"Okay Knuckles, can you tell me what we told you?" Maddie stood just on the doorway of the household, shoving a lunchbox into Sonic's vibrantly blue bag. The echidna puffed out his chest, fist bumping it.
"Yes. I am to attend to Tails and the dog while you are working hard and Sonic is at human school. I shall not leave the fox alone, I am to watch attentively."
Maddie brightened, nodding at each word with pleasure.Sonic stuck out his tongue, quills pricking up slightly.
Tom came down the stairs, surprised by the mini crowd at the entrance, he shined his sheriff badge with a thumb. "Well, Wade's been holding down the fort for some time, but can't keep the man on the job forever."
He grabbed the keys off of the bench press, kissing his wife on his way out. Sonic groaned looking away, Maddie chuckled, gently shoving her son out of the door.
"Okay Mister. Mature, time to leave."
"Wait! I can't!" He zipped back inside, energetically jogging on the spot, he caught a glimpse of his intended person. A smidge of yellow just behind the bench press, Sonic smiled fondly.
The hedgehog walked over, bending down to snatch the kit into a hug. A sensation of satisfaction washed over his body when Tails hugged him back, had he not noticed this before? The kid's fur was as soft as cotton candy!
"Ooooh! You're so fluffy!!" Sonic babied his language, giving a tight squeeze. It was faint but Tails giggled. The hedgehog grinned, jumping into a heroic stance, rubbing his nose.
"You've been lying to Sonic the hedgehog about your hidden adorable-ness, I see? There's only one punishment for that. You'll have to experience it later..." Sonic gave a quick wink to contradict his foul language, Tails laughed in return.
"'Adorable-ness' isn't a word." The fox pulled from the hug, wagging his namesakes.
"Well it is and it's made specially for you, bud!" With that, he ruffled Tails' bangs, running to a proud echidna nearby. He smirked, punching the warrior's arm. His face read payback. Sonic straightened, eyes pierced. "You better look after him."
Knuckles scoffed, baring his teeth. "I will ensure his safety at all times."
Sonic rolled his eyes, deciding it was time to leave, he held tightly onto the straps of his pack. "See ya! I'll be back before you know it." He dashed out the door, catching up with Tom to say goodbye.
Maddie sighed tiredly, it was time for her departure too. This will go well, this will go well. She trusted Knuckles, although he was a bit clueless at times, he had a fair ton of 'first hand experiences' with difficult situations. This was a different kind of difficult. Causally she worried, that something was obviously bound to go wrong. In her mood, she purchased a old second-hand cell. It wasn't the most reliable device, but it did the job nevertheless.
"Knuckles- Tails- if you need anything, just use this phone." She plopped a strange rectangular into Knuckles fists, he stared at it. "I do not understand."
"I- I could help you, if you'd like." Tails had been summoned from thin air, staring curiously at the piece of technology. Yearning to fiddle and prod it. He shrunk when all attention had been brought upon him, Maddie was astounded.
Mostly because this was first time Tails had communicated with them, without Sonic to translate murmurs and whispers.
"That is great, fox! I look forward to learning the wonders of technological contraptions with you!" Knuckles slipped the phone into the child's paws, he inspected in wonder.
The woman approved, waving goodbye to both of them. She made her way to the door, closing it shortly after her descend down the porch stairs.
Hm, Tails was making progress. Even if was just tiny little baby steps. Besides it wasn't the quantity that mattered, it was the quality.
--
Maddie had left, the atmosphere succumbed to silence, all but for a hyperactive golden retriever. Ozzy, the family dog. The one Sonic insisted was a loveable doofus once you got to know him.
Albeit the reassurance, Tails kept his distance, taking up a spot in the living room. Snuggled into the cotton of throw pillows, he held the cell phone that Knuckles had kindly lent him.
He examined it, time and time again, each turn presented the tiny fox with a new feature to be oohed at. It was true, this was not the best quality, actually it was rusty and cheap. The screen was cracked and the sides scratched. That didn't matter, what mattered, was that they let him use this. Touch it!
Tails was geeking out, back at home, he'd have to make his own scrappy inventions, using blunt metal and ripped wires. He never had enough money to buy expensive equipment and he certainly wasn't allowed in any fancy stores.
Indeed, he was fascinated by the trinket. But this was not to be taken apart, to experiment with. It was something to be used for emergency purposes. Knuckles was nice enough to spare it to him, but he wasn't about to test his chances.
That didn't mean he didn't want to discover its capabilities. Tails had pressed the home button for the tenth time now, face being lightened by the hue of the screen. He turned it off once again, eager to repeat his actions. This was cool, though.
Knuckles was not far, he was placed on the couch, facing the TV that laced his reflection. The echidna watched as the kit was completely absorbed in his task. Which was?
He has a clue, perhaps Tails wishes to use the object. Certainly, that is the answer. He has turned it on and off countless times! Knuckles huffs, catching the fox's ears flick upwards.
"What are you doing?" Again, he had an idea, he just needed the child's say in the matter.
"Um- nothing." He expelled all feelings of joy, extending the phone out towards the echidna, bowing his skull sheepishly. "You can have it back."
"Do you want it?" Knuckles asked, eyeing the mood change. He was apprehensive, wringing his fingers.
"Um, no. It's okay." The next were mumbles that even Knuckles had trouble hearing. "I'm probably not allowed to be playing with it anyway."
"Answer truthfully, lies run through your tongue." The echidna folded his arms, refusing the device.
"I- are you sure?" Tails asked tentatively, phone slipping from his grasp.
"You are somewhat invested in this.. thing, you can use it. I'm sure Maddie will not mind."
The fox lit up like the sun, pressing the home button enthusiastically. The screen had a gradient orange and blue default screensaver, along side the time, date and day of this endeavour.
Knuckles was happy, Tails, the nervous plucky fox, is finally enjoying himself. Without the need of that annoying hedgehog, he pursues like a hawk. He is so small, so shy and weak, someone can easily take advantage of him.
Seeing Tails like this, acting much like a young impressionable child, merely entertained by a glowing screen. A wave of protection washed over the warrior, he would watch over this fragile kit. The youngest in the tribe were always the most vulnerable, he knows. His father used to protect, guide and teach him the ways of life. The way of his people. Even Sonic had Longclaw, a noble warrior of the past, to lead him, care and guard him of the dangers of the outside world.
It came Knuckles' realisation, Tails spoke so little of his past. It was limited to, 'weird tails was made fun of'. He racked his brain, he couldn't recall anything.
"Tails, who were your caretakers from before?"
Clicking and sounds from the object had stopped, Knuckles could feel the fur of his companion brush against his own. This was strange, when had the kit seemingly made it into his lap? Puzzled, Knuckles tapped the child on the head to get him to move.
It was uncomfortable to have someone this close to him. "Is this a sensitive topic you do not wish to indulge in?"
A nod, head turning back into the device, like nothing had ever happened. That was anti-climactic to say the least, usually Tails would tense, bursting into tears, running to Sonic. No, something had changed, something was different. The fox was more concealed than before, sternly trying to calm himself.
"Fox? Did I offend you?"
No response. Just sad humming noises, Knuckles found out the fox was still neatly placed in his lap. Body facing the opposite direction. He discovered sniffles, soon elaborated into soft sobs. Knuckles sighed, dragging the frantic kit into a hug.
What was this torture that Tails constantly had to endear through?
--
let's see if I can wrap this fic up in 12 chapters.