~Shadamy~

She stands there, glaring at me as if I've just killed someone in cold blood. What did I do wrong? There was nothing about what I said that could be labeled as improper; I was merely stating a fact. That's what I always strive to do. Avoiding the obvious for a miss-labeled fantasy is only weakness to me, but she can't see that. Fantasy is the only thing she sees. The only thing she hears. The one thing I will never turn to.

"Can't you just be yourself?"

The words make me laugh. No, they are not funny, but it is more than obvious that she doesn't get it. What kind of a question is that? This is myself! I am not to smile, for I do not deserve such, nor am I to be happy. Happiness belongs to the heroes. Am I a hero? Of course not. My intentions are my own as the guardian of this planet (as paradoxical as it sound). If they happen to influence society for the better, than so be it.

"But you are a hero!"

A hero? What is her definition of hero? Someone who sides with another for personal gain and not for what is morally correct? Ha. Some hero I am. If a hero cannot stay true to what is "good," than he does not deserve the title, nor does he earn the glory. I am no exception to this rule. When will she realize such?

"What about all of those times you've saved the world? You had nothing to gain."

I grit my teeth. Ignorance! Nothing but childish ignorance! Is that all that she can display? Of course it is, that is all she has every known. Those few times that I aided the others had a purpose, and a purpose that only I could see. It was for—

"Admit it; you don't want to be alone!"

Insolent little girl! She knows nothing! I grit my teeth and my hands turn into fists. Why wouldn't I want to be alone? The silence is better than their endless chatter. Their comfort is meaningless, and I am nothing to them! When will she realize that I do not need her help, or anyone else's for that matter? I can do this by myself!

"You're slipping."

Her tone is all knowing and cruel. My anger is bubbling and over-flowing, and I'm ready to pop. I'm not slipping; I know exactly what I'm doing! There's never been a doubt in my mind of who I am, and nothing can change that. Not my acts, my friends, my past, no one! I am who I am because I decided that I am! There is nothing that can tell me other wise.

"You can't deny that you have changed."

The bandages around me couldn't have healed me from her words. They would mean nothing to a passerby, but to me, they are powerful and in a way, hurtful. Wait, what? Hurtful? I must be out of my mind! There's no way that anything she says will actually harm me in any way. She's too weak—no—I'm too hard headed. No one can harm me; I'm the Ultimate Life form! No one will harm me, especially not her.

"Lies won't help you."

I'm frozen. Lies? Lies? How can I be lying? I know very well of what I am and my weaknesses. I'm not perfect—it's not like I ignore that—but I'm aware that I have flaws. There is no denying that there are things that I can't do, but she does not need to pull me from that shield I carry. Okay fine, I admit it, there is a level of fantasy that I live in, but it doesn't matter. My fantasy is different than hers. Mine is dark, unwanted, and feared… just like me.

"Negativity will get you nowhere."

She looks furious as she points her finger at me, and the act is like a gunshot. I put my hand on my head and grit my teeth as my world falls apart from the inside out. I'm not wanted, I'm not needed, and I'm certainly not to be comforted. The anger is a mask, and one that I can't hide behind any longer. Yes, I can hold it up for a time, but not now. Not anymore. When the foundation is weakened, the structure will fall. It is as simple as that.

Most of the time I can handle it, but no longer. I fall to my knees, holding back the insanity that has grasped me by the throat. How pathetic I am. Not only is it impossible for me to perform a simple task such as smiling, but to even attempt to be happy? It should be illegal. I will not shed any tears, but at the moment, misery seems like the best option. I only wish that she would let me be and leave. Solitude is the greatest comfort I have.

Suddenly, a pair of arms wrap around me. In that instant, a thousand pounds is lifted from my load, and I'm staring wide eyed at what? For a second, I have no idea. Then, I realize that she is holding me, tears flowing from her eyes. Why is she crying? It's not like she's in any pain. Just as I am about to ask her, she speaks.

"You are never alone, Shadow. No matter what, you'll always have me."

Her words send an electric shock through my soul. Never alone? I almost want to push the words away, but at the same time, I am pulled to discover the truth of them. No, I don't want to merely find them, I want to live them. I want to know in full what it means. No longer do I wish to push myself into pools of self pity and hate. In that instant, I decide to live by what she had chosen a long time ago: to be happy.

I close my eyes and put my arms around her. Perhaps I am not alone. Maybe it is fine to lean on others for support once in a while. It is possible. No, it is more than possible, it is probable. For the first time in too long, I let my mind and body relax as she holds me, and I come to a conclusion in that instant. It is true when they say that every rose must have a thorn. I shall be the thorn, and she will be my rose. It is as simple as that.

Kind of wanted to experiment with this idea. I've had this idea floating around for awhile, so I finally put it words! Hopefully it sounds okay.

So, what do you guys think? Comments, questions, anything? The other part will be of my other favorite coupling in the Sonic universe, so if you're up for it, feel free to stay tuned for when I post it.