Because I love You

Just Be Content For Now

It was a while before Sonic could summon the courage to venture outside to locate Shadow. Wiping the tear-streaks out of his fur furiously, he scratched at his broken ear; healing, but not quite rigid yet.

Why oh why did he have to go and ruin that moment? He'd ruined a beautiful moment with Shadow, the only one for him, even when signals had filtered through Shadow wasn't as sure of the kiss as he was.

It occurred to him absently his nose was hurting. A quick look in the mirror had him cursing once; the blood had dried below it. After hurriedly scraping it off and making sure he hadn't overlooked anything else, Sonic headed on outside in order to locate the Ultimate and to apologise profusely.

Following the kick-up sand trail was easy; he found Shadow perched on the spring peak of a palm tree, poised almost in a godlike way, magnificent features gazing intently out into the open ocean.

Sonic sighed; how could he ever be worth of such a divine creature?

Although the onyx and crimson male didn't acknowledge him, it was clear as day that he was well aware of the blue ex-hero's presence. Sonic gave up on pretences and climbed the palm next to his, clinging to the top easily.

"Shadow?"

The Ultimate Lifeform's aflame red eyes didn't waver from their line of sight out onto the open ocean.

Sonic sighed dejectedly, and reached out tentatively; only to draw the hopeful limb back as Shadow noticeably flinched away from it.

"Shadow, I didn't mean to...scare you or anything. I just..." Shadow's eyes flickered towards him warily. Sonic shrugged helplessly, and said simply, "I couldn't help it."

Despite himself, despite the turmoil currently raging in his gut, Shadow couldn't help but feel flattered by Sonic's obvious awe of him.

You think the world of me, Sonic, and I can't figure out why.

"I'm sorry."

No response. Shadow may as well have been a robot for all the reaction he was getting out of him. Sonic deflated unhappily, the notion of giving up occurring slightly as his love refused to answer him.

Whimpering quietly, Sonic's ears lowered and he turned away slowly to shimmy back down the palm. As he let go, a regretful mumble caressed his ears.

"Wait."

Sonic blinked, and turned slowly, to make absolutely sure he'd heard right.

Shadow was peering down at him, ears tilting backwards slightly, some kind of emotional torment blatant in his eyes.

Sonic shot back up the tree and leant forwards to show Shadow had his full attention.

"Yeah?"

"I...I overreacted. I'm s...sorry."

Sonic smiled sweetly, firmly holding back the hand that was twitching with the want to just reach out and hold the Ultimate's.

"Don't be sorry. I went way too far way too fast."

Shadow sighed dejectedly, "Be that as it may...I still don't understand. I'm not used to being confused. I'm supposed to be clever. But...I can't figure you out. Any of this." He waved an arm to show he was referring to the paradise island as a warm morning breeze washed over them refreshingly.

"What can't you figure out?" murmured Sonic gently, again quelling the urge to try and hold his hand.

Don't do it. Don't. I can't scare him any more than I already have.

"How this can be happening. How this can be happening to me. You have to understand, no-one ever..." Shadow groped for a word aimlessly, "...uh...cared for me so explicitly before now. Maria and I were good friends, family, but...I don't know how to deal with this. I find you yesterday and we fight, you tell me out of the blue that you love me, you sedate me, I wake up on a desert island and almost as soon as I wake up you declare everything about me is amazing and you kiss me."

Sonic had to agree; that pretty much summed it all up.

"This is one situation I was never prepared for." The Ultimate scratched one ear absently, staring at the sand rather than Sonic, "I was taught how to deal with a thousand against one; I was taught what to do if someone had major injuries; I was taught what to do if you were stuck next to a stack of dynamite; no-one ever taught me about this, though."

Sonic cocked his head thoughtfully, and slightly put out. Couldn't Shadow just accept that he loved him and not have to worry about the Physics of it?

But he wouldn't be Shadow if he didn't. So, Sonic reached out tentatively and slid his fingers into Shadow, interlocking their fingers and holding on gently. Shadow's fingers pulled away; and then curled slightly over Sonic's.

"No-one ever taught me either. I improvise."

Wrong answer. Shadow ripped his hand free and jerked backwards, facing the shocked blue hedgehog and flattening his ears aggressively.

"Does improvise include abandoning the world just for a weapon of mass destruction? It doesn't matter what you think of me; kidnapping me and imprisoning me here for yourself and leaving the rest of the world to die WASN'T the way to go about it!"

"Stop it!"

Sonic's heart-rending cry stopped him short. Crouching to make himself appear smaller and thus less threatening, he peered closer to the now trembling blue hedgehog.

"Sonic...?"

"No! I love you, Shadow! Isn't that enough? Isn't that enough for you to just be content, just for a little while?"

Sonic's yells had him flinching instinctively.

"I wanted you to be happy; I wanted to see you smile! You've always wandered around with this frown on your face, and you lash out at anyone who tries to get anywhere near you!"

"Sonic, I..."

"I won't give up on you, though." The azure speedster's voice had lowered considerably, and he turned to jump off the palm, ignoring Shadow's obvious plea for him to remain.

"I'm a persistent little pest and I'll keep trying to get you to love me back. But...just...do me a favor, and just accept it? For now? Let me treat you to a life of luxury? At least for now. That's all I'm asking."

Shadow blinked, and then forced out a reply. "I...thanks, Sonic."

Sonic looked back at him, and smiled.