Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Shadow sat in 0 period, tapping a pencil against his leg, music blasting through his earbuds as he waited for class to start.

The door swung open for what felt like the thousandth time that minute, and two people entered the classroom: one, a tall girl in a red dress and red boots, golden bangles clanking around her wrist as she tucked her pale pink hair behind the headband perched on top of her head. Her other hand clutched onto a slightly taller boy, blue spikey hair blown about, his classic red shoes, blue jeans and blue sports jacket ever present on his body. The two idly chatted for one second as Sonic's eyes scanned the room. Catching sight of shadow, sonic let go of Amy's hand and sprinted over.

Shadows' dark black leather jacket restricted his arm movement as he dug his phone out of his pocket and turned his song down. Sonic slid down to the seat across from Shadow, Amy following suite (slightly bitter) as she sat down next to sonic, grabbing his hand again.

“Sorry ames.” Sonic apologized, before turning his attention to the man across from him.

“How was your weekend?” Sonic asked casually as Amy reclaimed his hand.

Shadow’s stomach lurched seeing the closeness of the two. The constant public affection disgusted him. Was it jealousy? Outwardly, he would never admit to it. Ever since Sonic had accepted Amy's invitation to date, the two had been attached. Shadow hated watching the couple, and so pushed himself to the side, only to be found again and again by the self proclaimed “blue blur”.

“Shadow?” Sonic waved his hand in front of Shadow's face.

Shadow jumped, clearing his throat and hurriedly responding “good. Me and Rouge went downtown to this new dinner place. It was good.”

“Ooh! We should go there!” Amy suggested, leaning onto Sonic's shoulder.

Sonic shrugged her off, smiling, “we’ll see!”

Shadow was thankful for the bell that rang seconds later.

— — —

“Groups are on the board, the presentation will occur on Thursday and friday-” the professor says, the slides above him switching.

Shadow scanned the board.

Group Three:
Amy Rose
Ogilvie Maurice
Shadow Robotnik-Doom

Shadow cursed under his breath.

Chapter Text

Group 3 (messages)

Sonic: wsp. Anyone wanna meet at the library tonight to finalize some details for the presentation tmr?

Rose: ofc! After school?

Sonic: yep!

Shadow: idk, probably free

— — —

“Wait, to be clear, you're coming to the library tonight?” The track star's voice rang out behind him. Shadow turned around and met sonic’s  ̶b̶e̶a̶u̶t̶i̶f̶u̶l̶ green eyes.

“Yes.” Shadow heard himself say.

Before he could even register what he had just agreed to, sonic was sprinting away.
“Sweet. See you then, handsome!”

Shadow stood, face red, being pushed along by the traffic of the hallway, wondering
“What the hell was that.”

— — —

Shadow pulled off his gloves and hat as he entered the library.
“North corner, first floor.” he muttered, per the text instructions sonic had sent him. After a minute of walking, his phone pinged.

Blueberry (dms)

Sonic: i see u

Shadow spun around to be met with sonic, waving from his seat on the floor, surrounded by comics.

“Hey shads.” Sonic whispered, smiling, as shadow approached. Shadows' heart fluttered hearing the nickname, but he brushed it off. “Amys getting a project room so we don't have to whisper.” Sonic laughed, and the sweet sound made shadows face burn.

“𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘐 𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘱 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴.” Shadow thought to himself. He couldn't tell if sonics face was pink due to the cold, or due to-
Impossible.

“Sounds good.” Shadow muttered back, and the two lapsed into silence, sonic sitting and reading his comics, shadow staring at sonic.

Amy appeared not long after, skirt swishing as she sped walked to the two boys in the corner. Sonic stacked the comics to bring with him into the room, and Amy stole his hand once again as she led the boys into the room.

“Now, it's not completely soundproof, so no shouting. We only have the room until six, so let's get to work!” Amy reminded them energetically as they filed into the room.

— — —

Shadow had not gotten to work. Instead, his eyes had been fixed on Amy and sonics hands, attached (like normal) under the table. The way sonics hand squirmed and his leg bounced, the way it stopped when amy had to let go and use both her hands to grab some notes, the way it started again when her hand touched his, his slightly tired expression a contrast  to the genuine,  ̶l̶o̶v̶i̶n̶g̶ lively smile he had worn earlier.

Shadow had ruled out the possibility of sonic returning his affections months ago, but it was small details like these that kept that stupid spark alive.

“Shadow!” sonic yelled. Amy shoved her hands over sonic mouth as Shadow shook himself out of his haze.
“Are you alright? You've been zoning out for a while.”
“I'm alright.” Shadow responded, avoiding all eye contact.

— — —

“I'm going to go get some snacks.” Amy says. A straight hour of work after the 8 hours of school tired them all out. Pulling sonic in for a quick kiss, she left the room.

Sonic's shoulders relaxed as the door closed.
“Gotta love Amy, but she can be a lot.” he muttered, cracking and massaging his knuckles.

Shadows face must have flickered with a look, because sonic stared at him curiously.
“Are you sure you're okay?” he asked, reaching a hand out.

“Are you happy with rose?” shadow burst out, his arms crossed across his chest as he stared at sonic across the table.

“Why should that matter to you?” Sonic asked defensively, sitting up again.

“Because from my perspective, you aren't very happy at all.”

“And why would my relationship with her matter to you?”

“Because I really, really care about you sonic. And you should be in a relationship where both parties care about each other.” Shadow argued back. Sonic was silent for a second, before he repeated shadows words.

“Because I really, really, care-” Sonic's face went red with the realization.

𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬.

Shadows' mind raced with what he just inadvertently admitted. Before he knew what he was doing, he had closed his computer and swept his papers into his bag. Sonic stood up.

“Shadow, wait-” he started, as shadow grabbed his bag and walked to the door.

“Shadow-” sonic grabbed shadows hand and held him back. It was a gentle touch, full of affection unseen with amy. Green eyes met red for only a second before shadow ripped his hand out of sonics grip, walking through the door and out of the library.

For once, sonic didn't run after him.

Chapter Text

“Shadow, wait-” sonic attempted to corner the emo, but shadow shoved past again. The presentation had not gone well, and the weekend was no better for shadow. He was just glad he could get away from those beautifully piercing green eyes.

But it's Monday again, which means back to class.

“Shadow.” Sonic repeated, sprinting for him, weaving through the crowd of people. Shadow sped up, aiming for the corner, but his hoodie is yanked back. Darkness surrounded him for a minute as he heard a door slam and a light switch on. Before he could really take in his surroundings, he was shoved back and pinned against the wall of the janitors closet.

Letting out a stifled squeak, he looks up at sonic, his face only inches from shadows. It is at this point that shadow realizes sonic has just a couple inches on him when he's not wearing platform boots. No doubt his face is madly red, but he keeps his composure as sonic begins to talk.

“Shadow! Why won't you stop and listen to me? I've been trying all day to get your attention.” sonic ranted.

Shadow just decided to avoid all of those questions, instead responding, “Will you let me out of here?”

“No.” Sonic continued, “I need to talk to you.”

“Will you at least back up?”

It was at that point sonic actually realized what he was doing. He jumped back, face burning, face flickering with a smile. After a moment of watching the gay panic play out in real time, shadow finally spoke up.

“What did you wanna tell me?”

“I broke up with amy.”

Shadow stared at Sonic in shock. Whatever he was expecting, it was not that.

“There was just so much happening, and none of it was working, and i kept thinking about what you told me-” sonic blabbered, eyes flicking to and from shadows until shadows hands softly entrapped sonics.

Green stared into red as it fell silent in the closet. On impulse, Sonic leaned forward and pressed his lips against shadows.
Ten thousand emotions and thoughts circled through Shadows mind, but one thought was clear in his mind.
𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬.

Shadow's arms wrapped themselves around Sonic's waist as he gave into the urge to reciprocate, pressing himself against Sonic like he has wanted to do for so long. Sonic's hands snuck up and cupped Shadow's face.

A loud ring broke the two apart. Shadow immediately snapped to fight mode, and sonic looked like he was ready to take off. After a second, the two relaxed and found each other's gaze again.

“That took way too long.” Shadow commented. Sonic giggled, and Shadow smiled.

“Ooh, I got a smile out of you~” sonic said smugly, creeping closer, his hands going to shadows waist.

“Shut up, you.” Shadow muttered playfully, accepting the kiss.