Sonic slumbering form stirred beneath a weighted blanket. Slipping himself underneath it, the bedroom came into view that Monday morning, rubbing his eyes as a swelling orchestral soundtrack played from across the room on his tiny TV atop a shelf.

The tattered blinds of the circular window above him, raying sunlight that he held up a bare hand to block the brightness, watching it instead highlight the digits in gold.

The bedroom was a disaster of mismatched furnishings and gym socks draped over them. In one corner, multiple pairs of red and white athletic shoes piled-torn, scuffed, and overall thrashed after many duelings with a certain evil doctor. Another corner held a propped up cracked ping pong table, and at the foot of the bed was an opened trunk with discarded golden rings, long having lost their sheen. And in the center, a tattered old rug embroiled with an older iteration of the Chaotix's logo he snagged after they disbanded.

Turning to the television, through the sleep in his eyes he could see the blur of credits crawling up the black screen. He sat up, a dark red blanket lazily draped over his lap and spilling off the bed.

Following the previous day's discussion with a particular bat, Sonic spent hours into night…studying methods to woo his darker counterpart. Maybe 'woo' was not a word he would think to describe, as much as viewing fictitious relationships between black bars on the screen to swap the faces and bodies for himself and the moody hedgehog.

He brought his knees up to his chest, turning his head and placing it atop them. As his mind woke up, Sonic thought of Shadow again.

As he skimmed the DVD cases the night before and read the plot's synopsis he thought of Shadow, if he were to do anything-the black hedgehog would worm his way into view in no time.

When the leading actress hopped off the train in the ending scene to run after her love and embrace them, he couldn't help but imagine the black hedgehog being captive in his arms and feeling the fluffy white patch of his chest against his.

A smile crept onto his face, sliding a bare hand up his shoulder. In a moment ending motion, he grimaced, thumbing a jagged bump along the peach skin of his arms. Sonic soured, dropping his head to view the sheets.

Alas, over years of close calls and taking damage, he bared scars of past ventures. Nearly invisible if not knowing they're even there, they tormented the hedgehog in thoughts of getting close to Shadow. At some points of the childish insecurity getting to him, he owned one jacket to wear-a shiny cyan blue letterman that hung off the edge of the bed.

Though they were mostly hidden by fur, the thought of what possible reaction to them upon Shadow's hands traveling about his body crossed his mind.

A shiver shot up his back, eyes shut tight as his mind sculpted more scenes depicting the two. Why was Thursday so far away from him, and why had he picked it in the first place-other than him grasping at straws without thinking? Sonic laughed, shaking his head at the loss of confidence when faced with the brooding red ringlets of Shadow's eyes.

"Sonic?" A muffled voice came from the other side of his bedroom door. The hedgehog snapped awake.

"C-Come in!" He stammered, rubbing his neck and trying to rid his thoughts of the hedgehog. The door swung open as he pulled the blanket over himself and Tails peaked in, his head in the crack.

"Morning, Sonic!" He greeted the hedgehog enthusiastically. "How'd you sleep?"

"Good, pretty good." Sonic yawned. "What's up?"

Tails took a step inside, almost tripping on the flipped over corner of the rug, closing the door behind him to press his back against it. He turned away, biting his lip. "I was just wondering…when did you say you were hanging out with Shadow again?"

"Thursday," Sonic said, leaning back in his bed. "Though I don't know, I was thinking of maybe dropping by before then."

Tails blinked. "Yeah? Cool, cool. Say," He prodded, "You don't happen to have a place picked out to hang out, do you?"

Sonic stared, eyeing the fox closer. "No, I didn't really think that far…why?" He asked.

Tails appeared slightly jittered, rubbing his hands together. "Well, I was just checking!" He stated, turning to the television. "You never mentioned where..you.."

Tails trailed off, reading the credits with a quizzical look. "Were you watching a chick flick?"

"Hey, this is a good movie!" Sonic pouted, pointing a finger. "I don't judge you by the movies you like."

"Documentaries," the fox corrected. "Documentaries teach you things, based on real life. And besides, I didn't know you were even into this kinda stuff anyway."

"Is this an intervention?" Sonic glared, "I watch what I want."

"Anyway," Tails rolled his eyes, "Maybe for this date, you could pick a place nearby. Maybe that café by the beach or that new sandwich spot!"

The fox watched as his brother swung his legs over the bed, standing up and stretching. "I could, I guess it'd be easier than trying some place last minute." He eyed the carpet, before his ears gave a flick and he instantly beamed. "I could just ask him! That gives me an excuse to bug-see him," Sonic corrected himself.

"O-Oh, sure!" Tails tried a smile, watching as Sonic grabbed for socks and another pair of gloves. "Though, that new sandwich spot has some of the most amazing subs-"

"And then maybe I could get something for his house on the way!" Sonic thought aloud, "Did you know he doesn't have a tv? How does he just live out there amongst trees and junk without anything to do or watch? I'd go insane!"

Tails swallowed, leaning in the doorway. "Right, crazy. I'm…I'm gonna go."

Sonic pulled up his second sock, turning to wave at the fox. "Sure, buddy! Thanks for the tip!"

The fox gave a stern nod, before snaking back between the door and shutting it behind him. On the other side, Tails let out a breath in defeat before walking off.

Shadow laid upon his black couch alone, eyes shut while focusing on the sounds beyond the walls of his modest abode in the forest. His hands folded atop his chest, rising and falling with his breaths he timed in his head.

He found peace in the early morning, waking to the sounds of the gentle creek outside, the chirps and stirring critters. His eyelids fluttered with the yawn he clenched his jaw to keep within.

These moments were perfect for him to find his center, to cast aside any troubling thoughts whirling his gears or putting pressure where it needed not. It was not often he found himself there as of late, however.

Thus, causing the late nights he would stir awake and grasp for the cushions to not find him within a glass prison.

To not find himself aboard a floating dial above the world, to not fall away at the muffled pops of airlocks disengaging and gunfire.

His fingers twitched, and jaw clenched. No, no. He was years away now, and to that Shadow allowed himself to breathe deeply and released it with the anxiousness within.

Black eyelids opened, eyes turning to the ceiling. The birds chirping seems distant now, the creek falling silent. His heart beat increased pace, holding a gloved hand over it he breathed in deep again, but instead of something troubling Shadow's mind turned to the future and homed in on a single beacon.

For this moment, he allowed it access. The smiling lips of a blue fool before him, eyes like salt-sea billows, and a warmth that beckoned him closer. The scene painted around him appeared only as sketches before he walked into view without a care in the world, and with him every color popped out in great brilliance.

Shadow's heart rattled in his ribcage, the world no longer around him as much as the one he painted with his heart. The hedgehog drew closer to his beloved, his own dark color being welcomed. His own cold and bitter being swallowed by who he believed wouldn't be eclipsed by it, nor be consumed or turned away.

Before it was dark, then only wanting to see brilliant blues.

"Uh, knock knock."

Shadow's eyes snapped open, sitting up to view a peeking Sonic through a mostly covered hole in his front door.

"Heya," the blue hedgehog waved shyly. "Hope I'm not waking you."

Shadow sat in shock for a moment, before taking a breath and laying back down. "No." He mustered, though his fingers danced on the cushions of his couch. "Just meditating."

"Oh! That's…cool."

Sonic awkwardly stood on the other side of the door and watched him upon the couch, rocking on his feet with a mysterious package behind his back while Shadow debated existence as an angel was brought to his doorstep.

And then he rose from his spot, and Stood to look towards the door. "You have an interesting way of greeting someone, hedgehog." He spoke, his cold tone light while he stood to stretch.

Shadow turned on his heel to approach the door, pulling it open and laying his eyes on the confidence drained speedster. "What are you hiding behind your back?"

Sonic grinned sheepishly, giving a shrug. "I just happened to be in the neighborhood." He offered, awkwardly holding out a paper bag. Shadow stared at the item, slowly reaching out and taking the bag. "Consider it an apology for the door." The blue hedgehog added with a nervous grin.

Shadow ears fell, pulling out a light powder blue radio dressed with ears. "Is this a radio?"

"Yup!" Sonic beamed, "I noticed that it must get quiet out here without a tv or anything, so I figured you could use a lil distraction."

Shadow eyed the radio, flicking his eyes up at Sonic. "Why does it have ears?"

"To hear?" Sonic shot finger guns at the bemused Shadow.

"I see." Shadow rolled his eyes slowly before eying the radio longer. He placed it back in the bag and sat down in the doorway. "Still doesn't answer as to what brings you out here."

"Ah, well I remembered that I didn't say exactly where we'd meet or go on our da-hang out." Sonic snapped, wide eyed and shuffling. "Hang out. Our totally chill get together as two mutuals."

Shadow stared, leaning his elbow on the doorframe. "What did you have in mind?"

"I was gonna ask you the same thing, Shads." Sonic teased, "Seeing as I'm treating you."

Shadow eyed the hedgehog closer, who shrunk under his stare. "You are, are you? I wasn't aware."

"I mean, of course." Sonic agreed, hands on his hips forcing his confidence to get a grip. "It was my idea after all."

Shadow shook his head. "You are acting rather…strange."

"I'm not being strange." Sonic clumsily countered, mimicking Shadow's stance. "Maybe…you're just being weird!"

Shadow bit hard on his tongue, a smile threatening to betray him. "How so?"

Sonic smirked. "I don't think you've ever not called me 'faker' or insulted my intelligence for this long."

"Insult?" Shadow tilted his head. "I can't mock what is widely known by now."

"Oh! Oh, I see," Sonic mock pouted, "So you can play along when it suits you."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Shadow turned his gaze to the creek beside his home. "I simply react. Reacting to you happens to reflect yourself."

Sonic eyed Shadow, attempting to read the other's expression before rubbing his nose. "Well since you're just 'reacting', how would you react to pizza? Or one of those stuffier restaurants downtown?"

Shadow flicked his eyes up at the speedster, melting that bit of confidence away. "Stuffy? Doesn't sound like your forte."

"So you can speak French now?" Sonic smirked, nearly breaking his own character as Shadow turned away to face the inside of his house. "Oh, c'mon!" Sonic stomped, "Admit I'm funny!"

Shadow tensed his shoulders, nearly chewing through his bottom lip to regain control of his face before turning back, straightfaced. "I have no idea what you're talking about." He gave a ghost of a smirk. "However, I do find you at times…'funny', I suppose."

Sonic pouted, crossing his arms tighter. "Mm, sure you do."

"More so funny-looking." Shadow rolled his eyes away, leaving Sonic to drop his arms for a second before crossing them again with his chest puffed out.

"Well I think you have a tendency to be funny sounding," Sonic narrowed his eyes, deepening his voice and flattening his tone.

"Are you mocking me?"

"Are you mocking me?"

The two eyed each other, same stance and tone as birds flew overhead. Sonic's resolve broke first, kneeling over to chuckle and hold his stomach as Shadow smiled for a fraction of a second as to not allow Sonic to see.

As he wiped a small tear from his eye, Sonic turned to the hedgehog. "You know, Shads. You could actually be fun to be around if you gave in to that." He offered a smile, "It's refreshing to see."

Shadow's cheeks burned, turning to the rocks at their feet. "Fun," He repeated.

"Fun," Sonic repeated, mimicking Shadow's deadpan tone. "Yes, doom 'n' gloom. Fun!"

"Do you believe I'm gloomy?" Shadow found himself asking, having not turned to look back to the surprised hedgehog's face. "Rouge believes so too, I understand."

"No, no!" Sonic panicked, waving his hands. "I'm not saying that, I'm just…hey, wait!"

Shadow had turned back to face the inside of his house, jerking and holding a hand over his mouth. Sonic pointed a finger in accusation. "Oh, so you got jokes now?"

Shadow cleared his throat, turning back stoic. "Again, I'm not sure I know what you're talking about and it is rather early, so I may admittedly just be tired."

"Right," Sonic scoffed, leaning against the wall of the cottage, "You just want me to leave so you can laugh and I won't hear you."

"Are you insinuating that I can't laugh in front of you?" Shadow mildly glared.

Sonic held up his hands in defense, smiling. "Oh, no! You? Of course not, Shads."

Shadow stonewalled the comment. "I take offense to that."

"Do you?" Sonic quipped holding out a hand, mock checking his hand's glove claws. "Hard to tell, you hide it so well I wouldn't have ever noticed."

"Maybe there are things you've yet to notice." Shadow grumbled, almost louder than he initially meant to be, a red tint kissing his cheeks and catching a look from Sonic.

Sonic grinned. "I just think outside of the obvious, I can't say we know too much about each other." He said, his voice softer than before. Sonic paused, shying away from a comment he desperately tried to hold in. "I'd…I'd like to change that, Shadow."

Shadow felt goosebumps beneath his fur, one of his ears flicked at his name falling so easily from the other's lips. He sniffed, a finger tapping at the door frame. "Is that true?"

Sonic nodded, slowly as a voice inside him screamed to hold it together. "Ya know, it just seems like something neglected."

"Neglected." Shadow repeated to himself. A few moments passed between them, a light breeze rolling through the trees and shaking free leaves to fall behind the blue speedster. He turned up to look at his face, searching his eyes for a brief spell before speaking again. "I believe that, too."

"Yeah?" Sonic held his smile, though millions of tiny Sonics inside his mind fight in droves for control of his heart running off with control. "Then let's start with what you like to eat, so that I don't have to panic about picking a spot."

"Hmph," Shadow shrugged. "I'm not picky, just," He cringed, "someplace without those vile messy things you ate all the time."

Sonic gaped, "You leave my chili dogs out of this!"

"As long as you do." Shadow smirked, turning back into his home. "Have fun, Sonic."

The door shut behind him, following Sonic to turn and begin walking in the opposite direction. After getting some distance, he sped around the back of a tree and fell back against it, holding hands cupped over his mouth as he delightfully screamed into them.

He was just too gosh darn cute.

Meanwhile back at the cottage after scooping the paper bag up, Shadow went and fell face first into the cushions of his couch, allowing gravity to completely take hold as he bared his teeth within the widening grin into the fabric. His heart soared off without him, leaving him a forlorn husk basked in now lack of presence in his house.

That damned hedgehog, his stupid cute face and his stupid adorable ways. Shadow rolled over onto his back, sitting up to peek out the window to make sure the speedster had taken off before allowing his nerves to take control. He laid his hands over his face, allowing the smile free from the cage he pressed against to lock shut. The increased heart rate in his chest, the soreness from his chewing the inside of his cheek, the overall peaking in his energy.

He could no longer hide these feelings. As to which part of him felt shame in giving in to such trivial emotions affecting him in such a way, the stronger side shed these in solitude. He could kick away the barriers and languish in them, pooling all his feelings into his mind and bob loftily about the surface to soak in them.

Shadow lifted the hands away to face towards the ceiling, taking in a deep breath and licking his lips. He had succumbed to it all. Shadow had fallen in love.

The radio sat beside him, staring back with crudely drawn cartoon eyes staring back at his crimson cheeks, glaring back. "Stop mocking me."