Could It be ((Part 1))

~Sonic's POV~


I had woken up later today than I usually did... I stayed up really late last night just scouting the area... I'd been so wrapped up on protecting the city that I almost forgot it was summer time. My favorite type of season... I liked this time of the year due to the warm weather, fun memories to make, and of course, the extra time to run whenever and wherever I wanted. I yawned a little bit, putting all my options together... I could try to hang out with Tails a little more this summer too... I knew he wanted to show me his newest upgrades on the tornado... Then, of course, Amy wanted to go on several dates with me... I'd have to find some loopholes with that one... Knuckles was very busy as of lately too. He had Rouge on Angel Island more often than usual... Then I thought about Shadow... I hadn't seen him in months. Last time I saw him was on one of the many aircraft carriers Eggman had flown into the ruins of the Oceanic palace. We only exchanged a few words before I had to take off to handle Eggman. and I hadn't seen him since then... He seemed different though, which wasn't a big deal... Maybe we were crossing into that territory of awkward friends. Knuckles and I did that before in the past and now we're close friends. I smiled to myself at that thought. But then my thoughts were rudely interrupted by a low grumble... I glanced down and placed a hand on my stomach.

Oh boy... I was starving. I hadn't eaten breakfast nor dinner the night before. Thankfully though I wasn't far from vendors. and as I approached my favorite vendor, I grinned already knowing what to order...

I had three chilidogs in my possession as I began to eat the first one. It was halfway in my mouth before I turned, locking eyes with him. Bright ruby crimson eyes stared at me as I slowly took a bite, a faint blush forming on my face.

"You eat like a pig."

I chewed and swallowed, laughing a little. "Well it's so nice to see you too Shadow~" I said with a wink.

"You're just going to get fat eating those all the time like you do." He said, uncrossing his arms.

"Eh... I run the calories off before they can even get into my body~" I said with a wink. "Want one? I think my eyes were bigger than my stomach when I ordered." I then held out the second one towards him, he eyed me for a few seconds before he took it, only using his index finger and thumb. He looked grossed out for a second before he turned towards the vendor and got a handful of napkins, placing the chilidog upon it. I had no time for napkins... I rolled my eyes and finished off my first dog, licking my fingers clean in the process. Shadow then turned towards me, glancing at me.

"What brings you into the city?" He asked.

"Well, I was on the outside of the city, I'd been looking for any sign of Egghead... When he doesn't pull any tricks or show his face for a little bit; I tend to get worried." I admitted, walking beside him as we walked down the sidewalk together... It was nice to have an actual conversation with him.

"Ah..." Shadow didn't even bother eating his chilidog as I started on my other one, taking a big bite I closed my eyes happily, loving the spicy chili and the soft bun... Ugh, it tasted like heaven. "I wouldn't worry too much." He said. "Sometimes he has to plan out longer to make sure he doesn't forget something important. He usually does though."

I laughed a little. "You right~" I said with a wink. "So how about yourself? What are your plans for today?"

"Eh... I wanted to meet up with Rouge and Omega... but Rouge was busy from what she told me, She's been so busy  with Knuckles for the past week or so..." He made a face.

"Ohh~ Jelous~?"

"No." He said with a deadpan, causing me to laugh again.

"I wanted to meet up with her so we could try to go on the next mission with G.U.N. Apparently, something big happened over in Soleanna..."

"Ahhh... Makes sense." I nodded a little. "Hopefully it's nothing with Elise... I can't do all that rescuing all over again..." I admitted a little, Shadow said nothing as I finished off my last chilidog... I savored the taste as I sighed in pleasure... That was so good.

"Well, maybe she isn't so busy sucking on Knuckles' face to give you some of her time." I joked, Shadow shot me a side glance before just shrugging a little bit.

"Who knows." He muttered.

"Honestly though, I think it's doing Knuckles some good having a lady friend with him~," I said, gently elbowing the darker hedgehog in his side. "He's not so grumpy all the time. Maybe you should do the same~?"

"Over my dead, cold body."

I laughed. "Jeez... Aren't ya just a ray of sunshine. Not into the whole dating scheme?" I asked, lifting an eyebrow.

"No, never."

"Well... It never hurts to try~" I said with a wink. "Relationships can be fun."

He then looked at me, dead in the face. "It is also a waste of time."

"Jeez okay, Mr. Grumpy old man." I joked. "Maybe you'll find a lucky lady soon enough" I then eyed the chilidog in Shadow's hand. He hadn't even touched it. I regretted even offering it because now I felt like I could eat another one. "You gonna eat that?" I asked, tucking my arms behind my head, eyeing him. Shadow glanced down at the chilidog in his hand before he just rolled his eyes, tossing it directly into my face.

"No." He answered my question as I stopped walking, licking my lips as the chili ran down my face, taking a napkin from his hand and using it to wipe my eyes.

"J-jeez dude. It's supposed to go into my mouth, not eyes." I laughed as I cleaned myself up a bit... Once I felt like I got most of the chilidog off of my person, I looked at him with a grin. "Wanna go on a run together?" I asked. "I don't have any plans as of right now... and racing you sound like a blast~"

"...Suit yourself, Hedgehog... But just be prepared to lose." He said, tapping the edge of his shoes against the sidewalk.

"Pfffttt do you even know who you're talking to?"

"...A faker~" He said with a slight smirk... and just like that he was gone. I blinked quickly as I glanced forward, noticing he played dirty and took a headstart... I then blasted off after him... We raced around the city, using the giant rams and twisting highways as our track. Eventually though together we made it to right outside the city. and into the nearby forest. We ended up settling on a tie as the cement turned into gravel, then into a dirt path.

I slowed to a jog and he just slowed completely down to a walking speed. "Hey, shad... I got a question." I looked forward, eyeing the dirt path in front of myself.

"Ask."

"Do you think Egghead would ever decide to be a good guy?"

"...Perhaps." He shrugged a little. "From my times working with him, I've noticed he had a side to him that I rarely got to see..." I then slowed down and turned around, walking beside him but backward.

"What do you mean?"

"Well... he has these moments of compassion at times... Which doesn't really mix well with the whole "villain" role... You have to be cold and heartless if you want to be evil."

I grinned, eyeing Shadow. "Like that time when you-" He then cut me off

"Shut up hedgehog."

We then began to discuss other various topics... Which was nice because talking to him was a lot easier than talking to Knuckles who always had to put in his two cents into a subject, or Tails who'd think too much into it. He was just easier talking to in my opinion. As he went on about something about a certain politic I had brought up... I didn't notice the branch that had been laying on my side of the path. Still walking backward I stumbled right over it and tumbled backward, falling on my back. I hissed in pain as my head connected with a rock which my skull knocked hard against it... Shadow froze beside me before he knelt down to help me up.

"And that's why we pay attention to where we are walking, idiot." He insulted before I grimaced, placing a hand behind my head.

"D-Dude wait.." I then tilted my head forward, feeling the back of my head... "Did I hit it hard..?"

"Your head bounced." He stated, looking the back of my head for me... He then poked where I had struck my head and I then flinched in pain.

"Ouch! Don't do that!"

"It was tempting." He admitted I glared at him as he sighed a little, helping me to my feet. "You knocked it pretty hard it seems..." A goose egg formed where my head came into contact with the rock and I frowned.

"At least your big head broke your fall." He said. "Need ice?" He asked me.

"Well yeah... I don't want this thing getting any bigger." I frowned. "You know... My house isn't actually far from here... Let's go there and lemme get a bag of ice?"

"...Fair enough... Lead the way."