Day Seventeen, Prompt: Touch Aversion/Leave Me Alone
He spent weeks trying to keep his space from his friends to prevent their own infections, after the defeat of the Metal Virus, Sonic is not back to normal just yet.
Everything was back to normal. Back in order as it should be. The Metal Virus has finally stopped spreading throughout villages and communities. Families were reunited with joyful hugs and kisses left on children's cheeks from their mothers. They didn't seem afraid to have contact with one another, they knew the virus was non-existent. No longer a danger of keeping them apart and separated.
Shadow's infection has since been cured. No lingering side effects of any kind that should bring any concern. Tangles and Knuckles too have been cured with similar results.
Sonic, on the other hand, was too physically fine, however, his mental game seems to be of no change.
He's been at home sitting and slouching around in his bedroom for the last few days. No one has seen him, not even Tails even though they live in the same household. Sonic hasn't eaten. Too afraid he'll find himself with Tails at the kitchen. Not because he thinks he'll question him and how he's been acting but more so because he's so afraid of getting too close that could risk contact.
He knows the Metal Virus is gone and that he can finally be at ease and rest from the many restless days he's had to go through but the fact is he couldn't relax. He still felt on edge, careful with every step with every action because Chaos, he was so certain he could still feel the effects of his infection on him. Swirling and spreading throughout his pelt despite no real evidence of such. It's like he's experiencing phantom pain but no real pain. There's nothing there.
He's trying so hard to get rid of this feeling, showering up to four times a day, scrubbing and washing his feet to the point where he'll accidentally scratch himself a little too hard with the sponge. It hurts and leaves red rash-like marks throughout his body. He scrubs at his quills so frequently that the occasional quill will fall into the tub below and flow down near the drain only to be stopped due to it being too big to go down.
The hottest and coldest water didn't help. Changing the sheets or cleaning thoroughly didn't help calm his anxiety despite the fact he knew the Virus couldn't transfer to nonorganic objects.
His mind was playing games with him, mostly due to the result of lack of sleep during the last couple of weeks. He has a terrible headache but can't find it in him to stand up and go out to find any medication. He doesn't want to ask Tails because regardless he's too close even if he's behind the door and hands him the medicine bottle. It's still too close for his liking.
Ignoring the rumble in his stomach was getting harder to ignore. He had a few snacks hidden around his room but they have all been depleted and none remain. He needs to get over this fear because this is getting ridiculous. He knows darn well he doesn't have his infection anymore. He's cured, he's fine. His head just won't understand that. It frustrated him.
A knock on the door takes him out of his trance. He's sitting on the furthest corner to the left, furthest from the door. He doesn't say anything hoping that if he ignored Tails who he was pretty sure was knocking he'd leave him alone just as he'd been doing for the last few days.
"Sonic can we talk, please? You've been in there for a while and I'm really worried about you. Can I come in?" Tails' voice sounds muffled from behind the door but his message is heard clearly.
Sonic shakes his head to himself knowing that Tails can't see his response. He can't find the words, they are stuck in his throat like a plug had been put in place to prevent anything from going in and out. It was getting hard to breathe, he realized.
He doesn't say anything and he isn't expecting it because the last few times Tails has come to knock, he's left every time he receives no answer, but when Tails opens that door and peeks inside to find a very troubled Sonic off to the corner shaking to himself is what Sonic makes him want to scream to get out but he can't do it. The two are silent, no words exchanged between them. Gaze trapped between one another.
It's Sonic who looks away first trying to eye everything else but the fox in front of him. He dreads his presence so much. He hates that he feels this way, especially about his brother.
Tails takes this as a silent sign that he can come in, he didn't get any protests from Sonic so surely he was okay to walk in.
Over the past week, Tails has been trying endlessly to get Sonic to tell him what's going on. He's not sure but he thinks he has an idea. He's tried to get Sonic to open up to him, literally. Yet his efforts prove to be fruitless.
He closed the door behind him making sure his Tails were out of the way so they wouldn't be latched between the door and the frame. Tails realizes that the door hadn't been locked all this time. The lock itself was broken, there was no way Sonic could feasibly lock the door. Tails could have just as easily walked in since day one from when this all started but he simply wanted to respect Sonic's ask for privacy regardless of his worries. A terrible guilt hung at his heart.
"I made some noodle soup, I can bring you some if you'd like," Tails attempts.
Sonic shakes his head. He objects despite how loud his stomach is growling and he knows Tails can hear it from where he is too.
Tails steps out briefly and for a moment Sonic thinks he finally gave up trying but no, he was wrong. That fox came right back with a bowl of hot steaming soup in hand even if he declined it. He supposed Tails wasn't going to take a no for an answer this time.
"Come on, here, eat. I can hear your stomach from practically a mile away Sonic," Tails informed as he pointed to his pointy large ears.
Tails tries to close the space between them and Sonic thinks he is walking a little too fast and he panics, "Don't get any closer!" he expresses as he holds out a hand to stop him.
Tails stops not expecting his brother to stop him. Since he's closer now he can see just how worse off Sonic appears than he had been days earlier. His fur looked a shade darker than he remembered it being. There's parts along his body that are red and bruised. A wave of concern washes over his face and Sonic can barely look at him. The blue hero is so ashamed of how far he's let this get. Tails is going to hate him.
Yet despite that, he doesn't. Tails decides to sit down where he is now and sets the soup down on the floorboards. He slides the bowl across towards Sonic and it taps at his foot at the tip of his shoe. The blue one stares at it, appreciating Tails' intentions but is still apprehensive nonetheless.
"Come on, I know you're hungry. Please? For me?"
He hated when Tails pulled that card. It always made him guilty no matter the situation.
As much as he wanted to push that bowl back to him, he was hungry and there was no denying it. He held the bowl worryingly in his hands and brought the spoon to his mouth before eventually drowning it down entirely. He was so hungry, he could honestly go for another bowl.
With a hand it slid over his muzzle he set the bowl aside and they were right back where they were. They sat in silence.
"Sonic, are you okay? Please be honest," the young fox questioned.
He didn't give an immediate response, he looked at Tails with eyes full of sorrow and defeat. He brought his knees up and set his chin atop. He shook his head.
"You know it's over right?"
Sonic nodded.
"But you still feel like you're infected or still feel that on you."
Again, he nodded.
"Is there anything I can do?"
Sonic shrugged.
Tails sighed, "What if, just a thought here, what if you let me hug you?"
Sonic sat straight up, instant fear coursing through his veins.
"I think it'll help, it will help make you realize that nothing is going to happen. Can we try?"
Sonic seemed hesitant but believe it or not he obliged. Tails slid closer to him and he could just see how much Sonic was tensing. Words are wanting to be said, to get away from him but he doesn't. Maybe he does need this. Tails is usually right, when isn't he?
Tails just waits for a second allowing Sonic to get his breathing under control and when he finally does, his two tails wrap around his brother's waist as he leans against him, setting his head on the blue shoulder. Not exactly a hug but he didn't want to go too far if Sonic was already this tense. They sit there for a few moments, Tails eventually hears a large sigh be let out, and suddenly his body laxes. It's relaxed and he wasn't expecting it but Sonic wraps his hands around him and he does too as well.
He feels guilty for letting Sonic get to this point but he is beyond grateful that Sonic has had somewhat of a breakthrough.
"See, told you. Nothing bad is going to happen."
Sonic hums and sits like that, not really caring for the time that passed in the world.
Posting twice in one day?! Yes, like I said I would like to catch up. I'm writing during my 3D art class. It's okay, I dislike this class anyway. If I don't finish, I'm pretty sure I'll try to when I'm waiting for the train home. Anyway, thank you for being patient. :)