Chapter VIII
A Friend's Concern
The blue hedgehog was playing a video game attempting to beat a boss.
"Come on! Come on!"
He was getting close to beating the game boss until he messed up. Which got him killed.
"Darn it! I was so close." he whined.
He fell against his bean bag and groaned. He rubbed his face from irritation.
"Man, even in Normal Mode I still can't beat them in one scoop."
Just then a tall red mobian entered the Game Room.
"Last again huh Hedgehog?"
The blue blur turned to see a familiar echidna leaning against the door with his arms crossed smirking.
"Really, I don't want you to dog me."
"What's there to 'dog' about other than you suck at this game." the Echidna tense.
The blue hedgehog gave him a glare.
"I can take you on Knucklehead!" he challenged.
The older mobian let out a hearty laugh as the blue hedgehog laughed alongside him. The echidna patted the blue hedgehog's shoulder with his large hand. Which made the blue hedgehog flinched by his friend's abnormal strength.
"It's good to see ya Sonic!" the echinda chuckled, ignoring his friend's pain.
"You too Knux…" the blue hedgehog groaned as he rubbed his shoulder to ease the pain.
"The fox told me I found ya here."
The blue hedgehog smiled as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Well you found me. Congrats."
The echidna smiled and then asked. "So you think you can challenge me, you up for sparring then?"
The blue hedgehog smirks while rubbing his nose in a cocky way.
"You're on!"
~~Master Emerald Gym~~
The two were punching and dodging from each other's attacks.
The blue hedgehog used his Spin Dash at the raging echidna. He hit the mark but a giant fist black the attack. With one hit, from his other fist, he pounded the blue ball down to the ground.
The blue hedgehog groaned from being beat down until a fist grabbed his neck and pinned him to a pole. The blue hedgehog gripped the fist trying to pry it open to free himself from the echidna's grip. The echidna smirked as the blue hedgehog struggles to break himself free from his grasp.
The blue hedgehog tapped the hand to surrender. As the fist started to loosen the blue hedgehog used his feet to push the echidna away from him.
The echidna groaned when his body collided with the wall. He sloped to the ground. He rubbed the back of his neck easing the pain from forming.
The blue hedgehog smirked as he panted. "I… I won Knux." he spoked.
The red echidna huffed. "That was a low trick hedgehog."
"You think I'm going to let you win dude. You are mistaken."
The blue hedgehog lent a hand to his friend. The echidna grabbed his hand and pulled himself up from the floor.
"Well since you 'lost'-"
"You lost." the echidna interrupted.
The blue hedgehog growled but continued.
"I'll buy us some ice cream." he offered.
The echidna licked his lips as he rubbed his belly.
"Yum with grapes this time?"
"Yes, with grapes this time."
The echidna patted the blue hedgehog's back hard enough for him to fall on the cushion; face first.
"Really dude…"
~~Few Minutes Later~~
"Man this Grape Flavored Ice Cream is amazing!" the echidna cheered.
"Nice even with the sprinkles it will make it look yummy." a blue hedgehog commented.
"With sprinkles everything is amazing!"
The blue hedgehog laughed hard until he gritted his teeth as familiar cramps rushed through his body. He gripped his belly as he almost curled up to escape the pain. The echidna stopped eating as he placed his hand on the hedgehog's back.
"Hey you okay?"
The blue hedgehog took a deep breath as the pain started to ease. Once it passed the blue hedgehog straightened himself.
"Yeah, I'm good." he answered.
The echidna took a huge whiff in the air and turned back to his blue friend, purple eyes widened.
"You're in your heat period?"
"Yeah, I've been on my heat period for a few days now. I'm almost done so I won't have to worry about it for a while."
The echidna sighed.
"Why didn't you say anything when we're sparring earlier?" he demanded.
"I didn't bother to tell ya. I didn't think it was important."
"Hedgehog we've been over this, when you're in heat you should not spar or go places where other mobians could smell you and do something awful."
The blue hedgehog crossed his arms and pouted.
"I'm not a kid Knux. I can take care of myself."
The echidna growled softly.
"I wasn't saying you can't take care of yourself. I just don't want you to get hurt."
Green eyes turned their gaze downward. Taking in the words of his friend's words. He felt the echidna's hand on his shoulder and gave a small squeeze.
"I get it, you're trying to be strong and you don't want anyone to worry. But we still do. The young fox was even sad when he mentioned bringing the 'subject' up about changing yourself for the better."
That made the blue hedgehog snapped.
"Come again!"
He moved away from the echidna feeling angry and betrayed.
"What the hell Knuckles?! Why did Tails tell you that and not me?!"
The echidna yelled back.
"He wanted to tell you but he was scared to say anything to you without upsetting you!"
The blue hedgehog felt disheartened to hear that his lil bro told his best friend instead of him. Yes, he was upset about Tails bringing up the idea of getting help to make himself feel good. But he knows that his lil bro has good intentions concerning for his well-being.
'But he should have told me instead of telling Knuckles.' he thought angrily.
He took a breath before looking at his best friend.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to shout. I just felt angry and betrayed to hear that Tails told you instead of me." he apologized.
The echidna let out a soft 'hmmm.'
"I understand you're upset about it, but don't be hard on the fox. He just doesn't want you to be sad for what happened between you and Amy." he explained but then add. "We all don't want you to be sad."
The blue hedgehog felt his eyes started to watered. He wiped his tears away before they had a chance to fall.
'Damn hormones. ' he thought angrily.
He felt the echidna's hand patting his shoulder. The blue hedgehog turned to his friend with a sad frown.
"We just want you to be happy and actually enjoying living life. Like you always do."
The echidna let his hand fall as he turned around and grabbed his duffle bag from the floor. The blue hedgehog grabbed his bag and stood up.
"Do you want me to drive you home?"
The blue hedgehog shook his head.
"Na, I'm good. I… I need some time alone. Thanks for the offer though."
The echidna nodded.
"If you need anything let me or Rouge know okay?"
The blue hedgehog gave the echidna a thumbs up.
"I will; thanks for looking out for me and Tails." he thanked him.
With that the blue hedgehog left.
The echidna looked down at the ground a look of defeat. "Man, I hope he finds happiness and let go of the past. Amy wasn't worth it for the way she acted."
The echidna headed to the parking lot as he pulled out his cellphone to give Rouge a call.
' I hope she's right about this.'