Resurgence (Shadow x Reader)

The war room aboard the ship was dimly lit, the glow of the holographic display casting an eerie blue light over everyone's faces. They were exhausted—mentally, physically—but this was it. The final stretch. The mission that could decide everything. Y/n stood with her arms crossed, her mind racing as she stared at the projection of the Xyrrathian leader's fortress. It was heavily fortified, a monolithic structure embedded deep within the heart of the capital. Breaking in was suicide. But getting close enough to strike... that was another story.

Tails typed furiously at the console, his expression grim. "Alright," he started, voice tight with tension. "Here's what we know."

The screen flickered, zooming in on the fortress's exterior. "This is Xyrrath Prime, their main command center. This is where the leader—General Vhaelor—has holed himself up. 24/7 security, heat-sensitive barriers, and anti-teleportation fields. Every inch of that place is a death trap."

Rouge leaned forward, arms resting on the table. "Lucky for us, I've been tracking some... inconsistencies in his security detail." She tapped the screen, shifting the display to highlight several weak points. "The north entrance is our best bet. Guard shifts rotate every six hours. There's about a four-minute gap where we could slip through undetected."

Y/n studied the data. "Four minutes isn't a lot of time."

"No," Rouge admitted. "But it's all we've got."

Knuckles huffed, arms folded. "What about storming the place? Take 'em head-on and break through?"

Sonic shook his head. "Not an option. If we go in full force, we'll be outnumbered in seconds. This has to be clean."

Y/n straightened, nodding. "Stealth."

"Exactly," Rouge agreed. "Get in, take out Vhaelor, and get out before they even know we were there."

Y/n's heart pounded in her chest. This was really happening. A targeted assassination. She'd done plenty of dangerous things before, but this? This wasn't a battlefield. This was one shot, one kill. No way to justify it as self-defense.

Before she could dwell on that, Shadow spoke up. "Then I'm going with you."

Y/n turned sharply toward him. "No."

His crimson eyes locked onto hers, unwavering. "You're not doing this alone."

"I can handle it," she said firmly.

"You shouldn't have to."

Tension crackled between them like a live wire.

"This isn't about what I 'have to' do," Y/n shot back. "It's about getting this done with as little risk as possible. You and I both know that the more people involved, the higher the chance something goes wrong."

Shadow's expression darkened. "And what happens if something goes wrong for you?"

Sonic and Knuckles exchanged looks, sensing the argument brewing.

Amy hesitated before speaking. "Are we sure this will even end the war?"

Silence.

Y/n's stomach twisted.

It was the question they'd all been avoiding.

Rouge exhaled. "Taking out Vhaelor should dismantle their chain of command. He's the one forcing the war forward."

"And if it doesn't?" Amy pressed.

"We don't have time to hesitate," Sonic said, shaking his head. "If we second-guess every move, we'll lose."

Amy bit her lip, clearly uneasy. Y/n felt it too—that small, gnawing voice whispering in the back of her mind.

This is different.

She'd fought. She'd survived. She'd escaped captivity three times from this very enemy. But now, she was supposed to walk into that fortress and execute someone. Not in the heat of battle. Not in defense of her life. Just because it had to be done.

Y/n swallowed hard, suddenly feeling suffocated.

Shadow was still watching her.

"We should rest before making a final call," Rouge said, sensing the unease. "Tomorrow, we finalize the plan."

The meeting adjourned. Everyone slowly filtered out, voices hushed with exhaustion and uncertainty. Y/n turned on her heel, ready to disappear into her own thoughts—

"Y/n."

She stopped. Shadow stood a few steps away, his expression unreadable.

"Come with me," he said.

She hesitated.

But then she followed.

✮⋆˙꩜ .ᐟ⋆.˚

They walked in silence down the narrow corridor, away from the war room, away from the weight of what they were planning. Shadow led her to one of the observation decks—a quiet, dimly lit space with a full view of the endless stretch of stars outside.

He stopped near the window, arms crossed, gaze fixed on the void beyond.

"You don't have to carry this alone," he said, his voice softer than before.

Y/n let out a dry laugh. "Feels like I do."

Shadow turned to her, eyes sharp but filled with something else. Understanding.

She sighed, pressing her hands against the railing, fingers tightening against the cold metal. "I've done a lot of reckless things in my life, Shadow. But this? This is different."

He didn't interrupt, letting her speak.

"I know what we're fighting for. I know Vhaelor has to go. But when it comes down to it..." Her throat tightened. "When I pull that trigger, it won't be in self-defense. It won't be because I have to. It'll be because I chose to."

She closed her eyes. "And once I cross that line, there's no coming back."

The silence stretched between them.

Then—

"You won't be alone."

Y/n opened her eyes. Shadow was watching her, his expression firm but quiet. "No matter what happens. I'll be by your side."

Something in her chest ached.

She knew he meant it.

She turned slightly toward him, unsure of what she was looking for—comfort, reassurance, anything to ground her. Shadow shifted, just enough that his hand brushed against her shoulder. He hesitated, but only for a moment before letting it rest there.

Y/n closed her eyes, leaning into the touch just slightly. She wouldn't say anything about it, and neither would he.

For now, that was enough.

When Y/n returned to her quarters, the weight of the conversation settled in her chest. She wasn't sure if she felt better or worse.

But one thing was clear.

She wasn't doing this alone.

She wasn't afraid.