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The race starts the same as ever, snarky quips shot at one another before Shadow’s adversary takes off in a cobalt blur; the heat of chaos energy in his shoes as he catches up in a matter of seconds. Concrete into dirt into grass into dust. Lightning crackling at his feet.
“You’re gonna have to do better than that!” Sonic laughs from just ahead. Shadow smirks.
It gets repetitive quickly, how often they dance around it, in their leaps and twirls of shared glances broken nearly instantly, punches to guts and feet pattering on sand and rock, quills brushed back in the wind. Shadow, not one to give up easily, pushes the warmth down as it threatens to bubble out of his throat. Instead, he leaps forward with a burst of vivacity, taking the lead, even going so far as to whip around, taunting the blue hedgehog as he runs backward just out of his reach. “What was it you were saying?”
He feels Sonic’s legs quicken and pushes harder, sliding around corners of cities they’ve never seen before, dashing between cars, leaping over canyons. His inhibitors vibrate, kicking into action as more chaos begins to flow through his veins. A spray of water hits his cheek and dries instantly, vaporized by the wind blowing past his face.
Shadow wonders how long they can push themselves like this.
“Giving up already?” Sonic taunts, flying past him in his moment of distraction.
“I’m just getting started, faker!”
“Come on!” his opponent grins, flashing him that obnoxious smile. “Give me a challenge!”
The game continues.
Time seems to pass as fast as they run, blurring behind Shadow as he takes the lead, loses it, and regains it countless times in what seems to be the blink of an eye. The world tunnels around him, and soon the only thing he’s focusing on other than the blurs of color in his peripheral vision is glowing blue fur. “You want a challenge?” He growls, letting the bubbles of emotion clawing up his esophagus leave through his limbs and not his throat.
They slid over ice-capped mountains, and for a second Shadow lost his grip, stumbled, and created an opening for Sonic to leap ahead. The blue hedgehog went so far as to laugh and kick upwards, rolling into a spin dash less for speed and more for show. “Try a little harder, then!” He called, as the ice changed into a rocky coastline riddled with pebbles.
Over time, this daily routine(when did it become that?) became less of a contest of speed and more of a game of fiery, biting taunts, just to see who would break first. This time, it’s Shadow, interrupting Sonic’s sprint with a dive for his legs, tackling him to the rocky ground with a burst of chaotic energy. Sonic grunts in surprise, tumbling out of supersonic speed onto the rocky ground. The black hedgehog rolls into a recovery, mirroring his opponent before leaping at him again. Their race soon turns into a tussle.
“Out of breath?” Shadow snarls between punches.
“As if!” Sonic quips, dodging each one effortlessly.
They fall back into a familiar routine of swipes, ducks, and yells of “ Chaos spear! ”, still avoiding the looming clouds hanging over their heads. It’s become another contest, ignoring the glaringly obvious, and Shadow has never been one to back down from a fight. He watches Sonic’s muscles ripple under his fur.
Shadow may be an engineered entity, a(should-be) robotic being created for the sole purpose of destruction(as they used to constantly remind him, handing him a loaded pistol), but right now, he’s never felt more alive. He can’t think of anything except for this, feinting left, then right, glowing fists wreathed in electricity meeting soft peach chest fur.
Which is why neither of them detect the cliff until Sonic backs too far, his emerald eyes widening and arms pinwheeling for a second before he tumbles backward, towards churning water and jagged foam-covered rocks. Before Shadow can think he’s following, a jolt of fear screeching up his spine at Sonic’s panicked cry. He reaches out a hand.
White gloves brush soft fur. The water is closing in fast. Too fast. Adrenaline surges through his body.
“ Chaos control! ”
They’re on the ground again, ocean spray nearly on his lips. Without thinking, Shadow wraps his arms around Sonic’s chest, pressing his ear to his still-beating heart, listening to deep gulps of air entering his lungs. The fear finally catches up to him and his breath quickens.
He could have died .
The air stills.
Shadow swallows and tries to back away but Sonic’s arms have snaked around his torso, keeping him close. He relents and the moment seems to glass over. Suddenly, he’s afraid he’ll shatter, nose pressed into the crook of his rival’s neck, fear marching through his veins.
“You smell nice,” Sonic murmurs, and Shadow sputters, backing away. The wine glass falls from the table and breaks into a thousand pieces.
“I don’t even get a ‘thank you?’ So ungrateful.” He snarks, trying to slow the beating of his heart and push the warmth from his cheeks. Sonic doesn’t answer immediately.
“I still won.”
“Oh, fuck you.”
Sonic hesitates, and he’s grinning, despite the fact that he’d just almost died. “You should hug me after every near-death experience, I think. It’s nice.”
It’s subtle, sure, but his heartbeat quickens nonetheless. Suddenly, it all becomes too much, crashing down around him like a thousand hailstones, a thousand blue hedgehogs cracking open their skulls on sharp rocks, a thousand lifeless bodies stained with blood, a thousand gloved hands reaching for his as air bubbles desperately out of an open mouth.
Shadow feels a shock run through his veins and a second later it’s repeated by his voice, his hand still lingering on Sonic’s arm disappearing in a flash. His cheeks are burning hot.
He buries his face in his hands.
What the hell just happened?
—
They don’t race for a while after that. Neither of them knows what to do, what fragile glass threads they’ve tangled themselves in, and how to organize them without snapping them in two.
Sonic doesn’t know why he said it. It was probably the fear of the water rushing towards his face, the shock of feeling Shadow’s arms around his, his soft chest fur pressing against his own. He runs home in a flash, taking a few detours to curse himself out. He’s naturally impulsive, and Shadow knows exactly how to unwind him, grind his gears just right and push him over the edge. And then, at the right moment, to catch him before he falls.
It seems he wasn’t quick enough this time.
Fuck it , he decides. They both knew their competition was an excuse. At least, he hopes so.
Who’s to say Sonic can’t flirt a little?
—
The second time it happens nearly the same way.
Shadow’s just strolling through the park, secretly hoping that Eggman storms into the city with another robot army to distract him, or that someone steals the Master Emerald and team light all help Knuckles recover it, preferably not returning.
He feels vulnerable, and he doesn’t like it. But, when Sonic’s around him…
He doesn’t hate it either. And it’s scary.
Shadow still isn’t used to it, how open the hero is to everyone around him. He makes it seem so easy to strike up a conversation, to live happily in a world that’s constantly trying its best to knock him off of his feet. It makes him envious in a way, seeing the confidence with which he runs around the city, the easygoing but somehow still electrifying willingness he has to challenge anyone who rivals him.
The way he fights is also unique. He’s not exceedingly strong - at least not compared to Shadow - but he’s quick and light on his feet. Sonic had a way of knowing exactly where to push his buttons, exactly what to say and do to rile Shadow up. It’s as if he’s a tailor and Shadow is a thick wool coat, impenetrable from all angles except the tiny dangling thread from his seams. Sonic seems to know exactly how to grip hold of his fraying edges, rip him to shreds, and piece him together into something new.
He shakes his head to clear it. When had he started thinking so much about Sonic? They were rivals, nothing more, nothing less. He made a mental note to crush the blue hedgehog under his boot like a bug; smear him across the sidewalk.
Speak of the devil.
A blue blur flashes under his nose and Shadow flinches backward, spinning to face his foe. He opens his mouth to speak but Sonic stops him with that stupid grin, flashing him a smile that’s somehow honey-sweet and vying at the same time. “Long time no see, Shads!”
Shadow blinks. “I literally saved your life last week, asshole.”
Sonic tilts his head. “Did it hurt?”
“Could have hurt a lot more if I’d decided to just let you fall.”
“I meant when you fell from heaven.”
Shadow sputters, backing away, and makes a split-second decision to just ignore it and respond in the only way he knew how. This was a problem for future Shadow, and his mental capacity was already at the limit.
“If you’re referring to how I fell from the upper atmosphere and plunged into the Pacific at terminal velocity, then obviously it did. I might be the Ultimate Lifeform, but even my body can’t do much against that kind of force.”
“You know what I mean, faker.” Sonic’s voice is almost a purr, and warmth climbs up Shadow’s neck. The insult at the end is almost affectionate, and it’s enough to make him feel like he’s flying, hands outstretched to touch the clouds.
But he has no wings.
He spins and starts running, vanishing in a blur.
—
“Rouge!” His voice is breathy, and Sonic’s voice clings to him like cobwebs. He pulls the door open and shuts it frantically.
E23-Omega looks at him with as much concern as a robot can muster. “Signs of strong disruption evident,” he chirps. “Elevated heartbeat, raised body temperature, and racing thoughts are signs of emotional distress.”
“No shit,” Shadow grumbles, breathing out slowly and pressing his back to the cold door.
Rouge looks up from whatever she was doing at her desk and locks eyes with him. They have a silent argument through their irises.
“It’s not what you think-” Shadow starts, but Rouge already has a knowing grin.
“Who else would get you this flustered, babe?”
—
They end up on the couch, Rouge flipping through a variety of streaming services before picking some nameless, plotless show and turning down the volume.
“I don’t like him.” Shadow protests. “He disgusts me.”
“Mhm. And I obsess over and constantly talk about people I hate all the time.”
“ See? ” Shadow pauses before shooting her a quick glare. “Wait.”
Rouge rolls her eyes. “You’re helpless.”
“I don’t think about him that much!” he snaps. “And anyway, it was his fault this time.”
“That’s what you said last time.”
“No, really!” Shadow’s voice is exasperated. “Rouge, he… he’s flirting with me.”
Rouge pauses. “Good. At least he’s not in denial.”
“Rouge, this is serious. This is bad .”
She blinks. “Do you not like what he’s doing?”
“I-” Shadow pauses.
“Case in point.”
“No, that’s not the issue here?” Shadow snaps, glancing away. “What if he’s just- just being friendly? In a friendly rivalry way?”
Rouge stares at him. “Are you fucking serious?”
“I don’t know!” He defends. “You don’t fight with him daily, you can’t know anything for sure!”
“Repeat what he said to you.”
Shadow mumbles something.
“Louder.”
“...Did it hurt when you fell from heaven?”
Rouge crosses her arms as if she’s proved a point. Shadow rolls his eyes, suddenly feeling an overwhelming urge to bury his face in a pillow, dig a hole, bury himself in it, and sleep for another 50 years.
There’s a knock at the door. He groans. Rouge rolls her eyes before rising to answer it.
Sonic’s familiar voice floats through the room. Shadow freezes. Screw 50 years, he’d need at least a century to recover from this.
“Hey, Shadow!” The blue hedgehog is still smiling at him, as if the world isn’t falling apart, fraying into a million pieces and falling onto the couch cushions around him. He doesn’t respond, afraid of what he might say.
He notices just how bright green his eyes are. Almost glowing.
“Just looking for my glasses!” Sonic carries on, brushing past him. Shadow fights the urge to shudder at his warm fur brushing against his legs. “You seen ‘em anywhere?”
“I didn’t know you wore glasses,” Shadow responds, trying his best to tear his eyes away.
He knows the response is a mistake the instant that shit-eating grin widens. “I need to find them. There’s something wrong with my eyes, I just can’t take them off you.”
Crimson blooms in Shadow’s cheeks. In the same instant, Sonic’s gone, leaving him to gape at empty space.
“Wow, he really is flirting with you.” Rouge comments, gazing lazily at the half-open door.
Shadow’s head hits the couch cushions and he screams.
—
As much as he had wanted to curl up into a ball and hibernate after that(if only to prolong having to confront any part of him that might be urged to do something… dangerous), G.U.N. soon had other plans and he had no choice but to follow them. This particular plan involved stopping the city from becoming totally annihilated by ridiculous amounts of robots.
Shadow leaped from the top of the skyscraper, kicking off glass windows glowing in the warm sunset. His foot collided with the blinking red sensor atop a flying drone of some kind, shattering the glass around its fragile innards. It fell to the ground, crackling with electricity, and he followed suit, feeling energy start to warm in his veins.
His wristband hummed with static, some G.U.N. officer calling for reinforcements. With a shout of Chaos Blast! , he landed in a street littered with scrap metal. His inhibitors buzzed at his wrists as his boots kicked into action, launching him past Fifth Avenue and towards Main Street, leaving falling husks littered in his path.
As was per usual, Eggman was in the center of all of it, cackling as he stomped down the road in his giant mech, crushing cars and snapping lampposts in his path.
“We have a problem!” The panicked officer yelled over the radio line. Shadow bit back a snarky just like every other Tuesday, what did you expect? and instead sped up, running towards the Mech in a flash of light.
Shit .
Of course Sonic had to be there, dashing on rooftops and leaping tantalizingly over Eggman’s head, shouting taunts and insults as he took out robot after robot effortlessly, lightning licking up and down his limbs. Shadow hesitated for just a second before continuing. As much as he might feel uneasy, he couldn’t just stand there and watch the fight go down, although Sonic certainly had it under control. After all, he did have a job to do.
“Oh great, now you’re here!” Eggman complained, spotting Shadow, but his grin told a different story. With the flick of a button, what must have been thousands more robots were all rushing to his side. “Too bad you’re too late to save the city!” His cackle echoed for a little bit too long to be natural, and for a moment Shadow wondered if the Doctor was using a voice changer.
His fist plunged into the wiring of a robot, shredding it to pieces, and his leg connected with two more, sending them plunging to the ground. He glanced up for a split second to see more descending upon him, but with a quick blast of energy, they too disintegrated.
“Is that all you got?” Sonic’s voice was strained but familiar, and so was the taunt. Shadow was used to being the recipient, and instinctively he felt warm.
“Chaos Spear!” The snarl left his lips and punctured the air, splitting the metal of the mech’s left leg into shreds. He heard the doctor hiss a curse and smirked before leaping upwards, letting his boots carry him until he was level with both of his adversaries. A growl echoed through the air as the bots gave chase.
“Lookin’ good, Shads!” Sonic called through punches.
“Now is not the time, faker!” Shadow snapped, voice low despite his dangerously high heart rate.
They met each other’s eyes and Sonic just had to wink. Shadow tore his eyes away, diving to his left just before he was incinerated by a laser. He rolled into a ball, letting the irritation fuel his power, and dove directly at the horde of robots swarming towards him.
This fight would be so much easier if Sonic stopped shooting him those damn glances , complete with a grin and sometimes a little flutter of his eyelashes, the cherry on top. Even as his enemies fell before him like dominoes he felt sloppy, distracted by blue energy cascading through a drove of Eggman’s toys and the occasional quip with a thousand hidden meanings Shadow didn’t want to decipher. At least his glowing aura hid his flushing face, he hoped.
He saw a flash of light, brighter than usual, and rolled his eyes. So extra . Well, Shadow wasn’t about to miss out on a distraction like the rush of power his super form gave him.
His boots hit the concrete next to Sonic’s. “Where did you get these?” He growled, gesturing to the six chaos emeralds floating around the pair, glowing and crackling with energy.
Sonic winked at him. “I have my ways.”
Shadow glanced away, pulling the last emerald out of his quills and letting it levitate from his fingers. “Just get it over with.”
The emeralds began to rotate, faster and faster, brighter and brighter. He blinked as Sonic extended a hand out to him, a clear invitation.
“You know the transformation doesn’t require physical contact, right?”
Sonic rolled his eyes. “Who’s to say I don’t just want to hold your hand?”
Shadow grimaced. “Shut up .”
And before he could stop himself, his hand gripped Sonic’s.
It was unusually warm, although that was probably a result of the insane amount of pure chaos energy spinning around and through both hedgehogs. Shadow felt his inhibitors vibrate faster than usual, trying to combat the colossal power flowing through his veins. The world around him faded into a blur of a thousand different colors that almost hurt to look at, so he instead locked eyes with Sonic, feeling his heart speed up as his grip tightened. His irises were a bright glowing green flashing slowly into red, golden fur creeping its way up his neck.
Later he’d say it was because of the adrenaline, the rush of power, or his distinct lack of sleep, but he suddenly felt an overwhelming desire to pull the hedgehog into a kiss.
The world faded back into focus but kept spinning slowly, and when Sonic squeezed Shadow’s hand he almost shuddered.
Together they rose into the air, hearts almost beating as one, turning towards Eggman. His shriek of terror echoed through the air. “Retreat! Retreat! Orbot, Cubot, tell the army to retreat!”
“Egghead’s in for it now!” Sonic laughed, and Shadow almost smiled.
Everything blurred once again as the two moved in sync, and within a few seconds the metal body of the mech was tumbling to the ground, reduced to shreds of scrap metal. It was another game, almost, a dance to see whoever could take out the most foes, who could glow the brightest, all with their hands still intertwined.
When Rouge asked him about it later, Shadow hastily fibbed and stated that the constant hand-holding was just a requirement of the transformation. She gave him a half-lidded stare, not believing him for a second.
Soon, the adrenaline had faded, and Shadow floated to the concrete, feeling a little woozy. His inhibitors had tried their best to make sure he wouldn’t exhaust himself, but even they couldn’t hold back the power of all seven chaos emeralds. Sonic landed beside him, and with a shared glance and a nod his fur faded back into cobalt and the emeralds clattered to the ground.
The city street was mostly destroyed, but it could have been a lot worse. Shadow grabbed his emerald and stuffed it back into his quills. “You didn’t need to do that, you know.”
Sonic glanced over at him, pausing his collection of the emeralds. “What?”
Shadow gestured vaguely at him. “You know what I mean.”
“ You’ve gotta stop doing that, man.” Sonic scooped the rest of the emeralds into a bag for safekeeping.
He blinked. “Doing what?”
The blue hedgehog rolled his eyes. “Sayin’ stuff that makes me wanna kiss you.”
He was gone in a flash.
Shadow gazed in the direction Sonic had taken off in for a moment too long before shaking himself out of it and cursing, looking towards the clouds and saying a silent prayer to the gods that had forgone him long ago.
He really was fucked, wasn’t he?
—
Rouge looked up at the knock on her door. “Come in,” she called, organizing her very professional papers that she definitely cared about.
Shadow stumbled through the door. “Rouge, I’m in love with him.”
She paused, chuckled. “Took you long enough.”
—
Shadow’s laying on the rooftop, looking at the stars, when he hears a rustling. He doesn’t even have to look up to know who it is.
“The stars are beautiful tonight.” Sonic’s voice is soft as he sits next to Shadow. He’s warm. Shadow hums in response. “Almost as beautiful as you.”
“Wonder how I saw that coming.” Shadow grumbled, despite the warmth in his cheeks. Sonic let out a small breath of laughter.
They relax in silence, for a bit. It’s nice, the half-quiet, despite the honking of horns in the distance.
“How did you know I’d be up here?”
Sonic shrugged. “You seemed uneasy earlier. You always liked to look at the stars.”
“They look better from down here.” Shadow admits, quietly. “Less like a cage.”
Sonic’s quiet at that, though he moves closer, subtly. Shadow doesn’t protest, for fear that the movement would disrupt the still water.
“She would have liked you, you know.” The dark hedgehog isn’t sure what prompts the words to fall from his mouth, but they drop like rain from his lips, carrying the threat of a thunderstorm but also the potential for so much more.
“...Maria?”
He nods.
Sonic’s quiet speaks volumes. “...I hope she would have.” His legs rustle, suddenly restless. “I would have loved to meet her.”
Suddenly, Shadow’s eyes water up. He turns away, not willing to let Sonic see him cry, but stops when he feels a hand on his.
“I’m here for you. You know that, right?” Sonic murmurs, soft. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“Sonic, you do know that I’m immortal, right?” The confession is choked, stifled by his suddenly-dry throat. “I don’t age like you do. My body isn’t like yours.”
“So?”
“So one day you’ll… you’ll die , and I’ll still be here.” His breathing quickens. “Alone.”
“Hey. That day won’t come anytime soon, I promise.”
“You don’t get it!” Shadow snaps, suddenly angry, jerking backwards. “I can’t let myself love you!” His tears betray him.
Sonic flinches backwards, and he feels regret bubble inside him.
“I can’t let myself love someone, and lose them all over again.” Shadow turns. The stars are blurry now. He can’t help but be reminded that constellations shift. In a millennium, even the sky will move on, but he’ll still be tethered here, the ultimate lifeform, living for all eternity as the world burns around him.
“So live your life, then!” Sonic’s voice isn’t harsh, but it isn’t quiet, either. “Let yourself be happy , Shadow. You deserve to live. You deserve love.”
A finger reaches out, brushes a tear from his cheeks. It’s the final droplet to break the dam, Shadow collapsing in Sonic’s arms, burying his sobs in fluffy peach chest fur. He’s shaking, leaning into warm arms, wanting so desperately to love but so afraid of being vulnerable.
Sonic’s warm. He smells like roses. His fur is soft, sleek, somewhat damp from Shadow’s tears.
Before he can stop himself, Shadow’s lips are pressing against Sonic’s. He flinches in surprise but quickly gives in, leaning into the kiss, pulling Shadow closer. “I’ll wait for you,” he whispers, softly against his lips.
It feels like a promise, and Shadow takes it, cradles it tightly. He deepens the kiss, and suddenly they’re falling, tumbling to the cement tiles of the roof, clinging tightly to each other as if the world will end if they let go. Sonic pulls him in again.
“Thank you,” Shadow breathes when they break apart, his world still whirling. But now, he feels like a weight was lifted off of his chest, like he can maybe fall without fearing the bottom of the valley, the churning water that waits below.
Would Maria have wanted this for him?
Yes, he decides, and leans in again.
—
Rouge moves the sleeping hedgehogs, still entangled in one another, inside; tucks a blanket around them, shaking her head with a small smile.
“Idiots,” she chuckles fondly.
—
“Still waking up, faker?” Sonic taunts, speeding past him.
“You were the one who tackled me awake at 6 am, asshole!” Shadow snaps back, spinning into a dash and taking the lead again. Sonic responds by laughing and leaping for him. Giving in already?
He tackles Shadow to the sandy ground, scrambling to pin him down. Shadow reacts instinctively, flipping himself so that he’s straddling Sonic’s chest.
They pause. There’s no one reason other than the fragility of the moment as it crystalizes in time.
“Your eyes are so pretty.” The words fall from Sonic’s mouth unexpectedly. Shadow flushes, pinning his adversary to the ground harder. “Don’t do this to me right now.” he growls.
“I can’t help it.”
Shadow rolls his eyes. “Sap,” he grumbles, sealing his mouth in a quick kiss.
“You started it!” His boyfriend protests. Shadow doesn’t relent.
“You must be tired.”
Sonic squints, confused. “What d’ you mean?”
Shadow smirks. “Because you’ve been running through my mind all day.”
Sonic sputters, cheeks turning pink in a matter of seconds. “Not fair!” He groans, struggling to push Shadow off his chest.
“Hey, you deserve it after this morning,” Shadow points out. Sonic grumbles, flushed. “Besides, I definitely won.”
That gets a rise out of him. “You did not! ” Sonic protests, shoving Shadow into the sand. “You cheated! Shitty pickup lines are definetly an illegal manuver!”
“I think that was a great pickup line,” Shadow spits sand out of his mouth.
“I think I’m a better judge of that than you.”
“Who says?” Shadow hops to his feet, taking a single dangerous step towards his adversary. Sonic shuts him up quickly with a single peck, leaving him sputtering and fuming as he dashes off into the distance.
God, he had fallen hard.