Chapter Text
Cogs whirred and mechanics hummed, the smell of the grey room was metallic, yet the walls were covered with rust. The rusty chains held a certain two-tailed fox.
A struggling to break free two-tailed fox.
“Eggman, let me go!” Tails demanded.
The fox was currently chained to the wall, in a separate room from Eggman with a transparent wall separating the two, like he was some kind of science experiment. The room was absolutely disgusting, it had obviously not been cleaned for years. Mould covered corners of the small room and little maggots could be seen crawling all over, Tails wanted to gag, to cry, but he had to stay strong.
For Sonic.
For everyone.
“You, my little fox,” Eggman began, “is a crucial part to my plan.” He grinned. Tails’ eyes widened in shock. ‘What plan?’ His mind was racing.
“You- I'll never help you with anything! You can try!” He attempted to act smug, just like his older brother had all the many times he had been caught by Eggman before. Why couldn't he be brave like Sonic in times like these? He needed to be better. Sonic would have made it out by now. He was being dramatic. So childish.
“You'll find out. But not now. You think you can handle your excitement until then?” Eggman said with an evil grin. Then, he turned around, barked an order to Orbot, and walked out, ignoring Tails’ calls for him to come back, demanding for answers.
“Ugh!” Tails groaned. All he wanted right now was Sonic. He wanted to be curled up in Sonic's arms while he assured him that everything was going to be okay. The rational side of him knew that was impossible. That wherever he was being hidden was something that could take ages to find. But, just this once, he let himself dive into his childish thoughts. Thoughts that should be normal for his age, not something once in a blue moon.
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Tails didn't even know how long it was before food was brought to him. Was it breakfast? Lunch? Dinner?
On the plate lay some slop, a brownish colour, that really did not smell good and two slices of cucumber that had dried up.
Each bite of the slop made Tails want to gag.
When the two tailed fox finally finished the disgusting meal, he was reminded of how good Amy's baking is. Oh, how he missed the spongey cake melting into his mouth, with sweetness from the soft icing filling his tastebuds. Just the thought of it made Tails’ mouth water.
His imagination of the delicious cake was cut short, interrupted by Eggman.
“Did you miss me, Miles?” He asked, grinning ear to ear. The mention of the name “Miles” brought shivers to his spine as he recalled his past in Westside Island. Being injured ruthlessly and insulted every day did not do much to improve his already crippling self-confidence. Tails tried to act unfazed, yet it was obvious that it was not working, seeing how Eggman's grin grew wider. (How is that even possible?)
“The only time I'll be involved in your plans is when I ruin it!” The fox declared.
“Are you sure?”
‘Huh?’ Tails thought.
Eggman seeing Tails’ confused face encouraged him to continue. “I mean, it's not really you doing anything, right? It's more Sonic. No offense, but you're kind of useless when it comes to defeating me.” He explained with a sly smirk on his face.
Useless. Useless.
‘No, no! He's just trying to get into my head, I'm smart, I'm the only one that can rival Eggman's genius!’ But, the more he told himself, the less he began to believe.
“Well, unless you were to join me.”
Tails’ head snapped up in an instant. “Never!”
“But don't you want to have some use? I promise I'll make you reach your full potential,” Eggman offered.
“No, n-” Tails tried to refuse.
“Well, that won't do. You could've chosen to join me, but I suppose that isn't an option anymore.”
Green gas filled his vision, and he slowly became drowsy, he tried to fight it but it was no use.
‘Maybe… I'll sleep for a bit…’
He closed his eyes and drifted off.