(Sonic the Hedgehog, Shadow the Hedgehog/Knuckles the Echidna #4)
Title: Promises
Author/Artist: Aurora_Twilight
Pairing: Shadow the Hedgehog/Knuckles the Echidna
Fandom: Sonic the Hedgehog game series
Theme: #4 Our distance and that person
Disclaimer: As Always, I own nothing but the plot bunny. Everything else is Nintendo’s
Shadow never had a normal day by any standards. The word wasn’t even in his vocabulary. He had learned to stop looking at his situations, both of them, by normal standards. Simply put, it made his life a lot simpler. However, like any other person he had good and bad days. Bad more then good but that was beside the point, at least for now.
Shadow had quickly learned to cherish the good days, no matter how few of them there was. As it happened, today turned out to be a good day. He found himself laying in an open, grassy area; admiring the clear blue sky above him. The black hedgehog was taking in the simple peacefulness he felt and how beautiful the sky truly was, not only for him but also for her.
For Maria.
It had been one of her favorite things to do. Admire Earth and how beautiful it looked. Shadow still couldn’t remember a lot about Maria, or the Professor for that matter, but he knew that the conversations that the view inspired weren’t always as simple. Sometimes, if he could sit back and think about it, he could recall some conversations. However it was more of a spur of the moment kind of thing. He couldn’t just pick a time and just remember.
That was the frustrating part.
Shadow frowned as he felt that familiar prickle of recollection in the back of his mind. Time? What was so important about it at this particular moment?
“You just have to give it some time. It'll happen, then you’ll understand.” Shadow didn’t think he’d ever forget the sound of Maria’s voice.
Yet, what was he supposed to be waiting for? He closed his eyes as he concentrated; more of the memory taking form in his mind.
If there was one thing the ARK was abundant in, it was the breath taking views. The best one being on, of course, the Observation Deck. The Earth was always in clear view at all angels. Not only was it required for the purpose of science but it was also a great place to find a quiet place to relax or talk. It was also a rather favorite place of Maria’s. In turn, it had become Shadow’s as well. Already countless conversations had taken place there. Before long, Shadow had started to go there on his own, whether Maria was there or not. Today had been no different.
“It’s beautiful isn’t? Maria said as she joined Shadow on the deck.
“You’re just now noticing?” Shadow replied in a sarcastic, yet playful tone.
Maria chuckled and shot the hedgehog a look before returning her gaze to the planet below. Shadow couldn’t quite remember her looking so serious before. Had something happened and he wasn’t aware of it? The Professor was known to have a few accidents during the week; it came with the job, but nothing too bad. Not enough to warrant the look Maria’s face.
“Maria?” Shadow gently probed, he wanted to know what was wrong but he wasn’t about to pry it out of her either.
“Have you ever really thought about the people down there Shadow?” Maria asked suddenly, gazing fully at him now.
“I can’t say I have, no. Why?” Came the genuine puzzled response.
“It’s just I can’t help but wonder about it. Somewhere down there is our soul mate, the person we’re meant to be with. It’s kinda exciting, wondering when you’ll finally meet and you know you’ve finally found them.”
What does one say to that Shadow wondered to himself. To be honest, it seemed pretty far fetched to him that there someone down there that was supposed to fall in love with him. How would that even work? How in the world would they find each other, use a scanner or just go up to strangers and ask if they were supposed to be with him? It sounded impossible to him, like one of the theories the Professor cooked up but had yet to realize that it would never be possible.
“You’ve never really thought about love, have you Shadow?” Maria asked gently. There must have been something in his eyes that have his thoughts away.
Shadow frowned, trying his hardest to figure out where Maria was going with this. What did she mean had he ever thought about love? It was an emotion that was felt yes but as with all the other emotions, surely it didn’t require much thought.
“I love you.” Shadow replied simply.
“Ohh not that kind of love Shadow, not sibling love. There’s someone down there you’ll fall in love with, I’m sure of it. You just have to give it some time. It'll happen, then you’ll understand.”
She looked so determined, so sure of herself, that Shadow didn’t quite have the heart to tell her that he highly doubted that. Maria and the Professor were his life, how could there be anymore room for anyone else? Besides, why on earth would he even go down to that planet? Well, perhaps when Maria went but other then that he had no idea. His place was here, on the ARK.
“But you know Shadow..if..if something was to happen and I’m not there…promise me that you won’t keep yourself from that person? You deserve to know that love feels like and so does that person.” If Shadow thought Maria looked serious earlier, she was deadly serious now.
“W-what?! What are you talking about Maria?! Of course you’re going to be there, you and the Professor both! How could you even think that something would happen to you?! I’m here; I’ll protect you I swear upon it!” Shadow felt stunned and numb all at the same time. How could she say such a thing? Did she truly think he’d allow anything to happen to her?
“Just promise me Shadow, please?” Maria smiled slightly, trying no doubt to put Shadow at ease.
“I promise Maria.” If she was going to be so earnest about it and worried about it, how could he not give her his word?
Maria smiled then and kissed him on the cheek. She knew Shadow always kept his word, that he had never let her, or Grandfather, down. There was nothing else she could do; it would all rest in her friend’s hands.
I promise….
Shadow opened his eyes once more, nothing more of the memory coming back to him. So much had changed since then. More and more was coming back to him about Maria. It was obvious that she had a big heart and had cared deeply for him. She wouldn’t have been so adamant about his own happiness if it was any other way. If only he had known then what he did now, so much could have been different.
Soul mates…love..did those things fit with what he had with Knuckles? Did he honestly love the echidna, rather then simply lust after him? Did lust even last that long? What had started as a means to forget anxieties and grief had been growing into something more, something he couldn’t quite put a finger on. Was Knuckles wondering the same things he was now?
Shadow grumbled to himself as he pulled himself up. Creating questions on top of questions wasn’t going to get him anywhere. He would have to go to the source of the problem and for once, he knew where that was. He wanted to keep his word to Maria and a part of him knew that Knuckles deserved those answers just as much as he did. He owed it to himself as well. Something stable, something that he could always count on.
Shadow left the clearing for once chasing answers instead of the questions. For once, he was positive he would find his answer when he got to Angel Island.
Author/Artist: Aurora_Twilight
Pairing: Shadow the Hedgehog/Knuckles the Echidna
Fandom: Sonic the Hedgehog game series
Theme: #4 Our distance and that person
Disclaimer: As Always, I own nothing but the plot bunny. Everything else is Nintendo’s
Shadow never had a normal day by any standards. The word wasn’t even in his vocabulary. He had learned to stop looking at his situations, both of them, by normal standards. Simply put, it made his life a lot simpler. However, like any other person he had good and bad days. Bad more then good but that was beside the point, at least for now.
Shadow had quickly learned to cherish the good days, no matter how few of them there was. As it happened, today turned out to be a good day. He found himself laying in an open, grassy area; admiring the clear blue sky above him. The black hedgehog was taking in the simple peacefulness he felt and how beautiful the sky truly was, not only for him but also for her.
For Maria.
It had been one of her favorite things to do. Admire Earth and how beautiful it looked. Shadow still couldn’t remember a lot about Maria, or the Professor for that matter, but he knew that the conversations that the view inspired weren’t always as simple. Sometimes, if he could sit back and think about it, he could recall some conversations. However it was more of a spur of the moment kind of thing. He couldn’t just pick a time and just remember.
That was the frustrating part.
Shadow frowned as he felt that familiar prickle of recollection in the back of his mind. Time? What was so important about it at this particular moment?
“You just have to give it some time. It'll happen, then you’ll understand.” Shadow didn’t think he’d ever forget the sound of Maria’s voice.
Yet, what was he supposed to be waiting for? He closed his eyes as he concentrated; more of the memory taking form in his mind.
If there was one thing the ARK was abundant in, it was the breath taking views. The best one being on, of course, the Observation Deck. The Earth was always in clear view at all angels. Not only was it required for the purpose of science but it was also a great place to find a quiet place to relax or talk. It was also a rather favorite place of Maria’s. In turn, it had become Shadow’s as well. Already countless conversations had taken place there. Before long, Shadow had started to go there on his own, whether Maria was there or not. Today had been no different.
“It’s beautiful isn’t? Maria said as she joined Shadow on the deck.
“You’re just now noticing?” Shadow replied in a sarcastic, yet playful tone.
Maria chuckled and shot the hedgehog a look before returning her gaze to the planet below. Shadow couldn’t quite remember her looking so serious before. Had something happened and he wasn’t aware of it? The Professor was known to have a few accidents during the week; it came with the job, but nothing too bad. Not enough to warrant the look Maria’s face.
“Maria?” Shadow gently probed, he wanted to know what was wrong but he wasn’t about to pry it out of her either.
“Have you ever really thought about the people down there Shadow?” Maria asked suddenly, gazing fully at him now.
“I can’t say I have, no. Why?” Came the genuine puzzled response.
“It’s just I can’t help but wonder about it. Somewhere down there is our soul mate, the person we’re meant to be with. It’s kinda exciting, wondering when you’ll finally meet and you know you’ve finally found them.”
What does one say to that Shadow wondered to himself. To be honest, it seemed pretty far fetched to him that there someone down there that was supposed to fall in love with him. How would that even work? How in the world would they find each other, use a scanner or just go up to strangers and ask if they were supposed to be with him? It sounded impossible to him, like one of the theories the Professor cooked up but had yet to realize that it would never be possible.
“You’ve never really thought about love, have you Shadow?” Maria asked gently. There must have been something in his eyes that have his thoughts away.
Shadow frowned, trying his hardest to figure out where Maria was going with this. What did she mean had he ever thought about love? It was an emotion that was felt yes but as with all the other emotions, surely it didn’t require much thought.
“I love you.” Shadow replied simply.
“Ohh not that kind of love Shadow, not sibling love. There’s someone down there you’ll fall in love with, I’m sure of it. You just have to give it some time. It'll happen, then you’ll understand.”
She looked so determined, so sure of herself, that Shadow didn’t quite have the heart to tell her that he highly doubted that. Maria and the Professor were his life, how could there be anymore room for anyone else? Besides, why on earth would he even go down to that planet? Well, perhaps when Maria went but other then that he had no idea. His place was here, on the ARK.
“But you know Shadow..if..if something was to happen and I’m not there…promise me that you won’t keep yourself from that person? You deserve to know that love feels like and so does that person.” If Shadow thought Maria looked serious earlier, she was deadly serious now.
“W-what?! What are you talking about Maria?! Of course you’re going to be there, you and the Professor both! How could you even think that something would happen to you?! I’m here; I’ll protect you I swear upon it!” Shadow felt stunned and numb all at the same time. How could she say such a thing? Did she truly think he’d allow anything to happen to her?
“Just promise me Shadow, please?” Maria smiled slightly, trying no doubt to put Shadow at ease.
“I promise Maria.” If she was going to be so earnest about it and worried about it, how could he not give her his word?
Maria smiled then and kissed him on the cheek. She knew Shadow always kept his word, that he had never let her, or Grandfather, down. There was nothing else she could do; it would all rest in her friend’s hands.
I promise….
Shadow opened his eyes once more, nothing more of the memory coming back to him. So much had changed since then. More and more was coming back to him about Maria. It was obvious that she had a big heart and had cared deeply for him. She wouldn’t have been so adamant about his own happiness if it was any other way. If only he had known then what he did now, so much could have been different.
Soul mates…love..did those things fit with what he had with Knuckles? Did he honestly love the echidna, rather then simply lust after him? Did lust even last that long? What had started as a means to forget anxieties and grief had been growing into something more, something he couldn’t quite put a finger on. Was Knuckles wondering the same things he was now?
Shadow grumbled to himself as he pulled himself up. Creating questions on top of questions wasn’t going to get him anywhere. He would have to go to the source of the problem and for once, he knew where that was. He wanted to keep his word to Maria and a part of him knew that Knuckles deserved those answers just as much as he did. He owed it to himself as well. Something stable, something that he could always count on.
Shadow left the clearing for once chasing answers instead of the questions. For once, he was positive he would find his answer when he got to Angel Island.