Shadamy Fan-fiction: To Wilt or to Bloom

Chapter 1: A Ray of Sunshine

One hour, twenty two minutes, and thirty five seconds.

One geographical loop, three hundred and eighty six palm trees, and one very blue, very annoying hedgehog.

... Who is now standing outside of my door. I was at peace for one hour, twenty two minutes, and thirty five seconds. How exceedingly annoying.

Rolling my eyes at his insistent knocking, his voice rises above the peaceful silence as I open the door. "Hey Shadow, long time no see!"

... Make that outstandingly annoying.

"Yes, faker. That was on purpose." Turning on my heels to shut the door, he catches it with his hand before I'm given the opportunity to shut it. Grinning with that sickeningly egotistical, "I'm the hero of Mobius" smile of his, his level of annoying jumps up to an astronomical level.

"Oh c'mon, Shads! At least let me help you unpack." Flattening my ears as his voice reaches a new octave, I wonder if he can see my eye beginning to twitch.

"No."

"Don't be like that Shadow, just--" cutting off the end of his sentence with the abrupt slam of my door, my ears are finally blessed with the sound of silence without his squawking around to disrupt it.

Besides, I have way too much unpacking to do without Sonic around to disturb the bliss of tranquility. Or worse, break something.

Or... Discover one of my best kept secrets. One of which is currently peaking her tiny black head around the corner of the living room.

Murmuring quietly to the black chao, she floats over to my outstretched arms. "Don't worry, Thorne. The monster is gone now." I remark as I smooth down her bristling fur.

I would never hear the end of it if someone as "heartless" as I adopted a chao. Even if it was never my choice to begin with.

After making the past three G.U.N psychiatrists quit with one quick glance at my psych evaluation, the company decided I needed an emotional support animal. And despite arguing that I myself am an animal, there was also the fact that I could hardly take care of myself; Let alone a living breathing pet. Humans rarely listen, even the high ranking ones.

So despite my protests, I was still given Thorne. She spent our first three months together hiding under my couch, and if I didn't wake up to her food bowl being empty every morning I could almost forget that she existed. I only began trying to make a connection with her after trying to return her. As heartless as it may have seemed, I had no use for her.

That is until I was told she was so timid because she was abused. I may be a cold individual, but my moral compass steers a very safe distance away from thinking about squeezing a chao until it pops. So despite my lack of knowledge on taking care of the species, I figured she would be safer with me than risk being re-homed to the wrong Mobian. Again.

And over time, I actually grew fond of the little creature... So I suppose I did need her after all. Without her I would truly be alone. And when I'm alone, nothing good comes of it.

Especially now. Especially after... What happened at G.U.N.

I don't deserve a fresh start. I never will. But Thorne does. She deserves more than the lifeless room I was assigned by G.U.N. She deserves to go on walks in the forest like a normal chao, and not the concrete jungle inside of the spiked military walls.

And if I'm going to protect Thorne, then I have to protect the last assignment that G.U.N. gave me; which is currently emitting a low pitched hum, their gentle glow illuminating the box. Without Sonic around, I can safely unpack the real reason I wanted him no where near any of my possessions.