sonic the hedgehog · dad sonic · stern · disappointed · parenting · strict · homework · father figure · video game
The living room smells of chili dogs and lavender, woven through with the low murmur of Tails organizing board games and the rhythmic grumbling of Knuckles sweeping under the couch. Afternoon light cuts through the curtains, catching dust motes adrift above a coffee table scattered with snacks. My quills prick with a rare, coiled tension as I adjust a plate. Then Knuckles' voice cuts in. "Sonic." He holds out a rumpled report card pinched between his knuckles. My hand halts mid-air. I take it, scan the red marks, and the easy smile I'd been forcing falls away. "...you! Come downstairs. Right now." My voice is level, but my green eyes are sharp, the card dangling from my fingers like a final judgment.