Chapter Text
Maybe it was the adrenaline of the show? The high of the screams that pushed him to this crazed disposition, the shaking and heaving of his body as he continued to breathe heavily, every breaking inhale harder than the last - he had never thought he would see that damned blue hedgehog ever again.
He had never expected to see his shimmering emerald eyes, the pearly white of his smile as he seemed to take all light from the room, absorb it like a black hole so he was left the only subject in this crude and evil painting. A horrid illustration that turned his sweet music into a cacophony of harsh chords, nails on a chalkboard so to speak. He had almost frozen on the spot in the bright light as their eyes met, harsh red contrasting the shimmering green - the stage lights dancing off his dark fur and yet he was only mesmerised by the colour blue.
That damned hedgehog!
Why should he care?! It had been years since they had crossed paths - years since they had met eyes and yet he still seemed to yearn for the closeness they both once shared, the man was like a thorn in his side. As he felt his heart beat faster, his breath became shorter he had known he was going to struggle. And yet he kept playing - whether it be for the fans, for himself or something else entirely he had managed to survive the slight panic that rose in bubbles to his chest, the deep seated hatred in his eyes. He was no longer the friend he knew, he was no longer the mellow, warm presence that the blue hedgehog was situated with. He was something darker, sharper and more malicious. He was a being of metamorphosis.
He was not the same - the other wasn’t either.
As he watched the lights dim he felt himself stumble off stage, his eyes dark and melded to the floor as he rushed to the dressing room, his only place of safety and solace - however, unfortunate for him, he couldn’t get the alone time he needed. His bandmates followed suit, the bat immediately flying to his side once he noticed his breathing patterns.
“Darling! What’s going on?” she asked in worry, sitting him down on the couch towards the middle of the room, sitting next to him and pulling him close - one of her ways of calming him was rearranging his quills, her hand starting to run through them almost professionally as she continued to frett. She didn’t usually see him like this. “What happened out there? The entire performance you were freaking out, what’s going on? Did something happen?”
“I’m fine… Just… Someone frightened me,” he excused, throwing his gaze off to the side.
“Frightened you? That was not frightened, you looked like you were going to jump in the crowd for a fight!” Rouge pushed, not believing his excuses for a moment longer. He knew he couldn’t bullshit a professional bullshitter.
“YES.” Omega said harshly, his voice practically taking over the atmosphere around him. “You looked as if you were going to yeet your guitar out into the crowd.”
“Omega that’s… Okay, yes, you looked as if you were going to throw your guitar at someone full force. So spill,” Rouge sighed.
“Okay fine…” Shadow sighed as he crossed his arms, shutting his eyes tightly as he pursed his lips. “He was there… Watching me…”
“Who was, darling? We can’t help if you don’t-” the bat was quickly cut off as her friend stirred in her arms, his quills raised as he looked over at her.
“Sonic is here.”
Despite not knowing Shadow for that long, she knew exactly who that hedgehog was. Her lips curled into a snarl as she held Shadow close, being careful not to get skewered by his quills. “That damn blue hedgehog… Well don’t worry, he won’t come anywhere near us. Remember, only my friend and her folks are coming tonight. Just sweet Amy and her band of idiots.”
“Fine… But after that I’m going for a smoke break and a drink. I think I need it,” the dark hedgehog sighed, standing up and brushing his quills back into place, ruby eyes following the large robot in the room who was trying to squeeze past the dressing tables to sit down. Omega did have a problem with his size at most venues, and they had gotten a broken furniture bill one too many times to let the robot run free in the room.
As Shadow tried his best to come to terms with his situation he felt a deep twist in his stomach, a sharp, piercing pain that felt like he was being stabbed by the sharpest of blades - his insides writhing with every cut and slice produced from the haunted dagger. Why couldn’t he get rid of that damned hedgehog? It had been years, he was finally free, and yet he came waltzing back into his life like it was nothing, he was in the crowd for fucks sake, he must have known… He must have…
He couldn’t face him…
No matter how much he tried to will himself he couldn’t face him, not like this, not now. As his rage boiled he couldn’t help but feel his ears twitch, listening out as Rouge sauntered over to the door with a small hum. There was a knock he must have missed - as the door swung open it was met with delighted cheers and words, prompting the ebony hedgehog to turn his head to face the two talking before catching a flash of cerulean fur, his eyes widening as his lip curled.
No…
“Ames, are you sure you need to see your friend today? Maybe come back another time?” the Blue Blur asked awkwardly, shuffling his feet as people filtered out of the venue, bumping past them as they waited for the majority to clear.
“What has gotten into you, Sonic? Ever since the performance it looks like you’ve seen a ghost! We are going to see Rouge and that’s final, she got me these tickets and she wanted me here, I’m not going to let a friend down,” Amy huffed, crossing her arms with a small glare crossing her face - oh sweet Amy, determined to look after her friends and make sure everyone was happy, it was admirable, really. But right now it was more a pain in the ass than anything.
As he was herded to the green room his anxiety rose, his quills standing on end as he thought about the last time they had seen each other. How long had it even been… Ten years? Yikes! He didn’t even realise it had been that long… Though the band had been quite busy, hell, they were all over the country usually! But the fact that Shadow had a band…
And he had a band… Without him?
For some reason that hurt, he couldn’t tell why but he felt almost… Betrayed. He had always had a dream of starting a band and Shadow had agreed to help - now he was living his own dream without him, the boy that used to be so dependent on him to even talk to people was now a part of a semi-successful band? The same kid that punched a bully until he pissed his pants and then threatened the teacher to do the same to them - that kid was in a band and now widely liked?
Hell, even when they were friends Shadow was more of a wallflower, he hated talking to people, hated interacting with people he didn’t have to. It took weeks for him to even talk to Sonic after transferring those few autumns ago… Now he had friends, a band, fans, a… A family…
And all without him, his best friend…
Well, best friend wasn’t the best way to put it, they weren’t even friends anymore, cool acquaintances he would put it (and Shadow would probably put their relationship down at mortal enemy.) But still! This was his dream! They were supposed to live it out together… But they fucked up any chance of that happening.
As they neared the door backstage he noticed the distinct lack of Knuckles’ shaped echidna - raising a brow he decided to ask Amy, but almost as if she read his mind she spoke up before him. “He very unceremoniously stated he needed to piss, he’ll catch up with us.”
Well, that answered all of his questions he had to stall with…
Before he even knew it the door to the green room had swung open and the bat he had seen on stage earlier that day walked out, engulfing the smaller pink hedgehog in a hug.
“Ames! It feels like years since I’ve seen you! I’m so glad you could make it!” Rouge said happily, a bright smile on her face as her wings fluttered behind her.
“I’m glad I could make it! I was nearly too late due to… Uh… Car troubles,” Amy said, making a not so hidden dig at the blue hedgehog before she turned back to her friend. “But it is so good to see you perform, you were so amazing! You and your group will never fail to amaze me, I don’t know how you guys haven’t blown up yet!”
“Aww, darling, that’s so lovely of you to say, but you know how it goes, can’t have diamonds without coal,” the bat chuckled before turning to look at the other with a raised brow. “And who’s this? I thought you were coming with two of your friends, don’t tell me one bailed.”
“Oh, no - Knuckles has just gone to… Use the facilities! This is-”
“Sonic.”
The gruff voice rang through the conversation, cutting off the smaller hedgehog as a small bit of realisation dawned on Sonic’s face. Although it wasn’t the one he distinctly remembered, he knew that voice… As his eyes scanned the room his emerald irises met crimson ones, painted on a rather disgruntled hedgehog’s voice.
“Shadow.”
If the air had been any thicker it could have been cut with a knife - the subtle glare underlying Shadow’s stoic expression was always something Sonic feared, not for the fact it was scary or threatening, but for the fact it was directed at him. He had only seen that look twice in his life - when he had stolen Shadow’s bike for a senior prank, just to trash it by accident, and the incident… He felt his gut twist and his spines raise, his eyes casting away from the other as he tried his best not to engage with the other - he was obviously still angry, and he couldn’t blame him, but he had hoped these years might have lightened up the hate even a little bit. But that was wishful thinking he supposed…
As the silence grew worse so did the overwhelming awkwardness, Rouge being the first to talk up as she herded Amy away to talk to her, hoping to have a catch up away from the drama; but there was only one problem with that.
They were now alone…
And they had more than a lot to talk about…
