A/N: I am SOOOO freaking sorry for the VERY long wait. :( I know it's likely that people are pissed at me about this. XDDD Oh well. Sorry, once again, but please enjoy the 7th chapter! R&R MAN!!!!
Chapter 7: A Hundred Million Suns
Sonic
My legs had fallen asleep. Sharp needles dug into my skin to tell me as I stood. I groaned in agony, rubbing my legs hard to shoo all the needles away. In a few seconds, I reached underneath my seat and grabbed my carry-on bag. As I allowed several passengers to go ahead of me, Swift placed her hand on my shoulder, causing me to turn and look at her. She gave me a tiny smile, which I returned with more enthusiasm. I waited until everyone but the crew had exited and then led Swift out into the terminal. Our arrival had apparently been announced, for, it seemed, several thousand flashes all went off at the same time we stepped foot inside. Despite an immediate urge to bolt, I forced myself to flash my trademark grin and wave a few times, while Swift did the same, releasing my shoulder and gently worming her hand into my clenched fist. After several minutes of greeting people and posing for the cameras, we finally managed to navigate through the terminal and to baggage claim.
"Did you bring your cell?" Swift asked quietly as we approached the conveyer belt, placing her duffel bag beside me.
"Yeah." I handed it to her and she walked off to a corner near the exit, followed by about half of the paparazzi. As I waited for my single bag to wheel around, I warily kept an eye on her. Swift pressed the down key several times, all the while covering the screen of the blue flip-phone to prevent the prying eyes of the cameramen from capturing Shadow's number. She hastily pressed the 'call' key and brought the phone up to her ear to wait for Shadow to answer. Within a two second time period, Shadow picked up. Swift's mouth moved, but since I wasn't a very good lip reader, I couldn't pick out much of what she was saying, at least until she told Shadow she loved him. I turned back around the instant she closed the phone, discovering that my bag was all the way on the other side of the wide room. With a groan, I picked up Swift's bag and hoisted my own carry-on bag, then plodded to the far conveyor belt, complaints for the management running through my brain.
Not that I'll actually voice it or anything… I growled softly as I lifted my baggage from the conveyor.
"Sonic, you got it?" Swift asked as she passed the phone back.
"Mmm-hmm." I replied, though Swift just shook her head and took her duffel bag back, considerably lightening the load.
"You shouldn't have brought that much stuff."
"I know. I was just trying to be prepared."
"Good try." She made a face at the two bags I carried.
"I'll let you pack me next time." I promised with a sly simper.
"I'll hold you to it." She smirked back, completely killing mine with hers.
That whole amazing hybrid smile-frown seems to run in the Ultimate family. I chuckled to myself.
"C'mon. I managed to book us a hotel here." Swift said, carefully dodging around mentioning the name as the reporters leaned in with their tape recorders shoved in our faces in anticipation of a slipup.
"After you." I grinned, motioning to the door with one free hand. She led the way to the sliding doors and into the streets. The instant we exited the building, oppressively dry heat struck. Though the wind blew, it merely stirred the hot air. I began to understand why this was the fire's turf. Swift seemed to notice too, though she wasn't the one sweating.
"It's a bit different from the south." Swift grimaced, marked by more camera flashes, wiping her brow.
"Definitely." The weather brought back memories of long summer days in Station Square.
A few minutes of walking later, Swift abruptly stopped in front of a large red-bricked mansion.
"You okay?" I asked, nearly bypassing her because of our nearly machine-like movement.
"Yeah, we're here." She gave me a devious grin. I looked around to see that most of our crowd had disappeared to gather more equipment and people.
"What's the name of the chain?" I questioned, casting a confused glare over her at the huge building.
"The Holiday Inn at Chris Thorndyke's Mansion." She giggled and left me to stare in awe from the sidewalk. "I'll go ahead and get my stuff to the front door." I remained cemented to the sidewalk for a few more minutes as Swift took her time to place her things on the large half-circle-shaped front porch and return. "Are you alright? I mean, we have to go and help Tanaka put our stuff up." She walked up beside me.
"I think I'm going to throw up." I admitted, feeling my stomach churn in response.
"Too many blasts from the past, eh?" Swift shook her head.
"Yeah." I agreed, sitting down right in the middle of the sidewalk.
If a car hits me, a car hits me.
"Well," She sat next to me and I leaned on her conveniently lowered shoulder. "Chris and Chuck aren't home right now. It's just Tanaka and Ellen."
"Oh, okay then." I stood immediately, feeling a burden lifted off of my shoulders. However, a creature still gnawed at the back of my mind, asking me if they still think I'm their friend. I shuddered slightly, but still caught Swift's attention. "I'm fine." With a nod, Swift picked up one of my bags and led the way to the door. A few seconds after Swift rang the doorbell, which sounded like church bells it was so loud, Mr. Tanaka, Chris's butler opened the door. His imposing figure blocked what was inside of the house, despite the massiveness of the doorway. The fact that we were three feet smaller than he was probably helped.
"Master Sonic and Miss Swift, we've been expecting you." Tanaka gave us a quick bow, which we returned with a brief bow and curtsey accordingly.
"Hello Mister Tanaka." We said in unison.
"Allow me to take your bags and escort you to your rooms." We relinquished our possessions and gave them to Tanaka. He guided us into the mansion, where we were immediately greeted by a double-sided white marble staircase that led to the upper region of the mansion. Tanaka took the right staircase and we followed, the both of us staring in awe at the interior of the new mansion. Though slightly reminiscent of the mansion we had come to know and love back on Old Earth, this new mansion had its own modern kick to it, as if it had adapted to Chris's new interests he had developed during the ten months I hadn't seen him. After a few moments of silence and walking, Tanaka finally stopped at two doors directly across the hallway from each other. He unlocked the white door on the right and allowed us to enter, placing Swift's bags on the large and fluffy looking bed. "If you will allow me, I will show you the rest of your rooms."
"Sure." I shrugged, grabbing Swift by the arm before she could start to unpack and towing her along behind Tanaka.
"If you come through this door, you will find yourself in a bathroom." Tanaka began, opening another door while I helped Swift to her feet. "Master Sonic, please pay attention, for your room is a mirror image of Miss Swift's." His glasses flashed as he tilted his head up for authority. I returned my attention to him, while allowing Swift to clamber back to her feet using my arm. "Through the bathroom, which has a shower and tub with an endless supply of hot water, you enter a lounge area that connects your two rooms." Tanaka opened the door to allow us a quick peek, then slammed it shut, nearly closing my nose in the door.
"Careful!" I yelped, jerking away from the door and holding my nose.
"My apologies, Master Sonic." Tanaka bowed and looked at the floor for a few sentences. "Would you like ice for your nose?"
"No thanks. I think it's okay." I rubbed my nose just to be sure it was still attached to my face.
"I will place your bags in your room, Master Sonic, and leave you two to yourselves." Tanaka left with another quick bow, which we returned this time.
"He hasn't changed." I remarked disdainfully, causing Swift to giggle quietly.
"Well, when do you want to leave? Tails and Pyro are going to meet us for late lunch." Swift asked.
"Now, I suppose." I took a deep breath at the mention of Pyro.
"Okay then, let's go. I need to get out of these clothes anyway." She left with a grin through her entrance to the lounge, while I went through it, struggling not to stop and stare at the luxury that surrounded me when I entered, and out into my room.
Mobians of both sexes were always comfortable with or without clothes on, especially when we're actually on Mobius; it's just the way we were brought up. Though it was becoming more preferred to have clothes on when in public, Swift and I were old school. I practically ripped my bright green t-shirt off and tore off my jeans.
We are going to Mobius, after all. It's way to hot out here anyway.
When Swift left her room a few seconds later, her drawstring bag seemed a little more laden with items.
"What did you put in there?" I asked as I started to walk downstairs.
"Your essentials." She answered shortly, grasping the gold-plated railing.
"Which would be?"
"Your toothbrush; I have the toothpaste, your quill comb, mine; I have the shampoo and conditioner; a change of clothes for each of us, your iPod…" She paused to toss me the blue device, coupled with a pair of white headphones. "my iPod," She flashed a black iPod briefly, then replaced it. "and some food." Swift finished, pulling on the strings of the bag to close it again. We exited the mansion without saying goodbye.
"Mmm… it actually feels good out here without all those hot clothes on." I lifted my face to the sun to feel the warmth on my muzzle and actually enjoy it.
"I'll second that." Swift squinted into the sky. I carefully glanced over at her, pleased by my choice in female companions. Swift's body was a perfect balance of muscle and, I knew, a fine-tuned weapon. Though dangerous, her body portrayed a portion of the innocence and, perhaps a bit of vulnerability, through the white tuft of fur on her chest. White in the midst of black and blue, like an island in the middle of the ocean. Maybe she was my repose in a world of chaos.
Just one look at her does make me feel a little better.
I shook my head to insure that I wouldn't be staring when she turned her brown orbs back to me, which she did the instant I looked away. She indicated the direction of our travel with a quick nod. I smiled to myself and began to walk in that direction with Swift at my side.
Shadow
Naps suck. I thought to myself as I repositioned myself on the couch, glancing at the green wall clock as I did so.
Only 3:45? Shoot. With an agitated groan, I stood up and stretched.
I thought naps were supposed to waste the day away. I strode to the sliding glass door that separated the living room from the highest of two ocean-facing decks and gazed out, placing one hand against the surprisingly cool glass. The sky looked relatively clear, aside for some cotton ball clouds drifting inland inoffensively. The ocean was rolling calmly beneath the horizon, so I allowed my eyes to meander closer to the house. Finding only a few uninteresting souls either napping or tanning in the sand, I looked to my left, the only occupied house at our sides. Just before my eyes locked with the car parked in the driveway of the neighboring house, a sinister and cold feeling washed through my body, and I shuddered abruptly.
Something's going on over there. Instead of merely taking a fleeting look at the house, I glared into the car and at the unaware yellow male hedgehog at the wheel. He was backing out of the driveway with a guilty sentence written across his face.
Or perhaps something more… I folded my arms over my chest.
Plotting. I named as the dull gray Maxima finally got into the street. A smirk flickered across his face, indicating that I was correct. Shaking my head, I diverted my attention to Swift's spark in the back of my mind, flinging a mental spear out in her direction to insure that she was okay, which she acknowledged with a returned lance. Though her reply kindled happiness within me, it wasn't enough to bring a smile to my face at the moment. I glowered at the floor, listening to the vehicle's exit rather than looking at it. Worry flashed briefly across my mind as I looked up to find that the Maxima had disappeared, silenced only by realizing that I was half-hyperventilating. Shaking myself out of it, I turned away from the window and plodded down to my room to fiddle with Chaos.
Swift
Smoothing back a navy quill that had fallen out of place moments after receiving a mental spike from Shadow, I strode confidently into the 80's style diner, Jet Shoes clacking on the checkerboard tiling. Sonic, I knew, I had to be secure for. He was practically tearing himself up in anxiety over Pyro. Someone had to be there to pick up the pieces and I always volunteered because that's what I believed being in the type of relationship Sonic and I were involved in entailed.
I stopped in the center of the restaurant, scanning over the people in the booths in search.
Four tails, two bodies, there's no way any other two would have that. A grin spread across my face as I stepped to the booth on the far end of the restaurant.
"Are they-?" Sonic began.
"Yes." I replied happily, leading him to the table. "Tails? Pyro?" I asked as Sonic and I stopped just in front of the table. The two questioned looked up instantly, eyes alit with excitement.
"Sonic, Swift! It's been too long." Tails stood up and enveloped both Sonic and I in a group hug. Pyro, however, didn't move, simply staring at us with his all-too-understanding, deep, blue eyes. "This is my little brother, Pyro." Tails gestured towards the red and orange kitsune sitting near the window.
"Hello." Pyro finally spoke, sounding all too calm for his age.
"Hey there, Pyro!" I flashed the kid a grin and a thumbs up, attempting to pull Sonic into the mood.
"H-hey, Pyro. I'm Sonic." He managed to mirror my smile, but couldn't bring himself to the motion that followed. Pyro gave Sonic a small grin, hesitant and plotting in nature.
Sonic blinked, looking confounded and disappointed in himself.
It's okay. I don't think he doesn't like you, per say. Like a certain other person, he probably wants people to earn his trust and respect before he goes off being best friends with them. I projected to Sonic with a sigh.
Sonic nodded, teasingly glaring back.
"So, why are you here?" Pyro questioned, narrowing his eyes at Sonic and I as we slid into the booth across from he and Tails.
"Pyro!" Tails hissed, elbowing Pyro in the stomach. Pyro barely moved, gritting his teeth.
"We're actually connecting from here to Mobius. We have to visit Queen Acorn." Sonic replied, appearing unfazed by Pyro's accusative question.
"Oh, Sally, huh? That'll be interesting." Tails remarked.
"Not for the purpose we're going for." I shook my head disapprovingly.
"Yeah, Amy chased me down, babbling some stuff about our arranged marriage by Sally." Sonic responded when Tails and Pyro looked to him for a definitive answer.
"How the heck?" Tails asked.
"Who's that?" Pyro nudged Tails, gazing up at him in search.
"An old acquaintance of mine. She had more than a bit of a thing for Sonic here." Motioning to Sonic, Tails explained with an almost resenting tone in his voice.
"But, I thought you said Swift-."
"It's complicated!" Tails cut him off.
"Not really. Let me try to explain." I interrupted. "You see, Amy really liked Sonic, but Sonic didn't like her back-."
"Why?"
"Well, she wanted to force him to be her boyfriend, but because Sonic never felt the feelings mutually, they never went out."
"What about you and Sonic?" Pyro nodded between us.
"I don't really know." I cast an admiring look at my long-lost-boyfriend-now-returned. "We were friends first. I admit, there was a lot of good chemistry between at first. However, we progressed into being a couple. We didn't rush it. Plus, this time, the feeling was mutual."
"Oh." Pyro chewed on that explanation, so Tails intervened.
"So, how are you two anyway?"
"Rebuilding." Sonic answered.
"For, like, what? The fifteen billionth time now?" Tails scoffed scornfully.
"It's necessary!" Sonic shot back.
"What are you afraid of? That she won't like you anymore after being away from you for ten months?" Sonic looked over to me at that, expression pained.
Tails had hit the nail on the head.
"That he won't find you interesting, beautiful, mysterious anymore?" Tails continued.
"That he or she'll realize that you're imperfect and that he or she deserves better?"
I returned Sonic's gaze, neither of us looking away.
We both knew it was true. We had to be the most fearful couple in the universe.
"Believe you me, you're wrong." Tails growled. "You're probably the most perfect item I've ever seen."
"Thanks, Tails." Sonic nodded at him. I only gave him the nod, not bothering to speak.
"Off the subject of love!" Tails ordered, grinning teasingly.
"Agreed." I smiled.
"So, when are you going to see the Queen?" Pyro stepped in, eager to get back into the conversation.
"Hopefully today." Sonic replied with a shrug. "Who knows? We might not be the most important thing on her to-do list."
"Good point." I stated.
"Oh, so you don't really have time for lunch." Tails grimaced.
"No, sorry." Sonic shook his head back.
"It's fine. How about we take a walk around LA? The next transport doesn't begin for another half-hour." Tails suggested.
"Sure, I don't see why not." I nodded my approval, looking to Sonic for his.
"Yeah, sounds good." He smiled in agreement.
"Alright then, we better get moving." Sonic and I stood and slid out of the booth, walking to the exit while Tails paid for what he and Pyro had eaten. We then left the premises, Sonic and I allowing Pyro and Tails to lead the way through the twisting maze of downtown.
The sun seethed in the burning blue sky and the heat became nearly unbearable. Sweat matted everyone's fur and quills down, the air so oppressive that even my body was forced to augment my temperature with the salty liquid. We looked as if we'd all just run a marathon and a half and the way some of us panted on occasion enforced the issue. The morning's crowds retreated to the shelter of air-conditioned buildings, deep inside the artificial lights. However, we persisted, almost reluctantly wasting time. We passed few other beings as the heat began to reach from the asphalt in disorienting little waves. So, each person, anthro or human, we walked near attracted as much attention as if he or she had been walking on his or her tongue. This being the case, it was no surprise that when I caught sight of a hunter green blob approaching our group, I instantly made the connection. My brain immediately began ripping up images I had long since hidden. Most were blurs, signifying another time when my life had revolved around speed. I estimated five years had passed, this connection cementing my feet to the concrete sidewalk.
"Swift?" Pyro asked, not at all concerned. Sonic was another story.
He had only been fourteen. Sonic had only just begun his adventures against the Eggman Empire on Mobius, a long way away from me at age eleven. That brought my total time spent with Sonic to three years… Three years ago I probably looked thirteen. I wasn't sure; my head was spinning chaotically.
I wasn't sure.
My apparent age changed so much in the most recent years of my life. Five years ago, I was easily fifteen. Four years, I was ten. Three years… I supposed I looked to be thirteen and in the following years up to now, I've been clambering towards the later months of fifteen again. Unlike my brother, who was forced to remain at a steady sixteen, I had freedom to adjust my age as I saw fit. Such a modification came at a weighty cost, however. One I had only paid twice, to return to age ten to reclaim innocence lost, and to reclaim age to keep pace with Sonic. The price to stop was not but a bit of energy, however. It was the adjustment that eliminated every bit of strength I possessed.
Abruptly, my mind shoved me out of reverie. I could only think about how much pain I had caused this emerald colored blob five years. Apology and greeting were the first things that sprang up, so I allowed them to wrench my body from the pack and rush towards said blob. It ceased moving as features became discernable as I ran to it. The most recognizable thing: his shimmering, liquid topaz eyes, though there was something new to them, something that looked as if he'd seen too much… as if he watched everything forthright burn, or perhaps been the one to light the match. Recognition dissolved the age in his irises and a grin of acknowledgement spread across his tan muzzle.
I felt my lips pull back in a toothy smile and his arms opened to envelop me in the least he deserved after what I'd done, an embrace. I burst into his arms and felt him lift me off my feet, almost too easily. This fact scared me, so I released my hold around his neck and squirmed in his grasp. He instantly loosed his arms around my waist and allowed me to slip back to the ground. Turning his eyes on me, a hard look floated across his face.
"Jericho." I said, grimacing. "I-."
"Don't you realize how long it's been?" He hissed. "How ridiculous this is?" Interrupted, I simmered as I analyzed his accusations. "Today is the five year anniversary of the day you left."
No wonder he looks so forlorn.
Don't you think that's kind of creepy? Shadow snarled threateningly in my mind. Listening, of course, at an awkward moment. His anger allowed for a short burst in our connection. It was a little fuzzy and fading, but clear enough.
No! He has every right to be upset!
Five years, though? Really?
You've only been out two years, brother. Remember, I have at least fifty years more experience with typical anthros and humans.
Or maybe you've gone soft.
I growled and slammed a wall down on our now unintelligible conversation.
He doesn't know what I've done.
"I'm sorry." I snapped back to reality, feeling rather ashamed of my unprepared atonement. My head dropped, my eyes fixated on a line of ants meandering across the sidewalk.
"I forgive you." His acceptance was the least of all my expectations.
"Excuse me?" I blinked, my head jerking up in shock.
"Well, I do." He smiled again, his eyes melting. He wrapped his arms around me again and I did the same, very loosely, tolerating. I had seen the undeniable in his eyes, the very same love that they had retained in the past. I was uncomfortable at the very least. After a few seconds, I gently gave him a shove and he released me. I grabbed his forearm; aware of the black fingerless gloves he had always worn. Dragging him back to the three guys staring after me, I put on a small grin. Tails and Pyro were perked up in interest and confusion, but Sonic's eyes hardened in concern. Blinking, I pulled the hunter green hedgehog beside me to a stop and let go of his arm.
"Guys, this is Jericho." I motioned to the older hedgehog.
Jericho towered over Sonic and I by inches due to his age, topping Sonic at eighteen, while Sonic had only recently turned sixteen. Sonic remained unfazed by this fact, locking eyes with Jericho meaningfully. I watched this exchange hesitantly, then proceeded with my introductions as I slid back by my cobalt counterpart's side.
"Hello, Jericho." Pyro replied cheerily, his response utterly out of place in the agitated atmosphere surrounding.
Silence slithered into our area as neither Tails or Sonic followed suit, Tails only feeding off of Sonic's anxiety.
"Jericho, these are my friends. Sonic, Tails, and Pyro." I slapped on a near-smile and motioned to each anthro in turn, though Pyro was the single representative of our quartet to make a welcoming gesture. Sonic, in fact, stood with both fists clenched tightly at his side. To calm him, I wormed one hand into his gloved fist, which he loosened to make room for.
"Pleased to meet you." Jericho nodded at them, but his gaze fixated on Sonic. "You are the Sonic, I guess?"
"The one and only." Sonic responded with his usual retort to that question through gritted teeth.
"So, where are you staying, Jer?" I asked, quickly diverting the build up of aggression on one side by ignoring the other, but keeping that other placated by keeping my hand wrapped firmly around his.
"Mmm, the Holiday Inn over there." Jericho answered, his attention fully on me.
"Oh really? Well, I'm sure I could get you better accommodations. How about that Marriott?" I jerked my thumb over my shoulder at the building behind me.
"Err… I'm not really-."
"Come on, Jericho! For old time's sake, let me make sure you're not staying in the same flea-ridden hotel chain we always stayed in during away races." I smirked, memories uprooting themselves once again.
Copper and Jericho had always shared the bed, while I slept on the futon. That was our good luck arrangement. Whenever we tried to move to allow me to sleep in the bed and Jericho and Copper to sleep in the futon, we lost. So, we simply ceased resisting. Besides, the bed had the fleas…
"Fine. For old time's sake." Jericho grimaced slightly, scratching behind his ear absently.
"Great." I released Sonic's hand with a quick squeeze that promised my speedy return and led Jericho into the Marriott.
Sonic
I growled. Angrily. It was almost a Shadow-brand snarl.
"Who the hell was that?" I murmured.
"Jericho." Tails answered simply.
"What I meant, Tails, was 'how the hell did she know him?'" I turned to face him, tone furious.
"I… I'm not sure." Tails looked away, down at the ground.
"Did you see the way she looked at him?!" I roared, clawing at my ears and squeezing my eyes shut, denying everything the past 3-or-so minutes had brought.
"Don't you see the way she looks at you?!" Tails yelled right back, which silenced me, swung me back to reality. I usually took a lot to get Tails riled up.
"Wha-?"
"When Swift looks at him, it's like she's found somebody she's kept a promise for. A non-important promise to us, but you know how she is. But when she looks at you…"
"What?"
"That spark she gets in her eyes when she looks at her friends, me, Pyro, and yeah, Jericho… it ignites and explodes to a hundred million suns. It's like you two are the only beings in the galaxy, no, the universe. You are her life and she would, if she had a choice between you and that Jericho guy, pick you." Tails sounded so… certain.
"How do you know?" I held my suspicious attitude.
"Believe you me, Sonic, you know the same thing, you're just in denial." Tails smirked, seeming, at this moment, omniscient.
"I hope you're right." I could see Swift standing, with her back to us as she spoke with a clerk, a friendly arms-length away from Jericho, which made Tails's lecture more apparent and agreeable.
"If I was a Brit, this would be my response." Tails cleared his throat and put on his best, yet still horrid British accent. "You bloody well know that I'm bloody well right."