idk why but i just imagined shadow circling the reader like all hedgehogs do when they like each other. it's weird but the little guy can't bring himself to confess in a proper way (story request? if u could🙏)
Shadow was a weird guy. He just was. But anyone who grew up how he did would be weird, so you put a lot of his strange habits out of your mind. So, you didn't pay it much attention when Shadow's habit of pacing turned into him walking around you.
It wasn't as obvious as him obsessively grooming his quills or him checking his shoes when he was bored. Shadow moved with purpose more often than not, so as he made his way around you, tapping his foot and scanning the perimeter, it took a few laps for you to realize that he was orbiting you like a moon caught by your gravity.
"Everything alright?" You asked, futzing with your outfit to not appear put off by his behavior. The last thing you wanted was to weird him out of things he did to comfort himself. Gaia knew he hardly allowed himself these things.
"Mm." Was all Shadow gave you, his face obscured.
So you shrugged and continued on with your day.
However, when the day winded down into dinnertime, you found yourself surrounded by others, most importantly other hedgehogs. Amy and Sonic specifically stared at you and the ever-orbiting Shadow with wide eyes, which unnerved you. And when you were unnerved, Shadow was biting, so at least they weren't staring for long.
Instead, you caught them giggling to each other, Amy especially joyful.
She caught your hand when Sonic got Shadow's attention with a race.
"Shadow's been circling you, huh?" She asked, smile small but knowing.
"Yeah?" You cocked your head. "What? Don't tell me it means something."
"For a hedgehog like Shadow," Amy began, pausing so you'd huff at her, "it means he likes you."
You were not impressed. "Cool. I like him too."
Amy slugged your arm, and like a bolt of lightning, Shadow appeared before the two of you. You stumbled forward into him, but he easily caught you, giving Amy a halfhearted glare. She didn't speak, but put her hands up in faux surrender.
"Loves you." She said to you, skipping off to soothe the bruised ego of one blue hedgehog. You watched her go, eyes widening when Sonic did a series of laps around her, seemingly just happy to see her.
Loves you. Oh Gaia, ohhhhhhh. . .
Shadow's voice snapped you into reality. "What did she say? Loves you?"
You shook your head to clear it. "Guess she loves me."
Shadow huffed a little, confused but unwilling to ask more questions. Seeing him finally still for once, you carefully began to step behind him. Shadow turns with you for a moment, brows furrowed, but they widen as you begin your second lap.
You had never seen him so still. A smile tugged at your face, but you didn't tease, didn't say anything. Instead, you circled your lovely hedgehog, watching him start to squirm and blush.
Hopefully you'd get a kiss out of him today too.
