Chapter 3

As the night continued, the motorbike carried on driving through the busy streets of Metropolis. As they got more further away however, the scenery was becoming quieter. Only a few tall buildings rested and opened up to more greenery. All the sounds that Johnny could hear was the roaring engine of the bike. Sitting quite comfortably, Johnny watched the hedgehog driving quietly.

Never spoke a work and yet, the rabbit was getting a little anxious. Just where were they going? And how long could the rabbit take with no food? As again his stomach rumbled from under his red jacket. Suddenly they came off the road and headed upwards to some woodland area. As they drove further up, they reached the top of a steep hill. There, Super stopped the engine and took off his helmet. Johnny finally jumped out of the side car stretching out his legs.

And then he looked beyond. From the steep hill, he could see miles away from Metropolis; all decorated of lights from the tall buildings, to the small street lamps. And just landing in the middle were the old ruins of old citadel Robotnik.

"Now that's a sight to see." Johnny whistle impressed.

"It's one of his favourite spots as well." Super spoke.

"You mean Sonic?" Johnny asked.

He simply nodded and he went back to the bike. Johnny couldn't help but place his jacket on the grass. Feeling exhausted after a whole day of work, the rabbit could do with a long stretch. But then again, his stomach rumbled. Lucky for him, he could smell a faint taste of the food from before, suddenly approaching him. Startled he looked up from his resting place to see that Super had two food parcels in his hand.

"Well, you did help me after all in the end." Super smiled.

Thanking him gladly, Johnny didn't wait not a second to dig in. The broth was calling to him and was even more happy that Super had kept some of the warm bread for the both of them. This was completely unexpected of Sonic's counter half self. The hedgehog simply sat down on the grass and dig into his own meal.

"If you keeping making food like this, you'll may be put forward to more shifts." Super smiled.

"Well can't really do freedom fighting and sous chef at the same time." Johnny joked.

However, with the scene being a little quieter, the rabbit took a quick look at Super Sonic and asked.

"So, you and Sonic, do you both have similar tastes? I mean not just with food?"

"That depends really."

"Like for example?" Johnny asked curiously.

Super could see he was getting curious as he placed his spoon on the parcel, wiping the food on his mouth with his glove.

"Well…things like. We both like getting away to quiet places, like this. And for hates…umm. Spiders."

That part made Johnny nearly spit out of his meal with laughter.

"Hey! Not my fault. That's because Sonic's terrified of them!"

"But I presume, you're trying to be completely different from that? You know the spiders and all?"

The hedgehog simply sighed and carried on eating. Was Johnny going to get an answer from him? Moments passed and feeling a little disappointed, Johnny carried on eating his food. But then out of the blue, Super spoke.

"I'm not Sonic. Well, I'm certainly trying to prove that to myself."

"Do you…feel any anger towards him?"

This was asking something a bit too much Johnny thought. He knew he was taking a risk and maybe like Sonic, he would shout back and storm off somewhere. He could see his body changing to being uncomfortable and yet, the rabbit hoped to push that question.

"It's a little complicated. Anyway, seeing you keep asking all these questions, how about I throw some at you?" Super laughed suddenly changing the subject.

"Ha! Ask away!" Johnny replied in delight.

"Ok, so you said before that Cream was your niece? Did you know that she and her mom were involved in the train incident?" Super asked, recalling back to the event some months ago.

"Nope; not before that very day, before I went to see you again. Oh! By the way! Seems my sister and Cream are going to be moving to Metropolis for quite a while. Thanks to VR day, more the family want to return closer to home. And yes, that does mean I'll be bringing you over to see her. She really wants to meet her hero after all." The rabbit smiled.

"Well, I wouldn't really call myself that at all." The hedgehog muttered under his breath.

"Well for her; you are. So sorry Super, you're stuck with it." The rabbit smiled again with his mouth still full of food.

"Just how many call you uncle? Just in case I need to make more appointments in my diary" Super smirked.

"Hmm let's see…my brother and his wife are expecting their third child. So that will be my 37th niece or nephew?" Johnny replied, watching in amazement as Super nearly choked on his food.

"That MANY!?"

"Well of course. What do you expect from a rabbit fluffe?" Johnny replied back, both sniggering at the word.

Guess Super Sonic does also share Sonic's childish humour as they both laughed.

"And yes. That little trip to Woolworths did help a lot. Thanks for the tip." Johnny winked.

The hedgehog smiled and waved his hand in acceptance. Both of them continued to eat up as they could hear the faint sounds of alarms and cars passing through the busy streets down below. Johnny didn't wait not a second to slurp the last contents of food into his belly. The only evidence of the bread were the small breadcrumbs resting on his jacket. Super had finished also and quickly rushed back to the side car. To his delight, he managed to get some warm drinks also from the volunteers.

"Do you feel good when you help them?" Johnny asked.

"Well, they helped me at the beginning, so only feel it's fair to help back. More animals are getting into trouble and sadly have nowhere to go. And to think with Robotnik being gone, you would think things will get better. How does...Sonic think of all this?"

"To be honest, he's become quite a hurricane. Too busy to even sit down for a cuppa; mainly because there's always trouble brewing."

"I can understand that." Super simply stated.

"Then you tell me one honest thing…"

"That depends." Super smiled.

"Why does Sonic sometimes act like a complete ass?"

Suddenly Johnny wasn't expecting Super to snigger.

"You seriously asking me?" The hedgehog asked.

"Well yeah. Anytime any of us try to help him, he either ignores, blocks or even runs away from us. He may occasionally make a comment here and there, but it's mainly sarcastic. And to be complete honest…can hurt." Johnny finished looking down.

Super then went a little quiet and the silence was causing the rabbit to be on edge. It was a bit of a stupid question; after all, unlike everyone else, Johnny knew Sonic the longest. But what could Super Sonic say that Johnny didn't know?

"All that responsibility of the world on your shoulders. Great when you constantly winning, but when you lose, the whole world will make you remember it. He's gone through some tough challenges, so he's not really had a choice but to look confident in front of the people. So, when something goes wrong…"

"He's feels responsible for it." Johnny stated.

"He may not show it; maybe through annoyance or frustration, but really he's just worried. I know for a fact he knows that you guys are there to help him; he just…doesn't want to admit it. Plus, if something does go wrong, you lot will be also put onto the spot light; and I know being under that is not a good thing."

Johnny listened and realised everything his counterpart was saying; was all honest and true.

"So…what did he say to hurt you? I mean; you've known him for pretty much all his life and not like you take any rubbish from him." Super asked.

Johnny was then the one to feel uncomfortable. As he looked down at the warm drink, he opened up and told everything that happened to him. When he was once captured by the alien race and was cloned by them on Mobius as Agent X. He had been trapped in their dimension for so long, he couldn't recall. But being in the shadow dimension, with no hope of getting out, it scared him.

Super Sonic sipped his drink as he listened to Johnny's story.

"That sounds horrible." The hedgehog spoke.

"Sonic occasionally makes a slight joke about it here and there. Heck even Amy and Tails have stood up for me, saying he's gone too far. But sometimes I just wish, I wish I had my old friend back…" He finished, gulping down his drink until only a drop was left.

"But if you did, would he be able to fight back all the Chaos the world has thrown on him?" Super asked.

"Hah, most likely not. But it just be nice to do what we used do; goof off, play video games. I know it sounds childish but it was a time, that just made sense. What about yourself? Sure, you don't work at the Groovy Train 24/7?"

"Hah! Well, you know what I do in my spare time, if of course I'm not falling asleep on the sofa."

But then Johnny recalled what Ebony said to him; about his bad sleeping patterns. The story when Super Sonic himself almost gave himself up to the police and in a horrible scene, nearly lost control.

"Do you get nightmares quite a lot?"

Super then looked at him confused. But as the penny dropped, he gave a heavy sigh and certain he mumbled "That woman" to himself as he rubbed his head.

"Sometimes. It's not like you can't throw it under the carpet." Super muttered.

"Does it haunt you? What you did in the past?"

Super simply looked at his cup silently. The rabbit waited for an answer, but think he already got it.

"See that's where I do see a similarity between you and Sonic."

"Which is?" Super asked looking at Johnny.

"You tend to keep whatever problems you have, to yourself. I'm sure you know that whatever it is, someone has got your back."

"I know. Guess it's an annoying habit from my "Creator"" Super flashed his hand around.

"I don't particularly hate Sonic; heck I sometimes feel sorry for the guy. But when you have been made through all his anger, hatred and malice over the years, is it no surprise that I was created from it? And then of course when I was separated from him, well it was like opening a can of worms of Sonic's most inner self. Showing that kind of vulnerability to the world, no wonder he would be happy to lock me away."

Johnny fully understood. There he was, listening to Super Sonic; the once demon of death and destruction, talking to him so honestly. He wouldn't be surprised if this was the first time, the hedgehog was able to speak so openly to anyone. Super Sonic's power is unlike any other, but what kind of mental stress could that before him? He already saw the stress it caused for Sonic, so won't it be the same for Super?

Johnny simply smiled and lifted his arm to slap Super on his back. Super yelled in shock.

"Well, I maybe not be able to work as a sous chef, but sure I can do a little part time job as counsellor. And friend."

Super looked at him at first, but a smile formed on his face. Suddenly standing up, Super stretched out his arms and downed his drink.

"Well not to break this wonderful bonding session, but it's getting rather late and honestly, the conversation is starting to get a little sissy." The hedgehog joked as he threw the can into the trash bin.

"Ha! Well for your first opening session, you did pretty well." Johnny joked, rubbing his nose as he pretending to fix his glasses on his face.

The hedgehog laughed as the rabbit went into his jacket to grab his mobile. But then he looked worried. The rabbit cursed under his breath.

"What's wrong?"

"Blast, you're right. It is late, so I've missed the last train back to the Emerald Hill zone."

The rabbit rubbed his ears in annoyance. How was he going to get back to HQ. Checking on his mobile, there were one message left, from Amy.

"Hiya Johnny, are you at HQ? I be heading back soon xx"

"Oh shoot, and Amy is heading back as well. That was about an hour ago." The rabbit replied.

The hedgehog then threw something at Johnny. Nearly dropping it, it was small. Opening his hand, it jangled in between his fingers. It was the bike keys.

"Well seeing this is our first mission, you get to drive." Super smiled, already adjusting his helmet over his fur.

Johnny couldn't help his excitement as he dashed towards the bike. Super looked chilled as he took the side car, even lifting his feet up. Johnny adjusted his helmet as he startled the engine. The beast roared with anticipation.

"You sure Pyjamas wouldn't mind?"

"I won't tell her, if you don't'" Super joked.

Smiling, the rabbit roared the engine into motion. Coming down the steep hill, Johnny turned back onto the main road. The road lights gave him the passage to go faster. The hedgehog in the side car simply chilled, with the gentle breeze brushing his quills. Hoping to get home before Amy, Johnny pushed the lever down for more speed. In that moment, the rabbit didn't care, as for such a long time, he was having fun…

Just in case anyone was wondering, the motorbike and side car is hugely inspired by the motorbike from the very British Wallace and Gromit; A close shave clay animation. You can google it and see what I mean XD

This is just made for pure and simple fun ^^

Hope you like it ^^

All characters belong to STC/Sonic the Comic (British)/ Fleetway and SEGA

Writer © JXW