Rotting Inside 🌈 ✩彡

The ability to breathe through your nose seemed like a distant memory. A particularly hurtful cough forced itself out of your throat and you didn't even have the strength to fight it anymore, wheezing like a wounded animal.

You didn't even question when voices from TV melted into static.

What was noticeable though, was the room feeling significantly colder, to the point you had to pull up your blanket. You tried tugging on it, but it was like some weight was preventing you from doing so.

Turning to see what caused this obstruction, your eyes went wide as you realized you weren't alone anymore. You felt the yelp forming in your throat, but it was too exhausting to actually let it out.

The red in his hollow eyes bore right into your soul, illuminating a confused scowl.

The demonic hedgehog was right next to your face, and you only took notice when you actually looked his way. Guess one of the positives of having a stuffed nose was not having to tolerate the reek of death that always came whenever he appeared.

"What's this supposed to mean?" His glitchy voice rumbled throughout the room with a note of accusation, "not even a bit of a scream?"

"I don't have the strength to deal with you right now," you mumbled, your back falling onto the mattress once more.

The hedgehog looked offended by your audacity.

"How come you're so extra pathetic today?" He asked, more so to himself. His annoyance was palpable, but you couldn't care less.

"None of ya business."

Your halfassed answer was met with a growl, and his nasty face came rapidly towards yours. "I need to know if you're dying. I'm not done playing with you yet."

"I'm not dying yet, but I sure feel like it." Your response was very flat. "So if you're here to make me feel worse, you're too late."

The tilt of his head was almost amusing, if only you weren't in a haze of pain.

"That's no fun." He furrowed his brow in disappointment. "How am I supposed to play with you when you've already lost? And not even by me!"

You made it clear you weren't interested in his monologue and tugged at the blanket, still under his gloved hand. Taken aback by your guts, he lifted it up, watching as you rolled over on your side.

Occupied by trying to find a cool spot on your pillow, you didn't register when X wordlessly crawled right next to you. Your body jerked at the sudden stab, sharp quills stained with old blood poking your back until he found a comfortable place to lay. The other assaulting thing was the cold. It's as if you were being blanketed by a corpse, which in all fairness was probably the case. The hedgehog didn't seem to be bothered by your disapproving grunt, his muzzle resting on top of your shoulder.

"What the hell?" You spoke while trying to escape his grip, but eventually concluded you were too weak to fight his strong grip.

"Quiet." He growled, but it wasn't as menacing. His hand moved purposefully towards your neck, stopping only to grab it and part of your jaw. At this point, you didn't expect to wake up tomorrow.

To your surprise, the tightened grip never came. Instead, his claws hooked into your skin without breaking it, and you felt a cold shiver all over your body. It all happened in a split second, but it felt as if he was killing something inside you, which was a horrifying thought.

Feeling a hint of weakened strength, you shifted to face him with a frown. "What did you do?"

"Killed whatever was killing you from the inside." He rumbled with simple cadence. "I hate waiting. I'm the only one who's allowed to torment you."

You couldn't help but furrow your brows at the realization of feeling a bit lighter than before. You were still full of mucus and sweat, but your temperature didn't make you wanna jump off a roof.

In that moment of silence, forced into near proximity of his chest, you were now able to hear… Nothing. You halfly expected some kind of a heartbeat, but all that you've heard was a very subtle static, almost like an old PC.

And then, a sniff.

His cold, dry nose almost brushed against your skin before it scrunched up. "There's still this annoying smell on you."

"You're the one who smells like death all the time, aren't you used to it?" You lifted your brow.

"You don't smell like death." He snorted dismissively. "You smell pathetic."

Suddenly your cheek was met with a cold, leathery and meat-like texture. There was no trace of saliva, almost like when you wake up after sleeping with your mouth open, and a painful lick like that of a cat's tongue.

Your body jerked with cringe. "Ew, don't lick me!"

Your protest was met with a firm grip of his hand on your wrist. "Don't disturb my work. I can't stand this stench of a sick animal. It's irritating."

His rough tongue continued to gather the salt off your jaw and neck, holding you in place like a dominant feline. Whenever you tried to move, his sharp teeth would serve as a reminder to stay still. You couldn't picture the expression on your face, but it surely wasn't that of a happy camper. Thankfully, he didn't insist on cleansing all your spots, stopping right by the collar of your shirt.

It's as if he was absorbing your sickness, or doing a skincare routine in a very disturbing way. Although it wasn't a pleasant experience, your face felt much better without the layer of sweat and excess heat.

Absolutely done with this experience, you swiped your hands across your face, trying to get rid of the feeling.

And then the room went dark, except for the glowing irises of the demon in your bed.

"Sleep now. Regain your strength." The deep voice near your ear almost made you flinch. "I'll be there when you wake up. Then we can play a proper game."

Per usual, Sonic saved the day, speeding back to the group, striking a pose that shone with confidence. You couldn't help but offer him your (mostly) smooth praise, to which he responded with his signature cheeky grin and a quick thumbs up. Somehow, that was enough for your brain to short-circuit, the butterflies appear in your stomach, and goosebumps that were almost distracting. You had to take a breather, quickly turning on your heels away from the cause of your problem.

After accepting your embarrassing situation, you had to investigate if the feeling was at least somewhat mutual. You offered to get chili dogs with him, an offer he couldn't refuse. You prepared some smooth lines for the day, hoping your flirting skills would do their job, but as soon as the blue hedgehog came into your view, you felt like you could melt. Excitement overtook any thoughts, and with it came a wave of anxiety. Did you dress fine today? Did he think you looked good? Unfortunately, it seemed you weren't clear enough with your intentions, because every one of your meek attempts at flirting flew right over his head.

It was still a day well spent though, and you were sure you were falling for him even more. He mostly chatted about his day, the adventures, throwing in some remarks about his favorite food. No matter what he talked about, you couldn't get enough of his voice. But the real highlight was him wiping a bit of chili off your cheek, daring to lick his finger after. You were praying Sonic didn't catch the embarrassing, quiet, high pitched noise that came out of your throat.

You didn't know whether Sonic's obliviousness to it was a curse or a blessing in disguise. Your flustered looks somehow went over his head the first few times it happened. The signs were so apparent, yet all he could gather from them was a sudden spike of being friendly towards him. He liked that you laughed at his jokes. Seeing the grin on your face each time you saw him felt nice, and it surely fed his ego.

Until he finally caught on. Something about your break from pursuing others gave him a hint. It was a little hard to believe, given your reputation, but the hedgehog wasn't stupid. You were spending an awful lot of time together these past days. He even tried testing it, getting somewhat cheeky.

"So, what's up? You met someone new recently?" He teased after leaning his back against the couch, his arms spread comfortably on top, dangerously close to you. Sonic saw your eyes widening at the close proximity, shoulders filled with sudden tension. Although you weren't sure if your cheeks betrayed you visually, you were sure the warmth must've given it away.

The look in Sonic's eyes was clear. He knew what was up. And he couldn't help but squeeze the last bits of dignity from you.

You cleared your throat, trying your best to remain nonchalant and failing miserably. "I didn't feel like meeting anyone new." You felt like honesty would be the best answer, even if your voice barely covered your brain going into overdrive.

"Oh yeah, I guess we have been hanging out a lot lately. I guess you must really like being around me, huh?" Sonic knew it was a bold statement, but the way your expression shifted into one of a deer in headlights left him pretty sure he was right.

You licked your lips, annoyingly dry. "Don't flatter yourself." The response came out reflexively.

Sonic merely chuckled, the pretty, green eyes focused on your endearing frown. "No need to get so defensive," he prefaced, his grin widening softly. "I guess I wanted to say, I like that we started to hang out more."

His sight briefly wandered onto your lips.

"And I wanted to know whether you think the same."

literally this video but with you included

Both of them will obviously wanna involve you in their horseplay, but If you make your limits clear, they won't force it. If you decide to match their spirit, they'll gladly share the chaos with you. The duo is used to being competitive with each other, so they might go a bit harder on you when they're in the moment, but at the end of the day they make sure that you're okay with their boyish behavior. Unless you're into the bromance dynamic, (which they already have with each other) in that case, you're just a trio of rascals!

Going further with that thought, you're either the smart one, or match their energy. Perhaps they nudged you into letting go and embracing the silliness with their antics. While both of them have their leader vibes, and may not show it often, your opinion still matters a lot to them. The three of you are an unbreakable team.

Sonic may pretend he doesn't like cuddles, but Knuckles will be fully open with them. He loves holding you, cherishes you like you're the Master Emerald. I mean, have you seen how he acts with a lamp? You're like, the 100% better than a lamp. For example, you can hug him back! He gives Sonic a run for his money. Which in turn, makes hedgehog come around a bit. He can't be the odd one out when you're all chilling on the bed. cozied up. If you tease Sonic about it, he'll grumble something back, but ultimately won't wanna be excluded from the cuddles. You win this every time.

At the beginning of the relationship (and probably while meeting new people), you're gonna be the first topic Knuckles is gonna bring up. "Have you heard of Y/N? They're just my awesome partner" He'll puff up with pride, talking about you as if you're some kind of celebrity, totally ignoring the person's confused looks. Sonic is more lowkey with his affections for you, not wanting his cool guy persona to be broken, but he tends to linger close to you whenever you hang out. Like he's making it known to the world that you two are very close. If you ask about it, he'll deny it, but his scoff, trying to cover it up will speak volumes about the topic.

If anyone tries to talk badly about you, the two of them are onnn. They will defend your honor, like they would to any of their friends. If you're in trouble? They're like a pair of angry dogs. Of course, that doesn't mean they think you can't defend yourself, but their protective instincts will still show up. If you got a fire in you like them, they find it very attractive.

While it's all good at the honeymoon phase of your relationship, be prepared to be the conflict-resolution one in the relationship. These boys are not good at feelings, especially the blue one.

Both of them initially want to be the big spoon, but soon warm up to the idea of being a smaller one. The way you're holding them with such affection and care makes their heart do a little flip. You three most often sleep in this order, Sonic holding you, and you holding Knuckles, but the bed is usually a mess post wake up, as the duo move a lot in your sleep. Fortunately, it's still very comfortable in your big sleep pile.

Pre-Relationship

I imagine this is like, Scourge going on a stroll, catching you and your friend somewhere in the public by accident I wanted it left open to the interpretation but personally I see it as a reader talking to Amy or Rouge, perhaps even both? Also headcanoning this is after the events of the House Party but it's optional ofc

- - -

Scourge's ear twitched as he overheard your conversation, which most importantly, included his name. He didn't hesitate hiding behind the bushes, wanting to get as much info as possible. He knew you two had some moments, he caught hints of your possible interest in him, so the chance to hear your words about him was both thrilling and nerve wracking. He wanted to believe those special moments to be as true to you as they were to him.

His heart thumped in his chest and he dared not to breathe. He convinced himself that no matter the outcome, he would win you over. And if not, then you were not for him. But the truth was, he cared a lot. You tolerated his shenanigans, called out his bullshit, and even entertained his stupid jokes. You were even patient enough to stick by his side whenever the nerves got the best of him, and properly communicating and establishing some boundaries. Your current words could crumble his little world, the bubble of comfort he built over the years.

But what came out of your mouth wasn't mockery or awkward dismissal. From the tone of your voice, the way it pitched up when you mentioned his name, to the embarrassed chuckles, he could imagine just how cute your face probably looked in that moment. Almost like it wasn't real.

He felt giddy hearing you mention the things you liked about him, ranging from charisma, sense of humor and good looks, to you specifying a few moments when you felt like your friendship could turn into something more. His cringe came when you pointed out some of the nice things he'd done for you to your friend, the info clearly ruining his bad boy image, but it was still a good sign. You were getting the right message.

Once the conversation topic changed, you mentioning you're in the mood for something sweet, he waited a reasonable amount of time before swaggering out of his hiding spot, nonchalantly attempting to seem like he just got there. He pulled down his glasses, ignoring the way his gloves clung uncomfortably to his fingers.

The clear signs of his nervousness were the red tips of his ears and traces of crimson on his cheeks. Fortunately for him, he wasn't aware how much his own body betrayed him, which was just enough for him to shoot his shot.

"Y/N! Fancy seeing ya here," he approached you with confidence, his smirk seeming a bit too forced. "Hope I'm not disturbing the hangout with your bestie," he continued, "but I figured, since I'm already here, I should say hi," he clarified, with feigned nonchalance.

Your eyes went wide as you recalled your previous blabber. You weren't sure if Scourge heard it, but some signs were pointing to it. Still, there was no need to mention that, so you tried to keep a straight face and explain that it was just a spontaneous catching up chitchat.

Your friend noticed the sudden shift in the mood and got the hint to remove themselves from the situation. Scourge gave em a side eye once he noticed the knowing smirk on your friend's face as they prepared to leave. It made him feel way too exposed for his liking. But their actions worked in his favor, so instead, he focused on the one opportunity he couldn't screw up.

He cleared his throat, suddenly feeling too dry. He leaned on anything that was available nearby, looking at his fingers as he tried to play it cool. "So… If you need some company, I was thinking of hitting some cafe on my way back. Perhaps grabbing some cinnamon buns. You know, ya could tag along. " He shrugged, looking at you from under the sunglasses, hoping you wouldn't notice the way his quills prickled with barely hidden tension.

"Let's say… my treat." He gave it his best, shooting you a grin that looked more hopeful that he'd like to admit. "Not like you need any more reasons to hang out with me, though, right?" He tried his attempt at a tease, but it felt more like a plea than a statement.

His convenient interest in pastries must've been the biggest sign from the universe, or the proof of Scourge eavesdropping your conversation. Either way, it seemed like Scourge didn't mind your presence, he actively sought it out.

Of course, you agreed.

Soon after that, Scourge's attitude towards you shifted. He was more flirty towards you, more daring, more… stupid. Doing things just to impress you and failing miserably. Of course he'd be pissed off, but not for long. The sound of your laughter was just the thing he needed to hear.

Established Relationship

Just like in the first one, you're hanging out with a friend, but this time Scourge is your official boyfriend and you're about to meet with him, maybe he's joining you and your friend(s) to the movies or somethin - - -

You were too busy recalling a fond memory with your boyfriend to hear the footsteps nor see the figure approaching, slow yet filled with the casual confidence, a few feet behind you. Your comments sounded so genuine, so lovely, it made it hard for Scourge to hide his own smile.

Your friend noticed the goofy grin on the hedgehog's face, his attention focused purely on you and your ramblings. Two leather covered arms reached out to embrace your waist, his chin rested casually on your shoulder. "Oh, now that's adorable." His tease, albeit accusatory, clearly conveyed his happiness at being needed. "Didn’t know I had a fan club, doll. Should I start charging for compliments?"

This, of course, made your cheeks grow hotter, knowing how much of your unfiltered thoughts were now living rent free in Scourge's mind. Scourge, on the other hand, ate it up.

You accepted your ''loss'', rolling your eyes as he continued his yapping, his grin only becoming wider. "So, I’m special now, huh? Guess all that effort’s payin' off."

He'd become more clingy and had a visibly brighter attitude throughout the rest of the day. Accidentally brushing his hand against yours, just to then shamelessly take it into his own. He'd then stare at your reaction through the sunglasses, the shit eating grin on his face doing a poor job of covering how eager he was to see your reaction. He wants your attention and now he's not gonna shy away from getting it.

-> Power Play / Domination Kink (lowkey hidden desperation)

Scourge needs to feel in control - it’s how he protects his ego and buries his insecurity. Being the one in charge validates him. But sometimes, it’s about desperately proving he’s worth wanting. Meaning, he wants you begging, flustered, writhing beneath him as he doesn't stop hitting that particular spot in you. “Say it. Come on. Tell me you need me. Louder.” The more receptive you are, the more aroused he becomes. Absolutely horned up If you submit to him willingly, returning the same intensity he has for you. As for him being the submissive one - he hates it. At least at first. He needs to REALLY trust you in order for this experience to be positive for both of you. He hates not being in control and surrendering his power is the last thing he's comfortable with.

-> Loss Of Control Kink (something he would never admit)

Deep down, Scourge’s confidence is very fragile. So being made to lose control, whether from overstimulation, emotional vulnerability, or someone else taking charge, is very cathartic. Wouldn't happen on the first several sex sessions. Would take a lot of trust from both sides for him to entertain this kink of his. He might growl and resist, but the moment he fully eases into the situation, he's raw, needy, and unfiltered. He would scoff, his ego forbidding him from showing any weakness, but his body fully accepting the change of dynamics. "S-shut up… I’m not-…fuck, don’t you dare stop.”

-> Dirty Talk

He cannot. Shut. Up. Constant commentary. He’ll narrate what he’s doing to you, ask you to repeat his name, or whisper filth into your ear just to watch your face change. Will ask you to describe what you want from him in excruciating detail. The dirtier you get, the smugger he becomes.

-> Praise Kink

Continuing with loss of control and Scourge in a submissive scenario, if you start genuinely spilling out praise, affection filled compliments and assurances of loving him, he will just stop working. He will feel threatened at first, not used to this kind of intimacy. Imagine this: Him riding you (be it the real thing or a strap-on), trying to be cocky, starting with a "Like what you see, huh?” and you responding with a sincere "You're doing so good." and adding "I love you." sometime later. He feels sick, not even knowing if it's a good or a bad thing. "I don’t- shut up, shut up.” The only time when you will see him flustered.

-> Corruption Kink (in both directions)

Whether he’s the one corrupting someone innocent or being “tamed” by someone good, the contrast drives him wild. Leaning into the roleplay kind of stuff. Loves teasing goody-two-shoes types. “Bet you’ve never been touched like this, huh?” But if someone pure makes him whimper? He’ll remember it forever.

-> Mirror Kink

Lowkey, I think he'd have it. Scourge is cocky as hell, and seeing himself doing something filthy? That’s just bonus points. Coming back to his insecurities, it's also a form of self-reassurance. He needs to see that he’s desired and catch every glimpse of your delicious reactions. Gets off on it even more if you're flustered or in a messy state.

-> Degradation + Praise Kink

Loves keeping you on your toes. Filthy whispers falling into your ear. “Look at you. You're practically dripping, and we haven't even started. What a desperate and pathetic sight," followed by “You’re a fucking mess. That's so hot." Will insult you while touching you like you’re precious, type of deal. And then, when you least expect it, hits you with the most delicious "Good boy" or some alteration of it ("Good puppy/good kitty") Gets feral if you call him names back, anything under the sun. He eats up the compliments as well as sinfully derogatory comments. Melts if you moan his name like it means something.

-> Teasing / Edging Kink

Scourge lives for watching you lose control. Dragging things out gives him a god complex - he’ll push buttons just to see how long you’ll last. Using his tongue, hands, dick, toys, anything that gives you pleasure that he can take back in mere seconds, leaving you aching for more. He will stop just before the finish, smirking: “What? Gonna cry?”

-> Dacryphilia

The moment you cry, overwhelmed with pleasure, he’s wrecked. Not in a cruel sense (…perhaps just a little.) but because it proves how deep he’s gotten under your skin. He craves being unforgettable, and your tears are a great proof of that. He watches your face intensely when you’re close, waiting for that crack in your expression. If he's feeling frisky, might even lick it off just to fuck with you if you're embarrassed about it. "Aw, what’s this? Tears already? I haven’t even gotten serious yet.” “C’mon, don’t tell me I’m that good.” Secretly very stunned by the intimacy of it. If you're more of the fragile type, he won't be that much of an asshole. “Wait- hold up. Are you…?” He freezes, eyes darting. “…You're really cryin’. Shit. … That's hot.”

-> Marking (hickeys, bites, scratches)

He's territorial and loves leaving proof that he got to you first. It’s possessive, very visible, and taps into that primal “you’re mine” instinct. He loves showing everyone who you belong to, usually leaving hickeys and bite marks in the most visible places. His favorite spots are neck, thighs, chest and ears. Bites your shoulder when he's close to finishing. Smiles like a bastard when you try to cover them up. “Hope you don’t got somewhere important to be, sweetheart.”

-> Risk / Doing it in public Kink

He gets off on danger and rebellion. Doing something he shouldn’t - especially somewhere where someone else could almost catch you? Massive turn-on. He isn't afraid, purely lacking the shame. Will pull you aside in public just to whisper something filthy and watch the red appear on your face, at the most random moments, just to catch you off guard. If he's feeling especially naughty, he'll preface his words by saying something like "I gotta tell you something important.", getting your full attention. Grinds against you from behind in a crowd just to feel you squirm. Will absolutely try to coerce you into a quickie in the most inappropriate places.

-> Grinding

The first sign of Scourge being horny is grinding against you. Coming behind you, wrapping his arms around your waist until you finally realize the reason for the sudden affection. If you do the same at random, he's ready on the spot. Loves seeing you getting off on him, riding his thigh. It turns him on so much, it's hard for him to stop himself from escalating the situation even further.

-> Free Use Kink (previously discussed, of course)

Scourge loves control. The idea of having access to you whenever, or vice versa, feeds his dominance kink and his insecurity. He wants to believe you’re always craving him. Will say “you’re mine" like it’s a threat, but underneath this front, the translation for it would be "please don’t leave, please want me." You walking up and initiating without warning? That just breaks him in the best way. “Need something, sweetheart? Could’ve just said so…"

-> Scent Kink

Steal. His. Clothes. He loves when you go out of your way to take a piece of him. It flips a switch in his brain that says you're his. Jerked off after stealing your shirt for sure, does he regret it? Only if he gets caught. But even if that happens, he's still able to turn the tables on you and fluster you with his response. He'd freeze, hand already on his groin, your shirt clutched tight in the other. For a split second, his mouth opened, just to be covered with a smirk. "You just gonna stand there, or you wanna help?” He lifts the shirt up so you could see, slow and deliberate. “You left this behind. That’s on you.” He’s absolutely dying inside, but if you’re watching, he’s going to double down rather than admit how much he missed you.

-> Asphyxiation Kink

Being able to take your breath away (literally) feeds his ego. He’d test it slowly at first, hand around your throat, thumb under your chin, watching your pupils dilate when he squeezes just enough. Will get bolder if he notices you enjoy it. “What’s wrong, sweetheart? Got no breath left to beg?”

-> Mouthplay Kink (Control / Humiliation / Intimacy aspect)

This kink isn’t just physical. Scourge is a control freak, using intimacy to prove how loyal you are to him. Exploring your mouth, whether with fingers, tongue, or even forcing you to keep your mouth open, is all part of him testing what he can do to you, what you will let him do. Licks into your mouth with zero hesitation, claiming it like he owns it, sometimes holding your jaw to keep you still, just to watch you squirm. He might disguise it as degradation, but part of him aches for intimacy. Mouths are intimate. Sharing breath, taste, the filthy oral sounds make him feel close, but he’ll never admit it. Will try to blur this line of intimacy with dirty quips like “Keep that mouth open, or I’ll find a better use for it.”

-> Bonus headcanon (aftercare)

He acts like he doesn’t need softness or tenderness, but once things get intense, he’s left raw and exhausted. He needs aftercare, but has no idea how to ask for it. Brushes you off when you're looking at him expectantly, “We’re done, right?” But if you pull him into a hug, he clings for dear life when he thinks you don't notice. He’s the type to say, “Don't look into it too much,” while burying his face in your chest.

-> Bonus bonus headcanon

The first few times you two get frisky, he lowkey treats you like a piece of meat. He doesn't trust people easily, so anything intimate, like looking into your eyes, seeing the love swimming in them, scares him. If the sex turns soft or intimate, he gets… weird. He wants that closeness, but it just freaks him out. He’ll avoid eye contact during slow intimacy but grip you tighter than ever. Will try to fight it by pushing you to both of your limits, staring at you with a lustful gaze, too focused on the heat of the moment to register how connected you two feel.

It would start simple. Him nursing a drink somewhere on the outskirts of the house, leaning on a wall. Probably observing you from afar as you talk to the others. He's not in a hurry to finish his drink, only doing it as something to pass the time. Not like he's talking enough for his lips to feel dry.

Seeing you let loose, enjoying yourself and looking extra cute while at it, warms his heart and lets him fully chill out. There's no reason to keep guard on a party surrounded by your friends, so Shadow eventually ends up drinking way more than he usually would. Even ultimate life forms may have trouble walking after the proper amount of alcohol.

The first sign of him being way too drunk would be the stifled chuckles. You getting up from the couch, offering him a hand to do the same, with him lowkey falling into your arms because his legs don't listen to him. The mere thought it happened is absurd enough for his face to crack with amusement. Seeing your smile as you catch him in an embrace, holding him like a princess and enjoying being his savior turns his own lips upwards. He will nonchalantly brush it off, even if the smirk on his face is undeniable. "I was merely testing your reflexes," he'd say, acting as if he's totally serious.

If you're a troublemaker, he'd be more inclined to be your partner in crime. While sober him wouldn't condone you stealing leftover shrimps from the kitchen, drunk Shadow might even indulge in them. Saying something about it being stupid before quickly covering your tracks and scurrying off to eat them in another room, like animals after a successful hunt. The lightheartedness and immaturity would remind him of causing mischief with Maria, even if he wouldn't consciously process it.

Secluding yourself from the party for a moment, Shadow would restore his energy away from all the ruckus. And his newly gained party aura shines even more when there's only you and him in the room. The moment when you hear him slowly burst with laughter at something you said is genuinely uncanny, but also very memorable. It's not like he's trying to be a brooding prick all of the time, he just usually doesn't feel like laughing. But with you, it's like a totally different story. He's living in the moment, not focusing on the future or the past.

After a few meaningful (or totally silly) conversations during your meal, you'd eventually get out to mingle with the crowd again. They didn't mind your disappearance, ready to engage you into whatever conversation they had going on. There'd be a noticable difference in how Shadow would behave. A small smile would be present on his lips, shoulders free of any tension and his arm somewhere around you. He doesn't feel the need for PDA often, but at that moment, he just needs to touch you. The warmth of your skin grounds him, reminds him of how happy he is to have you.

He'd also become bolder, perhaps even whispering some comments into your ear, making your cheeks warmer. They don't even have to be spicy, even the sincere compliments coming out of his lips provoke enough of a reaction. His hold on you would grow even tighter when hearing your coy chuckle. Return the comments with the same or even bigger intensity and you're gonna see the tips of his ears glow red.

He doesn't mind conversations with friends, but his sole focus for the night will be you. He's feeling extra loving and he's gonna show it. It's not often he feels so open, and any word out of his mouth will be sincere, and so will be his gestures. He'll do anything to see a smile on your face, even taking your hands into his to sway from side to side, twirl you around and then do his best recreation of that wave movement Maria taught him. If you reciprocate his lighthearted silliness, his heart swells with love. He's finally feeling happy and free. Will half-heartedly joke about not mentioning this to him tomorrow. If you do, that's one sure way to see him ducking his head in embarrassment.

By the end of the party (and lack of any other available alcohol to consume), Shadow would be tired enough to become a bit clingy. Alcohol numbs him down from his usual worries and when the exhaustion hits, he doesn't have the energy to think of how weird it is for others to see him curled up next to you like a koala. Be it leaning his head against your shoulder/chest or sitting on your lap, cuddled up. He's a grown ass hedgehog who just appreciates his partner, nothing wrong with what he's doing except it being so uncharacteristic of him. If anyone commented on it, he would quickly shut it down, though.

How did that happen?

Shadow would've never indulged in his craving for a burger if he knew what the day would bring.

But today, the ultimate life form entertained his stomach's demands, chaos controlling himself right in front of the cursed place.

He knew the citizens well, at least from afar. So the moment be laid your eyes on you he knew you were a new face. He hardly cared for newcomers, but something about you, your clothes, your attitude, seemed to draw him in.

Of course, he ignored the feeling at first, placing confident strides towards the counter.

His sharp voice cut through the silence. "One burger."

Whatever your response was, be it dull like the rest of the place, kind, or even shy, the mere sound of your voice as you handed him the bag with a burger inside, telling him the amount of money he owed, felt like a gut punch to his entire being. On the outside, his face remained hardened, but the frown he usually wore started to show a different emotion. Surprise? Confusion?

He grabbed the bag after paying for it, and then disappeared in the blink of an eye.

The cave did nothing to calm down his beating heart, his eyes hardly focusing on the glowing markings adorning the walls.

Why was this happening?

The hedgehog looked at the bag in his hand, fingers clutching the paper so tightly it caused creases to appear on it.

Even run-ins with the blue hedgehog didn't leave him so... exhausted? Like he was on the verge of falling down.

That stupid face of yours was etched into his brain, worming it's way into his thoughts.

It was all stupid.

He felt... anger.

Initially, he thought it was directed at you.

But the deeper he dug, he realized the anger was stemming from seeing himself as weak.

How could he react like that to a random Meh Burger employee?

It was embarrassing. And he couldn't even figure out why.

Struggling to confront his emotions, he carefully unwrapped the packaged item. The presence of the object reminding him of events that transpired moments ago.

He wasn't even hungry anymore.

Safe to say, you started to notice his face in the crowd more often. Always the same order, at the same time.

Shadow was not known for his predictable behavior, but from experience, you could swear he'd always be there to get his food on time. You always made sure to prepare the bag a few minutes before his arrival, starting to notice the approval in his poker face as he received the item. You had no idea about the sickening butterflies appearing in his stomach each time his hand brushed against yours as you passed him his order.

Every meeting of yours was simple. Shadow appeared to get the order. Took the goods. Then teleported back. No conversation exchanged besides except for the transaction.

Until the one time you got to work late and the first thing you saw after arriving there, was the ebony hedgehog, arguing with your coworker, Dave.

"This one is insufficient." His piercing gaze bore onto the burger as if trying to make it disappear. Some poor excuse of sustenance, not even served by you. "Where's (Y/N)?" He knew your name by heart now, catching a glimpse of it on your name tag.

"Sir, we ensure you all burgers are of the same quality. Fresh from the freezer." Dave explained, dead eyes staring back at the clearly annoyed customer.

"Not what I asked, fool." His sight narrowed, already impatient with this fruitless conversation.

Another lavender shirt with yellow leaf-markings came into his view, this time not as infuriating. You.

He felt the need to flinch but stood his ground, not moving a muscle as you approached closer.

Obviously confused, you asked about the commotion.

Shadow remained silent, glaring at Dave. He didn't have to explain himself.

"This guy asked about you." He shamelessly pointed at the hedgehog. "I'm taking my break." And then he was gone.

Your eyes met with his in a silent question.

Shadow wanted to speak, but no words were coming out. Why did he feel like was not the one in control of the situation?

It was hard for him not to sound like a fool when the reason for his annoyance was him not seeing you.

"I didn't like his attitude." He mumbled an explanation. It was close enough.

Seeing the smile appear on your face after was worth it.

It was official. You were a better employee than Dave. Which of course, wasn't a surprise, but it still fed your ego a bit.

You took the bag left by Dave, passing it over the counter.

Shadow almost hesitated to grab it, his brain flooded with several thought processes. Should he add something else?

The hedgehog slowly took the object out of your hand, fingers lightly brushing over your own. The contact was the final push for him to spill out the words.

"What time do you leave work?" His question sounded more intimidating than he planned to, the rushed rumble in his voice coming out almost like a growl.

You blinked, taken aback by the sudden question. Then quickly recovered, reminding yourself he waited for an answer. Looking at the time, you responded truthfully, be it curiosity, genuine fear or lack thereof.

Without breaking the eye contact, he asked, or more so commanded you to arrive at the destination and time chosen by him.

Without even waiting for your response, the last words you heard before him disappearing were "Don't be late."

And just like that, he was gone. Leaving you with... possibly a life or death situation. You really weren't sure whether the guy was asking you to hang out, or planned to murder you where no one could find your body. As a newcomer, you didn't know much about Shadow, but from the passing conversation, you knew he was not a creature to mess with. Why would he out of all people invite you to a hang-out? That question haunted your mind for the rest of the shift, but you'd be lying if you said you weren't interested. You had to know what was the hedgehog's deal, even if it killed you. Possibly, he wouldn't. By a stretch, you were his favorite employee, after all.

Shadow did not need to hear your response. He teleported somewhere calm where he could gather his thoughts. He didn't think he was able to hear the rejection coming from your mouth.

If you didn't accept his offer, you wouldn't show. All that was left to do was to wait for the time of the meeting.

Panic was not something he experienced often. Even fighting with the toughest foes was not as stressful as talking about his feelings. But at this moment, the place inbetween waiting for you to leave work and the meeting, Shadow couldn't escape the churning in his stomach. The dread reaching up his spine as he thought of his next course of action.

Shadow did not have a plan yet, but one thing was clear. He wanted you to stop invading his brain and making him feel distracted, weak. Wanted you to give him the attention he deserved. Wanted you.

Multiple scenarios played in his head, wanting to be prepared for every possibility. You running away, rejection, at worst, maybe laughter. None of them were positive, but he had to make sure he'd be able to accept the outcome, no matter the response.

He was rehearsing what to say in his mind. Wondering if he looks presentable. Checking the time over and over (he was not gonna be late). Picking where to stand so the lighting makes him look cooler, even if he wouldn't admit to that part. Everything had to be on his terms if he was gonna lower himself to be... vulnerable.

The time passed quicker than he'd like. He was already at the place, watching from afar, noting any movement that his eyes could catch. And alas, he had noticed your silhouette, approaching the meetup spot at the agreed on time.

He teleported behind you, earning a startled yelp that made a subtle smirk appear on his face for a moment.

“You’re late.”

You weren’t. It was just his way of managing the emotions threatening to rise to the surface.

Opening your mouth to respond, Shadow beat you to it and spoke first. He didn't wanna waste any time.

“Why did you smile?” His tone was flat, but the question held weight. “Earlier. When I said I didn’t like his attitude.”

He didn't know how else to ask "Do you like me?" without saying it out loud. He had to get some information before proceeding with the heavier stuff.

You hesitated for a second. Did he really have to get you out here just to ask that question? You decided to tell the truth.

“Well… it was nice to be appreciated.”

That caught him off guard.

His eyes widened slightly, just enough to be noticeable. His posture tensed, but not out of anger.

You gave a small shrug, trying to play it off, but the warmth in your voice betrayed you. “Nobody really notices when you do your job right. You noticed.”

He spoke after a second of suffocating silence. “That wasn’t the intention.”

You gave him a wry look. “You almost started a fight over a burger. Kinda seemed like it?"

His eyes narrowed, something in his expression shifting. His angry defensiveness was still there, but something else also shined through his attitude. Almost like he was... flustered.

“It wasn’t about the burger.” He grumbled, his voice keeping it's harshness. The questions were too much to bear.

“Then what was it about?” You couldn't stop the question from escaping your lips.

He looked away. Not down, but to the side, like your gaze was too much to handle. You could see the war behind his eyes. He wanted to retreat, teleport out, pretend this never happened. But he couldn't. His pride wouldn't let him.

“It wasn’t about the food. It was about you not being there.” The stiffness showed in the words that came out. Clearly, he wasn't used to spilling his thoughts like that.

You didn't know how to respond. Seeing your surprised and mildly confused expression, Shadow decided to continue.

"It shouldn't matter. Your absence should not distract me. And yet," he sighed bitterly, disappointed, more so at himself. "I can't get you out of my head."

His eyes returned to meet with yours with intimidating intensity. He took a step closer. "It's pissing me off."

You almost held your breath as the hedgehog approached, quiet yet heavy steps heading your way.

He stopped just a foot away from you. The silence between you both felt too loud, the lack of any response from him only adding to the rising tension in the air.

You swallowed, trying to make sense of the situation. “So… you like me, and that’s the problem?”

Shadow's cheeks get warmer, not used to such intimate matters in regards to him. It was uncomfortable.

“I don’t like you,” he snapped quickly, like a knee-jerk reflex. Then paused. A realization. “…I mean- I don’t just like you.” He mumbled the last sentence.

“I don’t know what this is. I don’t even know what I want from you,” he kept talking, not because he wanted to, but because now that the dam got broken, he couldn't stop. “I don’t even know why it’s you. But I can't keep pretending like it doesn’t affect me.”

Your silence stretched too long due to pure astonishment, hearing the raw sincerity in the hedgehog's words, and the hope for him to say something else

Shadow just stood there. His eyes searched your face, scanning for some sign, anything, that'd show him you weren’t about to laugh, dismiss, or worse, pity him.

But in that long several seconds, you were still quiet. Shadow was not satisfied with your "um"s and "uhh"s as you looked for a response that'd convey your opinion clearly.

His patience ran out prematurely and he took a single step back. Jaw tight, fists clenched at his sides, and voice filled with furious apprehension, barely keeping his cool.

“I didn’t say all that for nothing. You heard me. Now you deal with it.”

There was no warmth in his tone. Only a brittle edge, barely holding together the storm beneath it. He wasn’t angry at you. He was bracing himself. His harsh words were a desperate plea for you to do something.

Any hint of you reciprocating, be it approaching closer, a soft smile, physical touch or telling him about your feelings would give him the push he needed.

He'd close the leftover distance between you two, gaze locked into your eyes, your face, your lips. As if in disbelief. Adrenaline coursing through him like he was in the middle of a battle. Now that his emotions were fully on display, he had a hard time stopping them. The need to make you his. To express it.

He leaned in even closer. There was no doubt what the motion meant. He was about to kiss you, yet still gave you time to reject his advances, almost like a challenge.

When you didn't pull away, his lips finally pressed into yours.

The relief was immense, pulling his emotions out like a magnet to the surface. The kiss wasn't aggressive, but it was filled with restrained desire to devour you, now that he finally won.

Alternative take: if you'd be bold enough to kiss him first as your response (or showed obvious eagerness after he kissed you first)

One moment he was staring at your pretty face, next he felt the pressure on his lips.

It took him by a surprise, making him lose his cool for a second.

But as you showed him the extend of your approval, he quickly recovered, palms clinging to your sides, pulling you even closer.

Depending on your input, the kiss could get way more heated. You got this boy in the bag. Or vice versa.

As you parted ways, Shadow's expression was less guarded. He wore a satisfied smirk that went well with the gleam in his eye.

You were officially his.

Scourge being attendant of Sonic's houseparty was a surprise to say the least. It's true he changed, at least a bit, but you couldn't blame anyone for not forgiving him yet, still treating him with understandable wariness. Scourge didn't really care. He mostly entertained the invite just because it was something to kill the time, free booze and snacks included. The visible negativity reflecting in the other guests' eyes served him some sort of pride, reminding him of his previous days of glory, even if it was a stretch. He didn't mind being an outcast. He didn't. And the biggest factor for him to come. You were also at the party.

You and him had some history. Mostly consisting of him getting on your nerves. It was a playful banter, at least in his mind. He tested your limits, but never pushed hard enough to cross a line. With this dynamic, he was drawn to you every chance he got. Some teasing here and there, not respecting personal space, typical Scourge flirting techniques. But it wasn't serious. You noticed he was a flirt, and as far as you knew, he was dating Fiona. There was no way Scourge was serious, and both of you knew that. The alternative was Scourge cheating on Fiona, with you, which was an even worse option. You were not gonna be a side piece.

After Scourge got out of jail, and he got properly reintroduced to the group, he expected you to look at him with the same disapproval others had shown him. Who else was he, if not a criminal, after all? But, to his surprise, although your demeanor was reluctant and a bit awkward after not seeing each other for so long, there was no disgust or fear while interacting with the green hedgehog.

You were a very patient person, he came to realize. At first, he saw it as a weakness, someone easy to exploit and endure his antics, but you made sure to show him it wouldn't be easy. You still had some backbone, and made it pretty clear you were not gonna deal with his bullshit. He took the hint, even though it mildly bruised his ego. He couldn't unleash his rage on you, as much as he'd like in that moment. He was supposed to be in control, always. But the years spent in jail proved that the tables may turn on him just as well, and he wasn't gonna learn this lesson again. Fortunately for him, a bit of respect got him a long way. As long as he kept in mind your boundaries, you didn't hold any ill will towards him. You treated him like an equal. It was still hard to admit he saw you as a friend, but he could at least say you were his ally.

So, naturally, as soon as he arrived at Sonic's house, his objective was to find you. Moving through the party crowd like a snake slithering to it's prey, he spotted you, leaning against a wall, cradling a red cup in your hands. You didn't seem particularly bothered, probably just recharging away from all the ruckus. Your attention shifted to him as soon as the green blur came into your view.

"Oh, hi," you turned to face him, a friendly, relaxed grin adorning your lips. Even though Scourge was far from being a good influence, he was still a welcome sight. More often than not, you found him entertaining, which kept your opinion of him in a somewhat positive light.

"I see your majesty has decided to bless us with his presence tonight." You tried to joke lightheartedly. In the recent days you opened up to the hedgehog a lot, letting your silly side shine through a bit more. It was a regular occurrence for you to banter back and forth, just like the old times, except this time it had a lot more comradery than the tasteless flirting in the past. It was actually pretty enjoyable, a game of push and pull.

"All hail the king, baby." He bared his sharp teeth in a content smirk, deciding to join your side, his body leaning against the wall next to you. "Couldn't leave you to enjoy the party by yourself now, could I? It'd be mighty boring for everyone here." His gaze focused intently on the item in your hands, before he made an attempt to swipe it out of your grasp. You looked at him as he sniffed the cup, appalled expression on your face. He still had his past audacity, but you couldn't say you didn't expect it. You noted he only acted this way with you. He didn't actually have the balls to start anything with people who still obviously didn't trust him. Seemingly, he trusted you enough to tolerate his brash behavior.

"Hey, that's mine." You argued, crossing your arms in a petty display of annoyance.

"You already had your share, I just arrived." He scoffed, offended. Although he didn't let go off the stolen cup, he looked at you for a moment, as if asking for a silent permission. You didn't care that much for the leftover alcohol in there, so with an exasperated sigh, you let your arms fall down, choosing to just ignore it. He took it as a green light, gulping the liquid in one quick swoop.

"Of course you'd be drinking the weakest shit in here. Was there even any alcohol in it, or was it just a soda?" His shit-eating grin was just a bit less mean than the ones he gave you before his time in jail. It was his way of showing you his jab wasn't that serious.

"You got it for free, and you're still complaining?" You quipped back, one eyebrow raised to show how unamused you were. You heard a chuckle in response.

"Let's get you some real booze, eh?" He backed off the wall, heading to the nearest table that held the desired drinks.

In no time, you found yourself enjoying the time spent with Scourge. It became even more bearable with a few shots of vodka. Laughter filled the room when you and him came up with the stupidest jokes, probably bothering anyone within your earshot. And much to Scourge's surprise, with you around, he didn't even think of the party as a waste of time. Caught in a good mood, you two were open to joining the game the others had set up.

A different take on spin the bottle. It starts with a group of people sitting in a circle, with one person throwing the bottle into a whirl, forcing it to reveal the partner for the real game. The game of jenga. The loser would have to tell the truth, or do a dare, depending on which one they chose. Of course, a game of jenga would seem boring in comparison to the kissing game, but the alcohol coursing through everyone's veins made the show very entertaining. The rivalry born from this competition would probably stay with both opponents even after the party ended.

Shadow lost against Sonic. He chose dare, not trusting Sonic to choose an adequate question. His dare consisted of eating a chili dog. He wasn't thrilled about it, but done the challenge with dignity. Sonic had the biggest grin when he said the food was acceptable. Another duo was Amy and Rouge. The tough battle chose Amy as the loser, and the pink hedgehog chose the truth. The bat's eyes shone with mischief as she whispered her question to Amy, who's cheeks became as rosy as her last name. Amy revealed her answer, too quiet for anyone but the bat to hear it. Rouge passed you the bottle and then shifted her attention back to the coy Amy.

You were prepared to beat anyone in this room, hoping the luck would be on your side this time. When the bottle stopped perfectly on Scourge, you were met with the biggest, competitive grin.

"Don't think I'm gonna go easy on you." He didn't bother hiding his determination, blue eyes shining with newfound purpose.

"We'll see about that." You rebuffed, feeling a smile forming on your lips.

The battle was long, but eventually, the wooden blocks chose to betray you, ruining the pretty long tower with a dissatisfying sound. Scourge howled with laughter, his smug expression only infuriating you more. The cheap cologne assaulted your nostrils as he got closer. "Well, would you look at that. I won."

"Yeah, yeah, don't let it get to your head." You rolled your eyes, but the gesture wasn't that serious. He snickered to himself, obviously enjoying his victory.

"So, what shall it be?" His tone turned sickeningly sweet. "Truth, or dare?"

By now you had at least half of the room's attention on you. Being stuck between choosing a truth or dare from the green hedgehog was probably considered some form of torture by the other participants. Who knows what embarrassing things could Scourge come up with? Thinking over your options, you felt daring today. The booze made you let loose, naively hoping Scourge's dare wouldn't totally destroy your reputation. You had hoped the time spent with him proved something, that he wouldn't just throw you under the bus like that, just to get a chance to one up you.

"Dare." You said, nonchalantly. Some gasps were heard in the crowd, people obviously wondering whether you had lost your mind. Scourge, on the other hand, was positively intrigued by your bravery. He hummed in thought, resting his chin between his fingers.

"A dare, huh?" His smug look made you doubt your choice of words. "Alright. I can work with that." He got back into his sitting spot, stretching his legs as he plopped onto a pillow, giving some semblance of comfort against the hard ground. You followed his actions with your gaze, his ominous silence only fueling your curiosity about the challenge.

"I dare you to sit on my lap throughout the rest of the game." The words slid effortlessly off his tongue. His sight reamined on you, gauging your reaction. You couldn't deny, it was a bold request, but he could've gone with way worse.

Making your way to him with dignity, you wordlessly took a spot on his lap, not caring much to hold back your weight. He wanted it, after all. Scourge was positively surprised at how easy it was for him to get his wish. Making yourself comfortable, you leaned your back against his chest. You didn't expect him to be so warm, and actually pretty cozy. A pair of arms wrapped around you unexpectedly, keeping a solid but comfortable grip around your waist. The game continued, the guests mostly ignoring the uncanny display after they got their share of appalled looks.

Rest of the game went pretty smoothly. The bottle kept making rounds, throwing next challenges to both you and Scourge, each taking on different participants. But after each "tournament", both of you returned to your previous position. None of you really addressed what's going on between you two, silently enjoying your current circumstances. Scourge went as far as lazily leaning his chin against your shoulder as he judged the other competitors, an action that should probably bother you a lot more than it did. Somehow, it felt comforting.

After everyone had their turn at least twice, the party began to slowly die down. Exhaustion seeped into everyone's muscles, resorting to some of the people ending the night earlier, heading off to sleep. You and Scourge were one of the few people awake, still entangled in the now casual embrace. The elephant in the room made itself known as soon as the last few participants got up to get hydrated, leaving to their own sleeping spot. You knew you should probably get up, but the current position felt so nice, you didn't wanna let go.

Scourge was the one who broke the spell, muttering lazily into your ear. "I need to get a smoke."

Taking the hint, you got up. He did so as well with some trouble, losing balance in the process. You were inclined to give him a hand for support, but he managed to find his footing pretty quickly. You never thought you'd consider a drunk hedgehog this adorable.

As soon as you crossed the border to the outside, you felt the wind pass you by in the most uncomfortable sensation. Ignoring the goosebumps appearing on your skin, you leaned onto the nearby railing, waiting for Scourge to dig out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. He passed you the pack in a silent offer. You took it.

He was courteous enough to light up your cigarette. You blew the smoke onto the cold air, briefly hugging your body with one arm in attempt to fend off the chill. Scourge leaned against the railing next to you, observing the visible puff of your breath mixed with the smoke. The night was quiet, the music now almost completely stopped. Not a word was spoken between you two, but it was a comfortable silence. You knew you were gonna look back on this memory fondly. Well, as fondly as you could with the cold distracting you at the moment.

Scourge seemed to notice your problem, the way your body shivered, along with your attempt to downplay it. It was nothing, you could handle it.

That was until you felt the familiar warmth creep up your side again, with Scourge's arm pulling you closer, letting you use his body as a personal heater. You wanted to comment on it, opening your mouth to come up with some witty quip, but there was nothing. You were left... kind of speechless. Such a small gesture, yet it spoke a lot about the progress in your relationship with the hedgehog. It wasn't to make a point, to start another bickering session. He simply... cared enough for you not to freeze. Which warmed your heart more than your body. Scourge's expression was left ambiguous, almost as if he didn't register his action at all. As if it was normal. Despite Scourge's hopes of you not commenting about it, his ear turned your way as soon as he heard your voice.

"...I see you're getting cold." You started, hoping it didn't sound too accusatory. It was a lighthearted remark, one to show that you were fine with the situation. He merely scoffed, taking a second to think of a response.

"You got it for free, and you're still complaining?" He looked for your reaction, obviously using your previous words. You couldn't help but chuckle, leaning closer into his embrace. Scourge's grip on you became less tense as he felt you accepting his touch.

"That's not a complaint," you clarified after taking a drag out of your cigarette, blowing the smoke the other way. "I'll take what I can get."

Scourge couldn't deny he felt a spark of affection towards your way, seeing how your features softened in an earnest smile. You were enjoying yourself, shamelessly. He was almost jealous of how carefree you looked.

"Well, enjoy it then." He puffed the smoke away, his tone almost somber. The energy has also drained from him as well, turning him into a somewhat mellowed out version of himself. Sleep was threatening to overtake him any minute now, which is why he wasn't as high alert as usual. He was actually honestly relaxed, the need for being in control swept away by the wave of exhaustion. It probably didn't count as pure relaxation, but the way he had you in his grasp just felt right. No strings attached, it seemed.

One fact had managed to slip your mind up until this point. What happened to Fiona? You realized too late you spoke your thoughts out loud, hearing a displeased grunt from the previously content Scourge. It was obviously not a topic he wanted to expand on, but you had no way to take it back.

"We broke up." Scourge muttered, a hint of his usual bite returning for just a minute, until it was covered by an uncaring facade. His grip on you tightened for a second, signalizing it was probably a very sour experience. I mean, they were pretty much codependent on each other. You couldn't imagine how rough it must've been, with everything else that has been on his plate.

"Oh." Was all you managed to say, regretting bringing the topic up.

"Not something I wanna think about it." He said, a feeble attempt to hide the flaring defensiveness. His expression was not betraying much, and at the same time disclosing a lot. The memory obviously brought back some pain that he'd rather not get into. That was fair. "Not when I managed to finally catch some break this month."

"Yeah, don't worry, I ain't gonna push. Uh, sorry for bringing it up." You reassured him, only getting an acknowledging, quiet grunt in response. A minute of tense silence passed by, and you began to worry you managed to break the mood of this so far pretty successful party, until you felt his body leaning against you. His chin rested on your shoulder once more, his chest pressed against your back, just like it did during the jenga wars. He sighed heavily through his nose, inevitably inhaling some of your scent. It was mixed with the alcohol and cigarettes, but it was still distinctively of you. The smell was comforting, although he would never admit it.

"I'm tired the fuck out. Wanna hit the hay?" He turned his head to you, your faces mere inches away. His tone might have sounded disinterested, but there was also a certain softness to it. The tired rasp in his voice was soothing, a big difference to his usual spunk. You knew not a lot of people got to experience Scourge in this state. You were lucky.

"Yeah," you nodded simply, going back to the warm house. Both of you were exhausted, your sole objective to find anywhere to sleep. You haven't really discussed the details beforehand, leaving you to search for any place that wasn't occupied by the already sleeping guests. Fortunately, you noticed the host.

"Oh, hey, still awake?" Sonic chimed in, his tone friendly but also obviously tired.

"Not for long," you started, offering a smile in return. "Got any free space to sleep?"

"Oh, um..." He looked around the place, his thought process visible out in the open. "Let's see..." He sped off to get some pillows and blankets, putting them on the carpet. It was an unoccupied corner near the wall. Small and slightly further away from the other guests.

"Sorry, the best spots are already taken." He pointed at the couch, housing at least 3 other mobians in there.

"Anything works, really." You laid down on the soft (as much as it could be) ground, your sore muscles getting a rest from being up all night. Scourge's sight jumped from you to Sonic, his brow raised in an obvious question.

"And where do I sleep?" He asked bluntly, not bothering to sugarcoat his question. Sonic did not have that privilege yet.

"You're sleeping here." You stated, sure of yourself, moving your body to make some space. You were way too tired to care. Scourge, even if surprised, didn't show it. His knees bent on their own and in no time he was laying next to you, his eyelids threatening to close any minute. Sonic, noticing he wasn't needed anymore, offered a sleepy goodnight and headed to his bedroom. Scourge grumbled something in return, but it was hardly a goodbye.

Finally having a moment to rest, you recalled all the good times from tonight, slowly succumbing to slumber. Your hazy train of thought was disrupted by Scourge's quiet rasp.

"Guess all I needed was some alcohol to get you to sleep with me." You didn't even have to open your eyes to sense his stupid grin. You scoffed, but a smile occupying your lips betrayed you weren't about to reprimand him.

"I expect you to take me to dinner afterwards." You replied with your own playful remark, hearing him barely stifle the chuckle to not wake up the others.

"Oh, you're expecting a lot then." He quipped back, rotating his body to face you. Opening your eyes, you could barely make out his amused features in the dark, but the close proximity definitely helped. Somehow, it didn't push you away. It made you want to get even closer. Not commenting on your actions, you scooted closer, deciding that Scourge's chest was way comfier than the old pillow Sonic gave you. You didn't miss the way his breath hitched when your arm carelessly fell on his waist.

"You sure you haven't drank too much tonight? The hangover's gonna be a hell of a bitch to deal with tomorrow." He teased, trying to regain some confidence in his voice. He did enjoy the superiority he felt in the current circumstances, but this territory was unknown. Usually people recoiled in disgust, not willingly crawled up to him.

"You sure you wanna ruin the moment?" You were too tired for your casual bickering, resorting to painful bluntness, sure that it would shut him up.

It did.

After concluding he did not have a valid response, defeated, he resorted to putting his arm loosely on your side after a cynical chuckle.

Whether you knew it or not, Scourge considered this night a win.

You had been invited into Eddie's house, the slightly taller rockerboy leading the way through his house to his cluttered room. There were clothes scattered everywhere, Dungeon and Dragons manuals, his guitar lovingly hung up by a mirror. You weren't really surprised by the state of the place, moreso surprised he was bringing you to his room.

You had known Eddie for as long as you could remember and over the years had grown that bit closer to him through joining his Dungeons and Dragons games and buying weed from him, but this felt different. 

"Mi casa es su casa," he announced, taking a seat on the bed and petting the spot next to him for you to sit beside him. 

You gingerly took the spot indicated, perching on the very edge of the bed. Unable to meet his deep brown red-rimmed gaze, you shifted and looked around at the clutter awkwardly. "Nice room?" You offered up, uncertain. 

Eddie laughed and you caught a whiff of the pungent smell of marijuana mixed with that trashy axe smell all boys had because they didn't spend the money to smell good. His arm was slung over your shoulders and he leaned into your face, his curly hair tickling your cheek. "Well, you aren't really here to admire my room, are ya?"

"W-well no, I was going to buy some more weed-" You manage to stutter out, flushing faintly. 

Eddie didn't usually touch you, your interactions were friendly, sure, but nothing like this. Maybe the occasional brush of a hand when exchanging money and weed. 

"Oh yeah? Not to see little old me? I'm hurt!" He moved away, clutching the spot over his heart dramatically as if it were hurting. "You wound me, Y/N, I thought we had something more!"

You blinked in surprise, perplexed by the theatrics before bursting out laughing at the pure silliness of it all. "Eddie, the man that you are. Roll me a blunt, dumbass."

You gave him a playful shove to the shoulder, still laughing and found that he was laughing along too, brown eyes crinkled and huge grin on his face. "Yeah, yeah, pushy much?"

You watched, amused, as he got up and shoved everything on a set of drawers onto the floor. He started chopping some weed up, back turned to you, shoulders shifting under his shirt as he worked. The smell of weed in the air got much, much stronger within the cluttered space.

"You should clean your room," you teased, leaning back on your hands. 

"What are you, my dad?" Eddie teased back, shooting you a playful glare before turning around with a flourish. Holding up the blunt as if it were something to be worshipped. "My magnum opus, mon ami."

He passed it to you before sitting beside you again, his jean clad thigh brushing against yours. You fished around in your pocket, fumbling for a lighter and then fumbling to light it before taking a puff. 

The minutes ticked by in companionable silence as you passed the blunt back and forth. When it was around halfway done, Eddie stood up and gathered up his guitar, resuming his spot beside you as he started playing what seemed to be random notes. You definitely didn't recognise them. He didn't reach for the blunt again, which forced you to hold it out wordlessly to his lips for him to take a puff before taking it back. It was then that the realisation of the fact that you had been indirectly kissing with Eddie this whole time you were sharing the blunt sank in. You could feel your face heating up, becoming acutely aware of the tangy taste of his saliva that was lightly on the butt your lips were around. It led to you wondering what his lips would feel like against yours and you intently watched the pink of them close around the butt as he took another hit, the softness brushing your fingers. Which only made your face get redder.

"So, um, you been playing a while?" You asked, trying to distract your mind from its wandering thoughts. 

Eddie looked up at you, grinning as though he knew exactly what you were thinking, ringed fingers moving expertly over the instrument. "Something like that."

"Oh," you were not happy that he wasn't engaging with your questions, but the way he was looking at you.. it made your stomach fill with butterflies. 

He was still looking at you, brown eyes sparkling with mischief in the dark room. He had nice, long eyelashes that brushed his cheeks when he blinked.. you found yourself wondering how much more his eyes would pop with eyeliner. Wait... why was he still looking at you?

"W-what? Is there something on my face?" You looked away, rubbing at your face. 

"You're totally hogging the weed, dude," Eddie commented lowly, a playful grin stretching across his face. 

Your eyes darted to your other hand, the blunt burning away, nearly done by now. You had forgotten it was there, so enamoured by Eddie. "Ohhh," you hesitated, before taking the final drag with a smirk. 

You watched Eddie's face fall, a glint of what looked like anger in his eyes before he put his guitar down on his other side and grabbed your jaw lightly. 

"That wasn't very nice of you," he chided quietly, leaning closer, but he was smiling. 

He didn't seem actually mad at you, just pretending. His lips were against yours then, chapped, rough and sliding against your own. You made a noise of surprise, mouth falling open and moving to scramble back, but his grip on your jaw tightened, rings digging into your flesh. Slipping his tongue into your mouth, the tangy taste of weed filling your senses as he sucked the smoke from your mouth. You were far too surprised to even react, just staring at him, wide eyed like a deer in headlights. Your brain was not computing this. Why was it even happening?

He eventually pulled back, exhaling the smoke with a grin and looking over at you. 

"What?" He asked you, voice low and playful. 

"What.. was that for?" You were breathless, touching your lips, the taste of his tongue still strong in your mouth. 

"Felt like it," he shrugged, leaning back with a sigh of contentment. 

That wasn't helping. God, he was infuriating and so, so attractive. 

It was quiet for a few moments after that, the air charged and tense, at least to you. Your heart was thumping, face red, stomach churning as you tried to process Eddie kissing you. It had to just be for the smoke right? Surely it wasn't actually a kiss? But he had used tongue and that wasn't necessary. 

"Hey, have you ever considered wearing eyeliner?" You asked, out of nowhere, just wanting to shuffle to a different topic and dissipate the awkwardness. 

"Eyeliner? Like, the makeup?" Eddie asked lazily, laying back and staring at the ceiling. "Isn't that for girls?"

"I think you'd look good in it," you insisted, fishing in a pocket and pulling out an eyeliner pencil. "Can I put some on you?"

Eddie frowned, staring at you for a long moment before shrugging. "Sure, whatever."

You shifted to lean over him on your knees, uncapping the eyeliner. He eyed it skeptically, but didn't comment on it. You hesitantly moved it close to his face. "I need to draw on your waterline, is that okay?"

"It comes off, right?" Eddie stared up at you, looking a bit confused and unsure. 

"Yeah, it'll come off," you took that as a green light and started rubbing the tip of the pencil along his waterline. 

He occasionally blinked and winced, unused to the feeling. You allowed him short breaks when he did before continuing. It took longer than it should have and you occasionally missed and got it on his cheekbone, but by the end, his eyes were popping against the black waterline. 

"Wow," you breathed, putting the cap back on the pencil and shoving it back into your seemingly endless jacket pocket. 

"Surely it doesn't make that big of a difference?" Eddie chided lightly, rolling his eyes. 

That movement alone looked infinitely more sexy while he was wearing eyeliner and you sighed dreamily, staring intently down at him. 

"I guess it does," Eddie corrected after a moment, staring up at you in return. 

There was a quiet charged moment before Eddie's hand had made it to the nape of your neck, guiding your face gently towards his. 

"You didn't kiss me back before," Eddie pointed out after a moment, when your faces were mere inches apart. 

"O-oh, I thought- the blunt-" you stammered out, surprised by his comment, face heating up yet again. He couldn't just say these things while wearing eyeliner! It wasn't fair!

"Y/N... I like you," Eddie confessed quietly. "I want to kiss you."

"Oh!" You weren't sure how to respond. You had liked Eddie for so long it was like second nature. This was insane. "I.. like you and want to kiss you too."

Eddie pulled you in for another kiss. This one was slower and you hesitantly reciprocated, all gentle tongues and lips. Again, the taste of marijuana was strong in your mouth as Eddie's tongue explored, chapped lips pressing against your own. 

When he gently pushed you away by the chin, you were both panting, a string of saliva connecting you for a moment before breaking. 

"Mine," Eddie announced quietly, your heart giving a flutter in reply. 

His indeed. 

The lingering smell of weed filled the whole room, sinking it's teeth into the two men's clothes.

"Yeah, as if," Gareth's disbelieving chuckle only fueled Eddie's growing frown.

"What, you think I'll be single my whole life?" He took a drag of the joint held between his fingers, somewhat mindful not to blow the smoke right into Gareth's amused face.

"Haven't seen you with anyone lately," he smirked, taking the object from Eddie's grip to take a hit as well. "Or, scratch that, ever. Almost making me think you're going celibate."

Eddie merely scoffed, choosing to occupy his now free fingers with a tug on his ring, "I just haven't tried hard enough." He said, only half joking. It's not like he hasn't tried asking out a handful of people a few years back. As luck would have it, his advances were rejected. He blamed his buzzcut and lack of now more established charisma for his shitty love life, and nowadays, he was called a freak, which lowered his chances even more. But maybe, if a right person came into his life, he could win them over. He just preferred to focus on what he already had, satisfying his need for company with his friend and DnD campaigns.

Although Gareth's quips were playful, they did sting a little. Part of him knew it could be his reality, but that's not what he wanted to think about during this nice evening.

"Uhuh." Gareth let the smoke out of his lungs, holding his need to cough. "You know, if you managed to get a date, I think it'd be a miracle."

"Yeah?" His response came back with some challenge in his voice, mostly to distract himself from the awful feelings threatening to rise to the surface. "You think I can't woo someone with my amazing charm? Watch me." He leaned back on Gareth's couch, crossing his arms behind his head, throwing his legs on the table and pretending his cockiness wasn't just a coping mechanism for his awfully bad luck in dating.

Gareth chuckled wholeheartedly, "you're so sure about that?"

"Sure, man," he shrugged, keeping an aura of self assurance, although not denying it might have just all been a joke. He knew he would fail.

Narrowing his gaze in an amusement, Gareth spoke, "If you do manage to get a date, I'll buy you those new strings you wanted. It has to last for at least a week, though."

Eddie's eyes widened in surprise. "Really?"

"Yeah. Of course, if I confirm this person really does exist, and wants to date you. Deal?"

Eddie hesitated for a moment, returning to his previous sitting position, now hunched over, with elbows resting on his knees. If he really was able to convince someone, even just for a week, this would be a good deal. Minus the amount of cringe he'd have to go through to get into that position first.

Humming in thought to add to his dramatics, he reached out his hand to shake Gareth's hand after a while.

"You drive a hard bargain, dude," he smiled back with confidence. "Deal."

- - -

Just as Eddie returned from his hangout at Gareth's house, the phone in his pocket buzzed, lighting itself up with a clear message on it's screen. He was able to read it after lazily taking it out.

Y/N Heyyy my favorite friend can I get some weed?

"Y/N." Eddie thought to himself. Maybe there's a chance he will win the bet, after all.

Quickly typing his response and arranging a meeting at his trailer, Eddie laid his upper body on his bed, his phone carelessly being thrown beside him. Staring at the ceiling, he thought of how to approach the topic. Your friendship was long and stable enough for his request to not be outrageous, but of course, he had to acknowledge how sudden it would be to you. Over the course of your friendship, neither of you had a partner - at least from what he knew of your dating history - so maybe it would benefit you both in the end? Getting some practice before the real thing. Mulling over the possible conversation, he concluded the worst reaction he'd get is you brushing him off with an amused chuckle at the bizzarre offer, at best, you'd have a funny story to reminisce together. Having calmed down his silly doubts, he got up from his bed with a pep in his step, a necessary hurry from expecting you to arrive in just a few minutes. Where did he put his stash again?

His train of thought was abruptly stopped when he heard the familiar sound of your calm knocking at the door. He halted his search, scurrying towards the entrance of his trailer, pulling the handle to reveal your figure before him.

"Hey," you started, offering a chill smile after seeing the face of your best friend, wearing his Hellfire t-shirt, some comfortable pants and and the always messy hair of his. You were no different, arriving at the place with an outfit someone could mistake for your pajamas. You lived nearby, it was late, you really wanted some weed and an unexpected visit at his home didn't really require you to dress in your best attire.

"Welcome to my lair, what can I get you?" He moved past the doorway, bowing theatrically as you entered.

"Your best product, my good sir." You replied, corners of your lips raising up at the dramatic gesture. Making yourself fully comfortable, you took a seat on his bed, the mattress creaking slightly under your weight.

"We offer only the best for the best," you caught his playful wink before he crouched beside his nightstand, "you're lucky that you qualify."

"After three years of friendship I'd be offended if I wouldn't," you exhaled through your nose amused, glancing over his shoulder as he looked for the little green bag.

"Aha! Knew I did put it there," he exclaimed satisfied, holding the desired product. "And how much do you want?"

"How much is in there?"

"About 5 gram," he estimated, looking at the bag.

"I got, uh… 25 bucks," you deadpanned, taking the cash out of your pocket.

"You do know you're robbing me blind here, right?" Eddie threw his head down as he chuckled.

"I know, I know, you can take some off of it, or I can pay you the rest later?" You offered a guilty grin, painfully aware of the cost.

"Tell you what," Eddie sighed, occupied a spot beside you, "I'll give you this for twenty, and in return, you're gonna do something for me." He flashed you his teeth, a mysterious offer sparking your curiosity.

"Yeah?" With your interest fully peaked, Eddie knew his mission was almost halfway in his reach. "And what would that be?"

Setting the weed aside, his eyes wandered through his room, focused on nothing particular. He always had to make his announcements dramatic, so you patiently waited until the words would finally come out of his mouth. Breaking the silence while playing with a loose strand of his hair, he started, "So… me and Gareth had a bet."

"Uhuh?" You tilted your head, smiling and ready for the grand reveal.

He bit back on his shameful grin, only slightly avoiding your eye contact as he continued, "we bickered some during our last hangout, he said I wouldn't be able to get a date, ever, I clapped back that it wouldn't be impossible, yadda yadda, he said if I got a date and could hold it for at least a week, he would buy me the new strings for my sweetheart," at last, he returned to your gaze, probing for your reaction.

"And… how do you plan to do that?" You asked hesitantly, unsure if your assumption was correct. His goofy grin was an enough of an answer for you even before he confirmed your doubts.

"Well, since you're one of the few people I can trust, I thought, hey, why not recruit you to help me with this conundrum?" He leaned a bit closer to you, enough to the point where you could smell his cheap deodorant, fighting with the everpresent stench of weed. His suggestion made you look like a deer in headlights, forcing you to take a second to process what he just said, until an uncomfortable laughter fell out of your lips.

"Really?" You asked, words involuntarily forming, just to cover the silence that threatened to invade your little conversation.

"Yeah, why?" His big brown eyes skimmed over your unsure expression, almost making him wish he had kept his mouth shut.

"I mean-" You stuttered, the painfully awkward chuckle still insistent to be let out, "That's- unexpected."

You physically felt as if your body had a full on system shutdown. The inability to speak cringed you even more than probably more than obvious red color on your face. Eddie couldn't be aware of your crush, could he? You made sure to keep it under wraps, fully masking the way his laughter made you feel butterflies in your stomach.

He tilted his head, still smiling, his hair briefly covering bits of his confident facade, "What? Scared of lil' ol' me? I swear I wouldn't be such a bad boyfriend. At least for a week."

Your mouth still hung wide open, torn between going along with his poor mockery of a rent-a-partner, and sparing yourself the heartbreak when it would inevitably end. Pushing yourself to stop the pathetic display, you tried to search for more solutions.

"Have you uh, already asked other people about it?" You haven't disagreed yet, but Eddie's expression turned into a small frown as soon as he heard the hesitation in your voice.

"What other people?" He scoffed, almost offended.

Taking a moment to think, the best you could manage was "…Steve?"

That made him bark out a laugh. "Steve?"

"What, you think you're too good for him?" You tried to joke to ease the rising tension in you.

"Don't make me laugh," Eddie suppressed his pathetic chuckle, "Steve would beat me up if I asked."

"He would not!" You retorted, an almost surprised expression on your face.

"I know, I know," he grinned back, amused at how quickly you shook your head, a hint of smile replacing the nervous furrow of your brows. "But I would rather date-" He stopped himself, figuring out the wording could probably scare you away even more, "I would rather pretend to date you than Steve."

"Please?" He prolonged the word with the emphasis in the middle, fluttering his lashes in an obviously exaggerated manner. "You could do that for me, right? I really do need those strings."

You didn't even register how close he got to you during his plea, feeling hot from the sudden intrusion on your personal space. Eddie probably didn't even notice, too caught up in trying to persuade you to take the deal. Right, the deal. It was all for that damn 5 gram. You tried your hardest not to chicken out and move a bit further away, instead settling on directing your eyes on a very uninteresting color of his walls.

Sighing, you felt the uncomfortable smile occupying your face, "This weed better make me see stars, Munson." You said as if it'd be the hardest task you'd have to go through, which technically wasn't far from the truth. Eddie was ecstatic after hearing your confirmation, his arms already open wide to pull you into a bear hug.

"You're the best, sweetheart." He beamed, not even knowing how taunting his use of a pet name was to you.

"Yeah, yeah, I know I am." You halfly reciprocated the friendly affection, patting his back your unobstructed hand, already witnessing the effects of your new situation. Thankfully he wouldn't be able to feel your sweaty palm through the fabric of his shirt. What have you gotten yourself into?

Not wanting the hug to be too long and overwhelming, Eddie backed off, leaving you to miss the feeling of his body against yours. You wanted to be hugged more. Specifically by him.

"Well, alright then, um, boyfriend," the word felt especially foreign and illegal on your tongue in regards to him, "guess I'll see you later?"

"Yeah, for sure," he grinned, entangling his hand into his messy locks and combing through them as a way to release some tension, "oh, don't forget this," he held you the weed bag, which you quickly grabbed out of his hands. You didn't wanna leave in a rush, but under the current circumstances, you felt excused enough to do so.

Getting up from the bed, you were about to take your leave, one foot already crossing the border outside, until you heard him call your name.

"Kiss goodbye?"

You halted your step, rapidly turning your head to meet his shit-eating grin, halfway done raising his hands in mock surrender. "Joking, joking." And this bastard had the audacity to laugh.

Rolling your eyes to hide the way his playful request made you feel, you decided to respond in a similar manner. By blowing him a kiss. He pretended to catch it in his hand, then pulling it close to his heart, showing how enamoured he was. You chuckled, checking if the weed was still in your pocket before leaving his trailer. Eddie looked through the window, seeing you take the first steps towards your house. On your way there, you couldn't stop the thoughts appearing in your mind, flowing freely as if a dam was forcefully broken, "why did I do that, why did I do that-"

- - -

Eddie took the time to mull over the situation that happened a few minutes ago. It went... alright. Could be worse. One thing seemed to be missing, though.

"Fuck. They forgot to pay me."