Haven't updated, was waiting for inspiration. I wasn't at my best with the first chapter, but I'm hoping things should go smoother from now on. Pray for me, and keep reading! Please!

Packing

Lunch hadn't lasted very long at all, but this was perhaps because no one had eaten very much at all. Sonic and Tails weren't very hungry.

Sonic wasn't hungry because the poison had taken away his need to eat, and his body still had traces of the horrid weakening, draining potion in his blood stream. This wasn't necessarily good for his health (he had gone from normal color to a feverish pallor in a matter of minutes), but he would have to live with it while the poison still lived in him.

Tails, on the other hand, felt nervous with Inferna present. Even as Sonic talked with her about her duties, which included running the kingdom and the guards, and making sure everything stayed orderly until the new king and queen arrived (when Aero and Amy's marriage actually happened, they would take over the kingdom), Tails still felt her around him, and that made him profoundly ill at ease. So it was a great relief to him when they were alone and packing in their room.

"I don't know how you stand her." Tails admitted, kicking the heels of his shoes against the bed. "You must be a true saint."

Sonic snorted. "Only if you think so, love. To be honest, she's not half bad."

"She never raped you."

"Come off it, my rose. She was entranced by power and an ancient spell."

Tails crossed his arms over his chest, grumbling. Sonic used his ungloved fingers to bring Tails' chin off his chest and pressed his lips demurely against the fox's. The small action was fleeting, as Sonic was son back to packing everything in a velour suitcase.

"I still think we should ride Radovan back."

"No."

"I thought you said he offered, c=Colby?"

Sonic chuckled. "He did, yes. But, I don't want to tear him away from his duty."

"Meaning…?" Tails encouraged Sonic to continue by moving his hands invitingly, eyebrows raised in curiosity.

"He has a family now, Tails."

"Oh. Right." Tails flushed.

"And," Sonic added, "I am not a selfish being." It was true. Sonic the Hedgehog was many things, but he was never selfish for more than a few moments.

"You hardly touched your food at lunch." Tails brought up another subject to keep himself from emotionally hurting the blue hedgie any more. Even though the hurt was not his fault, he still felt guilty that Sonic was so consumed with sadness and loss that he had planned to kill himself. And painfully, at that.

"Mmmm." Sonic grunted, not paying attention as he closed the valise and sat on it to make sure it would stay closed.

"You need to eat." Tails encouraged.

"Nmm. Y'know, it's funny, but I'm never really hungry any more." Sonic bounced his ass on the valise, lost in a moment within the confines of his mind, but Tails heard every word loud and ringing as a holiday jingle bell.

"Never really--! Sonic the Hedgehog!" Tails transferred to his knees and leapt at his lover, blue eyes burning with worry and fear. "Sonic—Sonikku! You aren't leaving this world while I breathe!"

"Do you think I will die?" Sonic's eyes were unexplainably calm. "Au contraire. In fact, I'm not allowed to age in years until you turn sixteen. My body is supposed to retain its youth of my nineteen years till then as well. I won't die, at least not by starvation!"

Tails sighed, drawing back. "I really wish you'd eat, though. You worry me constantly. Do you know of your own pallor? I've never seen you so anemic!"

"Anemic? Indeed!" Sonic huffed indignantly, but then coughed harshly and rolled to his side. "Ungh, I feel awful all of a sudden…sick and dizzy."

Tails rose and crossed to pull the covers over him. "Rest and sleep, my love. I'll get you some nice hot soup in a cup."

"Get an attendant to do it and stay with me." Sonic begged hoarsely. His face looked a little green. "I can't be alone without you."

"You won't be alone if you're with me." Tails reasoned smartly. It was meant to be a joke, but Sonic was too ill at this point to comprehend it. "Nevermind. I'll get a maid to make the soup and we'll stay here together now."

Sonic coughed. "I swear…after my nap, we'll get out of here."

Tails sighed and stroked Sonic's neck, all the way to his shoulders, until he fell asleep.

Sonic's "nap" lasted three whole days. Tails spent his time in the library, or hiding under the bed Sonic slept in. Anywhere, even the crocodile-filled moat, seemed better than facing the rapist Inferna, no matter what Sonic said about her.

For once, Tails couldn't be sure he could fully trust Sonic, regardless if he was his lover or not.

Another short one, but I have to get to bed, regrettably. Expect more soon! I intend to get cracking on this!