Chapter Text
In all his years, Abraham Towers never thought he would see the day that Shadow the Hedgehog willingly, albeit unconsciously, returned to G.U.N. headquarters. Yes, he had done freelance work for them in the past, and the offer for making Team Dark a permanent installment was always out there, but he had not once wanted to step foot anywhere other than the debriefing room. But now, as Abe rushed through the winding halls of the Biological Sciences and Health building, his hands gripping the edge of the rolling bed, he didn’t see Shadow, The Ultimate Lifeform that he had constantly lived in fear of after seeing the monster that was Black Doom, after seeing the destruction he was able to cause; He saw a child. He saw a boy, struggling with suicidal thoughts, who had lost his sister, who had been abused and manipulated in different ways over the years. Shadow shallowly panted, his brow scrunched in pain. Sonic raced along on the other side of the bed, just as worried as the medical team.
“We have to cut you two off here,” one of the nurses huffed gently as they approached the large swinging doors marked “High Energy Containment.” Sonic scoffed.
“No, what the hell? Shadow doesn’t do well around you people, especially not in a place like this! I’m not leaving him.”
“You have to. Abraham, control your blue pest. If he goes past those doors, he contaminates the healing space, puts Shadow’s life at risk, and is subject to the Chaos energy suppressors. It will take you down in an instant.”
“Stand down, Sonic. It will be alright.” Abe released the bed rail, dipping his head towards Sonic to do the same. Reluctantly, the Blue Blur let go, watching Shadow disappear behind the doors.
“This is so stupid. You know how much he hates being in hospital settings. If he wakes up in there, while they’re around, and he’s hooked up to machines and shit, all alone…” Sonic scoffed, crossing his arms. “Well, you’re going to have a shit ton of paperwork to fill out for the coroners.” Abe sighed, running a hand through his hair, heterochromatic eyes shifting between the doors and Sonic.
“I’ll see what I can do to get you or Rouge in there as soon as possible. For now, you have permission to bust in there the second someone does something that riles him up.” Abe reached into his pocket, producing a small device, handing it over to Sonic. “That has access to the cameras in there. If anything or anyone is doing something you don’t like, you can take action. But please, think about what would be best for Shadow.” Sonic glared at the device, before tucking it into his quills.
“Fine. I’ll keep watch. Rouge will be by later, I expect her to be allowed back to this area too.” Abraham nodded. He sighed, the weight of the morning finally catching up to the older man. He sank against the wall, sliding to the floor.
“God. I spent what, four years with him? And I never actually thought about how all the tests, the isolation, the- the pain would affect him. He’s just a kid. Like I was. Like-” He sighed, dropping his head to his hands. Sonic flopped next to the Commander, fingers tapping on the floor.
“Well, you were a kid. You didn’t know any better.” The Hedgehog shrugged. “That ain’t on you, really. I mean, with that logic, anyone could say that… his sister was just as abusive to him as anyone else in there, cause she didn’t actively have a way to protect him. Not- not saying she abused him-”
“I get it, Sonic. Thank you.” Sonic sighed, letting his head fall back against the wall. The two sat in silence for a moment, the sounds of the medical staff surrounding them. Abe heard Sonic breathe in, then out, as if he had something to say.
“You can ask me anything, Sonic.” Sonic flushed, twisting his fingers together until his gloves squeaked.
“Was there… I know you didn’t spend much time around him, but was there any signs about, I dunno, instability, on the Ark?” Abe thought for a moment. His interactions with Shadow were sparse and short, often ended by either a scientist awaiting Shadow for a test, or an eager Maria wanting to show Shadow the most recent shipment from Earth.
“I guess? He never really knew as much as me or you. The scientists didn’t think it was necessary to provide him with more than a basic schooling. The same that Maria and I received. We were too young at the time to have lessons on mental health, or suicide prevention. Hell, I didn’t even learn about sex until my parents sent me to an earth school. The words “mental health” Simply meant when one of the doctors would take a break for a week or so. It happened often, being separate from the rest of the world and isolated as we were.
So, with that thought, I don’t even think Shadow would know that the things he felt were… normal, or that he could get help. He never asked for anything, unless Maria put him up to it, so he would never tell the doctors, or the Professor what he was feeling. He probably felt like he’d jeopardize the tests if he was “Sick” In that way.”
“So, there could have been? But he just hid them so well that no one noticed.”
“No one cared. He only really had to hide it from the Professor, and Maria. No one else was going to say anything if he looked a little more down than normal. I wouldn’t have noticed. I didn’t notice.” He pulled his fingers through his hair again, sure that it was spiking up in the front from the nervous habit. Sonic stared at his hands in his lap. It was probably the most still the Commander had ever seen him.
“I’m worried. G.U.N. offers mental help, right?” Towers nodded. He had already been thinking about how they could convince Shadow to get help. Sonic sighed.
“I want him checked into the best mental health hospital, after he’s cleared here. Rouge and everyone else we know has agreed. He’s a danger to himself. If you need his signature, or whatever, then I can try to talk to him, but we both know he won’t agree.” Towers stretched out his legs, bringing feeling back to his feet.
“He will have a room prepped and ready for him in G.U.N.’s personal Institute at HQ. After he’s settled there, we’ll discuss a treatment plan and more. The only thing I ask in return is that you do your best to convince the Agent that this is best for him.” He carefully got to his feet, groaning as he stretched his back. He was too old to be sitting on the floor. He held out a hand, pulling Sonic up.
“It’s a deal, Commander.” Towers nodded, clearly satisfied.
“I take my leave now. I must inform the nurses here and at the Institute.”
….
Towers had left almost half an hour ago, leaving Sonic to sit outside the containment ward. Some kind doctor had taken pity on him and brought him a chair, which he currently sat backwards on. He tapped his foot on the floor, ears perking up whenever someone pushed through the swinging doors. It was never anyone that knew what was happening with Shadow. They all said the same thing, that it would all be ok, and that he was getting the best help right now, and to not worry. But all he could do was worry.
The look on Shadow’s face that morning, the way he looked ashamed that all their friends had been there to see his meltdown. The pain he was going through. And no one knew what was going on.
The Black Arms didn’t really have puberty books written and laying around. There was even a chance this wasn’t normal Black Arms maturation, and instead was some odd amalgamation of both Mobian and Alien. Sonic worried at his lip, remembering how scary and odd his transition had been. It was nowhere near similar to the current situation, but the out of body feeling was relatable.
He hated every second of it. All the pain, the heats, the suppressants that gave him allergic reactions, the binding tape that pulled at his fur, leaving him raw and sore every night. He had friends, though, and a support group that had a reference point.
Amy had been his stake, his rock. She shared everything she knew from other friends that had transitioned, bought books and watched videos, even dared to talk to anyone she saw with a trans flag pin.
Rouge was there to help him through every heat, making Omega clean the house and keep Tails away and entertained. She made tea and brought him heat pads, she cuddled him when he needed it, and she was the main reason his sex toy stash had grown so big.
But here, now? There was too much that was unknown. Shadow hadn’t been born with both anatomies. Even those Sonic knew that were Intersex, Tangle coming to mind, didn’t have two complete sets of different genitalia at the same time, and definitely didn’t develop them later in life. He had tried to do research on his phone, and sent Tangle a message. Tangle had said she wanted everyone to gather at someone’s house soon, so they could all talk about how to help Shadow. The internet had told Sonic that the closest proper term would be ‘Hermaphrodite’, an animal or plant that had complete male and female anatomy.
Sonic had stopped reading after the website mentioned ‘self- fertilization’. He knew, no matter what, that their friend group would be here, ready to support and welcome Shadow with open arms, no matter what. He opened a new groupchat, adding all their friends.
A date was set, the situation explained, and many ideas were already pouring in. Sonic felt himself smile widely, watching his friends discuss and brainstorm. Shadow was going to be ok.
“Mr. Sonic?” Sonic looked up, smiling at the young nurse.
“That’s me.”
“Shadow is stable now. He’s going to wake up soon, and we’d like you there.” Sonic nodded, springing to his feet.
“Finally. Let’s go get Shadow back to normal.”