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The front door shot open with a bang, letting in a frigid gust of wind as Sonic stomped into his abode, tossing his soaked jacket aside. "How could you do that, Shadow?" the speedster berated as he paced the living room.
His partner solemnly entered, closing the door shut with a gentle click before resting his damp umbrella against the wall. He could still hear the wind howling, as if it were also reprimanding him, beyond the door. "I thought that man was harassing you."
Sonic tried to keep a calm tone as he clarified, "He was complimenting my bandana, trying to ask me out, and just as I was about to tell him I'm taken, you punched him in the face!"
Shadow flexed his fingers. He could still feel the impact of breaking the stranger's nose upon his knuckles. "I… don't know what came over me." All he knew was that when he saw that man get in Sonic's personal space, he felt his stomach twist.
"And now I hafta take care of his medical bill." Sonic massaged his brow in an attempt to ease the throbbing in his head. He barely had enough for rent as a Meh Burger delivery boy. "I just don't need this right now."
"The bill is my responsibility," Shadow affirmed, placing a hand over his heart, steady as a soldier at attention. "I can cover your rent as well." Besides, his job at G.U.N. paid him enough rings to support two people comfortably. Nonetheless, Sonic insisted on being frugal. He knew how unpredictable the world was.
He shook his azure head, turning his back toward the agent. "You know how I feel about that. I shouldn't always depend on you."
Now Shadow was getting irritated, baring his fangs as he took a heated step forward. "Why not? What's mine is yours, right? Isn't that how this is supposed to work—"
"I CAN TAKE CARE OF MYSELF!"
A silence befell them, save for the rustling of Shadow's quills from the breeze of Sonic whirling around to face him.
Shadow was taken aback by Sonic's outburst. He wasn't intimidated; it's just… He had never seen Sonic raise his voice before. Even the hero himself seemed startled, his fists shaking at his sides.
Sonic averted his emeralds, tensing his shoulders. "Shadow, I didn't mean…" He trailed, ashamed of this unfamiliar reaction. "I think I need some time to cool off."
Shadow's gaze fell to his rocket skates. "I understand." He swallowed before raising his head hopefully. "May I… pay a visit tomorrow?"
He held his breath in agony until Sonic nodded almost imperceptibly, still avoiding eye contact. "Yeah."
Shadow sighed in relief, though the anchor in his chest remained. "Then I'll take my leave." He grabbed his umbrella before resting his hand on the doorknob, glancing over his shoulder. Out of habit, he started, "I lo—" but he stopped himself, disguising his hesitation by clearing his throat. He wasn't sure if he could handle Sonic not returning the sentiment, so instead he uttered, "I'll see you," closing the door behind him.
Heading homeward, the lifeform opened his umbrella, sulking along the sidewalk in the pelting rain. The air was earthy and fresh but he did not embrace it. He was numb to the cold. Even the moon refused to guide him, hiding among the clouds.
He walked a block, his gaze downcast the entire time until he heard laughter. Across the street was a couple, huddled close under the shelter of an awning, stealing kisses in the shadows. The sight tugged at the agent's heartstrings.
He quickened his pace. It seemed as though whenever he lifted his head, he spotted couples holding hands, nuzzling noses, and whispering sweet nothings.
He felt a dagger through his heart every time.
"And then I yelled at him," Sonic explained to the live video of the amber fox on his wrist communicator.
"Whoa." Tails' voice emitted from the device. Although he was in the middle of tinkering with a gadget, he set his wrench down briefly to process the situation. He put a finger to his chin curiously. "I don't think I've ever seen you yell before."
"It's strange. I feel… dirty." Sonic shuddered. "I just… I want to look out for myself, but he doesn't understand that."
The kit scoffed. "Shadow? The ever-brooding, lonesome, 'look-at-me-the-wrong-way-and-perish' Shadow? We're talking about the same guy, right?"
The hedgehog said nothing. One could practically hear the gears turning in his spiky blue head.
Tails continued, lightheartedly teasing him, "Have you ever thought that maybe he wants to look out for you because he—oh, I dunno—loves you?"
Another moment of silence passed before Sonic slapped his forehead. "Ugh, I'm so stupid!"
The fox held up his hands innocently. "Hey, you said it, not me."
Sonic let out a small chuckle. "But you're right. I…" He clenched his fist as a spark of determination flashed in his emerald irises. "I have to find him and apologize!"
Tails was flabbergasted as the screen was now a blur. He heard the rustle and bustle of Sonic putting on his windbreaker and running shoes. "Wha—? In the rain!?"
But the speedster already made up his mind. "Thanks, buddy!" And with a salute, he signed off.
The lifeform's fur blended seamlessly into the night, his feet dragging him along the cold, wet pavement. As the agent's rocket shoes sunk into a particularly large puddle, he paused, catching his tired reflection. He sighed. "You fool…"
Perhaps he wasn't cut out for a relationship after all.
Suddenly his ear twitched at the unmistakable rev of a blue blur, accompanied by splashes against the concrete. He turned to see Sonic a few yards away, slowing down to wave for his attention, getting drenched.
What is he doing here? Just as Shadow was about to ask, a flash of metal glinted from the corner of his eye, zooming toward Sonic at an astounding speed. With adrenaline pumping through his veins, Shadow immediately skated toward the hero.
At first Sonic seemed excited to see the agent approaching him, but upon reading Shadow's concerned face, he finally noticed the metallic golem rocketing straight for him. He needed a second to process it, but it was a second too late.
The lifeform shoved Sonic out of the way as the robot slammed into himself.
Sonic tumbled across puddles upon the concrete. But he barely took note of the water and the pain. He scrambled to his feet at the sound of a deafening crash, looking up to see Shadow pinned between a cratered brick wall and the mech's giant fist.
"Shadow!" Sonic called, sprinting toward him, only to be met with the robot's other arm that aimed its dead abyss of a cannon barrel between his eyes.
Sonic skidded to a halt, spotting a familiar mustachioed insignia on the iron bicep. "Now's not a good time, Eggman."
"Ohoho!" The doctor's laugh reverberated from booming speakers, shaped like an ear-to-ear grin on the mech's face. "On the contrary, now's the perfect time, seeing as how the rain puts you at a disadvantage."
Sonic clenched his fist. He hated to admit it, but Eggman was right. Even now he shivered from the cold seeping through his quills.
"Sonic," continued Eggman's amplified voice, "meet the Soaker Bot!"
Sonic heard the high-pitched hum of the gun barrel charging up, then dodged just in time to avoid the gush of water it fired.
"Soaker?" Sonic called. "I hardly know 'er!"
His ear suddenly perked at the sound of gurgling, which came from the clear canister on the robot's back, as its source of ammo became refilled by the rain.
Maybe if I break its back, it'll have nothing to fire with…
Sonic sped toward the mech's rear but Eggman had foreseen this, flooding the hedgehog's path so he slipped and slid uselessly, tripping over a curb. He landed flat on his face, eliciting a guffaw from the doctor.
Sonic quickly got to his feet, shaking off excess droplets. Okay. Plan B: Break the water cannon.
He performed a homing attack toward the weapon, only to be sprayed with a violent stream.
Forced into the concrete, he spat and spurted water from his nose. Bad idea, BAD idea! Between his coughs to clear his lungs, he heard the doctor laugh.
"What's the matter, Sonic?" Eggman quipped, "Feeling washed out?"
Sonic wiped his face just in time to dodge another water beam with a hop. But then Eggman shot him midair, the torrent drilling him back into the pavement.
This time Sonic held his breath, rolling into a ball to soften the blow. He heard Eggman readying to fire again, so he had to think fast. He couldn't jump. Couldn't dodge. Couldn't reach top speed for fear of slipping on his face.
But he had other tricks up his sleeve.
He procured his energy whip and aimed it overhead, tethering it to a streetlight. He then propelled himself toward the robot's head, kicking it off balance.
The machine waved its arms comically to keep from toppling over, forcing it to release its hold on Shadow, who fell like a ragdoll to the ground in a barely conscious heap.
Sonic tried to make his way to Shadow again, only to be swept aside with a metallic arm to the gut. He slid across the road, his back slamming into the base of a utility pole.
Sonic groaned, rubbing his quills. As his fingers brushed against the pillar behind him, an idea formed in his head.
He sprung into a spinball, then jumped to slice through the pole's electric cables. The wires sparked with energy, flailing upon a huge puddle like dancing snakes as Sonic dashed out of harm's way.
"Hey, Egghead!" he called. "What's a tree's favorite dating app?"
He ran circles around the robot, wrapping his energy whip around the mech's legs, pulling them taut.
"Timbeeeeer!"
He spindashed into the robot's chest, sending it careening into the electrified puddle with a splash. Eggman ejected just before the machine buzzed and spasmed, succumbing to electrocution.
As the doctor flew away in his Eggmobile, his voice grew distant as he bellowed, "Curse you, Soniiiiic!"
Panting from exertion, the hero suddenly recalled where Shadow was and zoomed to his side. Sonic gently put an ear to the agent's torso, which rose and fell with shallow breaths.
Sonic warily took the lifeform's hand. "Shadow? Are you alright?"
Onyx eyelids fluttered open. The agent muttered, "Sonic?"
The hero let out a sigh of relief. "Thank Chaos you're okay."
Shadow grunted, standing up with Sonic's help. "Just got the wind knocked out of me, is all." He then noticed that Sonic was drenched. Shadow's eyes widened, quickly pulling the aquaphobic hedgehog closer for warmth. "Sonic! The rain—!" He was about to take off his coat to shelter his partner, but then—
"Hey, hey, relax!" Sonic stopped him. Besides, he barely noticed the drizzle, now that he knew Shadow was okay. "I just… I wanted to tell you…" He began to tear up.
"Yes…?" Now Shadow was really concerned. Suddenly water didn't bother him, now this?
"I'm sorry for yelling at you!" Sonic blurted, leaning against the agent's warm chest. "I'm just so used to standing up for myself. Relying on someone feels… different." His ears folded back. "Especially since I'm supposed to protect others."
Shadow could feel the hero's racing heartbeat against his own. "It's alright. You've no need to apologize. Besides," he added, "it seems I need to rely on you as well."
Sonic blinked. "Oh," he managed to say upon reaching this epiphany. "Really?"
Shadow nodded once, giving him that side smile that melted the hero's doubts…
As well as his heart.
Still, Sonic insisted, "Well, I'm sorry anyway. W-What if I—" He sniffled. "What if our last memory together—"
Shadow cut him off by pressing his lips against Sonic's. The hero yelped in surprise against his mouth before his eyes fluttered closed, his lips quickly melting into the soft, familiar rhythm. His firm hands clutched the agent's waist to bring him closer, wanting to never let go. Once Shadow felt his partner reciprocate, he rested his hand on Sonic's cheek, deepening the kiss as if to imprint the hero's sweet taste, his cool scent, his fond touch in his memory. The fluid motion of their caressing lips was as timeless as the tides.
They felt like the last two beings on earth.
Shadow broke away with a soft click, speaking against Sonic's flushed muzzle. "I'm sorry, too. It won't happen again."
"It's okay." Sonic wiped his tears away, not that it made a difference with the rain. Then he grinned. "Wanna go home and watch a movie?"
Shadow smiled warmly, entwining his fingers with Sonic's to let him lead the way. "Naturally."