Heres Chapter 3. Sorry its so late. ;-; Been busy with school and stuff. Not too good a chapter, but it'll get better next chapter. Honest.
Here
Chapter 3
The next day, Tails awoke to the sound of the TV. He was still on the on the floor, his head twisted awkwardly on the couch behind him. He groaned, sitting up. He rubbed the soreness from his neck, blinking the sleep from his eyes as he looked toward the TV. It was some movie, action, gunfire exploding in the background. He narrowed his eyes, shifting slightly, and looked up at the couch. Sonic was sitting there, his green eyes narrowed, looking at the TV. But they were unfocused, and Tails knew he really wasn't watching it.
Tails cleared his throat, and that caught the hedgehogs attention. Sonic's eyes focused back, and flickered to him, and he smiled. Tails smiled back, his mind still fuzzy from sleep.
"G' morning, lil bro," Sonic responded, and Tails grunted slighty, stretching before picking himself off the ground. He was sore from sleeping in the floor, and he sighed when he plopped on the couch, crossing his arms and looking at the TV. It was several minutes before either of them spoke again.
"So, Tails, feel like a good run today?" Sonic asked, and Tails looked over to find the hedgehog grinning at him. The kitsune hesitated before grinning back, watching the hedgehogs green eyes sparkle with excitement.
"I'd love it," he responded, and Sonic immediately stood. Tails stood a second later, watching Sonic closely as he swayed gently, his eyes glaring, before he softened and looked toward the door. Tails blinked, and Sonic looked at him, grinning.
"Race ya to the bottom of the hill!" he cried, and before his finished was even finished, he shot off in a blur of blue, leaving Tails behind. Laughing quietly, Tails started running as well, twisted his tails behind him to help him gain momentum.
"No fair!" he shouted back to Sonic, following the hedgehogs dirt cloud down to the hill. He arrived a second after Sonic, and the hedgehog was panting. Tails skidded to a stop, looking toward Sonic worriedly. Never before had the hedgehog lost his breath after a run. Tails stepped forward, preparing to offer to go back to the house, but the hedgehog recovered, almost as if knowing what the kitsune were going to do. He straighted, smiling at Tails.
"I won," he said simply, his smile twisting to a grin. "Someones lost their touch!" He laughed at Tails, closing his eyes and walking away. Tails grunted, grinning, and shaking his head.
"Hell no," the kitsune replied, following after Sonic. "You just cheated...you cheater." The kitsune caught up to Sonic, thumping him against the back of his head. The hedgehogs hand flew to his head, and Tails laughed as he dodged a blow from Sonic, sidestepping away from him. Sonic laughed, bursting into a run toward the kitsune. Yelping in surprise, Tails shot off, his tails twisting furiously behind him. Sonic caught up almost immediately, and tackled Tails. In a heap of orange and blue fur, the two rolled to the ground, wrestling, Sonic getting the upper hand when they stopped rolling.
The two laughed as Sonic held Tails down, the kitsune fighting beneath him. Sonic rolled off of Tails, and the two sat up, laughing and panting. It was times like this, where they could just goof off, that made Tails happy he had Sonic...but didn't help him forget what little time they had left together. The thought almost immediately stopped Tails's laughter, but he forced himself to continue smiling; six weeks. He couldn't ruin it for Sonic.
After a few moments, the two stood, and silently turned to the forest. It was a quite walk, peaceful, two best friends just enjoying each others company. Tails forced his troubling thoughts away by admiring the way the leaves sparkled in the sunlight. It was warm out today; no need for a jacket. He sighed, looking up at the sky.
"Pretty day," Sonic said next to him, also looking at the sky. Tails nodded in agreement, his eyes scanning the treetops silently. The fallen leaves crunched under their feet, making harmonic noises when they sounded together.
Tails looked over at Sonic, wondering if the hedgehog was thinking the same thing, and his good mood disappeared. Sonic looked terribly pale, and Tails felt that familar prick of worry in the corner of his heart. Sonic's green eyes were narrowed, as if concentrating, and he walked unsteadily, as if hesitant about his next step. Tails's blue eyes narrowed gently, and he stepped casually closer to Sonic, leaning toward him.
"You okay, Sonic?" the kitsune asked quietly, his blue eyes focused on Sonic. The hedgehog blinked, saying nothing for a minute.
"Yeah, yeah...I'm fine..." he responded absent-mindedly, as if not really caring how well he was. Tails felt uneasy. "I'm fine..." They kept walking, and every few minutes, Tails looked at Sonic, noticing how he got paler and paler. Finally, after Sonic stumbled, nearly striking the ground, Tails stopped walking.
"Sonic, really, are you okay?" he asked again, and Sonic didn't answer. Tails narrowed his eyes. "Okay, we're going back." He reached for the hedgehogs wrist, but Sonic pulled away, jerking his arm back. Tails looked at him in surprise, and the hedgehogs green eyes were narrowed angrily.
"No," he responded. "No. I'm not going back. I'm...I'm walking..." Then, he turned away, walking the way they had been. Tails felt something dropped into his feet, and he caught up to Sonic.
"Sonic, you've got to go back! You're--"
"Sick?!" he nearly screamed, turning back to face Tails. Tails doubled back, as if struck, looking in shock at his older brother. "I know I'm freaking sick, Tails!" He was screaming, and Tails was no longer frightened, the shock already worn off. He simply watched Sonic, his heart pounding painfully, sorrowfully. "I don't need to be reminded of how sick I am! And I don't need someone telling me that, taking care of me every day. I'm fine!" He panted as he finished speaking, and Tails said nothing, simply watching Sonic silently.
The hedgehog finally calmed down, and when he finally looked back at Tails, his eyes were softened. Still, Tails reminded silent. Sonic watched him a minute, his eyes flickering softly. Then, they closed, and he turned away, dropping his head into his hands. Tails now decided to move, walking toward the hedgehog.
"I can't take this," Sonic said quietly, his voice broken. "I can't standit." He was quiet a minute, and Tails simply touched his shoulder, still saying nothing, letting Sonic know silently he was there for him. The kitsune felt his heart dropped into his stomach, and he swallowed. He couldn't stand it either. Sonic was dying, right here in front of him, in more that one way. He didn't know which way was more painful either... "I can't take being sick all the time. I can't stand how the littlest things make me weak and pale and tired. And I can't take that I have six weeks to live!" He voice broke completely then, and he didn't move, standing with his head in his hands. Tails gripped the hedgehogs shoulder tightly, swallowing the lump in his dry throat.
"It's..." He couldn't say that. It wasn'tokay. Nothing was okay anymore... The kitsune swallowed again, shaking his head as tears filled his vision. "I'm here, Sonic." He knew nothing else to say, and he knew that wasn't enough. Sonic lifted his head from his hands, looking at him through shining, teary, bloodshot eyes, simply staring, as if taken aback, transfixed. Tails didn't lower his gaze. "I'm always here, buddy." After another moment, Sonic forced a sad grin, and reached for Tails, wrapping his arms around his younger brother in an embrace. Tails returned it, forcing away the tears. Right now, he needed to be strong for Sonic.
"I...I'm sorry, Tails," the hedgehog responded, hugging him tightly. "I'm sorry...I know you're here...I know...Thanks you...Thank you..." Tails hugged him tighter, and Sonic buried his head into the kitsunes shoulder, leaning against him to stay standing...in more ways that just physical. The kitsune was keeping Sonic from completely falling apart, and Tails knew that. It was almost too much to handle, but he had to do it. Who else would?
xxx
They walked back home, Tails keeping a close eye on Sonic as they did so. The hedgehog was stumbling more, seeming to limp more and more, and his dark blue fur was slowly becoming sky blue. When the exited the forest, he nearly exhaled in relief.
Now, they were on the cliff side, sitting with their legs dangling over the edge. The ocean crashed and splashed beneath them, spraying their legs with the water. The watched the sun rays danced on the waves, kicking their legs against the rock they sat on. Tails smiled as the breeze ruffled his fur.
"Do you know how many times we've sat in this very spot?" he asked quietly, allowing his voice to be carried gently across the breeze. Next to him, Sonic smiled, and Tails was happy to see some color returning.
"Too many times to count," he responded, looking down at the water and blinking. "We were out here almost every night, weren't we?" Tails nodded, his smile widening. Sonic chuckled gently. Then there was silence.
They stayed there until the sun was setting in silence, just enjoying one another being there. Tails glanced over at Sonic, his fur dark in the setting sunlight. He didn't understand why such a good, selfless person only got six more weeks to live. He would never understand. Sonic didn't deserve to die like this, withering away day by day. Tails swallowed again, pulling his eyes away from Sonic. With every day he would have to watch Sonic suffer, Tails would die inside. He shuddered.
"Have you ever noticed how, when the sun sets in the ocean, it looks like the water just...reaches up and grabs it?" Sonic asked quietly, and Tails blinked, taking a second before studying the sky. He narrowed his eyes.
"I've never really payed attention..." he admitted, glancing at Sonic slightly; he was smiling gently.
"I mean, just watched it. It's just like...it gets sucked it. It's there, then its gone, just as suddenly." He paused, and Tails wondered quietly if this was supposed to be a type of metaphor to Sonic. He swallowed. "It just...disappears, like it was never there."
Silence. Tails looked out at the sun, beginning to sink into the ocean. He watched it, studied it, and just as Sonic said, the sun sunk into the ocean, just as quickly as it had slipped into the water, and they were left in darkness.
"See?" Sonic said quietly. Around them, the nightlife sounds began; crickets chirped, owls hooted, and around them, the lightning bugs glowed, lit for a single second before fading away. It was beautiful. "It just...disappeared. Gone... Replaced with...with darkness." Tails turned to look at Sonic, his form outlined in the darkness. "Sunrise, sunset..." He sighed, and Tails saw his look at him, his green eyes flashing in the light of a close lightning bug. Tails saw his wavering grin, and the kitsune smiled sadly back. Sonic suddenly stood, making no noise as he simply stared at where the sun was moments ago. Tails watched him, the glow of the lightning bugs suddenly eerie.
"...I think its time for bed," the hedgehog responded quietly, and Tails stood. The two walked inside. They departed in the living room, Sonic heading for the bedroom, Tails making a spot on the couch. Sonic turned and smiled halfheartedly at him, and Tails did the same. A quick Sonic-Tails thumbs up, and Sonic was heading into the bedroom.
"G'night, lil bro," Sonic called from the bedroom.
"'Night, Sonic," Tails returned, curling up on the couch. He switched the lights off, and it was silent, dark, and he was alone.
Tails pulled the covers to his chin, listening to the silence and basking in the darkness. He blinked, his mind racing to grasp the things he didn't need to think about. He grimaced, shaking his head as he adjusted again. Silence. He squirmed again.
Then, from the glass door, he heard a small ping, and when he looked up he just caught a small glow of light fade away. Curious, Tails stood, heading toward the door to find a lightning bug slamming against it, and it glowed again. Tails stay quiet, clutching the small bug in one hand and opened the door with the other. He opened his hand for the lightning bug to leave, and watched as it, hesitantly, took off from the tip of his fingers, glowing almost happily as it flew away from him. For some reason, Tails smiled before turning back into the house.
End of Chapter