Work Text:
Shadow takes a long, warm sip of his black coffee, admitting that grinded, watered, and heated coffee beans taste as good as eating it raw (but he won't admit it loudly, per say). The drink mixes well with the cold breeze the weather emits tonight, along with a starry night sky for the view.
He gazes down the mobians who are enjoying themselves at the party. They said it was an important day today, Christmas Eve. Shadow rolls his eyes. What is so fun about goofing up all night just to wait for the next day? Ridiculous.
However, even though he says that, he might have adjusted to the traditions of this so-called "Christmas". Turns out, people give presents to loved ones and decorate trees (Shadow is confused about that one. Why do mortals love to vandalize nature?). They also wait for an old fat man to give them gifts, riding on a magical sleigh carried by reindeers to come down from their chimneys. Now, that creeped Shadow out. Who lets people break and enter their house as they please? And was it just Eggman in disguise?
Well, at least, Shadow got the "gift-giving" part right. He has given gifts to the best of his abilities. A bracelet he found in an underground cave for Rouge and extra metal parts for Omega. He almost regretted it as Rouge continued to tease him nonstop.
He thought of giving Sonic's team some gifts too, out of respect, but the possibility of them thinking it's a trap and attacking Shadow is unpleasant. So, no.
Sonic, however... It was too easy to think of a gift for him. One chili dog in sight and he woule be munching it in seconds. But, "simple" isn't Shadow's middle name. As a thank you for saving the world together, an effort is a must.
However, Shadow thinks he may not give him his present on time. With mobians flocking him left and right, he won't be able to hand it to him personally.
He looked up in the sky once again. The only reason he tolerated this custom is because of the thought that Maria would've enjoyed this (Totally the only reason, because Shadow the Hedgehog most certainly doesn't like Christmas. Totally).
Shadow attempts to take a sip again, only to realize the drink had gone cold from all his internal monologuing.
"Four... Three...!"
A familiar voice.
"Two... Anddd, One! Merry Christmas, Shadow!"
Shadow turns around and it is none other than the blue hedgehog. Wearing a santa hat, small red fur coat, and gloves that are specifically made for winter.
"Hm."
"Erm, okay, Merry Christmas to you too, Sonic." Sonic replies, with an unamused look on his face. "So typical to see you here, Shadow. All alone" Sonic walks closer.
Shadow grunts, "I've had enough social interaction for today, thank you very much. Of course, with that mouth of yours I assume you won't understand".
"Oh come on! Don't be like that. It's Christmas!" Sonic exclaims, wiggling his fingers as if he just finished a big musical number.
Shadow stays silent, as he continues to watch the people from down below. They seem like they're having fun.
Sonic clears his throat, a sign that he's about to strike a conversation. "Y'know, I heard from Rouge that you gave her a gift this morning. That's nice of you, Shads".
Shadow looks at him, "I was just following the tradition of this Christmas. That's all". No, that wasn't all. Rouge has been with him through thick and thin. It was only right that he gave her something, as thanks for sticking by his side.
But Sonic, always sees right through him. "Sure you are, bud", he smiles.
Shadow hears rustling, so he turns around to see Sonic, holding a box that looks poorlt wrapped. As if he didn't have a single clue on gift-wrapping.
"Faker. What is this?" Shadow eyed him and the object. Sonic rolls his eyes, "A gift, Sherlock".
Shadow blinks. A gift? For... him? He glares at the hedgehog. "What for? I was nothing but the opposite of nice to you".
"Helping me save the world is the opposite of mean, either" Sonic shrugs. "And besides, all of those were in the past. Because I am for sure, you did not mean that."
Shadow felt his breath hitch. But... why? Sonic shouldn't have. Literally. He was the Ultimate Life Form, for God's sake. Something created in order to be used as military weapon. It's absurd.
"I know what you're thinking" Sonic stops his train of thoughts. "But you deserve it", Sonic hands him the gift, "So here".
Shadow hesitantly accepts the gifts. Slowly unwrapping the present. He lifts the cover of the box to see... A wooden pallete along with a container of paint tubes and paint brushes. Basically, an art set?
"Rouge told me that you loved painting in your spare time. That you mostly drew Maria alot. And some other really amazing landscapes too!" Sonic gave Shadow a toothy grin.
"I..." Shadow blinked. Wait a second...
Shadow demanded, "Stay right where you are, faker". Sonic raised his hands up, unalarmed. "Um, okay?"
Shadow rummaged through his quills to pick up a green Chaos emerald and teleported before Sonic's eyes. A second later, he came back with a wrapped gift.
"Shadow..." Sonic said. Shadow stares at Sonic's gift awkwardly. "I, um... Here". Shadow hands him the neatly wrapped gift, opposite of Sonic's.
Sonic's eyes sparkled. "Awe, man! You... you really got me a gift! Shadow the Hedgehog actually got me a gift!" He jumped happily. He quickly began unwrapping the present, making a mess of ripped gift-wraps everywhere. But who cares? He's opening a gift that Shadow gave him!
There, he sees a spray can with a silk handkerchief inside. Sonic, intrigued, asks, "What are these for?"
"Something to clean your white gloves with. You always wear them 24/7, and I notice they get dirty during eating and combat. So, I asked Tails what can make your gloves stay pearly white." Shadow avoids eye contact, clearly feeling shy.
Sonic lets out a chuckle, "Oh, boy. The irony, huh?"
Shadow is confused. "What?"
Sonic scratches his chin, "I actually... sold my gloves to buy the art set for you. You don't know how much people are willing to spend a fortune on those!"
Shadow's mouth forms the shape of an "O". "Well, that's... unfortunate."
Sonic laughs, "Right!"
Shadow's eyes still refuse to Sonic's. "I... may have also sold my canvas so I could buy that spray can."
Sonic's eyes went wide, then bursted out laughing. "Ahahaha!"
"This isn't funny, faker! Now I have no canvas anymore!" Shadow huffed. However, Sonic still kept on cackling. "Ahaha—! It's—Haha, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. It's just—" He giggles, "It's just funny!"
Shadow, finally looking at Sonic, glares at the hero. "Are you done now?" Sonic wipes a tear from his eye, "Yes, yes, I am"
Shadow looks at their gifts. "So, what do we do with them? Now that the sole purpose of these are gone?"
Sonic hugs his gift, "I'm keeping it!".
"Why? Just give it back to me, faker"
Sonic's head shakes roughly, "No! You gave this to me, Shadow. No take-backs!" Shadow scoffs. "You're such a damn child."
Sonic giggles, smiling more brightly, "Damn right I am! Besides, I could still get a new pair. And its the thought that counts".
Shadow watches as Sonic eyes his gift like it was some precious puppy. He watches how his eyes softened and his smile turned gentle.
Whenever Sonic was around, his head always told him that he was the obstacle to his path, a pain in the neck, sticky gum that can be found on the sole of his shoes, an annoying fly that just keeps buzzing and buzzing near his ear. However, his heart tells him that his presence is familiar, that no matter how hard he tries to push Sonic away. There would always be this magnetic force that makes him stick around. He didn't know why. Shadow felt uneasy with that feeling.
But for the first time, Shadow felt things that were unfamiliar.
Shadow starts walking away, "Whatever, you can keep it". Sonic looks back, "Yay!"
"Oh, and Sonic?"
Sonic blinked, "Yeah?"
Shadow turned his head around, "Merry Christmas."
Sonic gleamed. "Merry Christmas to you too, Shadow!"
And there it was, that sense of familiarity, that atmosphere he missed. And that smile of his that reminded him of... Maria.
And oh boy, Did Shadow felt himself smile at the sight of the blue hedgehog.