Chapter Text
The pair lay curled up on the couch in Shadow’s apartment tucked underneath a handmade cathedral-patterned quilt. Two half-empty bowls of extra buttery popcorn sat beside them. A competitive cake baking show played out on the TV, but neither were truly watching it. The kitchen was filled with the smell of goods baking in the oven. Freshly brewed coffee sat on the table. The string lights above the couch were plugged in and on, bathing the room and the occupants in a cozy light.
Rain pattered outside as the downpour increased, a hopeful indication that Eggman was going to pipe down for the rest of the day. Especially given that it was Shadow’s day off and especially given that the downpour had stopped Eggman’s latest world-ending plot.
But just in case things decided to get chaotic again, both Sonic and Shadow muted their communicators and in Shadow’s case, just shut them all off. No one would bother them this afternoon.
Sonic had his head on Shadow's lap, the former combing through rich blue quills. “Your quills are fluffy,” the ebony hedgehog commented. “Did you shower before you got here?” If he did, it was amazing that he was still fluffy after sprinting here in the rain.
“Yeah. Had to clean all the blood off after you gouged me,” Sonic snickered. “And oil from Eggman’s mech. Tails said I had enough oil to fill the Tornado for the next five flights.”
Shadow chuckled. “I’m not surprised.” His brows then creased. “When did I gouge you?”
“After Eggman threw you into me,” Sonic replied. He sat up, anticipating the response. “It doesn’t hurt–”
But Shadow had warped away. He came back with the first aid kit, carefully turning Sonic this way and that, checking for any markings. “Where?”
“Shads, I’m fine,” Sonic laughed. “It healed up quickly.”
Shadow gave him a stare so cold hell could freeze over.
“Fine,” Sonic replied. “I’ll show you where you poked me, but only if you let me help you get the cookie brownies out of the oven.”
Shadow kissed Sonic’s forehead. “Was that so hard?”
“Yes, it was,” Sonic pouted. But he rolled over and patted his chest. “You poked me right here.”
Shadow smirked. “Fair enough.” He leaned close enough so that his breath filled Sonic’s ears. “This will help you feel better.”
Sonic yelped, dissolving into a giggling mess as Shadow ran his fingers across the blue hedgehog’s body. Shadow giggled, too.
But the tickle match didn’t last long as Shadow replaced each of those devilish touches with a kiss and one of those kitty bandages (except for the twin scars on Sonic’s chest – those got two kisses and no bandages). It only took him fifteen minutes and when he was done, he kissed Sonic’s forehead. “There. Was that so hard?”
“Yes,” Sonic grimaced. “Now let me up so I can get those cookie brownies out of the oven.”
Shadow obliged, trailing Sonic to the kitchen. “I don’t trust you in the kitchen, not since you set it on fire.”
“That was one time, Shadow,” Sonic snorted, grabbing the green plaid oven mitts. “ONE time. Besides, I didn’t burn your apple desserts, did I?”
Shadow shook his head. “These are brownies. An entirely foreign field.”
“You should be lucky I wasn’t using a blender,” Sonic reminded him.
“I almost forgot about that!” Shadow laughed, recalling Sonic’s matted and sticky fur clumped with coffee bean and milkshake residue.
“Don’t even think about it,” Sonic started. “Don’t we have enough snacks for a quiet afternoon without me busting another kitchen appliance?” He pulled the cookie brownies from the pan, holding them up for inspection. “Did I pass?”
Shadow scrutinized them completely before nodding. “Let them cool. They’ll probably be done by the time the bakers start baking again.”
Sonic nodded and set them on the stove. “What’s the theme for the next round? College life?”
“Yep,” Shadow responded. “Let’s see if they can find the cake.”
And, leaving their own baking to cool on the stove, the pair resumed their positions on the couch, thoughts filled with buttercreme and fondant as they watched the bakers find and make their cakes. For the most part, it was quiet save for the occasional comments on the cake.
“That printer cake looks really good,” Sonic commented with a mouth full of popcorn. “I wouldn’t be able to tell that’s a cake if it was with a bunch of others.”
“I’m not sure I could either,” Shadow commented.
Sonic hummed and shuffled closer to Shadow, eyes sliding shut from warmth and comfort. This was nice. These moments with Shadow were his favorites. Sure, he loved fighting alongside his boyfriend on the battlefield, but he loved the peace that came with baking treats and snuggling on the couch.
Then he heard it: a soft rumble resonating from Shadow’s chest.
“You’re purring,” Sonic whispered.
“What?!” Shadow’s face boasted a serious blush. “I wasn’t–”
“Don’t be embarrassed. It’s part of hedgehog biology,” Sonic replied. He leaned close and purred a little. “See? It just means that we’re happy.” Blue eyeridges crinkled. “Unless–”
“No.” Shadow kissed Sonic’s forehead. “I am happy. I just….it’s a very weird feeling. I’ve only done it around the people I’m happiest with.”
“So Maria, Rouge, and me?” Sonic asked with a grin, hand reaching up to card Shadow’s chest fur.
Shadow caught Sonic’s hand, smirking. “Don’t start something you can’t finish. But, yes…..”
“C’mon, you like it when I touch your fluff,” Sonic teased flirtatiously.
“Hush, you,” Shadow growled without menace. “Are you going to shut up and watch these bakers get obliterated with me or am I going to have to take some drastic actions?”
“C’mon, Shads,” Sonic whined. “You were petting my quills! I wanted to return the favor.” He sat up slightly, eyes lowering. “Don’t start something you can’t finish, am I right?”
“I see,” Shadow hummed. “Then carry on.” He released Sonic’s hand, snaking his hand back into Sonic’s quills right as Sonic resumed tracing patterns into Shadow’s chest fluff. Quiet purring resounded through the apartment alongside the frantic bakers on the TV.
It wasn’t long before the two fell asleep curled up around each other under the quilt and purring softly, their dreams full of each other and cake.