Nocturnal Pull☆ミ

Nocturnal pull☆ミ

Shadow the hedgehog x gn reader

sfw

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(ФωФ): established relationship, shodow is experiencing...INSTINCTS!!

i have way too many fandoms i fear

⠄･ ⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠄･ ⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠄･ ⋆ ･

The night air was cool, thick with the scent of damp earth and the faintest trace of ozone from a recent storm. You sat on the back porch of your shared home, knees pulled up to your chest, watching the stars flicker between breaks in the rolling clouds. The moonlight caught on the edges of wet leaves, casting silver highlights on the grass below. It was quiet—except for the faint, rhythmic sound of something rustling against the wooden floorboards behind you.

Shadow.

You didn’t have to turn around to know he was there. You had long since learned the cadence of his movements—the way his footfalls barely made a sound when he walked, how he hesitated just a second before stepping closer, like he was still adjusting to the idea of sharing space with another. Tonight, though, there was something… different. His pacing was persistent, almost anxious, though he would never admit it.

You sighed and turned your head slightly, catching a glimpse of him over your shoulder. He wasn’t sitting next to you like usual. Instead, he was hovering just a few feet away, shoulders tense, eyes flickering between you and the surrounding area. His quills twitched, shifting slightly every time the wind rustled through the trees. His arms were crossed, but you could see the subtle flex of his fingers against his biceps—restless, agitated.

“…What are you doing?” you asked softly.

He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he huffed, shifting his weight from one foot to the other before finally uncrossing his arms.

“…Keeping watch.”

You blinked. “For what?”

His gaze snapped to you, sharp and unwavering, before darting away again as if he was embarrassed to admit it. “…Anything.”

Your heart squeezed at that. It wasn’t unusual for Shadow to be protective—he had long since appointed himself as your unofficial guardian, even before you had started dating. But this was different. The way he was holding himself, the constant flicking of his ears, the barely restrained energy in his stance—it reminded you of something. Something instinctual.

“Shadow,” you said, your voice a little softer now. “Are you…” You hesitated, but the thought was already forming in your mind. “Are you feeling antsy because it’s nighttime?”

He stiffened.

You bit your lip, fighting back a smile. Oh. Oh, this made so much sense.

Hedgehogs were nocturnal, weren’t they? Well, mostly—Shadow had been genetically engineered, so he didn’t exactly follow all the rules of a normal hedgehog, but still. His habits had always leaned toward the night. He was most active after sundown, even when he pretended not to be.

And right now, it seemed like his instincts were in full force.

“Shut up,” he muttered, turning his head away, but the slight twitch of his nose betrayed him.

You nearly melted on the spot.

“Awhh..” you whined, pushing yourself up onto your knees and reaching for him. “You’re all fidgety. Oh my god, are you having one of those little… instinct things??”

“I am not—”

“Oh my god, you are.” You gasped, covering your mouth in mock horror. “Wait. Are you sniffing the air right now?”

Shadow immediately stopped, his nose wrinkling as if he could somehow undo the fact that he had, in fact, been scenting the breeze. His quills bristled slightly, and he turned his back to you, clearly trying to regain his dignity.

You weren’t having it.

“Come here,” you said, reaching for him again. “Let me love you.”

“No.”

“Please.”

“…No.”

You pouted, but he didn’t budge. He was still lingering near the porch steps, his posture tense like he was still resisting the urge to prowl the perimeter. His instincts were telling him to move—to be alert, to patrol, to make sure nothing was lurking in the dark that could pose a threat to you. It was ridiculously cute.

You stood up and stepped forward, slowly sliding your arms around his waist from behind, pressing your cheek against the back of his shoulder. He tensed for a moment before sighing, his muscles relaxing under your touch.

“You don’t have to be on high alert all the time, you know,” you murmured.

“I do.”

You hummed. “Even in a completely safe area?”

“Yes.”

“Even though I am literally right here, clinging to you, completely unbothered?”

“…Yes.”

You grinned, squeezing him a little tighter. “You’re ridiculous.”

He didn’t respond, but you could feel his chest rise and fall with a deep, steady breath. He was grounding himself—letting the warmth of your touch settle him, pulling himself back from the edge of that lingering restlessness.

Then, just as you were about to pull away, he did something that made your brain short-circuit entirely.

He nudged you.

Not a normal, casual nudge. Not a bump of the shoulder or an affectionate push. No—this was different. It was small, subtle, but unmistakable.

He pressed the side of his face against yours, just briefly, just enough for you to feel the velvety texture of his fur against your skin before he pulled back.

You froze.

He had never done that before.

“…Did you just nuzzle me?”

Shadow immediately stiffened again, realization flashing through his eyes.

“…No.”

“Oh my god.” Your voice was barely a whisper, eyes wide with delight. “You did. You totally did.”

“Forget it.”

“NO.” You latched onto him again, this time with full force, rubbing your cheek against his like an overly affectionate housecat. “You can’t just do that and expect me to let it go!”

He groaned, attempting to pry you off, but it was half-hearted at best. “You’re insufferable.”

“And you’re the cutest thing to ever exist.”

“I am not—”

“You nuzzled me.”

“Let it go.”

“NEVER.”

Despite all his complaints, he didn’t push you away. He let you cling to him, let you melt against him in the cool night air, let you press tiny kisses along his jawline until his ears flicked in mild irritation. And, after a long moment, just when you thought he was done being openly affectionate, he did it again—just the lightest, briefest brush of his muzzle against your temple before he muttered, “Go inside. It’s cold.”

You grinned, squeezing him one last time before stepping back toward the door. “Only if you come too.”

He hesitated, casting one last glance toward the dark tree line before exhaling softly. “…Fine.”

You beamed, grabbing his hand and tugging him toward the house.

He followed.

The night stretched on, the world quiet except for the distant rustling of trees and the occasional chirp of a lone insect. Shadow followed you inside, reluctantly allowing himself to be pulled along by your hand, though his movements were still tinged with a sort of controlled tension—like a wild animal forcing itself to step into unfamiliar territory.

You knew he was still fighting the urge to go back outside, to circle the perimeter of your home until his instincts were satisfied that you were safe. He had always been like this—hyper-aware, hyper-vigilant, a creature of habit and deeply ingrained instincts that he barely acknowledged, let alone indulged.

But tonight? Tonight, he had already let something slip.

You still couldn’t get over it. He had nuzzled you.

The moment replayed in your mind, making your chest tighten with the sheer force of how much you adored him. Shadow, the Ultimate Lifeform, the cold and composed warrior, had just succumbed to the tiniest, most subconscious act of affection.

And now you had to push your luck.

The moment the door clicked shut behind you, you spun on your heel, eyes gleaming with mischief. Shadow barely had a second to react before you wrapped your arms around him again, burying your face against his neck.

He stiffened instantly. “What are you doing?”

“Absorbing your cuteness.”

“Stop that.”

“Never.” You tightened your hold, swaying slightly from side to side, nuzzling into the soft fur at the base of his quills. “You can’t just nuzzle me and expect me to move on like it didn’t happen. You cuddled me, Shadow.”

“It wasn’t a cuddle.”

“It was a cuddle, and I’m going to keep bothering you about it until you admit it.”

His ear flicked in irritation, but he made no effort to actually push you away. Instead, he let out a slow exhale, his muscles gradually losing their rigidity as he allowed himself to stand there, letting you cling to him like a particularly stubborn barnacle.

You felt his head tilt slightly, just enough for him to scent your hair, and that was when you knew—you had won.

You smirked. “You’re doing it again.”

Shadow immediately pulled back, scowling. “You’re imagining things.”

“AM I?” You wiggled your eyebrows at him. “Or are you subconsciously engaging in more hedgehog behaviors because you love me?”

His glare darkened, but his silence was damning.

You gasped dramatically. “OH my god, you do.”

“I am going to Chaos Spear you.”

“You wouldn’t.”

“You’re right,” he deadpanned. “It would be a waste of energy.”

You grinned up at him. “So you do love me?”

The hesitation lasted only a second before he sighed, eyes flickering away from yours. “…Obviously.”

Your heart melted. He said it so casually, so bluntly, and yet there was something undeniably warm beneath the words. He had never been the type to offer sweet, flowery confessions, but every time he acknowledged his feelings—every time he chose to stay, to let you in, to soften even the slightest bit—it made you fall for him even more.

You cupped his face between your hands, fingertips brushing against the dark fur of his cheeks. He tensed but didn’t pull away.

“Shadow,” you whispered, your voice softer now, more sincere. “I love you, too.”

His ears twitched. He didn’t say anything right away, but his gloved hands came up to rest against your waist, a feather-light touch that spoke volumes.

And then, to your utter delight—he nuzzled you again.

It was subtle, so brief that anyone else might have missed it. But you felt it—the tiny, barely-there press of his muzzle against your cheek, the way his breath fanned warm against your skin for just a second before he pulled away.

It was enough to send your heart into a frenzy.

“…shadow.” you croaked, eyes wide.

He immediately looked regretful. “Forget that happened.”

“NO.” You grabbed onto him like your life depended on it, shaking him slightly. “YOU DID IT AGAIN.”

He scowled, clearly rethinking every decision he had made that had led to this moment. “I didn’t.”

“YOU DID. OH MY GOD, YOU LOVE ME SO MUCH, IT’S KILLING YOU, ISN’T IT?”

Shadow groaned, prying your hands off him as if physically removing you would end the conversation. “Go to bed.”

“I CAN’T.” You were practically vibrating at this point. “I’M TOO BUSY PROCESSING THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE INSTINCTS AND YOU CAN’T HELP BEING AFFECTIONATE—”

Shadow disappeared.

One moment he was in front of you, the next he had Chaos Controlled away, vanishing into thin air with a crackle of red energy.

You blinked at the empty space where he had stood.

“…He’ll be back,” you muttered to yourself.

And sure enough, about ten minutes later, you felt the faintest shift in the air behind you—the softest brush of warmth as Shadow reappeared, moving toward the bed like nothing had happened.

You didn’t say anything at first. You waited until he settled down, until the room was dark and quiet, until he was lying beside you with his back turned, pretending he was unaffected.

Then, slowly, you rolled over and pressed your forehead against his back.

“…I know you like it when I hold you,” you whispered.

Shadow didn’t move, but his ear twitched again.

“…Tch,” he muttered, but after a long pause, he sighed, shifting just slightly—just enough to let you press yourself closer, just enough to let you tangle your legs with his.

And that was all the permission you needed.

With a triumphant hum, you wrapped your arms around his waist, pressing yourself flush against his back. He was warm—solid, steady, the quiet hum of his breathing lulling you into comfort.

For a long time, neither of you spoke. The night stretched on, and the weight of sleep started pulling you down.

Then, just before you drifted off, you felt it again—so faint you almost thought you imagined it.

A tiny, almost imperceptible nuzzle against the top of your head.

Your heart squeezed.

“…Cutie,” you mumbled sleepily.

Shadow exhaled, resigned. “…Shut up.”

But he didn’t pull away.