The Cave

In the dark, a rough scuffle of fur, teeth, and nails twirled as shouts, snarls, and yips echoed off stony walls. Sonic and Shadow fought fiercely to pin each to the ground and smother the defeated party in deep kisses. It had, as many things did with the pair, quickly become a contest. The roughness of the floor did not bother Sonic, cushioned as his back was with quills tensed with the spark of competitiveness.

Sonic, panting, gained the upper hand, slamming Shadow down on his back so hard the black hedgehog grunted. Hungry red eyes gleamed up at him in the darkness and Sonic pressed down for his reward, forcing his tongue past alluringly sharp fangs to struggle with the enemy muscle within. He wanted to explore every inch of Shadow, suck the air from his lungs, run his fingers over every muscle. He had learned so much about his rival over the years, but only now was touching allowed and that opened a whole new dimension to discover.

Shadow’s hands found their way to Sonics posterior. One took the base of his tail and yanked (hard but not too hard, though harder would have been nicer) and the other gripped his butt, pressing the tips of his claws into his soft flesh. An excited gasp forced Sonic to break free of the kiss, giving Shadow an opening to flip the blue hedgehog and take the high ground.

After some mild flailing, Shadow pinned his partner’s hands above his head and leaned in. Sonic’s head came up and he nipped Shadow on the nose, causing the hybrid to hiss, his fangs gleaming in the dim lighting. Sonic, eyes lidded and smile saucy, arched his back and presented his chest. Shadow bit down into peach fur and Sonic yipped in ecstasy.

Exhilaration without fear. Pain without loss. Touch without hate. Chaos, this was living!

Sonic had acquired, through similar tricks, a collection of marks. The original, on his shoulder, still throbbed pleasantly, but had stopped bleeding. His heart pounded a rapid tempo and he could feel energy pulsing in his veins, knitting him back together. It was weaker than when he ran, but in effect nonetheless. It drove him to goad Shadow more and more. How much could he unravel his stoic control and get to the barely veiled beast he’d glimpsed in combat so many times?

Sonic laughed and Shadow released him. The black hedgehog lifted, his silhouette above Sonic nearly invisible in the darkness. Shadows weight pressed against Sonic’s bulging sheath, elicit a faint whine. Both panted, an unspoken tie declared. Sonic felt his chest, tracing the bite marks with his bare fingers. They bled and stung sharply and he loved them.

“Where are we, anyway?” Sonic asked, breathless, looking around and seeing not much in the darkness. Rough amorphous shapes. It was dry but had a very earthy smell.

The iridescent red eyes above him glanced around. “Right. You can’t see, can you?” Of course, Shadow can see in the dark. Damn that’s so cool.

“I mean, not well.” Sonic craned his neck to look behind him. There was a faint glow coming from somewhere.

Shadow dismounted and stood, leaving Sonic suddenly cold and gaining a growing feeling of desperation. No no no come back! He sat up and messaged his length through his sheath. It ached to be released. He’d felt Shadow’s stiffness as they’d rolled about. Like an iron rob. Like a cudgel. Like a weapon that was exclusively for Sonic. The thought may him blush from loin to ears. He wasn’t cold anymore.

An electric light flickered to life and Sonic blinked.

They were in a small cave. About the size of Amy’s living room but with a higher ceiling decorated around the edges with stalactites. The floor was uneven and rough in patches, but most loose stones had been swept to the sides. Against one wall was a modest pile of boxes and containers, a camp chair, a small table piled with books and one canvas grocery bag, and a pile of blankets.

Ther whole place screamed Shadow. Except for the blankets, actually.

“I haven’t charged the solar cells in a while, but they should still be able to last for a bit.” Shadow fiddled with a small lamp, not more than a standing reading light. He pointed it upwards and the space was adequately illuminated.

Sonic sat up and looked around, “Is this…uh, your home? It’s…spartan.” Idiot, say something nicer!

Shadow snorted. “No, this is just a quiet place to think or read. I’ve got similar accommodations set up near several major cities.”

“Ahhh, brooding cave, got it.” His partner gave him a glare. Sonic pointed off to a passage that receded into complete darkness. “Where does that way go?”

“Don’t go that way or you’ll get lost very quickly. It’s very easy to get lost. This cave system goes for miles as it works it ways deep into the earth.”

“Ooooh, is spelunking a hobby?” Sonic stood and approached the pile of neatly folded blankets. They were all very plush and brightly colored and didn’t strike Sonic as Shadow’s style. He started spreading them out. It wasn’t a mattress, but anything was better than the rocky floor, at least for Sonic’s knees if nothing else.

“I suppose you could say that. When the world isn’t in direct danger and when I’m not otherwise engaged, I’ve been mapping several caves systems.” Shadow stood with his arms crossed, watching Sonic make what could be described as a nest. “A number of my qualities come in handy in that regard. I had an idea that having a defensible hiding place for a large number of people might come in handy one of these days given the Doctor’s recent escalations.”

Sonic smiled. “That’s a great idea, Shads!”

Shadow grimaced, about to brush off the complement (“Of course it is. I am the Ultimate Lifeform. All my ideas are great!”), but then he froze briefly and said, “Thank you.”

“So, is this close to where we were or….” Sonic always lost his bearings when Shadow teleported them somewhere. With his Emerald, they could be anywhere on the planet.

“Nearer to Central City actually. My closest spot to Rouge’s.” Shadow reached into his quills and removed his phone. “Speaking of which, she irritatingly invested in our activities today.” Sonic made a note in his head to thank Rouge next time he saw her. He wasn’t stupid (all of the time). He knew Shadow wouldn’t be here with him without her interventions. No one else was going to liquor him up as much as she had, that’s for sure. Was it on purpose? Yeah, probably, given it was Rouge.

Sonic reached for his own phone. “Oh man, yeah, Amy is the same way.” He looked at it and grimaced. It would not turn on. Water dripped out of the case. “Oh crap. Tails is going to be pissed.” He tossed it across the stone floor, and it clattered and slid to a stop by the camp chair. “I’ll tell him it’s your fault.” He grinned.

Shadow stared at him flatly. He held up his phone, the screen lit. “Mine is fine. GUN issue and water proof.” He smirked. Sonic repeated him in a mocking tone and then snickered. Shadow rolled his eyes. “How often do you break your cell phone?”

Sonic shrugged. “About once a month, give or take. After the first few times, Tails stopped getting me the latest model. Now he buys old broken ones in bulk and fixes them up for me. They can’t hardly do much other than make calls and text, but that’s all I need really.” Sonic patted the space next to him in the tangle of blankets.

Shadow sank down. “I’ll tell Rouge you liked her blankets.”

“That explains the color. Seems a bit cheery for you, dude. But do you really not have a mattress or a yoga mat at least?”

“I don’t come here to sleep, hedgehog.” No duh, neither did I! Sonic bit back the snark.

“No, it’s cool.” Sonic flopped over, laying his head in Shadow’s lap. “I usually just pass out wherever I’m at. Middle of field, up in a tree, sand dune.” He stared up contentedly at Shadow with lidded eyes. “But I could get used to rocky caves.”

He’d lay like this forever if he could. Shadow’s warm encompassing him. Just stay here, talking about whatever. That’d be nice.

Shadow reached over to the table and pulled down the grocery bag. “More Rouge gifts.”

Sonic sat up and dug through it. There were a few mundane items such as wet wipes and energy drinks, but also more explicitly intimate things like one use douches and- “This seems like a lot of lube.” Sonic held up the large bottle. Shadow gave no reply, so Sonic placed it to the side. He wasn’t sure how he felt about how much Rouge had thought about the physicality of their relationship. So he just didn’t think about it!

“Wait, this box is already open.” Sonic held up container of assorted condoms.

Shadow huffed and rolled his eyes. “Those are useless.” The cave became blurry as Sonic’s eyes dilated. Care to share with the class what the hell you mean by that, Shadow? Shadow noticed and looked away, his muzzle coloring, “Even the biggest one was torn to shreds by my ridges. Besides, I can’t carry or spread diseases.”

Sonic felt himself quicken. Ridges? What the hell did that mean? Sounded dangerous! Whatever it was, he wanted to see and then sit on it immediately. He crawled forward into Shadow’s lap facing him, Sonic’s legs wrapping round his back. He pressed his stiffness into Shadow’s and rolled his hips while his hands ran through the white fluff on Shadow’s chest.

Shadow growled low in his throat, biting his lip…

Shadow’s hand carded Sonic’s quills and Sonic shivered as he felt the prickles of claws on his scalp. He pouted, really putting some effort into the pitiful look he gave Shadow. It was torture how empty he felt. How long Shadow was dragging this out.

“You’re a damn mess, aren’t you Sonic?” Shadow grinned mischievously, his eyes lidded.

Oh, he could play that game. Sonic had no shame. Pride? Pshhh, what was pride in the face of the unbridle yearning he felt. This was effectively his first time with Shadow (which he did need to tell Shadow about and he totally would but not Gaia Below not now). “Yes, I’m mess. I need you to sort me out, Shadow. I want you to rearrange my insides until I can’t see straight. Please!”

“Fuck, fine.” Sonic shot forward and kissed him. Shadow pulled away, “But one last thing-“

“Argh!” Sonic flopped backward dramatically and cracked his head on the stone even through the blankets. “Ouch!” He whined.

“You did that to yourself, faker.” Shadow ran a claw along Sonic’s pouch gently, eliciting an arched back and needful gasp. Sonic glared as he rubbed the back of his head. Dude was enjoying messing with him.

“We need to pick a safe word.”

“What? Why?”

“I don’t want to hurt you, that’s why.”

“One, you won’t. Two, why can’t ‘no’ just work?”

“One, I can. Two, it can’t. Pick one. I’m not touching you without one.” Shadow crossed his arms against his chest, his muzzle locked into an irritated frown.

Why did every word out of the black hedgehog’s mouth excite Sonic so damn much? Fuck, focus! “But it’s just a limit put on you. I don’t want you to hold yourself back. I trust you, Shads.”

Shadow closed his eyes. “I don’t trust myself with you, Sonic.” He said with gritted teeth.

Oh, that hit the sweet spot deep in Sonic’s brain. He pulled himself up back into Shadow’s lap. “Tell me more.” He purred.

Shadow pushed him off. “I’m serious. I hurt you so much last time all your friends and Rouge got involved. Don’t you understand how fucking embarrassing that is? Choose. A. Word.” He seemed to be getting really angry.

Sonic crossed his arms and huffed. “Fine, but I’m not going to use it.” Shadow rolled his eyes. “Lavender.” He said childishly. Why couldn’t Shadow see that Sonic didn’t care to get hurt? As long as he could run, he could take anything. And that’s what he wanted. To be taken to the edge and to come back.

“No.”

“Well, then you pick.”

“Protactinium.”

“What?”

“It’s an element.”

“I’m not going to remember that.”

“Then pick something else.” Shadow snarled.

Sonic looked away. He was too stubborn to give up. And, Sonic realized, he was being a little unfair. Crap, what was he thinking? If Shadow wanted a word, then what was the harm, right?

“I’m sorry. I’m being a dick.” He rubbed his hands over his face. Was he messing this up? “Shadow, I know you’re trying to do what you’re supposed to. I mean, it’s pretty cute actually. But, I want you to do what you want to do. No holding back. Just you being you.”

Shadow sighed. “Do you know how much I’ve wanted to turn you inside out since the moment we got here?” Sonic’s eyes snapped to Shadows and beheld the depth of the hunger there. His claws were fully unsheathed as his hands clenched. “Split you open until you beg me to stop? Just pick a fucking word, Sonic.” The last statement came out a needful whine.

Sonic’s pupils blew out and his heart raced. Nearly blacking out as his blood rushed to his loins, he whispered, “Sunflower.”

Shadow’s eyes unfocused as he thought quickly, “That’s fine.”

Sonic launched forward, a frantic paw feeling at Shadow’s concealed length, but a forceful shove sent him flat on his back again. Shadow mounted him and quickly caught both of Sonic’s arms with a single hand before the speedster could take another swipe at his abdomen. “Shadow!” Sonic barked, frustration building like a fog at the base of his skull. “Come on, dude, please!”

Shadow held Sonic’s arms above his head and his weight held down his legs, but Sonic still tried to buck him off, bracing his feet against the floor and pushing upwards. With his free hand, Shadow swiped his fingers along the tender flesh of Sonic’s sheath and his member bloomed. The blue hedgehog shuddered and fell still.

Sonic moaned. “No- but I want-“ A clawed hand pressed down on his throat, cutting off his voice.

“We’re doing what I want.” The force of Shadow’s voice liquefied Sonic. That and the lack of oxygen. Both probably. “And I want you to go first. Do you understand?” Sonic nodded weakly, but he was getting a little lightheaded. That was probably fine.

The pressure on his throat vanished and he gasped and coughed. Oh gods, Shadow, take me to see death!

The hand that had been crushing his larynx took possession of his swollen, sensitive length and began caressing it. Sonic shrieked and fought against the forces holding him down. He quaked and trembled. Words couldn’t form in his throat, so he whined and spat. The hand moved faster, intensified the sensation.

Crimson eyes stared down at him, witnessing his utter perturbation. This wasn’t fair. It wasn’t fair. This isn’t what he wanted. Tears pricked the edges of his eyes. He wanted to edge against the death zone. Shadow was supposed to take him there. They were supposed to see it together. Damn you, Shadow, you selfish bastard!

But this was what Shadow wanted, right? And he wanted Shadow to be happy. That was important to him, maybe even the most important thing that ever existed. If Shadow was happy, then everything was okay. Amazing even. He could do that. He was sure of it all he had to do-

Balancing on the tightrope that’s actually a knife, his bare feet bleeding. To both sides the dark eternity of death. Above him, safe, are his friends. They can’t come here with him. He won’t let them come here with him. But Shadow…Death can’t stick to him. They can come to the edge together and Sonic doesn’t have to worry about him. It’s safe. It’s nice.

It’s love.

Sonic climaxed. His back arched, his vision white, his throat constricts as he cries out.

A flash of blue light.

As the light fades, darkness rushes in.

“What the hell?”

The weight lifts from Sonic as he laid in his ethereal euphoria, shivering out the aftershocks. His eyes were open, but he wasn’t registering anything. He felt good. He felt sooooo good. A level of relaxation he’d never quite reached before. His whole body twitched, small echoes of the reciprocation.

Hands are on him and something soft and wet. Rubbing him. Gentling pushing his member back inside. A cool dampness rubbed into his fur, along his belly and then dabbing the marks his love had left on him. The pain was gone. In its place was a lightness, a sense of completeness.

“Sonic, are you alright? Talk to me, hedgehog.”

“Sssall good.” He murmured. He was slowly coming down. “You know, when you’re spinning though the air and that laser is coming or that missile or that buzzsaw is right there. And if you’d just landed an inch to the right it would have been the end?”

“Sonic?”

“But two inches to the left you’d have been completely safe, but you land right there as close as you can?”

“Sonic?”

“That rush? You know, the rush at leaning against the barrier between the danger zone and the death zone? The coming back from it feeling? The not dying but almost feeling?”

“Hedgehog, are you okay?”

“I can’t get enough of it, Shads. I can see it. That little shimmer in the air. If I’m here, I’m alive, but if I’m there, I’m dead. I can’t stay away from it. I have to get as close as I can to that thin line. I’ve got to push against it. I can’t help it.”

“What are you talking about?”

Sonic’s gaze shifted to Shadow’s, full of concern in the darkness. “I’m gonna mess up one of these days, Shads. I’m gonna mess up and it’s going to kill me. I’m not going to die of old age, I just know it. I’m going to misjudge or get too into it and it’s going to be the end for me.”

“Sonic, please stop talking.” Shadow’s voice was a low whine. He was getting upset. I should probably shut up, right?

“That’s why I need you, Shadow. I need you to shove my face against that thin line between danger and death and drag me back. Because if you don’t, I’m going to do it myself and one day I’m going to mess it up and cross the line.”

“Sonic, please….” Okay, now I’ll shut up.

“And you need to force me into it, too. I know you, Shads. Every time we spar, I can feel you holding back. And I can feel the frustration coiling inside you. You want to let go and go all out but you can’t and it’s a pressure building inside you. It’s building and building and it’s going to break you. It’s driving you nuts, I just know it.”

“Shut up…” Any moment now…

“You’re so wound up. One day you’ll snap. And I know you. You won’t be able to forgive yourself. One day I’ll mess up and one day you’ll snap. That’s where we’re headed. I just know it.”

“Please, Sonic, please stop!” Why can’t I stop?

Sonic pushed himself up. He couldn’t see anything in the darkness, but he could hear Shadow’s heaving breath. He reached forward and felt furry trembling flesh. He wrapped his arms around Shadow. “But it’s okay now. We have each other.”

Shadow was shuddering. “Fuck you, Sonic. Why can’t you ever shut up?” It’s just who I am…

“We can get what we need from each other. That’s great, right? It’s going to be okay.” He reaches up and cards his hands through Shadow’s quills. His partner is shaking. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” He shouldn’t have said anything. He’s such an idiot.

“How can you fucking do this to me, Sonic? Is this how it’s going to be every time? Your words reducing me to nothing?” Shadow’s hands entwined around Sonic’s back and he squeezed. His breath is heavy and uneven in Sonic’s ear and he could feel the pounding of Shadow’s heart against his chest.

‘All these frowns are your fault.’

“Hehe, I must have had a pretty good speech last time too, huh?” Sonic smirked. He did have a pretty good feel for impromptu speeches.

Shadow froze.

“What the fuck do you mean by that?” Shadow pushed him away and Sonic fell backwards onto the blankets. Twin red stars burned down on him in the darkness.

Uh oh. “I just- I don’t- I’m just blathering, Shadow. You know me, I can’t shut up for nothing!” Sonic stammered. “Why’s it so dark all of a sudden?” He desperately tried to change the subject.

His ears twitched at Shadow panting in the darkness. The red eyes scrutinized him, suspiciously. He heard a ‘tsk’ and Sonic relaxed while trying not to look like he had relaxed. Crap, he was toeing a line. He says, “I love you, Shadow.”

There is a long pause.

“I love you, too, Sonic.” It’s an admission, expressed almost unwillingly. Like he regrets it but can’t deny it. There are no red lights in the darkness. Shadow is shuffling around, elsewhere.

The coolness of cave felt good against his fur. It was so dark and quiet. “But, like, why is it so dark?”

He hears Shadows exaggerated sigh. “I think you gave off a burst of chaos energy. Simple electronics don’t handle that well. You owe me a new lamp.”

A match sparked to life and a flame lit in the dark. Shadow held kerosene lamp.

“I wonder why that didn’t happen at Tails’ place? He’d be way more pissed at me if I toasted his tech.” Looks like Shadow wasn’t the only one with weird quirks.

Shadow huffed incredulously. “Really, hedgehog? You didn’t finish there, remember? You fell asleep first.”

A sobering chill ran through Sonic followed by a spear of indignation (he didn’t get off? What the hell, that’s not fair!) and he stuttered, “Oh, y-yeah.” Smooth, totally not suspicious. Shit, he needed to confess. He needed to tell Shadow. Amy was right, the longer he waited the worse it was going to be.

Unfortunately, Sonic’s brain short circuited when Shadow knelt down in front of him, holding the lamp, with his massive erection on full display. It was a glorious instrument. Staggeringly long and mighty in its girth, it sported extra textures that were incongruent with Sonic’s understanding of male anatomy. Perhaps that was what Shadow meant by ‘ridges’.

“Sonic,” His eye flinched up to see Shadow giving him an aggressively suspicious grimace. “How drunk were you two nights ago? You’re acting like you’ve never seen me like this before.”

Sonic laughs nervously. “I mean, we were both drinking right?”

Shadow’s eyes narrow. He looked away, his red eyes darting back and forth. Uh oh, Sonic knows that look. The piecing the puzzle together look. The thinking way too hard look. “So, are you thirsty? I’m pretty thirsty right about now.” Sonic desperately tried to derail the train headed his way.

“Sonic…” Shadow growled. “How much of last time do you remember?”

“Shads, that’s a really weird question, buddy.”

“Answer me!” The hybrid barked, his quills tensing.

Sonic’s heart rate was picking up. What could he say? He couldn’t lie, not straight up at least. “I remember everything I need to! I love you. You love me. We had a great time. What more is there to remember?”

To Sonic’s surprise, Shadow looked hurt. “Y-You don’t remember?” His majestic length was deflating and returning to its sheath.

The retreat physical hurt Sonic. “Shads! Shads, hold on, I can explain.”

Shadow’s countenance hardened. “Explain?” He snarled.

Sonic held up his hands in a placating manner. “Promise you won’t be mad?”

The answer came fast and sharp, “No.”

Sonic’s ears flattened against his skull. Oh well, better get it over with. “Now, I know you’re going to laugh, and it’s really not a big deal…butIdon’trememberasinglething.” He smiled as convincingly as he could, given that he was certain he was about to be punched in the face.

But Shadow just looked away, his eyes wide and empty. “You lied to me. I asked you if you meant those things you said, and you told me you did. You lied to me.”

“No, Shads, no! Whatever I said, I know I meant it!”

“That’s lying by omission, asshole!” Chalk up another win for Amy. Her batting average was major league. Shadow shot up and moved away from Sonic.

“Shadow, please! I’m sorry! I should have told you sooner.”

His lover was facing away from him. “If you were that out of it, then that means I- then I-“ His head bowed and his hand dug at his quills.

Oh shit, need to nip that in the bud. Sonic shot to his feet. “Shads, shads. You’re thinking too much. It’s not like you’re a monster or anything.” Sonic grasped Shadow’s shoulders, so he was not prepared for the fist that cracked across his cheek. He flew across the cave and smashed into the wall of the cave painfully.

Sonic groaned. That was a real punch. Shadow had meant to hurt him. He rubbed his face and rolled over.

“Fuck you, Sonic.” The vitriol sent a shudder through Sonic.

A bright green flash lightened the area. “Shadow, please!” Sonic shouted.

Shadow was gone. And with his Chaos Emerald he could be literally anywhere on the planet.

Sonic covered his face with his hands. “Sunflower.” He whispered.

---

All parameters were within acceptable specification. The test was proceeding as intended. Communications, calls for help, were blocked. The village was isolated, both physically and electronically. A pliant proving ground for her Father’s latest machinations.

Her Father observed the experiment from his Eggmobile, safe and out of range of any harm. The roof was closed. He couldn’t smell the smoke or hear the screams.

Sage monitored the turmoil below with indifference. This application of the artefact was contrived but needed to be perfected for further use later. She harbored concerns, however. The echidna knew something she did not, but he refused to share. She’d have to be patient. Once Mile was made privy, she could purloin the information at her leisure.

_Brother._

/What?/

_Proceed to a distance of two kilometers._

/Moving./

Whilst the adjustment was being made, an alert arose from her peripheral subroutines. A collection of conditions had been met. As Metal Sonic moved in the physical world, Sage called up the relevant information. At the speed of electricity passing through nanoprocessors, Sage analyzed and recognized an opportunity.

“Father.” She projected herself into the Eggmobile.

“Yes, Daughter.”

“Projection integrity remains above ninety-five percent, even at a range of two kilometers from the prototype.”

A satisfied grin spread across the face of Doctor Ivo Robotnik. “Very good.”

“Also,” Sage paused. “I have ascertained a course of action that could accelerate Project Ninety-One considerably.” She transferred the relevant information to his console.

An eyebrow lifted. “Oh? Are you becoming impatient, Sage?”

“Only in so much that I see your safety insured swiftly.”

The Doctor laughed, deep and maniacally. “Very well. Be a dear and bring the rat to me.”