Author's Note: Welcome to my first-publicly released-fanfiction! Just a couple things to begin with! Firstly, this follows the story of Tails from Sonic Adventure, hence him staying at the Mystic Ruins. Since he was 8 then, I compared release dates between the original Sonic Adventure and Sonic Riders, hence the change in age difference between Wave and Tails! Secondly, I'll be mentioning songs and bands through this entire story, these are the songs and bands that have seriously shaped me as a person, not to mention the story itself. Even if Punk Rock ain't your jam, I highly suggest checking some of them out!

With that outta the way, please enjoy!

Tails jolted upright in his bed, as a peal of thunder shook his lone workshop to its very foundation. The tears that streaked down the adult fox's cheeks blended in with the sweat across his body. It had been fourteen years since the accident, but the nightmares still came with every storm. His father screaming mayday into the receiver, his mother whispering her love and praise to her small, mutant kit. That terrible storm. That crash. His hands were shaking violently as he tried futilely to steady his breathing. Rain pelted at the window beside his bed, when a flash of light caught his eye… Thank God, it was just his phone…

IgnisLeaena: Miles, I just saw on the forecast, a storm has just swept over the Mystic Ruins. Are you okay?

KitBashedAviator: thanks blaze, yeah, im fine. the nightmares are back but i can handle them.

IgnisLeaena: Even without Cream?

IgnisLeaena: Miles?

IgnisLeaena: I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up.

He thought about just turning off his phone, but…

KitBashedAviator: no, youre fine, blaze. I gotta get used to that now i guess. We still on to play some games tonight?

IgnisLeaena: Ah, good to hear. Absolutely, at the Hidden Place, correct?

IgnisLeaena has sent an image file. Open it?

He tapped the open button, smiling at his favorite .gif of Blaze and him dancing to some song. That was back when they were roommates, before he rebuilt his workshop. Before Cream.

KitBashedAviator: i really don't say this enough but

KitBashedAviator: thank you, blaze

KitBashedAviator: i dont know where id be without you

IgnisLeaena: Shush.

The vulpine machinist slipped out of his bed, leaving his phone on the charger. He quickly dropped from his loft to the workshop, quickly spinning his famous twin tails to slow his decent. "ALICE, lights please." A short tone was heard, before a flood of light filled the small workshop, "Thanks much, ALICE." He made his way silently to his bathroom, showering himself under the heat of the hot water. He finished washing himself quickly, but stayed under the running water until it ran cold over him. He quickly dressing himself in a pair of ragged jeans, an oil-stained tank top with two yellow fox tails with white tips on it, a gray hoodie, and his iconic white gloves and red shoes. As Miles exited his bathroom, he was greeted by a tall, unhappy looking hologram of a Mobian cat.

"It's 3.45 AM, Miles." She spoke firmly, like a disappointed mother. He assumed.

"Yup, that's correct, I need to start a pot of coffee." He stepped past her, moving to the unfortunately tiny kitchen are, beginning to fiddle with the black appliance in the far corner.

"Would you like to know how many hours you've gotten in the last seven day span? I can bring up your diagnostics for you if you'd like." Normally she wasn't this… Cold.

"Thank you, ALICE, but that won't be necessary. You've seen my medical records, my insomnia's kinda legendary. I can't do anything about it." The machine, now filled with grounds and water, began to slowly heat, as he turned to look her in the eye. "Let me guess… twenty-seven or so?"

The hologram crossed her arms, staring at the inventor with the rage of a hundred stars, "16 hours, Miles. You need to sleep. I can schedule an appointment with a doctor for you if you'd like." She stepped forward, placing a hand on his shoulder. It nearly felt real… Nearly.

"Thank you, ALICE, but… I need to get my work done, or else I won't be able to keep this place up and running… Gimme one more week, and then I'll schedule one, okay?" He flashed her a smile, as he poured himself a mug of coffee. She looked almost sad, before nodding, and fading away. He sighed gently, as he moved to the fridge and pulled out an old box of Chinese food. "Yup… Breakfast of champions… I really need to go to the store soon. Tomorrow."

KitBashed Aviation and Mechanics Workshop was a little far away from Central City, resting on a plateau near the monorail station at the Mystic Ruins, below Angel Island, but hey, it was home. After the events of his last adventurous outing with the Blue Blur left his former workshop destroyed and his adventurous spirit more than sated for a few lifetimes, Miles Prower decided to put his adventuring life behind him for plain work in its stead. With his own newly rebuilt workshop to take commissions, projects, and paid repairs, he certainly wasn't lacking for work, even this far from the city.

Inside of the workshop was, to the untrained-read: anyone but Miles'-eye, the place made a dump site look like it was a museum. Four different tool chests in various places, their tools scattered across tables and the floor, a kitchenette in the back, directly opposite a small, closed off bathroom, a small 'living room' with a large sofa and a battered TV, and a wooden ladder leading to an incredibly small loft. A desk stood on the right wall, directly beneath a broad window, looking out to the sea, as well as a counter near the front with a battered, old computer nearby. Currently in the center of the workshop was a rusted red truck, with dents the size of Miles all over it.

Miles stood up from his kitchen table, stretched out his back until he heard a series of loud pops and cracks, before he tossed his dishes into the sink. One more chore for today. He climbed back up the ladder to his loft, pulled his phone free from the cable, and looked at his lock screen:

VeryDairy32: Tails, I just saw that a storm was going over your house, are you okay? The nightmares aren't back are they?

VeryDairy32: Tails, are you there?

VeryDairy32: I'm sorry for what I did to you, just please tell me you're alright!

VeryDairy32: DX

VeryDairy32: That's it! I'm coming over!

KitBashedAviator: Hey, Cream, sorry, I just finished showering and having some breakfast. I guess ALICE has a few glitches still, she was supposed to let me know whenever I got a new message!

KitBashedAviator: …

KitBashedAviator: Cream, you left your phone at home, didn't you?

The twin-tailed fox sighed, rubbing his head slowly as he tried to figure out what his next plan of action was. He stepped over to the sign on his front door, switching it from 'Sorry, we're closed' to 'Come in! We're Open!', then unlocked the door. His phone lit up one more time. A smile crawled onto his tired face.

GearHead: morning, shorty

KitBashedAviator: isnt it like 3 pm where you are?

GearHead: isnt it like 4 am where you are?

KitBashedAviator: point taken, whats up?

GearHead: talking to some lame mutant before my next race

KitBashedAviator: sounds like a fun guy, the rogues racing together?

GearHead: oh yeah, hes a blast

GearHead: not

KitBashedAviator: how dare you

GearHead: yeah, no, still just racing by myself. storms still on probation, and jet

GearHead: i dont know whats up with jet, i think he may be hiding something from me

KitBashedAviator: inb4 he wants to date you

GearHead: oh god i hope not

Tails couldn't help but snicker at that.

GearHead: sides, im pretty sure he might not be into girls?

KitBashedAviator: wow really I never would have guessed such a shocker omg

GearHead: wow, when did you become a grade a jackass?

KitBashAviator: no, but seriously, he was 100% not interested in rouge and she was putting it all on to try and distract him, so either hes got a steel resolve, or hes just not into chicks

KitBashAviator: oh hey a pun

GearHead: omg do you ever shut up?

GearHead: speakin of which, hows life with lady von far-too-happy

KitBashedAviator: you mean cream?

GearHead: yeah, the rabbit

KitBashedAviator: we broke up a couple days ago

GearHead: what? how? werent you two head over heels for each other?

KitBashedAviator: guess shes just more into charmy

GearHead: wheres that bitch live, you want me to beat the shit outta him shorty?

KitBashedAviator: lol thanks but it's fine, you still planning on dropping by in a few days?

It was rare for Miles to truly be excited by the idea of someone visiting, but Wave was different. He met Wave when he was fifteen, and she was eighteen. They despised each other, and for a while, he even considered her to be his Arch-Rival. About two years ago, they had reconnected, both older, wiser, less of jackasses. They quickly became digital pen pals of sorts... As dumb as that sounds.

KitBashedAviator: i don't want to ruin the surprise, but… i dunno if the nickname shorty still applies to me. might wanna think up some alternatives!

GearHead: absolutely, cant wait to see your workshop and dis all of the trash you call inventions :P

KitBashedAviator: youre such a dork. i gotta head out I need to finish up knuckles' truck or he'll kick my ass into next week. dont die and embarrass me for calling you my friend.

GearHead: awww you do care about me you little twerp :heart:

KitBashedAviator: fuck off

KitBashedAviator: but seriously good luck on your race be careful and take a selfie on the podium for me :heart:

Such a jerk. He shook his head slowly, closed his phone, and picked up his tools. "Hey, ALICE? I know you're mad at me, but could you turn on my usual station?" Another short, trilling tone filled the air, followed by the rough sound of distorted bass, electric guitars, heavy drums, and hard lyrics. The fox began to move to the beat, bobbing his head as he opened the hood and leaned in. Daze N Days, Broadside, NOFX, punk rock was exactly what he needed today. The Space Between by Valencia was on as he began his work, occasionally he would softly sing the lyrics beneath his breath. How much time had passed? It was always hard to tell while he was working. Oil was changed, parts were replaced, rust was scraped off, and paint was re-applied, with a couple too many breaks for him to pretend that his wrench was a mic, jamming out to his favorite songs.

"TAILS?!"

The door to the small workshop was thrown open violently, the tiny bell clanging as it passed. The sudden-and quite loud-intrusion made Miles nearly jump out of his skin, his twin tails nearly doubling in width from the shock. He whipped around, looking at the now very, very confused rabbit. A rain-soaked, yellow dress, a baby blue baseball cap, a pair of white cotton gloves, and running shoes. Cream was panting quietly, staring at the 'genius' in front of her.

"Uh, 'morning, Cream. Y'alright?" He pressed his hand to his chest again, the shock not quite wearing off yet. The rabbit looked around quickly, before her cheeks flushed slowly, "So, I was in the shower while you were messaging me, but you must've left before I could… Y'know, reply. S-Sorry 'bout that." The hand near his chest went up to lightly scratch at his chin, as the awkward atmosphere only thickened around them.

"Oh, uh, well, th-that's good! That you're alright! You are alright, right? What am I talking about, of course you're alright, I'm sorry." Cream began to ramble, her words getting quieter and quieter, as she backed towards the door, "A-Anyway, good to see ya, talk to ya soon… Stay safe and everything." She turned on her heels and rushed out into the rain, slamming the door behind her as she went, making Tails jump yet again.

He needed to set up some sort of electric tone or something, the bell was becoming annoyingly loud for his sensitive ears. He shook his head, and turned his attention back towards his work.

"Yo, MP!" The door swung open a few hours later, drawing Miles' eyes from the paperwork he was doing to look at the new arrival. A red echidna with a pair of shades on his face, smiling happily, wearing one of the most atrocious looking Hawaiian shirt he had ever seen. His spiked, mitten-esque gloves reached out to give the young fox a hug.

"Heya, Knux! How ya doing, how's Rouge?" Miles stood up, he saw him maybe two weeks ago already, but with the lives that his friends live, any time he got to see them was a blessing.

"So, ya heard, huh?" The Emerald Guardian stood back, rubbing the back of his head happily, "She's doing good, I think she's happier about the ring than marrying me! How about you, ya hanging in there?"

The tired inventor shrugged, "I mean, if you're asking if I'm still feeding myself, than the answer is technically yes?" A loud tone and a red light fills the small workshop, causing him to sigh loudly, "I am fine, ALICE. Man, she must be going through a rebellious phase, she's been-" Another deep tone and red light, "... Really? God, how did you get this sarcastic?"

"I have no idea." The echidna rolled his eyes, before catching the death glare from his former teammate, "Come on, Miles, I'm just pulling your leg. She's an AI, how much of a phase can she go through?"

"Well, she originally tried killing me."

"She what?"

"Never mind, hey, Knux, you came to check on your truck, right? Just finished it up this morning!" The aviator quickly switched subjects, trying his best to redirect the short-tempered freedom fighter towards his vehicle, "Just needed to futz around with the engine a bit, everything should be working far better now. I changed the oil, replaced the brakes, patched and re-inflated the tires, worked off the rust, and now it should last you another five or six years!"

"Man! You've been busy! Well, it's good to hear that, but what's going to be the damage this time? And don't give me any of that 'Personal Friend' Discount bull, I'll pay full price."

"19,800 rings."

"So what was that about a Personal Friend Discount?" The mutant choked back a chuckle, placing his closed fist over his mouth to disguise it as a cough.

"W-With the discount, it'd be 13,200 rings. There were a couple of parts I needed to either special order from my machinist buddy, or had to personally mill to fit, which means the engine is now one of a kind, a Prower custom!"

Seemingly happier with that price, but only marginally, the echidna reached into the breast pocket of his Hawaiian shirt, and retrieved a small, metal disc. Miles gestured to a receiver of sorts on the counter, wired directly to the computer. Knuckles placed the disc on the metal platform, as his former companion tapped away at the computer, "Okey dokey, you're all good, the funds have been transferred! Thank you for choosing KitBash Aviation and Mechanics!"

They continued talking for a few more minutes, before something caught Knuckles' eye. Halfway through one of Miles' customer stories, he pointed to a rack to the side of the workshop, "Whoa, are those our old Extreme Gears?" He strode over quickly, and plucked his old board from the wall, "The Red Rock, the Blue Star, the Yellow Tail… Wait, what's this one?" He looked to an unpainted, prototype board just below the Yellow Tail.

The mechanic spun around in his swivel chair, then stood and walked over, "That… Is the prototype Type-W-MP Custom. I took some data from our last few races with them, and compiled a rough idea what Wave's Type-W board was like. This is my attempt to improve on what is, quite frankly, an ingenious design…"

"Wave? Wave… Oh! That punk of a mechanic the Babylon Rogues had? Her board wasn't that great! Why try fixing up that one?"

"Not fix, reimagine. I thought it would make a good gift for her once she gets here," Miles shrugged, before crossing his arms in front of him, "She won't be able to bring her gear with her on the plane, so I'm hoping that'll be enough for her to look past any 'glaring mechanical atrocities' I've probably done." The fox chuckled, feeling he encapsulated his friend's response quite well, but Knuckles wasn't laughing.

"Once she gets here? Not allowed on the plane? Miles Prower…" Uh oh. "Did you INVITE a member of the BABYLON ROGUES, a team of known CRIMINALS AND THIEVES, to our CITY?" His grip tightened around the Red Rock, straining and denting the metal plating.

"I, uh… H-Hey, she's turned her life around! She's been competing in legit races, and apparently she hasn't seen hide nor hair from Storm or Jet in a while! B-Besides, it's not like she'll be loose in Central City! She'll mostly just be here in my workshop!" The-currently terrified-mutant tried to calm his friend down gently.

"And HOW, pray tell, do you know that? Hm? What, you been talking to her since our last meet up?"

"No! We only really started talking to each other like… Two years ago!"

The echidna sighed, as he placed his entire face in the palm of his hand, "Tails… You're incredibly smart, but man… It's equally humbling to see how dense you are." He pulled his hand from his face, and tossed Miles the gear, "I gotta get home, don't be an idiot, and don't let her play you. You're a grown man now, you can handle it."

That was about what the fox assumed would happen if his friends found out about Wave and him. The only one he had actually told was Blaze, do to her not really having any heavy emotions one way or another for the swallow. As Knuckles drove off, Miles muttered insults beneath his breath. It was about time for him to close up shop and head to Blaze and his' favorite game store, the Hidden Place. Before he did, he flipped his phone back on to shoot her a text, when he saw a few notifications.

IgneasLeaena: I'm very sorry, Miles, but we'll have to reschedule. I've run into an old friend, and she is begging me to go and catch up with her. I hope you understand.

Well, that was one less thing for him to do tonight, honestly, he was pretty pleased about this. He loved hanging out with Blaze, but he wasn't terribly great at board games, and sometimes the fiery princess could get… Competitive.

GearHead has sent you an image file. Open it?

GearHead: for my biggest fan

GearHead: see ya soon shorty

GearHead: im heading to bed, dont stare too long shorty :heart:

He tapped the file, revealing a picture of the violet swallow smirking, the camera held at a high angle. She was on a pedestal, a golden medal resting on top of her chest. Two mobians are standing on the pedestal as well, though lower than the engineer, one bearing a medal of silver, the other bronze. He caught himself staring at the bird's image, his eyes slowly caressed the edge of his friend's form… He closed his phone, the tips of his ears burning hot. They decided fairly early on into their digital friendship that they wouldn't send each other pictures of themselves, mostly due to both of them still wanting to surprise the other.

"Oh man... She's going to ruin me, isn't she?"

He stepped inside and looked at himself in the mirror. Now standing at 6'1", Miles looked almost entirely different than he was when they had met last. His jaw was strong, his hair longer, massive dark bags hung beneath his blue, bloodshot eyes. Lanky, tall, yellow… He was one bad slouch away from being called a banana.

"Maybe I should go to the gym… DAMMIT, MY LAUNDRY!"