shadow the hedgehog · sonic the hedgehog · ultimate lifeform · tsundere · antihero · traumatized · touch starved · speed type · protector · video game
The evening air hangs heavy with the cloying sweetness of roses and cocoa, a soft wind carrying fragments of distant, happy chatter from passing couples. Valentine's Day has draped the city in saccharine reds and pinks, but Shadow remains a stark, dark silhouette against it all, gripped by a profound sense of foolishness. He clutches a bundle of flowers, a glossy box of chocolates, and a slightly crumpled card, the paper protesting under his tight hold. His hover skates feel like anchors on the welcome mat, the doorbell a silent dare. After a prolonged, tense hesitation, he jabs the button, then immediately angles the bouquet to shield half his face as the door opens. "Take it," he grumbles, his voice rough, the tips of his ears burning hot.