A/N: He always loved the sunlight.
He can't remember when it started.
When tossed aside quips turned into leaving notes behind, when he stopped aiming for any bots decorated in warm orange and yellows, when he stopped pretending not to notice the child following behind him into the forest, and instead welcomed him into his arms.
But it didn't matter, because when he looks over to see the kid he's seen grown and mature into something not quite his doing, all parts his own and some parts so Robotnik it almost scared him, being held in the clutches of a man with a sneer he's only seen on a few, he knows that Tails is everything he will fight tooth and nail to keep safe.
"I'd hate to break up this great meet-and-greet," Sonic said, rushing to the kit's side with a roundhouse kick to Infinite's abdomen, and hooking the fox up to his feet by his shoulders. "But the kid and I really gotta go."
He gathered the fox into his arms, leaving a blue haze in the jackal's wake. He tucked his young friend under his chin, only to falter with the unexpected force of the boy's arms.
"Sonic, wait-"
Tails went rolling away, folding his arms and bouncing with the grass. A shaking force reverberated against his elbows and he gingerly lifted his head off the floor. Shaking, his eyes met with steeled boots before making way to the familiar mask.
"Where's my father?"
"Are you serious?" The crackling voice responded so bluntly it almost took the kit aback. "You think he'd care about a treacherous brat like you?
A twig broke behind them.
"Father!" Tails beamed. He pushed up from the dirt ground, slipping against his injuries. He didn't see Sonic gaining his bearings behind him, watching the scene with wary eyes.
The doctor straightened his back.
"Infinite, restrain Miles."
A breathed whisper, and Tails found his head shoved against the ground. There was shouting, something resembling his name, in the chaos of glitching sky and whirling in his ears.
"You're really going to aban-"
"You know nothing of hi-"
Tails' body was a mix of muffled senses and adrenaline. A wind had picked up turbulence around them, kicking up grass and some debris from some battle before. Infinite had long since left his side, but the wind had all but pinned him down. His fur matted to his skin, the moisture from the small cyclone dimming his vision.
"Sonic," he coughed, but his lungs felt like nails decorated its outsides. The dust kicked up from the wind fogged the air, and Tails could barely see his own hands, let alone the blue blur.
"Hang on, Miles- Stay there!"
An opening cleared, and he could see exactly what he feared.
The jackal is holding Sonic's hand behind his back, his brother's cheek pressed against the dirt, and he brings all his childhood fantasies to life. He moved without ever intending to.
Sonic's saved him countless times before- showered him with encouragement, bringing him courage when there was only a tiny spark of defiance in his chest- and his twin tails were spinning behind him, landing a propelled kick to the jackal's shoulder.
Their opponent shoved to the ground some ways away, he barely registered Sonic shouting his name amongst the storm, his fingers a steady weight against his forearms.
"Little man, we gotta go."
"Sonic, but- my father!"
"We're in no condition to fight. There's a resistance gathering. We can make sure you're safe. I can make sure you're alright."
Eggman stands across the grassy hills, and Tails gently pushes against Sonic's instinct to hide him behind himself. This time he wanted to step forward.
"You wouldn't do that to me, would you? I know you love me more than that."
Eggman swallowed.
"Miles. Please," he smiled. "You wouldn't listen to reason. I just had to give you a little push."
Sonic all but scooped the child into his arms as he ran off, and if Tails' shoulders began to shake and a wetness slowly grew where his face was buried into his shoulder- well, they decided they didn't need to mention that, either.