watch?v=tQMEAh5rhsc

It was just a few weeks after Sonic had seen his old rival, Shadow. The blue speedster having defeated him after a strange battle that tossed them through time. Though, Sonic did think it was just a bit unfair that it was two against one.

Still, the victory gave a familiar rush he hadn't felt in a very long time. Though, for some reason it felt a bit...empty. Given that he WAS trying to stop Lyric, but still. Usually seeing Shadow in general always made his day a little better. More adventurous.

Sighing, the blue hedgehog played around with the sports tape on his gloves.

He really wished he could be one on one with Shadow in a reasonable challenge with no interruptions for once. But that was seemingly impossible nowadays with how their lives branched away.

"What's got you moping hedgehog?," a deep voice seemingly smirked a bit at the rare emotion on the cerulean hero. Sonic just smirked in response. "Me? Moping? Isn't that your thing?," he smirked a bit more at the scoff.

"Cheeky as ever I see.," the red streaked hedgehog said from his spot against a tree. "You say it like it's a bad thing!," Sonic grinned a bit. "What's with you watching me from behind my back? Miss me that much?~," he chuckled, grinning more at the eye roll. His breath hitching at the knowing look in the ruby orbs.

"Please, the only thing that misses you are my spears.," he said, Sonic snickering," Not my fault your aim's off." A dangerous glint entered the crimson irises. "Don't push it hedgehog. You should be thankful I'm even speaking to you."

"Oh? Why's that?," he asked, a taped hand resting on his hip. No response came. Yet Sonic just grinned," Oh~ Is it because I beat you in that fight?~"

"You cheated and you know it." "Not my fault Tails wanted to help. AND we were saving the world afterall."

"Oh, so my presence is a distraction?"

Sonic felt slightly backed into corner. The tone was casual but a warning was evident in it. "Well….," he strolled up to the slightly shorter hedgehog. "Not my fault you can be so….distracting….," he said carefully. The older hedgehog scoffing.

"What? You literally made it almost too late to stop that snake dude. Why did you even care to stop me anyway? We haven't even seen each other in months until that fight and you pull THAT." Blue huffed, crossing his arms. "And you say I'M rude."

"Well excuse me if I found a life for myself. Which is somewhat hard when everyone views you as a threat no matter what. Even more so when you're trying to figure out who you really are.," the streaked hedgehog said, his fluff fluttering softly from the soft breeze, his gaze away from the hero. "Excuse me if I wanted to ensure you atleast had a chance facing that reptile just so I wouldn't have to come in and save you when you needed it."

Emeralds widened in response, noting the faint pink from such an on swirl of emotions just displayed. "Do you...did you just say you were worried about me?"

"No. I said I was making sure you didn't die so I could fight you once more, and prove I am the ultimate."
"You care about me!~," his taped hands rested against his cheeks," That's so cute!"

"Shut up."

"Make me."

Sonic gagged softly when his scarf was roughly pulled down, his startled emeralds meeting the furious rubies. Yet Sonic merely smirked," Oh my god!~ I remember when YOU were the tall one!," he grinned, unaware of the reddening cheeks. "Now I'm the tall one!"

"Shut your mouth hedgehog."

"Ah, you look so cute when you're all flushed."

"SHUT UP." the tone was warning, his hold on the scarf tightening.

"Ohmygosh! You're like a little angry slice of pie!"

"FAKER I SWEAR-" the ebony hedgehog was cut off as he shoved back and pinned against the tree he was previously pinned to. His cheeks a dark red from the closeness of the other. His breath gently tickling his lips. "Shad~ What happened to us?," Sonic murmured softly, his arms on either side of him to give him space for the other's comfort. "I really missed you those months you were gone…," he said, pressing their cheeks together with a soft sound. Smiling softly at the small nudge.

"Everything's changing Faker…," his captive mumbled softly. "It was hard catching up to modern times for me….now it seems impossible."

Sonic moved, letting the rubies stare into his soft emeralds. "Then let me help….I promised I'd help….so let me."

"You have enough to worry about."

A look of anger washed over his usually chill features. "Don't you do that." "Do what?" "Put yourself down like you don't matter." Sonic said lowly. Shadow sighed softly, shaking his head," Sonic….," he rarely used the name unless he was serious with the other," You protect a world….they all depend on you." "Yeah? Well you're apart of that world! ….Aren't you?"

Shadow couldn't hold his gaze. Another sigh leaving him," Nobody can know….they'll use what we...they'll use it against us for a card in battle.," he said, Sonic trying to catch his gaze again. "Then we'll face it together!"

"No…"

"Damn it, I lost you once, I'm not losing you again!" The cerulean snapped, causing the other to flinch. "I'm...I'm sorry…," Sonic was unaware of the dark color fading away from his bright blue fur. "I just….we can work it out…..Please….," he said, his hand resting against his cheek.

Shadow finally met his gaze again," How can you continuously go on like this?," he asked, a pain in his eyes. Sonic's gaze softened in understanding," One day at a time Shad...One day at a time." he said, moving his arms so the other could move freely, even though he could've moved earlier.

"...You can help me you know…," the rubies glanced up. " Protect the world….I mean….," Sonic gave a breezy chuckle, scratching the back of his neck. "It'd be a lot easier if the Ultimate Lifeform was there….," he said, catching the small smile that appeared and disappeared just as quickly.

"Everyone will-"

"I don't care. Just as long as you're there.," he said, a taped hand barely grasping the other. "I really want you there Shadow…."

"Where would I be?"

"At my place, duh!," SOnic said as if it was obvious. Shadow flushed," And during the chill periods, where nothing's happening from villains, I can help you catch up on the times again!," Sonic smiled.

"...You promise you won't go overboard?"

"Me? Go overboard?," Sonic scoffed as if it was the most ridiculous thing. "PLEEEEASE~" He waved a hand dismissively, the ebony hedgehog rolling his eyes.

"Fiiine." Sonic grinned," Follow me then!" "Don't push it hedgehog." "How am I pushing it?" "I don't follow blindly…" Sonic sighed," That's not what I meant! And you know it!," he said, finally noticing the tiny grin on the dark hedgehog's features.

"...Did you just…?"

"Maybe…..you'll figure it out eventually."

Sonic was slightly slack jawed as the other grasped his hand and walked ahead, dragging him along.

"...You're on the couch."

"I beg to differ hedgehog."

With an eye roll, Sonic matched his step quickly. Walking in pace with the other.

"I'm not eating chili dogs all the time though…"

"Ok, that was just hurtful."