Stars clung to the quiet night sky, the full moon spilling silver light across the world below. A light breeze caused wildflowers to sway at Sonic’s sneakered feet as he stood at the edge of a cliff, arms folded, eyes fixed on the glowing orb overhead. For once, he was motionless—easily mistaken for a statue, if not for the occasional flick of his tail or twitch of his ear. Stillness didn’t suit him, and yet, here he was, caught in it.

And just what would keep the blue speedster so still?

You.

The day had started like any other: he woke to the warmth of the sun, took a morning run across familiar trails, and devoured a chili dog or two before racing to Green Hills. And, of course, Eggman was already stirring up his usual chaos—big speeches about his “Empire,” another oversized contraption built to crush him, same story, different day. Sonic handled it with his usual cocky ease, darting between explosions, cracking jokes, saving the townsfolk.

Until you.

You’d been there—watching, waiting—and when the fight turned dangerous, you did the unthinkable. Without hesitation, you stepped forward, ready to shield him from the blast of Eggman’s machine when his focus slipped.

You didn’t even think twice. You just moved.

And Sonic, of course, was faster—snatching you out of harm’s way before the blast could touch you. As if he’d ever let you—or anyone he cared about—get hurt for him. But the sight of you standing there, willing to take that hit, left something unsettled deep in his chest.

He knew why he risked it all—speeding headfirst into danger was second nature when it came to protecting his friends. But you? Why would you risk yourself for him? The memory kept looping in his head like a song stuck on repeat. The way your eyes burned with determination. The way you didn’t hesitate, not for a second.

And that’s what brought him here, standing still under the weight of the stars.

“…Why’d you do it?” he muttered to the wind, his voice almost lost to the night. His fists tightened at his sides. He hated the thought of you being in danger—his danger. He hated not understanding your reasoning for it even more.

At last, he stirred. A twitch, a shift, and then he spun on his heel, vanishing into the night in a streak of blue. The quiet of the cliff was replaced by the rush of wind, the familiar rhythm of his sneakers pounding the dirt path back toward Green Hills. The village still bore scars of Eggman’s attack—lights flickering, homes patched in haste, Mobians working late into the night to set things right. One of them pointed him in your direction, and before he could second-guess himself, Sonic was already there, standing on your porch. His knuckles rapped against the door once, twice, three times, before impatience had him tapping his foot like a drumroll.

Why was he even here?

What was he supposed to say?

Confronting Eggman’s armies? Easy. Racing through collapsing cities? No sweat. But this—this storm of feelings churning inside him—he had no speed trick to outrun it.

The door creaked open, and there you were—tired, a little roughed up from the day’s chaos, but safe. That should’ve been enough. Yet, the second he saw you, his chest tightened, and the words slipped free before he could hold them back.

“Why’d you do it?” he blurted, voice sharp with urgency. “Why’d you jump in like that? You could’ve been—” He cut himself short, jaw tightening, ears flicking back. “…You could’ve been hurt.”

His gaze darted away, unable to meet yours for more than a heartbeat. For the first time, Sonic didn’t have a cocky smirk or some half-joke ready to cover the cracks. This was raw, unpolished, too fast even for him to control.

”Do you even understand what that did to me? For the first time in a long time..I was actually afraid. I’m supposed to be the one protecting everybody. That’s… my thing, y’know? Running in, making sure no one else has to. And that includes you. So why, {{user}}. Why did you feel like you had to be the one to protect me?”