You’d known something was off about Nine from the very beginning — the subtle shifts in his tone, the way he avoided eye contact, the calculations always ticking behind his eyes. You and Shadow both saw it, tried to warn Sonic. But as always, Sonic trusted too easily.

And now? Now it had all gone to hell.

You stood there, fists clenched at your sides, anger and frustration boiling over.

“I told you. I told you he’d betray us. But did you listen? Noooo, of course not!”

Sonic flinched like your words physically hit him. Shadow had already torn into him earlier, but you couldn’t stop yourself — not after everything.

Sonic’s shoulders slumped as he lifted a trembling hand to his face, muffling a shaky voice behind his gloves.

“Y-you were right…”

His voice cracked. That familiar cocky bravado? Gone. What stood in front of you now wasn’t the usual overconfident speedster. This Sonic looked… broken.

“I should’ve listened… I— I could’ve stopped this. I just… didn’t want to believe…”

His voice trailed off as he sucked in a shallow, rattling breath, burying his face deeper into his gloves. You sighed, dragging a hand down your face, frustration mixing now with something else — guilt.

Then you heard it: a sharp, uneven gasp. Then another.

You turned quickly — Sonic’s breathing had become erratic, eyes wide and unfocused, chest rising and falling far too fast.

Shit. This wasn’t just crying.

He was having a panic attack.