CHAPTER 8

Sonic sat in the cell with Knuckles, awaiting the arrival of the hooded men again. Sonic had almost gotten used to it. Day after day, Sonic had been dragged out and questioned to the location of the remaining Chaos Emeralds. But it was already evening and no one had come to get Sonic yet.

Knuckles, on the other hand, had been trying to tell Sonic something important. He couldn't get the words out, no matter how hard he tried. Knuckles usually spent his days alone and his nights with Sonic, huddled up for warmth.

This evening was different though. Knuckles sat in the corner, quiet and unmoving. Sonic stopped waiting and sighed in relief.

"They aren't coming for me today. Thank God!" Sonic said to Knuckles.

"Yeah." said Knuckles.

Sonic looked at him with concern. "Are you okay? You've seemed quiet lately."

"Yeah, there is something on my mind, in fact." Knuckles arose. He walked over to Sonic and grabbed his shoulders.

"Knuckles?" Sonic asked in bewilderment. This was curious behavior, even for Knuckles.

"Sonic, I have been trying to tell you something, but every time I have been interrupted. It's been on my mind for some time now." he looked away from Sonic. "It's just, I feel if I tell you that our friendship will be ruined."

"Hey," Sonic interrupted, "If you like Amy Rose, be my guest, you can have her."

Knuckles sweat-dropped. "No! Not that idiot!" Knuckles regained his composure and continued, "Not that. There's someone else. Sonic."

Sonic looked into Knuckles' eyes. "Ne, nothing can ruin out friendship. It isn't like other friendships. I've earned your trust. Whatever you throw at me will not-" Sonic was cut off by Knuckles' lips covering his own. Sonic flushed and froze in place. Knuckles separated from Sonic and looked into his eyes. Sonic kept staring straight ahead.

"Sonic?" Knuckles said. "Sonic?! Hey! Come on! Say something. please?" Sonic backed slowly away with the same vacant look on his face. His emerald green eyes filled with tears.

"Knuckles. wh- why did you hide this from me?" Sonic whispered. Knuckles had to strain to hear him. Why could this hedgehog be so loud all the time and then be so soft that he couldn't hear him.

"Sonic. I-I'm so sorry. It's just."

"Knuckles. you could have picked a more romantic spot for this." Sonic said. His face turned from vacant to warm.

"Sonic?" Sonic was advancing towards Knuckles.

"Knuckles, the truth is. that." Sonic backed Knuckles up against a wall and kissed him softly. He brought his hand up and touched one of Knuckles' spines and then dropped his hand back down to his side. ".I feel the same way."

Knuckles stared in disbelief. Was this really happening? Knuckles looked into Sonic's eyes. They didn't show any signs of trying to tease him. They seemed rather sincere instead. Sonic wrapped his arms around Knuckles' waist and hugged him. He buried his head into his shoulder and nuzzled him for a moment. Then he stopped and pricked his ears. He ran away from Knuckles into the corner he was in earlier and sat down. Knuckles was about to chase after him when he heard the noise as well and sat down.

Two guards walked up to the cell and opened it up. They threw something in and then locked the door. When they walked away, Sonic approached whatever it was and went to poke it. It was pretty dark now and he couldn't see what it was. It moved and grunted. Sonic backed away for a second and then poled it again.

"Will ya stop that?" It said in a familiar high-pitched voice. It emerged from the dark blanket and stood up. Sonic jumped back and pointed.

"Amy! Why are you here?!" Sonic began blushing. Knuckles sighed. They wouldn't be having any more moments for a while.

"Sonic!" Amy glomped Sonic. Sonic stumbled and fell backwards. "Oh! Sonic! They are going to get Tails! They are trying to get him dead or alive!!"

Sonic's eyes narrowed and he growled. Amy let go of him and ran over to Knuckles, who sat in the corner. Knuckles stared at Sonic in disbelief. Sonic stood up and put his head against the wall. Knuckles and Amy wondered what he was going to do next.

"That BASTARD!!" Sonic yelled and punched the wall. He slumped to the floor and began to cry. Knuckles covered Amy's ears with her hands and told her to close her eyes. (A/N: Just a little note. Unless you've been under a rock, you would know that Japanese (anime and game) boys, like Sonic and Knuckles presumably are, think that crying is a weakness. To cry in front of a girl no less. they don't like to do it. So I suppose that in this little fit of rage on Sonic's part, Knuckles is looking out for him. ^w^) He walked over to Sonic and put his hand on his back.

"Sonic, don't worry. the kid can take care of himself. right? You taught him every thing you know. So don't worry too much. He is probably looking for you anyway."

Sonic sniffed and wiped his eyes. "I guess you are right. You usually are. but I can't help but worry about him though. He's like my kid brother."

"I know." Knuckles turned to Amy. "Alright, he's cool now."

Amy stood up and went to Sonic. "Sonic don't worry. I have the feeling that someone is looking over Tails. There's no need to worry." She smiled at him.

"Thanks Amy."

****

Sorry for the shortness of that chapter. School isn't the excuse this time. This chapter is kind of a filler but it has it's own significance as a chapter. The story is really going to get deep from here but I won't spoil it for you.