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A hard pinch and ache in his lower stomach woke up Sonic. He grunted as the feeling stabbed at him, and he curled into the fetal position to try to wane off the pain. He sighed as it went away, and he willed his coiled muscles to relax back into the sheets. He blinked his eyes open to peer at the window. Sure enough, the sun was up and blaring. He sighed as he looked at the empty spot beside him.
It seems Shadow's been gone while, then. The empty side of the bed was cold, much to Sonic's dismay. It couldn't have been no later than nine o'clock, which means Shadow was probably at work. That hedgehog slept in later than Sonic, so it was a surprise to find it empty on a Saturday. Must've been urgent, then. He tried not to let the disappointment eat at him, but it did. The sudden anger that washed over him was cold and hot at the same time. It beat at his chest to come out, to make him scream and cry, but he was better than that. He just wanted his boyfriend beside him, but noooo, his stupid work just had to call!
Another stab of pain punched the breath out of him, and he hissed through grit teeth. He pressed an ungloved hand to his lower stomach to ease the pain, but it was futile. Sonic turned to lay on his back, and groaned as vertigo hit him full force. Of course. Of fucking course this had to happen today of all days! A sudden wetness slipped between his thighs, and he hastily pulled the blankets up to see thin, dark blood stick to his inner thighs.
He breathed in deeply through his nose, letting it out after a few seconds. Breathe. Just breathe. He got up, careful of the blankets and sheets, and rushed to the bathroom to wipe it off with a wet wipe. As he threw the wipe in the trash can, he doubled over with a hand slapping on the sink to hold himself up. The pain doubled, a deep ache and pressure on his lower abdomen. It didn't make the nausea any easier, either. He scrunched his eyes closed as he breathed slowly through the wave of pain.
From his bent position, he opened the cupboard below the sink to grab a tampon, and opened it with his teeth- if he were to let go of the sink, he knows that he'll definitely fall flat on his face. He quickly inserted it with a hiss, and walked back to his room with shaky legs. The pain was pulsing, constant, now, and he didn't feel like coming out to find any painkillers. Just walking across his room to the attached bathroom was hard enough.
Sonic knelt down to the built-in drawers on his bed frame, and opened the middle one to grab some shorts and a baggy T. He didn't bother with a sports bra or a binder, they felt tender and ached at every move. He quickly put both on and sighed at the cold fabric. With a final check that he didn't bleed on the sheets, Sonic laid back down, hoping to get at least another hour of sleep. Then his stomach decided that nope, he wasn't allowed to sleep, and pulsed with a pain so deep his head spun.
Okay, no sleep then. He needed to get up and grab his nausea pills, then a painkiller. Easy right? NO. He could feel the burn in his nose and the sting in the corner of his eyes as he tried to sit back up. The pain made him fold over his knees from his perch on the edge of the bed. God damn his stupid uterus! With a shaky breath, he stood and slowly walked out and down the hallway to his kitchen. If he could just grab his meds, then he'd be all set. No need to get up and do anything until the pain subsided, or Eggman attacked.
A tear rolled down his cheek as he thought about needing to save the day during trying times like this one.
Sonic's vision filled with colorful spots, making him stop and double over with a hand pressed into his eyes. He hoped this wouldn't last the whole cycle; he doesn't know if he'd live! The blue speedster continued his treck down the hall, and stopped in front of the cabinet with the meds. He rummaged through it and pulled out a bottle of his prescribed nausea meds and Ibuprofen. He should probably take Tylenol first, but he could care less about the negative effects on his stomach right now. He just wants the pain gone.
He opened both and took two of each dry, wincing as they slowly went down his esophagus. He rushed to the sink on shaky legs and put water in a glass, gulping it down hastily. He wiped the dribble on his chin away with a heavy sigh. He almost wanted to just sit here and wallow in his own misery. The stab of white, hot pain his abdomen agreed. He sniffed and went to the fridge, hoping to find some of his leftover chocolate.
Why Shadow insisted the stupid bar be in the fridge was beyond him. But whatever. The thought of Shadow sent a pang of longing deep in his chest. Sonic's eyes grazed over the contents of the fridge and was shocked to find it gone. No! nononono! He opened the bottom drawers, double checked the back and the side compartments. Nothing. Fuck!
Sonic sniffed again, tears welling in his eyes. There was no way he ate it! He would've remembered if he did! He slammed the fridge shut and scowled at the floor for a moment. He pondered his choices as he leaned on the counter beside the fridge. He could either wait for the painkillers to kick in and run to the store to grab himself some, or not go at all and sob into a pillow. Or...He could text Shadow to grab him some on the way home from work! He would have to wait, but it was better than going himself!
He sniffed away the tears one more time and walked as fast as his aching body would allow back down the hallway and to the bedroom, grabbing his phone off the charger and texting his boyfriend.
Blue_Menace13: Could u grab me more chocolate on ur way home pretty plzz - 9:46 am
After a few seconds of no reply, Sonic sat on the edge of his bed, unplugging his phone, and waited. And waited...his tapped his foot impatiently on the floor. What was taking this stupid hedgehog so damn long?! After 6 minutes, Shadow finally replied.
Ultimate_Lifeform: 👍🏻 - 9:52 am
Thank Gaia above! Sonic whooped internally and sent a thanks, setting his phone down. Well, now what? He had the day to himself, but without Shadow, doing anything felt pointless. And even with his fading cramps, he knows he won't be able to do much. Maybe he can see if Tails wants to hang out? Actually, no. He doesn't know if his mood swings would be able to handle an excitable child right now. As much as he loves the kid, he knows from experience that he'll snap at the poor kit at some point.
He does need to work on finishing finishing painting one of their rooms, but the thought of standing straight and moving around so much makes him want to, frankly, keel over and die. So that's also a no. But he doesn't want to just sit here and do nothing! Sure, he has games on his phones, but after a while, it makes him dizzy staring at a screen all day. He has no idea how Tails can do it. he hums to himself as he looks around the room, stopping on the bookshelf.
A mix of his and Shadow's stuff lay atop the shelves. It reached to the halfway point on the wall, it being an aged brown color, with scratches and chips of it torn off the wood. But it was sturdy, and well loved. The top shelf was a bunch of random little items and things to tinker with, like his rubix cube and a few of his fidget toys. There was also a printed copy of Tails' graduation papers from college, that little smart ass.
The middle and second to last bottom shelf had a mix of his and his boyfriends books and photo albums. There weren't many, honestly, the ones under the middle shelf could easily fit on the middle shelf. But each one has been read at least once, and was sat next to each other neatly. The bottom shelf, however, was filled to the brim of Sonic's sketch books.
Each one was noticeably aged, with papers sticking out of the covers and the covers frayed and smudged with graphite. The bottoms shelf was cramped, and the drawing books looked ready to pop out from the force it took pushing them in one little shelf. Sonic smiled. That's what he can do! He hasn't drawn in a few months, after all. He winced as he sat up, hand to his stomach, and walked over to kneel and grab the latest one. There should still be a few blank pages.
He quickly skimmed through it to confirm, and nodded to himself as he saw almost half of its pages were blank. He went over to the desk sitting next to the bed and opened one of the drawers, taking out a pencil, pink eraser, and a kneading eraser. He laid back in the pillows, sitting up on the headboard. He placed one of Shadow's pillows on his lap, and rested his items on top of it. He hummed thoughtfully as he looked at the cover of the book.
What should he draw? Usually he drew whatever was around him, which was almost always outside. He drew lakes, trees, animals. Anything from the outside world that caught his eye. But he was inside, and the dull but consistent pain in his lower abdomen demanded him to stay right where he was. He was also good at drawing people, he knew from experience. He once caught his friends looking through his sketchbook as a young tween, and each and every one complemented on how realistic his people looked. Sonic felt a swell of pride surge through him at the memory.
Then he thought of Shadow. He beloved, his knight in shining armor. Maybe he'll draw him. Sonic smiled gently as he grabbed his phone and opened his gallery, going through the hundreds he had of the black hedgehog. He decided on the one where Shadow was smiling at the camera- a rare sight, even now-, and holding a cat to his chest. The blue speedster giggled to himself and got to drawing.
After about an hour, he was finally done. The graphite of the pencil had smudged in a couple of places, but nothing his eraser couldn't fix. He grabbed the pink triangle rid the sketch of the imperfections. He held it back and smiled, wide and cheery. Looks like he still had his touch! It was realistic, looking exactly like his boyfriend. There were a few style preferences, like how his lines overlapped lightly, and he added a few cartoonish stars around the page, and how his coloring went over his lines somewhat.
But he loved it.
The more he looked at it, the more he wished Shadow were here. He sighed, and dated the drawing before flipping to the next page. He repeated the process on his phone, scrolling through the few months they had since becoming lovers. They had only been dating for three, but they had been acting like lovers- Rouge's words, not his- for a few years. Not that Sonic couldn't tell, but he thinks that Rouge was being slightly sarcastic. There was no way! With how much they fought and threatened each other, it just wasn't possible.
He settled on a simple side view of Shadow, scrolling on his phone as he brushed his thumb over Sonic's hand on his muzzle. This was from the first week of them dating. Sonic sighed wistfully at the image. He set his phone on his thigh and began sketching. Not long after, he put the pencil down to stretch and massage his hand. Jeez, he thought. It's been a while since he's drawn, and he was feeling the consequences of that right now.
But the ache in his fingers was a pleasant one. It felt like home, similar to how he liked hoe his legs ached and his lungs burned after a long run or race wit Shadow. He sniffled as he looked at his newly made sketch. He willed himself not to cry, but the effort was futile. Oh how he wished his boyfriend was with him right now.
Stupid hormones.
He put the pencil and erasers on that page after dating it, and set it on the desk. He slumped into the sheets, sliding down until his head was in the pillows, rather than his back, with a slow, tired blink. Chaos, he was really hungry now. With a glance at his phone, he realized two hours had passed. He better change his tampon and go find something to eat. He got up slowly, and only almost fell twice because of the spots in his visions as he walked back into his bathroom and changed his tampon.
He really wanted chocolate. Gaia, if he had some right now, he would simply cry with pure glee. But he didn't, so he'll have to settle for next best. Despite what everyone says, chili dogs are not his first favorite food. Hershey bars are. God damnit, if he had some right now, he'd melt it in the microwave and drizzle it over a nice hot chili dog. His mouth watered as he stepped into the kitchen and opened the fridge.
He looked through the fridge, and with a dejected sigh, realized he had eaten the last one a couple of nights ago. How had he forgotten that? He was so stupid. With another quick once over, he knows that he has the materials to make them himself, but he just doesn't feel like it. He groaned and closed his eyes.
As he stood there, he could tell the pain meds were wearing off. His period symptoms were really kicking in now, the cramps making his body slump forward in a feeble attempt to ward away the pain as he stood, and a hot flash hit him in nasty waves. So, there Sonic was, the hero of Mobius, blue blur, standing there, sweating and trying not to cry because of the pain in his stupid uterus and because of some stupid freaking chili dogs.
It felt like the end of the world. Gaia, it truly did. If he had his chocolate, than he'd be all set, but he didn't. And he worried for his own safety, as well as others, if he didn't have any in his fucking mouth in the next five seconds. with a tired, angry groan, and moved to the kitchen island and doubled over in one of the seats, clutching his poor aching and hungry stomach as he pressed his sweaty forehead to the cool ceramic of the island.
He finally let the tears flow, a throat-tearing sob breaking through his lips. He really wanted his chocolate. And his boyfriend, he guessed. He could do without him, but in order to get his food, he unfortunately needed Shadow. Ugh, Shadow. He wailed into his hands as he thought about his boyfriend. He wanted Shadow to hold him, to whisper in his ear that everything'll be okay. He wanted his tensed back rubbed and he wanted cuddles. Right. Fucking. Now.
Damn.
----------------
Stupid GUN. Stupid work. Stupid villains. stupid Commander ruining his Saturday off. The first Saturday off in weeks. He hopes Sonic isn't too upset at his sudden departure. Shadow teleports inside a gas station and grabs three Hershey bars for his beloved, paying quickly and teleporting outside his door. He can't wait to see Sonic.
And when Shadow walked through the door, he hadn't expected a full on sobbing hedgehog in the kitchen to be the sight. But here he is, and he can't escape it now. He fidgeted with the doorknob nervously as he mulled over the right thing to say.
"Um, are you okay?"
Sonic turned to him with a fiery glare, shouting, "NO! We don't have any fucking chili dogs left!" He let out a wailing sob as he pushed his head back into his hand as he sat at the kitchen island.
Shadow closed the front door and walked away. In fact, Shadow walked a good ten feet away- they had no driveway, there was no need when you lived in a forest-, and stood behind the giant tree in their front yard. What the hell was that about? He knew Sonic loved his chili dogs, but- damn. Did he really love them that much?
Something about this situation didn't seem quite right. He ran through the fresh memory once more as he took his phone out of his quills. Slumped posture, shaking and tremoring, hand held tightly to his stomach, and- ....crying over food? He knows he's read about something with these symptoms before, but Chaos above he can't remember what it was about. He knows it was for research when Sonic came out to him, though. So that's a step closer to figuring out what the hell was going on right now.
He clicked on Rouge's contact, and pressed the call button. He tapped his foot impatiently on the grass as the phone rang once, twice, three times before Rouge picked up.
"Hello darling? Wanted to talk to me again after just seeing me?"
"Something's wrong with Sonic."
A pregnant pause. Then, "Okay? What's wrong with blue bird?"
Shadow's brow ticked. "Um, he was crying about...chili dogs? And he yelled at me. He never yells at me."
Rouge laughed after a beat, and Shadow could feel his face heat up in embarrassment. Why was rouge laughing? This was serious!
"Shadow, you said Sonic asked for chocolate earlier, right?"
"Yes? What does that have to do with anything?"
The bat laughed, light and hearty, before replying, "Hun. He might be on his period."
...Huh?
"...Huh?"
He heard his best friend and sister sigh over the phone. "You can be so stupid sometimes, you know that? Y'know, a menstrual cycle? Bleeding once a month?"
Then, it clicked. It wasn't like an explosion in the brain at the revelation. No, it was more like Shadow felt his body get drenched in cold water, freezing him to the spot. That...made sense. At his silence, Rouge spoke up.
"Did...Maria never have one?"
Now that he thought about it. No, Maria never bled or had these, uh, cycles every month. Now that he thinks about it, he feels very, very dumb. Of course! He should've realized sooner. He used to live with rouge, A lady, after all. For years, for Gaia sake! Shadow slaps a hand to his face and slides it down slowly.
"No?"
Rouge murmured, "She must've been too young, then." Shadow figured by the quiet tone, that he wasn't supposed to hear that, so he didn't give it an answer.
"How do I fix him?"
A surprised bark of laughter filtered through his phone, and he held it away from his ear from the sudden volume.
"Oh, hunny! You don't just 'fix' it. Just let him cry it out, darling. It's just some mood swings- er, hormones going all over the place. However your old man brain will take it. He's just experiencing some cravings right now. It happens."
The black hedgehog hummed thoughtfully. He took mental notes as Rouge spoke. He realizes now that he had read about these menstrual cycles before, back on the ARL during his lessons on the body and during his own personal research. He suppresses the urge to slap himself again.
"Anything else I should be prepared for?"
"Lots of crying. And yelling. I mean it, period mood swings are scary. We're not fully aware of it until after the fact, so don't take any of it to heart."
Damn. But Shadow knows he can handle some yelling and crying. Well- maybe not the crying, he gets uncomfortable even thinking about the topic of crying, but he can absolutely handle yelling.
"Be gentle with him. He's probably in a lot of pain right now. Don't comment on his body or his mood swings, by the way. It makes us insecure. I remember Knuckles made a snarky comment about how much I was eating and punched him in the face while eating my fried crab. Ahh, such a good memory! Anywho!"
Shadow also remembers that. Sometimes he can still see Knuckles flinch every time Rogue makes a sudden movement near him. It was an equally pathetic and hilarious sight. A grown man, much larger than a small woman like rouge, being terrified of her. A good memory indeed. He checked off his mental notes.
"Anything else? I don't particularly feel like getting punched today."
Rouge giggled behind the phone, some shuffling cutting through. He waited patiently for her to get done whatever she was doing. "Nothing more to take any serious note of. He'll probably be in a lot of pain the first couple of days, so be careful of his body. Grab him a heating pad or a hot water bottle to put to his stomach. Feed poor blue, and be obedient. No person on their period likes a defiant partner. Got it?"
He sighs, and replies, "sure. Got it. Why do I have to be obedient though? That seems a little much, don't you think?"
Rouge cackles from the safety of her room. "Oh, poor boy. You'll understand soon enough. You listen to your man or you get punched. Does that sum it up for you, darling?"
"Yes, it does unfortunately ."
"Great. Now be a good boy and feed your man! I've got to go dear, love you bye!"
The line went dead and Shadow groaned. He put his phone back in his quills and slowly made his way back to the door. He wasn't sure what the sight will be, but at least now he's freshly educated on the situation and will hopefully be able to handle this head on. He opened the door and was almost tackled to the ground by a certain blue hedgehog.
Sonic wrapped his arms tight around Shadow's waist as he looked slightly up with a bright grin. There were no hint of tears left, beside the slight pinkness around the bottom of his eyes. Damn, Rouge was right. A small voice in the back of his head yells, 'Of course I am!'. He sighs and smiles gently back down as he kisses the other.
He could see over the blue body attached to his the rapidly wagging tail, and he smiled wider. Looked like somebody missed him. He softly pushed Sonic back so he could rummage through his quills and take out three chocolate bars. He chuckled at Sonic's squeal and and the snatch of chocolate from his hand. He watched Sonic walk back to the kitchen island and opening all three, munching on them with a moan of delight.
"Oh by the way, we're out of chili dogs. Can you make more please?" And how could Shadow resist, when Sonic looked at him like that? He sighed through his nose and nodded.
"Now or later?"
Sonic hummed as he looked down at the chocolate. "Later is fine! I wanna sleep with you after eating. 'M kinda tired."
Og thank Chaos. Shadow was worried for a second what Sonic's words implied. He pressed a chaste kiss from beside Sonic and said softly, "I'm gonna take a shower, then we can nap. Okay?"
Sonic's little tail wagged harder, thumping against the seat as he nodded fervently. Shadow laughed lightly and walked to their bedroom to grab some fresh clothes. He didn't need them of course, but the added comfort and pressure was always nice. Plus, fuzzy socks. Need he say more? He set the clothes out on the sink/counter and took his gloves, socks, and rocket shoes off. He threw his dirty clothes in the hamper and turned the nobs to set the water to lukewarm.
But not hot. He can't fathom how hot Sonic likes to make his showers. It almost like he crawled up straight from hell or something. He got in and sighed as the water relaxed his tight muscles. He grabbed the soap and lathered his body with it, then rinsing off. He repeated the process with his quills and massaged the soap into his scalp, making sure to get rid of any dirt or blood from his mission today.
He tilted his head back as he washed the soap out, and turned the nobs back off. Shadow stepped out and grabbed the towel from the rack drying off quickly but effortfully, putting it back on the rack to dry once he was done. He put on his black band tee, pajama pants, and white fuzzy socks. Shadow then opened the bathroom door and sighed at the pleasant change in temperature. He walked over to the desk to plug his phone in when he noticed the sketchbook lying on the edge.
He really shouldn't look, as it was an invasion of privacy. He had heard from the internet and Sonic himself how disrespectful it was to look through someone's sketchbook, but he just couldn't help himself. Sonic had been in art block for a couple months, so why would he draw now? What had encourage his boyfriend to draw? He opened it to the page where Sonic left his pencil and erasers, and almost melted from affection at the image.
It was him. Chaos, it was amazing too. It looked like a literal picture of him, but in black and white. He knew Sonic was good at drawing, but this...this was perfect. He could see the way Sonic had made it his own, with the little hearts and stars scattered around the page, or how some lines were purposefully wonky and overlapped. It was messy, but that was what made it so good. Shadow could feel his heart swell with affection.
Sonic really had missed him, huh? He guessed it was another symptom of his cycle. He made a vow, then and there, to never work or miss a day of Sonic's future cycles. This was almost enough to make him cry. He flipped the page to the one before, and let out a soft, surprised laugh. It was him again, but this one was from a month ago. The other one was from the first week they had confessed to each other.
This one was equally as beautiful. He wished Sonic wasn't so insecure about his drawing ability, he would love to hang his artwork up sometime. With a soft sigh, he set the book down where it was before, and closed it gently. He turned around and walked out to the hallway, stopping when he reached Sonic, who was still eating his snack at the table. He smiled. He really loved his boyfriend.
"Almost done?"
Sonic turned his head and smiled a small, closed lipped smile. Odd, but not uncommon. Sonic usually does that when he's either thinking really hard or about to pass out on the spot. Shadow pressed a hand to his back, and rubbed it his fingers digging into tense muscles lightly. The blue speedster sighed and slumped forward with a smile.
"Mhm. Gaia, that feels so good. My backs been achin' all freaking day..."
Shadow didn't let the slight wash of guilt consume him. He didn't. He sighed and kissed the side of the other's head, cheek tickling at the blue ear that flicked him. "Sorry I couldn't stay home. It was an urgent mission, according to Commander."
Sonic smiled at him with tired eyes. "That's okay, Shads. I know I can't keep ya here all to myself all the time. As much as I'd love to, haha."
Shadow rolled his eyes playfully, and replied, "Yeah. But I'd like to be here all the time with you."
"Mm." Sonic finished his last bite of chocolate and stood up to throw the wrappers in the garbage. Once thrown away, Sonic went to the sink to fill his glass halfway and gulped it down hastily. He wiped his mouth and walked back to Shadow, grabbing his hand. He led them to the bedroom, and sighed as he slumped into the sheets. He hissed a sudden groan through clenched teeth as he grabbed at his stomach. Shadow walked over to him and pressed a worried hand over Sonic's own.
"Are you alright? Need any painkillers?"
Sonic shook his head, face still pinched with discomfort. He replied lowly, "Nah. I took some about an hour ago. Just gotta let it kick in, is al-Ugh, damn!" He went on his side and curled up, his other hand flying to his stomach. He shook with tremors as he breathed through the pain. Shadow moved to lay right behind him, and pressed gentle but firm circles into the soft peach belly and through the fabric of Sonic's shirt.. He used his other hand to curl protectively around his upper stomach, right under his breasts.
"T-thanks, Shads. That feels nice..." He hummed in contentment, and his body slowly relaxed into the bed and his boyfriend. Shadow pressed soft pecks on his clothed shoulder and used his muzzle to push aside messy blue quills, kissing the nape of his neck. He hummed into the other's body, and closed his eyes.
"Have you eaten anything besides that chocolate, Blue?"
Sonic stilled, and Shadow sighed. "I'll take that as a no. I'll make you some food after we nap."
"Hmm sounds like a plan," Sonic speaks quietly, like he's already halfway asleep. Shadow pushes his hand under Sonic 's shirt, continuing to rub gentle circles and random lines and shapes into the other's stomach. He can feel the tightness, and bloating of it, and mentally reminds himself to make Sonic take a Tums with his meal later. He adjusts he grip on the other's ribs with his other arm, and hears Sonic hiss with displeasure.
"You okay?"
Sonic sighs, and pushes the arm under his breasts down a little. "Yeah, my boobs are a little sore. You keep makin' the shirt rub against 'em. Sorry."
Shadow flushes at the bluntness of the sentence, but quickly dispels it. This is his boyfriend, there's no need to be embarrassed. Sonic was also being honest with him, and he wasn't going to ruin that with his own awkwardness. He takes his arm from out of under Sonic's body and puts it under Sonic's neck instead. His blue partner relaxes instantly and adjusts his head slightly to get a more comfortable angle.
"Do not apologize. Is that better?"
Shadow could feel Sonic smile against his arm. "Yeah, thanks Shads."
"any time, love."
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When Shadow comes to, he's met with the dead weight of a sleeping hedgehog right on top of him. he lay on his back, arms spread out, while Sonic lay right on top of him. Not just his head or an arm draped over him, no. His stomach was pressed into Shadow's, legs between his, and arms wrapped loosely around his waist as he snore softly. His head was titled to the side and up slightly, so Shadow could see Sonic drool with parted lip onto his shirt.
It would be adorable, and it was, but the pressure on his chest made him wheeze out every breath he took. Shadow gently pushed sonic to lay on his stomach beside him, and took a deep breath as his lungs could expand fully once more. Damn, breathing had never felt so good until now. He closed his eyes, hoping sleep would take him under once more. Then he remembered how Sonic hadn't eaten anything all day, so he slowly sat up and scooted off the bed as carefully as he could.
He slinked out of the room and closed the door, only leaving a crack of space, and walked down the hallways and to the kitchen. As he looked through the fridge, he decided he'd indulge in sonic's cravings and makes some chili dogs. He took out the leftover chili in the Tupperware container, the hot dogs, and set them on the counter in front of the microwave. He opened the container first, popping it in the microwave for three minutes and let that cook while he tasked himself with putting the clean dishes from the dish drainer away.
He stopped the timer before it could beep, and replaced the chili with a plate of three hot dogs. He set the time to one minute this time and opened a drawer to grab a spoon. He stirred the chili and opened the bad of buns. As he took out the plate of hot dogs, his ear flicked at the groan that was muffled from the walls and door. He smiled gently. Sonic never woke up late after he did. It was like the other had a sense for when he got out of bed.
Shadow could hear the soft but fast patters of feet hit the ground. He huffed in amusement. With Sonic's sudden separation anxiety, it seemed he'll be stuck to the hip for a while.
"Shads, where'd you go?"
Yup.
"Kitchen, Sonic," he said with an amused grin. He put each hot dog in its respective bun, quickly pouring the chili over the three and sliding the plate to its spot right as his lover walked in the entrance of the kitchen. The blue hedgehog walked with quick feet over to Shadow and grabbed his hand, He pushed Shadow into the seat next to his at the island as he sat down in his own spot with a tired smile.
"Sit."
So Shadow did. He settled in his seat and lifted an arm to rest on the island, pressing a hand to his mouth to hide his lovestruck smile. Sonic left it at that as he dug in to his meal hungrily, one hand pressed into his stomach as his other hastily grabbed each dog. Shadow watched out of the corner of his eye in quiet hilarity. It seemed Shadow would not be allowed anywhere for a while. Not that he's complaining. He can easily use this as an excuse to not come into work. He felt his hand get grabbed, and he smiled wider against his palm.
Once Sonic was done, he got up with a slight wince and washed the plate off in the sink. He turned off the tap and groaned, putting both hands on the edge as he slumped over the sink. Shadow stood quickly, and pressed a warm hand to Sonic's lower back. He rubbed it while he gave his partner time to breathe.
"Need medicine?"
Sonic exhaled sharply through his nose, scrunching his eyes closed tightly. "Y-yeah. And grab the Meclizine too. I think the vertigo is gonna make me sick." Shadow nodded silently and walked to the cabinet holding the medicine. As he took out the bottles, he heard his lover gagging behind him. He chose to not look to give the other a semblance of privacy, and opted himself to take out two of each medicine.
Sonic washed his mouth out with a glass of water, and refilled it as he gratefully took the four pills in his hands. He threw all four down his throat with a gulp of water, much to Shadow's chagrin. That can not be good for someone to do. But he didn't say anything, letting Sonic go through the motions. Sonic would probably be more familiar about this stuff than him, after all.
Sonic set the empty glass down with a little more force than necessary and gently smiled up at Shadow. "I'm okay now. I think all the food being put into me after not eating all day made the nausea worse. The medicine should help, hopefully."
Shadow stepped closer to Sonic's side, and wrapped an arm around his waist. "Hopefully. You want to lay back dow or go into the living room to watch TV?" His lover brightened up at that, tail wagging and ears perked. He laughed softly as he was dragged to sit at the couch as Sonic clicked through channels.
He settled on 22 Jump Street -the best one, Sonic says- and settled into the cushions. The two made small, stupid comments on some scenes, laughing gently at the funny parts. Soon, Sonic slowly fell back asleep, curled into Shadow's side as he snored softly. The black hedgehog continued watching the TV, though he wasn't paying any true attention to it. He was focused on the way Sonic leaned into him, unconsciously grabbing his hand in his sleep. He focused on the way their rumbling purrs intertwined, a happy song full of contentment and love.
He pressed a small kiss to Sonic's forehead, and let his fingers tangle and comb through Sonic's messy azure quills gently. As he drifted back off as well, he mumbled, "Love you...".
"mm, love ya too, Shads."