Author's P.O.V.
The ebony's partner looked at them concerned. "Are you feeling better? Do you need more pills?" She asked.

"No. I'm not better." He said coldly, he was being ruder to her every day, he felt like he was empty and incomplete without his rival, he knew he needed to apologize but he was too stubborn and scared to do that. 

He feared that the hero wouldn't accept his apology, that he would never face him again, that he will act as coldly and rudely towards him as he was acting now.

Just that thought…

It hurt him…

"Hun, stop acting this way. I don't know what to do to make you feel better. You've been snapping at me even more." She sighed.

"Let me fucking die then." He growled lowly. "It's better than having to put up with his pain." 

"Shadow! You made a deal with Sonic, he is doing his part. You better do yours!" She didn't want to lose her best friend. "Chaos. You got even moodier the day you woke up and he was gone." She sighed.

"Stop talking about him!" The dark agent growled louder. "It's not my fault I'm like this. I'm in so much pain that I can't even talk properly!" He coughed after he said that and hissed, he was an emotional wreck. 

"Just lay down, I called Miles to come to check on you. He should be here soon." As soon as the bat said that, there was a knock on the door. The agent went to open the door and let the small fox walk in. 

"It's just a quick check-up, right? I need to take some things to Sonic since he moved out." The smaller one did not know about the rivals' deal.

What he said made Shadow pin his ears on his head and stop growling. He felt like he was hit roughly on the chest, knowing he was the reason Sonic had moved out, he still remembered his expression when he told him to leave him alone. That image was stuck on his head ever since, not leaving him in peace.

Rouge nodded. "Yes, Tails. It will be quick. Did Sonic talk to you about when he will be coming back?" She asked the smaller as they stayed by the door. 

"No, but he's been coming with his siblings every now and then. Said he'll maybe tell everyone about him being a prince. I don't think he's okay, he hated the fact of anyone finding out about him and now he suddenly is thinking about making it public." He sighed. "It's his decision but he'll have more people after him now, he's a hero and a prince, he's worth a lot." The smaller fox walked to the ebony hedgehog, who had his eyes closed and his ears pinned down.

He wanted to find Sonic and tell him how he felt, but that was nearly impossible while he was in this condition. 

"Let's see." The fox started doing a check-up on Shadow and nodded slowly after he was done. "He just needs rest and keep drinking the pills if he's in pain. He's healing fast, maybe a couple more days and hell be back to normal, that's without the emeralds help. Maybe it will be faster with more chaos energy." He told Rouge and she nodded.

"I'll ask Sonic if he can lend me a chaos emerald… Can I come with you? I'm sure Shadow wouldn't mind staying alone for a bit…" She looked at her best friend, she was saying all these things on purpose, to make him think that she's leaving. 

She knew something was bothering him.

And she was going to find out what it was.

"Fine by me." The Ultimate Lifeform quickly answered. "I might finally get some privacy." He mumbled. 

"Sure. It's no problem, I doubt Sonic would mind." He walked to the door. "Stay laying down, you need to rest." He told Shadow then walked outside and waited for Rouge. 

"Don't move, Hun." She followed the smaller one outside quietly.

Shadow stayed quiet and waited for the door to close, then opened his eyes and sighed deeply. He was very stressed over what happened and wanted to release that massive weight that was pressed against his chest. 

He knew there was only one way to do that, he had to cry. 

He couldn't punch, shout, or run to distract himself.

He could just lay there and stare at the ceiling.

And cry.

~~~
"I want you to leave my house." Shadow said harshly at Rouge.

She had caught him crying that day, and since then she's been trying to find out what was bothering her best friend, even though she believed she knew what it was. 

"I'm not leaving until you tell me why were you crying that day, Handsome." She crossed her arms. 

"That's none of your business, Bat." He sat up, he was much better now but he still couldn't run or carry anything heavy. "Go find someone else to bother." 

"You're crazy if you think I'm going to leave you alone like this." She sighed and shook her head. 

"There's nothing wrong with me! I was in pain! And I thought you'd left! What did you expect me to do!" He snapped at his partner. He was close to crying again but he was trying to hold back. 

"Fine… I'll leave you alone Hun, but please call me if you need help, I am your friend." She said softly. "Alright?" She sighed.

"Just leave." Shadow rolled his eyes. "I don't need help." He stood up and started walking to his bedroom. 

Rouge sighed at hearing this and flew away, leaving the ebony agent alone. 

"I don't need help…" Shadow repeated quietly. "I don't…" He glanced at the door that lead to his office 

He had many guns in there.

So many options.

He slowly walked to the door and opened it, his mind was racing, knowing that what he was doing wasn't going to lead to any good. But he didn't care, he wasn't in control of his body anymore, all he could think about was what gun he was going to use.

His hand traced over his pistols. His eyes scanning them as he tried to think of how much each one will hurt so that he could use the most painful one.

He grabbed his favorite pistol, the one that could easily break someone's skull, and slowly pointed it on his forehead. 

His palms were sweaty and he was panting, his vision was getting blurry from the tears as the adrenaline rose. 

He tightly closed his eyes and bit his tongue.

He tightened his grip on the gun… 

And…