The heat was the first thing to hit Sonic's senses.
He could feel the bouncing kick and bass from the speakers beneath his soles, the room washed in a warm pink hue. The scent of alcohol and artificial juices lingered in the air and he could almost taste it.
The swaying dance floor was busy, bodies either in sync with the beat or clumsily bounding into one another. The counter he believed was the bar was crowded from one end to the other, conversation and laughter over the pounding track.
"Aye!"
Sonic turned away to see Knuckles waving him over and moved to him, awkwardly passing other couples on his way over.
As he approached, a man behind the counter approached. "Good evening, gentle…" he scanned between the two. "…men?"
Knuckles turned back. "Alright! Whatcha looking for? Something small, or straight into the good stuff?"
Sonic shivered under the brightly colored light, hands fidgeting in his pockets. "I don't know, man. Whatever you get, I guess."
"Fine by me," Knuckles faced the bartender, "two pints, my good man!"
The guy nodded before turning to walk away. Sonic turned back to the rest of the crowded room. "Busy night." He said.
"Yeah, crazy." Knuckles joined to look around. "Probably a holiday or something. If it isn't Halloween or Christmas, I can't keep track."
Sonic rolled his eyes, leaning on the bar and letting out a breath. Knuckles gave him a small shove. "Hey, lighten up! We're here to have fun."
"I'm having plenty of fun." Sonic chuckled, shoving his stronger friend. "Thanks for inviting me out, feels like these days have been stretching on a bit."
"Excited for your date?"
Sonic gave a weak chuckle. "It's funny, I was trying to not make it not seem like a date at first."
"That went well." Knuckles turned back, the bartender being distracted by a group of girls to shake his head.
"It was more to make it easier to convince myself to ask him, heh." Sonic stared down at his shoes.
"You do what you gotta do," Knuckles commented. "I wish I could get myself to talk to Rouge."
"You could!" Sonic turned to his friend. "She used to bug you all the time back on Emerald Island."
Knuckles nodded, crossing his arms. "Yeah, but it was easier than. Now that we're older, I dunno. Makes me think she's off doing better things."
Sonic shoved the echidna. "I think you're just chicken."
"Am not!" Knuckles turned to glare.
"Oh yeah?" Sonic smirked, "Prove it! When I go out on Thursday, you see Rouge."
Knuckles clammed up, turning to stare at the drunken humans dancing. "I-I could do that!" He stammered, "No problem!"
"Heh, don't worry about it." Sonic rocked on his heels, dropping his eyes again. "He's really not that bad, ya know."
To this, Knuckles nodded. "Like, really. I know Tails is probably freaked by the whole deal-"
"Remember, this is a chill night," Knuckles assured the hedgehog. "'Sides, you don't need my blessing to do what you wanna do. I know you're not dumb, I trust ya not to get hurt."
"I never said that," Sonic pouted, "and I guess I've replayed plenty of scenarios in my head regardless of how you guys would take it." He turned to the echidna. "I care about you two after all."
"Aw," Knuckles mocked, "cut it out, haha."
Sonic grumbled, "Whatever, knucklehead."
"Pipsqueak."
"Pebbles."
"Pintsize."
"Two pints!" The bartender startled the two, sliding the drink over the bar before walking back to help the other patrons.
"Ah, here we go!" Knuckles grabbed both pints, handing one over to the hedgehog. "Here's to your date!"
Sonic glared, though held his glass out with a smirk. "Yeah, yeah…"
—
"...And then you stood at the cliff edge over the water and what did you say?" Rouge pointed, the hedgehog before her glaring and pouting.
Shadow sighed, "I said, 'maybe there are just things we can't hold or control, like the waves of the ocean'." He smacked the table. "I was being insightful!"
Rouge laughed, "Yes, dear. I know you were." She peered past him, her expression falling. "Oh geez, head's up. Red and Blue at your six."
Shadow's fingers nearly slipped the glass in his grasp. Daring a quick peek over the bench, across the room, he watched as the object of his affections and anxiety approached the bar with his larger dimwitted friend.
"What are they doing here?" Shadow clutched the bench he sat upon, eyes locked on the blue hedgehog. His face blurred by glasses of wine, engaged in conversation with the red one he hung around along with the fox boy. His body hidden beneath a silly jacket, his form all together under the violet lights and scanning the room.
In a single heartbeat, those eyes pass over him snatching a bit of life out of the ebony hedgehog only to continue about the room.
"Talk about coincidence," Rouge mused, sipping her wine. "Never saw him as a club guy."
"We should leave," Shadow then said before turning back. "I can't be seen."
"What? Why not?" Rouge eyed the hedgehog.
"It's too soon, I can already feel this drink's effects." Shadow shook, "I don't feel in control of myself."
"Oh relax," Rouge rolled her eyes. "It's not like he's looking for you. He'll definitely see you if you keep peeking over though."
Shadow plopped back down in his seat clumsily, taking hold of his glass. Rouge eyed the pair at the bar, swishing her glass. "He is with Knuckles, though…Hmm."
Shadow held a venomous glare, slouching in his spot across from the bat. "You wouldn't."
"I don't know…" Rouge mused, pretending a smile hadn't stretched across her lips.
"You wouldn't be so cruel." Shadow said, anxiety building in his stomach.
"Oh but he looks so cute tonight!" The bat cried, gesturing towards the two. "Look at his little jacket, and Knuckles is looking so fit!"
"Rouge..." The ebony hedgehog warned, as the bat rose from her spot in the booth…
—
"Ugh," Sonic stuck out his tongue, holding the pint to stare at the bubbles. "What flavor is this?"
"Beer." Knuckles shrugged, "The flavor of beer."
"Tastes like I shouldn't be paying for it." Sonic grimaced.
"Guess it's good that you're not, huh?" The echidna mused.
"Oh, Knucky~!"
The two turned and gaped at one of the taken booths. Knuckle's heart fluttered at the beauty peeking from the shaded booth, her teal eyes singling him out of the slowly crowding bar with casting her breathtaking voice across the room to beckon him to her.
Meanwhile, Sonic froze in astonishment. Across from the flirtatious bat hiding by his hands-probably embarrassed by Rouge-Shadow sat, his fiery stare burning across the floor and locking on him, freezing him where he stood. The black hedgehog's gaze broke as Sonic became aware of its presence. It was then, he again became aware of the heat building in the room, the jacket weighing him down and his breath almost cutting short on site.
"Well?" Knuckles said, poking the hedgehog in the ribs with an elbow. "Aren't you happy I brought you here now?"
Sonic licked his lips. "I don't have an answer to that."
"Aw, tongue tied?"
Sonic quickly glared at the echidna walking off before following him. The two attempted to squeeze past the dance floor, bodies larger than theirs nearly knocking them down as they jirated to the pumping bass and bongos sounding out the speakers.
Soon, Sonic stood at the table. Knuckles having taken no time to sit beside the bat of his desires. Shadow turned up at him, his expression…soft and almost inquizitive. His royal ruby eyes half lidded, his hand swirling a glass of wine as he found himself scanning the hedgehog before scooting over and clearing space for the blue speedster.
Swallowing pride and fear, he sat. Knuckles slid his glass across the table and clinged it again in cheers, followed by Rouge doing the same, giving a sly wink.
"So what brings you guys here?" Knuckles asked, hanging an arm across the booth bench behind the bat. "Come here often?"
At this the bat giggled to the echidna's corniness, followed by the hedgehogs across from them rolling their eyes before turning to their drinks.
"Well actually," Rouge batted her eyelashes, setting the glass on the table. "Sunshine and I like to frequent here." She turned to the hedgehog who shot a look back. "Right, hun?"
Between the three of them, Shadow pursed his lips behind his wine glass. "Mmm." He offered in response.
Rouge shot a displeased look, before Knuckles took her attention again. With the two interacting and distracted, Sonic tapped at the pint glass before him with an elbow propped up on the table's edge. The odds of running into Shadow in a place like this couldn't have been lower than he had previously thought. Now sitting besides the hedgehog, he locked his gaze on the condensation built on the surface glass.
Shadow however saw this, before swishing his glass and clearing his throat.
"What are you drinking?" He asked, though still not bringing himself to turn to the blue hedgehog.
In surprise, Sonic turned to Shadow before turning back to his glass stammering. "O-Oh, just whatever Knuckles got. Some kind of beer-I don't know that much about drinks or anything really." He stopped, before laughing nervously and shaking his head. "I mean, you know."
To this, Shadow felt his lips betray him with a smile. The act was enough to make Sonic's heart flutter like wings, nervously clutching the glass. Eyes darted back to the couple across from them, still engaged in their conversation, Rouge offered a wink and gestured to the boy beside him as Knuckles went on about his workout routines.
Sonic nodded, swallowing his heart threatening to leap out from his throat. He took the glass before him and took a hearty sip, turning to Shadow. "Never took you for much of a drinker, Shads." His voice dripped in manufactured bravado.
Shadow raised a brow.
"I mean, it just didn't seem like your scene." Sonic shrugged playfully. "Figured if there was fun involved, you'd want no part."
Shadow narrowed his eyes, propping his cheek on a fist. "Hmph, is that right? And tell me, what brings you here?"
Sonic took another hefty gulp of the golden drink. "Well, today I was looking to catch up on some work, but this knucklehead seems to have a sixth sense for when Rouge is around." He smirked, the red echidna across from him turning to glare.
"Hey, this was meant as a break for you!" Knuckles snapped, receiving a mocking face from the blue hedgehog.
Shadow gave a smirk of his own, before turning his body to fully face the hedgehog and folding a leg beneath him. "Appears so."
"Well, I am always open for company here." Rouge added, tapping the echidna's bicep. "As I'm sure you are now, Shadow."
The ebony hedgehog rolled his eyes, turning back to Sonic. "I figured you spent your offtime sleeping. Or stuffing your face."
Shadow's heart nearly gave way as Sonic gave a playful pout, turning to face him completely as well. "Hey! I do plenty of stuff, thank you." He turned to drink side eyeing the darker hedgehog. "And Besides, I had…studying to do."
"Studying?" Shadow repeating, wine glass raised.
"Studying." Sonic repeated back, giving a sly smile.
"And what, dare I ask, does a hero like yourself study?" Shadow chuckled.
"Yeah," Knuckles sipped, "What, you got a test coming up? I didn't know you were in school."
"Some of us take the time to learn," Sonic sniffed, the echidna narrowing his eyes before the speedster turned back to Shadow, his legs bouncing beneath the table. "Well...okay maybe not studying, persae." Sonic grumbled, rubbing the back of his head. "Just thinking about what we could do Thursday and keep getting distracted, hehe."
Shadow eyed the hedgehog, pursing lips before bringing his glass to them. "I see, well I happen to rather enjoy this parlor."
"We could come here, then!" Sonic jumped in. "Seems like it's pretty busy during the week, though. Is it always like this?"
Knuckles turned towards the crowding dancefloor. "Seems like it, there's gotta be at least fifty people over there."
"It's just the special most nights." Rouge said, swishing her glass and kicking at the echidna's leg under the table. "Couples get in with a discount if they dance."
"There appears to be some sort of entertainment happening tonight, as well." Shadow gestured to the still preparing band. "Rouge asked me to come for another get together and I gave in," He side eyed the hedgehog. "Not that I drink this often, you happen to catch me at a heavy dosage."
"Oh," Sonic chuckled. "Are you feeling a little tipsy, Shads? Is that your first?"
Shadow slumped, turning to the glass in his hand. "I…don't know, actually."
Rouge giggled. "Watch out, Blue. He's a live one when he's had a few."
The blue speedster snickered, receiving a glare from Shadow before waving a hand. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I've never seen you drunk!"
"I'm not drunk." Shadow rolled his eyes, the two across from them engaging in themselves while his head would not stay up long before tilting forward or leaning back. "If anything, this wine is making me tired. It's a more mature choice of beverage."
"Oh really?" Sonic grimaced, "That stuff always seemed off to me."
"It's actually rather delightfully sweet."
"It's like vinegar and moldy grapes."
"I believe that is actually what it is, Sonic."
Sonic paused, propping his head up on his elbow. "Ya know, you've been calling me by my name a lot more lately."
Shadow turned to the hedgehog, glass in front of his mouth. "That is your name, is it not?"
"Well, I guess I'm so used to 'faker' or just 'hedgehog'," Sonic smirked, "I think you've gone a tad soft, Shads."
"I can call you other things." Shadow grumbled against the glass, the hedgehog beside him's leg reaching near terminal velocity beneath the table. "I could call you whatever you feel I should address you, if you dislike me saying your name-"
"Oh no!" Sonic laughed, "I like it, really. It's a sign that you're not so bent on blocking me out."
"Hmph." Shadow sipped. "Your name just rolls off the tongue, I suppose."
"Yeah?"
"Perhapsh." Shadow blinked, bringing a hand to his face. "Ugh, maybe I should slow down. This stuff is really having its way with my head."
Sonic eyed the hedgehog closer, "Oh man, you alright?"
"I'm fine," Shadow waved the hedgehog off. "I don't need you codling."
"I'm not…whatever word you just said." Sonic eyed his own glass. "Maybe I should slow down, too."
"Ah, so you're a lightweight, aswell." Shadow smirked, crossing his arms on the table.
"Am not!" Sonic pouted, "I can handle this no problem! I just don't drink as often as some people."
"Uh-huh?" The darker hedgehog challenged, his canines visible in his grin sending shivers up Sonic's spine. "That I'd like to see."
Sonic glanced down to the space between them, seeing the black hedgehog's posture leaning forward due to the wine no doubt. However, Sonic wasn't sure if he was aware how close he sat to him and smiled. "How about you, grouchy? Wine's got you all loosened up?"
Shadow shot a look back, taking the glass from the tabletop and swirling it in his grasp, "I can handle your challenge." He turned to look around the room, the colorful lights blurring together as he looked too fast, feeling the weight of the wine affecting his motor skills. "Oh, boy. This stuff has a lot more kick than I thought." He said, holding a hand to his temple.
Sonic eyed the glass. "Do you not usually drink wine? I'm telling you, that stuff is gnarly."
"Tsk, it's not that bad," Shadow rolled his eyes.
"It is," Sonic shook his head. "It's pretty gross actually."
"Foolish hedgehog," Shadow's voice came alive, motioning the glass in the hedgehog's direction. "Try mine."
"You sure?" Sonic asked, taking the stem of the glass in his hand. He nearly jumped out his skin as he felt shadow's hand adjust and overlaid his own for a moment. They stared at this, before both of their cheeks tinted a rosey shade. Sonic pulled the glass and brought it to his lips, initially awaiting his inevitable distast, only to furrow his brow and pause. He rolled the wine over his tongue before going for another sip, earning a chuckle from the hedgehog beside him.
"All that talk," Shadow smirked as Sonic nodded in response.
"Alright, arlight." Sonic waved a hand. "It's okay. Happy?"
Shadow eyed the hedgehog, the lights of the bar reflecting their green brilliance. "I'm pretty sure."
Sonic stared back, his heartbeat increasing pace as he felt those ruby rings pierce his core. He felt the warmth of his body at his side, whether or not he figured the drinks magnetized them to one another.
"You're eyes…" Shadow mumbled, Sonic blush deepening.
"Yeah?" Sonic laughed nervously, "What about them?"
Shadow blinked, shaking his head before turning away. "Green."
"Green?" Sonic stared. "Yeah, they've always been that way, hehe."
"I'm fond of the shade," Shadow mumbled, fiddling with one of his cufflinks. "It reminds me of the flora outside my home, it's a calming shade."
"Oh?" Sonic stammered, his heart rate increasing. "Well, thank you."
"Yeah," Shadow wanted nothing more than to spontaneously combust there and then.
—
"Hey boys," Rouge stretched her arms above her head. "I think I'm going to head out. You are free to linger," She turned to the black hedgehog. "Are you able to make it home, dear?" She delivered with a devious smirk.
"I am." Shadow glared, "Thanks."
"Aw, but we just got here." Knuckles pouted, receiving a flick of a finger to his nose from the bat.
"How you walk me home, big guy?," Rouge teased, "I feel we could let these two some time to chat." she leaned in to whisper.
Knuckles steamed, eyeing the hedgehogs across the table and twiddling his thumbs. "Uh, sure! Y-Yeah, I can do that. Totally!"
"Great!" Rouge cheered, prodding the echidna to step out of the booth with her before turning to the duo. "Night, you two. Ping me when you get home alive, Shadie."
"Shadie," Sonic covered his mouth to stifle his laughter, before shrinking beneath a flaring glare beside him.
"Goodnight." Shadow stared, before returning to his drink.
Knuckles turned to Sonic with a shrug. "I guess I'll see you later? I can come back-"
"Nuh-uh!" The speedster gestured to the bat walking towards the exit. "Take the lady home, and tell me all about it tomorrow."
"But," Knuckles stammered, turning back and forth between Rouge and Sonic, "But-"
"Is what you are if you don't hurry after her," Sonic stuck out his tongue. "Go get her, tiger."
Knuckles grumbled, taking out a few bills and tossing them before the hedgehog. "You suck, get wasted."
Sonic watched as the echidna broke out into a sprint after the bat lingering by the entrance, bag swinging from her shoulder as she giggled in their direction. "What a dork, am I right?" Sonic said, turning back to Shadow. "It's like he doesn't know I have my own money. Rouge has her hands full."
"I'd say," Shadow smirked behind the glass.
"Though, I'd put money down on him not making it past the front door."
"He's not making it in the apartment building."
"Ten bucks." Sonic winked.
"Fifteen."
Sonic clutched his imaginary pearls. "Shadow! I never took you for a betting man!"
"I'm not," Shadow rolled his eyes. "Call it premonition."
Sonic laughed, finding his strid in their interaction as he clutched the drink before him. "So, you hang out with Rouge a lot, huh?"
"Yes," Shadow said, his gaze locked on the tabletop. "We're very close, she helps me deal with moving around the city and handling G.U.N. when I'd rather set off alone."
Sonic smirked, "Still adjusting to living here?"
Shadow shrugged, thumb drumming the rim of his empty glass. "It's difficult to fill all my time without spending it on missions."
"You could always pick up a hobby," Sonic teased. "Puzzles are pretty popular, or you could get a cat."
Shadow furrowed his brow. "You're not being serious. Was it a joke?"
"Maybe," Sonic rubbed his forehead. "It feels like my head is swimming."
Shadow mused, holding an index finger to his cheek. "The red one appears to be similar to you how Rouge and I are."
"Knux is great!" Sonic grinned. "We pick at each other yeah, but what are friends for?"
"I ask myself that a lot with Rouge," Shadow adjusted in his spot beside the hedgehog. "Tell me, when was the last time you…found yourself overwhelmed?"
Sonic furrowed his brow, "What do you mean?"
"I ask only because…" Shadow rolled the words on his tongue, allowing him time to process before turning to Sonic. "I find myself in a strange state whenever you are around? I can't describe it."
"O-oh?" Sonic blinked, fingers dancing on the table's edge. After a moment of silence, he could help but ask. "Maybe you can try?"
Shadow eyed the remaining wine in his glass, his smaller warped reflection searching his eyes. "It is difficult to put some into words, but I feel as though you bring out a bit of me I never see. I find a smile easier to pull off, a joke to make, colors come bearing newer contrasts…"
As the hedgehog spoke, Sonic could only sit with mouth agape and cheeks burning bright. Shadow's presence had changed, his voice was missing its hardened edge, his hands cupped in his lap and it looked as if…he was nervous?"
"...Try as I have, these new developments are rather unnerving." Shadow continued, the reflection appearing weaker in his eyes. "I've only known one depiction of myself, and yet," His eyes snapped to the hedgehog, "you've seen this difference in me, long before I had."
Sonic gulped, feet dancing beneath the table. "Do you not…like that?"
Shadow blinked, a smile spreading on his face. "I think that I do." He said, "Or that I am starting to."
"Heh," Sonic exhaled, "well great! I've always said there was a brighter side to you, that maybe you're just shy or something."
"Shy," Shadow repeated, biting his lip. "Maybe, it's rather exhausting attempting to hold myself to an expectation I set."
"Well, don't."
Shadow stared, Sonic now laying a hand on his shoulder. "You have zero reason to hide that side of you. I…I know why you feel like it's easier to push away, but I can assure you that there's nothing you've done that makes you unworthy of a smile, joking around, kicking out. You should," Sonic chewed his cheek, dropping his gaze to the table. "...and a Smile looks good on you."
Shadow blushed, eyes snapping open and darting between the eyes of his counterpart and the hand firmly on his shoulder giving light squeezes. "I…"
Sonic became self aware and ripped his hand away from Shadow. "I-I'm sorry! Uh, woo! This beer, am I right? Boy, mixing it with that wine was probably not a great idea-"
"Thank you," Shadow whispered, catching the speedster off huard. "Sonic. Thank you. Your words…they meant something."
Sonic sighed, allowing a nervous smile to beam. "Of course, Shads…or do you prefer Shadie-"
"If you say that name one more time," Shadow's stare lit up before the blue hedgehog. "You'll be crawling home, Sonic."
Sonic held up his hands in defense, "Okay, okay! My bad!" He grinned, as the hedgehog calmed, "I just think it's cute I'm not the only one with a nickname for you."
"My name is not cute."
"You don't know that."
"It is quite literally defined as an ominous oppressive presence."
"That doesn't describe you at all." Sonic joked, taking a sip from his cup. "Not now at least, buddy."
Shadow glared. "And how would you define me then, since you know so much?"
Sonic shrugged. "Cute."
A moment of silence passed, before the word hung in the air like an oppressive entity. Shadow's eyes flared, his cheeks burned and glass frozen against his lips. Sonic was last to become aware of the word slipping past his lips, before eyes becoming pinpoints and body frigid when reality washed him in ice cold realization.
"I-I-" He stammered, "I meant…Ya know, like-you know how something can be cute, but like in a really, really cool way? Like," He physically reached out to the space above him, a diminishing mime clutching for imaginary straws as the float out of reach. "Like dinosaurs are cute, but like because their dinosaurs are all big and scary-not that you're scary!"
"Sonic."
"-and cute is a weird word honestly, anyway! It's like latin for something, I think Tails mentioned it once, it's really like a spy term for cunning and sly-"
"Sonic, I'm-"
"No, no-you're right!" Sonic panicked, his mouth becoming dry, "I don't know have the things I'm talking about-I've been talking for a really long time, and can't seem to stop and I might actually be having a panic attack-"
HIs mouth was then covered by a rogue hand, his eyes locked on the hedgehog leaning close to him. The ebony hedgehog's eyes burned his face, rings of fire burrowing into his soul. He felt the warmth of Shadow's body at his side, the hands on the table falling to his lap and fought to stop shaking.
"Now," Shadow said slowly, his eyes softening as he spoke. "You can calm down, I'm not angry. It's alright…okay?"
Sonic nodded.
"I'm…honestly flattered." Shadow admitted, eyes darting away. "Other than Rouge, I don't think I've ever been called…that."
As the hand slipped away, Sonic couldn't help the words falling free. "Well…what if I meant that? And that's just how you are to me?"
"Hmm," Shadow pondered, leaning back in his space on the bench. "Sonic The Hedgehog seeing me, as cute…
Sonic offered a smile, holding out his hands in a cartoonish shrug. Shadow rolled his eyes, smiling. "I think I can learn to like that."
"Whoo," Sonic dropped his head. "Chaos, Shadow! I actually thought you gonna hit me or-"
Before he could finish, he felt a peck at his cheek halting all function. Shadow beside him, his face's warmth from proximity, and breath hot with the scent of the wine lingering. His stare was to the cushion beneath them, hands on the wood of the beneath and shoulder pressed into him.
"I, uh," Shadow's voice came unsure. "I believe you are also…cute, Sonic."
Sonic's ears could blow smoke, his eyes had not shut and stung from lack of moisture. He opened his mouth to speak, and the words had all punched out. They sat there, bathed the shadows of the booth, the swaying of the dancefloor, a mass of blurs along with the rest of the world bleeding away with their eyes only looking at the others.
"Um…" Shadow dropped his eyes, lids shut tight and teeth clenched in his jaw. "I should probably start heading back. It's late."
Sonic blinked, turning back to the rest of the room. THe lights have half been shut off, the dance floor clear and the music faded to a whisper. He held a hand to his cheek where lips were previous, an electric tingling left behind and dancing at his fingertips.
"Y-Yeah," Sonic mumbled. "Let's go."
—
Sonic mused at the way Shadow ran before him, leading the hedgehog through his route back to his home. The drinks of the evening had for sure worked their way into his motor functions as did he feel the same, occasionally catching themselves at the missteps and blurring lights passing like apparitions.
The night was in adolescence, the moon hueing the flora outside the small cottage and bathing them in white. The creak baring that same light in streaks of its running currents. The two hedgehogs slowed to a walk upon entering the proximity to the path there, Sonic still unwilling to take his eyes off the hedgehog before him who'd remained silent since leaving the club. The warmth of his presence at his side was missed, the lips at his cheek he obsessed over, and the dread of the night ending looming over.
Shadow came to a stop before his home, turning to the moon above and giving a slow exhale. HIs hands at his sides fidgeted while he fought to turn around, unaware if the frigid night air in their trek was enough to cool the heat he felt burning on his cheeks, the wine vignetting every thought and reaction.
"So…" He heard Sonic speak, startling him. "I guess I'll see you thursday? We can meet here and head off back to the city."
"Right." Shadow droned, turning his head to catch a mass of blue in his peripheral. "Sounds…sounds good."
He then turned, Sonic had moved closer and stood directly behind him. Shadow's fur tingled, goosebumps rising beneath it at the approaching hedgehog.
"I uh," Sonic tried, eyes failing to meet the others. "I had fun tonight, Shads."
Shadow watched the hero falter before him, his chest quaking. "I…did too."
They both stood there, a cloud of awkward silence swelling above them in a cloudless sky. Shadow wished for the hedgehog to look at him, to see those eyes, to search for the remnants of the mistake he felt he made.
When he hadn't, Shadow swallowed and went to turn back to his home. "Goodnight, Sonic-"
It was then the ebony hedgehog felt a grip on his wrist. He turned back to find Sonic pulling him back. In seconds, he was swept into the speedster's arms, his skin coming alive at the overwhelming warmth of the chest pressed against his. His arms at first hung loosely, over a few brief moments they came alive to wrap around the other. There they stood, bathed in moonlight and basked in each other.
"I meant what I said," He heard Sonic say, "just so you know."
Shadows' eyes were shut, completely taken by this embrace to be cognisant of the lips pressed to his cheek with a peck. Then he held the hedgehog tighter, allowing for that single moment to forget everything about himself, to stretch this out as long as he could without interrupting forces to tear it from him.
As the speedster pulled away, emeralds shimmering before Shadow. Their hands in the embrace found each other as they stood apart. Shadow noted the tenderness of how Sonic's hands held his own, the feeling they brought, the comfort he found himself within.
"You uh," Sonic giggled, "you gonna let go?"
"I don't know." Shadow heard himself say. "I may tip over."
The speedster laughed, shaking his head at the red on each other's faces. "Ya know, I could just stay here. We're both pretty drunk."
Shadow's skin flared, fingers lacing in the hedgehogs'. "I don't if I have the space for that."
"Was actually wondering how you managed that." Sonic laughed. "Well, it's up to you-" He leaned in, "-mainly because you're locking me here, Shads."
Shadow blushed, still feeling cuffed to the fool before him. "I'm aware, hedgehog."
"Ah, there you are." Sonic joked, rocking their hands joined together. "I kinda like when you get like this."
"Like what?" Shadow pouted, eyes shut tight.
"That." Sonic smirked, "You don't have to be tough and cold all the time, not with me. I like this Shadow, you feel…"
The words hung between them unsaid, the darker hedgehog's legs threatening to giveaway beneath him. Sonic just stared, taken in the gorgeous view before him. How brilliantly the boy before him stood out of the blurred world around them.
"Shads…" Sonic rolled the words around in his mind. "Can I try something with you?"
"What?" Shadow's eyes remained close, a sense of anxiety in his chest stirring.
"You gotta trust me though," Sonic again shook the hands in his. "And…maybe look up at me, heh."
The words felt like an attack on his heart, his lips dry as he licked them in thought. "And if I do?"
"You ask a lot of questions." Sonic teased, "C'mon."
For a moment, he hadn't, and the speedster worried if he should just drop it. However, Shadow gently lifted his head and stole Sonic's breath. The eyes piercing through him as they had every single time, shimmering. Ears pinned down and face tinted a faint pinkish hue.
They stared into each other's eyes, Sonic's foot tapping away at the gravel beneath him. His gut was going to burst, his lungs airless as he took a step forward and took away the remaining space between them. He could feel the uneasy breath of the boy before him, the scent of wine wafting into his nostrils as he eyes fell to the other's lips.
"Sonic," Shadow whispered, seeing where the eyes fell. "What is it-"
He shut his eyes as lips pressed to his own, blood and smoke flooding his mind and lungs. The world opened and poured him out, the ground swayed like a pendulum, abandoning them there in the booth frozen. Though his eyes remained shut, he could sense the hands he held slip away and find the sides of his face, the lips pressing further and pulling him closer.
At some point, his own hands found Sonic's shoulders, shakily clutching at the leather of his coat. The kiss was a simple peck that stretched for seemingly eons and Shadow would have rather nothing else. The world could be swallowed up by the sun, expanding through the vastness of space and time and taking with it everything, he would still clutch the boy before him as a life line.
However, seconds only went by. Sonic pulled away, eyes locked on the lips he kissed and black eyelids opened revealing the shimmer red ringlets within them. He breathed a smile, eyes glazed and nervous. "Sorry," He tried to offer weakly, "I had been thinking about that all night."
Shadow shook his head, eyes not leaving Sonic's. "Intoxication be damned."
Sonic smiled, "Wanna…do that agai-"
"Yes, damn it." And Shadow's lips were enveloped in Sonic's again, arms snaking around his neck and pulling the speedster closer. Damn those thoughts he kept sat in the back of his mind, damn be it to time and space and whatever he felt on the run home. The wine within his gut would surely burn him by sunrise, but the flavors on his tongue were no longer just his own. And that was all that he cared for.
