Ch. 7 The Night Continues

It was midnight and both hedgehogs had not intended for their date to last so long, but they still did not want to call the night quits. Sonic motioned for the other to fallow him out of the garage giant hot dog still in hand. The sapphire hero sat on the side walk as the striped hog closed the garage doors behind them. Shadow sat next to Sonic and it felt familiar, like the way it felt at Sonic's party on the front steps. Shadow decided to speak first, "So, I did not expect you to have a bad streak to you." Sonic just looked to the stars in the sky, "Well I used to." "Seems like it is still there." Shadow said staring at the lights above as well. "Yeah well, my life is not my own anymore so…" Sonic played with fabric of his jacket sleeves. "What do you mean?" Shadow peered at Sonic from the corner of his eye. Sonic's face was suddenly a large smile; eyes still locked on the heavens. "You know, I have always wished I could be like you." Shadow was silent as he just listened to what was being divulged to him. "You save the world, but you were smart enough to not make yourself public. Having the entire world looking at you is… stressful. I've changed a lot over the years and not cause I wanted to. Because if I didn't…" Shadow decided to speak, "You feel like you would upset people with who you really are." Sonic finally turned to his counterpart with a look of dysphoria, "Exactly, I used to be the rude dude, with the attitude. Now I have to keep up this good squeaky-clean image and act confident all the time even if I'm not, because there are too many people counting on me to have all the answers. But you, you don't seem to care whether people see you as a hero, villain, hell even if people find out about us. And I feel like shit because I want to keep it hidden, I'm the problem."

Shadow blinked slowly taking in Sonic's face, it had never looked so sad, and Shadow wanted it stop. It wasn't natural. "I don't find you a problem, even before all this, you had my respect, and I do care about… certain things. I understand what it is like to be expected to be perfect." Sonic focused on Shadow's eyes searching for something in the ruby irises. Shadow held his hand up to his upper lip in deep thought. He was trying to decode the enigma of Sonic's feelings when he did not understand his own. "It appears to me that you do not respect yourself." Shadow said causing his blue counterpart to mock laugh. "Me! Not respect myself? Have you met me; I have the biggest ego this side of Modius?" "It would seem so to everyone else, but is that part of yourself, or a rouse as well? I have not spent much time with you alone, but I have already learned so much about the real Sonic." Sonic smiled, "Yeah? Well I've gotten to see the real Shadow as well, and let me tell you, he is absolutely the coolest dude I've ever met." "Oh, not an edge lord?" Shadow said back, glad his date was smiling again. "Well, yeah you're still an edge lord, just an acceptable level of edge." Shadow gave a soft chuckle, "I see. Even when I beat up defenseless humans?" "Oh, that guy had it coming; besides you didn't hurt him. And, I could tell that waitress had struck a chord with you." Shadow stared at the ground in shame, "I do not operate well in new situations myself; I suppose I felt for her." "He he, I know, I think its cute." Shadow was red with blush. Sonic thought he was cute, Shadow thought to himself. "I am not cute. I'm manly, intimidating, and formidable." Shadow tried to defend his pride. "You're that too, obviously. You can add hot to the list as well." Sonic gave the blush ridden hedgehog a flirtatious grin with his own pink hue gracing his cheeks. Shadow huffed, "don't be ridiculous."

The hedgehogs found that their hands had brushed against each other, but recoiled on instinct. Shadow once again took the lead and reached his hand out for Sonic to take it. Their fingers intertwined. "I like this," Sonic said suddenly, "I feel like I can just sit here with you and be myself." "So, you feel the same?" Shadow commented; both hedgehogs star gazing again. "Yeah… like we… can just sit outside a garage on the sidewalk, just being us, and that's enough." Shadow soaked in Sonic's beauty that radiated from the hero's soul. "No front to keep up, no lies, no judgment; just you, me and a giant hot dog." Shadow groaned a little at Sonic ruining the mood.

Shadow stood up still holding Sonic's hand, "I better get you back home." Sonic looked somber at the realization that he would have to return home and potentially wait another week or possibly more, depending on how G.U.N decided to feel. Sonic nodded in compliance. Shadow took his Chaos emerald out once more and within a flash, the couple where standing at Sonic's door step. Sonic turned to his Chaos control taxi service, "Hey. Do you have to work tomorrow?" "Yes… but not until late. Why?" Shadow responded releasing his grip from his date's hand. "I… really don't want this to end just yet. Would you like to come inside and maybe spend the night? Shadow was fighting the heat that was building in his chest. He was certain Sonic hadn't intended what he said to sound so suggestive. The blue hero looked back with pleading eyes. "If that would make you happy." Shadow said composing his breathing, "I was under the impression however, that staying at your date's place was not typical for a first date, but I am unsure of how this works." Sonic laughed, "We are adults, we don't have to abide by a rule book. If I want to stay up with you all night watching movies and playing video games I will. I mean if that's okay with you?" Shadow motioned to the door, "After you."

Sonic walked in taking off his jacket and hanging it on a coat rack behind the door. Shadow stepped through into Sonic's house and found that the hedgehog's place was surprisingly barren much like his loft. Only a few possessions littered the house. An old television sat on the floor out of the way along with a gaming system and a basket that seemed to contain games and various movies. Against the wall was a gray couch with a simple wooden coffee table adjacent to it. Along the walls above the couch where book shelves, surprisingly brimming with books of all kinds. other than that, the living room was empty. Shadow approached the shelves and read some of the tittles. Sherlock Holmes, Treasure Island, One Thousand and One Arabian Nights, Tales of King Arthur and the Round Table, Homer's Odyssey. "I did not expect you to be a book worm." Shadow said with a smug grin. "Yeah, my favorites are fiction and adventure." Sonic said with total normalcy, "I'm actually really getting into the original, Alice in Wonderland, its surprisingly kind of creepy, but in cool way." "Ah…" Shadow said taking in the new information, "I prefer historical literature myself." "Why? That stuff can be interesting but usually its just depressing." Sonic said setting up the TV. "Perhaps." Shadow sat next to Sonic who had laid down pillows to rest upon along with his new body pillow. "Okay, what would you like to play?" Sonic asked the male, attempting to get comfortable in the sea of pillows. "Whatever you want. I've never played a video game." Sonic was not surprised. He reached into the basket and pulled a case out and held it up to Shadow, "How about this one, its got guns." Shadow raised a brow, "I'm listening." The sapphire hedgehog snorted, "You are so predictable, dude."

Shadow was very good at the games to Sonic's dismay. "Dude, you hustled me. There is no way you have never played a video game before." Sonic said moving the controller in his had in unison with his character on the screen. The hedgehogs had decided to move on from the first-person shooter, that Shadow was by far superior at than the blue hog, and had started to play a racing game. Shadow still reigned supreme however. The dark male sat calmly flicking the joy stick of the controller with expert precision. "Don't feel too bad, I was designed to have excellent hand-eye coordination even if it's in regard to a tiny screen." Shadow's eyes never left the game but Sonic was determined to win one way or another. The losing hedgehog leaned over to his jet-black counterpart and reach under his arm, wiggling his fingers. "What are you doing?" Shadow asked unfazed by the action. "Tickling you. Don't tell me you are not ticklish either." Shadow was once again reminded of a friend from long ago by Sonic childish antics. "I'm sorry to disappoint you but, no." Shadow kept one hand on the controller and the other shot out at Sonic's side, "But if you are going to attempt to play dirty, expect your enemies to do the same." Sonic was giggling like a little kid completely forgetting about the game in his fit. Shadow continued to assault the cerulean hog causing him to fall over accidentally giving his attacker more access to his body. "Stop. Stop. STOP!" the last word coming out angrier than expected. The game had been completely abandoned now, with the screen displaying the characters in 12th and 11th place.

Shadow leaned on one arm leering over the hog that was still laying down across his side, "You are very interesting, Sonic the Hedgehog." Sonic sat back up, "Thanks, I guess. What is that supposed to mean?" "Well, one minute you are encouraging me to engage in illegal road races in the dead night, and the next you are giggling on the floor like a small child." Shadow stated seemingly without emotion, but at the same time brushed away a stray quill that had fallen out of place on the blue hero's face. "You're scaring me." Sonic said abruptly. Shadows eyes went wide, "I- I'm sorry. I don't understand…" Sonic scooted a little closer and met Shadows crimson eyes that glowed in the dark. "I think you are so handsome and wonderful and that terrifies me, because I was kind of was hoping we would go on a date or two and then go our separate ways. I was counting on this just being something fun that wouldn't work out in the end, so life would go back to normal. But its never going to be the same again is it? I can't even talk to my best friend the way I talk to you." Sonic's eyes became glassy but no tears fell from them, "If we keep going the way we are, someone will find out eventually. And I don't want this to end; I don't want you to leave." Shadow leaned in closer just as Sonic had, "It doesn't have to end and I'm not going anywhere. I will do my best to keep this a secret for you until you are ready. To be honest, I was not completely fine at first discovering my sexuality, but I find that I simply do not care what others would think because you have made me the happiest I have ever been, even when you are not present. That being said, it matters to me not either way, as long as you are at least present in my life for at least the rest of your natural life, I will be content." It had never crossed Sonic's mind that Shadow was essentially immortal, and how that effected his relationships. Perhaps Sonic was being selfish. "I am not usually comfortable with physical contact, but when it comes to you it feels alright," the dark male said feeling another instinct taking over, "May I kiss you?"

Sonic stared at the man before him in wonder and gave in to the other. He closed the gap between them, their lips pressed together. Shadow pulled Sonic even closer to him by cupping the arch of the blue ones back. They stayed that way for a long time; eyes closed feeling the warmth of each other enrapturing them. Sonic brought a hand up to Shadow's face as they pulled away. The younger male licked the elder's lip asking for entry. "um… why did you just…" Shadow said confused. "Just open your mouth." Shadow nervously did as he was told and Sonic locked lips with him again. This time the blue hog was feeling around the dark one's mouth with his tongue. "Just fallow my lead." Sonic whispered briefly before he was attached to Shadow's face once more. Shadow tried his best to feel around Sonic's mouth as well and battle with the moist muscle. He thought he would be disgusted by this, but it was quite the contrary. Every inch of the hybrids body was engulfed in flames. He felt his partner let out a soft moan into his mouth, that caused Shadow to melt. Elvis had been right, Shadow thought, lord almighty the flames are now licking my body. Shadow gave in and let his body do what it wanted. The hand that had been resting on Sonic's back was being lowered to dangerous areas causing the blue male to gasp and pull away. "Sorry, was that not right? Shadow gasped out embarrassed. "No, I just didn't expect you to do that." Sonic said with a laugh. "Oh..." Shadow said dumbly sporting the reddest face known to man. Sonic looked down and noticed Shadows thighs pressing together trying to stifle the heat that was threatening to make its self known. "Maybe we should stop before we take things to far." Sonic said giving Shadow a patient smile. Shadow stared back at Sonic with confusion once more before the realization hit him. "Oh, yes, absolutely." He cleared his throat, "I don't believe I'm ready for…um…that." Sonic leaned back on the palms of his hands, "Obviously not if don't know how to make out." "I apologize." Shadow stated. "Hey it's alright, I figured you were a fifty-year-old virgin, given you never really got the chance to even be in a relationship." Sonic said sticking his tongue out playfully at his inexperienced friend, "Besides, I'm not ready for that yet, either." "Yes," Shadow said taking Sonic's words seriously, "but are you not a…virgin, as well?" it was Sonic's turn to be embarrassed, "No. I've done it once, with a girl. It wasn't anything special." "Well I would imagine not, if she was female." Shadow said cocking an eye brow. "That's not the only reason. It was a long time ago, and I was kind of pressured into it." Sonic looked away wishing to not talk anymore on the matter.

Shadow dropped the subject. "We should probably head to bed." Sonic announced looking at the time that now read (2:21 AM). "Alright I'll sleep on the couch." The dark male said picking up a pillow to use. "Um, like no. That couch is tiny. You'll have back problems sleeping on that thing." Sonic said waving Shadow away. "It's fine really, I have no need to be concerned with spinal issues." Sonic grabbed the hand of the stubborn hog and lead him down the hall. They stood in a small room that was mainly made up of a queen-sized bed and a miniature dresser. Lying on the floor was Sonic's normal footwear, lovingly tucked halfway under the bed. The comforter on the bed was red with white pin stripes, but other than that the room was fairly simple. The blue hog removed his Soap shoes and placed them beside the others, now only wearing socks and gloves. Shadow sighed and took off his hover shoes and did the same with them. Sonic laid down in the bed covering himself and wrapping his arms around his hot dog body pillow. He patted the bed giving Shadow the side that was against the wall. Sonic figured that is the side the dark male would prefer due to his personality. Shadow decided to not fight Sonic on this any further and crawled into bed as well. Sonic had his back to Shadow cuddling the fabric frank in his grasp. Silence fell over the two for a long while before Sonic spoke, "You can hold me if you want. I don't mind." Shadow took that as permission to wrap his arms around the blue torso of the male and pull him close to his chest. Shadow took in the young Mobian's sent and felt Sonic's heart beat against his hands. He was in bliss as they spooned and both hedgehogs drifted off to sleep unaware that Shadow's phone, that was on silent, was receiving messages.

Rouge:

Hey, is the date going good? Don't need me to come save you?

Rouge:

Come on you're not mad over the face sucking thing, are you?

Rouge:

Um, hey it is getting pretty late. Are you okay?

Rouge:

Um it's like 12 and I literally just saw you sneak in and now you're gone again. What's up?

Rouge:

It is 2 in the morning are you not coming home? OMG Shadow what are u and blue doing!?

Rouge:

Shadow, I swear to Chaos u can't just leave me hanging like this.

Rouge:

If you two are doing the dirty, you better tell me all the juicy details when you come back, I deserve it after what you have put me through tonight.