Frostbitten

Chapter 8 - A Quiet Night

As the party finally wound down, Blaze pulled Shadow off to the side. "So about Silver's accommodations while he's visiting..." she began carefully.

Instantly Shadow's eyes narrowed, body tensing. "Absolutely not. He will not be staying with you," he stated heatedly, jealousy flaring up at the thought.

Blaze laughed and patted his arm. "Slow down, tough guy. I offered him my hotel room to use since he had nowhere to stay. But I won't be joining him there," she explained, giving Shadow a meaningful, flirtatious smile.

Shadow flushed in embarrassment as her implication sunk in, irritation melting into awkwardness at his hasty assumption. "Oh. Right. That makes more sense," he mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck self-consciously.

"Actually, I was thinking..." Blaze traced a finger slowly up Shadow's chest, causing his breath to hitch. "Maybe I could spend the night at your place instead?" she purred suggestively.

Shadow's face instantly burned an even deeper red under his dark fur. His mind raced ahead, imagining Blaze in his apartment... He stammered unintelligibly for a moment before finally eking out "Y-yes, of course."

Blaze grinned, clearly delighting in reducing the usually stoic Shadow into a flustered mess with her proposal. She leaned up on her toes, kissing his still-burning cheek teasingly.

Just then Sonic zoomed over, wiggling his eyebrows at the couple. "Oooooh, looks like someone got their Christmas wish early this year!" he crooned, eliciting chuckles from others nearby.

Shadow buried his beet-red face in his hands with a groan while Blaze laughed good-naturedly. "Alright, I think that's our cue! Goodnight all," she called out amiably.

Taking the thoroughly flustered Shadow's hand, the smiling feline led him out into the starry night, spirits soaring at the promise the evening held.

Just as Shadow and Blaze were about to make their exit, Rouge suddenly grabbed Shadow's arm and yanked him back inside with surprising force.

"Hold up there, big guy. I wanna have a quick chat first," the bat said with a wink, linking her arm through the bewildered hedgehog's and steering him away while Blaze waited curiously.

Once out of earshot, Rouge gave Shadow a sisterly pat on the shoulder. "Now, I know you and Blaze are getting serious, and certain things might start happening tonight..."

Shadow's eyes widened in horror as realization dawned. "Oh Chaos, Rouge please do not--" he pleaded desperately.

But Rouge barrelled on, "I just want to make sure you take things slow and be safe--"

"Stoooop!" Shadow whisper-shouted, face burning in mortification. "I do NOT need that talk, especially from you!"

Rouge just chuckled knowingly. "I'm just looking out for you, hun. You're so innocent!" She pinched his burning cheek.

Shadow swatted her hand away, glaring. "I am the Ultimate Lifeform, not a child!" he huffed indignantly. "Now if you'll excuse me, we're leaving."

He stomped back to the giggling Blaze. "What was that about?" she asked in amusement.

"Nothing!" Shadow growled, grabbing her hand and chaos controlling them both away in an instant, Rouge's cheeky laughter echoing behind them.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Shadow and Blaze reappeared in his apartment in a flash of light.

"Well, that was...something," Blaze remarked with an amused smile. Shadow just grumbled, still embarrassed by Rouge's implications.