Chapter Text
Sonic loved racing. It was in his nature to take off running across the fields with his legs, always attempting to beat someone else’s record, or his. It was a thrill, an adventure that never seemed to have an end — whether it be his own records that he couldn’t beat or a certain black and red hedgehog who never seemed to turn down a challenge.
Shadow was always around when Sonic wanted a race. That was one thing the blue hedgehog loved about his rival — though, he wasn’t quite sure what to label his relationship with him anymore. They were certainly something more than rivals, and the respect they held for each other goes beyond simple associates, yet they were far closer than friends too. They were…something else. Sonic didn’t know what to call it yet, but he could feel it in his soul that he and Shadow were something special. And he knew Shadow felt the same.
Back to the issue at hand, the blue hedgehog was currently a few paces behind his dark rival/companion, speeding through the undergrowth of the forest with a huge smile on his face. Shadow glanced at him, looking down from a fallen log just above Sonic. He too, had a small smile, if not a simple smirk. With the adrenaline rushing through his veins, Sonic let out an enticing growl as he chased the black hedgehog through the vegetation, leaving behind a blue streak in his wake.
Shadow turned his gaze back to the trail ahead, opting to find a shortcut that would leave his opponent in the dust. Being so desperate to beat Sonic, he didn’t notice the log disappearing beneath his feet, and Shadow went tumbling onto the soggy green grass. Sonic raced past him with a laugh, ducking under a wall of vines before disappearing into the forest. Shadow cursed, clambering to his feet and skating after the blue hedgehog on his air-shoes.
Sonic was way ahead when red eyes caught sight of him again. He turned around for a second, running backwards, only to give Shadow a poorly blown raspberry. Shadow shook his head, chuckling quietly under his breath. He chased his rival like a predator, turning and weaving between fallen trees and overgrown bushes with perfect balance. He grew closer, but every time he came close, Sonic would make a tiny boost ahead, putting the black hedgehog behind him again. Shadow had to admit, Sonic had more experience — and more stamina. If he wanted to catch the blue blur, he would need to play dirty.
“ Chaos Control! ”
Sonic gasped with surprise as Shadow appeared in front of him with a flash of green light.
“Hey!” He shouted with a playful snarl. “That’s cheating!”
“You never gave me any rules,” Shadow responded cooly, not bothering to distract himself by turning to face the blue hedgehog.
Sonic huffed with defeat. Oh well, he supposed this made things more fun.
His thought was cut in half, however, when his green eyes spotted the end of the road. Up ahead, the grassy platform they have been racing on abruptly ends in a two-hundred-foot drop. Sonic panicked, about to call out to Shadow. But the black hedgehog already took the first step and immediately tumbled down the hill. Sonic cried out with worry when he heard Shadow’s scream.
“Holy shi–!” Sonic bit his tongue as he almost cursed.
He didn’t waste a moment. The blue hedgehog jumped off the ledge, diving down towards his falling rival. He didn’t notice his legs getting caught in a tangle of vines, being far too focused on catching Shadow before they met the inevitable ground. The wind rushed past his face, drying out his eyes and blowing rapidly past his ears, but Sonic pushed out. He reached out, wrapping his arms around Shadow, hugging the black hedgehog close to him. Dread filled his guts as deep in his mind, Sonic knew their landing was coming soon. It was going to hurt, and he may end up in the hospital for broken bones (if not worse), but as long as he had Shadow, everything was going to be fine. He wasn’t letting Shadow fall alone.
The vines pulled against his legs. Sonic yelped, grabbing Shadow tighter as the vines flung backwards like elastics, throwing the two hedgehogs through the air. Sonic didn’t look up, but he felt Shadow angle his body, twisting towards some other direction that wasn’t down. Another fall soon came, but it was a short one as the two hedgehogs found themselves landing on solid ground.
Sonic sighed with relief as he finally sat up and tugged the vines off his legs. Thank Gaia for that…
Green eyes scanned his surroundings. For a moment, the world changed, and Sonic was standing on a tiny platform in the forests of Prison Island, and on a tree before him was a black hedgehog with red stripes, taunting him and challenging him to a duel. It was almost like he was back on that platform, charging towards Shadow and getting into a fight, not knowing the island was going to explode in ten minutes. Except he wasn’t back on Prison Island, and there was no black hedgehog in front of him.
“Are you going to get off me now?”
Sonic blushed as he looked down, seeing Shadow pinned underneath him by his arms and legs. He yelped, jumping up immediately and apologising.
“Sorry, Shadow!” He shouted, feeling his face heat up more and more. “Sorry, I was just…Yeah, I was just thinking! About…stuff–”
“What?” Shadow asked, standing up and dusting himself off.
“Well I…” Sonic looked around again. “It just felt familiar, y’know?”
Shadow looked around too, his bright red eyes studying their surroundings. He hummed quietly.
“Yes,” he said eventually, “I suppose it does feel familiar.”
“Yeah…” Sonic sighed quietly. A small chuckle escaped his lips. “ I found you, faker. ”
Shadow shot him a look. A confused look, wondering why his blue companion was suddenly gazing off into space and saying what could be gibberish. But a switch clicked in his head and he remembered it too. That day on Prison Island, deep in the forest, standing on a tree and looking down at the blue hedgehog, offering a challenge and Sonic angrily accepting.
“ Faker? ” Shadow continued. “ I think you’re the fake hedgehog around here. You’re not even good enough to be my fake. ”
“ I’ll make you eat those words! ” Sonic tackled the black hedgehog down with a laugh.
For a while they just rolled around the grass, laughing and fighting. Play fighting; tackling and punching each other gently as fresh blades of grass stained and painted their quills. Sonic laughed, wrapping his arms around Shadow’s neck as they lay still. Green eyes looked up at the sky, watching the clouds above the forest canopy.
This is what he meant when he said he and Shadow were more than rivals and more than friends. They were something special, here, lying beside each other in the forest, coming down from their high. There was something there. Sonic didn’t know what, still, but one day, he will.
“Hey, Shadow?” Sonic suddenly asked.
“Hm?”
“I think you missed a line.”