Chapter Text
The usual chatter of the Tornado was quieter than normal when leaving the Starfall Islands, and then completely died halfway through the flight as they approached Angel Island. The last of the day’s sun decorated all with a golden glow, all but the blanket of stars hanging high above them.
Knuckles’ stare at his approaching Island was firm as his grip on the wing tightened, threatening to bend the red-painted metal (more than he already has). His other hand was also firm but was under no threat of bending what it held. The shaking, shallow breathing blue hedgehog in his hold was safely secured.
Tails and Amy, quiet from their seats, frequently stole glances at Knuckles and Sonic above them. The latter was the reason for the silence, having completely fallen off the wing after a long moment of concerning silence. Knuckles, being the Guardian he was chosen for, held Sonic close the rest of the way.
"What happened?" Amy finally spoke up.
Knuckles held his gaze straight, "The chaos energy leftover acted like adrenaline, it finally drained completely. But because of his sudden frequent exposure, plus his exhaustion, he's going through something like a drug withdrawal." He was sounding stern, but his friends knew.
"After all of that?" It was not really a question, but was said anyway.
A perfect landing, courtesy of Tails, even if he was in the middle of falling asleep. Amy hopped up and out of her seat, rounding the plane to receive Sonic in her arms as Knuckles went to make sure the whole Island wasn't two seconds from falling.
Sonic was barely even conscious, which was more than what they previously, collectively thought. But they wish they were right the first time, as the paler-by-the-second Hero tried to stand, tripping over nothing as he got his footing under control. He fell again, this time Tails catching him, unamused as Sonic tried to laugh it off.
Knuckles ran back to them, the Emerald was right where he left, which was a curiosity in and of itself, but it was put on the back-burner of Knuckles’ mind. He had a bigger priority to worry about as he hoisted the Blue hero up into his hold from the sleepy fox, turning to lead them into the woods, to their final destination for the day.
Amy grabbed Tails' hand as they followed Knuckles.
None of them have spoken since Sonic collapsed, Sonic tried a number of times, including now. But words failed him once again, most caught in his throat or brain and what he did manage to get out was met with more silence and worried looks. Didn’t stop him from trying however, even if meet with the same result, Tails might have a word for that, but Sonic couldn’t really think of it at the moment.
He was so focused on trying to talk he didn’t realize he was entering a rustic cabin, or that he was in Knuckles’ arms in the first place. Sonic’s mind went foggy as a memory flooded him.
The cabin was a labour of love from all of them to Knuckles. Sonic, Tails and Amy together build the building itself with resources they brought and whatever Knuckles allowed them to take. Tails tried to outfit the cabin with tech, but Knuckles wanted little to no technology around him. They managed to settle on a transmission radio for communication, with Tails being able to take a few liberties with it at his own insistence. Amy decorated as modestly as she could, adding some charm as she made blankets and pillows.
Sonic had a rather important job himself, distracting Knuckles, so they could finish. He introduced Tag as a training game, and promised to be fair with it. By the end of it, with the cabin built and ready, they returned giddy and joyful.
When the memory finished and the fog lifted a little, Sonic found himself in a plush bed, being plopped there by Knuckles. Who also picked up Tails and placed him with more care on top of Sonic, the kit curled up like a cat on top of the hedgehog, trapping him there, and left while muttering about a ‘radio’.
Sonic rested a hand on Tails’ head as he looked around the ‘room’. Not really a room, more of a hole-in-the-wall made for a bed, window and chair and not much more. The entryway has a curtain for privacy that was tied up recently, presenting the narrow kitchen. Herbs were hanging from the ceiling of the wooden room, a clay oven, the door they came in from and a table. He spies the other entryway covered with a curtain, leading to other rooms.
Amy was by his bedside when focused again, in the chair by the bedside, still saying nothing and petting his head. Sonic breathed in to say something, anything. He’s confused by the silence and wants to fill it, but his brain conjures nothing. The breath he sucked in left in a sigh, eyes casting down. The hand on his head tapped to get his attention, his eyes flicked hesitantly to Amy, and the soft smile on her face. She petted his head more, gentle “It’s okay.”’s were whispered a few times as he fought against heavy eyes. He saw a silhouette of red before his eyelids won the tug-of-war, finally shutting as he went limp.
_
“Finally asleep…”, the tension in Amy’s shoulder’s left a little when Sonic passed out, giving a few more pets to Sonic and some for Tails as she stood to close the curtain, then turned to Knuckles.
"I radioed Rouge," Amy briefly wonders how that conversation went, "She and Shadow will be here first thing tomorrow morning." Amy was happy to see Rouge, she really was, but her face betrayed the thought of reality coming back so soon.
Knuckles puts a hand on her shoulder, "Hey, we're staying here until that blue idiot is back in fighting shape." He leans towards her, a side of Knuckles only she gets to see, and smiles, "And… until we're better too."
Amy gave a small, yet real, smile to Knuckles. The red echidna gave her the same smile, patting her shoulder assuredly.
"Now c'mon," he turned to take a few steps towards the kitchen, "A week as a ghost makes you forget how hungry one can get." Amy finally notices her hunger at the statement.
"Good idea, Knux."