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Tails senses the change before he even knows what's transpired. Logically unsound, sure, but also true.
One week after Shadow comes to reside in the Wachowski house, Knuckles' demeanor towards their guest shifts. He doesn't say anything to Tails– they'd promised to keep each other in the know about Shadow, about anything that might indicate the need to be cautious or (hopefully) less guarded with the new hedgehog. That is both reassuring and a little disquieting. It means that Knuckles hasn't noticed anything worth bringing up, but also that something has happened, regardless.
Ten days after Shadow takes up an uneasy residence in the guest room, Tom (Dad) looks lighter in a way Tails can't quite put data points to. It's the way he drops down onto the couch after work, ostensibly the same exact way he's always done, yet somehow he feels different. More relaxed.
It niggles at the fox; not enough evidence to hypothesize or alter parameters, but undeniably changed. He doesn't know what to do about it, and so he doesn't act. Doesn't ask Knuckles for an update or Dad why he seems more at ease. He just watches.
The answer reveals itself to him not in increments, but a flash of clarity.
It's raining outside, a summer shower not atypical for the climate of Green Hills. It makes the air feel both heavy and charged with atmospheric pressure. Cozy, Mom (Maddie) calls it. "Why don't we all get comfortable and turn something on the TV?" she suggests, setting the kettle to boil for hot chocolate.
"Sounds great," Dad agrees, groaning dramatically as he eases himself up. The weather makes his joints hurt, or so he says. But the way he moves around the house is no different than normal, save for the exaggerated sounds and the way he rubs at his knees when he sits down, so Tails isn't so sure. "Sonic!" he calls towards the ceiling. "You up, pal–oh my god stop doing that!"
Sonic appears in a blur of blue, grinning up at him before Tom can even finish calling. "Course I'm up! I've been up for hours," he claims, wholly unaware of his bedhead and absolutely, impishly tickled that he can still get a rise out of him with his speed.
(He was awake, just still in bed. Tails had peeked under his brother's blanket, saw the little flashlight and the comic book spread open on his pillow, and nodded sagely before heading downstairs.)
"Uh-huh," Tom sighs long-sufferingly. "Think you could be a champ and help Shadow down the stairs? We're putting on a movie."
"We are?? OhmygoshcanIchoose??" Sonic starts vibrating in place. "Can we make popcorn? What about–" he cuts off, peering over the counter to see Maddie already at the stove. "Yesssss!"
And then he's off, racing upstairs and completely forgetting to wait or wheedle for an answer about choosing the movie. Tom looks over his shoulder towards the stairs and shakes his head in loving exasperation. "Hope you're ready to watch Speed for the hundredth time," he remarks wryly.
Tails, who had watched all of this unfold from where he'd hover-hopped up onto a barstool at the counter, cocks his head to one side as Mom looks not at her husband, but at him. "Oh, I dunno about putting that on now. Tails, how old did you say you were?"
The sudden question throws him, but Tails answers dutifully, "Eight. But I'm–"
"Oh, crap," Dad seems to have the same realization as Maddie, because he puts one hand on his hip and the other to his mouth in thought. "Sonic might throw a fit if we tell him we're actually going to abide by the ratings now."
Before Tails can figure out or form a protest (he's very mature for his age!), there's a fresh mug of cocoa and a little jar of marshmallows being placed in front of Tails, distracting him entirely. "He'll live," Maddie shrugs. "Besides, I think the new live action Disney movie is on streaming now."
Tails accepts the cup with a delighted "Thank you!" and carefully starts spooning marshmallows into it.
A beat later, there's the sound of a door being pushed shut, a brief shuffle, and then Sonic calling, "Incoming!"
Tails forgets about his cocoa for a minute.
Coming down the stairs into the living room are Sonic, Shadow, and Knuckles. The blue blur is walking backwards down the steps with his hands out, like he's either guiding or ready to catch the other two if need be. Knuckles is hunched over slightly, arms curled behind himself to support–
Shadow.
The black hedgehog looks thoroughly miffed and uncomfortable from his perch. His perch on Knuckles' back.
The spoon slips from Tails' hand and clinks against his mug softly.
"Easy, easy, here comes the landing… Okay, easy," Sonic parrots, like he's an aircraft marshaller on the tarmac. Knuckles grunts vaguely in assent (or annoyance) and carefully rounds the bend to take the last few steps, at which point Shadow straightens up in expectation.
Except Knuckles doesn't let him down.
Sonic keeps up the routine the whole way across the living room, much to Shadow's (and Tails') confusion. Only when the echidna has turned around and backed up to the couch does he lower himself and their guest, depositing Shadow neatly onto the cushions without a single jolt or jostle. "Aaaand we have arrived! Thank you for flying Air Hedgehog–"
Knuckles gives him A Look. "–Should it not be Air Echidna? It was I who…"
Their banter fades out as Tails takes in the scene: Shadow looks grumpy but relieved that he didn't have to hobble across the room (or down the stairs) on his half-mended leg. Sonic and Knuckles bicker good-naturedly as they start grabbing the extra pillows and blankets from the hall closet.
And standing together at the kitchen island are Tom and Maddie, smiling in that soft, adoring way they did whenever they saw their kids doing something they thought was especially noteworthy or 'cute'.
A puzzle piece clicks into place in Tails' mind.
He's joining the family.
Sonic is disappointed about not getting to put on Speed ("But Mom, Shadow hasn't seen it!" "And there'll be plenty of chances for him to in the future, sweetie."), but the new Disney movie is enough to placate him. Tails tries not to feel conspicuous from his spot curled against Mom at one end of the couch.
They'd be getting to watch Speed if I wasn't here.
The thought distracts him the whole movie– well, that and the fact that Shadow is less than three feet away, sequestered on the opposite edge of the couch. Sonic's sharing the middle with Maddie, popcorn bowl in lap, greasy fingers gesturing energetically and getting into everyone's personal space.
Tom has the armchair. Knuckles is on the floor. Ozzie's snoring in his bed.
They all… fit. Somehow. Miraculously.
And Shadow, surprisingly, seems captivated by the movie. Well, it's surprising until Tails thinks about it a little more, anyway. That GUN base looked to be about fifty years old, judging by the cobweb-covered computers and the moldy carpets in the living quarters. This must be quite the upgrade in visuals and sound quality.
Thinking about this, the logic behind their scary houseguest being enthralled by Cinderella, helps soothe the strange ache behind Tails' collarbone. As does the cocoa, and the popcorn, and Maddie– Mom gently petting his head as the movie plays.
Thunder rumbles outside. The occasional flash lights up the windows through the blinds. The rain continues falling in steady sheets, adding a soft drone of white noise to the background.
And when it's over, everyone moves a little quieter because Shadow the hedgehog has fallen asleep with his cheek propped on his good fist.
The cocoa and popcorn in Tails' stomach sours.
Knuckles finally, finally decides to bring him into the loop the next day. "I have determined that the new hedgehog is not a threat," he proclaims, standing a comfortable distance away from Tails' worktable. It's made of plastic, with thick legs in four different colors and a matching chair at his height.
"Have you," Tails replies, half-distracted, as he solders. He'd reinforced the tabletop with a special coating to make it flame retardant, and then added an antistatic mat on top to work on his electronics.
"I have!" Knuckles sounds incredibly pleased to deliver the news. "We have spoken on neutral terms, and I even persuaded him to speak with Father– which he did without further prompting. This demonstrates that his contrition is genuine…"
The soldering iron slips in his hand, and Tails bites his lip to keep from saying a bad word. Now he's gonna have to un-solder that circuit and do it again for a clean connection.
Sighing through his nose, the fox sets the iron on its stand and pulls his magnifying goggles up, rubbing around his eyes a little.
Shadow and Knuckles… talked. Apparently. And more than a few days ago, since he mentioned Shadow talking to Tom– Dad. That's why he's been acting different lately.
And Knuckles hadn't even told him about it until after the fact.
"…rivalry with our brother will do them both good," Knuckles is saying. Tails realizes he dropped the thread of the conversation and scrambles briefly, mentally, to pick it back up.
"Wh– good for who? Sonic?"
Sonic doesn't need a rival. He's got Knuckles and Tails. They're a team: speed, brawn, brains. There's no room for a rival in the equation.
"Yes! He seems quite adept at getting under the blue hedgehog's fur, but now that I know he does not bear true hostility, I believe it will–"
Tails' hackles rise. "He's picking on Sonic??" he interrupts and immediately feels awful for it. Knuckles isn't the most verbose unless he's passionate about something, which Tails completely understands. But–
Shadow's already intruding in their house. If he's taking advantage of Sonic's big heart…
"Not in malice, fox," Knuckles reiterates, looking at his brother with that specific tilt of his head. The one that says I'm thinking. I'm assessing.
All at once, Tails hates being the subject of that look.
He pushes the plastic chair back and stands up, stiff and self-aware. "That– that's great, Knux. I'm glad. That Shadow's not evil. Yeah. Talk to you later!" And then he's off, hopping into the air and speeding out of the garage before Knuckles can so much as take a breath to respond.
He forgets to turn off the soldering iron.
It's still raining out, and besides it'll be dark out soon– sooner than usual thanks to the dense cloud cover. Tom and Maddie haven't imposed a curfew, so to speak, but Tails knows they worry, asking gently after their plans, that they be home in time for dinner, that they Be careful.
He goes up to the attic, instead, with half a thought towards catching up on Sonic's comic book collection. His brother loves superheroes (The Flash especially), and Tails quite likes the colorful artwork and stories, too.
He ends up flopped on his yellow racecar bed, instead, staring up at the fairy lights twined around the rafters and remembering the soft, adoring looks from their surrogate parents.
The narrow-eyed suspicion with which Shadow had watched him leave the room before.
The way they all fit into the family room perfectly, snug but not crowded.
Tails scrunches his nose up at the ceiling and tries not to acknowledge the lumpy, prickly shape in his chest. It doesn't work.
Sighing, the fox kit rolls onto his side and curls in on himself, drawing his two tails around and over his legs to hold. Freak, echoes a faceless memory. He used to be picked on for being different, for something he had no control over. Tails. Now it's a term of endearment, not a mean-spirited jeer.
He drifts into an uneasy sleep to the sound of rain on the roof tiles and the soothing rhythm of his own breath.
When he wakes, it's dark.
Not totally– there's still a dim glow through the skylight, and of course the fairy lights cast the attic in a warm, welcoming haze. Tails yawns and stretches atop the comforter, blinking both crust and a vague ache from his eyes.
The sound of chatter and clinking silverware echoes up as he descends into the gloom of the hall. Must be dinnertime, he realizes, and picks up the pace as his stomach rouses with an anticipatory growl.
He nearly bumps into Mom's legs as he turns the corner into the dining room. "Oh! Good morning, sleepyhead," Maddie smiles, stepping back. She's carrying a glass of water and a plate of something delicious-smelling. "Sonic said you were asleep, so I thought I'd bring dinner up to you." Tails feels his heart swell as she turns and draws him into the dining room with a gesture. "Come on, sweetie."
That sleepy-warm bloom of affection and belonging wavers as he hops up into his usual chair and sees that Shadow has taken up the spot where Knuckles usually sits, across from him. The echidna's shifted closer to Maddie to make space, which actually makes the table pleasingly symmetrical, but it's Shadow–
"Hey, there he is!" Sonic slings an arm around Tails and ruffles the fur between his ears affectionately. "You were dead to the world when I went up there, pal! Totes get it, though, the rain is like the peeerfect lullaby," he sing-songs for emphasis.
Tails feels his cheeks heat up. "It wasn't that. I was just– I mean–"
"Indeed, on our homeworld it was tradition to rest during the rain. It was a time of renewal," Knuckles agrees solemnly.
Across from him, Shadow's gaze remains fixed on the noodles he's carefully twirling around his fork. "Homeworld?"
Tails tries not to stare.
"Indeed, new hedgehog! Our planet is a vibrant realm, full of…" Knuckles begins, clearly delighted to wax poetic about their planet of origin. Sonic rolls his eyes but joins in around a mouthful of spaghetti, correcting Knuckles' assessment of the naturally occuring loop-de-loops as 'obstacles'. Maddie chides about manners and reaches over to cover his mouth with a napkin.
And then Tom joins in. "What about you, buddy? You're from the same place, right?"
Silence.
"I don't know," Shadow says, after a pause. "I have no memories before coming here."
Tom’s expression shifts, tight-lipped at the edges. Knuckles nods in solidarity. Maddie's sympathy is clear.
And Sonic, as always, saves the moment from getting awkward with a dramatic exclamation. "Wait, what? Nothing?! Dude, we have to take you to visit sometime. You're gonna love it!"
The table breathes again. Tails sags slightly in his seat. Shadow's shoulders lower slightly as Sonic launches into a vivid description of his home island, clearly glad the spotlight's moved away from him. He keeps an ear cocked towards Sonic as he eats, offering small nods or answering quietly, but he doesn't speak up again.
At least, not until Sonic suddenly declares, "We can race! I'll win, obviously, but it'll still be great to show you the loop-de-loops and the shortcuts and–"
"You'll win?" Shadow interjects. It's the first time he's spoken up without being directly prompted. He even lifts his head from examining his plate, something unreadable tugging at the corner of his mouth. "You're awfully sure of yourself."
Tails' eyes widen, flicking between the two of them as Sonic falters. But then, quick as a whip– "Oh, I'll win, alright! It's my home turf," he fires back, beaming.
"Hmph. Overconfident."
"Overconf– I can break the sound barrier, dude! Oh, it's on, Shads! Soon as your leg isn't busted anymore, we are so on!" Sonic points his fork at Shadow (inadvertently sending flecks of tomato sauce flying across the table). Tails cringes and tries not to curl into himself instinctively, away from the arguing and confrontation and…
And… Sonic's still grinning. In fact, he's almost vibrating, eyes bright and ears perked forward in clear delight. He doesn't look mad, or upset, or scared (Sonic never looks scared). Across from him, Shadow's not ducking his head or baring his teeth. He's grinning back, which is almost as alarming as if he were snarling after all.
Maddie takes Sonic's hand with the fork and firmly guides it back to his side of the table. "Alright, simmer down, boys. You two can chase each other all across the state– after Shadow heals," she adds, looking past Knuckles to give Shadow a meaningful glance.
They settle. Sonic starts shoveling spaghetti into his mouth like he's declared eating a race of its own, and across from him, even Shadow looks a little less guarded than before.
Tails' appetite, by contrast, seems to have curled up and died at some point during that whole– thing. He picks at his food until everyone's done, then offers to help Mom with the dishes. She declines, pointing out that it's Sonic's turn on the chore wheel, but gives him a little kiss on the forehead for offering anyway.
He can feel eyes on the back of his head the whole way to the garage.
He doesn't look back.
He's joining the family.
"...it will be good for Sonic to have a rival…"
I'm still afraid of Shadow.
"What about you, buddy?"
Sonic said he was good. Sonic said he changed sides.
"Simmer down, boys…"
He's joining our family.
He needs to think. Tails swipes his goggles off the peg above his workstation, nudging the plastic chair back. Right. He was working on the circuit board for his next Miles Electric…
The soldering iron burns him when he goes to pick it up.
Tails yelps and snatches his hand away. The hot metal clatters to the floor, swinging precariously by the cord still plugged into the wall. Ow ow ow ow–
"Are you alright?"
Standing in the doorway between kitchen and garage, leaning on a crutch, is Shadow. He looks– surprised. Wide-eyed and unsure, starting to pivot on his heel back into the kitchen.
"I'm fine," Tails blurts out, holding his hand to his chest where he can feel his heart pounding like a drum. He– he doesn't want Mom to know he hurt himself. Doesn't want Dad to find out he could've burned down the house being careless. Doesn't… Why is Shadow in here?
Shadow seems to waver for a moment. Hesitating. Then, navigating carefully with his crutch, he moves from the faded Welcome rug on the threshold and onto cool concrete. Into the garage. Behind him, the door into the kitchen is still cracked. He can just hear Maddie and Sonic inside, working on the dishes. He could call for them, for Knuckles. They'd hear.
But Shadow's not approaching him. He's… picking his way over to the chest freezer, actually. Tails stares as he props his crutch against the side and pushes the top open.
"What… are you doing?"
Shadow goes up on his toes to reach into the chest, rummaging around a little before he produces a long-forgotten bag of peas.
The freezer lid drops down with a muted thunk. Peas in hand, Shadow takes up his crutch again and hobbles over to Tails' workstation, mindful of the soldering iron and its cord on the floor.
They're alone.
Tails feels a chill that has nothing to do with the damp air.
Shadow notices. Pauses a few feet away, leaning on his good leg.
Then: a hand extended. Careful. Offering the frozen peas. "You should ice that."
Tails hesitates, heart pounding, clutching his hand and trying to think through the sharp burn.
He shakes the bag a little for emphasis.
Numbly, the fox takes them. Presses the cool, crinkly plastic to his palm, which almost immediately dulls the throb radiating up his forearm.
Shadow's in here. In my workspace. Why?
"Why are you here?" he blurts out.
Did he need something? Tails takes in the crutch tucked under Shadow's arm. The way his expression pinches faintly at the question, black-furred ears flicking back a little. Shadow doesn't look sure, himself, and that uncertainty makes his own hackles rise that much more. But then–
"I wanted to. Apologize. For earlier."
Tails actually does reel, then, sinking into the chair in absolute incomprehension. His hand still hurts, but the cool is helping but Shadow fetched it for me even though he has a broken leg and he came in here to apologize and…
And Tails had come in here to sulk about the fact he was even around. That he was– that he was–
Shadow blinks in incomprehension as, apropos of nothing, Tails turns away to hide his face. He's been so ugly, all the horrible crawly feelings and squeezing in his chest rushing back like they're going to strangle him right then and there for being such a horrible person to this guy that– okay, he did do a lot of bad stuff, too, but he changed, Sonic said so and Tails doubted Sonic and now Shadow's here to apologize and he got stupid peas for him after he was stupid and burned himself and–
"I… I made an assumption," he hears the hedgehog say, halting and unsure, into the vacuum of space between them. "About you. And the others. I thought you were still working with… well. Sonic made it clear you aren't." There's– there's an I'm sorry in there, somewhere. Not outright, but in the way his voice goes quieter, even for him.
Tails scarcely hears over the hum-roar of blood rushing through his ears. He can't find words. Can't think over the pounding refrain of jealous, scared, resentful in his head, like a bell tolling out his guilt for feeling such ugly feelings.
But then: a brief shuffle, something being unplugged from the power strip on the wall above his desk. The clack of something metal, something heavy, being set on his little plastic table.
Tails looks up, and his eyes catch on gold.
It's– it's one of Shadow's Inhibitor Rings.
His head whips up fast enough to get a crick, peas crinkling in his grasp. "Wait–! What…"
"You wanted to look at them," Shadow answers simply, not looking back. He's already hobbling towards the door again, slow and steady.
He scrambles for words. "But I thought. I– Don't you need them??"
Now the hedgehog pauses. Tails stares at the back of his head, the red stripes and curved-up quills (like horns, he'd thought uncharitably). "I'll be fine for a couple hours," Shadow says at last, and then he does look back. "Just don't take all night with it."
He seems like he's waiting for Tails to say something, or do something, so the fox reaches for the Inhibitor Ring, still reeling. He's just– offering it? Just like that? After…
It's heavier than he was expecting– almost weighted. Despite himself, despite the ugliness licking up the inside of his chest and the buzzing in his head and the pain in his hand, he can't help but wonder again at what the metal is.
The kitchen door creaks. He can see Sonic peering over the counter into the garage, yellow dish gloves all the way up to his shoulders and curiosity in his big green eyes. Keeping an eye out. Watching Shadow, in case he needs help. Watching Tails, in case he needs his brother.
Tails, who's now holding the thing Shadow needs to– to not destabilize. Like he trusts him with it.
Like he trusts me.
Something stuttering and unsure unfurls in his chest, a little like anxiety but without the awful edge of second-guessing, without the ugly feeling of fear and jealousy and mistrust. He almost doesn't hear Shadow, setting the Ring down and reaching for his scanner one-handed. Should I start with analyzing the alloy or measuring residual Chaos energy–
"You're a smart kid."
And then he's gone.