Work Text:
If you can't see the image you can see the art on my twitter page that I'll share here:https://x.com/ShadowEmiko/status/1906207135077122443
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On a radiant October morning, the sun shone with a golden light, and a soft breeze caressed the trees, making their leaves dance gracefully. Rouge and I decided to take advantage of the beautiful day and headed to the mall. We got into my car, a bubblegum pink convertible, put the top down to enjoy the fresh air and got ready for the ride.
The journey was short and pleasant; the music played softly on the radio, and we chatted animatedly as the cityscape flashed past our eyes. Arriving at the mall, we found a parking spot and entered the bustling world of shops and restaurants.
After an exciting afternoon full of laughter, lively talks, and bags full of new clothes and sparkling jewelry, we, with tired feet but happy hearts, decided to satisfy our growing appetite. We entered a cozy restaurant, with the aroma of freshly made burgers wafting in the air, and settled into a table by the window.
While we waited for our food, I, with a shy look in my eyes and a nervous smile on my face, began a conversation that promised to be intriguing.
I ate my burger slowly, hesitating to speak. The words came out with difficulty, as if I were afraid to ask a stupid question. We had already received our food and ate in silence while I gathered the courage to speak.
—Hey Rouge, do you know anything about the meaning of dreams?
—Mmm, not very well, dear, but I thought you were an expert in those esoteric topics.
—I know, but I can't find a clear meaning, and I wanted a second opinion.
—What do you dream of? Tell me.
—I don't want you to laugh at me, okay? This is really important to me, and I need you to take me seriously. It hurts when you make fun of me, even if you think you're just joking. I'm being vulnerable with you by sharing this, and I trust you to be respectful.
—Honey, I want to sincerely apologize for what happened that time. I didn't mean to hurt you; sometimes I say things without thinking and end up screwing up. I know I was insensitive to make fun of your dream, and I understand that it bothered you.
—Deep down, I know that your dreams are important to you, and I shouldn't have laughed at them, no matter how crazy they may seem. And, well, I must admit that the image of Sonic marrying a chili dog is a little... peculiar, but it doesn't justify my behavior!
—Really, I'm very sorry. But I can swear to you that no matter what your dream is, I won't laugh at it; I'll be struck by lightning!
Rouge stood up from her seat and placed her hand over her heart. I stopped her to prevent her from attracting the attention of the other diners and embarrassing me even more.
—It's okay, Rouge, I believe you. I just wanted to make sure you weren't making fun of me, that's all. Also, that strange dream was a while ago, when I still had hope for Sonic. But all that was in the past. Now I'm fine, focused on myself and what I want for my life. So sit down and listen to me.
Rouge, eyes wide, sat back in her seat, trying to hide her surprise as she waited patiently for me to continue. The tension in the air was palpable, and the silence that followed my statement only served to intensify it.
Visibly nervous under Rouge's watchful gaze, I fiddled with my fingers, avoiding eye contact. I swallowed, mustering the courage to explain. —it's just... it's not just a dream,—I began hesitantly, my voice barely above a whisper. —It's... recurring. And vivid. And there are always lavenders.
Rouge's surprise was evident. Her eyebrows shot upward, and she nearly choked on her own saliva.
—¡¿WHAT?! ¡¿WITH LAVENDERS?! She exclaimed, her voice full of disbelief.
I nodded slowly. —Yes —I confirmed, my voice shaking. —Entire fields of them. The smell... is so strong I can almost smell it when I wake up. —I paused, biting my bottom lip. —And there's always someone... a figure, but I can never see their face.
Rouge's curiosity was piqued despite her initial skepticism. —Someone? Who do you think it is?—she pressed, leaning forward.
I shrugged, my expression a mix of frustration and bewilderment. — Don't know— I admitted, my voice tinged with desperation. —I've tried... I've tried to get closer, but he always moves away. And just when I think I'm going to see it... I woke up.
Rouge stayed quiet, reflecting on Amy's mysterious words. The atmosphere was filled with mystery and a hint of unease. She knew why Amy had those dreams, but she had to let her figure it out for herself. She came up with an idea to make Amy finally understand and to give Shadow a boost.
—Why don't you ask Shadow? He'll surely know the answer, given his interest in those plants.
—It's an excellent idea, Rouge. In fact, I plan to go to his house today.
—Much better this way, hon. And may I know the reason for your visit?—Rouge thought to herself: Agg, this has to be a joke. Pink ball, you are so naive and clueless... but that's okay, it's time for that hedgehog to tell you the truth about your dreams.
—Shadow asked me to teach him how to make coffee liqueur chocolate chip cookies so he wouldn't have to wait for me to make them. Although I insisted that it didn't bother me, he was so insistent that I agreed.
—Oh, but how kind and considerate of him —huh of course, if you knew the real reason why he insists on being so close to you, you would know that it is because he likes being by your side… —the bat thought ironically.
—Enough Rouge, I can feel your sarcasm.
— Well, the reason is because our favorite hedgehog is not exactly known for being friendly and sociable. I guess he likes those cookies too much to bother making them himself.
We stared at each other, but then burst into laughter. We both knew that, deep down, Shadow was a pure and kind soul, despite his cold and unchanging appearance.
After eating, we left the mall, and I dropped Rouge off at her house. Then I went home to put away my shopping, freshened up a bit, and quickly headed to Shadow’s house. He had already told me he would have all the materials we needed. I was very excited because, after spending so much time with him and forging a deep friendship, he was finally asking me for a favor. My heart was pounding, but I tried to calm myself. "He's not interested in that kind of relationship, Amy, forget it," I reminded myself.
As I headed to Shadow's house, I reminisced about how I had left behind my love for Sonic and past events that led me to where I am now. Sonic never clarified what he wanted from our relationship, friendship, or something more. I decided not to wait for him forever. Although I still loved him, like a friend. I moved on, focusing on myself and befriending Rouge. Upon meeting her, I didn't know that she used to hang out with Knuckles and Shadow. At first I was hesitant, feeling a little out of place, but Rouge encouraged me not to be afraid and that I would have fun with those two.
I wasn't worried about Knuckles, I got along quite well with him. I considered him like a brother, which I wasn't entirely sure was Shadow's.
Rouge, always her outgoing and manipulative personality, insisted that Shadow should get out of his comfort zone and socialize. Knowing Shadow's most intimate and dark secrets, she did not hesitate to use them as a blackmail tool. She threatened to spread them to the four winds if Shadow refused to accompany her, Knuckles, and me on their outings.
Shadow, despite his reclusive and reserved nature, was forced to give in to Rouge's threats. Reluctantly, he agreed to be part of the group on their adventures and social outings. At first, when he was in the company of the group, he barely looked at me or spoke to me. His indifference and coldness led me to think that, for some reason, he disliked me. I felt uncomfortable and left out, wondering what I had done to provoke that reaction in him..
One night, I left without warning from the place where we gathered, and the darkness of the night was my companion as I wandered aimlessly, lost in my thoughts. The absence of light played a trick on me and almost made me fall into an open sewer. Suddenly, I felt strong arms firmly holding me, preventing my fall. It was Shadow—his silhouette stood out in the dim light.
—Why did you leave like that, without warning?—he asked in a worried voice.
The words stuck in my throat for a moment. —I didn't want to... I didn't want to make you uncomfortable.— I confessed in a low voice —I know you don't like me...
Shadow seemed surprised by my confession. —Don't say that —he interrupted me —It was never my intention to make you feel this way. It's just... I don't know how to talk to you.
His words filled me with relief. —Don't worry —I told him with a smile —I'm not very good with words either.
Shadow looked at me with a mix of surprise and curiosity. —Actually...—confessed with shyness —I like you very much.
My heart skipped a beat. Without thinking about it, I hugged him tightly, expressing all the happiness I felt at that moment. Shadow froze for a moment, surprised by my gesture. Then, little by little, he reciprocated my hug awkwardly, but sincerely.
In that moment, under the moonlight, I knew something had changed between us. The awkwardness and distance had faded, giving way to a genuine connection and a glimmer of hope for what could be a cherished friendship.
As time went by, our friendship became a fundamental pillar in my life. Every moment shared, every laugh, every confidence, deepened the bond that united us. And without realizing it, my heart started beating at a different rhythm when he was around. What had started as a friendship transformed into a deeper feeling, a love that grew silently within me.
However, my past experience with Sonic had left a scar on me. The fear of rejection, the pain of unrequited love, made me hesitate. I watched Shadow, searching for any sign, any indication that he might feel something more than friendship. But he was still the same, the loyal and protective friend he had always been. I didn't want to pressure him; I didn't want to risk losing him.
So I made the decision to remain silent. I decided to bury my feelings, hiding them in the depths of my being. I focused on valuing the friendship we shared, on enjoying every moment without expecting anything else. I knew that Shadow was a reserved person who didn't open up easily. I didn't want to scare him with my emotions; I didn't want him to feel uncomfortable or pressured.
I was willing to sacrifice my own love to keep him by my side. Because despite the pain of unrequited love, I preferred to have him as a friend than lose him completely. And so, with a smile on my face and a lump in my throat, I continued by his side, loving him silently and cherishing every moment we shared.
I finished remembering when I finally realized that I had arrived at Shadow's house. I parked my car in his garage, where he parked his motorcycle and his Mustang. When I got out of my car, he was already waiting for me outside, sitting on a bench he had in his garage.
—I hope I haven't kept you waiting too long.
Realizing that he was deep in thought, as if he were concentrating on something, I cleared my throat to get his attention. He reacted immediately. and the tips of his ears blushed slightly.
—Oh, sorry Amy, don't worry, I only have a little time here; go ahead, let's go inside; I already have everything ready.
He got up, shook himself a little, and opened the door for me to come in.
I entered his house, and we went straight to the kitchen. Everything was ready, just as promised: the ingredients for the cookies were arranged on the kitchen table.
—Let's get to work, Shadow! —I said while Shadow would lend me one of his aprons to cook with.
—Amy, did you bring the recipe for cookies?
He asked me while he also put on a black apron like the one he had lent me.
—Don't worry, Shadow, this master baker has an excellent memory for her star recipes, so I don't need to bring my recipe book.
He just nodded, waiting for me to tell him the instructions to start cooking.
The kitchen was filled with a sweet aroma of coffee as we immersed ourselves in the task of baking cookies. I, with my slightly flour-stained apron, guided Shadow through the recipe. —We need two cups of flour —I announced, pointing to the open bag on the counter. Shadow, with unusual concentration on his face, carefully measured the exact amount and poured it into the bowl.
—Now, add a teaspoon of baking powder and half a teaspoon of salt —I continued, watching as Shadow followed my instructions to the letter. While he mixed the dry ingredients with a spatula, I worked on the mixer. The soft, creamy butter was whipped with the sugars until it formed a light, fluffy mixture. The rhythmic sound of the mixer filled the space, mixing with our occasional laughter and the soft clink of kitchen utensils.
Each step of the recipe was a little dance of coordination and cooperation. Shadow, usually so serious and reserved, seemed to enjoy the task. His movements were careful but sure, and a small smile played on his lips every time he accomplished a task successfully. Flour scattered across the counter, leaving a trail of our activity, and the air was filled with the warm aroma of the promise of freshly baked cookies.
We put the raw cookies on the tray and baked them in the preheated oven. While we waited in the room for 12 minutes, time flew by when I finally remembered that I wanted to ask Shadow.
—Shadow, can I ask you something?
The alarm rang, interrupting my question, indicating that the cookies were ready. I got up to go take them out of the oven, but Shadow stopped me, telling me that he would go take them out of the oven. I sat down again; I trusted in it; he had seen enough of me taking them out of the oven and already knew what to do.
It didn't take long, and he returned to the living room, sitting next to me and picking up my question.
—Excuse me Amy, sure, what do you want to ask me?
—I have been dreaming about lavenders, since you are an expert in them and you like them a lot, don't you know what it means to dream about them?
Shadow stared at me with a blank face, then his face quickly turned red.
—I've been trying to confess, Amy, sorry...
Shadow was trying to explain himself, but I was extremely exhausted and without realizing it I fell asleep.
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The darkness completely enveloped me again, like many times before, an overwhelming but strangely comforting feeling. There was no fear, just a curious sensation of descent, an endless fall into the unknown.
Finally, the abyss came to an end. I landed softly on something soft and aromatic, a herbal fragrance filling the air. Disoriented, I tried to understand my surroundings.
—Where am I? What is this place? —I asked out loud, my voice echoing in the silence.
As my vision adjusted, the panorama revealed itself before me: an endless field of lavender, bathed in the light of a starry sky. The aroma was intoxicating, rocking my senses and inviting me to stay.
—Lavender! It's lavender! —I exclaimed excitedly, the aroma filling my lungs.
Tiredness overcame me, and I let myself fall among the flowers, their touch soft against my skin. I didn't want to leave there; it was a refuge of peace and tranquility. I snuggled among the flowers, their scent enveloping me like a protective hug.
Here I was again, trapped in this lavender field. No matter how hard I try, I can't leave. It is too pleasant, with its starry sky, the soft breeze, and this intoxicating aroma. Then I felt that I was not alone, like many times when I dreamed of this; someone was nearby, hidden in the lavender.
—Wait, who are you? Why do I dream of this lavender field, and why are you always here?
Then, the same flowers that surrounded me pushed me toward that stranger, who welcomed me with an embrace. It was such a comforting hug; he even smelled more like lavender, which made me hug him even tighter. I didn’t want to let go of him, but he finally spoke.
—Come on, Amy, wake up.
The voice was soft and familiar, resembling one I heard often. But it was his embrace—comforting and warm—that felt as if it had always belonged there.
—Please, Amy, it's time to get up.
I felt the urgency in his voice, the need for me to wake up. I could almost feel his pain...why? Then I recognized the voice.
—¡¡SHADOW!!. —I screamed his name, surprised and confused.
I looked at him, but his image faded, and I woke up. I opened my eyes and remembered where I was. I was at Shadow's house. We had finished making cookies and were in his living room, where I asked him about my dreams. I was very tired and couldn't remember anything else.
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As I focused my eyes closely, I realized that soft white hair with a lavender scent covered my eyes. I looked up to see two red rubies staring at me.
Suddenly, with my face buried in his chest and shame burning through me, everything made sense. Did Shadow smell like lavender? He was the source of that relaxing aroma. Did my dreams about lavender mean...that it was because I was hugging him, but how and how many times?
My mind was overwhelmed with revelations and growing doubts. Without realizing it, I found myself hugging him tightly, and he hugged me back. As I tried to pull away, he held me even tighter in his embrace, preventing me from moving away.
—Please, Amy, don't be scared and wait. Let me explain to you. This is what I was trying to tell you before, but you fell asleep. I beg you to stay like this.
I remained motionless, straining to hear his words.
—I can answer your question about why you dream about lavenders. It's because I wear lavender perfume, and I'm a little obsessed with the scent. I even have body shampoo and other things that smell like lavender.
He spoke embarrassedly as if smelling like lavender was a crime for him.
—But that's not all... you dream about them because every time we meet, whether at your house or mine or wherever we are, whenever you're very close to me, you fall asleep and somehow end up hugging me. I'm worried that you're a sleepwalker; that's why I didn't wake you up the other times, because they say it's bad to wake up sleepwalkers; that's what Rouge told me. So I would teleport to your house, put you in your bed, and leave.
Without realizing it, I have been seeking his presence, and the accompanying scent of lavender guides me towards him.
—So that's why I dreamed about lavender and woke up in my bed not knowing how I got there every time we saw each other... Oh God, Shadow, I'm so sorry... I bothered you; I'm sorry... I... I ruined it...
The tears threatened to overflow; the fear of the worst took over me. But then, Shadow pulled me away from him. Its warmth left me, and the fear that it would release flooded me. To my surprise, he held me firmly by the shoulders, his eyes fixed on mine, his pupils dilated.
His voice, charged with emotion, broke the silence. —Amy, you haven't ruined anything. Don't apologize. I'm the one who should apologize for not telling you in time, but I... couldn't control myself... I like you to hug me... because I... love... you.
An intense blush covered his face, as red as a tomato. He tried to look away, embarrassed, but I wouldn't let him. My hands found his, gently intertwining our fingers. A shy smile spread across my lips as his words echoed in my mind over and over again. Could it be true? Did Shadow, the hedgehog, always so serious and reserved, love me? All this time I thought he wasn't interested in me like that; he really was, but he didn't know how to show it until now.
—Shadow —I whispered, my voice barely audible. Hearing his name, his eyes met mine once again. In them, I could see the sincerity of his words, the love he tried to hide behind his facade of indifference.
—You don’t have to hide it anymore —I continued, my voice growing more confident. —Shadow, I love you too, but I thought my feelings might displease or scare you —I finally confessed as my tears overflowed. I tried to apologize for my crying, but my words were interrupted by the soft touch of lips against mine, stopping me from continuing.
His lips were as clumsy as mine. Neither of us had walked this path before, but the lack of experience did not lessen the intensity of the moment. Every brush, every touch, was a lesson learned on the go—a step further in the dance of discovery.
Initial awkwardness soon gave way to growing passion. Upon discovering the reciprocity of our feelings, a wave of happiness washed over us. We were no longer two solitary souls, but one being united by love. Our kisses, once timid, became bolder, deeper, and more urgent.
Each caress lit a fire that burned brighter, consuming us in its heat. Our breaths intermingled, our bodies moved closer, seeking a more intimate union. The world around us faded away, leaving only the beating of our hearts, the whisper of our names, and the fire of our passion.
—Amy... I think we should stop here...
Shadow, panting, asked me to stop. Although I longed for more after being deprived of his affection for so long and having been forbidden to show my feelings towards him, we had to stop now that he was finally showing himself vulnerable.
—O-Okay, I understand —I said sadly. Shadow noticed my tone of voice and immediately clarified.
—Amy, it’s not because of that. It’s because from now on, we’ll have more time to explore these things without rushing. Besides, I think the cookies have already cooled down.
—THE COOKIES! Right, we need to put the cookies away. —I had completely forgotten about them.
—If you want, Amy, we can have some cookies. From now on, I will always have someone to enjoy making cookies with and many other things.
I responded with an affectionate smile to show my approval.
Shadow asked me an unexpected question as we headed to the kitchen.
—It's late, and I don't want you to go home alone. How about you stay the night at mine tonight? This way you won't miss dreaming about lavenders.
He extended his arms towards me, a warm smile playing on his lips, silently inviting me into a hug. The initial hesitation quickly faded, replaced by an overwhelming need for closeness. Without a second thought, I lunged forward, as if I had been drawn by an irresistible magnetic force.
I buried my face in the softness of his chest, the pristine white of his fur contrasting with his fur as dark as night. I inhaled deeply, filling my lungs with the calming scent of lavender that permeated every fiber of his being. It was an aroma that spoke of serenity and calm. For a moment, the outside world with its worries and chaos disappeared, replaced by the comforting feeling of belonging, of being protected in the circle of his arms.
A playful smile spread across his lips as he tilted his head. —Is that a yes? —He asked, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Instead of responding verbally, I pressed a gentle kiss to his cheek. His eyes widened in surprise, and his skin warmed beneath my lips. I pulled away, a playful smirk dancing on my own lips.
—Does that answer your question?
A shiver ran down my spine as I saw the reaction in his eyes. His pupils dilated, darkening as he stared at me. But it wasn't just desire that I saw in its depths; there was a burning intensity, a raw emotion that shook me to the core. His lips parted slightly as he took a breath, and his voice was hoarse when he finally spoke. —You have no idea... — He whispered, his words laden with a hidden meaning that made my heart race.
I was eager to discover what new experiences and adventures awaited us now that we were together as a couple.
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