Chapter Text
"You know, normally we're asleep at these hours." Silver's voice wasn't unkind, more teasing than anything else.
"I am aware but you know I have slept plenty."
"That's true," the other hedgehog relented. "So! Did you explore the apps on your phone yet?"
"I have not…I don't care for this infernal device." He held the retangle with distaste.
"You really should get more familiar with it, Shadow." Silver leaned over to tap the phone's screen to life. "Trust me, navigating through this day and age is near impossible without it."
Shadow frowned at the statement, eyes squinting at the colorful icons on display.
"Blaze and I are always happy to help if you have any questions but we really do recommend just exploring!"
Shadow would hardly call tapping on things "exploring" but he couldn't deny there was just too much he didn't understand. His fellow vampires, mentors, hadn't steered him wrong yet.
"Then when you're more settled we can set you up with your own place!"
The time to get settled was shorter than Shadow had anticipated but Silver and Blaze instilled confidence that he was ready. He kept to himself and did not venture outside his modest home. A simple studio apartment along with furnishing was provided by his modern day mentors. Vampires who didn't have a coven or a place to go settled in these apartments thanks to their program.
Shadow remembered very little from before his long sleep but he was fairly certain he didn't belong to any coven. Neither Silver or Blaze could determine who sired him. All they knew was he was not a natural born vampire. He had been turned. By who? Shadow couldn't tell you but most likely whoever they were, they were dead. Probably. Hopefully.
The thoughts brought out a pain to his head and he groaned while his hands massaged his temples. Too much probing just made remembering difficult. Blaze had suggested he not push it and let the memories come naturally.
"Or they just don't resurface," she had said. "That's fine too. The only thing that matters is the present."
Shadow supposed he had little choice in the matter. All there was for him was the right now. He could barely access the back then. As for the future?
His shoulders sagged.
At the very least he had time.
Plenty of it.
The time of course came with a price. The thought of said price made Shadow's expression sour. He had been assured plenty of times that the blood he had been fed while he recovered was given willingly. Ethical, had been Silver's exact word for it. Ethically sourced blood. It made Shadow scoff.
"Times have changed! People are so much healthier and in exchange for money we can collect blood easily and without any issues," Silver had said in excitement. The hedgehog was so proud of the program he and Blaze had created. People just…gave their blood in exchange for currency? Like a common good?
Blaze had sighed at Silver's enthusiasm but her expression had been fond. "Think of it like bees being harvested of honey."
Shadow hadn't cared for the comparison.
People were not making an excess of blood like bees with honey.
He didn't remember much from before his long sleep but…he knew he wasn't a fan of having to feed. He had been grateful receiving cups and indiscript thermoses to drink from during his recovery. It was easier to not think about his unsual diet. However now that he had been moved to an apartment he had been told that he needed to use the "app".
"Our program has employees that help us with the blood supply! Using our app you can match up or get in touch with whoever you need to," Silver tried to explain. "The blood we've been feeding you comes from one of our passive donors so if you liked their blood maybe you two can match up! Set up a live feeding!"
"Live feeding?"
"You and the donor meet and blood is exchanged," Blaze supplied. "I recommend meeting here at our premises. It's safer."
Shadow still couldn't believe that people voluntarily…let vampires feed from them. Was the pay that good? Were living expenses that dire in this day and age? Dealing with vampires seemed dangerous. Did these people not have any self preservation?
"Our vetting process is very good," Blaze had said. "We make sure our donors are healthy. Only the best for our clients."
It was still too much to take in, but he couldn't deny that the hunger was starting to gnaw at his consciousness. He needed to feed. Despite his reluctance and with a snail's pace, he had managed to set up a meeting with the passive donor who had supplied blood for his recovery. The blood had been a comfort as he recovered from the daze of being asleep for too long. He regained his senses, his faculties. He couldn't help but imagine what it would be like…fresh.
He wiped a corner of his mouth in embarrassment.
Who embodied that blood?
All Shadow could glean was they were someone named Sonic. He supposed there was more information to be found on their profile, but he had accidentally changed the language on the app. He needed to get Silver to fix that. He had no idea how he even managed to do that. His device started to buzz and he nearly dropped it. Ugh! Why was this infernal device so obnoxious???
"Ah." He was able to read the message at least.
His donor had arrived and was waiting behind his door.
Shadow eyed the door. He wasn't worried about the sun, there was plenty of shade from the awning of his front porch. He'd be fine. This…would be fine.
There was a quick succession of rapping at the door.
Hmph. Impatient.
With a shake of his head Shadow finally opened the door. "Sorry, for keeping you waiting."
There at his doorstep stood a blue furred hedgehog.
A beat passed as they both exchanged stares. The stranger's green eyes looked at him with intensity despite their easy, friendly expression. They were like emeralds. Inquisitive emeralds.
Shadow cleared his throat. "Sonic, I presume?"
"That's me!" Sonic grinned and winked before bringing his palms together, rubbing them. "That means you're Shadow!" Shadow nodded in confirmation. "Alright, Hotshot! Let's get your drink on."
Shadow stared, his brain trying to catch up with Sonic's words. "Hotshot"? "Drink on"? What odd phrases.
"You good?"
Shadow stood aside, letting him inside. "Pardon me."
"Not much for decorating, huh?" Sonic asked once inside, taking a glance around.
The apartment had come furnished with basics. There was a small sectioned off kitchenette with appliances that Shadow scarcely understood. A sofa and coffee table was set in what Shadow assumed was an area for entertaining. Silver had told him if he wanted anything else then he would have to go purchase them himself.
"It would be good for you, get you acclimated!" he had said.
It felt too soon for Shadow.
"I'm still getting settled in." The reply felt empty but Shadow wasn't sure what else to say. He didn't particularly like filling the air with words unnecessarily but there was something about Sonic. Like he didn't want to keep them hanging, waiting on a response.
Sonic shrugged, expression still amicable as he took a seat on the nearby sofa. He eyed coffee table then chuckled at brochures resting on its surface. "Ohh! Someone was studying before I came."
The brochures were provided by Blaze (Shadow couldn't help but wonder if she herself made them). Most of the pages were about the M.D.P.M. It described their history and other practical information. Plenty of information to help with his current time displacement.
Shadow continued to stand. "As I said, I'm still getting settled in."
"Well, I'll quit yapping and let you get to eatin' then." Sonic tugged at his shirt collar, exposing his neck to Shadow. "C'mere."
Shadow swallowed suddenly all too aware of Sonic's heartbeat resounding in his head. There was a slight skip to it but the rhythm stayed relatively steady. He shook his head at useless observation before stiffly making his way to the couch, joining Sonic's side.
"Go ahead, Shadow."
He moved closer, leaning in. Something squirmy and slimy slithered about in his stomach and chest, as he breathed in the other hedgehog's scent. Something like grass, the outside and…citrus? Whatever it was-
"You good?"
"Sorry," he mumbled awkwardly before finally letting instinct take hold. His gums ached. He widened his mouth.
One gulp.
(A small gasp.)
Two gulps.
It didn't take too much as the fresh blood flowed into his mouth, coating his tongue. It revitalized him moreso than the kept blood he had been drinking. Straight from the source was beyond words.
He pulled away but not fully, edges of his mind fuzzy from the pure energy that the blood supplied. He licked his lips then leaned in again. Sonic felt so warm beside him. He could feel the other hedgehog tense as he went for his neck again. Instead of biting he licked the wound he had inflicted. (Another gasp). He didn't know how he knew this but…he knew that doing so would close the bite. No mark left. Neck bare again.
"Whoa," he heard Sonic said in a hushed voice. "I didn't know you guys could…I mean-" he cleared his throat. "You good, Shadow?"
He still felt far away but he nodded as he finally pulled away fully. "Thank you," he managed as he turned to look at Sonic.
The other hedgehog was smiling crookedly. "Ehh I'm you're donor."
"Still…I appreciate it." He stood up. "Please, stay seated."
"Hm?"
Shadow quickly rejoined him with a cup of orange juice and a package off cookies. "As you said, I've studied."
Sonic threw his head back and laughed before reaching for the refreshments. "Thanks, man."
At that moment Shadow was grateful Silver had gone through the trouble of stocking his kitchen with all the refreshments for his donor. "Tell me if you recquire anything else."
"Mm!" Sonic patted the space on the couch.
Bemused, Shadow took a seat. "Is that all?"
Sonic rolled his eyes before gulping down some juice. "Silver warned me you're gonna take a few more drinks this month cuz you're recovering …?"
Shadow crossed his arms. "I was asleep for almost two hundred years. My body is…adjusting to things."
Sonic's eyes bulged. "Almost two hundred years???"
He nodded. "I don't remember much, unfortunately."
"No kiddin'…man, that's nuts."
Strange phrases again.
His donor nibbled on his cookie thoughtfully. "You must be so out of the loop."
"If that means I am still not up to date with the world then yes. I am very out of the loop."
Sonic snorted. "Gotcha."
They fell into silence as Sonic continued sipping on his juice and devouring his cookies.
"You need a tv, I think."
Shadow frowned. "Teevee?"
"Oh right, yeah, okay I'll have to help catch you up," he pulled out his own rectangle of annoying. "Till then this'll do." Sonic navigated through his device with ease before his screen came to life with what had to be a recording of a cute animal doing something utterly adorable.
"What are we doing?"
"Watchin' videos! It'll be better when you get a tv, promise."
And just like that, the two had become prisoners to the screen holding so many recordings of cute animals.
"Crap!" Sonic stood up. "I gotta go, Shads! I got a thing with the thing- you understand."
Shads??? Was that supposed to be a shortening of his name???
"I do not but please allow me to walk you out." He bowed his head once they reached the door. "Thank you again for the nourishment."
Sonic smiled. "You got my number, Shads. Call me if you need anything."
Before Shadow could reply Sonic had dashed away.
"The thing with the thing must be urgent," Shadow muttered to himself as he closed the door.
He began tidying up.
The exchange had gone well. Should he let his mentors know? Maybe later. They needed their rest. He'd tell them it went better than what he had been imagining. His memory was spotty, but Shadow felt like if he did feed it was from wild animals. He never partook of fresh blood from a sentient…prey?
Shadow shuddered before shaking away the thoughts.
The Mutual Donor Program for Mortals eliminated that outdated thinking. He didn't have to be a predator. A monster. He was just…a troubled individual with a…questionable food source.
Sonic had been accomodating, genial.
This was just an exchange of goods.
Ugh the thought was still so strange.
The closest thing he could compare it to were services found in a brothel but that's not what this was. If Shadow could blush he would. What an unsavory thought!
Sonic was doing him a favor, he didn't deserve unscrupulous imaginings.
He deserved a teevee.
He'd call Silver later.