((Tada! Chapter 4 now, and we're off with more mushy red-n'-blue romance. And read my profile, it has some important info regarding the next few chapters in there. VERY important, but alas I cannot bring myself to write it here. *blush* Also, to anyone who disagrees with the introduction of Sonic the Werehog, please understand that it will make more sense as the plot unravels. AND HAPPY 19th BIRTHDAY, KNUCKLES! (as of February 2nd, 2009)

MSF: *throws a wad of paper at Sonic.* read the disclaimer.

Sonic: Why me?

MSF: Because I have Microsoft Word and could make you participate in a gigantic yaoi orgy on a whim.

Sonic: Fine, fine. "Mega Sonic Fan does not, will not, and never has owned any Sonic characters mentioned in this story, all belong to SEGA. He's also a sucker for any scenes that involve me doing dirty acts to—"

MSF: *snatches it away* you aren't supposed to read that part!!!

Without any further interruption, I present Chapter 4.))

Unorthodox

Sonic was laying on a metal platform while inside a large examining capsule (which his new Werehog state barely fit in) lined with little metal boxes designed to open and prod the subject with different chemicals to test for reactions. He was particularly cramped and agitated from this.

"TAILS! That hurts!" Sonic yelled as he was poked with a small needle in the arm.

"Sorry, Sonic! I'm trying to do this as fast as I can!" Tails apologized as he entered a few more lines of command into the computer. Another yelp was heard from inside the tube.

Sonic was unsure of how much more he could take. It had been a whole hour of being stuck with torturous hypodermic needles, and the kitsune hadn't made much progress at all. He was happy that Knuckles wasn't there with him; the Echidna had thought it would be more subtle for Sonic to come home alone. It was bad enough with Tails in close proximity, as the first test had had a mechanical hand reach out and rub some type of chemical against his fur. Unfortunately, this arm was poised directly over his most sensitive area, working up quite the rigidity in Sonic when it performed the examination. Sonic had been glad that the capsule was positioned out of Tails direct line of sight, lest the fox see something he shouldn't.

Tails started up a conversation to calm the blue werehog. "So where were you yesterday?"

"You didn't get my text message?"

"Nope."

"Surprise, surprise…" Sonic groaned sarcastically. "I was with Knuckles." Sonic didn't want to reveal anymore to Tails just yet.

"Knuckles…?" Tails raised an eyebrow. "How did you manage to stand being around him that long? You're so rivaled he's practically your enemy."

"Well long story short, we 'kissed-and-made-up.'" Sonic snickered silently at his choice of words and then winced as another needle was shot into his arm.

Sonic could hear Tails tapping his fingers against the desk, thinking of a solution. "Well, I've tried everything that could be in the air or in the grass, but nothing works. Unless…" Tails was typing another line of coding into the terminal, causing a metal door above Sonic to open and reveal a UV lamp.

"It might have been the sun's light that was triggering it." The UV lamp turned on, and Sonic was hit with a feeling of relief, like a polar opposite of the feeling when he had transformed first. He examined himself, happy to find that his arms were back to their normal peach color, and his size was back to his 3'3'' stature.

"Then why was I perfectly fine all this time?" Sonic asked as he was released from the glass pod.

"Good question." Tails replied. "My theory is that you were so filled with Dark Gaia's power, it left residue of that energy in your body. It wouldn't activate immediately due to the energy that Chip had left as well attaching to you. Seems to have worn off, in any case, and it's only a theory." Tails saw Sonic's eyes fill with longing when he spoke of Chip.

Sonic shrugged off his nostalgia and put away his happy but wistful memories into a corner of his mind. "Makes sense, at least." Sonic made his way to the door, but stopped before turning the knob. If his relationship was going to become public at some point, it would likely be today. Tails needed a precursor to a warning, at least. "Hey Tails?"

"Yeah, Sonic?" Tails swiveled his head from the screen to the hedgehog.

"Please, just tell me you won't forget that I'm the same Sonic you've always known, no matter what." He said slowly. Sonic had to compose himself to keep from letting loose a few tears. Damn emotional talks.

Tails was confused, likely due to the impulsiveness of it. "Got it, Sonic. I won't forget." He beamed.

"…Thanks." Sonic got out of the room as fast as he could, fearing that he may have already had hinted a little too much. Still, he felt reassured that Tails would still be his friend when he found out.

-o-

Sonic and Knuckles were headed out somewhere to eat today, under the guise that they were sparring up on Angel Island to anyone who had asked. Knuckles had suggested a small Italian restaurant just outside of Station Square, but well within walking distance. Sonic didn't enjoy Italian food that much, but he couldn't resist whenever Knuckles actually put thought into deciding on a place to romantically spend an afternoon.

They walked side by side, relishing in simply being near the other. Out on the streets it would be far too easy for word to spread, but Knuckles didn't mind enough to keep from holding Sonic's hand. (Who, once again, couldn't resist it when Knuckles was acting cuddly.)

"Knux, if someone we know sees us…" Sonic trailed off.

"Relax; Station Square is bigger than you think. We can't all do 10 laps around it in 5 minutes."

"I feel like someone is going to turn a corner at any second."

"What are you so scared of, anyway?" Knuckles inquired. "It's not like anyone would think any different of you if they knew."

Sonic remained silent, not fully comforted but a small bit better. Knuckles was still trying to make the blue blur feel more comfortable about being openly gay.

"Look, you don't have to start today, but please tell me you won't make us keep this a secret forever." Knuckles begged.

Sonic hung his head in thought for a few moments. "You're right." Sonic beamed a grin towards he echidna. "I've already given Tails a heads up… sort of." He added. Sonic curled around Knuckles' arm, keeping close to his crimson boyfriend.

Somewhere, a higher being was shunning the two on this day. He had almost mistaken the shrill scream for a banshee or a siren. Sonic dreadfully turned his head to see the furious pink girl stomping closer.

"TAKESHI MAURICE HEDGEHOG!!!" Sonic winced as Amy used his full and legal name. He hated it when people called him Takeshi. "After all I've done for you, and after all the love I've shown you, you run off with… with… another MAN?!" She was slowly turning from pink to red as her fury rose. Small droplets of water were forming at the base of her eyes. "I'm DONE with you, Sonic!" She pulled her hand back, as if to slap the hedgehog, but turned the other way in a crying fit and ran back around the corner.

"Amy, wait a moment!" Sonic called after her, feeling bad for making her feel betrayed. "Knuckles, I'll be right back…" He groaned.

He came around the corner fast to catch up with Amy, but found her no where in sight. However, he could faintly hear her sobbing from an alley nearby.

"Go away, backstabber!" She managed to sob out. "You obviously don't care for how I feel about you." Her face was buried in her hands, muffling her words some.

Sonic knelt down next to her, placing an arm around her shoulders. He thought for a few moments, and then spoke. "Amy, I'm not gonna say I feel the way you do about me." Sonic explained. "But no matter that, you're still my friend, and I hate to see my friends in pain." He shuffled around so he could look her in the eyes, taking her hands away from her face as he did so. "You can be mad at me. I should have told you. I just want you to accept who I am. Nothing more."

Amy's crying had subsided into minor sobs, staring at Sonic with confused eyes. Moments later, she had picked up on letting her tear ducts wear themselves out. "I- I thought you loved me! I dreamt about you all the time and I thought that we would always be together, Sonic!"

"I don't know what clued you into thinking I ever had feelings that way toward you, but that's not what I meant to send out." Sonic could see one of Knuckles dreadlocks blowing slightly into view from just around the corner. Nosy echidna just has to eavesdrop on everything. Sonic thought briefly.

Amy had planted her face into Sonic's stomach, dampening the soft peach fur. After a few moments, she was looking up at him with reddened eyes. "I'll do my best to stop loving you, Sonic." Her voice was wavy with emotion. "It'll be hard, but I- I'll try."

Sonic smiled brightly. "Just one more thing." He added. Amy looked up at him inquisitively. "Don't tell anyone about me and Knux. Not just yet, anyway. I don't think I'm ready for everyone to know yet."

Amy returned Sonic's smile. "No one will know."

"Thanks Amy." Sonic embraced the pink hedgehog one last time before helping her to her feet, and walking into the bright light of day again. She began to return to her hyper self, prancing and bouncing as she walked across the pavement.

"I um… I guess I'll see you later, Sonic." Without giving him a chance to respond, she strode off in the other direction, thinking hard about who she would follow now.

Knuckles casually walked up next to Sonic. "What was that about?"

"Like you don't know, you little spy." The hedgehog teased.

Knuckles felt a blush creep across his face. "I can't help it."

"Sure you can't." Sonic rolled his eyes. "I don't know about you, but I don't really feel all that hungry anymore. Amy has a reputation for destroying my appetite."

"Whatever you want, Sonic. This evening is yours to spend." Knuckles pulled the blue mass closer.

"I was going to cut our stroll short and head back; I don't want to have to explain that again if anyone else comes along." Sonic hugged closer to Knuckles as they walked.

Knuckles wasn't all too surprised by this answer. In fact, he liked the idea for purposes yet to unfold. "Then I guess lets head to your place. We can find something subtle to do there, I guess."

"No need to." Sonic interjected. "Tails was going to test the X-tornado's weapon systems over the Sandopolis Zone today. We'll be all alone." Sonic smirked.

"All the better." Knuckles lightly kissed Sonic's cheek, not wanting to draw the full attention of the public. "Let's get going, then."

-o-

The entire walk back they had been chatting about their past adventures, all the way back to the first encounter with Metal Sonic and as recently as the Dark Gaia incidents. Sonic wasn't particularly in depth with that subject however; the sun would be setting soon, and he didn't know whether or not the werehog state would be upon him.

Sonic grabbed the key from on top of the porch light, unlocking the dark wooden door and opening his home to the red echidna. Sonic sat down on the sofa, patting the seat next to him for Knuckles to sit close.

"Damn, Sonic. I'm almost jealous of you and your feats." Knuckles awed.

"Meh, you don't give yourself enough credit. You stole jewels from a top ranking government spy, and not to mention bared the full boredom of guarding the master emerald day in and day out."

Knuckles chuckled. "I guess that makes us even…?" He suggested.

"Nope, I've still got a lot more on you, pal." Sonic teased, laying his head back to rest on the couch's armrest.

Knuckles grinned. "I hope you know how hit I am for you right now, Sonic."

Laughing, Sonic shot back. "Yeah, I do. You're drooling." He pointed to Knuckle's lower lip, which was producing a small stream of saliva. Knuckles blushed hard and wiped the spittle away. "Hah, I got you there." Sonic giggled. To his surprise, however, he felt soft lips crash into his as Knuckles dove on top of the azure-furred hedgehog. Caught in the heat of the moment, Sonic couldn't help but divulge the feeling of Knuckles tongue exploring his mouth. Summoning all his willpower, Sonic broke the kiss.

"Let's take this somewhere more appropriate." He said suggestively. Knuckles gladly obliged by grabbing his hand and yanking him up towards Sonic's room. They interlocked lips again at the top of the staircase, slowly advancing on the white door that was covered in posters. Sonic let one hand off of Knuckles' cheek to open the door…

Sonic froze. Knuckles was still in his lustful frenzy, but not but a few moments later he turned around, seeing something he wouldn't have ever imagined. There, in Sonic's bed, were Tails and Manic, both staring embarrassingly back at Sonic and Knuckles. They looked like they had been quite into it; Manic had his member buried into Tails' backside, with his hand still grasping the Kitsune's erect boyhood. Sonic was a bit dismayed when he saw the fresh white stains on his favorite bed sheets.

"You- You're with Manic?!" Sonic gawked.

"You're with Knuckles?!" Tails answered back. He and Manic began covering themselves frantically.

Knuckles blushed until his muzzle was as red as his fur. "This is a tad strange."

Manic also flushed with red. "I guess this means I shouldn't have laughed at you, Sonic." He worked out an embarrassed smile, and grabbed for his vest at the foot of the bed.

Sonic turned red, inching his way out the door. "I guess we'll let you um… get dressed, and we can talk in just a sec…?" He felt the term 'get dressed' was a little out of context, Manic being the only one who ever wore anything, but he knew they got the message.

"Sure thing, bro." Manic tried to act normal, but his attempt failed when his voice cracked.

Sonic backed out the door, accidentally catching a glimpse of Manic's manhood as he got up. Ugh… Sonic shuddered, letting Knuckles feel the tremors that waved across his skin.

"I hear you there. That's just…"

"Wrong?"

"Yep."

As Sonic waited for Manic and Tails, he was thinking over something. Now that I think about it, Tails got some action before I did… the minor, not even legally able to HAVE sex, got it before me, the hero with the huge fan base… Sonic felt extremely uke-ish now, being the elder of the two roommates but being the only virgin. He debated in his head whether or not he should simply do-the-dirty-dance with Knuckles right there, just to prove his manliness to the other two when they walked out of his room. Deciding against it, he laid his head back into Knuckles lap.

Tails sat in a bean bag chair nervously, plucking bits of dried cum out of his golden fur. Manic was pacing back and forth, wording an explanation of the circumstances for Sonic to hear.

"It's a little easier to accept than I thought at first since Sonic is, well, gay as well…" Tails spoke blankly. "I thought he'd kick me out or hate me or something…"

Manic spoke without looking to Tails. "Sonic wouldn't ever hate you, he's just not that kind of hedgehog." He said, hoping to comfort his young lover. "He won't be happy that we had sex in his bed, though." Manic glanced to Tails worriedly.

"Heh, I guess not…" Tails gave a light smile to Manic. "You don't think he'll hate you, do you?"

Manic snickered. "I helped him and that hot head hook up. He can't hate me."

"You helped them get together…?" Tails tilted his head in a pup fashion. "Why didn't you tell me he was together with Knuckles?" he inquired, slightly worried his emerald lover would lie.

"Sorry, but he didn't want it out just then. We haven't come out of the closet to anyone either, y'know." Tails simply looked down to the light blue carpet in thought. Manic stared toward the door. "They're waiting on us, let's go."

Tails gulped, realizing that both parties would have to come to truths with the other.

((see? SEE? One week. Didn't keep you waiting long! XD

ohhh yes. I wrote dirty. Not the kind of dirty you drooling fangirls (and fanboys) like, but that's PROGRESS for me. Lay off :( mmm, ManicxTails, lol. I'm so twisted. I'm not gonna give an estimate on the next chapter, it's a big one and it needs to be well written. Gonna be some violence and grief in it. Yup.))