Archive of Our Own ^beta

Two hedgehogs, one as blue as the summer sky and the other as black as a starless night, lay tangled in white sheets and each other’s arms. Sonic was dead to the world, a long sticky trail of drool flowing from his open mouth. However, Shadow remained wide awake, staring up at his phone whilst he snapped a quick photo. A precious, seemingly mundane moment frozen in time.

Shadow maintained a fierce staring competition with his past self, those tired crimson eyes never wavering. Acknowledging that he was fighting a battle he could not win, his gaze shifted to Sonic’s sleeping form, and his thumb soon followed, tracing circles over that embarrassing yet charming mid-snore face. 

The Ultimate Lifeform’s photo collection on his phone was sparse - he preferred to capture and preserve memories on his polaroid camera, in order to have something tangible - nevertheless, despite this particular picture being only digital, he considered it his absolute favourite.

He swiped at the screen and his most recent photo popped up. Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Amy, Cream, Cheese, Blaze, Silver, Charmy, Espio, Vector and himself were gathered around a picnic table adorned with multicoloured plastic cups, balloons, presents, chilli dogs and the centrepiece - a giant birthday cake shaped like Sonic’s head. Rouge was absent since she had happily accepted the role of photographer and flooded social media with shots from the special event.

Shadow’s past version feigned a cheerful smile, hiding the harrowing experience he endured mere minutes prior behind a crumbling mask.

A heavy sigh rumbled in his chest. No more stalling. He scolded himself and quickly switched to his messenger app. Sonic’s name appeared, joined by his icon - an image of him pulling his best silly face by sticking out his tongue, and using his finger to stretch his lower left eyelid down beyond its usual limits. That pleasant sight flipped the black hedgehog’s frown around instantly. 

Yesterday

Sonic: [Yo everything cool? Wanted 2 chuck in]

[*check my b]

Shadow: [Doing better. Thank you for listening earlier. It means a lot.]

Sonic: [NP dude! Always here for ya! 😉👍]

Shadow: [I appreciate that.]

Sonic: [Night Shads! 💙]

Shadow: [Night Sonic.]

Today

Shadow: [Come to the usual spot. I want to show you something.]

Sonic read the text seconds after it delivered. Knowing him, he was most likely numbing his brain by playing a stupid gacha mobile game, waiting for another wondrous adventure to come knocking on his door, and so tapped on the notification as soon as it appeared. 

His nerves satiated, he tucked away his phone and began to soak in the scenery whilst he waited. An orange, pink and purple pastel evening sky, decorated with cotton candy clouds encompassed Shadow’s vision as he gazed wistfully upwards. The golden hour was fading fast, and the crescent moon had already emerged, preparing to chase off the setting sun and bring forth darkness. Thin branches and shimmering green leaves occasionally obstructed his perfect view, but that did not bother him. After all, he chose to sit under this lonesome sycamore tree - he had no right to complain. 

The calm, tranquil wind rolled over the sloping hills, causing the grass to ripple like ocean waves. Wild flowers, growing amongst the tangled tree roots, danced and tickled his legs. He inhaled deeply, breathed in the sweet pollen and leaned back against the scratchy trunk. I hope he gets here soon, he wouldn’t want to miss this view. Shadow thought. Right on cue, the air crackled with electricity, causing his quills and fur to prickle up. A blinding blue lightning flash and ear rupturing thunderclap followed, the wind turning into a ferocious hurricane - lashing at his skin and violently rattling the poor tree. 

In the eye of the storm stood Sonic, and once they locked eyes, peace was restored. 

“Hey Shadow!” Sonic greeted, sounding chipper as always. He dashed towards him, phone still in hand, a tiny Chao charm dangling off his worn protective case and spiderweb cracks splintering across the glass. He ought to be more careful, that’s his third phone in six months. Shadow was about to chastise him aloud for his carelessness, but Sonic’s mouth was running a mile a minute. “What’s with the cryptic text? Everything okay? I know you like to keep things short and sweet but this is weird, even for you.”

The black hedgehog let out a hearty chuckle and rose to his feet. “Everything is fine, Sonic.” He replied, addressing his main concern first and foremost before continuing with the nitty gritty details. “Since the birthday present I got you was destroyed during the Time Eater incident, I thought I’d throw together a little surprise for you.”

A tender look dominated Sonic’s features. “Aw Shads, you didn’t have to do that. It’s not your fault my present got sucked into a time vortex.” 

“I know, I know, but I… I wanted to.” He stated, a reluctant warmth seeping into his tone. You deserve it for listening to me ramble for hours and hours yesterday. He considered adding, but ultimately decided not to. After all, the blue blur never sought a reward for his kindness. “Be warned, it’s a tad strange. Try not to freak out, alright?”

Sonic cocked a confused yet inquisitive eyebrow. “Um… okay? I’ve seen a lot of strange things in my time, Shads. Hit me with your best shot.”

If you insist. Shadow created some distance between him and Sonic - wishing to avoid wiping out his partner or the defenceless tree, otherwise he would be reprimanded until Sonic’s dying breath for destroying their rendezvous spot. 

Preparing- no, welcoming the change made his palms sweat and pulse spike. It was akin to standing on the precipice of a deathly cliff, the black, empty nothingness below calling his name, urging him to let gravity take hold and throw himself head first into the depths. He squeezed his eyes shut and clenched his clammy hands. An imaginary golden feather drifted behind his closed eyelids, a delicate object that only his controlled breathing could keep afloat.

He reached deep within his core and unlocked the rusty forbidden cage, unleashing the Black Arms power.

White hot pain scorched every nerve ending as massive black wings erupted from his shoulder blades. His eyes rushed open, stars rocketing across his vision and an encompassing void threatening to rob his sight. The smug grin plastered on Sonic’s face swiftly vanished, replaced by an expression that was a perfect middle ground between sheer astonishment and abject terror. 

Shadow teetered forwards, the agonising wave crashing atop him and the cumbersome wings nearly forcing the Ultimate Lifeform to his knees. Sonic inched closer, arms open wide, ready and willing to brace Shadow if he fell or fainted. Despite all odds and thanks to his unrivalled stubbornness, he remained upright. 

He smothered a rising desperate sob, even though tears begged and pleaded to escape. His brain yearned to shut down, consciousness hurt, existing hurt. He felt like he was dying. Maybe he was. 

Eventually, the excruciating hellish torment subsided. 

“You still with me?” Sonic asked, his voice slicing through the pounding headache. He placed both hands on Shadow’s shoulders, helping to ground him in reality.

“Yes.” Shadow replied, his screaming lungs refusing to permit a longer answer. 

His partner relaxed somewhat, although he was unable to hide the unnerved twinkle in his emerald green eyes. He also refused to let go, his grip only tightening. “That looked like it hurt.” He commented, cringing immediately at his redundant observation. 

Shadow flexed and adjusted his wings into a more comfortable position since they were slightly crooked. “It did, but not for long. It hurts less and less the more I summon them.”

“I know the feeling. During that whole Dark Gaia fiasco a few years back, the transformations started to feel like second nature after the third or fourth day. It… kinda scared me.” Sonic admitted, a minor tremor in his voice. 

“The hassle we go through to save the world…” The black hedgehog scoffed, only partly joking.

“Heh, I know, right? Maybe we should let Eggman win for a change.”

They both missed several conversation beats before uttering in unison “Never going to happen.” 

“So uh. When you said you had a little surprise for me, wings is probably the last thing I would’ve guessed. Where did you get ‘em?” Sonic asked, trying in vain to move the subject away from their shared trauma.

“Another courtesy of the Time Eater incident. Whilst your present was launched back to the prehistoric era, I had the luxury of reliving my past and unlocked some new abilities.” 

The blue hedgehog seemed utterly perplexed by this reveal. “You never mentioned them yesterday.”

“They didn’t exactly come up in conversation.” Shadow remarked. 

“Ahaha, fair, but I don’t think there’d ever be an easy way to bring them up! Sometimes you just gotta rip the band aid off.” 

“If I shared all my secrets with you in one go, there wouldn’t be any mystery.” 

“Mystery is your most alluring factor.” Sonic giggled.

He chose not to press further about the origins of the wings. Twenty four hours ago they had discussed the hardships Shadow experienced in the White Space, giving him a much needed reprieve. It was pointless to retread old ground and reopen the fresh wounds. Shadow wanted to forget - to bury the memories so deep, they could never resurface, never hurt him again. Sonic wanted to help make that possible, so he grabbed a shovel and dug until they hit bedrock.

Sonic’s tight posture and stiff shoulders became unwound as he finally relaxed. The worry swimming in his irises dissipated and that same curiosity from earlier returned with fiery passion. He relinquished his grip on Shadow, but his soft comforting touch was dearly missed, even if the moment soon proved to be fleeting. He reached towards the wings with his gloved hand but left it hovering in the air, waiting for permission. “Can I…?”

Shadow nodded. “Of course.”

The blue hedgehog shuffled his feet and inched forwards, closing the gap between Shadow’s right wing and his outstretched hand. His fingertips made contact, and he momentarily flinched away - alarmed, perhaps even repulsed by the texture - before fully committing and resting his palm on the alien appendage.

Sonic edged towards the primaries section, trailing his hand along the black, vine-esque webbing like he was tracing an invasive species of vegetation that had encompassed an ancient, forgotten man-made structure. Shadow watched, his breath caught in his throat. Someone - especially Sonic - touching his wings so intimately caused his heart to grow wings of its own and soar.

He stopped at the wing’s tip and tapped the sharp bladed feathers, recoiling when that sloppy mistake pricked his finger, but thankfully did not draw blood. Idiot. Shadow almost vocalised but his mouth remained wired shut. 

Now that he had observed the entire circumference of just one wing, Sonic could appreciate how massive they were - which he was swift to comment on. “Whoa, these things are huuuuuuuuge! I bet Rouge is super jealous.”

A minuscule laugh escaped Shadow. “She was at first, but once she realised she wouldn’t have to be a glorified taxi anymore, she was elated.” He divulged. “She's taken me flying with her a few times. The sights we've seen now that I can carry my own weight... I've never seen such beauty like it before.” 

“I’m glad something positive came out of this mess.”

“Me too.” He murmured, smiling fondly at the bonding experiences he had shared with Rouge. Dazzling city skylines, shimmering waterfalls, endless oceans, sweltering deserts, snow peaked mountains and overgrown jungles - these mystical views seemed to be plucked straight from a dream and yet all too real. There was no greater feeling than sharing the sky with your treasured companion. Perhaps this was the perfect segue into why he initially invited Sonic here in the first place. “…Do you want to go flying with me?” He reluctantly braved the subject, only now realising how dumb the idea sounded after it left his lips.

Sonic’s eyes became unfocused as he pondered, cogs whirling in his head and sputtering smoke. “Sure, I’ll whizz over to Tails’ place and ask him if I can borrow the Tornado 2! He probably won’t mind. Back in a flash!”

Panic swelled in Shadow’s stomach, making its contents lurch. He cupped Sonic’s wrist, preventing him from speeding off. “N-no- I mean- I could carry you…” He stammered, before trailing off. He sighed, whilst his ears drooped and his wings sagged. “Maybe getting the plane is a better idea.” He had been so wrapped up in performing this grand affectionate gesture, he had not even factored in Sonic’s suggestion as a possibility.

“Oh shoot, was this another part of the surprise?” Sonic questioned, his mouth curving into a frown, undoubtedly annoyed at his own obliviousness for missing the signals.

The black hedgehog nodded half-heartedly.

A shy, lovesick smile tugged at Sonic’s cheeks. “I’d like that.” He spoke barely above a whisper, his tone as light as the evening breeze. “As long as this isn’t some elaborate ruse to drop me from the sky.”

Shadow’s ears perked up, a coy smile stretching across his lips. “I couldn’t possibly say, but it would make me faster than you by default.”

“Because I’d be dead!”

“You always get so caught up on the semantics.” The winged hedgehog teased, playfully rolling his eyes.

“So what do you need me to do? Are you going to lift me up by my arms? That’s what Tails usually does.” Sonic quizzed, steering the topic back on track, otherwise they would be standing there bickering until nightfall. 

“Well, if you manage to stop fidgeting for five seconds, I can handle the rest.”

The blue hedgehog opened his mouth, probably to blurt out something along the lines of; “I don’t fidget that much!”, alas he realised that Shadow’s statement carried a small degree of merit, so he clamped his jaw shut and folded his arms. 

Without uttering a word, Shadow nonchalantly scooped Sonic up bridal style, earning a shocked gasp from his companion.

“So forward~” Sonic cooed, his cheeks flushed a bright red.

“S-shut up.” Shadow coughed and spluttered, choking on spit after failing to stifle a laugh. Blood rushed to his face, mirroring Sonic’s rosy complexion. “Ready?” 

“Born ready.” 

“Then let’s not waste anymore time.”

Shadow rapidly flapped his wings, creating an updraft that disrupted the grass, causing it to shake and bend in erratic directions. His feet left the ground and the two soared skywards, ascending at phenomenal speed. The wind roared a fierce battle cry in his ears and Mother Nature fought tooth and nail to keep him from reaching new heights. However, Shadow would not let a stiff breeze halt his momentum. He accelerated, puncturing the cloud layer and then…

Stillness.

The Ultimate Lifeform managed to catch an airstream, allowing him to glide and only flap his wings occasionally to maintain altitude.

Sonic stared wide eyed, mesmerised by their surroundings. Everywhere he looked, fluffy orange clouds filled his gaze, almost as if they had been transported to a magical realm created from cotton candy.

The blue hedgehog punched the air with both hands and shouted a glorious cheer. “Woooooooooohoooooooooo! I’m King of the World!”

“I thought you were the King of Camelot, the world is a big step up.” Shadow quipped. He loved being pedantic. 

“I can handle it.” Sonic replied with a brash, confident smirk.

“Don’t tell the Doctor that you’re planning to conquer all of Mobius, having actual competition might make him try harder.”

“I could beat him at his own game without even breaking a sweat.”

“Would you like to touch a cloud, oh mighty King?” The winged hedgehog queried.

“You bet I do!” The Monarch replied, enthusiasm bubbling in his joyful voice. 

Happy to oblige, Shadow dipped Sonic in range of a particularly large cloud. It raced through his fingers, leaving behind a thin wispy trail. “So cool! Hey, what’s that up ahead?” 

He followed Sonic’s gaze and squinted at the horizon. There were a dozen small shadows, silhouetted by the golden sun. As the two drew closer, the shapes became more familiar. “It’s a flock of ducks.”

“This keeps getting better and better.” The blue blur said, buzzing with positivity. “Hi fellas! Mind if we join you?”

The ducks were startled at first by the foreign creatures joining their flight path. Two lost their rhythm and flapped their wings erratically, fearful squawks tumbling from their beaks. Feathers came loose, and Sonic managed to catch a gorgeous blue, grey and white one. He immediately used it to tickle Shadow’s nose.

“You’re not going to make me snee- ACHOO!” Shadow attempted to play off his childish behaviour, but sneezed mid sentence, spraying mucus into the air. 

Sonic snickered. “Bless you.” 

Their new friends had settled down after the panic episode and fallen back into autopilot. They flew with the ducks for a short while, before the flock dove below the clouds and disappeared from view. 

“Where do you think they’re going?” Sonic wondered.

Shadow shrugged. “No idea. Should we follow them?”

“Sure, why not?”

The winged hedgehog swiftly followed the ducks. The mystery behind their sudden descent was an open and shut case as soon as they lay eyes on the large oval lake beneath them. The surface was impossibly smooth, akin to a giant mirror.

“You thinking what I’m thinking?” His partner asked.

“About dunking you in the lake?” Shadow teased.

Sonic slapped his arm. “No, don’t you dare!” 

A chuckle rumbled in his chest. “I’m messing with you. Sorry, I’m not a mind reader. Unless that’s another power I haven’t unlocked yet…”

“You should dangle me over the water so I can run across the surface.” Sonic suggested.

“Great idea.”

They shared an affirming nod, and Shadow tossed Sonic into the air, catching him by both wrists. The ducks were peacefully bobbing on the lake, so he steered away from them - they had caused them enough grief for one day. He swooped down, finding a perfect balance between not submerging Sonic but also not leaving him kicking at thin air. 

The blue blur ran at max speed, spraying misty water in his wake that created spectacular miniature rainbows. Shadow released him but remained in close proximity. Fish leaped from the depths, their scales shimmering in the fading twilight.

Before Sonic reached the sandy beaches, Shadow scooped him up once more. Just when the couple thought they had seen it all, another surprise reared its head. 

“No way! You’re kidding me, could this day get any cooler?!” Sonic cried. 

A herd of wild horses was stempeding over the rolling hills. Shadow flapped his wings as fast as physically possible in order to catch up. 

The horses came in an array of colours - dapple grey, black bay, chestnut brown, one was even white as fallen snow. They neighed and whinnied as they ran in perfect harmony.

Sonic twirled the duck feather in his hand and nestled his head under Shadow’s chin. “Thank you, Shads. Best birthday present ever.” He uttered gratefully, his voice partly muffled since his face was buried in Shadow’s chest fluff.

“No, thank you. For listening, for checking up on me, for being here. I really needed this.”

“There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.” He whispered. 

Sonic carefully tucked the feather behind Shadow’s ear. His hand then trailed down his face and caressed his cheek. 

He gave him a chaste kiss on the lips. It was short and quick, finished in the blink of an eye. If Shadow tried hard enough, he could convince himself it never happened at all. But why would he ever want to do a thing like that? He knew he would treasure that small display of affection for decades to come. 

Unfortunately, a dull ache was beginning to creep over his back, shoulder blades and wings. “Let’s rest for a bit. It’s getting late.”

The sky turned indigo, the edges a deep navy blue and twinkling stars blanketed the thick curtain. The couple glided back down to earth beside a rushing river. The horses had come to a steady halt, the stallions and mares quenching their thirst, whilst the foals played in the water. Shadow placed Sonic on his own two feet, but his legs trembled and he nearly collapsed.

“Are you alright?” Shadow asked, worry seeping into his tone. 

“I’m fine, just getting used to being back on solid ground!” Sonic laughed. “You wanna go again?”

The winged hedgehog knelt down next to the river and splashed his face with cool water. Despite the rippling currents, he could just barely see his reflection. The distorted visage of an exhausted hedgehog stared back at him. “I’d like to but using these wings for long periods can be… taxing.” He said, choosing his words delicately so as to not make Sonic feel awful.

“No worries! Maybe tomorrow then?” He suggested. 

“That would be nice.”

“It’s a date then!” 

Shadow rose to his full height and retracted his wings. They were sucked back into his body individually in a rather sloppy, awkward manner - although nothing about his wings screamed glamorous anyway. They were abominations.

At least Sonic saw beauty in them. 

Speaking of Sonic, he was still waffling about their date. “I’ll borrow Tails’ plane and we’ll have a race. We know who the fastest thing on land is-”

“Do we?” Shadow interjected, dangling juicy, irresistible bait right under Sonic’s nose.

Sonic ignored the hook and pressed onwards with his grand idea. “-But we don’t know who the fastest thing in the sky is.”

“Obviously it’s me.” Shadow stated, a smug grin stretching across his features. He gave Sonic a playful nudge with his elbow.

This time, Sonic took the bait, hook, line and sinker. “Nuh-uh, it’s me!” He protested, giving Shadow a hard shove that knocked him flat. 

Shadow snarled and grabbed Sonic’s ankle as he attempted to walk away, causing him to trip and eat dirt. The two began to tussle on the ground, laughter burning in their throats.

Tomorrow they would chase the setting sun until it disappeared beyond the horizon and the sky turned dark, and the only thing left in that vast cosmos was a speck of red and blue.