Author's note: This is a very important chapter. Pay attention!
Chapter Three: Framed
Mystic Ruins
Monday
0920hrs
The trio made it to Tails' house with little conversation. The few words that were said were a few interrogation questions about the e-mail Tails had received earlier that day.
"So, you guys want me to cook, or do you want to order out?" Tails asked when they reached his workshop. Sonic and Knuckles exchanged looks and nodded.
"Let's order pizza," Sonic said. Tails' face darkened slightly, but he shrugged it off.
"'Kay! Pizza it is!" He said with a smiled. Knuckles turned and laughed slightly.
"You two worry me sometimes," he chuckled. Sonic rolled his eyes.
"Dido."
"Psh, Sonic," a voice whispered.
Sonic lifted his head. "You guys hear that?" He asked. Tails, who was unlocking his door, shook his head. Knuckles did the same. "Weird, I thought I heard some one call my name." He shrugged. "Might as well go check it out, I guess. Can't hurt."
Tails nodded. "Whacha want on your pizza?"
"The usual," Sonic answered and walked towards where he thought he heard the voice.
Tails opened the door and walked in. Knuckles came right behind him. "You really need to clean this place," he remarked. Tails shrugged. "Oh well. A kid can't really enjoy his life until he can trash something he doesn't have to clean up."
Tails smiled. "Yes! Someone agrees with me!" He picked up the phone and dialed. "Hello? I'd like two median pizzas please. . . Yeah, the usual. . . Thanks." He hung up. "They said it would be about forty minutes."
"I didn't know they delivered to the Ruins," Knuckles said, attempting to clear a place to sit.
"They usually don't, but I got a deal with the delivery boy. If he delivers here, I pay him extra. He's really nice about it."
"How much do you pay him?"
"About twenty buck more than the actual pizza costs, plus tip."
Knuckles whistled. "Where do you get so much money?"
"Research, I guess. And, since I don't have to pay an electricity bill, I don't really have anyway to spend my money but on food." Knuckles smiled and shook his head. The door opened.
"Hey Sonic," Knuckles called. The hedgehog waved. "So, was there anyone out there?"
"Nope," he answered.
"Okay," Tails said, cutting into the conversation. "So, I got the usual, It should be here in a little over half an hour. Want anything while we wait?"
That got Tails a glare. "Will it be made by you?" Tails nodded. "Then no thanks. Your cooking is lethal."
Tails calmly waited for his friend to start laughed to let him know the comment was just a joke, but the laugh didn't come. "Okay," he muttered, sulking into the kitchen.
Knuckles looked at the blue hedgehog. "Lay off him, will ya?" He said. "Tails knows he can't cook, but you don't have to keep reminding him about it."
"Well, at least I don't think the only thing he's good at is tinkering with machines."
"Excuse me! I didn't mean it like that," Knuckles growled. "And what's gotten into you? Bad mood? You seemed to be in a good mood before we got here."
"Yeah, well, things change, you idiot!"
Knuckles snarled and shook his head. "Don't kill me. I just wanted to know if you were okay."
This got him a glare from the angry hedgehog. "I'm fine! And if I wasn't, you'd be the last guy I'd call for help."
"What's that suppose to mean?" Knuckles growled.
"Exactly that, you're an incompetent idiot who can't do anything right!"
Knuckles stared at him. "I'm sorry I offended you, Sonic."
"You should be."
Knuckles rolled his eyes. "So, are you just hearing things now?" He asked, attempting to change the subject.
"At least I don't hear voices like you do," he retorted.
"What's got you tied in a knot?"
"Right now, you," Sonic answered.
Knuckles glared at him. "And right now, you are my problem!"
"Looks like we share something in common," the hedgehog retorted.
"What? We both can't stand you," Knuckles growled.
"Why I oughtah…"
"Go ahead!" Knuckles returned.
"Okay! Break it up you two!" Tails said, returning with a few drinks. "What's gotten into you?"
"Nothing," Sonic muttered.
"Same here," Knuckles said.
"Great," Tails said. "So, who wants a soda?"
Sonic glared at him. "Was it touched by you?"
Tails nodded hesitantly. "Yes," he muttered with confusion.
"Then I'll pass."
Knuckles looked at him. "I think it's time for you to leave," he growled.
"You can't kick me out! This isn't your house!"
Tails sighed. "You might as well, Sonic. You don't seem well."
Sonic glared at him. He took a menacing step forward. Tails took a step back. "Why don't you make me, fox-boy?" Tails stared at him, but didn't say anything. He nodded towards the door, motioning that the hedgehog should leave. Sonic picked up a book off the floor and hurled it at the Fox.
Tails yipped and jumped out of the way, spilling the drinks he had. "What was that for?" He yelled.
"The same thing this is for!" Another book was sent flying towards the fox. This time it caught Tails in the head. He yelped and grabbed the spot and stared at Sonic. "What?" The hedgehog asked in a conversational manner.
Knuckles came behind Sonic and whacked him one good in the back of the head. Sonic spun with a round kick and caught Knuckles off guard. The echidna took the full blow and landed on the ground.
"I think it's time for me to leave," Sonic growled and walked out.
"Well, good ri'ance to ya!" Tails yelled, still rubbing his head. He walked over to Knuckles and helped him up. "What's gotten into him?" He asked.
Knuckles shrugged. "No Earthly idea. He's never gone completely ballistic on us like that."
Tails noticed a break in the skin where Knuckles had been hit. "Here, let me get a washcloth." The twin-tails fox disappeared into the kitchen.
There was a series of knocks at the door. "Tails!" Knuckles yelled.
"Let'em in!" Tails called.
Knuckles grunted and walked to the door. He opened it and in the doorway stood a very confused looking blue hedgehog. "You again?" Knuckles growled angrily. "We told you to leave, or did you come back for more?"
Sonic cocked his head. "What are you talking about?" He asked. His hand was messaging the back of his head.
"You know very well what I'm talking about! First, you come in here and insult me and Tails with no reason, and then you assault us after we asked you nicely to leave, and now you're back for more? You really are dumb, aren't you?"
"What in the world are you talking about?" Sonic asked, finally taking his hand off his head. Knuckles noted that there was blood on the hedgehog's glove. "I just spent the last ten minutes unconscious! You see the cut on my head? I didn't do that to myself, you know!"
"Yeah, because I did!" Knuckles retorted.
"Can I come in?"
"No!"
"Please?"
"Tails, can Sonic come in?"
"No!" Tails called from the kitchen.
"Told ya," Knuckles growled.
Sonic gently pushed his way past Knuckles and into the house. Without a second glance, he walked into the kitchen where the fox was. Tails was calmly cleaning some dishes. Sonic sighed and walked a few more steps into the kitchen. "Look, Knuckles told me something happened, but I promise you, I didn't do it, and if the knock on my head knocked my memory, then I have to say I'm sorry, which is what I'm doing, okay?"
"Not forgiven," Tails growled.
Sonic sighed. "Come on! We've been best friends for who knows how long and you are ending it over a silly argument?" Tails didn't respond, or react to the comment. "Fine," Sonic mumbled and walked to Knuckles. "I'm sorry," he muttered.
Knuckles stared at him. "You just might want to leave," he growled.
"Come on, guys! I didn't do anything!"
Tails walked into the living room. "Once again, I suggest you leave, Sonic," he snarled.
"Why?"
"Because he said so," Knuckles interrupted.
"I can handle this Knuckles," Tails growled.
"What is this, gang up on Knuckles Day' or something?" Knuckles growled.
"Guys?"
"Oh, so this is suddenly all about you?" Tails growled.
"Guys?"
"Am I not allowed to help you?" Knuckles asked.
"Guys!"
"No!" Tails said.
"GUYS!" Sonic yelled.
"What?" Tails and Knuckles yelled simultaneously.
"Can we stop fighting for five seconds?"
"Shut up! This is your entire fault anyway!" Knuckles growled.
"Get out! Both of you!" Tails yelled. Knuckles muttered something that was inaudible and turned towards the door.
"Fine, but you won't be seeing me around here anymore!"
"Good!" Tails yelled. The door slammed, shaking the house.
"Tails, that wasn't nice," Sonic said, trying to calm his friend.
"Just leave," Tails muttered.
Sonic sighed. "I would love to say 'I'm sorry,' but I really don't know what to apologize for," he said and walked out of the house.
Tails looked at the clock. "Nine-Forty," he muttered. In twenty minutes the group had gone from friends to enemies. "I hate Mondays."
Author's note: I will admit, not my best work ever, but hopefully you didn't get confused. The other team (wolf, panther and bird) will be featured in the next chapter, along with Team Chaotix. (Yes, they are in this). Hope ya'll are enjoying this!
