*Sonic's POV*
"Why do you always do that?" He asked, his voice quieter than usual.

"Do what?" I asked, confused.

"Act like everything's going to be fine. No matter how bad things get, you're always so sure it will work out. You don't take things seriously enough, Faker." His eyes meeting mine, searching for something.

I shrugged and grinned, but it felt a little forced if I was being honest. "I don't know, it's just how I am Shadz. I'll never stop running if I think about how bad things could get." I confessed, feeling strange. I don't think I have ever confessed that before, I never had to stay still for so long before, have an actual conversation, heart to heart with someone until now. Why was it so easy for Shadow to break through my walls?

Shadow hummed, taking one step closer. It was like the space felt a little too small all of a sudden. His gaze... there was something vulnerable about it now. Something I hadn't seen before but reflected the same feeling, the same spark, that's been around us lately.

"Maybe I envy that." He mumbled, a but too quiet, but I still managed to hear. My ears went up in surprise.

"What was that?" I asked, his expression softened a bit. I enjoyed seeing him this way. It was like the time I caught him playing with Cream in the field.

He had been so happy that day, I don't think I had ever seen him that way before. Cream made me spend the day with the two of them, and Shadow didn't even try to act his edgy self when I was there. He was happy with Cream around. He carried her and built flower crowns with her, but I did have to stop him from showing her how to use his pistol. She was too young and innocent for that. Though Shadow thought it was best if she knew how to defend herself. It took quite a bit of convincing and hiding his gun for him to drop it.

Ever since then, the air felt heavier around us. There was a connection that sparked that day, something different. Something strange. I couldn't quite figure it out. I wasn't sure if to be afraid of it or accept it.

"You never seem afraid, no matter what we are up against. No matter how bad it gets, you just keep running toward the danger. I don't understand how you do it." My heart skipped a beat, and I took a step forward, not sure what to say to this.

"I guess I don't want to let fear stop me. There's too much at stake, you know?" He didn't respond. He simply nodded and kept eye contact with me.

I could feel the weight of everything unsaid between us. It wasn't just about the mission anymore, or our friends or saving the world. This was about us. About this connection, we kept pretending wasn’t there.

I don't know what came over me or him, but we both took a step closer to each other.

"You're not scared, are you Shadow?" He tensed once I spoke, but he didn't move away.

"Im not scared of fighting Eggman."

"That's not what I asked." I whispered, my heart beating rapidly in my chest. It felt like everything else didn't exist but the two of us.

For a second, he looked like he was about to snap. Like I crossed an invisible line I wasn't supposed to cross, but instead, he surprised me. He stayed there, looking at me as if he was trying to figure me out, figure this out.

"You're impossible." He muttered.

"And you're stubborn." I shot back with a slight smile.

My heart was pounding, and I could tell his was too. The silence between us grew as we stared into each other eyes. What was this feeling? Was it what I thought it was? Was he aware of it, too?

This was something I couldn't keep ignoring.

Before I knew what I was doing, I reached and grabbed his arm, his gaze finally breaking as he looked down at where my hand rested and then back up at me. "Shadow." My voice barely a whisper

"You're reckless. Never know when to stop, Sonic." He sighed, but this time it was different. It was as if he was giving into something he didn't want to admit. It was different.

"I know." I stepped even closer to where I could feel the warmth radiating from him, closing the gap between us.

For a moment, it felt like time stopped. Everything around us ceased to exist. The only thing that mattered was this moment, us.  The gap was slowly closing between us as the two of us started to lean closer, almost as if we couldn't help ourselves. His lips brushed mine for a moment, almost as if he wasn't sure if he should. We looked into each other's eyes, Shadow moving his hands to hold my arms and just when he was about to pull me closer...

"SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG!" We both tensed and instantly pulled away. In sync, we looked at the door, I immediately dashed off to Shadows room and hid in his closet. How ironic.

*Shadow's POV*
The heat on my face grew even more after I saw Sonic dash away to my room. I snapped my head back to the door and then looked down at myself. I was still covered in dirt and scratches, causing me to panic. I quickly grabbed the throw blanket that sat on the side of my couch and wrapped it around me.

"What do you want, Rouge?" I walked to the door but didn't open it.

"Open the door. Now." She snapped.

"No." I rolled my eyes. My heart still felt like it was about to explode.

"Open the damn door, Shadow, or I'll break the window." I groaned, knowing she was not messing around and unlocked it, letting her walk in. "What? You're cold now?" She placed a hand on her hip as she looked at me.

"What do you want?" She may be my closest friend, but she still got on my nerves.

"I called you to meet us somewhere today. There was an explosion on one of Eggmans secret bases. Where were you?" She spoke, closing the door as she made herself at home and walked to sit on my couch.

"I was busy." Flashbacks of the near kiss with Sonic came to mind.

"Doing what?"

"Coming back home after destroying said base." I came up with something on the spot. "Faker told us that there was -" She stopped me.

"Sonic. His name is Sonic. The least you could do is call him by his name after you missed his funeral." She was mad. She was glaring at me. I had always avoided getting her mad at me, but this time, I couldn't help it. I had forgotten she didn't know he was alive.

"Right." I nodded. "Sonic told us that the doctor was working on something that day. I found his base and went to gather more intel. Turned out he was there and had bigger robots than before. He's making his army stronger while he's away."

"Why did you go alone?" She stood up again, snatching the blanket from me and revealing the results of our battle. "Chaos. Shadow. You're getting some rest. Now." She grabbed my hand and flew, guiding me to my room.

"Rouge. I am fine. Let go and get out." I tried to snatch my hand away, but she held on tighter. If she went into the room, she could see Sonic.

How was I supposed to explain why he was here? How was he alive? Why was he in my house?

"Wait. Stop." I growled, glaring at her.

"Come on. You're acting as if you're hiding someone in your room." She laughed at the idea and opened the door. I prepared myself for the thousands of questions that were about to follow.

But they never came.

"Alright then. I know for some reason you hate to rest, but it's time you do so. I'm not leaving until the morning, and I will come make sure you're asleep so sleep." She smiled, brighter than usual as she pushed me to my bed. "Don't make me make you." With that said, she closed the door on her way out and I quickly ran to lock it.

*****
Rouge may be a sonadow fan but she can walk in at the wrong times don't you think?