a hedgehogs unlikely crush

ch 3

Perci nibbled on the bread, her eyes wandering over to the tool she'd returned. Her curiosity got the better of her, and she asked, "What's that for, anyway?"

Shadow's eyes narrowed, his voice cold. "Mind your damn business, bandicoot."

Perci's jaw clenched. She was already pissed off about getting stuck in this cave with him, but his attitude was really starting to get under her skin. "Geez, I was just asking..."

The silence stretched awkwardly between them, the fire crackling softly as rain pelted against the cave entrance. After a while, the chill of the night started to creep in. Perci shivered under her thin blanket and glanced over at Shadow. She noticed him trying not to show it, but he was clearly shivering too, despite the bravado.

"Do you... have another blanket?" she asked, trying to keep the irritation out of her voice.

Shadow shot her a glare that could freeze water. "No. And even if I did, why the hell would I give it to you?"

Perci rolled her eyes, biting back a retort. Typical. Instead of arguing, she spotted some scrap pieces of fabric lying around the cave. Gathering them up, she set to work sewing them together, using the little sewing kit she always carried with her.

Shadow watched her out of the corner of his eye, still shivering but pretending like he wasn't. After a while, Perci held up her makeshift blanket. It wasn't perfect, but it would help.

She tossed it in his direction, the fabric landing in his lap. "Here," she said flatly. "I noticed you were shivering."

Shadow stared at the blanket for a moment, his pride clearly bruised. With a grumble, he snatched it up, wrapping it around himself roughly. "I didn't ask for your help," he muttered under his breath.

Perci crossed her arms, glaring at him. "Yeah, well, maybe you should learn how to be a little more grateful, you stubborn hedgehog."

Shadow didn't respond. He just pulled the blanket tighter around himself, his face as unreadable as ever. But Perci could still feel the tension between them, the air thick with their unspoken frustrations.

"Whatever," Perci mumbled, leaning back against the cave wall, her temper simmering.

Perci, still feeling the sting of Shadow's attitude, pulled out her phone, hoping to distract herself from the uncomfortable situation. As she started scrolling through her messages, Shadow's eyes flicked toward the small glow in the darkness.

"What's that?" he asked, his voice as gruff as ever.

Perci glanced up at him, giving him the same sharp tone he'd given her earlier. "Mind your own damn business."

Shadow's red eyes narrowed in response, clearly not used to being talked back to like that. "You've got a real attitude for someone who needed my help," he growled.

Perci rolled her eyes again, holding her ground. "Oh, please. If you didn't want to help me, you could've just left me out there in the storm. Why didn't you?"

Shadow paused, his jaw tightening. His voice was cold when he finally responded. "Because I don't need another death on my conscience. You're just lucky I didn't leave you to die like I would with the others."

Perci stared at him, her frustration boiling over. "Bullshit," she spat, standing up. "You could've left me at any point, but you didn't. What is it? You just can't help yourself when it comes to me, huh?"

Shadow's glare darkened. "Don't flatter yourself, bandicoot. I don't give a damn about anyone."

"Really?" Perci shot back, her hands on her hips. "Then why bandage my arm? Why give me the bread? Why start a fire if you don't care?"

Shadow looked away, clearly annoyed with her persistence. "I was just being practical," he muttered, his voice barely above a growl. "Don't read into it."

Perci scoffed. "Sure, because you're so practical when it comes to helping people. Admit it, Shadow—there's something about me that's different, and you hate it."

Shadow didn't respond at first, his fists clenched in his lap. The silence between them grew heavier, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife.

Finally, Shadow spoke, his voice low and harsh. "You're nothing special, Perci. Don't think for a second that you're any different from the rest of them."

But his words rang hollow, and Perci could tell. She crossed her arms, refusing to back down, waiting for the moment when his walls might finally crack.