Work Text:
If there was one thing Sonic hated, it was the rowdy clubbing late at night.
It was a work night, but somehow, Tails and Knuckles managed to convince him and quite literally drag him out of his office to bring him to this mess. He didn’t want to be here. He was even surprised that Tails wanted to be there, but Knuckles’s influence on him got the better of him and Tails ended up helping out the DJ while Knuckles was off dancing with Rouge somewhere.
They were having a fun time but he wasn’t. Sonic wanted to get out of here as his mind wandered to how comfortable his bed would feel right now, rather than being surrounded by pounding music and flashing lights.
But someone had to be the one driving them all home because he sure as heck wasn’t going to be the one intoxicated tonight.
He rolled his eyes and shoved away the wine glass that the bartender had given him earlier. His ears twitched from the constant barrage of noise, and the crowded dance floor made him feel more trapped than free. The place was packed with energetic people, all swaying and shouting in excitement, but Sonic wasn’t in the mood for any of it.
Maybe he would be if he had a date. But he didn’t and he had been single for a long time now. The idea of getting back into dating would mingle with his current freedom of peacefulness and being the expectation of someone who he wasn’t. He liked his freedom of being on his own a little too much right now, and while that had to change eventually, he didn’t want to waste the time that he had at this very moment.
He was still young but twenty-seven was almost pushing to thirty and while he didn’t want to rush into another relationship again, it was starting to sink in that he was older and getting nowhere in his love life while his two best friends were off building connections and enjoying themselves. It wasn't that Sonic was jealous of Tails or Knuckles, but he couldn't help but feel a bit left out. They had adapted to this new phase of life, embracing relationships and social scenes, while he was still running solo, quite literally and figuratively.
The DJ's set shifted to a slower beat, and the lights dimmed slightly, casting a softer glow over the room. Sonic sighed, leaning back on the barstool, wondering if maybe it was him who was out of sync with everyone else. Tails was tech-savvy and young, always curious and willing to try new things, while Knuckles had developed this surprisingly carefree attitude that made it easier for him to connect with others, as hot-headed as he was.
He, on the other hand, felt like a toxic workaholic, jumping from one opportunity to the next, unsure if he really wanted to slow down for anyone, let alone being in a relationship.
If he could drown in his sorrows with this whisky in front of him, he probably would.
"Man, this is not my scene," Sonic complained to himself, casting a glance over at the crowd. He spotted Knuckles laughing loudly with Rouge, both of them looking like they didn’t have a care in the world. Tails was immersed in adjusting some DJ equipment, grinning from ear to ear as he got into the music.
Sonic groaned inwardly as he felt the rhythmic thumping of the bass in his chest. Every passing second in the chaotic club made him more irritable. His usual upbeat energy was nowhere to be found. He glanced at his watch, sighed, and decided enough was enough.
“I’m out,” he muttered under his breath.
Sonic pushed his way through the crowd, dodging swinging arms and avoiding spilt drinks with his characteristic agility. The night air hit him as soon as he stepped outside, and it felt like a sweet relief compared to the stuffy, neon-lit chaos inside. He inhaled deeply, the cool breeze instantly soothing his frazzled nerves.
"Finally," he said and let out a pleasant sigh. "Some peace and quiet."
He wasn’t going to leave too far from the club, but he wanted some distance from it so he could escape the annoying thumping sound.
His mind wandered to the blissful thought of crawling into bed, shutting out the world, and letting the exhaustion of the night wash away. Lost in his thoughts, Sonic didn’t realise how fast he was walking- or rather, speeding- down the street, until-
WHAM!
Sonic collided with someone and hit a lamp post. His speed caused the impact to be stronger than it should have been, and he tumbled backwards, landing on his backside with a dull thud. His hand instinctively reached up to his head, where he could already feel a small bump forming.
"Ow…" He grumbled, rubbing his forehead.
"Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry!" A cute voice said, sounding both shocked and flustered, "A-Are you alright, Sir?"
Sir?
Sonic blinked and looked up to see a young woman standing in front of him, wide-eyed and looking equally disoriented. She was a hedgehog, had pink fur and green eyes, wearing nothing but a short black dress that shimmered down against the dimly lit street light above them.
She quickly knelt down beside him. "Are you okay? I didn’t see you! I was just—oh my goodness, your head! I’m really, really sorry!" She continued, her words rushing out all at once.
He blinked a few more times, processing the situation. His head was still throbbing slightly from the impact, but he wasn’t one to make a big deal out of something like this. He glanced up at the girl and offered a small, sheepish grin, despite the pain.
"It’s okay," he said, waving his hand dismissively. "I wasn’t paying attention either. Happens when you’re in a hurry."
The girl bit her lip, clearly still feeling guilty. “No, no, I should’ve been watching where I was going! Here, let me help you up." She offered her hand to him.
He looked at her hand, hesitant, but then took it. Her grip was surprisingly strong as she pulled him to his feet. Sonic brushed himself off, still feeling the slight sting in his head, but ignored it.
"Thanks," he said, his voice gentler now. "Don’t worry about it. I’ve had worse." He gave a small laugh, trying to lighten the mood.
She still looked unconvinced and a little nervous, her cheeks flushing a deeper shade of pink under the streetlight. “You’ve got a really nasty bruise. A-Are you sure you don’t want me to treat it?”
Sonic awkwardly eyed at the small purse she was carrying over her shoulder. "Uh, no offence, but what would you treat it with? I can’t imagine you’d have a first aid kit in that tiny bag of yours."
The pink hedgehog blinked and then let out a soft, embarrassed laugh. "You’d be surprised what I can fit in here," she teased, going through her purse, "I have some gum and, uh, lipgloss."
He chuckled. "Yeah, I think I’ll pass on the lip gloss."
She sent him a sheepish smile and unexpectedly got out a small bottle of what seemed like rubbing alcohol and a cotton pad. "I always come prepared, just in case."
He was impressed despite himself. "I guess you do," he said, eyeing the bottle with a hint of surprise. "Are you some kind of field medic or something?"
The girl giggled, her cheeks still flushed. "No, just clumsy enough that I learned to keep a few essentials with me at all times." She paused, looking a bit unsure of herself. "I’ve had my fair share of bumps and bruises, so I like to be ready. Here," She gently sat him down on the bench behind him, "Hold still, okay?"
Before Sonic could protest, she dabbed the cotton pad with the solution and gently pressed it against the small bump forming on his forehead. He winced slightly at the sting but quickly forced a smile to show he was fine.
He sat still as she did her work. The positioning was a little awkward, but he wasn’t going to complain. He was tired. A pretty lady was helping him and with how pissed off he was earlier, the gesture felt like a small but welcome respite from the chaotic night. He could care less about anything else right now.
And, well...
He wasn’t going to complain about the view either.
The sweet scent from her perfume also drifted towards his nose and he had to bite the inside of his mouth.
Sonic cleared his throat, feeling an unexpected warmth rising to his cheeks as he tried to focus on something other than the fact that a cute stranger was fussing over him. Her proximity, the light fragrance of vanilla, and the care she was showing him—it was all making him feel a little off-balance, in a way that had nothing to do with their collision just now.
"You, uh, do this for all the people you run into?" He asked his tone a mix of teasing and genuine curiosity. He was trying to steer the conversation away from the weirdly fluttery feeling in his chest.
"Only the ones I knock flat on their backs." She shot him a playful wink, and Sonic couldn't help but chuckle in response, the tension between them easing a little.
"Well, lucky me, I guess," he quipped, wilting slightly as she applied a bit more pressure to the bump on his forehead. He gave her a lopsided grin, trying to downplay the discomfort. "Good thing I wasn’t running too fast like I usually do."
"Trying to escape the party in there too, huh?" She asked, sending him a sympathetic smile. Her delicate touch, combined with the playful back-and-forth, was starting to make him feel more relaxed despite the dull throb in his head. She glanced up at him, tilting her head.
Sonic didn’t say anything as their eyes locked. Her green eyes glimmered with curiosity and he found himself at a loss for words, which was rare for him because he always had something to say. The heat threatened his cheeks again and he quickly glanced down as he cleared his throat again, trying to shake off the strange feeling that was creeping up on him.
"Yeah," he finally said, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "Not really my scene, you know? I’m more of a 'run fast and get outta there' kind of guy,” He shook his head, "But my friends practically dragged me in there tonight. They’re having more fun than I’ll ever have."
She nodded, seeming to understand what he was implying. "Yeah, I get that." She finished tending to his wound and placed the small bottle back into her purse, "I think we all need a break from the noise. Life moves so fast... it's hard to find time to just slow down, breathe, and enjoy the moment."
Sonic stayed quiet at her statement, mulling over it. She had taken the words right out of his mouth. He sat back a little and let out a low whistle. “Yeah, I guess you’re right,” he said quietly, rubbing the spot on his head where she’d just tended to his bump before a brief smirk went across his lips, "So what’s your excuse? You don’t look like the type to be partying around this late at night."
"You’re right," she said, grinning at him before rubbing her arm, "I just came here to support one of my best friends. She was singing at the bar lounge just now and knowing how she likes getting tipsy with her boyfriend afterwards, I’m afraid that I won’t be drinking anything tonight."
He blinked at her and sat up. "Wait, your friends with Rouge?"
"Mhm."
Did that mean Knuckles had known about this girl this whole time? And if so, why the heck hadn’t he told him about her?
Sonic abruptly paused his thoughts. What was he saying?
He felt a strange pang of something flicker in his chest. He wasn’t sure if it was irritation, curiosity, or something else entirely. Maybe it was just the fact that Knuckles knew something he didn’t. Either way, the thought of Rouge having a friend who seemed this... interesting and Knuckles not mentioning it felt odd. He shook his head, trying to dispel the ridiculousness of the feeling creeping up on him.
"Small world, huh?" Sonic said, a bit more casually than he felt. He forced a grin, hoping she wouldn’t notice the confusion that briefly crossed his face. "Sounds like we’re in the same boat. I’m stuck playing babysitter."
She glanced at him, tilting her head slightly. "Babysitter, huh? You don’t look the type. I’d think Tails would be though."
Oh, so she knew about Tails too? And that also meant Tails had known she existed?
Sonic tried not to let his irritation show.
He raised an eye, feigning offence. "Oh yeah? What type do I look like then?"
She tapped her chin thoughtfully, the playful smile never leaving her face. "Hmm, let me guess… someone who's always on the go, restless, probably hates sitting still for too long." She smiled, her tone teasing. "And definitely not a fan of loud, crowded places and likes his sleep."
"Okay, now you’re freaking me out. You got psychic powers or something?"
"No, just a lucky guess. You kind of give off that vibe, you know?"
"Do I?" Sonic asked, a little intrigued now. He leaned back, crossing his arms. "Alright, your turn. Let me take a shot at you."
"Okay, hit me."
Sonic leaned in, scrutinising her with mock seriousness. "Let’s see… you’re probably the responsible one in your friend group. The one who makes sure everyone’s got a ride home, and you probably hate leaving things to chance. You like being prepared for everything- hence the little first-aid kit- but you also have this wild, unpredictable side that makes you do crazy stuff like… knocking strangers into lamp posts."
Her laughter filled the air, and Sonic couldn’t help but feel a little proud of himself. "You’re not far off," she admitted, tucking a strand of pink hair away from her face. "I guess I can be a little unpredictable. And, well, you caught me- I’m definitely the designated driver more often than not."
The two of them sat there, the noise of the club fading into the background. It was strangely peaceful out here, away from the flashing lights and pounding bass. Sonic felt more relaxed than he had all night, and it wasn’t just because the headache was starting to fade.
There was something about this girl- something easygoing and light- that put him at ease.
"So," he started, breaking the comfortable silence, "Do you have a name, or should I just keep calling you ‘the girl who saved me from a lamp post’?"
She blinked as if realising she hadn’t introduced herself yet. "Oh! Right, sorry. I’m Amy." She smiled warmly, offering her hand. "And you?"
He shook her hand. "Sonic."
Amy hummed. "I’m surprised I haven’t heard about you from Rouge. She usually tells me all the juicy gossip, but not a word about a blue hedgehog." She fixed her dress, "That’s a shame, huh?"
Shamelessly, Sonic was only listening to half of what she was saying as his eyes lingered a bit too long on the way Amy adjusted her dress. Her legs were on full display and his gaze went down further long enough to realise what he was doing. He quickly forced his eyes back up to her face, his mind racing to try and keep up with the conversation.
He would rarely admit something like this, even in his brain, but…
She was quite literally beautiful.
"Uh, yeah, that’s... surprising," Sonic stammered slightly, trying to act like he hadn’t just been caught staring. He cleared his throat, mentally cursing himself for getting distracted. He quickly changed topics, "So, where do you work? If you don’t mind me asking."
"I work as an assistant for Rouge at a consulting firm. It’s a bit of a whirlwind job, but it’s never boring. Not when you’re working with her anyway," Amy laughed, "But I guess it’s more of a tame job compared to being in the sky."
It took a second for him to understand. "You’re a pilot?"
"Used to be," she shrugged, but he could tell there was a proud smile fighting against her lips, "I have three years under my belt, so it’s nothing too crazy."
"Wow," He was genuinely impressed. "That’s a pretty big deal."
Amy shrugged again, a modest tilt of her head. "It was alright but the commute every day to the airport was awful, so I decided to go back to school for a bit to finish my finance degree.”
Just by looking at her, he wouldn’t have thought she’d been a pilot, as shallow as that may have sounded.
"So, you gave up flying for finance, huh?" Sonic asked, trying to imagine it. "Quite the shift. Most people would stick to one thing, but you’ve already done two pretty different careers. Makes me feel like I’ve been standing still."
Amy placed her hands behind her back, shifting against her feet, almost looking bashful. "I guess I’ve always been a bit restless. I like the challenge of trying new things, even if they don’t seem like they’d fit at first. Keeps life interesting." Her green eyes sparkled as she spoke and then she asked, "What about you? What do you work as?"
Sonic paused, unsure how much to reveal. He’d never been one to brag about his career, and the idea of coming off as arrogant made him cringe. But at the same time, there was no point in hiding it.
Besides, he was the one who decided to bring up work. So it was only fair.
"Well," Sonic began, rubbing the back of his neck, "I, uh, run a company."
Amy blinked, clearly caught off guard. "A company? Like... what kind of company?"
"It’s, uh, a bit more than just a company, actually. I’m the CEO of Emerald Exchange."
The name dropped like a bomb in the quiet night air. Amy’s eyes went wide, and for a moment, her expression was one of complete shock. She opened her mouth to say something, then closed it again, clearly struggling to process what he had just said.
"E-Emerald Exchange?" Amy repeated, her voice rising slightly in pitch. "As in the Emerald Exchange? The largest stock exchange and tech conglomerate in the city?"
Sonic scratched his cheek, trying to act like it was no big deal. "Yeah, that’s…that’s the one."
Amy’s reaction was immediate. Her face turned a shade of pink that nearly matched her fur, and she looked completely flustered, her earlier confidence wavering. "Oh my gosh, I-I had no idea! I didn’t mean to- I mean, I didn’t realise I was talking to someone so... important!" She stammered, her words tumbling over each other.
He winced at the word "important." That wasn’t how he saw himself at all. "Hey, I’m still just a normal guy," he said, giving her a reassuring smile. "Titles don’t mean much to me. I’m more comfortable taking a jog around the park than sitting in a boardroom, honestly. And I’m only twenty-seven."
"I-I just turned twenty-six last month," She let out a nervous laugh, clearly still nervous by the sudden revelation. She fidgeted with the hem of her dress, trying to calm herself down. "Yeah, I guess that makes sense. You don’t really look like a CEO, you know? Not that I know what one’s supposed to look like… but still!"
He shot her a bemused look. "I get that a lot," he admitted, "Honestly, I don’t really fit the mould of a typical executive. Not a fan of fancy suits and meetings that last all day. I’d rather be out there, doing things. But someone’s gotta run the place, right?"
Amy nodded slowly, though her eyes were still wide with disbelief. "I-I guess so," she said, her voice a little quieter now. She still looked a bit frazzled, like she wasn’t quite sure how to act around him anymore. "I mean, I just can’t believe I ran into you like this. Literally."
"Yeah, well, you did kinda patch me up just a moment ago. I owe you one, don’t I?"
Her face turned slightly relieved at that, her flustered state melting away just a tad bit. "Yeah," she said. "I just… I can’t believe I didn’t know. Rouge usually knows everything about everyone." She paused, eyeing him carefully, blushing a little. "I mean, you must be really good at keeping a low profile."
Sonic gave her a half-shrug, his eyes glinting mischievously. "I’ve had some practice," he replied. "But honestly, I don’t like making a big deal out of it. The company’s just a job, and I like to keep my personal life separate. So, let’s just keep things chill, yeah? No need to get all formal. Besides, you’ve got a waaay more interesting background than me- flying planes? That’s something most people only dream of."
Amy’s blush deepened. "I-I mean it was cool for a while. But, you know, sometimes you just need a change. The city has… energy, even if it’s overwhelming sometimes."
"You get used to it," Sonic said, glancing around. "Or maybe you just go numb to it." He shrugged.
"I can see that. Honestly, I came out tonight to, well… force myself to socialise more like Rouge told me to. Being stuck behind a notepad and computer screen all day gets old."
"So this is a break from that, huh? How’s that going?"
Her lips curved into a small smile, though her eyes showed a hint of fatigue. "Not as easy as I’d thought it’d be. But I’m getting through it. It’s not as exciting as flying, but I like the challenge. And it’ll pay off in the long run, I hope."
"You don’t miss the sky?"
She faltered, her expression softening as if she hadn’t allowed herself to think about it in a while. "I do… Sometimes. There’s nothing like it- the freedom, the quiet when you're up there, above everything." She sighed wistfully. "But I guess that chapter’s closed. Time to focus on something more… grounded."
"Grounded," Sonic repeated, smiling at the pun. "But hey, you’ve still got time. Twenty-six is still young."
Amy placed her hands against her hips. "You’re only a year older than me, Mr. CEO."
He grinned at her again. "Touché."
There was another wave of silence between them, broken only by the distant hum of the city and the occasional thump of bass escaping the club’s doors. Sonic found himself studying Amy, the way her eyes glimmered under the streetlights, how her smile softened as she seemed lost in thought.
It was strange, but he felt more connected to her in these few moments than he had with anyone in a long time.
She pulled something small and shiny out of her purse- that tube of lipgloss mentioned earlier. She unscrewed the cap, her hands slow and graceful as she carefully applied it to her lips in front of the compact mirror she held in her other hand.
He watched as Amy gently brushed it across her lips. The delicate, precise movement was almost hypnotic and Sonic found himself oddly mesmerised. He didn’t understand why- it was just lip gloss, after all. But the way she applied it, with such unconscious grace, seemed to pull him in.
The chaotic night, the annoying music, and even the dull ache in his head faded into the background. It was just her, applying that gloss, oblivious to the effect she was having on him.
He swallowed, forcing himself to look away, his thoughts momentarily jumbled. Sonic was hardly ever the type to get caught up on something as small as that, but for whatever reason, the way Amy applied her lip gloss felt like... well, more than just a small thing. It was like he was seeing her in slow motion; every movement was heightened and every detail was more vivid.
Dang. He sounded like a freak!
When she was done, her lips now glistened in a gentle glow. "What?" She asked, noticing the way Sonic was looking at her, her smile turning a bit… knowing. "Did I get some on my face or something?"
Sonic quickly cleared his throat, trying to play it cool. "No, no. You’re, uh, good," he said, hoping his cheeks weren’t betraying him with any visible signs of how flustered he suddenly felt.
Amy laughed softly, completely unaware of how her simple act had managed to render Sonic speechless. She tucked the lip gloss back into her purse and adjusted her bag on her shoulder.
Then her phone buzzed. "Oh! Looks like I need to get going," she said, her fingers hovering over the phone screen as she shook her head, "Gonna have to drive Rouge home again."
Sonic frowned, realising that their conversation was about to come to an end.
He glanced down at the scuffed floor for a moment, pondering his next move. His fingers absentmindedly brushed the spot on his forehead where she'd treated his bruise.
Before he could talk himself out of it, Sonic looked back up. The words felt heavy like he wasn’t used to asking these kinds of questions anymore. He ran a hand down his quills before he finally asked, "Are you free Friday night?"
Amy shot her head up and blinked at him. "Friday?"
"Yeah," Sonic said, hoping he didn't sound as awkward as he felt. "Maybe we could grab dinner or something. You know, continue… this."
Yeah. He’s still got it.
Her eyes widened in surprise. The offer clearly caught her off guard. Her cheeks flushed in that cute pink again and she fidgeted slightly. "Y-You mean... like a date?"
He grinned, albeit, more sheepishly this time. "Yeah, like a date… Unless you’re too busy patching up strangers again."
Amy gave him a shy smile, biting her bottom lip as she laughed. "I think I can make some time," she said, her voice still soft but laced with a bit more confidence. "Dinner might sound nice."
Sonic let out a breath he didn’t realise he was holding. "Great. Let’s exchange numbers then?"
She quickly dug her phone out of her purse, her hands trembling slightly as she handed it over to him. Sonic took her phone, quickly entered his number and handed it back. She did the same with his, their fingers brushing lightly as they made the exchange. The touch was brief, but it was enough for him to realise what he was missing out on.
"There. Now you’ve got a direct line to me," Sonic said, trying to keep his voice steady.
Amy looked down at her phone, smiling as she saved his number. "Guess I do."
There was a pause.
Just as Sonic was about to say something else, Amy took a step forward, catching him off guard. She leaned down and placed her hands around his face and before he could react, she pressed a gentle kiss to his lips.
It was soft, quick, and unexpected. Sonic's eyes widened as he felt the sweet, strawberry taste of her lip gloss lingering in his mouth. His heart skipped a beat, and for a split second, the world seemed to stop. Amy pulled back, her face flushed but with a playful glint in her eyes.
He was stunned.
"I’ll see you Friday night," she said with a giggle, "It was nice meeting you, Sonic."
She left one more kiss near where his bruise was, whispering into his ear that it was for good luck, and then walked off.
His lips still tingled from the quick, tender kiss, and he just sat there for a few moments, frozen in place, watching her disappear back into the club. His heart was racing faster than when he’d run a marathon, and all he could do was replay it in his head.
His hand reflexively went up to touch the spot on his lips where the taste of strawberry lip gloss lingered.
"Huh…" He muttered to himself before he couldn’t help the smile that came on his face, "That was bold."
He glanced back toward the club’s entrance where Amy had disappeared. His body tensed with an urge to move, to follow her, but he hesitated.
Then again…
Was he really going to let her kiss him like that and then leave?
It was like a switch flipped inside him- something undeniable that made it hard to sit still any longer.
He closed his eyes for a second, his thoughts racing. She’d already left, but something inside him wouldn’t let it go. This feeling- it was new, and yet somehow felt like it had always been there, waiting.
And before he could second-guess himself any further, his feet moved.
Within seconds, Sonic had sprinted across the pavement, slipping through the crowd like a blue blur. The club’s heavy bass thumped around him as he weaved between people, barely slowing down. And then, just as she was about to step through the door, he reached out and grabbed her hand.
Amy spun around, startled, but her surprise quickly melted into something else as she saw it was him. Sonic stood there, panting slightly from his sudden sprint, his fingers gently clasping hers.
Without thinking, or maybe without letting himself overthink it this time, Sonic pulled her just a little closer. His other hand moved almost instinctively, gently cupping her cheek. His thumb brushed lightly against her skin, feeling the warmth of her blush beneath his touch. Amy’s lips parted slightly, her breath catching in the space between them.
Everything was still- silent except for the faint murmur of the city behind them. And then, with a swift motion, Sonic leaned in and pressed his lips against hers.
It wasn’t like the first kiss- quick and playful. This one was slower, deeper, filled with all the things he hadn’t said, all the things he’d tried to ignore. Her lips were soft against his, tasting sweet and familiar, and for a moment, time felt like it stretched out infinitely.
Amy responded almost immediately, her free hand finding its way to his chest, her fingers curling gently into the fabric of his jacket. It was a kiss filled with a mix of tenderness and passion, and as their lips moved in sync, Sonic could feel the tension of the night melting away.
When they finally pulled apart, their foreheads touched lightly, both of them breathing a little harder. Amy’s cheeks were beautifully flushed, her eyes half-lidded as she looked up at him, dazed but smiling.
Sonic smiled back, his own breath a little unsteady as he whispered, "Guess I didn’t wanna wait until Friday…"
Amy chuckled softly, her fingers still gripping the front of his jacket. "Not very good at waiting, are you?" She teased, though her voice was soft, almost affectionate.
He shook his head, still grinning.
"Not when it’s something worth going after."