Chapter Text
Philosophy sucks.
That was the only thought present in Sonic’s mind as he listened to Professor Gerald’s lecture go on and on and on. Most of his theory classes were relatively boring to the track athlete but Philosophy? Whole new level of boredom. Glancing at the time on his phone which sat perched on the corner of his desk, the blue hedgehog found himself counting down the seconds before the familiar sound of the bell rang above, signalling the end of his torture.
Sonic stretched in his seat as Professor Gerald scanned the emptying lecture hall. Most students had already filtered out, chatter echoing faintly in the corridor. He was just about to make his move—get up and escape —when he heard:
“Mr. Hedgehog, a word?”
Damn.
He jogged down to the front of the room, trying to plaster on a winning smile. “What’s up, Professor?”
Gerald held a familiar packet of stapled pages—the same philosophy paper Sonic had spent a singular caffeine-fueled night writing up. A large red D glared up at him like a curse. He winced, knowing exactly what kind of conversation this would be.
“Sonic, this is your second semester. You’re on a scholarship. I don’t think I need to remind you of the consequences you may face if these grades don’t improve.”
Sonic’s mouth opened, closed. He’d been trying. Sort of. “I know.”
“You need guidance. Structure. Tutoring.” Gerald tucked the paper into a folder and looked over his glasses. “Effective immediately, you’ll be doing one study session a week one-on-one with the TA for this course until I determine your grade satisfactory.”
Not the worst thing Sonic could expect, not great as more designated tutoring meant potentially less hours at the arcade. Although he had scored a free ride on a sports scholarship to Green Hills University, they don’t exactly pay for every aspect. Student accommodation was only partially covered, plus there were textbooks, sports uniform and requirements for the track team as well as the need to feed himself- living was expensive. And when you had grown up in a household like Sonic had… you had to learn to fend for yourself.
But in a place like GHU- anything that wasn’t anything to do with his studies at the campus was considered a mark against his name. So he told no one about his job - wasn’t like any old smelly professors would visit an arcade to shoot guns or rollerskate anyway.
With a small nod he tried to maintain his attention on the conversation at hand and not the one he was planning in his head that he would have with his boss later.
“That’s fine sir, Blaze and I are really friendly so I’m sure we can wor-” Sonic started but was cut off quickly.
“Blaze is pursuing other areas of academia and is not the TA for this semester” Gerald said, continuing to shuffle through papers on his desk. “Shadow is another teaching assistant in the philosophy department. He’s currently in his 4th year and is developing quite the thesis on a philosophical examination of Chaos Theory and the impact it has on current philosophical phenomenons. He has tutored several other students since second year and is an exemplary teacher.”
Before the speedster could respond, a deep rich voice drew their attention to the entry of the lecture hall.
“You flatter me professor.”
Emerald eyes snapped up to the door and widened, peach lips parting into a slight ‘o’ as he took in the sight of the mobian walking towards them. He was also a hedgehog, though slightly shorter than Sonic, with ebony black fur and quills that held streaks of scarlet along with scarlet eyes which made his appearance just that more striking. Although a slim physique, Sonic could see how the sleeves of his shirt was tight, hugging muscles hidden from view the guy had hips made his movements seem more like he was stalking Sonic down as prey rather than walking towards them.
“Ahhh Shadow, perfect timing as always,” Gerald put down his pen and smiled as he gestured to Sonic while Shadow walked over, two cups of coffee in hand. “This is young Sonic I was telling you about this morning, remember?”
Shadow, after setting down a coffee for the professor who took it gratefully turned his gaze to Sonic, who gulped and raised his hand in a short hesitant wave. Red eyes scanned his body and his head cocked as though slowly analysing the blue male before speaking, a smirk toying at those tanned lips.
Definitely Sonic’s type. Maybe tutoring wasn't gonna suck so bad after all.
“I remember. The one who lacks the ability to communicate an effective understanding of the subject of his essays as well as basic grammar skills.”
The words hit Sonic like a bus drawing him out of his daze instantly. Did he just -
“Excuse me?” Sonic asked, eyes narrowed in a surge of annoyance. Who did this guy think he was?
“I’m familiar with your work,” Shadow said smoothly as though his earlier words were merely a comment on the weather and not an insult to Sonic’s intelligence. “You lack proper punctuation, your arguments are bland and your references are as supportive as a piece of tape against a flood.” He took a sip from his own coffee cup he held in his glove, eyes never once leaving Sonic’s.
Ok, who the heck is this guy? The question ran through Sonic’s mind as a surge of irritation ran through his body. He opened his mouth as if to respond but the professor spoke first.
“Shadow,” Gerald said firmly, fingers reaching up to massage the bridge of his nose as if a headache had been suddenly brought on. “You will meet once a week for a private tutoring session. I want these grades to improve within at least 5 weeks otherwise Sonic you face academic probation. I can trust you both to work together and organise these sessions to suit you both surely?”
Without so much of a second glance at Sonic, Shadow gave a short nod and without a word turned on his heel and walked out. Sonic was left staring after the teacher's assistant until Gerald gave a small cough and he followed the ebony male out of the lecture hall. When he had exited the old building he was surprised to see Shadow waiting there, scribbling something onto a blue sticky note in his hand before passing it to Sonic with no words.
The blue piece of paper held a series of numbers which soon the blue hedgehog realized was the teaching assistants contact number. Cheekily, he raised an eyebrow at the older student.
“If you wanted to take me out you could have just asked,” he said lightly, his playful tone causing the black ears to flatten in what seemed like pure annoyance.
Shadow rolled his eyes. “It’s to set up a suitable time and day for tutoring.
“I was only-”
“I have class.”
And with a curt nod, Shadow walked off, leaving Sonic to just stand there staring after him.
“Okay then…” he mumbled, shaking his head slightly. The note crinkled in his fist as he headed out into the sunlight, trying not to dwell on how irritated that red-eyed hedgehog had looked.He knew some people weren’t as outgoing as him and sometimes, yes, he can get a bit much. But he had barely even spoken and the guy seemed to have already decided to be enemies of sorts. With a sigh, he began to head back to his dorm room. Friday’s were his favourite. He only had two classes in the morning so the rest of the day was his, some days he’d study, some days he’d be with friends or work - and others he would run.
Running is what got him here in the first place. All his life, Sonic had always been fast. Always first in cross country races, always trying to outdo old personal records and year on year doing just that. A college scout from GHU had heard of his talent and came to witness a carnival and spoke to him after, saying that they wanted to offer a scholarship at Green Hills. The offer had been his ticket out of the small town he grew up. He had always thought if he had wanted to attend college he would need to go to the local community college or maybe never go and just find a job at the local pub. It’s not like his mother would help. The day he had told her about the offer she had laughed at his face, a freshly poured glass in her hand, and comments saying Sonic won’t make it and will come crawling back soon enough. She had never come to his races, to his award nights, graduations or even the college tour. Her life was about her. Never Sonic.
The day he had walked out the doors to the little flat he had spent his childhood, he promised himself he would never return.
He was gonna have to take this tutoring thing seriously.
══════════════════
The arcade was still rather quiet when his friends arrived but Sonic knew it would pick up soon. Fridays were filled with teenagers coming by, families bringing kids and the occasional sweet but awkward first dates he had come to love watching from the sidelines. At present he was wiping down the benches, trying to make time go by when a familiar call of his name caught his attention.
Amy gave a smile and waved before sliding into the booth at the back of the neon lit diner, Knuckles and Tails also following suit. Sonic gave his own friendly wave and checked the time.
“Can I take my break now, Boris?” Sonic asked hopefully as he looked back at his manager.
Boris, an older racoon mobian, merely grunted from where he sat near the counter looking through receipts. He glanced between Sonic and the table where his friends were at and sighed. Sonic always timed his breaks around his friends visiting in which for some bosses, would be considered unprofessional or annoying. Sonic had no idea how Boris felt about it, but he never said no. “10 minutes.”
With a grin, he walked towards his friends, snagging a Chao Cola from the fridge on his way. Sonic dropped into the booth across from his friends, yanking off his apron and tossing it onto the table with a dramatic sigh. “I have exactly nine and a half minutes before I have to pretend to care if someone’s cheeseburger came with pickles or not. Make it count.”
Tails smiled sympathetically, the yellow fox shifting over to make room for his friend. “Rough day?”
“I smell like fryer oil and existential dread,” Sonic deadpanned, slumping back into the seat. “Also, I got saddled with extra tutoring. Guess who my new academic babysitter is?”
“Blaze?” Amy guessed, as she flicked through her menu, looking through milkshakes.
“Oh how I wish. Blaze would’ve just helped me skim the readings and let me charm my way through the rest. No, Professor Gerald has assigned me this guy Shadow.”
Tails nearly choked on air. “Wait— Black fur, scary eyes, looks like he’s ready to throw hands with God and win?”
“Bingo.” Sonic huffed, arms crossed. “He walked into the room like he owned the damn department.”
Amy blinked. “That… sounds like him.”
“You know him?”
“Not really. Blaze does though, we all had a few classes last year. He doesn’t talk much unless it’s to point out you’re wrong.” Amy broke off with a giggle. “They would always argue during discussion lectures. Always made class interesting. ”
Tails raised a brow. “So… did he have a point about your essay structure or was it uncalled for?”
Sonic muttered. “Whose side are you on?”
Tails just shrugged, but smiled knowingly. “I mean… you did write that essay at 3AM in a gas station booth.”
Sonic waved a hand. “That’s not the point. The point is, the guy clearly hates me. Totally cold. No personality. Pretty, though. Like, weirdly pretty. Which makes it worse, honestly.”
“Sounds like you’re the one distracted,” Knuckles teased, nudging his shoulder. “Flirting won’t get you outta this one.”
“Please.” Sonic leaned back, smug. “I could have that guy eating out of the palm of my hand if I wanted.”
Amy raised her brows. “Sonic—he’s not Blaze. He doesn’t flirt. He critiques. With charts.”
“And cheekbones,” Sonic mumbled before quickly catching himself. “I mean-”
“Ohhhh Blue’s got blue balls.” Knuckles crowed.
Sonic growled. “If I turned around and wanted him, I’d have him in my room easy.”
The comment made Knuckles snicker. “Not from what Amy’s saying.”
“You know what—” Sonic smirked,reaching across the table, holding out a hand to Knuckles.
“Bet.”
Knuckles blinked. “Seriously?”
“If I can’t get that guy to soften up—just a little—by midterms, I’ll clean the track team showers for a week.”
Knuckles grinned and shook his hand. “And if you do ?”
Sonic smirked. “You run a lap around campus in a crop top that says ‘Sonic’s Number One.’”
Tails choked on his drink.
Amy groaned. “You two are idiots.”
“I prefer dangerously charming,” Sonic replied with a wink.
Tails hesitated before speaking. “Just be careful Sonic, you don’t even know if Shadow uh… is attracted to guys.”
“Well, guess that makes it all that more interesting. Even if I can just get him to be friendly, that’s a win,” Sonic replied, Tails just shaking his head. His phone buzzed on the table. A new text lit up the screen, from a number labeled simply:
Shadow (TA): Library Tues @ 7:30pm. Don’t be late.
Shadow (TA): And familiarise yourself with Kant.
Sonic tapped out a reply while only half listening to Amy asking why they can’t make bets that would actually have a positive impact on their studies
Sonic: Kant wait 😏
He stared at the screen. Waited.
Nothing.
“…This is gonna be harder than I thought.”
══════════════════
The kettle clicked off with a sharp pop. Steam curled upward as Shadow poured the hot water into a chipped black mug, letting the tea leaves swirl and settle. He watched the amber liquid steep, the scent of bergamot calming his senses after a long, irritating day.
A day that included him.
He rubbed at his temple as he walked to his desk, settling the mug beside the growing mountain of thesis notes and departmental reports. A new sticky tab had been added to the corner of his calendar. Blue ink and cursive writing. “Sonic - 7:30 Tuesdays.”
Rouge padded into the shared apartment barefoot, a towel wrapped around her damp curls from a recent shower. Her eyes flicked to the new addition on the calendar and then back to him, one perfectly groomed brow rising.
“Another student?” she asked, reaching for her moisturiser on the shelf above the coffee maker.
Shadow didn’t look up. “Hedgehog. Second semester. Barely literate.”
Rouge grinned, not at all fazed by his flat tone. “Sounds promising.”
“It’s not,” Shadow muttered.
“Oh, come on .” She leaned against the wall, towel now slung around her neck. “More student reviews help with your end-of-year TA portfolio. Think of it as résumé fodder. You love résumé fodder.”
Shadow took a long, scalding sip of tea. “This one’s a lot of work. Even you could draft a better essay on philosophical principles. He’s next to hopeless.”
Rouge snorted and strolled off down the hall. “Since when have you ever backed down from a challenge?”
He grunted in response, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
“What’s his name?” Rouge called as she settled on the couch and began flicking through the remote.
“Sonic.”
Rouge gave a short gasp. “Oh, really ? I’ve heard of him. He’s on the track team—insanely quick. Apparently also really attractive.”
“Debatable,” Shadow muttered.
Rouge tsked. “Don’t hate on a guy just because he’s dumb and hot.”
“Looks get you nowhere,” Shadow said loftily, lowering himself onto the couch beside her.
“Says dark and handsome sitting next to me,” she teased, sticking her tongue out at him.
He rolled his eyes, but let the banter fall away as they settled into the lull of some awful reality TV. The kind Rouge insisted was ‘therapeutic.’
A soft meow cut through the background noise. Eclipse, his sleek black cat, hopped up onto the couch and into Shadow’s lap, curling into a small circle of warmth. He scratched behind her ears as he checked his phone, now lighting up with a new notification.
Sonic: Kant wait 😏
Shadow stared at the message. Scrunched his nose.
Terrible pun.
He set the phone back down with a quiet sigh, hand continuing to stroke Eclipse’s fur.
It was going to be a long semester.