"I'll see you guys later." Sonic called to his friends, waving. He was just leaving Club Vector, having recieved an invitation to join in a night of fun, largely involving flashing lights and his crocodile friend's incredible taste in music. It was very late now, not long before midnight.
Normally, one would be tense, nervous, scared even, to walk through a large city this late at night. Not Sonic-after all the up and downs, the trials and tribulations he had been through, there wasn't much that scared him.
The hedgehog lived about eight blocks from Club Vector. He couldn've made it a lot easier for himself and run home using his super speed, but instead he took his time getting home, at peace in the quiet night. He was so at ease, in fact, that he didn't notice the signs that he was being followed-the shifting shadows, the footsteps fading in and out, the glowing eyes peering at him from every corner. To catch the blue hero completely off guard was very rare, but that was exactly what his stalkers had done.
Sonic heard the blast of energy from behind him, and he spindashed out of its range just in time. The hero readied himself for a battle, but gasped in shock when he realized how many enemies he faced. Not only were they plentiful, they were unlike anything he had ever seen before, a strange mix of robot and arachnid.
But Sonic told himself it didn't matter. He had been in this kind of situation before. Unfamiliar or not, he could take them.
Or so he thought. Seconds into the battle, Sonic's abilities were proven worthless against the new foes. The robot spiders could extend their legs to catch the hero, despite his incredible speed, and they shot out electrified webbing to stop his spindashes. The shocks from the webs were starting to weaken Sonic-he was panting and his speed had dropped noticeably.
Then finally, he sank to the ground, done. It was too much for him. He anticipated his end as the robot spiders closed in on him, bladed fangs bared.
But then a dark figure jumped down and landed in between the weary hero and his enemies. Midnight black fur, quills streaked with crimson, a flowing velvet cape with a high collar. Eyes like rubies.
And most notably, glistening, razor-sharp fangs. The newcomer was a vampire.
The robots lunged for their new target, but the vampire hedgehog quickly did away with them, ripping them apart with his supurb strength, slicing them clean in half with his claws like they were nothing. All the while, Sonic watched in complete amazment. Just moments ago, these new foes were overpowering him, and yet the vampire bested them easily.
His weariness took over, and he slumped to the ground, passed out.
It was still dark when he woke up. He was in a bedroom, but as he became more aware of himself, he realized it wasn't his own. The only light came from lit candles on the night table. Someone came into his field of vision.
It was the vampire hedgehog who saved him from the robot spiders. He was sitting on the foot of the bed Sonic laid on, watching him, probably for a long time. Sonic didn't feel threatened when he moved in closer-this vampire saved him, after all.
"Are you alright? How do you feel?" the dark hedgehog asked.
"A lot better than earlier." Sonic's responce was true-he was feeling much better now after a good rest. He regarded the vampire with gratitude. "Thanks for saving me, uh..." His voice trailed off as he realized he didn't know his savior's name.
"Shadow. And you're welcome."
Sonic's thoughts drifted back to the spider robots he fought. "I don't get it." he said, sitting up. "I can usually fend for myself in a fight, even when I'm outnumbered. I've taken on robotic goons lots of times before. What was different about those things?"
"They're not from here." Shadow explained. "Scientists created them in the realm where I come from. Unfortunately, they broke out before they could be tamed, and somehow made their way to this world. I tracked them down with the intension of bringing them back to my world, but when I saw that they were about to kill you, I had no choice but to destroy them.
"They were created by enhancing spiders with technology. Their original purpose was to guard the city, but apparently someone injected them with a chemical that induced aggressive behavior, which also drastically raised their power levels."
"Wow." Sonic shook his head. "No wonder I didn't stand a chance against them."
"But, you see, that wasn't the only reason why I saved you." Shadow placed his hands on Sonic's cheeks. "My heart may be dead, but when I first saw you, I felt it give off a warm glow inside me. I feel I must tell you," Shadow leaned in so their lips were only inches apart, "you are quite possibly the most beautiful hedgehog I've ever laid my eyes on."
He kissed Sonic, closing the gap between them, and Sonic's cheeks lit up with a blush. The vampire's confession took him completely by surprise, but his eyelids lowered half-shut as affection stirred inside him. He fully closed his eyes as he returned the kiss, wrapping his arms around his new boyfriend.
Shadow broke away from the kiss and leaned in close to Sonic's neck, taking in the scent of his blood. "Is it alright...if I have a sample?" he asked seductively.
"Yeah. I trust you." Sonic answered.
"I'll try to be gentle." With a quiet hiss, Shadow bit down carefully into Sonic's neck, making him wince and grunt in pain. He could feel Shadow drinking his blood, and somehow it felt both uncomfortable and wonderful. He held tightly onto his lover as his blood slowly drained.
Having consumed his portion, Shadow tenderly licked the bite marks left on Sonic's neck. Sonic pulled him back in for another kiss, and he could taste traces of his blood. Shadow crawled on top of the blue mortal, still passiontely kissing him. When they broke the kiss, the vampire looked at his boyfriend with trusting eyes.
"You have nothing to worry about, my love." he said. "I'll protect you."
Sonic snuggled closer to Shadow and closed his eyes, knowing that he would be safe with him.
The couple spent the rest of the night kissing and cuddling, happy in their newfound love. At some point, Sonic fell asleep-whether it was due to grogginess from losing blood or comfort from being so close to his boyfriend, he didn't know. When he woke up, the bedroom was somewhat lighter, but the window curtain blocked much of the sunlight from pouring in. As he sat up and stretched, he realized Shadow was gone. But he had left a note for Sonic on the night table.
I'm sorry to have left before you woke up. I had to inform the scientists in my realm that the spider robots were destroyed, but once that's done I'll return. I'm not very active during the day, as you can guess, but I'll still be watching over you. It would break my heart if anything happened to you, because I love you.  And I promise, I'll come to see you every night.
I'll be back soon, my dearest. And once again, I love you.
Shadow.
Sonic walked outside to a beautiful morning, still holding Shadow's note in his hands. He wondered if he should tell his friends about his relationship with the vampire. He decided he would wait until Shadow returned and ask him if it was alright.
He reread the last line of the note before Shadow's name. And once again, I love you.
I love you, too, Shadow. I know we'll always be together.
And I know you'll always keep me safe.