Sonic's alarm rang and the hedgehog rolled out of bed. He stood up and stretched with a big yawn. Stepping out of his room, he went to the bathroom and brushed his teeth, trying to clean himself up as much as possible before checking on Shadow downstairs.

Sonic jogged down the steps and looked over the couch. He saw Shadow laying down, but he wasn't using a pillow and didn't have any blankets on him.

"Hey, Shadow, you up?"

Shadow's eyes opened and he turned his laying head to look at Sonic who stood in front of the couch.

"I am currently laying down, but I can be up if you desire," he said.

"You can do whatever suits you, Shadow. I suppose I want you to feel comfortable here, even if you're a dick to me sometimes. That's all part of being a hero - being nice to everyone," Sonic replied.

"Thank you," Shadow slid his feet off the couch and stood in front of Sonic. He reached down and grabbed one of Sonic's hands. "I am sorry if I have been a burden. I only want to be near you more."

Sonic looks at Shadow confusedly. Why is he acting so nice? And why does he sound so needy? Sonic thought. He has always ran his life as a lone wolf type.

"Well, I guess we can hang out more, if that's what you really want."

"I do really want that, Sonic."

Sounds of steps came from the top floor, and Shadow looked up, following the sounds on the ceiling and tracking them. He knew Tails was approaching the stairs. Shadow let go of Sonic's hand and ran to the back door, opened it, and ran into the backyard and over the fence, running out into the woods.

"Yaaaawn, morning Sonic," Tails said. "What was that door slamming?"

"That was Shadow. He ran outside and hopped the fence."

"He what?" Tails raised an eyebrow. "What? Does he not want to see me that badly?"

"I don't think it has to do with you, Tails. I think he is just hiding that he wants me."

"Wants you? Wants you to what?"

"Wants me for something, I can never read him well."

"Well, whatever it is, sounds like you'll only be able to fix it with him alone since he doesn't act right if you're around others."

"Yeah, I really need to figure out what his deal is."

"Can we figure out breakfast first?"

Sonic laughed. "Sure thing, little buddy. I'll get started on it."

Sonic left Tails to finish up the breakfast dishes while he ran an errand for Amy. Apparently, she ordered something that is too heavy to be sent out in a car, but she told Sonic he could pick it up at the post office. He jogged down the town roads listening to his music as he headed there.

In the alleyways in town, behind the buildings and between the trash cans, Shadow hurriedly followed Sonic as he ran. He stayed behind the buildings, only peeking out to see Sonic's direction and running ahead to watch him, stalking him like a lion does a gazelle. Sonic slowed down and walked across the street, making his way inside the post office. The morning was still early, and little people were around outside. Shadow came out from behind the alleys and crept to the side of the post office, watching the door for Sonic's return to outside.

Sonic pushed a big box outside the doors of the post office. He could barely lift it and had to push and move it in small increments to reach the sidewalk.

"Why didn't Amy get Knuckles to do this? I don't have this kind of muscle strength!" Sonic groaned and pulled out his phone to message Amy about the issue.

"Hello. Do you need help?"

Sonic turned around quickly and saw Shadow behind him.

"Oh, hey Shadow. I see you're back from running off this morning."

Shadow didn't say anything and instead picked up the box Sonic was struggling with. He lifted it and rested it on his bicep and leaned it on his head quills with ease.

"Wow, Shadow! I don't remember you being that buff!" Sonic chuckled. "You might give Knuckles a run for his money in an arm wrestle, huh?"

Sonic wrapped his hand around Shadow's other bicep and squeezed. It was stiff and firm, but cold?

"I definitely feel the definition, but you're cold to the touch. Does that have to do with your Black Arms blood?" Sonic asked.

"I would not like to talk about that, please," Shadow responded and looked away from Sonic.

Sonic apologized and let go of his friend's arm. "Right, I'm sorry about that. Let's head to Amy's with the package. Thanks for helping me again, Shadow. You didn't have to."

Shadow looked back at Sonic. "I want to help you. I want you."

Sonic blushed but most too intimidated to press on what Shadow meant by that. He walked ahead of the black hedgehog and directed him to follow so they could get to Amy's house.

They walked for some time in silence. Sonic walked in front and Shadow followed swiftly behind him, having no trouble keeping up even with the heavy load he was carrying. Sonic decided to break the ice a bit by asking Shadow some questions.

"So, do you have any plans for your evening then?"

"No, I do not."

"Are you spending it with Rouge?"

"No."

"Are you spending time alone then?"

"Yes."

Sonic scratched the back of his head. Shadow was always so short, but was he trying to tell Sonic he was free so they could hang out? He had plans to get dinner with Espio tonight, so he didn't want to cancel, and he knew Shadow wouldn't come with him being that he doesn't eat nor likes to see other people that aren't Sonic…

"Well, I have dinner plans tonight, but then I think I'll just stay at home. I plan on running most of the day for training, so some rest tonight would be best."

"That sounds nice."

"Maybe we can hangout some other time, if you don't have anything going on, that is."

"I would like to see you more."

Sonic blushed a bit at how direct the hedgehog was. He can never just say 'hang out' or 'chill', it always has to be about looking at him. Sonic didn't have much time to think before he realized he was on the sidewalk in front of Amy's place. He stopped and Shadow looked at the house. He walked to the door and dropped off the package and walked back to Sonic.

"I can't stay, but I will come see you again soon," Shadow said.

Before Sonic could even ask why, Shadow was running off. Sonic groaned and yelled, "Thanks for the help at least!" He was getting annoyed at the games Shadow was playing, but it seems like he wasn't get his answer today on it. Sonic walked to Amy's door and knocked, glad Shadow brought the package to the door at least.

"Oh Sonic! Thanks for grabbing this for me. Amy dragged the box inside and opened it revealing a crystal ball. "This is just going to look so great in my foyer! So exciting!"

"What is that?" Sonic asked.

"It is a fortune telling tool, my new crystal ball! It will take some practice to get it calibrated and for me to start readings, but this is a game changer from my tarot cards!"

"Ah yes, the witchcraft stuff you like to do."

Amy stuck out her tongue at Sonic. "It is psychic readings, Sonic. I am not casting spells here!"

"Uh-huh, still seems pretty witchy to me. Anyway, I can't stay long since I want to do some laps today before my dinner plans with Espio."

"Oh, tell him I say hi! I haven't seen him much since I know he is always trying to make time for Silver."

"I will let him know to come visit you soon then, later Amy!" Sonic said and left her to her magic ball.

"So he slept over at your place? Did you let him share a bed with you?" Espio chuckled and took a drink.

"Oh my god, stop it, Espio! It wasn't like that!" Sonic waved him off and continued. "I made him sleep on the couch. But it was so weird, he didn't even use the blankets or pillows I got him. And of course he left as soon as Tails came downstairs. And! He left before Amy came to get the package we were bringing to her."

"He is really on that not being seen together with you thing, isn't he?"

"Yes! Why is he avoiding it? Will his cool guy persona be broken if people see him befriending hero boy Sonic the Hedgehog?"

Espio looked at him with a coy smile, "I don't think Shadow is trying to befriend, I think he is trying to date!"

Sonic blushed, "W-what are you talking about?"

"He wants to see you all the time, he wants to sleep at your place, he wants to be alone with you only: Shadow the Hedgehog totally has a crush on you."

Sonic laughs it off. "Get real, he isn't into guys like that," Sonic paused and thought for a moment. "But, maybe if he would act nice like this all the time, I would give him a shot at a date."

The two friends ate more of their food and chatted.

"Have you heard from Silver today?" Sonic asked.

"Yes, actually. He said he might be able to visit us all soon. I haven't seen him in what feels like forever," Espio replied.

"I still feel with that time travel thing he should just be able to come whenever."

"We try and keep our visits chronological in order to keep the time-space continuum somewhat accurate. Every time he visits the past by coming to my future in the correct order, he doesn't mix future events with past ones and doesn't have knowledge I don't about my own destiny."

"Oh I see, so you keep it in order so he doesn't spoil the latest movies for you by time skipping in the timeline?"

Espio giggled. "Sure, a little sophomoric way to look at it, but sure."

"Hey," Espio continued, "Maybe when he comes down you and I can do a double date with your new boyfriend Shadow!"

Sonic groaned. "Oh give it a rest!" The two laughed and continued their evening with mindless banter.

After a long day with errands, training, and Espio's teasing, Sonic decided to just stay in his room for the night. He opened his window to let in the cool, night breeze and picked out a classic book to read: King Arthur's tales.

The hedgehog sat on his racecar bed with the end-table light glowing over his novel. The blankets kept him snug and sounds of the night came through the window, all calming him before finally putting his book down and drifting off to sleep. Outside, another hedgehog watched the curtains blow in his window and his light shut off. The hedgehog wanted to see him again, but the timing was too late for tonight.

I need to have him. I can't process anything until I have him. I need him and him alone.