Brother of Mine
Thank you to all those who read/review/favorite/follow this story! It means a lot to me!
Disclaimer: Never owned Sonic the Hedgehog, probably never will.
Chapter 6: Truths
"W-where is he? W-Where is my g-grandpa?"
His voice quivered as he stood on shaky knees. His eyes were puffy and red from hours of crying as they looked desperately up at the hospital receptionist.
"Uhm…I'm so sorry but…you're not allowed to be here."
"Please! You have to let me see him!"
She shook her head anxiously and mouthed for help.
Out of the corners of his eyes, a pair of security guards began to advance on him.
"Please! I'll do anything!"
One of the guards clears his throat, gaining his attention.
"You're not welcome here freak."
Miles' eyes shot wide open.
"NO! I need to see him!"
His legs took off, running as tears began to well up.
"Get him!"
"Get off me damn fox!"
"Somebody get him!"
"He's heading for the elevator!"
"CATCH HIM…!"
A low sigh escaped his lips as the sound of the Tornado silenced all other noises. His body ached from the fight against Gamma and the hell fire that ensued but he did his best to ignore it for now. His eyes struggled to stay focused on the horizon, all he wanted to do right now was check on the sleeping kitsune that lay dormant behind him.
He saved me, Sonic thought solemnly as his grip on the controls tightened momentarily. I was the one who was supposed to save him but he ended up saving me…
Sonic turned his head around to take a quick glance at the fox to make sure he was okay but was stopped when his eyes noticed a black dot following them on the horizon. As if the dot acknowledged his gaze, it suddenly multiplied and split apart to become five separate dots.
No… Sonic thought as a sense of dread welled up inside him. However as the dots began approaching faster, his worst fears were confirmed. Fighter Jets…and they're coming in fast!
As if on cue a missile soared past the red biplane and submerged into the ocean.
That was too close! Sonic frantically looked around the interior of the plane for something that could defend them against the rapidly approaching jets. Argh, it's no good! None of these buttons are even labeled! He grit his teeth in frustration and looked behind to see how close the enemies were.
One of the fighter jets caught up with the inferior biplane and flew alongside it. Before Sonic could turn away from the close encounter, another jet descended on the other side, entrapping the Tornado between the two jets and making it nigh impossible to escape.
Not good! He growled in annoyance. His eyes darted between the two jets as machine guns lowered out from under the hulls. He momentarily caught sight of a shade of green rising up over the horizon before the guns blazed to life releasing a rapid stream of bullets that penetrated the aircraft.
Sonic snapped out of his shock of the roaring guns and quickly pushed the Tornado down and out from between the two jets. The machine guns shot a few bullets into each other before retracting and rotating around to face the red biplane underneath.
The Tornado banked to the left, barely skimming over the waves of ocean but managed to evade the sharp bullets. A sudden roar of an engine gained the attention of the blue hedgehog as another fighter jet approached from behind. The sound was suddenly amplified as not a moment later; the biplane was surrounded on both sides once again by two other jets.
Not good! Sonic tightened his grip on the wheel and willed the plane to move faster. The previous two jets were still flying above him, preventing him from flying back up to escape the trap the robots had drafted. The planes continued flying in formation and made no attempt to fire at him, confusing the tense hedgehog. His question was soon answered as a loud whooshing sound broke through the roaring of engines.
Sonic spun his head around in the direction of the noise only to be met by the sight of a white missile rapidly approaching him. His head whipped forward as his eyes danced around the cockpit trying to spot any sort of method of escape from the imminent explosion. Stress consumed him as his fingers rapidly began to activate every button in the cockpit, no longer caring what they did as long as it got them out.
The glass shield receded back into the interiors of the aircraft allowing the wind blow harshly into his face. Over the raging winds Sonic could hear the gears of the landing mechanism as the wheels pulled back into the plane, slightly accelerating their speed. Following that sound, a blast of air could be heard originating from the back of the Tornado. Sonic didn't even have a chance to turn around before the entire plane boosted forwards, shooting past the enemy jets within milliseconds.
"Alright!" He exclaimed with a grin on his face as he turned around to look at the forms of the shrinking jets, the fear from before being replaced with relief. The missile that had been fired at them impacted the waters and sank further out of sight. The fighter planes began to accelerate as they realized how much distance the hedgehog had suddenly gained on them.
Ahead of him, Sonic could make out the outlines of a green forest covered in white snow. Hehe, time for a little payback! He grinned mischievously as the Tornado flew in between the close quarter trees.
Not a moment later an explosion resounded across the forest as one of the jets crashed into a tree when it had attempted to follow him. The other jets lifted higher and flew above the forest, soon catching up to the young hedgehog.
The Tornado maneuvered around the dense forest in ways the larger jets could only dream of achieving. Realizing that they were getting nowhere, the jets lowered their weapons and began to shoot at the twisting and turning biplane but only managed to hit snow and trees as the Tornado hid under the cover of nature.
The four fighter planes lowered closer to the ground in order to get a better shot at the target causing Sonic to let loose a chuckle.
"Bad move Robotnik!" He grinned and banked the Tornado to the right, avoiding a larger tree. Moments later another explosion ripped through the air as a jet impacted against the grand tree.
Sonic lifted the plane upwards and broke through the treeline, attracting the attention of the three remaining jets. As soon as they noticed his presence, bullets and the occasional missiles could be heard following the plane.
A large cliff came into view his view and he quickly used the topology to his advantage, flying straight up alongside the rocky outcrop. The jets followed in pursuit only for one to smash into the great stone face, lighting up the area below it in a shower of ember and smoke.
One down, two to go! The hedgehog thought competitively. Soon the top of the cliff was in sight and along with it came the top of a tree. The Tornado skimmed the bark of the large oak tree and continued into the free flowing air. The same could not be said for another as the large oak was suddenly ripped out of its roots by the force of a fighter jet plowing into it.
Last one! He grinned as he turned around to look at the last aircraft. It came as little surprise to the hedgehog to see that the last jet was also the one that carried missiles with it.
The Tornado propelled itself closer to the ground and returned under the cover of the forest so as not to get blown into smithereens by a missile. The jet flew overhead and made no move to release the missile in its hold as it futilely attempted to lock onto the red flashes under the snow covered trees.
Sonic flew easily through the forest before a sudden beeping caught his attention. Turning his head to the side, his emerald green eyes widened in shock as the last jet descended into the forest, bouncing off the barks and branches and leaving dents in both nature and machine. The beeping reverberated as his eyes took notice of the smoke leaving the end of the white missile.
Too close! He thought as he turned back around and piloted the plane to the best of his ability to escape the looming warhead. His breath became caught in his throat as the sound of the missile being released filled the air. He gripped the wheel and pulled as hard as he could causing the Tornado to lift upwards, ripping through tree branch after tree branch until it flew into open air.
His eyes widened again as the sound seemed to follow them. Turning his head around quickly, the sight of a missile speeding after them was all he saw.
Sonic didn't have to think twice as he tore off his seat belt and climbed onto the pilot's seat. His right hand gripped the handle of the compartment behind the seat and slid it away instantly as his other hand grabbed hold of the resting kitsune that lay inside.
Without a second to lose, Sonic clung tightly onto Tails and leapt out of the airborne plane. The missile impacted against the Tornado not a second later, releasing a tremendous explosion launching them away.
"Agggghhh…" Robotnik grit his teeth in fury and groaned loudly, his fist slammed into the keyboard causing quite a few keys to pop out of place. Several Egg Workers behind the seething fat man noticed his change in demeanor and quickly high tailed it out of there. "Get back here you miserable pile of bolts!" He grabbed the last of the workers and angrily imbedded his fist into the stunned robot, destroying its head and ripping out tons of electric wires.
"SNIVELY, GET IN HERE!" He yelled at the top of his lungs while throwing the smashed worker off to the side. No sooner had he done so than a short balding man made his appearance at the large door.
"Yes sir?" Snively asked nervously as he caught sight of the demolished Egg Worker.
"You!" Robotnik glared at his nephew and pointed at him accusingly with a fat finger. "I TOLD you to capture that hedgehog! Yet none of the Egg Jets you sent after him are still online!"
Snively looked away from his uncle's steel glare and found interest in staring at the walls. "Yes…uh, well, the jets were not…fully up to date to say…"
"WHAT?!" Robotnik bellowed so forcefully that the few hairs on Snively's head were blown backwards. "YOU DARE SEND OUTDATED ROBOTS AFTER HIM KNOWING FULL WELL THAT THIS WAS THE OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR?!"
"Sir, the newer models are not yet completed, I had no choice but to send in the old ones."
"Aghh…" Robotnik groaned again and pulled at his long moustache in frustration.
"Sir if I may interrupt…" Snively began before receiving a glare sent by his uncle. He doubted if he should continue but did so anyway, "The bodies of The Elite Team have been salvaged from the city."
Robotnik looked up as his face seemed to distort to become even angrier. "Former Elite Team! They couldn't even defeat a hedgehog! What use do I have with them now!?"
"But sir, they are the most powerful warbots in the Empire!"
"I DON'T CARE!" Robotnik shouted, interrupting the shorter man, "SEND THEM TO THE SCRAP HEAP!"
Snively looked over his shoulder back at his uncle for a final time, "…Yes sir." He left before the fat man's rage could escalate further.
Robotnik returned to his computer desk and began furiously typing while glaring at the monitor. "Gahh…I'll just have to make a better robot!" A smile cracked through his red face as an idea lit up in his head. "…and this time, I know just what to make!"
Tails gingerly lifted a hand to nurse his aching head as his eyes slowly opened revealing tired cerulean blue irises.
Wh…Where am I? He thought to himself. He raised his hand but was surprised to see nothing there. He could still feel its presence as it waved in front of his face. Blinking several times had no effect however as he came to a realisation. A pitch black void surrounded him. Not even a tiny speck of light could be seen for hundreds of miles. Everything was empty.
"H-Hello?" His voice echoed through the darkness, scaring him into the cover of his tails as the only sound that could be heard was that of his voice resounding off the unseen walls. I don't remember coming…here…have I been…kidnapped? His eyes widened at the highly possible scenario. But…by who? Sonic- His heart felt like it had stopped at the very word. Sonic…I killed him… Though he couldn't see them, tears began to well up in his eyes as the memory came back in full force.
I killed…Sonic…
He buried his head into his tails and began to weep quietly, the sobs echoing into the distance.
He was one of the few people who were truly nice to me…Why!? He didn't deserve to die! His eyes shut tightly as more bad memories resurfaced. None of them did!...Theodore…Thomas…Ada…Maria…Sonic… His fists clenched tightly, regret eating away at him like a virus. It's all my fault that they're gone…it should have been me…not them…
A tiny light manifested in the distance and grew larger as it drew closer to the trembling kitsune. Out of the light, the outline of a body began to form. A white gloved hand reached down and set itself on Tails' shoulder, surprising the young fox whose head quickly rose to meet a pair of forest green eyes.
"It's not your fault, Miles…"
Tails felt his whole body soften as the person spoke to him. The message fell on deaf ears as not a moment later, the fox found his head buried in soft brown fur with his arms wrapped tightly around the figure.
"G-Grandpa…" He sobbed out in a quietly. The old fox's hand ruffled his hair, bringing back long forgotten memories that threatened to break the dam and let his tears freely flow out.
"How much you have grown my grandson." Theodore said reminiscently while caressing the back of the golden fox's head. The words and actions only served to fuel the fox's tears however as he hugged Theodore tighter as if letting go would mean he would disappear forever.
"I…I-I'm sorry!" He cried out sadly. "I'm sorry I made you take care of me! I'm sorry I didn't leave sooner! I'm sorry you had to put up with me! I'm sorry for letting you die when it should have been me! Grandpa, I'm so sorry!"
Theodore silently allowed the fox to spout apology after apology, only kneeling down when he stopped to take a breath from his outburst. "Miles…you have nothing to apologize for…It was simply my time to move on."
Tails shook his head in disagreement as he hugged his grandfather figure around his neck. "It was all my fault! You never should have died! It's all because I'm bad luck that this had to happen to you!"
Theodore wrapped his arms around the crying fox in consolation. "Shhh, everything will be just fine Miles…" He said, comforting the fox as he did when the boy was still a toddler. The sobs lessened as the familiar actions of his grandfather managed to calm his rampant emotions. When all that remained were his quiet sniffles, a hand lifted his head up under his chin as green eyes stared into his sky blue eyes.
"I wish I could have had more time with you Miles, but it's not your fault." He gently reassured the cub and wiped away the remaining tears on his white muzzle. "Everything happens for a reason, even if we may not know it."
Tails looked down again, his grandfather's wise words reminding him of times where they still lived together and how it was all cut short.
"Now, now, don't look so sad." Theodore softly nudged the young kitsune and looked at him with a kind smile. "After all, just like I told you on the day we met, you're not alone anymore."
The golden fox only looked up at his grandfather perplexedly at that statement. "But how? The island is gone now and it's all my fault…" He whispered, more to himself than to his elder.
Theodore looked down at the little fox reassuringly and placed a hand on his head. "The island may be gone, but that was never meant to be your home in the first place, was it?" He let out a small chuckle.
His blue eyes looked at the older man strangely before they widened, "Grandpa! Don't go!" He begged as the body of the elder fox began to dissipate into the darkness. "Please! I need you!"
Theodore smiled one last time towards the scared kitsune, as if promising that everything would be okay. "You don't need me, my beloved grandson…" He waved a final time before his body was consumed by darkness.
"…After all, you already have everything I could ever give you, and more…"
As the last word rang out into the gloomy darkness, all sound seemed to fade away with the light leaving a young, scared kitsune to collapse onto his knees.
But I don't…I have nothing…Grandpa…what do you mean?
Sky blue eyes slowly opened for what seemed like the second time that day. Sunlight streamed through a nearby glass window, suitable to light up the otherwise dark room but not bright enough to hurt his tired eyes. He attempted to raise a hand to sooth his throbbing head but found that no amount of strength could so much as shake the limb.
Tails unwillingly sighed, ignoring the fact and reclined his head back onto the soft pillow. Wait…a pillow? He suddenly realized as his eyes shot back open. A bed…and a blanket… He thought as his eyes scanned the room from his limited position. Where am i?
The small room was exceptionally clean with very few objects lying around to begin with. The walls were a stark white along with the ceiling and floors. Most of the bed sheets were also white but a few were colored light blue. A plant sat on a small table on the other side of the room, adjacent to the semi-large window which brought in most of the light that lit up the room. A door was opposite the large window and was, unsurprisingly, also white with a golden doorknob.
Tails took in the extremely unfamiliar scenery as his mind began to wander. Nowhere in his memory banks did he ever remember being in a room such as this one.
How did I get here?
His short thoughts were interrupted by the sounds of muffled speech as voices made themselves known on the other side of the door.
Tails' ears shot up as his immediate thought filled him with dread, Kidnappers! He realized and suddenly, everything became clear. Th-that's why I can't move! They must've drugged me! His eyes looked frantically around the room and quickly landed on the closed window. I have to get out! Adrenaline coursed through his tiny frame, giving him enough strength to move as he kicked his legs over the side of the bed and hurriedly lifted himself up and over the edge with his arms.
Unfortunately for him, his legs were too short to touch the ground from the height of the bed causing him to fall, landing harshly on his rear end.
"Owww…" Tails began to mutter but clapped a hand over his mouth for fear of being heard. The voices outside the door resumed and Tails let out a sigh of relief. Quickly pulling himself up alongside the frame of the bed, the golden fox suddenly let out another groan that was abruptly silenced by his two hands but ended up causing him to lose his balance and topple over.
His gaze drifted down to his right knee where the searing pain originated and was met with the sight of blood soaked bandages covering the short limb. Tails gasped and pulled his eyes away from the painful sight, once again listening for the sounds of chatter outside the door. After what felt like a millennia, the sound of chit-chat broke through the dull silence, relieving the anxious fox.
Remembering now that his right leg was still injured from the recent bullying incident, Tails quietly picked himself off the floor, gritting his teeth every time the sharp pain became unbearable.
He braced himself as he let go of the supporting bed frame. He hobbled silently over the smooth floor with nothing to hold onto to keep his balance until his hands reached out and gripped the edge of the windowsill, steadying him as he pulled himself directly in front of the large window.
His diminutive fingers graced the bottom edges of the sliding frame and lifted with all his might. Tails felt the muscles in his arms burning as the window scooted up by a barely noticeable amount.
The mute voices suddenly became very clear as he heard the door swing open behind him. A sudden surge of strength accompanied by a gasp and shout from his two captors gave Tails all the energy he needed to fling the window up wide enough for his small frame to jump up and leap through it.
Just as his feet made it past the window a pair of gloved hands latched onto them, abruptly halting his fall in mid-air and slamming him onto the outer walls of the building.
"No! Let go of me!" He yelled, kicking his legs in an endeavor to escape from the clutches of the kidnappers. His twin tails attempted to spin rapidly but weren't able to complete even a single rotation as bandages ensnared them in silky webs.
"Stop struggling kid!" A voice responded from behind, though the intended message was lost in the scuffle as Tails processed it as 'Don't try to escape from us!' His legs kicked even more wildly and managed to knock away one of the hands restraining him. "Damnit kid, look how high up you are! If we let go you'll fall to death!"
His flailing suddenly stopped as the word resonated deep within him. Death.
For the first time, Tails let out a gasp, his eyes bulging out as he realized just how high above the ground he was. At least ten stories stretched between him and the concrete sidewalks far below, the people walking on it the size of ants. Busy intersections filled with cars and buses roared loudly in the winter air.
Tails felt his face drain of blood, becoming a ghostly white color as his movements froze entirely. He felt his body go limp as the gravity of his predicament dawned on him, suddenly wishing for nothing more than to be pulled back into the room.
His wishes were soon answered as he felt himself being hoisted back up by two sets of hands which then yanked him into the white room. A loud bang resonated in the small area as the window was forcefully shut.
The sound of the window closing snapped Tails out of his trance, realizing that he was now sitting on the floor. His eyes blinked twice and settled on the two panting figures that stood in front of him.
"Crazy kid...you could have died!" One of the figures screamed at him while breathing rapidly.
Tails stayed silent, the man's words floating straight over his head, his eyes focused solely on the other figure that leaned, panting against the wall.
"Tails…What the hell were ya doing?!"
The words came at him with the force of a bullet train, dragging him back to reality as his entire body jolted from the yell. His sky blue eyes stared up into emerald green. His breathing slowed to the point where it became imperceptible and the only audible sounds were that of his dull heartbeat.
The figure realized the extent his words had on the unmoving fox and quickly crouched down, placing both hands on the kitsune's shoulders gently. "Tails, you okay?"
Tails' lips quivered as all attempts at communication failed. His eyes stared up into the eyes of the one he thought he would never be able to see again.
"Ss…s-s…s-so"
The blue hedgehog smiled at the shocked fox and stroked the top of his small head. "Yeah lil' buddy, I'm here."
Tails reacted without another thought, springing up as every pain and ache in his body disappeared along with the rest of his fears. He collided with the blue hedgehog and stretched his arms as far as possible to encircle his savior in a fervent hug. His tears rolled down his white muzzle uncontrollably, staining the cream colored chest that lay against it.
"S-SONIC!" Tails yelled, his emphatic sobs silencing all other noises.
Sonic grimaced but quickly replaced the expression with a relieved smile. His arm wrapped comfortingly around the sobbing fox that lay on top of him and returned the hug.
"It's alright Tails, I'm right here…" He said soothingly and pat the golden kitsune's head.
"I-I-I th-thought you w-were dead!" Tails screamed as he nuzzled his head deeper.
Sonic remained quiet, his emerald green eyes stared down at the sobbing kitsune. His lips gently shushed the quivering fox while his hand stroked the small head reassuringly.
This is all my fault…He thought solemnly. If only I had paid more attention to Robotnik's robot, none of this would have happened… His face contorted to a frown as he recalled the memory. All he could do now was try and comfort the child whom he had formerly abandoned.
"I ain't goin anywhere Tails, you can count on that." He said, wholly meaning it this time. It hurt him deeply to have to abandon the fox and he didn't want either of them to have to experience that pain again.
Tails looked up at him with hopeful eyes. The same look he had when Sonic had told him that he didn't have to leave prior to Robotnik's invasion. The same look that Sonic recalled was shattered in a near instant when the blue blur had abandoned the fox only moments later. It hurt him to look into the poor, innocent eyes that seemed so fragile. After all, it was his doing that ripped the fox's hopes away in the first place. Now it seemed as if an invisible force would crush the sliver of hope left in the fox if he so much as moved away.
"Tails…" He said firmly, knowing full well that he was about to do something that would change their lives forever. "I ain't ever abandoning you ever again."
Sonic glanced between the sleeping form of his friend and the face of the doctor in charge of them. It had been a few hours after the duo reconciled. Although he protested immensely, Tails was laid back in his bed to rest his injuries. The kitsune had initially refused to do so, stating that he was perfectly fine, but Sonic's persistence won out in the end as the fox soon became too tired to argue. It was only after Sonic had pinky promised the cub that he would still be there with him when he woke up that finally got the injured kitsune to go to sleep.
"Ahem…" The doctor cleared his throat to get the full attention of the blue hedgehog. "You're friend here seems to be in a stable enough condition to be released. You can both leave in the morning if you wish." He said as he stood beside the bed. "After I change his bandages, he should be fine to go."
Sonic nodded absentmindedly as he watched the doctor remove the blood soaked bandages from Tails' knee. The kitsune's whole body was covered in white bandages that made him look somewhat like that of a mummy. Even Sonic's injuries had fared better than the fox's, if the substantially less number of bandages had anything to say about it.
His eyes wandered around the room before landing on the sunset outside the closed off window. He sighed as the peaceful view finally allowed him to relax for once since the battle with Robotnik.
After the Tornado was blown out of the sky, the remaining robotic jet had crashed into the debris in midair. Tails was still unconscious and because of that, Sonic had shielded the kitsune during the fall by taking most of the impact by himself. Of course, it hurt like hell, but he knew he had to do it. Tails sustained even more injuries from his time being jostled around in the cramped compartment, if the numerous red bumps were any indication, and urgently needed medical attention. With the threat of the robotic jets gone, Sonic began searching for civilization.
Though he was still exhausted, Sonic trudged quickly through the forest they landed in,carrying Tails on his back. Thankfully, the bright lights of a city shone through the darkness that had begun to encompass the two and Sonic found himself moving faster towards it. Even greater relief filled the hedgehog when he found that the city was none other than Station Square.
The hospital had been easy to spot due to its uniquely styled façade. As soon as he walked through the doors, all heads turned towards him in recognition as doctors and nurses came to his aid. Tails had been taken out of his hands and into another room in the commotion as Sonic fell unconscious due to his own exhaustion.
When he came to, he found himself in a bed, covered in bandages. The doctor who had been assigned to him told him that he had been out for an entire day, surprising him with the fact and upsetting him when he learned that he would need to stay another day. Despite the hedgehog's many protests, the doctor remained firm that he had to stay in bed until he was fully rested. And so he had endured, sleeping through most of the day and night to regenerate his strength.
The first thing he did when he got out of the humdrum bed was ask if he could see Tails. The doctors immediately denied his request, stating that the kitsune wasn't stable enough to permit visits. Sonic unhappily accepted the fact and took a walk around the city, but the worries for his friend clouded his every thought. Every time he returned to ask about the condition of the fox, the doctors and nurses shook their heads in the negative, saying that his health was becoming worse.
Another day passed before the doctors finally gave in and allowed him to visit the twin tailed fox. Sonic ran quickly into the room and was met with the sight of his young friend, heavily bandaged and hooked up to multiple machines that beeped steadily with the rhythm of his heartbeat. His condition had become much worse, that was for sure.
Over the next two days, Sonic stayed with the kitsune as much as possible, with the only times he left being his periodic walks around the city, to find a place to eat, or to sleep in his own bed in the Mystic Ruins. With so much time to kill and nothing to entertain himself with, his thoughts wandered back to the fight with Robotnik.
The lives he had abandoned on the island plagued him with their screams. They were all dead, and it was all thanks to him. He blamed himself for every single life lost on that day, and blamed himself further for not even being able save the life of the fox that now seemed to be slipping out his grasp.
The thoughts did lessen after the first day however. Once Sonic returned to the hospital after a night's rest in the Mystic Ruins, he was surprised to learn that the four year old's condition hadn't worsened, and had actually been quite the opposite.
And so he had stayed with the kid, or, at least as much as his energetic personality would allow. The fact that he had managed to save just one life eased his thoughts, even if it was only just a little bit.
Then on the second day, after a brief conversation with the doctor regarding whether Tails would be able to leave soon, Sonic was shocked to find the mentioned fox leaping out the window. Disregarding his aching legs, Sonic had bolted across the room and managed to cling onto the fox's ankles just as Tails made it past the window. And, with some assistance from the doctor, they managed to reign in the cub. After the situation was more or less over, Sonic felt anger well up inside him, questioning why Tails would go so far as to jump to his death after narrowly escaping from it just days prior. And though he was still unsure what could have caused Tails to hurl himself out of a twelve storey building, he decided not to ask for the time being.
It's been so long since I've had time to just relax. He thought while staring out at the orange glow of the sunset. But he knew that the peace was going to be short lived and that another one of Robotnik's attacks were imminent. I have to get stronger. I can't let people continue to die under my watch. The somber thoughts fueled his determination.
His right hand snuck underneath his quills and retrieved an object. Holding it in his palm, Sonic sighed as he stared at the blue crystalline memento; the faint rays of the sun making it seem to glow mystically.
I wish you were still here…
"S-Sonic…?"
A quiet mutter suddenly made itself known, snapping the hedgehog out of his thoughts in the process.
Sonic lifted his head up and looked over at Tails. The fox's eyes were shut tightly and his eyebrows were slightly furrowed. His head bobbed on the pillow in short movements, as if he were struggling to move.
Tails' entire body jolted suddenly as a hand came into contact with his own. Fear began to rise up but was quickly subsided when he heard the voice speak, "I'm right here buddy."
Relief replaced the growing fear as Tails relaxed, his hand weakly grasping Sonic's fingers to ensure that he didn't leave.
Sonic smiled at the cute action and pulled his chair up to the side of the bed to stay next to the partially awakened fox. He placed his hand over Tails' which made the corners of the fox's lips curl up in his own smile.
The blue hedgehog reclined back in his seat, his hand remaining in place. Nothing but the quiet sounds of whirring machinery could be heard, and he appreciated that. The peacefulness and quietness of it all weren't things he often came across in his day to day life.
"S-Sonic?" Tails' soft voice suddenly broke through the humming machines.
"Yeah bud?"
"You…you d-didn't mean i-it…did you?"
Sonic looked back at the fox with confusion evident on his features but Tails' eyes were still shut. "Mean what buddy?"
Tails seemed to hesitate before speaking, "A-About y-you a-a-aba-aban…"
Sonic felt the guilt return to him as he realized what the fox was trying to say, but couldn't.
Taking a deep breath, he began, "Tails…look at me." The fox's eyes slowly opened and through them, Sonic could see the ocean of fear and sadness. "I never meant what I said…about me abandoning you." He grimaced as the word itself seemed to make Tails' whole body tense. "I just…wanted you to live an actual life, away from all the bullies. One where you don't get beat up to the point you can't walk properly. When nobody gives you food and you're forced to steal from people. I just wanted you to…have the chance to live a normal life."
The air hung still as silence descended on the two. Sonic couldn't bear to look at the unhappy fox and instead chose to find comfort in the white walls and sheets.
"So…you won't…leave me?" Tails asked after a momentary silence.
Sonic turned his gaze to look back into the kitsune's eyes and saw the faded spark of hope that had been extinguished so long ago. "Just like I told you earlier," a smirk appeared on his face as he held his hand out in a thumbs up, "I ain't ever abandoning you ever again."
Content with the answer, Tails reclined his head back onto the pillow and rested his eyes. "Thank you," he whispered, "for taking care of me so much."
Sonic leaned back in the chair and let out a relaxed sigh, "You're welcome, Tails."
"Alright now, make sure you both get plenty of rest. If anything happens, just call us."
"Alright doc, thanks a lot for the help!"
The duo walked passed the sliding glass doors of the hospital and breathed in the cold morning air. Sonic stood with his hands on his hips, enjoying the peaceful morning for once. Tails stood next to the energetic hedgehog with a crutch under his right arm that the doctor had given him to help him walk around better.
"Ready to go, Tails?" Sonic asked, turning around to face his younger friend.
Tails looked up towards the hedgehog in slight confusion. "Go where, Sonic?"
"To my house of..course…" Sonic said excitedly before realizing that Tails most certainly still felt a connection to the now ruined West Side City. "After all, you're staying with me now right?" He asked in hopes of lifting the fox's spirits.
"Yeah..."
The duo started to trudge through the snow at a comfortable pace. Sonic occasionally glanced back at his new friend but was only ever met with a grim expression as Tails seemed to look at anything except the blue hedgehog.
"Um…Sonic?" The voice suddenly made his ears perk up. Turning back around, Sonic noted the worried expression of the kitsune.
"Yeah Tails?"
"Can we…go a way where there's less…people?"
Looking up, Sonic realized that people had begun to stop and stare at the two, scrutinizing the duo under their gaze. Normally, Sonic wouldn't mind when people stared at him. But one look at the fox was all he needed to see that they weren't looking at both of them, they were looking at Tails.
"Sure thing lil' buddy." He replied quickly and turned to walk down a narrower street. His arm wrapped around the fox's shoulder, an action he could tell was greatly appreciated.
Sonic berated himself for not realizing what was going on sooner. In his mind, it was his fault that the kitsune was now in a dejected state. The kid barely trusted him when they first met and was now forced to trust him completely in a foreign city with no one else to help him. Sonic sighed as he thought of ways to help the scared fox assimilate to a new life.
No matter where he goes, people will stare at him just cause of his extra tail. Reminds me of when people used to stare at me, but that stopped when I became known for stopping Robotnik. There's no way I can let the kid come with me to stop Botnik's attacks, he's way too young… All the methods Sonic thought of were either too dangerous or too uncomfortable for Tails. One day he's gonna need to overcome his fear of people, but throwing him out into the public would just lose all the trust I already built with him…so what do I do? He rubbed his head as the invalid options gave him a headache. Guess the only thing I can do now is make him trust me more, huh.
Sonic looked to his side and saw the same gloomy visage on his friend. His mind went to work again to figure out what he could say to lighten the mood. The kid probably thinks everything bad is his fault with all the bad luck mumbo jumbo they taught him. Maybe I could…
"Hey Tails?" He said unexpectedly.
"Yeah?"
"I'm uhh…sorry that I couldn't save the city." The words came out before he could realize that they could possibly make the situation worse. In his mind, he had wanted to let the kitsune know that not everything bad was his fault, and of course, the first thing he thought of was Robotnik's attack. He criticized himself for not having many friends to talk to and not knowing how to properly comfort people.
"Oh…that…" Tails said solemnly, as if in thought. "I…don't actually mind…"
Sonic looked at the young kitsune in surprise. Of all the things he expected Tails to reply with, that was definitely not one of them.
"You…you don't mind?" Sonic asked questionably, his own ideals conflicting with the conversation momentarily caused him to forget that he was meant to be comforting the kid. "What-what do you mean by that?"
"I mean…I don't mind that the city was…destroyed"
"You don't mind?" Sonic said in disbelief. "All those people, the buildings, the kids and you say you don't mind?"
Tails hung his head lower and looked off to the side. "…Yes."
"Tails…" Just from his tone, Tails could tell that Sonic was upset with him. "You…can't possibly mean that can you?" He's only four years old and yet he doesn't care that thousands of people lost their lives? Sonic questioned himself; the true extent of what Tails had went through in his life becoming even vaguer.
Tails bit his lower lip, seemingly scared of the possible repercussions his reply could have. With hints of hesitation, he answered, "Yes…I do mean it."
Sonic felt a strange sense of confusion mixed with anger cultivate deep inside him. He stopped walking and turned to face the kitsune. "Tails…why? All those families, you don't feel anything? All those innocent lives that are now dead? All the people you knew?"
"I do feel something…" Tails muttered in a barely audible voice. "I feel…glad that they're gone…"
Sonic felt a sudden surge of emotion as he recalled the distinct memory of his parents, his hands unconsciously balled into fists. "Tails, why?!" He practically screamed, realizing that their similarities ended here.
"Sonic! I-"
"They had families of their own, people who loved them! Now that they're dead, who knows what kind of sadness their families are going through! The only reason I fight is to protect people from dying to Robotnik! How can you say you're glad that they're gone when you survived?!"
Tails' body shook under the rebuke from his so called friend, not from fear however, but from his own anger. "They hated me Sonic!" His head snapped up revealing his teary blue eyes that glared at the hedgehog that looked at him in shock. "Every single day I was on my own! I had no family! No place to call home! Nobody cared about me! Why is it wrong for me to hate them after all they've done?! After beating me every day until I couldn't move? After stealing the few things I owned and breaking them right in front of me? Is it wrong for me to hate them?! Huh?! Sonic?!"
Sonic stared at the kitsune in shock. He had never seen Tails this enraged before and it quickly snapped him out of his own rage induced mentality.
"Tails-"
"So how can I be glad that they're gone?!" Tails interrupted, his gaze unwavering. "You wouldn't understand that! You've never been beaten half to death only to be spared just so they could do it again! You've never had to live completely alone, wondering what you would eat next or the next time you get any sleep! People look at you and don't see a freak! How could you possibly understand what I went through?!"
Sonic's mouth fell agape as he listened to the frustrated kitsune. The more he heard, the more he realized that Tails was right. He had never been in situations similar to the fox, not nearly to that extent. When his parents died, he still had Uncle Chuck to take care of him until he too died not long ago. Ever since then he had been alone. Due to this, Sonic couldn't even begin to imagine what it was like to live alone for his entire life at the young age of 4. The hatred the kid built up over the short years was probably greater than anything Sonic had ever felt.
"Tails…I…" The kitsune turned away from him and held his hands up to wipe away the tears trailing down his face. "I…I'm sorry…I didn't realize how hard it must have been for you…"
His quiet sniffles resounded through the street. Sonic took note of all the things Tails said and wrapped his arms around the crying fox in a comforting embrace.
"I know…I shouldn't feel this way…but it's because they're gone that I survived…"
Sonic gently rubbed the kitsune's back, guilt striking through him for causing another problem in their already tense relationship.
Other people had previously noticed the commotion and stood around the two. One quick glare from the blue hedgehog however sent them all back to doing their own routines.
"You…hate me now don't you…?" Tails muttered silently.
Moments passed with no reply. Tails shuffled uneasily in the hedgehog's hold, preparing for the worst if it were to happen.
"I don't…hate you. I just hate…your views of other people…" Sonic said, suddenly breaking the tense atmosphere.
Tails looked up at the blue hedgehog feeling a sense of relief, confusion, and sadness all at the same time.
"You…don't hate me?" He asked in bewilderment.
"Tails, I could never hate you." Sonic replied, a slight smile breaking across his features. "We'll…just have to work on your beliefs towards other people. Now come on, the train 'll be leaving soon." He said, eager to leave this dispute behind.
Sonic detached himself from the hug but kept an arm slung over the kitsune's shoulder. The two began to walk in silence through the secluded street. Though not a word was spoken between them, the tense ambiance had all but vanished. Sonic wondered what he could do to help the poor fox while Tails stared at the ground, wondering if Sonic did truly care for him like he said.
The blow of a train whistle was heard nearby, alerting the duo of its presence. Turning their heads up, they saw that the train station was now within sight.
"Come on lil' buddy," Sonic said with a small grin. "Don't wanna miss the train!"
Tails looked up at his friend, feigning his own smile. "Okay…and Sonic?"
"Hm?"
"It's…not your fault…"
Sonic looked at the fox in slight confusion before realization dawned in his eyes and he let out a chuckle. "Heh…thanks Tails."
The wooden door gave a small squeak as it was pushed open, allowing the dry air to whirl around the small room. A blue hedgehog stepped through the doorway followed by an orange fox with a crutch under his arm.
"So…what do ya think?" Sonic asked his younger companion.
"It…it's great, Sonic." Tails replied with a small smile.
"I know that it's not the cleanest, but it is warm and nice." He said sheepishly. "Let's sit down. That walk was tiring even for me!"
Sonic helped Tails walk over to a large couch before plumping himself down on it. Tails followed his move and found the couch to be surprisingly comfy.
There was a medium sized TV in the corner opposite the couch. An open doorway that lead to the kitchen was situated next to the hallway which he presumed lead to the bathroom and bedrooms. A few windows decorated some of the walls allowing sunlight to enter the room. Other than that, a coffee table sat in the middle of the room with seemingly random objects thrown about on top. All in all, it did seem rather cozy to the orange fox.
Sonic reached onto the coffee table and retrieved a remote which he then used to power on the TV. A news channel lit up the blank screen and on it, a news anchor could be seen talking into the camera.
"-Seems to be the work of the infamous Dr. Ivo Robotnik as evident by this picture taken by a fisherman off the coast of West Side Island. It appears that the doctor has taken ove-"
"OKAY let's try a different channel!" Sonic fumbled with the remote before the news broadcast changed into a different show about pirates and ships.
Sonic quickly looked to his side to see Tails' gloomy expression return after being reminded of the elephant in the room.
"So, ah, Tails? Want anything to eat?" He asked hopefully. Tails opened his mouth to reply but was beaten to it by the hedgehog, "Good! Uh, I'll be right back!"
Tails stared at the back of the retreating hedgehog as he disappeared into the kitchen leaving the kitsune by himself. The sound of a swordfight ensued from the TV but was ignored by all who heard it. Instead, Tails chose to focus on his own thoughts.
After all, you're staying with me now right?
He does care about me…but I can't do this to him… He thought as he heard the sound of the fridge being opened.
For most of the walk to Sonic's house, he had thought nonstop about what Sonic had said due to it reminding him of the dream he had prior to waking up from the invasion.
It's not your fault, Miles…
…Then why do I feel responsible? Tails asked himself repeatedly. It was my fault they all died, I just know it. But I can't let the same thing happen to Sonic, not while I know that sooner or later, it will happen.
His eyes shut as he encompassed himself fully into his thoughts. I can't run away from him, he'd just try and look for me. And with this leg, it'll be impossible to leave. He let out a sigh as his solution lead to a dead end.
I couldn't make him hate me either, he's just too nice. I knew he wouldn't let his feelings get in the way of something he cared deeply about. Telling me he was abandoning me just so I would live was proof of that. And yet…he doesn't hate me after I told him the truth of how I felt.
I know I should be sad that that method didn't work, but I can't help but feel a little happy that he cares so much about me…but that's just more reason for me to leave! I didn't leave in time to save the others, but this time, I can…
…Theodore…I was with him for about…two months? And all the others were even shorter than that…If I'm lucky, I might make it for a month before it happens…no…There must be some way! I don't wanna leave him but…if I don't…he'll die…
"I hope you like chili dogs!" Sonic said happily as he returned to the room. His eyes landed on the fox with his eyes shut and head laid back. "Tails?"
"Yeah, Sonic?" Tails responded after realizing that his friend had returned.
Sonic placed the plate on the table and took a seat next to the fox. "Is something wrong?"
"No-no everything's fine." Tails replied. "I was just…a little tired. That's all."
Sonic looked warily at him before slightly shrugging his shoulders and picking up a chili dog. "Well, alright...just eat up before it gets cold."
Tails eyed the chili dog questionably before picking one up himself. Sonic couldn't help but chuckle as Tails examined it curiously before taking a small bite out of it. Tails' eyes widened before he devoured the chili dog faster than Sonic himself had ever eaten one.
Sonic looked on in surprise as the small fox reached for another chili dog and proceeded to demolish it in record time.
"Woah lil' buddy, slow down!" He said happily as Tails gorged his fourth chili dog. "Geez, you sure eat fast don't cha?"
Before long, Sonic had lost count of how many chili dogs the fox had eaten.
This kid…he really had it rough… He thought solemnly as Tails unintentionally ignored his remarks. Come to think of it, he was like this when I first met him. His eyes glanced at a calendar that hung on an adjacent wall. That was…six days ago…wait…His gaze returned to the fox, wide open as a realization made itself known. If that was the first time I gave him food…and with the Robotnik attack and the hospital…that means he hasn't had anything to eat in six days?!
His stomach churned, the chili dogs he ate suddenly not feeling as good as they were meant to. If that's true…he shouldn't even be able to walk in his condition! He looked on in disbelief, not by how many chili dogs Tails ate, but by his strength after his unintended fast. I could ask him but, that would just bring back unwanted memories…no, the last thing I want to do is make him sad again.
Sonic looked on as the fox happily finished off the entire plate of chili dogs leaving the plate sparkling white. Tails leaned back on the couch and let out a content sigh.
One things for sure, I can't ever let him return to his old life.
The wind howled as it blew against the frame of the small house. All lights were shut leaving the area in a realm of complete darkness. A bedside digital clock glowed red, casting its shadow across the room as it read: 2:43 am.
Tails lay still in the soft bed. His eyes remained shut but he couldn't be more awake. The wind protruded through the otherwise silent night, keeping him awake with their violent roars. But as much as he wanted to believe that was the case, it wasn't.
What do I do…? He questioned as he tumbled and turned on the bed, trying to at least get a bit comfortable. I can't make the same mistake again.
His eyes opened and looked around the dark room. Despite not being the least bit tired, Tails had agreed to go to bed earlier as per Sonic's request. This of course led to his current situation of constantly shifting around on the bed while his chaotic thoughts prevented him from relaxing.
If only I never made him promise to never abandon me...then maybe I could do something. Gah! Why couldn't I control myself?! I knew his life would be in danger if I stayed with him...and yet...I couldn't think...just knowing he was alive should have been enough but...it wasn't.
He sighed for the umpteenth time and slowly sat up on the bed. He walked over to the blocked off window and lifted the blinds up slightly, standing on his tippy-toes to view the rampant storm beyond the thin glass. But even with his superior eyesight, nothing but darkness and snowflakes hitting the glass could be seen in the dense storm.
I can't just leave him… He sighed again as he moved away from the window and roamed into the hallway. It's snowing way too much… His feet stopped in the middle of the path looking back towards a door next to him. The sound of muffled snoring could be heard through the violent winds.
No…it's just that I don't want to leave him…
Tails navigated his way through the small house and found himself in the living room where he had been sitting in just a few hours ago.
"Wow, it's starting to snow quite a bit! How bout we head off to bed now before the wind gets too loud?"
He recalled what Sonic had said prior to their separation.
"What? Already? Soniiic, I just slept for two days in the hospital. I feel perfectly fine!"
Of course, he had lied to Sonic. He didn't feel 'perfectly fine', who was he kidding?
"Tails, the doctor said you needed to rest, now off to bed with you before I take you there myself!"
What was it about the hedgehog that made him want to follow his orders?
"Mmmh…fineee…"
Now that he thought about it, did he ever act like that with his previous caretakers? Theodore was more like a grandfather, one that Tails upheld with the most respect. Thomas was a fatherly type; Tails had mixed feelings about him. Ada was nice, but he didn't listen to her until it was too late. Last of all was Maria, she-
A sudden thunder strike broke him out of his thoughts as it silenced the very winds themselves and made his heart skip a beat.
No…not lightning too… He shook worriedly as he prepared for the next boom. A distant memory protruded itself through his frenzied thoughts, reminding him of a similar event in the past.
"Hmm? You're scared of thunder?"
"Mm…Somet-eep!"
"Hahaha!"
"I-I-It's not f-funny!"
The sound of his breathing steadied as he closed his eyes and concentrated on drowning out all other noise.
"Hah…Sorry Miles, it's just, I also used to be afraid of thunder!"
"R-R-Really? H-How did you get over it?"
"It's simple my dear boy…"
The distant voice of Theodore resounded in his mind. His legs shuffled across the room, passing by the coffee table and picking up a discarded screwdriver. Work… He stopped moving and placed his hands on the object in front of him. …Ignore… The thunder boomed far behind him, his ears unmoved at the sound. …Restore… The sound of shifting metal broke through the crashing winds. Nails clinked off each other in the darkness. …Complete.
...That's it! This will be how I prevent it!