"Shadow..."
The black hedgehog in front halted in his tracks, his quills blowing harshly in the wind and being battered by clumps of heavy snow that were coming down in a never-ending downpour. He, of course, stood unwavered by such conditions.
Sonic was an entirely different picture - shivering head to toe, his own arms hugged around his body to cling onto any of the remaining heat in his body. "So you know when you said I should have dressed up warmer... that maybe I needed more than a coat and a pair of sneakers-"
Shadow's head turned around just slightly, his visible red eye shining in stark contrast to the white and gray surrounding him.
"Starting to think..." Sonic's teeth chattered. "You might have been right about that. Because I'm very, very cold right now - we've been at this for a while and I'm not sure how long I can go before I get hypothermia- My legs might just give out any second-"
His assessment was correct, as everything in his lower body became numb - unable to feel the air or the ground under his feet, yet feeling as heavy as lead. He dropped to his knees with a gasp, not having been prepared for his body to give way like that.
Luckily, his partner had noticed he needed aid and turned around - quickly making his way over to Sonic, the speed of his movement being the only sign of urgency as he kept an apathetic face.
As everything was becoming a haze, Sonic could just barely process the fact he was being lifted up into a pair of arms.
A significantly warmer pair of arms.
"I'll find shelter." Shadow said.
After a few minutes of trudging through snow, the hedgehog pair finally stumbed upon a solitary cave - it was a small thing, but for the two of them, it was more than enough and would act as their shelter from the blizzard.
With snow no longer pelting his face as they stepped inside, Sonic heaved a slow sigh of relief. Shadow lowered the blue hedgehog to the ground, letting him sit near the middle of the cave. "There were a few dead trees so I'm going to look for wood we can use." Shadow told him, wasting no time in leaving again.
There was no denying that the hedgehog was efficient. Sonic curled himself in his sitting position as he awaited Shadow's return.
...
He was surprisingly quick in returning, even for him. When Sonic saw the sticks in his arms, he piped up with a question. "So how exactly do you plan on starting a fire in this weather-?" He asked, curious more than anything.
Shadow did not respond verbally, instead hovering his shoe over the newly created pile of sticks on the ground, activating the rockets so that they let out just a soft flame, but it was enough to catch onto the wood - allowing an orange flame to finally flicker, lighting up the cave - but most importantly - filling the area with much desired warmth.
"Huh, that's a use for your rocket shoes I'd never thought of-" Sonic remarked.
"What do you have in your bag?" Shadow then asked, de-activating his shoes and placing his foot back down as he turned his attention to Sonic.
"Uhhh... a lot of stuff-"
"What will keep you warm?"
"I mean... I've got a blanket-"
"No sleeping bag?"
"I mean, no-"
"You didn't bringing a sleeping bag with you to an overnight trip to the snowy mountains."
"Well, when you put it like that-" Sonic huffed.
"There's no oher way to put it."
"Look, I'm not much of a planner-"
"You should change that."
Sonic pouted before opening his mouth - but he couldn't be offended for long, instead - a smile formed on his face instead. "Maybe." Sonic said, taking off his backpack and diving into it to show the blanket to Shadow. The other hedgehog immediately narrowed his eyes.
"It's thin." He observed.
"I know." Sonic said, putting it over his body anyway.
"Why did you bring a thin blanket?"
"I just packed whatever was nearby-"
Shadow sighed. "You should have just taken up Rouge's offer to pack for you..."
"I wouldn't want to make her do that for me!" Sonic waved off. "I'm an adult."
"You're an idiot." Shadow corrected.
"Matter of opinion isn't it?"
"I doubt many would disagree." He folded his arms.
Sonic's smile grew wider, and he laughed lightly. "Eh, maybe I am an idiot - but at least I don't claim I'm smart."
"Your level of intelligence isn't helping keep you warm." Shadow pointed out, sitting down at the opposite side of the fire. "I brought nothing with me, I thought you'd know what you needed."
"I'll make do with the things I have, Shads. Don't sweat it." He nonchalently placed his hands behind his head, leaning back.
"I'm almost certain you'll be complaining later."
"We'll just have to see, won't we?" He stuck his tongue out.
"We will."
"You know, Shads..." Sonic began with a smirk. "You're a breath of fresh air."
Silence drifted in the air between them, only filled with the ocassional crackle of the flame. It danced between them slowly, illuminating their faces in a soft glow. The heat emmitting from it thawed the tension in Sonic's muscles, allowing his body to relax.
"How so?" Shadow questioned, still expressionless - staring into the fire.
"You're the only one who ever gives it to me straight. There aren't enough people who just call me an idiot to my face, nowadays." He admitted, amused.
"Nowadays?" His voice peaked with sublte intrigue.
"Well, in my adventuring days - I had Tails, Knux, Amy - always there to call out my stupidity, as I believe good friends should. But... I dunno, as we've fought together less... hung out together less... our relationships have become a lot more... formal. Number one hero status... I feel like it's put me on a pedastal that wasn't there before, ya know? There's more distance between me and everyone I know now - people are afraid to just... be honest with me. Not you though." Even though he smiled, his ears were drooping.
"I see little point in niceties." Shadow remarked. "No matter how famous you are considered, if you're doing something wrong - I will call it out."
"And as I said, I like that about you. I mainly do solo-heroing now as most of the gang has moved on... but on the occassion we do meet up again, they expect me to make all the decisions - to be the leader... I've never been the leader." Sonic softly chuckled. "I can rally people, and sure - Team Sonic is named after me, but I never really lead it - Tails figured out strategies and Knuckles had a more commanding presence. I was... the mascot. The mascot that could kick ass!" He added pridefully, until a bit of sadness crept on his face. "I still love those guys, I do. But it doesn't feel the same as back then... I mean sure, Knuckles is blunt but I'm seeing him less and less... and just- I wouldn't say I'm feeling alone or anything it's just- I don't know how to put it into words, sorry-"
"You lack meaningful connections."
Sonic stared at Shadow for a moment - the way he could be so neutral yet his eyes were filled with an earnest desire to connect. The hedgehog looked Shadow all over - there truly was not a single flaw on that man's body.
"That... yeah, that sounds right. As weird as that is to admit..." Sonic said quietly, looking to the side. "Your team is still fighting, of course. And I love hanging out with you guys at Team Dark but I dunno - kind of feels like I'm intruding if I try to force myself in for too long. You guys can practically read each other's minds - you're very close."
"Rouge enjoys having you around. You're more talkative than I or Omega. And although Omega won't admit it - I can tell he enjoys your enthusiasm. There is nothing to be hesitant about."
"There's us too."
"What about us?"
"Well, there's a certain idea everyone has of us - that we're always at odds, that we fight each other with our opposing morals. People tended to side with me because they were scared of you... and I don't know, the longer this rivalry has gone on - the more it's felt like a performance for their sake."
"You are not my rival. You just happen to be someone who gets in my way a lot... or perhaps the better term is used to. We have little reason to fight now, unless you randomly decide you want to test my strength - then you pick fights."
"It always feels like I have to... like it's mantaining the status quo-"
"I'm not interested in maintaining the status quo." Shadow said. "No reason for you to be either. I'm sure they can fathom the idea of us being friends."
"Friends?" Sonic's eyes lit up.
"I find you to be pleasant."
Sonic blinked a few times. "Pleasant, you say?" He questioned with a wide grin. "I remember when that used to be 'tolerable'. What's changed, Shads?"
"We talk more."
"I guess that is true." Sonic achknowledged. "You know I used to think you were just grumpy all the time, but after getting to know you better I just realise you have a different way of showing emotions."
"Rouge said a similar thing."
"Goes to show we're right then." Sonic claimed. "And I feel like... I still wanna get to know you more, you know? You could have done this mission alone, I know that - but I wanted to spend time with you."
"Because you are looking to replace the friends you are losing?" Shadow questioned dryly.
"I-" Sonic was stunned. "No! First off, I'm not losing them - we're just more distant. And my interest in you doesn't come from a need to replace them!"
"What does it come from, then?"
"It, well-" Sonic felt heat rise to his cheeks. "I happen to think you're really... cool."
"Hm."
"Is that... all you gotta say to that?" Sonic awkwardly chuckled.
"I'm not sure what else I could say." Shadow spoke honestly.
"Then can I say something... that I'm not sure how you'll take?"
"Go on."
"I think you're hot."
Sonic's heart pounded in his chest.
Sonic had never seen Shadow's eyes grow so wide. "Excuse me...?" The hedgehog's voice almost cracked with confusion.
Sonic immediately gulped, why did he think saying that was a good idea? Why? "Heh-! Well um, you know - the Ultimate Life Form is guaranteed to be attractive right, I mean-"
"You genuinely think this?" Shadow asked.
"... Yeah?" Sonic answered hesitantly, unsure of that answer would result in a punch in the face or not.
"Ah." Shadow then responded, looking dumbfounded. "Can't say that was something I was expecting to hear today."
Sonic couldn't tell if he was still shaking because of the cold, or his nerves. "Ha! Well you know, I'm full of surprises!"
"I think you're attractive too."
"... O-oh?" His face was definitely red now.
"Not just in your appearance... but the way you act. Your positivity is admirable, as is your energy - I find you to be quite humorous too, charming - if you will."
Sonic felt a little better when he saw the pink on the other hedgehog's cheek, although he tried to hide his own flustered nature through his ever unchanging face. "Oh wow, I- that's very sweet- I find you to be very reliable, strong-"
"No need to go heavy with the compliments." Shadow stiffly said, before rubbing his temples. "I'm still trying to process this... we have both abruptly admitted interest in one another... I am reading this right, aren't I? You were about to ask me on a date-"
Sonic was a little flabbergasted. "That was the plan - yeah-"
Shadow let out a relieved sigh, and to Sonic's surprise - Shadow was grinning. "Oh thank goodness, that would have been humiliating otherwise..."
"Sooooo, you're happy about that?"
"Yes-! I mean-" Shadow let out, before blinking as he realised he might have come off as too enthusiastic, so he cleared his throat and started again. "I would be open to the idea. I will warn you that I'm not experienced in these... kind of things."
"Me neither." Sonic assured him, showing humility. "Never exactly dated someone myself... "
"Right." Shadow said with a nod. "I suppose there's no pressure on this, then. You know I'm not overtly affectionate."
"I mean... neither am I. Really. But that doesn't mean we can't explore some things..." Sonic pointed out.
"What do you mean by that?" Shadow rose a brow.
"Well, it's no secret that I came unprepared for the weather and that I'm very cold right now-"
"You are shivering, yes."
"Don't you think you could help keep me warm, hot stuff?" Sonic finally gave a wink.
It took a few good seconds for Shadow to figure out what Sonic was requesting of him, it was adorable the way he looked around in confusion - as if the answer was hovering in the air somewhere - until it finally clicked.
"First, not particularly keen on that type of flirting. You're trying too hard." Shadow said bluntly as he stood, walking around the fire.
"Hmph, this is supposed to be a learning experience for the both of us, remember?" Sonic reminded him.
"Yes, and I'm pointing out your mistakes so that you learn from them." Shadow said, sitting right next to the blue heading.
Green eyes met red, there was so much to get lost in when it came to Shadow's eyes - whether it was their unique and fiery hue, or of the mystery that lurked within them. Sonic could have stared into them for hours if he wanted, but Shadow took him out of his trance and took him right into something else as his arm wrapped around his body, and Sonic was pulled close to the other hedehog.
It was pure bliss.
"I don't know about you but... this feels right to me." Sonic said, smiling contendedly and allowing his eyes to close as he leaned his head on Shadow's shoulder.
"I agree." Shadow replied slowly, softly.
"I'm also very grateful you're actually warm, bless your temperature regulating abilities-"
"They are useful."
"You're very fluffy too... like a teddy bear-" Sonic spoke wistfully.
"I will alllow this to slide as long as you never call me that in public." Shadow quickly made clear.
"What? Afraid your cold, brooding image will take a hit?" Sonic teased.
"I would still like my adversaries to regard me as a threat, thank you."
"Fine, fine." Sonic shrugged.
"Sonic?"
"Yeah?"
"Would you permiss me to be bold?"
"Bold? Of course I would, you've got me curious no-"
Sonic was interrupted when he felt a brief kiss on top of his head. Shadow's lips were soft and gentle, the complete opposite to his personality. Sonic found his stomach fluttering - not with nerves, but joy and infatuation. He immediately wanted Shadow to do it again, but refrained from making the demand. "I... I loved that-!" Sonic beamed. "It was nice..."
Shadow was happy as soon as he saw the other hedgehog had enjoyed the gesture. "Good." Shadow held Sonic closer. "Now, it's getting late and we have to wake up early to find this base tomorrow-"
"Always back to business with you, huh?" Sonic found it humorous that he could not maintain a romantic atmosphere.
"We are on a work trip. Frivolities can be saved for when we are home." Shadow said firmly.
"Alright, alright - good thing I'm already tired and you're like a... big pillow-" Sonic lost track of his words as he closed his eyes, finally allowing his tiredness to wash over him.
He fell asleep on Shadow's shoulder, more content than he had ever been before.
SOOOOO
Hi, this Sonadow oneshot was mainly a writing exercise. Because... you might be surprised to find, I don't actually ship Sonadow. This was an attempt at a oneshot out of morbid curiosity of exploring the ship and trying to keep these two in character - let me know how I did! Critiques are very welcome :)
Hope you enjoyed!
