Resurgence (Shadow x Reader)

Chapter 15: Support Local Bands!

Hours passed, and after a few drinks, laughter, and lingering touches, they finally decided to head home.

The night was cold, their breath visible in the air as they walked side by side. Y/n was still buzzed from the fun, talking animatedly about the band, about how great the setlist was, about how see, dancing isn't so bad, is it?

Shadow just listened, a rare contentment settling over him.

But then—

It happened.

A flicker. A distortion in the air just ahead of them. It was quick, like a glitch in reality, barely more than a split-second. But it was there.

And in that split second, Shadow saw it.

Something—some thing—was phasing in and out of existence. It was humanoid but wrong. A grotesque shifting of limbs, its form unstable, almost like it was trying to exist in multiple dimensions at once.

Shadow's body reacted before his mind could catch up. He stepped forward, ready to engage, ready to—

It was gone.

Vanished like it had never been there.

For a moment, he wondered if maybe he imagined it. He had been drinking, after all, but no—no, alcohol didn't do that to him. He was resilient.

Then he looked at Y/n.

She had gone pale.

Her expression was tight, her hands clenched into fists.

She had seen it too.

"You know something," he said, his voice quieter now, steadier. Not accusing—just knowing.

Y/n exhaled shakily, looking away. "...I've been seeing things like this for a while now."

Shadow's brows furrowed.

"This is the worst one so far," she admitted, her voice almost a whisper.

Shadow stared at her for a long moment, gears turning in his head. She was scared. And now he was certain—whatever was going on, whatever this was—he was a part of it now.

And so was she.

A quiet understanding passed between them. They were on the same side, against a common unknown.

Shadow took a breath, his decision made.

"...Let me stay over tonight," he said.

Y/n looked up at him, surprised.

"I don't like leaving you alone after that," he continued. "Not when we don't know what it is."

She hesitated, but eventually, she nodded. "...Okay."

And just like that, they walked the rest of the way in silence.

~ .° ｡𖦹˚ 𓇼 ｡𖦹° ｡. ~

Back at her apartment, they got ready for bed. Shadow settled into the second bedroom, closing the door behind him. The space was neat, modest. It smelled like her.

But something still felt off.

He lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, his mind racing with everything that had happened. The way Y/n reacted. The look on her face. The thing they had seen.

His instincts told him that whatever this was, it wasn't going away.

A soft knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts.

"...Shadow?"

Her voice was small.

He sat up. "Come in."

The door opened just enough for her to step inside. The room was dark, but the moonlight filtering through the window caught the shine of her eyes.

She had been crying.

She wasn't crying now, but—she had been.

Shadow's stomach twisted.

Without a word, she hesitated at the edge of the bed. Then, in barely more than a whisper—

"Can I sleep in here with you tonight?"

She was shaking.

Shadow didn't hesitate.

"Yes."

The bed dipped as she climbed in beside him, curling into herself. Without thinking, he reached out, pulling her closer. She tensed at first, but then—she melted into him, her forehead resting against his chest, her body trembling with anxiety.

He held her.

Stroked her hair.

Whispered quiet reassurances, soft words that he hadn't even known he was capable of.

And as her breathing evened out, as sleep finally took her, Shadow remained awake for just a little longer.

Holding her.

Keeping her safe.

Whatever this was—whatever came next—he wasn't going to let her face it alone.