Crush

"Okay, Ame," Sonic knelt down to the eye level of his little boy and put his hands firmly on his shoulders. "Are you ready for this?"

Ame, looking cute in a pair of dark blue overalls and a red short-sleeved tee shirt, complete with green sneakers, glanced nervously over his shoulder at his little sister, dressed to play in a smocked sea green dress and red Mary Jane shoes with golden buckles. She was standing completely still (for the first time in her life, minus during her fits), her feet together as she waited to play outside. She smiled reassuringly at him.

Ame sighed shakily and turned back to face his father, who was studying him with emerald-colored eyes. "Yes, dada." He responded in a voice barely above a whisper, pushing back his quills.

"That's my little boy." Sonic kissed his son's forehead and stood, crossing over to the dining room table. "Now…have you had enough to eat?"

Ame started to walk so he could stand beside Whisper, but the cobalt female hedgehog glared, forcing him to stay where he was. He was hurt, but knew they had to practice separation. He had eaten enough, though his breakfast of eggs and bacon sat uneasily in his stomach at the renewed thought of being away from his sister, though Rio looked like a nice boy. "Yeah," he responded casually, yawning as if out of boredom.

"Then here," Sonic's outstretched gloved hand held a small pair of pristine white gloves, meant to be folded back along the wrist. Ame grabbed them eagerly, and pulled them over his tan palms. "Your first pair of gloves." Sonic smiled sentimentally, watching Ame rub his hands against his face to feel the fresh cotton. Amy, standing by her daughter, smiled too.

Presently, Sonic felt someone tug his tail demandingly. "What? Oh!" He laughed, looking down as his daughter looked up, a pout on her face. "Yes, yes, I have a pair for you, too, my little Will-O-The-Whisp." Whisper danced in place excitedly as Sonic handed her a pair of gloves identical to Ame's. She didn't wait, and put them on right away. Sonic bent down to his daughter's level.

"Now," he told her warningly, "be nice and eat for your mother, and do everything she tells you. Don't wander too far off, and don't go past the outskirts of town. Do you understand me?" Whisper nodded obediently, and kissed her father's black nose. Sonic hugged his daughter tightly to his side, and then stood. Whisper clung to a lump of fur at his waist. Ame stood on the other side of his father, trembling with nerves.

Outside, the twins and their parents heard the telltale noise of a hovercraft, and Knuckles' dark blue covered craft landed before their house. The driver's side door and the back door directly opposite opened. Whisper dashed to shield herself behind the white curtains (she peeked out from amongst her mother's skirts, who was now standing at the window, waving at Knuckles), and Ame gulped. This was the last he would see of his sister all day. He took his father's hand in his own.

Sonic felt his son trembling. "Are you ready, Ame?" He wondered.

Ame nodded. Then, father and son stepped out the door.

Suddenly, Ame couldn't breathe. He had set eyes on the beautiful little dark pink bat, adorable in kaki shorts down to his knees, blue sneakers, and a dark green tee shirt. His large bat ears rotated slightly, and when he had looked Ame over good, he seemed to be in the same state of breathlessness. Sonic, thinking Ame's condition was one of fear, gently pulled him forward.

"Ame, this is Rio." Sonic began, grinning at his old friend. The red echidna offered him a fist to pound, which Sonic accepted.

"Hey there, Amy!" Rio stretched out his hand, eager to shake.

"AH-may." Ame corrected sweetly, blushing as they touched hands. His heart was hot in his chest, beating faster than the wings of a hummingbird. Why do I feel like this?!

Relax, and let the feeling consume you. It's all right.

Whisper's calming mental voice gave Ame courage. "Pleased to meet you, Rio."

Rio's eyes became lidded. "Nice to meet you too, handsome." Ame flushed again at this. "C'mon! I've got some Turtle-Oh! trading cards in the car! Y'wanna see em?"

Ame nodded his head vigorously, and the two hopped into the car.

"Well, those two seem to be getting alone fine." Sonic commented with a laugh.

"Yeah. Rio will take care of him." Knuckles smiled, but became serious. "So…I'm not picking up the little girl?"

"Whisper's staying home for now. We're afraid she'll have a fit at school." Sonic sighed.

"So she'll grow up like you? What about Ame's sensory abilities?"

"The teacher would never understand, and by the time she did, it'd be too late."

"I see." Knuckles scratched his chin. "Well, that is a dilemma! Are you seeing any patterns at all?"

"It mostly happens late at night in winter, or when she hasn't eaten. Luckily, a spoonful of chili holds it off until she can get somewhere and rest, but still."

Knuckles laughed. "How did you find that out?"

"Ame. How else?" Sonic chuckled. "Anyway, I'm going on a run this morning."

"Leaving Amy in charge of Whisper? Is that smart?"

"Maybe. Hopefully, she's more obedient than I ever was."

"Let's hope so. Anyway, I better take the kids to school." Knuckles climbed into the driver's seat.

"Safe trip, Knuckles!" Sonic called before waving to his son. "See ya later, Ame!"

But Ame didn't hear Sonic calling to him. All he heard was Rio's voice, as he felt Rio's hand stroking across his knuckles.

O.o so Rio is a troublemaker indeed! What do you make of the strange friendship between Ame and Rio? And don't forget to tune in next time!