Why me? (Sonadow)

The wind howled across the barren plain, carrying with it icy rain that lashed at the team as they stood on the threshold of their final battle. Above, storm clouds churned ominously, broken only by flashes of lightning that illuminated the jagged terrain. At the center of the chaos stood Eggman, his newest mechanical monstrosity towering over them, the last Chaos Emerald gleaming in its grasp.

"This ends now!" Sonic shouted, his voice defiant even against the storm's roar.

The battle began in a blur of chaos. Eggman's mech unleashed devastating attacks—missiles screamed through the air, and massive shockwaves rippled across the ground. The team split up, each working to distract and weaken the machine.

Sonic darted through the battlefield, a blur of blue as he dodged incoming strikes and aimed for vulnerable joints. Shadow mirrored his movements, their coordination almost seamless despite the storm and danger.

"Keep it distracted!" Knuckles bellowed, hurling a massive rock at the mech's leg.

Tails and Rouge swooped in from above, firing gadgets and bombs at its head. Amy stood her ground, deflecting attacks with her hammer, her fierce determination shining through.

But despite their efforts, the mech was relentless.

A sudden explosion rocked the ground, sending Sonic sprawling. Shadow was at his side in an instant, his crimson eyes burning with urgency.

"Get up, Sonic!" Shadow growled, offering his hand.

Sonic grinned despite the situation, clasping Shadow's hand and pulling himself to his feet. "Wouldn't miss the fun, Shads."

But before they could move, a massive claw came hurtling toward them. Sonic froze, unable to dodge in time.

"Watch out!" Shadow yelled, throwing himself in front of Sonic. The impact sent them both tumbling to the ground, Shadow shielding Sonic from the brunt of the blow.

"Shadow!" Sonic gasped as they skidded to a stop.

Shadow groaned but pushed himself up, his body tense with adrenaline. "What are you doing, Sonic? You could've—"

"Gotten hurt?" Sonic interrupted. "What about you, huh? You keep throwing yourself into danger like you don't care about—"

"I do care!" Shadow snapped, his voice rising above the storm. His eyes blazed with raw emotion. "Why do you think I—" He stopped himself, the words catching in his throat.

"Think you what?" Sonic pressed, his voice softer but edged with urgency.

Another explosion cut through the moment, forcing them apart as Eggman's mech powered up for one final assault.

Shadow gritted his teeth, his gaze flicking between Sonic and the towering mech. The words tumbled out before he could stop them:

"It's because I love you!"

The battlefield seemed to freeze, the storm's fury dimming in Sonic's ears as Shadow's words hung in the air. Shadow's expression was a mixture of defiance and vulnerability, his chest heaving as though he'd just run a marathon.

Before Sonic could respond, the mech charged, and Shadow dashed forward, his Chaos Spear glowing as he aimed for its weak point.

Time Skip~~~

The mech lay in ruins, smoke rising from its shattered remains. The Chaos Emerald had been retrieved, and Eggman was fleeing in his escape pod, shouting promises of vengeance.

But Sonic barely noticed. His mind was consumed by Shadow's words.

As the team regrouped, Sonic scanned the area, searching for the black hedgehog. He found Shadow standing alone on a rocky beach, the storm having passed to reveal a sky littered with stars.

Sonic approached quietly, his steps crunching softly against the wet sand. Shadow didn't turn, his gaze fixed on the horizon where the waves shimmered under starlight.

"You really meant that, didn't you?" Sonic's voice broke the silence, gentle but firm.

Shadow stiffened, but he didn't look away. "You weren't supposed to hear that."

"Well, I did," Sonic said, stepping closer. "And I need to know—was it true?"

Shadow exhaled sharply, his shoulders tense. "Yes," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "I meant it."

Sonic's heart raced, his usual bravado giving way to something softer. He closed the distance between them, standing shoulder to shoulder with Shadow.

"I've been feeling it too," Sonic confessed, his voice quieter now. "I didn't know what it was at first, but... I think I love you too."

Shadow turned to him then, his eyes wide with surprise. "You...?"

Sonic grinned, his expression warm and sincere. "Yeah. Guess you're not the only one who cares, huh?"

For a moment, neither of them moved. The world seemed to shrink to just the two of them, the waves lapping gently at the shore as the stars watched over them.

Finally, Shadow reached out hesitantly, his gloved hand brushing against Sonic's. Sonic took it, intertwining their fingers in a gesture that spoke louder than words.

Shadow's lips curved into a rare, genuine smile. "You're insufferable, you know that?"

Sonic laughed, leaning slightly into Shadow's side. "Yeah, but you love me anyway."

Under the vast expanse of stars, their bond solidified, unspoken emotions finally given voice.