The one who stayed //Sonadow//

Chapter nine.

Previously

"S-Sonic...what..."

Amy couldn't get anything else out as Sonic spoke out. "I-I have to go..." he whispered before bolting away as fast as he could. Almost breaking the sound barrier as he did.

Shadow gave Amy one last look before running after the blue blur.

"Sonic! Wait!"

-

Shadow's voice rang in Sonic's ears. It was loud compared to his sobs and rushing wind as he ran. He ignored the tears that blurred his vision and kept running, reaching speeds faster than the day before.

When the ultimate lifeform caught up to the blue blur he made his low voice loud. "Sonic! Stop!"

Sonic didn't listen, though. He only ran faster and tried to kick up dirt to keep Shadow off his trail. Shadow pushed past the kicked-up dirt cloud in his face and charged on.

As a familiar opening passed and a white glare from the sun stung Shadow's eyes, he knew very well what was ahead of them. The ultimate lifeform acted fast and took hold of Sonic's arm and pulled him from his blinding speed and to his chest, coming to a complete stop only a foot away from the edge of the cliff.

"Open your eyes hedgehog! Last time I checked you can't fly!" Shadow bellowed out, his breath lost. The hero, now wide eyed with his cheek against the white fur on Shadow's chest, slowly started to break down again. He began to cry and speak broken words, "I'm not ready..."

"Ready for what Sonic?" Shadow asked as he rubbed Sonic's back as he cried into his chest. "Ready for...telling people about...this."

Glossy emerald eyes looked up into ruby one's, watching emotions, that were never there before, swirl around in the crimson iris. Shadow let out a sigh. "Then don't tell them if your so worried about what people have to say about 'this'."

It was easy to tell that the ultimate lifeform wasn't pleased about this fear that Sonic held. Shadow has lived not caring for small words made by disapproving people for generations. He was content knowing that he didn't need their ideals.

Shadow knew he couldn't force this fear away from Sonic, and it was normal for him to have it when he has all of Mobius looking up to him. Coming out to friends and family was one thing, but coming out to an entire population? That was different.

All Shadow could do was try to diminish that fear one step at a time, but the tone in his voice now, wasn't helping the hero with feeling comfortable in his own skin.

"N-No...now you hate me." Sonic uttered, backing away from the ultimate lifeform with his ears flat against his head. Shadow's eyes went wide as he watched Sonic near the edge of the cliff. "I don't hate you" he frowns, "now please look at where you're going before you take another step back"

Those green eyes shifted to the ground, seeing the shifting waters below from the high edge of the cliff. Fear replaced sadness in an instant. Sonic's body went ridged as he looked back into crimson eyes, seeing the equal fear, albeit not as noticeable, within them.

"P-Prove it."

Shadow slowly approached the frightened hero, grabbing his hands so that if he fell, Shadow would go with him. "What more can I do Sonic? All I know is that I lost someone before...and I won't lose you too."

"I-I don't want to lose you either, Shadow." Sonic countered, his voice shaking and his hands gripping Shadow's with strength. "Then stop being so stupid" Shadow whispered as he pulled the hero to his chest again, "and stop caring so much about what people think."

Those words, even if they were trying to be helpful, stuck a nerve in Sonic. A rush of irritation flooded his system and he let it out.

"It's all I grew up knowing!" he yelled as he tried to pull away from the ultimate lifeform, pushing at and punching at his chest as he did. However, Shadow did not let go and the look on his face, that serious stare stilled the violence in Sonic.

"Now you listen to me. I know nothing about love so I'm trying my best here...but someone told me that it doesn't matter what people think because it's what you think that matters most...and that love means nothing if you don't show it."

The tone of voice that Shadow used, sincere and serious, dropped all the irritation from Sonic instantly.

Crimson eyes held emerald one's in a stare that made Sonic's stomach twist and turn, bringing up old feelings that he hoped to bury under the past with excuses that he doesn't remember.

"Sh-Shadow I'm..."

"What is it?"

"I'm sorry...if I can't love the way you want me to. I've...never loved before..." Sonic mumbled out, the lie burning his tongue. Shadow, who could easily see the lie, shook his head. "Don't apologize."

"I just need time..."

Shadow didn't want to wait but with all that they've been through, with all that Shadow learned about the blue hero over the years, he would wait. He would wait for Sonic.

"That's fine." The ultimate lifeform spoke, "Do you still want me around?"

The hero nodded his head, almost eagerly. "Yes."

"Are you sure?" Shadow smirked, slowly inching the two away from the thin edge of the cliff. Today wasn't a day for a swim in the rocky waters below. "Yeah." Sonic smirked back slightly, taking hold of his charcoal counterpart's shoulder's.

"I don't believe you." Shadow whispered jokingly.

"Yes you do." Sonic whined back.

"I know." He mused as he pulled Sonic completely away from the cliff, the dread of the height now washed away. "There, that makes me feel a little better."

A blush coated Sonic's cheeks as a smile crossed his lips. "I'm glad."

"What am I going to do with you?" the ultimate lifeform shook his head, the stress of the situation putting a heavy weight on his shoulders. "Love me?" the hero suggested, snuggling his head in the crook of Shadow's shoulder.

"Maybe." Shadow teased with a smirk.

"What else is there then?" Sonic asked with a purr.

"I don't know" Shadow spoke, wrapping his arms around his blue counterpart. "What else do you want?"

"Nothing really. I don't need anything else."

The hero hugged the ultimate lifeform tight, not wanting to let go. Sonic knew he wouldn't be able to run away from the world for long, and right now he wanted to just so he can stay in Shadow's arms.

-

"I will love you then." he whispered in my ear, telling me the absolute truth with his deep voice. "Then that's the plan." I replied, content with the moment I was in.

Shadow was someone who could hide anything from anyone. He was good at making people see one side while I saw another. I saw a side of true caring, true devotion, true selflessness. A different person full of loyalty and actual emotion.

Some say he's a time bomb, that he could unleash a power so strong that no one stands a chance. Shadow is strong, he was created that way, but he is just as real as I am.

Our lives may be different but our goals run alongside each other. We've been like this for I don't know how long, but I don't mind it, I like having Shadow the Hedgehog by my side even with all the tribulations that may come our way.

                                I  love him, even if I'm not ready to say it.