Oooooh a longer one! And not as depressing as that last one, I promise! Let's get right to the action then!
Amy flipped flawlessly down the stone hallway of the temple, arching gracefully over the flying arrows, and leaping across the gaping floor like a sort of dancer. She landed on one knee, her hands meeting the ground to ease the landing. She stood confidently, and flicked her bangs back from her sweaty forehead, staring angrily at Sonic, who had been waiting for her on the other side.
"What took you so long?" He tapped his foot, feigning impatience, pouting at the panting girl.
"Maybe if you hadn't triggered all the friggin' booby traps when you just ran over here…" She huffed, placing her hands on her hips, her stare baring down on him.
Sonic held his hands up and smiled sheepishly, "Whoops?"
She 'hmphed' at him again and briskly strode past him, knocking into his shoulder forcefully.
"Oh come on, Ames!" He shouted after her, speeding deeper into the hallway to catch up with her.
"You know I was joking!" He reasoned with her, walking backwards so he could see her. "Besides, from the looks of it, you had those traps handled no problem!"
"Didn't your mom ever teach you ladies first?" She replied, feeling her anger slipping away at the sight of his goofy smile. No matter how hard she tried, Sonic seemed to make her melt without him even knowing it.
"Yeah," He winked at her, turning back around to walk side by side with her.
"Good thing I'm no gentleman."
She elbowed him playfully.
"Oh you are too!"
He laughed and jabbed her back, "I know, it just seemed like a really suave thing to say."
She laughed at him and shook her head.
As they walked deeper into the dark hall the passage became more narrow, and the two hedgehogs found themselves getting closer and closer to each other. Their sides brushed up against the other, the quills on their arms rustling and standing on edge at the foreign touch of another hedgehog.
Sonic felt his throat closing, felt his heart beginning to beat. He moved behind her finally, not being able to stand her fur on his any longer.
He liked Amy. Like, really liked her, and he respected her too. She was so intelligent, much more than he was, and incredibly strong. He admired her for her courage and versatility from a distance, knowing that letting himself get caught in romance, or whatever, would just spell chaos for the team.
But now they were both 18. Things had changed, and Sonic wanted let down the exhausting job of having to keep his walls up around her 24/7. It was getting hard handle the weight of his emotions, and he was beginning to see that it was hard for her too.
Things would happen every so often, things that left him wondering what was there for them, what she was thinking.
He would pick her up to carry her somewhere occasionally, and she would nuzzle her soft head under his chin as he ran.
She would grab his hand casually, to lead him somewhere or show him something, and even as they slowed or reached their goal, he wouldn't let go.
One time, after a heated argument, they found themselves, suddenly, quite close to each other. And neither moved. Neither wanted to move.
Another heavenly time, he visited her after a tough battle, and she had created him with open arms, her small, sweet body wrapped in his arms.
It was heaven.
He was pulled from his thoughts as he suddenly bumped into her backside, unaware she had stopped so abruptly.
She lurched forward and let out a small yelp, wobbling over a huge, seemingly bottomless cavern.
On instinct, Sonic reached out both hands and grabbed her waist, pulling her back around into him, away from the pit fall's edge.
Both breathed heavily at the intensity of the moment, staring at each other in shock, their cheeks pink.
"T-thanks..." She muttered, pushing out of his grasp.
"A-" His voice cracked, and he quickly cleared his throat embarrassedly, "Anytime." He recovered, as she began to peer down into the valley.
"What's the plan?" He asked the sweet hedgehog, who had placed a hand thoughtfully on her chin, her fingers just touching her small, smooth, lips.
His eyes couldn't help but be drawn to them as she drummed her unknowingly teasing fingers over her mouth.
"So, according to these carvings, the only way to get to the amulet IS down." Amy said, running her hand over markings on the wall.
"Of course it is…" Sonic grumbled. He held out a hand and smirked
"Ladies first?"
Amy gave him a side glance, but none-the-less stepped up to the plate.
"O-ok." She reached out one foot, and made to fall forward, reaching her upper body over the pit and-
"WAIT!" Sonic shouted, grabbing her back from the edge.
"L-Let me go first." He said shakily, releasing her, and stepping forward.
He had almost let her fall blindly into an unknown danger, and that would've been absolutely idiotic.
She grabbed his hand and stepped forward with him.
"No. Together?"
Sonic looked in her courageous green eyes, and felt his heart skip a beat.
He just nodded, and swallowed deeply.
"On my count? 1...2...3!"
They jumped.
They flew down through the air, hands clutching, hearts racing.
They positioned themselves for a hopefully soft landing, eventually releasing their hands for stability.
Amy landed first, her small frame falling faster than his.
She looked up warily and saw the blue blur rapidly approaching, and out of instinct, reached out both arms.
He landed cleanly in her arms, bridal style.
They both only stared at each other for a split second, then burst out laughing as Sonic clamored, a bit embarrassedly, out of her arms.
"Ahem, usually...usually that's the other way around." Sonic coughed, blushing.
"I dunno, I kinda liked doing the catching for once!" She laughed.
They looked around, finding that they were surrounded by complete darkness.
"Sonic," Amy coughed out, becoming quieter.
"Right here." His voice found hers in the dark, and she reached out quickly, taking hold of his hand again. He looked quizzically at her, but gave her hand a squeeze and pulled her closer to his side.
"Just in case," She said, not meeting his eyes, but relishing in the feel of his hand.
"Just in case what?" He laughed, regaining his cool exterior. "Just in case we lose each other? Not likely." He scoffed, "With a color like yours, I could see you in the darkest place!"
She rolled her eyes, "Please, I'm just hanging onto you so you don't get in trouble or like, fall to your death or something!"
"Aww thanks mom!" He said sweetly, batting his eyelashes, as they took off into the dark.
They came upon, to their dismay, a rickety rope bridge, and Sonic released her hand to begin to cross.
"I'm going first." He said finally, and began to carefully take small steps onto the rotting wood platforms.
It was hot and moist down where they were, and Sonic could feel the damp boards bending under his weight. But he plugged on, only stopping occasionally if a board creaked too heavily for his liking. He made it, and looked back across, barely able to see the fear etched on her face.
"C'mon Amy, just take it slow!" His voice echoed across the divide back toward her. He heard a creak, and knew she had begun the long journey over to him. All seemed fine until he heard a crash and a shout.
"AMES?!" He yelled out into the darkness, searching for the pink. He took a step forward.
"Don't come!" He heard her voice yell back. "It won't hold us both!"
He sighed, and took a shaky step back.
"Sonic?" This time the voice was quieter.
"I don't think I can do this!"
"Amy, Ames, you got to!" He yelled back into the dark. "C'mon, just put one foot in front of the other, c'mon just a few more steps!" He shouted desperately into the dark, holding out his hand, searching for some pink.
He kept shouting encouragements at her, willing her to keep moving, praying that she was fine.
"Sonic... " He finally saw her eyes appear and heaved a sigh of relief.
He watched her take another step forward, but the board broke under her foot again. They both shouted in surprise, Sonic reaching forward, Amy springing back. There were no more boards left until the ledge. She would have to make the jump.
"Sonic," Her voice was steady, and she looked at him with determined eyes.
"Say something, um...motivating."
"What?"
"I need some help ok?! JUST SAY SOMETHING!"
"Um- COME OVER HERE AND MAKE ME!"
She gave a shouted, reared back, and took one flying leap, across the chasm beneath her.
"OOF!" She flew right into his arms, knocking them both over as the tumbled together on the ground. He didn't let go until they had stopped moving.
"Thanks." She breathed, standing to dust herself off.
He cleared his throat, "N-No problem." She offered him her hand, and helped him up. As they continued walking, she didn't let go.
"I'm going first next time."
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