Golden and blue streaked through the night, circling each other as one always cut to double back. This wasn't what they had.
An agreement. Hints had been dropped over the years, constant, only increasing in intensity when they didn't seem to work. It was difficult to wear him down, as he admitted, but it was even more difficult to get Sonic to abandon something. Not when he had made such progress.
It didn't matter that Shadow had stopped dodging. Each tiny nick from the dense shrubs and low-hanging branches felt like nothing compared to the dread in his stomach.
He agreed. If Sonic could catch him, in this impromptu race, then he'd allow this to happen.
But he couldn't. He couldn't allow himself to readily accept love-- he didn't know what 'love' was. Genuine or not, this couldn't happen. He had to keep running.
Sonic was on his tail. He had the advantage of home territory, of course, but that could only apply had there been more light and if Shadow had half a mind to not plow through any obstacle in his way. His only other option was to watch the ever flickering flame from the other's shoes, always disappearing behind something just as he neared.
Shadow couldn't deny himself any longer. Shadow couldn't do this, not to himself. He wouldn't allow him to shut himself away from love, away from the world, just because he was afraid of hurt. His only chance was tonight and he would take it would open arms. It didn't matter that his feet were numb and legs no longer listening to any order other than 'run', because he loved Shadow. He'd make him know that.
Shadow took a calculated step, placing a foot high in front of him to jump up and backwards, sailing over Sonic's head just to begin the chase once more. Sonic only grinned and repeated him, step-by-step, and remained by his side in the split second it took for him to get away.
"You can't run forever." Shadow called back to him, and Sonic shrugged. Shadow could probably run for much longer than he could, and Sonic knew that. It didn't mean he'd give up. Never.
"Watch me."
Just as the words left his mouth, Shadow sneered and pulled forward again. He wouldn't allow it. He wouldn't allow himself. He wouldn't allow Sonic to catch him. He couldn't. He couldn't love. He couldn't do it.
This wasn't what they had. Couldn't they remain friends?
Shadow shut his eyes tightly, running blind for a few seconds as he thought. A clearing came to view, and after laid a cliff that lead to water. With no fear and no knowledge, sprinting through the clearing in less than a second, he jumped.
Sonic watched, and with the fire of passion burning brighter and stronger than his fear, took the plunge also.