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Tails does feel a twinge of guilt as he slowly stretches his hand out towards Sonic's sleeping form, of course he does. His hands are shaking from another emotion, however, one which blots out his guilt entirely - excitement.
"Sonic!" Tails hisses, almost giddy as he grabs him by the shoulder and begins to shake him into consciousness. With a groan, Sonic rolls over, trying to evade the hand incessantly rocking him back and forth.
Tails doesn't relent, instead increasing the force with which he shakes him. It eventually pays off when Sonic slaps his hand away, sitting up and rubbing at his eyes furiously.
"Wha-?" Sonic tries to ask, only to be cut off by his own yawn.
"I just finished the invention I was working on!" Tails gushes, practically vibrating as he pictures it in his mind's eye, the metal gleaming merrily in the spot he left it.
"So?" Sonic asks, and Tails sighs. He really should be used to this by now.
He’s Tails’ friend, after all. Sometimes, more often than is probably reasonable, that involves being awoken at all sorts of ridiculous times.
Some would think friendship isn’t a strong enough bond for things like this. Tails thinks those people are either ignorant, or just entirely stupid.
"So, I need you to help test it!" he pushes, grabbing Sonic's arm and attempting to yank him from his bed.
"Hang on," Sonic frowns, leaning closer to Tails' face. He winces internally as Sonic's face darkens. "You stayed up all night again, didn't you?!" he (quite rightly) accuses.
"Maybe I did," Tails replies haughtily, "but you're one to talk! At least I had a reason for doing so, you always just stay up for the fun of it!"
"Yes, but this is a case where you should do as I say, not as I do," Sonic lectures solemnly. "If I help you test your machine, you have to swear you'll go to sleep as soon as we're done."
He extends his pinky finger, letting Tails know he's entirely serious. With another sigh, Tails wraps his own pinky around Sonic's, sealing their deal.
As soon as it's done, Sonic's face brightens, eyes gleaming. "So, what have you been working on?" he asks as the two set off, and Tails is more than happy to go on a lengthy tirade about his newest project.
Even better, Sonic is willing to listen. Interjecting with little questions, clearly engaged with the conversation. Tails can feel his grin growing with each encouraging nod he receives from Sonic.
“I’m planning to use these trackers in all sorts of vehicles, which is why I need you to test them. I need to see if they’ll be able to withstand high speeds and wind pressure,” Tails concludes.
“Sick,” Sonic replies simply, taking the tracker Tails hands him and cradling it gently in his hands. “How fast should I go?” he adds with a grin.
“Not too fast for now,” Tails warns. “We’ll build it up.”
“You got it, boss,” Sonic replies, settling into a stance for running, prepared to shoot off upon Tails’ command.
He has to set up his tablet first, to ensure he can see Sonic’s location when stationary. He allows himself a mental pat on the back at the sight of the small dot exactly where it should be, signifying that, so far, the device is operating as it should.
“Just do a lap for now. Ready?” Tails asks, just to confirm.
“Obviously!” Sonic whines, clearly itching to get moving.
Tails indulges him, counting down from three before Sonic shoots off like a rocket. Well, not as much of a rocket as he normally is, but the speed he puts on is still impressive.
Tails watches triumphantly as the tracker moves steadily along with Sonic, returning at the same time as him.
“All good so far,” Tails reports with an ear-splitting grin. “Try again, but faster?”
The next lap goes just as well, Tails’ heart pumping enthusiastically as he watches the success of something he created. No matter how much he builds, he never feels any less pleased when it all runs smoothly.
Tails offers Sonic a thumbs up when he returns, before saying, “Take the speed up a notch on the next one.”
Sonic salutes, before sprinting off again, but it isn’t long before the dot tracking his movements glitches, before fizzling out entirely.
It seems the third time isn’t the charm in this case.
Tails frowns deeply once Sonic returns, reaching out to take the device from him, tutting under his breath.
“It didn’t work that last time,” he adds unnecessarily. “It’s going to need some tweaks to help it withstand all that…” Tails trails off into unintelligible mumbling, fully immersed in the problem before him-
Until Sonic snatches the device from his hands.
“Hey!” Tails cries, automatically reaching out to reclaim it.
“Nuh uh,” Sonic replies, wagging his finger in Tails’ face. “You are going to bed. You’re going to sleep for at least several hours, and until then I shall keep hold of this.”
“But-” Tails tries to protest, but it’s fruitless. He had agreed to sleep, after all.
Sonic practically ushers him back to bed, fussing the entire way. Despite it all, the annoyance blooming in Tails’ chest doesn’t really command his attention.
No, the warmth he feels is much stronger. Sonic is nothing but gentle, if not insistent, in encouraging him into bed. Plus, Tails does feel much better once the weight is off his feet and a blanket is thrown over him.
“Sleep well,” Sonic says, in a tone that makes it almost sound threatening. Tails smiles to himself anyway as he slips into unconsciousness.
───── ✿ ─────
As soon as Tails awakens, he immediately sets off to collect his new invention back from Sonic. He may be patient enough to allow himself some rest, but certainly not enough to wait for Sonic to return from wherever he’s run off to.
He has to fly to get there, though. Which is where his problem begins.
Tails loves his tails, of course he does! They were once a burden to him, attracting ridicule and bullies left and right. He didn’t choose his nickname, it was forced upon him.
Sonic helped to change the way he sees them, though. He helped Tails build up his confidence entirely, in a way no else did. Now, there are infinite reasons he adores them. They’re so fluffy they feel almost like clouds - he basically has built-in pillows on his back. Whenever he gets stuck sitting on an uncomfortable chair, he can slide them between his back and the source of the discomfort. It doesn’t even hurt.
The largest reason he loves them is, of course, the gift they give him; the ability to fly. All he needs to do is whip them around, and he can soar high above the ground, the wind ruffling his fur pleasantly as he gazes over the land.
He can catch up to Sonic, which is especially helpful in this situation. He’s immensely grateful for them.
However, the reason he loves them most also causes the biggest problem. Things can get really tricky whenever they end up tangled, which is practically every time he flies. Every time he does so, he inevitably ends up with huge knots within the fur there. Not only do they look horrific, but they feel it, too. The usually soft texture is totally disrupted.
None of that would be as big a problem as it is if it weren’t for the location of his tails. Normal positioning, obviously, but incredibly inconvenient for trying to brush through them.
He’s at Sonic’s shack, attempting to brush his tails, when Amy walks in.
It’s an incredibly awkward position to be in, yet alone to be found in, but everyone else was out, and they were really bugging him. He’s lying on the ground, twisted around to try and reach them.
Amy blinks in surprise, stopping in her tracks to allow her eyes to scan over him, landing on the brush in his hand.
“There’s an easier way to do that, you know,” she says eventually, brow raising to match the scathing in her voice.
“Well, it’d be great if you told me that, rather than standing there judgingly,” Tails shoots back defensively. He’s obviously aware this isn’t ideal in the slightest, but it’s all he has.
Amy sighs softly, face softening. “You could just ask me to help,” she says, slowly approaching and taking the brush from him. She sits beside him, gesturing for him to sit up, too.
“You’d do that?” he asks. “It’s pretty demanding, I need to do it every time I fly.”
“Of course I’ll do it,” Amy replies, rolling her eyes slightly. “I’m your friend.”
It’s as simple as that, Tails thinks to himself, flashing her a grateful smile before turning around. She’ll do it just because she’s my friend. How do some people not understand that?
Amy’s brushing is far gentler than he’s ever able to be. Due to the limited reach he has, he just yanks the brush through his fur, forcing it through the knots.
Amy takes her time, working through each knot methodically. For once, brushing is calming. Paired with his and Amy’s low voices, chattering softly to each other, it’s like heaven in comparison with before.
When she’s finished, she hands the brush back with a smile.
“Tell me next time they need brushing,” she says commandingly.
“I will,” Tails beams. “Thank you.”
“You’re obviously welcome,” she replies, pulling him in for a brief hug. One he gratefully returns, for with this help he’ll never have problems brushing his tails ever again. By extension, there will be no downsides to his tails at all!
───── ✿ ─────
By now, fights with Eggman are just a part of Tails’ routine. He even plans his days with the spats in mind, always pencilling in a couple of free hours with the assumption that he will, at some point, be interrupted.
The fights have become predictable both in their regularity, and in their outcomes. The combined efforts of him and his friends; his creations, Sonic’s speed, Knuckles’ strength, and Amy’s mean hammer swing secure them victory every time.
Tails knows logically that he contributes more than enough to the battles. He uses his skills to create pathways to victory, without holding anyone back.
It doesn’t feel the same, though. Everyone else brings physical strength to the table, but not him. All Tails can offer is his brain.
That’s why he finds himself approaching Knuckles.
“Hey!” he greets, trying to ignore the way his heart pounds entirely irrationally.
Knuckles is my friend, he reminds himself sternly. Of course they’ll help me.
“Hello,” they reply blandly, blinking slowly.
“Will you teach me to fight?” Tails asks, cutting right to the heart of the matter.
Knuckles blinks once more, seemingly unimpressed, and for a moment Tails’ heart stutters. It’s not long, though, before their face softens into a smile, and he exhales in relief.
“Of course,” Knuckles says warmly. “Not inside, though. We’ll need some space.”
With that, they beckon Tails to follow them. He does so eagerly, a matching grin spreading across his face.
“Fighting is all in the legs,” Knuckles begins. “They’re the most important part.”
They stand opposite him and take a stance with their feet about hip width apart, a stance which Tails tentatively copies.
“Your legs are your foundation in fights,” Knuckles instructs. “They’re your foundation, to keep you standing. They bring you stability and power, so you’ve got to plant them firmly.”
They dig one of their heels into the ground, and Tails mirrors the movement.
“The way you hit matters, too,” they continue. “You need to protect your hands, or else they’ll get hurt, too. Make a fist,” they command.
Tails does so, holding it out for inspection. Knuckles shakes their head, pointing to his thumb.
“You can’t tuck it in like that. It could break,” they explain.
Tails nods, removing his thumb from the middle of his fist.
Knuckles next gets him to practice hitting, focusing on the technique first. Power, a much greater hurdle for him to overcome, will be focused on later.
Knuckles stands in as his punching bag. He feels bad about it, at first, until he realises Knuckles is totally unaffected. It checks out with his weak hits, but it’s nice to have the confirmation nonetheless.
At the end of it all, Tails is coated with disgustingly sticky sweat, and entirely out of breath.
He still uses the last remaining dregs of his energy to beam at Knuckles. They’re not as worn out as him, but their breaths have deepened.
The exertion isn’t huge, but Tails appreciates the sacrifice nonetheless. He knows he’d be willing to do the same, not that Knuckles would ever need his help to fight.
He still appreciates the reminder of the strength of their friendship, of how far they’re willing to go for each other.
“Thanks for that,” Tails says.
“You are welcome,” Knuckles replies. “Shall we continue tomorrow?”
“That’d be great,” Tails responds honestly, offering his fist for Knuckles to bump. They do, and he winces internally from the force, cradling his hand.
Hopefully, I’ll be that strong someday, Tails thinks to himself determinedly. I’ll be that useful in fights, and be able to help my friends just as much as they help me.
With Knuckles as his instructor, it doesn’t sound so impossible.
───── ✿ ─────
The two of them traipse back to Sonic’s shack together, pleased to find Sonic and Amy already there. They collapse onto the sofa instantly. Sonic is already sitting there, so he ends up wedged between both of them, and he makes his displeasure known immediately.
“Ugh, gross, you’re all sweaty!” he complains, but he doesn’t move to get up. “What have you even been doing?”
“Knuckles was teaching me to fight!” Tails exclaims, punching the air to emphasise his words.
“Sick,” Sonic replies earnestly, offering his fist for Tails to bump, which he does.
After that, they all fall into silence. Predictably, around Sonic, it doesn’t last for longer than a minute.
“I’m bored,” he groans almost immediately, sinking further into the sofa.
“Well, we’re not watching television again,” Amy says pointedly, shooting him a glare. “Let’s actually do something together. We’ll play a game.”
She smiles sweetly, but sharply, leaving no room for complaints.
Not that Tails has any, to be fair. “Yeah, okay! What should we play?”
“Not a board game, not a card game,” Sonic rules out immediately.
“How about charades?” Amy offers.
No one objects, so she begins to go about setting it up, writing down different things for them to act on slips of paper.
“Knuckles, you’re going to be our chief guesser, seeing as, well…” Amy tries to be delicate about the topic, holding up a piece of paper and waving it to signify her meaning.
Subtlety doesn’t tend to work when it comes to Knuckles, though.
“Seeing as what?” they ask, brows knitting together.
“Seeing as you can’t read,” Amy fires back.
“Oh, that makes sense!” Knuckles affirms.
Knuckles’ complete inability to grasp anything they’re doing just makes the game a hundred times funnier. The contrast between Amy’s clear, concise actions and Knuckles’ frantic yelling has Tails laughing so hard his stomach aches.
He’s not the best at acting things out himself, but it doesn’t seem to matter. It’s fun regardless.
Tails’ mind begins to wander as he laughs and jokes with them, and starts to head towards a topic that has been recurring in his thoughts lately. There are some people out there who think his world is less because he doesn’t have the love they perceive as having value; they think romantic love is worth more.
He used to believe them. He thought something had to be wrong with him, for him to not feel romantic love.
But they couldn’t be more wrong. He doesn’t need, nor want, that kind of love.
Right here, surrounded by his friends, Tails has all the love he needs.