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tenebraevesper · 1 year

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Vandalize My Heart, Entry 0: Sound The Alarm

''Sound the alarm.. Shatter me like glass. Covered in scars, but roses are coming through the cracks. Time that you killed, you promised to help me rebuild! It caught me off guard, sound the alarm...''

– Vandalize by Sonic Frontiers

xXxXxXx

It is not a big deal. That's what he kept telling himself. It is completely fine. Shadow is free to do anything he wanted. He can make his own choices. I shouldn't be worried about this at all, but support him instead. That's what friends do.

Sonic took a deep breath, one hand placed on his hip as he tapped with his foot on the floor, observing Knuckles, Amy, Eggman and Tails as they exited the recording booth they used for the Twitter Takeover. Amy was helping Knuckles carrying the stone figurines, commenting on how cute they were, while Eggman was awkwardly trying to hide the LED strip and egg air cannon he had brought in earlier. Sonic had to genuinely wonder whether the Doctor anticipated the question or if he was planning something else with it.

''This was another successful Takeover,'' Tails said, turning to Sonic.

''Yeah, it was,'' Sonic replied, a wry smile on his lips. ''Although, maybe this whole Twitter Takeover should've been renamed to Sonic Roasting Session.''

''Well, you know how Knuckles and Shadow are, not to mention Eggman,'' Tails replied, giving Sonic a curious look. ''Are you okay? You sounded really tired back there.''

''Don't worry, Tails. I'm completely fine,'' Sonic replied nonchalantly. Tails didn't appear to be entirely convinced. ''It's nothing a chili dog can't fix.''

''Hm, maybe what happened on the Starfall Islands really left a mark on you? You should get some rest,'' Tails suggested.

Sonic was about to assure his little brother that he doesn't have to worry about him, when the two heard the remaining member of the group exiting the recording booth, closing the door behind him.

''Hey, Shadow!'' Tails greeted the dark hedgehog, while Sonic felt a sudden increase in his heart beat when he locked eyes with his rival. He wanted to make a quip and be on his merry way, but he remained frozen in place, unable to say anything. He was quite thankful that Tails took over the conversation. ''That was a fun Takeover, wasn't it? I'm glad Knuckles and Amy could join us this time.''

''I suppose it was,'' Shadow answered, then gazed at Sonic, as if expecting him to comment on the Takeover. ''What do you think, Sonic?''

''Y-Yeah, it was really interesting,'' Sonic replied, feeling the anxiety within him bubbling up, but he tried to push it back, giving the two a confident grin. ''So, what do you want to do now?''

''I have planned to make my way over to the Ferris Wheel,'' Shadow responded, arms folded across his chest.

''You… You're really going forward with this marriage proposal?'' Sonic stammered, having a hard time hiding his surprise.

''I did make a promise and I intend to keep it,'' Shadow replied in his usual business-like tone. ''Of course, as long as they meet the conditions I set.''

''I-I see…'' Sonic replied, sounding more somber than he intended. He got weird looks from both Tails and Shadow, but fortunately, neither asked any further questions.

''Well, I wish you good luck with the proposal,'' Tails said, with Shadow bidding goodbye to the two and walking away. He turned to Sonic with a raised eyebrow. ''Are you sure you're okay?''

''I think I'll go for a run. I need some fresh air,'' Sonic replied, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible. ''I'll see ya on the flip side, Tails.''

''Bye!''

Sonic rushed down the hallway and outside, taking a deep breath as he rubbed his temple. ''What is wrong with me today?''

Sonic had no clue why he was so occupied with that marriage proposal question, and even more with Shadow's answer. Why was he feeling so troubled? Being restless, he started to pace around as he replayed the whole scene in his head, feeling his heart suddenly racing. The feeling he had was nothing like the battle with The End, where he was driven by pure adrenaline and the power of the Chaos Emeralds. This one resembled a strange fluttering sensation in his chest. He had a vague recollection of feeling like this before, but he couldn't quite put his finger on when that happened.

Not to mention his sudden alertness when Shadow started listing his conditions. Admittedly, he was a little baffled by what he had told them, as was everyone else, but he figured that these conditions were something he was sure he could meet.

Wait, what?

Sonic's thoughts stopped dead in his tracks as he processed just what was going through his mind, being caught completely off guard. He took a moment to calm down, trying to figure out whether this was really how he felt about this whole thing. He wanted to be happy for his rival and friend, but whenever he thought about Shadow's sudden acceptance of the marriage proposal, he couldn't help but feel something akin to a string wrapping around his neck, strangling him. It was hard to breathe.

Was he really feeling jealous?

Sonic sighed, muttering under his breath, ''This isn't how I imagined how my evening would go.''

He started tapping with his foot on the ground, trying to figure out where to move on next. The only thing that came to his mind was that he probably should go to the Ferris Wheel. He wanted to know how this whole proposal thing would turn out and he wanted to be there to support his friend, regardless of how he personally felt about it. After all, this was about Shadow's happiness, not his own. Obviously, they would still have their dynamic as rivals and friends, wouldn't they? Nothing would change… right?

Sonic stretched, preparing himself for the run towards the Ferris Wheel. He tried to return to his carefree and confident mindset, without any of those troubling thoughts, but whenever he did that, it felt like he ran straight into a wall. He tried to push back against the chilling sensation and anxiety, refusing to let it take over him. Finally regaining his focus, he dashed off.

He wasn't going to ruin this for his friend.

Links:

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#Vandalize My Heart (Masterlist)

#Vandalize My Heart #sonic twitter takeover #sonic the hedgehog #shadow the hedgehog #miles tails prower #dr eggman #knuckles the echidna #amy rose #sonadow #sonic frontiers

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tenebraevesper · 1 year

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Vandalize My Heart, Entry 1: Leave Your Mark

''Did we make a work of art just so you could deface it? Did you let it fall apart just so you could replace it? Had your name on the side of a burning bridge, watch it fade when the smoke rolls in. Time that you killed, you promised to help me rebuild! Feels like you planned it, took us for granted, oh…''

– Vandalize by Sonic Frontiers

xXxXxXx

Was this really a good idea?

Sonic had to admit that hiding behind a bush and spying on Shadow, who was standing in the vicinity of the Ferris Wheel, wasn't one of his smartest ideas. True to his word, Shadow was holding a bouquet of lavenders in one hand and a golden ring that resembled one of his Inhibitor Rings in the other, waiting for RealShadowFan01 to appear. Sonic could feel a stinging sensation in his chest, as if he had been stabbed, but tried to ignore it. He had been through much worse stuff, and told himself that he should just grin and bear it. Clearly, this was important to Shadow, and whatever happened from now on, he would be happy for his rival.

Yet, he wasn't happy. He had just started processing his feelings for Shadow, realizing that there was more to them than just rivalry or friendship, and it hurt. It really hurt to know that there would be someone else in Shadow's life, someone who might be able to make him happy. Everything happened so sudden, and now he was about to lose someone he held dear.

Dude, you're not losing Shadow. Sonic rubbed his temples, teeth gritted as he was trying to break out of his grim thought process. It is not like he's going to disappear from your life. However, he had to admit that he couldn't really see Shadow being with anyone… aside from himself. Was that really such a selfish desire? After all, he didn't even know whether Shadow felt the same about him.

Sonic sighed, glancing back at Shadow, who was still patiently waiting for the would-be suitor. He had to admit that he was amazed by Shadow's patience, being able to stand at once place for so long. Sonic himself would've gotten bored after a few minutes and just started running in circles to keep himself occupied. How much time has even passed? Sonic gazed at the nearby street clock, noting how around 30 minutes have already passed since he and Shadow had arrived here. Huh, is this person going to be a no-show? Sonic lowered his head, curling his hand slightly as he placed it on his chin. Do they even know where to go? Maybe they ran into some kind of trouble?

Sonic gazed back at Shadow, who didn't appear to be particularly perturbed by the fact that that person was running late. He had a fairly neutral expression, occasionally looking around. Sonic followed his gaze, noting how they weren't alone here. Vendor booths were scattered around the area below the Ferris Wheel and there were other people walking around, playing games or just having fun. Sonic wished that he could join them, having seen a chili dog stand earlier and he even found a few vendor games he wanted to try out. However, he didn't want to be alone.

Sonic gazed back at Shadow, his ears lowered as he felt downcast. Maybe I should just tell Shadow how I feel about this whole thing… But, I don't want to ruin this moment for him!

He hated how torn he felt about the idea of confessing his own feelings to Shadow. He was used to their interactions being quite simple and straightforward. Sure, they would challenge each other, make quips and mess with each other, maybe butt heads over whatever plan they came up when they had to save the world, but ultimately, they would work together. If things were so easy, then why couldn't he make a move?

Sonic took a sharp breath, clenching his fist. One of his philosophies was to live life without regret, and while it was something he told his friends, he knew that, in this moment, he needed to follow his own advice. He knew that, if he didn't go for it, he'd have to live with the knowledge that he had the opportunity to confess to Shadow and that he blew with because he felt too conflicted over it. Gathering the courage, Sonic stepped out of his hiding spot and walked over to Shadow with a determined expression.

''Hey, Shadow!'' Sonic waved at his rival, approaching him. Shadow turned to him, his ears perked up, but his expression remained mostly unchanged. For a moment, Sonic wondered whether Shadow was actually disappointed to see him. Well, there is no turning back anymore.

''You're late, Sonic,'' Shadow said.

''I know that you- wait, what?'' Sonic was about to make small talk, only to be caught off guard by Shadow's statement. ''What are you talking about?''

''I had been waiting for you to show up,'' Shadow told him. ''For someone who claims that he is the fastest being in the world, you really took your time.''

''Did you have to take a jab at me?'' Sonic asked dryly, then rose an eyebrow, giving Shadow a curious look. ''Also, what do you mean by you had been waiting for me to show up?''

Now, Sonic did understand the implications of Shadow being somehow aware that he would be here, but he still wanted to hear it from the dark hedgehog. Shadow stared at him for a moment, brow furrowed.

''Why are you here?'' he responded.

''Well, I was on an evening run and I saw the Ferris Wheel, and I remembered how you said you'd be here, waiting for this RealShadowFan01 person. So, I thought I might keep you some company until they arrive,'' Sonic said, feeling a sting of guilt over the lie. Admittedly, not all of it was a lie, as he wanted to keep Shadow company, but for different reasons. Shadow kept staring at him, clearly not buying any of it.

''If that is the case, why have you been hiding in the bushes?'' Shadow asked. Sonic felt his heart skip a beat, realizing that he was caught. He attempted to come up quickly with a plausible answer, only to be surprised when Shadow placed the bouquet in his arms. Sonic stared at the bouquet, the scent of lavender filling the air, and looked back at Shadow, completely stunned to see the tiniest of smirks on Shadow's lips, who then held up the golden ring. ''Nevertheless, you're here, which means that I-''

''Wait, hold on a second, I thought this was supposed to be for RealShadowFan01,'' Sonic protested, feeling rather flustered. The way Shadow kept looking at him sent shivers down his spine. The dark hedgehog tilted his head, folding his arms across his chest, still holding onto the golden ring.

''I said that I would propose to whoever meets the conditions I set, and that I would be waiting for them at the Ferris Wheel. You were the one who showed up, therefore I would propose to you and accept you as my partner,'' Shadow explained in his usual business-like tone, acting as if this was the natural conclusion to the whole story.

Sonic was clutching the bouquet, his heart beating at a rapid speed, his cheeks as red as the stripes on Shadow's quills and his eyes wide as he stared at Shadow, completely baffled by what he just heard. Indeed, he was here to support Shadow, and yes, he did have feelings for his rival and wanted to confess – but he did not expect that Shadow would actually propose to him! His thoughts were scrambled, and he was unable to even form a coherent sentence. While he was used to being thrown off the track during his many adventures, and able to get his composure back just as quickly, this was something he had no answer to.

As for Shadow, he observed him in silence, clearly waiting for an answer. He had to admit that part of him was satisfied that, for once, the cobalt hedgehog had shut up instead of blabbering away, but he was already counting the seconds until Sonic would start talking again. He decided to take advantage of the silence, already predicting the question on Sonic's mind as he took the latter's free hand, this gesture flustering the cobalt hedgehog even more.

''Do you remember what I had said? That your methods are annoying, your jokes are unfunny, your skills undisciplined, your optimistic outlook towards others naïve, and that your shoes are garish,'' Shadow continued, looking slightly amused as Sonic frowned upon hearing that criticism again and hoping his rival would get to the point. ''However, I wasn't lying when I said that I don't hate you.''

''Shadow, no one doubted you,'' Sonic replied.

''Right, except that it is more complicated than that,'' Shadow said, his tone heavy.

He wanted to say more, but seeing Sonic's gaze, he realized that his rival already understood. It was rather strange, being here with Sonic, admitting to the latter that he did see him more than just a friendly rival. He wasn't the type of person to wear his heart on his sleeve, preferring to keep them to himself. He knew that he still had trouble connecting to other people on an emotional level, despite his friendship with Rouge and Omega. He knew that, even though he did move on, there were still some issues he had that were unresolved, and he kept pushing them back, putting up a front in hopes of not having to deal with them. The step he made here took a lot of courage on his part, and he was proud of it, but he had to admit that it was hard. Despite having made his decisions, he couldn't deny that he still had some doubts. Still, this was Sonic he was talking to, and he was thankful that his rival listened to him, and acknowledged how he felt without a word.

Shadow and Sonic then gazed down, realizing that Shadow was still holding Sonic's hand, the golden ring being in the other. They looked up at each other, the same unspoken question being on both of their minds, with a wide grin spreading across Sonic's lips and him nodding joyfully. Shadow felt a huge wave of relief, not even realizing that he was genuinely smiling as he put the golden ring bracelet over Sonic's wrist. Sonic held up his hand, admiring the ring bracelet, then gave Shadow a mischievous smirk. The smile on Shadow's expression faded, and the sense of relief was replaced by a familiar feeling of irritation, as he knew what Sonic was up to.

''So, since when do you have a crush on me?'' Sonic asked, having to admit that, while he was glad that this awkward confession was over, he still had some questions.

''I could ask you the same,'' Shadow said in a deadpan tone, with Sonic just shrugging; basically admitting that Shadow had a point. He then continued, ''Frankly, I don't know when I developed those feelings, but I believe there was something for a while now. You can thank Rouge for making me realize that.''

''Rouge, really? What happened?'' Sonic asked, now intrigued.

''I had been talking to her about you the other day, and I guess she got fed up, telling me that I should just go confess my feelings to you since I obviously can't stop thinking about you,'' Shadow said. Sonic grinned, elbowing Shadow.

''Aw, that's so sweet! Do you also keep dreaming of me?'' Sonic teased him, with Shadow shooting a glare at him, only to smile a moment later.

''Do you want to admit something?'' he fired back, watching the smug smirk disappear from Sonic's expression. ''I thought so. Nevertheless, that's where things started to slowly fall into place. What about you?''

''I guess I was in a similar situation, not realizing that there was something there,'' Sonic said, rubbing the back of his head. ''It all came to a head with that marriage proposal during the Takeover. I realized that I was kind of jealous when you actually accepted, but I didn't say anything because I just wanted to support you regardless of how I felt.'' He then looked around. ''Speaking of which, where is that person? Do you think they might show up?''

''I don't know, but they missed their chance,'' Shadow replied. Sonic looked around, his gaze landing on the vendor stands and an idea forming in his mind.

''How about we go and celebrate the occasion? It is still early in the evening, and I think we both deserve to have some fun,'' he suggested.

''Sure,'' Shadow replied, only to be surprised when Sonic took his hand and started walking towards the vendor stands surrounding the Ferris Wheel, with Shadow following him.

''Cool! How about we try out that water gun shooting game? I bet I could beat you at it,'' Sonic said, giving Shadow a confident grin.

''Hmph, you wouldn't be able to hit it even if you stood right next to it,'' Shadow replied, smirking as he felt the familiar competitive spirit reigniting. ''We both know who the better marksman is.''

''Yeah, probably, but don't think I won't try my best,'' Sonic replied playfully, the two hedgehogs passing by a bench, not really paying attention to the person sitting on it, their head hidden behind a newspaper.

Once Sonic and Shadow vanished into the crowd, Rouge lifted her head, lowering the newspaper she was hiding behind and sighed in relief. ''Finally! I think it was already time that these two knuckleheads confessed their feelings to each other.'' She then reached for her smartphone, smirking. ''Although, I guess some people might be really disappointed that things didn't work out between Shadow and his number one fan.''

She then opened her Twitter account, typing something and then sending it, the message reading: ''Hello Shadow Fans, it appears I couldn't meet all of Shadow's requirements in marriage''.

''Oh, well, not my problem,'' Rouge smirked, grabbing the newspaper and getting up, then looking at the night sky as she thought about something. She then took off, flying into a specific direction. ''I think I should pay a visit to my Knucklehead.''

Links:

#Previous Chapter

#Current Chapter

#Next Chapter

#Vandalize My Heart (Masterlist)

#Vandalize My Heart #sonic twitter takeover #sonic frontiers #sonadow #shadow the hedgehog #sonic the hedgehog #rouge the bat

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