-few months later-
Mephiles cleaned the vacant rooms making sure they were presentable for new customers, as he made the bed he felt a cold breeze come in from the window causing the hoglet that was clinging to his chest to stir.
Pausing Mephiles looked down at Sonic who was shivering a bit, it had gotten colder in the city this past week and it seemed to be getting to the tiny thing that hadn't really grown much at all in the past few months.
Not wanting the hoglet to freeze he went over and closed the window and stared at the streets below for a minute, his mind wandering.
Sonic shuddered and slowly looked up at Mephiles who was just standing there staring out the window, curious the hoglet turned a bit to see what was so interesting and he noticed all the people going about their daily business and cars driving up and down the road, Sonic giggled at the speed they were going and for some reason felt drawn to it so much so that he reached out a hand to touch the glass.
Mephiles' ears pricked at the sound of giggling and he looked down to see Sonic trying to get closer to the window that he couldn't quite reach yet, thankfully.
"Oh no, you're not touching that window." Mephiles shook his head, pulling the hoglet away and closing the curtains. "We need to get back to work."
Sonic looked back up at the gray hedgehog, his head bobbing as he bounced a bit, still clinging to the adult's fur.
"Alright settle down." Mephiles commanded, holding the hoglet close trying to get him to fall back to sleep which to his relief Sonic calmed and laid his head back against the fluffy white fur. "At least you know the drill."
Without another word he got back to work and several hours later he finally finished.
Mephiles then went back to their room and set Sonic on the bed for a minute as he cleaned himself up.
Sonic rolled over onto his stomach and slowly pushed his front up as he watched Mephiles walk back into the room, the hoglet then got his knees underneath himself and using as much energy he could muster he pushed himself up to where he started to crawl.
Mephiles glanced over at Sonic and smiled slightly at the sight of the hoglet giggling with glee as he crawled around on the blankets.
Sonic crawled over to the edge of the bed and peered down but the height made the hoglet a bit dizzy to where he started to sway, suddenly he felt something grab him from behind causing him to squeak in surprise before bursting into giggles when he was brought face to face with the adult hedgehog.
"You need to be more careful." Mephiles growled slightly but the only response he got was more giggling from the hoglet who put his tiny paws over his mouth like it was too funny to stop laughing. "Yeah laugh it up fuzzball."
While Sonic continued his giggle fit Mephiles proceeded to change the hoglet's diaper, once done cleaning it up and feeding the tiny thing he laid down on the bed before setting the hoglet on his stomach where it started to bounce a bit.
Mephiles watched Sonic closely as he continued the bouncing motion before he stopped and crawled up and over his chest to Mephiles pale muzzle where he put his tiny paws on the top of the gray hedgehog's muzzle and pressed his forehead up against his.
The gray hedgehog paused at the sudden motion the tiny hoglet made which turned out to be nuzzling, with a slight smile Mephiles returned the affectionate gesture as he closed his eyes as well, like Sonic had done.
After a few minutes Sonic backed up a bit and snuggled up on Mephiles' chest gripping the fluffy white fur as he started to drift off to sleep.
Mephiles chuckled slightly and put his hand over the tiny frame but paused feeling something in the blue hoglet's mind.
'Good night dada.' Sonic's mind whispered as he fell fast asleep.
Mephiles stared at Sonic for a minute before gently stroking its tender blue quills. "Goodnight child." He whispered back before laying his head against the pillows to rest.
-next day-
Mephiles sat watching the news on the tv, it was his day off and he was just relaxing as he kept an eye on the seemingly restless hoglet.
"Maybe it's time for you to see the outdoors." Mephiles suggested, watching the hoglet who was sucking on his tiny foot as he rolled a bit on his back. "Though out there is a dangerous place, full of ruthless people who would want nothing more than to see others suffer." he hissed, staring at his hand that was now surrounded by a dark mist as his anger grew at the thought. "They don't care about anyone but themselves and money, this world is cruel and heartless and I don't care what happens to any of those selfish mortals." he snarled, clenching his hand into a fist but he paused feeling something touch his other hand that lay limp by his side.
Mephiles looked down to see Sonic pawing at his hand, carefully he pulled his hand away and picked the hoglet up by the scruff as he sat up a bit more, he then set the tiny thing on its back on his hand where it stayed and watched him with his big curious eyes.
Sonic tilted his head slightly and pawed at the air a bit wanting to reach the adult hedgehog.
Mephiles chuckled and brought his head closer to the hoglet where he gently pressed his muzzle against its peach chest/belly and nuzzled it causing Sonic to giggle with glee, Mephiles smiled slightly and continued the nuzzling motion that Sonic seemed to enjoy, he then moved up a bit where he put his nose to the tiny things neck area and took in the infants scent.
Sonic giggled a bit more and put his tiny blue paws on Mephiles' pale muzzle making the gray hedgehog chuckle a bit before carefully putting his thumbs to Sonic's little hands causing the hoglet to giggle more in the hedgehog's comforting grasp.
Mephiles gently nuzzled Sonic a bit more before finally pulling away allowing the hoglet to calm down, Sonic let out a tired yawn and he slowly fell back to sleep, Mephiles then pulled the hoglet close to his chest where it lay quietly in his arms.
A few hours later he was called down by the manager but he didn't want to disrupt the hoglet's nap so he laid it down on the mattress and pulled the corner of the blanket over its tiny form before turning and leaving to see what was the problem.
Mephiles went down to the front desk where he found Knuckles and Amy talking, ears flicking a bit he stopped not far away and stared at them unblinkingly.
"Is something the matter?" Mephiles queried.
"Oh, no not at all." they answered, looking at Mephiles who stayed silent waiting for an answer. "It's payday, also since you worked so hard these past few months we decided to give you a raise."
Mephiles took the money and gave them a short nod. "Thank you."
"Your welcome." Amy smiled.
"Anything else?" Mephiles asked, after checking at how much there was.
"No, you are free to go." Knuckles replied.
"Alright, good bye." Mephiles nodded slightly before turning to leave.
"Well better get back to work I guess." Knuckles shrugged, walking away.
"Okay." Amy agreed, typing on the computer.
Mephiles went back to his room and put the money away before walking over to the small lump on the bed where Sonic was sleeping though something wasn't right, he remembered Sonic always cried not long after he was set down, feeling concerned all the sudden he hurried over and pulled the blanket away but he froze finding the lump was just a tennis ball.
Panicked, the gray hedgehog searched the room remembering the last time something like this happened Sonic ended up with a broken arm though that was months ago and something about this was very strange, quickly he went back to the bed where he put a hand on the place Sonic once was and closing his eyes he focused his power, when he opened them he saw a mist memory of Sonic who was sleeping peacefully on the bed where he had left him but not long after he saw another mist figure who he couldn't make out due to the cloak the dark misty stranger wore.
Mephiles watched the memory play out his whole form seething in rage as he watched the stranger pick Sonic up and replace him with the tennis ball before going over and climbing out the window that whoever closed behind them that was when the misty scene slipped away leaving him in so much anger that he took the ball and flattened it as he clenched his hand into a fist, and with a savage snarl he tore it to pieces before throwing the remains of the ball against the wall.
"Whoever stole my child is not going to survive my wrath." Mephiles promised darkly as he held up his fist before opening it quickly to reveal claws that were sharper and deadlier than ever. "I'm going to get Sonic back and I will kill anyone who dares stand in my way."
With that he melted into the floor where he was just a shadow that left the hotel after leaving a note of course and he went through the city determined to find what had been taken from him for he too had grown quite attached and he would do anything to get him back even if it meant killing everyone in the city, he was going to find his son no matter what.
-Sonic-
The tiny blue hoglet squirmed in the strangers grasp he was utterly terrified especially since he knew what strangers did to him and what his adoptive father warned him about other people, and knowing this was a bad person he kicked and scratched at the stranger anything and everything to try to get away but the stranger simply ignored him as they hurried through the city further and further away from Mephiles who probably didn't even notice he was gone.
Shaking off the worrying thought Sonic looked around noticing they were slowing down, he watched fearfully as the stranger opened a door in a dark alley somewhere and entered the building, it looked like some sort of abandoned apartment for it was dark and dreary, it was also vague of any furniture besides a broken wood chair here and there, there was only one window that was boarded up letting very little light in, it was a strange place to be indeed.
He watched quietly in confusion as the stranger went to the back room where a staircase was located leading down to possibly a basement, they went down the pitch black stairs and at the bottom they came across a locked door that the stranger easily unlocked before entering, they went through a short hall to the left and came across another door this one was metallic and nowhere near old for it looked quite slick and shining like clean metal.
Once the stranger typed in the passcode on the keypad the doors slid open and they went in.
Unsure where they were Sonic looked around but found it to be some sort of laboratory, cabinets and counters along with shelves lined three of the walls while on the far end was a large computer with an equal sized keyboard in front of it, in the middle of the room sat an examining table and a tray next to it with an assortment of sharp tools on it.
Warnings went off in Sonic's mind and he instinctively grabbed the strangers fur which happened to be a sweater though that only made him panic more for he didn't have the comfort he desperately needed, he wanted so badly to scream in terror but he knew it would only make matters worse and he also knew Mephiles was nowhere near so he could be heard, he was doomed.
"Did you get it?"
Startled Sonic looked over to see someone walking towards them, the new stranger was some sort of creature Sonic didn't recognize probably due to only being around Mephiles who was a hedgehog as he was one himself, but this one was not furry like the ones he had seen before but this stranger only had some hair which was located under its nose and it's round form showed how much he liked to cheat on his diet, he wore a red jacket and reflective glasses that kept you from seeing his eyes.
"Yes, but he practically tore up my sweater and gloves." The stranger holding him snarled, taking him by the scruff and holding him out to the second. "Here take him."
Sonic glanced at the stranger in front of him who was reaching to grab him, but he just watched as he was passed off to the second stranger and not really having much way to defend himself he just curled up a bit as he was held up in the air by his scruff.
The second stranger observed his small trembling form, slowly the stranger brought a finger to Sonic's chin and moved his head in different angles to get a better look at him.
"Yes, he is the perfect test subject." The second stranger decided, a sinister smile creeping across his face.
Sonic understood that word and it made his body tremble uncontrollably in fear but he found a bit of bravery and with a small savage snarl he pulled back before biting the stranger's finger.
"Now this is adorable." The one holding him mused, watching him struggle to bring pain to the finger that wasn't the least bit phased by the soft gums of the tiny hoglet. "And you think he is dangerous."
The first stared at them completely unamused for his hands and arms were covered in scratches the hoglet had inflicted. "Just wait for it." He growled, glaring at the man who was holding Sonic.
Sonic pinned his ears finding this wasn't doing anything and getting quite angry he stuck his tiny claws into the finger and with the full intent in hurting the man he knew to be a scientist of some sort he pulled his paws down successfully slicing at the man's finger drawing blood.
"Ouch!" The man roared, dropping the hoglet who fell to the floor with a thud.
"Told you." The first snickered.
Quickly Sonic rolled over and tried to get away but something suddenly pushed him down effectively pinning him to the floor making him squeak and cry out in startled pain.
"Careful we don't want to damage it." The man said, watching the robot lift its foot before picking the terrified hoglet up by its waist and in being so small the robot had to be sure to use only two claws even then his whole middle was trapped in the tight grasp. "Now, let's see how much power you really possess."
Sonic trembled in fear and quickly hid his face behind his arms but he only got even more frightened when he felt himself being pulled away and set on a hard surface that he recognized just by the feel of it.
Completely panicked he quickly got onto his hands and knees before crawling away to the edge of the table where he found himself to be a long ways up even higher than the bed he and his father slept in and staring at the ground below from this height made him quite dizzy causing him to sway a bit.
Suddenly someone grabbed him from behind and made him lay down on his back, Sonic struggled against their grip desperately trying to get away but it was to no avail for the hand was pressing him down keeping him from escaping.
Someone else then took hold of Sonic's arm and pulled it to the side where it was easier to get to, the man then took a syringe and stuck the needle into the hoglet's tender skin making him cry out in terrorized fear.
"Now, now, it wasn't that bad." The man cooed, an evil smile playing across his face.
Sonic whimpered from the pain as tears flooded his vision, but it didn't last very long for now he was slowly starting to go limp feeling strangely tired all the sudden he looked up at them realizing they had put a sedative into him causing him to slowly fall asleep.
It was definitely clear to him now that he was in a lab and he was the lab rat.. again. Automatically his body shut down in complete fear and his eyelids slowly drifted shut as everything practically yelled at him to sleep which he had no objections to knowing he was alone again and that his torture was inevitable he was definitely doomed to be an experiment forever and he accepted his fate due to being so defenseless and scared not to mention lonely.
"And he is out." The man declared, letting go and spreading the hoglets limp limbs out.
"Robotnik, aren't you forgetting something?" The stranger growled slightly.
"Oh of course not." The man chuckled. "You will get your payment soon but first I want to take this hoglet here into further examination." He said, taking a sharp surgery knife and pulling Sonic's arm down a bit so it was a bit closer to its side he then put the tip of the blade to the tiny hoglet's shoulder where he pressed lightly and traced it down to the back of Sonic's hand making blood seep from the wound. "Time to uncover its innermost secrets."
