traitor || sonadow angst

xxv

TW: gore

"-and I've, like, never seen something so cool. He never fails to impress me." Sonic gushed about his brother at the dinner table.

"You sound so fond of him." Rouge chuckled.

"I am! He's so awesome." He beamed. "Anyway, how was your guys' day?"

"No different than any other day you've left us here."

"Rouge." Shadow quipped.

"I'm just joking, y'know. You should live your life, Blue. Shadow and I are fine on our own."

"Easy for you to say." Shadow muttered, just barely audible.

The three wrapped up dinner and sent Rouge home for the night (likely to be back the next day). Sonic got himself ready to settle in for the night while Shadow locked up.

Shadow always locked the doors now.

Sometimes even Sonic forgot. He couldn't stand the idea of putting Sonic in danger again. Sometimes Sonic worried that what happened was affecting Shadow more than it was affecting him.

Sonic met his lover at the door to their bedroom - which also always got locked - with a kiss. Even now, Shadow always felt flustered when Sonic showed him physical affection. He was one of the only people whose touch didn't feel like acid. He even enjoyed it.

"Hi, beautiful." Sonic smirked, watching a tsunami of blush flood Shadow's face. "How was your day?"

"Boring." Sonic frowned.

"I'm sorry, baby. Listen, tomorrow, I'll just stay home."

"Only if that's what you want. Don't let my complaining stop you from having fun."

"We haven't spent nearly enough time together, especially since... you know. And I'm gonna take a few days home to recharge my social battery and see a therapist and stuff."

"A therapist?"

"Yeah, I think it'll be good to talk to someone. Maybe I could get you a sess-"

"No." Shadow interrupted, already knowing what he was suggesting. "I don't need therapy. But I'm glad you're seeing someone."

Sonic's mind lingered on his immediate response. He almost seemed panicked at even the thought of a specialist. He wouldn't make Shadow do anything he wasn't comfortable with, but between the cutting and the attempt at his life, it seemed like a good idea. He just wanted to know how to help him.

"Sonic?"

"Yeah? Sorry, zoned out." He chuckled nervously. "Uh, by the way, would you come with me to my appointment? You don't have to if you don't want to, it's just, I'm kinda scared, y'know?"

"Of course." He nodded. "But they probably won't let me in the room."

"I know. I just... I like knowing you're there. It's your spiritual support." He giggled. "But we can think about that in the morning."

Sonic grabbed Shadow's hand and dragged him to the bed, pushing him down, setting his crutches aside, and cuddling up in his fur. Lately, he embraced his lover just a little bit tighter than before, just to let him know that he was still there.

"Goodnight, Shads." He muttered into his boyfriend's fluffy heaven.

"Goodnight faker." Shadow smiled.

Sonic was warm and heavy on his chest, allowing him to finally unwind. He listened attentively to his lover's steady breath, trying to match it with his own. For once, he felt at peace. His eyes fluttered closed for the first time in a long time, and he drifted into sleep.

----------

"You're too late, hedgehog. Your stupid boyfriend is gone." Elias spoke. "You could have saved him. I gave you ample time. But you were too slow."

Shadow's body shook, eyes locked on his disfigured lover. His legs were torn off, the tendrils dragged across the concrete floor. Blood soaked through his pristine white gloves, ones that Shadow had bought for him after he'd destroyed his last pair.

Elias vanished as Shadow dropped to his knees beside the mutilated body. He hadn't gotten there in time. He could have done something. Stab wounds littered Sonic's torso, and tears were stained to his bloodied face. He could only imagine the torment his lover had endured before he'd arrived. How could he let this happen? Why did it take him so long to realize he was gone?!

"Shadow!"

Shadow jolted up from the body, desperately searching for the source of the familiar voice. A hand landed on his shoulder - the corpse's hand - shaking him.

"I'm okay. Wake up."

----------

Sonic awoke to a sudden movement in the bed. Shadow was... shaking?

"Shads?" He whispered, turning to look at him. Tears were rolling down the dark hedgehog's muzzle, and he wondered if it was another nightmare.

"Shadow, hey." He reached out to wipe his tears, but he violently flinched away.

Sonic's heart was racing. Shadow had had nightmares before, but they never seemed this bad.

"Sonic!" Shadow mumbled, still asleep. His trembling only worsened, as his breathing picked up. "Sonic..."

"Shads, I'm right here."

Shadow's shaking turned into ticcing, which was new. His breathing almost seemed unnatural. Sonic didn't know what the fuck to do.

"Too... Slow." He mumbled.

"Shadow!" Sonic yelled, slowing his lover's shaking. He slowly rested his hand on his shoulder, careful not to scare him. "I'm okay. Wake up."

Shadow jolted up, breathing heavily. He looked around, panicked, until his eyes landed on Sonic.

"Hey..." The cerulean hedgehog cooed. "I'm here."

"Sonic." He panted, wide-eyed. He collapsed into his lovers arms, gripping his arms as if to make sure he was real. "Y-you're..."

"I'm okay! I'm okay."

"Chaos, you're okay." He whispered.

"I'm okay, you're okay, everything's okay. Don't worry."

Shadow loosened his grip on Sonic's arms and laid back down, sighing.

"I'm sorry for waking you."

"No, baby, don't worry. I'm just glad you're out of that hell."

"Hell is an understatement."

Sonic laid beside him, wrapping his arms around his torso and resting his head on his fur - just as he had before.

"I love you." Shadow murmured.

"I love you too."

What an uneventful fucking chapter. I had good writing for like 5 seconds and then BOOM the last segment was ass

my bad

anyway im gonna have some mccain smile fries with garlic aioli the moment i get home

love yall