#moondust trail

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ one thing that should be clear is that this hedgehog is traumatized - i mean, someone he was close to died, and then he almost died at the end of Sonic Adventures 2 (did die, even, until the fandom decided they wanted Shadow to be a returning character). a relationship isn't going to be easy

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ the first hurdle, would be befriending him. unlike others (i.e. team sonic), he would keep anyone at an arms length, try to avoid becoming attached - and immediately pulling away as soon as he notices any attachment ╰┈➤ this is how he is with everyone; he used to be open and less guarded with others, like Rouge and Omega, though his anxious attachment style later caused him to pull back - this is unavoidable, and questioning him about it will only cause it to worsen for a week or so

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ you'd have to be the one to take the first step when it comes to starting a friendship, be it as small as just sitting in the same area doing your own thing, or even initiating a conversation despite the 'dont talk to me' energy he often radiates - it'd be like talking to a wall, so hopefully you can keep up a one sided conversation

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ you'll know that he'll start to consider you to at least be an acquaintance when he starts to allow himself to be in your presence longer than usual, and even give brief responses to whatever it is you had been talking about. even if it is just as small as a hum of acknowledgement; when he considers you to be a friend? he'll start to seek you out every now and again when he has the free time to do so, and even engage in a proper conversation ╰┈➤ it is during the friendship that he begins to catch feelings; there will be moments of vulnerability, of openness. only when he realizes he doesn't mind it when you hug him or hold his hand to drag him somewhere that he will realize he is becoming attached and pull away

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ the confession is far from planned - more so accidental. but either way, he is the first to confess. it wasn't one of his smoothest moments, 'embarrassing,' more like it; but it was sweet, endearing ╰┈➤ you or his friends would have confronted him about the sudden distance, and while he'd try to avoid it, the pain from the single question of 'did i do something wrong?' would hurt too much; he had to let you know it wasn't you! even if it would damage his pride to admit that he, the ultimate lifeform, was scared and didn't know what these feelings meant(it was adorable, to see him flushed red as he put his feelings into words, the shade darkening as you explained that what he described was love - and that it was okay to be scared)

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ the start of the relationship was, well, rough. but! shadow is determined to show that he is serious about you! due to what happened to maria, he will be protective - even if you can fend for yourself. some firm boundaries and reassurance can fix this; he'll get better over time

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ pet names aren't something shadow deems to be necessary, so he'll typically just use your name or some nickname derived from it. if you express your love for them, though, he may just use 'honeydew' or 'darling' ╰┈➤ pet names won't be used in public on his end though, he views them as intimate things for only you to hear him call you - they're just for you and only you

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ personally, i think he's more shy when it comes to PDA, but all for it! you just won't often catch him being the one to initiate it unless he sees someone eyeing you or something is going on nearby. his default is holding your hand, but if he is a little bit more bold, he may just wrap his arm around your shoulder

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ not much of a cuddlebug, but he adores giving fleeting touches behind closed doors or when there is a moment alone with you. typically its a short peck on the lips, or a simple hug. at night, though, he will gladly cuddle, typically being the big spoon

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ shadow can have nightmares, though it isn't often that it occurs. on these nights, please let him bury his face in your chest while you groom his quills. it helps so much, and the purrs you get in return are absolutely precious

The snow piled up outside throughout the day, and continued to fall even after it reached the sill of the window well into the night. The fire crackled softly as your hands moved, fingers pressing quickly on the keys while you still had some semblance of warmth, some free time before the hedgehog had woken from his post-work nap(which he only agreed to upon seeing your expression fall with worry at his exhausted state).

But alas, despite the heat from the fireplace and the blankets you had swaddled yourself in, a shiver ran down your spine and your fingers stiffened from the cold that nipped at your flesh. Saving the draft, you decided that it was time to at least take a break, maybe watch some movies with some hot cocoa or coffee - whichever was available, really. Though you would be lying if you said you’d prefer coffee, with the way the lights on the synthetic pine tree mixed with the warm light the fire let off, the sweet alternative seemed much more fitting and inviting.

There had been one problem, however, the cocoon of blankets you had yourself in whilst sitting on the couch with your laptop in front of you was rather comfortable, and you weren’t sure if you were willing to get up just for a cup of cocoa. Ears perking up, it seems as though you were rather lucky today for a certain Ultimate Lifeform had chosen then to wake up, the soft pitter patter of his footsteps coming down the hall as you turned your head, tail swaying as you smiled at the sight of your beloved Shadow the Hedgehog.

He had only paused once in the doorway leading to the parlor, looking at the cozy setup before raising a hand as though to say ‘one moment’. Within a few moments, he was beside you on the couch, handing you the warm cup wordlessly as he leaned back and observed the contents on your laptop screen with an eyebrow raised. “Still writing?” A chuckle sounded from you as you shook your head in response. “No, not right now at least, ‘s too cold,” you spoke as you lifted the mug to your lips, blowing on it last second as Shadow sent a warning look your way before taking a slow sip and letting out a content purr. You allowed yourself to relax, leaning against the hedgehog with a hum while he opened the sea of warm cloth to join you under it.

“For a prince, you sure don’t take care of yourself.” You muttered, feigning annoyance towards the blue hedgehog sitting on the ground in front of you as your hands gently groomed his quills. The tired laugh that sounded from him took your breath away - it always seemed to happen when Sonic wasn’t even trying, not that you’d tell him. His ego doesn’t need to grow any more.

Angel Island was typically peaceful, with little to nothing going on if Doctor Eggman and anyone else who sought the Master Emerald were nowhere near. So much so, that you found yourself visiting the Echidna who lived there often, though your worry grew with each instance you've seen where he's appeared worn out - as though he hadn't slept on the off chance someone may come by to swipe the item keeping the island afloat out from under his nose.

To say it worried you, would have been a severe understatement. Usually, he'd only entertain this habit after someone tried to take the emerald for a few days, then continue his habit of falling asleep on the job whilst laying by the gem.

When you've confronted him about it, he's simply argued that he had other things on the island to watch over, and that he'd rest when the work load was lessened.

Now, you're sure that he did not intend to lie, to go back on his word. Despite how it may seem with the amount of times you've caught him taking a nap, he took his job to heart. Every time the island began to fall, every time he needed assistance...he tried to hide it, but it wore down on him. So, you let him be. Trusted he would rest when needed.

In hindsight, that was probably a mistake made with good intentions. But you don't regret it either; forcing your help then could have caused issues.

"Knuckles." That brings you to now, standing at the steps of the Master Emerald, arms crossed as you tapped your foot impatiently as the echidna in question approached the stairs from doing who knows what elsewhere. "Oh uh, [name] didn't expect to see you here," he cut himself off from speaking momentarily, recognizing the expression and body language from a mile away - even in his tired state.

Frustration prickled at your brows when he spoke again. "What are you doing here?" You had to take a moment to take a deep breath, holding the bridge of your nose as you let out a sigh, akin to one a disappointed guardian would. "What am I - I'm here to make sure you're taking care of yourself! You've been working non-stop for days Knux!"

There was a pleading, worried tone in your voice that sparked a flame of guilt in Knuckles' heart, confliction tore through him. Yes, he knew he should rest, but he had work to do! He had to take care of the island, and the life that inhabited it! Not to mention the Master Emerald to tend to.

"I know I have - but I have work to do!" He argued back, not maliciously, though he knew he wouldn't win this one as you stepped forward to pick him up into your arms - an action that was only possible due to his current state of awareness.

"What you have to do, is rest! The emerald can wait -" With an offended huff, he was ready to argue against such a preposterous claim, but it seemed you weren't done. " - you can't do your best when you're exhausted! You're going to take a break. No arguments."

The tone in your voice, held no room for argument, and the pointed look when he did anything but resign to his fate of rest only further set in stone that one way or another, he would be doing as instructed.

“Hey there Plum- Plum?”

The Six Eared Macaque, an infamous demon who was once a friend of the Monkey King himself, had decided to pop into your humble abode from the shadows, intending on roping you into some kind of mischief, or to request backdrop work for his Shadow Theatre(with compensation of course, no matter how often it’d be refused at first)- the last thing he had expected to find himself subjected to was the soft sound of your whimpering cries and the attempt to silence those sounds that only ended with their increase, hiccups peppering their way into it as a result. Not that it would have worked anyway, should the attempt have been successful, his hearing was impeccable due to his six ears that he hid so often with a glamor.

For once, he found himself stunned into worried silence as you curled up further into a ball on your bed, stationed on your side with your back facing him as though you hoped he would just disappear if you stayed like that. Prehensile tail lowering, he swallowed back the uncomfortable feeling of not knowing what to do or say as he stepped closer, slowly raising a hand awkwardly, letting it hover over your form before he decided to place it on your shoulder. He crouched by the side of your bed, moving his thumb against your shirt in what he hoped would be a comforting manner as he sat in silence for a few more ticks of a clock.

“Plum…can you look at me?” His voice was tentative, quiet, and he felt your body quiver as your breath hitched at his request. “I know somethings wrong, and you don’t have to tell me but…please. Look at me?”

You weren’t sure what made you shrug off his hand, adjust so you were laying on your opposite side, looking into his golden eyes- maybe it was the worried fear in his voice that he tried so hard to cover with concern? He hadn’t seen you cry before, never having popped into your room in such vulnerable moments until now. But, as he placed a gentle hand on your cheek, brushing away your tears with his thumb and a soft, loving smile that just told you everything would be okay…you didn’t care.

You placed your hand over his and held it there, eyes closing tightly as your sobs worsened, causing your whole body to shake. And with a weak tug, Macaque had taken a spot beside you on your mattress, holding you close as you cried into his scarf, one hand on your back, and the other entangled in your hair as he hummed soft reassurances that everything will be okay, that you are safe with him.

With a flick of the brush, you pull your hand back to study the progress you’ve made so far on your canvas. It wasn’t a secret that anything involving paint was your downfall within artistry, in fact the moment you were assigned this specific medium by your professor all you had done was whine and moan about how this was the worst thing to ever happen to you at the Akademiya. For some reason, adding water to a pigment and trying to blindly create a scenery or portrayal of a living creature was something your brain could not wrap itself around.

To say the least, this was probably the worst thing your teacher could have given you. But while you did try to have it changed, to get an exemption, they declined your request. All with a simple “If you wish to accomplish more, you have to do more than what you are comfortable with,” something that you vehemently believed was an insult. Some kinder way of “you won’t accomplish things if you don’t learn this medium.”

Well, your professor was a bitch, for lack of a better term. You wouldn’t be surprised if that was in fact what they meant. 

Your internal monologue stopped there, jolting back to reality when you felt a kind of warmth behind you. Another hand encasing yours, the one that held the brush, you felt the breath of an amused architect on your ear as he spoke; “Here, let me help you love.”

“You’re using too little water…which means you’re using too much paint…” Guiding your hand, he opted to help you with your project whilst taking a break from his own. A rarity in itself, but one you’d gladly welcome- even if you couldn’t pay attention to the words he spoke so carefully and serenely. Your face flushed as you watched your hands move, cursing Kaveh and his accidental charm, but thanking the Archons for that very thing all at the same time.

As he leaned back and let go of your hand, he turned his eyes away from the painting and towards your face and raised an eyebrow. “Did you catch any of that?” With wide eyes you opened your mouth to answer, only for nothing to fall out. “Uhhh…” Your face burned as he shook his head fondly.

“Alright, let’s try that again. You’ll get a hang of it- but pay attention this time. Okay?”

You rubbed your hands together for what seemed like the thousandth time as you trudged through the snow, blowing on them every now and again to try and keep them from turning blue with the continuously dropping temperatures. Sure, there was a winter uniform that the academy provided its students...but in areas like Glasedeo...well, it didn't provide much protection from the wind and falling snow.

Now that you thought about it...that's probably why you never encountered many trainers on your way to the gyms when you were doing the gym circuit - and was probably a factor for why Nemona and you were one of the few Champion Ranked students rather than La Primera's strength alone. Maybe it would be worth mentioning it to the Director? Changing the entire uniform could be tedious, but even just making the dress code more lenient for the colder months would be a good idea-

Lost in the train of thought, you hadn't noticed the way the snow seemed to flatten, to hold a shine to it as you climbed up hill to your destination. Even though the pokemon traveling with you a few feet away gave a short cry of warning as they galloped toward you, it was a few seconds too late.

"Wh-AH-" You turned your head to look at your partner with confusion, right as your foot struck the ice they were attempting to warn you about just a few moments prior. Slipping, you were lucky to avoid landing face first, hands instinctively stopping your fall in the snow. With a low groan of annoyance and frustration, you pushed up onto your knees, brushing your palms to get rid of the sting from both the impact and biting freeze when you felt a weight drop around the back of your neck and a gloved hand was held out in front of you.

Trailing your gaze up, you found blue eyes staring back at you with the slightest hint of concern shining through the expressionless face the trainer held. "You going to keep staring, or are you going to get up?" Face flushing with heat rather than the cold for the first time that day, you offered a sheepish smile before taking his hand and allowing him to help you onto your feet.

Looking down at your uniform as you cleared the snow from your clothing, you noticed the heavy fabric of the gym leader's scarf dangling over your shoulders- though you didn't have time to question it before Grusha turned to walk away with a motion to follow.

"You should be more careful. There's more ice around Glasedeo this time of year, and with more blizzards, things are more dangerous. Especially without proper clothes." Hurrying to catch up with him, you wrapped the scarf around you properly, pulling the material over your face and melting into the warmth as you tucked your hands under your arms. "Yeah, I know. Was just in thought," you started, smiling as your pokemon pranced up beside you and your new companion, not wanting to stray too far after the previous accident.

"Ironically, it about uniforms and the weather." You finished the thought a moment later after receiving a look of curiosity from Grusha, finding a small sense of pride rise within you as he seemed to chuckle in amusement at the information. "What are you doing up here anyway? It's colder than usual."