Chapter Text
The car ride back home was quiet.
Maddie was behind the wheel- for her husband was unable to drive at the moment, his arm wrapped in a cast and held up to his chest. It had been difficult to explain how he had broken his arm to the hospital staff, considering they couldn't exactly... explain the fight that had occurred. Tom had almost blown their cover- he really needed to learn how to lie.
"...In my defense." Her husband mumbled into the silence. "I didn't know he could just- twist my arm."
"So you chose to jump into his flying car?" She should be angry, she knew she should be- but Maddie found it funny more than anything. First, he gets chased by the government and is considered a wanted criminal, next he crashes her sister's wedding using a ring- and now this?
She knew she would deal with accidents and medical check-ups when she married a police officer. But she had assumed those injuries would come from his job.
"Well, it worked!" Tom huffed, turning the tiniest bit red. "...Knuckles caught me before I could fall."
"I don't know if I appreciate our sons getting better at fighting," Maddie said as she looked out the window to make sure the road was clear, then started backing the car slowly so she could park.
"Just be glad they're not like Blue and his friends... he kept mentioning being 'locked up' for six months."
"You know how Sonic can't sit still, Tom. It was probably way less... I hope." The duo got out of the car and made sure it was locked before they walked into the house, prepared for questions about Tom's arm or maybe just hugs in general. Instead, the scene they were greeted with made them pause.
The lights in the living room were turned off, and the credits of the Mario Movie playing on repeat on their TV. All of the kids were in the living room, apparently having fallen asleep- all except for Red, who had the remote in his hands and was scrolling through channels. Huh. He knew how to use the remote. Good to know.
Blue and Yellow were next to him, curled up together on the couch with the hedgehog having a protective hold on the fox in his lap, almost seeming to curl up. Amy was lying on her side on the other end of the couch, her headband having come loose- causing her quills to get a bit roughed up. Tails was curled up with Ozzie on the floor, while Sonic and Knuckles were passed out in front of the TV. Red seemed to have been the only one to stay awake.
The echidna knew the moment the two humans were in the house, looking up once they set foot in the living room. He sighed. "They fell asleep not too long ago."
"...Thank you, Red." Maddie nodded, cooing and pulling out her phone to take a picture. Once she did and the camera made the snapping sound, Red asked.
"Can you take another?"
"Uhm... why?"
"I wanna draw on So- Blue's face with a Sharpie."
"As fun as that sounds-" Tom quickly chased the idea away. "-you don't wanna wake up Yellow, do you?"
"...I suppose." Red slumped and got a look at Tom's arm. "...Wow. And he told me to stay here!" His volume raised, offended.
In the meantime, Maddie reached down for Sonic, first, carefully cradling him in her arms. She cooed, pressing a kiss on his forehead. "I'm gonna take these guys to their beds."
"All of them?" Tom frowned, looking over the kids on their floor. "...the guest room only has one bed."
"We can stay here no problem, sir," Red bowed his head with respect. "The other me too- I don't think you can lift him. I know my weight."
"I can get Tails-"
"No." Maddie glared at the man, then tried to pick him up himself. However, trying to lift two children at once was no easy task. Seeing her struggle, Red sighed and rolled his eyes, then got off the couch.
"Let me." He mumbled, snaking his arms under the fox and lifting him up with ease. Maddie smiled thankfully as both of them brought the two back to their room.
Knuckles was the first to wake up the next morning.
Having been living with all of his customs and training his whole life, he used to wake up the moment the sun rose. He didn't do that anymore, however- Maddie had said something about how it was bad he was sleeping so little. Besides, he felt relaxed enough to sleep in now- just a little. Still, he woke up earlier than everyone else.
Or... he thought.
He was wide awake immediately- old habits die hard. Aware that this wasn't his room or his bed, but the couch. He grumbled quietly, then shifted his head to the side.
Blue, Red, and Amy all were sleeping. Red on the loveseat, Amy and Blue on the other end of the couch, one end each. Amy was curled up, and Blue was hugging a pillow.
There was no sight of the fox.
Knuckles frowned, quickly scanning the room... he could hear barks and purrs coming from the kitchen. Huh... he got up, following the sound-
"-Perhaps you aren't capable of communicating with words?" He found Yellow, on the kitchen floor, looking lost in thoughts- sitting in front of Ozzie, who growled softly. "Like a flicky... are you a flicky? You're too big to be a flicky... maybe this world's version of Flickies-?"
"Good morning, Yellow." The fox jumped out of his skin when his thoughts were interrupted, sharply turning to stare at Knuckles with wide eyes. But then he relaxed once he saw who it was.
"Morning," he smiled, then turned back to Ozzie. "Knuckles, what is this?"
Ah. Just as curious as the little fox he knew. That was nice. And good. It was important to be curious about the world. "This, dear fox... is a dog." He announced, holding his paw out in some sort of "reveal" as he pointed to the animal mentioned. Yellow made an 'ohhh" sound- Knuckles was pretty sure he saw stars in his eyes as he turned to Ozzie. His tails, despite being injured, wagging just the tiniest bit. Indeed a curious one.
"Is this 'dog' like the Flickies on Mobius?"
"I sadly do not know what a Flicky is. I was raised differently than my counterpart."
"Oh." Yellow frowned. "Like a Chao, then?"
Chao... yeah, he knew those. "Not... exactly." He mumbled, needing to think about it. Especially in this odd situation... usually, he was the one asking questions because he didn't understand the earth. And Tails- I mean Yellow, of all people?
However, before he could give a proper answer, Yellow already had lost interest in the question. "Why can't they talk? They make sounds so they have vocal chords. I thought they were like Chao, but Chao just kept saying their own name so I thought maybe they did the same- but this 'dog' makes all sorts of sounds! It sounds similar to fox-"
"-Yellow." The echidna cleared his throat. The fox immediately went red and looked down.
"Ah-... sorry."
"No, no." The warrior sat down, puffing out his chest as he grinned. He got to teach someone stuff on Earth? That was-... nice! "I would be happy to tell you all about the earth and the creatures- everything I know anyway."
"Really?" his face lit up, namesakes wagging behind him once more. Knuckles nodded.
"Let's start with Ozzie." Both turned back to said dog- who had laid down on his back with his paws in the air for belly rubs. Knuckles, as carefully as he knew how to, pat its stomach. "Once a dog lays down in a position such as now, it means you need to give its belly rubs."
"Huh... does it like them?"
"It appears so. Do not touch his paws, however- I've learned pretty quickly he does not enjoy that."
Yellow observed for a moment. "Hm... so it communicates its wants through behavior?"
"Once his tail wags, such as now, it means he's happy- kinda like yourself. Mrs. Mother did say foxes and dogs are... family? You would need to ask her."
"Huh..." The fox leaned forward, taking a better look. They did have a similar body structure, it seemed. "Did Mrs. Maddie and Mr. Tom adopt him?"
"Not like a child- but yes."
"But... why? Wouldn’t it be better to adopt a human instead?"
"Because, dear Yellow." Knuckles stopped the pets, crossing his arms and looking serious. "Dogs are excellent warriors."
"Really?" He gasped. Knuckles nodded.
"They have a strong bite and razor-sharp claws- ready to attack the enemy on command. Police use them too. They're an excellent defense."
At that exact moment, Ozzie got up and licked his face. Knuckles was unfazed. "This, Yellow- is a sign that he shall protect you, as well."
"Woah..." Yellow reached out in awe, giggling when Ozzie immediately licked his fingers. "If he's like foxes, it means his smell is enhanced... so he is marking us as its guard?"
"Highly possible."
Everyone decided to sleep in today, it seemed.
Not even Tom or Maddie were awake when Sonic sleepily stumbled down the stairs, quills a mess and rubbing his eye. Oh well. He didn't know why it was fun to be awake in the morning while his parents were sleeping- but it just was!
He had been fully planning to watch TV on his own, surprised when he found his counterpart and friends on the couch instead. Huh. Since he and Tails had been moved to their rooms in their sleep, he had assumed the others would have been too.
Oh well. He could go for a run then. Sneakily.
The hedgehog giggled and turned to the kitchen for a cup of water first. Soft murmurs alerted him that someone else was inside.
"-which is how the hedgehog managed to break his leg." He heard Knuckles finish, surprised to see Yellow in the room as well. The fox looked concerned, but not surprised.
"I swear..." the kit mumbled, tapping his watch and quickly typing something. "I disappear for a couple of weeks and look what happens- oh! Sonic! Morning!" His face lit up once spotting him, tails immediately reacting by wagging faster.
Sonic snorted, "Hope Knuckles hasn't bored you to death yet?" He sent his older brother a grin. The echidna huffed, crossing his arms.
"I will have you know- I have been teaching the fox some valuable lessons about earth."
"The herbs here are so different than on Mobius!" Yellow looked excited- probably because he got to learn new stuff, then grumbled. "No wonder I got poisoned the first week here..."
"..." Sonic opened, then shut his mouth. Yeah. No. He had dealt with Blue and Red enough already, it was too early to add Yellow to the list. "...Yeah. Cool. I'm going on a run." He waved, already walking past them.
"Can I come?" Yellow asked with excitement, looking out the window with longing. Sonic stopped, then turned back with worry.
"With superspeed, Yellow, you can't keep up."
His smile fell at once. "Excuse me?"
"Well-... superspeed and all..." The hedgehog trailed off, looking at his tails for a moment. "And you're injured too... shouldn't you be taking it easy?"
"I was not your sidekick for four years just to be told I can't keep up." Yellow bit back, getting up properly- for a moment, Sonic thought he struck a nerve. But then his brain processed the playful tease behind his voice. And he realized Yellow didn't mean it in a hurtful way.
Huh. He even talked the same way Blue did.
"I know I'm not as fast as the Blue Blurr himself but I like to think I'm decent." The fox stretched. "Besides, I've been inside way too long!"
"Yellow..."
"Please?" He looked at him with puppy eyes, ears lowering. Sonic shook his head.
"No."
"Pleaaaaaase?"
"Tails-"
"Please please please please please please pleas-"
"Okay okay!" he couldn't stand that baby look anymore and had to look away. The eyes fell at once, and the cub cheered, flying to celebrate his victory.
Knuckles, meanwhile, just stood there, confused. "...What form of persuasion was that?"
"That, my friend, is called Youngest Sibling Privileges." The fox winked, lowering himself slowly. "Irresistible to grumpy older bros who think too much. Your me will learn eventually."
"Your logic suggests there are Older Sibling Privileges as well."
"..." Instead of answering, he walked past him. Sonic snorted. "We'll be back in fifteen minutes, yeah?"
As they walked to the door, Sonic patted Ozzie's head to say bye quickly. Yellow... bowed his head. Ozzie didn't react.
"Thank you, for the protection you've granted us, mighty beast." He said seriously, before standing straight, and walking out the door. Knuckles nodded with approval from behind him.
"..." Sonic's shoulders were shaking as he tried not to burst out into laughter.