[ 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.
[ 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. ]
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. ]
[ 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. ]
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. ]
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. ]
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…
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. ]
aninvisiblehorror replied to your post: (ring, ring…click!) H-hi Sonic! How are you doing?
I’m okay! I’ve been working on a bunch of stuff at the workshop! Oh, and keeping your place tidy too.
[ Is it really even my place anymore? I never go there. ]
Like what stuff?
[ My feet hurt. I wanna go to sleep… ]
Tails?
[ Well, um.
Sonic’s been startled out of… other activities he’s been engaged in that weren’t so safe and Shadow’s going to scold him for.
If anyone asks, those bandages came off by themselves.
He’s pulling himself together.
Pulling… Pulling…
Pulling…
He needs freakin’ glue or something. ]
I’m doing fine!
[ Not. ]
How about you, li’l bro?
