Santa

Disclaimer: I don't own any characters in this story.

Character(s): Sonic and Tails
Character Notes: I personally prefer to have Sonic and Tails five years apart, rather than seven. It doesn't change much, but keep in mind that that's how i see their relationship whenever I write chapters concerning both of them.

Despite what one might think of Sonic, he's not just the quick and witty chatterbox everyone makes him out to be; Sonic thinks a lot more than he lets on. In fact, most of his ponderings never escape the confines of his own mind. And while his thoughts are usually random and have no connection with the ones they succeed, they typically possess some sort of meaning or insight, at least to him.

This is one of those times. Apparently, watching Christmas movies – or this specific one – with Tails gets him in this inexplicable, sentimental mood as if his entire life were in playback, the images of his previous experiences acted out throughout the lens of his mind.

He wasn't even watching the TV screen anymore; well, he was, but he wasn't really looking at it, more like looking through it. As opposed to Tails – whose eyes have been glued to the screen since the beginning of the holiday film – Sonic's gaze found itself absentmindedly focusing on the wall behind it.

This was the first Christmas movie we ever watched together, during that first winter that we spent together . . .

Has it really been that long ago? Has it really been that long since they first sat down (in the same positions, no less) and watched this exact movie? Has anything changed, other than the fact that they were both now slightly older and wiser? It didn't feel like it.

Sonic himself didn't feel like he has changed whatsoever. He was still the same as he was back then: a blue hedgehog that felt like he could run to the ends of the earth and back, all day and night, and never get tired or bored, but would give all that up in a second if it meant making any one of his friends happy. Especially if that friend was the one sitting next to him right now.

Maybe that's who changed: Tails. Maybe Tails changed. He's definitely gotten smarter, his inventions growing ever more intricate and complicated than the last. Not only that, but he's also become more mature, more serious, his nature becoming ever more intense as Eggman's plots became more involved and the consequences for failing even more severe. And now, he's starting to grow ever more sarcastic and snarky, a trait influenced by – no doubt – Sonic.

Their relationship hasn't changed: they were still Sonic and Tails. Tails and Sonic. The dynamic duo that held a bond so unbreakable that not even age or maturity or (their) incompatible interests could ever sever. Even with this reassurance, Sonic's couldn't dispel the notion that something had changed, something he couldn't get his mind off it.

When they first watched this movie, Tails had acted so childlike and innocent, his boundless energy almost contagious as the two simply enjoyed the experience of watching the film. Tails still adored the movie now; Sonic could tell by his spirited grin and the way he leaned forward with anticipation.

However, unlike the Tails of the past, he was more analytical and perceptive, which made Sonic question one thing. Does he still believe in Santa?

The kit was still that: a kit. That's not all Tails was though; he was intelligent, his maturity beyond what is expected of his age. Surely, with all Tails knew, he had at least an inkling of a doubt that Sonic had told him the truth during that first Christmas, when the fox first inquired who Santa was.

Like most parents, Sonic lied and told him the old fabled tale: "Santa is a jolly, old man who gives presents to good girls and boys everywhere in the world with his team of reindeer on the night of Christmas Eve," and the like. The answer had been enough then to satisfy Tails' question and give him that naive hope that someone like Santa truly existed.

Now, in the present, Sonic wasn't sure whether that answer would still persuade Tails.

He wondered when this change occurred, or if it even did. Did Tails still believe that? Sonic doubted it; he wasn't sure what he preferred to believe at this point. Did he wish for Tails to still be that innocent little fox that he met that one fateful day? Or did he want Tails to grow up, and develop an independence that made the hedgehog near meaningless in the fox's life?

A part of him wanted to believe the former; Tails was still so young, and part of his childhood had been unrightfully ripped away from him. Heck, they both grew up too fast, both he and Tails, but Sonic could never revert back to the kid he used to be. Maybe that's way he so desired for Tails to be that way for as long as physically possible.

Even still, the other half of himself accepted his young friend's maturity; regardless of how either of them changed, he would still be his little brother, his closest friend and family. That was all the mattered, right?

Smokestep: Sorry this was so late, and tomorrow might be as well. However, if I see that a lot of people want the next chapter fast, I'll make sure to publish tomorrow's early. So, as always, hope you enjoyed!

Responses To Reviews:

ShinyShiny9: Yeah, their relationship is definitely interesting, all right.