All characters belong to Sega/Archie except my OCs.

TW: Mention of child abuse

Chapter 13

The following night, Sonic was lounging on the couch in the living room with a controller in his hands and his eyes glued to the television screen. Despite the late hour, he was wide awake. He wasn't sure why, but he couldn't fall asleep. He didn't understand it as he had worked almost all day with Amy; the restaurant's flow had been so busy he'd barely had time to even talk to her. He thought he'd be tired from all the madness. After he'd eaten and lay in his bed, he just couldn't get comfortable. He didn't particularly feel like smoking, but he knew it'd help him get some rest. He'd smoked a small blunt. It didn't help. If anything, it just made him hungry. His eyes were still a little low from the subtle high he was experiencing. They traveled to the door as he heard it creak open. His sister tried to creep past with her hoodie pulled up over head. "Busted," he yelled, causing her to jump. "What are you doing home so late?"

"I was just hanging out with some friends," Sonia murmured almost inaudibly.

Sonic raised an eyebrow. His red tinted eyes scrutinized her shaking body. "You alright?"

"Yea, yea. I'm fine. I'm just tired…and cold. I think I'm gonna go upstairs, shower, and go to sleep. Goodnight Max."

Sonic paused his game. He got up from his seat and beat his sister to the steps. She kept her head down as he towered over her. His brows crinkled together as she backed away from him. "What's wrong, Sonia? Why are you acting like this? You sure you're alright?"

"I'm fine," Sonia replied firmly. "Now move. I'm tired." She tried to push past him.

He grabbed her arm to keep her still and tugged her hood off of her head. His blood boiled from the sight of her purple cheek and the open cut on her lip. "What the fuck happened," he snapped at her.

She tried to snatch her arm away from him "It's not a big deal. I just got into a fight."

"You don't have any issues with anyone right now. Besides, if it were just a fight then you wouldn't be acting like this. What happened? Did you get into some trouble?"

"Something like that," Sonia said. "But it's not a big deal, Sonic; I promise."

"Who'd you get into trouble with? One of the gangs bother you?"

"Yea," she reluctantly admitted. "Just a couple of Crips."

Sonic stared at his sister for a moment. "You broke up with Shadow, didn't you?"

"Of course. Did you not see what he and Scourge did to Amy?"

"Did he do this to you?"

"Sonic…"

"Did he," Sonic snapped.

Sonia flinched from the sound. She shrunk under his livid green eyes. "Yes," she murmured.

"Son of a fucking bitch," Sonic yelled. He released his sister and darted up the stairs. His vision faded to the familiar red as he stormed to his room. Sonia followed close behind him.

"No, no, no, Sonic please don't do anything. It's not that big of a deal," she tried to tell him. She continued to speak as he put on his socks and sneakers. "Please stop; it's late, and there's no need for this to be handled right now. We can go to the police station in the morning."

Her brother ignored her. He grabbed his black hoodie and slipped it on over his head.

Sonia stood in front of him at the doorway. "Sonic, please calm down. We can handle this in a better, safer way. Let's just sleep on this and figure everything out in the morning."

"No," Sonic replied icily. "Now move. I'll be right back." He gently pushed her out of the way. Her voice called out after him, but he ignored her. He continued to the steps and walked out the door. He practically ran down to the usual Crip hangout near the project buildings. As expected, Shadow and his crew were loitering around with lit cigarettes and music playing from their phones. Scourge nodded to his approaching figure.

"Hey guys, look what we got here," he alerted the others.

Shadow smirked. "What's up, Sonic? What brings you over here at this time of night? After all the trouble you've been causing on our turf, I definitely wouldn't say it's in your best interest." His crew put their hands on their weapons as Sonic punched Shadow directly in the eye. The other boy laughed from the impact. "Chill, chill," he told his friends. He smiled at Sonic. "Must we always resort to fighting, Sonic?"

"Must you always put your hands on a female?" He stepped into Shadow's face. "Stay the fuck away from my sister."

"What are you gonna do if I don't?"

Sonic answered his question by giving him another punch to his face. This time he didn't stop after one hit. He continued throwing blows at the boy. Shadow didn't allow him to beat on him; he delivered his own punches to Sonic's face. Sonic kicked Shadow in the face, sending him to the ground. He mounted the other boy and began to pound his face in. He wasn't able to stay in his position for long. Shadow's friends restrained him. They pulled him off Shadow and threw him onto the ground. Shadow wasn't able to blink before he felt fists and sneakers slam down intermittently on his body. "Fucking pussies," he muttered as he blocked his face the best he could. One of the members noticed his defense and restrained his arms. They pulled him to his feet and took turns beating him back down. Sonic couldn't acknowledge the pain; his blood was boiling at an extremely high temperature. His vision was consumed with fire. He fought back against their punches by using her long legs to kick them away. If he found an opening, he'd swing at them. However, he couldn't deny he was fighting a losing battle. There were too many of them for him to handle at once. He accepted his loss with a gritted sigh. Thankfully the fight didn't last too long. The familiar blue and red lights accompanied with loud sirens caused the Crips to disperse.

Sonic spat out blood as he struggled to get to his feet. "Ah hell," he heard Vector's voice echo through his ears. "You again?"

Sonic smirked around his busted lip. "Did you miss me?"

"We're gonna put a leash on your ass." Vector helped the teen up. He pushed him towards the police car. Espio was leaning against the backdoor on the passenger seat. He opened the door for Sonic.

"Our favorite passenger," he commented as Sonic slid in.

"Shut the fuck up," Sonic said as he shoved his back against the backseat.

The two policemen drove him back to the station in silence. Shade cleaned his bloody face and bandaged his wounds as she lectured him about getting into trouble. Sonic tuned her out. He didn't particularly feel like hearing it right then. His blood was still boiling. Why was it that people always had to jump him when they knew he was going to beat their ass? Why couldn't they just take the ass-whooping like a man? He was getting tired of having to defend himself from people he didn't have an issue with – or didn't even know. He just wanted to teach the little pricks a lesson and move on with his life. Why couldn't solving issues with his fists be that simple?

Manic didn't talk to him on the ride home. As usual, he waited into they were in the privacy of their own home to yell at him. "What part of grounded do you not understand," Manic asked as they entered the living room.

"What part of you're not my goddamn father do you not understand," Sonic snapped back.

Manic glared at him. "You need to start respecting me, Ogilvie. I'm done with the backtalk and constant disrespect. All I'm trying to do is look out for you like a good older brother should, but all you wanna do is turn me into some kind of bad guy." He grabbed onto his younger brother's arm. He turned him around so they could face each other. "I'm just trying to protect you, hermanito."

Sonic shrugged his brother's hand off. "I don't need your protection."

Manic scoffed. "Why are you so fucking mad at me? What did I do to you? Hell what did everyone who crosses your path do to you? Every goddamn day you're fighting with someone different. What are you trying to do by collecting all these conflicts? Do something you'll regret and get sent to jail or get yourself killed? Because that's exactly the two options I see whenever I imagine your future if you keep it up like this."

"Fuck off," Sonic yelled.

"I'm asking you an honest question, Sonic," Cristian softened his voice. "What are you expecting to come from all of this?"

"I don't know," Sonic whispered.

"You don't know," Manic said. He shook his head. "Of course you don't know. Dad didn't know either. Now look at him. Fuck, look at you following in his footsteps; the drugs, the fighting, the fleeting affairs, the constant trouble – next thing you know you'll be in jail. Is that what you want, Sonic? Do you want to be in jail or dead?"

"I want you to fuck off," Sonic growled.

"I'm not going to fuck off!" Manic yelled as he stepped into his brother's face.

"Get the fuck out my face," Sonic said as he shoved him away.

Manic simply stepped back into his personal space. "What are you going to do if I don't? You gonna punch me?"

"Yea I'm gonna punch you. I'm not fucking scared of you. Now get the fuck out of my face before I punch you in your shit."

"Punch me, hermanito, if that's what you wanna do. We can fight. Just punch me." He face palmed his brother and shoved him. "Do something, you little fucker, since you wanna be so fucking angry with me all the time; I'll beat your ass for the ten thousandth time. Come on."

Sonic succumbed to the fire fueling his rapid heartbeat. He punched his brother in the face. Manic returned the punch with one of his own. The two exchanged punches for a brief moment before Manic grabbed Sonic by his hoodie and threw him down onto the couch. Sonic had grabbed onto his brother and brought him down with him. Their punches continued to fly before Sonic kicked Manic to the floor. Manic grabbed Sonic's outstretched arm as he'd thrown a punch and dragged him to the floor. He tackled his younger brother down. The two brothers rolled around on the ground, tearing and punching at each other. They ignored their mother's and sister's yells for them to stop.

"Paren! Paren, mis hijos," Aleena exclaimed at her sons. "Por favor, paren!"

"Get the fuck off me," Sonic said as he kicked Manic off of him. He tried to jump on his brother, but their mother got between them.

"Stop, stop," she told him calmly. "Both of you, stop." She took a deep breath. "What's the meaning of all this? Why are you two fighting?"

"Sonic can't stay out of trouble!" Manic snapped.

"Manic can't mind his damn business," Sonic yelled back. He turned his livid eyes to his sister who was standing in the doorway. "You wanna tell them or should I?"

"Tell us what," Aleena asked as she looked to her daughter. Her face fell as she noticed her wounded face. "What's happened, mi hija?"

"She's been dating a Crip, mama. She broke up with said Crip, so he put his hands on her. You think I'm supposed to let that shit slide? No one messes with any of my girls!" He turned his glare to Manic. "Since it's obvious Manic isn't going to protect you, I guess I have to!"

Manic returned his glare. "Don't you fucking start! I practically helped raise all both of you! I've taken care of both of you since dad left!"

"No one fucking asked you to! Besides, it's not like you're actually home to actually do anything for us! When you are home, all you do is fucking complain and shove your head up mama's ass!"

"Ogilvie," his mother said sternly.

He ignored her. "I bet you were so happy when dad left! Then you could hate him all you wanted! You could pretend you didn't like him because he abandoned us when really you were just mad he favored me over you! You're just jealous because he loved me more than he loved you! You wish you could be just as important to someone in this family as I was to him!"

"Oh yea? If you were so fucking important, then why did he leave you behind right along with the rest of us?"

"Because he knew your bitch ass wasn't going to protect the girls."

Manic rolled his eyes. "Dios, you're such a fucking idiot. Dad left because he's a fucking piece of shit. He always was, and he always will be. Hey, since you're trying to be just like him, then I guess that makes you one too!"

"Manic," Aleena scolded him.

"Fuck you, Manic," Sonic snapped. He got up from his spot.

"Sonic, don't," Aleena started as Sonic walked towards his brother. It was too late, however. Sonic kicked his brother right in the stomach. Manic grabbed onto Sonic's leg and swung him down onto the ground. "Stop, stop," Aleena said as her boys began to exchange blows with each other again. Sonia helped her pull the two apart. Sonic shrugged out of his sister's grasp. He stalked towards the door. "Ogilvie," Aleena yelled after him. "Ogilvie, where are you going? Don't leave! Come back! Don't you dare walk out that door!"

Sonic slammed the door behind him. He pulled his hood over his head as he descended the porch steps. He walked away from his house and wandered down the street. He needed some weed. Or alcohol. Something to ease his nerves. His blood was boiling; the fire inside of him was licking up every inch of his bones. He wanted to break Manic's face for fucking with him. Then he'd break Shadow's and Scourge's for fucking with his girls. Then he'd track down his asshole of a father and use his fists rather than his hands to sort out their family issues. After all, that seemed to be the only way his father knew how to communicate. Maybe if he spoke his father's language, then they could finally get to the bottom of their problems. Maybe he could finally resolve his own.

He arrived to the small park he used to runaway to as a kid. The park was complete with a small playhouse, swings, seesaw, and wide open field for kids to run around. At times like this when his home life was an absolute wreck, this was the place he'd run to. Usually he'd come alone. When he was upset, he didn't like being around people. If someone said the wrong thing, they'd only set off his short fuse and send him on another rampage. He just wanted some peace for a few moments. He needed some time to think and tame his fire. His mother and brother weren't going to let this conversation go. He'd have to deal with them eventually. He at least wanted to be in a better mood when he did. While he doubted they'd get anywhere, he didn't want to exchange blows with his brother again – at least not in front of their mom. Sonic knew he wanted a rematch the moment she wasn't home. He wasn't done giving his brother a piece of his mind.

Sonic raised an eyebrow as he noticed the small figure sitting in the top of the playhouse under the coned tower near the slide. He recognized the head full of curls and the slender arms wrapped around the figure's torso. He quietly approached her as not to startle her. Her dark green eyes looked to him as he sat down beside her. He leaned his back against the plastic wall and stretched his long legs out in front of him.

"You look like shit," Amy commented.

"I'm still cute though," Sonic replied.

"What happened?"

"The Crips jumped me again, then I fought Manic after he picked me up from the police station."

"Why were you fighting with the Crips again?"

"Shadow put his hands on my sister. You know I don't play that shit."

"Why'd you fight with Manic?"

"Because he was jumping on my last nerve. The asshole is lucky I didn't break his fucking jaw."

"I'm sorry," Amy whispered. She averted her eyes out to the dimly lit city before them. The two sat in silence for a moment before Sonic spoke.

"Can I tell you something," he asked.

She looked over at him. "Yea. Anything."

"I don't know what I'm doing anymore," he said with a deep sigh. "Everyone keeps asking me why I'm always fighting; they ask me what I'm getting out of it. The truth is, I don't know. I keep telling myself I'm protecting the people I care about when really I'm just pushing them away. I'm just letting everyone down – even my damn self." He looked down to his lap. "I keep telling myself I don't care, but I do. I miss only worrying about what game my friends and I were going to buy on the walk to the store rather than who we were going to get into a fight with. I miss having my mom around. I miss when Sonia and I used to hang out. I miss when Manic and I weren't arguing all the time. I miss spending alone time like this with you. I miss being happy. I keep…I keep telling myself that I am, but really I'm not. I keep trying to convince I feel nothing or that I'm pushing my feelings on the back burner when really, I'm feeling everything. Every punch, every argument, every little flicker of anger in my body – and it's all just one big jumble in my head, adding to my ego." He sighed, throwing his head back. "I think I'm just waiting for my efforts to work – for someone to leave. As much of a pain as I've been, I'm a bit confused how it hasn't worked yet."

"Because people care about you, Sonic," Amy whispered. "Not everyone is going to just up and leave."

"I guess," he muttered. He glanced at her. "What are you doing up here all alone? Don't you know the crazies come out at this time of night?"

Amy smirked. "The craziest of the crazies is sitting right next to me, so I'm not too worried."

He gently nudged her. "Shut up." He turned his green eyes to meet hers. "Seriously, what are you doing out here by yourself?"

Amy looked away. "I just needed some time to think."

"About…?"

Her green eyes clouded over. "Well, Rob and I took a trip down memory lane yesterday…and it wasn't pleasant."

Sonic raised an eyebrow. "Do I need to kick his ass?"

"No. None of what happened was his fault." She sighed. "Promise you won't tell anyone?"

"You know I won't."

"I have a different father than Rob – as if it wasn't obvious when you met him. Our mother cheated on her husband, Rob's dad, with my biological father because her marriage was a wreck; she ended up getting pregnant and had me. Rob's dad let her keep the baby on the condition that she couldn't have a relationship with it. So, she let a nanny and a young Rob raise me for a while. Rob's dad ended up filing for divorce two years after I was born, and she took all over her anger out on me." A tear fell from Amy's eye. "Rob said she'd take me to a guest room and torture me almost every day; she used to say she was punishing me even when I wasn't in trouble. When I turned five, she let men rape me as an addition to the torture. Sometime when I was seven, she decided to try to kill me – and she almost succeeded. Wyatt had called the cops, and we were separated and I came here…you know the story from there." Her voice began to shake as she spoke. "My biological mother hated me. She despised me enough to torture and allow strangers to sexually abuse me – her daughter. I don't know how to process that. I don't know how to figure out what kind of person could be so cruel to a child who hadn't asked to be brought into the world. No one forced her to cheat on her husband. No one made her keep me. She could've gotten an abortion when she had the chance or given me up for adoption. She didn't have to keep me. Things would be so much better if she hadn't. Then I wouldn't be here and Rob wouldn't feel so guilty because no one believed him about the abuse and neither of us would've had to endured so much pain. I keep asking myself how could someone be so heartless to a child? The more I think about this the angrier I get. At first I was devastated; what kind of mother doesn't love her child? What kind of mother would do such a horrid things to her child?" She shook her head as her tears continued to fall. "Thanks to her, I have no sense of self-worth. I can't let anyone love me because she beat it into my head that I don't deserve it – that I can't be loved." She paused. "Then again, maybe she was right. No one actually cares about me. None of the stupid boyfriends, none of my so-called friends, not my biological parents – no one ever gave a shit about me." Her voice began to crack. "I'm nothing…to anyone. I'm just a stupid toy to be played with and tossed aside when others are done with it. No one could ever really love me."

"I do," Sonic said.

Amy glanced at him. She let out a laugh between her tears. "Shut up. You don't have to lie to make me feel better."

"I'm not lying. I do love you."

"No you don't. You can't. No one can."

Sonic grasped her moist cheeks in her hands and turned her face towards his. "I love you," he said firmly. "I love you. I'm in love with you, and I have been for a while now. I thought you knew this already."

Amy shook her head. "You're not being serious."

"I am, Amy." He wiped her tears away with his thumb. "I love you."

"But…but after the summer…I thought you hated me. You said you did after I…after I said we couldn't be together…in that way."

"I was just upset. You of all people know half the shit I say when I'm upset isn't true." He cupped her wet cheek in his hand. "I could never hate you. You're beautiful, smart, funny – a tad bit annoying at times, but it's amusing to an extent; you're the most lovable person I've ever met, and I am so grateful to have you in my life."

"You really mean that," Amy whispered.

"Yes. I do." He looked away from her watery gaze to glance around the dimly lit streets. "It's late," he stated. "We should start heading home." He started to move, but Amy grabbed his hand.

"Sonic," she quietly called. She scooted closer to him. She slowly raised her hand to his face. Her fingertips caressed his bruised cheek before sliding into his soft curls. Her fingers gently rubbed through them, the silky springs wrapped around them. Sonic cupped his hand at the base of her neck as she leaned up towards him. His lips met hers halfway; together the indulged in a sweet, cautious kiss. Sonic kissed her slowly, tenderly. Their lips danced in a romantic waltz as Sonic pressed her fragile body against his. Amy's arms looped around his neck as his wrapped around her torso, holding her captive against him. The familiar shudder of fear trickled down her spin at the sensation of Sonic's warm tongue against her lips. She tensed up in his arms.

"It's okay," he whispered against her lips. "It's just me. I won't hurt you."

Amy relaxed in his grasp. His warm tongue flicked at her lips again. She shakily opened her mouth and allowed his tongue to slither inside. A soft moan escaped her lips as his tongue wrestled with her smaller one. She tugged him closer, and his arms tightened around her waist. Together they sat under the stars, at the top of playhouse, locked together in a passionate kiss – just like they used to not too long ago.

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