Work Text:
The idea to close off areas of the ship from each other in interest of their little 'dominance' argument seemed so good in the heat of conflict, but in hindsight was just so stupid.
Especially since they didn't actually check that noone was in the corridor they planned to pump the air out of.
Of course, they all just assumed that the little magenta hedgehog was on their side, and as such would be in their part of the ship, but lo and behold, he was locked in the most coincidentally unlucky place he could be. And noone discovered anything was wrong until they heard oh-so faint screaming and scratching of claws on metall. And even then it was some time till they realized who and where exactly it was coming from. Then all hell broke loose.
By the time they got everything back in working order - doors unlocked and air pumping into the corridor - the noise has had ceased for some time, causing even more panic in every sanction. Noone wanted Chiko to die, honestly noone actually wanted anyone to get hurt, but the hedgehog wasn't even participating in their shenanigans.
The walk (more like panicked running) to the faithful corridor took agonizingly long for everyone, as did the doors opening. All eight of them spilled into metall box almost at once.
Chiko was lying on his back at one of the walls, his head kinda lolled to the side, his ears and quills drooping lifelessly. His eyes were closed, like he was just asleep, his glasses at an odd, tilted angle on the bridge of his nose, as if shook off by a sudden impulse. Small uneven lines were carved into the metall walls here and there all over the corridor - the result of desperate scratching they heard.
There was a light blue blur accompanied by a rush of air and Krash matterialized at his best friend's side, already on his knees and whispering hopeful nothings to himself. For a few seconds everyone was quiet, holding their breath as the rabbit put his ear to the hedgehog's chest, listening for signs of life. After a moment or two the tense figure of Krash had almost deflated as he burst into happy mumbling, the general jist of which was that there was a heartbeat.
The argument was pretty much forgotten as everyone was just happy Chiko was alright. Soon an understanding was reached and the conflict blew over and was gone like it wasn't there in the first place.
It was all their fault that Chiko was ever put in harm's way. They all understood that, some more than others, sure, but they all did. And to think they almost missed him calling for help, too caught up in their 'victory'. But then they were so happy when he came to, a few hours later. He looked miserable, but all things considered, it was normal. What with the staying up till really late (which wasn't his failt) and almost asphyxiating to death, it was expected. But he looked happy to see them all together again, and that offset everything else.