"Puzzle Pieces"
She was strange, Shadow concluded, watching the auburn-haired princess as she jumped in a pile of snow, her melodious laughter ringing in the air. He couldn't help but grimace; if she kept doing that, she'd surely catch a cold, not that she seemed to care. Sally was soon piling up snow and began making a snowman.
It was cold as hell out here, and he'd rather be inside somewhere cozy, but Sally insisted on them having what she called a "snow day" and all but demanded that he come outside with her. He'd told her that he refused to actually participate, but she seemed undeterred, content with him watching from the sidelines while she actually got her hands dirty, so to speak.
Her hair was gleaming in the sunlight, her eyes twinkling like gems, a deep look of concentration on her face as she focused on the task at hand. Her lips were curled into a relaxed smile, and she seemed to exude this aura of happiness. She was the sun's warmth on a chilly day, an analogy that didn't fail to make him snort from its irony.
When she looked him at him all of a sudden, Shadow felt as if his very heart stopped beating, the mere thought making him shudder. No one should have such a profound effect on him. He wasn't called the Ultimate Life Form for nothing, and yet this girl made him weak in the knees from just looking at him. How did it come down to this? Surely he knew better to succumb to a mere crush.
But then she was smiling at him, her eyes brimming with unrestrained joy, and he suddenly found himself not caring about anything other than keeping her happy and smiling whenever he could. Shadow couldn't help but wonder if she knew how he felt about her, but he was sure she didn't. He was a government agent, for crying out loud! Aloofness was practically in his job description.
Besides, he had no time for something as cheesy as love. It was distracting and clouded one's mind. He thought about how Sonic acted whenever in Amy's presence, and he scowled in disgust. He refused to become some lovesick puppet. It was disgusting and beneath him and-
"Hey, Shadow! Come make some snow angels with me!" Her voice called him like a siren, and, despite his best efforts, he followed her voice and let her lure him to the sea. He'd gladly drown again and again so long as he could hear her voice and see her face.
Perhaps he could make an exception to his opposition towards romance, if only for her.