Hey! So, first up thanks to everyone who's favourited and followed this so far, I hope you all enjoy this next chapter. I've got an idea of where this is going, but if anyone has suggestions I'd love to hear them!
See chapter 1 for the disclaimer and let's crack on.
Tom looked out the window, watching the world go by as he was driven to the hotel by a taxi driver. Sighing he looked down at his hand which was now in a cast and a splint. Man, that red kid had a handshake! He'd broken two of Tom's fingers - the little one and the ring one - and severely bruised the palm. The doctors had spent most of the time trying to work out exactly what he had trapped his hand in to get such an injury. Tom pretended he couldn't remember because he knew if he said 'I had my hand crushed by a red hedgehog' he'd be put in the looney bin.
As they neared the hotel Tom had a sudden attack of nerves. The hell were they thinking!? Adjusting to Sonic had been enough and it was mainly the fact that he was already familiar with earth culture that had made it even a vaguely smooth ride. Even then Sonic had thrown curveballs at them, like his sudden desire to become a 'proper' hero, for instance. A cold feeling came over him as Tom realised he had no idea how he would even begin to slow the red one down if he decided he wanted to punch some robbers in the face.
"Excuse me, sir?" Tom was broken out of his thoughts by the taxi driver. "We're here, Sir." The price of the drive nearly brought Tom to tears and he briefly wondered if he could submit expenses to Commander Walters. Probably not, he admitted. That might be pushing it a bit.
"Donut Lord!" Tom brightened up when he heard his sons voice and he opened his good arm up for a hug. Sonic skidded to a halt just in front of him and looked in horror at the cast. "What the heck has he done to you!?"
Tom made a dismissive gesture with his good arm. "Just...fractured two of my fingers. Don't worry, a couple of weeks and it should be good. Hey Maddie!" Tom waved to his wife, who was also looking shocked. "Don't worry-" He said, hastily. "It's not as bad as it looks."
He saw his wife visibly steady herself and smile. "Good timing, Tom. We're just having dinner. Follow me, I'll show you where the restaurant is."
As he followed his family down the hall Tom realised that this was actually quite a swanky hotel. He leaned in to Maddie and asked, in a low voice. "We're not paying for this, are we?"
"No, the government is. For a week. Food is included." She laughed and Tom felt his heart soar. "Just giving you a heads up, the boys were clearly hungry..." With that she opened the door to the restaurant.
The sheriff almost didn't see the table for the food. It wasn't quite on a Shaggy-And-Scooby level, but it was nearly there. The restaurant offered a buffet of food around the world for dinner and the boys had clearly tried a plate from every country.
"Donut Lord!" The red one waved at him, his voice booming across the otherwise quiet atmosphere. "I see you have been healed!"
Tails looked like he wanted to sink through the floor as he wrapped himself in his namesakes.
"Right." Tom sat down and held his good hand up. "Let's get one thing clear. My name is Tom. Tom Wachowski. This is Maddie. Maddie Wachowski. We would prefer it if you call us by our names."
The red one nodded. "Tom and Maddie. I am Knuckles the Echidna." The two adults must have looked confused because Knuckles elaborated. "The name Knuckles comes from my clan, but I use it as a first name. Echidna is my species."
"I see." Tom said, although he didn't. "And you're a fox?" He asked Tails who nodded slightly. "Right. I see." Then, in an attempt to lighten the slightly awkward atmosphere that had come over the table he added. "Do you have enough food there, boys?"
Tails practically went red and whined a little. Knuckles however, completely missed the intended humour, saying seriously. "Yes, plenty, thank you Donut - Chief Wachowski. Do not be concerned, we fully intend to eat it all."
That, Tom thought, as Knuckles dived back into his plate of food, he did not doubt. He hoped the government had enough budget to keep up with this kids appetite.
