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Chapter 2: We're So Full of Secrets

Shadow was stacking dishes into the dishwasher, draping the towel over the rail and picking up the last of the unused utensils from the table.

Through the kitchen window overlooking their miniature garden was the gossamer full moon, followed by its congregation of astute stars. His eyes trailed downwards in thought, and caught his studious expression from the reflection against the darkened window panel. His red eyes gleamed like lustrous rubies of fire.

Having Sonic here made him more complete, but he still didn't feel… happy. There were too many things to forget. Too many things to remember.

He was sure that after giving Sonic time to adjust, they'd both he happier.

"So, more job hunting tomorrow?" He inquired, feeling somewhat more exultant and settled since they had unpacked much of their things and had got dinner out of the way.

Shadow felt like they had come to the edge together after wondering on a road for too long. Hand in hand. They had now bridged the gap, jumped across that edge into new territory. Unknown territory. But they had made the jump together into the future. Into the unknown.

Things could only get better.

"Sonic?" He turned round when his ears didn't catch a response, a soapy plate in his hands. He was alone in the kitchen. "Hey? Where the hell did you go?" Hedgehog sure is quiet when he wanders off. He stacked the last plate, closed the dishwasher and began to look for him, undoing his green apron at the back.

Quietly, he walked upstairs, wondering where he had got to when he heard sounds coming from the bathroom. He sauntered across the landing and faced the bathroom door that was left open by several inches. There was a lot of splashing and gurgling to be heard. It was absurd to think that he was having a bath, and it certainly didn't sound like the showerhead spraying into the tub either.

"Sonic?" Unashamed, he gently pushed the door open. What he saw was not what he had been expecting. Sonic was leaning over the toilet rim, retching into the porcelain basin. Upon hearing him enter, Sonic peered round guiltily.

"Hiya… Shades."

"Are… are y-you okay?" Was all that Shadow managed to tumble out of his mouth.

Sonic straightened up from his slouched position over the toilet and flushed before Shadow got a chance to see. "Yeah, just fine."

"If you weren't feeling well, why didn't you tell me?"

"I was just a little queasy. No biggy." He took a tumbler of water from the shelf beneath the bathroom mirror just low enough for him to reach, took a mouthful, spat it into the sink and then drank the rest down.

"So long as you're feeling better…" Shadow muttered, finding the whole thing unsettling.

"Well, Shades? Bed? I've never slept in a double before! I hope you don't snore!"

"Just promise me you won't be sleeping on roofs anymore."

"Way too cold for that!"

XXXXXXX

True to Sonic's word, snowy gales started coming in from the south. The garden bench outside began to grow frosted skin. Icicles started to form on the guttering and under the eaves of the house.

Shadow allowed Sonic to snuggle up to him. Both were unused to contact from any kind of intimacy. So on unspoken, mutual ground, they decided to just sleep cuddled up together; enjoying the rapport.

Sonic, still tired from the journey of getting here and all the mental anxieties of changing home and leaving friends, had fallen straight to sleep, head tucked against Shadow's chest.

Both their shoes had been left in a heap at the foot of their bed. The red glaring digital numbers on the alarm clock on the nightstand read exactly 01:30am.

Shadow's sensitive fingers roamed and glided over Sonic's ears. It felt weird to be so close to another for the first time… good, but strange. His fur smelt like fresh cotton and almonds. His left foot twitched every quarter of an hour as if he were running in his dreams. His weight was again something to get used to. Shadow adjusted position several times to get comfortable, and never once moved Sonic off him.

And as always, despite this strange bliss, he couldn't sleep.

Insomnia had plagued him for years, and even with someone else here with him, he still could not sleep.

Nothing seemed to cure it.

After all this time…

… After trying to change…

…he still could not forget her.

His human sister… Lost forever to the fires of hate, betrayal and pain.

Right now, Sonic seemed more like a pet. A temporary distraction from it all; that wasn't working.

"Maria…"

XXXXXXX

The following morning, the day was sunny and bright despite the damp frost webbing the lawn and sidewalks.

"Feeling okay?" Shadow asked, coming down the stairs to see him off.

Sonic nodded, plucking a red coat from the clothes rack and slipping into it. "Better than ever. I'm going into town again with Chris and Tails to look for anything on the market. I'll try not to be too long."

"Why are you wearing that?" He asked, more focused on the attire than Sonic's reason for leaving.

The little blue hog pulled the zip up and slipped into his footwear. "It's kinda nippy outside. The winters here are getting worse. Besides, wearing one of these makes me look kinda cool!"

"But you don't need one!" Shadow implied, folding his red-lipped arms. And he was right to persist. For as long as he had known Sonic (which equated to about 15 years), he had never worn clothing.

"Not everyone has such thick, luscious fur like you! Gimme a kiss for luck!"

"Like you need anymore." Feeling rather awkward, he bent down and pecked Sonic on the cheek as if he was approaching a caged tiger. Upon contact, Sonic leapt up and gave him a tight embrace. Shadow, so unconversant to loving gestures or contact of any kind, was too shocked and surprised to react. Sonic let go, smiling as he opened the door, waving goodbye.

"See yous later, Shades!"

Shadow crept up to the doorway, watching his new little partner jog down the sunny street towards town.

I wish he could have stayed longer…

Shadow backed away a step to close the door. After finishing up with the final bout of unpacking, he studied the tired old walls, wondering what new colors to paint with. Restless, he returned to the lounge, made himself a cup of tea and settled on the sofa. Pressing a button on the remote control, he switched on the small television to lay eyes on his usual TV soaps.

The peeling sunlight gloated through the window, scorching the characters on the TV screen and causing Shadow to throw a hand up over his eyes. Cursing softly, he made his way to the window to throw down a blind when at that precise moment a young blonde girl was walking down the pathway past their house. On her back was a backpack while she clutched an armful of books. Unless his eyes were deceiving him, she looked exactly like…

Maria…

Straining his face against the glass, he watched her go by, obviously on her way to school.

This was unprecedented… but at the same time…

Worried about losing her, and infatuated by the similarities, he threw open the front door and dashed out without locking it behind him.

She had already gone round the corner of the road.

Curious… lonely… confused, he followed her like a lost puppy, forgetting about stealth and tossing aside his impervious, paranoid natures.

He took to the shadows, dived between garbage cans, sullenly stayed glued to alleyways and narrow corners where even if she turned – she would not see him.

She didn't go far, merely kept to the sidewalk with no friends to walk beside. Eventually the school grounds came into view over the brow of the hill.

XXXXXXX

Sonic catapulted into Chris's arms, body impacting against his soft parka. Wrapping his skinny arms around his neck, they hugged each other as if they had been separated for well over a decade. The boy he had always known and loved had grown into a tall, strong adult. Always having a passion for animals, he took a veterinary course in Minton College after having a part time job in the fast food industry to earn some money for the course.

After surviving a four-year course, he was well on his way into becoming an animal surgeon. Rarely did they get to spend any time together now, so this reunion was extra special.

"I can't believe I have to get a train to see my favorite hedgehog!" Christopher remarked, giving him a squeeze back. "How did the move go, big guy?"

"Snazzy coat too!" Tails complimented, noticing Sonic's red coat with a smile.

After being set down, Sonic regarded them both with a cheerful grin. "The move went as smoothly as honey! Gonna take some getting used to o' course, but all things take time! And soon it'll be home!"

"Yer partner laid any ground rules yet?" Chris asked, winking at him in a teasing way.

"Hey, I'm not going to be the wife of the relationship!"

"Sonic," Tails took him into a warm embrace too, "Amy's still mad and didn't want to come. She's still coming to the party, but you know how she is. She's had her heart set on your for years."

"I know." They pulled away, "so long as you aren't jealous!"

"Just don't get a STD!" Tails said with a laugh. "Now, let's go and eat someplace!"

"Again? You guys are always eating!" Sonic joked.

"So? The food here is good! Come on!" Tails took his hand and led him into town. The sky overhead was clear and sunny. Slanting sunlight glared off car windows and shop corners in brilliant flashes.

"I'm still looking for a job." Sonic explained, "It's not easy. Who wants a blue hedgehog to work for them? They always think I'm fresh off a radiation conveyer belt, despite the fact that I've thwarted Eggman again and again, and I'm known pretty much everywhere."

"It's been a while since we've done any hero stuff." Tails reminded him as they passed a clothing shop and a mobile phone booth, "and humans tend to… forget."

"You can say that again."

"Sonic, look I…" Chris stopped in the middle of the public pathway and pulled out a sheet of paper from his shoulder bag. He knelt down and offered it for the hedgehog to take. "I… I've been asking around, and thanks to my parents' connections, I can get about anything you want so long as it's entertainment. I dropped by and picked up this leaflet. I thought it might interest you. You have nothing to lose after all, right?"

Sonic took the advertisement and opened it out, a shy, redolent grin stretching across his pale countenance. "Chris, buddy… this is perfect. When do the try-outs start?"

"First thing tomorrow morning. That's why I had to give it to you today. It's something you've always wanted to do, right?"

"Right!"

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