Chapter Text
Following the pin in his phone he eyed the cave, just under a waterfall. He perked up to a loud shout, and his feet were moving faster than his mind. Sprinting to the sound, he came to a fork in the tunnel, he looked down to his phone and took an immediate left.
“Get it off!”
Cobalt ears perked up and quickly stepped down the tunnel caves, he saw a light at the end and quickly made the scene. Shadow hunched over with a gaudy looking cuff to his wrist, there was another half that was opened. Rouge stood next to the chest thrown open and he watched her pull out a scroll. Her eyes narrowed to him as she quickly hid the paper in her cleavage.
“Oh Sonic, thank goodness you're here. Shadow needs your help.” She pleaded. Completely not like her whatsoever.
Shadow growled looking up at him, the unclasped cuff between his feet and the magnet pull of the stone between golden metal bounced with his strength.
“I do not need his help.” Shadow growled.
The pull forced him onto the floor, he tumbled square on his nose. Earning a snicker to the two, and a robotic laugh behind them.
“Alright, alright, lemme see Shadow.” Sonic rolled his shoulders and stepped closer.
“Back off!” Shadow rolled back up onto his feet, cuff dangling off his wrist.
“Shadow let the poor thing help, he came all this way.” Rouge smirked.
“Which I didn’t ask for-”
In the split second Shadow tore his gaze from the blue hedgehog, he was there. In a blink, Sonic’s hand took the cuff which Shadow yanked away. The stone between the cuffs flashed a blue color and the second cuff clattered to the floor. They stared at it for a moment.
“What did you do?” Shadow asked.
“I donno-” as he was going to reach for it, Shadow kicked it away. Thus starting the chase, Shadow kicked away the cuff before Sonic could reach it. Rouge had taken her place on Omega’s shoulder, patting his head watching the two chase each other. Kicking the cuff across the room and Sonic was on his tail, with an irritated sigh Sonic followed the skidding cuff. As he was about to reach it he grabbed Shadow’s quills and pulled him back, knocking the other down, Shadow gripped his ankle and pulled him back.
“You're chasing something without knowing what it could do!” Shadow growled.
“Chasing?” Sonic rumbled a laugh, holding the gold cuff in his hand, “I already got it.”
‘User accepted’
“Huh?”
The stone on Shadow’s wrist started to buzz and there was a loud click. Sonic watched the cuff slip from his hand clamp itself shut over his wrist. The two got up, feeling the pull of the cuffs back to the stone. Pulling themselves away from the stone, digging their heels into the rock beneath them. Golden wrapped wrists drawn to the stone hovering in the room. Until Shadow slipped, rolling his ankle on a rock and his push back against the stone had him ricochet to the floor and zip across the room. Crashing into Sonic and they tumbled into limbs and into the wall.
Rouge perked up from looking at her glove hearing the groan of the two. She fluttered to the floor as the dust settled, Shadow had been pinned down to Sonic lying on top of him. Arm over his head and leg between his shoulder and arm. Shadow’s arm over Sonic’s back as his leg hooked into the back of Sonic’s knee.
“Are you both alright?” her concern was as dry as she hoped it would be.
“Ow.” Sonic grumbled, trying to get up, slipping on a puddle of water his chin knocked into Shadow’s side. Earning a deep groan from the other.
“Get- off.” Shadow hissed.
Sonic attempted again, but his eyes narrowed to the cuff locked onto both of their wrists.
“Oh no.” Sonic swallowed.
“What is it now?” Shadow sat up rolling Sonic off him, then his eyes fell to the cuffs. Sonic and Shadow tried to pull away but the pull only rejoined their wrists together. Shadow growled turning to Rouge with a small smirk on her lips, there was no hint of concern in her eyes. As if this had been planned.
“You!” Shadow got up, ignoring Sonic’s protests. He snarled in her face but she was immune to his sneering glare.
“Little ol me? What could I have done, you seemed to have done this to yourself.” She hummed.
“I know you told him where we were, you-”
“She told me you needed help Shadow, at least she knows who to call when there is help that is needed.” Sonic huffed, “Which means she would know how to get it off.”
“Perhaps, but I do enjoy watching Shadow squirm.” Rouge scrunching her nose at him with a hum on her lips.
‘Users accepted, base will terminate’
They turned to the cuffs, a panel opened revealing five gems that shined in different colors. Purple, green, blue, yellow, and pink. Then a soft beeping in the distance tore their attention to the chest, and the cave began to rumble.
“We should run. That’s a good idea.” Sonic piped in.
Shadow already bolted off, Sonic trying to keep in step with him. Stumbling over his smooth glide, making it harder for Sonic to mimic. Compared to his erratic and quick steps, he tugged on Shadow making him skid to a stop. Sonic gave him a hard look holding out his hand.
“We are going to have to work together, just. Until we can make it out of here.” Sonic huffed, he gave a grabby motion to his hand.
“We don’t have time for this!”
“The more you bitch and moan about it the longer we stand here, now give me your hand.”
Shadow let out a long irritated sigh taking his hand, Sonic perked up to this. There was a soft click in the distance and they were off again. Shadow gliding along Sonic’s erratic running, two in two working together for a moment as they made it out of the cave. The explosion hit as they made it out, knocking them into the river.
Sonic bobbed up with frantic splashing, Shadow gasped as he came up to the surface. Ruby eyes narrowed to Sonic whaling and crying, splashing about, kicking up water.
“Sonic, stand up.” Shadow sighed.
He suddenly stopped, as he stood the water came to his chin. He gave a chuckle turning to Shadow, who only glared at him in return. But in the moonlight, water dripping off his quills and his brow, he ran a hand over his top quills brushing the water away. Shadow did look very beautiful. He quickly shook himself off that thought and looked back to the water. Shadow grumbled tugging him out of the water and helped him out. Sonic clung to Shadow looking down to it’s cool depths. Shadow pressed a hand to his face and shoved him off.
“But Shadow I’m cold!” Sonic whined.
“I don’t care.” Shadow huffed. There was a beat of silence before Sonic shook himself off, Shadow growled turning to him. He was all fluffed up and quills standing on end. He scoffed a laugh turning away. Sonic beamed to that.
“Did I make you laugh? Yea? You think I’m funny?” Sonic grinned.
Shadow eyed him for a moment, “We should figure out how to get these off.”
He raised their conjoined wrists, having Sonic’s quills lay back to their original state.
“Oh! Tails might be able to help, since whatever you did to Rouge upset her.” Sonic hummed, taking their lead to his house.
“I didn’t do anything.” Shadow growled.
“Sure, sure, whatever you say.” Sonic gave him his grabby hand again, Shadow knew he was going to regret taking his hand the first time.
“We could walk, have all the eyes on us as we walk through the city.” Sonic hummed leaning against Shadow’s shoulder. Shadow took his hand and pushed him off with his free hand.