Copyright: Sonic and the crew belong to Sega.

This story's mainly about Knuckles. It's rated T, just because of the brutality and blood in later chapters, and a bit of swearing, just to get the point across.

A Boy In Need

A young, 11-year-old red echidna named Knuckles ran down the hall, excitement brewing in his eyes, with the good news he had just heard. He ran past room after room, letting out a short "yahoo!" as he leapt a few feet into the air and landed in front of the door to his dorm. He opened the door and swung it open fast, and the moment he got inside, he shouted to his roommate.

"Sonic, I got adopted!" he cried happily. His roommate, and best friend, a 10-year-old blue hedgehog, looked up from his suitcase to his friend, a warm smile upon his face. Sonic had also just found out that he was going to be adopted. A nice family, with one 6-year-old son, was going to become his mom, dad, and brother.

"That's great!" Sonic cried, ecstatic for his friend as he ran up to him, careful not to use his super speed, since Knuckles didn't like when he used it, and hugged him tight.

"How'd it go? You were only in there for around 5 minutes," Sonic asked, letting go and sitting on his bed, motioning Knuckles to sit next to him. He did, and then he explained what happened in the adoption center.

"Well, only the father came to see me, but he said that he has a wife and two kids, a boy and a girl," Knuckles explained. "He asked me if…"

"So, tell me Knuckles, what is it you like to do?" the man asked. The man who later was to become his father was a tall man, probably about age 35. He was slightly chubby around the middle, and sort of reeked like beer, but Knuckles didn't want to mention it.

Knuckles fidgeted nervously in his seat, and thought back to what Sonic had said. "Tell them EVERYTHING. Don't leave out a single detail, and don't try to sugarcoat things. You don't want them to either adopt you, or skip over you, because of something you don't like or do." He knew how to answer.
"Well, I like to read… and, um… I like to box… you know, like boxing, and… uh… I like to do art, a little," he replied.

The man, named George, shifted in his seat and put a hand to his unshaven chin. "Well then, tell me, how would you, and others, describe yourself as?" he asked.

"W-well, I don't know… maybe a little quiet?" Knuckles replied. "I kind of keep to myself a lot… but that doesn't mean I won't bond with your daughter and son!" Knuckles worriedly added. But instead of George making a face at his last statement, he smiled.

"Do you take orders well, are you loyal?" George asked hopefully. Knuckles gave George a complex look. "It's my wife; she can just bark orders sometimes!" George clarified. He made his voice squeaky like a female's, and spoke again. "She'd be like 'clean up the dishes now!' or 'I want this house to look spotless, we have company over tonight!' kind of thing."

Knuckles was a bit surprised by his question, but he answered it. "Y-yeah, I guess I could take orders."

George shifted in his seat, and a smile came onto his face, that sort of gave Knuckles a chill, but he ignored it.

"I knew it, I knew I've made a good choice!" he said, and he took Knuckles' small hand in his big one. "You see, both me and my wife like things kind of quiet, and you fit the bill my boy," he said. Knuckles gasped excitedly.
"Y-you mean-!"

George nodded and spoke. "How would you like to come home and live with me and my family?" he asked him. Knuckles couldn't hold in his excitement.

"Yes yes YES!" he cried, jumping up and down.

"That's it?" Sonic asked Knuckles. Knuckles gave him a quizzical look.

"W-well yeah, that's it. Why?" he asked him.

"Well, when my family interviewed me, it took at least a half an hour. They asked me my hobbies, what my grades are like, my super speed, my likes and dislikes, if I have any allergies, my favorite things. Then I asked questions about them, like what their family is like, where they live, what school I'd be going to, if they like to travel… that was a lot more than what you two talked about," Sonic told Knuckles. The little echidna was growing slightly worried now. "If I were you, I'd reconsider this guy," Sonic continued. "He sounds like he doesn't really care that much about you. And asking you if you can take orders… a little suspicious there buddy," Sonic pointed out, "You sure this guy isn't a serial killer?" Knuckles stammered a response.

"B-but… I'm almost a teenager, and you know how hard it is for teenagers to be adopted," Knuckles replied. Sonic scooted closer and hugged his friend.

"It's ok, I'm not saying you shouldn't let this guy adopt you. I'm just saying that you should be careful, is all. When're you leaving?" Sonic asked.

"Tomorrow, same as you," Knuckles replied. Sonic hugged his friend again, smiling.

"Well, as long as your promise to stay safe," Sonic said to him. Knuckles smiled, and laid a hand on his shoulder, rubbing it to calm the hedgehog.

"I will be," he said quietly in reply.

See, that wasn't too bad! Just wait until later chapters! Knuxie isn't gonna be so happy later...

Knuckles: What?

Nothing! =^.^=