Bloody Domination 2: Straitjacket

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Bloody Domination 2: Straitjacket

Co-Written by Harley Quinn hyenaholic and Froggy22651

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Harley: Well, my computer is back to normal, partly.

Froggy: This fanfic will be going in strange and unusual, and also highly sex-filled directions. If you don’t like yaoi, I’m just warning you.

Harley: It’s his fault too. He thought some of it up. I don't know how it's going to end any more.

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Chapter Eight: Don’t Come Knocking On My Door

Following the events of their conversation, Sonic was unable to get back to sleep, his thoughts dwelling on the unbalanced hedgehog he was sitting next to. Shadow had managed to get back to sleep fitfully, sometimes moaning fearfully in some nightmare. Still, none of them were as bad as before, which was what Sonic was watching out for. That voice was still in Shadow's head, and there was no telling what it would do if triggered again. The blue hedgehog glanced over his face, wondering what he could do to help the stubborn, fatalistic Ultimate Lifeform. They were both alike in more ways than either of them would admit, and that made helping him even more problematic.

Despite his best efforts, he couldn't bring out a positive attitude in his counterpart, and that was going to be the thing that would save him. Sonic pitied him for his pain and suffering. And despite all he had done, there still things about Shadow that he admired.

Beside him, Shadow shifted and mumbled in his sleep, his head on the cushions of the couch, his feet kicking gently against Sonic. The blue hedgehog couldn't identify any words, but certainly Shadow was extremely restless.

Sonic frowned as he was repeatedly kicked, and the blue hedgehog reached over to push the leg away from him, patting Shadow gently, "Shhh..." he uttered softly, hoping that it might soothe the tortured male.

Shadow mumbled again, but to Sonic's surprise, his restlessness subdued somewhat, and he lay more still than before. His face was twisted up in consternation, but he didn't seem so... agitated, any more.

Sonic glanced back and forth as if checking to make sure no one was looking. Gathering up his courage, he crawled over to the other end of the couch and gently scratched behind Shadow's ears, petting him softly. "Shhh... it's alright..." he whispered.

To his sheer amazement, Shadow curled up a little, and began to purr softly, apparently comforted by Sonic's petting. The dark hedgehog shifted and arched his back slightly, still purring softly.

Sonic smiled happily, witnessing this most un-Shadowlike action. He may have been uptight and temperamental while awake, but at least his subconscious knew how to enjoy itself.

Just then, as Sonic was brushing Shadow's black fur with his fingers, there was a loud knocking at the door. He froze up in surprise, hearing Tails' voice from the other side: "Hey, Sonic! Are you home?"

On the couch, Shadow mumbled something and rolled onto his other side.

Thinking fast, Sonic quickly stood up and jogged to the door, unlocking and opening it just wide enough to stick his head out. "Hi there, Tails! How are ya?"

Shadow sat up - maybe it was the knock at the door, or Sonic's movement, but he was awake, "Huh? Morning already?" he asked nobody in particular, and wiped the sleep from his eyes, "What's going on?"

"Huh? Is there someone in there with you?" the young fox asked, hearing the suspicious sound of another voice.

Sonic, hiding the gesture as best as he could, took off his own sneaker and tossed it behind his back at Shadow. "Of course not! Why would you say that?" he responded to his friend.

"Hey, that hurt!" Shadow glared at Sonic’s back, and threw the sneaker back at him, before leaving the living room. It missed Sonic, and hit Tails.

Tails cried out in pain and fell back on his furry rear, looking up at Sonic in confusion. Thinking fast, Sonic told his friend, "Oh, whoops... sorry about that. I must not have buckled it tight enough..."

But the young fox knew that the blue hedgehog didn't move...which meant that it had to have come from inside. Without a word, he rushed forward, pushing past his older friend.

His eyes fell on Shadow, who was scowling as if he'd just received news that next week’s Armageddon would be happening on his doorstep, just coming out of the kitchen with a slice of bread in one hand and ketchup in the other.

Tails froze as he stared, wide-eyed, up at the dark hedgehog, his ears and twin tails drooping towards the floor. A few quiet whimpers escaped him as the petrified fox tried to make his mind function.

"Tails, I can explain..." Sonic said soothingly behind him.

The kid wailed in terror and backed up against the blue hedgehog.

"Sure you can," Shadow pushed forward, "You're not telling anybody I'm here, do you hear me?" he told Tails. Tails was silent with terror. Something clicked in Shadow's head, "DO YOU HEAR ME?!" he bellowed, and picked Tails up by the neck before he could stop to think.

Before another sound could be uttered, before a thought could even form, Sonic's fist smashed Shadow across the mouth so fast that the air cracked in its wake. Tearing the young fox out of the dark hedgehog's grip, Sonic shoved Shadow against the wall, growling, "Don't you ever touch him like that again! Do you hear me?!"

Stupid, stupid, stupid-

"Kill them both. Right now," said the voice in his head.

"Okay," Shadow said, bunching up his fists, "No, wait-"

"I mean, look at them! You should have killed-"

"I TOLD you that it would come to this!" Shadow howled at Sonic, trying to drown out the voice in his head.

"Shut up and tell him that you're sorry! Do it!" Sonic raged at Shadow, more angry than he had seen him since... well, since his nightmare. Tails was shivering like mad, staring up in terror at Shadow.

"I AM sorry! Shadow replied, "And I told you there would be trouble when the others came around! You never think ahead! And I'm sorry!"

Sonic glared at Shadow a moment longer and then released him, kneeling down to face Tails, "Look, bud, I had to..."

"You did break him out!" the young fox wailed, "Why'd you break him out!"

Sonic drew a shaky breath, replying, "Because they weren't helping him in there, little guy. He's not going to hurt you this time. Are you, Shadow?"

Shadow glared at Sonic, "I don't like to make promises I might not be able to keep," he said sourly. He looked away, "But you'll protect him, right?" he asked.

"Always,” Sonic said with a nod. He never would let a friend come to harm if he could possibly prevent it. Tails, Amy, even Shadow. It was one of those heroic traits that left him vulnerable.

"See?" Shadow told Tails, "Whether I want to or not, I can't hurt you with Sonic protecting you." He sounded as if somebody had just force fed him lemons, but it was astonishing that he had said all that of his own free will.

"I... I... I won't t-tell anyone..." the fox stuttered, closing his eyes tightly, "Just don't touch me."

Sonic smiled and reached over to pat Tails' on the head, ruffling up his fur. "Hey, relax, Little Guy! Shadow is one of us! And you know what we do when things get bad?"

The boy's blue eyes looked up hopefully as he spoke softly, "W-we stick together?"

Sonic smiled wider, "That's it!"

Shadow rolled his eyes in disgust, "And that's it?" he asked Sonic, "You just spout a few meaningless pleasantries at him and he does as he's told?"

Sonic didn't even bother to acknowledge Shadow, fixed on comforting his friend. The comment wasn't worth responding to, and there were more important things to worry about. Tails still looked fearful, but he had stopped shaking and wasn't stirred into a panic like before.

Shadow clenched his fists with the effort of not bursting into some sort of childish tantrum, "So," he said, addressing Tails, "How're you getting on since... then?"

Tails was silent again as he stared up at the dark hedgehog, swallowing down a scared whimper. "Well... uh... I'm o-ok,” he said softly, "I've had some bad dreams, though."

"Would it make you feel any better... if I told you that I've had some pretty bad dreams too?" Shadow asked gruffly, "About getting what I deserve," he answered Tails' unspoken question.

Tails seemed to consider this for a moment before slowly nodding his head, "Yeah... it does,” he answered truthfully.

"Humph... just checking," Shadow said, "And how are the others doing?" he asked.

The fox hesitated to answer the question, so Sonic did so for him, "Amy's not doing so well,” he told Shadow, "Having that baby is messing with her head. And Knuckles... I haven't heard from him since he shot you."

"Yeah... the baby..." Shadow's face screwed up, as if he was in pain, "That's my baby..." he muttered. He could feel himself getting angry just thinking about it.

"No, it's not,” Tails spoke up suddenly, a bit more of his old spark back in his voice, "It- it's more hers than yours. She's the one carrying it."

Shadow nearly choked on the rage that rose up in his gullet at that remark, "And who put it there?" he growled.

"You did,” Tails spoke up clearly, "B-but she never asked for it. She never wanted you to put it there. It-it's a part of her now! I... I won't let you hurt her!" The kit's voice grew stronger and more pained as he went, shaking in a combination of fear and anger even as tears started to roll down his cheeks.

"If she doesn't want it, I'll take it right back!" Shadow shouted, "Right now, if that's what she wants!" With that, he charged out the door and down the road in a black-and-red blur, heading for Amy's apartment.

"Shadow, wait!" Sonic called out, rushing towards the door. Tripping and falling on his belly, he remembered for an embarrassing second that he had taken a sneaker off. As he hurried over to put it on, Tails didn't wait for him, flying out the door, still crying but determined to stop whatever his past tormentor had planned.

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Shadow reached Amy's apartment in a matter of minutes. He didn't hesitate to knock, for in those few minutes he had once again degenerated into an emotional mess, but kicked the door in with a scream of rage, "AMY!" he bellowed into the apartment.

No sound or voice answered the enraged hedgehog, despite the fact that there had to be someone in the house. The lights were on.

Shadow looked truly insane right now, his eyes wide and crazed, his quills a matted mess of grease, his face drawn and pale. He started searching, as he had done once before, "I'll find you Amy!" he shouted, stamping through the house and throwing just about everything he could lift, "If having that baby is such a problem for you, I'll take it back!" He slammed into the kitchen and picked up a meat knife, then started rooting through cupboards.

As Shadow was throwing open cupboards to find the sure to be cowering Amy, a pink figure slipped from out of the shadows and silently moved towards him from behind, raising a seriously oversized mallet over her head.

Shadow turned just as Amy swung, and the blow hit him in the side, knocking him down, "Fucking WHORE!" he screamed at her. She swung again and he caught the swing in both hands, "That baby is MINE!" he screamed again.

"You'll never have it!" she screamed right back. Terror was in her eyes, but so was blind rage. Grunting in exertion, she tried to yank the hammer out of his hands, determined to smash his head into a bloody pulp with it.

"Then I'll TAKE it!" Shadow bellowed, tightening his grip, "You can't keep it from me forever!"

"I'll die first!" she cried defiantly, tears streaming down her cheeks. Releasing the hammer, she turned and yanked a meat cleaver from off the counter. Desperately, she lunged at the dark hedgehog, aiming for his heart with the blade.

"You BITCH!" Shadow yelled, dropping the hammer and rolling to one side. He stood up, "You want to solve your problems with violence?!" he screamed, his voice rising to fever pitch, “Fine with me!” He grabbed her by the neck with one hand, and the cleaver swung at him again. He caught it in his hand, and it cut deep into his flesh, drawing sticky, dark blood, but he hardly noticed as he kicked Amy squarely in the stomach.

The pink hedgehog coughed and gagged, doubling over in pain and gasping for breath. "You'll... kill it,” she managed to rasp, still struggling against the dark hedgehog in an attempt to get away.

"Well, you don't want it, do you?!" Shadow snarled, the blood dripping from his hand and pooling on the floor unheeded, "And you don't want me to have it! Doesn't it make you happy?! Why don't I just use a damn coat-hanger?!"

"NO!" Amy shouted in horror, struggling even harder against him, "You're insane! Get away from me! It's my baby! It's my body!"

"Oh, so you do care about what happens to the baby?!" Shadow fought the urge to kick Amy again, and shoved her back against the wall, "It's my baby too! I may never have another chance! I WANT IT!" he screamed in her face, trembling with emotion, sweat pouring down his body.

"You won't have it!" Amy screamed back helplessly, trembling in defiant fear, "The baby is going to have good parents, far away from you!"

Shadow's eyes widened, and he almost choked on his rage before managing words, "You're... giving it away?" he asked her, his eyes wide. He didn't wait for an answer, "NO! I won't let you!"

"You can't stop her,” another voice called out from behind Shadow. Sonic was standing in the doorway, glaring at the black and red hedgehog.

"Sonic... help me!" Amy cried out desperately.

~~~

Harley: CLIFFHANGER!!!!

Froggy: We’re getting good at this!