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Shadow stood there, confused. Sonic was doing… something? He continued his prolonged stare as Sonic was rumbling to himself, tugging at the covers with his dulled claws. He continued to watch with intrigue as the other hedgehog weaved the blankets and pillows into something resembling a nest. How peculiar.
"What. What are you doing?" Shadow leaned his weight on one leg. Sonic's ear twitched towards his partner as he realised he wasn't alone. "Oh, hey Shads! Just some spring work!" Sonic continued to knead the blankets with a soft clicking rumble. "That tells me nothing." Sonic finally looked up from his task.
"Really?" Those forest eyes twinkled with intrigue of their own as they searched over Shadow's deadpan expression. "Oh Chaos, the humans really didn't teach you anything about our species, didn't they?"
Shadow couldn't hold eye contact for too long. Was he really that clueless? This only proves he's even less hedgehog than he previously thought. "It's ok not to know stuff Ash. It's not your fault you were never taught anything."
Shadow felt warmth radiate through him at the nickname, Sonic's welcoming and understanding smile brought him forward to sit at the edge of the bed with the other. "Ok! Hedgehog bio and culture 101! Nesting!" Sonic rose onto his knees and crawled into the nest. Shadow blinked.
"Nesting is in the instinct of both male and female hedgehogs, and everything in-between! We're all affected by it. Some more, some less. I like nesting. It's nice and relaxing. Calms the mind, you know?" Shadow nodded along.
"Why spring though?" Sonic's grin grew, a glint of mischief and promise sparking in those emerald eyes. "You already know about the heightened usual sex drives we have during this time. Nests are made as breeding grounds and to be able to have a general safe space for your mates and hoglets."
Shadow couldn't help but let a mild blush creep up his neck at the theme. Sonic can probably smell it. "It does make sense. I keep forgetting how much Verens are much more similar to animals than humans are." Sonic shrugged, before patting the spot next to him. "Come on, let's snuggle!"
With a grin Shadow joined his partner, the two entangling each other into a hug. "So is this a sign for the season coming around?" Shadow mumbled into the other's peach shoulder, already sensing the change of scent into something more tangy. "Yeah. I can't believe it's going to be our first season together! How do your's go by?" Shadow lay there silently for a moment, sadness washing over him and making them grow heavy in the other's hold.
"Ash?" Shadow felt himself grow warm as the other gently stroked his sulking quills. "I never went through a rut before." Sonic grinned as his expression softened.
"I'm not surprised. Your sexuality was repressed for years, Ash. No wonder you haven't gone through a season before. It just never was triggered. Also, 'late bloomers' are far more common than you think. It bugs me that media still won't accept that everyone and everything is different, especially when it comes to sexual health and maturity."
"Jee, thanks, Tails." Shadow mumbled, giggling under their breath as Sonic tensed up in playful annoyance. "Don't do Tails like that! I mean, he did nothing wrong! Don't drag him into this." Sonic lightly flicked Shadow's ear as he stuck his tongue out. Shadow retaliated with a roll of eyes.
This turned into a quick wrestling match as the two rolled around in the nest, being competitive as always. The turmoil stopped when Sonic straddled Shadow's abdomen, panting deep into the other's shoulder as the two cooled down. A sudden rush went up Shadow's spine as a peach muzzle nudged closer to a tingling area on his shoulder that he knew was his scent gland. A sensitive place.
Shadow knew that from their more heated make out sessions. Veren bodies are terrifyingly sensitive compared to human ones. It doesn't help Shadow with their sensory issues but they can usually handle it with the help of Sonic and multiple breaks.
Sonic sat up, taking a deep breath to steady himself, soft paw pads smoothing down Shadow's chest fur and settling on his hips. "Great Chaos and the Stars above, you smell even better than you usually do!" Sonic exhaled pupils blown wide and pale muzzle glowing a salmon pink.
Shadow gulped. What was he to say to that? "Your Spring scent is coming on to, and I have to say it compliments you really well. Very fruity and saturated." Tan paws smooth over lean hips as Shadow glanced up at those glimmering moss green eyes, their beautiful glow reminiscent of dew bathed tropic flora.
Sonic gapped at the other, pushing down the relief and all the fear that had been welling up in him. Oh my Chaos. He can- "You can smell my scent?!" Sonic blurted out, still overwhelmed by, well, everything. Shadow gapped back. "Yeah? Am I not supposed to?"
Sonic's pupils dilated at that, shaking his head feverishly. "Yes! No?! No- yes? I-." Sonic felt his world crumble at the increasingly lost expression his partner was giving him. Sonic rolled off the other in defeat, partially shifting away from his boyfriend as he debated to curl up, but Shadow wasn't the problem here and he didn't want them to think of it like that.
"Did… did I do something wrong?" A bare whisper knocked Sonic out of his rushing thoughts. "What- no! No. It's me, Shads. I'm- I'm the problem." Sonic couldn't face the other as he bit down his pride and anxiety. This is a conversation they needed to have.
"Problem? You're never a problem Sky-." Sonic felt his heart skip a beat at the pet name. "No, Shads. I- I need you to listen to me." Sonic glanced at the other to check if he wasn't too harsh but Shadow seemed to be ready for him to continue.
"So you know how most Veren species, and very much hedgehogs, mark stuff with their scent? And how much it's important when it comes to mates?" Sonic received a nod. "I don't have a Spring scent. One that's really hard to pick up at least."
Sonic looked away in shame. It's really difficult to mate if one doesn't have an appealing scent since it's the pheromones that trigger the whole natural process, and mating without these pheromones and hormones is incredibly unpleasant and plain unattractive. He knew from experience.
Shadow couldn't help but softly grin at him. "Sonic. I'm not saying this to offend you, but you are so brain dead. Actually, in this case, I think your brain is too alive." Sonic scowled, confused. Shadow couldn't help but softly giggle at the whole prospect as he slowly reached out for the other. "I can smell you, you dufus. I said so before. No need to be all anxious, that's my job."
Sonic felt embarrassment creep up his neck to his cheeks at the realisation, pulling Shadow closer as he was cuddled again. "I really overthink a lot, don't I?" Shadow nodded as he tucked Sonic into his chest, letting himself softly purr, something that he also learned he could do on this journey with Sonic.
Sonic closed his eyes as Shadow's scent of burning old magazines and pine trees swirl with the sweet hints of hazel coffee and cream as he swam in the feeling that was Shadow. A warm sizzling feeling. Like the ash from a fire.
"Do you find me annoying? Like, my ADHD?" Sonic mumbled. Shadow huffed. "The only reason why I find your ADHD annoying is because it torments you, and I know half of that pain. Other than that, the arguments we have are stressful but that's how fights usually are. Also, I benefit far more when I am with you than when I'm not. I- I love you a lot."
Sonic felt like he just grew wings and that he was going to fly off. Shadow sometimes struggles a bit with openly stating his love, and Sonic can't help but feel giddy whenever it happens. Shadow's breath hitched as he suddenly was crushed by two strong legs, the feeling strangely grounding despite him being against physical contact. But Sonic always seemed to be an exception.
"Oh sorry, did I hurt you? Was that too much?" Sonic loosened his grip on the dark hips, his thighs softly brushing against his own upper thighs as the other's adrenaline dropped again. "No, no, it's fine Sonic. I liked it, felt like a weird hug." Shadow clarified. "But you're not usually up for hugs!" Sonic felt like he was emotionally worn and couldn't help but be protective and careful.
Shadow sighed, knowing this mood and defence mechanism a bit too well. "Sonic, calm down and let's just snuggle. With this whole Spring thing I feel like both of us just need to relax and rest up a bit so we can get the most out of it." Shadow huffed out, dutifully pressing Sonic into himself again to make sure the hedgehog got the memo. Sonic sighed.
"You're right! You're right. Yeah, resting up is important." Sonic mumbled, pushing down the mild surprise of how open Shadow was about the theme. Shadow was blunt, sure, but he tended to waltz around the idea of sex and, for hedgehogs, mating when in conversation. But I guess the topic hung around for long enough and Shadow was just as tired as Sonic was.
"Exactly." Shadow mumbled, purring away again. Sonic joined in and the two curled in and enveloped each other as they happily napped, energy still low from their rough Winter.
"Oh Chaos." Tails huffed at the sheer amount of fur around the villa of the two hedgehogs. Shadow would've cleaned the place by now, if he wouldn't have been busy-. "I really don't want to know where the two disappeared, and I really wish that I didn't have such a strong imagination. Oh Chaos- gross!"
Shadow stirred at the cry, feeling a sudden rush of protectiveness at the feeling of another presence. Though his quills smoothed out when he recognised the Chaos Signature. It's just Tails. Oh shit, they forgot about Tails! Shadow sat up from the nest, glancing down at the still sleeping Sonic, before clambering out of the bedding and pulling on some casual gloves.
Tails seemed to be ready to leave before he caught Shadow walking down the stairs, quills dishevelled and Sonic's scent clinging to him. Oh Chaos, Tails' ucursed theory was right. I mean, it wasn't a surprise, but the whole idea was still unpleasant to think about, even at his age.
"Sorry, me and Sonic were taking a nap. He and I got distracted with nest building." Tails stared blankly at him, as if Shadow was eating packing peanuts again. "Oh thank the Stars! Anyway, I brought you some more supplies and food. You two need to eat after your hibernation." Tails pointed to the box on the counter top, just as Sonic practically tumbled down the stairs, all sleepy and flushed.
Tails stared blankly at his dishevelled brother before giving a questioning glance at Shadow. "Nap. I swear." Tails squinted his eyes further. "Oh, Tails! Oh my Stars, I completely forgot that you're coming over today! Shadow promised to remind me!" Tails continued to glare at the darker hedgehog, as Shadow bit his lip. Yep, this does look bad, doesn't it? Even with ruts, one can't really chalk up having sex right before a family member comes over.
"We've been really busy today and then we fell asleep! I honestly didn't realise, I swear!" Sonic continued and Shadow cringed at the wording. Tails slid his paw over his face and muzzle. "Yeah, ok, great! Just next time have your sexual escapades after I come over, thanks Sonic." Tails turned to go down to the corridor and put the door again, but stopped at Sonic's frantic cries.
"What?! No! Me and Shadow were just preparing the house and doing Spring cleaning! We weren't… weren't. You know! I wouldn't do that to you little buddy, I swear. You know me. I keep that stuff only between me and Shads, no-one else." Tails nodded at the explanation, feeling a bit more relieved. Shadow doesn't typically lie either but it's sometimes a bit hard to read the other hedgehog.
"Ok, I get it. It's easy to assume stuff because of the season though, so I'd be more careful, I guess. But on the other hand, aot of Verens are already accustomed to this whole thing. But it's just a gross thought of you, my brother, you know?" Sonic nodded vigorously at the last point.
"That's why I'd never do something like that!" Tails' communicator went off. "Oop! Amy needs me! She needs some more batteries! See ya, you two! Hope this Spring will go on smoothly." The door clicked shut and Sonic melted from embarrassment and how down right unreal that whole conversation was.
"This is one of those moments that he's going to tease us with and bring up out of context right?" Sonic groaned out. "It's probably going to start up my insomnia as well." Shadow growled, sifting through the box of goods. So much for a smooth Spring.