WARNING: Homophobia, sexual themes, bullying, and EXTREMELY dark topics such as childhood sexual/physical abuse.
Chapter 21: Fragile
After the assault on Manic, Shadow, and Officer Zonic, Principal Acorn had no choice but to suspend Mighty for three weeks. He wasn't to go anywhere else on campus but his dorm room, not that it mattered. He was always off at Metropolis Hospital with Matilda. Being suspended gave him a little more time with her.
"I still can't believe you did that Mighty." The little armadillo girl shook her head, "You're not a fighter."
"I know. I feel so bad." He sighed, "But when it comes to you and Ray…I'll do anything."
"I don't want you going around and hurting people. What happened at the party was an accident. Tommy and Mellow paid with their lives…I think that's enough."
"I just wish…I could have been there for you guys." Her older brother admitted as he laid next to her on the tiny hospital bed.
"It's not your fault Mighty." She assured him, nuzzling into his side. "I just want you to be happy, and normal."
"Are you saying I'm a weirdo?"
"I'm being serious!" She whined, whacking him with her foot. "I know you take care of us, but I want you to do normal things too…"
"Like what Tilly?"
"Like get a girlfriend!"
"We've talked about this!" He whined, "I'm not interested in any girls."
"You're such a liar!" Matilda pouted, "What about neighbor girl? I've seen her around school too!"
The red-shelled armadillo looked like a strawberry at the mention of their neighbor. Apparently he also noticed her around campus. Matilda just smiled with delight at the potential for normalcy.
"Tilly!" He groaned, "Why can't you be one of those little sisters who tries to keep girls away from their big brother? It's like you're shoving me to the wolves!"
She just laughed at his accusations. He tried to be stern, but ended up busting into laughter with her. It felt good to laugh together, even after everything they'd been through this last month and a half. They ceased their laughter as a knock sounded on the door. They both sat up as they watched the door open to see their social workers walk in.
"Ms. Clove, Ms. Cassia." Mighty greeted, more shocked than pleased.
"Hello Mighty, Matilda." They offered their own greetings in unison.
Matilda hid behind Mighty's shoulder. The only time Matilda had ever seen either of them was when they took her away to a new home. She had a habit of trying to evade them.
Mighty stood up and walked over to them. "What's this about? I thought our checkup wasn't for another six months.
"We're not here for a checkup Mr. Armadillo." Clove said flatly, handing him a white envelope. "It's an order of removal. We're taking Matilda and Ray back."
"WHAT!?" Mighty screeched, tearing open the letter. She wasn't lying, it was an order of removal signed by Judge Nega himself. "You can't do this!"
"I told you I'd be back if you couldn't care adequately." The pronghorn stated sternly, "You nearly killed them."
"No. No, no, no." Mighty shook his head, backing away from them to take hold of Matilda. "She needs me."
"She needs an adult to look after her, they both do."
He just shook his head in disapproval. Matilda looked up to him fearfully. She was terrified of being lost in the system again. Cassia stood behind her sister, wearing a look of disapproval herself. She didn't like how serious and by the book Clove did the job, even when she knew it was wrong.
"Don't make this any harder than it has to be." Cassia sighed sympathetically. Mighty stood his ground, holding Matilda tightly.
"We have a restraining order against you for both children as well. You won't be allowed back here, or anywhere near Ray the Flying Squirrel until after trial." Clove said, crossing her arms as she tapped her forearms impatiently.
"Trial?" What trial?" Mighty questioned in a panic.
"A custody battle. One of Matilda's previous foster family's is seeking her out, and Ray's father wants him back—"
"FATHER?" The armadillo shouted, "I'm the one who's taken care of him damn near his whole life! No one is going to take them away from me!"
"You did this to yourself." Clove shot back, snapping her fingers to signal security. "Remove him from the vicinity." She commanded the officers.
"Mighty!" Matilda cried as the eight officers approached him.
"YOU CAN'T DO THIS!" He screamed as the officers pried him off Matilda and dragged him out the door. He reached out to her desperately as he used all his strength to fight them off, but there were just too many of them. "MATILDA!"
"PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME." She sobbed frantically, shattering his heart to pieces.
"Clove, that was cruel." Cassia scolded her sister as she rushed to the armadillo girl's side and held her.
"Maybe so, but it's done now."
Mighty was physically thrown out of the hospital, instructed not to return until they were given approval. He stood on the cold ground outside for a long time, sobbing and heaving with anger. He just wanted to be with his siblings, it's all he's ever wanted, and it seems like everything in the world wants to get in the way of that.
After some time he managed to pick himself up. Dirty, crying, and clutching the white envelope. He got in his car, repeatedly slamming his head on the steering wheel as he screamed at the top of his lungs. He didn't know what to do. He picked up his cellphone from the cup holder and dialed a number.
"Hello?"
"Principal Acorn…" He sobbed, "Please help me."
"Mighty? What's going on? Are you alright?"
"They took them, Matilda and Ray."
"Who?" She questioned frantically, "Mighty? Who took them?"
"Child Services." He wailed, "Please, you said you'd help us."
"I will Mighty, I promise." She assured him. "I'll meet you back at the school."
She ended the call, sitting up from her laying down position. The man beside her sat up as well, wrapping his arms around her as he nuzzled into her neck.
"Can't you stay the night?" He cooed.
"I've gotta go to work." She turned to give him a sly grin before kissing him.
"Isn't that my line?"
"I just need to borrow it." She teased before getting up, "Goodbye Locke."
"For now Alicia."
Wave rolled her eyes as Blaze and Silver snuggled up in the bed beside hers, whispering cutely and giggling like morons. She closed her book before grabbing her bag and walking out the door. She made sure to slam it extra hard so they knew she left.
"What's her problem?" Silver asked the cat.
"She's just…jealous."
The swallow walked across campus, taking note of her surroundings. She finally spotted one of her friend's sitting at a picnic table by the fountain. She quickly made her way over to him, taking a seat beside the green hawk.
"Trouble at home?" He questioned.
"What ever gave you that idea?" She muttered, setting her stuff down on the table.
"You're usually cooped up in your dorm until classes are over." He chuckled.
"Blaze is in there with her…boyfriend." The purple bird grimaced.
"C'mon Wave." Jet groaned, "You've gotta good lookin' guy like me sittin' right beside you. No need to be jealous of the stupid cat."
"I'm not jealous of her." Wave corrected him.
"Chaos-dammit Wave!" He scolded her, "You need to get over this faggot phase already!"
"Who says it's a phase?" She retorted in annoyance, "Maybe I'm not gay at all. Has it ever crossed your mind that maybe I just don't like YOU like that?" She picked up her stuff and left as quickly as she came.
He was a good friend—with an obvious crush on her—but she didn't see him in a romantic light. He was immature, arrogant, and above all not attractive to her—not like girls. It's something she can't control. She's always preferred girls since as long as she can remember.
She's never been in a relationship, but she didn't hide her sexuality either. The swallow has yet to find a girl worthy of claiming…well at least a lesbian one. Blaze the Cat was the only girl that really interested her, and that sure as hell didn't work out.
She's had a crush on the cat since they met last year. Blaze is beautiful, athletically gifted, and so down to earth. Just the sight of her made Wave's heart flutter. With the way the cat acts, dresses, and carries herself, it was easy for anyone to mistake her for a lesbian. Sadly, she was not.
There's nothing more heartbreaking than wanting someone you know you'll never have.
"Ow!" Wave yelped as she bumped heads with another student. She looked up to see she had accidentally bumped into an old friend. Rotor the Walrus.
"Sorry Wave." He apologized, "Didn't see you there. I was too busy looking at…"
His voice trailed off, as did his gaze. Wave followed his eyes to see he was staring at Cobar the Echidna. President of the LGBT committee. A smile quickly formed on her face.
"He's single ya'know." She cooed.
"Yeah I know." Rotor sighed, "But…I can't."
"C'mon Rotor." She whined, "You've been in the closet way too long! You're not a damn sweater."
"You know how people like us get treated…" He mumbled, "And my father would never—"
"Who the hell cares? Seriously, stop caring about what others will think. My friends bitch about my orientation all the time and I'm still proud of who I am! Not to mention I'm very happy with my choice of coming out, and you would be too, because being out means freedom."
"You think so?"
"I know so." She assured him, "I'm sure Cobar would think so too. He'd love to see you at one of our meetings." She added, waving over to Cobar who smiled at the both of them. Rotor's heart did backflips.
"I'd need to talk to my dad." The walrus explained, "If I'm coming out, I should at least let him be the first to know."
"Well, second actually." Wave grinned, "I'm number one."
"Right." He chuckled, "Thanks for the encouragement Wave. I'll think about it."
'My parents were both hardcore junkies. My mom never stopped using, even when she was pregnant with me. She said she was hoping the drugs would cause a miscarriage. Too bad they didn't.
When I was five my dad started touching me, then at seven he started raping me, and by the time I was nine so were all his friends and dealers.
My mom hated me. She was so jealous. Chaos knows why, I hated every damn minute of it all. She'd beat me, use me as an outlet for all her frustrations. One time she nearly drowned me in a tub of boiling hot water because she thought I was trying to steal her husband…my father.
I couldn't wait for Child Services. I took my own way out. At ten I was out on the streets of Mercia all on my own. I stole from grocery stores, sucked off truck drivers for rides, and slept in alleyways. It wasn't glamorous, but it was better than being with those two. They didn't even bother looking for me.
To me, hell is a place called home, parents are the devil, and no one is trustworthy. Everyone is scum.
Finally Child Services found me when I was twelve. By then I'd already been prostituting, and hustling on the streets for two years. Who the hell would ever want me in their homes? I jumped from foster home to foster home like a damn kangaroo. No one wanted to keep me for more than two weeks.
An elderly couple from Moebius kept me and nine other kids. They were the kind of people who were more concerned about the federal checks than the kids, so they let us do whatever. That's where I met Mighty and that fucker Ray.
He was such a weirdo, always stuttering and crying like a baby. His innocence made me so angry. I bet he never had to worry a day in his life like I have. I used to beat him up, and yell at him. I wanted him to hurt the way I did. It could have gone on that way forever, until Mighty showed up and changed my world.
"Leave him alone!" The armadillo shouted, yanking my ponytail.
"Ouch!" I screeched, shoving him away from me.
He then scooped Ray up in his arms and hauled him away. I was so mad.
Sometime later that night, I was sitting up on the roof like I usually did. I was twelve, and after being out on the streets for so long I really didn't care about my appearance. I wore rags, and jaggedly cut my hair myself. I purposely tried to make myself unattractive in an attempt to keep people away.
"I'm sorry." A voice called out. When I turned around, Mighty was taking a seat right next to me. Back then he wasn't nearly as built, and had braces. "I didn't mean to pull your hair, but you shouldn't tease people like that."
"And why not?" I huffed, "People used to hit me all the time, sometimes worse."
"Well, they shouldn't have." He replied, "Can we be friends?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Cause I don't know how."
"I can show you." He smiled, digging in his pocket for something. "Here, I want you to have this." He then handed me a little yellow bow.
"Why?" I asked skeptically, "What do you want for it?"
"I want you to smile."
"What?" I rose an eyebrow, "Why?"
"Because you're pretty when you smile."
His proclamation made my face go red, and my heart flutter. I'd never met a person as nice as him, or any guy who didn't want me to bend over. Mighty the Armadillo was my first friend, and the first person to ever show me any true kindness.
After that we hung out all the time. He even introduced me to Ray, and told me about his speech issues. We became so close-knit. I finally felt like I had a family of my own…until he abandoned me.
One day he just up and left. Child Services shipped him off to Mobotropolis. He swore he'd come back for me…but he never did.
Once again I was alone in the world. In another shitty foster family on the other side of the country, wondering every night when Mighty would return. Eventually I gave up on him.
I hate him. He showed me what true happiness and trust were….only to take them away from me.
Later that same year, I met Scourge. He was in seventh grade when I was in sixth. He immediately caught my eye. He was rugged, cruel, and had that deviant streak. He was defiant, loud, and angry all the time. I knew I wanted to make him mine the minute he rescued me from a gang of thugs I was trying to hustle.
He scared them all away before helping me off the sidewalk. His eyes were such a magnificent blue, so unreal. I was star-struck.
"Th-Thanks." I stammered, blushing like crazy. Something not usual for me.
"No problem Babe." He grinned, "But you better step your game up. I don't like to play hero and save random girls. You're just lucky you're cute."
I just had to make him mine. He's everything I've ever wanted in anyone. A boy version of myself. Someone I could keep in my pocket forever.
But…he was in love with someone else.
The auburn-haired girl from the rich side of Moebius.
He used to follow her around like a lost puppy. Sometimes I'd catch him standing outside her house in the bushes. He practically melted at the sight of her in the schoolyard. I hated it. It took forever to snag him. But I managed to tame his wild heart for myself.
I've been with him for almost four years of my life. I'm not letting him get away…not again.'
"Hello Nack." Fiona cooed as she swung the door to the senior's room open.
"Well, well. If it isn't my best customer." The weasel grinned, "What can I do ya' for Love?"
"I need some info."
"You know my services aren't free." He reminded her, tipping his brown hat to her.
"Neither are mine." She purred seductively as she unzipped her leather vest, revealing she wore nothing underneath.
He just flashed her a sly grin before gesturing her to come forward. She strutted over to him, taking a seat on his lap as he laid in bed with his arms propping up his head. Thankfully he had no roommates. She worked on undoing the buckle of his belt as they spoke some more.
"So what do you want to know?" He asked curiously, voice pitched higher when she began stroking him.
"Scourge? Is he seeing anyone?"
Nack quickly sat up to give her a knowing smirk. He knew she'd come to him for info on her ex-lover sooner or later. Unfortunately for her, he was going to milk it for all it's worth.
"Actually…yes."
"WHO?"
"I won't finish…until I finish." He joked, gesturing to his groin.
Fiona sucked her teeth in annoyance before rolling her eyes and diving down onto him. After years of doing such a thing the fox has learned to tune out the process all together. She went into her own little world where everything was perfect. She only came back to reality when he finished in her mouth. She swallowed the substance before sitting up to look at him. He appeared satisfied.
"Her name is Amy Rose." He smiled, "Fifteen year old sophomore girl who transferred here this year from Mercia. She's cute, but has a bit of a freaky side. I saw them mess around in his car a few times. She's rich, happy, and pretty much everything you're not."
"I'll kill her." Fiona stated as she got up from the weasel's bed.
He quickly grabbed her wrist, preventing her from leaving. "Wait, I've got a proposition for ya' Love."
"I've got my info." She snarled, "I don't need to play your little game."
"Nothing sexual Love." He chuckled, "I know a better way to get revenge than beating the poor girl up."
"Like what?"
"The gossip well has been a bit dry lately. I'm thinkin' if we stir up a bit of mischief things will pick up again." He explained, "Amy Rose was messin' around with ya' hedgehog a few days ago, today she's dating Sonic…and I doubt he knows."
"So what? You want me to expose the slut?"
"Yes, but not to her boyfriend."
"Then who?" Fiona questioned, "I'd much rather pummel her into oblivion."
"Come." He gestured her back toward him, "I'll tell you all about it."
Mina removed the yellow rubber gloves from her hands and threw them in the wastebasket once she was done with today's dishes. She sighed heavily, wiping her semi-wet hands on her skirt as she trudged out of the school kitchen. She was grateful that she wasn't expelled, but boy did she loathe her new chores.
The café was empty, except for the lynx girl wiping down tables. It was Nicole, smiling to herself as she sang a lovely tune. Mina's heart tore at the sight of her. Ever since the meeting she's felt differently about the DigItalians. Especially after finding out her father's war buddy—and her first celebrity crush—Captain Metal was DigItalian himself.
She slowly realized that she never really cared about their ethnic backgrounds…she was just programmed by her father to be intolerant of their people. The mongoose felt horrible about everything.
"Um…Nicole?" Mina spoke up, walking over to the table Nicole was cleaning.
The lynx jumped up in surprise, startled by her sudden appearance. "Oh, Mina…I didn't see you there." She backed away nervously.
"No please." Mina waved her hands in dismissal, "Don't be afraid. I just came over to apologize…for everything."
"Apologize?" Nicole questioned.
"Yes. I'm sorry about everything I've done to you. You didn't deserve any of this…" Her eyes began to well up with tears, "Look what I did to you." She sniffled as she brushed her hand against the lynx's cheek.
The utter sincerity was just oozing from her voice. Although the mongoose had touched her cheek, she felt no fear. Mina was actually being apologetic. Nicole smiled warmly at the sudden turn of the tides. The things Shard said must have broken through.
"I forgive you Mina Mongoose."
Mina was overjoyed. She wrapped her arms around Nicole, sobbing into her shoulder. "Thank you. I'm so sorry Nicole. I'm not a racist, I swear."
"I always knew you weren't." The lynx assured her, "You were just misguided."
"I'm really so sorry Nicole, I am."
"I should apologize as well." Nicole spoke up, pulling away from the hug to lock their jade eyes. "I didn't mean for you to be harmed. I don't believe violence is the right road to peace. Shard just doesn't know any better."
"Shard…" Mina mumbled, "Do you think he'd ever forgive me?"
"Absolutely not." The lynx shook her head, "He's as stubborn as they come."
The bell had finally rang, signaling Scourge that naptime—more commonly referred to as history class—was over. He grumbled as he stirred awake and walked out of the classroom. He arched his back and stuck his arms out as he let out a sleepy yawn. The day had been going by way too slow.
He began the walk to his car, craving one of his beloved cancer sticks. On his way out of the main building he noticed a mob of angry students down the hall. They were chanting words like 'bitch' and 'whore', certainly peaking his interest. He turned heel and walked over to the commotion, curious as to what was going on. He shoved his way through the crowd until he was close enough to see four angry girls shoving a cowering chipmunk between them.
"Stupid bitch! How the hell could you do that to Sonic's perfect face!?" One of them sneered. Scourge recognized her as Tiara Boobinski, a mink girl with another crazy Sonic obsession.
"Or Mina? She's a fucking angel!" Another shouted.
The green hedgehog tightened his fists as he watched the helpless chipmunk get shoved and taunted. It was four against one surrounded by an angry mob. There was no way for her to defend herself even if she tried. She must have known that, because all she did was try her best to keep herself steadily on her feet.
"Move it." Scourge commanded as he shoved people aside.
He quickly scooped Sally up in his arms and darted down the hall. The crowd roared angrily, not satisfied with their taunting. They began chasing the two. He let out an amused laugh before kicking it into high-gear and zooming through the maze of hallways. Sally looked up at him in confusion as the wind whipped her hair across her face. He just gave her a genuine smirk before coming to a screeching halt in front of the janitor's closet. He quickly flung the door open and tossed her inside before shutting it behind them.
Once they heard the angry crowd go by they finally let out a sigh of relief. He waved his hand around before he got hold of a string. He pulled it down and a dim lightbulb turned on. It wasn't very bright, but it was enough from them to just barely see each other. She sat on the ground with her legs underneath her. He slid down the door, taking a seat in front of her. The closet was extremely small and compacted.
"I'm starting to think you're purposely trying to get me killed." She groaned, looking at Scourge through the darkness.
"Hey, I saved ya' back there didn't I?" He grinned.
"Only for Fiona to kill me later."
They both laughed at the semi-true statement. She stared intently in his direction, trying to decipher his features in the darkness. All she could really make out were his beautiful blue eyes that almost seemed to illuminate the darkness themselves.
She shook the blush forming on her face before standing up to go, he quickly mimicked her action.
"Thanks for the save, but please stay the hell away from me. If Fiona ever finds out I've been within fifty feet of you she'll literally bite my head off." Sally chuckled.
"I can do that." He nodded in agreement, "But can you do me a little favor?"
"What kind of favor?" She asked skeptically.
He grinned before plucking the glasses off her. On instinct she immediately shielded her face, embarrassed of her disfigurement. He grabbed her wrists and pulled them away with ease. She looked up at him with nervousness, wanting so desperately to crawl under a rock. She never allowed anyone to see her face.
The darkness made her scars nonvisible to him, and even if they were he wouldn't mind. He brushed her bangs to the side, shielding one of her eyes in a messy fashion similar to Fiona's when she let her hair down. Then he tilted her head up to him while he caressed her cheek.
"Call me your king…" He whispered.
She just gave him a perplexed look, not sure what to make of his request. "My…king?"
When the pink hedgehog said it he didn't get much of a rush the way he had hoped, but the chipmunk sent his heart into overdrive. She was perfect, she was the one, and he knew it.
The auburn-haired girl from the rich side of Moebius.
To her surprise he had swooped in and closed the space between their lips. Her eyes widened in shock at the sudden action as an immense blush formed on her face. She quickly brought her knee up with a powerful force, ramming it right into his groin. He pulled away and gasped, holding himself as bile threatened to come back up his throat. She swiped her glasses out of his hand and put them back on before she scolded him.
"ARE ALL HEDGEHOGS COMPLETE PERVERTS!?" She yelled, referencing the time Sonic had attempted to kiss her at the lake.
She stepped over him and pushed the door open before sprinting away, face still burning red. One day mid-October, inside a dimly lit janitor's closet Sally Acorn's first kiss was stolen…by Scourge the Hedgehog.
"Nice shiner." Manic complimented sarcastically as he pointed to his brother's eye. "Who graced you with that?"
"Don't want to talk about it—"
"Some stupid bitch he was trying to help!" Amy huffed, cutting off her boyfriend. "Ugh! I didn't like her before, but now I really don't."
"You should thank her actually." Shadow piped up, "It's quite fitting with that douchebag look you go for."
"Shadow." Rouge wagged her finger at him, "Play nice."
"What?" The ebony hedgehog whined, "He probably deserved it anyway."
"He was just trying to make sure she wasn't hurt." Tails informed him, "She hit him for no reason. I saw."
"Can we talk about something else?" Sonic asked in annoyance.
"Poor Mina." Cream sighed, "I heard she's stuck on community service duty, and her face is bruised up pretty badly."
"Yeah, and I heard that other girl didn't get any punishment." Rouge added.
"Ugh, the injustice is crazy." Amy pouted, "I just want to go slap that girl up myself."
Sonic just grumbled something under his breath before getting up from the table. They had all gotten together like they planned yesterday, with a few running late. As much as the hedgehog really wanted to spend time with his friends he just wasn't up for it at the moment. He didn't want to talk about yesterday, but it's all they seemed to want to talk about.
Amy just watched him walk off with sad eyes, feeling so bad for him and assuming he must be really upset about the ordeal. She turned back to the rest of the table occupants; Manic, Shadow, Cream, Rouge, Knuckles, Tails, and newcomer Cosmo.
"My Sonikku." She moped, "He was just starting to feel better."
"I dislike anyone who just beats people up for no reason." Tails added, "Especially my big brother."
Manic just rolled his eyes at the fox's words, holding back a few choice words of his own.
"Same." Knuckles agreed.
"Mina's a saint." Cream reminded the table, "She didn't do anything to deserve that."
"Jealousy does crazy things to girls." Rouge shrugged, "Glasses-Girl just better not get hot-headed and think she can take me on."
"If jealousy was the motive, than you'll probably have to sleep with one eye open." Knuckles poked the bat's side. She smiled before giving him a kiss. Manic just rolled his eyes in annoyance, as did Shadow.
"I wish she would come at me sideways like that." The pink hedgehog huffed, "I'd beat her down."
"Needless violence is so wrong." Cosmo shook her head.
"Maybe if she had asked nicely Mina would have given her some makeup tips." Rouge joked, "What a spiteful bitch."
"Yup." Knuckles agreed, putting his arm around Rouge.
"I think she's awesome." Shadow shrugged.
"Of course you do." Amy pouted, sticking her tongue out at the ebony hedgehog. "You hate Sonic."
"Damn right." He nodded.
"Let's be for real though. You can't lie…that girl kicked ass!" Manic howled, slapping his hand on the table. "That kick to Sonic's face was on some Mortal Kombat shit!"
On his way out the café Sonic nearly bumped heads with supposed best friend, Blaze the Cat. They both staggered back before they collided. Her eyes went wide with pity as she caught a glimpse of the hedgehog's blackened eye. He quickly cupped his hand over it.
"Sonic…" She gasped.
He wanted so desperately to spin away with her like he used to, to confide in her all of his frustrations, but the urges subsided when he realized she was holding hands with that loser. Her boyfriend Silver. He just shook his head before rushing past them out the door. She looked back at him with a hurt expression, old feelings stirring in the back of her mind.
Jet skulked through the halls, an expression of boredom plastered on his face. Storm was at the gym, and Wave was off somewhere avoiding him. He's very restless, the kind of person who needs to be doing something all the time, but with both of his main friends out he had nothing to do.
He dragged his hand across the lockers as he walked past them, whistling as he thought about how the school year had been playing out so far. Nothing of particular interest had really occurred, except the bet with Sonic. It had been over a month and the hedgehog has made zero progress, not to mention the chipmunk girl had publicly humiliated him again yesterday.
The hawk salivated at the mouth just thinking about how awesome it's going to be when he puts the final nail in Sonic's coffin.
He never could stand that hedgehog. Jet started attending Green Hill Academy last year. His main goal was to make it to the top, to be the most popular guy in school, and he could have done it too…if it weren't for that damn blue hedgehog always outshining him.
Sonic wasn't even nice about it, he'd rub it in the hawk's face every time. It seemed like he could never win, but the tides seemed to be turning this year.
"Hey loser." Jet called out once he spotted the blue hedgehog coming in his direction down the hall. "The bet was that you'd sleep with her, not let her beat you up." He laughed hysterically, but Sonic didn't seem to be in his usual playful mood.
"Don't you have a dick to go eat?" He retorted, unusually aggressive.
That's another thing Jet loathed. Ever since Wave had come out as a lesbian two years ago everyone has associated him and Storm with her orientation, constantly making gay jokes about them. It was quite infuriating, especially because neither of them were actually homosexual.
In fact, Jet was actually quite smitten with his good friend Wave, but of course she showed no interest. Another thing that infuriated him. Being the homophobe that he was, he couldn't stand her interest in girls. She should like him! He's been her friend for years, he knows everything about her, and more importantly he's a guy! But every time he tried to explain that to her she'd just brush him off.
He grew quite restless of waiting for her to get over what he called her 'faggot phase'. He wanted a girl by his side for more than just friendship. One of his main goals this year is to find a girlfriend, but so far none have peaked his interest.
That is until he spotted a Rouge the Bat walking out of the café.
Shadow once again took a seat at one of the picnic tables by the fountains, the very same table where Honey broke his heart. He sighed heavily to himself. The school year had proved nothing but misery for him. He thought he accidentally killed people, he and Manic are just as estranged, and he got his heart broken by a girl in a Lolita dress. Safe to say that he hated the direction his life was going in. It's times like this where he missed Maria the most, times of loneliness.
"Hey Tiger." Rouge cooed as she strutted over to him. To his surprise, she wasn't clinging on to that echidna.
"Lost your master?" He asked sarcastically.
"Please." She rolled her eyes, taking a seat on the table with him. "I am the master."
"Then why do you wear the collar?" He pointed to the emerald around her neck.
"Touché Mr. Doom." She crossed her arms.
"Don't call me that." He grumbled, "You know I hate that."
"I'm just teasin'." She giggled, poking his cheek. "What do I have to do to get a smile out of you?"
"For starters you could send me the video of Sonic getting his face kicked in."
"Done." She smiled, pulling her phone from her bra to text him the video. "Why do you hate him so much anyway?"
"Because he's got everything, and he knows it, but still chooses to be an ungrateful prick."
"Point taken."
"I tried to ask out Honey…" He confessed. He couldn't stand keeping secrets from Rouge, but he knew she'd never allow it. If only he had told her straight up, she would have prevented his heartache.
"I know." She sighed, putting a comforting arm around him. "I almost kicked her ass, but Manic made me realize that you are your own person. I'm not your keeper, and I shouldn't baby you so much…"
"Don't listen to him." The ebony hedgehog turned to look at her with all seriousness, "I need you always. You're like my compass, you always point me in the right direction when I feel lost."
She cupped his cheek lovingly. "No matter how many skanks break your heart, in the end you'll always have me by your side."
"Hmph." He gave her a semi-smile, "You just better not start ignoring me for that echidna."
"Never that." She laughed, "Speaking of him, I've got to go catch a ride with him into town. I need to do some serious shopping. You wanna come?"
"And get stuck carrying your bags like I used to? Hell no." He waved her off.
"Darn." She pouted before bursting into a fit of laughter. "See ya later."
He waved until she was no longer in view. He felt a little better. Talking with Rogue is easy, especially because she already knows so much, but once she left he was forced to face the loneliness again. The wind blew hard, whipping his quills and making the leaves on the ground dance. A random leaf caught his eye, and he watched as it danced away in the wind before landing on the ground beside the fountain. That's when he noticed two black boots rested on the ground. He traced them up to see that pink hedgehog from the other day.
She sat on the ledge of the fountain, circling her fingers in the water as the wind blew the quills out of her face. He got up from the table and walked over to her, studying her the entire time. He'd never noticed her before. Her makeup was heavy, her style very grunge, and her quills very short and jagged.
"Are you stalking me?" She asked without even looking at him.
"I was going to ask the same thing." He retorted in his monotone voice.
"Were you?" She challenged, "Hello seems like a nicer way to start a conversation." She got up from her position on the fountain.
"Who says I wanted to start a conversation?"
"Well you sure as hell didn't walk over here to tell me I'm beautiful." She snorted.
"You're just full of assumptions aren't you?"
"Isn't everyone?"
They both broke out in satisfied smirks. He appreciated that wordplay of hers very much. Not a lot of girls know how to carry a conversation with a cynical pessimist. He actually did come to strike up conversation though, he was just so curious about her.
She eyed him up and down before walking right past him. He jumped up as he felt her hand snake down his back pocket.
"You could at least buy me dinner first." He turned around to narrow his eyes at the girl. She just continued to walk off nonchalantly, swaying her hips lightly. In the midst of his staring he realized something was missing.
He dug his hand in his back pocket only to find it empty. He looked back out to the pink hedgehog. She looked back at him with a victorious grin as she waved around his cherished pack of cigarettes.
"Rosy." She called out to him.
"What?"
"You asked me my name the other day." She reminded him, "its Rosy Rascal."
"Rosy Rascal…" He mumbled to himself as she disappeared from sight.
Sonic held his knees as he angrily chucked rocks at the lake. It was late as usual, and he had snuck out to his sanctuary again, the Lake of Rings. The air was cool, and the moon wasn't so bright. The only sounds were the rocks bouncing a few times off the water.
He was made a fool of once again by Glasses-Girl. Another stupid video was circling around campus, only of him getting kicked in the face this time. People offered sympathies to his face, and mocked him behind his back. He hated being laughed at.
Worst of all, he didn't understand why she kicked him. He was really only trying to help. He was genuinely worried about her. He tried to suppress the thoughts out of his mind, he didn't want to think about it.
"Are you stalking me now?" A voice called out.
He looked over into the darkness to see the very girl he'd just been thinking about emerge from the shadows. She wore baggy gray sweatpants and a blue hoodie. He grimaced at her appearance before looking back out to the lake.
"This is my lake." He reminded her.
She walked over to him before sitting beside him in the grass. She leaned forward to catch a glimpse of his blackened eye. An immense guilt washed over her. She really didn't mean to hurt him like that.
"Did I do that?" She whispered sympathetically, using her hand to move his face toward hers so she could get a better look.
He quickly swatted her hand away in a fit of frustrations. "I don't get you. You tell me to stop being a jerk, but the second I try to be nice you go and knock me on my ass!"
"I'm really sorry." She apologized, "I just got scared."
"Yeah well, you could have said that instead of cracking my eye socket."
"I didn't mean to."
He peered over at her. She was tearing up, and nuzzling her face into her propped up knees. He didn't like that hurt expression.
"I'll forgive you, but you gotta promise you'll stop kicking me in the face!" He chuckled, lightening the mood. "Like seriously, who taught you how to fight? Chun Li?"
She giggled at his jokes, brushing her face against the sleeve of her hoodie to wipe away her tears. "My sister did actually."
"You have siblings?" He asked curiously.
"Mhm." She nodded, "A brother and two sisters."
"Are you all professional kick-boxers?"
"Well, Nicole's a pacifist, and Elias isn't much of a fighter type."
"Wait, Elias Acorn? And Nicole the Lynx?" He gasped, "They're your sibs?"
"Nicole is adopted, and Elias is my older brother." She explained, "I've also got a sister in Moebius. She's the brawler one."
"I had no idea he had a sister." Sonic rose an eyebrow, "He never mentioned it to me. He's good friends with my sister actually, and Nicole used to be a good friend of mine…"
"Your sister wouldn't happen to be Sonia, would she?"
"Yes sir!" He laughed.
"Oh boy." Sally giggled, "By the looks of it, you and I might be in-laws one day"
He smiled at her in the darkness. "I'm really hoping that's not the case." He said in a charming manner.
She looked back over at him and smiled before shoving him playfully. They stood there talking for what felt like hours. Sally was a special case. While most girls flocked to him, she was that 1% that didn't. She proved to be the ultimate challenge, with defenses like the Great Wall of China. Never has anyone made him work this hard in his life, but he was going to tear down her walls.
With his decline in the social latter, this bet with Jet is just what he needed to sky-rocket back to the top. He had no interest in her, or getting to know her personally. All he needed was Jet's word, and he'd be the coolest kid in school again. These talks, these late night rondeaus, they were nothing more than a tedious grooming process.
"Remember when you asked if I'd ever been kissed before?" She spoke up after a long silence.
"Yeah." He looked over at her curiously, thinking she might actually ask him to kiss her.
"Well…I had my first kiss this morning…."
"Really?" He rose an eyebrow.
She nodded, "This guy, he kinda stole it."
"Stole? What's that supposed to mean?"
"He saved me from a group of bullies. We hid in the janitor's closet, and well…he took me by surprise with a kiss."
"Did you kick him in the face too?" The blue hedgehog pouted, crossing his arms.
"No…I kicked him in the balls."
"Ooh." Sonic cringed, "That's probably the last place I'd ever want to be kicked by you."
"I hope he's alright." The chipmunk sighed, "I didn't mean to hurt him. I was just so upset. I always pictured my first kiss to be with someone I like…in a place like this. Not some closet with a stranger."
"You had your chance." He whistled, referencing their first encounter here.
"I said 'someone I like'." She used her fingers as quotations, "I feel kinda bad though, because I think he really likes me."
"So who is this guy anyway?"
"I think his name is Scourge."
"SCOURGE?!" Sonic jumped up to his feet, "THAT FUCKER KISSED YOU?!"
"Do you know him?"
"Do I know him? Of course I fucking know the clown! He's an A-Lidt bastard, a scumbag, a loser who preys on innocent girls like you!" The hedgehog ranted angrily, "HE'S THE BAD GUY!"
"He didn't seem so bad to me." She shrugged, "He saved me."
"Listen to me Sal." Sonic said, pulling her up from the ground before putting both hands on her shoulders. "Scourge is bad fucking news. Don't think for a second that fucker has any real feelings. He probably just made a bet with one of his friends that he could get in your pants because he's a fucking scumbag loser like that!"
Sally was taken aback by his description of the green hedgehog. He certainly didn't come off that way when he saved her. A little creepy maybe, but not a scumbag. Sonic looked quite serious though, so she didn't take his words lightly. She nodded in understanding before their conversation went back to normal.
Amy, Marine, and Wave had all gone to the showers, leaving Blaze all alone in the dorm. Things had really picked up for her since the beginning of the year. She was doing excellent with her classes, planned on joining some school activities, and was more than happy in her new relationship. However, a dark cloud loomed over her head.
Sonic, she felt horrible about seeing him in such a beat down state. He didn't even look her in the eye. The cat swore her feelings for him were gone…but something in the back of her mind still gnawed at her with persistence. She shook it off though, things were finally the way they were supposed to be. She had Silver, her wonderful boyfriend.
So why did that thought still bug her? She was happy, and in love, but the thought of Sonic having a girlfriend bothered her.
Maybe she just missed the closeness between them. They haven't really hung out or even talked since the party last month. The more she thought about it, the more she missed his company.
"Knock, knock." A voice called out.
The cat sat up in her bed to see a red vixen standing in her doorway. She rose a skeptical eyebrow.
"What are you doing here Fiona?" The cat growled, not too fond of the vixen.
"We've gotta have a little chat about your slutty so called 'friend'." Fiona said as she slammed the door shut behind her and walked over to the curious feline.
Don't worry, that Halloween special will come along eventually I swear I haven't forgotten.
Rotor the Walrus is another gay student, and in the closet. The only person who knows of his orientation is Wave. There is an actual reason Rotor is homosexual. It's because in the old continuity of the comics he was actually confirmed gay. He even married an echidna named Cobar in the XYearsLater comic.
Fiona is not just mean to be mean, she actually has legit reasons to be angry at the world. She's been abused, neglected, and abandoned. Her cruel ways and evil behaviors are a result of living a dark life. Perhaps knowing her history has changed your perception of her.
To answer your question Twotailedfox: Yes, the Child Services arc will write a character(s( out, but it's more so to get an in-depth look at some characters and why they act the way they do. For example, Amy Rose is unrealistic, obsessive, and extremely aggressive. (How she actually is in canon) There is a reason behind her behaviors, but you'd have to know her history with her parents to understand.
The confidentiality agreement Alicia signed with Isabella prohibits any of them from speaking of Mina's previously intolerant deviant acts against Nicole and Shard, meaning no one knows why Sally beat up Mina which led everyone to believe jealousy was the motive.
Next Time On Green Hill Academy
The parents of Tails and Ray are revealed
Sonia's condition only worsens
Amy-Sonic-Blaze: The love triangle is back
Mina has a new suitor
Mighty struggles with the loss of his siblings
And so much more