Imitation Game

As soon as Shadow stepped into the club, his dark red leather jacket hanging low on his shoulders and only slightly shielding him from the heat that came forth from the overcrowded dance floor, he was met with unfamiliar booming music that almost was loud enough to make his eardrums shatter.

His ears drooped low, pressing close to his head in order to protect themselves from the noise, but he could still feel his skull vibrate in time with every beat.

Rouge had finally convinced him to tag along on one of her many club nights. “It’ll be fun!” She had told him, her smile wide as she thought about her favourite environment, filled with drunk people grinding on each other. “Maybe you’ll even meet someone interesting!”

And now here they were, making their way through crowds of sweating people to find an empty table. Shadow had been here for barely 5 minutes, and he was already wishing himself back to his quiet apartment.

If he had only taken his Chaos Emerald with him, then he could Chaos Control out of there whenever he wanted to. But no, the bat had spotted the Emerald immediately and had hidden it somewhere in his apartment, just before she had dragged him out.

Typical.

There was good reasoning behind his decision to never step foot into a club. His body might have been made in a lab, perfectly designed to survive most challenges and become the cure for many illnesses. But his body was definitely not made for this.

In darkness his eyes had no trouble adjusting, being able to perfectly see even in the most dim places but mixed with the bright laser show this club probably called ‘atmosphere’ Shadow could already feel his eyes hurting. And the smell- sweat, alcohol and other bodily smells filled the air, making this club absolutely stink.

The hybrid had trouble repressing his gag reflex, not wanting to breathe another moment in this stinking club.

“Just an hour, Shadow.” Rouge had reminded him as she re-did her lipstick in the giant mirror that hung in the hallway of his apartment. ”Then you can go come and brood.”

If alcohol only had influence on his body - Shadow had never wanted to drink himself into oblivion but he yearned for the feeling now. If he was drunk, the atmosphere was probably tolerable at least.

Shadow could not understand how people could like clubs. Especially Rouge, who shared many of his sensitive senses, loved going clubbing. Her ears were just as If not more sensitive and just like him, her nose could sniff out even the smallest smells. She must be just as overwhelmed as he felt, but when the hybrid looked over at her and noticed the big, satisfied smile on her face, he already knew that he stood alone with his opinion.

Maybe you got used to this environment after a while. Shadow did not want to stick around long enough to find out.

They chose a table in the far corner of the club, hidden away behind plants and far enough away from the dance floor that the music became quiet enough to tolerate. Most people would overlook this table, they would only be spotted, If someone was looking for them directly.

The black hedgehog squeezed himself onto the seat and scooted backwards until his back hit the wall behind him. With a solid surface against his back, the hybrid felt a little bit calmer, enough to compose himself slightly. No one could sneak up on him, If there was a wall behind him.

Instead of sitting down across from him, Rouge placed her hands on the table and leaned close, shouting something in his ears. Shadow struggled to understand her, recognizing only a few of the words the bat had shouted before she pushed herself away from the table, not even giving him the chance to ask her to repeat himself.

Her destination was soon clear to him when she took off in the direction of the bar.

Rouge was getting them both drinks then, great.

Shadow’s body stayed tense as he followed the bat’s path with his gaze, not leaving her out of his eyes as she approached the bar. He might not have been to a club before, but even the hybrid heard stories of how often women got harassed in environments like these. Rouge might be perfectly capable of protecting herself, but If Shadow had his way, she should not have to.

Effortlessly Rouge moved through the bar, side-stepping all kinds of people that clung to each other and leaned close to each other and finally, she arrived safely at the bar.

She lifted a single finger, wordlessly asking the bartender for his attention and instantly strode a honey badger over to her, his fur already greying in some areas. He looked gruff and serious, ready for a fight but when Rouge placed their orders, he lost some of his tension, even going so far as lifting the corner of his mouth a bit.

Shadow placed both of his hands on the table, one hand flat on the metal surface while the other caught his head as it dropped, his elbow digging into the table. He kept his eyes on the interaction at the bar, although he felt reassured with the presence of the older honey badger.

The black hedgehog might not have been the best judge of character, but the bartender made him feel slightly at ease. He seemed experienced, in control in this kind of environment and Shadow felt like he would step in when something happened.

Shadow had never quite gotten the hang of reading lips, but he definitely wished for that ability now. He wondered what kind of drink Rouge would get him. The hybrid trusted the bat’s expertise in that regard, but he also knew that she was not above getting him something horrible just to laugh at his reaction.

Someone appeared in his peripheral vision, standing close enough that he could smell the strong perfume that surrounding them. “Hey H-handsome.” Her voice sounded timid, despite the fake confidence she was forcing into her voice.

He lifted his head off his hand and turned towards her, his face as blank as always. His stare seemed to make her even more nervous and for a moment she hesitated, making them both just stare at each other in awkward silence.

In front of him stood a young looking cat. Her white fur was barely noticeable, hidden away behind layers and layers of clothing. “I noticed you across the room and I think you look really nice.” Her smile shook as she spoke, like she was not exactly sure of her words.

Shadow frowned, staring at her in confusion. Why would someone tell him that he looked nice? The hybrid knew he looked okay, not overly attractive but definitely not hideous either. And “Handsome”, really? Was she trying to mock him?

His eyes wandered past the young cat, noticing a group of more young women staring directly at them. They were all laughing, hiding their faces away behind their hands but Shadow could tell they were laughing about them. About him.

She really was trying to mock him then.

Shadow turned his attention back towards her, his confused expression now changing into a scowl. “You can stop.” He hissed, watching in satisfaction as her unsure look turned into pure shock. She looked like a deer in headlights, not at all seeming like she expected him to catch on. “I’m uninterested in your games.”

When she continued to stand there and gape at him, he told her off with a single “Leave!”. The cat blushed, her white fur turning red before she turned and finally left him alone. She hurried back towards her friends, exchanging brief words before the group all turned to look at him, all spouting glares.

He glared back at them. His glare followed the group of the door and only then did Shadow relax.

Shadow sighed deeply. This was another reason why he did not like to leave his apartment. With how often people mocked him and insulted him straight into his face, the hybrid should have long gotten used to it. But Shadow could not help but flinch every time another incident happened.

When Shadow turned his head back to the bar, attempting to estimate how long it would take Rouge to get back to him, she was not alone. Another person was standing close to her, a hood hanging low into their face as they exchanged words with the bat.

The hybrid tensed, his fingers digging deep into the metal table as he watched the interaction like a hawk. He was ready to intervene, his mind already screaming at him to get over there when the hood slide back an inch, barely anything for most people, but enough for the black hedgehog to notice who exactly was standing there.

Bright blue quills peeked out below the hood, not at all spiky but relaxed and dormant now, not like Shadow remembered them to be. But Shadow had never seen Sonic relaxed either, every time he saw him, they had a long list of reasons to fight.

Sonic the Hedgehog was standing next to the Rouge, his outfit telling Shadow that he did not want to be recognized at all, wanting peace and quiet for himself. Shadow never wanted to pay attention to the media or celebrities, but even he knew how popular Sonic was with them. And with the fame came all the rumours too. Every little thing that Sonic did ended up in articles, where people discussed whether said thing was good or bad.

The blue hedgehog could not even brush his teeth without the media catching wind of it.

All the more shocked felt Shadow seeing the other stand there, utterly relaxed next to the bat, talking to each other like they were old friends. He had that big smile on his face, showing off his crooked teeth, that Shadow could not help but stare at.

The history between Sonic and him was long and complicated but it all came to a very important fact: They did not get along.

When they both had been younger, Sonic still an optimistic and fun-loving kid and Shadow an angsty teen with his mountain of baggage, they had tried to have a friendship. Sonic had visited him daily, sniffed him out like a bloodhound and had talked his ears off with things that Shadow pretended not to want to listen to. And Shadow had stopped insulting the other, he had not suddenly become nice, but he had tried.

They both had.

But it had not been enough. At one point Sonic’s visits had become rarer, only happening on special days- and then they stopped completely.

And Shadow had missed him. He had thought about the other daily, had waited for the other to appear again and force himself on him. But Sonic had stayed away and after a while, Shadow had accepted his decision.

It had taken the black hedgehog years to realize what he felt for Sonic was not exactly friendship. The way blood rushed to his cheeks whenever Sonic addressed him, the way his hands shook when he touched him and the way his heart raced whenever he even thought about the blue hedgehog.

No, his feelings ran deeper. And they were no simple crush either.

Shadow was in love with Sonic. Maybe he had always been. It did not matter now because the time for that had long passed. Sonic wanted nothing to do with him, and Shadow would respect that decision.

The only interaction the two hedgehogs had was their occasional fight whenever their teams crossed each other in the field. Sonic had his friends, and Shadow had Rouge and Omega.

And now Sonic was here, and apparently Rouge and him were still on speaking terms. Rouge smiled back at the blue hedgehog and looking not at all surprised at seeing him here.

“Meet someone interesting.”, huh? That traitor.

They talk until Rouge’s drinks arrive, and all the while Shadow kept staring, unable to rip his eyes off them.

Sonic said something and despite Shadow staring at his lips, the black hedgehog had not the slightest what the other could have possible said. All he could see was Rouge shaking her head in response. She pointed her thumb over her shoulder, pointing directly at where Shadow was sitting.

Shadow froze, owlishly blinking was all he could do as Sonic slowly followed her thumb, his gaze meeting his. Sonic’s smile did not vanish, but Shadow could spot a forced smile a mile away.

All too soon the blue hedgehog looked away, turning his attention back to the bat. Rouge took their drinks, one in each hand and made her way back to him, careful not to spill anything on the away.

Despite Sonic never looking back to him again, Shadow could not look away. He watched Sonic get his own order, three drinks this time and watched him return to his own table where the echidna and Rose were sitting, waiting for him. The blue hedgehog said something and Rose laughed in response, nodding along.

“You’re staring.” Was Shadow’s only warning before Rouge put their drinks down rather harshly, ripping him out of his observation.

He jerked back, glaring at the bat. “I’m not.” Shadow instinctively denied, despite knowing that his cheeks burned.

“Mhm.” Rouge did not look at all convinced. “Honestly I have no idea how Blue doesn’t already know how smitten you are with how obvious you are being.”

Shadow did not want Sonic to know. They were already estranged, who knew how rare their meetings would become once Sonic knew that Shadow had feelings for him?

His eyes dipped down, staring at the two giant glasses that Rouge had brought to their table. One was filled with a dark liquid, looking almost like coke but the little smoke that was coming from the fluid told him otherwise. The other was light, almost white-looking, with a yellowish tint and a colourful tiny cocktail umbrella completed the look.

“What did you order?”

Instead of answering, Rouge slid one of the drinks over to him. The one with the colourful cocktail umbrella. “Something fruity for you-” She winked at him and Shadow wished he could glare harder. “-and something strong for me.”

The bat grabbed her glass, raising it towards him with a smile. “Cheers!” She waited until Shadow took hold of his own glass, suspiciously staring at the liquid, before taking a large sip out of her own glass.

Shadow nipped at his, pleasantly surprised at the actual fruity taste. He took another sip, licking his lips before he put his glass back down.

“Good?” Rouge asked, evidently already knowing the answer as she smiled smugly.

He did neither confirm nor deny, but his glare slightly lessened and that was answer enough for Rouge.

The black hedgehog would never admit this, but sitting here with Rouge, making fun of all the other people there as the bat slowly got more and more tipsy, was fun. Once or twice people had tried to approach their table, ask Rouge to dance or attempt to have a conversation with him, all being shut down and leaving with nothing.

And still Shadow could not stop glancing at the table where Sonic was sitting.

The trio there were having just as much fun as he and Rouge were having. The evening went on and more drinks got delivered, more rounds while Shadow was still nipping at his own. He did not see the reason in drinking more when his body barely needed any hydration in the first place.

And then something changed. Rose stood up, clearly ready to leave as she put on her jacket. She bid Sonic and the echidna farewell, kissing them both on the cheek before leaving.

Shadow frowned and of course, Rouge instantly noticed.

“What happened?” She asked, swirling the tiny cocktail umbrella from his drink in between her fingers.

“Rose left.” He informed her. “It’s pretty early, isn’t it?”

Rouge laughed. “Look at you!” She shook her head. “You wanted to leave hours ago and now you’re saying Pinkie left early?”

“That’s different.” Shadow scoffed. “This is just not my scene and she apparently comes her often.”

She snorted. Shadow continued, "And don’t think I forgot about how cozy you looked with Sonic. Since when are you on speaking terms with him?”

“Since ever?” Rouge shrugged, not at all looking like it was a big deal that she had never told him. “Our teams are in contact with each other. You know this.” She gave him a pointed look.

“I thought the echidna was your contact.” He bit out. Shadow had not have to listen to hours of Rouge’s complaining about the red menace, just so she could pretend that the two of them were not close.

“Knux?” Rouge laughed once more. “Sure, but between him and Blue, Blue definitely knows more what’s going on.”

Shadow looked back to the table where Sonic and the echidna were sitting, both not speaking much with each other. It almost looked like the echidna was looking for the perfect moment to leave himself.

“Well, there’s your ‘Knux’,” He nodded at the table, his voice dripping with sarcasm as Shadow repeated her nickname for her boyfriend. “Go get your boy-toy.”

Rouge followed his gaze, noticing the same thing as he did, she smiled. And then her smile turned mischievous when she turned back to him. “So you and Blue can hang out?” She winked at him. “Sure thing.”

Shadow opened her mouth to deny her claim but Rouge had already gotten up. The bat left her drink with him while she sauntered towards the other table. Sonic smiled when he noticed her approach and because she came up behind the echidna, she surprised him by placing one hand on his shoulder.

She leaned down, whispering something into his ear. Shadow might not have known what she said, but from the blush that was spreading across the echidna’s face, he could probably take a good guess.

Soon enough Rouge and Knuckles were holding onto each other, stumbling out of the club together and leaving Shadow and Sonic alone, both at their own tables.

Sonic watched the couple leave sadly. He then downed his drink before grabbing all three glasses and taking them to the bar, plopping down on one of the many bar stools there.

Shadow tapped his fingers onto the table, wondering what the normal amount of time was to follow the other to the bar. In his mind he was already trying to come up with what he wanted to say to him, but Shadow knew it was hopeless. As soon as he got over there, his mind would suddenly become blank like usual.

If he even went other there. Maybe Shadow should just leave - After all Sonic did not look like he wanted company right now.

But maybe, If Sonic did not want company, then why did he look sad when the echidna left?

Maybe Sonic wanted company, but he definitely did not it from him, his treacherous mind told him.

Shadow had enough. He downed his own drink, only a little of the fruity drink remaining but still coating his lips in delicious wonder, before he grabbed both his and Rouge’s glasses. With all of his bravery rolled into one decision, Shadow made his way to the bar.

Unlike Rouge and Sonic, Shadow was not used to moving through a crowded club. Every step someone pressed against him, stumbled into his path or bumped into him. The hybrid was glad for his strong grip on the glasses because If he accidentally let go of them, they would surely shatter and cause a scene.

He would have to move away and change his name. Shadow definitely did not want to face Sonic after that.

But his tight grip remained and Shadow safely placed both glasses on the bar counter. He forced himself to stare straight ahead because once he looked to the right and caught a glimpse of the other hedgehog, he would probably never stop staring.

The elder honey badger stopped in front of him, taking the glasses from him. “Another?” He asked, his voice sounding warm and not at all like Shadow had imagined him to sound like.

“Please.” Shadow nodded, because ordering another one sounded like something you should do at a bar.

The hybrid slid onto the bar stool, his knees shaking slightly and bumping against the bar counter. He pressed his feet harder against the stool legs, hoping that his own legs would stop shaking this way, only slightly successful.

“Never thought I would see the day when you’re polite to someone.” A voice spoke from his right.

Shadow turned his head, careful not to seem too eager as he looked at the other.

Sonic’s gaze was staring down at his own glass, the fluid looking almost similar to what Rouge had been drinking the entire night. Something ‘strong’ she had called it. Shadow wondered whether that meant that Sonic was just as tipsy as the bat had been, or maybe he had a higher tolerance than her.

His hood was slightly askew, covering his face on the right side while the left side of his face was completely uncovered, giving Shadow the chance to see the other’s face.

He had never seen the other wear clothes, except for his signature shoes and gloves of course, maybe that was the reason why seeing Sonic wear a dark hoodie looked so strange on him. Black looked good on Sonic, Shadow decided.

“Maybe-” Shadow’s throat was strangely dry for someone that had just drunk the rest of his drink in one go. “Maybe I just never had a reason to be.”

Sonic laughed, short and rough. “Sure.” He agreed easily, slightly slurring the beginning of the word.

Shadow’s calculations were right then. The blue hedgehog was drunk or at least tipsy.

Maybe Shadow should leave. Sonic was probably not in the right mind to have a conversation with him, and Shadow should definitely not force himself on the other, even just for a quick conversation.

Maybe this was just fate telling him that Shadow should give up on the other. They were not meant to be, not as friends, not as anything and Shadow should respect that.

But Shadow had never been good at not arguing with fate.

“It’s been a while.” Shadow watched the other raise his head and turn towards him.

Sonic looked like he had always had, just maybe a bit older. There was a slight stubble on the other’s chin, telling Shadow that Sonic could probably have a beard If he did not shave for a while.

“A while.” Sonic repeated blankly. “We did not see each other for- What was it?” He bit his lip trying to think and Shadow pretended not to stare at the other’s lips. “Two months?”

It had been 53 days, but hey, who was counting? “Must have been, yeah.” Sonic adjusted the sleeves of his hoodie, a clear sign that he was not used to wearing it. ”I don’t think I ever saw you wear clothes.”

Sonic froze, his right hand still wrapped around his left sleeve before he nodded. “Some things you have to do for some privacy, huh?” He moved the hood slightly out of his face, making more of his face visible to Shadow as he did so. “As long as it works, who am I to complain?”

Shadow wanted to say a million more things. He could have asked about the hoodie’s colour, could have asked whether he had chosen that colour deliberately or If it had been an accident- but then the barkeeper returned with one of those fruity drinks and both hedgehogs fell silent.

The atmosphere turned awkward as they both nipped at their drinks. Shadow desperately racked his brain for something to say, but his mind stayed stubbornly blank.

Sonic turned his head to the side, looking behind them, where the dance floor was still the most popular location of tonight. The songs had changed but remained the same to Shadow, all sounding somewhat similar and Shadow did not care enough to spot the differences.

When the blue hedgehog turned his head back to his drink in front of him, his expression looked strange. It was a sight that Shadow was very familiar with but had not expected, the look of someone who was one thought away from starting a battle they knew they could not finish.

He muttered something under his breath and If it had not been for the loud music, Shadow might have picked up on what was said. Instead Shadow only stared at the other, wondering what was going through his mind.

And then Sonic surprised them both by throwing his head back and downing his drink in one go. He groaned, his Adam's apple bobbing with every gulp. A single drop slipped past Sonic’s lips and slid down the corner of his mouth before continuing further down his neck, vanishing under the other’s hoodie.

Shadow watched in a trance, finding it difficult to rip his gaze away from this scene in front of him, and honestly he did not even want to try. He wanted to find out where that drop had gone, only to lick it away and replace it with his own spit, until Sonic was covered in Shadow’s smell.

The glass clanked loudly when Sonic placed it back onto the counter. His stare piercing as he fixed him, his lips slowly curled into a cocky smile, not unlike those Shadow already knew of Sonic.

“Let’s pretend we like each other. Just for tonight.”

It took Shadow a few seconds to rip his gaze away from the sight in front of him before he could even think about what the other had said.

The ‘pretend we like each other’ part echoed through his mind and Shadow almost laughed at the ridiculousness of it all. Rouge had told him time and time again, how ‘obvious’ he had been and Sonic should have noticed his feelings long ago, but the other did not even know that Shadow liked him at all.

Was Shadow this bad at showing his feelings that Sonic still thought he hated him? They had been friends long ago, at least they had tried - Had Sonic also thought that had been one-sided? Had everything ended because of him?

Had it always been Shadow’s fault?

He needed to set things right. They both needed clarification, and they both needed to finally talk about what happened. It should have happened long ago, but maybe Sonic was just as good at avoiding his feelings as Shadow was.

But when Shadow looked back towards the other, every thought of having that very much needed talk vanished, as soon as he saw that hopeful expression on Sonic’s face.

Sonic wanted to pretend that they liked each other. Well, Shadow did not even need to pretend.

Shadow downed his one drink, the sugary sweetness filling his mouth and making his teeth ache. His lips probably shined brightly with the liquid, as some dripped down his mouth and when he turned his head back to Sonic, he nearly preened when he saw Sonic’s gaze drip down and look.

Without wasting another second Shadow extended one hand towards Sonic, a silent offer to start something new, just for tonight.

Sonic smiled. He took Shadow’s hand and jumped of his bar stool, pulling Shadow along in the direction of the dance floor.

The dancing crowd parted, easily letting them through like they belonged there. As soon as they reached the center, Sonic let go of his hand and instantly began to move.

With a hood pulled deep over his eyes, Sonic should not look this attractive. He should look awkward, his moves made it clear that Sonic did not know how to dance, but instead he looked like an ethereal being.

Shadow had no idea how to dance either, had never had the motivation nor any reason to learn - but seeing Sonic starting to become loose and get into his element, took Shadow’s fears from him.

Sonic dragged his hands over his body, starting at his shoulders and sliding down his chest before stopping at his waist. He swung his hips, inching closer to Shadow that still had not begun to move, entirely trapped in his trance.

The blue hedgehog threw his arms around Shadow’s shoulders, intertwining them behind the back of his head. They were close enough to feel each other’s breath now, the hot air only making both hedgehogs sweat more.

This time Shadow started moving along with Sonic, his own hands came to grab Sonic’s from beneath, not to pull, just to hold on.

In comparison with Sonic, Shadow did not feel confident with his dancing at all. He felt rather clumsy as he copied the other’s movements, his body not used to this at all.

The stuffy air was starting to get to Shadow. It felt hard to breathe, and even the breaths he could take barely gave him any oxygen to work with.

Sonic’s hood moved in time with the blue hedgehog’s body, revealing more and more of the other’s face as Sonic threw his head back and forth to every beat of the music.

Shadow could not even hear the music over the ringing in his ears. Nothing mattered as his senses narrowed down on Sonic, his appearance and his closeness to Shadow.

His body yearned and Shadow answered. Shadow’s arms wandered away from Sonic’s, instead moving up the other’s shoulders and then grabbing Sonic’s hood. For a moment he stared into those green eyes, so very beautiful and then he pulled the hood back over Sonic’s face.

The only part that was visible from the other’s face were Sonic’s lips, they slowly turned upwards, twisting into a smile but Shadow did not give Sonic the chance to tease him.

Instead he grabbed Sonic by the collar of his hoodie, his grip so tight, he probably stretched the fabric too far - and then he yanked.

Their noses crashed hard against each other but Shadow did not care because he could finally feel Sonic’s lips on his.

How many times had Shadow stared at Sonic’s lips and wondered what they tasted like? He had wanted to swallow every insult, every dumb comeback the other had thrown at his face.

Kissing was a much better use of their time than insulting each other. And Sonic tasted so much better than Shadow could have ever imagined, he could taste the bitter taste of Sonic’s drink, still residing in Sonic’s mouth. But there, beneath that bitter taste was something sweet, so much better than the taste of his own fruity drink.

It was Sonic. Shadow was tasting Sonic. And his head was swimming with giddy pride.

Sonic had completely stopped moving his body, instead channelling everything into kissing Shadow back with just as much desire and longing. The intertwined hands behind Shadow’s head pulled the hybrid closer and deepened the kiss, both hedgehogs unable to let go from each other.

But Shadow knew that Sonic needed to breathe and so he pulled back, forcing himself to ignore the way Sonic’s lips chased after him and took in the other’s appearance.

A blush covered Sonic’s face, painting the other’s cheeks red. The green eyes were blown wide, almost nothing of the green was visible and the pupils were dilated.

Shadow loved this look on Sonic. But he loved even more that he was the one who caused Sonic to look like this.

The hybrid leaned forward and pressed his forehead against Sonic’s.

“If you don’t take me home, I’m going to kiss your ass.” Sonic mumbled between them, barely audible over the loud booming music.

Shadow laughed, warmth spreading in his chest. He pressed a quick kiss to Sonic’s lips, only lingering long enough to not make them both crave more before pulling back.

“What a shame.” He teased. “I’d love to see you try.”

Sonic’s expression was changing, becoming more mischievous as the other thought about what he could say to quip back at him - but Shadow was already moving.

He grabbed Sonic’s hand and pulled the other along, practically dragging him out of the club.

When Shadow and Rouge had entered the club, it had barely been evening yet, but now the night was fully here and the sky was as dark as Shadow’s fur.

Cold air hit Shadow square in the face and the black hedgehog had to pause for a moment and take a deep breath of the fresh breeze.

Behind him Sonic shivered, his one free arm wrapped around himself as an attempt to shield himself from the cold. He did not complain, but Shadow noticed still, unable not to hear the way Sonic’s teeth clattered, now that the annoying music was finally gone.

Shadow turned around, looking the other hedgehog up and down. “Are you cold?”

Sonic nodded, pressing his teeth together. “My clothes were meant for inside the club.” Not for the chilly air outside, he did not add, but Shadow understood him anyway.

The black hoodie was coated in sweat. It was no wonder with how warm it had been inside the club, but Shadow worried that the clothes would do more harm than protect Sonic from the cold.

Shadow glanced back at the bouncer, eyeing them up like he was internally asking If they were going to be any trouble.

Instead of answering verbally, Shadow pulled on Sonic’s hand and moved them around the corner where Shadow had parked his bike. Among the rows of cars stood his motorcycle, still looking exactly like he had left it and Shadow breathed a sigh of relief.

Before Sonic could complain further about the cold, Shadow stripped off his own jacket and wrapped it around Sonic’s shoulders.

Despite them both being similar in shape and size, the jacket was still a little big too big for Sonic and was perfect for the other to cuddle into the fabric and let himself be engulfed. Sonic let go off his hand to pull the jacket closed, his arms wrapping around himself over the jacket.

“Thanks.” Sonic mumbled, pressing his face into the collar. Shadow wondered whether the jacket smelled like him and If Sonic liked what he smelt like.

The blue hedgehog looked past him and finally noticed Shadow’s bike, his eyes went wide. “We’re taking that?”

Shadow paused, his hands flat against his compartment and he looked back at Sonic, slightly worried. “Yeah.” He added, frowning, “Is that a problem?”

“Nah.” Sonic shook his head. “Always wanted to take a ride on your bike.”

The hybrid bit his lip before he could make a comment about how much he wanted to watch Sonic ride something else.

He opened the small compartment at the back of the bike and took out two helmets, his usual and one extra for Sonic.

When Shadow offered the second one to Sonic, the other laughed. The helmet was dark purple, perfectly complimenting his own. It must be obvious for whom the helmet was often reserved to because Sonic asked, “Won’t Rouge mind?”

Shadow huffed, amusement audible in his voice. “I doubt she would care.” The bat was probably too distracted with the echidna to even ask about how Sonic and him had gotten home.

After putting on the helmet, Sonic slid onto the seat behind him. He wrapped his arms around Shadow, intertwining them tight as the hero pressed his chest further into Shadow’s back.

The grip was so tight that Shadow wondered If Sonic was worried. The other had seen him drinking after all.

“Don’t worry-” Shadow explained, in hope of putting the other at ease. “Alcohol has no effect on me.”

Sonic must have taken a moment to understand because it took him a few seconds to loosen his hold and pull away slightly. And when he finally did, Shadow already missed the closeness instantly.

The drive to Shadow’s apartment was exactly as long as it had always been, but with Sonic hiding his face away in Shadow’s back, it suddenly felt much shorter than before. They arrived faster than Shadow could even realize.

As soon as Shadow closed the door behind them, Sonic surprised him by shoving him roughly against the door, his back hitting the closed door so harshly, air was instantly knocked from his lungs.

And then Sonic’s mouth was back on his and Shadow completely forgot that he needed to breathe.

Shadow’s hands instantly moved to grab onto Sonic, grabbing his own jacket on the other’s shoulders, not to push him away but to pull him even closer. They kissed like separation, even just for a second, would mean death for them.

But the hybrid did not want this to end in his hallway, he wanted them to reach his bedroom and so Shadow pulled Sonic along, their lips never losing the connection. Picture frames rattled on the wall as they kept pushing each other against surfaces, and Shadow could not care less.

They had been a present from Rouge anyway- Shadow could and would replace them in a heartbeat, but this moment with Sonic was something sacred, something he wanted to cherish.

The door to Shadow’s bedroom was forced open with their combined weight and both hedgehogs stumbled in, careful not to fall.

Sonic looked around, barely even for a second before he finally spotted the bed and nothing seemed to matter to him more. He placed both hands flat on Shadow’s chest and the hybrid tilted his head upwards, ready to receive another kiss but that was not what Sonic had in mind.

Suddenly Shadow was pushed with enough force to make him stumble backwards, the back of his knees hit something and he fell backwards - only to land comfortably on his bed. Still, the black hedgehog gaped at the other, completely surprised.

And then Sonic followed him, straddling Shadow like he did not want to part from him and their lips connected once more.

Shadow turned his head to the side, breaking the kiss because his lungs were craving that sweet oxygen, but his eyes stayed on Sonic. This was also the reason why Shadow had front row seats to the sight of Sonic stripping off his clothing, first Shadow’s jacket that he pulled from his shoulders with care. He paused to take a long sniff at the leather, inhaling their mixed scents sharply before throwing it to the side. His hoodie followed shortly after and Shadow had finally enough air to speak.

“You looked so good in my jacket.” The hybrid lamented as his hands now slid up Sonic’s naked arms, enjoying the feeling of soft fur beneath his hands.

Sonic huffed in response. “Don’t you like me better when I’m wearing less?”

His eyes darted to the end of Sonic’s arms, eyeing the other’s gloves as he joked, “I can think of more things you can lose.”

He had not been serious - even with how unfamiliar Shadow often felt with Mobian culture, he still knew how intimate the act of showing someone else your naked paws, was. Shadow might not care about the custom himself, but Sonic was unlike him, not raised by humans, and he would of course respect that.

But Sonic surprised him by kicking off his shoes, making them land somewhere in Shadow’s room, completely ignored by both hedgehogs.

And then Sonic raised his hands to his face, his mouth opening was the only warning Shadow got before he was blessed with the sight of Sonic ripping off his gloves with his teeth.

Unhygienic? Yes. Also fucking hot? Absolutely!

Sonic held up his naked paws for Shadow’s inspection, first the inside of his paws and then the outside.

The fur there was lighter, probably due to being hidden under gloves all the time and it looked short too. Shadow wondered whether Sonic’s hands were sensitive. If his own paws were always protected by fabric, he could take a guess that they most likely would be.

The most surprising thing for the hybrid were Sonic’s claws. They looked recently trimmed, and well maintained too. With how often he heard stories of Sonic sleeping in the wilderness and never finding a real home, Shadow would have expected the other to have a more messy appearance, when it came to his body. His quills certainly did not give others the feeling that Sonic liked to keep himself neat.

But maybe that was the point. Maybe Sonic was insecure about his need to be clean - or maybe Sonic just liked to take care of his paws specifically.

“Are you happy now?” Sonic’s impatient voice ripped him out of his musings.

If it had not been for the small tremble in Sonic’s hands, Shadow would have guessed that Sonic looked entirely at ease. Like the blue hedgehog could care less that he had just shown his enemy his most vulnerable part of himself.

Shadow definitely did not want the other to regret this. “Only If you kiss me again.”

Sonic seemed even more eager to put this moment behind them as he dove down and pressed his lips back on Shadow’s. His hands began to wander all over Shadow’s body, their touch as soft and gentle as the fur felt and Shadow smiled.

His own hands were holding onto Sonic’s shoulders, but they moved to Sonic’s chest too. While Shadow’s fur was neat and brushed daily, Sonic’s felt a bit like he was exploring a jungle - wild and unexpected. His fingers ran over the short beige hair on Sonic’s center, and Shadow could not help himself.

He grabbed a handful of the beige fur and pulled. Sonic instantly gasped into the kiss.

The blue hedgehog pulled back, cursing, “You’re a handsy bastard, aren’t you?”

Shadow chuckled, his fingers now tracing the place where he had pulled the hair in apology. When he noticed that Sonic kept staring at him, it was Shadow’s turn to ask, “What, are you actually surprised?”

Did Sonic actually think that Shadow could keep his hands to himself once he got the opportunity to touch Sonic like this? Like Shadow would not cherish the moment and think about it for years to come - the night where he finally managed to get Sonic into his bed.

The look on Sonic’s face was unfamiliar and Shadow had no idea how to read the other. “Maybe I am.” Sonic replied, giving Shadow not more to work with.

He then grabbed Shadow’s arm, the one that had been touching his stomach fur and pulled it away from his body. Shadow wanted to protest this decision but when Sonic held up his arm to his own face and shook the hand like a weapon, he stayed silent instead.

Sonic ‘s finger brushed over Shadow’s glove as he said, “I think you’re holding out on me.”

Shadow’s movement could not be called elegant as he tried to take off his clothing. Sonic was still sitting on top of him and was making no motion to move off him.

Under Sonic’s watchful eyes Shadow took off his gloves, not at all feeling as sexy as Sonic had looked, but that might be because the black hedgehog was trying to rush.

When his gloves were off, Shadow frowned, trying to think of a way where he could take off his shoes without making Sonic move, but coming up empty anyway. He nodded his head towards his shoes, saying, “Do you mind?”

Sonic followed his look, his head barely turning before he shook his head. “Actually I do, yes.” He reached behind him without looking, his eyes staying on Shadow’s as he took off Shadow’s air shoes, not even struggling with the angle.

With one shoe already gone and the other now in Sonic’s hand to inspect further, Shadow huffed impatiently but Sonic had no rush as he turned the shoe in his hands. “You know, I always wanted to rip them off your feet.” Sonic told him conversationally, like he was not admitting to a big secret that made Shadow’s head spin.

“R-Really?” Shadow wished his voice had not stumbled over the single word.

Sonic nodded. “Really.”

He dropped the shoe to the side before turning his attention back to Shadow. For a moment Sonic just stared blankly before he started to laugh.

With them both now being naked and Shadow feeling especially vulnerable, Shadow felt defensive. “What? Why are you laughing?”

“I just never thought we’d end up here.”

Shadow had no idea how to reply, he was in the same boat after all. The hybrid would not at all be surprised, If he woke up the next morning and realize that this all had been just some crazy dream.

Instead of answering, the hybrid pulled the other into another kiss. This time both hedgehog took their sweet time exploring each other’s mouths, their tongues mapping out areas that were not as unfamiliar as they had been hours before.

Still during the kiss, Shadow reached behind him and blindly pushed his hand under his pillow, feeling around for the object he was searching. When something grazed his hand, Shadow pulled back from the kiss and proudly presented what he found: An already half-empty bottle of lube.

Sonic looked amused. “You keep your lube under your pillow?”

Shadow shrugged, not at all feeling embarrassed. “Rouge is nosy and likes to go through my drawers when I’m not watching her.” He explained curtly.

He had already gone through all of the hiding places his bedroom offered and none of them had been safe from the eyes of the curious bat. Strangely enough, his pillow seemed to be the only place where Rouge did not think to look.

Which was a good thing too, If Rouge kept stealing his lube, Shadow would probably become so frustrated at one point, he would do something he would regret.

And the black hedgehog had no idea If he was talking about sexual frustration or just the normal kind. Shadow was just glad he still had that bottle, otherwise Sonic and him had to resort to spit and that made everything more uncomfortable than it should.

“…You shouldn’t let me out of your eyes either then.” Sonic teased, his eyes glimmering with mischief.

Shadow stared the other directly into his eyes, dead-serious as he replied, “Good thing I wasn’t planning on it.”

The hybrid still was not sure If Sonic had been serious about his ‘pretend’ idea. They had been having fun so far, Sonic should have probably already realized that Shadow was not pretending, right?

Sonic evaded his stare, suddenly looking unsure. “So… how are we doing this?”

Shadow frowned in confusion. For a quick second the black hedgehog was afraid that Sonic was a virgin and had forgotten to tell him- and then his mind caught up with the question and realized what was actually being asked here.

The hybrid was no stranger to topping, liked the feeling too when his dick was inside another’s body but this was not what Shadow had in mind today.

His eyes darted down to Sonic’s crouch where Sonic’s cock was already peeking outside of his pouch, the head already glistering with precome. Shadow licked his lips, wishing they had enough time for him to taste the other but Shadow’s dick was already fully hard and he suspected it would not take long for him to come.

Maybe another time then, If Shadow was lucky.

One thing was crystal-clear, Shadow wanted that cock inside him yesterday.

He threw the bottle at Sonic’s face, putting to weight before the throw at all but Sonic still struggled to catch it, surprised. His eyes darted between the bottle and Shadow’s face, a big question mark was practically written onto Sonic’s expression.

“Get a move on.” When Sonic still looked confused, Shadow clarified, impatience already audible in his voice, “Get me ready.”

Finally Sonic seemed to understand and the earlier hesitation vanished from the other’s face. “Don’t have to tell me twice.”

Shadow’s head fell back against the mattress as his body laid there completely flat. Excitement pumped through his body and made his heart race, while giddy happiness made sure to make him smile.

The thought alone about what Sonic and him were going to do felt so unrealistic to him. He had been wishing for this for years to come, and his fantasies had never seemed to quite satisfy him, and now Shadow was experiencing the real thing for himself.

Sonic took his time, seemingly not wanting to rush. With one hand he was still holding onto the bottle of lube, still closed and untouched, and the other hand was holding onto Shadow’s hip.

He pressed a kiss against Shadow’s stomach, making the hybrid gasp in surprise. The touch of Sonic’s cold nose against the fur there tickled and Shadow’s body tensed in order not to laugh.

Shadow’s dick was already fully hard and standing at attention.

But Sonic completely ignored it, in favour of kissing down Shadow’s thighs. When he had finally arrived down at Shadow’s hole, he paused, and Shadow wiggled his hips impatiently, wordlessly telling the other to hurry up, instead Sonic stayed motionless.

Then, when Shadow was about to lift his head to demand what the hold-up was for, Sonic spoke, “Maybe you should turn onto your stomach?”

This time Shadow did look, seeing Sonic frown down at his hole. Green eyes looked higher, locking onto Shadow’s as Sonic continued, “Unless you’re flexible enough to make it work?”

His body had not been created to flourish in as many environments as it could to fail at a task as simple as this. Sensing the challenge, Shadow wordlessly grabbed his thighs and pulled them to his chest, effectively folding himself in half and putting himself completely on display.

The quiet curse that left Sonic’s lips at his action was not missed by Shadow, instead he felt smug satisfaction at surprising the other.

“Like this?” He asked, already knowing the answer.

Shadow laughed, sounding entirely too fond for the insult to hit. “Show-Off.”

The hybrid was effectively pinning himself down and putting himself in a vulnerable position just for Sonic. He wished his dick did not harden at the thought of being completely at Sonic’s mercy.

Love was one thing, but Shadow did not like the way his body yearned for Sonic. He was not weak and too independent that his body was longing for the feeling of someone taking care of him. He might want Sonic, and he could life with that, but Shadow never wanted to need him.

In this position Shadow’s cock was pressing hard against his own stomach, already wet with precome. Some of it was dripping down his length and pooling on his stomach, making the fur there sticky and dirty.

A long hot shower after this sounded very nice to Shadow’s ears. Especially If he could convince Sonic to join him afterwards.

The first touch of Sonic’s finger feeling around his hole made Shadow tense. It was still dry and not at all there for penetration, but Shadow still struggled to force himself to relax.

Just because the sensation was unfamiliar to him, should not mean that it had to be uncomfortable. Too bad that his body was not exactly getting the memo yet, with how tense it remained to be.

The finger pulled away and left Shadow’s body, probably just for a few seconds but it felt like minutes to him when the digit returned, suddenly cold and coated with lube.

Sonic wasted no time rubbing the finger across Shadow’s rim, spreading the lube there and coincidentally making Shadow’s body relax.

Still Sonic tried to reassure him, “Relax, Shadow.” He kept repeating his motion and Shadow’s body seemed to welcome him. “I’m not going to hurt you.”

The idea of Sonic not wanting to hurt him felt almost too ironic.

How many times had they hurt each other? Had beaten each other down and laughed when they succeeded? They had spent years at each other’s throats, long before they had ever attempted to try a friendship, and even that had failed.

Shadow wanted to crack a joke about that but when he opened his mouth to reply, already inhaling, Sonic’s finger finally slid inside.

“Shit, you’re tight.” Sonic cursed. His finger stopped, not moving further but not pulling out either.

The hybrid probably would have cursed too, If he had not suddenly forgot how words even worked.

It was strange. Shadow had taken a lot of things up his ass. Starting with his own fingers that were definitely bigger than Sonic’s, then the fingers of other people and finally even the occasional cock.

The point was that Shadow was no stranger to this sensation. But now he already felt so full and Sonic had only one finger inside him.

Shadow raised his hands and pressed them on his head, squishing his ears down in the process. An old nervous tick that the black hedgehog had never managed to grow out of, but felt comforting to him anyway.

His body finally relaxed around the digit and Sonic pulled back, only leaving his fingertip inside before slamming his finger back in. He kept pumping his finger in and out, feeding more of his digit into Shadow’s hole before Shadow was suddenly taking the entire finger.

And still Sonic did not stop.

Shadow could feel his breathing rise, his heartbeat race. His cheeks were already flushed bright green and there was nothing the hybrid could do to stop it.

It took a few minutes until Sonic added another finger, and Shadow was starting to move back onto the digits, moving in unison with the thrusts.

The hybrid could not remember the last time he had sex, maybe it really had been a while but it was certain that it had not felt as good as this. And then Shadow realized what was different from all those times before:

Shadow had never had sex with someone he actually loved before.

Sonic spread his fingers apart in a scissoring motion, all to make Shadow’s hole looser and the hybrid gasped.

The blue hedgehog paused, sending the other a look. “Good?”

“Good!” Shadow shouted back, his head rapidly nodding.

And he was instantly rewarded when Sonic started moving again. Soon enough Sonic felt no resistance, having prepped the other so well that Sonic’s intention changed.

He pointed his fingers straight and jabbed them inside, faster than before. Each time Sonic changed the angle slightly like he was searching for something and then he hit something that made Shadow’s body jerk forward.

Another hit. Then another. Sonic kept slamming against that one spot inside Shadow that made him see stars.

Shadow’s vision dimmed, completely turning black and suddenly his stomach felt wetter than before. He had reached his peak, his cock entirely untouched and with Sonic’s cock not even inside him, his come now painting his stomach white.

Sonic pulled his fingers out and smiled. “I think you’re ready now.”

If there was one thing Shadow was not feeling right now, it was being ready. He was still floating in the bliss of his orgasm, his mind just barely working as he tried to pull himself together.

The blue hedgehog ran one finger through the mess on Shadow’s stomach, the very same finger that had just been inside him and made him see stars and promptly plopped it into his mouth.

“Mhm.” Sonic moaned at the taste. He licked his finger clean before teasing Shadow. “Did someone ever tell you that you taste real good?”

Shadow weakly raised his head to throw a glare at Sonic’s head, that bounced off completely harmless. “You’re disgusting.” The hybrid groaned, which probably would have looked more serious, If he still was not completely out of breath while doing so.

Sonic laughed. “And yet-” He grabbed both of Shadow’s legs and threw them over his shoulder before pressing close again. “-you’re still letting me do this.”

His mind was slowly catching up with what was happening, just in time to realize how close they now were. Both of their bodies were pressed against each other entirely.

Sonic’s cock was pressing hard against Shadow’s stomach, rubbing against Shadow’s limp one. Shadow gasped, still too sensitive from his last orgasm. He wiggled half-heatedly to get away but Sonic was already taking hold of his length.

The blue fist was wet with lube as it pumped his cock up and down, coating him in lubrication. Sonic’s tip was covered in white, a bit of Shadow’s come had stuck to the other’s length and the thought of Sonic fucking Shadow’s own come inside of him made the hybrid crazy with lust.

His own cock twitched weakly, not yet ready for action but at least trying.

Sonic lined himself up with Shadow’s hole. “Ready?”

Instead of answering, Shadow pulled Sonic down for another kiss and Sonic pressed inside. Despite the tightness earlier, Sonic had no trouble making his cock fit, as he slid inside easily.

Once Sonic was fully seated, he paused to let Shadow adjust. If Shadow had felt full before, he now felt filled to the brim. Sonic’s cock fit inside him naturally, like it should have always been inside him and should never leave.

Sonic pulled back from the kiss to lean his forehead against Shadow’s. Both hedgehogs were breathing heavily, their chests were pressed against each other, making them feel each other’s heartbeats. They were in-sync. Ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum.

“Thank you for letting me do this.” Sonic whispered against his lips.

You’re welcome. Thank you for doing this.

Shadow closed his eyes and rested his own forehead against Sonic’s.

For a long moment both hedgehogs simply existed in the moment, both just breathing and enjoying the feeling of each other. Everything smelt like them, and smelt like sex, and Shadow was not sure whether he wanted that smell to stay in his room forever or If he probably should air out his apartment once they were done.

And that came the itch. A small sensation inside himself, telling him that he was ready.

The black hedgehog ripped his eyes back open, staring directly at Sonic as he commanded the other to “Move!”

And Sonic did not disappoint.

He pulled his hips back, the motion unsure and clumsy at first before slamming back inside. Both hedgehogs groaned. Sonic’s hand moved below Shadow’s arms and held onto the other’s waist, while Shadow intertwined his hands behind Sonic’s head.

The thrusts became harder, and soon enough Shadow’s bed was loudly rocking against the wall.

Shadow hoped that his neighbours were not home, but he could not care less right now, who could hear them both. And If the entire street could hear them, nothing could get him to stop.

He could feel his cock twitch and then, against Shadow’s expectation, he felt himself harden again like his dick was taking an interest in how good Sonic was making him feel.

Sonic’s hips moved faster, picking up in speed. And Shadow’s mouth stayed open to let every moan and groan just fall out. The drool that was starting to gather in his mouth, was dripping out too but Shadow did not care.

They were messy already. A little drool did not change that fact.

And then Shadow loosened his grip between his hands, each arm sliding down one of Sonic’s shoulders before they landed on the other’s back. In the heat of the moment, Shadow’s scratched, his long claws pressing hard enough to leave red lines on Sonic’s back, but not hard enough to make the other bleed.

Still, Sonic hissed. His back arched and his hips snapped forward, delivering a thrust that was harder than the others before it.

With Sonic’s strange reaction and sudden pause, Shadow looked worried. “Too much?” He asked, unsure whether he should soothingly run his fingers over the lines or leave them alone entirely.

“No-” Sonic shook his head, his hips starting to move again. He pressed his teeth against each other, practically speaking through them. “-Just unexpected!”

Shadow hummed in acknowledgement, which quickly turned into another groan as Sonic’s body rapidly picked up on speed.

The noises that were leaving Sonic’s mouth was he was moving his hips did not sound like Sonic anymore. They sounded animalistic, too wild and rough, and Shadow internally preened at knowing that he was the one that could make Sonic sound like this.

When Shadow felt that Sonic’s thrusts became more sloppy and uncoordinated, Shadow pulled Sonic back into a kiss. Their tongues met each other, their mouths were both wet messes and their teeth clanked against each other loudly.

Sonic tilted his head to the side, deepening the kiss and Shadow let him, hanging on for dear life.

He was close, close enough that his erection was aching and Shadow wanted to reach down and grab himself, jerk his fist until he came between them and coated Sonic’s stomach in his own come. But Shadow could not let go of Sonic’s shoulders without falling.

Turns out, Shadow had not needed to worry.

Sonic bit into Shadow’s lips hard and the pain mixed with pleasure pushed him over the edge. Shadow reached his second orgasm, everything around him narrowing down to that one moment of pleasure.

And with his muscles tightening around Sonic’s cock, Sonic followed closely behind. They kept on kissing, Sonic’s tongue lapped over Shadow’s hurt lip and Shadow kept pulling Sonic closer like he wanted to eat him whole.

Sonic was the first to pull away, his mouth still hanging open from the breathless gasps that were leaving him. He pressed his face into Shadow’s chest fur, the spit that coated his chin dripped down into the white fur as the blue hedgehog tried to muffle his own gasps.

Shadow swallowed the mess in his mouth, both of their spit. His heart was still racing like they had been running for hours, but between them, Shadow was definitely calmer than Sonic.

He absentmindedly put a hand on the back of Sonic’s head and raked through the blue messy quills. The blue quills there were soft, more relaxed than Shadow had ever seen them and dishevelled too, sticking in all kinds of directions.

His hand stopped. And Shadow pressed a quick kiss to the top of Sonic’s head.

Only then did the blue hedgehog move. He had completely collapsed on top of the hybrid, and thankfully Shadow could take the weight. His limbs were shaking as Sonic slowly pulled himself to his knees.

When Sonic’s now limp cock slid out, followed instantly by a flood of white come it had been bottling up inside, both hedgehogs groaned. Shadow wiggled his lower body, getting a feel for how sore his body actually felt and deciding that he quite liked that feeling.

Sonic collapsed back onto the mattress, this time beside Shadow and groaned loudly. Shadow gave him an amused look.

“You good?”

Another groan. “Yeah- Exhausted.” He turned his head, looking directly at Shadow as she showed the other a teasing grin. “This is worse than fighting you.”

“Oh, come on.” Shadow rolled his eyes, not at all taking Sonic seriously. “You liked it.”

Sonic made another sound of agreement, before pressing his body back into the mattress.

Only then did Shadow realize how tired he himself felt. It was a good tired, like he normally felt after a good workout but still, bis body was just too exhausted to move.

The hybrid should probably take a shower. At least he should walk to the bathroom and get a wet towel to clean them both of, otherwise they would be sticky come morning but Shadow could already feel his eyes closing.

His last conscious decision was to role onto his side, wrapping his arms tight around Sonic and pressing his face into Sonic’s neck and then the world turned black.

The next morning came and Shadow tried not to feel too disappointed at seeing the other bedside empty, completely devoid of Sonic.

Sonic was a free spirit, and definitely no fan of commitment. But the feeling of waking up alone made Shadow feel more emotional than he would have thought.

The sheets were cold to the touch and Shadow could hear no footsteps tiptoeing around his apartment. Sonic must have left long ago already, back when Shadow was still blissfully sleeping.

Was it a good thing that Shadow had not woken up when Sonic had left or a bad thing? The hybrid was not sure.

He sighed deeply. It took a lot of effort to turn his body from his side to his back, his eyes instantly fixing onto the empty ceiling above him.

What parts of his body had felt sore before, now ached. Shadow wanted nothing more than to stay in bed forever, but the stickiness of his body was already telling him that a shower would be necessary.

His hand brushed by something soft on the bed, something still somewhat warm and Shadow turned his head to find Sonic’s black hoodie, crumpled up and lying exactly where Shadow had been a moment before. He raised the hoodie to his face and inhaled, the smell of Sonic flooded his nostrils and made him feel calmer than before.

Had Sonic forgotten his hoodie? Shadow could see no other clothing articles from the blue hedgehog remaining. Maybe Sonic had left his hoodie deliberately to have an excuse to come back?

Shadow’s cheeks burned when he realized that he had been using the hoodie as a makeshift pillow during the night. His body had probably been missing Sonic already, missing his smell, and the best he could find was that stupid hoodie.

Only then did Shadow notice another very important detail: His jacket was not on the floor anymore either. In fact, Shadow could not spot his jacket anywhere… which meant that Sonic had stolen his jacket, and had left his hoodie in exchange.

Shadow smiled at the fabric in his hands, his head already swimming with the thought of wearing that hoodie the next time he saw Sonic. Maybe Sonic was going to wear his jacket! Seeing Sonic wear his jacket last night had already fulfilled so many of his fantasies, seeing that sight once more would most likely be his undoing.

There was no way around this. Shadow was in love, and he was in it deep.

Last night had showed him so much. It had revealed how a relationship with Sonic could actually feel like, and Shadow wanted nothing more than take that step with the other hedgehog, take the plunge and let them both fall deep.

In Shadow’s mind they simply could not go back to what had been between them before, the night had changed him, had changed them too much. And the hybrid really did not want them to either.

Shadow wanted to be the most important person in Sonic’s life. He wanted to feel the other again, wanted to do this again. But he needed the other hedgehog to stay, wanted to know what waking up beside the other actually felt like.

Once Shadow got out of bed, he was going to take a shower. And then he was going to do everything to avoid letting them fall into their old patterns.

He would remedy his mistake. Shadow was going to show Sonic that he actually liked him and that last night had just been an act for him, it had been real.

And Shadow hoped that with the night gone, the pretense was finally over.