Light

"So, mind if I cut in, or should I find another seat?" Sonic asked.

Sally and Nicole's eyes widened, lifting their heads in his direction. Sally had been whispering something in Nicole's ear, the holo lynx simply bubbly while she spoke. He supposed he should have let them finish their moment, but with two bags of popcorn in his hands and precariously balancing soda bottles in his quills, it was in his best interest to intrude.

They quickly de-tangled from each other. Nicole swept a lock of hair out of her face, a bashful smile playing on her lips. Sally cleared her throat and thanked Sonic for the snacks. She carefully plucked out the beverages and placed them in their armrest cup holders. Sitting down, Sonic crossed his legs and handed Sally her popcorn, the lights in the theater dimming, the idle chatter quieting.

It wasn't often when the three of them could go out for a date with Eggman was always causing trouble. Whether locally or globally, the Freedom Fighters stepped up to end his game. But tonight, they had gone out for a movie recommended by Antoine of all people. He had insisted the "romanteek adventure" would fit them perfectly, and in a way, he was right. Sonic might have lived for thrills, but sitting back with his girlfriend and his metamour was just as fun.

The hero was a dashing, comical, well-liked porcupine. He was a professional sprinter by day and a secret agent by night using the codename Stealth. Sonic wondered where the creative team found the inspiration for him.

"Well, as you say, Sonic, no copyright in the universe can stop them," Nicole teased when he voiced his annoyance.

As Sally chuckled, Sonic muttered, "Okay, true, but I've only said it once."

"And yet, it was enough to leave a deep impact," Sally remarked, and she nibbled on her popcorn while he frowned at the giggling girls.

Sonic sipped his soda, the mixture of caffeine and cherry tang pleasant. He leaned to the side, dipping the bag into his mouth. The salted caramel popcorn was a satisfying complement to his drink, and he let his complaints subside in a haze of junk food.

Stealth was in a meeting with his team. They each vaguely reminded Sonic of his friends. He supposed imitation was the best form of flattery, but giving a third tail to Stealth's intelligent best friend was excessively on the nose. He didn't pay much attention to the plot as the team discussed how to infiltrate their nemesis' lair, munching and drinking the minutes away, enjoying the chance to laugh at cliches and familiarity.

But out of the corner of his eye, he noticed something stir. He glimpsed to his right, finding Sally enraptured with the film, sitting still. It was Nicole who moved, her ear twitching very slightly. Her gaze flitted from the movie to the girl sitting between them, and having nothing to hold like the others, he noticed her fingers quietly drumming on her knees.

Nicole was one of Sonic's more curious friends. She was the pristine embodiment of artificial intelligence, developing a personality through her relationship with Sally and friendships with the other Freedom Fighters. She was upbeat and down to earth, wearing her strengths with pride, but Sonic knew she carried her secret woes, too.

She couldn't enjoy popcorn with them. She couldn't appreciate the sugary high of soda. Nicole could simulate taste buds, but she had no stomach. She worked in her spare time to program more "organic" parts for her holographic form to relish the simple pleasures Sonic and the others felt, but even still, Sonic knew she was left out during some aspects of their lives.

Nicole wasn't supposed to develop in the way she had. She was meant to be Sally's unfeeling confidante, a wealth of information, not an extension of love or friendship. But it was through Sally's coaxing and kindness that Nicole came into herself, encountering the world with them, even if there still existed a barrier between what they experienced.

They both loved Sally, and she loved them equally. He supposed, however, that Nicole still had trouble expressing those feelings. For a long time, she had been locked in a computer, witnessing the world through a screen. Even now, though she laughed and breathed with everyone, Sonic wondered if she needed a little push in the right direction.

After all, he knew what her posture implied. When she wanted to initiate something with Sally, she often tensed. She wasn't one to spring into romantic action. She'd look over, hoping Sally would pick up her nervous gestures. But with Sally's attention fixed on the movie, gulping down more soda, her desire seemed hopeless.

Until, that is, she spotted Sonic grinning at her.

Yawning, Sonic reached around Sally's chair and rested his hand on her shoulder. Sally blinked, momentarily distracted from Stealth racing along the top of a train to stare at his hand massaging her shoulder. She shrugged, snuggling into her seat and continuing to watch.

Nicole blinked at Sonic. He pursed his lips, unable to say anything. Instead, he casually tilted his head at Sally's bare shoulder. He did it again when Nicole simply scratched her cheek, but the flash of realization crossing her features earned a silent bubble of laughter from Sonic.

Nicole thrust her arm out behind Sally, swung it around her neck over Sonic's arm, and clapped her hand down on her shoulder. Sally stiffened, jumping slightly, her popcorn jolting out of the bag. She looked around as if they were under attack, Sonic squeezing reflexively to calm her. As she heaved out a controlled breath, Sally turned to Nicole. Sonic peered around her with a supportive thumbs-up.

"Um, too fast?" Nicole sheepishly asked, the corners of her lips lifting slightly.

"Not at all," Sonic piped up with a wink.

Chuckling, Sally smiled at her, then at Sonic, before leaning into their arms like a headrest. "You two are wonderful," she mumbled, and she threw another handful of popcorn into her mouth.

And yet, Nicole leaned over Sally to Sonic, whispering, "I thought we were being romantic? Wonderful isn't what I was hoping for."

"Eh, we can't always satisfy Sally. A princess has high standards," he teased, lightly nudging Sally with his fist.

Sally gently nudged back, remarking, "If you two want a kiss, it'll have to wait until after the movie. I'm invested here."

Sonic and Nicole groaned, then broke into snickering fits when Sally rolled her eyes at them. Nicole shifted down and leaned back, sharing a smirk with Sonic. They leaned into Sally, holding her shoulders and rested their heads onto the other's hand draped around their beloved.

Setting her popcorn in her lap, Sally reached for their free hands, emanating pleasant warmth. She stroked their knuckles with her thumbs, her bliss their mutual delight. They nestled into Sally, noses rubbing against her cheeks. Winning a quiet sigh from her, Sonic beamed when Sally pressed a quick kiss to his brow and turned to Nicole to do the same.

Though, the moment it happened, Nicole's body burned a brilliant bubblegum pink hue. It was as if she was super-charged with a Red Ring. Sonic should have expected it, much to the chagrin of moviegoers and Sally's pleasant shock, but seeing Nicole wearing the widest, silliest grin possible had him smiling as well.