A Fissure Among the Factions (c) 01-02 by me, MistressAli
All "Sonic the Hedgehog" characters and related indicia (c) and TM Sega/Archie/and DIC.
Used without permission.
This document may be freely distributed, as long as it's not altered in any way.
Ok, peoples, this chapter contains: violence, swearing, and a lil bit of sexual wanking stuff. And some mushy 'teary' stuff. Oh...joy...
This is the 3rd (and last) segment of Part 1.
A Fissure Among The Factions - Part 1: The Theft
Chapter 3
The village seemed busy today. Snively strolled along, noting the flow of villagers in and out of the café. He could smell food cooking.
The double doors were flung open and inside people milled, hanging ribbons from the overhead beams. Tails was sweeping the floor with an old corn broom. He no longer had the ring...must've put it in a safe place in the meeting hall.
Snively crossed skinny arms over his chest, silent. A sour eye was trained on Dulcy. The dragon was helping wind a ribbon around one of the vertical support posts.
"OOF!" He grunted, stumbling forward and then onto his knees. He rose quickly, whipped 'round snarling.
That fox brat!
But no...he came face to face...snarling turned to gasping... with the man from the garden. The very same who had been part of the group that had attacked him that one late night. So many months ago, but he rarely went out at night now. For fear that they wouldn't be so forgiving next time...
He laughed, ratty hair standing up in tufts. "Whatsa matter, Overlander scum? Didya trip?"
Snively titled his head, blue eyes frigid. That look could freeze water, but the man didn't seem intimidated. "Oh yes...it was a very *large* piece of dirt responsible for my fall..." He stood, brushing off his knees with a sniff.
"The only dirt around here is you," the man sneered. "An' you remember what that tastes like, eh? Dirty bastard!"
Snively's gaze did not falter, but his cheeks began to redden. Humiliation. During the beating they'd screamed at him; yelled. And taken a handful of dirt and forced it into his mouth, jeering at him. That was it though; he was relieved at least they hadn't done anything further. He shivered, and his gaze dropped at last, seeking out the cracks in the wooden floor below them.
The man laughed cruelly. "Yeah...you remember... an' don't let us catch you out sneakin' around anymore, neither."
Snively locked eyes again, his breath drawing in loud through his nose, like an angry bull. "Leave me alone."
He turned away, his hands shaking slightly. God...the anger was so intense he could taste it. Hot. Bitter.
"Oooh. Leave me alone, you brute!" The man mocked, adding a heavy lisp to each word. Another laugh. "Geoff says you're a faggot...yeah..." His finger came out, poking Snively hard in the back. "I think he's right..."
"Leave...me...alone..." He had to force the words out through clenched teeth.
"Or what, pussy?" The flat of his hand connected with Snively's back, shoving. The tiny man slammed into the support post, tripping on Dulcy's tail and his arms entangled in the ribbon.
"Huh?" the man was still laughing, advancing, and then the unlikely defender stuck her reptilian head down.
"Hey! You knock it off!"
The man blinked, then scowled, taking a step away.
"You are being really mean, and we don't like it! Right, Tails?"
"Right," agreed the kit. He was clutching the broom more like a weapon now.
"Eh...kids..." the man grunted, sounding disgusted. But he turned and ambled out of the café.
Snively sighed and set to detaching himself from the ribbon. Before he could stop it, it slipped out.
"Thank you..."
"Hey, no prob."
Snively carefully set the ribbon on the floor. Then he took a seat on one of the wooden stools.
"Really? So I suppose you forgive me for earlier."
"Me an' Tails don't like to hear those bad words." Dulcy's eyes and hands were intent on winding the ribbon. She reached the bottom of the post, tying a large bow there.
He wasn't about to apologize, so he just nodded. Then he glanced around, taking in the décor once again. "So uh... what's going on here?"
"It's for a dance tonight! Cause we know Sonic and Sally will do sucha good job today! They'll be happy to come home for a party."
"Hmmmm."
He kept his ponderings silent. Like why did Sonic and Sally get all the credit? What about Bunnie, or Rotor, or even Geoffrey or Antoine? They fought just as hard in this war; even Antoine contributed every now and then.
"So," said Sonic's biggest worshipper, his gaze even now starry-eyed at merely mentioning his idol's name. "Are you gonna come to the party, Snive-ly?"
"Will you please *quit* calling me 'Snive-ly'? I don't like it. It's Snively."
"But you don't like Snively either."
"I like it better than that...and no...I'm not coming."
"But there'll be a lot of food. And dancing!"
"Will there be alcohol?"
"Yeah! There'll be wild apple and raspberry thistle and bayberry wine! At least that's what Antoine said."
Snively swallowed a little. He could almost taste the sweetness now, feel the burning warmth down his throat. If there was one good thing to say of these horrid Knothole villagers, it was that they made excellent wine.
But he scarcely got to taste it. Alcohol was one thing Bunnie didn't keep in her home. She drank tea.
His mouth nearly watered. "I'll be there then..."
Dulcy and Tails exchanged looks.
"What's so great about wine? I think it tastes funny."
"You wouldn't understand, child. You're too young to know..." He trailed off, going into one of his distant trances. He assumed they didn't know pain because they were young.
'At their age I already knew...' Yes, at their tender age, even before, he had already learned agony and fear. Daddy taught him well.
"Whatsa matter, Snively?"
The dragon's voice startled him and he looked up. She was scrutinizing him closely, and for once she'd actually said his name correctly.
"You look sad."
There was silence, and any vulnerability that had been present in that pale face quickly turned to hostility. "Since when is my well-being a concern of *yours*, dragon?" he snapped.
"Whatever..." The dragon dismissed him, looking annoyed. Her attention turned to the next post to be wrapped. "I was just trying to be nice..."
Damn.
Now he felt guilty.
Damn!
'I shouldn't feel guilty over a dumb animal!'
But he did.
Damn.
He left the café, wanting away from them now, all of them. The sanctuary of Bunnie's hut was craved, and to it he went with swift striding steps.
He crossed the threshold with a large sigh, sagging back against the door after he closed it. His eyes felt heavy suddenly.
The couch was neat, blanket folded and draped over the back. It looked soft, inviting. He stumbled to it, fumbling to yank the blanket off and onto his body. He curled up, resting his head on a tasseled pillow.
The land of heaven, and demons, and fearsome Julian, and the sweet nude form of Ms. Rabbot curled in his arms was reached in only a matter of minutes.
He didn't wake for a long time. Until someone whispered his name...
"Snively..."
He opened his eyes. Bunnie was there, free of clothing, and strangely, both her arms were golden-furred.
He was sitting upon her couch, almost stick-straight, his legs dangling off. She was on the floor directly in front of him, kneeling. She giggled and leaned forward, her tongue flickering out to lick his stomach.
He laughed; it tickled. His cheeks reddened, noticing for the first time that he wasn't wearing clothes either.
Her tongue descended lower. Her breath and mouth were so warm and he moaned. "Oh Bunnie..."
She giggled again, muffled.
"...oh yes...Bunnie..." His voice trembled with pleasure.
And then he woke. Groggy. He rubbed away the crust from his eyes, and then opened them. Half-expecting to see the girl there, but of course she wasn't. He sighed, almost disappointed.
"Oh...Bunnie..." He sat up, his face hot with embarrassment. He was glad she wasn't here. He was even dreaming of her now!
'And such dirty dreams!'
They left clear evidence of his love, or lust rather, at the moment, apparent in that aching throb underneath those gray pants he wore.
He hissed, running his fingers over the strain. A whimper escaped; the sensations were so strong, making him want more, but no.
He drew his hands away and flopped his head against the back of the couch, trying to control himself.
'Bunnie...how can you do this to me? No one else ever has...'
Without him willing it, his hand crept downwards. It was bad, nestling into his lap, the fingers opening and then closing around that ache, squeezing. He wanted to stop, but it felt so good.
He needed it. 'If I can just do this...just finish it...'
His cheeks flared and he whimpered again, softly.
'I won't feel so...so *intense* about her anymore.'
He squirmed upon the couch, groaning.
'You know that's not true. Sick. Sick. You're sick!'
'Shut up...'
He tried to pull his hand away. His breath came in panting.
'You won't feel better. Your feelings about her...'
Beautiful Bunnie. With her fur of gold and eyes of lime and a body of a goddess...
An odd whimpering cry came from him, and for one moment all he knew was bliss. Complete and total, and then he just slumped, breathing harshly.
'The feelings aren't just lust. They're LOVE.'
He closed his eyes. His body felt weak, like he could not move his legs, nor his arms. They flopped down limp at any attempt.
'I'm sick. So sick. Dirty.'
His pants felt wet, sticking to his thighs.
"Sick dirty little boy..." he mummered aloud, and then whimpered again, but not out of pleasure this time. It rang of fear. That line reminded him of Pops...
'Don't think of that fucker. He doesn't deserve any thought at all.'
And the thoughts did flee at a sudden sound, deep and throbbing to his marrow. Bunnie's grandfather clock in the corner of the room was toning the hour. It had scared him the first time he'd heard it. Even now it seemed like the foreboding voice of Time itself, growling that one more hour of life was gone.
He'd slept for a long time. Much longer than usual, and he did not feel refreshed. Rather, he felt exhausted and weak as he stumbled from the couch.
It was dark outside the bathroom window. Nighttime already. He changed out of his clothes, disgustedly dropping the wet pants into the wicker hamper. Then he donned new garments; a pair of gray pants and a black-button up shirt that was slightly dressier than his usual attire.
'I am going to a dance after all...' he smirked a little, reaching under the bed for a better pair of shoes than the worn black boots he wore now. Leftovers from Robotropolis; the same leather knee-highs he'd been wearing for about three years now. His only other pair were pulled out now, and put on, a pair of black oxfords, polished to a beautiful shine.
He looked himself over in the mirror and nodded. Not approving. Merely tolerant.
The shirt front buttoned, and he had undone the top two. They choked him. His neck was pale and smooth; a vampire's dream. He leaned in closer, studying his own eyes. They were blue, as usual, that pale watered-down color. They looked worried. He blinked, and smoothed that look away, replacing it with his familiar deadpan stare...not giving anything away, and not showing what he was taking in.
"Puh..." He made a snorting sound and then headed for the door. The dance would suck. He knew it. But at least there would be booze. And possibly Bunnie. That was all that mattered...
*
He moved quietly, his feet stepping lightly upon the slightly damp grass. He could hear laughing. The café was lit up. Shadows moved back and forth past the windows.
He halted, the fine hairs on his arms lifting. A voice had rung out, clear and loud.
"Oh mah stars! Ah ain't even dressed properly! Ah'll be right back, ya'll!"
"Me too..." came Sally's voice faintly.
"I'm going in." Sonic.
They were back from the mission.
He could see Bunnie's form wave and then head for her hut, presumably to change into something more fitting. He rubbed his arms, wondering what it would be. Maybe a fancier jumpsuit, or a nice dress.
He headed towards the café, and then halted.
'I don't want to go in there if she's not there.'
He was afraid.
'I'll wait awhile. And then I'll go.'
He tried to picture the wine, tried to picture Bunnie in her dress...hoping these images would lend him courage enough to go in among those hateful Mobians.
But while he waited...it wouldn't hurt to go lounge by the pool for a while. In minutes he found himself there. The ring was due soon.
He leaned against a tree. The bark felt hard under his arm. Narrowed, his eyes traveled the rustling tops of the trees. The breeze was mild and warm, but insistent, gliding the dark clouds across an even darker sky. He could feel, distinctly, moisture thick in the air.
A storm, apparently.
He felt cold suddenly, like he was immersed in chilled water, fighting for the surface. He jumped, gasping slightly.
'Storms...aren't they a bad omen?'
'No. Don't be stupid. It's just a nature thing...you aren't even superstitious for god's...'
A stick cracked and he bolted like a deer, hiding among the dense shrubbery.
He expected Sonic, or maybe Tails, come to collect the ring.
He heard footsteps and frowned. For a moment he could see nothing. Then there was a flash of white, and he pieced it together; white stripes on a black back. The skunk.
Geoffrey paced the water's edge, murky blue eyes darting around, like there was some annoying fly buzzing around his head.
Snively ducked. His view was partially blocked by the bush's leaves and twigs, but he could still see. And in this darkness, there was no way Geoff could spot him. Or at least, he hoped not...
"Come on..." Geoff was impatient.
The ring obeyed. The golden turret rose, and down floated the halo of gold. It hit the net on the very edge, and for a moment it balanced, debating between net and water.
It seemed it would choose net, but Geoff in his haste to rescue it, threw himself forward, severely jarring the net. The ring fell forward into the net, only to be swiftly bounced back out by the skunk's actions, and down deep into the water it sank.
"Fuck!" The skunk untangled himself from the net, nearly falling into the water himself. On the shore he paced again, tense and face savage like a caged lion. "FUCK!"
He stared down into the water, but Snively knew he wouldn't go after. The water was deep, unusually deep for a pool, and cold too.
"Crap..." Geoffrey seemed to strike upon a plan. "But fuck...why the hell does he hafta know anyway..." He turned and stomped away from the pool, heading back towards the village.
An owl hooted. The forest was still, save for the usual nightly sounds. Snively stood and made his way back to the café'. The doors swung open and he blinked. It was bright inside, and strewn with decorations, crowded with Mobians. He moved quickly away, back against one of the walls, his sharp gaze catching Sonic and Geoffrey quite close by. Talking.
No, arguing. Not unusual.
"...not in the net?"
"Nope..." Geoffrey's expression was similar to the hedgehog's, annoyed. "It must've fallen in, or maybe someone nabbed it."
"Ah, c'mon, like who..."
Snively gulped, looking away. His vision was dazzled with gold and deep violet. Eyes frowned into his, delicate golden lashes blinked.
"What are they all talkin' about, Snively..." Bunnie pitched her voice low, eyes fluttering to Sonic for one moment and then back to him.
"I don't know..." whispered Snively, voice weak.
She looked beautiful. No, gorgeous. Her fur shone gold, more golden than he'd ever seen it; smooth and soft like silk. Her eyes were twin emeralds, and her dress... it was made of deep purple fabric, sweeping full around her feet, hiding the robotic legs. Thin straps held it up at the shoulders, and a necklace of polished white stones was snug around her neck, nestling into the hollow in her throat.
"Didya take it..." She frowned even more, voice taking on a growling edge.
"No..." He tried to stay calm. "No. I didn't. I swear."
Her hand snapped out, grabbing his chin. She leaned forward, and he drew in a nervous breath. They were so close...
Her eyes were like probes, boring into his. Searching. He trembled, scared, a light sweat breaking on his forehead.
Too close.
But it was alright.
'She'll see I'm not lying. She believes me.'
Her hand clasped hard, her eyes unblinking, reaching further into him.
'She might not love me but she trusts me...and she'll know I...
She let go so suddenly that he stumbled backwards.
"Ah don't believe you. And Ah won't have any more of this. Don't ya dare even come home tonight..."
She turned, dress sweeping the floor and was off into the crowd, leaving him weak, nearly dropping to his knees, his heart torn and eyes flooded.
He stumbled back to the wall, as a shy wallflower...no, as a wounded solider, an eagle shot in flight.
But he wasn't that noble. Only a sickly man, who was for once, in love.
Through the blurred haze of his vision, he saw Antoine, dressed in a more elegant version of his normal garb, sidle up to her. They talked and Bunnie shook her head. Antoine turned to look at him, and then back to her. She shook her head again.
He sniffled. Blinking rapidly, trying to keep tears at bay. This was...what...?...the second time he'd cried this week. And over such stupid things.
'I don't care if she hates me. I don't. As long as she doesn't turn me in...that's all that matters...is that HE doesn't find out...'
He pushed off the wall, weaving through the crowd. He felt strangely dirty. And normally he was so clean, so superior to these quaint animals. Now it seemed he was below them, so far underneath their feet trod on dirt miles above his head.
He clenched his arms tighter around himself, starting to breathe heavier and sweat, his body shivering.
'Calm down. Don't panic. Please, don't panic. Not here...'
Had he been in Robotropolis, facing uncle's wrath, he would've hid under a console, praying uncle couldn't reach him, wouldn't take it out on him...
But there was nowhere to hide here; he was surrounded on all sides. They weren't coming after him, anyway. But Bunnie's words, those horrid words, seared deep into him, and now every glance his way seemed hostile, every hand seemed like it was ready to curl and strike him.
He saw the refreshment table. It was laden with food and bottles of drink. Knothole's resident doctor was pouring drinks and giving them to passerby's.
There was a place he could hide after all.
He made his way there, weaving, trying to avoid contact with people. He brushed against one of them, a wolf, and she turned with a smile. It faded quickly at the sight of him.
"Pardon me..." She said stiffly, and turned away.
He sighed.
But he was there now, eyeing the bottles eagerly.
"Well, hello there, Snively," greeted Doctor Quack. He was dressed in his usual labcoat.
'How...' Snively couldn't quite think a word for it...'lazy? Slobbish?'
It even had what appeared to be dried blood on the hem. At least he was wearing a bowtie. Even though it said in garish pink letters 'Quack will make you feel good'.
"Like my tie?"
One of Quack's nurses, a stereotypical buxom vixen, giggled. She was by his side, her hand on his back. Or maybe lower. Snively didn't want to know. She giggled. "Your tie is sooo cute, Quacky!"
"Say no to Quack...Quack kills..." Snively said dryly, and muttered. He was entranced by the bottles again, watching Quack's hand as it lifted one and poured the sparkling mauve liquid into a glass.
"Would you like a drink, Snively?"
"Yes..." Snively was impatient. "What do you have?"
"Well. We have fruit punch. Lemonade..."
"No. Alcohol."
"Oh, well then we have..."
"The strongest. I want the strongest."
"Then this will suit you." The duck lifted a bottle. "Cranberry and wintergreen wine. It's the most powerful thing here."
Snively's eyes lit up like a child about to receive a toy. "Give me some, give me some, give me some..."
The glass was handed over and he took it eagerly. He drained it in one swig and motioned for more. The vixen giggled and obliged, pouring him another glass.
"Now, now. Don't give him too much. Overlanders are much more sensitive to alcohol then we are."
"Really, doctor?" The nurse seemed to hang onto his every word. Snively wasn't interested, gripping the glass in a death grip and raising it to his lips.
"Oh yes. In fact they can develop quite strong addictions to it. It leads to a condition called alcoholism."
"Really, doctor? And what else do you know about Overlanders? I find them to be sooo interesting." And both of them stared for a long moment at Snively, who ignored them, drinking down the whole glass in only a few gulps. He gasped a little, enjoying that lovely burning all the way down his throat, warming the pit of his stomach.
"More..."
**
"Ant, honey, yer eyes are a-wanderin'..." Bunnie put a hand to his cheek. "Lookin' at all the other gals?"
"Oh, non, non!" His eyes transferred back to her, his eyebrows knit upwards.
"Aw...Ah'm jus' teasin'." She patted his cheek affectionately. "But hon, what are ya'll lookin' at?"
"Eet ees just something Monsieur Geoffrey told me before. And something he ees saying now."
"Well what, hon?"
"Geoffrey ees askin' about a missin' ring." Ant's eyes sought out the skunk, and then the one the skunk believed guilty. Snively was sitting near the refreshment table with wine glass in hand, looking rather forlorn. "Are you knowing anything about them?"
Bunnie was silent, then shook her head.
"Please, be telling me the truth."
"Ah am," She said, but only half-heartedly. Her ears drooped and she sighed. Then she danced them away, swaying through the villagers to a less crowded area. "Ah ain't good at lyin', but sugah...ya'll gotta promise me..."
"What, mon ami?" The look of worry on the fox's face was almost comical in its intensity.
"That ya'll won't be angry, hon. Ya gotta keep yer cool."
"Oh, oui. I am promising to be as cool as a zucchini!"
She stared at him straight-faced, and then giggled. "Aw, c'mon Ant, be serious!"
"I am! I give you my solemn promise as a royal guard."
He wasn't a royal guard...yet...but it seemed good enough, so she bent her head to whisper. "The rings are in mah bedroom..."
"Non!"
"Yah...they are..." She bit her lip. "Ah'm sure ya know Ah ain't takin' them."
His eyes were as hard as the turquoise stone they mimicked. "Snipley."
His arms broke from embracing her waist, but she wrapped hers about him, holding him tight. "Ya'll said ya wouldn't get angry!"
He took in a deep breath. "But mon ami, why? If you were knowing..."
"Cause he'll be killed if anyone finds out!"
"He deserves it, mon ami."
"Antoine!" She glared at him. "That's a terrible thang ta say! He ain't bad...not that bad..."
The fox stared down at the wooden floorboards. "Mon ami..." was muttered finally, not looking at her. "If you are captivated, you will be in big troubles with King Acorn..."
"No one else knows."
"Geoffrey does...he ees suspicious anyway. If he ees to be finding out..." He finally raised his head, and Bunnie was shocked to see him nearly on the brink of tears.
"Oh Antoine... don't worry...Ah'll get the rings turned in somehow...or something...Ah don't know... He won't take them anymore..."
"Bunnie, please be being careful. You are so too much more important than..." he spat the name... "Snipley."
"Ah'll be careful...Ah promise..." She leaned in closer and they were still, only lips tenderly connected and arms embracing the other close.
**
"Hehehe, lookit all these lovebirds..." Doctor Quack laughed. The nurse cooed and nuzzled her muzzle into his neck.
"Oh yes, Quacky, they're all so cutesy-wutsey together!"
Snively glanced over, eyes narrowed. His lip stuck out in a sneer. "Ah, fucking can it..."
The nurse gave him a cold stare. "Excuse me?"
He looked away again, silent. Maybe it was the alcohol getting to him. Or maybe it was the sight of a golden creature, a divine one, one who had just shattered him inside, was kissing and hugging and dancing and giggling with that damn Antoine.
"Goddammit!" He cursed aloud, eyes leaving the couple to focus on his glass. A drop of crimson liquid pooled in the bottom. He snorted and tossed it uncaringly onto the refreshment table.
"Hey now, Snively, you're getting a little unruly over there," Quack admonished, trying to clean up the droplet of wine from the white tablecloth but not succeeding. "Next time like...set the glass down."
"Yeah, it's really breakable." The nurse shook a finger at him disapprovingly.
"So am I." And with that the tiny Overlander stood and fled the party, skinny legs carrying him over wooden floorboards and onto soil, the dark night air filling his lungs.
He ran, panting, all the way to her hut. She had told him not to, to stay away, but there was nowhere else to go. No one would take him in, and he feared sleeping outside.
He pushed open the door and flopped down onto the couch. There were springs in his legs, propelling him back to his feet, to pace nervously around the room, his hands clasped to his chest.
"Bunnie..." he moaned out.
His head ached.
"I'm sorry, Bunnie..."
The wine buzzed in his veins, and he felt light on his feet, arms weightless, and skitterish like a bird. He sat, then paced, eyes darting around the familiar walls. Once comforting, they now seemed cold.
'I don't belong here.'
He sat again, leaning his head against the soft back of the couch.
"I never did. I never belonged here."
So where? In the city, he had fit. Though tortured, he had fit. Here he was the gray chunk of concrete amidst a garden of bright wildflowers. Not natural. Not right.
He looked at the painting of Bunnie on the wall. It was crude, but the brush strokes were lovingly made by Antoine's hand.
He stared at that mess of yellow paint, focusing on the twin globs of green that were her eyes. But not quite...hers were a much lighter shade.
He wanted to hate her. It was such a familiar rich feeling, thick like chocolate, and just as easy to swallow. It was the only sustenance that kept him going.
'I hate you'...it was thought at first, and then declared aloud to the painting. "I HATE YOU!"
'Liar...' his soft side sneered.
'Liar, liar, liar...'
**
"Pour me some of that honeysuckle wine, mate."
A feathery hand lifted and poured the amber-colored beverage into a glass.
Geoffrey took it, flexing a bicep purposely as he drew his arm back. The nurse stared at him, googley-eyed.
"Ermm..." Quack sipped his own glass, nudging the nurse with his hip. She immediately cooed and enveloped him in her arms, while Quack fixed a cobalt eye on the skunk. "So, St. John, enjoying the party?"
"Oh yeah. It's great." The skunk seemed disinterested, draining part of his glass as he scanned the room. Then he turned back, eyeing the vixen's chest before addressing Quack.
"So Doc...you notice anything odd around the power ring pool lately?"
"Oh, I haven't gone swimming in ages. I was in my office all day. Pulling out a thorn from Simon's foot, and uh addressing Ms. Crotchy's erm...well...uh. Crotchety problems."
"Really." Geoffrey gave a wry grin. "I see you have no doctor-patient confidentiality."
The nurse vixen waved her hand around. "Oh it was horrible, just horrible! The look of it, I mean...OH!" She nearly fell onto the table as Quack hip-bumped her again, hard.
"Now now, Bessie, we don't discuss our patient's problems. It's unprofessional."
Geoffrey grinned again, then shook his head. "What about you, Buxom Bessie? You notice anything, babe?"
"I was with QuackyWacky all day. I'm a nurse, you know."
"Yeah." Geoffrey finished off his glass. "I know."
"What's going on with the pool?"
"Power rings going missing."
"Oh. Well that's not good."
"No it isn't, Quacky! It's just horrible!" The nurse was making a huge pretense of sobbing into the doctor's arm. Then she lifted her head. "What are power rings for anyway?"
Geoffrey gaped. Then asked for more wine.
**
Antoine and Bunnie had tired of dancing and were seated at the long café table which had been pushed back against the wall to maximize space for dancing. They each had a small plate of food and drink, and were pleasantly chatting.
Bunnie took a sip from her glass, eyes searching the room. For him. The human. She didn't seem him anywhere. She sighed; she hadn't liked telling him off...she knew he would have a difficult time without the sanctuary of her house. But it had to stop. He'd promised he wouldn't steal anymore, and now a ring had gone missing, and if he hadn't taken it... She couldn't imagine anyone else who would.
"Bunnie? Are you listening?"
"Oh." She redirected her attention to Antoine, smiling. "Uh...Ah missed the last thang ya said, darlin'."
"I was saying would you like more cake?"
"Oh hmmm." She thought a moment. "Well shore...but Ah don't know...gotta watch mah figure."
"Not to be worrying." He looked at her body with a large grin. "I could be watching your figure for you, mon ami."
"Ant..." she groaned, but then smiled. "Ya'll are so bad." She giggled and held out her plate. "Ah guess another piece of cake won't hurt...a *small* piece."
"Of course, mon ami..." He bowed graciously and left.
She tapped her fingers against the smooth surface of the café table, looking around the room again. She didn't see Snively anywhere. Antoine was by the refreshment table and had gotten caught up in conversation with Rotor. Doctor Quack was shaking his head at Tails and Dulcy. They were whining, and Dulcy sneakily tried to grab a bottle of wine, but the nurse grabbed it. After a moment of tug-o-war Dulcy gave up. Sonic and Sally were sitting with the King, talking.
Her fingers tapped a bit harder and then she reached for her glass, not bothering to look. Instead of firmly grasping it, she only managed to knock it off the table, and with a little clang against her metal thigh, the cup fell into her lap.
She gasped and leapt up, looking at the spreading red stain on her dress. "Oh mah stars!!"
She hurried over to Antoine.
"Ah've spilt drink on my dress..."
Antoine looked dismayed and quickly reached for a napkin, but she shook her head. "No hon, Ah'm gonna go home and take care of this, Ah'll be back soon." She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Alright, mon ami, I will be waiting at the table."
She smiled and then darted for the doors. It was a quick sprint back to her hut, holding her dress up off the dirty ground, and then finally pushing open the wooden door and stepping into her abode.
She didn't glance around, nor turn on any lights, just hurried to the bathroom and took a small bottle out of the cabinet. It was a concoction Rotor had come up with in his spare time, and it worked well on stains.
She wet a washcloth with the mixture and applied it to her dress, scrubbing vigorously. After a few moments, she was quite satisfied, but as the dress was soaking wet now, she thought it wiser to change.
She was two steps away from her bedroom when she realized something.
There was someone else in the house.
Her first reaction was a sort of curious fear. A noise had come from the couch. She took a hesitant step.
"Who's there?!"
A soft voice answered, and a face rose up, peering at her with hauntingly pale eyes. "It's only me...Bunnie..."
"SNIVELY!?"
He ducked back down behind the couch and then peeked over it again.
"AH TOLD YA NOT TA COME BACK HERE!" Her voice shook with anger and she rounded the couch with aggressive steps. He stood, facing her, the backs of his knees pressed hard against the overhanging cushions of the couch.
"I...I don't have anywhere-"
"AH DON'T CARE! YA'LL GET OUT NOW!"
"But Bunnie..." he reached a tiny hand at her, and she fuming, slapped it away with her organic hand.
He clasped it to his chest, looking stunned. Then his face darkened. "I can't believe this. You HIT me."
"Get out. Now." She aimed a robotic finger towards the door.
"I can't...I don't..."
"GET OUT!" And she lunged at him. He squealed as she grabbed him roughly by the shirtfront and dragged him to the door.
He found himself lying on the stepping-stones that led to her hut. She slammed the door shut hard, rattling the hinges.
He pushed himself to a sitting position. His hand ached.
'That bitch. She could've broken something.'
He shivered, the back of his neck prickling. The moisture in the air had risen in intensity over the last half hour, and raising his eyes to the rolling clouds above, seeing the moon, there, and then not, hidden by the coming storm. But not coming. It was here.
It broke without warning, flinging cold draughts of rain at his tiny form. He curled on the ground, but there was no way to escape this. Unless under a roof.
He banged on her door.
"BUNNIE! LET ME IN! IT'S RAINING!"
There was no answer.
"BUNNIE!"
The wind picked up, blowing the rain in random paths. His shirt was sticking to his skin. "BUNNIE, PLEASE!"
"Ya'll go away." He heard faintly through the thick wood.
"I DIDN'T STEAL IT! I swear. I didn't steal it. Let me in. Please let me in."
"Ya'll lie. Ah thought ya was good, but now Ah see Ah was stupid. Ya'll lie..."
"I'm not lying!" He had to practically yell to be heard over the furious onslaught from the heavens. He was soaked through now. "I wouldn't lie to you!"
"GO AWAY!"
"BUNNIE, PLEASE..." His skin was shivering, his eyelashes wet and cheeks damp. "I wouldn't lie to you Bunnie, PLEASE, I WOULDN'T LIE."
"Yer just as bad as other Overlanders..." It was barely heard, muffled, but he caught it, and his heart seemed to split.
"I WOULDN'T LIE BUNNIE...I LOVE YOU..."
A cracker smeared with cheese was lifted, then swallowed. Antoine wiped his fingers on his napkin. He looked down at the plate. There were five crackers there. Eight originally, four for him, and four for his love, as well as two pieces of cake.
He sighed, picking up his last cracker. He sat, waiting, but the girl did not return. He sighed again and set down the cracker, checking his watch repeatedly as first one, then three minutes ticked by.
"Where are you being, mon ami?" The cracker was nibbled, but he didn't notice the creamy texture of the cheese, nor the buttery crunch of the cracker. His thoughts were focused on her.
'A stain would not be taking theese long!'
He rose from his chair, starting to tremble with familiar anxiety, though he knew there was nothing wrong, and she was fine, and he should just sit and wait.
But he couldn't...
**
He couldn't hear the rain.
Only a rush of white noise.
Oh God.
He'd said it. The rain beat in his ears, so loud.
She'd heard. She had to have heard. Because the door was opening and he was falling forward onto her welcome mat. He was cold. He shuddered.
Her voice had regained its normal softness. "What did ya'll say?" She was angry, but her ears were pricked, curious.
He sat up, clasping his arms around his chest, his back against the closed door. "Nothing..." he whispered, casting his eyes to the floor.
"Tell me..."
He gulped, and his cheeks were wet with a different liquid than rain. "I...Bunnie...I..." He stared hard at a crack in the floor. Funny, it looked like a tree, with long twisted branches. His voice broke, rasping lower than a whisper. "I love you..."
She sat on the couch and stared at him. "Oh, Snively..."
He tried to block her out, sprawling on the floor like a sack of wet clothes. He couldn't quit shaking. He couldn't stop the choking sobs that were crowding in his throat.
'Oh God. Someone kill me. I can't stand this. Someone kill me.'
"Ah didn't know."
He raised his head, eyes fogged over. Then he stood and tried to move towards her, but strength had fled him, and he fell to his knees before her. "I'm sorry..." he choked out. "I didn't mean to say it..."
She looked down at him, her eyebrows titled upwards, her mouth twisted and anxious. "Ah, honey...Ah...don't know..." She awkwardly touched his shoulder. "Ah don't know what ta say..."
"It's alright..." He recoiled from the touch. "I know you don't like it. I know it's sick. I know it's sick. I know it's..." he trailed off, his arms floating up to clasp around his chest again. She noticed he seemed to do that as some sort of protective gesture, even when not being threatened with violence.
"Ya'll are so hurt..." she observed suddenly, and then touched his shoulder again. "Ah'm so sorry."
"It's not your fault."
"But hon...uh...Ah already have Antoine..." That was a bad comment. Worse than silence. She wished she could take it back.
"I know." He smiled weakly at her. "I don't expect you to return anything. I know you hate me." He rose to his feet, swaying unsteadily. "I'll go now..."
She stood with him, grabbing his hands in hers. The skin felt silken, wet, against her fur. "Ah don't hate ya'll...please don't think that..."
Trembling assaulted his body. His breath rasped in quick and light, and he saw nothing but her face, her eyes, her pink lips set in a snowy muzzle, and then he leaned forward and captured that mouth with his own. Her hands tightened around his.
There was no push this time. She submitted her sweet lips to him, just for a moment... because there was some great need here that had to be fulfilled, if only for a split-second, and it didn't matter if she didn't feel the same...
He let go and she released his hands. For a moment they just eyed each other.
She stared, intrigued, and yet having a strange sense of invading privacy. He had his eyes, those windows to the soul, wide open. This was a room never seen, never used, dusty and hurtful and shining with a strange gleaming light of adoration. That she recognized. She saw it so often in Antoine.
It was true then. He loved her. She wished he would draw the shades. She was only his friend.
He didn't look anymore. That small taste wasn't enough...now that he was started, he couldn't stop. He leaned forward again, wrapping his twiggy arms around her, clutching her close, tight, a drowning man clinging to a life raft.
His lips were equally needy; unleashing the most passionate kiss he had ever given.
Knowing he couldn't have her. Feeling her heartbeat against this chest.
Knowing she didn't want him. Tasting her. Her hands digging into his sides. Her nails.
Knowing she would never be his. She was making a muffled gasping sound. He knew this moment could not last, because it was already over.
Like at the power ring pool earlier, she shoved him away, and stood staring at him, her eyebrows tilted, but not so much in disbelief anymore.
'She's worried. She doesn't have to worry.'
"Snively, ya'll...ya'll can't do that again."
He stared down at the floorboards. "I know..."
She sighed, sinking down into the couch. He remained standing, staring downwards. His arms floated up again to wrap around his chest.
"Ah don't know how ta handle this, Snively." She laughed weakly. "It sorta complicates thangs."
"Oh, I know..." his voice suddenly became bitter-edged. Outside the rain poured harder, drumming against the windowpanes. "Just imagine how disgusted the others would be. A filthy Overlander in love with a Mobian..."
She shook her head. "That ain't..."
He didn't hear her, his ears only focused on the storm outside, and in, the enraged howling of his mind. It was happening again. He was losing something he wanted. He couldn't have something he craved. The only friend he'd had was slipping away. The only one he had loved, besides his darling frail mother, was rejecting him.
But he knew she would. He knew this was wrong. She wouldn't give up Antoine, for she loved him. But that didn't stop the tearing inside, the tainted blood oozing from a heart lacerated and torn, burning through him, bringing familiar rage.
"That ain't..." She was repeating.
"Why don't you just say it?!" He suddenly screamed, taking a step towards her. "Why don't you just say how fucking disgusted you are!? Why don't you just say how you could never want a piece of shit like me? HUH!?"
She rose from the couch, her feet thudding loud on the floor. "YA'LL STOP THAT YELLIN'!"
He snapped his mouth closed and dropped like a stone, curling up on the floor.
She knelt down beside him, laying her hand on his shoulder. "Ah'm so sorry...but ya know this can't be. Ah have someone... I love him. And if yer in love, ya'll understand why Ah could never let him go. Ah'm so sorry Ah can't give you what ya..." Her hand squeezed gently. "What ya'll need."
He sat up, eyes watering. Clutching her hand to his chest; he couldn't let her go, he needed her touch right now. "But..." his throat was closing up and he had to clear it. "Will you still be my friend...Bunnie? Please..." He shivered. "I need...a friend..."
**
"So, how is Robotnik these days?" Bessie asked Geoff, whose eyes were intent on Sally. There was a hunger there, not for the refreshments by his leaning elbow, but another sort, dark and deep. She was laughing. Sonic was dancing around like a fool, and Geoffrey sneered, not seeing anything amusing. Just stupid.
Tails interrupted his thoughts, brushing by him, followed by Dulcy.
"Oh hey, kids," Quack greeted.
"I spilled my drink," Tails whined.
"Well, don't worry, there's plenty more." Quack filled the glass, and Geoffrey stared at the two youngings, scratching his white mop with one hand.
"What?" demanded Tails.
"How's the party?"
"It's cool, I had some chilidogs."
"That's..." the skunk's face crinkled in disgust, "Nice..."
"They're good!"
"Yeah..." There was a slight pause. "So, you kids go swimmin' a lot, don't'cha?"
"What's it to you?" Tails smirked, putting on his best tough-guy face. Dulcy giggled.
"How's the water? I was thinking of taking a dip later."
"It's kinda cold, but that's nice when it's so hot out."
Dulcy grinned, "Sometimes I heat the water with my powers."
"Yeah!" Tails nodded enthusiastically, waving his glass around. Juice sloshed over the side, but he ignored it. "It's kinda like the hot springs Sonic takes me to sometimes!"
"Wow, that sounds great." Geoff was staring over at Sally again. Still laughing, she moved in an atypical awkward fashion, trying to intimate one of Sonic's ridiculous dance moves. "So...have you two noticed anything unusual down there?"
Tails frowned. "Unusual like what?"
"Ya know. Just unusual stuff."
"No."
"No."
Dulcy thought a moment. "Snively was down there today."
"Yeah. He tried to catch a ring. What a dufus." Tails giggled.
"Really?" Geoffrey's interest was not faux now. "Tell me more."
"That's it, we saw him down there and we talked to him for a while." Tails shrugged. "He wasn't doing anything bad."
"Yeah," agreed the dragon, nodding. "He's just a grouch."
"We'll see about that..." Geoffrey's teeth glinted in a snarl, and he charged away, despite the children's protests about his little ward's innocence.
'We'll see how damn innocent you are now, faggot...'
**
"Well of course Ah'll be your friend..." Leaf-green eyes blinked, and a gold hand patted Snively's shoulder.
His small body was shivering, and wet trails ran down his cheeks. He leaned forward and embraced her. Sniffling into her shoulder with mummered thanks.
She stood and reached her hand down. He took it. She pulled him to his feet. A smile was given, warming him inside. He swiped at his eyes, cheeks flushed, wiping the wetness off on his pants. Another bout of shivering struck him. He had never felt vulnerable like this before. Not in this way.
"I...I guess I'll have to find another place to live."
She didn't say anything.
"I..." he smiled weakly, "won't be like this all the time." He didn't want to leave. This was the only sacred spot in the whole damn village.
"Ya'll don't hafta leave, Snively." She smiled back, and her grin was much stronger than his. It was steeped in resolve, and he wondered about what. Most likely to endure his sick ('because I know she thinks it's sick.') behavior. Or to pretend this hadn't happened.
'I know. It is sick. For me, a human...to love one of *them*.' He pondered what Uncle would think. He would think it sick, of course, he would think it deviant. 'Well fuck him.' His fingers itched; and he had to touch her again. 'Just once more, and then never again.'
"I'm so sorry," words were whispered into her neck as he buried his face in the sweet fur. "I'm sorry this happened. Pretend it didn't. I will, Bunnie...I'll pretend..."
"Alraight..." her low voice sounded slightly relieved.
His heart ached. "I promise. I won't touch you again. I promise I"
"Alraight, sugah. Alraight."
He held on for a moment longer. Then startled. Over the rain came the sound of footsteps and the door flung open. There was no flash of lightning to accompany his presence, but Antoine didn't need it. He was a storm when he saw Snively; his voice the howling wind and his fists the driving hail. A hand reached and grabbed Snively, pulling him away from the rabbit, and one of those fists was driven into the human's face.
There was a pained yelp and Snively was released, sprawling onto his rear on the floor. He stared up, eyes widened.
"SNIPLEY!" The fox roared. "I TOLD YOU NOT TO BE TOUCHING HER!!"
"I wasn't..." Snively offered lamely, skittering on his hands away from the angry fox. He didn't get far before his back touched the wall.
"YOU LIAR!" Antoine sprung.
"No, Ant, don't hurt him!!"
Snively kicked with his feet, wild, trying to trip the fox up. One boot caught the fox's shin, but he hardly noticed, yanking Snively to his feet again. "You are not..."
He shook the human hard, snapping his head back and forth. Bunnie yelled.
"to be..."
Stars flared in his vision as Snively was thrown against the wall. He whimpered.
"Putting your filthy hands on her!!"
"Antoine don't hurt..."
There was a short scream as a boot connected with a leg, then a side. The tiny human balled up, trying to protect himself, but he was no shelled turtle, nor armadillo, and his vulnerable flesh was bruised as kicks were aimed again and again. The cruel boot met his face, knocking his head to the side. Blood sprayed across the wooden floorboards. "Antoine, stop..." Snively's voice came out rasping. "Please..."
"I WILL BE KILLING YOU!"
"Antoine, no!" Bunnie's voice was a loud yell, but the fox might as well have been deaf; for he heeded none of it. His furious hands were yanking Snively up again, pushing him to the wall.
"What...what are you doing?" Snively's eyes went wide; watching Antoine's hand as it descended to his sword sheath and pulled the blade forth. It glimmered silver in the low light, the edge keen and ready to lacerate flesh...his flesh... "NO!...Antoine...please..."
"ANTOINE!" Bunnie reached out to the fox.
The sword slashed forward.
A small puppy-like sound came from Snively's lips and he grabbed his upper arm with one hand. Thick blood oozed under his palm, and the wound stung.
Another slash and Snively's shirt was torn across the stomach, revealing a strip of pale skin, weeping blood down onto his pants. He cried out again, trying to slide down the wall; to curl up. But Antoine had a hand planted hard on his chest, holding him in place.
"ANTOINE!" One flesh arm and one robotic wrapped themselves around the fox and pulled. He was lifted clear off his feet, his arms and legs flailing.
"Mon ami! Be putting me down!"
"No! Not unless ya'll quit hurting him!"
Snively didn't hear Antoine's response. His feet propelled him to the door and out, boots sinking down into the wet ground. Rain swirled over his skin, stinging the wound on his arm further. He felt weakened and the winds were like enemy hands, trying to hold him back.
He ran, feet slipping on the muddy ground. Pants were soiled as dirt splashed up to coat them to the knees.
Another few feet and he lost his balance, his feet slipping out from under him. He went to his knees in the mud. The smell of wet earth was rich, mingling with the copper from his belly and arm. The cuts were not that deep, not serious, but the gesture behind them certainly was.
He sprang to his feet, running. Breath came in raspy with fear. Antoine meant to kill him. These were just practice.
He heard, faintly, Bunnie yell. And then much louder, Antoine's furious shout to herald his coming.
He was not far behind. Snively forced his legs to move faster, even as his breath came in more painfully, and his body ached. He glanced around looking for something...anything...to help him. A hiding place...a weapon...anything...
His eyes caught briefly, something dark move, and then he was slamming full-force into something hard, yet furred. Something alive, and he yelped, falling to his knees once more, his lips touching upon a hard boot.
Slowly his eyes lifted, coming to rest on a pair of murky eyes that burned a dark blue shade. Sharp teeth shone in the moonlight as a mouth parted in a grin, and an evil snicker set Snively trembling as he climbed to his feet, backing away.
"Well, well, well, if it ain't Snively..." Geoffrey was smiling nastily, and Snively had a bad feeling about it. "What are you running from?"
Snively glanced behind him fearfully, hearing another shout in the darkness.
"Ah..." The skunk nodded. "Sounds like you pissed Antoine off, eh?"
The tiny man wiped away mud from his eyes. He was shivering, soaked through. Water dripped down his forehead and off his chin, and his pants were filthy with wet dirt.
"I didn't do any-" He started to protest, then gasped as Geoffrey lunged forward, grabbing his arm tight.
"Yeah! Let's see how innocent you are, you overlander dirtbag!" The grip tightened until claws broke the skin, and Snively cried out in pain, struggling in the skunk's grip. He twisted his tiny body, trying to plant an elbow into the skunk's side, but Geoffrey overpowered him with little trouble.
He found himself on his back in the mud with the skunk leering down at him, his large thighs straddling each side of the human's slight body. "N-no! Let me go!"
"SNIPLEY!" Antoine was nearly there.
Pushing, punching, his feet kicking in the mud, Snively fought. A fist slammed hard into his stomach and he gagged, curling into the wet ground, clutching wet sheaves of grass in his fists.
Then footsteps came pounding and the fox's furious voice rang out. "Geoffrey! Be giving him to me! I will kill him!"
The skunk stood. "Whoa, whoa mate," His voice was a coo, fauxly gentle even as his boot planted a brutal kick into delicate ribs, nearly cracking one. There was a pained yelp amidst gasps for breath, and the human writhed. "Ya can't kill him, Antoine, you'll get in trouble..."
"I DO NOT CARE!" And the sword lifted, its target the shivering human on the ground.
Geoffrey grabbed his arm swiftly. "No, Ant, I got somethin' better...the rings. They're in there, ain't they?!"
Antoine's eyes met his, widened and glinted with crazed light. Snively moaned from another hard kick to the side. "Thee rings? Yes...Yes they are being in there!"
"No!" Snively gasped, fighting to rise. He was aided roughly by Geoffrey's hand on his collar, yanking him to his feet. He gagged.
Antoine knew? How?
'How could he know?!'
The fox still had the sword raised. His normally neatly combed hair was a mess, wet and strewn all over his forehead, and his spotless boots were soaked and muddied, but Antoine seemed beyond caring. Triumph was mingled with the mad rage in his eyes, and the sword was lowered.
"Good, good," Geoffrey cooed, forcing Snively to walk forward with a rough hand on his back. The other still gripped the Overlander's collar tight, half-choking him.
They were headed back towards the hut. His sanctuary, but that was shattered now. It was his doom. A prelude to the gallows.
He whimpered and struggled hard, trying to squirm out of Geoffrey's grip. "Nooo...lemme gooo..."
"Knock it off."
He was getting nowhere, not with this tight grip, and Geoffrey answered his actions with a hard fist to his side, each knuckle leaving its own little bruise.
He gasped and went limp, his feet and legs dangling to drag over the wet ground.
They were back at the hut in moments. They met Bunnie halfway and she followed, protesting, demanding to know what Geoffrey intended to do.
"Simple, luv," smirked the skunk when they were inside. For once, Bunnie didn't gripe about dirty feet on her rugs. The spreading puddle around their waterlogged feet was similarly ignored.
"What are ya'll doin'!? Geoffrey let 'im go! He's bleedin'!"
"Yeah..." said Geoffrey offhandly, ignoring her question and turning to Antoine. "Where?"
Antoine bounded to the bedroom, marking his trail with muddy footprints. Geoffrey's prints were considerably larger than Antoine's as he followed, and Snively's smaller, smeared as he was dragged roughly. His breath came in rasping, but at least he had his air back, and began to struggle anew.
Geoffrey stood still, his arm being yanked about by the squirming overlander. His eyes touched about Bunnie's modest room, decked out in mostly soft pinks and creams. Her hand looked tiny as it grasped his muscular limb. "Let 'im go! Geoffrey!"
"They are being in theese room!" Antoine suddenly set to rifling through Bunnie's desk, tossing paper and pencils like so much garbage.
"Antoine!" Bunnie's voice was razor-edged, and Snively, still squirming, whimpering like a puppy, with fresh bruises and his cuts stinging, knew she knew. That Antoine knew. That he'd turned him in. That he'd betrayed the secret Bunnie must've told him.
'That's the only way Antoine would know...' He wrenched away hard, feeling his arm slide out of Geoffrey's grip.
Geoffrey snarled, a big fist coming out to collide hard with Snively's ribs. He crashed to the floor, eyes rolling as he struggled to regain oxygen, fingers clawing at the floor. Bunnie gasped softly and knelt beside him. "Are ya'll ok? Geoffrey!! Stop that, ya'll get outta here!"
Antoine was finished with the desk and sprang to help Geoffrey. The skunk was attacking the dresser with eager hands, throwing clothing aside by the handful. "It's alright, luv, we've got reasonable cause to search..." Another article went flying; a pair of pink underwear landed neatly upon Snively's foot.
He kicked it off, cheeks turning red. "Geoffrey stop...there isn't anything here...I didn't do anything..."
"Shut up." The skunk yanked out an entire drawer and threw it in Snively's direction. The heavy wood was batted harmlessly aside by Bunnie's cold metal fist.
"YA'll STOP IT GEOFFREY! THIS IS MAH HOUSE!"
She got to her feet and charged the skunk, but Antoine neatly sidestepped in front of her, grabbing both wrists. "NO, MON AMI!"
"Let me go!!"
"No, mon ami...we have..." His voice trailed at the sound of laughter. Soft, and painfully cruel, the sound crept out of Geoffrey's black throat to hang in the air.
Snively's eyes widened, and sickness rose in his throat. He choked it down. His shirt. His pants. His socks...his clothes, once so clean and folded so carefully into the bottom drawer were on the floor. Crumpled, and trampled by muddy feet.
Bunnie gasped.
The ring still retained its glittering glow, turning Geoffrey's ebony hand gold, and the teeth in that snickering mouth glinted the yellow light. "Well...well...Snively..."
'No...'
He had to get away. His legs didn't want to obey. They spilled him to the ground as he tried to rise, seemingly weakened, unable to hold him up. His body was racked by violent shudders.
Geoffrey advanced on him, the glowing ring held firmly in his fist. Snively could only skitter backwards, until he hit the wall and pressed himself hard against it, but it was solid. He wished he could fall through and disappear.
"Snively? I find it really hard to believe this..." Geoffrey held the ring in both hands, looking down at it. He shook his head in mock-disappointment. "But the evidence speaks for itself. You've been stealing rings."
"He ees a traitor!" Antoine howled.
Bunnie wrenched her wrists away. Her head shook too, a sadness and shock that was not feigned. "Antoine...how could ya..."
Geoffrey glanced over with a smirk, then looked back down at the overlander. "Snively, a traitor. Who knew it'd come to this?" His voice rang with sarcasm.
"No..." But Snively's voice didn't rise in indignant denial. It was low, choked. His eyes burned.
'I've lost.'
'I'm lost.'
**
This was a death march.
All it needed was the crowd, jeering and throwing stones. But he supposed that would come soon enough. Tonight, maybe? Tommorrow?
Oh, wait. He had to go to trial. Because the Mobians believed in fairness.
Or something.
This was a death march. His feet were stones, each one taking so much effort to lift. He dragged. His body had been punished. He was bruised, he was bleeding, and he was dragging. Each skinny arm was held in a fist, one tan, one black, as Geoffrey and Antoine walked on either side of him.
"Please..." He said quietly, but both men ignored him. They were staring straight ahead. Geoffrey's lips were curved in a smirk. Their boots seemed to rise and fall with the rhythm of the rain, drumming hard upon the village ground still. The grass was swamped in some places. It hadn't rained this hard in months.
"Please..." it was uttered again, paired with a whimper. "Please..." Snively found new strength at the sight of King Acorn's hut. "No..." He set his feet in the ground; trying to brace himself, keep himself away from the golden-thatched home.
His executors merely lifted him off the ground so only his tiptoes brushed the path.
Bunnie wasn't with them. She had rushed off, presumably to find Sally, or maybe to just cry and howl in her bathroom.
'It isn't her fault though. It's all mine. How could I be so fucking stupid?'
They were knocking on the door now, and he began to struggle again, only to have the wind punched out of him for probably the tenth time tonight.
"Stop eet, traitor," Antoine hissed.
The door opened, and King Acorn peered out. He was garbed in a maroon bathrobe and a pair of plain gray slippers. Eyes hooded, he looked at Geoffrey and then Antoine, and finally to their captive, and instantly those eyes lost any traces of tiredness.
"Men," he said tightly. "What is it?"
"May we come in, sire? A bit wet out here." Geoffrey's voice was edged with chuckles; he was soaked through and had been for a while now.
"Of course..." The door was swung open wide and then shut after them.
"It's Snively," said Geoffrey, roughly shaking the overlander.
"I've noticed," growled the king, fixing a hateful stare on Snively. The human averted his eyes, staring down as if transfixed by the woolen rug covering the floor. A soft whimper came from his throat.
"Well sire..." Geoffrey released Snively's arm and pulled out a ring from where it was tucked between his chest and shoulder-belt. "We've discovered just where those missing rings went..."
King Acorn's gaze could rival a Medusa as it traveled Snively's downturned face. "Do you mean to say, Sir John, that he's been taking them?"
"Yes sire. We found them in Bunnie's hut."
"She was unawares," Antoine cut in sharply. "She did not know he was taking them. They were hidden in his clothing drawer."
A small smile tugged at the corner of Acorn's lips. Geoffrey beamed to see it.
"Very good work, men..." He moved towards their captive. "Release him..."
Antoine let go.
Snively stood still, only his arms raised to clasp around his chest.
King Acorn stood before him, hands on his hips. "Well, Mr. Snively...anything to say for yourself?!"
The human remained looking downwards, and then finally his pale little face lifted to look at the king. Even his eyes had lost some of their vibrant color, clouded over with tears. "I didn't mean anything, sire...I didn't mean harm, sire...please...don't hurt me..." One hand lifted and rose shaking as if to grasp the king's sleeve; pathetic begging gestures like this were almost engrained in Snively's body vocabulary.
The King's eyebrows shot up in amazement. His hand swiftly rose to bat away the tiny hand. "Didn't mean anything!? Does treason not *mean anything* to you, Overlander!?"
"It wasn't treason!" Snively cried out, his knees shaking. Fine then; he'd do what seemed to appease Uncle...well, part of the time. He fell to his knees, reaching up to grasp the king's bathrobe with weakened fingers. "I swear, your highness, I swear..."
The king's lip curled in a snarl and he raised a hand as if to strike the human. Snively cowered, his lower lip trembling. "...don't hurt me..."
"You have no right to ask that," the king said coldly. "When you have, and were planning to, hurt so many others..."
"No...you don't understand, I..." he trailed off and let go of the robe, his arms returning to their station clasped around his chest. "I don't want to hurt anybody..." His gaze slipped back down to the woolen rug, blurry. A few drops of wetness fell to dot the dyed fabric. "...i just want them to stop hurting *me*..."
For a moment, nobody spoke. The human looked back up at the king. But there was no sympathy in that royal face as it turned towards Geoffrey and Antoine. "I know not to listen to his lies..." he said, solemnly. "And so my decision is..."
The door slammed open, and two wet bodies raced in. Sally and Bunnie stood panting before the king.
"What's going on, daddy? Bunnie told me..."
"This man..." A long finger was pointed at the human. "has committed treason against Knothole. He has been stealing valuable resources and doubtlessly plotting against us." He snorted. "Like I always suspected he would, but I gave him the chance, I let the villagers vote...well..."
His head shook. Snively shivered on the floor, glancing over at Bunnie.
"They were wrong, apparently. For that, I cannot fault them. They are forgiving, but forgiveness can only go so far, and now is time for punishment."
The king was enjoying this, Snively realized, his eyes narrowing bitterly, making him look odd with his trembling body and quivering lower lip. Acorn's tone was stoic and regal, but his eyes were flashing something mockingly cruel.
'He's going to have his way. The rope.' And his neck burned...
"The decision is made. Sentencing will take place tomorrow."
Sally's eyes widened, but it was Bunnie who questioned, loudly, her voice stark with disbelief.
"Sentencin' without a verdict? Without a trial!?"
The king's eyes were like two pale stones, cold and hard. "He is to be punished."
"But daddy, we have to have a trial..." Sally protested but she was ignored.
"Take him away." King Acorn addressed Antoine and Geoffrey; the latter who was only all too eager to obey. He snatched Snively by the arm and dragged him, whimpering, to his feet.
Antoine stood still, looking back and forth between King Acorn and Bunnie. The rabbit had her fists clenched, and they trembled. She glanced over at him, her lip curled in a snarl. "This ain't fair, yer Majesty!" Her eyes stabbed in Antoine with harsh accusation, and he turned away.
Geoffrey dragged the small human away from the sound of King Acorn loftily explaining his reasoning to the rabbit. Antoine silently followed after him.
"This is unfair, Mobian," Snively hissed, hands clenching on the bars as Geoffrey locked him in the small cell. The jailhouse itself was tiny, only three cells total, and they almost always were empty. Except for tonight.
This was the very cell he'd been in when first arriving in the village. 'How strange', he thought bitterly, 'I started my life in Knothole here, and this is where I'm going to end it...'
Geoffrey leaned against the bars, an ugly smirk on his face. "Unfair to who, mate? You should've been executed the day you came here. It's unfair we had to risk having you here. Overlander scum."
"Mobian filth," Snively shot back. "Bloody hypocrites, the lot of you. Always preaching that you're fair, and your 'live and let live' shit... and look what you do. Fucking liars..."
"Shut up." Geoffrey shoved Snively through the bars. "You little shit. I can't wait to see your ass hanging tomorrow."
"I hope you're fucking happy, Geoffrey, you got what you always wanted..." The overlander let out a sigh, his voice shaking. "But what will you do without me around to torment?"
Geoffrey smirked.
"I suppose you'll go back to tormenting the princess instead." He turned his head away, trying to think of more to say, more to yell...but nothing came, and without conversation his mind was riveted to the events that would unfold tomorrow. The trek to the rope, and then...his execution. He whimpered and shrunk against the cold wall of the cell, forgetting Geoffrey was still there. All he could feel was that panic and pain of hanging again...
"Yeah, maybe..." The skunk laughed and banged a fist on the bars, as if ensuring they were solid. They were. There was no way Snively was getting out of there. "But at any rate, you won't hafta worry about me anymore, Snively...tomorrow it'll all be over." Another laugh and he spun on his heel and exited the small building.
The human was alone, and he sank to the cold floor, his arms clasped tight around his aching body. Water flooded his eyes and slid down his cheeks. The tears stung, mimicking the stinging of rope burns long gone on his throat.
**
The excitement outside eventually died down. King Acorn returned to bed, and Sally back to the party. Geoffrey was there too, sipping wine and laughing alongside Quack and Bessie as if nothing had happened.
Bunnie and Antoine went back to her hut. The rain was dying now, only a light drizzle assaulted Antoine's badly mussed blonde tresses and Bunnie's golden bangs. They moved slowly over the damp ground, avoiding the biggest puddles and patches of mud without a word or touch between them. The silence was thick, like poisonous fog.
Silently Antoine pushed open her door and held it open, but she did not thank him. She eyed her muddied carpets, but still not a word was given. Antoine stood uncertainly near her couch.
She stood staring down at the mud.
"Bonne-et-bell...?"
She whirled to face him. Her eyes could kill. They were daggers, stabbing deep into the fox's face, and he gasped.
"Mon ami, wha-"
"YA'LL BE QUIET, ANTOINE! HOW COULD YA DO IT!?"
For a moment, Antoine faltered, averting his eyes and clasping his hands together nervously. He focused on the carpet, its beautiful pattern of flowers and vines marred by mud. Tainted. Like Snively.
Like Snively had tainted Knothole.
Like Snively had tried to taint Bunnie, putting his hands on her, kissing her.
"He was being a traitor, mon ami. He was being a *danger*!"
"Aw, come off it, Antoine, ya'll know he was harmless!"
The mud spot was ugly and dark, smeared over blooms of yellow and pink. "He was NOT harmless, mon ami!" Antoine rebuked, voice dropping into a growl. "He fuel-ed you! He made you forgot what he did!"
"Ah know what he did...in Robotropolis... but it's different now. He ain't evil. Ya'll just didn't give him a chance."
"He has had enough chances!" Antoine's voice rose again. "I let him get away with his kissing of you!"
Bunnie opened her mouth, but Antoine continued on. "You let him get away with stealing zee rings. He was allow-ed to stay here with no punishing of his most horrible crimes, now you are wanting to let him go again!"
Bunnie aimed a finger at him, seething. "Ya'll twist it around! Ya'll are jest jealous because he kissed me, that's what this is really all about!"
"He should not have touched you!" Suddenly Antoine stepped forward, grabbing that pointing metallic finger in his hand of flesh.
"Mon ami...do not be forgetting..." He raised her hand up to her nose level. "He did *this* to you..."
'He did this to me?' Her eyes widened, looking at her hand, its smoothness. Its shine. Its mockery.
She couldn't see Antoine anymore. Her vision flashed to Snively. They were in the alleyway, after she got shot. He was kneeling beside her. He was so afraid, then relieved. His lips were on her hair...
Her hand gleamed in the light, distracting her. 'Snively did this??' Her thoughts were shaking. She couldn't remember if he'd been there...when she'd gotten partially roboticized. 'No. Robotnik did this.'
"Mon ami," Antoine whispered. "I am sorry, but he lied to you..."
'Snively didn't do this.'
He was by the pond, and she was there, and her heart was stinging. She heard him, that bitter-edged voice sneering, 'I don't deserve it, you're right. Only filthy animals deserve it...' In reference to death. She looked at her hand again, then at Antoine.
Robotnik did this to her. But Snively could have. He roboticized too, and she'd seen it, she'd seen them both. Would he have looked at her with the same contempt and uncaring as he did the other Mobians?
"Mon ami..."
Her mind-voice sounded desperate. 'No, he ain't evil...'
Because if he still was...if he could still look at her like she was only an animal...then something in her would never be the same again.
Her trust. She would lose her trust, her faith. Her hope that bad things could turn better.
Like Snively.
Like this war.
Like her arms and legs.
Like her life.
'No. He can't be evil!'
Antoine had no word in edgewise. She threw him out and slammed the door.
Outside, it stopped raining.
--end of part one--
Yay! For anyone who read this, thank you, and I hoped you enjoyed, or at least got a good laugh of making fun of it :D I know... Part one was very long and yet very little happened! Part two will have more action, don't worry! Thank you for reading and let me know what you think, pretty pretty pretttty please?