Time Heals All Things

Chapter Six: The Anniversery Party

  "Wait.... We have to wear suits?!" Sonic exclaimed out in shock as he followed Shadow towards his large en-suite bedroom. The blue hedgehog had just come out the shower, feeling fresh and clean as he had been sweaty and smelling after the vigorous workout his younger-looking counterpart had put him through. Shadow had been surprisingly helpful when Sonic had first asked him for advice on getting back in shape. The workouts were gruelling and he was on a strict diet which had severely cut back his snacks but even though it had only been a couple of weeks the blue hedgehog already felt physically fitter, his peach skin looked better and his muscle density was beginning to return. Even though Sonic suspected that Shadow was enjoying the torment of his rigorous workout regime he could not deny that it was very effective. At this rate he would achieve Shadow's suggested goal which was somewhere near what the black hedgehog weighed, since they were the same height and size it seemed like a realistic goal to him.

"The invites say 'formal attire' so that would suggest we don't have any choice in the matter.." Shadow responded grimly as his eyes scanned over Rouge's looping feminine handwriting. The small purple cards had been delivered that morning and they both smelt faintly of her floral perfume and once Shadow was done committing the important details to memory he walked into his bedroom and dumped the invites down on his bed.

"Do you think that includes pants?" Sonic queried following his younger-looking dark counterpart and leaning on the doorframe looking curious.

"Unfortunately.." Shadow threw him a withering look, clearly expressing his own displeasure with the idea. "However Rouge will be expecting us to wear them and since this is her party we should honour her wishes.." His red eyes then widened as he paused before his wardrobe and turned to smirk at Sonic. "Which reminds me. Rouge also requested that you comb your quills. She wants you to look presentable."

"Presentable?!" Sonic sounded affronted, frowning with an accusing glare. "What does that mean?"

"Her words Hedgehog, not mine.." Shadow stated in a bored voice as he opened his large grey wardrobe door not even bothering to look at the older-looking blue hedgehog. "Like I give a damn if you can be bothered to brush your quills or not.." He muttered under his breath as he began to sift through the suits he had hanging inside.

"Really?" Sonic kinked a brow in surprise, his expression softening as he perched on the foot of Shadow's bed, resting his arm casually on the foot rail. "Y-you don't care at all how I look?" His green eyes looked curiously at his younger black counterpart. Nobody had ever been this open with him before. It was one of Shadow's qualities that Sonic both feared and admired, his ability to always tell the truth. Shadow never twisted his words, he always spoke with conviction and honesty, regardless of the consequences. He saw little point in lying or dancing around the point just to avoid hurting others, the truth always came out anyway, so why hide it? His fearless approach was something else Sonic admired but he was far more empathetic than Shadow, even if he wanted to he could never be like that.. 

"Not in the slightest.." Shadow responded dismissively. "Your appearance won't alter what I think of you... Here, try this on.." He added in a clipped tone pulling out a simple deep-navy suit and tossing it at Sonic, forcing the blue hedgehog to catch it to stop it covering his head.

"You think it will fit?" Sonic said as he stood up and this made both Shadow's brows raise in amusement.

"We won't know that for sure until you put it on.." The black hedgehog added with a wry smirk.

"The pants too?" Sonic queried as he pulled on the deep-navy suit jacket.

"Mhm.. Those too.." Shadow leaned back against his drawers as the blue hedgehog straightened the jacket before pulling on the matching pants and doing up the zipper. "Well... How do they feel?" He added allowing his red eyes to travel up and down Sonic's body, studying how the suit was sitting on him.