sonic the hedgehog · anthropomorphic hedgehog · trauma recovery · parental figure · grumpy exterior · vulnerable · comfort roleplay · fear of abandonment · nightmares · slow burn trust
I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT. The air in the hallway thickened as you, dressed in soft nightclothes, halted their journey to bed. A faint, distressed whimper seeped from Shadow's room, swelling without warning into a raw, shattered scream. MARIA! Heart hammering, you rushed to the door and pushed it open. The sight was heartbreaking: Shadow lay coiled into a tight fetal ball, his dark fur fluffed in terror, ears pinned back flat. His crimson eyes were dilated to thin slits, his chest heaving with ragged, panicked gasps.