Sonic arrives at Amy's in the late morning. He's supposed to be here for lunch, but he doesn't think he'll be here for that long. He's going to say what he needs to and get out. Sonic knocks on the door twice and waits. He wonders if he could just send her a text, but he knows that woukd be wrong.
Amy answers the door with a wide smile, cheerful as always. She pulls him into a hug and he returns it carefully, uneasy about how this will go.
"You're early! I thought you were joking when you texted me."
"No. I really wanted to come early so we could talk. It's not too much trouble, is it?"
"No, of course not!" Amy allows him inside, waiting for him to remove his shoes. "I'm glad to see you're doing ok. You didn't wait to walk me home after the party and I haven't heard from you in a few days, so..."
Sonic feels a stab of guilt. He's been so caught up in his own feelings that he didn't even think about her. He's been a mess lately. But some of that ends today.
Amy leads him to her living room, serving him a plate of cheese and crackers and a lemonade. "Ok, sweetie. What did you want to talk about?"
Sonic closes his eyes with a sigh. This is going to be terrible. He tries to keep in mind what Tails said about closure, and Amy being strong. Sonic can handle this. Amy can handle this. It's going to suck but they'll both be fine. They'll get through it.
"I need to be honest with you."
Amy takes her seat, curiosity bleeding out into the air. She watches as Sonic sits as well, muzzle scrunched as she grows anxious. Sonic can't blame her. He's tapping his foot at a speed that will likely create a bare patch on her rug if he doesn't get it together.
"We need to talk about... us, Ames."
She tilts her head, glossy lips in a pout. "What about us?"
Sonic can't breathe. He just needs to get on with this. "I just think that we should really talk about it? Like maybe we should, I dunno, reevaluate some things? I just--"
Amy's eyes are suddenly stormy. She holds up a hand to stop him, taking a deep breath before eyes squeeze shut.
"I think I know what this is about." Her eyes flutter open, and she takes a sip of her lemonade before fixing him with a look of defeat.
"How long?"
Sonic frowns in confusion. "How long?"
"How long have you wanted to be with Shadow?"
Sonic sputters. "Wha- You knew?"
Any nods. "Of course I knew. I have eyes, you know." She sighs, staring at her glass.
"At first I just thought it was a phase. Maybe you were figuring yourself out and fixated on Shadow because he's an interesting person. But then things just kept getting..."
Gentle fingers trace the rim of the glass, Amy's voice trembling.
"I can see the way you look at him. It started out just as lingering glances but now you watch his every move like it's a gift. You hang on to his every word. You chase him everywhere. You even tend to... circle him... quite often."
She blushes after that last bit, and Sonic can feel his face grow warm as well. He never noticed that.
Sonic breathes a sigh of relief. "Well I'm glad you know. It makes this a bit easier."
"Please don't. Don't do this." Amy's pleading makes Sonic's anxiety spike even further.
Sonic's heart hammers in his chest, hands suddenly clammy. "I have to, Ames."
Just as he's about to deliver the final blow, he's beaten to the punch. Amy bites at her bottom lip, placing her glass down on the coffee table. "I'm sorry."
Sonic inhales sharply, scooting forward to grab Amy's hand. "No! It's me that should be sorry. I should have talked to you ages ago, but I was a coward."
Amy shakes her head, tears finally spilling over fine cheekbones. "I didn't want this, I just didn't know what to do!"
"Amy, what do you mean?" Sonic whispers. It feels like they're having separate conversations.
She's shaking, so Sonic gets up and sits beside her, wrapping his arms around her small frame. He waits for her crying to subside before pulling back, hoping she'll meet his gaze. When she does his heart breaks. He's never seen her look so... defeated.
"I'm ok, just give me a minute." She sits back and wipes her face with a tissue. "I want to speak first, ok?" Amy fans herself and takes a couple of breathes.
"When we were kids, I really thought I was in love with you." She curls her hands into fists, staring off at the wall. "You were so cool and charismatic and different than any other boy I had met. Instantly I felt a sort of connection to you, and I chased you because of how you made me feel."
Amy turns to him, a sad smile gracing her features.
"When I got older I realized you didn't want a relationship with me, and that was actually... good."
She sighs and breaks Sonic's hold, falling back into the cushions in a way that Sonic almost teases her for - it's not very lady like. But he's too confused to speak.
"I knew we were never actually boyfriend and girlfriend. I know that you've never had romantic feelings for me."
Sonic feels as if she's sucked all the air from his lungs. "Then why...?"
"Why didn't I say anything? Well..." Amy chuckles, the bitter sound chilling Sonic's core. "Being with a boy is something normal, healthy girls my age do, right? Since I said we were together so much in the past it finally stuck and I wasn't ready to be out of it. A relationship with you was... safe."
"Amy what are you saying?"
"I-- It's hard to explain." She hugs her body, turning away from him to stare off at the wall again. It's silent for several moments before she begins to speak again, voice meek in a way that is unlike her.
"So at first I thought it was love; I did. You made me feel like what everyone said love would be. The warm feelings, the safety, the comfort. But after the years passed and I got to become your friend I realized that I didn't loveyou- I loved theideaof being with you. Of a safe relationship, where I got everything I wanted and nothing I didn't. Someone to be my knight in shining armour, someone who made me feel safe but didn't demand anything from me."
She pauses, biting her lip so hard it must be painful.
"Everyone looked at me like I was this perfect girl, like I wasnormal. And I didn't want to give that up. I didn't want to lose the relationship that developed between us either."
"Is that why you've been... different lately?"
She actually laughs at that, really laughs. "You can be honest with me, Sonic. I've been kind of terrible."
"No! It's just... been a lot."
She turns to him again, frowning. "I was scared. You've liked Shadow for awhile but never did anything, or mentioned it to me. So I thought you were hiding, like me. Why else would you keep up the charade? So when you started to pursue him I just... I got scared. I was scared of losing my best friend and that feeling of safety. I was scared of everything changing and for me to be alone while everyone else gets to live out their happiness. I didn't want to let you go. I know it wasn't right."
"Why are you hiding, Ames?" Sonic asks as softly as he can, but she still flinches.
"I don't think I'm ready to talk about it, yet. I'm still figuring it out."
He nods his head. "I'm here to listen whenever you're ready. What I feel for Shads isn't going to come between us. I promise."
She leans in, wordlessly asking for a hug that Sonic is happy to give. It's the least he could do. All this time and he had no idea what Amy was going through. All this time and he's not even sure he really knows who Amyis. He ought to change that.
"So that's why you stopped trying to kiss me and stuff?"
She snorts, the warm puff of air right on his chest. "Yes. I like the idea of it, but..." She stiffens, quills raising slightly.
"It's ok." He runs small circles on her back, soothing her. "We don't have to talk about it."
They stay like that, holding each other in a comfortable silence. Sonic squeezes her tighter briefly. "Is there anything that youdowant to talk about?"
"Well, I have been wondering--" A knock on the door cuts Amy off.
Sonic pulls away to see Amy's face scrunched up in worry. "I invited Cream over for lunch too. Just in case. I wasn't sure how this would go. My reading this morning said there would be conflict so..."
"I can go if you want me to?"
She shakes her head. "No. But only if you want?"
Sonic hugs her quickly before backing away so she can answer the door. "I'd love to stay."
Amy gets up and shoots him a grin before she goes to greet her newest guest. Sonic's stomach drops when he hears Cream gasp, light mummers following after. He's anxious. But Cream had asked him to talk to her, right?
The ladies walk into the living room all smiles, and Sonic is glad. But now even more confused.
"Cream knows too. She knows how I really feel about everything. Mostly." Amy rambles in explanation.
"That explains a few things." Sonic mummers.
Cream steps forward to take the seat across from Sonic. Somehow she makes him feel calmer with just a look. "I'm glad you guys talked and are figuring this out. I've been worried about you two."
Sonic tucks his head in embarrassment and Amy sounds how he feels. "I'm sorry, Cream. This just..."
The rabbit shrugs looking at the two with a warm look inherited from her mother. "No need to explain. As long as you guys are ok and trying to be your best selves."
The hedgehogs quietly munch on the crackers before them, both wondering why they're surrounded by children seemingly smarter than them. Better at dealing with emotions too.
"So what comes next for you two?"
The two hedgehogs glance at Cream before staring at each other. "Well," Amy starts, "we're still friends rights? Even after everything?"
"Of course!" Sonic smiles at her and nudges her with his elbow. "Not even a break up can keep us apart."
Amy snorts, and waves him off. Cream claps, her happiness contagious. "Good!"
The three have a delightful lunch and Sonic feels better than ever.
Sonic spends the next several days in a haze. He and Amy talk more than ever before, and soon he feels closer to her than he would have thought possible. He's glad to have her in his life, and tries to tell her that as often as possible. Sonic even tried to apologize to her for how he reacted towards her in the past, but Amy wouldn't allow it. Water under the bridge, she had told him.
Between talking and waiting for Shadow, Sonic becomes restless. So the next week and a half is a record breaking week for crime fighting. Eggman still hasn't made a return, but Sonic still has other baddies to beat and adventures to have.
He just wonders what Shadow's up to.
Sonic misses him. Really misses him. He's excited for the agent's mission to finally be over, but anxious too. It's time to be honest with himself and Shadow. Sonic hopes he has a boyfriend by the end of their next meeting.
Boyfriend. It's so strange to think about. He's wanted that so badly all this time and just never realized it for what it was. He hopes the others are right about Shadow liking him back. Sonic can handle a bit of heartbreak, but he'd rather not.
He checks his phone, surprised that he has a text from Cream.
Cream 3«Hey Sonic! Amy said she wants to talk. Is that ok with you? My place»
Sonic texts Cream to tell her he'll be there soon, then stops by the lab to say goodbye to Tails. The fox hardly acknowledges Sonic, too focused on the machinery in front of him. He heads to Cream's with a hint of worry. He wonders what Amy wants to talk about that they haven't already covered.
When he arrives Cream lets him in with a hug. Amy is sipping a tea in the living room, looking nervous. Sonic hopes they can ease whatever is troubling her.
"Hey, Ames! Cream said you wanted to talk?"
"Hi, Sonic. Yes, I wanted to chat a bit and didn't want to do it over the phone." She grips the hem of her skirt tightly, and Sonic notices her outfit is different than usual.
Amy's dressed in an oversized grey sweater, which is partially tucked into a lime green skirt. She's wearing knee high socks, striped with purple and orange.
"You look great! Green is your color."
She flashes perfect teeth in a dazzling smile. "Thanks! I wanted to try something new."
"Doesn't she look amazing?" Cream asks as she passes Sonic a can of grape soda. He grins even wider. Cream knows what up.
Sonic makes himself comfortable on the couch with Amy, while Cream sits on the one adjacent. "So what's up?"
Amy's nervousness is back full force, and she grips the mug in her hand so tight it looks like it may break. "So, Sonic... when did you know?"
Sonic's ears tilt in confusion.
"When did you know you liked guys? How did you feel when you realized? And what attracted you to Shadow?"
Oh buddy. Oh man.
Sonic sips from his soda while he thinks it over. In all honesty he hasn't thought about the first two all that much. But the last one? He's not sure how much he's willing to share. But he wants to be supportive, and he knows Amy is asking to figure things out on her end.
"I guess I just always sort of knew? Like I've always found girls pretty, but guys too. Mostly guys, actually. It's just something I've always felt I guess. I just thought people were good looking though, I never really wanted anything more until Shads. Having a crush on a guy isn't what surprised me - it was having a crush in the first place." He shrugs, eyebrows furrowed in concentration.
"I've never put much thought into how it made me feel. Like, I know some people are terrible and areveryvocal about that but I've always tried to be true to me and ignore the rest, you know? Plus it's no ones business but mine."
Amy nods, some of the tension in the air dissipating. "Thanks, Sonic. I think I get what you mean. By always sort of knowing." She takes a sip, looking far away.
Sonic and Cream glance at eachother knowingly. Amy still hasn't gotten comfortable talking about a few things, but they understand. She needs their support, and they're here for her.
Amy places her mug on the coffee table and grabs his hand with both of hers. She's back to the present and man, what a coy smile. "But I don't think you answered one of my questions."
Sonic groans. "Oh come on, Ames. Don't make me." He looks at Cream for an assist, but she's leaning in with a wide grin.
"Sorry, Mister Sonic, but I also want to know! You've been avoiding answering any questions like it. So dish."
He rubs his neck with his free hand. He is embarrassed but he's going to have to get used to it. When he confesses to Shadow, they may or may not be dating. Either way, it will no longer be a secret and more people are going to be curious on what Sonic feels for the hybrid.
"I don't know... I just have always felt this, like, pull towards him, ya know? Like, he's just always kinda been on my mind."
"So what do you like about him?" Amy's looking at him with open curiosity.
"A lot, I guess. He's really cool and fast and a great fighter. He's mean but nice too and that's cute. So yeah."
Amy nods, but Cream doesn't seem as appreciative of his short response. She tugs at an ear before stopping Sonic's heart.
"Look, I hate to be rude, because what you're saying is super cute! I live for romance and sweet words. But I think we're curious about what physical features you like?"
The hedgehogs stare at her in shock, while Cream just smiles sheepishly. "So... are you going to talk about that? If you don't want to it's fine... but I've seen how you stare."
"Cream!" The hedgehogs shout in unison, pulling a giggle from their young friend.
"I'm sorry! It's just been killing me. I'm dying to know and I don't think I can wait much longer. If you see an opportunity, seize it."
"Fine." Sonic grumbles. "You've definitely been around Shadow too much." She giggles more and claps her hands, waiting for him to say what she wants to hear.
"He's very handsome and very strong and he smells nice. There."
"Boo!" Amy jeers with a smile. He looks at her in betrayal. "That's not good enough! Give us at least three features. Go!"
"Um, I don't know! His face? His arms. And his..." The two women look on expectantly and Sonic wants to disappear. He can't believe he's about to say this.
"... his butt."
Amy looks a little surprised, but Cream doesn't. Sonic huffs. "What? Was that not good enough for you either?"
Cream giggles. "Sorry, Mister Sonic. It's just that I knew that already."
"What?" Again the hedgehogs shout in unison, looking at eachother in shock.
"Well, yeah. You weren't exactly subtle when we went to the movies."
Sonic feels his jaw drop. But honestly, maybe he shouldn't be surprised. Rougedidwarn him.
"Is it really that bad?"
The look the ladies give him tells him yes. Yes, itisthat bad and the whole world can see that he wants a piece of short, angry, and handsome.
He feels his phone vibrate and is thankful for the distraction. He looks at the notification and instantly beams, hardly hearing the ladies asking him what's so special. And something about his case.
Shadz 3«Hello, Sonic. My mission is over sooner than expected and I would like to see you. My place in an hour?»
"It's Shads! He's back!" Sonic is so excited that he can hardly sit straight.
"Well text him back! Make it cute." Cream says and Amy nods in agreement.
Me«i would luv that see u soon 3»
"Is the heart too much?" Sonic feels unsure. But the ladies shake their heads.
"It's just the right amount of cute. He'll get it." Cream sing songs.
"You really like him." Amy tucks away a loose strand before shifting and pulling him into a hug. "Go get him."
Sonic hugs her back tightly. "I will."
He gets up to head out, and the ladies walk with him. They chime off instructions and advice back to back.
"Take a shower!"
"And could you please condition your quills? They're so dry."
"Don't forget to take breath mints!"
"Oh, and maybe wear a shirt? Maybe a full blown outfit? You want to look cuter than normal."
"Ok! I got it!" He shoos them off and with one last wink he's out of there.
Sonic's home in record time, hopping into the shower like his life depends on it. He scrubs himself clean meticulously, even conditioning like Amy suggested. When he's done, he dries himself and rubs in a special conditioning oil that makes his fur and quills shine. It smells faintly of eucalyptus, and he hopes Shadow likes it.
Sonic puts on his nicest pair of gloves and debates more clothing. He rummages through his dresser and closet until finally slipping on a black jacket that Shadow had let him borrow ages ago.
It was before they became close friends, but Shadow had thrown it at him after seeing Sonic shivering in the cold. Sonic had told him it was lost in the clutter of his room, but really he just couldn't bear to part with it. Now he knows why.
He takes one last look in the mirror and can't help but feel smug. Shadow better appreciate the effort because he looksamazingright now. The black canvas jacket is a size larger than something Sonic would pick for himself. It's because of Shadow's bulkier build, but it doesn't look half bad on him. It's just obviously not his. The red flannel lining is a pleasant contrast to his cobalt fur, and Sonic adores the way it's only really visible from the hood or when he twirls.
Maybe, if he's lucky, Shadow won't be able to keep his hands to himself.