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Shadow was practically everything.
Handsome.
Intelligent.
Athletic.
Perfect.
Just perfect in general. Sonic concluded there was nothing, nothing bad about the hedgehog at all. Sonic huffed, looking at the black hedgehog, sitting across the room, reading a book and ignoring the drools he got.
Sonic bent his pencil. Gr..why does he have to be so...Sonic broke the pencil in half. So infuriating!? God he was just so perfect he has to ignore the love letters from his lockers, ignore the looks from girls and boys (how does one get both genders?), and even when he refuses the confession with just a slight shake of his head, they'll still like him anyway!?
Sonic would've relished it all, not that he's popular himself, but Shadow just takes the cake, overpowering him.
Groaning, he hit his face on the desk. How can I beat him...Sonic frowned. Looks? He says they were equal, and Sonic had no thought of changing his look in the future.
Intelligence? Shadow takes it by a landslide. Sure, Sonic can be smart when he wants too, but Sonic didn't really want to compete with him in school subjects.
Socializing more? that really isn't a thing to boast about.
An eating competition? No, last time when he did it with Knuckles, he and the red echidna almost went to the hospital.
Popularity? well, we already know who the fuck that is. (Hint: It's not Sonic)
There was nothing. Shadow was just too good.
Sonic looked outside, seeing his face reflect off the sun that shone brightly on his face. "Ugh..he's too annoying.." Sonic mumbled.
"Who is?"
Sonic jumped, startled. Lifting his head up, he was met by Rouge. Knuckles crush.
He couldn't blame Knuckles though, he guesses. She's cool.
and Shadow's best friend. He sees her with him everywhere. It drives Knuckles crazy.
"Oh! hi Rouge, nothing really" Sonic lied, plastering a big grin. Sonic knew Rouge was very overprotective over things she loved, so saying Shadow was annoying is probably the last thing Sonic will ever say.
Rouge raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "What?" The blue hedgehog questioned.
"Don't lie to me, blue, I saw you staring at Shadow like those girls"
Sonic's face turned red instantly, shaking his head. "What-huh?! no way, are you implying that I l-like him or something?" Sonic rambled. Rouge smirked. "I didn't imply anything, Sonic"
"You were the one who said it, not me"
Sonic groaned, covering his face with his hands. "Ugh, you really do suck.."
Rouge cackled, patting his shoulder. "Oh, don't think too much about it, I'm just teasing, but what were you really saying, just tell me"
Sonic peeked through his hands, seeing Rouge still smiling as always.
"No, you'll be mad"
"Just say it"
"No! I don't want to be sliced into pieces today! I don't think it'll be enjoyable for me to be ripped up into some kind of hedgehog drink for you to have"
Rouge crossed her arms, giving him an unamused look. "Very specific, Blue, spit it out."
Sonic bit his lip, cogs turning in his head.
And then he let out a sigh.
"It's stupid..but..how should I say this.."
Rouge leaned in, listening intently.
"How do I beat Shadow in something he'll at least 1% lose?"
Rouge blinked, and then blinked more.
And then it broke out into a loud laugh, making everyone, including Shadow, look at the bat who was laughing like crazy.
"Wha-whu-what? beating Shadow? that's what has you all riled up?" Rouge said, wiping a tear. Sonic held his chin high. "Well! I don't...he's too perfect you know? how could I beat him? he's just cool, good-looking, a sexy brain, strong, like look at him! his body is definitely not something you call "weak" and he's just.."
"Sounds like you have a crush"
Sonic slammed on the table. "It is not a crush! I am most certainly not gay!"
Rouge shook her head and smiled. "Whatever makes you sleep at night"
"But anyway! as I was saying, he's too..he has no flaws, like, at all!" Sonic exclaimed. He saw a twinkle of amusement and something else in Rouge's eyes, but he couldn't figure it out. "I..just..want to be at least good at something he isn't"
Rouge propped her elbows on her knees, as she was sitting on Sonic's desk. She mumbled something under her breath, but Sonic couldn't hear it well, only hearing a "only if you knew him well.."
"What?" Sonic asked, tilting his head. Rouge shook her head. "Nothing, but, if you're really desperate..."
"How about a race?"
"A race?"
Rouge nodded. "Mhm, if you heard the rumors spreading, which I doubt you don't, always lookin' at Shadow.."
"For the last time, I don't-"
"Rumors have been spreading you and Shadow, one of you is the fastest in this whole school."
Sonic's eyes sparkled in interest with that. Rouge noticed and grinned. "You could do a race between him."
Sonic suddenly stood up, looking determined. He walked over to Shadow with every confidence in his steps.
Sliding between the girls that were looking at him, he stood right in front of Shadow's desk. He cleared his throat, making Shadow look up.
"Yes?"
God, and his voice was baritone and hot too, he has never heard his voice before, as Shadow never really spoke much.
"You, me, track field, race," Sonic said, making hand gestures. Shadow raised an eyebrow. "Right now?"
"After school!" Sonic said. And after a bit of silence, Shadow nodded.
"Ok."
Sonic grinned, giving him a thumbs-up gesture. "Woohoo! I'll see you there"
Turning back around, he gave Rouge a thumbs up, which Rouge, returned back the same gesture, flashing her famous grin.
Sonic couldn't help but feel a little giddy, Shadow really said yes!
I'll show him who's the real boss here! Sonic thought, plopping down on his seat.
Waiting for school to end, with occasional stares at Shadow and his leg moving up and down rapidly, he couldn't wait.
"Dude, you ok? you're looking super hyper" Knuckles commented. Sonic slightly shook his head, looking at the time. "Just excited." a simple response from the hedgehog. Knuckles was about to question but made eye contact with Rouge, who just shook her head. He shut his mouth.
Ring!!!
Sonic shot up, his chair almost falling down by how fast he stood up, he grabbed his bag and quickly tapped Shadow's shoulder, who was packing his stuff. "I'll see you there!" Sonic said and rushed down the stairs. "Wha.." Knuckles said, very surprised.
"Don't worry Knucklehead, he's just excited to see his crush"
"Oh-what!?"
Sonic was already at the track field, stretching his legs as a warm-up. He couldn't wait! He was about to impress Shadow so hard he'll swoon.
Wait that was pretty ga-
"Hedgehog."
Sonic whipped his head, a smile dawning on his lips after seeing Shadow walk up to him, waving. "There you are! slow poke, can't leave a hedgehog waiting" Sonic commented. Shadow only huffed in reply before placing his bag down.
"OK! The loser gets to do whatever the winner wants! we both know who'll win though, so get ready to listen to my demand from you!" Sonic said, grinning. Shadow rolled his eyes and stretched his arms. "I won't go easy."
"That's all I needed to hear!"
Stretching his body once more, he walked up to the starting line.
"Ready?" Sonic said, placing one knee down and looking at Shadow who came beside him.
He smells pretty good-
"Ready."
Sonic threw that thought out the trash as he gave Shadow a thumbs up. "OK!"
"3.."
"2.."
"1.."
"GO!"
The two then shot off, and from a mobain's point of view, you could only see a blur of red and blue.
Sonic blasted forward, leaving Shadow behind as he smiled. Hah! I'm totally winning-
He then saw a blur of red beside him, almost making Sonic trip. OH fuck, he's faster than I thought! Sonic thought.
He had always known Shadow was fast, but he has never seen him run before, he would be distracted trying to make Knuckles talk to Rouge in gym. So this was quite the surprise.
Not that Sonic disliked a challenge.
Sonic pushed his legs further, trying to reach to black hedgehog who was a good distance away from him.
If Shadow wasn't going to let him easy as he said, Sonic wasn't either.
As he got closer and closer, he finally closed the distance. They were both close to the finish line. "You're a real fast runner Shads!"
Shadow's eyes widened in surprise, Sonic thought he was surprised that he got close to him, but instead, he asked
"Shads?"
Sonic tilted his head. "Yeah, your nickname I gave you!"
Shadow looked at him, then at himself.
"I.."
Weird dude, has he never had a nickname or something? Sonic thought.
But then the black hedgehog did something unexpected, something the cobalt hedgehog tripped over his own feet.
He smiled.
And it was..pretty.
But Sonic had no time to think about that, as his face then was shoved with a big pile of dirt.
"OH CHAOS, I HATE DIRT TASTE-"
He coughed and hit his chest repeatedly.
As he coughed, he then heard something muffled.
Looking up, he saw Shadow cover his mouth with his hand. Was he..
Sonic pushed his luck, as he tried to cough with a more humorous face. "Chaos.. dirt isn't all that tasty."
And that was the final string. Shadow let his hand slide down idly, laughing with his full chest. (His fur chest looks soft Sonic thought to himself)
Sonic couldn't help but break out a laugh also, as the two couldn't stop giggling and snorting, no matter how much of a straight face they tried to do.
Sonic couldn't help but like Shadow's laugh. It was captivating.
He would like to hear that more.
As Sonic chuckled, standing up and wiping the dust off himself.
"So..now that I won.."
Sonic froze.
Oh right. that. He forgot all about that.
The cobalt hedgehog looked up at the black hedgehog, who had his arms crossed. "Oh yeah..uh..since you did win fair and square..what do you want?" Sonic asked, feeling a bit bitter. He had tried to prove himself to be better at least something..but he couldn't.
Sonic looked down at his red shoes, dirty with dirt. He waited for Shadow's response. Chaos, it's probably going to be something like, carry his stuff for a whole month..or do his homework..or
He heard metal skates hit the dirt floor, coming closer.
Or a slap?
Sonic almost winced at that. Shadow's strength wasn't to be messed up with. He'd probably have to be in the hospital for real this time.
Too scared to look up, he felt Shadow's body heat radiate off him.
"...Look up." The other hedgehog commanded. Sonic gulped, slowly looking up.
To his surprise, Shadow looked..nervous? His crimson eyes were trying to focus on his green ones, but if someone looked closely enough, they could see them shake just a little.
"Sonic..you don't have to..say yes.."
"But.."
Sonic tilted his head, the tension of his shoulders slowly fading away.
"Would you care..to be my friend?"
What.
Sonic's emerald eyes widened, searching for the crimson eyes for any sign of joking.
None. Not a single twinkle. And his tone sounded so genuine..so sincere...
"Not that you have to say yes.."
Sonic heard the coldness slowly fade back into Shadow's usual tone, and he quickly shook his head, waving his hands.
Right, he has to answer his question.
"No no! it's just...why?" Sonic questioned. Shadow pursed his lips.
"Well.."
The black hedgehog sighed, suddenly looking very shy.
"I've...kind've admired you from the start of school."
What.
"You barely have any flaws, besides not being smart, but you were everything I want to be."
WHAT.
"You were talkative, cheerful, and always glad to help someone out."
Sonic could see how red Shadow was speaking all this, and he probably himself was too, hearing all this.
"So, you offering to race me, I don't know, I wanted to impress you, so that offer gave me a chance to do something."
"You were everything I expected, loud, a bit cocky, and just a hedgehog full of happiness."
Silence between the both of them. Only feeling the breeze Sonic felt on his quills.
"Yeah, so, I'll.."
Shadow looked ready to just get out of here and blast off. Not like Sonic was going not chase him, he'll do it, even if all around the world and back.
Sonic grabbed his wrist, making sure he wasn't about to run around the world and back.
"Yeah, I'll..I'll be your friend."
He saw Shadow's ears perk up, and even his eyes glinted with a hint of joy.
"Really."
Sonic smiled and nodded.
"Yes, of course."
And a brilliant smile broke on Shadow's face, and god.
The title explains everything.