Tails flew as fast as he could. The cold air whipping through his tails as he moved forward as fast as they would carry him. He looked down and saw the blue streak below, following the path he had previously made, taking them to their brother. Their brother who needed help.
Tails's heart sped in his chest. His brother. His big, strong, older brother. The brother that seemed impenetrable. The brother who seemed invincible. The brother who was a rock in his otherwise topsy turvy life.
Knuckles was intimidating at first. He was so strong. His voice was so deep. Tails had been afraid to talk to him. He had still been a stranger.
Sonic dived in with no fear, trying to work with him, joking with him, trying to get to know him. But Sonic was brave. Tails was not.
So Tails kept his distance at first. He would talk to his red brother on and off when they played, when they ate, but not much more than that. He was happy to sit back and watch, socializing more with Sonic until he felt more comfortable.
Then he had found himself on the top of the roof one night. A couple weeks after they had moved in. After they had a new home. He wasn't able to sleep that night. The room was small, it felt suffocating. Tails had needed air. He was afraid. He didn't even know why.
He did not know how long he had sat on the roof before he picked up another presence. A large presence that made its way slowly toward him. He felt a moment of fear at first, but quickly calmed when he felt no ill will, no anger coming from the approaching form. He felt a gust of air hit his fur as the solid body sat roughly next to him, just far enough away so there was no physical contact.
Tails had expected him to say something. Tails had wanted to say something. But somehow words died on his tongue. And so he sat, still, staring forward, and silently taking comfort that he was no longer alone.
"Is everything alright, Fox?" he had heard his brother ask. His words cutting through the silence like a knife through bread.
"I think so," he had answered, partial truth, partial lie.
He watched out of the corner of his eye as his large brother's gaze turned toward him ever so slightly. He felt small under the vision of the violet eyes staring at him. Small…but…somehow…safe. The eyes were reading him, and Tails came to realize that there was no lying to these eyes. These eyes commanded truth.
"I don't know…" He continued, unsure why he was compelled to continue. The eyes did not waver and continued to look toward him with…was that concern?
"This planet is so strange," he continued, unable to stop himself. "Everyone is so nice…I feel like this could truly be my new tribe…and yet…" He trailed off when he felt a small lump in his throat. He took a deep breath and willed it down. The eyes beside him never wavered and somehow gave him the strength to continue.
"I…I've never had a family before…" he started, his hands wringing together in his lap, his eyes drifting down. "Even back home, if that was even home, no one wanted me. They didn't like my tails…even my parents…" his voice failed him again, but he took another deep breath. "I was surrounded by others, and yet, still alone. I guess….I fear…that even this family will leave me. That this isn't permanent. That i'm meant to be alone…" He no longer could keep them in…the tears began to flow down his cheeks and he let out a shuddering breath, his tails drooping down around his waist.
There was no interruption. No counter argument. No telling him that he was crazy to think that. There was just silence. There was just listening. He listened…
After awhile the tears slowed. He sniffled loudly and rubbed his gloved hands under his eyes, wiping away the traitorous tears that would not stop. He laid his head in his arms and buried his face.
The silence lasted for an immeasurable amount of time. Minutes? Hours? He didn't know. But what happened next surprised him, more than anything had before.
The red body scooted closer. Close enough that there was now contact. He could feel his tiny arm pressed up against muscle, strength, protection. He found himself leaning closer, pressing further into the strong body, willing himself to have even a fraction of the strength his companion possessed.
"I do not pretend to know what you have lived through," the deep voice started. Tails found himself shifting to look his face. The violet eyes were no longer on him, but staring at the stars above. "But I do know this, you are not meant to be alone. You are an asset, you are special, you are stronger than you know."
"I'm not strong…" Tails started, ashamed of his fear. "I feel like I'm scared…all the time…"
"To show fear, to show your needs…that is strength." Knuckles continued. "Your tribe was ignorant to leave you. To not see your strength and compassion. I will not be ignorant like they were…"
"I will not leave you…" The implied words hung in the air and Tails felt his chest tighten again, but this tightening was different. It was not from fear, it was not from anxiety…it was relief, it was family, it was home.
Tails turned himself and wrapped his small arms around the bigger frame and pulled himself close, burying his small head in the strong, soft chest next to him. He felt the muscles tense, almost as if in surprise, but he didn't care. He was not letting go. Eventually Tails felt strong arms wrap around his back and pull his small frame inward. He let out a contented sigh, reveling in the strength and safety, his tears mixing with the red fur on his companions chest. He felt a soft hum come from the chest and the vibration soothed him more than words ever could.
It was at that moment that Knuckles, that Sonic, that everyone became his true family. His brothers. Because if something this strong would never leave him, then nothing could scare him ever again.
Tails turned his mind back to the present, his determination steeled. His brother had always been strong for him. He would be strong for Knuckles. He had to be.
He pushed forward following Sonic as fast as he could. it wasn't much longer before Sonic stopped and disappeared behind a large boulder. Tails slowly descended and followed his blue brother into the small cave.
When he got inside he saw Sonic knelt down next to a form on the ground. Tails's heart constricted in his chest. His brother's form.
"Knux?" he heard Sonic ask. "Knux? Please answer me…please be alive…"
He watched as his fast brother moved his hand slowly to the other's neck. He saw the condensed breath exit his body as let out a large breath.
"He's still alive!" Sonic yelled, looking at Tails, relief filling his features. "He moved slightly…maybe the coat is working…"
Tails still hadn't found the strength to speak. He slowly moved forward and let out a strangled breath when he finally came to the form on the floor.
His red brother, his strongest brother, lay on the floor, unmoving. His face was slack, his eyes closed, almost as if in sleep. He looked so young. He looked so vulnerable. This was not how it was supposed to be. He was supposed to be the strong one. But something about seeing him like this, seeing him in need, gave Tails more strength than he had ever felt before.
He pulled out one of his gadgets and ran it over the form, the machine spilling out information. Temperature. Heart rate. Breathing.
"He's really cold…" Tails murmured to himself. "But he's definitely alive. If we don't get him warm soon…" Tails couldn't bring himself to finish the sentence.
"But you can lift him." Sonic stated. "Come on."
Sonic readjusted the coat around his brother's shoulders, pulled the scarf tighter, trying to cover up any cracks in the warm armor he had created. Tails gently brushed his small hand over his brother's cold forehead. Then without another second wasted, he grabbed Knuckles around the wrist and lifted.
Oof. He forgot how much heavier Knuckes was than Sonic. But he would be strong. He had to be.
Sonic looked up and met Tail's eyes. "You got him?" the silent words crossed from one pair of eyes to the other.
"Yes." Tails thought. "I've got him." And he did.