50 Years Ago (Live and Learn)

Can't Accept it. Have to Accept it.

Maria's protests died as she saw how worried Gerald looked and nodded, slowly guiding Shadow away from the chamber room.

"You can sleep in my room, Shadow," Maria said softly. Gerald watched the two leave before he turned back into the room. At this point, the hedgehog had figured out he was able to breathe while in the tube, and without his powers to use, it had settled down, scanning the room and the people inside it with distrust. As Gerald walked up to the tube to get a closer look at the creature, the creature glazed over him before stopping and turning to look at Gerald again, its face showing signs of surprise. The surprise quickly morphed to recognition, which morphed into anger.

He deduced that it must know that Gerald was the one to incapacitate it. That's good. Gerald wanted this thing to know that he was not one to cross. Once Gerald was done, it would regret ever looking at Shadow and Maria.

"Let's keep it in there for a few days," Gerald announced, looking at his fellow scientists. "Monitor its vitals and such."

"Sir, the commander wants to speak with you," one of the soldiers announced, appearing in the doorway. Gerald put his hands on his hips and looked around the room with disappointment.

"Alright, who snitched to the government that we have an uninvited visitor? You can tell me, I won't be mad...I'll be furious!" Gerald shouted. "Couldn't have waited until morning to call mommy and daddy, could you? Of course not."

"Sir, the commander," the soldier pressed, looking slightly fearful of the professor's reaction. Gerald rolled his eyes, groaning loudly and a little too dramatically, but he conceded and followed the other man out of the room.

Many hours later, Gerald made his way back to the chamber room. All the other scientists had long since gone to bed, allowing the machines to monitor this blue creature in their stead. The hedgehog appeared to have also fallen asleep, having exhausted itself from it trying to escape. But then, something caught Gerald's eye. Rounding the tube, Gerald noticed someone had drawn on the tube's glass with a dry-erase marker. The large bunny face was a Maria calling card, but the shaky, unpracticed lines suggested it was Shadow who had drawn it. They had been here. Gerald's gut twisted at the thought.

___

Three days later, Gerald woke up earlier than he typically would, feeling that either Shadow or Maria or both of them would be in the chamber room. They had already tried to make peace with the creature the night before, and Maria's kindness was never-ending. Shadow followed Maria.

He was entirely correct, of course. Gerald found Shadow in the lab, looking at the blue hedgehog. The blue hedgehog paid Shadow no mind, instead choosing to bear his teeth at Gerald as he walked in.

"Shadow," Gerald called out calmly. Shadow jumped in surprise and turned to look at the professor.

"Professor," Shadow blinked, looking slightly guilty at being caught.

"Not following my specific orders, I see," Gerald hummed, raising an eyebrow at the ebony hedgehog.

"I'm sorry, I was just worried-"

Gerald inwardly sighed in relief, realising that Shadow must only be here to ensure that the creature that nearly attacked him and Maria last night was still safely contained. Shadow was deeply protective.

"It's not your job to worry," Gerald said softly. "Trust me, the specimen is contained. He can't hurt anyone in there."

"I was worried about him," Shadow frowned, fur prickling in agitation. Him. Shadow saw this thing as more than what it was. Had Shadow forgotten what this thing did last night? Perhaps Shadow was simply blinded by the fact that this creature looked strikingly similar to Shadow. Shadow wanted answers as much as Gerald did about what Shadow was.