#awkward dates

Hitoshi schedules their date for a day later. Katsuki would accuse him of being eager but with their professions it's best to not waste any time because who knows what tomorrow brings and if they are still going to be there then.

Still, Katsuki can't help but tease him at least a little for it, but Hitoshi takes it all in stride and he even sends Katsuki proof of his new haircut in form of a selfie that Katsuki might or might not immediately set as Hitoshi's profile picture.

His phone is protected to all hell and back anyway, so it's not as if anyone is going to know.

~*~*~

Katsuki doesn't make dinner because there's a large scale villain attack that keeps him busy until well into the night and by the time he remembers to text Hitoshi it's almost three in the morning.

Got caught up in work, is all Katsuki sends because he's not going to apologise for doing his damn job.

Hitoshi, little garbage rat that he is, writes back almost immediately, because of course he's still awake.

I saw. Brunch tomorrow? As in eight hours from now?

If you can drag yourself out of bed by then, sure.

For you I can <3

It should give Katsuki the creeps, to see that heart right there, but all it does is make him feel strangely warm and he's never going to admit it to anyone but he falls asleep with a smile on his face.

~*~*~

Katsuki doesn't make brunch because Best Jeanist insists on a debrief.

~*~*~

Katsuki doesn't make it to dinner one day later because the latest villain attack catapulted him up in the ranks and his friends descend upon him to celebrate that.

~*~*~

Katsuki has to cancel dinner two days later because his parents demand he come see them.

~*~*~

Lunch the next day falls victim to another villain attack and at that point Katsuki starts wondering when Hitoshi will cut his losses and simply give up but instead of doing that—or even griping about the many cancelled dates—he just asks for breakfast a day later.

~*~*~

Deku invades Katsuki's apartment with an assortment of breakfast foods to cry about his totally requited feelings for Icy-Hot and all Katsuki manages to do is send Hitoshi a picture of Deku crying into his bagel.

He gets a laughing cat gif and a new invite for a coffee the next day.

~*~*~

The café they were supposed to meet at gets destroyed by an explosion the morning of the day and by now Katsuki is just waiting for Hitoshi to call it quits.

They schedule lunch two days later.

~*~*~

There's a mission debrief Katsuki fought Best Jeanist tooth and nail over because surely it could have been scheduled in the morning or even the late afternoon but no, it had to be right on lunch time, so he has to cancel on Hitoshi again.

Who answers with a thumbs-up and an invitation for dinner the next day.

~*~*~

When Katsuki has to cancel a date for the gazillionth time in a row and only gets an understanding answer and a new offer for a date, he almost throws his phone across the room.

One of these days Hitoshi is going to be fed up with him and in all honesty, Katsuki can't understand why it hasn't happened yet.

They didn't even manage one date in a month and yet here Hitoshi is, offering another one as if it means nothing, as if he's not running out of patience, as if Katsuki could still hold his interest.

It's insane and mind-boggling and Katsuki doesn't understand it, which he hates.

So there's only one thing to do.

Where are you? he types out and just like always, Hitoshi's answer comes in almost immediately.

home. y?

Katsuki's eye twitches at the question, because why can't this fucker be bothered to type out a three letter word, but instead of conveying his displeasure via text he gets himself up in the air and blasts his way over to Hitoshi's apartment.

He pushes away the twinge of guilt at having looked the address up at the very start of all of this, but right now he's more thankful that he knows it in the first place and he's not going to take shit from Hitoshi for it, either.

Fucker can be happy that Katsuki is coming over and keep his mouth shut anyway.

Katsuki bangs on Hitoshi's door not even ten minutes later and when Hitoshi opens the door Katsuki realises that he hasn't seen him in person since that class meeting a month ago.

It shouldn't matter to him at all, because before that he hadn't seen Hitoshi in literal years but apparently knowing that Hitoshi wants to go on a date with him—and admitting that he does, too—has changed things because laying eyes on him now feels a lot like breathing in fresh air for the first time in weeks and Katsuki would hate it if he could be bothered to form a coherent sentence right now.

But he can't because he's too distracted by Hitoshi's haircut, which—even dishevelled as he is—suits him really fucking well and maybe Katsuki wants to bite those cheekbones.

He can feel himself flush and the fact that Hitoshi is raking his eyes over him doesn't help at all, so Katsuki does what he does best—he blusters.

"Move, troll doll," he snaps out and pushes past Hitoshi into the apartment without waiting for an invitation and Hitoshi chuckles.

"Sure, come in I guess," he lightly says and follows Katsuki into the living-room, where Katsuki takes a stand and crosses his arms in front of his chest.

"How long are you going to do this?" Katsuki asks because the thought has been haunting him for days now.

One of these days Hitoshi is going to be so fed up with him and all the cancelled dates that he's simply going to call it quits and Katsuki needs to know when that is going to happen because he can't keep trying only to know that it'll blow up in his face eventually.

He has to cut his losses, too, before he gets too invested only for Hitoshi to tell him to fuck off eventually.

"Existing in my own apartment? For a good, long while I hope," Hitoshi mildly gives back which only makes Katsuki huff out a displeased breath.

"Quit it with your snark," he barks out. "Inviting me out on dates," he then adds. "How long until you get fed up with me cancelling every goddamn time?"

Hitoshi curiously tilts his head at Katsuki.

"Until you tell me to stop?"

"What the fuck is that supposed to mean?" Katsuki demands to know because surely, surely it can't be that easy.

There is no way in hell that Hitoshi is just going to keep on doing this when all he gets is rejection from Katsuki.

"It means that until you tell me to stop bothering, I'll keep on inviting you out."

"It's been a month and I cancelled like twenty dates. Everyone would think I'm not interested," Katsuki argues even though he doesn't want to because he is interested.

His work is just making it hell on him and he needs to know when Hitoshi will finally be done with it.

"And yet you agree to every date I propose," Hitoshi easily gives back. "That doesn't seem uninterested to me."

Katsuki opens his mouth to argue some more but—yeah. He has agreed to every single date so far. Still—

"But—"

"No," Hitoshi cuts him off, his voice firm. "Until you tell me to get fucking lost and stop trying, I will keep on inviting you out. You said fine when I asked you out on a date and so far, that agreement hasn't changed, at least not that I know of." Hitoshi narrows his eyes at him. "Or has it?"

"No!" Katsuki's answer probably comes too quickly, is too revealing but he can't help it with all that relief flooding through him. "No, it hasn't. I still want to," he admits and he manages to pretend that it doesn't matter at all when he goes slightly red in the face.

"Then I'll keep inviting you out. One of these days it'll have to happen."

"How can you—why are you not giving up?" Katsuki helplessly asks because he doesn't understand.

He's not that much of a catch to keep on trying like this so he doesn't know why Hitoshi is so stubborn.

The fact that he doesn't want him to stop barely even matters here.

"Katsuki, I just told you: you haven't told me to stop. I still want to take you out on a date so I'll keep offering."

"Everyone else would have called it quits ages ago," Katsuki admits because people have.

The few times he tried to date anyone, his work put a rather abrupt end to most of the attempts very early on, so having Hitoshi be this persistent is strange and unusual and confusing to say the least.

"But why would they? Your job comes first, I damn well know that and again—until you tell me you're not interested I'll keep trying. Besides once we live together, it'll be easier anyway cause we'll see each other daily."

Katsuki blinks at that.

"Getting ahead of yourself much?" he manages to get out and all he gets for it is a cheeky grin.

"Manifesting, more like. I'm not going to stop, Katsuki. Not until you tell me to. So, what will it be?"

Hitoshi sounds so sure, so absolutely completely convinced that this is going to work, that it doesn't matter that Katsuki keeps ditching on him and he can hardly wrap his head around it.

"It'll keep happening, even once we're dating. I'll have to leave you hanging all the damn time."

"Yeah, I know. And I'll do the same to you, too. My work is just as unpredictable as yours and I'll even have to be away for weeks on end when they send me undercover. That a problem for you?" Hitoshi gives the ball right back and what the fuck is Katsuki supposed to say to that?

That he wants to rank higher than Hitoshi's job, for which he fought tooth and nail for? Yeah, right.

"No, it won't be," he replies and Hitoshi nods.

"Then why is it so surprising to you that the same goes for me?"

"Maybe because I'm—like this?" Katsuki gestures at all of himself because he knows he has killer looks but that is about it.

He has medical issues a mile wide, he's scarred to hell and back and his personality—well, the less said about that the better. Add all of that to the fact that every potential partner would always have to take a back seat to his job and it doesn't add up to a very appealing package at all.

"Hard-working, dedicated, fit as hell, snarky and able to stand your ground, no matter if it's with a villain or anyone else? Yeah, what a turn-off," Hitoshi laments and lets out a sigh. "I didn't ask you out on a date because I thought it'd be funny, but because I'm genuinely interested. All of that—" he gestures at Katsuki as a whole "—is doing it for me."

"Dinner," Katsuki blurts out because his brain is still kind of lagging behind and Hitoshi frowns at him.

"Dinner?"

"Right now. Do you have work?"

"Uhm, I've got two hours," Hitoshi says after quickly checking the time.

"Order me something spicy and it's a date," Katsuki says with more bravado than he really feels—he's still stuck on the fact that Hitoshi wants him, all things included—but when Hitoshi lights up like a kid on Christmas, some of that worry melts off Katsuki.

"Deal," Hitoshi breathes out and scrambles for the kitchen, pulling out some flyers from what Katsuki can only assume are places that deliver food.

It's probably not what everyone would consider a good first date, but considering their track record—Katsuki will take it.

And when Hitoshi turns around to him, big smile still on his face and holding up an advert that promises the spiciest food anyone has tasted, it damn well feels perfect to him.

Both women in front of him were stunned, Knuckles kept his eyes shut so as not to see their reactions. Amy was probably beaming at the prospect, and Vanilla was probably worried at the outburst.  

“Oh MY GOSH!” Amy beamed. Her brain filled with ideas of Romance and Dates and Weddings and!

Upon seeing how Amy had zoned out, Vanilla decided to take the lead. “I am glad you have decided to take this step in life, dear, but what do you need us for?” She took a sip of tea to give him time to answer.  

Knuckles let out the breath he had been holding.  He rubbed the back of his head and looked down. “I am....unsure...how to...start?” His cheeks burned with shame. 

“Well, usually you tend to date or marry someone you are close to already.” Vanilla reached out to pat one of Knuckles hands that was on the table. “Anyone come to mind?” 

Knuckles retreated his hand and folded his arms defiantly. “No.” he said simply. 

“OH COM’ON!” It was Amy’s turn to slam her hands on the table; Vanilla gave her a look. “What about Rouge!? She flirts with you all the time!”  

Knuckles glared at Amy, “She flirts with everyone!  It’s her job! She Lies! S-she is deceitful!”  

“I don’t know... She visits you a lot!” Amy countered. 

Knuckles threw his hands in the air frustrated. “She only visits to threaten to steal the Master Emerald! Or-or to mess with me! Or to tell me to get a ‘real life.’!” Knuckles holds his head like talking about Rouge gives him a headache.  “I can’t marry her! She doesn’t respect my duty! How am I supposed to raise the next echidna warriors with a woman like that?” His mouth slammed shut realizing he mentioned his desire to have kids. He blushed and took the teacup in front of him sipping it to get himself to shut up. 

Vanilla put her hands up in a calming gesture. “Okay, okay. Not Rouge. Any other women that you are close to?” She offered gently.  

Kunckles put the tea down and shook his head. “Everyone else I know already is....in a relationship or doesn’t seem interested in finding one.”  

Amy went through her catalog of allies that knew Knuckles and, well, what he said was true. The problem was that Knuckles hardly left Angle Island.  Amy closed her eyes in determination “Okay, here is what we are going to do.” She spread out her hands over the table like she was devising a battle plan. “You are going to tell us what you are looking for in a wife first. Then we” She pointed to herself and Vanilla “will see if we can find anyone who might match your interests.”  

Knuckles perked up at that.  

“Cream dear, can you please get us a notebook and a few pencils?” Vanilla called her daughter. A teen rabbit that looked identical to her mother, appeared faster than Knuckles would have liked. Was she listening in on the conversation? He slouched down in embarrassment.  

She handed the requested items to her mother.

“Thank you dear, now go outside with Gemerl. This is an adult conversation.” 

Cream’s ears hung a little lower but she didn't argue as most teens would. “Okay, Mama.” As she walked out to find Gemerl she passed by Knuckles, “I hope you find a wife Mr. Knuckles!”  

Knuckles turned pale.  Amy hid a laugh behind her hand. 

“Cream dear, what have I said about eavesdropping?” She gently corrected her daughter.  

Cream slouched a little. "But Mama it's hard when I can hear everything.” She pointed to one of her long ears. 

“Yes, I understand dear, but let’s not tell anyone of Mr. Knuckles personal matters. Okay dear?”  

Cream straighted up “Okay.” The rabbit girl turned to Knuckles with a hand over her heart. “I promise I won’t tell anyone about your personal matters, Mr. Knuckles.”  

Knuckles had not recovered fully from his shock, but he believed that Cream was sincere. “Umm....Thanks kid.” He gave her a thumbs up to show his appreciation. She smiled, curtsied to everyone, and skipped outside.  

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

They talked plans and strategies. Vanilla coached him on manners and etiquette. Amy collected contacts. It was hard. They had Knuckles doing and thinking things he would never have done/thought of on his own. He knew these women were the right ladies to help him out.  

Amy suggested that his first dates should be simple. They all agreed that going on a hike would be best. Just enjoying nature. He was told to not make it a competition. That was hard. Shouldn’t his wife be able to keep up with him? He got an earful about how dates weren’t tests. Just getting to know people. Through out the process he had to keep telling himself. “You can do this Knuckles. It’s for the future of your tribe.”  

****************************

Authors Notes:

TL;DR I am new to the Sonic fandom, please be nice.

The only Sonic games I have played is the first one on an old arcade cabinet that was at my dentist office. Sonic is in pop culture. I have always been aware, but I only had Nintendo consoles growing up. I only really got into Sonic when a cousin nephew (a cousin's little son. Idk if there is an English word for that?) invited us to watch the 3rd Sonic movie with him. My husband and I binge watched all the Sonic movies. I was hit with Jim Carrey nostalgia! Watching Liar, The Mask, Bruce Almighty, Fun with Dick and Jane all growing up with my brothers. So that got me. Then of course the story of Shadow and Maria hit me hard. I would do anything for my siblings, and I don't know what I would do if I lost them! I studied Anthropology and Knuckles being the last of a tribe is a compelling story. I looked into the game story lines and they were nice I looked at the comics. All really nice. Rouge and Knuckles relationship is so interesting to me.

Prologue: Self-preservation Prologue – @tigers-eyes-26 on Tumblr