~*Aftermath*~

Hello everyone! Okay, so has anybody eaten an oyster? Does anyone know what oysters are known for? Well the title of last chapter is a clue, and let me tell you, what they are known for is true!

Floating within his own subconsciousness Sonic the Hedgehog felt something warm, fuzzy and soft right at his ear. The speedster cracked an eye open sleepily whilst stretching on the bulky yet moderately soft pillow beneath him. Emerald eyes widened and pupils shrink as the SEGA mascot witnessed in horror that he had been sleeping on his arch rival. More importantly, he remembered that he had slept with him the previous night. Supressing a yell the hedgehog quietly crawled off of the chest of the dreaming plumber- taking his ear away from the plumbers offending mustache that had probably made it flick continuously all night and attempted to stand. How could he have slept with the plumber like that? That easily? All he could remember was that he was BEYOND horny. A small yelp left the speedsters lips as his backend complained from the rough treatment from the previous night and to Sonics embarrassment, remnants of their escapade was glued to his lower half particularly around his petite tail.

Sonic looked at the culprit who was currently floating within his own dreamland and decided whether or not he should kick him into next week or bribe Reala or Kirby to beat him up within his dreams. Still, he had to admit, the way the italian was softly snoring was a little bit… handsome? He didn't know. But one thing was for sure; Mario and himself needed a bath and he would make sure they did it SEPARATELY!

Slowly rising from the floor and limping to the bathroom, Sonic caught sight of a manilla envelope that had been shoved underneath the front door of the penthouse. The hedgehogs curiosity peaked as he limped to the envelope and picked it up. Sonic scanned the envelope shocked at it's presence. It was a response from the letter he had written. The stewardess had actually sent it! Sonic scanned his surroundings for any wayward plumbers and opened the mail.

A small stack of papers and a little booklet slid out of the envelope into the eager hands of the hedgehog. At the top of the stack of papers was a cover letter addressed to the speedster himself:

Sonic the hedgehog,

My sympathies regarding your current ownership with Nintendo, I understand your predicament and would like to offer aid. Since you are such a well known character within the gaming genre you are a high candidate for a new production that we have been working on that is centered around videogame technology. I am obliged to ask you to participate. As you are undoubtedly aware, I am starting my own line of videogames and would like to partner up with the company you represent in the future. In order to relinquish you from Nintendo you need to sign the documents provided. These documents are a contract between you and me stating that you are willfully deciding to participate in our latest production and are to be in our care until further notice. My lawyers will handle Nintendo.

I hope to see you in the future- once you complete the documents enclosed simply sing a song from any of our productions and my crew will pick it up.

Best regards,

Mickey Mouse ~

The speedster was speechless. After re-reading the letter a couple more times Sonic was slightly relieved and at the same time a bit… sad? He liked Mario, much more than he would like to admit to himself. But, he needed to be free. He needed some space and Mario wasn't willing to grant him that. Quickly swiping a hotel pen on a nearby table, Sonic started reading the pile of forms and contracts. After a period of 5 minutes the hedgehog grew bored of the fine print and over extensive detailed wording of the contracts. (Not to mention he could barely understand it.) Before long the speedster started to just sign each form, fearful that Mario would catch him when he was so close to freedom. After signing the last form in the stack and placing it in the envelope provided Sonic blushed realizing he would have to sing.

"I haven't sung in so long. What song should I sing?" The hedgehog pondered and realized he didn't know too many Disney songs. But, most of them where as cheesy as his dialogue in his own videogames.

"Hmmm… what was that song that Cream used to sing again?"

Sonic took a deep breath and was about to sing but something felt… off. He didn't know if it was intuition or instinct but he was reluctant to turn the contracts in. He barely knew the mouse, but he knew that the major mascot was not one to be taken lightly. If only he could have spoken to Tails about it first. Taking a deep breath the hedgehog ignored his gut feeling and began to sing.

~O~

Deep blue eyes opened to greet the morning sun and with it came a warm wonderful sense of fulfillment. Mario stretched, ignoring the cramp in his side from sleeping on a floor rug before noticing that something or perhaps someone was missing. That warm feeling of happiness instantly vanished. Mario panicked. Quickly getting to his feet and buttoning his overalls the plumber rushed to the kitchen area in hopes that his ever so elusive companion was eating. Did Sonic freak out and run off? How far away was he? Would he be able to catch him? But, then why did he sleep with him? He wasn't drunk! The italian was just about to lose it when the shower turned on from across the penthouse. Sonic was simply cleaning off the remnants of last night. Mario relaxed and smiled at the thought of HIS hedgehog cleaning himself. Before Mario could dwell on the thought further the italian decided to order a hearty breakfast for the two and decided to give his bathing companion a visit.

Quietly tip toeing down the hallway Mario stood outside the oddly noisy bathroom and slowly turned the knob only to see that it wouldn't even budge. Retrieving a small army knife out of his pocket, the italian pulled a thin pair of tweezers and used the back end to pop the lock on the other side. He only prayed that Sonic wouldn't hear his intrusion.

Yet what Mario was met with astonished him.

The shower was running and the unmistakable silhouette of Sonic the hedgehog was visible from the red sheer pullover curtain. Mario could see the hedgehog scrubbing his body with a bar of soap, his quills shifting side to side with each scrub on his thin legs and backside. Humidity fogged up the mirror and warmed Mario's body as he took in the others...

singing?

It wasn't the fact that the speedster was singing that astonished Mario but WHAT he was singing that made Mario stop in confusion. It seemed to be some sort of remix?

"Do the Mario!

Swing your arms from side to side,

lets do the Mario hold together now!

Take one step and then again..."

*exaggerated humming*

"So I cross my heart, and I hope to die,

that I'll only stay with you one more night

And I know I said it a million times

But I'll only stay with you one more night"

Mario was speechless, and didn't exactly know what to do in this type of situation. Should he get in the shower with him? He had intended to upon first entering the bathroom, however now he was reluctant to do so. Maybe he should just wait? Or should he go out and pretend he wasn't even there?

Before the plumber could decide, Sonic had finished and had pulled the curtain back to climb out of the tub humming the whole way. The plumber held his breath for the inevitable discovery of his intrusion only to realize that Sonic hadn't even noticed him in the red accented room. Instead, the hedgehog simply went to the mirror and towel dried/ organized his quills into the proper place. Feeling mischievous Mario crouched behind the preoccupied hedgehog and slowly rose up behind him.

"WHAT THE-!"

Sonic in an instant crouched down and swiped Mario off his feet and onto his behind.

"MARIO! WHAT THE HELL!"

Obviously shaken from the creepy antics of the italian Sonic took out his frustration on the plumber himself by getting to the floor and wrestling with him feverishly. The two scrambled and rolled across the bathroom floor dodging and punching the whole way. Fighting for dominance, Mario opted to push Sonic beneath him, but found it increasingly difficult with the flexible hedgehog body that would simply roll out from underneath him. There had to be some way to get him on his belly...

Sonic was furious, and embarrassed at how his arch rival had caught him off guard. He had every intention of beating that damn plumber into a pulp but only succeeded in having contact with him- something that he was wary of due to last night. Standing up, Sonic was about to run out of room. As he started to sprint he felt a hand grab at his ankle causing him to fall flat on his face. Mario was immediately behind him, pinning his arms in place behind his back quills.

"Damnit Mario! Let me go or I will spindash you!"

Mario smiled as he sat on his companion, holding him in place.

" I know you wouldn't do that Sonic."

Mario simply leaned down, and lightly kissed a triangular ear before standing up and stating matter-of-factly,

" Breakfast should be here by now. Come and eat."

The italian pulled the aggressive hedgehog to his feet with gusto and witnessed a slightly blushing angry Sonic readying a punch for his mentor. Mario waited for the opportune moment and when the punch was delivered, the plumber simply grasped the wrist of the other and pulled a very shocked hedgehog into a small hug before whispering in his ear.

"I heard your singing."

Never before had Sonic blushed so hard.