*Shadow's POV*
"Hun? Are you okay?" Rouge walked to me. I had lost count of the days since I had stayed home. The one day I went to work and saw him again was enough to convince Rouge I needed time alone.

"Go away, Rouge." I called out, I wasn't in the mood for company still. I couldn't stop thinking about him. The anger and betrayal still clung to me like a second skin.

Rouge walked to me anyway, her heels knocking softly against the hardwood floor. It's probably the most noise that's been at my house since Sonic and I broke up. She looked around, scanning around, her eyes landing on the untouched dinner she had dropped off for me the night before.

"I wasn't asking, Hun. You can't shut me out." I didn't even bother with a response, I simply looked back at the empty teacup that sat on my coffee table. Rouge walked closer, dropping herself on the couch beside me. She pulled me closer and hugged me, I couldn't even push her away. I didn't have the energy to do so.

"You really do know how to sulk, don't you?" I couldn't bring myself to answer.

Why was it so hard to do anything lately?

"Shadow." Her voice softened. "This is why it took me a few days to tell you about Sonic." Hearing his name made my body tense and my fists clench. "Are you really going to throw it all away over one lie?" Rouge bluntly asked, her words cutting through the tension like a blade. I could finally push her away.

"It wasn't just one lie, Bat. He lied about everything." I spat out. My voice sounded lower and more dangerous than I expected.

"Everything?" I stood up, pacing around the room as I thought about it more and more, my anger simply growing and the pain in my chest getting heavier.

"He told me he trusted me, Rouge. I trusted him too, I told him things I've never told anyone else. He made me break down my walls, and he made me believe I could open up and that I wouldn't get hurt again. It's stupid to get attached to someone. I shouldn't have listened to you." She stood, standing in the same spot but following me with her eyes. I could tell I hurt her by saying those last few things. "But the entire time he was lying, keeping secrets. I don't know who he is."

"Hun, Sonic was just -" I stopped walking, my eyes meeting hers as they narrowed.

"I told him about Maria. I told him everything, and I told him I liked him. We even kissed, Bat. He knew what the commander was doing to us for not accomplishing the mission, and all along, he was sabotaging it. He didn't care that we were the ones suffering. He lied about everything. How can I be with someone who can't even be honest about who he is?"

Rouge's shoulders dropped. I could tell it hurt her to hear everything. I couldn't bother with figuring out how she felt, though. I was trying to figure out my own feelings out. I knew I was mad, I knew I was sad that I couldn't be with him anymore. But what was this overwhelming weight on my chest?

It felt like an emotional storm of sadness, loss, and a deep sense of emptiness. Mixed with confusion and disbelief. Everything I usually did seemed pointless and dull.

"I get it. Believe me, I do. I am mad about this, too, Shadow. But do you really believe Sonic did this to hurt you?" Rouge walked closer to me, I couldn't help but glare at her.

"It doesn't matter why he did it, Bat." I snapped. "He lied, and now it's over."

Rouge didn't flinch. In fact, she got closer and placed her hand on my arm, squeezing gently. "You're right. He lied. But Sonic." She sighed. "He's not perfect. You knew that going in." I didn't know how to respond to that. "And maybe," her tone was quieter now as she continued. "Maybe he was trying to protect you, or himself. Maybe he was just afraid of losing you."

"Maybe he already did, Rouge." I whispered, my voice barely audible. It hurt to admit it.

Rouge frowned at my answer. "It doesn't have to be this way, Hun. It's not too late, you know? I saw how happy you were with him. You dont have to let this be the end." My gaze dropped to the floor.

"How can I trust him after this?" My voice broke, I think it has been years since it had done that. I hated it. This felt like a different kind of pain than when I lost Maria, but even if it was different, it hurt like hell. 

"Trust can be rebuilt, but it takes time. And it takes forgiveness." She squeezed my arm once again, reassuringly. 

"I dont think I can forgive him." I admitted, my voice hoarse.

"You don't have to decide that today. But you'll never know if you don't try." She answered softly. We stood in silence for a long while, the sounds of the city outside my house faded into the background. Finally, Rouge let go and walked towards the door. "I'll be around, Hun. Call me if you need anything, alright?" She said quietly before leaving, closing the door behind her.

I was left alone once again, stabding there, alone under the dim light of my living room. My mind still spinning with the betrayal and pain I was going through. But now, there was a small crack on the wall I had just rebuilt.

A slight sliver of hope.

Maybe.

Just maybe.

Things weren't as broken as they seemed.