Okay i had other request too probably but excuse me darlin i couldn't help but join in this event too..š
Any chance that you can do Shadow x Gn!reader/fake dating, to add detail Reader has this obsessive ex-bf that she can't just get rid of so she had to ask her best friend, of course shadow to help her get rid of him but you know it won't be easy like that, it can be romantic or fluff i don't mind but it looking like heavily romantic side..My request can be last ' don't wanna stress you out.
This story is part of our Valentine's Day event!
Pairing: Shadow x Gn!Reader
Genre: Romance, Fluff, hurt/comfort
Warnings: Obsessive Ex, Harassment, Physical confrontation, Violence (non-graphic), Toxic relationship reference
A/N: Thank you for participating! I loved writing about this topic; it couldn't have been a shorter text than this. The idea simply had to be well-developed in some way. But well, three stories in a row with Shadow is crazy, right? But I'm happy to write about him.
The first rays of morning sunlight began to slip through the half-open blinds of your bedroom, signaling the arrival of the rising morning.
A sharp and irritating sound, along with a familiar and annoying buzzing, rang out from your bedside table, making you huff in your sleep, bothered at being woken up so early.
Usually it was already a habit for you to wake up to the sound of your alarm clock. However, the sound coming from your smartphone was nothing like an alarm. It was something differentāthe sound that had been disturbing your peace for the past month, the ringtone of a phone call.
With an irritated groan, you sat up in bed, frowning at the glowing screen on the bedside table, once again showing the familiar unknown number that always appeared on the call screen at those hours.
Grinding your teeth, you grabbed the device tightly, sliding your finger across the screen to decline the call.
However, that didnāt seem to help much, because not even twenty seconds later the call started ringing again with that same number.
āSon of aā¦ā you cursed, rejecting the call once more, but this time quickly opening the call log and performing the tedious task of blocking yet another number.
Sighing in relief, you tossed the phone onto the bed and collapsed back onto the mattress, staring at the ceiling of your room with a miserable expression.
This had already gone beyond all limits, after all, the person behind those calls was very well known to you, and that made things even worse.
Grumbling irritably, you forced yourself to get out of bed, even though it was earlier than you were used to waking up. The best thing to do was start your day already, since you wouldnāt be able to fall asleep again anyway.
Stretching your arms and yawning, you found yourself especially thoughtful that morning while getting ready for another day of work.
In your mind, you triedāor rather, neededāto come up with a plan. You couldnāt live forever with this constant harassment, and there was something, or rather someone, who might be able to help you with it.
The cafƩ was quite empty that morning. The atmosphere was calm and quiet, exactly the way the black hedgehog liked it.
Sighing contentedly, he held the cup of coffee close to his muzzle, letting the pleasant aroma fill his nostrils before finally taking a long sip, savoring every single drop.
His gaze shifted forward, focusing on you sitting there, observing you for a few seconds and immediately noticing that you hadnāt even touched your own coffee, and that your eyelids seemed heavy as you struggled to stay awake.
He knew that if he asked directly you probably wouldnāt say anything, but even so, he didnāt really need to. The long dark circles under your eyes already revealed plenty about your situation.
āHaving rough nightsā¦?ā Shadow asked, relaxing in his seat while waiting for your answer.
But after several long seconds, you didnāt seem to have even noticed his question, making Shadow raise an eyebrow and clear his throat loudly.
āMobius calling [Y/N]ā¦ā He extended a hand and snapped his fingers in front of you, making you jump slightly, looking around in surprise and confusion until your eyes focused on his.
āWhatā¦?ā you asked, yawning.
āI asked if youāve been having rough nights,ā he repeated, now with a slightly sharper tone, watching you hesitate and glance away thoughtfully before answering.
āA littleā¦ but itās nothing seriousā¦ā you replied, hugging yourself.
āCome on, spit it out. You know I hate beating around the bushā¦ā he said bluntly, taking another sip of his coffee while waiting for your response.
It was obvious you couldnāt expect much patience from Shadow.
āAlrightā¦ for a few daysā¦ actually, a few weeks, I havenāt been sleeping wellā¦ā
āIs there an explanation for that?ā
āMaybeā¦ā A brief pause. āYesā¦ā
āYes or no?ā Shadow huffed, setting the cup down on the table and leaning forward.
āOkay, okayā¦ Yes, there is something thatās been keeping me from sleeping well, and honestly itās getting really annoyingā¦ā you began explaining, shifting your gaze between Shadow and the wooden surface of the table. āI mean, I was thinking about something that might help meā¦ā
āMedication? I have more than enough, I donāt mind lending you someā¦ā he replied hoarsely, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
āNo! No, for Gaiaās sake!ā
āWell then, what is it?ā
āI need a favor from youā¦ā you finally revealed, looking at the hedgehog with hopeful eyes, clasping your hands together and making a small pleading face. āPretty pleaseā¦ā
Shadow raised an eyebrow before letting out a heavy sigh.
āThis sounds suspiciousā¦ā
āI swear itās nothing very, very weirdā¦ itās temporary, just until things get better for me!ā
āLet me finish talking!ā He huffed, crossing his arms but listening to your long explanation. āAlrightā¦ remember my ex?ā you said, resting your hand on the table and tapping your fingers rhythmically.
āHm? That insufferable guy who wouldnāt let you leave the house?ā he commented with a frown.
āYeahā¦ exactlyā¦ā you grumbled, remembering those complicated days. āAnywayā¦ this ex of mineā¦ he wonāt leave me alone! He has this habit of refusing to accept that itās over! Every morning he calls me at the exact same time, over and over againā¦ā
āI already did! He gets a disposable number every day just to do itā¦ā
āSick bastardā¦ā the hedgehog huffed irritably. He could understand what had been happening to you nowāyour constant exhaustion and yawning, the dark circles and the worried look in your eyes. āHow long has this been happeningā¦?ā
āAlmost a month now, getting worse with Valentineās Day getting closerā¦ā Shadow sighed.
āWant me to talk to him?ā he suggested.
āNo! Better notā¦ I think that would only make things worseā¦ā you quickly argued, knowing exactly what kind of man your ex was and how he would reactāprobably intensifying his behavior even more. Besides, it was always good to remember that Shadow was the one in front of you.
The hedgehog likely wouldnāt hesitate or show any mercy if your ex decided to attack for some reason, and because of that you didnāt want to put Shadow in a difficult position because of it.
āSo what favor do you need then?ā he asked, still tense.
You sighed, gathering your courage.
āI need youā¦ to pretend to be my boyfriendā¦ā
Your words, even though spoken quietly, created a heavy silence between you in the cafƩ.
You felt your cheeks warm slightly as you looked at the hedgehogās impassive expression, barely understanding how you had even had the courage to ask that. Shadow blinked once, then twice slowly.
āā¦You want me to do what?ā he murmured.
āYou heard meā¦ I donāt want to repeat it, but listen, thereās a good reason! My ex is a coward. Heāll definitely back off and leave me alone if thereās another guy involvedā¦ā you began explaining.
Grunting, Shadow looked to the side, grinding his teeth as he thought.
āā¦And you decided to ask me?ā
āShadowā¦ youāre a great friend and the only one I trust to do something like this. I know your character.ā
It really was a strange request, but the hedgehog started analyzing it. In the end, it seemed simple enough, even if odd. Pretend to be your boyfriend for a while, at least until your parasitic ex stopped chasing you and gave up.
You two were already close friends anyway, so pretending to be something more didnāt seem like a life-threatening task.
And in the end, the hedgehog would certainly do anything he could to help you, especially now. So he was willing to make a small sacrifice.
His answer made your eyes widen in surprise. You had expected him to refuse immediately or get irritated, but he had accepted it rather calmly.
āReally? Youāre willing to do that?ā you asked again, your eyes shining with hope.
āOnly until he stops bothering you,ā he explained, picking up his cup again to finish the coffee while you let out a relieved sigh.
āI donāt even know how to thank you, Shadowā¦ā
āWeāll discuss those terms later,ā he replied, standing up, though not before clearing his throat. āAnd [Y/N]ā¦ if that guy crosses the lineā¦ I wonāt hold back against him,ā he said in a low and dangerous tone.
Those words were a classic Shadow threatāone you knew he would follow through on if necessary. But for some reason, instead of making you feel afraid, they gave you a strange sense of safety knowing he was willing to do his best for you.
Now all that remained was to find the perfect moment to put your plan into actionāwith Shadow by your side.
āHave you already planned how all of this is going to work?ā Shadowās voice echoed beside you as the two of you walked close together along the empty sidewalk.
āMore or lessā¦ā you answered hesitantly. āBut I know itāll workā¦ā Your fists clenched in determination.
āBut he needs to see and understand so heāll leave you aloneā¦ are you planning to just walk around the city until he happens to see you?ā
āNot exactlyā¦ You seeā¦ā You cleared your throat, pulling your phone from your pocket and holding it up. āMy ex also watches my social mediaā¦ you know what that means?ā
āThat heās a sick idiot?ā
āThat tooā¦ but it means he follows my movements all the time, paying attention to where I go so he can ācoincidentallyā find me.ā
āSo if you post a picture somewhereā¦?ā Shadow raised an eyebrow.
āHeāll definitely show upā¦ And I think the shock of seeing me with someone is bigger in person than just in a photo, right? So Iāll take the picture aloneā¦ā you explained.
āWell, itās something. I thought you didnāt have a plan at allā¦ā
āTrust meā¦ Iām a natural strategist!ā
āDonāt exaggerateā¦ā Shadow huffed with a slightly amused tone. āWellā¦ where are you planning to take the photo?ā he asked, crossing his arms.
āEasyā¦ā you said with a shrug, pointing across the street.
The hedgehogās eyes followed where you pointed, identifying the establishment immediately. It was a clubāhe knew it well, one of the best in the city, certainly with the best drinks too.
Along with the stylish faƧade, he noticed a large Valentineās Day event poster displayed prominently. Apparently it was a themed night with discounts for couples.
āHmph, there?ā he turned to you and saw you nod. āWellā¦ I suppose itās not the worst place in the worldā¦ā He wasnāt exactly used to clubs; the loud music and people standing too close bothered him. But if that was where you had planned the meeting, he would go along with it.
āPerfectā¦ā you replied with relief. āAndā¦ are you willing to start tonight?ā Your question was hesitant, almost shy.
āYeahā¦ā you nodded.
Shadow stayed silent for several seconds, looking at the place across the street before sighing.
āIāll pick you up at seven. Be ready,ā he ordered, relaxing his posture and walking down the street, leaving you behind.
āDonāt mention it,ā came his rough reply as he disappeared around a corner, leaving you standing there.
With a wide smile on your face, you laughed quietly to yourself, almost jumping with excitement right there. Now all you had to do was wait for the night.
The hedgehog leaned against a streetlight nearby, one foot resting against the pole while his hands stayed tucked inside his coat pockets. His eager red eyes watched you as you turned your phoneās camera toward yourself that night.
It had been a few minutes while he waited for you to take a good picture, until finally you were satisfied with the result and posted it on your social media.
āDone?ā he asked, pushing himself off the pole and walking toward you.
āYesā¦ it wonāt take long for him to show up nowā¦ā you answered, a hint of nervousness in your voice.
āGoodā¦ā the hedgehog murmured, extending his hand, which you slowly accepted, letting him lead you inside the building.
The atmosphere was exactly what you expectedāloud music and many, many people, especially couples that day.
Letting out a shaky sigh, you continued following Shadow, searching for a calmer place where you could stay.
āYou look like youāre about to run away,ā Shadow commented, studying your posture.
āWell, considering what weāre about to do here, I think itās normal to feel a little nervousā¦ā you explained, swallowing nervously.
āJust donāt stray too far from meā¦ and everything will be fine,ā the hedgehog assured you, his hand sliding to your lower back as he guided you through the crowd toward a pillar where things seemed quieter.
Time began to pass, though every minute felt like an eternity for you. Starting to feel a bit bored standing there, you sighed.
āIā¦ Iām going to get us some drinksā¦ā you said quietly to Shadow, who remained leaning against the pillar with his arms crossed.
āAlrightā¦ Iāll keep an eye on you.ā
Confident you would be safe, you moved away from the hedgehog and stopped at the bar counter to order your drinks.
For some reason, you suddenly felt a strange chill run down your spine, making you break into a cold sweat as your heart started racing. It felt like someone was watching you closely.
But it didnāt take long for you to discover what was causing that feeling.
Two arms suddenly positioned themselves on either side of you on the counter, trapping you in place. You could feel the closeness of the person behind you, making you swallow nervously.
āSo this is where youāve been hidingā¦ā
The voice you had grown to hate sounded right next to your ear, making you frown in disgust.
āIām not hiding,ā you replied briefly, trying to keep your composure despite how he still trapped you there, only inches from your back touching his chest.
āYou think you can just ignore me? Block me out of your life the same way you do on your phone?ā he said sharply, one of his hands sliding up your arm and making you hold your breath.
But before another word could be exchanged between you, you felt relief when he suddenly removed his armsāor rather, was forced to.
Turning quickly, you saw Shadow with a very unfriendly expression, grabbing your ex by the collar and pulling him back with enough force to make him stumble.
āYouād better back off,ā the hedgehog warned seriously.
Composing himself, your ex huffed and adjusted his wrinkled collar.
āā¦And who do you think you are?ā
That was the momentāthe opening you had been waiting for.
āHeās my boyfriend!ā you declared confidently, every word firm as it left your mouth. You quickly moved closer to Shadow, grabbing his arm as if seeking protection.
A heavy silence filled the space between you as your exās furious eyes shifted between you and Shadow, narrowing as his fists clenched.
āIs this some kind of joke?ā he scoffed arrogantly.
āYou heard perfectly well,ā Shadow replied coldly.
As if something extremely funny had just been said, your ex burst into laughter, placing his hands on his hips before clicking his tongue several times and looking at the black hedgehog.
āYou really think they'd end up with someone like you?ā he mocked with another laugh.
Despite the insults, Shadow showed no reaction, remaining impassive at your side. After all, those words couldnāt possibly offend him.
āI donāt think anythingā¦ they're already with me,ā the hedgehog answered, placing clear emphasis on the last part of the sentence.
As if he had been slapped across the face, your exās expression darkened instantly into a furious scowl.
He let out one more forced laugh, looked into your eyes one last time, then turned and walked away with heavy steps, disappearing into the crowd.
As soon as your ex was gone, you released a long breath you hadnāt even realized you had been holding.
āCome on,ā Shadow murmured, grabbing the drinks from the counter and guiding you back to the safe corner where you had been earlier.
āThank youā¦ Iā¦ I froze at first, butā¦ā
āNo need to explainā¦ itās our deal,ā he murmured, finishing his drink in one go and placing the glass on a nearby table. āBesidesā¦ I hate guys like him,ā he added, crossing his arms.
Even though things seemed calm again, something still didnāt sit right with the hedgehog. His red eyes scanned the entire club, sharp and alert while you focused on sipping your drink.
And then Shadow saw itāmaking him growl quietly.
āIs there a problem?ā you asked worriedly, seeing the attentive expression on the hedgehogās face.
āHeās still watchingā¦ā he commented, making you freeze completely.
āW-what?ā you stammered, slowly turning your head to peek, but Shadowās hand stopped you, holding your cheek.
āDonāt lookā¦ā he whispered to you, his muzzle practically touching the top of your head.
āWhat are we going to doā¦?ā
He stayed thoughtful for a moment, considering the options he had.
āWeāre pretending to date, right?ā he asked.
āY-yes?ā you replied, confused.
āThen you wonāt mind if I do thisā¦ā
At first you didnāt understand what he meant.
At least not until his arm wrapped around your waist, his other hand grabbing the back of your neck and pulling you against him, your body pressing against his well-built frame, feeling every firm line of his body as his warmth slowly spread through you.
āS-Shadow!ā you placed one hand on his chest while your other hand held your empty glass, trembling slightly as your face flushed deeply.
āStay stillā¦ā he murmured, still not letting you go. His red eyes were fixed on the target across the hall. Shadow growled again, starting to grow irritated by your exās persistence in watching. Perhaps he wasnāt convinced by the lie.
So Shadow would have to make it look real.
With a low grunt, and much to your surprise, his muzzle lowered and buried itself in your neck. The hand on the back of your neck gently pulled your head aside to give him room, and his mouth pressed against that soft area.
Your eyes widened as you gasped at the sensation, your legs going weak and a strange warmth taking over you while the hedgehogās mouth slid along the smooth line of your neck, sometimes pausing to give a small nibble.
The way he did it truly made it look like you were more than just friends.
And apparently it worked on the ex standing across the room.
Shadow noticed when he made another scowl and walked away, probably grumbling as he left the place.
Realizing things were safe for now, the hedgehog pulled away from your neck, releasing your head and wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
āSorry about thatā¦ it was necessaryā¦ā he commented, his ears drooping momentarily when he saw your expression and the blush on your face.
āIā¦ I understandā¦ā you replied, clearing your throat and composing yourself. āAnyway, the important thing is getting rid of that pest of an exā¦ā
Shadow nodded, letting you go, though he noticed you still hadnāt removed your hand from his chest. However, he chose not to comment on it.
āDo you think heāll stop chasing you now?ā he asked.
āI thinkā¦ the shock was bigā¦ā Your gaze turned behind you, watching the exit. āBut he wonātā¦ give up that easily.ā
āFiguresā¦ā Shadow sighed. āWeāll have to keep this up for a while thenā¦ā
āYeahā¦ā you said, sighing as well, even though you had known from the beginning that this wouldnāt be solved in just one night.
Now you would have to keep the charade going together for a little longer. At least Shadow hadnāt given up on the plan.
The sound of footsteps echoed together through the corridors of G.U.N., almost synchronized. You tried to keep pace with the hedgehog, but your mind kept wandering, especially to everything that had happened the previous night.
What prevented you from falling behind was the hedgehogās hand holding yours firmly, guiding you down the hallway.
āSoā¦ do we have to walk like this all the way here?ā you asked, feeling him squeeze your hand slightly.
āIf you want to pretend weāre in a relationship, we have to do it properlyā¦ I donāt do sloppy missions,ā he murmured, making you sigh.
āYeahā¦ I suppose thatās fairā¦ I was the one who suggested this after allā¦ā You shook your head and followed him more closely.
You were usually already quite close, but nothing like thisānothing so clingy.
The walk down the corridor toward the cafeteria was going smoothly until you heard a feminine giggle echo behind you, making your body tense.
āWell, wellā¦ wow, you two finally admitted it to each other?ā The voice was playful and teasing, very familiar to both of you.
Both Shadow and you stopped walking and looked back, seeing the bat slowly approaching.
āItās fake! Weāre just on a mission!ā you quickly said, trying to explain.
āYes, yes, of course it isā¦ā Rouge murmured with a teasing laugh, stopping in front of the two of you.
Shadow remained impassive, not even thinking about letting go of your hand.
āSoā¦ youāre taken now, huh, handsome?ā Rouge said, patting his shoulder.
āIs there a problem with that?ā he replied sharply.
āNo, noneā¦ā the bat shrugged. āIām just surprisedā¦ it took you this longā¦ā She winked at you.
āRouge, I told you itās fake! Itās temporary, just untilā¦ we finish a missionā¦ā
With your words, the batās sharp eyes dropped to your joined hands, and she let out a small laugh.
Even though your hand was relaxed, the black hedgehog still insisted on holding it firmly.
āYouāre really committing to the act thenā¦ it looks realisticā¦ā she commented.
āLookā¦ itās just for now, so I can get rid of that idiot ex of mineā¦ā Your words made her raise an eyebrow in understanding.
āI seeā¦ But youāre doing it all wrong thenā¦ā Rouge explained, placing one hand on her hip.
āHowā¦?ā Shadow frowned in confusion.
āA real couple in loveā¦ would take lots of photos together, you know? Cute photos, go out for a nice dinner at nightā¦ā she began listing things.
You looked away, trying to hide the blush creeping onto your face while Shadow narrowed his eyes.
āIf you wantā¦ I can help with a convincing photoā¦ and later I can recommend a nice place for your dinnerā¦ and afterward, I know a good motāā
āRouge!ā you interrupted. āDonāt exaggerate!ā
āAlright, alrightā¦ sorry, dearā¦ā she sighed. āCome onā¦ give me your phoneā¦ for the pictureā¦ā
You hesitated for a moment, taking the device and looking at her uncertainly before handing it over.
āOne photoā¦ā you said quietly. Shadow remained silent and impassive through all of it.
āOne photo,ā Rouge confirmed, turning the phone and gesturing. āCome on, lovebirds, hug each other!ā
Sighing and shaking his head, Shadow wrapped his arms around you awkwardly.
āNoā¦ what are you two? A loving couple or sworn enemies forced to work together? Act like you canāt live without each other!ā
āIs this really necessary?ā Shadow grumbled.
āMore than you imagine, handsomeā¦ come on, hold each other!ā
Rolling his eyes, Shadow hugged you firmly. One of his hands held your lower back the same way he had the night before, while the other rested at the back of your neck, pulling your head to rest against his collarbone.
You were a little shy yourself, but when you felt him pull your body against his, the same warmth from the night before returned, encouraging you to wrap your arms around his neck.
The hedgehog inhaled your scent, closing his eyes slightly, almost forgetting where he was.
And of course the clever bat wouldnāt miss the momentānot only taking the photo but immediately posting it, showing absolutely no remorse about invading your social media as she chuckled quietly.
āYou two are adorableā¦ get a room,ā she joked, snapping both of you out of the brief trance you had fallen into without noticing.
Clearing your throat, you quickly took the phone back from the batās hand.
āA-anywayā¦ thanks for helping with the photoā¦ but I think I need to goā¦ā you said quickly, murmuring a goodbye to Shadow before disappearing down the hallway alone.
For a second, you thought you saw a hint of disappointment on the hedgehogās face, but you chose not to dwell on it.
Standing there, Shadow watched the corridor you had gone down and sighed.
āNo luck, handsome?ā Rougeās voice sounded beside him.
āWhy do you ask?ā he crossed his arms, looking at her. She shrugged.
āI know you, Shadowā¦ā She poked his nose with her finger, making him grunt in annoyance. āI know you wellā¦ but I know youāll deny it until the endā¦ so what I can say isā¦ donāt let your chance slip away.ā
Then, with a husky laugh, she turned and walked down the corridor, leaving Shadow standing there, thoughtful.
Perhaps that had been the most useful thing he had heard from Rouge in that conversationā¦ and he admitted to himself he couldnāt let it slip away this time. He would do whatever was necessary.
Standing in front of the restaurant entrance, the two of you looked inside together, noticing the elegant and well-organized atmosphere.
āYeahā¦ I figured sheād send us to a place like thisā¦ā you huffed, crossing your arms. āThings must cost a fortune hereā¦ how about we just get some fast food instead?ā you suggested, looking at the hedgehog, but he still seemed distracted.
āNoā¦ donāt worryā¦ Iāll payā¦ā he murmured, placing a hand on your back and guiding you inside.
āWait, Shadowā¦ but what?ā
āDonāt worryā¦ā he whispered. āIf I were really dating you, Iād take you to places like this.ā
His words left you completely speechless, making your eyes widen slightly and your body freeze. Why would he say something like that right now?
āO-okayā¦ā was all you managed to reply, still nervous and surprised.
The hedgehog sat across from you at the table, ordering the best wine in the place and letting you choose whatever you wanted, even if it was expensive.
And somehow you felt a strange sense of unease. Was he really taking this so seriously? Or was there something behind that behavior?
But you didnāt dwell on it much, allowing yourself to enjoy the night and the food and the company. And although you knew Shadowās more closed-off and quiet side, he still managed to keep a good conversation going.
āā¦Rouge told me it was an urgent missionā¦ that the Commander needed help as soon as possibleā¦ā he was saying, lifting the wine glass to his mouth for a sip.
āYou didnāt suspect anything?ā
āYesā¦ but she spoke as if it were really a matter of life and deathā¦ā he huffed, shaking his head.
āAnd then when I arrivedā¦ there was no Eggman, no dangerous badniksā¦ there was a Happy Hour happeningā¦ā he said, as if recalling a traumatic event, and you couldnāt help but laugh softly.
āCome on, you didnāt even enjoy it?ā
āEven though I was dragged inside by force, I used Chaos Control not long after to escapeā¦ things like that arenāt my style,ā he explained, setting the empty glass back on the table with a sigh.
āI can imagineā¦ā you laughed again softly. āI didnāt know you had stories like that.ā
āA fewā¦ maybe Iāll tell you moreā¦ another dayā¦ā he shrugged, resting his forearms on the table and leaning slightly closer.
āWell, I think Iā¦ would really like that. I donāt think youāve ever told me those beforeā¦ā you said, knowing that even with your friendship he wasnāt someone who opened up easily. So you were grateful for the chance to get to know him better.
Sighing, you mirrored his movement, leaning on the table as well.
Unexpectedly, the hedgehogās hand rose and rested against your cheek, surprising you. Your eyes widened as you looked at him curiously.
But he didnāt answer. His red eyes fixed on yours as if casting a spell that held you there.
Slowly he leaned forward, his gaze dropping to your lips, giving you the faintest hint of what he intended to do.
But before the moment could happen, the spell seemed to break as you realized what was about to occur, forcing yourself to pull back and clear your throat.
For a brief moment you again thought you saw disappointment in Shadowās eyes, but soon he returned to his usual expression.
āW-well, it was a nice nightā¦ but I think I have to go, okay?ā you said quickly, standing up from the table.
The hedgehog looked up with wide eyes, quickly pulling his wallet from his jacket and tossing some bills onto the table, not caring if it was more than necessary.
He hurried after you, leaving the restaurant and stopping in front of you.
āIāll walk you home,ā he stated simply.
āThatās not necessary, okay? I can handle it, itās not that farā¦ā you replied.
āEven so, itās not safe.ā
āShadowā¦ itās already lateā¦ I donāt think we need to keep pretending this late, you know?ā
The hedgehogās ears drooped slightly in frustration as he grunted.
āI donāt like thisā¦ā he murmured. But even that didnāt stop you from walking past him and continuing down the sidewalk.
āSee you tomorrow, Shadowā¦ā you said as you walked quickly along the empty street toward the park you had to cross to reach your apartment.
The hedgehog remained standing there, watching you leave without reacting.
The path was too quiet, making you uneasy. But it was better to put some distance between you and Shadow; otherwise you feared things would escalate more than you could control.
You were supposed to be pretending, not actually developing feelings for him when he was so close.
Lost in your thoughts, you didnāt notice the figure approaching until a rough hand suddenly grabbed your wrist, making you hiss in pain at the unnecessarily strong grip.
āHey!ā you turned angrily, but your expression fell into despair when you saw the face you hated so much.
āSo it was all a lie, huh? I knew itā¦ā your ex muttered irritably with a sadistic smile.
āLet go of me!ā You tried to pull away, but it only made the grip tighten, his fingers digging into the sensitive area while his other hand covered your mouth to stop you from making noise.
āYou think you can play games with me? Do you think I like it when you pull this crap, when you think Iām an idiot?ā he spat angrily.
Turning your face sharply to the side, you managed to make him remove his hand.
āYou never give up, do you? I broke up with you!ā you shouted, your eyes watering.
āI never said you could break up with me!ā he shouted back. āYou never really liked that hedgehog, did you? You were using him, just like you always doā¦ā His face began to move closer and closer.
But it never got close enough to do whatever he intended.
With a powerful impact that even startled you, your ex was sent flying, hitting the hard pavement of the park and groaning in pain while clutching the side of his head where he had been struck, blood beginning to run there.
Only when you recovered from the shock did you realize what had happened.
It had been one of Shadowās famous kicks, perfectly delivered at that moment. The hedgehog looked down at the man on the ground with disdain before turning to you with concern.
āDid he hurt you?ā Shadowās hands touched you with surprising gentleness, examining your wrists and seeing the marks left by your exās fingers, making the hedgehog growl as his eyes burned with fury.
āWho do you think you are, hedgehogā¦ā the ex groaned while standing up. āDonāt you understand they don't want you? They're mine! It doesnāt matter if they think they don't love me anymoreāonly I matter in their life!ā he insisted stubbornly.
āTchā¦ youāre the kind of scum I hate most on this planetā¦ā
Stepping forward threateningly, your ex backed away a few steps, his eyes widening at Shadowās furious expression.
But he couldnāt escape when the hedgehog grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled him forward, delivering a brutal headbuttāyou could swear you heard something crack. And still not satisfied, Shadow forced him downward until his face collided directly with the hedgehogās knee.
Staggering back and bleeding, your ex looked at him in horror, one hand covering his shattered nose.
āI donāt want you ever going near [Y/N] againā¦ donāt call them, donāt even think about [Y/N]! Because if you do, I swear Iāll finish what I started hereā¦ā Shadow said in a hoarse, ferocious voice.
Terrified, the man crawled backward across the ground before scrambling to his feet and running through the park without even looking back, disappearing into the night.
Shadow sighed deeply, brushing dirt from his fur before turning toward you and noticing your stunned expression.
āHeā¦ probably wonāt bother you again,ā he murmured, crossing his arms. āIāll let you go nowā¦ā he added, turning to walk away.
But before he could, you ran toward him without thinking, bumping into him and wrapping your arms tightly around his neck.
āWaitā¦ waitā¦ā you said breathlessly, almost desperate.
Hesitantly, he wrapped his arms around you, holding your back.
āAre you alrightā¦?ā
āThanks to you, yesā¦ā you whispered against his collarbone. āAndā¦ Shadowā¦ā
āThisā¦ this stopped being pretend a while ago, didnāt it?ā you asked, blushing slightly.
āā¦Yes,ā he confirmed, at least as far as he was concerned.
You laughed nervously, tightening your hold on him as if afraid he might disappear if you let go.
āSoā¦ wellā¦ what does that make us exactly?ā
āMaybe a coupleā¦ but a real one nowā¦ā he shrugged, looking out into the dark expanse of the park.
āDo you think we know how to be that?ā you teased, pulling your face back to look at him.
āIt canāt be that difficultā¦ā Shadow said with an amused huff, one hand lifting to hold your chin.
āYeahā¦ I think so tooā¦ I donāt have to pretend anymoreā¦ that I donāt really love youā¦ā you said, making him raise an eyebrow before a small smile appeared on the corner of his muzzle.
āGoodā¦ and I can stop pretending I donāt want to kiss you,ā he replied.
Before you could even answer, he closed the remaining distance and captured your lips in a kiss filled with meaning and emotions that had been held back for who knows how long.
And in that moment, lost in each other, you had never felt so safe in your lifeāand Shadow certainly owed a lot to Rougeās perfectly timed advice.
