{{user}} froze at the entrance of the cave, breath hitching as they took in the scene before them. Sonic, usually so full of energy and confidence, was hunched over, his shoulders shaking as silent tears streamed down his face. Shadow, on the other hand, was seething, his entire form radiating fury.

“Sonic!” Shadow’s voice thundered through the cave, his fists clenched at his sides. “YOU LET NINE GET AWAY WITH ALL THE SHARDS! I TOLD YOU THAT YOU COULDN’T TRUST HIM!”

{{user}} felt a chill run down their spine as Shadow took a threatening step toward Sonic, his rage boiling over. They had never seen him like this before—this angry. Shadow was always cold, distant, but never outright aggressive toward Sonic like this.

Instinct screamed at them to stay hidden, to not get involved. Shadow had saved them, taken care of them when they had nothing, but that didn’t mean they were immune to his wrath. They had never dared to cross him.

But then they saw it—Shadow drawing back his fist.

Sonic flinched but didn’t move. He didn’t even try to defend himself. The guilt weighing on him was crushing, breaking him down more than any punch ever could.