There was no finer place to breakaway. The sun worshipper's utopia that was Emerald Coast. Glistening crystal-white beads veiling the land wedded to the stretching moana. Receiving the nurturing rays of sunlight and glorifying it's majestic heat in its warming comfort.
Luxuriated upon such finery was a dowsing, blue hedgehog. Sheltered beneath a red and white, striped parasol, the hero; Sonic The Hedgehog, breathed a contented sigh. Relaxation had finally reached him after spending innumerable months clashing with Doctor Eggman. His plans of domination once again put to rest. Now it too was their time to rest.
And he did so covertly, with only one companion knowledgeable and present.
Over the sounds of mundane conversation passing through the breeze overlapping the whispering waves, the faint giggling, recognisable to his ears, could be heard not too far from him. It brought a subconscious smile to his lips. The sun's light and the sand's therapeutic soothe against his back quills were humbled, disquieted by the softness of her voice chiming above all organisms. Her innominate power. They could be in a palatial room, filled with nonsensical chatter, but her voice would radiate over it all. And all the while, sound as hushed and gentle as ever.
There was beauty in her understated quality. Having the ability to part the most boisterous crowds with her velvet-infused voice. Captivating; that she was.
Waltzing over with two flute-shaped glasses, the girl carefully lowered herself onto her knees and held out a glass towards the reclining man beside her.
"There you are. One blackberry and vanilla mocktail, with fresh blackberries and of course the unforgettable, little umbrella." She beamed.
Slowly bringing himself up, Sonic greeted the pink hedgehog with a smile and took the drink from her. "Thanks." He expressed his gratitude. Stirring the drink with the umbrella's stick, he examined the drink.
Rich, cherry red filled the glass with translucent cubes of ice jiggling against the edges. They bobbed around the surface with the blackberries and the single blade of mint. The rim cloaked in a frosty vapour, the drink would provide a chilling contrast to the sweltering heat of the sun.
"Looks pretty fancy." He commented, removing the umbrella and taking a sip.
"It's one of the specials. The bartender called it the 'Angelic Slap'."
"Mm--" His lips withdrew, souring at the taste. He felt his tastebuds squeeze as the liquid doused his tongue. Eyes squinted shut and head shaking violently, his actions eased just as abrupt as his interruption. "Whoo! That name's accurate. Sour, then sweet."
Amy giggled at his reaction. "Your reaction is hardly reassuring."
"Don't take my word for it. " He encouraged her to try her beverage. Having been given the side-eye stare from the girl, he smirked with impish intent as she moved the glass to her lips. Wrangled by the same response, Sonic chuckled to her displeasure.
"Blah!" She stuck out her tongue. "That is sour. Very sour."
"I know, right?" He laughed to her look of betrayal displayed on her face. Quickly it faded as she swatted his arm playfully.
Giving the girl a rueful smile, Sonic shortly turned his attention to the ocean's hushed waves. He took in the beauty of the shimmering waters. Neptune blue laced with sea foam netting. Deeply lavished in the calm hue that too occupied the cloudless sky. They blended; ombre of blue. The sky, though less wealthy in colour, provided the perfect co-host to accentuate the picturesque view.
He breathed in the briny scent in the air. The natural fragrance of the water being allied with the sweet smell of sun lotion and the pungent aroma of fried onions.
"There's nothing better than this." Sonic sighed contently. "Beautiful weather, beautiful scenery..." He brought his ebullient, emerald eyes to look up towards his companion. Seeing her leaning back against her hands and overlooking the ocean. The sight of her made his eyes soften with adoration. "And with the most beautiful girl on the coast."
He found there was power in his words. Like spells and incantations that enthralled and bedazzled the pink belle. This ability was discovered in his rather graceless unbosoming. Blundering over forgotten, rehearsed lines and breaking out in a stuttering performance that would shame any hopeless romantic.
But not her. She saw beyond the embarrassing declaration and cherished the words and their meaning. The more he said such words, the more she would become enchanted.
Even now, he saw the reaction to his sweet nothings. Her gloss embellished lips slowly stretching either side to reach her reddening cheeks. Her lips then parted, showing off her sparkling, pearly teeth. A giggle; girlishly bashful sounded the delight that warmed her heart. It had an infectious response. The beat of her heart seemingly channeling a rhythm into his own, he felt the flutter of exuberance soar through him.
"It really is amazing. To get the chance to be alone, on vacation without any interruptions." She turned to her boyfriend.
"No kidding..." The blue boy agreed, leaning forward and resting his arm on his knee he had brought to his chest. "Say, now that I think about it, this is our first vacation together. Like, together, together."
"As a couple?" She rephrased his words on his behalf, giggling quietly to his interpretation.
Sonic clicked his fingers, pointing back to her. "You got it."
Leaning against her lover's shoulder, Amy sighed and looked back to the sea. "And what a dream it's turning out to be."
"Aaaaaaaaah!"
A commotion of frightful screams and fleeing civilians awoke the heroes from their moment's bliss. Sitting up straight in a frantic fashion, Sonic and Amy were stunned to see their unusual enemy.
Slowly rising above the ocean surface was the magenta pink, slime riddled mantle. Bulbous and pebbled, the water ran down the creature's skin, it's natural mucous seemingly trapping specs of briny liquid.
Eyes emerged, appearing either side of the head. Consumed in fathomless black. However far from lifeless. This beckoning, intense shade gleamed the beguiling glint of ebony beads. Tempting those to admire their beauty, before the victim was to be snatched away.
Woosh!
From the calm of the water came an arm; teeming with hundreds of suckers that all bloomed widely with fervent aspiration. Onto the soft banks, the suckers embedded into the sand as it pulled its body out of the water, it's movements leisured and calculated.
Sonic gawped in awe. "Is that an octopus I'm seeing?" Jumping up with his awestruck lover in tow, he whistled, impressed by it's stature. "He clearly hasn't been skipping any meals."
"Oh my..." His girlfriend gasped in amazement. "This is no ordinary octopus..."
"Well, duh! That thing's like twenty metres tall!" He highlighted. "Do you think it's some kinda ultra-realistic robot from Eggman? I mean, that thing's way too big to be an actual animal."
"No." Amy confirmed. Stepping forward, she stared at the creature in fascination. "This is a Rheathious Axgale." She chuckled with excitement. "T-they were said to be exinct! No one has seen one for centuries!"
Throwing back one of it's eight large arms, the limb was used as a whip. Slinging forwards, the arm catapulted into the sand, billowing a dusty storm that buffeted and thrashed those on the beach. They fled, screaming hysterically in all directions.
"Whoa!" Sonic gasped. Racing across the beach, he directed the terror-stricken civilians towards the Emerald Coast Resort. "Head back to the hotels. Sound the alarm! We'll handle this tentacle-butt!"
"Actually..." Amy began, appearing beside the blue hedgehog. "Octopuses have arms, not tentacles. Tentacles have suckers on the end of their--"
Her facts were cut short by her boyfriend's hand over her mouth. "I love that brain of yours, bu--"
"Mmm..." His girlfriend gushed against his hand.
He found himself unintentionally besotted by her swooning. Caught in an admiring haze, Sonic forced himself back into reality as the sound of the octopus's arms crashing into the food stands and drink bars grasped his attention.
He removed his hand from her face.
... Had he lost track of thought?
Sonic shook his head. "Spill. What do you know about these things?"
"Rheathious Axgales live at the bottom of the ocean. They can grow up to forty metres and are usually known for being quite antisocial creatures; they like to keep to themselves."
SMASH!
Gazing back over his shoulder, he witnessed another food stand being reduced to wreckage.
"I'm guessing this is the oddball of the Axgale clan." He claimed, cracking his knuckles. "Okay, useful info now... How do we defeat it?" Balling his fists, he held them out in combat stance, ready to take on his enemy.
"Oh, you can't hurt it." Amy said.
Her lover looked back at her, flabbergasted. "He's turning Emerald Coast into Emerald Wasteland!"
"It's an endangered animal, Sonic. You can't hurt a creature that's just reappeared after centuries."
"I can't just let it destroy the resort either!"
Amy glanced back to the colossal cephalopod, Studying the position it had chosen to take. It was partially out of the water. With four arms secured to solid structure beneath the surface, two providing the same service upon the dry land, and two lashing destructive strikes to the beach.
A fish out of water.
She turned back to her blue companion. "It can't stay outta the water for too long. I'll give it twenty minutes max. In that time, distract them and I'll... study it."
"Study?" Sonic repeated, bewildered by her objective. "You wanna go t'a school on this thing?"
CRASH!
Gone with the wind were the parasols and beach chairs. Billowing amongst the prickling grains of sands enpowered by windforce. They pelted the heroes. In defense, they raised their arms over their eyes and braced for the wind's prowess.
The sandstorm settling, Amy uncovered her eyes and redirected her boyfriend back to the mission. "We don't have the luxury to negotiate! Distract 'em and don't attack."
"Heh." He grinned. There was something alluring about her leadership. Authoritive and direct as opposed to her relaxed, smitten behaviour around him."Yes, ma'am."
At the command of the knowledgeable hedgehog, Sonic spin dashed across the detritus left from the octopus's wrath. He leapt over the broken picnic tables and chairs and stood before his eight-armed enemy. Confident and engaged for a fight, he crossed his arms and gave a cocky grin. He was itching for a fight.
"Hey you oversized sushi special! You got a problem with land walkers?" He taunted the mucous saturated cephalopod. "Then come on, Big Boy." Stretching his arms out wide, he made himself to be bait. "Come 'nd get me!"
A trunk of an arm receded back, gaining the power of the wind in it's swing. It lashed forward towards the hero in an aggravated rage. Falsifying an exaggerated yawn, Sonic waited until the final millisecond the suckers would cling to his body to move out of range. The arm delve into the mounds of sand, lifting the warm minerals into the air.
"That the best you got?" He sneered. Crossing his arms obnoxiously, he shrugged at the efforts of the axgale. "Geez, I can see why you're so mad. I'd be mad too if I was throwing hits like that."
Another arm came streaming in his direction. Sonic hopped merrily out of the way, teasing his foe with his flamboyant prancing.
Tracing back to his position in front of the octopus, the blue blur retracted into his signature move and burrowed into the sand. Opting for high, ruthless speed, he sent back a granulated hurricane. The axgale covered it's eyes with two of it's arms. The remaining six existed as weapons, slashing the air and shore with no direction.
One of these whipping weapons had just missed him. Being too close to the strike, he suffered the grains compromising his vision.
"Argh!" He grunted, wiping his eyes harshly.
His inability to see had opened his defences. He was struck. Mercilessly lashed with the thick sleeve. Thwacked forcefully from the right, Sonic was casted over the beach and plummeted into a distant, beachfront store.
"Sonic!" Screamed the panicked voice of his girlfriend.
"Nnngh..." The blue leader groaned from the throbbing ache residing in his back. His body remedied the cure with more adrenaline flooding his system. A short relief necessary to send the magenta fiend back to the ocean.
Leaping back to his feet, Sonic dashed back into battle and onto the octopus. Sliding up it's lubricated arm, he gripped onto the mantle, tricking the axgale into smacking itself.
"It's not fun to get hit, is it?" He smirked down at the cephalopod.
His body slowly began to slide down the side of the head, the mucous and water sticking to his fur. "Ugh, no offence, Man. But I'm not loving your slime all over me."
The axgale turned it's head, bringing the blue hedgehog to it's left eye. He was met with a gaping abyss enchanting nonpareil. A mass of mysterious unknown. His own eyes dilated, capturing any source of light from the depths. Bewitched by the mystic dark, he had froze. Transfixed.
"Sonic! Don't look in it's eyes!" Amy warned from across the beach. She feared her call had come too late. "Get out of there!"
Before her words could reach him, a slivering appendage constricted his breathing from his waist. Awakening from his trance to the tight squeezing around him, the hero grunted and endeavoured to release himself from the vice grip.
His situation could not be anymore dire. Feeling himself being levitated into the air, he was shortly brought darting straight down towards the water. Witnessing the salty bed of blue get closer, he gasped in terror. His true nemesis finding its way back to him once again.
Embracing his fate, he inhaled deeply and held his breath before he was slung into the insecure warmth of the rippling tides.
"No!" Shrieked the pink hedgehog. Haste in her actions, her priority to protect the axgale was swiftly forgotten. Her hammer fabricating into existence, she hurled the sturdy weapon towards the octopus, the violent impact hit the mantle, knocking their enemy off balance.
"Whoa!" Sonic exclaimed in mid air. Launched from the arm of the axgale, the blue leader fell into the water.
His lover gasped in horror. With the octopus on land, they had the advantage. The tables now turned, they were battling a colossal cephalopod in it's natural environment.
And Sonic was a fish out of water - Or vice versa. A hog in the water.
Seeing the axgale regain it's focus and slowly withdraw into the water, she had no time to consider their advantages and disadvantages.
"I'm coming, Sonic!" Amy cried, leaping in after her boyfriend.
Advanced in her motion underwater, Amy swam rapidly towards the hydrophobic hedgehog. She caught sight of the foe racing towards him too. It's body resembling the speed of a rocket, a master within it's territory. The girl glared in it's direction. Determined to reach her boyfriend before the sea beast could get it's slimy suckers on him, Amy fish kicked her way to the frantic male.
The axgale turned to the pink figure swimming to the blue. Detecting her as another threat, it switched it's target. It spiralled towards her, the water's currents and density seemingly being ineffective to the colossal creature's body. Stretching out it's lengthy arms to capture her, Amy abruptly stopped her pursuit, watching the movements of the octopus before unleashing an opposing mallet to match the size of the creature. With as much strength as she could muster beneath the waves, she pushed her legs against the hammer's handle towards their foe. Though mildly effective in damage, the size of her hammer had distracted the axgale. Wrapping itself around the weapon, it was dragged slowly down into the deep.
A perfect opportunity to grab the blue hedgehog by the hand and swim back to the surface.
Letting in an eager gasp for air, the couple took a moment to catch their breath. "You're not great at following your own orders, are ya?" Sonic teased his girlfriend. "Thought we weren't gonna hurt the thing."
Amy raised a brow towards the blue boy. "Did you wanna drown?"
"I never said I wasn't grateful." He grinned. He sprung from the waters and grabbed his lover, pulling her into his chest. Burying her against him, he spun both of them into a violet spin dash that somersault across the ocean and onto the beach. Dropping on top of the pink girl, he smirked down at her prior to placing a light kiss against her unexpecting lips. "Thanks for the save."
A minute's sacrifice to appreciate his loving gratitude distracted her from the battle. Smiling in delight to his affection, she returned the love with a tender stroke to his cheek.
They were quickly reminded of their enemy as an arm shot out from the surface, the splash alerting them of it's return. The couple looked towards the ocean, seeing the magenta limb lashing at the calm tide.
"Big guy doesn't know when to quit, does he?" Sonic frowned over his shoulder at the axgale.
"Because it still feels threatened... By why?" Amy pondered, studying the octopus's approach. From the information she had memorised, the rheathious axgale were calm, docile by nature. As Sonic had stated, this one was definitely an oddball. The senseless aggression, the determination to eliminate all that it deemed a threat, this kind of behaviour was abnormal, aberrant.
She had to think outside the nature of this particular sea creature. She contemplated reasons; theorised possibilities.
This was a genetically unique axgale with hostile tenancies. Perhaps it was far from home and it was acting out of fear. It was quite a long way up from the bottom of the ocean after all. The only possible reason an axgale would be this far up on the surface was...
To care for their young until they hatched...
"That's it!" Amy exclaimed, shooting up from the sand and knocking her boyfriend off in the process. "It's a mother!" She leapt onto her feet and looked back excitedly to the blue hedgehog. "The females lay their eggs near the surface to ensure her children will feed and grow until they're big enough to travel deep into the ocean. This mother must've laid her eggs in an alcove, beneath the surface and the populated beach has caused her to become protective."
"So what do we do about maternal instincts?" Sonic questioned, getting up from the ground and crossing his arms in wonder.
Self-reproached, the heroine looked down and bit away at her bottom lip. "I know I said the axgale were rare and needed to be protected... But if we don't stop her, she's gonna destroy this entire resort." Rubbing her wrist ruefully, she gradually brought her eyes to face her lover. "Axgales are unique in the way they lay their eggs. Rather than clusters, they use their mucous to create a sac to keep their babies together... If we can launch the sac into the ocean, away from the beach, we have a chance of saving Emerald Coast."
His lover appeared to be insecure in her own plan. Weighed down by the thought of being the operator behind the objective. Head heavy and fixated on her bare feet, she took full responsibility for the outcome of the mother's babies.
Determined to assure his girlfriend of the necessary sacrifice, Sonic placed his hand on her shoulder, his gentle touch coaxing her to lift her head up again. "Good thinking, Ames. If it weren't for your knowledge on these things, we'd be in worse situations right about now." He winked at her, earning a more confident smile in return. "Call the shots, Commander Rose. What's the plan?"
Looking to the right of the coast, Amy turned back to the speeding hedgehog and explained her plan. "I'll dive down and find the sac, you stay on distraction until--"
"You bring it to the surface and I'll launch it away from the coast."
Relieved by his sacrifice to take the burden, Amy nodded back at him and expressed a gracious smile. "Remember, you gotta be fast. The babies can't survive for long outta the water."
"Did you forget who you're talking to?" He smirked, cockiness enhanced by confidence. "Alright. Let's send this Axgale packing!"
"Right!"Amy enthused.
Exchanging a high five before separating, Amy ran to her designated diving spot while Sonic approached the swimming octopus nearing the shoreline.
"So you thought this place was your little daycare, huh?" He conversated with the mute creature. "Hmm, I guess I can get why you're so mad. You're just protecting your kids after all... As much as you wanna protect your kids, you're gonna have to find another home for them, away from the coast."
It's response was to climb onto the sand and balance it's weight on it's back arms. Tipping her body back, she exposed her bird-like beak, ready to deliver a venomous bite.
"Ugh." Sonic turned his head away from the foe, covering his eyes from her undercarriage. "Sorry, Lady. I'm already taken. You should really warn somebody before you flash 'em."
SONIC!
Ears leading to the voice of the pink hedgehog, he looked to the girl to see her beside the large sac laying within the water. She was waving both arms wildly, he answered her signal by dashing across the beach, towards the precious bundle.
Her sable eyes shot towards her children. In dire urgency, the mother slipped back into the water and pursued the racing hedgehog towards the sac. Competing with his speed within the water, the speed king on land was in a match with the sovereign of the seas.
Sonic growled with determination and sped up. The power in his pounding feet tearing the layers of grains. A sandstorm in his wake, the streamline of blue bolted to the pink hedgehog and grabbed the end of the mucous sac.
Spinning rapidly on the spot, Sonic spun the bundle around and released it into the air, projectiling the eggs far across the ocean.
The axgale instantly changed her course, zooming straight for her unhatched children. The remains of her wake just cutting the water's surface, it's appearance was nimble before ending it's disturbance on the blue.
"Alright!" Sonic cheered. Raising his fist in victory, he shortly turned to his girlfriend and congratulated her with another high five before joining their clasping hands and wrapping his arm around her waist. "That was a pretty weird battle, but at least we can get back to enjoying the vacation."
Nodding in agreement, Amy soon looked away at the thought of the axgale eggs. "I hope the babies are okay..."
Her boyfriend smiled assuringly her way, giving an equally assuring and impish squeeze to her midsection. She giggled in response to his actions. "I'm sure they'll be just fine. With a mother like that protecting them, they'll be joining her in the ocean in no time."
"Uh..." Amy breathed out an uneasy chuckle. "Actually, the mother usually dies once her eggs begin to hatch."
Sonic blinked back at her, gormless. "Oh, well... That's depressing." He commented, walking along with her towards the strip. "So, by that logic, I could've actually battled her since she's on her way out, right?"
"Sonic!" Amy gasped.
"What?! It's true."
Laughing at the dark humour of the blue leader, the pair continued on their trek back to the hotel. However, as they turned a corner, they were met with the gathering crowd. Parades of exuberant faces greeted them, instantly switching to a chorus of cheer.
"Way to go!"
"You saved us!"
"Nice going out there!"
Smiling back to the applauding people, the couple expressed their gratitude by bowing their heads faintly and giving brief waves.
From the crowd emerged a chestnut feathered hawk. Dressed in a black blazer over a white shirt, the pair recognised the man to be the manager of the hotel they were staying in.
"Thank you so much for saving the resort from that monster. The Elysium Hotel would be honoured to provide your accommodation, food, and facilities, all free of charge."
"Gee, thanks!" Sonic said. Bearing an awkward grin, he scratched the side of his head. "But, uh, our vacation was already all inclusive."
Within the small perimeter that divided the trio from the cheering onlookers, a wave of awkward silence laced the air. The manager caught off guard by the man's honest response and Sonic expelling an even larger, more awkward smile.
Their excruciating blunder had thankfully been disregarded as thundering steps rushed over to the hoard of mobians. Curious, the couple turned to the approaching group. Shock found it's way onto their faces at the sight of their friends: Knuckles, Tails, Cream, Rouge and Shadow.
"Sonic!" Tails stopped in front of his best friend. "We got here as soon as we got the signal."
The leader tilted his head, innocently quizzical. "What signal?"
"The coast guard sent out a signal to the Freedom Fighters to help defeat that giant squid." The manager stated.
"Octopus." Amy corrected the hawk. Seeing the man's unappreciative look, Amy smiled bashfully and looked back to the team.
"I guess you already got the signal yourselves?" Tails pondered aloud. "Did you defeat the octopus already?" He asked, rather astounded by the quick victory.
"Pfft, yeah. Obviously. With Amy's brain power and my super speed, we knocked that Axgale back where she belongs." He gloated, crossing his arms boisterously and wearing a cocky grin on his lips.
Shadow copied his actions, instead showing unamusement and mild wonder. "You both just happen to be dressed for the beach before that thing showed up?"
"Uh..."
Looking down at their own attire, they realised their secret vacation was no more. His gloves and footwear removed as well as his communicator giving away his preparation for the watery environment. Amy's outfit was the main giveaway. A damp, clinging, white sarong covering her red bikini bottoms. Beach ready.
Exposed.
The couple appeared sheepish, knowing their friends would shortly catch onto some sort of getaway occurring.
"Aw, I see what's going on here." Rouge sneered, moving to the front of the team. "You two on some couple's retreat?"
Too embarrassed to talk, Sonic and Amy avoided her overly amused grin.
"That is soooo cute. Was it your idea, Sonic?" The bat continued to pry, finding far too much entertainment in her teasing. "Whisking Amy off her feet with a little R-and-R? Ugh, such a romantic." She gushed, holding her chest dramatically.
"It's not that big a deal..." Sonic mumbled, still keeping his gaze away from the bat.
"Well if it's not a big deal, how about we join ya?" Knuckles grinned.
Disapproving of the unwanted company, Sonic frowned at his friend. "Don't you have a Master Emerald to be protecting?"
"Eggman's out of production for the time being and Bat Thief here is exactly where I can keep an eye on her." He answered, ignoring the woman's rolling eyes.
"It would be nice to play on the beach." Cream commented, enthusing the idea to the team.
"I mean, we are here now... It would be a shame to leave this place without enjoying it..." Tails implied indirectly to his best friend.
"Ah, that can be arranged!"
"Huh?!" Sonic blurted out, his upper body rotating towards the manager of their accommodation.
Oblivious to the hedgehog's unspoken protest, the hawk clasped his hands together and smiled fondly to the fighters. "To express our gratitude, we would like to offer you a four-day, three-night stay at Elysium Hotel. All inclusive."
Sonic's jaw dropped. Ridiculous this offer turned out to be. Because of their victory, they were going to get unwanted company tagging along on their holiday, for free, after they had paid to be alone?
Absurd. Profoundly absurd.
Upon hearing the sounds of his ecstatic friends, he groaned just loud enough for Amy to hear. Though she had not physically expressed her grief, she grabbed his hand and squeezed, sharing his annoyance while assuring him to remain quiet.
"You don't mind if we tag along, do you?" Tails asked, not wanting to disappoint his idol.
Seeing the hopeful looks on the young fox and rabbit's faces, he was powerless to deny them. He forced himself to smile and give a thumbs up. "Sure I don't mind, Buddy. The more, the merrier."
By impulse, he smiled more genuinely to the gleeful reactions of the younger fighters. Even if their getaway would have to be a little less romantic than it had been, he was happy to know he could enjoy a vacation amongst friends.
"Please, follow me and I will get you all booked in." The hawk said, gesturing towards the grand hotel at the end of the strip.
Their friends had gone with the manager before they could discuss anything further. Letting out his bothered sigh, Sonic turned back to his girlfriend and gave her a sympathy look. "Looks like our first vacation as a couple ended faster than my feet."
"We can still enjoy ourselves even with the others around." Moving closer to her lover, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and delicately kissed him. "As long as I'm with you, I'm happy."
The disgruntled thoughts of the intruding companions were shunned in the light of the elevation that danced around his heart. Enticing the beating organ into a vehement rhythm, his body was bewitched into a slackened relaxation.
His mind slowly being filled with her adoration, his reserved consciousness made him aware of the world around them. A moment's glance back to the whereabouts of their friends, he allowed himself to be become completely immersed in her sweet passion in the security of their absence.
The crowd now dispersed and continuing with their lives, their friend far out of sight, his hesitation left him.
A hand brushed her chilled cheek, stroking the soft skin in it's passing to make up for his reticence in front of the team. Finding it's way to the water retaining quills, he locked her hair between his fingers and edged closer to her. Eyes succumbing to the haze, they gradually closed off from the outer world. The glimpse of the woman's parting lips doused his mind, evoking his desire further.
He could feel her own craving. Subtle and soft as her affection had become. With her hands moving south to wrap around his back, she gently massaged his relaxed, drooping quills. Nimble fingers, shaking with anticipation, ran along the edge of the sharp spines. His trust in her protecting her from the stinging consequences. The very same trust protecting his hand in her hair.
In that trust, he would return the love she enunciated.
Tender-hearted in the benevolent joining of their lips. Innocent and emotive; communicating the requited passion he had learnt to express to her.
But perhaps it was the heat of the scolding sun or the effects of her endearment. Rather than the usual simplicity of their sweet kiss, he discovered complexity as he tilted her head at the slight movement of his hand in her hair.
The world around them was abruptly a figure of his imagination.
It was surreal to him to think all of their previous kisses had never been so passionate. He had never grabbed her hair in bunches. She had never been pressed so harshly against him. Their lips were never so entwined, circling and encompassing over one another. It was new. Exhilarating.
An insight into just how deep their relationship could become.
Giving attention to the burning starvation in their lungs, Sonic broke the kiss. Both panting lightly with the additional gasp from the heroine. Only mere inches apart and the haze still blanketing them from their surroundings, the couple slowly gazed at one another; lips starting to overcome their craving and love-glazed eyes slowly gaining focus, they stood there. Lost in each other's embrace.
He found comfort in her corresponding reaction. Unknowing what to do or say following their deepened passion, Amy smiled, slowly bearing her teeth and breaking out into a nonsensical laughter. He copied her actions, looking down bashfully at the minor gap between them as he laughed his nerves away.
"Wanna head back and get ready for dinner?" Amy asked upon composing herself. Her smile ever present never ceasing to captivate him.
"You mean prepare myself for ridicule?" He half-heartedly joked.
Sensing her boyfriend's discomfort at the thought of being the target of derision, Amy held onto his hand and walked with him back to the hotel. "Don't you worry, Sonic." She reassured him. "If anyone dares to mock you and our relationship--"
At the flick of her wrist, a sizeable hammer appeared in her hand. Impressed by it's imposing strength, Sonic stared back in wonder at her ability to hold such a heavy weapon.
"I'll pound them into silence." She winked.
He chuckled, shaking his head at the classic behaviour she expressed. Right now, he needed that predictability. To know that she would defend him during the most difficult topic he could only just convey. Love.
Sweeping the girl off her feet, he gathered her in his arms and began to jog. "C'mon, Hammer Queen. We have some more clobbering t'do."
With a light giggle, Amy nestled against his chest, signalling her readiness for his take off.
In a flash, he dashed to the hotel. Motivated by the possibility of exploring their newfound expression of love, he would rely on the strength of his lover to see him through the evening until their time together would become personal.