The Ruby Eyes of Affection

Who are YOU really, Sonic?

Sonic's stare did not weaken as the atmosphere completely froze. Shadow's mouth hung open as he tried to find a way to escape the situation. He looked around the little blue room, desperately seeking a way out. The door was behind the azure hedgehog and with no Chaos Emerald in sight, he was stuck. There was no dodging the fact that Sonic had backed him into a corner with the single worst question he could have possibly asked.

"Well, you going to answer or just stare at my face?" Sonic inquired with an assertive tone.

"You were the one who started staring first..., faker". The ebony hedgehog uttered sturdily, attempting to sound confident even though he was scared practically to death.

"Oh... was I now..." The blue hedgehog articulated with a smirk as he moved closer to the ebony hedgehogs face.

"I beg to differ... You have been looking at-..." Sonic was cut off by a loud bang at the front of his house followed by a familiar feminine yell.

"SONIKUUUUUUUUUUU! ARE YOU HERE?!" The voice shrieked from across the house as they heard the person demolish the front door.

The cobalt hedgehog quickly put his handover the black hedgehog's mouth making sure he didn't yell out in response.

"You're not getting yourself out of this one, Shadow. I hate to use force, but this time you left me with no choice. Hiding everything from me is not solving any problems between us and quite frankly, I'm sick of it". Sonic whispered, moving closer to his face.

Shadow sat straight up in his seat as his face flushed while Sonic whispered in his ear. His voice had never sounded so serious and demanding.

"Do I make myself completely clear?" Sonic enunciated with poise.

The ebony hedgehog responded with a slow nod, shocked at how forceful the sapphire hedgehog was being. He wanted nothing more than to punch him in the face; but knew, if they fought again, he would become even more injured. The risk was too great, especially in his stunned somewhat emotional state. To the pairs demise the girlish voice came closer even with their efforts to be quiet.

"Sonic!!!! Are you in there?! You better not be hiding from Amy Rose, again." The voice yelped right behind the bedroom door.

*BAM!*

The door flew open with a loud thud as it hit the wall. Shadow let out a sigh of relief as this would probably force the cobalt hedgehog to back down.

The pink hedgehog with her pekoe-pekoe hammer entered one of the weirdest most intense scenes she had ever interrupted. Sonic was leaning close to a very stunned Shadow with his lips practically in his ear and his hand fixed to his mouth. Her dumbfounded face forced Sonic to change his plan of action. He backed away from the black hedgehog, giving him an intimidating look before turning and facing the flabbergasted lady.

"How ya doin' Ames? Did you really have to destroy my house? I paid good money for this, well not really, the government paid for it. I guess being an awesome hero who always saves the day has its perks". Sonic declared with a self-assured pose and a wink.

In an instant, the sapphire hedgehog had gravitated Amy from the situation. She giggled as she ran over to her hero and snuggled his arm.

"Oh Sweetie, you're sucha wonderful boyfriend. I was soooo worried about you. Your fight with Shadow left some crazy property damage and I wanted to make sure you weren't hurt." Amy stated with a consoling, sweet tone.

Sonic laughed, trying to sound natural, as he peeped back at Shadow to make sure he hadn't moved. He glanced to the side as the cobalt hedgehog gave him a very stern stare.

(You better not move an inch, I'm not done with you, yet.) Sonic thought before turning his head back to listen to Amy vent.

She continued to talk about how amazing her "boyfriend" was and all the things they were going to do when they got married. The azure hedgehog simply smiled and nodded, slowly moving Amy closer to the door even though he had absolutely no interest in being Amy's husband.

"Well Ames, it's been great talking to you, but I need to finish helping Shadow with his wounds. He was practically crying when I threw him through the window and he begged me to save him. You should have seen it, it was so cute." He said sarcastically with a victorious nod.

He grinned as he peered behind himself expecting to see a practically fuming Shadow. But instead saw his normal bored, uninterested expression. Had he broken him? Did he make Shadow the Hedgehog of all people, so unbelievably stunned that he no longer had the ability to defend himself?

Shadow didn't really notice the blue hedgehogs retort as he continued to think about the event that just occurred. Not only did Sonic completely obliterate his personal space, he scared the living crud out of him.

(What is with him? This isn't the "hero" I'm used to. The immature, absent minded, cocky kid I grew accustom to has practically disappeared. Is he going to come back?) His thoughts were disturbed by a womanly sigh.

"But Sonikuuu, can't Shadow take care of himself. You always baby him. Isn't he like at least twice your age? Shouldn't it be the other way around? Why do you always need to help him?" Amy hadn't completely forgotten the scene she had witnessed. She wasn't used to Sonic being so overprotective especially for a person he didn't particularly get along with.

"Why...? You really... want to know why! I'll tell you why!! Its cuz' whenever Shadow gets his ass into trouble I have to drag him out or he runs the risk of letting himself get hurt or worse die. Last time he got injured his wounds got infected causing mass hysteria for not only me, but Egghead and Rouge as well. He has no confidence, no sense of self-worth and above all no real identity." Sonic pushed Amy out of the way as he turned to Shadow whose expression had changed from uninterested to attentive.

"You're very lucky to have someone who cares as much as I do, but you're too busy worrying about things you can't control. Even I know the past is the past. Grow a back bone already!" Sonic bellowed with all the force and emotion he could possibly muster.

He was tired of it. He wanted to be Shadows friend, maybe even his best friend. They shared something in common. They both had secrets, in those emerald and ruby eyes. Secrets that neither Sonic nor Shadow could tell anyone besides each other. If only he could get him to open up, maybe... maybe they both could get the emotional support they so desperately needed.

Sonic realized he pushed the ebony hedgehog too far and put his hands up in defense trying to symbolize to him that he didn't mean what he said.

(I need to say something to get him to calm down, but I've tried all my techniques with him earlier and none of them worked.)

He recognized the inevitable and stood in silence as he awaited his rival's response.

And by the wrath emanating in Shadow's crimson eyes.

It wasn't going to be good...