Chapter Text
“You’re leaving.” A question phrased as a statement drew attention to the black hedgehog still in bed. It was funny seeing the mostly stoic Prince’s face all wrinkled and squinting as dawn light filtered through the window onto his face.
“Heh, yeah. I was planning on waking you before I headed out, but it’d be quite a scandal if your servants walked in on the prince in bed with his champion.” The other hedgehog gave his prince a lopsided grin. “I’ll be seeing you later anyways. Don’t miss me too much.”
“Tch…” He got up and stretched, the sheets falling to his hip as he stood. “Your buttons are mismatched.”
“My, my, Prince Terios~ royalty dressing a commoner? How unbecoming.” The blue hedgehog teased, that shit eating grin never once leaving his face. He let his arms drop, allowing his lover to fix his mistake.
Deft fingers went to fix the buttons, a familiar scowl creeping over the prince’s features. “If you weren’t so hopeless maybe I wouldn’t have to, Maurice.”
Now it was the blue one’s turn to wrinkle his features, clearly having a distaste for the name. “Do not call me that.”
The prince smirked. “Would you prefer Og—” A pair of hands immediately covered his mouth.
“Okay okay you win!” He huffed, moving his hands. “Jeez, Shadow…”
Satisfied, Shadow dropped the subject, never losing that smirk. The prince finished fussing over buttons and stepped back a bit, turning to walk toward the center of the lavish room to grab a silver pitcher off the table and pour himself a cup of water. He was still bleary but at least mildly aware of his lover’s lingering stare on his hips. Shadow let the silence linger until he heard footsteps walk up behind him, the measured and rhythmic click of shoes on the wooden floor bounced off the walls until they came to a stop behind him.
“Yes, Sonic?” Shadow glanced at him over his shoulder. “Wasn’t staying here too long scandalous or something?”
“Pin the favor on for me?” He asked, holding up the crest of the royal house. A red and gold pin that Sonic was rarely seen without.
The truth of the matter was the Champion and the Prince being infatuated with one another was a rather open secret. People knew, no one talked. The tolerance for which was only begrudgingly allowed by the King. In public they at least remained rather cordial with one another, only sometimes showing more affection in passing… though usually it was Sonic displaying said affection and Shadow just did not deter him. A bit of a game that a few of the courtiers watched keenly. Naturally, since the relationship was unofficial, it stopped very few from flirting with the Champion himself, attention he basked in readily and that Shadow found annoying. That was fine, Sonic found Shadow’s anger and irritation fun in the right contexts. Getting a rise out of the crown prince was always a joy.
Shadow turned and snatched the pin from him. “You hardly deserve it after allowing Lady Rose to monopolize you all through dinner.” Despite his annoyance, he still reached to put the pin in Sonic’s vest, over the left side.
“Amy’s harmless and you know it. Besides, if you had it your way, I’d be quiet through every event.” Sonic snorted.
“Now there’s an idea.” Shadow smirked again.
Sonic rolled his eyes and stepped back once Shadow had finished putting the pin in place. “I’ll take my leave now then before your father spots me. The last thing anyone needs is him scowling through the whole tournament.”
“I’d think you’d find that amusing.” Shadow replied, folding his arms over his chest as Sonic went for the large wooden door.
“Maybe on a different day, Shads.” He waved, taking off down the hall fast enough to send a passing servant spinning with a yelp. Shadow just watched the door for a moment, waiting. Sonic ran back into the room mere seconds later to steal a kiss before taking off once more. Satisfied, Shadow turned to go get himself dressed for the day, catching a glimpse of blue rush out of the palace from his bedroom window. While outward displays of affection typically weren’t his thing, he could afford himself a moment to let hid gaze linger fondly.
It was five years prior that Sonic first arrived to the capitol of the Kingdom of Arkall. When he’d first received an invitation from the King to come compete in The Grand Tournament, he’d thought it was a joke. He was some small town hero in Hill Garden, known for being a show off and having a habit of throwing himself headlong into danger. Bandits had set upon their local lord’s home and Sonic had gone and single handedly kicked them all out. The King was impressed with the heroics of an 18 year old who had never so much as learned to hold a sword. The Tournament was by invitation only and he’d received one at the request of Hill Garden’s lord, though it’d taken no twisting of the King’s arm to do so. He'd even gotten an invite to meet the King in the palace.
Arriving in the capitol, he was surprised by how busy it was. Hill Garden was a small town and Eternus left him reeling the moment the carriage he’d caught to take him and his brother north rode into town. The bustle, the smell of fresh baked goods, music… all so deliciously overwhelming and the eighteen-year-old had been so thrilled to be somewhere new. As much as he adored Hill Garden, there was a bit of a desire to run far away just to see what could be seen.
Sonic glanced to his brother who appeared to be in just as much awe as he had. He grinned and nudged the small, orange fox. Barely a teenager and still quite small, he jumped and looked over at Sonic.
“This is our stop then!” Sonic chimed, hopping off the still moving carriage. “C’mon Tails!”
The fox rushed, floundering a little, to hop off too. He managed to do it with minimal stumbling, not that it mattered, with Sonic’s speed he was pretty easily able to prevent him from totally losing his footing.
"Weren't we supposed to head up to the palace?" Tails asked, stabilizing himself.
"Yeah, we were but I figured we could walk the rest of the way." Sonic shrugged. "C'mon, it's the big one to the north."
Tails rolled his eyes, the massive palace ahead visible from every corner of the town. "Gee, how'd you figure that one out?"
"Magic~"
The palace itself was much grander than its image had been approaching it. It was often hard to determine how big things like this could be until you saw them in person. The guards weren't all that tough to deal with, he showed the invitation and they let him in happily. It seemed they had been waiting for his arrival with mild excitement. One of the guards took the two of them through the vestibule and up a flight of stairs to the left with a matching right side, red and gold draped the marble and the banisters were so ornately carved... Sonic was sure he could never afford even a thread on the rugs let alone any of this.
The guard brought the two of them up to a set of doors, towering from floor to ceiling at least thirty feet tall and made of some dark, heavy wood. The doors had smaller doors built into them, it was these smaller ones that the guard opened to allow them to enter. Inside the awaiting room was a collection of courtiers, each chattering amongst themselves. Music was playing within, strings and flutes filling the air with light tunes that complemented the casual air of the gathering. At the head of the room was the King himself and seated next to him was the Crown Prince. The King looked absolutely delighted to see Sonic but the Prince himself couldn't care less. He afforded Sonic a brief glance before turning his bored attention elsewhere.
"Introducing His Majesty, King Mors Night Victoris of Arkall and His Royal Highness, Prince Terios Shadow Heres of Arkall." The Guard turned and bowed to his King before pivoting to introduce their unusual guests. "And announcing Oglevie Maurice Herisson and Miles Prower of Hill Garden."
It took everything in Tails not to laugh. He wasn't sure he'd heard anyone so blatantly state Sonic's full name in front of god and everyone like that. It was made even funnier by the nearly jarred, embarrassed expression Sonic had that he tried so very hard to hide.
"Hah, yeah, I tend to prefer Sonic, if it's all the same to you though er... Your Majesty." Sonic tried to correct it. "It's what everyone calls me."
There was a scoff from the seat of the Prince and something that sounded an awful lot like "I wonder why."
Mors's grin was wide and bright. "It's wonderful to meet you then, Sonic. Hill Garden and the surrounding villages have nothing but praises to sing. From what I hear you'll be a rather interesting competitor in the tournament!"
Sonic's grin matched pretty easily. "No one can beat me. I can wipe the floor with all of them."
There were several gasps and murmurs, most of them seemed to not care too much for his brash nature but the King's smile never faded.
Mors laughed, deep and rumbling. "Put your money where your mouth is and you'll be Champion of Arkall."
For his part, Prince Terios seemed rather annoyed by the cocky nature Sonic displayed so unabashadly. It'd be a novelty sure, but the hedgehog would surely be outdone by their best knights and athletes. Someone with no practical training like himself couldn't stand a chance in the tournament.
But he did.
Round one had been a race, naturally he was well equipped for that, there was zero contest as he blew everyone out of the water. Round two had been a bit of a gauntlet, an obstacle course designed to test quick thinking, it was another challenge Sonic blew through like nothing. By that point the crowd was absolutely going wild for Sonic, the King was just as excited as the rest... curiously, the Crown Prince had started to show interest, something that was idle gossip between rounds.
Shadow was so convinced he wouldn't be able to make it past the last round though, all his attention was focused on how satisfying it'd be to watch that ego get knocked down a peg. Round three, the final round, was a fight between the competitors. Last one standing was the winner. Sonic seemed to struggle with this, but only after handily knocking several competitors out of the arena within the first few rounds. Finally, it was him and the previous Champion, a massive gorilla ready to tear him in two. This fight was much harder, blow for blow each spin attack was pretty easily blocked. When straight brute force didn't work, he decided to tire out the big guy. He ran him ragged around the ring, dodging and speeding off for the gorilla to chase him until finally Sonic got a good opening, knocking him out of the arena and winning.
All three rounds. Won. Shadow was impressed... and just about everyone could see it.
Title in hand, it was time to feast. Tails remembered losing track of Sonic that night, he wasn't sure what occurred exactly but from Sonic's perspective he'd been fighting off would be suitors all night. At least a half dozen girls who were so enthralled by his performance and he soaked it up like nothing.
Eventually his attention was drawn to Prince Terios across the room who had been staring only to immediately pretend he wasn't. Sonic excused himself to go over to talk to him, that cocky attitude practically palpible.
"I do hope you had fun." Sonic grinned, getting familiar way too quickly.
"Tch. I suppose you want congratulations for your success? You've handily won yourself a title, hedgehog, don't get too arrogant now." Shadow scoffed in turn.
"Does your champion displease you?" Sonic leaned in a bit, smarmy grin still plastered to his dumb face.
"If I said that you do, would you leave me alone?" Shadow tapped his foot impatiently, growing more frustrated with the blue bastard the longer the conversation went on.
"I think it'd make me want to please you more." Sonic retorted smoothly.
"In which case, I'm very content." Shadow donned a fake smile, taking a sip from his glass. "I'm sure you have better things to do than bother me. Why don't you go back to your admirers, I'm sure one of them will find a suitable way to celebrate with you."
"I would but you're much more fun to talk to, Prince Terios." Sonic hummed.
Shadow scowled. He detested that name. The naming conventions for nobility were always in threes. The given name, the common name, and the epithet. He'd never liked Terios and had always preferred his common name. Terios Shadow Heres was some icon on display it was long and unweildy. Shadow felt personal, like he wasn't a crown and a title.
"Funny, I do not find joy in your company." Shadow wasn't sure what about Sonic irritated him so much, he knew it was partly the cocky attitude but this was a bit petulant now.
"And yet you haven't told me to leave or walked away~"
"And give you the satisfaction?! Never."
Sonic stood straight, leaning back on his heels and eyeing Shadow over briefly, something that had Shadow's eye twitching and his face red.
"We'll be seeing a lot of each other now, your highness. At least until the Grand Tournament next year. Might as well get friendly." Sonic's tone was cool, collected, and thoroughly amused.
"Something tells me your brand of 'friendly' is too familiar." Shadow scoffed. "Remember your place, commoner. You might have a flashy title but it's temporary. You'll be back in Hill Garden this time next year."
"Heh, sure, keep telling yourself that. I just wanted to come say hi since you looked so lonely all the way over here." Sonic's demeanor shifted ever so slightly away from whatever obnoxious flirtation he'd been displaying to something more casually friendly... and an observation that took Shadow completely by surprise.
"Lonely?" He prodded. People didn't know how to interact with Shadow much. He was standoffish and cold and most of the courtiers didn't like that. He had their respect but none of their friendship.
"Might be the wrong word but something close to it. You just looked like you were watching everyone else have all the fun. Figured it didn't hurt to come talk with you." Sonic took a couple steps back. "Sorry if I was actually bothering you, you're pretty fun to bother~ I'll probably be doing it a lot more from now on."
Shadow watched him go, teeth grit with that same irritation back in full force. Bother?! He wanted to be left alone! Couldn't Sonic see that like everyone else? And yet... he found himself oddly comforted. Still, Sonic's audacity wouldn't last long. Within a year he'd surely be gone.
But he wasn't.
With each passing year he'd won handily again and again and by the time he'd won a third year in a row, Shadow was reluctantly less closed off to Sonic. That was the year it finally happened. Months spent chipping away at the shell to reveal the person beneath had worked and the two were in an odd predicament.
After that victory feast, King Mors was less a fan of Sonic and Shadow a much larger fan.
The King never outright denied them each other but it definitely displeased him that his heir had taken a lover and wouldn't entertain marriage at all. He'd let a commoner into his home, gave him a chance to be great and Sonic had taken the mile and gotten into bed with his son. It was all the court talked about behind closed doors... and with each year, five years running now, they'd only grown closer and closer. Mors's annoyance grew more palpible and Sonic was sure if he ever lost his title, he'd be sent home in no uncertain terms.
Which led to the sixth tournament Sonic had participated in. The one occurring in the present. He was geared and ready to go, lined up among the other competitors with the royal crest pinned to his chest. These competitors each were people Sonic had seen about every year. However, among them was a face he'd never seen before. Tall, black and white with the most unruly fur. A jackal? This far north? Wherever he'd come from, Sonic didn't have time to ponder as the first round began: the foot race.
With the announcer calling "Go!" All contestants were off and Sonic was completely unaware what he was up against.