Faker

The Forest

Hesitation kept him from knocking. Just three simple little knocks. Yet his hand was shaking in it's place, hovering over the door with nervousness. He couldn't do it, he balled his hands into fists and cursed under his breath at his own cowardice.

He's fought and conquered many enemies and battles nearly his entire life. But he couldn't knock on a simple door? Sonic suspected why he really couldn't, going up and knocking on your rivals door just to ask if they understood what nonsense he was going to bring to him.

Sonic let his hands drop to his sides in defeat, a sigh left his lips and he did a turnaround and froze dead in his tracks, making a quiet squeak sound. Dark blood red hues met his own widened emerald hues. Sonic felt his breath hitch and catch in his throat and his face burning red, Shadow sure knew how to make a silent entrance.

"C-chaos! Hey there, Shadow. Didn't hear you coming." Sonic sheepishly laughed awkwardly, his hand rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment. The silence made Sonic feel antsy, especially Shadow raised a brow with a look of blank boredom that made Sonic's heart clench. Sonic faltered and averted his eyes to gaze at his shoes. "I'll just get going." Sonic made it only two steps away when a sultry voice swooped in.

"Don't mind him blue, he's just more grumpy than usual after we go on missions from G.U.N. that's all." Rouge teased Shadow who 'hmphed' with irritation. Rouge smirked, "Love ya too big guy." Sonic felt like he was intruding so silently he began to leave, wishing to go home and forget about everything and get rid of that journal with his private thoughts. He regretted thinking this was a good idea.

"Where are you going? You just got here." Rouge asked, concern leaked into her voice as she spoke. "Everything okay? You seem quieter."

"Him being quiet isn't the end of the world Rouge, it's nice to have some peace and quiet for once." Shadow voiced, Sonic's ears drooped at that with dejection, coming here was starting to feel more and more like a bad idea with each second. Shadow's arms crossed against his chest like he was waiting for something. "What? No foolish comebacks?" Sonic laughed shakily and shook his head.

"Not this time. I- erm. I should get going, Tails is uh, waiting up for me." Sonic lied, it was such a weak and bad lie and Sonic knew it the moment the words left his lips. Rouge and Shadow both gave him identical questioning looks of, 'you're kidding me' and Sonic bit his lip knowing that the two agents didn't believe a word he said. "Bye." He muttered lamely, and dashed off with his super speed, nearly breaking the sound barrier right at that moment.

"Kid's acting funny, Mr. Grumps. Be a grump and check that out?" Rouge batted her eyes, her ears flicked down in a kicked puppy dog expression. The ebony hedgehog made his typical 'tch' sound with annoyance.

"Why should I? Shouldn't we be glad he's not being cocky and annoying like usual?" Shadow questioned incredulously, Rouge stared into his eyes and Shadow's eyes shifted to where the cobalt hero had last stood trying to not fall for Rouge's pout. However, Rouge's nonverbal begging and the fact that he was curious caused his lips to pull down into a frown and he sighed defeated. "What do you want me to do? He's not really talkative when somethings wrong." A victorious smirk placed on her lips and she gave a thoughtful glance.

"Just hang around him, with your patience little boy blue's bound to crack under the pressure." The ivory bat shrugged, "You'll figure it out. Now if you excuse me, I've got some beauty rest that awaits me." She walked inside and winked, and shut the door leaving Shadow outside grumbling to himself. With the speed of his metal skates Shadow was gone after his brighter counterpart and rival.

...

...

Shadow was ready to give up, frustration knitted his brows together and he cursed loudly. Finding that damn cobalt hedgehog was proving to be fruitless, Sonic appeared to have disappeared from all places. He pinched at his temples and gently massaged to help sooth his growing headache.

He didn't even know why he really agreed to search for Sonic, it wasn't his place or his problem. However, he was curious to know why Sonic was even there at his home, which he shared with Rouge. He wasn't stupid, Sonic knew where they lived. There was no way Sonic wasn't there just to say hi and run away. The ebony hedgehog had luck befall to him when he tracked down Sonic into a sea of forest full of trees nearby. Then he lost him entirely. Shadow felt annoyed, he didn't need to find him and put all this effort into looking but here he was. Any tracks Sonic had left were gone by now and Shadow was cursing his luck once again.

"Why are you following me?"

Shadow was too prideful to admit that hearing Faker's voice whisper startled him, his ears twitched to figure out where the voice came from and red eyes met emerald once again. Sonic was laying against a tree high above Shadow amongst the branches. Shadow felt a little impressed that that's how Sonic had been evading him.

Sonic's face had a despondent expression. His body was slumped against the tree and his colors were dulled which surprised Shadow, his vibrant shade of blue was dulled into a darker less lively blue and his emerald eyes lost their bright glimmer. His ears and quills drooped down making him look miserable with his legs swinging slowly off the side of the large tree branch.

"Why are you hiding?" Shadow countered, Sonic shrugged.

"I asked you a question first," Sonic replied with a quiet voice, Shadow blinked at how childish Sonic seemed.

"Rouge thinks you're not okay, and that I should come and check on why." Shadow quickly concluded that was the wrong answer as Sonic looked more downcast and depressed after that.

"Well go tell her I'm fine, just tired is all." Sonic spoke with an irate voice. The younger hedgehog expected Shadow to leave with that explanation and was confounded when Shadow merely sat down on the forest ground with his back against a tree. "Aren't you going to. Ya know, go?" Shadow bit back a smirk and shrugged his shoulders copying Sonic's movement from earlier.

"You still didn't answer why."

"I'm not hiding, I just wanted to be in a quiet place to think." Sonic stated defensively. He looked away and asked, "Why are you still here? Don't you hate me?"

"I don't hate you." Shadow divulged, Sonic's head whipped to stare at him with a blank look on his face. His emerald eyes gave him away, they looked alive and full of spirit.

"But- You're always calling me annoying and an idiot. You've said we're rivals before." Sonic stammered out, Shadow sighed.

"That doesn't mean I hate you. You get on my nerves at times yes. However I don't truly hate you."

"You call me Faker." Sonic muttered.

"And you call me Shads." Shadow emphasized on 'Shads.' It took a few moments and then there was a dawning look on Sonic's face.

"So...like. That's my nickname, a friendly type of nickname?" Sonic asked unsure and hesitant.

"Yes." Sonic perked up in an instant, much a like a puppy would and Shadow felt himself giving Sonic a fast small smile which Sonic returned with no hesitation.