Red.
That was the color of the liquid running down her face. Hidden behind her mass of quills. Yet he still saw it.
He ran his finger across it. Thumbing the scratch gently, catching the liquid on the tip of his white glove, not caring if it was dyed bright red in the process.
Her eyes trained to the side, the floor.
"You're hurt..." The silent whisper escaped his mouth, worry lacing all of his words. Caressing them as if it was all he could do to show how he felt about it.
"It's nothing... I'm fine..." Her eyes graced the floor, refusing to look him in his own. Quivering jade reluctant to see shining emerald.
"Look at me." His shaking voice tried to be stern, though it faltered, giving way to his true emotions. Seeing her hurt... It hurt him.
Gingerly, she turned her head, placing her palms against the fur of his chest. And he saw the tears forming in her eyes. Her cheek was not the only cut-it wasn't even the worst cut- but he focused on it nonetheless.
And in the spur of the moment, eager to take the pain for her, he lifted her muzzle, bringing it closer to his own. Then he met her, tongue-tied in a passionate lip lock.
And her hands delicately danced across his arms, before entangling themselves into the blue quills she so loved. And his own hands lanced themselves around her waist, the tips of his fingers feeling her skin form beneath the gloves, the gloves dyed red. They ran across a gash, slashed across his back, only staining the gloves further, and him pushing himself into the kiss further.
Desperately grasping at her back, pulling her closer to him, into him. And her fingers pulled on his quills, entangling more and more with every second that passed. Trying to put all of the love she pent up for the hedgehog for all these years into this one kiss.
She didn't even question why, not until he pulled away, leaving his forehead pressed against hers. The bangs on her forehead pressed down.
"Why-"
"Shhhh..." As he pulled her against him once more.