From the moments following his conversation with Shadow, Sonic ran circles around the city. As in a literal sense, actually.
His heart pounded against this ribcage threatening to break free. The buildings of Central City, a mass of gray blurring obstacles, the blue speedster left citizens spinning or tumbling out of the way of mini sonic booms popping off on street corners. Red and white shoes reaching high velocity, up sides of buildings and leaping from them to continue along another and then another.
However, this bursting energy spreading out from his core wouldn't let up the more he thought of the day's events stuck on an infinite loop. His lips frozen in a permanent smile beaming ear to ear. It was a short interaction, but in that time he felt every nerve in his body dance under the stare of the black hedgehog.
Though cold initially like he often was, Sonic still felt something lurking beneath the veneers and death glares. Call it a hunch, maybe wishingful thinking on his part, but he hadn't been able to shake those ruby eyes from his thoughts in recent times. It had been months of him disappearing again. Days leading up to the hedgehog's leave, Sonic recalled their last meeting
It had been daybreak, the skies above Central City station bled orange streaks behind silver clouds. The crowded station was at that time desolate, and he stood at its entrance. He stood before him, black case in hand and eyes failing to meet his own.
"Where are you off to?" He asked, receiving the typical huff and routine from the moody hedgehog.
"Nowhere you need to worry about." Shadow said, attempting to pass, only for Sonic to raise a hand to stop him, receiving another glare. "What is the meaning of this?"
"Just hold on, is it another one of your secret missions?"
"It doesn't concern you."
Sonic had bit his lip, feeling Shadow's stare as he pushed past him and up the steps. Sonic turned quick and called out to him.
When Shadow turned back to him, Sonic was already at the second to last step with the black hedgehog casting his crimson gaze upon him. There they stood, Sonic felt he stood at a crossroads, heart uneasy and words drying on his tongue.
"Just…" He tried, a grin on his face. "Make sure you make it back. Alright?"
Shadow watched him, eyeing him up and down as Sonic shrunk beneath him, before giving a nod and the tiniest hint of a smirk. "Count on it."
And that had been the last time he had seen the hedgehog.
Sonic's feet skid to a stop at the bottom of a hill outside his and Tails' hanger, looking up to the primary colors that decorated the outside. The moon above was full and bright, stars about it twinkling down with his heart beating hard. It was unfamiliar to him the rushing feelings in his stomach outside of thoughts of his counterpart. He felt dizzy back at the modest cottage, the way his words failed him so quickly.
He held a hand over his heart, closing his eyes and allowing his body to relax. However, it wouldn't be an easy task, for now he had to prepare the perfect plan. He had a couple of days leading up to meeting with Shadow again, and maybe there he'd give into these complicated emotions swirling in his head.
—
"That's awesome, Shadie!"
"No it is not!" Shadow groaned, laying across Rouge's white couch. The bat sat across from him in an ivory barstool, a cup of tea in her grasp and listening to the stricken edge boy's rantings.
She sipped happily, bringing the cup down to the coffee table separating them. "And why is it not? Isn't this what you want?" She asked, "You're head over tail for this boy and he comes to you and asks you out."
Shadow hugged a pillow to his chest, grumbling into the fabric with his eyes shut. "Then why does it only make me feel sick?" He asked, tossing the pillow aside and letting his arm hang off the couch. "I didn't get to ask his intentions, he was there and then off he went."
Rouge smiled, "Hun, sometimes it is that simple. And maybe it is because you're nervous! It's totally normal to feel like that."
Turning over onto his side, Shadow stared daggers at nothing in particular. Rouge pouted, "What's so wrong with you letting yourself love that hedgehog?"
Shadow's ear flicked, turning away from the bat. "Hmph."
"Tsk, Shadow." Rouge rolled her eyes and placed a hand at her hip, "You clearly have strong feelings for Blue."
"Clearly,'' He droned in repeating the word. "If it's so clear then why is it not sitting right with me?" He turned to stare at the ceiling. "I'm the most powerful lifeform on the planet, yet I feel so powerless when he walks into my house."
"Aw, Shadie." Rouge stepped off her stool and kneeled beside the couch. "I understand this isn't something you know how to maneuver around, that's why I'm here." Her voice turned soft, laying a hand over Shadows forehead. "However, you have to allow yourself to feel these things you do. You're so reserved and pent up, that isn't a healthy way to navigate your feelings."
Shadow's eyes closed to the sensation, his jaw slowly untightening and the fists at his sides unfurled and he let out a breath. Rouge saw this and smiled, standing above him. "Now," She said, reaching for her tea cup, "we'll start slow, okay? Tell me what you felt when you saw him."
He watched her flap her wings and landing softly legs crossed on her stool. He brought his hands up and folded them over his chest in thought. "I felt…a sense of familiarity, I suppose."
Rouge nodded, "What else?"
Shadow continued, closing his eyes to picture the scene. "I couldn't hold my guard up as I try to do, even as I felt the urge to blast him from my home for causing me to destroy my door…it just melted after hearing him speak." He finished, letting out another breath. "I feel something inside that wants to reach out, to take hold of him."
At this, the bat could not help but let out a tiny squee, receiving a side glare from Shadow. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" She giggled, "I'm just happy for you. Continue."
Shadow turned back to the ceiling. "I don't understand what it is to…love another like this." He said, "Nor do I know what it is to hold something like it for someone I once swore against." One hand came to his face, he scanned it. "So many times I could have claimed his life, and yet," The hand closed into a fist before falling back onto the white fur of his chest. "Now I couldn't bear that being I was."
"You know that's not who you are." Rouge said, her voice was soft as she gazed upon her friend through the steam of her tea. "Those days are long gone, Shadow. You don't have to linger on that time, those encounters. We all change for the better."
Shadow laid motionless, sighing. "What if I am undeserving?" He asked, before turning to see the bat's inquisitive look. "What if I lose myself again? Find myself standing opposed to someone I...I love?"
"Then one of two things will happen," Rouge replied, her voice stern. "Either I will drag you back, kicking and screaming myself," She winked, "or Prince Charming will have to knock the sense back into you."
This time, Shadow allowed himself to laugh. He relaxed against the cool leather, crossing his legs. "If that is so, then maybe I am thinking too much." He said, "I do look forward to meeting with him again." The words felt foreign in his voice aloud, they tasted unknown. The green eyes of the before mention hedgehog appearing behind his eyelids, the wide grin he shared whenever he was in view, and the warm welcoming aura he irradiated without a care.
"You should!" Rouge beamed, "Again, I'm glad this happened. Maybe whichever one of you makes the first move, you'll finally loosen up."
"Huh?'
Shadow eyed the bat, who stared back before her jaw dropping slightly against the rim of the mug. "Shadow…come on, you're kidding right?"
"I don't follow." He replied, ears pinned back. "I don't understand."
"Oh, chaos help me." Rouge groaned, bringing a hand to her face.
—
With the hanger swept, Tails wiped the sweat from his brow and laid the broom and dustbin in the corner by his tools.
In this moment to himself, he walked to the shutter doors and stood to watch the sky. The nighttime breeze was a relief after spending most of the day working on the Tornado v.2-the working title.
His poor jet had been malfunctioning and desperately needed maintenance, almost having the poor fox retrieve the old blue prints he had drawn up for it for any mistakes. However even after hours, he had not determined the issue and turned in.
He checked the digital clock in the work table, it was late and Sonic had not returned. Tails hung his head in thought. The whole conversation concerning his brother and Shadow turned sour near the end and didn't sit well in the fox's stomach. Was he being over protective? Had he let old times cast a shroud over his judgment?
Surely, Sonic understood deep down. That gloomy copy-hog only showed up before trouble followed, a scarlet ibis to many foes from his childhood. Many times he feared the black hedgehog, having to turn and run as told while his older brother stayed to combat him.
He gripped his shoulders tight, letting out a sigh just as rushing footsteps came to a stop a few feet behind him.
"Heya, Tails!" Sonic greeted, panting all the while, "Fixed your plane?"
The fox shook his head, turning to greet the hedgehog with a smile. "No, I couldn't figure out what the issue was. So I'm just closing up for the night."
Sonic nodded, turning to head up to his room. Tails watched him walk for a moment, before rushing over to him. "Hey, Sonic. Could I talk to you for a second?"
"Sure, buddy." The blue hedgehog gave a yawn, but smiled.
"I just wanted to…apologize for how Knuckles and I came down on you earlier." Tails said, turning his head, embarrassed. "I realized soon after you left how I came off and didn't mean to try and shoot down your hopes-"
"Hey, hey." Sonic spoke, wrapping an arm around his younger brother. "It's okay, Tails. I know you just wanna look after me."
Tails shifted in the hug, staring back outside as his brother spoke. "I guess I can be really optimistic sometimes, huh? Even when signs say otherwise…but you know something? This all feels so much different with Shadow."
"But, why?" The fox found himself asking. The arm across his shoulders slid away and Sonic walked past him to lean in the doorway. Tails watched Sonic stare up at the sky, breathing in the night air and lowering his head.
"I guess I should come clean," He started, his jovial tone calmer now and he crossed his arms and hugged himself. "I…am sorta interested in Shads."
Tails watched on, mouth slightly agape as the hedgehog opened to him. "I'm not sure when exactly it first happened, but I just feel drawn to him." Sonic said, giving a short laugh. "I know it doesn't make sense, I couldn't make much sense of it when I first realized it…but I can sense that he's changed from how he was before."
A moment of silence followed, Sonic turned back smiling at Tails. "I trust him, I really do. And today, I kinda asked him out."
"You did?" Tails gaped, unsure what he should do with his hands. "W-What did he say?"
Sonic beamed, holding his hands behind his back and rocking in place. "He said yeah…So, I know. You're probably thinking that I'm weird or something-"
"Of course you're not weird, Sonic!" Tails rushed over and pulled his brother into a hug. Sonic was taken aback at this, but hugged the fox back. "I just want you to be safe…I don't know much about Shadow, and I can't promise that I can change that so quickly, but if you're sure and can trust him…"
Sonic pulled back, ruffling Tail's hair. "I promise, buddy. You will be the first to know if anything happens." He gave the fox another squeeze. "I love you, bro. Telling you makes me feel a little better about this."
Tails furrowed his brow. "Love you too, Sonic, but why? What are you worried about?"
Sonic blushed, pulling back and scratching his nose. "I, uh…I can get a little nervous around him is all, heh."
"In what-oh..haha." Tails chuckled, smacking his brother on the shoulder. "You've fought the guy but can't manage a date?"
"I didn't say that!" Sonic pouted, hands on his hips while the young fox attempted to stifle his laughter. "He's just a little more intimidating when he isn't threatening me!"
Tails' laughter died down, watching his brother give another yawn. "Well, you must be tired. If it's alright with you, I'm going to head off to bed."
"Alright, lil bro!" Sonic patted Tails on the back and turned back to the hanger doors. "I'm probably just gonna linger down here for a bit, still a little jittery."
"Whatever you say." Tails laughed, ascending the staircase at the back of the hanger. He gave one last glance at the blue hedgehog staring off outside, giving a small sigh and turning back up into their shared home.
