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It’s nearing midnight by now, and everyone has fallen asleep a whole two hours ago during the previous movie. It had been nice, cuddling up with Shadow on the couch, pressed together, arm against one another and under a soft blanket where they could hide their intertwined fingers.
The credits roll, Sonic doesn’t move his head from Shadow’s shoulder, and Shadow doesn’t bother reaching for the remote. It feels like the night has stilled the spin on the earth, made the living room small to contain just the two of them as the bright full moon and glittering stars peek in from the windows.
Tom and Maddie had gone to bed at the beginning of the night, and that just leaves Ozzie, Tails, and Knuckles sleeping on the other side of the couch. Sonic’s sock-clad foot bumps Knuckles’ hip on accident, just a small brush, but enough to make him aware that they aren’t alone.
Which isn’t a bad thing, but…
Sonic kind of wants a movie to watch with just Shadow. No ulterior motive or anything but… Well, he couldn’t really call his a date night if his little brothers are hanging around, can he? And it’s not like they can just ask for some alone time. Everyone in the house believes Shadow is just another additional brother tacked into their mismatched family.
No one knows that month ago, during one of their friendly races, Sonic had stopped them in the middle of nowhere, woods and trees taller than buildings circling them, and shyly asked if Shadow felt the same. If they could have…something more than just friendship, because that word just didn’t fit right to call what they were.
Sonic doesn’t know how this whole dating thing goes, but he’s read enough comics and watched plenty of movies to know that when you like-like someone you ask them to be yours. And there are bases to hit.
Sonic oh so desperately wants that with Shadow. It feels weird to think about it longer than a few seconds at a time, but to look inside and think about like-liking Shadow and wanting more than just a friendly run around Montana, more than hands held under blankets, and shy glances and nudges of shoulders and teasing kicks of their heels.
It’s fine, keeping it a secret from everyone. Sonic kinda finds it fun, sneaking behind people's backs to flirt with Shadow. But isn’t the next base after dating and going on dates supposed to be kissing?
They haven’t even done that yet. Sonic hasn’t even tried. Neither has Shadow.
Sonic feels brave enough tonight to try it though. All these romance movies about guys falling in love and sweeping the pretty girl off her feet, dramatic kisses and exclamations of love, are starting to make him want that too.
There’s just…
Not the right chance.
Every time Sonic glances at Shadow, he’s pretty focused on the movie. Not to mention he’s too worried about his brothers not even two feet on the other side of his boyfriend snoozing away. Too risky.
Sonic purses his lips, thinks, nervous all of a sudden. It’s when Shadow sits up, looking around and then going for the remote, that Sonic squeezes their fingers together tighter, pulls at him quietly, and stares at him when Shadow turns to look and see what he wants.
Sonic waits, just a heartbeat or two, and then nervously glances at the stairs.
“Wanna watch one more in my room?” Sonic whispers.
Shadow looks at him curiously, and before he can question why, Sonic says, “Just don’t wanna wake the guys up. It’s pretty late but I don’t want to go to bed yet.”
Say yes, he hopes, blinks at Shadow and hopes that he catches on.
The darker hedgehog doesn’t look like he’s bothered by the suggestion, doesn’t give Sonic one of his classic ‘you’re confusing’ looks that he gives so freely. Instead, he pulls the blanket off them, and stands, never once letting go of Sonic’s hand.
“Depends on what you’re going to put on,” Shadow whispers to him, giving a gentle tug of their hands to guide Sonic off the couch.
Sonic feels himself smile, giddy, and takes the lead in dragging Shadow upstairs to the attic. He makes sure to close the little trap door, nudging one of his heavier boxes over top of it. His only version of a lock on the door. Just in case.
Just in case what?
Sonic plops into one of his beanbags, giggling when Shadow drops in next to him heavily, practically lands halfway on top of him, which prompts a small fit of kicking feet and pushing hands and wrestling to get both of them comfortably sat on one single beanbag clearly meant for one person only.
Sonic laughs when Shadow playfully bites him on the shoulder and then pokes him in the ribs right after before saying “put on the movie, idiot,” with a level of warm fondness in his tone that makes butterflies kick up in Sonic’s stomach.
He squirms out from Shadow’s arms and the beanbag, just long enough to scramble over to the stack of old VHS tapes and his thrifted TV Tom got him. It was really just a dingy box TV with a port for his gaming consoles and an insert to watch movies on tape or disc. Nothing fancy.
It certainly gives them something to watch. Sonic pops a random old VHS in and quickly zips back into Shadow’s side. This time, the poking and pushing doesn’t result in wrestling, but Shadow’s arms wrapping around him, a forced snuggle to keep him still. Not that it’s very hard, when Sonic curls up and makes himself comfortable in Shadow’s chest.
The movie starts, something holiday themed and Sonic thinks, great, right on theme. Tom and Maddie had helped him switch all the string lights in his room to a more festive Christmas theme. The end of November means colder nights, even the occasional dust of snow certain days.
Sonic is barely paying attention to the movie, half watching and half listening to the calm, steady beat of Shadow’s heart under his ear. There’s… a lot happening, multiple characters and subplots. Sonic is sort of keeping up…
There’s plenty of cheesy one liners, funny little jokes, and Sonic finds himself smiling when he catches Shadow huffing a laugh or two at a joke. Dare Sonic say…. He’s feeling a little… Romantical.
The end of the movie feels more like the climax, everyone finding their love, getting together in a dizzying rush of cute love admissions and awkward meets. Sonic feels his cheeks sore from smiling so much, watching as Colin Firth admits his love on Christmas in broken Portuguese. Very sweet.
Sonic glances at Shadow, still smiling, wanting to see his reaction to the scene and almost flinches when he finds Shadow is already looking at him.
Oh.
How long was he being watched for?
Sonic feels himself blush, glancing at the TV and then back at Shadow… At his nose, his chin, anything but his eyes. He doesn’t get the chance to make a comment, let his nerves spill out of his mouth in some stupid ramble.
Shadow is taking him by the jaw, a gentle cup, thumb pressed against the corner of his lips before he leans in.
Slowly.
Sonic feels like he’s watching it in slow motion, feels like Shadow’s going slow on purpose and—
Sonic meets him halfway, warmth fluttering in his chest and searing a rosy sunburn on his face and ears and oh, oh, Shadow’s lips are soft.
The cheering on the TV and ending credits becomes background noise to Sonic melting into his first kiss. Oh god his first kiss. And it’s so warm and gentle and kind of perfect, holy shit he likes Shadow so much…
Sonic presses a hand against Shadow’s chest, taking the chaste press of their lips just a touch firmer, leaning into the kiss eagerly. Shadow’s hand moves, slips around to cup him behind his head, and his other hand slings across Sonic’s waist, easily hugging him against his body.
Sonic stretches, crosses both of his arms behind Shadow’s neck and does a very poor job of hiding his body’s excitement. He can feel his tail wagging, going practically a mile a minute. There’s a rumbling against him, and delightfully, Sonic realizes that Shadow is purring.
Their kiss breaks, briefly, just enough for Sonic to lose his composure, smiling so wide it makes his cheeks hurt, and then immediately dropping his face to hide in Shadow’s chest fluff.
“Hey–” Shadow complaints, voice low and quiet. Sonic doesn’t answer, trying to not start laughing against the excitement and nerves and I like you I like you I like you.
“Cmere, I’m not done,” Shadow says, wiggles a hand under Sonic’s face and grabs him under the chin to forcibly bring his face back up. Sonic feels embarrassed at the way Shadow still kisses him despite Sonic grinning like an idiot.
It doesn’t seem to bother the darker hedgehog, and he kisses Sonic with insistent pecks, once, twice, three times, each corner of his mouth, a tip of his head, back against the center of his lips. Sonic rolls, easily tugging Shadow halfway on top of him instead, so that he’s trapped back against the beanbag, right where he wants to be.
It means he can pet his hands up Shadow’s back and touch, hold, put his one hand against the back of Shadow’s neck and keep him from pulling away. Sonic likes the longer kisses more, the slide of lips and barely enough room to breathe, an awkward bump of their noses.
The only thing that breaks his concentration is the change of music from the credits of the movie. Shadow pulls back, hovering over him, and Sonic enjoys the view.
Shadow’s face is flushed, a bit harder to see with his dark fur and the low light on his face, casting him in shadows (heh). Sonic smiles up at him, scritches him under the chin, and definitely catches the way Shadow’s mouth quirks up fondly.
“I like you,” Sonic whispers.
“Mm,” Shadow hums in reply, dips in and kisses him quickly, once, a peck, and returns to his place hovering and admiring. That’s certainly what it is in those red eyes, glittering in the dark room and the soft Christmas lights around them. Admiration.
Sonic doesn’t mind not hearing it back, Shadow is cute, handsome, and his eyes and actions speak volumes. Another kiss to his lips makes Sonic break into a smile again, and Shadow huffs at him when he tries to kiss him again only to get the pulled curve of his mouth.
“Sorry, sorry, I can’t— urgh, I’m happy, sorry, it’s a good thing, I’m gonna be serious, sorry,” Sonic chuckles. Pressing his lips together and tries to stop fucking smiling already.
Shadow doesn’t bother going back to his mouth, since Sonic can’t stop smiling, giddy and happy and crushing so hard it feels ridiculous. Shadow kisses against one of his soft cheeks, nuzzles him, and smiles.
“I like you too.”