Shadows of a Broken Future

Chapter 9

My mind struggles to process his rambling, but one thing stands out. He wants to be closer to me.

"So you want to be closer, as friends, but you're scared of messing it up?" I ask, trying to make sense of it all. He pauses for a moment, his face softening before he nods eagerly.

"I've never been disgusted by you Shads" he says, his voice sincere. "I don't know how you could ever think such a thing. I said I was here for you if you needed to talk or if you needed someone, but you keep pushing me away. You need to stop doubting everything and just trust me a little more." He smiles softly at me.

A strange warmth spreads through my chest at his words. He's right. I do keep pushing him away. I want to be close, I want to protect him, to keep him out of harm's way, but something inside me is telling me to keep him at a distance. But why? What am I afraid of?

Before I can speak again, Onyx meows softly, and Sonic bends down to him. He coos at the little cat in my hand. "Awe is someone hungry? You want some food cutie?" He says, his voice gentle, but I'm distracted by the position he's now in. The way he bends low to the ground, at my hip level-closer to my-I feel my muzzle instantly heat up. What the fuck was I just thinking? Why did I just think about that? Why did I just think about Sonic like that?

I'm snapped out of it when Sonic scoops Onyx up, carrying him away towards the kitchen. I shake my head, trying to clear the thoughts clouding my mind. I quickly set the box down on the coffee table and walk towards the kitchen, where Sonic is rummaging through the fridge and Onyx sits on the island, watching us.

"So I guess you're not leaving, huh?" Sonic says peaking his head around the fridge door, grinning at me.

I cross my arms, and scoff. "Well you technically just kidnapped my cat."

He laughs and pulls out a chili dog, holding it up with a questioning look. "Can cats eat chili dogs?" he asks innocently.

I glare at him, narrowing my eyes. "I swear to Chaos if you kill my cat with a chili dog Faker, I'll make you wish you were never born."

He gulps, hurriedly placing the chili dog back in the fridge while quietly mumbling "I guess that's a no." He then grabs a carton of milk instead. "Alright milk it is then! I don't exactly have cat food..."

I watch carefully as he pours the milk into a bowl and places it in front of Onyx, who begins lapping it up happily. "Actually, I don't have much food left now that I think about it." He says before turning to me. "You want to go shopping today Shads?"

I raise an eyebrow at him, crossing my arms. "You mean I have to go because you might accidentally buy something to feed my cat that's lethal?"

He pouts dramatically. "Whatever. I'm gonna call Tails real quick though, before we head out."

I nod. "I'm going to take a quick shower before we go, if that's okay."

Sonic then looks flustered, and a faint blush appears on his muzzle but he quickly turns away. "Uh yeah, that's fine." he mutters, clearing his throat. "I've already had one, so, uh, I'll just wait for you."

I raise an eyebrow at his odd behaviour but don't dwell on it, brushing it off as Sonic just being Sonic. I turn and head upstairs, calling out, "Don't kill Onyx while I'm gone!"

I hear Sonic's voice faintly from downstairs. "If he could have chili dogs I bet he'd love them!"

I shake my head, as a small smile tugs at the corner of my lips.

Sonic's POV:

Once Shadow's gone, I breathe out a sigh of relief. That was way too close. I don't know what's been going on with me lately, why am I so nervous around Shadow? I mean, he always used to make me feel this weird way that I could never explain, but it's way stronger now. And when I think about earlier, when he thought I didn't want him here... it really hurt seeing him like that. He looked so vulnerable, so insecure, I just wanted to hug him.