Chapter Text
Tails yips in pain as part of his tail catches in a gear. He tries twisting out and freezes as pain spikes through him. Shadow is currently baking with Amy while Chuck is away from the garage at the moment. He cannot even turn to look at how bad the tail is caught. Tails feels stupid. He normally is careful with his work, it is so embarrassing to get caught this way. But he could be stuck this way for a while if he does nothing. He takes a breath and bites the bullet as a blush begins to burn his cheeks. He activates his comm connected to Shadow.
“Shadow?”
“Tails!”
The other zips into the garage coved head to toe in flour that he must have dropped in his haste. Tails feels even more embarrassed.
“I…. I got my tail stuck. Sorry to bother you but I couldn't turn to reach it without hurting myself.”
“This is what the comm is for. It is not a bother.”
Shadow gives a warm reassuring smile as he movies forwards. His brother quickly moves behind him, gently loosening his tail. With every hiss of pain, Shadow gives a reassuring noise and gentle pats. Amy briefly walks in to see what had happened to Shadow, hammer ready for trouble. When she sees what is going on, she gives a smile and then returns to the kitchen to finish what they had baking. Tails whines as a particularly painful pull occurs. Shadow gives him a gentle reassurance. When his tail is finally free, Tails stumbles forward, crashing to the ground and scraping his knee. He hisses as blood begins to flow from a scraped knee. Tears spring to his eyes as Shadow touches it.
“Let’s get this wrapped up.”
Shadow says eyes sharp. Tails nods in agreement, wincing as he is lifted and taken into the main house. The fox tenses as he is gently deposited on the couch. He shifts his sore tail out from behind himself, adjusting it to be as comfortable as possible. Shadow is back quickly, medical supplies in hand. The hedgehog efficiently wipes the wound clean and then bandages it.
“Do you have any other cuts?”
“No.”
Tails says with a slight grimace as his tail gives him another twinge of pain.
“Good. You should rest your tail. Let it uncramp. Or do you think there might be something pulled or broken?”
“No? But ice wouldn't be a bad idea. Would you mind grabbing some and one of my workbooks before going back to Amy?”
Shadow tilts his head at this.
“You want me to go back?”
“Just to finish up baking. You said you’d spend time with her. And then a little tea time with Cream when all the baking is done. I'll be okay till you come back.”
His brother shifts on his feet. Tails sinks a little deeper into the cushions and tries to put his best convincing face on.
“I'll be resting if I'm here. I won't move! And I promise to call you if anything happens. Please?”
“Two hours.”
Shadow says in response before skating out of the room to gather supplies. He brings the requested items, sets his watch, and with one final check over of the fox, he exits back to the kitchen. Tails sighs to himself as he gently applies the ice. He drifts a little mentally as he works on some of his ideas. The circuit board that Shadow had retrieved for him offered an interesting insight into Eggman’s design process. But he still is unsure how it translates into sentience. His ears twitch as he thinks about it. He writes down a few of his questions, knowing that they will never be answered. For that, he would have to sit down and have a civil and agreed-to conversation with Eggman. He becomes so lost in thought he does not notice Chris enter the room. Tails startles when he senses something standing over him. He looks up with his ears folded backwards.
“Chris? Need something?”
“Do you miss home?”
Tails blinks at the question. Chris had asked him something similar before. Then the child had given their emeralds to Eggman in a vain attempt to assist them home. He had only been somewhat honest then, not really wanting to talk about his worst fears or strongest feelings with someone he did not know well. He still does not feel that he knows Chris well. He supposes that he knows the kid well enough to know that Chris is rather attached to Sonic. Not as attached to the rest of them. But the idea of Sonic leaving seems to be distressing to the kid. He settles for a softer response, rathering to keep his more personal thoughts to be only shared with his brothers.
“A little? But it's nice here! Chuck is really cool and helps a lot with creating ideas I would never have thought of.”
He says with a smile. Chris looks upset.
“That's not true. You miss it a lot.”
Tails tenses, suddenly recognizing that the tone is far more interrogative than he had initially perceived.
“I miss home a normal amount.”
He defends. Chris narrows his eyes and crosses his arms.
“You don’t trust me enough to tell me.”
It sounds petulant and Tails wants to huff in reply. How he felt, how he exactly felt, was no one’s business but his own. He decides a kinder route than simply asking Chris to bother someone else and keep his nose out of his business.
“I’m fine here Chris. You don’t need to worry about me.”
He moves to start standing.
“But that's not how you feel! Why won’t you tell me? Why wouldn’t Sonic tell me?”
The fox’s tails twitch, forcing him to hold back a hiss of pain.
“Sometimes you don’t get to know everything.”
He says and then gathers his things and leaves the room. Had Chris listened in on his private conversation with Sonic the other night? He is not sure he wants the answer. That had been a private conversation. A moment of weakness where all his walls were down. Ah. Now he feels as if he is thinking like Shadow. He shakes off the thoughts and retreats upwards. He can hear Chris following behind and so he doubles his pace. He tosses the melted ice on the desk pushes open the window and jumps out. He spins his tails, wincing in pain as he flies up to the roof. It is one of the few places he is sure Chris cannot get to him to try to pick up the conversation again. He settles against the warm shingles and considers sleep. But first, he updates Shadow on his change of location. He had promised not to move. Shadow seems concerned but backs off when reminded of the timer. Tails settles into a light sleep, hoping it will be enough to clear his head and make the pain in his tail go away.
-------------
Shadow finds Tails still on the roof. The fox is sketching something in his notebook. It does not look like one of his typical technical drawings.
“Tails?”
“Oh!” The fox startles, “Hey Shadow.”
Tails pats the shingles beside himself. Shadow sits, arm gently resting on his brother’s shoulders. Tails curls into him.
“Does your tail still hurt?”
“A little.”
Tails murmurs, head resting against Shadow. The black hedgehog gently pats him. He looks at the open notebook page. A drawing of a tree with long willow-like branches sits there. Tails was definitely better at technical doodles, but this definitely had a strong emotion set into each line. Tails notices his gaze.
“The tree. From home. I'm not great at natural drawings.”
Tails said, voice going soft. Shadow gently tightens his hold, drawing his brother in closer.
“It looks nice.”
Is all he can think to say. Tails gives a soft hum in response, relaxing even further. Shadow is not sure what had driven his brother from the couch and to the roof. But he's ready to help in whatever way he can.