Archive of Our Own

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There’s a reason they say Mondays are the worst days of the week.

It didn’t take forty-eight hours for the disoriented and strangely familiar black hedgehog to interrupt the programming of every station under the sun. The disaster became worldwide news before it even left Station Square. Sonic was changing channels so frequently that his finger was already cramping every time he collapsed onto the couch.

A few days ago, G.U.N. agents had burst into the Thorndyke mansion looking for the culprit behind the rampage. Topaz, Rouge, and—for technical reasons—Knuckles wasted no time interrogating the residents. Instead of the fugitive terrorist, they found a beautiful, worried damsel. The echidna didn’t waste a second in coming to her aid like a true gentleman… only for his pride to deflate seconds later due to the painful disbelief. Surely it was quite the relief for the fugitive to discover he had the protection of such a kind and burly stranger.

Sonic never imagined he’d see Knuckles so delighted to accompany Rouge to government headquarters for an interrogation.

Why did this kind of thing always happen to him on Mondays? First, right as that day started, he was already struggling to divide his time between his friends for their wants and needs. Then he was humiliated on national television because of the Mobian he was supposed to save from the “wicked plans” of that not-so-Shadow. And now he had to cover for that same lost experiment of Dr. Robotnik right there in his human friend’s house when he was only supposed to stay for a little while. Though, to be honest, it wasn’t like he had a packed schedule or responsibilities to complain about. It wasn’t as if this “little inconvenience” was ruining his life… or was it?

Sonic wasn’t from this world. The only thing that could be considered his duty was to go save the inhabitants from that egg with a doctorate. But then there he was, taking a nap with his arms behind his head, recovering his strength after the exhausting search for the perfect place and moment to rest. In reality, it didn't matter whether it happened on a Monday, Tuesday, or Thursday. But the chronic irritation caused by the mere arrival of “Shadow” was reason enough to dislike that particular day.

Luckily, the week didn’t stop.

Having him under the same roof for so long and not being one hundred percent sure about it seemed completely unjustified in the eyes of his friends. Something Sonic had resigned himself to with remarkable stoicism.

They’ll be “bunk buddies” forever…

This morning, the atmosphere at the dining room table was filled with laughter, the delicious and slightly burnt aroma of the coffee that only Vanilla and Chuck drank, and a new warmth that did not go unnoticed by Sonic. It was as if everyone already knew every aspect of the clumsy hedgehog who now went by the name of Shades.

Shades? Who the heck came up with that name?

Him, of course. Sonic himself.

The blue hedgehog felt it was the best thing he could’ve done for the clone. After all, anything was better than calling him “Sissy McWuss of Nancyville.”

Come on, no one could deny it: he looked exactly like that, a Shadow with all the edge washed out. They had brought into the world a completely different reflection of the guy who had put him in lockdown just a few weeks prior. 

The others would say that fact was the most solid and obvious reason why his presence “didn’t sit well with him”. However, that wasn’t even close to being his biggest concern.

It was the way Shades was hogging everyone’s attention… not just Tails’ or Cream’s, but especially that of the hedgehog whom, until now, Sonic had never looked at from any other perspective 

Amy.

He used to scoff at the mere idea of loving Amy in a romantic way. Her exasperating attempts to get his attention only pushed him further away from that possibility. Amy was cute, sure, and no one could question her passionate way of loving. However, Sonic had always lived by one rule: no strings attached. He was a free spirit. Why should he worry about surprise dates or remembering a specific day?

…That excuse was already getting old. 

It was just as his echidna friend had said: his life was all figured out. People who loved him, suitors everywhere he looked, and yet he simply pushed them all aside to keep running down the same “uncharted path” he’d been on for years.

He didn’t know many girls he’d had a conversation with for more than five minutes. Amy was one of the few—if not the only—hedgehog with whom he’d maintained a long-standing friendship. But enjoying her company didn’t mean she fit the role of a potential partner. After all, he wasn’t desperate or losing his mind just because his species was practically on the brink of extinction, like poor Knuckles.

Damn it… So why was the idea of losing her in the future just as unbearable as the idea of committing to something serious right now?

In short, his situation couldn’t be any more complicated.

Sitting on the stool in front of the breakfast bar, Sonic felt a horrible wave of uncertainty wash over him. He was lucky to be too short for his feet to touch the floor; otherwise, the constant twitching of his foot would have given away his discomfort immediately. How could he not feel that way when Amy wouldn’t stop talking about her new boyfriend to everyone?

Yes. Boyfriend. At first, he hadn’t cared at all. But that was at first. Now the word carried real weight, especially when he saw them stuck together so sweetly, so unbearably… happy.

At what point had this turned into a competition where Shades had already claimed victory? 

It was almost ironic that he, Sonic, was the one who had fallen behind.

“Oh, my, where have the ingredients gone?” Ella’s unmistakable accent reached the cobalt-furred hedgehog’s ears, snapping him out of his mental dilemma.

Vanilla stepped up beside the sturdy woman, also peering inside the large double-door refrigerator. The rabbit rested her right hand on her hip, pondering whether there was an alternative that would make it possible to have lunch that day.

“I thought this morning we could make do with what we had, but I see we didn’t measure things out very well.” She walked over to the row of hooks in the kitchen, taking off her pink apron and then hanging it back where she’d found it. “It won’t be enough, considering we have a new mouth to feed in the house and guests on the way.”

The maid nodded, though she kept her usual white apron on. Determined, both women left the kitchen, passing by Sonic, who watched them with a raised eyebrow.

Ah, right. Yesterday, despite the little scene they’d caused a few days ago, Vanilla invited Topaz, Rouge, and Knuckles over for lunch. Obviously, the trio couldn’t refuse, even if they had other things to do.

“Cream, honey! We’re heading to the supermarket. Are you coming with us?”

Ella reached for her shopping bag, and Vanilla let the other adult in the house know they were leaving while she waited for Cream to come through the door leading to the patio. 

“I’m coming!” said the young rabbit excitedly, followed by her cuddly Chao, Cheese.

Cream brushed the dust off her dress before going inside, leaving behind a pretty arrangement of flowers—but not before placing the little crown of daisies on Cheese’s head.

The door swung wide open, startling the hedgehog crossing in front of it. Amy watched Cream and the two women getting ready to leave; her hands completely forgot about the notebook she was holding.

“You’re going out?! Oh, perfect!” The notebook flew off somewhere into the living room. “I just happen to need to pick up my dress.”

Vanilla turned to the pink-haired hedgehog, nodding with a welcoming smile.

“You can come with us to the supermarket. The plaza is nearby.”

Sonic unconsciously swallowed when he saw the hedgehog arrive. The wall separating the kitchen from the main room allowed him to spy on the four figures gathered through the doorway.

“Amy! Amy! Are there animal balloons? That would be so cute!”

Sonic’s ears perked up.

That voice.

That deep yet sweet voice.

The red-striped hedgehog joined the group, walking behind Amy to get her opinion on the decorations.

Oh, hadn’t they mentioned it yet?

Amy had woken up with the brilliant idea of throwing a welcome party for her amazing boyfriend. Just the mention of cake and balloons had made his eyes light up, and he was ready to help her with whatever she needed.

Amy turned her face; her smile widened when an even better idea popped into her head.

“Honeybun, come with us!” she asked as soon as the ebony hedgehog stood in front of her.

Sonic’s emerald eyes nearly popped out of their sockets when he saw her grabbing Shades' hands in hers with total ease. 

“Huh? Why?” he asked, completely confused to see her stop jotting down the preparations. “I want to keep picking out the cake flavor.”

“That can wait. I need you to see me in the dress I bought!”

Shades looked incredibly bewildered. Even so, he couldn’t say no to the impulsive whirlwind he had for a girlfriend, simply nodding as she dragged him toward the door.

“Ah! I’m going to try on a bunch of clothes just for you! Then you’ll tell me how cute I look, we’ll take pictures together, and…”

“Amy, where are you taking Shades?”

Tails’ calm voice interrupted the scene. The pink-furred girl slowly turned her head, muttering with a furrowed brow and a deadpan stare. On the other hand, Shades reacted upon hearing his name and waved to the two-tailed fox coming from the workshop.

“To the store with me. We’ll be busy,” she explained, possessively wrapping her arm around the ebony hedgehog, as if to protect him from any attempt to snatch him away.

“Even knowing it’s still not safe for him to be out?” he asked, eyeing the couple from head to toe.

Amy shrugged, turning her gaze toward the other three figures waiting for them at the front door. “Come on, how long has it been? It’s not like G.U.N. is still hunting him. Chuck took care of that.”

“The ‘bail’ he secured doesn’t automatically make him risk-free, Amy. Remember that the few times he’s gone out, it’s been in secret from the press. How do you think he will react to very intense emotions?”

“Oh, just put a bag over his head!” she exclaimed, completely unfazed by her own absurd, definitive solution to the problem.

Tails shook his head at Amy’s dismissive wave. Rubbing his snout, he tried to explain once more to his friend the potential danger Shades still faced. The pink hedgehog seemed to be listening, though her crossed arms and faint pout silently conveyed her desperate urge to drag her boyfriend out that door.

While the argument carried on in the background, Ella’s attention was drawn to the pendulum clock sitting in the living room. Vanilla’s shoulders flinched when the woman gently nudged her arm. She tilted her head and pricked up an ear to make out the whispered words the brunette spoke to her, glancing toward the kitchen.

“Don’t you see he doesn’t even have shoes on?” Tails pointed to the ebony figure’s bare feet, with no socks or anything. Apparently, at that moment, the modesty that part of the body demanded wasn’t important to Amy. 

“Then let him put some on. Shady-poo, where are your fancy roller skates?” she intoned in a ridiculously cheesy voice, fluttering those eyelashes that highlighted her sparkling eyes.

From where he stood, Sonic stuck out half his tongue, gesturing his irritation with a disgusted shake of his head. The fox rolled his eyes, almost deciding that the pink hedgehog should just do whatever she wanted.

“They—” Shades spoke as if he’d already fallen far behind in the conversation.

Tails interrupted him.

“I’m making some adjustments to them in the workshop. Even though Shades already knows how to control them, I noticed he moves differently than Shadow did. I figured it would be best to adapt them to his chaos energy range,” he explained, speaking slowly like a preschool teacher.

“Right…” Amy nodded solemnly, placing her hand on her hip. “I’ll lend him my slippers.”

The fox facepalmed—both metaphorically and literally. 

“The pink ones?” the ebony hedgehog asked immediately, smiling expectantly. Finally, the topic of conversation had piqued his interest.

Amy nodded happily, shooting a triumphant glance at the two-tailed one.

During his stay here, Shades had grown accustomed to being surrounded by the color pink and things pleasing to the eye, especially since he spent most of his day participating in the impromptu games of his new tea-party companion.

Just then, Vanilla cleared her throat loudly enough to silence the chatter. The rabbit took a few steps forward until she stopped in front of the pair of hedgehogs and the fox, stepping in with a firm demeanor.

“Excuse me, everyone, but you need to make up your minds quickly. We have to get everything ready before the guests arrive. We’ll be back by twelve at the latest.”

“And we still have to make dessert! With you guys arguing, we’ll end up eating canned corn,” Ella added, hands on her hips, annoyed by the little scene put on by the chatty creatures living in the house.

Tails scratched the back of his neck, somewhat embarrassed. Amy clasped her hands behind her back, pretending not to notice.

Cream, who had remained silent until then, leaned forward to tug at Amy’s dress, easily catching her attention.

“Miss Amy, I think you should consider how Mr. Shades will feel if he goes outside with all that street noise. He might get overwhelmed or uncomfortable… just like I do when I walk into a very large, crowded place,” she murmured the last part, unconsciously fiddling with the bow next to her dress’s collar.

“Chao, chao, chao! Chao!” Cheese stepped in to back her up, fluttering in the air and pleading with Amy with a tenderness comparable to that of a little dog wagging its tail wildly.

Amy’s ears perked up in surprise as she looked closely at the little bunny, whose bright, clear eyes held genuine concern. Then she looked at the Chao, whose eyes crinkled into tight triangles, and finally turned once more to Cream’s face. Vanilla smiled tenderly, followed by Tails, who sighed with visible relief. Amy held her gaze for a few more seconds; finally, she exhaled languidly, her smile spreading as well due to the undeniable empathy of the young bunny and her little friend.

With that in mind, Tails rested a hand on his chin, thought about what Cream had said, and quietly began to consider options that would satisfy both sides.

“I think I have some noise-canceling headphones somewhere in my room. I’ll go check—I won’t be long!”

Amy’s green eyes sparkled at his words, and she chuckled before thanking her fox friend. Shades asked her quietly what those headphones were.

Cream, grateful that the little spat between her friends had been resolved, looked up at her mother. She tilted her head slightly, curious to see how the adult wore a pensive expression while glancing sideways at the blue hedgehog, who was pretending to be distracted by the napkins on the breakfast bar.

“Wait, Tails, honey.”

The one in question stopped suddenly, turning his head toward Vanilla.

“We’ll try the headphones later. Right now… I need some helping hands in the kitchen to get as much done as possible.”

Everyone else remained silent, waiting expectantly for her decision as her appraising gaze swept over them. The hazel-colored eyes stopped on the figure with red streaks, and a knowing, sidelong smile stretched across her face.

“Shades and Sonic will stay and make dessert.”

Sonic nearly choked on his own spit, Amy’s eyes widened, Cream’s mouth formed an “o,” and Tails tilted his head slightly, raising one eyebrow and flashing a faint smile, instantly discerning Vanilla’s intentions. 

“Me?!”

“Him?!”

The two hedgehogs exclaimed in unison, and just like that, they turned their heads at the same time to look at each other.

“Sonic?” said Shades, holding his wrist as he watched the blue hedgehog in disbelief. The latter's posture instantly collapsed, his back hunching and his hands clutching his knees as if he were about to slip off the stool.

Vanilla nodded, stifling the giggle stuck in her throat at the exaggerated reaction. Amy stepped forward with an expression that betrayed her urgent desire to protest, the conversation from just a few seconds ago completely slipping her mind. But before she could take a breath, a blur of blue brought with it a tiny gust of wind, appearing in the middle of the circle, right next to Vanilla. 

“Okay, Nilly, I don’t think that’s… possible.” He joined the conversation, adopting his usual relaxed and indifferent tone. However, a hint of bewilderment trembled between the syllables. “For one thing, Shades doesn’t know how to bake. I can assure ya he’s never touched a mixer in his life.”

Sonic chuckled under his breath, resting the back of his hand on his hip. Amy blinked twice, leaving her words trapped in her throat and her half-open hand suspended in mid-air. 

Vanilla looked over at the blue hedgehog, nodding again. Sonic slowly furrowed his brow at this, his smile freezing on his face. Tails, whistling up at the ceiling, strolled away with his hands clasped behind his back, sensing that his presence was no longer needed given the new changes to the recipe the adult had suddenly put together.

“That’s right, Sonic. That’s why I thought, since you were just standing around the kitchen anyway, that you could show Shades how to work with the ingredients on the table.” Vanilla’s satisfied smile didn’t fade after seeing that the blue speedster was finally no longer pretending to be clueless. “No problem, since you’ve already made some incredibly delicious desserts with me, don’t you think?”

Sonic didn't know how to respond to this; he shifted his gaze, letting it wander briefly across the floor. Damn… he couldn't deny that cooking was no problem for him after Vanilla's thorough lessons—with a little extra help from Amy. And, speak of the devil, here she was now, making the comment she’d been impatiently holding back.

“I mean, wouldn’t it be better to teach him when things are calmer? I doubt that with Sonic…” she muttered, seeming to cut herself off on purpose. Sonic raised an eyebrow, realizing that his friend—or… his confusing crush—probably meant that his pace wasn’t the best fit for Shades.

Vanilla covered her mouth, unable to hold back any longer as she let out a little laugh that made Amy's pink ears twitch.

“Oh, Amy. I’m sure Shades will figure out how to adjust quickly; he’s been doing just fine so far during the few days he’s been staying at this chaotic house. What harm could it do for him to spend a little more time with Sonic?”

Amy pursed her lips, glancing out of the corner of her eye at the figure standing beside her. Vanilla’s cunning was always hard to counter; with just a few more words, the older rabbit would surely put her out of the running. She crossed her arms, noticing Cream with a gentle yet amused smile, her gaze shifting from her mother to the two whiny hedgehogs.

“Shades, what do you want to do?”

Amy and Sonic pricked up their ears, automatically looking at the striped hedgehog. His body language betrayed obvious nervousness, even though he was trying to hide it. His hands were nervously clasped over his stomach, and his scarlet eyes darted around the room as if he weren’t the center of attention. Shades fixed his gaze on Vanilla, who gave him a sweet smile encouraging him to answer.

He thought about it for a minute. Sonic involuntarily held his breath, and Amy bit the corner of her lip, hoping that Shades would choose her so he could take her by the hand and lead her out through what she perceived at that moment to be the pearly gates.

“I-I’d like to…”

Everyone present leaned forward; Shades almost lost his balance. He saw his girlfriend’s pleading gaze, Vanilla’s calm expression, and the tension in Sonic’s muscles. Out of pure reflex, with a comical drop of sweat trickling down his temple, a faint smile appeared on his face, and he muttered what he’d been thinking ever since the adult rabbit had given the word.

“I’d like to stay and make dessert.” He turned his head toward Amy, who instantly looked downcast, a disappointed smile on her face. Shades furrowed his eyebrows ever so slightly, feeling a little guilty at seeing his girlfriend’s green eyes looking like those of a sad, wet puppy. “Sorry... I want to do what Mrs. Vanilla said; I think it’s more interesting than going to look at a dress.”

Amy's eyes widened at the unexpected response, which was entirely direct and honest. His tone was completely bland, as if passing up—even just for fun—on Vanilla's idea were utterly senseless.

Vanilla closed her eyes with satisfaction at the effectiveness of her plan, clasping her hands together before giving Ella a knowing look. Sonic backed away, walking toward the kitchen with an uncertain expression, his index finger scratching his cheek. Amy sighed in defeat, and after about eight minutes of back-and-forth, she finally gave her approval, causing Shades’ ears to perk up with overwhelming excitement.

Amy, more frustrated by the idea that Sonic was stealing time she could have spent with Shades than by the fact that he was staying, had to say one last thing. Standing with one foot on the marble steps of the entrance, she assured Shades that they would have a full-fledged date that very night, where she could debut her glorious, heart-melting dress—one that would be the envy of all the blue hedgehogs who couldn’t get a closer look.

“At least make something delicious—Sonic isn’t very good at picking desserts,” she said confidently, glancing sideways at the blue hedgehog. “Do you think you can make my favorite dessert?”

Amy clasped her hands together, leaning toward him as she looked at him with a dreamy glow shimmering around her.

“Sure,” he said simply with a sweet smile.

The hedgehog let out an excited squeal and threw herself into his arms, rubbing her cheek against his.

“Thank you, Shadsy! You’re the best!”

This made Shades chuckle adorably a couple of times, holding her until the unintentional force of her hug began to make him uncomfortable.

In the distance, Sonic watched, tapping his fingers, back at the same spot where he had been sitting. Shades waved goodbye to the girls with his usual energy. After closing the entrance doors, he spun on his heels, only to find the emerald orbs staring intently at him.

Sonic frowned when Shades smiled at him and walked toward him. The emerald eyes slowly drifted down, and… gee, couldn’t he at least wear some socks? Not that it mattered to him, but it was really weird for a Mobian to go around without any footwear. He didn’t expect humans to get it—obviously, they wouldn’t fully understand that culture—but Tails, Vanilla? Even Cream might call him out on it to his face.

Shades stood in front of him, glancing for a few seconds at the kitchen appliances—though he wasn’t one to hold eye contact for very long anyway.

“So, how do we get started, Mr. Sonic?”

The blue figure sighed, closing his eyes when he heard that.

“I already told you there’s no need to call me that, Shades,” he said solemnly, opening his eyes to look at him again.

“Oh, right.”

These were going to be the longest hours of his life.

Sonic watched Shades’ hesitant movements. He was still sitting at the breakfast bar, resuming his aloof demeanor, though his eyes kept darting back to Shades’ bare feet on the clean kitchen tile. Those beans were really distracting.

Just the thought that Amy had been watching him like that all this time as if nothing were wrong…

Ugh, a gross wave of envy washed over him.

The striped one turned his gaze to a corner of the kitchen, his eyes lighting up upon finding what he was looking for. The little stool bumped against the bottom of the cabinet; Sonic watched as Shades hoisted himself up and stretched his hands to reach the thick, dusty cookbook.

The blue hedgehog sighed, raising his arms to stretch his back—which was somewhat exhausted from staying in the same position—and letting out a lazy grunt in the process. No sooner had he finished than, instead of climbing down from the stool to help, he rested his hands behind his head, burying his fingers into his vast sea of quills. Shades watched curiously as Sonic now turned his back on him.

His gloved hand turned the first page. The imperceptible specks of dust drifting into his nose almost caused him to let out an imminent sneeze.

“Where shall we start? There are so many desserts.” He wrinkled his nose to keep from sneezing. Not wearing anything on his paws also meant that the texture of the wooden bench caused a tickling sensation he wasn’t used to.

It didn't really bother him; if his socks were being washed with the rest of the dirty laundry, he could put up with it until Amy lent him those slippers she mentioned earlier. He’d been dying to wear them ever since he found out they were the ones that matched his prized sweater perfectly.

Sonic’s ear twitched backward, but he kept his back turned.

“Um, I don’t know. Just follow the instructions for whatever looks the best.”

What on earth are they supposed to be cooking?

Sonic could take advantage of this moment, choose a dessert he knows Amy loves, and show Shades that he should stick to hosting his elegant tea parties with Cream. He’d pull it off perfectly with or without Shades’ help, but that meant risking the possibility—which was obviously going to happen—that Amy would think Shades was a culinary genius, making her fall for him even more.

A small, nagging pang of jealousy pricked his chest.

Is it rude of him to act like he doesn’t care in the slightest when the dessert was for everyone there? Short answer: yes. But just give him some time; his current position is damn comfortable.

Shades hummed indecisively, analyzing the options before him.

“But they all taste good,” he said with a pout.

Sonic raised an eyebrow at the somewhat clumsy remark.

“They look good,” he corrected, rolling his eyes before closing them, as if trying to drift off into a nap. If he were lucky, by the time he woke up, Shades would have already baked the dessert without setting the kitchen on fire. “So pick the one that’s easiest to make.”

“Hmm…”

A few seconds passed during which neither of them uttered a single word. The only sounds in the kitchen were the rustling of the pages and the ticking of the hands on the wall clock.

Sonic pursed his lips at the immense, uncomfortable silence—at least for himself—and focused on keeping his eyes closed. His ears finally reacted to the ebony hedgehog's voice, but he didn’t recognize the baritone. Instead, he heard murmurs of unintelligible words, which baffled him as soon as he pieced together the most obvious possibility.

“Don’t tell me that…”

He turned his body one hundred and eighty degrees, resting one arm on the counter and letting the other hang down. Facing the hedgehog, he found him clutching the book with tense fingers, his lips hidden and pressed together, his eyebrows arched downward, and two wide-open crimson eyes incinerating the printed letters with his intense stare.

Sonic snorted, covering his face with his right hand.

“I should have known.”

Shades looked away, his ears slightly drooping, radiating his embarrassment. He knew that his efforts to piece those letters together into a familiar word were beyond his capabilities. Even Cream’s Chao could probably do better than that.

The cobalt hedgehog jumped down from the stool, circling halfway around the breakfast bar to get to the same side as the other hedgehog. His impairment forced Sonic to get involved in this, despite having tried his best to avoid it.

“C’mon, give me that.”

Before Shades could react, Sonic pulled up another stool, this time at his same height. He took the book from Shades’ trembling grip.

He sighed. Let’s get to work.

“All right, first things first.” He quickly flipped through the pages, causing Shades to sneeze, as was bound to happen. “We need to make something easy. Muffins? Pudding?”

Shades sniffed, wiping his nose with his finger. His crimson eyes opened slightly as he thought of an answer. And as soon as the light bulb went off in his head, his ears perked up and the corners of his mouth turned upward.

“Porcu-Pie told me before she left that we should make her favorite dessert!” he exclaimed, his hands resting on the edge of the counter, glancing at the pages fluttering through the air.

Sonic stifled a laugh, his bored expression faltering. He still can’t get over how much Amy insisted on those stupidly cheesy nicknames. “Pinky-Pie”… sure. He actually thought “Porcu-Pie” or “Stinky-Pie” was better—and funnier. He can’t deny that the clone managed to get a laugh out of him with his sheer naivety.

“Pfft, yeah, right. And what’s her favorite dessert? Do you even know what it is… or did you just say ‘sure’ back there to look good in front of her?”

Actually, this discouraged him. All this time, Sonic had been crossing his fingers that Shades wouldn’t remember Amy’s request. Well, since he couldn't do a simple thing to get out of this, he'd be doomed to prepare that… Wait, unless…

Shades blinked, completely missing the competitive edge in Sonic’s voice.

“I… do not know. She didn’t tell me,” he admitted honestly, his voice dropping to that low, monotonous tone. “But she looked really happy when I said yes. What’s her favorite?”

And there it was.

A smug smile crept onto Sonic’s face.

Of course he doesn’t know.

Sonic knew exactly what Amy liked. He’d spent enough afternoons being dragged to cafes by her, listening to her ramble about pastries while enjoying countless cakes in various flavors, that he’d already memorized that there was one specific one that was always set aside on the menu with her name written on it. The only thing Sonic enjoyed about those outings was seeing Amy’s eyes light up. Don’t get the wrong idea—it’s not like he’d ever admit it out loud.

He closed his eyes, smugly flashing a broad smile at Shades as he spoke with the confidence of an expert:

“Strawberry shortcake,” he declared triumphantly, leaning sideways against the counter and crossing his arms. “And not just any strawberry shortcake. It has to be light and fluffy. The cream has to be whipped perfectly, and the strawberries have to be glazed just right, or she’ll notice. She’s a real connoisseur when it comes to sweets.”

He sure did love to talk.

Sonic opened his eyes, expecting to see the defeated expression of the so-called boyfriend.

However, he was very surprised to see Shades extremely close—the tips of their noses were almost touching. Shades was looking at him with innate interest, hanging onto Sonic’s words as if they were a high-stakes military briefing. With no wrinkles on his brow to express any physical or mental distress, his eyes looked large and sparkling behind those long, thin eyelashes. Sonic hadn’t expected his cocky posture to be ruined by a slip-up on his part; his hands dropped, leaving his left hand resting on the countertop.

Oops, mistake.

Sonic’s quills bristled subtly as a tingling sensation traveled like an electric shock through his fingers: the tips of his fingers brushed against Shades'. They were barely touching, but that contact felt like an implicit invitation to whatever those pleasant crimson orbs were communicating to him.

Sonic pulled away as if the glove’s material were burning him, nearly stumbling off the ledge where he was standing. He furrowed his brow, unsure what to do with his hands, which he instinctively clasped around the recipe book.

What just happened? 

Why did something different stir inside him from that mere touch?

He’d never seen the other hedgehog up close like that. Has his face always been that cute?

 … 

CUTE?!

“I see. Then you have to teach me how to—”

“Don’t get that close to me again.”

Shades paused mid-sentence, quickly tilting his head slightly in confusion. He blinked just once—and that was enough for Sonic to compare him to the most adorable kitten of the century.

“What? What did I do?”

Hypnotized him with your beautiful eyes! 

Made him question everything in a matter of seconds!

Sonic cleared his throat loudly, suddenly feeling an urgent need to change the subject. His emerald eyes landed on the first image at the top of the page.

“Forget it.” He forced a smile. “Let’s make cookies.”

Shades let out a curious little sound when he heard the other one speak.

“Weren’t we going to make the strawberry shortcake?”

“It’s too complicated. Besides, Amy likes these too,” he said quickly, almost as if reciting a tongue twister.

Shades’ gaze fell on the same photo. Some classic chocolate chip cookies and a few others with rainbow sprinkles, covered in white icing.

The ebony figure leaned in slightly to get a better look at the dessert. Sonic held his breath, making sure this time to give him his space in a very subtle way.

“Aah! That’s what someone eats at teatime! But then, won’t we have to make tea, too?”

Sonic set the book down on the counter, sighing with his eyes tightly shut.

“We’ll see.”

His plan—which would have revived his vanity and served as the perfect hook to impress Shades with his deep understanding of Amy’s tastes—went down the drain. Stupid Sonic.

Well, never mind. The cookies are delicious. Anything is better than that culinary monstrosity called strawberry shortcake.

Yuck.

Shades set the stick of butter on the counter, placing it next to the flour, sugar, and various baking tools. Sonic arrived with a stainless steel bowl, picked up the cookbook, and placed it on the acacia wood stand. Once the recipe was spread wide open, Sonic cleared his throat, glancing sideways at Shades as he absentmindedly played with his fingers.

“Okay, I’m going to read you the instructions, since I assume you know how to follow orders…” he muttered.

Shades lifted his head immediately, snapping out of his brief reverie and nodding automatically. Of course—he was created to take orders from a maniac. Sonic hurried to recite the first few lines.

“You have to use the 225 grams of flour with the sugar, a pinch of salt, and a teaspoon of baking soda. We’ll need more—how many of us are here? Me, Tails, Chris… Ugh, never mind, we’ll make plenty.”

He quickly arranged the ingredients he’d mentioned in a horizontal row.

“We’ll mix the dry ingredients first, then add the wet ones, mix again, and add the chocolate chips… mix again, let it rest, prepare the frosting, preheat the oven, and in the meantime…”

Shades blinked in slow motion, taking in all the information Sonic was firing at him like a freestyle rap; the other’s voice faded into the background. Frozen in place, he looked at the ingredients, then at Sonic’s mouth as he rattled off more instructions, then at the book, following it to the bowl, and…

“Here, fill this cup with flour three times.”

Shades jumped slightly, cupping his hands out of pure instinct. He glanced over the measuring cup, nodding weakly at his companion’s remark about going to look for the mixer. Without further ado, he rolled up the somewhat baggy sleeves of his wool sweater and approached the bowl where they would make the first mixture: chocolate chip cookies.

The sigh that escaped his nose hinted at the insecurity squeezing his chest. A dessert—it was just making a dessert for dinner. Why on earth was his heart hammering against his ribs as if he were the next harmless prey of the king of the jungle?

“Calm down, you'll do fine...” 

The back of his knuckles brushed against the steel bowl as he took a tiny step back. No, that wasn’t right. His crimson eyes drifted to the medium paper bag sitting among the other ingredients, waiting to be noticed.

Right, the first step.

He stretched his left arm toward the flour.

The kitchen had open windows that allowed the evening breeze to slip through, delicate and considerate as it traced comforting caresses along the fur of his cheeks. He tore the flour bag open with a sudden yank, scaring himself a little by his own action. He scolded himself mentally. At that moment, the melodic chirping of a bird reached his left ear, making it perk up by inertia.

He slowly turned his face, finding a mockingbird on the windowsill, tilting its head in fascination toward him. A smile tugged at the corner of his lip, and he forgot about the bag for a moment to bring his free hand closer, curling his fingers. The bird fluttered its wings, leaning slightly on the ledge. Shades persisted, closing the distance, leaning his own body forward as well.

But his ear twitched back when he heard the metallic clatter of utensils, like pairs of forks and knives being rummaged through inside a drawer.

“Where are you, mixer?” Sonic sung to the air, his torso leaning against the drawer as he sorted through the hundreds of pairs of knives, forks, ladles, and other utensils inside. “Does Ella seriously mix everything with her stew spoon? What a nightmare…”

Shades turned his head back—always the curious one—and as a result, he gasped in fright when the paper bag tipped over on the counter. He spun around quickly; the bird fled in fear. With his eyes wide open, a white explosion erupted, and seconds later, he witnessed the most absurd, mocking domino effect he thought he’d ever see: the heavy bag knocked over the vanilla extract bottle—which, as it happened, was loosely capped—and it fell onto the carton of eggs, which, sure enough, was open. The red lid flew off. The impact sent the eggs flying, who knows where, and the bottle, rolling across the counter, took the glass of brown sugar with it.

The flour ended up spilled everywhere except in the cup.

Shades coughed, waving his hand to clear the air.

“Oh, shoot!” he gasped in a panicked squeak.

Alarmed, he brought his hand to his mouth, then nervously glanced behind him. The blue spikes were diving into another drawer. Back to the task at hand, Shades slid his hands quickly across the surface, sweeping the flour toward him in a circular motion, completely ignoring the liquid trail of vanilla.

“The cup, the cup…” he muttered quickly, lowering the measuring cup to waist level to dump the falling flour directly into it.

He used the edge of his hand as a shovel. Luckily, his gloves had always been white.

“Finally!” The exasperated voice sounded behind him.

Shades slammed the flour-covered object down just in time. Because of the speed and excessive force of the action, it splattered the other ingredients. His hand wouldn’t be enough to wipe away all the remaining white specks.

“Can you believe the only mixer is gathering dust in the most inconspicuous drawer possible? And it’s not even electric! I wonder if they use coffee spoons to…”

The sarcastic tone faded as soon as Sonic took in the mess in the once-neat space. Of course he noticed the traces of flour; the dark wood counter didn't help either. He could even have sworn there was more scattered on the floor.

And, of course, part of the overwhelming evidence of what had happened was the ebony hedgehog himself.

The fuchsia-pink sweater that Amy had lent him—or given him; at this point, it was practically his—looked as if it had flour sprinkled all over it. And not just his clothes—his dark snout and eyes, almost his entire face, were covered in white. Shades carefully climbed down from the stool, his smile wavering once he stood still in front of Sonic.

“Heh… I already filled the cup.”

Sonic really wanted to understand how that white powder had managed to get everywhere, from Shades' ears all the way to the quills on his head...

Shades blinked to brush the white powder off his eyelashes, looking like a ghost on edge.

Sonic, his eyes wide and his mouth half-open, shifted his gaze between the powder-covered hedgehog and the cup overflowing with flour. The vanilla jar was weeping its contents, and the carton of eggs was empty.

“Ah…”

He couldn’t even finish forming a word when a yellow sphere fell right before his eyes. Sonic looked up, confirming that it was the egg yolk that had risen only to shatter against the ceiling.

The dark ears flattened against Shades’ head.

For a moment, Sonic wanted to laugh. He wanted to tease him, maybe use Amy’s ridiculous nickname. But when he looked at Shades, he felt his chest tighten. It wasn’t just irritation. It was that same dizzying, warm sensation he felt when Amy looked at him with those starry eyes. Seeing Shades’ flushed face beneath the white powder, Sonic realized with a jolt of panic that he was completely out of his element. When the first sign came, he’d tried to ignore it, but now…

“I’m sorry, I’ll—I’ll clean it up right away.” Shades’ words stumbled out.

Damn it.

With a heavy, defeated sigh, Sonic shook his head, raising his hand to signal not to worry about it. Resigned, he picked up the bottle—now half empty—grabbed the measuring cup, and used his finger to push the mound of excess flour back into the bag, pouring the rest into the bowl.

“Don’t worry, it’s fine…” Sonic looked down at the flour-strewn floor. “It was an accident, right?”

The corners of Shades’ mouth drooped; the trickle of vanilla extract sliding off the edge was beginning to form a tiny puddle a few centimeters from his paws.

“Yeah,” he said, barely audibly.

Sonic grabbed a damp rag and began scrubbing the countertop, aggressively avoiding eye contact, since his own face was burning too. And to think he’d previously considered intentionally giving Shades a difficult chore, perhaps in the hope of ruining that perfect image Amy was so smitten with. What an idiot.

Lost in his thoughts, Shades could see, out of the corner of his eye, the blue streaks coming and going. The murmur of water, the opening and closing of cabinets, and the electric hum of the refrigerator went on for a few seconds before he looked up, only to be greeted by a clean countertop with a row of new ingredients neatly arranged in their original positions. Sonic had made it so everything was as if nothing had happened.

A pent-up sigh escaped the cobalt hedgehog once he had the bowl of flour in front of him, mechanically pouring in the other dry ingredients. He reached for the wooden hand whisk after arranging the last three eggs that, by some miracle, were still in the fridge. He set one aside for later.

“Sonic?”

The measured voice cut through the silence. Sonic didn’t stop beating the uneven mixture.

“Yes? Grab a towel, Shadsy—you’ve got half a bakery on your forehead.”

Shades didn’t reach for a towel. Instead, he kept his hands clenched at the hem of his sweater, waiting for the exact moment Sonic finished mixing. He wasn’t brave enough to meet the gaze of the eyes now watching him.

“Are you mad?”

Sonic, who had finished whisking just as it took him to circle the continent three times, slowly removed the utensil from the bowl and set it aside. He looked closely at Shades for a moment, reaching at the same time for the butter container.

“I know you don’t want me here,” Shades continued softly. There was no anger in his voice, just a factual observation. “You and Amy are fighting for some reason. And you’re uncomfortable with me because… I’m here, invading your space. I can leave if my presence bothers you. I do not wish to make things difficult for you.”

Sonic’s hand froze halfway there.

The words hit him like a punch to the stomach. Shades wasn't oblivious at all. He’d picked up on every ounce of his tense, territorial, and deeply confused energy—he just hadn’t understood why. Sonic parted his lips, hesitating to choose his words. It wasn’t just the confrontation that surprised him; it was the sudden, overwhelming warmth that rushed in to replace his previous anxiety.

When he thought about a scenario where he’d have to be in a situation like that, alongside Shades, that pang of anxiety would surface, just as the other hedgehog had said. But now… Now why was he overcome by a feeling that contradicted those previous ones?

Sonic looked at the tattered rag on the edge of the cabinet, just a few centimeters from falling off, his throat suddenly dry. As he recalled his own behavior over the last half hour—the dismissive comments, the smug attitude, the hidden jealousy—Sonic finally opened his eyes. He wasn’t angry at Shades for being a clone, nor was he angry at Amy for wanting a date. He’d been devastated because they’d taken away his title as the master of the house, the natural center of attention he’d always had—a selfish need he’d never seen as a problem until now.

It was unthinkable for him to acknowledge jealousy in himself, but that single phrase alone made him realize just how transparent his emotions had been. Shades believed that Sonic simply hated him.

He clenched his fists.

As if that weren't enough, at that very moment he realized, to his embarrassment, another fact that he had been trying to hide like trying to blot out the sun with a single finger:

He was just a coward who didn't know how to deal with the fact that his heart was suddenly pulling him in two opposite directions.

His sweet friend, who’s always got his back.

The whimsical hedgehog who bore no resemblance to his former rival, except for his appearance.

In the end, the mental fog wouldn’t be caused by Shades’ presence but by the extreme confusion he was going through.

“Shades.”

Shades didn’t react immediately to the call. Still, he noticed the other hedgehog step down from the stool and stop in front of him. He flinched when a warm hand rested on one of his shoulders, feeling his throat tighten as he heard Sonic’s voice speaking to him gently.

“You’re not a bother.”

The fingers eased their pressure on the hem of his sweater.

“I’m sorry if my behavior made you feel that way.” Sonic kept his eyes locked on the other’s. “It’s just that I… The reason I…”

He pressed his lips together.

Damn it, Sonic, how can you be this pathetic?

He swallowed hard.

“I’m... I’m the one who’s been acting immature here. You’re not a burden.”

He hated how hypocritical his words sounded. However, the truth was that he didn’t hate him. Everything that had made him get annoyed when he was around him had been driven by nothing but insecurity and jealousy.

In truth, he’d rarely felt jealous. And the times he had were only over trivial things. Like this one.

Was he jealous of how well Shades got along with the others? Was he jealous because Amy claimed him as her boyfriend? Whatever the reason, it didn’t justify his condescension.

His friends would always be there for him, no matter what, even if he sometimes reluctantly agreed to do them favors or spend his ample free time with them. Amy had reserved her heart for the right moment—when he was ready to make his feelings official. But when would that be? Maybe Sonic didn’t want Shades around at first because, to him, Shades was the embodiment of what he longed to have.

The cobalt hedgehog felt a wave of relief when he saw those sparkling, watery eyes meet his own.

“Immature? But… I’m the clumsy one, not you—”

“That’s personal stuff, ’kay? It’s beside the point,” he said hastily, clearly not wanting to get into all the details. “Not now. I just apologized because… well, I realized I was being a total idiot...”

Sonic scratched the back of his neck, hidden by his long quills. Both hedgehogs looked embarrassed for different reasons. He sighed, completely shaking off the bitterness from a moment ago, and then gave Shades a friendly pat on the shoulder.

“Anyway, I’m not mad.” Sonic stepped back, creating some space between them as he held the metal bowl in one hand. “C’mon, don’t think you’ve gotten out of doing the work!”

Shades remained silent, staring at him.

Sonic’s big smile threatened to falter. Those sweet eyes could cut through him like daggers if they wanted to.

The ebony hedgehog wiped his face with his own sweater. When the garment fell back into place and his face was revealed, Sonic noticed that wide, shy smile that disrupted the rhythmic beat of his overwhelmed heart.

Shades chuckled.

“What should I do now?”

The kitchen seemed wrapped in a suspended calm, held by the tranquil silence that filled the room. A soft melody, which at first had been little more than an imperceptible background hum, kept time with the steady rhythm of Shades stirring the mixture. Neither of them knew how many minutes had passed since the delicate veil of mutual tension had finally lifted. There was a clock hanging on the wall behind them, but neither bothered to check it; they simply let that comforting feeling linger.

“The letter ‘A’ followed by ‘R’ is pronounced ‘AR.’”

Sonic rested his chin on the palm of his right hand while using the other to point at the word written on the yellowed page.

“‘Su... gar’?” Shades sounded it out, giving his full attention to the instructions of his newfound teacher.

“Whoa, you learn fast!”

Shades smiled with complete self-assurance. To pass the time while the two mixtures were coming together, Sonic couldn’t think of a better idea than to teach that hedgehog to read right here and now. They were making good progress, and Shades was on a streak of sixteen words, meaning that at this rate, Cream wouldn’t have to read the stories that were supposedly meant for her anymore.

In the short time he had been staying at this house—a week, to be exact—he had learned many things that Robotnik would undoubtedly never bother to teach him. Things like the taste of food, the softness of a bed, just how loud a hedgehog can be, and that it was strictly forbidden to put your elbows and feet on the table. He had now picked up general manners; he handled cutlery like an expert and said “thank you” and “please” whenever he got the chance. He was practically just another member of this strange but fun family.

Is that what they call “belonging”? 

It felt so good.

The smile hadn’t left his face since that modern song had accompanied him as he worked the hand mixer. The singer’s vulnerable voice soothed him immensely. He didn’t know its name, but he’d recognize it as his favorite the moment he heard that exceptional guitar riff again.

Sonic couldn’t take his eyes off him. Seeing him so happy doing something as mundane as whisking until his hand cramped up—even though Shades' biology prevented him from actually getting tired—was both amusing and, to a certain extent, touching. How he hummed absentmindedly, how he quietly repeated the words as he read, how he held the bowl by its base with complete confidence, stirring at a moderate pace that bordered on slowness…

His emerald eyes drifted downward, immediately discovering the most charming surprise yet: the tail peeking out from under his sweater was wagging from side to side. Obviously, it wasn’t enough for just his face to reflect his comfort. That’s why Sonic couldn’t help but smile, sighing through his nose and raising an eyebrow, amused by it all.

Shades was oblivious to such an analysis of himself, focused entirely on his task.

“Do you think she will like it?”

The casual comment snapped Sonic out of his thoughts. He stammered nervously upon realizing the hedgehog had caught him focusing on that particular part of his body.

“Uh, will like it… who?”

Shades, for some reason, chuckled softly; the blue hedgehog’s cheeks flushed a faint pink.

“Baby Cakes!” Sonic furrowed his brow, his apologetic expression turning to one of discomfort. Was that another pet name for Amy? “Of course I think about the others too, but if I manage to bake… W-well, if we manage to bake something really delicious, she’ll be happy and won’t be upset when you ignore her again.”

Sonic blinked twice, straightening his back slightly. His expression turned serious in a matter of seconds. His gloved fingers traced the edge of the breakfast counter briefly as he pondered what had just been said. One way he and Amy differed was that she was much worse at hiding her emotions—not that she ever hid them in the first place. She always let him know just how many times he had “broken her heart” with painful hammering every time he turned down her invitation to go out. Still, the two of them were more alike than they’d care to admit.

Sonic wondered how it was that no one in that house had sensed the immense tension between the three of them—excluding Vanilla. Come on, of course Sonic knew she’d figured it out the very day their interactions were reduced exclusively to Tails and Chris.

Shades paused for a second when Sonic nimbly climbed onto the counter, sitting down and resting his left ankle on his right knee.

“Tell me something,” he began, maintaining eye contact as he folded his arms behind his back. “How do you feel about Amy?”

The question seemed to catch him off guard—well, of course, it was pretty direct. His little ears perked up, returning the same intensity to the expectant eyes.

“Well…” His gaze drifted momentarily to the thick mixture in the bowl, a subtle blush coloring his dark muzzle. He went back to what he was doing, a warm smile appearing on his face. “She’s really cute; I feel comfortable around her. She’s always kind and considerate toward me. She’s always by my side.”

Sonic paid more attention to those words than he should have, as if he could decipher a coded message that the striped hedgehog didn’t want to reveal to him. He didn’t respond the way he expected. Ugh, on top of that, he still felt that annoying discomfort whenever Shades talked like that about the pink hedgehog.

But… was it just because of her and everything that came with it?

“And don’t you think it’s weird that she’s still throwing passive-aggressive jabs my way all the time?” He looked away, his gaze landing on the clock on the back wall. “Since you two are dating…”

More than twenty minutes had passed.

As soon as he looked back, the meeting of their emerald and ruby eyes was inevitable. Sonic gulped, but Shades’ tender smile was still there—present, innocent.

“Since Amy’s been making me happy ever since I got here, I figure this is the way for me to make her happy. I don’t know what happened between the two of you, but she told me I’m a great boyfriend. I don’t want to let her down.”

Sonic tilted his head, narrowing his eyes. He nodded after a few seconds, shifting his legs so both paws were dangling.

“Got it.”

It would be stupid to keep questioning him. 

It no longer mattered why Amy had chosen Shades. It didn’t change the fact that, even though that relationship could end at any moment, nothing would really change. 

He didn’t feel capable of giving her what she wanted.

With an exhausted sigh, Sonic hopped down from the countertop and made his way to the other end in less than the blink of an eye. There, he grabbed the powdered sugar and the last lone egg waiting to be used.

He pulled over a plastic bowl to start on the icing. Just then, Shades set down his bowl, removing the mixer to run his tongue over the metal part where the mixture was stuck.

“Are you going to make that thing for the pretty cookies?”

Sonic chuckled under his breath, realizing after a moment that anything brightly colored was captivating to the striped one. He dumped in the egg white before reaching for the strainer, turning his head toward Shades with a knowing smile.

“Yeah. She deserves icing and sprinkles, doesn’t she?”

Shades nodded enthusiastically. His arm brushed against the blue-furred hedgehog as he moved closer naturally. He licked the corner of his mouth before speaking.

“Yes! All of it!”

Sonic’s smile was subtle, but Shades’ was so radiant that he inevitably succumbed to its charm, widening his own. Well, if that’s what he wanted… He wouldn’t mind making him “the best boyfriend” if, in return, he could see that smile every day.

If he couldn’t do it himself, he’d make sure Shades did.

With Sonic’s guidance, Shades spooned the cookie batter onto the baking sheets, shaping it into circles—some more misshapen than others, but still a success. The remaining frosting went into the freezer, and the ebony hedgehog decided to add a finishing touch to the baking sheet with some extra chocolate chips. Finally, they opened the oven door and slid the two trays inside. Shades stepped back slightly as the scorching heat from within brushed against his fur.

Sonic set the timer on top of the stove, stepped back, and took a few paces away. The breakfast bar was behind him, and Shades stood at his side.

“Aight, now we just have to be patient,” he said, arms behind his head as he leaned casually against the counter.

Shades nodded, mimicking Sonic’s relaxed posture, though his muscles tensed whenever Sonic glanced at him out of the corner of his eye. His right ear twitched. He wondered what to do with his hands, which were slightly sweaty beneath his gloves. He lifted his left paw, scratching his right calf with his claws. It wasn’t until his gaze dropped that he noticed a detail. He grabbed the fabric of his sweater, seeing Amy’s gift ruined by flour and cream stains that he assumed came from when he was beating the batter.

“Golly-gee!” he exclaimed, worried and with a hint of fear. Shades lifted the hem of the sweater, pursing his lips into a pout. “Ooow, how am I going to tell Amy about this?”

Sonic perked up his ears, watching him carefully. 

“Hmm, I forgot we had aprons,” he said quietly, glancing briefly at the rack where they hung. He moved just a little away from his makeshift backrest. “It’s okay, Shad, I can take it to be washed before the girls get here.”

Shades turned his head to look at him, hesitating at first, already knowing what that idea entailed. He nervously fiddled with the embroidered flower on his chest. He looked away, and Sonic raised an eyebrow when he noticed the faint blush on those cheeks. Sonic’s fingers drummed on the counter, forcing himself not to tap his foot during a mere ten-second silence. 

He certainly lacked patience for certain things.

Slowly, Shades gripped the bottom of the sweater, pulling it up until it lay crumpled across his chest. 

And… By Chaos. Sonic certainly hadn’t expected to see something like this.

He could easily picture Shadow’s appearance: black, with blood-red lines marking his body that screamed “don’t stare too long,” and, last but not least, that white fluff that clashed with his entire dark aura. However, with Shades, there was always an element of surprise.

“I know it looks bad—sorry I don’t have anything right now to cover it up,” he whispered, removing the garment completely.

No. Sonic hoped that sight wouldn’t remain hidden from now on.

Instead of a patch of thick, white fur, there was nothing. Yes, nothing—except for a large, caramel-colored heart. He’d said before that the fur had a peculiar shape. Now the volume of his chest was much more noticeable; contrary to all expectations, it looked shiny, plump, and well-defined.

The gulp that trapped itself in Sonic's throat was truly pathetic. He could have sworn that Shades heard that sound loud and clear. 

Those few seconds were enough to confirm his suspicion that, indeed, he wasn’t straight.

“Uh…” The cobalt hedgehog almost bit his own jaw off. He placed a hand on the back of his neck, his gaze fixed on Shades’ charming, delicate chest.

Holy moly! His hands were itching! Would it be soft or firm as a rock? He was betting on the former!

He’d wondered why Shades had suddenly shown up wearing a garish pink sweater, but he’d never looked for a logical reason when a thousand and one teasing comments about it had popped into his head. He was the luckiest Mobian…

Wait a second—he wasn’t the first to see that incredible treasure! In fact, he was probably one of the last! His teeth almost ground together at the thought of Amy showing off and smiling maliciously, savoring that sight as often as she pleased. Sooner or later, that jealousy would give him a stroke.

“Sonic?”

The air rushed out of his lungs like a poorly tied balloon.

“W-well, if you want to cover it up…” he mumbled, looking around with a flushed face. His ears perked up. “Use this!”

Shades closed his eyes instinctively, curling up like a cat as a strong gust of wind swept over him. He slowly opened one eye, and, before he knew it, he was already wearing an apron in almost the same shade of pink as the sweater he’d been wearing before. He opened his eyes in surprise, raising his eyebrows and glancing behind him, where a knot—barely a semblance of a decent bow—lay tied tightly around his waist.

Sonic held out his arms with a trembling frown and an uncertain smile.

“Voilà!”

Shades spun around on his heel, his face lighting up. Sonic was this close to looking away again, the hem of the apron fluttering in the air as Shades turned to look at him. 

It didn’t even cover the part that drives me crazy.

“Whose is this? I like it,” he said calmly, as if the apron had been handed right to him.

Frowning slightly, Sonic wiped his cheek with the back of his hand to see if that would make the redness go away.

“No idea… it was just there. Does that make you feel a little better?”

Shades wondered why the other hedgehog wasn’t looking him in the eye, but he didn’t think much of it, nodding with a happy shyness. Sonic copied his nod as well, letting his back slump against the edge of the counter.

The silence lingered.

Sonic, with his arms crossed, absentmindedly tapped his peach-colored forearm with his index finger, watching the cookies in the oven with intense focus, just like a soldier on the battlefield. Except that battlefield wasn't drenched in blood and gunpowder. It was one where his erratic emotions collided, causing that unbearably pleasant flutter in his stomach.

Shades, just as stiff as day-old bread, was staring off into the distance, struggling to come up with a topic of conversation that might interest the other hedgehog. Chaos… with Amy, everything was simpler; he didn’t even have to open his mouth to hear hundreds of entertaining anecdotes. Maybe if he suggested they practice reading more… No. He’d think he was a bore. Maybe if he told him about that time he and Cream found a dead pigeon in the yard… Definitely not. The burial wasn’t memorable at all.

Where had that comfortable vibe between them gone?

He took a breath, closing his eyes, exhaled silently, and his mouth opened on its own in a vague attempt to blurt out some nonsense.

However, someone beat him to it.

“So, have you kissed Amy yet?”

He paused, his mouth still open. He didn’t turn his head, but his ears twitched like satellite dishes, reacting to the sudden question. His mouth closed, and he took his time answering. 

That wasn’t a topic of conversation he would have chosen.

One of Sonic’s ears twitched as a bead of sweat rolled down his cheek. 

Why is he taking so long?!

 I screwed up, I screwed up, I screwed up, I…

“Nope.”

Sonic blinked, turning to look at him with obvious surprise. Well, if you stopped to think about it, it really wasn’t that strange. Although he did think the pink hedgehog would take that first step pretty soon.

“Hmm... I see,” he said, beginning to relax his posture.

Shades swallowed hard, slowly turning his eyes toward Sonic. The mischievous smile and that leg propped up on the furniture didn’t sit well with him.

“Didn't you…” he whispered, his eyes narrowed and an eyebrow raised ironically. “...want to be the best boyfriend? What do you mean you two haven't even shared a little peck yet, man?”

Embarrassment flooded the ebony hedgehog’s face, making him stammer for a few brief moments. He looked at Sonic with a furrowed brow, but not an angry one. That image caused an inexplicable stir within the blue-furred speedster.

“It’s not… that easy. It had never occurred to me… I mean… I know that’s what couples do, but…”

Damn, that’s cute.

Sonic didn’t need to hear any more. He laughed softly, flustering Shades, who quickly pressed his lips together.

“Okay, okay. I get it.”

He uncrossed his arms, resting his left hand on the surface of the counter while moving his right hand to his hip. Shades adjusted his posture so they were facing each other completely. He clenched his hands into fists, anxious about what Sonic now had in mind.

“It’s obvious you need help from the best in the field,” he said, his ego reaching all the way to China.

Shades raised an eyebrow. “Have you ever kissed anyone?”

“Of course.” 

Liar of the century. 

“It’s super easy, and it’s the key to showing your partner you love them. Not knowing how to do it is just as silly as thinking you’re officially married if someone gives you a Ring Pop.”

Sonic tilted his head, shaking it playfully. However, he froze when the ebony ears drooped slightly and those beautiful ruby eyes drifted hesitantly toward the floor. He really should work on that habit of his—joking around every other minute when his nerves were on edge.

He cleared his throat, turning his head to the left.

“So I guess I don’t mind giving you some advice,” he added, narrowing his eyes. The way he mumbled made it almost impossible to distinguish one syllable from the next.

Still, Shades understood him perfectly, snapping his head up like a spring. Sonic flinched slightly as Shades leaned in, his eyes shining with eagerness.

“Really?”

Sonic hesitated before nodding. The striped one took a step back. “What should I do?”

The cobalt speedster's dusty brain churned like an industrial machine. He bit his lip. Remember, remember… What happened in that cliché romantic series they aired without fail every afternoon?

“First…” He raised his index finger. “You have to know when a girl wants to be kissed.”

Shades tilted his head. “How do I know a girl wants to be kissed?”

“Y'knoow,” Sonic said cockily, leaning forward to rest his chin on his hand, “she’ll give you signs.”

Shades’ hands went to his apron, clutching it as he mimicked the tilt of Sonic’s torso.

“What kind of signs?” he asked, the tremor in his voice becoming increasingly evident.

“Well, it’s all about body language, buddy.”

Shades thought about it hesitantly, nodding slowly, but their eye contact broke again. Sonic let out a nasal laugh, shaking his head.

“Look, another sign is making a lot of eye contact. They’ll always seek you out that way.”

Sonic touched the ebony shoulders, squeezing them subtly. This worked like a charm, causing the crimson eyes to remain fixed on the emerald ones. Sonic sensed the tension in the other hedgehog, who was staring at him like a deer caught in the headlights.

“She’ll probably lean in toward you—maybe even touch you…”

If it weren’t for his gloves, Shades’ hands would be slipperier than the butter that had been melting on the counter.

“Then she’ll part her lips slightly and close her eyes…”

Shades' gaze drifted lower and lower… until it met Sonic's parted lips. He swallowed hard.

“Aaand that’s when you go in for the kill.”

He finished speaking in that quiet, private tone, encouraging him with a few pats on the shoulder.

“All clea—?”

He was cut off mid-sentence when the other hedgehog lunged at him, pressing their lips against his in a clumsy, abrupt, and warm kiss.

Sonic turned as white as a sheet.

His heart leapt.

Shades gripped his peach-colored arms firmly, closing his eyes tightly as he kept their lips pressed together; they weren’t even intertwined. Sonic’s fingers trembled, suspended in the air with absolutely no idea where to move his hands. His eyes seemed ready to pop out of their sockets, his quills bristling, and his fur standing on end. It was a cold, electric current that jolted him from his heels to the nape of his neck, and the moment those dark lips made the slightest movement, the fog of shock cleared from his mind.

He shoved Shades in the chest; Shades’ eyes flew wide in shock. Both of them were gasping for breath, their irises restless and faces flushed as red as ripe tomatoes. Shades knew immediately that he’d screwed up big time.

“Dude, what are you kissin’ me for!?” Sonic shrieked, furrowing his brows.

Shades shook his head rapidly. 

“I-I don’t know, I thought I was reading the signs!” he stammered, looking terrified.

The deathly silence around them made them hear their racing hearts pounding in their ears. The pounding gave the striped one a headache, and he moved far away from the other, like magnets repelling each other.

Sonic lowered his gaze, running his fingers over his mouth, afraid of the warmth that still lingered and the unease burning in his chest. When he looked up again, Shades had his back turned to him, shrugging his shoulders and covering his face.

“Sorry, sorry, sorry. I’m an idiot. I shouldn’t have… n-no…” He dragged out the vowels, his voice muffled by the pressure of his hands.

The blue figure watched him in his emerging crisis while regulating his own breathing. Thousands of thoughts raced through his mind. Shades’ loud gasps reached Sonic’s ears, making them twitch. The sole of his boot scraped across the floor before coming to a stop, hesitating for a few seconds.

“Shades, don’t worry. I-it’s no biggie.”

He mumbled something unintelligible as the ebony ears slumped. He reached out a hand, only to lower it again. He swallowed hard, his throat burning.

Here he is, apologizing once again.

“I actually l-lied to you…” he admitted, watching the other’s back react to the comment.

Someone please bring a saw to cut through a silence this thick.

Sonic laughed nervously, wiggling his fingers along the sides of his thighs.

“That… That was my first kiss. I guess you could say we’re in the same boat, right?” he said, his voice full of shyness, scratching the back of his neck involuntarily.

He hoped the constant hum of the oven behind him would give him courage; it was as if its heat were penetrating the metal to settle on his back, his chest, and, at this point, his entire body. Sweat trickled down his temple; the fact that it was summer only made it worse.

He straightened up when Shades’ head turned, revealing a look of horror that threw him off balance. His eyes misted over and his restless hands dropped.

“Oh dear… I took your first kiss.”

Sonic’s shoulders slumped along with his ears, and he let out a sudden sigh upon realizing he’d only made things worse. He hurried over to the hedgehog, shaking his head repeatedly as his hands fluttered back and forth in agitation.

“No, no, no. I mean… Yes, but that doesn't matter! It doesn’t bother me at all!” he stammered, turning Shades’ whole body so he’d look him in the eyes. “I know it was just an impulse.”

He sniffled, wrinkling his nose and shrugging his shoulders as Sonic held him by the arms.

“And it’s understandable, isn’t it? I’m a total, irresistible hottie. You should feel lucky to be the first to taste these lips—Amy would be dying of jealousy!”

A smirk played on the blue hedgehog’s snout. He always had to lighten the mood with silly comments, taking the seriousness out of everything. Sonic’s smug expression froze when he saw Shades’ slight frown. Darn it, he shouldn’t have mentioned Amy, right? 

Of course, what else could happen? Now he’d reminded him that he’d also missed the chance of a lifetime to have his first kiss with the pink hedgehog.

He waited nervously for Shades to say something, scrutinizing him with his eyes. His hands slowly slid down his striped arms. Sonic resumed his half-hearted chuckle, risking letting more words slip from his shameless mouth. However, an amused snort made him prick up his ears and notice the incredulous smile.

“Amy will chase you until you’re left without any quills.”

Sonic sighed in relief, slowly joining Shades' low laughter. He inhaled slowly, exhaling through his nose at the same pace. He encouraged the other to copy him, and in a moment they were already controlling their irregular breathing with a breathing exercise.

“Not if she doesn’t find out,” he whispered playfully, unconsciously wiping away the tiny droplet of moisture that escaped from the crimson eyes.

They stared at each other for seconds that seemed to stretch on without a clear end. Both their chests rose and fell in sync. They lost themselves in each other’s color and features, as if anchored to that spot, waiting for something. But what? 

Why didn’t his heart follow the same rhythm as his breath?

“I think I should check on the cookies,” Sonic said in a low voice, trying to turn his head behind him.

“Can I try again?”

“Huh?” He turned back to him in a flash, raising his eyebrows in surprise.

“The… um… kissing you. Just to practice and…”

Sonic had understood from the first hint. He swallowed again. His throat felt parched. First he looked at the yearning ruby eyes, then at the slightly hidden lips. He sighed through his nose, straightening his posture slightly.

“Alright.”

He felt a rush of dizziness as the other’s face leaned in slowly, parting his lips while the breath from his nose made him close his eyes in anticipation. Sonic could swear his cheeks flushed a crimson red as he struggled not to look nervous. He couldn’t see a thing. Because of the heat, he dismissed the idea that Shades had abandoned him like a pathetic fool. And then he felt it; those tender lips embraced his with exceptional care, pausing there, waiting for the signal to continue.

His mind went blank.

He raised his hands, resting them for a moment on the dark shoulders, and continued upward, caressing the bristling spikes with the backs of his fingers. They ended at the face, tenderly cupping the warm cheeks. Sonic helped deepen the moment, intertwining their lips with gentle, measured movements that wouldn’t rush things. Sonic probed in his own mind, tilting his head as he recalled that overly sappy scene from the show—one that, for some strange reason, he could never take his eyes off once it appeared on screen.

Shades also felt the need to keep his hands busy, running them up to Sonic’s shoulders. Sonic's heartbeat thundered as if his heart were about to burst from his chest, but it didn’t hurt like it had a moment ago—though he did fear the other might hear it. He smiled amid the kiss. Chaos—this whole situation was unthinkable even for him. He wondered if Shades felt the same way.

The contact grew slightly damp, and when air escaped from their nostrils at the same time, the soft click of their lips was the only sound heard as they pulled apart.

Slowly, clarity returned, and he focused his gaze on the blushing hedgehog, with silent emotion and dilated pupils. He peered over to see the appendage behind Shades moving from side to side. He chuckled softly with a mischievous smile.

“Hey, not bad for your—”

The brief flash blinded him, causing him to quickly shield his eyes with his forearm. He blinked in utter disbelief, slowly lowering his arm only to be surprised to find that the other hedgehog had vanished from the kitchen.

He looked around, taking a step back.

“Shades?”

His ears picked up a dull thud on the ceiling. He looked up, assuming it had come from upstairs.

“Had he…?”

A fleeting memory of his fox friend telling him about the analytical studies of Shades’ body popped into his head. Shades was a clone of Shadow, but there were vast differences between them; basically, they were two beings who only shared part of the DNA of that exotic species. What was its name…? Black Arms? The point was, Tails concluded that Shades did not have absolute control over his powers. Abilities like Chaos Control and its derivatives would be difficult for him to use without external stimuli.

Sonic exhaled through his mouth, rubbing his hand across his face, then along the crease between his ears, smoothing down the occasional stray spike.

“What a weird day…” he muttered, a broad smile spreading across his face.

Upstairs, Shades' feet stumbled over the edge of the bed, and he fell like a sack of potatoes onto the fluffy pillows. His arms automatically wrapped around the nearest one—an elongated pillow half the length of the bed—burying his face in it. His calves dangled, and his ears were flattened against his head.

Not a day went by when Amy’s room didn’t smell good.

He inhaled deeply from the pillowcase, flaring his nostrils, then exhaled as if he were shedding the most suffocating weight from his lungs. He settled in more comfortably, pulling his whole body up onto the mattress. He pulled his knees up to his chest and wrapped himself around the pillow, clinging to it with all his limbs. His frantic heartbeat seemed to merge with the pillow, and his open eyes, shining in the dim light, gazed at the wall with a few pictures hanging on it and a not-too-tall bookshelf holding all sorts of things.

Shades let out an exhausted groan. He was about to close his eyes, but flashes of what had happened just a moment ago forced him to keep them open. He sighed raggedly, clutching the pillow tightly in his arms.

“Forgive me.”

The raucous laughter echoing through the living room spread to Vanilla, who was walking past the armchair where a white-furred bat had shed any semblance of sophistication and mischief, kicking her legs and flapping her wings in response to her companion’s recent joking remark about a piece of gossip. Rouge and Topaz were sitting in the plush green armchairs, sharing a cup of tea after having enjoyed a feast fit for the gods. Knuckles, seated in the single armchair with his ceramic mug carefully in hand, rolled his eyes at the bat’s hyena-like cackle.

The book covered Tails’ face, and he turned a deaf ear to the lengthy chatter floating beside him. His eyebrows shot up in disbelief when a shadow fell across the pages. He glanced behind him as he dropped the book into his lap. He furrowed his brow, noticing out of the corner of his eye that the others remained in their same positions.

“Huh?” he exclaimed in a loud whisper.

For a moment, he thought he caught a glimpse of a spider’s silhouette, sending a chill down his spine. 

He was still too young to lose his mind.

“How can he be so stupid?” said Rouge, referring to the interesting conversation, theatrically wiping away a tiny tear.

“I know. How embarrassing,” added the human.

“This woman…” muttered Knuckles, shaking his head in disapproval. He took a sip of his chamomile tea, wondering to himself where that particular ebony hedgehog might be. 

Something in his brain chemistry had changed since then.

Vanilla made her way to the kitchen, setting the dirty dishes down next to the sink. She glanced for a moment at Ella, who was washing dishes while singing and swaying her hips, and then looked at the blue hedgehog eating an apple with his legs crossed on the dining room table.

Sonic had his signature arm behind his head, leaning back carefree against the chair’s backrest. He took a bite of the apple, swinging his foot as he listened to the lively chatter in the living room. Maybe later he’d go over to bother Knuckles.

“It’s great that you’re free, Sonic.”

Sonic jumped, nearly spitting out what he was chewing, as the bags thudded onto the table like sacks of cement; the uncollected glass cups clinked dangerously. He quickly put his feet down, flashing a nervous smile.

“Nilly! Hehe. Umm… What exactly for?” he asked, sounding a bit muffled by the food in his mouth.

“Amy left her shopping at the entrance; go take them to her before I keep them for myself,” she remarked casually, sending a final shiver down the cobalt hedgehog's spine as her eyes dropped to where his feet had been resting.

“Y-yeah. Right away…”

Vanilla turned around with a smile. Sonic exhaled the air he’d been holding in his lungs, finishing off the apple in one resigned bite.

On the second floor, warm light and murmurs seeped under the door.

The pink hedgehog stood in front of the full-length mirror, turning slightly with a look of uncertainty.

“Do you think white heels look better on me, or black ones?”

Shades played with his quills, trying to see if he could style his bangs so they wouldn’t block his view. They looked at each other through the mirror. Amy was modeling the white shoes, one hand on her hip. She wore a dark purple dress that left one shoulder bare. It fell just above her knees, shimmering in the room’s light; the fine quality of the silk gave the illusion of sequins.

“The white ones look great on you,” he said, turning his attention back to his quills.

Amy sighed softly through her nose, unfastening the straps on her heels and placing them next to the black ones. Shades noticed her approaching from behind, and his breath caught when she gave him a chaste kiss on the cheek. She reached for the comb, running her fingers over his upright spikes, unaware of the emotional turmoil her touch caused the ebony hedgehog.

“Wow, they’re growing fast,” she remarked, gently running the comb through the red and black strands.

Shades squeezed his eyelids shut, shooing away the intrusive thoughts as a relaxing tingle spread through his head. He tilted his head slightly, watching Amy brush his quills with a calm expression.

“I like it this way.”

A cozy silence filled the room. Amy deliberately left a few red spikes sticking out, then combed them back when she realized she didn’t like how they looked. One of her favorite things to do was experiment with quill styles for her boyfriend. Her little nose twitched as she sniffed intently, discovering that the soft scent of conditioner had permeated the dark strands after a much-needed shower. 

“So, are we going to have our romantic date?” she asked, breaking the silence as she adjusted the angle of the quills at the bottom.

Shades hummed softly, his eyes closed by now.

“I already agreed—I can’t back out now.”

Amy rolled her eyes, smiling as she gave him a little tug. Shades hissed, opening one eye with an amused expression.

“Hey! You sound like I’m pointing a gun at you!” she pointed out, her tone clearly playful.

For a moment, her gaze fell on the pink apron lying on the edge of the dressing table. Had Vanilla been here? 

She ignored it, pausing with the comb to run her fingers over the soft quills.

“But do you really want to go, Shades? One hundred percent sure?” she asked again.

A twinge in his chest bothered him. His girlfriend’s soft, hopeful voice brought back that exasperating guilt. He opened his eyes, feeling the unease wash over him as their eyes met in the mirror. He parted his lips; just seeing her like that made his stomach clench. He’d tell her. He couldn’t stand it another minute.

“Amy, I—”

The constant knocking on the door pulled them both out of their bubble. Amy set the comb down on the vanity and turned to open the door. Shades had to bite the inside of his cheek.

“Yeah?”

Her smile faded when she saw the figure standing in the doorway. 

“Hey, Ames.”

Sonic was holding the handles of two bags in each hand, clearly out of breath, and set them down on the floor. They were damn heavy. On the stairs, he’d given up on dragging them, since the jostling on each step might damage what was inside. So he’d practically juggled the four bags, blocking his field of vision. Be grateful he was considerate.

He noticed the shiny dress the pink hedgehog was wearing and had to fight like crazy not to swallow hard. Was that the very dress that started all this?... Good thing he kept his initial complaints to himself.

And by sheer luck, he didn't look down.

“These are yours.” He held them out to her, smiling kindly.

Amy rested her hand on the doorframe, thinking of the cosmetics and clothes she’d bought at that trendy store where she’d spent her entire life’s savings.

“Oooh, right,” she blurted out, shifting her gaze between the shopping bags and the stiff hedgehog in the hallway. 

Sonic's emerald eyes slowly drifted away, and he tilted his head to peek inside. He recoiled when Amy leaned against the doorframe, judging him with her arms crossed.

“How did it go with Shades in the kitchen, hmm?”

Alarm bells went off in Sonic’s head. The tightness in his chest begged him to get out of this, but the comment brought up a topic that was still on his mind. He smiled sidelong, resting his arm on the same side of the doorframe.

“Well, as you saw, it went great,” he said, noting her raised eyebrow. “The cookies turned out so good that not even a crumb was left.”

Amy nodded suspiciously, squinting as she hummed. Sonic stood there, frozen, his mask of confidence almost slipping and his arm growing tired; even with all that posturing, he wouldn’t let go of the bags. Amy scrutinized him for another second, focusing on any false move. She snorted, snatching the bags from the blue hedgehog.

“Thanks for bringing them, Sonic,” she said sweetly.

He stepped back from the doorway, blinking several times as his hands suddenly found themselves empty. When Sonic saw her walk away, he grew anxious, opening and closing his mouth as he searched for the right words.

“Wait. Amy, can we—”

His nose bumped against the door. Amy slammed it shut right in his face with her foot, sighing regretfully once she turned back to the room. Maybe this dynamic between them had already reached a childish and immature level. But she really wasn’t in the mood to listen to him.

She carried all four bags with one hand, jostling them until she set them down on the bed, the mattress sinking slightly. Shades turned toward her, tilting his head curiously as soon as he spotted them.

“What’s that?”

“What I bought while you were busy baking cookies.”

Shades sat up straight in the velvet chair, his little tail twitching at the mere thought of what kind of things his girlfriend had bought.

“Oh, by the way, what were you going to tell me?” Amy asked, rummaging through the pink-and-white-striped bags.

The smile faltered on his face as he stared at a fixed point. His hand clenched the back of the chair, and his tail kept wagging, though now driven by a sense of unease. Amy turned to face him, her gaze full of enthusiasm.

Maybe it wasn’t the best moment.

“No, nothing.” He smiled weakly.

Amy tilted her head, but the flurry of curiosity was fleeting. She raised her hands, showing him two mismatched outfits: a red long-sleeved blouse with black lace trim and a matching knee-length skirt. Another fuchsia-pink blouse with a star design in the center and a pair of mostly white sweatpants with stripes in the same color.

“Well, look what I’ve got for you, Shadsy! Cheer up, because we’re not leaving here until we look di-vi-ne.”

Shades chuckled under his breath, his face lighting up immediately.

Was it worth dropping that bombshell when her aura was already as bright as the sun?

Was it worth it when he finally had comfort without worrying about “what people will say”?

No, he didn’t want to ruin it.

He could bury it for a little while longer.

.

.

.