The lady shared a glance with Tom and Maddie, then looking back at their so called 'son'. She sighed, amused.
"What's the case, here?" The man, supposedly Tom, raised a brow. He stood next to his wife, arm slung around her shoulder. They both towered over the frail subject in the blue swivel chair, making the figure more on-edge than usual.
"Hm, from what you've told me." She stopped, hearing the tiny gasp. The woman directed her gaze towards the diminutive fox, raising a brow. "Ya wanna add something, squirt?"
It sounded rough, she reckoned so. The way the kit recoiled proved it, he shrunk deep into his chair, adverting her menacing glare. Maddie gave her a look, one that read nasty thoughts.
She shrugged it off.
"It's okay baby, she's just trying to help." The fox's self-proclaimed mother, rubbing between his ears, breaking the child's rigid stiff posture. She truly was bewildered by how Maddie smothered him unconditionally, acting as if he was a normal human child. The fox looked shameful, bowing his head, not returning the affection.
Tom tapped his foot, imitating his middle child. "Sorry, you were saying?"
"Oh right. Your um- child. Miles." Said fox flinched at the mention of his own real name. He peeked up from the loose grasp of Maddie. "T-tails is fine."
His voice was soft, stuttering, easy to miss. She nodded slowly, urging to continue. "Well there's no easy way to say this but- I'm afraid Tails is diagnosed with a severe case of anxiety."
She stopped herself from dumbly smiling, that was very easy. Both adults faces dropped, turning to the kid, who silently processed the information. He fiddled with the tips of his appendages, laid out on his lap.
"What- what can we do?" Maddie spoke, voice breaking. She held the kit's shoulders, feeling him shudder beneath her hands tore her heart into two.
The doctor, shrink, whatever she'd become paused, stroking her chin. "Yes. Treatments are available, but are long-term. When I mean long-term, I'm talking about year-wise."
Maddie's hopeful expression died, quickly. Tom piped up, taking the lead. "What treatments do you suggest?"
Tails looked between the two adults, too scared to speak up, tell them he didn't want-
"Well, Mr. Wachowski. Treatments are simple, it could be anything really. Talking to someone ya trust, enjoying a hobby, therapy. Last resort should be medication." She hushed him, still having more to add. "It all depends on the amount of trauma/experiences the person has witnessed/gone through."
Both parents looked at each other, having a eye-to-eye conversation, nodding. They had considered it, yes it would be a swell idea. They almost forgot that it wasn't exactly their own choice.
"Tails?"
The fox twitched, breathing lightly, staring at patterned carpet.
"What do you think, buddy? Wanna have a session or two, with the shrink?"
No response.
"Baby, it's okay if you don't want to. I know it's probably hard, but with er... Dr..?"
The woman straighten up, happy to be brought into the discussion. "Dr. Glossrare. Ya can call me Glossy for short."
It enacted a confused expression from the kit, breathing quickened, facing all three humans in the room. They were giving him reassuring looks. He froze as their glares burned right through him. What was his next move?
Tails mumbled something, sounding distressed.
"Huh, what was that, baby?" Maddie leaned in closer, surprised as he turned the opposite way. His voice was watery, just on the brink of tears.
He couldn't allow that to happen, dumb moves got you punished. Crying was for ill-behaved and spoiled brats who had nothing better to do, he had quickly learnt that lesson the hard way.
The fox let out a huge sigh, recollecting himself. "S-sonic. Where's Sonic?"
The doctor wrote down the name, SONIC. If this kid was coming to have sessions, she'd definitely ask more about this guy. It gave the fox so much ease, as he mentioned their name.
Maddie hid her disappointment, with a forced smile. "He's right outside, honey. Waiting."
She leaned in for a hug, being completely ignored. Tails jumped out of the chair and walked towards the door. Tom was a little pissed, at the fox's bitter actions.
"Hey! Bud! Mads is just trying to help. Quit being a sour goof." The words slipped out of his mouth smoother than butter. But his tone was firm, anger seeping through.
Tom shook his head, approaching the alien. The fox's face melted into fear, as he clutched onto his head, cowering into a defensive position below the man's feet. "Don't hurt me! I'm sorry! I promise I won't do it again!"
"Bud, I'm not-" Tom extended a hand towards the ball of fluff, instantly regretting his impulsive behaviour. Tails shrieked, lunging for the door, smacking headfirst into the wood.
He lost his footing, landing on his rear. A skid mark fresh on his bottom and bruise throbbing on his forehead. As soon as he could see the door again, he bolted, missing the way Tom opened the path to freedom.
Tails breathed, blinking. He had someone to find, again. The only person who could make him feel warm, happy and safe.
A blue hedgehog joyfully bouncing in his seat, next to Knuckles, they were conversing. That was least of the fox's worries.
Ignoring, the stares of bystanders Tails ran to the location of the hedgehog, charging into him. Sonic was taken aback by the surprise attack, he could tell this was no ordinary hug.
The hedgehog, reeled him in, feeling a slight prick as the fox clung onto him, trembling. He made enough room, to fit both of them on the furnished seat. Tails now encircled in his lap, face buried into his chest. Sonic could feel the moist tears soaking his fur, as he hushed the kid's whimpers.
"Its okay. Where's Tom and Maddie?"
He received a set of sniffles and snorts, hm too direct. Sonic reached his gloved paw to rub motions against the fox's back, the kit stiffened. Before slowly succumbing, posture less raggedy.
Sonic sighed, peering over to confused echidna next to him. They both exchanged looks of uncertainty and worry.