Sorry for the long wait, I have lots of things going on in my life school wise. Here's chapter 4. I hope I won't take a long time to update next time and in the future, but as I said school takes it's toll. Enjoy!
Chapter 4: The Search
Tails, Cream and their already stumbling drunk friend Espio left the abandoned factory and headed into the city in search of the last Chaos Emerald. The fox made small talk with Cream and tried not to bring up any parts of their less than notable past. Espio stayed behind the two and drank his liquor while trying to conceal it from police or anyone who would call to report his public intoxication.
The group got downtown and decided to split up at this point to look in separate areas of the city. Tails went north east, Cream to the west and the Chameleon headed south. During his search, Espio ran out of liquor so, when he knew Cream and Tails weren't around, he slipped into a bar to pick up some more. Cream and Cheese hit the sky and looked from rooftops just to make the search easier but they found nothing while Tails left Two Gates and started at the highway road he took into town. He looked around small ponds and trails but it wasn't until he reached a small cave-like stone ruin that his day started to get better.
The fox carefully climbed down a dirt hill that led into the large stone area, hoping this would be the place where he found the last Chaos Emerald. As day turned into night, Cream and Cheese call it a night while Espio was socializing at "The Lucky Clover" with a few friendly faces he met some time ago. Tails stumbled down into the dark cave and took out his iPod to switch on a bright LED light as he made his way further in. He spotted something bright orange glowing in a nearby corner so he ran over to grab it.
"Gotcha you son of a-"
Tails cut himself off when he realized that he just pulled the emerald from the big paws of an even bigger brown bear sleeping. The grizzly instantly sat up only to see a light flash in his face and the Fox standing next to him with the chaos emerald. Tails wasted no time speeding out of the cave and back where he came from but this angry bear chased him through the grassy woodland and onto the highway road. The fox used his namesakes to get high above the bear and escape.
"Haha!" Tails yelled excitedly, but he was again cut off as the bear grabbed a hold of his pant leg. "No! let me go!"
Cream looked around Two Gates for Tails and Espio but she couldn't find either of them so she tried the next best thing; looking in the windows of bars and clubs for the chameleon. By 9 o'clock she was able to see her ninja friend knocking a few drinks back with some of the locals and watching a football game on a big flat screen TV. The Rabbit rushed into the bar and made her way to Espio, pushing past everyone in her way. She walked up to him while he was talking to a waitress and interrupted their conversation.
"So you gave up, eh?" Cream asked rhetorically, putting her backpack down.
"Oh, is this your girlfriend, Espio?" The Waitress asked, stepping back from the Chameleon.
"What? No, she's just a friend. To answer your question, yes I gave up a long time ago." Espio said. "Where's the Fox?"
"You tell me." Cream retorted. "I swear, that guy just likes to piss everyone off for fun. I bet he's out relaxing in some hotel making us look around this city."
The grizzly bear dug it's claws into Tails body, causing blood to run from his wounds and this put Tails in panic mode. He lashed out at the bear, hitting him with dozens of elbows and punches. Then, it was the grizzly on the retreat back to his cave while Tails stood up to catch his breath.
"Yeah, you'd better run, man! I got more for ya, too! Damn, that actually kinda hurts..."
Around 10 pm Tails made his way into the abandoned factory but his friends weren't around so he threw his stuff on the burnt concrete floor and sat in a chair. He lifted his shirt to inspect the wound and saw a big scratch going across his stomach. He heard two voices getting closer so he grabbed his backpack and went outside to meet them.
"Where the hell have you been?!" Cream yelled to the fox.
"Don't even start with me, tonight.." Tails said.
Just as the Fox walked to Cream and Espio, an older man's voice yelled over to them.
"Hey!"
It was a security guard.
"Shit, take off!" Espio said.
The three ran in different directions but the large security guard chased Cream, that was until she flew into the sky. The guard stopped and swore at them while Tails and Cream met up in the downtown streets later that night. They walked around until they reached a large park so they stopped at a bench under a street light and talked.
"So, do you know any other places we can crash for the night? I'm so tired right now." Tails said.
"We can try the homeless shelter-"
"No, I ain't staying in no homeless shelter, Cream."
"Then where else, smart ass?"
Tails didn't respond, so the two sat in silence and watched others walk through the park either in groups or as a couple. Cream paid attention to two hedgehogs that closely resembled Sonic and Amy. Tails eyes were laid on the Rabbit, everything about her seemed to shine with beauty. He knew that if he told her how he feels about her she would just get mad at him again so he decided to keep his mouth shut. When Cream turned around she noticed The Fox's eyes on her.
"What?" Cream asked.
Tails froze for a second, then thought Screw it.
"You look incredible tonight-"
"Tails, we're 'friends' right now, lets just...just keep it that way.."
"I know but I'm just saying."
"If you need a place to stay.." a voice said, causing Tails and Cream to jump out of their seats.
Espio reappeared standing next to Tails on the bench. "I have a friend who wouldn't mind letting us stay."
"Jesus you scared me, Chameleon!" Tails said as he sat down.
"It's your waitress girlfriend, isn't it." Cream said with a smile.
"Whoa, when did this happen?" Tails asked.
"She's not my girlfriend, but yes the girl you saw earlier said she would let us stay the night."
"Then lets get moving, boys. It's getting cold out and I'm tired." Cream exclaimed while grabbing her backpack and standing.
As the three walked through the neon lit streets, Tails explained how he got his clothes bloody and revealed the last Chaos emerald. Cream didn't stop her jokes about him and Espio continued to drink. It felt like two nights outside as they walked across the large city, looking at all the lights that illuminated the streets. While walking, Cream's hand grasped Tails for a second and the fox glanced at her. She was shivering so he took off his jacket and offered it to her. Espio laughed to himself then took another drink and walked ahead. Finally they arrived at Espio's friends house and Cream and Tails waited by the road while Espio walked up a flight of stairs to a doorbell.
"Cold out, huh?' Tails asked.
"No shit.." Cream answered looking away from the fox.
"Hope we get to stay the night. I haven't slept in a bed in so long."
Espio signalled to the Rabbit and Fox to follow him up into the house. Cream walked through the doorway first and handed Tails' jacket to him. She looked at the interior, amazed at how big it was. Espio and his waitress friend stood in front of Tails and Cream.
"Guys, this is Grace. Grace, this is my friend Cream the Rabbit and my idiot buddy Miles Prower." Espio said, introducing the three.
"Haha, very funny." Tails said. "I'm actually the only one who has a job between this trio, and I prefer to be called Tails."
"We met earlier in the bar. I think you were working and asked if I was Espio's girlfriend? I can't exactly remember…" Cream said.
"Right. Well, come in and make yourselves comfy. My three brothers live here so there aren't any other rooms available, I hope couches are okay with you guys." Grace said.
"That's fine. Anything's better than where we were. Thank you for letting us stay tonight." Tails said.
Cream pushed past him on her way into the living room where the large couches were. She looked at the clock. 2:49 am. Espio took the largest couch first and left Tails and Cream staring at the next couch.
"Well, it appears there's only one spot left. Looks like we have to share I guess.." Tails said.
Cream jumped onto the couch and wrapped herself up in a blanket.
"You get the floor, fox boy." Cream said.
"Fine, be like that." Tails responded.
Tails laid a blanket on the floor, took a pillow from Espio's couch and used this as a bed. He found a down comforter, took off his beanie and then tried to go to sleep.
"Hey, Tails.." Cream said quietly, prompting his ears to perk up. "Thanks for lending me your jacket earlier."
"Don't mention it."
The next day Espio was the first to get up so he went to talk to Grace and when he left, Tails jumped on the couch the Chameleon slept on and fell asleep. By 8:30 the fox and rabbit woke up and all agreed it was time to leave.
The group exited the massive house and headed to the library downtown. They sat at a table on the top floor way in the back so they could talk about the chaos emeralds.
"So we've had these with us for a day and we've done jack shit with them. Please tell me why I should stick around now?" Espio said.
"You've seen the crime in this city, not just to kids our age, but to young kids in pre school and the elderly. We can help stop these creeps who think they run this place. But I need to know I can count on you guys." Cream said, looking Tails and Espio in the eyes. "So lets put our shit behind us and do this. A new team, the three of us. are you guys in?"
"Yeah, I'm in." Tails said.
"You damn kids know how to talk a man into anything. Yeah, I'll stick with you." Espio replied.
Cream smiles and the three walked around town again. Sensing they needed some time alone, Espio walked off down a dark road and left Tails with Cream.
"So, you're really committed to the idea of helping this place out, huh?" Tails started off.
'Yes, I am. I have been since I got here, and that night when those creeps attacked me just made up my mind. I had to help somehow. Speaking of that night, nice save there, fox boy" Cream said, chuckling.
"Hey, I'm not a super ninja okay? And there were five of them, what'd you expect?' Tails replied.
The two entered the same park they were in earlier and walked around, looking at the rainbow of colours around them. They got back to the streets and continued their conversation. Cream started talking about when they used to live back in Station Square, then she asks Tails about the night she rejected him.
"So, that night you asked me out..did you actually mean all that stuff you said to me? or.."
Cream stopped at a wall and looked Tails in the eyes. He stood in front of her and met her wondering gaze.
"Cream, I meant all of it. I know you said you wanted to stay friends but I just want you to know I really do care for you and always will." Tails answered.
"Do you still feel the same way? Even after all that crap I said to you?"
The Fox reached up and gently caressed Cream's long ears and stood closer to her, letting others walk past them.
"I hurt you, and I needed to hear every word you said. I won't try to force you to do anything, but just know I'm here for you."
Cream finally let her guard down and embraced Tails, intertwining her fingers with his. The fox and Rabbit didn't lose eye contact as they both leaned in for the kiss. Suddenly, the Rabbit jolted back and she didn't want to stay here with Tails. Cream closed her eyes, looked away from him and let go of his hands.
"What's wrong?" Tails asked.
"Nothing."
The fox tried to talk to her as she walked away but he got cut off. "Lets go back and see if Grace will let us stay another night."
Tails didn't question her after that because he knew something was definitely wrong. He got mad at himself and thought a lot during the walk back.
God damnit…What did I do this time?
The two arrived at Graces' house without Espio but she informed them he stopped by earlier and said he wanted some time to himself. Cream laid on the big couch while Tails was cramped up on the small couch. He looked at Cream to see if she would talk but she was already fast asleep so he just closed his eyes and did the same.