Chapter Text
The partying went on for some time. Drinks were shared, lots of cheering and chattering. And even more dancing went on through the night. Through it all, Tails stuck by Sonic’s side, laughing and smiling the whole time.
After winning the Pivonka battle, the patrons had become much more welcoming, partying in their honor and also just making some friendly small talk with them.
Tails had never had so much fun in his life.
Eventually, though, the party began to wind down. People leaving or some just passing out on the floor from their alcoholism.
He and Sonic now laid on the bar, staring up at the ceiling.
The quiet breeze of the ceiling fan and the dim warm lights of the bar filled him with a sense of comfort, of laziness.
Made even better with Sonic by his side.
He felt so relaxed, more than he had been for most of his life. It was so quiet. So soothing.
“Huh, wow!” He let out, unable to wipe the smile from his face. “Only Sonic the Hedgehog could win a dance battle that epic!”
Sonic chuckled beside him. “Well, stick with me, pal! Earth can be a scary place, but I know everything about this old pale blue dot.”
Tails froze, still hearing Sonic’s words but repeating that one word in his head. He could feel his heart skip a beat. Pal. Did Sonic just call him his pal? As in his friend?
“Do you… really mean that?” He hesitantly asked, sitting up.
Sonic shrugged, “I mean, not everything, but I watch a lot of Discovery Channel and…”
“I meant… about… me being your pal.” Tails quickly said.
Sonic stared at him before he sat up, smiling warmly at him. “Of course, buddy.”
Buddy. Now Sonic had called him his buddy!
He felt a warmth blooming in his heart, unlike anything he had ever felt before. Something he had felt only vaguely in memory when his mother would gently rock him to sleep.
In a burst of energy, he wrapped his arms around Sonic’s shoulders in a tight hug. Sonic the Hedgehog called him his friend! His first real friend!
“Woah-ho-ho! Coming in hot!” Sonic laughed, gently pulling him off.
Tails made a sheepish noise as he looked away, “Growing up, I didn’t have any friends.” he admitted, “Everyone in my village thought my two tails were weird.”
“Hey, I know that feeling.” He heard Sonic whisper.
“But then I saw you! The fastest creature in the galaxy! You were weird too!” He sighed, he smiled, unable to make it go away, “But you were a legend!”
He thought back to time when he first discovered that signal. The sheer awe he felt eclipsed anything that came before in his depressing life.
“That made me think maybe being weird isn’t so bad.”
He looked up, facing Sonic once again, looking him directly in the eye. “You inspired me to leave my village. To find you and help you in your mission!”
He still remembered the power bump they shared at Wade’s garage. The first time Tails felt like he could truly trust someone. And after that incredible dance battle, he could for sure say that he felt safe around Sonic.
The hedgehog himself seemed to feel the same way as he smiled warmly, “I’m really glad you're here, Tails.” He spoke softly.
“I’m glad I’m here too, Sonic.” Tails smiled back.
With a sigh, he slipped off the bar, his sneakers softly landing on the wooden floor.
From behind, he could hear Sonic let out a tired yawn. Hey, feelings mutual. “Well, might as well get some sleep. This looks like a good place to spend the night…” Whatever Sonic said next was drowned out by Tails’ own unrelenting exhaustion.
Shuffling over to the fireplace, Tails lay down on the rug, letting the warmth from the fire wash over him. It was so soothing.
The warmth settled around him like the soft fabric of a warm blanket. And as he fully fell asleep, he heard the soft voice of the blue hedgehog gently whisper, “ Goodnight, Tails.”
Tails drifted off into dreamland, dreaming of equations, dances, and other wonderful things.
But above all, he dreamed about the wonderful night he spent with his friend.
Sonic the Hedgehog. The fastest thing alive.
His pal.