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Sonic didn't consider himself has the "annoying type". In all honesty, he thought all of his companions considered him a good friend.
It was when the world was at it's most peaceful when he started noticing the problems.
Apart from when the world was at stake, everyone avoided hanging out with him. Even Amy, who at first, was really kind and had an obvious crush on him, she grew older and, eventually, she found herself less atracted to him and more keen to hanging out with everyone else.
Even if Sonic was greatful that Amy stopped her obsession over him, he still misses saving the world with everyone and hanging out for dinner after. He was now questioning if his companions considered him really a friend.
Sonic snapped out of his thoughts as the bell from his house rang, he exitedly opened the door to find Amy with a small smile handing out a small invitation to him. He looked at her confused.
"Since it's so close to christmas eve, I think it would be lovely for all of us to hang out at my place tomorrow, a nice christmas party." She said with a cheery tone "Tho I have to warn you, no alcohol allowed, our younger friends will also attend so..." Amy looked at Sonic with a half smile, waiting for an answer.
"Oh...cool" He said with an awkard smile, he wasn't one to drink alcohol anyways. Of course, he didn't want to miss an opportunity to hang out with his friends again after so long "I'll be there then, it sure will be fun" He waved Amy goodbye as she walked away, still a bit surprised at being invited to a party at all.
~~~~ NEXT DAY ~~~~
Sonic was exited to be with everyone again, putting on a fitting green scarf on top of a dark jacket and some red warm pants to fit the holiday colors. Sure, it seemed weird for him to be wearing clothes at all, but it was specially chilly today, so he was more than prepared.
Sonic tried to arrive a little later from the start of the party since he didn't want it to be an awkard silence between him and Amy until someone else arrived, he just wasn't good at starting conversations and didn't want to drive his friend away.
As he dashed thoards Amy's place, he could already smell the delicious food and warm drinks. When he knocked and entered her place, he took a glance around. it was a small but colorful decoration that greeted him, he unconciously smiled at the sight and cozyness of Amy's place, he has already forgotten how it looked like, and he noticed some of the newer projects Amy had made with Tails to experiment a bit in her christmas decor.
A short robotic tree adornated in different lights that emited bell sounds and a lot of snow decorations on the walls, next to the door there was a table full with treats like cookies, hot chocolate (tho not prepared yet), candy, and christmas bread, everything made with lots of effort it seems.
Surprisingly, Sonic came in last. He didn't expect everyone else to arrive so early, Shadow was standing in the kitchen with Amy, warming up hot chocolate while chatting. Tails was playing some videogames with Cream, teaching her the mechanics. Blaze was talking with Espio on the corner and Silver was eating some cookies on the couch.
even tho Sonic greeted everyone and they seemed happy to see him. He couldn't really hold a conversation with anyone, his close friends seemed too busy talking with someone else or just not feeling like talking at all. He tried to talk to Rouge, who was trying to find a good tv channel to watch, but he could only make a few dry questions and one worded answers before Sonic was left with nothing to talk about.
Nobody seemed to care about him, even if they assured him that they did liked him, and called him a friend. Sonic was now sitting on the couch awkardly next to Silver, he felt left out...
Sonic hugged himself as his thoughts came in.
("I should probably leave..." "clearly nobody wants me here" "whatever they say, they obviously don't care" "I have no place in this stupid party" )
"Sonic?" Amy's voice startled him for a second, "Are you ok?, you seem upset and a bit uncomfortable...do you wanna talk?" She asks, concern in her voice.
Sonic sighs (I don't wanna take her out of her good mood because of me, she shouldn't be involved) "no, I'm fine Amy, thanks for worrying tho..." he said to then get up and look at the door.
"Maybe I'm just, not in the mood for this, alright?" He said with a forced smile. Amy sighed.
"Yeah I understand, no worries..." She said, then she opened her eyes in realisation of something "Oh! Wait" she rushes outside her house and quickly gets back with a closed letter.
"I almost forgot, a letter from the mushroom kingdom came for you, they accidentaly left it on my mail tho..." she handed out the letter to a now confused Sonic, he quickly took and opened it.
As Sonic read it, he looked rather surprised and confused "...it's from... Mario?...he....wants me in the castle...for a...christmas party" he re-read the letter over and over again at light speed.
(Why would Mario want me there?) He thought confused (should I go?...I...I didn't even know he still remembered me after the Olympic games) he blushes at the thought (he remembers me...)
Sonic looks at Amy, still shocked "the...party...apparently starts in just a few minutes...a party at the mushroom kingdoom..It seems to be an adult only party and...I'm invited" Amy steps foward to look at the letter
"Oh I'm sorry, will you send something telling them you're not in the mood?" Amy asks while Sonic looks away, gulping "m-maybe I'll...I'll tell them in person or something, after all, I can go and come back in just a few minutes so" he says with a small smile.
(Maybe it was a mistake or something...after so long, why would Mario even THINK of me?, not even my friends want me at their party, why would he?) He tried to drown in any hope of actually staying at another party he was probably not even wanted in.
Sonic said his goodbyes and quickly dashed out of his world with help of the teleport pod. He carefully navigates nintendo world, unsurprisingly it was almost empty since most other people and creatures would be on their own worlds during this time. Sonny looks for the pod thoards the mushroom kingdom. As he finds it, he rushes in and impatiently stomps as it shines and gets him near the big castle adornated in almost magestic lights.
He wanted to get this over quickly, not wishing to interrupt another fun night. When he arrives and knocks on the big door, a tall princess on a colorful sweater opening it.
"Oh my, Sonic, I should've expected you would arrive so early" She said giggling a little. Sonic sighed and looked down.
"Yeah right", Sonic forced a smile, "I just wanted ton say I'm sorry princess, but I think I'm to tired to be he-" before he could finish his sentence tho, he heard a familliar voice that made his heart flutter.
"Sonic, you're already here?" The short plumber's voice can be heard from inside the castle, he was finishing some decorations for the main room and seemed surprised, yet happy to see Sonic.
He was shocked, the hedgehog surely didn't expect Mario to be here already, but of course he was, he loves to help others. This was going to make things harder for himself.
Mario approaches and gives him a warm hug, making Sonic blush and freeze in shock. He looks away, a bit embarassed "hey Mario.." he said quietly
"Oh Sonic, it's been so long, you haven't changed a thing!" Mario said on his italian accent with a big smile, it was a sweet, genuine one that caught Sonic off guard. It made him ignore those thoughts that nobody wanted to even talk to him.
"Tho you are bit early" he laughed "I should've known" Sonic eyed him, looking at his confy red sweater and yellow pants with colorful spots. He looks so good even with such weird looking clothing, how does he do it?.
Mario looked at Sonic with curiosity and a bit of amusement "it's so strange seeing you fully clothed, no offence" he laughs "you look great!" He said as he entered the castle, inviting a now very flustered Sonic in.
Sonic finally spoke "l-look I'm sorry to interrupt so early, I was actually hoping to..." he feel silent at Mario's slightly dissapointed look, the hedgehog quickly corrects himself, "g-get to know you better since we didn't really...talk, at the games" Sonic was still processing that somebody actually felt dissapointment at him leaving. Mario patted Sonic's shoulder and went to finish decorating, the hedgehog following close behind.
"That sounds lovely!, I would love to know you better" Mario said with such enthusiasm that Sonic started questioning if this was even real.
Sonic decided he would also be helping with what he can around the castle while talking with Mario about themselves. Sonic felt so loved around Mario, he felt like he was dreaming. They finished everything as soon as the party finally started, a bunch of people from this mushroom world coming in.
Sonic felt weird. Being able to talk to other people feel more natural, he felt more heard than at his own world. Already making good friends with Daisy and Yoshi. They where kind yet as competitive as he is.
There where many toads asking him questions, everyone having fun but also talking to him out of nowhere, it was so new for him, but he loved it.
Suddently, Sonic felt eyes on him, Mario was walking thoards him, with his always welcoming smile greeting the hedgehog. "I see you're enjoying the party?, I'm so glad, I was hoping you didn't feel uncomfortable with so many new faces to you".
Sonic felt his face getting warmer, he didn't believe how kind Mario was. He always thought he would be indifferent thoards him, even maybe not liking him at all. But this was totally different from what he expected. "N-not at all, everyone has been..." he looks over at everyone having a great time playing games, talking, dancing. "...so kind"
Mario sighed in relief and poked Sonic's shoulder to get his attention "and I know you've been enjoying earlier a few of those gigant candy canes I bought" he laughed. (How does he know?) Sonic thought and hid his face under the scarf in embarassment.
Mario quickly lifted his face back up "hey don't be like that, their pretty good, buuuut" Mario handed Sonic a cup with hot chocolate and marshmellows "you should really try this hot chocolate, it's fitting for both the holiday and the cold after all. Me and Peach made them"
(Something he made? For me? Why does he care so much about me?) Sonic thinks as he blushes deeply (everyone here is so kind and welcoming...specially...) Sonic tries to hide his blush, but Mario takes notice of this and smiles silently while looking away.
"You know..." Mario starts, snapping Sonic from his thoughts "you'll always be welcome here in the mushroom kingdom...I know that you must feel....weird" the plumber sighs as his face starts turning a bit red "I know this isn't your world and stuff...but I want you to know...It'll be lovely...to see you around more" Mario gently places the warm cup on Sonic's hand.
"Even when there's nothing to celebrate...I think is nice to...have you around, everyone here already likes you and" Mario laughs for a second "I...I wish to...spend time with you and maybe...talk"
Sonic is speechless, his eyes widening and suddently feeling so warm inside. So...comfortable. He sighs and smiles at the feeling.
"I think..." Sonic finally says "I would like that" He looks up at Mario with a sweet look that makes the plumber's smile somehow even brighter.
Finally as the tension is released, Mario walks up to a small couch and Sonic sits next to him. "This place is so big" starts Sonic "how do you even live here?", he almost laughs, imagining the tiny plumber in such a castle, "I don't" Mario answered with amusement, people always thought he lived there, "me and my brother actually live quite far away, just beyond Toad town".
Sonic's eyes widen in surprise "whaaat?, that's so crazy, I thought you would live in here since you're-, I don't know, hero of the mushroom kingdom?" He says with a smile after seeing Mario blush at the comment.
"Oh no, I like small simple living spaces, maybe one day I'll show you my house, it may be small, but it feels like home" Mario hums at the thought of inviting Sonic to eat something in a more quiet place, the hedgehog shifts closer to Mario, trying to not make it so obvious, "I also love small living spaces, so I can't wait to see where you live and eat everything" Sonic jokes with a smirk at Mario's "hey".
And so, the two of them stayed on the couch talking about their worlds and drinking their hot chocolate. When the party ended and everyone went home, Sonic felt quite sad it was already finished, for him, the hours felt like seconds.
Tho when Sonic was saying goodbye to everyone and heading thoards the big doors outside, a hand on his shoulder stopped him. Sonic turned, a bit confused, he had already said goodbye to the plumber. "Is something wrong Mario?"
Mario looked away blushing, he looked like he was thinking about something "I..." Mario then stopped for a moment, making Sonic look kinda worried "Mar-" then suddently, the plumber quickly kisses the hedgehog's cheek and said "Merry christmas Sonic", as the plumber holds back the need to run away.
Sonic looked shocked and didn't even try hiding his smile, he covered the cheek Mario kissed with his gloved hand and blushed deeply. He can still feel the warmth of Mario's lips on him
He shily said "M-Merry christmas Mario" and, not finding the courage to say anything else, he just gave a little smile and ran away, his head becoming an incoherent mess.
("Did that really happen?" "Am I really just dreaming" "does he feel the same as I do?" "why did you make me such a mess?" "even tho you made me feel like...") he gave a short laugh to himself.
The Mushroom kingdom was my home...