Frostbitten

Chapter 3 - Just Text Me

The next morning, Shadow entered G.U.N headquarters for his job, thoughts still fully consumed by Blaze and the incredible connection they shared the day before. He hoped to just keep his head down and focus on work today.

But as soon as he walked through the doors, a gust of wind blitzed by and a cocky blue hedgehog appeared in front of him.

"Well, well, look who finally decided to show up!" Sonic exclaimed with a theatrical wink. "Come on now, I want all the juicy romantic details about this new lady friend of yours!"

Shadow sighed deeply, doing his best to ignore Sonic as he brushed past him and continued walking briskly to his office. Of course, the irrepressible hedgehog zipped after him, not deterred in the slightest.

"What did you and Blaze chat about for so long at the cafe yesterday?" Sonic pried eagerly as he followed Shadow into his office. "Did she invite you up to her place after your walk home? Did you get a goodnight kiss?"

Shadow sat heavily at his desk, rubbing his temples as Sonic made himself comfortable lounging nearby. "Don't you have work to do?"

"Nope, I'm allll yours until I get some answers," Sonic said, settling into his seat. "Oh I know, you must've written her a romantic poem! Recite it for me!"

Shadow's eye twitched. "The only poem I'm composing is an elegy for your demise if you don't stop pestering me."

"Sheesh, no need to get all defensive," Sonic said. "Can't a guy be happy his brooding friend finally found a girl? Plus it's Blaze. She's a catch, no doubt."

Shadow gave him an icy glare. "If you must know, we simply talked and got to know each other better."

"Yeah, yeah, I know that's code for all the good stuff!" Sonic said, exhasperated. "Come on, tell me what you really think of her! Does she make your heart race? Were you dazzled by her beauty?"

Despite himself, Shadow felt the corner of his mouth curl slightly. "We just...connected. She's an incredible woman."

Sonic smiled sincerely now. "I'm happy for you, Shadow. It's about time you let someone special into your life. And I can tell Blaze is really into you too."

Shadow sat thoughtfully as Sonic zipped out the door. "Gotta run, but keep me posted!" he called back.

As irritating as he was, Sonic had a point, Shadow realized. Blaze did seem to genuinely like him, prickly personality and all. And he definitely felt a powerful draw to her kind, fiery spirit.

With Sonic finally out of his quills, he groaned and took a look at the stack of papers on his desk boredly. When Sonic and himself defeated the threat on ARK and G.U.N had so graciously offered them a place in this society, doing paperwork was not what he expected.

Regardless, Shadow pressed on, page per page reading the dossier of a potential mission for the two. Since Sonic couldn't be bothered to do such things, Shadow had to for both their sakes. So far, the case looked ridiculously boring as well, and the day dragged on.

Perhaps not even two hours into the day, Sonic returned to Shadow's office with the biggest most mischievous grin he could plaster.

"Chaos...What do you want now?"

Sonic let himself in and gently placed his phone on his desk. "Guess who just texted me?"

Shadow rolled his eyes, grabbing another sheet of his reading. "I'm guessing it was Blaze."

Sonic smiled wider. "Yup. She asked me for your phone number."

Shadow paused in his reading. Horrified as he knew what was coming.