𝘿𝙚𝙫𝙤𝙪𝙧.

•𝐒𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧•

The wind raked its fingers through Sonic's fur, his eyes drawing over the gray land that stretched out in front of him. It was all so dark. It looked just as like how he felt. How Gaia made him feel.

He hadn't been in control. He had almost murdered his lover. They were training Dark Gaia, not him. That buzzer would send the creature off, as much as he would try to hold it back, it was like that sound brought it out of him.

He shuddered. Across the lifeless plain, Sonic spotted a hill with a luscious green weeping willow gently swaying in the soft breeze. The blue hedgehog frowned and started his trek through the shadows. The dead, ebony grass gradually became a vibrant shade of emerald as he ascended the hill, a breath of fresh air filling his lungs once he reached the top of it.

"Shadow," Sonic gasped upon seeing his dark rival. The hedgehog turned to look at his cobalt counterpart. He looked emotionless. One of his legs was horribly twisted, the tibia of it clearly broken. I did that. Sonic swallowed and hesitantly seated himself next to the male, keeping his eyes off of the other. Shadow said nothing. "I don't... I didn't mean to."

"Do you think I will forgive you?" His voice was distorted. "Every time I cross you, you ruin me in some way. One day my body will be nothing but beaten flesh inside a suit of fur," the agent whispered, sending chills through the hero's body. "No- No, Shadow, I didn't mean to. I'll do better, I promise!" he tried to justify, but when he lifted his head to look at Shadow, he was met with the horrifying sight of his lover's decaying, decapitated corpse, mold and rot plaguing his malnourished body while insects crawled through his infected, pus-ridden wounds.

"ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛʜɪɴᴋ ɪ ᴡɪʟʟ ғᴏʀɢɪᴠᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴛʜɪs ɪs ᴡʜᴀᴛ ʙᴇᴄᴏᴍᴇs ᴏғ ᴍᴇ?"

///

Shadow crutched his way out of the hospital, a heavy cast around his leg and both of his brows furrowed. His tibia had been shattered when Sonic had slammed it into the wall, and now he was going to have to keep this cast on for at least two weeks. Even with his Chaos Energy, it would still take a while to heal properly. He had been refraining from crying all morning, and Rouge being around, telling him that everything was going to be okay, just wasn't helping. He felt used up. Tired.

Why hadn't the Commander told him of how they had been testing on Sonic? Because I said if they lay a hand on him that meant harm, I wouldn't be very forgiving. But they hadn't harmed him. Just... Brainwashed him in a way.

"Shadow," Rouge stopped him, both of his ears swiveling to the female. She was standing a little ways back, her ears folded against her skull. "You should talk to him. He must be just as frightened as you are," she said in a low tone. The hedgehog knew she was right. He couldn't leave Sonic alone. Not after that. The azure one would be worrying why Shadow wasn't next to him when he awoke, and the bloodstains from his now-bandaged sides being slathered along the floor wouldn't do much to help.

"Alright," he agreed and pulled his Chaos Emerald from his quills, using it to Chaos Control away in front of Rouge. The ivory mobian exhaled and pulled her phone out from her bosom, ears dipped.

Agent Rouge T. Bat,

Our most recent unit, currently titled Serial Designation 004, or as you may have previously known him, Sonic the Hedgehog, will be undergoing a surgery, Thursday the twelfth of October, aiming to learn more on the anatomy of Mobians. Even after the few years that you have come to our world, we still know very little about your kind.

We trust that you will keep this information CLASSIFIED. This includes from Agent Shadow T. Hedgehog. You are not to take part in this surgery. Your job is to keep Agent Shadow T. Hedgehog occupied until the operation has been complete. If you do not comply, the Commander will have you SEVERELY PUNISHED. Thank you for your cooperation.