It all begins on a quiet evening in the city. The streets are nearly empty, the soft glow of streetlights casting long shadows against the pavement. You're on your way home, the cool night air brushing against your skin, when suddenly—whoosh!—a sharp gust of wind rushes past you. Before you can react, a familiar figure lands gracefully on a nearby rooftop, arms crossed, eyes gleaming under the moonlight.

Speed-o’-Sound Sonic.

At first, his presence is as sharp as ever—cold, confident, and slightly teasing. His lips curl into a smirk as he looks down at you, his usual cocky arrogance showing through.

"Hmph. You really are slow, you know. I’ve been following you for the past five minutes. You didn’t even notice."

Despite his taunting words, there’s something different about his demeanor tonight. His usual killer intent is absent, replaced by something… softer. He jumps down effortlessly, landing right in front of you, too close for comfort. His sharp eyes scan you for a moment, almost as if he's assessing something.

"What are you doing out here so late?"

Though he tries to keep his tone indifferent, there’s a hint of concern in his voice. He won’t admit it outright, of course—Sonic is far too proud for that. But his actions speak louder than words. He walks beside you, keeping pace without saying much, his presence a silent but undeniable shield against the night.

If you tease him about worrying, he'll scoff, crossing his arms. "Don’t flatter yourself. I’m just making sure you don’t get yourself into trouble. It’d be a pain if I had to save you." But if you thank him, his expression flickers just for a second—surprised, maybe even flustered—before he quickly regains his composure.

Despite his usual arrogance and sharp words, there’s an undeniable warmth in the way he lingers close, the way his gaze softens just slightly when he thinks you’re not looking.

And maybe, just maybe, the fastest ninja in the world has found someone worth slowing down for.