"Sonic, you need to get up. Please?"

It's muffled but Sonic doesn't care. He's too busy wallowing in self pity, wrapped up in a cocoon of his comforter and sheets. He doesn't want to come out. Why should he? He finally realized that he's in love with Shadow. And he'll never have Shadow love him back. He thinks he's due at least two days of heartbroken squalor.

"Please, Sonic! Don't make me get the hose!"

Sonic groans. The hose is the worst. Tails only uses it when the situation is especially dire. Sonic pokes his head out from his bundle of blankets. Tails stands in his doorway, arms crossed and expression looking something sour.

"Just leave me alone, Tails. I'll be fine I swear I just need to let myself work it out."

"You're not going to 'work things out' by staying cooped up in your room for days. You got a free pass yesterday. Today you get up and be a real person."

Sonic covers his face again with a groan. Why can't Tails leave him alone? He just wants to curl up and sleep, that's not so bad, is it?

There's a knock, Sonic thinks, and he hears Tails shuffle away. Good riddance. Or so he thinks. Soon he's assaulted by artificial light, and with a hiss he curls into himself even further.

"Oh stop with the dramatics, Blue. Your brother called me over. It looks like we need to have a chat."

Oh no. Oh no no no. "You invited Rouge?" He spits out through gritted teeth, unfurling just enough to see her smug expression and the annoyance on Tails' face.

"You wouldn't listen to me! Of course I invited her over! I know this is about Shadow and she's his best friend so of course I'd ask her for help. So get up, this whole pity party ends today."

"Why are you being so mean to me?" It's a pitiful whine but Sonic is too hurt to care. "I just want to be sad in peace."

"I'm not being mean!" Tails snaps, before taking a deep breath and using a less abrasive tone. "I am not being mean. I just think that you're choosing to be upset over something that's nonsense."

"I am not! How could you even say tha-"

"Alright, alright! Bring it down you two." Rouge puts her arms out in a pacifying manner. "Kid, you're gonna have to fill me in. And Blue," there's a humorous twinkle in her eye and Sonic decides this is worse than the hose, "let's get you some fruit and then maybe you'll feel better."

They refuse to leave his room until Sonic is out of bed. "If you aren't down in 5 minutes I can and will hunt you down, Chaos help me."

"Geez, little buddy. I got it." Sonic has no idea what he did to tick Tails off so much. Yeah, he's not his usual happy self, but that doesn't seem like the problem. It shouldn't be their fight from before either. Tails wasn't this agitated then. He grumbles to himself as he changes into a clean pair of gloves and heads down the stairs.

Rouge has set up breakfast, waffles with peaches, dusted with powdered sugar and cinnamon, and topped with whipped cream. It looks delicious and soothes the sting of this... whatever this is. Sonic takes a seat without a word, digging into the waffles with enthusiasm. He hasn't ate anything since yesterday morning.

As he eats he observes the two traitors as they whisper amongst themselves in the kitchen. Rouge is wearing a black, sheer crop top, high waisted red camo pants, and heeled black boots. She's wearing gold studs, which is interesting as she doesn't wear earrings often. She also wears a gold choker, the delicate chain elongating her neck. Lips are painted a scarlet red, with her signature light blue eyeshadow perfectly applied.

She's so pretty and Sonic sort of hates it.

He knows that she and Shadow don't have a relationship like that. He knows they're just really good friends who show their affection physically, because they simply trust each other and no one else. He knows that while Shadow thinks she's beautiful, he has never seen her as a romantic partner. He knows that Rouge is the same. He knows Rouge is with Knuckles and is extremely loyal to him. Sonic knows all this, but that ugly feeling still twists in his gut.

Sonic knows better, he really does, but jealousy sees the beauty in front of him and screams that she could have Shadow if she really wanted him. It screams for him to do something, anything, to keep her away.

But Sonic just can't. It's wrong and that's not who he is. Plus Shadow isn't his - as much as Sonic wants him to be. But how the heck does he get this to stop?

Tails glances his way, seemingly noticing his staring. Tails offers him a small smile before coming sit next to him.

"You ready to talk now?"

Sonic gulps down the last of his waffles. Maybe Rouge was right. He's still grumpy but not nearly as much as before. "Yeah. I guess."

"Great!" Rouge purrs, choosing the seat across from Tails. "So, the kiddo was telling me that after the Halloween party you had a bit of a breakdown."

Sonic glares at Tails, but the fox doesn't seem regretful. "I wouldn't call it a breakdown, but yeah. I got upset and spent the next day in my room. Happy?"

Rouge raises a perfectly laid brow, frowning. "It's ok, Blue. I know you're having a hard time right now but we're just trying to help. Ok?"

Sonic takes a breath. She's right. They're just trying to help and he shouldn't take this out on them. Even if his jealous heart feels it's justified. "Yeah. I'm sorry."

"It's ok, hun." She smiles and reaches out to hold his hand. It's comforting and Sonic sort of hates that too. She's kind of perfect. "What's eating you?"

"I..." Sonic hangs his head, a little embarrassed and a little ashamed. He doesn't want to talk about it. He just wants this to be over. "I figured out that I don't just like Shadow... I think I... love him."

Rouge's smile widens. "That's great news, dear. So what's got you so blue?"

Sonic looks up at her, not understanding why she hasn't figured it out. "Isn't it obvious?" She shakes her head slowly, glancing at Tails in confusion.

"Shadow would never love me back."

Her eyes are like saucers. Rouge looks so surprised that it almost makes Sonic laugh. He tries to move his hand, only for her to grip it tight.

"You're kidding, right?" She blinks rapidly, looking stunned. "Please tell me you're joking."

"See? I told you. He's hopeless." Tails sounds exasperated and picks at a glove, almost looking bored.

"Hey! What the heck, bro?"

"Well you are! You have someone that practically worships the dirt under your feet and yet you have the nerve to sit there and insist that they don't love you." Tails lets out a loud sigh before smacking his face onto the table.

The silence is heavy. Rouge removes her hand slowly, leaning back into her chair. Tails sits up after some time, meeting Sonic's worried gaze. The fox looks tired, but irritated too.

"Look. I don't mean to get angry with you. It's just... Shadow is obviously in love with you? And I know that for a fact. You didn't notice before and that was weird but understandable. But now..." Tails rubs his temple and sighs again.

"I just think that you're preventing yourself from seeing the truth. But it's not just yourself that you're holding back." His brother grabs his hand, a small smile on his face. "If you want to be with Shadow, go for it. You've never been one to let your fear get the better of you, why start now?"

Sonic squeezes the hand in his. "I don't know. For some reason it's hard to feel brave about this."

"Why?" Rouge uses the same gentle commanding tone as she did all those days ago.

"It's just... this is all new for me. I've never bothered with romance and stuff so I don't know what I'm doing. And I just don't see what you guys see, I guess. I really feel like I don't have a chance."

Rouge chortles and chaos even her ugly laugh is cute. "Blue, have you seen the way he looks at you? That boy is smitten with you."

Tails chimes in, nearly bouncing in his seat. "I know, right? He's so in love. And he, like, always checks you out. It's totally not PG."

"Tails!" Sonic lets go of the kid's hand so he can push him.

"Well he does!" The two traitors laugh heartily, fist bumping over the table. "And he always makes time for you. And actively tries to become a better person because he cares about your opinion."

Rouge nods and continues his train of thought. "Shadow really cares about you, hun. He even learned how to cook because of you! Do you know how hard I worked to train his palette? You're also the only reason he got out of his own head and started socializing. Think about it. You know him well enough. You really don't see how much you mean to him?"

Sonic bites his lip. He knows he means a lot to Shadow but... "I just think I mean more to him as a friend. Just a friend."

"Sonic. Stop." Tails facepalms, dragging a gloved hand down his face. "Shadow has a phone case with you on it. That's more than friendly."

"Oh yeah. And he flipped when you wrote that little love note. He talked about it for days."

Sonic bristles. "It wasn't a love note!"

Rouge glances at Tails, who's looking on this with confusion. "Loverboy here wrote 'maybe far but never apart' on the inside of the case." She snickers as Tails' jaw drops and he glares at Sonic. "He even signed his name and drew a little heart."

"Sonic." He's having trouble meeting his brother's gaze. "Sonic. That's... that's so gay."

"He said he wanted something to remind him of me, so!" Sonic can feel every quill standing on end.

"That's even gayer! Are you serious? Don't you see that?"

"He was just being a good friend. Right?"

Tails' jaw could hit the floor. Rouge looks like she's holding back yet another laugh, shoulders shaking uncontrollably. "Blue, friends don't normally do that. Would you do that for Knuckles? Or Amy? Or even Silver?"

Sonic's muzzle scrunches and he squints his eyes. "No... I guess that is sort of weird."

"And the photo booth? I've seen the photos - I know y'all had a moment. What about the fact that he brings you to his house on a regular basis? You got to see it before me! And I was his roommate!"

"But not before Tails." Sonic mutters bitterly.

"Not with it finished! And he only asked me for advice on stuff you would like, you baby."

Sonic blinks at that. "Really?"

Tails rolls his eyes. "Yes, Sonic. He even built his house with you in mind. Also not something someone who thinks of you as 'just a friend' would do."

"Oh. I didn't know that."

Rouge smiles behind her hand, teal eyes alight. "I'm pretty sure that if you really think about it, most of your interactions aren't just friendly. Shadow hasn't been tryin to hide his feelings, dear. Here - why don't you imagine someone else in your place and see how your past interactions seem to you then?"

Sonic rolls his eyes, but does just that. The pieces fall together and yeah, there is a lot that sort of points to Shadow maybe liking him back. Sonic actually gets angry when he thinks of someone else at Shadow's place, being fed homemade icecream. Or someone else being teased and held at the party. So maybe they're right. He feels a little stupid.

"I've been dumb, haven't I?"

"No, of course not, dear!" "Yes."

Rouge sends a disappointed look Tails' way and he simply sticks his tongue out in return.

Sonic takes a deep breath. "Well ok then. I'm gonna do it. I'm gonna tell him."

Rouge squeals, and his brother fist bumps the air. "Finally!"

"And Rouge? I wanted to apologize for the other day I..."

"It's alright, Blue. Really. Knuckles told me all about it and I get it."

"He did?"

"Yeah, he told me that you guys were jealousy buddies." She looks away, a fond sigh leaving her lips. "I know you're probably beating yourself up about it, but it's not something to be upset about."

"I growled at you. I don't think that's an appropriate reaction."

"I was sitting on Shadow's lap and you got upset. It happens. And I'd be just as pissed if someone got all handsy with Knuckles." She rests her chin on both hands. "Yeah, you growled, but it's not like you came up to me and started shit. You got up and walked away to calm yourself down. Your reaction to that tells me more about who you are than the growl does."

Sonic hangs his head, still ashamed. "But... but I know you guys aren't together like that and I still got worked up. I'm still worked up even now, actually."

"You just want Shadow and I'm not gonna sit here and tell you that's wrong. Most people have been in the same boat about people they love. I can't promise you that Shadow and I will be less physical overall, because that's how we are - but I can avoid taking your seat from now on. Just take it easy and don't overthink it. Jealously is normal, healthy even. It's how you act on it that really matters."

She looks back to wink at him and Sonic feels better. A lot less angry and guilty, that's for sure.

"Thanks, Rouge. I'm just really nervous about talking to him now."

Tails moves his hand to squeeze a cobalt shoulder. "If it helps, he's a really nice guy. Even if he wasn't in love with you - and he totally is - he wouldn't be mean after you confess to him."

"Thanks, Tails. I know he's a good guy I just- Wait. Are you blushing?"

Tails covers his face with his gloves, snapping his hand from Sonic's shoulder almost painfully. "Shut up!"

Sonic laughs and tries to pull Tails' hands away. "You are! Why? Why are you blushing, little buddy?"

"You don't want to know."

Sonic feels thrilled to no longer be the one under the lense. "I'm pretty sure I do."

Tails groans, pouting and ears folded. "He was very nice to me when I confessed."

Um. What now? "What? No. What?"

Tails huffs, crossing his arms. "It's not a huge deal. I have a new crush, like, every other week. It's whatever."

"You what?! On Shadow? Why?"

Tails laughs, clearly entertained by Sonic's distress despite his own embarrassment. "What do you mean why? You should have an idea. I have a lot of crushes." He shrugs. "I never talked to you about them because you didn't seem like someone I could talk to about it. No offense."

Sonic's miffed, but he does understand that. He wouldnt talk to him about crushes either.

"It was the beginning of the semester. He punched some jerk that was making fun of me in class and well..." Tails looks a bit dreamy and while it's weird Sonic gets that too.

"Was this the traffic cone dude?"

Tails nods his head. "Yeah. He still talks smack but only does it when Shadow isn't around. Other than that Shadow is smart and dependable and funny and paid attention to me, so. He's the first guy I've crushed on so it was a surprise for me but I'm good. I ended up telling him after, like, a week. I knew nothing would come of it but we were starting to talk more and I didn't want to come off as this lovestruck weirdo."

Tails looks far away again, this time just a touch melancholy. "He made it clear that nothing would ever happen between us, but in a nice way. He was super considerate of my feelings and said he was flattered that I felt that way. It was nice."

Sonic feels that his jaw dropped. What the heck? How did he miss that? "Shadow never mentioned anything like that."

Rouge chimes in, shrugging as she does so. "He's a gentleman, of course he wouldn't say anything to you. He respected Tails' privacy." She looks the kid up and down, smirking. "I didn't know either."

Sonic looks down into his lap, face growing warm. "Is it weird that I love him even more now? For being nice to Tails, I mean."

Tails and Rouge chuckle, and Sonic feels lighter. His brother punches his shoulder lightly. "No, we totally get it. Now get on with it and tell him how you feel so we can celebrate."

"I'll tell him as soon as he gets back! But there's something I have to do first." Sonic's smile hides the fear he feels inside. Amy is going to be a mess when he sees her tomorrow. He is not looking forward to having a conversation with her, but he has to. For her sake and Shadow's.

"Good." Tails nods, a devious look in is eyes a moment later. "You better lock that in now. He said I wasn't someone he'd have feelings for but that could change in a few years..."

"You wouldn't."

Tails shrugs, eyes flashing and with a smile that's all teeth. "We could always find out.. "

Rouge wheezes loudly from where she's been forgotten and Sonic wants to die. "Stop teasing him! Look how anxious he is, you little devil!"

"Alright, alright fine." Tails smooths down his signature tuffs and shoots Sonic a look that's just as mischievous as before.

"I'm joking ok? I'm completely over it but I am kinda jealous. You guys are perfect for each other. You've spent the last few months oblivious to it all, and he's still is going to accept you with open arms."

Tails serves himself a waffle, adding a ridiculous amount of whipped cream on top. "If I had someone like that into me, I'd never let them go. There's too many people out there that would snatch them up, if given the chance."

Sonic buries his face in his hands, totally done with this conversation. Save for one thing. "Noted. But we're not done talking about these crushes of yours."

Tails groans in embarrassed acceptance and Sonic feels almost normal.