a/n: I still don't feel worthy yet. But I will one day. I think.


"Is he gone?"

"Yeah, he's gone. Do it, man."

It was a curious sight.

Two boys, covered in dirt and soot, thrown into one of the prison cells of the mad scientist Robotnik. He walked to another room relatively quickly, soon to return with what he deemed the proper restraints for the two miscreants.

The other animals watched quietly and despairingly as Sonic pushed his head against the bars, looking out for the round scientist. Tails was behind him, pulling things out of his backpack and lighting up a small torch in the darkness of the prison cell.

"He coming back yet?" Tails asked.

"Nah. Don't worry, just work. I'll keep an eye out."

"Alright. Make sure you're looking."

"Yeah, yeah."

Sounds echoed out from the small cell where the boys were thrown into. A small, dirty cot and a water fountain were the only things inside. The walls were grimy and the floor equally so. Still, they worked without a care in the world. A slight murmuring started among the prisoners, noting their prestigious new neighbours.

Sonic's eyes scanned the area lazily until he was distracted by a cute badger girl with a bow in her hair. Her eyes met his in short order, and he gave her his famous wink. She blushed.

He mouthed out 'we've got this handled' and gave her a thumbs up.

The first footfall missed his ears, but he heard the second and ended his flirting to see the fat man approaching from his right. He pulled his head from the bars.

"Tails, he's coming. He's real close-"

"I told you to pay attention!"

"What, I did!"

"I bet you were flirting."

"Shut up."

"Both of you should be quiet," Robotnik said as he approached. He opened the door to the cell, a sturdy robot blocking the entrance behind him with three more posted beyond that.

"Geez, Doc. There ain't much room as is in here, and now you've got us at 'standing room' only levels."

"I've got something to put an end to your smug...what's that you have there, boy?" he asked Tails.

"Oh, this?"

He held up the small device. It was an arm-sized cylinder.

"Yes, that. You didn't have that when you were in here earlier."

"Oh, you're right!" Tails said with an innocent, boyish smile. "I built it just now, while you were waddling back and forth. It's a laser cutter."

"A laser...you little-"

"Tails! Watch me pick up this spare!"

"What-?!"

Sonic curled into a ball and rammed into Robotnik's stomach. He flew backwards and slammed into the robot behind him, which knocked over the robot standing behind it, which knocked over the robot standing beside it, which also knocked over the last robot standing beside it.

Bipedal machines didn't work well on their sides.

The dirt-covered boys used their new toy to slice through the bars, freeing all of the other prisoners. Tails grabbed his backpack and directed the animals out through the only exit.

"Another job well done," Sonic said proudly.

"Yeah, but let's get moving before the egg gets too deviled."

"...you really need to work on those puns, kid."

Tails rolled his eyes and pushed Sonic ahead. The badger girl from earlier gave Sonic a peck on the cheek before joining her family.

"Don't you love it when a plan comes together, Tails?"

He was about to retort when the girl came back and smooched him quickly on the lips. She winked and ran ahead again.

"...yeah. I sure do," he said with a blush.

Ignoring Robotnik's crazed screams, the two accelerated through the tunnel and towards the surface.