Eternal Guardian

"Dammit! What's your problem?! Why won't you just go away?" Shadow's eyes popped open into a glare he didn't hesitate to direct at the other. "Can't you take a hint? I don't want you here! Leave!" His fists were clenched tightly by his side.

He was a little less uncomfortable now that he had his body back under his control, but he still didn't appreciate being submitted to the faker's stares. How dare he even come near Shadow! What right did that fucking moron have? Didn't he get it? Shadow's shaking decreased as they stood there, the black hedgehog threatening the over-solicitous Sonic with his fiery eyes.

Sonic scoffed.

If he took any hints, it quite obviously seemed Shadow didn't want him to leave. No, it appeared he wanted something else from him instead. Something that...although freaked him out a little, at the same time he found...interesting? He really wasn't sure how to describe his mixed feelings towards the subject just yet. But the hedgehog still did not budge. "Prove it. I'm giving you a chance to take control so stop acting like the six year old you are. This nervously pathetic...vulnerable routine of yours just doesn't suit you."

Shadow pulled on his ears, voice softening. "What are you...saying?" The hedgehog's words seemed mildly suggestive in his state of mind, but even if Shadow wanted to proceed in such a way, he wouldn't know how. Aside from Rouge, Shadow had managed to avoid any and all sexual situations and media hype. On the other hand, maybe Sonic really meant...

He pictured himself snatching up the little punk and chucking him off the side of the island.

Shaking his head violently, he moved his hands down along the sides of his forehead. "You're giving me a headache." He winced and frowned, a tear finally forming under his right eye. He raised his voice again, "Go home already!"

Sonic arched a brow at the sight of glistening moisture in hiding, feeling REALLY weird now. Compared to this situation, he was even worse at comforting someone, let alone it being Shadow. He could tell he really was surprised by his feelings too; he wondered if he even knew he had them until recently.

"You're thinking too much." Sonic grunted and...yes, bravely, he stepped towards him. "You were always so cocky but it seems I have you at a disadvantage, doesn't it?" This subject was something he definitely had Shadow beat at.

There was an oddly placed grin although this time it seemed forced. Awkwardly, his voice lowered, and he huffed out a reply. "Just do what feels natural." If Shadow didn't get it at this point, he'd have no choice but to run. That was as far as he was going to push it, it was up to the black hedgehog to take them the rest of the way. Because he definitely wasn't making the first move.

Shadow choked, "What do you think I-- Why are you--? This is ridiculous! Insane!" Violent, flamelike red flashed wildly at the blue hedgehog. It didn't take much of Sonic closing in on him for his muzzle to match in tone. "I don't understand what you think I'm--" The blistered hands thrust forward and shoved Sonic back. This happened a second time.

"You don't fucking--! You're so foolish!" How ever Sonic thought Shadow was, he was wrong! And the way he used the word 'natural'... there was nothing 'natural' about it! He was shaking again, more uncontrollable than before. Horrible visions crowded his consciousness, and he cried out, grabbing his head again.

Shadow fell to his knees in front of Sonic, blood filling his ears and pulsing viciously. "I don't know what's going on." He reached out and placed a hand on Sonic's ankle, wanting answers, but too afraid to ask. "I don't...understand."

Sonic made no effort to defend himself or shove in return until Shadow came to the position he had just fallen into. Instead he watched him, waiting, and waiting some more for him to snap out of his childish fit and do something about it before he collapsed instead, giving the blue hedgehog an odd sense of pity for the black one.

He knelt down with a sigh, certain he'd regret this later. But Sonic helped Shadow the best he could in this bizarre ordeal he's thrown them in.

Reaching down, he grabbed his hand, plucking it off his ankle and attempting to help Shadow sit back up. "The only way for you to understand is to experience it." He knew he was being vague but he didn't actually want to go into detail. If he talked too much or thought about this any more, he might just change his mind. "Like I said...do what feels natural. Because what you're feeling is natural." A pleasant grin curved along his lips, giving the hedgehog a look that no longer radiated his ego or a mocking gesture. One to ease Shadow's doubts and at least show him he was capable of feeling the same way for him.

With his attention drawn back up to Sonic's face, the fear rushed over his own features. "You're being absurd!" Shadow's rage grew and he threw himself onto the hedgehog.

He wrapped his hands around Sonic's throat and squeezed for a second before he realized that his heart wasn't in it and he let go, falling over, and dropping his heavily burdened head on the peach-tinted chest. "I don't know why... It makes no sense." He untangled his legs from one another and relaxed his arms, hands still touching the delicate throat of his rival.

"Why is this happening? I'm the Ultimate Lifeform. I should be perfect. Have perfect control. Why am I flawed?"

Sonic isn't sure how to react as he feels his hands go around his throat, his defensive instincts kicked in but he failed to act on them, trusting Shadow wasn't going to do anything TOO irrational. Instead he practically collapsed on him and the blue hedgehog awkwardly moved his arms around him, trying to somehow soothe Shadow, and get him to stop whining.

"You're not flawed." Sonic grunted, his neck feeling a little tender, "It's normal to feel things..." Although the things he felt for him were a tad bizarre...But he didn't need to encourage Shadow's sulking behavior by saying something like that. After all, he couldn't even decipher his own feelings, otherwise he would have left the second he saw his protruding hard-on. "Only you know why you feel the way you do...Your body just reacts."

Shadow shook his head the best he could manage. Sonic still didn't get it. Or maybe he did.

He lifted his head and a tentative expression of curiosity lit his previously miserable-looking face. "So this has happened to you before?"

Shadow found this made perfect sense, as calm as Sonic was being about it. He considered this new realization somewhat unnerving, though he had more questions that he wanted answered. If Sonic was experienced in this sort of thing, perhaps he could talk Shadow through it and get the longing to go away for good.

"What did you do?" If Sonic followed through, then maybe that really was what he was suggesting Shadow do, and ...just maybe he should listen.

Slightly disgruntled, Sonic very casually started to push him up and stand, attempting to put some distance between them again. Just enough to give the other some personal space. He considered Shadow's question and how he'd answer it while his face lit up a pretty pink. "Uh, well..." It was like trying to explain this stuff to a kid. And in a way, that's exactly what he was doing. Groaning, he rubbed his temple and looked away, saying something rather unexpected. "I think it'll go away if I just leave." Perhaps in the end that really was the best. Of course, he waited a little late to play that card.

Upon the hedgehog's conclusion, Shadow stood and stepped forward, eyes narrowed. He jabbed Sonic's chest with his index finger, "That's what I said to begin with!" The hand swiped off to Shadow's right, "But YOU... you insisted on staying." He couldn't believe it. Was Sonic trying to embarrass him further by making his exit his own idea? The dark-furred Guardian wasn't having it. "All I asked was for you to leave, and you think suddenly that it's a genius idea? After you stand here and fuck with my head, putting all kinds of... of.. who knows what this shit is running through my mind that came from YOU!" He bared his canines aggressively. All that torture and anxiety, for what?

He knew he'd been right, of course, but Shadow had actually started to believe Sonic. The nerve of the bastard, making Shadow paranoid and disgusted with himself, when he was just going to turn around and... And...

He didn't know what Sonic was doing. It didn't matter.

But it sure as hell looked like he was turning Shadow's problems into one big inconsequential mess, and it was by no means a trivial issue to the black hedgehog.

Sonic's eyes flattened at Shadow's exasperation. Somehow he didn't think the black hedgehog would ask so many awkward questions. It was weird not seeing him attempt control at something and instead left it all up to him to teach him how to score! He couldn't do that! He told him what he needed and if he was wanting to get detailed about it then the blue hedgehog was finally scared off.

"I didn't do anything to your head. Geez, Shadow. I was trying to help but I never thought you'd be THIS clueless! Besides, you can't learn anything if you plan on staying in denial like that. Those feelings aren't going away. You just have to deal with them. But if you want a temporary fix, I can leave now."

Shadow scowled. Was Sonic really that egocentric? How could he be so self-centered and conceited, to think that Shadow's problems revolved around his presence. Not only that, but the blue hedgehog didn't even make up his mind whether him staying or leaving would solve it. Sonic was still treating Shadow like he was begging for... Shadow didn't even want to think about it. It still felt so wrong.

Frustrated, he grabbed the sides of Sonic's head and bellowed, "You're-not-paying-attention-to-what-I'm-saying!" Seriously, how thick could someone be?

Sonic cringed and reached up to push his arms away so he had control of his head again, looking mildly irritated in the meantime. It seemed like they were just running in a big fat circle and the hedgehog, for once, was getting tired of running.

"Fine! What do you want me to do, Shadow?"

Shadow's face fell.

"What?"

He honestly hadn't expected that. He just wanted Sonic to leave, but when he put it like that, Shadow looked like the bad guy. Shadow just assumed Sonic would either fight back or go home, and let him forget that the blue bastard even existed, but at this stage, Shadow had to admit it wasn't even possible.

Narrowing his eyes at him, Sonic finally returning one of the glares he had been smothered in, emerald eyes grew tired of the argument they kept continuing.

Grabbing onto Shadow's shoulders, he shook him a little for emphasis, leaving the decision making up to him; whether that was a good idea or not, it was too late. "You heard me! Tell me what you want!"

His hands balled into fists at his sides and he roughly leaned in against Sonic's grip as his face twisted in rage. "I. DON'T. KNOW!"

He panted, relaxing his features a little, but not losing all signs of hatred for the one before him. Gradually Shadow's eye brows lifted away from the red streaks that outlined his lids. He didn't know. He really didn't know. After this... even after all this... he still had no clue whether he wanted Sonic to go or stay or just drop dead. Finally the fiery gaze found something more engaging off to one side -- he couldn't look at Sonic after having completely humiliated himself for the billionth time.

Shadow was so unsure of himself. It was actually annoying, at least to Sonic. He had the nerve to yell at him when in the end he still didn't know what he wanted? Sonic huffed coyly and roamed his eyes over Shadow's body, finally getting ideas on how to handle the situation, most of them pretty drastic. Well he decided to help Shadow clear his head -- or fog it up even more -- and see how he'd respond if he favored those feelings of his.

Suddenly those hands on his shoulders tightened and Sonic pulled him in, a determined look on his face, eyes narrowed intently. Without warning, he forced his lips against Shadow's, giving him the first taste of what this direction would lead to, if he so chose to encourage it.