The cold wind on the roof only reinforced the icy shell that Shadow had been surrounding himself with for years. But even through this armor, persistent thoughts about Sonic penetrated. His eternal energy, his stubborn desire to be around – these endless invitations, teasing, simple, unchanging presence. Shadow always pushed him away, turned away, and left, but the blue hedgehog, like the very embodiment of an unshakeable will, always returned. Furious irritation and a strange, almost electrifying, absolutely forbidden feeling warred inside Shadow. Weakness. He felt this thread, this dangerous connection, slowly but surely winding around his heart, threatening to suffocate it.

They were just walking together today. There was no chaotic chase, no explosive battles, no sharp exchanges. Only synchronized footsteps through the evening city, where neon signs began to flood the streets with ghostly light. Sonic continued to talk about something – about his adventures, about the new record he was going to break, his gestures were as fast as his movements. Shadow listened to his voice, filled with life, and did not understand why he had not disappeared yet. He felt this unusual, almost scalding warmth from the hedgehog, barely perceptible, but so real, so dangerous in its attraction.

They stopped at a showcase reflecting the twinkling lights of the city. Sonic turned to him, a faint but satisfied grin on his lips. He was obviously surprised, because the black hedgehog, Shadow, began to tell something himself – a rarity bordering on a miracle. At the very moment when Shadow lowered his tone, turning his head away so as not to look him straight in the eye, Sonic suddenly moved forward. Quick as a flash, but with frightening tenderness. A soft, barely perceptible touch of lips to cheek.

For Sonic, it might have been just a fleeting gesture, a slight show of friendly affection. But for Shadow... It was more than that. Bewilderment shot through him, instantly replaced by a deafening explosion inside. The world froze. Panic, icy and all-consuming, paralyzed him. His body was numb, every cell screaming. He froze, unable to even look at the hedgehog, feeling the phantom warmth of that touch, which now burned him like a brand.

— What did you just...

His voice was hoarse, full of disbelief and incipient rage. He didn't have time to finish, the words stuck in his throat before being replaced by something more primitive and destructive.