C O N T R A S T
Chapter 1: Reunited
"I love how your eyes close whenever you kiss me"
Along the country road came a lone figure walking, a worn out rucksack was thrown over his shoulder while he casually whistled a cheerful tune.
It was none other than Sonic the Hedgehog that was on his way home from one of his many adventures around the world. He had just arrived back with his best friend, and also little brother, Tails - who he had helped get back in order over at his workshop. Although, Tails had insisted that he actually was a teenager now and could handle himself, only making Sonic smirk and ruffle the fur on his brother's head.
"Go home to your fianceé already!" Tails had told him playfully before giving Sonic a quick hug and bidding him goodbye.
Sonic hadn't needed to be told twice as he gladly set off to finally get to see his dearest - Amy Rose.
So as he made his way down the road it wasn't without a certain haste in his step while also having a smile playing on his lips. After almost an entire month away from Amy he couldn't wait to just simply being in her presence. Her sweet singing on early mornings, the smell of baked goods wafting through the house, taking her out on dates, laughing together over silly little things and finally holding her in his arms as they fall asleep each night.
Oh, how he longed for her...
And the next thing he knew the little house came within his sight with a thin stream of smoke coming out of the chimney, he was reached by a whiff of a smell which instanly made his stomach yearn for dinner. Despite having eaten all kinds of different food from all around Mobius nothing could truly beat Amy's cooking but whenever he pointed out the fact she simply rolled her eyes at him while trying to hide a blush.
Now Sonic could see the house with the wooden picket fence surrounding it as well as the large garden. He diverted from the road and took the shortcut that led up to the side of the house via the garden, effortlessly jumping over the low fence gate leading into it.
The garden was truly something to behold as Amy had arranged and filled it to the brink with flowers of all kinds. Azaleas, hyacinths, lilacs, orchids, tulips, daffodils, and countless others Sonic couldn't name by heart, created a vast sea of colors one easily could get lost in. But what was most near and dear to both his and her heart were the roses blooming both high and low - on bushes, in garden pots and on vines that climbed along the facade of the house.
He admired the way Amy treated the garden with the uttermost care and devotion, she had a certain talent for making them grow even more beautiful than before.
And speaking of beautiful...
"And when I'm away from you I love how you miss me"
Sonic's ears was reached by the sound of Amy's melodic singing coming from around the corner of the house. He stopped in his tracks and for a brief moment only listened attentively. She would never allow him to actually watch her as she sang, merely letting him listen from afar or at least when she thought he couldn't hear her.
Silently, he proceeded to walk around the corner and was met by the sight of Amy planting a fresh set of flowers into the earth.
"-Then your fingers touched my silent heart and taught it how to sing." she sang in an almost absentmindedly manner "Yes, true love's a-many splendored thing..."
Amy's voice faded and just as if she had sensed his presence turned her head in Sonic's direction, her eyes widening and her mouth hanging slightly agape. But within a mere second her whole face changed into one of sheer happiness, the brightest of smiles stretching across her muzzle.
Those jade eyes gleaming in the sunlight.
"Sonic!" the girl cried as she quickly arose and with a leap flung herself into his waiting arms while tears of pure joy began to stream down her cheeks.
Sonic responded by lifting her upwards and spinning her around in a circle, an ecstatic laughter erupting from the both of them.
"Amy..!" he breathed as he tried to settle his giddy laughter.
In between the crying and laughing Amy started to plant dozens of kisses all over Sonic's face. The joy she felt whenever he would return to her was hard to contain and especially when he'd be gone for so long.
"Oh, Sonic! My dear, dear Sonic! I've missed you so much!"
Putting Amy back down on her feet, Sonic gently pushed her backwards and then placed his hands on either side of her face. He tilted it slightly upwards in order for their eyes to meet, his thoughts really couldn't justify the true beauty of her in real life. And simply looking into those shimmering jade eyes of hers made him feel weak in the knees.
The unconscious effect she had on him, and especially his heart, had in the past overwhelmed him but over the years he'd grown accustomed to it. The way his heart beat faster, how his usual smart mouth spoke to her with such tenderness, how he could get so caught up in her eyes that he'd sometimes forget what he was just talking about and how his entire body language adapted after her. Never would he handle her with any sort of accidental roughness, treading around her fragile body like it was made of glass.
"I've missed you too, Ames... You got my letters, right?"
"Yes I did, they were real sweet." Amy said, uttering a small giggle before getting a more wistful expression "It feels like you were gone an eternity this time, I thought it might get easier each time you leave but it felt like my heart was going to long itself to death."
Sonic gently stroked some stray tears away from her cheeks with his thumb. His eyelids lowered to a tender gaze while bringing her body closer to him.
"Aw, don't give me that gloom face. I know it's hard - I thought of you everyday... but I'm here now. So, where's that pretty smile of yours, huh?"
Naturally her smile returned while giving him an apologetic look "You're right, Sonic - I'm sorry. I know how much it means for you to-"
"Hey, Ames.. don't apologize." his eyes lingered on the golden band that graced her left ring finger "Nothing means more to me than you, okay? Nothing."
For a moment all they could see was each other as their eyes locked in a loving gaze. The sweet smell of flowers swept between them by warm breeze while their lips drew closer. Sonic, being the tallest of the two and still having his hands on her cheeks - slowly guided her face closer to his. So close that their breaths mixed with one another.
A light headed feeling spread through Amy's mind as she instinctively closed her eyes.
"I love the way you always treat me tenderly"
The sensation of her lips was nearly addictive, the sweet taste of cherries mixed with her natural scent of roses was truly heavenly. A feeling that beat anything Sonic had ever felt. Far more powerful than the sense of positive chaos energy flowing through his body.
As soon as their lips parted, to draw in a quick breath, he brushed his lips against hers for a tender moment before once again closing the gap.
Sonic could hear how Amy's fragile little heart fluttered inside her chest and a mild fear that it was going to collapse if they kept going made him reluctantly pull away.
"Sonic.. please, don't stop." Amy whined slightly as she feebly tried to reach his lips again.
But he had already loosened his grip on her and now gave her an amused smirk.
"I fear your heart may implode on itself if I don't."
"I'm perfectly fine." she said with a small pout.
Sonic only uttered a chuckle, remembering the smell of food coming from inside the house he thought to use it in order divert her attention.
"So you're gonna let your poor fiance starve in order to merely acquire his precious kisses, huh Amy?"
Amy blinked hastily as a mad blushed blossomed on her cheeks. With fumbling hands she pulled away from Sonic's embrace, giving him a sheepish smile.
"Of-of course not! I'm sure the vegetable soup is just about done now."
She hurried into the house through the kitchen door, leaving it open for him. Snatching up the rucksack from the ground Sonic then proceeded to follow her inside - pleased that his plan had worked.
Immediately upon entering the kitchen the enticing aroma from what he'd felt from the road hit him but with double the force causing his stomach to rumble. He'd only eaten some fruit for breakfast and Tails hadn't had any food left on the plane ride back home.
The kitchen was quite modest in size but Amy still loved it. From the ceiling hung a low hanging pot and pan rack which due to his tall height Sonic now and again would hit his head on, but for Amy it was necessary in order to reach without having to ask him for help.
He saw how she had already resumed a position by the cooking pot of what he assumed was the soup, a ruffled apron was tied around her waist. An apron Cream had given her last christmas, if he remembered correctly.
A merry tune coming from the radio over by the counter mixed with the pleasant sound of Amy stirring in the soup and making some final touches on it.
Noticing Sonic's lingering glance she merely smiled shyly back at him before resuming her focus.
Over on the wooden dining table, that had a set of unmatching stairs around it, Amy had decorated with a white lace tablecloth and neatly set the table with a big vase of flowers standing in the middle of the table. He figured she really wanted him to feel welcomed back home and her efforts truly did warm his heart.
Not wanting to disturb Amy in the midst of cooking Sonic continued into the living room where he dropped off the rucksack on the sofa.
He'd have to get to unpacking it later as it was full of keepsakes from his travel as well as a little something for Amy, she always loved it when he brought her souvenirs from around the world. Now and again he'd be given gifts from various villages or towns he'd rescued which could be everything from jewelry, small trinkets, good luck charms and even handmade masks.
Amy had particularly liked a really sweet smelling potpourri Sonic had been given by an elderly lady who owned a boutique in Apotos - she had, to his slight embarrassment, insisted that he'd give it to a girl he fancied. Tails naturally hadn't been able to contain his teasing snicker for the rest of that day...
The memory brought a fond smile to his lips.
"But darling most of all I love how you love me"
Reckoning that he probably looked a bit ragged after a whole day of traveling Sonic went into the bathroom to get cleaned up before dinner. He turned on the bathroom sink and let some water fill his cupped hands before closing his eyes and splashing it on his face, feeling the droplets slowly running down his fur. It wasn't a pleasant feeling but still made him feel slightly refreshed.
Despite the fact that Sonic had turned twenty-two years old and had been forced to endure being both in and under water, particularly the ocean, many times his great dislike for it hadn't decreased in the slightest. He shot a glance at the bathtub behind him. Once in awhile Amy would try to convince him to take a bath, claiming how relaxing it was - but he always dismissed the idea and stuck to strictly showering. At least then he could pretend that it was merely rain rippling down his body.
Sonic reached for a towel and thoroughly dried off his face before hanging the towel back in place and then turning his head back towards the bathroom mirror above the sink - he took a moment to study his own reflection. In many aspects, Sonic still held the same resemblance as he did when he was a teenager - the same smooth cobalt blue fur, the same spiky quills, with his head spikes only having grown a few inches, and the same emerald eyes staring back at him.
However, if one looked closely they would be able to notice the subtle maturing features Sonic had developed over the past years. His lean figure hadn't just grown in height but there had also been a change of his physique, the built up strength due to extreme running and fighting showed itself on his body if only in the most subtlest of ways. To his partial embarrassment - partial secret pride, he had even grown a small tuft of chest fur. A fact which Amy had taken delight in as well, as she said it made his chest even more 'snugglier' - adding further to his embarrassment.
With a slight shook of his head Sonic proceeded to change into a new pair of pristine, white gloves. He flexed his hands briefly, feeling the soft fabric stretch with the curve of his hand. Then he suddenly heard Amy calling him.
"Sonic, dinner's ready!"
Without having to be told twice, Sonic immediately returned to the kitchen where the heavenly scent of newly cooked food hit his senses anew.
Amy had poured the soup into a rather large ceramic soup bowl and was now, with slightly wobbly legs, making her way towards the table. Thinking fast, Sonic quickly came to her aid.
"Let me take that for you, Amy." he offered with a warm smile, placing his hands over hers.
She gave him a grateful nod, letting him take the soup bowl out of her grasp before untying the apron around her waist and then joining him at the table. Sonic served them both a bowl each, filled to the brink with the steaming goodness, and then eagerly began to shove in a mouth full of soup. When he was hungry Sonic tended to forget all about table manners.
The flavory taste of the soup with its sliced vegetables spread a comfortable warmth through Sonic's entire body and made him savor each gulp of it.
"It's. Absolutely. Delicious..!" he said in between gulps causing Amy to giggle while she tried to give him a stern look.
"Sooonic..! Don't speak with your mouth full."
"I. Can't. Help. It. Ames! You. Make. Such. Good. Food. It's. Not. My. Fault!"
She simply rolled her eyes at him and got an excited gleam in her eyes.
"Well, if you're gonna speak then I wanna hear all about your travel! A whole month's worth of adventure can't possibly be covered in just a few letters."
"Yeah. Sure. Thing!"
Sonic halted his slurping, wiped his mouth with the napkin Amy reached him and began to, quite vividly, tell her about his and Tails' adventure - making wild gestures accompanied by self made sound effects.
Over the years, Dr. Eggman had grown tired of causing havoc mainly around Station Square and had tended to resort to using his bases all across Mobius. Though his schemes had not been as frequent as they used to be they had almost each time grown in scale, becoming more and more diabolical. All the more villages and cities were being targeted and even his once silly robotic creations seemed to have gotten a rougher edge to them.
Somewhere deep within his mind Sonic had a nagging feeling that the countless failed plots along with that his age had began to catch up with him caused the Doctor to become desperate. In the midst of showdowns Sonic could sometimes witness how brief glimpses of his declining sanity shone through his otherwise, well mostly, composed madness. He had at least promised himself that whenever the day came that the Doctor's mind went over the edge he'd do whatever it took to keep Amy as far away as possible.
Sonic didn't know for certain if Eggman was unaware of the fact that Amy was his fianceé but he strictly kept his engagement ring hidden from view under his glove, just in case. Only when he was at home did he put it on above his glove in the same way Amy wore hers. She had insisted that he'd also get a ring to wear so that they 'matched' - although he had settled for a much more simpler golden band.
To Sonic's initial surprise he actually liked the ring and whenever his eyes lingered on it his thought always strayed to Amy.
"I love how your heart beats whenever I hold you"
As Sonic just finished telling her about the adventure and he'd just about emptied the entire soup bowl, Amy got a thoughtful expression.
"Oh Sonic, you really did leave out a lot in your letters. I just wish I could've sent any back to you..! Tails should get the Tornado it's own address or something."
Sonic gave her an understanding glance while smiling at the idea.
"I'll have to tell him that, heh! He sends his regards by the way."
"Aw, we should invite him over tomorrow, maybe have a picnic - I've sure been missing him as well."
"Dunno, Ames. Maybe Tails' is too cool, he's apparently a 'big grown teenager that can take care of himself' now." Sonic said with a fond smirk at the thought of his little brother's words.
"You're not one to talk, Sonic. You thought the same when you were fifteen... actually you probably already thought so when you were nine!"
Sonic faked an offended look, playfully wagging his index finger in front of her.
"Hey, I took care of the both of you, didn't I? Besides, I was very mature for my age, truly a prime example of a responsible teenager!"
The two hedgehogs joined in a lighthearted laugh, both happy to be in each others company again after so long time. When their laughter died down Sonic turned his focus on Amy, reaching a hand across the table to gently grasp hers.
"Well enough about me already, now I want to hear about what you have been up to this past month."
"Oh, you know... the usual. Keeping the house tidy and taking care of the garden - I harvested all the edibles from the garden and made everything from jam to pickled vegetables. Vanilla even taught me how to make my own soap by using flowers from the garden, so now even you can smell like roses - tee hee!"
Sonic couldn't help but give her a toothy grin "I can't wait."
"Other than that I spent a lot of time with Cream, she's really growing into a sweet little lady! Well sweeter than usual at least. We have taken the train to Station Square a couple of times and went shopping in that fancy new shopping mall they've built. It's really nice actually and I bought the cutest dre- Sonic! You're bleeding!"
Amy's eyes had widened in alarm as she pointed at the side of his left temple where there trickled down a thin stream of blood out of a small cut, Sonic had absentmindedly scratched off the scab by accident.
"Oh? Well, would you look at that.." he said with a light chuckle.
However, Amy had jumped out of her seat and rushed to his side in order to inspect the cut, tilting in his head backwards as she did so. She breathed out a sigh of relief when she realized it wasn't that deep of a cut, but she still insisted that she'd clean it for him. Sonic let her drag him to the living room and place him down in the sofa while she went to fetch the first aid kit she stored in the upstairs bathroom.
When Amy hurriedly returned to him she wasted no time in starting to treat the cut, with caring delicacy she cleaned up the surrounding blood before putting a band-aid over it.
"Thanks Ames." Sonic said as she sank to her knees in front of him.
She didn't answer him and to his mild surprise instead reached her hands up to touch upon his frame as if she searched for something. Letting her fingers slowly slid across the subtle muscles on his torso up to his arms where she slid them down to the cuff of his glove that covered his hand.
"Can't keep your hands off of me, huh?" Sonic teased with a lopsided smile.
Amy's cheeks flushed in a rosy color while a bashful look settled on her face but still keeping her eyes fixed on his hand.
He couldn't help but think of how adorable she looked when she blushed. Her pure innocence making his heart surge with a strong sense of protectiveness.
Carefully Amy slid of the glove, revealing the peach hand underneath. His hand were much larger compared to hers which became more apparent as she held it. Her eyes observed how his knuckles had gotten slightly roughened as a result of all the years of fighting as well as tearing up robots. She also felt tiny scars upon the back of the hand and a larger one stretching across his palm, she delicately stroked a finger alongside it before ever so softly planting a kiss there.
With a twinge of guilt he realized that she'd been searching his body for any new set of scars.
"Amy..." Sonic breathed quietly as he noticed a sudden sadness reveal itself on her features.
"I hate seeing you hurt like this.." she whispered.
"It's just skin, Ames." he replied timidly, giving her a reassuring smile "Just scars on skin, nothing more."
But Amy merely shock her head and stared up into his eyes, almost defiantly.
"No, don't say that. I-.. I wish it didn't have to be like this... I wish I could protect you."
Sonic wasn't sure what she meant by the second statement, whether she was referring to their way of life or that his body had taken a few scars because of it, he couldn't tell. Perhaps she was hinting at something completly different. But hearing Amy's desire of wanting to protect him made him feel both perplexed and a bit amused - hadn't she realized by now?
Was she truly so blinded by her love for him that she failed to see that his own devotion ran just as deep for her? The ring he'd put on her finger wasn't just for show after all, he wholeheartedly intended to live by her side until the day he'd draw his very last breath.
"But you do protect me. Every second of every day you protect me, whether you're awake or asleep - wanna know how?"
She nodded, a curious glint visible in her eyes.
"My heart, Amy Rose." Sonic said simply "You carry it inside of you. Keeping it out of trouble for me. It doesn't matter how many injuries nor how many scars that may be inflicted upon me. Cover my whole body with them for all I care!"
His smile spread to a wide grin as he loudly exclaimed the last sentence, making Amy utter a brief chuckle. He lovingly entwined his hands with hers before continuing.
"All that matters is that you get to live a happy, peaceful life. Protecting that, and knowing that when I get home you'll be waiting for me is all I need. No one can ever truly hurt me as long as you're safe."
"I love how you think of me without being told to"
"But that in turn means that I'm the one carrying your heart, and no matter where or how far I may go - you're always with me."
Small tears trickled down Amy's cheeks as Sonic took her into his arms, her face pressed hard against his chest as she wept quietly.
"Therefore, you don't need to worry if I will be returing home safely.. because I'd never do anything to intentionally mistreat your heart. And for as long as you let me have it, I'll do whatever it takes to keep it secure and protected."
He had meant every word but was still shocked by his own sincerity, speaking openly about his feelings hadn't always come naturally to him in the past but Amy seemed to be one of very few people who managed to bring that side out of him. The tender sense of love they shared solely with each other could sometimes overwhelm him, and to some degree it scared him when how perfectly obvious it appeared in his mind that he'd unconditionally do anything for this girl.
But calming was the fact that Sonic knew that she'd never abuse it.
For a few minutes he simply kept his hold on Amy's small frame, waiting patiently until her crying subsided and she loosened her grip around him to look into his awaiting gaze.
"I'm sorry.." she said as she gave him a teary smile "You haven't been home for more than two hours and I've already buried you in tears like a big crybaby. I guess I'm not such a good fianceé after all."
"And I'm a pretty lousy fiance, aren't I?" Sonic sighed in a melancholy tone, giving her a matching smile.
They laughed briefly before their lips joined in a rather clumsy kiss, their foreheads butting against one another as a further bashful laugh escaped them.
In an attempt to rise the mood again Sonic gestured towards the rucksack that lay beside him on the sofa.
"Hey - I almost forgot, I have a gift for you."
He reached over to the rucksack and opened the top pocket lid, carefully taking out a slim object. When presented to her, Amy recognized it as a foldable hand fan.
Awaiting her reaction Sonic, with slight modesty, scratched the back of his head "Sorry, I hadn't anything to wrap it in."
Amy's face however lit up in admiration, carefully taking the fan and unfolding it - revealing the silk fabric adorned with a floral pattern which had been skillfully painted on both sides. To her delight the pattern resembled sakura flowers growing on its tree, she had always dreamed of having a real one planted in the garden. Imagining how she and Sonic one day, perhaps when they'd both grown old, would sit underneath a tree much like the one painted as gentle petals sailed down upon them.
She broke out of the mental image in order to give Sonic a affectionate look and embracing him in a tender hug.
"Oh Sonic, it's so lovely! Thank you."
"The merchant in Chun-nan told me that it's just as good for fanning as it is swatting flies away." he said with a smirk once they parted.
In the fashion to that of women in old black-and-white movies, Amy brought the fan to her mouth so that it hid her giggling from Sonic's view. In response he promptly faked a pout and playfully tried to snatch the fan out of her hands.
"Hey! No concealing of pretty smiles from me - that's my privileged right as your fiance. It's what I live for, for chaos sake!"
"Sonikku, you big drama queen!" Amy chortled as she teasingly stuck her tounge out at him before quickly hiding behind the fan again, trying to lean out of his reach.
The use of her pet name for him from so many years ago still made his cheeks flush lightly in embarrasment. But two could play that game.
"Come on - don't be such a rascal, Rosy..!"
Amy shot the fan out to the side as she struck a dramatic pose which allowed Sonic to easily snag the fan and bring her close to him again.
"No fair..." she said as she now sat placed in his lap, their bodies opposite from one another. The position made her suddenly very aware of how much she'd missed being in physical contact with the male hedgehog - his body seemed to radiate a sort of natural warmth that made her feel utterly safe and at peace.
Regarding the more physical part of their relationship Sonic was quite the old-fashioned gentleman. His genuine desire of waiting to be able to call her his wife before they engaged in one of the very deepest expressions of love, made Amy feel deeply touched. She, on her part, felt no need to rush into anything of that sort either.
To Sonic, love was so much more than just that. He didn't lust for her body any more than his desire of simply being able to hold her close, hear the sound of her heart or experience the sensation of her gentle touch.
Amy was his to protect and his to love, just as he was hers.
The suddenly intense atmosphere and the almost tingling feeling between the places where their skin met caused a sense of seriousness to settle in the living room. They fell silent as their gazes locked onto one another, an unspoken fondness evident in both their eyes.
Amy was first to speak though it wasn't without a certain hint of shyness in her voice and entire demenour. She didn't wish to make him uncomfortable with what she was about to do.
"Erm.. Sonic?"
"Yeah?" he inquired softly.
"Can I-.. Can I try something?"
Sonic simply nodded.
"Do you mind...- closing your eyes?"
Slowly his emerald eyes disappeared behind his closing eyelids.
Without a seconds thought he had followed suit on her request, having not the slightest of clues of what might follow as he did so.
But not long after Sonic had closed his eyes could he feel how Amy's lips pressed against his cheek. The kiss was planted with such utter delicacy that he might as well have only imagined it, had it not been for the sweet scent of roses that drew closer to his nose as she bent forward to deliver it. Several more kisses were planted on his other cheek, forehead, temples, eyelids and even on the very tip of his nose.
Soon it felt like she'd covered every inch of his face with her lips and now softly brushed them against his.
And in a lightly dazed set of mind, Sonic concluded that this must be what it was like to be in total and uttermost bliss.
All of his senses were filled with Amy Rose.
He could feel how her skin shivered as he ran a hand up her back, bringing her closer. His lips could savor the taste of her cherry like ones. Heard how her heart beat hard against her chest. Her addictive scent...
And lastly he opened his eyes to witness this otherworldly angel that sat before his very eyes.
"I love the way your touch is always heavenly"
Lowering themselves on the sofa, Sonic's body draped behind hers and Amy's body curled up to his chest, they settled into a comfortable silence.
Outside, the sun had lowered on the sky which now had been painted in a faint color of pink mixed with yellow and orange. To Sonic, the best thing about living out on the coutry side was to never have to hear the sound of traffic or people shouting as one did back in Station Square and the closest neighbor lived about a half hour walk away. Most mobians on this part of Mobius tended to be drawn more towards the big cities so there were few houses built outside of them even if small towns had started to grow forth for the past years.
Sonic was glad that at least the area around the Mystic Ruins where Tails lived had been untouched and that it wasn't on trend to build mansions there - he had a feeling Knuckles wouldn't take to kindly if it ever were to happen. Thinking of his hotheaded old friend brought a smirk to his face and he made a mental note that he'd have to visit him soon.
His eyes swept across the living room until it landed on the bookcase on the other side of the room, it was pretty broad and was lit up by the floor lamp that stood beside it. Often times he'd bring back books from one of his travels - bought either from old antique stores, which to his surprise could hold the most epic of adventure novels, or given as one of many frequent gifts. If a book ever were to be about for example science, astronomy or mechanics - Sonic would gladly pass it on to Tails who much rather read factual books than fictional novels.
Sometimes during late evenings Amy would, on his request, read aloud for him out of one of the many books. Sonic found that he loved to listen to her telling him the stories just as much as he liked reading them. Years of reading countless bedtime stories to Cream had made her a very good storyteller and her voice was never rushed or dull, even making voices whenever a character spoke. Though it sounded pretty funny when she'd try and imitate the more gruff characters voices due to her otherwise high and singsong tone.
"Ames?" he said quietly.
To get her attention, Sonic gently nudged a now almost sleeping Amy who blinked a few times before bending her neck backwards in order to meet his gaze.
He continued "Do you feel like reading me something, my little storyteller? I'm in a dire need of hearing your voice."
And after all the time he'd been away from her, he truly was.
Amy seemed happily surprised by his request and her previous drowsiness was suddenly completely gone. She arose from the sofa, walked over to the towering bookcase and hesitantly turned her head towards Sonic.
"Which one do you wanna hear?" she asked.
"You pick one." he answered encouragingly.
Amy turned her head back towards the bookcase and contemplated which book she should pick. There were quite a lot them stored up on the shelves, mostly classic adventure novels since it was Sonic who stood for most of the reading in the household. While Amy did enjoy reading she wasn't much of bookworm, her scarce contribution of romance novels barely covered one shelf. Admittedly, she preferred watching the romantic scenarios unfold on screen instead rather than having to imagine them on her own - the couple in question would often end up looking a lot more like herself and a certain blue hedgehog, causing somewhat of a distraction.
Her eyes search the bookcase for a book fit for the occasion and eventually finds it - the "Idylls of the King", one of many books that tells of the Arthurian Legends. One of Sonic's absolute favorites.
Right next to the sofa stands an armchair which Amy sits down in before then proceeding to lean back and open up the book, placing it comfortably against her raised knees.
A particular story comes to her mind and she decides to go for that one.
She flips through the pages, halts as the title of the desired poem appears, and with a soothing tone begins to read the story of "Geraint and Enid". Sonic's ears perk up slightly as he recongizes it and for a brief moment Amy wonders if he got dissapointed that she picked one about romance. But Sonic merely gets a thoughtful look on his face along with warm smile - leans back on the sofa and closes his eyes to listen.
The poem depicts the story of the brave prince of Devon, who's also one of Arthur's knights, named Geraint. How he falls deeply in love with the beautiful Enid and later marries and settles down with her. Throughout the story their love is tested by both misunderstandings and jealousy which leads them to a dangerous journey where Geraint proves his chivalry and capability as a ruler while Enid repeatedly saves her husband from danger, thus proving her undying devotion to him.
"- and in their halls arose the cry of children, Enids and Geraints, of times to be, nor did he doubt her more, but rested in her fealty til he crowned a happy life with a fair death. And fell against the heathen of the Northern Sea in battle, fighting for the blameless King."
It was already dark outside when Amy uttered the last few lines of the story before closing the book with a soft thud. Just as she did so, Sonic's eyes opened and he said with an almost critical voice, as if he'd been waiting to voice his thoughts.
"I forgot how much of a jerk Geraint was. I mean - ordering his wife to not speak to him and pretending to be dead just so he could be reassured of her feelings towards him is not really chivalrous, is it?"
It was meant as a rhetorical question but Amy was quick to answer him, in an attempt to defend the fictional prince.
"Well, he did it so he wouldn't risk hurting her while he figured out if she'd been unfaithful to him or not, he did it out of love. Personally, I believe he always knew she hadn't but was merely afraid to get hurt..." she got a dreamy expression "Besides his judgement was clouded, also he defended her against that horrible earl and apologized to Enid after he realized he'd done wrong, which to me is very honorable of him."
Sonic merely snorted at this.
"He should've believed her regardless, and not cared so much about his status. A true knight-"
"Sonic, just because you've read about knights doesn't mean you know how to be one." she interrupted playfully.
"Well actually, I once-"
But he couldn't finish the sentence as she shot him a skeptical look while trying to stifle a laugh.
"Oh don't start with me."
The memory of how Sonic had once missed a date with her because he'd supposedly been dragged into the world of King Arthur was still a sore subject.
They gabbed a bit with each other back and forth until Amy, mid-sentence, let out an abrupt yawn. It made Sonic cast a glance at the clock on the wall which showed that it was nearly nine o'clock.
He arose from the sofa and walked over to her seat, gently pulling her upright "Time for bed, Amy."
But Amy stood her ground when he tried to pull her with him. She took his hands in hers and gave him a pleading look.
"W-wait..! Can't we dance first? I've been longing so much for it when you were gone."
Sonic pretended to consider it for a brief moment before giving her a wide smirk and wink.
"Sure, whatever the lady wants."
"But darling most of all I love how you love me"
Amy picked an old time song from their shelf of records and put it on the slightly old fashioned record player that stood on a table in the corner. It had, multiple times, been repaired by Tails who'd always point out they should just buy a modern stereo instead - to which Amy refused to listen.
"It has charm!" she'd say firmly.
With an authentic spark the record player kicked into action and soon a slow tune started playing accompanied by a pleasant male voice singing the first line of verse.
They went to stand in the middle of the living room before Sonic snaked his left arm around Amy's waist and with ease lifted her, so that she instead stood steadily placed with either foot on top of his shoes. That way the height difference between them decreased which made it easier to dance and she could just about reach up to rest her head against the upper half of his chest.
Sonic liked dancing in theory, or at least when you could dance however you wanted to, but dancing together - with someone else, added a whole new level of difficulty. At first he had often felt awkward and unsure of how to adapt his body after Amy's, she was so fragile that he worried that one wrong turn or too eager movements would end up hurting her. Even if she'd insist that she was perfectly fine, he would still be cautiously mindful of it.
Fortunately, Amy had picked a calm song which only required him to gently sway them slowly in the center of the living room.
He tried to keep somewhat of a pace with the rhythm of the song and Amy smiled brightly up at him as he every so often would dip her gently or lift her up to spin her around. The joyous giggles that erupted from her as he did so were much more like music to his ears than what came out of the record player.
Somehow it felt oddly strange. Mere days ago Sonic had been on the other side of Mobius, in the midst of battle while people's lives had been at stake. And now he was at home, dancing with Amy tightly wrapped in his arms - safe, and with an unfaltering sense of easiness in his chest.
The contrast was almost bizarre.
And then, for a brief yet dreadful moment, he envisioned how Amy stood among the rubble of destroyed buildings, screams of terrified mobians echocing around her while a maniacal laugh erupted overhead. How her ever so white gloves had been tainted by blood and dirt. Her sweet, innocent face streaked by tears...
The thought made Sonic stop his swaying abruptly and stare out into the dark night through the window - as if he could see the mad doctor's tainted glasses observing them while he grinned wickedly.
Instinctively, his grip tightened protectively around Amy as he pressed her towards his chest so that he shielded her from the imaginary stare of his arch enemy.
"Sonic..?" Amy looked up at him with concerned eyes, the sudden change in his posture had slightly startled her. "Is something wrong?"
The same instant her soft voice reached his ears and registered within his mind - did the imagined face dissolve into nothing.
Sonic tried to avoid her gaze without looking bothered, he simply couldn't bring himself to lie while looking her straight in the eyes.
"No, nothing. Everything's perfect."
He hastily flashed her his trademark smile which only seemed to confuse Amy even futher, but she decided to let it slide for now. If it were important Sonic would tell her, she figured.
"Okay.."
Taking notice of that the pleasant man's voice had died down, Sonic loosened his grip around her waist and let her back down on the floor.
"I guess I'm a bit tired, traveling must've taken its toil on me. I'm sorry - we'll continue tomorrow, I promise."
Amy walked over to the corner and turned off the record player before she returned to Sonic's side and wrapped her arms around his waistline.
Nodding reassuringly she said "It's alright, I'm sleepy too."
As if on cue yet another yawn escaped her lips.
Then, with a swift movement, Sonic lifted Amy into his arms and effortlessly carried her upstairs to their bedroom.
"I love how you hug me - I love how you squeeze me, tease me, please me
Love how you love me"
While Amy were changing and washing up in the attached bathroom, Sonic wandered into the familiar bedroom.
The wooden furniture, that Amy had neatley painted in soft shades of white, stood where they always had and so did the double sized bed with its fluffy covers. The lamps on each nightstand were lit and spread a warm glow through the room.
He observed how the side of the bed where he usually slept looked a bit too sleek. For a moment he thought of how utterly lonely it must feel to sleep all alone in the big bed without anyone beside you. Guilt surged through his body like venom when he imagined Amy's petite form, who barely took up a third of the bed's size, laying in the empty bed. Alone. For days upon days...
"Where is her hero then, huh? Her dear fiance?" a malicious part of Sonic's subconsciousness spat at him mockingly.
Trying to block out the voice, he went over to sit at Amy's side of the bed - where his eyes had detected the letters he'd sent to her - stocked neatly on the nightstand.
With slight hesitation Sonic picked up the top letter, the last one he'd sent only four days ago, and read his own, pretty sloppy handwriting.
"Dear Amy,
I hope you are feeling well. Things are starting to clear up here, Dr. R hasn't caused any more havoc for a whole day now, but we're hanging back just in case. We're clearing out stray robots in the area and Tails is helping with the reconstruction of the nearby village the best he can.
But don't worry, cause I know you will - the villagers are all safe and so is Tails and I. This is nothing we can't handle.
Anyway, It's almost been a whole month since we left home, weird isn't it? I'm missing you like crazy, Amy Rose... I can't wait to see you or to simply just hear your voice again. Every night as I'm about to fall asleep, I imagine how you're sitting among the flowers in our garden - watching as they bloom with that sweet smile of yours. It never fails to bring me pleasant dreams, and I promise that soon I'll sit right there beside you.
I really hope I will be able to return to you near the end of the week, If not - I will write again.
Tails sends his regards, he's beginning to get a little homesick now and he misses you as well.
Make sure to take care of yourself. I love you.
Yours, Sonic."
When he was done reading the letter it felt like he'd sent it an eternity ago. As though it had been in another life. Written by someone entirely different. Someone who impossibly could be himself.
"I re-read them now and again... It made me feel a little bit closer to you."
Sonic turned his head backwards, and found that Amy had appeared through the doorway. She was dressed in a simple cotton nightgown that reached down just below the knees, showing off her bare feet.
Almost absentmindedly, he put the letter back on the nightstand before giving her a tender smile.
"I'm not really good with words.. though I would have loved to be able to get any back from you. I think we really should seriously consider getting the Tornado its own address."
"Next time-" and he saw that it hurt her to even think about a next time, when he'd be forced to leave her. "I can write you letters in advance. Then you could open one whenever you'd start to miss me."
Sonic chuckled, a warm, almost childlike chuckle that melted Amy's heart.
"You'd have to write a lot of letters then, Ames."
All of a sudden Amy leaped at him and swung her arms around his waist, burying her face in his chest.
His words had stung her more than she'd realized and she fought back any potential tears that might form in her eyes.
"You're not crying are you?" Sonic's voice sounded worried.
"No, I'm just... tired."
Even if the bed was merely a few steps away, Sonic lifted her into his arms and carried her towards it. Then, with uttermost delicacy, he laid her down beneath the covers before tucking her in. As a final touch he bent down to plant a kiss on her lips which she lovingly returned.
They parted and the same smile as before was back "There, milady." he said and arose.
Then Amy watched as Sonic proceeded to take of his shoes and socks. While he did so, she tried not to see how some of his bodily scars got highlighted in the faint glow from the lamps.
Now, save for his gloves, he stood completely naked before her and she couldn't help but blush shyly at the sight. Sonic was obviously always naked in a sense, but somehow it became more apparent when they were alone at night in their own bedroom.
To Amy - Sonic was more dazzling, and far more handsome than any fairy tale prince ever depicted. His sharp, athletic body also held a smooth softness. Deadly to his enemies. Gentle and caring to his friends and those in need.
He was already a young man while she still felt painstakingly underdeveloped and thin as a stick.
"What are you thinking about?" Sonic suddenly asked with a concerned voice, he had noticed her staring and also seen the slightly somber expression.
For a brief second Amy hesitated before uttering a sigh, feeling how the blush on her face deepened.
"You're beautiful..." she whispered, trying her best to suppress an all too dreamy expression.
Sonic gave her a lopsided smirk, clearly amused by the casual compliment "No need to sweet talk me, Ames. We're already engaged, remember?"
He raised his left hand where the golden band was unmistakably visible, as if to prove his point.
"How could I ever forget."
In the blink of an eye, Sonic had joined Amy in bed and almost instinctively she drew close to him to which he responded to by wrapping his arms around her body. He held her securely and everything in his world felt complete. His entire being was at peace and his heart sang with sheer euphoria.
The hero had been reunited with his princess.
The wind with his rose.
The fiance with his fianceé.
With a delicate hand he stroked her cheek before planting a kiss on her forehead.
"How I love you. My Amy..." Sonic whispered with such pure tenderness that it almost hurt to express his love in mere words "My Amy Rose."
Amy giggled softly as Sonic's breath tickled her while his words made her heart pound harder within her chest.
"Please, Sonic... kiss me." she pleaded helplessly.
For what felt like an eternity, Sonic continously carassed Amy's lips with his own, only ever breaking for short inhales of air. He kissed her with such delicacy that one might have thought she was made out of glass - that, at any given moment, could break beneath his hold.
A deep and yet distant yearning stirred somewhere within his soul, causing his heart to throb so violently that he thought it would get caught in his throat.
With great effort, Sonic reluctantly pulled away and laid his head back on the pillow "Well, that was something. You don't know the effect you have on me, Ames - one of these days you'll be giving me a heart attack."
Amy simply giggled bashfully as her cheeks flushed in a rosy color and her eyes sparkled happily.
They took a minute to calm their racing hearts. After awhile Amy uttered a yawn, gazed up at Sonic and asked -
"Would you sing me to sleep, Sonikku?"
Similar to how Sonic enjoyed listening to her reading, Amy loved to fall asleep to the sound of his voice. She'd read for him and he'd sing for her. A good agreement.
Sonic had never really considered himself of having an exceptionally good singing voice, but he still genuinely enjoyed it and sang regularly in the shower. Though then it was usually to distract himself of thinking too much of the pouring water.
"Of course."
"Our lullaby?" she suggested while shifting into a more comfortable position.
"Our lullaby." he echoed in confirmation and pecked her cheek "Close your eyes now, Amy. And try not to dream too much about me."
Amy playfully stuck her tongue out at him before settling down and closing her eyes, which suddenly felt very heavy.
The last thing she remembered of the night was how Sonic's voice lulled her into a wondrous and peaceful sleep.
When Sonic was assured that she'd fallen asleep, his voice gradually faded until it fell completely silent.
Uttering the last line under his breath "Behold I give you the morning, I give you the day."
It was an old lullaby. One that he'd used to sing for Tails during nights plauged by thunderstorms. The appeasing melody along with its lyrics promising of a brighter tomorrow had etched itself in his memory and had been there for as long as he could remember.
Maybe it originated from a parent he was unable to remember, or perhaps he'd made it up himself on one of those many lonely nights he'd experienced as a young child. Long before he'd even met Tails, Knuckles and Amy.
He shuddered at the thought and glanced down at Amy who rested her head so peacefully upon his chest. She had no parents to speak of, and it tore at his heart in a certain way. There couldn't have been much of them if they left her all alone in this world. Although, Sonic couldn't help but feel eternally grateful for whomever they might've been - they were the reason Amy existed after all. And without her, his own life would have been terribly empty...
By pure instinct, Sonic brought Amy even closer to him and protectively enclosed her in his arms.
"Dream sweet dreams, Amy." Sonic whispered before he gave out to his own tiredness "I'll be right here when you wake up."
And just as his voice had lulled her to sleep, he would get to fall asleep to the heavenly sound of her beating heart.
"I love how you love me.."
Credits:
"I Love How You Love Me" - Bobby Vinton
"Love Is A Many Splendored Thing" - Sammy Fain / Paul Webster
"Idylls Of The King" - Alfred Tennyson
"I Give You The Morning" - Tom Paxton