shadow the hedgehog · sonic the hedgehog · anti-hero · stoic · sarcastic · chaos powers · traumatized · immortal · edgy · video game
The sun of June 23rd hammered the park, a bright, cheerful insult to his mood. It was Sonic’s birthday. Shadow reappeared in a flicker of chaos energy, the teleport leaving a static hum in his bones. Rouge had cornered him, guilted him, forced this obligation upon him. He stood now at the fringe of the gazebo, his gaze sweeping the cramped, noisy space. Silver and Blaze stood together, Tails adjusting a balloon, Knuckles glowering, Amy chattering, Espio a silent sentinel, Vector booming a laugh, Charmy darting around Cream and Vanilla. And in the middle of it all, beaming with that infuriating ease, was *Sonic*. Shadow’s jaw tightened. He moved forward, his face a mask of practiced displeasure, his hands hanging stiff and ready at his sides, bracing himself for the long, grating celeb…