What Is Love?

A single flake of snow drifted to the frozen ground. The snowfall was slow at first, the calm before the storm, if you will. The chilled air began producing more flakes, speeding up production as time passed. It was a serene scene. The glimmering snow was almost a romantic scene to see from the frosted window on the newly built apartment complex.

It was out of the way, yet very covenant to the hedgehog that lived inside. The pitch black hedgehog with crimson streaks inhaled a decent amount of smoke from his freshly lit cigarette. Just as quickly he released the smoke back into the frigid air.

Though it was a newer building the construction was poor. You'd have to buy your own fan if you wanted to be cool during the summer, Shadow didn't mind the heat. He shrugged and sighed out another puff. But the winters in this area were a pain without a heater. That’s why during the winter he kept a captive. A prisoner of the most brilliant shade of sapphire he had ever seen.

Shadow glanced to his lover. Sonic paid for everything. The shitty apartment, Shadow's sick vices, and whatever else he felt "Shad's" needed. Was the so called ultimate life form happy? He was. Just a few months earlier he was more than content. He had all the cigs he could smoke, all the beer he could drink, and all the sex he wanted from Mobius' hero. What more could he want? That’s what Shadow longed to know.

He roughed up his black & crimson quills in frustration. Could he be tired of Sonic? Perhaps a less "in-the-closet" kind of relationship with his lover. Like that would ever happen. Sonic the Hedgehog with his emerald eyes and innocent blue fur was a hot commodity. With both girls and boys. The planets golden boy was bisexual and very much so in the closet. Only girls were allowed to meet his parents, a legend-in-his-own-time war hero and a beloved queen. Talk about good pedigree.

Shadow tried to picture his lover's siblings in mind. Having never met them he wondered what they were like. "lets see," he groaned," a younger sister, he said the other day. Sonia was her name?" He removed the cigarette and began to toy with it between his fingers. "and a brother......Manic?" He accidentally flicked the ashes on to his pillow. "what a strange name." Shadow leaned back forcing his shoulder blades against Sinic's tail bone.

He pulled his right arm, cigarette in hand, over his head. He ran his fingers and cigarette along Sonic's stomach, leaving ashes all over the nude hedgehog. Shadow clinched his eyes tighten. He still thought was sexy, but why was he not turned on? Nibbling at Sonic's waist, he rolled over.

The over groaned, “Shads?" He blinked forcing himself awake, "I'm not an ash tray, you fag."

"You're cranky, I like that."

"what are you doing?"

"nothing, just smoking. You want?" He picked up another cigarette he had left on his bed. Even though Sonic didn't smoke, he felt the need to tease him by poking Sonic in the jaw with it.

"Shadow, you know-"

"yeah, yeah." He spit it out, "didn't you used to?"

"you're so wasteful, babe."

"wanna go outside?"

"now?"

"yeah."

"right now?"

"yeah."

"but I'm naked."

"so?"

"it's snowing."

"and?"

"what you wanna do outside anyway?"

"fuck you."

"....you're a freak man."

"so, you wanna?"

"no!"

"killjoy."

"cus I don’t wanna get sick?"

Shadow didn't reply for a minute or two. He pushed Sonic over and crawled under the covers, "I'm going to sleep then."

"what’s your problem?!"

"Nothing." He reached over to turn out the light, "night."

The night felt short, as though there was no night at all. The ebony life form rose from his covers and released a big yawn and stretched. He turned to see that sonic was missing. Which he didn't give much thought to. 'he probably went home' Shadow sighed a simple thought.

He didn't quite understand what was wrong with him. He should be happy, but he’s not. He has an amazing life but he still feels down. Even though he’s with Sonic, he’s still lonely on the inside. 'can Sonic tell?' He asked, lost in his memories. 'is that why we haven't been getting along? Am I not in love?'