Author’s P.O.V. 
Sonic was curled up under the tree, crying and mumbling to himself. "Why…?" He sobbed. "I didn't do anything wrong… I never have…" He said lowly and stuttering a lot since he was crying. "Why do I keep getting hurt when I just help others…?"

"You don't deserve it…" Shadow said softly and sat in front of the Prince. "You really don't." 

Sonic slowly looked up at him. "I thought… you left… leave me alone…" He was still mad at him for what he had done to him. "You helped me already and I thanked you for that, leave…"  He sobbed, tears streaming down his muzzle. 

The ebony hedgehog lowered his ears. "I'm sorry… I couldn't leave…" He hesitantly said. "I wanted to tell you something." 

"What?" He sounded hurt as his voice broke. 

"Firstly… I'm sorry." Shadow dropped his ears. "I… Didn't know what I was doing back then…" 

"You used me… You hurt me and you're apologizing… You're just doing that because you don't want problems with Aleena." He growled lowly as his voice broke again. "Just leave me alone… You don't have to fake that you're sorry…" He wasn't looking at him. 

"I'm not faking it, Sonic." Shadow said softly and tried to reach for his hand. "I mean it. I'm truly sorry." 

Sonic looked at his hand and kicked it away roughly. "No, you don't mean that. You used me… Just like you used all those other girls." He growled as tears kept streaming down his muzzle.

Shadow hissed quietly and sighed. “I never used any girl.” He confessed. “It’s just a lie.” He looked down. “I… I didn’t want to use you either…” 

"Then why did you…? You blackmailed me and you used me…! Made me do stuff I didn't want to… That I wasn't ready for…!" He sobbed and held onto himself tightly as he tried not to breakdown again but his voice kept breaking. "You're not sorry…" He shook his head. 

“I am.” Shadow kept insisting. “I didn’t… I don’t know why I did that…” He looked at Sonic. “I just… Wanted to… C-call you mine… I guess…” He was ashamed of himself. 

Sonic looked at Shadoe a bit shocked at what he said. "What?" He was still crying over everything that had happened to him.

“I never got any girl on the sheets, I just gave them drinks until they passed out drunk, then lie to them that something happened between us and that I healed them, except from you.” The ebony hedgehog looked at the azure one. “I like you… But I chose the wrong way to show you how I felt.” 

Sonic looked at him shocked and hurt. He stayed quiet for a bit trying to process what he just said then he finally spoke up. "You used me… Just because you liked me…? If you had just talked to me… If you had told me… Then I would have given you a chance because I felt the same way… But now… I don't know how to trust you… How would I know you're not just apologizing because I am a Prince? How would I know what you're saying is the truth…?" 

“I guess you don’t…” The agent sighed. “I brought this upon myself, you shouldn’t even talk to me after what I did.” He stood up. “I’ll leave you alone from now on. All of you.” 

Sonic felt heartbroken and betrayed. His words just made him feel more hurt and he didn't know why. The azure one knew it was better that way, that he shouldn't trust him but a big part of him believed that he could trust him and that he was telling the truth. He stayed quiet at what the ebony one said, not sure what to answer.

Shadow chaos controlled away and locked himself in the house then started studying, since he didn’t have anything else to do, and he wanted to get his mind off of Sonic.

Meanwhile, behind a tree, close to the one Sonic was sitting, was Fleetway, who heard every single part of their conversation. He smirked and chuckled quietly, feeling proud about what he just found out. “You’re in big trouble now, Stripes~” 

~~~
“Sonic! Bro, wake up!” Manic shouted as he opened the door to the Sonic’s room, it was early the next day after the talk Sonic had with Shadow. 

The Prince had gone back to the castle after he calmed down, not telling anyone about the talk. He just told his siblings that he broke up with Fleetway. 

The azure one groaned and looked at his brother. He covered his face with the blanket, his eyes were red from crying so much and had a light headache. "What?" He mumbled.

“Why didn’t you tell us that Shadow found you when we went to drink that Friday?” The green hedgehog dropped his ears and sat next to his brother. 

Sonic's ears perked up and he looked at Manic. "How do you know that?" He quickly asked. 

“Why didn’t you tell us? How many times has he made you do that?” Manic asked again. 

"Manic, how do you know Shadow did that?" He asked again. "I am not going to answer anything until you tell me." He looked at him. 

"Fleetway came yesterday and told Ma everything.” The green Prince had his ears pinned down. “When were you going to tell us?” 

"Fleetway told Ma?!" He knew Aleena must had taken care of Shadow by now. "Where's Shadow?!" He didn't want him to get in trouble, he knew part of it was his fault for letting it happen when he could have protected himself. 

“That’s not the problem, Sonic. Why didn’t you tell us?! He used you!” Manic raised his voice, something he rarely did. “We could’ve done something about it, without getting G.U.N. or Ma involved.” 

The azure prince pinned his ears down. "It was my fault it happened! That's why I didn't tell you!" He dashed to the closet and changed into the suit. "Where is Shadow?!" It was clear he was panicking. 

“I ain’t telling you, he used you.” The green hedgehog grabbed his brother’s wrist and pulled him to sit on the bed. “It’s not your fault he got that night. You were drunk and… Alone…” He rubbed his face and sighed. “Stop blaming yourself for everything wrong that happens to you, and please stop keeping everything to yourself. We’re a family, we care for you.” 

"I know that, I don't want Shadow to get in trouble. I…" He let a tear roll down his muzzle. "He was the guy I had a crush on… And because of that, part of me didn't stop him from doing anything… It was my fault Manic, I let it happen… And then… H-he…" His voice broke. 

Manic dropped his ears and growled lowly. “He used you, he took advantage of your feeling for his own pleasure. He’s done that to many girls, not only you.” He started walking away. “He deserves to be locked.” 

Sonic dashed in front of him and stopped him. "He never did anything to anyone… He just got the girls drunk and told them that lie… He said that he liked me… And that he used the wrong way to show me how he felt… He apologized… He helped me with Fleetway before he could hurt me… Fleetway tried to attack me and Shadow helped me, Manic… He even said he would leave us alone… And that I shouldn't talk to him after what he did… I couldn't stop thinking about all of that at night… But now I know he meant what he said… And I am not saying I would give him a chance right away without knowing him or without making sure he isn't lying to me but I don't want him to be punished or be locked in… Please tell me where he is at…" 

“Sonic…” The thief sighed, having a hard time believing what his brother told him. “He’s using your feelings to get away from what he did…” 

"I never told him how I felt! Not until after he apologized. He never knew that I liked him and I always told him I hated him. Manic… If you've accepted Scourge’s apologies from what he used to do before and everything he's done… Why can't I with Shadow…?" 

Manic stayed quiet for a bit, trying to keep calm then sighed and nodded slowly. “He’s at G.U.N with Ma.” 

The azure one hugged his brother and quickly pulled away then dashed to G.U.N. He didn't care that he was wearing his suit and that others could figure out he was Aleena's son, he was too fast for them anyways. He dashed around G.U.N. until he found Aleena and stopped. "Mom!"

Aleena quickly looked at her son. “What are you doing here, Maurice?” She asked calmly. “Go back to the castle, I’ll take care of it.” She was disappointed by Shadow, since she thought of him as her own son as well... Because of his past… 

"No, Mom. Please don't do anything to him." He pinned his ears down. "Please…" His voice broke. 

The Queen stayed quiet for a bit and walked to a more private place. “What exactly happened that night?” She asked sternly. “I want the truth.” 

Sonic looked at his mother then down at the floor with his ears pinned down. "I was tired of school, Manic and I went to a bar that Friday and I was alone and drunk… I can't remember what happened… I just woke up next to him… But… yesterday… Shadow helped me… Fleetway was going to attack me and he protected me… He had been trying to apologize to me for a while now… After he got me to a safer place where Fleetway wasn't at, he explained to me that he has feelings for me, and chose the wrong way to show me… He said he would leave us alone… He apologized… Proved to me that he was really sorry…" He explained to his mother. "Please… Don't do anything to him… He used me at first but I let it happen, my feelings got in the way… I didn't want him to get in trouble…"

“That doesn’t change the fact that he used you, Maurice.” Aleena sighed, being upset. “It’s difficult for me too, but there’s nothing we can do now, what he did is unacceptable.” 

"Please… Don't punish him… Don't lock him in…" His eyes began getting watery again. "Please Ma…" 

Aleena looked at Sonic and sighed. “I’m sorry, Maurice, but a crime is a crime.” 

Sonic looked at his mother, clearly hurt as tears started to roll down his muzzle. "He saved your life more than once…! Why can't you just let him go…!" His voice broke and he couldn't take it anymore so he quickly took off his suit, threw it on the floor and dashed off, as fast as he could. He couldn't run as fast with his suit on. 

The Queen sighed and lowered her ears then picked up the suit and walked to the commander’s office. 

Shadow was standing on the left with handcuffs and two agents holding him. He was quiet and still, scared that they might do something to him, but he knew he deserved it. 

"I apologize for what our Agent did, we will make sure he is taken care of, my queen. He will never go near your family again." The commander said then glared at Shadow. "We will make sure of that." He said sternly, making it clear to Shadow he was going to be punished. 

“Don’t punish the poor kid, Commander.” Aleena said softly. “He’s just a kid.” 

"With all due respect, Queen but he should have known better before going and hurting someone from the royal family." The commander snapped his fingers as a signal for the agents to take him to the lab. 

“I understand that you might be upset, but I’m sure he didn’t know who my son was.” Aleena tried to make the incident look less serious than it is. “Please, don’t make the kid suffer.” 

"Queen, this kid is going to suffer whether in jail or outside of jail. What he did was wrong, whether he knew who your son was or not. He needs to learn his lesson one way or the other." He said calmly as he glared at Shadow, making him lower his ears slightly. 

“I don’t want him to suffer, whether he made a mistake or not.” The Queen said in a more serious tone. “He needs to understand that what he did was a mistake, but not fear to do anything because of that.” She looked at Shadow. “Mistakes are made to teach us what is right and what is wrong. He will come with me to the castle, to understand his mistake without violence.” She looked at the Commander. “Did I make myself clear?” 

"Yes, my queen." The commander nodded and looked at Shadow then back at the queen. 

Shadow looked down as the agents took him outside the building, where the guards were waiting for the Queen. 

When Aleena told the guards that Shadow was coming with her, they took him and started walking to the castle. 

“...You didn’t have to do that…” The ebony hedgehog said lowly, only to be punched and told to speak properly to the Queen.

“Let him be.” Aleena said sternly at the guards then looked at Shadow. “I had to, I know what they’re doing to you, Shadow. I’m not going to let that happen.” She said softly, making the agent’s eyes water. 

Meanwhile, the azure one had still not returned home. He had gone to a hideout he had far away from the castle. He spends time there when he couldn't handle the guards. No one knew where it was at. 

When Aleena and the guards reached the castle, she noticed that her son wasn’t there and told the guards to go look for him. 

The guards nodded and left, leaving Shadow with Aleena but couldn't find the azure prince. 

Shadow stayed quiet, looking down, close to breaking down. He didn’t want to be here, he thought Sonic told Aleena so he was confused to why he was there. 

After a few minutes, the azure one finally calmed down. He began walking to the castle but he was grabbed by the guards. They always had to do that since they knew Sonic would run away. 

"Let go!" The azure one was heard all the way to the room Aleena and Shadow were at. Sonic was fighting back and trying to get out of their grip until they got to the castle and when they opened the door, he took the opportunity to growled loudly and jump then kick the guards away from him. His eyes were red and he began walking away, passing by the room Shadow and Aleena were at as he growled furiously.

“Maurice.” Aleena said softly and walked to the azure hedgehog. “What happened?” 

"You've got to tell the guards to calm down when they are trying to get me. When I'm not in the mood, they get hurt." He pointed at the door where the guards were at. He looked away and began walking to his room, not wanting to talk to Aleena.

“I was worried about you, Maurice.” The Queen placed her hand on her son’s shoulder to stop him. “Also, I wanted to tell you and your siblings that someone will be staying here for a while.” 

"Good for them, I guess." He began walking away, still mad and hurt. "Tell the guards to call Manic and Sonia, I'm not in the mood, I’ll meet the guest eventually." He didn't care he was acting coldly. 

“Maurice.” Aleena said sternly. “Shadow is here. By the way you were acting earlier, I believe that’s what you wanted.”

Sonic stopped and his ears perked up. "Wait what…?" He stuttered and walked to Aleena. "He is staying here…? Why…?" 

“LIke I told you two days ago, he’s been through a lot, just like you. And you know that G.U.N. is very strict with their agents.” She said softly. “I wasn’t going to let his life be ruined any more by them.” 

Sonic sighed in relief at that. "Can I talk to him…?" He hesitantly asked. 

“I don’t know if he wants to talk to anyone.” Aleena glanced at Shadow, who was standing still, he was obviously scared. “Poor kid…” She lowered her ears. 

"Just… It will be quick… I promise…" He sighed, he couldn't see Shadow from where he was standing. 

“Alright then.” The Queen nodded slowly then moved to the side, letting Sonic walk to Shadow. “Take him to the guest room if you don’t mind, I have some things to take care of." 

"I will…" Sonic slowly walked to where Shadow was at with his ears slightly lowered.

Shadow’s ear twitched when he heard footsteps and dropped his ears when he saw Sonic’s shoes. 

"Shadow…" Sonic walked to him and sighed. "I'm sorry… For what happened…" 

The ebony hedgehog stayed quiet, not looking at the Prince. The Commander had done some experiments to him before Aleena was at G.U.N., so he was in pain. 

The prince dropped his ears and sighed. "Fleetway must had heard us yesterday… I found out that Fleetway was the one who told my Mother… I'm really sorry…" He knew he shouldn't be apologizing but he couldn't help it.

“J-just… L-leave me alone…” Shadow said lowly. “I… Shouldn’t be here in the first place.” 

"Shadow…" He looked at him. "I forgive you… I trust what you said was true…" He hesitant got a bit closer. "Let me take you to the room you'll be staying at, at least…" 

The agent slowly nodded and took a step away from the Prince. 

"Follow me…" He said lowly with his ears dropped and began walking to the guest room. 

Shadow followed Sonic quietly, trying not to be too close to him. 

“Bro, where wer-” Manic walked to his brother then quickly stopped talking when he saw Shadow. 

Sonic looked at Manic and shook his head. "Shadow is going to stay here for a while, Ma brought him back from G.U.N." He quickly explained. "Go tell Sonia, oh and…" He walked to him. "Please do me a favor and talk to Ma about Fleetway, I don't want to see that asshole ever again." He glanced back at Shadow and motioned him to follow him then kept walking.

“But…” Manic was about to say something but regretted it and stayed quiet. 

The ebony hedgehog felt very uncomfortable, he wanted to leave this place but he knew Queen Aleena wouldn’t help him if he got caught again. 

"Shadow… You don't need to be scared to say anything. You're going to be here until my mother lets you leave, don't be scared to say anything or ask for anything while you're here." He sighed and stopped in front of a door. "This is the guest room, if you need anything, my room is the first door down the hall to the left. I'll call you when dinner is ready." 

“Don’t bother.” Shadow walked in the room and locked the door before Sonic could say anything. 

The azure hedgehog sighed and walked to his room then laid down. He stayed locked inside his room until it was time for dinner. He had fallen asleep thinking about Shadow.

The ebony hedgehog stayed awake, he couldn’t sleep yet, feeling like he would be back at G.U.N. when he wakes up.