a/n: From time to time, it happens.

Revolutionary Operation, Type Zero

Kinetic Sky

11. Vapour Trails

"Got 'em."

The two hedgehogs popped out of the portal to the Special Zone, landing on the ground softly. Sonic held out his hand, two Chaos Emeralds in binary orbit around it.

"Wasn't too hard," Amy said. "Weird place, though. No control over your own gravity."

"Tedious after the first few times. But uncomplicated. S'why I stashed 'em here."

"We ready to go?" Knuckles asked.

"Yeah. Any luck on the shards?"

"Nothing."

"Alright, we'll head out," Sonic said. "Tails?"

"Nothing to report. Central City, next stop. It's a ways a way, so maybe you could catch a nap."

"Sounds good," Sonic said with a nod. "Okay, on me. Let's get out of here…"

Everyone placed a hand on Sonic. In the next instant, they were back in the middle of the airship.

"You guys got a training room or something?" Knuckles asked.

"Head towards the back and take a left," Tails called out from the pilot's chair.

"Thanks. I'll see you guys when we're in the city."

"Yeah. Tails, you gonna be good up there?" Sonic asked.

"Sure am. I'll be fine, you get some rest."

"I'll make you something warm to drink," Amy said. "Sonic, you go ahead. I'll be around to bother you in a few minutes."

"Yeah, alright." He waved and took a right to where the sleeping quarters were. Amy found herself a jar of instant coffee from one of the cupboards and boiled water in a pot over the stove. She hummed to herself as the water boiled and grabbed a cloth, wetting it under the tap. Steam started to rise as she wiped down the kitchen area, noting that the absurd chili dog machine from earlier was well stocked and taken care of. The chrome on it was impeccably shiny.

Well, it figured.

She shook her head. It was an impressive thing, but still absurd. All of the material save for the bun was made inside of a self-contained apparatus. But then, she could see that there was a bun maker beside it on the counter. Briefly, she wondered how much brainstorming went into the whole thing.

The water was boiling and she broke away from her thoughts to drop a spoonful of coffee into a large mug. She gently stirred the boiling water in from the pot, then two tablespoons of sugar, then enough milk to make the coffee hit the edge of the mug expertly. The liquid was still swirling as she picked up the mug and brought it to the front of the plane.

"Here you go."

"You didn't have to, Amy. But thanks, I appreciate it," Tails said as he took the mug. He set it into a cup holder beside the control panel. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah. What about you?"

"Can't really complain. Just trying to stay focused, like you and Sonic were talking about earlier."

"Right…well, we're not too worried about you," she said as she leaned against the tall chair. "Everything else looks like it's under control. We just don't want any fireworks, not right now."

"I hear you. I haven't been around much, so…how's married life been? Sonic hasn't been too much trouble, has he?"

"He's still got his habits. But I don't mind. I mean…I was thinking that it would be way more stressful, you know? Worried about compatibility and all that. So I guess we took a more unconventional approach. If he has to go somewhere or do something, I just let him go. And I trust him with that. I do know how popular he is, and the places he runs out to…but it's not hard to let all of that go. I think it's because I'm more in tune with who I am. He taught me how to do all that in the first place."

"I think he told me. You know, he would talk about you sometimes. Like, really talk."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. It was all good stuff, actually. It got to a point where even if he didn't know it, he really was falling for you. But then, you were really changing, too, from what I could see."

"We kinda…I guess, started understanding each other a lot more. Merging in our ideals, you know?" Amy said.

"I can see it. You guys are good together. I don't think any of us saw this happening."

"Truth be told, me either. I kinda thought it was hopeless."

"So why keep trying?"

She shrugged. "It wasn't boredom, just…well, I guess that was how I was used to showing my support. Obviously, there was a small spark of hope in the back of my mind, but I wasn't expecting much. And even then, I thought marriage was gonna be way different. He treats the whole thing with respect. Being married, I mean. He's really a good husband. But he doesn't do things like you'd normally expect. It's hard to explain, you know?"

"So you still haven't adjusted to everything, I guess," Tails said before taking a sip of coffee.

"Yeah. I guess that's the best way to put it. It's…not what I was expecting at all. And I like it. I like it a whole lot." She looked out through the front windows and smiled. "I find it hard to fight with him. Or actually be upset with him for any reason. We just live peacefully, do our own thing. I guess I'll hit him once or twice for a bad pun or something, but…it's like…he only looks at me. And he only sees me. And when we communicate, it's so clear and everything makes sense. I understand him, even if I don't really agree with it. I wake up every morning feeling great."

"From here, it kind of sounds like you're living the dream."

"I think I am."

"So if I'm a realist, I'm asking what the catch is," Tails said.

"The catch…" She thought for a moment.

"Isn't there something? A negative you can take away from all of this?"

"Yeah. I think there's one thing."

"What is it?"

"Honestly? I wish he'd…let me be the wife more."

"Eh?"

"I think that's the only thing. I get it, you know? He doesn't want to be all traditional and stuff-"

"No, no," Tails said, interrupting her. "I meant a negative, like in your relationship or something. Doesn't he do anything to bother you?"

"That? No, there's nothing like that," she said confidently. "He might take the last slice of pizza when I wanted it, or drink milk from the carton, or order the extra spicy chili for dinner, but actual things to be upset about? No, none. It's been like that for the longest time."

"No fights?"

"No, no. We can barely find anything to fight about. He cleans up after himself, leaves me to take care of the house how I want…I dunno. I can't think of anything. And it's already been a year and a bit now, so…"

"The way you talk about it, it sounds like you two were just made for each other," Tails said with a chuckle.

"You never know. Maybe it was this way from the start, and it just took time. I can believe just about anything right now."

"The perfect husband. Huh. It just didn't sound possible."

"…maybe he was right in a way. You know, about marriage being just a formality. That's what he said when we were crossing into Metropolis earlier," Amy said. "We've been so connected for years that getting hitched was just icing. I didn't think it was possible, either. But…when we thought about it, and just let go of what we saw in the world…it got a whole lot easier. When we talk, we don't talk past each other. It's on a certain wavelength. Sometimes it takes a bit to find it, so you gotta listen a bit. And when it resonates, you know. You just know. I think that's the secret, Tails."

"I might have to try that. One day, anyways."

"Nobody you're thinking of?" she asked, teasingly.

"Nobody right now. I know who you're going to bring up, and the answer's still no."

"Because you think she can do better."

"Yeah."

Amy reached down and rustled the fur on Tails' head. "As if. You're the kid brother of Sonic the Hedgehog and Amy Rose. I don't think it gets better than that."

He blushed and took another sip of coffee. She gave him a pat on the head.

"You'll be okay, Tails. I know it."

"Thanks. And you guys…well, whatever you're doing, keep doing it. He's happy. He talks about you, you know?"

"Good things?"

"The best things," Tails said, looking up with a smile. Amy nodded and smiled back, leaving him with his coffee. He set it down in the holder again and tapped buttons on the console to adjust the plane's flight path.

"Hey."

"Yo."

Sonic waved Amy into the modestly sized room. The door slid closed behind her. Everything was plain, with stark white walls and a large window showing the passing blue skies. There was a table in the corner, across from the bed that Sonic was sitting on. He held up book in front of his face.

"What'cha reading?"

"Ah, some book on conspiracy theories. I'm on the chapter where this guy is claiming there was some kinda alternate contingency plan for Project Shadow," Sonic said. "I woulda dismissed it as crap but this whole Metal Sonic thing is making me wonder."

"They really tried to make their own copy," Amy said as she sat beside him.

"Yeah."

She pressed her back against the wall and leaned her head on his shoulder.

"I really can't believe it."

"Me either," he said.

"You probably think I'm crazy. After the whole thing on Eggman's plane."

"A little."

"Do you hate it?"

"Nah. It's fine."

"I bet you're just saying that."

"Yeah, I am."

"Jerk." She smiled and closed her eyes. Sonic turned a page as his wife slowly fell asleep.

"Bright and early as always."

"Yeah."

Most of the bandages had been removed already. He still had the cuts and bruises, but those were healing quickly. His bed was raised to an angle where he was practically sitting up. He snored away as May grabbed her jacket and Amy placed a fresh bouquet of flowers in the vase beside his bed.

"Gonna have myself a smoke. It's a slow day today from what I can see."

"I'll be here."

"Yeah. If Eurotrash, M.D. comes around, tell her I'll be back in a while."

"Right."

May gave her a thumbs up before leaving the room. Amy busied herself with adjusting Sonic's pillows and sheets as he slept under the influence of sedatives.

"I got these for you."

Amy reached into her shopping bag and pulled out several rolled up packages of foil.

"Philly cheesesteak, loaded with chili…a couple of chili dogs with extra bacon…and a gallon of orange soda. That should hold you for a while," she said with a weary smile. "I can go out for lunch if you need it." She set the food on a nearby table and went to the corner to grab a broom.

A thin layer of dirt was pushed forward by her broom as she swept the floor. She stopped for a moment, blinking with exhaustion. Grabbed the dustpan and pushed the dirt into it, then tipped the pan forward into the nearby trash bin. After that she looked at the flowers again and arranged them neatly. Opened the windows to allow some air in and pushed back the curtains to illuminate the room. Small particles of dust descended towards the floor through beams of light.

Amy looked down at Sonic, her fur sticking up and quills displaced. The usual brightness that came from her was turned down, dim and making the shadow she cast across the bed more potent.

"I love you. Even if you don't feel the same way. I know you care," she said. A long pause. "I know you don't hate me. I'm not just another face for you to rescue. You see me for me. I like that. I always have."

She went quiet again, casting her gaze towards the window.

She heard him stir finally, a groan coming from his mouth as he held a hand to his head.

"Good morning," she said, giving him a smile. "How are you feeling today?"

"Same as ever. Not great, but thankful for life," he rumbled. "You?"

"Tired as hell. But Rouge is good to me with these shifts. I managed to start saving some money."

"That's good." He looked at her through one drowsy eye. "Amy."

"Yeah?"

"You don't have to."

"I know. But this is what I want. Coming here day after day made me realize something. I sometimes didn't want to get up and out of bed after only two or three hours of sleep. I was scared of how I would feel, and sometimes of what I would find. It's been hard taking care of you. And you keep saying that it's enough. I know that. I can't say that I'm really equipped to handle any of this. But I keep coming back."

"How come?"

"Because…I really do love you. And at the end of each day, when I can finally lay my head down and catch a nap or something…I dunno. I feel good. I might even feel great sometimes. Besides feeling like I'm about to collapse…I feel all of that. You know. It's pretty crazy. You think I'm crazy, don't you?"

"A little." He felt his vision clearing.

"Sorry, then. I know…I'm a little obsessive, sometimes."

"You are."

"I just…I said it already. I love you more than anything."

"You think I'm an idiot."

"Huh?"

"Eggman."

"…a little. You did something really reckless. You're a reckless idiot."

"Yeah."

She sighed.

"Amy."

"Yeah?"

"I'm gonna teach you how to be fast. That's okay, right?"

"You mean make me faster?" she asked, looking at him. He shook his head, looking straight at the wooden door. Blocks of light were painted across it by the sun's rays.

"I'm gonna teach you how to be fast," he repeated.

She blinked, not exactly understanding. But she knew she wanted to.

"I know now. How you can keep up with me. Time lying down in this bed forced me to do a lot of thinking. I can articulate that essence now."

"Can you?" she asked, genuinely curious.

"Yes." He looked at her face, kissed by the sun. "I want you to be the first one to know."

"Why?"

"Because you love me the best. And then the most," he said plainly.

She blushed openly. "Do you love me?"

"Depends what you mean."

"Letting me have your babies."

"No. It's not that far along."

"But it's somewhere."

"Yeah." He smirked. "I lied. You're not just a little crazy. You're a whole bag of crazy. You're not having my babies."

"I figured I'd try. Hungry? I got a cheesesteak for you, down at that bodega. You know the one across from the club?"

"Yeah? Thanks. When Mary Jane gets back, you can take a nap," he said as she handed him the sandwich. "Please and thanks."

"…alright."

Amy sat down in the soft chair that she had become accustomed to. The light filtered past her and her eyes closed.

"She would want kids…" His small murmur went unheard as he unwrapped the foil.

"You're awake."

"No kiddin'," he said to May as she entered. "Where's Eva?"

"Not in yet."

"Figures. Just make sure I don't die before she gets here, yeah?"

"Prick."

He snorted and bit into his sandwich as May checked his IV. Amy quietly slept.