Okie, this is my first stab at a fan-fictitious story. This isn't really the first chapter, it's more a sort of prologue; an introduction of the characters, if you like. Obviously, if you don't like yaoi, don't bother reading. Reviews are very, very much appreciated!
Knuckles sighed; sleep had once again eluded him. He rolled over onto his side and glanced at his clock, which flashed in soft red.
'2:43'
Knuckles blinked and groaned; he had hoped he would achieve at least a little rest. Not that he had anything to do. Ever since he and his team had returned home, there had been little for them to attend to. The quiet, comfortable life was not for Knuckles; he desired adventure, wealth and rich experience.
Eight years had passed since the destruction of the Metarex seed had come to fruition. The Sonic team had been ushered back to Earth and revered by the humans as heroes. Some of them went their own ways, but most stayed together. For Knuckles, and many of the other members, the tight knit group of friends was more than that; it was a family.
Knuckles grimaced. He didn't like feeling dependent on anyone.
'You're Knuckles the Echidna,' he thought. 'You're supposed to be tough.'
But the truth was, Knuckles had nowhere to go. Sonic and the others were the only people on this strange planet that he trusted, let alone knew.
Sonic had finally surrendered to Amy's advances when he was eighteen. The pair was probably still awake, although, Knuckles thought with a smile, most likely not due to insomnia.
Shadow and Rouge had established a friendship and stuck together everywhere; when Rouge chose to remain with the group, Shadow followed suit.
Chris had returned at his true age of eighteen when he returned, and went to a university to study engineering. Now a Ph.D engineer, Chris worked for his father. Chris' workload was heavy, leaving him little time to see Knuckles and his friends.
Tails and Cream had nervously stuck with the group; Knuckles frowned in disgust. Where were their parents, he wondered? Vanilla had run off with an old French businessman and abandoned her daughter to her friends, and Tails had never mentioned a parent.
'Poor little guy,' Knuckles thought. 'He hasn't been the same since his girlfriend died.'
Knuckles sighed again. All that thinking had just made him more alert. Deciding that sleep was a lost cause, the echidna rose from his bed and slipped on his gloves, pushing the spikes out of his face. Plodding out to the living room of the apartment they shared, Knuckles sat in an armchair and switched the television on, lowering the volume to near inaudible.
The echidna grunted. Human television was rubbish. Flicking through the channels mindlessly, finding nothing worthy of his intelligence, Knuckles turned the power off and leant back, shutting his eyes.
He couldn't be homesick. This was his home. No, that wasn't it. But there was a small, nagging hint of despair in the back of his mind.
Knuckles was lonely.
He'd never been hesitant with women in the past; one look at his confident grin and muscular arms and he could have a girl melting into his arms. But these human girls were so...bland. Knuckles had never liked tall women; he was the male of the relationship, and he enjoyed showing his dominance in every way. But the humans towered over him, as though he was just a puggle. It made him uncomfortable, not to mention emasculated. And the prospect of sex was... awkward.
'It'd be like having sex with a tree that kept saying "Aww, how cute!"' Sonic had chuckled to Knuckles one day. The echidna had grinned in response, but now the crude analogy only served to remind him of the futility of ever finding a lover.
Knuckles knew that the only prospective mates were the same people who lived in the same house. Even if Amy wasn't with Sonic, Knuckles didn't think he'd be able to listen to her babbling for more than five minutes. Cream was out of the question; Knuckles was desperate, but not 12 year old desperate. And despite their past closeness, Knuckles barely saw Rouge anymore. She was always with Shadow, like he was her twin brother. It irritated Knuckles that the bat had forgotten about him so quickly. He had thought they had shared a spark. But then again, Rouge didn't seem like one for monogamy.
Knuckles was about to rise and attempt to sleep one more time when he heard a muffled sound. The echidna looked up, confused, and padded softly toward the source of the sound. He stepped outside onto the apartment's balcony to find a thin figure sitting cross legged on the floor. The source of the sound became obvious; the creature was crying. By the two large, flicking appendages rising from the floor, Knuckles knew that it had to be Tails.
'Hey.' Knuckles said softly. Tails hiccupped and looked around, his eyes red and ringed with moisture.
'Oh, um, hi Knuckles,' Tails said in a cracked voice. Knuckles sat down next to the little fox.
'What's wrong, little guy?' he said, with as much gentleness as his gruff voice would allow. Tails wiped his eyes, sniffing.
'I miss Cosmo.' Upon saying her name, another tear rolled down the vulpine's cheek and he let out a quiet sob. Knuckles nodded, wrapping an arm around Tails' shoulder before he could stop and think 'What are you doing?'
'It's okay. She wouldn't want you to be sad, you know,' Knuckles paused. 'Neither do I.'
Tails gazed at the echidna through his tears, shivering.
'I know. But... it's hard.' Tails looked out into the night, wiping his nose. Knuckles was beginning to feel uncomfortable.
"Er, I guess I'll just...leave you alone.' Knuckles awkwardly removed his arm from Tails' shoulders and went to go back inside.
'Wait!' Tails yipped, stretching a paw out to the retreating echidna. Knuckles stared at the fox, who appeared to be blushing.
'Could you, um... would you mind sitting here with me a little longer?' Tails looked at the floor, clearly embarrassed. Knuckles expression softened and he sprawled next to his small friend, who sniffled and leant against the echidna's shoulder.
'What're you supposed to do, Knuckles,' Tails said quietly, 'when someone you love deserts you?'
Knuckles grimaced. 'I dunno, kid. I guess you just... move on.'
Tails exhaled. 'Move on, huh?' The fox's eyelids drooped and his breathing became even. 'I'll...' he yawned, 'try.' Tails' eyes closed and he nuzzled into Knuckles' shoulder, sleeping soundly.
Knuckles sat uncomfortably for a while, trying to figure out what to do. Finally deciding that Tails would be more comfortable in a bed than on the floor, Knuckles stood, trying to disturb the little vulpine as little as possible as he scooped him into his arms. Tails was as light as a baby in Knuckles' strong arms. The echidna padded quietly through the apartment, reaching another dilemma. Tails shared a room with Cream, and Knuckles didn't want to wake the little rabbit up. Knuckles fidgeted for a minute in the short hallway before carrying the sleeping fox into his own room.
After placing him gently on the bed, Knuckles scratched his head thoughtfully. He didn't want to sleep in the living room; the sofa was made for sitting, not sleeping. Shrugging, Knuckles lay down next to Tails, pulling the blanket over the two of them.
Poor guy could use a pal, he thought. And I could use a teddy bear.
Knuckles felt Tails snuggling into his chest like a puppy would its mother. It made him feel a little awkward, but it was also nice to feel the small fox's warmth against him.
'Knuckles?' the fox whispered. Knuckles drew the blanket tighter over Tails.
'Yup, don't mind bunking with me, do you?' Knuckles shut off his lamp and lay back down. The fox yawned cutely.
'Mm mm.' Tails sighed and shut his eyes, scooting closer to his companion. Knuckles, unsure of what to do with his hands, tucked them under the pillow and closed his eyes, completely unaware of the soft, downy tails that brushed against his legs.
***
Knuckles woke slowly, light flooding the room through the window. He yawned, attempting to roll over until he realised something was in his way. A sleeping male fox impeded his movement, the tip of his thumb stuck in his muzzle. Knuckles started before remembering that he had put Tails into bed with him. With a flush of chagrin, Knuckles realised that his arm had made its way underneath of Tails body, holding the pair in a spooning position. Knuckles attempted to remove his arm without waking the sleeping vulpine, but Tails nuzzled his nose into the pillow and made a quiet grunting sound as he woke. Knuckles smiled, despite his embarrassment.
'Good morning,' he said, albeit with the tone of someone who did not appreciate the morning in the least. Tails sighed sleepily.
'Not yet,' he said, snuggling into Knuckles' chest. 'I want to lay here a little longer with you.'
Knuckles was puzzling over that statement before Tails sat up suddenly, paws flying to cover his muzzle.
'I, I mean, um...' the fox stammered, his cheeks going red. Tails sprang out of bed.
'I mean, ah, thanks for, um, letting me sleep here. I'll just, um, go.' Tails shook his head helplessly before exiting the room, leaving a confused and sleepy echidna behind.