Sweet Spot
A/N: Something adorable featuring Shadow and one of my many OCs. Who doesn't wanna rub Shadow's chest or his belly and see him smile even though he's so grumpy he refuses to? I know I wanna pet him. I wrote this a while ago, enjoy.
She reaches for the wispy white strands of fur on his chest, running her delicate fingers through it playfully. He lays on his back watching her smile down at him, the affectionate rubbing of his chest calming him. Shadow's eyelids droop and he absentmindedly takes his hands to hold onto Linda's, her chuckle fills his ears as he purrs.
She felt the soft rumble bubbling through his chest as she rubbed, Shadow was yet to give in and curl his lip upward into a smile or smirk; an expression Linda hoped to see tonight.
"C'mon Shadow," Linda teases in a playful tone, "smile."
Shadow's eyes open and he looks up at her with a frown firmly etched on his muzzle. He was stubborn—a behavioral trait that needs to be corrected. He still purred, but he still refused to show mirth. Linda smiles and stops rubbing his chest, making the old hedgehog raise his head up to look at her hand still in his grasp. His purring ceases and he lays his head back down on the couch, a grumble escapes his muzzle.
"You liked that didn't you?" Linda teases. Shadow ignores her and looks up at the ceiling, tired. He'd had a long day, so spending time with Miss Linda tonight was the best thing all the time.
He feels her rub his belly and he keeps his gaze glued to the ceiling. She's tryna make him smile like she always did when they were together. It was a rare sight to see: his smile and its happiness it radiates. Shadow was just too stubborn tonight to smile this time.
"Miss Linda," Shadow finally says, "I'm not in the mood."
"Shadow, you've been grouchy all week. What has Sonic done with you that's drained you so much?"
"Everything..." Shadow says as a yawn crept its way out of him. His little canines flashed as his little mouth opened wide. He was annoyed by the blue one's antics with him and no longer wished to do any more with him for a while. Linda chuckles at this statement, patting his knee affectionately.
"I'm sure Sonic's just tryna be friendly with you. Ya know, like what you and I do." Linda tells the old hedgehog who scoffs.
"He knows he gets on my nerves Miss Linda..." Shadow grumbles. He then sits up, looking up at her with tired red eyes. She smiled back at him, booping his little black nose. He twitches his nose after her touch, making the older woman giggle.
Linda than playfully grabs Shadow, holding him in her lap as she gives him a sloppy kiss or two on his tan cheeks. The old hedgehog grunts, annoyed from being cuddled and kissed. Despite this, he liked the affection and would at times actually crack a smile—small enough to brighten Linda's day. Since he was tired this time, he simply scowled and grumbled.
Eventually she lets go of him, settling the hedgehog back on the couch. He slouches into the couch grumbling tiredly, ear twitching at the annoying tickle the woman gave his ear.
It was far later at night than usual for Shadow to visit the woman if he wasn't staying over the weekend at least, but given how tired the poor thing was he decided it'd be best he stayed. At least Sonic doesn't know of Linda personally. He was always welcome in her home—anytime, any day, any reason. The woman was a sweetheart whom Shadow never expected to grow so fond of. He peels himself off the couch when a finger pokes at his belly again and hobbled for the guest bedroom, already made and waiting for him to climb up inside.
"Good night, Miss Linda." Shadow yawns, closing the door.
"Good night Shadow." Linda answers him with a smile.
Once inside the room the hedgehog walks up to the little step just for him and fixes it to get into the queen-sized mattress. He strips himself of his rocket-propelled shoes and matching leather gloves and leaves them on the night stand and floor respectively, getting onto the middle of the bed for comfort.
His head throbbed and his back ached. He was the Ultimate Life Form but he acted and behaved very much like one in their late sixties given how long he'd been awake from his capsule. He reaches over to turn off the bedside table lamp and shuts his eyes, falling asleep quickly.
X-X-X-X
Shadow awoke to the sound of something like stainless steel pot dropping on the floor. His aggressive instincts kicked in to protect his human friend whom was in the other room, possibly unaware of what was happening. Shadow quickly put on his shoes and gloves and hopped off the bed, quietly padding his way to the door and slowly turned the knob.
He didn't dare look at the time. He knew it was in the middle of the night and someone was breaking into his friend's home. He looked at Linda's bedroom to see it the door was ajar. He quickly but quietly went to the room to see her missing from the bed. This alarmed Shadow to the point his quills bristled. 'Was Miss Linda kidnapped? Is it her making the sound? What's going on?'
Shadow didn't care and quickly ran into the kitchen, using his rockets to given his small frame the advantage as he rushed into the kitchen and tackled the individual inside.
"Shadow no!" It was Linda. Shadow's ears twitch at the sound of the voice and his face makes the most adorable 'huh?' face Linda's ever seen. He was on her with her shirt in his grip. His fangs, his aggression, Linda's never seen Shadow like that; not even the time the two met. Upon his realization he climbs off her and helps the woman upright, embarrassed and ashamed of himself for taking action too recklessly.
"I'm so sorry Miss Linda. I-I heard a noise in the kitchen and thought someone broke into the house." Shadow apologizes with his ears drooped and guilt on his face. Linda, despite the back pain and headache Shadow now gave her, smiles at him, pulling him into her arms.
"Oh Shadow, sweetheart. It's ok. It was just me. I woke up and had heartburn so I came into the kitchen for some milk to ease the pain. I didn't have my glasses so I knocked over a pot hanging up while reaching for a glass. I'm fine and you're fine. Nobody's gonna hurt me or you. We're safe—I got SafeTech security sweetie, nobody's breaking in here." Linda teases at the end, the black hedgehog in her arms smiling just a little bit.
"There's that smile I wanna see!" Linda kisses Shadow's neck and he legitimately laughed as it tickled, making him snuggle closer to her. The two stay like this for a while, before breaking it up and Shadow assisted her off the floor.
He waits for her to finish her milk before heading back to their rooms. Before he walked in his room Shadow stops, his head towards the woman.
"I love you Miss Linda." Shadow admits. Not romantically, but as a friend. Linda turns her head to look at the hedgehog, a warm smile on her face.
"I love you too Shadow." Linda says. "I love you too."
A/N: Well like I said, something cute. Maybe another fic starring these two will center on how they met.