Together (Sonadow)

12

*Sonic's POV *
After Maria left when Rouge picked her up, Shadow walked towards me and sat down not so far away from me. I was confused and wanted to leave, but somehow, I knew if I didn't stay, I would get in trouble with Maria.

"What did you want to talk about?" I asked as I rested back on his couch and stretched.

"I wanted to apologize to you again, correctly this time. She's right. We've been acting like kids. And she made me realize I never properly apologized for everything I said. I'm sorry. I was mad and I didn't know what actually happened. I should not have said anything. I should not have blamed you. You tried your best, and you nearly lost an arm trying, I am sorry." Shadow's words made my ears lower slightly. "No more fighting?" He stretched his hand towards me, I stared at it for a few seconds while processing what he had just said.

Honestly?

I was very tired of fighting with him. I hated it, and he seemed to mean it when he apologized. Maria had made him realize he messed up, and I was thankful for that.

I smiled slightly and shook his head. "No more fighting." I nodded as I stood up. "Will it actually work? You couldn't even stand me before the accident."

"I will try my best to ignore how annoying you are." Shadow crossed his arms as I softly laughed.

"I guess this would make the team very happy." I said, and he nodded and then went to wash dishes. "I should go."

"You can stay until Maria comes back if you want." Shadow offered, but I yawned. "You can go take a nap in my room. I'll be in my office." He left, and I didn't move until I saw he had gone inside his office. I decided to take him up on the offer and went to lay down. Falling asleep instantly.

A week passed, and Shadow and I were finally getting along, we spent each day at each other's houses so we could spend time with Maria. It looked like we were a family, but we just wanted to be around her before she was gone. I could tell it was starting to affect Shadow a lot, especially after he saw with his own eyes when she had a withdrawal. 

"Has Miles told you anything?" Shadow asked me as he looked down at the controller for the console I had. Maria and I liked to play a lot, but Shadow didn't understand it.

"He talked to me yesterday. He said he doesn't think there is a way, but he will keep on trying." I confessed. "He said we should be ready."

"She's having withdrawals every other day now." I nodded and walked to him. "She's trying not to panic."

"She's as scared as we are. She's just trying to hide it like we are." I confessed. Neither of us had talked about this until now, and I knew Shadow would never confess how he felt unless I said I felt the same way.

"You're scared?" Shadow asked as he finally looked up at me.

"I am. I felt a deep connection to her the moment she told me who she was. The thought of her disappearing hurts. The thought that there is nothing we can do to save her feels so wrong, and it hurts." I lowered my ears.

"I'm sorry." He looked down at his hands. "I don't want her to leave either." I smiled and walked to Shadow, then rubbed his back, I felt his back quills and suddenly got an idea.

"You are going to go back to work soon, aren't you?" I asked, and he nodded. He was a bit tense when I touched him, but he didn't push me away. Maria had got him used to touch since she kept hugging him all the time and falling asleep on him when we would watch movies together, but he wasn't used to me being this close. "I'm sorry, I have been wanting to try this since Maria told me about it. Don't kill me."

"What are you talking-" His body tensed up completely when I put pressure by his back quills and started massaging there. He suddenly relaxed under my touch, his body going soft, and he closed his eyes. My ears perked up at this, not expecting Shadow to instantly relax at this and softly laughed.

"Lay down." I said as I got up. Shadow groaned and glared at me after I let go. "Lay down, I'm trying to help you."

"No." Shadow stayed sitting up, making me laugh a bit louder as he crossed his arms. "Touch me again, and I'll break your arm."

"I am protected by Maria. You know she'd be extra mad if she came back and saw me injured. Lay down, or I'll make you." I crossed my arms as I waited. Shadow stared at me for a few seconds, then gave in and laid down on the couch. "Alright. Don't freak out."

"Why would I freak out?" His question was answered when I climbed on his back, I could tell he was fighting the urge to throw me off, but he stayed as still as he could. Once my hands were back on that spot, he relaxed. I could tell he really needed this. He groaned quietly a few times until he suddenly went quiet.

"Did I kill you?" I asked quietly.

"No. He just went to sleep." I snapped my head back when I heard Maria, she was smiling brightly. Rouge was standing right beside her, making me nervously laugh at the position they found us in. I slowly and carefully got off Shadow and covered him with a blanket.

"I didn't know it was that easy. He was very tense." I rubbed the back of my neck and whispered to them as I guided the two of them outside so we could talk. "Could you ask for more days off for him? I think he should really get some rest and spend more time with Maria." I asked Rouge. She nodded, but she looked like she had something to tell me, Maria did too.

"Actually, Blue. We just came from Tails' house." Rouge said and rubbed her own arm slowly. "Maria only has maybe 2 days left here before she is gone."

I pinned my ears down and looked at Maria. She extended her arm and saw it was see-through. "Maybe less." She said, her voice breaking. She got closer and hugged me tightly.