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The hallway buzzed with the hum of fluorescent lights, cold, still. The only sign of life was the occasional squeak of shoes against the tile floor. A chill spread through the building, heavy and artificial, the air being pumped through vents from a machine rather than the fresh oxygen of outdoors. It was suffocating, but Shadow couldn’t leave just yet. Not without what he came for.
Ears perked, Shadow stepped around a corner, slow at first. Crimson eyes darted from one end of the hallway to the other, and he was off. A burst of hot air from his shoes sent him gliding above the smooth tile, silent, fast. And just as quickly, he stopped all at once. A locked door, a green glow from the gap underneath. There it was. With a swift, spinning kick, the metal of his shoe collided with the handle and knocked it from its socket. A piercing loud ringing shook through the previously silent hallways, sending a shudder through every quill on Shadow’s back. An alarm. His ears pinned to his head, he swore under his breath. Well, that was that, now speed would be key.
Shadow kicked open the door to a cold, sterile room. Metal walls lined with industrial pipes surrounded the central platform where the telltale glow emanated from. The air tingled with power, a static-like energy that only served to draw Shadow closer. There it sat, perched carefully atop a metal frame. A shining green emerald. Without a second thought, Shadow snatched it and darted right back out of the room. Tingles of energy flowed up his arm, through his body, all the way to the tips of his quills. As it should. Finally.
The alarm continued to ring, shouts and rapid footsteps following its call, but Shadow was already on his way out. He skated through hallways, darted around corners, he felt alive. And yet, the building was a maze. Curse G.U.N. and their complicated architecture, was the thought that stuck in his mind when he reached a dead end. A dead end with a propped open window. That was it, his way out– or, it would have been, if not for the big green eyes appearing on the other side.
Shadow skidded to a stop in front of the open window, just in time for the blue hedgehog to swing his legs inside. With narrowed eyes, Shadow met Sonic’s curious gaze. Even with a blaring alarm and a chaos emerald gripped in Shadow’s paw, there was no move to attack. Just those green eyes that studied him, that always seem to look deeper than Shadow was comfortable showing.
Sonic’s ear twitched. His head tilted, just slightly. Whatever was going on inside his head, Shadow wished he could pry into. Instead, he took a step back, only to be met with the slight tug of a smile that told him even less. “I thought it sounded like there was trouble here.” Sonic’s words made Shadow tense. If he had to fight his way out, so be it, he could take– “But it’s just you, huh?”
Sonic made no move to attack. There wasn’t enough time to ponder why, the shouts and footsteps were getting closer, closer, the squeak against the tiles echoing from just around the corner. Shadow held the chaos emerald in front of him, focused, and felt a surge of energy jolt through his body in a burst of power. In an instant, he was gone.
The sun was beginning to set over Central City, the last orange rays of light beaming between the towering buildings while the rest of the sky turned dark. The city still bustled with life, but in the small city park, in a clearing mostly obscured by the buildings and trees that surrounded it, it was quiet. Shadow sat underneath a tree, green emerald in hand. He rolled it around, watching as the light reflected through its shining surface. The energy that pulsed through it and into his body made the racing thoughts chill. It was power, yes, but it was also security. This was where it belonged.
“What’cha got there?” A familiar voice was right beside him before Shadow even had a chance to notice he was there. He jumped to his feet, spun around, and narrowed his eyes at the blue hedgehog in front of him, ears angled back. Sonic was both the loudest guy he knew and the quietest.
“Whoa, hey.” Sonic put his hands up, a playful smile on his lips. “I’m just saying hi. It’s been a while, y’know?”
“We saw each other this morning.” Shadow was tense as he met those bright green eyes. Eyes that didn’t seem to give anything away. Sonic was smiling, but it felt like he was always smiling. It meant little.
Sonic stepped closer, just a single step. “Sure, we did, but barely.” His hands fell, as did the caution he was exhibiting. In a split second, there was a blur of blue and Sonic was behind him. Shadow acted only a beat after, whipping around to face him once more, his fist clenching around the emerald in an iron grip. He was close, the smell of grass and sunshine making Shadow’s brain slow just enough for him to allow Sonic’s paw to touch his own. “It looked like you were in a rush.”
Huh? What? A gloved finger passed over his own, a simple touch that awakened a strange, tingly feeling in his chest, then grazed over the surface of the emerald he held. There was a question in Sonic’s eyes. A question Shadow suddenly felt unable to answer. “So?” Sonic was too close. “You gonna tell me why you need a chaos emerald?”
Shadow hardened his gaze, clenched his teeth, and with a burst of air from his shoes he swung a kick directly at Sonic’s head. As expected, the other hedgehog was quick to dodge, moving so fast Shadow could hardly see it happen. But there Sonic stood, just out of reach, ears perked in interest. He never did know how to take a hint. “Why should I tell you?” Shadow huffed, and the emerald seemed to brighten in response. “It doesn’t belong with G.U.N., it belongs with me. That is all you need to know.”
“Okay, okay, I get that–” Sonic paused, only to zip right towards Shadow, curl into a ball, and barrel straight towards him in a flash with spikes sticking out. They nearly grazed him by the time Shadow chaos controlled out of the way, reappearing a few feet away. Sonic uncurled, landing on his feet with that dangerous playful grin on his face. “But that doesn’t mean you should kick me and expect me to take it.”
Shadow stiffened, his eyes narrowed. Sonic narrowed his eyes in turn. A challenge. For a moment, they simply stood, staring each other down. The sun was getting lower, casting long shadows across the field. Out here, it was quiet, save for the bustling city noises that sounded far away and the crackling of energy in Shadow’s palm. They moved at the same time. It was a flurring rush of black and blue quills as the hedgehogs shot towards each other, kicks dodged, punches blocked. Shadow jumped back when a blow landed too close to where his emerald was held, and before the blue hedgehog could make another move, he circled him. Once, twice, his air shoes humming as they kept him just above the grass. Sonic followed him with those distractingly green eyes.
“What’s your angle, Sonic?” Shadow zipped around him again, closer. “Are you working with G.U.N.?”
“Huh?” Sonic looked back and forth, following Shadow’s moves, until he stopped right in front of him. His body heat had risen… why was Shadow’s following suit? His ear twitched in interest– no, annoyance. “No way, I don’t work for anyone. What’s gotten into you?”
Shadow paused. What had gotten into him? “I’m the same as always. Perhaps you don't know me as well as you think.”
Sonic frowned. It was an odd look on him, a frown. It wasn’t as if Shadow hadn’t seen it before, but it was rare. The hedgehog was a walking ray of sunshine in the best and worst ways. Maybe Shadow had said the wrong thing. It was a thought that only briefly crossed his mind, but the feeling stuck. He preferred Sonic smiling, ugh. It wasn’t something he would ever admit out loud.
“I see, you’re in a mood.” That teasing tone quickly returned, strong enough to make Shadow roll his eyes. Sonic stepped back and raised his hand in a small wave. “Sounds like you have things handled for now. Alright, catch ya later!” And off he went in a blur of blue.
There Shadow stood, alone, hardly even able to watch him leave. What had that all been about? Sonic didn’t even try to take the chaos emerald. Shadow glanced down at it, its green glow warmly familiar. Sonic never did anything but confuse him.
“And this one means you’ve got a million walls up! A princess’s fortress!” Amy pointed at a card on the polished wooden coffee table, her head held high. There was a bright smile on her face as she shuffled through her deck of tarot cards, something she quickly bit her lip in a weak attempt to hide when the purple cat across from her only grumbled in response, arms crossed over her chest. Shadow sat on the nearby couch, barely paying attention to the reading. From what he could gather, each card was calling out Blaze in a more personal way than the last, and he honestly didn’t care to hear it.
It was unclear if the apartment was just Amy’s or if it was Blaze’s as well. The cat seemed to appear once in a while, make herself at home here, then disappear just as quickly. Almost like a certain hedgehog they all knew. Regardless, it was clear the home was decorated to Amy’s wishes. The place was a mix of classy and cute, with high quality wooden furniture and pink accents wherever they would fit. The couch was covered with throw pillows and plushes, blankets were piled around the room for easy access. It was cozy, Shadow would admit. He didn’t dislike being dragged to what they called girl’s night.
Amy pulled another card from the deck at random, and her eyes went wide. “And this one, combined with the last, means there’s someone in your life you think you aren’t good enough for–”
“Enough!” Blaze snapped, her ears pinned back. Amy quieted, furrowed her brows, and Blaze sighed. “It’s fine, I just, uh… I’ve had a thorough enough reading. If you want to go on, give Shadow one.”
Shadow perked up when his name was said, and so did Amy it seemed with the eager way the pink hedgehog was looking at him. They had a staredown for a long moment before Shadow breathed out a sigh and sat up. “Fine.”
“Come here, come here!” Amy pointed to the spot across from her as Blaze stood from it. Shadow stood, and the two passed each other, the cat shooting him a look that could only mean good luck. Blaze settled on the couch while Shadow sat on the pillow she had previously occupied, crossing his legs.
“Now,” Amy started, shuffling her deck as she spoke. The cards were a glimmering purple on the backs, Shadow couldn’t help but watch how they shone when they moved. “I’m just going to do a general reading like I did for Blaze. It basically looks into your current situation and what might happen if you continue down your path.”
“Whatever you say.” Shadow said. He glanced up into Amy’s eyes, spotted that twitch of her ear, and continued. “You’re the expert.” That seemed to appease her enough, judging by the smile on her lips.
“Exactly. Now, as for your recent past…” She let out a thoughtful hum, her fingers grazing back and forth across the cards, then she grabbed one from the deck and set it face up on the table. Shadow leaned in and tilted his head. On the card was an image of a tower being struck by lightning, on fire, with people falling from the windows. “Oh. Huh.” Amy’s eyes widened– that probably meant it was bad. “That’s a way to start it… let’s see.” She cleared her throat, then continued. “The tower. It means a sudden, dramatic change has happened, usually with something being destroyed. Or a shift in perspective, it usually isn’t literal. A destruction of past beliefs.”
Shadow nodded, slow, thoughtful. “Alright…” That sounded… plausible. But it was only cardboard, it couldn’t mean anything. Not unless there was some kind of technology within the cards that he was unaware of. Perhaps something was invented in the time he was in stasis that could accurately assess the life state of a target. His mind was pulled from the theory when Amy pulled another card.
The second card pulled was placed next to the first; the image of a man looking out over a cliffside. “The fool. Oh!” Amy set down the deck and clasped her hands together. “New beginnings! You’re starting off on a new journey after the sudden shift, you are settling into the modern world for real now.” She leaned over the table, peering down at the cards. “Yeah, I’d interpret it to mean you should be more like the fool. Optimistic, curious. Free. That sort of thing.”
“I’m plenty optimistic.” Shadow stated, and sent a glare Blaze’s way when he heard a stifled chuckle from the couch. He looked back towards Amy. “How do these cards work anyways?”
“Through intention!” Amy stated with confidence and a sparkle in her eyes. “You let the cards know what you want them to tell you, and they give you an answer from the heart. Like I want to know your biggest struggle right now… and…” She spread out the cards on the table, dragged her finger across them, and picked one out seemingly at random. She placed the card down above the others, a big grin on her face. It was a man on a horse, the knight of cups. Why was Amy smiling like that? “Shadow’s in love.”
“What?” Shadow looked at the cards, then to Amy, and back again. How could intention tell her that? “I am not.”
The sound of a door shutting turned every head in the room just in time for Rouge to enter. The bat was dressed comfortably in a loose fitting crop top and jogging shorts, the kind of low effort outfit she would reserve for nights in. A knowing smile spread across her face when her eyes fell on Shadow. “Shadow’s in love?” How did she… right, curse her bat hearing.
“You’re late.” Shadow said instead of responding. He didn’t wish to entertain this subject, but he had a feeling getting out of it wouldn’t be easy.
“Oh, hush, dear.” Rouge dismissed him, taking a seat on the couch next to Blaze and crossing one leg over the other. “Amy, please continue.”
“Right, as I was saying,” Amy leaned forward again, a newfound spark of excitement in her eyes. She even bounced a bit where she sat. “You have a knight in shining armour! Someone you can be vulnerable around– or, at least, that’s coming soon!”
Someone to be… vulnerable with? Shadow breathed out a huff. It was true that he’d grown closer to the others recently, but in a romantic sense? Someone to be his knight? Maybe. At least, with all his complaining about him, he’d been told what he described was something more. A flash of blue appeared in his mind. He could fit the bill of a knight. But vulnerability… maybe. Sonic had seen him at his worst and kept running back to him for whatever reason. Shadow didn’t understand it. “I think your cards might be broken.” They weren’t.
“No, that sounds accurate.” Rouge said, her wings stretching out behind her. “Were you not just whining to me about this guy the other day?”
“What guy?” Amy perked up. Even Blaze raised her head in mild interest.
“She’s making things up. I think it’s time Rouge gets a reading.” Shadow was already standing up before he finished speaking. “I’m sure nothing embarrassing will come out with that.”
Rouge let out a light laugh. “Trying to get me back, huh? Didn’t you say the cards are broken?” She stood and sent Shadow a playful wink. “Fine, I’ll bite. Unlike some of us, I have no shame.”
Shadow only rolled his eyes. Once more, the seating shifted around to make room for another tarot reading. His knight in shining armour, huh… it wasn’t a terrible image.
The sun had long since set and Shadow was still skating through Central City, eyes peeled. People still roamed the streets, sending him looks as he zipped past. They were walking, chatting, getting into cars, stepping in and out of buildings. Moving without care, without resistance. Shadow swerved to a stop in front of a dark alleyway to see nothing but a stray cat jumping off a trash can. No badniks in sight. In an instant, he was at the next street over, one that still had potholes and corners blocked off with caution tape leftover from a battle with the black arms. No sign of alien life. He moved on to the next street, the next, each one the same. Not even a robbery or a bar fight. It was all so… peaceful. What was Shadow to do with himself?
Just as that thought crossed his mind, sirens were blaring, people were shouting. Ears perked, Shadow skated towards the sound. He rounded a corner just in time to see a flurry of cars rushing past, the G.U.N. logo painted on their sides. He retreated backwards, just enough to not be seen. “Chaos control.” In an instant, Shadow was standing on the roof of a nearby building, peering out over the edge. A blur of blue zipped down the street, and a few beats later, the G.U.N. vehicles followed. Shadow narrowed his eyes. What on Earth was going on?
“Hey, hey! Ya got the wrong guy!” Sonic stopped, grabbed onto a streetlamp, and swung around it to face the approaching cars. “Are you guys even listening? Man, you’re slow!” Right as the cars were about to catch up, Sonic was gone. It was like he simply disappeared– well, that was what someone unfamiliar with him would think. Shadow knew better. Sonic’s full speed was often difficult to see.
There was a rush of wind at Shadow’s side, and when he glanced over, as expected, there he was. Sonic the Hedgehog. He was close, leaning his back against the half wall surrounding the edge of the building’s roof, his hands planted on the top of it on either side of his body. Relaxed, despite clearing having just been chased. “So the culprit returns to the scene of the crime.” Sonic’s greeting was playful, a knowing look in his eyes. Shadow crossed his arms.
“Why were they chasing you?” Shadow got straight to the point. G.U.N. chasing Sonic… it wasn’t an entirely strange thing to happen. In fact, it had happened before.
Sonic laughed, a genuine chuckle that elicited a rush of fluttering in Shadow’s chest. It was a feeling that surprised him, that he tried to swallow down. “Well, a chaos emerald went missing from their headquarters, and they caught me hanging out of their window. I’m sure you can connect the dots.”
Oh. Of course, that made sense. Shadow was the reason. Shouting came from down below, the skirting of tires against the asphalt as cars turned in different directions. Shadow didn’t bother to look down. “And you didn’t tell them it was me?”
“As if they’d listen.” Sonic shrugged. “Besides, if you need a chaos emerald, who am I to stop you?”
Shadow was quiet for a moment. Sonic didn’t sound like he was being deceitful, he had that usual casual air around him. That was how he’d always been. Slowly, Shadow approached, turned around, and leaned on the half wall next to Sonic. “You trust me.” It wasn’t a question, Shadow knew the answer and it was one that made a tingling warmth spread through his body.
“What, we only went super together and saved the world.” Sonic nudged Shadow with his elbow, the small point of contact feeling like a spark. The slightest smile tugged at Shadow’s lips. “Then you helped out when we had to defeat Metal, and, well, the whole alien thing. That was all you. My life was in your hands and I wasn’t worried at all.”
“I suppose you’re right.” Shadow glanced up at the sky. The light from the city made it impossible to make out any stars. Back on the ARK, all he saw were stars. It was a drastic change, but maybe not a bad one. “I trust you too.”
“It wouldn’t kill you to act like it then.” That comment from Sonic had Shadow sending a glare his way, which received a nervous smile in response. “Kidding! I’m kidding.” He paused. Silence hung between them until words just seemed to flow from Shadow’s lips.
“I’ve never lived on Earth before. Not when it isn’t in peril. It’s easier when it is.” It was an odd thing to say, Shadow knew this, but the late night and Sonic’s warm presence seemed to pull it from him. Anyone else wouldn’t know how to respond. Sonic always did. It was something that was often irritating about him, but also one of his best qualities.
“You gotta learn how to relax.” There it was, Sonic’s bluntness. “There’s peace right now, enjoy it. It never lasts. When the world needs your help again, you’ll know. In the meantime just find somewhere to kick back and take a nap.” He grinned, slapping a hand over Shadow’s shoulder. “You’re way too uptight.”
“And yet you put up with me.” The smile on Shadow’s face only seemed to brighten Sonic’s. Maybe he was right. There’s peace, enjoy it. He gave the people on Earth a chance to be happy, wasn’t that enough?
“I do, and what a chore that is.” Sonic pulled away, stood up straight, and stretched his arms above his head. “Well, I think it’s time to run some more laps around G.U.N.” He shot Shadow a playful wink, and for a moment, his brain stuttered. “See ya, I’m outta here.” And that he was. In a flash, he was gone.
Someone he could be vulnerable around… maybe Amy was onto something.
It had only been a day and already Shadow was struggling to occupy himself in ways people did when there was peace. Everyone seemed so busy, walking with purpose, rushing around like they were on a timer. But they weren’t being chased, they had time. Though soon Shadow started to notice those who were making the most of the peace. People smiling and laughing, couples holding hands, children running just because they could. There were all types, regardless of the state of the world, but people were basically good.
Shadow had returned to his spot in the city park, sitting underneath a tree, shaded from the bright sun blaring down. It wasn’t often he came here during the day. Across the field, a family was having a picnic. Children were running around, a man was walking a dog, all around him bustled with life. So this was what he’d fought for. It wasn’t something he’d deeply considered before, it had just been something he had to do. If the black arms took over, these people wouldn’t be smiling.
“Don’t tell me you’re caught in your feelings again.” The feminine voice approached from behind, and Shadow glanced over. Rouge stood beside him, hands on her hips. “It doesn’t look like you’re doing anything with that emerald. How long do you plan on holding onto it?”
Shadow narrowed his eyes, but he sensed no hostility from Rouge. Of course not, not once since he’d known her had she ever posed herself as a threat to him. He let out a soft huff. “Better with me than with G.U.N.” He didn’t need to ask how she knew he had it. When it came to gems, Rouge could always sniff them out.
“You know, they haven’t done anything bad in a while. I’m keeping an eye on them.” Rouge breathed out a sigh. “I don’t care if you have it or they do, but it’d be safe there all locked up. I’ll have them tighten security so no rogue hedgehogs can break in.” She paused, looking from Shadow then out to the field where his gaze had returned. “Or, keep it. It’s not my problem.” She turned to leave when Shadow didn’t respond, took a few steps, then paused when a shining green emerald flew through the air towards her. She raised her hand just in time to catch it.
“I don’t trust them.” Shadow said, lowering his hand once more. “But I trust you. Don’t let them do anything stupid.”
Rouge looked at the emerald in her grasp with wide eyes, but when her gaze returned to Shadow, it was with a gentle smile. “Oh, I won’t. But you,” She placed a hand on her hip, “You need to be more stupid. Make a move. Sonic isn’t the kind of guy to stick around forever. Give it a week, and he’ll disappear for a month.”
Shadow breathed out a sigh. Rouge was right, he already knew that. Sonic didn’t stay in one place. Would he stay in one place? Only time would tell, he supposed. “You’ll be the first to hear if I do.”
“Oh, no denial? I like that.” Rouge teased, before turning away once more. She offered a wave as she began to walk away. “See you tomorrow, Shadow. Show up, or Omega will go on a rampage.”
“Noted.” Shadow offered a halfhearted wave in return. Make a move… well, there was nothing better to do, was there?
It was just outside the city where Shadow finally found Sonic. That damn hedgehog always left in a hurry and never told anyone where he was headed. This, however, made sense. It was a large open field leading down into a forest. A clear place to run, and run he did. A blur of blue was rushing back and forth across the field, spiraling, then moving straight, then up a tree– Shadow could barely follow where he was, and getting him to stop would be a whole other issue. But Shadow was fast too.
His shoes whirred and shot out a stream of hot air as Shadow took off, skating right towards Sonic until the hedgehog came into clear view. Shadow caught up, skated at his side just until their eyes met, then jumped him. He tackled him to the ground and the two rolled down the side of the hill in a flurry of black and blue. When they came to a stop, Shadow was on top of Sonic. He placed his hands on either side of his head and propped himself up. Wow. Sonic was beautiful, his blue quills shining in the sunlight, his eyes a brighter green than the grass around him. Grass that was also stuck in his quills, along with a few leaves, but Shadow figured he looked about the same. It was rare to see Sonic looking absolutely bewildered. His eyes were wide, lips parted as he stared up at Shadow with a question in his eyes. A question soon voiced.
“Shadow? Whoa, way to say hello.” Sonic let out a chuckle that sounded a bit nervous. It was cute.
It was then that Shadow realised he didn’t know how to make a move. He’d thought Sonic was handsome the first time he’d seen him that night in the city after his escape from G.U.N., but here, now, pinning him to the ground where no one else could see… something was different. More intimidating than when they fought. “You were moving too fast.” He started, “I… wanted to talk to you.”
“Okay, okay, can you let me get up then?” Sonic asked, only for Shadow to not move. Almost as if he were frozen. “As handsome as you are on top of me, there’s probably better–”
Shadow moved closer. Handsome. Sonic thought he was handsome? It was enough to make his heart beat faster, his gaze to soften. “No. I want to…” He trailed off, looking from Sonic’s eyes to his lips. How was one supposed to word such a thing? Heat rose to his cheeks, spread across his face and down his neck.
Something seemed to click in Sonic’s mind. His expression softened, a gentle smile spread across his lips, and he slowly reached up to wrap his arms around Shadow’s neck. Shadow only leaned closer. “Whatever you want, Shads, go for it.”
That was all the permission he needed. Shadow dove in, pressing his lips against Sonic’s in a kiss that was sloppy and inexperienced but better than he ever could have imagined. All it was was a simple press of lips, but Shadow suddenly understood why people were so obsessed with it. It wasn’t the action, it was the person, and this was Sonic he was kissing. He didn’t think the warmth in his body could get any more overwhelming, but it did, and it seemed to explode in his chest and make his heart race faster than it had any right to. Hands kneaded through his quills, and Shadow only noticed the rumbling in his chest when Sonic smiled against his lips.
In a split second they were flipped over. Sonic was on top, blocking out the sunlight as he instead shone down on Shadow. Beautiful. “You’re purring.” Sonic said, but Shadow swore he could feel something else rumbling against him. He wasn’t the only one. He didn’t have time to respond before Sonic was kissing him again. He was so gentle, the hedgehog normally so fast was kissing him slowly and with purpose. Shadow felt he could melt into a puddle at any moment. His arms wrapped around Sonic’s neck and locked behind his back. To hold him there, to feel him more, he wasn’t sure. His brain had turned to mush.
No thoughts of what he deserved plagued him, no doubts or fears, only Sonic. Nothing else mattered, and as the two of them lay together under the sun the open field, Shadow, for the first time, truly felt at peace.