side. “Yes, sir.”

The general looked down his nose at Shadow, his eyes calculating. “Hmph. Go to the center of the floor.”

The hedgehog obeyed wordlessly, but not before he glanced at the Professor’s crossed arms and bothered scowl. Shadow stood in the center of the room, at the center of everyone’s attention, and soldiers began to surround him at all sides, dressed in workout clothes that he had seen on them before. He kept his body still and calm, refusing to show his uncertainty in front of so many people.

But the soldiers closing in on him awakened some deep instinct within him, his eyes tracking the thud of every boot, and his fingers twitched at his sides. What was he going to do here? He couldn’t figure it out, but he had to assume it was something related to this athleticism since they were in the gym.

The soldiers stopped advancing, boxing Shadow in and standing at attention. Well, they clearly knew what they were doing, and something inside of him told him to be at the ready. The soldiers shifted their stances, spreading their legs apart and tensing their arms. Shadow’s body copied the motion, his hands balling up into fists.

He felt…threatened, a feeling he hadn’t experienced since he first woke up in the lab, seeing weapons at the ready, pointed at him.

“Begin,” the general commanded.

The soldiers all lunged at him, and Shadow’s eyes widened in surprise before narrowing. One man swung a fist at him, and right as it was about to make contact with his nose, Shadow teleported, kicking the man from behind and sending him flying across the floor. His quills rose along his back, and he turned, grabbing another soldier’s arm, swiftly pushing against his torso with his shoulder and tossing him over his shoulder.

Shadow stepped back and glared down at the two men on the ground, then flicked his gaze upwards, watching for any sign of an attack from someone else. But they all stood there, staring at him in poorly concealed shock, and reality came crashing back.

Shadow did stumble as he took a step forwards, needing to check on the two soldiers he laid out. The others were checking the two men over and helping pull them to their feet, and their faces visibly hardened as Shadow moved forwards.

“Are you alright?” Shadow asked quietly, forcing his voice to say calm.

One of the soldiers scoffed as he got to his feet. The one pulling him up glanced at Shadow and repeated, “You okay?”

The soldier responded then, turning to his companion with an eye roll, his voice hushed. “Yeah, great. Why the fuck is it trying to talk to me?”

Shadow remembered himself then, ducking his head down in embarrassment. He could feel his face flush and hunched his shoulders, and he grimaced against the feeling. Actually, a lot of feelings, like the growing sense of dread building in his chest.

Why did he do that? Why did they do that? Why could he do that so easily, turning on people and hurting them? Was…was everything G.U.N. had ever said about him true? That he was dangerous, some monster that fell from the sky to tear everything apart?

“I didn’t say stop.”

Shadow looked over his shoulder and met General Drummond’s demanding stare.

“Drummond, what’s the meaning of this,” the Professor asked, his irritation audible.

“I figured that we were wasting its physical capabilities with some of your experiments. It can be far more useful in action, no?”

The Professor’s eyes widened, and he gasped. “You don’t mean—”

The general cut him off, keeping his stare locked onto Shadow. “Men, attack it again.”

Shadow’s mouth opened to protest, but the sound of boots pounding against the ground distracted him. Shadow dodged a kick and kept all of his focus on stopping his body from working on an autopilot he didn’t know he had. He ducked and weaved between them, letting them fall into each other, clenching his fists so tightly his claws stab his palms, drawing blood.

It was easy to dodge them, being able to skate under them and teleport out of danger, but all of his concentration was focused on keeping the need to fight back tamped down. It was against the rules, he couldn’t hurt them.

“Stop!”

Shadow teleported out of the fray to the other side of the room, crouched down and ready to move. The general was glaring at him, his mouth curled in rage. He lifted one finger and waved Shadow towards him, and his need to obey overrode the instinct telling him to stay away from the man.

The hedgehog stopped right in front of the general, his claws still stuck in his palms. The wrinkles on General Drummond’s face crinkled as his eyes narrowed.

“What the hell are you doing?”

Shadow’s eyes flicked down to his feet at the man’s cold words. “I’m not supposed to harm anyone.”

“Let me spell it out for you, since you seem to have not been trained properly. I need you to demonstrate your ability in a fight. Clearly, you understand what you’re capable of, so follow the order and fight them.”

The general’s tone was no-nonsense, and Shadow refused to look back up at him, hesitant to see what he would find. But it still felt wrong, after all these months of being told to keep his power bottled inside, of his need to keep it contained to prevent himself from becoming what he feared the most.

Forgetting his audience, Shadow muttered, “But I don’t want to fight them.”

That was the wrong thing to say, and a wrinkled hand is grabbing his face and yanking it forwards.

“General, wait—”

The Professor’s protest was cut off, and Shadow finally met the general’s eyes again, gritting his teeth against the uncomfortable hold. Furious was an inadequate description for the man’s expression, with his eyes narrowed into slits and his nostrils flaring. He looked murderous, and Shadow stilled against the look, his own eyes widening.

“I don’t care what you want,” he growled. “You don’t get to want things. Now get out there and do what I say before we need to find a punishment for you. Consider this your one warning.”

The general’s nails dug into his cheeks, and Shadow stumbled backwards as the man shoved him away. He towered over him menacingly, his expression fading into the shadows of the room. There wasn’t anything for Shadow to do except turn around, obeying against the lump in his throat.

“Robotnik, I believe you’ve forgotten about your little project’s leash.”

Shadow bit his tongue and couldn’t do anything to stop his limbs from filling with numbness, flowing all the way to his head. And when the soldiers lunged at him again, Shadow ducked, and instead of running away, he charged up chaos energy in his fist and—

—hits someone square in the chest, then yells as a prod is dug into his side.

“Stop resisting, or your deal is done!”

Deal? What deal? Where…?

Shadow huffs, shaking his head, and gasps in pain. Forcing his eyes open, he’s immediately assaulted with blindingly white walls, blurry figures walking around him.

Metal is clasped around his wrists and ankles, and his quills bristle defensively. He’s laying on a table, struggling against the restraints, but only his head is free to move. Shadow throws his head back and to the side, and someone shouts in pain.

He breathes heavily, focusing his energy onto figuring out where the hell he is, and sparks dance across his vision. Are those from him? He’s good at controlling his energy, so why won’t it listen to him and stop?

When his eyes decide to function properly, Shadow is met with people in lab coats staring at him, G.U.N. soldiers at his sides. They look at him with blatant disgust, questions in their eyes over his existence and behavior. It’s never bothered him this much before, and his heart clenches in his chest.

He pulls his limbs again, searching for the Professor. The man is always present for any experiment with a new team, and Shadow doesn’t recognize anyone in front of him. Even the G.U.N. soldiers look different, their uniforms black and navy.

“It should be performing better. I don’t understand why it isn’t.”

“For giving itself up, it’s awfully violent and resistant to us.”

Shadow blinks, trying to understand the conversation. “Where’s the Professor,” he manages to ask, his voice quiet and strained.

The scientists jump, staring at him with furrowed brows. “Who?”

What are they talking about? They should know who their own head researcher is, and he opens his mouth to ask again, but his eyes catch onto his bare wrist. No, his bare hands and feet, too, and panic floods his veins.

They never take things off of him, the Professor wouldn’t allow it. So why…?

Shadow grunts, dropping his head down onto the cold metal, his memory coming back to him. He isn’t there. He’ll never be there again, but he’s still with G.U.N. And there is no Professor because—

He shuts his eyes and pushes the grief away. His feelings don’t matter anymore, and he just has to submit to G.U.N.’s whims. Which means he needs to stop throwing a tantrum whenever they do something to him. Shadow is better than this, but his chest is burning with energy that is making it very hard to control himself. He isn’t some naive kid, he knows better.

“Disoriented, not too surprising. If it keeps passing out when we have it run, it must be because there’s something wrong with it. Plus, the time it’s awake shortens each round. We need to find an alternative way of harvesting its energy if it can’t do what we need it to.”

“Did Rockwell give permission to run tests?”

“Yep, just got confirmation an hour ago. And we prepped ahead of time, so now we’re ready to go. We’ll start with the x-ray, so bring it along.”

Shadow watches as the soldiers around him step back, and scientists move forwards. The sound of wheels against the floor makes his ear twitch, and he turns his head to see a big machine being pushed towards him. It looks very different compared to x-rays he’s had in the past, and Shadow squirms.

He also knows from experience that x-rays don’t work on him, so he doubts a modern one will. He tries to express this by muttering to a passing scientist, “It won’t work.”

But the man just glares down at him and continues to move things around. “Be quiet and stay still,” he orders.

When preparations are complete, everyone walks away from Shadow. His ears follow their footsteps, listening intently to the clacking of a keyboard, switches being flipped around him. The machine above him whirs to life, and the loud sound makes him grimace, his ears flattening against his head. But like Shadow predicted, his body begins to spark, and the machine follows suit, sparking and grinding as it breaks and irritating him further.

He can feel the glares from the scientists from their spot across the room, and he huffs through his nose, something in his chest curling up at the feeling. Shadow deliberately keeps his ears flattened, trying in vain to filter out the complaints about his behavior.

A prod is shoved into his side, and he can’t stop the yell. He growls at the offending soldier, but the woman just glares back at him and does it again. It lasts longer, and he can feel the burn form as he screams, and Shadow is incapable of doing anything to stop it.

The scientists ramble in the background, naming acronyms and tests Shadow couldn’t possibly understand the meaning of. Their footsteps approach him, and he snaps to attention, watching their every movement with razor sharp eyes, his jaw clenched. A clicking sound draws his gaze to the cuffs keeping him attached to the table, and they open, freeing his limbs.

“Get moving, no funny business,” a soldier orders.

He grabs Shadow’s arm and yanks him off the table. Shadow tries not to stumble, glaring at the soldier as he rights himself on unsteady legs. That must qualify as funny business to G.U.N., and Shadow is met with another electric prod right to the middle of his back in between his quills. His claws sink into his paws, his fingers curling and shaking in restraint. Shadow can’t lash out. No matter what, he has to keep the situation in his control as much as he can.

Shadow stalks forward, the soft pitter-patter of his bare feet against the tiles fading away against the harsh stomping of boots. The white light makes the walls and floor and ceilings blur together, making it impossible to discern where he is in the base, and he doesn’t even realize they’ve reached their destination until a boot kicks at his shin, nudging him to the side.

They guide him towards another machine, a strange cylindrical thing with a platform protruding out from it. A hand snatches his wrist, and Shadow flinches. The scientist tightens his grip, scowling down at him.

“Take these things off,” he orders, tapping his inhibitor rings.

Shadow’s brow furrows, and he shakes his head.

The scientist’s face hardens, his eyes darkening. “I’m not asking. Do it.”

He tries to stand firm, meeting the man’s stare with a dark look of his own. “I need them.”

The man scoffs and rolls his eyes. “You’ll get them back after, then. Hurry it up.”

Shadow can only turn his eyes back to his rings, feeling dread and energy pulsing in his chest. The ultimate lifeform shouldn’t be this weak, this scared, and Shadow’s fingers move swiftly, unclasping the one ring around his wrist and the others around his ankles. He shoves them at the scientist, who flinches at the sudden move.

Shadow breathes heavily, crossing his arms, and lets the personnel talk over his head. He keeps his gaze locked onto the machine, focused intently on nothing but the chaos energy inside him. It’s slamming against his ribcage, trying to break out and consume him. The hedgehog lets people manhandle him around, pushing him into the machine, only because keeping his powers in check overrides every other instinct telling him to get rid of the hands touching and grabbing him.

But he has to ignore them and stay. In. Control.

His energy thrashes inside him, harder than ever before, and Shadow grits his teeth. The only sound he can hear is the roaring of his energy and his labored breathing. Shadow doesn’t even notice when he slides into the machine, the white walls enclosing in around him, too concerned with his body shaking under the strain.

A loud buzz suddenly sounds, startling him out of his concentration, and Shadow gasps—

—and ducked his head down into Maria’s side, glancing suspiciously around the room.

Maria laughed lightly, placing a hand on his head. “Woah, hi. You okay?”

The show on the TV continued to play, and the sound didn’t happen again. Maria was looking at him with a confused smile, unbothered by the loud noise, so he decided to leave it alone and forget about the noise. He drew himself away from being buried under her arm and nodded, turning back to the television.

The hedgehog was starting to understand them, but it was still strange seeing what human lives were like outside of the lab. It was an entirely different world out there that he couldn’t comprehend.

They sat together in the “pillow fort,” as Maria called it, until that loud boom sounded again, and the hedgehog jumped, bumping into Maria again. His adrenaline kicked in and launched him to his feet, walking around the room in the hopes of finding the source of the noise.

“What are you doing, pal,” she asked, watching him wander around.

He couldn’t find anything unusual, but the sound was so loud and close. Nothing else in the lab made it, so what could it be?

The boom happened again, and he crouched down, narrowing his eyes at the ceiling. A few smaller booms followed, but then it went quiet again.

“It’s just a thunderstorm,” Maria said casually, drawing his attention back to her. When he tilted his head at her, her amused smile turned into an excited one. “Wait, this is probably your first, isn’t it! Where’s my coat, I gotta show you this.”

Maria scrambled to her feet and shot over to her closet, rifling through it frantically. She tossed clothes over her shoulder, and he had to dodge a flying shirt as he approached her. He stopped at her side, watching Maria stick her tongue out in concentration while she searched, her hands flying through her stuff until she giggled excitedly. She pulled out two pieces of clothes that looked like they were made of plastic, and then she was slipping a pair of boots on and grabbing his hand, leading him through the base.

All he could do was follow her, flinching and turning every time there was another boom. They made twists and turns, rushing past scientists and soldiers until they stopped somewhere he had never been before. There were cars and trucks, and Maria led him along the wall slowly, urging him to crouch down and stay quiet.

There was another sound mixed in among the booms that he hadn’t expected to hear out here. Running water dripped from behind the giant metal door, and Maria led him closer to the sound. They waited patiently for a few soldiers to trickle through a smaller door off to the side and leave, and then Maria pulled him forwards through the door.

The door led them outside, and his eyes widened at the sight of water falling rapidly from the sky. It was dark out despite it being the middle of the afternoon, and Maria brought his attention back to her.

She still held the two plastic clothes in her arms, and she gently took his arms and threaded them through the sleeves of the bright yellow one. He stared at her as she buttoned the…coat, she had called it, and then Maria slipped on the other one which was a light blue.

The hedgehog looked himself over, touching the coat and frowning at the sleeves that covered his hands. Maria laughed above him, and he turned his eyes back to her with a pout.

“Sorry, I guess even my old one is too big for you,” she said with a smile. “It’s just so that we don’t get wet out here.”

Maria reached down and pulled up a part of the coat that covered his head and quills, doing the same to herself, and she stepped out into the water with a smile. She waved for him to follow, and he took a tentative step out from under the overhang, water immediately pelting him.

The sky lit up with a jolt of electricity, and the air cracked, the loud boom he had been wondering about sounding after. He stepped back with a gasp, startled by how loud it was now that they were outside. Maria turned around to look at him, a grin wide across her face until she saw his expression.

“It’s okay, you don’t have to be scared of it,” she said softly. Maria gently brought him back under the water, keeping her hand in his. “This is rain. The clouds hold water in them until it gets too heavy, then rain happens. And sometimes, a thunderstorm happens like now. There’s hot and cold air that smashes together, and then the air gets excited, and electricity happens. That’s the lightning.”

Lightning struck again, making Maria smile. “And the thunder is the sound, and it can tell you how far away the lightning is if you count how long it takes for the sound to reach you. That was pretty close, so the sound should happen…now.”

The storm was cooperative with Maria’s prediction, and thunder boomed. The hedgehog felt it in his chest, the rumble travelling through the air and rattling him. Even with Maria’s hand in his, he still flinched at the sound, grimacing. He reached his hands up and ripped off the hood of the coat, rubbing his ear and letting water pelt him.

“Ohhh, it’s too loud for you,” Maria said aloud, wearing a look of understanding. He nodded, and she smiled apologetically. “Sorry, I forgot you have super hearing. Here, lemme help, you’re gonna be all cold and wet like a sad cat.”

He didn’t understand what she meant, but he let her pull the hood over his head again. Maria stood behind him, setting her hands on his head and gently covering his ears. She leaned down and gave him a toothy upside down grin, bright enough to spread to him, too, and a tiny smile creeped onto his face.

“I was scared of storms when I was little until my grandfather explained them to me, so I figured it would help you. It’s pretty cool, huh?”

“Cool,” he repeated, unsure of himself.

His eyes were drawn back to the sky, taking in the new experience with wide eyes. Lightning flashed in the distance, silent and bright.

“Time to count!” Maria said excitedly. She started counting aloud, and he followed along in his head.

“One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven. Eight. Nine—”

The thunder cut her off, booming loudly, and—

—Shadow teleports away from the sound, his heart pounding. He turns around, his quills whipping around wildly, to watch as the machine he was in collapses in on itself, a small fire breaking out. Everyone around him starts yelling frantically, running around to put out the fire. Shadow grits his teeth, trying to calm down his breathing, because he needs to calm down.

His powers sparking without his rings was something he expected, and his quick reflexes are the only thing that kept him from being caught in the collapsing machine. These kinds of tests never work on him, they should know better.

At least Maria isn’t anywhere near the fire. She got sick after they stood in the rain too long, and the Professor would be more upset than he already is if she’s exposed to smoke just because she wanted to be around Shadow during testing. And, he doesn’t want to risk hurting her with his unruly powers.

With the fire distracting G.U.N., Shadow reaches over and grabs his rings where they were dropped, clasping them around his limbs. He breathes a sigh of relief, slumping against the wall when his powers simmer down to their new base level.

Only for a G.U.N. soldier to grab a section of quills on his head and yank him backwards, sending him to the floor. The soldier pins him to the ground, digging their knee into his back and shoving his face into the ground.

“Specimen is under restraint,” the soldier calls out.

“What the hell does it think it’s doing?!”

“We didn’t get any useful scan with the MRI, did we?”

“No, just like the x-ray. Why does it keep acting out?”

Shadow can’t watch the conversation, too exhausted from the brief time with all of his inhibitor rings off to free his head enough to turn towards the people talking. He closes his eyes against the pain and listens with nothing else to do.

“Was it intentional? It seems like it doesn’t have a good grasp on its abilities. It could be why it was so important for G.U.N. to lock it up.”

“Could be. Our priority is extracting its energy, so keep it generating more until we have a plan. I’m going to contact biology.”

Shadow is wrenched to his feet, a hand yanking his arm so hard he feels something in his shoulder pop. He bites back a yell of surprise. It isn’t a pain he’s unfamiliar with after a scientist dislocated his shoulder at the beginning of his time in the lab. As he’s dragged through the hallway, his feet useless to him, Shadow laughs drily thinking over the situation. That scientist had been fired on the spot, much like this G.U.N. soldier will be once the Professor finds out what happened.

Shadow is “too valuable to mistreat,” the Professor had screamed, berating everyone in the room. The Professor may work him hard, but it was always for a reason, and it was never anything Shadow couldn’t handle. The tests were to understand his limits, not push him past them.

The soldier tosses him down, and he groans, shaking his head. The room is vacated, leaving Shadow alone to push himself up on shaky arms. The Professor is really going to tear into someone once he sees the state Shadow is in.

“Get running,” someone orders from behind the glass.

He turns his head slowly, his vision swimming. Run? Now? In this state? He’s sure to injure himself, and the Professor would have to agree. Shadow just stares at the scientists, his mouth slightly agape and his brow furrowed.

“Run.”

Shadow is missing something in this interaction, and he glances around in the hopes of understanding why he’s so confused. None of the scientists look familiar to him, and he knows everyone by name, even if he’s never talked to them. Plus, this is not the gym or the chaos energy reactor, so why would he run?

But his paw pads are cold against the white floor, and he stares blankly at his bare feet and hands. His eyes turn back to the scientists, and Shadow says, “I need my shoes.”

The scientists laugh, like Shadow has no understanding of the situation. One of them rolls her eyes, leaning in to the woman next to her and muttering, clearly not intended for him to hear, “Jesus, can’t it take the hint and shut up already?”

Shadow’s mouth snaps shut, his face flushing with heat.

“You don’t make demands of us, now run,” the scientist orders again, glaring at Shadow.

Properly chastised, he glances down at his bare feet, then runs. But his face still burns, shame coursing through him, all the way to his eyes. There’s a sudden wetness in the corner of his eye that Shadow shakes away, gritting his teeth.

Shadow sniffled, blinking against the water dripping from his eyes. His organs still felt like slush as he healed gradually, but the experience was unpleasant. He breathed shakily, clutching his stomach, and laid on the cot in the examination room. He absentmindedly wiped his mouth, groaning at the vomit now clinging to his fur.

Poison wasn’t fun, he had decided. But like everything else they had tried, it hadn’t killed him. Not killing him didn’t prevent it from hurting, and Shadow curled into himself, sniffling again.

Why was his face so wet?

“Shadow, what are you crying about,” the Professor asked, tutting disapprovingly.

Crying? Right, he knew what it was, but Shadow didn’t know that he was capable of it. He had never cried until now, laying here miserable and uncomfortable as his insides stitched themselves back together. More tears trickled down his face, flowing down his snout and melting into his fur. It would be pointless to try to wipe them away.

“I don’t know,” Shadow replied, his voice hoarse after vomiting earlier. That hadn’t been a pleasant experience, either.

The Professor shook his head, leaning down to meet Shadow’s gaze head on. Shadow blinked rapidly, trying to clear his blurry vision, but that only served to make it worse. But it wasn’t enough to block his view completely, and the Professor’s mustache curled into a frown.

“I understand that this was taxing on your body, but you’re alive and on the mend. It’s nothing to cry about,” he explained. “You’re tough, are you not, Shadow?”

Shadow nodded, sniffling. The Professor’s stare hardened, and the old man nodded firmly.

“Then act like it, my boy. You may be young, but it’s important that you learn that men don’t cry. I won’t reprimand you this time, so keep it in mind for the future. Do you understand?”

The hedgehog pushed himself up, his body returning to a state where he didn’t feel constantly nauseous. With the hand that wasn’t covered in vomit, he wiped his tears and tried to push the need to cry down. When he looked back up at the Professor, he smiled at Shadow, approval and—

—tears in his eyes.

The Professor’s wrinkled hand gently cupped Maria’s face, covered in ash and oh so pale. This wasn’t–she wasn’t supposed to look like this. Maria was full of life, always on the move. Even when she slept, she tossed and turned, kicking her sheets off and sometimes even rolling out of bed. More often than not, Shadow would catch stray hits if she took a nap with him, and he would have to roll away to avoid bruising from a knee to his stomach.

Maria wasn’t ever still, so why didn’t she move when the Professor petted her head, carefully brushing a strand of hair away from his granddaughter’s still face?

He sobbed, tears streaming down his old, weathered face. It left trails of wetness amongst the ash and dust clinging to the Professor’s face, and the man who was always perfectly collected and presentable, who ensured that he instilled that same behavior in Shadow, was nothing but a mess as he cried over Maria.

Shadow’s breath hitched, and he reached a slow, trembling hand out to hold Maria’s motionless hand. Her pulse was silent under his finger, and that—that didn’t make sense to him. It was common for Shadow to not understand what was happening, to always be a step behind, but his mind was swirling.

Even his ears couldn’t pick up on her breathing, and there was no heartbeat for him to hear.

Gasping, Shadow lifted his head up and met the Professor’s teary gaze. Men didn’t cry, but here the man was, bent over Maria, so upset that he was unrecognizable to Shadow. If the Professor was crying, then that meant…

Maria was…

Maria is...

Shadow’s feet give out underneath him, and he tries to catch himself, using the wrong arm. He cries out as he falls to the ground, his shoulder throbbing. His feet are sore, and as he curls up on the cold ground, blood smears where his feet drag along it.

His throat closes around a choked gasp, leaving him breathless. Forcing his eyes open, Maria and her grandfather are nowhere to be found, a sea of blinding white filling his view.

What is wrong with him? Shadow knows, he knows what he’s doing and where he is, so why did it feel like he was there—is there, relieving the worst moment of his life?

Words fade in and out in the background, but there’s a persistent buzzing in his skull that leaves him rattled and disoriented, leaving him stuck in his spot.

Something hot and electric pokes him unrelentingly, and Shadow growls. It’s too easy to grab it and toss it to the side, but that only results in arms grabbing him from every angle. They lift him off of the ground, pinning his arms, legs, and torso so that he can’t move them, and it wouldn’t matter much anyways since his limbs feel like they’re weighed down with lead. Only Shadow’s head remains free, and he uses it.

His emotions and awareness are all over the place, his heart racing, a need to get back to Maria driving him. So the hedgehog lets instinct take over. His teeth sink into flesh, startling the people holding him and giving him the opportunity to wrench himself free. All Shadow does is fall to the floor, rolling away and huffing.

Shadow glares at the soldiers, then glances around the room, but Maria and the Professor are nowhere to be found.

Fuck, he did it again, forgetting his place.

His fur is damp with sweat from running. The soldiers stare at him, then quickly gather themselves up again to capture him once more. Ashamed, his head drops, too tired to keep it up any longer.

“Are we really sure this thing isn’t just some animal? It sure acts like one.”

“We aren’t allowed to rough it up right now, so go get the muzzle. That’s the second time it’s bit someone.”

Muzzle? His eyes widen, staring unblinkingly at the floor, tears threatening to form again. He forces himself to stay still as possible so that he doesn’t hurt anyone else.

With Shadow in this pathetic, useless state, where he can barely even be a good experiment, he has to calm down. This isn’t him. This can’t be who he is.

The Professor would be disappointed that his perfect, obedient Shadow turned into this the moment he was left on his own. And Maria, what would she say? Would she finally realize that she was wrong about him? That G.U.N. was always right. That Shadow was always right.

His breathing quickens when his eyes lock onto the muzzle, but he doesn’t move. He shuts his eyes, bowing his head, shoving down the feeling of revulsion when metal encloses around his snout.

This is how monsters are treated, and Shadow deserves it.

The soldiers drag him away, and he goes limp in their painful holds. His chaos energy is a mess inside him, making it impossible to think coherently.

Shadow prides himself on being rational, and he knows why he has to do this, to submit to their will and be treated like a rabid animal. It’s the logical thing to do when he’s been misbehaving at every turn despite promising otherwise. It makes sense, but he’s mortified to know that this is what he’s always been capable of.

Hands hoist him up onto a metal table in a different room, and it relieves some of the growing, endless pain in his body to lay on the cool surface. Cuffs snap around his wrists and ankles, keeping Shadow in place, and people move around him, various noises reaching his ears.

Metal clinking, rubber snapping, wheels rolling, voices chatting. The lights above him overwhelm his senses, and it’s impossible to find out what’s happening around him.

“Get the area shaved before we make the first incision, test to see if we need sedation.”

Incisions. Right. So much has happened that Shadow hadn’t realized what the logical next step for the scientists would be after he had destroyed the x-ray machines. It happened fifty years ago, and it’s going to happen now.

The cold razor makes him shiver under its touch, but it isn’t really the cold that bothers him. He had been completely fine in the freezing expanse of space, and the table he lies on is much colder than the razor. But his heart beats faster, his breathing more labored, and his skin tingles uncomfortably.

Watching the fur on his chest being shaved down, waiting with bated breath for a scalpel to come and cut him open, is suddenly excruciating. He’s gone through this countless times, but it has never made dread fill his chest, fear clawing its way up his throat. Shadow gulps, forcing his limbs to stay still. He’ll be fine with his healing, like every time, but the thought of sedation if he doesn’t cooperate…

Shadow won’t let that happen. He won’t.

Metal tools clink next to him, and he can sense the looming scientists around him lean closer. A hand presses down on his chest, the scalpel pushes through his skin, and Shadow shuts his eyes.

”I don’t understand the necessity of this. You did this once before,” Shadow complained.

“I really don’t believe you’ve never done this before.”

“I’ve had injuries treated, yes, but this seems like more work than needs to be done.”

One of his burns was pressed on too hard, and Shadow narrowed his eyes with a low growl in his chest.

“Sorry, couldn’t find it. But this is actually really basic, you know. I could be doing way more than I am.”

Shadow flexed his fingers with nothing better to do as Stone reapplied medicinal creams on his injuries. The man glanced at him as he carefully worked on the burn, and Shadow glowered petulantly at him.

Stone smiled wryly. “Man, you hate this. You’re lucky I’m sparing you from the Robotnik-themed band-aids. They’ve got his logo on it and everything.”

He wrinkled his nose at the idea. “Really?”

“Yeah, the doctor was a bit of an egomaniac. Seemed like Gerald was, too, so it must run in the family,” Stone commented, searching for the next injury.

Shadow hummed. “He was…eccentric.”

The conversation trickled off, leaving Shadow with nothing to do. The radio played in the background, a song he didn’t care much for, and Stone continued treating him. The behavior just didn’t make sense to him when Stone was aware of his superhealing, despite its current slower status. But Shadow remembered what the man had told him the first time he had done this, and the hedgehog opened his mouth before he thought better of it.

“Was it the Professor’s grandson?” Stone halted his task, raising an eyebrow but nodding for the hedgehog to continue. “That you took care of?”

Stone stayed still for a brief moment, then resumed his task. “Yeah, he was hurt pretty bad after that second big fight I told you about.”

His brown eyes blinked rapidly, and Stone shook his head subtly. Shadow watched the man’s face turn down, the bags under his eyes becoming more pronounced. He shouldn’t have asked, but it was too late. So he went to apologize for speaking out of turn, but he was full of surprises today.

“With the colorful bunch?” Shadow asked, trying to make sure he didn’t misinterpret Stone’s words.

Stone froze for a second, then he laughed loudly, covering his mouth with a hand to stifle the laughter. But he was failing, his shoulders shaking as he turned away from Shadow. The hedgehog blinked, his eyes wide and surprised at Stone’s reaction after he had been so upset. But Shadow had…cheered him up?

He laughed again, uncovering his face, and took a deep breath. Stone met Shadow’s gaze once more, and held up a hand.

“Sorry, sorry, I’m not laughing at you, it’s just—,” Stone fought back another laugh, pursing his lips, “You sounded like an old man, and it’s a good nickname. I just wasn’t ready for it.”

“Well, it’s what they are,” Shadow responded matter of factly.

“No, you’re right. I’m using that from now on,” he said with a nod, still amused.

Their conversation trailed off yet again, but Stone’s happiness stayed. That brief moment of grief, thinking about the doctor, seemed to have passed, and Shadow settled back against the car seat, more relaxed than before.

“Has language really changed that much since I was in stasis,” Shadow asked.

“Mm, it’s not that different. Mostly the words that people say often tend to change, different things become popular,” Stone explained. “Wait, the blue one is the perfect example of modern slang. Did he ever call you something weird?”

Shadow nodded, surprised that Stone knew the other hedgehog’s mannerisms that well. “What does Hot Topic mean?”

Stone instantly burst into laughter again, dropping the tube of cream in his lap and doubling over—

“Ha! I knew it, its energy output does increase when these things come off. That’s why the MRI couldn’t handle it.” A scientist laughs above him, and Shadow blinks, trying to figure out what’s going on. He turns his head, finding his other wrist bare, his inhibitor ring clasped in someone’s hand.

His chest aches, whether from his powers, or the dissection, or Stone, and Shadow groans.

“It can be a living reactor if we put it in the proper equipment. Someone gather a few people from the physics and engineering departments, we should get moving on development quickly.”

His ring is clasped around his wrist again, and hands roam over his body, examining every inch of him. His stomach churns, his senses overwhelmed. The sounds and discussions above his head and endless invasive touching and blinding lights assault him, and Shadow wants nothing more than to rip his binds to shreds, to tear the muzzle off of his face, to be free of being a thing.

Needles prod him, samples are taken, and it hurts. It just…hurts.

The scientists toss him around, soldiers dragging him away to wherever he has to go next, and everything worsens. The stitches keeping his chest together itch and chafe and feel like nothing he’s ever experienced, and he hates it. He hates their looks of disgust and revulsion, and he hates the ones that touch him greedily, so excited by his power and his usefulness that they forget that he understands them. That he’s not just their toy, even if he can barely move and think anymore with chaos energy hurling around inside him.

Maybe it’s days, or weeks, passed around like the tool he is, but he misses Maria and the Professor. She should be bursting through the walls looking for him, finding a way to sneak through any guards stationed to keep her out. Is she mad at him? Did he do something? He wants to see her.

The Professor’s been away on trips before, but he should be back by now, certainly? Is Shadow…is he worthless to them? Is that why?

Shadow bucks, thrashing his body violently. His energy sparks, and he yells out. The muzzle on his face is suffocating, and he rubs it against his shoulder to break free of it until a hand is wrapped around his throat, pinning him in place.

He has to get out of here, Shadow can’t let this just happen to him, not without putting up a fight. There are people waiting for him, somewhere, and he only needs to find them. Anger, shame, disgust, dread all flow through him, and with an enraged shout, Shadow forces a teleport.

His limbs pump as hard as he can manage, his chest heaving with rattled breaths. Everything blurs around him, his head pounding rhythmically in time with the energy in his chest, but Shadow pushes forward with

a smirk on his face as he rounded corners, sliding and bracing himself with a hand to avoid running into a wall. Maria laughed from somewhere behind him, yelling at him to slow down, but he wasn’t about to lose at tag, not when she would hold it over his head for the rest of time.

“Shadow! Just you wait, I’m gonna—”

“—Catch the specimen, lockdown all doors! It’s too weak to escape!”

Shadow growls as someone lunges for him, and he jumps off of their chest and runs along the wall until he stumbles, tripping over himself as he makes it back to the white floor—no, it’s gray, the gray cement he’s seen every day of his life—sprinting towards something he needs like plants need the sun.

Alarms blare, swathing his vision in red, boots thudding in every direction. His ears swivel frantically, unable to pinpoint danger, but he keeps running,

Maria’s hand in his. She didn’t have shoes on, no time to even process the Professor’s frantic demand to run, no direction in sight.

The two kids glanced at each other, and Shadow felt Maria’s pulse quicken, but she squeezed his hand. Whether it was for her or him, he didn’t know, but the alarm was like torture for his advanced hearing. He didn’t understand why everything was so urgent, why the Professor, for the first time in Shadow’s short life, looked afraid.

“They’re trying to take Shadow away from us, Maria!”

Her breath stuttered, but Shadow’s brain was still stuck on Maria’s socked feet. She had dropped her guitar in their haste, and he hoped it hadn’t broken. She had been so devastated when she snapped a string a few months ago, or when Shadow broke

right through a metal door that closes in front of him, slamming his entire body overflowing with chaos energy through it. The door explodes, shrapnel pelting his body, but he ignores the damage done to himself, the blood dripping through his fur nothing but a distraction.

A gun is shoved into his snout, and he tears it away from its holder, firing back and continuing on. He keeps it in an iron grip, shooting at anything that moves—no, Shadow can’t do that, or else he might hit someone he’s looking for.

Who was he looking for again? They were important, they are important, he needs them. It’s the only thing driving him past every limit his body set. What is it? What does he need?

There’s a flash of white lab coat, and Shadow rushes towards it, letting his claws sink into the fabric. He can’t let go, or else it might realize he wasn’t worth the time. With his eyes blown wide, he looks up at the person wearing the coat, and they scream, scrambling to get the coat off before his claws sink into them, too.

Shadow barely dodges a pole aimed at his chest, and he spins on his heel, continuing his search. The lab hallways are a great start, so he sprints, searching through every one. He finds a clean shaven face, the scent of coffee clinging to the person, but it isn’t right either, and he growls in frustration.

Around the corner, he catches a flash of blond, and a desperate, wide smile breaks out onto his face. So excited, warmth and joy dripping down his face, he teleports because it’s right there, and he can’t spend another second without it.

Shadow leaps because she’ll catch him. He knows she will. He loves her with every part of him, and she’s too nice to realize he doesn’t deserve it. So he falls through the air, his arms poised to wrap around her and never let go, and something catches him, throwing him to the ground by his quills.

“No!” Shadow screams. “No no no nononono!”

Everything is touching him, and it hurts, and they’re keeping him from her, again and again, and he wants to, no, he needs to be with her. He thrashes and thrashes and screeches, clawing at anything he can reach, his quills alert and being shoved into anything that dares to touch him. He doesn't care how dangerous he is, what kind of horrific monster he is, as long as he gets back to her.

He is the ultimate lifeform, and they can’t take her away from him.

There’s a familiar hum emanating from three of his limbs, and metal clicks, and Shadow gasps like he was drowning, his vision flashing gold and red.

His body doesn’t respond to him anymore, and he can do nothing but watch as metal molds around his limbs, keeping him trapped in place. Lights blink around him, and suddenly glass rises up out of the floor, and his breath stops. Even with his body weighed down like a boulder, Shadow tries to get out. He has to, he hasn’t said goodbye.

Shadow banged against the glass with a fist, desperate and terrified for the first time in his life.

Walters, please, he needed to get out. Couldn’t he see that she needed him? She was hurt, badly, and Shadow banged again, pleading with his eyes. But Walters just stared at him, a look of tired resignation on his face.

Fluid fills the tank, and it’s wrong, it’s the wrong color, what does blue mean he shouldn’t—he can’t be here. Not with everyone still out there. He doesn’t—please, Walters, he can be useful, he’ll follow any order, as long as he could find what he was looking for.

He banged against it again, but he couldn’t break the glass. That was against the rules. He held himself back, worried about glass hurting someone around him.

One more minute. Just one. Even a second would be worth it if he could just see her one last time.

Please. Please. Please…

Shadow’s head slams against the glass,

craning his head to try to see the stars through the window. Stone breathed softly next to him, getting some rest that he figured the man needed. It was the least he could do after he wasted money to feed the hedgehog.

Shadow glanced around the car and noticed an odd section of the ceiling. Curious, he touched it, and it slid backwards, revealing a window in the ceiling. His breath hitched at the sight of unobstructed constellations, glittering beautifully against the night sky.

He was struck by the fact that in fifty years, nothing changed. Not a single star he could name had gone out. Their light still shone, as if they were alive and well.

His lip wobbled,

and a single tear slips past, so he shuts his eyes and gives up the fight.

They’re all gone, and he’s stuck here, living out his punishment.

He grimaces, a loud whump whump whump assaulting his ears relentlessly. His body is hot, burning hotter by the second. He can’t feel the pain anymore, just a constant growing sensation that takes over every part of him.

The warmth in his chest caresses his heart, his lungs, his veins, his bones, creeping up to his throat and begging to be let into his mind. There isn’t anything to know except this, this all-consuming energy. It tries to lure him down into the depths of it, where light can’t reach, where he can just forget it all, and he wants to let go. He wants it so badly, but something reaches into the dark, holding its hand out and coaxing him out, soft and bright.

”Shadow, you gotta see this!”

“Come on, Shadow, homework’s not that bad.”

“Shadow, your fur is tickling my nose and I’m totally gonna sneeze all over you if you don’t move.”

“Heh, I think I might be faster than you, Shadow.”

“Shadow, it’s starting!”

“Shadow, come on!”

“Shadow!”

“Shadow?”

“Did I miscount a stitch again, Shadow?”

“Shadoooooow.”

“Shadow’s my friend, so leave him alone!”

“Shadow!”

“Aww, grandpa, look. It’s like he’s my little shadow.”

“Shadow…”

Whatever he was chasing is gone now.

The sound continues, growing louder and louder until he can’t pick it up anymore. The light urges him deeper into the dark, where he curls up and watches as the golden glow of his power expands further and further.

This is for the best.

It is.

It doesn’t hurt anymore.

…It doesn’t.

He closes his eyes, letting nothingness swallow him whole.

…

…

…

…

…

“Shadow!”

Chapter Text

Stone piloted the crab, inputting coordinates and flight plans straight to G.U.N. Headquarters. The doctor and his grandfather’s presence behind him dominated the air in the room, but Stone kept himself collected and busy. They had an evil plan to enact, finally, after all those seemingly endless months of the doctor’s demotivation. His chest felt lighter seeing the doctor excited about something, even if Gerald Robotnik was…not expected.

A flash of gold light startled Stone, and Shadow materialized next to him. Stone recovered quickly before Shadow turned his head to watch Stone with a hard glare. Fueled by his earlier encounter with the black and red hedgehog where he felt it necessary to punch Stone, still sore in the chest, Stone sent him a petty glare back.

The hedgehog merely humphed and turned his head away to watch the two Robotniks. Stone curled his lip at the dismissive gesture, but he went back to his task. There was no point in wasting energy thinking about yet another nuisance in his life when he had a job to do.

“Charting route to G.U.N. Headquarters in London, sirs,” Stone said, turning around to look at the two scientists. “ETA four hours. As the crab flies.”

He could feel Shadow’s eyes drift to Stone as he talked, but Stone’s eyes were locked onto the doctor. Gerald nodded next to his grandson, turning to the man with a smirk.

“By all accounts we're ahead of schedule. We should take this time... to get to know each other better.”

The doctor’s breath stopped, his face overcome with emotions. It was the most earnest and hopeful expression Stone had ever seen on the man, and it clearly left him speechless and flustered.

“Wow…what?” The doctor processed the words in real time, struggling to understand them. “You mean... spend some qu-qu-quality time?”

Gerald met his grandson’s eyes, his expression luring the doctor into his orbit. “You've waited for this your whole life. How would you choose to spend one perfect day with your new grand-pal?”

The doctor ate up the attention greedily, letting the old man into his personal space as they slowly turned their eyes to the VR headsets. The reunion was a happy one, even if Gerald had a permanent grumpiness about him the way old white men tended to have, but Stone was just glad that the doctor finally had something new to drive him.

So glad that Stone sidled up next to the man, a smile on his face as he dropped his head onto the doctor’s shoulder. It was a moment to celebrate, the doctor finding a family member he never knew he had and a new plot to take over the world. Stone was content being there for this occasion, ready to join the doctor at his side in whatever he needed.

And then the younger Robotnik elbowed him in the stomach, making him grunt in pain. Stone backed away from the man, getting the message, and stood there, clutching his aching abdomen as the two Robotniks walked away to set up their bonding moment.

Shadow watched the two as they meticulously set up the tech, and after a while of glowering in their direction, he took a step forward. Before he could even take a second one, Gerald’s hand raised in a silent command. Based on the hedgehog’s rather violent track record and facial expression, Stone expected him to disregard it and storm forwards, but it stopped Shadow in his tracks.

“Rest for now, Shadow. You’ll be needed later,” Gerald said, not even glancing in the hedgehog’s direction.

The hedgehog nodded, taking a step back. “Yes, Professor,” he said, both obediently and quietly.

Stone’s eyebrows scrunched, taking in the interaction. Huh, that was…less explosive than he thought it would be.

Shadow crossed his arms and looked around the crab for a brief moment, then turned around and watched the feed from the camera attached to the outside hull of the crab. His eyes bored into the feed, his focus solely locked onto the task he assigned himself. But he stayed silent, so Stone decided to ignore the alien’s presence for now.

With the doctor occupied with family bonding, Stone moved about the crab, cleaning up the place. Autopilot was great, but it left him searching for a task. Might as well clean before they took over the world so that they could properly celebrate their victory in a tidy space.

The doctor laughed excitedly, and Stone turned. The man was simply…happy, something that Stone never expected to happen. Not anymore. Not after all the struggles they went through these past few years. Especially not from an old man the doctor didn’t know about until today.

Stone shouldn’t have felt this way, but he was nervous. Like he was waiting for the other shoe to drop and send him and the doctor spiralling again. For now, he just watched, the feeling of dread growing more and more as the two Robotniks laughed and yelled, doing who knew what in there.

It wasn’t his place to join after the doctor had told him to stay out of it. He could respect that he wanted some alone time, and it didn’t change that Stone was always going to be at his side. It couldn’t, not after all these years together. So he gave them space…reluctantly, but he kept himself occupied until the urge to check on the doctor was just too much.

After months of being separated and months of nursing the man back to health? Of course he had to check eventually. Stone could forgive himself for having some lingering anxiety about being separated, he thought. There was nothing wrong with doing a little check in. Just to see if the doctor needed anything. That was all.

He grabbed an extra headset and slipped it on, conjuring up two lattes with steamed Austrian goat milk, made to the doctor’s exact likes. Stone knew everything the man ever wanted or needed, and the coffee would certainly be appreciated.

But then his eyes landed on the Robotniks, watching fireworks. The two startled as one popped in the air, exploding into bright colors across the sky. Stone’s hands slackened, losing their tight grip on the lattes.

The doctor leaned into Gerald’s space, a content smile on his face. Stone had never seen it before, genuine happiness on the man’s face. A smirk or a manic grin, sure, but this was soft and gentle. He didn’t know the doctor could be soft.

Gerald took it in stride, batting at the doctor’s ridiculous little propeller hat. It was sickeningly sweet and domestic, everything the doctor had ever scoffed at. Gerald smiled fondly, as fondly as he could with that moustache, and the two kept gazing at the fireworks. Enjoying themselves. Celebrating their meeting.

And they certainly didn’t need anyone else to join them.

Stone’s heart sank, and he spun on his heel, dumping the lattes into a trash can. He slowly removed the headset, setting it down, and looked back at the Robotniks once more. Completely unaware that he had ever joined them, they carried on, munching on invisible cotton candy. It was ridiculous, stupid even, but…he wanted to be a part of it.

He wanted to make the doctor smile like that.

When had the doctor ever expressed that this was what he wanted? A family? Affection? Domesticity?

It was everything he ranted and raved about the world needing less of. If only everyone could be on his level, then true scientific progress could be had in the world. People like those bleeding heart Wachowskis who had taken in their nemeses were the bane of Robotnik’s existence. Their banal, boring lives were disgusting and pointless.

Months in the crab were basically that, settling down into a comfortable routine, just the two of them. Stone missed it already, and it had only been mere hours ago. The only thing to ruin it had been Gerald waking up Shadow and starting this whole chain of events.

And now the doctor sat there, talking animatedly to his grandfather. Was this really what he wanted? Buried deep down? Of course, Stone knew the doctor was raised an orphan, and it bothered the man, influenced his decisions. But how could Stone have missed this?

The dejection, of not being let into this moment, wasn’t what bothered him the most. It was that a stranger had waltzed in and taken it from him.

Stone could have given it to him. If this was what the doctor wanted, this domestic, peaceful life, Stone would have tripped over himself to give that to him. It would have been too easy to ditch the schemes, the archnemeses, the taking over the world, all of it. He could have been showering the doctor in affection years ago, filling that need for the man day in and day out.

Hadn’t he already, though? And it had gone unnoticed. That brilliant, soft smile had never been directed to Stone, who gave himself day after day to meet the doctor’s every need or want. Stone’s chest ached, and he realized that he wanted it. That stupid, easy life with just the two of them. He felt sick as the feeling curled inside him.

Stone lingered a moment more on the Robotniks, his heart pulling towards the doctor.

But if there was one thing Stone had learned dedicating himself to the doctor, it was to know when he wasn’t needed. He walked back to a console and sat down, checking on their progress towards London, the Robotniks laughing in the background.

Stone had to push those feelings down, that wanting. He had a job to complete.

The sound of metal clanking against metal drew Stone’s attention away from his thoughts of yearning. Shadow was sitting on the floor, not far from Stone’s seat, his knees drawn up to his chest and his arms resting on his knees, dangling off. But the hedgehog wasn’t watching the video feed anymore. Instead, his eyes were locked onto Gerald.

Shadow’s frown was pinched and contemplative, and Stone was surprised to see anything other than that murderous stare on the hedgehog. The firm tilt of his brow softened, leaving his gaze less guarded. His hands clenched, shaking in their fists.

He looked as if he wanted to join them, too.

The hedgehog suddenly stiffened and turned his head to look at Stone. Any trace of some deeper, more complex emotion was gone, covered by his expression darkening once more. He was daring Stone to try something, and the man frowned in annoyance at having to deal with another one of these aliens.

“What’s your deal?” Stone asked, challenging Shadow who kept staring.

Shadow humphed and finally turned away, staring at nothing of note. “None of your concern,” he muttered dangerously.

Fine, Stone didn’t have to be nice. He turned away to let the hedgehog brood by himself. He tried not to think about that brief expression of something deeper on Shadow’s face, throwing himself further into his work.

His eyes drifted to the hedgehog again, still curious for reasons beyond his understanding, and Shadow seemed to blend into the red and black interior of the crab. It was easy to overlook him and forget he was even there, and that idea was becoming increasingly familiar to Stone.

Ugh, fine, Stone could be a little nice if they were going to take over the world together.

But Shadow was right; it was none of his concern. Who would actually be worried about a prickly hedgehog like him?

Stone squints at the ancient coffee machine, slowly dripping down into the pot. He’s been standing here for five minutes, tapping his foot impatiently as he waits for it to brew. Damn it, it would have been quicker if he had done it the fancy and much better way with the espresso machine.

He groans and gives up, slapping his checks twice to wake himself up. Sleeping right now would be a terrible idea. He’ll return for the mediocre but caffeine-filled coffee when it’s ready.

For now, Stone opts to stand at the computer console, pulling up more of Shadow’s files and scrolling through them slowly. He writes out notes as he goes, slowly piecing together the intricacies of Shadow’s powers.

From what he can tell, they appear like Sonic’s on the outside, but they function completely differently. Shadow is a powerhouse, born with the power to destroy an entire planet, and those little rings of his certainly don’t have a little job. Without those, Gerald predicted that Shadow could level worlds. If the Eclipse Cannon was powered with just a fraction of that, and that’s exactly what Stone can gather from reading the Cannon’s schematics and blueprints, then Stone needs to hurry up and make that new ring.

A beep to his side drags him out of his concentration, and Stone side eyes the drone hovering next to him. He opens his mouth, ready to reprimand it for whatever it’s trying to do, but he stops when he sees the steaming mug of coffee held precariously in its arm. It holds the mug out, a silent offering, and Stone smiles.

“I guess you liked my apology, huh,” he muses aloud.

Carefully, he tries to take the mug from the drone hovering up and down, but a little bit of scalding coffee splashes onto his hand. Stone hisses, setting the mug down and shaking his hand out. The drone beeps rapidly, and Stone sighs.

“No, no, I’m fine,” he says, reassuring it.

Looking at the small burn, it’s nothing. He’s had worse from welding incidents before, and the pain is already fading away. Stone doubts it will even scar, but he runs it under water and slaps a band-aid on it anyways, rushing back to the task at hand.

He doesn’t have time for small detours like this, not when Shadow’s clock is running out. Stone isn’t even sure when Shadow’s powers will become too much for the hedgehog, and Gerald wrote in his notes that he wasn’t willing to test that limit of Shadow’s. If G.U.N. takes off Shadow’s rings…

No, he can’t think like that right now. Stone shakes his head, then takes a small sip of coffee and throws himself back into it. Right now, he needs to focus on finishing this ring. Anxiety and doubt swirls inside him, but he pushes it away. None of that can distract him, and any worries he has about being capable enough to even make an inhibitor ring in the first place can wait until after he knows it fails.

Stone just has to make it work, no matter what.

With time ticking, Stone has to multitask. As the doctor’s systems run predictions and formulas for him, Stone sits down again and cracks into G.U.N.’s database. As fast as he can, he writes a program to search through every G.U.N. base in the hopes of locating Shadow. He has it search for every codeword he can think of, or anything that sticks out, but he has a sinking feeling that looking for Shadow isn’t going to be as easy as he wants it to be.

But he leaves the code to its job and goes back to Gerald’s notes. The notes and reports from other scientists feel endless, pages after pages of clinical findings, written as if Shadow was nothing more than an unfeeling…thing. Stone’s lip curls while he reads, the invasive testing leaving his mouth tasting like ash. Even though Gerald’s notes don’t fare much better, it seems like the old man was the only one who remembered that Shadow was a person. Which is strange to Stone, given how the man had treated the hedgehog as nothing more than a pawn to get to the Eclipse Cannon.

And Stone finds it hard not to linger on the grainy film images of Shadow, posing obediently throughout every test. Despite all that the hedgehog was put through in that lab, Shadow from fifty years ago looked nothing like he does now. He lacked the weariness Shadow carries now, even his signature scowl. Shadow appeared…lighter, without the weight of the world on his shoulders.

As hard as it is to not look away, it doesn’t make analyzing them any easier. Guilt rears its head again, and Stone groans, rubbing his face.

He shakes himself out of the thoughts, reminding himself that he’ll have time to mull over them after Shadow is out of G.U.N.’s clutches.

The computer dings, a pop up coming up on screen. Data floods his vision, and his eyes rake over it, hoping that his finished schematics hold up under the computer’s simulation of Shadow’s chaos energy. And then there, right at the end, the perfect result: the inhibitor ring should hold back Shadow’s powers. Stone is never going to get anything better unless he sits here for days studying Shadow. He doesn’t have that kind of time, and should is better than a maybe.

Printing the schematics, he tosses them onto the table and practically jogs around the lab, snatching all of the supplies he needs. The metal Shadow and he stole still sits in the back of the SUV, and he runs to grab it, dumping it on the table. He measures the metal, then rushes over to the laser cutter and lets it work. Stone bounces back and forth collecting materials and organizing his work space, then he dives right in.

Stone uses all of his years working alongside the doctor, building things that revolutionized the world to make something literally otherworldly. He did his best to replicate the original, but unsurprisingly, alien technology is more advanced than anything even Stone can come up with.

He solders, he welds, he codes, working diligently to piece everything together. Leaning back with a sigh, Stone surveys his work.

Design wise, it perfectly replicates Shadow’s old rings, but Stone does regret not having the time to change the color. The metal is a dark silver, veering towards black, but he at least had the supplies needed to make the internal circuitry red. Function over fashion, he thinks, vowing to paint it gold later. That is quickly becoming a theme with Shadow, and Stone huffs, a sad attempt at a laugh.

His eyes drift to a stray quill, and he frowns. He wishes it wasn’t inert so that he could test its lingering energy against the ring, just to have a clearer idea of its efficacy, but there’s nothing he can do. His fingers trail across the cool, smooth metal of Stone’s creation, and his eyes study it once more, roving over every detail. Just to be sure. Just so that Stone doesn’t fail the hedgehog again.

Stone rubs his eye, standing and going back to the computer, then immediately groans. “Damn it,” he mutters, even though he was waiting for this.

G.U.N. is really trying to hold onto Shadow if Stone’s program couldn’t pick up a single trace of the hedgehog. Stone didn’t want to have to do this, not with a time limit hanging over his head, but he’s going to have to check them all one by one. With a sigh, he tweaks the program’s parameters to look solely for research facilities or any base capable of housing a superpowered alien.

While that runs in the background, he wrangles up all of the egg drones and various other robots stored away in the lab, plugging them all into the console.

“You’ve all got big jobs today, alright?” Stone says to his audience, activating some of their dormant code. “You’ll know what to do in…just…a…second.”

He hits enter, and the drones come back to life. They beep, understanding their objective, and fly around the lab, loading the car with everything Stone needs. He watches them work for a second, then turns back to the intel he needs to get into G.U.N..

Still nothing of note comes up, and Stone sighs. Fine, he’ll do this the hard way. He ensures he copies down the information he needs, printing out fake key cards to get into restricted areas, and sends the data to the computer in the car. It might take some time, but at least Stone has plenty of experience breaking into G.U.N. at this point to know what not to do.

The drones fly around, and Stone ducks his head as he weaves in between them all, gathering his own personal supplies. Grabbing the stolen G.U.N. uniform from the other day, Stone slips into it, then packs a couple sets of his own clothes for later. He tosses a blanket in for good measure, a sinking feeling that he’s going to be on the road again for way longer than he would prefer urging him to take it.

The bigger first aid kit is snatched up, and he tosses it all into the car. He ushers the drones in after the supplies, flying in a neat order and powering down until he needs them again, piled in the trunk. Stone returns back to the main workbench and works on the computer for a moment more, downloading a copy of all of Shadow’s files onto a neat USB just in case. Shadow’s ring is pocketed next, his thumb rubbing against it to reassure himself that it’s there.

With all the preparations complete, all that’s left to do is to walk to the car. His hand touches the handle, but he hesitates. He glances over his shoulder, giving the doctor’s lab a final glance. Who knows when or if he’ll ever be here again. Stone has no idea what the future holds, but Shadow doesn’t have time for him to dwell.

“See you later, Ivo,” he whispers to the lab.

The need to keep moving on pushes him to rip the door open, slipping in and driving off. He inputs the directions for the nearest G.U.N. research facility, hacking into G.U.N.’s internal channel to listen to as he drives. Stone’s eyes are locked onto what’s in front of him, nothing to distract him except the mission, and his foot slams on the gas.

A drive that should take him five hours only takes two and a half, Stone speeding in and out of traffic, skillfully avoiding getting pulled over. He parks just outside of G.U.N.’s radius where they could detect his presence, then gets moving.

Slipping on the control glove, he activates three of the smallest drones, sending them off to do reconnaissance. He follows after them, much slower, sneaking into the fortified base using his fake credentials, walking past the guards and blending into the G.U.N. personnel milling about.

Even with his disguise, Stone keeps his head down and avoids the busiest paths through the base. G.U.N. may have decided to leave him alone on a whim, more willing to use their resources on their missing experiment, but it doesn’t mean Stone can let himself get caught. After almost a week of him leaving Shadow to G.U.N., they won’t expect him to come now. Still, he walks cautiously, staying alert.

But each person that passes by him notices him, their eyes flicking to him. Stone knows that it’s instinctual, the innate need to know what lies in the periphery of their vision, but he feels his lips pressing together firmly. Wearing a neutral expression is turning into a monumental task under G.U.N.’s scrutiny, yet nothing happens.

Stone peeks his head into every lab in the base, but he comes up empty at every turn. The drones report back a negative as well, and he bites back a sigh. He stops at a computer and tries to see if there are any local files that can give him a hint about Shadow’s whereabouts, but that, too, doesn’t prove fruitful.

He tsks under his breath and moves on, not before he downloads every local G.U.N. file onto a USB, saving it for later.

No one stops him as he backtracks carefully, leaving the base behind. No alarm bells are tripped in his brain, and he breathes a sigh of relief when he makes it outside. At least now he knows he’s not walking into another trap, G.U.N. a step ahead of him again. His relief is short lived, though, since he’s no closer to locating Shadow.

He makes his way back to the car and plugs in the next destination, peeling off to the next base with anxious energy running through him. His fingers tap against the steering wheel, and Stone has to continuously adjust his posture. Hours pass like that, restless and raring to move, but this is all he can do.

Stone slams the car door shut behind him as he reaches the next base. This lab deals more with physics, from what intel he could gather, so he hopes it gives him something to work with. Honestly, he had figured that the first one would be a bust, so he can’t be too upset about the setback.

He stalks into the base, sliding past guards again. This time, as he wanders he takes extra time to listen in to passing conversations. In the labs, scientists chatter about projects openly. With such tight security—well, tight to anyone else, not to Stone—the researchers aren’t afraid to speak freely about their projects and experiments, discussing physics in space and particle accelerators.

Begrudgingly, Stone listens in to the gossip, too, hoping that a researcher might be transferred soon to a top secret project, and in their excitement, they’ll let something slip about a hedgehog. But his hopes are dashed again, and Stone can’t justify wasting any more time on idle chatter.

Like in the last base, he drops down at a computer, searching through file after file after file, and Stone is starting to feel like Shadow was wiped from the face of the planet. His heart stutters at the idea, and he forces himself to calm down. Letting his frustration lead him to pessimism isn’t going to help, so the man types away at the keyboard some more.

Cracking into classified files is a breeze, but that’s why finding nothing is driving him crazy. Yes, he knows G.U.N. is hiding Shadow away, but the organization isn’t that good at tying up loose ends. He’ll find a mistake somewhere, he has to.

Stone does sigh as he rips more files from G.U.N.’s database, standing and leaving yet another dead end behind.

He climbs behind the wheel, settling in for a longer drive to the next location. His fingers tap tap tap some more, his worries finally getting the better of him after putting them off for the last few days.

His mind drifts to what they could be putting Shadow through, imagining all the experiments the hedgehog went through fifty years ago. At least back then he had a friend to help him deal with it, but now…

The ring sits heavy against his hip. Stone should have done more to stop Shadow. He should have been more confident. He shouldn’t have let the kid know there was nothing. He should have checked his own damn servers.

But Stone didn’t do any of that, and now here he is, riding down highways just to maybe get intel.

A small part of him wonders if Shadow is still alive at all. It wouldn’t be beyond reason to assume that once G.U.N. got their hands on him and took what they needed from, they would just dispose of him. Like a tool that served its purpose, or as punishment for the Eclipse Cannon.

Stone bangs his head against the headrest, sighing heavily. “Fuck,” he mutters, summing up his complicated feelings.

Shadow will be alive when Stone eventually finds him. Alive and well? That’s too much to hope for, and being alive is much better than the alternative.

To distract himself from alone time with his overthinking, he turns up the volume on the intercepted G.U.N. communications. Listening intently to the radio chatter, Stone can’t pick out anything that might be related to his search, but it serves its purpose to prevent himself from spiralling.

He just throws himself at his task doggedly, winding up in the third base after a few hours of driving. And…Stone still can’t find anything.

Okay, he’ll just try a fourth base. A fourth base that won’t let him get what he wants either.

So, Stone drives to a fifth base. That one fails, too.

His hands grip the steering wheel so tight on the way to the sixth base that he can hear it begin to crack.

And on the way to the seventh two days after he first set out on this rescue mission, he starts ranting to the drones.

“The longer this takes, the lower my chances of finding Shadow alive become,” Stone says aloud. The drones stare at him with their red eyes from the rearview mirror. “I don’t even know if he’s still in the country. Fuck, what if he is at an international base? And I’m driving across the continental USA again, like an idiot.”

He laughs tiredly, scrubbing his face. “What am I saying? G.U.N. doesn’t like to outsource their research, he has to be here.

“Or…Shadow already broke out. With his chaos energy growing, G.U.N. might not have the means to trap him, and he could be anywhere on the run. No, no, I’m being paranoid, right?”

None of the drones respond, and that’s how Stone realizes that he’s actually losing it. But he arrives at the seventh, all of his stress turning into a desperate need to hit something. No, hitting someone would be much better.

He stalks towards yet another base, coming up with a backup plan if this turns out to be a dud. At this point, Stone is tempted to just grab the highest ranking officer in the base and hold them at gunpoint until he learns what he wants. Actually, maybe he should just do that and skip the searching high and low for nothing routine.

Stone’s brow furrows dangerously, reaching for his gun, but is startled out of his rage by the base’s alarm blaring. He’s too far away to hear the commands being shouted over the speakers, so he spins on his heel and sprints back to the car. His fingers fumble as he tunes back into G.U.N.’s communications, listening with bated breath.

“Emergency mobile units will be deployed immediately via air. Report to your stations now. All remaining units prepare for deployment at 2200 hours. I repeat: G.U.N. Base #283 has been compromised by an enemy hostile. All units prepare for deployment—”

Compromised? G.U.N. only considers a base compromised if the attack is large enough to take out the entire complex.

Stone switches channels as he rips his laptop out of the trunk, searching for Base #283. Deployment via air means it probably isn’t close, and he’s right, staring at the base on the map, all the way in Alabama. Stone is currently in Washington, so it must be serious if G.U.N. has to deploy troops all the way from over here.

He tunes back into the radio communications, hoping that he hears what he wants to.

“—receiving confirmation of troop deployment, please relay the determined threat level of the test subject.”

“Black. And again, I am not requesting more troops, I am urgently requesting approval for termination of Project Shadow.”

Stone gasps, bringing his hand to his chest. His heart is pounding in his chest so hard he thinks it might burst, but Shadow is alive. For now, but things have clearly escalated.

Stone doesn’t have an opportunity to keep listening, instead throwing his laptop back into his bag. He scrambles to shove the control glove back on, ordering the drones to follow him, all except two. He points at them, his stare hard.

“You wait until I send you a rendezvous signal, got it? Counting on you to not crash the car.”

He doesn’t wait for a response, instead throwing his bag of essentials over his shoulder and sprinting towards the base. The rest of the egg drones trail after him silently, following him towards the busy compound. There’s no chance of him getting past the guards now, not with the base going into lockdown to deploy every soldier at their disposal.

The dark sky makes it easy for Stone to press a button on his glove and grab onto one of the drones, letting it carry him effortlessly over the electric fence without being spotted. He drops down into the dirt and crouches down, the drones transitioning into camouflage mode.

Slowly, he makes his way over to the base’s airfield. The flood lights illuminate the soldiers rushing into awaiting helicopters, large enough to carry entire platoons. Personnel on the ground wave each helicopter off one by one as they fill up, and Stone searches for what he needs.

There, straight in front of him, is an unmanned helicopter. He sneaks behind other unmanned crafts, watching his surroundings but staying unnoticed. He reaches it quickly and has to duck instantly when two pilots approach the craft. Stone grits his teeth, unholstering his gun and firing as another helicopter roars to life.

The two G.U.N. pilots drop under the cover of the noise. Stone steals the keys for the craft before sending two of the drones to drag them away where they won’t be found until much later. He unlocks it and scrambles in, the drones following in after him and settling down.

He takes a deep breath and slips the helmet on, refreshing himself with the controls. It’s been a while since he piloted one of these, but his muscle memory takes over, flicking on switches. He flicks on the radio, listening in and waiting for a lull in the air traffic.

“H761 requesting takeoff,” Stone says into the mic.

“You are go for takeoff, H761.”

The helicopter takes to the air, Stone piloting it carefully and within regulation until he leaves the base’s airspace. The moment he clears it, Stone pushes the helicopter to its limits, nudging switches and dials to make it fly at top speed. Even with one of G.U.N.’s best models, it’s still going to take him an hour to reach Shadow.

He narrows his eyes, monitoring the movement of other aircrafts. A light flashes repeatedly on the console, so Stone flicks on the radio, joining G.U.N.’s internal frequency.

“All pilots are being directed to land at an abandoned airport commandeered by G.U.N. temporarily. Do not attempt to fly over the base as we have now lost ten aircraft to the hostile’s attacks.”

Stone’s eyebrows furrow. At this point, Shadow shouldn’t be able to control his powers, let alone aim for aircraft.

Stone had read Gerald’s report about the initial incident when Shadow’s rings had been removed. With his rings on, Shadow has access to a constantly replenishing supply of chaos energy. But when his rings were off, everything they held back grew exponentially, the only limit being what Shadow’s body could withstand. Any excess power Shadow had, Gerald wrote that he hadn’t been able to control it, and chaos energy leaked out of him, destroying the room around him.

So Stone doubts G.U.N.’s idea that Shadow is actively attacking them, and even if he is somehow, the organization more than deserves it. But it concerns him if Shadow’s powers have reached the point where he can take out aircraft.

“A perimeter has been established around the base. All units will be deployed upon arrival to create a larger perimeter as the hostile is expanding its reach. Units on site are on standby until orders are received from above. If you come in contact with the hostile, you are permitted to shoot on sight.”

Stone growls, veering with the wind. If they could kill Shadow, they would have done it already, and he has to remind himself of that as he thinks of his next course of action.

Landing with the other G.U.N. units will only draw unneeded attention to himself, and he would bet money that Rockwell is on site somewhere. Stone thinks as he steers, and he decides that he needs to see the state of the base before he makes a choice. Checking the radar so that he doesn’t crash into anything, he changes course, flying straight towards the base.

It doesn’t take long for it to come into view, but what is surprising is that it isn’t the base Stone sees first. A massive burning sphere of chaos energy overtakes half of the base, energy flicking and curling at the sides. His mouth falls open in shock, taking in how it pulses and eats away at the base, the building’s foundation crumbling underneath its power.

“All incoming aircraft, brace yourselves for the blast,” the radio warns.

Stone yanks on the helicopter’s yoke, lifting it up into the air. Just in time, too, as the chaos energy shrinks in on itself before sending out a wave that thunders, radiating out for miles. The helicopter shakes, but Stone keeps it steady, ignoring the warnings from its systems.

“Holy fuck,” he exclaims, staring at the carnage on the ground.

Quickly, Stone searches for a spot to land away that will keep him away from the main operation, finding an empty patch on grassland. The lights from the perimeter show him the area to avoid, and he hopes that the sound of the other aircraft coming in from all directions can cover his landing.

He slowly descends, ensuring he doesn’t land on anything. He shuts down the helicopter as fast as he can, ripping out his laptop to learn more about what G.U.N. is doing. Stone types rapidly with one hand and uses the other to command two of the reconnaissance drones to go find and watch his adversaries.

Hacking into G.U.N., he steals the models the scientists created to better understand the mess they made. Right now, it looks like Shadow sends out a blast about every twenty minutes, but the times have been shortening ever since they began. And he only grows more powerful as time passes.

Shadow must be rapidly approaching his body’s limit, and Stone doesn’t want to wait long enough to find out.

The feed from the drones pops up on his computer, giving him a crystal clear image of Rockwell’s enraged scowl. Behind her, armored trucks, tanks, and a swarm of soldiers flank her. Scientists are sweating at her side, frantically trying to understand where they went wrong with their experiment.

“Fire again,” Rockwell commands, her voice clipped.

The drone adjusts its camera, tilting to the side to show off the tanks firing missiles towards the mass of energy. Stone holds his breath, and the barrage of missiles connects with its target, exploding on impact. All it does is shake the ground, and Stone has to steady himself in the helicopter, a hand against the door.

“Did that make a difference?” Rockwell demands.

The scientist at her side shakes her head with wide eyes. “No, ma’am. I suggest we wait until we receive more ammunition to assault it right before the next blast comes. It might be a weak point. We should use this time to prepare.”

Rockwell hums, displeased, crossing her arms. Stone watches her, sweat forming at her brow. She’s floundering, completely unequipped to deal with the problem she created. Good, it gives him a lot of satisfaction to see how rattled she is, and he feels a smug smirk spread on his face.

“Will that really work?” Rockwell asks.

“I…I’m not sure. But the specimen shows no signs of stopping, and it’s only growing stronger.”

Rockwell’s hands clench around her arms, and the woman storms off, taking out her phone and shouting over her shoulder, “Do it. I’m going to request stronger ammunition and an evacuation order for all civilians.”

With Rockwell disappearing from the main commotion, Stone directs the drone to fly around more. He needs to hurry, but he can’t do anything until…there! At another station, with scientists arguing about how to deal with Shadow or if it is even possible, Shadow’s inhibitor rings sit innocently on the table. The answer to all of their problems is sitting right in front of them, but they’re too blinded by their own panic to realize it. The drone sneaks up and grabs them, flying away.

Stone leaves one drone there to survey and jumps out of the helicopter. The question now is how is he going to reach Shadow with a wall of destructive chaos energy blocking his path?

His eyes skim through G.U.N.’s data on Shadow’s powers. No one was able to physically push through it, but Stone could’ve figured that out from the missiles not even being able to penetrate the chaos bubble. Stone hums, tapping a finger against his leg, then looks at the helicopter.

“Take the door off and bring it with us,” he orders the drones, pressing on the control glove.

They use their lasers to cut it off its hinges, and it falls off easily. Stone catches it, grunting under its weight as he maneuvers it so that the drones carry it on their backs. It can serve as a shield to get to Shadow. Hopefully.

He grabs an earpiece out of his bag and puts it in, letting the reconnaissance drone feed him audio from G.U.N.’s temporary operation. He slings his bag over his shoulder and presses the control glove, and the eggs float after him, carrying the door. He’s glad now that he landed behind the main operation because it lets Stone sprint through the tall grass as fast as he can without G.U.N. breathing down his neck.

Stone reaches the base and has to carefully step over the downed electric fence, avoiding its crackling sparks. The base looks like a bomb hit it, Shadow’s chaos energy nothing but a force to be reckoned with. Shrapnel lines the ground, vehicles and supplies burning.

The flames’ heat licks at him, and it hurts to look into the wall of chaos energy, his eyes squinting against its bright light. He stares into the center of it, but it’s impossible to find Shadow, even though he knows that’s where he is. He frowns, lifting a hand to shield his eyes, but all he can see is red, orange and gold, energy flaring out.

To get to Shadow, Stone is going to have to go into the building. He surveys it for a second, making sure the path he’s taking won’t collapse in on him. Then he pushes forwards, shoving the busted door open with his shoulder.

Alarms scream at him, grating on his ears, the sound crackling and garbled from the speakers breaking. He jumps over debris, watching above him to avoid getting smacked by something crumbling from the ceiling. Stone and his surroundings are washed in red light from the malfunctioning warning lights as he jogs through the hallways, sweat forming at his back. It gets hotter the further he goes until he reaches the center of the mess.

Stone pants, tilting his head back to see how far up Shadow’s energy stretches. It looked massive from the air, but it seems endless now that Stone is standing right next to it. A drone beeps as it flies up next to him, holding out Shadow’s original inhibitor rings.

“Good job,” he says, taking them and pocketing them.

Now, there’s nothing left to do except throw himself into the fray. He drops his bag on the ground and hesitates, looking between his makeshift shield and the mini-sun in front of him. It really does look like a burning star, tendrils of energy shifting along the edge of Shadow’s power. He can see it push further towards him, slowly inching more and more.

He’s wasting time thinking, so Stone shakes his head and squares his shoulders. He reaches down and grabs a piece of debris, a solid steel bar still coated with concrete, bent from damage. Stone tosses it at the chaos energy, and it passes right through. His face scrunches in confusion, piecing together that the explosive nature of the missiles and other ammunition must just react upon contacting chaos energy.

So, Stone should be fine to push through it. Maybe. Damn it, he doesn’t have time to second guess himself.

His thumb presses against his glove, and the drones tilt the shield down. Stone squares his shoulders, crouching down and grabbing the handle of the door. Together, the drones and him push against the barrier of chaos energy, Stone shoving it forwards with his whole body. They struggle, pushing with all their might, heat roaring past them. The sound drowns out everything else, and Stone can’t even hear his strained breathing over the howling energy. He grunts, leaning his back against the metal grower hotter by the second, and the drones activate their boosters.

But it isn’t enough, and they push forward a few measly inches before Shadow’s powers surge forwards, sending them all flying backwards. Stone has to roll quickly to avoid the shield crushing him, and he pants, pushing himself up to his knees.

“Damn it!”

The bright light still assaults his eyes, and he shuts them for a moment, taking a breath. He can’t fail, not when he’s right here. Stone won’t let someone else die on his watch, never again.

He grits his teeth and stands, pushing the shield up and trying again. It’s stupid, and desperate, but his chest aches, thinking about Shadow in the middle of this.

A desperate scream is wrought out of him, yelling, “Shadow!”

The energy wobbles, and Stone stumbles forwards, the energy resisting less and abating. His eyes widen, panting, and he drops the shield, stepping back.

He cups his hands around his mouth, shouting as loud as he can to be heard over the constant noise, “Shadow!”

The chaos energy flickers, shrinking ever so slightly. His mouth turns up at the corner, surprised and hopeful. His elation is quickly snuffed out, and Shadow’s energy surges forward again, more aggressive. Stone falls back, swearing under his breath.

“Shadow!” Stone calls again. “Shadow, come on!”

Again, the chaos energy abates, and there, right in the middle of a sea of flames, Stone can see him. A little black spot surrounded by light, practically being suffocated by it. But again, Shadow’s energy roars again, fighting back. Like it doesn’t want Shadow to gain control over it, as if it has a will of its own, it flares, and tendrils shoot outwards, trying to get him to stop.

Stone dodges it and steps forward, gritting his teeth. He can see Shadow warring with it, the energy swirling and fading in front of him. But Shadow doesn’t have enough strength to do it alone, so Stone jumps into the fray, pushing the shield against it again with a strained grunt.

“Shadow! We’re getting out of here, okay?”

Stone shoves forward, the drones helping, and Shadow’s energy shrinks into itself, making it easier to push through. But it’s not enough yet.

“I’ve got your rings, Shadow! Brand new one, too!”

His throat is going to be raw after this, yelling at the top of his lungs. Shadow is replying, in his own way, letting him closer. The chaos energy continues to fight the kid, crackling violently around him, trying to push Stone out. He has to keep going, no matter what.

“We’re gonna leave this place in the dust, but you gotta help me, kid!”

The chaos energy slams against Stone, and he cries out, but that can’t stop him. Not when he’s so close. Not when he can see Shadow, right in front of him, closer and closer by the second.

“Shadow, keep going!”

Every part of him is starting to ache, his energy draining under the oppressive heat. And Shadow has this raging inside of him. It doesn’t matter how much Stone hurts, all he has to do is keep ramming his way forwards.

“Just a little more, kid!”

More. Stone has to do more.

“You’re not doing this alone, I’m right here!”

More. Shadow is so close, he’s right there.

“Shadow!”

All of the energy disappears in a flash, rapidly snapping back to Shadow. And there he is, the hedgehog’s head tilted down, his teeth bared behind a muzzle. Shadow yells, sparks arcing away from his body, and Stone sprints forwards.

Shadow’s limbs are trapped behind metal cuffs that span from his wrists to his elbows and his ankles to his knees. Glass is scattered across the ground, but Stone stomps through it, rushing over to the hedgehog. He searches desperately for an emergency switch to free him from his binds, and he reaches for it blindly when he finds it hidden inside the shattered containment unit.

His bare hand touches it and instantly shoots back. The metal burns, and Stone hisses in pain. Shadow screams again, right next to him, and Stone’s heart lurches in his chest. The kid’s voice is broken and pained, his face screwed up in agony. Stone doesn’t hesitate as he grabs the switch again with his whole hand, gripping it tight and yanking with all of his strength. It doesn’t budge, his hand sizzling under its heat, and Stone pulls harder with a yell.

Shadow’s binds snap open, and the hedgehog stumbles. Somehow, he’s still on his feet, and Stone crouches down in front of him, ripping the inhibitor rings out. He snaps them onto Shadow’s ankles and wrist, and finally, the new one shuts around Shadow’s right wrist.

The effect is immediate, and Shadow gasps violently, finally losing all of his remaining strength. All of his energy is locked away once more, the sparks fading out. He crumples, his legs no longer able to hold him, and Stone leans forward, catching him. His arms circle the hedgehog gently, his injured hand brushing uncomfortably against burnt fur, but he wouldn’t want to be doing anything else.

It feels like Stone’s heart starts working again, and he gently lifts Shadow’s head up. He carefully unlatches the muzzle and tosses it as far as he can, disgusted just touching it. Shadow’s eyes are open but half lidded, glassy from exhaustion and pain. He looks at Stone, his expression blank, and Stone finds a small, reassuring smile breaking out onto his face.

“Shadow,” he breathes out.

Shadow blinks, and Stone is suddenly lost for words. There are so many things he wants to say or needs to say, but none of them can claw their way past the lump in his throat. But his mouth moves on its own, words he wasn’t sure he needed to say worming their way out of his lips, warm and confident.

“It’s okay. You’re okay.”

It was the only thing he could say at this moment, but Shadow’s pained face relaxes at the words. His head falls forward onto Stone’s shoulder, passing out. His fur tickles his chin, and Stone leans into it, sitting there panting as the adrenaline fades. His hands are shaking against Shadow, or maybe Shadow is shaking, or maybe both of them need a moment to just sit here and breathe.

His earpiece suddenly crackles to life, his reconnaissance drone letting him know that G.U.N. is on the move with Shadow no longer an unbeatable threat. Stone takes one more second to calm down, recentering himself now that Shadow is alive in his arms. Then he presses commands into the control glove, sending a hard stare to the drones floating around them.

“Two of you, go distract them with holograms. Keep them busy for as long as you can, and don’t be afraid to give ‘em hell. The rest, you know what to do.”

The drones beep at him, happy to please, and shoot off into the distance.

Stone’s hand rubs against Shadow’s back as he shifts the hedgehog in his arms, standing and carrying him on his hip. Shadow’s warm, stuttered breathing against his neck reminds Stone that he’s alive, but carrying the hedgehog makes anger rise to the surface. For all the power the hedgehog has, he’s so small and light. In his arms, Stone can almost forget what he just went through to get here, and he brings the hedgehog closer to his chest.

His eyes rove over the room, catching on Shadow’s shoes discarded not far away. Stone grabs them with one hand, finding his bag where he left it and shoving them inside. His face hardens as he climbs out of the rubble, making his way out of the base.

He jogs lightly, afraid to jostle the kid in his arms and his many, many injuries, but they have to hurry. Stone skids to a halt outside, scouring the flaming rubble scattered about. A part of the building collapses behind him, booming and sending dust flying. But when the dust settles, Stone’s eyes land on an intact motorcycle tilted over on the ground.

It’s perfect, and Stone sprints over. Using one hand, he precariously balances Shadow while lifting the bike with the other. With a ride acquired for their getaway, Stone doesn’t hop on just yet. Instead, he pushes it forwards and out of the base, heading the opposite direction from where G.U.N. is storming forwards.

Something explodes in the distance, and Stone watches as G.U.N. sharply changes course, most of their forces heading towards the action. He doesn’t stop and keeps running through the field, dragging the motorcycle along.

He narrows his eyes at lights coming into view, watching soldiers carefully guarding the perimeter, letting nothing enter or leave. Stone frowns, thinking of how to sneak past them, when one of the egg drones flies up alongside him.

“What are you doing?” Stone whisper-yells.

It beeps quietly, and he realizes that it’s the one he had hit, a thin sliver of metal gleaming above its eye where the paint chipped. Its gaze seems to study Shadow for a moment before flying off, not answering Stone’s question.

He watches as it projects a hologram of Shadow, feigning an attack. The ground underneath a group of soldiers explodes, and all of the soldiers in the area chase after it, firing their weapons.

Well, Stone will have to say thank you later. For now, with no one around, he hops onto the bike and speeds off, holding Shadow carefully against his chest. He drives until he reaches a hill where he can survey everything at the G.U.N. base below. He can spot three areas where the drones distract them, leading them in different directions. Stone waits for a few minutes for all of the drones to reconvene by him, following their programming to the letter.

And once they all arrive, he scowls down at G.U.N. below, and presses down hard on his glove. Every area where G.U.N. is gathered, from the perimeter to the destroyed base, goes up in flames as the explosives the drones planted activate. He can hear the screams of pain and confusion all the way up here, and his eyes narrow into an icy glare.

“Hmph,” he huffs, his lips quirking into a smug grin.

Shadow’s ear brushes against his cheek, and all the satisfaction he gets from his revenge fades away. Without disrupting Shadow, Stone slips his jacket off, wrapping it around the hedgehog’s shoulders and tying the sleeves around Stone’s torso. It’ll be easier to escape with two hands free, and much safer for Shadow, but his hand lingers on the top of his head, smoothing back his ruffled fur against his quills.

With one last glimpse at G.U.N.’s much deserved karma, Stone kicks off and speeds away, the drones trailing behind him and Shadow tucked against his chest.

Chapter Text

Stone’s eyes are locked onto the road in front of him as he dodges between cars. His hand still burns where it grips the motorcycle’s handle, but the rest of him is starting to feel the early autumn night chill set in, the hair on his arms raising with goosebumps.

Is Shadow cold? Guilt worms its way into his chest, incapable of doing more for him at the moment, but they have to get out of G.U.N.’s range immediately. Shadow’s head still rests buried in his neck, his legs curled around Stone’s waist. That can’t be comfortable, can it? Injured and on a motorcycle? The vibrations probably bother his injuries, and the noise would surely irritate him if he was conscious.

He needs to stop overthinking and focus on weaving in and out of the sparse nighttime traffic.

With Shadow now free, Stone honestly doesn’t know what to do next. The exhaustion of the last few days of no sleep is finally catching up to him, especially after that last struggle to reach Shadow. If he had the car and could follow his original plan, this would be a lot easier, but he’s apprehensive about meeting up with it immediately.

Once G.U.N. catches onto what he did, they’ll be able to figure out the timeline of him jumping base to base. Any attempt to meet up with the car quickly means he’ll have to take the most direct path, leaving them vulnerable to G.U.N. tracking their movements. He could certainly use the drones as distractions again, leading G.U.N. in circles, but it leaves him with less weapons at his disposal. And more opportunities for Shadow to get hurt if G.U.N. does catch up with them.

Stone exhales, trying to assuage his nerves. For now, it’s best to take it one step at a time.

Warm air puffs against his neck, soft, slow, and irregular. He chances a look down at Shadow, but the empty country road he drives down lacks light, making it hard to see how the hedgehog is holding up with his dark complexion. The brief glimpse he had been able to see of Shadow’s current state hadn’t been pretty, and he can only manage how bad it’ll be once he finally stops.

The amount of chaos energy Shadow had to suffer through…how much longer could the hedgehog have lasted? How close was he to death?

Gerald’s notes detailed Shadow’s ability to heal at accelerated rates gruesomely. Inflicting harm just to see what would happen, writing down the results and how flesh stitched itself back together in minutes. Some tests the man had deemed too dangerous to consider, justifying his decision as necessary to ensure the longevity of Project Shadow. Stone wonders why a mad scientist like Gerald Robotnik, bent on destroying the world, refused to see where Shadow’s limits truly lied. He’ll never know now that the man is dead, but it’s a thought that lingers.

Was Shadow just at his limit? Is he still on the brink of death now? How quickly can he heal from this?

Questions and more flood Stone’s brain, and he purses his lips, biting the inside of his cheek. There’s too many variables to consider, still too much unknown about the hedgehog despite having papers and studies dedicated to finding those answers.

Shadow’s breath hitches suddenly, and he makes a choked noise from the back of his throat. Stone is veering off the road and stopping before he can fully process it. The bike drives through the grass for a few seconds before stopping.

“Watch for any cars approaching,” Stone orders a few drones. They fly off, and he points at another. “Shine a light for me.”

It isn’t a floodlight, but it feels like it is in the middle of a field, crops all harvested for the season and leaving them exposed. They haven’t passed a car in a while, but anyone that does pass by will definitely notice the drone illuminating a motorcycle carrying a wanted alien and a wanted criminal. Stone looks around, narrowing his eyes at the darkness surrounding them, then finally turns back to Shadow.

Shadow’s brow, even in unconsciousness, is furrowed in pain. Gently, Stone lifts his head up to get a better look at him and sucks in a sharp breath at the sight. “Oh, kid…”

Imprinted where the muzzle was are lines that stretch across Shadow’s face and into his quills, circling his snout. Burn marks. Burns from the metal locked around his face heating from his chaos energy. Stone’s mind jumps to the massive metal restraints that held Shadow in his containment, and he cranes his neck to see solid burns that wrap around his legs. He suspects Shadow has matching ones on his arms.

That choked noise rises out of Shadow again, his mouth curling downwards at the edges. He doesn’t look like the ultimate lifeform like this, small, hurt, and vulnerable, but Stone knows that anyone who can survive this deserves the title. Doesn’t change that Stone is still worried.

The chill from earlier is gone from his body, and Stone frowns. Reaching for Shadow again, the hedgehog is practically radiating warmth. Damn it, he hadn’t noticed Shadow was a living heater until now? Where he lies against Stone’s chest is just as warm, and his heart starts beating faster.

Shadow may not be able to get sick at peak physical form, but can he get an infection now that his body has gone through hell and back?

There isn’t much of a choice right now, so Stone has to find someplace to rest for the night, or at least a couple hours. Shadow’s injuries need to be tended to, and he is not going to do it in the middle of a field in Alabama. Finding somewhere safe enough is definitely going to be a challenge.

He swears under his breath and pulls his phone out. It’s not as useful as his laptop, but he’s not going to try balancing that on a motorcycle with Shadow. Motels are the best for secrecy, but Stone is used to…nicer amenities. A hotel would be preferable, but those are in more populated areas. A stray quill pokes his shoulder, and Stone sighs as he smooths it down absentmindedly. He’ll deal with the downgrade in accommodations temporarily for the sake of secrecy.

It would be good to get more distance between them and the G.U.N. base before they’re stuck in one place for an unknown amount of time, so he looks for a motel to stop at about an hour away. The location is decently remote, definitely a spot that doesn’t get a lot of visitors, but it isn’t the security he’s accustomed to after living with Robotnik for so many years. The fortification of the crab, a constantly moving base stocked with advanced weaponry, is a luxury he’s missing right about now.

His fingers press against the control glove, sending the drones to scout out the area before Stone decides for sure to stop there. His eyes flick to the G.U.N. logo plastered on the side of the motorcycle and frowns. Okay, maybe there are a few things he has to do before they stop for the night, including stealing a car.

Stone adjusts Shadow carefully and kicks off again, finally with a destination in mind. He still eyes his surroundings as if G.U.N. could pop up at any second, and they honestly could. He directs the drones to fly in formation around them, higher up where they can scan for a couple miles in each direction to give him some extra reassurance or send him a warning.

Everything is going smoothly, and Stone is reluctant to believe the luck he’s having. A gut feeling that something will happen soon lingers, but he tries in vain to shake it off. He chalks it up to residual adrenaline and anxiousness from just blowing up an entire military base and running off with what could be considered G.U.N.’s most valuable asset. They’re fine for now. They are. His beating heart and swirling thoughts just have to get the memo.

The rumble of the motorcycle’s engine and the wheels spinning against worn pavement are the only sounds for miles as they move. The drones that linger around him are built to perfection, so they fly soundlessly, abandoning Stone to agonize over his thoughts with nothing but the sensation of ash and fur tickling his neck.

As he spots a truck ripe for the taking, beat down and without a camera in sight, he directs the drones to break into it and dispose of the motorcycle somewhere where it won’t be found. He holds Shadow in his arms, his finger tapping lightly against the hedgehog’s back as he waits, squinting at his surroundings. The last thing he needs is the owner coming to protect their property with a shotgun.

Like everything else, it goes without hassle, and Stone sets Shadow down slow and careful along the combined front seat. Holding the G.U.N. jacket now, he could just toss it and have the drones make it disappear along with the bike, but he stops. Before he can think much about it, he lays it across Shadow, the coat covering everything but his head. He tosses his bag into the back of the truck and drives off again.

The hour drive passes, his eyelids fighting against staying open the longer it goes, and Stone stops at the motel. His finger points between the drones and Shadow.

“Keep an eye on him, and the rest of you go disable any cameras. Then keep watch, I want a full sweep of the area while I sleep.”

His little army flies off when he presses down on the glove, then Stone takes it off and shoves it in his bag. Rifling through it, he grabs one of his many fake IDs and enough cash for a night, then steps out and enters the office.

The older woman barely looks up as the bell above the door rings and holds her hand out demandingly, wagging a single finger. “ID please. How many nights?”

He hands it over. “Just one.”

“Sixty flat.”

They exchange cash for his ID, and she slams a key on the counter. Stone takes it and leaves, bringing the stolen truck around to their room and parking it in front of the door. It’s a bit of a struggle to juggle his bag, Shadow, and opening the door, but he manages it and steps into the drab motel room.

His lip curls in disgust at the subpar decor and depressing atmosphere instantly. His foot moves back instinctively, tempted to risk it all just for something his high standards will approve of, but Shadow’s breath stutters again.

Stone will suffer through it. For now. Reluctantly.

He lays Shadow on one of the beds, and ash and dried blood flakes off onto the covers. Stone peeks into the bathroom, flicking the light on, and hums contemplatively. Usually a motel bathtub is the farthest thing from a good idea, but being covered in grime isn’t going to help the hedgehog heal.

Stone turns the faucet on and plugs the drain, testing the water with his hand. He hisses as water splashes his burn, reminding him of yet another task on his growing list of things that need his attention. Now more aware of his own injury, he takes more caution testing it again and deems it good enough.

The two drones keeping watch over the hedgehog hover over the bed, practically on top of him. Stone sighs and shoos them off with a light push. “He’s fine for now, give him some room to breathe.”

Now, under the dim, dirty orange lighting of the room, Stone can see Shadow’s injuries clearly, and it looks much worse than it did earlier. Straight down his chest is a nasty set of stitches holding his torso together, the dark skin underneath visible after his fur was shaved away. The burns on his arms and legs draw his tired eyes towards them, and Stone leans down to study how the skin puckers. It isn’t as severe as on his face, luckily, probably due to the metal of the restraints being harder to heat up than the muzzle. All of Shadow’s smaller injuries are still there, worse than Stone remembers.

Fury bubbles up in his chest, and he wishes there was another G.U.N. base to destroy, someone to hit. It won’t change anything, nor help Stone do what he needs to, but he wants it all the same. He forces out an aggressive huff to clear his head. As much as he wants to do something with the anger, it’s not the productive option.

Stone grabs the first aid from his bag and quickly treats his hand, gritting his teeth against the sting of the burn cream. He wraps it in gauze and rifles through the kit for a latex glove, slipping it over his hand so it doesn’t get completely soaked. He already knows he’ll be changing it immediately after cleaning Shadow up, there’s no doubt about it.

He picks up Shadow again, lifting him bridal style and getting pricked lightly by the quills on his head, then brings him into the bathroom. His elbow nudges the faucet off, stopping the water so that it only fills the tub halfway. Shadow’s small enough that it doesn’t need to be any higher, and he sets him down, leaning him in the corner of the tub. The hedgehog’s face scrunches, a noise of discomfort sounding from the back of his throat, but he doesn’t wake up. That either means the pain isn’t too unbearable that he can stay asleep, or Shadow is very unconscious.

“Sorry, kid, I’ll be quick,” he apologizes quietly.

Shadow doesn’t respond other than a twitch of his ear, but it’s not like Stone expected anything.

Function over fashion prevails again, and Stone snatches a washcloth and the soap provided to clean the accumulated grime off of Shadow. Ash and blood flake off into the water, mixing in with the soap. Instead of scrubbing, which would only cause the kid more pain, he dabs gently at the burns, cleaning them as much as he can. His thoughts drift to all that time helping the doctor like this, tending to his every need. Taking care of Shadow is second nature, and Stone goes through the motions with muscle memory alone.

His head tilts to the side as he works on Shadow’s arm, studying it closely. The fur is burned off where he was left restrained, but he notices for the first time that the strip of red trails down onto Shadow’s hands to the tips of his middle and ring fingers. The rest of his fingers are white, and it’s the same for his toes, but the red covers his ring toe and pinky instead. Stone somehow hadn’t noticed before, even though he had seen the hedgehog’s bare hands and feet before. Actually, they resemble paws more than a human’s hands and feet, especially with the unique coloration.

It isn’t truly something important to note, but his mind is stuck on the little detail as he switches to cleaning Shadow’s chest. An inconsequential detail. Just a trait of Shadow’s, like the patch of white fur on his chest. But it shifts his perspective on him, makes Shadow feel younger than he is.

Well, Shadow is young. He had only been on Earth for a year and eight months before being trapped in stasis. Since Shadow didn’t know anything about his life before, that was it. This is all he knows. By human standards, he hasn’t even had time to become a toddler, and the whole weight of the world had already dropped on his shoulders.

No, it isn’t that Shadow seems younger, Stone realizes while he gently towels the hedgehog dry, ringing water out of his quills. Carrying his limp body back to the bed to bandage him up, Shadow feels fragile. Delicate even, like a strong wind could break him apart. It’s the stupidest, most irrational thought he’s ever had, but it clings to his thoughts like a leech and sucks the rationality out of him.

Stone tends to his injuries efficiently, lathering the burns generously with antiseptic cream and burn salve, wrapping his limbs and torso with gauze. The sight isn’t pretty, but it’s necessary, so Stone can live with it. At least now instead of whatever chemical Shadow smelled like, his fur is softer, cleaner, and smells like lavender.

Shadow probably won’t like it. Lavender doesn’t seem like something the ultimate lifeform would enjoy. Honestly, Shadow probably won’t like a lot of things when he eventually rouses from unconsciousness.

With nothing left to do, Stone moves to pull the covers out from underneath the hedgehog, bringing the sheets up underneath his chin. He watches Shadow for a moment, but his breathing is too shallow for him to see it with the blankets on. He finds himself tugging it down until the rise and fall of his chest is noticeable.

What is he doing? Stone shakes his head and steps back, leaving Shadow to rest. He points at the drones who have been hovering around him, levelling them with a stern look. “Don’t bother him, no poking. One of you, keep an eye on the door. The other, watch his vitals and chaos energy output. I wanna make sure his ring is working fine.”

They both begin their respective tasks, but the one observing Shadow hovers a little too close. Stone narrows his eyes at it.

“Back it up, he’s not…,” Stone trails off, his eyes trained on the wrinkles on Shadow’s forehead, his expression pained. “He’s not going anywhere.”

Maybe Stone should take his own advice. He grabs his bag and drops down onto the other bed, pointedly keeping his boots on in case G.U.N. comes knocking at any moment. He sinks into the cheap mattress, leaning against the headboard and taking his laptop out.

His eyes are really fighting sleep now that he’s sitting, Shadow resting semi-comfortably tempting him to do the same. But his boots remain on for a reason, and he hacks into G.U.N.’s servers quickly just to check. Just…a quick check. A very brief one. Then he’ll sleep.

First, Stone reads through analytics about the base he blew to hell, but it comes as a bit of a shock to see that they’re practically running around in the dark. None of their analysts have been able to put together exactly what happened yet, let alone send out a search party for Shadow. The previous structural damage, combined with the explosives the drones planted amongst the troops, levelled the base almost entirely. The only reason Stone can look at anything now is because of the extra forces they brought in. With what he knows of G.U.N. protocols, they won’t send anyone out from that site until everything is accounted for.

A smirk sneaks its way onto his face, imagining Rockwell shouting orders to hurry up with the base evaluation and regathering their remaining forces once the aftermath is cleaned up. Stone estimates it might buy them a couple extra hours, especially since it was such a failure on Rockwell’s part. Her higher ups won’t be pleased, so they definitely won’t let her rush into anything.

He lets their comms play quietly, enough so that he can hear it, but not enough that it could bother Shadow, and taps his fingers against his keyboard as he considers his next steps. Since G.U.N. is out of commission for a while, it’s tempting to just grab Shadow and drive as fast as possible away from here. To slam his foot on the gas and get out of dodge before they have time to track them.

But sitting here, his body is feeling the effects of slamming itself repeatedly into Shadow’s chaos energy, his hand stinging and his back aching. When did he last sleep? In the lab? Oh, yeah, that’s been a few days.

Damn it, they’re stuck here for now. Stone doesn’t want to waste this opportunity, though, so he commands the drones waiting with the car to meet up with him. Glancing at a map of every known G.U.N. base, including the ones he shouldn’t know about, he plots the optimal route for them to take. Avoiding any bases is the most logical choice, even if it lengthens the trip.

His hunch about G.U.N.’s next move is a sound one, born from years of experience dealing with them, but Stone can’t be rash. Not at this point. Not with Shadow out of commission and his resources limited. Slow and steady for now, and when he has his car back, they’ll be safer.

There, a plan. Stone can lay back and get some rest because who knows when they’ll be able to stop again. He sets his alarm for four hours from now. Now, all he has to do is close his laptop and sleep.

Project Shadow’s files call out to him, Stone’s fingers tapping aggressively as he holds off. Shadow is fine, and he is letting himself be affected by baseless paranoia. He’s done everything he needed to, treated every wound, come up with every plan, and staying up to exhaust himself further is going to only endanger them.

His eyes glare at the screen, then he scoffs and shuts it, packing his bag so that they can just run out the door when he wakes up. Stone slides down until he’s laying on his side. Conveniently, the side where he can watch Shadow. Some sickening feeling crawls into his chest as he watches the hedgehog breathe softly, so he turns onto his back and glares at the ceiling.

Stone falls asleep, eventually, but why does it feel like the world will end if his eyes aren’t on Shadow?

Stone clicks his tongue at the egg drone floating around Shadow. He can’t take his eyes off of the road, but he swats at it and shoves it back down into the spot under the glove box. Of course it’s the drone with the most personality, still missing that chip of paint.

“You’re supposed to monitor him, not annoy him,” he says sternly.

It beeps at him, then brandishes its arm, a clump of quills held up for Stone to examine. He scrubs his face tiredly, somehow even more exhausted after getting a power nap. He’s so out of practice after living on the crab and being able to sleep on the move.

He switches lanes to speed up, then gazes at the quills. His frown deepens when it clicks that the quills are charged with energy. All the quills Shadow has shed lately have been dead, so it shocks him to see one alight.

“Did you rip those out of his head?” Stone asks incredulously. “You better not have.”

The drone beeps, as if defending itself, and fishes out a loose quill from the truck’s seat. He sighs loudly, relieved, and lets it drop the quill in his hand. Stone puts his attention back on the road, but he flicks his eyes to the quill, holding it up in the early afternoon light. The black and red quill crackles gently, barely shocking his fingers, but it really is more alive than the ones he’s seen. Still a concern that Shadow is shedding just as much, though.

“His vitals staying steady?”

It beeps, its tone low. A negative.

Stone arches a brow and peeks at Shadow, but the hedgehog hasn’t moved. The rise and fall of his chest continues. He reaches a hand over and sets it on his forehead, humming at the heat still radiating off of him.

“Has his temp gone up?”

Another low beep.

The dark inhibitor ring stands out against the white gauze, and he tries to swallow the worry rising up by looking away.

Stone hesitates before asking, “His chaos energy?”

An affirmative beep this time, and Stone swears under his breath.

Glancing at his GPS, he thinks about how much distance they’ve made since he set out in the early morning. Travelling east and then heading north along the east coast was a risky choice, and the increase in cars and tractor trailers traversing the highways certainly has him on edge. But Stone knows for certain that G.U.N. would be stupid to risk a full scale assault to reclaim Shadow in such a populated area. They can’t risk their PR being hurt more.

His finger taps the steering wheel, weighing whether it’s a good idea to stop for a minute or two to check on Shadow more thoroughly, until the beat truck makes a sound. Great, running out of gas. At least the decision has been made for him.

Stone merges off of the highway and searches for the nearest gas station. Before he pulls into the parking lot, he pulls up the blanket stolen from the motel laying across Shadow up and over the kid’s head. He grimaces, knowing that it isn’t a good hiding spot, but he’s not about to toss the injured hedgehog into the bed of the truck.

He stops the truck at the pump and adjusts the baseball cap on his head, ensuring that his face is decently hidden from any nosey passerbys. He fills up the truck, his foot bouncing impatiently against the pavement. No one pays him any attention, his plain black t-shirt and dark jeans making him blend in as if Stone is just a normal guy going about his day. That doesn’t mean he hates dressing casually, and he can’t help but pull against the shirt as he waits.

A sharp feeling tugs on his stomach, and panic floods his brain. Is something wrong? He leans against the truck, assuming to find the worst inside, and then—his stomach rumbles. Oh, right, he hasn’t eaten in…Stone genuinely can’t remember when.

Apprehensively, Stone peers into the gas station, trying to determine if grabbing a snack to keep him alert is a terrible mistake or not. Tilting his head up is enough to notice the security camera pointed in his direction. He frowns, reasoning with himself as he twists the gas cap back on, then slumps his shoulders.

Stepping back into the truck, he uses his laptop to set up a loop in the feed for the next few minutes. Stone closes his laptop and moves the truck to a parking spot. He studies the blanket lump that is Shadow, watching his chest rise and fall for a cycle. Shadow will be okay for two minutes, surely.

“Is his chaos energy still a problem?” Stone asks quietly.

The drone scans Shadow and beeps twice, each beep a different pitch. The results are inconclusive.

Stone will have to save it for when they’re in a more secure and remote area so that he can try to pinpoint the cause. His brain wants to assume the worst, that the ring is a failure, but he exits the truck and leaves those thoughts for later.

He keeps his eyes trained down as he maneuvers through the gas station, grabbing snacks and a couple water bottles. The premade sandwiches look incredibly dry and bland, but Stone knows that he needs something that could actually be called a meal. So he grabs two turkey sandwiches and stands behind the person checking out.

His phone buzzes in his pocket, and his brow furrows. The buzz is persistent, a notification from one of the drones that needs his immediate attention. His jaw clenches, and he tries to juggle the food in his arms to fish it out.

But before he can even get his hand free, a blast shakes the building, the glass windows exploding. Stone is able to turn his back and duck from the shards flying, coming out with only a few scrapes, and he rushes out of the building. All of the gas pumps exploded as a result of the blast, and the people in the parking lot all scramble away from the fires spreading with terrified yells.

His head whips to the truck, his eyes widening at the sight of the engine catching on fire. The top of the truck is blown clean off, and the other cars in the area don’t look much better. The egg drone hovers in the air next to the truck, holding Shadow up under his armpits, the hedgehog dangling in its grasp.

Well, there goes the secrecy part of his plan.

“Trade,” Stone commands, nodding to his armful of food.

The drone flies over, and Stone drops the food unceremoniously on the ground. He rips the control glove out of his back pocket and slips it on, commanding all of the drones to circle around him. A few of them collect his things from the burning truck as the one drone delivers Shadow to him, and he collects an armful of hedgehog with a huff.

Shadow’s hands are sparking with chaos energy, and Stone grimaces. If it wasn’t obvious what the source of the blast was before, it is now, and it is not looking good for them. “We can’t win, can we, kid,” he mutters into Shadow’s quills.

“What is that?!”

Stone glares at the woman who shouted, pressing the control glove again and sending a drone right to her, weaponry at the ready. She stops, her eyes widening in abject fear, frozen in place next to her car. He stalks over to her, the drones following after him, and they all form a perfect shield behind him as the truck finally explodes. Some of the heat hits his back, but all it does is harden his expression, his lip curling at the sensation.

“Drop the keys on the dashboard and go,” Stone orders the woman.

Her eyes are locked onto Shadow as she nods frantically, her hands shaking as she stumbles to unlock her car as quickly as she can. Despite being unconscious, the alien is more terrifying to her than the weapon pointed at her, and fury coils in his chest. She finally manages to get the door open and throws the keys inside, sprinting away into the shelter of the gas station, where the bystanders all gathered.

With a single press, two drones follow her and keep them in the building, preventing anyone from trying to stop him. Stone rips the backseat open and lays Shadow down, gentle despite his urgency. The drones pack the trunk up while he hops in the front, starting up the white, luxury BMW.

“Keep him steady back there!” Stone shouts at the drone right as he burns rubber, speeding aggressively onto the road.

Any passing cars have already stopped to park and watch the disaster unfold, so Stone swerves around them all. He narrowly avoids hitting the idiotic bystanders standing in the middle of the street, ignoring their shouts of alarm. Shadow groans loudly in the back, and Stone’s hands twitch, wanting to reach back. He curls them tighter around the leather steering wheel, pain shooting up his arm from his burn.

The drones fly after him, weapons ready to intercept the law enforcement that is certain to appear at any second. Stone spins the wheel erratically but skillfully to avoid getting hit as he cuts off everyone on the road, flying through a red light, car horns blaring in his wake. His eyes catch on red and blue lights coming towards him, and Stone screeches onto an emptier side street.

The cops will absolutely follow him, but that’s what he wants.

“Three of you get some holograms up and lead them away. Distract them for thirty minutes then meet up with me. The rest of you: find me a clear path to get out.”

His thumb hits the glove and three near perfect holograms of the car appear while the rest of the drones fly up and scour the area to direct him. Sirens sound behind him just in time, and he can imagine their confusion. The holograms can flicker, so the quicker they get away from the original the better. They approach an intersection and split up, Stone turning hard to the left while the others each go in different directions.

Stone watches the two cop cars split up and follow the wrong cars, but he’s not out of dodge yet. His eyes flick to the drones above, watching them for a moment to make sure they’re following his orders.

“Okay, one beep for left, two for straight, three for right,” he says to the one in the back, still taking care of Shadow. “I need you to direct me with their input, got it?”

It beeps an affirmative, and Stone puts more pressure on the gas. After two streets, he hears two beeps, so he stays on course, weaving in and out of cars. One beep sounds, and he yanks the wheel to turn in front of a car, barely getting by without clipping it. Another left to avoid more cops driving past. Straight for a few minutes, then a right. Another right. Straight, then left. Constantly swerving and turning and narrowly avoiding accidents to get out of dodge.

Stone doesn’t let up on the gas until he makes it to the highway without a single person on his tail. His shoulders are taut with nerves as he checks his rearview mirror, but there’s no one chasing them. For now. There will certainly be a search out for a white BMW, but there’s no good opportunity to steal another car until he’s left this town in the dust.

Just his luck, a state trooper is positioned under a bridge, a routine speed check and Stone’s newest pursuer. The cop’s lights roar to life as he starts the chase, swinging onto the road to catch him. Stone deploys one of the drones, and it shoots out the tires of the car, sending it spinning.

He tries to recall the drones, bringing them back to him now that reinforcements are sure to swarm him, but most of them don’t respond. He bangs his head against the headrest with an aggravated sigh. Not responding doesn’t necessarily mean that they’ve been taken out, but it does at least mean that they’re engaged in combat. Which leaves Stone to deal with anything that comes by himself.

Traffic is starting to pick up, making it harder to weave in between other cars. He sighs and swerves off the road, riding in the grass until he can climb back on, sliding in front of a truck. He passes by an on-ramp full of police cars swamping the highway, and he swears loudly.

One of the cars tries to ram into him, but he slams his foot on the brake and makes the cop overshoot and spin out. The rest are trying to box him in, some of them off-roading to get ahead. The drones he has targets the ones on the outskirts, but that still isn’t enough.

Stone yanks his gun from its holster on his ankle just as a bullet smashes the passenger side window. He ducks as another bullet flies past, embedding itself into the seat. He turns his head and raises his arm, firing and landing a shot against the cop driving, sending that car spinning. Another bullet comes from his left, and he shoots that car as well, taking out the passenger.

Shooting them one by one is going to take time and ammo he doesn’t have. A sudden loud whirring above him drags his attention away from thinking up a plan, and he leans forwards, watching as a helicopter flies past. It turns and faces him, and cold dread grips his chest. Shadow is in the back, vulnerable and exposed, and he is not going to let a single thing hit him or else—

The drone in the back starts beeping frantically. His whole body turns around, expecting to see Shadow with yet another injury Stone failed to protect him from, but Shadow—Shadow is gone. The drone is pointing in front of him, and Stone looks just in time to see a flash of gold appear on the side of the helicopter. There, wrenching the door to the aircraft off and throwing it at the cop cars boxing Stone in, is Shadow.

“Shadow?!” Stone yells, even though the hedgehog is several hundred feet in the air.

He can’t see the expressions on the faces of the police in the helicopter, but he hears the sound of steel crunching as Shadow bends the back of the helicopter. It careens towards the ground, and Stone whips the car into the grass, barely avoiding the cop cars that hit the brakes to avoid the same thing. His eyes follow Shadow as he jumps from the helicopter before it crashes, catching the people inside it jump with their parachutes.

A bullet hits the car, and Stone is brought back to his own predicament. He jumps out of the car and hides behind it, peeking out to see that he’s surrounded. He hits the glove, and the chipped egg drone sends a barrage of bullets into the cars surrounding him. It gives him a moment to unholster his other gun, taking off the safety and aiming. Each shot lands, hitting its targets dead on, and he fires in rapid succession until both guns run out. Stone grits his teeth, tsking in frustration. Carefully, he leans out from behind his shield, but none of the cops are paying attention to him anymore.

His eyes search the road until he finds Shadow walking down the highway, his feet still bare. Shadow’s hands crackle with energy as a police officer orders the others to fire, and Shadow disappears in a flash, reappearing by the cops mid-air. He twirls, kicking his leg out into a car and sending it flying away. Cars continue to drive forwards, but Shadow disappears and reappears so quickly that Stone can barely follow it. Gold and orange will flash, and a black blur will appear just long enough to crush a car.

Stone runs forwards, crouched down to avoid detection, until he spots cops standing around and trying to fire at the hedgehog. He rushes them, quickly disarming one and firing at the rest. Ducking behind a car for cover, he leans out to shoot someone else, but Shadow materializes in front of him and knocks all the cops out with one chaos energy-infused punch to the ground. It rattles the car Stone leans against, and he stands his ground against the aftershock.

“Shadow, wait!” Stone yells, jumping up to grab the hedgehog or do something to stop him, but he’s too late. “Damn it!”

Another helicopter whirs above them, and Stone whips his head around until he finds Shadow staring it down. Shadow’s back is to him, the hedgehog standing up straight, his fists crackling. A sharpshooter in the helicopter aims at Shadow, but he doesn’t back down.

Shadow slides one foot back, bending his front knee, and his fist opens. The chaos energy solidifies in the air, forming a spear of energy, glowing bright. He leans back, then puts everything he has into throwing the spear into the helicopter with a yell. It soars right through it, flames bursting to life as the helicopter comes crashing down. The pilots jump out, catching themselves in rough landings even with their parachutes.

Stone watches, jaw agape, as Shadow stalks towards them. His body moves on its own, following after him and jogging to catch up. The pilot whips out a gun and aims for Shadow, but the hedgehog just sidesteps it and yanks it out of the trembling man’s hand. Shadow points it at the man’s forehead and grabs him by the jacket, their faces close together.

“Please! Please, please don’t, please,” the pilot begs, cowering in fear.

Stone scoffs at it, but Shadow doesn’t shoot. The gun stays there as the man keeps begging pathetically, and Stone waits for something to happen as he keeps running. But after a long moment of watching the pilot cry, Shadow throws the gun to the side, and it flies off to who knows where. He shoves the man away, and his helmeted head collides with the ground hard, knocking him out.

Shadow suddenly relaxes there, slumped over the man’s unconscious body. His shoulders lose their tension, his quills flattening from where they were puffed up.

“Shadow?” Stone calls out, slowing down to walk towards him.

The hedgehog stiffens again, straightening his back to his full height. His hands start crackling again, his fingers twitching. Slowly, his head swivels towards Stone, and Stone stops dead in his tracks. One eye peeks over Shadow’s shoulder, and his red iris is narrowed into a dangerous slit. His expression is nothing short of murderous, his mouth in a snarl, flashing his teeth dangerously. The look pins Stone to the spot, leaving him breathless.

He shakes it off, refusing to let it surprise him for long, and walks towards the hedgehog again.

“Shadow, are you okay?” Stone asks carefully. “Not that I’m not happy for the assist, but I don’t think you’re in a good shape to be taking out entire helicopters.”

Shadow’s furrowed brow shifts, wrinkling in what looks to be confusion. He studies Stone up and down, then turns fully to face him. His chaos energy dissipates, his fists uncurl, and his irises return to normal, that violent look fading into something different. Something different, but not something better.

Stone holds his hands up, worried that Shadow might see him as an enemy, and Shadow takes an awkward step back. Stone stops, his eyebrows furrowing in concern, and frowns softly.

“Shadow…?”

The hedgehog blinks, then lifts his head up to meet Stone’s gaze. Disbelief flashes in his eyes, his mouth opening and closing against a thought he can’t voice. Stone’s heart plummets when Shadow takes another step back, his lip curling in what Stone can only interpret as revulsion or horror. As if the sight of Stone is enough to send him running away.

But Shadow doesn’t run, and he shakes his head once, hard. He gasps, hurt, and rubs his chest where blood has started to seep through his bandages. Doing flying spin kicks is more than enough to pull his stitches. He closes his eyes against the pain, and they open just to roll back into his skull as he collapses forward.

“Woah!”

Stone surges forward, catching him under his arms, and Shadow’s head digs into his chest, stray quills poking him. Shadow pants, and Stone can feel how his heart beats against his battered chest.

“What the hell was that, kid?” Stone finds himself asking, Shadow’s look seared into his memory. Thoughts bang around in Stone’s head, overwhelming him. Some of the egg drones fly up next to him, beeping. They have to go, he knows that, but he can’t get that look out of his head.

One of the drones jostles his shoulder, bumping him insistently. It drags him out of his daze enough that he moves Shadow, enveloping him in his arms properly to support his injuries. His eyes flit around the destruction, landing on a state trooper car that somehow managed to avoid destruction.

“Get my stuff,” Stone orders, his voice flat.

He trudges his way over to the car, stepping over prone bodies and opening the back. Setting Shadow down in the backseat of a cop car fills him with a strong disquietness, but it’s temporary. Just until he can find yet another car to steal. One of the drones flies in to watch over Shadow, and Stone gives it an approving pat.

He then pats down the cops and confiscates their weapons, holstering them for when he might need them later. Then he gets in and drives away, sending the drones out to clear him another path and avoid any potential G.U.N. squads or police brigades. The radio in the car plays, and he listens to the rushed chatter of operators and officers alike, trying to understand what the hell Stone was doing or how the explosion happened.

It still requires a couple twists and turns to avoid detection, but Stone never gains any followers. He makes it all the way to the state lines between the Carolinas before he gets the drones to steal another car for him. He trades the armored police vehicle for another worn down truck and sends a drone to keep driving the car, just to give G.U.N. another fake trail to follow.

Shadow doesn’t move at all as he sets him down next to him in the front seat, his head resting near Stone’s thigh. At least his breathing has evened out, and he takes a moment to open his laptop and read his vitals. The bleeding has stopped, and everything looks like how it did before he started taking a turn.

Looking at the readings for his chaos energy, it matches Shadow’s baseline written in his files. Shadow had even been using it like it didn’t hurt at all, teleporting intentionally and accurately to take out the cops. That means the inhibitor ring is working, but it doesn’t explain the outburst of energy at the gas station.

But Shadow is stable for now, and Stone needs to keep moving. He starts up the new stolen vehicle and drives northwest, altering the plan he made earlier in the day.

The drive is silent, nothing but the rattle of the truck and Shadow’s occasional sharp breaths catching his attention. It leaves Stone with too many thoughts that he doesn’t know what to do with. The most persistent is Shadow’s look, like Stone was the last thing he wanted to see. It flashes at him behind his eyelids, every time he blinks, and the roads pass in a blur as he speeds through the countryside.

He eats, only because he has to, and the sandwiches taste like dirt in his mouth. Is Shadow hungry? He sips the lukewarm water. Is Shadow thirsty? His burn itches under its bandage. Do Shadow’s burns itch, or does it hurt so much that it overcomes that feeling?

Stone goes without stopping, waiting until the sun begins to set to pull over into a shaded area to redress Shadow’s wounds. He should be doing it more frequently, but the fear of being caught if they stay in one place is too strong. It doesn’t help when he reminds himself that Shadow is the ultimate lifeform, so healing from this should be a no brainer.

But it isn’t that easy. Not even close. His burns look the same as they did hours ago, the same with the stitches in his chest. Stone scrolls through every file on Shadow’s healing abilities that he can find, but all they do is make it abundantly clear that Stone is still in over his head. That no matter what he does, it isn’t enough to help the hedgehog he dragged into trouble.

Stone was right, wasn’t he? That Shadow wouldn’t like any of this. He must feel betrayed, that Stone left him to rot in a G.U.N. facility when he promised they were equals. That look of hatred and disgust was crystal clear. The next time Shadow wakes up, Stone will deserve whatever Shadow couldn’t say before.

Ugh, what is he doing? Sitting here sulking isn’t productive. He scrubs his face until it starts to hurt, then slumps against the seat.

His drone companion beeps and pulls out the stolen blanket from earlier, and Stone blinks in surprise. “I really thought that burned. When did you grab it?”

It beeps repeatedly at him, explaining itself, and Stone shakes his head with a wane smile as he takes it. He drapes it across Shadow, his hands tucking it neatly around the hedgehog’s limbs. Nights are colder now, so he’ll need it. That thought smothers the rational side of his brain, reminding him that Shadow survived the freezing expanse of space, and Stone simply continues smoothing down the blanket.

His hand drifts to Shadow’s quills, thoughtfully stroking them into something neater. They honestly can’t spare time for this, for Stone to fret over the silly cosmetic things, but it’s something to occupy his hands. And if his hands are busy, it keeps his thoughts quiet.

“What am I gonna do,” Stone murmurs into the dark. “I feel like any choice I make is gonna hurt you more, and I don’t—”

Stone watches his hand move, as if it isn’t attached to him. Like it’s someone else petting Shadow’s head. His fingers travel from his quills to the furrow in his brow, trying to smooth it out, trying anything to take that pained expression away. They trail over to an ear, scratching lightly at its base. A low rumble, more of a sensation than a sound, emanates from Shadow. Stone can feel the vibrations where his head rests next his thigh.

He chuckles once, surprised by it, and puts a little more pressure into it. It must be the exhaustion when Stone sees Shadow’s head lean into the touch, certain he must be imagining it.

That sobers him up, and he gains control over himself, drawing his hand away to sit lamely in his own lap.

Shadow’s stitches really had been pulled, but they didn’t look very sturdy or secure when he first saw them. Stone has a passing knowledge to treat minor injuries, but this is beyond him. Building a robot from scratch is nothing. Does that mean he understands anything about medicine or biology? No, it means the complete opposite. He finds himself reading every file pertaining to Shadow’s health that he can find, yet nothing sparks an idea of what to do next.

Some part of him hopes Shadow just wakes up again, like he did earlier, and he’ll suddenly start healing again. It's an irrational thought, like most of his in the last few days, and a long sigh is drawn out of him.

If Stone isn’t capable of understanding the medical jargon, he could find someone who does. There are plenty of underground doctors he has the numbers for, but they’ve never dealt with an alien hedgehog. Taking him to a vet feels wrong, and any vets who could keep this a secret work for animal smugglers. They would just as quickly try to take Shadow to be their next special exhibit. The likelihood of any scientists that worked on Project Shadow being alive is too slim. Besides, G.U.N. already proved their incompetence, so any other contacts he has there are worthless to him.

He clicks his tongue, shaking his head. No, there’s no one he could trust with Shadow. Compared to earlier, he’s just as stuck, but now with a few extra idiotic ideas to try.

There’s no one else on the entire planet that has had to deal with alien hedgehogs, meaning that Stone is left high and dry to—no, that isn’t true. Shadow isn’t the only alien on Earth, and if Stone recalls correctly, there is someone who understands his biology enough to treat him.

But he can’t do that. No way. After all these years, how could Stone possibly even consider asking them for help? Nope, that will never happen unless hell freezes—

Shadow whines, pain flaring up, and Stone’s hand betrays him once more. It rubs gently at the sweet spot behind his ear, and he relaxes gradually under Stone’s touch.

“Damn it, kid, look at what you’re making me do,” Stone grumbles. There isn’t any heat behind it, but something soft and complicated sneaks its way into his words.

With a resigned sigh, Stone reaches for his phone and makes a call.

Chapter Text

“No, listen, I understand that the information you have is mine. You’ve made that point quite clear. But if you would listen to me now, you’ll find that I already called and emailed you with the correct billing address.”

“I’m sorry, ma’am, but you’re listed as the one responsible. I can’t find any record of you contacting us.”

Maddie drops the phone onto her lap and clenches her hands into fists. She yells soundlessly and takes a deep breath. Getting frustrated is only going to make this worse for herself, but it’s been three weeks of nonstop battles with these hospitals. She can only take so much before she starts screaming at people.

“I am not responsible for that bill,” Maddie says slowly, picking up her phone again. “I am going to tell you the correct billing address, and any further concerns you have will be directed to G.U.N., okay?”

She can hear the woman clacking away at a keyboard, and then there’s a soft sigh. “It’s against hospital policy to send bills to a third party without approval, and the bill is due now. You’ll have to pay us now and be reimbursed later.”

God, Maddie could cry right now. She probably should, but the last time she cried to a hospital’s billing department they had hung up on her. Crying will have to wait, so she just rubs her forehead.

“We have approval. It cleared five days ago with the director of the hospital herself,” Maddie explains tiredly. “G.U.N. has approved it on their end and has sent you their information. I am going to send it one last time, so please do not contact me again. If there’s an issue, call the number G.U.N. provided.

“Have a nice day,” she sighs, then hangs up.

She picks up her laptop from the table on the patio and copies and pastes the email to send to every possible person in the hospital’s billing department. All of the documents and contact information is listed as clearly and concisely as Maddie can make it, and she forwards every email of correspondence between herself, G.U.N., and the hospital director for good measure.

Staying in London would have been so much easier, but of course the only other veterinarian on staff went into labor a month early only two days after the Eclipse Cannon incident. Maddie had no choice but to go back to work, so they had to come back to the States and transfer Tom to a hospital here. Everything was paid for by G.U.N. in person in London, but now her battle was with the American healthcare system.

The stress of the last few weeks has been building, and she doesn’t even have time to deal with her frustrations and anger and sadness while bouncing between taking care of three rambunctious kids, her very injured husband, and an entire vet clinic by herself. She stands and starts pacing on the patio, practicing her breathing exercises as she shakes her hands out, trying to rid herself of everything.

Muffled shouting comes from inside the house, and she turns to watch Tom and the kids starting a game of UNO. They’ll be fine in there for a few rounds, but all four of them are too competitive for their own good. She knows from experience that at least one of them will be crying at the end of it, and it’s probably going to be her at this rate.

Maddie is about to step inside to suggest a better game for them all to play when her phone buzzes on the table.

“Are you kidding me?!”

She stomps over to it and answers the phone with more force than she should, and she sighs as loudly as possible to really let them know how she feels.

“I don’t even know how many more times I can handle you people calling me! I mean, how hard is it to read an email? I’ve tried so hard to be polite, but there’s only so many ways I can tell you to stop calling me. So, stop. Calling me.”

The line is silent as she breathes heavily, her frustration getting the best of her. Maddie has to stick to her ground, or else this hospital is going to keep walking all over her. And do they really think she can pay that bill? It’s probably higher than the amount of money she’s earned in her entire life up to this point.

“Um, is this Maddie Wachowski?”

The confusion in the person’s voice breaks her anger slightly, and she lifts the phone away from her to look at the number. She covers her mouth in embarrassment and groans when she sees a number that is definitely not the hospital.

“I am so sorry,” she apologizes earnestly. “I keep getting calls that have been giving me a headache, I didn’t mean to yell at you. But yes, this is Maddie. Are you calling about a pet emergency?”

The man hums awkwardly. “I…wouldn’t like to call it that, exactly, but it is an emergency.”

She purses her lips at the phrasing, but nods as she continues. “If a stray or a wild animal bit you or injured you in any way, I’d suggest calling 911 instead of me.”

“No, no, it’s not that.” The man pauses for a moment before asking, “Is this a secure line?”

“A secure…,” Maddie trails off and scrunches her face up in confusion. “I’m sorry, who am I speaking to? Are you from G.U.N.?”

“No, but can G.U.N. listen to this call?”

She shakes her head, even more confused. “What? Who are you that you need to know that?”

“I need a yes or no,” he demands, his voice firm. “I won’t say anything more until you give me an answer.”

“What?” Maddie mouths silently. She stares out into the yard at nothing in particular, wracking her brain and debating if she should give in to temptation and answer or just hang up and move on with her day.

But she gives in with a contemplative frown, responding slowly, “...no, no one can listen in.”

Which is the truth because Tails had spent a whole day messing with every phone, tablet, and laptop in the house after he first moved in so that they were completely secure. She still doesn’t understand what he did or why she gets reception no matter where she is, but she appreciates it nonetheless.

Her mysterious caller has been silent for too long, and Maddie’s frustration gets the better of her. “Now, can I get an answer about who you are?”

“I’d rather not…”

“I’d rather you did.”

The line goes silent for a moment, but then she hears him grumble something unintelligible under his breath. There’s the sound of rustling, maybe some sort of fabric, and then he sighs loudly.

“Agent Stone.”

Her eyes widen, and acting on motherly instinct alone, she says, “Oh no you don’t, nuh-uh. Goodbye.”

And she hangs up, tossing her phone onto the table. She stares at it, mouth agape, and then it starts ringing again, Stone’s number appearing on the screen. Maddie lets it ring, too surprised and confused and angry to even know what to do.

Why the hell would a man who’s helped try to kill her children for years need anything from her?

The call goes ignored, and her phone screen dims…then immediately lights up as Stone calls again.

Maddie turns her whole body around to make sure all of her kids are still there and okay. Sonic is on the couch next to Tom, looking awfully smug with his one card remaining. Tails is frowning, but his tails are twitching in the way that Maddie knows means he’s about to ruin Sonic’s evening on the next turn. And poor Knuckles is staring seriously at the massive spread of cards in his hands.

Tails jumps up from the ground and slams his pick up four and color changing card with a manic grin, and Sonic throws his arms up and slumps down onto the floor in a heap. Knuckles laughs loudly enough that Maddie can hear it all the way outside, and the kids start squabbling. She imagines that it’s various accusations of cheating or begging to change the rules, but Tom lifts up his good hand to arbitrate the fight.

Her kids are fine. Her husband is fine. She looks warily around the house for some evil robot to come crashing through the fence to ruin what little peace they can get. Her phone stops buzzing, then picks up again. But there’s still no threat.

She lets the call fizzle out again, but Stone is persistent and doesn’t stop. She watches as it fades in and out a few more times before Maddie snatches the phone and answers, wrapping an arm around herself and frowning.

“Please just hear me out, that’s it,” Stone says in one quick breath.

Maddie paces on the patio, glaring at the ground. This is a stupid idea, a very stupid idea. She rubs one eye and huffs, making sure her caller can hear it.

“You have one minute to give me a good reason to listen to you before I block you and have Tails track you down,” she warns heatedly.

Stone sighs. “I have a very seriously injured kid on my hands that needs medical attention.”

Maddie’s frown deepens. “Then take them to a hospital.”

“Not a human kid,” Stone says quietly, “and I figured you would know more than me.”

Maddie’s grip on her phone tightens. Her eyes drift towards her kids, remembering them being brought to the hospital to visit Tom after the Eclipse Cannon exploded, tired and bruising. And there’s another kid like that out there, with someone who’s only tried to harm her kids at every turn.

“And did you hurt them,” she questions, her voice hard.

Stone is silent for a moment, too long of a moment, and Maddie starts walking back inside to ask the kids for help when Stone speaks again.

“It was G.U.N., but I don’t exactly expect you to believe me. I get it, we’ve hated each other for years. I wouldn’t have called if I had another option.” Stone says, sounding about as frustrated as she is.

There’s a lot of unknowns right now, and her parental instincts are telling her that something is up. Stone is being forthcoming with information, but he sounds…nervous. She still doesn’t have a name for this mysterious new kid, and Maddie’s instincts tell her to push it.

“Does this kid have a name?”

She hears Stone swear under his breath, and apprehension fills her stomach.

“Shadow, but before—”

“Shadow?!” Maddie cuts him off, shouting. “He’s alive?! And how did—”

“He’s barely alive,” Stone shouts back, cutting her off.

Maddie’s mouth clacks shut, and she drops down into the outdoor couch, curling her legs underneath her.

“He nearly died, and he hasn’t been getting better. It’s been a few days, and I’ve tried everything that I can, but I just don’t know enough about biology, let alone his, to do anything useful. I know what he did, and what the doctor and I did, but he’s a kid. Sonic and him are probably the same age, if I had to guess.

“And Shadow…,” Stone trails off, his words choked. He breathes, continuing. “I’m not asking you for anything other than this. If you agree to help him, you’ll never hear from either of us again. Your family won’t ever have to worry. Even if you hang up on me right now, I’ll never call again, and you can move on and forget about it. But I had to try.”

With Stone’s speech done, Maddie is left rattled. Calling it a speech doesn’t feel right, it was him downright pleading with her. She can hear it, even though every part of her wants to deny it.

Shadow. Alive. The hedgehog that had earnestly tried to kill every member of her family.

Stone. A face she had never met, but had always been in the background, helping execute Robotnik’s evil deeds.

She moves her phone from her ear, her thumb hovering over the end call button. She could forget it ever happened, like Stone said. It would be easy. After everything that occurred, she owes them nothing except the most scathing words she can think of. No, a part of her knows that they deserve worse, and the only way she can make that happen is by hanging up right this second.

Sonic cheers at the top of his lungs, Tails, Knuckles, and Tom all groaning in response. Maddie turns around and watches. Sonic, the sore winner he is during family game night, celebrates his victory by dancing obnoxiously on the couch. Knuckles tosses his cards on the table, thumping his head down on top of them, and Tails is distraught, staring at the winning card uncomprehendingly.

This should be the end of game night, but Sonic stops, watching his little brother. His soft spot for Tails wins over, and the hedgehog climbs down from the couch and starts shuffling the deck again. He nudges the fox with a shoulder, rambling on about something, and Tails perks up again. After a second more of sulking, Knuckles joins in, and they start another round.

Here they are, her kids growing up and becoming even kinder than they were before. And as much as it warms her heart to see it, her phone in her hand sours the moment.

Maddie had never seen Shadow. She was the only one who never ran into the other hedgehog, so Tom and the kids described him to her. Black, red, dangerous, and strikingly similar to Sonic. So when she closes her eyes and tries to picture Shadow, the hedgehog that had nearly ruined everything for their little family, she just sees her boy.

She sees Sonic, just in a different shade, maybe more angry. No matter what she tries, she can only picture the first kid to crash into her life. The kid who is currently trying his hardest to make up for his mistakes, even if it isn’t always perfect.

Shadow had tried to fix his mistakes, too, hadn’t he?

God, she’s going to regret this, isn’t she?

“You swear,” she asks firmly, raising her phone to her ear again, “that you’ll never try to hurt the kids again?”

Stone scrambles on the other end. “Yes, yes. You’ll never see us again.”

Maddie scrubs her face, her hand shaking around her phone. “We do this on my terms, and I will stop at any time if I decide to. Understood?”

“Of course. Whatever you need,” he promises, and Maddie’s stomach churns at his earnestness.

“If he’s as bad as you say he is, I can’t guarantee how much help I’ll be. When can you get here?”

“Tomorrow night.”

Maddie nods to herself. “Okay. I’ll meet you at the vet clinic here at ten and see what I can do. But I’m checking you for weapons before you enter, and if you try anything, you will regret it.”

Stone hums. “Yep, got it. Are there any cameras in or around the building?”

“No, nothing. Is…G.U.N. after you,” she asks hesitantly.

He lets out a long sigh. “Yes, so I need some secrecy. It wouldn’t be good for any of us if we’re spotted.”

“Yeah, I was planning on it,” Maddies says heavily. The call goes silent, and with nothing else to say, she tries to wrap it up, “...okay, I’ll see you then.”

“Yes, I—,” Stone stops himself, then finishes with a lame, “See you.”

The call ends, and Maddie leans back in her chair, slumping down with a tight sigh. She stares down at her phone, unblinking, and every bad thought she’s been trying to push away for weeks rears its head.

All that time waiting to hear news in the hospital, her kids fighting for the entire planet, the fact that this time, they almost lost all of them. Shadow and Stone, out there, coming here, and she encouraged it. If anything happens to her family this time, she’ll only have herself to blame.

“Madeline.”

Maddie jumps, turning around to see Knuckles standing on the patio. She smiles, and it wobbles dangerously, threatening to give her away. But she thinks she gets it under control quick enough that her eldest doesn’t notice.

“Knuckles,” she replies. “What’s up?”

“I have been banished from UNO for my many failures,” he says solemnly, shaking his head, “and in doing so, I have tarnished our family’s honor.”

She bites her lip to keep from laughing, patting the spot next to her and inviting Knuckles over. He walks over and drops down, crossing his arms.

“Did Sonic make up a rule that you couldn’t play if you lost too many times?” Maddie guesses.

The echidna’s eyes widen, staring at her with his mouth agape. “It is a made up rule?”

“Oh yeah, he was messing with you big time.”

Knuckles whips his head behind him, his spines flopping around. He pins a glare onto Sonic, and Maddie turns to watch the hedgehog duck behind the couch to avoid meeting Knuckles’ ire. She rolls her eyes and pats the kid on the arm comfortingly, bringing his attention back to her.

“You know you’ve gotta take anything that kid says with a grain of salt,” Maddie reminds him.

Knuckles tilts his head, mulling over her words. “Does…the salt ward off trickery?

She does laugh at that and shakes her head. “No, it’s an expression. It means you should be a little wary of the things he says.”

“I understand. I will best him at UNO another day so that he will regret ‘messing’ with me,” he swears, shaking his fist.

Maddie nods towards the house. “They’re still playing, you can go back and join them.”

Knuckles shakes his head and settles back against the patio couch. He uncrosses his arms, resting them neatly in his lap. His eyes study her face, and she stiffens, worried he somehow overheard her. He searches for something, then glances at her laptop, reading the small print of her still open email.

His face scrunches in displeasure, his teeth flashing. “Those vultures are still bothering you.”

She nods. “Yeah, but it should be fine after today,” she says, attempting to assuage his concern.

“But it isn’t fair to you! They prey on our family after a tragedy, after all Thomas did to protect their planet. It is dishonorable,” Knuckles rants loudly, a firm frown on his face. “I can see how they cause you undue pain. Daily.”

Maddie wants to argue, to say that it isn’t causing her stress, but she’s already been caught. She thought she had hid it better, or that the hecticness of the last few weeks had covered the brief moments she found herself drowning. Can Sonic and Tails see it, too? That she’s seconds away from falling apart? That maybe she can’t be strong for them, like they need her to? What if they realize how badly this last adventure rattled her resolve, and then they realize that—

Knuckles shifts and reaches for her laptop, drawing her out of her spiral. He reads the attachments with a curious frown, then leans back. Impatient, or more accurately feeling the need to fill the silence after Maddie’s inability to find the words to prove that the kids don’t need to worry about her, Knuckles continues. His eyes flit to her for a moment before looking away bashfully.

“I would like to offer my assistance in dealing with these foes, but I recognize it is a battle of words and…bureaucracy. I do not have the skills to aid you,” he says, as if trying to apologize for his inabilities. “However, I know that they will submit to your will soon. You are formidable, and if they underestimate your tenacity, the vultures will come to regret it.”

Knuckles sounds so sure, his voice carrying through the yard, and his unwavering confidence in her carries through to her, too. A warm smile worms its way onto her face, fond and proud, and she opens up her arms. He studies the gesture for a second, deciding if he feels ready for it, and then she has an armful of a hesitant echidna. His hands wrap around her back slowly, his touch feather light, but she has no qualms about squeezing him tight. Out of the corner of her eye, Knuckles’ tail wags happily, and her smile brightens.

“I think that’s the best compliment I’ve ever heard. Thank you, baby.”

“The best?” Knuckles’ surprise is genuine. His tail slows, and his voice grows quieter, unlike his typical boisterous volume. “Certainly not. That must be an embellishment.”

Maddie tilts her head in their embrace to meet his eyes. “‘Course not. Hearing you, the greatest warrior I know, call me formidable? I can’t imagine any compliment that could be better than that.”

“Well, it is the truth. Sometimes…sometimes I wonder if my honesty is not the best for comforting someone. That maybe it means the opposite of what I intend.”

She hums, taking a moment to gather her thoughts. It isn’t often Knuckles confides in them, letting her see that he isn’t as unflappable as he thinks he is. She used to wonder if the warrior who turned her house into a gladiator ring would ever be comfortable enough to have these moments with her, and pride swells in her chest. Her fingers card through his spine gently, picking out a lone feather that must have nestled in there from the couch pillows.

“I think as long as you try your best and are earnest, it’ll get through to people.”

“I couldn’t get through to Sonic. Not when he needed it the most.”

They had talked about it before, when Knuckles was visibly upset about the Master Emerald being lost and Sonic sounded like a broken record by constantly apologizing. Her and Tom had expected the echidna to be furious, understandably so, but he had already decided to forgive Sonic before the final battle was over, he had told them. Did Knuckles decide it was his inability that led Sonic to take the Emerald?

“That wasn’t your fault, Knuckles. You were all going through a lot, and you did the right thing by trusting Sonic. Even if you didn’t like his choice. I think by doing that, that told him that he could rely on you to be there. And you did get through to him since he made the right choice in the end, hm?”

Knuckles lowers his gaze, contemplating her words. “You believe so?”

“I know so.”

She offers him the confidence he gave her, and he offers a smile back. They enjoy the moment for a bit longer, wind whistling past and bringing a chill with it, and Knuckles starts to pull away. With one final squeeze, she lets go and nods towards the house.

“Think we’re ready for bed?” Maddie asks.

Knuckles stands and holds out a meaty hand, offering to help her up. She takes it and pats his head in thanks, then snatches her laptop and walks in, ushering her kid in first. Her eyes roam the yard before locking the door, one final check to tell herself that everything is and will be fine.

The rest of her boys are chatting on the couch and perk up when they return. Sonic nervously rubs the back of his neck, probably expecting Knuckles to pounce on him. The echidna levels him with an unimpressed look, walks over to his brother, and pushes his head lightly, nothing more than a gentle admonishment. Sonic snickers, shoving Knuckles’ hand, and all is forgiven between them for now.

“Heard UNO was fun,” Maddie says, walking up to Tom.

His good hand reaches out for her, and he drags her in for a chaste kiss. Sonic gags in the background, but Tom just rolls his eyes and shrugs with one arm. “It actually went really well until someone got a little bored of playing nice.”

They turn to look at a certain blue hedgehog in sync, and Sonic whips his head around, shielding his eyes with a hand and squinting as he looks around. He pouts, continuing his search, and then gives a big shrug to his parents. Maddie tilts her head and shifts her stance, scolding him lightly with body language alone.

The gesture slides past Sonic, and he shakes his head with a worn out sigh, hands on his hips. “We’ll have to catch this ‘someone’ and teach ‘em a lesson.”

“Really hamming it up tonight, pal,” Tom says with a short laugh.

Sonic points a thumb at the man with an overly exaggerated expression, turning his attention solely to her. “I dunno what this guy is going on about.”

“Uh-huh, I guess we’ll never know,” Maddie replies, leaning into it. She changes pace. “You take your meds?”

Before Tom can respond, Tails pops up with a bright, “Yup! I got them when his alarm went off ‘cause he keeps forgetting.”

Her husband looks embarrassed to be called out by the youngest, but Maddie just leans down and ruffles the top of the fox’s head. Tails sidles up right next to her, soaking up the attention like a sponge. She stops suddenly, and he blinks up at her in confusion, his blue eyes big, wide, and innocent to what’s about to come. Then, she swoops down and scoops him up, startling a loud yelp out of him that quickly dissolves into giggles as she peppers him with kisses.

“Oh, what would we do without our little alarm clock?”

“Listen to Tom complain about everything hurting until he takes ‘em,” Sonic teases.

“Sonic,” Tom scolds.

“Actually, he’s got you there,” she butts in, pausing her assault on Tails.

Tom groans, sulking into the back of the couch. “Gee, thanks.”

Tails catches his breath, still grinning, and leans towards Tom. “I can help you remember when to take them. I mean, if that’s okay.”

“Of course you can. That’d be a big help, little man.”

Her husband smiles softly, reaching out to ruffle Tails’ head, too. His fur puffs up around his face, his tails twitching against her side, embarrassed but pleased. A big yawn breaks his smile, and a small gloved hand starts rubbing at his eye.

“Well, that’s a good cue for bedtime, I think,” Maddie teases, jostling Tails in her arms. “Want me to carry you up?”

Tails grows bashful again, his tails flicking about as he slowly buries his face into her neck. She feels his shy nod, and she cards her hands through his fur on the back of his head. She leans against the couch so that Tom can reach and give him a kiss good night.

“Night, Tom.”

“G’night, pal. Alright, now one of you, help me up,” Tom says, waving at the older boys.

Sonic and Knuckles look at each other, and they both rush to the elder Wachowski. Sonic wins with a cocky grin, helping pull Tom to his feet solely because Sonic ducked out of Knuckles’ reach before he could push the hedgehog into a wall. Maddie rolls her eyes at the antics, patting the eldest on his head as a consolation. It’s funny to watch all three of the boys fight each other to be helpful, but at least there isn’t a new Sonic-shaped dent in the wall tonight.

“I will get the honor of assisting the Lord of Donuts tomorrow, hedgehog. Mark my words,” Knuckles threatens.

Sonic holds out Tom’s crutches and scoffs. “Gotta be faster than me, Knucklehead. Oh, wait, I’m the fastest thing alive, so that’ll never happen.”

“Your arrogance will be your downfall.”

“Uh-huh, losersayswhat.”

“What?”

Sonic snickers, and Knuckles huffs. Tom rolls his eyes and just limps away towards their room, ditching the two kids. They both notice that their father left them behind, and they scramble together to follow after him and continue to help, even if they squabble lightheartedly the whole way.

“They’re so competitive,” Tails complains.

“Stubborn, more like it. Did you already brush your teeth?”

Tails nods, and she takes his word for it. Out of all of her kids, he’s the best about grooming himself, especially with his longer fur. He has self-care down pat. Well, except for when it comes to getting proper sleep if he’s working on a project, and it’s only been getting worse the older he gets.

Maddie makes her way up the stairs, then leans down to pull the sheets back and deposit Tails inside. She moves to pull them up, but then she hesitates. Tails’ ears twitch in curiosity, his brow furrowed, and she bites back a mischievous grin. As soon as Tails understands the look, it’s too late, and he shrieks when she buries him under the blanket.

“Maddie!” His voice is muffled as he protests, trying to kick the blanket off, but she can hear him laughing.

“Oh! Sorry, Tails, I didn’t see you there,” she apologizes, feigning innocence.

Tails whacks her gently with a tail, his fur all staticy and a big pout on his face. He tries to smooth it down while she sets the blankets around him normally, tucking him in but leaving room for his tails to wiggle. He settles down onto his pillow, and she takes her phone out.

“Okay, what should be our bedtime Wikipedia rabbit hole today?”

The fox frowns in concentration while he thinks of a topic for the night. Having an eight year old genius on her hands means that normal bedtime stories meant for his age are a little boring, but the textbooks he likes to read are too complicated for her and Tom to read. So, Wikipedia articles ended up becoming the compromise, and every night she learns about something new.

His frown deepens, and he’s started to think too hard. His hands pop out from under the covers, and Tails plays with his hands nervously.

“Can I ask a question?”

She sets her phone down. “Yeah, what is it?”

“Does Tom really want my help?” His voice is so timid, and his ears fold back against his head in nerves and shame.

Maddie coos, running a hand across his head. “Of course he does. What makes you think that?”

“It’s just—I want to be helpful, but I don’t want to overstep. I can’t help like Sonic and Knuckles can…”

Sonic and Knuckles, the cool big brothers. It’s nice that the eldest two are close in age, even if it means they’re constantly at odds, but then there’s Tails, half of Sonic’s age. The teens are great with him and always include him in everything, but Maddie knows that he struggles with feeling so little compared to the brothers he idolizes. Wherever Tails came from, someone made him doubt himself, and their family is still working on breaking him out of that timid shell.

“Hey, it’s a great thing that you can’t help like they can. Neither of them are very good about keeping time, so I’m glad that you can help Tom with that. Gives me some peace of mind. And you can fix things around the house before I even know they’re broken,” she reminds him.

Tails shrugs. “That’s ‘cause Sonic and Knuckles have me fix stuff before you find out they broke it. It’s nothing special.”

Maddie stops at that, staring at him in disbelief. Tails realizes what he said and slaps a hand over his mouth, looking up at her guiltily.

“You didn’t hear that from me,” he mumbles.

She shakes her head and files that information away for later. Scolding the teens for roping their baby brother into their messes can wait. For now, she just pets the fox’s bangs, scratching lightly.

“I’ll keep my source a secret,” she promises, making him relax. “But it is special, Tails. You love being the gadget guy, right? Don’t lose faith in yourself now when you’ve already done so many amazing things.”

Tails mulls it over. “I do like being the gadget guy.”

“Exactly. Keep doing that, and you’ll be golden—no, you already are.”

Maddie taps his nose, drawing a giggle out of him. Tails beams up at her, his tails wagging happily under the covers. Reassured that he’s wanted and appreciated, he snuggles into his bed and asks for his bedtime “story,” and they finish the article from the night before rather than opting for something new.

When Sonic and Knuckles run up the stairs, Maddie is already putting her phone away. Tails was drifting off until the clamor of loud footsteps woke him up, but it gives Sonic the opportunity to say good night to his little buddy. The hedgehog pats him down from head to toe, checking that he’s properly cozy, but Tails is drifting off again before Sonic can even finish.

Sonic rolls his eyes. “What a lightweight,” he mutters sarcastically, but she doesn’t miss the fondness behind the words.

She stands and gives Knuckles a kiss goodnight as he walks past. She tries to give Sonic one, too, before he gets comfortable, but he dodges her, sidestepping all of her attempts. They do the song and dance for a while, and eventually Sonic gives in and lets her hug him, squeezing her, too.

The awake boys wish her a goodnight, and Maddie slips downstairs and does her own bedtime routine, gently setting herself next to Tom afterwards. Her husband is practically already asleep, but he turns enough to give her a sleepy kiss, his eyes still closed. The snoring starts immediately, so that’s her cue to get some rest before work tomorrow.

But…sleep evades her. Exhaustion pulls at her, her body begging to get some much needed rest, but her fears run rampant. Scenarios of the house exploding and robots attacking and anything else she can imagine leave her wide awake, eyes boring into the ceiling. Any sound, from Tom’s breathing to the wind outside, makes her hands clench.

A creak sounds, somewhere in the house. She stills, listening closely, but she doesn’t hear anything more. Calm down and relax, there’s nothing wrong. More creaks sound, the wood creaking under someone’s feet. Maddie carefully extracts herself from the covers to avoid disturbing Tom and exits the room, fists curled tight at her sides.

Slowly, she walks through the hallway towards a light emanating from the kitchen. Rounding the corner, she sees a blue hedgehog lit up by the open fridge. Sonic whips his attention to her, half of a cookie dangling out of his mouth, his hand stretched out towards the milk.

“Sonic,” she breathes out, unbelievably relieved that it’s just a mundane problem. Still a problem though, so she tilts her hip, crossing her arms. “What are you doing up at…one in the morning?”

He shoves the rest of the cookie in his mouth and shuts the fridge. It bathes them in darkness, but Maddie can still see Sonic’s shrug. “Hungry,” he tries to say, his mouth still full of food.

It isn’t a good defense, or even one at all. Usually, if she catches him up during the night, he rambles on and on to get out of whatever trouble he finds himself in. Whether it’s eating them out of a house, watching TV, or playing video games, Sonic will run his mouth as fast as his legs until someone cuts him off.

Tonight, though, he kicks at the ground with a socked foot. “I’ll go back to bed now. Didn’t mean to wake you.”

Alarm bells ring, and she frowns gently. “Actually, I think I could use a cup of hot chocolate. Might go well with your cookie, if you want another?”

Sonic lifts his head, his eyes bright despite the dark. He grins, confident and more like himself, and dashes away in a second to get the kettle running and fills two mugs with instant hot chocolate powder. With prep complete, he hops up onto the counter next to the stove, kicking his legs impatiently as he does the one thing he hates: waiting.

But still, he doesn’t seem like the Sonic she knows and loves. Ever since the Eclipse Cannon, since she met them in the hospital and bundled the kids up in the biggest hug she could muster, Sonic has seemed…off. Like it takes more time for his typical bravado to kick in, or that he lingers occasionally, pausing and giving things more consideration than he used to. She catches him, sometimes, staring at the moon as if trying to find something, but he always gave up and ran to go entertain himself before she could comment on it.

Looking at him now, Sonic is more patient, and he doesn’t complain about how long it takes for the water to heat up. He sits there, following the trail of steam out of the kettle. His mouth purses, the line tilting down at the corners in a small frown.

“Couldn’t sleep?”

Sonic shakes his head. “You?”

“Yeah, Tom’s snoring too loud.”

He snorts at the light jab, bringing a brief smile to his face. Her mouth quirks up in light laughter. It isn’t enough to bring him out of his funk, and her gaze turns concerned.

“You know, you’ve been quiet lately,” she says gently. “I can tell something’s eatin’ at you, but I can’t help if we don’t talk about it.”

Her confident ball of energy shrinks into himself. “Can’t the hot chocolate just fix it?”

“Wish it could, bud,” she apologizes, her fingers reaching out to cup his face. “I won’t push it if you don’t wanna talk tonight, but it might be good to get it off your chest.”

The kettle starts to whistle, so Maddie reaches over and turns the stove off. She pours the water in their mugs and grabs the milk from the fridge, adding some to cool it down and give it flavor. For extra measure, she goes to the pantry and snatches a big marshmallow, dropping it down in Sonic’s drink.

Instead of drinking it right away and burning his tongue like he always does, he watches the marshmallow start to dissolve into his drink. His gloved hands cup it near his face, studying it like it’ll give him all the answers. Sonic blinks, closing his eyes tight, and when he opens them, his eyes are pained.

“I keep thinking about Shadow.”

Maddie’s eyes widen, and she’s afraid to even broach the topic. “Shadow…?”

“I just—he was hurting, and someone told him that destroying the planet would make it all better. When we talked, it was like he didn’t know there was anything but the hurt. He said he felt it. For fifty years. Locked up with nothing else.”

She hums in acknowledgement. Sonic hadn’t talked about it, Tails and Knuckles filling in all the pieces after everything. The kids had obviously been upset about Shadow’s sacrifice—even Robotnik’s to an extent—since he helped them in the end, in the way that death for a greater good would upset anyone. She knew they mourned, and it had taken a few days for them to shake off the oppressive feeling of grief. But Sonic hadn’t, and here it is, haunting him.

Her hand reaches out again, resting on his knee and squeezing. Sonic lets go of his iron grip on his mug to set a hand on top of hers, and she grabs it in hers, entwining their fingers. Her thumb rubs along the back of his glove, hoping it helps ease some of his hurt.

“You never told us why he was hurting,” she says quietly.

“He lost someone close to him. Her name was Maria. G.U.N. had something to do with it, I think. There was a picture. In the lab where he grew up, which is a whole ‘nother level of messed up. They were both smiling, and he looked so happy. They had a blanket fort and ate popcorn and watched movies and—

“He was just like me.” Sonic’s eyes drift down to their hands. “I was just like him, too. He hurt Dad, and I lost it, and took the Emerald even though Knuckles and I promised we wouldn’t, and I wanted him to hurt even though I know better and then he wanted me to do it and how could someone want that—”

Sonic is rambling, stressed and on the verge of hyperventilating, and Maddie shushes him gently. His mouth snaps shut with a clack, his eyes snapping up to look at her. They’re wide and distraught, and her heart aches for him, for the fact that he’s been bottling all of this up.

“Okay, slow down and breathe sec,” she soothes, still rubbing his hand. “In…then out…good, couple more times for me.”

He listens to her, forcing himself to take in air, and the tension in his shoulders bleeds out. But when he stops, exhaling roughly, his shoulders slump.

“What did he want you to do?” Maddie asks gently.

“Kill him,” Sonic admits in an anguished hush. “I won, when we fought. I hesitated, and he—he told me to do it. Do you think—did he really want that?”

His eyes are begging her for answers. Hoping that his mom can take all of his feelings and make sense of them. Maddie is at a loss for words, and she feels trapped under his stare. But she pushes through because her son needs her.

“Maybe. Sometimes, the pain is too much, and people can’t find a reason to live anymore. Whether it’s because they’re lonely, or something goes wrong in life, they might not be able to see that it can get better,” she explains slowly.

Sonic’s brow furrows. “If I had tried harder, didn’t fight him, maybe he wouldn’t have sacrificed himself and—”

“Woah, none of that,” she cuts him off. She sets their hot chocolates off to the side and takes his other hand in hers, holding tight. “When you two talked, what did you say to him? That got him to help stop the Cannon.”

Sonic shrugs. “He asked if the pain goes away, and I said no. ‘Cause it doesn’t, but I told him to hold onto the love. I could’ve said something more…right?”

She drops one hand to cup his cheek, and he leans into it with a sigh. Sonic has never been a crier, and she wishes he could release some of these pent up emotions through some tears. It doesn’t stop her from rubbing her thumb under his eye, as if wiping away the tears she knows he feels.

“It’s okay to be sad about it, but you did everything you could for him. Shadow made his choices, both good and bad,” she says softly. “But I think you said exactly what he needed to hear.”

“But I could’ve—”

“You fought, and chose to not get revenge. Do you think he would have listened to you if you hadn’t shown him that was an option?”

Sonic gives her a halfhearted annoyed look. “You’re making it hard to be mad at myself.”

“Yeah, that’s kinda my thing,” she teases lightly, patting his cheek.

It brings a reluctant smile out of him, but it’s gone as quick as it came. “Yeah, he was pretty stubborn. He didn’t listen when I tried to be nice before. It’s just…ugh, my feelings are all over the place. I’m still mad at him, but I miss him, even though I only was chill with him for like, half an hour tops. Is that…am I being weird?”

“No, no, that’s not weird. That’s really normal, to be conflicted.”

“I’m glad he helped, I am, but…I don’t know if I can forgive him for what he did to Dad.” Sonic sniffles, rubbing an eye with the heel of his palm, but his eyes are still dry. “It’s different from Knuckles ‘cause I know he was trying to do the right thing but got lied to. Shadow…Shadow didn’t, though. Even if that old fart Robotnik was calling the shots, he still wanted it.

“I think the worst part is that I still thought we could be friends. After everything. And now I’ll never know,” he finishes, his words barely audible, even in the silence of the kitchen.

Sonic’s arms move, and Maddie moves to embrace him before he can even ask. She bundles him up tight, planting a kiss on his forehead, and he clings to her like she’s a raft caught in the waves.

As a mother, she’s standing at a fork in the road.

She could tell him. She could tell him right now. All of Sonic’s regrets could disappear with a snap of her fingers if she just tells him. That Shadow is alive. All of his heartbreak, gone, and she would get her cheerful hedgehog back. But Shadow is alive, and even Sonic doesn’t know what he would have done after the day was saved. He’s alive, on the run from G.U.N., and with Agent Stone. She knows all too well what the hedgehog and Stone are capable of, and that terrifies her.

Maddie just wants to protect her family and her kids, in any way she can.

“I’m sorry, baby,” she says. For everything.

Sonic nuzzles into her. “Dwelling on stuff sucks. I should knock it off.”

The quip eases some of her worries, and she rubs his back. “Yeah, it does suck. Thank you for trusting me with this, I know it must’ve been hard.”

“I’ll always trust you, Mom.”

Sonic leans back just enough to meet her eyes with a smile, one so genuine and bright it makes her sick. It’s still so rare to hear him call her Mom, and to do it now… He goes back into the hug so fast she lets out an oomph, and he mumbles an apology into her shoulder. Her arms tighten, and she prays that Sonic can’t feel her heart pounding anxiously.

“Love you, Mom.”

“Love you, Sonic.”

“Eugh, we’re gonna have to drink cold chocolate now. The marshmallow turned into sludge,” he complains, bouncing back to his normal self in his speedy way.

Maddie shakes her head. “Just put it in the microwave, it should be fine.”

“Ohhhh, yeah, I forgot.”

Sonic dashes away to heat it up, then bounces on his socked feet impatiently, hopping side to side as he waits.

Her chest is tight, and the lukewarm hot chocolate tastes like ash in her mouth as her and Sonic settle onto the couch to watch one—and only one—episode of trashy reality TV. He cuddles against her, careful not to hurt her with his quills, and she wonders if Shadow is capable of this.

She closes her eyes, trying to imagine that angry, vengeful hedgehog, and when she opens them, Sonic is laughing at something on TV. For his sake, she hopes the two hedgehogs are as similar as Sonic thinks. All she can do is wait until tomorrow to find out.

Chapter Text

“Earth to Maddie?”

She shakes her head and puts on a smile. “Sorry, did you say something?”

Tom frowns. “No, but you’ve been out of it all night. What’s going on?”

“Just…things are busy,” she says quietly.

His frown deepens. “I’m sorry I’m making you pick up my slack. If you just let me do a couple things around the house, then—”

Maddie cuts him off with a raised hand. “You’re recovering from internal bleeding, so I am not letting you strain yourself just for a couple chores. Besides, it’s not that bad.”

“Really? Doing most of the parenting, dealing with the bills, and working more shifts than you usually do on top of taking care of my useless ass? It’s pretty bad, hon,” he argues.

“Tom,” she stresses. She looks at him, hard, and he does the same. “Sure, I’m a little tired, but it’ll be fine once you can start moving around more in two weeks. I’ll be fine ‘til then.”

“You shouldn’t have to push through it.”

“I’m doing for you what you did for me all those years ago, working extra to help me pay for school. Think of it as my turn to shoulder everything,” she says with a small smile, trying to pull away.

Tom shifts his hold on her arm, grabbing her hand instead. Their fingers lace together, and he squeezes tight. He thinks for a moment, glaring down at the table, then turns back to her with a stern look.

“You’re taking a break tonight. I can handle things for a couple hours.”

Maddie opens her mouth, fumbling with her words for a moment. The offer is tempting, but…she can’t. Not tonight. She glances at the clock on the stove, noting the time. She has to get going soon if she wants to get there before Stone and double check everything.

“I forgot to tell you, but I have an emergency appointment tonight,” she replies, turning back to Tom with an apologetic frown.

Tom blinks, then nods slowly. “Tonight? That’s…pretty late for an appointment.”

“They’re from out of town, and they couldn’t make it here during the day.”

Which isn’t a complete lie, but she feels horrible for not confiding in her husband. They tell each other everything, from parenting stresses to work problems that probably should stay confidential. But secrets stay between them, they always have, and she plants a soft kiss in his hairline.

“I’ll tell you about it when I get back, promise.” It satisfies Tom’s curiosity for now, and he sighs with a reluctant nod. “Now, I’m gonna polish off the dishes and clean up before I head out.”

Maddie attempts to pull away, reaching for the plates again, but Tom holds tight with a smirk. “Uh-uh, thought I just said you’re taking a break. No dishes for you tonight.”

Her face scrunches in confusion. “Tom, what are you—?”

Before she can finish her question, Tom shouts, “Boys! Come do the dishes!”

“Ugh, why?!” Sonic shouts back.

“‘Cause I said so! Whoever gets here first picks the movie tonight!”

The sound of scrambling meets her ears immediately, and the couple laughs at their kids fighting in the other room. Ozzie barks, probably joining in on the fight and making it more chaotic by trying to play. She can hear all the boys yelling, and usually, one of them would tell them to stop screaming at this point, but Tom just nods his head towards the door.

“Get out of here before they make it to the kitchen and you get caught in the crossfire. Love you.”

Maddie smiles, some of the tension bleeding out of her body. “Love you, too, babe.”

She leans down for a kiss, lingering for a moment to steal some of Tom’s calmness. Then, she sneaks out of the kitchen, heading to the front door and slipping her coat and shoes on. Her keys and purse are snatched, and she hops into her car and drives to the clinic.

All of the levity Tom gave her disappears the moment she parks in front of the building. Nervously, she glances around at the empty street. All of the businesses around are closed for the night, their lights turned off. The neon sign of the clinic washes her in a dull white light, and her heart starts pumping frantically.

“Get it together,” she mutters, shaking her entire body to rid herself of the paranoia.

She unlocks the door to the building and walks through the dark hallways, her shoes softly thudding against the linoleum. She flips on the lights in the back hallway and the surgical room, opting to work out of there even if surgery isn’t needed. She…really is fumbling in the dark tonight. Maybe she should have asked more about Shadow’s condition, but it’s too late.

Tools are prepared, ensuring they’re clean and sanitized, and she sanitizes the operating table again for extra measure. This would be easier with an assistant, but she’s done her time as a surgical assistant to know the steps.

Wheels crunching on pavement draw her attention away, and her head whips around to the back. Her heart thuds, her breathing quickens, and she swallows the lump in her throat. Slowly, she makes her way to the back door, but not before grabbing the tranquilizer gun they keep on hand. Stone knocks against the door, once, and she closes her eyes. Maddie breathes deeply, steeling her gaze, and opens the door with the gun pointed at Stone’s chest.

The exhausted man in a rumpled t-shirt with blood stains and a baseball cap is the last thing she expects to see. His facial hair is longer than the kids described, and the suave, clean enemy she’s heard about can’t be the same man standing before her. His eyes narrow at the tranquilizer gun, his gaze cold and calculating despite his unimpressive appearance.

“Tranquilizer. Fun,” Stone says sarcastically.

Maddie shrugs and doesn’t lower the gun. “I did say I was checking you for weapons. Show me your ankles.”

Stone stares at her for a moment, then gives in with a huff. He lifts both of his pant legs, and the flash of a gun holster draws her eye. Maddie leans down and pulls it out, checking that the safety is on before she shoves it behind the elastic of her scrubs pants. Stone watches her with a careful eye, but she lowers her own weapon once she’s satisfied.

“Okay, bring him in,” she orders.

She follows after him to a sleek black SUV and promptly shrieks when a white drone pops out of nowhere. No lasers point at her, and no bullets unload into the ground surrounding her, but her heart pounds all the same. Stone looks at her strangely, and she glares at him and waves around her weapon.

“Turn that thing off and leave it in your car.”

Stone scoffs. “It’ll stay out here. If you recall, I’m a little wanted by the government at the moment, and I’d rather not lower my security.”

Maddie stands her ground. “And if you recall, I can send your ass packing whenever I want. It’s the drone or Shadow, your choice.”

They have a staredown, neither budging, and Maddie shifts her stance. She’s ready to send him away and wish him the best of luck, but then Stone swears under his breath and shifts his hand. A black glove is on it, and his fingers press against it as he opens the trunk. The one drone, and several others that come from above them, all fly into it and power down. Stone tosses the glove in after them and slams the trunk, clearly annoyed with her.

“Happy?”

She smiles at him, her mouth tight in growing frustration. “Very.”

He moves around to the side of the car, opening the backseat door and reaching in. He mutters something that she can’t hear, then carefully lifts a bundle into his arms. Passed out, wrapped loosely in a thin blanket, is Shadow the Hedgehog.

Maddie’s breath stops at the sight of him, finally putting a face to all of her troubles. His brow is pinched in what must be pain, and dark lines trail across his muzzle. Her stomach churns, and she forces herself to walk back to the clinic with Stone on her heels. She holds the door open for them, then leads them to the surgical suite, nodding for Stone to set him down.

Some part of her expects the man to just drop the hedgehog onto the table, expecting the worst from the man who’s put her family through so much pain, but he does the opposite. Gently, he lowers Shadow down, cupping the back of head to not jostle him. A bandaged hand lingers in Shadow’s quills for a second before pulling away, and Stone backs up and crosses his arms.

A scowl is carved into his face, but it doesn’t carry to his eyes. The brim of the hat tries to hide it, but Maddie can see it. His eyes are pinched and see nothing but the kid in front of him, as if nothing else around him exists. It’s a familiar look, one that she’s worn so many times, one that she sees on her husband when the kids are sick or upset.

It surprises her to see it so clearly, on him of all people. She doesn’t have time to dwell on it, and she turns her attention back to Shadow.

Slowly, she removes the blanket covering him, and there isn’t a world where she could stop the sharp intake of breath when she sees bandages covering most of his body. Despite the jarring sight, the thing that stands out the most is how different he looks from Sonic.

Maddie honestly was expecting a carbon copy with different colors, but Shadow has so many differences. From the way his quills swoop upwards and outwards to his sleeker physique. Where Sonic is rounded out and sturdy, used to eating more than enough for his ravenous metabolism, Shadow is thin and sharp. His face noticeably lacks the baby fat Sonic still has, and even though she can see the strong muscles hidden underneath fur and bandages, that’s all he has. Scanning him up and down, she swears she can see ribs peeking out. For as dangerous as he looks, even asleep—and doesn’t that terrify her—it looks more like…he’s malnourished.

“Is he asleep or unconscious,” she asks as she steps away to wash her hands.

“Unconsciousness. He woke up for a bit, strained himself, then passed out again.”

“Strained himself how?”

Stone doesn’t respond for a moment, and she turns her head to glower at him. His silence can’t mean anything good. Stone responds in kind and stands up straighter with a huff.

“We had a bit of a police chase yesterday. I was dealing with it, and suddenly he just woke up and started fighting. Took out two helicopters and ripped his stitches in the process.”

Maddie whips around fully, rearing her head back. “He what?”

Stone’s frown somehow deepens further. He’s agitated and frustrated as he mutters, “He would’ve kept going if he didn’t pass out, I bet.”

She sighs and steps forward, slipping on gloves. She moves to take off the bracelets around Shadow’s ankles and wrists before she does anything else since they’ll only be in the way. The moment her fingers touch them, though, Stone’s hand shoots out and pulls her back. Maddie rips her arm out of his hold, taking a step back with a glare.

“What the hell was that for,” she demands.

Stone glares back, pointing at the bracelets. “Those stay on, no matter what.”

Confused, she stares at the gold bands and the lone dark metal band, but she doesn’t understand their importance. Nor does she appreciate Stone grabbing her, and she rubs her wrist where he touched her. It isn’t like he hurt her, but it rattled her already fraught nerves, her heart trying to pound its way out of her chest.

“Why? They’re going to get in my way,” she argues.

“He needs them. They stay on,” he states, his voice hard.

Stone doesn’t elaborate further, so Maddie just nods to appease him. Fine, she didn’t expect this was going to be an easy evening anyways, but she points at him in warning. “Hands to yourself.”

Breathing slowly to calm herself down and lessen her growing agitation, she grabs scissors and starts cutting away the bandages. Heat radiates off of Shadow, and her palm grows steady from where it’s pressed against his abdomen lightly to keep him steady. A disturbed frown forms as she uncovers the burns on each limb, and she gasps aloud when she finally sees the stitches holding his chest together.

“Jesus,” she swears.

“Like I said, it’s bad,” Stone says, walking closer. “I’ve cleaned and treated the wounds as much as I can, but I don’t know if there’s any issues that aren’t superficial. I figure him being unconscious for most of the last three days isn’t a good sign, right?”

Maddie nods slowly, her voice strained. “Yeah, it isn’t good. G.U.N. did all of this?”

Stone scratches his face, his brow furrowing. “Not exactly.”

She waits for him to finish his thought, then sighs loudly when he doesn’t. He turns his frown to her, an eyebrow raised in a silent question. Remembering that she has to keep her hands clean to avoid creating infections is the only thing that keeps her from giving into her urge to throttle the man by the shoulders.

“Look, if you think I’m gonna spill all your secrets to G.U.N. or something, I would’ve hung up on you and done it then. But we’re here now, you brought me a patient, and I need to know everything that you know to help him. So can we be civil for a few hours?”

Stone’s brown eyes bore into her then study her face. She can hear her own exasperation, so Stone must hear it, too. He seems as tired as she is, his shoulders tight, but then they sag as he lets out a sigh. This is clearly difficult for both of them.

“He’s got a few burns and scrapes from when he fell through the atmosphere, nothing too bad, surprisingly. We were separated for some time, so I don’t know what G.U.N. did to him. I can guess that the stitches were from them, but the burns on his limbs were from his metal restraints.”

Maddie opens her mouth to ask a question, then pauses. Falling through the atmosphere wasn’t too bad? She pushes the thought away for later and asks, “How did the restraints burn him that badly? And what about the burns on his face?”

“They muzzled him,” Stone growls. Her heart freezes, looking into Stone’s eyes burning with fury. “This whole mess started ‘cause he lost a ring, and I told him I’d make him a new one. And the reason why his rings need to stay on is because they limit his power. G.U.N. scientists must be woefully incompetent because they took all of them off, so his power got to be too much for him to handle. Kid took out a whole base, that’s how strong his energy was. Shadow’s powers growing in strength were hurting him even before G.U.N. got to him, so I can’t imagine what it did to him completely uninhibited.

“His powers aren’t entirely stable though, even with four rings again,” Stone mutters. He rips his hat off, setting it to the side, and runs his fingers through his short hair, his mouth in a tight line. “Before he woke up, he had an outburst. I haven’t had time to check the new ring, but I’m assuming there’s a flaw with it.”

There’s a lot to process there, and her eyes drift from Stone’s worried visage to the dark ring he created. The man has been helping him that much? Protecting him, even from Maddie mistakenly trying to take off a ring?

“I don’t know if it’s the ring’s fault,” she suggests. Her eyes rake over Shadow, studying him and trying to understand him.

Stone turns to her with a skeptical look. “It has to be the ring. He never had these issues before.”

“How do the rings work? It doesn’t just turn them off completely, right?”

He nods. “They keep his chaos energy at a constant level that he can handle, and if he wants to use more he can take them off. Keeping them off is the problem, and if I hadn’t gotten to him when I did…”

Stone grits his teeth, and his hands drop to his side, fists clenching. His eyes are swimming with emotions, but Stone covers them up with a more casual expression before Maddie can figure him out. She’ll have time to prod it later, she reminds herself, and she takes a step towards Shadow, looking over his injuries.

“If it was that strong, turning his powers off doesn’t mean it got rid of it all,” she says with a shrug.

She picks up Shadow’s arm, the one with the darker ring, and gently prods the burn. The hedgehog doesn’t react, not even with a twitch of his face. She continues studying the rest of the burns, searching for the smaller injuries along his body as Stone talks.

“Actually, you might be right. It seemed like using his powers to fight eased some of the tension in his body. But it seemed like it hurt a lot when he passed out, but that could be from straining his injuries. His energy was stable last I checked about an hour ago, so he should be okay. I’m not holding my breath though.”

Humming in acknowledgement, Maddie chews on her lip as she considers her next course of action. The burns aren’t down to the bone, but they aren’t superficial either. Whatever Stone did to them before has kept them from getting an infection. Still, the charred skin needs to be cared for. And that giant incision, since she doubts it could be anything but an intentional cut, needs new stitches. For now, she should get his vitals and give him an IV drip for the pain.

She can’t take his pulse from his burned wrists, so her hand trails upwards to his neck. Her fingers press down against his artery, and a sudden blur of black grabs her shirt. It pulls her forwards with a startled gasp, keeping her inches away from Shadow’s very awake eyes.

Red slits stare back at her, his eyes as wide as they can go, his brows tilted downward in the most menacing expression she’s ever seen. She’s frozen to the spot, racking her brain on how to get out of this alive, and then Shadow yanks her to the side, sending her crashing into Stone. They both cry out at the sudden collision, but Stone catches her enough that they don’t go sprawling all over the floor.

Whipping her head back up, she can only watch as Shadow leaps upward, catching himself into a crouch on the operating table. He growls, leaping off, and promptly crashes into the wall head first. He slumps to the ground with a shout of pain, clutching his head with his claws digging into his fur.

Her and Stone glance at each other before walking forwards in tandem. It’s the wrong move, and Shadow’s eyes snap open, his mouth curling into a snarl. He removes one hand from his head to curl into a fist in front of him, sparks arcing across his fur. Maddie tries to take another step forwards, and Shadow’s eyes narrow onto her like a homing missile, warning her to stay back.

What can she do? Shadow is growling animalistically at them, his whole body vibrating with his chaos energy, and Maddie just feels completely inept. Why did she agree to this? She knows exactly what Shadow is capable of, and here she is risking her own skin and leaving her family alone at home.

Her family, who she’s already failed. They needed her, like Shadow needs her help now, and all she could do was sit in the ambulance and stare at her kids, not knowing what to say, or how to make it better in the shadow of the world’s impending doom, their father being carted off with EMTs scrambling to keep him alive, and all she does now is stand here, no longer the calm, collected mother her family expects her to be, and—

Deep, dark wine red blood splatters onto the ground, snapping her back to the crisis at hand. Shadow coughs violently, his chest convulsing and pulling his stitches even more. Blood drips down his chin in coagulated clumps as he scooches backwards frantically, slamming his back into the corner and rattling more blood out of his mouth onto the floor in front of him. His eyes are shut tight against the agony he must be feeling, and when he opens them again, they’re still narrowed into slits. The hedgehog’s body vibrates, shaking and sparking.

This time, Maddie recognizes the look in his glazed eyes for what it really is: fear.

Pure, uninhibited fear shines in his eyes, in the way he trembles, his hand clenching uselessly in a feeble attempt to protect himself. In that moment of Maddie realizing that Shadow is nothing but a scared kid—like Knuckles when he wakes up expecting danger, or Sonic when they go to the beach, or Tails during a thunderstorm—every drop of mistrust and apprehension vanishes from her. That dangerous, violent image of Shadow the Hedgehog she’s had in her head is gone, and it is so painfully easy to treat him like the kid he is.

Dropping to her knees, holding her hands out placatingly, Maddie eases her expression. She softens her voice as she leans back, away from Shadow, murmuring, “It’s okay, we aren’t going to hurt you.”

Shadow breathes in, his chest stuttering. His brow creases as he stares daggers at her, uncomprehending. His muzzle twitches into a snarl, flashing his bloody teeth. Her own eyes flit to Stone, but he just stands there, watching this unfold with bated breath.

“I’m sorry if I scared you.” She pushes forward. “I know you must be hurting a lot right now, and I want to help. I can’t do that if you don’t calm down though, so can you take a couple deep breaths for me?”

His eyes rove over her body, then scour the rest of the room. Shadow’s red eyes land on something behind her, and instead of calming down, his breathing speeds up until he’s hyperventilating. The hedgehog grabs his head with both hands, digging in deep, and she almost misses the blood springing forth from where his claws pierce his skin.

“Shadow, sweetie, take it one breath at a time,” she instructs gently.

But she can’t get through to him, and he grunts in pain and fear and breathlessness, panting roughly. Shadow is bleeding out in the corner, and she needs to think of something before he hurts himself more.

“Shadow.”

Her and Shadow both stare wide-eyed at Stone at his sudden exclamation. His expression is calm and collected, his voice hard. Maddie bats a hand in his direction as lightly and aggressively as she can while not further upsetting Shadow, but Stone ignores her warning to stride forwards confidently. He passes her and almost reaches the hedgehog before he tenses, and Stone stops himself and takes a step back, the tension disappearing as soon as it came. He kneels down before him, sitting criss-crossed, and his face softens slightly.

“Shadow.” The hedgehog’s ear twitches in recognition of his name, and Stone leans forward. “You gotta breathe.”

Stone’s voice is commanding and steady, a far cry from Maddie’s gentle coaxing, but it works. Shadow’s claws let go of their iron grip on his fur, and he tries to follow Stone’s order but coughs wetly. Some of the blood that spurts out lands on the man’s pants, but he doesn’t bat an eye at it. They maintain eye contact as Shadow struggles to regain control of his airways, Stone sitting quietly and slowing his own breathing for Shadow to match. It takes time, choked coughs hitting Shadow in waves and ruining his progress, but he eventually starts shifting away from the wall and closer to Stone.

“Shadow, you feeling better?” Stone asks, gentler now that Shadow seems to be more aware of his surroundings, his eyes less glazed over with terror.

“I—,” he’s cut off by his own throat, his voice scratchy and wet all at once, “Where…?”

“You’re at my clinic,” Maddie chimes in.

Shadow’s eyes fly to her, as if he forgot she was there. That fear that he tries to disguise with violence rears its head, his eyes flashing with sparks at her words.

“You’re a doctor,” he spits, like the word is poison. To him, and what little she knows about his past, it might be.

She nods slowly. “My name is Maddie, and I’m not the kind of doctor you’re probably imagining. I don’t treat people, so I mostly deal with—”

“Animals,” Shadow interrupts, his eyes hard.

Shoot, maybe that was a bad way to start things off. Maddie nods again as she thinks of what to say to smooth things over without shattering the tentative calm Shadow currently has. Calm isn’t the best descriptor, but he’s staying put and isn’t further hurting himself which is good enough for her.

“And you’re not an animal,” she assures him, her heart aching at the disbelieving look in his eyes, “so you might be wondering why Stone brought you to me. Well, I happen to have some experience with alien hedgehogs.”

Instead of the words alleviating some of his worries, Shadow bristles. Stone picks up on it and glances back at her, then turns back to Shadow. “And a fox and an echidna, but obviously Sonic is the relevant one.”

Maddie scrunches her face at the statement, not knowing how useful the information is. Shadow, though, scrunches his face as well. He finally takes his eyes off of Maddie for a second, looking at Stone like he’s speaking another language.

“Sonic…?”

“Maybe you didn’t catch his name in all the confusion. The blue hedgehog?” Maddie suggests.

Stone shakes his head firmly before Shadow can answer. “No, he knows his name. Shadow…do you not remember him?”

“I don’t…know.” The hedgehog clutches his head again with a groan. “It’s hard to think…”

“But you remember Stone?” Maddie asks. Shadow’s brow wrinkles, and he hesitates too long. A worried pit forms in her stomach, so she forces a comforting smile on her face. “Okay, that’s alright. What do you remember?”

Shadow’s quills raise defensively, his body tensing again. He places his hands underneath him, readying himself to try another escape attempt, but Stone reaches out to stop him with a gentle hand on his shoulder. Maddie waits with bated breath for the hedgehog to lash out at the contact. He does react to it, his quills flaring and relaxing, at war with each other. Shadow seems to not know how to react, his eyes flicking between the two humans rapidly as he assesses his situation. But he doesn’t reach for Stone or try to throw him off despite being agitated.

She watches Stone mull over something before he asks, “Shadow, you know your own name?”

The hedgehog gives a small nod at Stone’s question.

“Okay, good. And you seem to kinda remember me? Like I’m at least familiar to you?”

Another nod.

Stone lets out a heavy, relieved sigh. “Okay, okay. Look, I know this is a lot, but you’re not doing too hot right now. I think it’s safe to assume you’re in a lot of pain, and we’re here to help with that. We’ll figure out what’s going on with you, but to do that, Maddie’s gotta check you out.”

“Stone’s right, Shadow,” Maddie interjects. She shuffles a little closer, stopping just behind Stone’s shoulder when Shadow’s quills start to raise again. “I’d like to get you back up on that table and see what’s going on. I’m worried you have some internal bleeding, and we’ve gotta deal with that quickly. It’s gonna be uncomfortable, I won’t lie, but we have to do it. But I won’t hurt you, I promise. I’m going to tell you everything I’m doing, and you get to tell me whether you want to or not. There’s some things we’ll have to do, but we’ll go at your pace.”

The two guys both look surprised to hear it, but Shadow especially. His mouth opens and closes, his eyes roving over her and Stone, looking for where the lie is. It breaks her heart to see a kid in such rough shape, hurting and distrusting everyone around him. Whatever he’s been through, it’ll take a long time to recover.

“You make the decisions, kid,” Stone says softly.

Shadow ducks his head down, staring at the injuries littering his body. Then, he gently shrugs Stone’s hand off of him and tries to push himself up again. Stone and her both follow him up, the man trying to help him up, but the hedgehog is stubborn. He refuses any assistance, standing on wobbly legs, his claws digging into the wall to keep him up. Shadow tilts dangerously to one side, and Stone wraps an arm around him.

“Do what you must,” Shadow mutters, like all of the fight has been drained out of him.

The adults glance nervously at each other, but Shadow slowly makes his way over to the operating table, Stone at his side. Shadow attempts to pull himself up onto it, but he grimaces when he puts too much pressure on his left arm. Stone rolls his eyes and scoops the hedgehog up before Shadow can protest, setting him down gently on the table. Shadow glares at him as he cradles his injured arm, but Stone is unphased by it.

Maddie walks away for a second to grab a small flashlight. Shadow watches her warily, so she holds it up for him to examine.

“Okay, first, I wanna know how your head is feeling and see how you respond to light. I’m going to point this into your eyes, so keep them open and looking right at me. Does that sound good?”

Shadow blinks, and he doesn’t respond. Maddie waits, and Shadow’s ear flicks irritably. Slowly, he asks, “What are you waiting for?”

Maddie has to hold back a sigh. “I told you, I won’t do anything unless you say it’s okay. So, can I go ahead?”

He nods, his mouth parted in surprise. Maddie goes ahead and checks his vision, giving him instructions and waiting until Shadow remembers that he has to decide. She tests his hearing and reaction time, and slowly Shadow starts to understand that she really meant it. While Shadow is giving her permission, he sits limply on the table, too compliant. But he’s visibly upset and stressed, and Maddie is starting to worry that Shadow is just agreeing because he thinks he has to.

As much as she wants to stop and wait for him to truly understand that he has a choice, he coughs again, doubling over as more blood trickles from the corners of his mouth. Stone disappears and returns with some tissues. He tries to dab at Shadow’s face, but the hedgehog snatches it out of his hand and does it himself. The man lets him, but he watches him carefully.

Maddie elbows Stone to gain his attention. “Don’t even try to touch his blood with your hand injured like that. If you’re gonna help, go wash up and put gloves on. Actually, I’ll need a second pair of hands, so make sure you scrub your arms good.”

“And what exactly do you want me to do?” Stone asks.

“Well, first I’d like to get an x-ray to know what’s going on inside him. It doesn’t look like he has a concussion, so I’m not sure what’s causing the memory loss right now. But his internal bleeding is gonna be our big focus in a bit, and I figured you could handle fetching things for me.”

Stone huffs a laugh. “Yeah, I think I can be an errand boy for a bit. An x-ray won’t work though, his powers will get in the way.”

“Really? Well, then we’ll just have to go right into dealing with the bleeding.”

On the table, Shadow continues to watch her every movement as she runs around the room, grabbing supplies. His focus is remarkably good for how disoriented he seems, and his reaction time is only slightly delayed as his red eyes trail after her. The constant staring does unnerve her, but she can’t fault him for it, not after seeing him look so undone. It’s becoming harder and harder for her to think of him as the same person who tried to destroy the planet not even a month ago.

It goes to show how quickly things can change and fall apart.

“Shadow,” she calls out. His ears twitch and swivel towards her. “I think the best way to do this is to use the incision you already have, so I’m going to go in and try to clean up any blood. I want to give you a sedative so that you’re out during the procedure—”

“No.”

Maddie stops searching for the sedative and turns with a small frown. “What?”

Shadow glares at her, his entire body trembling and sparking. “No.”

Stone stops scrubbing his hands and looks at Shadow in disbelief. “Shadow, it’s not going to be something you want to be awake for. I think being knocked out for it is the best choice.”

“No. I am not being put to sleep again,” he snarls back, eyes alight and threatening.

The hedgehog shifts, his legs swinging as if he’s going to start running, and Stone holds up his hands placatingly. Shadow glares at them, gnashing his teeth, and the man frowns at him. Their stalemate lasts for a few tense moments, both of them ready to leap into action the moment one of them decides to move. This isn’t a productive use of their time, but Maddie really does not want to operate on an awake, jumpy hedgehog. The mere idea stresses her out, imaging all the ways she could make things worse if Shadow so much as twitches.

But Stone, like he’s been doing a lot tonight, huffs angrily and then gives up. “Will you at least take some painkillers to make it easier?”

Shadow thinks on it, still glaring distrustfully at the man, but then nods.

Maddie shakes her head. “I don’t know if you being awake is a good idea, Shadow. I could—”

Stone is across the room standing next to her in a blink of an eye. Maddie frowns at him scoldingly, but the man just shakes his head. His dark chocolate eyes are hard and determined, commanding her with a stare alone. She freezes under his conviction, and Stone shakes his head firmly.

“I don’t think we’re winning this one,” Stone whispers. “And besides, he’s been through plenty of surgeries awake before. Let’s just get it over with quick.”

Wordlessly, because Maddie can feel the sick, burning sensation of bile climbing up her throat, she moves on with a horrified nod. Shadow’s gaze is an ever-present feeling in the background, and when Stone moves away from her, she plasters a tight smile on her face.

“Okay, no sedative.”

She hates how relieved Shadow is at her words, his body practically sagging as he lays down obediently on the table. No one had told him to. She wonders how many times it’s happened before to become a routine. A routine that he follows despite wanting to do nothing but run.

Well, she’ll just have to be quick. Squaring her shoulders, she grabs an IV bag and the medications she needs. Guesstimating drug dosages usually isn’t good practice, but there’s no time to waste getting his height and weight. Using Sonic’s, she lowers the dosage a smidge so that she doesn’t overdose the poor kid. Shadow handles the needle smoothly, completely unbothered by it, and it’s just another difference between him and Sonic in the books.

“Shadow, try to stay as still as you can. If it’s hard, let us know, and Stone can step in to help keep you steady. I’m going to clean out the blood and stem the bleeding if I can. Ready?”

She waits until his nod of understanding to begin. Maddie narrates everything she does, from removing every sloppy stitch to grabbing her tools. Shadow trembles lightly, clearly holding himself back from ruining her work, as she opens up the incision to get at his organs. The mess that greets her isn’t surprising, and she hisses in surprise at how bad it is. Stone looks uncomfortable, but he holds it together. Shadow, on the other hand, watches her with frighteningly dull eyes. As if this is an average day for him, being torn open and at the mercy of someone he barely knows with his vital organs.

As quickly and carefully as she can, she sops up the blood. Her mind wanders as she uncovers more and more about him the longer she works. How some parts of him are already scarred over, from injuries old and new. How she can’t find a source for the bleeding, searching high and low but finding nothing ruptured or actively making it worse. As if whatever caused it is already healed over. But she also finds shapes she’s never seen before, organs that are unrecognizable to her, even though she’s used to working on many different species.

The thought lingers in the back of her head as she stitches him back up. She works extra carefully to ensure the stitches are secure and neat, then she changes course to look at his limbs. She pops his shoulder back into place after realizing it’s dislocated, apologizing when Shadow grunts in pain, and continues on to his burns. It’s difficult to work around his rings, constantly needing to move them up and down his arms, and she eventually has enough and makes Stone move them for her as she removes crisped skin.

She touches up all of his more minor injuries, from the small first degree burns scattered around him to the blisters and sores on his feet. He helps her wrap Shadow in gauze practically from head to toe, and Maddie cuts specialized strips of gauze for the burns on his face so that he isn’t actually wrapped up like a mummy. It leaves white stripes curving around his muzzle, and then she sets Shadow’s arm in a sling to take some weight off of his recovering shoulder. With that, Shadow is officially taken care of.

Maddie walks over to the hazards disposal bins and tosses her gloves and mask in, then leans against the wall with an exhausted sigh. She scrubs her face, rubbing her fingers into her tired eyes. That only took…about an hour. It would have been easier if there was anyone other than Stone to help her, but he did a good job of predicting what tools she would need and when, leaving her very appreciative for his help.

Forcing her head back up, Shadow is staring at the ceiling with half-lidded eyes. God, he’s been through the ringer, and he’s somehow still awake. Maddie had almost hoped that he would’ve passed out during it, just to spare him from living through something so horrible, but Shadow remained resolute in not going to sleep.

Still by his side, Stone is speaking to him softly, too softly that Maddie can’t hear it from her spot against the wall. He removes his bloodied gloves, tossing them next to the dirty tools, and reaches a hand out to rest in Shadow’s quills. His hand cards through them once, comfortingly, but the hedgehog starts to open his eyes more, regaining awareness. Stone pulls his hand away immediately and retreats backwards a few steps.

With a tired grunt, Maddie forces herself to walk back over. “How are you feeling, Shadow?”

“Fine,” he replies, his throat still gritty.

“You thirsty? I think you could try a couple sips of water and see how you handle it.”

Stone jabs a thumb over his shoulder, perking up. “I’ll go grab it.”

Maddie nods her head to the right. “Go to the right of the welcome desk, and there’s a kitchenette. Can’t miss it.”

He exits the room quickly, and Maddie frowns after him. Shadow, who has kept his eyes on Maddie almost entirely throughout the night, is suddenly watching Stone go with a strange expression. It dawns on her that she and the hedgehog are alone together for the first time, and the thoughts that have been swirling in her head ever since she got that call from Stone burst out of her.

“Shadow, do you remember how you got hurt?” Maddie asks gently.

Shadow rips his gaze from the doorway to meet hers, and he hums concomitantly. “It’s…fuzzy.”

“Do you…do you remember if Stone ever hurt you?”

“No,” Shadow answers immediately. He glares at her, as confident in his answer as he was when he refused the sedative. “He’s been…he’s done more for me than he should have.”

His tone worries her, but Maddie doesn’t have time to prod before Stone is entering the room again and ushering Shadow into a sitting position. The hedgehog takes a tentative sip, smacking his mouth and licking his teeth to clean them of blood. It seems to settle well in his stomach, so Maddie lets him take a few more before he’s lying down again.

“I think you’re all good for now, but I’m gonna let you get some rest in here while I clean up. You did a really good job,” she assures him, giving him a soft smile.

His ears fold back against his head, as if embarrassed or bashful, but he nods. “I’m sorry for the inconvenience, Doctor.”

She pouts playfully. “None of that formal stuff, just Maddie is okay…or, if that’s too hard, Mrs. Wachowski is fine?”

“Sorry, Mrs. Wachowski,” he amends.

She smiles sadly, finding herself suddenly overwhelmed with a lot of emotions. For all that she just put him through, he still feels the need to apologize to her. His politeness is as endearing as it is devastating.

“Nothing to be sorry about, baby. I’m just glad I could help.”

Gathering her dirtied tools, she makes a quick exit. It takes a lot out of her to not collapse to the ground in an exhausted heap and just sleep here tonight, but she drags herself to the sink and dumps everything in with a clang. Bracing herself against the metal tub, her hands gripping the edges until her knuckles turn pale, she lets her collected expression crumple into one of anguish.

God. God, what did G.U.N. do to that kid?

“Yeah, I figured you’d be exhausted.” Maddie jumps, turning around to see Stone wearing a lopsided, tired smirk. “Go sit, I can clean up.”

“But you don’t—”

“I know enough, go sit. Least I can do.”

Reluctantly, Maddie drops down into a chair with a yawn. She stretches her back out, then slumps against the backing of the chair. It feels good to sit, but her body is still buzzing with nervous energy. She watches Stone’s back as he sanitizes her tools, surprisingly doing it correctly. They sit in silence for a few minutes before Maddie finds herself rambling.

“You know, he’s different from my boys.”

Stone hums confusedly. “Different how?”

“His biology. I took MRIs of the kids in case they ever got hurt. Guess it came in handy now. Obviously, the kids are kinda different species, but I thought he would be very similar to Sonic. They have practically the same stuff as us other than certain organs being different sizes, but Shadow…it wasn’t like anything I’ve ever seen.”

He turns off the sink and turns to her with a raised eyebrow. “Even from Sonic? I mean, I wondered since they have different powers, but…he’ll be alright though?”

“Oh, yes. I did everything I’m capable of, but it looked like he already started healing. I couldn’t find where the internal bleeding was stemming from. Is that—”

“A thing he can do? Yeah, he has accelerated healing. It wasn’t working with his ring gone, so I was worried about it. That’s…that’s good though,” Stone trails off, mulling over something. “Oh yeah, he’s been shedding quills a lot? You happen to know anything about that?”

Maddie actually laughs. Why, she doesn’t know, and Stone looks at her judgmentally. She waves a hand as she tries to stop, but she can’t help herself. “Sorry, sorry. It’s just such a simple problem, I guess I wasn’t expecting something that easy. He’s just stressed.”

Stone huffs his own laugh, shaking his head. “Okay, yeah, I should’ve figured that out on my own.

“You were stressed, too.” Maddie shrugs, smiling still. “With some rest and some food in him, he’ll be back to a full head of quills in no time.”

He nods in understanding, turning back to the sink. Quickly, he polishes off the tools and sets them to soak in a sanitizing bin. Stone wipes his hands on his pants to dry them then drops down in his own chair, leaving a space open between them. He matches her posture beat for beat, slumping down with a sigh. With time to think, Maddie can see that he looks as exhausted as her, if not more.

They sit together, taking a much needed breather. The quiet is nice compared to her lively house, and she finds herself closing her eyes. She’s too tired to imagine scenarios of Stone whipping out a weapon to point at her head, finally giving up and trusting that he really meant it. If he really wanted to hurt her, he would have let Shadow do it.

“I think you should take Shadow.”

She shoots up out of her seat, her ponytail whipping her face from turning too quickly to stare at Stone. He isn’t looking at her, but his brow is set into a resolved look. Her mouth is agape in shock, and confusion and dread swirl in her chest.

“Woah, where is this coming from?!”

Stone wrings his hands together. “You’ve already got three of ‘em. I know he’s kind of…jumpy, but he’s a good kid behind it all. He’ll adjust in time.”

There’s a million reasons to say no, but the first one she blurts out, “He almost killed my husband.”

“What? When?” Stone asks, turning to her in shock now.

“G.U.N. headquarters. It was…it was bad,” she says in a rush.

Stone, surprisingly, looks guilty. “Shit, that’s…a lot was happening then, I had no clue. Wait, he almost killed him, but you still did all of this to help him?”

Maddie huffs. She unties her ponytail and cards through her hair anxiously. When she’s ready enough to continue this insane conversation, she snaps her hair up in a low ponytail, brushing away a few strays she missed.

“‘Cause it was the right thing to do,” she sighs. “I couldn’t just leave him to die. And I don’t know why I said that, it’s not why I won’t take him.”

“Okay, then why?”

“Because he trusts you.”

Stone rears back, shocked. He stares at her, uncomprehendingly, then scoffs loudly. “Yeah, okay.”

Maddie sends him her most unimpressed stare. “Seriously? I know you’re not an idiot, it’s clear as day.”

“Prove it,” he challenges, crossing his arms.

All night, the pieces have been adding up, watching the two of them. She surprised herself, saying that Shadow trusts him. Maybe Maddie hadn’t put it together coherently until now, but it’s so obvious to her now. And for an observant man like Stone, it must be blinding to him.

“Shadow didn’t take his eyes off of me all night, like he was waiting for me to do something. I couldn’t calm him down or help him if you weren’t there. I don’t think someone like Shadow lets just anyone get close to him while he’s hyperventilating, do you?”

She watches Stone try to deny it, lifting a finger to argue and then dropping back against his seat. “He’s confused and delirious, that doesn’t—that doesn’t prove anything.”

Maddie rolls her eyes at his stubbornness. “Sure. I won’t even mention how much you obviously care about him if you wanna be this oblivious.”

He glares at her, but she doesn’t shy away from it. She glares right back, waiting for him to give in because she knows she’s right. His attachment was clear the moment he called her eighteen times until she picked up and agreed to helping him. If she had waited any longer, she thinks—no, she knows he would’ve called her all night.

“I get it, it’s hard at first. But he trusts you, and you care about him. It doesn’t seem like enough to get you through it, but that trust goes a long way,” she says earnestly.

Still frowning deeply, Stone turns away from her and drops his hand in his lap. The bandaged one clenches into a fist, over and over, and Maddie wonders what’s on his mind. He won’t tell her because they don’t know each other. Because they’ve both been on opposite sides of a years-long fight, and that won’t go away with one strenuous evening.

“Shadow seems tough, he’ll be okay,” Maddie comforts anyways. It’s just who she is.

That rings a smile out of Stone, proud and fond and worried all at once. “Yeah, he is tough. You took work off tomorrow, right?”

“I wish. I’m the only one on staff for the next few weeks,” she grumbles. “Never enough funding, you know?”

Stone winces sympathetically. “Yikes. We’ll get out of your hair in a few if you think Shadow’s ready to go.”

“It’s fine, I needed to do this.” Maddie hesitates as the two adults stand, biting her lip, but she’s too tired to be shy now. “It might be good if you two could stick close by for a while, just in case he needs help again.”

Stone’s eyes widen, but he shakes his head with an apologetic frown. “Not with G.U.N. still looking for him. Staying in one place is a bad idea.”

They walk to the operating room where Shadow is laying down, his eyes closed. His breathing isn’t exactly even, but he’s at least getting some rest. Her body relaxes, seeing him in a more comfortable state, but the sight of nothing but white against the mostly black hedgehog churns her stomach. Beside her, Stone seems to be feeling the same, his face pinched in concern.

“He’s just getting some much needed rest. Don’t let him get into any fights or strain himself,” she instructs quietly, not wanting to disturb Shadow.

He nods and carefully picks Shadow up, cradling him against his chest. She’s done the same thing too many times to count, carrying tired kids from the car or the couch and up to their beds. Stone walks out and back to his car, Maddie trailing after him and opening the door for him. He sets Shadow down like he’s a fragile glass statue, then shuts the car door behind him as quietly as he can.

Stone watches Shadow, even behind the window, and Maddie has the petty urge to say I told you so. But she’s an adult and a mother of three, so she doesn’t. Even if she’s well within her rights to. When Stone finally turns back to her, he narrows his eyes at her, as if reading her thoughts. Maddie pointedly keeps her mouth shut as she returns his gun, only a little tense. He takes it and puts it back in his holster without issue.

“Sorry for the trouble,” he says sincerely.

Maddie laughs quietly. “You know, Shadow said the same thing. How about a thank you instead?”

He stares at her, his eyes swimming with a fondness not meant for her, then shakes his head with a bemused grin.

“Thank you, Maddie. I won’t see you around, as promised.”

“I don’t think I’d mind if you didn’t keep that promise.”

Stone pauses, halfway into the driver’s seat. “Well…we’ll see.”

Her maybe-former enemy climbs into his car and drives away without another word. She watches him go, hoping that he manages to avoid all the potholes in the road for Shadow’s sake. It’s a silly parting thought, but she’s exhausted, her mind isn’t all there right now.

She groans and reenters the building, shutting off the lights and ensuring everything is clean before she locks up again. Clambering into her car, she drives homes. Then she sneaks into her house, kicking off her shoes lazily like Sonic does. She’s half awake as she splashes cold water on her face, not having the energy to do her whole skincare routine at this hour. Maddie slips into her pajamas and bonnet and drops into bed.

Maybe dropping wasn’t the right idea because Tom wakes up with a choked snore, turning his head blearily to look at her. She winces in the dark, placing a hand against his chest to encourage him to settle back. Typically, Tom will pass out again instantly, but nothing about today is typical. So of course Tom sits up, eyeing her in concern.

“Babe, you alright?”

Maddie pats his chest. “Yeah, let’s go back to sleep, I’m exhausted.”

Tom brings his hand up to her face, rubbing his thumb under her eye. “You’re crying.”

She goes to argue that it’s just water from when she was freshening up, but her husband’s touch overwhelms her. Everything she’s been bottling up since she saw her son crouched over her husband in anguish breaks free. Maddie crumples into his one armed hold and bawls. His shirt muffles it, but she’s so terrified it will wake one of the kids.

Tom kisses her temple, mumbling tired and sweet assurances into her ear. Desperately, she tries to stop crying, but it’s impossible to stop. The tears flow and flow without any sign of slowing down. She attempts every trick in the book she knows from yoga, every breathing exercise and meditation she can think of, and none of them work. She gives up and lets herself have this, shakily wrapping her arms around Tom. She can’t break him more, not after she couldn’t do a thing for him in the hospital.

Once the hiccups start, she leans away and covers her face, wiping away the drying tears. Tom rests his hand on the small of her back and rubs gentle circles.

“Don’t even try to apologize about crying, Maddie,” he warns in a whisper. “Now, wanna tell me what’s been bothering you these last few days?”

She nods and delves into everything. From Stone’s call, her and Sonic’s talk, and everything tonight. And he listens, like the perfect husband he is, with a concerned wrinkle in his brow, waiting until she’s done to even try to comment. Maddie isn’t even sure it makes any sense, but at the end, she breathes a shaky sigh and scrubs her face again to catch the stray tears.

“Okay,” Tom says simply. His sleep-addled brain is clearly playing catch up, and they sit in silence for a moment. “So, Agent Stone is a dad now?”

The blunt question is enough to startle a shocked gasp out of Maddie. “Tom! I just told you Shadow is alive, and that’s all you have to say?”

“Right, good point, but I’m not wrong. Kid’s doing okay though?”

Maddie nods with a worried pout. “Yeah, he’s alright. Aren’t you…mad at me?”

“Why would I be mad?” Tom asks genuinely.

She bites her lip. “Because I helped them and risked our family’s safety to do it? Because I didn’t tell you? Because Shadow almost killed—,” her breath hitches, tears springing to her eyes again, “—because he did kill you!”

That terrifying, impossibly long five minutes where she could hear doctors frantically trying to resuscitate her husband will haunt her forever. She remembers how her heart stopped when his did, and the only thought in her head was how she could explain this to her children. If he had gotten to the hospital any later, they had told her, it would have been too late.

Maddie furiously brushes away more tears, then places her hand cautiously over Tom’s beating heart. She shudders as it pulses, reminding her that it hadn’t been too late, and her husband is alive and recovering and should be very mad at her. Tom’s larger hand covers hers, pushing it further against his chest. She tries to pull back, but he holds her firmly. Hesitantly, she looks up to meet his eyes, and his gaze is nothing but concerned and sweet. His heart pounds against his chest as if his pulse is telling her to stop worrying over the worst case scenarios.

“It’s funny,” Tom says slowly, a lilted smile on his face. “I think I might be the only one who isn’t mad at Shadow for what he did. I mean, he didn’t even know it was me. And if G.U.N. really did do all of that to him, can’t blame him for wanting to get a good hit into Walters.”

Maddie frowns at him, not understanding. “What do you mean he didn’t know it was you?”

Now Tom looks confused. “Didn’t I tell you guys? I still had Tails’ hologram on. He thought I was Walters.”

The new knowledge makes her falter, and any remaining anger at Shadow for what he did turns to a conflicted mush in her brain. Her head drops onto Tom’s shoulder with a soft moan, sighing contentedly as his arm wraps around her again.

“Is it bad if I’m not mad at him either?” Maddie asks, waiting as if Tom giving her permission will make it all better.

“No, I think that’s just who we are. Besides, I think he already got enough karma for it,” Tom tries to joke. Unfortunately, it works, and a small smile breaks out. “So stop beating yourself up for doing the right thing, he needed your help. Still can’t quite believe it was Stone who was with him, though. I really thought the only thing that guy cared about was Robotnik.”

“Hm, I don’t know, he really was fretting over Shadow like you do with the kids.” She ignores Tom’s quiet complaint to continue with a shrug. “I don’t know if he’s done with the whole evil thing or not, or if he wants to change at all, but they seemed…good for each other. I think they both needed someone after everything that happened.”

Tom opens his mouth to respond, but Maddie accidentally cuts him off with a massive yawn, her jaw cracking. Her husband chuckles fondly and pecks her on the lips. “How about you get some sleep before work in the morning, and we can talk about this more tomorrow?”

Gratefully, she nods, and she’s out before Tom can even finish wishing her goodnight.

Maddie trudges into work the next morning still exhausted, but she’s very glad that Tom forced the kids to eat cereal this morning so that she could get an extra half an hour to rest before dealing with the day. What would she do without him?

She enters the door, yawning, but her body jolts to attention when she sees her entire meager staff staring with wide eyes and jaws slack at the monitor behind the welcome desk. They wave her over frantically, telling her to hurry, and Maddie starts to worry. Did Shadow get caught on a camera? Did she not do a good enough job cleaning up last night?

As she rounds the desk, nothing prepares her for the email on the screen. She gasps, leaning over their secretary to read beyond the massive two million dollar donation. It’s completely anonymous, and her staff is screaming in her ear excitedly, the vet techs jumping up and down and already imagining all of the things they could do with the money. But Maddie sees the message attached, barely noticeable beside the life changing amount of money on the screen.

All the message says is: Thanks again.

Maddie was right. Stone and Shadow are good for each other.

Chapter Text

“I’m sorry for the inconvenience, Doctor.”

The woman frowns, and Shadow regrets speaking up. It feels like a lesson he has to learn over and over again, and he can never get it right. Why has he misspoke so many times? Why is he incapable of acting normally?

“None of that formal stuff, just Maddie is okay…or, if that’s too hard, Mrs. Wachowski is fine?”

Her words trip him up, and his ears try to retreat into his skull. “Sorry, Mrs. Wachowski.”

“Nothing to be sorry about, baby. I’m just glad I could help.”

Mrs. Wachowski smiles as she gathers her equipment and exits the room. He watches her until she disappears, but his ears swivel to follow her until he can hear a sink turning on. Metal clangs against metal, startling him, but nothing happens. The noise stays where Mrs. Wachowski is, and nothing comes for him.

Why is he waiting for something? Why does it feel so bad?

The white ceiling blurs as his vision unfocuses. He has a sickening feeling of deja vu, staring into bright lights as people talk amongst themselves and leave him to his own devices on a table. He isn’t even an afterthought, just something to be forgotten about. It’s as hazy as Shadow feels now, his senses overwhelmed with light and a constant ache in every part of him. His body is begging him to sleep, but he can’t. Not here, not now, and never again.

“Shadow, you should get some sleep.”

Shadow slowly turns his gaze to…Stone. “No.”

Wait, he shouldn’t talk back. He shouldn’t disobey or—no, that isn’t right either. There are no orders to follow; it’s just a suggestion. A suggestion that he won’t follow, even if the idea of disobeying almost outweighs his visceral fear of falling asleep.

Stone frowns at him, and Shadow turns away. The man sighs, and Shadow has the feeling he’s done something wrong. Again. But he can’t look at him, not for long.

“Look, Shadow…,” Stone trails off, then sighs again. “Get some rest at least. I’m gonna go help Maddie clean up.”

And he starts leaving the room. Stone’s hand trails against the door, and Shadow’s breath hitches. He’s going to be locked in, trapped and alone, and he’ll have to bust through the door or a wall. Stone’s hand only trails against the door, the door not even moving an inch from where it was resting.

The smell of antiseptic clings to his nostrils, making it so that he can’t shake the tension from his body. He’s wound up tight, his vision blurring again making it seem like the walls are closing in around him. His heart stutters, even though he knows the door is open, that he can leave whenever he wants, that he can teleport and get away from here.

Shadow groans, bringing the hand that isn’t immobilized by a sling up to rub his forehead. It pounds against his skull in tandem with his racing heart. Every time his mouth moves it pulls on the burns on the bridge of his snout, but it’s more uncomfortable than painful. None of the pain he feels now compares to…whatever it was he had gone through to get these injuries. The memory eludes him, but he knows it’s there.

He’s brought out of his thoughts by Stone’s voice in the other room. He can hear them. Every beat of their hearts. The rustling of their clothes as they shift. Their shoes against linoleum.

Their words.

Shadow listens, wide-eyed, as they talk about him. Like people always do, as if he isn’t right there, fully able to understand everything they say. He grimaces as they keep going, and he flattens his ears as far as they can go. He can’t tune them out, and he can’t fall asleep, and he can’t stop the sting of rejection that assaults him.

Stone asking to be rid of him. Mrs. Wachowski’s staunch, immediate refusal. Their following contradictory statements, speaking like they care about his well being. That isn’t…that can’t be right.

The thought that hits him as he glares at the ceiling is that Mrs. Wachowski is right about one thing: he does trust Stone. Shadow only knows that his face is familiar, his voice as confident and firm as it must be in his locked memories, and that his touch is a balm for his panic. That isn’t all he feels about the man, though, but his head screams at him and jumbles everything together until even his own body is wrong to him.

Maybe it always has been, if he isn’t even like the other hedgehog like Mrs. Wachowski said.

Footsteps sound in the hallway, and Shadow hurries to close his eyes. His breathing is ragged and will give away that he was eavesdropping, so he keeps his eyes glued shut as they enter the room again. Shadow has to stay still, pretending to be asleep. They don’t like it when he listens to them or is awake when he shouldn’t be.

His chest stutters. Who is they? Why does he feel so strongly, yet he can’t name the emotion or where it originates from? His memories are on the edge of his consciousness, not missing, but it isn’t enough to get them back.

Arms surround him, and his body reacts. Something in his chest begs him to use it, to let it out, to break free from his hold and tear whatever dared to touch him to shreds.

But it’s just Stone. The man is very efficient, and he lifts him seamlessly without jostling his injuries. Shadow’s head settles against his shoulder, Stone’s heartbeat filling his ears. His calloused hands hold him strong, reassuring that Shadow won’t be dropped.

And then as soon as it happened, Stone is setting him on top of cool leather and pulls his hands away. The lack of touch is good, it is, but Shadow misses the warmth. When the door shuts on him, leaving him alone inside, he burrows his face into the leather backing and forces himself to breathe.

A different door opens, and Shadow subtly shifts his head to see Stone enter the car, stopping halfway.

“Well…we’ll see,” Stone says to Mrs. Wachowski.

Then he closes the door and turns the ignition. Right, they’re in a car, and Stone pulls away onto the road. Shadow shuts his eyes again, unable to properly see through the windows and finding no point in it. There’s also the underlying need to not get caught pretending to be asleep, but he shakes the thought away and furrows his brow to keep his eyes shut tight.

“Shadow?”

In his attempt to stay still, Shadow shifts too much, and his quills brush audibly against the seat. Damn it, now he won’t be able to ignore Stone.

Stone sighs, his voice exhausted. “Didn’t mean to wake you. You comfortable back there?”

Shadow considers not responding and just closing his eyes again, but he reluctantly mutters, “Yes.”

He shifts until he faces the front. Houses pass by in a blur, spaced apart so much that Shadow starts to wonder where they are if houses are so remote. He does his best not to meet Stone’s gaze in the rearview mirror, apprehensive to see what he’ll find. Stone doesn’t let him avoid it and turns his head fully when they reach a stop sign.

“Are you…,” Stone purses his lips, thinking. “Let me know if you need something?”

“Mm.”

Stone must recognize that Shadow gave him a non-answer, but he doesn’t push. The man turns back around and drives again.

“Okay,” he sighs. “I think the both of us could use some sleep—I know I need it—so I’m gonna find somewhere to stop for the night. I’d get food, but there’s not really late night options in the middle of Montana.”

Montana. So that’s where they are. Clearly, Stone had driven him here, but Shadow can’t remember from where. His lack of knowledge is as frustrating as it is surprisingly familiar, as if this is what he’s experienced most of his life.

Something suddenly appears in his vision, and he blinks at it. Stone’s arm is twisted backwards and holding out a green bag. Narrowing his eyes to clear his vision, the words printed on it become visible.

It’s full of coffee beans.

“Figured you might want a snack at least,” Stone says, jiggling the bag.

Shadow reaches out and takes it from the bottom, avoiding touching Stone’s hand at the top. The man doesn’t say anything about it and returns his attention to driving. All he does is hold it next to his chest, finding it impossible to open. His emotions swirl in a confused mess in his head, making his headache even worse.

He stifles a groan and closes his eyes. The rumble of the car mixes with the whistling of the wind sliding past the car, tempting Shadow to keep his eyes closed and sleep. Now with nothing to keep his focus on, no longer suddenly in an unfamiliar area with his body screaming that danger surrounded him on all sides, the exhaustion from staying constantly alert and on edge is hitting him full force.

The aroma of the coffee at his side keeps him just awake enough to be hungry, but his limbs don’t want to respond, lethargy dragging him down. Antiseptic still clings to him and his nose, but there’s something else he smells like, something floral. He can’t remember its name when he thinks about it, but someone had shown it to him before. Shadow likes it, and it calms him further now that he can pinpoint it.

But the smell that actually finally lulls him to sleep covers Stone and his clothes, the smell of his cologne sharp and warm.

Metal pokes him lightly, but it’s more than enough to rouse Shadow from his unexpected sleep. He jumps up and swipes at the offender, his claws tearing through metal. The sound grates on his ears so badly that he stops defending himself to cover his ears, growling at the white blob before him.

“Damn it, what did I tell you about not bothering him?”

Shadow swivels his head to stare at Stone. The man is on top of a bed, his back pressed up against the headboard and his legs stretched out and crossed over each other. Something lays open on Stone’s lap. It takes a moment of concentration to remember that it’s a laptop.

Stone sets the laptop aside and stands. Shadow instinctively prepares himself to be disciplined, but Stone’s annoyed frown isn’t aimed towards him. He shoves a floating white thing off to the side, poking it aggressively.

“I said no touching even if it was an emergency. Now you’re going to need maintenance again,” Stone scolds.

He tilts the…robot side to side, and Shadow sees the deep scratches he caused, long and jagged metal showing how hard he swung. The robot stares at Shadow, and he ducks his head to avoid its gaze. Adrenaline pumps through his heart, so Shadow keeps his eyes trained on his own hands.

“Sorry, Shadow, this one has a mind of its own sometimes. You okay?”

Honestly, no, he isn’t okay. His body is still warring with his fight or flight instinct, keeping his limbs tense and in pain as it strains his injuries, but Shadow has to be ready for anything. However, with Stone’s eyes trained on him, his brows creased in…worry of some sort, his brain wants him to calm down.

Shadow doesn’t know what he wants to do, though. If he wants to tackle the man he barely knows and jump through a window and just run until he can’t anymore, or if he wants to bury himself under the covers of the bed he can’t remember ever getting into.

Stone had to have carried him in, like he did at Mrs. Wachowski’s clinic. The bedding pools in Shadow’s lap, and his hands trail across the scratchy comforter in fascination. Stone brought him in, somehow not waking him nor activating Shadow’s defenses, and tucked him under the blankets. That’s…Shadow doesn’t know how to feel about that, whether he should be horrified that his defenses are so weak that he couldn’t wake up when someone moved him to an entirely different location or embarrassed that Stone had to do it at all.

The man sits on the edge of the bed, close enough to be within arm’s distance of any part of the hedgehog, including all of his weak points. Shadow shuffles back reactively, the quills on his head pressing against the headboard. Stone freezes, his hand in the air as if he was going to reach out to him, but he pulls it away and clasps his hands together loosely.

“So you’re not okay,” Stone says plainly.

Shit, he didn’t respond. Shadow furrows his brow. “I’m fine.”

“I don’t really believe that, but sure, we’ll go with that for now. How are your injuries doing?”

“They’re fine.”

Stone gives him a long, unimpressed look that shakes a memory loose in Shadow’s head. Days and weeks of learning what responses were correct, what he should and shouldn’t say. Shadow isn’t giving Stone the results that he wants. He can sense the man’s frustration, and it reminds Shadow that Stone is a man of science. He knows these types of men too well. He knows their expectations, too.

“Is anything bothering you? Feeling better, feeling worse?” Stone prods.

Shadow stops to take stock of his body, actually taking Stone’s pestering into consideration. Ignoring the fading stress from being woken up, everything seems better compared to the last time he woke up. Even after having his chest ripped open, he feels lighter, the aches and soreness easing.

Reluctantly, he replies, “Slightly better.”

The man’s shoulders slump as he sighs, nodding. “Okay, that’s a good sign. Let’s hope it stays that way. Now, time for the harder question: How’s your memory?”

“It’s…,” Shadow trails off, looking for the words and looking for his memories. He scrunches his face in concentration until it hurts, then his face falls. “I know there’s something there, but it’s…hard to access. I don’t know how else to describe it.”

Stone hums in concentration. His hand reaches out, raising up to touch Shadow’s head. Shadow shifts to the side to avoid it just as Stone pulls his hand away, a surprised expression on his face, as if he hadn’t even known he was doing it. They stare at each other for a moment before Stone shifts his gaze away, appearing uncomfortable. The look disappears quickly, leaving Shadow with a strange feeling in his chest.

“So it’s not gone, gone?” Shadow nods. “What do you remember?”

Here, Shadow can’t do anything but shrug and try to retreat further away, but his back is already against a wall. There’s nowhere to go except away from here, but…there’s nowhere to go.

“Okay, I won’t push it, just curious,” Stone says, dropping it with a placating hand. Shadow watches him distrustfully, and Stone’s mouth quirks up into an amused smirk. “Yeah, I’m surprised it took you this long to start being wary of me. I’ll tell you what I know to fill in the blanks.

“You and I were breaking into a G.U.N. base to make you a new inhibitor ring. Ended up being a trap, and you got captured. I don’t know what happened to you in there, other than them locking you up and probably doing experiments given the way your chest looks. Then, they must’ve taken off your rings and your power was too much, so it nearly destroyed you. You did practically destroy that entire base though, which is completely their own fault, and then I broke you out and took you to Maddie. Pretty much sums it up.”

Shadow hums, examining his new ring. He twists his wrist, watching as it gleams in the dull lighting of the room, shiny in a different way from his others. Stone’s words bounce around in his empty mind, trying to scrape up any recognition. The mention of G.U.N. brings up the feeling of dread, but nothing else comes for now.

“And now?” Shadow finds himself asking quietly.

“And now what?”

He risks looking up to Stone. “What am I doing now?”

“Well, G.U.N. is still looking for us, so we’ve gotta hit the road again soon. I’m keeping them off of our trail, but I don’t want to stay in one place for long and give ‘em a chance to catch up. If you’re ready to go, you can go freshen up in the bathroom and then we’ll get breakfast.”

Stone tilts his head to a door at the side of the room, and Shadow blinks at it. He moves to stand wordlessly, his body following the command without even understanding it.

“You okay to walk on your own?” Stone asks, standing as Shadow does.

His feet are sore, his legs hurting every time his skin and muscles pull, but he nods with a firm frown. Stone doesn’t look convinced, his hands hovering by Shadow, but the hedgehog trudges forward. His stride is stiff, and he grimaces through the discomfort. But he has an order to follow, a reputation to uphold that his body remembers even if his mind doesn’t.

Shadow enters the bathroom and stands there in the middle of the room. His hand lingers on the door, not particularly enjoying the idea of leaving it open or closing it. Stone peeks at him over his shoulder, and Shadow slams it shut. Immediately he opens it again, leaving just a crack open, and rushes through what he needs to do in here. He washes his one free hand awkwardly, then tries to take a sip from the water he cups in his hand. It mostly just gets his face wet, and Shadow somehow manages to splash his eyes and forehead.

He shakes it out, cringing at the pain that flares up, and is out of the room and standing at Stone’s side by the entrance in under two minutes. Stone looks like he wants to say something about the damp hedgehog, pinching his lips together and frowning, but ultimately he stays silent. Stone gathers a few things into a bag, then moves to walk outside. As he opens the door, Stone holds up a hand to keep Shadow inside, and he obeys.

Stone and the robot exit the room, the door closing behind him, and Shadow’s fist clenches tight. His feet are rooted to the ground, unable to move. He has to stay, like he was told, his body rigid in place. That part of him dangles threats of punishments he’ll face if he dares to even shift one finger, the stitches in his chest and the sores on his feet encouraging him to listen.

But there’s another part of Shadow, one that feels new and young and stupid that wants him to teleport. Nothing ties him to Stone other than fleeting memories he doesn’t know if he can get back. No one owns him, and nothing can threaten him. He can and will take down anything that dares to get in his path, no matter the cost. Shadow…doesn’t think he likes this part of him.

No, he doesn’t like either of them.

His fist crackles with energy, but indecision favors his obedience. It keeps him there until the door swings open, and Stone enters the room with an exhausted expression on his face as he shuts it quickly, breathing out a swear under his breath. Stone’s half-lidded eyes meet Shadow’s wide ones, the man’s brow furrowing just as Shadow’s body finally makes a decision: obeying and running.

He teleports, and the hedgehog drops down onto the bed with a surprised grunt. Stone rushes over, and Shadow pushes himself up to his feet and widens his stance.

“Shadow, are you alright?”

The man stands in front of him but stays back enough that Shadow doesn’t feel crowded. Shadow stands to his full height on the bed, but he still doesn’t reach eye level with Stone.

“Fine,” he mutters angrily.

Stone opens his mouth, probably to discipline him for teleporting without permission, but he purses his lips and just points over his shoulder. “Coast is clear if you’re good to go.”

Shadow follows him out wordlessly, trailing in his footsteps. The sun assaults his eyes as they exit the room, the hedgehog blinking rapidly to clear his vision. When his eyes adjust, he sees nothing but swaths of golden fields in the distance. It’s so surprising that Shadow stops and stares.

A hand touches his back, and he rears his head back, glaring at Stone. The man is looking at him strangely, but he ushers him forwards and into the car. Shadow remembers his place and scowls down at the cracking, ashy pavement. Stone has to open and close the door for him, ensuring that he’s properly trapped in the vehicle, and Shadow leans back against the leather seat. He hears a quiet puckering sound and realizes his quills pierced the leather, and he instantly sits up, his back straight and deliberately not making contact with the leather.

He turns to look at Stone, but the man is gone again. Shadow doesn’t relax his posture, too focused on keeping himself from being destructive. Even if it’s unintentional, it leaves him with a strange ache in his chest to see what he did. He…doesn’t know where that feeling could have come from, or what he must’ve destroyed in the past that he feels it so strongly now.

Stone returns from wherever he disappeared to, dropping into his seat next to him with a heavy sigh. They drive off without fanfare, the car driving smoothly over every bump and crack in the road. Now more aware than the last few times he was in here, Shadow’s eyes rove over the car, his narrowed gaze lingering on the robots hovering over the backseat.

“They can only listen to me, so they’re not gonna do anything to you. Just relax, G.U.N. hasn’t been able to pick up our trail. Sitting up like that’s gotta hurt, right?”

Shadow shakes his head, watching Stone. The man narrows his eyes at him, but doesn’t comment.

“Ugh, I can’t believe it’s this hot in October today,” Stone complains, fanning himself with the collar of his shirt. “You want the windows or air conditioning to cool off?”

“Windows?” Shadow repeats slowly.

“Okay, windows it is.”

Stone misunderstood Shadow’s question, taking it as an answer, and the hedgehog doesn’t have time to correct the misunderstanding. The tinted windows roll down, the sun shining into his eyes once more. The sight that they pass by in a blur leaves him dazed, and Shadow falls back against the seat, his worries being pushed away.

Rolling golden and green hills are bathed in the early morning sun, oranges and reds still clinging to the horizon but fading quickly. His breath catches in his chest, passing by sprawling farms with roaming cattle. White-peaked mountains rise in the distance, looming and breathtaking all at once. He stares, his mouth parted in silent awe as a baby cow struggles to walk alongside its mother, or as a hawk flies alongside them, or as horses prance through tall grass.

He recognizes the individual pieces of his surroundings as something he must have learned about, but there’s no sense of familiarity with the memories. He’s never seen anything like this before.

It feels as if Shadow is looking at the world for the first time.

And…it feels like he doesn’t have the right to look.

“Nice view, huh?”

Shadow spares a glance at Stone, catching the man’s warm smile. It hurts to stare at, a pain blossoming in his chest, and all he can do is nod. Shadow’s discomfort must show on his face since Stone stops smiling, frowning at him instead. It hurts to look at that, too, and he turns his gaze to his lap, clenching his jaw.

“Shadow, I wasn’t—I was just trying to make some conversation,” Stone says, stumbling through his explanation. “It is a nice view. I’m not telling you to stop looking.”

It’s obvious what Stone’s intent is, even to Shadow’s slow brain, but he can’t shake the feeling of wrongness that clings to him. Cautiously, he returns his attention to the view, and Stone doesn’t say anything. The man remains silent until the mesmerizing grasslands and hills turn into sidewalks and busier roads, and Shadow’s uninhibited view of his surroundings gets cut off by the window rolling up.

“I raised the tint on the windows so that no one will be able to spot you,” Stone explains. “It’ll just be up while I grab us food, and then you watch as much as you want when we aren’t driving through a town. I’ll be back in like ten minutes.”

Stone stops the car in a busy parking lot, all different kinds of cars and people bustling about. Stone steps out, leaving the keys in, and walks into the building. Shadow watches him weave in between rambunctious children and elderly people to reach a messy counter, dirty cups and napkins littered in the empty spots. Even though no one can see him, Shadow still watches them all distrustfully. They’re all smiling and laughing, living their lives, but it could all change in an instant if they see him.

Shadow hunches his shoulders, lifting his feet onto the seat and resting his chin on his knees. Curling up entirely would pull on his stitches, but it’s not the only reason he stops himself from hiding within his quills. That stupid, fiery part of him wants to go out there and stand in the middle of the building and show off his power. He wants to wipe the smiles off of their faces, to make them feel how he does, leaving them cowering under his might.

Why the hell would he want that?

The hedgehog shivers, his quills bristling, grimacing at the people that move in and out. He would glare at himself if he could, but he doesn’t want to look at himself. Shadow barely wants to think about himself because he doesn’t want to find out what kind of person thinks things like that.

No, he isn’t even a person. He’s barely a hedgehog, too. He’s something worse, something that shouldn’t be seen, that should be kept in the dark where he belongs, never to see the light.

The door opens, light flooding in and drowning out his thoughts. Stone joins him in the confines of the car, glancing at him, the bag he’s holding, and then back to Shadow with a frown.

“You okay? You look spooked.”

Shadow’s fingers curl around the fur on his thigh. “Fine.”

“So that’s the word of the day I’m guessing,” Stone says with a sigh. Shadow’s glower deepens, his muzzle curling in annoyance. “Bad joke, sorry.

“I didn’t know what you would like, or if your stomach can really handle food right now, so I grabbed a little bit of everything. Pancakes, eggs, sausage, toast. Here.”

A flimsy box is held out to him, a package of plastic silverware on top, and Shadow uncurls to take it. The material starts to fold in on itself in his grip, and he quickly sets it in his lap. He watches Stone take out his own food first, following him and opening it as he does. Their boxes hold different contents, Stone’s containing some rectangular egg formation with multi-colored things inside. Shadow looks at his own food, sniffing the air experimentally.

Stone is already eating his food, so Shadow tears into the clear plastic and takes out the…fork. His muzzle scrunches, wondering what to do first. Out of the corner of his eye, Stone tears off a chunk of his food with his fork, and Shadow tries to copy him. His fist holds the fork tight, and he tries to tear off a piece of the pancake, but he ends up just stabbing it. Confused, and honestly pretty hungry, Shadow decides to just lift it to his mouth and rip off a piece.

Stone huffs a laugh. “Maybe take some smaller bites?”

He drops the fork and the pancake like it burns him, trying to scoot away from the food because of the scolding. With Shadow shifting, the box on his lap tumbles to the ground, half of its contents spilling onto the floor of the car. Heat rushes into his cheeks, and he doesn’t know what to do other than stare at the spilled food in shame.

“Woah, Shadow!” Stone exclaims. His hands enter Shadow’s field of view, and the hedgehog shies away from them. “What’s–are you okay?”

“Stop asking me that,” he spits out.

He lifts his head to send Stone a hard glare. He does it even though he shouldn’t have said that or did anything of this. His impulses win over, the violent, nasty emotions he’s been holding back breaking through.

Stone simply watches him, his expression too frustratingly neutral for Shadow to read. He expects anger, or annoyance, or disappointment, but he doesn’t get any of that. Stone’s eyebrows scrunch together, wrinkles forming in between, and he nods slowly.

“Okay,” he replies. “I’ll…give you some space.”

The man reaches past Shadow and tries to clean up the mess on the floor. He watches Stone scoop the pieces on the floor into the bag it came in, then he picks up the box and sets it on the dashboard. Stone wipes his hands clean with a napkin, tossing that in the bag of trash. Shadow waits for Stone to take the rest of his food away, and he just watches with hard eyes as Stone takes out another utensil and starts cutting up the pancake and sausage into smaller, bite-sized pieces. The box is placed back in Shadow’s lap wordlessly, Stone returning to his own food.

“I forgot that cutting is kinda impossible with only one arm. That’s on me,” he says after chewing. “I can grab snacks later if you’re still hungry.”

And just like that, the topic is dropped. Shadow glares at the food, his face still burning with some unknown feeling. It runs hot like shame but is frigid like shock. He forces a piece of sausage into his mouth, his teeth tearing through the meat easily, and nausea overrides the rest of his emotions.

Gently this time, he shuts the box and sets it aside. Shadow is trapped in here, stuck with a man he doesn’t know how to interact with, and he wants to get away. The best he can do is what he does, climbing in between the front seats and dropping down into the back, resting his back against the door and purposefully ignoring Stone staring at him to watch the people outside.

After a few minutes, Stone finishes his food and sets out onto the road once more. Neither of them say a word, Shadow lying in the back with his warm head pressing against the glass.

Houses and multi-story buildings pass him by, all shockingly bland and similar in color palettes and designs. He keeps his eyes on the people, now needing to be vigilant. For what, he’s not sure, but it passes the time. Although the name G.U.N. sends a chill down his spine, Shadow would be incapable of recognizing them in his current state.

A displeased hum worms its way out of him. Stone tilts his head in the hedgehog’s direction, but he keeps to himself. Shadow didn’t think Stone would actually give him space, as much as a row of seats in a car counts as “space.” He…appreciates it, but it confuses him that Stone is letting him have freedom. Thinking too hard about it causes a pain to bloom between his eyes, spreading to his head.

Confused and frustrated, he gives up on trying to think or strategize. It’s becoming quite clear that Shadow doesn’t know what he wants, and acting on impulses is doing him no favors. For now, he’ll rest and let his injuries heal as he observes.

He observes the people. What they wear, and what fleeting conversations he can hear, muffled by the windows of cars. He observes their cars, too, trying to understand the differences in their designs and ages and colors. The houses start to grow sparse again, tightly packed concrete shifting into wood. And soon enough, even the houses disappear, Stone turning onto a road that stretches out further than even Shadow can see, the mountains passing by.

As they continue on, the mountains become specks in the distance. Empty fields, already harvested for the season, replace them. When the last mountain’s shadow disappears into the horizon, Shadow feels an unexplainable pain in his chest.

A hurt worse than anything he thinks he’s ever felt grips his heart and won’t let go. His hand idly rubs his chest, pressing against the bandages and stitches, but it doesn’t ease it. He doesn’t know what could.

“Shadow?”

The hedgehog snaps back to the present—when had his mind wandered elsewhere?—and meets Stone’s gaze. The car is stopped, and Stone is holding out a flimsy paper bag. Shadow sniffs the air, something salty and…greasy inside it.

“Lunch. And if you don’t want it, there’s snacks and water.”

Stone hands it over and goes back to giving Shadow “space,” turning around and eating his own food. He waits until Stone is on the road again to give in and eat some of it, his nausea having been replaced with the ache in his chest that’s still there. Pinching a long, salty, yellow piece of something, Shadow pops it into his mouth. His hunger from earlier returns, and he eats the rest of the food quickly.

The rest of the day passes like the morning did, Shadow watching the world go by in his little mobile cage. By the time the sky starts to darken, Stone stops the car and acquires more food. It’s handed to Shadow with the expectation that he should eat again, and if he had eaten all of his breakfast, that would’ve made it three meals for one day. That seems…like an excessive amount, even with Shadow’s limited knowledge of the world.

But he eats the familiar tasting noodles awkwardly, using a fork where Stone uses two wooden sticks. Stone doesn’t comment on the difference, like he hasn’t commented on much today, but Shadow still feels inadequate.

All he’s done is rest, and his body craves action. It might hurt afterwards, but he can handle it. Stone wouldn’t approve, surely. He explicitly told the hedgehog to let his injuries recover.

They pull up to another building, similar to the one Shadow woke up in this morning. Stone gestures for him to wait as he exits the car, and Shadow does. The man returns in three minutes, then drives the car to a different spot. With night fully set in, only a dim street lamp lights up the parking lot. Glancing around the area, Stone waves for Shadow to follow, and the hedgehog trails after him into a room practically identical to the one from earlier.

Shadow’s face scrunches at the unpleasant damp smell in the room, and Stone sighs next to him. “Yeah, I hate motels, too. Unfortunately, they’re very convenient for being on the run.

“Now, I’m gonna take a much needed shower, and you should get some sleep.” Stone gestures to the two beds in the room. “Pick whichever one you want.”

Shadow sets himself down on one of the beds, the mattress squeaking underneath him. Stone walks into the bathroom, shutting the door behind him and leaving Shadow to his own devices. He stares around the room, examining the bed he sits on, and sighs. Crawling under the sheets, he buries his face into the scratchy pillow with a frown. With nothing else to do, he stares at the bathroom door, waiting for Stone to return.

The man comes out, surprised to see Shadow still awake, rubbing his hair dry with a towel. Stone grabs something from the side table between their beds, lightly tossing it in Shadow’s direction. He catches it easily, frowning at it.

“Watch some TV if you want,” he says, nodding to the television on the wall.

It’s very…flat, and there’s a lot of buttons on the remote that Shadow studies intently. Slowly, he turns it on, scrolling through channels over and over. Like everything else around Shadow, nothing on the TV is familiar. The shows and movies all seem too bright and clear, his memories telling him that this is wrong. That TVs aren’t supposed to look like this, but he doesn’t know what they would look like otherwise.

In the other bed, Stone is working on his laptop again, his expression focused and serious. Shadow is tempted to ask what the man is doing, but he won’t risk whatever fragile alliance this is just to ask something Stone won’t answer.

It doesn’t matter, in the end, because the background noise from the TV and Stone’s fingers clacking away on the keyboard lull him to sleep.

And when Shadow wakes up confused, his quills and fur astray, Stone bites back his amusement at the sight. Shadow frowns at him as he smooths them down, wondering why he fell asleep when he wasn’t tired.

The next three days pass similarly to the first day on the road. They leave the motel in the morning, get food, and then pick a direction to drive. Shadow and Stone don’t talk much, other than when Stone is instructing him to do something, but it’s significantly less tense than the first day. Still, he doesn’t understand the threat they’re running from, G.U.N. not having popped up at all in their travels. But the strangest part is that Shadow remains unsure of how he feels about Stone.

The hedgehog watches as another one of Stone’s drones flies off into the distance. The white robots have been leaving sporadically, taking off in a direction whenever they stop. To do what, Shadow has no idea.

“Where are they going?” Shadow asks, watching Stone type rapidly at his computer.

Stone doesn’t look up as he replies. “Running some errands. I figured we don’t need such a stacked security detail right now, so they’ve got new commands.”

The drone Shadow scratched still floats ominously in the back, constantly watching him. It hasn’t threatened him again, the deep scratches still leaving Shadow with an odd sense of guilt, so he’s been content to ignore it. Now, it’s the only one remaining, the last one exiting the car and flying off to run…errands.

“Okay, what are you thinking for dinner?” Stone asks, stretching his arms over his head. “I’m sick of fast food, but I don’t exactly have access to a kitchen right now. Your choice tonight.”

His choice? Stone keeps doing these strange things, listening to Shadow’s demands when the man pushes his buttons and causes him to snap. Like Mrs. Wachowski said, Shadow trusts the man, albeit reluctantly. That thought lingers in the back of Shadow’s head all day and night.

When he falls asleep without meaning to and wakes up with a start, Stone is still there with him. Every morning, without fail, Shadow sits stiffly as Stone changes out his bandages, reapplying salves and keeping his injuries. Buying him food when Shadow doesn’t understand the point of it. Rolling down Shadow’s window so the hedgehog can feel the wind on his face and soak in the fall sun, and Stone shivers from the dropping temperature.

It doesn’t make sense that Stone keeps him at his side. Shadow doesn’t do anything for the man other than cause him issues. His memories have been returning in pieces, and it only adds to his confusion. From experience, Shadow shouldn’t be allowed this level of freedom. He’s not even supposed to be outside, seeing the world. But he is.

Mrs. Wachowski’s question to him lingers, too. Stone hasn’t hurt Shadow, once, not even when Shadow growls at him if Stone reaches for him. He had said it too confidently in her clinic, and he only has more evidence to support that conclusion. Shadow knows—he really does—that Stone’s touch is only ever gentle and careful, but it doesn’t make sense.

Just like it doesn’t make sense to give Shadow choices. Those stupid new thoughts creep up on him sometimes, and he hates them. If he thinks like that, wondering about what it would be like to make people suffer, Shadow shouldn’t be given choices.

“You decide,” he mutters.

“You sure?”

“Mm.”

Stone clearly wants to say something more, but he gives in to Shadow. Again. For someone ordering him around, he defers to Shadow a lot.

They end up with Chinese again—according to Stone, Shadow seems to eat it more than the other fast food options he’s tasted over the last couple days, and Shadow doesn’t have the energy to argue—and Shadow chomps down on a piece of orange chicken.

“I know you haven’t been…chatty lately,” Stone starts suddenly while they eat, “but how are your memories doing? Anything coming back?”

Shadow shrugs with one arm. “Some things. Mostly vague ideas, nothing concrete.”

“Interesting,” the man comments. “I wonder what’s causing it. Whether it was something G.U.N. did, or maybe there was damage from your powers overflowing? Actually, it wouldn’t surprise me if it was a mix of both.”

He turns his eyes back to his food, tuning out Stone’s rambling. It’s not like Shadow would have anything useful to say. Popping another piece of chicken in his mouth, he chews and looks outside again.

Apparently, the closest place to get Chinese was at a “mall,” and Shadow watches the large groups of people filtering in and out of the sprawling building. They all carry bags out, some people’s arms laden with them, and he wonders what the inside of the mall looks like. Passing right by their car is a group of young girls, adults trailing after them. The girls are all chatting excitedly, bumping into each other and laughing. He’s seen plenty of groups like this, carefree and enjoying the people around him, but one of the girls catches his eye. Long, blonde hair whips in the wind, framing the girl’s wide grin, her cheeks flushed from the cold.

It hits him like a punch to the gut, and he inhales sharply, the air getting caught in his throat. His misty eyes trail after her, but she enters a car of her own with all of her friends. Suddenly, his amnesia feels like a blessing, because he knows this isn’t all of the hurt. He can barely feel or understand it, and it threatens to tear him apart.

Shadow loses his appetite again, and he sits, frozen in place, his body stiff and hand trembling as Stone drives them to another motel for the evening. Somehow, he manages to climb into the bed, and Stone is the one who scrolls through the TV, settling on a news channel.

He watches it with half-lidded eyes, his brain in a scramble, and listens to the newscasters discuss the broken moon. He’s seen glimpses of it, but it’s been cloudy the last few days, no matter where they go. It haunts the night sky, and it’s starting to haunt Shadow. His powers course through him as the women on screen discuss changing tides and potential rubble falling to the planet.

Subtly, Shadow peeks at Stone, his eyes really the only thing visible with the blankets covering the hedgehog. Stone’s expression makes his stomach flip. His eyebrows knit tight, his fist clenched in his lap, and his gaze flicks to Shadow. Like every time Stone catches Shadow staring, he tries to offer a calming smile. It never works, Shadow always feeling as if he’s under the scalpel again under Stone’s analytic stare, but it especially doesn’t work now.

Because Stone is forcing it, and Shadow thinks—no, he’s realizing that it’s his fault.

Unlike every other night, Shadow doesn’t fall asleep immediately. Shadow glares at Stone’s rising and falling chest, the man’s arm dangling off of the bed now that he’s asleep. Mrs. Wachowski said Shadow trusts Stone. It’s true. It’s one of the only things he knows, and it can’t help him tonight. Tonight, it leaves him to stare at the puckered ceiling and wonder why it happened in the first place. Or, more accurately, why Shadow deserves it.

He feels too much, but the only emotion he can settle on is anger. His claws are tearing the bedding, and it doesn’t matter. He can feel his blood boil, and it doesn’t matter. He closes his eyes and sees blonde hair, and it…

It matters so much.

Fingers card through his top quills, settling in them and teasing the red and black fur. The hand disappears, and he wants it back, more than anything, but it’s far away. It escapes his mind’s reach, and Shadow has to accept it. It’s gone, and he doesn’t deserve it, but he needs it.

Blinking, Shadow pushes himself up, shaking his head and rustling his quills. Sunlight tries to filter through the blinds, slivers of light shining onto his bed and his fur. Somehow, he fell asleep, and his hand absentmindedly smooths down his top set of quills, trying to chase the memory. It felt so real, like it was actually happening, and to his surprise, the touch was nice—comforting, even.

He turns, expecting to see Stone on his laptop, but the man is gone. Shadow blinks, more rapidly now, but his eyes aren’t deceiving him. The man is gone. He shoves the covers to the side and stands, ignoring the ache in his bare feet from the sores. None of the man’s stuff is in the room, his bags and computer and even the drone missing. He considers the bathroom, placing his ear against the door to listen for movement, but he can’t hear anything, his suspicions proven when he opens the door.

Standing there in the doorway, Shadow is…alone.

His hand drops from the doorknob, falling against his thigh. The hedgehog shuffles over to the window, cautiously splitting the blinds to see that even the car is gone. Shadow really is on his own.

It isn’t as alarming as it maybe should be. Shadow has been waiting for this to happen subconsciously, for Stone to realize that Shadow isn’t worth the effort. Honestly, he thinks being locked up and having his freedom restricted would have been a better choice for the man than letting Shadow roam free, but it’s inconsequential now that Shadow is alone.

But he doesn’t leave the motel room. He walks back to the bed and sits, waiting to see if Stone returns. It is possible Stone could have just left for a bit, planning to return later. The thought feels naive, and Shadow shakes it off.

Five minutes pass, then ten, and the energy that’s been building inside of Shadow starts prodding him, begging him to just go. To run and not look back, to leave everything in the dust. That’s what he wants, isn’t it? The other part of him, naive and still sitting there, acting on a command to stay he never actually received, doesn’t want to move.

He scoffs, closing his eyes and pushing all of those thoughts away. His brow furrows in concentration, warring with his impulses and instincts. Blonde locks swarm his mind, distracting him. His impulses and instincts both agree that he should follow it.

His eyes open with a gasp. Since he saw that girl, this is what he’s been feeling: alone. Like a part of him is missing. Shadow has to find it; he has to chase down that memory and get it back. Without it, he’s incomplete. Finding it will make everything make sense again.

The fingers carding through his quills. He focuses on that memory, his breathing quickening impatiently, wanting to get moving. Breathing in, he tries to think of how it felt. The gentleness, the sense of comfort it gave him. How right it felt. Calloused, strong hands that grounded him—no, he’s getting distracted, that isn’t it, that isn’t her.

Shadow teleports, blinking at the sudden sunlight. He’s standing on the roof of a building, staring down at a coffee shop, and he grimaces. No, this isn’t right, he has to try again.

Teleporting again, he glances around a Montana grassland. No, he’s still distracted.

Again, and he’s at the top of a tall tree.

Again, and he’s in the middle of a road in the desert.

Again, and he’s staring at a bland neighborhood.

Shadow growls, trying to cross his arms, but the sling gets in the way. His claws snag it and tear it off of him, slamming it to the ground. He huffs, rolling his shoulder now that it’s free. The pain is barely noticeable compared to the emptiness inside him.

What else is he missing? He’s felt this before, on the road, driving through…the mountains.

He teleports again, landing on a snowy peak. No, not this one. Gravel digs into his paw pads, staring at the reds, yellows, oranges, and greens of the changing leaves. This isn’t right either. A sandy plateau. A bubbling volcano. A rocky cliffside. A dense forest trail. None of them are right.

None of them are home.

Shadow teleports and drops with a grunt into a pile of ash, coughing as it explodes around him from the impact. Gripping his aching chest, his stitches pulling against his skin, he glances around. His knees are buried in ash, the hedgehog sinking into the thick layer, loose rocks digging into his burns. This is a crater, massive crumbling boulders scattered around the edge of it. The lip of the crater is still actively falling apart, rocks cascading down to the center.

This isn’t…this isn’t his home. Where did he even teleport to?

He tries again, the thought of home a map in his head, and Shadow…falls into the ash again a few feet away from where he just was.

He shakes his head, growling. His powers aren’t malfunctioning, and his teleportation is always accurate. What’s wrong with him?

Just to test it, Shadow thinks of the volcano he was just at, and he teleports there successfully. Lava spits at him, and he frowns at it. Teleporting again, thinking of home, he crashes into the ash. Again.

No. No, no, this is wrong, this can’t be right. Desperately, Shadow teleports over and over and over, but he just ends up at different areas in the same crater. He lands again, panting, and leans against the base of the mountain. His head collides with metal, and his tired, confused eyes trail up the massive doors, painted with the G.U.N. logo.

Shadow trips over himself to back up, but the sight doesn’t change. He grits his teeth, his chest heaving, and teleports one last time to the middle of the crater. Sifting through the ash and the rubble, he finds a disfigured rifle.

His hands reach for it, snatching it quickly, but he uses too much pressure. Its already broken body cracks into pieces in Shadow’s hold. He destroyed it without even thinking, too focused on the emptiness in him to think rationally or consider his actions, and now it lays broken at his feet.

Shadow…destroyed it.

Shadow destroyed everything.

The memories don’t come back to him in a rush, or like a sudden slap to the face. They’ve been there, he just…couldn’t see them. He didn’t want to see them. But the pain consumes him, from his heart to his lungs to his feet to the tips of his quills, taking over his body. He crumples under the weight of it, falling to his knees, barely catching himself with his arms. They crumple, too, and his forehead sinks into the ashes.

The ashes of the only home he’s ever known. He stands in it. It’s still stuck in the back of his throat, and there’s no way to get it out. It clings to his fur, mingling with the black and covering him in a dark film. His bandages aren’t white anymore, and he couldn’t care less.

Everything this base ever was is sinking into his bones, a part of him that he couldn’t shake even when he couldn’t remember it. He must be kneeling in the remnants of glass test tubes and plastic dials and metal equipment and glass beads and plastic toys and metal guitar strings—

Shadow, too devastated by his memories trickling in like poison, freezes. The lab, the black hole, his chaos energy, the soldiers, the scientists, the stasis, the Professor, Maria—

It’s too much, and Shadow’s limbs crackle. He disappears and reappears in front of a massive boulder, swinging with a scream. It explodes into dust, and everything is still too much, and he shatters another. Over and over until his shoulder twinges in pain, and Shadow falls into the remains of his devastation again.

His breathing is ragged and strained, his eyes burning with regret. This…all of this is his fault.

Anything he had left, he burned to the ground.

Destructive. Violent. Dangerous.

This is who he is.

Shadow should’ve—his powers should have killed him. He should have died days or weeks ago. His eyes drift to his wrist. With a shaking hand, he grabs the dark metal, glinting in the morning sun. His claws scrape against the inhibitor, his fingers wrapping around it, and he moves to pull it off. Shadow shuts his eyes, gritting his teeth, and hisses. His grip around it hurts, his whole body shaking from exertion and the agony he feels, and his fingers pull—

Both his arms fall to his side. Shadow hangs his head with a choked gasp.

There’s no point. Shadow imagines it wouldn’t work, anyways. He’s stuck here with this consuming grief, finally alone. He only has himself to blame.

Forcing his eyes open, he searches across the ash, for anything of hers he could find. If Shadow can’t even have his memories of her, he wants this. He wants to sink into the remains of her home and be buried with it, even if he has to be alive. He needs her, even if it’s a shadow compared to what she was.

Shadow swallows the ash stuck in his throat, and he digs.

Chapter Text

“Shh.”

The egg drone’s eye lens adjusts, almost as if it’s going to beep an affirmative, but the lens shrinks and stays silent. Instead, it bobs in place. Stone’s mouth curls into a tired smile of its own volition, but his lips turn downwards again when he hears a soft snuffle behind him.

Stone hadn’t thought much of Shadow still being awake by the time he fell asleep, but maybe he should’ve. Shadow sleeps like a corpse, and it sends a jolt of worry down his spine every time he sees it. The hedgehog lays flat on his back, his good arm laid across his chest. The only sign that he’s still alive is the twitching of his ears in his sleep and the occasional scrunching of his muzzle, probably from dreaming.

Despite sleeping like that, he still somehow manages to kick off most of the covers at night. Honestly, it’s impressive that only one foot is covered by the blanket. Sighing, Stone walks over and pulls the sheets back up, leaving them at the top of Shadow’s chest. He doesn’t want the hedgehog to feel suffocated under it.

Stone keeps an eye on him for a little bit longer, ignoring the punctual part of him that’s begging him to hurry up. Based on when the drone said Shadow fell asleep, compared to how much Shadow’s been sleeping, Stone will make it back with plenty of time. He does need to leave, though, and standing and staring isn’t an effective use of his time.

Shadow’s head turns into the pillow, his signature glower forming even when he sleeps. He wouldn’t worry about it if it was just that, the hedgehog’s resting bitch face a near permanent fixture on his face, but Shadow whines softly. It’s a little too natural of a reaction to gently smooth out the wrinkle in his brow. Stone’s thumb rubs up and down until his face relaxes. His hand trails upwards, carding through his top quills, then he scritches his forehead.

The effect is so immediate it makes Stone’s face flush. Shadow leans into the touch instinctively, and Stone feels guilty when he has to pull his hand away after petting his quills one last time.

“I’ll come back this time, promise,” Stone whispers.

And he turns on his heel, ignoring the surprisingly judgemental look from the egg drone as he exits the room, the drone trailing after him. He lets the drone float into the car and hops in after, starting up and peeling away before he starts overthinking everything.

The drone beeps at him, a simple, short hum that sounds an awful lot like it’s saying his name exasperatedly.

Stone groans, throwing his hands up. “Oh my god, do not start with me.”

It beeps again, the tone dedicated to informing him about Shadow’s well-being. A few extra beeps follow, all low in tone.

“Yeah, I know he hates me, and I probably shouldn’t have done that just now ‘cause he’s done a really good job of giving me the silent treatment for five days, but it helped him in the moment. That’s what matters right now—him getting better. And if I have to do this, sneaking around, then…fine. It’s fine.”

The drone’s protective lens drops down, half covering its eye. It’s unimpressed with him? Really?

He scoffs. “Come on, there’s nothing I can do right now other than this! It’s literally the statistically best option, give me a break. And since when could you be sarcastic? That shouldn’t be in your code. You’re getting a diagnostic check up when we’re done, got it?”

It beeps, waving away that comment and beeping Shadow’s name again.

Stone scrubs his face, flicking on his turn signal as he merges onto the highway. There’s practically no cars out on the road this early in the morning except for the tractor trailers, but even those are sparse right now. The sky is still black, but there’s a hint of indigo creeping in. God, he wishes he was still asleep on that shitty spring mattress.

“He’s…been through a lot—still is going through a lot. Shadow’s not gonna trust me easily after I—,” Stone’s throat cuts him off. “Not after I left him to die. Granted, I don’t think he knows that, but he probably senses it. I mean, you could say we’re even now, but it’s—that’s not the point! Shadow hates me, end of story. He wasn’t very chatty in the first place, even before the whole amnesia thing if you recall. And I don’t think he’ll stop hating me unless I do this, so…ugh, I hate this. You know, the amnesia is probably helping. If Shadow could remember that I left him, he probably would’ve hit me again.”

The drone examines him closely. Stone can tell from the way its lens whirs and turns that the bot is trying to understand Stone’s line of thinking. Its AI is a lot more advanced than the other egg drones of its batch, and he’s curious to know why. Unfortunately, it will have to wait, and he cuts the drone off with a raised hand.

“Look, if this works out, I’ll have to have a talk with Shadow. How I feel doesn’t…he comes first.”

The drone wants to argue, but Stone turns back to the road, his hands tightening on the wheel. This is already a gamble, but he has to take it if he wants to do anything useful for Shadow. This is what Stone can do to make up for failing so miserably before and letting any of this happen. Shadow wouldn’t have been in this mess, distrusting of everything around him, if he had just stuck to his principles.

The regrets snag on the shattered remains of Stone’s heart, clinging to him and overriding his rationality. This has happened so much lately, after losing…no, he doesn’t have time for that. Shadow is the one that’s here, the one that needs his help. He’s already failed enough for a lifetime, and Stone isn’t going to let it happen again. With a heavy sigh, he shoves the regrets away to deal with later.

All of the years he spent working for the government prepared him to shut his emotions off, carefully placing a calm and collected mask on. The worries can wait until he needs to address them.

He pulls onto an exit ramp, driving into the nearest city: Des Moines. Stone doesn’t think he’s ever spent so much time in the rural United States before the last few weeks of driving through the country, and he’s really starting to grow sick of the countryside. The beautiful views can only do so much to make up for the lack of amenities that meet his high standards.

Stone parks just outside of the city and opens the computer interface in the car. The minor modifications he made make espionage effortless. Every location of G.U.N. agents around the area light up on the screen with a bit of prodding. Well, he’s receiving quite the welcoming party by the looks of it, which is exactly why he didn’t drive in immediately.

The hidden vehicles watching every entrance into the city appear on the map. G.U.N. knew enough to alert local police to comb the streets for him as well. Honestly, it’s overkill given that he set the meeting location in the most public place possible. Any takedown they try will be met with resistance in the public’s eye given G.U.N.’s less than ideal public perception.

The net G.U.N. laid for him is obvious, and that’s why he takes extra time taking out his laptop to listen in on their comms, even the ones they tried to hide from him. It gives him a better picture of what he’s walking into, but the plan doesn’t change.

In the privacy of the tinted car, Stone changes into clothes he would never normally wear. Even the t-shirt and jeans he’s had to wear lately are too casual for him, but the blue flannel he slips on wrings a cringe out of him. Stone shivers in disgust as he slips on a brown cap, looking himself over. The urge to rip it all off is so tempting, but he has more important things to worry about. Function over fashion.

Stone double checks that he transferred everything he needs from his laptop to his phone. Everything is in place, and he’s about ready to start the car up again when his phone buzzes on his lap.

Picking it up, he sighs. Well, at least this is a good reminder to put it on “do not disturb.” Stone opens the text, looking at yet another long paragraph from Maddie Waschowski. He reads through the warnings about potential allergies Shadow might have that Sonic does, and he ignores it like the rest. There’s no way for the woman to know he read them, but she’s persistent.

Stone unfortunately already knows Shadow has no allergies, the hedgehog so resilient that even arsenic and radiation in high dosages do little else but make him nauseous. He knows Maddie doesn’t know anything about Shadow other than what she saw, but she saw enough to know that Shadow is unique. Unique enough that her brief preventative surgery told her that he differs from the rest of the aliens. She should have an idea that texting him wound care instructions for his burns is pointless since they’re already healing, as if it was nothing but a light scratch.

But she does it anyway. The little smiley face emoji at the end of her text stares back at him, reminding him of the people he’s dealing with. Of course those bleeding hearts would keep trying to help, even when he’s done nothing but cause them trouble.

Putting his phone to sleep, he shoves it in his pocket and places his mask back on. No distractions can get to him, not today.

Turning back onto the road, Stone drives until he reaches a grocery store. There’s enough cars on a Sunday morning that he blends in, but it’s out of the way enough to avoid the patrols. He carefully lets out the drone when no one is looking, and it zips off to the sky. It’ll have to be careful since its camouflaging capabilities will be hindered with the scratches in its side, but it’s just here in case things go wrong.

As casually as he can, Stone starts walking. With his hands in his pockets, he meshes into the crowd of people walking about. There must be some activity that’s drawing the larger than average crowd for a city of this size, and it only works for his benefit.

The G.U.N. agents and undercover cops attempting to blend into the crowded streets stick out like a sore thumb, Stone catching the shape of their guns under their clothes. It’s funny how bad they’re doing, the agents visibly rattled. He keeps his posture relaxed, occasionally stopping to look at storefronts to add to his performance. No one bats an eye at him, too focused on watching the skies for a drone attack.

Stone does have to bite back a smirk at that, knowing exactly what has them on edge, but it’s their own fault, really.

Finally, Stone turns down onto another busy street and enters a bustling cafe. The line is long, but not long enough that Stone won’t happily wait in it. In the corner of the cafe, Stone notices a woman in plainclothes, her black hair tied in a loose ponytail that does nothing to hide her irritation.

Rockwell makes eye contact with him, her shoulders squaring. She narrows her gaze at him, and Stone smiles casually, nodding at the menu. A frown mars her face, but she holds up her own cup of coffee in answer. She tries to urge him over, but he ignores her, relishing in the satisfaction of having the upper hand.

Some people shift in the cafe, and Rockwell mumbles into her wired headphones. The undercover agents settle down, the woman trying to prevent them from creating a scene. They certainly would’ve made one if they had caught him on the way, but now that Stone’s here at his destination, there’s nothing they can do.

He reaches the counter and orders an Americano and a scone, starving despite eating more regularly with Shadow in tow than he feels like he did before with—before. Just…before.

Rockwell is subtly trying to glare daggers at him for wasting her time, but he simply stands and waits for his order. While he irritates Rockwell, he takes stock of the G.U.N. personnel in the building and the ones that are unsubtly crowding around the building, waiting for orders. Couldn’t they at least show a little restraint?

A barista calls the fake name Stone gave them, and he takes his drink with a smile in thanks. He weaves in between tables and chatty customers and finally sits down in the seat opposite of Rockwell. She was smart enough to pick the seat with the view of the rest of the cafe, Stone’s vision limited to just the woman.

“You’ve got quite a lot of nerve,” Rockwell mutters.

Stone finally smirks. “And thank you for being patient.”

“I could arrest you right here, right now. Keep testing me, and I will,” she hisses, leaning in.

The threat is empty, nothing more than a bluff. She knows it, too, and that’s why she leans back again. Snatching up her coffee, her index finger tapping it twice, she takes a sip. Stone copies her, biting back a grimace at the cheap blend. Once this is over, he can’t wait to get back to his gourmet blends.

“Uh-huh,” Stone drawls. “I’d like to see you try.”

Rockwell shakes her head, her eyes hard as she leans back in. “Thirty. Thirty bases within the last few days have been attacked. Not to mention the ones you broke into. Do you have any idea what HQ wants to do to you?”

“A very good idea, actually. That’s why you’re sitting here negotiating with me, isn’t it? Your higher-ups must be very pleased with your performance, letting so many bases be attacked by one man and a couple drones.”

Rockwell rolls her eyes. “There won’t be any negotiating. You’re going to tell me where it is, and then you’ll be dealt with accordingly.”

“‘It?’” Stone asks, barely hiding his scorn for the word. “I’m not telling you where he is.

“I didn’t just ask you to meet me here to hear your threats. I have a proposal. If you want the drone strikes to stop, I’ll stop right now. All G.U.N. needs to do is strike me from the record, completely erasing any trace of me and anything I did. And…give me Project Shadow.”

Rockwell shoots up in her seat, her face contorting in disbelief. “Give it to you? It needs to be terminated. I won’t let it roam around freely after what it did to the base. That’s a power that can’t be controlled.”

Stone’s eyes harden. “He isn’t some national security threat. Your research division provoked him, and the fault for anything he did falls onto you.”

“Hand it over,” she demands. “Like I said, this isn’t a negotiation.”

He studies her, from the scathing, determined glint in her eyes to the firm set of her mouth. Rockwell is stubborn, and Stone expected this to happen. She won’t give in to his demands unless he puts some more pressure on G.U.N.

Slowly and deliberately, Stone reaches into his pocket to pull out his phone. He ignores the sound of chairs scraping against the ground and the bell above the door to the cafe, the agents nearby ready to act in case he tries to attack their director. Rockwell mumbles into her earbuds, telling them all to stand down, but she watches him closely. Her eyes follow his fingers as he types away, accessing the programs he wrote just for this.

Looking up at Rockwell, his eyes narrow dangerously as he presses enter, pocketing his phone again. She raises an eyebrow, trying to figure out what he did. Stone doesn’t say a word, stretching his back out and leaning into his seat. He drinks his abysmal Americano and takes a bite of the scone, ready to wait.

Rockwell opens her mouth, likely to demand him to hand Shadow over again, but a light buzzing sounds. Her phone rings, and she answers it, listening in through her earbuds. He continues to snack as she’s informed of the newest thorn in her side: the classified documents Stone just leaked to the public.

Surprisingly, she holds herself together well. The only tell Stone can see is a small twitch in the corner of her mouth that gives away how furious she must be. Well, he had spent so much time breaking into G.U.N. bases searching for Shadow, and the files he had stolen had just been sitting and gathering dust. Who could blame him for using them to get his way?

Voices chattering in the cafe grow louder, notifications on people’s phones pinging. Rockwell hangs up just as the clientele start discussing the contents of the leaked files. Any news headline the people are reading will certainly stoke the flames, giving them even more reasons to distrust G.U.N. after the organization was responsible for building the weapon that destroyed the moon. Stone and her sit in silence, staring each other down as they eavesdrop on the conversations growing in volume. Their dismay at the new issue with the military organization is audible, and it causes Rockwell to play with the sleeves of her leather jacket to avoid throttling him.

“This won’t help your case,” Rockwell states. “Adding to your list of crimes in front of me? It’s reckless.”

Stone sips his coffee. “It’s not my fault G.U.N.’s security is juvenile. I have more, and I’ll keep releasing them until you agree to my proposal.”

“You can’t possibly expect to be able to control Project Shadow. Its power is too great, and a man like you riding the coattails of Robotnik’s inventions will have no chance of it.”

Her words shake his resolve and composure, but he refuses to let it show on his face. The insult to his own intelligence isn’t the issue, though. The mention of the doctor and the idea of controlling Shadow leaves a sour taste in his mouth, the Americano suddenly tasting better in comparison. Stone can’t afford to falter now with a winning hand of cards at his disposal.

“And G.U.N. hasn’t proved their ineptitude in controlling him? If I recall, there would have been catastrophic damage to civilian areas if I hadn’t intervened when I did. Besides, if you couldn’t kill him then, what makes you think you’d be capable of it now?”

“That doesn’t change the fact that it is property of G.U.N.,” Rockwell responds in a hush.

“The Wachowskis have a deal with you, don’t they? I was there the first time G.U.N. tried to capture them. There’s nothing stopping you from making one for Shadow.”

“They wouldn’t have had a deal if it wasn’t for Walters. I, on the other hand, understand the threat they pose if their actions go unchecked and refuse to make the same mistakes he did.”

Her eyes flick about the cafe, monitoring the reactions of the patrons. Fortunately for Stone, their faces have only grown more disgusted as the minutes pass. Rockwell’s own face is starting to crack, the pressure manifesting in the pinching of her brow. His decision to leak more information about exactly how G.U.N. came about the Eclipse Cannon is proving itself in real time, people muttering about the moon and worrying that something like this could happen again if G.U.N. has more secrets buried in the closet.

And Stone will happily unleash them all.

“Rockwell, you’re wasting time, and more importantly, G.U.N.’s money. I’m inclined to believe that your superiors aren’t pleased that during G.U.N.’s most difficult time, your decisions have repeatedly caused more damage, both physically and for your PR. I know I wouldn’t want to be you right now.”

Stone reaches into his pocket and pulls out his phone, waving it tauntingly and smiling maliciously. “I have all the time in the world. You, on the other hand, do not. So, go make the call to G.U.N. and take your scolding. Then, you can come back here to get our deal in writing. Your move.”

His thumb hovers over his screen, wiggling for added effect. He’s rattling her, wearing her down. More accurately, she’s been running with her head cut off since Shadow was released. It’s been a long and strenuous month for the both of them, but Stone is free to do what he wants. Rockwell is working on orders, and Stone’s latest actions will certainly cause her superiors to tighten her leash if they haven’t already. She’s sitting here talking to him, so he’s already won the hard part.

“You haven’t offered us anything that is of value to us. There’s nothing to say you won’t start up your evildoing once the fancy hits,” Rockwell bites back. “Putting Project Shadow in your hands could spell disaster in its own right. These attacks are proof enough. What’s in it for G.U.N.?”

Stone steels himself, taking a moment to straighten his back as he resigns himself to what he’s about to do. It isn’t exactly a hard choice, but that’s what concerns him. The choice is all too easy to make, and it barely feels like he thought it through. But his resolve is there, no regrets plaguing him for the first time in weeks.

“In addition to ceasing these current attacks, Shadow and myself will never attack G.U.N. again. If we break the deal, it’ll be null and void, and G.U.N. can do whatever it wants with us.”

Rockwell can’t hide her surprise, her eyebrows raising in interest. “If you’re so willing to give up your life of crime, what’s the point of taking Project Shadow?”

Stone shrugs, feigning nonchalance. “What, I can’t deprive my enemies of a superweapon just for fun anymore? It’s none of your concern.”

Her eyes narrow in on him, suddenly very analytical. Stone almost falters, but he covers it by returning to his coffee. She studies him as if she already knows what to look for, seeing something he can’t. He’s given her something to use against him, and Stone doesn’t know what it could be.

“I need something more,” Rockwell says slyly. “You’re holding out on me, Agent Stone.”

He frowns into his coffee. He won’t give in to her yet, not if he can push her patience. So he waits, sipping his coffee and snacking on his scone, and Rockwell does the same across from him. Fine, two can play at this game, and Stone is sure that his patience will last longer. Well, he was sure, but sitting here, battling over Shadow’s fate, creates opportunities for his worries to creep in again. The fact that he left Shadow alone in the motel room isn’t helping things, and Rockwell is doing a damn good job of hiding her frustrations. Whatever she learned about him is motivating her to hold out.

Damn it, he really didn’t want to do this. Stone inhales deeply, trying to not sound as annoyed as he is. “For old time’s sake…you get one personal favor. Not G.U.N., but you.”

Rockwell’s mouth finally quirks upwards into a satisfied grin. “Wow, you really are desperate for this. It doesn’t look good on you.”

Stone rolls his eyes. “Arrogance doesn’t look good on you, either. Now hurry along and get me my deal. If you take longer than fifteen minutes, I’ll leak more files.”

Her smile drops, and Stone sends her a tight smile of his own. He shakes his phone again, and she stands from the table with a short huff. Watching her exit the building, his eyes follow her until she disappears around a corner. She’s absolutely entering an undercover van right now, calling her superiors and trying to fight against their decision to give Stone what he wants. G.U.N. will pin much of the blame for this whole Shadow fiasco on her, rather than acknowledge their own incompetence, and Stone will walk away with exactly what he came for.

Polishing off his Americano, he smirks at one of the undercover agents, earning a barely hidden scowl in response. Stone checks on the drone, ensuring that it hasn’t been noticed and keeping it in standby mode in case G.U.N. doesn’t agree to the deal. That would never happen, not with the organization's love for burying and forgetting its mistakes, and Stone is handing them the easiest—and cheapest—solution. With him and Shadow out of the picture, they can dedicate their money to rebuilding from all the damage they caused.

Rockwell finally returns twenty minutes later, her eyebrows pinched as she listens into more gossip around the cafe about the new file Stone leaked. Stone can only shrug at her with an amused grin. “Sorry, I’m a man of my word.”

“You better be,” she grumbles, slapping down a stack of papers onto the table.

Stone takes them and starts cautiously reading through the agreement. He focuses on the legal jargon and the fine-print, ensuring that he’s not trapping himself into something he won’t be able to snake his way out of. It’s exactly why he gave Rockwell a fifteen minute deadline. The less time she had to prepare this, the more loopholes Stone could find. And oh, there are some good ones.

“You know, it’s funny,” Rockwell says casually, “that the attachment is mutual.”

His hand halts in the middle of flipping a page, the gears in his head grinding to a stop. Stone looks up at Rockwell with genuine confusion on his face, an eyebrow raised. “Pardon?”

“When we captured it, Project Shadow made a deal with us. For its compliance with our experiments, we were to let you go free.”

Staring into Rockwell’s eyes, Stone realizes exactly what she learned about him: this. As much as it shocks him to learn what Shadow did, Stone is beating himself up for falling for her one bluff. He had her backed into a corner with this deal, and by offering her that favor, he showed his hand and his desperation.

There’s no use in dwelling on it now, and Stone feigns disinterest as he continues to read. “I wouldn’t call it attachment. Any scientist with half of a brain would want him in their hands.”

“And what exactly will you be doing with him?” Rockwell tries to ask, leaning in and clasping her hands together on the table. “You may be able to use Robotnik’s little tricks, but you can’t compare to his intelligence.”

Stone polishes off the document, reading it over for a second time and double-checking that he didn’t miss any tricky wording or clauses that would spell hell for him. Once he’s satisfied, he signs it with a tight grip on the pen. He pushes it back to the woman, his eyes set in a glower.

“Like I said before, none of your concern. I think we’re done here,” he replies quickly.

Standing from his seat, Rockwell watches his movements, still distrustful. “G.U.N. is going to keep their eye on you, hope you know. One step out of line, and you’re done.”

“Yeah, I made the terms of the deal, I’m aware,” Stone huffs. He holds out his hand for a handshake, and Rockwell refuses to cooperate. He tuts with a smirk, taking his hand back. “What, we can’t be civil for one second?”

Rockwell finally grimaces in disgust at him, letting go of her composure. “I’ll be waiting for you when you slip up, Stone. And as a warning, you better keep Project Shadow’s leash tight. Not everyone was happy to be rid of it.”

Stone drops his teasing to frown, watching the woman carefully. He takes his copy of the deal, folding it carefully in his tight grip. Popping the remains of his scone in his mouth, he takes his trash and deposits it before leaving. The commander’s eyes follow him out, the rest of the agents trailing after him.

If they think he’ll let them follow him right to Shadow, they’re stupider than he thought.

Stone takes out his phone and activates the drone. He takes into account all of the agents watching him, then darts into the crowd right as the fireworks go off. The crowd erupts into surprised cheers and shouts, suddenly clamoring and pushing each other to see what the commotion is. They bump into the undercover agents and block their path, and it’s too easy for Stone to unbutton the flannel and ditch his hat to blend into the crowd. For added security, he smoothly steals a distracted man’s hat to hide his face, and he leaves G.U.N. in the dust once more.

Despite slipping past them easily, and with the organization legally required to leave him alone now, Stone doesn’t relax until he drops into his car with an exhausted exhale. He scrubs his face, waiting for the drone to return from its distraction. It eventually flies through the open window, and Stone holds his breath as he checks it for bugs. Completely in the clear, Stone can’t help but grin.

“Alright, easy part’s over. Now time for the hard part,” he jokes, patting the drone’s side.

Stone drives off, a destination in mind and no looming threat of being attacked at any second weighing him down. After the last month of chaos, it feels amazing. He checks the time, and Shadow should definitely still be asleep. A stray thought hits him that maybe he should’ve gotten Shadow some coffee, but Stone’s short sleep the night before is hitting; he’ll definitely need a second one.

He returns to the motel, leaving the drone in the car since they’ll be leaving soon anyways. From the past few days, Stone has realized Shadow sleeps deeper than he expected him to, but Stone still unlocks the door as quietly as he can. The door swings open, creaking on its hinges, and what greets him is an empty room.

Stone freezes, his eyes raking over the crumpled sheets where a hedgehog once was. He storms into the room, ripping the bathroom door open, but Shadow isn’t in there either. He’s out of the room in a flash, tearing open his laptop bag and writing code to track Shadow’s inhibitor ring faster than he’s ever gone before.

“This kid…,” he mutters.

Realistically, unless Shadow decided to just teleport away for fun, there’s not many places for him to go. Stone doesn’t think he’d be in Green Hills, and he isn’t when he checks. That means Shadow could only be in Colorado…which is an eight hour drive away, and Stone’s hunch is completely right, a little blip appearing on his locator. He sighs, tossing his laptop back in his bag, and starts driving to yet another G.U.N. base.

This damn kid loves giving him headaches, Stone thinks, rubbing his forehead tiredly. The drone beeps at him, the tone grating on his ears.

“What? After all I just went through, you think I’m just going to stop now? Even though I’m sick of chasing after him when he clearly can’t stand me?”

Stone’s words, now in the open, startle some clarity in him. “Fuck, why am I doing this again? I did all of this for him, and he just runs? It must be a Robotnik trait to be this ungrateful.”

The drone argues with him, beeping insistently.

“Oh, sure, he trusts me,” Stone scoffs, his frustration finally bubbling to the surface. “I don’t care what Maddie said, it isn’t—if he trusted me, he wouldn’t have pushed me away when we couldn’t find his files. He wouldn’t have snapped at me all week, and he wouldn’t have run now! I do all of this, just for no one to ever trust me for a change.

“If Shadow had trusted me, I wouldn’t be in this fucking car again! If the doctor had just trusted me and listened, he wouldn’t be dead!”

Stone’s chest heaves, and he snaps out of his emotions right as he’s about to hit another car. He narrowly avoids rear ending it and swerves to the side, forcing the car into park. He falls back against his seat with a ragged breath, covering his face with his hands. Tears threaten to spring forth, and he grimaces against the anger and betrayal coursing through him.

He hears a beep of Shadow’s name, and the drone’s arm taps him.

“Shadow keeps making my choices for me! Just-just like the doctor did! And I—they never thought about how their actions affected me!”

His chest heaves, hot tears spilling down his cheeks, and Stone glares at the drone. “What about me?! What about what I want, huh? What about–what do I want?”

His words trail off, all of his anger softening into plain and simple sadness. Stone just…he’s so tired of everything going wrong. He doesn’t know what to do with it all.

A napkin is held in front of his face, and Stone takes it and wipes his face. The embarrassment settles in, his face growing even hotter, and he avoids looking at the drone. It’s a robot, it can’t judge him for crying, or—no, actually, Stone knows it can. He never did check to see why its code is like that.

Avoiding his feelings is easiest when he throws himself into work, and Stone does just that. He takes out his laptop again and hooks up the drone to it, running a diagnostic. It stares at him, barely holding in its disappointment in him, and Stone sighs.

“Stop acting like you’re programmed to care about me, it’s not like you actually…are…”

Stone sniffs, his eyebrows furrowing, and he wipes away the lingering tears in his eyes. No, that can’t…he rubs his eyes again, thinking that grief is just clouding his vision, making him see what he wants to see, but it isn’t. The code is crystal clear, and Stone reads it again and again, not understanding how this is real.

At some point, the doctor added in a secondary program for the drones to fall back on. Their primary directive never changed, their programming built to follow the doctor’s orders above all else. In case of something happening to the doctor, all of their previous programming would be discarded, activating the failsafe. No, it isn’t just a failsafe, but an entire program dedicated to the drones assisting Stone with anything he needs. Even if it contradicted their previous orders, Stone’s commands would supersede everything else.

And the doctor planned for everything. Whether Stone needed the drones to attack, defend, or…comfort, it’s all laid out bare for Stone to see. Stone slowly unplugs the drone, leaving its programming unchanged. How had he not noticed that before? Had he been so distraught that he couldn’t see what was right in front of him?

He shouldn’t, Stone really shouldn’t, but he searches through his files until he finds the doctor’s last livestream. His fingers shake as they press play.

“This is Doctor Ivo Robotnik, dedicating my final livestream to one very special henchman. If I can’t rule the world...I might as well save it! For the one and only person who ever cared about me. You were more than a sycophant to me. You were...a syco-friend.”

Stone studies every wrinkle in the doctor’s face, committing it to memory. From the way his moustache blows as chaos energy surroundings him, to the wetness building in the man’s eyes. His smile, soft and sincere, the one Stone did everything in his power just to see directed at him once, and he finally got it. Right at the end.

“I'll miss your lattes with steamed Austrian goat milk. I love the way you make 'em!”

His hands bring the drone closer to him, listening to the doctor’s final words play out. He closes his eyes against the grief as a soft sob breaks out, and Stone’s forehead settles against the drone’s eye. It beeps softly at him, trying its best to follow its creator’s orders to take care of Stone, and it only makes him cry more.

Years and years of wanting, and it ends like this, getting exactly what he was always too afraid to say. Stone got it, and it’s wrong, and it should be him here, showing him the code and telling him to make him a latte. Robotnik should be here to tell him he knows. That he knows that everything Stone ever did was for him and that…

That he loves him.

Stone tries to calm down, his throat thick and making it hard to breathe.

“Sorry I’ve been so mad at you,” Stone apologizes to the open air.

The drone beeps back, understanding.

“I’ve known he was gone, ever since he said this. I knew it then, and when I went looking for him, I just…I don’t even remember what I was looking for. I didn’t know what to do with myself.”

His bandaged hand caresses the drone, and Stone presses the burnt hand against the cool metal.

“Finding Shadow and helping him, it…it was an impulse. Something to pass the time,” he tries to explain. Stone needs the drone to understand, to help him like it’s built to do. “I would’ve thrown myself into any task.”

Stone isn’t sure what he would’ve done or where he would’ve gone. Probably exactly what he did when Shadow ran the first time, wallowing in his grief and letting it overtake him in Robotnik’s—no, in their lab. But Shadow fell into his lap, a challenge and a distraction wrapped into one enticing package.

It hums in response, questioning and unsure of Stone’s reasoning.

“I—,” Stone cuts himself off with a wet huff. “I don’t know why I told him I could make him a ring. I was so mad at him for surviving when the doctor didn’t, but then…”

He remembers Shadow’s eyes. Dull and resigned to his fate. It felt like looking into a mirror, but even that isn’t right. It’s not truly why Stone did it, why he’s still doing it, risking his neck again and again for a hedgehog he barely knows.

Still cupping the drone in his hands, Stone pulls away with a nervous frown. It beeps, asking him what’s wrong.

“I didn’t—I don’t want to be alone anymore. Is that bad?”

The drone hums, warm and rumbling, reminding him of Shadow’s purr. Stone sighs, finally pulling away and wiping the rest of his tears. He looks at the GPS on the car, frowning at the distance he still has to make up to reach Shadow.

“He shouldn’t be alone either,” Stone murmurs. “I don’t think he’s going to be too happy to see me if he’s mad enough to run away.”

Rockwell’s words come back to him as the drone denies Stone’s worries. Damn, the doctor really did program them well. Stone is about to lose an argument to a robot that can’t even speak. Maddie’s words return with a vengeance, too, and now it’s starting to feel like everyone is trying to fight him at every turn.

“‘The attachment is mutual,’ she said. You actually think he’s going to want me around?” Stone asks skeptically.

It beeps enthusiastically, loud and insistent.

Stone purses his lips, still doubtful after Shadow’s behavior the last few days, but he lets go of the drone. He runs his fingers along the top of it, gathering his resolve again from the support it provides, and starts the car again. He avoids its knowing look to put his eyes on the road again.

“Yeah, you say that now. No matter what happens, I’m giving him a choice. It’s the right thing to do,” Stone says with a small shrug. “Oh god, I’m starting to sound like the Wachowskis.”

As much as the words ring true, Stone can’t bring himself to really be upset by it. Shadow deserves a choice, even if Stone ends up alone again. He’s doing this because Stone is just used to caring for people…Shadow is easy to care about.

Stone drives along the highways, breaking the speed limit. He keeps an eye on the kid’s location, ensuring that it hasn’t moved, and his frown deepens when it doesn’t move at all. The car winds down hidden paths created by G.U.N. back in the day when he reaches the mountains of Colorado, the drone needing to exit the car and tear down the fences so Stone can drive through. He drives until he reaches the base of the mountain, and he steps out, shielding his eyes from the sun as he glances up the slope. With the destruction, it’s going to be easier to climb, but the unstable edges create some pause.

The drone flies up to him, offering a ride up, but Stone shakes his head. He returns to the car and pulls out his laptop, downloading what he needs. When it finishes, his fingers take out the USB with a nervous sigh. Pocketing it, Stone gestures for the drone to stay behind, and he scales the mountain.

It takes a while, but not as long as it would have taken if he wasn’t wearing the military-issued boots he stole from G.U.N.. Reluctantly, he’s grateful for it, but it isn’t important at the moment. He reaches the edge of the crater, staring down into the field of ash in front of him. He winces at the damage they caused, but his cursory glance around doesn’t locate Shadow.

Carefully, Stone slides down into the heart of it, leaning against the curve of the crater for support. It kicks up some dust, and he coughs, waving it away. His eyes scan again for any sign of the hedgehog, and he thinks he spots some movement on the other side of the crater. Stone strides towards it slowly, watching his footing, and finally sees the hedgehog.

Well, what he can see of him. Shadow is kneeled over the ground, covered so much in dust and grime that he blends into his surroundings, the hedgehog’s red highlights not even visible. He’s hunched over, clawing at the ground and tossing rocks of various sizes over his shoulder, the rocks landing and causing ash to explode around its impact. Stone watches him with furrowed brows, confused, but Shadow never notices his presence. He just continues digging through the rubble.

Stone takes another step forward. “Shadow?”

The hedgehog snaps to attention, his head turning in an instant to stare at Stone over his shoulder. Damn, the kid looks terrible. His eyes are wild and bloodshot, but still so, so dull and devastated. Shadow, kneeling in the remains of the place where he grew up, just stares him down unblinkingly.

“Leave.”

Shit, this isn’t a good start.

Stone reaches a hand out. “Shadow—”

“Leave.”

Shadow’s voice is frigid and quiet. Commanding. His eyes narrow into a threatening glare when Stone doesn’t move. Along his back, his quills start to rise, and he looks animalistic, bent over and claws flashing in the sun. Anyone else would listen to Shadow and run, and maybe he should, but Stone won’t do it again.

Instead, he asks, “Shadow, are you okay?”

“You fulfilled your promise, so you no longer have to concern yourself with me.” Shadow’s arm raises, his dark inhibitor ring smudged with dust.

“You remember that? That’s good, that some of your memories are coming back,” Stone says softly.

Shadow stands to his full height, his ankles buried under the ash. “Leave, before I make you.”

Damn it, Shadow is really mad at him. Stone holds his hands out placatingly, trying to calm the hedgehog down. The kid’s glare darkens before he turns on his heel, striding to a different part of the crater.

“Shadow, look, I just wanna talk,” Stone starts. “Our alliance is still in effect, isn’t it? Do you remember that?”

“There’s no need for it, and you coming here was pointless.”

Stone bites back a swear, some of his frustration and worry bleeding into his voice. “Yeah, there’s a point to it. You ran off, and I was worried about you.”

Shadow stops walking, turning around with a strange, contemplative expression mixed into his glower. The hedgehog walks back to Stone quickly, his body stiff and rigid. The man stays still, wondering what Shadow is going to do, but the kid stops a few feet away from him. Then, to Stone’s surprise, he reaches into the quills on his head and yanks one out, holding it out to Stone.

“Then I apologize for not compensating you for your work. It should be charged enough to run whatever experiment you want on it. Now, take it and leave.”

Stone struggles to reply to that, his mouth opening and closing uselessly. He does take the quill, to Shadow’s visible satisfaction, and he throws it off to the side without a second thought. Shadow steps back, some of his anger being replaced by confusion on his face, and Stone’s frown hardens.

“I didn’t come here for compensation,” Stone says, his voice growing louder.

“Then what?” Shadow demands, a growl in the back of his throat. “My power?”

He exhales sharply, the idea more horrifying coming from Shadow’s mouth than Rockwell’s. “I didn’t come here for that either, I—”

“Then take it back,” he snarls. To Stone’s horror, Shadow rips the inhibitor ring off of his wrist, tossing it at his feet. “You never should have come for me.”

The look Shadow sends his way is a familiar one. Stone has seen it only once before when Shadow woke up the first time after being rescued. That revulsion is seared into his memory, and Shadow walks away from him this time, Stone unable to decide if Shadow is referring to Stone coming for him now or then. He thinks it’s both, understanding finally dawning on him.

For a moment before, when Shadow was captured, Stone had wondered if the hedgehog had given up. It was a passing thought he tossed aside quickly, but the truth is staring himself in the face now. The inhibitor ring at his feet, the object that saved Shadow’s life, is all the confirmation he needs.

He reaches down to grab the inhibitor ring, floundering for what to do now. If he hesitates, Shadow will keep walking away, and he might teleport for good. Stone’s body moves on its own, stomping after Shadow with a one track mind.

As gently as he can, Stone grabs Shadow’s arm and snaps the ring back in place. It doesn’t matter to him if it was the wrong move, but he had to do it before Shadow was too far gone.

Stone gets a brief glimpse of Shadow’s murderous glare before he’s slammed against the ground, gasping from the sudden pain. Ash floats around him, rocks and metal poking his back, but he only focuses on the boney knees pressing into his ribs. On top of him, Shadow has his shirt in an iron grip, his fist raised up and waiting to strike.

“I told you to leave!” Shadow yells into his face.

His heart is pounding in his chest, and the position isn’t comfortable. Shadow’s hand crackles ominously above him, threatening to do to Stone what he’s done to so many others. Stone isn’t afraid at all.

“Do it,” he challenges, nodding to the hedgehog’s sparking fist.

“...what?”

Stone grows bolder, snatching Shadow’s fist in his hand and bringing it right against his own nose. “You said you were going to make me leave, so do it.”

He watches as the hedgehog’s rage falters. Shadow’s hand starts shaking, his eyes flitting between Stone and his own fist. Then he gnashes his teeth and breathes heavily, ripping his hand out of Stone’s hold.

“If you’re trying to scare me, Shadow, it’s not gonna work,” Stone says firmly, his expression never wavering.

His hand drops Stone, his fur tickling the man’s neck as he yanks his hand away. Shadow teleports, and Stone sits up in a hurry to see where the kid landed. He reappears in the middle of the crater, landing on his feet. It doesn’t last long, and Shadow drops to the ground, kneeling and panting. Stone pushes himself up with a grunt, watching Shadow closely. The kid doesn’t move an inch.

Damn it, Stone shouldn’t have let his frustration get the best of him. He wouldn’t have done it if the hedgehog wasn’t being so stubborn, but it isn’t an excuse.

Shadow’s behavior was just like the doctor’s. It really must be a Robotnik trait, from the stubbornness to the obvious attempts to push people away. Stone knows now that the doctor pushed him away because he was afraid of the connection, just like Stone was, and Shadow’s doing the same thing. How could Stone be afraid of him when Shadow was trying to protect him from Shadow? When Shadow sacrificed his freedom for a man he barely knew?

It doesn’t change that maybe Stone pushed his trust in the kid a little too far, scaring him because Stone grabbed him. Stone’s doing a terrible job of convincing the kid to stick around, isn’t he?

“Shadow…I’m sorry, I just…,” Stone sighs, standing and rubbing the back of his neck. “I wasn’t trying to scare you or anything.”

Shadow hunches in on himself, bringing his knees to his chest. He doesn’t respond or even acknowledge Stone’s presence.

“I should have left a note or woken you up before I left, but I didn’t wanna worry you if something went wrong,” he apologizes, softening his voice. “Kinda stupid on my part, but I’ve been trying to give you some space. I know the last few weeks have been rough for both of us.”

The hedgehog’s shoulders twitch, but he still doesn’t move.

The kid is hurting, and Stone finally has to admit to himself that this is what he wants. Even if Shadow rejects him and turns him away, Stone has to say something. He won’t let his inability to act cause him to lose someone else. If he had pushed Robotnik—pushed himself, maybe the doctor would still be alive. If they had talked about it, everything could have been different. Stone can be stubborn, too. If he wants to get through to Shadow, to break through the kid’s walls, he has to do this now or never.

Shadow can say no, and Stone will accept it. The kid can hate him all he wants, and Stone will deserve it. He just hopes Rockwell and Maddie are right. Stone swallows his nerves and doubts and takes a step forward because he won’t let himself fail at the finish line—because he doesn’t half-ass anything he does.

He owes it to Shadow and himself to try.

“Kid, I just wanna talk. That’s all, I promise. I shouldn’t have been so hard on you just now, but I don’t think you would’ve listened if I hadn’t been. Look, I’m…not really good at this.”

He walks forwards, slowly approaching Shadow, but he still doesn’t budge.

“I left to get G.U.N. off of our backs, so now we’re totally in the clear. No more running on the road.”

Shadow’s head drops onto his knees.

“You’re never going to have to worry about them again, okay? Legally, they can’t do anything to you unless you do anything to them, but I don’t think that’ll be hard for you to avoid.”

His shoulders twitch again, almost looking like trembling.

“You’re free to do whatever you want. You don’t owe me anything for the ring, I promised you I’d do that. It’s yours to keep, no strings attached, but…”

Stone kneels down next to Shadow, but the kid still doesn’t move. His mouth opens, worry starting to set in, and Stone sets his hand against the hedgehog’s bicep as light as he can.

“Shadow, can we just talk for a bit?”

He finally lifts his head up to meet Stone’s gaze, and Shadow is crying.