A/n: Well looky here. No copyright infringement intended.
Sonic & Amy (Beautiful)
She sat in a café reading a text on the history of music in Spagonia. Before arriving to the beautiful city, she had planned to travel. She was going to globe hop, find herself. Not to say she didn't know who that was, but who was Amy, in the musical sense. She studied music as a minor after pursuing a practical degree in education. She was educated on many things but never knew what spoke to her heart. So she left. She left Station Square, hoping to see what she really wanted in life.
She knew it would be hard. She missed Sonic every day.
In his junior year, and her sophomore year, they had confessed their feelings for one another. They weren't a couple. They didn't go out. Though one of the most important moment of their lives, they proceeded as always. Normally. Ignoring their own feelings. Why? Going to the same school, dating, studies, it would complicate their relationship - or so he said. So she respected that. She understood, and somewhat agreed. For these reasons, she did not act on her feelings.
But when she wanted to go study aboard, he was upset. So she didn't go. When she told him she'd be leaving after graduation, he was livid. When she packed to go, he didn't speak to her. And when she was in the airport, departing, he didn't bid her farewell.
Why was he never happy with what she decided to do for herself?
Despite their issues, she missed him. She missed seeing him run track. She missed hanging out with him and all their friends. She missed it all. Terribly. What if the real Amy's heart only could be found one place? One specific place?
She looked up and there he was. He stood in the doorway with a backpack hanging off one shoulder. He walked over and sat down across from her. Tears had already filled her eyes, and she covered her mouth with a hand.
"Hi." He said.
"Hi." She sniffled. Her voice muffled.
"I love you. I'm sorry about...everything. I will never let you go again. Not ever."
"I love you too." She nodded. He reached across the table and took both her hands in his own. They smiled at each other. They were happy.
The following week would be blissful. They saw sights together. Held hands with fingers interlocked while in the streets. They'd drink coffee like the locals, and steal kisses from one another when no one was looking. At night, Amy would run her fingers through his hair. Sometimes, she'd sit in the moonlight of her studio apartment while playing guitar, and he'd watch her, intently. With eyes wide like a child. The blue haired male would request encores and they'd fall asleep side by side. Or with his arm wrapped around her. The evening before he left they didn't go out, but stayed in for dinner. They sat on the rooftop and admired Spagonia for its beauty. He wore a good shirt, and comfortable pants. She wore a sundress and put her hair in a long ponytail. It would be the first time they had that bottle of celebration wine they'd share many times later. And then the rain came.
They tried their best to save the meal, but found it impossible to do so. They then ran into the building, fleeing from the rain. He hated being wet and the downpour was quite unexpected. As they stood in front of the door of her studio flat, they stared at one another.
Her eyes were so vivid, green. They made him think of the many fields they walked through. Or the ivy that surrounded the grapes of the wineries they visited.
His eyes were so emerald. Like jewels. They sparkled. Were bright. Distracting. Amazing. Like him. His honesty, his courage. His personality. He was so beautiful to her. More beautiful than anything. She wanted to hold him to her, hold on to him, like a hunter and her finds. A bride to her groom.
She opened the door and he followed in. Their clothing dripped.
Dripped.
She pulled his shirt off.
Dripped.
He pulled her dress down.
Dripped.
Their bodies molded into each other as they kissed passionately. Heatedly. Their lips burned. Burned so bad. Burned so much.
They didn't reach her bed. There, with the moon and light pouring in, they made love on the creaky wooden floor. Her legs wrapped around his waist and she scrapped at his back, ran her fingers through his hair. Her eyes opened wide.
Her first time, so terribly beautiful. Everything about him was wild and amazing, yet soft and settling. He was her courage. All the strength she ever needed.
They laid there. She, laying on his chest, her cheek pressed to his skin. His back on the cool wooden floor.
"I'll miss you when you're gone." She told him.
"I'll miss you too. But, it's fine. We'll be together soon." He said and planted a kiss on her forehead.
"Yeah. Yeah."
As the summer ended they were reunited. He welcomed her back with roses. He waited at the airport. Patiently, but eager. They kissed like lovers do and hopped into a cab. They held hands, never once letting go. No one could have warned them that love, true love, was hard. Even if they tried to, they wouldn't have listened.
The night was fresh. It was a warm evening. The summer was winding down, leaving them with few remnants of itself. The evenings became cooler and cooler - which was wasn't unlike summer. The sky was clear, and the park near Rouge's apartment had little to no activity. Maybe a dog walker, or two. The couple out for their evening jog, and Sonic and Amy.
They walked along side each other, slowly. Amy felt like she was dragging her feet and Sonic felt like this legs could barely move. But they walked. The two occasionally brushed against each other, their fingertips touching the skin of the other's hand. Every accidental meeting of their skin felt heated and burned to the touch.
"I miss you," Sonic started. He broke the silence between them. The silence that lasted several blocks, and minutes, and seconds. "all the time. I wondered if you were eating well. Or if you still prayed by the bedside at night. I missed when you made breakfast and knowing I love the franks in chili dogs you'd dice them and give them to me on the side."
Amy had no words for this. She stopped walking and lowered her head. Her eyes looked at the ground. She didn't look at him. Not once. She couldn't. Why was he bringing this up?
"I feel like I haven't been able to be happy while you were away."
"You drove me away." She curtly.
"I know. I'm sorry. Not just for what happened at Knuckles' apartment. I'm sorry for everything. I'm sorry for being jealous and possessive. I'm sorry for being -"
"Selfish and insecure." She crossed her arms. She didn't change her gaze.
"Yes." He looked at her. Amy tried her best at that moment. She didn't want to. She didn't want to feel bad. She didn't want to look at him and feel bad for being so cold. So intolerant. If she did would she lose her resolve? His lack of care for her dreams, he deserved every harsh word said, every rejection - and then she looked at him.
His eyes were soft. Warm. Sincere. She forgot he looked that way. She forgot that when he said things like that he meant it; about how he made her feel. She released her arms from across her chest. Her eyes widened as she took his image in. His emerald green eyes, always were like jewels. So supernaturally beautiful. Like him. She could no longer hold her grudge.
"Okay. I - I forgive you." Sonic looked away and clenched his fists. "What's wrong?"
"Only forgive me if you think I deserve it."
Amy walked closer to him. She reached out for his hand and held it to her chest. Sonic could feel his heart race, as he felt her heart racing, just the same through the palm of his hand. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead despite the light breeze that blew out the warm summer night.
"Is this enough proof? I am horrified that you will hurt me again, but I've been angry for so long I can't be anymore. So I forgive you. I forgive you." He could feel her body trembling and he noticed that her eyes were glossy. Though he knew it wasn't the right time, only one moment crossed his mind. He'd give up. He'd give up everything for that one single moment. Even if it meant she would hate him.
He embraced her. "Thank you." He said to her. "Thank you so much."
He pulled her into his arms and Amy's eyes widened. He held on to her tightly. He pulled her smaller body into his frame and hoped that she wouldn't resist him. She didn't. The two stood there, in the awkward silence of the night. She held him back and rubbed her hands over his back. She felt him. His frame. Every touch burned more than the last. She could feel his skin through the thin fabric of his crew neck t-shirt. She then felt her breath run short.
Amy released her hold on him and stepped back a bit. Her face was burned with the beauty of rosy cheeks from blushing. She turned her eyes away from him. She was afraid to make eye contact. What just happened? Her body felt a way she couldn't explain. She was breathing a little heavily - oxygen left her. It was like then. Those moments in their past. He always could make her lose herself.
She looked at him.
He was so handsome. His face was turned away and she observed him; from the shape of his nose to the line of his jaw, so attractive. Was he always that attractive? He had a little peach fuzz from having been unshaven. He ran his fingers through his blue hair and she bit her lip. "Sonic." She said. He quickly turned and looked back to her. His blue hair brushing over his forehead just for a second. They stared at each other again. Longer, harder. He walked over to her. He looked into her eyes as if his was a thirst that turned into madness and she an oasis. Her face, still burned red from blushing. He came closer. Closer. His lips. Closer to her lips. Closer. And there it was. He kissed her.
Almost too violently he crushed his lips against hers. Amy felt her breath leave her. She grabbed the fabric of his thin shirt, clenching it. His hands roamed her body and he held the back of her head while he leaned into her. He wanted to kiss her deeper. Harder. Their desire turned carnivorous. The moment was too much and not enough.
When they parted their kissed bruised lips, she looked to the ground. She breathed heavily and took a step back from him. Amy held herself. "This changes nothing." She barely made out.
"I know." He lied. He didn't know. He believed it did. He hoped it would. It was fine, since she had lied as well. It did change everything.
A little after eleven that same evening, Silver sat in Rouge's chaise sofa with a cup of tea. The white haired male stared into the mug with glossy eyes. Rouge sat beside him shaking her head. One of her fears were coming to fruition.
Amy entered the apartment and saw the shoes at the door. She knew a visitor was present. She headed into the living room and Silver looked up once she walked in. "Hey." He said rather sadly. When hearing his tone Amy's heart sank to the pit of her stomach. Silver was like family to her. Seeing him like that ate her up inside.
"Hey you." She walked over to the pair and sat on the ottoman across from the sofa. She put a hand on the young man's knee and looked at him with a weak smile. "What's up? Rouge and I have been trying to reach you all day -"
"Blaze is pregnant." He said flatly. Amy withdrew her touch.
"What?"
"Blaze is pregnant. She and I - we've been together on and off."
"Silver I told you specifically -" Rouge began.
"I love her. I couldn't help it. I love her. But...she - she doesn't want to keep it. She doesn't want to keep it. She says we have to too much to lose, and I agree. But I feel like I'm losing everything. I feel like I've lost her."
"Let him tell you what he told me." Rouge arose from the sofa and stormed out the room. Amy watched her and then looked back at Silver.
"Silver -"
"I can't do this. I can't be in a band with her. I can't even fathom songwriting or playing side by side with someone who wants to kill something we made together. I - I quit." Silver placed the cup of tea on the end table adjacent to the sofa. He took a deep breath and stood up. With clenched fists and trembling lips he broke Amy's heart. "I quit." Amy then jumped up and grabbed him by his shirt collar. With tears in her eyes he shouted to him.
"No! We've come too far! We've given up so much!"
"I'm sorry Ames."
There was the sound of something shattering in the distance.
"How can you do this? How can you and Blaze do this?! This band means everything to us! We've come so far -"
"I'm sorry, but I just can't be around her."
"Silver, please..."
There it was again.
"I already told Rouge. I know you're mad, but hopefully you can come to understand me."
Rouge stood in the kitchen breaking dishes in the sink. She continued to break them, one after the other. She knew they heard her. She knew they wouldn't come to check on her. She knew, they knew how angry she could get. Breaking dishes was the only peace she could have. It was breaking all the beautiful things she had, that helped her get through the breaking of her unbeautiful reality. Beauty could crack too. Beauty could come crashing down into many little pieces. Restoration of something this broken was unlikely. Unlikely was the preferred word. She didn't like the word impossible.
Mercury morning gave little light to the mediocre apartment. Sonic was opposite the mirror of his room as he tied the laces of his running shoes. Before heading out he looked at his reflection for a long time. He and Amy kissed. It had been such a long time. Too long. He remembered feeling like his body was going to melt into hers. He smirked a little when he thought about the night. How for the first time in a long time he went to bed feeling like a real man. In all ways. It made him feel like he could run a marathon. That was what he needed. A run.
He headed out the room and grabbed his keys. An early morning run was the only way he could calm his overjoy.
Shadow sat at his computer desk. It was Sunday and he was at work. His mind was clouded with thoughts of Amy and plagued by Maria. She was still at the apartment. Withering away by choice. Most of his evenings were sleepless. She'd talk about wanting to do a line or two when she was down. He had to talk her out of it. He reminded her of the chills. She'd talk about how good it was. How she made better artwork. How she was a better person. He reminded her of where it lead to. He mentioned her husband.
She told him cocaine was pure. Beautiful in a way. He told her that it tainted her more than anything. She would cry. Cry long, loudly. Beautiful is the word she'd insist on. With tears in her eyes and burying her face in the crook of his neck, she insisted cocaine and he were the only loves in her life. She repeated that he was the father and the coke, her baby. She missed her baby.
He sat at his desk typing away. He listened to the sound of the keys clicking. He focused on the sounds. Focused on the sound - how did she become that way? He loved her so long, how could he not have known? Or did he always know?
She was a famous photographer. Obviously she'd have work. Or maybe she did that and work. Maybe she had other men besides him that started her on it. Maybe that's why she left him. He stopped typing. He looked at the screen. The many words across the page. Yet still he felt he had made no progress. In anything. Work wasn't distracting enough anymore. Only her.
Sonic ran for some time. He was miles away from the apartment. He was downtown Station Square. It felt good to run again. He stopped doing things that brought him joy once Amy left.
What did make him happy? What was he good at?
He was always amazing at track. In fact, he was the best on the college team. He only stayed in Station Square and went to university there because of that. Their track team was respectable. He won trophies, medal, and competitions. The coach saw an Olympic career in his future, but he felt like it wasn't enough. He had this unexplained passion for justice. Perhaps he was too self-righteous. How could he become part of a system of justice when he never gave justice to the one he loved the most?
He thought about it. He didn't deserve her. He loved her but the more he thought about it the more he realized he didn't deserve her. She was perfect and beautiful. A dream.
He stopped running.
How could he have been that way with her? He stopped and stepped into a convenience store to buy some water. When at the register he saw Shadow step in. The two made eye contact and spoke with their irises.
They sat on a bench outside Shadow's office building. Shadow lit his cigarette and Sonic sipped his water. They didn't say much. Or they tried not to.
"You're still smoking I see."
"When did I mention that I was giving it up?"
"I'm just saying. You know that stuff can kill you."
"I wish it would. I'm not dead yet."
"What do you want with Amy? Are you just trying to spite me?"
"I like her."
"You what?!"
"I like her. I don't love her. I'm not you. But I like her. She's nice. Good. She makes me feel better about myself. You don't deserve her."
"Stay away from her."
"You can't tell me what to do."
"Shadow -"
"Win her back, or lose her me. Know that I'm going after her. That's that." Shadow stood up and threw down his cigarette, stepping on it as to put it out. He walked back in the office and looked at his phone. Amy hadn't called back. Maria called multiple times. He then decided not to leave the office without finishing up his work first.
Sonic stood outside the building. He stared at the pavement. No matter how good he felt about the previous night, Shadow was right. He didn't deserve her. At least not yet. When he returned to the apartment he saw Tails sitting in the sofa. The young man was on the phone. Sonic sat beside Tails and sighed deeply. Tails looked at him from the corner of his eyes. Sonic sighed again.
"Cream, I'll call you back." Tails ended the call and looked at Sonic. "What now?"
"Amy and I kissed."
"Wow, that's surprising."
"Really?"
"No. You guys have no control when it comes to the other. But what's the problem?"
"Shadow likes her."
"Oh. Okay?"
"He's determined to keep her from me."
"What? I'm sure that won't work."
"It might. Do you see the way they look at each other? I get so angry when I think about it."
"I don't know what to tell you. Have you heard the band's song on the radio yet? It's getting a lot of plays."
"I never actually listened to it."
"Here, I'll play it for you." Tails pulled up the song on a music streaming app and increased the volume on his phone. Sonic could kick himself for not really listening to it. He felt a pain in his chest.
in the front row
eyes green, heart knew
it knew before I knew
eyes green, heart knew
knew that I loved you
She had been singing about him. He had always been on her mind.
Shadow opened the door to his apartment. Maria was in living room with bags and a suitcase. She turned around and looked at him a little surprised. He looked at her, worried.
"What -"
"I admitted myself into rehab. Upstate. My cab is outside." She said plainly.
eyes green, heart knew
"You didn't think I'd come back so soon, did you?"
it knew before I knew
"No. No, I didn't. "
"You weren't even going to say good bye. You were just going to leave again? You can't keep doing this to me! I still love you. I never stopped."
knew that I loved you
Maria walked over to Shadow. She closed the door and he stood there, silent. She hugged him around his waist and he held her hands. She leaned against him, pressing her cheek to his back. Shadow stood there, still. "I love you too. That's why I have to go."
"If you leave, don't come back. I mean it." He told her.
"Only if that's what you really want." She released him and stepped away. Shadow turned and faced her. He looked at the older woman with so much hurt. Her eyes were filled with tears. "I'll stay away for good this time."
Shadow touched the woman's blonde hair. He then touched her cheeks and cupped them with the palms of his hands. He felt her hands on his skin. "I'm happy for you. That you want to get better."
"I wanted to get better for us. Get better so I could leave him. So I could be good for you."
"I know. But I don't think I can do this anymore. We deserve better. Better than what we have been to each other."
eyes green, heart knew
"Goodbye."
knew that I loved you
"Goodbye." Maria walked away from Shadow. She grabbed her suitcase and bags, then headed out the door. Shadow stood there unmoving. He didn't look at her. He couldn't. He was afraid he'd burst into tears. Afraid he wouldn't be able to stop them. When she closed the door, without looking back, he found he was right. He covered his eyes with his hand, but the tears had already began their journey down his cheeks. He'd call out sick the following morning. Not that it mattered. The new semester would start in a little more than a week.