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He was in rut.
At least, that's what his creator called it. A period of time where his hormones went wild. It coincided with the internal clocks of other mobian hedgehogs, all of them far outside of the facility where he was kept. The sweltering heat had them seeking each other out, pairing up, for the sake of reproduction. “Engaging in things that you needn't even consider, Project Shadow,” said the professor. “None of it is of any concern to you.” And that was that. He had no real interest in meeting with another mobian for anything like that, or anyone at all to be honest. At least, he hadn't before.
Now? It was an entirely different story. The past few days he'd felt urges. Strange, inexplicable desires that he had never felt before. Right on the eve of his sixth “birthday”. His body started feeling hot. His mind was clouded, and he'd had to hide more than once when something stirred in the pouch between his legs. He'd furiously stroke himself while hunched over in a supply closet more times than he wanted to admit. Drooled as he chewed on things he'd pilfered. Grunt and huff and have to disguise it as inconsequential noises he was making as he thought.
The problem was that he was thinking, and his thoughts were the farthest thing from innocuous as could be. Because the reason, more often than not, that he had all these urges was because Maria Robotnik was on his mind. Or by his side. It was… It was a sin. Gaia would damn him to their darkest depths for his transgression. But he couldn't help it. Not when she- with her slim figure, her golden hair and her warm eyes- was perfect. The things he wanted to do to her… With her…
Shadow gulped as he looked down at the chewed up, saliva-covered remains of the underwear he stole from her laundry. The fourth pair. Ruined by holes he'd torn into them. His hand was around his penis and stroking roughly. He swallowed again and closed his eyes and lowered his snout into the center of her panties and sucked in a breath. Her scent enveloped him until it felt like he was sinking in it and would never escape.
“Maria…” he moaned helplessly. “ Fuck- Maria!”
Hot, white liquid spilled out from the tip of the body part in his hand. He was imagining it inside of her. He imagined that he was covering her, that he was pumping her full of his semen. That he was b reeding her somehow. Some sick, twisted part of him desperately wanted her to somehow come out the other side of it all carrying his hoglets. Shadow whimpered her name one last time as he collapsed back onto his bed. He'd just closed his eyes when there was a knock on his bedroom door and a voice that made them fly back open and turned his blood to ice.
“Shadow…? Are you alright? I thought I heard you call my name, are you in there?”
The ultimate lifeform started panicking. He'd locked his door, hadn't he? As quickly as he could he vaporized the evidence of his theft with chaos energy. Shadow knew a locked door wasn't going to keep her out if she really wanted to come in. “I'll- I'll be right there!” he called back, his voice strained from his panic. The adrenaline from fear was enough to get him to tear the sheets off of his bed and throw them in a corner. “I, ah, I just got out of the shower! I'm indecent!! ” As indecent as a mobian could be, anyways. What was worse, he didn't care because he was never around other mobians. Maria had seen him plenty of times with nothing on, just like he had nothing on now-
“...What? Shadow, you never cared about that before. Give me a real reason not to come in and check on you.”
Shadow cursed fiercely using every single curse word he knew. He had to scrub himself off. His penis was still retracting into his sheath. The smell of the act and his attempts to cover himself in her scent was heavy. There was no time to fix any of that at all. In a fit of desperation, he tore off the bed cover and draped it over himself like a robe. He quickly padded over to the door as soon as it was in place and opened it just enough to peer outside.
The moment he laid his eyes on her, there was heat and blood rushing back down in between his legs. She… She'd grown strong, after the cure made from his blood cells had taken hold. He'd grown up with her, and he… He was thinking of her like this? By Gaia's darkest depths, he was sick. Shadow swallowed and stared at her with wide eyes. She was staring back at him, her brows furrowed and her face full of concern.
“I'm fine,” he whispered. “Really.” Maria gazed at him for a moment, then glanced over him to try and see into his room. It was dark, thank everything holy, and there was nothing to see anyways. But she still frowned when she looked back at him. “...Can I come in? We haven't talked a lot since your birthday,” she replied just as quietly, making his ears swivel until they were pinned against his skull. Even more guilt quickly started to weigh him down.
Of course his creator hadn't mentioned what was going on to her. The professor would never want her to be corrupted. Shadow didn't want her to be corrupted either. She didn't need to know what was happening to him.
But of course…
She saw the way he reacted and knew something really was wrong. And as close as the two of them had become over the five years they had been together? Maria wasn't going to just let it go and leave. Shadow watched her worry at her bottom lip. Her hands had been by her side, but now they were crossed. “Maria, you shouldn't,” he pleaded, even if it was hopeless. His beautiful, radiant friend shook her head. “No, I'm coming in. If you're sick, I don't want to let you go through it alone. You were there for me, Shadow. I can't stand aside and do nothing for you in return.”
He didn't deserve her.
Shadow swallowed nervously, but retreated enough that she could push the door open and walk in. He stared as she stepped in and her nose curled. More guilt. More regret. His heart was beating rapidly in his chest. She didn't say anything about it as she closed the door behind her. Shadow trailed after her nervously until she sat on the edge of his bed. When she patted the spot next to her, he sat there; bed cover and all while trying to hunch over. So what was happening between his legs wasn't obvious. The two of them just sat next to each other for a few minutes after that.
The silence was tortuous. Maria sat her hands in her lap and fidgeted with the edge of her shirt. He glanced up at her, and when she looked back at him, he shivered and gasped. His penis twitched, and he ached . The gentle smile she gave him only made it worse. “M-Maria,” Shadow stammered. She pursed her lips in concern as she tilted her head in confusion. “What is it? I promise you can tell me, Shadow. I'm not going to judge you.”
He went still. His gaze wavered because he just couldn't look directly at her when he asked, “You promise me you won't?” She smiled again and shook her head. “Not at all. You're my best friend. You can tell me anything, I promise.” Shadow took in a deep breath to try and get some control, any control at all over himself and the way his body was reacting to her presence. He had to before he started trying to explain or he'd ramble. In the end he had to look down at the floor. The last place he was going to be able to look was in her direction.
“I, ah… The professor. He explained it a while ago. I'm in what he calls ‘rut’.”
There was silence for another moment. Maria’s eyes were darting back and forth, likely because she was trying to figure out what that meant. He pulled his knees against his chest and waited for her to get disgusted and leave. Like she should. A minute passed without it happening. Then another. Another and another. He felt like he was going to break down when she finally spoke again. There was an uncertainty in her voice, but she was still calm as she asked, “Can you explain what that is? Grandpa never mentioned it to me at all.”
Shadow winced. “It means- it means I… I want to procreate with someone. And this is the best time to do it.” He hated every word that came out of his mouth. He silently begged her not to ask him who he wanted to do it with. There was another round of silence as Maria continued to fidget with the hem of her shirt. “You mean… you want to have sex with someone?” He swallowed. When he spoke it was barely audible.
“Yes. I do.”
She glanced over at him, her brows furrowed again, but her blue eyes shining with curiosity.
“...Is it anyone I know?”
He could lie to her. He could lie, because lying was wrong, but not as wrong as what he wanted. He could tell her any one of the scant few mobians that he'd passed by. He hadn't said a word to any of them. They always looked at him with a sneer, and he'd decided long ago he wanted nothing to do with a single one of them. …Maria was not going to entertain a lie like that even for a second. Panic began to build up in him again. He clutched at his chest. His lungs felt like they weren't working. He couldn't get his heartbeat under control. When she found out, he was never going to see her beautiful face ever again .
An endless stream of “I'm sorry” and tears spilled out of him. Shadow buried his own face in his hands so she didn't have to see it. He was just so disgusting. He just… He loved her so much. But he and his love were both wrong, wrong wrong wrong- The last thing he expected were her arms wrapping around him and pulling him against her chest. He immediately went completely still. “It's okay,” she murmured as her arms wrapped around him tighter. “It's alright, Shadow. I'm here.” He breathed in her intoxicating scent and groaned. Oh, Gaia's light, she was… Indescribable.
He wrapped his arms around her and pressed closer, his penis still hard. It was flush against her. There was no way that she didn't feel it. Fuck. Just the warmth, and being in such a tight space like that made it throb. He breathed in again while pressing his nose against her neck. Shadow grasped at her shirt, his fingers closing against the fabric as his hips moved involuntarily. He heard her gasp and clenched his eyes shut. She was going to push him away now.
Any second.
…Any moment.
He waited, counting time in his head. He was going to fall hard to the floor, she was going to get up, and she was going to leave him there to wallow in his misery. It had to happen. There was no other way for this to go.
Except…
She shifted her hands to slide down his back and push him just a little closer. The cloth rubbed against his exposed self and he moaned and humped into her a few more times. When he managed to catch himself again he started stumbling over another bunch of apologies-
“Don't!” Maria said sharply, startling him enough that his mouth closed with a quiet snap. He felt her breathe in and out, and watched her pull away just enough to look him in the eyes. “You… you don't have to apologize. At all.” She gently bit her bottom lip after she said it. Shadow waited, his attention completely on her and what she was going to do or say. He saw her look around the room. There was nothing in his room aside from his bed, a desk, and a chair. Her vibrant blue eyes stopped there. Maria slipped away, leaving him there to watch. It only took a few seconds for her to drag it to the door and lean it against the door. He licked his lips and glanced between the object and her as she turned around.
“Maria?” he mumbled, and she looked at him. There was a flush beginning to color her face. Her fingers played with the edge of her shirt… Then she grasped the fabric and began to lift it until it was over her head. “Ma- Maria …” Shadow gasped. His penis bobbed at the sight and he, he chuffed and crawled forward. The bed cover fell away when he made his move. Cautiously he padded towards her, each step slow and deliberate. She glanced up at him and flashed him a smile while her hands reached behind her back to undo the white bra she'd been wearing underneath her shirt. Her small but perky teats dropped from where they'd been confined. If he could just hold them in the palm of his hands…
He walked closer, but still maintained a distance. His ears were trained on her, and so were his eyes. Every small sound she made, every movement, Shadow took note. He chuffed again and his tail wagged. Maria looked up again and blinked, her fingers stopping in the middle of undoing the button to her shorts. When he made the sound a third time, as he finished walking in a circle, she laughed and opened her arms. Instantly he was in front of her and wrapping his arms around her middle. Without thinking he started lapping at her stomach, his tail wagging even faster.
She tasted exactly like heaven. The way she laughed was so beautiful. “Haha- Th-that tickles! Shadow, let me finish what I'm trying to do!” He pulled away with a dissatisfied grunt and a pout, but Maria just giggled more and booped him on his nose. Her shorts were the next thing to go and get discarded. The pretty, simple, patternless white panties she wore under them made him start to salivate. “Pluh-please, let me, let,” he started, but caught himself and stopped. His breathing was heavy, though, and he felt his penis clench. His angel studied him for several moments, and suddenly he felt trapped. Maria cleared her throat gently and spoke in a coy voice. “You know, Shadow… I've noticed that most of my underwear has gone missing…” “I'm sorry,” he blurted out.
“Come here,” she cooed, and held her arms open once again. He stumbled back into them with another chuff. His eyes stayed on hers the whole time while reaching up to tug at the edge of her underwear. His angel nodded slightly and that was all he needed to see. Shadow tugged them down bit by bit. As soon as the scent he’d been addicted to lately reached his nose, he buried his snout inside and breathed in deep. Maria's squeak of surprise turned into a moan when he slipped his tongue out to really taste it. He growled and with the strength he was blessed with as the ultimate lifeform, Shadow tore the underwear apart. The rags of what was left of it fell to the floor. “Hey- those were one of my favorites!” Maria protested; to which Shadow growled back, “I'll get you replacements !” Then he dove in deeper with his tongue, making her cry out when it brushed over a particular little knob of flesh. It was his name leaving her mouth and it made him wrap his lips around that knob and suck greedily.
Her musk excited him more than it ever had before. Now he was getting it straight from the source. She was the best thing he'd ever tasted and he was never going to get enough of her. His hands lightly gripped her sides and he tilted his head to dive back in. Lapping at every spot his tongue could reach. He wanted to just keep going… The way she moaned… But Maria had covered her mouth. Her moans were muffled by one of her hands. The other though, it settled on his head and weaved through his quills. Her hand was a practiced one. From all the times they had curled up against each other for simple comfort.
“Shadow,” he heard her cry out softly, “Get me to the bed, get me, I'm going to-” That was all he heard before his face and muzzle was drenched in her. She sagged against him breathlessly a moment later. He shouldered Maria gently and let his hands wander at the same time while he stood still. Just… Processing it all. “I've got you, beautiful,” Shadow whispered in her ear after several moments. “Let's get you there.” Step by step, he guided her further into the room. It wasn't a long walk but the way she panted made him hold her until they got there. Maria quickly flopped back onto the mattress despite the lack of covers. Her eyes, though… They were still on him, and the way they were half-closed with what he now recognized as desire…
Shadow eagerly clambered up and over her and smirked. “Not quite done here, now that we've started this. I haven't even bred you yet. And I'm so ready… I've been so patient, haven't I?” His gaze softened as he quickly added, “You'll still let me breed you, won't you?” He was hoping that she was still interested in him. Maria did seem really tired, and there was already a sheen of sweat all over her. His angel gazed at him just as softly before her arms wrapped around his middle and tugged him down. At the same time she shifted, propping her leg up. It made his hips press flush against hers. His throbbing penis made contact with the wet spot between her legs.
Shadow swallowed and with reverence slid his arms around her middle. Now they were both in place. Gently he licked her again. His tongue just barely reached the nipples he'd wanted to taste, but he managed to lightly suck on them one at a time. It made his angel arch into him and beg for him to go further. The tip of that certain body part pushed against and dipped into a wet heat.
His mind and his control snapped.
Quickly Shadow snapped his hips and surged into her. The warmth and silky smoothness… He wanted to feel it. The urge to breed her was stronger. He could do it, too. He was the Ultimate Lifeform. He could do anything he set out to do. And he wanted. He wanted Maria. So, so badly. So badly he couldn't take it anymore. He slid his hands lower and leaned forward and down, making her have to raise her legs. He thrust into her hard, the pointed tip of his penis going as deep as it could go. His pace was fast. He grunted and chirped encouragement; even if they were just noises the intent was there. His darling Maria could handle it. He licked everywhere his tongue could reach only to rub his head against the spot. His scent needed to be hers and hers needed to be his.
His thrusts quickly lost their timing. He'd already been holding on since the beginning. There was no way he was going to last very long since it was her he was mating with either way. When Shadow came again, he completely filled her with what he gave. It mingled with her and the mixed output dripped from between her legs. Both of them were breathing heavily. His wits gradually came back to him, and with a cautiously optimistic feeling in his heart, he looked up at Maria.
Her golden smile… It was directed right at him, and so were her eyes.
“My Shadow… My one and only Shadow,” she murmured, too completely exhausted from their actions to say much. It was alright to him. He simply planted kisses on her all over her chest. Easing upwards with each press of his lips. Gradually he reached her neck. Then her cheek.
And finally, her lips. So soft and smooth that he couldn't resist one last lick, feeling them with his tongue.
Maria was already asleep.
“I love you,” Shadow told her regardless. “You already know, but I love you and I always will, until the day I draw my very last breath.”