Chapter Text
He irritatedly look with his eyes half close at the sun which was stinging his eyesight with it's blinding ray before decided to pull out his hat and use them to cover his eyes so as to block the the sun's light towards his view. A few minutes passed and once he felt his eyes are not hurting anymore, he tries to position himself in a comfortable sitting pose to lean up from the huge gem behind him, he was thinking about falling asleep before he heard a familiar voice that made him wince.
"Hey there Knux!!" a waving blue hedgehog was walking up the stairs to sat next to the echidna who still has his hat hiding his face, "Anything interesting happening today?" he cross his legs and put his arms behind his head to look at the sky.
He look at his friend in question before smirking, he snatched the accessory from his head which resulted in getting a daggered glare, "Hey!!! Give that back!!" the red mammal lunge at him by pinning him on the ground ground while getting his hat back, but the blue anthro didn't listen and just continue on making him flustered while smirking.
"Your too easy to read Knucklehead, I know you were faking your sleep so I'll leave you alone" he avoided all of Knuckles' hands who were trying to retrieve his item back. The echidna couldn't stand it anymore and just pin all of Sonic's arms just so he can stop his antics.
The red mammal look at the blue hedgebog intimidatingly while the latter was unaffected at all but is more amused than before. This got Knuckles easily flustered and threatened Sonic with his glare "Listen here you Blue Pineapple, give me my hat back or so help me I'll throw you out of this island" he growled, giving his all to show the opposing party that he is serious and would snap at any second if he continue to bother him any longer.
The blue hedgehog just chuckled from his friend's antic before giving in, "Okay, okay, okay, I'll stop, just get off of me" the echidna pay heed with the command but still gave the former a glare as another warning, "Geez Knux, I was only kidding. You don't have to be such a wet blanket most of the time".
Knuckles just rolled his eyes before making himself comfortable again to lean against the Master Emerald to seat, "I wouldn't be in such a bad mood if it wasn't for your constant teazing you know" the hedgehog sat beside him by putting his other leg on top of the other for support while using his arms as a pillow for comfort, "I'll never understand why you like to come here if I'm such a 'wet blanket' to you".
The blue hedgehog shrug at his question before looking at the sky along with the red echidna, "I figured you'd like some company once in a while since it's kinda boring here with nothing fun to do" he let out a sigh with a smile, his muscles and nerves relaxed from the fresh air and the serene view from the top of the altar, "But then again this place can be pretty serene and quiet, so maybe it's not a total loss that you'd ever get tired of guarding this huge gem here" he patted the emerald behind him only to stop once the red anthro throw a warning stare at him to stop what he's doing.
Sonic raise his hands defensively with an unamused expression, "Calm down Knucklhead, it's not like I'm going to steal the Master Emerald or anything, I even gave it back to you when I defeated Eggman remember?" he got a sigh of exhaustion coming from Knuckles before the latter scratch the back of his head awkwardly.
"As long as you don't push my buttons hedgehog, I'm more than okay with you being here if you just let me take a breather from one of your annoying antics" Sonic gave him a glare before sighing and just let this matter go for a little while and maybe later teaze the echidna before he leaves.
The two we're then left in silence while sitting with their backs laying beside the Master Emerald, before they look at the beautiful and serene blue sky with the soft wind blowing the clouds a little to move they're position. Only the refreshing wind breaks the silence around their surroundings and in made the red echidna's locks sway slowly that made him relaxed that he breathed in the air and let out a calm sigh.
The blue blur was watching this without any acknowledgement from the other, he just stare at the guardian by observing everything that is happening right at this moment. He flinched after the echidna caught on of what he is doing and furrow a brow.
"What is it? Is there something in my face?" Knuckles puts his hand all over his face to feel if there's anything attached to him. Sonic just gave a small chuckle which made the echidna stare at him confused and a bit upset if he's just messing with him, "Are you trying to get on my nerves again Sonic?".
While still laughing, the hedgehog shook his head and stop for a moment to look at his friend. "Nah, it's my first time seeing you so serene and relaxed. It's actually nice to see that staying in one place doesn't seem to faze you at all" a little take aback by the blue blur's words, the echidna just stare at a distance from giving eye contact.
"I'm flattered that you care about me, but staying here in Angel Island isn't as terrible as you think it would be" Knuckles got up from his spot and walk down the stairs in which Sonic followed suite, "There are many places here that I like to explore from time to time, the fruits and vegetables growing here are more than enough for me to eat. Plus the places you and Tails went are the exact same places I've gone to if I'm just planning to roam around the island".
The echidna started to pick up a bunch of sticks and vines, "Are you planning to build a trap just to so you wont have to worry about the Master Emerald for a short while?" Sonic asked as he helped the red anthro by picking up some materials that are needed.
Knuckles nodded, "It's been a while since I started to just explore the island, I'll just take a small break and get back here immediately" with his brute strength, he was able to carry all of the things that are essential for the protection ( with a little of Sonic's help of coarse ) to the sacred gem.
A While Later...
When the blue and red anthro are done finishing the trap at last, the two friends went to explore the island with their minds at ease and rest due to the beautiful, quiet and scenery of the place.
"This is my first time seeing you walk instead of running y'know?" the hedgehog turn to the echidna who only stare at the distance of their path, "Maybe we haven't hang out that much since I haven't moved from the altar for who knows when".
Sonic chuckled and puts his arms behind his head, "Good thing it's a good time for a break for once in a while right?" he saw the purple flowers that he once step foot on this island and immediately took one with a quick but gentle swipe and smell it's scent, "Not to say that you should stop what your doing, just taking a breather from guarding the Master Emerald wouldn't hurt you".
The red anthro was thinking throughly of what his friend have said that he stopped on his tracks in which made the other anthro halt to look at him in wonder.
"I guess your right" he gave a small smile before becoming serious, "I don't want to say this to you cause I'll never hear the end of it" he paused and let out a big sigh from his nerves, "But I'm a bit jealous of you".
The two just stare at each other in silence for a few minutes before the blue blur decided to speak.
"Oh I already knew that"
Knuckles blink a few times before he yell in suprise, "What?!?" he stammered for a bit before asking "How did you know?! Did Rouge tell you this?!?" he doesn't like the idea that he's jealousy towards Sonic would be obvious from the very beginning.
"No, if anyone had met you, it would be too on the nose already" the hedgehog covered his mouth from laughing, "It's actually funny that your not aware about it" he couldn't help but let out a chuckle that made the echidna pop out a vein in the side of his head.
"Don't you dare mock me pin cushion!!! Even people are more aware of you constantly kissing the ground compared to me!!"
The hedgehog was taken aback in embarrassement but quickly retorted back, "At least I'm quick to realize that sooner!!!".
Both friends started to walk and argue with each other, but despite it they eventually stop their trash talk towards each other...for now.
Once the duo reach the peak of the island, they we're able to see the beautiful sight of the ocean beneath them with the moon already rising up into the sky. The planet's light made the water shimmer to which the duo sat on the ground to enjoy the beautiful view in front of them.
"Heh, I've forgotten how it feels to just look at this sight again" Knuckles sighed contently and his friend just smile in response, "Though it actually made me feel like I want to get off this island for a little while just so I can see something more like this".
"Then why don't you?" Sonic asked raising his brow at the red anthro, "I really don't get you at times, first thing I know about you is that you want to stay on this island just so you can guard the Master Emerald. But the next thing I know is that you wanted to travel that isn't your island".
The echidna stand up quickly and raise his fists in anger, "Someone like you wouldn't understand!!!" he yell at the top of his lungs that made the hedgehog stand up too to raise his hands in defense, not wanting to cause a fight.
"Guarding that sacred gem was always what my ancestors have done throughout the years, leaving it unguarded would only leave it in the wrong hands" Sonic kept quiet but still listen to what Knuckles has to say, "Eggman keep bothering to steal the Master Emerald many times now and even if I come in to stop that from happening, it will only happen again. Who knows, maybe even more people like him wanted to harness it's power".
Once silence has taken over between the two individuals, the hedgehog began to spoke softly but seriously in order for the echidna to know that he's taking everything he said into consideration.
"It's true that I may not understand what your going through...but I do understand the want of wanting to see more" both of them lower their hands as the blue blur continued, "In all honesty, I wouldn't even want to be in your position. Just thinking about staying in one place for far too long wouldn't sit well with me at all".
Knuckles chuckled at the thought with a sincere smile, "Heh yeah, you? Sitting on the altar for how many hours? I doubt you'd last long" Sonic laugh lighty.
"Haha yeah, but whatever you choose to live your life Knux it's up to you. I'm not gonna boss you around if that's not gonna make you happy"
The echidna stare at the hedgehog with widen eyes and smile a bit, usually the hedgehog likes to poke his buttons often and respecting his decisions made him...happy? Glad? But either way he was thankful.
"Thank you, that means a lot to me"
Sonic smiled as they both sat down silently to enjoy the beautiful view in front of them, "Your welcome Knuckles".
Both of the duo we're silent throughout their sightseeing of the moon shining it's light on the reflection of the waters below them. But they took small glances at each other with a small smile on their faces.