Work Text:
Tails’ stomach let out a low growl as a faint hunger pang struck him. He couldn’t remember if he’d eaten today. He knew he should have eaten something but he didn’t feel comfortable just taking food. He also didn’t want to ask Sonic to get some for him, bothering the hedgehog for little things like that would just annoy him, which is the last thing Tails wanted.
The kit knew Sonic cared for him of course, the hedgehog was very vocal about that, but he’d only been with the speedster for a bit and something in the back of his mind was still worried about getting abandoned again.
The fox had been out with Knuckles for most of the day, the two of them were just starting to get along after everything that had happened with Robotnik on Angel Island. Tails had learned that he quite liked the echidna, he was more relaxed and calm compared to Sonic’s outgoing and energetic personality and it was interesting to hear what he knew about Mobius and about chaos energy. However, sometimes he just wanted his alone time, Sonic didn’t like him being on his own for prolonged periods still, seemingly nervous about the kit having another panic attack if he was separated for too long.
Tails however liked his alone time, so he’d separated from Knuckles when he’d gotten the chance, telling the echidna he was going to head back and hang out with Sonic. In reality, he’d gone to his workshop, which was more of a shed if he was being honest. Sonic told him that eventually, he’d figure out somewhere for the fox to have a proper workshop. But for now, the kit was keeping all his tools and things he’d brought with him once he’d started staying with the hedgehog out in a small shed that doubled as his workplace, giving him somewhere to relax and focus on his work. It was also a nice place to hide whenever he didn’t want to talk to anybody, he was still getting used to having Sonic around to talk to.
Finally setting his tools down and sighing, the fox figured he’d go get something to eat. He’d just grab something easy and bring it back out to the shed with him and eat in private. A feeling of lightheadedness enveloped the fox as he stood up, forcing him to put a hand on the wall to steady himself for a second as another hunger pang struck him, this time with much greater intensity.
The fox waited for the moment to pass and eventually, the pain subsided. Once it did the fox stepped out of the shed and walked to the house, quietly stepping inside through the back door and silently closing it behind him to avoid disturbing Sonic.
The fox’s paws were silent on the floor beneath him as he carefully started toward the kitchen.
As he passed the living room, the fox’s gaze landed on the back of Sonic’s head. The hedgehog was sprawled across the sofa, busy reading the novel he’d been working on for a while, the speedster seemingly hadn’t noticed him as he didn’t even look away from his book. The white-framed glasses that he wore still stared intently at the pages before him.
Looking at the hedgehog triggered something in the primal recesses of Tails’ mind, the empty feeling in his stomach only serving to further push his instincts along as he lowered himself onto all fours and silently crept toward the back of the couch.
The fox inched closer, his vision narrowing in on the hedgehog as his mind focused on him. The next step made a quiet creek from a soft spot in the wooden floor and caused one of Sonic’s ears to pivot toward the source of the sound as the hedgehog’s quills perked up. Tails ducked behind the couch as Sonic turned to look in his direction, sitting up in order to gaze over the back of the couch. He quickly spotted the fox.
“Tails? I thought you were with Knuckles?” The hedgehog said, looking at the kit through his glasses. The kit was on all fours and was seemingly startled if his wide eyes were anything to go off of. “Well, what is it bud? Something you need?”
The question broke Tails’ focus, his more primal instincts retreating into the recesses of his thoughts as he silently blinked a few times.
“Huh? What was…” The fox thought before finally realizing what had been happening. “Oh… predator instincts…”
Sonic looked at the fox curiously as he waited for an answer to his question, after a minute it finally came.
“Hungry…” The fox said, a defeated tone in his voice as he sat down and wrapped his tails around himself while his ears flattened to his head in a mixture of shame and embarrassment.
“Oh, well there’s food in the kitchen,” Sonic responded, absently waving toward the room in question. “You can grab whatever you want like I told ya.”
The hedgehog’s concern only rose further when the fox didn’t move from his spot, instead, hanging his head so he didn’t have to look up at the speedster.
“Is… something wrong?” The speedster asked, concern now filling his tone as he carefully closed his book.
Tails didn’t answer, which didn’t surprise Sonic. The kit hadn’t been particularly talkative since he’d met him on Westside, sometimes he could get him to ramble about some gadget he was working on or especially about the Tornado but that would usually only go for a bit until Tails realized what he was doing. It always seemed like the fox was embarrassed that Sonic was giving him attention, something that concerned the hedgehog to no end. The kit, at least for now, was a fox of very few words.
“Are you hurt?” Sonic asked, trying to figure out why exactly the kit seemed upset.
The fox shook his head.
“Nervous about something?”
The fox paused for a moment before lightly nodding.
“Feeling self-conscious again?”
The fox gently nodded again.
“You know I’m not mad at you for wanting food right?”
A longer pause this time, as if the fox didn’t know how to respond. Instead, a loud growl came from the kit’s stomach along with a slight wince of pain that didn’t escape Sonic’s notice. To say that this worried the speedster was an understatement, the kid was already pretty thin as is.
“Buddy…” The hedgehog said, setting his book down and standing up from the couch. “You’re starving. What did I tell you about making sure you eat?”
The fox looked away from the hedgehog as he sat next to him on the floor.
“So you’re feeling self-conscious…” The hedgehog began, his gentle voice helping to comfort the obviously upset fox. “Like you don’t deserve this life again, or is it something else this time?”
The fox didn’t answer and Sonic quickly realized his mistake.
“Sorry, that’s not a yes or no question huh?” He continued, whenever Tails was like this Sonic was internally grateful that the fox at least trusted him enough to respond, even if it wasn’t verbally. “Do you feel weird about being loved again?”
The fox’s breathing hitched for a moment as they tried not to cry, answering Sonic’s question for him.
“Bud, you deserve to be happy. You’re already doing so much better, the old you wouldn’t have even come to me about this.”
Tears ran down Tails’ muzzle as Sonic gently placed a hand under it, turning the kit’s head so they could look each other in the eye.
“Miles, I want you to listen to me.” The hedgehog spoke, using the fox’s real name to be sure he had his undivided attention. “What… happened on Westside… was horrible. I know how they treated you, but you don’t need to be afraid anymore. I’m not going to hurt you or kick you out, and I’m especially not going to do something like that for something as small as wanting food because you’re starving. When I asked you if you wanted to stay with me, that offer was permanent.”
Tails’ mood seemingly improved with the hedgehog’s words, but a few sniffles still escaped him as he regained his composure.
“I mean it,” Sonic continued, placing a hand on the kit’s shoulder. “You’re my little bro and that isn’t going to change. You’re a smart kid, maybe one of these days you’ll realize that.”
Tails sighed, prompting Sonic to ask some more questions. “Is there something else bothering you?”
The fox nodded.
“Does it involve me?”
Another nod.
“Am I upsetting you somehow?” Sonic asked, worried that that might be the case, he’d been trying to make the kit feel safe and comfortable staying with him. His worries lowered when the fox shook his head.
“Do you want me to spend more time with you? I can definitely do that if you want.”
The fox’s expression turned to surprise for a second, Sonic was close to his answer.
“Or is it the opposite? You want more time alone?”
Tails hesitated in his answer but soon nodded his head.
“Is it because you feel like you’re a burden? We talked about that bud.”
Tails gently nodded.
“Well I like spending time with you, making you happy makes me happy, and I can tell that getting to talk about whatever it is you’re working on makes you happy.”
A faint smile graced Tails’ features as Sonic talked.
“Besides, if I didn’t have you around I’d have to hang out with Knuckles all the time, you’re trying to subject me to that? I thought you loved me little bro!”
Sonic’s question got a chuckle from the fox, who wrapped his arms around the hedgehog and pulled him into a hug.
“Love you too buddy. How about we get you something to eat?”
Tails nodded and got to his feet, following behind Sonic. He wasn’t sure how but just hearing the hedgehog talk to him always made him feel better. Maybe he could start talking back a bit more.
It was the least he could do to repay him for everything.