-A/N- Well, my exams are over! While this should mean that updates come more regularly, I'm sorry to say that after the next chapter, I'll be putting this story on hold for a while as I come up with a plan to bring the second 'season' from my brain onto the page. I'll be writing other things here on FFN in the mean time, so feel free to check those out if you wish.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Day 10
9:12 PM – Miles 'Tails' Prower
A deep voice, much too dark to be Sonic's, rang back through. "Hello. Is this 'Tails'?"
"It depends," The fox retorted, "on who this is and how they got Sonic's phone."
"My name's Shadow. I'm the manager at Club Rouge. There's a situation here, involving your friend Sonic. We need you to pick him up."
"And why couldn't Sonic ask me himself?"
"He's, uh...'occupied' at the moment."
"...Alright then." Miles bit the inside of his mouth and narrowed his eyes. "Where's the club?"
It was on the other side of town. The bad side of town, if you asked Miles. The good side of town, if you asked a two-bit crook with a propensity for burglary. In reality, Club Rouge laid somewhere in the middle. The newly-built club straddled Downtown and Uptown, forming a sort of impromptu border between the two neighbourhoods. But despite its location, the club looked like it belonged in one of the city's swankier residences – that was probably part of its charm. The locale was a sound financial choice, too; the club's position made it the perfect spot for almost everyone in the city to party, and with such a large list of customers, the owner was likely swimming in money.
It certainly showed. The club, lit by a labyrinth of neon signs and bulbs, looked about as glitzy as you'd expect a nightclub trying to appeal to everyone to look. Behind the neon laid the building's walls, made up of red brick and absolutely flawless, all the way up to the ledge on the roof. Further down, the entrance was flanked by black marble pillars and a golden plaque, with the words 'Club Rouge' etched into them. The entrance doors themselves were hulking black metal, finished with elegant sculpted handles that shone in the residue of the neon.
Sonic was hanging out here? When did he get a raise?
At the front door stood a big purple cat, arms crossed, watching his post behind the velvet rope. Even for a bouncer he looked dumb as a rock, but he was built like a tank – that must've been enough to do the job.
Miles approached the cat, who unfolded his arms and focused on a notepad in his hands, looking repeatedly from paper to kitsune.
"Name?" He asked in a slow, guttural rumble.
"Miles Prower. I was called by Sha-"
"You're not on the list. You're not getting in."
The fox put his hands to his hips and glared up at the big cat. "Really? We're going to play out this cliché, the whole 'you're not on the list' thing? I got called here by Shadow, okay, and I'm not gonna let some stupid cat stop me from walking through those doors just because you're too stupid to call ahead to check me. I know I'm not enjoying this. Are you?"
"Just a second." The cat pulled a walkie talkie off its belt and spoke into it. "Yeah, Shadow, we've got a fox here says you called him? That sound right?"
A few seconds passed. All Miles could hear was a crackle from the cat's device as his boss answered.
Then, the cat put down the radio, apologising to Miles. "Gee, sorry, sir. I had no idea. Go on in."
Moving the rope and gaining entry himself, the fox marched past the humbled cat and into the club.
Soft, purple light filled the fox's vision upon entry, as he emerged into what looked to be a cloakroom – a small rectangular space with a counter and some changing stalls behind it, along with doors going into the main club. Stood, leaning against the counter, was a grim-looking ebony hedgehog with fiery red streaks running through his quills. Upon seeing Miles, the hedgehog gestured for him to come over.
"Hey," he began, "'Tails', right?"
"You're Shadow." It was more a statement than a question. "Where's Sonic? Is he okay?"
"He's in the club. He's fine, as far as I know, but..." Shadow sniggered, "He's not exactly all there, if you get me."
"How so?"
"You'll see."
The hedgehog nodded, and walked behind the counter. He pulled out a key and began fiddling around, looking for something under the desk. "Just need to get you a pass and we'll be good."
It was strange; for a nightclub, this waiting area was quiet. Very quiet. No thumping of bass resonating along the floor. No rock music coming through the walls. No muffled version of the usual crowd chatter you'd expect to hear next door to a party. Was the room soundproofed? It'd make sense, but there would be no need to insulate the cloakroom.
Miles raised an eyeridge. "A pass? I thought this place was free-entry."
"Usually it is," clarified Shadow, still searching below the counter, "Though, we have a theme night every Friday. Pay-on-entry. If you have a pass or are on the list you don't get thrown out, and you get to enjoy the night's unique entertainment as well as have a few free drinks. We have to pay for loaning the equipment and decorations somehow, right?"
"Okay, but uh... what's tonight's theme?"
"There it is!" The black hedgehog popped up from behind the counter, a satisfied grin on his face. He triumphantly slammed his hand down to reveal a small pink keycard-like object.
"Well?"
"Hmm? Oh, right – the thing. Well, it's part of the reason I called you here, actually. You'll see when you're inside."
"Okay then. Lead the way."
With a small chuckle, Shadow took the kitsune over to the double doors leading to the club. As they approached the doors, the unmistakable sound of an electric guitar rang through the walls. It sounded like something out of a cheesy action movie; fast, angry and accompanied by an aggressive drum beat. For some strange reason, it sounded very familiar.
Noting the influx of sound, Shadow chuckled. "He's started again," muttered the hedgehog.
A wave of sound flooded the cloakroom as the doors opened, the music assaulting Miles' ears and causing the fox to flinch as it washed over him. When he looked back, Miles was treated to the most embarrassing thing he'd ever seen.
"It doesn't matter now what happens, I will never give up the fight!"
Sonic. Stood on stage. Singing his own theme song for karaoke. Poorly.
"90s night in all its glory."
Miles looked to the side to see Shadow stood, arms crossed, watching the former hero croon. A look of mock pride was plastered on his face, the ebony hedgehog barely holding back the wicked smile curving across his lips. Back on stage, Sonic was bawling out the lyrics to his song, banging his head to the beat, his quills whipping up and down as he screeched into the microphone and pumped his fist. He was really going for it.
"How much has he had to drink?" asked Miles, glancing over to the ebony hedgehog.
"Honestly?" The club's manager fought back a grin. "Not that much."
"As long as the voice inside me says go I will always keep on runnin'! There is no way to stop me from going to the very top!"
The kitsune adjusted his gloves. "I'll sort this out."
"It doesn't matter who is wrong or who is right!"
Eyes scanning the room, Miles searched for a way to end that horrible singing. Sonic was belting out his theme music on the circular stage in the centre of the room. His eyes were closed, but any normal karaoke enthusiast would have been watching the small TV showing the lyrics next to him. That was connected to a plug socket on the far side of the room via power cord. Perfect.
The two-tailed fox marched over, passing the once world-famous Sonic the Hedgehog on his way to the far wall. As he went, Miles noted Sonic's audience: about seven irritated bystanders trying to get lost in the bottom of their glasses, and a group of friends sat in the corner, laughing at the hedgehog's efforts. They were enjoying at least some of the performance, it seemed.
Too bad Miles had to end the party.
In a single pull, the cord came out of the wall and Sonic's showcase came crashing down. Cutting the power to the karaoke setup brought down the speakers and backing track, leaving Sonic wailing into the microphone by himself, the only sound in the entire club his attempts to remember the lyrics.
"Well, I won't look back, I don't need you! Time won't wait and I've got the munchies too!"
Lifting his face from the gloved palm it was buried in, Miles exhaled a breath of relief as Shadow took Sonic off the stage, despite the latter's struggling against his removal. The further the black hedgehog pulled the former star from the stage, the quieter his crooning became until, to the silent joy of the entire world, it ceased.
Still stood by the plugs, Miles watched the pair approach him. Sonic had given up his fight for the limelight and had begun to snooze on Shadow's shoulder. "Don't see why you needed me," the fox mused, leaning against the wall. "Why couldn't you have shut him down?"
"Two reasons: first, it was hilarious."
"And second?"
"He told me, just before he went up on stage, to call you in case of an emergency." The club's manager shrugged. "He was driving away customers – I'd call that an emergency."
"Riiiiight." Miles threw Sonic's other arm over his shoulders and helped move him to the exit.
Surprisingly enough, the club's patrons didn't really react to Sonic's performance being cut short. Most just went back to their drinks. Others just pulled their fingers out of their ears and resumed their normal behaviour. The previously silent room became abuzz with the light bumble of conversation, making the trio's departure slightly less awkward. Boy, Sonic was heavy.
Having carried the faded star out into the entrance hallway, the ebony hedgehog and the golden fox set Sonic down.
"Alright, this is far as I go," said Shadow, dutifully heading back to the bar. "I'll call you guys a cab."
From the floor, Miles watched the club's manager leave. He sighed, then looked back to Sonic. The blue hedgehog was leant against the counter, eyes closed, a light snort in his breath, his chest gently rising and falling. Rising and falling. Rising a–
"Great. He's asleep." Miles dropped down next to his old buddy and hit his head against the wood behind him. Sat there, watching the drunken hedgehog enjoy an alcohol-induced nap, a strange thought found its way into the fox's head; since they first met, Sonic had looked out for Miles, making sure he was protected from anything, even himself. But now, after all these years, Miles was the one looking after Sonic. By choice.
It wasn't as if he had to help out the hedgehog. Despite how easy it would have been to just go home, forget about it and leave Sonic in his own mess, the two-tailed fox had chosen to come and get him home. Why, though? A sense of duty? Loyalty, maybe?
That train of thought was for another day. For now, Miles was happy to just wait for the cab, get Sonic to his apartment and then pass out on the couch. Until the cab arrived though, Miles had some time to kill.
"Y'know, Sonic... there are better ways of telling the world you're a terrible singer."
"Like... not singing?" The blue hedgehog, awoken by the fox's, muttering opened his eyes, turned his head and bared a wide grin.
The pair shared a chuckle at Sonic's quip. "It wasn't the best way to make an impression, was it?"
"No... no... I'll–" A light hic escaped the hedgehog's muzzle as he slurred, "I'll... give you that one."
