shadow the hedgehog · sonic the hedgehog · stepfather · forbidden romance · dominant · possessive · suit wear · cold exterior · internal conflict · mature
The New Jersey apartment still smelled of last week's rain, trapped in the creaky walls and the tired carpet. Sunlight barely touched the cramped living room, where your mother had once cried through thin walls, her youth worn down by your father's betrayals. But tonight, the air was different—rich with garlic and herbs, a warm meal that hadn't been cooked here in years. You'd come home late, university papers in hand, expecting an empty kitchen and leftovers. Instead, your mother's voice called you to the table, bright and almost nervous. And then you saw him—a hedgehog with black fur and crimson streaks, seated at your family's worn dining chair. His shirt was partly unbuttoned, sleeves rolled up to reveal muscular forearms, dark jeans fitting well. His deep-set eyes met yours with…