015. A delighted greeting

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Shadow doesn't pay any attention to his co-workers at work. God no. Most of them didn't seem to grasp the concept that working in an office meant you were supposed to be quiet and actually concentrate on your papers and reports... as well as taking in charge of the constant phone calls from their consumers.

Sometimes he stayed till late. Why? Because he liked finishing his work, and to be honest, he was a perfectionist when it came to writing. He wanted it to stand out and for it to be errorless. Also due to the fact that he liked doing two days of work in one so he wouldn't have to come in the next day. It was a smart strategy he tend to have the habit of doing.

He had to roll his eyes at the sniggering females near him though. The hedgehog never bothered to eavesdrop nor did he even care about the topics they were discussing. However, when you had girls that just wouldn't shut up about the people they fancied or their general love life, things can get a little irritating and in the end, he'd want nothing more than to just go home and sleep.

...That wasn't to say he was jealous or anything. Being in a relationship was certainly not on his list at this time. He tried. Yes, he tried to at least go on a date. But that was because Rouge was tired of seeing him becoming a "loner" as years went on. She set him up with a random female from their high school and it didn't work. His date was obviously interested in him but he never reciprocated the interest back at her. She was pretty, he couldn't deny that. But they had nothing in common and the fact that everything seemed so forceful on him, he just had to end it right there and then and just blurt out that nothing was working between them.

She was angry, of course. But he couldn't even find the hopes to care and just walked out of the restaurant in his usual stoic manner.

No male would ever do that to a female. But Shadow didn't regret his actions and though he was scowled by his batty friend, it didn't really change his mind set at all.

And hey, at least he was being the gentleman and paid for the food.

So all in all, he found relationships to be too complicated and time consuming. Really bothersome. He'd rather wait a few more years till he found the right person he wanted to be with.

But he was undeniably still sort of pissed off that nearly everybody around him was with someone.

He groaned quietly. Why was he even thinking about this? He had work to do!

Screw his brain sometimes.

And screw those girls too.

Rolling his eyes once more, he trained them onto his computer screen and began to read over what he wrote, typing a few more lines when he was able to.

A few pleasurable sips from his coffee kept him up too. Thank god he remembered to bring his flask in. Cold coffee definitely did not satisfy him in the least.

"Shadow?" a voice called him, disrupting his paper. Making sure to hit save, the black hedgehog turned his head to face a silver figure.

"Yeah?" He had to admit, he regarded Silver as one of his closest friends. Especially when it came to work. He found himself going to the hedgehog whenever he was to ask something about the latest report and vice versa. He could be clumsy at times but surprisingly, Shadow didn't at all mind. Probably because his friend actually focused his head down and did his part for the company.

"Boss told me to tell you that we've got somebody here to be interviewed," Silver said, "I was suppose to do it, but Blaze isn't feeling well and I gotta pick her up and look after her," he sheepishly smiled, "So looks like it's all on you."

He arched an eye, a pint of irritancy swelling against his skin. "And you chose me because...?"

Silver just grinned. "Might as well be more sociable for once."

Okay, that was uncalled for.

Did he really have to interview someone? He had done it before, but he found it to be utterly boring and the same old questions he had to ask were annoying and absolutely exhausting. Hell, he didn't even think he'd need the question sheet since he practically memorised all twenty of them.

Work loved to punish him. Shadow rarely spoke unless he was needed to. Other than that, he never really spoke to anyone except for Silver and Tails. You know, since they were the most calmest of his batch of annoying co-workers.

But since he was instructed to do so— speak to a complete stranger, again, then he couldn't dodge this one at all. This was his life after all.

"Fine," he said, albeit, grumpily.

"Awesome!" Silver proceeded to put his jacket on and smiled, "I'll see you on Monday!"

"Bye," Shadow responded, watching him walk away before slowly looking over at his mini shelf. He scanned for the green question sheet and pulled it out, with agony he might add.

Ugh. Thank Chaos it was Friday because if it was any other day, he'd probably have gone insane. Rather uncharacteristic of him, really. But he honestly would have. Shadow did not have the patience to waste another half an hour or more to interview someone who may not even get to work here. It's happened before and he probably wasted about- actually, let's not even go to think about how many hours he has had drained out of his life. Because he did not want to have a mental break down.

Letting out a stubborn huff, he wrapped one hand around his coffee whilst the other held the green piece of death. Grumbling a few mutters, Shadow made his way down to the room where the interviewee was going to be at. Once he was there, he stopped in front of the door.

Hopefully this is quick.

He opened the door, it creaking when he did so. The first thing he saw was orange dreads, most likely that of a female echidna's. Shadow hummed and as just the door was closing behind him, the girl lifted her head up from the paper she was reading.

And was his feet glued to the ground or something? Because he suddenly couldn't move.

You've got to be kidding me...

What. In. The. World.

...She was gorgeous.

"H-Hi, sir," she greeted him with a pair of beautiful blue eyes, a nervous yet polite smile forming on her lips.

Shadow nearly died.

Even her voice was from the dear heavens.

What the hell? Was this even real?

Was Shadow the Hedgehog really fawning over some beautiful stranger? Did Silver prank him? Was this some sort of joke? Or a dream? Please let it actually not be a dream! He'd be damned if it was.

Shadow closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose, telling himself to snap out of this horrendous nonsense. When he opened them again, she was still there, looking genuinely confused by his sudden unusual behaviour.

Okay, she was real.

Shadow cleared his throat. "Apologies," he said awkwardly, heat threatening his cheeks as he sauntered his way to the desk. He sat down with his flask and sheet and gestured her to the seat opposite, "Please sit."

She nodded, her shy and nervous posture coming back again as she stood up and sat down onto the seat. Her folder was curled tightly against her hands before she held it out to him.

"Thank you," he said, taking the blue folder. Shadow opened it and first took a look at her CV. "So... your name is Tikal?"

The orange echidna nodded once more, letting out a small smile. "Yes."

Hum. What a beautiful name.

"Thank you," he heard her say.

He snapped his eyes over to her. "What?"

She blinked before a tinted blush heated her cheeks. "Y-You said my name was beautiful..."

Did he actually say that out aloud?!

Oh god, what would she think of him now? The fact that a complete stranger told her that, she must've thought that he was some sort of a pervert. Which he was absolutely positively not.

Noticing his small distress, Tikal just laughed softly. "It's okay."

Shadow quickly dissolved his attention back onto her CV again, the embarrassment evident on his face. Maybe that was why he couldn't get himself into a relationship. He was a total sap in front of women like her. Well, this was the first kind of female he had ever confronted. Kind and gentle. Not gossipy and annoying. Then again, he couldn't judge right now. She could be totally different in front of other people. Though, Shadow couldn't find himself to believe that.

The hedgehog looked at her. "You want to become a graphics designer for Sonic Essentials, correct?"

He had to cringe when he said the company name. Okay, Sonic the Hedgehog was their mascot for their products. Hair products, clothing, shoes. You name it. He was on it. But the fact that he was working for a company that had his arch rival everywhere... it was basically the most infuriating thing ever.

"Mm," she replied, "If you turn over... I-I've done some concept drawings."

He heard the lack of confidence in her voice when she said that. Nevertheless, he flipped the next few pages and was... impressed. Very impressed. She designed such things like logos and pictures with a unique colour palette for all of them. He turned over some more to see her work being digitalised as well. Good use of photoshop. Good use of a tablet. Nice line art and detailing.

He could see her working for a massive company like this.

And he should really start asking the questions. "What made you want to become a graphics designer?"

"My mother," Tikal told him before she elaborated further, "My mother was one when she was still working," she smiled, "She sort of made me follow into her footsteps. She never pressured me though. But I happened to love drawing and editing because of her so I took up a course in graphics design in University."

"That's nice," he couldn't help but say. Following another person's footsteps was always a valid attribute when working for a business, "Do you draw in your free time?"

"Yes," she answered him and then blushed, "I-I kind of go overboard when I do and end up with ten pieces in one night."

Shadow chuckled at that. "You're passionate about it. That's exactly what we would want."

Tikal played with her dreads, something he had caught on whilst being in this room with her. "Thank you, sir..."

"Shadow," he said.

She stopped playing with her hair and stared at him, blinking. Blinking adorably. "I'm sorry?"

"My name's Shadow," he repeated himself, gazing at her, "Such pleasantries like that are denied."

Just the slightest, the echidna tilted her head at him. Shadow suddenly began to eat his words. Okay, maybe making a witty remark like that wasn't such a good idea.

To his surprise, she was giggling. It wasn't like the horrendous giggles that he'd hear from the girls in near his desk. It was rather a pleasant sound, gentle and innocent at that.

"Are you always like this?" she asked him as her giggles died down, "You seem like the person who wouldn't make such comments like that..."

Shadow was fully taken aback by the sudden judgement. "You don't think I would?"

He should've just ignored her and continued on with the other questions. That's what he would've done with anyone else. However, she was interesting him already. Looked like there was more than what met the eye.

Blushing at his intense stare, her lips fumbled but that didn't stop her from saying her next words. "No. But if you don't, you should a lot more," her radiant smile came on again, "It suits your grumpy face."

To hell with the questions. This girl was clearly more worthy to have a conversation with.

"What? Do you expect me to smile every day when I step into this building?" he genuinely asked her.

Tikal's eyes beamed. "That would be nice."

"Nice? I don't really think so."

"You don't think so?" she questioned but then grinned, "But when grumpy people smile, it turns out to be really pretty."

Shadow squinted. "You calling me a grumpy person makes it seem as if I'm old."

"I wasn't implying that actually," she pressed her index finger against her lips, "... Are you?"

He scoffed. "I'm twenty two."

"So am I," she answered, feeling amused by his change of attitude, "And I meant what I said."

"About what?"

"That you'd look prettier if you smiled a lot more."

It was his turn to blush again.

Chaos. Where did that come from?

And where was this even going?

Just when he was contemplating on what to say next, his mind had other plans.

"You're lucky that you're gorgeous," he blurted out before he could swallow it back in, "Otherwise I wouldn't have bothered with any of this."

When Shadow dared to finally take a look at the girl, she was completely flustered. The paleness of her face contrasted with a very deep shade of red attacking her glowing skin.

"Th-Thank you," Tikal stammered embarrassingly, averting her eyes down to her lap as she played with her dreads again.

His were eyes trained at her. The way she would get easily flustered at such comments was incredibly cute. He know he shouldn't have, for he was a gentleman but his eyes helplessly trailed down her figure.

Innocently petite.

Knowing the uncomfortable fact that he shouldn't be staring, Shadow swiftly glanced back up at her. "You're hired."

Her eyes widened when she looked back at him. "Really?"

Shadow gave her a curt nod. "That's only if..." he trailed off, a small sudden smirk plastering his lips, "You come and have dinner with me tonight."

She caught his sly expression, and she couldn't tear her eyes off of him. Even though she was utterly taken aback by his vivid boldness. "A-Are you asking me out on a-"

"Date?" the hedgehog cut her off. He pretended to think about it before answering. "Yes."

Tikal's lips parted a little, feeling speechless. She was doing a terrible job calming the heat of her face down. Could he blame her though? She probably wasn't used to comments like that directed towards her. Really, it only made his smirk widen. Maybe this was her first.

She fidgeted in her seat, clearing her throat softly. "Okay."

He saw the smile she was trying to hide when she looked down. "Are you sure?"

She giggled. "Since you asked so nicely," their eyes connected, "How could I say no?"

He handed her folder back, a low hum escaping from him. "Perfect."

"Do you do that with every other female you interview?" the echidna questioned him, a playful look gaining on her features.

"No," he promptly responded with an eye raised, "Quite offended that you'd ask me that."

Tikal only shook her head with a gentle laugh. "Sorry. Women's intuition."

She stood up, folder held tightly against her chest. Pulling out a pen and small piece of paper from her bag, she scribbled something down. "Here."

Shadow also stood up and took it, eyeing down the number that was neatly written. "Did you take literature as well?"

"Yes," she answered, her lips twitching into a playful grin again as she raised one eye, "Have you kept tabs on me before?"

He had to laugh. "No. I'm just good at knowing people."

"Hum," Tikal pressed her lips together and he couldn't help but glance at them when she did so, "Then perhaps this dinner date doesn't really need to happen."

"Then you wouldn't get the job," he chuckled before pocketing her number, "My shift ends in ten minutes. You can go home and get dressed," he began to tidy up the desk, "I'll text you so you can give me the directions to come and pick you up."

"Sounds good," her lips shyly curled.

When she turned around and started to walk away, Shadow felt confused. "No shaking hands?"

Tikal stopped. The echidna turned her head halfway before turning around completely. Giggling again, she kissed her hand and teasingly blew it across to him.

"See you soon, Shadow," she said, giving him a small wave before making her way out the room.

He watched after her and he could feel his heart thumping against his chest, almost as if he'd get a heart attack any second.

Oh yeah, he was a total sap for her.

His phone buzzed, snapping him out of his trance. Taking it out, he saw that Silver had messaged him.

You're welcome. ;)

Shadow rolled his eyes. Of freaking course.

He sighed as his fingers tapped on the screen.

Genius.