~Mįšťăķěñ Łøvĕ~ [DISCONTINUED]

<<19>>

The group arrived back at the campsite around sunset. Cream was tired and so both her and Tails were sent to their respective tents, with a small push from Shadow of course. The sun eventually hid beyond the horizon and left all of the group in darkness. Soon after practically everyone aside from Shadow and Sonic had returned to their tents for a nights rest.

It was about 8pm, the only source of light being the campfire Shadow was trying to keep lit. He had a laminated wood stick he was using to poke at objects in the fire. Sonic merely watched him, finding no real conversation to have aside from telling Geode off for trying to touch the fire.

The fire's crackling filled the atmosphere as the hedgehogs remained quiet. The surrealness lead Sonic to focus on Geode. It brought up quite a lot of thoughts. The camping was almost over - the group went home the very next day. Who would take Geode? Would they just leave them? Would Geode choose who they wanted to stay with?

"What's wrong with you?" Shadow suddenly asked, causing Sonic to jump. "What?" The blue blur asked. "You look worried." Shadow's ruby-red eyes poised into Sonic, as if reading his entire being. "Just thinking about us." He murmured, his eyes flicking between Shadow and Geode, who was gaping at the flames behind the ebony hedgehog. "Us?" Shadow repeated, a slight hint of distance in his voice. "Yeah; me, you and Geode." The lapiz hedgehog explained, Shadow easing slightly in response. "We pack up and go home tomorrow night - and Geode seems to like both of us." Shadow nodded along.

"Your point?" He asked impatiently. "Who is keeping Geode?" Sonic asked. The two fell silent in thought as they stared at one another and Geode. "We take turns." Shadow concluded, crossing his arms. Sonic looked up in shock, slightly concerned he hadn't thought up such a solution. "The question is though, who takes care of them first?" He asked, taking a seat on the log next to Sonic. "Wait wait wait." Sonic held his hands up. "What about your- job?" He raised a brow. He wasn't going to let his technically child stay in a dangerous place with their secondary 'parent'. Shadow shrugged. "I only go when I feel like it." He chalantly explained "I don't need who I work for, they need me." Sonic tried not to laugh at the other. It was very rare Shadow didn't sound as edgy and chalant as he intended. It was even rarer that he sounded stupid.

_______________________

"Morning idiots!" Echoed through Sonic's ears as he awoke, finding Rouge bent forwards grinning at him. It was at that moment he notices he was sat upright with his head resting against something on his shoulder. He looked to his left, finding ebony quills with red streaks and a small ebony and blue chao atop. Had the three fallen asleep mid connversation?

As Sonic looked at the other two dumbfounded, Shadow pushed Sonic away so he could get up, ensuring he had safely placed Geode beside him on the log. It was safe to say neither of the two hedgehogs were suprised they had fallen asleep more-or-less upright. Sonic would probably have to test if he could fall asleep stood up sometime.

"Take it you two didn't get much sleep." The white bat teased. Sonic got up and stretched "I don't remember falling asleep honestly." He murmured, petting Geode as they flew into his face and hugged his cheek. "By the looks of things Shadow fell asleep first." Rouge smirked "Never even seen Shadow asleep until now." Shadow merely grunted, getting up and walking away.

"Anyway." Rouge drawed out the 'y'. "We're planning on going sight seeing in the woods this afternoon." She explained. "So if you decide to sneak off somewhere again make sure you're back before then." She winked at Sonic. "What?" Sonic asked, being taken off guard. "I saw you sneak off with Shadow yesterday before we went out for food." She shrugged. "Just making sure you know when to come back today if you two decide you have else where to be."

Sonic looked at the bat blankly. "Decide on something interesting and we'll see if we stay."