There's going to be a lot of dialogue in this chapter. I have to be honest with myself and say that I am not the best at writing heavy dialogue scenes.
~*Rubato*~
We arrived at the club in no time at all. Parking behind the establishment I moved to exit the car, thank him, and leave.
"You're welcome Silv. I was going to make a stop here anyway." Sonic turned off the engine and stepped out of the car before locking it. Feeling warm at the nickname I curiously walked beside him into the club.
Once again the reception area of the lounge was empty. Sonic simply walked into the club with his hands in his pockets. Timidly I followed, wondering why he was so comfortable with just entering the club without being greeted.
"Big Blue!" Rouge called from the bar. She was clad in a ruched red dress and bright red heels. "Oh! And Silver!" The normally flirtatious bat was surprisingly upbeat and cheerful as she fixed herself a classic Martini.
Sonic leaned against the bar casually with a bright smile. "Hey Rouge. Seems like you are doing great!" He gave a quick thumbs up and continued leaning forward. "Knux is a mess over everything. I came to deliver a message. He wants you to decide on the catering and create a wishlist."
The excited bat rolled her eyes. "He is so old fashioned. Tell him he can see me before the wedding. It's not bad luck." Placing her hand on her hip she sipped her beverage carefully.
"That's not all you came for though." Rouge smirked through the rim of her glass showing small pointy incisors.
"You caught me." Sonic laughed before a semi serious expression crossed his face.
Rouge nodded a soft look in her eyes. "Will you be at our wedding?" She addressed Sonic and turned to me warmly. "You are invited as well Silver."
"Is... he... going?" Sonic asked carefully, a strange expression on his features.
Rouge placed her Martini down carefully. " He is. But..."
"But he probably won't stay if he sees me." Sonic finished. I saw his quills lower in a show of sadness. Emerald eyes looked sullen for a split second before he looked up a glimmer in his eye. All traces of his previous sorrow was gone.
Is he... repressing his emotions? I wondered, reading those striking eyes as they turned to me.
Rouge was silent for a moment before she turned to me. "I hope you are ready to play! I must say I love watching you use those powers of yours." She winked playfully.
"No way! Rouge you didn't tell me you played anything." Sonic turned surprised before smiling even wider at me. Moving to sit on a barstool he leaned toward me curiously. "What do you play Silv?!"
I smiled at his enthusiasm but was a little sheepish. "I'm kind of an amateur. I just started learning piano a few months ago. Now Rouge is teaching me." Leaning back from those glimmering green eyes I averted my eyes to the candles lining the wall of the lounge. " This is actually my second day learning from her." I finished turning to Rouge who seemed a little... tense?
"Did you start by teaching yourself? Rouge doesn't usually take students so I am a little surprised. I'd like to see you play." Sonic questioned and stated curiously.
I blushed hard and hid my hands instinctively. " I was learning with... someone else and then Rouge decided to help me. I am not very good yet."
"Well, you are learning from one of the best now. Probably way better than whoever was teaching you before. " Sonic beamed shifting in his seat.
"My previous teacher was very good." I felt the need to protect my stoic teachers credibility. "He was amazing but he was a little too...strict. Rouge is wonderful too and she is helping me learn differently."
"Really..." Sonic looked at me strangely before turning to Rouge with an arched brow. The bat sipped her Martini with a smug smile. Turning back Sonic questioned me carefully.
"What was your teachers name?"
I looked between him and Rouge before I answered. I could see mirth in Rouge's eyes and an out of place seriousness in Sonic's emerald green eyes hiding behind a smile. It hurt to speak of my previous teacher.
"I'm sorry, I find it a little hard to speak of him. But, his name was Shadow." I watched Sonic's eyes widen before the handsome hedgehog whipped around to look at Rouge incredulously. I was confused, but sensed that something was going on under the surface that I was not aware of. Sonic's look of shock turned into a smirk as he turned back to me.
"That explains it." Sonic stated. I hoped I was imagining it but his tone sounded pained...
"Explains what?! You know Shadow?!" I asked quickly as I looked between the two of them questioningly.
Rouge sighed, placing her glass down with a "clink" on the marble counter of the bar. "I didn't know you two knew each other Silver." She stated looking to Sonic before handing him a glass of beer. "This makes things a bit...complicated."
"I'll say." Sonic muttered before taking a swig.
"Sonic, you don't know the half of it." Rouge laughed. "What would you like to drink Silver? It's on the house." It seemed we were going to be talking for a while.
"I bet I can guess." Sonic whispered looking at Rouge hurt.
"Whatever you recommend." I answered watching Sonic wipe the foam off of his muzzle.
After shaking up and pouring me a "Grasshopper" Rouge told me everything. Sipping on my minty alcoholic beverage I sat transfixed as Sonic added bits and pieces of the story highlighting his own account of my strict and stoic previous teacher.
Apparently, Rouge and Shadow had been friends for years. She is the closest friend Shadow has. In fact, they frequently entered recitals and competitions to compete together. I was a little shocked Rouge had known Shadow all along and had kept it a secret from me, but I was still grateful for her help. It seemed she trusted me.
When it came out that I cared for Shadow and wanted to impress him at the competition I was training for -Sonic looked at me with an expression bordering envy. I quickly learned that Sonic was Shadow's previous lover and that the two had broken up in a huge fight two years ago. Though about what I did not know...
Sonic obviously still had feelings for Shadow. However, Shadow had told Sonic that "He never wanted to see his face again." so Sonic had not bothered Shadow since.
"I am a little insulted that you were trying to hook up Silver and Shadow behind my back." Sonic stated darkly as Rouge re-filled his glass.
"You said you could never be with him or hurt him again. Didn't you say you want him to be happy?" Rouge crossed her arms and fixed Sonic with a glare.
"Sonic?" He turned to me silently his facial expression crestfallen. "Would you go back to Shadow after all this time?" I asked seriously. His small cobalt ears lowered.
"I would, but it's too late. It's been too long." He looked away at the glistening black grand piano on stage. "It's never too late." I contradicted watching him turn to me in shock his blue quills swaying.
"You were his boyfriend! I was nothing more to him than a student. You could still be with him if you showed him you care by trying to get him back. I am sure he still cares for you."
Sonic looked at me shocked for a while longer before a warm smile washed across his face. "Thanks Silv. What about you though?"
"I'm... fine..." I muttered looking away, trying to convince myself that Sonic should be with Shadow and I had no place between earlier conversation made a lot of sense now.
"Silver." He reached over to gently turn my face to look into his gorgeous eyes. "I asked you out for a reason." I blushed remembering the note and promise of a coffee date.
" I haven't felt the need to get close to anyone since Shadow, until I saw you." Sonic stated honestly as he held his stare. I was quiet taking in the features on his face.
"I see." Rouge taunted. "You can try to move on but Shadow can't?" Rouge pointed out Sonic's hypocrisy and placed her hands on her hips.
"He can move on, I just didn't expect you to be instigating it. It's like if you and Knux got into a huge fight and years later you found out that Tails and I were helping another girl get with him behind your back knowing that you still loved him." Sonic turned and explained.
Rouge was silent her ears twitching irritably. Honestly, Sonic was confusing me. What exactly did he want? Shadow? Or did he want to move on? Could he?
I stood up leaving my empty glass and turned to Sonic. "Sonic, I don't want to be a rebound. I'm... not sure you know what you want. I am going to go practice now." I walked down towards the stage and took my seat at the piano starting to play the scales and arpeggios that Rouge gave to me by heart. Abandoning my anxiousness about playing in front of Sonic I focused on my playing barely making any mistakes. I finished what was assigned to me and played my melody having added a little extra to it now that I was much more comfortable playing in general.
As I played I could feel Sonic's eyes watching me and a sense of pride settled over me. I finished and waited for Rouge's critique. The glamorous bat and Sonic clapped for me. I couldn't stop myself from blushing.
"Outstanding Honey!"Rouge praised. " You picked those up so fast! Sonic here is speechless..." Sonic was in fact wide eyed as he clapped. I was betting it was more so for witnessing me using my powers to play than the music itself.
" Thank you, what should I do now?" I asked as Sonic moved to the pit taking two beers with him. Rouge joined me on stage to move behind the curtain and rummage through a filing cabinet.
"Here. The club is closed today so we will be going deeper into your training." She handed me an old tattered piano book that seemed to be missing some pages.
"Play the first song honey." Rouge smiled and joined Sonic as I read over the notes of a song that did not seem to be classical. I breathed and began to play slowly and carefully following the instructions on the page. I flipped a piano page as I played getting used to the sorrowful repetitive nature of the song. In no time at all I had finished.
"Good honey, but you need to follow the tempo. Did you like the song?" She asked as Sonic stared at me in awed silence.
"It was a little... sad." I mentally turned the pages to see the title. Maria/The Story is Over it read and I nearly gasped when I saw who composed it. "Shadow, wrote this?" I breathed checking the front of the piano book only to realize that the whole piano book was arranged by Shadow.
"Mmhhm. Turn to the last song." She instructed. I flipped the pages and found the last song which was called Ode to the Heroes.
"But... it's a duet." I looked at Rouge confused, but she simply waved her hand signaling for me to play. I realized that she expected me to handle each persons part with my powers. I started slow and tripped along playing both parts at once. It was hard and a bit confusing but I struggled through it making multiple mistakes along the way. When I ended Rouge told me to try again. The second time I made fewer mistakes but still could not go as fast as the song instructed. After the fourth run through I was going at the proper speed with a few mistakes here and there where each side of the duet differed.
I could tell that Rouge and Sonic were mesmerized by my ability to play a duet by myself. I could hardly believe it as well. When I finished my training Rouge handed me a small black box. I opened it to see a small silver triangle and silver stick.
"When you play your songs from now on, I want you to strike the triangle every time you play a C." I nodded realizing that she was honing in my powers to focus on more as I was playing.
"You didn't have to watch me Sonic." I called as I tucked the black box and piano book Rouge had given me under my arm and walked down the stairs.
"I wanted to, and I have to drive you home remember?" The cobalt hedgehog stood and rushed to deposit his third empty beer glass on the bar counter. "Thank you Rouge, I'll see you later!" I called as we moved out of the club a little shaken with all I had learned.
Sonic waved as well and we walked to his car. I noticed that he was a little shaky on his feet. He sat down in the drivers seat and stared off into space for a solid minute before snapping out of it and turning the key to start the car.
He pulled out sloppily and I took note of his flushed cheeks.
Is Sonic ...drunk?
We sped downtown and almost ran a light until I yelled and stopped the car with my powers. "Sonic! You are drunk! Go slow." I stared forward fearfully as we were just a few blocks away from my home. " How about I drive?" I asked watching as he almost crossed into the lane beside us out of nowhere. Sonic nodded flushed, parked the car, and got out swaying slightly. I crawled over into his seat and was about to drive when I realized that Sonic wasn't in the passengers seat. I exited the car, starting to feel the fuzzy buzz of alcohol in my system as well when I found him passed out face down on the long lane of grass beside the sidewalk. Shocked, I enveloped him with my powers and placed him in the passengers seat. Settling into the drivers seat I was about to drive when I realized that the car was not automatic. It was a manual.
I didn't know how to drive a manual car.
Moaning and holding my head I exited the car and picked up Sonic with my powers mentally feeling his soft cobalt quills and fur. My apartment was a block away. I took out my backpack and locked Sonic's red sports car praying that it wouldn't be vandalized or stolen. Staggering down the street I could feel the alcohol in my system weighing me down. I finally got to my apartment, my hold on Sonic threatening to disappear.
Propping the door open with my foot I squeezed into my place and allowed Sonic to float in as well before depositing my so called chaperone on my beige couch. Who knew Sonic and I were both lightweights when it came to drinking. But why did it hit me hours after I drank? I moved to the bedroom my warm welcoming sheets calling out to me. Instead I changed my pillows and my bedding before carefully mentally carrying Sonic and tucking him in. Exhausted I moved to the couch in a daze and collapsed.
~O~
Silver-Silver-Silver!
I moaned and looked up to see ...Blaze? Is this a dream?
She was standing in a field of "queen anne's lace" in a white summer dress and summer wedge heels. Her ponytail fluttered behind her as the wind whipped the bottom of her dress. I stood carefully reaching out to her only to watch her step back her face expressionless.
"Blaze I need you! Please!" I called reaching out again to see a small smile grace her muzzle.
"No Silver... you don't. Treat them well..." And with that she was off racing through the field of flowers, purple butterflies scattering in her wake.
~O~
I woke up sweating, my face pressed into my couch cushions. "Ummph." I made a small noise as I shifted opening up my eyes and blinking to sense my surroundings. Carefully I stood up and wobbled. I was still a little woozy as I moved to use the restroom. Washing my hands I retrieved some asprin and a glass of water to give to Sonic who was still nestled in my covers, snoring in his sleep. Blue quills were flat as the handsome hedgehog slept on his side. Every once in a while his ear would flick and he would switch sides. Catching myself staring at him I placed the asprin and water aside to cook breakfast for the two of us.
All I had were some eggs and a few slices of ham and bread. In the commotion at work yesterday I forgot to shop for myself after my shift ended. My stomach growled and I knew my guest was probably going to be extremely hungry when he wakes up. Should we go out to eat? Maybe have that coffee date?
No... he needs to decide if he wants to pursue Shadow.
I started cracking the eggs carefully in a small container, seasoning them and whipping them up to make scrambled eggs. Placing olive oil and some small pieces of shallots on the pan I waited for them to grill until I poured the egg mixture on the pan. As I waited and scraped the eggs I placed the few slices of ham that I had on the pan as well turning them so they could be grilled on both sides.
Feeling someone watching me I saw Sonic leaning against the doorway of the tiny kitchen quietly. His quills were in a disarray with a few flared out on one side than the other. I plated the food and distributed what I had for two dishes, handing a plate to my now silent guest.
"Thanks." He tiredly smiled holding the white plate and sitting down at a two chair dining set I had shoved beside the kitchen next to my piano.
"Did you take the asprin?" I asked watching Sonic shake his head. Carefully I summoned the pill and water and placed them in front of him watching his bright eyes stare at them floating in fascination. I brought two cups and a half full bottle of grape juice with me as I joined Sonic eating in silence.
"It's- really good. Thank you- Silv." He said between bites. "I'm glad you like it." I beamed before seeing my reflection in a mirror on the opposite wall. My bed head was horrible. Paling I took in my front quills that were crooked and smiled nervously in embarrassment.
Finishing his plate Sonic leaned back looking at my studio apartment quietly. "I miss home cooked meals. All Tails and I know how to cook is pancakes and chili."
"Who is Tails?" I asked watching him look at me shocked. "Oh! Right! Tails is my best buddy and little bro." Sonic explained with a sparkling grin. He scanned my apartment again and I felt a little self-conscious.
"Yeah, it's not much but it's home." I stated picking at my ham carefully having already finished my eggs.
"It's really clean." Sonic remarked settling his emerald eyes on my piano. "We are a mess. You know, bachelor life." Sonic explained leaning back contentedly. I just shook my head and laughed remembering the state of his car.
His car!
"You sort of collapsed last night, your car is down the street. I couldn't drive it because it is a manual." I sheepishly smiled as I finished and telekinetically deposited the dishes we used in the sink.
"No problem, not many people do. Sorry I knocked out on you last night." Soft beeps emitted from my cellphone and I rushed to see that I received a text from an unidentified private number. It was probably just a classmate I had swapped numbers with that was now asking me about what they missed in class. Looking up from the screen of my phone I noticed a nervous look on Sonic's face.
"What is it?" I asked, watching him jerk slightly and place another disarming smile on his face. He always seems to mask his emotions with a smile. Why?
Scratching the back of his neck he didn't answer right away. I waited patiently watching him avert his eyes. Finally he spoke.
"I didn't... do anything did I?" He asked, a faint blush dusting his muzzle.
"No, you couldn't really do much of anything because you were asleep." I stated honestly as I telekinetically washed the dishes from where I sat. "What is it that you wanted to do?" I questioned wondering why he seemed to be blushing.
A warm laugh bubbled up from his form. He shook, cobalt quills bouncing, eyes squeezed shut as his facial expression was screwed up in mirth.
Why is he laughing? I wondered. It's such a nice sound though. Sonic's laugher died down into a string of chuckles as he clutched his side.
"I was just wondering why I woke up in someone else's bed." Sonic turned to look at the studio corner where my bed was. My white and teal sheets were in a disarray and a pillow was dangerously close to falling off of the bed entirely.
Focusing on the pillow I shifted it and started making my bed with my powers. " I didn't want to put you on the couch. You are my guest." I stated curiously trying to understand why it was a big deal. "I slept on the couch."
" ." Sonic smiled and I noticed his shoulders relax. A loud ringtone graced the air and I jolted my telekinetic hold on my blankets disappearing for a brief instant. Digging in his pockets, Sonic pulled out a very odd looking phone. It didn't match any phone I had ever seen on the market. Giving me an apologetic smile he stood up and answered the call he had received.
"I'm at a friends house,...I... No! It's not like that!" Pacing my hardwood floors I watched emotions flick across his features as he spoke. "I relayed the message to Rouge. Just go talk to her man..." Feeling awkward about being able to hear the conversation I decided to pick up a change of clothes, give Sonic a little wave in case he needed to leave, and go to the restroom to change and get ready for the day. After taking a quick shower I dried off and styled my quills before slipping into some worn down blue jeans and a off-white t-shirt with a logo of a brand name clothing line.
Stepping out, my studio was empty. I moved to shuffle under my bed to retrieve a small cloth drawer filled with organized shoes, pulling out some white vans and checked the time. I didn't have school but I needed to work a little later. Checking my cell phone I read the text I was sent earlier.
Don't come in today. It's a holiday. The store is closed.~Espio
"Thank You so much. I forgot." I sent back, saving Espio's number on my phone for the future. Vanilla must have given him mine. Espio knows how forgetful and physically clumsy I can be. I am always thankful that he has my back.
Sitting at my small table I started to study and practice problems. Scribbling away at my paper I struggled to focus but found myself feeling extremely tired. Standing up I started to make my way to my pantry to make some coffee or tea until my front door was wrenched open.
"Yeah... I'll see you at the gig... I gotta go...Oh shut up Knucklehead... Bye."
Suprised I watched Sonic hang up and smile at me placing his phone in his pocket. Slung over his shoulder was a black backpack.
"I thought you needed to leave." I called watching him make his way to the bathroom. "Oh, did you want me to?" He turned with a teasing smile. Flustered I shook my head rapidly. "No! I just thought that you might be busy." Chortling Sonic disappeared inside my restroom.
Annoyed at being teased, I stepped outside of my studio for a brief moment to get my mail from the day before. On the way downstairs I noticed my next door neighbor and moaned internally. The brown badger looked like a mess as always. Fixing me with a stare I tried to look away and focus on retrieving my mail and rushing back inside my place.
Making a beeline towards me she inserted herself between me and the mailbox crossing her arms before her. I simply inserted the key to my mailbox and opened it telekinetically. Her blue eyes watched my mail and key seemingly float back into my hands as the mailbox door closed.
"You've got a lotta' nerve showing off your alien powers in public." She scowled and pushed a finger into my chest fur making me take a step back.
"You may fool everyone else. But you can't trick me! I saw you abduct someone last night." She whispered, her tone going dangerously low.
I don't know how many times I tried to tell this crazy lady that I was not an "alien" and that I just had telekinesis. I'd figured over time that it was just no use trying to convince her otherwise.
"Sticks, I didn't abduct anyone. My friend got drunk and needed a place for the night." I figured I could try to tell her the truth about Sonic. It might stop her from telling everyone in the complex that I had abducted someone.
A strange look crossed her face. She was sneering as she moved toward me again. "Having a one-night-stand is not much better alien."
A one-night... No!
"No!" I exclaimed. "Sonic and I are just friends!" I cried out, wondering why the statement made me feel a little sad.
"Maybe he's an alien too...or he works for the government and discovered your secret." She pursed her lips, tapping a clawed finger to her muzzle contemplatively. "My resistance to their mind control must have brought him here." Rolling my eyes I simply ignored her, turned around, and walked up the steps to my apartment with her calling out to me.
"My can-opener told me that you would be trouble! I'm watching you!"
Closing my door with a huff I sorted through my mail and caught Sonic sitting on my couch on his phone. He was completely changed into a new outfit and his quills were arranged. Turning he addressed me.
"You are off today right? Do you want to have that coffee I promised?" I looked away awkwardly reminding myself that I wasn't going to date Sonic and to make sure that he knew it was just an outing between friends.
"Sure, as long as it's not a date." I said quickly and awkwardly. That didn't come out right... He turned around and looked at me with an expression bordering hurt and I lost my breath. Emerald eyes looked down before he nodded.
"I understand Silver. You are right. I was just wondering if...well..." He hesitated, which seemed sort of out of place for him.
"What?" I asked placing my mail on the coffee table and sitting beside him realizing he was looking at reviews for local coffee shops on his phone.
" I was thinking maybe we could both pursue Shadow... together?" For a moment I just stared at Sonic like he grew two heads. He looked away with a queasy smile.
"Well, it's obvious you like me, and I like you and we both like Shadow...so..." He elongated the last word as he flicked his eyes back to me. I was speechless, just staring at him.
"Silver?" He asked worried as he reached out to place a hand on my leg.
I almost flinched when his hand touched my leg. "Sonic... I just met you and you are proposing...this?" I searched his eyes carefully. Is he serious?!
"We could date and if things go well we could both ask... Shadow... to be with us?" He tried again seemingly loosing his confidence in his statement. I shook my head grasping the hand on my leg and picking it up. I could feel him tighten his grasp on my hand.
"Sonic, what makes you think Shadow would want to be in a relationship like that? What makes you think that I would want that?" I was a little put off and tried my best to keep my tone from sounding harsh.
"Well I just thought that if you loved someone it didn't matter..."
"Exactly, someone. One other person other than yourself." I stated watching his quills droop slightly. "I know you love Shadow. But, how do you even know you love me?" I asked plainly, placing his hand on the couch between us.
"I don't know, I look forward to seeing you at your work. I like being with you. You're pretty cute... and I want to know more about you." He listed placing his phone to the side. "I don't believe that love and relationships should be only allowed between two people. That's a social thing."
"Did you always want to be in a relationship like...that?" I asked watching him fidget with the black backpack he had brought that had been placed between his legs on the floor.
"To be honest I didn't think about it until now." He pulled out his wallet and shuffled through counting his cash. "Do you want to at least try it?" Those gorgeous eyes looked deep into my own and I found myself nodding slowly. I can't say no to him. I had to admit that I liked him and I liked Shadow. Even though the idea of a three-way relationship didn't completely sit well with me I internally that I should at least try it out.
Maybe things would work out? "But what about Shadow? If he doesn't agree to be with both of us will you be..." I asked trailing off at the end of my sentence.
"I'll be fine." Sonic answered. "Knowing him, he'll be a lot harder to convince but not many people know that he's a hopeless romantic at heart. He probably reads mushy stories about the very idea." Sonic winked and stood shoving his wallet into one of the pockets of the new dark jeans he had changed into.
"So how about that coffee? According to "Howl" there's a good coffee shop just down the street called "Bean's Perks". I nodded giving a hearty "Okay" remembering passing the place but never going in. I always got coffee down the street from my work.
"So, are we ..." I fidgeted twirling my fingers.
"Only if you want to be." He answered his half lidded eyes drinking in my nervous state.
"Okay, let's try this." I nodded smiling before moving to grab my keys and wallet.
~O~
I know, I know they got together way to quick. I blame Silver's sweet, gullible, naiveness and Sonic's magnetic, charming, persuasiveness. I'm putting too much Sonilver in here. I did the same with "Polyamory" and now it's taking over this fic. Uggh, I am just stuck in this Sonilver rut. I need to make a oneshot dedicated to just the two of them or something. Anyway, there's a reason why I'm not focusing on Shadow yet so bear with me.
