a hedgehogs unlikely crush

ch 13

The day had gone by in a strange haze of quiet moments and fleeting conversations. Shadow had spent most of it observing Perci, occasionally helping around her home, though he kept his distance. He couldn't shake the memory of that morning—their dance in the kitchen, her smile, the way her eyes lit up when she was happy. It was a look he hadn't seen much, but when he did, it stuck with him.

Now, as the sun set and the house became quiet, Shadow found himself missing that smile. Her laugh. Even the sound of her voice, soft and confident. It wasn't like him to dwell on such things, but something about Perci was different. She had this way of creeping under his skin, making him care when he didn't want to.

Sitting on the couch, staring blankly at the wall, Shadow's mind churned. He thought back to the song they'd danced to earlier and the way she had seemed so alive, so carefree. He could bring that back, right? He could make her smile again.

Without thinking too much about it, he grabbed her phone off the table. He remembered the song she had been humming earlier. She seemed to like this Blackpink stuff. His fingers moved swiftly, scrolling through her playlist until he found another one of their songs: Pink Venom.

A smirk tugged at his lips. It was bolder, more energetic. Something about it felt right. He hit play.

The opening beats filled the room, and Perci, who had been busy in the kitchen, glanced over in confusion. "Shadow?" she asked, walking back into the living room.

He stood up, turning to face her, eyes locked onto hers as he began to sing along to the lyrics.

"I bring the pain like..."

His voice was low, but steady, surprising even himself with how naturally the words rolled off his tongue. He wasn't doing this for show—he wanted to see her smile again. The thought pushed him to continue, even as the bold lyrics filled the air.

Perci's eyes widened in shock, then softened with disbelief. She stood frozen, watching him with a mix of awe and amusement. It was like a dream, hearing Shadow—Shadow—singing Pink Venom of all things. And he was doing it for her. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she had to blink a few times to make sure she wasn't imagining it.

Shadow moved closer, his gaze never leaving hers. His voice grew stronger, more confident with each verse, and before she knew it, her lips were curving into a smile.

There it was. That smile he missed.

His smirk grew as he saw the change in her expression. He wasn't one for theatrics, but damn if he wasn't enjoying this. He kept going, singing the chorus with all the intensity he could muster, even holding out his hand as if inviting her into the moment.

Perci's breath caught in her throat. She had never imagined this in a million years—that Shadow, with all his gruffness and edge, would be serenading her with one of her favorite songs. And he was good. Better than good. Her heart raced, and she couldn't stop the giddy feeling bubbling up inside her.

As the song reached its climax, Shadow hit the final note, his voice trailing off as the music faded. He stood there, watching her with that intense gaze of his, waiting for her reaction.

For a moment, she just stared at him, her mind reeling. Then, slowly, a wide smile spread across her face, and she let out a soft laugh, shaking her head in disbelief.

"That... was amazing," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "I can't believe you just did that."

Shadow shrugged, pretending like it was no big deal, though the corner of his lips twitched up in a rare, satisfied smile. "I figured you needed it," he said gruffly. "You've been quiet all day."

Perci shook her head, still smiling. "You're full of surprises, you know that?"

"I hear that a lot," he muttered, his voice softer now.

For a moment, they stood there, the room quiet except for the lingering hum of the song in the background. Shadow shifted awkwardly, suddenly feeling vulnerable under her gaze.

Perci stepped closer, her eyes locking onto his with a look of pure admiration. "Shadow... that was like a dream come true. I never thought..." She paused, biting her lip. "I never thought you'd do something like that for me."

Shadow looked away, feeling the heat rise in his cheeks. "Don't get used to it," he grumbled, though there was no real bite to his words. "Just... don't tell anyone."

Perci chuckled, her heart swelling with warmth. "Your secret's safe with me, Shady."

For the first time in a long while, Shadow allowed himself to relax. He had done something right. And, for now, that was enough.