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Whenever the sun begins to settle beneath the horizon, Sonic can feel himself getting giddy. As crisp winds begin to blow through the willow tress nearby and a picturesque display of reds and oranges coat the sky, he knows its almost time. Time for his brisk 'stroll' throughout Green Hills, solid whips of wind flowing through his quills and the aroma of a new blooming spring seeping into his sinuses. It's great. It's enlightening. And most of all, it's calming. Especially when he reaches the cliff edge of the hills.
It's a premium seat to the sunset. Getting to watch the shining ball of life finally fall into a slumber as the moon takes over is stunning. He's been here hundreds of times, and yet, each time he still stares in awe. His eyes wander the skies waiting for the sparkling dots of stars begin to litter his view. He remembers when he first saw them on his first night of earth. It shocked him to realise that with each star came a planet of life. So far away, he might never find out what lies there. These childlike wonders circled his brain every night. For most, this feeling of the unknown would fill them with dread. But Sonic was not one of those people. It only filled him with more passion to explore and reach them one day. Even if it seemed impossible, he was gonna see it.
However, Shadow was not one of those people. Looking at the stars only seemed to fill is heart with ache and his face with grief. They'd been meeting on this cliff edge for a months now, just staring into the skies above. Words were rarely exchanged and when they were, they were brief. Sonic would always try and start a conversation but it felt like it landed on deaf ears. It stung. But in his heart, he knew Shadow wasn't ignoring him, at least not on purpose. Most nights would end with Sonic falls backwards into the grass to relax followed by his eyes slowly drifting shut. By the time he woke, so had the sun. The moon and stars had vanished, and taken Shadow with them.
Tonight was different through. For once, Sonic wasn't the first one to start drifting. He had a habit with Shadow to shift his gaze from the stars and focus on the other burning soul next to him. Each time he did, he found something new. A new quill or a hidden scar across his cheek or the way his eyelashes are unnaturally long. His study sessions never lasted long since Shadow had the unfortunate behaviour to be on high alert all the time and notice Sonic's staring. Although, this slightly strange hobby of his came in useful when understanding Shadow's emotions. It wasn't easy, but Sonic was finally starting to understand him. So when he caught Shadow's eyes begin to drooping in exhaustion he realised he'd never seen Shadow sleep or show any form of tiredness. The longer they sat together, the more often Shadow's body started succumbing to sleep. Despite this, Shadow never gave in, shaking himself awake begrudgingly. Concerned, Sonic risked speaking up and breaking the peaceful silence.
"You good Shads?"
Shadow took a few moments to register before responding in his usual monotone voice.
"Yes, why wouldn't I be?"
His question seemed provoking but knowing Shadow it was probably a genuine question. From this understanding, Sonic continued his questioning.
"I don't know, you just seem adverse from sleeping thats all. You scared a monsters gonna show up and ruin your brooding?"
Sonic's tone was humorous for the most part, it was an honest question. Why was so against sleeping? Was it cause he was with Sonic? If so, why didn't he just leave? So many questions, but Sonic knew he'd barely get an answer to one if he was lucky.
"I'm not brooding. And don't be ridiculous, I no reason to be afraid of any monsters."
Shadow's tone was annoyed, but what was new? However, what was new was the surprising sofer tone he brought with him. He really was tired, huh.
"Sure buddy. But you didn't answer my question, why won't you go to bed? Nothings stopping you."
From this, Shadow's eyebrows furrowed and his body seemed to shrink in on itself. It seemed like minutes went by before Shadow answered.
"It's none of your business."
Typical. Sonic rolled his eyes at this responds earning a well deserved scowl from Shadow. Despite this rejection, Sonic shuffled closer to Shadow slowly. Once he got there, he waited to recieve a punch to the face or at the least a sigh and to watch Shadow fizzle into red electricity and disappear for god knows how long. But, nothing. Shadow continued staring at the consolations of stars connecting above them.
Sonic wondered what he was thinking about that made him so engrossed in the stars. Was he like him in that he found it relaxing? Or was he thinking of Maria. He knew he'd probably never know, but just like unknown distant planets, Sonic was determined to find his way into Shadow's feelings.
Sonic uncrossed his legs and lay down flat to look at the stars like usual. He felt the grass caress his quills gently and the ground push up against him firmly, a perfect balance for comfort.
"Y'know, it's pretty comfy down here Shads. You should try it."
Sonic's eyes settled onto Shadow's face again, waiting for a response. Shadow slowly pulled his face away from the sky ans towards Sonic, staring in a mix of confusion and inner conflict.
"I find that hard to believe."
"Nah, trust me! Lie down, its great."
Sonic had never seen Shadow eyeroll so dramatically before. Despite that, his face conveyed he was considering it. His eyelids hung heavy, blinking slowly, simply begging for sleep. After a few moments, Sonic shifted his gaze back to the skies, accepting defeat. A new silence settled over them like a cold blanket. Frigid, unnatural and unwanted. Fortunately, this was quickly broken by slightly shuffling next to Sonic and then a sudden dent appearing in the grass next to him.
Shadow had actually listen to him. He couldn't believe it. But then he remembered how close they were. The fur on their shoulders brushed gently together. A small amount of contact, but still more impactful than Sonic could've predicted. It only got worse. This close, Sonic could hear Shadow's breathing. Slow and steady. It felt intimate, it made him uncomfortable. But at the same time, he didn't wanna move. Part of the darkest parts of him want to scooch in closer and bury his face into Shadow's chest fur, but he knew that was too much right now. Maybe one day, if he played his cards right. This moment was one those cards.
The heat on Sonic's face creeped up to his ears when Shadow moved his hand just enough to reach Sonic's glove. More small contact, even more shockwaves of intimacy running through him. He could feel his heart beating out his chest at this point so decided to focus back on the stars. This focus was soon cut short by eyes staring at him from the corner of his eye. Sonic's head flung to face Shadow's causing a domino effect of embrassment to fall. Shadow shifted his away and back to the stars in an incident as if the tension between them hadn't been consistently growing for awhile now.
Sonic though, continued to pick apart Shadow's face with his eyes much more throughly this time. He slowly worked his way down his body till he reached his hand, still settled grazing his. A million thoughts bubbled to the surface but one stood out. Electric pulse traveled down his body to his gloves as he moved, ever bone in his sane body scream not to act. But he continued anyway, slowly lacing his fingers between Shadow's and locking them together. The cold air around them became apparent as Sonic felt the warmth leaching off Shadow's hands. It was intoxicating, only making that idea of climbing all of Shadow even more enticing. He hesitantly raised his head to find Shadow's eyes, still staring into the sky. Although, he face now was washed with less grief and a more comforting colour. This was confirm when Sonic felt a soft sqeeze on around his hand.
Shadow's grip on his hand was like a vice. Desperate, even if not meaning to be. Sonic was certain it did mean something though. Shadow doesn't act on impulse like he does. Whatever Shadow was feeling right now, it was certainly intentional. Sonic stared at into the side of Shadow's face once more before meeting his eyes as Shadow turned his head to face him. A sheen of water seemed to fill the corners of his eyes as his face scrunched in embrassment.
"S-shadow, are you ok?"
Sonic's voice was quiet, for once not a hint of comedy or sarcasm hiding within it. Sonic searched Shadow's eyes for answers, but just before he thought he found the answer, Shadow sat up and uncoilded his hand from Sonic's.
"Sorry."
Shadow's tone was solemn. Sonic knew what was coming next. Before Shadow could fall back into the darkness of night, Sonic grabbed his wrist and pulled him back to the ground. Shadow gasped in shock and slight annoyance, but it didn't take long for that to evaporate away from his mind. Sonic launched himself forward, wrapping his arms around Shadow's shoulders and pulling him down to the grass. His head buried into Shadow's shoulder and held him tight. For just a moment, Sonic felt Shadow's body relax from its curse of constant tension.
Shadow untangled himself from Sonic's arms just enough to meet him in the eye. Their breath condensed in the cold and mingled together. This close, Sonic could finally admire to flickering specks of gold litter through Shadow's maroon irises. It seemed like millennia till someone finally moved. Shadow's hands reached up to Sonic's waist gently, gliding up his back and into his quills as he pulled himself closer. Sonic almost thought it was too good to be true. But once he came to, he indulged in the opportunity before him. His arms twisted around Shadow's waist and pressed him closer, resting his head atop Shadow's. The smell of fresh lillies filled his nose and the feeling of soft fur tangled through his fingers.
Shadow's limbs began to wrap around Sonic's in an effort to grow closer before his body relaxed into Sonic. Warmth flowed through Sonic's veins, but so did the infectious symptoms of sleep. He felt his eyes grow heavy and his fingers settled entangled around Shadow's fur.
As he succumbed to his sleep, he felt a little vibration move through his chest. Shadow was purring. A dream like experience. Sonic couldn't believe it but at the same time, he didn't have the energy to take it in. Because to him, even if it really was all a dream,
it would've been the best dream he'd ever had.