Chapter Text
Never regret thy fall,
O Icarus of the fearless flight
For the greatest tragedy of them all
Is never to feel the burning light.
– Oscar Wilde
《◇》
It’s four in the morning.
It’s four in the goddamn morning, and Shadow wakes up to the sound of glass breaking in the kitchen.
The hedgehog is instantly on high alert, peering over the top of the couch towards the kitchen door. He doesn’t see anything with how dark it is in the house, but below the pealing of thunder from the storm outside he hears a low curse and stumbling footsteps. There’s a dull thud, and Shadow is at the door in a flash of orange light.
“Who’s there?” He lets his lip curl to bare his teeth in a snarl, crimson eyes blazing threateningly. “Show yourself!”
A stifled groan. Shadow darts around the counter, fists raised-
Lightning flashes, lighting up emerald eyes, and Shadow freezes.
“… Sonic? ”
He hears a weak laugh. That’s definitely Sonic; only he would have the nerve to laugh in a moment like this.
“Hey, Shads,” Sonic croaks. “Do you mind keeping it down? I have a killer headache.”
Glass crunches under Shadow's air shoes when he steps forward, and he turns the light on with a growl. Sonic hisses in pain, drawing Shadow's attention back to the blue hedgehog.
Sonic has a hand thrown over his eyes. His blue hoodie and shorts are soaked in rainwater and he's shivering where he sits on the kitchen floor. Shards of glass are scattered around him, blood dripping from a cut on the hand over his eyes. Despite himself, Shadow feels concerned, an uncomfortable twisting in his chest.
“Sonic…?” He inches forward, raising his hands when Sonic tenses. “Are you okay?”
Sonic is uncharacteristically silent for a moment. Then he huffs a dry laugh and lowers his hand.
“Heh. Why wouldn't I be?”
Shadow frowns. Sonic isn't quite making eye contact, the usual spark missing from his gaze. He looks disoriented, unfocused.
“It's the middle of the night, Sonic. It's raining,” Shadow says sternly, trying to keep the concern from bleeding into his voice. “Why aren't you at home?”
“Can't sleep,” the other hedgehog slurs, getting to unsteady feet. “Didn't- didn't know where ‘lse to go…”
He sways dizzily, and Shadow darts to his side, wrapping an arm around his shoulders to keep him upright. Sonic is warm to the touch, despite the cold water still dripping from his fur. Too warm , Shadow realizes.
“Sonic?”
“Mmmyeah?”
“Are you sick?” Shadow presses a hand against Sonic's forehead, ignoring the way his heart stutters when Sonic leans into the touch.
“Mhmm,” Sonic hums, eyes sliding shut as he leans his full weight against Shadow's chest, practically nuzzling the fluffy fur there. “You'll catch me ‘f I fall, right?”
Shadow stares down at the other hedgehog, bewildered.
“W- what?” Shadow finally says, silently cursing the waver in his voice. “I- of course I'd catch you, idiot.”
Sonic mumbles something that sounds vaguely positive and promptly passes out in Shadow's arms for the second time in a week.
《◇》
He ends up wrapping Sonic's wound and putting him on the couch before he cleans up the broken glass. Dumping the shards – his ear twitches as the word comes to mind – in the trash can, Shadow dusts his hands off and throws a towel on the floor to soak up the puddle under the window Sonic apparently broke in through.
Sonic. Right.
Shadow sighs, dragging a hand over his quills as he approaches the couch. Sonic still appears to be sleeping soundly, his back to Shadow, but Shadow knows he’s not asleep. The ebony hedgehog grunts, crouching next to Sonic and poking his shoulder.
“Faker. Did you need something, or are you just here to make me suffer?”
Sonic grumbles something unintelligible and rolls over to face Shadow, blearily opening his eyes.
“How did you-”
“Your ears,” Shadow answers, poking one. “They were moving.”
He waits for a response from Sonic but only gets a puzzled hum before the hedgehog closes his eyes again. Shadow huffs, glaring at the intruder.
“I asked you a question, Sonic. Why are you here? Answer me or I’m telling Tails to come get you.”
Sonic tenses, making Shadow smirk.
“Ah, so you are listening.”
“Don’t tell Tails,” Sonic mumbles. “He wouldn’t- th’ others wouldn’t understand.”
“Surely they would understand that you’re sick,” Shadow scoffs. “They’re good people. They’d gladly help you.”
Sonic shakes his head and immediately winces, apparently regretting the movement.
“Not with this. You’re th’ only one who knows wha’ happened .”
… Oh .
Shadow leans back, feeling his annoyance drain away. He blinks, a strange clarity settling over him, and finds himself looking at Sonic more attentively.
He’s met with a body shivering in fear, dark circles under fever-hazed eyes, and messy quills.
“You haven’t been sleeping. Nightmares?”
Sonic nods, letting out a shaky exhale.
“Don’t want to worry Tails…” he whispers. Shadow sighs.
“Your friends are likely already worried about you,” the ebony hedgehog says, moving to sit on the opposite side of the couch. “You can stay for the night and see how you're doing in the morning. Go to sleep.”
He hears Sonic inhale when Shadow sits next to the sick hedgehog; he chooses to stare at the dying coals in the fireplace rather than meet Sonic's eyes. A memory of empty arms and a frantic sprint to the Paradox Prism's cave assaults him, as it has the past three nights since the incident.
“You're… staying?” Sonic's voice is impossibly meek, coming from the typically boisterous speedster. Shadow scoffs – the sound isn't as harsh as he'd like it to be.
“It's my house,” he drawls. “Rephrase your question so it isn't stupid.”
Sonic tenses and Shadow gets the feeling he's made a mistake.
“I- Never mind,” Sonic mumbles, “It's- I'm just stupid. Never mind.”
Shadow glances over, brow furrowing at Sonic's weary scowl.
“Sonic-”
Sonic pointedly turns his face away, closing his eyes, and Shadow sighs in exasperation.
“Fine. Goodnight, Sonic,” he mutters, crossing his arms and looking away. “Don't die in your sleep, I guess. Your friends would kill me if I let that happen.”
After several long minutes – four minutes, based on the little analog wall clock Rouge got him last year – Shadow is sure Sonic is asleep, based on his silence. He's surprised when he hears a quiet voice, quieter than anything he's heard from the other hedgehog.
“Goodnight, Shads. Don't die either.”