9
When Joline returned from her shopping trip with Poe there was a collar on the table with a note and rock next to it, it wasn't a collar she had seen before but it had Poe's name on it so she assumed whoever put it there thought it was her's. The note next to it was in neat writing but some words were spelt wrong, it stated that they thought this belonged to her and the rock next to it had a beautiful pattern engraved into it.
She smiled as she took the rock to her room and set it in her window, she then put the note in her nightstand drawer and went to put her groceries away, Poe jumped onto the couch and laid down by the arm.
As Joline sorted through her bags, she glanced over at Poe, his fluffy tail wagging slightly as he settled in for a nap. She chuckled at his contentment. After putting away the last of the groceries, she paused, her mind wandering back to the note.
Who would leave a collar and a rock for her? Was it a prank? Or perhaps a kind gesture from someone? How did they get in her house? The questions swirled in her mind, but she ultimately decided on asking about the collar.
Joline grabbed her phone and took a picture of the collar. She then opened her social media app and posted it, hoping someone would recognize it or know who it might belong to. 'Does anyone recognize this collar? #LostAndFound #Curious,' she typed, her fingers flying over the screen.
Once she posted it, she moved back to the window, admiring the rock. The patterns danced in the sunlight, and she felt a strange connection to it. She wondered if it was just a simple stone or if it had significance.
After a few minutes, she heard the soft whine from Poe, he wanted cuddles. So she ventured out into the living room and layed with him on the couch. Her sister would be here tomorrow, she should finish setting up the guest room. She's so tired though, she can do it later.
_
"No."
"Ugh, c'mon Shadow. It'll be super fun!" Sonic had been trying to convince Shadow to join them for family movie night but no matter what, he refused.
"I'm not a part of your family, it would be awkward." He shoved a couple more coffee beans in his mouth as Sonic groaned.
"Shadow! Just join movie night, you're always welcome." Shadow just rolled his eyes which only served to ticked Sonic off more.
"Boy's enough arguing, if he wants Shadow can join to watch the movies any time he wants. If he doesn't want to then he can rest up or do his own thing, we don't want to force him to do anything." She raised an eyebrow at Sonic who just huffed and crossed his arms over his chest. "I guess."
"Good, Shadow would you like to join us on the couch to watch any movies?"
"No thank you, I'll probably just stay here with these." He grabbed a couple more coffee beans and ate them.
"Alright," she smiled at him before turning to Sonic, "why don't we go pick out our movie choices?"
"Alright!" This seemed to raise his mood as they walked away.
_
It was weird having Shadow stay with them. Maddie and Tom suddenly admitting to knowing Shadow was alive, Sonic tracking him down, and then Sonic and Maddie walk in with Sonic supporting Shadow as he hobbled through the door.
It's not like Tails doesn't like him, it's just strange to have him staying with them till his ankle gets better. He didn't seem bad, just a bit standoff-ish. As Tails was watching Shadow from the living room couch he noticed something as he put more coffee beans in his mouth.
"Shadow, are you missing teeth?" The rest of the family, which was deciding on one out of three movies, looked over at Shadow as he looked back at them.
He finished what was in his mouth before answering, "Yes. The professor removed two them."
"Why would he take your teeth though? If your anything like sonic those should be where your fangs are."
"Yes that is where they used to be but they counted as a weapon in his eyes, as well as my claws, the only reason I was able to keep those was cause I have these shoes and gloves."
"So he took your fangs cause they counted as weapons?" This didn't make much sense to Sonic.
"Yes. That and they didn't fit in my mouth right, just slightly too long, so they gave me a slight lisp, the professor said that a lisp doesn't suit me and he ripped them out."
"That sounds painful, I'm sorry he did that to you." Tails offered an apology.
"I don't need your pity, I've been through worse before. Getting a couple teeth pulled is nothing." He waved it off, taking another handful of beans.
"And they never grew back? Were they your grown teeth?" Knuckles questioned him.
"They grew back a few times but after being ripped out for the... I think twenty third time they started growing back slower and I only got them pulled very like, year. They should be back to normal in a little bit, then I can keep em'."
"Twenty three times!" Shadow turned his head towards Maddie, "yes." He responded with a flat voice.
"Shadow that's not normal or healthy. You could cause serious problems to your mouth doing that." She tried to keep a calm voice as to not spook him, but this professor person is really getting on her nerves. First he tries to blow up the earth and now she's leaning he basically tortured this poor boy, he was only a kid he didn't deserve all this.
Maddie's heart ached for Shadow. It felt surreal to think of a child being subjected to such cruelty. She glanced at Sonic, his usual carefree demeanor replaced with concern.
"Maybe we should talk to him about it," Sonic suggested quietly, "He could use a little support."
But Shadow merely shrugged, somehow he heard them, seemingly unbothered. "I don’t need anyone’s support. I can handle myself. Besides, it’s in the past." He popped another coffee bean into his mouth, chewing deliberately as if to emphasize his indifference.
"Yeah, but that doesn’t mean it’s okay," Tails chimed in, his voice filled with empathy. "You shouldn't have to deal with all of that alone."
Shadow shot Tails a piercing look. "Being alone is preferable to weakness. I don’t need anyone to coddle me."
Maddie felt frustration bubble within her. "Coddling? Shadow, caring for someone isn't coddling! It’s about being there for each other. You don’t have to fight your battles alone."
Shadow turned his gaze away, staring out the window. The sunlight illuminated his fur, there were spots that weren't as fluffy as other and she's sure that if she moved the fur out of the way it would reveal the scars spread across his body, remnants of struggles he had endured. It was a reminder that he was more than just a stoic figure; he was a survivor.
"Maybe we could watch something about friendship?" Tom suggested and Shadow eyed him suspiciously.
"Great idea!" Sonic jumped up and ran over to the stack of movies, looking for the perfect one.
He ended up chosing Charlotte's Web and if he caught Shadow watching from the kitchen then that was a secret he would take to his grave.