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—𝐃𝐎𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐄 .ᐟ• 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐰 • side blog @littlellambie • valentine series out now 💌

[𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐰] 𝐌.𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓 જ⁀➴

© xobunni0 — do not copy my layouts or my fics if you have gotten inspiration from me pls tag me / or message me or you will be blocked

𝓁𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓇𝓈 𝓇𝑜𝒸𝓀

𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐰 𝐱 𝐟!𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

➵ ℳ𝓔𝓝𝓤

- day 5 💌, tv girl ofc, slightly suggestive, wc-1k

the air is thick in the small apartment, heat from bodies pressing close and the scent of sweat and cologne mixing with the faint smell of alcohol

you slowly let your gaze drift toward the bar, scanning the crowd. and then you see him. the dim lighting flickered over him catching the sharp angles of his face, the red glint of his eyes locked onto you he wasn’t drinking, wasn’t speaking to anyone just watching.

a slow warmth curls in your stomach.

you let your eyes meet his just for a second just long enough to send a message before you turn back into the rhythm of the song, every movement is deliberate now. because you know he’s watching.

and you like it.

you let your eyes flicker back toward the bar, just for a second. he’s still there, arms are crossed over his chest, standing perfectly still, his drink untouched, his gaze never leaving you. the neon lights flash red across his fur

you can’t deny it he’s handsome. more than handsome. there’s something about him, something that draws you to him.

he knows exactly what he’s doing.

he watches you with confidence, like he sees through your subconscious invitation. it should make you nervous, maybe even make you look away

but instead, it makes you bolder

you’re not just dancing anymore. you’re performing. for him.

he pushes off the bar, walking slowly toward you.

you wanted this. you wanted his attention. you don’t stop dancing. but your movements slow, anticipation forming in your stomach as you watch him approach from the corner of your eye.

he moves closer, and the crowd almost seems to part for him without realizing it. he’s different from everyone else here

your breath catches as he stops just close enough that you can feel the faint warmth of his body, hear the way he breathes slowly. his eyes dark, and unreadable are locked onto yours, the neon lights catching the red in them as they flicker over your face, down to the way your body still sways

“I’m Shadow.”

his voice is smooth, low enough that he says it without needing to be loud. the name fits him perfectly

you don’t realize you’ve been holding your breath until you exhale, your lips part his name lingering on your tongue before you finally say it back

“Shadow.”

his eyes flicker, as if hearing you say his name does something to him.

you tilt your head, letting the music carry your body just slightly closer, testing the limits. he doesn’t step back.

“I was wondering when you’d come over” you say, voice just loud enough for him to hear

his lips twitch not quite a smirk, but something close. “Were you?”

you nod, watching him carefully. “You’ve been watching me this whole time.”

Shadow doesn’t deny it. he holds your gaze his expression unreadable

“You didn’t seem to mind.”

the way he says it, it’s not a question. it’s a fact.

and he’s right.

a slow, warm feeling spreads through you, and you don’t fight it. instead you let your fingers trace lightly over his wrist

“I didn’t.”

the warmth of the alcohol you had drank now taking effect, loosens your tongue making you bolder. maybe it’s the way Shadow carries himself so composed, so in control that makes you want to test him, to see if you can break him just a little.

you tilt your head, letting your body move with the music as you glance up at him. he’s watching you closely, with curiosity. like he’s waiting to see what you’ll say next.

“So…” you let your fingers graze his wrist again, a soft touch, just to see if he’ll react. “What’s a handsome guy like you doing all alone in a place like this?”

his ears flick slightly at your words, and for the first time, you catch the faintest shift in his expression, surprise, maybe, or amusement. it’s hard to tell with him. but you do notice how his fingers tighten just slightly at his sides

“I could ask you the same thing” he counters, voice smooth

“I’m here to have fun.” you let the words linger before adding, “You don’t really seem like the partying type.”

Shadow exhales through his nose, a quiet sound that might almost be a chuckle. “I’m not.”

“Then why are you here?” you take a small step closer, just enough to close the space between you.

his eyes flicker down to you, and for a moment, you think he won’t answer. but then-

“…I was looking for something.”

his voice is lower now, and something about the way he says it sends a shiver down your spine.

you raise an eyebrow. “And did you find it?”

Shadow holds your gaze for a long tense moment. then, slowly so subtly his fingers brush against your waist, his touch barely there but deliberate.

“…Maybe.”

you can’t help it you giggle. light teasing the alcohol making everything feel just a little more amusing. Shadow, this composed guy looking completely unfazed by everything except, maybe, you.

and you like that.

“Maybe?” you echo, tilting your head at him. “That doesn’t sound very convincing.”

Shadow watches you unreadable as ever, but you don’t let that stop you. instead, you reach for him, fingers curling around his wrist and before he can react, you tug him into you

he stiffens immediately.

you laugh again, spinning back to face him your hands sliding up to his shoulders as the music pulses around you. he’s tense, unsure and it’s adorable here he is, awkwardly standing looking like he has no idea what to do.

“You’re so stiff” you tease, swaying your body against his just slightly, encouraging him to move. “Relax a little won’t you?”

Shadow exhales sharply, glancing down at you.

“I don’t dance” he says flatly.

“you do now.” guiding his hands one to your waist, the other still caught in yours. he’s hesitant his touch light uncertain

he doesn’t move right away, but he also doesn’t pull away.

𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠

his fingers trace slow, patterns over your skin starting with your arm, light touches up and down, like he’s memorizing the way you feel.

his hand slides to your waist.

his fingers pressing just enough to remind you that he’s there. the warmth of his touch spreading through you, and you don’t even try to fight it.

you don’t want to fight it.

Shadow is watching you, his crimson eyes half-lidded

a stray strand of hair falls into your face, and before you can brush it away he beats you to it. his fingers so careful slide against your cheek as he tucks the strand back into place.

Shadow’s fingers still linger against your cheek, you’re so close now, bodies moving together like you were meant to be pressed against him like this.

you don’t look away. neither does he.

Shadow’s grip on your waist tightens slightly, as if testing how close he can bring you, how much more of you he can touch. his other hand ghosts down your arm again, fingertips barely brushing your skin. you shudder under his touch, and he notices lips parting slightly, his breath warm against your face.

your heart is pounding and you know he can feel it, just as you can feel his own breath quicken slightly, despite how unfazed he tries to be.

there's no denying it anymore.

Shadow’s thumb grazes your cheek, and your lips part instinctively drawing in a sharp breath. his gaze flickers downward just for a second before snapping back up, his grip on you tightening. like he’s fighting something. like he wants something.

like maybe he wants you.

the realization sends a rush through you, intoxicating in a way that has nothing to do with the alcohol still buzzing in your system.

your fingers curl against his chest

you feel his breath against your lips shallow, quick. the heat between you is unbearable now, so intense it almost hurts.

and then, without warning you pull him in.

𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐚 𝐤𝐢𝐬𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐠

his lips are firm as they crash against yours, his body presses against yours, warm and solid as if he’s been holding back for far too long.

you pull him in tighter, your hands gripping the back of his neck your body moving instinctively against his seeking more of that warmth, more of that feeling that consumes you. every inch of space between you vanishes and all you can focus on is the way he holds you

you can’t get close enough

his hand slides up to your back, he pulls you even closer, so close that you feel every pulse of his heartbeat through your chest. it’s as if the entire party, the music, the people everything disappears except for the two of you.

you deepen the kiss further, you can feel his breath hitch against your lips, the quiet groan he tries to suppress, and the sound only makes you want more.

the kiss lingers on your lips, but the reality of what just happened hits you

you kissed him.

a stranger.

the thought leaves a bitter taste in your mouth, and a surge of panic twists in your stomach. you wonder if you’ve made a mistake.

you can’t stay. you can’t look him in the eye again, not with the way your chest feels like it’s caving in from the weight of this impulsive decision.

𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐜𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞

without thinking, you pull back your eyes still locked with his for a split second before you break it, desperate to look anywhere else. the flashing lights feel blinding now, everything seems so loud

“Excuse me…” you murmur, voice barely audible your chest tightens as you back away from him

you don’t wait for him to say anything, don’t give him a chance to stop you. you just walk fast, too fast toward the door, away from the heat of his touch.

you push your way through the crowd, the weight of what you just did pressing down on you the night air hits you the moment you step outside, sharp and cold

the door slams shut behind you, and the noise fades into silence. you breathe in deeply, trying to steady yourself

𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠

What did you just do? and damn it, if it wasn’t the best kiss you’d ever had.

you can’t help but smile to yourself, the warmth of the memory still fresh, despite the uncertainty and the confusion you still feel. he was very handsome

and a good kisser, the corners of your lips curving up. it’s a thought that lingers as you keep walking

you’ve walked away, and you have no idea when or if you’ll ever see him again. but that kiss? that kiss will stay with you. and somehow, that makes it all worth it.

at least you had that memory, that one perfect moment

and maybe one day you’ll find him again.

𝓂𝓎 𝑔𝒾𝓇𝓁

𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐰 𝐱 𝐟!𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

➵ ℳ𝓔𝓝𝓤

- day 6 💌, pure fluff, happy valentine’s day ♡ been super busy with planning; celebrated 3 yrs w my bf >.<, missed day (5) will be updated soon!

Shadow never knew what to do with you.

you were soft, in the way you touched, the way you spoke, the way you felt. you never hesitated to take his hand, to rest your head on his shoulder, to say “i love you” like it was second nature. and every time without fail, he would tense up uncertain of how to respond.

tonight is no different. you’re sitting beside him on the couch, he’s reading something focused as always but you well… you’re focused on him. the sharp angles of his face the flick of his ear when he’s thinking the way his fingers rest so carefully against the page

without hesitation you lean into him, resting your head against his shoulder.

immediately he stiffens

you don’t move away. instead, you sigh and let your fingers trail along his arm drawing slow patterns. “you’re always so tense” you murmur. “do you even know how to relax?”

“I am relaxed” he says, though the way he’s sitting extremely still says otherwise.

you smile, nuzzling slightly against him. “right.”

he exhales sharply shifting just a little, but he doesn’t shake you off. he never does. and even though he pretends to be calm about it, you catch the smallest signs the way his shoulders lower ever so slightly, the way his fingers twitch like they want to do something but don’t know what.

“does this bother you?” you ask softly tilting your head to look up at him.

his jaw tightens. “no.”

“then why are you so tense?”

Shadow says nothing, but his fingers curl slightly against his book like he’s gripping it a little too tightly.

you hum shifting so your arms slip around his waist again pulling yourself even closer he lets out the tiniest sound more of a breath than a noise but you catch it.

he doesn’t care about anything else in this moment. what he does care about is the way your presence settles something inside him that nothing else ever has.

and maybe that’s why, before he even realizes what he’s doing his hand warm, and careful settles against the small of your back. he doesn’t pull you closer, but he also doesn’t push you away either.

you don’t comment on it don’t tease him because you know this is new for him. instead, you simply smile shifting slightly so your body leans against his your warmth seeping into him.

Shadow stiffens. only for a second. and then so subtly you almost don’t catch it he exhales letting himself melt into you.

you glance up at him, your voice soft. “you like this don’t you?”

“…be quiet” he mutters.

you laugh, tilting your head against his shoulder. “That’s not a no.”

Shadow never says it. but you don’t need him to.

you can see it in the way he doesn’t pull away anymore when you touch him. the way his hand, hesitant at first starts lingering just a little longer when it finds its way to your back, your shoulder, your hand. the way his ears twitch when he hears you laugh as if the sound is something he’s still getting use to

honestly Shadow never imagined himself in a relationship especially not with someone like you.

you, who always finds an excuse to touch him. who reaches for his hand without hesitation, who hugs him like it’s the most natural thing in the world, who runs your fingers through his quills when he sits close enough to let you. you, who loves so openly, so effortlessly, so freely.

it’s foreign to him. strange.

but he doesn’t hate it.

he tells himself it’s just something he tolerates. that he lets you do it because it makes you happy. but if that were true then why does he miss it when you’re not near? why does his chest feel lighter when you brush a kiss against his cheek, or when you press your forehead against his, whispering something soft, something just for him?

he doesn’t know how to say it. how to tell you that this. you. mean more to him than he ever expected. so he shows it in other ways.

like now.

your fingers trail up his back, slow and gentle. “you never imagined being with someone like me did you?”

Shadow doesn’t answer at first. he doesn’t need to his silence is enough. instead he exhales softly lowering his head just slightly so his forehead brushes against yours. his quills tickling you slightly

you squeeze him a little tighter. “I love you Shadow.”

he stiffens, just for a moment. then slowly, carefully his arms wrap around you in return, pulling you closer. his grip is firm, and secure.

“…I know” he murmurs, his voice lower and softer than usual

despite his past, despite the way he still hesitates when you touch him.. he does let you hold him. he lets you stay close. he lets himself be vulnerable in ways no one else will ever see.

he chooses this. chooses you. he loves you in his own way.

last day 💌 thank u sm for reading this oneshot series! part 5 will be out soon 😓

𝒷𝑒 𝓂𝓎 𝒷𝒶𝒷𝓎

𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐰 𝐱 𝐟!𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

➵ ℳ𝓔𝓝𝓤

- day 4 💌, wc- 2k

it didn’t happen all at once. falling for Shadow was like watching a candle burn, a slow realization that crept into your heart before you could do anything to stop it

at first it was enough just to be by his side. you were his friend one of the few he actually let in. and that had meant something. it still did. the long talks during quiet nights, the way he’d listen when no one else did, the rare smiles that softened his otherwise hardened expression

but at some point, just being friends stopped feeling like enough

maybe it was the way your heart quickened whenever he was near, or how his deep voice sent warmth in your chest. maybe it was the way his rare smiles lingered in your mind far longer than they should..

because how could you not fall for him?

Shadow wasn’t easy to understand, but you’d learned to understand him in your own way. he didn’t always say how he felt, but his actions spoke for him like the way he never let anyone else close the way he let you.

and that night, standing beside him beneath the stars it hit you all at once.

maybe it was only natural. maybe, deep down he also felt it too.

over time, the line of friendship became blurred.

it wasn’t a single moment that changed things, but a series of them the way his gaze softened when he thought you weren’t looking. the way he never quite pulled away when your shoulder brushed his.

at first, you told yourself you were imagining it. Shadow wasn’t the type to dwell on emotions. he was direct, rational. he saw the world for how it was or wasn’t and yet somehow you existed in the space in between.

you were certain

Shadow felt the same way about you.

it wasn’t just a hope or a foolish dream. it was in the way he looked at you, the way he spoke to you, the way he stayed. Shadow wasn’t someone who entertained relationships. he kept his circle small, walls high, but somehow you had slipped through the cracks. and he had let you.

you saw it in the way he noticed when something was wrong even when you hadn’t said a word. the way he said your name not just as a friend, but as something more.

but for all the certainty in your heart, Shadow hadn’t said the words. not yet

doubt creeping in when you least expected it.

it didn’t matter how many moments you’d shared with Shadow, how many times you caught him looking at you like you were something important. he had never said the words. never confirmed what you so desperately wanted to believe

and that was the problem wasn’t it?

Shadow had always been unreadable. his emotions were locked away, he wasn’t like other people he didn’t express things the way they did. and maybe… maybe you had been wrong. maybe you had been imagining all of it.

because at the end of the day, he had never said he felt anything for you

what if he only saw you as a friend?

the thought hit you harder than you wanted to admit, settling in your chest

you tried to push it away, to remind yourself of all the little moments that had convinced you otherwise but doubt had a way of twisting things, making you question everything.

maybe the way he looked at you was just how he looked at everyone he trusted. maybe his rare moments of gentleness weren’t what you thought they were. maybe you had misread everything.

after all

Shadow wasn’t the easiest person to keep close he often disappeared without a word sometimes, and didn’t always explain himself. you were used to that. you had learned to understand him in ways most people couldn’t.

but this was different.

lately, he had been avoiding you.

not in an obvious dramatic way Shadow wasn’t like that. no, it was subtle. something so small that if you hadn’t known him so well, you might not have noticed.

but you did

you noticed the way he always seemed to find a reason to leave before you could talk. the way his eyes, when they met yours now flickered away like he was afraid of something

and that hurt more than you wanted to admit.

had you done something wrong? had you misread everything between you?

you had told yourself over and over that you would be strong, that you wouldn’t let this consume you. that if Shadow wanted to push you away you wouldn’t chase after him. you wouldn’t let it hurt.

but that was a lie.

because it did hurt. it hurt more than you could stand

and now, sitting alone in the quiet of your room, the weight of it all came crashing down.

you buried your face in your hands as the first sob escaped once it started, you couldn’t stop. tears hot against your skin your chest tightening

why?

why had he suddenly started avoiding you? what had you done?

everything had been fine hadn’t it? the way he stayed close, the way he looked at you like you mattered it had all felt so real.

but then without warning he had shut you out.

no explanations. no words. just distance.

and it was driving you crazy.

your mind kept replaying every interaction, every conversation, searching for something anything that might explain it. had you said something wrong? had you only imagined that he cared at all?

the thought sent another wave of tears down your cheeks.

you weren’t naive. you knew Shadow wasn’t easy to read that he carried things he never spoke about. but this? this was different. this felt personal.

and the worst part?

you missed him.

even now, even after everything, all you wanted was to hear his voice to have him look at you like he used to, to prove that you hadn’t just been fooling yourself.

but he wasn’t here.

and you didn’t know if he ever would be again.

a broken sob escaped your lips, and you curled in on yourself, arms wrapping around yourself

“…What did I do wrong?”

Shadow never did anything without thinking it through. but now, standing just outside your door his heart raced in a way he couldn’t quite understand.

he had never been good at this. never been good at letting someone close at showing them too much.

but now, with everything between you and him, with the distance he had made between you, he couldn’t shake the feeling that maybe just maybe you weren’t just a friend to him anymore.

and the thought terrified him.

he hadn’t meant to push you away. that had never been the plan. but what was the plan really? he had no idea how to be anything more than what he was. the thought of being vulnerable of letting someone in scared him more than anything else.

but as he stood there on the verge of knocking, something told him that maybe… maybe it was time to try. to take that risk no matter how much it made him nervous.

he knocked once. twice.

when you opened the door, tears stained the apples of your cheeks, you blinked in surprise. you had been expecting anyone but him. “Shadow?”

he stood there for a moment unsure of how to start. his eyes briefly flickered to the ground avoiding your gaze

“…We need to talk.” his voice was softer than usual

your brow furrowed and for a moment, you could see the worry flicker in his eyes something you rarely saw. “About what?”

he took a breath, trying to steady his nerves. “About us.”

your heart skipped a beat, and you didn’t know why.

you stepped back to let him in but he hesitated still standing in the doorway. something in him seemed torn, like he was battling himself over whatever he was about to say.

“I’ve been… thinking.” he paused, running a hand through his quills in frustration. “And I know I haven’t been clear with you. I haven’t been good at… this.”

his words made your chest tighten but you stayed silent waiting for him to continue.

Shadow shifted his weight from one foot to the other clearly uncomfortable. it was strange to see him like this

“I’ve never—” He cut himself off taking a breath, “I’ve never asked anyone this before. I don’t know how to do it. I don’t know how to… how to say it.”

a knot formed in your stomach, and you frowned slightly unsure of where this conversation was going.

“Shadow…” you started, but he shook his head his gaze finally meeting yours.

“I…” he started, his voice a little rougher now “…I’ve been thinking about you. A lot.”

you blinked, surprised Shadow rarely talked about his feelings, let alone let them spill out so easily. his gaze dropped briefly, like he was gathering his thoughts but then he met your eyes again.

“It’s like I can’t stop” he continued, voice quieter now almost uncertain. “I’m always thinking about what you’re doing how you’re doing… what it would be like to be near you. to just—” his words faltered for a moment like he was hesitant to put this into words. his hands gripping the edges of his gloves “I wonder what it would be like to hold you. to have you close, to…”

his breath caught, his words trailing off and he seemed to struggle with how to explain it.

“Shadow…” you whispered, unsure if you should speak or just let him continue.

he took a small step forward, closing the distance between you, “I’ve never felt like this before. I’ve never been so… sure of someone. I don’t know what it would be like, to have you with me, to hold you and… just have you be mine. to be close in a way that no one else can be. I keep imagining it wondering what it would feel like.”

Shadow, who had always been so careful so guarded, was speaking to you like this? it was like everything he had kept hidden inside, every thought, every feeling was finally rushing out.

“I don’t know how to explain it” he admitted, his gaze never leaving yours. “But I can’t stop thinking about it. About you.”

you didn’t know what to say at first, but you felt it too the desire to be close to him in a way you only allowed yourself to imagine until now.

you could see that he was no longer holding himself back. he was letting you in

“I never thought I’d let anyone this close” he murmured, his voice almost a breath. “But… you’re different.”

before you could say anything, he reached out carefully almost hesitantly, his hand took yours in his, his thumb brushing over your hand

“I never imagined how much I would want this. Want you.” he admitted

“Would you… would you be my girlfriend?”

the words were quiet

for a long moment, neither of you moved. you stared at him, unsure if you were dreaming or if this was real.

Shadow, the person who rarely let anyone in the one who always kept a wall up, was asking you to be his.

he looked so out of place, so vulnerable standing there waiting for your response as if your answer could make or break him.

and in that moment, you realized that he was just as afraid as you were

the reality of the moment hadn’t fully hit. then with a slow smile you nodded.

“I’d like that.”

relief washed over him, and for the first time in a long while, you saw him truly relax. his shoulders dropped his expression softened and he took a small step closer.

“Really?” he asked, his voice almost a whisper.

you smiled a little wider nodding again. “Really.”

day 5 💌 on tuesday !

𝒸𝒶𝓇𝒾ñ𝑜

𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐰 𝐱 𝐟!𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

➵ ℳ𝓔𝓝𝓤

- DAY 3 💌, boyfriend!shadow, suggestive, wc- 1891, she’s a long one, my best work yet 🤭🤭

it wasn’t the way you imagined the night would go. It was date night. and instead you were scrubbing dishes.

you scrubbed a stubborn spot on one of the plates. your mind wandering as you worked. you thought about how excited you’d been to surprise him, to see Shadow break into one of those rare small smiles he reserved just for you.

but instead you were here, alone, scrubbing dishes at nearly 10 PM

you scrubbed the last of the dishes with more force than necessary trying to distract yourself from the bitterness bubbling up inside it wasn’t fair. not the missed dinner or the lack of communication but the fact that you couldn’t even stay mad. no matter how late Shadow was or how much he forgot your love for him always out won your anger

just as you reached to turn off the water, the faint sound of the front door creaking open made you freeze. you didn’t turn around not right away.

the softest sound of boots against the floor. then warmth.

Shadow’s arms wrapped around you from behind, firm but heavy with exhaustion. his head came to rest against your shoulder the faintest exhale of relief brushing against your neck.

your breath caught and for a moment, you froze your heart racing as his presence washed over you

“Shadow” you whispered

“I’m here” he murmured, his voice low and rough

the anger that had been building up all evening began to crumble, you could feel the tension in his body the exhaustion in the way he leaned into you

Shadow was quiet for a moment, his arms tightening around you. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to worry you” he said finally. “The mission took longer than I expected.”

you turned slightly in his arms, enough to catch a glimpse of his face. his crimson eyes, usually intense were softer now, he looked… tired something he rarely let himself be.

“I waited” you said, your voice trembling just slightly. “I wanted tonight to be special. I thought you..”

“I know” he interrupted gently, his gaze dropping. “I saw the table… the candles.” his voice getting even lower. “I’m sorry.”

your heart ached at the sincerity in his words at the way his guilt seemed to weigh heavier on him than his own exhaustion. slowly, you reached up your fingers brushing lightly against the side of his face.

“I’m not mad” you admitted, “I just… missed you.”

Shadow leaned into your touch, his eyes closing for a brief moment. “I missed you too” he murmured

you leaned into him, your forehead resting against his. for all the frustration and disappointment.. having him here feeling his warmth, hearing his voice was enough to make everything else fade away.

“Come on” you said softly, pulling back just enough to meet his gaze. “You need to sit down. You look exhausted.”

he didn’t argue, letting you guide him to the couch. as you moved to grab him a plate of reheated food, Shadow’s hand caught yours pulling you gently back to him.

“Stay” he said simply, his eyes meeting yours

you didn’t hesitate, sinking down beside him. Shadow’s arm wrapped around you again, pulling you close as he rested his head against yours

Shadow sank onto the couch, his usually proud posture was slumped, his head resting against yours as he let out a low weary sigh.

Shadow rarely let his exhaustion show always pushing through without complaint. but tonight, it was clear he’d reached his limit.

“long day?” you asked gently

Shadow nodded, his voice low and rough. “yeah.”

you placed a hand on his shoulder, feeling the tension coiled beneath his fur. “let me help.” you murmured

he glanced at you, crimson eyes searching yours as if trying to decide whether to accept. finally, he gave the faintest nod

you smiled softly and moved behind him, settling on your knees as you placed your hands on his shoulders. slowly you began to work the tight muscles beneath your fingers, kneading gently at first and then applying more pressure as you felt him relax

his head tilted forward slightly, exposing the back of his neck. “you don’t have to” he muttered, though the tension in his voice was already melting away.

“I want to” you replied, your fingers working along the knots in his upper back. “You do so much Shadow. let me take care of you for once.”

a soft, hum escaped him a sound you rarely heard but treasured every time you did.

your hands moved lower, trailing down his spine with carefully. as your thumbs pressed into a particularly tight spot, he tensed for a moment before letting out a deep breath his shoulders slumping further.

“That feels… good” he admitted quietly, his tone softer than usual

you smiled, leaning in to press a light kiss to the back of his neck. “Good” you murmured against his fur, your lips lingering for a moment before moving to another spot

Shadow’s ears flicked slightly, a subtle reaction that made your heart flutter and encouraged you to continue leaving gentle kisses along the curve of his neck, your hands never stopping their soothing rhythm on his back.

“Relax” you whispered, your voice warm and tender.

his breathing slowed, deep and steady, as the tension melted from his body. his head tilted slightly to the side, giving you more access to his neck

you trailed your fingertips along his shoulders now your touch light and soothing, “Does that help?” you asked softly.

Shadow turned his head just enough to meet your gaze, his eyes softer than you’d ever seen them. “It does” he said

you leaned forward, pressing a lingering kiss to his cheek before wrapping your arms around his shoulders from behind. “Good” you whispered. “You deserve it.”

Shadow’s hand came up to rest lightly over yours, his grip firm yet gentle.

as Shadow leaned back into the couch, his body finally relaxed and tension-free, you gently brushed your hands over his shoulders one last time.

“There” you said softly, leaning down to press a light kiss to the top of his head. “Feeling better?”

he tilted his head slightly, his eyes meeting yours. “Better” he murmured. “Thank you.”

you smiled, smoothing your hand over his arm before standing. “Good. Now stay right there I’m not done taking care of you yet.”

before he could argue, you made your way to the kitchen. the meal you’d prepared earlier was still waiting, kept warm in the oven.

when you returned to the living room, Shadow had straightened slightly his posture still tired but no longer as heavy. his gaze followed you as you set the plate in front of him on the coffee table, along with a glass of water.

“I thought you’d be hungry” you said, taking a seat beside him.

he looked at the plate and then back at you.

“You didn’t have to” he said quietly, though he didn’t hesitate to pick up the fork.

“I wanted to” you replied, watching as he took his first bite. you could see the tension in his jaw ease as he took his first bite

“You always do too much” he muttered

you leaned into him slightly, resting your chin on your hand as you watched him eat. “Someone has to take care of you” you teased lightly.

as Shadow’s plate rested empty on the coffee table, he leaned back against the couch his arm draped around you. you felt his warmth as he pulled you closer, but his gaze shifted lingering on you in a way that made your heart flutter.

his eyes traveled from your face, where a soft satisfied smile lingered, down to the dress you wore a black slip dress that clung to your figure just right.

“You wore this” he said quietly, his voice carrying that deep steady tone you loved. his fingers brushed against the hem of the dress where it rested on your thigh

“I wanted to surprise you” you admitted softly, leaning into his side. “It’s your favorite isn’t it?”

Shadow didn’t answer immediately, but by the way he was eyeing you answered that. his hand moved slightly, fingertips grazing the delicate lace trim as his thumb traced over the fabric.

his gaze flicked back to your face, and for a moment he leaned forward slightly his forehead brushing against yours as his hand rested gently on your waist his fingers against the silky fabric.

“so beautiful..” he paused, his voice getting lightly quieter as if the words were foreign to him.

Shadow’s other hand came up, brushing a strand of hair away from your face as his thumb lightly grazed your cheek. the soft touch sent a shiver down your spine.

Shadow leaned in, his lips brushing softly against yours in a kiss

his hand slid from your waist to your thigh, resting there lightly. his gaze dropped briefly to the dress again, and a faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips

“You really did all this… for me?” he said, his tone low and teasing.

“I did” you said, brushing your fingers over his hand.

Shadow shook his head slightly, a quiet hum escaping him as his hand tightened just slightly on your thigh.

“You trust me don’t you?” he asked searching your eyes.

you nodded unable to form words

“Lay back” he murmured

you swallowed, heat creeping up your neck as you slowly leaned back, your body sinking into the couch beneath you. the second your head met the cushion, Shadow moved placing himself above you.

his hands braced against the couch on either side of your head

your breath hitched. you could feel the warmth radiating from his body the way he traced your features like he was memorizing every detail. you felt trapped in the best possible way completely at his mercy.

“Relax” he cooed

his expression softened just a little. then ever so slowly he leaned down his lips a few inches away from yours. he was waiting, testing you

Shadow lingered just above you, his breath warm against your skin. his crimson eyes flickered with something unreadable and it sent your heart racing. then a slow smirk tugged at his lips.

“I love seeing you like this” he admitted, his voice low and smooth, almost like a purr.

his gaze darkened, trailing over your face then down to where your chest rose and fell beneath him. he wasn’t touching you not yet..

“Laid back looking up at me.” His smirk deepened

finally, he moved, his hand coming up to ghost along your jawline, fingers barely brushing your skin. it was a featherlight touch, but it sent heat spreading through your body

“let me take care of you now” he murmured, pressing the faintest kiss just below your ear before pulling back to look at you again.

and with that, he settled closer one arm slipping around your waist as he rested some of his weight against you his presence consuming.

you could only stare up at him heart pounding.

HEHEHE

day 4 💌 on sunday!

𝓈𝑜𝓂𝑒𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃’ 𝓈𝓉𝓊𝓅𝒾𝒹

𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐰 𝐱 𝐟!𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

➵ ℳ𝓔𝓝𝓤

- DAY 2 💌 , friend!shadow, confession, fluff, wc-1537

Shadow loved being in control; in control over his emotions, his actions, his thoughts. but when it came to you that control crumbled completely

and that was unacceptable.

you were his friend. nothing more. nothing less. someone who had somehow wedged into his life

yet here he was, standing outside your apartment door hands buried in the pockets of his jacket, shoulders tense. the cold night air cooling against him, but he barely felt it. his pulse could be heard in his ears

he had been standing here for at least five minutes. maybe longer.

it was ridiculous. the idea of knocking on your door left him paralyzed

it was just you. his friend.

but that was the problem wasn’t it? you were just his friend. and he was just a coward who couldn’t say the words that would make you see him as anything else.

his fingers twitched toward the door then curled back into a fist. you had invited him over, for what reason? he wasn’t sure of.

it was just going to be you. him. and that terrified him.

he exhaled sharply forcing himself to knock. once. twice. a second later he heard footsteps. then the door cracked open and there you were hair slightly tousled, wearing a loose sweater that looked too soft for your own good eyes blinking up at him in confusion before softening.

“perfect, you're here to help me make cupcakes!” you said, this what you invited him over for…

cupcakes?

he stared at you, trying to piece together how that was relevant to whatever this was.. this weird, nervous feeling coiling in his chest the reason he had been standing outside your apartment debating whether to knock in the first place

with a quiet exhale, shadow followed

your kitchen was small but cozy, the counters cluttered with bags of flour, sugar, and other baking essentials. a recipe on top of the counter though you didn’t seem too concerned about following it exactly. you handed him a whisk.

“Alright you’re on mixing.”

Shadow eyed the whisk like it was a foreign object.

“I don’t bake.”

“you do tonight!” you said, dumping ingredients into the bowl. “It’s just stirring. you can handle that right?”

he scoffed but took the whisk, moving it through the batter.

the room was quiet except for the soft scrape of the whisk against the bowl. it should have been comfortable but Shadow felt restless. his mind was screaming at him to say something anything

god he couldn’t stop staring. even if we wanted to he couldn’t.

you were humming to yourself as you spooned cupcake batter into the tray, completely unaware of what was going in in his mind. the way a few loose strands of hair framed your face perfectly, the way your sweater hung a little too loosely over your frame, the slight flour that had gotten on ur temple. it was all so you. and it was driving him insane.

because all he could think about was what would happen if he just said it.

if he turned to you right now and admitted what had been clawing at his chest for months. if he just told you how you made him feel, how sometimes he just wanted to kiss you badly, how sometimes he found himself wanting to hear your voice when he was alone.

how would you react?

would you laugh? brush it off as a joke? or worse would you look at him with that soft, apologetic expression that told him you didn’t feel the same?

the thought made his stomach twist.

“You’re quiet again” you noted, glancing at him as you slid the tray into the oven. “What’s on your mind?”

you. always you.

but instead, he just shrugged leaning against the counter fingers drumming lightly against the surface. “Nothing.”

you sighed, unconvinced. “one day, you’re actually gonna tell me what’s on your mind, you know.”

he huffed, looking away. “Doubtful.”

either way, he was infuriating.

because no matter how obvious it was, no matter how many times you caught him staring when he thought you wouldn’t notice, no matter how he always found excuses to be near you he still wouldn’t say it.

and you were getting tired of waiting.

you stole a glance at him now, leaning against the counter arms crossed lost in thought. his eyes had that faraway look again, like he was lost in thought, you wanted to shake him to tell him to stop overthinking and just say it already.

but instead, you sighed and grabbed the two frosting containers. “Chocolate or vanilla?”

Shadow blinked, pulled from whatever internal debate he was having. he eyed the options then shrugged. “Chocolate.”

“you sure are slow when it comes to making decisions.” you remarked, popping open the container.

something changed in his expression just for a second. then it was gone. “I don’t make decisions without thinking them through.”

you leaned against the counter beside him, crossing your arms. “And how long does it take before you finally do something?”

Shadow tensed just slightly. maybe it was your imagination, but you swore his fingers twitched like he wanted to reach for something. for you.

you held his gaze, waiting.

his jaw clenched. then, just like always he looked away.

of course he did.

you exhaled sharply, shaking your head as you grabbed a spoon and started stirring the frosting with more force than necessary. “you are so frustrating, you know that?”

Shadow didn’t respond. but out of the corner of your eye, you saw his fingers curl into a fist.

you were both too stubborn to say first.

after all friends didn’t ruin things. friends didn’t make things complicated. right?

you didn’t know what possessed you to do it. maybe it was the tension that had been growing between you two for months. maybe it was frustration. maybe it was just him the way he was always so composed, so impossible to read.

for whatever the reason, before you could second-guess yourself, you swiped a dollop of chocolate frosting onto your finger and smudged it right onto Shadow’s cheek.

for a moment, he didn’t move.

he just stared at you, his red eyes wide with something unreadable.

then, slowly, he reached up, swiped a finger across his cheek and examined the frosting like he couldn’t quite believe you had actually done that.

as he turned toward the sink, you scooped up another bit of frosting and without hesitation again smeared it across the back of his neck.

you let out a startled laugh, shadow had lunged forward. before you could make it two steps, his arm wrapped around your waist, pulling you back toward him. the sudden shift in weight threw you off balance, and you tumbled backward taking him down with you.

you landed on the kitchen floor, Shadow landing directly on top of you

for a moment, neither of you moved. the only sound in the room was the distant ticking of the oven timer, and the shallow rise and fall of your breaths

you blinked up at him.

Shadow hovered just inches above you, his hands on either side of your head, his chest pressed lightly against yours. his breath was warm against your cheek and you could feel the warmth radiating from him his entire body locked in place as if one wrong move would send him over the edge.

your own breath hitched. your heart pounded so loudly you were sure he could hear it

this was closer than you’d ever been. too close. and yet… not close enough.

Shadow’s gaze flickered to your lips.

just for a second.

you saw it. you felt it..

say it.

you didn’t know if you were pleading with him or yourself but the words were on the tip of your tongue, threatening to spill out and break whatever existed between you.

Shadow swallowed hard. his jaw clenched.

his voice was low, strained like the words had been clawing at his throat for too long.

“I like you.”

your breath caught.

“I’ve liked you for a long time” he admitted, eyes never leaving yours. “but you’re my friend. and if I said anything if I ruined what we already had I…” He trailed off, shaking his head. “I wasn’t willing to risk it.”

Shadow searched your face like his entire world depended on your next move. like he was waiting for rejection, for you to laugh it off or tell him this was all some mistake.

but you didn’t.

Instead, you smiled the kind of smile that made his chest tighten in ways he still didn’t fully understand.

then without hesitation, you leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek

Shadow froze.

he let out a slow breath, his mind still struggling to catch up. your lips had been warm against his skin, soft, real. you were real. And you weren’t pushing him away.

you actually… wanted this.

his crimson eyes stayed locked onto yours, searching for any hint of doubt. any hesitation. but there was none. only you.

day 3 out this friday!💌

𝒾𝓂 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇𝓈

𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐰 𝐱 𝐟!𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

➵ ℳ𝓔𝓝𝓤

- DAY 1 💌 , bf!shadow, hurt/comfort, if u saw me post this already no u didn’t 🤫

the apartment was quiet, you and Shadow sat across from each other on the bed legs loosely folded, a comfortable distance between you. the dim lighting cast a soft glow over his dark fur, highlighting the sharp edges of his features

but tonight, it was different

you had noticed it before how sometimes, no matter how close you were Shadow seemed miles away. and it had been happening more often lately.

the silence stretched on between you and Shadow, heavier than before. there were moments when he still slipped away, moments when his thoughts pulled him somewhere you couldn’t follow.

and it hurt.

it wasn’t something you wanted to admit, even to yourself. you knew Shadow wasn’t the type to be openly affectionate and you had never expected him to be. but when he pulled away, when his eyes drifted past you like he wasn’t really there it made you wonder if you were fooling yourself. If what you had with him was real

or if he was just holding on out of convenience

you sat on the bed knees pulled up to your chest, watching him as he stared out the window. his posture was tense, his mind clearly somewhere else. the city lights reflected in his eyes but you could tell he wasn’t seeing any of it

Shadow had always been distant. you knew that from the start. but knowing it and feeling it were two very different things

Shadow was beside you close enough that you could feel his presence but not close enough to feel him. not in the way you wanted

you had always been there for him. when he became lost in his head, you stayed. when his nightmares woke him in the middle of the night, you never asked questions you just reached for him letting him know you were there for him. when he disappeared for hours, sometimes days, you never demanded explanations. you simply waited.

but how long could you keep waiting?

“You’re thinking too much again” Shadow said his voice pulling you from your thoughts

you glanced at him. he was looking at you now but not in the way you wanted. he could always tell when something was on your mind but he never reached for you first.

you swallowed your fingers gripping the blanket. “Do you even care about me Shadow?”

the words felt heavier the moment they left your mouth. Shadow stiffened his red eyes narrowing slightly not in anger but in confusion

“Why would you ask that?” he said

you exhaled, shaking your head. “Because you never show it” you admitted your voice quieter now. “I’m always here for you. Always. And I don’t expect you to change who you are but… sometimes I wonder if this even means anything to you. If I mean anything to you.”

Shadow was silent. as if he was processing your words but the longer the silence stretched the more that ache in your chest deepened

his jaw tightened and for a second, you thought he might look away.

Shadow exhaled sharply his hand running over his quills. he looked at you for a long moment. slowly hesitantly he reached out

Shadow’s fingers curled over yours

and it broke you.

you had wanted this for so long. to feel him reach for you, even in the smallest of ways. to know that he cared, but now that it was happening, all it did was make your chest ache.

because it took this. It took you questioning everything, it took you feeling empty, for him to finally respond.

a quiet, shaky breath escaped you, and before you could stop it, tears forming in your eyes, blurring your vision as your fingers twitched beneath his

Shadow’s gaze sharpened immediately. “Why are you crying?” his voice wasn’t stern or harsh, no, it was soft

you tried to pull your hand away, but he didn’t let go.

“I don’t know” you whispered, though you did. you knew exactly why.

Shadow frowned, his grip on your hand tightening slightly not enough to hurt, just enough to keep you there. “You do.”

you let out a quiet, humorless laugh, blinking back the tears even as they slipped down your cheeks. “Because it shouldn’t have taken this for you to show that you care.”

Shadow stiffened and for once, he had nothing to say

you shook your head, your voice breaking as you continued. “I’ve been here this whole time Shadow. Always waiting. Always hoping. And you never…” Your breath hitched, the ache in your chest spreading. “It feels like you never needed me the way I needed you.”

his grip on your hand loosened. his ears flicked back, his face unreadable. “That’s not true.”

“Isn’t it?” you asked, wiping at your eyes though the tears wouldn’t stop. “I feel like I’m always the one reaching out. Always the one holding on. And I kept telling myself it was enough just to be near you but it’s not. I’m not.”

the words came tumbling out before you could stop them, years worth of silence unraveling at once. Shadow didn’t move, didn’t speak, and that only made it worse.

a sharp breath left Shadow’s lips, his fingers twitched like he wanted to reach for you again, but something stopped him. his own hesitation. his own walls.

you gently pulled your hand from his grasp and this time, he let you. “I just… need some time” you whispered

Shadow’s expression was unreadable, but there was something behind his eyes something like regret. he nodded slowly, as if understanding that for once this was something he couldn’t fix with silence.

and as you turned away, curling into yourself on the bed you wondered if you had finally reached the point where trying just wasn’t enough anymore.

you lay there curled into yourself, staring at the wall, the weight of everything of your love, your longing, your loneliness weigh heavy on your chest. you had always told yourself you could handle it, that just being with Shadow was enough.

you weren’t sure how much time passed before you felt the bed shift behind you. a familiar warmth pressed close, hesitant at first, before strong arms wrapped around you, pulling you into him.

you sucked in a sharp breath as Shadow buried his face against the back of your neck, his grip tightening around your waist as if afraid you would slip through his fingers. his quills brushed against your skin ticklish but comforting

then barely above a whisper so soft you almost didn’t catch it came his voice.

“…I’m sorry.”

you squeezed your eyes shut, your breath shuddering as his words ghosted over your skin. Shadow was not someone who apologized easily. but here he was wrapped around you holding you like he was afraid of losing you

“I’m sorry” he murmured again, “For making you feel like this.”

your body trembling slightly against his. his grip only tightened in response.

then, warm lips pressed against your shoulder. a soft kiss . then another. and another.

each one felt like an apology, a silent plea for you to stay to understand.

Shadow wasn’t good with words, but this was something he could give. his touch, his presence, his warmth.

“I do need you” he whispered against your skin, his lips trailing up to the back of your neck. “I don’t always know how to show it, but I do.”

your chest ached, your hands gripping his arms where they circled you

you turned slightly in his arms, just enough to meet his face. his crimson eyes were softer now

he didn’t speak. he just leaned in, pressing his forehead to yours, breathing you in

you swallowed hard, your hands resting lightly over his as he held you.

Shadow exhaled, his grip on you tightening. “you’re always there for me” he murmured against your hair. “now let me be here for you”

your fingers brushing lightly over his chest. his eyes met yours

“I know I don’t always show it the way you need me to” he admitted his voice lower now, rough. “But that doesn’t mean I don’t feel it.” His hand lifted to cup the side of your face, his thumb brushing along your cheek. “I do.”

your chest tightened at the sincerity in his voice. leaning into his touch.

Shadow held your gaze for a moment, then slowly pressed his forehead to yours, closing his eyes. his other hand found yours, fingers lacing between yours.

“I don’t know how to be the kind of person who says things outright” he continued, “But I want you and choose you, Every time.” he pulled back just enough to look at you again, his crimson eyes steady. “And that’s never going to change.”

you let out a shaky breath, nodding as you squeezed his hand in reassurance

Shadow studied you for a moment longer before leaning in, pressing a slow, kiss against your lips no urgency, no hesitation, just certainty.

when he pulled away he tucked you back into his arms, holding you close. “I love you” he murmured, his voice softer than you’d ever heard it. “Always.”

day 2 comes out this tuesday! 💌

Do you only take requests for shadow or any/ all sonic characters??????

(I LOVEEEE UR WRITING)

HEHE tank u sm for reading 💝

𝐀𝐍𝐘𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆

𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐰 𝐱 𝐟!𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

౨ৎ 𝐈𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 … shadow never imagined himself as anything more than a weapon, let alone a father. but life has a way of surprising you when you least expect it.

- 𝐝𝐚𝐝!𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐰, —𝐚𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐫, 𝐰𝐜 𝟏𝟒𝟖𝟑, 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐧 .ᐟ 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐨 𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐞

𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞, 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠

the house was silent, except for the soft hum of the baby monitor on the kitchen counter. Shadow didn’t mean to stay up so late patrolling the house, double checking every lock, every window but that’s who he was. protecting what mattered was second nature to him.

and now what mattered most was just behind that half-open bedroom door

he pushed it open with the lightest touch, his eyes immediately landing on the two of you. the room was dimly lit by the glow of the nightlight on the dresser casting a soft light over the bed. you were curled up on your side, your hair falling messily over the pillow, your breaths slow and even. nestled against you bundled in a soft pink blanket was the tiniest person he’d ever seen.

his daughter.

Shadow lingered in the doorway his chest tightening at the sight. she was so small, her little fist curled against your chest, the faintest coo escaped her lips as she shifted in her sleep and Shadow found himself frozen.

he’d been terrified of this.. of her.

the idea of holding her, touching her, being responsible for her, had felt like too much. she was so fragile, and he’d spent his entire life built for the opposite of this. but now as he stood there, he wasn’t thinking about his doubts or his fears. he wasn’t thinking about his past

all he could think about was how perfect she was. how perfect you both were.

his gaze softened as he stepped closer, careful to make no noise. he stood beside the bed looking down at her tiny face and the way she fit so perfectly against you. the warmth in his chest was unfamiliar but not unwelcome

she was part of him, but she was also part of you. she was something new, something neither of you could have created alone

Shadow’s hand hovered over her for a moment before he pulled it back.. unsure. his fingers flexed aching to touch but instead he clenched his fist and held it at his side. he wasn’t ready not yet

it almost scared him how he would do anything to protect her.

anything.

his eyes shifted to you, your face relaxed in sleep exhaustion clear on your face. you had carried this life, nurtured it, brought it into the world and now you held it with a love so natural it made his heart ache

for all the doubts he had about himself he never doubted you.

Shadow lingered by the bed unable to pull himself away the steady rhythm of your breathing and the tiny, almost inaudible sounds his daughter made as she slept

as he stood there, his mind drifted back to the moment he first learned he was going to be a father. he clenched his jaw remembering how unprepared he’d felt, how terrified he’d been

he hadn’t handled it well. he paced your shared apartment for what felt like hours, his mind running in circles. the questions had flooded him what kind of father would I even be? what if I hurt the baby?

he had been made to destroy, not to nurture.

he had tried to keep his distance at first, convinced that you and the baby would be better off without him. he’d told himself it was for the best that he wasn’t worthy of something so pure, so innocent. but no matter how far he tried to pull away you’d pulled him right back.

Shadow’s hand pressed against his side as he closed his eyes remembering the first time he felt her kick. you had taken his hand guided it to your belly, and held it there even when he tried to pull away

“feel that?” you had whispered, your voice soft

and he had. he’d felt it.. the faint, fluttering movement and for the first time he understood. she was real. she was his.

it hadn’t erased his doubts but it had been a start. slowly, cautiously, he had begun to let himself believe that maybe just maybe he could be more than what he was created to be.

Shadow opened his eyes and looked back at you and the baby. he could hardly believe how far he’d come since that first overwhelming moment

a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he thought about how he’d nearly missed this, how close he’d come to letting his fears win. but you’d believed in him even when he couldn’t believe in himself

and now, here he was, watching the two of you so full of love something he never thought he was capable of feeling.

this. being here with you, with her was the most extraordinary thing he’d ever experienced

Shadow let out a soft breath and stepped closer again his hesitation melting away. he crouched down beside the bed, his eyes studying every detail of his daughter’s tiny face. her small features were so delicate, so peaceful and without even knowing she had already changed his life.

“I didn’t think I could do this” he whispered, his voice so low it barely disturbed the silence. he had been so scared. so doubtful.

his hand hovered over hers, and this time he let it rest gently on the edge of the blanket, brushing the soft fabric with his fingertips. she stirred slightly but didn’t wake and he couldn’t help the faint smile that returned to his face

the peaceful quiet was broken with a sudden tiny wail. Shadow stiffened, his ears twitching at the sound. his daughter’s face scrunched up, her tiny fists waving in the air as her cries grew louder

he froze, unsure of what to do. his eyes darted to you still sound asleep. you’d been so exhausted lately he wasn’t about to wake you if he could help it

but the baby’s cries continued, he glanced back down at her his heart racing

what now?

Shadow stood slowly, his movements awkward and unsure. he looked down at her his mind racing through every piece of advice and observation he’d collected over the past few days. he had watched you do this a dozen times, had listened carefully to your instructions. he could do this

couldn’t he?

her cries grew louder, her little face red and scrunched. Shadow’s hands hovered over her unsure if he should pick her up. he clenched his fists to steady himself. get it together Shadow.

talking a deep breath he carefully slid his hands beneath her. she was so small, so delicate he moved painfully slow lifting her up he cradled her awkwardly in his arms, trying to mimic the way you held her

“Alright, alright… stop crying” he muttered, his voice low and uncertain. “I’ve got you now.”

she squirmed against him, her cries still piercing the quiet of the room. Shadow swallowed hard bouncing her gently as he’d seen you do

“Is this… what you like? this bouncing thing?” he asked, his tone more questioning than soothing

her cries softened just a little and Shadow felt a flicker of relief. but it didn’t last long. her tiny face scrunched up again and she let out another wail

panic bubbled up in his chest. What else? What else do I do? his mind scrambled through the possibilities hungry, tired, uncomfortable? his eyes darted to the bag of baby supplies on the dresser

“Alright. you need something” he muttered.

carefully he carried her over to the dresser and scanned the supplies. he spotted a bottle you had prepped earlier just in case, and grabbed it with one hand holding her against his soft chest with the other

“Okay… here we go” he said, tilting the bottle toward her mouth. she squirmed for a moment but then her cries turned to quiet as she latched onto the bottle

relief washed over him as her little eyes closed again her tiny body relaxing in his arms.

“We figured it out. Not so hard. right?” he whispered, his voice softer now

he glanced over at you, still fast asleep and a rare smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. he wasn’t sure if he’d done it perfectly. probably not but he’d done it.

as he stood there in the dim light holding his daughter close Shadow realized something else he was slowly but surely, starting to learn how to be a father.

and for the first time, it didn’t feel so scary. it felt… right.

Shadow adjusted her in his arms pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead before sitting down in the rocking chair by the window. he rocked her slowly watching her tiny face relax back into sleep

thank u to anon who requested this 🥹💝

𝐡𝐢𝐬

𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐰 𝐱 𝐟!𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

౨ৎ 𝐈𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡.. shadow watched you from your window. it consumed him. he wished he could be closer, where he could feel the air you breathed and hear the soft sound of your voice. every glance made him want you even more.

- 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐞𝐫!𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐰, — 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐲, 𝐰𝐜- 𝟏𝟎𝟕𝟔

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐈 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰

𝐈 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐨 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐢𝐭 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐦𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐳𝐲

the hot water had done little to wash away the exhaustion of the day though your muscles ached a little less as you stepped out of the shower. the bathroom mirror was fogged and the air was still thick with steam you wrapped a towel loosely around yourself and made your way to your room. you glanced at the clock on the wall it was late.. too late to bother dressing for sleep. besides no one was here to care.

you let the towel fall to your feet, as you slipped into your favorite cream colored bra and pantie set that had cute lace details along the edges. the cool air of the room kissed your damp skin, stretching your arms above your head.

you left the blinds open, as you often did, the soft glow of the bedside lamp cast a warm, inviting light across the room. the night was quiet except for the occasional rustle of leaves in the wind. you dropped onto the edge of your bed with a soft sigh, lying back against the pillows

but outside your window, he was there. Shadow was watching.

he told himself it was enough to simply watch, this was his own secret way of being near you. but tonight was different. seeing you like this bathed in soft light, the curve of your shoulders bare. his breath hitched as he watched you stretch, the faintest sheen of water still clinging to your skin his heart pounding harder than it ever had before. you had no idea, no idea how much he wanted to be inside that room, he fought the urge to press closer to the window Shadow’s obsession clawed at his chest. you were right there, so close yet so far, the glass barrier taunting him as his hands tightened into fists

the soft glow of your bedside lamp painted warm shadows on the walls as you reached for the small glass bottle of vanilla body oil sitting on your nightstand. the sweet, comforting scent filling the small space as you uncapped it

you poured a small amount into your palm, rubbing your hands together to warm the oil before smoothing it over your arms. the sensation was heavenly, the exhaustion from the day slowly fading as you worked the oil into your skin. it was a routine you enjoyed, something simple something just for you

your hands glided over your collarbone, down to the curve of your breasts, tracing over every curve with care. you leaned back slightly letting your head fall to one side as you massaged the tension from your neck. the soft gleam of the oil caught the light making your skin look almost glowing.

but you didn’t notice the figure outside, watching every movement. Shadow’s chest tightened as his eyes followed the painfully slow glide of your hands. he knew every inch of you from afar but seeing you like this… so intimate, so unaware made something dangerous burn inside him.

you worked the oil down to your legs, stretching one out as you rubbed it into your calves and thighs. a soft sigh escaped your lips

Shadow’s hands clenched into fists at his sides as he resisted the overwhelming urge to step forward to touch what he could only watch

i wish it was me, he thought. I wish it was me who could touch you like that, who could be the one to bring you this much comfort and bliss.

he told himself this was enough, just seeing you like this, his eyes tracing every curve of your body so close but untouchable

as you finished and stretched out on the bed, the sweet scent of vanilla now etched all over your body, Shadow remained in place. but in the back of his mind the thought lingered

how much longer could he keep himself on the other side of the glass?

you settled back against the soft pillows, your body finally relaxed. the faint scent of vanilla clung to the air, you pulled a light blanket over your legs but left your shoulders bare and chest out

your mind wandered as you scrolled through your phone, answering a few texts and mindlessly browsing. it was peaceful, quiet, everything you needed.

but outside, Shadow’s breath came unevenly misting in the cool night air as he watched the subtle movements of your body. the way you shifted against the pillows, the curve of your neck as you tilted your head each detail engraved itself into his mind

he wanted more. needed more.

his fingers brushed against the cold glass of your window and for a moment, he let himself imagine stepping inside. what would you do if you saw him now? would you scream? would you run? or would you let him in? the thought made his heart pound and he stepped back, trying to steady himself

your eyes flicked toward the window.

Shadow caught the movement and froze, his pulse loud in his ears. did you sense him? could you somehow know he was there? just on the other side of the thin glass? the idea excited and terrified him

you set your phone down and turned off the lamp, you curled onto your side letting yourself drift into sleep.

Shadow remained outside, his eyes never leaving the outline of your form beneath the blanket. he stayed where he was

he couldn’t risk it. not yet. so tonight, he decided he would wait. he took a deep breath and stepped back from the window. he needed to leave something behind a trace of himself something for you to find. a piece of him that would remind you of his presence even when he wasn’t there.

he pulled a small piece of paper and carefully wrote a few words, his handwriting clear but shaky. his fingers trembled as he held the pen.

“I enjoyed the show tonight. You’re quite beautiful, you know. Next time, maybe I can help you with the… application.”

he felt a rush of heat at the thought, his heart pounding in his chest. it wasn’t enough to just watch you. he wanted to be closer.

he slipped the note carefully through the small crack in the window where the curtains met the frame, just out of sight but close enough for you to find. then with a final glance in your direction he disappeared into the night his footsteps silent against the ground.

this idea has been stuck in my head 🧎‍♀️🧎‍♀️😵‍💫

𝐒𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐓

𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐰 𝐱 𝐟!𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

౨ৎ 𝐈𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡.. the breakup was supposed to be the end, but you keep finding your way back to each other. you’re not good for each other, and you both know it. but maybe being good isn’t what either of you want.

- 𝐞𝐱!𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐰, — 𝐬𝐳𝐚, 𝐰𝐜-𝟏𝟑𝟔𝟒, 𝐢 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭..

the glow of your phone lit up the darkened room. you shouldn’t have looked. you told yourself a hundred times to ignore him, to let the past stay where it belonged. but when Shadow’s name flashed on the screen, the walls you’ve tried to build crumbled like they always did.

“Can’t stop thinking about you. can I come over?”

you stared at the message for a moment too long, fingers hovering over the keyboard. you could leave him on read, block his number or just ignore him. but you didn’t.

with a deep breath, you typed back

“door’s open.”

ten minutes later, he was at your door. the tension between you evident as you opened it. Shadow stood there, his intense gaze locking onto yours. and without a word he stepped inside. the air grew heavier, thicker.

no words were exchanged as he moved closer. the kiss came first.. hard, desperate, teeth clashing like you were hungry for each other. his hands slid under your shirt familiar and rough and you couldn’t tell if you were pulling him closer or pushing him away

hands roamed, clothes were discarded quickly, leaving a trail from the hallway to your bedroom. his weight pinned you to the mattress legs tangled together in a way that felt possessive and intoxicating. there was no room for hesitation, or regret, only two bodies that knew each other too well

when it was over the silence weighed down on you heavily. Shadow lay beside you his chest rising and falling slowly, one arm draped lazily over your waist like it belonged there. you stared up at the ceiling knowing this wouldn’t change anything

you wanted to tell him to leave.. but instead you pressed into him, his warmth chasing away the cold. Shadow’s gloved fingers traced patterns on your bare skin, like it was second nature, like he knew just the way you liked it.

𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐮𝐩

the silence was almost comfortable and peaceful, broken only by the faint hum of the fan and the rhythm of your breaths. you laid bare in Shadow’s arm. it was so easy to pretend, in moments like this, that nothing had ever gone wrong between you two

it was suffocating.

finally, you broke the quiet.

“We can’t keep doing this Shadow.”

his hand stilled, the lazy circles stopping. he didn’t move, didn’t speak but you could feel him tense beside you

“I mean it” you said, voice soft but firm. “This… whatever this is it’s not healthy. we fight, we hurt each other, and then we end up back here like none of it ever happened.”

Shadow let out a low sigh, his forehead pressing against your shoulder. “You think I don’t know that?” he muttered, his voice heavy.

“Then why do we keep doing it?” you asked, turning your head to meet his crimson eyes. “Why can’t we just… let go?”

his jaw tightened, and for a moment you thought he might snap at you, or leave like he had so many times before. but instead, his voice was quieter when he spoke again.

“Because I don’t know how to stop wanting you” he admitted.

you felt your throat tighten, tears threatening to spill.

“I don’t know how to stop either” you whispered, “but we need to.”

he pulled back slightly, his eyes scanning your face as if searching for some answer you couldn’t give him.

“I don’t want to lose you” he said finally

“You already have” you replied gently, your voice cracking.

𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭

Shadow’s grip on you loosened, his warmth, the comfort of his presence it all felt so painfully far away now

neither of you said anything else as you pulled away completely, sitting up and gathering your scattered clothes from the floor. you felt his gaze on you the entire time but you didn’t look back

by the time you were dressed and standing by the door of your bedroom, Shadow was still laying on the bed his head resting in his hands. he looked like he wanted to say something but no words came out

you had your hand on the doorknob, heart pounding.. telling him to leave was the right thing to do this was the only way to end things for good

“Wait.”

his voice low, and rough. you turned slowly meeting his eyes.

“Come back to bed” Shadow said, his tone steadier this time, though his eyes betrayed him “Don’t tell me to leave. Not yet.”

part of you screamed to keep going, to tell him to go and put him and everything the two of you had been in the past

“You know this isn’t good for us” you whispered, though even as the words left your mouth you could feel yourself crumbling

“And what’s good for us, huh?” he shot back, sitting up in the bed. the sheets pooled around his waist, his chest rising and falling with a sharp edge to his breathing. “Pretending like this, like we don’t mean anything? You think I don’t feel it too? The way I keep coming back to you and you to me?”

your grip on the doorknob tightened. “It’s not enough Shadow. wanting each other isn’t enough.”

“And yet, you’re still standing there” he said softer now. “looking at me like you don’t want me to leave.”

you closed your eyes, hoping he’d somehow disappear but when you opened them again, he was still there staring at you.

“Come back to bed” he said again, quieter this time. “If you tell me to leave now, you’ll let me back in eventually. We both know it. so why fight it?”

you hesitated, your hand falling from the doorknob everything told you to go. but his voice, his eyes, it all pulled you back

without saying another word, you turned away from the door and walked back toward him. Shadow’s shoulders visibly relaxed, and he held out his hand. you took it letting him pull you onto the bed and into his arms.

his body was warm against yours as he tucked you into his soft chest, his hand finding the curve of your back. “See?” he murmured, his voice low against your ear “You can’t leave me. just like I can’t leave you.”

you didn’t respond, because you knew he was right. no matter how toxic, how messy this was, leaving Shadow had never been something you were truly capable of and he knew it

and as his arms tightened around you, as his scent filled your senses, almost intoxicating

the truth was you would always come back to him.

the room feel silent expect for the sound of his breathing. Shadow’s arms were still wrapped around you his body warm against yours. you lay there fingers caressing the soft fur across his chest

you tilted your head slightly, your gaze drifting to his face. Shadow looked so at peace, his usual sharp features softened while he slept. this was the version of him you always wished you could’ve kept

the thought made your throat tighten

you closed your eyes hoping to hold on to this moment, to keep it forever. but you knew better. you always did, by morning he’d pull away, act cold and distant and pretend like nothing happened

but still you hoped…

…you hoped that by morning he’d still be here, that he’d hold you the way he was now, his arms wrapped so tightly around you

you wanted to believe that. so badly you wanted too.

“I hope you stay” you whispered into the night, your voice so quiet you were certain shadow couldn’t have heard

Shadow stirred slightly, his arm tightening around your waist his lips brushed against your temple so softly and tender, before he settled again

you pressed closer to him your fingers threading into his hold as you held on to him just for tonight.

you let sleep come over you, drifting slowly and peacefully into slumber.

𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐈 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞

𝐛𝐟!𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐰 𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐱!𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐰 🪽

ℳ𝓔𝓝𝓤

➵ 2/01/25 𝒾𝓂 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇𝓈 — hurt/comfort

𝐈𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡.. shadow reminds you that even though he struggles to show it, his feelings for you aren’t going anywhere.

➵ 2/04/25 𝓈𝑜𝓂𝑒𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃’ 𝓈𝓉𝓊𝓅𝒾𝒹 — fluff

𝐈𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡.. shadow begins to realize his actions may never be enough if he doesn’t say what’s in his heart.

➵ 2/07/25 𝒸𝒶𝓇𝒾ñ𝑜 — suggestive

𝐈𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡.. you help shadow unwind with a warm meal, gentle touches, and with a special request from him.

➵ 2/09/25 𝒷𝑒 𝓂𝓎 𝒷𝒶𝒷𝓎 — fluff

𝐈𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡.. shadow has always been difficult to read, making it hard to tell if he feels the same way about you. little do you know, he’s been struggling with how to ask you a question he’s never dared to ask anyone before.

➵ 2/11/25 𝓁𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓇𝓈 𝓇𝑜𝒸𝓀 — fluff/suggestive

𝐈𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡.. one fateful night you meet shadow; by chance or by destiny you find yourself drawn to him.

➵ 2/14/25 𝓂𝓎 𝑔𝒾𝓇𝓁 — fluff

𝐈𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡.. shadow never imagined himself in a relationship, let alone with someone as affectionate as you.

can’t wait to write this little series of oneshots 🪽& thank u sm for 100 💝💝

𝐌.𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓

𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞, 𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝 —⋆˚࿔

𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐰𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 —⋆˚࿔

𝐬𝐰𝐢𝐦 — soon

𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫

𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐧𝐨𝐧𝐞 —⏦ﾟ♡︎

𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥

𝐒𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐓

𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥

𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫

𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐰 𝐱 𝐟!𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

౨ৎ 𝐈𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡.. what started innocently. over time grew more deeper, more personal, and attraction was undeniable.

- E.T is HIS song, a man that yearns is a man THAT EARNS!!, giggling while writing this, once again he’s a sweetheart, 𝐰𝐜- 1526

𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐈'𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤 𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥…

the halls of the facility were silent, with the hum of fluorescent lights and the occasional distant beep of monitors. you moved carefully clutching the stolen clearance card in one hand. the night shift was low tonight, but if anyone caught you.. there’d be no way to explain what you were doing

finally, you reached the heavy steel door that led to where he was being kept. with a swipe of the card and with a soft beep the lock opened. you exhaled a breath you hadn’t realized you were holding in and slipped inside

the dim lighting of the containment room made you feel even more uneasy. seated in the far corner of his glass enclosure was Shadow. he sat with one leg stretched out, and the other bent, his back resting against the wall. his eyes were closed but the moment you entered his ears twitched ever so slightly, and his gaze moved to you.

“risking a lot just to see me again” he said, his voice low and smooth but with the faintest hint of teasing

“yes.” you smiled, stepping closer to the glass barrier

his expression softened in a way that only you ever seemed to see. it made your heart skip a beat every time. he stood and approached the glass, stopping mere inches from where you stood on the other side

“are they suspicious?” he asked, his tone now more serious

you shook your head. “not yet. but I can’t stay long. If they catch me-”

“they won’t.” his voice was firm. his hand hovered near the glass and instinctively you mirrored the action, your fingertips meeting the cold glass that separated you

“I hate this” you whispered, “I wish I could do more. I hate sneaking around like this.”

Shadow’s gaze never left yours.

His smirk returned, faint but there. “You do plenty. more than anyone else would dare.”

the warmth in his voice sent a flutter through your chest, and for a moment.. the severity of what you were doing did not matter. in this moment it was just the two of you.

“time’s running out” you said hesitantly, glancing down at your watch

shadow’s faint smirk faded, “Then go. Don’t get caught.”

you hesitated, your eyes locking with his.

you stepped back from the glass slowly, your hand lingering against it for just a moment longer. “I’ll be back” you promised

“I know” he replied, his voice softer now

your hand was on the door when Shadow’s voice stopped you.

“Wait.”

you turned back. heart pounding, his crimson eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. he stepped closer to the glass his movements slow

“I want to feel you” he said, his voice low

you knew what he meant. “Shadow…” you whispered, your voice trembling.

“I trust you” he said, the tone in his voice cutting through your fear. “If anyone can do it.. it’s you.”

you hesitated for only a moment before nodding. you had been on the edge of risk for weeks, but this… this was crossing the line. and yet you couldn’t deny him. not when he looked at you like that

quickly, you turned to the control panel beside the glass. your fingers flew over the keys, entering codes you weren’t supposed to know. you had spent countless nights memorizing the system just in case a moment like this ever came

the hiss of the containment seal breaking startled you both. the glass slid aside, revealing Shadow standing there. his presence overwhelming now that the barrier was gone

for a moment, neither of you moved. then slowly he stepped forward. his crimson eyes searched yours, as though waiting for confirmation that this was real

you reached out first, your fingers trembling as they brushed against the soft fur of his chest. the contact sent a jolt through you both and Shadow let out a breathy sigh

“Warm” he murmured, as if surprised

Shadow’s other hand came up hesitantly. his gloved fingers brushing against your cheek. his touch was gentle

you let your fingers trace along his arm, his fur soft under your touch

you leaned against the cold metal wall, your heart hammering. Shadow moved closer his crimson eyes scanning every inch of your face , taking you in completely.

“You’re trembling” he said softly, his voice carrying none of its usual sharpness

you hadn’t realized it until now, but your hands were shaking. the adrenaline of what you’d just done was coursing through you and the risk you’d taken started weighing heavy.

“I’m fine” you lied, your voice uneven

Shadow stepped even closer, his towering presence blocking out the harsh glow of the lights overhead. he reached out his gloved hand brushing against your cheek softly

“Don’t lie to me” he murmured

the concern in his eyes broke you completely.

“I’m just… scared” you admitted, your voice breaking slightly

Shadow’s hand moved to cradle your face, his touch warm despite the coolness of his gloves. “You don’t have to be.”

his words were simple, but enough to melt your fear. his had been building between you for weeks, months…

without thinking you leaned into his touch, your eyes closing shut. his gloved fingers moved gently along your jawline his touch so soft and tender. when you opened your eyes again his gaze was locked on yours.

“Shadow…” you whispered, your voice trembling for an entirely different reason now

he leaned closer, his other hand coming to rest against the wall beside your head caging you in. “Do you trust me?”

“Yes” you said without hesitation, the word falling from your lips too quickly

“Then let me show you what freedom feels like.”

the space between you was no longer there as he leaned in, his lips brushing against yours. the kiss was cautious at first, as if testing the boundaries. but when you tilted your head to deepen it his hesitation melted away.

his big gloved hands moved to the small of your back pulling you closer, and you wrapped your arms around his broad shoulders, clinging to him like you would lose him if you let go.

no alarms, no guards, no glass keeping you apart. it was just the two of you, pressed together in the dim corridor. sharing something that puts everything on the line… but was so good.

when the kiss finally broke, you were both breathless. Shadow rested his forehead against yours his eyes half-lidded.

“I’ve wanted to do that for a long time” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper

you smiled, your fingers tracing the edge of his quills. “me too.”

Shadow’s crimson eyes lingered on yours, his hands rested lightly on your waist, his touch something you didn’t know you needed so bad. for a moment, neither of you spoke.

“You don’t understand what you’ve done for me” he said softly, his voice rough. “For so long… all I had was the glass. All I could do was watch you… memorize every detail of you from a distance. Your voice, the way your eyes light up when you talk about something you liked. I lived for those moments.”

your breath hitched at his words, your chest tightening. Shadow’s thumb traced a soft circle against your side

“You were my only connection to the outside” he continued, “Every time you came to see me even if it was just for a moment. but.. it was never enough. I couldn’t reach you. Couldn’t feel you.”

“Shadow…” you whispered

he reached up brushing his fingers along your cheek, his touch slow. “But now, you’re here. You’re real. I can touch you, hold you, feel your warmth.”

you placed your hand over his pressing his palm to your cheek.

his hand slipped from your cheek to cradle the back of your neck, pulling you closer. “You’re more than I deserve” he murmured. “You’ve risked everything for me.. and I don’t even know how to begin to tell you what that means. your brave, kind…”

he paused, his voice faltering for the first time. “and so beautiful.”

before you could respond he leaned in, capturing your lips in another kiss. this one was deeper, more intense, soaking in every minute of it now that the barriers between you were gone

when he broke the kiss, his forehead rested against yours, his breath warm against your skin. “I don’t know what I did to deserve you” he said softly.

for the first time... a small genuine smile curved his lips, softening his sharp features. he held you closer, his big arms wrapping around you as if he was afraid you might slip away

“You’ve given me something I thought I’d never have” he whispered

you buried your face in his soft chest, your arms tightening around him.