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Okay, he was gonna come out and say it. This was awkward. Way too awkward to be convincing.
There he was, Sonic the Hedgehog, fastest thing alive, known hero- sitting outside, tense and tapping his foot while his old rival glowered at him across a cafe table. He should have known better than to think Shadow of all hedgehogs could pull this off.
How did he get himself into this situation? Oh, right. That.
It had been just after one of their typical encounters with Eggman. Tails had tracked down a strange energy reading that led to one of the doctor's bases, and the team got together to investigate.
Things had been somewhat tense between the group lately. It was a long story. Well. It was actually a pretty short story. After years of circling each other and avoiding the subject he kind of… gave in. To Amy. She was a sweet girl, and a great friend, and he really did like her, but- it hadn't worked out. They were just too different in the ways that mattered in a serious relationship, and that was okay. He was fine with it. She seemed to have come to terms with it herself, even before he did. It was a bit awkward, but they'd gone back to being friends just like before. Closer, even.
Then she started seeing someone else. He wouldn't have seen it coming. Her and Blaze? It wasn't a matchup anyone would have expected, but they worked well together. Really. He was happy for them, and as far as he was concerned everyone else should be too. But, well.. They'd sort of been walking on eggshells around him ever since. Everyone except Amy, that is. It was kind of annoying, if he was being honest.
Maybe that's why they hadn't been working quite as in sync as usual. Maybe that's why, when it came down to it, they had to be bailed out by Team Dark (embarrasing, really), who happened to be on a mission in the area when everything went down. Maybe, just maybe, that was why, when it was over and the dust had settled, it all ended up going sideways.
It all happened so fast. Fast enough that not even he could keep it straight. One moment he was moving in for the kill (or at least trying to be a little annoying), stepping around an already irritated looking Shadow and opening his mouth to start something- then the next, he was wrapped up in his best friend's arms while she squealed excitedly.
He had no idea what was happening. Or how they got so far from the group so quickly. Or why Amy was holding his hands, looking absolutely over the moon.
"Oh, Sonic," She giggled, squeezing tight. "I'm so happy for you!"
"Huh?" He was dumbfounded. He had no idea what she was talking about.
"I mean, you and Shadow? I never would have guessed, but it makes so much sense seeing it!" She chattered excitedly, clearly caught up in her own world at the moment. "You have to come out on a double date with me and Blaze. I'm sure it'll be a blast! Plus, it'll help everyone get over.."
She trailed off and let go, stepping back with a sheepish smile.
"I'm getting ahead of myself, aren't I? I don't even know if he would enjoy it. Don't worry too much about it."
Sonic was confused. For a grand total of two seconds, before he realized what was going on. Oh. Oh no. Somehow Amy had got it in her head that he- and Shadow- uh oh. He started to deny it, to set the record straight, tell her there was absolutely no way his rival would see him that way, but… She looked so happy. Genuinely excited. Possibly even relieved, and he knew it was because she worried about him after the break up. How could he possibly dash her hopes like that?
So, instead of doing the sensible thing and telling her the truth, he stuck his foot right in his mouth and accepted his fate.
"Hey, no worries, Ames! I'll see if I can convince him." Oh Gaia what was he saying.
"Oh, perfect! It'll be so much fun, you'll see!" She clapped her hands together and stared up at him with those big sparkly green eyes he couldn't say no to.
And he knew he was in trouble.
"Stop. Just stop."
Sonic really was in trouble. He had basically cornered Shadow. Not very sporting, he knew, but this was an emergency situation. He was in panic mode, here.
"You cannot be serious." Shadow was practically glaring at him. Not that he ever really looked at him much differently (ouch), but still. "You want me to pretend to be in a relationship with you because you can't say no to your ex? Do you know how pathetic you sound?"
Yeah. He kind of did.
"Look, man. I'll owe you one. Come on!"
"There's nothing I want from you."
So, they were at an impasse. Time for his secret weapon.
"Please? For Amy?" Sonic stepped back and watched as Shadow's expression fell. Bingo.
He knew Mr. short, dark, and brooding had a soft spot for the pink hedgehog. He could make fun of Sonic all he wanted- they both knew it was hard for him to deny her too.
Shadow looked genuinely irritated. Usually it was hard to tell, but it definitely looked like he was going through the five stages of grief right then and there. That was how Sonic knew he got him.
"Fine. For her."
And that was how they got here.
Sonic kicked Shadow under the table, only succeeding in making him look even less pleased to be there. He wasn't doing a very good job of looking like he could tolerate Sonic's company. They were supposed to be into each other, but he looked more like a bitter ex ready to fight over who got to keep the kids.
Amy and Blaze were supposed to meet them. There was no way they'd convince them this way.
"You know, you could try to look at least a little bit happy to see me." Sonic grumbled.
Shadow opened his mouth to reply, but was cut off by the sound of a bell. He looked at Sonic pointedly as the other hedgehog laughed and pulled out his communicator.
And instantly regretted it. It was a message from Amy.
Hi, Sonic! I'm really sorry, Blaze and I won't be able to make it after all. Something urgent came up in the Sol Demension and she needs to be there. Don't worry, though! You can still use our reservations for dinner just the two of you. Tell me how it goes! <3
Underneath was an adress. Likely a restaraunt that would be way too fancy for his tastes. He frowned and looked back at his rival. Still use the reservations? Yeah, right. As if. Still, it wouldn't feel right to just dip, knowing how much effort Amy put in to get them a spot. And honestly, it might not be so bad?
When they weren't fighting, Shadow wasn't hard to get along with. Actually, he was pretty cool, all things considered. He could keep up with him, and afterwards they could just sit in silence and exist in nature without having to worry about appearances. Speaking of appearances, it wasn't like he was hard on the eyes either…
Whoa, slow down. Did he actually just think that? Sure, the guy was conventionally attractive for their species. He knew that. It just hadn't ever seemed like that big of a deal before. And sure, he liked pushing his buttons, and racing him, and even hanging out after, but that didn't mean anything. Did it?
"So, change of plans."
He really didn't understand why Shadow went along with this. Agreeing to something for their mutual friend's sake was one thing, actively spending time with him outside of the ruse was another.
To be clear, Sonic didn't think Shadow hated him or anything. He couldn't claim to know what was going on in his head, but he doubted they'd work so well together if the guy just couldn't stand him at all. They could exist in each other's company just fine. They did pretty often, after impromptu races or running into each other somewhere out in the wild. But never on purpose, and never like this.
That might be why the whole thing was so uncomfortable.
Or maybe it was the restauraunt. Amy had obviously put a lot of thought into picking the place out. It was nice enough that the girls would enjoy themselves, but not too fancy. It was still the busiest time of the day though, and the place was packed.
It was pretty obvious that Shadow wasn't having a good time. Sonic knew him well enough to know his tells- he was definitely tense, and his ears kept swiveling around like he was looking for danger. It might have been the noise, or the crowd. He had to admit, he wasn't exactly a fan himself.
Sonic preferred when it was just the two of them outside of the city. Out there, they could just exist. There were no expectations or nosy friends, just them and the quiet beauty of nature. That was nice. It was what he'd prefer to be doing right now, instead of pretending to be on a date in some restaraunt he didn't even bother to learn the name of for the sake of a girl who broke up with him ages ago.
So why shouldn't he be there?
They hadn't even ordered yet, but he was ready to dip. He looked across the table, meeting Shadow's eyes, and knew they were on the same page without him even having to say anything. He reached across the table and grabbed his hand, and they were gone in a flash of light.
They landed in their usual field. Shadow didn't let go of his hand. He didn't know why. He found he didn't mind, though. It was actually kind of nice.
"I am never doing that again." The dark hedgehog might as well have growled with how displeased he sounded.
"Actually, yeah. Let's not." Sonic squeezed his hand, causing him to look at him as if he were a bit shocked at this. Like he didn't even realize they were still touching. "I like us the way we are. You know?"
Shadow was just quiet for while while he stared at their joined hands. That was fine. He tended to be a long thinker, when he had the time.
"I understand."
Sonic really did like them just like this the most. There was only one thing that could make it better. He held on tight and flopped down in the grass, pulling Shadow down with him in the process. He landed on top of him. It wasn't exactly comfortable, but Sonic refused to let go. He didn't want him to bolt. There was still something eating at him.
"I gotta know, though. Why didn't you take off when the girls said they weren't coming?"
Shadow froze up where he had been trying to get the other to let go. He had managed to pull himself up enough that he was practically sitting in Sonic's lap. Sonic had to admit he looked good up there, even moreso when he started to get flustered.
"I'm not letting you go until you tell me." Sonic huffed, tugging where they were joined to emphasize his point. They were at an impasse. He wouldn't let go, and Shadow couldn't chaos control out of the situation without dragging him with him.
He seemed to realize this, looking irritated at first, before deflating and giving up.
"I didn't want to. I told Rouge I would try." He was so quiet Sonic almost couldn't hear him. He didn't know what Rouge had to do with this. He didn't really get her at all, but he knew she probably knew Shadow better than any of them.
"Try what?"
Shadow was quiet. Clearly, he didn't want to answer. But he didn't need to. Something clicked. Not what he was talking about. Sonic still had no clue, there. But he did realize something- it hadn't worked with Amy because they were too different. What they wanted from life, needed in a partner, needed from themselves. But Shadow? He was just like Sonic in all the ways that really mattered.
They were both stubborn and competative, and they butted heads a lot, but they were capable of bringing out the best in each other. He'd seen it first hand when they were up against the ropes, facing the villain of they day. In the golden glow in the dark when they first met, all those years ago, when they saved the world together. Shadow could be difficult, but Sonic liked a challenge. Sonic could run at the speed of sound, but Shadow could keep up. And sitting there, hovering over him, with the glow of the sun cast on him like a halo, Shadow was beautiful.
"You know what? I want to try something too."
Sonic lifted his free hand to tangle in dark quills, watching carefully for a reaction. Shadow looked a bit startled by the action, and chaos help him but it was almost cute. Sonic didn't have to worry about going to far with him. He was more than capable of kicking his ass if he felt like it, and he knew he wouldn't hesitate. Sonic had to take a moment to think to himself though. Did he really want to take this leap? There would be no turning back if he did.
Still, he was never one to back down. This was no different. He smiled when he pulled him down, much easier than he expected. He was over the moon when they met in the middle, testing the waters, but feeling electric with the other's mouth on his. Most importantly, he knew he made the right choice, when a rumble started up between them, a purr he haden't even been aware Shadow was capable of but that was clearly coming for him all the same.
He'd have to think Amy later. For now, he had a hybrid to kiss, and he planned to do so for as long as he'd let him.