Whiskey and regret (sonadow

Kiss

The bar had long since emptied out, but Sonic and Shadow stayed, drowning in the warmth of the alcohol and the crackling tension between them. For the past few hours, they had been playing their usual game of verbal sparring, each trying to get under the other's skin, but there was something different in the air tonight—something heavier, more dangerous.

"You think you're so mysterious, but I've got you all figured out, Shads," Sonic teased, leaning back in his chair, arms crossed with a smug grin on his face.

Shadow shot him a sidelong glance, his crimson eyes narrowing. "You've figured out nothing, hedgehog. You're as clueless as ever."

Sonic snorted, ignoring the sting of Shadow's words. "Come on, admit it. You're totally into me. I see the way you look at me."

"Don't flatter yourself," Shadow replied, but his voice was lower, gruffer than usual.

Sonic leaned in, resting his elbows on the table and grinning wider. "Faker."

Shadow's eyes darkened, the familiar insult hitting home, but instead of lashing out, he smirked. "Faker? You're calling me a faker?" His voice dropped, his tone a mix of mockery and something else—something more raw. "You're the one who's been acting like this is all a joke."

Sonic blinked, taken aback by the sudden shift in Shadow's demeanor. "What are you talking about?"

"You think you're so clever with your flirting and teasing," Shadow said, standing up suddenly, his chair scraping across the floor. "But you don't even realize what you're doing."

Sonic watched him warily, feeling the tension rise even more. "Shads... what's your deal tonight?"

Shadow ignored him, taking a step closer. "You think I haven't noticed the way you act? Always trying to push my buttons, always pretending like none of this matters."

Sonic's heart skipped a beat, but he forced a laugh, trying to keep things light. "Whoa, hold on there. You're making it sound like it's something serious."

Shadow's gaze sharpened, his eyes burning with intensity. "That's because it is serious."

Before Sonic could respond, Shadow reached out, grabbing him by the wrist and pulling him to his feet. "Shadow—!"

But Shadow wasn't listening. He dragged Sonic outside, away from the noise of the bar, and into the cool, quiet night. The moonlight cast a soft glow on the deserted street, and for a moment, neither of them said anything, the weight of the situation hanging between them.

Sonic finally broke the silence, his voice unsure. "What are you trying to say, Shadow?"

Shadow's grip on his wrist tightened slightly, his voice rough. "I'm saying you've been acting like this is just some game. But for me? It's not."

Sonic's breath caught in his throat. The air between them felt electric, like something was about to snap. "Shadow..."

"You think I haven't noticed?" Shadow continued, his eyes boring into Sonic's. "The way you look at me, the way you tease me? You've been trying to get a reaction out of me for years."

Sonic felt his heart pounding in his chest, but he still couldn't quite wrap his head around what Shadow was saying. "I—I didn't think you'd care."

Shadow's lips twisted into a bitter smirk. "Of course you didn't." His voice softened, the vulnerability creeping in despite his best efforts to hide it. "But I do care. More than you know."

Sonic stared at him, the words sinking in slowly. Shadow... cared? The idea seemed almost impossible, but the way Shadow was looking at him now—so intense, so raw—it felt like the truth.