Shadow reeled back from him and Sonic passed the doors and stood surprised at the site.
From the stuffy throngs of the dancefloor, the hoots and hollers of already intoxicated patrons, and the pounding dance beat beneath their soles. Shadow made his attempt to squeeze and shimmy through the few bits of standing room on their way to a booth.
He felt the hand clasped in his own hold on tightly, a part of him fearing his date was being crushed by the swaying mass. But when Shadow glanced back, he breathed a sigh of relief.
Sonic marveled at the party vibe of the club, the multi-colored lights pulsing about the room and catchy tunes appeared to please him. Swaying as he walked to the music, looking at all the humans having their own fun chatting and laughing.
As they finally reached a surprisingly occupied booth and slid in.
Sonic rubbed his forehead. "Crazy tonight, right?" He laughed, "Guess that couples thing is pretty popular."
Shadow glanced over the bench's back, the over crowded dance floor sending a wave of nausea over him. "I suppose it is."
"Aw," Sonic leaned on his elbows. "We can go somewhere else if you want."
"Nonsense." Shadow scoffed, waving a hand. "It's not as if I planned to be out there," He gestured to the dancing space, "amongst them."
Sonic pursed his lips. "You're gonna tell me you've never-"
"Never." Shadow stated, arms folded and scanning for a server.
"Never?" Sonic wiggled in his seat to the song. "Nothing ever scratched your ear," He leaned in. "Got your toe tapping?"
Shadow's ear flicked, glaring. "Not particularly, no."
"Hmph," Sonic mused, mocking his date's facial expression. "I dance."
"I figured," Shadow toyed at his cufflink.
"Dancing's fun." Sonic said.
"Subjectively." Shadow scoffed.
Sonic pouted, "But it is! Think of it as a workout-slash-mental stimulant."
"Mental stimulant." Shadow droned. "Are drugs supposed to be involved?" His eyes lit up at the hedgehog giggling to himself, finding a smile of his own.
Once calm, Sonic propped his head on a hand and eyed his date. "You're so funny." He teased, eyes glimmering in the purple lights above them.
Shadow rolled his eyes, a ghost of a smile on his lips. "Hysterical."
As they spoke, a woman approached the table with a notepad in hand. "Good evening," She turned back to see Shadow. "Hey there! Welcome back. What'll be?"
They both made their orders and the woman disappeared amongst the crowd. Sonic turned to his side of the table, and the empty space within. "Hey." He said, getting Shadow's attention.
"Hmm?"
Sonic patted the space beside him. "How about you come sit on the cool side?"
Shadow blinked. "What makes that side cooler than where I am?"
"Because I'm here." Sonic smirked, earning a sigh from the hedgehog. "Come on~."
The tone in his voice was enough for Shadow, apparently. Begrudgingly, the ebony hedgehog rose from his space and moved to the otherside of the table. As he crouched back into the booth, Sonic scooted over to free the space and smiled at the closeness.
"There." Shadow said, eyeing the hedgehog. "Is that sufficient?"
"Hmm." Sonic leaned against the hybrid's shoulder, head leaning back. "Yes."
Shadow glared across the room, damning his burning cheeks. The proximity of the speedster kept melting his defenses, he cursed. He debated whether these were actions to bring him out of his shell further.
To Sonic however, he just liked the contact. Shadow's fur was unfairly soft at seemingly all times, his body warmth unlike any other, and brought him comfort. He stared down at their touching hips, feeling the other's leg shaking beneath the table.
"Hey," He said, the hybrid gazing down at him. "Let me know if…I'm doing too much."
"Hmm?" Shadow furrowed his brow. "What do you mean?"
"I dunno," Sonic shamed himself. "Guess I feel like I'm all over you, and maybe it's annoying."
"If it were," Shadow stated, hand sliding across the table and flipping for the palm to face upwards, "then I would say it were so."
Sonic eyed the hand, one of his own on the table sliding to meet it with a hint of hesitation. "Yeah, but still…as much as I like this, you have every right to-"
"Calm yourself." Shadow's voice sliced through the instrumental, fingers gripping the speedster's hand. "I sense the worry, and it is unnecessary. If either of us should be mindful of their actions upon the other, it is me."
Sonic turned to him, confusion in his eyes. "W-What do you mean?"
Shadow blushed, turning to the crowd. "You're very attractive in these lights, and that is very distracting."
"Pfft." Sonic dropped his now smirk against the hybrid's shoulder, Shadow biting his lip as a grin grew on his face. "Are you telling me you can't help yourself around me now? Wow, Shads! Didn't know lil' ole me worked on you this much."
The teasing hedgehog cheesed as Shadow turned to narrow his eyes into slits, red dots flaring into the wide grin. "Try as I might, do not believe I will put up with your silly taunts."
"Oh yeah?" Sonic eyed the hedgehog.
"Precisely." Shadow threatened.
"Ya know what," Sonic mused, stroking his chin. "I'm starting to think your threats all this time have been for show."
"Oh?" Shadow's eyes widened, a nervousness working into his tapping foot beneath the table.
Sonic shrugged against him. "I mean it would make sense. Seeing as how you never really acted on them."
"Maybe I have developed a sense of conscience." Shadow glared away, though faltering at the teasing smile on his date's face. "Less I had taken your life over something so trivial."
Sonic's smile nearly faltered, the hand in his squeezing. "...Would you have?"
Shadow's face fell, dropping his gaze to the table. He still felt the hedgehog's stare. "...I was not a morally sound individual then." He said, attempting to hide the saddened tone beneath the music. "I have regrets, lately most of them relate to our clashes."
Sonic's ears fell, moving to pull Shadow's hand as to lock their arms together. "Hey," He whispered to him. "It's all behind you now, behind us."
Shadow's eyes never left the table, though sighing to the speedster's touch. "I can't stress the regret any further-"
"Behind," Sonic tried a smile, poking the hybrid, "Us. You can't walk forward while looking back all the time, Shads."
"That may be." Shadow mused.
Soon enough, the server returned, placing two drinks between the two hedgehogs before departing. Shadow opted for a single glass of red wine, as Sonic asked for the sweetest drink they could make.
Shadow grimaced at the monstrosity that sat before Sonic-the neon green mug with a cornucopia of fruit hanging off the rim, a curly straw hooking over the edge and a tiny umbrella soaking in the drink. Sonic took the glass, smiling at the display.
"Alrighty!" He turned to Shadow, holding up his glass. "Shall we toast?"
"Hmm." Shadow swished his glass. "Toast to what?"
"Toast to…" Sonic pondered, tapping his chin. Shadow bit his cheek, nervously clutching his glass before holding it against the blue blur's own.
"To this." Shadow said, failing to meet the other's eyes. "And whatever comes from it."
Sonic chuckled, cheeks warming. "Aw, I like that."
As their glasses clanged, Shadow's heart pounded away.
—-
"...So now he's probably wanting to just push it off the side of a cliff!" Sonic laughed, Shadow beside him giving a few chuckles. "He's really gotten wound up over the years, but he's always going to be my lil dude."
Shadow nodded. "Interesting, I never knew he was capable of such inventions. Nor had developed such a temper."
"Teenagers, man." Sonic giggled, before turning to his cup in thought. "...I just wish he trusted you. He's been worried about this more than I had, less about it going well and more about-I dunno," Sonic shrugged.
Shadow sighed, swishing his second or third…however many it had been, he thought. "He is justified, I would not either."
Sonic pouted, "But I want him to like you! It isn't fair-you're trying! He's just worried about this being a trick or something."
"Trick?" Shadow questioned.
"Yeah," Sonic sighed. "Him and Knux were kinda confused about how we started talkin' and Tails took it a lil hard…"
Shadow watched the speedster's face fall and stare at the table. "You worry about him often."
"I can't help it," Sonic leaned back into the bench. "He's such a smart guy, and he could do anything…but I feel like the reason he's always waiting for that Egghead or some big monster to come, is because I put him in that life."
Shadow frowned. "It's like-ugh," Sonic groaned. "I don't think about those things anymore. Since coming to live here, it's been calm. We could actually have time to live our lives without having to be constantly worried about the state of the world all the time."
"But," Shadow said, patting the speedster's back. "You can never cast away the possibility."
Sonic pouted, turning to the hybrid. "When's the last time you saw him?" He asked, "Eggman."
Shadow shut his eyes, sighing and taking a sip of his wine. "Two years…he was not well, to my understanding."
"What do you mean?" Sonic asked, sipping his drink. "Like, sick?"
"The Doctor is old, Sonic." Shadow said, staring into the red of his glass. "When we last spoke, he had developed an illness. Though, as unlikely as it would seem based on that notion, he was just as adamant about hunting down you and your friends."
Sonic steeled his face as he continued. "We last crossed paths while I was on an exhibition, he tracked my movements to the Glyphic Canyons. He was requesting that I rejoin his ranks" Shadow paused, swirling his glass.
Sonic peered over his date, knitting his brow. "Was it bad? Like, world domination levels?"
Shadow pursed his lips. "Doubtful. By that time, G.U.N. had marked more than half of his bases within his fractured self described empire. Despite this, he asked for my assistance, and I declined."
"He didn't take that well," Sonic said, "Did he?"
The hybrid's eyes narrowed, tiny slits glaring across the table as he held the glass before his visible fangs.. "He threatened Rouge's life."
He sipped, out of the corner of his eye Sonic stared agape gripping the table's edge. "You can probably guess how I reacted."
"Wow…" Sonic whispered, nervous bouncing his leg beneath the table.
"Mmm." Shadow took another sip, a calm expression. "He's kept his distance since, I couldn't guess what he has been up to in the time passed. Seeing as how he has completely dropped off the radar."
Sonic was quiet, Shadow turned to find the hedgehog's mouth slightly agape. "What?" Shadow asked, holding a hand to the other's cheek. "Are you alright?"
"It's just…" Sonic blushed, holding his drink to his lips. "...you're really hot when you get all 'threatening' or whatever."
Shadow blinked, eyes pinpoints as his cheek's tinted red. "O-Oh…" He swallowed, scratching his temple. "Thank you?"
"Don't mention it." Sonic breathed, reaching an arm over the back of the bench and scooting closer.
They both sat in silence, choosing to simply bask in one another's presence as the dancefloor raged on until Shadow could only see a sea of blurring motion. Lights left trails as his eyes scanned the room and feeling the wine work its way to his brain.
"Hey." Sonic whispered in his ear, sending a shiver through his spines
"Yes?" Shadow turned, smirking at the goofy smile.
"Ya know what I wanna do?" Sonic grinned.
Shadow's ear flicked, smiling vanishing. "No."
"Aw c'mon-"
"Absolutely not."
Sonic sat up, crossing his arms in a huff. "Why don't you want to dance with me?"
"First off," Shadow's eyes half lidding, "You are intoxicated."
"Am not!" Sonic clumsily shot back, "I'm no drunker than you."
"I am pleasantly coasting." Shadow gave a grin. "The benefits of choosing wisely."
Sonic deeply frowned, on the verge of a tantrum. "...Second," Shadow stepped around the adorable display. "I've never danced at all. I will simply make a fool of myself."
"But it's with me." Sonic pouted, holding the hybrid's hand.
Shadow turned away from the dreaded face, holding his off-hand to cover his eyes.
"And I make a fool of myself all the time." Sonic stated, tapping the hand. "I stumble all over myself constantly, but usually it's when I'm with you-that doesn't mean I don't wanna be around you."
Shadow's heart flourished, knee kicking under the table. He chanced a single glance to the speedster, still pouting with bright eyes like headlights freezing him on sight.
"I can show you." Sonic said, eyes shimmering and dramatically pouting. "It'll be nice, they won't even see us. And if they do-who cares? They're all drunk and I just wanna dance with you."
The world seemed so quiet after the words tumbled out of those lips, Shadow thought. Their contents washed over him and the hands holding his captive gripped tightly. He turned back to the dancefloor, its once crowded by much too many bodies began clearing out leaving gaps.
His breath hitched, and in one smooth motion he took his glass in hand. Sonic stared in awe as Shadow downed his entire drink in two gulps before setting the glass back on the table.
"Alright then." Shadow sneered, stepping out from the booth and turning to extend his hand. "I accept your challenge!" He bared his canines. "Faker."
Sonic held a hand to his chest, nervous butterflies fluttering in his stomach. "S-Shadow…"
He reached out and clenched his hand, then being pulled up and led to the dancefloor.
Shadow's heartbeat grew loud in his ears, forcing his way through the unaware bodies onto the colorful tiled floor, Sonic tumbling behind him until they found themselves pressed against one another when the next song came on.
The surrounding humans swarmed in, cheering to the track and beginning to sway to the beat in time. Despite the energy he found rushing over, the slower track that played betrayed the gusto Shadow mustered. He gulped, eyes darting around at his surroundings. Fingers dug into his palms, skin on fire with the swelling bass rumbling through his body.
However, two hands held his face and the build up ceased. He sighs to the touch, opening his eyes to find the ones of the blue fool smiling close. He leaned in to speak into his ear.
"You're alright," He said, voice soft and soothing. "Just keep your eyes on me."
Shadow swallowed, nodding slowly as he brought his hands to Sonic's waist as the swooning beat swelled to a steady rhythm, transforming the people on the dancefloor like the waves he watched only earlier that day.
The eyes Sonic gave him hypnotized, his feet stepping back as he stepped forward-the bodies around them moving exactly the same in a sea of flushed faces and sweat. He held onto the blue hedgehog for not only as if his life depended on it, but out of fear his knees would buckle and give way under the weight of his internal glass filling to capacity.
The black hedgehog took in a sharp intake of breath, thinking of his home or something to soothe what was slowly growing into a deep panic. His hands clutched the small waist of his date without him seeming to notice, nor mind as he leaned in to lay his head against Shadow's chest.
He could not help but fall and lose himself in Sonic's touch, his arms hugging his neck and possibly lost in the moment. Shadow held him like a lifeline on the now heavily congested dance floor. The room had seemingly begun to spin to Shadow, artificial instruments and tiny beams from the décor lights collaging the scene-leaving only Sonic visible as the world melted away.
He could feel the speedster's breath on his chest, overloaded with desire and compassion for the hedgehog as vibrant synths raged the space on without him.
Sonic saw Shadow's eyes fall and bumped his nose with his own. When Shadow looked up, he found the blue blur's eyes looking longingly into his own, falling to his lips. Curse this fool, he thought with a huff.
Sonic raised a hand to grasp Shadow's chin, furrowing his brow and whispering. "Ya know, we can leave if you want…I know you might be really uncomfortable right now."
Shadow shook his head, though his eyes betrayed him. "I am fine with this."
Sonic stared, feeling Shadow pressing closer. "Are you sure? You seem…off."
Shadow sighed, turning away. "I…I am…"
His arms fell away, choosing to drop his gaze to the ground. Sonic rose his head to meet his eyes once again, searching. "Shadow?"
Shadow steeled his stare, suddenly taking the hedgehog's hand and rushing past the bodies and turning to the exit. "Woah! Shadow wait!"
"I need to show you something." Was all Shadow said, bursting through the front doors into the cool night air washing over them.
—-
Sonic's breath caught in his throat.
The view of all of Central City and beyond from the rocky mound he sat upon, the cool summer breeze blowing a gust of dirt off the cliff edge and out towards the flickering cityscape.
"Wow…" Was the only word that fell from his lips, legs crossed and hands in his lap. Behind him, Shadow approached and sat beside him. He was silent, choosing to only take in the view of his cobalt counterpart taking in his trusted quiet place.
Shadow remained quiet, attempting to slow his breathing after rushing out of the club with a jittery heart. "Oftentimes, I find myself coming back here." He said, shaking Sonic from his amazement.
"Really?" Sonic asked, turning to him.
"This is where Rouge will often say I come to mope." He added, with an eye roll and a giggle from beside him.
"It's so pretty." Sonic said, looking around at how the flora and fauna came to the edge and died into the rich brown soil and rock. Beneath them a rolling cliff edge of jagged rock through patches of green moss and dried grass. "You can see everything up here. I can see why you wanted to clear your head here."
Shadow however, found the smile heavier than before. His hands cupped under his chin, turning to the city on the horizon and breathing out. "I'm sorry."
Sonic turned to him, "For what?"
"I shouldn't have ruined the moment you desired." Shadow groaned, shoulders tensing to the regret. "I tried, but…"
"Please," Sonic scoffed, waving a hand. "It was so hot and stuffy back there anyway. There's always time to-"
"I get scared, Sonic," Shadow said suddenly.
Sonic froze, seeing Shadow hunched beside him. "What do you mean?"
"When I first came here," Shadow began, every word met with clear hesitation. "After breaking away from The Doctor, I began to feel…less. The thought of life changing so suddenly, of someone like me not having much purpose-"
He paused, reaching up to rub his eyes. "Rouge has since told me it is normal to struggle with changes, but I always felt between the two of us, she was the most assimilated."
Sonic's smile had long since faded, his eyes shimmered with concern as Shadow gave a hollow chuckle. "My thoughts are often histrionic when I am here," He bemoaned. "I apologize."
"No," Sonic shook his head, "No, don't apologize. You can always talk to me."
The hybrid eyes eyelids fell halfway, not turning to look at the hedgehog. "Is that what you were thinking about back there?" He heard him ask.
"Remember our last meeting outside the train station?"
Sonic nodded, pulling a knee to his chest.
Shadow swallowed, a weight building behind his eyes as a passing thought damned his lack of control. "I had been ordered to infiltrate an abandoned outpost once held by The Doctor…it became active upon my trespassing."
"Possibly a trap set by him in case of scavenging," He felt his jaw quivering around the words, forcing him to lock it tight with his cupped fists. "There was an explosion-a disruptor. I lost contact with the outside world and…"
Sonic felt his heart drop to his gut, ears pinned down. Shadow read this in his peripheral vision and couldn't turn now, not even if he wanted to.
He took a deep breath before continuing. "My task had already been completed before even stepping where I should not have." He admitted, shamefully. "I debated…who would have benefited from me making it out."
A single tear rolled out and down his cheek, rolling to drip off from his chin and was carried off on the breeze. He swallowed, "Rouge has had me check in with G.U.N. physiatrists regularly upon finding this out."
"Why?"
Shadow flinched, shoulders tense. "My emotions are rather difficult for me to control," He tried to explain. "I felt that you should know-"
"Not that." Sonic's voice cracked. "Why did you think no one would care if you came back alive? You know-Rouge and I could have…I can't see why-"
"I don't have an answer for that." Shadow stated harshly. "Or rather have one you'd want to hear."
Sonic grimaced, fists balled as Shadow refused to even look at him as he spoke.
"I am a failed experiment." Shadow berated. "My only purpose was to save one girl," He turned to the stars, jaw clenched tight. "And now? I don't know."
"Shadow…"
"I am learning to understand that maybe I am wrong," Shadow shivered. "Maybe there is more than just orders to go by, that maybe I can allow myself to be…Damn it!"
He struck the rock beneath him, Sonic leaping away at the cracking of stone as Shadow seethed. "I can feel myself losing control everyday, it becomes overwhelming at times…I try and I try, but when I try to let it in…I just-"
He coughed, finding his eyes burned as another tear fell freely. Sonic held his breath, watching Shadow touch the salty liquid and stare at it, almost disgusted. "Damn it," He growled, feeling himself shrinking and coming apart. "Damn it, damn it!"
In a blink, he felt hands take his own. His eyes flicked to the boy sitting beside him, his precious green eyes pink and leaking tears themselves. He felt sick, seeing this version of the speedster-hurt, saddened and confused. He had caused this, he did this.
He attempted to pull away, but the hands held him there. His legs wouldn't move regardless, so he chose to look away. A hand grabbed his chin and pulled him back despite his resistance. Sonic pressed his forehead against Shadow's, a shaking breath merging with his own.
"You tell me when you feel that." Sonic's voice cracking in an uneasy whisper, "Anywhere, anytime. From now on, you tell me when that thought comes back…okay?"
Shadow choked, clenching his teeth as he tried to shake him off. "You don't need to pity me-"
"It isn't pity!" Sonic growled back, catching a flinch from the hybrid. "I didn't tell you to make sure you come back just to say it!" His voice cracked, bringing him to whisper. "I'm not here to pity you, I wouldn't do that to you."
"Why would you want to-" Shadow caught himself, disgusted with what he wanted to say. Words he hadn't the gall to say, a word he wanted oh so badly to scream. "What is it in me that draws you?"
Sonic blinked as the tears helplessly trailed down his cheeks, sobbing with a smile. "I see you." He said, "I just see you, only you."
Shadow could only buckle against the speedster. His hand clasped tightly in the others, he shut his eyes and dropped his head into Sonic's shoulder. "I know it might not seem like much to you," Sonic repeated, stroking the black and red tipped quills. "But you are far from the Shadow I once knew."
"I didn't want you to see me this way." Shadow choked, arms clutching the hedgehog and shaking. "Pathetic and weak-"
"Stop it," Sonic shook against him, heart bursting. "Stop shaming yourself for feeling. Just stop it."
Shadow fell silent to the hedgehog's pleading. Sonic held him there, letting a silence fall over them insuring he had finally calmed. "You might not realize this, Shads...but I want this."
Shadow didn't speak, staring down at the cracked rock he struck. "I've always watched you put up this wall between you and the rest of the world-to all of us, and all it did was hurt you. You are not alone here. You aren't alone in feeling confused or overwhelmed or not understanding who you think you should be."
Sonic pulled Shadow's head up to face his precious ruby gazing up at him. The hybrid breathed a shaky breath, as Sonic thumbed tears off his cheek.
The reflection of the night's stars bouncing off those precious eyes of his beloved, sending his heart aloft and away. "I see you, Shadow. We all see you. Not who you were then, but who you are now." Sonic smiled, his own eyes brimming with tears of his own. "You don't have to hide this, you're so much stronger than you think you are there."
Shadow breathed in, shaking his head as he hasted the words painting the walls of his heart. "I wish I was strong enough to feel what I want." He gazed up to the speedster, "To take what I want."
Sonic tilted his head, heart loud in his ears. "What do you want?"
Shadow's lips quivered, leaning up and capturing Sonic's in one quick motion. Sonic's eyelids fell, wrapping arms around Shadow as he returned the kiss. They remained that way as a breeze picked up behind them, strands of grass and leaves fluttering by and off onto the currents away from the cliff edge.
With a shaking hand, Shadow pulled away and ran it over Sonic's quills. "You." He said with a pant. "I want you. And I'm afraid of what that will do to me."
Sonic let out a breathless laugh. "What's stopping you?" He asked, eyes burrowing into the reds.
"I…" Shadow sighed, as Sonic ran his fingers through his quills. "Why must you challenge me all the time?"
"Because," Sonic shrugged, eyes falling to the hybrid's lips. "I'm willing to risk it, but only if you want to…I'm not scared of you."
Shadow gave a playful glare. "What if you should be?"
"Then I guess I'm too dumb for my own good, Shads." Sonic smiled, "I'm already in the thick of it. I might as well see you through."
"Hmm." Shadow hummed, shutting his eyes and nuzzling the hedgehog. "I am thankful for that…I suppose." He said, his voice softened. "I do hope you are not making a mistake."
Sonic pulled back, smirking and scratching Shadow's ear. "Are you saying you want to make this-" He faked a gasp, "Official?"
Shadow bit his lip. "You are making this a great deal harder than it needs to be."
Sonic giggled, nuzzling back. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry." He pulled back to smile. "I'd like that, Shadow. More than anything, really."
Shadow smiled, a real smile. One smile that grew with every passing second, a single tear rolling down his cheek left over. "Good."
Sonic smiled back, emotions swirling within himself. "Good." He fell against him, allowing arms to him encapsulate him. "Hey, Shads?"
"Hmm?"
Sonic blushed, turning to look off the cliff. "...Can I stay over at your place tonight?"
