[Sequel to A Silly Question]
Sonic was on his third cup of coffee and still hung over. Is this what all the fuss was about? Once was enough, he decided. He was never drinking again.
Shadow was hitting the caffeine as well, not that it seemed to affect him much. He might not need a lot of sleep, but he’d hardly gotten any, stuck on the couch all night once Sonic dozed off on his shoulder. Sonic felt bad about that, looking at the dark bags beneath his eyes.
“You could have kicked me off and gone to bed,” he suggested, too late.
Shadow ignored him. “Another refill?” He gestured at Sonic’s cup with a fresh, steaming pitcher.
Truthfully, Sonic felt a bit awkward. Embarrassed. He’d made a fool of himself, and Shadow was being so nice about it for some reason.
He sighed, staring into his steaming cup. Sometimes he thought it was easier when he was berated. Still, maybe this was the perfect time to tell him. When he might not make such a big deal out of it.
“Shadow… Can I tell you something?” His heart thrummed against his chest. His fingers dug into the couch cushions. So much for not making a big deal out of it.
“Told me plenty while you were drunk,” Shadow returned drily, putting the coffeepot back in its place in the kitchen.
Sonic flushed. He’d meant to tell him last night, but it never happened. He vaguely remembered babbling about something stupid and getting emotional. And Shadow’s response. I don’t dislike you. That was something, wasn’t it?
“Remember when you said you don’t… dislike me?”
Shadow shot him a meaningful look. “Don’t make me regret it.”
A nervous giggle escaped him. God, he couldn’t breathe. “So the thing is … I don’t dislike you, either. I mean… I like you, I mean.”
Shadow snorted. “I think we've established that.”
What? He knew? But the relaxed, amused glint in Shadow’s eyes as he returned to the living room convinced Sonic he’d been misunderstood.
He gritted his teeth and forced out the words. “No, I mean… I like you… more than I like other people.”
Shadow rolled his eyes and took a sip from his own cup.
“I mean, different than I like other people.”
Silence. Shadow set his cup down on the counter, and then carefully, as though moving in slow motion, he stepped around the coffee table and lowered himself onto the couch, a good 3 feet from where Sonic sat. He was flushing furiously beneath the soft, fine layer of beige fur around his nose. He looked down at his hands, twisting one golden ring around and around.
“I don't… I don't think I can do that right now,” he said finally.
“I mean I'm not… I’m not the kind of person who can be a good… partner… to somebody.”
Sonic was quiet for a moment, considering this. “I guess I don't want you to be. I just wanted you to know.”
Sonic shifted. “Yeah, I mean, I just wanted you to know. And like, whenever you do have the energy, I’d love to just… be near you.”
Shadows flaming cheeks deepened a few more shades. “I see.”
For the first time, Shadow met his gaze. Something behind his eyes softened. “Yeah. “
It took everything Sonic had in that moment not to pump his fist into the air. Instead he smiled. Beamed. “Okay. I'll come back later then.” And he launched himself off the couch and toward the door.
“Just tell me, you know,” he added, hesitating midstep. “If it's too much.”
Shadow examined him silently for a moment, sizing him up. Determining if he could take that kind of honesty. “I will,” he said finally. And even smiled a little.
Shadow froze, fingers poised over the tablet screen. This particular puzzle game was free, if glitchy and full of ads, but it was the only thing that worked to slow the thoughts he got sometimes. And, more importantly, it was easier to play with two hands.
He turned his head to look at the other end of the couch where Sonic was decidedly not looking at him. His knees were drawn up tightly and he was fidgeting with the tassels of the blanket that had essentially become his over the last few weeks’ worth of evenings.
“Why?” Shadow’s tone came off a bit grumpier than he’d meant it to.
Sonic lifted one shoulder in a shrug and ventured a glance at him. “It’s okay if you don’t want to.”
Shadow didn’t move for a couple of moments. Then, he extended one hand gingerly onto the middle couch cushion and left it there. Sonic scooped it up eagerly in both of his, jostling one smooth golden bangle in the process and sending a jolt of panic through its owner. Shadow jerked away like he’d been burned.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Did that bother you?” Sonic looked genuinely horrified.
Shadow let out a breath. “N-No. I was just surprised,” he said, and returned his hand to its place on the center cushion.
Sonic didn’t take it. “I won’t do it again.”
“It matters to me! If it bothers you.” Sonic actually sounded angry, and Shadow blinked at him.
“It doesn’t - it just startled me, that’s all! I don’t like taking them off and I got..” I got scared, he wanted to say, but didn’t.
Sonic tilted his head quizzically. “Why not? Does it hurt?”
Shadow shook his head once, noncommittally. “More like it’s a lot of pressure. In my head and my chest. And a ringing sound.”
Sonic sat back. “Wow. I had no idea.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Shadow repeated, and Sonic pursed his lips in frustration. But he must have decided to let it go, since he soon took the offered hand again, more carefully this time, and knitted his fingers between Shadow’s.
“This is nice,” he said after a while, and Shadow realized he’d stopped trying to play his game.
The thoughts had stopped on their own.
[Click here for a sequel]