#idk...big wolf guy...something about him...

"i see."

two short, dismissive words. not a smile, not a frown —just two clipped words. you tilt your head, expecting some form of elaboration, but instead he just turns on his heel, his coat swishing behind him as he starts to walk away.

(what you don’t see is the way his hands curl into fists as he walks off, how his steps falter just around the corner, or the way he presses a hand against his chest to steady the sudden, overwhelming ache blooming there.)

…must this guy really be so blunt?!?!!

you sigh, a little laugh escaping despite your current situation. of all the possible responses you could’ve imagined, ‘i see’ definitely wasn’t one of them. you shake your head, a part of you wonders if elio is watching, silently laughing at your predicament right now.

it’s fine. really. you should’ve known better than to think he’d say anything different.

though the big problem now is, blade knows about your silly crush on him, so facing him in the future is going to be a total nightmare that you’re not ready to accept. you can already feel the embarrassment creeping up like it’s going to suffocate you.

“where's [name]?” 

blade steps into the base. silver wolf, tucked in the corner, engrossed in her console, raises a hand in greeting without looking up. blade nods in acknowledgment, before replying to kafka, "i went ahead of them," his voice sounds a little more strained than usual, before quickly turning to make a beeline for his room.

but kafka, ever perceptive, senses something’s off. she tilts her head with a smirk, "bladie, did something happen?"

he denies it with a quick shake of his head before slipping past her. having no other option, she resorts to… unconventional methods. 

with a flick of her wrist and a soft, almost melodic whisper, she purrs, "listen to me.”

the moment those familiar words hit his ears, a wave of calm washes over him, and against his will, he halts mid-step. "now tell me what happened, will you?"

he sighs and he rubs the back of his neck. “take your time, bladie.” after a long pause he speaks again, "[name] said they... they liked me."

kafka watches him closely, a grin slowly spreading across her face. "and then what happened, hmm?" she teases.

out of the corner of his eyes, he sees silver wolf perk up at his words, but he pays her no mind as his thoughts are too tangled in what he’s about to say next, the words barely scraping past his throat.

...

the next hour consists of him being ‘lectured’ by his fellow coworkers.

he tries to tune out the barrage of teasing, but something about  “bladie, that's not how you reciprocate,” to “ain’t no way bro fumbled that badly,” managed to stick with him, unfortunately. (he looks over to firefly standing to the side, but she only giggles and shakes her head at him.)

but really, how was he supposed to tell them that he panicked? that he was so stunned by your confession, so overwhelmed, that he could barely form a coherent sentence? that his awkward, dismissive reply wasn’t rejection, but a pathetic attempt to mask his own vulnerability?

the thought of you avoiding him, of thinking he doesn’t care, makes his chest ache with a pain he hadn't experienced for the past few centuries. 

blade makes a mental note to find you as soon as possible. he doesn’t know how to explain himself, not entirely; words have never been his strong suit, but somehow, some way, he’ll make it up to you.

later, you return to the base, your steps hesitant as you walk in. the moment you enter, the group falls silent, all eyes snapping to you. there’s an awkward stillness in the air, like they were caught in the middle of something. your gaze sweeps over the room, and it lands on blade. when you lock eyes with him, a flush creeps up your neck, and you quickly avert your gaze.

"excuse me!" you blurt out and almost sprint to your room.

...do they all know?! this has to be the most embarrassing day of your life.

you agreed to meet kafka at a bar near your current mission to discuss your next task. the magenta haired woman had mentioned it casually when you’d asked, cryptic as usual, only revealing that the task was important but leaving out certain key details —such as conveniently leaving out the part about blade being there too, of course.

(“bladie,” kafka’s voice took on a singsong lilt, her playful smile unmistakable as she glanced at him. “you’re going to use this chance to make it up to them, ‘kay?” 

blade only kept his eyes trained on the entrance, silently waiting for you to arrive.)

running late, your prior mission having dragged on longer than expected, you found yourself hurrying to the bar, weaving through the sparse but lingering foot traffic of the evening.

after what feels like hours, you finally make it to the bar. stepping in, your eyes scan the room for kafka, when suddenly, a man steps right into your path.

the man smiles warmly, though you could tell he’s had a few to drink tonight. his tone is friendly, with just a hint of flirtation as he strikes up a conversation, casually asking if you’d be interested in grabbing a drink sometime.

he’s polite, respectful even, and there’s nothing about him that feels overly forward or aggressive —just a man who’s trying his luck, that’s all. still, you can't help but feel a slight annoyance at the timing.

as you try to figure out a way to decline his invitation, you remain oblivious to blade’s gaze —specifically, how it's fixed on you, or rather, more pointedly on the back of the man’s neck.

“you’re going to snap his neck if you keep looking at him like that.” kafka’s voice cuts through the tension, her tone teasing as she watches the exchange from the side.

“i don’t like what he’s doing,” blade mutters, his voice low and filled with an edge that suggests far more than just mild annoyance.

kafka chuckles softly to herself, already knowing where this is headed. it’s not an outright confession of jealousy, of course —he would never admit to something as petty as that, and she knows better than to push him on this one. 

nevertheless, she still catches it, her lips curling into a knowing smile. even if blade would never call it jealousy, it’s enough to push him into doing something completely out of character —something he’ll never, ever do (until now).

kafka notices immediately. her eyes widen just a fraction before she sets down her wine glass with a graceful motion, amusement dancing in her eyes. and perhaps to make sure he doesn’t look too foolish, she decides to play along and help him act the part.

a sharp clang of glass hitting the table catches your attention. your brows knit in confusion; you glance over instinctively, your eyes meeting kafka's for a brief moment. her expression is unreadable, but the faint curve of her lips makes you wonder what’s really going on.

curiosity pulls your gaze lower, to the drunk figure slumped over at her table, seemingly drunk, his head resting heavily on his arm. the spilled drink pools on the floor beside him, glinting under the dim light. 

at first, you only catch a glimpse of dark, tousled hair, streaked faintly with deep crimson at the ends —so strikingly familiar it makes you pause. then, as your eyes trace over the sharp line of his jaw and the stiff set of his shoulders, realisation dawns on you. 

wait a second.

your jaw nearly drops as you piece it together. the man lying there, seemingly drunk out of his mind, is none other than the last person you would want to see right now.

blade.

your gaze darts between him and the polite man still standing awkwardly in front of you. blade, on the other hand, never lets his guard down, so this... state of his? unprecedented. 

apologetically, you offer a small smile to the man before rushing to blade’s side, urgency in every step as you push past the tables, heart hammering in your chest.

blade’s eyes subtly flicker over to you as you approach, and you can almost sense the slightest shift in his demeanor, the thought of you giving your time to someone else, especially someone so... ineffectual —grates at him.

he swallows the ugly feeling down his throat. perhaps he’s let this irked him more than it should. but it’s too late to back out now that you’re standing right beside him, the weight of your presence making the tension in his chest only more pronounced.

as if on cue, kafka’s voice breaks the silence, “as you can see, [name], our dear bladie here has gotten himself a bit... roughed up,” she says, casually catching the wine glass that had been teetering on the edge of the table.

her lips curl into a playful smile as she glances at blade, whose jaw tightens almost imperceptibly. “drinking doesn’t seem to suit him, wouldn’t you agree?” kafka continues, her tone light but unmistakably amused. her eyes flicker between the two of you, as if she’s thoroughly enjoying the situation unraveling before her far more than she should.

you blink, momentarily thrown off by the unexpected scene. your worry only deepens as you shift your attention back to blade, who remains uncharacteristically silent, his head now resting on his arm as though he really had overindulged. 

“blade,” you say softly, your voice carrying just the slightest edge of concern. “what happened?” 

before he can answer —or before he’s forced to lie —kafka chuckles, waving a hand as if to dismiss your worry. 

“oh, nothing serious. he just got a little too carried away with his drink.” she leans back in her chair, a sly glint in her eye that you’re too preoccupied to notice. your gaze falls back to blade, his hair slightly tousled.

without thinking, you reach out, gently brushing a strand strand from his forehead. his eyes flutter open at the contact —those striking, sharp eyes you’ve always found yourself drawn to, dark yet you can’t bring yourself to look away from. 

you notice the faint redness creeping across his cheeks and the line of his jaw, down to his neck. his skin hot to the touch under your fingers. “you’re warm,” you murmur softly, assuming the alcohol is to blame.

if only you knew the warmth searing through him has nothing to do with alcohol and everything to do with you. 

“ah,” kafka hums, pulling you out of your thoughts. “it seems something urgent has come up that needs my attention.” there’s an unmistakable glint of mischief in her eyes. “i’ll leave you two to it.”

you glance at her, startled. “wait, what about—?”

“don’t worry about it,” she interjects, already getting up from her seat. “the bill is already on my tab.” 

well, that wasn’t what you were about to ask anyway! 

a sly smile curls her lips, and she tilts her head ever so slightly. “hmm, it’s rare to see him like this. [name], you’ll take good care of him, won’t you?” her tone is light, but the underlying implication is clear, leaving you flustered as she turns on her heel, striding off, leaving the two of you alone.

blade leans heavily against you, his tall frame making it an awkward challenge to keep him upright as you guide him out of the bar. one arm is slung over your shoulder, while his other hangs haphazardly against his side.

his head is tilted forward, strands of his dark, crimson-tipped hair brushing against your cheek, and you can feel the warmth radiating from him —whether from his predicament or his proximity, you’re not sure.

you shift your grip, looping an arm around his waist for better support, and his body tenses slightly under your touch. for someone playing the part of drunk so convincingly, he’s strangely aware of your every movement, his hand tightening just faintly on your shoulder when you stumble over a crack in the pavement.

“blade,” you murmur under your breath, trying to shift his weight more evenly as you inch forward. “you’re not making this very easy, you know.”

casting a glance his way, you’re met with a low, almost lazy hum in response. his expression is nothing short of a hazy indifference, though you swear you catch a flicker of clarity in his eyes —a brief, focused intensity that seems out of place, before he looks away.

you can feel the heat of his breath against your temple as he wavers with every step. the night air is cool, but the warmth radiating from his body is undeniable, pressing against your side in a way that sends an unexpected shiver down your spine. the closeness between you feels almost intimate in a way that will surely have you screaming into your pillow later that night. 

as you continue down the empty street, blade’s mind races; this is his chance. he knows it. he should say something now, anything, to make it clear —to tell you how he feels. (and how it’s been eating at him for longer than he cares to admit.)

this is it, the moment he’s been waiting for, but all he can do is breathe in the scent of your skin and the warmth of your touch. the sensation is all too familiar, like the pounding in his chest —but this time, it’s not from the heat of battle.

just how much longer he has to deal with this utterly insufferable feeling?

it’s worse now, because as you navigate through the halls of the base, he’s beginning to wonder if this is what it means to care for someone —to be vulnerable. 

“here,” you say softly as you stop in front of the door to his room.

he doesn’t want this moment to end. 

you glance at him then, finally meeting his eyes, and the look in them knocks the breath from your lungs. they’re hazy, yes, but there's a sharpness beneath the mask of drunkenness, a quiet intensity that makes your heart beat a little faster.

you clear your throat, breaking the silence. "do you need anything else?"

"no," he answers, almost reluctantly. "i’ll be alright."

a twinge of disappointment surges through you. right… it was foolish to expect anything different. he’s already rejected you, and you can’t help but feel a bit ridiculous for thinking it would be any other way.

you stand there for a moment, the silence between you growing thicker with each passing second, before you force yourself to nod, your voice soft as you try to mask the heaviness in your chest.

“goodnight then."

just as you turn to leave, you feel a sudden pull on your hand, your wrist tugged back with surprising gentleness.

"wait," blade suddenly says, and this time, there's no mistaking the sincerity in it. "thank you.”

his bandaged hand rests over yours, and a soft breath escapes you; flustered, you open your mouth to respond, ready to brush it off.

"oh! It's no pro—"

but you’re cut off before you can finish. he raises your hand, pressing his lips to the back of your palm in a soft, lingering kiss.

"—blem..."

your voice falters slightly as a rush of warmth spreads through you. every nerve in your body seems to spark awake all at once, making you hyper-aware of the spot from where his lips brushed against your skin. you freeze, your breath caught in your throat, unable to do anything but stand there, your hand still resting in his.

then, as if nothing happened, he steps back into his room and shuts the door behind him, leaving you standing there, still processing the unexpected moment.

safe to say you got little to no sleep that night. you roll over, staring at the ceiling, a soft smile tugging at the corners of your lips. it feels ridiculous, embarrassing even, how many times you've replayed that scene in your head every time you close your eyes.

you couldn’t help but smile to yourself like a fool. 

(“so bladie, how’d it go?” / “...”) 

you hadn’t even planned on leaving the base today, let alone stepping foot into the brightly lit chaos of an arcade, but silver wolf had insisted —no, nagged, until you caved. and somehow she’d managed to drag blade (of all people) along, her smug grin all too telling as she pushed the two of you together and skipped off to “go play some gachas”

now, you stand awkwardly by blade’s side, the flashing lights casting a colorful glow over his impassive face. it’s hard to ignore how out of place he looks, his dark coat, sunglasses, and the mask covering his lower face a stark contrast to the lively atmosphere. 

yet, somehow, he doesn’t seem to mind the sharp sounds of arcade machines beeping nor the kids screaming in excitement. he just stands there, hands in his pockets, watching you fumble with a stack of game tokens.

“you look thrilled,” you mutter, a sarcastic tone in your voice as you glance at him.  it’s strange, though —there’s something oddly endearing about the way he’s standing there, the dark lenses of his sunglasses reflecting a faint outline of your own face. you catch yourself staring for just a moment too long, wishing you could see beyond the lens, wishing you could read his eyes—

you shake the thought off, it’s all just wishful thinking.

behind the shield of his sunglasses, blade’s eyes tracked your every subtle movement, almost unconsciously. he caught the way your expression softened as you turned toward the claw machine, how your lips curved ever so slightly when your gaze settled on that… thing.

it was maddening, how effortlessly you held his focus, how even a trivial moment like this could stir something deep in him. he told himself it was nothing, but the tightening in his chest said otherwise. 

he wasn’t one to indulge in sentiment, yet something about the way you stared at that silly plush made him restless, made him want to do something about it, if only to keep that smile on your face a little longer.

would your smile grow brighter if that plush were in your hands? 

“let’s go.”

“to where…?” you asked, glancing back at him, the curiosity evident in your voice.

he didn’t answer immediately, but you felt the familiar tug at your hand once again, gentle and insistent, as his gaze slips toward the claw machine where you had been staring earlier.

it’s not hard to imagine the scene as a sweet little moment, with him focused on the claw machine, trying to win you a plush like a doting partner would. 

with a soft click, the claw tightens around the plush, and before you can react, it’s being lifted out of the pile, swinging toward the prize chute. you can't help but stare as he pulls the soft toy from the machine with a sense of quiet satisfaction.

(you pocket the rest of the tokens. guess he won’t be needing those…  for a first-timer, he sure got lucky —must be beginners' luck, huh?)

you blink, slightly impressed. “wow, you’re good at this,” you remark, unable to hide the surprise in your voice. 

without a word, he hands the plushie to you. 

you tilt your head slightly, a bit unsure. “for me...?”

“it's yours. take it." he looks to the side; suddenly thankful for the mask —if it weren't for that, you'd surely see the crimson tint creeping up his cheeks right now.

you hesitate for a second longer before reaching out to take it, your fingers brushing against his, a tingle of heat pulses through you, leaving your hand feeling strangely warm.

“th-thank you," you manage to spit out, and your eyes dart away, suddenly very aware of how close he is. surely, this isn’t good for your heart!

the twilight sky stretches wide, the clouds are heavy, and you’re looking oh so earnestly at him. his heart beats a little faster, louder now, as if his body knows exactly what he wants but refuses to let him act on it.

but then, he blinks —once, twice; snapping himself back to reality. he can feel the space between you growing smaller, your presence growing closer.

his eyelids flutter shut instinctively.

and then, the soft press of your lips against his cheek.

a soft sigh escapes him, and his eyes crack open. if you could see his expression right now, you'd catch the vulnerability that flashes in his gaze. he swears he can feel the warmth of your kiss in his very bones.

though not quite the kiss he imagined… it was something. (re: you got his hopes up)

the shock of your own actions hits you like a wave. you swallow thickly, “sorry —i'll go find silver wolf.” avoiding his gaze as you fumble with the tokens in your hand. "i… i’ll pass the extra tokens to her."

without waiting for a response, you turn and hurry off, your pulse pounding in your ears, praying that the ground would swallow you whole.

that night, you lay in bed, the plushie clutched tightly in your arms. the softness of it contrasts sharply with the rush of confusion filling your chest. 

why was he being so kind to you? after everything, after the way he rejected you just a few days ago, it made no sense. his actions felt contradictory.

you try to push the memory of the kiss out of your mind; impulsive decisions… often lead to mortifying outcomes. though when you glanced at him afterward, you could’ve sworn his ears were tinged with red, just peeking out from beneath his hair. nevermind, it’s probably your mind playing tricks on you.

blade, who’s as cold as the frost-kissed dusk, walks beside you through the lively festival, his dark coat a striking contrast to the vibrant reds and greens around you.

the faint scent of roasted chestnuts and spiced cider fills the air, mingling with the sound of distant carolers. he doesn’t say much, but there’s something about the way his gloved hand brushes yours, intentionally or not —that makes the chill in the air feel less biting.

you swallow, focusing on the festive stalls ahead, the decorations glittering in the night. “you don't have to stick around, you know. i can manage by myself.”

his steps slow just slightly, and he turns his head toward you, finally speaking. “you think i’d just leave you here?”

the words catch you off guard, and you fumble for a response. “i-i just meant—”

“relax.” he interrupts, a faint, almost imperceptible smile tugging at the corner of his lips; his hand grazing yours again. this time, his fingers linger for a moment longer, almost as if testing the waters, before retreating back into the safety of his pocket.

your cheeks flush, and you pretend to be deeply interested in a nearby stall selling hand-knit scarves. just then, his voice cuts through the festive hum. “last week… when you said you liked me,” he starts, and your breath catches.

you whirl back to face him, your heart pounding. “don’t worry about it! really, i—”

“i wasn’t rejecting you,” he says, with an unexpected gentleness in his gaze. “i like you too, [name].”

blade removes his coat, the fabric warm against the cold air as he drapes it around your shoulders, pulling you closer. you stumble, your hand instinctively pressing against his chest to catch your balance.

you look up at him, your breath quickening, as his face draws closer, his eyes locked on yours with that familiar intensity. you let your eyelids flutter shut, lips trembling, heart pounding in your chest as the space between you narrows.

but instead of the kiss you were anticipating, you feel the gentle warmth of his lips brush against your forehead.

your eyes snap open in confusion, only to meet his smirking face. oh... this asshole!

“what?" he teases, his tone deceptively casual. “you seem pretty eager,” his voice drops an octave, hand gently tilting your chin as he leans in just close enough for you to feel his breath against your skin.

you glare up at him, your cheeks flushed with embarrassment. the way your lips quiver, unable to hold his gaze for long; the fact that he actually adores that flustered expression on your face... well, that’s when he realises. he’s too far gone.

what a dumbass lmfaoo

angel loves the smell of david. there’s been so many times during pack movie nights (and some afterwards of smash tournaments) where angel is passed out, nose deep into david’s armpit

in their school days, tank and asher were a regulars when it came to ISS (in school suspension). tank because of attendance and asher because of class disruptions. milo went once or twice over some verbal altercations. the only time david was ever in the office was when he was being picked up for appointments (aka david was a goody two shoes, same with amanda)

guy once made a 67 joke to a customer and it got him blasted on google reviews

aaron got a crested gecko when he was like 12 and that gecko has been living the best life ever since (those fuckers apparently live for like 18 years?? idk but that lizard is his pride and joy)

despite not knowing how to cook almost anything, angel can make a mean batch of cinnamon buns. this is something david did not find out until very late into the relationship

david has a lot more ‘dog’ traits than he thinks he does and will deny everything when confronted with any claims. some examples being that he has an unofficial spot that he HAS to sit in on the couch, literally growls, can eat like a beast (haha get it bc he’s a wolf so that’s basically a beast hahaha), and like a typical wolf he will groom and take care of his loved ones (ex. fixing ash’s hair, filling milo’s water bottle when he notices it’s almost or completely empty, has cleaned tank’s depression room several times as a teenager, etc)

marie finds all of the mates (listeners AND sam) hilarious

angel is a pierced out baddie (the very few that they didn’t do themself were done by babe)

angel, tank, and sweetheart are avid zombie media lovers. tv shows, video games, movies, books, etc (totally not projection… yeah….)

adding onto the previous hc, angel has dressed very alternate and has since they were about 14 once they realized they didn’t HAVE to avoid certain topics around certain people (seriously. i’m tired of the “helpless innocent wittle baby” act people force upon angel. that bitch has a loud mouth and does not gaf when it comes to calling someone out)

growing up, sunshine was over elliott’s so much that they all just got used to them being around 24/7. there were even times when sunshine and aaron have gotten into typical sibling bickering and got scolded (bonus: elliott wasn’t even home during most of them when they did happen)

damien had childhood dreams of being a chef (which is why he is usually the main cook for the friendsgivings)

david is one of those freaks who has military time on his phone

david is also one of those freaks who puts hot sauce on every meal. started out when he was a teenager and tried being different but then realized how much he liked it

sweetheart’s rbf goes crazy

babe thought that ash just hung out with a bunch of assholes the first few months of dating. the assholes being david (because he lowk was a major ass), sweetheart (thought they were going to get yelled at by the look of sweetheart’s scowl), and a little bit for milo but understood he was being playful

angel has one of those mary poppins purses that is comically large and somehow has nothing and everything in it

lovely only had their learners permit before the inversion. the reason being that their driving was so shitty that they failed their test so many times (according to California laws you have 3 attempts in 12 months, they failed all three several years in a row). only just got their learners about 8 months before the inversion, despite trying to get their license since they were 16

sam had the same flip phone for many years, and did not upgrade until it was being held together with tape. the new phone he bought was an iPhone 14 because it was on sale at Best Buy, otherwise he would have gotten one of those modern touch screen flip phones.

You hadn’t seen Sonic in almost two days, and it was starting to worry you.

Normally, Sonic would pop in to check on you, even if just for a quick chat before zipping off to wherever his next adventure called. But lately, his visits had become scarce, and when he did show up, it was always during the day—never at night.

Something was off, and you could feel it.

You asked Tails about it, and he told you that he still saw Sonic around until the evening, which he found odd, but he never questioned it.

Now it was late in the evening, the sun having set hours ago, leaving the landscape bathed in shadows. You stood by the window, staring out at the full moon hanging in the sky, the eerie light casting long, dark silhouettes across the ground. A shiver ran down your spine, but you weren’t sure if it was the chill in the air or the nagging feeling that something was very wrong.

“Where are you, Sonic?” you muttered to yourself.

A sudden noise from outside caught your attention—a rustling in the bushes near the edge of the clearing. You squinted, trying to make out what it was, but the shadows were too thick. Then you saw it—a large, hulking figure darting behind a tree.

Your heart jumped. It was too big to be Sonic—or anyone else you knew. But something about the shape seemed... familiar.

Grabbing a flashlight, you headed out into the night, determination outweighing the fear gnawing at the back of your mind. You had to find out what was going on.

As you made your way through the trees, the sound of heavy breathing reached your ears, low and raspy. You stopped in your tracks, heart pounding, the beam of your flashlight sweeping across the dark woods. Finally, the light landed on a pair of glowing eyes—bright, green.

There, crouched in the shadows, was a massive, wolf-like creature. Its fur was dark and shaggy, its body rippling with muscle, and its sharp claws dug into the ground as if it was ready to bolt at any second.

But those eyes... you knew those eyes.

“Sonic?” you whispered, the flashlight slipping from your hand and falling to the ground with a soft thud.

The creature flinched at the sound of your voice, as if caught, and slowly stood to its full height. There was no mistaking it now—the familiar cocky stance, the slight tilt of the head, even in this monstrous form, you could see the hints of the Sonic you knew.

But Sonic didn’t say a word. He took a step back, as if trying to retreat into the darkness, away from your gaze.

You stepped forward, undeterred. “Sonic, I know it’s you.”

He froze, shoulders tense, his clawed hands curling into fists as he kept his eyes lowered, refusing to meet your gaze.

“I—” His voice was different, deeper, rougher, but it was still unmistakably him. “I didn’t want you to see me like this.”

Your heart ached at the vulnerability in his tone. He had always been so confident, so sure of himself, and seeing him like this—scared, ashamed—it was a side of Sonic you had never seen before.

You approached slowly, careful not to startle him, but determined to close the gap between you. “Sonic, why are you hiding from me?”

He let out a low growl, though it was more frustrated than threatening. “Because... look at me!” His voice rose, and for the first time, he looked at you fully. “I’m not... I’m not me. Not like this.”

Your eyes softened as you took in his appearance. Yes, he looked different, but underneath the fur and claws, he was still Sonic—still the same hero you had known for so long. And the fact that he was trying so hard to hide this side of himself from you broke your heart.

“You’re still you, Sonic,” you said softly, stepping closer until you were just a few feet away.

He shook his head, turning away again. “I’m a monster.”

“You’re not,” you insisted, reaching out slowly to touch his arm. His fur was coarse, but warm, and you could feel the tension in his muscles as if he was expecting you to recoil. But you didn’t.

Instead, you gave him a gentle squeeze. “You’re not a monster, Sonic. You’re still you, no matter what you look like.”

Sonic was silent for a long moment, his body still trembling slightly under your touch. Finally, he sighed, the tension in his shoulders easing ever so slightly. “You’re not... scared?”

You smiled softly. “Of course not. Why would I be scared of you?”

Sonic let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. The relief in his eyes was evident, though he still looked unsure, as if he couldn’t quite believe you weren’t running away from him. “I didn’t want you to see this,” he admitted quietly. “I thought you’d think I was... I don’t know. Dangerous?”

You stepped in front of him, forcing him to meet your eyes. “Sonic, you’re the least dangerous person I know. You’d never hurt anyone—especially not me.”

His ears twitched, and he finally met your gaze fully, the glow in his green eyes softening. “Yeah, well... I guess I’m not as good at hiding as I thought,” he muttered, a small, sheepish grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.

You laughed softly. “No, you’re not. But I’m glad I found you.”

Sonic huffed, though it was more playful this time. “You always were too smart for your own good.”

There was a brief pause before Sonic shifted awkwardly, still not quite comfortable in his Werehog form, but no longer trying to hide it from you. “So, uh... now that you’ve seen me like this, I guess you don’t mind hanging out with a big ol’ werewolf looking thing, huh?”

You smiled warmly. “Not at all. In fact, I think it suits you.”

Sonic blinked, surprised. “Really?”

“Yeah. I mean, you’re still fast, still strong, and now you’ve got extra muscles and claws. It’s like Sonic... but enhanced.”

Sonic chuckled, the sound more like a growl in his Werehog form. “Huh, never thought about it that way.”

You reached up, gently brushing a stray tuft of fur from his face. “You don’t have to hide from me, Sonic.”

For the first time since his transformation, Sonic seemed to relax completely. His broad shoulders slumped in relief, and the anxious edge that had been lingering in his eyes disappeared. “Thanks,” he murmured, his voice softer now. “I guess I needed to hear that.”

Darrel Curtis: WITH THE FOOD PRICES GOING ON YES PLEASE!!!!!! You're coming in with baked goods he's pretty sure he'd spend his whole paycheck on the ingredients for something like this, I mean come on, delicious baking from beautiful girlfriend, he's a simple man, he absolutely loves it, come on guys

Dallas Winston: "That's stupid" Big side eye from him but you know damn well the second you leave the room that biggie is wolfing down all the baking you so generously brought him (sorry for the Dallas Winston hate today I hate that guy, so sick of him)

Johnny Cade: YESSSSSSSSS pleases you constantly because he's absolutely dying of joy, he's almost permanently starving so he's excited as ever, you almost feel a little scared as you watch him snatch it with tearful yells of grateful-ness, like, thank you so much, crying so hard it's better than anything he could scab for and find

Ponyboy Curtis: YESSSSSSSSSSSS Again, of course, yes he'll make some comment about track or even better claim you were fattening him up so he couldn't run away (Idk I just see them all having jokes and giggles because these boys have never been well fed, sorry guys) but he's definitely grateful and makes sure you know he thinks so

Sodapop Curtis: "I'm tryna keep my boyish figure" giggle giggle, yeah, he's still devouring all the food you ever bring around him, he's the guinea pig in this situation, he gets to try all of your lovely concoctions and you get really bad feedback because guess what, he likes the food either way, c'moooooon guys let him live

Steve Randle: He isn't like, fallen to his knees I love you so much and intense as ever about it, but he is excited about it, he just smiles about it, and thanks you, he's another case of the second you're gone he's yelling to himself about thankfulness (rip steve you would've loved elder millenial humour (I know I spelt it wrong I cant be bothered spelling it right))