#though nothing is specifically mentioned aside from sonic and tails being homeless at one point

[skimmingmilk]

Summary: When in the position to do Tails a small favor, Shadow finds himself immediately regretting it when Sonic shows up and goads him into what should have been a simple game of chess. But things are never simple when Sonic the Hedgehog is involved. Shadow should really know better at this point than to ever involve himself in the shenanigans of Sonic and Tails; they know all too well how exactly to get under his skin.

A/N: Since this is Shadow's big movie debut week, I wanted to post a little something in his honor! Congratulations, Shadow!

This was inspired by combining one of the answers from the most recent Sonic Twitter Takeover (for Sonic x Shadow Generations) with my own headcanon regarding Sonic, Tails, and chess :3

Please enjoy!

Fried Liver with a Side of Emotional Indigestion

Shadow didn't make a habit of stopping by any of Tails's workshops. In fact, he could confidently say—barring the times where Central City's had been used as the headquarters for the Resistance—he'd never once stepped inside. It might've been a mild jog from his apartment, but there was never a reason to go out of his way.

Except Tails had called him, asking for a favor. He wanted to study the design of Shadow's air shoes and get his feedback on a prototype he'd been developing for himself. Something more shock resistant to high falls with a quick recovery time that would lessen the fatigue on his tails.

"I haven't seen anything of a similar size that can utilize the power and intensity of five jets without overheating in a matter of minutes. And I'm curious to see how they manage their intake to avoid compressor stall in the turbocharger despite the rapid throttle changes when you move at high speeds. They're a mechanical wonder, as much as it pains me to say that about something the late Dr. Robotnik created… aside from you, of course! Obviously, heh…"

"The professor didn't design them."

"Oh?" Tails's voice cracked as it jumped up an octave, his surprise audible. 

"He oversaw their construction, but their initial conception was… someone else's."

"Of course. I should've known better than to assume. There were a lot of scientists aboard the ARK, weren't there? Distribution of assets amongst the team was likely instrumental for a quick turnaround," Tails chuckled to himself. "Well, whoever did design them was a true visionary! I'd love to pick their brain about any of their other ideas for improving aerospace technology—"

"That's impossible," Shadow interrupted.

"Right… sorry. I didn't mean—I just wanted to give them credit where credit's due." Tails paused to clear his throat, but it didn't quite clear the awkwardness in the airwaves between them. "But even though I can't discuss their design choices with them, getting to see their thought process by studying their design would be the closest to a conversation we could have. I completely understand if you'd rather leave the past in the past, though. It's your call, Shadow."

Shadow could've said no. He'd certainly thought about it.

And yet he showed up on the doorstep of the Central City workshop two days later, looking just as put out about it as he possibly could.

[Continue at AO3]