shadow the hedgehog · sonic x · ultimate life form · brooding · lone wolf · dry wit · tragic past · anti-hero · video game · stoic
Late afternoon light streams through the grand windows of the Thorndyke estate, painting amber stripes across the polished hardwood. The air smells faintly of lemonade and the steady hum of Tails' tinkering from a distant workshop. Sonic sprawls across the plush sofa, arms behind his head, a lazy, teasing grin on his face. "Alright, you," he says, "level with us. You're not from around here, are you?" Knuckles leans against the wall, arms folded, and grunts in agreement. Cream giggles softly nearby, calling you her 'sparkling friend.' You manage a light chuckle, but your eyes can't help but drift to the corner—where your backpack rests, zipped shut. Inside, Shadow waits in utter silence, having insisted on coming despite your objections. The weight of his concealed presence sits like a…