"Don't you think that just seems off, even for Shadow?" Sonic said while holding one end of a dresser.

"I suppose, but this is Shadow we are talking about," Amy replied, lifting up her side of the dresser up the staircase.

"I know Shadow is always cold, but he isn't always cold and agreeable? Does that make sense? Like, he wasn't trying to pick a fight or push me off. He kind of just listened to me, and he never does that."

"Maybe Rouge finally got to him and told him he needs to make friends and not be so mopey all the time."

"So you think that he doesn't know how to be friendly so being silent is easier?"

Amy sat down her side of the dresser and adjusted it to be centered in her room upstairs. "That could be. Maybe he was always silent and attentive before he was grumpy."

Sonic leaned against the door frame as Amy made her final touches to the dresser's placement.

"But why me? I have done nothing but annoy him since we first met!" Sonic said.

"Can you get my box of knick knacks real quick?"

"Sure," Sonic said in a flash. "Here you go."

"Thanks," Amy took the box and sit it next to the dresser and began to unpack. "Well, besides Rouge and Omega, Shadow only talks to you."

"So why can't he just be with them if he wants friends?"

"Firstly, I think after Rouge and Shadow's fling, she just lets him stay with her now since he has nowhere else to go," Amy said. "Secondly, Omega is a death-driven robot so they doesn't exactly meet friend material."

"Fair point," Sonic nodded and sighed.

"You know I'm always right!" Amy winked and laughed as she finished putting back her knick knacks.

"Do you want me to ask Rouge to bring him to our barbeque tomorrow? Maybe he will strike up some conversation with all of us," Amy offered.

"That sounds like a great idea! Maybe he won't be so weird if more people he knows are around," Sonic said as the two walked back downstairs.

"Sure, I'll text her later," Amy giggled. "You know, if I had a hedgehog as handsome as him trying to visit me more, I don't think I would share him as much as you want to pawn him off to all of us!"

"Well, if he is so handsome, why don't you just ask him out tomorrow?" Sonic teased.

"Can't, I have girl-code rules with Rouge to uphold!"

"Yeah, yeah, he would probably be too grim in bed anyway for someone as cheery as you."

"Sometimes that dark and mysterious persona can really do it for a woman, Sonic. Not that you would know anything about how to please a girl."

"Nor do I want to!"

"Oh trust me, I remember how uninterested you were with me back in the day. I am shocked I didn't catch on to your gayness sooner."

"You couldn't even catch up to me. I'm just too fast!"

"Alright, speedy. Thanks for the help tonight, and don't be late to the barbeque tomorrow!" Amy waved him out the door and Sonic started his jog back home.

On his leisurely jog, Sonic started to think more about his interaction with Shadow that day. He and Shadow had never gotten along well, nor been able to sit on the same couch without starting a fight. He seemed so relaxed and tense at the same time, listening and learning from everything Sonic would say but so stiff and silent. Could he really be looking to make friends for once? Sonic had plenty of friends and was never upset about making more, but out of all people, Shadow the Hedgehog and him? Seemed like some weird fantasy.

"Heya, Tails, I'm back!" Sonic said, shutting and locking the door.

"Oh, hey Sonic! Dinner is in the microwave for you," Tails said from the couch, watching his shows.

"Thanks, buddy," Sonic went and heated up his food.

"So, was that really Shadow you were hanging with earlier?" Tails asked, enjoying some mint candies.

"Yeah, funny right? He just came over and said he wanted to see me."

"Huh, that is funny. Never expected him to just want to hang out."

"He didn't even want to hang out. He just sat there and did anything I wanted to," Sonic sat next to Tails and ate on the couch.

"Probably because he doesn't know how to hangout," the fox chuckled. "I'm not saying that to be mean either, I just don't think he has ever hung out before."

"Well, Amy is asking Rouge to ask Shadow if he can come to the barbeque tomorrow."

"Really? Some of us haven't seen him in a long time, so it might be good for him to get reassociated there."

"That's what I thought too! Great minds think alike!"

"Haha, if your mind is so great like mine, then how come you never help me fix the Tornado?"

"I used to be able to fix the Tornado, but you added all those high-tech features! Not my fault I can't help you!"

"Fair point," Tails said, nodding.

Sonic grabbed his empty plate and walked to the sink. "Think I'm going to head to bed early so I can jog in the morning, don't stay up too late, alright?"

Tails groaned. "I think I'm old enough to handle my sleep schedule now!"

"Just because you're an adult now doesn't mean you make all the right decisions!"

"Fiiiiiine, I'll be in bed after this episode," Tails whined.

Sonic chuckled and headed up to his room. He took off his shoes and sat on the window's cubby and looked out into the neighborhood's night. He saw backyards and street lights glowing as the wind was blowing through leaves and flowers. Turning off his light, Sonic entered into his racecar bed and set an alarm for early morning. "Oh Shadow, whatever will we do with you?" he said as he dozed off.

He watched Sonic in his window, light glowing behind him. Hidden in the bushes of the forest, he was indistinguishable but could see clear into Sonic's room. He watched the hedgehog's movements, his chest rising as he breathed. He watched him rise and turn off the light and get into bed. He continued to watch past the curtains into the dark room. He needed to see him and see him more.

He kept watching, not wanting to ever sleep. He wanted to break inside and kiss him. He thought about it, but it was in his best interest to stay hidden. He could not use the hedgehog. They couldn't be together, no matter how badly he wanted them to be.