Chapter Text
Tails was sitting down at his desk, noting observations. Notes on Millie, the difference in gender, whoever he was talking to after chatting with Sonic, and anything else that came to mind.
I’ll need to start sorting these into separate pages…
His phone buzzed. When he pulled up the screen, it was a message from Amy.
“Hello! Did Sonic’s visit go fine? At least, I assume he visited, from what I overheard. Feel free to wait to answer until he leaves, if he’s still there!”
Oh, yeah, I… hung up on Amy, apparently?
Tails started composing a message to reply. “Hey, uh, yes, Sonic did visit. And… it went fine. I actually, um, told him that I was figuring something out. Nothing specific, but it’s progress.”
Amy responded quickly. “Oh! That’s awesome! I presume it went well?”
“Yeah he responded well to it. I struggled with telling him, but it went well, yes.”
“Glad to hear it!” There was a brief pause, before Amy sent another message. “So, what now?”
Tails thought for a moment. “I’ve been writing down observations. I guess the best I can do is continue keeping track of things.”
“Sounds like a plan!”
With that, Tails put his phone away, and got back to his notes. Less organized than he typically liked, these notes more closely resembled a stream of consciousness in bullet point form. Jumping from oddities and symptoms, to the people he apparently shared a brain with, to plans for the future, this page was a mess.
Tails reached into a desk drawer and pulled out some pieces of paper. He started writing out a format across several of them. “Name” and “Gender” and “Interests” in a neat row, with space to write besides each. Followed by “Traits” and “Other Notes”, wrapping up the format.
I can try to fill out what I can… but I do wonder if I could get those other people in my brain to fill them out…
You should fill one out.
Huh?
You’re a person in your brain, you know. You count for this category.
…
You hadn’t thought of that, did you.
I’m… it’s different if it’s me. At least I… I don’t know. I don’t really have an argument against that but… it just…
You’ll get the hang of it eventually.
It feels like I’m losing myself…
At least you have a sense of self to lose.
Tails sat in silence, a surprisingly tired silence. Eventually, he picked up a pencil, went to the “Name” section of one of the sheets, and wrote “Tails.”
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Maybe I should stop going to so many strategy meetings…
Tails was sitting in a vaguely uncomfortable chair, waiting through a strategy meeting in the Restoration HQ. He felt like he had to be present, at least sometimes, in order to stay up to date with the Restoration.
At the head of the table was Lanolin, giving a status report. Although she was certainly not in charge of the whole Restoration, she was one of the only people to take charge when it came to strategy and mission assignments. “As I’m sure some of you are aware, Dr. Eggman has seemingly been gathering materials for the past week or so. We can safely assume he’s building some kind of new weapon.”
The rest of the table consisted mostly of volunteers that Tails could only somewhat recognize, alongside the Diamond Cutters. He started to tune out the conversation, as the group planned out assignments and patrols.
“Tails.” Lanolin made eye contact. Her direct tone made this slightly terrifying.
He perked up when he heard his name, hoping he didn’t miss anything he needed to know. “Yes?”
“Can you make sure Sonic, or, someone at least, scouts out what Dr. Eggman is up to? The more we know, the better.”
“Sure, I can do that.” Tails took a breath.
“Alright. If anyone has anything to mention, please say it now.” Lanolin waited in silence. “That should be all here, if I’m not mistaken.”
People started filing out of the room. Tails slowly split off from the group, as he always did, on the path back to the Tornado.
We should’ve paid more attention to the strategy meeting.
Tails stopped walking. We? Who are you?
…oh. I forgot you’re starting to catch on.
Tails rushed around a corner to make sure nobody asked why he looked surprised. Have you been hiding, well, all this from me?
No. I don’t know much more than you do. Somehow, the stranger mentally conveyed the concept of a shrug. But the signs were hard to ignore.
Really?
Over the years, yes. I wasn’t sure until recently, but I’ve known for a long time that something was odd.
So why didn’t you tell me?
I did. And you have a tendency to shrug things off when it comes to your own well-being.
Tails flinched. No I don’t! He retorted. And then he thought about it for a moment. Well… I guess I kinda do… He held on that thought for a moment, before remembering he was supposed to be walking back to the Tornado. Instead, he was leaning against a random wall. People might’ve passed by, confused on why he was standing there. And he wouldn’t even have noticed! The thought worried him immensely.
Tails looked around nervously, seeing nobody else in the hallway, before resuming his walk back to the plane. The route to the landing spot was less traveled than most parts of the Restoration, but it was far from unused. Anyways though, whoever you are, can I ask for your name?
There was silence for a little while, hesitance, maybe. I don’t have one picked out. It doesn’t really matter to me.
Well, I want something to write down in my notes. Any ideas?
Nope.
Tails stepped outside as the conversation continued. Nothing at all?
Well, the only name I’ve used before is yours. It’s not like I needed a separate name until now.
Oh. Huh. Tails didn’t know how to feel about that.
If you really need a name for me, the best I can suggest is just calling me Miles. It’s not like you’re using it anymore.
…I see…
That’s the best answer I can give you.
…
Tails stood in front of the Tornado, staring blankly as he opened the door and sat down. He went through the motions, flicked the right switches, pulled the right lever, started the engine, and took off. It was a difficult procedure, one which Tails completed while barely paying attention.
He had a lot on his mind.