Love: It's what wrecks a friendship
A/N: This chapter will basically circle around to scenes. The one with Knuckles and Violet in his hut, and Tails and Sonic. It'll go back and forth, and then join. It's hard to explain, but letting you all know in case you're thinking….wtf?
Thanks to my three wonderful reviewers +hands out fudge brownies and all those who read.
Chapter four.
Knuckles enjoyed a good storm; it reminded him some what of his home in the sky. This is why it can be easily accepted as to why he was prepared to give the knocker at his door a death glare and maybe punch to go with it. "Who's there?" he replied gruffly. On no answer he growled, anger boiling inside him "Fine I don't open this door unless you tell me who you are!" No answer, not a word, not a sound. He walked back to his bed, focusing on a book he had been reading.
He heard a small giggle, it sounded feminine. But was it to be mistake with the voice of a youth? Tails, Amy…? A local villager? "Who is it!" He received no answer and snapped the book shut "C'mon!" A faint noise was heard and he flashed over to the door, ears pricked for any noise. He spoke slowly "A name could be quite helpful!"
Tapping of a single shoe, going quickly up and down hit the rocky floor outside his door. "Sonic!" his temper flared, that little…
"No" was single feminine answer and he remembered the giggle "Amy?" Knuckles, by this stage was a little nerved. Another short giggle "Honestly, how can you forget some one who you only just meet?"
The door opened and he welcomed the faded violet girl in. She shook her head, her fringe fluffing loosely over her head, spikes moving to the flow of her body, free of the hair tie. "I didn't expect to see you here" Knuckles stated rather dumbly.
She tightened her jacket around herself and feel lazily on a chair "Well you didn't just expect me to stay the night out in at the freezing rain now, did you?
He spied the wet puddles on the ground and smiled despite himself "No, not really. I just thought you'd bunk with Amy or Bunnie. Maybe Sonic." He lowered himself onto his bed, sitting relaxly on the spread.
She took her gloves off, revealing her nimble hands, and shook the wet gloves around before laying them on a nearby table. "You gave me an invitation before, I take invitations seriously"
Hen nodded, smiling slightly. "I'm sorry about Sally…" She nodded back and looked away "She doesn't understand."
Knuckles sighed as well, remembering his first visit here and remember not the looks he got, but words and the love he was given after a day. It wouldn't be the same for Violet. His blood boiled at the injustice of it all. Weren't they the same? Both echidnas, lost, no home, memory severely damaged of 'before'. Why couldn't Sally just see this "She doesn't mean it" Even to him it sounded like a lie.
"No?" and it was feeble, a mocking tone. "Odd. Sonic told me you were quite gullible." It held a double meaning but she smiled, brushing the topic off "Said he even fought you for you believed that he was taking the emeralds to destroy the world. He reckons he won hands down"
And for a while Knuckles ranted about the little hog, and Violet laughed throughout it all, her infectious laughter causing Knuckles to do the same. He was standing and moving, miming out scenes and over-dramatizing everything. Mucking around, being a stooge. Having some fun. Something he didn't get to do often enough.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Sonic tossed and turned in his makeshift hammock, he always liked it better than a bed, he was one who could sleep in, or on, anything that moved in a repetitive rhythm. Car-rides, trains, boats…anything that moved. But tonight sleep left him, for several reasons, and they all revolved around Sally, The Freedom Fighters or Violet.
A clap of thunder and steadier rain caused him to roll over, yet again. Sleep when he most needed it left him, handy in mission trips that went for nights, but now….Now he doubted there'd be another time where he would just be able to chill.
Lightning flashed and illuminated his room for a few seconds, giving the blue hedgehog a metallic glow, liking him to Mecha Sonic. He rubbed restlessly at his eyes and stumbled off the hammock. He needed some hot cocoa and now. He randomly wondered how the young two tailed fox was going, it was known for him to hate storms.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Knuckles was amazed, for the first time in a while he was truly laughing and smiling, not just putting it on. Violet brought something out in him, something that had longed for attention. He felt good just knowing she was there in his presence. He felt ecstatic when she smiled or laughed and he was in ecstasy when their eyes locked for brief moments.
He turned towards the window "It's coming down harder" he saw her nod slightly and yawn "Tired?"
"No just exhausted" she smiled playfully "No, I'm okay, a hot drink would do some wonders" He accepted the hint and made some cocoa, something he had picked up off Sonic and had thoroughly felt the warmth.
"Cocoa?" she question as he handed her a plain white mug.
"A sonic thing that's rubbed off of me" He received a smile sigh and he smiled more. "You're amazing Violet."
She looked back up at him, mouth sipping the drink, casually and rather smugly she asked, "Oh? And the reason for that?"
He didn't know she just made him feel amazing "You're different, that's for sure. You've got a bit of everyone in you I reckon. And you're simply …" he stopped hesitating to say beautiful "You're another echidna, and that's rare, but you're not what I imagined"
"Then what did you imagine?"
"An Echidna that was red, male, and a whole lot of other red echidna's behind him" He somewhat blushed.
She cocked an eyebrow high "Don't like me coloring? Mmm, neither do I really…faded, a bit dull eh?" She laughed as he grasped for words, thinking he had upset her "Relax, I wasn't serious. But seriously, did you think they'd all be red? Look at Sonic and Amy! Pink, Blue…and Hedgehogs are generally brown!"
"A dumb thing, I know but…I just visualized it like that. I saw them landing out of nowhere on my island. I saw my family, my friends…I saw my life"
Her face changed dramatically, one of pain "I know. I know. Ever since I got here, it's all I've been thinking of. I want to know what happened to them, if they miss me. Hell, if they remember me!" she paused, staring into the dark mixture of her cup "I want to know if I didn't dream this. If it actually happened…Am I crazy Knuckles?"
On sudden impulse, he wasn't sure what, he found himself quickly over by her side, leaning down. A large hand on her shoulder faces inches away "You're not crazy Violet. You're sane, saner than Sonic, saner than most. You miss home; you want answers to questions that have no answer. It's normal…I know"
She turned, making the space between them larger. The pouring rain hit his window and she looked blankly out it "I know" A loud clap of thunder sounded, illuminating the two figures, outlining the two tears that stained her face.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
He was curled on his knees, side resting into his couch, flicking through an old paper he had found. So old, he had forgotten the events that had happened "April 29 to May 5, brilliant beach weather expected" he mumbled, smiling slightly, this was great beach weather. He flicked through some more pages browsing quickly through the ads "Worried about Robotnik…" he mumbled some more "then you have the right idea. It has been…" he read silently then picked up "It has also been proven that he will destroy the planet on May 1st." He blinked and rubbed his eyes. Crazy idiotic… He tossed the paper aside, realizing just how much crap was printed.
Thunder sounded again, the wind blowing so fiercely his door rattled. He silently wondered why Tails wasn't here, and hoped that he would get here soon before sleep took over. He then sighed audibly, realizing that sleep would desert him tonight, so it was of no matter.
A rather loud bang of thunder, and more rain came. Sounding like the drumming march of war. And right on queue he heard a faint and absolutely petrified "Son-ic!" He smiled. Poor Tails.
The banging at the door came quite fiercely for a little tyke like him, and Sonic resisted the urge to pretend not to be home and opened the door. Only to be greeted with a full on hug around his legs and a "Sonic! Sonic!" knocking him back several feet.
He stumbled up, helping the drenched fox up "Wet out there eh?" a shiver in response and he smiled softly as the fox wrapped his arms around his upper body and his tails around his lower for warmth. "I'll go find some blankets…or something." Another nod and he hunted around. He brought back an old, but warm and soft faded blue blanket, large enough to be wrapped around three people. He drapes it around his shoulder and brings Tails to the floor.
He bundles the wet fur ball closer to him and spreads his legs allowing Tails to sit in between them and lean into Sonics front. The fox followed and snuggled into the friendly embrace as Sonic's blanket dried the fox's fur. Rubbing it hard but gently around his ears and neck, the soft material ruffling his fur giving it a spiked damp look. Thunder shook the hut slightly and both sets of ears perked as tress began to moan "It's bad tonight" Tails murmured and Sonic nodded in response "I know"
They sat like that, Sonic leaning against the wall, Tails leaning into Sonic. Lightning flashed around them hurriedly and quickly, as if trying to see who was the fastest. Sonic smirked at this. He was the fastest, and lightning wouldn't take that away. He rubbed a hand over the fox's head, "Scared?" a pause and then a shake "Na-ah" Sonic smiled, "I used to be scared too little bro, hid under my bed, wouldn't come out till the rain stopped. You get used to it though, they come and go and they only damage what's in their way."
Tails eyes widened "You used to be scared of storms? Little old storms like this?" Sonic chuckled, ruffling the youth's fur "Listen to yourself, little old storms? You make them seem harmless, but you're afraid of them!"
He spoke indignantly "I'm not scared Sonic"
"Sure you aren't"
"I'm not!"
"Mmm" he sat back, enjoying the flashes of scenery glowing from the electric light every few seconds. He never was scared of storms, enjoyed them. Loved them, lived for them. He ran about in them. Get drenched to the bone, come back and was never more exhilarated in his life. He was twitching for a run, just a little run…
But his brother needed him, the little quakes so often showed him. If they didn't then the flinches and jump per lightning or thunder sure as hell did. "Cocoa?" he smiled, he could do with one too.
"Yes. Hot please, two sugars-"
"One marshmallow, low on milk" Sonic finished, he knew how he liked them.
Tails grinned shifting to allow Sonic room to move. Sonic made awesome cocoas.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
She wanted Knuckles to move, just get up and move back to his bed. He was too close and it nerved her. She wanted space, not this close proximity, not an intruder. She cupped the drink tighter, warming her hands from the cold. She didn't intended to drink it….It was foul, and she really wished it wasn't. Her tears dried, and no sobs trying to emerge she muttered a small "thank you Knux" in hopes of him leaving. It did.
He wandered to his bed, lying on his side "S'ok, I know it's hard. I am here you know"
And for what felt like the thousandth time that she simply spoke "I know" and paid attention still to the window. Knuckles could sense the tension, almost taste it. So he steered around it. "I know you're bunking here for tonight, but do you want the bed, floor or couch?"
She turned "the bed's yours" that much was true. Even more true was the fact that the couch was small and the floor seemed only right "The floors good. Does wonders for your back" and she slipped down of the seat. Leaning into the couch for support and warmth.
He sighed and rolled his eyes retrieving a blanket and pillow "These, do wonders as well." And he handed them to her without another sound. The tension wasn't thick nor ice thin. It was there but comfortably. "Knuckles?" She spoke, sleep taking over her "Thanks for tonight"
he groaned out a response and she smiled "Night Knuckles"
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Sonic picked up the empty mugs and shifted slowly towards the sink, one loud movement and Tails would shoot up in an instant. He left the mugs at the edge, knowing full well that in the morning the remains of the cocoa would be hard and stubborn to get rid of.
He scooped the small bundle that was breathing in a soothing way, lost in the innocence of dreams. His breathing came in small slow breaths. His namesakes curled around himself, head tucked into his knees, reminding Sonic of a cat. He smiled faintly, it were these moments, things like this that he would always treasure.
He lowered Tails into the hammock and pulled a black blanket up to his shoulders, hearing s content sigh from him. He hunted for another black blanket and curled himself up on the couch, in a position of his spin-dash… the fetal position. Waiting for sleep.
Out side them the rain came heavier, the tress moaned louder and the storm grew more dangerous. The clouds twirled furiously in a mixture of murky black and grey. The night stars lost under the thick woolen blanket of clouds and fog. Shadows mixing into each other like a child's painting, blending colours of blacks brown and grey. Wisps of white from the lighting that illuminated everything.
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Violet tossed and turned sleep was over looking her tonight, the sandman had somehow missed her stop. She looked enviously at Knuckles and the way sleep had taken him so quickly. She lay flat on her back, hands stretched behind her head, the night outside just visible in her side vision.
What was happening? Who was she? Was she some random lunatic who had escaped and seriously believed that she had just come to this planet? But then that meant Knuckles was insane, though she held slight suspicion that he might be. Smile tugged at her lips and she wondering pointlessly what Knuckles was truly like? What was Sonic really like? She liked both of them…but maybe one of them more so…
She shook her head wearily and stood, now leaning on the window ledge. The rain splattered hard against the window, each drop lasting two seconds before it fell and came to a dead stop, leaving its trail for all to see.
Just how she felt. She looked in desperation of a clock, and found the time to be 5:15am. So she'd been awake for this long eh? She looked back towards the window, watching trees dance uncharacteristically in the fierce wind. She lent her head against the cool frame, eyes un-focusing. She smiled softly as she saw things move in and out of the tress, jumping…Wait no, not things…a thing. She pulled her head away a bit focusing her eyes once more.
The thing was coming closer, zoning in. It didn't seem to mind the cold weather or the wetness didn't seem irked by the loud thunder and close lightning. She could make out a sharp, it was sharp and angular, and it seemed vaguely familiar. It came closer, staying in with shadows, working with the wet trees and sopping soil. A flash of lightning illuminated the figure for only a breath moment, but she knew enough to take a step back. She knew him.
She stood there memorized, watching it come closer and closer. It suddenly stopped and stared straight ahead, as if looking right into her soul, ready to pounce. He turned its head sideways, looking in the direction of other huts. In a flurry it moved, again closer to her window, now only meters away. Its head still facing away from her. Slowly it turned a smile on his face. Dread cursed her body, stopping her movement, freezing her body.
Its eyes glowed off a brilliant red, a single wink and it fled. Her scream pierced the air, waking Knuckles. He stumbled over to her "Vi? Violet! "She slowly turned around, her eyes wide in fear.
"Knuck….Knuckles…"
He grabbed her comfortingly around the shoulders. "What Vi, are you ok? Bad dream?"
She shook her head, finding her mouth dry "He's…He's back"
- - - - - - - - - - - -
He heard Tails move around, it annoyed him some what but he knew the tyke was just adjusting. He could tell the storm was irking him, nerving him. Not the usual Tails, which is why he barely heard the "Sonic? Are you awake?" but he did, so he replied "Yea."
"Sonic, I'm scared" and it was things like this that showed Sonic that Tails was really only 10, just a little kid, just a guy who was too young to have the world and its affairs on his shoulders. He didn't breathe a word, just got up obligingly and walked to the hammock "Shove" and the fox gladly did.
"Did I wake you? I'm sorry Sonic but I was scared and the…" He cut him off, he understood, and sleep was gone it didn't matter "Don't sweat it bro, I was still awake anyhow." He lay on his back slightly turned to the right, Tails curled into him, his tails warped around both of them. "Better?" he asked, for the first time feeling sleep invade him slightly.
"Yea..." he dragged out through a yawn, he was tired, dead. "Thanks" he jumped slightly on a clap of thunder, but it didn't matter. Sonic knew. So long a he was here Tails would jump with no meaning, with the safety of another running his fears off, until it gradually went.
They lay there, for god only knows how long. Tail's soft snores and heated breath hitting Sonics arm pinned under Tails' head. Sonics hand absentmindedly stroking Tails back in a repetitive soothing way, eye fixed upwards watching the shadows jump and pounce with each lightning stroke. The rain hitting his window fiercely, each drop falling to end on the glass.
His eyes half slit, he began to sink in even breathing sleep on the verge of taking him, nearly there. The wind howled harder, repetitive, soothing in a way the back and forth back and forth of its movement. His hand slowly stopped rubbing Tails back.
Loud knocks sounded and instantly he shot awake eyes wide and panic filled. He glanced down to Tails who was still sleeping soundly, thank the heavens. The knocking continued growing louder and rough voiced yelled "Sonic open your damn door!" Knuckles he thought and was tempted to ignore it. But he dryly yelled "Its open" and lay back down, continuing his methodic stroking on Tails back.
The door blew opened, bringing in a furry of wind and rain and two drenched figures. Tails awoke, groggy with sleep, knowing instantly something was amiss. "Well?" he asked somewhat irritated, it would take ages for the little fellow to get back to sleep… not to mention him self.
Violet and Knuckles exchanged glances, Knuckles, moving further away from Violet. Sonic sat upright, that was…odd. Knuckles had keenly taken a liking to her, he wouldn't just move away…
"Sonic…Sonic" Knuckles sounded weak with fear, and curious of something. "He's back Sonic."
And the rain came harder.
I guess it's pretty obvious just who's back eh? And how Violet knows him…Still, it adds for some fun. Here it gets interesting, you see… If 'he' is back, then Sally's going to think that Violet lead him there…and she won't be the only one thinking that. Please review, I'd really love 15-20 reviews. So review please.
As always, Blur of Blue.