Harmonizing Whir Part 1
Light filtered into the windows of the truck's double door. It warped around Silver's body as he lie idle on the stretcher.
Shallow wheezes seeped from Silver's muzzle.
Blaze stood beside Silver in the stuffy room.
Silver's motionless body seemed at peace almost as if nothing had happened.
She stroked Silver's bruised forehead.
I shouldn't have left you.
The thought of Infinite's corpse in Gadget's arms racked her mind.
If she wasn't a moment sooner...
Blaze's hand rested on him, her fingers splayed strands of quills while her heart cracked. Blaze wiped her eyes as a heavy sigh escaped her wilted lips. She peeked over her shoulder at the truck's doors.
I can't let it happen to her.
She slipped her hand by her waist and clenched her fist.
But I won't be gone for long.
Blaze stepped outside, she winced from the blinding light and hopped onto the ground. Her ears twitched from Amy's and Rouge's conversation.
"Remember the plan?" Amy said.
"Yeah, yeah," Rouge replied.
Blaze stepped to the right side of the truck.
Amy rested her hands on her hip and shook her head. "Repeat it."
Rouge crossed her arms and glanced at Blaze. "We were attacked by Infinite and Eggman's goons while we were searching for him." She cradled her cheek in her palm.
"And?"
"Come back at zero seven hundred hours." Rouge twiddled her nose.
Amy squinted. "And."
"If you don't answer, contact Sonic and Shadow."
She smiled. "Good, we're done here." Amy strolled towards Blaze but stumbled when Rouge called for her.
"Wait, one more thing." Rouge rummaged the front seat of the truck before she stepped out with a weird tube like thing with a pin and holes in it.
"What's that for?" Amy tilted her head back.
Rouge extended the strange object to Amy. "In case of an emergency."
"I don't need it."
"You do if you don't want last night to happen again."
Amy rested her hands on her lopsided hip. "Why didn't you use it?"
"They're in the truck."
She squinted.
"What? I can't carry them twenty-four seven."
Amy rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Fine." She seized the object and pocketed it. "You done?"
"Oh love, didn't think you hated me that much." Rouge winked.
Blaze chest tightened as she pursed her lips and brows creased.
Amy upturned her nose and waved a lax hand at Rouge. "Shoo!"
"Ah, I'll leave ya girls for your date." Rouge grinned.
Blaze froze in place. Her heart ceased. Her feet anchored to the ground.
"Please, it isn't a date." Amy lapped her arm around Blaze and eased Blaze into the side of her chest. "Cuz I'd take her somewhere fancy."
"Mhm." Rouge raised her brows.
"Yeah, she's my girlfriend and she deserves something amazing. Cuz I love her so much."
Wait, we're girlfriends...isn't that fast...is this how it works?
Blaze's heart raced and her sweaty, trembling body scrunched while it heated up.
Oh my, oh no, oh geez...
Amy nuzzled her muzzle against Blaze's warm cheek—she kissed her, soft lips against fur.
Again after...so soon!
Blaze's heart fluttered.
Rouge waved. "I'll leave ya gals alone." She winked. "Have fun!" She stepped into the truck and started it before she drove off while Blaze and Amy watched.
"Ready, girlfriend?" Amy squeezed Blaze's wavering palm.
Blaze's ears stood as she fumbled over her words. "Yyyyyaahhhhh...ugh...mmm." Her tail flailed.
What's wrong with me?
"You okay."
Blaze vigorously nodded, she feigned a playful smile as she showed her fangs. She purred.
"Aww, what happen to being so strong earlier." Amy leaned into her.
"Mishion...need do...now!" Blaze chuckled.
"Right. but..." Amy stood in front of Blaze, she rested her hand on Blaze's cheek and caressed it. "How about a good luck kiss?"
Blaze's heart teemed with ecstatic joy while her fur stood.
Amy's gentle breaths brushed against Blaze's fur and whiskers while her soothing eyes captivated her.
"Isn't...like kissing...you have to wait, cuz..ugh...umm..." Blaze panted. "You have to find the right moment!" Her brows wavered.
She snickered. "Relax, okay?" Amy's muzzle inched towards Blaze's; their soft lips braced. Connection.
Blaze's body melted as she chuckled.
Is this what love feels like? It's amazing.
They parted ways and smiled.
Even if it might not last. It feels nice.
"Ready?" Amy said.
...And that's good enough...?
Blaze nodded.
"Guess we'll follow the bandage trail?" Amy pointed over her shoulder.
She bowed her head. "Lead the way, commander."
"Is that how you say girlfriend?" Amy strolled ahead as he glanced over her shoulder with a warm smile.
Blaze's heart fluttered, she stared at Amy with wide eyes.
"C'mon!" Amy beckoned her as she bobbed her head in the direction of the trail.
She rested her hand on her beating chest before she nodded and accompanied Amy.
. . .
Blaze's and Amy's shoes crunched twigs and leaves as they progressed through the vegetation hand in hand.
Light filtered through the cracks of the thin tree's canopy. It illuminated their muddy footprints from before.
"Should we risk flight?" Blaze glanced at Amy.
"Not yet." Amy stared ahead. "When we lose the trail, then we can."
"And the ruffians?" Blaze studied at the scenery. Nothing for now.
"They're out of the picture."
"How do you know?"
"Nack sounded exhausted and they're wounded." Amy tapped the end of the emerald on her chin. "Doubt they'd be dumb enough to try."
"Didn't stop them before."
"True."
Their fingers intertwined, soft and warm.
Silence.
What if they come for us...
Blaze glanced at the emerald in Amy's hand.
She'd get hurt.
The thought of Silver flooded her mind.
A frigid chill snaked down Blaze's spine. "Want me to patrol ahead?"
"Na."
"Why?"
"Cuz how am I going to save my girlfriend." Amy winked.
A warm sensation surged through Blaze as her cheeks burned. "Commander, I thi-"
"Please don't be formal."
"As you wish."
Amy snickered. "Relax."
"Yes, Ma'am."
"C'mon, show me your street talk."
Blaze raised her brows as the side of her lip quirked up. "Street talk?"
"Yeah, girl, relax!" Amy waved her hand through the air.
"Hmm, as...you..." Blaze paused to fish through her thoughts. "Order...girl?"
Amy raised her hands by her chest and rotated them in circles for Blaze to continue.
"Err..." Blaze's hands trembled. "Umm...I don't know?" She shrugged.
"You can do it."
Blaze blinked. "...How do you say...ugh not feeling well...?"
"You got this, come on!"
"Would it be...my ugh...isn't it a bad word?"
Amy rested her hands on her chest. "Doubt it."
Blaze squinted as she faux a toothy smile while sweat trickled down her forehead. "I don't think I should say it."
"I'm not going to judge you, please?"
Her eyes met with those lovely, emerald ones, ones hard to say no to. "Fine."
Amy's smile stretched along her muzzle.
"My..." Blaze wrinkled her muzzle while she pursed her lips; her bad word clung to the tip of her tongue. She sighed. "My tits...hurt?"
Her mouth hung agape.
"...Amy?"
A wicked grin dimpled Amy's cheeks as she covered her mouth and laughed.
Blaze's tail curled between her legs as her ears slanted. "Did...I say something bad?"
"No, It's cute!" Amy covered her mouth again and fought her laughter.
"C-cute?"
"Mhm!" Amy brushed her hand against Blaze's before she held it.
Blaze's fur bristled. "Wait...is tits a good word?"
Amy rested her hands on her lopsided hip. "Well, depending on the context..."
Her brows parted. "So I said a swear word?"
"No, well, depending on the vernacular...then yes. However." Amy rested her hands on her chest. "My vocabulary is nothing but swears."
"So I did?"
Amy feigned a smile as she shrugged.
Blaze's ears pinned to her head.
"You said fuck but are upset about tits?"
"I didn't like that either..."
Amy shook her head and chuckled. "You're so innocent."
"I am not!" Blaze smiled.
"Please, even Silver can say fuck."
"He'd never."
"Na, he said this sucks so fucking much."
Blaze's mouth hung as she shook her head. "No."
"No really he did."
"When?"
"In Metropolis."
...Have I lost touch with everyone?
Blaze's stomach sunk as her heartstrings frayed.
Even him?
Amy crossed her arms. "Yeah, it's hard to believe!"
A fake smile wrinkled Blaze's cheek. "...Mhm." She curled her fingers in and out.
"Ah hell."
Blaze's eyes rounded and fur stood while her skin crawled. She faced Amy.
"Lost the trail..."
She examined the area. Nothing familiar. Blaze hummed.
"Wait...do you smell something...burning?"
Blaze shook her head.
"Smells like charred wood?"
She sniffed. Nothing. "I don't smell it."
"Oh, I might be having a stroke." Amy chuckled.
"Please don't say that."
"It's a joke."
Blaze's lips slumped.
"Are you worried about me?" Amy's lopsided smile warmed Blaze's heart.
She nodded.
"Heh, it's okay. I can take care of myself and." Amy ran her finger through her hair. "Thank you for caring."
"You don't have to thank me."
"Could I kiss you then?"
"A-again...isn't that fast?" Blaze's cheeks burned while her chest tightened.
Amy covered her mouth and laughed. "What?"
"D-don't you have to...wait and like..ugh." Blaze wrung her wavering hands. "Make it important...like saying...I love you?" Her eyes rounded when Amy held her hands.
"Wait...you weren't joking?"
"No."
"Who told you that?"
"Isn't that how love works?"
"Hell no."
"Eh?"
"Seriously." Amy brows furrowed. "Who told you that?" She tightened her grasp on Blaze's sweaty hand.
"No one..."
"Did Silver?"
"No!"
"Marine? Ugh, she's so dumb."
"No, not at all."
"Then who?"
"We should focus." Blaze's fangs peeked from a crack of her smile.
Amy slanted her eyes as she locked with Blaze's stare. "Right, hmm." She lifted her finger in the air. "Guess we'll check out that smell?"
"Smell?"
"Yeah."
"Umm...sure?" Blaze nodded.
"Oh and could you make a trail?"
"Hmm...how?"
"Burn some stuff...maybe?"
Blaze nodded. "Right, commander."
"Again..stop with the formalities."
She bowed her head.
Amy and Blaze trudged through the thick brush and reaching branches while Blaze charred the trees with her magic.
The scent of burnt wood and ashes invaded Blaze's crinkled nose.
Fire crackled.
Amy shoved brush aside to reveal a smoldering clearing in the forest, trees warped and slouched over an area with faint glints of embers beneath ashes. That spot...
Blaze froze, a sharp sensation snaked down her spine.
"Is...this where we fought metal?"
She stepped past Amy and fixated on the footprints. Blaze's ears pinned to her head.
"Blaze?"
What if I actually did it...
Blaze's body numbed while she ruminated on that moment: the one where she almost murdered.
Would that be justice?
"Are you okay?"
Gadget's hurt expression, the harrowing eyes in pain, haunted Blaze.
"Hey, seriously, what's wrong?" Amy rested her hand on Blaze's shoulder while Blaze snapped out of her tormenting thoughts.
"Nothing." Blaze shook her head.
Amy stared at her, her brows parted.
"It's nothing to fret about."
Her lip crooked down.
Blaze faux a smile. "I'm fine."
"You're crying." Amy squeezed her shoulder.
She cupped her hand below her eyes and felt the tears. "Oh...?" Blaze wiped the strands before she blinked.
Amy's wavering eyes met with Blaze's until Blaze's darted away.
Blaze's words lodged in her throat. She shook her head and sighed. "I'm fine."
"C'mon." Amy massaged Blaze's tense shoulder.
"We need to focus."
"And I need to make sure you're well."
"I'll be fine."
Amy smiled. "Trust me, you aren't."
Blaze's tail flailed. "I'm fine, we need to move. Now."
Her voice carried like the wind, "Blaze..."
"My emotions do not matter. The objecti-"
"No, you do." Amy hugged her.
Silence.
Amy squeezed Blaze. "Don't do what I did."
Blaze body quivered. "T-that is?"
"Throwing yourself away for others." Amy rested the side of her face against Blaze's beating chest.
"B-but the risk of another war?"
"It's one mobian, he can't do much."
"We hav-"
"Shh." Amy shook her head. "Right now I'm worried about you." She looked up at her, the soothing emerald eyes and Amy's warm and lovely smile shushed Blaze's thoughts.
Blaze's breathing eased. She wrapped her arms around Amy and snuggled her. "I'm afraid..."
"Of?"
She clasped her lips.
"It's okay, I'm not judging you." Amy rocked Blaze.
"I keep...having these thoughts." Blaze stared at the faint embers within the ashes.
"Hm?"
"How much it must've hurt...to see someone you love die..." Blaze's chest hollowed.
"What do you mean?"
Blaze rested her chin on Amy's forehead while Blaze eased her into her chest as Blaze shut her eyes.
Silence.
Her eyes crept halfway open. "I can't say..."
"Hey."
"Hm—ah!" Blaze eyes widened when Amy caressed the side of Blaze's warm cheek.
Amy embraced her, they parted while her soothing eyes enchanted Blaze. "You're alright. No one is going to die."
"Kissing for..." Blaze averted her gaze. "Special moments...?"
She nodded. "Every moment with you is."
Blaze's mind teemed with blissfulness as her tense posture eased. "Likewise...ahm. Girlfriend."
Amy smiled.
She laughed and squeezed Amy. "So...th-"
Something whirred like a burner.
They faced behind them.
Something or someone approached.
. . .
Zero's eyes crept open while they fluttered. He groaned as his foggy mind came to.
A medical room, glass wall cabinets with bottles and a sink countertop below it.
He rested against a medical mattress, the leather crinkled.
Someone's arms wrapped around him with their hand on the ruby and pulled them into their soft chest while Zero's fur brushed against...drool...Gadget.
Zero smiled as a faint chuckle escaped his lips.
Gadget's gentle breaths brushed against Zero's neck.
His lips receded. Zero materialized himself free and stood beside the bed.
It was nice seeing you again, Gadget...
Zero glanced over his shoulder.
Gadget shivered and curled up.
Bandages covered his wounds, thigh well wrapped and forehead.
You don't need me anymore.
Zero stepped to the door, he rested his hand on the knob. His chest ached and tensed like he's held under water.
I'd eventually have to let go.
He held his scarf.
You're leaving him. Again.
Abandoning like before.
You never change.
Disgusting.
Zero ripped the scarf off and sat it beside Gadget: he abandoned him.
At least you'll have something to remember me with...until I'm actually gone.
He nudged the door open. Vacant lobby. Odd. Zero scanned the area.
Table, nothing; desk, no one; the entrance; empty.
Zero's stomach gnarled, he stepped out of the building and into the blinding light. He winced and shielded his face from it until he ran his hand in front of his face and the mask protected him from the disgusting world.
Buildings like wooden, primitive huts and shacks spread across the stone road but no one in sight.
He stepped down the stares. Zero's eyes widened.
A voice as horrid as a screeching train's breaks shrilled, "Btttthhrraaaaaaaaaaaa." A repugnant rodent landed in front of him, knees bent, she pointed her pathetic wooden staff at him. "You must be the masked demon."
"Oh? I wonder what gave it away?" Zero crossed his arms.
Her eyes narrowed while she furrowed her muzzle.
"Move aside, pest."
"No can do, wasn't apart of the deal."
"Deal?"
"Yeah, Gadget made it."
Zero glanced over his shoulder at the 'hospital's' entrance.
"Where is he?"
"Will he be safe?" Zero's eye locked with her unflinching ones.
"I asked first."
"Asleep."
"Why?"
Zero smirked. "He's tired."
"Keep smart talking to me and see what happens wise guy." She glanced at something to her right. A setup.
Silence.
"Will he be safe?" Zero said.
"Yeah, so long as you both leave."
"I will, but not him." Zero shook his head.
"Na, wasn't the deal."
"You're an insect talking to a god, there is no deal."
"Even something as small as bacteria can kill people." She snarled.
"You willing to throw your lives away?" Zero nudged his mask up. "Pitiful."
"Willing to throw your friend's away?"
Zero's chest tightened.
Silence.
She glanced to her right. Something wrong.
"Touch him and you all die."
"Shouldn't make hollow threats."The insufferable rodent smirked.
"I don't make threats." Zero balled his hands into a fist.
She rested the stick's head against the ground and yawned.
She's fucking mocking me!
"You're looking down on me, aren't you!" Zero extended his arm towards her. "I'll put you sewer rats in your place, all of you!"
The badger stared at him, unflinching.
"You got three seconds!"
"Tell me."
Zero's eyes rounded, his body hallowed.
"What's the difference between...I don't know, killing us and being exiled?"
His fingers twitched.
"Your friend in pretty bad shape." The badger's eyes narrowed. "He needs mobians."
The thought of Gadget in pain burrowed into his mind.
There's no telling when I can't control him either...
Zero's heart crumbled. His hand trembled. He rummaged his mind for an answer.
"I'm not that cold-hearted, so you'll get supplies."
He can't be on the run...or go to prison. Not for my crimes.
A faint chuckle escaped Zero's lips.
I really am pathetic...
Zero clenched his fangs, he sighed. "Please?"
Her brows parted while she blinked.
"I'll leave, but let him stay." Zero lowered his arm.
She studied him.
"I am to pay, not him."
"What do you mean?"
"All you have to do is let him stay...and I'm gone."
She scratched her forehead. "And I should trust you?"
Zero shook his head. "Not me, him."
"Who?"
"Gadget."
"And if I don't?"
Zero's gut gnarled as his blood seethed. "I'll..."
"What? Try to murder us like the monster you are?" Her words cut deep.
I deserve that.
Zero's voice wavered, "No."
Her brows parted while she stared at him lost.
"Just keep him safe..."
The badger quirked her lip as one brow dipped and the other rose.
A soft hand in a white sleeved glove held the badger's shoulder while a pale woman with red hair, the shade of blood, strolled beside her. "Sticks, we don't pester strangers."
"Ah, princess, stay back!" Sticks readied her staff.
The princess stopped Sticks with her hand in front of her. She shook her head and slowly approached Zero.
"Are you n-"
"Shh, I'll be okay."
Zero stared her down.
She bent her knees to be on his eye level. "Hey, I'm Elise" She extended her hand towards him.
He crossed his arms. Zero's narrow eye locked with hers.
Elise rested her hands on her knees and smiled. "I dislike formalities too."
Are they testing me? Seeing if I'm weak?
Zero gritted his fangs as his fur stood.
Elise's soft voice as a whirring blade in the air stabbed Zero's ears, "What's your name?"
"None of your damn business." Zero furrowed his muzzle.
"Can I call you grumpy then?"
"I don't care." Zero's blood simmered.
"Perhaps we could talk over some tea, grumpy?"
"Princess!" Sticks yelled.
Elise peeked over her shoulder and waved at Sticks. "I'll be alright." She faced Zero. "Is that okay?" Her smile mocked him.
"I can kill you right now."
"Then go ahead." She stared dead into his eyes.
Zero's stomach knotted.
What the hell is with them?
"I'd suggest to talk it out."
"What do I get?" Zero eased his tense shoulders.
"Depends."
"Tell me." Zero's tail stood.
"I'll guarantee the safety of your friend."
"And if I don't?"
Silence.
Zero's skinned crawled while Elise's smile faltered.
"You'll both have to leave." Elise paused. "By force if need be."
AN: Fun fact, Elise was suppose to be Sally and the area was suppose to be the Knothole, giggles, but I decided to use Boom's village since it's easier to picture. And the reason I didn't use Sally was because she's already planned to be in a different fic with Nicole.