Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

For most of his life, Sonic had been fiercely, proudly unattached. Relationships? Not his thing. He liked the freedom—no strings, no commitments, just wind in his fur and the open road. That was enough.

But Amy…

Amy had always been different. An absolute believer in destiny and all its glittery nonsense. And lately, she'd been begging him to do a tarot card reading, which made things even worse.

“Let me do a reading for you!” she’d said, practically bouncing in place with excitement.

He should’ve said no and ran for the hills.

But instead, he sighed and sat down across from her.

It was dumb. He didn’t believe in that sort of thing—cards predicting the future? Please. But still, he watched as she shuffled her deck with practiced ease, humming a soft tune, and laid out three cards:

The Lovers. Two of Cups. Ace of Cups.

“Uh… okay?” Sonic said, squinting at the drawings. “Amy, I have no idea what any of this means.”

Amy’s whole face lit up. She looked like she was about to explode with joy, and Sonic was starting to get nervous. “Sonic! These are love cards! Like huge love cards. This is soulmate-level stuff!”

His ears twitched. “Soulmate?” he repeated, skeptical.

“Yep! Oh my gosh, your soulmate! This is so exciting!”

He blinked. “...Can you tell me who it's about?”

Amy paused, giving him a sheepish smile. “Ehhh, nope. Sorry. The cards don’t work like that. But don’t worry—love is right around the corner!”

Sonic laughed it off, pretending it didn’t bother him. But it stuck with him. Nagged at him. What if it was real? What if—somehow—he did have a soulmate?

“Come on, Sonic. What’s the worst that could happen?”

Falling in love. That was the worst-case scenario. And, unfortunately, a very real possibility. Sonic didn’t even want a soulmate. He was supposed to be untouchable, too fast to be caught—especially by feelings. So, of course, the only logical response was to shut it all down before it got out of hand.

Step one: Ask the Master Emerald.

“Yo, knucklehead!”

Knuckles scowled the instant Sonic set foot on Angel Island, as if the mere sound of his shoes touching down offended him on a spiritual level. “Get off my island.”

Ah, Knuckles. Sonic’s favorite red, overly serious echidna. Guardian of the Master Emerald, protector of ancient secrets, and—on a good day—mildly tolerable.

Still, Sonic grinned wide, unfazed. Classic Knucklehead. Always grumpy at first, but deep down? He was all heart. Usually, once Sonic explained things, he’d cave. Usually.

“C’mon, Knux,” Sonic said, hands behind his head. “Don’t be like that. I just need a teeny, tiny favor…”

Knuckles crossed his arms. “With what?”

“I need to borrow the Master Emerald.”

Knuckles stared at him like he’d grown another head. “...For what?!”

“To ask it who my soulmate is, duh.”

There was a long pause.

Then Knuckles groaned and facepalmed. “Let me guess. Amy and her tarot cards again?”

“Bingo.”

“Sonic, the Master Emerald can’t tell you that.”

“Can I at least try?”

“No! Get off my island!”

Knuckles didn’t just say no—he physically launched Sonic off Angel Island before he could even blink, let alone plead his case . One second he was mid-sentence, and the next he was plummeting through the sky, limbs flailing and shoes catching the wind.

Plan B: Science!

Tails. His little bro, his partner-in-crime, the absolute genius fox who could build a spaceship out of scrap metal and duct tape if given half a day.

If anyone could help, it was him.

After a nice trip across the water, and fearing for his life that he might fall in, Sonic zipped off in a blur, a new plan forming in his head. Forget the Master Emerald—Tails had brains, tools, and probably some wild experimental tech stashed away in his workshop. Surely he could whip up some kind of soulmate radar. Or scanner. Or—heck—maybe even a pair of goggles that could identify emotional compatibility by aura color or something.

Okay, maybe he was getting ahead of himself.

But still—Tails was his best bet. If the universe wouldn’t give him a straight answer, maybe science could.

Sonic skidded to a halt just outside Tails’ workshop. “Tails! Hey little bro! I need your help!”

Tails poked his head out from behind a stack of blueprints. “Sure, what’s up?”

“I need you to build me a device that can tell me who my soulmate is.”

Tails just… stared.

“Why?” the fox finally asked, baffled.

“So I can find them.”

“...Okay?”

“And then avoid them forever.”

Tails looked both amused and confused. “Sonic, I may be the smartest fox around, but that’s scientifically impossible.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

“Oh…”

Tails offered a sympathetic smile. “Sorry, Sonic. But hey—you never know. This person might surprise you.”

“I don’t like surprises.”

Tails just laughed.

Sonic huffed. Maybe he was being ridiculous. But if love really was just around the corner…

He’d rather be sprinting in the opposite direction.

Plan C: Get the shit beaten out of him by Shadow.

Yeah. That’d do it.

He wasn’t sure why his brain jumped to Shadow of all people, but something about getting thrown into a few boulders by the brooding hedgehog felt… therapeutic. Maybe a good spar would knock some sense into him. Or at the very least, knock the idea of soulmates out of him.

Look, he wasn’t exactly the king of good ideas, okay?

So, now back in the present, he had no real plan on how to find Shadow. No location or any leads at all. Just a vague hope and some really fast legs. He ran for hours, crossing forests, highways, and fields, searching for a hint of black and red.

Day turned to dusk, and dusk into night. Still no Shadow.

Finding that guy was like trying to locate a needle in a haystack—if the needle also actively avoided being found and could teleport.

Sonic didn’t even know where Shadow lived. No one did. Not even Rouge, who bragged to anyone within a five-foot radius that Shadow was her best friend . Sonic had his doubts on how mutual that title was. Honestly, he wasn’t even sure Shadow had free time. Did he just sit somewhere brooding 24/7? Meditating in dark corners? Staring dramatically into the void?

They were complete opposites.

While Sonic sped through life chasing thrills, Shadow stood still like a statue carved out of quiet rage.

But still… he kept looking.

He passed through a sleepy little town, the streetlights flickering above empty sidewalks. Crickets chirped softly. Most of the world was turning in for the night. Sonic figured Shadow had probably done the same—or more likely, was silently contemplating the fall of humanity from some rooftop somewhere. Either way, finding him tonight seemed impossible.

Still, Sonic needed to move, needed to do something. He couldn’t sit still with these thoughts of soulmates spinning in his head like a bad remix. Fighting always helped. It grounded him. The breeze whipping through his quills, the electric thrill of motion, the heat of the moment—it was the one place his mind went quiet.

Love, on the other hand? That was suffocating. It made him feel trapped, like his shoes were glued to the ground.

He eventually slowed in a quiet field, open and vast, surrounded by rocky hills. He was about to call it quits and head back to crash at Tails’ when something caught his eye.

A flicker of gold, shimmering faintly in the moonlight.

His eyes narrowed. There, standing latop one of the hills, was a familiar silhouette. His arms crossed and gaze aimed towards the sky.

The golden glint had come from Shadow’s inhibitor rings.

Found him!

Sonic crept up the hill, trying to approach without alerting him—which went about as well as expected. His foot caught a loose pile of rocks, sending them skittering loudly down the slope.

He froze mid-step, wearing the world’s guiltiest face.

Shadow didn’t even flinch. Just let out a long, tired sigh.

Yeah. He definitely heard that.

Nice one, Sonic.

Shadow’s ears twitched. Still, he didn’t look over.

Sonic cleared his throat, awkwardly. “Uh… hey. Shadow?”

Silence.

Then finally, a clipped reply. “Leave me be.”

“Okay, rude ,” Sonic muttered, before hopping the rest of the way up. “We don’t have time for brooding, man! I’ve just been told the worst news of my life!”

Shadow finally turned, one brow arched high. “And what, exactly, is that?”

“My soulmate is coming for me!” Sonic cried, throwing his hands in the air. “Like—romantic! Destiny! Gross!”

Shadow visibly tensed for a split second at the mention of the word “soulmate.” It was subtle—just the smallest twitch of his shoulders, the barest flicker in his eyes—but Sonic caught it. Then, just as quickly, it vanished. 

He fixed Sonic with a cold, unreadable stare, his arms folding over his chest. “And you expect me to care because…?” he asked, voice flat, but with an edge that sounded just a little too sharp to be indifferent.

“I need your help!” Sonic lunged forward, gripping Shadow’s shoulders with way more desperation than either of them was comfortable with. “You have to help me stop it!”

Shadow narrowed his eyes, looking anywhere but at Sonic. “You’re being dramatic.”

“No, listen ! If they see me fighting you, they’ll back off! Nobody wants to date someone who willingly picks fights with others, right?” Sonic let go and struck a pose like he was on a comic book cover. “It’s genius!”

Shadow looked down at the imaginary handprints on his shoulders, then brushed them off with clear disdain. “I think you’d scare them off just fine with that enormous ego of yours.”

“Hey!” Sonic frowned, pointing. “That’s part of my charm.”

Shadow had already turned around, walking away with all the patience of someone who had none left to give.

Sonic blinked after him. “Wait—what? That’s it? You’re just gonna leave me here?!”

Shadow raised one hand, waving dismissively behind him. “Get a grip, Sonic.”

Sonic stood there, mouth open. “Asshole,” he muttered. “Fine. If he won’t fight me, I’ll just annoy him to death.”

And so began Plan D. Or E. Whatever. The plan didn’t matter. As long as it involved distracting himself from the idea of soulmates... and maybe, just maybe, getting Shadow to punch him in the face.

For therapeutic reasons, obviously.

Sonic had many talents—speed, agility, eating chilidogs at an alarming pace, and, most importantly, a PhD in being insufferably annoying.

So yeah, he was extremely confident he could get under Shadow’s skin. Probably within five minutes, tops.

He trailed after him like a lost puppy, purposely stomping on every twig, rustling every leaf, making his steps as obnoxiously loud as possible.

Shadow’s ear twitched. “Stop following me.”

“No can do, faker,” Sonic said cheerfully. “I figured we could hang out tonight. Do some bonding. Talk about our feelings .”

That did it.

Shadow stopped so suddenly Sonic nearly smacked into him. He spun around on his heel with the precision of a soldier—but it wasn’t the movement that threw Sonic off.

It was how close they ended up.

Shadow’s face was just inches from his, eyes narrowed in barely restrained fury. Sonic blinked, frozen in place as Shadow jabbed a gloved finger into his chest.

“Back. Off.” Shadow growled, voice low and sharp like a blade through the quiet.

He didn’t seem to realize—or care—how close they were. His stance was confrontational, but Sonic couldn’t help noticing the fine details now that they were eye-to-eye. The subtle gold ring that circled Shadow’s crimson irises—was that always there? Kinda cool, actually. Also, the red dusting his cheeks? What was that about?

Sonic, being Sonic, naturally leaned in even closer .

Shadow flinched, stumbling back a step in surprise, clearly not expecting the move.

“Why?” Sonic said with a cocky grin. “Aren’t we hanging out?”

“No! You’re impossible,” Shadow muttered.

“And you’re dramatic,” Sonic shot back, hands behind his head like this was all just a casual chat and not a weird game of chicken with personal space.

“I don’t ‘hang out,’” Shadow said, regaining his composure. “It’s a waste of time.”

Sonic took a step forward, a smug bounce in his step. “Sure you do. You just don’t know it yet.”

“You are one sentence away from being thrown off this hill.”

“And yet you haven’t done it,” Sonic teased, eyes gleaming. “Getting soft on me?”

Shadow didn’t respond. His expression was unreadable, but something flickered in his eyes—something Sonic couldn’t quite name.

And for a moment… just a moment… the night felt quieter. The moonlight caught the edges of Shadow’s fur, and the wind carried Sonic’s grin into something softer. Almost curious.

Then Shadow turned away again. “Go home, Sonic.”

Sonic followed without missing a beat.

“Not a chance. I don’t even have a house, man!”

Plan Z: Relentless annoyance.

He was already off to a great start and Sonic was honestly surprised Shadow hadn’t Chaos Controlled out of there by now. 

Shadow started walking away again, shoes crunching against the grass with that “I’m done with you” energy radiating off him like a personal storm cloud.

Not on Sonic’s watch.

“Oh no you don’t,” Sonic muttered under his breath, picking up the pace. In a blink, he zipped around to Shadow’s side, reaching up to tap— tap tap tap —on his shoulder.

Shadow’s ear twitched. He came to a full stop, his back still turned. Then, slowly, he pivoted on his heel, eyes narrowed into a cold, piercing glare.

“We’re not doing this,” he said, voice low and tight. “We’re not fighting. Just… leave me alone.”

There was no venom in his tone this time—only exhaustion.

“Why are you extra grumpy today?” Sonic asked, hands on his hips. “Like, this is top-tier sulk mode. Did someone steal your coffee beans or…?”

Shadow scowled, his eyes darting left and right like he was scanning for a quick escape—or maybe a decent excuse. “I lost my… emerald,” he muttered, clearly grasping at straws. 

It was the most unconvincing lie Sonic had ever heard, and Shadow knew it.

But maybe it wasn’t a lie. He said it like the words physically hurt coming out of his mouth—like admitting it was a wound to his pride. And for a second, just a second, he looked like he was pouting.

Shadow the Ultimate Lifeform. Pouting.

Now there was a sight Sonic would never let him live down.

Sonic blinked once.

Then exploded into laughter.

“Pfft— Are you serious?! ” he cackled, doubling over. “That’s what this is about? Oh no, you poor thing!”

He wiped a tear from the corner of his eye, breath hitching as the giggles kept coming. “I was wondering why you didn’t just teleport away—and now it all makes sense!”

Shadow’s eyes narrowed into a lethal glare. His jaw twitched. Sonic, caught up in his own joke, didn’t notice the look of murder brewing on Shadow’s face until it was too late.

“Wow, I haven’t laughed like that in—”

WHAM.

Shadow tackled him clean off the side of the hill.

Sonic let out a startled yell as the world flipped upside down. The wind rushed past them, grass and sky and rock blurring together.

“ WHAT THE—DUDE! ” Sonic shouted, flailing midair. “This is not what I meant when I said hang out!”

Shadow had his arms locked tight around Sonic’s waist like a missile of pure rage. “This is what you wanted, right?!” he shouted over the wind.

“I wanted a spar! Not a WWE suplex off a cliff! ”

They slammed into the earth below with a solid, dusty THUD .

Sonic hit the ground back-first with Shadow still on top of him, all the air whooshing out of his lungs like someone popped a balloon.

He gasped, limbs splayed, trying to catch his breath. “Ow—okay— okay. You made your point…”

Shadow didn’t move right away. He stayed there for a beat, arms still braced, eyes sharp but unreadable. For a second, Sonic thought he might say something dramatic, maybe even apologize. As if.

Instead, Shadow leaned in closer and said flatly:

“Next time, keep laughing. I’ll throw you off a mountain.”

Sonic wheezed. “You’re so sensitive.”

“Say it again.”

“ Sensitive— OW, okay, okay! Uncle! UNCLE—!” Shadow had started to twist his arm in a way that Sonic sure wasn’t natural.

This wasn’t exactly the fight he’d envisioned.

But, hey.

Close enough.

Shadow finally pushed himself off of Sonic, standing with his usual cold precision. The absence of his weight and warmth hit Sonic instantly, a chill settling over him like a draft. He shivered without meaning to, the night air suddenly biting through his fur.

Shadow stood over him, eyes unreadable in the moonlight, arms folded like a wall he didn’t want anyone climbing.

“This is weird,” Sonic said, sitting up with a soft grunt. “You’re always down for a fight. I show up, mouth off, and boom—sparring match. That’s kinda your thing.”

“That is not true,” Shadow said flatly, eyes narrowing.

Sonic gave him a look. “Yeah it is.”

A beat passed.

Shadow shifted, gaze flickering away for just a second too long to be casual. “…I just… would rather not fight you right now.”

Sonic tilted his head. “Huh. Why not?”

There was a pause.

Then—

“Because—!” Shadow started, only to abruptly stop himself. His voice cracked slightly, like he’d tripped on his own conviction. A rare thing.

Sonic blinked as Shadow’s face flushed red—visibly red—and in the blink of an eye, he spun around, arms crossing tightly, back turned like he was trying to hide behind himself.

“…Did you just blush?” Sonic asked, stunned.

“No,” Shadow said quickly— too quickly.

“You did! ” Sonic grinned, standing up and brushing dirt and grass off his quills. “You totally did.”

“Drop it.”

“But—”

“Drop it.”

Sonic bit back a smirk, raising his hands in mock surrender. “Okay, okay. Sheesh. You’re touchy tonight.”

He had to admit—he’d never seen Shadow like this before. He wasn’t scowling as deeply, wasn’t posturing for a fight, and he wasn’t trying to be intimidating. In fact, he seemed… off. Not in a bad way, but in a way that made Sonic pause and take a closer look.

Shadow looked almost unguarded , like the edges around him weren’t as sharp today. And sure, he mentioned losing his emerald, the one he always carried around like it was an extension of himself, but this? This had to be about more than just a missing gem.

He wasn’t angry. He wasn’t threatening to blast Sonic off the face of the planet. He just looked—dare Sonic say—lost?

Now that was something new. And it made Sonic want to stick around, maybe figure out what was really going on beneath that usual grumpy exterior.

That was what heroes did, right?

He stepped up beside him, shoulder bumping his just lightly enough to annoy him—but not enough to get thrown again. “So what’s the real reason? You just said you don’t want to fight me… because?”

Shadow’s jaw tightened. His eyes stayed locked on the horizon, as if the answer was hidden somewhere in the stars.

“…Never mind,” he muttered, voice lower now. Almost like he regretted speaking at all.

Sonic frowned, eyes narrowing. “You know, for someone who broods all the time, you’re terrible at hiding stuff.”

Shadow didn’t respond. He turned back around, his face still tinged with that faint, rare blush, like a crimson bloom spreading across a stormy sky.

“If I tell you,” he said slowly, voice even but tight with restraint, “will you leave me alone?”

“Nope,” Sonic answered instantly, flashing a smug, unapologetic grin.

Shadow narrowed his eyes into a laser-focused glare. If looks could kill, Sonic would’ve been vaporized.

Sonic just smirked wider. “Nice try, though.”

There was a long pause—long enough for the night breeze to whistle softly between them. Then Shadow sighed, almost like he was bracing himself against a tide.

“…I found some things out recently,” he said, his voice lower now. “About myself.”

That could mean a hundred different things—but Sonic knew one thing for sure: heroes consoled, and heroes protected. That's what they did.

“Hey, that’s okay,” Sonic cooed, voice coming out far sweeter than he intended. He cringed internally. Where had that come from?

Shadow’s eyes flicked open just a little wider, surprised by the tone. He cleared his throat, face darkening further as if trying to suppress something behind that ironclad exterior.

“And…” Shadow continued, eyes fixed somewhere over Sonic’s shoulder, “it would be in my best interest if we didn’t fight.”

Okay, that narrowed it down to... absolutely nothing Sonic had a clue about.

He blinked. “That makes absolutely zero sense.”

“To you, ” Shadow shot back.

Sonic crossed his arms, deadpan. “The suspense is killing me. Just tell me!”

Shadow didn’t answer right away. Instead, he just stared—really stared. His gaze raked slowly up and down, not in judgment, but in something else. Something Sonic couldn’t place.

And for the first time tonight, Sonic felt… self-conscious. He shifted his weight, the smugness fading a little, heart giving an unfamiliar little flutter he didn’t like acknowledging.

“What?” Sonic said, trying to force the confidence back into his voice. “Do I have something on my face?”

Shadow didn’t answer.

Instead, he turned.

“Goodbye,” he said simply, and began walking away again, his tail wagging.

Sonic stood there, blinking after him, gears turning in his head like they were suddenly spinning too fast.

“Hold on a minute!” Sonic called out, his voice sharper than he meant it to be as Shadow turned away.

But Shadow didn’t stop.

In fact, his pace picked up.

Sonic jogged after him, still trying to play it cool—until Shadow suddenly activated his airshoes with a metallic whirr , the boosters lighting up with a blast of red energy, and took off like a streak across the hills.

“Oh, no you don’t! ” Sonic muttered, and in the next heartbeat, he was gone too—nothing but a blue blur trailing right behind.

Good thing they had one thing in common: speed.

Wind tore through his quills as Sonic tore after him, feet barely touching the ground. The earth blurred beneath them, and stars spun above as the chase pushed them past trees, cliffsides, and open stretches of night-soaked field.

But every time Sonic got close— every time he reached out and nearly grazed Shadow’s shoulder—Shadow would twist his body, pivoting hard, changing direction like a cloud slipping through his fingers.

He was fast. Annoyingly fast.

“You trying to outrun me?!” Sonic shouted over the roar of wind.

Shadow didn’t respond.

Instead, he veered suddenly left, ducking under a low-hanging tree branch and launching off a rock to gain altitude. Sonic skidded slightly, adjusting course and leaping after him, teeth clenched.

They zipped through an old valley pass, past streams glinting silver in the moonlight and over fallen logs, until the terrain grew unfamiliar.

It wasn’t just a chase anymore—it felt like something else. Like Shadow was trying to lose more than just Sonic.

Like he was trying to outrun whatever had almost slipped from his lips a moment ago.

But Sonic wasn’t going to let him.

“ Come on, ” he growled, voice more serious now, “just talk to me, dammit!”

No answer. Just the distant shimmer of gold light fading around the next bend.

Sonic narrowed his eyes.

“Fine,” he whispered to himself. “Let’s see who’s really the fastest.”

And with that, he kicked it into high gear.

With everything he had—legs burning, lungs tight, heart pounding louder than it should—Sonic surged forward one last time.

He closed the distance in a flash, arms outstretched.

His hands locked around Shadow’s shoulders, and the world spun.

The two of them crashed down in a tangle of limbs and velocity, tumbling across the grass until they came to an abrupt stop beside a crystal-clear lake, its surface rippling softly from the shock of their landing.

The world was quiet again, save for the whisper of wind and the quiet pulse of water.

Sonic didn’t let go.

He hovered just above Shadow, pinning him without force, breath hitching in his chest. The adrenaline was still there, but it was tangled now with something slower. 

He didn’t understand why he’d gone to such lengths to chase him, why he’d searched for Shadow all day.

Why he couldn’t just let him walk away.

It made no sense.

Not earlier, when he was frantically trying to dodge the idea of soulmates like it was a contagious disease. Not now, when he was practically draped over the one guy in the world who probably found him insufferable on a good day.

Sonic had never wanted romance. Never wanted to be caught. The very idea of someone chasing after him, confessing their feelings, tying themselves to him forever—it terrified him.

And yet... here he was.

Chasing.

Gripping tight to the one person who kept slipping through the cracks.

This had to be more than just being nosey.

Sonic told himself it was concern, that was easier. 

He cared about Shadow’s well-being. That was it. Nothing more. Amy was always going on about how it was healthy to talk about your feelings, right? So maybe this was him being healthy. Heroic, even.

That’s what heroes did—they made sure people were okay.

...Right?

But even as he tried to convince himself of that, his gaze drifted—unbidden—to Shadow’s eyes.

Ruby red.

They glowed softly in the moonlight, flickers of gold catching just around the center, reflecting the rippling water beside them.

Sonic caught himself wondering, uncomfortably, how those eyes would look in the morning light. If they’d be even brighter.

He swallowed hard.

That… probably wasn’t very heroic.

But right now, he couldn’t look away.

But just as Sonic felt himself getting caught in the gravity of those red eyes, he was violently yanked back to reality.

Shadow kneed him. Hard.

Right where the sun definitely doesn’t shine.

“ OW —WHAT THE HELL, MAN?!” Sonic yelped, voice cracking as he curled backwards, arms instinctively wrapping around his middle. He crumpled into the grass like a dying star, groaning in pure, unfiltered agony.

He was trying— really trying—not to cry.

Shadow scrambled back on instinct, as if he were the one under threat. His hands hovered in front of him, guilt written across his normally stoic face.

“I—sorry. I didn’t mean to… do that,” he said, his voice strained and almost nervous.

Sonic lifted his head weakly, his eyes glassy with pain and betrayal. “It’s… fine, ” he croaked, his voice a full octave higher than usual.

Shadow flinched at the sound.

Sonic flopped back dramatically into the grass, legs still pulled up as if that would somehow protect what remained of his dignity.

“Just…” He breathed through gritted teeth, “give me… a minute.”

A long one.

Shadow stayed silent, watching from a cautious distance as if Sonic might lunge at him the moment he recovered.

Which, fair.

“Chaos, I’m gonna feel that for a week,” Sonic muttered into the grass. “Why was that your first reaction?”

Shadow’s eye twitched. “You were too close.”

“You kneed me.”

“You tackled me.”

“Did you forget you tackled me earlier?!” Sonic whined, voice muffled by dirt.

Shadow didn’t reply, which Sonic assumed meant “touché.”

He let out a shaky breath and slowly rolled over, still holding his midsection like it was a sacred artifact.

“…We’re definitely fighting later,” he grumbled.

Shadow didn’t argue. But he also didn’t walk away. He just sat there, watching, silent again.

Sonic sighed.

So much for heroic.

Sonic finally pushed himself up from the grass, wincing slightly as the pain throbbed like an echo through his entire being. He sat cross-legged and turned to shoot a half-hearted glare at Shadow, brows furrowed and lip curled just enough to convey the appropriate level of dramatics.

“Whatever,” he muttered, brushing grass off his quills. “You can leave now. I won’t follow.”

It wasn’t exactly a dismissal—more like an exhausted truce. But Shadow didn’t take the out.

Instead, to Sonic’s surprise, the dark hedgehog stepped forward… and sat beside him.

Not close enough to touch, but close enough to feel the shift in the air. Sonic blinked, the movement catching him off guard.

“I apologize for…potentially disrupting your bloodline.”

That made Sonic pause—then snort.

“Wait. Hold up.” He turned to look at him, an incredulous smirk curling across his face. “Did you just make a joke ?”

Shadow blinked. “No…?” He sounded almost offended. “This is a serious matter.”

That made Sonic laugh—short, wheezy, but genuine. The tension lingering in his shoulders finally started to ease. “Man. You’re so weird.”

Shadow shrugged slightly, his eyes trained on the lake as if the water might offer him a better explanation for this whole night than Sonic could.

Sonic leaned back on his palms, tilting his head to look up at the stars. “Y’know, I was mad at you like five minutes ago.”

“I noticed.”

“But,” Sonic added, exhaling slowly, “I guess I kinda had it coming. I’ve been poking at you all night.”

Shadow didn’t deny it.

They sat there in silence for a moment, the night air cool and still. Crickets chirped in the distance, the moon cast long shadows across the water, and for once, the two speedsters weren’t in motion.

Sonic glanced at him from the corner of his eye.

The moonlight caught in Shadow’s eyes like a secret, soft and shimmering.

It glinted off his fur, silvering the edges in a way Sonic had never noticed before. Maybe it was just the lighting—maybe the moon had a way of casting illusions—but there was a faint blue tint in Shadow’s usually inky-black coat. It was subtle, barely there, but enough to make Sonic’s breath catch in his throat.

It made him look… different somehow.

Softer.

It was strange, seeing Shadow like this. The self-proclaimed Ultimate Life Form, the weapon forged in grief and fire, the guy who could obliterate half a mountain without blinking. And yet now, sitting so still and quiet beneath the stars, he didn’t look like a weapon at all.

He looked like something that could break.

And Sonic didn’t like that feeling sitting in his chest—tight and uncertain—because he’d always thought of Shadow as unshakable, immovable. Invincible. But now? Now he wasn’t so sure.

His eyes drifted to the signature red streaks on Shadow’s quills—so bold against the night sky. Sonic had always thought they looked cool. Almost like…war paint. Like a storm that had chosen to take the shape of a person.

There really wasn’t anyone else like him.

Everything about Shadow was unique, from his chaos-fueled powers to the way he carried himself like the weight of the world still sat on his shoulders. Even his clothes—those sleek gloves and those ridiculous airshoes—no one else could pull that off and still look that composed.

But right now… Shadow didn’t look composed.

He looked extraordinary in a way Sonic wasn’t prepared for.

When Sonic looked back up, he caught Shadow staring up at the stars. His face was tipped upward, the moonlight outlining his profile, casting delicate shadows across his jaw, his cheeks, his lashes.

And maybe— maybe —if you tilted your head just right and squinted…

He looked handsome.

Sonic blinked. His heart did a weird little stumble-step in his chest.

Uh oh.

His brain was definitely spiraling into dangerous territory now.

Before he could mentally slap himself back into normalcy, Shadow turned to look at him. There was a flicker of surprise across his face, like he’d just realized Sonic had been watching him.

And Sonic… hadn’t exactly tried to hide it.

His face flushed hot, caught mid-thought and suddenly very aware of the way he must’ve looked—wide-eyed, probably blushing, and staring like a total idiot.

Shadow’s brows lifted just slightly, a question in his expression, but no words came out. The moment held—for just a beat too long.

Sonic coughed, looking away fast enough to make his neck cramp.

“Uh, nice night, huh?” he blurted.

Smooth.

…Gaia above, he was a total loser.

“Yes,” Shadow said quietly, his voice carrying a rare softness. “The moon is beautiful tonight.”

Sonic turned his head, expecting to see Shadow still gazing upward—but what he found instead made his breath hitch.

Shadow wasn’t looking at the moon.

He was looking at him .

And not in that usual sharp, half-annoyed, half-curious way he usually did. No, this was different. His gaze was steady, unguarded, and maybe—just maybe—tinged with something warmer, something Sonic couldn’t quite name.

Sonic blinked, heart suddenly thudding far too loud in his chest.

Wait.

Was this… was this nervousness?

No way. That wasn’t possible. He didn’t get nervous. He was Sonic the freakin’ Hedgehog. He ran headfirst into danger, taunted gods, leapt from exploding airships, and pulled off cocky grins while doing it. Nervousness wasn’t in his vocabulary.

And yet…

His palms felt sweaty. His mouth was dry. His chest tightened with something tangled between anticipation and panic, and his gaze dropped for half a second—unable to keep holding Shadow’s eyes without his thoughts tripping over themselves.

He shifted awkwardly in the grass, hoping the movement would somehow dislodge the strange swirl in his stomach.

“Uh…” he started, voice cracking a little despite his best efforts. “Y-Yeah. Yeah, it’s, uh… real pretty.”

The moon. He was talking about the moon. Obviously.

Shadow tilted his head slightly, as if analyzing him. As if reading more than Sonic meant to reveal. His expression remained unreadable, but his eyes softened just the tiniest bit—barely enough to catch, unless you were really looking.

And Sonic was really looking.

There was a silence that stretched between them—not awkward, but thick. 

Sonic swallowed hard.

What the hell is happening right now?

“Sonic,” Shadow said softly, almost like his name was something sacred—something precious.

It wasn’t the usual sharp edge, that clipped and indifferent tone Shadow often used like a shield. No, this time it was… gentle. Warm. Like sunlight through clouds. Like he didn’t want to break the moment, only hold it there for just a little longer.

Sonic’s heart stuttered. “Yeah?” he replied, quieter than he meant to, his voice nearly a whisper.

He didn’t realize it until just then, but they were close. Closer than they’d ever been before. At some point, between laughter and silence and uncertainty, the space between them had shrunk down to almost nothing.

And now?

Now they were just… there. Barely a breath apart.

He didn’t know who leaned in first—maybe it was both of them, maybe it didn’t matter—but there was no mistaking it: they were leaning, slowly, like gravity itself was pulling them toward each other. Soft and magnetic and terrifying in the best way.

Shadow’s gaze flickered—briefly, nervously—from Sonic’s eyes down to his lips.

Sonic’s breath caught, and before he could stop himself, he did the same.

His mind raced. What is happening.

What is happening?!

His heart was pounding so loud he swore Shadow could hear it. His throat felt tight, his pulse in his ears, and all of a sudden, the world felt distant. Like it had stepped away to give them room.

There was no teasing now, no bravado or cocky quips to fall back on. Just this—this moment where neither of them moved, neither of them spoke, both of them hovering in that fragile space between almost and everything.

Sonic’s eyes met Shadow’s again—those deep crimson eyes still so calm, but with something burning beneath the surface.

And still, neither of them moved away.

The wind rustled through the grass, but neither noticed.

The stars shone brighter than ever above them.

And Sonic, who could run faster than sound itself, found himself completely frozen—by a feeling he couldn’t explain, by a look he never expected, by the impossible fact that he didn’t want to move.

It happened so fast, so soft, so subtle, Sonic barely registered it until it was already over.

The gentle brush of lips—barely there, like a whisper—was enough to jolt him straight out of whatever trance he’d been caught in.

His eyes flew open, wide as saucers.

Every nerve in his body lit up all at once, like he'd just been struck by lightning. His heart slammed against his ribs, and without thinking, he shot backward with enough force to nearly trip over himself. He stumbled a few feet away, and his hand flew to his mouth in stunned instinct.

“What the hell —?” he breathed, the words muffled behind the back of his glove. His eyes were still locked on Shadow.

Shadow hadn’t moved.

He sat there, frozen mid-reach, eyes wide in a way Sonic had never seen before. Not angry. Not smug. Not even annoyed.

Just… shocked .

His expression was unguarded, uncertain—like he hadn’t meant to, like he didn’t believe what had just happened either.

“I…” Shadow started, his voice low, hoarse. “I didn’t mean—”

Sonic’s mind was racing too fast to think. His heart thudded so violently it drowned everything else out. He wasn’t even sure what he was feeling—panic? Shock? Embarrassment? Something warmer flickering underneath it all?

He couldn’t answer. Not yet.

Sonic bolted to his feet like he’d been electrocuted, nearly tripping over his own ankles in the process. “I, uh—! I gotta go! Yeah! It’s, uh… way past my bedtime?” he blurted out, his voice cracking halfway through the sentence. He said it like a question—because even he didn’t know what the hell he was talking about.

His brain had completely short-circuited.

Shadow rose to his feet just as fast, stiff and uncertain, like he wasn’t sure whether to follow or disappear entirely.

“Right,” Shadow said quietly, almost robotically, his eyes flicking away.

“Uh. Bye!” Sonic called over his shoulder—though it came out more like a panicked yelp than an actual farewell—and then he was gone. Gone in a flash , wind kicking up behind him as he sprinted like the ground was on fire.

Good thing he was basically a living GPS, because before he could even process what direction he was running, he somehow found himself crashing through Tails’ workshop door and landing face-first onto the familiar, battered couch in the living room.

He didn’t move.

Just laid there, buried in the cushions like he could suffocate the embarrassment out of himself.

His heart still thudded wildly in his chest, blood rushing in his ears, mind reeling. His hand was still halfway to his mouth like he could feel the ghost of that kiss.

He groaned into the couch cushion. “What the hell just happened…”

Because, in all honesty?

He had no idea .

Of course, as if his brain wanted to make things worse, the memory came flooding back.

Amy.

Her excited voice and those stupid tarot cards spread out on the table like fate itself had a sense of humor.

The Lovers. Two of Cups. The Ace of Cups.

He groaned again, dragging a pillow over his head as if that would stop the images from resurfacing.

Why now ? Why him ?

And Shadow—of all people.

No. Nope. Absolutely not.

One thing Sonic was absolutely, positively sure of—etched into his very core like a motto, a rule, a survival instinct—

Shadow the Hedgehog was not his soulmate.

He couldn’t be. That would be insane.

Shadow was broody. Intense. Complicated. He treated emotions like enemies and friendship like a chore. The guy didn’t do “soulmate.” He did brooding on cliffs and vanishing mid-sentence.

And Sonic? Sonic was free. Untouchable. He lived fast and never looked back. Relationships were messy, complicated, full of expectations and ties he never wanted wrapped around him.

And yet...

His hand instinctively drifted back to his lips, as if checking to see if the moment had really happened.

He squeezed his eyes shut. No. Nope. Definitely cursed.

This was just a weird moment. A weird night. A total fluke .

Shadow was not his soulmate.

Chapter Text

“Amy, you’ve cursed me beyond belief.”

Amy froze mid-swipe, her piping bag suspended in the air, pink icing halfway across a Chaos Emerald–shaped sugar cookie.

“Um… what ?” she asked, blinking at him like he’d just spoken another language.

Sonic slumped forward on the island chair, arms crossed over the counter as he glared at the tray of cookies in front of him. He was supposed to be helping her decorate them for Cream’s picnic in a week, but so far, all he’d accomplished was squeezing way too much black and red icing onto three cookies—and glaring at them like they owed him answers.

Amy went back to icing, casting him a side glance. “Is everything okay?”

Sonic groaned and dropped his head onto the counter with a dramatic thud.

“It’s your fault,” he mumbled into the countertop.

Amy paused again. “...What did I do?”

Sonic sat up with a sigh and pointed a dramatic finger at her. “You and your cursed tarot cards! Ever since you showed me those things, my life’s been a nightmare!”

Amy raised a brow, unimpressed. “Wow, rude. You’re welcome for trying to give you a little cosmic guidance.”

“It wasn’t guidance , Amy, it was a trap!”

Amy smirked, finally setting her piping bag down. “Okay, what happened? Because this sounds dramatic, even for you.”

Sonic hesitated, his foot bouncing restlessly against the floor. Since that night—a whole week ago—he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about it. About him. About that stupid almost-kiss that still haunted his dreams.

Which was insane.

Completely, totally insane.

“Okay, so… after you did that whole soulmate reading thing,” he began, trying to sound casual, “I went to Angel Island.”

Amy perked up. “Really? To see Knuckles?”

“Yeah. Thought maybe the Master Emerald could tell me who the soulmate was.”

Amy tried not to grin but failed. “Wow, you must’ve been curious.”

“I wasn’t!” Sonic said quickly, throwing up his hands. “I was just trying to—look, I thought if I knew who it was, I could avoid them, alright?”

Amy blinked. “You went on a quest to avoid your soulmate?”

“Exactly!” Sonic said, as if that were the most logical thing in the world.

Amy just shook her head, biting back a laugh. “Okay. Continue.”

“So Knuckles was zero help. Said the Master Emerald doesn’t work that way. So I went to Tails—figured maybe he could build something?”

Amy gasped. “Like a soulmate detector?!”

“YES! That’s exactly what I asked for!” Sonic gestured wildly. “And he told me that wasn’t scientifically possible! Can you believe that?”

“I can, actually,” Amy said, grinning. “That’s probably the most logical thing I’ve heard all day.”

Sonic groaned again and slumped back into the chair. “Ugh. You’re all no help.”

Amy picked up her cookie again, her tone softening. “I’m not trying to ruin your life, Sonic. I just… want the best for you. Always have.”

He looked at her, and for a second, his frustration cracked into something more tender.

“I know. And normally I’d laugh this soulmate thing off, but now…”

He glanced down at the cookies again—specifically the one covered in black and red.

Amy followed his gaze. “You used a lot of… Shadow’s colors,” she noted gently.

Sonic stiffened. “They’re just cool colors! No reason!”

“Mhm,” she said, clearly not buying it for a second. Her grin was far too knowing. “You know, you’ve mentioned him a lot this week.”

Sonic’s eyes widened like a deer caught in headlights. “What? No I haven’t!”

“Yes you have! Just a couple days ago you brought up how Shadow would’ve totally loved the dessert I made, completely unprompted by the way! And don’t think I haven’t noticed you staring at that picture of me and him on my wall—the one from that concert?” 

She sighed, following his line of sight and catching him once again locked onto the picture. 

“You’re doing it again.”

Sonic immediately averted his gaze, guilt written all over his face. He had, in fact, been staring at that picture again. It wasn’t even a great photo, but something about the way Shadow half-smirked at the camera had kept pulling his eyes back.

How was he supposed to tell her this? How do you even begin to explain that, just a week ago, he was having thoughts about his rival that were very much not the friendly, sparring kind? That every scowl and lingering glance from Shadow wasn’t just infuriating—it was infuriatingly attractive? That under the glow of the moonlight, with tension crackling in the air, they’d gotten so close to kissing he could still feel the warmth of it?

He rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly all too aware of how dry his mouth felt.

How was he supposed to admit that without sounding completely unhinged?

“I… uh…” Sonic stammered, rubbing the back of his neck. “Okay, maybe I’ve been thinking about him a little. But not like… a lot a lot.”

Amy raised an eyebrow.

“Okay! A medium amount!”

That wasn’t helping.

Well, might as well just rip the bandaid off.

He sighed, eyes darting anywhere but hers. “It’s just... We almost kissed , Amy.”

The piping bag slipped from her hand.

“...Oh.”

“ Yeah… ”

He groaned again, sinking into the counter like he wanted to melt into it and disappear.

Amy, ever calm in chaos, picked up the piping bag from the ground and smiled softly. “So… are you more scared because it happened, or because you didn’t hate it?”

Sonic said nothing.

Because that was the part that scared him the most. It annoyed him how Amy could always read him like a book.

“Oh. My. GOODNESS! ” Amy squealed, dropping her piping bag, again like it was on fire and bolting around the island to crush Sonic in a hug that could’ve snapped his spine.

“Oh Chaos—Ames!” Sonic wheezed, squirming in her iron grip. “You’re gonna make me see the afterlife!”

She let go, finally, but was practically vibrating with excitement, bouncing on the balls of her feet like a kid on a sugar high. “Sonic! This is so exciting! ”

“No! No, it’s not! This is terrible! ” Sonic raked his hands through his quills, panic rising in his voice. “What am I supposed to do?! I don’t even like guys! ”

Amy tilted her head, raising one pink brow. “Sonic.”

“Okay, okay!” he threw up his hands, groaning. “Maybe I do ! I don’t know! That’s the whole problem!”

Amy’s expression softened instantly, her excitement settling into something warmer. “Hey. That’s okay.”

Sonic stared down at the cookie he’d been mangling. Red and black icing was smeared everywhere.

“I just…” he sighed, “I don’t want to make this weirder than it already is. What if I’m misreading everything? What if Shadow doesn’t—what if I don’t—?”

Amy placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. “Look, I know this is scary and totally uncharted territory for you, but maybe that’s the point. Maybe this isn’t about whether Shadow is your soulmate or not. Maybe it’s about giving yourself space to feel something, without trying to fit it into a box.”

Sonic glanced at her, eyes wide. “You think… it’s okay to be this confused?”

“I think it’s normal to be this confused.” Amy smiled. “And maybe Shadow isn’t your destined soulmate—but that doesn’t mean he can’t mean something. You don’t have to figure it all out right now.”

“I don’t want to use him,” Sonic said, quieter now. “I’m not trying to lead him on or anything.”

Amy shook her head. “I’m not saying you should. But you care about him, right?”

Sonic didn’t answer. He didn’t need to. His silence was the answer.

“Maybe,” she continued gently, “you’re both just two people figuring things out. And maybe you could help each other… open up. You know, break out of your shells.”

Sonic huffed a laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah, well. If anyone’s wearing a shell, it’s definitely him.”

Amy smiled. “Then maybe it’s time you cracked it a little. Carefully.”

“Carefully,” Sonic echoed, picking up a cookie and tapping it against the counter. “Right.”

He took a bite of the overly iced, vaguely Shadow-themed cookie and winced. “Ugh. Too sweet.”

Amy laughed. “Just like Shadow?”

Sonic groaned. “Please don’t say that.”

Amy just waved him off, her smile never disappearing. “But you have to give me all the details!” She leaned in, eyes glittering with curiosity. “Did this all happen the same day as the reading?”

“Yeah, actually,” Sonic said, already feeling the heat creeping up his face. “I was out looking for him.”

Amy perked up, folding her arms over the counter. “Oh? What for?”

“I…wanted him to kick my ass.”

She blinked. “I’m sorry— what now? ”

“I needed to clear my head, okay? And sparring usually helps. Punches, flips, adrenaline—keeps me from overthinking.”

Amy’s brows shot up. “So… your bright idea was inviting Shadow to body slam you into mental clarity? ”

Sonic shrugged. “It made sense at the time.”

“Mhm. And what happened next?”

“Well… one thing led to another. He kneed me in the balls— hard —and then we almost kissed. ”

Amy’s jaw dropped. “ Okay—pause. Time out. Back it up. He did what? ”

Sonic groaned, slouching into his seat like he was reliving a trauma. “Yeah. Right where the sun doesn’t shine. I’m still recovering.”

Amy’s eyes were wide, hand over her mouth. “The almost-kiss… or the assault on your legacy? ”

“ Both, ” Sonic deadpanned.

There was a beat of silence—then they both burst into laughter, practically doubling over.

Sonic wheezed, “He said I’d gotten too close, and that was his first reaction.”

Amy snorted, covering her face. “I can’t believe this is real. You and Shadow —kinda fighting, kinda flirting—this is better than any telenovela!”

Sonic leaned on the counter, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “If my life is a telenovela, I want to speak to the writers. I have notes. ”

Amy grinned. “Well, from what I’m hearing, the drama is top tier. You’re keeping me fed.”

“Glad I can be a walking, emotionally confused romcom for you.”

Amy nudged him. “More like a romantic thriller. Now tell me everything that led up to that almost -kiss. I want the play-by-play.”

Sonic sighed, but his grin didn’t fade. “Alright, but just so you know— you’re paying for my next chili dog.”

“Deal,” Amy said. “But only if you spill everything. ”

And for once, Sonic didn’t mind.

Sonic left later that afternoon, the sun dipping low on the horizon, casting a warm glow across the quiet streets. His spirits were lighter now—still tangled, still messy—but at least he wasn’t carrying everything on his own anymore. Talking to Amy had helped more than he’d expected. She didn’t judge, didn’t laugh (well, not too much), and most importantly, she listened.

For the past week, he’d been a complete mess, spiraling in his own head. One night he was actively tracking down Shadow like a madman on a mission, and now? Now he was doing everything in his power to avoid him like the plague. The shift had given him whiplash. He was afraid that if he saw Shadow again, he’d short-circuit—either say something stupid or accidentally do something worse. Like kiss him. Again. But like, on purpose.

The idea still made him want to burrow into the ground like a hedgehog. Oh, wait.

Sonic kicked at a pebble as he walked, the thought circling in his head like a race track loop. He still couldn’t believe it. Kissing. That had never crossed his mind before—ever. It just wasn’t something he thought about. Romance, love, kisses—it all felt like something out of someone else’s playbook. 

But lately… something had changed.

Maybe, he thought bitterly, it wasn’t that he’d never thought about kissing. Maybe it was just that he’d always been thinking about it with the wrong people.

And Shadow being the one to break that realization wide open?

Yeah. That was giving him emotional whiplash of gargantuan proportions.

The guy who barely spoke unless he had to. The guy who once tried to destroy the planet. The guy who could level cities with a flick of his wrist and still look stoic while doing it. That guy. He was the one Sonic had almost kissed. And maybe, kind of wanted to kiss again?

He groaned loudly, dragging a hand down his face.

What was even happening to him?

Sonic didn’t have the answers. Not yet. But what he did know, was that this weird thing—this tangle of feelings, confusion, curiosity, and fluttery nervousness—wasn’t going away anytime soon.

Sonic slowed as he approached Tails’ workshop, the familiar hum of dormant machinery humming gently in the background. The place was quiet, peaceful even, with the soft orange glow of the setting sun spilling in through the windows. Inside, Tails was slumped over his workbench, completely passed out—probably after another long day of tinkering and overworking himself, as usual.

Amy, in her infinite generosity, had insisted that Sonic take some of the cookies they’d decorated together, citing she’d made way too many. So now, the basket—still warm, the scent of sugar and chaos emerald-shaped treats wafting through the fabric—was gently placed next to Tails’ sleeping form.

“Don’t work too hard, buddy,” Sonic whispered with a small smile.

And then he was gone.

He didn’t have a real destination, but he had a craving. One only a good, long run could satisfy.

So, doing what he did best, Sonic ran.

The wind tugged at his quills as he bolted across open fields, zigzagged through trees, dashed up cliffsides, and leapt from ledge to ledge. The world blurred around him in streaks of green and gold. And yet, the faster he ran, the more he felt that familiar tension ease out of his chest.

Eventually, his instincts pulled him toward somewhere comforting—one of his favorite hideaways, a place he often visited when the world got too loud and complicated.

The Chao Garden.

Tucked away deep in the jungle, hidden behind a thick veil of leaves and vines, was a cavernous entrance carved into the stone. Sonic ducked inside, his steps light on the moss-covered floor, until he emerged into a lush paradise bathed in soft, ethereal light.

The garden was as peaceful as he remembered—waterfalls cascading into crystal pools, vibrant flowers blooming along the edges, and the sweet chirps and coos of chao echoing in the air.

Two chao noticed him first, chattering excitedly and bouncing toward him with tiny arms raised.

“Hey, little guys,” Sonic murmured with a gentle smile, crouching down to give them both a soft pat on the head. “Hope you don’t mind if I crash here for the night.”

The chao responded with a happy squeal, one of them grabbing onto his leg.

He made his way deeper into the garden, several chao trailing behind him like ducklings. The familiar peace of the place began to settle into his bones. Near the back of the garden, just past a patch of palm trees that swayed lazily in the breeze, was a large, flat rock nestled against the wall—his usual nap spot.

But as he rounded the trees and stepped into the clearing, Sonic skidded to a halt.

His heart nearly leapt out of his chest.

There, lying peacefully in the shade with one arm tucked beneath his head and his chest rising and falling slowly…

Was Shadow.

Shadow the Hedgehog, fast asleep.

His fur caught the moon’s soft light drifting in through the leaves, the faintest blue tint clinging to his black fur. His expression was softer in sleep, the ever-present scowl smoothed into something calm, almost serene. For a moment, Sonic just stood there, frozen.

What were the odds ?

He blinked hard, half-expecting the image to vanish like some weird jungle mirage.

But no.

That was definitely Shadow.

Sleeping. In his nap spot.

And looking ridiculously peaceful while doing it.

“…Of course you’d be here,” Sonic whispered to himself, sighing and running a hand through his quills.

He didn’t know whether to laugh, run away, or lie down beside him.

And that was exactly the problem.

Sonic made a quick decision—the second option was the safest: run. Turn tail and escape before his brain could betray him into doing something stupid , like staying.

His usual spot would have to be sacrificed. Shadow had unknowingly claimed it for the night, and Sonic wasn’t about to stick around to turn this peaceful chao sanctuary into a very awkward battlefield of feelings.

He spun on his heel, moving as silently as possible back the way he came.

But fate, apparently, wasn’t done messing with him yet.

A small, distressed cry stopped him in his tracks.

His ears twitched at the sound—soft but urgent, like a baby whimpering. He turned back, eyes scanning until they landed on the source: a fussy little chao wobbling near one of the flower beds, its tiny body trembling with frustration, big watery eyes shimmering like it had just woken from a bad dream.

“Oh no no no—shh, hey, little guy,” Sonic whispered urgently, rushing back.

If he didn’t do something fast, the chao’s cries would echo through the garden like a siren—and the last thing he wanted was to wake Sleeping Beauty . 

Sonic knelt and gently scooped the chao into his arms, cradling it like the fragile thing it was. He began rocking slowly, humming under his breath, his hands instinctively swaying like he’d done this a thousand times.

“There, there. Easy now, bud,” he whispered.

The chao sniffled once, then gave a soft coo. Its little body relaxed, curling into Sonic’s chest as its eyes drooped closed.

“Phew…” Sonic muttered, carefully adjusting the now-sleeping chao in his arms. “Guess I’m a babysitter now.”

He glanced around, trying to find some kind of elevated ledge or bushy tree he could hide behind until Shadow woke up and left. Some place where he could avoid making a scene. But as he took a cautious step backward, he froze.

Ruby eyes.

Half-lidded, sleepy, but unmistakably locked on him.

Sonic’s stomach dropped to his shoes.

“Oh, Chaos,” he whispered to himself.

Shadow was awake.

And watching him.

They stared at each other across the garden, the silence stretching and tightening like a string pulled to its limit. Sonic couldn’t move. He barely remembered how to breathe .

Shadow’s expression was unreadable—caught somewhere between confusion, curiosity, and lingering sleepiness.

Say something! Anything! Sonic’s brain screamed.

“…Hey,” he finally said, his voice cracking just slightly. “You.”

YOU?! Really?!

If he could slam his head into the nearest palm tree, he would. Maybe it’d knock some sense into him.

Shadow blinked slowly, the sleep not yet fully gone from his eyes. His brows furrowed a bit as he adjusted to the sight before him: Sonic, holding a sleeping chao, flustered out of his mind.

Sonic could see it. The faintest twitch at the corner of Shadow’s mouth.

Great. Now he was cute and smug.

This was a nightmare.

Shadow slowly sat up, shoulders rolling as he stretched his arms high above his head, fingers flexing, spine cracking faintly with the motion. The moonlight caught the sharp curve of his silhouette, and Sonic had to force himself to look away before his brain decided to make some kind of comment about how much like a sleepy cat Shadow looked.

“Hello,” Shadow said, his voice still thick and gravelly with sleep, the kind of sound that made Sonic’s chest tighten in a way he didn’t care to examine. “What are you doing here?”

Sonic cleared his throat, shifting the sleepy chao in his arms and hugging it a little tighter—mostly to give his hands something to do. “Hey. Um… What are you doing here?”

Shadow blinked slowly at him, then tilted his head. “I asked you that first.”

“Oh. Right.” Sonic glanced away, ears twitching slightly. “Well, I was actually gonna stay here tonight. Y’know, relax, rest under the stars. This spot’s kind of my favorite. But then I saw you, and you were already knocked out and you looked… uh… peaceful? And I didn’t wanna disturb that! So I figured I’d just leave you to it, no problem, I swear. But then this little guy started crying, and I couldn’t just let that happen —”

“Sonic.”

He blinked. “Yeah?”

Shadow gave him a long, unreadable look, then sighed quietly and patted the space beside him on the soft grass.

“I can make room.”

Sonic stared at him.

Oh.

That short little sentence somehow managed to knock all the thoughts right out of his brain. For a second he just stood there, wide-eyed and stunned, the chao snuggled peacefully in his arms while his heart decided to perform parkour in his chest.

“…Oh. Uh. Are you sure?” Sonic asked, his voice softer now, unsure.

Shadow nodded, shifting to the side and brushing some loose leaves away. “It’s your spot, right?”

“Well, yeah, but you’re here too, so technically it’s our spot now,” Sonic said before his brain could catch up. OUR?! Why did he say our?!

Shadow said nothing to that—just settled into a comfortable recline again, arms behind his head, his eyes returning to the sky.

Sonic looked down at the tiny chao in his arms, then at Shadow, then at the space beside him.

And then, like it was the most natural thing in the world, he walked over to the palm tree and sat.

The little Chao nestled closer into Sonic’s lap, letting out a content sigh as it curled up into a ball. Sonic leaned back against the tree, the bark pressing firm and cool against his spine. Just a few inches to his left, Shadow sat reclined in the grass, arms now folded in his lap, seemingly at ease beneath the silver glow of the moonlight.

On the outside, Sonic looked perfectly composed—calm, relaxed, just a guy taking a break in his favorite spot. But inside?

Inside, he was screaming.

His heart was pounding so loud he was pretty sure the Chao could hear it. It thudded in his ears like a war drum, and his brain decided now was the perfect time to throw the earlier conversation with Amy back into the spotlight.

“What am I supposed to do?! I don’t even like guys!”

The words hit him all over again, but this time they weren’t said in a rush or under duress—they were just there. Sitting heavy in his chest like a weight he didn’t quite know how to carry.

And if he did like guys—and if this pounding heart and fluttery stomach were any indication—what the heck was he supposed to do about Shadow?

Surely their almost-kiss was just a momentary lapse in judgment, a fluke, a stray spark in the middle of a weird night. Shadow wasn’t also up here spiraling into an emotional hurricane. Right?

He risked a glance to his side.

Shadow looked… calm. His breathing was even, chest rising and falling with a slow rhythm. His eyes were half-lidded, staring off into the sky, unreadable as ever. If he was having some kind of internal crisis, he hid it really well. Not even a hint of tension in his frame. 

The sun had fully dipped beneath the horizon a while ago, leaving the sky washed in deep indigo. A soft breeze ruffled the palm leaves above them, and the gentle sounds of sleepy chaos filled the quiet air around them. It was the kind of night that made you feel like time had slowed down.

Sonic suddenly felt a sharp jab of guilt. He hadn’t meant to disturb Shadow’s peace. He hadn’t even meant to see him here. The guy clearly needed rest, not whatever this confusing... thing between them was becoming.

“Sorry,” Sonic said softly, keeping his voice low so he didn’t wake the chao. “Didn’t mean to mess with your whole vibe. Just, uh… pretend I’m not here.”

Part of him meant that. Maybe if Shadow just ignored him, it’d help Sonic forget the mess swirling inside his head. Maybe things would reset. Go back to normal.

Whatever the hell normal was anymore.

“I don’t mind,” Shadow said, like it was the most casual thing in the world. Like he hadn’t just upended Sonic’s entire mental stability with a single sentence.

Sonic blinked at him. How was he so calm? Did he not realize the significance of this moment? That they were sitting next to each other, alone, in a moonlit chao garden, after a very emotionally confusing almost-kiss?

It was weird—so weird. It felt like they were dancing around something massive, like they were pretending there wasn’t a metaphorical elephant the size of the Death Egg crammed between them. Sonic’s skin itched with the weight of it. The silence pressed on him, and despite the soft breathing of the sleeping chao in his arms, the stillness felt too loud.

Should he say something?

Should he apologize for… nearly kissing his rival?

He let out a long, slow sigh, hoping it would purge the mess in his chest. Instead, it seemed to catch Shadow’s attention.

“What’s on your mind, faker?” Shadow asked, tone calm but curious.

Sonic's brain short-circuited for a second. You. That’s what was on his mind. Just... Shadow, in all his confusing, frustrating, weirdly magnetic glory.

“Nothing,” he said, because of course he did.

“You’re lying.”

“I know.” Sonic exhaled again and adjusted the chao in his arms. “Look… about that night…”

“It’s fine,” Shadow said quickly, cutting him off like he was putting up a barricade.

“Huh?”

“Nothing happened. It’s fine.”

But the way Shadow said it—tight, controlled, as if each word physically hurt to push out—it didn’t sound fine. It sounded like he was trying to convince himself.

“But something did almost happen,” Sonic said quietly, eyes on the grass.

Shadow didn’t answer immediately.

“But it didn’t,” he finally said, his voice low, almost like he was mourning it.

Sonic looked over at him, incredulous. “Shadow, my guy, I am having a literal identity crisis over here. How are you so calm right now?”

Shadow’s jaw tightened ever so slightly. His fingers flexed where they rested on his lap. For a split second, Sonic thought he saw something flicker in those red eyes—regret? Frustration? Longing?

“Because if that were to ever happen again…” Shadow said slowly, voice rough, “I don’t know if I’ll be able to handle the truth.”

Sonic stared at him, stunned into silence.

And suddenly, it didn’t feel like they were dancing around anything anymore.

“Wha—”

“Goodnight, Sonic,” Shadow interrupted, shutting his eyes with practiced ease, as if dismissing the entire conversation with the flick of a switch.

Sonic stared at him, his mouth still slightly open. Seriously? That’s it? That’s how this conversation ends?

Carefully, he shifted the snoozing Chao from his arms onto a soft patch of moss nearby. It let out a gentle coo, curling up even more tightly as if wrapped in a dream.

But Sonic wasn’t done—not by a long shot.

He quietly crawled across the short distance between them, closing the little gap that remained like it was nothing. His presence was sudden, deliberate, and impossible to ignore.

“Hold on now,” he whispered, his voice low but firm, “What truth , exactly?”

Shadow’s eyes snapped open. They widened slightly when he saw just how close Sonic was—mere inches between them. He leaned back instinctively, tension flashing across his features like static.

And then, almost comically, Shadow scooted to the side.

Sonic copied him.

Shadow glared, lips parting in protest.

Sonic leaned in a bit more, matching his energy with a grin that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “You keep running from this, but I’m not letting you brush it off this time.”

“There’s nothing to run from,” Shadow lied, voice taut.

“Bull.” Sonic’s grin faded. “You said something real. And then you shut it down like you always do. Why?”

Shadow looked away, toward the soft light reflecting off the Chao Garden’s shallow pool. His jaw flexed, like he was trying to swallow something bitter.

“Because,” he finally muttered, voice barely audible, “it’s easier that way.”

Sonic's heart tugged a little at the vulnerability in that single sentence.

He scooted a bit closer—this time, slower, gentler. “Hey…whatever is on your mind, you can tell me.”

Shadow glanced at him again, surprised by the sincerity.

“Something happened between us,” Sonic said, his voice softer now. “And I’ve been losing sleep over that ever since. So yeah, I need to know—what fact can you not handle?”

“I don’t want to lead him on.”

The thought echoed in his mind, but his pouding heart was loud enough to muffle it.

Shadow was silent, the silence stretched long enough for Sonic to wonder if he’d pushed too far.

Then, Shadow turned to face him fully, their knees almost touching, and said with quiet intensity:

“Us.”

And just like that, Sonic forgot how to breathe.

Sonic silently prayed—begged, really—to whatever higher being was up there, watching this awkward emotional trainwreck of a moment, that Shadow never found that missing chaos emerald. Because if he did, and decided to teleport out of here, Sonic might just lose his mind.

“Us?” he asked, his voice a little higher than usual.

“Yes,” Shadow said flatly, as if that one word didn’t hold the weight of a thousand questions. “Now goodnight.”

Sonic let out an exasperated sound, somewhere between a groan and a laugh. “Will you quit that? We’re having a bonding moment , you absolute drama queen.”

Shadow sent him a look that could probably freeze a volcano mid-eruption, but Sonic caught it—that brief flicker in Shadow’s eyes, the way his gaze hesitated just a second too long on Sonic’s lips. The same exact flicker from a week ago.

And chaos help him, Sonic wasn’t done asking questions.

“What about us?”

Shadow let out a low, exasperated sigh, his eyes slipping shut for a brief moment. Under the soft silver glow of the moon, Sonic caught it—a faint dusting of color blooming across Shadow’s cheeks. It was subtle, almost hidden beneath his usual stoic exterior, but it was there.

Maybe it was time to ease off. Sonic felt a pang of guilt, realizing he might be pushing too hard. If there was one thing Shadow hated, it was feeling cornered—and if Sonic was being honest with himself, he was a little afraid of what the answer might be anyway. 

Still… there was one question he couldn’t shake.

“You never told me,” he said, voice softer now. “What you found out last week. You just said it’d be better if we didn’t fight. I’m still curious.”

Shadow was quiet for a moment. Then, with a sigh that sounded way too much like surrender, he said, “If I show you… will you let me sleep?”

Sonic grinned, the kind of grin that said absolutely not , even though his words said, “Probably. We’ll see.”

Shadow rolled his eyes—again. At this point, Sonic was starting to think he might be setting a world record for most dramatic eye-rolls in a conversation.

There was a flicker of hesitation in his movements as he shifted, uncrossing his arms and readjusting his posture until he was sitting properly beside Sonic in the grass. No longer stiff, just… surprisingly, a little shy.

His usual confidence seemed to crack at the edges, replaced by something softer, something uncertain. He looked down at his hands, fiddling with a stray piece of grass between his fingers, as if it were the most fascinating thing in the world. His ears were angled back slightly, and even in the dim light, Sonic could tell there was a faint pink tint along his cheeks.

It was a side of Shadow he rarely—if ever—got to see. Not the Ultimate Lifeform. Not his rival. 

Just Shadow. 

This whole situation they found themselves in was downright weird. 

Sonic couldn’t tell if this was real, or if it was just the universe messing with him. Was Shadow acting this way because of some cosmic interference? Was it Amy’s fault somehow? Had her tarot cards actually cursed him after all those years of brushing her off? Had she unknowingly sparked some kind of emotional epidemic, where everyone Sonic touched caught feelings?

But that theory didn’t track. He and Amy were cool now. Her crush had fizzled out ages ago, and she’d grown up into her own person, completely unattached. Knuckles? Please. That guy was basically his brother. They’d punched each other too many times for there to be anything romantic left between them. Jet? Oh, good Gaia, no. Silver? Absolutely not. Everyone else Sonic had spent time with recently had acted totally normal. Friendly, sure. A little chaotic sometimes, yeah. But not like this. 

Not like Shadow.

Shadow was the only one looking at him like that. With heat behind his eyes. With hesitation in his voice. With that rare, flickering vulnerability that broke through his scowl like sunlight through clouds.

So why him?

Why had the universe decided to curse Shadow of all people—the brooding, stubborn, mission-driven Ultimate Lifeform—with… feelings? And why, for Chaos’ sake, had it decided to make Sonic the target?

Snapped out of his spiraling thoughts, Sonic jolted slightly—caught off guard by the unexpected gentleness of Shadow’s hand brushing against his face. The moment was soft in a way Sonic wasn’t prepared for, and definitely not used to coming from him.

Shadow’s gloved fingers curled lightly against the side of his muzzle, warm even through the fabric. The touch wasn’t hesitant, but it wasn’t forceful either. It was gentle, like he was holding something precious. 

Then Shadow leaned in, slowly—so slowly—and Sonic could feel the air shift between them. The world got quiet. Even the gentle shake of the palm tree’s leaves seemed to hush. Shadow’s crimson eyes stayed locked on his, intense but soft, searching. Sonic’s brain short-circuited. 

Oh no.

Oh shit, it’s happening again!

Shadow was leaning in to kiss him, and instead of pulling away like every cool, collected, emotionally distant part of Sonic’s personality would’ve advised, he just—froze.

Frozen, not out of fear, but out of pure emotional whiplash. Because this wasn't supposed to be real. This wasn’t part of the plan. He didn’t have a plan for this. 

The universe really had it out for him.

But Sonic closed his eyes anyway—because in that moment, logic didn’t matter. Plans didn’t matter. All the second-guessing, all the denial, all the “this isn’t supposed to happen”—none of it held any weight against the gentle warmth of Shadow’s hand and the closeness of his breath.

He didn’t know what would happen next. He didn’t know what it meant, or what it would lead to. But he did know that the second he shut his eyes, everything quieted. The whirlwind in his chest calmed just enough to make him feel like he was floating.

He couldn’t believe it. This time, there was no room for doubt and no weird thoughts echoing in his brain. This time, he knew who leaned in first. Who made the choice. Who crossed the space between them with intent.

It was Shadow.

Not like last time where he was too flustered to even realize what was happening. Shadow had made the decision to pull Sonic in. Not by mistake, not by accident, but because he wanted to.

And suddenly, Sonic wasn’t just breathless from surprise. He was breathless because something in him had just clicked, which made his heart do flips, because now, maybe he did have an answer to this burning question of why Shadow didn’t want to fight him. Maybe he did know what Shadow had figured out.

“You’re both just two people figuring things out. And maybe you could help each other.”

Before their lips could meet, the soft, high-pitched wail of the Chao shattered the moment—sudden, sharp, and completely unignorable.

Both hedgehogs flinched, the tension between them snapping in an instant.

Sonic whipped his head toward the sound, eyes landing on the tiny Chao now sitting up with a pout so dramatic it bordered on betrayal, like it had just witnessed a war crime.

“…You’ve gotta be kidding me,” Sonic groaned, dragging a hand down his face.

Shadow let out a long, drawn-out sigh, the kind that felt heavy with everything left unsaid. His hand dropped from where it had been on Sonic’s cheek, and he leaned back with a stiffness that seemed to say: Of course. Figures.

Sonic reached over and gently scooped the Chao back into his arms, muttering as it cooed and snuggled into his chest like it hadn't just ruined a deeply personal moment. “Maybe I shouldn’t have put them down,” he said, voice laced with resigned amusement.

Shadow didn’t reply right away. Instead, he let out a sharp hmph , turning back to his original spot underneath the palm tree. The motion was deliberate, but not harsh—but Sonic noticed the extra feet of space he had left between them.

“I’m going to sleep,” he announced, voice clipped, but not exactly cold.

Sonic blinked, caught off guard by the sudden dismissal. “O-Oh! Okay, uh—night, Shads.”

Shadow didn’t answer. But he didn’t storm off either. That had to count for something, right?

Sonic sighed, lowering himself onto the soft grass with the tiny Chao tucked safely into his side. He stared up at the stars, wondering how he’d managed to mess things up again.

The moment had passed, far quicker than Sonic would’ve liked. It lingered only in the air between them now, in the awkward stillness and the unspoken words. He could practically feel Shadow’s disappointment radiating from across the short distance, even if his back was turned and his face unreadable.

Still, Sonic had gotten something. An answer, at least. Shadow had leaned in. That hadn’t been an accident or a fluke. It had been a choice. A conscious, terrifying, and weirdly tender choice. 

Maybe he’d have to avoid Shadow for a bit, let the weird tension between them cool off. Maybe whatever was happening would fade on its own. Just another confusing chapter in their already complicated rivalry-friendship-whatever. He wanted to talk about it—badly—but he knew better than to press. Shadow was a vault of secrets and pride, and cracking him open took more than a couple near-kisses under the stars.

And yet…

Why wasn’t he mad?

This guy had just tried to kiss him. Again . And Sonic hadn’t pulled away. Not even a little. His instincts hadn’t screamed danger, and his gut hadn’t twisted in a way that would make him hurl . If anything… he’d leaned in too.

What was wrong with him?

It was one thing to have a weird moment once—chalk it up to adrenaline, confusion, even proximity. But twice? And this time, with absolute clarity, with both of them fully aware? The universe had to be screwing with him. Feeding him fake feelings. Right?

Because how could something so confusing, so frustrating, so utterly impossible… also feel so magnetic? So right, even if it made no sense at all?

How could he want something so badly and still be so scared of it?

Maybe it wasn’t just bad timing. Maybe it wasn’t just miscommunication or chaos energy or whatever nonsense Amy’s tarot cards had sparked.

Maybe it was fate’s way of saying: Not yet. 

Or worse… not ever.

So he came to the conclusion:

Shadow is…not his soulmate.

Chapter Text

"Knuckles, are you, like, absolutely positive the Master Emerald can’t help me out?"

Knuckles snapped his head up from where he sat meditating, only to find Sonic sprawled out like a lazy starfish on top of the ancient jewel.

“Sonic?! Get off of it!”

Sonic rolled his eyes, stretching once before sliding dramatically off the massive emerald and landing beside Knuckles with a soft thud.

His legs wobbled slightly beneath him—tired in a way that wasn’t physical.

The other night had been… something. Somehow, he’d fallen asleep beside Shadow of all people. And they hadn’t said much after calming the fussy Chao, which may have been for the best. When Sonic had opened his eyes come morning, Shadow was already gone.

And in his place? A Chao kneading dough into Sonic’s fur with sleepy little paws. A gentle, bizarre alarm clock.

After offering it a triangle fruit and a head pat, Sonic had made his way straight to Angel Island—still in the same state of confusion he’d left the Chao Garden in.

“I feel like you’re lying to me,” Sonic said, arms crossed as he dropped to sit beside Knuckles.

“Why on Earth would I lie about that?” Knuckles scoffed, now sitting criss-cross near the Master Emerald.

“I don’t know, maybe you just don’t want to deal with whatever cosmic nonsense this is.”

“That’s not true and you know it. It’s just a fact, the Master Emerald can’t help you this time around.” Knuckles patted Sonic’s back, harsher than realizing. “Why are you so determined to avoid your soulmate?”

Sonic sighed and rubbed his face. “I just… I think I might have an idea of who it is.”

Knuckles raised a brow. “You know, I really thought not knowing was more your style.”

“It was. It is . But also… I don’t know. Last night threw me through a loop.”

Knuckles eyed him warily. “What kind of loop?”

Sonic groaned and dropped his face into his hands. “Does the Master Emerald do memory erasing? Like, just a quick selective wipe?”

“We’re not doing that.”

“So it can ?” Sonic perked up with forced hope.

“I didn’t say it could!”

“You didn’t say it couldn’t !”

Knuckles rolled his eyes. “Alright, alright,” he said, leaning back against the base of the emerald. “So, who do you think it is?”

At that, Sonic’s face heated instantly. Brilliant ruby-red eyes flickered behind his lids, paired with a frown that was way too pretty under the moonlight. The memory of how close they’d been, how close they almost were — again —sent his heart into a panic spiral.

He groaned again, louder this time, digging his palms into his eyes like he could block out the thoughts.

“Are they really that bad?” Knuckles asked, a little concerned now.

“Yes! I mean—no! He’s not bad, he’s just—ugh, I don’t know! It’s all so messed up.”

“He?” Knuckles echoed, blinking.

“Yeah…” Sonic said quietly, the word falling like a rock from his throat.

“Ohhh,” Knuckles said, sitting up straighter. “I see what this is about. Sonic, it’s okay if it’s a guy. You know that, right?”

“I know that,” Sonic said quickly, almost too quickly.

“Then what’s the big deal?”

“It’s who it is.”

Knuckles gave him a look. “And that person is…?”

“Don’t laugh,” Sonic warned.

“I would never.”

Sonic hesitated, visibly bracing himself. “It’s… Shadow.”

There was a beat of silence.

Then Knuckles burst out laughing.

“Dude!” Sonic shouted, standing up and throwing his arms wide. “You said you wouldn’t laugh!”

“I lied! ” Knuckles wheezed between cackles. “ Shadow?! The guy who’s emotionally constipated?! That Shadow?!”

Sonic groaned again, this time collapsing back on the cool stone like the world was ending.

“I hate my life.”

Knuckles patted his back between giggles. “Nah, man. You just hate that the Ultimate Life Form is your soulmate.”

“Please spare me.”

“Sonic and Shadow, sittin’ in a tree, k-i-s-s—”

Sonic jabbed him in the stomach. “I swear to Chaos I will push you off this island.”

“Worth it.”

“Ugh, I just don’t know what to do,” Sonic groaned, flopping backward onto the stone.

Knuckles shrugged, arms crossed and casual. “It’s not like anything has happened. If you just want to stay single, then stay single. No one’s forcing you to do anything, man.”

Sonic stared at him like he’d just dropped an anvil on his foot.

Oh right. He didn’t know.

“Knuckles…” Sonic started, sitting back up with a serious look in his eyes. “I’ve got news.”

Knuckles raised a brow. “Okay. What kind of news?”

Sonic scratched the back of his neck, his face heating up. “We kinda… maybe… like, well…”

Knuckles leaned in. “What the hell does that mean?”

“We almost kissed! ” Sonic blurted. “ Twice! ”

There was a beat of stunned silence, and then—of course—Knuckles doubled over in laughter. Again.

“Are you kidding me?!” he cackled. “Twice?! What, did the universe give you a do-over?!”

Sonic groaned so hard it echoed across the plateau. “Will you stop that?! This is serious! My brain is melting!”

Knuckles wiped a tear from the corner of his eye, still chuckling. “No, no, I’m sorry—but you’ve gotta admit, this is kind of hilarious.”

“It’s not! I’m freaking out over here, man! My entire identity is doing cartwheels in my head!”

“Okay, okay,” Knuckles said, holding up his hands. “I’m done laughing. I swear. No more jokes.”

Sonic eyed him skeptically. “You better not.”

Knuckles gave him a grin. “Scout’s honor.”

Sonic squinted. “You were never a scout.”

“Whatever.” Knuckles waved it off. “Alright, so what now? You almost kissed the guy—twice. Clearly something’s there.”

“Yeah, but what if it’s just…heat of the moment stuff? I mean, the first time it happened, there had to of been something in the air. The second time, Shadow leaned in first. What if I’m reading into it too much? What if he doesn’t feel anything at all and I’m just out here losing my mind like a fool?”

“Dude, if you’re still thinking about it days later, then it wasn’t nothing. You don’t lose sleep over nothing. ”

Sonic went quiet, staring off toward the edge of the island. The clouds drifted lazily across the sky, but his thoughts were anything but calm.

“Yeah,” he muttered. “That’s the problem.”

Knuckles was right—and Sonic hated that he was right. You didn’t toss and turn over something that meant nothing. Maybe his brain was trying to tell him something, nudging him toward an answer he didn’t want to admit. But none of this made any sense.

He and Shadow were opposites. They never agreed on anything. Even when working together against Eggman, their plans clashed, their personalities grated. Half the time they were fighting each other instead of the enemy. Compliments? Practically non-existent. Respect? Sure, in spades. Sonic admired Shadow’s drive, his loyalty to his values, even if they were radically different from his own. But that didn’t mean anything... did it?

Sonic blinked, brow furrowing.

He tried to think of a time they met up and didn’t trade blows. Couldn’t recall one. And every time they fought, his heart would start racing—not just from the adrenaline, but something else. A thrill. A charge in the air. And he always thought Shadow looked cool when he fought. Not in a “hey, nice technique” kind of way—but in a wind-blowing-through-his-quills, slow-motion, cinematic kind of way.

...Was that normal?

His mind began to spiral.

He remembered letting Shadow get the upper hand sometimes, just to see that rare, smug smirk of his. How it did something weird to his chest. Or how he caught himself admiring those ridiculously stylish airshoes. Or how when Shadow actually smiled— genuinely smiled—his brain short-circuited.

Oh no.

Shadow was, quite literally, the only one who could ever keep up with him—and not just physically. Sure, others came close in speed, but no one matched Sonic stride for stride, step for step, heartbeat for heartbeat. And the reverse was just as true. Sonic was the only one who could meet Shadow on his level, challenge him, get under his skin in ways no one else dared.

But it wasn’t just the rivalry. It was deeper than that.

No one else could get close to Shadow like Sonic could. No one else made him smirk during a fight, roll his eyes with something suspiciously close to fondness, or—on rare, almost sacred occasions—actually smile. Sonic had seen those smiles. Not many had. And every time he did, it felt like something precious, something he wasn’t supposed to have, but got anyway.

He thought back, uncomfortably aware of the lump forming in his throat, to all the times Shadow had saved him. Moments when death had been just a second away—blasts from Eggman’s machines, collapsing ruins, warping timelines. And yet, without fail, Shadow was there. 

He didn’t have to do that.

Sonic had spent years assuming Shadow just barely tolerated him—that he found him annoying at best, infuriating at worst. But now? Now that he was really thinking about it, those rescues didn’t feel like obligations. They felt like choices. Like instinct.

Why did Shadow always go out of his way to save him?

Even if Shadow did like him— if that was what all of this meant—there had to be more to it than just that. Shadow wasn’t someone who acted on whim or flings. He was driven by purpose, by deep emotion and relentless logic. If he’d risked everything for Sonic time and time again, it wasn’t just because he liked him.

It was because he cared . Really cared. Maybe more than Sonic had ever realized.

And that… was a lot to take in.

Sonic hadn’t noticed Knuckles watching him until the silence stretched too long. When he finally glanced up, Knuckles was still staring, brow furrowed in quiet thought. After a beat, he tilted his head slightly and broke the quiet.

“So… you really think he’s your soulmate?” he asked, voice low, curious rather than teasing.

“Nope!” Sonic shot back too quickly, arms coming up behind his head to lean against the Master Emerald.

This was all just some weird cosmic joke. A fluke. A temporary crush brought on by too many late nights and Amy’s cursed tarot cards. It had to be. There was no way the universe looked at him and Shadow and went, “Yes. These two. Perfect match.”

Absolutely not.

Totally impossible.

“Wait a second,” Knuckles squinted at him. “How did you even get up here without the Tornado?”

Sonic gave a casual shrug. “New technique. Launched myself off that tiny island over there.”

“Ah.” Knuckles nodded slowly, then—deadpan—added, “Well then, Sonic… get off my island. ”

—

Alright, Sonic. All you’ve gotta do is avoid him. Simple, right? You see him—run. He tries to talk to you—run faster. That’s what you’re good at, after all.

Sonic sighed and leaned back on the sloped roof of an old bell tower, the cool bricks warmed by the gentle kiss of the setting sun. The evening light painted everything in golds and pinks, and the breeze carried the scent of salt and citrus through the air. He was in a quiet little coastal town, one he hadn’t visited before—tucked between cliffs and seafoam, with winding streets and rust-red rooftops.

Below him, the town was alive with the rhythm of daily life. Fishermen hauled in the day’s catch, the silver glint of fish scales flashing in the sunlight. Street vendors called out to passersby, peddling baskets of fruit, cups of rolled ice cream, and skewers sizzling over hot coals. It was peaceful. 

And for the first time in a week, Sonic’s heart wasn’t beating like a jackhammer in his chest.

A pelican landed beside him with all the grace of a dropped anvil, a half-devoured fish still dangling from its beak. The bird gave Sonic a disinterested glance and then went back to its meal, completely unbothered by the blue blur sitting a few feet away.

Sonic’s stomach growled, reminding him that he hadn’t eaten anything yet today. He sat up straighter and scanned the streets below from his perch, eyes drifting lazily across the crowds in search of something— anything —that could hit the spot.

No chili dog stands. Of course not. Too much fish everywhere. Grilled fish, fried fish, fish in soup—he didn’t care how it was cooked, if it came from water, he didn’t want anything to do with it. 

But then he spotted something—just across the square. A kabob stall, the air thick with the scent of sizzling meat and something vaguely sweet. Bingo.

Sonic was already preparing to leap down, trying to remember if he had rings with him to pay when something in the corner of his eye caught his attention.

A flash of red.

A streak of black.

He froze.

No. No way. No way.

His eyes snapped back to the crowd, scanning, searching. He must’ve imagined it. His brain was playing tricks on him. He was tired, stressed, maybe still emotionally scrambled from, you know, everything.

But then he saw it again—just a glimpse, just long enough to turn his blood to ice.

Red stripes. Black quills. That impossibly familiar silhouette.

Shadow.

Sonic’s breath hitched. His pulse jumped into overdrive.

You have got to be kidding me.

Of all the places. Really? Really? How did this keep happening?

The universe was definitely mocking him at this point. This had to be fate’s idea of a cruel joke. Stupid tarot cards. Stupid Shadow. Stupid universe. Stupid everything!

Sonic gritted his teeth. So much for avoiding Shadow. Forget running away—this wasn’t fear anymore. This was frustration.

No. You know what? Screw the plan.

Screw dodging and hiding and waiting for some cosmic sign. If fate was going to keep shoving Shadow into his path, then fine. He’d shove back.

With a breath, Sonic vaulted off the bell tower’s roof and dove into the crowd below, moving with that effortless grace that made it look like he was gliding. His feet barely made a sound as he weaved through the mob of people and Mobians alike, eyes locked onto the black and red blur ahead of him.

Shadow.

He was walking at a steady, calm pace, unaware of the blue streak on his tail. Sonic followed silently, the buzz of market life surrounding them. The savory scent of food faded as they left the main square, replaced by the bright colors and lively chatter of a different kind of market.

They passed into an underpass lit by strings of warm lights and paper lanterns. The space narrowed, but burst to life with color—dozens of stalls lining the walls, selling everything from painted parasols to handmade jewelry, straw hats to wind chimes that sang in the breeze. The walls were decorated with murals and ivy, and the sunlight filtering through gaps above painted everything in moving ribbons of gold and green.

Sonic’s gaze flicked back to Shadow, who looked utterly at ease, walking through the rainbow haze like he belonged there. The shifting colors from the lanterns reflected across his fur like a living kaleidoscope, highlighting his sharp angles and soft shadows in ways Sonic definitely did not want to think about.

As Sonic followed him farther, a shifting gradient of greens and blues shimmered softly across Shadow’s fur, catching the light like ripples on water. Unbeknownst to Sonic, a subtle wash of pink, purple, and blue had begun to dance across his own fur.

It would’ve been beautiful, honestly. He might’ve even enjoyed it—if he didn’t have a mission.

Sonic kept a safe distance, ducking behind displays of scarves and potted succulents, all while keeping his target in view. He didn’t want to confront Shadow here, not in the middle of a crowd. Not with so many eyes watching.

And strangely enough, no one seemed to recognize either of them.

No whispers. No excited gasps. No one pointing. Maybe it was the town’s laid-back vibe. Or maybe it was the look on Sonic’s face—jaw tight, eyes narrowed, stride sharp and purposeful—that made people steer clear.

If he looked intense, it was because he was. 

And Gaia above, this place felt endless.

The market twisted and wound like a living maze, its colors cascading over every surface in bright ribbons of neon and pastel. Stalls were bursting with hand-woven fabrics, glass ornaments that caught the light like fire, and incense that curled in fragrant trails through the air. The atmosphere buzzed with life and warmth, but none of it touched Sonic. Not when his mind was tangled up in him .

What is Shadow even doing here?

Of all the quaint coastal towns, why was he strolling through this exact marketplace? Sonic’s frustration bubbled just beneath the surface. There was no logic to any of it, and it only made the itch beneath his skin worse.

Then—suddenly—Shadow stopped.

Sonic froze on instinct, ducking into the nearest hiding place, which unfortunately happened to be behind a giant inflatable cow…wearing a hot pink bikini.

The vendor running the booth, a sheep Mobian with a nose piercing and crochet hook between her fingers, glanced sideways at him with unimpressed judgment before returning to her craft. Sonic gave her a sheepish grin, mouthing a silent don’t mind me.

Peeking around the inflatable mascot’s inflatable udder, Sonic’s eyes narrowed.

Ah, of course.

There she was—Rouge the Bat,  holding up a glimmering necklace in one hand and a matching bracelet in the other. Her wings flicked dramatically as she spoke to Shadow, gesturing from one item to the next. It looked like she was asking for his opinion. Shadow, ever the picture of enthusiasm, stood there with arms folded, expression unreadable—bored, maybe. Or just pretending to be.

Figures.

Sonic’s gaze drifted past her shoulder and landed on a hulking frame looming in the background—sleek, sharp-edged, red optics scanning the trinkets. He even lifted up a necklace, showing Rouge, who lit up at the sight.

Omega.

Wonderful. The whole squad’s here. Team Dark, fully assembled. So much for any kind of confrontation. Sonic sighed, sinking lower behind the cow’s inflatable backside.

Maybe this is a sign. He could still make a clean getaway. No one had spotted him. He could turn around, bolt back into the alleyways, find that kabob stand, and eat his feelings in peace. His plan of avoidance was looking mighty appealing right about now.

He started to inch backward, mind already drifting to sizzling meat skewers and ice-cold lemonade—

And then, he looked back.

Rouge’s gaze locked with his.

She didn’t startle, didn’t gasp. She just smirked, slow and devilish, as if she knew everything he was thinking in that moment—and found it absolutely hilarious. One perfectly manicured hand waved casually, like she was greeting an old friend across the room at a party.

Sonic froze in place.

Oh no.

Rouge leaned toward Shadow, whispering something behind a raised wing. Shadow’s ear twitched. Omega turned slightly, trying to detach the necklace from his steel claws.

Sonic was so busted.

Shadow turned.

It was slow—like time itself decided to drag just to mess with Sonic—and when their eyes met, everything else in the marketplace blurred. The sound of chatter, the calls of merchants, the rustle of bags and the clink of jewelry… all of it faded into white noise.

Shadow’s mouth parted slightly in surprise. His red eyes, bright and sharp, locked onto Sonic’s with unreadable emotion.

And then… they just stared at each other.

Neither moved. Neither spoke.

The air between them was thick with something unspoken. Whatever it was, it made Sonic’s heart do an somersault in his chest. His legs, the same ones that had carried him across continents, felt like they were made of stone.

Rouge, sensing the emotional stalemate, grinned like she’d just won a bet no one else knew was happening.

“Well, well…” she purred, nudging Shadow in the side with a little more force than necessary. “Hey, blue!”

Shadow took a slow step forward, his eyes still locked on Sonic like he was trying to solve a particularly irritating puzzle. His mouth opened like he was going to say something—something important—but all that came out was a quiet, cautious:

“…Sonic.”

Sonic blinked. His fingers twitched at his sides. There were a thousand words backed up in his throat, but none that felt right. None that wouldn’t immediately come out sounding like panic or sarcasm or why are you everywhere I go lately?!

So instead, he just breathed out:

“…Hey.”

Rouge crossed her arms, looking between the two of them with a knowing smirk. “So nice to see you here, blue. Right Shadow?

Omega stood behind the other members of Team Dark, somehow tangled in more jewelry. “EMOTIONAL TENSION DETECTED. DRAMATIC STAREDOWN IN PROGRESS.”

Shadow gave him a tired look. “Omega.”

Sonic rubbed the back of his neck, laughing nervously. 

Rouge snickered. “Well, I’ll just be over there pretending not to watch. And uh, helping Omega with his problem.”

And just like that, she stepped away, dragging Omega with her. They could hear his booming voice complaining about the amount of jewelry he was covered in, and asking if he looked pretty.

Now it was just them.

Just Sonic and Shadow.

In a rainbow-washed market full of strangers, the world narrowed down to two Mobians and a silence stretched thin enough to snap.

Welp. This was officially awkward.

Sonic stood stiffly, arms at his sides like he had no idea what to do with them. His gaze flicked toward anything that wasn’t Shadow—the handmade scarves on display, the fruit vendor yelling about discounts, a dog barking at a bird—and then reluctantly back to the very confused, very suspicious hedgehog standing in front of him.

“…Are you following me?” Shadow asked, one brow raised, voice low and unreadable.

Sonic nearly jumped out of his fur. “What?! No! Dude—absolutely not!” he sputtered, waving his hands like that would physically bat the accusation out of the air. “I didn’t even know you were gonna be here! It’s just… I dunno, a super weird coincidence!”

Shadow’s eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn’t press further. “Then why are you here?”

Sonic blinked, still trying to get his heart rate under control. “I mean, why are you here?”

Shadow crossed his arms. “G.U.N. mission. About a mile out. We wrapped it up quickly this morning. Rouge saw this place and couldn’t resist spending half her paycheck on shiny things.”

Sonic huffed a laugh. “Yeah, that checks out.”

“And now… your turn.”

“What?”

“You said it was a coincidence. So what brought you here?”

Sonic rubbed the back of his neck, ears flicking awkwardly. “Uh, well… Angel Island isn’t too far from here, and I’ve never been to this town before. Thought I’d check it out, maybe clear my head a bit.”

At the mention of Angel Island, Shadow’s posture shifted ever so slightly. “Angel Island?” he echoed, slowly. “Is something wrong?”

“No,” Sonic said quickly, perhaps too quickly. “Nah, just… visiting the knucklehead. Y’know, catching up.”

Shadow’s jaw clenched for the briefest of moments. Something unreadable passed through his expression—gone in a blink. But Sonic caught it.

Jealousy?

Shadow gave a small nod, his eyes flicking away like he was trying to play it cool. “I see.”

Sonic studied him for a beat, lips pursed like he wanted to say something more, but didn't.

And still, here they were, pretending this was a totally normal conversation.

There was so much Sonic wanted to say, so much he wanted to ask, but knew better than to do that in public. But the silence was becoming unbearable, maybe he—

Sonic’s stomach decided to break the awkwardness and growled—loudly.

The sound echoed embarrassingly between the narrow rows of stalls, and he instinctively curled in on himself, hand pressed to his gut. “Heh… yeah. I was just about to grab a bite.”

“Then let’s go,” Shadow said, already turning on his heel like it was a done deal.

Sonic blinked. “Huh? Wait, what?”

“I’ll pay,” Shadow replied over his shoulder. “What do you want?”

Caught off guard, Sonic scrambled after him, falling into step at his side. “You don’t have to do that, man.”

“I know,” Shadow said coolly, eyes scanning the street ahead. “But I also don’t want to find out how unbearable you get when you’re hungry.”

Sonic scoffed. “Rude.”

Shadow’s smirk was brief, but visible, and something about it pulled a smile from Sonic too. The tension that had been wound so tightly in his chest since spotting him began to loosen, just a little. Their pace was slow and casual, their steps syncing in that unspoken rhythm they always seemed to find without trying.

Every now and then, their hands brushed. Just for a second—fingertips barely grazing knuckles—but it was enough to send a rush of heat spiraling through Sonic’s core. He had to focus, had to keep his eyes forward, had to pretend he didn’t want to reach out and lace their fingers together.

He swallowed hard. “Hey, uh… Shadow?”

But before the words could truly take shape, a sudden noise broke through the air. 

Sonic’s attention snapped forward just in time to see a swarm of children barreling down the walkway, chasing after a wildly zigzagging kite. The crowd parted in panic, people yelping and stepping aside as the kids dashed forward, oblivious to the chaos they were causing.

Shadow’s reaction was instant.

He reached out and grabbed Sonic by the shoulders, pulling him aside with unexpected force and pushing them between two nearby stalls just as the stampede of kite-chasers surged past.

They stood there, chest to chest, both panting slightly. Sonic’s back brushed against a rack of hanging scarves, the silk fluttering faintly against his quills. Shadow had one arm braced beside his head, the other still lightly gripping Sonic’s elbow.

The sounds of the marketplace seemed to fade, muffled by the walls of fabric and the narrow alley they’d ducked into. Crimson parasols hung overhead, filtering the warm sunlight into glowing shades of red and gold. A curtain of pale fabric floated in the breeze behind them, closing them off from the world.

They turned to look at each other at the same time.

Their noses bumped—just barely.

Sonic froze, heart lurching into his throat. Shadow didn’t move away. He was close. Closer than he’d ever been. His eyes, deep and unreadable, flicked down for the briefest of moments. Sonic saw it.

“…Thanks,” He said, voice quiet, almost breathless.

Shadow’s hand lingered just a second longer, then slowly dropped. “You’re welcome.”

Neither moved.

Once again, Sonic found himself staring into Shadow’s eyes, heart hammering, and brain absolutely short-circuiting.

How? How did they keep ending up like this—tangled in moments charged with tension, silence so loud it practically echoed, breath mixing like something was just about to happen?

It was so confusing.

Maybe Amy had been right all along.

Sonic had wanted to prove her wrong—prove that whatever this was, whatever was happening between him and Shadow, wasn’t real . That it was just a fluke, a weird coincidence, a side effect of too much adrenaline and not enough sleep.

But standing here, so close, feeling the ghost of Shadow’s breath on his face, Sonic wasn’t so sure anymore.

He cleared his throat—sharp and awkward, desperate to break the tension before it swallowed him whole.

It worked. Too well.

Shadow jerked back like he’d been burned, putting a solid two feet of space between them. The air that had felt so warm and electric a second ago instantly turned cold.

And Sonic… did not like that.

His brows twitched. He tried not to let it show, but the sting was instant and sharp.

What was that? Why did Shadow look so startled? Like the idea of being that close to Sonic had physically hurt him?

Was he that repulsive?

Damn it.

No. This was good. Nothing happened. That was the whole point, right? Avoid disaster. Stay in control. Keep your distance. Right?

His jaw clenched. His heart was still racing, but now for entirely different reasons. Ugh! Why am I mad?! This was good . This meant things were normal. 

Sonic swore he could hear the universe sighing in disappointment—one big, cosmic facepalm echoing through the ether as its plan unraveled yet again.

“Let’s get you something to eat,” Shadow said, his voice calm, like nothing had just happened.

“...Right.” Sonic forced a grin, awkward and a little too wide, trying to patch up the heavy silence with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

They stepped back out into the colorful street, shoulder to shoulder but wrapped in quiet. The crowd flowed around them like water around two stones, and yet all Sonic could focus on was the weird gravity still pulling between them. Like an invisible thread kept tugging, even as they tried to pretend it didn’t exist.

Eventually, they made their way back to the vendor stalls, the delicious scent of grilled meats dancing in the air and making Sonic’s stomach growl again. Thank Chaos for food—something simple.

They stopped at the kabob vendor, the skewers sizzling fresh over the grill, juices dripping and meat glistening.

Sonic’s eyes lit up as he eagerly pointed at the one with the most variety. “That one, please!”

Shadow stepped up without a word and handed over a few rings to the vendor before Sonic could even reach into his quills.

“Dude, you really don’t have to—” Sonic started, but Shadow just gave him a look. That quiet, unreadable kind of expression that said don’t argue with me more than any words could.

Sonic huffed through a crooked smile. “Thank you,” he muttered as he accepted the steaming skewer. “I’m paying you back somehow. One day. Don’t fight me on it.”

With a cheerful thanks to the vendor, Sonic took his first bite. The flavors hit like a celebration—smoky, tangy, savory—and his eyes rolled back in bliss.

“Mmm! This is so good ! Wanna try?” he said, grinning as he turned and casually held the skewer up toward Shadow.

And then he froze.

Shadow blinked at him, eyebrows rising slowly as if Sonic had just offered him a live grenade. “I’m good,” he said, tone flat but tinged with disbelief.

“Oh! Uh—right! Ha. Cool. More for me!” Sonic turned away quickly, biting into the next chunk with a bit too much enthusiasm.

Oh, Gaia. He had almost just— shared food . With Shadow.

Like they were on a date or something.

He stared down at the skewer in horror, his thoughts spiraling. Quit being weird! You two aren’t friends. What even are you? Should I ask? Would that be weird? Ugh, obviously! I don’t want to know anyway!

Shadow was silent beside him, probably judging him into the ground. Sonic risked a glance, and to his surprise, Shadow didn’t look weirded out—just…content.

And somehow, that made it worse.

Sonic finished the last bite of his kabob and tossed the empty stick into a nearby bin with a satisfied sigh. “Man, that hit the spot. Don’t you wanna grab something too?”

“I’m alright,” Shadow replied coolly, arms crossed as he watched the crowd move around them. “I don’t need to eat as much as you.”

“Right, right… the whole Ultimate Lifeform thing,” Sonic teased, nudging his elbow lightly against Shadow’s side.

“You just hate that the Ultimate Life Form is your soulmate.”

Sonic nearly choked on air.

Knuckles' voice practically echoed through his mind like a bad ringtone: "I see what this is about. Sonic, it’s okay if it’s a guy."

He’s dead. I’m gonna kill him. Slowly. Then revive him and kill him again.

His cheeks were burning—no, scorching —and he didn’t even know where to look. His brain was melting, there was no way it wasn’t.

“Sonic, are you alright?”

“Wha— Yes!” Sonic cursed internally, he suddenly felt very hot. Was it hot out here?

Before he could come up with a coherent reply, Shadow suddenly reached out and grabbed his arm.

“Whoa—!” Sonic stumbled a step forward, blinking rapidly as the sudden contact jarred him. “What’s happening?” He asked, noticing the way Shadow’s eyes narrowed.

“Rouge,” Shadow muttered.

“Huh?” Sonic turned to look and—yep. There she was, standing a few feet away, looking far too entertained, phone in hand, snapping pictures like they were celebrities caught on a scandalous date.

She waved with her fingers and smirked knowingly.

Sonic groaned, giving her an unimpressed stare that promised revenge. Mental note: next time she asks him for help with the knucklehead, she’d better offer him a lifetime supply of chilidogs first.

And then, without warning, Shadow's hand shifted lower down Sonic's arm—until their fingers brushed.

Then laced.

Sonic’s brain didn’t just short-circuit this time—it evaporated .

Every nerve in his body lit up like a supernova. He went stiff, wide-eyed, barely able to breathe. Was this real? Was Shadow holding his hand? In public?! In front of Rouge?!

Shadow didn’t even look at him. He just kept his head forward, jaw tight, as if he hadn’t just detonated an emotional bomb between them.

Sonic's heart was beating in his ears, so loud he was sure even Rouge could hear it from where she stood.

His mouth opened, but no words came out.

Because holy crap —Shadow’s hand was really warm .

They finally broke free from the never-ending tide of people, weaving their way through the maze of vendors, music, and the overwhelming sensory overload of the marketplace. The sound of chatter and children laughing faded behind them as Shadow led the way down a quiet path toward one of the fishing docks that jutted out into the sea.

Never in a million years would Sonic have guessed that Shadow would willingly want to hold his hand, or anyone’s for that matter.

This whole closeness thing they had going on? It was completely throwing him off. Shadow was being soft. He was letting Sonic in, and Sonic didn’t know what to do with that. Shadow was confusing, unpredictable—and somehow, maddeningly alluring. 

Ugh, stupid brain. Stupid feelings. Stupid Shadow!

Once they reached the very end of the dock, Shadow exhaled—deep, like he’d been holding it in for miles. His shoulders sagged slightly, and his grip loosened.

Sonic glanced over and noticed the subtle tremble running through Shadow’s arm.

“Sorry,” Shadow muttered, voice quieter now that they had space. “Too many people.”

Ah. So it wasn’t just Rouge’s antics that had him on edge.

Golden hour had fully settled in, painting everything in warm hues of orange and rose. The sunlight draped itself over Shadow, catching in the angles of his face and turning his normally piercing crimson eyes into something softer—more pink than red, flecked with a glow that reminded Sonic of sunrise through a window.

He blinked. Shadow looked… breathtaking. He’d never admit that out loud.

“S’okay,” Sonic said, voice gentle. He gave Shadow’s hand a reassuring squeeze.

Shadow looked down at their joined hands, expression unreadable, before the corners of his mouth lifted—just a little—and he slowly pulled away.

Sonic let him, but his palm instantly missed the warmth.

Shadow dropped down to sit at the edge of the dock, shoes just inches from the glistening waves below. Sonic plopped down beside him, letting his legs dangle over the edge. The dock creaked softly beneath them, and the breeze off the ocean carried the scent of salt and distant citrus from the market.

“I was never a fan of crowds either,” Sonic admitted, stretching his arms behind him. “That’s why I’m always running. Places like that? It’s like there’s no air.”

Shadow nodded, gaze fixed on the horizon. “It’s suffocating. All the noise. All the… everything.”

“It is,” Sonic agreed. He glanced down, watching a small school of fish weave between the support beams beneath the dock. The water shimmered under the setting sun, catching glints of color with each ripple.

It occurred to him that he was sitting unusually close to water— willingly —and not on edge about it. That was weird. He usually avoided this kind of thing like the plague.

But here he was, feet swinging above the waves like it was nothing.

And he figured maybe it wasn’t the water that made him feel safe.

Maybe it was the guy sitting next to him.

Chaos, Sonic thought, running a hand through his quills. My brain’s doing laps today.

The breeze off the ocean tousled his fur, and beside him, Shadow seemed unusually tense, like he was working up to something.

“Sorry for leaving you this morning,” Shadow said suddenly. “I wasn’t expecting to be called into work.”

“Oh!” Sonic blinked, the Chao Garden visit flashing back to him. “Nah, no worries. Duty calls, right?”

Shadow nodded once but didn’t seem soothed. His hand twitched in his lap before he finally gestured between the two of them.

“Look,” he said, voice a touch softer now. “We need to talk about… this.”

And there it was—the exact conversation Sonic had been trying to dodge.

Feelings? He didn’t do those. Love? Not a believer. Soulmates? Absolutely not. Have you caught on yet? That was fairy tale nonsense, the kind Amy scribbled in her diary or predicted with her tarot cards.

He wanted to bolt. Dive headfirst into the ocean, maybe. A dramatic belly flop would hurt less than whatever emotional catastrophe was coming next.

But if he kept running into Shadow like this—kept finding himself drawn to him like chaos energy to an emerald—maybe the universe was done giving him a choice.

“…O-Okay,” Sonic managed, throat dry.

Shadow turned his body slightly to face him. His brows furrowed. “Did… you still want to know what I found out?”

“Yes!” Sonic blurted, maybe a little too fast. He winced. Cool it, man. Chill.

Shadow looked like he was chewing on glass, debating every word before he dared let it leave his mouth. The silence stretched between them, heavy and awkward, like a countdown to something Sonic didn’t know he was bracing for.

And then—quietly, like it took everything to admit—Shadow said, “I like you, Sonic.”

Sonic froze.

Oh.

“…Oh.”

Shadow gave him a look, sharp and mildly offended. “ ‘Oh’? ”

“I mean—uh—cool! No wait. No! I mean— what?! ” Sonic’s voice cracked embarrassingly at the end. “You—you can’t just say things like that!”

“That was not the reaction I was expecting,” Shadow said dryly.

“What were you expecting?” Sonic asked, borderline hysterical.

“For you to kick me into the ocean.”

Sonic glanced at the water. “…That does sound tempting.”

Shadow’s ears flattened, a rare vulnerability ghosting across his face. Sonic felt like a total jerk.

“I—can I be honest?” Sonic said, fidgeting. “I think Amy might’ve cursed us.”

Shadow blinked. “What?”

“She did this tarot card reading for me the other day—”

“It was about soulmates, wasn’t it?”

“Yes! So like—don’t feel too bad about your feelings, okay? Maybe the cards are playing tricks on both of us!”

Shadow looked down, the light catching his lashes. For the first time since Sonic had met him, he looked… on the verge of tears. Just a shimmer, not quite falling.

Panic flared in Sonic’s chest. “Wait, did I—did I say something wrong? I didn’t mean—”

“Did she ever tell you who your soulmate was?” Shadow interrupted, his voice tight.

Sonic shook his head. “No, why?”

“Then how could she have cursed me?”

Sonic opened his mouth, blinked. “…Wha—?”

“These feelings,” Shadow said, quiet but steady, “are genuine, Sonic. They’re mine. Don’t make a fool of me.”

And just like that, Sonic’s world tilted.

Because for all his running, all his denial, for all the jokes he used to mask the feelings building in his chest—

He couldn’t deny that Shadow was serious.

And the swarm of butterflies in his stomach—loud, relentless, impossible to ignore—told him one undeniable truth: maybe… just maybe, he did feel the same way.

This wasn’t just some fluke. Not a stray heartbeat or a one-time weakness. Not a misread moment under moonlight or some passing daydream fueled by proximity. It wasn’t something the tarot cards could explain away, no matter how many times Amy shuffled the deck.

Shadow’s feelings were real—raw, unshakable—and they lingered in the air between them like a living thing. And there was no banishing them with a laugh, or outrunning them with a gust of wind.

But that led to the bigger question, the one Sonic couldn’t keep dodging:

What was he really feeling?

Because something inside him stirred every time Shadow looked at him like that—like he meant something. Something fluttered in his chest when their hands brushed, when Shadow smirked, when their eyes locked too long.

It was more than friendship. But what was it?

“And if you keep leading me on like this…” Shadow’s voice faltered, the words falling from his lips like they weighed too much to carry. His eyes dropped to the space between them, a hesitant vulnerability in his expression. 

“No! That’s not—” Sonic sat up straighter, panic tightening his chest. “That’s not my intention at all! I swear, Shadow.”

He took a breath, raking a hand through his quills. “Look, I’m still trying to figure this out. I’m coming to terms with all of it—these feelings, you , this whole soulmate thing. It’s like... I’ve never felt anything like this before. Not even close.”

He let out a humorless laugh, rubbing at the back of his neck. “It’s weird. And I hate that I don’t understand it. I hate that it makes me feel like I’m not in control for once.”

Shadow stayed silent, urging him to continue. 

“But,” Sonic continued, his voice softening, “when I stop panicking about it... when I actually let myself feel it, even for a second, it doesn’t feel scary. Not really.”

He looked up at Shadow, eyes a little wider now.

“It feels… right. Like somehow, it makes sense. Like maybe this was always supposed to happen. If it’s… with you.”

The words lingered in the air between them—warm, shaky, honest. And Sonic could only hope Shadow understood what it took for him to say them.

“Just… give me time,” Sonic said quietly, almost pleading.

Shadow gave a slow nod, his expression unreadable, his gaze flicking toward the horizon as if trying to find something steady out there. Something easier than the mess of feelings between them.

Before either of them could say anything else, Rouge’s unmistakable voice cut through the air like a whipcrack.

“Hey, lovebirds!” she called. “Shadow! Time to go! Unless, of course, you’re staying for a romantic sunset or something?”

Sonic chuckled softly, more out of nervous habit than amusement, and looked back at Shadow.

He wanted to say Stay. The words danced on the tip of his tongue. But he swallowed them down, knowing he had no right to ask that of him. Not now. Not when everything between them still felt so delicate—like glass held together by unspoken words and hopeful glances.

“I should be leaving,” Shadow said, rising to his feet, his voice already distancing itself.

“Yeah. Right.” Sonic stood as well, brushing his hands off on his thighs. “See you later?”

Shadow turned, a small, rare smile curving on his lips—so warm it made Sonic’s chest ache.

“Of course,” he said.

But it didn’t reach his eyes.

And that broke something in Sonic. He watched as Shadow walked away, the fading golden light stretching across the dock like a final spotlight.

No more words were exchanged. Just silence. And then the sound of Shadow’s airshoes fading into the distance.

Sonic sat there a while longer, staring out over the calm, endless sea, the wind brushing through his quills like a ghost of a touch.

Shadow wasn’t his soulmate.

But the way his chest ached… he was starting to wish he was.

Chapter Text

Oh Gaia.

Oh Gaia above .

He liked Shadow.

So this is what Amy was talking about. 

No matter how hard he’d tried to outrun it—sprinting headfirst into denial, diving into distractions, begging fate to give him anything but this—he still couldn’t escape it.

He couldn’t outrun fate.

Even after his wild mission to figure out who his soulmate was—hoping to prepare, or more likely avoid the entire ordeal—here he was, knees weak in front of his own reflection, watching his own expression shift into something too soft, too real.

There was a shimmer in his eyes. He swore he could almost see the hearts forming there when he thought about Shadow—his intense eyes, his sharp wit, the way his voice dropped into something gentle when he thought no one was listening.

Because yeah.

Yeah.

He liked him.

It had started creeping in quietly—when he found himself hoping he’d run into Shadow again… when his heart tugged every time their hands had brushed… when he stayed up too late, remembering how Shadow looked under the parasols, colors dancing over his fur.

But it all started to click that evening—when Shadow walked away with a forced smile and sad eyes, and Sonic let him go .

That was the moment he knew.

Because that regret? That sinking feeling in his chest?

He never wanted to feel it again.

He never wanted to see that look on Shadow’s face again—like he’d opened up only to be pushed away. Sonic had caused that. And it made his stomach twist in the worst way.

He needed to fix it.

Sonic blinked at his reflection, the running water in the sink still trickling quietly beneath the sound of his own spiraling thoughts. He’d been pacing for who knows how long, muttering to himself, pulling at his quills, trying to talk himself out of feelings he had very clearly fallen into .

And then it hit him.

He’d been in Vanilla’s bathroom way too long.

Like, suspiciously long.

“Oh crap,” he muttered, glancing at the door as if it had grown eyes and was silently judging him.

This wasn’t just a bathroom break anymore—this was edging into worryingly emotional meltdown territory. And in someone else’s house, no less. He winced, imagining Vanilla gently knocking on the door, asking if everything was okay. Or worse, Amy standing outside with her arms crossed and a knowing smirk on her face.

He quickly splashed water on his face, trying to cool off the red that had stubbornly taken root in his cheeks, and gave himself one last look in the mirror.

Get it together.

With a final deep breath, Sonic turned to the door, stance confident like he hadn’t just spent the past fifteen minutes losing a silent argument with his own heart.

A knock on the door startled him from his thoughts.

“Sonic?” Tails’ voice rang through from the other side, cautious but curious. “You’ve been in there a while… Was it a bad chilidog?”

“No!” Sonic called back, voice strained. “Just… having a crisis!”

There was a pause. “Uh… do you wanna talk about it?”

Sonic yanked open the door like it was now or never, revealing his wide-eyed little brother on the other side, concern etched into every line of his face.

“I think I’m in love with Shadow.”

Tails blinked.

“Oh,” he said simply, blinking again.

“Yeah,” Sonic muttered, running a hand through his quills. “Oh.”

“And…” Tails smiled, a little hesitant, but sincere. “You figured this out in Vanilla’s bathroom?”

Sonic turned back around to see the vibrant bathroom. “Yes,” he turned around to Tails. “I need serious help.”

“Do you wanna talk about it?”

“Yeah…”

“Okay. Do you want me to get Amy?”

“NO!” “I mean, please no. I don’t want to see her I told you so face right now.”

Tails chuckled a bit. “Okay, let’s go in the living room since everyone’s outside.”

They headed downstairs to the living room, where Sonic threw himself onto the couch. He let out an exaggerated groan, limbs splayed like he’d just run a marathon. Tails trailed after him, settling into the armchair nearby with a raised brow and quiet curiosity.

“So,” Tails said, steepling his fingers together like a professional, “this is technically news to me, but… not really .”

Sonic turned his head, squinting. “Wait, what? What do you mean?”

“I kind of expected it,” Tails said with a casual shrug.

“ Expected it? How?!”

“You’re not exactly subtle, Sonic.”

Sonic sat up straight, offended. “What are you talking about? I just figured this out!”

Tails gave him a flat look. “Since the day you two met , you’ve been making goo-goo eyes at him like you were in a soap opera.”

“I have not! …Have I?” Sonic’s voice wavered near the end, doubt creeping in.

“Yes. One hundred percent. I’m honestly just glad you finally figured it out.”

“Huh.” Sonic sank back into the cushions. “Well… alright then. Good for me, I guess.”

There was a beat of silence.

“But I messed up,” he admitted quietly.

Tails tilted his head. “You didn’t break his heart, did you?”

“...Maybe a little?”

“Sonic.”

“I know ! I feel like such an ass! Ugh—sorry, excuse my language. Don’t repeat that.”

Tails rolled his eyes.

“He told me he liked me. A whole confession and everything. And I just—” Sonic buried his face in his hands, groaning. “I blamed it on Amy’s stupid tarot cards! I basically said his feelings were fake! And then he just… looked at me like I’d ripped out his chest and stomped on it.”

“Yikes.”

“ Right?! And he even said— he even said —that his feelings were real. And I just sat there. Like an emotionally stunted pinecone.”

“Well,” Tails said, in his usual practical tone, “you know how you feel now. So go fix it. Apologize, be honest, kiss and make out or whatever.”

Sonic blinked at him. “The phrase is ‘kiss and make up ,’ little bro.”

“Whatever. My point stands.” Tails gave him a meaningful look. “But you better hurry. You know how Shadow is—he could be on the other side of the planet by now.”

That was all the motivation Sonic needed.

He sprang up from the couch like he’d been hit with a bolt of lightning. “You’re right! I can fix this! I have to fix this!”

“Uh-huh,” Tails said, leaning back with a knowing smile.

“Thanks, Tails! You’re the best!”

Sonic made his way toward the door, shoes barely making a sound against the floor, his mind tangled in thoughts and nerves. Just a few more steps and he’d be outside. But before he could twist the knob, a soft voice froze him in place.

“Sonic.”

He nearly jumped out of his skin, spinning around like he’d been caught stealing cookies. “Vanilla! Geez, you scared me.”

The gentle rabbit smiled, holding a stack of paper plates in her hands. “My apologies, dear. I didn’t mean to startle you.” There was a brief pause, her eyes kind but serious. “I just… overheard your conversation.”

Sonic’s heart dropped straight to his shoes. “You… did?”

“I was in the kitchen, gathering more plates for the kids,” she explained softly. “I wasn’t eavesdropping intentionally.”

Sonic rubbed the back of his neck, ears drooping. “It’s okay. Just, uh… maybe don’t tell anyone?”

Vanilla stepped closer, her expression warm. “Of course not. Your secret’s safe with me. I only wanted to tell you something important.”

“What is it?” he asked, unsure if he wanted the answer.

“If you’re scared… if you’re doubting yourself, or worried that Shadow’s feelings are just fleeting…” She paused, her voice quiet and heartfelt. “He talks about you all the time.”

Sonic blinked. “What?”

Vanilla’s smile turned fond. “Yes. He visits here often. I always get a few moments with him while Cream and Cheese are in bed. And just the other day… he came by, completely heartbroken. He said he feared his first love would never be returned.”

Sonic’s hand slipped from the doorknob, his chest tightening. “His first…?”

“I wouldn’t tell you this unless I believed you felt the same,” she said, stepping closer, “but now I’m certain. And while many may only see Shadow for his temper or his past, I know better.”

“I do too,” Sonic murmured, more to himself than to her. “And I plan to fix this. Whatever it takes, however long. I want to be the one who mends that heart.”

Vanilla’s eyes shimmered, and she brought a hand to her chest, touched. “That’s very sweet of you, Sonic. I know his mind may still be clouded with doubt, but if I know Shadow… he’s waiting.”

“Do you know where he might be?”

Vanilla tapped her chin thoughtfully. “Not for certain, but he’s mentioned how much he enjoys the ocean. Says it brings him peace. He likes to collect seashells.”

Sonic raised a brow, surprised. “Shadow? Seashells?”

Vanilla chuckled lightly. “I know, it’s adorable, isn’t it? Cream’s got quite the growing collection thanks to him.”

A small grin found its way to Sonic’s face. “Thanks, Vanilla. For everything. I really messed up, huh?”

“We all do, dear,” she said, reaching up to gently ruffle the fur between his ears. “But it’s how we make things right that defines us. We’re all human, in a way.”

Sonic gave her a cheeky smirk. “We’re technically Mobians.”

She rolled her eyes fondly. “You know what I meant, you goofball.”

He gave her a two-finger salute, the wind already beginning to stir around his feet. “I’ll make it right. Promise.”

And with a gust of wind, the door swung open, and Sonic was gone.

Vanilla had mentioned that Shadow liked the ocean—how he found peace there, how he collected seashells. So naturally, the beach seemed like the best place to start. It made sense. The sound of crashing waves, the endless horizon—it was the kind of place someone went to think, to breathe, or escape.

So Sonic searched.

He zipped across coastlines and scouted hidden coves. He checked the busy beaches where families laughed under umbrellas and quiet, rocky shores where the only sounds were seagulls and wind. He ran through rain showers and the golden haze of the overhead sun, but Shadow was nowhere to be found.

Each empty stretch of sand only deepened the pit in Sonic’s stomach. Every shell left behind and every footprint that wasn’t his felt like a dead end. The usual thrill of running had dulled; his feet moved fast, but his heart dragged behind.

Sonic even retraced every step he'd taken the last time he’d looked for Shadow, hoping muscle memory or gut instinct would lead him somewhere— anywhere —familiar. Maybe, just maybe, Shadow would return to a place that felt safe. Sonic even doubled back to that small town they’d passed through a week ago, hoping for a flash of red and black amidst the crowd, a shadowy figure in the corner of his vision.

He told himself Shadow was probably fine. That maybe he’d gone home, or maybe he was just avoiding everyone like he tended to do. But the longer Sonic searched, the more those excuses stopped helping. The worry kept pressing tighter against his chest. What if he’d waited too long? What if he’d hurt Shadow more than he thought?

The sun was high now, casting a golden glow across the land, as if even the sky was pushing him forward.

Sonic figured his next best bet was Emerald Coast.

It made sense—if Shadow really wanted to be alone, to disappear for a while, that was the place to go. The stretch of beach there was vast and winding, dotted with little hidden coves and forgotten islands that the average beachgoer never even knew existed. It was the kind of place where the world felt far away, and that was exactly what Sonic suspected Shadow wanted right now: distance.

There were so many nooks and crannies for someone like Shadow to hide in. Secluded patches of sand tucked behind towering rocks, broken-down piers long abandoned by tourists, narrow islands reachable only by air or water, where seashells washed ashore like little offerings from the ocean itself. It was peaceful—and lonely.

Sonic zipped from one islet to the next, searching high and low. He combed the beaches for signs, anything at all: the gleam of red and black, the flicker of golden rings, even the faintest hint of a familiar energy signature. He even started looking for distinct airshoe imprints—those sleek, deliberate steps pressed into wet sand like Shadow had left them behind just minutes ago. But they always turned out to be nothing. 

Still, Sonic didn’t give up. He moved with purpose, cutting through sea spray and leaping across tide pools. With every new place he searched, he held onto a flicker of hope that Shadow would be there, sitting in the quiet, head tilted to the horizon.

And then—by some twist of fate, or maybe the universe finally throwing him a bone—he caught a glimmer on the horizon. A shape crouched low by the shore, colors unmistakable even from a distance: gold glinting off red stripes and black fur. Hunched over, fists buried in the sand.

Shadow.

He found him.

Sonic’s first instinct was to bolt forward like a bullet, to close the distance in the blink of an eye and throw himself into Shadow’s space with the same whirlwind energy he always carried. But this wasn’t the time for speed. This moment wasn’t about being fast.

So instead, he slowed.

Each step was careful, deliberate, almost hesitant. He moved through the sand with a gentleness he rarely used, almost like approaching a wounded animal. Not because Shadow was weak—far from it—but because he looked fragile in that moment. His posture was tense, his head down, shoulders drawn inward as if trying to shield himself from the world.

Sonic didn’t want to scare him off or make him shut down before he had the chance to say what needed to be said. So he approached like the tide—soft, patient, steady.

“Hey,” he said, voice quiet, barely rising over the sound of the waves lapping against the shore. “I was looking all over for you.”

Shadow didn’t turn, not yet. But Sonic thought he saw his ear twitch, just slightly.

“ Leave me alone, ” came the reply, sharp and low.

Sonic slowed his approach but didn’t stop. “Shadow—”

“ Get away from me! ”

That brought Sonic to a halt. The air around them went still. 

Shadow didn’t turn to look at him, but Sonic could see the shimmer of tears streaked down his face, catching the sunlight in the worst way possible. Shadow was frantically trying to wipe them away with the back of his glove as if the evidence of his vulnerability could just disappear.

Sonic stepped forward again, quieter this time. He crouched next to him, then reached out, placing one hand gently on Shadow’s shoulder, the other instinctively going to wipe away the tears himself.

Shadow flinched and swatted his hand away, but it wasn’t a full-force hit—more like a reflex.

“ Stop, ” Sonic said firmly, but not unkindly.

Shadow’s hand dropped to his side, the motion slow and heavy, as if all the strength had drained from him. He looked utterly spent—worn thin and quietly defeated, like the fight had gone out of him.

Guilt bubbled up in Sonic’s stomach, rising like a tidal wave until it lodged in his throat, hot and heavy and impossible to ignore. It made his eyes sting. He had done this—he had made Shadow feel like this. And that realization cut deeper than he expected.

He always knew Shadow was selfless in his own way—strong, guarded, willing to sacrifice anything—but he hadn’t realized how deeply things could affect him. How something unspoken, something left unsaid, could wear him down like this. Sonic thought of himself in the same situation, sitting alone on the shore, heart full of doubt and questions he’d never ask. Yeah… he’d probably be crying too.

He had no plan for what he was about to tell Shadow. In fact, he never had a plan for anything. That was just how he lived—day by day, moment by moment. No maps, no guidebooks, just wind in his quills and instinct in his gut. It was what made him Sonic. 

So, with a breath deep enough to steady his racing heart, Sonic let go of the hesitation. No more avoiding, no more skirting around the truth. 

“I have news,” Sonic said, voice a little breathless, nerves gnawing at his stomach.

Shadow still didn’t meet his eyes. “News about what?”

“About us.” Sonic sat in the sand next to him, just enough to be within reach, heart racing now. “And I’m just gonna say it—straight up.” He added air quotes around the word “ straight ,” giving a nervous chuckle.

That finally got Shadow to look at him, if only out of confusion. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes… his eyes held everything.

“Or,” Sonic said, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth, “maybe I should pull the same move you did?”

“Wha—?”

Before Shadow could finish his sentence, Sonic surged forward.

This time, there wasn’t a magnetic pull. No cosmic force dragging them into each other. No moment of dizzying inevitability.

It was him . His choice.

And he kissed him.

Firm, sure, and full of every unspoken word he hadn’t been able to say back then. Every sorry. Every I get it now . Every I’m here .

It wasn’t perfect. Their noses bumped, and Sonic’s fingers tangled awkwardly in Shadow’s fur. But Shadow didn’t pull away.

He leaned in.

And for the first time, Sonic felt like maybe— maybe —he wasn’t running away from fate anymore. He was chasing something better.

And then Shadow punched him.

Not a full-strength blow—more of a startled, emotional jab to the shoulder—but still, it hurt .

“ Ow! ” Sonic yelped, pulling back and rubbing the sore spot. “Seriously?!”

Shadow’s face was a storm of conflicting emotions—eyes wide, mouth twisted somewhere between a grimace and a scowl. His quills bristled, fists clenched at his sides. He looked like a furious little cat who had just been dunked in water. Sonic would’ve laughed if the moment wasn’t so intense .

“ What the hell was that?! ” Shadow snapped, voice low and sharp. He stood up, his fists shaking. “Are you—are you making fun of me?! Pitying me?!”

Sonic blinked up at him, dumbfounded. “ What?! No! Why would I—did you not just experience the same kiss I did? That was me, kissing you ! As in, not a joke. As in, real .”

Shadow’s breath hitched, and his eyes darted away for a split second, like he was searching for an escape hatch in thin air. “Then why now? Why after everything?”

“Because I was stupid, okay? I needed time to get it through my thick head,” Sonic stood up, green eyes locked on brilliant ruby. He stepped closer, tone softening. “You dropped that bomb on me, and I freaked out. I didn’t know how to deal with it. I thought maybe… maybe it was the tarot stuff. That maybe the universe was just messing with us.”

“And now?” Shadow challenged, quieter now but still guarded.

“Now I know better.” Sonic shrugged, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “Now I know that it’s not the cards. It’s not fate. It’s you .”

Shadow blinked at him, stunned into silence.

“I kissed you because I wanted to,” Sonic said simply. “Not out of pity, not because of some dumb prophecy. Because I like you. And you punched me, you jerk.”

Shadow’s face flushed—an actual, visible blush under the tan fur on his cheeks. “You caught me off guard,” he muttered.

“Yeah, I got that memo. In the form of your fist .”

Sonic laughed, and to his surprise, Shadow didn’t retreat. He didn’t lash out again. He just stood there, completely dumbfounded. 

“I didn’t mean to hurt you,” Shadow said finally, voice low.

“I should be saying that to you,” Sonic replied. “I’m sorry for being stupid, and for making you cry.”

Shadow didn’t respond at first. His eyes remained fixed on the waves, the soft crash of the tide doing little to ease the tension hanging between them, but the faintest smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. Sonic saw it.

“I wasn’t crying because of you ,” he said finally, voice quiet but firm.

“Oh yeah?” Sonic tilted his head, trying to lighten the mood with a gentle grin. “Did you get sand in your pretty eyes?”

Shadow turned and gave him a flat, unimpressed stare—but his cheeks flared, which made Sonic’s heart beat faster.

“Alright, alright,” Sonic laughed softly, raising his hands in surrender. “No more teasing.”

A more comfortable silence settled between them, the tension softening as the sea breeze picked up. The salty air tugged at their quills, and the golden sun continued to dip closer to the horizon, casting long shadows on the sand.

“Well,” Sonic said, glancing back at him, “since we both… you know, like each other or whatever—what now?”

Shadow glanced sideways, the vulnerability in his eyes still lingering, though guarded. “I’m not sure.”

“Good,” Sonic replied with a small smile. “Let’s not overthink it. We can just… take it slow. Go at our own pace, yeah?”

Shadow looked at him again, and this time, his features softened—just a little. He gave a small nod, the tiniest smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

“ There it is,” Sonic said, voice low and warm, as if that tiny smile were a rare treasure. He reached out gently, cupping Shadow’s cheek with one hand, holding him like he was the most fragile thing in the world. “Took me forever to see it up close.”

Shadow didn’t pull away.

And for the first time in a long time, Sonic felt like maybe—just maybe—the universe had gotten something right.

Sonic began to lean in again, a determined glint in his eye. He wasn’t going to let Shadow stay one kiss ahead—not when those “almost kisses” definitely counted in the scoreboard he had going in his head. But just as their noses were about to brush, Shadow vanished, appearing a few feet away. A sly grin tugging at his lips.

“Hm,” Shadow said, tilting his head just enough to be infuriating. “You missed.”

Sonic blinked, stunned for half a second. “What?” Then his expression shifted into amused disbelief. “Are you serious right now?”

Of course, he found a chaos emerald.

Shadow didn’t reply with words. He just took another step back, the smirk deepening, his eyes glittering with mischief.

Sonic narrowed his eyes, a playful fire igniting in his chest. “Wow,” he said, grinning. He stood up quick, kicking sand around. “You’re really gonna make me work for this, huh?”

“Work for what ?” Shadow replied innocently, though the smug tone gave him away instantly. “You just seem to be very… uncoordinated.”

“Oh, you are so asking for it.”

Sonic lunged forward—quick but calculated. Shadow danced back just in time, shoes kicking up a puff of sand as he did.

“Wow, you’re bad at this,” Shadow taunted, arms folding behind his back as he strolled backward, utterly at ease.

“Oh, this is definitely payback!” Sonic said, laughing with a gleam of challenge in his eyes. 

Shadow shrugged, still teasing. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

That did it.

“Oh, it’s on ,” Sonic growled with a grin, already sprinting toward him.

Each time Sonic stepped forward, Shadow matched him with a perfectly timed retreat—taunting him, tempting him, and Sonic felt adrenaline course through his veins. Their laughter mingled with the sound of the sea as the sun dipped lower in the sky, painting everything in hues of gold and fire.

But Sonic was faster. And determined. And, maybe, just a little in love.

And he was not going to lose.

One step forward. One step back. Again. And again. And again.

Sonic would lunge forward, a flicker of blue lightning, and Shadow would effortlessly step out of reach with the grace of someone who knew exactly what he was doing. Their feet moved in sync, like magnets in opposition—always close, never touching. It was maddening.

Eventually, their movements picked up speed. Sonic narrowed his eyes, grinning like a madman. “You’re fast,” he said between steps, “but I’m faster. ”

Shadow arched a brow, the playful smirk never leaving his lips. “Then catch me, hedgehog.”

And with that, Shadow turned on his heel and activated his airshoes, flying across the beach.

“Hey!” Sonic shouted, more delighted than offended. “You little— get back here!”

He took off after him in a blur of cobalt, kicking up sand in his wake as he gave chase down the stretch of beach. The wind whipped past his ears, the ocean roaring to his left, the sun casting long shadows behind them as it began its descent into the sea.

Shadow darted ahead like he was born to fly, shoes barely touching the ground as he zig-zagged between dunes and driftwood. Sonic was right behind him, laughing like a kid again, caught in the thrill of something so much more than a simple chase.

“You’re seriously running from a kiss?!” Sonic called out, voice echoing through the open air.

Shadow glanced back over his shoulder, that damn smirk still plastered across his face. “I’m not running,” he said smugly. “I’m leading. ”

“Oh Chaos,” Sonic muttered, pushing himself faster.

The distance between them narrowed with each step. Sonic’s heart pounded—not from the run, but from him . He could feel the sparks crackling in the air between them.

Just as Sonic was about to reach out and grab him—fingers nearly brushing against Shadow’s arm—Shadow swept one foot across the sandy floor with a sharp motion. A sudden spray of warm, golden sand exploded into the air.

“Ah—!” Sonic yelped, throwing up his arm to shield his face from the onslaught. The grains stung against his skin, forcing him to slow down and stumble slightly.

By the time he lowered his arm and blinked the sand from his lashes, Shadow had vanished.

“Hey!” Sonic called out, spinning in place, eyes darting across the shoreline. “Where’d you go?!”

The beach had gone quiet again, save for the steady crash of the waves and the occasional gull overhead. It was like the wind itself had swept Shadow away. Sonic turned in a circle, alert and tense, every muscle primed to pounce.

Then—tap.

A soft touch landed on his right shoulder.

He whipped his head to the right—nothing. Just sea air and sunshine.

Then—warmth. Gentle, barely-there.

Lips brushed against his left cheek.

Sonic’s eyes widened, a sharp gasp escaping him as he spun around—only to find nothing but air behind him.

“What—?!”

Another kiss. This time on his right cheek.

He sputtered, spinning again. “Hey! No fair!”

Laughter echoed around him, low and teasing. Sonic could feel Shadow’s smirk from wherever he was hiding. “Now you’re ahead by four ,” he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.

The worst part? His cheeks were burning. And not from the sun.

He rubbed one, then the other, trying—and failing—to erase the phantom feeling of Shadow’s lips. His chest fluttered with a million wild, unspoken emotions.

This wasn’t a game anymore. Or maybe it was—but the rules had definitely changed.

“Alright, you wanna play sneaky?” Sonic growled, cracking his knuckles with a grin. “Two can play at that game.”

Sonic stood still, not moving a muscle, letting the ocean breeze sweep through his quills. His heart was pounding, not from the chase, but from anticipation. He could feel it—like static building in the air. His skin tingled, the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. He was being watched.

He smirked. Gotcha.

The moment the sensation of eyes on him became undeniable, Sonic spun .

In a blur of motion, he turned on his heel—and there he was.

Shadow. Just a breath away, eyes wide in surprise, caught in the act of sneaking up on him.

“ Hah! ” Sonic crowed triumphantly, snatching his wrist in one fluid motion before the other could vanish into thin air again. “Got you!”

Shadow’s expression was priceless—shock, irritation, and just a hint of impressed amusement flickering through his crimson eyes. He immediately tried to pull away, twisting and squirming in Sonic’s grip like a wild animal caught in a trap.

“Let go,” Shadow growled, voice breathless, though his lips twitched with the threat of a smile.

“No way.” Sonic grinned, tightening his hold just enough to keep him there, but not enough to hurt. “You’ve had your fun. Time for a little payback.”

Shadow scoffed and attempted one more tug, but Sonic held firm.

“Oh no you don’t,” Sonic said, stepping forward, eyes alight with mischief. “You think you can kiss and run? Not this time, faker.”

Shadow stopped resisting just for a moment, staring at him with that same unreadable expression—like he wasn’t sure if he wanted to escape or lean in closer.

Sonic’s grin softened. He didn’t give Shadow another chance to wriggle away. With a playful tug, he pulled him in and planted a soft kiss on his right cheek.

“One,” he said with a smug smile.

Shadow blinked in stunned silence, just as Sonic tugged him in again, this time placing one on his left cheek.

“Two.”

“Sonic—” Shadow tried to interrupt, his voice low and warning, but the blue blur was already surging forward.

Their lips met in a swift, deliberate kiss. Brief, but enough to steal Shadow’s breath.

“Three,” Sonic whispered, voice low and triumphant.

“Okay—” Shadow started again, clearly trying to recover his balance in more ways than one.

“I’m not done,” Sonic cut him off, eyes glinting with mischief as he leaned in again.

But this time, Shadow’s free hand came up between them, fingers splayed against Sonic’s chest to hold him at bay.

Sonic grabbed the hand, locking their fingers together as he tried to squirm past it. His other hand reached up to try and pry Shadow’s grip off his jaw, who had somehow freed his wrist from Sonic’s grip. 

“Ref, do something! You’re missing one hell of a game here!” Sonic called out to no one in particular, eyes flicking skyward as if the universe itself should be officiating.

“Cry about it,” Shadow replied coolly, but the smirk tugging at his lips betrayed him.

“You’re cheating!”

“Says who?”

“Says the guy who’s about to lose!”

Shadow’s smirk widened just a little. “Oh, I’m not losing, hedgehog. You haven’t seen anything yet.”

“Oh?” Sonic grinned, emboldened. “Then bring it, tough guy.”

“Maybe I will.”

They stood there, breath mingling, tension simmering in the air. Their fingers were still locked together, and their stubborn hearts thudded in sync.

In one smooth motion, Shadow twisted Sonic’s arm behind his back, pivoting his body with ease. Before Sonic could react, a sharp nudge to his lower back sent him stumbling forward. He landed face-first in the sand with a muffled oof , limbs sprawled and pride wounded.

“Ugh—seriously?” Sonic spat out a mouthful of sand, pushing himself up and brushing grains off his face and spines. “Totally uncalled for!”

But before he could fully stand, Shadow landed on him—fast and quiet as a shadow should be—straddling Sonic’s waist with a triumphant smirk. Sonic barely had time to blink before Shadow leaned in, stealing another kiss, this one quick and bold, pressing it to the corner of Sonic’s mouth.

Sonic gawked up at him, half annoyed, half swooning. “ Oh, come on! Let me win this!”

Shadow’s crimson eyes glittered with mischief. “No.”

“ No ?” Sonic repeated, exasperated, struggling to keep the grin off his face. “You are so unfair.”

“You started the game.”

“And now I’d like to win!”

“Too bad,” Shadow said smoothly, leaning in so close that their noses brushed, his voice almost a whisper. “You look cute when you lose.”

Sonic’s heart did a somersault. He huffed, but the redness on his face betrayed him. “You’re the worst.”

Shadow chuckled softly, his weight warm and grounding. “You wouldn’t be chasing me if I wasn’t.”

“Touché,” Sonic mumbled, already plotting his revenge—but maybe not just yet. Not while Shadow was this close. Not when the moment felt like theirs and theirs alone, the salty breeze wrapping around them like a secret.

For now, losing didn’t feel all that bad.

Too bad for Shadow—Sonic wasn’t the type to lose quietly.

A flash of determination sparked in Sonic’s eyes, and in the next second, he surged forward with a burst of speed and energy only he could muster. He tackled Shadow back into the sand, flipping their positions with an easy roll and pinning him beneath the weight of mischief and affection.

Shadow let out a small gasp of surprise, barely having time to react before Sonic’s lips descended in a flurry of kisses—light, quick, and relentless.

One to his cheek. Another to his temple. Then his forehead, his jawline, even the bridge of his nose—each one like a declaration of victory, of something blooming between them. Shadow tried to speak, but every time he opened his mouth, Sonic stole another kiss from somewhere else, laughter laced in every press.

And then Sonic slowed.

He leaned in close, gaze flickering between crimson eyes and parted lips. Without a word, he kissed him—really kissed him—soft and sure and deep, a kiss that made the world quiet. This one wasn’t for points or payback. This was just… them.

Shadow didn’t resist. Didn’t twist or fight back. His arms moved instinctively, curling around Sonic’s waist. He didn’t argue, didn’t pull away. Instead, he pulled Sonic closer, returning the kiss with a tenderness that could break bones if Sonic let himself feel it too deeply.

Sand clung to their fur, the sound of the waves filling in the silence as their kiss lingered like the sun above them—warm, full, and real.

Sonic smiled against Shadow’s lips, finally pulling back just a breath. “Told you I’d win.”

Shadow’s voice was quiet, low and soft. “I let you.”

“Sure you did,” Sonic whispered, his forehead resting against Shadow’s. “Guess that means we both win.”

Shadow didn’t answer. He just closed his eyes and held on tighter.

They stayed like that for a while—entangled in soft warmth and silence, the ocean breeze gently brushing past them, the sun dipping lower on the horizon. Sonic could feel the steady rise and fall of Shadow’s chest beneath him, and it grounded him in a way that nothing else ever had.

And for the first time in forever, Sonic let his thoughts run wild— really wild.

Which, in his head, sounded a little like: HOLY SHIT.

He still couldn’t believe it. He’d done it. He’d actually done it. He’d taken the step— that step. The one that had terrified him for so long. The one that had always felt just out of reach, too heavy, too complicated. But now, it felt right. 

He’d let his heart speak. Let the walls come down. And somehow, he hadn’t crashed or burned or exploded. He was still here—alive, and more himself than ever before.

And it was all because of Shadow.

Not Amy. Not her cryptic tarot cards or the vague warnings about fate and soulmates. Those had only stirred the pot. Shadow had been the one to really break through. He’d been the one to stand there with his raw honesty, his frustrating silence, his surprising softness—and show Sonic that maybe, just maybe , letting someone in didn’t have to mean losing himself.

Maybe love wasn’t a chain. Maybe it was a choice.

And Sonic had chosen.

He glanced down at Shadow, whose eyes were still closed, dark lashes resting against his cheeks, a faint smirk curling the edges of his mouth like he was aware of Sonic's inner monologue and was secretly proud of himself.

Sonic’s heart swelled with something so big it almost hurt.

There was still so much he didn’t know. Would this last? Would they make it? Could someone like him—constantly moving, always chasing the horizon— stay ?

Would Shadow want him to?

Sonic didn’t have the answers. But for the first time in a long time, he hoped.

He hoped this would last. That this moment—this warmth—would carry them forward through everything that came after.

He closed his eyes and pressed a kiss to Shadow’s temple.

“Hm, that was like, ten?” Sonic asked, breathless, still hovering above Shadow with a grin tugging at the corners of his lips.

“I’m not sure,” Shadow replied, voice soft and laced with amusement. “I lost count somewhere around five.”

Sonic chuckled, heart fluttering at the rare sound of Shadow’s relaxed tone—at the warmth buried in those words. When he looked down, Shadow was already looking up at him, and for the first time, really smiling.

Not that half-smirk he usually wore. Not the guarded, reluctant twitch of the lips.

This was different.

This was real.

And Sonic swore the air caught in his lungs. The scowl—the ever-present stormcloud look that Shadow wore like armor—was gone. In its place was something soft, something open. His crimson eyes weren’t hard or narrow, but bright and curious, crinkling slightly at the corners like the light of the setting sun had finally decided to settle inside him.

And damn , he was beautiful.

The kind of beauty that snuck up on you, slow and undeniable, until you found yourself drowning in it. It was in the way his eyes lit up when he let his guard down, the way his smile reached his entire face, like the weight of the world had lifted—just a little.

Sonic’s chest ached in the best way possible. He reached up, brushing a few loose strands of fur from Shadow’s brow with a tenderness he didn’t even know he had.

“Y’know,” Sonic said, voice quieter now, “you should smile like that more often.”

Shadow raised a brow. “Why?”

“Because,” Sonic said, grin returning, “it suits you.”

And as Shadow’s cheeks turned the faintest shade of pink, Sonic knew he wasn’t just teasing this time.

He meant every word.

Sonic gently pulled them both up from the tangle of sand and limbs, guiding them to sit side by side as the sun began its slow descent beneath the horizon. The sky burned gold and pink, casting soft light across the waves, and for once, Sonic wasn’t thinking about where to run next.

The rest of the evening melted into quiet laughter, playful teasing, and kisses—so many, they completely lost count. Every brush of Shadow’s lips felt like another piece clicking into place, like a puzzle Sonic didn’t know he’d been trying to solve.

His heart beat in a steady, quiet rhythm, not with adrenaline, but peace. A kind of warmth settled into his chest, slow and soft like the ocean breeze, replacing every ounce of tension he hadn’t realized he was still carrying. In that moment, with the tide whispering nearby and Shadow’s presence beside him, everything just…fit.

He wasn’t sure where his love for Shadow would lead them, but he was excited to find out.

One thing is for sure though.

Shadow is his soulmate.