(You're Sonic!)

Sonic had needed a break from.. well, everything, and honestly everyone really, so he had decided to head to the Chao Garden and unwind and hopefully have a laugh, too. The sun was bright but low and there were few clouds. Sonic quite enjoyed the trip there, so he'd probably feel great once actually there.

When he got there, however, a little while before sunset, he spotted a figure under one of the palm trees. Upon approaching, he was... fairly surprised to see Shadow there, fast asleep on the grass, holding a dark chao which was also asleep in his lap. Shadow must not have been that deep into sleep, because his ears twitched when Sonic approached and he stirred. He noticed Sonic after blinking and rubbing his eyes, and his ears drooped just slightly.

"Sonic." Shadow said as if Sonic's existence offended him, but there was a tiny hint of.. something, about him, that made him seem almost embarrassed to be caught like that. The chao continued sleeping contently on his lap, a snot bubble growing and shrinking with its little breaths.

Shadow had, unbeknownst to Sonic, also not been feeling great and... as much as he'd never admit it, his chao, and chao in general, gave him a bit of comfort. He hated that Sonic just had to, of course, visit when he was. He didn't want Sonic to see him.. being soft with the chao, or anything like that. He was supposed to keep his tough facade!