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Shadow never had trouble sleeping. Well that was until he had lost Maria, his once best friend. They would play together all the time, would make up ghost stories to keep eachother up, talk about what they do on earth togher. Shadow loved learning about earth and all the stories Maria had of it, like how she went to this place called a “school” and how there was this thing called the ocean where Maria and her parents would go all the time and play in the water. What Shadow loved most though was the other people not only that but others like him how there were bats, cats, and well hedgehogs who would live with the people though it wasn’t supper common. Shadow couldn’t wait to see earth with his best friend Maria.
That was until G.U.N showed up. All he could hear was screaming. He had always hated even a small bit of screaming but this made his head turn and made him want to throw up. They were about to reach an escape pod when he heard a bang, he turned around and saw blood coming from Maria. He stopped and stared “Come on Shadow!” Maria yelled at him before grabbing his arm and throwing him into an escape pod and closed it.
“Maria, what about you!” Shadow yelled, banging the glass.
“Shadow,” Maria started.
“You already failed.”
“You let me die”
“Oh Shadow you couldn’t even save me”
“You are nothing but a small weak child.”
“That other hedgehog would have saved me.”
“Granted anyone other than you could have.”
“NO! NOT THIS PLEASE!” Shadow banged on the glass of the escape pond as the glass broke as the room became a bright red with eyes staring at him.
“AWWW Shadow acting like he cares?” He heard Rouge say.
“Tch he acts so strong but then he crumbles to the floor at the truth.” Egg man said.
“Please…” Shadow begged.
“I’m happy he barely even talks to me!” Amy stated.
“Lucky he always has to hang with Sonic, why doesn't he understand no one wants him!” Tails remarked.
“I would be much happier if he never existed.” Sonic said.
That what hurted Shadow the most, He covered his ears and just yelled that seemed to be the only thing he could do, but that only made the voices louder, so much louder.
“You failed us all, Shadow.”
Shadow woke up at that one. There were tears streaming down his face. He tried to wipe them away but there just came more tears in their place. Shadow grabbed his pillow and held it tight and screamed into it. He had this dream almost every night he fell asleep yet it never got any better in fact the opposite it only got worse. Shadow cried into the pillow for what felt like hours though it was most likely only ten maybe thirty minutes.
Once he was done he grabbed his phone and while still holding onto the pillow he looked at the pictures of him and Sonic together. Sometimes Shadow wished he was Sonic. Maybe then he could be even a tiny bit happier besides what had that hedgehog lost, it was nothing that was the answer. Most of the time Shadow just wished for the two to be together not as friends but something closer. Even if Shadow knew deep down Sonic would never feel the same.
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Sonic would stay up till four am doing basically everything, he would wake up around one or two in the afternoon, maybe twelve if he was lucky. It wasn’t because he wanted to stay up, no he wanted to sleep so badly the only thing standing between him and sleep was well his body. Every time he would put the phone done and try to sleep he would lay there for a minute maybe two think of one thing and then start to wonder something to the point where he gets on his phone to look it up then go to sleep, oh but wait he does need a new notebook so might as well wait, he needs to check up on this one game and ohhh new event welp now he has to try and get all the new awards, he should check his socials and well he should also- and before he knows what happened its four am and he stayed up all night, again.
It was another one of those nights he just sat there in his bed trying to fall asleep with no luck. So he started the cycle yet again and checked his phone without thinking much. That was until he saw a notification which read: “New like on your post from “Shadow the real hedgehog”. Sonic laughed a bit at the user how pissed off Shadow was when someone had taken Shadow the hedgehog. He laughed a bit till he saw when the notification was sent, five minutes ago. At least he wasn’t the only one up late at night. He decided to shoot Shadow a text.
Sonic: Saw you liked a pic ;)
Shadow: It was an accident that’s all
Sonic: Sure it was, because I also stalk your socials at 2am
Shadow: You do…?
Sonic froze, yeah he did sometimes but still Shadow thinks he’s weird if he knew the truth.
Sonic: Not yet lol
Shadow: Sure you don’t
Sonic: Have I ever lied to you?
Shadow: You might have
Sonic: No I haven’t -_-
Shadow: Look is there a reason you texted me or did you just have to be annoying?
Sonic: Can’t sleep and I’m guessing same for you
Shadow: I can I just chose not to
Shadow wished it was the truth and it was he just didn’t like sleeping with his nightmares and all that.
Sonic: That doesn't sound healthy at all
Shadow: Talk to yourself then
Sonic: Fair point
Sonic laughed a bit at that one, yeah it was true he wasn’t one to talk about healthy sleeping habits.
Sonic: Wanna hang out tomorrow?
Shadow: Sure
Shadow regretted that he probably was just taking up room Sonic could be using to hang out with his better friends and not him.
Sonic: Great! Wanna meet at the park?
Shadow: Sure
Sonic: See you there!
Shadow: Bye
Shadow sighed turning his phone off, he put it on his night stand and looked out the window by his bed. He wished this was something more than just a hangout but he made do with what he has. Besides, who would want to date someone like him?
Sonic: OMG I got a date with Shadow!!!!!!
Sliver: Uh yay…?
Tails: another “date” But is it really a hang out?
Sonic: Tails what are you doing up so late?
Tails: Building. Anyhow, my question?
Sonic: Okay fine but I ask him out tomorrow okay!
Sliver: Okay good luck!
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It was some time early in the morning, way too early for Sonic’s liking but here he was. He can’t recall why he had to wake up so early but he did and was now very tired doing everything he had to do for the day. That was until he had gotten a text from Shadow.
Shadow: I’m here where are you?
Sonic: on my way! ;)
Sonic hovered over the send button deciding to delete the wink before sending the message. Sonic quickly put his phone away and ran over to the park over to where he and Shadow would always hang out. A small area under some trees that made the perfect little hideout for them to hang out. Before Sonic got there he grabbed four chili dogs two for him and two for Shadow.
“Hey Shad! Here catch!” Sonic threw one of the four chili dogs at Shadow which Shadow caught perfectly.
“Please don’t tell me you do that with everyone.” Shadow remarked, rolling his eyes as he bit into the chili dog.
“Nah only the “ultimate life form” gets that pressure.” Sonic joked as he walked over to where Shadow was sitting.
The two joked and Sonic was able to get a good few laughs out of Shadow. That was until Shadow noticed something on Sonic’s chest.
“Those scars… Can I ask how you got them?” Shadow asked tracing one with his finger while looking at Sonic.
“Hm? Oh those there uh my chest surgery scars!” Sonic laughed a little no one had really asked, granted people either knew him for a while or had never noticed so he never really had to explain it.
“Chest surgery?” Shadow asked, tilting his head slightly not realizing he hadn’t moved his finger.
“Oh uh yeah long story short I was born a girl but said no to boobs haha.” Sonic remarked, rubbing the back of his head.
“Oh I see.” Shadow remarked looking into Sonic’s eyes, “was it painful?” He asked, looking a bit concerned.
“Nah I was asleep when they did so I didn’t feel a thing!” Sonic laughed, he couldn't help but stare into Shadow’s red eyes. They were filled with anger and sadness but they also had joy and wonder for the world.
“I should get going, it’s been fun hanging with you-“ Shadow started before being cut off by Sonic.
“Wait Shadow! There’s something I need to tell you!” Sonic remark standing up.
“I- I love you.” Sonic admitted to Shadow.
“Sonic I-“ Shadow was confused, he had never expected for Sonic to feel the same all he could manage to do was form a smile.
“I feel the same way. Do you by chance want to have dinner at my house?” Shadow finally admitted after a solid minute or two of the two standing there.
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Shadow ran home, he had no idea what he had just gotten himself into. It was probably just some kind of joke or maybe he missed hear Sonic or well maybe it could’ve been-
“You and Sonic finally confused your feelings for each other I’m guessing?” Shadow heard from his kitchen.
“Rouge how the fuck-“ Shadow started once he heard Rouge the bat.
“Shhh, I could feel the gay panic from across the house.” Rouge interrupted Shadow.
“That doesn’t make it better ?!” Shadow replied, heading to the kitchen with Rouge.
“Okay you’re here so I’m going to help you out, I have a plan set up. It's called “101 a dummies guide to dating with everything you ever need with stickers!” And yes the stickers are very important no buts.” Rouge started slamming a book down on the table.
“Rouge I don’t need a dating manual I can do this on my own.” Shadow said sitting down in a chair.
“Have you ever been on a date?” Rouge asked.
“Well no but I mean have you been on a date before?”
“Yes, with many women, don’t worry, it’ll only take like the whole day.”
“Yayyyyyy”
Shadow rolled his eyes. This was a long day.
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Sonic had never felt something like this feeling before. He had rushed off as soon he could no longer see Shadow. Sonic decided to look his best for this date as he could, which was saying a lot since he never wears pants.
Sonic: I have good news and bad news!
Amy: bad?!
Sonic: I have no idea what to wear
Knuckles: you wear nothing only Amy does.
Sonic: fair point, do y’all want good news?!
Tails: ?
Sonic: I’m going on a date!
Amy: WHAT?!? With who?
Tails: probably his boyfriend Shadow 😒
Sliver: yay!
Amy: you stay where you are Sonic I go and help you out
Sonic: thank you
Amy: don’t worry I will be there in a sec.
And so Sonic waited for Amy. He scrolled through Shadow’s socials. He can somewhat remember joking about it with Shadow last night he laughed at this. It felt like forever ago when he saw that notification that Shadow had liked one of his pictures even if it was just a few hours ago. He heard a knock on the door and quickly rushed to answer it. I saw Amy waiting there for him.
“Hey Sonic! So uh congrats anyways let’s get started on this!” Amy said.
“Yeah so uh how should I dress fancy or casual I never really been on a date.” Sonic chuckled a bit to be truthful, he was nervous like really nervous.
“Depends where the two of you are going because if it’s like a movie you should dress casual don’t want to watch a movie in a suit, but if it was at a fancy restaurant well you kinda NEED to wear a suit.” Amy responded as she put her hand on top of Sonic’s.
“Okay so what would dinner at his house count as?” Sonic asked.
“Hmm well this is Shadow and well you know him, so I say maybe a bit of the fancy side but for the most part casual.”
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It was around 7 Rouge had left and Shadow was alone cooking chili dogs for the date, he had to make sure every last thing was perfect or else he might lose his only chance with the one he loved.
Shadow: I’m ready when you are
Shadow started to panic. Are you supposed to say if you’re ready or not what if Sonic thought he was wired for saying that? What if Sonic changed his mind and-
Shadow heard a knocking at the door. He took a deep breath in and opened it.
There stood Sonic, his hair a bit nicer though it was probably the first time he brushed it for who knows how long, he wore a bowtie which was probably more clothes then he had ever worn. Shadow stared at Sonic’s eyes, they were green, the most beautiful shade of green he had ever seen though Shadow would never admit that fact.
Sonic stared at Shadow. He wore that same frown as always but was just standing there, guess Sonic looked too cute for him.
“Come on in, I already made us dinner.” Shadow finally said after a good minute or two.
“Smells good whatcha make?” Sonic asked, walking in.
“Oh I actually made hamburgers.”
“Wait really?”
“No. I made chili dogs your favorite.”
Sonic froze there for a second, “I knew that…”
So they ate neither really picked up on what to do on a date so they just hanged out as if it was a normal hangout. After the two ate they went up to watch some tv, Sonic had been close to Shadow but this felt different it felt… closer.
After an hour or two of watching some show that neither had ever heard of, Shadow yawned.
“Tried already?” Sonic joked.
“Guess hanging out with you makes me more tired than normal.” Shadow laughed.
They looked at each other for a few seconds.
“You can sleep here if you want.” Shadow finally said getting under the blankets on his bed.
“I think I will.”
The nightmare started again like always. Sonic heard Shadow crying and asked if he was okay, Shadow didn’t answer. Sonic reassured Shadow that he loved him which made Shadow stop crying. In the nightmare Shadow heard everything, it was Sonic’s voice, his real voice that made all the yelling stop. Shadow saw Sonic and hugged him and before he knew it Shadow was waking up next to the real Sonic.
Shadow had stopped crying a few minutes ago, Sonic was laying there while yes he had many sleep overs before he had never shared a bed before so it was very awkward for him. He wanted to be normal, he wanted to be a normal boyfriend for Shadow but yet he felt like he messed everything up. He looked over towards Shadow and sighed he was tired and at least wanted to try and fall asleep. He closed his eyes to a dark room and then opened them to a bright morning.
The two of them finally had a full night's rest.