Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

No matter how many times Jet saw his bride to be, his Wave, he would fall in love with her every single time. Today was no exception.

The late afternoon sun gave a gentle glow to Wave as she walked down the processional aisle, bouquet of sweat peas in steady hands, not betraying the nervous excitement of the bride.

A light breeze softly ruffled the long layers of her pristine white wedding dress, the sweetheart neckline and fitted corset a sweeping elegance. Catching up her long veil before it settled again over her purple fuchsia feathers.

Jet’s heart pounded in his chest, lovestruck all over again when Wave met his gaze, the featherbrained sensation of untenable joy mirrored in her look. Rows of guests turned to watch the bride’s processional as the music swelled, happy tears and sweet smiles gracing the faces in the crowd.

Beside Jet, his blue hedgehog of a groomsmen shifted where he stood, fidgeting with his cuffs.

The hawk clenched his beak, would he really need to snap at Sonic to stay still during one of the most important parts of his wedding ceremony?

Halfway down the aisle and Wave paused, just the briefest hesitation, as she caught Sonic’s uneasy shuffling beside her groom.

The swallow’s brows pinched, a touch of concern, and a silent conversation passing between her and Jet.

Flicking a look at his groomsman, the hawk readied to elbow him into stillness. But hesitated when he noticed the cautioning glare in the hedgehog’s gaze that wasn't directed at him or Wave. Following the look back out to the crowd, Jet found what had Sonic so on edge right in the front row.

The guest, sat sternly on Jet’s side of the ceremony, watched the processional with restrained contempt.

And as Wave approached the low dais, handing off her bouquet to her maid of honor and nodding the smallest ‘thank you’ to Sonic, the ill-at-ease wedding guest shifted in his seat.

As if readying to stand and object.

The summer sun shone down on the idyllic seaside neighborhood as Shadow knocked on the apartment’s front door.

It’s just a wedding date.

Nothing you can’t handle.

The dark hedgehog pulled the sleeve of his suit, checking his watch again, and bit back a curse. At this rate, they’d be late to the ferry and then even later to the wedding itself. He doubted Wave would appreciate the two hedgehogs shuffling in to find their seats half-way through the vows. Especially after being generous enough to allow Shadow a last minute invitation as a plus one.

Rouge would be just giddy over the idea that Shadow legitimately cared about making a good impression on the blue hedgehog’s friends. Despite his tendency towards cynicism, Shadow had found himself double checking his quills, actively looking forward once again to going out with Sonic.

Which was precisely why he’d told Rouge only the barest plans he had for the day and did his best to keep any nerves in check. The last thing he needed was Rouge being tempted to wedding crash.

Shadow drummed another quick, louder, knock on the front door when no one answered.

Unlike his own brownstone apartment on the far edge of the university district, this low-rise was sat back from the Westopolis shoreline. The building was on the older side of the century, just two stories tall and threatening to creak on the foundation, but the view of the ocean was stunningly unobstructed.

For all the teasing threats of rented limos and walking leashes, both hedgehogs had decided it would be easiest to split a cab to the docks and take the short ferry ride to the venue island together. Shadow had spent the morning getting ready before coming over to pick Sonic up from the address he’d sent him a few hours ago. He’d even stopped by a stationary shop to pick out a congratulatory wedding card for the happy couple.

The dark hedgehog assumed Sonic would be waiting for him, ready to go like his texts promised, but when apt. 1-91B opened up, it was not the cobalt hedgehog on the other side, but a young fox with twin flicking tails.

An ebony ear twitched, belying his confusion, “Hello. Is Sonic here?”

Exacting blue eyes narrowed in calculation, the young fox’s judgement crinkling his nose as he stared down the smartly dressed hedgehog on the door step.

“Yeah that makes sense,” the teenager noted almost under his breath before turning to yell back into the apartment, “Sonic! Your date’s here!”

There was a call of Sonic’s unmistakable voice further inside that Shadow couldn’t fully make out but the sharp ears of the fox picked it up.

“You can come in, he’s been fixing his quills half the morning so who knows how much longer he’ll be,” the teenager said to Shadow and left the door open as he retreated back into the home.

“I assume you’re the younger brother?” Shadow ventured, as he stepped inside.

The apartment was small and not as much of a mess as Shadow had been suspecting. The front door opened up into a joined living room and unwalled kitchen, all lit by large windows.

A cheap couch was pushed up too close to the TV, with every home video game console available hooked up to the flat screen and crowding the entertainment center.

Bookshelves were bowed with the mixed weight of novels, engineering textbooks, and video game cases. Forgotten shoes were scattered across the floor and what ever take-out they’d had for lunch was left on the coffee table.

“Probably,” the teenage fox's reply was tinged with sarcasm, “Unless Sonic has secret other siblings he hasn’t told me about.”

While there wasn’t family resemblance in the species, there was in the ease of jumping to sardonic humor. Shadow wondered for a moment if, similar to these brothers, he sounded at all like his sister.

Rouge would probably think so but still say he was too pessimistic and responsible for his own good.

Why live a little when you can party a lot? The bat declared anytime Shadow would call it a night. For all her attempts to seem like an easy going party girl, Rouge was probably the most responsible and hardworking of their little friend group.

“Want something to drink?” Tails asked, remembering some of the manners Sonic had tried to instill in him, “We have soda, juice, melted popsicles, and water.”

The dark hedgehog didn’t question the shoddy list, “No, thank you. There’ll be refreshments at the reception.”

Tails gave a shrug and let the fridge door swing closed, snatching at clear plastic packaging filled with melted popsicle and a floating wooden stick, off the counter.

Down the hall, towards the bedrooms and bath, a hairdryer turned on and a door snapped closed to muffle the sound.

Making me wait? Shadow grumbled internally, he strongly disliked being late. That Jester better be worth it.

Taking up the minutes, Shadow paused in his subtle inspection of the home at one of the living room walls that was covered in photographs. The printed pictures were frameless and simply taped directly onto the wall in a way that could have been ill-advised artistic expression if Shadow didn’t suspect this was Sonic’s wholehearted attempt at decorating.

Most were of Sonic, Tails, and the blue hedgehog’s friends. Birthdays, BBQ’s, and years of candid friendship snapshotted in physical memories.

One picture was of Sonic, his green hawk and tenrec friends under each arm and all beneath the shade of palm trees. The photo was slightly blurred, everyone in mid-laugh as the picture was captured. It was a bright and chaotic and infused with charm.

It was a stark difference from the family portraits that were custom framed in Shadow’s own apartment. Posed photos of his and Maria’s graduations and an annual family photo with Gerald each year. Those were the photographs fit to be displayed in the Robotnik families’ minds.

The closest pictures Shadow had like Sonic’s were kept on his phone. Selfies stolen by Rouge and Silver. Tongue sticking out pics that Blaze coerced him into and candid snaps Maria took to pester her little brother. And his favorite, over a decade old but always kept close, was of the day he’d been officially adopted.

The posed photograph of himself, Maria and Gerald, with the certificate of adoption held up for posterity, was framed in his living room.

But the picture from moments after — the one where his sister had pulled out a party popper and set off the little firework in the family photo studio which caused the smoke detectors and sprinklers to go off, dousing them all in water — that one was printed pocket-sized and kept under the black case of his phone.

Shadow smiled a touch at the memory and he turned away from the photo wall.

Tails had plopped down at a small dining table, curling over the mess atop it with intense focus. The table was crammed into a corner closer to the door and was covered with a mishmash of wires, small appliance tools, and half-built race cars.

“What’s all this?” Shadow asked, moving to stand at the table, inspecting the work in progress but not touching anything.

“School project,” the fox, so quietly focused before now didn’t hold back from elaborating, “I’m taking extra credits at WCC this summer and the intro engineering professor made his first assignment open ended. Just need to build a functional machine that’s innovative.”

“And you’ve chosen race cars?”

Twin tails thwacked against the chair the fox sat in, his excitement at talking about his project barely contained, “Of course! I’m making them fully motorized by solar power! They’ll each have storage cells and when you pull them back for a charged race they’ll show the power level on the side.”

Shadow hummed, tilting his head to better read the scribbled schematics on loose leaf notebook paper, mentally checking the fox’s math on the solar cells, “You’re using germanium for one of the silicone layers,” the dark hedgehog realized, it wasn’t a question as he could see the material evidence on the table, “You should use a three layer approach with phosphorous and boron outside of the pure silicone. If you want higher thermal stability that’s where you start.”

Wide blue eyes darted down to his notes and Tails snatched up his pencil, erasing and writing over the solar cell notes, “Germanium’s a good semiconductor, but the phosphorous would transfer more electrons…” the fox trailed off as he continued to write, only pausing to throw a questioning look at the hedgehog. “How’d you know?”

Shadow was tempted to let the fox remain clueless. But his sister would never stand to leave a teachable moment on the table, so he wouldn’t either. Shadow only just started to explain the applications of his PhD to the little genius when he was interrupted.

A whirlwind of pretty green eyes and a smart mouth swept into the living room proper, ready to capture Shadow's undivided attention.

“He’s a space nerd that’s how,” a now familiar voice said, and Shadow turned to see Sonic standing at the hallway’s start, emerald eyes roving over the dark hedgehog. “Probably knows everything about solar power and stars and other hot stuff.”

Shadow barely heard the banter as he took in the sight of Sonic before him.

The cobalt hedgehog was dressed in a midnight blue suit, the shade just on the edge of deep space black, with a crisp new white button down beneath it. Once again Sonic had ditched wearing a tie, letting the top few buttons of the white shirt splay open, and a forest green kerchief was tucked into his suit jacket pocket. His quills had been freshly washed, styled back, and then ruffled with intention to look like he’d simply rolled out of bed. Even down to the leather derby shoes he wore, Sonic was dressed to the nines for the wedding day.

Silver was wrong, Shadow realized with a rush of cravings hitting him hard, Sonic didn’t just clean up nice, he scrubbed to breath-stealing temptation.

“You look good,” was all Shadow allowed himself to say. He couldn’t possibly tell Sonic just how damn fine he was in front of the other hedgehog’s little brother. But he’d find a moment to tell him, or show him, later.

“Do we still have time to run off together? Go get an early dinner and a late night?” Sonic grinned as he crossed the apartment, pausing before Shadow and needlessly fixing his tie.

The striped hedgehog had pulled out one of the nicer suits from his closet, one he’d hadn’t had reason to wear in some time, but was still fit for the day. The three piece suit was a perfectly tailored sweep of pitch black fabrics, the subtle pattern of the vest almost inscrutable with the dark on dark cloth. The only color to the suit was the glimmering red gems of his cuff links.

Shadow, dressed to his namesake, looked like a stormy bodyguard to Sonic’s easy going movie star appearance.

And the blue hedgehog could only just restrain himself from freeing the chest fluff he knew was hidden beneath that black dress shirt and vest.

Shadow tilted his head, trying to catch the heady eye contact of Sonic as he fussed again with the ink black tie. Slowly, the dark hedgehog took Sonic’s wrists, extracting them from the fabric and squeezing them in a silent warning.

Sonic took a measured step away, sharp incisors gnawing at the inside of his cheek to keep indecent remarks in.

The black cloth of Shadows formal gloves pulled taunt as his hands flexed, his willpower wrestling with his instinct to grab hold of Sonic and pull him back for a real ‘hello’.

“What are your intentions with my brother?” Tails asked, breaking the hushed tension between the hedgehogs after having only given his brother’s arrival a sparing glance.

The dark hedgehog was taken aback by the directness of the fox. He was unable to tell from his flitting twin tails and nose buried in a textbook just how serious the teenager was.

“Ignore him,” Sonic laughed as he crossed to the kitchen table to ruffle the mop of longer yellow fur on the fox’s head, much to his brother’s adamant annoyance, “He thinks he’s funny.”

“If I’m not funny than it’s because I learned all my jokes from you,” the fox mock growled, smacking at Sonic’s playful noogie.

That only incensed the blue hedgehog and in a split second he and his brother tussled into a mild play fight. Sonic yanked back the chair the fox was perched on, upending him in a roll of limbs only for Tails to dig his elbow into the lightly worn leather of Sonic’s shoe.

With a jokingly false howl of pain Sonic kicked up his leg, knee knocking into the table and disrupting the cluttered array of tools and papers.

Tails shouted in outrage as race cars rolled and fell down atop him, “Watch the project!”

Sonic threw his hands up in caution, only wanting to annoy his brother, not ruin his hard work.

But in the next moment Tails was up and throwing two of the race cars at his brothers face, taking advantage of the caution brought by the apology.

Watching the siblings bicker brought a tumble of amusement to Shadow, and he shook his head disparagingly at the brothers.

They only found a small truce when Sonic had caught and held all of race cars high above the fox’s head, the canidae still hadn't hit a growth spurt and couldn’t reach them without climbing onto the dining table.

“Don’t give my date the shovel talk and you can have these back,” Sonic cornered, wiggling the race cars above his head.

Tails growled, sharp eyes unblinking, but after a moment he gave in, “Fine, he doesn’t seem that bad anyway.”

“Oh he’s bad alright,” Sonic threw the coy words over his shoulder at Shadow.

The other hedgehog snorted dismissively, reminding himself once again to keep it together. He should be making a good first impression on Sonic’s closest living relative, Shadow told himself sternly, Not getting swept up in his shameless flirting.

Even if he did like what Sonic had to say. And how he said it.

Dropping his hands in the small truce the brothers had formed, Sonic returned the race cars to the begrudging teen. He was distracted from further pestering the fox in the next instance when his phone rang loudly from down the hall.

“You’ll silence that before the ceremony?” Shadow questioned as Sonic darted towards the hallway. Even though Shadow didn’t know Wave much at all, he was confident she’d be livid if her husband’s groomsmen got a blaring loud phone call as she walked down the aisle.

Sonic’s shout of, “Course I will…probably,” did little to assure the striped hedgehog.

“You didn’t answer the question,” The fox spoke up, immediately breaking his brother’s request, as he reshuffled papers back into place.

Ebony ears could just pick up the subtle sound of Sonic on the phone, talking fast with someone on the other line, but he was down the hall and regrettably out of sight. So when Shadow turned to the young fox, it was with a clear mind and steady heart, neither impeded by the intoxicating presence of the cobalt hedgehog.

“If you’re asking whether I’ll make an honest hedgehog out of him,” Shadow mused much to the fox’s dismay as his nose scrunched and shoulder fur bristled disagreeably, “Then no. Not yet. But I have every intention of treating him right.”

Fox snout still screwed up in revolt, Tails scrutinized his brother's choice, weighing his answer carefully.

“Sonic can be… flighty,” Tails cautioned, “He doesn’t always think stuff through and it gets him into trouble. I don’t want my brother in trouble.”

Shadow paused, sensing for the first time the genuine concern in Tails’ voice.

He just wanted to protect his brother.

Maria had done something similar that morning, when Shadow had told her where he’d be that afternoon. His sister had immediately pulled out her laptop before he’d finished speaking, demanding a name so she could investigate the cobalt hedgehog on Solgram, ChaosChat, and Flicky.

Shadow had expected nothing less from Maria but he’d briskly told her to keep anything she found to herself. He wanted to get to know Sonic on his own terms. Not from the overprotective snooping of his sister.

The dark hedgehog shifted, not forcing Tails to meet his eye but making sure he knew he had nothing to hide in the willingness to hold his gaze and the steadiness in his voice.

“Your brother is… perplexingly charming," Shadow admitted, "I don’t understand how he's talked me into being here. But he has been successful in defying my better judgement. While he may be heedless and indiscreet, I’m not shaking and I’m not turning tail. I can handle trouble if it comes for him.”

Or for me.

After a moment, sitting in the certainty of Shadow’s claims, Tails looked up to meet his gaze, “Okay. Just don’t break his heart. We only have melted popsicles so he can’t cry out his feelings into ice cream.”

Shadow snorted with some amusement at that conjured image and held out his hand to shake the teenager’s.

“My name is Shadow, I’ll be Sonic’s date for the evening,” he said formally.

And with a belabored roll of his eyes, the fox reached out to return the handshake.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Tails. My brother is probably more work than he’s worth but good luck trying,” the fox nodded, dropping the handshake to grab for another melted popsicle.

“I’ll see about that,” Shadow countered. Surprising himself at the sincerity. In just a few days of knowing him, Shadow wanted to know Sonic. Carnally yes, but beyond that too. He shook his quills out, burying the idea as it began to take root.

The seconds of calm between the fox and the hedgehog were dashed away when Sonic reappeared from the hallway.

“You guys talkin' about me?” The blue hedgehog asked, fiddling with his phone’s notification sound settings.

“Yes,” Tails and Shadow said at once and Sonic looked up, freezing mid step at the new found solidarity.

“Mmm-‘kay, well don’t let my presence stop the compliments,” Sonic rolled back into motion, never caught off guard for long. “We’re heading out now Tails, but that was Surge on the phone. Kit and Charmy are on their way and Cream is running late but she’ll be here.”

“Don’t see why we can’t go to the wedding too,” The foxed grumbled, his tall ears drooping back against his head, “I want cake and Kit wanted to object.”

“It’s a ‘no kids’ wedding bud, Wave’s rule,” Sonic reminded him for the umpteenth time, double checking that he had his wallet and phone tucked into his suit jacket, “You’ll have fun here. Cream’s bringing a lasagna and brownie mix and Charmy’s got the new Minesweeper. You’ll be fine.”

Tails sat up straight, ears perking again, “Brownies?”

“Yes, but dinner first,” the blue hedgehog said as he snatched up his apartment keys from the counter and shoved them into his quills for safe keeping.

Shadow tracked the haphazard progress to leave that Sonic made, noting that he’d have to allot extra ‘get ready’ time for future dates with the hedgehog.

This Jester was making himself worth the hold up in those suit pants though, Shadow mused to himself, letting his gaze dip down the curve of Sonic's backside for a split second. If this took any longer Shadow would be tempted to pull up a chair and enjoy the show as Sonic moved around the room in that casually attractive suit.

The gentle, unintentional, idea of more times like this with Sonic caressed at Shadow’s awareness but didn’t unearth enough for him to recognize the fantasy for what it was.

Giving one last whirl around, triple checking he had everything he needed, Sonic tripped forward, nearly smashing into head first into Shadow.

The dark hedgehog caught him easily, the scant inch of height Sonic had on him disappearing when he leaned into this sudden embrace.

They had been closer on that chair in After Dark and again in the back room of Raw Honey. And yet this intimacy of Sonic’s hug in his apartment brought spark of nerves to the dark hedgehog.

“Ready now?” Shadow rumbled, his nose twitching once at the closeness of the other. The blackberry and bay scents of Sonic were utterly intoxicating to the striped hedgehog and he had a difficult second remembering to keep his wits about him again.

With a cheeky bite to his lip, Sonic took hold of Shadow’s wrist, twisting his forearm and pushing up the black silk fabric of his cuff to check the clock face.

“We can make it if we leave now,” Sonic determined, shifting and placing both hands on broad shoulders, ready to push Shadow backwards out the door, “And if we run down the dock and maybe leap the ship railing we’ll make it with a minute to spare.”

Shadow wasn’t so easily moved, and with a light, steadying grasp to Sonic’s forearms, he prompted roughly, “Forgetting something?”

“Umm?” Cobalt brows furrowed as Sonic searched for whatever Shadow was hinting at, only to gasp with a flicker of realization.

Sonic dipped forward then, pressing a gentlemanly kiss to honey dark muzzle, right on the corner of his mouth just as Shadow had done the day before to him.

“You look really nice too,” Sonic smiled warmly, breath ghosting along the dark fuzz of his date's cheek.

“No,” Shadow huffed, pulling back to stop any further blush from blooming, “Where’s your wedding gift?”

“Oh shit,” Sonic let out a laugh at the realization and stepped back to spin around the apartment once again. The blue hedgehog shuffled containers of the lunch leftovers on the coffee table, dug around in worn couch cushions, and went so far as to check inside the fridge.

Shadow wasn’t entirely sure how the popsicles couldn’t have made it into the freezer but this wedding gift could have been set inside with the butter and fresh fruit.

“Ah-hmm,” Tails cleared his throat, waving two crisp pieces of paper out for his brother. They’d been shuffled into the mess of the kitchen table at some point that morning and would have been lost entirely if not for the fox’s keen eye.

“Thanks bud!” Sonic took the papers with a smile and whirled around to hold them out for Shadow to see.

It was obvious from the set of his shoulders, and lift of his chin, that Sonic was proud of his choice in gift but Shadow would still scrutinize it. After all, it was one of two things he’d promised the bride.

Crimson eyes quickly scanned over the papers, noting the smudged fresh ink and scribbled out note of congrats in Sonic’s flourishing handwriting.

“They’re tickets to a motocross expo in a few months,” Shadow noted, not distastefully, “Whole weekend VIP tickets with track-side access?”

Sonic grinned, “Trust me, they’re gonna love this!”

The striped hedgehog shrugged, Sonic knew his friends better than Shadow could, and pulled the wedding card he’d picked up that morning out of his inner pocket. Opening the envelope, Shadow folded and tucked the printed tickets inside.

“Later Tails!” Sonic called over his shoulder and stepped out onto the apartment’s front door landing.

The fox hollered a goodbye back to his brother, and just before the door clicked shut, he snapped a quick ‘see ya’ for the dark hedgehog.

Shadow considered that a first impression victory.

“What’d you get them?” Sonic asked, jogging the few steps down to street level.

The striped hedgehog smirked, keeping pace, and slipped the card from its envelope. Flipping it open, he held out the cardstock to show Sonic as they slid into the backseat of their ride share.

Emerald eyes dilated as he read the glittering gold gel pen across the bottom half of the card, huffing in disbelief at the phone number scrawled at the very end.

For a good time call Golden Apple - Silver xxx

Chapter Text

The moment both hedgehogs made landfall at the venue island, Sonic stripped off his pressure point cuffs and stuffed them back into his quills.

The ferry trip from the main island out to the village islet of Floral Forest had been a smooth enough ride. Sonic managed well, taking two dramamine at lunch, making sure his anti-nausea wrist bands were snuggly on, and gladly accepting the stolen ginger ale Shadow had snagged for him.

“Do you not take boat rides out to your little green conservation islands all the time?” Shadow had questioned, cracking open and passing the cold can, snuck from the galley below, over to the other hedgehog.

Sonic had taken the drink gratefully, “Yes, but usually that’s by sea-doo or skiff. And I’m the one piloting. Helps with the sea sickness.”

Shadow shook his head, of course Sonic wouldn’t let something like the threat of nausea stand in his way.

Emerald eyes glinted, and the blue hedgehog nudged at Shadow’s side with his elbow, “And I look good in a captain’s hat.”

“I’m sure you think so,” Shadow smirked, tucking away the image Sonic so plainly provided.

It was almost too indulgent, this craving desire Shadow felt for the foolish hedgehog. But he had to maintain some sense of propriety on this date. And judging from the coy looks and smart mouth on Sonic, his date wouldn’t be making it easy on him.

The dark hedgehog wondered if there was anything that could keep Sonic on track. He seemed so intent in everything he did, throwing himself into every stride, happy to run wild. It was disarming to Shadow, who knew from experience the few times he’d thrown caution to the wind, he’d ended up enduring the consequences.

That was, in a way, how he’d wrecked his motorcycle.

But if you hadn’t crashed then, you wouldn’t be here now, the thought bubbled up inside of Shadow, only to pop when he internally reached for it.

“I’m still blue yeah? Haven’t turned green?” Sonic joked, interrupting Shadow’s silent musings. Sonic was steadier from the cold ginger ale now and could even turn away from his concentration on the horizon.

With a considering humm, the striped hedgehog leaned closer to his date, pushing his tinted sunglasses up to get an unobstructed view.

Shadow cupped Sonic’s jaw, turning his head slightly from side to side, inspecting the peach of his muzzle and the cobalt of his facial fuzz. With the afternoon sunlight shining down and reflected off the waves churning beneath the ferry, the emerald of Sonic’s eyes sparkled like rare gemstones.

“No, you’re still annoyingly good-looking,” Shadow lamented and dropped his sunglasses back into place. He had to internally strong arm down the flipflop feeling his heart performed.

Maybe crashing the motorcycle wasn’t a terrible thing after all. The consequences sure came with a nice view.

“Could use a little more red around the muzzle though,” Shadow added smugly, “Will have to do something about that.”

A responding blush dappled Sonic’s muzzle, a soft pink not quite a bold red. Not yet, Shadow thought, turning back to the horizon.

Sonic would not be as easy to frazzle when he got back onto solid land.

Floral Forest was an islet, home to a cozy village and an old vineyard, the latter being that day’s wedding venue.

Surrounded by rows of ripening grapes, the two story château, with its fieldstone mosaic walls and terracotta roof, was a simple yet high-end vineyard bed-and-breakfast.

The building was shaped like a horseshoe that opened out to the private grape orchards and had ocean views from nearly every room. Decorated in naturally growing ivy vines, and strategically placed sweat peas of white and pale purple, was the encircled stone floor courtyard. It had been set up for a welcoming cocktail hour for guests to gather before they moved down to a flat grassy area where the ceremony itself would take place.

Sonic and Shadow were the last to arrive, turning up the shore from the ferry while the other passengers took off towards the little village.

Passing through the lobby of the bed and breakfast, Shadow could easily hear the echoing chatter from the central courtyard through the thrown open wooden doors. There was a constant undercurrent of squawking to the conversations from the couple’s avian family members.

Shadow wouldn’t know a soul here. His plan was to make his good impressions on Sonic’s friends, and follow through on the bride’s two requests of him. He’d succeeded so far by ensuring Sonic brought a decent gift for the happy couple.

The second request was less in Shadow’s control and that put him on edge. Wave had told him he wasn’t allowed to ‘look better than her’ and the only way Shadow could rationally measure if that was happening would be to gauge what the guests were talking about.

If their focus was on the bride then he’d be doing as she asked. Simple enough.

At least this was how he’d explained it to Rouge that morning and she’d been almost overly supportive of the idea.

Now, as they approached the cocktail hour, Shadow would stick close to Sonic and out of any spotlight. And by the way the blue hedgehog walked so near to him, close enough that they bumped shoulders more than once, Shadow didn’t presume that part of the plan would be a problem.

One stride from the courtyard though and strong hands wrapped around the dark hedgehog’s shoulders, yanking him from the doorway and back a step into the closed off lobby.

Shadow’s back hit an interior wall and gloved hands slammed into place on either side of his head.

Sonic had yanked them off their path, and with one ear trained towards the cocktail party, he’d secreted Shadow up against the fieldstone out of sight.

A teasing smile tugged at Sonic’s lips as Shadow let out a gruff noise from the sudden change in direction.

“Are we not late enough?” Shadow growled reproachfully.

With his arms barricading the striped hedgehog, Sonic’s muzzle was close enough he could bump Shadow’s nose with his own. For a moment he just let that growl settle in the warm space between them as he traced the curve of Shadow’s furrowed brow ridge with a fascinated look.

Sonic wondered what he could do to ease the almost constant crinkle to this dark and stormy hedgehog, see what was under that attitude he liked so much.

“Yeah, but in a second,” Sonic murmured finally, soaking up every heartbeat of this closeness, “Just wanted to say something before we go in there and my friends are nonstop and it’s all about Wave.”

Crimson eyes narrowed and he shifted against the uneven fieldstone of the wall, the rough cut rock bit through his suit and pressed his back quills down flat, “Get on with it then.”

“I just wanted to say that I’m really happy you’re here with me,” another faint blush heated his peach muzzle.

A breath caught in Shadow’s lungs at the admission from Sonic.

“And you really do look so damn gorgeous,” Sonic added, pulling back a fraction to openly leer at the darkly suited hedgehog, one of his sharp incisors gnawed at his lower lip, “I can’t wait to take that suit off you.”

Shadow’s rumbling response of “Confident aren’t you?” fell away as Sonic dipped forward, stealing a proper kiss with his date.

Sonic leaned heavily into the wall and Shadow as the kiss lengthened, honey dark lips on peach parting, slipping, and colliding again.

Mosaic rock dug into the gloved palms of Sonic’s hands and the flaring span of striped quills pressed up against that wall would leave thin scratch marks all over the limestone. But neither could think beyond the matched craving they had for one another.

The number of kisses they’d shared could be counted swiftly and yet nothing had ever felt so innate. Shadow’s mouth fit to his in a way that had Sonic ready to beg for more and howl to the moon in rhapsody.

And yet, much to his ever lasting impatience, Sonic had to breath.

He broke the kiss, pulling back with a labored sigh, only for Shadow to growl in frustration, “You’re not done,” his wanting command raked deliciously up a clothed cobalt spine.

Reaching upwards, Shadow took hold of the forearms bracketing his head, and hauled them down so that Sonic would falter forward into him.

The blue hedgehog’s hands caught on steady shoulders for balance as Shadow captured his lips in another fervid kiss.

Sonic moaned into the heated press, Shadow swallowing the sound when honey dark parted to suck his plump lower lip. The rushing quick and desperate kisses of yesterday evening were tempered into this languid give and take, but only just. With a nipping bite to that attended lip, Shadow made himself break away.

The cobalt hedgehog took a shaky breath, fighting against the instinctual buck within himself to plead for another of these heady kisses Shadow was so very good at.

How was it that he could have the ex-club bunny up against a wall and yet Sonic was the one going weak in the knees? It was a mystery the blue hedgehog desperately wanted to uncover.

“What would you have done if we skipped the wedding?” Shadow asked, keeping his voice low so it wouldn’t carry through the open alderwood doors only a few feet from them, “If Wave hadn’t given in and let you invite me?”

Sonic surfaced back to sense at that question, his answer weighing on his mind half the morning. As he’d been getting ready, buttoning up his suit and fixing his quills, the tempting urge to bail on the whole wedding swirled in his mind.

“I would have sent Tails to stay at Surge and Kits’ place. Would’ve made you a home cooked dinner, maybe some kind of pasta to impress you. I can make an amazing cream-based sauce,” Sonic grinned and Shadow rolled his eyes not without a small touch of amusement.

Sonic continued though, not able to hide his real earnestness at the mental plan he’d thought up without meaning to, “I’d have rented us a movie but we probably wouldn’t have watched much of it. And then, if you weren’t sick of me talking through the whole flick, we’d have done whatever you wanted.”

Crimson eyes flickered at the suggestion, Whatever he wanted?

“Sounds like it could’ve been a good time,” Shadow allowed, tucking away that date for another day and time.

They were here to celebrate the wedding of Sonic’s two close friends for their second date. Maybe it wasn’t the most casual of circumstances but Shadow could handle the pressure and his cravings.

What he couldn’t do was throw the cobalt hedgehog over his shoulder and simply walk them back to the ferry for that other date idea; no matter how tantalizing the thought was.

Stepping back from Shadow, Sonic adjusted his almost new suit back into place. “But we’re here, and I already spent that money on a great gift, so might as well get on with it,” he said and held out a hand for Shadow to take.

The black fabric of Shadow’s glove folded so perfectly into the crisp alabaster color of Sonic’s when he took his hand.

It would be a terrible impression to ditch the wedding, Shadow told himself as he too fixed his slightly disheveled appearance. And if any of his time with Sonic had taught Shadow a thing, it was that this Jester knew how to make the best of any situation.

Shadow had been unsurprisingly correct in his assumptions. He would not be able to lay low throughout the wedding. This being proven right was the eternal curse of his pessimistic tendencies.

The moment Sonic pulled him out into the courtyard, calling out a general greeting to everyone crowded there, dozens of guests turned to them, zeroing in with overcurious attention.

Ebony ears folded back against his head, striped quills flaring on instinct, and Shadow raised his chin as a dare for anyone to come closer.

On a stage, in the dusky cover of After Dark, Shadow had never minded eyes on him. He’d been in control, separated and untouchable. But this attention, on a dance floor he didn’t know and only one person in his corner, instantly put Shadow on edge.

Nothing you can’t handle, Shadow reminded himself. Briefly annoyed that he found himself caring so much about ensuring this date went smoothly.

The guests shifted again, curious looks and wide eyes darted away, a crash of hushed gossip hitting the crowd. Shadow tried to even out his frown at that reaction when Sonic seemed wholly unbothered by it all.

If the venue itself looked expensive, the decoration and service inside surely doubled the price.

High top tables, each with their own center piece, ringed the already filled courtyard for guests to talk around as they waited for the ceremony to begin. Cater waiters crossed the space with trays of hors d'oeuvres and champagne held aloft. Hidden speakers played delicate piano music and every guest was dressed smartly, although some had picked spring pallets when they were so obviously a winter.

The bed-and-breakfast must have been rented out fully as only weddings guests were present in the courtyard, halls, or looking down from the small balconies of the second floor. Heart-shaped bistro lights were strung above and a photographer that Shadow only lightly recognized moved through the crowd snapping shots as she went.

The dark hedgehog couldn’t help but wonder, How the hell had they afforded all this?

Sonic had talked at length about his work during their coffee date the day before. It was obvious he loved what he did and Shadow had enjoyed listening to the comical work stories Sonic had to share. Many of which included today’s groom, Jet, and the many hijinks their work crews got into. From what Sonic had said, the hawk was an environmental lawyer for the non-profit while the bride, Wave, was a small engine mechanic.

While both were steady careers, neither could reasonably afford the venue Shadow and Sonic had just walked into.

“How could they…” Shadow let the question go as Sonic snatched two mini shot glasses of cocktail sauce sprouting grilled shrimp speared on toothpicks from a passing tray.

The blue hedgehog passed one of the appetizers to his date and claimed another for himself before the cater waiter moved on through the gathering. Sonic bit off the shrimp and tossed the cocktail sauce back like a proper shot.

It was a different guest, flouncing up beside the hedgehogs, that picked up the trail of Shadow’s partial question to answer, “Wave and Jet are friends of the owners. We all are actually!”

Shadow turned towards the voice, finding a perky pink hedgehog he recognized from After Dark and Raw Honey. He hadn’t given her much mind at either shift, but now he recalled the unsubtle questions Blaze had asked him about the wedding guest list. Rouge told her and Silver about Shadow’s plans within seconds of receiving the news herself.

Both of the dancers were somewhat disappointed they couldn’t get their own last minute invites but that simply wasn’t an option for many reasons. Shadow would have to tell the mauve cat her keen eyesight hadn’t been misleading in the low light of the club.

The perky pink hedgehog wore a scoop necked red satin dress that came down to her mid calf, it looked handmade in a cared for way, and was almost a perfect color on her. In the warm light of the afternoon sun, Shadow could recognize the sugary vibrancy of the pink hedgehog, exactly what Blaze liked.

“Hey Ames,” Sonic beamed, “Told you we’d make it on time!”

Amy gave her friend a quick side hug and smiled a kind greeting for Shadow, “I’m sure the good timing was all your hard work, Sonic.”

“It wasn’t,” Shadow informed her and received a short hiss of overblown betrayal from Sonic but a knowing giggle from Amy.

“Oh we know he’d never have gotten here on time without some help,” a far deeper voice said, cutting Sonic’s mock glare off as the speaker, a large red echidna, joined their little group.

Where Sonic’s clothing was laid back and almost casual, (begging to be wrinkled and pulled open by carmine striped fingers), and Shadow was dressed to enticing rich darkness, the echidna was almost rustic with beige trousers and matching red suspenders over his button down shirt.

Another style and choice Blaze would definitely like to know about, Shadow mentally noted.

“I don’t think we’ve been properly introduced,” the pink hedgehog said, throwing a prompting look at Sonic who was too busy downing his second shrimp cocktail to notice, “I’m Amy Rose and this is Knuckles.”

The echidna nodded simply, recognizing Shadow with a mildly surprised look. The last and only time Knuckles had spoken with the dark hedgehog had been at the dimly lit bar of After Dark, naming prices for Shadow’s time.

“Got a lot out of those rings,” Knuckles snorted, not entirely amused.

Beside him Sonic coughed on the dregs of cocktail sauce and Amy sliced a reproachful look at the giant echidna.

Might as well get this out of the way now, Shadow thought and set the hors d'oeuvres cup on another passing tray.

“This is Shadow,” Sonic beat him to the punch, side-stepping right up to the dark hedgehog and slipping an arm around Shadow’s waist. He settled a hand on his silky swathed hip and gave a reassuring, almost guardlike, squeeze, “He’s my plus one and I like when he’s around so you should get used to it.”

That tricky sensation twirled in his chest again and Shadow found it harder to not let it go to his head. Maybe making a good impression wouldn’t matter, not if Sonic wanted him around regardless of what his friends thought.

The ex-club bunny raised his chin, meeting the echidna’s purple gaze unflinchingly, “My real name,” he confirmed, no room for debate about the capacity he was there in.

He felt no shame for the work he’d done in the past and wouldn’t let anyone, including Sonic’s friends, make him or his date feel negatively for that.

The dark hedgehog didn’t have to worry though, not from the echidna or pink hedgehog at least.

“It’s a pleasure to really meet you Shadow,” Amy smiled brightly, much of the awkward strain dissipating even as Knuckles clicked his jaw tense, “Now that you’re here with Sonic, Wave’s weird aunt got bumped to another table for the reception, so dinner will be a much better time!”

Sonic gave a shudder at the realization he’d nearly been trapped by the auntie for the evening, “Dodged a bullet there,” he agreed, and bumped his hip against Shadow’s, “You’ve saved me Shads, want a drink?”

“Godfather, if able,” he replied, and with one more quick pulse of deft fingers on his hip, Sonic stepped away, gesturing for Knuckles to lead him to wherever the bar had been set up.

As the blue hedgehog moved, he smacked an open palm on the broad shoulder of his friend, speaking something hushed his way that had the echidna easing up.

“You don’t need to worry about Knuckles,” the pink hedgehog commented. She was rocking back and forth on her Mary Janes, watching Shadow closely out of the corner of her eye. “He seems pretty strong-armed but he’s just shy around people he doesn’t know. We really are happy you’re here.”

Shadow raised a brow, skeptical if that was in fact true, or if Rose was covering up for her friend’s closed-off demeanor.

“I’m serious,” Amy insisted, propping her fists on her hips in a display of her friendly authority, “Everyone’s excited to get to know you!”

He found that even harder to believe than her explanation of the echidna.

“I’ll try to not disappoint,” Shadow replied reflexively, and wondered how his plan to stick close to Sonic had so quickly gone awry.

The pink hedgehog was far more observing than her friends though and picked up the uncertain rumple to Shadow’s brow.

Amy dropped her voice down then, stage whispering to Shadow as if they had something to conspire about, “It’s so obvious that Sonic likes you. He acts like he never has to work for a thing. Like he doesn’t even need to try.”

A sharp incisor threatened to bite through Shadow’s tongue. These were still the same friends that had paid a pretty ring for Shadow to spend an evening on Sonic’s lap just to shut him up for a few minutes. He shouldn’t be surprised they’d rejoice at having the ex-club bunny around again to tongue-tie their friend with a haughty look.

And he has such an annoyingly nice voice too, Shadow thought with a scowl, troubled by how much the blue hedgehog had grown on him in just a few days.

“Don’t let us get to you,” Amy smiled encouragingly, her voice far louder and sing-song light now, drawing attention from a few of the nearby guests, “You won’t have a thing to worry about though. It’s so obvious to everyone here that Sonic’s trying really hard for you.”

Shadow huffed noncommittally, rolling that confirmation over in head.

He better be trying, the cynical thought raked through Shadow’s mind, I won’t be the only one giving a damn.

Not willing to linger any longer on the threshold of the courtyard, Amy and Shadow moved further into the venue. The pink hedgehog practically skipped while Shadow strode calmly, not totally back from the edge as he felt avian eyes follow him across the stonework.

They quickly found an unoccupied standing table and waited for the drinks or the ceremony, which ever came first.

“Friends of the vineyard owners?” Shadow prompted after a moment, trying to find any conversation he could hold with this veritable stranger. If she was anything like her cobalt friend, then Amy would take the cue and run with it, not stopping to breath as she answered.

Spring green eyes sparkled as she responded, “Absolutely! We’ve all known each other for years, didn’t Sonic tell you about his job?” Amy couldn’t wait for a response before bubbling on, “The venue is basically a wedding gift. Vanilla’s had this place in her family for years and has been working hard to renovate it. But it’s a historical landmark and she wants to keep it as sustainable and renewable as possible.”

“So she had the nonprofit consult on the property?” Shadow surmised.

Pink quills, flat-ironed into place, were jostled at Rose’s enthusiastic nodding, “Yes! It’s a side project for the lot of them. Sonic, Surge, and Jet even helped install new solar panels and fixed the irrigation system last summer. So when Jet needed a venue Vanilla just tore up their budget and told them they didn’t have to worry.”

An ebony ear flicked, gloved hands flexing subconsciously as Rose continued to chatter away.

He knew Sonic was surprisingly strong, he’d picked up the ex-club bunny with little effort just a couple of days ago, but hoisting and installing solar panels would have taken long hours of hard labor. Under the hot summer sun, dripping in sweat he’d rub off his brow with his bare toned forearm. Free from layers of fabric and needing his hard worked muscles relaxed…

That torrid trail of thoughts was not dissuaded in the slightest by the reappearing interruption of the blue hedgehog. Sonic and Knuckles wove around other tall tables and shorter guests to join Shadow and Amy again.

“What are we talking about?” Sonic asked, sidling up to his date and bringing his scent and smile with him. The tips of his cloth gloved fingers brushed against Shadow’s, lingering a fraction too long, as he passed over the drink.

And what could he do with leather work gloves on?

Shadow shook out his quills and the stirring thoughts. Get it together! Shadow willed himself, Letting some silly fantasy run wild in your head? You’re no better than Silver!

“Rose was explaining how the bride and groom afforded all this,” Shadow answered honestly, gesturing with the glass of scotch whiskey towards the venue at large before taking a long sip of the smokey liquor.

His thirst, having slowly built over the last three days, was in no way quenched.

“Yeah, don’t let the fancy catering fool you,” Sonic snorted, taking his own long drink from his beer. Just as thirsty, if not more so, than the striped hedgehog. “That was the only thing Wave and Jet paid for in full.”

“Really?” Shadow asked, flicking a look at the burgeoning party around them.

The cater waiters were all dressed in matching deep green bowties and offered a variety of appetizers to enjoy. That service alone would have been pricey, but the decorative fresh flowers, the DJ set-up for dancing later, and the open bar would have to come with quite the price tag even with a friendly discount.

“Oh yes,” Amy said cheerily, happy to boast on behalf of her friend, “I made the wedding cake, Storm’s cousin is the DJ, and Whisper is an amazing shot with a camera. Wave got her dress for practically a steal and the flowers were donated from Floral Forest’s valley this morning.”

“Brought the flowers here myself,” Knuckles grunted, “Almost got a thanks out of the old bird.”

“She’s younger than you are,” Amy smacked the echidna’s arm, “Don’t pretend you weren’t happy to help. And of course Vanilla and Vector gave them the venue and open bar at a discount.”

Shadow hummed favorably for the scrupulous nature of the bride, “Generous friends.”

“We can be,” Knuckles said, and tipped his glass towards the dark hedgehog, a mostly genuine attempt at camaraderie, “for our friends.”

“Speaking of friends!” Amy squealed, missing Knuckles’ closed fisted tone entirely as her attention moved over the crowd. Raising her moscato glass in the direction of some guests Shadow didn’t recognize, she spoke out of the corner of her mouth quickly, “That’s the owners, Vanilla and her husband.”

A matronly rabbit caught Amy’s wave for attention and tugged on the scaled arm of a tall crocodile, urging them over to the group.

“You’ve all made it!” The rabbit, Vanilla, called out as they closed in on the tall table.

“Couldn’t have convinced Jet to get good beer?” Vector grumbled even as he took a long swig.

“I did,” Sonic joked back, “You just don’t appreciate it.”

“He’s got no taste for anything but wine these days,” Knuckles chuckled even as he took a sip from his own drink, a glass of local merlot.

“And who’s this?” Vanilla said, smiling tight lipped at the dark hedgehog by Sonic’s side, her tone suddenly clipped.

Crimson eyes narrowed, she knows exactly who I am.

“This is Shadow,” Sonic answered with another easy smile, not picking up on the renewed tension around the table, “Wave let me bring a last minute plus one.”

“You’re the one that works nights right?” Vector asked, only to hack on his following comment when Vanilla dug a silencing elbow into his ribs.

Sonic’s quills rose a fraction just as Shadow’s striped ones did, both tensing.

“Well it’s nice meeting you, Sonic never brings…” The rabbit pursed her lips again, searching for something delicate to say, “dates — to these old friend get togethers. But don’t worry, we’re so happy you’re here to celebrate with us!”

Ebony ears flicked back against Shadow’s head, unsure how to respond to that.

To his right, Knuckles frowned at Vanilla’s strangely stilted conversation and exchanged a look with Amy.

“Why don’t we catch up after the ceremony?” Rose said curbing the stilted conversation, “I think Espio wanted to talk with you?”

Vanilla gave an almost relived churr of acknowledgment to the pink hedgehog, and with her husband by her side, they whisked back into the cocktail party.

Knuckles grumbled something the dark hedgehog didn’t hear, his focus had affixed to the couple leaving, a bitter taste in the back of Shadow’s throat as he swept another glance over the crowd.

Many of the guests were a colorful array of avian Mobians in their fine dresses and suits, all chirping away to one another.

Amongst the birds, Shadow spotted a lemur and the wolf with her camera, a confused looking chameleon talking to Vanilla, and a badger seemingly ranting at a flying squirrel. The armadillo and jerboa flanking the squirrel both slowly backed away from the badger’s insisting talk.

But between them all, amongst the babble of the crowd and cocktail hour, guests kept throwing scrutinizing side-eyes directly Shadow’s way.

It made the dark fur under his suit stand on end. This attention he didn’t want drawing his walls up higher.

One of the guests, an older gray-green feathered bird of prey, gave a particularly critical look at the dark hedgehog before pushing his way through the crowd.

Shadow’s jaw ticked then, clues snapping into place, and he rasped a question to the small group of Sonic’s friends, “Does everyone here think I’m an escort?”

“Course not!” Sonic coughed on a swig at the same time Amy and Knuckles deadpanned a simple, “Yes.”

Crimson eyes flicked between the group, rolling over this realization internally.

Why did he think he’d be able to drop in, make a decent impression, and then wake Sonic up for their third date tomorrow morning?

But Sonic was never going to be subtle, unnoticed and unremarked upon here. It was, despite his introverted nature, one of the things Shadow found himself finding incredibly endearing about the blue hedgehog.

The night they met, and it hadn’t been very long since then, Shadow had recognized that Sonic’s friends were a close knit bunch. Friendships forged in camaraderie and honed to last.Like his friendships with Rouge, Blaze, and Silver.

If Shadow had brought Sonic to one of Rouge’s staff only parties or to Blaze’s book club nights it would have been a lions’ den. Shadow should have suspected the same would be true for Sonic bringing him along to this event.

But now the good first, second, (and for a few it would be the third), impressions he was trying to make were dashed before he stood a real chance.

There was nothing to do but own it, he’d never been ashamed before, and he wouldn’t start now.

“That does explain the tip that DJ gave me,” Shadow mused, smirking into the last taste of his whiskey and amaretto liquor.

Sonic nearly impaled Knuckles’ thick arm with the sharp spikes of his cobalt quills when he whipped his head around, contest quick on his tongue.

But then he caught the teasing spark in currant red eyes. Jaw snapping shut, cutting off his immediate reaction, Sonic instead growled playfully back at his date, “You really are bad. Should I be worried a bidding war is gonna break out during the vows?”

Shadow let out a chuffing short laugh at Sonic’s flare of protectiveness, and baited him further, “Potentially.”

“I need another drink,” Knuckles grumbled, downing his wine.

“Yeah, you can thank Surge for all that,” Amy giggled, nodding towards a green tenrec in a fitted tuxedo pushing through the crowd, making a path directly for them.

Sonic followed Amy’s look, his taunting energy cooling to frustration when he realized what the pink hedgehog was intimating.

“Hey losers,” Surge called when she was within ear shot, “Have you guys seen Jet?”

“Have you been telling everyone I paid to bring a date to Wave’s wedding?” Sonic shot back.

Shadow recognized this tenrec, from the stag and hen parties, as well as Sonic’s living room pictures, and she seemed even more prickly up close.

She snarled openly at Sonic’s question, rolling her eyes and mocking out a fake laugh, “Ha — no. But I should have!”

A cobalt brow wrinkled and Sonic shifted beside Shadow, leaning closer to his date. Possibly for his own assurance, or maybe so that Shadow would hold him back from really giving the tenrec a piece of his mind for her flippancy.

“Then why is everyone looking at Shadow like he’s about to shop Rodeo Drive with my money?”

“You don’t have the rings to for that kind of date,” Shadow agreed, biting back another deep chuckle when Sonic threw him an affronted glare, and added, “I prefer homemade candle-lit dinners anyway.”

A soft blush ignited, only noticeable to Shadow who’d been memorizing the perfect peach shade of Sonic’s muzzle.

“Noted,” Sonic smiled, forgetting the group around them for just a moment as he held Shadow’s steady gaze.

“You know, not everyone is always talking about you,” Surge scoffed.

The tenrec took the offered remaining dregs of Amy’s moscato, drinking them down and mulling over the accusation.

“Actually,” Surge reconsidered, “I had to mention something to Sticks earlier. She wanted to know why ‘that dangerous beauty of an ex-stripper waiter’, — her words not mine — followed us from the bachelorette party to the wedding. Must have had some eavesdroppers.”

“Bunch of vultures, parroting whatever they hear,” Knuckles grumbled.

Shadow didn’t know who this Sticks was, but from the nods of understanding shared at the table, he assumed secret keeping and reactionary paranoia was typical for her.

“Thanks Surge,” Sonic replied sarcastically, throwing an apologetic look Shadow’s way, “Knew I could count on you to be subtle.”

“Well that’s your problem for bring—,” Surge was cut off by Amy placing a calming hand on her upper arm, quieting her easily.

“Not right now,” Amy redirected, “You came over here looking for Jet? Why? He’s not the type to run off.”

“Oh yeah, I was gonna warn him that he should hide,” Surge finished off Amy’s drink and gestured for Knuckles’ refreshed wine glass. “His dad’s looking for him.”

“Shit,” Sonic swore loudly.

Knuckles sneered, lips curling with disgust, and held his wine glass out of Surge’s reach. Amy, wide-eyed with shock, covered her mouth with her satin gloved hand.

“I take it the father of the groom is bad news then?” Shadow asked dryly.

“Oh yes,” Rose said and she lifted onto the toes of her short heeled shoes, looking around the cocktail hour. If she was trying to spot Hawk Junior or Senior, Shadow did not know.

“Dude’s a total dick,” Knuckles supplied, almost helpfully.

“Enlightening.”

Sonic did his best to actually explain for Shadow’s benefit, “Jet and his dad don’t get along. Had a massive falling out years ago. Jet changed his law focus to environmental instead of corporate and he wouldn’t go into the Hawk family business. It was a total mess. His dad cut him off after that.”

Shadow’s brow furrowed, “Cut him off?”

“Yep,” Surge’s grin was unsettlingly wicked, “Jet’s dad is rich. Like could buy this island with his spare change rich.”

That furrow shot up with mild surprise.

“Ever heard of Hawk Holdings?” Knuckles said gruffly, “That’s the mom-and-pop shop of Jet’s ancestors.”

Shadow did have vague familiarity with that corporation, something about a massive merger with the D’Coolette family a few years ago being major news for businesses in the city. At least Rouge had brought it up a few times before Shadow started tuning her ramblings out.

“I didn’t think he’d be invited,” Amy muttered, not succeeded in finding any hawks from this limited vantage point.

“It’s his son’s wedding,” Shadow reasoned, “Maybe he wants to show his support for the marriage?”

Dead silence met his words at the table and Shadow shrunk back internally, hating this fumble in conversation.

Sonic though was never one to let talk go awry for more than a second, “I mean, miracles do happen. But we really should find Jet and warn him.”

Shadow nodded once, letting the chatter of the friends fill the space as they debated where to go looking for the hawk junior.

Beneath the cover of the tall tabletop, Sonic bumped his hand against Shadow’s leg. And when the dark hedgehog didn’t react, Sonic tried again, nudging him a bit harder.

With a clench of his jaw, Shadow dropped his arm down, taking a soft inhale when Sonic’s fingers folding into his and gave a reassuring pulse. The tension in dark clothed shoulders eased a fraction with the comforting touch.

ting-ting-ting

An empty glass was held up and ringed with a butter knife, calling all the guest attention to the far side of the courtyard. A short beetle woman in a thickly sequined dress, balancing on a chair for height, prepared to make an announcement for the wedding guests.

“Well Jet’s outta luck,” Surge shrugged, instantly giving up that noble quest.

“Thank you everyone for coming together to celebrate today’s love birds,” the beetle announced. Shadow surmised by her clipboard and jumpy attentiveness that she was the wedding planner, “The ceremony will begin soon. Please make your way to the vow garden and mind the orchards, we don’t want anyone getting lost!”

Finished with the short announcement, the beetle hopped down from her chair. In true flock formation, the crowd of guests finished off their drinks and hors d'oeuvres before making the walk to their seats.

“Wedding planner?” Shadow clarified, watching with some concern for the obviously floundering woman. She struggled against the flood of feathered Mobians, trying to fight her way back across the courtyard towards the main house of bed-and-breakfast.

“Kind of?” Amy answered, wincing as Storm almost knocked the beetle down, not even noticing her attempts to squeeze by. “That’s Jewel. She plans all the events that happen at Vanilla’s Chateau. She’s great at her job but can be a bit…”

“Nagging,” Knuckles offered.

“Overly aspirational,” was Sonic’s answer.

“Bad at her job,” Surge deadpanned.

“… Wishful,” Amy decided on carefully. “She just puts a lot of pressure on herself to get everything just right but ends up forgetting the details.”

Surviving the crush of the crowd, Jewel brushed her dress free of loose colorful feathers, appearing rather frazzled.

Taking pity on the poor planner, Amy called out to her, waving wildly, “Jewel, over here!”

The beetle looked so grateful in that moment for the recognition that Shadow suspected she’d burst into tears. With a wobbling smile, Jewel tripped forward on her pumps, only catching herself from falling by the helpful hand of Knuckles.

“Everything looks just magical,” Amy said quickly before any tears could fully fall down Jewel’s shell hard cheeks, “Is there anything you need sweetie? We’re happy to help!”

“We?” Sonic, Surge, and Knuckles said as one.

Shadow felt his chest tighten, suddenly missing the familiar solidarity of his own friends and sister.

“Really?” Jewel asked, the loud and desperate shock in her voice ringing in all their ears.

Amy smiled soothingly, patting Jewel’s hand, “Of course. Anything.”

That was all the permission Jewel needed.

“Oh yes thank you! Can you replace the kegs before the reception?” The beetle directed Knuckles, waving a hand towards the open bar, and looking back to the others, “Amy, I wasn’t fully honest during that announcement. Some of the guests have already gotten lost in the grape orchards. Can you go find Wave’s auntie and uncle?”

Amy’s smile pinched tight but she still nodded, “I’ll take Surge so we won’t get lost either.”

With a grateful chirp, Jewel turned to the male hedgehogs. That same strained expression clouded her eyes when looking over the striped quills of Shadow. Flushing deeply under the ex-club bunny’s unamused stare, Jewel redirected her attention to Sonic, speaking only to him but talking about them both.

“And the veil!” Jewel squeaked, eyes flying wide as her flightily memory was jogged, “Wave is in the side hall with her bridesmaids and she’s forgotten the veil upstairs. Can you go get it for her?”

Shadow raised a browridge but didn’t argue with the wedding planner. Blaming the bride for a thing on her own wedding day wasn’t terribly tactful but he wouldn’t waste his breath pointing that out.

Sonic though, smiled easily, “Yeah, Shads and I got that one.”

The dark hedgehog nodded, setting down his glass of melting rock ice. Anything to get away from the judging stares of the guests and this wedding planner for a few minutes.

Shadow knew the crowds were still gossiping about him and Sonic. Even as the flock slowly made their ways across the courtyard and down the packed earth track to the ceremony seating, many threw looks back towards the table of friends and Shadow.

The ex-club bunny doubted this concentrated attention would meet Wave’s request of him for the day. If she didn’t know now, she most likely would at the reception, and that would only worsen Shadow’s attempts at decent impressions on Sonic’s friends.

Why hadn’t he just thrown Sonic over his shoulder and taken him for that private second date idea the blue hedgehog thought up?

Surge hissed at Sonic, her green quills flaring in their ponytail hold, “Why do you get the easy mission inside with the air conditioning?”

Sonic’s responding grin was mockingly bright, he threw an arm over Shadow, pulling him close and away from the table. The warm length of his body and inciting voice soothed Shadow’s tension.

“Gotta get you alone before the bidding starts, Shads,” Sonic spoke into an ebony ear, his fingers playing with the inky collar of Shadow’s suit.

This was why he hadn’t carted Sonic off, Shadow realized, rolling his eyes mostly for himself. Sonic was proving just how easily he could talk Shadow into anything.

“Enjoy the grape orchards! Watch out for bugs and Wave’s weird auntie!” Sonic goaded loudly to Surge, laughing when she flipped him off. He was already spinning himself and Shadow towards the alderwood doors. Taking them both away from the prying eyes of the party.

Shadow knew, keeping pace with his date, that the only eyes he wanted on him were teasing emerald.

Chapter Text

Sonic climbed the château’s main staircase, feeling the sensual weight of Shadow’s gaze on his ass with every step, and his impulse control begged to give way.

He’d been perfectly content a few days ago, before he’d met this tantalizing ex-club bunny that he couldn’t take his eyes off. Now Sonic was anything but relaxed, anticipation and nerves making him almost dizzy with need for the dark hedgehog.

Earlier, when old friends had made for the bar, Sonic had sincerely thanked Knuckles for his inadvertent set-up of the hedgehogs. The weekend of wedding parties was turning out to be a way better time than Sonic could have imagined.

The echidna had brushed off the gratitude but the candor and vibrancy in Sonic’s tone when he spoke about Shadow helped Knuckles drop his guard somewhat. Truthfully Knuckles was always quite shy around new people and took some time and convincing to open up.

Knuckles had made one comment though, while they waited for their drinks, that scratched at Sonic’s ears and subconscious.

“Still don’t think you can handle all that hedgehog. He had you weak-kneed and speechless with one look. What would you even do when talking ain’t enough?”

Sonic had laughed him off, unbothered by the jokes his friends made about his quick tongue, and pushed down his nerves. This date would go off without a hitch, he’d told to himself, and when he’d returned to Shadow’s side Sonic believed it.

Stopping on the stair’s landing, Sonic leaned against the railing, holding for Shadow’s less hurried progress. The blue hedgehog wasn’t sure if the slower pace of the other male was just for the benefit of watching Sonic flounce up ahead of him. He sure hoped it was.

“If you ask nicely,” Sonic grinned, his cobalt tail flicking enticingly, “I may let you take a picture.”

Shadow growled, his heavy gaze snapping from blue tail to peach mouth.

“Believe me, Jester,” the dark hedgehog rumbled the stage name he’d given Sonic on their coffee date, taking the top step in the next second, “When I take a picture, you’ll be the one asking nicely for the keepsake, and I won’t have to say a thing.”

Sonic bit his lower lip, readying another taunt. But Shadow reached him first, lifting a hand to knock gloved knuckles against the uncovered peach swath of chest that Sonic had on display, pulling a soft gasp from him.

“I’ll start here,” Shadow rasped low, eyes falling to where Sonic left his shirt unbuttoned, “and work my way down. We’ll see how long you can last before you’re begging for photos.”

A full body shiver rolled up Sonic, his tongue threatening to lull out of his mouth at the insinuation. And before he could summon the sense to form a response, Shadow was halfway down the hall and opening the bridal suite door.

Who’d ever made him this speechless before? It was enthralling to Sonic and he was damn near desperate to get a real taste. Sonic was a starving hedgehog and only one thing could possibly bring him satisfaction.

Running hands through his quills, Sonic tried to get a better hold on himself. Shadow wasn’t someone Sonic would rush things with, but damn was his patience a fickle thing.

Don’t fucking fumble this, Sonic swore to himself and followed Shadow into the suite.

“Now if I was a veil where would I be?”

“Doubtful it’s outside the room,” Shadow answered from further inside the suite.

Sonic laughed at his persistence and let the room’s door snick closed behind him.

The bridal suite was a hastily refurbished guest room on the top floor of the little bed-and-breakfast. The queen-sized bed had been removed and additional vanities with mirrors had been installed for the bridal party to get ready. A folding privacy screen had been set up, setting aside a private corner of the room to change behind, and a full length standing mirror had been propped on the far wall. Hairspray clung to the table tops, makeup bags were exploded over every surface, and natural light brightened the space from the balcony door left ajar.

The room was a total mess, cluttered and wrecked by Wave and her bridesmaids. What should have been an easy fetch quest had turned into a treasure hunt through the disaster zone of a suite. If Surge had been chosen for this task she would have given up the moment she laid eyes on the room.

But Sonic and Shadow were willing to persevere.

Moving around space with little rhyme or reason, Sonic dug into drawers, checked beneath the vanities, and yanked all the cushions and pillows off the loveseat couch.

He found a curling iron, broken hoop earrings, and mismatched shoes, but not a single yard of gauzy tulle.

Shadow checked the bathroom, both closets, and the small hideaway storing a built-in ironing table.

Finally, when he couldn’t avoid it any longer, Sonic snatched one of the small suitcases the party had brought in for their bridesmaids outfits, makeup, and other get ready items.

“It’s one party and a nice dinner,” Sonic grumbled, over turning the bag and wincing when a hair dryer fell out to crash on the thin carpeting, “Why did they pack like this?”

Shadow grunted in agreement, this simple task was eating up time. With Sonic being a groomsmen and therefore part of the wedding, they couldn’t hold up the ceremony much longer for a piece of fabric. But it was what the bride wanted so they would try at the very least.

The dark hedgehog resisted the urge to clean as he went, but only barely. This wasn’t his mess to fix even if the room was in need of it.

Pushing aside a mound of used foundation brushes and feather oil, Sonic nearly knocked over a rocks glass half filled with water and stuffed over the brim with paper.

The blue hedgehog frowned. It was an odd sight the paper stuffed glass made amongst the brushes and pallets.

Without thinking much of it, Sonic snatched out the sheaf of lined paper, unrolling it carefully to avoid tearing it apart. The end that was left in the water had torn jaggedly free leaving only a damp edge running the bottom half of the paper. Along that edge was obvious burn marks, the heavy weighted paper curling to sooty brown, as if someone had set the paper on fire and then doused it in the cup.

Sonic couldn’t make out much of the chicken scratch writing. He could tell the letter was addressed to Wave and it made mention of some form of a massive payoff and a demand for her to ‘see reason’ but beyond that the letter was near illegible.

“Strange,” Shadow growled, and Sonic startled harshly, jumping a full foot in surprise.

Shadow tilted his head, amused by the sudden jolt of a response, “Jumpy today aren’t you? Another caffeine high?”

The blue hedgehog wrinkled his muzzle, simmering with light embarrassment for his foolhardiness on their date yesterday.

“No,” Sonic huffed, “You just snuck up on me.”

“Did I?” Shadow lowered his voice, as if he didn’t want to spook Sonic again by raising it above a sultry whisper, “And here I thought you’d appreciate me coming on to you from behind.”

Sonic swallowed thickly, eyes widening in thrill and a sliver of shock for the forwardness Shadow was toying with.

Carefully the dark hedgehog took his date’s hand in his, raising the hold he had up until his peach wrist was mouth level. Shadow pushed up the suit jacket’s cuff and pressed his lips to the soft skin there.

Beneath his lips Sonic’s heartbeat pounded harder in his veins.

“That’s not helping my heart rate level out,” Sonic murmured, willing his voice to not catch him speechless again.

“Who said that was my intention?” Shadow mused as he looked up from the bare wrist, a flash of incisor showing temptingly.

Sonic swiped a lick over his bottom lip, suddenly too starved for that delicious smirk. “We should really find that veil,” Sonic mumbled out, immediately wincing at the words.

Shadow frowned, dropping Sonic’s wrist as his ears flicked, pulling back from the seeming brush off.

“I mean, we should get it and go, no—” Sonic tried again, stumbling when he only made everything sound worse.

What’s wrong with me? What happened to not fumbling? The thoughts hounded in Sonic’s head, coming up with no helpful answer.

His friends had joked about his easy way with words and breezy cool demeanor for years, but for Shadow he could be so painfully tongue-tied.

Shadow for his part was patient, waiting as Sonic shut his eyes tightly and took a deep breath. It only helped a fraction. While he was no longer being pierced by intense crimson eye-contact, he’d inhaled Shadow’s scent of smokey amaretto, which instantly went to his head.

“I meant that we should find the veil fast so we have time for other things,” Sonic clarified, “Things to keep the heart rate up.”

Squinting one eye open, Sonic caught Shadow softly shaking his head, a bemused smirk crossing his muzzle.

“Then let’s not keep the bride waiting,” the striped hedgehog murmured, “Better hurry, Jester.”

Shadow let that settle between them as he moved away. After a second of consideration, he ducked behind the folding wall to search the space where Wave would have dressed that morning.

Sonic stuffed the half burnt note into his suit pocket, almost forgotten and crumbled in his other hand. He couldn’t understand most of it but didn’t think it should be left out for just anyone to find.

You don’t need words, but damn can they be useful, Sonic huffed to himself. He’d lost ground fumbling over himself but Shadow wasn’t backtracking. In fact, he seemed ready and willing to make up the distance himself. Sonic would more than meet him halfway.

The blue hedgehog shook out his quills, prepped for returning to the accessory hunt with renewed vigor.

Every pocket of the backpacks, beneath both short end tables, and behind the suite mini fridge turned up no veil and Sonic was starting to suspect Wave didn’t have one at all.

“Is the bride going with a natural look for her ceremony?” Shadow called out from the other side of the privacy screen, breaking up the muffled noises of the few minutes spent searching.

Sonic dropped a tote bag he’d been digging through, looking up for his date, “What do you mean?”

In answer, Shadow folded the dividing wall away, revealing the curious item he’d found.

Chiffon yards of spotless white fabric spilled from a protective cover, a vision of beauty incomplete when hung from a coat hanger and not draped around a living form.

It wasn’t the veil, but a garment bag holding a brand new and untouched wedding dress.

Recognizing the finding for what is was, Sonic tossed the tote bag over his shoulder and stood.

“Oh that’s the other dress,” Sonic said although that was already apparent to the dark hedgehog, “Guess you haven’t heard that story a thousand times yet.”

Shadow grunted for Sonic to continue, his attention flitting over the lush fabric, looking for a flaw and finding none.

“Wave had a budget to keep so she and Amy camped outside one of those fancy wedding dress boutiques for their ‘last season’s styles’ sale,” Sonic crossed the room to Shadow, both looking over the pristine dress. “She couldn’t decide between two dresses and it was a total frenzy so not much time to think.”

“And so she went with both,” Shadow inferred.

“Yep, and Wave hasn’t stopped talking about how hard it’s been to pick for weeks. Looks like she still couldn’t decide which one to wear until this morning.”

“Two dresses and not a single veil,” the dark hedgehog grumbled. The area behind the dividing wall wasn’t big, but Wave’s traveling clothes bag was there along with a cushiony chair that could easily swallow up a yard of tulle. Shadow took to checking between the cushions and overturning her bag.

Sonic made a noise of agreement, tilting his head in consideration and reached out to trail a gloved finger along the lace bodice of the dress. “Can’t believe she picked the other dress over this one.”

Would look so lovely in white… the thought ghosted along Sonic’s consciousness.

“You know,” Sonic flicked a thoughtful look down to where Shadow had overturned Wave’s bag. “It’s a shame this pretty dress is going to waste. It’ll never be worn…”

An ebony ear twitched, “Well that was the bride’s choice,” he replied flatly, stuffing Wave’s track pants and sweatshirt from her early morning ferry ride back into the travel bag.

“Even greater shame then,” Sonic continued, not letting this tempting idea go so quickly. Maybe he’d gotten tongue-tied before, but there was a chance to gain many delicious inches. “Wave did make you promise to not show her up on her wedding day.”

In his crouched position, Shadow stilled at Sonic’s near purring suggestion.

“What are you getting at?” The dark hedgehog inclined gruffly, rising to stand eye-level with the blue hedgehog.

Sonic grinned wickedly and plucked the dress on its hanger from the garment bag. Layers of immaculate pearl-colored skirt brushed across the floor as he held it up.

Canting his head, emerald eyes gleamed daringly as they roved from Shadow to the dress and back again. “No hurt in trying it on? I love that edgy suit, but there’s something about white on a wedding day…”

Sonic let his words fall away again, knowing if he kept talking he could mess up this delectable dare.

The fire of Shadow’s eyes darkened, taking in the challenge, no — the proposal — made by Sonic.

How far could he take his teasing? How willing would Shadow be to indulge in him? Sonic wondered, fighting any show of his excitedly vibrating hands and flicking tail. He had a terrible poker face with how eager he was to see how Shadow would respond.

“We’re not even the same size,” Shadow countered even as he seriously sized up the dress.

That assumption wasn’t entirely true, Sonic knew, but bit down on his tongue to not point it out.

Wave was well toned from the hard manual labor of her career and all the gym time with Amy and Jet. She was only a few inches taller than the dark hedgehog and with a soft lace bodice, it could wrap closely to a masculine torso.

It would fit well enough, Sonic and Shadow both thought to themselves.

“No way to know unless you try?” Sonic softly prompted, letting the hanger sway on his finger tips like a hypnotists’ watch. “Unless you think you couldn’t pull it off? Maybe this just isn’t your style?”

“You’d rather see me in this dress than make-out on the couch?” Shadow deadpanned, raising a browridge.

“Don’t see why we can’t do both,” Sonic answered with a wink.

The hard line of Shadow’s jaw ticked, fighting back his own smile at the endearing nature of his date, “You’re not as smooth of a talker as you think you are.”

Emerald eyes sparked at the challenge and Sonic yanked the dress back from Shadow’s reach.

Aiming to throw it over the divider wall as if it were an old coat, Sonic lamented with a put-upon sigh, “No, you’re right, don’t know what I was thinking,”

Shadow hissed involuntarily at the flippant treatment of the dress.

“It’s just that…” Sonic said, laying it on thick and mostly dropping the act, “You really would look divine in this little number.”

The dark hedgehog growled low in his throat and Sonic bit back his grin, recognizing much to his delight, that Shadow didn’t like backing down from a challenge either.

Crimson cut to emerald, both vying to see which would cave first. It was becoming obvious to both, that pitted like this, they’d push each other forward, giving in only at the last moment.

Hands flexed twice at his side before Shadow cursed swiftly and began roughly unbuttoning his suit jacket to shrug it off, “Damn you and your smart mouth.”

The blue hedgehog couldn’t temper his excitement and he quickly rehung the dress. Delicious thing, thinks he can rile me up so easily. I can give as good as I can get, Sonic thought.

When Shadow reached for the buttons of his vest he found Sonic’s fingers already there, more than willing to help undress the dark hedgehog.

“Find the veil,” Shadow growled, pushing Sonic back by the shoulders.

The blue hedgehog almost whined as Shadow bodily moved him back two steps. Sighing at the loss of seeing Shadow when he snapped the folding wall open again, recreating the private changing space.

“So no strip tease?” Sonic asked, laughing loudly when Shadow lifted a middle finger over the dividing wall.

Spinning in a circle for a moment until he got his bearings, Sonic surveyed the room’s mess, only made worse by the hedgehogs’ searching.

Wave had her choice of rooms to make into the bridal suite and had chosen this one with care. The remade suite was in the last room on the top floor, sitting at the end of the horseshoe shape and larger than any other in the bed-and-breakfast. This also meant the glass door balcony overlooked the bottleneck walkway from the courtyard down to the ceremony.

The sliding glass door had been left ajar, used by Wave and her bridesmaids to listen in on the drifting conversation from the courtyard.

Now, standing just inside the balcony, Sonic could see the slow progress of the guests making their ways to the ceremony garden and faintly overhear their chatter, although he couldn’t make out anything specific.

Waiting for Shadow to get changed, Sonic pulled his phone from his quills, checking the time and scrolling through the deluge of texts sent in the group chat from his friends.

Sonic had managed to get his phone on silent mode and had nearly missed the chatty messages coming in from Amy, Surge, Tangle, and even a few from Knuckles. The texts were mostly unrelenting teases of Sonic’s shameless flirting with the occasional thumb’s up emoji of approval for his date.

With a small smile for his friends’ unneeded but appreciated blessing, the blue hedgehog swiped out of the chat and stuffed his phone in his pocket with the crispy burnt note.

Turning from the window, Sonic caught his profile in the full body mirror and paused to fix his jacket, adjusting the note and phone in his pocket so that it didn’t crinkle the line of the suit.

“So I’m not misunderstanding,” Shadow grumbled, his own button down shirt being laid over the top of the dividing wall and the dress being pulled down on the other side, “Jet and his father don’t get along, therefore Wave has to purchase her dresses at a bargain hunt?”

“Oh yeah, big time daddy issues,” Sonic chuckled, “But Wave’s really proud too. Jet’s dad is a land developer. Razing islands flat and making way for hotels and malls. That kind of thing.”

Sonic gave one more look over in the full length mirror, making a mental note to thank Whisper for her advice that morning on what he should wear. When he’d video called for her input, the wolf had technically instructed him on this suit because it would photograph best. But after the stairs, and Shadow’s reaction when they’d first seen each other in his apartment, Sonic was suspecting Whisper knew how to be a subtle wingwomen.

“And because Jet’s an environmental lawyer, there’s only so much they can look past,” Shadow surmised.

“Yep! They fought like hell over it all a few years ago, never really got on since,” Sonic replied, “Things got very loud and then really quiet between them. Jet was cut off from everything but his inheritance which he won’t get until the old bird kicks it.”

Sonic ran a hand through his quills, pushing back the memories of helping Jet move into that tiny first apartment with Storm and Wave, talking him up at the nonprofit to get him on right out of college, and taking him out for beach days after phone calls with his father.

“Then why show up at all?” Shadow grumbled.

A cobalt brow crinkled, “No clue. But if he does anything to ruin the day, Storm and Surge won’t let him get a way with it. I won’t either.”

Shadow gave a noncommittal noise, his attention more on getting dressed than delving into another mess that wasn’t his to clean up.

“Almost ready back there?” Sonic asked, not listening for Shadow’s answer as a flash of gold caught his eye. Reflecting a ray of sunlight through the balcony window, two gilded combs were clipped over the thin top edge of the full body mirror.

With a gasp of victory, Sonic snatched at the combs, pulling the lengths of tulle over the mirror from where they were left hanging. Found you, veil! Sonic cheered internally.

Spinning on his heel, veil held aloft to show his date, Sonic’s froze before he could announce the good news.

The privacy screen had been folded away again and Shadow waited, leaned back against the wall, in the borrowed wedding dress and watching the blue hedgehog closely for his reaction.

Gorgeous, was the only coherent thought Sonic could summon.

The dress was a swath of pristine white, a layer of chiffon added volume to the silky floor length skirt. With the bodice entirely lace, it had precise designing of a leaf and flower pattern to cover some spans of the chest more than others. The neckline was sweetheart shaped, softer than the deep-vee cut of Shadow’s bunny suit, and barely staying up with off-the-shoulder sleeves. Bursting chest fur dipped under the bodice and the few stays and zipper clinched the waist lecherously tight.

With how he propped them on his hips, the carmine stripes of Shadow’s arms were vibrant on his ebony fur and against the white dress. He’d kept on his black dressing gloves, this was only a second date after all, but he’d toed off his shoes and the skirt brushed against the floor.

“Nothing to say now?” Shadow huffed, but proudly rolled back his shoulders, enjoying the roving ogle of emerald all on him.

Sonic nodded but no words came. Instead, he crossed the suite in an almost trance, forgetting for the moment to breathe.

It wasn’t until he stood right before Shadow, gaze caressing up to meet Shadow’s, that he could remember how to breath and speak, “You’re a damn knockout, Shadow.”

Ebony shoulders shook under Shadow’s surprised chuckle, “Fool, what were you saying about this not being my color?”

“I have never been so happy to be so wrong,” Sonic purred, and lifted up the veil, “To complete the look?” he asked and reached up to settle the yards of gauzy tulle over upturned quills.

The length of the veil had been custom made for Wave and her long flight feathers. What would nearly touch the floor when attached to the swallow’s crown only draped as far as Shadow’s waist.

Carefully, Sonic tucked in the golden combs of the veil behind Shadow’s ears, securing them in place and cascading the organza over striped quills.

Sonic didn’t step back as the veil delicately settled, instead he traced a look down Shadow’s face, his fingers ghosting down to ebony arms and then over the bodice. And slowly, not daring to touch the dress or the hedgehog within, Sonic sunk to kneel before Shadow.

Tilting his head back to look up at Shadow, taking in the stunning sight of him from this new position, Sonic spoke reverently, “You really are breath-taking.”

“And you’re going to wrinkle that suit,” Shadow scoffed, hands still on his hips and looking down his honey dark muzzle at the blue hedgehog before him.

“Ha!” Sonic snorted a short laugh before jolting slightly, “Wait you’re serious?”

Sonic moved to stand again but barely shifted his weight when an ebony knee pressed down on his shoulder.

Emerald irises disappeared as Sonic’s pupils dilated. The dress skirt had a slit running to the upper thigh, and the fabric slipped out of the way for Shadow to prop his knee against Sonic’s chest, keeping him in place.

“I didn’t say you should stand,” Shadow rumbled, leaning back again to maintain his balance on the room’s wall.

Not breaking eye-contact, Shadow slid a gloved finger under the slitted skirt edge, pulling it further apart until he could hook his knee over Sonic’s shoulder.

The warm weight of Shadow’s leg crooked over him was nearly too much for Sonic to reckon with. But there was another sight, spied only from this angle and state of dress, that had Sonic’s pupils dilate wide in an instant.

“Please tell me that’s not Wave’s too?” Sonic managed to ask, his focus tunneling to the stripe of red fabric wrapped around Shadow’s upper thigh. It was a stylish garter belt, silky and complete with a black ribbon bow and blue heart-shaped charm.

“No, that would be mine,” Shadow smirked, running a finger along the slip of red, “But I wore it for you.”

Sonic couldn’t stop the whimpering moan that fell from his lips at all the thoughts Shadow conjured with that simple admission.

The dark hedgehog picking out his suit that morning and setting out the thigh garter to match. Shadow pulling on the cinched strap of elastic and ribbon up his leg and then dressing in his suit over top. Wearing this coquettish wedding garter all afternoon, knowing Sonic would see it sooner or later.

Shadow lifted one hand to cup Sonic’s muzzle and angled his head back to meet that hungry gaze. His other hand stopped toying with the thigh garter and instead gripped at the wall for added balance.

“What are you going to do about it?” Shadow asked low.

The blue hedgehog actually growled, sounding half starved. My delicious treat, the things we could do to each other if only we had the time.

Sonic canted his head out of Shadow’s grip, rubbing his temple against the warm fur of Shadow’s inner thigh right above his knee.

“I’m going to start here,” he purred, echoing Shadow’s earlier words back to him, “and earn every inch up your thigh until you’re begging me to make a wedding night of you in that dress.”

Crimson irises flared hotly and Shadow pressed his heel into Sonic’s back, inviting him to make good on his word, “I don’t beg.”

A sharp canine flashed in Sonic’s smile, “Course not, you should never have to. But I will.”

“Not enough time for that,” Shadow hummed low, remiss that they were already on limited minutes, “Are you going to do anything else with that mouth or did you just want to talk?”

For once, the blue hedgehog did not want to say a thing, he didn’t need to. Reaching up to the hand now keeping a light hold on his ear, Sonic tapped the watch on Shadow’s wrist. It was a wordless gesture and clear enough. He wouldn’t waste another second, and enjoy the stolen moments they had.

Sonic dropped his gaze and turned slightly so that he could press a kiss to the beginning of Shadow’s inner thigh. At the soft gasp from his date, and the waving flick of his own cobalt tail, Sonic pressed on.

Full peach lips lavished on ebony fur as Sonic kissed a slow trail up the inside of Shadow’s thigh. For every craving kiss, Sonic tipped further forward, encouraging Shadow to use his shoulder and back for more support.

Shadow lightly rested a hand by Sonic’s ear, rubbing with his thumb from base to ear tip with each hot press of lips working up his leg.

When Sonic reached the garter he carefully took the fabric between his teeth, pulled back, and released the red elastic with a snap.

Shadow’s breath hitched, snarling at the slight sting, and tugged on Sonic’s ear.

“Brat,” Shadow groaned, but didn’t pull him away in chastisement, he urged him back to the garter and his salacious progress.

Sonic was happy to oblige, and kissed the line where elastic met muscle, a sweet apology for the snapping tease.

The blue hedgehog’s right hand had settled on Shadow’s waist, the buttery dress fabric beneath his gloved fingers, while Sonic’s other hand rested on the cap of the ebony knee thrown over his shoulder. Now Sonic let his hand drift up, caressing over dark fur until his fingers brushed the garter on the outside of Shadow’s thigh.

With a deft roll of his wrist, Sonic worked two fingers under the cinch of fabric, essentially belting his hand to Shadow’s thigh.

One more kiss above the garter belt and Sonic dipped his head, letting Shadow lift layers of chiffon to fall over him. Shadow’s borrowed wedding dress made its own kind of veil across stream-lined cobalt quills as Sonic settled better on his knees.

More slow kisses, given on hot-to-the-touch muscle, and Sonic finally reached the swayed divot joining thigh and pelvis. It was dim beneath the layers of dress and Sonic worked more off touch than sight.

Slipping forward the last breath of space, he kissed the rise of Shadow’s bulging sheath, inhaling the deliciously overwhelming scent of him. Dark roast and amaretto and something so tantalizingly masculine covered the roof of Sonic’s mouth as he nuzzled the very top of Shadow’s inner thigh, lips brushing the swelling pouch there.

Instinctively, Shadow rocked his hips into Sonic’s attentions, moan turning to snarl when the cobalt menace pressed into the buck for only a moment before pulling back.

Dragging off the chiffon, Sonic leaned back slightly, meeting Shadow’s gaze with a cocky grin.

“Fucking tease,” Shadow hissed.

“Says the one who wore a garter belt and nothing else under his clothes,” Sonic shot back, ravishing in the way Shadow’s claws strained inside his gloves and scratched against his skull.

“Didn’t expect that I would be getting undressed before the reception,” the dark hedgehog contended and brushed a hand along the lace covered plane of his abdomen.

Sonic tilted his head, one ear flopping down in a way that had Shadow casting to look anywhere but the endearingly quizzical and lustful focus of the blue hedgehog. Shadow was not able to bear the adorable look on Sonic’s face as he kneeled before him in that moment. Attentive and teasing and so hungry to bring Shadow to the edge.

“So you underestimated me?” The cobalt hedgehog asked, laughing when Shadow’s jaw tensed and he didn’t return the eye contact. “Oh no, you overestimated yourself.”

Flexing his fingers belted between garter and thigh, Sonic shifted on his knees, the effect Shadow was having on him obvious in the straining bulge of his suit pants.

“S’okay,” Sonic gave a lopsided smile, “I’ll take care of you.”

Crimson eyes narrowed, cynicism and pride blazing internally as Shadow reflexively contested the idea he ever needed taking care of in any sense.

But then Sonic was slipping forward, pulling the chiffon layers over his head and pushing carmine striped legs just a touch further apart so that he could lick the flat of his tongue over Shadow’s swollen pouch.

Shadow threw his head back at the first swipe of that silver-tongue, thumping his thick striped quills against the wall, and moaning at the second longer caress.

And he knew, deep in the recesses of his mind, that it didn’t matter what he needed. Shadow wanted, irrevocably and amorously, to be taken care of by Sonic.

One hand still grasping Shadow’s thigh, Sonic slipped the other under and up the wedding dress. He dragged his gloved knuckles up the leg Shadow balanced on to then press the tips of his fingers against the bundling nerves just behind where his balls safety nestled.

If Sonic massaged that bundle-like tendon then the sheath would flex and contract. Exactly the way he could tell Shadow wanted by the self-restrained grinding of his pelvis down on Sonic’s deft hand.

But that wasn’t his intention right then.

Instead of speeding up, Sonic slowed, teasing Shadow the way the striped hedgehog had done to him the evening before. He gave just enough stimulation to rouse him and pull moans from that honey muzzle, but not enough that Shadow’s hardening cock would reflexively slip free of his sheath.

Again his bare heel dug into Sonic’s back as Shadow willed himself to not wildly buck into massaging touches of mouth or fingers.

His sense of responsibility for the task they’d been sent to do was so easily worked away when Sonic goaded him into the dress and then dropped to his knees. There was nowhere else Shadow wanted to be, and he handily pushed away any feeling of culpability for stealing these moments and borrowing this dress.

As long as Sonic kept touching him and made those sweet hungry noises under his breath, then Shadow would let his date continue talking him into anything.

With another long swipe of tongue over heavy bulge, Sonic sucked in a short breath, thrilled to feel the burgeoning head of Shadow’s cock. He cursed the low light created by the fabric draped over him, wanting desperately to see Shadow, but knew this wouldn’t be over before he had that chance.

Flicking out his tongue again, Sonic licked the drip of precum already beading from Shadow’s cockhead, before pressing an open mouth kiss there. If he wrapped his lips around Shadow and sucked, Sonic would have him fully out of his sheath without needing to play with the bundle of nerves further.

The euphoric realization ran through both male’s minds, both reeling from their mutual craving for the other.

Sonic wanted Shadow on his tongue and down his throat but he’d promised himself he wouldn’t rush this. Shadow deserved more than a quickie blow job in someone else’s wedding dress.

But Shadow may have had less reservations, tightening his grip on cobalt quills and moaning lewdly, “Need more time. Want you so fucking bad.”

Sonic was quickly forgetting any sense of the chivalry he’d mustered.

It was warm beneath the layers of fabric and between Shadow’s thighs. Sonic panted as he pulled back, dizzy from lust and the heat. Dragging the chiffon from his head once again, he looked up to see Shadow’s eyes half-lidded and burning with arousal.

“Hot,” Sonic breathed, not able to string a full sentence together then.

A smile lifted the corner of Shadow’s mouth, his thumb brushing the sweat dampened fur of Sonic’s temple, “Breathe,” he soothed.

Sonic leaned into the caring touch, swallowing down the affectionate purr building in his throat. It was far too soon for sweet nothings and whispers for anointment. But he could get used to the scent of Shadow on his lips and in his quills.

After a moment to let Sonic catch his breath on the cooler air drifting in from the open balcony, the dark hedgehog curled his hand to cup that peach muzzle. Lifting Sonic’s face upwards, Shadow bent slightly at the waist, and rumbled long and low.

“You’re going to finish what you started.”

“Please,” Sonic shivered.

With a smirk, Shadow righted up to reach back and undo the dresses few stays and zipper.

The blue hedgehog rested his head against Shadow’s thigh still hooked over his shoulder, fingers teasing another snap of the elastic garter belt if he took much longer.

With his arms pulled back to work open the few buttons and then the zipper of the dress, Sonic got an unobstructed view of his delicious date.

Shadow was a sight Sonic would never tire of, never get over, and never find another that could compare.

Sonic knew they didn’t have enough time now, not for all he wanted to give to the stunning vision above him. But he would enjoy these remaining moments, resolving that this would not be his last look.

Shadow’s smirk flickered into a frown and he swung his leg off the shoulder perch, muzzle scrunching up with concentration when he couldn’t immediately get the zipper undone.

“Fuckin’ sale dress,” Shadow hissed under his breath, twisting to check the catches over his shoulder.

Sonic laughed at the scrabbling hedgehog and moved to stand. Blood rushed through his limbs, circulating after much time spent on his knees and Sonic was a little wobbly as he got back to his feet.

“Here, let me,” Sonic waved for Shadow to spin around.

The dark hedgehog hissed curtly and side-stepped him, trying again to help himself out of the wedding dress. With the zipper fully cinched, the lace bodice fit snuggly to Shadow’s well-built torso, making any attempt to pull the dress off over his shoulders or down his hips an impossibility.

He was halfway across the suite, kicking out the dragging skirt as he walked when Sonic tried again, “Too proud to let me help you?”

“I can do it myself,” Shadow huffed.

“Where’s the fun in that?”

Shadow rolled his eyes but after another flailing attempt to free himself, he stopped fussing long enough for Sonic to amble over to him.

“Well?” Shadow asked, frustrated the last minutes they could have stolen together were upended by this broken zipper.

Shaking with a small laugh Sonic sidled up behind the other hedgehog. Wrapping his arms around Shadow, he dipped to press a quick kiss to the bare span of shoulder blade, huffing gently, “Told you I’d take care of ya, just let me try.”

Dark honey muzzle scrunching, Shadow let himself lean into the hug, the stress he felt for damaging someone else’s clothing easing for a moment, “I’m sure you’re happy I’m stuck in this, your idea is all going to plan.”

“Well I’m not unhappy,” Sonic smiled, kissing the bared shoulder again, “But my plan had you wearing far less by this point.”

The dark hedgehog turned to throw a look over his shoulder, “Then get me out of this.”

With an overconfident chuckle, Sonic undid the missed top button above the zipper before taking hold of the little pull tab.

“Huh,” Sonic mumbled when the zipper didn’t budge.

“What do you mean ‘huh’?” Shadow asked, tension seizing him again.

“It’s just—,” The blue hedgehog yanked on the tab again with no success, “this zipper—,” he reefed down, moving the slider only an inch before it stuck again, “doesn’t want to cooperate.”

“Careful,” Shadow snapped, “You’re gonna—“

Riiiip!

“Oops.”

Shadow stumbled towards the full length mirror, cursing at the sound of tearing lace. Turning his back to the looking-glass, crimson eyes flew wide and striped quills flared.

Sonic had yanked the zipper roughly, tearing open a long section of the ribbon tape from the bodice in the process. He still held the pull tab having snapped it clean off,

“Fuck!” Shadow swore loudly, head whipping around to the open balcony door when his voice echoed off the mosaic walls of the courtyard.

The few remaining guests filtering down to the ceremony goosenecked around, looking for the source of the shout.

Shadow swung an arm, sliding the door closed with a glass-creaking crash and dived backwards into the room, away from the balcony and mirror.

“Well shit,” Sonic winced, spinning around for something that could help him reattach a zipper pull tab and finding none, his heart rate spiking from adrenaline instead of lust now. Wave is so gonna to kill me, Sonic’s thought, a nervous laugh building, probably strangulation by veil.

“Get me out of this now,” Shadow growled and turned to show Sonic his back once again. The tense flare of his gathered back quills would only make it more difficult to work down the broken zipper.

Sonic scrambled forward, making sure to not step on the dress skirt, and brushed striped quills out of his way.

“Or what? Jet’s going to have to flip a coin?” Sonic snorted, trying to lighten the suddenly dire situation. He doubted Wave would be happy to see her other dress on anyone, including the one person she expressly forbid to outshine her on her wedding day.

Shadow bit down a chuffing laugh, refusing to bend to Sonic’s charms until the dress was off him, “It’s not funny,” he huffed instead.

The blue hedgehog grinned, “It’s a little funny. But you know what’s a better joke?”

“What?”

Sonic grabbed both sides of the dress, not giving Shadow a moment to react, and tore the fabric bodice in two.

“Wave’s reaction if she ever finds out,” he said, and let go of the dress.

The ruined layers of lace and chiffon slipped from Shadow’s body to the floor, cold air hitting the warmed dark fur of his body.

A blush scorched over Sonic’s muzzle and he turned away sharply, crossing his hands over his chest to keep them to himself.

Shadow, being a male Mobian and still having his gloves on, was not in a state beyond reasonable modesty. And yet, it was still the most undressed Sonic had ever seen of him, even if he only got a glance at Shadow’s bare back as the torn fabric fell away.

“She will never find out,” Shadow muttered darkly, a decision snapping into place.

Quickly, while Sonic still had his back turned, Shadow flung the dress back over its hanger and zipped up the garment bag, returning it back to essentially the state they’d found it in. If Wave even looked at this spare dress again, it would be long after the wedding and would be easier for the hedgehogs to deny having any hand in the matter.

Shadow didn’t make a comment on Sonic’s gentlemanly action to give some modicum of privacy when the dress came off. He was too busy hiding their destruction of the borrowed gown and then unfolding the dividing screen to change back into his suit.

Sonic took a deep breath, willing away this blush and reminding himself why he didn’t want to rush things with Shadow in the first place.

He wanted this date to go well, not just so he had a chance at a third, but because Sonic found himself genuinely enjoying Shadow’s company. The dark hedgehog was stoic and grumpy at times but also had a dry sense of humor and compassion that had Sonic’s heart skipping beats.

Sonic could hardly wait to see every side and secret of Shadow.

But it would be great, Sonic dragged his hands back through his quills, pulling at the ends and gritting his teeth with frustration, If I could stop getting so tongue-tied every time Shadow got close!

The cobalt hedgehog stepped back to the mirror, adjusting his suit and quills from Shadow’s musings. Pulling out his phone, Sonic glimpsed the screen just long enough to note the late time and skim over the many all-caps texts demanding to know where he was.

“We need to head back now,” Shadow determined, striding around the privacy screen with his suit mostly back on, and checking his wrist watch.

Sonic grinned at the dark hedgehog’s reflection in the mirror before turning to see him in full.

He’d pulled back on the black suit pants, covering the garter belt once again, and had his shirt, vest, and coat rebuttoned. Now he worked the combs of the veil out so that he wouldn’t be wearing the organza when they brought it to the bride.

But Sonic’s attention had slipped further south, to the unbuckled belt looped loose around his date’s hips.

When Shadow was within reach, snarling at the tulle getting snagged on his upturned quills, Sonic hooked the buckle with his fingers, dragging the dark hedgehog the few remaining inches forward, their noses bumping at the nearness.

Gnawing a bite on his lower lip, Sonic tugged the strap to fit, working it through the buckle and stay loop and finishing the assist with a soft tap of his open palm to the rebuckled belt.

Shadow had watched Sonic closely as he’d fussed, letting the cobalt fool help him redress with a sliver of amusement for his sense of chivalry.

“You’re going to do that in reverse later,” Shadow growled, placing his hand over Sonic’s, keeping his fingers on the buckle, “We’re not finished.”

Sonic suppressed the shiver working up his spine, feeling another flush heat its way across his face, “Couldn’t be finished, that taste wasn’t close to enough.”

Giving a short tug on the buckle, Sonic pulled Shadow into him, catching the dark hedgehog in his arms, and his lips with his own.

This kiss, searing through Sonic, had all the pent up cravings ravaging them both. Sonic was surviving on these sweet tastes, a part of him knew he could live a lifetime fulfilled with just one kiss from Shadow.

And as the dark hedgehog pulled back, the fire of his eyes a kindling heat, Sonic could swear he saw that same understanding reflected there.

If they couldn’t have more than these borrowed moments today, it would be enough.

There was always tomorrow.

And today they had a wedding neither could miss.

“Race downstairs?” Sonic asked, willing himself to find the strength to step away from this private moment, get on with the mission they were responsible for completing.

“You really want to make a run for the bride right now?” Shadow raised a browridge, gaze sliding down Sonic with a fairly impressed smirk.

That blush spiked across his peach muzzle again and Sonic pushed at Shadow’s chest, a mirthful smile couldn’t be held back, “Yeah fine, I need a minute. We’ll walk.”

“After you then,” Shadow said, sweeping an arm for Sonic to take the lead out of the room and back down the hallway and stairs. This time Sonic knew Shadow walked slow on purpose, looking his fill.

Chapter Text

Shadow fixed his ruby cuff links as he and Sonic descended from the second floor.

The blue hedgehog was carrying the conversation, expelling his giddy energy through easy chatter. Shadow made the occasional humm, attention mostly fixed on double checking no quill was out of place or wrinkle was left on his suit.

Sonic’s friends were uniquely observant and he doubted they’d miss much. Including the nearly permanent red tint to his honey dark muzzle every time Sonic turned towards him, emerald eyes flicking down to his covered thigh before darting back up with a knowing grin.

If only they’d had time, Shadow thought, shoving away the spike of frustration. This date wasn’t about him seeing those green eyes roll back with pleasure. It was to make a good impression. Shadow could be patient for a third date. He wasn’t sure he could say the same for Sonic.

Wonder how long he could possibly last with just a taste…

Jumping the final few steps, Sonic jogged ahead through the lobby so he could do a quick check of the courtyard. They were on the lookout for Jewel, assuming if they found the wedding planner, they would also locate the bride.

Unlike the lobby, the courtyard was hardly deserted.

The tall tables from the cocktail hour were being moved to one side of the courtyard while dining for the catered dinner was organized. A few of the staff set the tables with wine glasses and silverware while others snapped and locked a temporary dance floor into place.

Sonic spotted Knuckles right away, his tall stature noticeable even across the courtyard. Espio and Sticks had volunteered to help out too, and were all working to bring out dining chairs and center pieces. Those weren’t the only friendly faces lending a hand either.

Surge and Amy had located Wave’s auntie but hadn’t managed to get the old bird to her seat. It appeared that the aunt wandered back into the courtyard, complaining that she’d definitely heard shouting from the château’s upstairs and wanted to know if everyone was alright.

The tenrec and pink hedgehog were trying to corral her back down to the ceremony garden, while also avoiding running into the maze of chairs and tables.

Despite Jewel’s frazzled relationship with details, the wedding was coming together nicely. As the sun arched closer to the horizon, the other guests would be waiting down in the garden for the ceremony to begin.

Sonic couldn’t rejoin his friends yet. He needed to find Wave, get her the veil, and find his place in the processional.

An ebony ear twitched, picking up a muffled smacking of hurried ballerina flats on tile, “Any luck?” Shadow asked his date.

Blue quills squished as he spun back around, ready to report back to Shadow, when an abrupt hit into his shoulder left Sonic staggering, arms flailing out to keep himself from falling.

“Sorry!” the shoulder-checker squawked but didn’t slow, pushing past both hedgehogs as she ran for the other side of the lobby and careened around the corner of the far hall.

Shadow ducked forward, steadying Sonic and tracking the receding avian girl with some annoyance for her rudeness.

The blue hedgehog found his footing. And if anyone assumed he over-acted from the run-in so that he could revel in Shadow’s arms around him for a fraction longer, he would never admit to such a thing.

They were being careful to not rile each other again, they had a mission to complete, and Shadow’s warm hand on Sonic’s lower back would not help either stay on task.

This craving they felt for the other was still coiled tight and they needed the small truce of distance to cool off.

Willing himself to step away, and instantly missing the weight of Shadow’s hands on him, Sonic brushed off the clumsy hit, “That was one of Wave’s bridesmaids,” he noted, “Why was she running?”

“More importantly, what was she running from?” Shadow asked, brow furrowed and ears strained to pick up the now inaudible rush of ballerina flats.

“And where is she going?” Sonic added, snorting when Shadow rolled his eyes at the endless questions, “We could do this all day.”

A muffled shout echoed down the hall in the direction the bridesmaid had come from. Throwing each other curious looks, Sonic immediately made for the source of the steadily raising voices, Shadow quick to match him.

The hedgehogs quickened down he hallway, the shouting becoming clearer as they rounded a corner and neared the last room on the main floor.

“Have you no sense? I will not be ignored!” Thundered a booming voice, disdain lathering every word.

Cobalt ears flicked back against Sonic’s head and he pushed open the door left ajar, leaking the high-tempered conversation into the hall.

This space was smaller than upstairs, a private tasting room that had been sequestered temporarily for the bride.

Two of the walls were in-set with massive keg visages for appearances and a ring of lounge chairs circled the room, upholstered in red leather. Sweating in an ice bucket on a side coffee table was a chilling bottle of champagne that went untouched. The outside facing wall had double frosted glass doors that opened to the courtyard while a side door led to a hidden path towards the garden.

This enabled Wave and the wedding party to make it to the ceremony without being seen before their official entrance but was still close enough to the cocktail hour to sneak some of the hors d'oeuvres.

Wave’s younger siblings, all her bridesmaids, occupied two of the chairs where they both tried covering their upset sniffling. The third and youngest of them had been the one to crash past the hedgehogs in the hallway.

The bride, done up in her chosen dress and wedding day make-up, was pacing back and forth furiously. The other half of the argument stood across the room, glaring down his sharp beak at Wave.

Sonic did a double take, his quills instinctively flaring as he recognized Jet’s father.

Letting the door swing closed behind him, Shadow pulled up short, discerning who this bird of prey was without needing Sonic’s verbal confirmation. The two hawks, junior and senior, were near spitting images of the other, although a good thirty years separated them.

Where Jet was strapping in an outdoorsy hot-shot lawyer kind of way, his father was all the sharpness of a well-off entrepreneur in his late 50’s with a penchant for exploration.

Mr. Hawk, (he’d never allow anything less formal from the likes of Jet’s friends), had the look of time spent in the sun from luxury vacations and work trips abroad, never hard labor. The rainforest green of his flight feathers were grayed at the ends and his bespoke suit hinted at the egregious money he could throw around.

“I don’t want to hear this anymore,” Wave said, grabbing onto the back of a chair for support, her talons threatening to bite through her silk gloves and into the leather.

“And yet you will listen,” the deeper voice of Mr. Hawk filled the small space, leaving no room for anyone else to speak, “Do not make a mistake that drags my son down with you.”

Long fuchsia feathers swished wildly as Wave shoved the arm chair bodily out of her way, taking a furious step towards Mr. Hawk with her finger pointed right at his expensive tie.

Sonic was moving at the first recognition of how intensely fraught things were becoming. With hands going up in placation, he tried to shift the energy in the room, “Okay, everybody needs to calm down.”

The blue hedgehog winced at his choice of words when Wave instantly recoiled, her expression twisting into a furious glare.

“I am calm,” the swallow seethed.

“Of course Jet’s troublesome nuisance is here,” Mr. Hawk glowered, taking in the new arrival of the hedgehogs with a cold sneer, “Already bored and looking for business that’s none of yours for entertainment?”

What a jackass, Shadow gritted his teeth. He knew little of whatever strained history existed between the Hawk senior and his son’s old college friends but Shadow could gather enough in the open animosity of his tone and glare that contentious didn’t even begin to describe it.

Cobalt quill spikes on his back threatened to tear the seams of Sonic’s suit as they rose defensively. The blue hedgehog was protective of his friends and would thoughtlessly put himself between them and the oppressive force of this entitled hawk. Even though this was not his mess to fix and he was all but asking for trouble.

“What Sonic is trying to say,” Shadow cut in, placing a hand on his date’s shoulder, his back quills instantly relaxing a fraction, “Is that we should all take a step back and collect ourselves.”

Wave, who looked on the verge of tears, took that suggestion not too begrudgingly. The swallow spun on her heel, dress skirt sweeping heavily around her, and stomped the few paces to the wall of frosted glass.

Grabbing both handles, Wave threw the doors open and stormed out to the courtyard. She didn’t go far, just enough to let the fresh air outside the stuffy room wash work over her.

Her two sisters were quick to hop up and follow. One swallow made a direct line for the refreshed kegs to pour her sister a drink. The other sister took hold of Wave’s hands, trying to keep her upright as she staggered across the uneven stonework of the courtyard in her heels and long gown. Wave knew she could rely on both of her sisters and was able to calm away the frustrated tears.

Mr. Hawk clicked his beak closed with a snap. He was not so easily moved but he was far from letting this conversation end.

Gruffly, he followed out into the courtyard and lowered his voice the next time he spoke so that it did not carry down the pathway to the garden full of guests. He still had a hard-edged caw, but without the thunderous quaking he inspired. Even he could recognize the shaken reaction in the swallows.

“That isn’t—,” Shadow started, squeezing Sonic’s shoulder just before he slipped forward, following the trail to trouble.

What had that little fox said about Sonic and thinking things through? Shadow’s brow furrowed in thought.

But then Sonic looked back at him, determination lighting up his eyes and calling out, “Come on, Shads! Wave needs us,” and so Shadow was moving.

The dark hedgehog doubted the bride needed anything from him, outside of the promises he’d given her, but if Sonic was calling for him, Shadow would answer.

Leaving the secluded privacy of the tasting room, Shadow brought up a hand to shield his eyes from the bright evening sunlight in the courtyard. They cut a path around tables, chairs, and various set-up bins towards the bride.

Cater waiters darted curious glances as many from the wedding party stormed out into their work but they didn’t pause in the preparations.

The chameleon and badger friends of Sonic’s had disappeared, having taken over the charge to get Wave’s aunt to her seat. Now Surge and Amy caught their breath at one of the tables, passing a rocks glass of straight vodka back and forth. When they spotted Wave, eye-catching in her wedding dress, they bit off their agonized complaints about the swallow’s auntie.

Knuckles was still in the courtyard as well, helping a scrawny vineyard staff member move a tray loaded down with decanters full of white wine.

The echidna threw a questioning nod in Sonic’s direction and the hedgehog waved him back. With the guests down the many yards out towards the orchards where the ceremony garden was, things were not yet too out of hand. If this argument between future in-laws brewed into a spectacle, then the back-up could be needed.

Mr. Hawk sneered distastefully when Wave took a strong gulp of the beer offered by her sister, foam dribbling down her mouth. Amy was there at the next gulp, holding out a hand embroidered kerchief for the swallow. Surge right on her heel, huffing at the melodrama interrupting the moment of relaxation with the pink hedgehog.

Realizing that she’d been followed, Wave hacked up the beer.

“If you think we will not have this conversation if we’re in public,” Mr. Hawk said tersely, “You would be mistaken.”

Shadow grabbed for Sonic’s arm, pulling him out of the way before he tripped over a cater bin holding table clothes and fabric napkins.

“Careful,” Shadow muttered, keeping them both upright and on track.

They had paused on the edge of the cleared space made for the dance floor, watching the furious birds gather themselves for another bout of arguments. Ready to interfere just as Knuckles, Amy, and Surge were.

Wave shoved the half emptied beer glass into Surge’s hands, snapping back at her future father-in-law, “Can’t you just leave me alone? Jet’s happy! Why isn’t that enough for you!”

Shadow frowned, he doubted that line of defense would work. How the old bird carried himself, this fight he was picking minutes before the wedding ceremony, and the way Sonic’s friends spoke of him, suggested very little would be enough for Mr. Hawk.

Beside him Sonic winced, shaking his head softly at Wave’s attempt to convince the hawk, cementing Shadow’s assumption in his mind.

Happiness in life wasn’t a priority for the old bird. At least not the kind of joy and comfort that came from good friends and strong community.

Mr. Hawk openly scoffed, disfavor twisting his beak into an ugly frown, “I only want what is best for my son, and I do not believe that could be you.”

The grip Wave had on her sister’s hand hardened, she needed the younger swallow to hold her back instead of keeping her steady.

Sonic snapped his mouth closed, his jaw having dropped open at the cruel honesty. Mr. Hawk wasn’t there to support and celebrate his son’s wedding, but instead to try and tear the couple apart.

Shadow let go of Sonic’s arm, never meaning to hold him back as the protective nature of the blue hedgehog took over him.

“You do not get to talk to her, not like that, not ever,” Sonic fumed, charging forward to stand in between the birds and better shield Wave from the harsh clip of the hawk’s judgement.

Beside Wave, Surge looked one more word away from throwing the half-drank beer into his feathered face. Amy’s hand flexed, as if she had half a mind to throw the drink herself.

The pale blue of Mr. Hawk’s eyes thinned, scorn sharpening every word, “So the troublemaker will play at a valiant knight? This doesn’t concern you, Hedgehog.”

“This isn’t about me, you—,” Sonic felt a new hand at his back, this time it was Wave, quieting him with a grateful smile.

Wave was a proud swallow and wouldn’t let her battles be fought for her.

The blue hedgehog gave a small nod, he wouldn’t be going anywhere, but he, Shadow, and her friends would not speak for Wave.

Rolling back her shoulders, Wave glared up the the old hawk, choosing her words carefully. They were separated by a few feet of open dance floor. But from where Wave stood, she was surrounded by trusted friends. Mr. Hawk was alone.

“You won’t change my mind,” Wave said curtly, needing to end this argument and get on with her wedding, “And I know Jet. You won’t change him either. So stop wasting all of our time before you break something even your money can’t buy off.”

Whatever response burned up Mr. Hawk’s throat was cut short by the slamming noise of glass bouncing off limestone walls.

The door from the private tasting room had been thrown open, a hawk not greyed with age, storming into the courtyard.

Followed closely by Wave’s youngest sister, Jet was already cawing out questions, “What the hell! What’s going on out here?”

Wave startled with a chirp of alarm and dropped into a crouch, barely hiding behind Amy, Surge, and her sister.

“Jet! It’s bad luck to see me in my dress before the wedding!”

The outcry of superstition was so sudden and heartfelt, it fully caught the gathered crew by surprise, dispelling the heaviest layer of tension in bafflement.

Jet, pausing on the courtyard’s edge, chuckled humorlessly, “My father’s here. How much worse luck could we get?”

Mr. Hawk looked genuinely taken aback by his son’s callousness, the open animosity catching him off guard and his already simmering temper ratcheted up to a boil.

Still more or less hidden behind the tenrec, a swallow, and the pink hedgehog, Wave snorted a short laugh of agreement.

Holding out her hand, Wave made a grabbing gesture for help and Shadow ducked forward, helping the bride stand in a fluid motion.

An awestruck gasp pulled from Jet as he saw his bride.

The dress she had chosen was beautiful. A sleeveless deep sweetheart bodice with visible corset boning that swept into layer upon layer of sheer white fabric and overlayed in mini appliquéd butterflies from neckline to hem.

Wave was a glamorous bride, Shadow could recognize. But stepping back, gaze locking with Sonic’s, a silent understanding passed between them. Sonic had seen far better that day.

In those emerald eyes, Shadow was heart-stopping perfection beyond compare in or out of that borrowed dress. And the dark hedgehog wouldn’t disagree.

And if this date went as well as it had been, then those borrowed moments would be far from the last Sonic would see.

They just had to defuse this situation and get the wedding back on track, Shadow’s jaw tightened, unsure how involved he should be getting in these veritable stranger’s lives.

Still having Sonic’s attention, Shadow made a ‘come here’ gesture, and while confusion gathered in his eyes, the blue hedgehog quickly joined him.

“What?” Sonic whisper-shouted, nodding a greeting to Surge and Amy flanking his date and the bride.

With a roll of his eyes, Shadow reached for Sonic’s wrist, pulling up his hand to remind the adorable fool what he was holding.

“Oh yeah! Don’t forget the finishing touch,” Sonic said on a laugh, swishing the veil out to the couple. He’d nearly forgotten it entirely, the golden combs digging into his gloved palm falling beneath his attention as Sonic jumped to try and help his friends.

Jet didn’t take his eyes off of Wave, but accepted the yards of tulle. Leaning in close to his bride, Jet lifted up the veil with a flourish to settle over fuchsia flight feathers.

The youngest Swallow sister gasped, “You look so pretty Wave-y,” and popped up between her siblings, reaching out a hand to brush over the full layers of the skirt.

“Don’t mess with it, Surf,” a middle sister chided even as she adjusted the veil and secured the comb clips with a few pins pulled from her own feathers.

“She’s right, you’re beautiful Wave,” Jet murmured, speaking with a reverent tone that Sonic had only heard once before, yesterday evening when lamenting about a certain gray-white hedgehog. In fact, Wave had held a similarly adoring voice when she’d spoken of that hedgehog too.

Now the two lovebirds only had eyes for one another.

“Oh Jet,” Wave cooed, swaying from side to side to show off the many layers of the gorgeous gown.

With another small sigh, Jet made himself turn away, his soft smile thinning to a grim line as he finally acknowledged his father directly.

“Now you can explain yourself. If I wanted you here I would have invited you.”

Having taken in the companionable scene silently, Mr. Hawk’s grey-green feathers ruffled slightly at his son’s change in demeanor.

“That would be a question for your bride-to-be,” Mr. Hawk replied, eerily collected now.

Browridge furrowing disconcertedly, Jet gave a silent prompt to Wave.

The swallow lifted his beak in the air, she would not be talked around, “I invited him. He’s your dad and I thought he should be here. Even after everything he’s put you through. So he could see you, and us happy. But I get it now. This was a mistake, and I was wrong.”

Sky blue eyes flew wide at the admission, “Wave, I don’t— he’s not—,” Jet couldn’t find the words to reconcile as he tried to make some sense.

Shadow felt a sour tug in his chest. It was obvious from the packed full guest list of avians, the majority of which were swallows, martins, and saw-wings, that Wave had a large and expansive family. It would be difficult for her to witness the estrangement of her fiancé from his own father and not invite him to the wedding.

Shadow himself had a small family, and a tight group of friends. While he couldn’t relate to where Wave was coming from with her decisions, he did empathize with her pride and perseverance.

But the dark hedgehog doubted Jet or Wave would want to hear his take on this issue. He’d remain silent, back-up if necessary like Amy and Surge.

Sonic shifted on his feet, also bothered but not able to hold his tongue.

“This isn’t your fault Wave. Not just because you’re the bride and you’re never to blame on your big day,” the blue hedgehog hooked a thumb towards the grey-green hawk behind him, “All of this could have been avoided if Hawk could buy respect with all his money.”

The already strained air pulled taunt, “Sonic,” Shadow spoke low, realizing the trouble brewing. He knew the blue hedgehog would rise to the defense of his friends, just like Shadow would for his, but this was a complicated and personal family matter they’d crashed into.

“It’s all good, Shads,” Sonic waved a hand flippantly, “That entitled featherbrain only cares about optics and his banker. If he gave a damn about Jet he wouldn’t disrespect Wave by bothering her with his hoity-toity bullshit.”

There was that flighty, caution-less streak the hedgehog’s little fox brother had warned him about. Shadow had a difficult time ignoring how Sonic’s brash loyalty was charming him deeply.

Mr. Hawk was not so easily humored, his temper boiling over.

“You want to talk about respect?” The hawk senior sneered, his frustration with his son lashing out across the courtyard, snaring the blue hedgehog in his wake. “How many poorly thought-out stunts did you wrangle my son into when he should have been focused on his law practice? Then you drag him into your endlessly unprofitable job—“

Sonic scoffed, barely restraining from rolling his eyes. Jet had been the brains behind at least half of their eco-activism in college. And if Sonic was honest — Surge had been the other half. Even now, the green tenrec jerked her head back, scoffing audibly at the slight to her own youthful acts.

It wasn’t worth debating the details with Mr. Hawk though. He refused to accept that Jet’s choice to switch his law focus had been all his own, a decision that Sonic had witnessed take its toll on the hawk junior for months.

“You done?” The blue hedgehog snapped, cutting off the grey-green hawk from starting this age-old argument again.

Mr. Hawk looked every part the bird of prey right then, ready to sink his talons into a mouse that didn’t know when to run away.

On edge, striped quills flared, as Shadow stood his ground beside his date, his patience with this hawk wearing nearly as thin as Sonic’s. The subtle movement from the dark hedgehog caught that hawkish eye.

“You have no leg to stand on, lecturing me about respect,” he sneered, “Not when you bring a cheap whore to my son’s wedding.”

Silence hit the courtyard, jaws dropping and gasps pulling soundlessly but painfully from their chests. One of the cater waiters who was eavesdropping, dropped a plate, shattering it on the stonework.

Sonic saw red, blood rushed loudly in his ears, and blue quills raised in furious defense. He was striding forward before his brain caught up to his legs. With lips snarling back on a vicious growl, Sonic burned with anger. The protective fire within him channeled only when Shadow moved, putting himself between the older hawk and the blue hedgehog.

The courtyard snapped away from his senses, Sonic’s attention obstructed and taken up by the stoic expression of Shadow before him. Striped quills and dark muzzle filled his vision and the hold Shadow had on Sonic’s upper arms was slowly cooling him down.

“Easy,” Shadow murmured, pushing down his own anger with effort. The Hawk wanted a fight, and no matter how much Shadow wanted to give him one, it would be to no good end. Shadow searched Sonic’s eyes and caught on the green fire burning there, set ablaze for him. This protectiveness Sonic had for him strummed Shadow’s heartstrings.

Whether they were in After Dark fending off crass customers, or in this courtyard side-eyed and gossiped with judgments, Sonic was there to take care of Shadow. He didn’t feel kept or owned like he cynically feared he would when Sonic had dropped into Raw Honey yesterday evening.

Shadow only felt treasured and cared for.

Sonic was his dance partner, an equal, not some benefactor or chaser. They circled one another with confident steps and pulled each other in closer the times they spun too fast. The revelation of it was a whirlwind inside the dark hedgehog, and although this was not the time or place, he would later permit himself to parse the effects this charming fool had on him.

But right now Shadow had to keep his promises and that meant warding off thoughtless trouble. Like picking a physical fight with the father of the groom for Shadow’s honor.

Even if the thought sounded nice. Sonic’s words, his interrupted action, all spoke more than that follow through would. Shadow didn’t need to be taken care of, but the thought sure as hell counted for something to him.

Soon the provoked growling faded, and Sonic could think a little clearer, “Not gonna let me at him?”

Shadow cocked a browridge, “I have thicker quills than he could ever under to leave a mark. How good of a lawyer is Jet?”

A churlish smile turned up Sonic’s muzzle, his usual cheeriness just reigniting, “Pretty good but his dad’s definitely got that beak insured. If I break it then I’d have to buy it.”

Striped quills shook as Shadow huffed on a small laugh, “Best to leave the offense to your friends then.”

Sonic gave a curious tilt to his head and Shadow twisted back, revealing the strained but cathartic scene that had unfolded in the courtyard.

The progress on turning the open space into the reception had all but stopped as cater waiters and staff openly eavesdropped. Surge had both arms around Amy’s waist, physically pulling her back as she jabbed a finger at Mr. Hawk’s chest incessantly. Knuckles had moved more defensively, a step behind the older hawk and kept his focus intent and controlled. The moment Wave called it he would happily haul Mr. Hawk off the premises.

Shadow had not caught all of what Amy, Knuckles, and Surge had badgered Mr. Hawk with when his cutting remarks had flayed through to the dark hedgehog.

But he had picked up the surprisingly loyal outrage of the echidna, tenrec, and pink hedgehog. Each was telling the Hawk senior off with no shortage of swears.

Sonic took loose hold of Shadow’s forearms, pulling them down to interlock their hands, emerald eyes glimmering with bright affection, “Looks like I’m not the only one who wants you around.”

“Your friends aren’t half bad,” Shadow allowed on a huff, ears flicking back when Amy let out a furious hiss being dragged back a full yard away from the old hawk by Surge, “Loud but not bad.”

Mr. Hawk wouldn’t stand there and take the animosity of the group for very long, his anger still right at the surface. His son recognized that look, and waving a hand towards Amy and Knuckles to back down, he finally stood up for himself and his soon-to-be wife.

“Enough dad.”

“You’re going to defend them?” The Hawk senior glowered, “Son you do not need to lower yourself to this riff-raff.”

Jet pushed forward, his beak and words could be just as sharp, “Just stop it. You don’t get to come here on the good will of my future wife and talk to her or my friends like this.”

The old hawk heaved a sigh of exasperation, combing fingers through his greying feathers, “I do not understand you. Why couldn’t you have run off with one of D’Coolette’s dynasty? Someone of good social standing?”

“Oh for fuck’s sake,” Sonic swore under his breath, and Shadow’s muzzle scrunched in agreement.

Jet hacked a loud mocking laugh at his father, sarcasm and outrage tumbling from him.

“Not this again!” Wave cried out.

Jet’s derisive laugh choked off, “What do you mean, ‘this again’?”

Wave balled up her fists, all her frustration directed at her future father-in-law, “I don’t know why you thought that invitation to my wedding meant I’d changed my mind. But you can’t pay me off and thinking you could find someone who’d never need your money won’t change a thing!”

“What?” Jet squawked, loud enough to be a decent impression of his father.

A thought clicked alight inside Sonic’s mind, He wants to pay her off?

Shadow’s hand squeezed in his, pulling Sonic’s focus down to where his date held him down from throwing a well-deserved punch at the old hawk. Glimpsing the inky wrap of Shadow’s dark clad fingers over his own white gloves, a memory of stuffing a crumpled letter into his pocket shook loose.

“I think she’s talking about this,” Sonic jolted, digging into his jacket pocket and pulling out the half burnt letter he’d found upstairs. The strangeness of the letter’s condition when he found it stuck in Sonic’s mind and the few lines he’d been able to read had mentioned a payoff.

He held it out, the chicken scratch still hard for him to discern and Shadow plucked it from his hand, unfolding and skimming through it to read out loud, “Will you not listen to reason… It is in your best interest to give up this marriage of monetary convenience… For the amount of ten million rings—“

“Million!” Wave’s youngest sister yipped, smacking a hand over her mouth.

“The rest is burnt,” Shadow finished, handing off the paper to Wave who glared at the letter until Shadow let it drop onto the temporary wooden dance floor where they stood.

Two of the cater waiters shot each other a look, wondering how they could subtly get a closer glimpse at the note.

Jet was trembling with rage.

Sonic had only seen him so mad on a few occasions, usually when he was dealing with an important trial but also when speaking to his father. Both hawks had short fuses and were competitive to a fault. It made Jet a brilliant lawyer and his father invaluable in cooperate business. It also meant they could argue like no other.

“What the fuck is wrong with you? You’re trying to pay off my fiancé? You think she’s some kind of gold digger?” Jet demanded answers, the green feathers on his temples flushing red with anger.

Sonic’s ears flattened against his head, anticipating Mr. Hawk’s equally raging response.

But no shout came.

Instead the grey-green hawk was silent, his head tilted inquisitively as he reassessed the dance floor before him.

“You set the letter on fire?” Mr. Hawk asked Wave, gesturing to what remained of the page, seeming genuinely amazed.

“Of course!” Wave coughed on a bewildered laugh, “I love Jet. Nothing could put a price on that. Not your money or your blessing.”

The old hawk’s beak clicked shut, actually listening to the conviction of Wave. Mr. Hawk had offered the swallow millions of rings to walk away from his son. All because he thought her someone with ambition and would readily use Jet for monetary gains. But Wave had set the equivalent of a fortune on fire, no money was worth more than the love she shared with Jet.

The realization swept through the courtyard just as a breeze nearly lifted the letter up onto the air, to be carried off towards the vineyards and lost with the wandering guests. Jet lurched forward, catching the note to inspect himself while everyone else came to the understanding, one-by-one, of just how deep Wave’s conviction ran.

What greater vow could she make on the ceremony dais than what she’d proclaimed right here?

“You gave up all that money for him?” Surf whined but was immediately silenced when Wave gave her a stern look. “Sorry Wave-y. Jet’s cool too I guess.”

The hawk junior in question was still attempting to wrap his mind around this seeming betrayal of his father. He had one hand to his brow, eyes shut closed, a twisting frown on his beak. Wave moved to his side, speaking to him with a hushed tone, and bringing him some peace in that moment.

“Would you take the money?” Sonic whispered out of the corner of mouth to Shadow as the dark hedgehog pulled them back a few feet to the side of the dance floor. They’d become far too involved in the lovebirds’ private matters as it was.

“What?”

“The letter,” Sonic gestured with a flick of his ear, “Would you take the pay and never, ya know, see me again?”

Crimson flicked over Sonic’s expression, one of genuine curiosity.

“My options are you — a cocksure Jester who never knows when to hold his tongue — or millions of rings?” Shadow clarified dryly.

Sonic grinned, his mood brightening with the playful teasing of his date after the tension layering around them, “You can only pick one.”

Shadow shook his head, dropping Sonic’s hand to hook a finger through his belt loop, tugging the blue hedgehog close enough to growl low into his ear, “I’m picking you fool, deal with it.”

A purr rumbled deep in Sonic’s chest, his easy grin relaxing into something far sweeter, “My friend’s are so wrong, I could totally handle all of you.”

“We’ll see about that,” Shadow nipped at Sonic’s ear, quick as he could, knowing there were eyes on them and wanting nothing more to pull his date back into the wine tasting room for another stolen moment of privacy.

Around the tensely formed combative circle, amid the reception set up and under the ticking clock to the ceremony, Mr. Hawk stewed in his knocked loose perception of his daughter-in-law.

The swallow stood by her fiancé’s side, her resolve and strength undeniable. Not one of the friends around her showed any doubt that she would choose Jet over copious amounts of money. She was capable of surviving, living to her fullest, without promise or use of his riches. This fanciful wedding she was trying to pull off further evidence of her resilience. She defied any assumption Mr. Hawk had of her.

Maybe he would not be so surprised if he’d ever agreed to attend any of the meet-the-girlfriend lunches Jet had invited him to over the years. Or if he didn’t undercut any phone call with his son over constant questions about what he was doing with his life.

“I see,” Mr. Hawk said more to himself before raising his voice for everyone’s attention, “Then I suppose you’re a better partner than I believed. You’ll make a fine spouse for my son.”

“What?” The lovebirds’ let out a simultaneous squawking cry. Mr. Hawk sighed as he crossed the few feet to the couple, his voice had lost its uppity-tone for something closer to advisement, ever the business bird.

“Jetson, you and every tabloid has known of my own failed marriages,” the Hawk senior began, “The ones I thought I could trust, and the ones I failed as well. I never wanted that to be your experience or your life. I will ensure only the best for you. Finding someone with their own reliable finances would have removed that ulterior motive from marriage. Would have protected you and your future.”

“You were testing me?” Wave gawped, more shocked than angry at the realization.

Sonic didn’t resist from rolling his eyes this time, This fucking guy.

Mr. Hawk continued, “As a good father, I had to make some assurances. And it appears you have done the impossible, son. Found someone you could trust and who stands with you unconditionally. We’ll see if she can go the distance. And will sign a pre-nuptial agreement.”

Amy, now being held up more than back by Surge’s arms, threw her hands up in the air. Her annoyance mirrored in Knuckles’ unamused grumbling. They were not the forgiving type, not for the hawk senior and not so easily.

Shadow could also harbor a decent grudge. And while Sonic couldn’t ever really find it in himself to hold onto simmering anger, he also realized that Mr. Hawk was likely the exception. And if not, he knew that his friends, and Shadow, would hold that grudge for him.

Jet was not one to forgive and forget either, but his relationship with his father was deeper and more complicated than his friends could properly understand. Neither hawk could fully understand the other, and they’d probably never see eye-to-eye for very long, but they did have a form of respect for each other.

With a rough shake of his head, Jet responded, “A post-nup and I’m writing the contract. That work for you Wave?”

The bride smiled, “Absolutely it will. Where do I sign?”

Less than pleased with that arrangement, the old hawk couldn’t press the issue without further argument spiraling, “So be it,” he allowed a fraction.

The gathered party let out a collective sigh, the tension finally easing.

“This is really who you’ve decided on?” Mr. Hawk asked, needing to hear his son say the words out loud. He refused to wait to the last minute up on the dais when the bride and groom would give their vows.

The younger hawk did not hesitate, “Yes. Every day. I choose this. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.” 

Flint blue eyes leveled on sky-colored, something that could be taken as understanding flitted there. 

“Then I have nothing more to say,” Mr. Hawk replied, then thought better of his briskness in the next second, “Except congratulations.”

A silent line of communication passed between Jet and Wave. There was more to say, much more and probably with a therapist present, but this was not the place to start. With a small nod from Wave, Jet let his shoulders relax and the furrow ease from his brow.

“If you can mind yourself for the next hour,” Jet spoke, slipping into his legalese voice as he made a deal, “Then you can stay for the ceremony. Just the ceremony.”

Mr. Hawk nodded, “I should expect so, my own sons wedding after all.”

Jet took a reassuring hold of Wave’s hand then, passing strength and patience between them, “You will keep your opinions to yourself. About my friends, about Wave’s family, and about Sonic’s plus-one.”

The old bird had the where-with-all to look somewhat remorseful for the way he’d spoken.

Shadow would never get an apology from this condescending hawk. He knew when to pick his fights and frankly he didn’t want an apology from him. Shadow did not hold him in any regard where that would matter. As long as Sonic was holding his hand, and looked at him they way he had for the last three days, he didn’t care what any of these people thought of him.

The striped hedgehog could see a fraction of that defiant pride in Wave too, the swallow never once blinked or backed down from her father-in-law. Her strong will a trait that drew respect from the old hawk that he wouldn’t disregard.

Maybe Mr. Hawk thought his son’s marriage was some kind of gamble.

But there was love in taking a risk, in opening yourself up to trust and connection.

“His name is Shadow,” Sonic added into the conversation, having realized that Jet did not in fact know, or had properly met, the dark hedgehog, “He thinks I’m priceless too.”

Shadow’s hand found Sonic’s again, threading their fingers together, and he nodded a small greeting to the groom before shooting a piercing glare at the old bird, “And for your information, I’m an expensive whore.”

Sonic bit down on his lower lip, holding back his laugh at the affronted look marring the old Hawk’s face.

And as long as that rich fuck keeps Shadow’s name out of his damn beak, the blue hedgehog thought, We shouldn’t have anymore problems.

“Right, well then,” Mr. Hawk said, curbing that conversation and changing the subject, “You’re ceremony is far behind schedule I’m sure.”

Wave grimaced, “Jewel’s going to implode.”

“I’ll let you get to it,” the old hawk said, ready to put strained exchanges behind him, “And I’ll arrange for a wedding gift. For the happy couple.”

Jet gave a shallow nod, with Wave and his friends, he felt supported enough to tentatively accept this olive branch from his father. It was by no means a fix to the years of tense family dinners and fights over the younger hawk’s future. Nor the slighting betrayal of Mr. Hawk trying to bribe his fiancé as a test of her loyalty. But a seat at the ceremony and a wedding gift as a small peace offering was some kind of start to a better father-son relationship.

Beside Shadow his date startled with a realization.

“Oh!” Sonic inhaled sharply, twisting round to slip his hand into the inner jacket pocket of Shadow’s suit.

The striped hedgehog bit his tongue at the sudden fondling touch. They’d been so good at not riling each other up with grazing hands and wandering looks, and now Sonic was playing with the tenuous line by trailing his hand under the dark fabric of Shadow’s suit.

Quick enough and Sonic’s hand retracted, bringing with it the envelope of their wedding gifts. Shadow fixed the now rumpled look of his jacket, reminding himself to get even with Sonic’s wandering hands later.

“Almost forgot!” He said with a lofty smile, “We didn’t know where the gift table was, and didn’t want you to loose these.”

The blue hedgehog held out the envelope to the lovebirds and Jet accepted, one browridge lifting quizzically. With a humm of thanks, the hawk flipped over the champagne colored envelope addressed to both him and Wave and swiped a thumb under the sealed edge.

“You should actually wait on opening that,” Sonic rushed to halt the hawk. He darted forward and plucked the envelope from Jet’s grasp, “Just until after the ceremony.”

After less than a split second of decision making, Sonic unceremoniously shoved the card back towards Jet’s chest.

“Stop that,” Jet snapped, snatching the letter from Sonic and slid it cleanly into the inner pocket of his tuxedo.

Wave leveled a stare at Shadow, “It’s what you promised?”

“Of course,” Shadow grumbled, almost insulted that she thought he’d fail.

Jet titled his head, a question forming there that Wave was best to answer, and Shadow wouldn’t in present company.

A shrill wheezing gasp, loud enough to echo around the courtyard, startled the lot of them. All except for the dark hedgehog who’d seen the haggard approach of the wedding planner up the grassy path.

“What are you all doing?” Jewel shouted between bouts of hyperventilating, “Everyone’s waiting!”

The garden holding the ceremony was romantically decorated. Rows of wooden folding chairs were set in tidy lines, crowded thickly with the flock of guests.

At the front of the arrangement, framed by a sweat pea covered trellis arch, the groom took up his place by the officiant. The crocodile, Vector, shuffled on his feet and stifled a yawn after standing idly by waiting for the better part of an hour.

Jet spoke quietly to his father, the grey-green older hawk gesturing to his phone as he typed away on it. After a few more hushed words, Mr. Hawk stepped down from the dais and took a seat in the very front row.

Reshuffling to make room, Amy, Surge, and Knuckles took seats closer to the front on Jet’s side of the aisle. They were packed in beside a lemur and a badger who immediately leaned in to whisper shout at the friends for their lateness.

Shadow intended to take one of the open seats of the back row when a call of his name pulled his attention.

The venue owner, Vanilla, had twisted around in her chair and had lifted a hand to frantically wave over the dark hedgehog.

Shadow hesitated a beat, What could she want? The thought cynically spiked, only for him to notice a split second later that the rabbit was pointing at the open seat beside her.

More surprised than he would ever let on, Shadow strode down the many rows and took the offered seat right on the inner aisle side.

He had nothing to fear of this matron, not after the harsh words in the courtyard. Sonic’s close friends had taken his side, easily and without hesitating. As far as Shadow was concerned, he was making good on his impressions.

He’d barely sat down when Vanilla leaned in close, holding up a decorative fan to cover her mouth from eavesdropping avian guests and whispered, “That spot’s the best view for you to see Sonic during the ceremony.”

Shadow’s brow creased, “I will be watching the bride when she makes her entrance.”

“Oh darling,” Vanilla laughed softly, her rabbit nose scrunching up in a friendly nature, “That young man did not get all dressed up for you to take your eyes off of him for a second.”

A blush tinged his honey dark muzzle at the knowing insight from Vanilla. Maybe he’d misinterpreted her before, his cynicism clouding what was in front of him.

“Promise me now, you won’t let Sonic get a way with a thing,” the rabbit advised, speaking like a caring mother wanting only the best for a son or nephew.

It was a strong departure from the overbearing protection Jet’s father had tried to exert over him. Shadow could understand better now why Sonic and his friends cared for his woman and her vineyard. Just as Tails had been protective of his brother, his friends were as well. It reminded Shadow so clearly of his own family and friends, and a burning hope within him yearned for them to be just as welcoming of Sonic.

He doubted Silver would need much convincing.

Vanilla nudged his arm, making sure Shadow was paying attention as she spoke, “Sonic needs someone that can ground him, keep him a little focused. But not slow him down.”

“I wouldn’t hold him back even if I could,” Shadow answered honestly and without hesitation, turning to hold Vanilla’s gaze steady as he spoke.

Shadow had made a promise to Sonic’s little brother before. Making sure he handled any trouble that Sonic ran into.

And he had, keeping Sonic grounded, ensuring he didn’t act without a thought, and backing him up when he needed it. It was a dance, a complicated and natural motion that they were starting to share. This passionate choreography was one Shadow didn’t want to experience with anyone else.

Sonic was in fact deeply responsible. Just in his own way, for his friends and family, above all else.

A single taupe brow quirked up as the rabbit waited for Shadow to continue.

“This is new,” Shadow said, gathering what was sparking to life inside him, flickering and delicate and needing an airy confident touch, “But I’m not looking to walk away any time soon.”

“Good,” Vanilla brightened, snapping her fan shut with a pleased decisiveness.

“And just to keep in mind. The down season for the vineyard goes all the way to March. Spring is such a lovely time for…” the rabbit pursed her lips, mulling over her words carefully once again, “all kinds of get-togethers.”

Shadow cleared his throat, breaking off any further conversation as delicate harp music began to play, hushing the guests as the ceremony truly began.

As Wave’s youngest sister began the walk down the aisle, followed by the next bridesmaid on Sonic’s arm, and then the third on Storm’s, Shadow rolled Vanilla’s intimation around in his head.

His gaze pulled to Sonic, a magnet finding true North, and watched the progression down the aisle. As the blue hedgehog passed Shadow, he didn’t slow, but his cobalt tail flicked languidly at the attention he knew he garnered from his date.

At the dais, Sonic patted the bridesmaid’s hand folded over his arm and she moved off to the left with her sister. The cobalt hedgehog hopped the low step onto the raised stone platform, and reached out to shake Jet’s hand while pulling the hawk into quick hug, giving a friendly smack on his back.

Sonic shuffled to the side, making room for Storm and looking out to the crowd.

Emerald found crimson instantly, that far too endearing smile brightening Sonic’s face.

It’s only been three days, Shadow reminded himself. A quiet, whispering part of him though, couldn’t help but savor in the idea Vanilla had suggested.

The harp music swept to a building crescendo and every guest twisted in their seats to watch the bride’s grand entrance. But Shadow did not turn, he only had eyes for one, and he kept that gaze steady on Sonic.

The blue hedgehog cocked a grin and winked, suppressing a laugh when Shadow huffed a silent scoff at his antics.

The fool wouldn’t know the time and place if it kissed that stupid grin off his face.

Out of the corner of his eye, Shadow caught the shuffle of grey-green flight feathers and he frowned at the uneasy ruffling of Mr. Hawk in the front row.

Sonic had also sensed the unease from the hawk senior, drawing a rebuking glare from the blue hedgehog. If Sonic hoped to silently will Mr. Hawk to stay sitting and keep the delicate peace, he was sorely disappointed.

Wave reached the dais, handing off her bouquet and taking Jet’s hand as he helped her up the short step.

The officiant had just lifted his scaled snout, calling for the attention of the guests, when Mr. Hawk stood, a stern glower curving down his beak.

Chapter Text

As one, the wedding froze in shock when Mr. Hawk stood with a measured calm. A tide of shock swept through the gathered party, too surprised at the interruption to react beyond hands covering mouths and leaning forward, perching on their edge of their seats.

Wave’s own parents, two older swallows with pink and purple feathers turning white from age, grasped at each other’s hands for support. The mother held the same appalled fury as her daughter, while Wave’s father, the spitting image of his daughter, looked ready to tear out his deep pink remiges from indignation alone at the interruption.

The old bird buttoned his bespoke suit jacket without hurry and his son, beak slackened open, stared in disbelief and cold fury. If Wave had still been holding onto her bouquet she would have crushed the bundle of flowers to paste in her hands.

No one’s even asked for objections! Cobalt quills ridged in a defensive display, Sonic’s entire body tensed. Had father and son not come to some understanding? At least for the day?

The officiant, Vector, stumbled over his speech, stopping and starting in confusion before breaking off as the rows of guests were obviously not listening to him.

Sonic had the brief flash of hope that Mr. Hawk would simply up and leave. A public disavow of the union but ultimately harmless.

It was a foolishly optimistic thought, and yet Sonic couldn’t help his predilection for a glass half-full situation.

Amongst the witness rows, Knuckles, Amy, and Surge readied themselves to interfere. Similarly, black and red quills shifted with Shadow poising to stand, his own inclination to cynicism proving him right once again.

The old hawk didn’t step away, he strode calmly, directly, for the dais, beak turned down in a firm line.

Under the hushed gasp of the crowd, Sonic could just hear the shuttering of a camera as Whisper captured the moment on film.

Blue fur, covered by his suit jacket, bristled and beside Sonic the vibrant green of Jet’s flight feathers ruffled irately. One wrong move over the line by the hawk’s father and Jet would have all the back-up he needed to keep this wedding going.

“Hold, if you will,” the older hawk said, addressing Vector who was too stunned to do more than mumble out a confused apology.

If it was possible for the rows of guests to hold a second breath they would. All eyes of the mobian witnesses were painfully open wide. The shock a physical chokehold on them all.

The grey-green hawk stepped up onto the dais, opposite Vector, as the officiant looked wildly to his wife out in the guest rows for any clue as to what he should do.

With a grim frown, Mr. Hawk lifted a hand towards Wave.

Jet tensed to snapping and the swallow was frozen to the spot. Wave stared fixedly on the rising hand as if she could will it into obliteration.

Delicately, with a softer touch than ever expected of him, the older hawk carefully pulled a long black quill from the folded tulle of her veil.

“Well damn,” Sonic swore under his breath. He refused to meet Wave’s livid glare when she immediately recognized the thick spike of keratin for what it so clearly was.

Pulled from organza, the quill was obsidian black and iridescent red along one edge when lifted towards sunlight. It stood out in startling difference to the deep pink-purple of Wave’s flight feathers. It was so painfully obvious the quill shouldn’t be there, that it belonged to Shadow. How it got caught in the bride’s veil was hardly a mystery.

The wedding guests immediately shifted about in their seats, trying to spot what Mr. Hawk held up for the small circle on the alter.

With a judgmental humm, Mr. Hawk turned an unamused look on his son. He didn’t say anything directly to Jet, his comments clearly written on his disapproving frown.

But as the old hawk stepped back off the platform he sneered again at the offending quill.

“See this gets back where it came from, Hedgehog,” Mr. Hawk snapped, twirling the quill like a pen around his fingers before flicking it towards Sonic.

The blue hedgehog lurched, snatching the quill and throwing a frustrated look at the old hawk’s retreating back.

With a blush threatening to consume him, Sonic stuffed the black and red quill under the cuff of his glove, hiding it from the curious eyes and gossiping mouths of guests.

“All ready then? We can begin?” Vector asked the wedding at large, trying to start the ceremony.

Sonic stared diligently down at his cuff, refusing to make eye-contact with either Jet or Wave who were glaring daggers at him. Nor would he look out to the crowd where Amy had her head slumped in her hands and Surge was likely taking bets on his imminent demise by fuchsia swallow.

Worth it, Sonic thought and bit down his self-satisfied grin.

Vector had to clear his throat and try twice more before Jet and Wave, duel glares still piercing directly into the blue hedgehog, finally turned away.

Mr. Hawk reclaimed his seat, the buzzing gossip of the crowd quieted, and Sonic chanced a look up towards the crowd, immediately locking eyes with Shadow.

The dark hedgehog shook his head softly, admonishment and amusement warring in his expression.

Sonic had to dart his gaze away. If he kept looking at Shadow he’d burst out laughing, the giddy feeling of just barely getting away with borrowing Wave’s veil bubbled up in his chest.

“Dearest friends, families, and lovebirds. We are gathered today,” Vector began, reciting the words he’d practiced half the morning, “To celebrate the loving union of…”

The crocodile continued on, skipping the call for objections entirely when Sonic made a ‘cut that’ motion as subtly as he could. Instead Vector skipped right to the exchange of vows.

As the two birds took to their turns, cooing each promise and hope for their future together, Sonic sought out Shadow again.

The striped hedgehog had leaned towards Vanilla, asking some question behind the shield of his hand. The matronly rabbit gave him a regretful shake of her head but patted his hand reassuringly before turning back towards the ceremony.

Crimson eyes slid past white fabric and viridian feathers, finding bright emerald seeking out his attention. Sonic tilted his head, a silent question for Shadow, who responded with a one shoulder shrug, dodging an answer.

Sonic’s brow crinkled and jutted his chin towards Vanilla in a quick gesture, Told ya they’d like you! he silently communicated.

Shadow rolled his eyes, lifting one hand just above the chair in front of him and tapped twice at the cuff of his glove.

That misplaced quill didn’t help, he seemed to say, better keep it safe.

Sonic smiled, ‘course I will. The blue hedgehog ran a thumb under the fold of his cuff, caressing along the black and red quill hidden there.

A bubbling light feeling overflowed within Sonic’s chest like a popped champagne bottle. It was sticky sweet and spilling from his heart in a fountain of affection and want. There was no telling if Sonic was drowning in this feeling or being lifted up in a champagne bubble. But he couldn’t get enough of the sensation, it was something he had never felt this powerfully before.

The blue hedgehog snapped back to his immediate surroundings when joyous applause came up from the crowd.

Cheers and happy tears sprang forth as the newlyweds paraded up the aisle, hand-in-hand, finally officially married.

[At the Club - Group Chat]

@🩶Silver — Did dove-y and love-y like the gift?
@🖤Shadow — They were married not ten minutes ago.
@🩶Silver — yeah?
@💜Blaze — Don’t worry about him Shadow
@🖤Shadow — I wasn’t
@💜Blaze — He’s just anxious that his lovebirds won’t like the gift
@💜Blaze — But we know they will
@🩶Silver — Just forget I mentioned it!
@💜Blaze — You should be asking the important questions. Like… Has loverboy found your gift Shadow?
@🖤Shadow — gift?
@💜Blaze — A certain thigh accessory?
@🩶Silver — Oh yes do tell!!!
@🖤Shadow — how do you even know about that
@💜Blaze — 🩷

[Direct Chat]

@🖤Shadow — Rouge
@🩷Rouge — Oh hi handsome💋
@🩷Rouge — How’s it going? I hope the bride isn’t the only one blushing 😘
@🩷Rouge — you wore the all dark and dangerous look so I’m sure you’re turning heads and making friends!
@🖤Shadow — How do you know what I’m wearing? And why are you telling Blaze?
@🩷Rouge — I know what you have in your closet and what you wear when you want to impress.
@🩷Rouge — and that you always take my advice. Good choice on the one with the blue gem btw
@🩷Rouge — bet that cute hedgehog is loving the look
@🖤Shadow — how do you know I’m wearing anything at all?
@🩷Rouge — HA!
@🩷Rouge — Good work on that one took you a second though I saw your typing bubbles. Save that for your date!
@🖤Shadow — dinners being served I’m going to ignore you now.
@🩷Rouge — Oh what did you get? Maria wants to know!
@🖤Shadow — what do you mean my sister wants to know? Where are you right now?
@🩷Rouge — Your place duh
@🖤Shadow — Rouge.
@🩷Rouge — Just hanging out with Maria. She was pretty run down from sitting in on dissertation defenses this week.
@🩷Rouge — So I brought over take-out and we’re watching Survivor Scrapnik Island
@🩷Rouge — And snooping around your date’s socials
@🩷Rouge — did you know he rock climbs? Hot.
@🖤Shadow — Thank you for bringing Maria dinner and checking on her
@🖤Shadow — stop spying on my date.
@🩷Rouge — 💋
@🩷Rouge — Maria’s all good. She wants to meet him. So do I! Now go have fun with your hottie 💙
@🩷Rouge — and bring us cake!!!

After the post-ceremony pictures with friends, family, and the wedding party, the guests returned to the reconfigured courtyard for the reception.

Mr. Hawk congratulated his son and daughter-in-law a final time. Shaking Jet’s hand firmly, and speaking shortly with Wave’s parents, he soon departed the reception on a privately charted bowrider. He took that air of superiority with him and the newlyweds breathed a little easier once he was off island.

Dinner was a tasteful experience, the food perfectly cooked, well seasoned, and enjoyed over good conversation.

The spotted array of tables covered a half of the courtyard with the newlyweds sat at their own table towards the front. Closest friends and family were gathered at the tables nearest them with more distant relatives and acquaintances further back.

Both hedgehogs were sat at the table nearest the newlyweds, crowded in on either side by Wave’s large immediate family of swallows and saw-wings.

Sonic and Shadow were sat beside each other while Knuckles, Surge, Amy, Sticks, Espio, and Storm rounded out the seating.

The old friend’s talked easily, never letting a moment go quietly, they filled the little world of the table with chatter and laughter. Shadow had expected his social battery to have been wearing thin by that time. The sun was beginning to lower behind the terracotta roof and his lengthy experience around this noisy group was seemingly endless.

But Sonic’s presence, the ease and respite he gave Shadow without effort or considerable intention, kept the dark hedgehog from receding into a grumpier state.

Shadow reclined in his chair, having finished off his butternut squash ravioli with its white wine sauce, and laid an arm comfortingly across the back of Sonic’s chair. He listened contentedly to the blue hedgehog tell some tale of how he and Jet rescued a pair of lost hikers that past spring from one of the more jungle covered islands.

The timbre of Sonic’s voice washed over him but Shadow barely heard his wild explanation of trying to convince Jet to swing on an actual jungle vine for the rescue. Instead he observed the little crinkle to the bridge of Sonic’s muzzle when he laughed at his own silly jokes.

The conversation shifted and Sonic leaned back in his chair, dropping a hand to settle comfortingly on Shadow’s thigh. Crimson remained steady on the chameleon sitting beside Knuckles as he shared some story of his own. Shadow didn’t let his gaze drop to where Sonic’s fingers lightly traced the subtle edge of garter belt through the pant leg of the dark hedgehog’s suit.

The touch was careful, ghosting along as hardly a tease, but the intention was deliciously felt all the same.

Shadow could feel a purr willing to rumble deep in his chest and took a sip of his scotch to settle the thrum. This craving want in him was far from satiated, but he was in no hurry to chase the night to its end.

The peace of the moment was swept up with the announcement that it was time to cut the cake.

Twisting round in their chairs, wedding guests vied for a good glimpse of Jet and Wave as they readied a large knife over the top tier of the cake.

Whisper darted around tables, dropping into a half crouch to snap pictures for a better lit angle of the newlyweds.

The wedding cake was an expertly baked two tier brown sugar confection with buttercream frosting and decorated all over in salted caramel candies shaped like little hearts. The newlyweds made sure to thank Amy for her hard work at baking, pausing with the knife held tight between their clasped hands.

The pink hedgehog hopped up from her chair, giving a little curtsey and a sweet salute as the guests politely applauded. When Amy slipped back into her seat, Surge nudged her arm. The tenrec murmured something quiet for the pink hedgehog who giggled, playfully swatting Surge’s arm.

With Jet’s hands folded over Wave’s, they sliced messily into the layers, cutting themselves a greedily large piece before handing over the knife to a waiter. The caterer sliced clean portions and plated quickly so that the dessert could be delivered to each wedding guest before they tried to serve themselves.

As Wave’s sisters and parents each stood to make a speech, followed by Storm giving his best man toast, and Shadow noticed Sonic swearing quietly under his breath.

“What is it?” Shadow spoke low, ignoring the concerned noising of Amy and the questioning grunt from Knuckles across the table.

“I never actually wrote my speech,” Sonic whispered back, loud enough for the gathered friends to overhear.

“Knew it! Pay up Knuckles,” Surge snickered, holding out an open hand to the echidna, “You too, Espio. Rings please, no i.o.u.’s.”

Shadow shook his head a fraction, flighty hedgehog indeed. He then leaned in close enough to speak against the shell of Sonic’s ear in such a way that no one else would catch his growling challenge, “You and I both know what that smart mouth of yours is capable of. You won’t disappoint.”

Emerald eyes flashed to crimson. If he could talk Shadow into a wedding dress, he could easily talk himself out of an off-the-cuff speech. Heat and something unspeakably affectionate sparked electric in Sonic’s gaze.

When Storm finished his speech, having brought the vast majority of guests to bawling happy tears, he passed the microphone to Sonic.

Standing before the whole of the wedding Sonic closed his eyes for the briefest moment, taking a short centering breath, and began, “Hey everyone, for those that don’t know me, I’m Sonic. The Hedgehog. If the quills didn’t give that away.”

Across the table Surge slowly shook her head, unamused but distractedly counting up her winnings.

Shadow watched his date closely, the blue hedgehog rocking back on his heels, one hand tucked in a pocket and the other holding the microphone loosely. His ceaseless confidence and quick-wit was entirely too endearing to Shadow.

“More importantly,” the blue hedgehog continued, “I’ve known Jet for, wow, too many years. One behavioral economics course and we were off to the races. And by races — I mean the registrar’s office to change classes because that college credit was not gonna happen.”

Chuckling laughter turned through the tables of guests. Sonic’s friends nodded along in high spirits, reminiscing of their shared college years.

Sonic gave a crooked smile as he spoke, finding the right words without worrying where they would lead him, “I don’t know if either of us would be the people we are today without each other. Jet, you’d probably have yelled your vocal cords to the breaking point arguing in some massive courtroom. And I’d definitely be lost at sea.”

The viridian hawk lifted his drink glass in agreement with his old friend.

A more serious tone undercut Sonic then, addressing Jet more directly, “But you’re not the hawk your father, or anyone else, expected you to be. You’re better. Maybe the best of us.”

“Then what am I?” Surge scoffed loudly enough for the nearest tables and the newlyweds to hear, causing a ripple of smiles and shaking heads to pass between them.

An ebony ear flicked, briefly annoyed at the small interruption.

Sonic chuckled though, waving off the tenrec, and his gaze flitted across the table to Shadow. The striped hedgehog watched him without judgment or exhaustion, only with a daring glint in his eye and an almost smile to his lips.

“What I’m trying to say is, you’ve taken risks over the years. Ones that have even surprised me. You changed degrees, addresses, and futures. There were some ups and a lot of downs. But isn’t the journey worth every setback? The pitfalls and the lucky times, every twist and turn, they make the days something you never want to miss.”

Sonic’s gaze was unwavering on Shadow, the dark hedgehog’s just as steady on him.

“You took a chance, maybe a foolish one, at times thoughtless, but a well-meaning chance. And look what your life is becoming. Good friends, genuine happiness, some adventure,” Sonic looked away, a light blush to his cheeks, smiling for the newlyweds, “and true love.”

Another thrum caressed along Shadow’s heartstrings, a catch in his lungs.

“That’s priceless,” Sonic said with his own heart in his throat. Joyed applause met his words and the blue hedgehog lifted his glass, “To finding your own way and rolling with the consequences — Cheers!”

Glasses were raised and clinked, jubilation going up across the reception.

Sonic made it back to the table just as they were being served their slices of cake.

“Hide this,” Sonic hissed, passing the microphone to Knuckles who handed it to Espio in turn. The chameleon dipped away from the table and Shadow’s unspoken question was answered when Wave’s strange auntie appeared. She was hunting for the microphone, wanting to interject with her own unplanned and unwanted speech for Wave and Jet.

The newlyweds would not have heard the surprise speech even if the auntie could find the microphone. Shadow spied the lovebirds stuffing quick bites of cake before slipping off towards the château. They must have marriage documents to sign or more photos to take the hedgehog surmised.

“That wasn’t too bad,” Sonic said, ignoring Surges immediate grumble of disagreement, his focus devoted to Shadow.

Honey dark lips turned up at the corners, the dark hedgehog agreeing with his rumbling baritone, “Never doubted you.”

As Sonic settled back into his chair, Shadow combed through the cobalt under-quills with his arm still thrown over the other hedgehogs chair. The subtle praise went right to Sonic’s head, making him a little dizzy.

A neat plate of salted caramel cake was set before Shadow, the frosting and candied hearts looked exquisite.

Sonic swiped his tongue over his upper lip, gaze darting from the dessert back up to his date, “Hey Shads,” he drawled with a crooked grin.

Shadow looked up, fork poised over his slice, when Sonic shot out his hand, smearing a thick glob of buttercream frosting over the dark hedgehog’s nose and muzzle.

Shadow reeled back in surprise, an admonishing hiss on his tongue, and Sonic burst into giggling laughter.

“Well don’t you look delic—,” Sonic wheezed through his giddiness, cut off when Shadow returned the wedding tradition.

Ready to one-up his date, Shadow had dropped his fork and scooped a heavy handful of cake and frosting. He pushed the salted caramel dessert across Sonic’s face, some made it into his open mouth and the rest was spread over his muzzle and up his peach cheek.

Sonic swallowed the cake that made it in his mouth with a pleased humm, his shoulders shaking with laughter. Shadow’s own chuckle was deeper, resonating in his chest like a purr, greatly amused despite himself.

The blue hedgehog was reaching again for his cake when Amy snatched the plate away.

“Can you two please behave yourselves?” The pink hedgehog snipped.

“Give me back my cake, Ames,” Sonic gestured hastily for the plate but his gaze was still locked on Shadow.

The dark hedgehog growled softly, his tail flicking amiably behind him, and a sharp incisor flashed. If given the opportunity, the instant Sonic’s attention dipped, Shadow would snatch more cake to paint his other peach cheek in buttercream.

“Absolutely not!” Amy dismissed with an upturn of her nose, “It’s just going to end up on Shadow’s face!”

Sonic’s lips twitched, not denying that simple fact.

“I’ll take that,” Surge interjected, forking the remaining cake onto her own plate so that she could have two servings. The tenrec had to ward off Sticks’ attempts then to get any extra onto her plate as well.

“Honestly you two,” Amy said with a sigh.

Shadow snorted, not sure if he was grateful he’d been saved more dessert to the face, or annoyed the friends had interrupted. He slid his barely remaining slice towards the badger, her whole face lighting up at the offering.

“We’ll get cleaned up,” Shadow was inclined to assure her, pushing back his chair and holding a hand out to Sonic who took the suggestion without hesitation.

⁺˚⋆｡° ✩💍✩ °｡⋆˚⁺

They only made it as far as the side hallway off the foyer, nearest the laundry and storage rooms, before Shadow had his troublemaker up against the wall.

Each kiss was salty sweet with caramel swirled buttercream frosting coating their lips. Sonic took tight hold of Shadow’s jacket lapels, bringing him crashing in close to messily lick the frosting smeared across his muzzle. Shadow was more than willing to return the effort to get cleaned up.

Cupping Sonic’s jaw, Shadow tilted his head each way he needed to kiss and lick buttercream and brown sugar cake crumbs away.

Sonic’s hands loosened on his jacket to wind up and around Shadow’s neck, letting out a soft moan when their lips found each other again.

Shadow slid a knee between Sonic’s legs, pinning him by the hips to the wall, and slipping his tongue into that smart mouth. Every soft gasp from the noisy blue hedgehog was delectable to Shadow’s ears, and he indulged in a far too loud and lewdly indecent moan when Sonic deepened the kiss.

They couldn’t get enough of each other.

“You taste so good,” Sonic murmured, fingers digging into Shadow’s quills, and breaking to the side for a gasping inhale.

“That’s the frosting, fool,” Shadow softly rumbled nipping at a peach lower lip to make his point.

Cobalt head quills were pressed to the wall and brushed from side to side as Sonic disagreed, a roguish smile on his kiss bitten lips, “No, I think it’s all you, Delicious.”

The roll of crimson eyes was hardly exasperated with the dark hedgehog brushing away the flattery before it could go to his head, or his heart.

Sonic reclined languidly against the wall, taking in the sight of Shadow and luxuriating in the moment. He could get used to this, pinned against a wall by Shadow, a little happy drunk on his voice and lips.

“If all this hadn’t been so last minute, bringing you as my plus-one I mean, I would have gotten a room,” Sonic sighed, nodding a vague gesture towards the bed-and-breakfast surrounding them.

“Confident I’d put out on the second date?” Shadow growled, cocking a brow.

Sonic snorted a short laugh, giving a self-aware shake of his head, but his toying response was lost when the dark hedgehog shifted. Dragging his hand down the half parted dress shirt, Shadow teased popping open one of the buttons there.

A shiver worked down Sonic’s spine, chasing away his train of thought.

Shadow smirked, How easy it was to tongue-tie my Jester.

“I already asked her,” Shadow confided, recalling the short conversation whispered during the ceremony. He internally cursed Rouge for her impromptu slumber party as well, not that he would have been able to take Sonic back to his apartment if the bat hadn’t dropped by.

He had the strong sense that Sonic would have the hardest time being quiet, tongue-tied or not.

“Hmm?” Sonic hummed, his breath catching as a dark clad finger traced the smooth edge of the button, giving just enough pressure to caress through the clasp to his peach chest beneath.

Abandoning the button to cradle Sonic’s cheek, Shadow titled his head, making sure his delectable fool was listening, “At the ceremony, I asked Vanilla if there were any available rooms for the night. There’s no vacancy. Wave’s extended family has every room booked out.”

“Damn,” Sonic's head thumped back against the wall, “This romance thing is hard.”

Ebony ears twitched and his brow crinkled skeptically, “That’s what you’re doing?”

“I’m trying,” Sonic huffed, a lopsided smile spread over his peach muzzle, “for you.”

Shadow pulled back a fraction, searching Sonic’s expression for any hint of insincerity and only finding the same effusive honesty he always shined with. He’s being serious, the thought struck the dark hedgehog and he recognized in that moment how important this date had meant to them both without either willingly admitting as much.

They hardly knew each other, it’d only been a few days, but they both wanted this to last. To give each other undivided attention, unrushed enjoyment, and more than just a weekend.

Shadow dipped forward, capturing Sonic in another kiss, trying to express the longing, the understanding, the craving he felt in that touch.

Sonic sighed into the kiss, wondering internally how he’d ever made it through the days without this.

Cobalt and ebony ears flicked as a barely there moan simpered in the air, a frown matching both their faces when realizing it hadn’t come from either hedgehog.

A resounding thunk on the wood door not a yard from them had both hedgehogs startling.

Shadow’s loose hold on Sonic’s waist tightened, annoyance flaring inside him.

Another muffled moan, this time the drawn-out keen of a familiar name, seeped through the door. It was picked up easier now that ebony and cobalt ears were listening.

Crimson eyes flew to emerald, both widening in shock and dismay. A baffled laugh threatened to spill from Sonic and alert the newlyweds snuck away in the storage room that there was company in the hallway outside.

A joking comment was on the tip of Sonic’s tongue, when another, louder thunk hit the door. This wham, more a crash than a pounding, shook the wood in its frame, followed by the unmistakable outcry of a hawk.

Sonic flinched against the wall, his senses on high alert.

Then the door handle snapped downwards, a flash of a fuchsia arm and frantic chirps of “Are you alright?” and “Wait don’t move!” fell into the hallway.

Shadow reacted on instinct, taking Sonic by the arm, both tearing off together.

They ran down the hallway, the footfalls of their dress shoes echoed in the open lobby. Neither wanted to stick around and be unintentional witnesses of the newlyweds’ moment gone awry anymore than they already had.

Sonic smacked a hand over his mouth, fighting off every urge to wolf whistle back down the hall in a form of congratulations for the lovebirds.

Shouldering open double doors, both hedgehogs caught their breath, no longer out of it from their heady intimacy but instead the sudden sprinting escape.

“Don’t,” Shadow held up a hand, warding Sonic off before he could make whatever cheeky comment he was working on.

The blue hedgehog scrunched up his muzzle, letting it go with a single-shoulder shrug, “Fine, but we’re both thinking it.”

Shadow didn’t justify that with a response, rather letting Sonic take his hand and lead him back out into the courtyard to rejoin the party. Snatching a bottled water and napkins as they walked, Shadow finished cleaning off the sticky caramel swirled buttercream that Sonic had missed. Their clean up wasn’t exactly effective, but it had been so delicious.

The wedding festivities had shifted from formal dining to a livelier evening. Tables were left to be tidied by the cater waiters, music was cranked up, and guests migrated to the dance floor. Storm’s cousin was mixing at his DJ set up as the setting sun shone off bright feathers and cocktail attire.

Amongst the avian guests were more familiar faces. Vector and Vanilla danced wildly together, far more animated than Shadow would have ever expected of them. Sticks and Surge were jostled onto the floor by Amy, Knuckles not budging until a long-tailed lemur full-tilt ran into him. The lemur shoved him forward with a cackling laugh, her ringed tail circling around the photographer wolf and bringing her along too.

The pop beats of the music dipped and rose, this time into a familiar flamenco number.

Sonic let out a delighted noise and tugged Shadow towards the dancing, “Oh we’re so doing this!”

Crimson eyes narrowed and Shadow pulled his hand free of Sonic’s grip, pausing at the dance floor’s edge.

“Shads?” The blue hedgehog spun back to see why he’d stopped, hand left grasping at the loss of dark clad fingers. The striped hedgehog crossed his arms over his chest, chin raised in challenge at Sonic’s presumption he’d ever dance to this song. Certainly not without seeing what his dance partner could bring.

With a snorted laugh and goodnatured roll of his eyes, Sonic took a spot on the floor, ready to dance the first chorus on his own for Shadow.

The other guests on the dance floor arranged into wobbly lines, generally facing the same direction to begin the choreographed moves.

Shadow didn’t move, this was the best view in the courtyard, his head shaking mirthfully as Sonic put far too much hip wiggle into the choreography.

Left arm out, and then right, each flipped at a time, then a cross and cross to his shoulders, before propping a hand on each hip. Sonic rolled his hips to the song, swinging around 90 degrees before starting the dance again.

It was hardly courtship circling, and yet, the display caressed along Shadow’s instinctual drive.

The striped hedgehog only remained on the sidelines long enough to watch Sonic complete the dance twice. Judging his timing and skill, finding him exceeding expectations, before stepping in to join.

The lyrics and beat washed over the hedgehogs, neither knew the words well enough to sing-along beyond a generous humming of the tune, but both made sure to end each sway of their hips and 90 degree hop with a shouted “Hey!”along with the other dancers.

After far too many repeating versus the song ended, shifting to another pop beat. Sonic whirled around, closing the short distance to his date, and pulling the other into a new and unchoreographed dance.

Sonic slipped his hands down to settle on Shadow’s waist, moving their hips in time to each other, nearly on beat to the song.

The striped hedgehog huffed, taking peach wrists in his strong grasp and resettled them on his chest. Sonic’s fingers pressed hard, if he concentrated, he’d be able to feel the pounding of Shadow’s heart through the many layers of fabric. Dark gloved hands dropped down to Sonic’s waist, guiding him onto the actual beat.

It wasn’t that Sonic couldn’t keep time, but he preferred to get swept up in the music, to not worry about the small things. But he found it utterly endearing how Shadow took control of their dance, moving them in time and not missing an improvised step. That champagne feeling in Sonic’s chest overflowed and bubbled up into his throat.

“Knew you could tear up a dance floor,” Sonic grinned, “Having fun, Shads?”

“With your two left feet?” Shadow smirked, “Yeah, I am.”

Sonic couldn’t help the internal jump for joy, Yes! his wildest hopes for this second date were coming to fruition.

“Good, because I remember there was a promise for a kiss in your bunny suit, and I’m holding you to that.”

“You think you’re getting a third date?”

The blue hedgehog tripped over his feet, kept upright only by Shadow’s arms slipping further around him, hands resting a little lower on his back than respectable.

“Pretty sure yeah?” Sonic laughed him off, a single thread of uncertainty underpinning his usual confidence.

With a sigh, Shadow pushed at one of Sonic’s hips while keeping hold of his right hand. He swung the other hedgehog around, snapping him back close, so they were chest to back, holding him without needing to make eye contact.

In this new position he could rumble low into a cobalt ear, “Do you think you’ve earned it?”

The blue hedgehog twisted in this grasp, craning his head to meet crimson eyes, his own challenge shimmering in his gaze now, “That kiss or the date?”

Shadow nipped at Sonic’s ear, chastising the impertinent hedgehog who then tried kicking a leg back to step on his foot in retaliation. Holding Sonic in place, Shadow pressed a quick kiss to the shell of the ear he’d teased, soothing away the bite that was more snap of teeth than anything.

We could taunt and tease all night, Sonic realized, letting the sway of Shadow’s movement to the music lull him for a moment, How long until that wasn't enough to take the edge off this hunger they felt for each other?

Sonic wanted, needed, to make sure they were moving in the same direction together. That champagne feeling hadn’t faded within Sonic, it only bubbled and fizzed more, distracting as he tried to keep his senses about him.

It was hard to think clearly with Shadow’s warm chest pressed to his back and that amaretto scent wrapping around them.

Biting down on the inside of his cheek, forcing himself to stay on track, and not mess this up by falling over his words, the blue hedgehog turned fully around in dark clad arms. Nose bumping against nose at their closeness, he needed to ensure nothing was lost to the loud music and squawking chatter around them.

“I meant what I said before,” Sonic cut to the point, taking the small leap of chance for something real, “about liking having you around. And being around you too. This isn’t some fling to me. I don’t want to rush this in some storage room or lost out in the orchards.”

Shadow’s lip curled at the idea of packing down the earth between grapevines.

As Sonic suspected, Shadow wanted and deserved to be taken care of. And he agreed whole heartedly. They would have a real bed with all the time and attention Sonic desirously wanted to give him. Neither would settle for some romp in a storage room like the newlyweds. Not at first, even if every instinct within them cried out in needy hunger for the other.

“So if you’re not sick of my romancing yet,” Sonic continued, “and you wanna see where this goes as much as I do, then let’s—”

Shadow silenced his endless rambling with a searing deep kiss. More polite than he selfishly yearned for in the crowded company of the dance floor, but only just. The kiss did work like a charm, finally halting the tumbling words of his date so that Shadow could get a word in edgewise.

“So impatient, you couldn’t even wait for me to ask you out first?”

Emerald eyes dilated, tail flicking rapidly and pulling him off beat. Sonic beamed, “You want to ask me? Hell ya dude!”

“On second thought,” Shadow grumbled, stepping back from the cavalier attitude of the blue hedgehog, who only laughed at his fake-out.

Sonic closed the distance between them again, not letting him go that easily now that he knew Shadow had intended to ask him out for their third date.

“I forgot, gotta bring the romance,” Sonic grinned, and Shadow rumbled a chuckling purr at his foolhardiness. The cobalt hedgehog was not one to be deterred with jokes and jabs.

With a deft step to the music, the pop music pulsed low and Sonic followed. Swiftly running a hand from the small of Shadow’s back down the length of his thigh, Sonic hooked under his knee, dropping the dark hedgehog backwards into a dip.

Shadow inhaled a sharp gasp at the movement, claws nearly breaking through the fabric of his gloves to better grip midnight suited shoulders.

But his dance partner would never let him drop, at least not without immediately falling after.

Sonic smiled radiantly down at him. The rest of the party fading away as Shadow gazed up at bright green eyes and blue quills haloed in the light of the setting sun.

“What do you say, Shads? Got plans tomorrow?”

Air seized in Shadow’s lungs, his breath stolen by this endearing, foolish, troublemaker of a hedgehog. Sliding up his hand to tug at cobalt quills, Shadow brought Sonic’s mouth down to his, answering with a tantalizing promise of a kiss. This mutual craving heat licked at their lips and blazed through their veins.

“That’s the best kind of yes,” Sonic mumbled against honey dark lips, fighting a laugh when Shadow growled at him for breaking the kiss even that bare amount.

“Excuse me?” A nervously timid voice crashed through the private world of the two hedgehogs.

Cutting off the kiss with a disbelieving groan, Sonic looked up to Jewel, the anxious beetle shifting from foot to foot, wringing her hands.

Shadow dropped his head back, glare returning in full frustrated force aimed at the wedding planer and her intrusive behavior.

“What is it, Jewel?” Sonic asked, pulling Shadow up to standing, in no rush to leave the dance floor.

The wedding planner grimaced, obviously uncomfortable but not specifically with the hedgehogs. More that she didn’t want to have whatever conversation this would be at all. “Wave needs to speak with you both.”

Shadow stilled beside Sonic, arms flexing in his hold around his date.

Oh shit, Sonic realized, the dress.

Chapter Text

“That wasn’t us,” Sonic lied reflexively, his voice a little too loud to be believable and Shadow's eyes fell closed with long-suffering exasperation.

Jewel’s shiny wings clicked against her back in a nervous gesture, “I don’t know how it could be?”

“Well it wasn’t,” Sonic doubled down, not clearing up Jewel’s apparent confusion in the slightest.

If we play this right, we could make a break for the ferry, Sonic thought, Not see Wave until after whatever honeymoon she and Jet had planned? She’d probably be in a more forgiving mood then…

“Just take us to her,” Shadow sighed, keeping Sonic close in a gentle hold and motioning for Jewel to lead the way. “Whatever she needs, we’ll deal with it.”

So responsible, Sonic huffed, letting himself be led by the hand off the dance floor.

Jewel gave a wobbly but grateful smile before scampering across the courtyard towards the vineyard’s grounds. Only a few of the dancing avian guests bumped into the wedding planner as she moved determinedly, pushing through carefully enough to not get squished and swatted with large rectrice feathers.

The beetle did not lead them through the bed-and-breakfast nor did she head back down to the garden and matrimony alter.

Rather, she took the long way around, choosing the outside scenic path that cut between the château and vineyards, avoiding as many guests as possible.

Sonic supposed that made sense, she wanted the dress-ruining hedgehogs out of sight and mind. They’d already drawn enough attention to themselves at the ceremony. Even now wedding guests cut them scandalized glances and gossiping clucks.

As they left the reception behind, Sonic waved away the questioning looks from Knuckles, Tangle, and Amy. Surge also caught their departure but couldn’t have cared less, not when the pink hedgehog she’d been harboring a crush on for three years was dancing with her.

No amount of back-up would get them out of this, Sonic knew. And it was best to keep his friends in the dark about the more intimate details and private moments he shared with Shadow that was leading them down this path. The last thing he needed was more of their teasing jokes over his enthralled behavior.

Sonic knew he liked Shadow, that the dark hedgehog’s presence, his attention and voice, drove him wild in the best of ways.

What he didn’t need was his friends reminding him how easy it could be to mess this up and loose any chance with that deliciously gorgeous hedgehog.

If he fumbled it would be on his own terms, no assist necessary.

Sonic shook out his quills. He needed to focus on making sure he could salvage this date no matter what lay at the other end of this gravel path. He needed to stay in the here and now, get through the next how-ever-long Wave would rage at them, and then sweep Shadow off his feet for the rest of the night.

Walking hand-in-hand with Shadow to their potential doom, Sonic couldn’t help but hope the date wouldn’t end with this.

Not yet, Sonic willed the night, another dance, a promise for another time, and just a little longer with him.

The sinking sun cast long silhouettes over the orchards. Wine grapes hung heavy on the vines as they ripened for harvest. Starting at the bottom of a slight slope were rows of trellises marching in orderly lines of sweet smelling grapes. They tempted Sonic to snatch a few right off the vine and pop them into his mouth for a satisfying snap of tartness.

The château came right up to the path on the other side of the gravel trail. Glass doors, shuttered with gauzy drapes and locked tight, were evenly spaced along the bed-and-breakfast’s first floor and let out directly to the scenic walkway. Between each of the room doors were flower laden hanging baskets, still dripping onto the grass below after being freshly watered.

If the hedgehogs took a turn to the left they’d be ensnared by grapevines, and if they turned back, they’d eventually make it to the garden sheds and wine presses on the far side of the property.

But they continued forward, slowly working their way towards the front of the vineyard where the gravel path would fold into the driveway and paved walk that led down to the docks.

Jewel didn’t check to see if she was being followed. It was a detail that may have helped her as the two hedgehogs chose to walk rather slowly, taking their sweet time before the day’s bride deservedly chewed them out.

Wave won’t be too mad, right? Sonic wondered to himself, It was just a dress she didn’t want and she wouldn’t be too harsh with him. Not after today?

They weren’t exactly the closest of friends, Wave always seemed to find Sonic bothersome, but that was better than boring in his opinion. And hadn’t they bridged some kind of closer friendship after that blow-up in the courtyard?

Sonic frowned at the memory, his anger over how Jet’s father had behaved and referred to Shadow still a sore spot.

With his one hand folded into Shadow’s grasp, Sonic’s free hand subconsciously fidgeted with his cuff, running his thumb reassuringly over the black and red quill hidden there.

“I can feel you thinking,” Shadow murmured, tugging Sonic’s hand and bringing him back into the moment.

Gravel crunched under their feet and Jewel had to stop multiple time to brush away sharp rocks sticking into the soft soles of her shoes. Yet the hedgehogs were in no hurry to keep up and soon the wedding planner was a good distance away, out of range to overhear.

“Not thinking much,” Sonic shrugged with one shoulder, “Just hoping I can still rescue this date after all this.”

“We’ll face Wave, and her husband, together,” Shadow said unconcerned, soothing over the frazzle of nerves within Sonic by the timbre of his voice alone, “I can push a payment for the motorcycle repairs until next week and cover the dress cost. You just need to focus on not spilling every detail about how it got to that state in the first place.”

Sonic’s heart, already overflowing with champagne bubbles, shook up rapidly with his thudding heartbeat.

“You don’t need to do that Shads, I convinced you to put on the dress and I tore it off you,” Sonic smiled at the memory, the tips of his ears tinting red just from the snapshot of recollection. “Jet’s probably spitting mad over it but I’ll take all the heat, ‘kay?”

An ebony ear flicked, “I won’t ask you to do that.”

“You don’t have to, Shads,” the blue hedgehog laughed, loosening the dark hedgehog’s hand from his to shoot ahead on the path. Twisting around in front of Shadow, Sonic walked confidently backwards up the trail. “Seriously though, you don’t know how Wave can get. She seems to like you, wouldn’t have let you be a plus-one if she didn’t, but Wave can be a real spitfire when she wants to be. And Jet’s… well he’s Jet. He screeches instead of snores.”

“I’m not worried,” Shadow said firmly, gaze steady on the hedgehog before him. For every step forward he took, Sonic took one backwards, a haphazard progress as they trekked on.

The striped hedgehog sounded so sure, keeping easy pace with Sonic and not hesitating as they moved. Sonic bit at his lower lip, trying to keep his footing, and again turned over the afternoon in his head.

A dwelling sore spot still itched under Sonic’s fur, something he needed to get off his chest, and clear any air that could hang heavy around them if left unaddressed.

“I’m sorry about all this, Shads,” the blue hedgehog ran a hand through long head quills, the other one gestured vaguely over his shoulder towards Jewel and her steadfast determination to bring them before Wave, Jet, and their probable strangulation by torn wedding dress. “I really thought this date would be going a lot smoother.”

“What?” Shadow’s muzzle scrunched up on a half snarl, not liking the taste of Sonic’s apology.

“This date’s just—,” Sonic’s elaboration cut off into a sharp gasp, his arms pinwheeling out as he stumbled backward over a hose piled up on the path, left by some staffer after watering the hanging baskets.

Shadow lunged forward, catching Sonic around the waist with one arm and grabbing his suit jacket roughly with the other. It was a messy save, sudden and reflexive, but Sonic remained on his feet with his suit undamaged from sharp gravel and grass stains.

“You really do have a way with falling into trouble,” Shadow grumbled, his tone surprisingly bemused and the crinkle to his muzzle softened in the setting sunlight.

Sonic beamed up at his grumpy hero, “I think you just like my kinda trouble.”

With an exasperated huff, Shadow pulled Sonic back to standing. He kicked away the coiled hose from the pathway without checking it, his attention fixed on brushing out the wrinkles now creasing Sonic’s suit.

“You were saying?” Shadow rumbled after a quiet moment, making no move to hurry them along.

Jewel was out of sight now, having turned the final fork in the trail, but they could still hear her heavy panting as she trompsed.

“I was?” Sonic asked, head canting to the side, swept up in distraction by the stern furrow to Shadow’s brow which deepened at his question.

How can he be so deliciously hot and undeniably cute when he’s annoyed? Sonic thought.

“Yes, you were apologizing for how this date is going when you have no reason to,” Shadow’s tone was gruff, “Why do you think I need an apology, Sonic?”

Cobalt brows raised and he shrugged with intentional nonchalance, Sonic thought it was obvious.

“It’s just — I talked you into that dress and then ruined it. And got you to break promise after promise. I never should have let that horrible old hawk get away with what he said. And now you won’t even let me take the fault for getting us into hot water with hawk and wife.”

Sonic wasn’t a planner, he didn’t think ahead in step-by-step organization, or let details trip him up. But he was an optimist at heart and competitive enough to see things successfully through. He cared about this time with Shadow, about impressing this hedgehog and having a good time together.

A good enough time they could do something like this again. Yet the night was catching up to him and his date.

Shadow’s ears flicked back against his skull, his hands squeezing where they’d fallen to loosely hold peach wrists.

“That is absolute bullshit,” Shadow growled, the crimson of his eyes reflected the setting sun, obscuring burning emotion within them.

Emerald eyes widened, and Sonic’s mouth dropped open to argue. But Shadow knew him well enough to anticipate this and moved his hand quick, covering Sonic’s mouth in the next second to keep him quiet.

“No. You need to listen.”

Sonic frowned against the palm of Shadow’s hand, huffing a breath through his nose but not breaking his hold.

Not gonna let me talk my way out of this one? Sonic thought.

Shadow took a deep breath, gathering his own thoughts, and Sonic shifted restlessly in his hold.

In their few days together, Sonic had noticed that Shadow was a hedgehog of few words, that he played things close to the chest and remained steadfastly stoic only to strike out with a sharp tongue and dry humor when he deemed it worth his while.

Sonic felt his heart stutter off beat every time he worked his way under another layer of the dark hedgehog’s shrouded exterior. He lavished in every smirk, chuckle, and quiet moment.

Now, under the scrutiny of burning crimson eyes, Sonic could see himself reflected in those dark pupils. Shadow had worked his way around Sonic’s protective barriers too, unraveling his nonchalance and easy-going confidence to find the beating heart within.

Sonic was exactly the kind, fun-loving, and laid back hedgehog he presented himself to be. He wasn’t careless or entirely carefree. It may look effortless, but he did care, deeply. About his friends, this burgeoning relationship with Shadow, and this date.

Shadow could now see this apology for what it was: Sonic taking responsibility for the evening, owning up to things that were, and were not, his fault, and all to salvage a potentially disastrous date.

Sonic didn’t yet understand that none of that would go far with Shadow.

He did not want or need an apology for how the evening was turning out. The trouble Sonic had stirred up, and the kind he’d stumbled into, was a good time to Shadow and he found himself craving more.

And like Sonic, he didn’t want this night, their dance, to end.

With one hand still around Sonic’s wrist, Shadow could feel the heavy beating pulse of the blue hedgehog beneath his finger tips.

Keeping Sonic’s mouth covered with his other hand, Shadow spoke slow and gruff, his deep baritone resonating in cobalt ears.

“Listening?” The dark hedgehog did not wait for an answer that he already knew, but Sonic nodded anyway, he was all ears in that moment. “I only do what I want to. I’m here with you because I want to be and not even that mouth of yours can convince me to do something that I don’t want to do.”

A muffled humm warmed the palm of Shadow’s hand as Sonic tried to respond. The striped hedgehog narrowed his gaze, waiting impatiently for Sonic to stop talking into his glove. He couldn’t understand him like this and he wasn’t finished yet.

Noticing the dry stare of his date, Sonic ceased his rambling attempts.

“I borrowed that wedding dress because I chose to. No matter what the consequences, it was worth every moment you were looking at me,” Shadow spoke with no room for argument.

The laugh lines at the corners of Sonic’s eyes crinkled, revealing the smile he gave beneath dark clad fingers.

Shadow continued, dipping an inch forward and filling Sonic’s vision entirely, “The same goes for those promises. You’re the good kind of trouble and there’s no keeping you out of it. I wouldn’t if I could.”

The blue hedgehog had stayed quiet as long as possible. Now Sonic reached up to tug Shadow’s wrist away from his mouth, just enough to speak uninterrupted or muffled, “You did show Wave up on her wedding day. There was no avoiding that one no matter what you wore.”

I’d have preferred you in nothing at all, save for that thigh garter with the blue heart gem, Sonic thought, and bit his tongue to keep the flirtation in, he’d already gotten away with more than enough speaking when Shadow had wanted him to listen.

Striped quills swayed as the dark hedgehog shook his head lightly, almost with amusement. Twisting his hand in Sonic’s loose grasp, Shadow cupped a peach jaw and brushed his thumb over full lips, reminding the cobalt hedgehog to stay silent a little longer.

Sonic leaned into the touch, ghosting a kiss on Shadow’s gloved thumb as it caressed over his bottom lip.

“I suppose there was no avoiding breaking that one,” Shadow conceded that point.

He’d delivered the wedding gift Wave had asked for and he had every intention of keeping Tails’ request that his older brother return home in one piece. Shadow preferred to keep his promises, his word was not something to trifle with.

A summer breeze, cooled by the coming night, wove through the vineyard and ruffled both black and blue quills.

They were achingly close, only touching where Shadow held a peach jawline, and the blue hedgehog breathed in that amaretto scent.

Sonic was beginning to suspect the dilation to Shadow’s eyes, the way he parted honey dark lips ever so slightly to inhale deeply, was to soak in the cobalt hedgehog’s own blackberry and bay scent.

It thrilled Sonic, filling him with pride, that Shadow liked the way he smelled. An instinctual part of Sonic wanted to tear away their gloves, damn the immodesty of it, and nuzzle their scents along quills and against chest fur.

He really needed to focus.

Shadow was having an equally hard time staying on task, but the sun was still sinking and they could no longer hear Jewel. It was time to clear up this foolishness.

“As for that old hawk,” Shadow growled, dismissing the last apology definitively, “He’s a pompous strutting rooster whose opinion means nothing to me. You’re not responsible for the way he treats people and I don’t need you to protect me from the likes of him.”

“I never say you did,” Sonic said without hesitation.

“And yet you almost laid him out cold.”

Sonic raised his chin defiantly, Shadow’s hand slipped down to rest on his chest, fingers naturally sliding beneath the loose hem of his button-down shirt to nestle in the soft peach fur there.

“He deserves to be plucked and roasted,” Sonic growled, that sore spot still tender to a prodding touch.

“Yes, he does. But he’s not worth the effort.”

Blue quills rose infinitesimally, an instinctual defense that Sonic couldn’t help.

The cobalt hedgehog slid his hand up Shadow’s wrist, laying his fingers over dark clad ones which in turn rested over his heart. He knew his cardio rhythm was rapid, pounding against his ribs to its own dance, and he hoped Shadow knew it wasn’t just from nervous energy.

“For you, everything is,” Sonic stated empathically, holding Shadow’s gaze and hand steady.

Realizing in the next heartbeat the gravity of his own words, Sonic rushed on. That easy charm smoothing over the open emotion of his heart and turning up the sweet-talking flirt his friend’s teased him for being once again.

“Guess I’m not that good at romancing, huh?”

Shadow narrowed his eyes, not missing a thing but letting the moment sift through his fingers like sand. The night may no longer be young but there would be time for parsing those words.

Lifting his hand from Sonic’s heart, Shadow tipped that peach jaw up a bare inch. He was technically shorter than the blue hedgehog, but only just, and on this graveled pathway they stood evenly.

Now, tilting Sonic’s chin up and looking down the honey dark bridge of his muzzle, Shadow took the lead.

“You have nothing to apologize for. I told you on that dance floor that I’m having a good time. That hasn’t changed,” Shadow promised, “Don’t waste your breath over an imperfect night.”

“Even though I got us into big trouble with the bride?”

“I wouldn’t have this date any other way, Jester,” honey dark lips lifted in a knowing smile.

Sonic, choosing action over words, pressed forward to capture that smirk he treasured in a fervid kiss.

The dark hedgehog indulged them both, pulling Sonic flush against him without hurry, and deepened their embrace.

They’d stolen every moment they could.

“If we don’t go now,” Shadow grumbled, regrettably breaking the kiss, “We won’t.”

Sonic smiled against those honey lips, “Is that such a bad idea?”

“It’s not a good one.”

Shadow could feel the buzzing energy of Sonic in his arms. How the blue hedgehog’s tail wagged rapidly and how his hands clenched and relaxed on dark shoulders were obvious tells.

If Shadow let him use that mouth anymore, on way or another, Sonic would find a way out of their oncoming consequences. That would only make things more difficult in the long run. And Shadow knew, in the breath-stealing cease of his lungs and the catch to his heart beat, that he wanted to be around for longer than just tonight.

Shadow was also certain that his personal promise to make good impressions on Sonic’s friends was balancing on a razor thin wire between ‘reserved grump’ and ‘scandalous debaucher’.

With that sore spot soothed, and the small chip in Sonic’s confidence mended, the blue hedgehog was ready to face Wave and Jet. So what if their second date had some twists and turns? As long as Shadow was sticking around, Sonic wouldn’t mind.

The final stretch of gravel pathway disappeared behind them as the hedgehogs caught up to Jewel at the main entry of the bed-and-breakfast.

“They’re just out front,” Jewel gave a double thumbs up which wasn’t exactly reassuring as she was already turning back for the return trip, as if she were making her escape, “Good luck!”

Sonic shot the dark hedgehog a look but didn’t move to place himself between Shadow and the vengeance awaiting them. They would deal with this, their good trouble, together.

The consequences were worth every moment of Shadow in that wedding dress and it was time to face the music. There’s would be a birdsong.

The sun had nearly set, the arching light dipped beneath the shoreline surrounding Floral Forest Island. In the fading day, the bright specks of city lights from Westopolis could be seen sparkling across the few leagues of ocean separating the islands of the archipelago.

Shadow and Sonic found the newlyweds beneath a pair of cypress trees on the outer edge of the château’s front gardens. They were reclined on a stone bench beneath the leafy branches and were speaking quietly to each other.

The hedgehogs pulled up short when they noticed immediately that Jet’s leg was propped up on the bench, covered in a bed-and-breakfast monogrammed towel, but crooked at a painfully awkward angle.

Wave held her phone loosely in one hand, the screen showed that she was on mute, the number for a maritime emergency line blinking on screen.

Sonic spoke up as the hedgehogs approached from the scenic pathway, coming around the back side of the cypress, “Hey guys, what’s up?”

Jet startled at their silent approach, instantly flinching when the reaction tinged his leg, “Fuck you,” he hissed, more angry at the apparent pain than the hedgehogs.

Frowning, Shadow glanced around for the wedding dress but it was no where in sight. Wave had changed out of the gown she’d chosen, putting back on the leggings and sweatshirt she’d worn that morning. Jet’s tuxedo jacket was peeled off and his tie hung undone from his neck. There were no yards of white chiffon anywhere in sight.

The dark hedgehog paused on edge, no longer certain what he and Sonic had walked into.

“Guys?” Sonic prompted again, gaze flicking between the two birds and then down to Jet’s awkwardly contorted leg.

Wave sighed, rubbing a comforting arm across Jet’s back, and set her phone on the bench between them, “You want to tell them or should I?” She asked.

Viridian feathers were ruffled askew, and the questions only seemed to agitate him more but Jet gathered a heavy inhale and attempted to explain.

“Recently,” he began, motioning to his crooked limb on the bench, “I may have fractured my leg. Some… recreational activities got out of hand and now we’re waiting for the ambulance boat to come pick us up.”

Wave looked away, a burning blush turning her beak a bright pink to clash with her fuchsia feathers.

Emerald eyes flicked between the newlyweds and Shadow waited for Sonic to put the few clues together.

“Oh holy shit,” Sonic grinned wickedly, “You broke your leg fu—”

“Don’t say it, you ass!” Jet screeched, balling up his suit jacket and flinging it full force at the blue hedgehog’s head.

Shadow didn’t intercept the projectile, it was deserved, and it wouldn’t shut Sonic up in the slightest.

As the cobalt hedgehog cackled to himself, pulling the jacket free from his quills, Shadow turned to Wave and attempted some delicacy for the obviously embarrassed swallow.

“And you wanted to talk to us about that?” Shadow asked. What did this have to do with that destroyed dress?

“Hope it’s not to carry Jet down the docks,” Sonic joked, “There’s no way I’m getting on a hearse-boat.”

“I’m not dead!” Jet snapped again, looking for something else to throw at the hedgehog and only finding his wife’s phone and the towel covering the gruesome sight of his broken leg.

The pain had flooded him with adrenaline and a tide of shock. Those chemicals, and the three extra-strength aspirin Wave had in her bag, kept the worst of the pain at bay.

As long as Jet didn’t lift the towel to witness the swollen bruising and harsh jut of his femur under dense green feathers then he’d be fine. Probably wouldn’t pass out again either.

“The ambulance will have a gurney,” Wave assured, rolling her eyes at Sonic’s jocular attitude, “but they’ll be taking us to the hospital so Jet can get an x-ray and have his leg set.”

Shadow nodded, listening without seeing where the swallow was trying to lead them. Sonic was similarly confused but was enjoying every moment.

Wave’s upset, of course, Sonic recognized, but not at me or my hot date. A broken leg was an easy fix and he could happily lend a helping hand.

Not without the occasional crude joke of course, Sonic couldn’t wipe the knowing grin from his face.

“We’ll be there for a while,” Wave continued, tone clipped as her little patience with Sonic thinned, “Which means we’re going to miss our flight.”

“For what? Your honeymoon?” Sonic asked, barely restraining another giggle fit at Jet’s expense, “That sucks. Can’t you reschedule?”

Fuchsia and viridian flight feathers shook as they instantly dismissed the suggestion.

“We can’t,” the swallow answered, “Our original honeymoon plans were canceled three hours ago. Jet’s dad offered to pay for an all expenses trip to one of the resorts he helped finance.”

Jet’s beak screwed up in annoyance, “The plane tickets, the resort stay, the whole thing is his attempt at a wedding gift and to buy himself out of all that bullshit earlier. It's not enough and won’t work but he doesn’t know that.”

“And wasting his money on an island vacation isn’t the worst way to get back at him,” Sonic thought aloud.

Shadow didn’t openly comment but privately agreed. Mr. Hawk wasn’t worth the oxygen to argue with or the bruised knuckles to shut him up. But an open tab under his name, racking up charges and leaving massive tips would be a silver-lining to ever having dealt with him.

Sonic seemed to agree with the dark hedgehog unknowingly as he continued to voice his train of thought, “Anyway you could get a refund on the hotel or flight in rings? Put that money to better use?”

“If only,” Jet grumbled, “I’d donate the lot of it to the nonprofit. Get our tree planting project really going. But the resort owner is an old family friend and there’s no way to get around him finding out the room was refused. You actually met the guy, Sonic, spring break our last year of undergrad? The beach house property dad bought for my mother?”

“Yeah, no, don’t remember that,” the blue hedgehog shrugged deferentially. Jet always invited him or Surge or Storm to family trips back then and they all blurred together after a bit. “But sure, your flithy rich dad has grossly rich friends and wants to give you a nasty rich wedding gift of a vacation. So what?”

Jet grumbled something but didn’t dispute any of the hedgehog’s claims.

Wave sighed, “It’s just that. Not only is the vacation bill right on his bank statements, but the resort owner is expecting that room to be occupied. If we reschedule, or just don’t go, he’ll know.”

A dark brow raised but Shadow remained stoically silent, hearing the swallow out.

“Jet’s father already expects this marriage to fall apart. If he thinks we bailed on the first olive branch he’s extended in years? That we couldn’t even get to our honeymoon without having problems? No. No, I won’t let him think he’s right,” Wave was adamant.

“You don’t think he’d understand if you explained that Jet had a medical emergency?” Shadow broke in with a skeptical ask, the hawk before him wincing at the suggestion.

“You’ve met my father,” Jet scoffed, “Understanding has never been his virtue.”

Wave shook her head, feathers ruffling in agitation, “He’d blame me, think I tried to off Jet for the life insurance and failed!”

“That’s really dark, dearie,” the hawk muttered, not disagreeing, and almost laughing at the likelihood of it.

“It’s true,” Wave snapped to no one in particular, “He would absolutely accuse me of being a black widow!”

Shadow, in his limited experience of the old hawk, would not put that assumption past him.

Sonic rocked back on his heels, hands going up to rest in his head quills as he listened. He nudged Shadow with an elbow, silently communicating a small cheer for their seeming luck. No one was mentioning the ruined dress, their date night wasn’t totally lost yet.

“While that is unfortunate,” Shadow ventured, not ready to roll with Sonic’s optimism just yet, “I don’t see how we can help. Was there a reason you called for us specifically?”

Wave dropped her hands into her lap, a deep sigh wringing out her lungs and Shadow felt Sonic tense beside him, readying for her to whip out the torn dress from seemingly nowhere and cut them down to size over it.

But Wave did no such thing, she looked up at the hedgehogs, finally willing herself to ask, “Will you two go on our honeymoon?”

For a second, the only sound was the distant thumping music from the reception and the crash of an incoming tide upon the shore.

Sonic’s jaw dropped open, the gears clanking in his brain. Shadow shook out his quills, sure he’d misheard.

“What?” He questioned and Wave was quick to expand on the startling ask, a little desperation in her voice.

“The tickets are already bought, if we transfer them to you now that won’t look any different on the bank statement. We’ll add you to the hotel reservation list so you can pick up the keys. You’ll just fly over, check in, put some meals on the room tab, maybe attend some of the stuff included in the stay and then fly home. It’s just a week in the Wuhu Archipelago. Make it seem like Jet and I were there and not give any reason for Jet’s dad to think the worst of us.”

“You’re the only people we know that could just up and go on short notice,” Jet added, eyeing Shadow with candid consideration.

To Jet, anyone who voluntarily spent time with Sonic had to have some willingness to roll with the blue hedgehog’s constant motion. Shadow struck the hawk as a mature and responsible figure on the surface with an irrefutable craving for adventure just beneath. This dark and stormy hedgehog would be a good thing for Sonic, Jet thought, if the blue fool didn’t mess up his chances.

The hedgehogs were uneasily silent, shooting a glance at each other and then away, sure now that they had heard correctly.

Sonic asked what they were both thinking, disbelief verging on sarcasm in every word, “You want us, me and Shads, to go on your week-long luxury honeymoon vacation?”

“It’s five days and four nights,” Jet corrected.

“Oh well then,” Sonic huffed a humorless laugh, rolling his eyes at his friend’s downplaying, “That totally changes everything. Two less pairs of socks I’d have to pack!”

Shadow frowned, his mind already swirling with reasons to say ‘no’.

He had his motorcycle repairs to keep in check. He may have the summer off from graduate student teaching, but his dissertation couldn’t be put off for long. Maria could need him, she didn’t have her brother as a roommate just because the rent was astronomical. Her health came and went without prediction, and the last time she’d fallen seriously ill, it had been bad.

And didn’t Sonic have prior commitments? Being the guardian to his little brother, his nonprofit’s busy summer schedule, and whatever else the troublemaker got up to had to come first, right? Could he drop everything just to take a vacation with some hedgehog he’d only been on two official dates with?

The cynicism of his responsibilities was a sharp needle, piercing every soft spot Shadow had.

“Do we have some time to think it over?” Sonic asked. The nonchalance of his question a sudden soothing balm to Shadow's racing mind. The open glint in Sonic’s eyes, the curious tilt to his head, and the total lack of pressure he put on Shadow to answer, was a needed respite.

“Not really?” Wave huffed with a sigh, scrubbing away some of that calm. She glared down at her phone, still blinking on the muted call, “The ambulance boat should be here by now but we’ll be in the hospital for at least the rest of the night. Plus the flight leaves tomorrow at 10 am.”

Shadow cautioned a look at Sonic, the blue hedgehog returning the weight of his attention with his own searching glance.

Blaze could handle dealing with the motorcycle maintenance, make sure everything went smoothly and the repairs were up to my standards, Shadow thought, his initial reaction burning out, leaving open ground to convince himself. Could take a break from my dissertation, field any academic emails for a few days. And Rouge would happily move into the apartment for a week and stay with Maria.

But more than any of these solved problems, Shadow was convinced by one reason above all else.

Looking into those hopeful emerald eyes, excitement and daring sparking brightly in them, How could he possibly say no?

Shadow had crashed his motorcycle and ended up in Sonic’s lap. He’d taken a last minute shift for the extra rings and found himself having a genuinely fun time on an unusual second date.

Why not throw some more caution to the wind? Take this charming fool of a chance? He wanted to see where all this could take them next.

The corner of Shadow’s honey dark lips twitched, a small smile for Sonic who’s tentatively excited face lit up at the sight.

And Silver would actually try and murder me if I turned down a complimentary luxury vacation, he thought.

“Fuck it,” Shadow said with another shake of his striped quills, surprising even himself when he asked, “Which airport?”

“Yes, thank you!” Wave cried, hopping up to throw her arms around the two hedgehogs, pulling them into a crushing hug.

Shadow resisted flinching away from the sudden embrace.

“So no hard feelings about the wedding dress?” Sonic chuckled, returning the swallow’s half hug.

“What about my dress?” Wave pulled back, confusion sweeping away the gratitude from her voice.

“Nothing,” Shadow answered curtly, giving the cobalt hedgehog a quelling look.

Sonic shrugged, wholly unbothered now, and practically trembling with anticipation.

Bright siren lights flashed from the shoreline, signaling the arrival of the ambulance boat at the dock. Wave snatched up her phone, unmuting herself to update the dispatcher holding on the line.

“You’re doing me a favor,” Jet grumbled at Sonic, his rough edges dulled a bit by the painkillers and long day, but only slightly, “Don’t be too happy about it.”

“Yeah well, it’s the least I can do, seriously,” Sonic said on a laugh.

It was the closest the two friends could get to sincerity in these circumstances. But they understood one another, Shadow could plainly see it. For all their jokes, barbs, and contest, they were dear friends and knew what the other needed at any given moment.

Right then Jet needed his old college friend taunting him with friendly taunts, keeping his spirits up as his wedding night crashed off course. And Sonic was more than capable of being there for him.

The blue hedgehog jumped forward, moving to help Jet sit up fully without causing more strain to his fractured leg. Shadow unfolded the rumpled tuxedo jacket Sonic had handed him before and helped Jet shrug it back on, leaving the hawk’s tie hanging loose. The EMT’s would be there soon to get him down to the docks and shortly off to the hospital in Westopolis.

Wave turned back to the little circle, hand going up to cover the receiver, “I’ll send you both the details when—“ the swallow paused, a lovestruck smile splashing across her face as she looked to Jet, “When my husband is getting x-rayed.”

A matching grin curved up Jet’s beak, “Gonna sign my cast?” he drawled to his new wife.

Wave chirped a soft giggle, dipping down to cup Jet’s chin, angling his beak to peck him sweetly on the curve of sharp keratin, “If you think I’m playing nurse then you should've gotten that in the post-nup agreement.”

Shadow looked away, catching Sonic taking a cautioning step back as well. He wondered if Sonic would need to put his motion sickness bracelets back on, his face paling with queasiness at the sight and sounds of his friends turned sappy lovebirds.

“Just send the info when you can, I’ll look for my passport, and we totally got this covered so… Shadow?” Sonic rambled, jutting a thumb towards the château and their escape route from the newlyweds.

“Thank you both, and congratulations again,” Shadow said to the hawk and swallow, although they were not paying much attention to the hedgehogs anymore.

Jogging back up the gravel path, Sonic and Shadow fell into an easygoing quiet, retracing their earlier path back to the reception at a faster clip.

Maybe it was the shock of what Wave and Jet had asked of them, or their mutual surprise of how uncomplicated it was to agree, that had them lost for conversation. The choice, the week of possibility spanning out before them, sinking in with every step.

A not-insignificant part of their stunned silence was the relief of getting away with the destruction of that borrowed dress.

As they walked, shoulders brushing and the weight of something unspoken heavy in their lungs, the last rays of dusky light slipped beneath the horizon and night settled fully over the island.

The courtyard had been almost entirely cleared out. Tables were cleaned off, the dance floor empty, and guests stealing away to their booked rooms for the night.

With the summer night upon the vineyard, the bistro string lights that criss-crossed over the dance floor lit up all at once. The heart-shaped bulbs glowed warmly, reflecting dazzlingly in crimson and emerald irises as the hedgehogs walked back up the slight hill and into the courtyard.

When the newlyweds had all but disappeared, and no bouquet toss was going to happen, the reception had come to a quiet close. Vanilla and Vector moved over to help the catering staff pack up. Tangle and Whisper retired to their booked room while Knuckles, Sticks, and Espio retreated to the docks, waiting for the last ferry of the night to take them back to Westopolis.

Surge had propped open the lobby’s main door for Amy, the tenrec’s suit jacket draped over Rose’s shoulders to ward off the evening chill.The tenrec and pink hedgehog disappeared inside, both making for the docks as well, fingers brushing as they walked but neither taking the leap to reach for the other.

The courtyard wasn’t entirely still, even in the absence of other guests. Storm’s cousin had left his phone plugged in, a soul-song mix on shuffle, and playing softly through the speakers for an empty dance floor and the heart-shaped lights.

Shadow pushed up the cuff of his suit jacket, checking the time. The last ferry of the night would depart in less than a half hour.

Sonic leaned into the dark hedgehog, checking Shadow’s watch too and huffing at the ticking away seconds.

Almost out of time, Shadow recognized, soon they’d have to get back down to the docks and then head their separate ways. At least for a few hours as they hurriedly readied for a borrowed honeymoon tomorrow.

All the more reason to enjoy this date while it lasts, the striped hedgehog decided, his fingers brushing against the back of Sonic’s hand as he strode out onto the dance floor.

Reaching the floor’s center spot, Shadow turned to his date, a brow cocked and a beckoning hand held out for the cobalt hedgehog.

Sonic didn’t hesitant, taking the offered hand and hooking an arm over a dark clad shoulder, he pulled them snugly chest to chest.

With an amused roll of crimson eyes at the eagerness, Shadow settled his free hand on Sonic’s waist, moving them through basic steps to the swooning slow tune.

Muffled voices could be heard from the open upstairs windows above them, and the gentle breeze off the vineyards ruffled their quills with a summer night chill.

A peach muzzle brushed against one honey dark as they moved through the rise and fall of waltzing steps. Sonic whispered low, not wanting to disturb the slow and sweet motion they’d finally found time for.

“You really want to go?”

The dark hedgehog pulled back a fraction, leading Sonic into a natural pivot under his arm and back into the closed position, giving himself a moment to search his heart for any doubt or cynicism.

Shadow found only building certainty, anticipation in taking this chance, and the deep craving need for the good trouble in his arms.

When Sonic finished the short spin, he locked eyes with Shadow, needing to hear him say it.

Shadow closed the few inches of space between them, pressing a soft kiss to the corner of peach lips, a promise much like the one he’d given Sonic yesterday morning after their first date.

“I do,” Shadow purred, “You?”

Sonic’s smile was breath-stealing with affection, “Yeah, I do.”

Purr rumbling louder in his chest, Shadow swept them around to dip Sonic in a fluid move.

Head thrown back in a delighted laugh, cobalt quills brushing against the floor, Sonic was light on his feet, lifting from the dip into a carried spin, held aloft in Shadow’s arms.

Wrapped up in his dance partner, Sonic slipped back down his body, feet finding their landing on the floor. These half attempts at formal choreography dissolved into a swaying slow dance.

“I gotta tell my brother he’s staying at Surge’s this week. And I have to pack,” Sonic murmured, gaze heavy lidded, and making no move to pull away.

Shadow’s warm hands rested on his hips, Sonic’s arms were thrown over inky suited shoulders, and there was nothing to interrupt them but the witnessing night sky above.

The striped hedgehog nodded, ebony temple brushing against cobalt, already organizing a mental packing list of his own.

A week on a tropical island with Sonic? He’d need to be prepared for anything.

If Rouge was still at his apartment when he got back she’d probably lend a hand.

“My sister wants to meet you,” Shadow hummed, remembering Rouge’s barrage of texts and Maria’s digital investigation of his date.

There was no way he could postpone his meddling sister from meeting Sonic. Maria would never let Shadow travel overseas like this with someone she didn’t know. After an evening snooping with Rouge, he couldn’t imagine what questions Maria would have for the blue hedgehog. He didn’t want his overly enthusiastic sister scaring off Sonic with her interrogations. But Shadow had survived Sonic’s little brother and friends, and their approval, it would only be fair.

At Shadow’s invitation, emerald eyes widened, Sonic’s smile momentarily straining with nerves, “Yeah, sure, we’ll figure something out, find time before the flight.”

“You have nothing to worry about,” Shadow sighed, soothing Sonic with the calm timbre of his voice, “She’ll adore you. We’ll be lucky to catch our flight with her talking your ear off.”

Sonic snorted a laugh, “You’re not getting on that plane without me so don’t even try. I want a tropical drink in a coconut before we land.”

Crimson eyes rolled, no sense in fighting the smile curving up Shadow’s honey dark muzzle for the cobalt hedgehog. A tropical drink in one hand, and Sonic’s fingers entwined with his other, sounded perfect.

“So, our third date huh?” Sonic tilted his head, eyes flicking down to Shadow’s lips before darting back up, “It’s not dinner and a movie, but I think it’ll be a good time.”

“Romantic fool,” Shadow growled playfully, “You’re lucky I’m free tomorrow.”

“And the next day and the—,” Sonic was cut off with a kiss, Shadow capturing those delectable peach lips with his own once again.

This kiss, ravenous and lingering was not enough to satiate, but was a much needed taste. They would have time now, days and nights of it, to chase their fantasies and indulge these cravings with each other.

Under the heart-shaped lights, music strumming softly, Sonic and Shadow swayed in one another’s arms.

There were suitcases to pack, passports to locate, and details to sort out before the morning. But they let responsibilities and these taken chances wait for just a moment.

They had a dance to finish and were in no hurry to leave.