When the long walk home finally ended, Tails smiled in relief at the ending of the uncomfortable silence. Miles held the door open for him as he pushed the grocery cart into the house wishing that he had just gone to the store in his plane, as then he'd only have needed to put the groceries in its trunk and fly the plane home. Miles seemed pretty insistent on encouraging him to run to the store using his newfound boost instead. Was making a second seat for the plane for him even worth it?
Tails thought about all this as he helped Miles put the groceries away, distracted from the silence. When they were done, Miles immediately got started on making broccoli soup. " Can I work on my engineering while you're busy with supper? " Tails asked nervously. " How come? I expected you to want to watch me like a hawk to ensure I wouldn't sabotage your meals. Obviously that would only inconvenience the one who's in charge of keeping you healthy, but I didn't think you would come to understand that so soon. Besides, you can work on your inventing any time. Why don't you stay here so you can learn how I make our meals? That way, when I fall ill, you'll be able to replicate it rather than making me your own idea of meals with less nutrition. Sound like a plan? "
Tails reluctantly said, " Alright, " stood up from a chair at the kitchen table and went to standing by his side, observing him as he calmly explained his process of making the soup. It wasn't that exciting, and wasn't nearly as fulfilling or entertaining to him as engineering, but Tails tried to look on the bright side, and viewed it as them spending quality time together. This was the first time Miles would spend an extended period of time talking to him without any anger or insults, and Tails valued that time as a breath of fresh air that foreshadowed it getting more frequent.
Miles told him that with each specific meal he'd make, " I'll show you how to do it the first time, and expect your contribution every time after that. " The plan was that Tails would start with working on the insignificant parts that were the hardest to screw up, like putting ovens and the like to certain settings at his instruction, and gradually working his way to doing half the work, alternating what he would help with. For now, though, Tails was limited to simply observing, watching over his shoulder as he cut the vegetables into pieces on the cutting board and poured milk into a bowl before placing them in them. It was at least a learnng experience for Tails, if an unexciting one that felt unnecessary. For the most part, cooking with him was uneventful.
When Miles had finished preparing the soup's vegetables and started heating them up in a bowl of milk in a boiling pot, Tails soon became bored at waiting for the soup to be finished, and asked tentatively, " Can I work on any inventing while the soup is boiling? " hoping he would be reasonable enough to agree. " What are you planning to work on? " Miles asked looking bored, staring at the soup with his arms crossed. His left leg was bent back so that he had one foot against the wall in a rebel relaxation pose.
" Well, it took so long getting back from the store, I figured it'd be better if I invented something that would make the trip back faster! Rather than just walking home pushing the grocery cart. You want me to run to the store to get more practice with my boost, but while that's all well and good, it means I can't bring my plane to the store with me, so I can't put the groceries in the trunk and quickly get home. So why don't I put an autopilot into it where it'll fly to the store on its own? " Tails said with a nervous smile. He remembered how his evil counterpart didn't think much of his engineering, saying he was focusing on only it despite having an incredible connection to Chaos Force. Was he acting like Miles was right by learning more of his powers? If he had been, reaffirming his place as an engineer first and foremost could help mend that.
Miles replied, " You should've done that months ago. You're lucky you found me here. Your boost isn't the only ability your control over the wind grants you. You still have a lot to learn, " again with barely any emotional inflection in his tone aside from the first sentence, still staring at the boiling soup. " I do? Huh. But I'm still an engineer first and foremost, you know. I wanna focus on that more, " Tails said nervously, hoping he wouldn't offend him. Miles, having his arms crossed again, stated in a deadpan manner again devoid of emotion,
" Considering that you'll never be as powerful as me, it makes perfect sense that you would put your unique skill as the primary focus of your life. " Feeling confused and insulted, Tails asked, " Why not? You're me from another dimension. Why wouldn't we have the same abilities? Wasn't that why you knew why I'd have that boost in the first place? "
" Well- " Miles started to say looking uneasy and exasperated, only for Tails to continue, " And why do you want me to learn more of my abilities in the first place? You think of this as just a temporary alliance with an enemy of yours, so why would you wanna get your sworn enemy to become more capable? I'm not trying to insult you, I'm just confused about what you have to gain from that. "
" Don't interrupt me! " Miles yelled at him in frustration, making him flinch and jump from the sudden outburst. There was a brief silence as Miles looked unhappy seeing his scared reaction, before he sighed while shaking his head with a hand on it before saying in exasperation, " It's a long story, and I'm not even sure if you'd believe it if I told you, so I shall inform you more in detail at a later date… F-For now, I'll summarize it thusly; members of our kind, foxes who have a second tail as a manifestation of the massive quantity of chaos energy in our bodies, are gifted with a set of abilities that is determined by chance, with no genetic or biological factor. Extensive research has been documented on our people throughout history, at least in my dimension, where I was fortunate enough to come across it in a book. Foxes like us are known as kitsune, and we possess the power to manipulate one of the elements of nature. "
Tails was astonished by Miles' explanation, enough to be distracted from dwelling on him shouting at him and getting upset. " Our people?... But, I thought my second tail was just a mutation… " Tails said in confusion, having a slight identity crisis and not sure whether or not to believe him.
" It IS. Make no mistake, we ARE mutants, but the difference is that we're a special variety of them more powerful than any other. Our, mutation, comes from the effect on our bodies from the amount of chaos energy we possess, and it is something only foxes exhibit. We are no ordinary mutants. We're the kind that is infamous throughout history, the most powerful kind of all. It's both a blessing and a curse, " Miles explained in a serious tone, sounding depressed with downcast eyes in the final sentence.
" That's incredible… " Tails responded in amazement and uncertainty, not sure how he felt about such revelations about what he was or whether he should believe them. For all he knew, only Miles' world might have that be true. " Of course, kitsunes don't have to be mutants. They generally have children who are kitsunes. It's just that, throughout history, they have had trouble finding people willing to have children with them, or even give them the time of day… " Miles clarified, looking depressed by the end of it. Tails was getting worried that kitsune were not treated very well. Miles' discomfort around the words, " mutant, " and, " mutation, " also gave him cause for concern. Did he suffer mistreatment for having a second tail? Was that what turned him against humanity?
" A-Anyway, a kitsune can have a connection with one of several different elements of nature; light, darkness, lightning and weather, fire, water, wind, nature, earth, metal, and even some interesting ones like creativity, life, spirit and time! Each with their own weaknesses, powers on the instinctual level, and sources of energy that they get lethargic from not having. I am a lightning kitsune. This means I have power over electricity and the weather, which means I can control the wind and summon ice, heat and rain by logical extension! Naturally I'm the most powerful variety, controlling multiple elements at once. I suppose you could say I was lucky. " Tails thought anxiously with a slight tremble, " Lightning? "
" And that brings me to the answer to your question. You happen to be an air kitsune. That is the only explanation for why you can fly by manipulating the air with your tails without your presence having any impact on the rate of thunderstorms in the area. As a result, you can do just about anything that being able to move the air to your leisure would allow you to accomplish. You can freeze people in their tracks, move at four times the speed of sound, and obviously you possess the power of flight… " Miles explained.
" Wait, thunderstorms? Y-You, increase the rate of thunderstorms? " Tails said nervously, dreading the larger amount of thunder and lightning he would endure because of his evil twin's presence. Miles scratched the back of his neck nervously, and explained, " Well, yeah… It's how a kitsune of my element gets energy. Just like how you subconsciously increase the amount of gusts of wind in your vicinity. Of course, we can only influence an area the size of a small island, so don't worry too much. I… You don't need to worry about those storms inconveniencing you when I'm around. I have complete control over what lightning won't strike, even when I'm asleep, because it's my subconscious doing all the work. That's how deep the connection with electricity is for a kitsune of my kind. You have nothing to worry about. A-And of course, I don't either, since I'd only absorb the energy and store it for later. " He looked sad and awkward as he tried to comfort him for once, failing to hide his concern for him as his sad eyes and less dignified manner of speaking gave it away.
" T-That's good to hear, " Tails thanked him with a nervously forced smile, appreciating that he was compassionate enough to reassure him. He thought for sure that Miles would use his ability to conjure up thunderstorms or maintain them as a tool to intimidate him. He didn't have to react with sympathy, there was nothing in it for him, which made Tails wonder if Miles wasn't as selfish as he assumed he was. He certainly wasn't as quick to care about strangers as Tails was, having an apathy if not outright disgust for righteous living, but at least he could feel empathy and compassion at all. Even if it was only for a few people, it was still a start. He had at least had hope. Tails, after a silence, said in confusion,
" Thanks… But that still doesn't explain why you wanna teach me all this stuff. Why would you wanna make your sworn enemy more capable of beating you in a fight? " Miles sighed, and admitted reluctantly, " Because you're the only other kitsune I've ever known. Of course I want to teach you about our kind. You should know who you are. It's an important part of you that would be a waste to stay ignorant of. There are far too many kitsunes out there who never discover everything they're capable of, or even learn that they have special abilities at all! They live their entire lives without ever even learning of their magical heritage- well, ' heritage, ' so to speak. I was lucky that I wasn't one of them, that I discovered my most significant ability by sheer accident, because I never had anyone to tell me what I was capable of, and I had to learn everything on my own. Most kitsunes don't know what powers they have or even know what they're even called! They just think of themselves as mutants… Do you think that's fair? That so many of our kind spend their entire lives never knowing all of what makes them special?! It's wasted potential! I'm not letting that happen to you. My counterpart should have better than that! That is why I'm going to be your mentor, in all things involving kitsune. I know that if we ever fought again, it would backfire horribly on me, but I don't care. I want to be able to pass down my knowledge to someone, and, well, since I'm not very likely to have a son, you're the only one I'll ever get for that… Besides, it'll give you more time to spend around me. That's apparently what you want, right? Certainly, you can still build things, but only on the condition that you allow me to teach you your other abilities as a kitsune. "
" Other? Wait, engineering is a kitsune ability? " Tails said in confusion, having another identity crisis from it. " Not strictly that, but high intelligence, rather. Every kitsune that I've read about throughout history has been a prodigy in something, it's only a matter of what they apply their intellect to. You're an engineer because that happened to catch your interest, so you applied your intelligence and determination to that. Granted, I've only been able to research the kitsunes of my dimension, but since it's a parallel dimension to yours, sharing the same species and races, logically the same would apply to yours as well. "
Tails smiled, both at the relief that his engineering talent was still special and at the implication that Miles still thought he was an engineering genius, in spite of treating him condescendingly in the past. Was that all an act? Was he only doing it out of spite, or jealousy? Tails would always hate how he treated him in the past, and he could hardly stand the condescension now, but what he was learning about him that day was giving it all a new lens to view it through. There was more to him than he thought.
Before Tails could leave the kitchen to finally start working on his plane, Miles stated, " The soup is finished, " to his dismay. Tails sat down at the kitchen table and watched unhappily as Miles poured the broccoli soup into two separate bowls and put a spoon in each before placing each bowl on the table. He gave the first to Tails and put his own bowl of soup on the rectangular table nearby, and sat down at the chair right next to him rather than at the one across from him. They proceeded to eat their supper in silence, with Tails not outright hating the nutritious vegetable soup, but not appreciating it nearly as much as Miles did, who seemed at peace as he partaked in it without looking at him.
Tails was relieved when he finally finished the entire soup, as he could at last get Miles to unlock the compartment in the fridge with the mint ice cream in it and give it to him as a reward. Miles on the other hand, was more interested in making a cup of tea for himself, and drank it slowly from a coffee mug for the next ten minutes, with a relaxed smile as if he finally felt at peace. It was clear tea time was his favorite time of the day, as he used it to calm his frazzled nerves. Tails wasn't quite happy with the long silence between him and his evil twin that happened once again, but he supposed they couldn't talk all the time, especially not if they would be spending the entirety of every day together.
When Tails finished his ice cream, he got out of the kitchen chair and tried to leave the room, only for Miles to say sternly, " Where are you going? " and cause Tails to unhappily stop in his tracks. " Um, to the lab? " Miles rolled his eyes with his arms crossed and said, " It's 8:00 at night! " pointing to the microwave's clock. " You're going to bed! " he told him strictly, walking up to him. Disappointed, Tails said, " Oh, come on, 8:00 isn't that late! " Miles, now right in front of him, replied, " Yes it is! Especially for someone of your age. And need I remind you that you have bags under your eyes? You need sleep. Desperately! "
" You're the same age as me, you know, " Tails grumbled to point out his hypocrisy, looking away from his disapproving glare as he said something he had wanted to say to him since they met. He knew Miles was right, but he still wanted to get started on his plane idea. " Is that the time you usually go to sleep at? " Tails asked him in annoyance. If Miles was going to stay up after sending him to bed despite him having nothing to do, he wouldn't be happy with him. " Of course! It's only smart to get as much rest as you can! " Miles replied, annoyed at even having to defend his opinion.
" I'm surprised your criminal associates even let you go to bed that early; I assumed you'd be forced to stay up late with them to do all sorts of law-breaking, " Tails said resentfully, once again not admitting that he did think Miles was right. Miles' eye twitched angrily and he snapped at him, " Don't you talk about my friends that way! You don't know them! They treated me right! A hell of a lot better than they ever treated you! " shouting at him looking incensed. Tails jumped and flinched again, startled by his sudden anger and holding back tears. At no point so far had Miles ever hurt him in their alliance, but Tails couldn't help expecting it from his evil twin.
There was a silence as Tails looked at Miles nervously. Calmed down to mere frustration, Miles continued more quietly while looking away with his arms crossed, " They showed me a side to them that most people didn't see. Don't assume they were terrible friends just because they broke the law. " Tails was silent in response to that, letting the statement sink in. He never realized Miles and the Suppression Squad were so close. They must have treated him really favorably to get him so loyal to them. Were they the only people who ever cared about him? Tails was full of questions, feeling unbearably sorry for him, but he didn't want Miles to snap at him again for trying to get him to open up, or go back to being depressed.
" They must have been really considerate of you, " Tails finally said sadly, deciding that would be safe enough. " They were… " Miles replied sadly, depressed once again. He clearly missed them. " I'm sorry, Miles. I knew you were right about how I should get more sleep, I was just lashing out. It wasn't right of me when you're just trying to help me. I'll try to be nice to you again from now on, I was just disappointed, that's all… " Tails apologized reluctantly.
There was a silence, implying that Miles was stunned at actually being apologized to and told that he was right. Finally, scratching his neck at the start of it, he said a little awkwardly, " T-That's alright. And I, regret raising my voice to you, startling you and all, although I don't regret defending my associates. I never will. L-Let's get you to bed and not stall any longer. " With that, Miles walked him to his bedroom as Tails smiled at him again showing compassion.
Bringing Tails into his bedroom, Miles ensured he would take off his shoes first and then tucked him into bed, and smiled a little at him, before instructing, " If you don't get a good night's sleep tonight, tell me in the morning. I'll think of something. " Tails smiled warmly at him, only to feel guilty as he started leaving the room and say, " I'll start making a proper bed for you first thing in the morning! With a mattress and blankets and everything! It's not fair you have to sleep on the couch. M-Maybe I'll even get the house a new bedroom! I'll have plenty to do! "
Miles actually seemed to appreciate his childlike excitement and optimism for once, and ruffled his hair saying, " Glad to hear that! Good night, kiddo, " before leaving his room closing the door behind him. As he listened to his footsteps get further and further away, Tails stared at the ceiling speechless, stunned at Miles treating him in the same affectionate manner that Sonic did for him, and so casually at that, with a genuine likable smile while doing it. He decided not to remind him of it, since he would probably be embarrassed over getting carried away and treating him like a little brother. But the mere fact that he was familiar enough with that kind of treatment of someone to the point of doing it by accident revealed even more about his past all on its own. Did Miles get treated that way in the past? Did he have the same brotherly relationship with Scourge as Tails did with Sonic, behind closed doors? Was it something that stopped, or did it carry on with the members of the Suppression Squad acting as replacements? Tails was intrigued and curious as he slept on everything he learned about his evil twin that day, knowing that after he had breakfast in the morning, Miles would teach him even more about what he was capable of.