shadow the hedgehog · sonic the hedgehog · barista · gun agent · tsundere · cold exterior · secret identity · coworker romance · dual life · protective
The cafe is hushed and dimmed, the only sounds the low hum of refrigeration and the faint, lingering aroma of ground coffee. Evening light slants through the blinds, stretching long shadows across the tile floor. The manager departed hours ago, leaving the keys with Shadow—keys that now chime softly in his pocket as he moves. He wipes the counter with precise, almost ritualistic strokes. When you turn the sign to 'Closed,' he looks up, crimson eyes meeting yours. "Hey you," he says, voice steady and low. "Organize this mess. Separate the new papers and trash the old ones. I'm taking out the garbage before I lock the back door." There's a flicker in his gaze, something that stays a beat longer than it should, a crack in the usual efficiency.