Tails was headed down a trail, using his tails to propel him forward, some blue prints clutched in his hands. I have all my project blueprints together to show GUN, to see if they’re interested in what I’m working on. The headquarters are really close to the hospital, where Sonic’s staying but I…

I’m so nervous to see him…

He was so absorbed in his own thought, staring at the ground, that he didn’t realize that there was a black hedgehog just up ahead. They were fairly close to the hospital building, and he nearly ran into him before realizing he was there. “O-oh, Shadow!” he greeted, scratching the side of his head. “I didn’t think I’d run into you…!”

(( A reading of this post.

oops I start legitimately crying near the end ))

followingmytragicheart:

aninvisiblehorror replied to your post: H-hi Amy! How are you doing?

“Oh, y’know, just fixing some things up around the workshop! I’ve got a couple of really cool things I’m working on!” He gave her a sunny look, but it wasn’t completely ringing true, as if something was on his mind.

“Oh yeah?  What kind of cool things?” she asked, forcing a smile back.  Seeing Tails always reminded her of Sonic. 

“Well, I’m working on the Tornado, trying to get it all up to speed so it can be a land rover as well,” he began, his tails flicking. “Trying to tie in Chaos energy with it as well, and then there’s the—”

Wheel chair. 

The wheel chair for Sonic.

His tails began quiver slightly. His voice faltered, catching in his throat. “Uh…ah…” Stupid, you’re still scared! And I bet Amy doesn’t want to hear anything about the lack of his legs. She’s really beat up about it too. That’s why she doesn’t smile quite like she used to…

…I don’t think I do either.

“Uh, s-some things for GUN, too. I figured Shadow might n-need some help too, so I’ve been tweaking their vehicles.” His voice steadied as he continued to speak, relieved that he was able to dodge that bullet. It’ll come up again, it’s Amy, she’s been chasing him for years…except there’s not a lot of “chasing” going on now.

(( A reading of this post. ))

(( A reading of this post. ))

stillamobiandefender:

[ Sonic’s ears folded down as he heard Tails’s weak voice, and all pain that he’d felt for himself completely dissolved. He didn’t care anymore if his legs bled or not. He didn’t care that he was tired. He wanted the fox on the other end of the line, his little fox kid brother, to be okay. And it was clear he wasn’t.

I know it’s hard for you, too. You don’t like seeing me like this. I wouldn’t either if I were you.

He bit the inside of his cheek, cursing himself for having been selfish. He valiantly ignored the guilt welling up in him for causing so much pain, at least for now. ]

I miss you, too. All of you guys. A whole lot.

[ It did get rather lonely… ]

I just want you to be okay, that’s all. I’m not there to protect you like I used to be. You mean a whole lot to me, Tails.

[ Those were the most sincere words he’d ever uttered. ]

Things’ve been lousy lately. We can’t just let it get to us. We need to keep looking up, yeah?

[ I’ve been doing a lousy job of that lately. No wonder Tails doesn’t visit much. ]

[ He could barely stop the tears from coming, and he cursed himself for it. No matter how he could slice it, he was still a kid. Just a kid.

You mean a whole lot to me too…you’re still my hero…

(no he’s not how can he be a hero when he has stubs for legs)

He’s still the same…! He’s the same Sonic underneath all that, even without his legs… ]

Keep…k-keep looking up. Yeah. [ He swallows hard, trying to choke down the lump in his throat. ] I’ll…I know I don’t come by much b-but… [ A deep breath. ] I’ll come down soon. I promise.

[ (you sure you can keep that one?) ]

I love you, Sonic.

stillamobiandefender:

[ Sonic’s ears easily picked up the stammer, and suddenly care flowed back into him as he no longer thought about himself, but indeed his concern for his little brother, his friend. ]

Are you okay?

[ His voice was somewhat subdued. For once, it wasn’t from his own pain. His stumps dully ached, sure, and he was hoping they wouldn’t bleed, but worry for Tails dominated his mind. He switched to Big Brother, to hero mode, and he wasn’t about to come back down from it. His own safety was no longer his concern. ]

[ Am I okay? Am I okay, the fox who has not only two legs to stand on, but two tails to fly with? Am I okay, sitting on this stool and not strapped to a hospital bed?

Am I okay? What about you, Sonic, what about you?

I miss you…

…but I’m so scared…

I can’t keep my hands still, how are you able to manage with all that? ]

Mm, I’m…ah, I’m…

[ His throat was starting to burn, eyes stinging. His voice grew even smaller than before, shakier. ]

…I m-miss you, big brother.

stillamobiandefender:

Why doesn’t he tell me that himself? He can always call here.

[ He never expects Knuckles to call. He’s said that before to Shadow. Even Tails does it sparingly, and he hangs up on him often. Goes to show.

Only Shadow keeps consistent contact with him. ]

Shadow visits every day. Even when he has a mission the same day. I don’t think he’s gonna suddenly flake on that.

[ Because, if anything, Shadow always keeps his promises.

Unlike me.

I’d say I’d protect them all, always. I’d say pretty dumb things.

I’m gonna pass out once Tails hangs up. My feet, my feet… They’re killing me. Gonna sleep it off. ]

I dunno! L-like I said, he’ll be around soon! And that’s good that S-Shadow stays, he always…he’s always really reliable, checking up on you like that. It’s good! [ “Maybe I’ll stop by” bubbled up in his throat, but he stifled it. He couldn’t make promises he couldn’t keep, could he?

(his legs his legs are gone they’re gone they’re GONE

he’s never gonna run again he’s never gonna run he’s never gonna RUN)

He began to fidget, shaking so hard that he nearly dropped the phone. Sonic… ]

I, uh…I think…I-I’ve gotta go! [ And yet, he stayed on the line. ]

stillamobiandefender:

I’m fine, dude.

[ The reassurance is firmer this time. He’s slowly getting there. Slowly collecting himself. Slowly fixing… slowly…

Oh, hopefully it doesn’t start to bleed as a result of his stupidity. He can’t wait until Shadow finds out and yells at him for it. Can’t wait whatsoever. That will be a fun experience.

He shivers, and hopes it’s not audible on the fun, like he feels like the sudden pounding of his heart is. ]

Why are you working on stuff for GUN, anyway? Those jerks don’t know what they’re doing.

[ Never mind the fact that Shadow works with them.

I wanna go to sleep… I feel so tired and numb. I don’t even care about GUN. I don’t care about Tails’s projects.

I want to care and that’s why I should sleep. ]

Well, it’s not for GUN…I thought it’d be helpful to get a hold of Shadow! He spends a lot of time with you, and sometimes he can’t be around, so…yeah!

[ (yeah, he’s always around unlike you)

I’m scared, I’m just scared…

Silence fills the line. ]

Oh, uh, Knuckles says hi! He says he’s gonna go and see you soon! [ There, that was something. But, it only emphasized the fact that he had barely visited at all, and not for very long. He was beginning to curl in his seat. ]

stillamobiandefender:

[ Is it really even my place anymore? I never go there. ]

Like what stuff?

[ My feet hurt. I wanna go to sleep… ]

Oh, um…

[ He shifts on his stool, still too tall for him, and swings his legs, looking around. ]

Just the usual! There’s the Tornado, fixing some specifications for it, there are some little communicators that I’m working on, so they can access the database I have here, as well as communicate with GUN and regular phones, like standard. And uh…

[ His eyes fall on a wheelchair, flipped upside down, with a toolbox next to it. The beginnings of a motor is attached to the underside, but even then, there’s a thin layer of dust on some sections. I started that when he first lost his legs. It gets harder to work on it. I…

I don’t wanna think about it… ]

…yeah! [ A shaky giggle. He pauses before he speaks again, his voice a little smaller. ] You sound like you’re not doing as well as you’d like…