a hedgehogs unlikely crush

ch 9

As the night deepened, Perci and Shadow settled into a more comfortable silence. Just when the air felt lighter, a knock at the door startled them both.

"Perci, you home?" came Amy's voice from outside.

Perci sighed, glancing at Shadow, who immediately scowled. "Stay here," she muttered to him before heading to the door.

Shadow crossed his arms, glaring suspiciously toward the entrance as Perci opened the door. Amy stood there, a friendly smile on her face. "Hey, sorry to bother you so late. Do you have some tools I could borrow?"

Before Perci could answer, Amy's gaze drifted past her and into the house, her eyes narrowing as she thought she saw a figure lurking in the shadows. "Uh... what's that?" Amy asked, pointing toward the living room.

Perci's mind raced, and without missing a beat, she grinned and said, "Oh, that? It's just... a giant plush toy. I'm trying to make it cozy in here."

Shadow's glare intensified, though he remained silent, his posture stiffening as Amy squinted suspiciously at the "plush toy." But before Amy could question further, Perci quickly handed her the tools she asked for. "Here you go, Amy. Hope it helps!"

Amy took the tools, still glancing over Perci's shoulder. "Uh, yeah, thanks. Are you sure everything's alright?"

Perci forced a bright smile. "Yep! Just a quiet night in. Nothing strange going on here."

Amy hesitated for a second, then shrugged. "Alright, well, if you need anything, just let me know."

As soon as Amy walked off, Perci closed the door, letting out a breath of relief. She turned around to see Shadow glaring at her with that familiar look of annoyance.

"A giant plush toy?" he growled.

Perci shrugged, a teasing glint in her eyes. "Hey, it worked, didn't it? Would you rather she knew you were hiding out here?"

Shadow grumbled something under his breath but didn't argue. Instead, he sank back onto the couch, rubbing his temples as if dealing with the whole situation was giving him a headache.

Perci, sensing the tension in the air, decided now might be the perfect time to lighten the mood. She grabbed another soda from the fridge, cracking it open before handing it to Shadow. "Here. Maybe another one of these will keep you from blowing up at someone."

Shadow eyed her for a moment, suspicious, but then took the can. After a long sip, he visibly relaxed, the sharpness in his expression softening slightly.

Perci watched, amused, as Shadow seemed to calm down with each sip. The guy was a mess of contradictions—gruff, cold, and yet here he was, getting pacified by something as simple as soda. As she observed him, a playful thought crossed her mind. Without really thinking, she leaned against the counter and, in a softer voice, said, "You know, you're not so bad when you're not trying to destroy everything."

Shadow raised an eyebrow, confused. "What the hell are you talking about?"

Perci shrugged casually, not missing the opportunity to flirt just a little. "I'm just saying, you've got this whole mysterious, brooding thing going on. It's... kind of cute."

For the first time, Shadow looked genuinely baffled. "Cute?" He scoffed, though there was no real malice behind it. "I'm not cute."

Perci chuckled, taking a seat next to him. "Sure, sure. Keep telling yourself that."

Shadow glared at her for a moment, but the glare slowly faded as he drank more soda. And then, to Perci's shock, a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips—brief, fleeting, but there.

She grinned, feeling a strange sense of accomplishment. "Look at that! I actually got you to smile."

Shadow quickly wiped the expression from his face, scowling again as if embarrassed. "You're imagining things."

"Whatever you say, grumpy," Perci teased.

After a few more moments of banter, Perci headed back into the kitchen. She rummaged through her cupboards and fridge, pulling out ingredients to make a simple, homemade meal. The smell of warm food soon filled the small house, and when Perci brought it over to Shadow, his expression softened again, though he tried to hide it.

She placed the plate in front of him. "Here. It's nothing fancy, but it's better than starving."

Shadow hesitated, but when he tasted the first bite, his usual scowl eased again. "Hmph. It's... acceptable," he muttered, but Perci could tell he was enjoying it.

The night wore on, and after finishing the meal, Shadow leaned back on the couch, clearly exhausted. Perci noticed the way his eyelids were drooping, his usual guarded stance slowly relaxing into something more vulnerable.

"You should sleep," she said softly.

"I'm fine," Shadow grumbled, though his voice was weaker now, fatigue taking over.

Perci grabbed a blanket, gently draping it over him. Shadow didn't protest, too tired to care. As he drifted off, Perci couldn't help but stare for a moment. For the first time, she noticed how peaceful he looked—his usual frown softened in sleep, his strong features illuminated by the dim light of the room. And, despite everything, she felt her heart skip a beat.

She blushed, quickly looking away. What the hell was she thinking?

She shook her head, but the thought lingered. Maybe, just maybe, there was more to Shadow than the hard, cold exterior he always showed. And damn it, she was starting to find him... attractive.