Boom Sonadow

Part 5

Sonic and Shadow walk into Meh Burger, the local hangout spot, though it's less about hanging out for Sonic today and more about managing Shadow's overbearing presence. The place is moderately packed, the usual suspects seated at tables enjoying their meals—until they spot Shadow trailing closely behind Sonic. The atmosphere in the restaurant shifts; quiet whispers and nervous glances dart across the room as Shadow's intense aura makes everyone uncomfortable.

The duo approaches the counter, where Dave the Intern stands lazily with his horrible posture, leaning against the register with a bored expression. He barely lifts his head to acknowledge them.

"Welcome to Meh Burger. What do you want?"

Sonic starts to speak, but Shadow quickly steps forward, cutting him off, his eyes locking on Dave with fierce intensity. "I'll order for him."

Sonic rolls his eyes, but Shadow's glare remains fixed on Dave, who's more interested in his phone than the customer in front of him. The other patrons watch nervously, shifting in their seats as the tension grows.

Sonic felt exasperated, "I can order for myself, you know."

But Shadow was ignoring him. "No. You don't need to. I'll make sure you get exactly what you deserve."

Sonic sighs, crossing his arms as Shadow turns back to Dave, speaking with a commanding tone.

"Get Sonic the healthiest, cleanest meal you have. And make it fast."

Dave didn't look up.  "Uh-huh, sure. Here, how about this special."

Dave  grabs a tray and throws together what looks like the worst combination of leftover ingredients: a half-squished burger, limp fries, and a soda that's mostly ice. He puts it on the counter with zero care.

"Thank you for shopping at Meh Burger." Dave said flatly.

The burger is a mess—grease seeping out, the bun wrinkled, and the fries looking like they've been through a war. Sonic frowns at the sad excuse for a meal, while Shadow's eyes narrow dangerously. The other customers are side-eyeing them, now fully invested in the strange scene unfolding before them.

 "This is unacceptable. You'll make something better." Shadow demanded.

 Dave shurgged. "Yeah, no. That's what we got."

Shadow leans in, his voice dropping to a low, dangerous growl.

"Do it right, or you'll regret it."

Dave barely glances at Shadow, completely unimpressed. "I already regret my life. I have to work in the fast food industry."

Sonic facepalms, knowing where this is going, while the other patrons continue to watch in awkward silence, shifting uncomfortably in their seats. Shadow's patience, thin as it is, snaps. He grabs Dave by the collar and pulls him forward, his voice icy cold.

"You will make a better meal for Sonic. Or I will make sure you understand what real regret feels like."

Dave's eyes widen slightly, but he still has his usual disinterested attitude. He glances at Shadow, then at Sonic, who's looking frustrated and beyond words, and panics. 

"A-a-a-a--a-a-a-a-h o--0-0-ok."

With Shadow still glaring at him, Dave  slinks back into the kitchen and, for the first time that day, puts some actual effort into preparing something half-decent. The other customers keep sneaking wary glances toward Sonic and Shadow, clearly uneasy with Shadow's threatening demeanor. One or two even inch toward the door as if deciding whether to bail.

A few minutes later, Dave returns with a much better-looking meal: a fresh burger, crispy fries, and a soda that's actually drinkable. He places it on the counter, still fearing for his life.

"There. Please leave me alone"

Shadow inspects the meal, giving Dave one last intimidating stare before nodding. "Better."

He grabs the tray, but before Sonic can take a bite, Shadow stops him, lifting the burger to his own mouth first. He takes a deliberate, slow bite, chewing carefully before setting it back down.

Shadow nodded in approval. "It's safe. You can eat now."

Sonic stares at Shadow in disbelief as the other patrons, clearly freaked out, whisper among themselves. He can feel the eyes of the entire restaurant on him, and his face flushes with embarrassment.

Sonic sighedghing, trying to keep cool. "Yeah, thanks... really appreciate how you made everyone stare at us."

Shadow doesn't move an inch, standing guard as Sonic reluctantly digs into his food, feeling more like a prisoner than a customer. As Sonic eats, the tension in the room slowly dies down, but it's clear no one in Meh Burger is comfortable with Shadow's presence.

Sonic ignored the fact that it was actually kind of good when it had a bit of quiality in it. Muttering to himself, between bites, "I gotta fix this... and fast."

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