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Espio leapt from one lamppost to the next, landing with perfect, practiced precision all the way to the end of the block. He scanned the four-way intersection, peering into the shadowed alleyways, and the late-night stores and clubs illuminated in all their neon glory.
Station Square was quiet tonight. Like it had been the past few weeks.
The large bustling city had weathered all sorts of disasters well. Crime, Chaos attempting to drown it, Eggman’s attacks. The latter of which came without warning. Sonic usually showed up in the nick of time to put a stop to the mad doctor’s world domination plans. However, the hedgehog also traveled a lot, running from one place to the next in search of adventure. They couldn’t always count on him to be there when Eggman appeared. Which was why Espio took to regularly patrolling the city in his downtime, maintaining a constant vigilance in case there was any new threat on the horizon.
As a bonus, it gave him a chance to hone and keep his ninja abilities sharp. Cases didn’t come to the Chaotix Detective Agency all the time and there were plenty of lazy days at the office. Vector may be fine becoming one with his chair, but not Espio. He needed to be active and on the move.
He’d been on his patrol for hours, scanning every part of the city for any trouble. Aside from a couple of minor car fender-benders and some rowdy people being ejected from one of the casinos near the pier, there wasn’t much for him to do at this late hour. Even the streets around him were empty and in the distance, a couple of convenience stores shut off their lights and locked up. Only the night clubs and casinos would stay open until the dawn.
Espio wondered if he should turn in for the night. His eyelids were starting to feel heavy and the thought of a nice, warm bed sounded nice about now. Besides, if he stayed out too late, he’d end up sleeping in and become no better than his fellow detectives.
As he glanced in the direction of the agency, he spotted a figure standing on the lip of a rooftop nearby. He couldn’t make out the features, as the person was merely a silhouette against the hazy purple night sky of the lit-up city. The figure faced a large, white marble building across the street. Gold lettering along the front doors of the building read STATION SQUARE BANK.
Espio perked up. A robber? Exactly what he was looking for. He leapt off the lamppost and darted across the street, hiding out of the figure’s sight behind a brick building. The robber didn’t appear to notice him.
Pressing his hands to the bricks, his fingers and palms stuck to the surface with ease. Slowly, Espio crawled up the side of the building, keeping his ear cocked for any noise. When he made it to the top, he flipped onto the roof and crouched low.
Concentrating hard, his hands disappeared from his sight. Then his arms, his torso, and soon his whole body was invisible. This would be tricky. He needed to keep focus or he’d become visible. However, he also needed to sneak up on the robber and get in the first attack.
He needed to see who he was dealing with. A Mobian or a robot. Or something else entirely. That would determine how he handled it. He crept to the edge and peered above the small knee-high wall surrounding the roof.
The robber was still in the same spot, a couple of buildings away, standing there and examining the bank. No doubt doing some recon on how to best break in. They weren’t very tall, only about Espio’s height. And there was something familiar with their shape.
He needed to move in closer. Climbing onto the short wall, Espio jumped for the next roof, easily clearing the gap between buildings. He landed softly, barely making a sound.
Espio sprinted to the far edge of the roof and again jumped, landing on top of the robber’s building. He spun around and checked himself. Still invisible to the naked eye.
The robber hadn’t seen him. He was still as a statue. A hedgehog statue, except for his broad shoulders and chest rising and falling with every breath. Not a robot then.
Espio flicked a kunai out from inside his glove. He kept it flat against his wrist, in reach of his fingers, and snuck closer to the hedgehog. He circled the robber, giving him a wide berth and craning his neck, trying to get a good look at his face.
The hedgehog shifted. His knees bent, his feet turned a few degrees toward Espio, and his back curved into a runner’s stance. All of this happened in a second and he caught it before the robber sprinted at him.
Throwing the kunai at him, Espio leapt over the hedgehog’s head. He landed on the other side of him, but suddenly felt a strong blow in his back. He yelped, tumbling toward the end of the roof.
Espio caught himself before he fell over and quickly rose to his feet, his arms up in front of him. Just in time, as the hedgehog reached out, snatching one of his wrists. Espio held firm, already producing another kunai from his glove.
“You.” The robber stopped and Espio looked up into a pair of ruby red eyes.
“Shadow?” The hedgehog seemed as bewildered as Espio. Tugging his arm free, he asked, “What are you doing here?”
“I could ask you the same.”
“I was on patrol.” Espio put away the kunai and walked around him, searching the ground for the other one. “Keeping an eye on things. I saw you up here staring at the bank.”
“The bank?” Shadow held up the other kunai and tossed it to Espio. He nodded, impressed that Shadow had caught it. “I wasn’t staring at the bank.”
“My mistake then. If you don’t mind, what were you doing up here?”
Shadow crossed his arms and snorted. “I do mind.” With that final answer, he resumed his post, gazing out over the city and toward the hills surrounding the outer limits.
Espio shook his head. Of all the people he’d known over the years, Shadow had to be the most stubborn and the most difficult to read. Sometimes an enemy, sometimes an ally, but always closely guarded and refusing to open up to anyone. In any other case, Espio would be content to let Shadow sit and stew in his silence like always.
Still, something didn’t add up about the whole situation. Why was Shadow up here to begin with? Was he planning something? Was there a threat that Shadow knew of and didn’t plan to tell them about? Could Station Square be in danger? His bed called to him, but Espio knew that if he went home, he’d only lay awake all night obsessing over Shadow and wondering what was he up to.
So Espio joined Shadow on the edge of the roof, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. He calmed his mind, easing its worries and battle instincts, and replacing them with a meditative trance. Stretching out his senses, car horns honked faintly in the distance and the cool night air nipped at his arms and legs. His breathing became faint, on the edge of hearing, his heart returning to a gentle beat instead of the fast-paced hammering from their brief scuffle.
Amidst it, he felt Shadow’s gaze on him. Likely annoyed that his typical solace had been intruded upon. Espio cracked an eye, confirming that he was correct. His small smirk seemed to ask, “You don’t mind, do you?”
Shadow turned away from him and back to the sky. The blue, yellow, and pink neon glows from below highlighted his quills and his sharp frown. “No, go ahead,” his fingers said, clenching his arms tight. “Why would I mind?”
Espio continued his meditation for a while, checking on Shadow every now and then. He was fixated on a point in the distance and didn’t pay Espio any mind.
Tracing Shadow’s eyes, Espio followed them to the hills outside the city. He didn’t see anything on the horizon and wondered if Shadow was waiting for someone. Rouge? Or was he watching something out there? Could he see better? He was genetically modified as the “Ultimate Lifeform.” Espio figured that included his eyesight, too.
Whatever the case, Shadow must have figured that he could handle whatever was coming. Espio didn’t expect to get anything else out of him so he waited with Shadow, stretching his arms and legs, preparing for a fight if it came to that.
“You don’t need to do that,” Shadow said. “Nothing’s coming.”
“Then what has your attention?”
Shadow glanced at him, wearing an annoyed frown. His head shifted, as though debating whether to tell him or not. And if Espio would leave if he did.
Finally, Shadow nodded to the hills. “See that one? The tallest one with the tree.” The hill rose above the city, with the shadow of a great tree marking the top. “Maria used to say that was her favorite spot when she was very young. She said you could see the whole city from there and it looked like a bunch of fireflies.”
Maria. The friend Shadow lost, as Espio recalled. “I see. I apologize for intruding.”
“It’s fine.”
“So you’re up here because you’re lonely?”
Shadow raised an eyebrow. “Who said I’m lonely?”
Espio shrugged. “I suppose no one. I thought you might be. Even I feel like that sometimes.”
“Don’t you live with those other two?”
“Yes, but you can be lonely even with others around.”
Shadow hummed in thought and turned back to the hill. He was quiet once more, but that earlier irritation had evaporated. They shared a silence, perfectly content to just stand on the rooftop together until the morning sun.
Espio took a deep breath and for the first time that night, he felt completely relaxed.
Espio thought that crossing paths with Shadow was merely by chance. He certainly didn’t expect it to happen again.
However, the next week, he found himself in the same part of the city. A case had come in from an old widow who paid half in advance to locate a missing wristwatch belonging to her late husband. She’d lost it somewhere in this part of town and the Chaotix had spent the past few days scouring every inch of the area for it.
Espio was about to give up when he spotted a twinkling in a storm drain. He fell onto his stomach and crawled closer to the drain for a better look. There, just within reach, the gold wristwatch sat on a narrow ledge.
He reached for it, fingers brushing the watch. He needed to wiggle his whole head and shoulders in before he managed to snatch it up. He lifted it in triumph. Now they could make rent at the end of the month and buy some groceries. The old deli meat in the fridge was starting to turn green and stink up the fridge of the office.
Tucking the wristwatch away, he glanced up at the bank around the corner, then turned to the building across from it. To his surprise, he saw the same familiar hedgehog standing on the roof like a misplaced gargoyle.
Espio decided it wouldn’t hurt to say “Hello” and scaled the building, following the same path from the other night. When he landed on the same roof, Shadow acknowledged him with a silent nod. Espio took a place beside him and they stayed together there until the rosy fingers of dawn stretched over the horizon, enjoying one another’s silent company.
Over the next few weeks, the pattern continued. More and more days, Espio found Shadow in the same spot in the dead of night and each time, he joined him, hurrying up to the rooftop.
Many nights they didn’t talk, enjoying the sounds of the night. Sometimes, Shadow might make the odd comment. “It’s breezy.” or “You can see the stars tonight.” Once, he even stared at Espio for a long while before declaring. “You’re quiet. I like that.” Despite the chill in the air, Espio warmed at the compliment.
Now and then, they might make small talk. Until one night, Shadow asked, “Why did you join the Chaotix? You don’t really strike me as a detective.”
Espio, stunned by the personal question, stammered for a response at first. “W-Well, they’re my friends. And it pays the bills. Usually,” he muttered the last part under his breath.
“So you needed a job.”
“No, I wanted a purpose. To use my abilities to help others.”
Shadow turned toward him, a little curious. “And did it provide that?”
“Yes.” Visions of Vector and Charmy frustrating him with their antics, like loudly waking him up at night, subsisting on cheap take-out, or sometimes blowing the rent money on frivolous purchases popped into his mind. “In their own way.”
“Must be nice.”
“Hey, I could ask you the same thing,” Espio said. “Why did you join G.U.N.? From what I’ve heard, you two don’t see eye to eye.”
“I didn’t join them,” Shadow said firmly. “It’s just that our missions occasionally align with one another.”
“But why work with them after what they did?”
Shadow’s lips thinned. “Because they’re not the same people. They give me a little direction and remind me to use my abilities for others. To uphold a promise.” His gaze flicked to Espio. “In their own way.”
He hid it well, but Espio could sense the twinge of pain beneath Shadow’s voice. He understood. He’d heard the story before about what happened. However, he didn’t know how to respond to that. What could he say?
Shadow didn’t appear to expect anything from him. Instead, he simply gave him a grin. It happened so fast that Espio that it was a trick of the street lights below. Before he could confirm it, Shadow had turned away from him, signaling that he was done with the conversation.
Espio replayed their talk in his head as they waited for dawn. For some reason, a little thrill played in his chest that Shadow had shared something like that with him. He thought he understood the hedgehog a little better and that made him happy.
Although not as happy as that grin. He was certain he saw it and he raised his shoulders high, hiding his own small smile at that.
A couple of months in, what started out as meeting up two or three times a week became almost every night. Even when Espio had no reason to go out, he still made up some excuse to Vector and Charmy, practically sprinting out the door before they could ask him anything. It didn’t stop his fellow detectives from casting suspicious looks as he left or the day after. Thankfully, a steady stream of cases started to come in, keeping them busy. Beyond an occasional “Heading out again tonight?” or “You got in late,” they didn’t really probe much. Which set Espio on edge, but he didn’t think much of it, too preoccupied with meeting Shadow.
Honestly, the meetings started to become the highlight of each day and Espio couldn’t pinpoint why. It could’ve been because, after being around Vector and Charmy all day, he appreciated someone who knew the value of a calm evening. They also shared some common interests, such as being disciplined to honing their fighting abilities, an appreciation for the few stars seen in the city, and stealth and infiltration over smashing down the front doors when on a mission. In fact, they had recently been swapping stories about the latter, with Shadow telling of missions he helped Rouge with and Espio outlining a few of the Chaotix’s cases that required his invisibility.
It was nice to have someone to bond with like this. Although that didn’t explain why his pulse ran faster whenever he saw Shadow now sitting on the familiar ledge waiting for him or why his stomach twisted itself in knots when he caught another stray smile. Espio had an inkling why, but didn’t bring it up, thinking that Shadow wanted to keep things as they were. That was fine with Espio for now.
The only thing he feared was showing up one night and Shadow not being there. After all, Espio would be the first to admit that he wasn’t the most entertaining or stimulating of conversationalists, like Amy or Rouge. Not only that, but based on the stories of past missions, he figured that a G.U.N. assignment might take Shadow far off somewhere else for a while.
However, Shadow never let Espio down and continued to show up each and every night. Always welcoming him to their spot with those quiet eyes that made Espio’s feet feel like wooden stilts and lose their balance.
Tonight, Shadow was a little more talkative. When Espio flipped one of his kunai end over end to keep himself awake after a long day of tailing a suspected scam artist, Shadow asked if he could try throwing the kunai. “I never really use anything like those,” he explained. “The closest I’ve come to are guns.”
So the pair stood next to the ledge and aimed at the brick wall of an access stairwell that opened up onto the roof. Espio managed to land most of his shots in between the brickwork, embedding the blade deep into the old mortar. Shadow had less success, striking the bricks more often than not and cursing under his breath.
“How do you do that?” he asked when Espio struck a high spot between two bricks.
“Years of practice,” Espio said. “You’re also putting too much power behind it. Focus on precision.” He placed one of the weapons in Shadow’s hand and adjusted his fingers. He lifted Shadow’s arm up while he explained. “When you throw it, don’t treat it like one of your Chaos Spears. Think of it like a dart. As long as you hit the target, it will do the rest.”
“Like a dart.”
“Be sure to take a deep breath. Relax and don’t worry if you miss. In,” he inhaled, gesturing for Shadow to copy him, “and out.”
Shadow puffed out and immediately, a sizzle of electricity seemed to fill the air between them. Like Chaos energy expelling from his lungs.
It zapped Espio, bringing him sharply into the moment. He realized how close he was standing to Shadow and how his hands were on his arm, gripping the muscular limb, their faces less than a foot apart.
Immediately, Espio released him and stepped back, his mind clouded by a dozen different thoughts. Some of them highly inappropriate, yet all of them pleasant in their own way. He quickly cleared his throat. “Yes, just like that.”
Shadow took another breath, expelled it slowly, and hurled the kunai. It struck the mortar dead-on, hung there for a moment, then tumbled out.
“Not bad,” Espio said, gathering up the kunai. When he turned around, Shadow was facing the hills in the distance.
“You remember how you asked if I came up here because I was lonely?”
“Yes, I remember.”
“I told you I come up here because of Maria.”
“Because that was her favorite hill?”
Shadow nodded. “That’s right. She said the city looked so pretty and she couldn’t wait to come back to see it. I used to go to that hill each night and try to see what she did. I never could. All I saw was just a city. Nothing special about it, besides more people. And therefore, an even greater abundance of selfish and hateful people. So I started coming here instead. I figured I could look at the hill instead.”
“To remind you of what you fight for?” Espio guessed, standing beside him.
Shadow gave him an appreciative look. “Yes.”
Given how private he was, Espio knew that had to have taken Shadow a lot to reveal. “Thank you for telling me.”
He crossed his arms. “You’re the only one who’s ever stayed quiet long enough for me to want to tell that.”
Espio snorted and chuckled into his fist. Shadow raised an eyebrow, but a slow smile spread across his lips, too.
The pair composed themselves quickly and gazed out at the hill. It stood out from the surrounding lumps of earth and the rest of the city outskirts in its own way now that Espio knew how much it meant to Shadow.
They stayed on the rooftop for a while, enjoying one another’s company. Eventually, Espio yawned and stretched his arms.
“Tired?” Shadow asked.
“Very,” he said.
“Coffee?”
He shook his head. “I prefer tea.” Which was all back at the office. He regretted not making a cup before heading out. He hated to end things early, but he couldn’t stay awake for much longer.
Although, maybe it didn’t have to?
“Would you like to come over for some?”
Shadow met his eyes for a long time. Too long and Espio worried that maybe he had pushed his luck tonight. However, Shadow stepped down from the ledge and said, “Sure.”
A weight lifted off of Espio’s chest and he led the way, leaping from one rooftop to the other. The two of them ran silently through the night and into the city.
Espio already had a few excuses prepared to give Vector and Charmy for why he was bringing Shadow back to the office. They were unnecessary, as the other two detectives weren’t there when the pair arrived. According to Vector’s note on his desk, Vanilla needed help with a sink at her place. As expected, Vector had dropped everything to rush over to help, dragging Charmy along with him. The letter said that Espio shouldn’t expect them back tonight.
So it was just him and Shadow here. Alone. He squeezed the letter tight, his mind racing at the implications.
“Something wrong?” Shadow asked.
Espio spun around, forgetting that Shadow was behind him and why he had even invited him over. “No, it’s nothing,” he said, balling up the letter and tossing it into the trash. “I’ll, um, get the…” He racked his brain, searching for the right word.
“The tea?”
“Tea! Yes.” Espio slipped around Shadow to the designated break room and kitchen.
In actuality, it was simply an old used wooden table with a few chairs and stools around it. Beside the table stood a mini-fridge, a counter with a coffee pot on a single electric cooking range, a sink that constantly dripped water even when off, and cupboards above and below the counter. Old case files that couldn’t fit in the filing cabinets and snacks dominated the bottom cupboards. In the top cupboards sat expired cereals, dented canned food, and boxes of pancake mixes, casseroles, and other dishes the detectives promised they would one day cook and never did.
In one section of the upper cupboard, on its own shelf, Espio pulled down a wooden box of tea leaves, separated and categorized. He also grabbed a couple of mugs, strainers, and a kettle. He filled the kettle, set it on the range, and thumbed through the leaves. “Any preference?” he asked.
Shadow took a seat and shook his head. “No. Any are fine.”
He flicked through the labels and settled on a ginger tea, figuring it might settle his stomach rolling and flipping over at the situation. He waited for the water to boil, poured some water in the mugs, and dipped the strainers filled with the ginger leaves in each.
Espio set the mugs on the table and gathered up some billing statements beside them, placing them on Vector’s desk. He hoped Vector had already sent out the copies to their clients for this week.
“I can see why you’d want to get out now and then,” Shadow said, looking around. “Not sure I could stand being cooped up with two other people all the time.”
“Oh, we have bedrooms,” Espio said, jerking a thumb at a hallway behind him. “Although, sometimes we fall asleep in here because we’re tired from working all day.”
“Or staying out all night on rooftops.” Shadow sipped his tea and nodded approvingly. “It’s good.”
Espio drank his own and found it did little to calm his nerves. This was very different than meeting in their usual spot. This was closer, more intimate, and he was at a loss for words. Especially when he could see Shadow so up close in clear light. Nearly feel his knee brush against his.
Shadow set down his mug. “Thanks for the tea.”
Espio blinked, realized his guest had already finished his cup, and was moving to stand up. “Did you want another?” he quickly asked, snatching up the mug before Shadow could reply. He quickly refilled it, the kettle trembling in his hand. He had no idea what he was doing at this point.
Shadow wasn’t helping either. His expression was unreadable. Was he annoyed that he couldn’t leave? Happy? Espio’s thoughts were a wreck and he couldn’t focus, spilling some of the hot water on his fingers. He winced and bit down a yelp.
“You alright?”
“Yes, fine,” he said, quickly grabbing a towel and pretending to clean up a spot on the counter. He handed Shadow the cup and grabbed some books from behind his chair, placing them on the counter. “Apologies about the mess.
“I’m used to it,” he said. “Rouge can be messy at times.”
“That’s surprising. I would think she’d be very organized.”
“Only with her gear and her jewels,” he said. “Her bedroom looks like a storm blew through it.”
That ground Espio’s chaotic thoughts and inner turmoil to a halt. “Her bedroom?” he said slowly. His heart sank, but he kept his face level. “Oh, I didn’t know that you two were—”
“We’re not,” Shadow said. “I only saw her bedroom in passing. She wanted to show me how she turned her walk-in closet into an exhibit for all her jewels.”
“I see.” Espio sipped his tea thankfully and his heart did a little jump for joy. “You two do seem like good friends.”
“Hm, I guess you could call us that. Still, you seem closer with your fellow detectives. I always see the three of you together.”
“Comes from years of knowing each other. After a certain point, that bond becomes unbreakable.”
“I’m not very good with things like that,” Shadow admitted. “Rouge more or less latched onto me. Same with the others I know.”
“Well, you’re not bad as you think you are.” Espio pointed between them. “Look at us.”
Shadow hummed and sipped his tea.
The conversation lulled and Shadow took in the apartment while Espio stared at the tea dregs at the bottom of his mug. This had been enjoyable for him. He’d hoped for more, but he didn’t want to push his luck. He still didn’t know what Shadow thought of him and needed time to figure that out. Espio could always invite him back over some other time.
Not to mention, the night was fast catching up with Espio. The run back here and the ginger tea did nothing to keep him awake. He failed to stifle a yawn. It was becoming harder and harder to focus on his guest.
“I should be heading out,” Shadow said, standing up.
Espio nodded and yawned again. “Yeah. I should get to bed.” He was already imagining crawling under the covers, replaying the night as he drifted off to sleep, and imagining what more might happen when Shadow next came.
In some tired recess of his mind, he thought he should offer Shadow a bed for the night. It was the hospitable thing to do. However, he didn’t pay attention to other overactive sections of his mind and said, “Do you want to stay the night with me?”
A heartbeat passed between them.
Espio’s eyes widened to the size of dinner plates and he realized what he said. So did Shadow. His eyebrows shot up, evidently taken aback by the question. Espio’s stomach pulled and twisted itself into knots as alarm bells rang through his head, warning him that he’d completely messed things up. He’d sabotaged any hope of seeing Shadow again after this. Any connection he’d carefully constructed between them gone, snuffed out like a candle in the wind by his own stupidity.
Still, he tried to backpedal. “W-What I meant was—you see, I meant to ask if you wanted to—”
“Yes,” Shadow said, his voice low.
Espio blinked. Yes. Yes? Shadow agreed? He stood by his chair and waited, his expression resolute. He meant what he said.
Espio slowly rose, his chest tight, unable to think straight. His mouth was incredibly dry and his hands were tingling. “Come with me,” he said, turning to the hall.
The main office, living room, and break area took up the bulk of the building the Chaotix rented. The individual bedrooms were smaller offices they had converted. In Espio’s case, his room had a bed shoved in the corner, beside a small window which offered little light thanks to the multi-story apartment building next door.
The rest of the room was sparsely furnished, with a writing desk, a nightstand, and a couple of lamps. Several books were lined up neatly in a nook of the writing desk, and some incense and half-finished kunai laid on the desk beside a recent newspaper.
Espio turned on the lamps and turned to his waiting guest, who filled the doorway with his broad shoulders. Espio looked around at his room, wondering if he should make a comment, but nothing came to mind. Was he really doing this?
His mind was a mess of nerves. He needed to stay calm, focused. Ready himself.
Shadow picked up on his hesitation. “Listen, it is pretty late. If you want, I can sleep on the couch.”
He was giving him an out. A chance to save face. However, now that they were here together, Espio wanted to go through with it. If his nerves would let him. If he backed out now, he feared he might never have the courage to try again.
“No, I want this,” he said. His voice came out steadier than he felt and he repeated it. “I want this.” His heart pounded in his chest as he met Shadow’s gaze.
Neither of them had ever been in this situation before, not with anyone. That much was obvious. The weight of it settled over the room like a thick blanket, threatening to smother out the courage Espio built up. He didn’t have the first idea of how to start this or what to do.
Shadow stepped fully into the room, closing the door behind him with a soft click that echoed loudly in the cramped bedroom. The space was smaller now, intimate, an enclosed area for the two of them.
A deep hunger stirred in him as Shadow approached and his body rumbled with an insistent stirring along his leg. This was happening.
Doubts flashed through his mind. What if he wasn’t good at this? What if Shadow ended up regretting it? What if something went wrong and it ruined this bond they’d formed? Espio swallowed thickly, the air suffocating. He wanted to throw open the window, climb up to a rooftop, take a moment to—
Shadow touched his cheek, startling Espio out of his panic. Up close, he could see that the brooding hedgehog was like him. Those intense eyes concerned for him, uncertain if he was making the right move. To know that he felt the same eased Espio’s scattered thoughts. The fingers on his cheek were simple and reassuring as they moved behind his head.
He took a step forward, inches apart from Shadow, and carefully settled his hands on Shadow’s ribs. The solid contact grounded and anchored him to this point. Whatever came next could wait. For now, he intended to enjoy this.
The moment stretched before them, the last chance to back out. The last breath before the plunge.
They dove in together.
Heads tilted to meet one another with a tentative kiss. They brushed one another at first, pressing too lightly, bumping noses as they adjusted. They found a good angle and met fully. Espio’s heart sprang into his throat, a flush creeping through his neck. He parted his lips, inviting more. Shadow responded, his tongue exploring Espio’s lower lip.
The kiss grew as their tongues skipped around one another, almost sparring and testing the other out. Every now and then, one would boldly slip in, the defender would retreat and encourage the attacker, only to capture it. Through the kiss, Espio noted the earlier ginger tea and a strong, overpowering bitterness. Like coffee and ash. Although he preferred his tea, he could quickly grow to love this flavor too.
Shadow slid his hand back and down, hooking it under Espio’s arm, and pulling him closer. Espio pressed against Shadow’s fluffy chest, admiring the softness on top of a spread of firm muscle. Beneath his fingers, Shadow’s heartbeat matched his own.
That wasn’t the only thing matching. Espio’s arousal had grown and pressed against the Shadow’s waist. That was perfectly fine, in his opinion, as Shadow’s own slid alongside Espio’s, slightly dwarfing it and completing the handsome package before him. The tip of it prodded at the base of Espio’s belly, where heat pooled and warmed him.
They broke apart briefly, hot pants filling the air between them. Shadow searched his face, silently asking if this seemed right to Espio, too.
An awkward smile tugged at his lips and he replied with another urgent kiss. He traced the shape and tapering of Shadow’s sides to his hips. Shadow pulled the small of Espio’s back until they were flush. The more they fell into the kiss and searching for holds to pull one another’s bodies closer, the more their lower halves danced and excited each other, pressing and peeling back the skin, sending jolts of pleasure through Espio’s pelvis. Shadow groaned, hips shifting and grinding instinctually.
Without a word, Espio guided Shadow to the bed, which creaked as they both sat down on it. Gloves and shoes fell off along the way, leaving them both completely naked. Shadow kissed him again and his hand slid along Espio’s thigh. Before he knew it, Shadow had gripped his length, his strong hand stroking him.
Espio couldn’t say if it was good or bad. It was unusual, different, and thrilling to know that the person he wanted was performing it. That was all that mattered to him, so the act elicited a shiver and a soft whine of lust. He could’ve very easily fallen back onto the bed, let Shadow take full control.
That wouldn’t be fair though and he wanted to reciprocate. No, he wanted to do something special for Shadow. Placing his own hand on Shadow’s leg, he searched for the arousal and located it.
Breaking the kiss, Espio slipped off the bed and knelt between Shadow’s spread legs. He rested his hands on those strong thighs and when he looked up, Shadow’s eyes were dark with lust and his cheeks hot with desire.
Up close, the scent of Shadow filled Espio’s nose with a musk, making his own cock twitch in response. The dark length also looked larger from this angle and he wondered about the final culmination of this evening, what they were building up to. If he would be able to take Shadow.
He put that aside for now and wrapped his hand around the base. It was hot and hard in his grip, veins pulsing and pumping blood, making it appear to grow ever larger. Espio stroked him slowly, experimenting with the rhythm. Up and twisting at the tip where pre-cum beaded, then pulling back down and exposing the glans further.
He glanced up at Shadow, whose face was intense. The hedgehog’s hips twitched and he let out a low, restrained growl that encouraged Espio.
Confidently, he leaned forward and darted his tongue across the glistening head, tasting the salty bitterness coating it. Shadow gripped the bedsheets tightly, exhaling sharply through his teeth. “Espio,” he said, his voice strained with need.
Espio understood and took more into his mouth, humming in acknowledgement. The vibration traveled up the length, earning another gasp from Shadow.
At first, Espio moved tentatively, bobbing his head in shallow motions. The girth stretched his lips, like he was trying to shove an especially large bite of food into his mouth, and the saltiness overpowered all other tastes. Espio’s own erection throbbed painfully and he ignored it for now. He was more interested in watching Shadow’s face contort in pleasure. Eyes half-lidded, mouth parted in soft pants, cheeks as ruby red as his eyes. It was a side of Shadow few had ever seen, if at all, and he wanted to enjoy it.
Espio dipped down further until the tip tickled the back of his throat. He gagged, overestimating his ability, but refusing to quit and went down again. After a couple of rounds of choking coughs, he adjusted to the sensation. He sucked harder and caressed the parts he couldn’t swallow whole.
Shadow’s hips bucked involuntarily, pushing deeper, muttering curses under his breath. His hand stretched in the air, fingers dancing crazy, bending and curling, searching for a surface to hold onto. They settled on top of Espio’s head, squeezing. “That’s…” He couldn’t describe it, seized by another series of moans. All he could manage was “Don’t stop.”
The words spurred Espio on, his act turning sloppier, wet sounds filling the room. Shadow’s cock throbbed on his tongue, the pre-cum flowing freely like a river. Espio reveled in this small amount of power, reducing the Ultimate Lifeform to trembling want.
After a few minutes, Shadow tugged on his scalp, signaling he was at his limit. Espio pulled back with an audible pop and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. A few trace strings of saliva dangled from Shadow’s flushed shaft. He couldn’t have it ending yet. Not when his own cock was leaking and aching for relief.
Before Espio could catch his breath, Shadow’s strong hands were on his shoulders, guiding him up and onto the bed with urgency. The two tumbled together, Shadow rolling them so that Espio lay on his back beneath him and at his mercy. Shadow crashed his lips against Espio’s in a hungry kiss. Espio gasped into it, legs parting as Shadow settled between them. Their bare sexes slid against one another, the heavy, deliberate friction riling them further.
Shadow broke away long enough to wrap a hand around both their cocks, holding them together in his fist. The sensation was electric, between his firm grip and the slow grind of his groin. The slick shafts moved up and down together, pressed between each other’s stomachs. Espio’s head fell back against the pillow, gritting his teeth. Shadow’s easy grin said that he was enjoying seeing Espio squirm for the moment instead.
He stroked them both, sometimes fast and pumping, then easing back down slowly and deliberately. Espio twisted in the hold, unable to bear being kept on edge like that. His tail shot out from underneath him, swiping in agony he could only voice in whines and moans. Worse, the pre-cum welling from them had not only ruined the sheets, but left smearing patches on his stomach, which were rapidly becoming freezing.
The pressure bubbled and rose in his shaft, urgent for release. No matter if Shadow went fast or slow now, Espio teetered on the cusp. He was almost there.
Shadow loosened his grip and Espio nearly smacked the bed in frustration. Silencing him with a kiss, Shadow murmured, “Not yet.” He raised a pair of fingers coated in their combined sheen and brought them down between Espio’s legs.
Espio shivered as Shadow circled his entrance with the two fingers, spreading the makeshift lubrication over the tight ring of muscle. He worked it slowly, loosening it until a third finger joined. The natural slickness eased the way better than Espio expected. It was dreadfully cold, like he’d sat in a puddle of water, but he pushed back against Shadow, his thighs falling open wider.
Shadow opened the entrance with careful, deliberate thrusts, curling the digits every few passes. During one pass, his fingers pressed against something that Espio could only assume was his prostate. He arched off the bed with a sudden, sharp cry, white-hot lights sparking through his entire body.
He couldn’t wait any longer. Neither could Shadow, who positioned himself at the entrance. Like with his fingers, he entered slowly, the thick head breaching the ring inch by inch, groaning under his breath.
Espio had never experienced anything like this. It was intense and he managed to bite out, “Slow. Slow.” He felt so full, so right, and his walls clenched around Shadow, willing him in. Any faster though and he’d lose his mind. His nails dug into Shadow’s arm, the stretching bordering on pain layered with ecstasy.
Shadow stopped halfway, his hand finding Espio’s and intertwining their fingers. He was offering support, giving him a chance to adjust.
“Okay?” he asked, hips trembling with restraint.
Espio nodded, wrapping his legs around Shadow’s waist and pulling him deeper. “All of you,” he said.
Shadow gave in, plowing forward and burying all of himself in one smooth motion, fully connecting them. The sensation was overwhelming. Shadow’s cock pulsed in Espio, stretching him wide and he almost regretted demanding it all.
Almost.
They paused, adjusting, mistiming their movements, groins bumping clumsily, but they quickly found a rhythm through glances and subtle shifts as if they were connected mentally as well.
Shadow started with slow, teasing drags, pulling almost all the way out until his head threatened to pop free, then sinking back in with a roll of his hips that seated him deep and made Espio’s breath catch. Each time prodded that sensitive spot inside, steady and maddening, until Espio’s thighs shook and his tail curled tight around Shadow’s leg.
Leaning in, Shadow traced his mouth on Espio’s cheek and neck. He raised Espio’s hands above his head, pressing them down into the pillow. He shifted his angle and suddenly every thrust earned a sharp cry from Espio, who urged him to go deep. “There! Right there!” Shadow growled in response and obeyed. The only other sounds in the room besides their animalistic grunts was the bed creaking and the wet slapping that quickly became fast and constant, like an applause at the display.
Espio’s head lolled back and he looked up into Shadow’s face. The eyes narrowed to burning slits of fire, his jaw set, and all in all, he was in a complete frenzy. Far beyond when Espio was between his legs. The sight nearly undid Espio. He wrenched a hand free from Shadow’s hold and dragged it down his back, nails scraping lightly through the fur. The muscles beneath bunched and rippled under his palm. A touch that said, “Give me it.”
Shadow’s rhythm stuttered. Espio had tugged a stray thread and now Shadow’s control frayed, coming undone at the seams. He dropped his forehead to Espio’s shoulder, teeth grazing the curve of his neck, panting hotly against it. “Close,” he said in a raspy, rough voice.
Espio answered by clenching deliberately around the thick length burrowed inside him, milking Shadow with every retreat. Shadow’s groin snapped forward, harder than before, again and again. A desperate growl rumbled from his throat. “You—!”
With a final thrust that blew the air from Espio’s lungs, Shadow came. His cock pulsed hard, flooding Espio with scorching spurts that seemed to go on forever. His whole body locked rigidly as he emptied himself, shuddering.
Espio felt every jet spreading deep, marking him in the most intimate way possible. It hurled him over the edge, too. His own shaft jerked against his stomach, painting messy stripes across both of them as he squeezed Shadow for every last drop.
The aftershocks soon faded and Espio became fully aware of the rest of his senses and surroundings. The stifling heat of the room, the cold patch from their mess spreading beneath him, the exhaustion finally catching up with him, and Shadow, whose weight was like a welcome, comforting pressure on Espio’s chest.
At last, Shadow lifted his head, his eyes smoldering with leftover embers. And a certain unguarded nature Espio had never seen before. Instead of hard walls, there was an openness in those eyes. Like he could finally read the enigmatic hedgehog for a change and saw a wealth of affection for him.
Shadow kissed Espio once again, lingering as if savoring the taste as Espio had him. The chameleon smiled, utterly content, and held him close. In that small room, time stopped entirely for them and he could’ve laid there for the next week. No, the next month and be utterly content.
Unfortunately, the morning inevitably came and try as he might, Espio couldn’t block out the sun shining through the window forever. If he didn’t leave now, Vector and Charmy would come in and he didn’t feel like letting them in on this. Not yet. He could already hear them teasing and joking around about his new boyfriend. Or whatever their relationship now was. That’s what Espio assumed, but he could discuss it with Shadow when he woke.
So Espio quietly crept out of bed, making sure to tuck Shadow back in as he did, and slipped on his shoes and gloves. Before he left the room, he pecked Shadow’s cheek and took one last look at him.
Vector waited for him in the break room and kitchen, a mug of coffee in his hand. He took a long, loud sip, his gaze locked on Espio. Smacking his lips with a wry grin, he said, “Morning.” He drew out the word, as if he knew what had happened.
That was impossible, however. Vector and Charmy had been at Vanilla’s last night. Espio could sneak Shadow out later, make up some excuse. Keeping his cool, he shuffled past Vector for the tea cabinet. “Good morning. Where’s Charmy?”
“He’s still at Vanilla’s. She offered to let him stay and play with Cream as thanks. Since we have a light day today, figured why not?”
“I see.” Espio boiled a kettle of water, avoiding Vector’s eyes. He wanted to keep the spotlight far from himself. “So, her sink is fixed?”
“Mostly. I’m not much of a plumber, so there’s still a little leak. What we could use is someone who knows a thing or two about working on pipes.” He paused, tilting his head up in thought. “You wouldn’t happen to know anyone like that, would you?”
Espio’s hand shook as he took the kettle from the burner and filled his cup. “Can’t say that I do. I’m sure Vanilla appreciates your help.”
Vector smiled to himself. “That she did.”
Espio raised an eyebrow, dipping his strainer in his cup. “Wait, you don’t mean—?”
“What kind of scoundrel do you take me for? No, Vanilla’s a proper woman and I’m a gentleman. I’d prefer to take things slow. Besides,” he dug at a space between his teeth, “I think there was enough of that going on here last night, don’t you?”
Espio choked on his tea and coughed into the sink. He beat his chest firmly and took a deep breath. “What are you talking about?” he asked in a raspy breath, all his nerves set to panic. Vector couldn’t possibly know. He couldn’t.
“I mean him.” Vector jerked a thumb to the side, where Shadow appeared from the hall. He walked over to the pair, nodded to Vector, poured himself a cup of coffee, and stood next to Espio.
“Wait, you knew?” Espio asked.
“Of course he knew,” Shadow said and both of them turned to the hedgehog. “They kept following us after all.”
Espio’s head started to spin and his face felt like it was on fire with embarrassment. “You knew that they knew?”
“I’m surprised you didn’t,” Shadow said. “They weren’t very subtle.”
“Hey, I was subtle,” Vector said. “Charmy on the other hand, well, he’s still got a lot to learn about tailing people.”
“How long have you known?” Espio demanded.
“A while.” He shrugged. “What? You kept taking off in the evenings, didn’t come home ‘til early in the morning. You seemed a lot happier and we were curious what changed. So we started tailing you to make sure you were alright. I got to tell you, neither of us expected Shadow, but we were relieved you were doing fine. We figured the rest out pretty soon after that.” He tilted his head at Espio’s confusion. “We’re detectives after all, remember? We do this for a living.”
Clearly, he’d underestimated his friends. A sudden thought popped into Espio’s head. “Wait, were you guys following me last night?” Vector nodded. “Then the whole thing with Vanilla—”
“That was true,” Vector said. “She called me yesterday afternoon while you and Charmy were out. I went over there while Charmy followed you that night. When I returned to the office, Charmy called me and told me that both you and Shadow were heading here. So I got the idea to give you two space and let things play out. I left the note and me and Charmy spent the night at Vanilla’s.”
The whole time. The whole time the two of them knew about Espio and Shadow. Not only that, they’d played wingmen for him. He didn’t know what to think and fell against the counter, reeling from the revelation. “I don’t believe this.”
“Hey, it worked out well for you,” Vector said. “Got yourself a boyfriend, didn’t you?”
“Oh, uh, well…”
Shadow pecked Espio’s cheek and reached for his hand, holding it. He gave him a small grin, one that only Espio could see from this angle, then went back to drinking his coffee.
Espio squeezed his hand and smiled. “Yes, I suppose I did.”