Blaze's eyes lit up, and she picked up the phone, unlocking it with a quick swipe. She scooted a little closer to him, her shoulder brushing lightly against his as she opened an app. "Alright," she said, holding the phone up for him to see. "Let me introduce you to YouTube."
"YouTube?" he repeated, his tone flat.
"Yeah," Blaze said, ignoring his unimpressed tone. "It's a video platform. You can find almost anything on here—tutorials, documentaries, music, funny clips…" She tapped on the search bar and typed in "cat videos" before handing the phone to him. "Here. Try this."
Shadow glanced at the screen, which now displayed a grid of thumbnails showing cats in various states of mischief and chaos. He raised an eyebrow, his expression clearly skeptical. "You seriously expect me to waste my time watching this?"
Blaze smirked, leaning back against the couch. "Just try it. You might surprise yourself."
With a reluctant sigh, Shadow tapped on one of the videos. It opened to show a small gray kitten attempting to leap onto a counter, only to miss and tumble unceremoniously onto a pile of pillows. A soft, triumphant meow followed, as if the cat had planned the whole thing.
Blaze stifled a laugh, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye. Shadow's face remained stoic, but she noticed the slight twitch of his lip, like he was fighting back the faintest hint of a smirk.
"This is stupid," he muttered, though he didn't stop the video from playing.
"Sure it is," Blaze said, her tone teasing. "But you're still watching it."
Shadow shot her a glare, but it lacked its usual intensity. Once the video ended, the screen automatically displayed a new one—a compilation of kittens chasing laser pointers and batting at falling leaves. Shadow's finger hovered awkwardly over the screen, unsure of what to do next.
"Here," Blaze said, leaning closer and guiding his hand. She placed her fingers lightly over his, showing him how to scroll through the videos. "Just swipe up like this to see more."
Shadow stiffened slightly at the contact, but he didn't pull away. He followed her guidance, swiping through the thumbnails with a bemused expression. "This is ridiculous," he muttered, though his voice lacked its usual sharpness.
Blaze chuckled softly, her shoulder brushing against his again. "Maybe," she admitted, "but it's also kind of fun, isn't it?"
Shadow shook his head, his crimson eyes focused on the screen. He tapped on another video, this one showing a fluffy white cat repeatedly jumping in and out of a box. The soft rustling sound of the cardboard mixed with the cat's playful chirps, and Shadow found himself leaning slightly closer to the screen without realizing it.
Blaze watched him out of the corner of her eye, a small smile tugging at her lips. Despite his grumbling, he seemed… relaxed. His usual scowl had softened slightly, and there was a quietness about him that felt different from his usual brooding silence.
For a few minutes, they sat like that, the glow of the phone screen casting warm light across their faces as the sound of cat videos filled the room. The rain outside continued its gentle rhythm, adding to the unexpectedly cozy atmosphere between them.
When Shadow finally set the phone down, he leaned back against the couch, his expression unreadable. "It's… fine," he said gruffly, avoiding her gaze.
Blaze smirked, tucking her legs under herself as she shifted slightly closer. "Fine? That's a step up from 'stupid,' I think."
Shadow shot her a glare, but the heat behind it was muted, more for show than anything else. He tapped on the phone again, opening another cat video—this one of a kitten pawing at a ball of yarn. Despite his earlier protests, he watched it without comment, his stoic demeanor softening just slightly as the video played.
Blaze couldn't help but smile. "Alright," she said, leaning closer and pointing at the screen. "If you're bored of cat videos—which I'm sure you'll insist you are—there are other things you can do. Here, let me show you."
Shadow raised an eyebrow, his expression skeptical but curious. "What other things?"
Blaze reached over, her hand brushing against his as she took the phone from him. "Watch. I'll show you how to search for something you're actually interested in." She opened the search bar again, typing in "chaos energy theories" and handing the phone back to him.
Shadow stared at the screen, his eyebrow arching slightly as a list of videos popped up, their thumbnails showing diagrams, scientists, and even an animated tutorial about Chaos Emeralds. He tapped on one and watched a few seconds of it, his expression unreadable.
"Hm," he muttered, leaning back against the couch. "I suppose this isn't entirely useless."
Blaze chuckled, tucking her hair behind her ear. "High praise coming from you."
Shadow ignored her comment, his thumb hovering over the screen again. He tried to exit the video and search for another, but instead, he accidentally opened a pop-up ad. His scowl deepened as he tapped randomly, trying to close it.
"Here," Blaze said, leaning in again. "Let me help."
—-
Blaze guided his hand across the screen, her gloved fingers resting lightly over his as she showed him another workflow—something involving switching between apps and adjusting settings. Shadow's brow furrowed as he concentrated, his thumb moving awkwardly as he tried to follow her instructions.
"No, not there," Blaze said softly, leaning in closer. "You need to swipe up first, then tap here."
Her fingers remained on his, steadying his movements, and Shadow let out a quiet huff of frustration, though he didn't pull away. It was a small victory in itself that he was even letting her help at this point. He wasn't snapping at her, wasn't scowling as deeply as he usually did. And for some reason, Blaze felt a strange sense of satisfaction watching him learn, even if he was stubborn about it.
But after a minute, something shifted.
Blaze became acutely aware of how long her hand had been resting on his. The warmth of his fur under her fingers, the way her hand seemed to fit over his, the quiet closeness that had settled between them—it all hit her at once.
Her breath caught in her throat.
She gulped, her golden eyes widening slightly as she realized what she was doing. You've been touching him this whole time.
Blaze's face burned, a sudden rush of heat spreading from her cheeks all the way to the tips of her ears. She quickly withdrew her hand, pulling it back to her lap as though she'd been caught doing something she wasn't supposed to.
Shadow glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, his brow lifting ever so slightly. "What?" he asked, his voice flat but curious.
"N-Nothing," Blaze said quickly, her voice just a tad higher than normal. She cleared her throat, willing herself to calm down. "I just… realized you've got the hang of it now."
Shadow raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced, but he didn't press her on it. Instead, he set the phone down on the table, leaning back against the couch with a sigh. "Finally," he muttered, though there was no real bite to his tone.
Blaze shifted uncomfortably, her hands clasped tightly in her lap as she tried to cool the heat rising in her chest. Get a grip, she scolded herself. It's nothing. You're just helping him. That's all.*
But the warmth in her face refused to fade.
To make matters worse, her pyrokinesis—so closely tied to her emotions—began to flicker. A faint wisp of flame curled around her hand before she quickly clenched her fist, extinguishing it.
Blaze stifled a gasp, her heart racing as she glanced at Shadow. She hoped he hadn't noticed, but of course, he had.
Shadow's crimson eyes shifted to her, one brow raised in quiet suspicion. "Are you sure you're alright?" he asked, his tone calm but faintly skeptical.
Blaze gulped again, forcing herself to nod. "I'm fine," she said quickly, though her voice betrayed her flustered state. She stood abruptly, smoothing her gloves against her thighs. "Your bandages," she said, changing the subject hastily. "They're wet from the bath. I should change them before I leave."
Shadow blinked at her sudden shift in tone, but he didn't argue. Instead, he sighed and rolled his eyes, muttering, "Fine."
Blaze froze for a moment, blinking in surprise. That was…easier than usual. Usually, he'd resist, grumble, or outright refuse until she had to practically force him to cooperate. But now? One word. Fine.
It should've been a relief, but for some reason, it made her chest tighten even more. Maybe it was the quiet way he'd said it, or the fact that she didn't have to fight him this time. Or maybe it was the way her emotions were spiraling completely out of her control.
Her face burned hotter.
Blaze turned quickly, retrieving the first-aid kit from her bag. She needed to focus, to get a grip on herself before she accidentally set the couch on fire. By the time she turned back around, Shadow had already shifted, sitting forward slightly so she could reach his back.
She exhaled slowly. Just focus.
Moving behind him, she knelt on the couch, her fingers working quickly to undo the old bandages. She tried to keep her hands steady, but she couldn't ignore the way the soft texture of his fur brushed against her fingertips. It was… warmer than she expected. Softer, too.
Her blush deepened.
She didn't have to touch him this much—she knew that. She could've been more clinical, quicker, more distant. But for some reason, her hands lingered just a moment longer than necessary as she peeled the damp bandages away, her fingers brushing against his fur in a way that made her heart race.
Shadow, for his part, seemed unbothered. He sat still, his arms resting on his knees as he stared ahead, his expression as flat as always. But every now and then, his ear would flick slightly at her touch, a faint reminder that he wasn't as indifferent as he seemed.
Blaze's hands were warmer than usual—she knew that, and she was sure Shadow could feel it, too. She was desperately trying to keep her pyrokinesis under control, focusing all her energy on keeping her emotions in check.
But it wasn't working.
"Your hands are warm," Shadow said suddenly, his deep voice breaking the silence.
Blaze froze, her heart skipping a beat.
She swallowed, her voice catching in her throat. "I—I'm fine," she stammered, quickly wrapping the bandage around his shoulder. "It's nothing."
Blaze felt like she was going to combust. She quickly tied off the bandage, leaning back as she finished. "There," she said, her voice a little too loud. "All done."
Shadow straightened, rolling his shoulder slightly to test the bandage. "Hm," he muttered, his tone neutral. "Better."
Blaze stood abruptly, taking a step back to put some distance between them. She crossed her arms tightly over her chest, her face still burning. "Good," she said quickly. "Then I'll… I'll get going."
Shadow turned to look at her fully, his crimson eyes narrowing slightly as he studied her. "You're acting strange," he said bluntly.
Blaze bristled, her golden eyes widening. "I'm not!" she snapped, her voice sharper than she intended.
Shadow raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced, but he didn't press her. Instead, he simply leaned back against the couch, his expression calm but faintly curious.
Blaze clenched her fists, willing herself to stay composed. She turned toward the door, her tail flicking behind her as she grabbed her bag. "I'll check on you tomorrow," she muttered, her voice quieter now.
She could feel his gaze lingering on her.
And as she stepped out into the damp night air, her face still burning, Blaze couldn't help but wonder what was happening to her.
—-
The moment Blaze stepped out of the car and into the safety of her hotel, her composure shattered. She didn't even acknowledge her security detail as they gave her a respectful nod and disappeared down the hall. The heavy door to her suite clicked shut behind her, and suddenly, the dam burst.
Her breathing quickened as she paced back and forth across the room, her boots clicking sharply against the polished floor. Her hands clenched at her sides, and her pyrokinesis flickered wildly around her fingers, small flames licking at her gloves before extinguishing themselves. She couldn't keep it in; the frustration, the embarrassment, the sheer weirdness of it all surged through her like an uncontrollable firestorm.
She hadn't been this out of control since she was a teenager. Since those early days when her emotions and her powers had been so tightly intertwined that a single outburst could scorch an entire room. She thought she'd moved past that, thought she'd learned to keep herself in check. But now?
Now she felt like she was fourteen again.
Blaze groaned, running her hands through her hair as she spun on her heel and paced in the opposite direction. Her tail lashed behind her, the tips glowing faintly with residual heat. She couldn't stop thinking about it. About *him*.
"What the hell is wrong with me?" she muttered under her breath, her golden eyes narrowing as she stared at the floor. "I'm not some… love-sick teenager."
But the words sounded hollow even to her.
She clenched her fists, the flames flaring brighter now, dancing dangerously close to the furniture before she forced herself to pull them back. No. This wasn't love. This wasn't anything. It was just… it was just messing with her head that he had saved her. That was it. Hero complex. That was all it was.
Right?
Blaze stopped pacing, her hands trembling as she pressed them to her temples. She exhaled sharply, trying to calm herself, but her mind wouldn't stop replaying the events of the evening. His deep, annoyed sighs. The way his crimson eyes softened—just slightly—when he finally started to listen to her. The way his fur felt under her fingers as she changed his bandages.
Her face burned all over again, and she groaned aloud, turning toward the mirror across the room. She caught a glimpse of herself—disheveled, flushed, her eyes glowing faintly with the intensity of her emotions—and scowled.
"Get a grip, Blaze," she snapped at her reflection. "You don't have time for this. You don't have time to be thinking about him."
But no matter how hard she tried to rationalize it, her mind betrayed her.
She thought about how handsome he looked when he wasn't scowling, how peaceful he seemed when he was resting. How utterly adorable it was when he got flustered in the bathtub, muttering about how unnecessary it was to learn something as "stupid" as a smartphone.
"No, no, no!" Blaze shouted, her voice echoing in the empty room. She pressed the heels of her palms to her eyes, as though she could physically erase the thoughts from her mind.
She let her hands drop, staring at the faint scorch marks on her gloves. Her powers flared again, flames flickering around her wrists as she resumed pacing. She mentally kicked herself, berating herself with every step.
This isn't about him.
It's just the situation.
He saved you, and now you're trying to repay the favor. That's all this is. That's. all. it. can. be.
But those thoughts felt just as hollow as her earlier denial.
Blaze stopped in her tracks, her breathing uneven as she clenched her fists at her sides. Her powers flickered brighter for a moment, and she forced herself to take a deep, shaky breath. She was spiraling, and she knew it.
The more she tried to focus on the mission, the more her mind betrayed her, replaying those stupid, insignificant moments over and over again. The way his ears flicked when she touched him. The subtle huff of annoyance when he couldn't figure out the phone on his own. The way she'd caught herself smiling—actually smiling—at his stubborn determination.
Blaze clenched her fists, her flames flaring one last time before she extinguished them with a sharp exhale. She stopped pacing, standing still in the middle of the room as she stared at the floor. For a long moment, the only sound was her breathing, heavy and uneven.
Finally, with a sigh, Blaze sank down onto the edge of the bed, her shoulders slumping as she buried her face in her hands. She stayed like that for a moment, her mind still racing, before she forced herself to sit up again.
"I'm letting him get under my skin," she admitted, her tone heavy with frustration. "He's… infuriating. He's stubborn. Arrogant. He's impossible to deal with."
Her chest tightened, and her voice softened.
"And he's… he's kind. In his own way. He listens when it matters. He cares, even if he doesn't show it. And…" She trailed off, her face burning again as she clenched her fists.
"And I care about him," she whispered, the words barely audible.
The admission hung in the air, heavy and undeniable. Blaze stared at her reflection, her golden eyes filled with a mixture of frustration and reluctant acceptance. She didn't want to care. She didn't want to feel anything for him. But it was too late.
With a sigh, Blaze turned away from the mirror, rubbing her temples as she tried to calm herself. She still had a mission to focus on. A traitor to uncover. And she couldn't afford to let these feelings—whatever they were—get in the way.
But deep down, she knew the truth.
No matter how much she tried to deny it, Shadow was under her skin. And she wasn't sure when–or if– she'd ever be able to get him out.