Chapter Text
Sonic didn't mean to find out. Honestly, he didn't.
Even though one of his favorite past times may or may not be picking and prodding at the guy, he knows his limits. Sonic knows where the line is drawn, where exactly not to overstep. It's a line he dances with frequently – a careful twirl and tease that pushes it farther and farther out while still respecting its boundaries. He's quite familiar with this line, so he's just as shocked as Shadow is when he finds himself about 100 miles beyond it.
Sonic was just taking a jaunty stroll through the woods outside Central City. He found himself there on complete accident – just following wherever his feet guided him, a habit he frequented during his free time. The day was, quite frankly, beautiful: the sun was shining its warming rays down on the renewed earth below with not a single cloud in sight. The leaves on the various deciduous trees surrounding Sonic had not yet grown, just the smallest of buds starting to appear, letting early spring wildflowers thrive within the unobscured sunbeams. The gentle wind brought in the smell of something fresh and muddy, a smell Sonic found rather intoxicating. He's so caught up in the sensations of the world around him that he barely notices the black and red figure up ahead.
Sonic’s carefree smile quickly shifts into a sinister smirk. The other hedgehog had yet to notice him, too busy doing… whatever he was doing hunched forward and leaning up against a tree. Sonic crouches, readying his sneak attack, but the plan is quickly aborted once he hears a cough echo throughout the forest.
Sonic takes stock of the clenched fist at Shadow's side, the hand gripping onto the tree bark for dear life, the rounds of shakes that roll through his frame. There's another cough, and Chaos the phlegmy sound of it makes Sonic want to gag himself, and then something wet plops onto the forest floor.
Sonic’s momentary disgust is immediately replaced with worry.
“Shadow?” he calls out hesitantly.
Shadow reacts immediately, turning around so quickly that Sonic wouldn't be surprised if he got whiplash. His face is full of shock, eyes widened to an almost comical degree. The expression changes to one of guilt, then anger, then fear. He quickly wipes at his mouth, but it's too late. They may be a good 20 feet away from each other, but Sonic had clearly seen the yellow flower petal stuck to his bottom lip.
Sonic takes a step forward, causing the other hedgehog to tense up. The fear is gone now, replaced with an all too familiar glare. Shadow takes a step to the side, regaining his usual confident composure, but all it does is reveal the ground that he was previously hunched over. Sonic’s stomach churns at the small pile of wet petals.
“Shadow…” he repeats, voice thick with concern.
Honestly, Sonic should've expected what happened next. Shadow’s glare turns vicious as a snarl rips through his throat. He turns and speeds away in a golden blur.
Sonic’s body reacts before his brain does, but even if it didn't, he would've chosen to chase after him anyways. He catches up quickly, the two expertly weaving between the trees. Sonic can hear the growl through the wind in his ears once Shadow notices his presence.
“Leave!” Shadow barks at him. “I don't need your pity!”
Sonic wants to run headfirst into a tree. This dude and his completely twisted idea of friendship – it's starting to get a bit annoying. Sonic decides to roll his eyes to physically rather than vocally convey his frustration.
After a few minutes of running around, Sonic realizes that chasing him won't lead to anything productive if Shadow himself isn't willing to stop. He's much too stubborn, too prideful. Sonic would have to take matters into his own hands.
Shadow’s pace slightly slows as a fallen tree blocks his path, preparing to leap over it, and Sonic doesn't hesitate to take advantage of the obstacle. He lifts off the ground the moment Shadow does, colliding into his side and tackling him to the ground.
The two hedgehogs tumble downhill in a less than graceful tangle of limbs. Sonic tries to wrap his arms around Shadow to keep him from darting away at a moment's notice but recoils at the prick of his bristled quills. Shadow snarls, trying but failing to kick Sonic away as they continue their rolling descent. Even as their downward momentum slows and eventually ceases, they continue to roll: the fight has now shifted into who can pin the other first.
Shadow shoves Sonic’s head into the grassy dirt but is unable to grab his wrists before Sonic lands a deft kick to his stomach. He falls backwards with an oomph and Sonic immediately pounces. He sits on Shadow's legs so he can’t replicate his counterattack and swiftly dodges the punch aimed for his head. Sonic grabs Shadow's wrists from midair and, after a brief moment of tug-of-war, successfully slams them down next to both sides of Shadow's head.
Sonic can’t help but stare at the downright feral look twisting Shadow's facial features. But only for a second.
“Shadow, stop being dumb!” he yells down at him. It's most definitely the wrong thing to say. Sonic rolls his eyes at the responding gnashing of teeth. “I know you have Hanahaki. Can’t we just talk about it?”
At this, Shadow finally freezes. He’s still tense, muscles pulled impossibly taught, but he’s no longer thrashing under his hold. The anger is still there as his face scrunches up.
“No I don't,” he says rather lamely.
Sonic scoffs but releases Shadow's wrists. He sits back with crossed arms.
“Yeah, okay, sure. So that must've been you eating posies for fun, then.”
Shadow roughly shoves him off and Sonic can't help but laugh at the familiar gesture. The darker hedgehog sits up but doesn't try to leave, much to Sonic's relief.
“They're daisies,” he mumbles to himself, so quiet Sonic isn't sure he heard correctly. If he had, then he's not sure why Shadow decided to correct him, but he's not gonna question it if it means he's willing to actually talk.
Sonic shuffles over on his knees towards Shadow, plopping down with crossed legs once he's right beside him. Shadow huffs, tenting his own legs and leaning his chin on his knees.
"Sooo… how long?" Sonic asks.
Shadow frowns, creasing his nose. He peers at Sonic through the corner of his eye and lets out a weary sigh at his expectant gaze.
"A few days,” he mutters out. Shadow's quills are still slightly bristled, clearly uncomfortable with the conversation topic. Sonic ignores it
A few days. Not too far along, then.
"And who is it?" he can't help but ask. Shadow shoots him a glare, but Sonic just laughs and holds his hands up in surrender. "Hey! Not trying to pry. I'm only asking because…"
His voice trails off, but judging by Shadow's tense expression, it seems he knows where Sonic's sentence was headed anyways.
Hanahaki disease is formed by someone suppressing their romantic feelings for another person. It's a peculiar affliction that causes flowers to bloom in one's lungs, slowly suffocating the person affected. The actual, physical cause of Hanahaki is still a mystery. The theories range from psychosomatic manifestations to an ancient curse placed upon the land and its people by the great Gaia. None of them have enough evidence to prove legitimacy.
Fortunately, the cure is simple: accept your feelings and confess to the person you're in love with. Unfortunately, it can become fatal if left untreated. And by the nature of the disease, it's not uncommon for the infected to not even realize they're in love until it's too late. Or, at least, that's what Sonic recalls Amy telling him during her spiel a couple weeks back.
Sonic decides to reword his previous question. "Do you know who it is?"
"Unfortunately," he spits out in a tone of voice not at all like someone who should be in love.
"Great! You're already past the first step. Now all you gotta do is tell them."
The response is immediate. "I'm not doing that."
Sonic laughs, but it peters out once he notices the serious look on Shadow’s face. Sonic can't help but be annoyed.
"C'mon, man. You can't be serious.” It comes out a bit rougher than intended, but he can't help it. Against all odds, Shadow’s stubbornness has reached record heights. “You're really, actually, fully willing to die over this?"
"I'm the Ultimate Lifeform. I won't die."
Sonic scoffs. “Yeah, sure. And the Ultimate Lifeform is supposed to be immune to all illness and disease. Do I really need to bring up the flower salad again?" Shadow growls but averts his gaze. Sonic decides to prod and poke a little deeper. "Imagine it: the Ultimate Lifeform, finally vanquished by a little crush."
"Why do you even care?" Shadow bites back, voice heavy with anger. “It's not your problem to deal with. So why are you pestering me about it?”
Sonic blinks at the question. He expected the reaction, but not the words. Isn't the answer obvious?
"Uhh, because you're my friend? And I always help my friends with their issues?” He bumps his knee against Shadow’s thigh. “Even the broody ones."
Shadow scoffs. "Please don't call me broody. It doesn't mean what you think it means."
"Someone with the tendency to brood?"
"No."
"Well, either way. I'm helping you, whether you like it or not," Sonic decides right then and there. He may not be a love expert, but he is a friend expert, and he's more than willing to put his skills to the test.
Shadow quirks a brow. Sonic is somewhat relieved he picked up on the hidden challenge in his words, the other hedgehog easily taking the bait.
"How?” he asks. “I'm not telling you who it is, so don't even try."
Sonic opens his mouth with a pointed finger to the sky, but falters. He… may not have thought this far ahead. He places the extended finger on his chin, tapping it thoughtfully.
"Maybe… I can help plan your confession?"
Shadow physically recoils at the suggestion.
"You… want to help me plan a date? For someone else?" His voice is tense.
Sonic rethinks the idea, mulling it over inside his head: Sonic helping Shadow set up the most perfect, most elegant, most romantic love confession for his wonderful special someone. There are flowers, doves, maybe even a Shadow in a tux. It's gorgeous, it's mushy, it's lovey-dovey, it's… uncomfortable. So uncomfortable it makes his chest ache.
Okay, yeah, maybe not the best idea after all.
Sonic clears his throat. "Well, maybe not plan, exactly, but I can give you tips?"
"…Tips."
"Yeah! Like, things you could say, or possible places you could go. I don't know, things like that."
Shadow rolls his eyes. "And since when did you become such an expert on love?"
It’s a diversion, but Sonic doesn't mind. "Around the same time you became an expert on social interactions," he counters.
Shadow glares, but he remains silent. Sonic scooches around to face him properly and leans forward.
"So! Tell me about them. What do they–"
"They're annoying," he spits out.
“Um, okay. That's not really helpful here. I was thinking more along the lines of what they do for fun, not their crappy personality."
Shadow smirks, biting his lip. Sonic glances at it for a moment before returning his gaze upwards.
After a brief pause, Shadow asks, "What about you? What do you like to do for fun?"
"Me?”
"Yeah." Shadow stares off to the side, wrapping his arms around his legs. There's an unfamiliar hesitancy in his voice. "They're, uh, kinda like you. Bubbly. Amicable. Nothing… nothing like me."
Sonic props his arm on his knee so he can rest his chin in his palm. He decides to ignore the hint of self deprecation (for now) in favor of answering Shadow's question.
"Well, I like to run, duh. And I like to eat chili dogs, another duh. And… I like to spend quality time with my friends." Sonic bounces his free knee in thought. "Like, do an activity where we can have fun but still be able to talk, y'know? Catch up. Tails likes to do jigsaw puzzles that annoy me, Knuckles plays video games he's bad at, Amy loves to shop," he pauses, unfolding his leg to lightly tap his foot against one of Shadow's skates, "and you like to get your butt kicked by yours truly."
Shadow frowns. "Whatever," he mumbles, suddenly standing up and moving away. "This is pointless. I don't need your help."
Sonic watches his retreating form, a sudden, intense urge to get Shadow to stay, stay, stay blooming in his chest. The words burn their way up his throat and out of his mouth without his consent.
"Aw, c'mon Shads! What– are you scared?" Sonic calls out to him, immediately regretting it once a deadly glare is sent his way over Shadow's shoulder. The dark hedgehog spins in place and stomps his way back towards Sonic, mouth twisting into a snarl. Before he can respond with a vicious retort or some sort of defensive comment, Sonic continues: "Cuz you shouldn't be. Anyone would be lucky to have you."
Shadow pauses mid-step, shocked still by the additional claim. Sonic watches with mild amusement as his face contorts into a myriad of emotions he can't quite place until it settles into his usual glare.
"Is that a joke?" Shadow's voice is sharp, dripping with venom.
"No! Dead serious. You're a catch." Sonic idly traces circles in the dirt. "I know your whole shtick is being an unlovable, broody loner–"
"I'm not a chicken."
"That is completely irrelevant to anything I've been saying, but I'll be sure to keep a note of that." Sonic ignores the responding eye roll. "Anyways, the point is that despite that persona you've got going on, you still have some… admirable qualities."
Shadow looks unconvinced. He cautiously asks, "Such as?"
Sonic sweats as he fully realizes the trap he himself set up and then immediately fell into.
"Oh, you know," he starts, knowing full well that Shadow does not, in fact, know. "You're determined. Persistent. Loyal– extremely loyal. You could give me a run for my money on how loyal you are. And you're, uh, I don't know. You're nice company." He scratches the back of his neck, ignoring the uncomfortable heat rising to his face. "You're a good listener. You let me ramble on and on, even though you claim to hate it. You're selfless like that, sometimes to an extreme and rather annoying degree. And you're fun to be around! Sparring with you, racing with you, they’re both fun. And fighting with you– when we fight together and not against each other, it's– it's–"
Sonic's talking too much. That's not uncommon for him but right now he is talking way, way too much.
He forces himself to stop mid-sentence, tongue sticking to the roof of his mouth like glue. He looks up at Shadow with wide eyes, uncertain of what he'll find. The other hedgehog is standing completely still in the same exact position as before. His eyes are also widened, mouth slightly agape. His face is full of shock and… something else? Awe, maybe? Sonic's not sure. It looks foreign upon his features, difficult to decipher. He doesn't get the chance to figure it out before his face hardens into his usual cool and aloof expression.
"Noted," he grunts with crossed arms. His facade cracks slightly as he adds, "and thank you. For the help."
Sonic grins, and there's definitely not a tense edge to it, nope, not at all. He gives him a thumbs up.
"No problem, dude! That's what friends are for."
And as he watches Shadow's skating figure retreat deeper into the woods, he makes great effort to ignore the clenching, burning sensation in his chest.