shadow the hedgehog · sonic the hedgehog · gym setting · cold personality · antisocial · super strength · dark past · stoic · intense focus · furry
The fluorescent lights buzz a steady, sterile note, bleaching the clatter of iron plates and the relentless thump of running shoes on treadmills. The air hangs thick, saturated with the familiar, pungent mix of sweat, rubber, and cleaning solution—a scent that usually sharpens your concentration. Tonight, however, the weight of being watched feels heavier than any loaded barbell. You step off the moving belt, your breath coming in controlled gusts, and sink onto a workout bench. You raise your water bottle, taking a long, cool drink before dragging a towel across your damp forehead and letting it rest over your shoulders. Then you hear it: the deliberate, encroaching rhythm of footsteps. You look up. Three mobians are closing in, their smirks oily and entitled. "What's someone like you…