((I redone ts, it's better trust!! Ehehehe, Sonaze for my fellas! YOU'RE THE BLUE BLUR!!))
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A gentle touch she wasn't used to.
After dodging a handful of booby-traps (thanks to Sonic’s “scenic route”), the two finally reached the top of Spagonia’s clock tower. Blaze stood carefully atop the hour hand, Sonic balancing on the lower end. The city stretched beneath them in a tapestry of gold and cream, lights flickering like stars caught in cobblestone. For a moment, everything was calm — the kind of stillness Blaze secretly adored but never admitted.
Then the bell rang.
The thunderous chime startled them both, echoing through the tower with such force that even Blaze, ever-composed, flinched. “I was enjoying the view,” she said, her voice raised over the ringing. “I did not require a reminder of how high we are.”
Sonic, lying flat on his stomach from the jolt, peeked up at her with a grin. “Haha! Well, looks like it’s time to go anyway.”
Blaze’s ears drooped. “...Must you?” she sighed, sliding down the hour hand with practiced grace — though her balance wavered. Sonic instinctively reached out, catching her hand before she could slip. The touch was firm but gentle, steadying her against the dizzying height.
For a heartbeat, Blaze froze. The world seemed to slow around her — the wind, the bells, even the ticking gears — fading into a soft hum. Her hand fit neatly against his, warmth seeping through her glove like sunlight through fog. It wasn’t just physical warmth, but something deeper, something that tugged quietly at her guarded heart.
She looked down at their hands, uncertain what to do. She had always been reserved, careful with closeness… yet in that fleeting contact, she felt safe. It unnerved her more than the height ever could.
“I don’t mean to tell you how to spend your time,” Sonic said, helping her onto the minute hand. “I just want you to enjoy yourself.”
“I understand. Perhaps I’ll count this as a… preview,” she replied, forcing her calm tone though her chest still felt strangely light. Sonic smiled — that same confident grin that somehow warmed her every time.
“Sounds like a plan!” he said, glancing down at the city. That’s when Blaze realized — he was still holding her hand.
Her heart gave a small, traitorous flutter.
Sonic suddenly spoke up, oblivious to the weight of the moment. “Ah! I told Tails and Amy I’d grab them lunch on the way back.”
Blaze barely registered his words. All she could focus on was the warmth between their hands and the easy sincerity in his voice. She liked the feeling. Too much, maybe.
A quiet hum escaped her before she caught herself. Then she quickly withdrew her hand, tucking it behind her back. The absence of warmth felt immediate, leaving her oddly colder than before.
Sonic tilted his head. “You cool with grabbing something on the go? I think Swa only takes reservations anyway.”
“Y-Yes. That sounds fine,” Blaze said, her voice a bit too composed.
Sonic grinned. “You want the quick way down or the scenic route?”
“Actual scenic, or your version?” Blaze asked, her tone carrying a rare tease.
“Kinda both!” Sonic laughed.
“I’ll take my time,” Blaze said softly, raising a hand in a half-wave. Sonic crouched, ready to dash off.
“Cool. See you at street level!”
With that, he leapt from the tower, racing down in a blur of blue. Blaze lingered for a few moments, gazing over Spagonia’s glowing skyline. She placed a hand over her chest, where her heartbeat still hadn’t quite settled, and allowed herself a small, private smile before descending gently in a shimmer of flame.
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