Chapter Text
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Let’s start the story by reminding everyone that Sonic is bad at giving nicknames. He is also bad at flirting. So, imagine combining the two factors, and what do you get? Absolute chaos and confusion.
Nicknames, in general, are given to people who are close to you. Whether it be family, friends, or just someone with whom you feel connected on a deeper level. Nicknames are supposed to be personal, reasonable, or fun. Something that explains a person's relationship to others.
This is one of Sonic's perks, or well, impossible habits to stop. Whenever he feels close to someone, whether it be human or mobian, he always has a nickname for them.
For example, Amy is Ames. Tails is lil bro. Knuckles is Knux. Rouge is chica.
The point given is that everyone has just ONE nickname given to them.
All except Shadow, who went from having one nickname to multiple! The worst part is that all those new nicknames aren't even in English. And he, the Ultimate Lifeform, is having a hard time translating the foreign language in his mind.
In conclusion, Shadow hates nicknames and thinks they’re stupid to begin with. Yet somehow, the way Sonic speaks it is stirring something strong within him, along with an inkling feeling that those foreign phrases mean something deep and intimate, but he can’t figure out why.
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This all started about 5 months ago during their usual sparring matches.
It was an intense match that neither hedgehog held back as the last few days left them restless with no missions from G.U.N., nor Eggman battles. Building up their restless chaos energy till they found each other during their own runs, and the sparring ensued as soon as they made eye contact.
Now, some would say that will never change, Sonic and Shadow will always be rivals till the very end. But that is not true anymore. A year after the ARK incident, Shadow, in actuality, started opening up to Sonic and the gang. Granted, it still took a while for him to openly communicate with them after the traumatizing events and come to terms with his haunting past. But he made do with his ghosts and started moving forward just a bit each day.
The one to really push him forward was not Rouge nor Amy, but Sonic. As annoying and persistent as the blue hedgehog is, Sonic was the one to keep Shadow grounded throughout the whole “returning to civilization” phase. So now, most of their sparring is nothing more than to push each other to be better and release pent-up energy.
Which, of course, leaves them breathless and bruised in the end. Just like now.
As both hedgehogs lay on the cool open grads field, Shadow on the right and Sonic on the left, they both looked quietly up towards the cloudless sky. Neither said a word, quiet as a mouse, just relaxing and letting their bodies recover from the new bruises gained minutes ago. But as the wind blew gently through the air, Sonic let out a deep breath and chuckled.
"Sparring with you is the best Shadow," he said, "no holding back, just two hedgehogs going all out. I’ve been restless these last few days and needed an outlet to release this pent-up energy. You too?"
Shadow, with eyes closed, just mostly grunted in response to Sonic's blabber.
"But boy, you don't hold back on those chaos punches," said Sonic as he slowly sat up from the ground. Wincing in pain, he started to roll his right shoulder around.
Again, Shadow just grunted in response.
Sonic sighed and looked at Shadow, "Though can’t you hold back on the chaos punches just a bit, Shads? The bruises take longer to heal."
Shadow grunted and opened his left eye to look critically at Sonic, as if judging him on why he would ask such a mundane question. He was quiet for a moment and took a while to respond, but ended up saying, "You said no holding back, so I didn't. Also, don't call me 'Shads'. "
With his response, Shadow began to slowly rise from the ground. While at the same time keeping his ears open as he heard Sonic respond to his answer.
"Wow, you take everything seriously you 愚かなハンサムなハリネズミ (oroka na hansam na harinezumi)," Sonic said with a neutral facial expression.
Shadow froze halfway up from the ground and looked towards Sonic with a baffled expression. It didn't take long for him to recognize the language, but it didn't mean he understood the dialect.
"What the hell did you say, faker?"
Still sitting on the ground but now leaning slightly back, Sonic tilted his head to the right and smirked, "Whatever do you mean?”
“You know what I’m implying. Now what the hell did you say to me?”
Sonic didn’t answer immediately and instead displayed an expression of confusion by using his right hand to scratch near his right ear in ponder. And as if a light bulb went off in his head, he exclaimed, “Oh! You mean 愚かなハンサムなハリネズミ (oroka na hansam na harinezumi)?"
Shadow tsked, "Yes, that! What the hell does that mean?"
Instead of replying, realization clicked in Sonic’s mind. Shadow doesn’t understand his native language! Then, at the same time, an idea popped into his head. He can use his native language to tease and flirt with Shadow! Now, Sonic knew the hybrid knew many languages due to G.U.N. missions taking him all over the world. He just didn’t know which ones he learned. But now he has hit the jackpot.
For years, Sonic had tried everything to woo his other almost better half by taking him on his “outings” and giving him small, assorted gifts. He knows for a fact that Shadow keeps all his gifts, as in his last house visit, the colorful rock he presented to him was still proudly displayed in his office.
Unfortunately, to Sonic’s dismay, it was getting harder and harder each day to grab his attention. Now knowing this information, Sonic is setting “Plan S” into action.
Flirting with your rival/crush/potential-possible-future-boyfriend in your native language to grab his attention is now underway!
With this new plan in mind, Sonic abruptly jumped up from the ground, stretched his arms up high, and gave a big sigh as if ending the conversation. Without responding to Shadow, he turned, facing away from him towards the forest they had just come out of. Gave a small backward wave with his left hand and ran back into the forest, possibly heading towards his home for the day. Leaving Shadow alone in the grassy field with even more questions and now anger.
"Oye! Come back here, faker! I will not be left unanswered!!"
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