Chapter Text
Tails sat hunched over his workbench as he tinkered away on Whisper's wispon. He couldn't help but still be surprised that the wolf had actually let him tinker with it. She treated the weapon as if it was family and no one in their right mind could blame her.
It was the creation of a beloved family member after all, a family heirloom of sorts.
Smithy, the prototype’s creator and Whisper's older brother in every way that mattered, had been a genius to put it lightly. The way it managed to channel the power of not one breed of wisp but five of them was unlike anything that the fox had ever laid his eyes upon.
And therein lay the rub.
He couldn't understand how it worked.
He, Tails the Fox, famous boy genius couldn't understand it.
Yes, he could help with basic maintenance but replicating the variable wispon was somehow so far beyond him that he felt like a crayon eating toddler when compared to the lion who'd made it.
“I don't get it!” he whined as he twisted his hands around the screwdriver he was grabbing tight. “Belle was able to rebuild it from scraps yet I can't even-”
He let out a high pitched yell born out of pure frustration before sinking into his chair with a groan of defeat.
"Sonic…he can help."
“No, he can't! ”Tails snapped at the meek voice in the back of his head. “He doesn't know the first thing about how a wispon works!”
"Need him. His kind words. Warm hugs. Need him."
Tails groaned as he dragged a gloved hand across his muzzle in frustration. Frustration born in part that he was stuck in this rut to begin with but also in part because he knew that Miles was right. He needed his brother. Whatever it was out of his own wants and needs or because Miles was seeping through, he couldn't tell.
He rarely could with the younger boy.
————
Thuck, thuck, thuck.
The knife hit the cutting board in quick succession as Sonic sliced carrots to go along with the chicken that was cooking in the oven, filling the room with a smell that could only be described as divine.
His ears twitched slightly as he heard the telltale sound of fox paws against the hardwood floor and he turned to see one of his siblings shuffle towards him.
He couldn't tell for sure who was fronting just yet but he had a good idea just from posture alone. The fox’s shoulders were hunched while his blue eyes peeked through the drapes that were his unkempt fur.
“Miles?” Sonic asked before smiling as the fox replied by way of a quick nod. “Hey there kiddo! Is everything alright?”
“I-don't know? Just need…” Miles tried and the little fox couldn't help but smile as his big brother ruffled his hair affectionately.
Sonic knew his youngest sibling well enough by this point to know what the kit wanted, nay, needed. He always made himself known after they ended another one of Eggman's foolish schemes, after their run-ins with Surge or any other any number of dangers they found themselves in on an all too regular basis.
The times Miles had fronted without the system needing some kind reassurance or comfort could be counted on one hand.
“A hug?” Sonic asked and Miles barely had time to nod before being swept up by a full body hug by the hedgehog.
A faint purr escaped the fox as he buried his muzzle in his brother's neck and it didn't take long before it grew in volume until the kitchen was filled with a deep thrum.
Sonic loved all of his siblings but he found himself wishing that Miles would front more often around him and not only whenever they needed comfort.
Comfort that he gladly provided, mind you.
The kit were generally content with staying in the background in the system's shared headspace unless they needed to reach out for their big brother.
At least Whisper and Jewel had better luck coaxing the young fox to the front. Something about their calmer demeanor called to him just as much as Sonic's adrenaline pumping adventures called to Tails and Millie.
Well, calmer demeanor when not trying to blow Eggman's brains out in Whisper's case.
“Thanks Sonic.” Miles hummed as he closed his eyes, relishing in his brother's comforting presence.
“Anything for you kiddos.” Sonic replied as he tightened his hug ever so slightly. “Anything and anytime.”