Chapter Text
It had been two weeks since the pair had been together in Shadow's apartment.
Team Dark had been sent on a mission to another Eggman facility. They had intel that the place was mass producing the Doctor's mechs. Destroying the things now would definitely save them the trouble in the future. Due to the sheer size of the facility, Team Sonic had been called into help.
Tails and Rouge had been dealing with the machinery, preventing the self-sustaining factory from producing any more mechs while they were there. Knuckles had been gliding around the facility, placing bombs at weak points in the structure so they could destroy the place once they were clear. Amy and Omega were doing what they did best, smashing Eggman's mechs; protecting Tails and Rouge while they did their techie spy stuff.
That left Sonic and Shadow. It hadn't been a coincidence that Rouge had paired them together again.
The hedgehogs were on guard duty, standing by near the factory's entrance. Making sure none of the Doctor's machines escaped before they could blow the place.
Sonic leaned against a wall, mindlessly fiddling with the cuff of his glove. Deliberately avoiding looking at his rival, gaze transfixed to his cuff.
Shadow "busied" himself with the flipped up panel of his communicator, typing in random letters into the watch.
Tension hung thick in the air between the two, neither of them had said a word to the other since they'd been stationed here.
Sonic had wanted to tell him how he felt that night. He really had. He really liked Shadow, and why wouldn't he?
Shadow was a powerhouse in a fight, and was more than quick enough to keep up with Sonic. He'd been the only one to truly give him a run for his money.
Fighting Shadow was electric, the Ultimate Lifeform could match him punch for punch, blow for blow. Twisting and dancing against each other, heat rising between them as they sparred.
And Shadow was just a good person. Under all that tough talk and gruff exterior, the anger and the pain, was a person who really cared.
Someone who loved his friends deeply. Even if he didn't always show it. Someone who had fought for, and had been willing to die, to save the world and everyone on it. Based on nothing but a promise to someone he loved.
But Shadow wasn't the only one who buried his feelings below the surface.
Sonic wore that brilliant smile as one would wear a mask. Shadow knew this, even if Sonic himself barely realized. Shadow knew anger, he knew pain.
And he knew when someone was putting on an act.
Shadow's opposite, Sonic proudly wore his care and love like a badge. His love for his friends, his love for his freedom, his love for the world.
But something bubbled below the surface. Behind the smiles, behind the banter. Behind the constant insistence that he was fine and that everything was alright.
Below everything, was someone who was so angry. An anger that burned for his friends and his world. A fury that would slip through the cracks of his well placed mask, if he was pushed hard enough.
But Sonic's rage would push him to get up, to fight, to barrel through every obstacle in his path, to win.
Productive anger, instead of anger as a coping mechanism.
It's something Shadow could appreciate.
The pair were so different. In many ways complete opposites. But in many ways the same.
Sonic looked to Shadow, finally breaking the silence.
"...Are we?" He began. "...Are we gonna talk about it?"
The black hedgehog looked up from the random string of letters he'd been typing into the communicator.
"...Talk about what?"
Sonic moved from his position against the wall, approaching the other hedgehog.
"About what happened in your apartment?"
Shadow chanced a glance in his direction.
"...Nothing happened in my apartment?"
Well he was right. Technically nothing actually did happen.
The blue hedgehog forced out a nervous laugh.
"Well…yeah." He said, scratching the back of his head. "But something, y'know…could have?"
"...What do you mean?" He knew exactly what he meant.
Sonic took a deep breath in. He quickly looked down at his shoes, before raising his gaze to meet his again.
"Shadow?" He asked tentatively, placing his hands on the black hedgehog's shoulders. "Can I…ask you something?"
Shadow burned at the contact. His red eyes bore into Sonic's green.
"...Yes? What is it?"
Tell him you're whipped for him. Tell him you adore him. That you'd do anything for him. Tell him you want to beat the shit outta Eggman's robots with him.
"I…uh…" He stuttered. God, he could talk all the time. Why couldn't he find the words now?
"...Yes?"
He swallowed.
"Do you uhh…I mean you don't have to but…and its totally fine if you don't but I…I just really-"
The clunking of metal and the sound of gunfire pulled the pair from their little bubble.
An Eggpawn was making a dash for the exit. Amy and Omega must have missed it.
No problem right? It was just one little Eggpawn. Not like they don't take them down all the tim-
Shadow let out a shout of pain, his legs buckling from underneath him. Teeth gritted, he fell into Sonic; who pulled the hedgehog into him.
"Shadow! What happ-"
A green light illuminated the pair, energy crackling at Shadow's finger tips. Before Sonic could even react, a chaos spear forms in the black hedgehog's hand. He leaned into Sonic, allowing him to hold his weight as he aimed the spear at the approaching mech. With an explosion of light and metal, the Eggpawn is destroyed. The chaos weapon fading from existence moments after striking the robot's chest.
"It caught me." Shadow gritted out. His arms wrapped around Sonic's shoulders, his muzzle pressing into his neck. "My leg."
Sonic would be blushing if not for the fact he was panic stricken.
"Shadow. Lie down." He told him firmly, pulling the hedgehog away to look into his eyes.
The other hedgehog protested, not wanting him to worry about him.
"No…" He breathed. "I'm fine."
Sonic wasn't about to give him room to argue. His gaze narrowed.
"I don't care." He said, his voice lowering. "I said: Lie. Down."
Shadow was honestly taken aback. His eyes widening at the sudden authority in the other hedgehog's voice.
…He'd be lying if he said he didn't kind of like it.
Reluctantly, Shadow nodded. He allowed the blue hedgehog to lower him gently to the floor.
Sonic kneeled down beside him, assessing the damage to Shadow's leg.
…It didn't look great. The bullet had opened a gash in the hedgehog's thigh. Green (green?) blood dripped from the wound. Luckily, the bullet had just missed entering Shadow's leg, only grazing it.
Sonic made an effort to calm his racing thoughts. He took in a deep breath, before mentally running through Shadow's instructions from the apartment.
"Before you bandage a wound, you will need to clean it. Either with water, or sterile wipes. This will help prevent infection."
Sonic looked to the first aid kit, strapped to Shadow's hip. He leaned over him and unbundled the strap keeping it locked to around his waist. The black hedgehog quickly realized what he was doing, compliantly lifting his hips so he could pull the strap from underneath him.
Sonic unzipped the kit, shuffling around the paraphernalia to find what he needed. He removed a pair of translucent blue gloves, quickly tugging off his own white gloves to replace them with the disposables.
His hand fell onto a small sachet within the kit; labelled Sterile Wipe.
He ripped the sachet open, before turning to Shadow. Concern filled his eyes.
"This is…probably gonna hurt."
Shadow forced out a strained chuckle, remembering the blue hedgehog's own words when he was the one in his position.
"...You could never hurt me."
Sonic offered him a soft smile, before gently pressing onto the wound.
The black hedgehog let out a small hiss of pain between gritted teeth, Sonic repeating an apology over and over as he cleaned the gash.
Once satisfied, Sonic removed a yellow bag labelled with: Clinical Waste from the kit. He dropped the used wipe into it.
He ran through Shadow's previous instructions again.
"Then…you will need to bandage the wound to keep it covered and stop any bleeding."
His hand ran over the white material in the kit. He picked up the bandage, unravelling it slightly to fit the size of the wound. Then he gently pressed it down to his leg, Shadow letting out a small groan.
Cautiously, Sonic began to unravel the bandage around the black hedgehog's thigh. Shadow's alien blood quickly turning the white material green. He was mindful to keep the wrapping tight around his leg.
Sonic finished his work, tying the loose material into a neat little bow away from the wounds placement.
The blue hedgehog slowly took his hands from Shadow's thigh, he sat back on his heels.
He removed the blue gloves, dropping them into the yellow waste bag before tying it into a knot. He pulled his own gloves back over his hands, all too aware of Shadow staring at him.
He turned to face him as he slowly sat up, releasing a breath he hadn't even realized he had been holding.
"Are…you okay?" He asked, meeting the hedgehog's gaze.
"...Yeah. It will heal soon enough."
Sonic shuffled closer towards his upper half.
"Did I…do that right?" He asked, gesturing to his bandaged leg.
The black hedgehog chuckled in response, gently placing a hand on the other's shoulder. His fingers cautiously traced his neck.
"You did very well, Sonic. Thank you."
Sonic lit up at the praise, warmth flowing to his cheeks.
The space between them was heating up.
"Heh, it's no biggie. You would have done the same for me. Well, you already did do the same for me. So I guess we're even now-"
Is Shadow…staring at my lips?
"-Just another day in the office for Sonic The Hedgehog! It's lucky you showed me all that first aid stuff the other week, huh? Otherwise we'd be in a bit of a mess-"
Shadow didn't know what possessed him to cup his hand to Sonic's muzzle. Or what caused him to drag him down towards him.
Maybe it was the blood loss making him woozy, or the adrenaline keeping his heart pumping, or just him wanting the hedgehog to stop going on with himself.
But it was most likely the fact he'd been wanting this for so long.
Sonic let out a small yelp of surprise, but was quickly silenced by Shadow's lips against his own.
He allowed his eyes to flutter shut, his hand moving into Shadow's quills.
Time froze to a standstill. Gravity dropped around them. The air was on fire. But there was nothing in this moment but them. Nothing but the electricity sparking between them, the melding of their energy.
The mouths moved gently against each other. Sonic could feel Shadow's warm breath against his muzzle as he sighed through his nose.
God, he'd wanted this for so long. Ever since the realisation of, yes he did like Shadow, had hit him like a truck all those months ago.
What felt like an eternity slipped by as their pair were lost in the embrace. It was like their very souls had melded together in the kiss.
Sonic was first to gently pull away, his heart beating against his chest as he tried to catch his breath.
His eyes slipped open. Gazing down at Shadow. Shock at his own actions painted across the black hedgehog's burning face.
But Sonic let out a soft chuckle, his chest shaking with each breath.
Shadow's face softened as he did, a soft smile tugging at his muzzle. A gentle laugh escaped him, joining Sonic on his soft loving revelry.
The laughter faded. The burning air between them softened into comfort.
Sonic did no more than lean in, pressing a chaste kiss to Shadow's forehead.
A buzz from Shadow's communicator.
A feminine voice shattered the comfortable silence.
"Hey boys!" Came Rouge's voice from the watch. "The explosives are rigged, time to make our get-away."
"Got it, Rouge!" Sonic replied, before Shadow got the chance. "Thanks for the heads up!"
"I hope I didn't…interrupt anything." She said coyly. The black hedgehog could practically hear her smirking through the communicator.
"Nah." Sonic answered, looking at Shadow and flashing him a wink. "I think we're done here."
The line went dead.
Sonic brought himself to his feet, dragging up his rival in the process. The black hedgehog leaned his weight around his shoulder, the other hedgehog supporting him under his arm.
"Come on Ultimate Lifeform." Sonic teased. "You can use me as your crutch."
The black hedgehog shot him a glare.
"If it wasn't for my leg, I'd give you far worse than a bump on the head."
"Hmm…that sounds tempting and all. But I think I'd prefer a movie at your place right about now."
Shadow's faux glare softened. He let out a chuckle.
"A movie sounds perfect."