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◇The way he shows me I'm his and he is mine.
Open hand or closed fist would be fine.
The blood is rare and sweet as cherry wine.◇
~Hozier
It had been roughly a week since Sonic had finally agreed to move in with him.
The geezer had argued like it was some big offence, as if they hadn't been closer than most for the majority of their lives.
However, it was either that or a live-in hospital, and so the retired hero was forced to pick “the better of two evils”.
Stubborn old ass.
He could barely walk without assistance these days, and yet he had still insisted on living out in nature, roughing it.
Shadow still caught the stubborn goat trying to sneak out from time to time, on his better days where he didn't require a wheelchair or cane to get around.
Some days were worse than others, Sonic had always been moody, but it was beginning to reach levels that had a dull ache throbbing in Shadow's temples most days of the week.
Like today.
-
-
Shadow didn't bother knocking, he didn't need to.
He entered Sonic's designated room, tray in hand. And the first thing the greying hedgehog did was turn his nose away from his rival, as if that did anything other than make him look like a childish fool.
Shadow sniffed at the not-so blue hedgehog, setting the tray down on his bedside table and gruffly saying. “I brought you food.”
They had been arguing on and off all week, and quite a good while before that.
Shadow thought they were long past such petty behaviour… but apparently not.
“Thanks.”
Short, gruff, snippy.
Appears Sonic was in a mood, who could have guessed?
“Don't be like that.”
Sonic huffed an un-humoured laugh before adding to the building tension in Shadow's temple with another snide remark.
“Oh? Like what exactly? I'm being positively delightful.”
Sonic attempted to sit up in bed, grunting as his arm gave out under him, and he was forced to try and find a better angle to lift himself with. After a moment of watching with a bored face, Shadow finally bent down to try and lend a hand.
However, it was almost immediately batted away, Shadow tsked at his infuriating partner, causing Sonic to groan in retaliation.
“I got it, I don't need ya to coddle me.”
He stumbled again, grunted, dulled blue brow furrowing in agitation.
“Damnit.” Sonic hissed within a breath.
“Quit being stubborn, you fool.”
Sonic grumbled indignantly, but gave in, as Shadow bent down fully and assisted the retired hero in sitting up.
It took only a few quiet moments for Shadow to lift his counterpart up, sit the food tray across his lap, and place the cooling dumpling ramen in front of him.
Sonic barely acknowledged him the entire time, visibly avoiding eye contact, his mouth pulled down into a grumpy frown. As Shadow pulled up a nearby bedside chair and sat himself down with a “humph.”
He ate wordlessly, slowly. His hands shook slightly as if the spoon and chopsticks were far heavier than they truly were. It made Shadow's brows knit together in mild worry, he tried to school his face into something more neutral to hide his growing concern for the greying hero.
Shadow sighed, clasping his hands together in his lap to prevent a nervous shake.
“I'm sorry, I know you would rather be out in nature Sonic, but this is for your own good.” Shadow tilted his head to try and catch a glimpse of emerald eyes, and attempted to make his naturally rough voice somewhat soft. “You're not as spry as you used to be, you need to be more careful.”
Sonic huffed, his lighter mood from consuming a nice meal tainted by the dark cloud that was this repeated argument. He dropped his cutlery beside his bowl, far rougher than necessary. A very obvious indicator of his malcontent, as he clenched his shaky, bare hands into fists.
“I don't want to have this argument again, Shad.” He said after a pause, opening his eyes back up and pinning Shadow with a furious, bullheaded glare.
“It doesn't have to be an argument.” He countered, trying his best to remain calm despite his own growing agitation.
After a short moment of stubbornly continuing to glare. Sonic visibly deflated, looking down listlessly into his half finished soup bowl.
It took a good minute longer for the greying hedgehog to speak up, Shadow had to wring his clasped hands together in order to ground himself in the meantime.
“I know..” He muttered, tired sounding, and voice rough with age. “..it's just..” Sonic paused, sighed, and tilted his head down so he could more easily rub at his aching temple. “I don't exactly have all that much time left, Shad's. I don't want the last years of my life to be holed up in some dusty room or shitty hospital bed.”
All that work Rose had put in to distill decent conflict resolution in him when she was alive, seemingly flew out the window with Shadow's tactless reply.
“The room isn't dusty.” He deadpanned, ear flicking.
The two of them had never been all that great at proper communication, though they had improved over the years, it was nowhere near a perfect art.
Sonic stuck him with another icy look, turning his head still resting upon the fingers carefully working over his temple, so he could freeze Shadow with its intensity.
Shadow's ears pressed back slightly, ashamed. “Sorry..” the dark hedgehog muttered, trying his best to calm the situation.
He didn't want another argument either, he was tired of them. Didn't want their last years together to be tainted by the two of them constantly butting heads and bickering like some old married couple.
If only they both weren't so stubborn.
Sonic closed his eyes, sighing in an attempt to relax as he slumped his shoulders.
“Whatever, man. It's fine.”
They couldn't just throw a bandaid over an open wound and expect it to heal. If the two of them wanted things to change for the better, it needed to be treated properly. They needed to find common ground, find compromise, the way Amy and Rouge had always told them to.
They didn't have to be great at it, but they had to be at the very least good.
With a deep, drawn out sigh, Shadow finally tried his hand at responding to Sonic's anxieties properly.
“I understand where you're coming from, Sonic.” Shadow twisted his hands in his lap one more time, stalling. Before finally scooting forward in his chair to place a warm gloveless hand over Sonic's, making the old hedgehog unclench his fists under his open palm. “You're not stuck here though, I'm happy to take you out as often as you like… but you need to let me help you.”
Emeralds foggy, Sonic stared down into his cold soup and refused to meet ruby, looking somewhat miserable, the retired hero muttered meekly:
“I hate having to rely on people..”
“I know.”
Sonic's fluffy ears twitched, as if trying their hardist not to pin back. He slowly met Shadow's gaze again, green eyes weary.
“Ya know..” Sonic started, pink tongue darting out to wet his dry lips before continuing. “You don't have’ta do all this for me.. you have a life too, Shadow.”
Shadow squeezed his partners age tendered hand, velvet peach fur feeling heavenly under his tan paw-pads. “Did it ever occur to you, that perhaps this is how I want to spend my life.” Shadow brought his other hand up to cup the side of a peach muzzle, thumbing across Sonic's laughter lines. “You're important to me, Sonic.”
Sonic huffed a curt laugh, his muzzle reddening under his thinning fur, as he turned his face into Shadow's palm to hide it.
“Tsh, you're so corny, man..” He groaned, his ears finally pressing back, no longer able to resist with his visible embarrassment.
Shadow tittered at him, unable to keep a sly smile from splitting across his muzzle.
“That happens with old age.” He teased, leaning forward far enough that his butt left the chair so he could press a burning kiss against Sonic's temple. “You become sappy and gross.” He huskily whispered, disturbing the dulled fur his lips were pressed against.
That line finally got a real laugh out of his aged counterpart, Sonic snorted before letting out a hearty laugh. Shoving his longtime rival back by the chest as hard as he could, so that Shadow had to let go of his face and hand, falling back into the chair with a laugh his angsty younger self would have never allowed.
Sonic tried to breath between stuttered giggles, “Fuckin’ cornball..” he grumbled under his breath, voice light despite his somewhat biting words.
The two of them had always been somewhat awkward about showing affection.
When they were younger, Shadow almost never initiated, always waiting for Sonic to make the first move, which he often did.
Sonic could give it, turns out. But couldn't take it.
Always so sure of himself, cocky, and flirty, up until it's turned on him, then he would become all shy and flustered. Face flushing, and ears pressing back as he rubbed under his nose and tried to feign nonchalance.
Shadow found great enjoyment poking the bear as the years went on, and he became more confident in his own flirty abilities. Taught to him over the years by a forward partner, and an even more forward teammate and friend.
Old age didn't stop Rouge from partaking in that behaviour either. Shadow guessed the retired bat spy would be a flirty menace all the way to the very end.
As Sonic's light-hearted laughter died down, so did his temporary good mood. His features deflated, looking miserable once more as he continued on.
“You still look young though… you could have anyone ya want, and yet you're stuck here with an ol’ beat up speedster, who can barely even stand up on his own anymore. ”
Shadow's own smile drooped along with his ears, brows furrowing into a frown.
He moved closer once more, getting up out of his seat, and kneeling beside the bed to try and meet stunning emerald eyes.
“I don't want just anyone, Sonic.” He tried to showcase his yearning through glassy eyes, taking one of Sonic's paws into both of his in an attempt to grab the old man's attention. “I only want you.” He pleaded.
Sonic's eyes were just as glassy, as he looked over to the shimmering scarlet eyes of his long time life partner.
Shadow's not so sure he's ever seen Sonic look so uncertain in all his life.
Sonic lowered a brow at him, schooling his face into something more like his usual snarky self.
“Wow, old age really *did* make ya sappy and gross, hey old man?”
Shadow knew he was deflecting, but that was an argument for another time perhaps.
“Hm, let me prove that to you more earnestly.” Shadow drawled in a deep timbre.
He lifted himself up, capturing peach lips the minute he was at the perfect height to do so. It made Sonic inhale a sharp breath through his nose, clearly not anticipating the sudden display of affection.
Shadow gently cupped each side of Sonic's muzzle in his hands, thumbs shifting the soft peachy, grey fur. He pressed closer, earning a soft moan from his other half, as the hybrid attempted to seal them together orally in hopes they may never part again. Sonic's own hands flew up to press themselves against Shadow's chest, fingers flexing into silky, white chest fur.
Shadow hummed appreciatively, a rumbly purr vibrating across Sonic's palm pads where they pressed into him.
After a while, Sonic huffed a laugh against honey tan lips, using the leverage against his partners chest, the retired hero pushed the hybrid back, effectively disconnecting them from each other.
“Is your idea of tryin to show me you still like me, tryin’ to get into my pouch?” Sonic teased, sparkly eyes lidded with mischief, and lips pulled up into a sly smile.
“..I-I wasn't..” Shadow stumbled over his words, stopping himself a moment to gather his thoughts before continuing. “That wasn't my intention..”
Shadow's reply didn't seem to appease his counterpart.
Sonic's eyes drooped, his previously sly smile tilting downwards into something slightly more solemn.
“Yeah.. I know.” He muttered around a breath. “I was just messin with ya.”
Truthfully, it had been quite a long while since either of them partook in any sexual activity with one another.
Shadow had become weary about accidentally hurting Sonic as the retired hero got older, causing the hybrid to need to become more carefull with his aging counterpart.
The last time they had sex, Sonic had gotten a little more fenzied than he perhaps should have. Causing him to throw out his back in a devastatingly stereotypical display.
Since then, any form of sexual intimacy was rather scarce.
Sonic was his first, and his last once Shadow realised he couldn't bring himself to ever be with anyone else. No matter how many times Sonic had suggested it over the years, insisting he didn't mind.
Shadow just couldn't do it, didn't trust anyone else with his anatomy the way he trusted Sonic. Didn't care for anyone nearly as much as he did the old hero.
Taking in Sonic's downcast expression, a part of him wanted to give in and be intimate with Sonic. He missed the comfort and pleasure of it, and he knew Sonic did too.
Just because he was old, didn't mean he didn't get horny too. His disappointment at this very moment, made that information rather obvious.
Perhaps he could just be extra careful.. they didn't have to do anything too crazy after all. Sonic knew from past experiences to speak up whenever anything got to be too much.
Mind made up, Shadow let go of Sonic's muzzle to stand at his full height.
He took the tray from Sonic's lap, confused green eyes watching his every movement. As he set it aside carefully, before pulling the blankets aside to crawl into Sonic's lap with practiced movements.
Sonic gasped quietly, as Shadow guided him down on the bed, one palm against the older hedgehogs lower back, and the other braced against his heavy chest.
“What are you-”
“Shh.” Shadow hushed, dipping his head down to press one more chaste kiss against peach lips. “Just lay back and let me take care of you.”
Sonic breathed out a curt chuckle. “Tryin’ to make a pillow princess out of me, are we?”
“Hmm.” Shadow snickered, lowering his nose to nuzzle against Sonic's sensitive throat, earning a shiver from the aged hedgehog below. “Perhaps.”
Sonic practically melted as Shadow went about peppering kisses into the junction between his neck and shoulder, lowering himself until he was at Sonic's collarbone, and then continuing downwards.
“Hah-” Sonic moaned, bringing his hands up to grip Shadow's shoulders as the lifeform began carefully lapping at a sensitive nipple. “S-shad.. you don't gotta do this ya know..”
“I'm aware.” Shadow rumbled, looking up at his partner with an expression he hoped carried all the love and adoration he held for the old hero. “I want to.”
“Fuck..” Sonic breathed, tipping his head back and closing his eyes, unable to maintain eye contact with the intense way Shadow was looking at him. “Alright.” He chuckled breathlessly, “Go ahead and get on with it then, hot shot.”
That he could do.
With a self confident smirk, Shadow trailed further down, leaving a heated trail of kisses in his wake, against a soft belly, and all the way down to Sonic's jittery thighs. He spread them carefully, pressing appraising kiss after appraising kiss against the tender area.
Sonic hissed impatiently, hands fisting into the sheets, as Shadow avoided giving attention to the area he needed it most.
“Shadow..” Sonic whispered, wiggling his hips the best he could with the pain that settled in his lower back. “Please man, fuck- hurry it along.”
Shadow chuckled against Sonic's thigh, opening his eyes to thin slits in order to acknowledge the other through his long lashes.
“Got somewhere to be?”
“Oh for- fuck you.”
Another chuckle breathed hot air into Sonic's thigh, making it tremble slightly.
“That is the plan.” Shadow pulled away, hovering over Sonic's pouch so that his breath ghosted the excited area. “Soon, I have something else in mind for right now.”
Without another word, Shadow dipped low, licking a teasing stripe up Sonic's still covered sex, making the aged hedgehog groan a quiet swear, and buck upwards.
“I swear, Shad.” Sonic huffed, “You picked up your annoying quips from bein' around m-me- *hah* t-too long..” he chuckled. “I think Ima bad influence.”
“Hm, you think?” Shadow smirked, flattening his tongue and licking up with a firmer stripe.
“S-shit..”
Shadow groaned against Sonic, then let go of shakey thighs so he could use both thumbs to pull open Sonic's coarse nether fur and spread his lips.
“There you are.” He licked from the base of Sonic's hole, all the way up to his throbbing cock to flick it on the upstroke. “Beautiful.”
“Hohh, oh my god.. Shadow..”
The hybrid didn't need further prompting, he was desperate to taste Sonic after so long.
He wrapped his arms around Sonic's thighs, holding them steady as he dived forward to nuzzle himself snugly against his sex. His mouth closed around Sonic's elongated clit, tongue reaching downwards to lap at his entrance in the way he knew would drive his partner wild.
“Oh fuck, oh f-fuck!” Sonic's voice was rough when he moaned, age and many years of hooting and hollaring wearing on his old vocal cords. “S-shad.. yes, yes, just like that, oh my god..”
It had been a while since Shadow went down on Sonic like this.. he forgot how much he missed it.
With a deep, approving groan, Shadow pressed himself forward firmer. Humming against Sonic and lapping with more fervour, desperate to taste as much of his slick as possible.
Sonic wasn't as wet as he used to be, long term testosterone use making it harder for him to produce as much slick as he needed. However, considering how pent up he must have been, there seemed to be a pretty decent amount of it now.
Shadow tested this by letting go of a thigh, and bringing his pointer finger up to tease over Sonic's hole. Humming again to appreciate how wet he was, before carefully, slowly edging the finger inside slick, velvety heat.
Sonic began panting shallowly, as Shadow pumped his finger in and out at an agonisingly slow pace, crooking it in a come hither motion to reach the right spots inside him. It made him moan and wiggle his hips again, trying desperately to gain more friction with little to no avail.
“Shadow.. Shadow.. hah-”
Shadow's ears submissively pressed back, looking up at his partner, enraptured with every micro expression that flitted across his devastatingly handsome face.
Shadow hoisted the leg in his grasp over his shoulder, hopefully eliminating any pain the previous position created. He used his now freed hand to run it up Sonic's side, all the way up to his chest to squeeze a heaving, heavy peck.
The hybrid groaned into Sonic's sex, as the greyed hedgehog below him, keened and bucked up against his talented mouth.
He kneaded Sonic's chest in appreciation, making sure not to squeeze too hard as he slipped his hand to the side more, so he could thumb over a hidden nipple.
“Oh fuck- ah-” Sonic grunted, grabbing Shadow's wrist to ground himself. “T-that feels so good, baby...shit.”
Sonic's heel dug into Shadow's back just below his quill, and it made him groan at the pressure of it.
Another finger slipped in, and Shadow tried to be somewhat careful, as he picked up the pace and flicked his tongue repeatedly under the hood of Sonic's cock, eager to bring him to orgasm.
“That's it, that's it!” Sonic keened, becoming wiggly and shaky as he neared his peak. “Oh Shad, just like that- ah– don't stop, please don't s-stop, I'm gonna cum!” He rambled, voice rising in crescendo before he somewhat squeaked into a high-pitched, rough whine. “Oh, oh! oh!! hah–”
Shadow licked him through it, slowing his fingers to make it an easy fall, even as Sonic gave aborted humps upwards, lathering more salty slick across his tongue.
When Sonic's hips finally settled, Shadow followed them downwards to close his lips over Sonic's cock and give it one last hard suck. The slurp noise he made popping off, made a shiver run down his spine, and a low hum of pleasure pool into his gut.
Sonic whined once more before relaxing, breathing heavily, while Shadow went about gently setting down his leg, and pulling his fingers out of Sonic with a wet squelch.
“Holy shit..” Sonic panted, bringing an arm up to lay over his forehead.
Shadow watched the rise and fall of Sonic's ample chest and stomach, running his hands up and down his partner's thighs with a wide smirk, clearly rather proud of himself.
“Feel okay?” He asked, voice gravelly with love and lust.
“Hah, yeah man.. fuck, I missed that.”
“Hmm, me too.” Shadow agreed, bending down to nuzzle into Sonic's chubby stomach and press a few sticky kisses there, making it flex as it tickled him. “You taste so good.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Hmm.”
“Well then.” Sonic snickered, a teasing twang to his tone. “Why don't you come up here and lemme find that out for myself, hm?”
Shadow snorted a laugh into Sonic's abdomen, not needing clarification to what he meant, he rose up on strong arms to hover over his counterpart and passionately reconnect their mouths.
It didn't take long for faded peach arms to snake their way up over Shadow's shoulders to pull him in closer. Shadow licked over Sonic's lips, and the retired hero immediately opened up for him with a quiet moan. Letting their tongues slide together in an unhurried, languid dance.
Shadow ran his hands up Sonic's fluffy hips, shifting the fur upwards with the slow stroke. It made the hedgehog below him shudder, and try to press his chest up against Shadow's. He made the job easier on Sonic by pressing himself further down, making sure to be careful not to crush his counterpart under his heavy weight.
He earned a passionate moan of approval, the sound echoing in the chamber of their mouths, as their tongues continued to roll against one another.
It made his tastebuds tingle, feeling Sonic's talented tongue meet his own over and over, their flavors mingling with each other to create their own unique taste.
Sonic sucked his tongue, and it made him moan loud, grinding his swelling pouch against Sonic's dripping cunt, creating a mess of his obsidian nether fur. The old hedgehog pressed up with every hump Shadow made downwards, grunting with effort as he did so.
The wet muscle curling around his own, made Shadow's mind wander. He remembered the last time Sonic had gone down on him, how good those taste buds had felt against his most sensitive parts.
It had been quite a long time since he last received a blow job from his counterpart. Sonic being older had made the pleasurable activity rather difficult. Creeky knees no good for kneeling on, and neck too sore to keep in certain positions for too long without hurting terribly for days after.
Craving it again made Shadow feel guilty, the emotion twisted in his gut and soured his arousal.
He disconnected, a sliver of their combined saliva keeping them connected a moment longer before snapping.
He panted against Sonic's lips, lidded scarlet eyes roaming over Sonic's flushed face, his kiss-swollen lips, the shaggy facial fur he had grown out over the years, the silver strands of fur dusted across his face and body, like starlight reflecting off a light blue sea.
He was beautiful, gorgeous in the most ruggedly masculine way, and it made Shadow's gut twist. Sick with sappy yearning that somehow never managed to die down over the years.
Sonic's mouth curled up into a knowing smirk the longer Shadow continued to stare.
“You were right.” The old hero breathed, chuckling low, his warmth sweeping across Shadow's lips, still only a short centimetre away from his own.
Shadow blinked, eyes widening and ear flicking in confusion.
“..huh?” He muttered dumbly.
Sonic snickered at him, his eyes and nose scrunching cutely with the action.
“I do taste good.” He drawled, batting his shorter lashes at Shadow, and licking his lips seductively before continuing. “Though, I think we taste even better together.”
Shadow's face flushed a deep crimson at his partner's lusty admission, burning ears pressing back against his skull.
Damn.
Even after all this time, Sonic still managed to find new ways to fluster him..
Sonic's eyes flew wide suddenly, gasping and letting out a shocked “oh!” Before giggling erratically.
Shadow looked down to confirm his suspicions, and.. yep. He was out.
Shadow's wiggly tendril shifted across Sonic's abdomen, wiping his natural lubrication across grey and peach fur.
“Guess you're all ready to go then, hm?” Sonic snickered.
“Clearly.” Shadow deadpanned.
He ignored Sonic's teasing, lent over to the side so he could swipe one of his many pillows, and situate it under his partner's hips to create a better angle.
“Ah, making a throne fit for his majesty are we?” Sonic teased.
Shadow rolled his eyes, but countered back with a quip of his own anyway.
“Of course, anything for my beloved pillow princess.”
The jest shocked a barked laugh out of Sonic, the aged hedgehog threw his head back with the joyful cackle. Then immediately regretted it as it shot a stab of pain through his neck and upper back.
“Ow, ow, ow..” He hissed, bringing a hand up to rub the crook of his neck.
“Idiot.”
“Hey!” Sonic practically squealed, “it's not my fault you made me laugh! When the heck did you get funny?!”
Shadow feigned being deep in thought, humming to himself as he rubbed over the expanse of Sonic's soft thighs.
“Hmm, I believe it was somewhere between ages fifty and sixty.”
“Pff, real cute, you ass.”
Shadow smirked, chuckled low, and hovered over Sonic to press a few hot kisses to his neck and chest.
“Last I recall, you're rather fond of my ass, hedgehog.”
“Not when you're actin’ like one.”
“You have no leg to stand on with that argument, Sonic. Literally.”
“Wow. Low blow Shad's, so not cool.”
Shadow tittered, nose pressed into Sonic's soft chest fur. He felt light, probably the most he had in quite a long while.
“Okay.” Sonic sighed. “I think that's enough bein’ sappy old people, hmm? you gonna fuck me anytime soon or not? Gettin’ kinda slow in your old age there, Shad's.”
Shadow huffed, pulling himself up to give Sonic a flat look.
“Choosing to ignore that.”
“Mhhmm, let's get on with it then, yeah?”
Sonic snickered at him, unfazed.
The greying hedgehog ran his hands up Shadow's chest, wrapping them up and around, so he could hold the back of Shadow's neck below upturned quills, interlacing peach fingers together to pull his partner in.
Shadow let Sonic guide him into a slow, sensual kiss. Lips moving together languidly, gently, as if it was the first time all over again.
Without breaking the contact, Shadow moved a hand down his body to grasp his wiggly member, guiding it towards Sonic's waiting and ready entrance.
Shadow's cock was long, and tentacle-like. Going from a deep purple base, to a bright crimson tip, bumps adorning the entirety of its underside top to bottom.
With a mind of its own, his cock met velvety heat eagerly, slipping in on its own accord, the minute Shadow guided it to the right spot and let go.
No matter how many times they did this, the two of them always moaned in soft unison at the first thrust forward.
The nubs on Shadow's cock produced their own lubricant, his member began to leak the minute he entered Sonic, making up for a possible lack of slick on the old hedgehog's end, to create an easier glide.
“Fuck, S-Sonic..” Shadow breathed, pulling out carefully, and pushing back in just as slow. It had been so long, maybe a couple years since they last did this, and his cock ached like it missed him. “Y-you feel just as good as I remember.”
A corny line probably, but he was too out of it to care, stomach filled to the brim with abusive butterflies.
Sonic moaned quietly, his breath dusting across Shadow's muzzle, fingers flexing where they held steady against the back of Shadow's neck.
“O-oh yeah?” Sonic chuckled, sounding breathy as Shadow humped forward again. “Surprised you remember with those old memory issues of yours Shad.”
“Pheh, you say that like your memory is any better these days, hedgehog.”
“Touché.”
Shadow began with a slow pace, trying to keep their coupling gentle. The pillow below Sonic's hips assisted in putting him at the perfect angle to find that sweet spot deep inside him, even with the lack of control Shadow had over his own tendril.
“Sh-Shad.. *hah*”
“That's it..” Shadow tipped his head down, forehead resting against a heavy breathing chest. “Damnit, y-you feel so good..”
It was perfect..
Shadow missed being close to Sonic like this, missed being pleasured by his velvety walls, so warm and snug around him.
It made pressure build between his eyes, making his nose ache. He never wanted to let go of this feeling, wishing it could last forever.
His cock lashed on his next shallow thrust, it made Sonic gasp and choke on a moan, and Shadow nearly jolted at his cocks over-eagerness.
“Sorry.” Shadow muttered, tilting his head slightly, so he could kiss Sonic's chest as an extra apology.
Sonic chuckled at him light-heartedly, “You're okay, *ah*.. it f-feels good d'worry..”
Okay then.. good.
Shadow nuzzled his nose up against Sonic's jaw, sucking a hickey into the tender spot, and making his aged partner moan.
“Oh–”
Sonic's legs curled around the backs of Shadow's thighs, holding him in place, and flexing with every careful thrust forward. The aged hedgehog's legs couldn't get much higher anymore, unable to wrap around ebony hips like they used to, but the current pressure of them against his thighs was comforting enough.
It made Shadow moan, feeling heat and a tight coil building in his gut. Sickening him with overwhelming emotion and pleasure.
Shadow panted into Sonic's neck, dampening the thick fur with his moist breath. He tilted his ears sideways to listen to every breath Sonic took, every moan. He felt Sonic shudder against him, arms wrapping securely around ebony shoulders to hold him close, as Shadow continued his slow paced thrusting.
“Oh Shad.. t-that feels so good.” Sonic paused to grunt, attempting to buck his hips up to meet Shadow's. “Your alien dick always felt so good inside me.. s-shit..”
“Sonic..” Shadow squeezed his eyes shut, embarrassed by the pathetic whine of his partner's name.
His face felt hot, burning him alive, as Sonic clenched around him, making him choke out an embarrassingly high pitched keen.
He began humping into him a little faster, picking up the pace with a few uncontrolled, harsh thrusts forward.
He couldn't help it.
It felt good, it felt so good.
Shadow's pace became slightly frenzied and uncontrolled, he was so humiliatingly close to finishing. Overwhelmed after so long of going with only his own palm to satisfy him, his lovesick feelings eating him alive.
“Sonic, Sonic, S-Sonic..”
Shadow whimpered, thrusting even faster, chasing that big, coveted finish. Desperate to fill Sonic up, and hold him close while bathed in a satisfying, shared afterglow.
Sonic grunted, hissing below him, before pulling a hand downwards to press against Shadow's chest.
Grounding, soothing.. an attempt to relax his over-eager dark counterpart.
“S-Shad, Shad. *Ah* c-careful baby, slow down a little.”
Shadow choked on a whine, he nuzzled himself into the crook of Sonic's neck and whispered a raspy sounding apology, slowing his hips down to a far more gentle pace.
“That's it..” Sonic breathed, panting and flexing his fingers into white chest fur, using the other arm around ebony shoulders to press him into a hug. “Just like that, Shad.. that's s-so good..”
Shadow tried to hold back a choked sob, he wasn't sure what was getting him so emotional. He's making love to his long time partner… he should be happy. And he is, but there is an overwhelming sadness underneath it all, like a dark cloud appearing on a sunny horizon, a warning of the storm to come.
He pulled up, sick with something unexplainable in the current moment. Shadow pressed his lips back against his partner's, perhaps a little harder than intended, considering the surprised inhale it made Sonic take through his nose.
Sonic's momentary shock melted into a pleased noise, he moaned against tan lips, opening his mouth so Shadow could lick his tongue inside to reunite with his equally eager one.
They swirled the muscles together languidly. Sonic jostled forward slightly, the two of them rocking back and forth in a steady rhythm with each calculated rut of obsidian hips.
The old bed creaked under them, not being used much since Rouge's visits became less frequent. Causing the bed to become unused until Sonic took up residence there.
Shadow snaked a hand between their bodies, thumbing at Sonic's throbbing clit to try and tip him over the edge, extremely close to his own ruin, and desperate to feel Sonic cum around him before that happened.
Sonic moaned and bucked with every quick swipe over his cock, cunt clenching on Shadow so tight, it made the hybrid grunt against kiss-swollen lips.
He broke the kiss to pant, the both of them breathing heavily against each other, sharing their breaths like it was the only lifeforce they could ever survive off of.
Sonic fisted Shadow's chest fur, it tugged and made him ache, it was grounding. Overwhelming him along with every other incredible sensation. The legs pressing into the backs of his thighs, the steady, heavy breaths being panted against his muzzle, moistening the short fur there.
Sonic's eyes were lidded, as were Shadow's, and they maintained heated eye contact as they panted and humped into one another. Both chasing the best kind of physical ruin.
Sonic's emerald eyes shimmered, sparkly and bright, even after all these years. It made Shadow feel sick, stomach twisting with yearning.
He never wanted this to end.. he never wanted Sonic to leave him. He couldn't do any of this without him.
He wanted to stare into those glistening, green pools forever, searing their burning light straight into his retinas.
Sonic's beautiful eyes screwed shut suddenly, breaking the contact as he stiffened. Pants becoming erratic, head tilting back as far as his chronic pain allowed.
“Shadow, S-Shadow, fuck- m’close..”
“Go on, Sonic..” Shadow huffed, picking up his pace the slightest amount, thumbing Sonic's dick faster. “Let me feel it, baby, come on.”
“Hoh! Oh- hah ah- ah–”
Sonic let out a choked keen, his legs shaking and attempting to hold Shadow as close as possible through his finish, arms, and hands tightening right along with them.
“Oh my god- oh god, S-Shadow!” He grunted into a whimper, tilting his head forward to rest against Shadow's, his upper body hunching. “f-fuck, fuck!”
“That's it Sonic.” Shadow groaned, he sobbed, balls aching with how close he himself was to orgasm. “I- hah- ah-”
Shadow moaned roughly, sticky emotions flooded him all at once, making his eyes well up with unshed tears.
He pulled Sonic in close, wrapping his arms around his counterpart, and nuzzling their foreheads together.
“I-I love you, I love you so much, Sonic, f-fuck..” He whimpered pathetically, rutting becoming erratic as the coil in his stomach snapped and he came with a gravelly, yelled moan.
Shadow tucked his face into Sonic's throat, hiding his shame, as he loudly rode through his orgasm. Panting and whining, as his cock thrashed around, bumping against the sensitive walls of his counterpart.
“Chaos... Sonic..”
Shadow's body slumped forward, he tried to keep most of his weight off of Sonic as to not hurt the aged hedgehog, but it was a difficult feat with how wobbly he felt.
They lay together like that, neither saying anything, as they caught their breaths, chests rising and falling against each other.
After a while, Sonic chuckled tiredly, absentmindedly rubbing circles into the fur of Shadow's upper back. His other paw, holding onto Shadow's shoulder, as the dark hedgehog continued to hide himself in greying fur.
“Wow..” Sonic whispered, voice husky. “That got pretty intense at the end there, huh?”
Shadow stiffened, curling himself tighter against his counterpart, feeling ashamed over his sudden earlier “outburst”.
“You, ahh..” Sonic tried, his tone sounding awkward. “Wanna talk about that big love confession there, orrr…?”
He didn't.. he really didn't.
Shadow refused to look Sonic in the eyes, kept his own squeezed shut, tan muzzle pressed into the other hedgehog's throat.
“I just..” He paused, trying to steady his rough voice so it didn't warble. “I just wanted to say it one time.. before it's too late..”
“Oh..”
Sonic didn't let up with his ministrations, but they stuttered a moment before continuing with the same rhythm.
They weren't the “I love you” types. In all their years together, they had never once said those three words to each other, never needed to. They spoke with actions, the care they showed for one another, different to the care shown for others in their lives.
There was no need for I love yous.
However..
When Maria died, the one thing Shadow regretted about their friendship, was that he never got the chance to tell her that.
She knew, as did Sonic. But he wished to tell them verbally anyway, just once.
To hell with it if it was embarrassing, if it made his ears burn, he wouldn't let Sonic die before he said it.
“I.. don't regret telling you that.” Shadow muttered. He pulled back, hovering over Sonic further enough away that the aged hedgehog had to lower his arms, hands braced against Shadow's chest instead. Shadow hoped his heartbeat spoke the truth of his feelings, just as much as his mouth did. “I do love you, Sonic. I always have.”
Sonic's ears twitched before pinning back bashfully, his face flushed, and he visibly turned his head to the side to avoid eye contact. Before jokingly muttering, “Damn, really gettin’ all mushy with your dick all up in me.”
Shadow sighed.
Sonic was deflecting, again.
Shadow pulled out, a trickle of cum and slick sliding down Sonic's backside, before Shadow leaned over to the bedside table for tissues to quickly mop it up. Chucking the sullied tissues into the bedside bin.
He laid on his side next to his counterpart, bringing a hand up to cup the side of Sonic's shaggy muzzle and gently coax it to face him, before lowering the same hand to rest against the retired hero's chest.
“You're deflecting.” Shadow grumbled simply, trying not to sound too peevish.
Sonic sighed, eyes drooping.
“Yeah, I know…”
“Do you not feel the same?”
That perked Sonic back up again, ears flying back up so he could hear his counterpart better.
“What!?” Sonic baulked. “What kinda question is that? Of course I do!”
Shadow couldn't help but snicker, he had let go of his insecurities long ago, he knew Sonic loved him back, even if the old hero didn't want to say it out loud.
“I know.”
“Then why…?” Sonic paused, the rusty cogs in his brain working overtime a minute, before finally lighting the bulb above his head. “Oh! Shadow, you jackass.”
The hybrid barked a laugh, not holding back the rumble in his chest.
Sonic laughed right along with him, the damp, dark cloud that had momentarily covered them, finally disappating to allow the sun to show through once more.
After the laughter had quieted to a stop, Sonic's expression turned contemplative. The greying hedgehog grunted with effort, rolling onto his side to properly face Shadow.
“I um..” Sonic muttered, pausing to circle his pointer finger into the bedsheets between them in a self-soothing stim, watching the movement to avoid scarlet eyes. “I love you too, by the way.”
Shadow smiled, bringing a hand up to run it over Sonic's shoulder, holding his upper arm and thumbing the area.
His chest and stomach felt all fluttery, eyes stinging with overwhelming, sappy emotions.
“You better, fool.” Shadow jested, squeezing Sonic's arm affectionately.
That made a giggle bubble up from Sonic, the retired hero shuffled forward so he was closer to his counterpart, nudging their noses together with a big cheesy smile split across his face.
Sonic snorted, “Believe me I do, more than you know, old man.”
“Mmhmm.”
Shadow closed the short distance between their lips, smiling softly against Sonic's, in a chaste kiss. The softness of it twisting his guts together into a mess similar to a box of old tv cables, or chistmas lights.
It would take forever to unknot them.
Shadow breathed against Sonic's lips when they parted, he kept his eyes closed, pressing their foreheads together.
His eyes stung.
“I'm not ready to lose you..” He admitted, voice gravelly and wet.
Sonic sighed deeply, before bringing his own hand up to cup the side of Shadow's muzzle.
“Noones ever truely ready to lose someone, Shad.”
He wanted so badly to cry, desperate to let all his welled up tears and emotions, fall amongst thick, wet sobs.
“I.. I know..” Shadow choked, scrunching his nose bridge to try and alleviate the pressure between his eyes.
“Hey..” Sonic whispered softly, pulling back, taking the warmth of his forehead with him. “Shadow, look at me.”
He did as he was told, rarely able to deny Sonic these days.
A gentle thumb petted under Shadow's eye bags, he watched the crinkles around Sonic's eyes form, laughter lines outlining the soft curve of his lips.
Shadow's eyes felt wet, continuing to sting the longer he looked into his counterpart's emeralds with vulnerable rubies.
“When..” Sonic paused to wet his lips, taking in a much needed breath. “When I'm gone, I don't wantcha to close yourself off, you hear me?”
Shadow nodded, throat closing up and refusing to work the way it should.
Sonic continued.
“I would never want you to be miserable, Shadow. It'll take time, obviously. But someday I hope you will open yourself up to loving again.” He smiled, his own eyes glassy as he continued to thumb Shadow's cheek. “Don't let your heart die with me, yeah?” Sonic leaned forward again, pressing a quick, comforting kiss against Shadow's lips to punctuate his point. “You have such a big one, it would be a shame to waste it.”
Shadow paused, swallowed around the lump in his throat, and forced it to work.
“Alright.” He muttered, voice continuing to be wet, sounding as if it was choked out of him. “I promise.”
“Attaboy.”
“Ugh..” Shadow groaned at Sonic's light hearted jab, feeling like a roller-coaster drop after such a heavy talk.
It only made Sonic snicker at him for the hundredth time that day.
Shadow sniffled, nose runny despite never actually allowing himself the opportunity to openly cry. He pulled Sonic in close, interlacing their legs together, and pressing his face into Sonic's ample chest. It tickled the not-so-blue menace, as Shadow nuzzled his nose into the spot, making him giggle, chest moving against the hybrid's face with the action.
Warm, peach-grey arms wrapped around Shadow's shoulders, a pink padded hand splaying into upturned quills, scratching into the space between them, a pleasurable area only another hedgehog knew how to find. It made his chest rumble with a quiet purr, Sonic's own one kicking up in kind.
Shadow felt so comfortable, he knew it wouldn't last…
But he wished they could stay like this forever.