Time Heals All Things

Chapter Twenty Six: Older But Not Necessarily Wiser..

...Flashing bulbs of cameras, TV cameras and reporters trying to get some titbit of a quote were buzzing around Sonic's infamous sports car with Shadow the Hedgehog in the driving seat as Sonic the Hedgehog glowered silently from the passenger side. The black and red hedgehog growled irritably before hastily turning the key in the ignition, switching gears and flooring the accelerator so that his boyfriend's sports car revved into life and sped off, leaving the throng of news hounds and staring members of the public behind. Sonic's cobalt brow was fixed with a dark glare of annoyance, his arms were folded tightly across his chest and set across his peach muzzle was the kind of hard grimace that Shadow would have been proud of in his darkest moments.. However the black and red hedgehog was not proud, he was very concerned by his forty year old boyfriend's stony silence as he drove them home in Sonic's blue and white Speed Star sports car after the most disastrous day out they had ever had. The blue middle aged hedgehog had not uttered one word to Shadow since leaving the restaurant where they had been trying to enjoy a late lunch but that had failed miserably. Sonic had merely slapped his car keys in his hand and stalking off moodily towards his vehicle without any eye contact at all. Shadow's bright scarlet eyes were wide and emotional looking as he drove them home, glancing every so often to check on his distant and solemn boyfriend.

The angry scowl on his face was still there, his tense peach jaw still set and the angry twitch of his right eye ridge was still pulsing away as he looked far away in thought. Shadow sighed heavily as he drove them home thinking about how the events of this afternoon had quickly caused Sonic's mood to go downhill..

And the day had started out with such promise...

* * *

...That morning...

"It is another beautiful day here in Empire City, I am Scarlet Garcia and this is SSTV News. Our top story is the celebrity couple to come out into the open and take the majority of us all by surprise, Sonic and Shadow. The two were spotted last night together in Valentino's sharing an intimate date. Witnesses claim that although the pair seemed very cautious it was obvious that they were on a date. Due to Sonic's divorce from Amy Rose just over nine months ago responses to his new relationship has public opinions firmly split. Some are even questioning whether or not he is on the rebound and this is merely some cry for attention—"

"It's not!" The almost forty one year old hedgehog hissed vehemently, his peach thumb hit the off button on the clunky old remote that went with his old-fashioned television that was now sitting on the grey chest of drawers in the bedroom suite he now shared with his boyfriend. He then slammed the remote down onto his bedside cabinet huffily before turning around to the other side of the bed, his expression softening into slight worry as his gaze turned onto his peaceful looking black furred boyfriend. "You know what they're saying isn't true, right Shad?"

Shadow the Hedgehog had simply been lying down with his eyes closed, merely enjoying the late morning lie in while his boyfriend had turned on the morning news. One bright red eye lazily pealed open a little as the dark younger-looking hedgehog continued to look calm and unconcerned by the cut off news report.

"Since when have I ever given a damn about what the media think?" Shadow asked in a soft voice, his other eye opening so he was gazing at his blue quilled boyfriend through narrowed sleepy red eyes.

"And this is why I love you." Sonic cooed as he snuggled back down into his side of the bed, a warm smile curving his muzzle as he relaxed next to the messy bed head of black and red quills that was his boyfriend. His green eyes narrowed as he admired the fact that Shadow could still look amazing with unbrushed quills and sleep filled eyes.

"Really? And I thought it was because I made you feel safe.." Shadow purred in a low timbre as Sonic edged right up against him, wrapping one arm around his waist holding him close.