Chapter Text
“Have a good day and come again soon!” Shadow sighed, smoothing out the wrinkles on his green apron. Working at the Mean Bean would be fun, they said.
“Hey handsome,” Rouge took her glasses off, revealing turquoise-green eyes.
“I'm working Rouge,” Shadow murmured.
“Well, obviously,” the bat half sung. “But you don't answer my calls or texts. I had to find you some way.”
Shadow grunted. He didn't mean to ignore the bat. He just didn't have the motivation to answer her.
“So guess what?” Rouge asked.
“You bought emerald earrings," Shadow answered.
“No, guess again.”
“You stole emerald earrings.”
“No, one more try.”
“Someone gave you emerald earrings.”
“Is that really all you noticed about me?” Rouge rolled her eyes. “That I got new earrings?”
“Well, you did, didn’t you?” Shadow glared.
“Well, yes, but what I wanted to tell you was,” Rouge took a deep breath. “I met someone new.”
“Hm,” Shadow hummed.
“Is that it?” Rouge exclaimed.
“Congratulations?” Shadow sighed.
“Oh hey, he's over there,” Rouge exclaimed, pointing to a red echidna with a brown cowboy hat.
“Him?” Shadow glared at his best friend.
“Oh, just look at that cowboy; isn't he so cute?” Rouge sighed.
“You're crazy,” Shadow hissed.
“It's called love, darling.”
“You're insane.”
“Just get me a large latte, hot,” Rouge spat back.
“$5.46,” Shadow chimed.
“I should get a discount for being your best friend.” Rouge handed Shadow her debit card.
“I don't give discounts to fools who call their insanity love,” Shadow grunted.
“Oh, just wait until you fall in love, Mr. Grumps,” Rouge smiled, leaving Shadow alone with his thoughts once again.
Love, how stupid. He would never fall in love.
Shadow looked over the counter at Rouge talking to the red echidna. Shadow swore he had never seen the bat smile that wide when someone talked to her. Shadow smiled; after all of Rouge’s bad luck in dating, she had found someone.
“Excuse me!”
Shadow looked up. A tall cobalt hedgehog stood on the other side of the counter.
“Could I get a coffee?” The cobalt hedgehog asked. Shadow felt his face heat up.
“Um, your drink,” the cobalt hedgehog chuckled.
“What, oh,” Shadow looked down at the spilled milk.
“Here, let me help,” the cobalt hedgehog leaped over the counter before Shadow could register what he had said.
“It's fine, don't worry about it.” Shadow reached for the paper towels. Briefly touching a gloved hand in the process. Shadow pulled his hand back, face burning. The cobalt hedgehog smiled as he grabbed a paper towel.
“No, really, I want to help.” The cobalt hedgehog started to clean the small spill on the counter. Shadow cleaned the cup and put it in the sink behind him.
“All done!” The cobalt hedgehog declared proudly.
“Thank you,” Shadow sighed, heart threatening to escape his chest.
“No biggie, heh,” the cobalt hedgehog leaped over the counter once again. “Don't take this as rude or anything, but my coffee?”
“Oh right,” Shadow answered, remembering he had a job.
Sonic chuckled. “I just want a regular coffee, thank you!”
“That'll be $2.75,” Shadow hummed.
“Keep the change.” Sonic handed Shadow the money and smiled. Their hands touched briefly once more. Shadow felt his face get red again and quickly looked away.
“Shadow, where in Mobius is my latte?” Rouge urged.
“Sorry, Rouge, I distracted Shadow,” the cobalt hedgehog answered before Shadow could.
“Oh, that's okay, Sonic, darling,” Rouge smiled.
Shadow made Rouge's latte as Sonic and Rouge chatted away.
“Here you go, Rouge.” Shadow handed Rouge her latte.
“Thanks, handsome,” Rouge winked and walked away, leaving Sonic and Shadow by themselves.
“I'll get started on your coffee,” Shadow assured Sonic.
“No worries, I'm not in a rush,” Sonic smiled as he leaned on the counter. “So Shadow, right?”
Shadow nodded as he grabbed a new coffee filter.
“So Shadow, does a fellow hedgehog like you like working at a coffee shop like this?” Sonic asked.
“It pays,” Shadow answered. Sonic laughed. “Your coffee is ready.”
“That was faster than I expected,” Sonic said, sipping his coffee. “Woah, for someone who hates their job, you make some good coffee.”
“I don't dislike it,” Shadow huffed.
“But you don't like it either, huh?” Sonic finished.
“Yeah.”
“Well, I better get back to my friends. Nice talking to you, Shadow.”
Shadow nodded, watching Sonic happily skip along to his friends.
Shadow leaned on the counter, hand holding his face as he carefully watched the hedgehog. Sonic seemed to earn a laugh from everyone at the table. How on earth had Shadow not noticed a hedgehog like Sonic before?
Sonic turned and looked directly at Shadow, immediately making eye contact. Shadow hid his face in his hands, immediately feeling his face turn red again.
“Hey, Shadow.”
Shadow's ears perked up upon hearing his name being called. He lifted his head, finding bright emerald eyes staring back at him.
“Can I have a vanilla milkshake?” Sonic asked. “My little brother really wanted one.”
“Of course, I’ll get right on it.” Shadow immediately got up and started making the milkshake.
“Hey, uh, aren’t you going to ask me to pay?” Sonic asked with a confused expression.
“Right, sorry I forgot, $6.46,” He normally did his job well. Why couldn’t he do it now?
“Keep the change,” Sonic winked. Shadow took the money, not daring to make eye contact again. He went back to making the milkshake with emerald eyes following him.
“So how long have you worked here?” Asked Sonic.
“Almost 4 years”
“Damn, 4 years? I don’t think I could ever be at a job I hate for that long.”
“I neither dislike nor li-”
“Like the job I know,” Sonic chuckled.
“Here’s your milkshake.”
“Thanks, Shadow.”
With that, the cobalt hedgehog left, leaving Shadow alone with his thoughts again. He leaned against the counter again.
Those emerald eyes were beautiful. They looked like bright jewels that everyone wanted their hands on. They were so bright that one could get lost in them. Shadow wondered if he could get lost in them.
“Hey handsome, just wanted to say goodbye,” Rouge waved, taking Shadow out of his thoughts.
“Goodbye, Rouge,” Shadow nodded. Watching Rouge leave, arm interlocked with the red echidna.
“Hey ya Shadow.”
Shadow’s ears perked up upon hearing the familiar bright voice.
“Hey,” he responded.
“Well, I was about to leave, but it felt right to say goodbye,” Sonic smiled. Shadow nodded.
“Yeah, uhm, so bye. I hope to see you again sometime,” Sonic waved rather enthusiastically. Shadow waved goodbye. A smile formed on his muzzle.
His mind went back to thinking about those emerald eyes and bright blue cobalt quills. Shadow shook his head.
Today was going to be a long day.