Chapter Text
Shadow frowned as Sonic wiggled away from his touch, his ears twitching at the nervous laugh the hero let out.
“Actually, I’m okay, but, uh, thanks,” he laughed awkwardly, walking a few steps over to the other side of the overhang they’d sought refuge under, cradling his arm.
The two hedgehogs had been arguing over what to do about Metal Sonic, who had been making random appearances all over the village, causing a wake of destruction in his path. Sonic wanted to confront Eggman about it, but Shadow wanted to simply destroy Metal and be done with it. During their very loud disagreement, a storm snuck up on them, and they ended up having to find a nearby cove to wait it out.
On their way there, Sonic had slipped on some rocks and cut his arm, not severely, but the incident proved the point of not running all the way back to one of Sonic’s friends’ homes.
After arriving to their makeshift shelter, Sonic had playfully asked Shadow to check out his injury for him. Shadow understood it not just to be playful but flirtatious as well, yet only moments after taking his arm into his hands, Sonic was pulling away.
“Man, I hope Tails is okay,” Sonic mused as lightning struck somewhere off in the distance, thunder rolling off the waves of the beach.
“I don’t understand you,” Shadow growled out in annoyance, crossing his arms and frowning as Sonic looked back at him.
“Huh?” he asked, his brow furrowing in confusion.
“You continue to make advances toward me yet you reject all of mine,” he huffed.
Sonic’s eyes widened when he realized what Shadow was talking about, and he gave another obviously nervous laugh. “I don’t know what you mean,” he chuckled.
“Yes you do,” Shadow accused, eyeing him. “Like just now. You asked me to look at your arm and then you say you’re fine. Which is it?”
“I dunno. I was just—” he started, but then he blinked as Shadow suddenly moved over, taking his arm again, like he was about to inspect it, but instead he maintained intense eye contact.
“Which is it?” he asked again, voice softer, that time. When Sonic didn’t answer and just stared at him, he leaned in a tiny bit.
Sonic’s eyes widened even more, and he jerked away. “I don’t know!” he breathed, panic in his voice that time.
Shadow growled again, baring his teeth before moving away from Sonic, toward the cove’s exit.
“Wait!” Sonic said, speeding over in front of him, raising his hands with his palms facing the other hedgehog. “I just— It’s just that I haven't—” he tried.
“Tch,” Shadow scoffed, about to step around him, but Sonic moved with him.
“Just wait a sec’!” he breathed.
Shadow’s expression darkened, tired of waiting, and tired of the confusion. “Step away before I punch you in the face.”
Sonic blinked at him, deflating at the threat, so he just shifted out of his way, watching as Shadow took off into the rain, despite the raging storm that trapped them there in the first place.