Chapter 22 - World of Adults
"..." Sonic reacted with shock.
Seeing Chiara fall to the ground and not move, he thought she might have died for a second or two. Staring hard at her body and seeing her breathing, the dread he felt slowly went away. Hearing shallow voices and movement, his ears perked up from what some of them were saying. Feeling his fur begin to stand on end, he looked around cautiously. Seeing that the amputee was doing the same thing, he stopped moving and stared at a direction.
Following his line of sight, the remaining spectators were still standing in the same place. Something about them not moving on seemed to cause the boy to develop anxiety. Observing the half dozen or so onlookers carefully, their eyes seemed to be not focusing directly on him or Speed. Thinking about where they were looking, he turned his head. Stopping and seeing the eyepatch woman on the ground, it made him feel that something bad would happen if they leaved her alone.
"...Sonic..."
"Y-Yeah?" the boy answered. Nervously looking back at him, he was staring at a certain area amongst the shop tents. His head lowered a little and kneeled down.
"...grab her purse...watch her...I'll get cloak..." he stated in a low tone. Taking off her handbag, he handed it to him.
"O-Okay," the orphan said. Holding onto the bag, he walked to be in front of the woman. Facing the distant remaining people watching, being in the line of path of their gaze was unsettling.
"Why are those guys looking at her mostly?"
"...Scavengers...possibly rapists..." he answered and stood up.
Glancing at where the outerwear was on the ground, he continued to stare at the same area. Walking backwards at an angle, he kept in his sights the area of spectators and where the other two were. When at a certain distance, he saw a series of movements of people getting closer. Not quick movements that caused someone to be alarmed. However, they never went out into the open though some got behind objects and structures to be out of his view.
Stopping and watching, an awkward standing silence came. Seeing the young hedgehog stand guard nervously, none of the onlookers moved either. Deeming it was clear to continue, he walked backwards again. Seeing the cloak on the ground, he reached down to get it. Standing up and putting it on, the amputee walked back to the two.
'Hmm...there must be an organized ring,' Speed thought from seeing more silhouettes move in the background. Reaching the downed female and guarding boy, he could see that the child was overly concerned.
"Speed...there is so many of them," the orphan whispered feeling his eyes widen from apprehension. He felt a hand pat on his head twice before stopping.
"...keep in sights...do not...focus directly," he informed. His action seemed to push down the swelling anxiety Sonic was having.
Kneeling down, he grabbed Chiara's right arm. Pulling her up to a sitting position, the young hedgehog got on the other side to hold her up. Putting his head toward her left torso, he let go of her arm and grabbed her clothes around her waist. Getting into a squat position and pulling her back to lean on him, Sonic pushed to get her forward more. With her stomach on his left shoulder, he continued pulling while standing up.
With her on his shoulder and feeling secure, he looked back down at the child. Seeing him look less stressed and tense, his cautiousness was still high. Trying to not look directly at where the scavengers were staring from, the grip on her handbag increased. Making adjustments to have her balanced without his hand having to hold her from falling off, he turned around. Glancing at the lurking spectators, a small band of eyes were staring at him.
"...let's move...we need to pick...up something before...leaving," he informed and began walking in a direction. Nodding his head and following beside him, they were going left and away from the onlookers.
"Will they follow us?"
"...it's possible..."
"Should we run?"
"...not necessary..."
Getting back into the shopping district, it looked much fuller and crowded than going through it earlier. Hearing Speed mention for the child to walk in front of him, Sonic did so without question. Seeing all new faces and the volume of chatter and barter, it made spotting the previous onlookers harder. Following the instruction that the amputee gave, they traversed to the left most portion of the strip. Throughout travelling near tents and people, both hedgehogs glanced around them for any followers. Feeling relieved from getting back into an opening area without things being so close, there were far less people now.
"I remember when coming here with my village, it was a lot of people from where we were standing. Being in it was really different than what I thought," the boy informed while continuing to walk forward. "The villages around would hold certain event days where traders are brought in. The chiefs stated that it was a way to prepare ourselves if we go to a town or city...just never thought it would be like this up close."
"...rather progressive...for villages to do...assimilations..." Speed remarked and headed straight for a specific area.
"Assim...ilations?"
"...taking something elsewhere...and practicing it...to understand and...adapt."
"...meaning...the doing of the mock trading shops?" the boy asked and saw the hoodie move down and up. Looking at where they were going, there was a sign that seemed to resemble a cooking pot. It reminded him of the big ones that the cooks had back in Oberi village. Instead of being like the tents around them, it was part of a building with an opening. From the outside, there was no one standing near the opened door.
"Is it a food place?"
"...relatively...yes..."
"Never been in one before. Does it have good food?" the boy asked looking back at the adult.
"...for the right price...you can get...food," Speed answered glancing to the left and right.
"You make it sound as if it were bad."
"Can...be," he clarified. Looking back forward at the building, someone came out of the opening. Not reacting, he continued forward while the child turned around to walk backwards.
"...why are we going there? You like it there?" Sonic asked curious.
"...no...it offers...coverage from pursuers..."
"...owner is strict...about who enters..."
"...what does that mean?" the questioned a little confused by the answer.
"It means squirt that you keep your nose clean," a man stated near the entrance. Turning around, both stopped and looked up. Towering elephant man breed stood over both of them. Seeing the tall anthropomorphic's gaze stare at them, he had crossed his arms over his chest. Wearing worn attire of a typical biker gang, he fit the imposing figure aspect.
"You don't, then I stomp on you. Understand?"
"Y-Yes sir!" Sonic stated with both wonder and caution.
"Haven't seen your ugly face in a while shorty," the bouncer began then squatted down. Even though he lowered himself, his squat height was still taller than the two hedgehogs. Dropping his arms between his thighs, he squinted at Speed.
"Whatcha' got there?"
"...female stoat...an orphan...bleeding hand...money..." Speed answered still staring up.
"So you can talk...you lying to me before shorty?" the larger man asked then frowned. "I hate dealing with liars."
"...got...transplant tongue...recently...still difficult...using it."
"I say. You sound like a damned old man. Ha!" the elephant remarked with a loud snort. Standing up, he crossed his arms over his chest again. His trunk moved and pointed to the entrance.
"You three can go in...but it's going to-" he trailed off hearing coin flicks. Seeing two small metal discs flipping up to his eyes sight, he grabbed them with his snout. Putting them in his vest breast pocket, he looked down and smirked at the two.
"And that's why I like you shorty...you know the drill," the man mentioned then looked at the kid. Seeing the boy become more rigid made him chuckle.
"You learn well from shorty squirt. He's got smarts."
"Y-yes sir. I will," the child nodded a couple of times.
Seeing Speed go through the doorway, he walked quickly to catch up. Upon entering the building, they walked down a relatively long hallway. The floor had old thin tile that hadn't been polished or waxed in years. The walls were a musty beige that did not look appealing. Old incandescent bulbs hanged down from the ceiling to provide illumination and a sense of heat to the air. Looking up at the ceiling, it was unusually high and dark.
Seeing various things on the wall, Sonic continued walking forward while turning his head left and right. Advertisements of all sorts were listed detailing an assortment of services, groups, information, and job postings. Wondering if this place was where Speed got jobs and money, he glanced at the amputee. Seeing him not stopping while carrying Chiara, he was heading to the end of the passageway. Hearing something faint around him that made a chill go down his spine, the boy fast walked to be behind the adult hedgehog.
"...awwwww...where ya going kid?" a female snake voice hissed in the hallway. "Ya can continue gazing at the posteessss."
"...Jade..." Speed spoke clearly. Balancing the stoat over his left shoulder, he let go of his hand and snatched something to his left. The orphan flinched from seeing the object that was grabbed was wiggling. Blinking and staring, it looked more like a tentacle or a fat spider leg.
"...put away...your tail..."
"Who are yousss to tell me what to do!?" the woman stated annoyed.
'A s-snake!?' Sonic thought and turned around quickly.
Looking up and seeing something slithering down from above, the boy's eyes widen and took steps back. Bumping into the back of the amputee, a female serpent, with the lower half of a snake and the top half of a woman, came down the side wall. Having green scales and yellow color eyes, she hissed and approached the cloaked individual holding her tail. Examining her appearance and her attire, he was intrigued and bewildered. Wearing a tan leather gilet vest that wasn't button up, it showed that her underside was smoother and paler like a human's.
'...w-w-where are...' the child thought turning red in the face. '...t-t-the rest of h-her clothes!?'
"Let go of me old man," she demanded and hissed.
Pulling her tail back, she felt it did not budge from the man's grip. Getting angry and doing it again harder, it whipped back at her from being let go. Receiving a hit from a thick part of her tail, she growled. About to confront and bite the taller individual, he began to turn around. Unable to see his face from the dark cloak, a crimson ring for an eye bore at her underneath the hoodie.
"Hhheeeeyyyyy...itssss you," Jade commented surprised. Halting, her agitation was slowly going away. Lowering her offensive stance, she crossed her arms over her chest. The action made the boy stare a couple of seconds before immediately looking at something on the wall.
"Haven't ssssseen your mug around lately. Have you been hidding your old man voice all thissss time? Are you ashamed of it?"
"...tongue...transplant...trying to...get use to...having one," he explained not moving or changing his expression. Feeling his robotic eye moved to the left a little, small footsteps were moving. Seeing the orphan go from in front of him to behind him, he figured why he did that. Not caring why, the cybernetic organ moved back to stare at the reptile.
"Really? Ya hit it rich?" she asked and began to slither to get closer. Not deterred by the off-putting gaze, she tried to relax more seeing that a child was behind him. Seeing his innocent reaction, it made her smirk.
"...no...stole it..." Speed answered neutrally. He felt the boy tense up a little from her approaching them and flinch when she gave a hissing laugh.
"Hiss-hisss-hissss...niccccely done," she said after removing her hand to cover her mouth when she giggled. Putting her hands on her waist, she leaned a little forward.
"Whosssse the child? And the woman?"
"..." he responded with moving his hand. Putting it on the orphan's back and giving a couple of pats, the boy cautiously walked to be beside him.
"H-Hello...I'm Sonic," he stated looking forward. Unable to look at her from what she was wearing, he looked down.
"Hello there. My name issss Jade," the snake woman greeted and gave a tight smile. "Children are not usually permitted to enter here...but ssssince you are here with him, I will give you a free passsss."
"Y-Yes ma'am."
"Goooood...and now...the woman? Did you find ssssomeone that enjoyssss your mutilated appearancccce?" the woman asked with smirk.
"...your words...are too kind..." Speed responded without a change of tone. "...she is...an accessory to...a transaction with Cyin."
"Accccessssory?" she questioned. Leaning back straight and crossing her arms over her chest again, the tip of her tail appeared near her face. It began bending up and down to almost state it was her way of thinking.
"Ccccyin doessss not ssssell women...unlesssss hisss busssinesss isss that dessssperate."
"...she walked in...during a transaction..." he clarified.
"Ah...that explainssss more. Come. I will essscort you inssside," Jade spoke. Moving her hands down to her side, the woman began to move down the hallway. Turning around and following, Sonic moved to the amputee's right side to not get close to the reptile. Looking up, he felt able to relax from not seeing her semi-exposed front.
"What elaborate sssstory did you ussssse to essscape that man'ssss ssssussspiccconssss?"
"...told Cyin...she was the food...towards the next...destination."
"That sssshould be enough for hissss furry asssss. SSShe faint when you sssstated that?"
"...no...we got into...a fight after leaving..."
"SSSo sssshe issss ssssomething to you," she stated and looked back at him with a tight smile.
"...I did not...say that..." Speed replied with a frown. Seeing that made her snort in amusement and look back foward.
"Then why carry her?"
"...fight was in...street of shopping district..."
"Then you knocked her out? You sssshould have jussst left her on the sssstreet," Jade remarked. She failed to see the surprised look on the boy's face.
"...shopping district...unconscious woman...half dozen staring...at her...not the wall flowers..."
"Aww, that'ssss sssso cute of you to care," Jade remarked then looked back at them. She gave them a not so friendly grin.
"Do you normally take women you knocked out?"
"...I don't...black them out...or take them...for no reason."
"That'ssss not what the men do when they bring them...here," she stated.
"...I am...not desperate..."
"Sssso you ssssay."
Turning back forward and continuing, the end of the long hallway was reached. Opening up to a lobby area, it appeared to be what a section of a shopping mall would be. Rooms with opened doors were placed in the walls of the massive walk space. Ranging from all sorts of odds and ends like the shopping district, this one seemed to have things that would not be sold there. Despite a variety of uniqueness, the condition of everything seemed like being in the slum area. Seeing her stop and turn around, she looked at both with a tight smile.
"Don't causssse trouble...esssspecially you boy."
"Y-Yes ma'am," Sonic spoke with a tight nod.
"Who do you sssseek for busssinesss?" she asked looking at Speed.
"...the bartender..." he stated. Gently placing Chiara down on the ground, he moved his left hand into his cloak. After a couple of moments, he pulled out a closed fist. Offering it to the snake woman, she reached out with an open palm. Seeing a coin get placed in her hand, it seemed to take an edge off her demeanor.
"I forgot about your...ccchivalery hedgehog," Jade remarked and pocketed the item. Turning back to the hallway, she slithered away. Both males turned to watch her leave. Seeing her stop and look back with a sly smile, she spoke.
"If you get lonely hedgehog...come find me. You undersssstand?"
"...I'll keep that...in mind," the amputee answered not reacting to her statement.
"What a cold expresssssion...how...alluring," she remarked. Looking back to the hallway, snake woman continued down it.
"I never knew there were those types of species," Sonic whispered feeling ambivalent from the encounter. "Are they more common outside of the forest?"
"...those types are...uncommon on this land...from my observations..." he answered then turned around.
"What did she mean by if you get lonely?"
"...it is an...adult subject..." the amputee replied and started scanning the space they were in.
"...is it romance stuff?" the boy asked with a half frown.
"...a bit more...complicated than that..." he answered. Finding where the next destination was, he knelt down. Going to hoist the female stoat over his shoulder again, the child approached and helped. It made the whole process a bit easier as he stood up. Walking forward, the younger one followed right beside him.
"I don't know if I like that romance stuff...seems weird."
"...people change...give it...time..."
"Okay...where are we going next?"
"...an eater...for food."
"So you stating that Miss Chiara was food was just a bluff...right?" the boy asked looking up at him.
"...somewhat..."
"Have you actually eaten people?"
"...I have..." he stated plainly. Failing to see the paled face of the orphan, he did notice that the orphan stopped walking.
"...do not...stop walking..."
"S-S-Sorry," Sonic stuttered and hurried next to him. About to look up at him, his instincts were tightening his insides. Thinking it was from what the handicap man stated, the thought of him actually being a cannibal was hair raising scary.
"...the people here...do not like...children of any...type..." Speed warned in a low tone. Keeping his real eye looking forward, the cybernetic one began doing slow sweeps left and right. The occupants in the various rooms either looked at something else or continued staring between him and small hedgehog.
"...why are children not liked here?"
"...activities offered...are not...for children...also...certain people...have bad tastes..."
"..." the boy pondered the thought then just left it at that. Knowing that there were some people that didn't like kids much, he just pushed thought concept on why this place had a negative perspective of kids. Thinking further that it was just an adult only establishment, it was like breaking a small rule or taboo.
'...' the adult male responded seeing certain individuals. Despite the hoodie hiding his face from the onlookers, he gave a scornful expression towards specific ones.
'The pedophiles are still here,' he thought.
Seeing that the food place was up ahead, a couple of males were standing next to it. Seeing one individual, he had to control his hand from curling his fingers into a strained claw position. Turning his head towards the boy, he saw the kid look up at him. Giving a slight head gesture to his left side, Sonic nodded. Moving calmly to be at his left side, he walked normally as possible. Upon passing the men and getting close to the entrance, someone from the small gang spoke.
"Well well well. What do we have here?" a rat breed asked and turned to the hedgehogs. "I thought I smelled a youngin' amongst the sea of sharks."
"..." Speed responded with continuing to walk to the door opening. The orphan ignored the man and kept close to the amputee's left side.
"Hey-hey," the stranger continued and sprinted. Getting in front of the two and blocking the entrance, his other companions did not move. Instead, one just crossed his arms over his chest. The other continued to smoke his cigarette while watching them. Both wore unreadable expressions. The one in front of the hedgehogs had something of a sadistic smile.
"It's impolite to not respond to people talking to you. Especially you child."
"..." the cloaked adult male said and halted. Turning his head a little to the right, his cybernetic eye glanced at the other members.
"..." both reacted with seeing a glaring robotic eye boring at them. It was enough for them to become cautious.
"...get...out...of...my...face..." Speed spoke evenly. Turning to the rat man, he stared at him.
"..." the man responded with blinking. Seeing the red eye glow a little, he smirked.
"Awww...did someone wake on the wrong side of the-OOF!?" he said before getting a swift and hard left boot in his stomach. Covering his belly and gritting his teeth, he bent forward. Looking up with a glare, the crimson ring stared at him.
"...hard...of...hearing...?"
"You think you can-GAAAHH!?" the man retorted before gasping in pain. Getting kicked in the face by the other amputee's boot, the rodent anthropomorphic male dropped his knees. Cover his bloody nose with his hands, the one arm male turned his head again to the companions of the injured individual.
"...are you...his friend...?"
"..." both answered with staring back with a look of indifference. Despite their appearance, Sonic could detect that both men were tense.
"Yeah...so what?"
"...you partake...his hobby...?"
"No," both rat men responded without hesitation.
"...here..." Speed stated. Doing a left roundhouse kick to the kneeling creep's right temple, enough power was behind it to send him sliding on the ground. Stopping to be in front of the two friends, the guy looked semi beaten up. Looking back up at the hooded figures, the one with the cybernetic eye bored at them with hostility.
"...your friend..."
"..." the two men responded with just a blink. Frowning, one looked the other way while the second took a drag from his cigarette.
"...let's go..." the amputee said in a low tone moving forward.
"R-right," Sonic answered in the same volume and followed.
Leaving the mall like lobby and entering the pub, the two went through a small wide hallway. Getting to a clearing, it showed what a typical bar would look like and the sound of low music in the background. However from what the boy could see, an aura of adult themes seemed to emit from everywhere. The drinking seen was not what bothered him. On opposite sides of the dining area, there were a number of standing and sitting mixers.
Men and women, all dressed similar to what the hallway snake woman had. Some were talking to people of opposite sex while others were talking to those of same gender. While that seemed normal, it was the actions of touching and what seemed like flirting that made him feel shocked, confused, and somewhat disturbed. His inner voice was starting to tell him that this place was not safe and dangerous. Glancing and following Speed still, he did not stop or look at any of them. Instead, he was heading toward a draped opening that led further into the establishment.
'I wonder if going over there will be less...people,' the orphan thought.
"Who da hell are ya?" a deep sounding voice spoke to the hedgehogs' left. Seeing both stop and turn, the bartender was a pale gray walrus breed. Big in size, the notable features of the human like individual were the two tusk teeth. Coming down from the top of his mouth, they were exposed given the length of them.
"...greetings...Joonus..." the amputee spoke turning to face the man directly.
"...?" he replied blinking a couple of times. Squinting initially, he moved down his glasses from his head to rest on the bridge of his nose.
"Ahhh! Red Eye!" the walrus man bellowed. Grabbing a dirty pint glass, he began the redundant routine of cleaning.
"I'd thought ya took a dirt nap lad. Where have ya been? Come closer!"
"...around...somewhat..." he answered and approached the bar stools and counter. Though the fixtures and furniture was not the height of humans, it was moderately sized for almost all sized people.
"Ya got a tongue now? Ayeee. Spill it."
"...raided it from...machine base...surgery there...escaped."
"Haa haa haa!" Joonus laughed heartily and had a big smile. "Ya shit crazy Red Eye!"
"...aye..." Speed replied continuing to stare at the man. Not reacting to feeling something getting closer to his left side, he knew that a couple of people were slowly approaching them.
"Who's in ya company lad? Stole a bride and a..." the man began then saw the child. His expression went from jolly to neutral quickly.
"Now why did ja bring em in here lad...ya know da rules."
"..." the adult hedgehog replied. Slowly moving his hand away from holding Chiara and carefully reaching in his cloak, he got out 5 coins. Placing them on the bar counter in front of the bartender, he retracted his hand.
"...non-company booth...half dozen CDMs...three pops...1 hour..."
"...ayeee lad..." Joonus began looking more at the coins than the three in front of him. "...ya tellin' me to turn a blind eye?"
"...Jade permitted...do you permit?" Speed countered evenly.
"Ya twistin' ma arms real good lad," he stated then nonchalantly grabbed the money. Giving a smile, he waved his hands in a shooing motion.
"..." Sonic reacted tensing up still. Hearing the two people near him turn around and go away, he felt less edgy. Glancing on Speed's other side, there was a man and woman that walked away as well. The feeling of heavy weight came off the child's shoulders and removed the knot in his stomach.
"Go on...ya grub will be comin' shortly," the walrus said after motioning to the draped hallway.
"...thanks..." he spoke with a mild nod.
Turning to the right and proceeding forward, the younger hedgehog stayed close and followed. Once they got passed the long covering cloth, it exposed another short hallway. It led to another lobby area that was much smaller than at the bar. Once in the opening, it showed a few cavern spaces that had tables and chairs inside. Next to each of the room like spaces was a covering cloth that could be attached on the other side for privacy.
Not seeing any one of them being currently used, they headed for the center one. Entering and moving chairs out, Speed kneeled down. Mildly plopping the stoat in a chair, his body felt the weight and pressure get removed. Feeling blood flow better, his left arm, shoulder, and left torso felt warm. Shaking his arm mildly, he heard someone sit down across from her. Seeing the boy remove his hoodie, he let out a breath that he seemed to be holding.
"This place...really is for adults," he commented putting the woman's small carryon on the table. Pushing it to slide, it stopped near the other side of the table were the stoat was.
"...it is..." the amputee answered. Moving to a chair that viewed the lobby and had his back to the booth's wall, he sat down. Keeping his cloak and hoodie on, he stared forward.
"But...this a bad place."
"..." the adult hedgehog responded with glancing at the kid. Seeing his body begin to move back, he continued to stare.
"...don't shy away...speak..."
"...?"
"...fear of my reaction...is not a concern..."
"...what...what do you mean?" Sonic asked feeling the high amounts of anxiety he did before slowly go away.
"...you are free...to express...thoughts...concerns...questions..."
"...you are not...inferior...you are...individual..."
"...you mean...you see me as an equal? Not as a village kid?" the child asked looking at him surprised.
"...you are still...a child..." Speed clarified. Pointing at the boy first, he then motioned his left hand. Gesturing to Chiara that still had her eyes closed, she was still knocked out.
"...differences...between us...age...gender...experience...past...behavior...thoughts..."
"...beyond differences...we are...flesh...bone...sentient...individuals..."
"...do you...understand?"
"..." the orphan replied with blinking and staring. Shaking his head and looking down at the table, a small nervous smile came on his face.
"I...I think I understand. You're saying...I can speak my mind...regardless of it being wrong or right...Right?" he asked looking up. Seeing the crimson eye still staring at him, a small down up motion of the amputee's head was seen.
"...okay...so...um...why exactly...did you pick this place?"
"...said before...partly...escape public eye...partly...the food..."
"Ya got to be freakin' shitting me," Chiara spoke in a low tone. Groaning and slowly opening up her eyes, she looked in pain. Covering one hand on her stomach and the other on her right jaw, she glared at the adult hedgehog.
"Ya picked this shitty ass hell hole to hide and get food?"
"..." Sonic and Speed responded with just staring.
"...yes..."
"Of all the places..." she began and cringed. "Ya had your chance to ditch me...instead you carry me here...why?"
"..."
"W-we saw people at the shopping district staring in the distance," Sonic began then looked at her. Despite looking in pain, she had a tense and annoyed expression. Swallowing, he continued.
"When you...were knocked out and on the ground, they only looked at you Miss Chiara."
"Eeeh," she replied with a blink. Still frowning and looking at the cloaked figure, he was still sitting straight and facing the lobby area. Only seeing his crimson ring eye move to look at her, she stared back at him.
"...did you wish...to be defiled...and swiped?" he asked.
"Hell no...so why care then?" the stoat responded with a normal tone of voice than her agitated one.
"..." Speed responded with giving a soft sigh through his nose. Moving back to looking at the lobby, he saw her face get a little angrier.
"W-Well...I didn't want to see those shady people get you," Sonic spoke trying to sound firm in his statement. Seeing the woman look at him, her expression lessened gazing at the boy.
"...hmph...you'll be swooning girls with that sport," Chiara spoke. Removing her hand from her face, she jerked her thumb at the amputee.
"Tell me, you convinced this thug to save me?"
"No," the child answered shaking his head. "Speed told me to carry your stuff while he carried you."
"..." she reacted with mild surprise. Blinking and processing what the orphan stated, she turned her head to the one arm man who remained stoic. Forgetting the pain from getting hit in her stomach and head, confusion began to replace her frustration.
"...hey..."
"...what...?"
"...tell me for realz..." she asked turning her body to face him. "Why did you...bring me with you?"
"...you stated...you were not...a throw away..." the adult hedgehog began. Turning his head to look at her, the stoic aura never left.
"...you would...be more upset...if I left you...alone to savages..."
"..." Chiara reacted with mixed feelings from the statement.
Taking the face value of the statement and what action was done, her edgy mind began to calm down. Looking at the table to contemplate, the three heard a distant door opening. Turning to the sound, two out of the three people sitting became startled. Coming from the opposite side of the room with a tray of filled glass bottles, the female bunny waitress was walking toward them. With a gothic theme attire, a majority of the uniform was more risqué than professional.
"Hiya!" she greeted with a bubbly voice. "3 pops for y'all."
"...thanks..." Speed spoke and gestured to the table. Ignoring the expressions on the other two's faces, he watched the woman place the glass bottles in front of them. After placing the last one in front of the boy, she stayed leaning forward while staring at him. Sonic stared for a second or two then turned his head to the right quickly.
'W-W-W-W-WHY IS HER C-C-CHEST A-ABOUT TO F-F-FALL OUT!?' the young hedgehog thought in a panic.
"Awe...don't be shy shrimp," the bunny waitress stated with a smile. Reaching for him, she brushed her fingers under the kid's chin. Making his face go red, he started to shake with nervousness.
'Oh this bitch slut is asking for it!' Chiara stated in her mind. Staring down the scantily clad wearing server, she clencher her hands into tight fists.
"Unlike your folks...I prefer cute small fries," she stated seductively. Feeling a firm left hand grab hers gently, she flinched hard from seeing a cloaked figure materializing right next to her. Looking up and seeing a glowing red eye stare at her, she froze.
"...Joonus...does not like...pedophiles...amongst his...workers," the amputee spoke harsher in a low tone. It shook the female worker stiff.
"I-I-I'm n-not...I-I-I j-just l-like k-k-kids," she stammered hard.
"..." Speed grunted annoyed and tightened his grip more. The act seemed to make the worker not want to provoke him further.
"P-P-Please...don't tell the boss. He'd kill me if he knew!"
'She admitted it!?' the stoat said in her head with shock.
"...then...I suggest...you continue...with the order...yes?"
"Yes-yes-yes...I-I-I'll be back in c-couple of minutes," the bunny lady answered nervously. She felt her hand let go, but the cloaked man stayed where he was. An awkward staring between the two grew and become very uncomfortable for her. Taking back steps and watching him, only the blood color ring for an eye bored at her. Turning around and walking quickly away, she was out of sight.
