A/N: In which Tails' is raised by a certain genius doctor. Mainly set in the day before the first attack in Sonic Forces, and Tails must choose where his alliance lies. Set in the Assistant Tails AU, created by Toxikku through a series of comics on their tumblr!

The air was cold, and he was alright with that.

Goosebumps rose along the kit's fur as he basked in the chill breeze and gazed at the twinkling lights above, humbly looking at the darkness. His legs crossed, he lightly settled on the swaying grass. His hands fidgeted amongst themselves, intertwining and picking at the collars of the gloves stained green around the edges.

The child closed his eyes, allowing himself to soak in the tranquility of the clear atmosphere; the song of bugs and the howling of the trees in the distance rocking him to a soothing hum.

"Miles."

He whipped around before spotting the light blue neon haze of eyes watching him. Shedding the tension from his shoulders, he returned his eyes to the skyline, hiding his chin in his crossed arms.

"What do you want, Orbot?" Tapping his arm with his absent fingers, the fox already knew the answer. Meticulous planning across several months all led up to tomorrow, but he could not share the same enthusiasm that his mentor had expressed as the time ticked closer.

"Your father wishes you inside," The bot glided forward, hesitantly reaching to the kit's arm. "You both have plans to make."

Tails flinched from his touch, mumbling an apology as he rose, and walked past his proclaimed watcher, absentmindedly grasping the bot's arm to drag him softly along. The duo walked back towards the imposing building of the Robotnik Empire. The flickering lights of the white walls swirled in the air, the red and black symbol of his mentor's silhouette printed on the metal walls. Taking a last look at the sky, he entered the pin to open the doors and they both walked inside.

The lab-coat adorned fox hesitantly opened the door ajar, peering into the laboratory. Tails could only see the Doctor's back, a haze of the computer screens creating a halo of light around his body.

"Sir?"

The man turned his head, laughing as he saw his apprentice's face in the doorway. Opening his arms, he took large strides towards the boy.

"Miles! I see Orbot fetched you like I asked," the man beamed, his eyes crinkling around the edges. Wrapping an arm around the boy, he guided him towards the various monitors and papers strewn across the room. "Tomorrow is a big day for us."

The boy chuckled, and the Doctor lowered his guiding hand to turn back to various screens. Tails placed his hands into the large pockets sewed onto the lower half of his coat, when he spotted an upside clipboard resting on a table in front of them. He furrowed his eyebrows, grasped the wood, and turned the board to see the papers: a body chart, vital signs and various boxes left checked or unmarked. He blinked at the information, confused at where the Doctor had gotten this. Suddenly making a sound of protest, Dr. Ivo snatched the papers from his protégé.

"Sorry," the child mumbled, looking away from the man's taller, intimidating stature. The light hearted greeting had all but shattered, and a thick sense of dread filled the space as Miles' face heated up with worry. Ivo stomped to the desk drawers, spilling out a drawer's contents as he shoved the papers inside, and slammed it shut. Watching his mentor's heaving shoulders, Tails tried to still his racing heart as the doctor placed his hands onto the table, feigning calm.

The child watched gingerly, a yearning in his face to help yet not knowing what would not prompt another outburst. He turned his head to look about the room, before returning his gaze to his mentor, crossing his arms, and slowly walking to his side.

"Speaking of tomorrow," Tails blurted out, mustering the courage to speak. "You...haven't truly told me what it is we are doing."

Eggman simply said nothing, looking to the side away from the boy and clenching his fists on the table. Breathing in deeply, he turned to smile at the boy- albeit his smile was gentle and melancholic, a whisper of anxiety weaving into his brows. The man's legs wavering as he came to a kneel in front of his apprentice. Gently placing a gloved hand on Tails' shoulder, his jaw clenched.

"Yes, about that," Tails wrung his hands at his surrogate father's hesitance; the Doctor's plan had been his pride and joy for the past few months. Late evenings spent isolated in his lab, slamming metal contraptions in frustration, all while Tails was forbidden from coming in without notice. But when the assistant asked about his plans? Oh, how his face would light up; he would beam, a sun lit behind his eyes, and those were the moments when the assistant could almost forget what he was so desperately working for.

"I," the Doctor breathed in, placing his remaining hand on his assistant's shoulders and squeezing ever so slightly. "I believe it may be time for you to lead a charge"

He slammed the door and slid his back down the wood, feeling the bumps against his skin as the weight descended him down. Covering his head in his hands, he bounced his leg against the floor. The light switch was kept off, only the small beams of the stars and moon lit the covers over the fox's bed, continuing to light the space next to the boy.

While he attempted to, he could not ignore the shadow of the approaching Orbot flowing through the space between the door and the floor at which he sat. Accepting the upcoming half-hearted inspiration, he took out his frustration in glaring at the opposing wall.

"Tails, I do not believe that this is the healthiest way to deal with this."

"Go away."

A metallic sigh came from behind the door, as the red bot reached for the handle and pushed the door open- and into the kitsune's head.

"Ow! Orbot, what are you doing?!" The child swiveled his body to his door, squinting at the crack of light the robot had allowed into the room. Leaning into a squat on wavering legs, he rubbed the sore spot that was assaulted by the wood.

"I understand that this is a big responsibility, Tails," the robot reassured, attempting to put his arm through the creaked open entrance. "But the Doctor would not offer you this position if he did not know you could handle it!"

The door swiftly opened as the hallway vacated, the red machine forced inside. The fox's short stature did nothing as he glared at the red face of his watcher, biting back the hurt and trying to bring out the anger in his face. Heaving labored breaths, water began to collect in the corners of his eyes; shaking his head, he turned away from his helper.

Photographs were laid out on his bedside table stuck out from underneath his various books– some photos of surprise shots he took of the Doctor as he worked, others of his whole "family": Cubot and Orbot waving at the camera as Tails stood on a chair to be seen from the back row. The Doctor stood at his side, somehow still towering above the fox, and his arm stayed behind the boy to ensure that he would not fall. He reached out to graze his fingers across the thin film, wearily smiling at the memories of convincing the Doctor to include their robot friends in their family portrait.

A sullen droop of his face and the lowering of the film was all the child did before whispering:

"What if I don't want this?"