The Calm Before the Storm
She didn't say anything, just held onto him as he fought with his feelings. Sonic didn't feel like talking and he was grateful for the small kindness she'd shown him in not pushing the subject further. There was still some sort of tension between the two of them, but there was also a kinder familiarity between them as well. Just enough that, for that moment, Sonic let himself hope for something more. Something better. Not just for himself, but for all his people.
Sonic lay sprawled in bed, his green eyes scanning the ceiling warily. It was plastered and grey. The word boring sprung to the forefront of his mind. It was plain and boring. There was nothing interesting to keep him entertained and it was at that moment he realised something.
He'd spent his whole life under the stars.
First, the stars his mother had painted onto his nursery and later bedroom ceiling. After that it was the actual stars twinkling in the sky during his time deep in the forest. Now, confronted with a plain ceiling he found it unsettling. There was nothing to look at, forcing him to listen to his own doubts and nerves. He closed his eyes, blacking out the world.
Up there are the ghosts of the great kings and queens of the past.
His mother's words flitted through his mind, calling unbidden worries to the surface. They were all watching to see what he did next. Watching to see if he'd follow through on his promises, or fail and let down his people for the last time. Sonic wasn't even sure whether he'd still be alive the next day, whether any of them would be. Worry blossomed like death in his chest, inky and dark.
They will always be there to guide you, and so will I. You just have to look right here.
Sonic lifted his fingers to his chest, splaying them over the rhythmic thumping on the left side. He felt the blood rush underneath them, hoping and praying that the kings and queens of old would guide him. That his mother would guide him. Or at the very least, subdue his constant concern.
Sonic let the thought drift around in his mind for awhile, hoping that it would calm his racing nerves and finally let him succumb to the release of sleep. But to no avail. His mind was too awake. The thoughts of the upcoming battle, the burden he held on his too small shoulders, all flitting through his thoughts. Sleep became an elusive friend. When he saw the first rays of sunlight brighten the dark sky he sighed dramatically.
'Well, who needs sleep anyway.'
Sonic shifted his body and rolled out of bed, being as quiet as he could to avoid waking Big and Silver. They were deep sleepers so he needn't have bothered tiptoeing. He poked his head out into the empty corridor, checking to see if anyone was around. Stepping out, he closed the door behind him and rolled his stiff shoulders. He may not have gotten any sleep, but at least the lie down had helped him feel a little rested.
The last two weeks of training had taken their toll on him, and he was glad for the fact that the chances of him having to train that hard ever again were extremely slim. Sure, as the king he'd have to train for his own protection, but it would be nowhere near as rigorous as Blaze's training methods.
'King...'
He hadn't had much time to consider what he'd do if they beat Eggman. Most of his energy and thoughts had gone into trying to figure out how to take him down, not what he'd do once he was gone. Sonic followed the corridor silently until he came to the door that led to the upper floors and the rooftop.
What did he plan to do as king? He pondered the question as he bounded up the steps and pushed open the final door, relishing in the cool breeze. He let the wind brush through his fur as he walked out onto the roof.
Standing as close to the edge as he dared, his eyes took in the breathtaking view of Mobius at sunrise. He'd seen it from the castle when he was younger, but from here, it was a thousand times better and at that moment he knew.
He'd make Mobius into a place his people would be proud to call their own. Into a place his mother would be proud of.
It was still a while before everyone else would wake up for breakfast and battle prep, so Sonic decided to stay on the roof for the time being. He slid his legs over the side of the building and sat on the ledge.
His eyes scanned the view again when he noticed something odd. He looked around again and frowned. Throughout the whole rebel sector, there was not a single guard to be seen. Surely someone would be on watch he wondered, especially because of how important the day was.
Sonic made to get up and investigate further when a thought struck him. He turned to the highest building that the rebels used for lookout, the one they dubbed the crow's nest, and a small smile found its way onto his lips. Warmth bloomed in his chest as he spotted her. He couldn't see much but even he could recognise the pink fur that poked over the top.
He jumped to his feet and decided to make his way over to the building that Amy was on. It was a short trip, and since he knew his way around now he didn't get lost. He tapped lightly on the door before opening it and stepping onto the rooftop, the door swinging closed behind him.
He found Amy staring out at the city below, she hadn't even turned to see who it was that had entered. Sonic was unsure whether to say something or just stand next to her. He took a couple of steps and hesitated. He opened his mouth to say 'hello' when Amy beat him to it.
"It's all a bit surreal isn't it." She said quietly, the wind fanning her bangs. She turned around and smiled at Sonic sadly. "The next time that sun rises over Mobius, one way or another, this war will finally be over."
Sonic looked at her and something inside him broke. He could suddenly see the twelve years of heartbreak, of pain, of war written all over her face. The ache swimming like a shark in the green pools of her eyes, and he could've kicked himself for not seeing it before.
The hurt, pain, heartbreak. All things no one would have had to go through if it had not been for his uncle. He felt a fresh surge of anger course through his veins and he clenched his fists. It took all he had to simmer down, compartmentalise the anger for later. Later, he would deal with Eggman once and for all.
Sonic clenched his fist and walked to stand beside Amy who had turned back around to watch over the city. He turned to look at her, wanting to spill and tell her everything he'd ever wanted to say to her since he'd returned. But he could only bring himself to say one thing.
"I'm sorry."
Amy turned to him slowly. Her eyes found his and the look she gave him told him that she could finally see the truth hidden there. This time when he apologised, she knew he meant it with all his heart. With a small smile, she reached out and gently grasped his hand in her own. Sonic opened his mouth to explain further but she cut him off by squeezing his hand.
"It's okay Sonic. I know." She replied softly. Sonic could see the unspoken words on her face and he wished with all his heart that she would share them with him.
"You know, if you want to talk about anything with me you can". When Amy didn't reply he ran a thumb across her fingers reassuringly. He was surprised when she responded by letting her headrest on Sonic's shoulder, eyes still watching the sunrise.
It was this action that helped him to realise what she was trying to say, the worry that she was trying so hard to conceal.
"Mobius will be an amazing place once we get it back. There will be no more injustice, no more hatred. Everyone will be happy and free. I'll make sure of that." As he spoke, he wondered who it was he was trying to comfort. Amy, or himself.
He felt Amy take in a sharp breath. "You don't need to worry. After today, everything will be okay. Everything will be...better." He finished, struggling to find a word that conveyed exactly what he wanted.
Amy's free hand rested gently on Sonic's chest and she shifted her head so that they were face to face. "Did you consider that it might not be just Mobius I'm worried about." Her eyes darted to his lips and back. "Promise me you'll be okay?" She could feel the toned muscles beneath the downy fur, firm and inviting to the touch.
Sonic was lost for words, his thoughts drowning in the deep forests of her eyes. He swallowed nervously as Amy tip toed and let her lips glide slowly against his. She felt him stiffen, but as she kissed his lips softly he relaxed. His own started moving against hers and Amy felt a tingling sensation trail down her spine. It was short and sweet and it took all her strength to pull back and meet his eyes. Sonic's eyes seemed to glaze over as he lifted his hands to clasp her face.
"Only if you are too." He rasped breathlessly, holding her gaze tenderly before dropping down to meet her waiting lips with his own.
They met in a fiery heat of passion and desire. Of longing and excitement. Moving in perfect harmony. Lips dancing, parting and reuniting in unison. His strong arms dropped from her face to circle her, one resting on her lower back and pulling her closer to him. The other tangled itself in her quills, tugging at them gently.
As he kissed her, he felt something warm and salty and frowned. He opened his eyes to find tears pooling in Amy's eyes and trailing down her face, glistening in the early morning sun. He pulled away in surprise, holding her by the shoulders in worry.
"Amy, what's wrong?" He asked hurriedly. Amy let out a sob in response and Sonic couldn't stop himself as he pulled her into him, pressing her head against his chest.
He wrapped his arms around her tightly and placed a comforting kiss on the top of her head. She shook against him as the sobs racked her body. He wasn't sure how long they stood there. Him holding her protectively, adamant to never let her go. When she quietened against him, he reached out with his words.
"Ames..."
Amy hummed softly in reply.
"You okay?" He refused to relinquish his hold on her, even when she lifted her head to look at him.
"I can't do it." She whispered. "I can't lose you all over again." Her eyes were rimmed in red and Sonic felt a sting of guilt as he considered that this was all his fault. He was about to admit just that when a he remembered the real reason he'd left in the first place. Eggman. This was all his fault and he'd be damned if he ever let that man ruin his life again.
Sonic lifted Amy's chin and gave her a long hard kiss, leaving her gasping for air. "It's gonna take a lot more than Eggman to drag me away from you." He blazed a trail of kisses along her jaw, the warmth burning against her cold skin.
A loud siren brought them out their stupor and crashing back to reality and the two hedgehogs jumped apart guiltily, their eyes flitting everywhere but at each other. The siren was as sharp as a pin, bursting their little bubble and leaving them dazed and unsure about where they stood.
"We should probably get down." Amy said after some time, her words piercing the awkward silence that hung like a fog around them. "Everyone will be looking for you." She fiddled with fingers methodically as she spoke, her gaze never catching his.
"Yeah." Sonic agreed, yet he made no effort to move towards the door. He bit his lip anxiously, thoughts spinning. He reached out to the fragile courage inside him, took a deep breath and turned to the pink hedgehog. "Amy, I lo-"
The loud crash of the door banging open cut off the rest of his words and both hedgehogs turned to find a flustered echidna standing in the doorway, Sonic's words lost to the wind.
Knuckles face broke into a grin as he all but ran onto the rooftop. "Thank chaos we found you. I didn't know whether you were up here or..." Knuckles trailed off in embarrassment but Sonic caught the gist. If he'd run away again. Never again, he thought resolutely.
Knuckles suddenly stopped dead in his tracks and his eyes drifting between the two of hedgehogs and the space between them. He seemed to realise something and a knowing look crossed his face. He cleared his throat awkwardly. "I'm not... interrupting anything am I?"
Sonic caught the mortified look on Amy's face and turned to Knuckles. He mustered his best 'innocent' face as he responded with a simple 'no, nothing at all'. Knuckles let out a breath of relief and laughed.
"Oh, thank Mobius. For a second there, I thought you two might have been having a moment up here or something." Sonic tried his best to keep the friendly smile plastered to his face but it was getting harder and harder by the second. "Any way, the two of you should really come down and grab some food before the first wave gets underway."
Both Sonic and Amy nodded in understanding and Knuckles turned to leave. He stopped just before the doorway and turned back. "This is the day huh. Sometimes I thought we'd never get to see it." He nodded respectfully to Sonic once before turning and heading back down the stairs.
Amy's fingers brushed lightly against his own as she passed him, following after the echidna. He dipped forward and brushed a ghost of a kiss on her cheek before she walked out of reach with a soft laugh.
"I'm glad you're here. Fighting for us..." Amy said, and after a short pause, "...with us." A small smile crossed her lips, brighter and more hopeful than her earlier ones. "Are you coming?" She asked, pausing at the door.
He tried to pick up where Knuckles had interrupted but when he reached for the strength to do it, he found his courage tattered in shreds. There was no way he could say it now, he thought. Instead he turned away from her, back to the dozing city behind him.
"I'll see you down there." He replied, turning to look at her. A hurt look battled for a dominance on her features but it lasted for only a second before she smiled and nodded, giving him a half wave before disappearing out of view. He felt disappointment wash over him as he realised that he'd just missed two perfect opportunities and he sighed regretfully.
He turned to take one last look at Mobius. In the sleepy hours of the morning, the sun shone just as bright as any other day. In fact, if he didn't know any better, he would have thought it was just another day.
But Knuckles and Amy were right. This was the day. The day they would take back what was rightfully theirs. This would be the day that history would forever remember as the liberation of Mobius. The day that would change the future forever.
'But will it be for the better or worse.'
FINALLY! We get to see some more Sonamy action! I really hope you guys enjoyed this because I know I freaking did.
Just for the record, the rating for this story has been changed to T. With a battle in the future chapters, I feel like this could be uncomfortable for the younger audience. I think this story is pushing the boundaries of K+ as it is, so T would be the safer option.
Thank you so much for sticking with me through this guys, you're all so amazing. Thanks for reading! Drop me a review and let me know what you thought if you can. Until next time, chao :)
