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It was a quiet day in Green Hill Zone, the peaceful scenery of rolling hills and distant trees bathed in the soft glow of the setting sun. Yet, despite the calm, Sonic the Hedgehog was far from relaxed. He paced back and forth near the edge of the zone, nervously glancing at the sky. Valentine’s Day had always been just another day to him, but this year was different.
"Why does this feel so complicated?" Sonic muttered, his usual confidence nowhere to be found.
He remembered the conversation from earlier that day. It had started innocently enough, as these things usually did.
~~~~~~~
*Earlier that Morning*
Sonic stood at the counter of the small café in the middle of town, tapping his foot impatiently. Amy Rose had approached him while he was trying to enjoy a quick breakfast.
"Sonic, you look like you're about to run a marathon!" Amy said with her usual cheerfulness. "What's going on?"
Sonic gave her a sheepish grin, glancing at his watch. "I’m fine, Amy! Just... thinking."
Amy raised an eyebrow. "Thinking? About what? You look like you're trying to outrun a bad decision."
Sonic sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Okay, okay. It’s about... Valentine’s Day."
Amy's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Ooh, I see. You’ve got someone in mind, huh?" She leaned forward, a teasing grin spreading across her face.
"Well, I—" Sonic hesitated, then sighed again. "I’m not sure how to handle it. I... I want to do something nice for Shadow, you know? But I have no idea where to start. He’s so... Shadow. And I’m not exactly good at... showing stuff like this."
Amy's expression softened, her teasing smile fading as she recognized the vulnerability behind Sonic’s words. "Sonic, you’re a lot more thoughtful than you give yourself credit for. You just need a little help finding the right way to show it."
Sonic groaned, running his hand through his quills. "Yeah, but what if I mess it up? He’s not exactly the type to get all sentimental over flowers or candy, you know?"
Amy smiled gently. "I get it. Shadow's not really a ‘romantic gesture’ kind of guy. But maybe that’s not what he needs. What if you gave him something that means something to both of you?"
Sonic looked at her curiously. "Like what?"
Amy thought for a moment, then her eyes brightened. "A charm necklace. Something simple but meaningful. Maybe one with both of your silhouettes on it—something that shows your connection without being all sappy."
Sonic blinked, looking surprised. "You think he'd like that?"
Amy shrugged with a smile. "It’s not about him liking it. It’s about the thought behind it. You don’t have to overdo it, Sonic. Just give him something that says, ‘I care,’ and he’ll appreciate it more than you think."
~~~~~~~
Sonic snapped back to the present, shaking his head as he recalled Amy’s words. "Okay, a charm necklace," he muttered to himself. "I can do that. I hope."
The plan had seemed simple enough when Amy suggested it, but now that the moment was here, Sonic couldn’t shake the feeling of panic creeping up on him. What if Shadow didn’t like it? What if it was too cheesy? What if—
"Sonic," a voice interrupted his thoughts.
Sonic turned quickly, finding none other than Shadow the Hedgehog standing in front of him. As usual, Shadow’s expression was unreadable, his posture commanding and confident, but something about his presence seemed different today. For a split second, there was a subtle shift in the air between them, something that felt... softer.
"You’re late," Sonic said, his voice more playful than he felt.
Shadow raised an eyebrow, taking a step closer. "I didn’t ask you to wait," he replied coolly, though his voice lacked its usual sharpness.
Sonic smiled despite himself, his nerves still running wild under the surface. "Well, I’m glad you showed up. Got something for you."
Shadow eyed him warily. "What is it?"
Sonic pulled out the small, carefully wrapped box from behind his back. His heart was racing, and his hands felt a little clammy. "It’s... uh, it’s for you. Happy Valentine’s Day," Sonic said, doing his best to keep his voice steady.
Shadow stared at the box in silence for a moment, as if trying to process the unexpected gesture. Sonic’s stomach twisted in knots, and for a brief moment, he thought Shadow might just toss it aside.
Instead, Shadow took the box from Sonic’s hand, his movements deliberate, and began unwrapping it. As the paper peeled away, Sonic’s breath caught in his chest. He could feel his pulse thundering in his ears, his mind running through every possible worst-case scenario.
Inside the box was the charm necklace. Silver, delicate, and engraved with two silhouettes—one blue and one black, representing the bond between Sonic and Shadow, however unspoken.
Shadow paused, his fingers brushing the edges of the pendant as he studied it. He didn’t speak immediately, his usual stoicism in full force. But Sonic could see it—the brief flicker of surprise in Shadow’s eyes. Maybe even something softer, though it was gone too quickly for Sonic to fully catch.
"Well?" Sonic asked, trying to keep his voice light, though he was practically holding his breath.
Shadow finally spoke, his tone low. "You went through the trouble of getting this... for me?"
Sonic nodded quickly, feeling the tension in his chest slowly release. "Yeah, I figured it was the kind of thing that might actually mean something, you know? Something simple but... personal."
Shadow’s expression softened just slightly as he held the charm between his fingers, his gaze lingering on it. The pendant wasn’t much, but it was something. Something Sonic had put thought into. Something Sonic had given freely.
“You’re not good at this, are you?” Shadow remarked, his voice almost teasing, but not unkind.
Sonic chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his head. “Yeah, you could say that. But I guess I’ve got a lot to learn when it comes to this whole ‘caring’ thing.”
Shadow held the charm up, examining it carefully. “I never asked for gifts,” he said quietly. “But I suppose... this is acceptable.”
Sonic’s heart skipped. “Really?”
Shadow gave a small, almost imperceptible nod, his lips twitching slightly as if to suppress something. “It’s a gesture of... significance. I can respect that.”
Sonic felt a grin spread across his face, his chest swelling with relief. "I’m glad you like it."
Shadow placed the pendant around his neck, the cool metal resting against his chest. For a moment, they stood in comfortable silence, the world around them still and peaceful. It wasn’t the most grand gesture, but it was enough.
“Well, now that that’s over,” Sonic said, flashing his signature grin, “how about a chili dog?”
Shadow didn’t immediately respond, but Sonic caught the faintest twitch of his lips, a sign that Shadow might have been holding back a smile.
“Fine,” Shadow muttered, looking away. “One chili dog. But don’t get used to it.”
Sonic laughed, walking ahead with a skip in his step. "You’re such a softie, Shadow."
Shadow followed behind, his gaze lingering on the charm around his neck. Maybe Valentine’s Day wasn’t so bad after all.