Finding Comfort In You

In The Darkness You Can Be Your Light.

Sleep never came easy for Shadow he didn't need it anyway with him being an artificial lifeform and all not to mention that Sonic slept for the both of them since he had proven to transfer sleep to Shadow. Shadow sat on his bed not all watching over the other two occupants of the room, earlier he had heard voices filtering through the slightly opened door to the room and decided that even though those so-called Demi-Gods said they were safe here he was not going to take a chance. Maybe he was just giving himself an excuse not to sleep, as sleep brought unwanted nightmares. He would not admit to being afraid to dream, no there was nothing the ultimate lifeform was afraid of. Maybe he was just fooling himself though. Sleeping led to dreaming which led to remembering his life before... before he escaped from his previous home.

It wasn't home though, it was nothing short of a prison.

Shadow sighed and ran a hand down his face, even if he wanted to sleep his thoughts were going to make sure sleep wouldn't come to him. Sometimes he wondered what it would be like to sleep for a very long time, with no dreams, no thoughts just blissful darkness. Would he wake refreshed or would he be tired still? He shook his head and silently stood up walking over to a bookshelf that stood near the doorway and plucked a book off of it, he silently made his way back to his bed and sat on the side facing the other two occupants who still seemed to be sleeping soundly. He had told them that sleeping at this point would cause them more pain than anything, he wouldn't be surprised if one of them woke from nightmares later on.

Shadow began to flip through the pages without really reading the words on them, it was too dark to see so he didn't understand why he was even bothering. Maybe he was still trying to fool himself that even after all this time he wasn't still worried about going back. He didn't want to go back, sure the situation he had to deal with now was less than amicable but he was safe- no that wasn't the right word more like he was secured. He wasn't there.

He wasn't being used for selfish gain. Sure they needed his powers along with the other two he was stuck with to help defeat that Zielo character but that was different, they needed him here.

He wasn't being tortured or torn apart just to heal and start all over again. The Demi-Gods didn't want to know how he functioned with an incomplete soul. Most likely because they didn't need to but again not the point.

That place was gone and it had been for five years.

So why can't I get over it?

He hadn't realized how tightly he was gripping the book in his hands until he heard the pages begin to crumble. Sighing he closed the book and sat it next to him on the bed, he then put his head in his hands resting his elbows on his knees while his socked feet dangled over the edge of the bed. He breathed in deeply trying to calm himself down, but it didn't seem to work. Across the room, on the far side, he heard the shifting of sheets followed by a soft groan. Silently cursing to himself Shadow turned around and faced the opposite direction. The shifting stopped and he hoped that whichever one had moved decided to go back to sleep.

The sheets shifted again followed but not a groan but soft thumps of feet hitting the ground. Shadow clenched his jaw and willed his mind to remain empty as to not alert the other of his inner turmoil. He hated having the infernal mind link, not only was it annoying to hear Sonic babble on verbally and mentally but it bugged him having not one but two people being able to hear in inner thoughts.

A small yawn resounded from the far side of the room again where Shadow remembered Silver's bed was.

"Shadow..?" Silver called out softly, Shadow had to bite back a sigh. It wasn't Silver's fault for waking up he most likely was affected by his internal arguing. Soft footsteps came closer to him and Shadow could see the faint glow Silver seemed to be emitting from the symbols on his hands. "Are you... okay..?" He asked in a small whisper as if afraid to ask him that.

"I'm fine," He answered curtly and noticed Silver flinch from the corner of his eye and internally groaned.

"I-I'm sorry, it's just- You looked upset," Silver stammered wringing his gloveless hands together. Shadow turned to the younger male and his gaze softened, Silver didn't look fine himself with disheveled quills sticking up in multiple directions. His golden eyes were sunken and slightly dull, and his ribs were poking out as if his skin was clinging tightly to them. He knew Silver came from a rough background just as he and Sonic had but here he was wondering if he of all people was okay. Shadow's normal scowl softened and he looked down somewhat ashamed.

"I'm fine, really," He said softer this time. "You should get some more sleep, we're going to need our energy for tomorrow." Silver nodded but didn't move back to his bed.

"I may not know what that..." He hesitated before closing his eyes and exhaling deeply. "I may not know much about where you came from but if you need someone to talk to, I'm all ears." He offered weakly. Shadow stared blankly at the albino causing Silver to resume his earlier fidgeting.

"I'll keep that in mind," Shadow eventually decided on saying, he glanced down at Silver's hands that were glowing more brightly most likely because he was more awake and alert. "Do they always glow like that?" He found himself asking. Silver blinked confused before following his gaze and hiding his hands behind his back.

"Uh, yeah. I can't exactly turn it off, sorry if it's bothering you-"

"It's not bothering me, I was just curious," Shadow explained before the psychic could get any more flustered. Shadow glanced at his book before picking it up and looking back to Silver. "I won't be getting any more sleep. Do you mind if I use you as a booklight?" He asked bluntly. Now it was Silver's turn to stare blankly, he blinked before a small smile formed on his lips.

"I don't mind," He said softly as he walked back towards his bed. Shadow followed grabbing a few pillows and setting them on the ground next to Silver's bed before taking a seat and getting comfortable. Silver crawled back into his bed before turning to face Shadow and allowed one of his hands to hang off the edge producing just enough light for Shadow to see. The sound of the occasional flip of the pages helped Silver drift off to sleep once more as if he was counting sheep.

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Don't lie to me and say you didn't once think of Silver being used as a nightlight. Now that I think about it, that would be pretty useful... 

This chapter might just be my favorite mainly because I love the relationship these two grow to have in the later issues. They warm my heart so much.