Author's Note: Wow! This story is flowing really well! Now, on with Chapter 2!

Chapter 2: Are You Though?

Saturday, May 31, 2022

Green Hills

Lunch took forever. Ok, that might be an exaggeration, but from Tails' perspective, it was taking a very long time. Knuckles and Sonic were talking about god knows what (Tails lost interest when they started talking about some video game), but the fox did notice Sonic was starting to lose his voice.

Sonic was feeling worse as he tried to continue the conversation with Knuckles. His head was pounding and stuffed with cotton, and his voice was starting to go as he got more and more tired. He was trying his best to hide it, but Tails' looks of suspicion told him he wasn't doing a very good job. Luckily, Knuckles and Tails had finished their lunches and were getting ready to leave.

"Ok. I'm ready to get home," Tails sighed. "I'll take the cooler this time. Knuckles, can you grab the basket?" Sonic asked before clearing his throat. "Are you sure Sonic?" Tails asked. He always saw the older boy as invincible, but right now, he looked as if a gust of wind would knock him over.

"Of course I'm sure. Now let's get back. Tom and Maddie won't be home for another couple hours, and I want some time to get my chores done before my rounds," Sonic replied. Tails rolled his eyes as they raced back down the mountain and back home. It took Sonic longer to do his chores, but he finished first and was going out for his rounds by 5:00 nonetheless.

"Should I follow him?" Knuckles asked. Tails shook his head. Knuckles was fast, but even with a cold Sonic could still outrun him and the echidna would get lost, considering he was not yet well acquainted with the area.

"He'll be fine…hopefully."

Things were not fine. Sonic was out longer than normal. The sun had set and he still wasn't home. Tails waited anxiously for Sonic, Maddie, Tom, anyone to walk through that door. Once he saw the clock that glowed 6:30 P.M, Tails lost it.

"That's it! I can't take it anymore! Knuckles, if Tom and Maddie come home, tell them I'm out looking for Sonic." Tails was out the door before Knuckles could even reply.

Tails knew exactly where to look for Sonic. The Green Hills Mountain. Sonic always went there after his rounds. Like always, Tails was right. He saw the blue hedgehog just…sitting there.

"Sonic!" Tails yelped happily. "Tails?" Sonic asked, his voice shredded. Tails practically tackled Sonic in a hug before voicing the matter at hand. "Where have you been? We were worried about you!" the fox exclaimed worriedly. "Tails, you don't need to worry about me. I'm fine," Sonic replied. "Are you though? You've been acting weird all day. I think you might've caught my cold but you don't want to admit it," Tails retorted.

Sonic just looked away from Tails. He gripped tighter onto the ledge he was sitting on. The fox's face softened a bit. Was Sonic really about to admit it?

"Tails, do you know why I do my rounds?" Sonic asked the young fox. Tails opened his mouth to reply, but nothing came out. Tails realized he never knew why Sonic did his rounds, he just knew every night, the hedgehog ran around the entire perimeter of Green Hills, and then sped through town before making his way back home.

Sonic just sighs and continues to look at the sunset. It was a breath-taking sight. "After everything, with Robotnik and all that, I feel like once I put my guard down, he'll come right back and it'll just be a never ending cycle."

Tails nodded at his older brother. He never knew Sonic felt this way. To be honest, Tails felt he knew very little about the spunky hedgehog. He kept the doors of his confusing mindset locked tight. Not even Tom nor Maddie can get him to talk about his past or feelings.

Tails ears perked up when Sonic started speaking again. "I can't let Green Hills get hurt again. So I do my rounds to make sure there isn't anything that could hurt you guys."

"Except you shouldn't be running top speed right now," Tails added. Sonic nodded. "Sonic, be honest, how do you feel right now?" Sonic considered the question for a moment before answering. "Tired, cold, achey, my head kinda hurts."

Tails nodded before placing a gloved hand on the hedgehog's forehead. The hedgehog flinched ever so slightly. Tails' eyes widened at the heat burning through his glove.

"Sonic, you're burning up! We need to go home. Maybe Tom and Maddie can help!" Sonic just nodded and shakily stood up. Tails' was a bit impressed with how long Sonic was able to stay in denial. He tapped the fiery blue hedgehog on the shoulder.

"You know you can talk to us, right? We want to help. All you need to do is ask for it." Sonic smiled at the young fox, always impressed with his way of words. "Thanks buddy. I'll try to be better about it. But right now, I honestly want nothing more than my own bed." The fox let out a soft chuckle to that. As Tails flew them down the mountain, he let his shoulders relax and have a sigh of relief. His brother was gonna be ok.