Chapter Text
Damnit.
Shadow had known his night wouldn’t be peaceful, but this was ridiculous. Club Rouge was busier than usual, an electric Friday night after a hard run-in with Eggman; it seemed like the whole of Mobius was celebrating in the club below Team Dark’s apartment.
Snapping his book shut with more force than was necessary, he rose out of the thrifted chair he used as his reading nook in their boujee living space. Rouge had expensive taste, and their apartment made that clear. Shadow, on the other hand, asked for very little. All he wanted was a quiet, peaceful place to sit and read. A personal sanctuary.
Which Rouge had granted him, but all the noise from her goddamn club was making reading very difficult.
Shadow started pacing around the apartment, looking for something to do, a dish to wash, a shelf he hadn’t dusted. However, everything was spotless, Shadow had finished his house chores earlier, before the music became unbearably loud. Like an idiot.
He was very used to loud nights like these. The bass beating opposite his heart gave him the urge to cough. It’s not like he needed sleep, which made him the perfect roommate for Rouge. However, he needed a distraction tonight. Omega was in his closet, charging, so Shadow didn’t have any company even if he wanted it.
His phone was pulled out of his quills and unlocked. Bad idea. The first thing he noticed were two text notifications from Sonic.
Faker: yo Shads!!!! Wya????
Faker: come on man, theyre playing gaga!
The blue pest’s persistent nagging wasn’t helping his already chaotic thoughts. He sighed and looked up at the ceiling in exasperation. He had just gotten his mind off Sonic. All his usual distractions didn’t seem to be working as well as they did before. His brain kept drawing him back to Sonic, betraying him, and it was incredibly frustrating. Five minutes of peace was all he wanted.
Was he actually considering going downstairs? The music was still booming, he could feel the vibrations of the bass on the soles of his feet. He almost felt…excluded. How can someone feel excluded from something they have no interest in?
Cheeks glowing green, he cursed as he realized he was simply a lovesick fool. He wanted to see Sonic, whether he wanted to admit it to himself or not.
Sonic lived rent free in his head now, and Shadow still wasn’t sure why.
From the moment they met, there was something unique between them. An energy they both shared, alike yet so different. Neither of them could quite understand it at first, but the more time they spent together, the easier it was to find each other’s wavelength.
After all his initial anger dissipated and their fights went from trying to kill each other to kicking each others’ asses for sport, Shadow noticed a tension between them that he couldn’t describe that lasted long after they yielded. It would remain until they decided to go their separate ways and made him furiously overthink for the rest of the day.
He remembered one spar in particular; Sonic had the upper hand, Shadow was growing frustrated, and before either of them could blink, Sonic had him pinned. Shadow couldn’t remember how long they were fighting or what they were fighting over, the only thing on his mind was how Sonic’s eyes matched the chaos emerald tucked away in his quills almost perfectly. Divine.
He chalked it up to him being curious about Sonic. He treated him like a project, telling himself he only wanted to learn about him for educational purposes. When they met, he had never seen another Mobian hedgehog besides himself, and there were times where Shadow was truly fascinated with the hero.
Fuck it. Looks like he was going downstairs. He had this nagging feeling in his gut that he was going to regret this.
Swallowing his pride, he pulled open the large silver door that connected Club Rouge to the staircase leading to the apartment. He made his way around the bar and sat on one of the stools, sensitive ears already pinning down and back in annoyance at the grating music hitting them.
Turning slightly, he could see the crowd of Mobians on the dance floor that seemed to be having trouble containing them. Weaving through said crowd was the object of his anxiety. Blue quills seemed to shimmer under the fluorescent colored lights as he elegantly soaked up every note of the song that was playing. Eyes closed, swaying with such natural swagger that Shadow had to look away. He felt pathetic. Sonic was his rival for crying out loud, why did he care about the beautiful shade of purple his quills turned when the lights changed to red?
Shadow watched intently as the colors slowly changed again in a near-blinding pattern as it followed the rapid beat of the song. The pinky shade shifted to the color of Shadow’s stripes, and with it, once vibrant cobalt quills transformed from a gentle lavender to a deeper shade of iris.
“Oh hon, this is getting painful.”
Crimson eyes snapped up to meet playful teal, wearing a knowing smirk to match. “We both know you’re thirsty for him, why not do something about it?”
“Enough,” Shadow growled.
“Aw, don’t be like that,” Rouge said casually as she dried a shot glass. “I think you need to loosen up a bit. Tequila?”
Shadow made a face of exasperation and defeat. She wasn’t going to stop. “Hennessy,” he sighed.
Rouge poured his drink out for him and leaned over the counter. “Seriously, this has gone on long enough.”
“I’m in no mood to discuss this, especially not in public. Mind your business,” Shadow took the shot with grace, no chaser. Not that it did much for him anyway.
“Last time I give you free alcohol then,” the bat snatched the glass from him and moved to wash it, leaving Shadow alone only for a moment.
“While you still have that in your hand, could I pretty please with a cherry on top get a shot of vodka?”
Shadow’s ears flicked to his left. God fucking damnit.
“Anything for you, Blue!” Rouge replied all too enthusiastically.
Sonic’s eyes glanced over to his rival, and Shadow just knew he could sense how overly tense he was.
“Mr. Grumpy finally decided to make an appearance! You need to loosen up, though. You’re way too stiff for this club right now, man,” Sonic chuckled, shot in hand.
Shadow couldn’t bring himself to reply right away. He felt like everything around him was suddenly in slow motion. All snarky remarks he could have made to combat that left him the minute Sonic sat down. This was absolutely ridiculous.
Luckily, he didn’t have to think of a response as Sonic’s attention was stolen by a girl that decided to interrupt their one sided conversation. He glanced at them, curious. She was pretty, a white fox. She seemed rather shy, Shadow realized she was probably confessing her feelings for the hero and he shouldn’t eavesdrop into a private conversation. Then again, she chose to do it in a very public space and she wasn’t exactly being quiet about it, the club was loud.
Over the blaring music, he was able to make out bits and pieces of what she was saying; and he had been right in his assumption. The girl was admitting her feelings for the hero, stating that she had admired him for a long time and would like to get to know him better. Shadow scoffed. Join the club. His superior hearing came in handy for these situations.
A sharp pang of anxiety shot through him like lightning as he waited to hear Sonic’s response, and suddenly didn’t like the idea of the hero’s attention on anyone else but him. Something ugly rolled in his gut.
His anxiety was short-lived as Sonic said something about swinging a way, the girl’s response seemed surprised rather than disappointed for a moment, then the dark hedgehog felt his rival shift in his barstool, likely to give her a hug. Shadow looked around when he figured the coast was clear, eyes moving from Sonic throwing back his shot to that same knowing smirk on Rouge’s face that made him want to punch her as she slid him a mixed drink. The color was vibrant and familiar. One of his favorites.
In a moment of unexpected true confidence, he asked, “So what was that about?”
Sonic turned, features stuck in a look of surprise. “Oh, she just asked me out. Happens sometimes. Just told her I’m not interested.”
“Why’s that?” He asked as he took a sip. For some reason, he needed to keep pressing this.
Sonic chuckled. “Well, I’m gay, for starters.”
Shadow nearly choked.
Red eyes were wide with surprise, a hand reaching to grab the napkin Rouge held out for him. If Sonic noticed, he didn’t comment. “Second of all, I think I’d only be interested in a relationship if it was with the right person, yannow? I feel like these people just want me for my status, not because they want me for me.”
He supposed he should have known, but he didn’t want his imagination to run wild and make assumptions based on what he wanted to happen.
“Sorry, that was a little deep, huh? Rouge, what did you lace the vodka with?” Sonic chuckled.
Rouge laughed with him. “Honestly, I should have known. I usually have a pretty good gaydar,” she said, eyes glancing at Shadow for only a second, but that second was all it took for Sonic to catch on. Shadow gave his hardest and most menacing glare, knowing damn well it would only egg the bat on more.
Emeralds went bug eyed, mouth agape. “Nuh uh, you too?! That’s awesome!”
Rouge was staring back at Shadow. “Don’t look at me like that. He had to find out eventually, right?”
Gloved hands slapped the bar as Shadow quickly stood up and stormed out the door into the cool night air.
Sonic’s solemn eyes moved from his rival’s retreating form to Rouge. “You really shouldn’t have outed him like that.”
Her breasts rested on her forearms as she leaned over the counter. “He’ll forgive me. You needed to know.”
Sonic paused for a second before realization set in his features. “You’re joking.”
The bat stood up straight again, taking Shadow’s glass to pour the remains out, unable to keep the smile off her face. “About what, Blue?”
“You know what,” his voice was more demanding now.
“I’m impressed, you’re usually more dense than this,” She said slyly as she finished rinsing the glass. When she got no response, she glanced up, and Sonic was gone.
—------
Shadow leaned against the cool wall of the club, the vibrations of the music inside a soothing, rhythmic sensation that he could focus on. Arms crossed over his chest, he let out a slow exhale and closed his eyes. If that meddling bat didn’t open her big fucking mouth, he wouldn’t be out here trying to slow his heart rate. No, if he didn’t leave the house in the first place, none of this would have happened.
The wind blew, and the scent of pine and static electricity filled the air. Not a second later, Sonic spoke.
“Can I talk to you for a sec?”
“Seems like you already are,” Shadow mumbled, not interested in rhetorical questions.
“Look dude, I’m obviously not judgin’, and that was wrong of her to out you like that. I know we’re friends, but still, I want you to know that I would have wanted to hear it from you when you were ready to tell me.”
Shadow sighed and opened his eyes, taking note of how fidgety Sonic looked. “Is that all?”
Emerald eyes danced around, a nervous tick that Shadow never noticed before. “What do you mean?”
Black shoulders slumped in exhaustion. “Just drop it, faker,” he said almost pleadingly and with an edge he really didn’t mean.
They both stood there for a few minutes, quiet. Shadow started to wonder if Sonic would ever walk away. It was agony. He was so torn with wanting Sonic to break the familiar tension between them and wanting him to do what he does best and run.
Instead, he did the other thing he does best. Talk.
“How do you think I realized I was gay, huh?”
The words were said quietly but with a bite to them. Shadow met his eyes, and another overwhelming pang of anxiety hit his heart in the vulnerability in them. Sonic started to move closer, throwing his hands around as he talked. Gloved fingers felt electric, the adrenaline so raw and consuming.
“I had feelings for someone, and I buried them for years. I thought it was wrong. It certainly felt wrong. Everyone expected me to finally get together with Amy, but I never liked her like that.”
The proximity was toxic. Sonic had gotten so close, their breaths mingled together in the space between them. The rational side of his brain told him to shove Sonic back, but the hopeful side said only stay, stay, stay.
“Those feelings never went away, and eventually, I had to confront them.”
Shadow’s heart was erratic, beating out of his chest. He wondered if Sonic could hear it, and if he noticed the heat radiating from his cheeks. His thoughts disappeared as the hedgehog in front of him gave a sly grin, mouth inches from his.
“You’re not the only one with a dirty little secret.”
The adrenaline rush felt the same as that day they sparred, and his eyes held the same vivid green hue. Shadow could see the hints of darker shades that painted the grassy green in gentle brush strokes. In that moment, he was the only thing that mattered, the only thing he could see. He was pulled back into reality when those emerald eyes fluttered closed and Sonic’s lips touched his, feather-light.
He tensed for a moment, surprised, but his eyes drifted shut as the unfamiliar display of affection registered in his mind. His sense of reality drifted away as his consciousness prioritized the overwhelming thrill of lips on his. He sighed into the kiss and his shoulders slumped as weeks of tension left him all at once.
At that moment, he realized that those “fireworks” people talked about were one hundred percent true. The minute Sonic’s lips touched his, he saw the most dazzling array of colors behind his eyelids that wasn’t comparable to any other sensation.
His lips were chapped and cold due to being outside, but like a lot of things about him, they were so perfectly Sonic. It made Shadow want to kiss him deeper, to taste more of him, and memorize every inch of skin he caressed. They moved perfectly in tandem despite having never done this together before. No amount of alcohol could ever make him feel as drunk as he did as he kissed Sonic.
Sonic responded in kind, making soft noises and learning the unique dance of kissing Shadow. When one pulled, the other pushed. Teeth nipped a tan lip, asking for permission, and Shadow hesitantly let Sonic in, not expecting the rush he would get from their tongues sliding together. He didn’t understand it, but he liked it.
One hand found a blue hip, while the other was tangled in messy quills, holding Sonic in place as if he would float away if he let go. His grip on his scalp tightened and the hero moaned, sending a shot of lust straight to Shadow’s groin in a way he wasn’t expecting.
Sonic had him pinned against the wall, never letting up in his gentle assault of Shadow’s mouth. He pushed his hips forward, letting Shadow feel the swollen mound between his legs, unashamedly putting his intentions on display. Shadow was grateful Sonic’s mouth muffled the obscene noise that rose from his throat. The crisp fall air had no effect on their bodies, the brick wall of the club growing warm underneath them.
Shadow broke their kiss, greedily taking in the air he had been denied. Eyes still closed, he leaned his forehead against Sonic’s, trying to prolong the intoxicating contact. He could feel Sonic’s equally heavy breaths against his lips, almost teasing.
“Are you sure you want this?” Shadow asked, not sure if he meant the kiss, something more, or himself in general.
Sonic opened his eyes and tilted his head, confused.
“Have I not made that ridiculously clear?”
Hearing this, Shadow grabbed his hand.
“Chaos Control.”