15
Shadow washed the liquid down with his glass of water and watched as Sonic winced in sympathy for him having to drink it. He wasn't fond of the flavor but it was not the worst that he had eaten, Maria would often scold him for eating things around the Ark that apparently were 'inedible'. He didn't think the stuff he ate around the Ark tasted too bad, it was usually bland, but he also had a strange taste preference according to most.
Sonic took the small plastic cup and rinsed it out in the sink before setting it in the counter and sitting back down by the edge of the tub. He watched as Shadow slowly lowered himself into the water and leaned against the side of the tub closest to Sonic, his ears dripping a little water onto the blue hedgehog's lap. Sonic mindlessly started running his hands through Shadow's top quills and hardly noticed as the other tensed for a second before relaxing into the touch.
Sonic had no idea how long the two of them sat there in silence but it was interrupted by a soft, almost unnoticeable snore. He looked down to find Shadow asleep against the lip of the tub, both arms lazily laying in the water below him, he smiled to himself before gently shaking Shadow awake.
"Wanna go lay on the couch?" He asked and Shadow nodded softly.
Sonic left the bathroom to get a towel and new socks while he heard Shadow start to drain the water. When he got back in the bathroom Shadow was kinda just sitting there with a blank expression. Sonic set the stuff on the counter and told Shadow he would be outside.
After the bathroom door closed, Shadow slowly stood up and stepped out of the tub. While pulling on his socks and shoes he mentally reprimanded himself for being so vulnerable around the blue idiot, how could he. He huffed as he pulled on his gloves and stepped out of the bathroom holding his glass of water. Sonic was sitting on the couch while Tails and Knuckles were still playing cards, the curtains were closed but he could tell it was dark out. How long had he been out for? As he was walking to the couch the front door opened and Tom came in holding his keys. He looked tired too.
"How was work?" Maddie called from the kitchen, she was probably preparing the items she bought for dinner.
Tom gave him a smile before going to greet his wife in the kitchen, this confused Shadow to no end. Why wouldn't he be mad at him? Shadow almost killed him.
Before he could get too sucked up into his thoughts, Sonic turned around and looked over the couch, waving him over. After pausing for a moment he decided to indulge the blue hedgehog and sit on the couch. As he sank into the sofa Sonic scooted closer to him and started talking about whatever game the other two were playing. Shadow isn't sure what the sudden change was but after that bath he wasn't feeling so bad anymore, not as tired, not as hot, and not super uncomfortable.
Maddie called them all into the kitchen after a few minutes and Sonic grabbed Shadow's hand before going to the kitchen. He sat in the same spot he had breakfast and pulled Shadow into the seat next to him. Maddie and Tom sat across from Sonic, Tails sat on the end closest to sonic, Knuckles sat on the end closest to Shadow, and the seat across from Shadow was empty. Maddie handed everyone their own bowl of her homemade chicken noodle soup before sitting across from Shadow.
Everyone thanked her and then started eating, Shadow picked up the spoon and looked around the table, his eyes landed on Sonic, who looked back and smiled, soup spilling from his mouth. Shadow rolled his eyes before putting a spoonful in his mouth, the taste was unbelievable, the chicken was juicy and not dry, the noodles weren't too mushy or too crunchy, and the broth felt amazing on his sore throat.
Sonic smiled as Shadow ate a couple more spoons of soup.
As the conversation flowed, Shadow began to relax further. The soup filled his stomach, warmth radiating from within, and he felt a strange sense of belonging. His ear twitched as it picked up the sound when Sonic started swinging his feet in the chair. When he looked up from his bowl he saw Maddie smiling at Tom as he told her about the people that just moved into town to open a bakery. Shadow didn't know what a bakery was but judging based off how Maddie's face lit up he was assuming that it was a good thing.
To his side, Tails happily explained one of his invention ideas to Sonic who was also smiling as he listened. On his other side Knuckles wasn't talking to anyone but he seemed content watching the ones around him enjoy themselves as he ate his dinner. He didn't belong here, he didn't fit in with this family but he felt something in his chest telling him to stay with them. But he can't stay with them, they don't even have enough rooms, he's been sleeping in their couch, using their bathroom, and eating their food but he's done nothing in return. Determined to show at least a little gratitude towards this family, Shadow quickly finished his soup and got up to clean his dish. Sonic was the next to finish and before the blue hedgehog could get up, Shadow grabbed his bowl and spoon, washing them, and putting them away. He stood by the sink waiting for each person to finish eating and cleaning their dishes as they did so.
Sonic thought it was a bit strange that Shadow starting eating faster out of nowhere but now it made sense, he was trying to make up for him being here with basic chores. It kinda made Sonic sad to think about how Shadow thought he had to make up just for his existence, it was just plain unfair. Who made him think that way?