~Handshake~

"We need a best friends handshake."

It took Mario a moment to process the six words Sonic had said to him. When they finally did register, he folded the corner of the page he was on and closed the book, staring up at Sonic who stood next to his bed with that oh-so-familiar smirk on his face, the one that said he knew something that you didn't. After a moment of silence, Mario tilted his head and asked, "I thought Tails was your best friend?"

"He is," Sonic began, before he grinned and lay an arm around Mario's shoulders. "But he's more of a little brother to me. You on the other hand..."

"So are you saying that I'm your best friend outside of Tails?" Mario realized. Sonic grinned, nodding his head enthusiastically.

"Well, yeah. I mean, you were the only one willin' to go on a midnight food adventure with me in London, an' the fact that we can relentlessly snark at each other without the other gettin' offended should be the proof right there!"

Mario was quiet for a moment before chuckling, gazing up at Sonic in amusement. "I guess you're right..." he murmured. "And by that extension... I guess you're my best friend too."

"Really?!" Sonic cried out, bouncing on his heels slightly. "So you'll make a best friends handshake with me?"

"Sì, I'll make a best friends handshake with you," Mario stood, standing across from Sonic and mirroring his wide grin. "So should we start with a high-five?"

"Sounds good to me!"

AN: I've always loved their winning animation together in the Sochi and Rio Olympic Games. And I wanted to focus on friendship this time around.

~Steel