*Sonic's POV *
Our phones were going off throughout the entire movie. We were thankful they were on vibrate. At some point, Shadow had enough and went outside to answer it and see who was calling him. He came back almost right away but didn't tell me what was going on. He just continued watching the movie with me.

I didn't get an explanation until the movie was over, when I finally looked at my phone. Apparently, someone had recorded Shadow and I at the concesion stand and posted it online. The news was everywhere now that Shadow and I were dating, but Shadow didn't really seem to mind. To be honest, I didn't either, but we did receive a lot of messages from the group, except from Silver and Mephiles, who had gone on a mission together and were still not back. They'd be in for a surprise once they came back.

"You wanted to ask me something earlier." Shadow pointed out once we were outside of the theater. "What was it?"

"Oh!" I remembered as I reached for his hand and held it. Shadow remained with a straight face, so I tried to pull away, thinking he was uncomfortable. He squeezed my hand and didn't let me go. I understand.

"Everyone seems to be scared of you, don't you hate that?" I finally asked. "I mean, at least they don't bother you, but I remember once you told me you liked being around Cream because she has never been afraid of you."

"You remember that?" Shadow quickly looked at me. I smiled and nodded.

"Of course I do." I waited for him to answer. He simply looked back in front of him, watching where we were going.

"I stopped caring." He answered after a while of thinking. I lowered my ears. "I thought it was best to be this way. No one would bother me and try to annoy me. Of course, that failed."

I laughed at that and kicked a rock that was in front of me. "Yeah, I guess I did bother you a lot, huh?" I smiled. "If I am being honest, I don't think I was ever truly scared of you. I looked forward to seeing you, bothering you, race with you, even our fights." I laughed again, then intertwined our fingers. "I always felt there was more of you deep down. Once I got to know you a bit more, I realized I wasn't wrong. You were the one who was scared." He stopped walking.

I stopped as well, still holding his hand. "What?" He asked, looking into my eyes.

"I get it now." I said softly. "I get it more than ever." I chuckled as I spoke and then squeezed his hand. I didn't break eye contact. "You were scared of getting close to others. You were scared of your future. You were scared you'd always be alone." I said softly, Shadow stayed quiet. "I know because that's how I feel, or," I smiled at Shadow. "That's how I felt before you, and I became friends. Ever since I snapped, you've changed. You gave everyone a chance once you realized you would never be alone again." I walked closer to him and held his other hand as well. "Even if this doesn't work out between us, Shad. You'll never be alone. I promise you that."

My words had a bigger effect on Shadow than I thought because soon enough, he pulled me closer and hugged me tightly. I rubbed his back and rested my head on the crook of his neck as I hugged back.

He had lived for many years with this fear, I had only lived like this for a short time, and I was going insane. I can't even begin to imagine how Shadow must have felt all this time.

"You look younger." Shadow muttered, I couldn't help but think back to the day I had found Shadow crying. I had gone out for a run that night and had found him sitting at the edge of a bridge, looking down. He had scared me.

---------
"Shadow?" I got closer when I saw he was crying and looking down at the river. I was scared for him, knowing I would not be able to save him if he fell in, not like I wouldn't try, I'd probably die before I rescued him, though.

I sat beside Shadow, but he growled at me and pushed me away. "Go. Away. Faker." He snapped, cleaning his tears and about to get up.

I grabbed his wrist and pulled him back down, then rubbed his back as I remained silent. I didn't want him to go home this way or go to work this way. I had heard what they did to Shadow, and if he went like this, who knows what else they would do to ensure their precious weapon stopped having emotions. I hated that, I hated that I couldn't do anything to stop them.

"It's today, isn't it?" I asked softly after a while. He nodded in response. Maria died years ago on this very day. I knew how important she was to him and how much he blamed himself for her death. I couldn't let him leave like this. I wanted him to calm down first.

I stayed with him for a while as he cried, I didn't say a single word. I simply rubbed his back, letting him know I was there for him. Shadow didn't try to fight me. He didn't try to push me over the bridge. He just broke down. Something we all needed sometimes.

After a while, Shadow cleaned his tears and caught his breath. He looked me up and down, then finally spoke to me as he stood up. "You're getting old, hedgehog." His words sounded broken, and I wasn't sure if it was because he had been crying just a few seconds ago or because he just got hit with reality. I had started to get gray fur in some spots from the stress I was put through, not surprising for being almost 30.

Before he left, he threatened to kill me if I ever spoke of this day. Typical Shadow.

-------

Shadow saying I looked younger now was a reminder to himself that I wouldn't go anywhere. Him saying those words out loud helped him relax in my arms.