Chapter Text
The sun was setting upon the horizon as both you and Shadow walked alongside the road, cars occasionally passing by. You had, graciously, missed the bus going to your neighborhood. Why Shadow was with you, of all hedgehogs, you don't know. He doesn't even live anywhere near you. You weren't even sure if you two took the same bus. After a car passed by, tousling your fur and quills from the wind, you finally spoke up:
"So.... You live this way too?" You asked, tentatively, pushing some of your quills out of the way of your face and turning around, walking backwards in order to face Shadow.
Shadow was silent, simply breathing in deeply before letting it go, looking off towards the road. It's almost as if he was trying to avoid eye contact. You looked away as well, towards the sunset above the water. Seagulls squawked as they flew by, creating an atmosphere that could have been romantic if this was one of your maladaptive daydreams... Not that you fantasized about anything similar with the hedgehog in front of you.
"... Yeah," Shadow said, catching you off guard. You stopped suddenly, the jerking motion making one of your feet skid on the gravel. You tried to correct yourself but one of your feet caught on the other's ankle and it caused you to trip. You were about to land on your butt if it wasn't for Shadow catching you by your arm. His face showed surprised shock. You were pretty sure that the reason why he looked so shocked was from your complete failure to walk, considering, y'know, the current situation.
Shadow closed his eyes and let out a breath before helping you up, chastising you. "You should be more careful."
"Ah-hah.. Sorry!" You said, scratching the back of your neck in embarrassment. Your heart was beating out of your chest and you were sure your face was very flushed. You wondered if Shadow could see the blush, if it was even there. "Thanks for the save, Shadow."
"Just make sure not to do something stupid again," he replied, retracting his hand from your arm. He crossed his arms across his chest and continued walking. You put your hands to your face and crouched onto the ground after he passed you by, your bag falling off your shoulder with a soft thud. That small little accident could have been such a romantic moment, you knew it. You secretly hoped for it. You wanted him to lean in and confess his (nonexistent) feelings for you. But, of course, this isn't one of your fanfics. This is reality. Shadow doesn't like you that way. you have to remind yourself.
You jump when a light touch touches your shoulder and you spin around, eyes wide like a deer in headlights. If he couldn't see your blush earlier, he could now.
"What are you doing?" Shadow asks. You stand up abruptly, putting your hands in front of you defensively as you properly face him.
"Ah, my legs just hurt!" You say quickly. Though, it wasn't a lie. Your legs really did hurt, though not enough to crouch down onto the ground. "We've been walking for miles, y'know, and I just... needed to..." You trail off, looking at Shadow as he turned himself around then knelt down on the ground, his back facing towards you. "What are you doing?" You echo his earlier question.
"You said your legs hurt," he stated, matter-of-factly. You step back. Shadow wouldn't just give anyone a piggyback ride. Who is this person? Because this is not Shadow.
You didn't say anything. Instead, like the very sane person you are, you dash ahead of Shadow, skipping and jumping. After a spin, that you thought made you look cute, you smiled widely at him. "Thanks, Shadow, but I'm fine, really!"
To emphasize your point, you decided that it was a great idea to jump on top of the railings, which, by the way, was right next to a cliff face. You started walking along them as if you did this every day after school. Which was a lie. You took the bus home. The closest thing you've done to this was on the monkey bars when you were in elementary school.
"See? I'm completely fine!" You say with a smile on your face.
Shadow walked up to you, his face showed no amusement. "Get down from there, you're going to get hurt."
You 'pfbbt' at his comment and start to walk again. "Please. I'm fine."
You notice how much taller than him you are on top of the rail as the two of you walk. You look at his quills, seeing the red highlights and the way they're styled. You wonder if his quills just grow like that or if he styles them that way. Turning towards him to ask this very question, you start: "Hey, Shadow-"
But, you didn't get to finish your sentence before your foot slips off of the metal railing and you start falling off of the side of cliff, your voice shrill as you scream in surprise.
"HEY!" Shadow yells. He acted fast, quickly grabbing your hand before you could fall any further. You stared up at him, heart beating fast from the terror. His face was scrunched up in, what seemed to be, both worry and fear. You weren't really able to tell. Shadow pulled you up and away from the cliff. You scootched as far away from it as you could without being in the road, breathing heavily. "What did I tell you about getting hurt?!"
You flinched at his raised voice, which is almost never an occurrence. He wasn't one to raise his voice. "I.. I'm sorry, I..." You started, trailing off. You couldn't think. All that was in your head was how close to death you just were. If Shadow wasn't here to save you from your own antics you wouldn't be alive. You stared at were you just were at the edge of the cliff.
"Hey," Shadow said, softer, waving his hand in front of your face to get your attention. When that didn't work he grabbed onto your shoulders and forcefully faced you towards him. "Are you okay?"
You couldn't believe it. How was your heart beating faster? The guy you've been crushing on for who-knows-how-long has somehow become even more attractive to you. Is this the suspended bridge effect? "I... yeah. I'm okay." You managed to say.
Shadow let go of a breath that you didn't know he was holding. Was he.. relieved? I mean, it would make sense for him to be relieved. He almost witnessed the death of his classmate. He should be very relieved. That was when Shadow suddenly picked you up without warning. Bridal style. Your brain short-circuited. "Wh.. What are you doing?!"
Shadow looked at you like you were dumb. "Making sure that you don't do that again."
Okay, yeah. Makes sense. You hid your face in your hands as he walked alongside the road with you in his arms. While this was definitely your dream come true, it was not supposed to happen in this way.
Though... you didn't mind it.