Sonic yanked on his tunic—strung the tribute rings onto his belts and strapped them around his middle—tied leather thongs around his arms and legs—stuffed leftover pizza in his mouth—used an emergency healing ring to hide the bruising on his neck—and all before Scratch called time was up.
Then the hedgehog held still, glowering at the ceiling as Scratch cuffed his wrists behind his back. Scratch shackled a loose chain around his ankles and wound one more running chain around his waist. Scratch pulled it taut, locking Sonic's arms tight behind him.
Sonic clenched his jaw, glaring out of the corner of his eye.
He squared his shoulders, facing the doorway.
"March," Scratch barked, taking the end of the running chain in one hand.
"After you," Sonic grinned with a bow.
They stepped out of the hut, pushing through a line of Grampa Chuck's waiting customers.
"Bye, Soni!" Grampa Chuck called, hurrying to the doorway. He forced a smile, his eyes dark with concern. He nodded at the nearest customer, a white rat. "It's that time again already."
Sonic met the customers' sobered gazes and laughed. "You lot aren't keeping me busy enough, that's the real problem here!
"Back for the pizza special, eh master Joseph? Ya know, I keep telling you to take back an extra for the kids—maybe if you start bringing them out here, Gramps can arrange something for them on the house, huh, Gramps?
"Mrs. Jewyll, glad to see you out here again! Last I heard, you were laid up with a kink in your back. Bet you came all the way up here to see your favorite hedgehog off, right? Man, if I could reach you, I'd give you a smacker for that! Stick around and I'll give it you when I get back!
"Hey, squirt, your family okay? You guys are probably starving over there, times are crazy right now. Glad you dropped by, you can come by for leftovers anytime, remember? Keep your chin up, kid!"
The Mobians waiting in line began to smile, their large eyes bright. Several laughed and shouted back responses, others waved and whistled. Grampa Chuck crossed his arms over his chest, tears shining in his eyes.
From inside the hut, Tails scrambled next to Grandpa Chuck. "Bye, Sonic!" Tails shouted. A little too loudly. His voice cracked and he fisted his shaking hands hard.
Sonic shot a glance over his shoulder, his green eyes sharp. Their gazes met.
"I'll be back soon, Tails!" Sonic shouted back
Tails thrust his fist over his head in answer. He blinked twice, gathering his breath.
No one else noticed. Not Grampa Chuck, not the customers still grinning after their young hero. Talking about how plucky Sonic was. How he'd helped them out of tight spots. How thankful Grampa Chuck should be to have such a capable grandson on hand—of all things, the Ringweilder of Mobia passing by them every day in their dingy downtown! How brave Sonic was to go through the street trussed up like that every month and come face to face with Robotnik.
Tails slowly lowered his fist and bowed his head.
They did not know half of it.
