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A scarlet thread begins to slide down her pale face, staining the white of her sports top. Sonic gasps, the air burning her lungs. Her stomach twists, a sharp pain doubling her over. On the verge of falling, a strong arm supports her. Shadow looks down at her, her eyes full of concern as she helps her to her feet.
Sonic limps, suppressing a slight whimper by pressing her cracked lips together. She refuses to complain, refuses to show the obvious: the excruciating pain. With Shadow's help, she makes it into the cave, limping and struggling as best she can. Shadow helps her sit up, propping her against a cold rock, and Sonic sighs in relief as she feels her body rest.
Beautiful crimson eyes examine the heroine: deep cuts, severe bruises, bleeding scratches and blood staining her cobalt fur and peach skin. A disaster. Shadow knows that Sonic has reached her limit; it's impossible for her to fight again, at least for now.
"The others... I don't think they can make it on their own," Sonic whispers, voice barely a trickle. "But I can't anymore," she confesses, a grimace of frustration tugging at her face. Sonic hates the idea of being useless at such critical times.
"You've done enough, you've weakened them. They'll be able to handle it," Shadow says in a firm voice, trying to calm the blue one down. But it's hard when Sonic shakes her head.
"I have to go," the heroine insists. "I have to keep fighting," though her voice trails off, which Shadow notes with concern.
Sonic's eyelids fluttered, and her head slumped to the side. She was exhausted, her body no longer responding. Her breathing was shallow and labored. She just wanted to rest.
"They’ll be fine," Shadow repeats. She's not good with words of encouragement, but she does her best to calm Sonic. "I'll go with them if it'll make you feel better."
Sonic nods weakly, her head barely moving. She can't speak, she's given everything she had.
Shadow's unease gnaws at her, she can no longer watch the blood dry on the speeder's face, she clenches her fists and kneels in front of her without thinking. She grabs her shoulders and brings her face close to hers. She knows it's crazy, but she thinks it's necessary.
She half-opens her lips, hesitant. She moves slowly closer and hears Sonic's ragged breathing. Her heart beats weakly, and it seems as if every breath takes effort. The blue blur remains unconscious. Then Shadow exhales and her warm purple tongue brushes over a new cut, cleaning away the blood.
Shadow licked the scarlet blood ever so gently, making sure her rough tongue didn't make her rival uncomfortable. Which, as it turned out, it didn't. Sonic's eyes fluttered open, and a soft sigh escaped her lips. She was comforted when her bruised and wounded face moistened each time Shadow ran her tongue up and down, cleaning her face.
The onyx appears to be undeterred by the briny tang and iron scent. She is unable to discern any unusual sensations, as in some inexplicable manner, she finds them agreeable. Shadow's breath came in short, rapid gasps, and her heart pounded against her chest. Her instinct urges her to continue. She persists in her efforts, disregarding prudence altogether, cleaning every part of Sonic as if doing so would have a miraculous effect. Her tongue nears the corner of the heroine's lips. She tightens her grip on Sonic's jaw, intensifying her task, pulling her closer to her.
Sonic began to release shallow breaths, indicating that she was enjoying the experience. However, her mind remained too agitated to be fully conscious. She turned her head on her own, moving it very slowly. Shadow's tongue licked her lips, moistening them and cleaning the rest of the blood between them. Sonic experienced a welcoming sensation. A soft moan escaped her lips.
Shadow slowly backed away, her eyes never leaving Sonic's face. Sonic's eyelids opened gradually until they met. Their breathing patterns aligned, and the notion of pursuing the matter further was mutually held. It was Sonic's turn to initiate the next step.
Painful at the moment, but so necessary that it matters little to the cobalt if her stomach is pulsating. She feels Shadow close, the brunette's lips, untouched and half-open, press gently against hers, melting into an unexpected kiss without explanation. The feel of Shadow's lips against Sonic's was soft and warm, and the taste of their shared breath was sweet and intoxicating.
Shadow moves her lips in a harmonious manner, thus saving Sonic the effort of saving her energy. Shadow decides to intensify her efforts when the momentum briefly takes over, a decision that proves to be a positive one. They both take a breath, and the onyx hedgehog returns her soft lips, making way for access to her tongue. She explores her rival's oral cavity with a boldness that allows her to share with Sonic her metallic taste and her hidden desires, desires that she had not previously recognized as such. Shadow ignored the fact that she found herself at an inopportune moment next to her.
Near death's door, Sonic agreed to a stupid kiss, she thought, opening her eyes slightly to watch Sonic's closed eyes, who seemed to enjoy her shameless action. She cupped her face and deepened the kiss, eliciting a pained groan from Sonic. But even then they couldn't stop.
Shadow didn't want to be separated from her, and Sonic internally pleaded for the onyx hedgehog not to stop.
According to the heroine, kisses were the morphine she needed to calm her anguish. The distraction to escape from all reality. The tranquility she needed. The strength she needed to replenish.
As the kiss concludes, Shadow withdraws from the interaction with caution, her gaze fixed on Sonic's moist lips. She takes note of the glow that permeates the other’s lips. Her eyes move up slowly, taking in the sparse traces of dried blood on the blue hedgehog's face. She feels her task is complete. From her spine, an electric current reaches her tail, moving from side to side, while on her face, she feels the weight of Sonic's hand holding her cheek. She is unsure how to react, but decides to allow the situation to unfold naturally.
The blue blur exhales, regaining the missing air. She lets her head fall back, leans back against the rocky discomfort, and remains absolutely silent for a few minutes, leaving Shadow to rearrange her spontaneous ideas with a blank stare, absorbed in what she has done.
"Okay," Sonic says, exhaling the hot air and straightening up. She tries to get up, and Shadow notices. "Come on, help me," the blue blur asks as she holds out her hand for support.
Shadow can only be surprised by her sudden change. Confused and somewhat dazed, she analyzes whether to listen to her or force her to rest. Either way, she was sure she would regret it, maybe.
"What are you going to do?" asked Shadow, furrowing her brow. She needed an answer at least.
"Keep fighting," Sonic replies with a noticeable change in voice, lively and hopeful. "Help me," she asks again, without lowering her arm.
Shadow hesitated, her mind racing with possibilities. Left with no choice, she reached out to grab Sonic's hand and carefully helps her to her feet. The heroine takes her time, certain parts of her body still hurt, but she is convinced that this is only temporary. Now they are both standing, looking at each other in silence. Shadow doesn't know what to say or think, but she remains calm because, until her body tells her otherwise, she’s sure it was the best decision.
"Thank you," Sonic said, her smile barely visible in the dim lighting of the cave. Dusk was coming.
Shadow nods silently, acknowledging the realization that she is still holding Sonic's hand. She decides to maintain her grip, but instead of releasing her fingers, she squeezes her hand in a firm but friendly manner.
"Don't go away from me," Shadow gently suggests to her. Now he has a new task to fulfill: to take care of Sonic once they get out of there.
Sonic commiserates and inwardly thanks Shadow for her care. She promises to return the favor when this is all over.
"I'll be fine," Sonic says. Her voice has regained its pitch and the aches and pains slowly subside. Her body works on its self-recovery. "Now that I know you'll have my back," she adds.
"I will," the onyx sentences, "trust me." Shadow's involuntary smile fascinates Sonic.
And in a greenish flash, the two disappear from inside the cave, leaving the place with the only sound of water droplets falling to the ground, creating an echo that spreads throughout the place.