Sonic and Shadow are rivals teetering on friends in Sonic Prime, like most other adaptations, but there's something unspoken between the lines. At least, that's what fans think. The two seem to be on the path of fighters to lovers, flirting while they throw punches in the void and dancing around their feelings for one another. That's naturally led to the hashtag #Sonadow (though I'm firmly in the Shadonic camp) with many fans shipping the two as gay lovers in denial.
"THE WAY HE GRABBED HIS CHEST AND WAIST????," @sonadowlowers tweeted, attaching a clip from the show. "YOU KNOW HE PULLED AND HELD HIM AS TIGHT AS POSSIBLE."
The hug in particular has blown up with Sonic fans (particularly Sonadow shippers) with a wealth of fan art being shared online celebrating the moment. We see an energetic and excitable Sonic hug Shadow who is, as always, angry and reluctant. Sonic is later seen carrying an unconscious Shadow, taking care of him at his most vulnerable. They clearly care for each other between all the fist fights.
Sonadow isn't a completely new phenomenon. There's an entire page dedicated to it on the Shipping wiki, detailing proof of their romance going all the way back to Sonic Adventure 2 when they first met. This includes the two clasping hands; Shadow refusing to look at Sonic's body, closing his eyes in sadness; Shadow smiling as Classic Sonic leaves in Forces; the two checking each other out in Team Sonic Racing; Shadow catching Sonic in the comics, and of course, the hug in Prime. Safe to say, Sonadow fans have been starving for years and a hug is huge news.
According to the wiki, Sonadow is the most popular Sonic ship on AO3, thanks to their "mutual understanding, underlying care for each other, mutual respect, and rivalry". The ship was officially recognised in 2017 during Twitter Takeover #3, so Sega is at least aware that fans have long wanted the two to finally fall in love. Whether that goes beyond a hug, though...
Maybe one day Sonadow will be more than just a dream of fan fic writers and fan artists everywhere, but for now, a hug in Prime will have to do.
Shadow is set to appear in the third live-action Sonic movie before getting his own spin-off. That could be their day. Or, more likely, they'll be rivals that become best buds, just two roommates, sitting five feet apart in Eggman's prison cause they're not--you get the picture.