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Sonic and Shadow lay in a pool of their own blood, slowly getting diluted by the light warm drizzle of evening rain.
Sonic felt the sting of fresh water on his wounds, the smell of petrichor and pine grounded him to reality. The forest beyond called him to rest his eyes on the varying landscape, but his eyes found only one bloodsoaked perch…
Shadow’s senses were not so clear, his mouth was full of blood that wasn't his own. His nose was bleeding. His view of the pink ocean beyond drowning the setting sun was eclipsed by his green eyed counterpart, as dark as himself in the sun’s shadow.
The two lay motionless, only communicating through twitches of their eyes, mirroring the rise and fall of each other's chests.
Finally Sonic spoke. “Round 2?”
Shadow scoffed. “You're insufferable.” He turned his eyes straight upward to the darkening blue sky for some kind of reprieve.
Sonic laughed. Every bone in his ribcage was broken, or else he would've propped himself up on an elbow. Instead he dragged himself a little ways away to rest his head on a rock. “And you’re a moron. Was our tete-a-tete not enough for you? You still look like you need to talk.” He lifted his right hand- his left ulnar was crushed in a cruel twist earlier- and wiped his nose. “What, are you dissatisfied with my performance?”
Shadow sat himself up with core strength alone- his shoulders were fully dislocated. He couldn't stand being near Sonic anymore. He wheezed a quick laugh from his punctured lungs. “Count yourself lucky that you satisfied me, otherwise you'd be in shambles and I'd be disappointed in you!”
Sonic laughed back, the smile in Shadow's words was music to Sonic's ears. “I could never. But I won't let you leave before telling me why you dragged me so far down Emerald Coast.”
To emphasize this point, he hooked his foot into the crook of Shadow's arm. Latched together.
The waves washed slowly on the shore as thoughts washed through Shadow’s mind. “You shouldn't have been with him.”
“Huh?”
“Knuckles.”
Sonic blinked in confusion. Hours ago he had emerged from the casino with Knuckles and Tails, victorious in new tailored suits. His friendliest rival was choking on a cigar, but too busy recounting their own victory to fully cough. Sonic had been hitting his back to force the smoke out of the echidna's lungs when suddenly he was whisked away by a dark blur.
“You don't need him.” Shadow further explained.
Sonic's confusion was replaced by indignation. “I don't know why you're saying this, Shadow.” Needing someone was something Sonic was unfamiliar with. Sonic's only needs were the open air and freedom. Shadow was right, he didn't need Knuckles. But he loved his friends. He wanted them.
“I need him no more than you need your bike.” He retorted.
“A bike is different.”
“How so? You love it, don't you?”
“And you love Knuckles?”
“Have you been hanging out with Vanilla's group? Your debate skills are borrowed from a frustrated housewife.”
“And yet you keep me satisfied.” He smirked.
“What's your point, Shadow?” Sonic was losing patience. Shadow was fighting him just for the sake of fighting again. “Do you want me to abandon all my friends? Go run away with you forever?”
“Please, I cannot stomach you right now, forget forever!”
“Then?”
“I should be the only…”
Sonic's ear twitched, straining to hear Shadow's next words.
Poof! His face was powdered with sand and his vision blinked out.
Sonic coughed out the sand and tried to shake it out of his face. He heard Shadow hmph!ing, with a hint of satisfaction. The bastard!
He tried to scramble his broken body over to Shadow to return fire, but realized the futility halfway through. He flicked sand into his quills instead to piss him off. Shadow couldn't shake his neck, and growled instead.
He flopped back down onto the ground. Sonic scooted closer, leaving bloodstained drag marks in the sand. There was only enough room for them to breathe now, their chests expanding and deflating alternatively.
Unfortunately for Shadow, enough had been said. Shadow avoided his gaze by looking directly up at the sky again, even though his body was still turned to his rival, bosom to bosom. Sonic followed his gaze up to see the broken quarter moon rising to catch a glimpse of its opposition, the sun, as it drowned in the ocean. The tide was coming up to lap Sonic's broken legs. He smiled and hummed.
“The moon circles round the bright blue earth…” he teased, circling Shadow's chest fur around his finger. He watched his tan muzzle get redder and redder. “Just like how you run circles around me.”
“Because I'm faster than you, you idiot.”
Sonic chuckled. But they both knew who was in whose orbit.
Suddenly Sonic grabbed a whole fistful of his chestfur. He looked deep in Shadow’s crimson eyes with a seriousness reserved for special moments. “I need no one.”
He watched Shadow's face plummet from gory satisfaction down to cold earth. His eyes flickered from Sonic to the sunset to the sand between them. Sonic could see his eyes moistening, threatening to join the drizzle.
“But I want to be the only one who satisfies you.” Sonic clarified. He let loose of his grip on Shadow’s fur and walked his fingers up his chest to cup his cheek. The Earth had many planets to dance with, but the moon was its only moon. The only celestial body it could share a smile with.
Shadow's stare was fixed, he studied Sonic fully. Finally he growled in disgust, rolling his face into Sonic’s palm. “Your cockiness disgusts me. Take something seriously in your life.”
Sonic laughed loudly, their bellies touching in the effort of it. He stopped and rested his head in the crook of Shadow's neck, taking in his scent deeply, enhanced by the salty air. He felt Shadow's nose nuzzling into his temple, his tongue swiping out over his spines.
Sonic smiled and let his breath tickle Shadow. “Only your satisfaction.”