Hello all! We have finally reached the end of this little project! Before I begin, I'd like to thank: Infinite's Ruby, fanakatsuki, cynthiaaldaba, BluieTheJackal, and all guest rewviewers for their constant support and thoughts- you guys seriously brought a smile to my face knowing you enjoyed this little piece (Which was originally supposed to be a one shot, mind you.)
With that, please enjoy! I own nothing, as usual.
I'm Not Weak
Chapter 7: The Future Is Mine
Sonic, Rookie and Infinite continued their walk through the ruined section of the city mostly in silence- Rookie and Sonic were talking/texting amongst each other, while Infinite hung back a little, looking at the damaged city.
'I did this... I caused so much damage, and this... this is all that's left...' Infinite had to once again fight the powerful urge to turn tail and run, hide his failures and shame and guilt in the home he and Rookie shared. But he swallowed it back and kept walking, still hanging behind but also close to Rookie in case things became hard and he needed his support again.
'The way he texts him... the happiness he looks like he's feeling...' Infinite didn't really know how to put what he was experiencing, but... he didn't like the fact Rookie and Sonic were friends. It felt wrong- what if Rookie was telling him everything they talked about back at the house? What if he was airing his weakness out to Sonic, just leaving him high and dry and -
'STOP. Stop it, Infinite! You sound crazy!' he tried to tell himself. He shook his head and breathed deeply. 'Stop that. Sonic is one of the reasons you have a friend... he saved him from the damage you caused. He can be friends with him...'
When Sonic put his arm about Rookie and gave him a playful noogie, however, Infinite got very defensive , approached the two and quickly yanked his arm off, teeth bared as he pushed Rookie behind him. "Don't you dare hurt him!" he snarled. Rookie glanced at him, concerned when he saw how angry Infinite truly was.
Sonic, slightly fazed but mostly surprised, put his hands up in peace and stepped closer to the pair. Infinite's growling on any other day would have shaken the hedgehog and Rookie would already be dead. But as Sonic looked on, still keeping his hands up, he noticed how close Infinite was to Rookie, the protective stance he was taking up instead of attacking the poor wolf, and his tail moving towards Rookie as if to wrap him in it.
"So you're friends with little Rookie?" Sonic asked, smiling at the strange, if not heartwarming sight in front of him. Infinite grew angrier- now that damn hedgehog was mocking him?!
"Do you have a death wish?" Infinite snarled, now stepping towards Sonic, his hands clenched. "Because if so, I'll happily grant it for you!"
Rookie placed a hand on Infinite's shoulder and squeezed hard enough that the jackal whirled around, almost slashing at him as he did so. Rookie's phone was in his face, a message on it; he'd typed it while watching the situation unfold.
'Infinite... thank you. But Sonic is my friend, too. Just like you are. I promise, you can trust him. He's not going to hurt you or me.'
The jackal looked at the phone, then flicked his eyes to Rookie. The kid's smile was seriously infectious, he had to admit... and his eyes were full of honesty. He wasn't lying to him, that much was for sure. "Are you sure...?" Infinite's voice was soft once again, still nervous around Sonic- and if he was quite honest with himself, jealous.
He'd figured it out now. It was jealousy at how easy Rookie looked when he was talking to him. He didn't act scared and nervous and jumpy like he had to when he saved his life...he seemed relaxed, calmer. It was not just angering Infinite- it was... hurting him, in a way.
Rookie nodded, then typed. 'If you think I'm telling Sonic about anything personal in regards to you, I'm not. That is what you trusted me to keep and it's not something I'm allowed to talk about. That is up to you entirely, and only once you feel more comfortable around us. Okay?'
Infinite looked at the message and nodded in agreement. He was definitely still jealous, and while Rookie ran off to explain the situation to Sonic, Infinite stood there, still grappling with the newest emotion he had to cope with.
'Why am I so upset? He didn't do anything wrong; the blue annoyance was just... playing around. He's known him longer than me! So... why do I... feel like he's... hurting me somehow?' Infinite slowly followed after Sonic and Rookie once more, still musing on that odd thought. Rookie glanced behind him and noticed that expression Infinite made whenever something troubled him.
'I hope I didn't upset him. Maybe after their meeting, I'd better talk to him. He was actually...'
Rookie soon drowned out Sonic's talking as he thought about what Infinite did not too long ago-defending him. He was truly angry; he truly thought Sonic was going to hurt him! But there was something else, something subtle in his eyes... what was it?
'He was actually defending me...but not as if I were a friend. It was more like I was one of his own. Infinite... what are you thinking about over there?'
Sonic stopped after about twenty minutes of walking. Turning to Rookie, he held out his hand, asking the wolf kid to give over his phone. Infinite watched the entire exchange with a sharp, suspicious eye.
"You remember how to get here, right? I think Amy, Silver and Vector are there now. Knuckles should be there soon, and I've no clue where brooding pants and Rouge went." Infinite frowned- who on earth was he talking about? And why did it sound like Rookie was leaving?
Rookie nodded happily and gave Sonic a quick hug before he turned to Infinite. He held up his phone to let Infinite know what was going on.
'I'm going to visit some of the Resistance members for a little while. You and Sonic need to talk, alone. I'll see you later, okay?'
Before Infinite could argue, Rookie had dashed off, leaving him alone with Sonic. The blue blur was sitting on the edge of one of the more structurally sound buildings, waiting for a grumpy jackal to join him. "You know, I'm not gonna fight you, Infinite. Might as well come see the view, eh?"
Infinite felt his blood boil as he not so willingly walked over, but didn't sit down. His arms crossed, he simply said, "I have nothing to say to you."
"Heh, wasn't expecting you to." Sonic was leaning back on his hands, taking in the gentle breeze and the beautiful sunset that was starting. "But... Rookie wasn't lying to me, though. Something is different about you."
Infinite had a conflicting moment at that point- his heart was telling him to trust the new friend he'd come to have, but his brain REALLY wanted to beat the smirk off that got damn hedgehog! He didn't say anything, just kept his arms crossed and steeped in his anger.
Sonic knew Infinite was seething with rage, but there was one thing he'd warn Rookie about before he agreed to meet him- he was going to speak his mind, whether Infinite liked it or not.
"What do you know..." Infinite mumbled under his breath. Yes, he agreed to talk to the hedgehog, but he was beginning to wonder if that was a good idea. He still couldn't quite figure this strange being out, and apart from Rookie being buddies with him-
Rookie. Speaking of which, where had he gone to? Why did he think he had to do this alone? They were friends, right? 'Is this what friends do to one another? Make them uncomfortable? Why did he leave me here with HIM?'
Infinite and Sonic were silent as both were lost in their own heads. Finally, Sonic decided it was time to break the ice and get something started.
"Infinite."
"What?"
Sonic glanced up at the jackal over his shoulder. "You wanna tell me why you're still alive?" Short, sweet and definitely to the point... Infinite was left speechless at the question. Not even Rookie had asked him something so... straightforward before.
"I..." Sonic didn't really seemed bothered by Infinite's lack of an answer. He had a suspicion that he wasn't too sure himself, and only Rookie could really say that for sure.
"I mean, don't get me wrong. Lil Rookie did tell me he was actually on his way to visit me- surprise visit that it was. He said that he was on his way when he felt something telling him to go to that crazy doc's lab. Good thing he did, huh."
Infinite had not known that Rookie was on his way to do something else that day. He couldn't really remember too much of that day as it was. "I... I don't know what happened..." Infinite started talking. Sonic was, once again, a bit surprised- Infinite sounded... innocent. Soft-spoken and scared, even. 'So that's what Rookie meant when he said Infinite's "still trying to find his voice." He was angry just a minute ago... huh...'
"I can't... really remember too much. The Phantom Ruby tore from my chest... it felt that I wasn't worthy of its power..." Infinite's fingertips gently touched his healing scar. Sonic's eyes were drawn to the roughly growing patch, his eyes a little wide at the thought- that ruby was torn from him?
"It... ripped from your chest?" he muttered. "H-How... did you survive?"
"Yes. I... I tried to get out. I knew I was going to die- I was supposed to have died... but..." Infinite crossed his arms and trailed off, letting Sonic put together the rest. He still didn't know how he felt about him, and he cursed himself for sounding so weak around him.
Sonic slowly put two and two together. "I guess that's when Rookie came and saved you. Right?" Infinite didn't answer. Sonic tilted his head a little. "You know something... you remind me a lot of a certain brooding hedgehog counterpart of mine."
"Hedgehog? You're referring to Shadow the Hedgehog, am I right?" Infinite knew that look all too well- prior to getting that ruby fused with him, Shadow was the last person he swore to murder, especially after weakening his squad so bad they were easily picked off by Eggman.
He was a bit surprised when he didn't feel an ounce of anger coursing through him... but he knew that would change once he saw his smug face again.
"Yeah, Shads... he's a moody dude. Doesn't like to talk much, even about his own struggles with the good doc." Sonic shrugged. "Always been obsessed with proving I'm a 'fake'... yeesh, he's just... yeah, he's just Shadow."
Infinite stepped a little closer, his guard still up. "Are you always this annoying and happy?" he asked, a bit annoyed himself. Sonic looked at him and gave him a huge smile and a thumbs up.
"You know it!"
Now that Infinite could see Sonic more clearly, he finally noticed all the scars that riddled his body- most of his blue fur covered the ones on his back, but he still them on his legs, arms, and torso. The were multiple in number, and some even criss-crossed. He also sported a nasty gash on his left cheek. Infinite touched his right eye, recalling the very first battle scar he ever earned.
"What about you?" Infinite suddenly wondered. Sonic let his hand fall, wondering why Infinite's hand covered his eye.
"What about me?"
"Those scars... did I do that, too?" Sonic held out his arms to get a good look at them, then shook his head.
"No. These... these were because of Eggman." He lowered his arms and patted the ground next to him. Infinite was still very uncertain, but at the same time, he wanted to hear Sonic's story. That was the reason he came all the way out here, right?
Infinite sat down, allowing his legs to dangle over the edge of the failing structure. He took in the sight of the slowly rebuilding city, and the guilt he felt from earlier made a stronger return.
"I did all this... I caused so much damage..." Infinite sighed. "I don't know why Rookie chose to save me... he should have let me die, at least... for the sake of them..."
Sonic listened to what the jackal was sadly mumbling to himself, and shook his head. "Infinite, what good would it have done?"
"Huh?"
Sonic was staring at the sky, a thoughtful smile on his face. "If Rookie had chosen to let you die in that lab, what good would it have done? I mean, sure you're gone, but... Eggman was the real villain behind ALL of this, and he's still alive, somewhere."
Infinite looked down at the people walking, talking, living life like nothing had happened over eight months ago. "These people... they didn't deserve to be caught in this war. I don't... I don't understand why I... I was given that ruby..."
"That Phantom Ruby reacts with someone who only had purely evil intentions in their heart." Shocked, Infinite looked at Sonic, about to ask a series of questions. Sonic laughed; of course, something had told him Infinite wasn't given the manual when Eggman fused the gem with him.
"Tails did some research on it while I was captive. Apparently, the main reason the Ruby fused was because the one Eggman originally had became tainted when you and him touched it at some point." Infinite pondered on that new piece of information, something the doctor conviently forgot to mention. 'I did touch the ruby when the Jackal Squad and I raided his lab...'
"Infinite, why would you want to live in a world all alone?" Sonic suddenly brought up. Again, Infinite was left speechless, and now felt a bit exposed- where was the information coming from? He hadn't told Rookie, so there was no way he got it from him!
"Again, Eggman was the one who gave me these scars. I was trapped in his dungeon, prison, whatever for six months." He looked out at the city again. "He gave out a LOT of information during my stay, and... one of it... was that you wanted to destroy this world so you could be the only one left. But I don't get why."
"Six... months?" Infinite was trying to put together a timeline, figuring out what he was doing while under the ruby's power, and now he was answering a really personal question. 'Why should I be telling him anything?! I owe him nothing! But... I...'
"I just wanted to be alone, okay?" Infinite drew his legs up and rested his chin on his arms. "I was always alone... why should I have to change that now..."
"Was that you, or was that the ruby?"
"I don't know! I don't know, okay?!" Infinite snapped. Sonic was unfazed, and waited for Infinite to compose himself.
"I don't... I don't know what was me and what was that damn ruby, I... I still don't know what I wanted when I had that power. I'm just... I'm really confused..." Infinite lifted his head just a little, but didn't look in Sonic's direction.
"I haven't been able to figure that out. And then when Rookie saved me... it got... worse." The cool air caressing Infinite's mane and face didn't help the swirling ball of confusion he was feeling inside of him. 'I thought this was supposed to be about him! Why do I keep talking to him as if he's Rookie? He's not... my friend... is he?'
"Worse? Like angry one minute, sad the next, confused about everything you're doing? Or whether or not you were making the right choice?"
Infinite's mouth dropped open as he listened to Sonic's description of him perfectly-but he just said all that stuff about Rookie, too? "W-Wait, how-?"
"Lil Rookie was just like you. He told you about his scar and why he uses that phone?" Infinite nodded.
"Well, after all... that happened, Rookie... he was angry. I mean, he was punching things, punching people, just... angry. But it took the most angry person on our team to finally get through to him and make him understand that what he'd been feeling was normal. I mean... what is someone who lost everything supposed to feel, I guess."
Infinite couldn't believe it. That meant... everything Rookie had been telling him, about forgiving him and not being angry... all of it was true. He had almost a year's time to figure things out, and had a good support team, too.
"But... I..." Infinite was staring to realize that it wasn't confusion he was feeling- it was confliction. Part of him really, REALLY felt that Sonic could be trusted- he knew Rookie better than him, and if Rookie felt comfortable leaving him here with him, then Sonic couldn't be all that bad.
But the other part still saw Sonic as his mortal enemy, even if he wasn't certain why- without the Phantom Ruby, his thoughts were clear. Sonic still couldn't be trusted, though, but... why?
"Was... Rookie really... that mad?" Infinite asked- if he was being honest, he didn't want to hear how badly he ruined his new friend's life. He caused all that anger and pain to him, but... somehow, knowing what he had done, Infinite felt he could be more open with Rookie- he didn't understand any of it, but the thought made sense to him.
Sonic nodded and stretched. "Mad? Ohhhhh, Lil Rookie was RAGING!" he laughed as if he were telling a joke. Infinite ignored that and listened to what he was saying."He wanted to kill you, take revenge for what you did to him and his family, but... when he ran into you during a mission, I think... I think all that went out the window."
Infinite frowned- he'd fought Rookie before? 'That must have been when I was under the control of that ruby- why the hell can't I remember that?! All I remember... was... silting his throat and...'
"Rookie told me about that fight." Sonic finished stretching his arms and let them fall with a sigh, thankfully snapping Infinite out of his thoughts. "He was badly hurt... and after being out cold for a few days, he came around and started talking to me and Knuckles- the angry guy I mentioned earlier."
"What... did he say?" he asked softly. Inside, Infinite's thoughts were going in the opposite direction, and he berated himself for daring to ask such a thing: 'I don't want to know... I don't want to know... I don't-'
"Well, it wasn't anything... bad." Sonic tried to find a better way to word what had happened that day- without coming out as blunt. "Rookie kinda realized how outclassed he was fighting you. But he also said something else, something I could never forget. He said... that he didn't think you were as evil as you looked that day."
Sonic almost laughed at the expression on the jackal's face. "Yeah, we all agreed with you- he was crazy! But he was very... adamant about that. He knew what you had done, and yes, for a long time, he wanted you to suffer and pay for what you had done to his family, and to him. I don't know what you did or said to him that day, but... Rookie changed."
Infinite was stunned. 'So that's what made him save my life... he didn't see me as an evil being. Even after all I've done to him, all I've taken away... he always... thought I was good...?'
"Hey, Infinite. Question." At that, Infinite's ears slightly pressed against his head- he didn't like that serious tone Sonic took on, and began to close himself off, just in case.
"Do you regret what you did? Or what you can remember of what you did?"
Infinite didn't answer right away. His eyes began to sting as the few clear memories of what he was under the ruby's control- of his past hunting life as Infinite the Mercenary- ran though his mind. 'All that blood... all the pain, the death... I caused so many people to die, and I didn't even care what I'd done! Now that it's over... I don't know what to think anymore.'
"I... I think... I do..." Infinite was very uncertain of his answer. He chewed on his bottom lip for a moment before he continued.
"I think I realized what I have done, and I know... I can never make people forget. I can't even forget... it... keeps haunting me, especially at night... it's... hard..." Sonic nodded but didn't speak. He knew there was more that the jackal needed to get out of his system.
"I don't... I can't remember everything I did after that ruby fused with me. Honesty, all I really managed to remember... was how much pain I was in during that entire process. How that... that damn doctor constantly made a fool out of me, and left me to die..."
Infinite looked down at his hands, noticing they were shaking, and balled them tight to keep it under control. "Even before that, with my squad... I've hurt a lot of people. I ruined a lot of lives, including my team. They... they... died. All because of me and my actions..."
'He's not lying. I can hear it in his voice.' Sonic thought to himself as he watched Infinite struggle to keep his composure. 'He must have had this on him for a while now, probably before the war. Makes me wonder what he was like before his team, before the war... just before things got so tough for him.'
"Sonic." The blue blur snapped out of his thoughts.
"What happened to you... was I responsible for that, too?" Infinite wasn't looking at him again, choosing instead to stare at the sky as the sun began to set.
"These babies... no. This wasn't entirely on you."
"... what do you mean?"
Sonic felt his bottom starting to grow numb, so he stood up to stretch his legs. "You did find me, and you actually did fight me, but Eggman's fake goons were the ones who knocked me out and tortured me for six months." He sighed as he took in the fresh breeze.
"I can't blame you for much. I mean, yeah, we fought. Twice. The second time... that's why the ruby dragged you off and I never saw you again. Didn't think you were alive. But all these... not on you."
"Then..." Infinite's voice cracked and he made no effort to hide it. He wiped his tears away, refusing to let that blue hedgehog see them. He was beginning to feel confused all over again. "Then why does it feel... like it's my fault...?" he almost whispered.
"Infinite... I'm telling you because for a long time, most of my friends believed it was. But I know now that it wasn't. You were just another pawn Eggman hurt until you were nothing." He glanced down at Infinite before kneeling next to him.
"If Lil Rookie believed you had some good in you, then I do, too. I don't really think you're a bad person. I think... you were just dealt a REALLY crappy hand in life, you know?"
Infinite didn't know what else to say. He needed to sort all the conflicting emotions out, but without Rookie near him, he was deathly scared of walking back to their living place on his own. He STILL didn't know how to feel entirely about Sonic, but he wasn't angry and he didn't seem like the type to want to kill him as revenge.
"Your friends... do they hate me?" Infinite really needed to know. Sonic nodded his head and shrugged.
"I think the real ones who hate you... are Tails and Amy. Tails, he... he went though a LOT of things after what happened to me. Kid's kinda like my brother, so... when Eggman did what he did, I knew he would be angry. But he wasn't just that- he was RAGING mad. Scared me a little, seeing him like that."
Infinite didn't expect a good answer, but hearing it blunt like that stung a little. 'Could they actually forgive me? I... I can't be mad if they couldn't, but...'
Deciding he'd waited long enough, Infinite asked a question that was on his mind for a good while now. "Rookie... did he go back? To them?"
Sonic nodded and looked back at the way they'd come, wondering what was keeping Rookie. "Yeah. I told him to do me a favor and bring a few friends of mine to talk to you, too. They need to see and hear you- I think they would understand more."
Infinite felt his chest tighten as he tried to ask why Sonic would do such a thing. He barely managed to figure HIM out, and now he wanted to bring people he KNEW hated him?! 'No... no, no, oh god... I can't do this... not without Rookie... I can't do this!'
Sonic could hear Infinite's breathing picking up, and he placed a hand on his shoulder to anchor him before he passed out and fell forward. "Hey! Infinite, breathe! It's okay, man! It's going to be okay!"
Infinite struggled to control his panic attack, but the more he thought about those people Sonic mentioned coming to 'talk' with him, the more it scared him. He knew at least one- Tails. He couldn't forget the young twin tailed fox hiding behind boulders and watching his best friend get beaten to a bloody pulp that fateful day. Amy, he wasn't too sure of, but she didn't sound like a happy type herself.
'Why am I panicking like this? Dammit, Rookie's going to come back, he's probably going to be right there! I'm 22 years old and I'm acting like an infant! I need to stop acting so weak and breathe like he said!'
Infinite felt himself falling backward- embarrassingly into Sonic's arms- as he continued to suffer his panic attack. Sonic sounded garbled, everything was blurring and tilting the wrong ways.
'Why... is this so hard for me...'
When Infinite opened his eyes, the first thing he realized was that it was dark outside. He was laying face up, so he could see the glimmer of stars across the clear night sky.
"It's night... how long was I out..." he asked himself, throwing an arm over his eyes. He liked this- the air felt wonderful across his skin and mane, and for once, he didn't have to question every little thing. It didn't stop him from thinking about everything that happened, though, but at least he had some much needed space for himself.
"What am I doing...?" He sighed, but didn't move from his spot. "I agreed to this. I told Rookie I could handle this... but... I feel like I can't do anything."
Infinite let his arm fall to his side and found himself staring at the stars. "They look beautiful. I wonder... did I ever see them before all this happened? Before I was... a killer..."
His face scrunched as he felt the urge to cry creeping up on him. Scrubbing the tears away, he took a shaky breath in and let it out. It didn't ease that urge to cry, but it made him a little calmer. 'Maybe this is where I learn to be strong... maybe I'm going though this because I have to. I was weak because I depended on the ruby's power to make me stronger. But what strength did I ever get from that wretched thing...'
Infinite noticed that his hand, whether it was intentional or when he was lost in thought, kept touching his injury a lot more than normal. It was healing well, but there was a noticeably large scab right under his chin where black fur definitely should have been. Luckily some of the white chest fur covered the upper half of the scab, only showing the lower, less... nasty looking part of his healing wound.
'I was used and have a scar to forever remind me... how stupid I was. Sonic the Hedgehog... he has them, too. And Rookie. Maybe... maybe that's what he meant. Everyone who was dragged into this war... they're just like me. They're scarred, and they can't forget. But... I can only remember parts of what I was when I was under the control of the Ruby. Why is that?'
Infinite watched the stars for a long while, not realizing that Sonic not only left, but that he and Rookie were walking up the path leading to him, along with Tails, Amy and Knuckles in tow. He didn't really miss him either way.
'I wonder how much they hate me. If they will try and kill me. It wouldn't take much... all they would have to do is push me. But... I get the feeling Rookie would never allow it to happen. He really thinks I can do this... I just wish I felt as confident as he was.'
Tails was shaking with anger- after what Rookie told him, it took both him and Sonic to hold the young kitsune back before he charged ahead and tried to fight Infinite.
Amy had been quiet the entire walk, and per usual, walking close to Sonic. She held her hand behind her back in case she would need to call her Piko Piko Hammer to smash Infinite's head in... which she wanted to do, anyways.
Knuckles was quiet as well, his arms crossed and a scowl on his face. Every so often, he would crack his hands- he was ready for a fight with Infinite, ruby or not.
Rookie and Sonic shared a worried glance as they approached the meeting spot. They knew that out of the team, these three were the angriest and hated everything Infinite stood for. Sonic agreed that was true, but in order for Infinite to finally put the past behind him, he needed to make amends. The blue hero felt they were a good place to start, although Rookie wasn't as confident.
'I don't know how Infinite is going to react... he didn't sound like he took to Sonic too well as it was, but Amy and Tails downright hate his guts! Knuckles... he might fight him, but at least I was able to get him to understand. Infinite isn't the same as the masked killer the ruby made him become.'
Rookie saw Infinite's form laying on the ground as they neared the clearing, and bit at his lip worriedly. 'He was angry, yes. Shadow may of stopped him, even taken out his team, but that ruby is what took his anger and turned it into pure, evil power. It knew that Infinite was a walking target waiting to blow- even as Eggman made prototypes to try and replicate its power, Infinite was still a strong source... all because of what happened to him in his life.'
Infinite sat up, hearing footsteps behind him, the slowly stood to his feet. He turned around, and upon seeing Sonic, Tails, Amy, Knuckles and Rookie standing about a yard's length away, took a half step back.
'Without the Phantom Ruby... I'm weak. I relied on it for power that was never mine, and now...'
Rookie held his arm out to the others, asking them to wait as he went to talk to Infinite. Tails was still angry, but stayed back, as did Amy.
Infinite looked between the group and Rookie as the wolf approached him, his phone held out for him to read. 'I'm sorry I took so long. I had to really explain myself to these guys- they don't know why I didn't leave you back there.'
The jackal shrugged and crossed his arms, but to Rookie, he didn't seem upset or angry. He seemed like he wanted to defend himself before anything could happen. "I can't be surprised... I've done a lot..." he said softly before he realized what Rookie first texted.
"It's okay. For taking so long. I... I talked to him. Sonic." he told him. Rookie seemed proud and nodded his head, wanting to know how things went. Infinite smiled a little.
"I... I still don't know what to make of him, but... you... were right." Infinite glanced at the foursome still standing a good yard's length away.
"He... made me realize a few things about myself. Things I hadn't really thought about until tonight. And... he saw me having a panic attack." Rookie tilted his head in question. "I'll explain it later. But..."
There was no more stalling now. He needed to atone for what he had done, and he needed to do it now. Uncrossing his arms, Infinite requested that Rookie tell them to come closer so they could talk. Rookie looked worried, and quickly typed something on the phone.
'Infinite... please. Be honest with me. Do you think you can really do this?'
"Honestly?" Infinite shook his head. "I don't know... I don't... think I can change anything. But I... I said I would try."
He straightened himself and looked at the group, pushing as much doubt and nervousness as he could to the back of his mind. If he were actually being honest, he was scared out of his mind. Except for Sonic, any one of them could easily wipe him out and he refused to drag Rookie through this.
But he said he would try and make amends. He wanted to understand. He needed this more than anything.
Together, Infinite and Rookie walked back to the group. Once they were close, Rookie stood back to allow Infinite to talk without interference. Sonic looked at his closest friends.
"Tails... listen to me. I know you're angry at Infinite because of what he's done. But Rookie really wasn't lying to any of us. Infinite isn't the same being that fought in the war. He's not under the ruby's control." Sonic explained, looking at Infinite with a small smile. "He's changed. I promise."
Tails didn't believe any of it. "No... that power is still very much alive and there..." he said angrily, his little hands balled into tight fists. Infinite just stood there, unsure of what he was supposed to say.
"The only reason the Phantom Ruby took you over is because you ARE evil! You hurt Sonic!" He ran towards Infinite, yelling at the top of his lungs as he reared his tiny fist back. Infinite barely had time to react before he felt a blow across his face.
He staggered back a few steps, his hand instinctively covering his face. His cheek swelled, but no blood. Tails wasn't done yet, though. He kept charging after him and hitting him as hard as his eight year old hands could manage.
Knuckles, Amy and Sonic stood by but didn't do or say anything. Rookie stepped forward, wanting Tails to stop hitting him, but Sonic held his hand out to him and shook his head.
"Lil Rookie... let him do this. Infinite can defend himself."
Tails kept hitting Infinite- three times in his chest, a few times on his arms, and twice on the same spot on his face. Infinite didn't have to do much to block his attacking, but he didn't try and retaliate, either.
'He's angry at me. He has every right to hit me. I hurt them... I did all this, and... I don't know what to say...'
Finally, Tails collapsed to the ground, panting as he tried to regain his strength. Tears were running down his face. "Why... why did you do all this..." he asked though his tears. He looked up at Infinite, waiting for an answer.
"Tell me that, Infinite. Why did you do this? Why did you hurt Sonic and Rookie? Why?"
Infinite didn't know what to say. He honestly never gave the question thought- mostly because he knew what he wanted before the war began.
But he had to say something to answer him. Even if he wasn't really sure if Tails would believe a single word he spoke. "I... I don't... really know anymore..." he answered quietly. He couldn't quite look Tails in the face, so he focused on the ground behind him.
"Before... I wanted this planet to be destroyed. I wanted to be alone... I wanted that. After Sonic defeated me, I was... unsure. Of a lot."
Amy stepped closer, both hands now visible in front of her. "You wanted millions of people dead so you could wallow in your own self pity? What kind of monster does that?"
"I'm not a monster!" Everyone fell silent. Infinite closed his eyes in thought.
"I'm not... a monster. I don't... I never wanted this to happen... I didn't... realize what I had done..." he admitted. "I wanted to be alone, but... this..."
Tails was a bit thrown off by the answer he'd just heard. If Infinite wasn't truly evil, that why was the Phantom Ruby able to use him for its own gain? Why didn't Infinite fight the ruby's power?
Rookie finally stepped forward and placed a hand on Infinite's shoulder, showing him the phone. 'Infinite. You can stop whenever you want. You don't have to do this right now.'
Infinite felt... touched. That was the only way he could describe what he was feeling. Rookie had been so worried about him, consistently, ever since the day he saved his life. He lost so much-his family, his home, his voice... but he still cared about Infinite and it showed. That was what made him smile for the very first time that night in the kitchen, he realized.
'Rookie. I finally, finally think I got it. Thank you. You're... you're my friend, and I know that now. I think I'm beginning to understand. But I have to finish this. I have to make this right.'
Shaking his head at Rookie and gently lowering his phone, Infinite faced Sonic and the others. Now he felt strong enough that he could say what he needed to say.
"I can never apologize for all the pain I've caused." he said, voice soft but steady. "I have a lot to atone for, and I don't expect forgiveness from any of you. It takes time to reach that. I understand that much now. Instead... I just ask for a chance to try and make things right. For everything I caused. For everyone who was hurt or killed because of me..."
Infinite felt a lot better after he finished, and Rookie's hand on his shoulder gave him the strength he had so desperately needed. "Sonic... I know that I did not give you those marks. But just like me... you can never forget what that damn doctor did. If he is still alive out there, if he figured out a way to harness the ruby's power... I want to fight by your side. By your friends' side.'
Amy and Tails looked at one another, doubt clear as day on their face. Knuckles, who'd been quiet up until now, walked up to Infinite and stood face to face with him.
"Look, you and Sonic... you're not the only ones the round fatman played for fools. He played me, too. And... I can't say I hate you, even after all the destruction you've caused. Angry, hell yeah. But I don't think I hate you." Knuckled held out his hand.
"If you really want to prove you are going to be on our side, you have to earn ALL of our team's trust. It's not going to be easy, especially since Tails and Amy still don't know how to feel about you. But... Sonic trusts you. And oddly enough... he's usually right. Rookie sees you as a friend. If they can trust you... I'm willing to try, too."
Infinite stared at Knuckles for a moment before his hand slowly reached out to shake Knuckles' hand. "I... I don't know how to feel about any of you, either. But... I told that child behind me I would try. I will not go back on my word."
Knuckles smirked and the two broke contact. "Good. Because if you do... there's going to be hell to pay."
'Somehow... I feel like I've been there my entire life. But I don't know if that will be as bad as what he will do. What Rookie would do.' Infinite thought as he watched Knuckles walk away. Amy was still looking at him with a doubtful eye. Tails, who had finally gotten back to his feet, approached Infinite next.
"I... I'm sorry. For punching you like that." he apologized, looking down at his shoes. Infinite gingerly touched his swollen cheek- of all the punches Tails threw, the ones to his face hurt the worst- then slowly extended his hand for another handshake. Tails looked at the hand, then at the face. Infinite... didn't look angry one bit.
"I... think I had it coming for a long time now." Infinite said, a tiny smile on his face. "I deserved it, for hurting you like I did."
Tails, once again, did not expect that response. He slowly gripped Infinite's hand and gave it a light shake before he stepped back, wondering what the heck just happened. Sonic grinned and gave Infinite a thumbs up before he turned around and without a word, lead the others back to the city.
Infinite and Rookie watched them walk away before Rookie began typing on his phone. 'You did it... Infinite, you actually did it! How... do you feel?'
"... I don't... really know." Infinite answered. Tails was the only one who seemed able to show how angry he was at him- the next thing Infinite knew, he was shaking the kid's hand. Amy was still VERY doubtful, which was clear as day on her face. Knuckles gave him the benefit of the doubt, to put it simply.
Infinite was overwhelmed.
"I didn't think... they would listen to me. Let alone... try and forgive me." Rookie smiled and typed, 'I know. It was hard for me to talk to Tails especially. He almost didn't come out here, but I think Sonic got through to him.
Did talking with him help?'
"A... a little. I had a lot to think about, and I still have so many things I ask myself." Infinite looked at the dark sky. "I know I have a long way to go. I... I know that they will need time. I do, too. But I... I think... I can do this."
Infinite looked at Rookie and extended his hand to him, asking for his phone. Confused, Rookie handed it over to him. Infinite was not as quick as Rookie, but the jackal managed to type something.
'Thank you, Rookie. For being my friend. For saving my life... and showing me that I still have something to live for.'
Rookie felt tears coming to his eyes. Infinite looked a bit awkward as he returned the phone, but the wolf didn't care. He threw his arms around Infinite and hugged him tight. Infinite was still very new to the close touch concept that was hugging, but he lifted one arm to at least try and humor Rookie.
"Still not used to... this." Rookie pulled back, laughing at the light blush that formed across Infinite's cheeks.
'Ready to head back to the house? It's a bit chilly out.' Infinite nodded, and the pair began walking the path back to the threshold of the city. As they walked, Rookie took the time to type out an idea he'd had since almost a month and a half ago.
'Tomorrow... I want us both to start training with Sonic and the others. It can help build trust between you guys and get us both into the swing of fighting again. What do you say?'
"... alright." Infinite agreed. Granted, he was very nervous about tomorrow, but still looking forward to his new future just the same. 'Its so strange. I never thought anything good would come from me being alive, and yet... Rookie proved me wrong. There is something for me- something I finally have true control over. It's... definitely something I'm not really used to.'
"...Rookie."
The young wolf looked over his shoulder at the sound of his name. Infinite had stopped and was looking at the second gate, the one that lead to his village. The village looked warm and inviting to those who didn't know Infinite's life- but that was about to change.
"I need to show you something tomorrow before we go to train. It's... about my past. I think... you need to know." Rookie followed his gaze, and once he put two and two together, typed out a response.
'Infinite... you don't have to do this. You know that.'
Infinite was smiling as he turned away from that chapter of his life. "I know I don't." he said softly. "But I want to. You know only what I've wanted you to know, so... I think you should see it for yourself."
'Infinite... he's finally opening up more. I've earned his trust.' Rookie thought proudly to himself. 'Thank you, Infinite.'
Rookie gave Infinite a thumbs up, interested to see where he was born and what made his childhood so traumatizing for him. Most of all, he felt even happier than Infinite was willing to open up to him more, and was a bit excited to see where his future would take him.
'Thank you, Infinite. For finally... letting me in.'
As for Infinite, he felt a lot of emotions, none of which he would sort out until tomorrow. But the one thing he was thankful he could honestly feel... was happy. The Phantom Ruby would be a distant memory one day, and he would be even happier when he made Dr. Eggman pay.
For now, he would take each day as it came. He had a long road ahead of him, and earning the trust of others would take a lot of work- something he was all too familiar with as he watched Rookie walk ahead.
'There's a lot I know I need to do. They gave me a second chance, just like Rookie did. And I guess... I gave myself a chance, too. I let someone in after he made a huge step to save my life. I finally allowed someone else to be a friend.'
He took one last look at his old village- at the past he never truly left behind, before following after Rookie again. 'This time, the future is mine to control. I have the power to truly make this right- no stupid ruby can control me or use my anger against me ever again! Eggman will pay for what he did to me, and those who suffered because of me.'
Infinite walked tall and proud next to Rookie, no longer weighed down by doubt or fear. He knew what he could do to make things better, and he would do everything he can to make himself, his mother and his squad proud of him. 'Everyone... please. Watch me become the strong jackal you all knew I could be. Watch me prove... I'm no longer weak.'
The wolf smiled at the change he saw in Infinite, and knew that he would be able to carve a happy life for himself after all. Of course, he would remain by his side- it's what any good friend would do.
'You finally found your way, Infinite the Jackal. You can finally live life as you want. You were never weak, just heavily misguided. I think now... you can truly learn what having hope is like. And no matter what... I hope you can finally find the peace you deserve.'
END
And complete! I had a lot of fun writing this project, and my gosh! I've never written such a long chapter in ANY multichapter fanfic of mine! Also didn't like the ending too much, but... the chapter itself wasn't too bad.
I really hope you all enjoyed the final chapter and the story in general, and thank you so much for reading and following along! As always, please let me know what you think!
Until next time!
