*Sonic's POV *
"They're gone?" I asked with a raspy voice as I slowly sat up and realized the metal gloves were gone. Shadow was asleep on a chair beside me with his arms crossed as Metal sat next to him looking at me.

"Rest required." Metal said, lowering his volume to talk to me.

I looked at Shadow, his ear twitching and he slowly opened his eyes. He saw I was awake then sat up correctly, yawning as he did so. "You're awake. Finally."

"You didn't have to wait here for me, Shadz." I smiled at him. Shadow stood up and stretched then pointed at a table beside me. The gloves were there, destroyed, I could still tell what they were because the control was there too, the remnants of it at least.

"You're family took care of the commander. Rouge called me a couple hours ago, he won't ever bother you again." My ear twitched.

"Just what the hell did they do to him?" I asked confused.

"She didn't kill him if that's what you're asking." He rested back on the wall as he talked to me. "He's locked up, made sure he would never be able to get out of there." Shadow explained and I nodded slowly. "Will you go visit them now, hedgehog?"

"No." I said calmly. "I can't. Ever." I admitted.

"You're still on that. You're not going to be forced to hurt them again. Dark is gone because of Miles shot, Eggman is dead, and the commander is locked up. This is the freedom you wanted." He was talking to me calmly, he wasn't raising his voice or anything like that but I could feel Shadow was beginning to get annoyed.

"I know. It's just." I sighed. "Shadow, things aren't the same. I am not the same anymore. I can't just pretend that nothing happened."

"Then don't." He said as Metal looked at us, staying silent.

"What am I supposed to do, Shadow?" I asked with a low laugh. "I still can't even believe how fast YOU forgave me." I rubbed my face. "I'm not the same anymore, Shadow. I can't stay here."

"Then where are you planning on going? What do you think you're going to do?" He growled lowly.

"I don't know! I just know I don't want to be here." I snapped back at Shadow. "I know I promised you I wouldn't leave so I'm asking if I can break that promise now, Shadow. I don't want to be stuck here." Shadow walked up to me and raised his hand but stopped himself before he could punch me or slap me or hurt me in any way.

Metal had immediately stood up when Shadow did that, dropping the chair as he did so. I had my eyes closed expecting the hut but it never came. I opened my eyes to see Shadow looking down at me then moving his hand back down.

"Go." He said.

*Shadow's POV *
I couldn't do it anymore. I couldn't hurt him in any way without feeling wrong about it. I didn't want him to go, I knew it was a bad idea, he had been the reason why I never did the same thing throughout our years fighting. It had helped me in a way. Helped me realize that I shouldn't keep hurting others. 

"Go." I said to Sonic as I took a step back. "But if you go, I don't ever want to see you again." I said it and I meant it. Knowing he'd be the only other person in the planet stuck living the years with me, I knew it struck him hard. "I'm tired of trying to get you to stay, if you're so sure leaving is what you want then go."

I don't want you to go, Sonic.

I wanted to tell him that but I couldn't. Sonic simply stayed quiet as he looked down. He was hesitating.

"Don't expect me to go after you, hedgehog. That's not what I do. If leaving is what you want so badly the go ahead." I walked to the door and slammed it as I made my way out, furious with Sonic and myself.

It was currently 4 in the morning, I had stayed the night beside Sonic to make sure he was okay. Everyone thought I didn't actually cared about Sonic but I did. I really did. Just as much as I cared about Rouge and it was insane for me to think how close I had gotten to my once rival.

I had realized when I thought he had died that he was someone I really cared about. Of course you always know what you had after you lose it. But this time it was different because I hadn't lost him, he simply decided he didn't want to be here anymore. Which surprisingly hurt even more.

This is why I never liked getting attached to others, I hate feelings. I hate emotions.

I made my way to the front door, feeling too tired to use my chaos energy to go home and decided it would be best to take a walk anyways.

Now that Eggman was gone and the commander was out of my life, everything was more peaceful, I was finally able to clear my head and think without being interrupted.

As I kept walking I realized I couldn't get that stupid hedgehog out of my head. I growled and was about to punch a tree when I felt a hand hold my wrist. My ears perked up and I turned to face Faker. He let go of me then took a step back.

"I won't go." He said lowly. "I don't want to lose you." He looked down with his ears lowered. "Ever."

My ear twitched at that, my heart skipping a beat at hearing him say that. "I'm sorry for all the problems I've caused you. I promise I will try to get better. But please. Understand that I am not who I used to be anymore, Shadow. All I ever wanted was to be free, to have someone who protects me just like I protect everyone else. To be happy." He stayed quiet for a bit. "I think you're unconsciously helping me heal. I need you."