Slipping to the edge of the crevice, he panted heavily and only just managed not to go over the edge. The world-renowned hero faced his foe with a snarl. Playing dirty, huh? Tryna throw me in the water and watch me drown? Or woudja prefer I freeze ta death first? Having to deal with his one fear being frozen and melting on the ground beneath his feet was bad enough; now the crazed maniac that called himself a genius wanted to fight him? If anything, the villain needed to go on a diet, not worry about what the blue hedgehog was up to. Did he really expect to win this time? Was it any different than the last few hundred times?
Cackling loudly, the professor grinned at his victim, “So close! If only you’d gone over! Look like you’ll have to deal with these missiles!” Firing said weapons, Eggman watched as the hedgehog used them to his own advantage, homing in on them until he finally connected with the machine itself the scientist sat upon, sending both flying backwards. Horrible noises filled the air as metal creaked, scratched, and dented before finally settling.
The blue blur grinned at the sight, “C’mon, Egghead, you can do better than that!” Said human made the machine get back up, creaking and groaning, “You’ll pay for that, hedgehog!” And he did. Before the mass of blue spines knew it he was flying through the air and headed straight for the water. Twisting in midair, his hands gripped the edge of the crevice. The rock wall crumbled under his fingers, making him slip and struggle to hang on. Feet scrambled on the rough surface, only breaking more off.
A crash from above him shook the ground, making him slip further down the crevice side. What was that?! “Faker!” The blue hedgehog looked up, seeing a hedgehog hybrid holding a hand out to him. Letting go of the rock face and quickly gripping tightly to the offered hand, he was immediately pulled back onto safety of the crevice edge. Panting with effort he managed a smile, “Thanks, Shads. I owe you one!” A ‘hmph’ met his statement, “Enough with that ridiculous nickname, Faker.” The hedgehog groaned, “But it’s so much faster than saying Shadow every time I see ya!” The name was pronounced slowly and made it sound as if it was a burden to speak. Dark eyes narrowed, “It takes more effort for you to think it than to simply say it. No more.” One emerald eye closed playfully, “Only if you stop calling me ‘faker.’” A snort, “As if that would happen. I find that a more suiting name than Sonic,” copying the other’s motion of pronouncing the word as if it poisoned his mouth.
Metal scrapping together caught their attention, the scientist finally getting the machine to respond to his orders again. Azure glanced at the black hedgehog, “Guess this conversation’ll have to wait. Care to join me?” A grunt confirmed his question as they both rushed into action.
The machine was quickly torn apart by their actions, causing the controller to abandon the pile of scrap metal and retreat, yelling a threat about ‘next time.’ “Well that was easy! Thanks for the help, Shads.” Said hybrid growled at the use of the nickname once again, not granting him the pleasure of a response. The blue speedster walked around the debris, “I swear Eggman’s machine’s just get easier and easier ta beat.” Black arms crossed, “Which was why you were almost killed, correct?” Sonic grinned, “Hey, if there wasn’t a cliff there the fight woulda been over a whole lot faster!” Pausing in front of the other he gave him a genuine smile, “Thanks by the way. For saving my hide from a horrible watery grave. Means a lot.” Rubies closed, “I would not have had to save you if you were more strategic in your fighting mannerisms.” A wink, “Love ya too, Shads!” That’s the closest to a ‘you’re welcome’ I’ll ever get. But it’ll do. Turning away, he walked backed toward the debris, “Ya’know...I’ve been meaning ta talk ta ya ‘bout somethin’...” A red shoe kicked the metal in awkward tension.
Rubies flicked at the sudden movement, the vibrations had caused a limb of the immobile machine to be knocked off balance, flying towards the blue hedgehog who seemed to be too caught up in his own thoughts to notice. Growling he flung himself forward, “YOU IDIOT!”
Azure felt a push, landing on his side a little ways away. He heard the hiss from the other as a thud echoed in blue ears, before a splash resounded below. Panic immediately flooding his senses he rushed forward, looking over the edge and calling out the other’s name. When no answer came he trembled, “Oh I’m gonna die I’m gonna die I’m gonna die,” before throwing himself over the edge after the black hedgehog.
The pure shock of the cold water nearly made him pass out, as if being surrounded in your greatest fear wasn’t enough. Emerald eyes tried to open, but the rushing water only made them sting. Overwhelmed and confused, he considered the probability of actually finding the black hedgehog in the murky water, and whether he or not he was even going to survive this. He cursed his idiocy for jumping into the water when he himself didn’t know how to swim. Perhaps the other didn’t either. The freezing temperatures made him grow stiff as he desperately tried to get to surface while being dragged down stream. Feeling fatigued, his attempts grew less powerful as bubbles came from his mouth.
A faint feeling of arms wrapping around his torso nearly went unnoticed, until he realized his head was above water. Gasping and holding on to his rescuer for dear life, he dragged them back under several times, until finally hover shoes hit sand and slowly pulled them both onto the shore. Both coughing and gagging to get the water from their lungs, they collapsed on the grass near the now shallow river. Laying on their backs and starring at the darkening sky, their chests heaving, the black hedgehog panted to the other, “Now...you owe me...three...” The other chuckled in between coughs, turning his head towards the other, “Who’s counting?”
The alien half breed sat up, suddenly glaring at the other furiously, “What were you thinking?! You can’t swim!” The hedgehog chuckled breathlessly and shrugged, “I’m too much of a hero for my own good I guess. I didn’t want ya ta drown.” The other gave an irritated grunt, “I’m immortal, remember? Even if I would drown the chaos energy would bring me back.” Emerald eyes snapped open, “...you mean I didn’t have ta jump in the water?” Of course the other refused an answer to an obvious question. Sonic sighed, “Oh well...I-It’s the thought that counts, right?” His body had started to tremble from the cold. He noticed the other in a similar situation. “I d-doubt a long run h-home w-would be good in this c-cold, huh?”
Red striped quills shook as their owner turned his head side to side, “Y-you would certainly freeze along the way.” He tried to desperately not to stammer and cease his body’s shivering, but to no avail. Trying to hide his weakness from his rival was growing to be too much. They needed to get out of the wind. Suddenly remembering a small shelter not too far away from their current location, he turned to the other, “T-there’s a tree close by. It’s hollow inside. We can take shelter there until we dry.”
The azure nodded quickly, sitting up, “S-sounds good. Lead the w-way.” Both hedgehogs struggled to their feet before walking deeper into the woods.
