*There is moderate sexual content in the beginning of this chapter.

38 - Date - 38

Morning, 11:00 AM

The blue hedgehog squeezed his eyelids, before slowly opening them. His lime green eyes adjusted to his surroundings quickly, and he could feel the rest of his mind awaken from it's long slumber. He felt an absence of warmth beside him, with a pout he patted his bare hand around only to feel nothing. Where did his living body pillow go? He didn't feel like it, but he sat up and stretched his arms up behind his head. He made a soft sigh, as he was glad he got a lot of rest but he was even more glad that he got to experience probably the best night of his life. He faintly smiled at the memory, it was amazing. He was also very proud of Shadow for being so open and willing to do such an intimate act with him. Sure they had messed around before, but what they did last night was the real deal. In all fairness, Shadow had been wanting to do it for a while, but he was sure he was still nervous about all of it. He really grew from his naivete from their first date. He had more to learn, they both did, but that's why they were going to keep doing what they were doing and take this one step at a time together. After he cracked his neck and moved to get out of bed, he heard the door to his bathroom creak open. He felt steam drift into the bedroom and saw quite the delectable sight.

A nude black and red striped hedgehog stepped into the room and leaned against the door frame. "You're finally awake. Get up already, I need you to wash my back...Among other things." With that, he turned back around and slowly returned to the bathroom. Smirking, Sonic watched those perfect cheeks of his go up and down with every step he made. Well, couldn't turn down an invitation like that. He happily hopped out of bed, and quickly jogged to the bathroom before shutting the door. He was instantly pulled into the shower that was already running, and he was attacked with an exciting heated kiss. Shadow prodded his tongue into his mouth, initiating a more intense French kiss. Sonic didn't expect this to be how he woke up, but he didn't question the lustful attention at all. As they kissed, he felt Shadow rub his hand down his abdomen and in between his legs. Sonic moaned in the kiss instinctively, his cheeks slightly reddening. The biohog's palm pressed up against his crotch, his already slightly hardened member quickly being revealed. He felt him stroke his length in his hand very slowly, and Sonic sensually reciprocated by grinding his hips against it. Shadow broke the kiss with a thin trail of saliva drooping below their chins. "May I?" He asked gently. Sonic nodded without a word and parted his legs.

Shadow got on his knees and pressed his face in between his blue thighs. As the water hit their bodies, Sonic leaned his head back against the glass walls with a lengthy groan. He closed his eyes with a difficult expression, feeling his manhood harden and grow completely erect. It was being licked, teased, kissed and stroked all at once. He opened his eyes to curiously look down at his lover, who was staring right back up at him as he licked the base of his tongue around the underside of the head. The younger one's prick was fully hard in seconds, veiny and strong. He soon placed an inch in his mouth, sucking and moistening more of his length. With a small short lived chuckle, Sonic softly placed his hand on top of Shadow's head to lightly guide him back and forth against his pelvis. "What a great way to wake up-" He sucked in a breath. "-Mmnn...You like havin' me in your mouth?" When he saw him nod, he licked his lips. "Yeah? Such a naughty boy...No breakfast, no 'good morning'. You wanted this cock that bad, huh?" He saw him obediently nod again as he bobbed his head up and down, making Sonic grin sultrily. He saw Shadow's free hand reaching down below his own thighs and making stroking motions. "Mmm, and you're touching yourself too." Sonic grunted with pleasure as he pressed his fingers into his lover's quills. "You're not gonna choke, are you?"

As a retort against that, Shadow pushed more of his member down his throat. Sonic could tell he was still not well versed in performing a blow job, so he wasn't trying to deepthroat him. However, he was still doing a very good job. He actively stroked his length with increased speed, his eyes never leaving Sonic's gaze. He felt the blue one scratch behind his ears and caressed around his face, causing his black tail to wag in satisfaction. Biting his bottom lip, Sonic grinded his hips into his mouth. He then glanced at the shower wall to his right, and thought of something a little frisky. He glanced back down at Shadow and smirked before lifting one of his legs, bending it at the knee and placing his foot against the wall. His lower body was now very vulnerable and open, giving his striped lover much more space not just to suck him off, but to do a lot more. The biohog dragged his tongue from his erection, his sack, his taint, and soon his entrance. It was tight and not at all willing to retract and open up to him as of now, but that could be easily fixed. His lingua smushed itself against it, causing Sonic to stiffen and release a louder moan. He was still stroking him quickly, precum spilling onto the tiles below. He heard Shadow growl sexually as he sucked against his hole, feeling his own orgasm approach.

Sonic growled as well before pulling Shadow's hand away from his member so he could stroke himself, and pushed his head further below his arse. His elder lover gladly obliged him and wrapped his free arm around his blue leg to keep him still, continuing to eat him out as he rubbed his own length desperately. "Fuck..." He hissed while closing his eyes tightly. "Fuck...Ahh..." He pressed his fingers more into Shadow's head, inhaling sharply as he felt his tongue beginning to penetrate inside of him. "O-Oh shit..." His inner thighs twitched. "You're gonna make me cum..." He gripped his hold into his fur, roughly shoving his face farther against him. His legs trembled, his release imminent. "Shadow...Ahh...Nnmm that feels so good..." He gasped when he suddenly thrusted his hips forward, jerking himself roughly as white squirted from his fist. "A-Aah...Yes, yes...!" He could feel Shadow moan against him, and he looked down to see a small white puddle leak from underneath his lover. Sonic lowered his leg and panted lightly as his lover pulled his face from underneath his bottom. He was a little winded as well, letting go of his own softening length. He embraced the blue one and shared yet another kiss. The hero deepened the kiss and held Shadow closely.

After that pleasant little late morning surprise, they actually got to cleaning themselves and each other like Shadow initially requested. When their shower finished, they brushed their teeth and properly groomed themselves. They then exited together in a large towel that was wrapped around both of their dripping bodies. Sonic was playfully hugging the elder hedgehog from behind under the towel as they attempted to walk simultaneously, the hero's weight on the biohog making it slightly harder to navigate. Usually this would irritate the GUN agent, but he was chuckling a little from the younger one's childlike nature. "I can't walk right with you on me like this."

"Mmmn, but I love you~" He teased with a kissy face. "You should be extra nice to me and gimme a piggy back ride." He was suddenly lifted up onto Shadow's back. "W-Woah!" He blinked at this, he didn't expect him to actually do that. "Damn, I didn't think you'd actually do it." He made a gleeful smile and wrapped his arms around his neck from behind. "Heheheh, you must be in a good mood 'cause you're bein' super cute today."

"You could say that." Shadow said while carrying the blue one effortlessly, holding his legs and calves securely as they moved to the bed.

When he was gently let down onto the sheets, Sonic pulled half of the towel off of his body. "Don't you gotta go to GUN?"

The biohog shook his head, pulling the rest of the towel off while glancing at the hero. "I took off for a week. It'll be the first time I use my vacation days. Tower easily allowed it."

"Well in that case," Sonic trailed off. "I got's a proposition for ya." He said with an energetic tone.

"Which is?"

"I wanna take you out somewhere-"

The biohog frowned at this. "You are not splurging money on me again, hedgehog."

"Oh hush and hear me out." Sonic retorted. "Smashin's great an' all, but doncha wanna do more than just sex? We've only had like one official date, and I wanna do another one with you." He then made a sad pouty expression. "Unless you're tired of me already...?" His own gloves were thrown directly into his muzzle, covering his facetious face. "...So is that a no, or...?"

Shadow rolled his eyes. "Of course I'm not going to say no," He said curtly before sighing and bending down to pick up his own discarded gloves. "I just don't like that you keep throwing cash at me." He stood back up and looked at the blue hedgehog with a serious expression. "First the party, and now this...Why do you keep spending so much on me?"

Sonic pulled the gloves off of his face and made a bored expression, before simply shrugging. "...I don't understand that question." He said calmly while pulling on his hand wear. "It's my money, I want to spend it on you and you're more than worth it. I don't get what the problem is. Shadow," He gave him a puzzled look, slightly chuckling at such an obvious question. "Why would I not spend my money on you?"

Not at all expecting such a careless, nonchalantly affectionate answer, Shadow blushed and looked away. "Damn you..." He grumbled. "Fine, but when I splurge on you, I don't want to hear any complaints."

"Kay kay." The hero replied easily as he pulled on his socks. "I already made reservations last night anyway, so-"

Shadow froze. "You what?" He glared at Sonic. "You didn't even know for sure I was off from work. Where are you even taking me?"

"Meh, I had a hunch. But uhh..." Sonic did nothing but make a sheepish grin in return. "...You're really gonna hate me for this."

Station Square, Central District

Afternoon, 12:15 PM

All the hero could say to the GUN agent after that was, "Put on something nice for me today, 'cause I'm taking you somewhere fancy." He told him this while pulling on a white varsity jacket with blue sleeves and trims, the number "91" stitched in cobalt onto the back. It was thin, so he wouldn't be too hot under the weather's blazing sun, but it also looked rather pricey. He changed his footwear as well to a more fashionable pair of sneakers that were more for show than performance. He looked great, more so than usual, even if it was just two extra pieces of clothing on his person. After he dressed himself in front of the biohog while combing his hands through his long quills, Shadow felt a little underdressed. He didn't like the idea of this fancy date and was glowering at him the whole time. However, he eventually complied and zipped to his own home in Empire City to get a specific article of clothing that would compliment his appearance. When he returned to the blue blur's home in less than a few minutes, he was wearing a thin black jacket with red lining, its sleeves rolled up to his elbows. It wasn't the most glamorous, but it was nice enough. He could tell Sonic liked this, because he almost saw little blue hearts floating above his head when he returned.

The hero then escorted the biohog out of the house and back into the city. It took about ten minutes to find the place deep within Station Square, as this was only Sonic's second time going to this location. When Shadow saw the building, he noticed how luxurious and exclusive it looked. This was a restaurant, the ones where celebrities liked to eat and entertain themselves. Its sign sat up top with a loud font, saying "The Eclipse." A canine-Mobian host dressed in an all black suit asked if they were here on a reservation. If not, they'd be asked to leave. His tone was rushed and bored, until he saw that he was currently speaking to Sonic and Shadow the Hedgehog. His attitude immediately brightened and he bowed his head several times. When the hero politely explained that he already had a reservation, the host asked, "Oh yes, 12:30's VIP table for two hundred?" Sonic made a sweat drop at Shadow's shocked expression and nodded quietly. The host immediately guided the two deeper into the restaurant and towards their private VIP table.

Shadow instantly felt out of place and slowly turned to the blue hedgehog with an annoyed glower as they followed the host. "I should beat your ass for this." He hissed.

"Okay but-"

"Two hundred fucking dollars for a reservation, Sonic?"

The hero held his hands up in defense. "Before you throw acid in my face, I really, really wanted to take you to this place." His voice became empty of jokes or sarcasm, he was being sincere. "With all the craziness going on, I...wanted to do it sooner rather than later."

With a heavy sigh, Shadow shook his head at him. "Why didn't you at least ask me first?"

A guilty expression fell upon Sonic's face. "Well I...I wanted to surprise you." He sounded a little afraid that he offended the striped hedgehog, and a little dejected that he might not have wanted to come here after all. "Sorry."

He remembered how upset Rouge got when Shadow initially denied her to go to the party. Though she was mostly guilt tripping him, he could tell she still really wanted him to go and was slightly genuinely sad that he didn't at least consider it first. If it wasn't for him going to that party and taking a chance, he and Sonic might not have found attraction to each other. Thus, never getting together. He was doing exactly the same thing to Sonic who, unlike Rouge, was sincerely remorseful about surprising Shadow. The biohog began to feel rueful for his knee-jerk reactionary response. He was so used to brushing off or pushing away things being done for him that he forgot that it was his lover doing it for him this time. "..." He hated seeing Sonic look like that because of him. "...I don't mean to be ungrateful, I'm...I'm obviously flattered," His voice was softer than before. "I just...I don't deserve-"

His hand was grasped softly. "I know you feel like you don't deserve it. I told you that I feel like I don't deserve you," Sonic gave him a small warming smile. "But I got ya. And since I got ya, I'm gonna make sure we both enjoy ourselves. I already get that you don't like surprises, but..." He blushed a little. "Could you do this one for me? I won't do anything like this again, I promise."

No, that's not what Shadow wanted. He squeezed his hand back affectionately against his. "I don't mind if you do something like this again, I just..." He didn't know how to explain it.

"Still learning how to deal with it? Being catered to?" Sonic asked with a relatable tone. But then, he grimaced. "Oh no. I didn't insult you by doing this, did I?"

"No," Shadow damned himself for making this way more difficult than it had to. "No you're not offending me, you're doing quite the opposite actually. I just don't know how to put it without...You know."

Curiously, Sonic looked to the side with a thoughtful expression. "I noticed you took the picnic a lot easier, 'cause it was really simple and downsized. No money was involved, so you were able to digest that a little better." Figuring it out, the hero looked more satisfied that he understood Shadow's perspective a little more. "Now I get it. Y'know, I feel the same way when my friends do nice stuff for me, especially when it involves money. I hate it when Tails buys stuff for me. Buuut," He leaned against him with a loving expression, causing Shadow to feel a little flustered. He couldn't handle it when he looked at him like that. "We had a long talk about self hatred. Is it really that you don't deserve it, or that you don't think you deserve it? Couples splurge on each other all the time, why can't I do that for you?"

Blushing, Shadow averted his amber red eyes. "...I see what you're getting at, and you're right. Like I said, just give me time. I'm still learning."

The hero pressed a chaste kiss onto his cheek, not caring if anyone saw them. "I can do that. And maybe you feel like you don't need all this to have a good time with me, I feel the same way sometimes too. I wanted to try somethin' a little new. I won't keep bombarding you with stuff like this, I know it can be intimidating and even a little annoying." His smile turned from bright to excited. "But you'll see why I wanted to take you here and you won't be disappointed."

"Well," Shadow responded with a small smile of his own. "You have yet to make me feel that way, you usually never disappoint."

When the host stopped walking, he stepped aside to welcome them into the VIP room. Sonic thanked the host before pulling Shadow inside. "I wasn't just deleting numbers on my phone or texting Tails, I was making the reservation for this room." Speaking of which, it looked amazing. The paneled walls were gilded in silver, sparkling and shiny. The ceiling had a grand diamond chandelier and the floors were glossy with floral patterned linoleum. The room wasn't very big, as it was only big enough for a small party of people. The table was quaint but just as expensive as the other pieces of furniture in this room. The material looked like black onyx, and the barrel chairs were made with ridiculously soft and thick fabric. In the middle of the table was a small sized bouquet of flowers. When they sat down together at the table, Shadow still seemed very uncomfortable. The moment his eyes landed on Sonic, he seemed to look a little better though. He internally admitted it, he hated this. But if this was what Sonic wanted, he'd trust the process and compromise- "Wait for it." Sonic said with a grin. "Wait for it, wait for it, wait for iiiiiit..." Raising a brow, Shadow pointed a confused gaze at him until the lights dimmed a little.

The walls and ceiling weren't just paneled, it was so much more than that.

Because in just a few moments, they blacked out to reveal stars. Shadow's eyes widened. These walls weren't normal, they were LED. Before, they were in a normal fancy VIP room, but now they were in the beautiful mysterious void that was outer space. It was as if he was in a planetarium, watching several comets and dying cosmic giants fizzle all around him. The lights from their beauty reflected onto his body, his amber eyes glinting wondrously. His mouth was slightly agape, shocked at what he was witnessing. Sonic watched with a big knowing smile, loving how much Shadow was silently enjoying this. Breathlessly, the biohog marveled at it all. "...What is this?" He asked quietly.

The hero reached to the middle of the table to pull over a menu. "Besides the food, The Eclipse is known for their LED walls that show parts of outer space. Rumor has it, they're the same walls they use in local planetariums. It only does it a few times in the normal dining area, though. That's lame, so I wanted to get a room where it'd be constantly on while we eat. Plus," He said while plucking his finger through the pages. "I don't feel like gettin' hounded by paparazzi or fans. As much as I'd love to scream to the top of my lungs that I'm dating the motha effin' Ultimate Life Form, I can only imagine how annoying it would be to constantly see our faces plastered on online tabloids. Watching to see where we go, checking to see if we ever have a hiccup in our relationship, crap like that."

Shadow couldn't even respond because he was too distracted by the room's atmosphere. "Yeah..." He mumbled, making Sonic giggle.

"I told ya this place was nice! I know it's not your scene, but it's still pretty dope." He placed down the laminated menu before digging in his pocket and holding up a small cylinder of chap stick. After he uncapped it, he dragged it over his lips, causing Shadow to glance at him and squint his eyes. Seeing that he was staring at him, Sonic blinked. "What?"

Shadow couldn't believe what he just saw. "I just never took you for the pretty boy type. Huh," He thought about what he just said, then eyed Sonic up and down. His eyelashes were already naturally long, and he smelled and dressed very well..."Then again, saying it out loud, it seems pretty obvious now." He definitely didn't have that vibe when he was younger, sleeping on tree branches and living off of the wilderness despite having a home. One would expect he'd smell and look like some wild drifter. 'Guess he grew out of that.

Rolling his eyes, Sonic placed the cap back on the stick and put it away. "We all don't have immortal, glowing skin like some people, so I gotta keep these babies nice and soft. I'm kissable for a reason, babe." He wasn't lying about that one.

After a small while, a Mobian female waitress with a black suit dress entered the room to visit their table and gave them glasses of sparkling water before returning for their orders. Shadow took a few minutes to look over the stupidly exorbitant menu, before settling on what he wanted. Sonic gave him terse instructions not to get anything cheap, or else he'd order for Shadow on his own without his consent. Begrudgingly, he obeyed and knew what he wanted when the waitress returned. As they waited, the biohog noticed the flowers on the table and began to think about what Sonic would like if he were to gift him a bouquet. However, he wasn't sure how to ask without sounding cheesy or overly sensitive. Hell, would Sonic even like flowers? This caused Shadow to just keep staring holes into the plants, making Sonic chuckle under his breath. He already knew what he was thinking.

"I like cornflowers." The hero suddenly said with a casual air.

Blinking, Shadow glanced up at him. "Corn...flowers...?" He repeated slowly. He didn't expect that answer.

The blue one nodded. "I saw 'em in Amy's shop one day and I really liked them 'cause they're blue like me. She says 'they represent delicacy and refinement'. She also told me that in old history, young men would wear them as broaches to show that they were in love. If the flower shriveled up and died too quickly, it was taken as a sign that their love was unrequited." He then shrugged causally as he pulled out his phone and checked for messages from Tails. "None of those things represent me, but y'know, I think they're pretty." He then looked up from his phone. "Yours?" He asked with a more interested voice. "I'd initially guess red roses but that's too predictable. You're cooler than that."

Hmm, a question he never mused about. "I never thought about it before," Shadow began as he looked up at the ceiling's chandelier, which he soon realized resembled a blooming flower's vines. "But I think...I like white lilies." He answered confidently. "There was a garden on the Ark with artificial flowers that resembled them. Maria and I would lay on the synthetic grass often and stare at the stars. We sometimes fell asleep on the field." If Amy knew that much about cornflowers, she would have to know about lilies due to their popularity. They were very common, after all. It couldn't hurt to ask. "What does Rose know about those?" Shadow asked curiously.

With hesitation, Sonic put his phone away and took a sip of his sparkling water. "In some countries," He began cautiously. "I personally found out that they represent innocence and purity that follows soon after...death." He didn't want to say it, but he also didn't want to lie to Shadow or brush it off without a proper answer. He could see some hidden sorrow behind Shadow's eyes, but it was one of acceptance, not necessarily mourning. He's been used to that poor girl being gone, but it didn't hurt any less. "But," Sonic quickly added. "They also represent hope, and rebirth."

"Hmph," Shadow nodded with a satisfied expression. He didn't smile, but he accepted that answer. "I see."

The waitress soon returned to take their orders and a bill with the check for when they were finished so they wouldn't be disturbed afterwards. The restaurant was French themed, so the dishes were almost all French cuisine. Since it was only lunchtime, they both planned on eating rather light. A small meal, a drink and maybe a little dessert afterwards would do. Sonic asked for crêpes suzette, while Shadow ordered a croque madame. They both ordered a lemon flavored soft drink and a small bowl of white chocolate macarons. It only took the waitress less than ten minutes for their food to arrive and they graciously began to chow down. While they ate, they talked about nothing important. It was a nice change of pace, considering the events that transpired days ago. As Sonic expected, Shadow not only loved the room but adored the food. He consistently made sounds of contentment and guiltless self indulgence. The hero deduced that Shadow just really liked sandwiches of any kind. Be it a breakfast sandwich or strawberries with whipped cream, he was a big sandwich guy. He wondered if he would mind fixing him meals for work with GUN.

Then Sonic realized as he was eating that he was thinking like a housewife, which was a little demoralizing. He wasn't someone who did stuff like that, nor was he someone who'd be expected to wait for his spouse at home from a long day at work with a hot meal ready on the table. He sounded like some girly homemaker. This was another reason why he didn't like the idea of falling in love, it was making him think and act differently than what he'd normally say and do.

But...At the same time, if it was for Shadow, he strangely didn't care about any of that stuff. If his ego had to suffer for it, so be it.

Sigh.

Love was so confusing and annoying, but it was worth it for Shadow.

"Sonic," Shadow suddenly said, his plate almost completely polished. How the hell did he eat it that fast? "Do you know how I stopped you in your demonic form?"

He didn't anticipate him bringing that up now of all times, and he didn't like speaking about it. This caused Sonic to pause chewing a little. "...No?"

"Remember that card that was given to me by that lookalike of yours? Zonic?"

"Yeah?" That's when the hero blinked. "Oh, you called him for help?"

Shadow nodded. "Yes, he knew exactly what to do. He performed some kind of exorcism of sorts, with sigils infused with chaos energy. There were hands of chaos like the ones we saw on Christmas Island, that reached up and pulled the demonic spirit out of your body and into the ground." He saw Sonic furrow his brows with both semi-shock and confusion. "They literally ripped it from your figure, and the contract you forged with it was instantly nullified. When you were back to normal, Zonic instructed me that we had to come with him the next time he appeared. He gave us two weeks to recover before coming. He won't be taking no for an answer this time, either. He's prepared to fight us again if we resist. However," Shadow added thoughtfully. "Perhaps...It's best that we do go with him. I can't help but think that if I had called him the second you transformed, none of what happened afterwards would have transpired. He might have even known a way to stop Infinite. He knows exactly what's going on, while we're stuck in the dark. He exorcized that spirit out of you effortlessly and despite his extremely detestable nature, he seemed legitimately concerned that you died. He obviously means us no harm if he can help it, and he's willing to explain all of it. About you, your forms...everything." He gave Sonic a serious stare. "I think we should go with him. If he knows how to travel to different worlds, he may even know about Infinite's current whereabouts. I don't know how long we'll be gone, but we need answers."

An exasperated exhale drifted from Sonic's nose as he nibbled against the prongs of his fork. "...Alright." He finally said. "Fine, but I'm definitely not givin' that asshole the respect he thinks he deserves. I'm grateful he got that thing outta me," He made a scowl. "But the moment he gets slick at the mouth, we're findin' a way back home."

The biohog agreed. "I think that's fair, and we won't let it end the same way if he corners us again. We're far stronger now than we were before."

In a couple minutes, Sonic finished his food and reached for a macaron. At the same time, Shadow had also reached for one, and their hands touched. Blushing with a smile, the hero pulled his hand back to allow Shadow to get one first. "'Guess we both got a sweet tooth."

The elder hedgehog couldn't really agree as he took a bite of treat. "The food is great, but it's just not the same as your cooking. Subpar, in comparison."

Sonic made a delighted smile as he took one of the desserts from the bowl. "Oh stop it, I ain't no chef. I'm tellin' ya, you should hit up Vanilla's place sometime and try her world famous apple pie. It's so, freakin', good."

"Indeed, I was thinking about making plans to visit the woman eventually. She was very kind to me at the party, and Rouge told me she has a hidden stash of exotic liquor in her dining room. She's a good drinking buddy, apparently. Oh," He added after another bite. "And I'd like another massage from you, my right shoulder's a little stiff and you're kind of responsible. You scratched the hell out of my back last night."

The blue one nodded while chewing. "Yes, daddy."

"What?" Shadow paused. "I'm not your father, faker."

Sonic snorted a laugh. "No, no babe, it's a thing." He made a suggestive smile. "A sex thing."

He was still confused. "How?"

"Well," Sonic started off normally as he took a napkin and wiped his mouth. "You normally say it like this..." He then lowered his arm in between his own legs on the chair. His cheeks suddenly reddened, and his eyes clouded with lust. He was acting as if he was fondling himself right in front of Shadow in a very public venue. "A-Ah...Ahh...! Mmn, harder Daddy~!" He moaned loudly as he tilted his head back.

Blood from his nose dripped onto the macaron Shadow was holding. He knew he was faking it, but why did he sound so convincing? "...!" Did he really just do that here of all places?

Snickering at his expression, Sonic crossed his legs and leaned forward over the table. "You didn't have a little accident from that," He tilted his head playfully. "Did ya~?"

A little flustered, Shadow looked away with a scowl. "D-Don't...call me that in public again."

"Aww why, daddy~?" He teased.

"S-Shut up, hedgehog." He finished the rest of his macaron in haste and immediately stood up. He reached for the bill in the middle of the table beside the flower pot. "Just let me take the bill and-" Sonic was suddenly next to him, elbowing him in the arm to push him away. "Bastard, give me the damn check!"

"Absolutely not." The hero easily retorted.

"Sonic, you're irritating me."

"I do that everyday, sexy."

A vein grew on Shadow's head. "I am not letting you spend even more cash on me!"

Sonic flipped him the bird. "Oh I'm so sorry, but I'm afraid that's not your decision, baby boy. I made the reservation so I'm paying for the food."

The two males glowered at each other with their foreheads ramming instantly. Shadow was in no mood for his copious amounts of ludicrous generosity. "I said I'm paying for lunch and that's final." He hissed with fanged gritting teeth.

The blue one matched his scowl, until he suddenly sneered. He knew how to make him submit. "Please," He whispered hotly. "Daddy~?"

"...!" That almost got to him, but he wasn't losing this argument. Not this time. "I'm not falling for that." Shadow curtly responded while ignoring his own reddened face. "I'm paying for this date whether you like it or not, and if you've got a problem with that," He used his thumb to point towards the door of the VIP room, giving Sonic a dangerous glare through his amber red eyes. "We can easily settle this outside, if you'd like."

A troubling grin planted itself on Sonic's darkened muzzle, and he licked his lips as his quills began to sharpen. "That's fucking hot." He bit his bottom lip eagerly as he continued to glare at his lover. "As much as I'd love to tango with you right now," He suddenly threw up his hands and stepped away. "Don't feel like endin' a date with a spar, not really romantic if you ask me." He then shrugged and gestured for Shadow to take the bill. He knew his ego needed this, there was no need to fight. He'd let it slide, for now. "You win, all yours."

This little...

An annoyed twitch triggered in Shadow's eye. Was he patronizing him? Did he think he was the one calling the shots here? Just because he made the reservation, didn't mean he was the one in control of this date. What, he thought he'd just let him have it? Was he showing pity? Oh that's it, he'd show him. "Motherfucker." He growled, still not knowing why he fell in love with someone so painfully trying. He snatched the bill and the pen from the table, signed his account number and name in perfect cursive, slammed it back down on the surface of the table and marched over to Sonic. He gripped the collar of his varsity jacket and roughly pulled him close. Sonic only continued to smirk at him as he did so, only adding fuel to his temper. "I should drag you out into the public dining room, fuck you in the middle of the floor and make you beg me to fill you up with my seed in front of every Mobian and Overlander in Station Square." He saw the hero's eyes sparkle with devious intentions, but he could tell that threat made him a little nervous as well. "But I won't. I suppose that'd be too humiliating, even for you. What I am going to do, is take you to Empire City's Shopping District and spend the rest of my last pay check on you."

A cloud of alarm washed over Sonic.

Empire City was notoriously expensive, even buying a damn hotdog from a food stand was nearly twenty bucks a frank. It's shopping and fashion districts would put even an up and coming CEO out of business if he spent too loosely. If Shadow was willing to take him there and pay for whatever he wanted...That'd be a lot of money. Which means that he was willing to spend a fortune on him, just like Sonic did for him with the party. Flattered was an understatement for him at the moment.

He could only whimper one thing to that: "W-Wha...?"

38 - END - 38