The heat on his face spread up to his ears as he laid his mouth onto Sonic’s. Shadow blew air into the drenched hedgehog’s lungs, unable to notice anything other than how soft those fawn-hued lips felt on his own.
Almost reluctantly, he raised his head away and then laid his hands on the other’s lightly-furred chest, arms tensing as the obsidian hedgehog pushed down in rapid succession. The passing moments grew longer, his movements becoming more frantic. The Ultimate Lifeform switched back to breathing air into the hero’s mouth, simultaneously listening for any signs of life from the unconscious male.
Crucial seconds went by. Knuckles, who had been gawking at the pair with wide amethyst eyes, placed a large gloved hand over his temple, stress, and what may have been an ounce of guilt, apparent on his features. “This is hopeless, Shadow! There must be some other way to—”
The crimson echidna was interrupted by an abrupt gasp followed by a series of loud coughs coming from the blue hedgehog. The latter swung away from his prior position facing his darker counterpart to lie on his side, a dripping-wet gloved hand clutching the ceramic ground.
Shadow quietly exhaled in relief, sitting back up onto his knees and gazing down at the awoken speedster. ‘Finally…’
Sonic, panting from the strain, revealed his half-lidded emerald eyes. “Ugh… Shad? What happened?” The words were a mere worn-out mumble.
Another sigh from the darker hedgehog. “Knuckles threw you into the pool. I had to save you from drowning, hedgehog.”
With a snort, the echidna decided to butt into the explanation. He bumped the other’s striped arm with his elbow. “Hey, Shadow. Aren’t you forgetting when you did mouth-to-m—”
Shadow cut Knuckles off with a heated, wide-eyed glare. Inwardly, the black hedgehog felt puzzled at the ounce of panic festering in his gut. What was he so afraid of, anyway? That Sonic would know he performed CPR on him? That… their lips made contact? What an absurd fear. He glanced at the confused, water-logged hero. “I dragged you out of the water, and you began breathing on your own. End of story.” The half-lie passed through gritted teeth.
Irritated, the Guardian spoke up once more. “That’s not what I saw, and you know it.”
“Never mind the idiot, Faker.” He ignored the other’s accusations, shooting another cold stare at the scarlet-hued one. Shadow then turned his attention to the bemused male sitting on the ground. “I’m tired of your incompetence, blue hedgehog.” His harsh tone did not reflect his gentler gaze. “I will teach you how to swim.”
Sapphire ears perked up, his brows rising as he gaped at Shadow. “Really? I mean…” Sonic ran a hand through his wet, drooping quills, puzzlement swarming through him along with something else that he couldn’t quite put his finger on. “…Sure.” He didn’t feel the dread bubbling through his chest like he’d experienced before when Knuckles had announced his intentions and subsequently dragged him along.
Instead, he felt… excited? Relieved? The way Shadow looked at him with those oddly soft crimson eyes… they just made him feel…
“Yeah, all right!” The blue speedster jumped to his feet, a surprised yet warm grin brightening his features. He didn’t want to contemplate what those thoughts implied. He decided to just go with the flow. “Sounds good to me!” As he always did.
Shadow couldn’t help but smirk a little at Sonic at his sheer optimism, however much it annoyed him on so many other occasions. The two thus agreed to meet late in the evening on the same day and spot to begin the blue one’s “lessons.”
