Hello all! This little project is winding down, finally! Just a few more chapters to go!

Anyways, please enjoy! I own nothing.

I'm Not Weak

Chapter 4: A Little Confidence

Rookie opened his eyes as the sun shone in his face. He sat up and rubbed his eyes, and threw the blankets off-

'Huh? Blankets? Wasn't I... or maybe I covered last night and didn't know? No...' Rookie thought to himself as he tried to recall how the blankets got on him. Then he paused, taking a sniff of the covers. His body tensed.

Now he figured it out. The blankets had a scent... Infinite's scent. It was a bit musky, probably from the damp fur, but still smelled like the bubble bath he'd been soaking in before he snapped at him.

Rookie sat back on the bed, holding the blankets in his hands for a little while. Infinite was so angry with him for giving him a bath, but Rookie had to wonder if it was something else, something that might of come back to haunt him from his past.

'Well, I know how that feels. I'm living with the guy who rendered me mute... and it wasn't the easiest choice to forgive him, let alone save him.' Rookie mused on the day he decided to save Infinite from certain death. He absently ran his thumb along the soft fabric of the blankets, lost in thoughts of his own life and Infinite's.

'I don't understand him, and it isn't like I never tried to ask. But maybe... he's just not ready to talk about it. I wasn't ready when the Resistance saved me, especially after I lost the ability to talk. So maybe we're just... really alike.'

Rookie sighed and set the blankets down on his bed. 'Maybe I understand what it feels like to be so far away from someplace you knew, from people you loved and... had to experience something you weren't used to growing up.' He hopped off the bed and stretched before reaching for his glasses and his phone.

'Maybe... I know Infinite better than I thought.'

Rookie took his time getting himself ready for the day, unsure of what to actually say to Infinite after that whole bathroom incident. He didn't really want to see him, but he couldn't keep avoiding him, either. Something would have to give.

Returning back to his bedroom, Rookie closed the door and sat at his desk. If the Resistance were here, what would they do, he wondered.

'Well, Tails would probably kill him... as would Amy. After what they did to Sonic, it's a miracle I've been able to keep this a secret. Shadow wouldn't really care, I don't think. But... I feel like Sonic would tell me I'm doing the right thing. That it's good that I saved him.'

He rested his head in his left hand and stared at his phone. He couldn't tell them where he was because of Infinite- except for Sonic, no one would actually forgive the jackal for what he did, and Infinite would be all too happy to let them kill him since he no longer had the Phantom Ruby, and he found himself as weak without it.

'I don't understand what I should do!' Rookie screamed in his head. He leaned back in his chair and sighed. That was when his nose caught a whiff of something.

It smelled like... food? Cooking? And it was close, too. But who else lived around here?

Rookie quickly got up and raced out of his room. Whoever it was, they may know about Infinite and try to kill him too!

Once down the stairs, Rookie, Burst Wispon in hand, frantically looked around his living room/kitchen/dining room area. What he did see actually surprised him for a moment.

Infinite was in the kitchen, wearing Rookie's apron but leaving the back untied. He was frowning at a cookbook Rookie had completely forgotten he owned, trying to make out what he was supposed to be making. There were pots, a pan that was soaking in the sink, and a bunch of ingredients all over the floor and counter. Rookie sniffed the air, and what he smelled made his stomach turn.

'What on earth.. is he trying to cook?' Rookie wondered. 'It smells terrible... but at least he's trying. Maybe I should try and help.' He detached the vispon and sat it down, which alerted the jackal of his newcomer.

For a moment, heterochromatic eyes met sky blue. Infinite was gripping the cookbook a little too tight, and Rookie was worried he might of scared Infinite altogether. He began to step back towards the stairs.

'I... I don't think... I should talk to him yet-'

"I'm... sorry..." Infinite's softness- and the odd fact he apologized so suddenly- and the fact he apologized at all- caught Rookie off guard again and he froze, eyes still locked onto him. Infinite was looking at the wall, a light blush on his snout and cheeks. Now Rookie was very confused.

'Did I... do something? What did I miss? Why is he apologizing for? Wait... did he give me that blanket? Really? I wonder why...' Rookie inched closer, wanting to know what the jackal had to say.

Infinite felt very uncomfortable looking into the eyes of a child he almost ended. He still didn't really understand what he was supposed to be doing alive, but he needed to be a bit more grateful. He owed this kid his life... even if apologizing was HUGELY strange.

"I... I shouldn't have... yelled at you. In the bathroom..." Infinite was struggling to figure out what he wanted to say. Rookie tilted his head and inched a bit closer. Infinite held up his hand as a signal for Rookie to stop where he was.

"D-Don't come too close..." Infinite was still very focused on the wall, grip on the cookbook ever tightening. Rookie held up his hands in surrender and stepped back, giving Infinite quite a bit of space.

Rookie felt like he was looking at a copy of himself, back when he was first introduced into the Resistance as a newly mute person. 'It's very scary... trying to voice how you feel and what is going on in your head to someone you just don't know.'

Infinite scrunched up his snout and slowly, lowered his hand. He was still new to the whole thing, he knew it. "I... I don't... know... what I..." His voice was very soft by now, but there was a trace of fear that he wasn't doing a good job of hiding. Rookie felt horrible for thinking he made a mistake of saving the jackal.

"I...I think... that I... made a mistake. When I yelled at you... I didn't... tell you why."

Rookie watched as Infinite continued to struggle to figure out what he was trying to explain. 'But it's not just scary for him. He's walking into all new territory.'

Meanwhile, Infinite set down the cookbook and finally lifted his head. Rookie was shocked to see a few lone tears rolling down Infinite's cheeks.

He inched closer, closer, closer still. There was an island separating the two now- and if Rookie were honest, it was holding Infinite upright, because he looked like his legs wanted to give out any minute.

'He looks like he's gonna break down any second. This isn't the same criminal who tried to take out Sonic, myself, the Resistance, the world...! Without the powers of the ruby... he's just like me.'

Infinite scrubbed his face and took a deep breath. Rookie felt... a bit sad for Infinite. 'He's afraid of what the future holds... and for the longest time, he tried to keep his grip on it, hoping that he could bend it to his will. Oh, Infinite... I think I get it now.'

"I... I had a bad experience... w-with water. My dad... he... scarred me for a long time." Infinite couldn't keep his voice steady, but he forced it still. He was NOT about to cry, dammit! Not in front of that brat!

"Still... thank you. For... doing that. I..."

Rookie typed something on his phone, then held it to Infinite's face. 'It's alright. I think I get where you're coming from. You don't have to do this.'

Infinite closed his eyes in thought. It was rare that anyone outside of the Jackal Squad "understood" him. But then again, the only reason the squad came to be was because he was greedy, they needed someplace to go, and it was more or less an opportunity of convenience. He barely knew anything about his team outside of their names and the reason they were all there.

It probably didn't help they were the ONLY known jackals on Mobius. Who knew where their parents were... Infinite's shoulders slumped as he finally opened his eyes.

'I know where mine are... and they can stay where they are, too.'

Rookie had finally cleared the small gap between the two, more interested in what Infinite was trying to make. The young wolf wanted to know so much more about Infinite, the real Infinite, but he didn't think forcing him to talk would work. He'd have to be patient and let Infinite come to him.

'It's gonna take him a while to get comfortable talking about things like that. But at least I understand now why he freaked out on me. I probably should apologize...'

Rookie looked down on his phone and began typing. Infinite wanted to know what it was he was writing, but he couldn't bring himself to look that curious. He was still trying to figure out why he told a random stranger- whom he almost KILLED, no less- why he hated being placed in a bathtub.

So he stared at the cookbook again, the small, black font blurring in front of him as he zoned out. 'There's something... oddly... comforting about him being here. I don't understand!'

And once again, his claws gripped the cookbook a little too hard, leaving more indents in the pages. 'I'm Infinite the Mercenary! I'm not so weak I couldn't handle a small bath! I shouldn't even be apologizing! But... he saved my life... even though I tried to take his away... ARGH! Why is this so dam hard?!'

Rookie lightly tapped Infinite's shoulder, holding the phone to his face. He was smiling, just like he was the last time they fought. Infinite felt a bit wary, and his heart was beating much too hard for his liking- he could hear it! Still, he read the message the boy had typed for him.

'I accept your apology. And... I know where you're coming from. I was like that, too. With the Resistance, after they saved me.'

Infinite felt like his head was spinning. Here was a kid he tried to murder, whom at one point he could barely care less about existing, trying to help a jackal who was left broken because of Eggman's lie find his way back to... somewhere. He just didn't get it. And he wasn't sure if he liked it, either.

'What's... going on with me? I feel... vulnerable. Like this kid just... looked into my soul. It's weird... he's weird... I don't like this at all!' Infinite thought to himself. His tail began to raise, and Rookie took back his phone to add one more thing to his message. Infinite allowed his tail to wrap around him, the defensive blanket habit kicking it like second nature. He focused on breathing because at some point, he was pretty sure he'd forgotten how.

Rookie held up the phone again, but then did something Infinite didn't expect.

He gripped Infinite's wrist- really, really tight. The smile was gone from his face now, replaced with a determined look Infinite definitely recalled seeing before. 'That look in his eyes... he was just like that every time we fought. Every time he came close to stopping me. Every time he wanted to save his friends... this planet...and stop me...'

Rookie pushed the phone a bit closer to Infinite's face, as if he were trying to make sure he knew he had to read the message. Infinite's eyes began scanning, and the more he read, the more he realized... he was really glad that kid was holding him steady.

'I need you to read this whole thing, Infinite the Jackal.' Rookie had edited the message, beginning there.

'I accept your apology. And... I know where you're coming from. I was like that, too. With the Resistance, after they saved me.

I don't know much about you, the Jackal Squad, nothing... outside of what I saw during that war. You scarred me, too. You killed my friends and family, and took away my ability to talk. I know I should've hated you, and I know I never should have saved you.

But I had a lot of time to think once we stopped Eggman and ended this nightmare. And I realized something.

My parents taught me never to hang on to hatred. It corrupts you, turns you into something you can't recognize. And I had to fight to remember who I was for a VERY long time... because of you.

It was a strange coincidence that I found you that day. I don't know who or what led me to you, and I don't even know if saving you was what I was supposed to do. But I WANTED to save you.

Everyone deserves a second chance. And without that ruby corrupting your mind, honestly... you and I are quite alike.

We both know what it feels like to be someplace you don't fit in, where you feel like you're just... wrong.

We both know what it feels like to be afraid of our future, to want to control and force it to be something we are comfortable with, because facing the unknown and the questionable is hard.

I know you don't like being open and vulnerable like this. I know now that it frightens you, and you keep this façade up because it's easy.

I want to help you, Infinite. I want to truly understand who you are, because someday, you will have to face your crimes. People are going to be afraid of you, and others will hate you.

But... I'm your friend. And I'll always be your friend, so long as you want me to be.'

Rookie finally set the phone down. Infinite was staring straight ahead, still processing what he just read. He didn't know if any of that was true to him.

Was he really afraid? Was he that vulnerable that even the kid saw it?

Rookie slowly released his new friend, and stood back a few steps. He needed to see what Infinite would do.

The jackal stood there a moment longer, before his legs gave out and he slumped against the island. His head was spinning and he didn't know what to say to Rookie that could clear anything he just read.

Why was this kid so kind to him? Why did he want to save him? Why did he even care?

'I keep asking that same thing, as if I don't have my answer.' Infinite thought to himself. 'This kid saved me by choice. So why... do I keep asking that same thing?'

Rookie edged closer to him and sat down, close enough that their shoulder's touched. He typed something else on his phone, held it for a moment in thought, then shrugged and passed it onto Infinite.

'If you want... we could go sword practicing tomorrow. I... I found your old sword shortly after we laid your friends to rest.'

Infinite nodded numbly, still processing what he'd read before. There was way too much happening, and it was doing so in ways Infinite couldn't understand. He'd honestly forgotten about his old weapon until now. He was beginning to realize just how much he relied on the ruby's power to suppress the emotions and feelings he kept calling weak.

'Maybe... I can... try. To figure out who I am as a jackal.'

"Rookie..." The wolf's ears perked up. Infinite had never actually used his name before.

"... I think I burned something in the oven. There's smoke coming out." Infinite reached out and tugged on the oven door as he spoke this, opening it just enough to let a huge billow of black smoke out. Rookie coughed and covered his snout and mouth.

'How the heck didn't I smell that? And why on Earth was Infinite cooking?' he wondered as he just sat there watching the smoke come out in puffs. 'Better yet , what the heck WAS he trying to make?!'

Infinite looked at him, a small smirk on his lips. "I... never said I knew how to cook. Or... well, follow directions." he said softly. He winced as the ear-piercing sound of the smoke detector came on.

Rookie blinked at him, one hand still on his snout. Infinite stared back.

Rookie's shoulders stared shaking. He gripped his stomach with one arm as his face began to turn a bit red. Infinite took a moment to figure it out.

'I-Is he... laughing? At me? What did I do that's so funny?!'

Rookie collected himself long enough to find his phone and type something before he started having the giggles again. Growling, Infinite swiped the phone from Rookie and read what he typed.

'Infinite, next time, please let me handle the stove. You managed to burn waffles! They are frozen- you could've put them in the toaster!'

Infinite blushed heavily in embarrassment and pouted a little, crossing his arms. "W-Well, it's not like I knew that! At least I tried!" he whined. "And... I don't know what this 'toaster' thing is, either..." He added on, now completely and utterly embarrassed.

Rookie wiped his eyes and grabbed his phone off Infinite's lap. 'You also said you can't follow directions, either. And the toaster is the silver thing, next to the coffee maker.'

Infinite growled under his breath and stood up, throwing the apron down on the island counter. "Fine! You help me clean then, brat!" he demanded, his voice much stronger than before. Rookie smiled, thankful his hand hid it.

'Infinite... he's beginning to talk more. Even if he can't cook. I think... he's beginning to understand. He's strong. He can do this.'

Rookie got up and helped Infinite clean out the stove, the counters, and the floors. He tapped on his shoulder and showed his newfound friend one last message.

'We're ordering takeout. I'll show you how to actually cook tomorrow. By the way, what were you trying to make?'

Infinite ignored everything after takeout and focused on cleaning. Rookie couldn't help but poke fun at him the entire time, but inside, he was glad Infinite was coming out of his shell. He wasn't such a bad jackal- just a bad cook, so far.

'Tomorrow is a new day. But right now... I think he's finding himself a little. I'm really happy for you... Infinite.'

And complete! Well, now we know Infinite may need some help in the kitchen, but he's finally beginning to break free from his shell.

There should be about two or three more chapters after this. In the meantime, please let me know what you think- as usual, no flames. Any questions, comments, constructive critiques, however, send them over!

Until next chapter!