Jayde the Hedgehog • Negative Rebound [4]

4 • Just Hanging Out✔️

Music: Disconnected - Pegboard Nerds

The Next Day

"What in Mobius are you doing?"

Shadow, Jayde and Amy looked up at the hedgehog who had his foot caught in a tree branch, struggling to unhook his shoe, "Do you need help?" Jayde asked.

"Nope, I got it." But instead of trying to unhook his foot, Sonic was reaching for something in the tree. Amy rolled her orbs before making her hammer appear. She let out a small battle cry before slamming her mallet against the floor.

"Whoa!" Sonic yelped before he fell to the ground. He sat up, an apple falling from the tree and hitting his head, "Ow!" but he picked up the apple and bit into it.

"You climbed up the tree and got stuck for an apple?" Amy asked.

Sonic nodded, happily munching on his apple like a small kid. Tails came out from the workshop, talking to someone on his communicator, "Sonic, there's someone here for you."

The blue blur glanced at the wrist watch and immediately abandoned his apple, "Manic!?"

"Hey, bro!"

Jayde glanced at the ebony male beside her who walked into the forest. She rested her board on the rock before following him, quick to be by his side, "What's up, Shades?" she asked, linking her fingers with his.

"Nothing." He mumbled.

They both walked through the forest in comfortable silence, just enjoying each other's presence. They may have had four months without Eggman attacking, but they hadn't really done anything alone together. Sure, they went out with the others, but never alone with each other.

They both agreed that they should keep their relationship to themselves and only between their friendship group for a while. They both knew that it was dangerous because anyone could use the other against them, but if they kept it silent until they figured out how to work this new aspect of their life, it would be better.

Neither of them was experienced in being in a relationship with someone, and that always came with great concerns. Rouge gladly stood up and told them about how a relationship was supposed to be, but they hardly listened, wanting their relationship to be theirs, not someone else's.

"Do you think Eggman's up to something?" Jayde asked, walking closer to the ebony male. They found and edge of the cliff and sat down at the end, staring out to sea.

Shadow nodded, "Of course I do, he's always up to something." He looked at her, "Which is why I think we should keep 'us' a secret for the minute. Until Eggman attacks again, we will never know when he strikes."

"But..." Jayde bit her lip and met his orbs, "Should that really stop us from showing our relationship outside of our friendship group?"

"It's to keep you safe."

"Us, Shades." Jayde reminded him, "But there's always going to be danger around us. It's our job to protect people. If we keep putting it off because of that, we will never accomplish anything."

Shadow sighed, looking at the waves, "It's not just that." He turned to look at her, holding on to her gloved hands, "I've never been in a close relationship with anyone since Maria. It's because of that I refuse to let people close – I don't want to lose you."

"You won't, Shades. You shouldn't let the past affect your future." Jayde smiled at him.

"But it's still a possibility. I've never been any good with showing my affections towards people, so please bear with me. I will try for you." He mumbled, leaning forward to place a small kiss on her muzzle.