Chapter Text
"You have water right?"
"Yup."
"And you took something with to eat to keep your blood sugar up?"
"Of course."
"And you'll call if anything—"
Tom laughed, cutting her off.
"Relax babe, I'll be fine."
"Don’t knock me for worrying. Your arm is still healing and you shouldn't be pushing yourself," Maddie finished, crossing her arms. Her worried gaze followed Tom as he clipped Ozzy’s leash to the dog’s collar.
Tom sighed, turning to face her. "Maddie, I promise it’s just a short walk. I’m not running a marathon, and I’m not planning on beinh a hero anytime soon. I just need a little air, some quiet... you know, a moment to myself. And besides," he glanced down at Ozzy, who wagged his tail excitedly, "Ozzy could use it too."
Maddie frowned, clearly unconvinced. "I know you love your space, but I also know you love taking care of everyone else. What happens if your arm gives out or you trip over something?"
"I'll call you," Tom assured her, holding up his phone. "You’re one speed dial away, remember? And I know Ozzy will bark loud enough to scare off anyone or anything if it comes to that."
Her lips twitched at his attempt at humor, but her worry didn’t fade entirely. "I just don’t like the idea of having you out of my sight Tom. Ever since the incident, everything's been—"
"Chaotic?" he offered gently. "Yeah, I know. But it’s also been kind of amazing, hasn’t it? You, me, and three alien kids stuck together under one roof." He grinned, trying to lighten the mood. "I wouldn’t trade it for the world, Maddie. But I still need to recharge every now and then."
She stared at him for a long moment before finally sighing and stepping forward to adjust his scarf. "Just promise me you’ll actually take it slow? No rushing, no heroics, and definitely no climbing anything."
"Scout's honor," Tom said, placing a hand over his heart.
Ozzy barked, tugging on the leash. Tom chuckled and gave Maddie a quick kiss on the cheek. "We’ll be back before you even have time to miss me."
"I already do," she muttered as he opened the door.
Tom gave her a reassuring smile before stepping outside. The cool air greeted him as he and Ozzy headed toward the woods, the sound of leaves crunching underfoot. Maddie watched them go until they disappeared among the trees, her worry lingering like a shadow in her mind.
Maddie hovered by the window, her eyes fixed on the path leading into the woods. Tom’s figure was becoming barely visible, his silhouette framed only by the rustling trees, with Ozzy trotting faithfully at his side. She hugged herself, worry gnawing at her despite his reassurances.
“Still watching him?” a gentle voice asked from behind.
Maddie turned to see Tails standing in the doorway, his twin tails swishing lazily. He offered her a small, knowing smile, his sharp blue eyes full of understanding.
“Yeah,” Maddie admitted, stepping away from the window but not fully letting go of her anxiety. “I know he needs some space, and I know he’s not helpless, but I can’t shake the feeling that something might happen. His arm’s still healing, and those woods can be unpredictable.”
Tails nodded, his expression thoughtful. “I get it. We've been through a lot lately. It’s normal to worry.” He tapped his temple lightly, grinning. “That’s why I made sure you wouldn’t have to.”
Maddie raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
“I might’ve, uh… placed a tracker on Tom,” Tails said, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.
Her eyes widened in surprise, and then, despite herself, she laughed. “You tracked him?”
“It’s subtle! He’ll never even notice,” Tails assured her quickly. “It’s in his scarf. I just thought it’d give you some peace of mind, you know? If anything happens, I can locate him right away.”
Maddie exhaled, a mix of relief and exasperation crossing her face. “Tails, that’s… a little sneaky, but also really thoughtful.”
The fox shrugged modestly. “I know Tom likes his independence, but that doesn’t mean we can’t look out for him. Just don’t tell him I said anything, okay?”
“Your secret’s safe with me,” Maddie promised, smiling warmly. She felt a weight lift off her chest, knowing Tails had taken the extra precaution. “Thanks, Tails. That really helps.”
He gave her a thumbs-up. “Anytime. I’ll keep an eye on the signal while he’s out. If anything changes, I’ll let you know.”
Sonic zipped into the room in a blur of blue, skidding to a stop beside Maddie and Tails. He leaned casually against the wall, arms crossed, with a bemused expression on his face. "You guys know you’re acting, like, super paranoid right now?"
Maddie raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms defensively. "It’s called being cautious, Sonic. Tom’s arm is still healing, and the last thing we need is for him to overdo it and hurt himself."
"Uh-huh," Sonic said, his tone skeptical. "But he’s just walking the dog. Ozzy’s, what, like... the least threatening animal on the planet?" He glanced at Tails. "And you planted a tracker on him? Seriously? I could check on him in 0.1 seconds and he’d never even know I was there."
Tails rubbed the back of his neck, looking a little embarrassed. "It’s just in case something happens, Sonic. Better safe than sorry, you know?"
Maddie shot Sonic a look. "We’re not trying to hover, Sonic. We just want to make sure he’s okay."
"Right," Sonic said, smirking. "But if you really respect his need for space, why not just trust him to handle it? I mean, planting a tracker doesn’t exactly scream privacy."
Maddie blinked, caught off guard by the statement. "This is different," she insisted. "We’re not spying on him. We’re just... being prepared!"
"Yeah, yeah," Sonic said, waving his hand dismissively. "Prepared to totally invade his personal bubble the second something seems off. Got it."
Tails coughed awkwardly, clearly trying to suppress a smile. Maddie huffed and placed her hands on her hips. "Sonic, if you’re not going to be helpful, why don’t you go do something productive? Maybe... go clean your room?"
Sonic grinned, unfazed. "Nice deflection, Mom." He stretched lazily. "Fine, I’ll stay out of it. But just so you know, if something does happen, I’ll be there in a flash. Tracker or no tracker."
"Good to know," Maddie said, her tone dry but not entirely ungrateful.
As Sonic sped off in a blur, Tails looked at Maddie with an amused expression. "He’s not wrong, you know. About respecting privacy."
Maddie sighed, rubbing her temples. "I know, but it’s hard when it’s someone you love. You’d do anything to keep them safe, even if it means bending the rules a little."
Tails nodded thoughtfully, his gaze drifting toward the window. "Yeah. I get that."
Tom chuckled as he launched the stick as far as he could with his good arm. Ozzy barked enthusiastically and bolted after it, his tail wagging so hard it looked like it might propel him forward. The sight made Tom grin despite himself. "Good boy, Ozzy! Go get it!"
He stretched his sore shoulder lightly, glancing down at the sling on his other arm. "Maddie would kill me if she saw this," he muttered, shaking his head. But being out here, away from the unorganized nature of their home, felt liberating. He hadn’t realized how much he’d needed this—a moment to breathe, to feel like himself again.
Tom crouched down to pick up another stick, wincing a little as his arm protested the motion. He ignored it and tossed the second stick into the air, catching it with a flick of his wrist. "Still got it," he murmured with a faint smile.
As he waited for Ozzy to return, his mind wandered. He thought about Maddie, always so supportive and fiercely protective. Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles, who’d turned their lives upside down but somehow made them richer, fuller. Even the chaos of their daily lives felt like a blessing when he thought about it in such a way, especially following the incident at GUN's London headquarters.
He inhaled deeply, letting the crisp woodland air fill his lungs. "Life's a little crazy," he said aloud, more to himself than anyone.
His smile lingered until he realized something. Ozzy hadn’t returned.
Frowning, Tom turned in the direction Ozzy had bolted. The rustling of leaves and the jingle of the dog’s collar were noticeably absent. "Ozzy?" he called, his voice cutting through the quiet.
No response.
Tom straightened, his good hand cupped around his mouth. "Ozzy! Come on, boy!"
The woods remained still, save for the occasional creak of branches swaying in the breeze. Anxiety began to creep in as he stepped forward, scanning the trees for any sign of movement. "This isn’t funny, Ozzy!" he called again, his tone more urgent.
He strained to listen, but all he heard was the faint rustle of leaves and the distant calls of birds. Tom’s chest tightened. Had Ozzy wandered too far? Or worse, had something happened to him?
Clutching his phone in one hand, Tom ventured deeper into the woods, ignoring the ache in his arm. "Stay calm," he told himself. "He’s a smart dog. He’ll show up any second now."
But as the seconds stretched into minutes, Tom’s heart began to race. Something wasn’t right.
Tom moved deeper into the woods, his steps quickening as unease grew in his chest. The forest was unnervingly quiet—too quiet. The usual sounds of rustling leaves, chirping birds, and distant wildlife seemed to have vanished. He paused for a moment, straining to hear anything.
Nothing.
"Ozzy!" he called again, his voice echoing off the trees. "Come on, boy! Where are you?"
His pulse quickened as his boots crunched over twigs and leaves. He scanned the area, his eyes darting between the trees. The stillness pressed against him like a heavy weight. His mind raced with possibilities—had Ozzy chased something too far? Gotten stuck? Hurt?
Finally, just as he was beginning to panic, Tom spotted a familiar silhouette in the distance. "Ozzy!" he shouted, relief flooding his voice.
The golden retriever stood a few yards away, facing away from him, his posture oddly stiff. Tom’s brows furrowed as he approached. "Hey, buddy, you had me worried there for a second. What’s up? Find something interesting?"
Ozzy didn’t move.
Tom slowed his pace, his earlier relief now tinged with unease. The closer he got, the more he noticed something off about Ozzy’s stance. The dog’s ears were perked up, his tail still, his focus fixed on something just beyond the ridge.
"Ozzy?" Tom asked cautiously, stepping closer. "What’s going on, boy?"
As he reached out to touch the dog’s collar, his foot caught on a hidden root buried beneath the leaves. "Whoa!" he yelped as he lost his balance.
The ground gave way beneath him, and he tumbled down a small ridge, landing with a thud in a pile of damp leaves at the bottom. The wind was knocked out of him as he lay there for a moment, staring up at the canopy of trees above.
"Ugh... Great," he muttered, sitting up and brushing leaves off his jacket. His sling had shifted awkwardly, and his good arm ached from trying to break his fall.
Above him, Ozzy barked, finally moving from his spot to peer down at him with wide, concerned eyes.
"Yeah, yeah, I’m fine," Tom called up, wincing as he tested his limbs. "Thanks for the help, by the way."
Ozzy barked again, his tail wagging hesitantly, as if to say: You okay down there?
Tom sighed, pushing himself to his feet. The ridge wasn’t too steep, but the climb back up wasn’t going to be fun—especially with one arm out of commission. "Alright, buddy, you better have a good excuse for dragging me out here," he muttered, scanning the area around him.
That was when he noticed the black lump curled up by the tree next to him.
"What in the—"
Before he had any time to react, there was a gloved hand wrapped around his throat. Electric, crimson eyes looked down at him and a snarl came to the hedgehog’s mouth.
He found himself on the verge of panic when he was suddenly freed, Shadow releasing him and stepping back as though he had seen a ghost.
Tom stumbled backward, coughing and clutching his throat as he stared at the black hedgehog in shock. The intensity of those crimson eyes was seared into his mind. Shadow stood frozen a few feet away, his usually imposing demeanor replaced by something that almost resembled... confusion?
"You..." Shadow's voice was low, almost disbelieving, as if he were trying to reconcile what he was seeing. His fists unclenched, though his stance remained tense.
Tom took a steadying breath, his heart pounding in his chest. "W-why is it that every time we meet, you nearly kill me?" he croaked, his voice hoarse.
Shadow’s eyes flicked to Ozzy, who had climbed down the ridge and was now standing protectively in front of Tom, growling softly. Shadow didn’t respond immediately. Instead, his gaze shifted back to Tom, his expression unreadable.
"You shouldn’t be here," Shadow finally said, his voice cold but lacking its usual bite.
Tom frowned, still catching his breath. "What’s your excuse, then? Last I checked, this forest wasn’t private property." He straightened up, brushing leaves off his clothes. "And what do you mean I shouldn’t be here? This is practically my backyard."
He hesitated, wondering whether his discovery of the presumed dead hedgehog was emergency worthy enough to make a call to Maddie.
Shadow seemed to pick up on his thoughts. "I'll leave peacefully. You don’t have to call in reinforcements."
Tom frowned, rubbing his throat gingerly. "Reinforcements? You think I’m gonna call in a SWAT team or something? Give me a little credit."
Shadow’s eyes narrowed slightly, his guarded demeanor remaining.
Tom crossed his arms—or tried to, given the sling—and leveled the black hedgehog with a stern look. "But what I do want is an explanation. How are you even alive? Last I was told, you were doing a one-hedgehog firework show with that giant laser in space."
Shadow’s gaze darkened, his posture stiffening. "I survived."
Tom raised an eyebrow. "No kidding. Care to elaborate?"
Shadow hesitated, his crimson eyes flickering with a mix of irritation and something Tom couldn’t quite place—vulnerability, maybe? After a moment, he folded his arms and turned away slightly.
"The explosion didn’t kill me," Shadow admitted quietly, his voice tinged with an edge of bitterness. "I was thrown clear, unconscious. By the time I regained awareness, I was... here."
Tom tilted his head, studying the hedgehog. "Here? Like, the woods here? You’ve been living here? For a whole month?"
Shadow didn’t respond immediately, but the silence was telling.
"Okay, that’s a yes," Tom muttered, more to himself than anything. He gestured around the forest, his voice incredulous. "You’ve been hiding out in the middle of nowhere, eating... what? Berries? Squirrels? Do hedgehogs even eat squirrels?"
Shadow shot him a glare. "Despite what you may think of me, I'm not some feral animal."
Tom put his hands up defensively, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Alright, alright, no offense. Just trying to figure out the survival plan here. And hey, for what it’s worth, Ozzy and I probably wouldn’t have found you if he hadn’t decided to bolt. So, thanks, I guess?"
Shadow frowned, glancing briefly at Ozzy, who had stopped growling but still eyed him warily. "I don’t need to be found," he said flatly. "I’ve managed just fine on my own."
Tom shook his head, his initial shock giving way to curiosity. "Look, I get the whole lone wolf thing, but seriously—living in the woods isn’t exactly a five-star experience. You know Sonic’s going to lose his mind when I tell him about this, right?"
Shadow tensed at the mention of his blue counterpart, his expression hardening. "You don’t need to involve him—or anyone else, for that matter. I’m not here to cause trouble. I just need time."
"Time for what?" Tom pressed. "To play cryptid in the woods?"
Shadow’s gaze flicked to the ground, his jaw tightening. "That’s none of your concern."
"Okay," Tom said after a pause, his tone softening.
He studied Shadow for a moment, the tension between them palpable. The black hedgehog clearly wasn’t used to anyone poking into his business, and he knew pushing him further might make things worse. Still, he felt that he couldn’t just walk away without doing something.
“Alright,” Tom said at last, holding up his hands in a gesture of surrender. “I won’t press. You’re clearly going through... whatever this is. But if you’re gonna stick around out here, you’re gonna need supplies.”
Shadow frowned, his arms crossing defensively. “I don’t need your supplies.”
Tom let out a dry laugh, fishing into his bag with his good hand. “Yeah, well, tough luck. Maddie’s taught me a thing or two about stubborn people, and guess what? I don’t take no for an answer when it comes to helping someone who’s clearly struggling.” He pulled out a granola bar and a small water bottle, holding them out toward Shadow. “Here. Take this, at least.”
Shadow hesitated, his crimson eyes darting between Tom and the offered items. His pride was clearly warring with practicality. After a long pause, he finally reached out, taking the granola bar and water without a word.
“Good,” Tom said with a satisfied nod. He then unwound the scarf from around his neck, ignoring the chill that immediately bit into his skin. “And take this, too. Nights out here get cold.”
Shadow stared at the scarf like it was some kind of alien artifact. “I don’t need—”
“You do,” Tom interrupted firmly. “Trust me, frostbite isn’t fun. Just take it, alright? Humor me.”
Reluctantly, Shadow accepted the scarf, draping it loosely around his neck. Tom couldn’t help but smirk at how odd the hedgehog looked in the plaid fabric. “There. Now you look at least ten percent less intimidating.”
Shadow gave him a flat look but didn’t respond.
“Look,” Tom continued, his tone softening, “I don’t know what you’re dealing with, and I’m not gonna pretend to. But you don’t have to do it all alone, but if you need a hand, I don’t mind. I'm not even mad about the whole nearly killing me twice thing.”
Shadow’s eyes narrowed slightly at the word, but he didn’t argue.
Tom took that as a small victory. “Alright. I’ll be back tomorrow with more supplies. Food, maybe a blanket or two. If you want to talk, great. If not, no pressure. Just don’t disappear on me, okay?”
Shadow said nothing, his gaze drifting to the ground.
Tom sighed, turning to climb back up the ridge. Ozzy bounded ahead, glancing back at him as if to say: Are we done here?
Before Tom could leave, Shadow’s quiet voice stopped him.
“Why?”
Tom turned, puzzled. “Why what?”
“Why are you helping me?” Shadow asked, his expression guarded but his voice carrying a hint of genuine curiosity. "You could have been dead right now because of me."
Tom smiled faintly. “I'm a big believer in forgiveness.”
Shadow didn’t respond, but his gaze lingered on Tom as the man climbed back up the ridge, Ozzy faithfully at his side.
As Tom made his way back through the woods, he glanced over his shoulder, half-expecting Shadow to vanish like a ghost. But the black hedgehog remained where he was, the scarf now wrapped a little more snugly around his neck.
Tom smiled to himself, his steps a little lighter despite the ache in his arm. “One step at a time,” he muttered, heading home.