"I thought Shadow just had internalized homophobia, but him having a robot doppelganger makes for a much more interesting story!" Espio laughed as he drank his tea. He and Sonic were at the cafe the morning after Sonic's night at the greenhouse.

"Oh, laugh it up. I am sure it is funny from the outside, but if you were in my spot, I don't think you'd be so comedic about it!" Sonic replied with some snark.

"Well, you have a robot boyfriend and my boyfriend doesn't even exist yet in our timeline, so I guess we both have unique tastes in men."

"Love really works in mysterious ways," Sonic said, raising his plastic cup for a toast. Espio dinked his tea to Sonic's cup and they both drank. "Cheers!" They both said.

"Are you visiting him again tonight? Or are you going to play hard to get so you have some payback for the games he was playing?" Espio asked.

"No, I can't deal with another headache like that. I am DONE with games!"

"And are you going to tell Shadow or are we outsourcing that?"

"Tails is fixing his broken arm today in the lab. He invited Rouge over to get the full story on the situation as well. We are hoping if it comes through her, Shadow won't want to break apart his double as badly."

"Shadow does have that soft spot for Rouge still. She must have him so whipped even after they broke up." Espio laughed. "Maybe he is one of those strong types that likes it when a woman takes charge of him."

"Gross! I don't wanna hear theories about all that! I have overheard enough of Rouge and Amy's girl-talks." Sonic cringed.

"Won't Rouge get jealous if it looks like you're with her man all the time? And what would the media think?" Espio cooed. "Ooo, this is scandalous!"

"I'm actually taking care of that today. I am more forward thinking than you give me credit for!" Sonic clapped back. "There is a renaissance festival happening a town over. I'm going to get some armor gauntlets, sabatons, and most importantly, an armor mask for him so he doesn't stir up trouble with people thinking he is Shadow-Shadow."

Espio looked at him with a coy smirk. "Oh? You're going to make him your little knight in shining armor? Is he going to call you 'your highness' and cater to your every whim?"

"You're jealous."

Espio turned red and stuttered back. "I-I am n-not!"

"You can come with me today and get an armor set for Silver since clearly you want your own knightly suitor as well." Sonic teased.

"Ugh, fine. But I am just coming to look!"

"Uh-huh, sure," Sonic chuckled and the two finished their drinks to head to the festival together.

"Aaand there! Okay, take a look!" Sonic said as he finished putting on Shadow's new helmet. He turned the robot around to look in a full length mirror in Sonic's bedroom. "So, what do you think?"

"I am made of metal. What purpose does the second metal have again?" Shadow said as he examined his new look.

"Well, the first part is to distinguish you apart from the grumpy Shadow. And the second part is because, well, I just like how it looks on you…" Sonic blushed and giggled sheepishly.

"If you like it, then I will wear it. I want you to like me."

"I already do like you. I don't want you to feel forced to wear it…"

"No," Shadow turned to face Sonic. "I like it. The metal reminds me that I am not human in skin, but your liking of me wearing it reminds me that I am human to you in heart."

Shadow kneeled and took one of Sonic's hands in his. He kissed the backside of it and looked up at Sonic. His crimson eyes glowed through the visor of his helmet seeing a now flustered Sonic.

"C-can I, uh, can I call you Lance from now on t-too?" Sonic nervously asked. "It's just that I wouldn't want people getting confused when I talk about my Shadow versus the other Shadow and I think that-"

"I will have any name you give to me. You saved me from being in solitude. Call me by your name for me and I will respond."

Sonic felt light-headed. "I don't think you'll understand this, but you are seriously making my wildest dreams come true right now! You look perfect. Let's go introduce you to everyone you missed, Lance."

"As you wish."

Sonic lifted Shadow with his hand as the armored hedgehog rose. They kept their hands grasped together as they made their way down the steps and into the living room. Tails, Rouge, and Espio were all waiting for them and looked at the couple as Sonic spoke.

"Friends, I want you to meet our newest companion, Lance."

The small crowd cheered and teased Sonic as Lance politely bowed. They all got seated in the living room and made conversation as they waited for more friends to arrive. Everyone had burning questions for Lance, and he answered as much as he knew, with help from Sonic explaining more and Tails filling in on the technical jargon. The evening went on as the group of friends played games and talked with Sonic leaning into Lance on the couch.

"I am so happy I can be seen with you now," he whispered to Lance.

"And I never want to be seen without you now," Lance replied and held Sonic's hand in his.

THE END