Grunt.
"You can do it, buddy. Just a little further!" Says a blue hedgehog, looking encouragingly at a small orange-yellow fox who is currently working himself over on a treadmill, panting heavily. The pain in his gut is absolutely agonizing, and he can't go any further. He begins coughing slightly as he slows himself down, letting himself slide off of the treadmill. He stumbles slightly from the inertia of the sudden stop, but he recovers soon enough.
"S-Sonic… I know this is a necessary evil but could you at least slow the treadmill down a bit? I can't run as fast as I-" Tails stops when Sonic talks over him.
"Nah, pal. You'll be able to run again in no time. Just keep speed-walking and you'll get back in shape!" Sonic says, voice laced with fake enthusiasm. The little fox's older brother, Sonic, has been in denial about him being unable to run as fast or as long as he used to. He'd been shot just a month ago, and barely survived. Dr. Eggman had saved him, but in the process his organs, muscles and some skin would be severely damaged for some time yet. Even after becoming healthy again, he'd probably never make a full recovery and be scarred for life. He's thankful to be alive, but he just wishes Sonic would be less clingy and overbearing about his speed and abilities. It's almost scary to see Sonic so worried. Tails grunts as Sonic continues to talk about 'setting goals'. He's finally had enough, and snags Sonic's ear so he's down to eye level with the shorter fox.
"Sonic.. I know you don't like this. But you need to realize that I'm probably crippled for life, and that no amount of exhausting exercise is going to bring back my stamina… I'm sad about it too. After all, nobody wants to stay home all day and clean your dishes." Tails says, eyebrows furrowed in pity for himself and Sonic, still chuckling a bit at the end. Sonic avoids his gaze, his emerald orbs darting around before he leans back up.
"Okay, Tails. I get it, really. I won't keep bringing you here to the gym if you really can't take anymore of it. But dude, I'm still having a really hard time accepting you're not gonna be my main teammate anymore. Like, we were awesome out there." Sonic looks out of the pristine windows into the parking lot of the gym. It's sunny outside, at least 90 degrees or more and not a cloud is visible in the sky.
"…What hurts the most is knowing that if you're out there fighting and running just because I'm selfish enough to think you can take any more abuse and straining activity you could get seriously hurt again. Like, out there in a zone if you have a medical emergency, nobody will be around to see, and it'll be my fault." Sonic strains himself to not get emotional in front of Tails.
"Sonic. I may not be able to do a spin-dash anymore but I'm still the same fox. Running with you was fun, but it wasn't my entire life. I'm still me… And you're still you." Tails huffs a bit, looking at the hedgehog with pleading eyes.
"And don't you ever blame yourself for that again. Don't blame yourself period! You might feel like it's your fault, but back there in that cave lab it was either me or you, and you know that Mobius needs you, Sonic." Sonic looks down at Tails, a stern look in his eyes.
"Yeah, but I need you, Tails." Sonic says, walking towards the exit of the gym. Tails follows him as they walk out into the singeing heat of the day. Even the trees around the parking lot are wilting as the sun beats down on them.
Sonic ended up having to buy a car for Tails since he can't run any longer, and learned how to drive after paying a hefty fee for his license.
Tails and Sonic enter their small Prius, the fox hopping into the passenger's seat while the hedgehog hops to the wheel and starts up the car. Tails looks out the window in silence, before finally speaking a few minutes later.
"You realize I'm just trash, right Sonic?"
"That is NOT true, Tails." Sonic snaps at him. Tails flinches slightly, but regains his composure milliseconds later. The orange fox simply watches as they pull up to their apartment building. He soon gets out and walks slowly up to the balcony with Sonic giving him balance.
"Home sweet home..." Sonic grumbles as he unlocks the door and walks inside. The hedgehog flips on the switch and sets his keys on the coffee table inside. Tails shuts and locks the door behind them, walking to the couch to sit. He plops onto the cushion and leans back, pressing a hand to a large, pink scar over his tufted white belly fur. He winces slightly as the sensitive scar tissue tingles with the sensation of his hand. He pulls his hand away, looking at it as if it were a strange alien. Sonic walks to his room, pausing to look back at Tails for a second, before resuming his course to his sanctuary.
"Hm.." Tails slips off his glove, and looks over his hand. He feels disappointment as he looks, as if he'd expected something to be there. He simply slips his glove back on, and he lays down on the couch in preparation for a nap.
Soon, sleep takes him as he finds comfort in the rough cushions of the couch.
Tails feels intense heat rippling over his body, and his eyes flick open nearly instantly. He looks around at his surroundings, seeing only a destroyed building and large, intense yellow flames licking at the dark sky where smoke billows from several other areas around the clearing. He hears footsteps, and looks at a singed blue hedgehog before him. The small fox feels a sense of relaxation and safety overcome his alarmed and fearful one.
"Sonic! Geez, I got really scared. I just woke up he-" Tails says, soon interrupted by Sonic.
"You're such a disappointment. I should have known bringing you along on my adventures was a huge fucking mistake." He spits out, looking absolutely livid.
"You're a cripple. You're useless and disgusting, even more trashy than you were before. You thought that being with me would make you cool, but in the end you're just another ordinary fox that slows me down every step of the way." The hedgehog huffs at Tails' silence and shocked expression, and turns on his heels.
"Disgraceful fucking rodent." He says finally, disappearing behind a charred doorway that somehow still stands. Tails calls out, but he doesn't come back as both the flames and the fearful regret swallow Tails entirely.
"AAAAAAUUUGH!" The small fox's eyes flip open as he feels the searing heat lick at him and burn him, his skin charring and melting.
But it fades away as soon as he feels the softness of the cushions, the cool breeze of the fan, the feeling of a blanket over his body. His heart is beating a mile a minute as he stops his screaming. But a second later a door bursts open and a blue hedgehog speeds out, eyes wide with worry.
"Dude, what happened? Did somebody break in?!" The hedgehog asks, looking around wildly as he speaks with haste. Tails tries his best to calm his nerves as he sits up, staring at his brother with wide eyes in the dark.
"Yeah Sonic... I just had a nightmare, nothing to worry about, okay?" He says with a fake smile. In truth the dream had shaken him to his very core. He knows dreams often times have deep meanings and hit close to home with how the dreamer feels, about themselves or other people. Sonic sits next to the small fox on the couch, hand on his shoulder. Tails looks to him, being jostled out of his thoughts.
"Hey bud, want to talk about it? I have a feeling it'll help." He says gently to his brother. Tails chuckles sadly and leans back into the couch.
"I was in a fire. The entire city looked to be destroyed but I couldn't tell much beyond the flames. Suddenly you came out of a charred doorway. I tried to talk to you but... you said I was just trash," This makes Sonic's blood run cold. "and you told me I'm just a worthless cripple, that I just stay with you because you make me feel cool..." Tails whimpers a bit at the end, closing his eyes as he recalls the burning, licking flames and the feeling of dread when he watched Sonic turn on his heels and walk away from him. Suddenly, warm arms embrace him. He opens his eyes to see Sonic hugging him, his eyes shut tightly.
"Tails, you're worth more than you know. You mean so much to me and after you stopped breathing in that lab it broke me, because you're an amazing kid and we've been through so much together. The thought of somebody as precious and brilliant and kind as you just being erased like that. I didn't stand for it. I was desperate and I was afraid. And it hurt so, so much to see you hurting and so weak and helpless there. You're so strong, and it doesn't matter to me if you can't run anymore, because I know that you're the same fox. Remember what you said yesterday? That even without the same abilities you did before you'll always be you?" Sonic hugs Tails a little tighter, sighing briefly. "Buddy, listen. I know you've never thought highly of yourself and there's nothing we can do to fix it, but at least try to realize that people care about you. Amy, Knuckles, and even Big care a hell of a lot. We just want you to be happy and safe, and we'd do anything to keep it that way." Sonic opens his eyes, looking with care down at Tails, who is looking down at his hands, feeling awful.
"Amy was so worried when she heard you weren't going to be the same, body wise. So she made you a cake, remember? And you were so happy. If you ask me... Beyond all of that sadness is a happy kid who really loves livin'." The blue hedgehog grins sadly, rubbing Tails' back.
"And I'd do anything to make you smile again, bud." Tails sniffles a bit, leaning into Sonic as the waterworks flow.
"Just let it out... You'll feel better soon, promise." Sonic says, leaning back into the couch.
It's gonna be a long road, but I'll stick with you, buddy. I swear it to ya'.
Amy walks down the street with a pep in her step, carrying a few shopping bags. She's on route to Sonic's house to drop off a few boxes of sweets from the local bakery. It had just turned to 9:00 AM when she got up. Later than she expected at the time, but she could work with it. She first drops off a box at Cream's house, resuming her route to Sonic's house and arriving just ten minutes later with three boxes. She knocks lightly on the door, and awaits an answer. It's not until five minutes later and two sets of knocks that the door opens. She sees a tired looking hedgehog smiling at her, and she waves.
"Hello, Sonic. I brought you some sweets..." She says, gesturing to her shopping bags.
"Awesome.. Bring em' on in. But be quiet. Tails is sleeping on the couch." He says, voice slightly ragged. Amy appears alarmed.
"Oh. Why is he sleeping there? Doesn't he have his own room?" She whispers. Sonic shrugs and nods.
"He was super tired after getting back from the gym. Then he had a nightmare at midnight. I had to get him back to sleep. Poor guy's been having a rough month." He says, leading Amy into the kitchen. She nods sympathetically.
"I can imagine.. Going through something so traumatic." She sets the bags down on the counter, turning to Sonic.
"But he told me about the dream, Amy."
"What did he say?" She asks, suddenly interested.
"He told me that a version of me told him he was worthless. I had to convince him it wasn't true. But something tells me he still thinks those things about himself. I just don't know what to do for him..." Sonic looks down to the floor, sighing. Amy smiles sadly, patting his shoulder.
"Just give him time, Sonic. He'll heal and everything will be mostly normal again for not only you guys, but the city. Now, I've got to head back home but if you need anything, please just call me, okay?" Sonic nods to her, letting her walk out of the apartment and closing the door behind her. He puts his back to it and slides down, putting his head in his hands.
It really would be a long road ahead for the two.