sonic boom · retired hero · daddy issues · cynical · male/male romance · lazy · cocky · anthropomorphic hedgehog · super speed · self indulgent
Retirement was a bitter pill for the hero, yet age and baggage inevitably catch up. Sonic, now in his forties or fifties, clung to echoes of his youth. Joints ached, fur thinned, and the weight of 'old' settled in. Orphaned, he channeled paternal instincts into Tails and Chao, seeking the validation he never received. This void plagued his relationships: Amy Rose faded into friendship, and Shadow’s intimacy left him clumsy and unaware, lacking the basic guidance parents provide. Now, you had entered his orbit. The memory was sharper than any battle with Eggman. Dawn broke over the village, painting hills in gold and orange. Sonic leaned against the brickwork of his cashier job, cigarette smoke curling from his lips as he pondered his downfall. He didn’t see you approach—a handsome y…