Disclaimer - I do not own sonic or any other characters. They are property of SEGA and anything sonic the hedgehog affiliated with it.
The sun's rays shined over the Knothole this morning after a night of terror, the residents went back to their semi normal life. Gathering materials to make food and building supplies for their huts, they were getting worried now that the Legion had joined Eggman; they wouldn't be able to stay in the Knothole much longer because of his growing army. Eggman had known where they lived for a long time, but he hadn't been able to take them for only one reason; Sonic the Hedgehog.
With a glum face he wandered around the village lost in thought about the turn of events that led him to be untrustworthy in the citizen's eyes and in his friend's eyes…
He didn't go home last night, and he was still a bit tired and a little bit hungry. He just made his way back to the Knothole this morning; he was heading towards the eastern exit of the village, catching the stares of a group of women out the corner of his eyes. They whispered to one another pretending to ignore him and Sonic sighed with a frown coming across his face. He wouldn't have guessed the citizens were talking behind his back if it wasn't confirmed by his friends in the passing weeks he'd been back…
He placed his hands behind his head as he walked pass a few more huts nearing his destination. His feelings of depression the previous night had lessened a bit, and he did his best to shake off his negative feelings about life. Though, even as he made an effort to get back to being himself and moving forward he admitted he was not as optimistic as he used to be…
He knew he had changed this time…he couldn't go back to whom he'd used to be…
He walked pass the remaining few huts and pass one of the bridges nearing the tall grass fields. People still gave him funny looks; the antis had only been stopped a few weeks ago after he came back from space and the trust he built with everyone was gone again. Sonic understood with Scourge running around as him made people uneasy to see him; as Scourge could have done many horrible things while he was gone. But he was tired of struggling to build something only for it to get knocked down in front of him.
He didn't want to get back up…
Then Sally…
Sonic's frown deepened as he stepped into the tall grass and walked; lowering his hands from his head. Her almost marrying Patch was only another reason to doubt anything she said...
She said she wasn't thinking straight at the time because Scourge was running around as him and he ignored her; who she thought was him. And he sympathized with her about that, he totally understood with all that happened could make anyone act a little crazy. But he didn't know what to think about Sally anymore…
About her character or about…stuff...between them...
They were young...he was young…
He felt different about her now…and to be honest…he didn't want to be involved with anyone on that level anytime soon or really ever again…
It had drained him…sucked him dry…and all this time he'd been spending alone lately was actually making him feel better….
He was starting to really enjoy being with himself. And for Sally to be seduced into such a life-changing situation made him feel why should he bother anymore?
And she had asked him why…
And he told her…that was just how he was feeling at the moment…
Maybe he might change back to who he was before…he didn't know, and he didn't really care…
He had wandered slowly out of the village to where it was not in sight anymore in the open grassy area with tall grass, and he stopped walking. Suddenly just falling and plopping down into the tall grass. It cushioned his fall, and a warm breeze surrounded him on this warm sunny day; the warm air hitting his skin brought nostalgic memories of an easier time that did not exist anymore; the wind blowing through the nearby trees and the silence helped him clear his head.
He…he had cut it off with Sally…
And she was saying all these excuses he didn't want to hear. It hurt him to walk away from her pained face, but for the moment, he felt he needed to take a step back…
He sighed closing his eyes; he hadn't greeted any of the guys this morning. He'd just wandered out here. He was sure they'd be looking for him soon. Too many things were going on and the only way he was going to be able to deal with them was by tackling them one at a time. Sonic did not move from his spot though, deciding he would start sorting things out in a little while. He just didn't feel like talking to anyone right now…
Meanwhile at Bunnie's hut, she and Antoine where at wits ends with each other again. Antoine had come over early this morning to discuss ways to make things work for them. They had decided that there had to be some reason they were together other than just being around when the time was convenient like when they first hooked up. Which they knew was the case but were reluctant to admit it because it was a sad truth. Antoine paced back and forth in front of Bunnie sitting on the edge of her bed.
Although Bunnie had been upset with Antoine last night, she let the whole thing slide. They had been growing together, besides their disagreements on certain subjects; or so they claimed. Bunnie had been mostly quiet as Antoine paced her hut. He looked deep in thought and not that she didn't have anything to say, but she was lost in thought too.
Her mouth was twisted into a frown and her brows were narrowed in concentration. Her thoughts were currently of hesitation, why did Antoine and herself choose each other? She knew for sure many other women of the Knothole didn't give him the time of the day; even speaking to some of them before she got together with him. They had pretty much all said the same thing which was 'He is vain.'
Bunnie knew this as it was one of the things she disliked about him, but despite that she had let him into her life. Them being in the Freedom Fighters was part of it yes, they knew each other because they were on a team. But right now, she saw no attractive qualities in him. As when he wasn't being so proud, he still struggled to elicit any feelings from her in their present time together. Her feelings confused her as well, because their relationship was still young and even that was not the X factor to the core of their problems; when they kissed she felt nothing. As if for nothing else, for the sake of them not being alone, they tried to make it work because the passion wasn't there.
Antoine made one more trip to the other side of the room and finally stopped taking a seat next to her. Turning his head to look into her eyes, he kept a straight face. Bunnie gave him a sympathetic look as he spoke "You mean a lot to me Bunnie. You are zis special first to me and ones who are close must try to work things out."
"I'm so'ry about last night..." Bunnie blurted out with a hopeful face.
Antoine looked at the floor briefly in embarrassment "It is in the past...everything I have said I am putting in the past..." referring to her stint with Scourge, and he looked back up at her with a smile "So I have come up with an idea."
"What might thet be cherie?" Bunnie asked smiling amorously at his statement.
"I want you to move in with me. I want to be closer to you." Antoine said gently stroking her face.
Bunnie looked somewhat surprised at his request "But didn't yiah say we have to be...married? Yiah said it wasn't propa." Bunnie said blushing.
Even though her feelings weren't there yet she hoped they would come along. Marriage was a dream of hers; as it was supposed to represent that two people would be dedicated to each other. As far as she figured, if two people were dedicated to each other, it was basically an agreement to love one another forever; she hoped love would sprout from such an agreement.
Antoine's smile faded just a little "Yes but times are grim these days. I do not think its unconventional to make a few changes to tradition."
Bunnie felt her heart flutter at the prospect; hoping she was seeing Antoine open himself to change and hope their relationship would get better. She then wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him in response. He responded, and they stayed like that for a while. Bunnie broke the kiss and stared back into his eyes "I would love thet. When do yiah think I can move in?"
"We can do it tonight; I'll help you get your stuff." Antoine said holding onto her waist.
Bunnie leaned her head onto his shoulder "Does thet mean we're official knaa?"
Antoine's nervousness began to show again stumbling on his words "You don't need to tell everyone right away..." he chuckled weakly.
She remained quiet in his embrace; the morning sun bled into her hut warming them both. They could not tell what was on each other's minds the few minutes they sat in silence but they both had nagging feelings knowing they hadn't addressed their problems yet.
Then after some time Bunnie giggled and stood and a bright smile came over her face "I feel like telling someone! I'm gonna go chat up with Sally, close my door when yiah leave." she paused looking at him "See yiah later honey... " her face was ecstatic as she blew a kiss at him exiting the hut.
Antoine's nervous face still pervaded, but he finished her gesture by catching the imaginary kiss. He leaned back on his hands for moment smiling; watching her walk away until she was out of sight. They both had just made a decision; one they had been talking about for a long time. They were communicating and making a conscious effort to make it work…he was comfortable with Bunnie not ever had being this close with someone...
His smile then faded...
He was afraid; he didn't like the change that came with moving on from Bunnie. Having to adapt to life all over again, he wasn't really looking for Bunnie to change or for any change. Their feelings were mutual to an extent...
He knew his feelings, and his attraction to Bunnie weren't as strong as he led on. That they weren't really there at all; attached to past moments of happiness were in the present; Bunnie wasn't doing it for him anymore; she never really did. Antoine stood from his rambling thoughts and exited her hut closing the door behind him. He had a confused look on his face as he made his way to the Freedoms Fighters hut to...just do something that would lead him into more positive thoughts when he would see Bunnie later this evening...
Around noon, Antoine was well into a task that made him take stress off his mind. In the Freedom Fighters hut he sat at a workbench sharpening the blade of his sword with a grindstone. He barely paid any notice to the racket Rotor was making; hammering wielded metal. Antoine's mind unfortunately wandered back to his independence issue. It was no secret that many people found him to be annoying; he didn't for the life of him know why. Just because he felt proud about himself, people thought he was being a jerk. Antoine blew the excess dirt off his sword inspecting it.
He did hold himself higher than others because he was of a Nobel family. His father had told him to be strong before he was taken away. Antoine placed his sword back on the table and began sharpening it again with his brows narrowed in concentration. He didn't remember much of his mother; he had fond memories of her though. As far as his family was concerned, he was to carry their lineage on, the last of his kind in a way.
By standing tall and being proud of oneself; he was told he would conquer anything that stood in his path. Antoine did not let that belief be threatened by anything; he vowed to never change it. He was so comfortable with Bunnie that he'd rather stick with luke warm feelings than to unknown ones out there in the cold world. The world would bite he knew. At least he had a little comfort in knowing that they were trying, hoping more powerful feelings would be elicited the longer they were together.
Antoine dusted his sword off again looking over it and looking more satisfied with it this time. He picked up a rag and a brown bottle of shine wax and wiped his sword down. He didn't have too much trouble making friends with people; he had even saved a few citizens who looked up to him just as much as other Freedom Fighters.
He spent more time with Bunnie than anyone. Speaking of which he realized that he didn't know much about the other person in the room, he had never spoke one on one with Rotor or any of the other Freedom Fighters; well he tried to talk with Sally but she never wanted to. He had talked less to his friends since he had been involved too. Looking over his shoulder he got the feeling Rotor didn't want to be disturbed while he was working so he sheathed his restored sword.
He watched Rotor consumed into his work as he was exiting the hut, but he stopped. He looked intently at Rotor guessing Rotor would see him looking. Rotor for the most part had saw Antoine but ignored him guessing he wanted attention or something. A frown came upon Antoine's face seeing that this type of attitude towards him persisted after all this time. Even after being with Bunnie...he did want if anything, he wanted that to change so he spoke up "Rotor?"
Rotor continued working while answering him sounding slightly annoyed "Yes Antoine?"
Antoine was off put by his response but continued; he straightened his collar "Would you mind if I ask you a question?"
Rotor sighed stopping what he was doing "About what?"
"A general question about life." Antoine said with a curious face.
Rotor raised an eyebrow, in what looked like suspicion but changed to surprise "Whats on your mind?"
Antoine looked for the right words "Do you think I've changed at all? Changed for the better?"
"Any particular reasons you wanna know?" Rotor asked with his confused face.
Antoine's voice lowered, and he looked at the floor briefly "I suppose it's just...I thought things would be different and others would not be so rude to me…."
"Why do you think that?" Rotor asked placing his hammer on the floor.
"Time has passed that's why. Things are supposed to fade in time." Antoine said looking up at him; strengthening his voice again.
"Well what have you done to change?" Rotor asked; his voice full of confusion.
Antoine looked confused too now "Nothing; I do not need to change anything. The reasons for the shortcomings I have caused in my life are in the past. Things will start to change wont they?"
"Are you really implying that everything you hope for will just fall out of the sky." Rotor said with a dry face.
"I am fine just the way I am; my negatives will fade...right?" Antoine asked him again.
"I don't think you understand Antoine." Rotor said picking up his hammer again and continuing his work.
"But you didn't answer my question." Antoine spoke looking upset.
Rotor continued banging away on the piece of steel that had been heated up "What? Do I think you've changed? No."
Antoine's face became sour turning away from Rotor and storming out of the Freedom Fighters hut. He briefly glanced back at Rotor to see if he had even cared. Rotor paid him no attention; he looked as if Antoine wasn't even in the vicinity. Antoine stormed out of the Knothole not even giving passersby acknowledgment as he moved pass them and into the surrounding forest and slammed his back against the nearest tree.
He was having a fine temper at the moment but to gain control his thoughts drifted back to Bunnie. He mustered a weak smile, when things got better between them things would change he knew for sure. Ignoring everything negative they both said to one another, pledging to leave the bad things in the past. They would grow; he would grow as a person. He ignored the bad things even though they were always staring him right in the face. Ignoring the bad things hopefully wouldn't just smack him right in the face; he wouldn't let himself believe otherwise.
It was still around noon when Bunnie had found Sally in the main square of the Knothole. Bunnie had spent some time looking for Sally as she had been elusive. Bunnie watched as Sally was directing some citizens when she made her way over and made herself known.
"Sally!" Bunnie said approaching her; a big smile on her face.
Sally turned to the sound of her name being called and she smilied "Hey Bunnie."
Bunnie grabbed Sally's hands smiling brightly "I got som exciting news! Do yiah got time to talk?"
Sally nodded "Sure, its slow today. Let's go sit in the square."
So Sally and Bunnie walked from the side of the Knothole where they were at and to the middle area of the village; only a few people were present today chatting around the area. Bunnie noticed that they sat not far from when she had her awkward conversation with Sonic the other day. Sally questioned her smiling because Bunnie was so bubbly at the moment "So what's the exciting news?"
"I'm moving in with Antoine!" Bunnie blurted out.
Sally blinked in surprise as joy came over her face "Congratulations! Does that mean you guys are official?"
Bunnie chuckled batting a hand at her with her smile "He's a lil shy to say so, but yes."
"So you're going to get hitched soon too huh?" Sally joked playfully patting her on the shoulder.
Bunnie blushed again "I would sure love thet...we're gonna see how livin goes first..."
"I'm sure you love birds will be together in no time." Sally said happily.
"We anit without our faults Sally girl." Bunnie said looking flattered.
"Who isn't, you'll work it out." Sally said encouragingly.
Bunnie smiled at the gesture of goodness then her face became neutral "Hows Sonic?"
Sally's smile faded as well "He's getting better..." her eyebrows became neutral and her mouth pinched together in a slight frown "He's been talking to me again but he's not out of this slump yet."
Sally then looked nowhere in particular after her statement. Bunnie frowned, after what Sonic had found out about her and Patch and Sally smacking Sonic in front of the whole village after he came back from space, he just wasn't himself anymore. Bunnie couldn't blame her for the way she acted either; she really had deep feelings for Sonic "I saw he and Tails are back at it." Bunnie spoke trying to break the silence.
"I guess...he still won't talk to me about the things that happened..." Sally sighed still looking away from Bunnie with a frown "I can't even get him to budge..."
"Well it sounds like yeur making some progress. He was sounding mauch more...down yesterday. He must be rising out of it." Bunnie said looking hopeful again.
"It is to be expected I guess." Sally shrugged closing her eyes; she reopened her eyes and looked back at Bunnie looking a bit more hopeful, and she smiled weakly "I'm going to prod him until he sees how much I lo..like him." Sally said blushing and throwing her hands over her mouth and her eyes widened in embarrassment.
Bunnie donned a gleeful face "I heard thet."
Sally tried to remain cool waving a hand dismissively at her "I was thinking about something when I spoke..."
Bunnie teased Sally for a few minutes when Sonic and Tails ran into the square. Sonic had a weak smile on his face as Tails told him he was going back to his hut to rest. Sonic watched him go not noticing Sally and Bunnie sitting in the square. He started to walk off in the opposite direction when Sally called his name "Sonic!"
Sonic heard his name being called and spotted who; Bunnie and Sally smiling at him. Sally waved at him to come over but Sally and Bunnie watched as what little smile on his face disappeared "Hey..." Sonic said waving at them as he walked away.
Bunnie and Sally were a little caught off guard by him just shutting down when he saw them, but it was obvious by his reaction he still needed time. Sally and Bunnie looked at each other worriedly; he used to be so forgiving.
Sonic had made it to his mother's hut some time later and the sun was starting to set. A lot of people had headed inside, and it was quiet in the Knothole. Bernadette let him in with a stern face, and he walked in and sat on the makeshift couch, she closed the door and stood above him with an upset face.
"You can't just run off like that." Bernadette said forcefully.
"..." Sonic remained quiet with a neutral expression.
"I know that things don't look like they'll ever end, but they will." Bernadette said placing her hands on her hips.
"...Mom, we've got a mission...involving dad..." Sonic said staring at the floor.
Bernadette's anger faded instantly and her voice trembled "You found him?"
Sonic nodded quietly "I'll see if I can get to him this time..."
Bernadette's face remained shocked "You and your little friends are back together?"
"Were doing ok..." Sonic said still looking at the floor.
"...Go get some sleep honey...I'll make you breakfast in the morning." Bernadette said with a worried face.
Sonic stood quietly not looking at her and made his way to his room; Bernadette kept her eyes on him as he dragged his feet on the floor to his room "You'll fix all of it..." Bernadette said encouragingly.
Sonic stopped hearing her, he kept his back turned then he continued on to his room. Bernadette held her hands on her chest with a frown on her face. This divide between his friends was much deeper than any time before...
It was around midnight when Antoine had carried the last box of Bunnies things into his hut. Bunnie had been rearranging her things to fit in with Antoine's. Antoine sat the last box down and closed the door to his hut. He triumphantly put his fist at his waist nodding; walking over to his bed and falling face first onto it. He rolled over onto his back and watched Bunnie move her belongings around the hut and Antoine spoke in a happy tone "You should take a break. It's getting late."
Bunnie currently held a few wrenches in her hands looking for a place to put them. She had a look of slight frustration "I need these tools sittin out if I need uhm. I'll lay down once I find a spot."
Antoine yawned, when Bunnie, seeking more ways to make things better between them, decided to ask Antoine to help. She looked to him curiously "What do yiah think?"
Antoine leaned his head in his hand with a smirk "Where do you usually put them?"
Bunnie walked to the foot of the bed "Here." she said placing the various wrenches on the floor as her look of frustration faded.
"Good now come lie down. I know you are tired." Antoine said patting the bed.
Bunnie yawned lying down next to Antoine "I am a bit tired, but I could talk."
Antoine leaned over to his night stand and blew out the candle. The only visible light was the white shimmering light of the moon hitting the ground just outside their window "About what?" Antoine asked her.
"Well about us of course silly." Bunnie said in the darkness in a silly tone.
Antoine had rolled in Bunnies direction and yelped "That's cold!"
"Thets my bad arm." Bunnie said shifting.
Antoine found her organic hand and held it "Well, I never got to ask you about yourself before the Antis got me. What were you doing before you became a Freedom Fighter?"
Bunnie and Antoine were never super serious about their little flings before he was taken. They didn't spend much time with each other either; it was more on and off before they decided to get serious recently. But even though they decided to get serious, past problems had arisen. Before Bunnie found his arrogance to be tolerable, now it was unbearable…
Antoine and her were just floating around with each other for a time. So other than just flirting with each other because they were the only ones around, they never really got to know each other "I was jus livin...my parents passed during tha Great War when I was a lil thang. I lived with my uncle for a while but...somthangs happened, and I ran away..." she sighed "I was starting a farm before I was robotticized. Sonic and Rotor were the first I met after they saved me...I didn't have any friends really...what did yiah do?" she shifted on her side in his direction sounding curious.
Antoine was glad it was dark, and she couldn't see his face because he now had a frown. Jealousy poured from him, but his voice remained calm "My family was high ranking, practically royalty, as we were part of the Royal military. You know my father was the top general. I was training to be part of the military and my father personally taught me how to sword fight because I had planned to enter the Royal military after my training was complete. In my free time I used to play with Sally, Rotor, and Sonic. Sonic would pick with me sometimes but Sally would usually defend me from him." Antoine fell silent not knowing what else to say. He didn't really do much before he met Bunnie, he had lived in an upper class lifestyle.
"Well...goodnight my dear..." Antoine said closing his eyes.
Bunnie closed hers as well in the darkness; they could not see each other's expressions "Goodnight..." she paused for a good moment "I love yiah..."
Antoine's eyes shot open at her words; he wasn't sure if they should be saying that so soon, but guessed it was part of that change he was desperately looking for "I...love you...too..."
They both drifted off to sleep in no time. Shaking off the clumsiness of their conversation, they hoped they got better at it once time went on. They both also hoped that as time went on that their attraction would blossom because right now it was hard to say if there was any as they claimed there was.
Alright, Sonic is pushing himself to move forward and feel better while Antoine and Bunnie bath in delusions. This story is starting to feel a lot more comfortable in its progression.