New Mobotropolis: nighttime

Scrounging around in a dumpster behind Uncle Chuck's diner is a small, orange doll in the shape of a well known two tailed fox.

"Man people can't be bothered to throw out anything that's edible these days!" Tails Doll whined as he shifted through moldy chili dogs and untouched taco bell.

He immediately stiffened when he heard a light "ahem" just outside of his dumpster. He mentally groaned as he turned around and found himself face to face with the administrator of the city herself, Nicole.

"What happened now and what makes you suspect it was me?" He asked as he continued to paw through garbage and taco bell. Nicole seemed quite shocked at Tails Doll's lack of hostility and violence, usually he'd try to bite her ears off or something. At the very least he would call her a bitch or whore but now, not a single insult was thrown at her

"I got some bad news Tails Doll, due to various incidents of arson and feral assault, the council has made a unanimous decision to put you under house-"

"Wait a second I have a question!"

Nicole was even more shocked, she never took Tails Doll for someone who asked questions about, well, anything to be honest.

"Umm… sure, ask away." She said, not bothering to hide the confused tone in her voice.

"What's arson?"

"..."

"Was it something I said?" He asked, eyes full of something Nicole thought might be childish innocence, but she wasn't too sure.

"Is he serious?" the lynx thought as she continued to revise her previous files about Tails Doll.

"Well?" the fox doll asked, impatience and annoyance clear in his voice. This brought her back to reality.

"Oh right, arson is when someone burns something down like a building or landmark ."

"Hmm…" Tails doll looked up at the night sky "To be honest, I thought it had something to do with my butt," At that Nicole snorted a bit.

"Hey don't laugh at me" He then threw a particularly nasty handful of what might have been food at Nicole. It was an inch off target but it brought Nicole's attention back to the matter at hand.

"Well, as I was saying the council has voted to put you under house arrest." Tails Doll just stared at her, his expression completely unreadable.

"Tails doll?" She was starting to get worried.

"Hey,are you okay?" Tails Doll looked down at her, then he started to giggle. Nicole cautiously moved towards him, calculating the odds of him spontaneously attacking her if even slightly provoked. She wasn't too thrilled at the 97% that popped up in her CPU.

"Do you mind telling me what's so funny?" He giggled some more before catching his breath.

"I-I-I don't have a hahahaha house idiot." He started to laugh, it was high-pitched and humorless, as if Tails Doll was laughing so as to keep himself from breaking down. Nicole was immediately concerned that her assumption might be true.

"Tails Doll, are you upset about something?" He stopped laughing. His eyes, normally filled with hatred and malice, were now filling with tears.

"Y-y-y-you are first person to have ever asked m-me that." He stuttered, voice cracking with sorrow. Nicole was starting to think he wasn't as bad as people make him out to be.

"Do you h-h-have any idea what it's like to be a monster, to make children cry at the mere sight of you?!" He asked, voice and mind now teetering on the edge of hysteria. Nicole thought back to when the Iron Queen turned her against the very people she cared for the most.

"I actually do know what it's like to be feared by everyone," He stared at her in disbelief. "Wait a minute, you, Little Miss Perfect, was feared by everyone?" She nodded.

"But I managed to get through that dark period of my life, and i'm sure you can do the same." Tails Doll was confused, wasn't she supposed to be his enemy. "And I try my best to help you, every step of the way." She held out her hand. Tails Doll looked at it for second then, hesitantly, he took hold of her hand and was gently pulled out of the dumpster.

"So whats the first step, O' Wise One?' He asked, tears all but forgotten. Nicole giggled a little before replying.

"Well, Young Pupil, Obviously, its finding you a place to stay"

"…..But I'm 26 years old"