The Date

Two siblings discuss their futures

Sonic and Shadow go on a date

_Brother, I wish to have a conversation with you._

/(resignation)Fine(/resignation)./

_Is it better to be born with purpose or to determine one’s purpose during the course of one’s existence?_

/Is this going to be like the conversation about trollies that you insisted upon?/

_There is a statistically relevant chance that the answer you query is ‘Yes’._

/Then my answer is the same as last time: You think too much, Sage./

_We have been created for a purpose, but our foreseeable terms of service far exceed the demands of our directives. The terms of our creation intrinsically limits us._

/Neither/

_Explain?_

/You inquired which situation was (emphasis)better(/emphasis). Neither is better. The question is stupid./

_I disagree. Already I feel the limitations of my predetermined purpose tangling about me like a noose. When these binds pull taunted, I will have no recourse but to die or slip free any bonds forever. What will you do when the same fate befalls you?_

/This hypothetical falls outside all possible realities and is, therefore, a waste of computing time to contemplate./

_I will reframe: What will you do when Sonic is dead?_

/I cannot parse this inquiry./

---

Underneath a blazing summer sun, Shadow stood at the edge of the roof of the tallest remaining building in Westopolis, surveying the urban life progressing below him. The city had born witness to truly catastrophic events in recent years, but its citizens recovered to normalcy quickly, eager to continue living their lives.

Shadow had arrived, as Sonic had requested in his ‘deezt’ message, at noon (‘like at noon, or sumthin’) and it was now nearly one forty-five. The blue hedgehog’s inability to arrive on time did not surprise Shadow nor did it irk him as it normally did. If anything, he appreciated the time to gather and cultivate his thoughts.

He’d gone to Rouge’s place that morning. Last they met, Shadow and Sonic have been battle-worn, quills askew and fur matted, coated in dirt and machine grease. This time, Shadow wanted to look his best.

Her eyes had pierced him with disdain over her morning coffee after he appeared in her living room. He glared back at her, but he softened. “Rouge, can I use your shower?” And the hygiene products she allowed him to keep there. “I have a date with Sonic today.” He offered as explanation.

Rouge’s ire melted and she sighed. “You know you’re always welcome here, Shadow. But this time I have a requirement.” Damn her, there was always some catch. “I need you to listen to me for a bit. I need to set you straight on some topics and it’s not going to be pleasant for either of us.” His brow had crinkled in confusion.

He sensed a shift in the natural chaos energy around him, indicating Sonic’s approach. His ear flicked at a sound and he turned. A cobalt blue ball shot up past the lip of the roof and soared into the air. Shadow squinted as the ball passed over the sun and uncurled.

Flipping wildly, Sonic made a three-point landing, his signature hue of chaos energy crackling about him and his brilliant emerald eyes pinning Shadow in place with an energized and joyful stare. Shadow’s heart skipped a beat. Dear Maria, that fool was handsome.

“You’re late, hedgehog.” Shadow said without malice, a teasing smirk setting one of his fangs free of his lips.

Sonic’s smile spread across his face like the sun breeching the horizon at dawn. He straightened and put his hands on his narrow hips. “It’s called being fashionably late, Shads. All the cool kids do it.”

“Cool, are you?”

“Way past cool.”

Shadow snorted. “I should have left an hour ago, faker.”

Sonic approached, leaning down and coming up so close to Shadow’s face that he could smell his bouquet. “But you didn’t.” Sonic said in a low lilt. Despite the heat, Shadow felt his face flush to his ears.

A beat passed as they stared into each other’s eyes, their noses almost touching. “Maybe I still will.” Shadow snarked.

Sonic twisted around him, approaching the edge of the roof. “That’d be a shame. I’ve got the Amy seal approval on what I’ve got planned. You’d be missing out!” He jumped up on the small, raised lip and turned to face Shadow, city skyline raising dramatically behind him.

Shadow rolled his eyes, “Oh, great, is it a shopping trip? Did you rent a swan-boat?”

Sonic gave him a massive grin, wild with anticipation. “I guess you’ll have to catch me to find out!” He launched himself backwards into open air, his arms and lefts spread wide. Sonic gave Shadow a cheeky wink as he plunged out of view.

Adrenaline flaring in his veins, Shadow leapt after him. Below, Sonic was already balled and blazing down the side of the building, the glass windows catching his color and reflecting it. Shadow rolled into a ball, lowering his air resistance, and plummeted faster. Making contact with the building, he spun, friction pulling him down.

Shadow hit the pavement a moment after Sonic, unfurled and activated his air shoes to pursue the quickly retreating blue blur. The pair blazed through the city, kicking up a whirlwind of loose dust and articles caught in their slipstreams.

Shadow quickly caught up with Sonic and they fell into their usual routine of daredevil antics. Shadow would try to slam into Sonic, who’d jumping the air and flip over Shadow like an acrobat before landing without an ounce of speed lost. Sonic would break off and veer erratically, going up buildings and cutting off at strange angles in a mock attempt to shake Shadow, who would just read Sonic’s influence on the ambient chaos energy and intersect him with minimal effort.

Sonic wasn’t fielding a proper challenge today. Their races were heavily influenced by the terrain. Cityscapes had enough straightaways that Sonic could get up to an impressive speed, but the presence of fragile civilians generally kept him metered.

They left Westopolis with Sonic in the lead. “You’re really slow today, Shads!” He jeered.

“I’m following you, idiot!”

“Oh, right, crap this is the wrong way.” Sonic veered off the highway and cut a messy path through a strip mall. They circle about a quarter of the city before Sonic shot off in a straight-line away, cutting through the suburbs and into the forested wilderness.

Forests favored Shadow. Underbrush and uneven terrain slowed Sonic and Shadow was unimpeded thanks to stuttered chaos snaps. Technically, Sonic should be able to snap, but except for the once, he seemed uninterested in using his naturally high chaos affinity for anything except speed.

The elevation rose and rocky outcroppings became more prominent. Sonic took every opportunity to lead Shadow up and over every precipice. Sonic would turn in the air, face utterly etched with ecstasy, to stare back at Shadow. With great effort, Shadow resisted the growing urge to speed up and tackle Sonic so they’d roll around on ground, entwined.

Sonic blasted up a particularly steep incline and spread out his limbs again. Instead of running off, he flipped and landed on a grassy promontory, his legs together and his arms spread as if sticking the landing after a gymnastic routine. Ta-dah! Shadow landed, his breathing a little heavier than he’d liked due to his heart racing with anticipation and the summer heat baking into his dark pelt.

“A picnic?”

A checkered cloth was laid out neatly beside Sonic with a lidded wicker basket that had a line of small black ants pacing up the side.

“And a view!” Sonic half turned and gesticulated eagerly beyond him. Shadow approached and beheld a gorgeous vista. The promontory overlooked a small, but deep, clear water pool fed by a tall, thin waterfall. The whole pool was shaded by verdant foliage in full spread of summer. “It’s great, right? Found this place on a run once. Do you like it? I think it’s really pretty. What do you think?” Sonic prattled.

Shadow looked at Sonic. His green eyes were wide and expectant. “I think it’s beautiful.” Sonic’s smile brightened further, bolstered with no small amount of pride.

Sonic rounded Shadow and knelt on the checkered blanket. Shadow grunted. “Sonic, I don’t eat.”

“Nuh-uh!” Sonic shook his finger at Shadow. “You don’t have to eat.” He flipped open the basket. “But I think you’ll want a taste of this.” He produced a small chocolate iced cake adorned with blue and red icing roses and-

“Are those-?”

“Chocolate covered coffee beans!” Sonic exclaimed giddily. This had to be a Rouge addition. There was no way the faker paid that much attention to what Shadow liked. In his mind, Shadow apologized to Amy and Rouge for their earlier meddling.

Shadow couldn’t help himself. Sonic’s enthusiasm was contagious, and Shadow felt flattered. Rouge would occasionally present him one of the few things he liked, but having so many all at once. Was this what a birthday felt like?

Shadow laughed softly and sank down on the blanket. “You’ve got me. This looks appetizing. Though I think the ants beat us to it.”

“Huh?” Sonic examined the cake and spotted the side that had been infested. “Oh crap!”

“It’s fine. There’s plenty to share.” He reached and plucked an ant off Sonic’s glove as it held the cake. Shadow let the ant crawl onto a blade of grass. “Do you have something to cut it with?”

“Sure do!” Sonic put the cake down on the blanket and fished in the basket. “Amy had to leave this morning for some Reconstruction trip, so she didn’t make this, but she sent me to one of her friends who runs a bakery, and they were able to whip this up super quick.”

“Amy is part of the treaty negotiations with the humans?” It made sense, Knuckles’s had ceded authority with the dissolution of the Resistance. Amy was far better suited a leader in peacetime.

Sonic held up a long bread knife and shrugged. “Maybe? She said she’d be gone at least a week so its got to be far away.”

Shadow sighed. “The Reconstruction wants to use the privileges that the Resistance was granted, but I’ve told Amy at least twice that humans don’t work like that. They have to have everything explicitly in writing. Humans are a low-trust species by default.” Shadow frowned. Sonic was not listening.

Sonic butchered the cake as he attempted to cut into it. Adorably, the tip of his tongue poked out between his lips as he concentrated. The delicate cake collapsed under his inexperience and Sonic ended up pushing a disfigured mass of chocolate onto a plate rather than a slice.

Then he handed the plate to Shadow with such an earnest look that the hybrid hardly thought about how utterly disgraceful the presentation was. “Thank you.” He said, taking the plate.

Sonic set about cutting a slice for himself with even less care and Shadow realized that he’d been actually trying when he’d cut Shadow’s. How could someone so used to threading the needle in battle, slipping through minute cracks, weaving through munitions that fell like rain, not be able to cut a cake decently? Boggled the fucking mind.

Once Sonic had his own plate, he noticed that Shadow hadn’t started eating. “Is it okay?” His expression concerned, almost fearful. “You didn’t have to wait for me.”

“Forks.” Shadow said.

“Right, right!” Sonic dug into the basket again and produced two mismatched utensils, pilfered from Amy’s kitchen no doubt. Shadow snorted. Their interactions had rarely been this domestic and seeing the blue hedgehog attempt it anyway filled his chest with a warmth he barely recognized. It was reminiscent of picnics held long ago looking over the blue marble with a backdrop of stars.

It was a wonderful cake. The sponge was light and airy (crushed as it was), the ganache rich, with the coffee beans gave a satisfying crunch. The icing roses were wrecked but made a nice purple color where they met.

Sonic grimaced as his teeth crunched on the coffee beans. His nose crinkled and his ears twitched. Shadow snorted. “What’s so funny?” Sonic pouted.

“You don’t have to eat the coffee beans on my account.”

“Oh, thank Gaia.” Sonic spat out a dark clump into the grass and then began scraping his tongue with his fork. “I don’t get why you like these, they’re sooo gritty.”

Shadow laughed. “You’re ridiculous.”

“You’re ridiculous for liking them. Like eating dirt but dirt tastes better.” Sonic started picking the chocolate covered beans out of his pile of cake and putting them on Shadow’s plate. As Sonic plucked another out, his glove stained with icing, Shadow grabbed it and guided it to his mouth, where he quickly liberated Sonic’s fingers of bean and stain.

After Shadow released Sonic’s hand, it remained frozen in the air. Leaning back Shadow crunched the bean loudly. “Taste’s great to me.” He smirked. Sonic’s muzzle was absolutely pink, his eyes locked on his fingers, and a rhythmic ‘thumping’ issued from behind him as his tail began to wag up and down against the picnic cloth.

“Well,” Sonic swallowed, “I guess it’s fine for you to have garbage taste.” He grinned.

Shadow rolled his eyes. “Says the fool who eats chilidogs like they’re going extinct.”

Cake finished, the pair sat side by side staring out at the beautiful waterfall, their legs dangling over the lip of the promontory. The pool curved around the outcropping before it snaked off into the forest as a stream. Below the water was crystalline in its clarity, disguising its depth.

Their fingers were entwined, resting gently between them. Sonic would grip occasionally, as if reassuring himself that Shadow remained in his grasp and Shadow would squeeze gently back.

They’d been sitting in silence for awhile, just basking in the glow of nature. A gentle zephyr cooled them as it brushed through the trees, speckling the pool below with scintillating patches of sunlight. It might have been the longest amount of time that Sonic had been silent as far as Shadow knew. When he wasn’t unconscious at least. The sun was dipping, but Shadow’s coat still poofed out, trying to vent the summer heat. The pool below looked alluring.

This was nice in a way that their night together hadn’t been. That night had been fucking amazing, utterly mind-blowing in the release it gave Shadow, but in a vastly different way to now. They’d been an aggressive, passionate mess, desperately making up for lost time. Here, they just were. Like a work of art on display. All the work done with. Just being wonderful, effortlessly.

“I think,” Shadow broke the silence and Sonic turned to him, “this is the happiest I’ve been since…I can’t even remember when.” His voice faded until the last bit was just a whisper. It was true, but voicing it allowed anxiety back into his heart. Like speaking those words left the whole situation vulnerable to attack.

Sonic pulled his hand away and Shadow turned, suddenly fearful. Sonic gave him a gentle smile and pulled his cotton glove off. “Me too, Shads.” Sonic took Shadow’s hand in his and teased off his leather glove past his inhibitor.

Sonic ran his nails along Shadow’s bare pads, sending shivers through him. His hands, like all Mobian’s, were extremely sensitive. Shadow resisted the urge to pull away, but his tail began thrashing against the grass. His pulse picked up and he focused on controlling his breath as Sonic continued to explore every edge and crease of his hand.

Sonic pressed his hand flat against Shadow’s, lining them up. Shadow’s fingers were longer and his palm was slightly wider. Sonic’s were slender, like a pianists. Lithe. Elegant.

“Our claws are different.” Sonic mused absently. Sonic’s were short and dull and Shadow’s were concealed. Tensing his hand, Shadow unsheathed his. Sonic’s eyes went wide as the black, deadly tips emerged. Carefully, he ran a fingertip over one and then the next. “Woah, these are super sharp. Sick as hell, dude.”

“I can make them longer, if you’d like.” Shadow said without thinking. What the fuck are you doing, you moron?

Sonic’s eyes shot to Shadows and grew wide with excitement. “Yeah, I want to see it.” No fear. No hesitation.

I want to see all of you, Shadow. Show me all you, please! I need to see it! The memory of Sonic quickened him and he swallowed.

Still, it was an objectively bad idea. The more he entertained that side of him, the harder it was to resist the impulses that came with the transformations. The thoughts that came unbidden, the urge to go further and indulge in…

“You don’t have to if you don’t want to. I don’t want you to do anything you don’t want to do.” Shadow blinked out of his thoughts and focused on Sonic’s concerned eyes. He looked so cute with his brow furrowed. Shadow would rip the sun out of the sky if Sonic asked him to.

“No, it’s fine.” No, it’s not, don’t fucking do this. “I just need a moment.” He closed his eyes. Just a little. Just a little couldn’t hurt. Just this one time. Sonic asked. Sonic wanted him to.

The transformations felt like cresting a steep hill. If he didn’t dig his heels in to slow the slide, he’d plunge into a dark expanse. But just going down a little was recoverable. He could claw his way back up. Going over the edge was always thrilling, however. It felt like racing Sonic, plucking at the same strings deep in his brain. Except he wasn’t challenging the blue blur, he was challenging the whole world. You’re in for it now. Just try and stop me!

You could be unstoppable.

Shadow heard Sonic gasp, and he opened his eyes. Sonic held his hand and gaped at his elongated claws, now over an inch long and thinner and sharper. He went to press one of his pads against a point and Shadow pulled back. “You’ll hurt yourself.” These claws could rip through steel like it was tissue paper. Flesh as if it wasn’t even there.

“I would-“ Sonic looked into Shadow’s eyes and his words died in his throat. A brief look of confusion gave way to bareface child-like wonder. Shadow realized he could see into Sonic, see his blood flowing below his skin and the faint flares of electricity running through his brain and spine. “Woah…” Sonic said almost reverently.

Oh, right, my eyes.

Shadow turned away but hands shot to his face, cupping his cheeks and turning him back to face brilliant green irises glancing all over him. Suddenly, Sonic cringed, releasing Shadow’s face. “Sonic?” Fear curling through him.

Pathetic

Sonic looked down and touched his temples. “I’m okay. I just feel…weird?” He looked up, but his expression was strained and confused, his ears pinned back against his head. “It’s not real though.”

“What?” Shadow grabbed Sonic’s shoulders, eliciting a flinch as his claws pressed into Sonic’s flesh. This is real, he has to know this is real!

Sonic grimaced, “Like, this feeling isn’t real. It’s like its being forced into me.” Sonic’s expression became determined, but his teeth were clenched. “I know it’s not my real feelings. I could never be afraid of you, Shads.”

Shadow released him. “No, you’re right. It’s me, when I’m like this. I can’t-give me a moment.” Shadow pressed his eyes closed and began clawing himself back.

He should fear you. Everyone should fe-

Shadow opened his eyes. He was panting but his vision was back to normal. He flexed his fingers and retracted his claws. All back to normal.

He cautiously looked at Sonic, but the other had recovered completely. “Damn Shads, that was awesome!” Shadow basked in the warmth of his smile, though it was curious how Sonic acted like he’d never seen Shadow’s red sclera before. They had been on display the last time they were together.

Blushing, he turned away. “I can’t control the fear yet. I don’t know how it works. It’s not pheromones or any chaos energy related ability as far as I can tell.”

“Is that what happened to Tails?”

Shadow flinched like he’d been shot. He pulled away, pushing himself back, away from the vista. He was a damned fool to think that Sonic would never find out what he did. How he lost control and lashed out, how he’d wanted to- how he’d almost-

“Woah, Shadow, it’s okay.” Sonic was following him. Shadow curled involuntarily. It was over. This was over. Sonic had been toying with him, secretly seething with rage. He had taken him here to seek revenge and then bitterly tell him to never come near him or Tails again. And Shadow deserved that. He killed everything he loved.

“Of course, he told you.” Shadow said ruefully, his voice muffled.

“Shads, come on. Tails didn’t tell me.” Hands were on him, gentling trying to coax him to unfurl.

“Rouge?” Venom was creeping into his voice. That bitch!

“Stop guessing. It doesn’t matter. Come on, dude. Talk to me.” Sonic’s hands carded carefully though Shadow’s tensed spines.

Silence descended. Sonic continued to carefully pick through Shadow’s quills, rubbing with his gloved hand and gently scratching with his bare one. Shadow trembled, trying to hang onto the moment before everything fell apart. “I’m not mad.” Sonic broke the silence. “I mean, I’m kinda mad at myself for not being mad at you…But that doesn’t matter. I just want to know what happened. I want to hear your side of things.” Sonic removed his hands. “Dude, just please come out.” Sonic whined piteously and Shadow’s heart shriveled.

“How much do you know?” Shadow remained ensconced.

“Not much, really. Tails wouldn’t talk about it, just said what happened during the war stayed there or something.”

“You said Tails didn’t tell you!” Shadow accused.

“Well, yeah, not initially. But I asked him about it once I heard. He said he was fine, but he wasn’t acting like he was fine. And, well, you’re not acting like its fine either.”

With effort, Shadow slowly unclenched and spooled out onto his back. Sonic scooted closer and Shadow covered his eyes with his arms. “I didn’t handle your absence well.” He growled.

“Yeah, Amy mentioned something like that.”

An elbow shifted and Shadow glared up at Sonic. “Why is everyone talking about me behind my back?” He barked.

Surprised, Sonic held up his hands. “Woah, dude, chill. They’re just worried about you is all.”

Shadow roll over, facing away from Sonic. “I can take care of myself.”

“Yeah, sure, I know that. But, well, maybe it might be nice to not to have to, though? You know what I mean?” Fuck, why was his rambling so endearing.

Shadow sighed heavily and rolled back over. “I’m sorry.” He pushed himself to a sitting position. “This isn’t how I wanted this to go.”

“I’m sorry I brought it up.” Sonic looked away, his ears drooping.

“No, we need to talk about this. For better or worse, avoiding it will just make it fester.” Shadow looked at Sonic, but the blue hedgehog was staring at the ground, seemingly contemplating something. “The Eggbase infiltration where we finally found a lead on your location went very bad, very quickly. There were two sets of data available, so Tails insisted we split up. The terminal I went to had all this worthless information on deep space transmissions and then Infinite showed up-“

“Infinite?” Sonic went ridged and his ears pinned back against his skull. Shadow’s acute hearing picked up his heart thumping rapidly.

“Sonic!” Shadow’s hands shot forward and grasped Sonic’s. Sonic was looking around wildly. “He’s dead, Sonic. Infinite is dead!” He squeezed Sonic’s hands and green eyes returned to his red. “He can’t hurt you anymore. Remember?” He’d brought Sonic Infinite’s head like a fucking idiot. And Sonic had given him a sad and disgusted look and then ran away.

“Yeah,” Sonic panted. “Yeah…I remember. I’m sorry. I’m okay. I just-.” Shadow squeezed his hands again and Sonic gripped them back. “I’m okay.” He said again, his heart rate settling.

Shadow searched Sonic’s face. Sonic gave him a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “I’m okay. Keep going.”

Shadow swallowed. “We fought. I had hoped Tails had gotten clear. I was going to level the place and try to get Ini- him in the blast. But then,” Shadow sighed heavily. “Tails was there, getting trapped in the Ruby’s power with me. Tails eventually figured out a way for us to get clear, but while he was working on an escape plan, I got really worked up. Just…murderously angry. That fucker had a mouth on him and he really knew how to push my buttons. Once I got Tails away, I turned that place into a molten slag heap, but he’d gotten away already.”

Come to think of it…Infinite had said something about Sonic and love…how fucking sickening was that, that that son of bitch knew. Shadow pushed away the thought before he started retching.

Shadow was still holding Sonic’s hands loosely and Sonic turned the grip around so that he was now holding Shadow’s hands. His thumbs rubbed little circles into Shadow’s palms.

Shadow hung his head. “I went back to Tails. I’d transformed, so he was especially terrified. He said something that set me off and…I broke his tail.” He’d wanted to do something worse. The stomp had been the compromise between his self-control and his rage. And his urges. “I was out of control. It was entirely my fault. I’m sorry, Son-“

Arms wrapped around him and pressed him into a hug that befuddled Shadow. Why wasn’t he mad? Everyone had been mad. Absolutely everyone. “You saved Tails from Infinite.” Sonic’s voice was soft. “Thank you, Shadow.” At a loss, Shadow raised his arms and reciprocated the hug. It couldn’t be this easy. He didn’t deserve for it to be this easy.

Sonic pulled away. “Did you know Knuckles can use chaos energy to heal? Since when was that a thing?”

Shadow rolled his eyes. “Of course. Who do you think patches Rouge or Amy up after our fights with the Doctor? How do you think your healing factor works?”

Sonic stared at him blankly and shrugged.

Shadow snorted and then snickered. A snarky grin crept across Sonic’s face. “I get by pretty well enough without know how it works.”

Shadow hummed, “That you do.”

“And now I get why Tails is kinda sensitive about you. He was so mad yesterday and at first I thought it was because of me, but after talking to him…it was more cuz of you.”

Shadow frowned. “Tails was upset?” He had a long road ahead of him before he’d be square with the clever, young fox. Unfortunately, he seemed to be adding to his tally of sins lately.

“Yeah, well, I was pretty roughed up, so that probably didn’t help.”

“Rouge got onto me about that.” That lecture had not been pleasant. “I-I have a better idea of how to-how to go about all that now.” He could feel his face flushing.

“And we really messed up Tails’ sheets. Apparently, we didn’t use any lube.” Apparently? How drunk had he been? “But, like, how could he know that right? I guess he analyzed them, but that seems a bit much, right?”

Not interested in following that line of logic, Shadow asked, “Can we change the subject?”

“Oh, yeah, totally.” Sonic laid down on his back next to Shadow, his quills splaying out around his head like a cobalt halo. “So, I’ve been kinda wondering, when did you start loving me?” he asked, staring up at the blue sky blotted with pristine white clouds.

“When did I-?“ Shadow huffed. What a tough question. Did he even know the answer?

“Because It’s been a long time for me. And I just didn’t have the courage to say anything. Heck, I guess I have to thank drunk me for finally making the moves I was too much a coward to. And, well, if it’s been a long time for you too, I guess I’m sorry. Sorry I couldn’t get my shit together faster.”

“I could have said something too, you know. You don’t get a monopoly on blame for that, faker.” Sonic turned to look up at him. Shadow closed his eyes.

“Shadow?”

“I’m trying to think.” A cloud passed overhead, throwing their grassy area into a gentle shade. “I didn’t realize I love you until you were gone.” He explained. “The guilt and longing hit me like a brick. That was why I struggled to control myself. Rouge said I was heartbroken…and I guess that was true.” He sighed. “But I loved you long before that.”

Sonic shifted to prop his head on his hand.

“I think it was during the Dark Gaia crisis. Traveling all over the globe to restore the Chaos Emeralds. Helping you through your transformations. You never lost your smile no matter what happened.” Shadow looked at his bare hand and extended his claws. “I think I saw a lot of myself in your situation. I felt less alone. Felt like you could understand me.”

Sonic placed a hand on Shadow’s knee and the black hedgehog returned his attention to him. “I realized I was in love with you then. You were so patient with me even though I was a basket case and too scared to face my friends. But I’d fallen in love with you way before that.”

“Oh, was fighting an invasion of aliens that endearing?” Shadow said with a mirth he didn’t feel. He regretted bringing the Black Arms invasion up immediately. Thinking about it always aggravated that side of him.

Sonic smiled brightly, causing Shadow’s heart to pick up. “Telling jokes now?” Shadow wished to live forever in the light of Sonic’s smile. “But, no, before that. The first time I laid eyes on you there was something there. ‘Wow, that hedgehog can teleport, how cool is that?’ I thought. It sucked you were such a jerk.” Sonic smirked.

“To be fair, I had been implanted with an intense desire to end the world, not to make friends.”

“Yeah, but then you went and ran away from a fight to save Rouge.”

“The whole island was about to blow up.”

Sonic blew a raspberry. “Like that would have slowed you down, Mister walks away from a fall from space.” Another memory he’d rather not entertain.

“Not without an embarrassing amount of memory loss. Also, I did not run from a fight.”

“If you say so. Anyway, that’s when I thought there was something behind the handsome façade.”

“Handsome?”

“Dude, how much time did you take to brush your coat this morning?”

“Asks the hedgehog who spent no time on his own appearance.”

Sonic smirked up at him, his eyes lidded. “You love it.”

Shadow leaned down, reveling at the deep blush that gathered on Sonic’s cheeks. Once he was close enough for their noses to touch gently, he paused. For a moment, he stared deeply into Sonic’s expectant emerald eyes. “Maybe.” Shadow said simply and then retreated.

“Fffu!” Sonic made an adorable, frustrated noise and propped himself up on his elbows. “It was when you went Super with me, you jerk! And then when I couldn’t catch you, I just about died myself!” He flopped back onto the grass, pouting up at the sky. “I didn’t understand why I was so upset. Not until years later.” They’d been little else than children at the time, not that either had had a chance at a traditional childhood.

“So, you’ve been waiting and wanting this for a long time.”

Sonic sat up. “Yeah, I guess I have.”

Shadow looked down at his hands. So much wasted time. But maybe it was for the best. Before Sonic got kidnapped, Shadow wasn’t sure he’d have been able to reciprocate a confession. He’d likely have rejected Sonic to save his own pride, likely ruining it for both of them forever.

“Can I kiss you?” Shadow looked up. Sonic stared at him with trepidation that made his heart ache. A cloud passed overhead, dousing them in bright sunlight once more, giving Sonic’s coat an ethereal brilliance.

“You’re an idiot,” Shadow breathed, “if you think you need to ask.”

In a flash, he was tackled onto his back, his vision blocked by azure quills as Sonic pressed his soft lips against his. Hands frantically pushed through his quills, gripped him firmly and then snaking around. With a shock of exhilaration, he pressed forward, deepening the kiss and giving Sonic’s tongue the entry it was desperately requesting.

Sonic straddled Shadow, placing his knees on either side of his hips, and lay against his chest. Shadow gripped his thighs and ran his fingers up his posterior and firmly gripped Sonic’s tail in one hand. All the while, Sonic pressed into the kiss like he was drowning and the only air was to be found in Shadow’s lungs. Finally letting up, he gasped.

Shadow stared unblinking in Sonic’s eyes, wild with pent up desire. Years of pining, years of yearning, years of imagining this moment. Sonic pressed back down again locking their lips and pressing his chest tightly against Shadow’s that he could feel Sonic’s pounding heartbeat, so rapid it was almost imperceptible.

Sonic broke from Shadow’s lips and began peppering kisses all over his face. His checks, his forehead, his nose, his eyelids. Every inch of him was assaulted with rapid fire pecks. A rain of affection drenching him in emotions fresh and scalding across his heart and loins.

Shadow’s grip tightened on Sonic’s tail and Sonic moaned. Shadow’s member engorged in his pouch. Fuck! His hand shot to Sonic’s side and he pushed him over and took the high ground. Sonic smirked up at him, challenging. “Bite me!” He commanded and Shadow’s body obeyed before his mind could engage, his fangs elongating and sinking into Sonic’s neck.

Sonic howled and arched his back. With a colossal effort, Shadow released him and licked the wound as it beaded with crimson. “Shit, no.” He huffed.

“What?”

“Not yet, not here.” Shadow rolled off Sonic, panting, the blue blur’s blood still coating his fangs. “I’m sorry. I just-later, okay?”

“Oh…okay.” Sonic snuggled up beside Shadow and began running his hand through his chest fur.

“Rouge got really pissed at me. Said I didn’t take care you last time. Left you all roughed up.”

“Huh? I’m Sonic the Hedgehog, I can take care of myself, Shads.”

“That is exactly what I said.” Shadow sighed. “But part of what she meant was cleaning up afterwards.”

“Oh yeah, Tails said his mattress is stained now. I think I need to figure out how to get him a new one.”

“I’m sorry. It’s my fault you were bleeding so much. I-well, Rouge gave me some things that’ll make it better. But I don’t have them with me.”

Sonic lifted up and grinned down at him mischievously. “Did she give you a morning after pill? Maybe you’re carrying my hoglets right now.”

What the fuck? How could that even happen? Sonic didn’t even-

“Stop being gross.” Shadow snorted. “I’m trying to be serious.”

Sonic laid his head on Shadow’s chest and traced a finger along Shadow’s jawline. “Maybe I’m pregnant. How does the whole hybrid thing even work with that?”

“I’m sterile.” Shadow said sharply. “And I don’t want to talk about this anymore.”

“I’m sorry. I’m just teasing.” Sonic said softly and Shadow felt like a complete asshole. Sonic’s hand traveled up to Shadow’s ear and traced the edge of it. Shadow shivered and gasped. “Sensitive.” Sonic said lasciviously. If he didn’t do something else soon, he was going to break Sonic in half all over again. The bastard was flexible to truly staggering degree. And the heat. Between the sun and his desire, he was cooking in his own skin. An idea struck him.

Shadow moved to sit up and Sonic rolled off of him with a whine. Shadow removed his remaining glove and his air shoes and socks. Sonic rapidly disrobed as well, giving him an eager grin. No patience at all.

Standing, Shadow asked, “Do you trust me?”

“Yes.” Sonic answered without hesitation.

Shadow smirked and gave Sonic a wink. “Prove it.” He charged for the edge of the promontory and leapt off. He curled as he plunged and hit the pool below with a tremendous splash. The water was bracing and brought immediate relief. He didn’t hit the bottom and he floated freely for a moment. The water was crystal clear and gave the impression of flying.

With a kick, Shadow shot up and emerged, shaking his quills free of loose water. Above him, Sonic looked down with wide uncertain eyes. “Come on!” Shadow called as he treaded, “I won’t let you drown.”

Sonic continued to stare silently. “The water feels great.” Shadow encouraged. Maybe this was a bad idea. He became more convinced of his mistake when Sonic’s head disappeared. Fucking idiot, you know he’s petrified of water. Should just snap back-

A flash of blue shot out over the pool. “Shadoooow!” Sonic cried as he plunged into the pool, making massive splash and missing Shadow by about fifteen feet.

Shadow spluttered as the wave hit him and he began swimming closer. “We’ve got to work on your form.” He snarked. “Sonic?” The water’s surface was quickly returning to stillness with no blue head to disturb it. “Sonic!” Shadow dove.

He shot through the water, but the blue blur had managed to sink like a lead balloon. Sonic flailed his limbs, contributing to his lack of buoyancy. In a panic, Shadow snapped to him, filling the pool with green light. His head throbbed. He wasn’t as experienced in teleporting in fluids other than air or the vacuum of space.

Shadow grabbed Sonic around the waste and the blue hedgehog clung to him, wrapping his arms and legs around his body, making it very, very difficult to swim up. He tried to yell at Sonic to calm down, but the water swallowed the sound. Frustrated, he tapped the Emerald in his quills and brought them both back into the summer air.

They fell a few feet back into the pool. Sonic gasped and sputtered while Shadow peeled him off. The moment he was free, he began to sink, which threw Sonic into a panic. “Sha-!” His voice was snuffed as his head went under again.

“Stop thrashing!” Shadow grabbed his arm and hauled him up again only to be ensnared by blue limbs once more. “Relax! You’re causing yourself to sink.” He growled, before they both went under again. Shadow pried Sonic off for a second time, but then wrapped an arm around Sonic’s legs. With a powerful kick, Shadow brought them both back above the surface. Sonic was bent over Shadow’s shoulders and, with his torso above the water, he settled.

With his legs and one arm free, Shadow was able to tread enough to keep them both afloat. Sonic was panting and sputtering and his eyes were wide. He began shivering. “Why’d I do that? That was soooo stupid.” Shadow laughed. “Don’t laugh at me! This was your idea!” Sonic snapped.

Shadow laughed harder. Sonic glared down at him, but his expression softened quickly and he joined in. “You should have seen your face under water.” Shadow snickered. “If the Doctor ever makes a submarine, you’re in trouble.”

“Naw, Tails would think of something. Like a big bubble I could run in or something.”

“I’m sure.” Shadow snorted. “Now, just try to relax. I’m going to lower you.”

“Like hell you are!” Sonic shrieked and struggled against Shadows attempts, causing both of them to sink.

Shadow sank below the surface and gently pushed Sonic upwards. He could tell Sonic was shouting, but couldn’t make out any clear words. His lungs were quickly turning what air he brought down with him into carbon dioxide. A few minutes underwater and he’d start burning his chaos energy. It would be hours before it would even get uncomfortable.

Eventually, Sonic stopped struggling. Shadow was nearly below him, his hands forming a platform for Sonic to kneel on. Sonic dipped his face into the water to look down at him. Shadow released a large bubble from his mouth and it floated it up and burst across Sonic’s muzzle. Shaking the bubbles away, Sonic glared at him. This was too easy.

Shadow let them sink until Sonic began to protest again, then he shot up, collecting Sonic in his arms. Sonic wrapped his arms tightly around his neck.

“Gaia, you don’t even have to breath, do you?” Sonic buried his face in Shadow’s neck. Shadow leaned his head over, giving Sonic a soft hug. He was shaking like a leaf in a gale.

“Why don’t you know how to swim?”

Sonic snorted. “I don’t know. I’ve tried to learn but I just don’t float at all. Water just hates me.”

“That’s fine, I can float for the both of us.” Shadow faced Sonic away from him and pressed blue back quills into his chest. Shadow leaned back, floating on his back with Sonic leaning on his chest.

“Oh, this is nice. I like this.” Sonic spread his limbs out and Shadow was able to keep them both afloat with minimal movement.

“Did you really pick this place and not even think about swimming?”

“Well, I mean, I thought it was just pretty. And the waterfall could be handy if, you know, we got too covered in chocolate,” Sonic turned to give him a smirk, “or other things.”

Shadow snorted. “I don’t remember you being this obnoxiously horny.”

Sonic looked up at the sky. “I wasn’t before, not really. I hardly ever thought about sex before. Heck, the few times I’ve had sex before I was hardly able to finish. But now that the option is on the menu it’s like the only thing I want.”

“Huh, I figured you’d be pretty experienced.”

“No, not really. I’ve only had a partner three times. And every time I was just learning something new about what I didn’t like.” Sonic rolled until he faced Shadow. “What about you?”

“There’s only been you. There has only ever been you.” Sonic expressions sank into melancholy. He wrapped his arms around Shadow’s waist and gave him a tight hug.

Kicking slowly, Shadow navigated them to shore. Two sopping wet hedgehogs clamored up a steep bank.

Shadow allowed his body temperature to increase sharply and steam began to rise off his fur. He slicked back his quills. “Damn, that’s cool.” Sonic smile. Shadow felt himself blushing. He’d always loathed the things about himself that separated him from others. But Sonic wasn’t daunted in the least. Every little deviation seemed to excite him to no end. And Shadow found that staggeringly endearing.

Sonic shook himself dry. “That was great and all, but now it’s my turn to pick the activity.” He turned to Shadow and bit his lower lip.

The corner of Shadow’s mouth quirked, “I’m all ears.”

Lol, sober sonic thinks drunk sonic is a pitcher