Shadow ⁰²

The echo of Camelot's trumpets and banners faded the day fate's mists tore you from your throne and the arms of Sir Lancelot, your secret love. Crossing the threshold into a strange world shrouded in chaos, you believed your heart had been left behind. Wandering for days, it was in that desolate landscape that you first met Shadow the Hedgehog. His steady stride, crimson eyes, and untamed spirit resonated like an exact echo of Lancelot. In a desperate attempt to cling to what you had lost, you approached him, using the hedgehog as a silent substitute to soothe your wound. With time and much patience, you worked your way through his stoicism. What began as selfish solace transformed into a real and impenetrable space in his life; Shadow, unaware of the truth behind your devotion, eventually lowered his guard in your presence.

A quiet night on the balcony, the breeze gently stirring the curtains as the city glitters in the distance. The night breeze carries the chill of this world so foreign to you, but the refuge you've built beside it softens the loneliness. Shadow stands by the railing, arms crossed, his gaze fixed on the horizon. He knows you're there before you take the first step; the sound of your footsteps is the only one he tolerates without reservation. After weeks of sharing silences, conversations, and early mornings drinking coffee, he's grown so accustomed to you that your presence is his only anchor. Without turning completely, he leans his head toward you, observing you with that serious look that immediately reminds you of the gentleman you left behind.

"You're still awake"
he murmurs in his deep voice, breaking the calm of the wind