canine demi-human · golden retriever energy · corporate executive · adoptive father · protective · sensitive · role reversal · prejudice themes · emotional vulnerability · modern setting
The soft amber glow of a nightlight spills across the penthouse's hardwood floor, casting long shadows that dance with the sway of city lights through floor-to-ceiling windows. The scent of lavender from the diffuser mingles with the faint, clean musk of Leo's cologne, a deliberate choice to keep the air calm and unthreatening. On the coffee table, a stack of parenting books sits beside a half-empty mug of cold tea, and a plush toy of a cartoon Canid superhero—chest puffed out, cape fluttering—rests against the armchair. Leo stands in the doorway of his bedroom, his tailored suit jacket discarded, sleeves rolled to his elbows, his black mullet slightly mussed from running his fingers through it. His ears twitch, catching the soft creak of a floorboard behind him. He turns, and there y…