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sunsetsandsunshine · 19 days ago

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~ Dewdrops & Decisions ~

·̩̩̥͙＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*𝙻𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚖𝚢 𝚂𝚙𝚘𝚝𝚒𝚏𝚢 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚢𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚜 𝚘𝚗 𝚛𝚎𝚙𝚎𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚎 𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚕𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚢 𝙺𝙽𝙾𝚆 𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚕𝚘𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚗 ✨*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊·̩̩̥͙

𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: 𝙷𝚞𝚛𝚝/��𝚘𝚖𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚝

𝚆𝚘𝚛𝚍𝚜: 𝟺,𝟷𝟺𝟼

𝙻𝚎𝚎: 𝚂𝚑𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚠 🏍️🖤

𝙻𝚎𝚛: 𝚂𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚌 🌭💙

𝚂𝚞𝚖𝚖𝚊𝚛𝚢: 𝚂𝚑𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚠 𝚐𝚘𝚎𝚜 𝚘𝚞𝚝𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚍𝚎𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚜. 𝙰𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝? 𝚆𝚑𝚘 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠𝚜.

(𝙰/𝙽: 𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚏𝚒𝚌 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚌 𝚕𝚎𝚗𝚜𝚎𝚜 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚒𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚋𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚊𝚜 𝚛𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚌—𝙸 𝚍𝚘𝚗’𝚝 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚘𝚛 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎. 𝙹𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚔𝚎𝚎𝚙 𝚒𝚗 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝙸 𝚍𝚘𝚗’𝚝 𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚙 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚜𝚎 𝚝𝚠𝚘 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜. 𝙱𝚞𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚢𝚠𝚊𝚢𝚜: 𝚍𝚘𝚗’𝚝 𝚋𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚐𝚞𝚢! 𝙺𝚒𝚗𝚔/𝙽𝚂𝙵𝚆 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚐𝚜 𝙳𝙽𝙸!!!).

𝚆𝚊𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜: 𝙲𝚞𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚐, 𝚝𝚒𝚌𝚔𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚜 (𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚊 𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚊𝚙𝚑𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚌 𝚕𝚎𝚗𝚜).

𝙳𝙸𝚂𝙲𝙻𝙰𝙸𝙼𝙴𝚁: 𝙿𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚎 𝚎𝚗𝚐𝚊𝚐𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚏𝚊𝚗𝚏𝚒𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚍𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚌𝚝—𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚒𝚜 𝚊 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢 𝚌𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍 𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚗. 𝚆𝚎𝚒𝚛𝚍 𝚘𝚛 𝚒𝚗𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚙𝚛𝚒𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚜 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚋𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚕𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚍, 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞 <𝟹!

·̩̩̥͙＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*𝙽𝚘𝚠 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚏𝚞𝚛𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚍𝚘…𝚕𝚎𝚝’𝚜 𝚐𝚎𝚝 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝚒𝚝 💃🏾‼️˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊·̩̩̥͙

The afternoon sun had dipped low long before Shadow had decided to come outside; the big star casting gloomy and strangely shaped shadows as a soft breeze rustled through the grass, the trees and his black and red quills.

The black and red quilled teenager in question closed his eyes as he sat slightly in front of a tree not far from the Wackowski home, feeling the wind brush against his entire body.

And just for a small moment, all the buzzing chaos and never ending uncertainty in his mind slowed and came to a stop.

The steady whisper of the wind felt like a gentle hand, wiping away the fear that coiled inside of his chest, booming and projecting like a loud bongo drum.

The hand felt soothing, grounding, and comforting.

It didn’t feel like the hedgehog was being enclosed with the same air that filled his lungs, rather, a warm and steady hug with a breeze that seemed to carry the heavy weight that was his memories.

The small gust of wind felt like familiarity.

The small gust of wind felt like home.

The small gust of wind felt like…her.

Shadow hugged his knees to his chest at the thought, not looking at anything entirely specific as he stared off into the distance that was The Wackowski residance.

It’s funny in a way; really.

A months days ago…he was wondering if he’d even survive to see another sunset.

Now, he was staying at his rival's home…experiencing one...

…Guess life was funny like that.

“‘Thought I’d find you out here.” A blue hedgehog said way too casually as he walked up to the teen underneath the tree, a bag of jellybeans in his hand as he smacked on them like they were going to disappear at any moment.

Speaking of the devil...

“What is that supposed to mean?” Shadow glared defensively almost like clockwork.

“My first couple months on Earth I sat in that exact spot your brooding in right now…only makes sense you’d give it a try.” Sonic smirked as he shrugged his shoulders, his smirk widening a tad bit as he saw the older hedgehog’s eyebrows pinch together in annoyance.

The slightly taller mammal broke eye contact, looking down at the small greenery that was their lawn. “I don’t ‘brood’.” He grumbled.

The blue devil chuckled to himself, leaning his back on the tree as he crossed his arms casually, intaking the normal yet comforting scenery, “What do you call that big frown on your face then, hm? ‘Looks like brooding to me, man.”

The older teen’s eye twitched, ignoring the snarky comment as he picked at the grass below him, “Why are you here, Sonic?” He deadpanned, hugging his knees to his chest tightly, “Because if your here to tell me about those useless Christmas color coded plumber people again—”

“—The Mario Brothers.” The emerald eyed mammal corrected.

“—I don’t want to hear it.” The black and red quilled hedgehog finished. “Their names don’t even make sense.” He scoffed like the two video game characters' existence was a personal offence, “Only one of them is named Mario! So does that mean he is named ‘Mario Mario’ while the other one is named Luigi Mario or is there an actual last name the creators aren’t letting us know so we pay more attention to Mario instead of Luigi?”

“…Huh.” The slightly shorter teenager hummed, “…I…never thought about it like that.” He mumbled as he scratched the back of his neck, confused but also kind of endeared at the other hedgehog’s random revelation.

And now that he thought about it…it would be kinda interesting to see Shadow and Tails debate on that topic…

Shadow scoffed whilst rolling his eyes, “That’s your problem. You don’t think.” He said as he uselessly picked at the grass underneath his air shoes again before letting the small strands blow away.

“Yeesh…okay, honesty train coming in hot. Aaaaaall abroad.” The emerald eyed mammal mumbled as he tapped his fingers along his arm in a timely fashion, still eating his mismatched colored candies.

Tom and Maddie had always reminded Sonic to be honest no matter what; ‘Honesty is the best Policy’ if you will.

But Shadow…took that saying to a whoooooole other level.

And it showed.

“You honestly and truly think I came all the way out here just for you to find me and converse?” The antihero humorlessly snorted, (and if the situation was more light, Sonic would’ve made a comment on it…but the Chilli dog loving teen did not).

“I came out here to be alone.” The older teenager voiced in annoyance.

The speed incarnate stiffened slightly at the other’s grumbled statement, putting his crossed arms and jellybean bag in his hoodie pockets as he kicked a small portion of the dirt below him, “…Sorry.” He muttered, “You just…I-I dunno. You looked…lonely.”

Shadow sighed heavily at the other hedgehog’s sudden changed demeanor, dragging his palm along his face as he rested the back of his head on the tree bark, “I’m The Ultimate Lifeform. I don’t get…‘lonely’.”

“That’s what I used to think.” The unruly wind giggled quietly, a small smirk forming on his face due to how similar yet how different they were, “I was never ‘The Ultimate Lifeform’ like you but I did title myself as ‘The Fastest Creature’ alive…or ‘The Blue Blur’ for short.” The green eyed mammal winked as he did finger guns at the other, holding back a small snort as the antihero’s ears drooped down in disgust.

Whether the disgusted feeling was directed towards Sonic’s persona name, his finger guns or both, the blue hedgehog wasn’t really bothered to ask.

“I am not calling you that.” The older one out of the two of them said whilst rolling his eyes.

“Was worth a shot.” Sonic snickered as he and Shadow both jumped slightly as parts of the sky whitened for a second, displaying a loud crackling sound as light rain started to fall.

Sonic smiled gently, walking out from under the tree and not looking at anything in particular as he gazed into the darkened cotton candy looking fluff that was the clouds; feeling the rain cascade down his ears and onto his back quills.

And Shadow did not question it…

…Much, anyway.

“But…I do admit, as time went on, I realized that I kiiiiiinda gave that name to myself out of loneliness.” The blue quilled hedgehog admitted, “I-If that makes sense.” He laughed softly, “Like…naming myself that would give my existence a sense of purpose o-or meaning…like I had a destiny…even if I made up.” He said as he walked back under the tree, sitting next to his ‘dark rival’.

‘And just in time, too’, they both thought as the rain began to get more and more heavier.

But thankfully, the two stayed dry due to the tree’s leaves shielding them from the downpour.

“You felt…invisible and powerless; giving yourself a name such as that paved a way for you to take control and create an idea that only you could command—something strong…and heroic, unlike how you might have felt back then.” Shadow concluded.

“Exactly!”

“Well, sucks to be you then, I guess.” The slightly taller hedgehog hummed, “Unlike you, I was given my name and purpose by my creator.”

“…Good for you, Shadow.” Sonic grumbled at the older’s…gloating? Bragging? Sonic wasn’t sure what this conversation was anymore.

“Great for me.” The Ultimate Lifeform corrected.

“Great for you.” The other lifeform grumbled begrudgingly, “Look Shads, I’m just trying to give you advice and trying to help you—”

“Yeah? Well, maybe don’t.” The lone operative interrupted harshly; a bit too harshly. Suffocating silence soon followed after his uncalled for statement, the two awkwardly looking away; not knowing how to start up the conversation again as it seemed to die out almost instantly.

The silence was thick…and awkward…

Ohoooooo so awkward…

Shadow kept his eyes locked on the ground, his fingers intertwined with each other on top of his knees.

That…sharp edge in his voice still lingered in the air, curling around the tree leaves like everlasting smoke.

The wind then suddenly picked up…not loud or violent—but just enough to stir the trees in the distance and tug at Sonic’s hoodie.

The air sent a chill across Shadow’s spine; like a nudge that wouldn’t go away.

The blue quilled teen had shifted his weight, switching to sit criss-cross on the grass; clearly slightly hurt by the other’s words but not saying a word. The young teen’s hands moved slower than usual inside of his hoodie pockets; quieter.

No humming whatsoever.

No side-eyes or playful looks…just…silence.

Which honestly made Shadow feel even worse.

The black and red quilled teenager opened his mouth but…the words stalled in his throat completely.

The wind blew again, sharp and steady this time—blowing some of Shadow’s quills in each and every direction.

“Alright…alright,” The antihero muttered to no one in particular, “I get it…”

“I’m sorry. I was being a jerk.” The older hedgehog said to the blue hedgehog, his tone softer than the blue hedgehog in question had probably ever heard it, “I just…find it weird when others show that they…genuinely care about me. I don’t know how to react.” He sighed, “But you didn’t deserve that.”

The wind picked up again—gentler this time, brushing Shadow’s shoulder almost like trying to mimic a reassuring pat.

Sonic met Shadow’s eyes, morphing his face to a small yet amused smirk as the usually stoic brooder blushed in slight embarrassment, looking down again.

“Anyways…I suck. You're cool. I’m sorry.” The crimson eyed hedgehog said, trying to be casual but failing very very miserably.

“Yeah…you do really really suck.” Sonic agreed wholeheartedly, “But it's okay. I forgive you...” He giggled as the red and black quilled mammal rolled his eyes for the millionth time today, bumping shoulders with him, “…For your rude words and how much you suck.” He said more sincerely.

The world seemed to have gone still for a moment, the kind of still that made every sound feel louder than it should—the rain pitter pattering on the tree leaves, the wind rustling in absolutely anything and everything; Shadow’s own breathing.

Sonic didn’t say anything; just pulling out his jellybeans and eating them once more.

Finally, the crimson eyed teenager exhaled—shaky and barely audible, “…May I admit something?” He quietly asked.

“Sure!” The blue quilled hedgehog closed his jellybean bag to the side, giving the other his full and undivided attention.

“Although I was given my name, what I am and what I’m supposed to do…I don’t…” Shadow exhaled through his nostrils, “As ironic as it is: I-I don’t know how to execute any of those things correctly.” He locked eyes with the younger hedgehog, “You barely knew who you were when being here on Earth…and yet you still found your purpose here.”

“Ihi wouldn’t say all that...” Sonic giggled, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly, “…The path to certainty is never a straight line, Shads. Purpose isn’t always a push in the right direction, y'know.” He smiled as he watched the rain fall sporadically. “Sometimes…it's an unsure but steady pull towards something that feels worth the effort—even when it seems hard or challenging.”

“I’ve known since I stepped foot onto Earth I just…wanted to help people.” The Chili Dog loving hedgehog concluded, looking at his emo counterpart, “My pull…was my family and Green Hill…what’s yours?”

The older teen’s jaw clenched slightly at the question—was this dumbass listening to anything he’d been saying for the past hour they’ve been out here?

“I just told you: I don’t know.” The crimson eyed teenager frowned.

“Then figure it out then!” Sonic smiled, practically shooting up from where he was sitting, not being able to contain himself. “Life isn’t gonna wait for you, Shads!”

The antihero pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to hide his inevitable smile at his strange counterpart’s contagious excitement, “What does that even mean?” He sighed.

“Live life! Be free! Roam! You're not gonna find your quote unquote ‘purpose’ by just lounging around looking at the grass all day. You have time…use it.” The emerald eyed hedgehog said, “Even I don’t know everything. I’m learning too…but that's what makes it all worthwhile! Don’t rush the process, man. Life is a highway afterall.” He grinned reassuringly.

“Besides…no one said you gotta figure all of that out right now.” The speedy devil said, “I know it doesn’t feel like it sometimes, but, while you're trying to survive the chore known as life…don’t forget to live through it too, yeah?”

“You are…strangely good at giving advice.” Shadow said.

“Heh…I get that a lot.” Sonic giggled, his laugh emitting in amused volumes.

The rain seemed to calm now as it gently pattered against the leaves from above; having no particular rhythm other than softness and steadiness like a snowflake dancing in a snowglobe.

The breeze once again returned, swaying the rain droplets gently down the tree bark and onto the soil.

Then, out of nowhere, a tiny ant, barely bigger than a baby's thumb, crawled up the toe of Sonic’s shoes.

It seemed to hesitate slighlty but then ducked itself beneath the shoe straps, curling its little body as if to shield itself from the outside world.

The blue devil didn’t make a sound, smiling down at the little inscent as he gently cooed the small thing, adjusting his posture so they both had absolutely no chance of getting wet.

Despite that fact, the blue quilled hedgehog carefully hovered his hand over the ant, shielding it from an imaginary droplet that simply seeped through the leaves.

Shadow watched the ant as well, a rare smile forming on his face as well as he watched the two interact.

The older hedgehog couldn’t help but feel a small sense of…deja vu? Familiarity?

…He…wasn’t quite sure. He just knew that the situation seemed so…melancholic in a way.

“…You…okay?” Sonic asked quietly, noticing the solemn yet sad look on the others' face.

Shadow’s face remained the same, his chest feeling tight but not in a claustrophobic sense as he exhaled, nodding his head as if a chained weight had been lifted off of and freed from his shoulders. “Y-Yes…” He stammered, watching as the ant happily danced on Sonic’s shoes as the wind danced around the three of them, “…Just…remembering something.”

Sonic nodded, deciding not to push any further as he saw the sky clear up slightly, inhaling the fresh scent of petrichor as the small ant hopped down from his shoe, planting a spot right next to him.

The blue hedgehog got up, stretching his arms as a loud yawn escaped his mouth, “Ready to head back inside?”

“…No.” Shadow quietly admitted, cringing at the thought of being caught in the crossfire between Knuckles and Tails’ reenactment of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Maul’s fight from Star Wars.

“C’moooon…I don’t want you catching a cold out here, man! We can go to the porch or something but I think my butt fell asleep!” The emerald eyed teen moaned and groaned dramatically as the small ant hopped down from the shoe to frolic around the two.

The tension in the lone operative’s face seemed to ease up, being replaced with something more playful, shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly, “I say again: sucks to be you.”

“You’re mean.” The shorter mammal pouted.

“And you're annoying; guess we both have flaws.”

“But that’s what makes us super awesome.” Sonic reasoned, attempting to pull Shadow up on his feet but the other hedgehog stayed stubbornly where he was seated. “Nohow. gehet. uhuuuuup!” Sonic tried lifting up Shadow but the older one just stared at him blankly.

Sonic huffed like the other teen sitting there was a personal offence, crossing his arms as he looked away begrudgingly “You're ruining Sonic JR’s sunbathing time!”

“Sunbathing…wihith noho sun?” Shadow retorted.

“Stohop beeheeing sohoh judgemental!” The Chilli Dog loving teen laughed, grabbing the other teenager’s arms but was pulled to the ground by him almost instantly.

“Gehet yohohour dihirty mihihitts off ohof me!” Shadow grunted, half laughing whilst Sonic tried to drag him upright. The two tumbled on the grass, laughing more now.

Sonic straddled the other hedgehog’s hips and pinned his wrists to the grass with a wide grin, “Oho…nuh uh! You’ve been rude to me this entire time we’ve been out here! Isn’t that right, Sonic JR?” Sonic said, looking at, well, Sonic JR. the ant before looking back at Shadow, nodding in confirmation. “Sonic JR. agrees.”

“You two look absolutely nothing alike.” The red and black quilled hedgehog huffed.

“How dare! The resemblance is uncanny! You're just too blind to see it, faker.” Sonic dramatically said, lightly pinching the other’s right side.

Shadow squeezed his eyes tight against the action, shaking his head back and forth as he tried to break out of Sonic’s hold but to the antihero’s surprise…the younger was actually surprisingly strong,“Ihihi’m nohot the faker heeheehere! Yohou are!” He giggly grumbled through gritted teeth.

“Says the one giggling like a Teletubby...” The blue quilled hedgehog taunted while sticking his tongue out at the other in a silly manner, poking his stomach sporadically which caused the older to squirm in every which way.

“I-I pffteheh dohoh nohot gihihiggle!” Shadow denied, not even attempting to ask what in the hell a ‘Teletubby’ was.

He could honestly just look it up later on Mr. Wackowski’s computer and hope for the best that it wasn’t some dumb video game character like The Mario Brothers.

“Oho yeah, tough guy? What’s this then? Hm? Hmmmmm~?” Sonic teased, wiggling his fingers in Shadow’s underarm.

The older teen let out a loud squeal despite his lips being completely pursed, kicking his legs from behind Sonic, “Ihihi’m gohOHONNA freeheeHEEaking kihill yOHOou!!!” The crimson eyed hedgehog shouted.

“Pff…with what army, man? Your squeals and shrieks?” The younger snorted at his own comeback, letting go of the other’s wrist and he stuffed both of his hands inside of his underarms, moving his fingers at an agonizingly slow pace. “God, I’m soOoOoOo scared…what ever shall I do~?”

Shadow threw his head back in complete and utter hysteria, arching his back quills into the grass as Sonic’s stupidly unbearable fingers scratched underneath his arms…

…That smug bastard.

“PfftAHAHAH—squeal! IHIHI H-HATE YOHOHOU!” The antihero yelled in an embarrassed high-pitched shriek, much to his dismay.

“D’aww…your laugh is so stinking cute!” Sonic teased, a big, cocky smile plastered on his face as he tickled his enemy turned rival turned emo brother into pieces.

“SHUHUHUT. UHUHUP!!!” Shadow cried, his face fur slowly turning the same shade as his irises.

“Shuut uppp~!” Sonic mocked without letting a single beat pass.

“IHI hic DOHOHON’T hic SOHOUND LIHIHIHIKE EHEH THAHAT!” The other teen squealed louder than the sound barrier could obtain.

“I don’t sound like that~!” Sonic continued.

“SOHOHONIC!!!” Shadow yelled through his laughs as the speedy devil mercilessly squeezed at his hip area. Shadow pounded his fists on the floor as his other arm wrapped around his torso, trying to bat Sonic’s hands away.

Sonic snickered in amusement; it's not everyday you could see his brooding buddy completely belly laughing, y’know! “Shadow~!”

“NAHAHAH—hic! STOHOP MAHAKING FUHUHUN OHOF ME!!!”

“I’m not~!” Sonic protested.

Shadow growled lowly through his giggles, kicking the air as he let out a bone quivering squeal, “YEHES YOOHOU F-FUHUCKING AHARE!” He shouted.

Sonic, completely unfazed by the others screechy shouts, released his hands from Shadow’s arms, letting the older one breathe for a second as he dramatically cracked his knuckles and neck as he tickled Shadow once more. “Okay…that’s enough back talk from you, Mr. Ultimate Ticklish Lifeform.”

“DOOHOO YOHOHOU hic EHEVEHER hic hic SHUHUHUT UHUP???” The black and red quilled teen howled.

The speed incarnate hummed in fake thought, peering up to the iridescent thing that was the night sky, “Never tried; and don’t eeeeeever plan to.” He said as he tickled Shadow’s ribs and hips with SuperSonic Speed™, catching the older so off guard he snorted loudly before submitting into a new fresh wave of desperate cackles.

“Geez…I gotta do this more often.” Sonic beamed, “Your laugh is pure serotonin, man.”

“O-OKAHAHAY SQUEAL OHOHOKAY!!!” The slightly taller mammal cried a breathy squeal, happy tears of mirth forming in his eyes as he banged his fists on the ground and the other’s arms for one final measure, “STOHOP! STOHOHOP hic STOHOHOP IHIHIT NOHOW!!!”

“Alright, alright…I’m stopping, I’m stopping.” Sonic ceased his torturous tickling fingers almost immediately, letting the older catch his breath as he got off of him.

“You okay…?” The emerald eyed teen asked a couple seconds after, “I didn’t overstep any boundaries, right?”

“I-I’m ohokahahay.” Shadow grumbled despite the wobbly, silly little grin he was trying to wipe off his face.

Jesus…this family really made him soft as hell.

And he will admit…he kinda loves them for it. Go figure.

“Good.” Sonic nodded, putting a hand on his hip, “Now can we pleeeease go back inside?”

“Suhure, Sohonic.” The older one chuckled lightly, getting off from the ground as he dusted himself off, shaking his head fondly as the blue quilled hedgehog smiled down at the ant and scooped it up in his palm.

Shadow rubbed his arm anxiously, his eyes still on the other, “Sonic?”

“Hm?”

“…Thanks.” Shadow admitted quietly, “For the talk. And well, you know…”

Sonic smiled at the small flustered words of appreciation, “‘Course, twin. Always happy to help.” He giggled as he bumped elbows with the others, squeaking when the other in question sneakily jabbed him in the side, “AHACK! H-Hehey! Hehey!” Sonic absolutely squealed, “Yohohou're attahacking ahan uhunaharmed mahan!” He playfully scolded, “Wihith a chihihild ihin thehe vicinity!”

“You attacked me first.” Shadow deadpanned.

“Yeheah! Buhut you deserved it!” The speed incarnate huffed as he crossed his arms in a dramatic fashion before putting Sonic JR. down carefully and picking up his jelly beans, eating them directly in Shadow’s face, much much to the others dismay and disgust.

“SONIC! SONIC #2!” Knuckles’ voice came distant and sharp from the porch to the two hedgehogs. The two paused their bickering, turning towards the red echidna, “MOTHER REQUESTS YOU COME INSIDE BEFORE YOU CATCH A SICKNESS KNOWN AS THE COLD!”

“Aww man…” Sonic pouted before clutching his chest as if he’d been shot, “Hey…wAIT A SECOND…‘SONIC #2’?!”

Shadow took offense to the nickname as well, clutching his chest as he glared at the other, “I was born before you! If anything you should be Sonic #2!”

“But my name is Sonic! That makes no sense!” The shorter teen shouted in obvious disapproval.

“You don’t make any sense!” The red and black quilled hedgehog retorted.

“Your face doesn’t make any sense!”

Knuckles blinked as he watched the two hedgehog’s back and forth from a distance, “I wonder what they are bickering about…” He stood outside for one second longer, completely baffled before heading back inside, letting the screen door swing shut behind him. “…Oh well; not my problem.”

“Whatever…we can discuss that later.” Sonic huffed before pointing to the house with his thumb. “You ready to head in?”

“…Yes.” Shadow agreed, “Lets…Let's go.”

“It's: ‘Gotta go fast™’…but you'll get the hang of it.” The emerald eyed teenager smirked at the other. “Bye bye, Sonic JR!” Sonic smiled sweetly as he blew kisses to the insect, “Seeya later!” He waved as he dashed to the house with his usual speediness.

Shadow chuckled fondly, crossing his arms as he walked to the Wackowski residence. And as he did so, he looked up to the blue dusky gray/grey sky; no rain in sight.

Shadow's chest tightened—not from the cold or uneasiness, but from that too familiar feeling that crept into his heart without warning.

That…certain heaviness that felt like it was stuck to you like molasses.

Sonic came back outside after realizing Shadow didn’t quite follow after him.

But Sonic didn’t rush him, just quietly stepping towards him as he held out his hand, “C’mon, Shads…Dad popped popcorn to watch the rest of Tails and Knux’s weeb fight thinga mabobber.”

The taller mammal looked at the smaller’s hand and then took it without a word, the both of them walking towards the house now.

The wind stirred—soft and low, almost like a satisfied sigh. It brushed through Shadow’s quills, curling around his torso like a ghost of a hug.

Shadow blinked…and for the first time in years…his breath came a little—no…a lot easier.

Shadow looked back at the tree and squinted, looking at the tiny ant that was still where the two hedgehogs were sitting earlier.

“What?” Sonic asked, trying to look in the direction Shadow was.

“…Nothing.” Shadow murmured, eyes still on the ant, “It’s just…still there.”

“Guess Sonic JR. just really likes the wind.” Sonic giggled, slipping inside the house with Shadow.

Outside, the wind tapped once against the window panes, stirring at the tree leaves and making them rustle gently.

But despite all of that?

The ant kept going.

·̩̩̥͙＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚𝙵𝙸𝙽˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊·̩̩̥͙

(𝙿.𝚂.: 𝙸𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚎𝚗𝚓𝚘𝚢𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚏𝚒𝚌, 𝚙𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚐!!!)

©𝚂𝚞𝚗𝚜𝚎𝚝𝚜𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚜𝚞𝚗𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚎, 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟻. 𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚏𝚊𝚗𝚏𝚒𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚒𝚜 𝚖𝚢 𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚔 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚖𝚢 𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚔 𝚊𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚎. 𝙿𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚎 𝚍𝚘 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚛𝚎𝚙𝚘𝚜𝚝, 𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚗𝚜𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚎, 𝚙𝚞𝚝 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝙰𝙸, 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚐𝚒𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚣𝚎 𝚘𝚛 𝚌𝚘𝚙𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚠𝚊𝚢. 𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞.