Scream For Me

-27-

"Shadow? You awake?"

The dark hedgehog turned his head, slowly opening his eyes, his features warming when he saw (Y/n) crack open the door and carefully step into his room. He shifted on the bed, beckoning to her.

She crept in, kneeling beside the bed. Shadow placed his hand palm up on the bed and she grasped it gently. "How are you feeling?"

"Better than I did on the plane," he murmured. "It's definitely on the mend." He took a deep breath, relaxing slightly. "Have any of the Emerald missions been successful?"

"Two, actually. We have one more Emerald to find and then we go home." She looked expectantly at him but he was sure to make sure his expression didn't change. "Are you...are you ready to go?"

He sighed, turning his head back to the ceiling and closing his eyes. "I don't...know," he said quietly. He pushed himself up and leaned against the wall behind his bed. The (a/t) sat down on the bed beside him, glancing curiously at him. "I mean that...I don't know if I am ready. If I am ready to go back to being the Ultimate Lifeform...to being immortal." He put his hand behind her head, drawing her to him and placing his forehead against hers.

"If you're going to ask me to stand beside you, you should know the answer to that." She rested a hand on the side of his face. "I've put up with you for this long." Shadow puffed out a soft laugh, which was mostly what he could manage. 

"I'm glad you did." And he connected their lips, gathering her fully into his arms. She rested her hand on his chest, carefully minding his wound. He pressed into it gently before pulling away. He lifted one hand to her face. Oh, this (a/t) had changed him, shifted something inside him, uncovered something that had been hidden in darkness for a very long time. "Thank you." 

"And thank you, Shadow, for helping me. For jumping in the way, too. You saved me from...what most likely would have been a horrible fate." 

"Speaking of which...when we go back to our time, Eggman and Starline will most likely start coming after you again." He tilted his head slightly. "I want to be there to help protect you, if you will let me." 

"Wasn't it me too long ago asking you to let me help you?" He shook his head as she gave him a cheeky smile. "Of course, Shadow." He closed his eyes contentedly, letting this sink in. With this knowledge, he slowly felt his hesitation slipping away. 

~

Two days later, Detonator brought in the last Chaos Emerald. He had a sad smile on his face, and without a word, (Y/n) had stepped up and hugged him. 

"Thirty years from now, perhaps we'll see each other again," he murmured, pushing her back to look at her. Teleporter entered the lobby with Silver and the rest of the Emeralds in the box they'd been stored in. Detonator stepped away from the (a/t) and over to Shadow, holding out his hand. The dark hedgehog shook it, nodding to the panther. "Don't get into too much trouble, mate, got it? Take good care of her." 

"I will," he assured him. 

"I've already been sappy. All I can say now is good luck, and thank you," Teleporter said, smiling softly at the futuristic trio. All (Y/n) could manage was a nod, the cheetah giving her a one-armed hug with the Chaos Emeralds in the other hand. 

"Alright, Shadow," Silver said, Teleporter handing the box to him. He opened it and the Emeralds lifted out on the dark hedgehog's command. They formed a rotating circle around him, and unlike when he'd held only one Emerald, one shock ran down his body before he opened his eyes, lifting his head. "Can you feel them? Your powers?" 

"I can." He opened his hands, looking over at the time traveler. Silver nodded and stepped over, the Chaos Emeralds spreading out. 

At the same time, both said, "Chaos Control!" A portal opened behind them and Shadow returned the Emeralds to the case, Teleporter closing it. She lifted her hand, a single tear slipping down her cheek as the trio stepped into the portal. 

"Don't forget us!" Detonator called. The pair of agents' smiling faces was the last thing (Y/n) saw before the portal closed and she was back in the time where she was meant to be.

A/n: Okay, pretty proud of myself. I usually stink at dragging things out. But dragging that out where they were in the past for almost twenty chapters? Pattin' myself on the back. But now...