Tails: The Vixen

Chapter 2

A carmine echidna sat at about five stories high, peering down on streets of traveling lights and ants, what you would call people from up there. He had always seemed pleased when up there, alone, no one to disturb his peaceful moments, or at least he tried to make it seem that way. But the sound of honking horns and cars rushing by pierced through his thoughts to the point where he could not think correctly. He stood up from his cross-legged position, crossed his arms and began to think, think of a way to get back. His friends, mainly Sonic, had convinced him to stay with them at Sonic's house (No, he is not on top of Sonic's house.) rather than at the island. Knuckles had agreed and brought everything with him, including the Master Emerald. He was aflutter at the thought of being able to hang out with his friends, to have fun, to take part in many things that he once longed for. But now he thought differently, much differently. This way of life was not natural, not beautiful. His way of life before was heaven to him. I guess you could blame Sonic for pushing Knuckles the most.

"This way of life, no beauty, no peace, nothing that I seem to savor. It's about time that a toss away this life and return to true purpose in life; living a life around nature, and guarding the Master Emerald...the way I was supposed to." He transferred his view from the streets to the dark winter sky. He stared into its fulfilling darkness with his keen chromatic eyes and then soon gliding into it.

Sonic was placed on the right-hand side of the couch, elbow against the armrest as he watched race cars on television. He had a very bored expression on his face despite the time he spent with Amy. He had nothing to do but feed his eyes ionization from the television. He had decided to make something that would be eatable, standing up from the couch and walking into the kitchen. He didn't notice how Tails was practically stalking him from the doorway of his lab; watching every move, every step he took towards the inside of the kitchen. Sonic surveyed the kitchen, observing the complete and utter disgrace of a kitchen due to the attempt of making a pizza himself last night, thanks to Sonic. Scratching the back of his head in disagreement to making some nutrients, he decided to order some pizza instead, reaching and grabbing the phone on the table next to couch.

"Hey, Tails!" Tails immediately stepped out of his lab at the sound of Sonic's voice, as if it was a signal for Tails to come on stage.

"Yeah Sonic!?" He said in a cheerful voice. That took Sonic by surprise and made the moment quite awkward in some way.

"Uh, how does pizza sound for dinner?" He said as he broke out of the awkwardness. Tails chuckled and turned around to face his lab entrance.

"Whatever keep you out of that kitchen is fine by me!" Sonic couldn't help but find the humor in that and laughed himself.

"Alright, pizza! Uh, pepperoni, right Tails?" Tails stopped himself from walking into his lab again to answer.

"You bet!"

"Alright." Sonic started to dial the number to the nearest pizza restaurant and put the phone to his ear. Tails could hear the ringing as he stepped back into his lab, turning his head to get a glimpse of Sonic one more time before turning it back around. He slowly walked down the steps into his lab and could hear Sonic order the pizza over the phone. He jogged over to his work area and began to get back to his work.

After Sonic had made the order, he hung up the phone and slouched back over to the couch and started to surf through channels. Tails was continuing his work in his lab, doing the same thing he did after Sonic had entered before. He wasn't just thinking of how to do his work correctly, he was thinking of a way to tell Sonic.

"Man, I don't know how I'm gonna so this without Sonic freaking out. I just hope he'll understand. If there's anybody in this world who would understand, it's Sonic, I know it. Damn, I don't know what I'm going to do!" Tails could barely concentrate on his work; it was bothering him that much. After about ten minutes of trying to work he stopped what he was doing and stepped out of his lab once again. When he came up, he witnessed the azure hedgehog sitting on the couch once again, still surfing through channels. Tails slowly walked up behind him.

"Uh, hey Sonic?" He turned around to see the kitsune behind him, his hands behind his back as he looked nervous while walking closer.

"Yeah, bro?" Tails thought of that word. Bro. Brother. Male sibling. It was as if it was just a bunch of lies to make him feel better, but all it did was destroy and tear him up inside. Tails had many second thoughts on what he was about to do. He took a soft, deep breath in through his nose and started to talk again.

"S…Sonic…," Tails tried to sound as if he wasn't nervous, but it wasn't working, at all, "I…I was just wonder…ing i….if…"

"Tails, are you alright?" Sonic interrupted. He could hear and sense the nervousness in his voice as if something was on his mind.

"Uh, yeah…well…"

"Here, Tails," Sonic removed the pillow next to him, which he was using as an armrest, setting it aside and then patting the clear area of the couch next to him loud enough to signal Tails to sit next to him, "Come here, is there something on your mind?" A bit flattered, Tails obeyed and sat next to Sonic. He knew this is where he would have to tell him. Here, alone in his house.

"S…Sonic, there's something….I need to tell you…" Sonic got a little curious and turned the television's volume down to hear Tails more clearly.

"Yeah Tails? What is it?" Tails only got more nervous.

"S…Sonic, I…I…I'm…" Just then, Tails nervousness was pierced by a loud ring. It was the doorbell. The pizza Sonic had ordered was here. Sonic jumped of the couch.

"Oh, that must be the pizza! Shit, they really are fast!" Sonic took out his wallet from his pocket and walked towards the door. Upon grabbing the pizza and handing the man the money, he shut the door behind him and ran to the kitchen table, placing the pizza on it. Poor Tails, unable to say a word from the sudden distraction. He just sat there, wide-eyed, as he was just about to open up to Sonic completely. It was as if all the effort of walking to the hedgehog and dealing with all the nervousness was for nothing. Finally, Sonic broke the silence.

"Hey Tails! Why don't you get some pizza before it's gone?" Tails broke out of his trance and sat up from the couch.

"No, I….I'm fine. I lost my appetite." He said in a very soft and miserable voice. He kept his head down slightly and started to walk back to the basement. Sonic knew that there was something definitely wrong with him. Sonic disconnected his mouth from the slice of pizza, stretching out the gooey cheese so the he would be able to chew and swallow his mouthful. He grabbed Tails' arm and stopped him in his tracks.

"C'mon Tails. I know you're hungry. Have a slice." He started to pull Tails closer to the table when Tails brushed his hand off his arm and just walked to the table himself. Upon sitting down on a chair in front of Sonic, he took out a piece of the pepperoni pizza, folded it, and started to take several bites from it.

"See, I told you, you were hungry." Tails couldn't help but smile at Sonic's true statement. He was going to resist his hunger and ignore any rumbling that went on in is stomach and then eventually reheat some pizza afterwards if Sonic had not grabbed his arm. Sonic was all too curious about how Tails was feeling and why he was feeling this way.

"So, what's been bothering you lately, Tails? You haven't been acting like yourself lately. I mean, yesterday you could barely talk to me and now today…Tails. What's wrong? You can tell me." That's just what Tails wanted, comfort. To know that his hero, Sonic, would understand everything he said to him. He knew that he had to tell him now, they were alone and Tails was perfectly comfortable.

"Well, there's something I…I need to tell you. Something very important…" Curiosity was building up.

"Yeah?"

"Sonic…I…I'm…a….a…" Suddenly, all noise was pierced once again as the door slammed open with a scarlet echidna in the doorway. Sonic and Tails' ears and heads shot up and observed as Knuckles shut the door behind him, walked past them, getting a glimpse of Sonic.

"Guys, I'm leaving!" Sonic stood up, setting his pizza down and walking away from the table.

"Where ya going, Knux?" The echidna turned his head but continued walking upstairs to his room.

"Back to Angel Island, I can't stay here any longer. It's just not right."

"What do you mean?" Knuckles would have to stop walking and talk to Sonic to make him realize that this isn't the way Knuckles was supposed to live.

"Sonic, look, you know I lived on Angel Island for quite a while and I had gotten so used to it. Now, this new, artificial way of life just isn't fitting me. I'm going to go back tomorrow and pack now." This was a little sudden for Sonic but he knew that is was going to happen sooner or later.

"Right…I'm sorry I pushed you into this. You do that." Sonic said softly. Knuckles felt partially bad for Sonic after the way he sounded but he knew that he would explain this more to him later.

When Sonic turned to back to the table, he the poor kitsune with his head slamming on the table. Sonic shook his head and sat back down at the table. Tails slowly picked his head up, looking at Sonic as if he just woke up before getting up and walking away.

"Hey Tails!" He stopped.

"You didn't finish. What did you want to say?" Tails lowered his head but didn't turn to face Sonic this time. Tails let out a short sigh and then started up again.

"Sonic, do you think…we could go out…" Sonic's eyes grew wide.

"What!?"

"For a walk! Go out…for a walk, together. Y'know, just to talk and get out for a while."

"Oh! Oh, well, I guess so, sure. I just need to tell Amy I'll be somewhere so that she won't bug me. Well, as much." That made Tails smile.

"Great. How about tomorrow morning. Maybe around ten o' clock."

"Sure. Do you want anymore pizza?"

"No, I'm fine."

"You didn't eat much though. You sure?"

"…Yeah. I'm going to go to bed. I'm getting tired."

"Alright. Well, good night…"

"Yeah. Thanks." Tails traveled up the stairs and to his room. He heard Knuckles starting to pack his bags to go and said good night to him too. Tails turned on a small lamp on the side of his bed and closed the door behind him; the only source of light coming from the lamp. Tails let out a deep and long sigh before slamming his hand against the door with tears trickling down from his muzzle.

"Damn it…DAMN IT! Why…WHY?! Why can't I just say it!? Why can't I just have the moment where I can just confess it! This is just too much! Tomorrow…tomorrow is when it'll come out. It has to…"

Tails removed his hand from the door and started to walk towards the bed. Upon sitting on it, he removed his shirt and pants, stripping to his boxers. Letting out a long sigh, feeling around his crotch area. It wasn't there. He lay down on his bed, covering himself to keep from the cold air. He closed his eyes before crying himself to sleep…