Work Text:
"ᴄᴏɴғᴏʀᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴛᴇ"
☕︎
Shadow could easily summarize that day as weird.
He watched the sunlight fading in the West, taking with it another day of work at the Mean Bean. Stone was already tidying up to close the shop, sweat dripping from his forehead after a long shift dealing with all kinds of customers.
The entire time Shadow had been there, not a single blue blur had crossed the street or barged in just to annoy him. Not even a stray breeze had passed by. Nothing.
Not that he was complaining. The presence of Sonic and his siblings was truly exhausting. They were the very definition of a riot. Even when they didn't order anything off the menu, they’d hang around like restless vultures.
The ebony hedgehog was almost certain that the Mean Bean’s foot traffic was entirely Sonic's fault. At least considering that the two-tailed fox didn't seem interested in being anywhere near Shadow by choice. The Echidna didn't seem to share the same excitement — or rather, annoying provocation — as his blue brother either.
But today, for the first time since the scarlet-eyed hedgehog started his shift, Sonic’s absence was loud. Absolutely no sign of the blue blur.
"Weird." Stone’s voice snapped Shadow out of his thoughts, pulling him back to reality.
"Sonic didn't show up." Stone commented, echoing exactly what was drumming in Shadow’s mind. "And today of all days, when the specialty was caramel latte. I thought he liked it."
"He does," Shadow assured him, glancing at the door with a flicker of... hope? He wasn't sure if that was the right word. He didn't even know why there was a slight tugging in his chest. Maybe because the blue blur’s presence was practically part of the routine by now.
That cobalt pest must have gotten himself into trouble. It was the only explanation.
"Why don't you take it to him?"
Shadow blinked, finally looking at the older man. "What?"
"The caramel latte." Stone rolled his eyes playfully. "Go on, see what the blue guy is up to."
"I have no interest in what he does or doesn't do." His tongue burned with the lie.
"Well, I do. Do me this favor, huh?" Pushing the lidded cup toward him, Stone gave a smirk that made Shadow’s scowl deepen. "What’s the harm in paying him a little visit?"
The hedgehog huffed but didn't argue. Taking the cup carefully, Shadow vanished into the air with a flash of orange, chaotic light that slightly warped his surroundings.
-- ☕︎ --
In the blink of an eye, he was in front of the Wachowski residence. Shadow swallowed hard. Despite being forgiven by everyone in that strange family—including getting a hug from Thomas—the ebony hedgehog still hesitated to interact with them.
Except for Sonic, of course.
Everything seemed easier with Sonic.
With a sigh, his eyes momentarily shifting to the latte in his hand, Shadow reached out and knocked gently on the door. Barking erupted from inside. Ozzie. It had been Shadow’s first direct interaction with an animal from Earth. He’d only heard about them through Maria.
She loved dogs.
The door opened, and the hedgehog was grateful to be pulled away from memories he was still recovering from.
"Oh, hello, Shadow!" Maddie’s sweet voice reached his pointed ears.
"Good evening, Ms. Wachowski." Shadow nodded politely. "I... Stone asked me to bring this latte to Sonic. If you'll allow me."
The vet smiled, the fine lines around her brown eyes crinkling. "How sweet! Tell him thank you for me, okay?"
Maddie leaned in, ready to take the cup. Shadow, however, instinctively pulled back.
Dammit, why did I do that?
"Is something wrong, honey?"
"I..." He felt his tongue burn, nearly slapping himself for the move. "I’d like to give it to Sonic... personally, if it’s not a bother."
Madeline straightened up. One analytical look was enough to make Shadow want to just throw the cup at her and vanish forever into the void. He hated being inspected.
"Look, Shadow," the woman began, her gaze softening and her voice dropping. "Sonic is a bit... busy at the moment. I don't think he wants visitors."
Oh.
So he was home. The world was safe, fortunately. Shadow nodded, but he didn't give up.
"Is he sick?" He let his curiosity take over.
"Not exactly. It’s... complicated."
"I won't be loud. I’ll just drop off the latte and leave," he promised, shrugging.
The veterinarian analyzed the small figure again—why did she keep doing that?—her lips pressed thin.
"Alright," she finally gave in. "But please, try not to... irritate him. Sonic is a bit sensitive today. He’s in his room."
With a nod, Shadow agreed, entering the house and heading firmly toward the attic—Sonic's room. As he wandered through the hallways—warm and cozy, he had to admit—the ebony hedgehog thought.
How the hell did he end up here? He could have just given the latte to the lady and left. He wasn't obligated to be Stone’s gossip source. Truthfully, Stone hadn't even crossed his mind when he decided he wanted to see Sonic. The blue hedgehog was simply part of his routine, and his absence all day had caused a reaction in Shadow that wasn't very pleasant.
What could that annoying creature have that was more important than stopping by the Mean Bean? Not that he cared, of course. It was just a matter of... normalcy. Yeah, that was it.
Finally, he stopped, looking up at the trapdoor in the ceiling. The entrance to his destination. Shadow took a deep breath before finally letting himself in.
The ebony hedgehog frowned as soon as he stepped inside. It was dark, lit only by fairy lights and the moonlight coming through the skylight. He’d imagined Sonic playing those "video games" he always talked about, or doing something loud.
It was quiet. Calm. For a second, he doubted Sonic was even there.
"Shadow?"
The striped hedgehog blinked, looking toward the race-car bed, where a blue figure was raising an eyebrow at him, lying down under the covers.
"Dude, ever heard of knocking?"
"Good evening, Sonic." Without asking permission, Shadow stepped closer. "Stone wanted me to give you this."
Sonic, still covered from the waist down, sat up, looking his old rival up and down. That damn smirk appeared on his lips.
"Oh, how cute! You went through all the trouble to come here and pamper me? Adorable."
Shadow just rolled his eyes, handing over the drink. "It was a favor, nothing more."
A silence settled. Shadow should leave. That was the deal, right? Deliver the drink and go.
"What's wrong with you?" His mind had other plans.
"Huh?" the blue one murmured, busy enjoying the latte.
"I didn't see you today. Anywhere. Not even a blue blur," Shadow explained, shrugging to look disinterested. "Your mom said you're feeling bad. Is that why you're here, lying around alone?"
Sonic pulled the cup away from his mouth, looking down at it. "Nothing much, just a bad day."
The ebony hedgehog didn't believe it for a second, his eyes narrowing. Before he could say anything, though, a strange scent hit Shadow’s nose. Something metallic.
Blood.
The darker hedgehog uncrossed his arms, watching Sonic intently. "Are you hurt?" His voice went dangerously low.
"What? Oh, no, dude! I'm fine, why?" The cobalt blur shifted in bed.
"You really want to lie to me? I know the smell of blood, hedgehog."
Why was Sonic so stubborn? What was the harm in admitting it?
"No, look... I'm not hurt, it's just... Well, it's something else," Sonic fumbled, shaking his head. "Listen, you came to give me this, right? Great, thanks, Shads! You can go now!"
"Sonic." A warning.
The blue one huffed, throwing his head back against the headboard. "Dude, it's complicated. I can explain later, but right now I'm kinda—Ugh!"
Shadow immediately straightened up, watching how Sonic clutched his stomach and curled in on himself.
"What is it!?" The ebony hedgehog sat on the edge of the bed, not knowing where to put his hands.
"Nothing, nothing, just a stupid cramp," the speedster waved him off, dismissive.
"Sonic, how can you—"
"Don't panic, Impressive Hedgehog."
A third voice joined in, entering the room. Knuckles. The Echidna was carrying a bowl full of green grapes, his cheeks puffed out from the amount he’d shoved in his mouth. The warrior walked over to his own bed—the truck one—and relaxed there.
"Sonic is going through his monthly bloody battle once again. Don't worry, he always wins."
"Knuckles, shut up!" Sonic threw a pillow at his brother, who easily dodged it.
"Bloody battle?"
Sonic turned back to Shadow, ears pinned back and eyes pleading. "Shads, it's nothing. It's just biological junk, you wouldn't—"
"Are you... on your period?"
The question felt like a sword strike in the air. The silence that followed wasn't exactly comforting for either of them. The blue hedgehog’s mouth fell open in a perfect 'O' of slight shock, one ear down and the other up, as he analyzed every inch of the ebony hedgehog’s confused face.
"You know what a period is?" The blur finally broke the quiet.
"Maria was fourteen, I learned a few things from her. I'm not ignorant, hedgehog," Shadow summarized, remembering the old days. "I just didn't know... men could have that too."
Shadow almost kicked himself when he saw the discomfort cross Sonic's face, looking embarrassed. Sonic clutched his stomach, looking down.
"It's just... I'm a little... different, you know?"
No. Shadow didn't know. They were "aliens," as that Rockwell woman had called them, but that detail had slipped past him. He’d never had interactions with his own... kind, if that was the right word, but he was sure some things were similar.
"Sonic has a coochie," Knuckles chimed in, still focused on his grapes. The echidna had never been one for filters.
"Knuckles, stay out of it!" Sonic almost lunged at his brother’s throat, stopped only by a sharp pain in his gut.
"You have?" Shadow couldn't stop himself from glancing down, where the blue one’s legs were covered. He felt his face being lifted by a pair of soft gloves, bringing him back to those emerald eyes.
"Shads, do you know what 'trans' means?"
The ebony hedgehog blinked, trying to recall the exact term Sonic was using. Transport, transient, transformation, transfer...
"It's okay," Sonic chuckled, pulling his hands away. "Well, I'm trans. A trans person is someone who is born with the opposite gender of who they really are, okay? I'm a guy, but I have a body that’s more... female," he explained as best he could, a nervous smile on his face.
"Female?" He was genuinely confused. He’d never heard of this. Was it possible? Well, with everything else in their lives, this was the least of it.
"Yeah." Sonic relaxed his shoulders, leaning back against the headboard with fake ease. "I'm just... on my days. That's all."
"Ah." Honestly, Shadow didn't know what to say. "And... is it very bad?"
Sonic laughed, which made the ebony one relax a little too. "The first day is the worst for me. I get cramps, a horrible backache, my legs feel heavy, and I get pretty nauseous."
The barista nodded, lips pressed together. "I hope you feel better soon." He cleared his throat.
"Thanks, for the latte too," the blue one smiled. "Hope my absence didn't upset you."
And there it was.
That teasing that made Shadow bristle and huff loudly.
He had missed it, even if he would never admit it out loud.
"My day was peaceful for the first time in a long time."
"I bet it was a total bore, you liar. I'm your ray of sunshine." Convinced, he tucked a hand under his chin delicately.
"Don't push it, hedgehog." Shadow almost smiled. Almost.
Sonic laughed too, but a sharp pain made him wince. He recovered quickly and looked at his old rival with a slightly forced smile. Shadow felt... useless. Ransacking his memories, he remembered how he tried to help Maria when she went through this. It was, well, bad. She said it was hard to find a comfortable position to lie in with that nagging abdominal pain.
But the blonde girl didn't have sharp cramps, back pain, or nausea. Fortunately.
"Do you want me to give you a massage?"
The ebony hedgehog completely ignored how Knuckles, from his bed, shot him an interrogative look. Something like "I'm still here."
Sonic stared at Shadow too, doubtful. "Wait, seriously? You're not joking?"
"It was a suggestion. You're free to decline."
Shadow used to massage Maria to help her. Seeing the girl unhappy was against his protocol. Sonic smiled, lying back lazily.
"I’ll take you up on that."
Knuckles huffed and hopped off the bed, leaving. "You guys are so weird," he grumbled before disappearing downstairs.
Shadow ignored him and, calmly, began to massage Sonic's abdomen and, with a delicate touch, his lower back.
Hearing the blue one purr wasn't so bad after all.
-- ☕︎ --