Chapter Text
The beach, always the best place to go— especially on hot days or just to have fun by the water’s cool edge.
“Okay, beach check list! Basket, check! Towels, check! Umbrella, check! Sand toys, check! Life jacket, check!—“ Sonic took note.
“Shadow?” He asked.
“O-oh… yeah— water guns… check…” The hybrid shyly replied.
Sonic could only softly smile as Shadow fidgeted with his stockings and flip flops. Most would question why Shadow wears his stockings with sandals but the cobalt hedgehog’s knew why.
Because Shadow was also created with cat DNA that was snuck in, he has little cat feet and the hybrid is very, very self conscious about it.
Everyone scattered and did their own thing, Rouge suntanned, Amy made Sand castles with Cream as she and Tails had a competition, Silver buried Knuckles in the sand while the crimson echidna had a nap and Blaze was swimming in the ocean to try and find what locals call ‘The Sapphire Siren’.
The Sapphire siren is a rather unique mystery, the being does not often sing but appears as one according to rumours and taking a picture of it was like trying to make Charmy eat his vegetables.
Sonic noticed Shadow getting a glass of iced coffee he brought and blushed with a pure smile. Maybe as long as he can avoid Blaze, he can show Shadow his secret.
“Heyyyy Shadow, whatcha doing?” Sonic asked.
“Just drinking an iced coffee obviously, you better not be trying to spray me again?” Shadow replied with that signature ‘You gotta be kidding me’ expression.
“Whaaaaaat? Nah, I just wanted to talk to you. Have you ever heard of the sapphire siren?” The cobalt hedgehog laughed.
“The urban legend?” The hybrid asked, wondering where this conversation would go.
“Yeah, I was thinking we go try and find it with Blaze, you can hold your breath for a very long period of time yeah?” Sonic suggested, a rather strange suggestion coming from him.
“Of course I can, I’m the ultimate— we know Gumball brain…” The cobalt hedgehog interrupted Shadow.
Shadow stopped and asked why Sonic wanted to do this, isn’t he afraid of the water because he can’t swim?
“I’ll just try not to think about it. But I really think we should try and look for the siren.” Sonic nervously replied.
Sonic put on a life jacket for old times sake but Shadow can’t go into the water with his stockings hiding his feet. The cobalt hedgehog got close and began to pull them off very slowly. He remembered the awe in Shadow’s expression when he gave these specific ones as a gift.
Jet black with a blue line going down the sides, he’s always known how much Shadow loves the colour blue.
His swim trunks feature the same thing, Jet black with blue lines down the sides. As much as Shadow refuses to admit it, he loves blue a lot.
“Do I— have to take them off? You know how I am about my defected feet.” Shadow nervously asked, pulling his knees closer to his torso.
Sonic held the hybrid’s hands in his own.” It’s okay, everyone won’t mind and if they do make fun of you, I’ll whack them with newspaper.”
Shadow took a shaky breath and walked to the shore with Sonic, they waded into the water and they swam further out. Sonic takes notice of Blaze swimming back to shore for a break and it’s the perfect time. He took off the life jacket and Shadow grew serious, telling him to put it back on or he might drown.
“Jeez Faker, I didn’t think you cared so much. Just trust me for a second and hold your breath, also don’t tell anyone.” Sonic explained as he seemed to be swimming decently on his own.
The hybrid obliged but when he did so, Sonic pulled him under and the cobalt hedgehog was enveloped by a faint blue light. Shadow shielded his eyes but his mouth fell open at what he saw.
Sonic’s legs transformed into a fish tail, he grew gills on the sides of his neck, both his dorsal quills had transformed into beautiful flowy fins and some of his quills flowed like his fins. A ruby was centred on the cobalt hedgehog’s chest.
Sonic swam in little circles around the stunned hybrid, laughing at how flabbergasted he was.
“Yeah, what we talked about on land. I am in fact the sapphire siren but your face is just priceless.” The hedgehog siren laughed.
Shadow’s cheeks and the tips of his large ears flushed green while his eyes turned pink, he couldn’t necessarily speak underwater but he did use his hands to sign “You look beautiful”.
“Really? I guess we’re even then huh handsome? I’ve wanted to tell you for so long but I never had a chance since you never come to the beach with us. I’ve waited for this very moment— to touch, to see— you and my wish finally came true.” He sighed dreamily.
He wrapped his long tail around the hybrid’s legs and held him by the small of his waist. One hand drifted to Shadow’s cheek and the hedgehog siren giggled at seeing his eyes turn pink with a fade of turquoise from this sense of affection.
“Oh silly me, I forgot you don’t have gills. Here, this should help— just exhale.” Sonic explained, earning a suspicious look from Shadow.
Shadow did just that and that’s when the hedgehog siren lunges at him with a kiss.
It was prevented any water from entering Shadow’s mouth but it was soft enough to feel so genuine.
He gave Shadow enough extra air to reach for the surface. The pair swam back to the surface where Sonic put his life jacket back on and transformed back into his full hedgehog form before they began to swim to shore.
To keep the facade up, Sonic held onto Shadow as he swam them back to shore but in all honesty it was so the cobalt hedgehog could hold onto Shadow.
“Any sign of the sapphire siren Blaze?” Tails asked.
“No unfortunately not, but I will one day find it so I can see its beauty for myself. Maybe in my dimension there’s a similar being.” The violet feline replied, putting her snorkeling gear together.
“Oh don’t forget to bring me along Blazy, I wonder what kind of treasure’s she would keep.” Rouge gently nudged at Blaze’s shoulder.
“You know that a siren is a fish and not a dragon right Rouge? They usually want to lead sailors to their death by the power of their singing.” Sonic objected.
“Oh really? Since when did you start learning about that kind of stuff Blue?” Rouge asked, snickering.
“Reading some of the thick books Tails has in his bookshelf.” Sonic sighed, he’d kill for Tails to have at least a comic book in his shelf.
If sirens sing, why doesn’t Sonic sing? Shadow had wondered ever since finding out that Sonic is the sapphire siren, maybe a question for another day. Everyone packed up and went home for the day as the sky grew darker from imminent nighttime.
“Hey Sugar, where are you going?” The bat asked, noticing him leave.
“Sonic wanted to see me for a sunset race. Don’t steal any of my things while I’m gone.” Shadow answered simply.
“Oh suuure! Good luck on your date Sugar!” She teased.
Shadow grumbled, hiding his flushed face. Rouge is easily the most observant bat he knows but she is his friend and he’s slowly accepting she’s going to be doing this more than once.
*Knock Knock Knock*
“Ugh I’m serious Silver I don’t have— Oh, hey Shadow! Uh what are you doing here?” Tails grumbled before noticing Shadow.
“Sonic wanted to see me.” The hybrid stated.
“I see. Sonic! You’ve got a visitor!” Tails yelled, calling for his partner in crime.
“Hey Hey Hey! You actually came!” Sonic gleefully said, waving at Shadow.
Tails and Shadow looked at each other before the dandelion kit just surrendered and went to bed. The hybrid followed Sonic upstairs to his room but before he could ask why the cobalt hedgehog wanted to see him, Sonic tackled him causing the two of them to collapse onto the bed.
“Are you trying to crush me or something?” Shadow asked shyly.
“No of course not, why would I do that to you my little betta?” Sonic cooed, rubbing the hybrid’s cheek.
Shadow began to connect the subtle dots and it hit him, Sonic being in the water a lot more even though he allegedly couldn’t swim, him talking to Charmy’s pet fish, all of what seemed like Sonic slowly going insane was actually pointing to the fact he is a siren.
“You’re so handsome…” Sonic whispered into Shadow’s ear.
He smirked when Shadow squirmed, tracing a faint line across a ridge of delicately carved muscle on the hybrid’s abdomen.
“Tickle tickle!” The cobalt hedgehog giggled.
“S-Stop…” Shadow whimpered softly, reflexively grabbing Sonic’s wrist.
“Oh come on Handsome, don’t try to resist. I’m not gonna kill you unlike what most sirens do. Plus I can see that you’re enjoying this just as much as I am, I see that desire in your eyes. You can hide your expressions but you can’t hide your true emotions, not with beautiful rubies like yours.” The cobalt hedgehog dreamily sighed, lightly brushing the back of his hand near Shadow’s magenta eyes.
A sign of Shadow’s festering desire.
He got the hybrid to let go of his wrist and continued to brush over ridges of muscle like a feather. Reaching Shadow’s central abdominal scar, Sonic’s thumb began to faintly trace hearts around it and it earned a small whine from Shadow.
“So sensitive, something tells me that you’re touchstarved.” He mused.
Shadow let out another whine and Sonic could feel the hybrid’s abdominal muscles tense, there was his answer.
“Makes sense since you don’t want to get too attached but you should at least try to make some connections. Being all alone is just as bad as losing someone you care about, both aren’t good. Now I know you’re gonna say that ‘the ultimate life form doesn’t need friends’ but all I ask is for you to at least try.” The cobalt hedgehog whispered into Shadow’s fluffy ear.
“I can’t guarantee that it’ll be easy— but I guess I can try…” Shadow shyly murmured.
“Excellent. I guess we can consider this a start to a new connection, you and me. Not just as rivals but as friends— maybe more. You’re so cute when you’re really shy.” Sonic smiled, placing his hand over Shadow’s smaller hand.
The hybrid huffed before trying to push Sonic’s body away.
“Oh alright, I’ll lay beside you. After all, I don’t want to crush my little betta. Why don’t you stay the night? It’s getting pretty late.” The cobalt hedgehog suggested.
“Fine, but only because you asked and……… knowing you, I don’t think you’d stop asking until I said yes…” Shadow murmured before drifting to sleep.
Sonic could only chuckle, Shadow knew his antics all too well. Maybe next time they get together, Sonic can take the hybrid out for pancakes. He knows how much Shadow loves pancakes with some coffee, every time he sees him with those two items— Shadow’s smile is so bright, even if it’s a shy one.
The cobalt hedgehog nuzzled closely to Shadow’s chest where that silky patch of fur was. His peach arms wrapped around Shadow to hold him close and Sonic drifted to sleep. Between keeping his secret and moments where he’s close to Shadow, it’s hard to tell which is more valuable. However, all Sonic knows is that every moment like this, peaceful, serene and close to the one he loves— is truly precious.