Lost

Static (part 2)

Sonic didn't even remember leaving.

One second, he was standing in his living room, surrounded by bright yellow sticky notes-on the fridge, on the bathroom mirror, even on his bed.

"You can't avoid this forever, Sonic!"
"Face it."
"We need to go back."

Everywhere.

Everywhere he looked, Tails' handwriting stared back at him.

The walls felt like they were closing in.

He doesn't get it, Sonic thought, gripping his quills until it hurt. He thinks if he keeps pushing, I'll just give in. Like I'm some problem to solve.

By the time his thoughts slowed, his feet had already taken him where they always did when everything got too loud.

Shadow's place.

He knocked harder than he meant to, his breathing sharp.

The door swung open. Shadow scanned him once, his crimson eyes calm but sharp.

"You again," Shadow said simply, stepping aside.

"That's it," Sonic grumbled, storming past him into the living room. "If I see one more sticky note, I'm actually gonna lose it."

"Tails," Shadow guessed.

"Who else?" Sonic flopped onto the couch, dragging his hands down his face. "He doesn't get it. He thinks if he pesters me enough, I'll just... go back to being me."

Shadow shut the door with deliberate calm. "You can't go back."

The words hit harder than Sonic wanted to admit.

"...Yeah," he muttered. "I know."

He didn't need to explain. Not with Shadow.

For a moment, there was only quiet. Sonic let himself breathe, sinking into the cushions.

Then Shadow crossed the room-only to pause.

Something yellow caught his eye.

A sticky note.

Tails' handwriting.

Shadow's jaw tightened instantly. He snatched it up, crumpling it in his fist and tucking it into his quills before Sonic could-

"What was that?" Sonic's head shot up.

Shadow didn't turn. "Nothing."

"Uh-huh." Sonic narrowed his eyes. "You're a bad liar, Shads. What was that?"

"Drop it."

"No," Sonic said, standing now, his quills bristling. "Seriously. First my house, now my boyfriend's place?! Heck. No."

Shadow didn't answer fast enough.

In a blur, Sonic darted forward and ripped the crumpled note from his hand. He smoothed it out just enough to read the messy scrawl.

"Even Shadow can't hide you from this forever."

Sonic froze.

Then laughed-a sharp, bitter sound. "Oh. Oh, I get it. He thinks he can follow me everywhere now? Leave me little messages like I'm some kind of... project?"

Shadow reached for his arm, but Sonic jerked away.

"No. I'm done," Sonic snapped, his voice shaking. "First my walls, now you? Heck no. This ends now."

Before Shadow could stop him, he was gone-a streak of blue fury tearing out the door.

Shadow swore under his breath, following. Sonic unrestrained was one thing. Sonic unrestrained while... not fully himself? That was dangerous.

---

It didn't take long for Sonic to find Tails.

The fox was in his workshop, bent over some notes, headphones on. Completely oblivious to the storm about to blow through his door.

Sonic slammed it open so hard it rattled on its hinges.

Tails flinched, ripping the headphones off. "Sonic?!"

Sonic threw the crumpled note at him. It bounced off Tails' chest and hit the floor.

"You've officially lost it," Sonic barked. "You sneak into my place? My boyfriend's place? To leave me your creepy little reminders?"

Tails blinked, defensive. "I-what? I just-"

"No!" Sonic snapped, his quills flaring. "No more excuses. I said no, Tails. No means no. You don't get to stalk me with Post-Its until I change my mind!"

Tails' ears flattened. "...You're overreacting. I just-"

"OVERREACTING?!" Sonic's voice cracked, too loud, too raw. "You've been haunting me with these stupid notes for days! I can't eat, I can't sleep, I can't even go to Shadow's without you leaving your little messages like I'm some experiment!"

Tails stared at him, wide-eyed.

And then Shadow stepped into the doorway behind Sonic, silent but radiating menace.

"This isn't going to end well," he muttered.

---

Present Day - The Lab

"...And that's why we're here," Tails snapped, slamming his hands on the lab table.

Sonic paced across the cold floor, fists clenched. "No. We're here because you can't take no for an answer."

"You think I want to push you like this?!" Tails' voice cracked. "I'm trying to help you, Sonic! You're not-"

"Don't." Sonic spun on him, his eyes burning. "Don't act like you know what's going on with me."

"Then tell me!" Tails shouted, desperate. "Tell me what's going on!"

The words echoed through the lab, sharp and heavy.

For a moment, Sonic didn't answer. His chest rose and fell, too fast. His hands twitched at his sides.

And then-just for a second-his stance changed. Too stiff. Too unnatural.

Shadow, leaning silently in the corner, noticed.

He always noticed.

But Tails didn't.

Not yet.

-