Nightmares, the newest fic in Gentle Hands, is out yippee!
Sonic suffers, as usual. He gets a hug, as usual.
Fandom: Sonic the Hedgehog
Main Relationships: Sonic the Hedgehog/Shadow the Hedgehog.
Main Tropes: Nightmares, Guilt, Hurt/Comfort
TW: Nightmares, Slight Body Horror, References to Death
Chapters: 1/1
In Sickness and In Health, the latest fic in the Gentle Hands series, is now out!
Fandom: Sonic the Hedgehog
Main Relationships: Sonic the Hedgehog/Shadow the Hedgehog
Main Trope: Sickfic, Chronic Illness, Hurt/Comfort
TW: Emetophobia warning.
Chapters: 1/1!
In the near future I'm planning on moving The Parent!Shadow AU to a different Tumblr blog! I'll link it when it's ready!
I'm rewriting some elements of the AU and it felt easier to start fresh than to keep this one. This blog will pretty much just be my personal one where I post whatever I feel like, while all the AU content will be over there, hopefully weekly!
The premise of the AU is the same and a lot of elements are unchanged but I can't guarantee everything will carry over to the final product.
None of the Parent! Shadow posts here will be deleted, and some may be re-uploaded on the other blog depending on what is changed in the lore.
I hope y'all enjoy what's to come, cause I think I have many improvements to make! SEE YOU ALL SOON! :)
"Dad! Dad, check it out!" Sonic ran through the resistance base towards his father.
Shadow looked up from his paperwork. What it was for sonic had no clue, but they had much more pressing matters at the moment.
"Sonic, I'm busy at the moment, can this wait?"
Sonic practically shoved the mysterious object into his father's hands. "I was exploring some weird ruins, and I found this this! At first I thought it was just a cool looking rock but after I touched it sparks flew everywhere and it started glowing!"
Shadow inspected this rock, it appeared to be a magenta ruby with black stripes. True to Sonic's word, it was emanating a mysterious glow.
"Hmm..."Shadow reached up to touch his ear communicator. "Sally Acorn and Miles Prower, please report to the common area. We need you're input on something important. Miles please bring you're energy scanner."
A few seconds passed with no response, only the static of the communicator
"Sally? Miles? Do you copy?" Shadows voice tensed as he looked back at the ruby, still in his hand, which had began to glow and hover slightly. Sonic looked nervous.
"Dad, what's happening!?" Shadow tossed the ruby to the other side of the room and raced to pull his son away, when a portal, the same color as the ruby appeared, sucking the ruby in.
"Sonic get back!" Shadow shouted as sonic began to be sucked into the portal.
No. No. NO!
He had to save his son!
Shadow jumped towards Sonic, grabbing his hand tightly, desperate to save his son from an unknown fate.
This was originally gonna be for an "Ask the Parent!Shadow AU" Thing, then it was for a scene in the fanfic(still working on it), and now I'm not sure what I'm gonna do with it. It may go unused, since I don't entirely remember what I was planning with the phantom ruby. But hey, we'll see I guess lol :)
Summary: Reader thinks Shadow hates her, but when she gets hurt, she discovers she might have been wrong.
Warnings: Reader gets hurt.
Wc: 698
Masterlist HERE
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"What are you doing?"
The irritated tone in Shadow's voice made you shrug in embarrassment.
"I'm hanging the new curtain," you explained, climbing from the chair onto the cabinet by the dining room window.
"You're going to fall. Your coordination is like that of a newborn fawn." In a flash, Shadow rushed to your side and scooped you up in his arms. "I'll do it."
"No! I was doing it right. Put me down."
Shadow grunted and jumped off the cabinet with you still in his arms before setting you on the floor.
"It was crooked. You should go watch one of those shows you like."
It was his way of telling you to leave him alone while he fixed your mess. Ever since you became his companion, or as Shadow liked to say, his babysitter, he hasn't stopped pointing out everything you did wrong. It wasn't so bad at first. He followed you with a distrustful gaze and kept his distance, but he gained confidence over time, and suddenly telling you how clumsy you were became his favorite pastime.
"Fine. I'll be in the kitchen, grabbing a snack." You weren't in the mood to argue.
His words stung. No matter how hard you tried to make him feel welcome in your home, his passive-aggressive comments and repellent attitude remained the same.
Perhaps it would be better if Shadow went to live with the Wachowskis, even though you would miss him. Despite everything, you had grown accustomed to his constant presence following you everywhere.
Shadow had a difficult past, you knew that, yet you were naive and thought you could make him happy. There was a moment, however, when you saw his lips curve into a tiny smile: when he tasted your walnut brownie.
Yes, I can show him I'm good at something, you thought, and you got to work.
You mixed all the ingredients; the only thing missing was some pieces of semi-sweet chocolate to enhance the flavor.
You grabbed the knife and started chopping the chocolate. In an unfortunate split second, the board slipped, and instead of cutting the chocolate, the blade slid down onto your forearm.
"Shit!" you yelled, dropping the knife, which fell to the floor.
"What did you do now?" Shadow rushed into the kitchen. He assessed the situation and his red eyes found the cut on your arm. "Can't you go a second without doing something stupid?"
"I was trying to cook something for you," you defended yourself, covering the wound with a dish towel to stop the bleeding.
"I don't need you to do anything for me." He appeared in front of you in a millisecond and grabbed your wrist, pulling the dish towel away from your arm. "Take that off; you're only going to make things worse."
You were about to argue, but Shadow disappeared and reappeared a moment later with the first-aid kit in his hand.
"What am I supposed to do with you?" Shadow grabbed your arm and began cleaning the wound with saline solution.
"Look, if you're so bothered by being here, you can go live with Tom and Maddie."
"No." He applied povidone-iodine to the cut. "What I want is for you to stop being so clumsy. Why are you always hurting yourself? What if you get hurt so badly that I can't help you? I make sure to keep you safe, and you find a new way to hit yourself. What am I supposed to do? Keep you in bubble wrap?"
"Wait, you're worried I'll hurt myself?" You couldn't believe what you were hearing. "I thought you hate everything I do."
"Why would I hate you?" Shadow asked, confused.
"Because I trip all the time and knock everything over?"
"It's actually cute," Shadow said, distractedly putting the bandage on the wound. When he realized what he'd just confessed, a wave of heat rushed across his face, reaching up to his ears.
"Do you think I'm cute?" You smiled.
"There, all done." Shadow released your arm. "I'll go finish the curtain."
He disappeared in a blur, but you didn't care. You could only think of one thing: Shadow didn't hate you; he thought you were cute.
Chs: Shadow, Lavender, and Rouge. ((Oc x canon)) Tw: Drunk Rouge ((This just makes her silly)) Tw: Might be cringe. Written for and inspiration from an old friend :) Hc: Shadow likes macaroni and cheese
As soon as Lavender walked into her apartment, her phone had buzzed from a message. She checked her it , placing her bag on the kitchen island.
Top message was from Shadow. Rouge had messaged for him. All it said was, 'come.' She scrolled through the other notifications and saw Rouge had messaged her as well but with her own phone instead.
It explained a little as to why Lavender had to come. Shadow wasn't leaving his bed. He was having another one of those day's.
Tired out from the day already, panic started to set in. What happened? Why didn't she see anything abnormal about the way he acted last time they were together?
No. It doesn't take days for someone to remember things. To let your mind wonder, in dark places. Lavender knew this feeling well.
But she decided to pretend like she didn't feel like this was somehow her fault, and focused on the now. Rouge said to come. So that meant, to go.
Lavender grabbed her bag again and left without another thought or hesitation. Locking her door and quickly went down the steps to the street where her bike had been chained up.
Thank Gaia, that Shadow lives near by. Close enough that I could bike there.
Lavender lived in the city. People drive like crazy. She hated driving in town. On country roads it was fine, but since moving to the city when she was 18, she got rid of her car and instead biked herself wherever she could.
Shadow and Rouges penthouse was only a couple blocks away from Lavenders apartment complex. Top floor. Large windows. Rouges place actually. Shadow would just sleep there mostly. A place to come home to, when he needed to. A place where, if he got hurt, he could easily heal up in.
Lavender parked the bike on the side walk, hesitating about if she should use her chain lock her not. But she threw her hands at it, giving up on the idea. Shadow needed her. Besides it was just a cheap bike.
After a year or so of visiting Shadow at this place, Lavender had already gotten used to how to enter the building and even remembered the code.
The elevator seemed slower today. Or her mind was just feeling the panic? Calm down, why are you so panicked? Habit. Some things would just trigger her anxiousness.
She tried breathing again, letting her mind to ease off on thinking. About anything.
The door finally opened, right in the house. "Where is he?" Lavender asked Rouge immediately.
Rouge had been leaning against her kitchen island. With a glass of red wine in her hand. Whether she'd like to admit it, Rouge was stressed.
Lavender tried not to roll her eyes at the alcoholic drink. How could she drink at a time like this? Whatever, This was her coping mechanism. Don't be mean.
"He's still in his room. I turned some of his favorite songs on for him, because I know he liked that last time." Rouge answered, lazily. Taking another sip of her drink. Nodding at his door.
Lavender sighed the breath she had been holding, walking over to counter and placed her bag onto the island. "Has he eaten anything at all?"
Rouge shrugged, a little out of it. "Go ask him yourself."
Lavender tried to be calm and patient with Rouge. And forced a stiff smile. "Alright, I'll..do that" She wasn't actually upset with Rouge. She did kind of find it funny when Rouge got drunk, since she acts just more silly then anything. But she wished she had more help with Shadow. But what can you do with Rouge.
Lavender carefully opened his door, with the light out making the room almost completely dark. She could hear the soft sounds of his favorite tunes being played on a record player on the left hand side of the room. She could also hear his heavy breathing. It sounded irregular. Not like his calm and focused breathing like normal.
"Shadow?" Lavender called softly, knocking on the door. Her eyes adjusted quickly, being a cat and all. And she saw that he was laying on his bed. His back to the door.
She walked to the right hand of the room, where his bed sat in the corner. And carefully sat down.
She had never really been in this room. Got a couple glimpses sure, but she never wanted to be in here alone due to some boundaries she had set. But this was a special case. She paid no mind to anything else besides him.
Her hand rested on his shoulder, nudging him a little to get his attention. "Hey, did you eat?"
Her voice cut through his ragged breathing. It calmed just a bit. Lavender noticed it.
Shadow shook his head to the question. Sitting up. Glancing at her briefly to gauge how she was affected by his….temper tantrum, how the scientists called it anyway.
"What do you want to eat? Should I make something for you?" Shadow looked back to Lavender when she continue asking questions. They distracted him for a moment.
He wanted her to. He wanted comfort. But obviously he didn't want to burden anyone. So instead , he shrugged an 'I don't know'.
"Okay" Lavender said in an almost whisper. In the dark he could still see her smile. And he watched her until she left the room.
----
"Hey Rouge, do you know something Shadow would like to eat?" Lavender asked.
"Anything you'd make for him, he'd probably eat. He's so down bad for you" Rouge teased, being on her 3rd glass.
Lavender rolled her eyes, trying not to smile. But couldn't help feel just a twinge of butterflies. Just a teeny bit. "Alight" She said with a sigh, trying not to feel awkward looking into someone else's pantry.
"Hmm, Mac n cheese. Kraft macaroni and cheese. Hey you guys got milk and butter right?" Lavender asked while grabbing the box.
"Yeah, I think so. Somewhere in this fridge." Rouge stood in front of it, but instead, grabs the wind bottle to pour her another glass.
"Alright, I think you had enough Rouge" Lavender went to grab to wine bottle, but Rouge held it tighter. Then pulled on it, bringing Lavenders face closer to hers.
"Hey, you're actually really cute" Rouge said with a smirk.
"What?" Lavender tilted her head slightly. She eyed Rouge suspiciously, letting go of the bottle.
"Aww, that's too bad. You don't have to be afraid of me." Rouge set the bottle down walking towards Lavender.
"Rouge, you're drunk."
"Awww, I just wanted to cuddle" Rouge pouted, her eyes turning into the biggest puppy dog eyes ever.
Lavender sigh, but couldn't help smile just a bit. "I can't cuddle right now but I can tuck you in, if you want?" Lavender was teasing, so imagine her surprise when Rouge agreed. "Oh..umm where are your throw blankets..?"
Rouge pointed a basket in the living area. "Alright come here." Lavender lead the tipsy Rouge to the couch, laying her down on the couch. She ignored Rouges glances and tucked her in nicely. "Got a favorite stuffed animal I could get you?"
"Yeah" Rouge winked "You"
"No, not me" Lavender answered with a light smack on Rouges shoulder. She asked again with a laugh.
Rouge pretended she was completely hurt. "Alright fine, I have one in my room. It should be on my bed" She said with a dramatic pout.
Thank the Lords. She's weird when she's drunk. Is this how Knuckles feels? Lavender thought to herself, making herself chuckle, as she walked past the kitchen into the hallway.
First door on the left was Shadows room, second door to the right was Rouges room. Wait, was there something staring at me from- "Ah!" Lavender jumped a little. "Oh, you scared me" she laughed.
"Sorry" Shadow mumbled.
The way he sounded, made Lavenders maternal instincts kick in. But before she could do anything, he glanced towards the living area. "What's going on?"
"Oh, that's right. She wanted her stuffed animal." Lavender said more to herself then anybody. She went back on track with her mission. Retrieving something from Rouges room.
Lavender had been in this room a couple of times, when she had come over to wait for Shadow. Lavender would just chill with Rouge, but would breath a sigh of relief whenever Shadow did come home.
Rouge had specific type of interests. One that Lavender could not stomach, half the time.
"Why are you getting something for Rouge?"
"Oh, well. She's drunk and I told her to lay down. But she said she can't unless she cuddles with someone, or something like that." Lavender explained as she navigated through the mess in Rouge's room, and then grabbed the red stuffed bear on the bed.
"Hmm" Shadow stood in the doorway of the room.
"Oh, which reminds me. How are you feeling?" Lavender walked up to him, mostly because she wanted to leave the room. She noticed how his expression darken as the attention was brought back on him.
He looked down near his feet. Avoiding to look at her. "I'm fine"
Lavender knew what he was trying to do. "You hungry?" She changed the subject. He clearly didn't want to talk about it right now.
Shadow couldn't lie. Some food did sound good, even though he didn't necessarily feel hungry. He was too emotionally drained at the moment.
Lavender smiled when he nodded at the question. "Good, now help me find the milk and butter, while I go give this little guy to her." She gestured to the bear in her hands while walking past him through the door.
---
Lavender found Rouge had gotten back up from the couch and found her sacred drink. "Rouge!? Get back to the couch!" Lavender pointed to the couch, as Roue just smirked at her.
"Cutie looks even cuter when she's mad, don't you think Shadow?" Rouge chuckled, taking another sip of her glass.
"I'm not mad, Rouge. Come on. You've never seen me mad" Lavender crossed her arms. Shaking her head at the other.
Shadow stayed quiet the whole time. He knew Rouge was just trying to get under Lavenders skin.
Rouge took Lavenders smile as an invitation to continue the teasing, but just then noticed the bear the other girl was holding. "Oh, there's my little guy. Knuckles gave that to me" Rouge cooed, her walk over was slightly more tipsy then before. "I wish he would just come to his senses and ask me out already." She sighed hugging the bear.
"With the way you're acting it's no wonder he's clueless to your crush on him" Shadow mumbled.
"Yeah, why don't you just ask him out already?" Lavender added. Slightly teasing, but the idea wasn't that far fetched.
Rouge gasped. "You know what! I could just call him right now! And I could have him in my arms tonight!" She got her phone out, already planning on reaching out to him.
"Uh! Maybe not while you're drunk???" Lavender quickly moved to her side of the kitchen island, hand reaching to grab the phone carefully. "How about you just cuddle with the bear on the couch and wait until morning okay?" She suggested, while motioning to Shadow to take her away. He took the hint, and lead her off.
Rouge giggled. Intoxication settling in more. "You're so sweet Shadow, Lavenders so lucky" Rouge gave him a peck on the cheek.
Shadow grumbled. "No. I'm the…. Never mind" He decided not to finish that sentence, glad Lavender hadn't heard anything.
"Finally found the milk and butter!" Lavender joked. "Was worried there for a second that you wouldn't have any."
"I like to keep some items here, just in case you or anyone else spends the night." Shadow answered, sitting down on one of the bar stools at the island.
"Oh, that's nice" Lavender smiled as she read the ingredients list on the box.
"Do you know how to make that?"
"Oh, yeah. I've made mac n cheese a hundred times. I just like to read the instructions because this is a different brand." Lavender explained, setting down the box. "Do you know where the pots and pans are located?" She asked, then grabbed a smaller one when he pointed to the correct cupboard.
"I should know where everything is by now" Lavender. "Guess I was just too busy to learn the layout of it all" She shrugged. She tried not to smile too widely at mentioning her spending time with Shadow here. "Anyway, prepare to taste the best macaroni and cheese you've ever tasted in your life!"
"Alright" Shadow shrugged slightly, his chin resting on his hand. He may seemed disinterested but in reality he wasn't sure if he should help or just stay put.
Lavender went about her business, happily fixing the water in the pot, while telling him about her entire day at work. Just minor happening. Things that happened out of the ordinary with a customer.
"You do smell like coffee" Shadow commented. Her smell reminding him of the place.
Lavender paused, slightly froze in embarrassment. "Oh yeah, I didn't take the time to shower before coming over here" She admitted sheepishly. Going back to checking the water.
"You could take a shower here"
"Umm, but I? Don't have any clothes here?" Lavender tilted her head slightly, in confusion.
"You can borrow Rouges clothes" Shadow suggested. Not as a question, because Rouge wouldn't mind sharing the less expensive things with her.
"Seriously?" Lavender laughed "I can't fit her clothes! Well at least not her shirts!"
"Well! Use one of my shirts then!" Shadow huffed, feeling slight embarrassed. He was only trying to help and he was failing at it.
"Oh, I guess so. But you need food." Lavender thought it would end there, but she heard him sigh. "What..?"
"The food can wait."
"So can I." Lavender tried smiling innocently. But felt bad about arguing with him. "But if my stench is assaulting your nose that much, I think I'll be more complaint." She tried to tease to lighten the mood.
"You know that's not what I meant."
"I know, I know" She chuckled. "Just joking, anyway. This pot does need time to boil and I don't take that long of showers. I guess it would be fine."
Shadow relaxed just a bit, glad she was doing it after all. It wasn't that she didn't smell good, he just hated to feel crusty and thought she would feel better taking shower.
"Wait a minute, why do you have t-shirts?" Lavender paused halfway out of the kitchen area. Slowly turning around to look at him.
"GUN issued some for all agents. As a cheep scapegoat for Christmas gifts" Shadow explained, but Lavender could tell the way his expression hardened whenever GUN got pulled into the conversation.
She honestly didn't really understand why he still works for them. Maybe it was because he was under Rouge's command and he trusted her more than anyone at that place.
"Oh well, umm. Do you…want to get me the clothes?" She tried the cover the awkwardness with a smile.
Shadow nodded, and got up. Walking to his room, as Lavender walked into Rouges.
After retrieving the clothing items, some baggy pants from Rouge and a GUN t-shirt from Shadow. Lavender headed to the bathroom for a quick shower. "I won't be long, so you don't have to worry about the food"
After her shower, she had to admit she did feel better and refreshed.
She put the clothes on, feeling a bit weird for wearing pants and a t-shirt, instead of her usual skirt and shirt combo.
At least she reused her old underwear so she wasn't completely uncomfortable.
Once she had the t-shirt on, she looked herself in the mirror. She smiled brightly, her cheeks turning rosie.
She hugged herself, smelling the shirt and instantly giggling when she could smell him from his shirt.
"Okay, enough goofing around" She slighty scolded herself.
---
Lavender walked out of the bathroom, feeling slightly embarrassed again about wearing pants.
'but its baggy pants, so its not a big deal, right?" She thought to herself in attempt to calming her nerves.
When she entered the kitchen again, she noted how Shadow didn't give the pants a second, and that eased her tension. "Thanks for that" She smiled at him, then focused on pot of water again. "I forget how relaxed I feel after showers"
While she made the food, Shadow sat relaxed where he was at. His head laid on the kitchen island, practically asleep. Lavender started to hum a soft tune, only adding to his drowsiness.
---
His head jolted awake when Lavender woke him up by placing a bowl of sweet cheesy goodness in front of him.
He looked at it for a moment. He had, had it before, when Rouge made it for them, and it was alright. Lavenders looked more brighter. And non burnt. He was in for a surprise because Lavender could actually cook. Unlike a certain bat.
His first bite was heavenly. Creamy, warm, evenly salted.
"Is it good? I forget to taste things before serving" She said while scratching the back of her head. "Does it have enough salt? I forget to add that sometimes too. I could add more if you'd-" She stopped at his raised hand.
"It's good" Was all he could manage. He was trying to control his emotions, but the fact of the matter was, the food was so warm it started to flood into his heart. It took all his strength not to burst into tears.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure" He sounded annoyed, but he was more so annoyed at himself.
"Alright" Lavender finally accepted it, grabbing her own bowl and sitting down to the left of him. Stuffing her own face with her glorious masterpiece. "You feel better? I know it took a while, with Rouge interrupting and my shower taking some time as well"
"Yeah, I do feel a little better, thanks" He said into his bowl, not being able to look at her.
Lavender watched him. How his head seemed to hang lower and lower. How he would just look at his food. "You're welcome" She whispered, her right hand reaching out to rub the back of his shoulder.
Hey! So um, guess it's finished?? With 3K words.....
A lot of it is randomness thrown in there to make it more cheesy?
Idk I just added things that I wanted to. Ik I shouldve mentioned how Shadow feels about Lavender wearing his shirt, cuz it's kinda a big deal but uh,,, bro was not paying attention. Also Rouge was out the entire time so there's that.
CHAPTERS 3 AND 4 ON ECHOES OF THE MIND IS UP! Go ahead and give 'em a read <3
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
I MIGHT HAVE DONE SOME MISTAKES IN THERE SOMEWHERE-(happens when I dont re-read my work!) But ill check em out tomorrow, fix em up when im not so tired!
Im gonna go pass out now since Its late for me hehe <3
