Chapter Text
He closed his eyes for moment, him and Sonic finally came to stop after racing up to the tippy top of one of newest hills they had yet to venture too, it became of habit of there’s after a while of merely sparing and running around each other they began changing the pace moving from racing through trails, to racing to the top of hills although it started as just a competition it became something more a more friendly something, where now the two ranked which hill had the best view at the top and this hill was definitely a top contender, from the lushish green that graced the top to the flowers surrounding it and an old willow tree with just the perfect amount of coverage to not block the view of the hill whether you stood under or sat under it,to the splendid scent of the wild flowers
Yes this one had to be easily be one of shadows favorites so as he closed his eyes to bask in its beauty fully, a note of lemongrass hit his nose and he heard Sonic speak again he himself silent for a moment merely enjoying the view but clearly ready to ruin the peace in the quiet “so… what are we rating this one Shadow?” His voice was quiet at the least as he spoke, it almost seemed like he was bothered about breaking the peace but knowing the blue hedgehog he doubted it
“Hm.. ten”
“Ten!” The blue hedgehog exclaimed a little louder making Shadow flinch slightly as he heard a small chuckle come from Sonic “wow that’s the highest rating you’ve given Shads I’m surprised”
Shadow opened his eyes to look at the hedgehog next to him despite now being somewhat annoyed he still found himself still relaxed in this moment “and what would you rate this space?” Because despite himself he was curious of what Sonic thought, he watched Sonic as he looked out beyond the hill his eyes in thought as they reflected the orange and pink hues in the sky, the sun had begun to set, a small breeze blowing his quills slightly and shadow caught the smell of lemongrass hitting his nose again
Sonic hummed finally glancing towards shadow “one and an zero!” he said a bit of dramatic flare as he commented apparent in his voice and as he gazed at shadow he found himself reciprocating the eye contact and for a moment or two they stayed like that it was only when Sonic showed a rather soft smile that Shadows guts decided they couldnt handle the eye contact as he looked away to look at anything but the hedgehog beside him
“Yeah I definitely like this one a lot..” he heard Sonic speak softly before letting the space be filled with silence once again, except for the sound of nature rustling from the wind and distant bird calls, there was something about how Sonic said those last words that.. felt like there was something else he was commenting on, And Shadow found if he was to comment on anything else he would find beauty in this place it would be something blue and maybe.. besides the grass,the clovers,the leaves and vines.. something green
He stepped into the slightly hidden entrance of his home or rather.. his cave, shadow found no purpose in needing another place seeing as all he does in his home was.. eat,sleep and those two things weren’t a constant thing at most he took time to think and have time to himself , and right now its purpose was to think and there was definitely something prodding him, Sonic
Ever since his relationship with him.. shifted he hasn’t been able to pinpoint his exact feelings regarding his ex-rival, he had to admit he had been enjoying what their relationship was they still ran together,spared together it was all just more.. gentle than it once was, the punches lacking the aggression they once held now had concern if they left a bruise, there races fully meaning to one up the other and prove a point now down to simply letting out energy and stress as they typically ran next to one another now
And today he could feel that shift stirring within him something so.. different about how they stood together even, he let out a yawn, odd he isnt usually so exhausted maybe that run had worn him a bit more than he thought? The two have been at it for a few days both of them, moreso Sonic being excited to find a new area and some of those areas took them miles and miles from the main city
He supposed he should rest rather than push himself to keep mulling over pointless feelings, he has plenty of time to do so tomorrow after all, so laying in a little corner of his cave in a neatly placed futon, taking his shoes off and gloves he laid his head down and as he listened to the ambiences of the cave the way there was water slowly dripping somewhere within and the echoes of crickets from outside a cliche owl hooting in the distance, he was convinced like most nights he choose too, that sleep would be a difficult task but as he thought about the day a vision of the blue hedgehog passing by and the memory of lemongrass hitting his nose, his face relaxing, body losing its tension he found his consciousness drift away as he finally fell asleep
The sound of his communicator going off is what woke him up, he groaned clicking the communicator to mute it before shifting trying to be lured back into sleep and just as he thought he found himself falling,falling he heard the annoying ringing of his communicator go off again, clearly whoever was trying to get his attention wasn’t going to back down, he let out a long deep and heavy sigh with a growl mixed it and reluctantly picked up the call “What.” he answered not caring for pleasantries as this person was determined to disrupt his much needed rest
“Oh wow someones grumpy” a feminine sassy voice answered, Rouge of course its Rouge Shadow thought to himself
“What do you want?” not really caring to talk his body felt heavy and groggy and he really just wanted to keep sleeping while his body was so eager too, can you blame him he doesnt sleep on a regular nightly basis and when he does his mind does nothing but run, if his body was willing to finally cooperate he had no argument there, “Is that really anyway to speak to your friend? Honestly here I am calling you to check up on you and your ignoring my calls and answering so rudely”
“I didnt ask you to check up on me” He stated although he knew she was being purposely dramatic he did suppose he was being a bit too aggressive so he sighed again “Is there an actual reason you're calling me?” he asked his tone more gentle this time because although Rouge did have a tendency to tease and pick at him he knew she did care about him and hea also admittedly cared for her, “Aw there you go that's better” he could practically hear the smile in her voice and he rolled his eyes
“Why yes I’m calling because your late”
He scrunched his eyebrows, late?, late for what exactly? As far as he was concerned he hadnt had anything planned today until this afternoon and he was sure he hadn’t slept till then
“What are you talking about? We weren’t meeting until noon today”
There was a pause and a noise of amusement from Rouge “And what time do you think it is Shadow?” she said another pause as Shadow pulled his communicator away from his ear and looked at the time that read: 12:23pm he stared for a minute in disbelief as he heard Rouge finally speak up again “Oh my you really hadn’t realized? Thats so unlike you” she commented her voice still laced with amusement clearly she found this whole ordeal entertaining while Shadow.. was confused because this.. Whatever this is never happened
“Im on my way” he hung up before he could let Rouge respond not really in the mood to hear her say whatever teasing comment she was bound to make as he rushed to get himself ready and awake to head over to their meeting spot
“Oh there he is!” As he got closer he caught a glimpse of a smug rouge standing with a smirk on her face and a hand on her hip and beside her a familiar blue hedgehog also smirking himself as he lifted a hand of his to wave at Shadow
“What is he doing here?” Shadow wasted no time on pleasantries already onto a bad start to his day as he could still feel his body’s heaviness and yearning to lay back down, odd not even his run over worked to wake him more and even after he slept past noon, ugh
“Hey to you too Shadow!” Sonic responded, a cheeky grin on his face as he stood by rouge, it looked like they had been standing here for a moment and for a moment he thought he could see a hint of anxiety pass Sonic’s face as he got closer that quickly disappeared and changed into his usual dumb smile and look of playfulness in his eyes
“I asked him to join me, after you didn’t come for the first few minutes I felt like I needed some backup and blue here was available” Rouge took a look at shadow her eyes looking down then up at him before commenting “Wow aren’t you a sight I’ve never seen you look so tired”
Shadow huffed at the comment that he knew was purposefully meant to bother him which it did cause Rouge was right he had hardly anytime to get himself together so he didn’t doubt his quills were slightly askew and his eyes looked heavy he tried to wash the look off his face to no avail and he hated it, if his dumb quill gel had just cooperated before he came-
“Awe give him a break shadow like never sleeps besides kind of like the new look” the comment was meant to be a partial tease but Shadow knew Rouge was going to be all over it as soon as the words left Sonic’s lips and her eyebrow quirked up
“Oh? Like it huh so what exactly do you like about it hm?” She said a flirty and inquisitive look pointed at Sonic and before Sonic could say something a look of both confusion and embarrassment hitting his face for a moment
“Don’t.” Shadow finally spoke up, aiming a look at Rouge to not go there, a deep sigh leaving him his mind was still too groggy for this and he’d prefer to just get this mission over with and as much as he hated to say it with Sonic here it could be done faster
“Let’s just get this done, I’m guessing rouge already gave you our mission objective?” shadow asked flatly to Sonic who stood there in a rare moment of silent thought “Oh uh yeah she did”
“Great let’s go” shadow began to move forward disregarding both Sonic and Rouge as they both followed behind him.