Work Text:
'Come to me
In the night hours'
The night is late, silent besides the distant curl of the waves in the distance. Scattering the sand as it followed the command of the moon. They crash upon the beach in a rhythm similar to the one in Sonic's own head. He twisted restlessly, unable to find a spot of comfort in his hammock. The fabric strained beneath him in the dark. It rattled like a leaf lost in the wind. He groaned after a moment before sitting up, eyes adjusting to the area. His face is flushed with warmth from the summer's night. Red with sweat as he swung himself onto the floor.
'And I can't sleep'
His eyes are heavy, weighted down by the dark pools under them. Despite the series of tired pulses that ran through his body, his mind ran wild. A million thoughts that he, 'The Fastest Thing Alive,' could barely keep up with. His pulse rose and fell with the traffic of his own mind. Heart speeding at the thoughts he barely registered before they went again in an ever-lasting repetition.
Shaking his head, he slipped out onto the beach, the sand grinding into the hills of gold beneath his weight. The air tasted salty, lingering in his breath before picking up with the breeze. Sonic simply paused, taking in the sight. It was warm, a nice night to be out minus his racing mind. His blue quills paced with the wind, moving softly. A sense of tranquility washed over him. Several moments passed before he continued, soft footsteps mingling with the sound of waves. No one else was out this late. No one was awake. His green eyes skimmed the area. Then he picked a spot to sit out of the reach of the ocean's waves. Embracing himself, staring into the endless waters. The pattern of the ocean was a peaceful sight that he swayed to.
'Cause thoughts devour'
Though his head was still far away, thinking of the swirls of black that matched the night, striped with red. Sonic's face headed up at the mere thought of him. Warmth spread throughout him, pricking uncomfortably hot on a warm night. Eyes widened towards the waves. The gaze lingered before he buried his face in his gloved hands, taking a deep breath. His knees were drawn up to his chest as he confronted the truth. His feelings for his rival. A tight urge constricted in his chest, swelling through him. Sonic almost couldn't breathe.
It suffocated from deep within, devouring his chances of rest. He gently guided his attention to the rise and fall of his chest. A motion, keeping him grounded.
'Thoughts of you consume'
Frustration exploded through him as his head was thrown back. Seething in his own self-pity, his eyes flickered open. Instantly met with the sight of a sky of stars. Weaving through the night as if it was a quilt made for them. Dazzling in glory. His frustration fell silent as he stared, emerald eyes reflecting the view back to the stars. The dots swam in the galaxy of his eyes. His thoughts dispersed and planted themselves up there instead. His shoulders loosened and his muscles slacked. His hands dug into the hand, letting the grains roll.
His blood stopped gushing like liquid fire in his veins. Everything slows before settling on one image in his brain. Played on repeat as the word faded away from Sonic. Everything went quiet. The only sound was his heart that rumbled in his own ears. The hero shouldn't feel this way.
Shouldn't be in love with his Rival.
A low vibration under his fingertips made him look around. His glance caught a furry of red that flashed by. He blinked, his tired gaze barely registering. Standing in front of him, towering, is a dark hedgehog. Shadow's crimson eyes stare down at the hero, not moving. His arms crossed over his chest, his quills slightly on end. The summer breeze sent a warm jolt down their spines. Despite that all, he looked unkempt but still managed to appear as a wish sent from the heavens. Sonic's pulse jumped under his skin, bristling himself.
'I can't help but love you'
"Shadow?"
"Faker."
Sonic swallowed the urge that bubbled up in his stomach. His body trembled as he uncurled himself. His weight shifted as he leaned to get up. Ready for a stance to fight in. However, a hand landed on his shoulder, causing him to pause as a shiver ran through him. Setting in blood ablaze under the blistering touch. The darker one pushed Sonic back into his sitting position before sitting beside him.
"It's too late for a fight, hedgehog."
"Then why are you here?"
"'Cause I wanted to." Shadow's voice is hinting into agitation. "Stop asking useless questions."
Sonic settled into the silence, his gaze focused on the ocean. The blue currents swirled in the sea. His eyes trained on one-stop, not daring to look at Shadow. Not daring to allow his emotion-filled face to be seen by the very cause of said emotions. Serenity fell over the two like a blanket. Warmth flooded his chest as he unwinded, tiredly. However as everything fell in place, a hum of movement rumbled the sand as Shadow moved closer. Heat sparked as the distance came to mere inches. Sonic's breath hitched quietly, tensing before relaxing. He pulled his gaze from the ocean;
Letting it land on Shadow. His red eyes set on the sky. The universe was pooling into his gaze. Stars were literally in his eyes as moonlight highlighted his features. Sonic felt his heart leap at the sight. The illumination of the moon made his rival look moon kissed, the low light breathtaking. Silver lighting weaving in his quills. Sonic leaned in subconsciously, breaking the moment. Shadow snapped his eyes over.
"What."
"Nothing."
'Even though I try not to'
"Stop," Shadow murmured. "Don't look at me like that."
"Like what?"
"That."
The blue hedgehog realized he had leaned in a while ago, watching Shadow as if he was a prayer answered by a god above. Sonic's eyes softened, melting away at the view of Shadow before he raised a brow. Slipping back into his cocky self.
"Why?"
"Cause I won't hold back."
'I can't help but want you
I know that I'd die without you'
Sonic's face flushed, turning his head away. His very world crumbled under the words of his rival. Those words held strong meanings but Sonic couldn't decipher them. His head spun with possibilities. The burn of unrequited love smeared away as the night revealed hidden words. His eyes widened, scanning through crimson to figure out what the other meant. The words bounced through his skull, shaking his bones. Shadow simply stared back, not explaining. Watching Sonic's reaction, interest was written across his face. Sonic's nerves trembled as he forgot how to breathe.
Sonic jolted upwards, ready to sprint back to his shack. To swing in his hammock, the fabric would dip under his weight. And awake from this dream. However, as he got to his feet, nearly slipping in the sand; a hand grabbed his wrist. He melted.
'Stay with me
A little longer'
Sonic paused, hesitation clear on his face. The dark of the night made it hard to read his rival's every expression. He kicked the sand towards the ocean, letting it be engulfed in the wave. He felt like the sand, unable to hold himself up and together. He let out a sigh, a foreign feeling on his tongue. He sat back down, closer than before.
"I'm going insane." Shadow swallowed, and his hand gripped Sonic's wrist in a near-bruising pressure. "I can't get you out of my head. You made me this."
"Shadow, I-"
"Whatever you are doing, stop it." Shadow's hold quivered. "What have you done to me."
"I think you're in love with me."
The words fell from his lips, unable to capture them. A sickening silence faded into the night. It was unbearable. Sonic wanted to eat his words, cursing his lack of thinking. He sank into the ground, pulling his gaze away. Regret settled into his stomach. Burrowing in until it ate at him, scratching through him like sandpaper. A hand on his face pulled him back to Shadow. He snapped his attention to the source of warmth that grazed him. Shadow guided Sonic's face with one hand as the other loosened on his wrist. Sonic nearly stumbled where he sat as he met Shadow's look. A strange vulnerability is displayed for Sonic. The summer's wind blew by stirring the moment. Sonic's gaze flashed back and forth before Shadow leaned in.
'I will wait for you'
Sonic met him halfway.
'Shadows creep
And want grows stronger'
His breath was stolen once again but Shadow became his oxygen. Intoxicated with the feeling of Shadow's passion rippling through his soul. He clenched the ground once more, leaning in. The grains ripping into his skin were the only thing keeping him grounded. The feeling of hands in his quills sent a shiver down his spine. Sonic tilted his head, letting his rival kiss him senselessly. Fire ripped through his blood, burning away every thought as Shadow filled his senses. Lava disintegrated him from deep within as his hands went to Shadow's shoulders. His grip was tight with desperation.
The two of them pulled away, speechless. Shadow's kiss-drunken gaze blinked as he seemed to barely acknowledge his own actions. Those red eyes flickered at himself then at Sonic. Shadow looked as disheveled as Sonic felt, taking in a big breath that his crushed lungs needed. The sound of the sea and the hum of the reeds came back to him, he let out a laugh. The dark hedgehog returned it with a low chuckle, making Sonic pause. He watched him, captivated.
'Deeper than the truth
I can't help but love you'
"Yeah," Shadow traced over the hero's hand and crumbled under his touch. "I am"
'Even though I try not to'
"What?" Sonic asked, his eyes half-lidded. "You are what?"
Shadow didn't bother responding, simply allowing a small smile to rest upon his features. A shatter in the usual irritated expression.
'I can't help but want you
I know that I'd die without you'
Sonic leaned against Shadow, an arm wrapping around him. His thoughts were finally a whisper. His pulse that rose and fell with the traffic of his own mind at the beginning of the night fell gently. No longer speeding at the thoughts he barely registered before they went again in an ever-lasting repetition. Simply Shadow. He stirred slightly, watching the shoreline. The ocean was a calming sense to him despite his inability to swim. The rhythm was a slow pattern that matched his breaths. The stars buzzed from above as he let it be his last sight. His eyes fell as his tiredness caught up.
He slumped.
'I can't help but be wrong in the dark'
"Come on, hedgehog." Shadow nudged him. "Make it to your hammock before you pass out."
Sonic let out a sound of protest before his weight shifted. Shadow stood up, dragging Sonic with him. The warm feeling traveled through them from their touch. Sonic struggled to keep his eyes open, suddenly on his feet. There was a pause as the blue hedgehog stood in place, not moving. It was followed by a sigh as his weight shifted once again, in the hands of Shadow.
He swooned, wrapping his arms around Shadow's neck as he was carried in a bridal position. Practically already falling asleep.
'Cause I'm overcome in this war of hearts'
He leaned into Shadow's chest burying his face into the patch of white fur. The feeling is surprisingly soft. Shadow's arms curled defensively around his frame. The trek to the shack was uneven across the beach. He took a deep breath, letting his tired mind get lost in Shadow's scent. He never would've thought he would be here one day. But eventually, the day would return and night would end, shattering this illusion.
This couldn't last forever.
'I can't help but want oceans to part
'Cause I'm overcome in this war of hearts'
He can't help but to wish.
'I can't help but love you
Even though I try not to'
The wood creaked as they entered the shack. The familiar sense of being home let Sonic sink deeper into slumber. He was placed on his hammock, letting out a vague sound of protest at the loss of contact. He reached out blindly, grabbing a hold of Shadow once again. His arms wrapped around him before he felt the darker hedgehog attempt to pry them off. The other hesitated before yet another sigh echoed. The fabric on the hammock dipped, the fabric bending at the extra weight. Warmth flooded back to Sonic as his heart throbbed.
'I can't help but want you
I know that I'd die without you'
Shadow fell next to him, leaning down to sleep.
"Night, Faker."
'I can't help but be wrong in the dark
'Cause I'm overcome in this war of hearts'
He let himself hold onto Shadow; just for the night.
'I can't help but want oceans to part
'Cause I'm overcome in this war of hearts'