#partially because it can't grasp the language component and because it just. i mean. isn't great at

[000marie198]

Remember this analysis? Keep that in mind

Now, there is something I realized. Before Shadow and Sonic showed up at the Grim, Nine's entire attitude and behavior seemed different. I couldn't put my finger on it but now that I'm not falling dead over my feet due to sleepiness, I figured out what felt different. (Rest of the post under the cut)

He was hiding himself after they showed up.

Look how he is all by himself, when there isn't anyone present

He's being his true self, openly expressing everything he's feeling. The joy and excitement? He's not hiding it, it's there. The frustration and sorrow ?

It's there. Unhidden

But once the hedgehogs appeared, the true joy, the sorrow and sadness, it's all concealed, put behind a mask of power and intimidation. If you remember from the first season, intimidation is his go-to instinct to react against threats.

And when the hedgehogs are fighting AG and their focus isn't on him?

His sorrow and bitter loneliness displays clear as day.

Smug confidence and rage is Nine's coping mechanism, especially to cover up his true emotions, his vulnerability, from others. And that's what he'd been doing in front of Shadow.

As soon as Shadow said, "So it was all about power," Nine's tone turned smug. He agreed with Shadow's words even though we know what he truly wants is a home, not unlimited power and whatnot. Not in the sense Shadow thinks. Nine acts like that is exactly what everything is all about, his tone of voice has grown extremely similar to how he behaved in front of Eggman. Like a carefully worn cover. He's trying to hide his true emotions here. But he slips up and reveals his frustration the moment Sonic talks and Shadow is out of focus (I'll get back to this in a moment). So in front of Shadow, when both hedgehogs are present and Nine isn't focusing on solely Sonic, he is reacting with anger and smugness and confidence. And the later two are his go-to emotions, that's how he protects himself, by hiding his true vulnerabilities.

Another thing, think about how the very first things he creates once he has completed the prism are; the palace of an evil base (a home), AG Sonic (a friend), and a forcefield (a shield, protection). What he has always wanted. His concept of a perfect home. He doesn't want power, the power is just something he needs to get what he wants, even though he doesn't grasp the meaning of home beyond what he knows. This indicates the power thing is a ruse.

Bringing the thing about Nine unable to stop himself from subconsciously revealing his vulnerability when it comes to one specific person, notice how Nine's behavior immediately switched from smugness and aloofness to shaking rage and frustration when Sonic asked him if having robots for friends is what he wanted. There are multiple moments that show the kit is unable to cover it all behind a coping mechanism when Sonic's in the picture.

Also, Nine keeps pulling the attention around and back to himself;

"That was your plan. It was never mine."

"Well they're my friends now."

"I helped you defeat the one in New Yoke."

"I'll decide when it's over."

"My paradise!"

"With all that power of the prism, there is nothing I cannot do."

There's still a child in him, seeking something, seeking attention for what he's capable of, seeking control of the situation. Or something else, but he's seeking something.

Nine was frustrated to no end when he realized that the missing component is Sonic because he didn't want to deal with Sonic anymore. And when Sonic was there, the kit kept trying to take back attention and control of the conversation. Trying to take back command of the conversation because Sonic is like a whirlwind, nobody can keep any control when he's around, but especially because he partially knows that he can't keep up his mask when Sonic is present.

Sonic, without even trying or realizing it, is still managing to make Nine show his true emotions.

The kit kept saying and doing stuff that in children's language practically screams, "I'm mad at you, I'm sad, I'm hurt, you hurt me, feel guilt you jerk you hurt me, realize that you hurt me and be regretful over it damn it, I won't listen to you bcoz I want you to understand you hurt me, I'm breaking our friendship you hurt me, care about me and understand that I'm hurting".

A part of him wants Sonic to apologize. But ofcourse he'd be darned before he consciously & intentionally reveals that in front of the hedgehogs with his words, he'll keep throwing hints with his attitude and actions instead of saying it directly because deep down he isn't over it in the slightest. He didn't have a childhood, his mature enough about survival to tell himself otherwise, he's smart to try and control his feelings from showing up but deep down, he has the heart of a kid, the emotions of a child.

What Nine is doing isn't world domination or power seeking, it's a desperate cry for things to get better.

[lifeslines]

lijah can know exactly how it feels about something or someone but honestly have no idea how to communicate it and that really frustrates it. it always tries very hard when it comes to communication because it knows it isn’t the best at it, but it still struggles a lot. it only ever gets upset with itself though because it knows it is the one not conveying what it needs to and that it isn’t anyone else’s fault. when this happens it’s pretty easy to spot because lijah gets pretty antsy and most notably wrings its hands over and over more than showing and other physical signs. it will try to explain itself for a while-- mostly talking in circles before it gives up and feels embarrassed (this, too, is apparent with the way it won’t look anyone in the face for a while afterwards and distances itself from people as well).