2: A Leap Of Faith

Sonic was munching on one of several chili dogs, one hand behind his head and one leg crossed over the other as he sat on Sally's bed, propped comfortably and feeling relaxed. Sally, though? She looked anything but relaxed. She was pacing back and forth around her room, head down and her curtain of auburn hair shielding her face from his view.

"Ugh, I can't believe I embarrassed myself in front of Shadow! I wouldn't be surprised if he never wants to see me again! I'm no damsel in distress! I'm a mature, sensible leader. I'm a princess, Sonic. I know how to get shit done, okay? And what did I do instead? The complete opposite of that," Sally lamented, sighing heavily. She eventually stopped pacing, flopping face first onto the foot of her bed, yelling into her comforter. Thank Chaos it was muffled; Sonic didn't think his ears could handle such a shriek.

Gobbling down the rest of his lunch in record speed, he moved so that he was lying down right beside her. Gently moving her so that she was lying on her back, he coaxed her into looking at him. Those big, pretty sapphire eyes stared at him, wide open and filled with a mixture of sadness and hopelessness, effectively tugging at his heartstrings mercilessly. He pulled her into his arms, and she let him, smothering herself in his warmth and comfort, ear pressed against his chest, right above his heart. Its steady, rhythmic beats soothed her nerves, and she took several deep breaths, trying and slowly gathering her bearings.

She hadn't liked someone this much in forever, if at all, not in the romantic sense, at least. She'd always thought she would be too busy for love, what, with juggling the responsibilities that came with being a heroine and royalty. She had people to protect and a kingdom to help lead. Where would romance and relationships fit into that particular narrative? And then she met Shadow, got to know him, and nothing was the same. She was fond of him, unaware she was falling until she had already hit the ground. There was no turning back, no ditching her feelings. She couldn't very well tear out her heart and throw it away, could she?

And there were worse people to like. Shadow, while rough around the edges, wasn't an awful person. He was intelligent, hardworking, thoughtful, and sexy as hell, oh my Chaos! What she wouldn't give to have those muscled arms wrapped around her, or to be able to touch that deliciously chiseled chest of his. Heart thumping harder within her chest, she felt her cheeks heat up with a blush.

"You, dearest friend of mine, have been bitten by the love bug, and it must've bit you hard," Sonic teased, one hand rubbing soothing circles along the slope of her back. Sally could only groan, and he couldn't help but laugh, and she felt the vibrations of that infectious laugh keenly, to the point where she couldn't help but laugh too.

"You're telling me. The heart wants what it wants, and apparently, my heart wants him," Sally snorted, rolling her eyes. "I mean, I feel tongue-tied whenever I see him. It's pathetic and so unlike me, and yet, here I am, head-over-hills in love with him. It's ridiculous."

"Hey, don't say it like that. Shadow may be an asshole at times, but I'm pretty sure that's his brand at this point." At that, they both laughed, wiping tears of laughter from their eyes once they were done. "All jokes aside, though Sal, Shadow's not a bad dude. He's definitely not what he used to be, I can tell you that much. He's not closed off and guarded like he used to be, and while he's not gonna make declarations of love or something anything soon, he's a nice, caring person. There are definitely worse people you could've fallen for."

"You're right, and I'm definitely not trying to take away his growth and character development from him at all. I'm proud of the person he's become; that just makes me love him all the more. But, Shadow and romance? Or, a better question: Shadow plus me? Would that even work?" Sally mused, frowning thoughtfully. Sonic poked her until she was pushing his hands away, glaring at him, though with no real heat behind it.

"Well, not with that attitude it won't! I think you and Shadow would look good together! I even picked out your ship name! Wait for it: Shadally. It's got a nice ring to it, huh?" Sonic smiled, and Sally could do nothing but shake her head. "My point is, sis, is that you'll never know what's waiting for you on the other side unless you take a leap of faith and try." And she didn't know where people got in her head that her brother wasn't smart or levelheaded. Sonic was a leader and strategist, not nearly as impulsive as people liked to assume he was. He wasn't their team leader for nothing.

"What if I do and it doesn't work out? What do I do then?" The fear and worry in her voice was palpable, and Sonic gave her hand a gentle, reassuring squeeze. "I guess, even if it doesn't work out, at least I can say I tried. I can look back and say that I did my best and gave it my all."

"Exactly, Sal. Just follow your heart and see where it takes you. Trust me on this one, okay? I've known Shadow for quite some time, and I can attest to some things, one being that underneath that tough exterior is a big ol' softie, but you didn't hear that from me. Besides, I'm pretty sure he's crushing on you too."

Sally, who was in process of getting off her bed, lost her balance and stumbled over, falling right on her butt, her face so red it looked like it was on fire. She pushed her hair out of her way, glaring at Sonic with as much venom as she could muster. Said hedgehog did nothing but smile innocently, valiantly fighting back the laugh that desperately wanted to make itself known. Instead, he offered her his hand and helped her back on her feet, easily dodging the punch she hurled his way with practiced ease.

They squabbled like the siblings they were as they left her bedroom, but they wouldn't have it any other way. They were family, after all, and they stuck together and looked out for each other through thick and thin and all the highs and lows. That's the way it's always been, and that's the way it'll always be. He'd be there for her every step of the way, and she'd do the same.