Chapter Text
- I just thought it would be a good way of, y'know. Getting to know eachother and stuff. If ya agree, of course.
The blue hedgehog, the hero of the Mobius, the blue blur himself was standing a ridiculous but somehow actually working anti-recognition disguise. It was a full set, in fact. A hoodie, a mask, some sunglasses too. There even was a cap under the hood. Barry's wandering mind wondered how did he manage to wear that and not get hot enough to get cooked by the sun.
The blowing quite chilly wind answered the question.
But that's off topic.
The most important thing at the moment seemed to be making the decision.
Should they agree or not?
At first, the answer seemed to be quite obvious. Although, the quokka's mind was still filled with thoughts, each and every one of them racing a mile in a minute, having a totally different content and leading to a different outcome they already managed to think of, every single one of them somehow either worse than the previous or too good to be true.
The thought process only took a few seconds in real time, and it would take more if Barry didn't reply.
But before they could catch themselves thinking about that one specific, really-really tempting and seemingly cool outcome, they already answer the question.
…
They've been trying to find another job for a week now. While, yes, working as a janitor in a fast-food restaurant wasn't as bad as they imagined, they definitely needed to find a better one. A more permanent solution, maybe.
They quit their job after what happened at the Mirage Express. And on their first day too, no less. As much as it pained them to leave the murderous train broken without it's "favourite" employee... Well. They'll move on. To be honest, working on any trains seemed more unnerving than usual since that day, which Barry found both somewhat amusing and concerning.
The quokka was going home. They'd enter their not that big but pretty decent apartment, change into something more home-y while also talking to themselves out loud, enter the kitchen to cook one of the last microwave meals they had hidden in the higher shelves.
Sometime after putting the "meal" into the microwave and turning it on, a beeping sound started emanating from the machine.
Huh. That.. wasn't supposed to happen. There's, like, five more minutes for this thing to cook, and it ain't supposed to beep when it's done in the first place.
Before they notice where their thoughts are heading, one of them escapes their subconsciousness into mind.
"That looks like how a bomb in an action movie would explode."
Uh oh.
Okay. Okay stop. Shouldn't have thought that. Although now that they thought of that, the beeping actually does resemble a bomb ticking.
What do they do??? Okay, maybe.. Clicking every button the microwave has will help?
...Nah, that does nothing. The food’s still warming up though.
Should they leave the apartment if it's gonna explode? Or maybe covering the microwave with something would help? Or should they.... Flip the microwave over?
... Nah, too heavy. Why did they even think of that?
Barry remembered the Mirage Express. Remembered what happened in the Casino Car, specifically. The heist that they agreed to be a part of far too easily. And the ticking Fabergé Chao Egg.
If that one time waiting turned out to be the answer, maybe waiting for the beeping to stop this time will help?
..They still need to grab something to cover themselves up though. Just in case.
Fast forward to the next two minutes. The microwave's still working. It also has not stopped beeping. Barry's standing a bit further away from it, holding a tray with both their hands like a honestly not a good shield. But you can never be too careful, can you? And anyway, even if it does not explode, as embarrassing as it would be to think about later, there is no one in the room besides Barry. Knowing that, they felt a bit more calm as they could just pretend it never happened. It's not like anyone's gonna suddenly start talking to them out of nowhe-
- Yo, is it working yet?
..Uh huh.
First of all, how the hell- Nah. Stop. Doesn't matter. So what if a microwave manages to emanate sounds it wasn't even supposed to be able to emanate in the first place? The person this voice belonged to seemed far more.. interesting at the moment? For a number of reasons, too.
It was Sonic The Hedgehog who was talking?? Through a malfunctioning microwave, of all things? His voice sounded a bit distorted too, although Barry would recognize it any way.
Barry would've thought more into this, if the talking didn't continue.
- Ahem. So. Let’s hangout sometime!... Psst, Tails, did ya send the message? Thanks buddy.
The quite vague “message” was followed by a very low-quality picture of Sonic displayed on that small screen where the number of minutes left to microwave usually is. It looked more like some pixel-art animation, really, but what else could Barry expect from a microwave? It's not like they expected any of this in the first place.
As soon as the talking stopped, instead of a pixel-Sonic, letters appeared on the screen. Hm. Seems like something random.
Wait, actually, no. Those are words. Those form.. an address? Seems like a familiar one, too. Some café where Barry fortunately used to work, or else they most probably wouldn't have even remembered about it since it was too far away from their home to visit regularly anyway.
Okay, assuming Sonic didn't mean going there right now, which Barry hoped was true as leaving their home after they'd already planned their lazy evening didn't sit well with them…
They should go tomorrow? Well, definitely? What should they wear? Probably something not too flashy, although it was doubtful they even had such clothing. The weather forecast they saw earlier promised a rather cold weekend. Should they bring something? Like, as a gift? Kinda sounds strange, but it's not like it's a bad thi-
Ok wait. Were they actually considering going?
…Well. What could go wrong?
Ok, shouldn't have thought that. This could go wrong.
It may be just some terrorist faking a message.
But then it would be weird. Why that microwave specifically? And why a microwave?
Ok, maybe that couldn’t go wrong. Doesn't make much sense. But! Barry’s still nervous! A world known hero setting up a meeting? To hang out? More than that, Sonic?? Someone Barry had taken a liking to in the most normal and friendly way (as they convinced themselves)? An actually cool person possibly wanting to be their.. something? actual friend? Who wouldn't be nervous?
More so, there was a huge amount of ways to embarrass themselves in that possible situation, and Barry were confident in the fact that embarrassing themselves was a rather likely thing to happen.
…
Sometimes, some things are just worth the risk?
…
So, there they are. On the pavement nearby a cafe, nervously standing next to Sonic. It was a surprisingly calm and chilly Saturday morning. It was quite early too, which certainly didn't help the usually slightly more cold morning temperature. Gladly, they do have some warm clothes on them.
But that's off topic. What matters is- Actually, WHAT? SONIC? The HEDGEHOG? It was ACTUALLY HIM?
More than that, he wanted spend time together?? With THEM?
Barry usually wasn't the type to act like a nonbinary equivalent of a fangirl towards the hedgehog, really. They never did! Or so they believe. It's just that sometimes there are things worthy of a nonbinary-equivalent-of-a-fangirl-yish reaction. For example, a person that had saved the world multiple times wanting to get to know someone extremely average who he barely even knows. For example, Barry.
Sure, they met a couple of times after what happened at the Mirage Express. Maybe talked a bit. The quokka honestly felt glad for that. It would be a lie to say that they didn't enjoy Sonic's company, no matter how nervous or awkward they got sometimes.
But they met accidentally. Probably. Barry wasn't even sure at this point. But for Sonic to willingly arrange a meeting with them totally wasn't on their this year's bingo card. And so wasn't meeting the hedgehog in person at all, but life seemingly does not take people's bingo cards into account.
Uh oh. He's talking.
Should probably pay more attention to that.
-Yeah, so i was wondering — maybe we could meet some time soon? Go see some movies or something like that. Your choice.
The hedgehog shrugged, his hands in the pockets of the hoodie and his foot tapping at the asphalt beneath him. He honestly looked like he was up for anything.
What could they do together? The mere thought of something like that seemed bizarre, yet there they were, presented with a choice.
Strangely or not, it seemed like all time in the world wouldn't be enough to spend with Sonic. Movies and cafés and all similarly involving being outside activities felt too.. social? It was a weird thought, but being in a room full of people sounded less exciting than actually spending time together. Alone. Ahem.
But at the same time, the latter option made Barry feel almost embarrassed at even thinking this way. Not even mentioning how that would probably be boring for the hedgehog.
What could be the perfect choice that would fit both criteria of not being crowded but not being boring either?
- Let’s, uhhh, sleep. Together.
..?
- I-i mean! Um. Like. At home. Like normal peopl- friends? I mean, like-
Great time to forget that specific word that would explain what they meant and make them look less like a weirdo! Way to go Barry!
- Ya mean a sleepover?
There is some amusement on the hedgehog's face, but he does try not to make the situation worse.
Yes!!! Thank Gaia THAT'S the word!
- I was thinking ‘bout that too.
- I just thought it would be a good way of, y'know. Getting to know eachother and stuff. If ya agree, of course.
Getting past the thinking really hard part about whether to agree or not to something they themselves had just suggested too and calming down, Barry, surprisingly or not, reply against their own thoughts after approximately 5 seconds of intense reflections about the matter.
- Uh, of course. I don't see why not!
- Awesome! See ya, what, this evening then?
Barry nods, quickly and quite repeatedly muttering some “yeah” and “see you too” while waving to the hedgehog as he beamed a smile at them and left.
..Phew. Well, that just happened.
...
The whole walk home, Barry was rethinking the conversation in their head. The more they thought about it, the more bizarre it all seemed. Seeing Sonic and not being in some kind of danger at the same time.. Kinda does sound cool, honestly.
Kinda does sound very super fucking cool, actually. But now, as the meeting has been arranged, a few things Barry had to think about were left.
What did they just get themselves into?