Work Text:
The muted, monotone rumble of the ship's mechanics work was about the only sound around. Who could've guessed time travel would be this... dull.
I guess it's only exciting at the start and very end. You know, when something ACTUALLY happened?
Like, there wasn't even something cool to look out the window!
Seriously! Where are the elongated, colorful lights and sparkles? Or what about some inexplicable clocks floating around in a two-toned swirl?
Why did it even take THIS long, anyways...!? Ugh, whatever.
The Team, specially Sonic, had to keep in mind this was no pleasure trip, but the quiet anticipation to a battle a scale they had never faced before.
"—Did you get that, Amy?"
"Huh!?" She jumped.
Wait. I thought we were all quiet!? Was he speaking!? For how long!?
The fox turned slightly to her. Loosening his hold of the wheel just a bit.
"You heard?"
"Oh! Am— ah... yeah! Yeah I just— ah..."
Face resting again on her hand, her eyelids threatened to close once more.
"Are you okay...?"
They were all looking at her now. She straightened in her seat.
"Yes...! I'm perfectly... fine!" Tone not too convincing.
Tails turned again, almost all the way this time.
"Maybe you should get some rest."
The girl reacted again, new energy found. "What...!? No-no! I'm doing well! I'm focused, see!? Eyes on the mission." She closed her fists over her skirt.
"Yeah, right." Sonic spoke.
"Amy—" Tails continued, soft yet firm.
"You told us yourself you spent day and night tracking down the Metals before finding Sonic. And you've kept working and fighting along us ever since!
—Also! Don't think I didn't see the face you made when Maddie asked you if you had been eating well...!" He almost lifted his pointer finger at her, the dare!
Amy loved Tails. Like, from the very second she met the little guy. But, MAN! Did she hate to be scolded by him!
Sonic of course, could relate.
He clicked his tongue before turning to her. "Hey, it's okay! We've got all things under control here! —Is not like there's much to do anyways...!" He mumbled that part.
"So why don't you go to the back and have a little nap?"
"We need you at your whole capacity for the upcoming battle, Miss Rose!" Knuckles added.
She closed her eyes, on purpose this time, as she quietly grunted, crouching in her seat, arms crossed. "I'm fine, I don't need to sleep."
They all gave her a look.
The boys had quickly learned the pink hedgehog was stubborn as a rock. She was a great teammate, alright! Could definitely do as demanded. But as she was selfless and cooperative, she was inmature and, again, stubborn.
Was this a lost battle? They all wondered. Well, I guess she'll eventually fall asleep in the seat anyways. Let's just call it a tie, then.
In any case, they all went back to their positions.
Silence invaded the scene again. The same rumble soon returned to become white noise in the Team's ears.
Sonic took a peek at the girl, she had tilted to the side, but quivered herself as she fought the exhaustion. He smirked, containing a chuckle.
He kept his eyes on her a minute longer, but when she moved again, he shook his head and turned back to the window. Yep! Black void—still there.
Silence again.
More silence.
Just a little more...
CLANK—
They all jolted.
There we go.
Amy laid face down on the floor. Her behind slightly upwards.
The boys exchanged an unamused look.
"Someone take her out of here...!" Tails moved a hand.
Sonic had already stood up. "On it...!"
In an almost -too smooth- movement he had jumped beside her, turned her over and lifted her off her feet, right into his arms.
"Saaaay good night to everyone, Ames~!"
A grumpy yet light howl escaped her. "Noooooooouuuuuu...!" And even kicked her feet. Luckily for Sonic, the force put into it was not a tenth of her fullest.
"Good night, Amy!" Spoke Tails, eyes still on the non-road ahead.
A moment later, the Blue had turned around to trespass the automatic door of the cabin, making way into the hallway that ran across the ship.
There weren't too many spaces aboard, only one other mayor room at the back, really. A bit of a all-purpose storage-ish place. They had some supplies there, Tails' tools and devices, some provisions amongst other stuff that could come handy.
Sonic's steps echoed across the cold metal walls. He moved rather slowly, one could pinpoint. Then again he did had a passenger right now.
He had held Amy like this a few times now. Mostly whenever they had to make a quick, ahem, —strategic withdrawal— from a swarm of robots, that is.
In his mind, Sonic was thankful the others didn't comment on how casually he had picked her up this time. Or that he had called her 'Ames' once more. (He himself couldn't tell when or why that became a thing...)
If he thought about it, he felt proud he could just hold a lady in his arms with such ease. There was no denying on that part!
BESIDES—! It was only natural a hero of his caliber would be nothing but a charming gentleman!
'Yeah—! Let's go with that...!'
Also, come on! Just look at her! She fitted so well across his chest! Absolutely perfect size! Almost as she was meant to be ther- Wait, what?
It was then when he noticed she was looking at him. The expression drawn in her face could only be described as 'dreamy'.
But tHen again...! She was sleepy, so—! What other face could she put, right!?
Did he try to ignore it?
He did look back and forward a few times before facing the girl again.
A smile had formed in his muzzle at that point.
"What?" He finally dared to ask.
Amy blinked, sloooowly.
Her lips parted. "...Has anyone ever told you..."
Her voice a sweet whisper. "...you have beautiful eyes..?~"
Sonic almost stopped walking. His eyes opened wide.
"Whaaat...!?" He gawked, almost chuckled.
His voice came out airy, whispery too, to match hers. Looking to the sides, his brow frowned, yet his smirk remained up and curved. "Ammm—No...!?"
"Well...!" She smiled weakly. "You do...!"
Her eyes kept seeking his with blurry focus. And Sonic felt like laughing again, what was this girl saying right now!?
"—They... shine like... two perfectly cut emeralds...!~"
He was about to loose it. He stared completely amused.
"OH- hmph!— Oh, yeah...!?"
"Mmh-hm...!~" She nodded, her silly smile becoming sillier by the second. "I...like em'..."
"All-right—! " He chuckled lightly. "Bout' TIME someone noticed it!"
The girl smirked playfully, eyes half lidded still. "I meaaaan it...!!"
A finger found it's way up to poke his chest, light and clumsily. "You, mister —put the Master Emerald... to SHAME...!~"
She even lifted her brows on that one!
Sonic's eyes could not open further, brows couldn't possibly lift higher. He grinned further and teeth showed. He let out an airy laugh, mostly through his nose.
Not a comeback for THAT ONE, he thought!
"Well—!" Looking away for a moment, he shook his head with closed eyes. And when he faced the girl again his smile had softened.
He shrugged and tilted his head. "...Thanks for the compliment!" He winked.
He winked...?
Amy seemed content with that. Like so, she offered him one of her sweet, tender smiles, just for him.
It was hard to say if Sonic even registered the girl was flirting with him.
Then again, I suppose it was a rather lame attempt.
And, well... she was, in fact, too sleep-drunk to take seriously. I'll give you that!
The hallway already seemed impossibly long at this point. Had it always been that way? Was he walking THAT slow...?
In any case...! They finally reached the room.
Another door opened and soon closed. Inside, off to one side there was a bench like structure, some form of thin mattress rested on top. It was a stretcher, more than anything.
They couldn't afford to install bedrooms in the ship with the little time given, but this surely would be more comfortable than the cabin's floor, he figured.
"—Theeere we go...!"
Once off himself, his chest immediately felt empty. Yet, for some reason, not any less warm.
He then reached for one of the shelves on the other side. Maddie had been more than persistent on them bringing some clothes and blankets with them. Guess they came handy, after all!
Sonic unfolded one of the puffier ones with a swift move. And then gently put it over her frame.
"You're too kind...~" She whispered again.
He smiled. "I was well raised...!"
It's crazy how much the guy would just... slow down for Amy. He probably didn't even noticed how gentle he could be when it came to her. As it happened just now.
He knew he should have left already. He had done what he came to do, no?
Yet, he stayed.
Kneeled down beside her as he, for any reason, kept adjusting the blanket around her body.
The fondness he had developed for the pink hedgehog, he couldn't quite understand it.
Sure! He was quick to become friends with people. But deep down he could note this feeling came in a different form...
'Feeling'...?
Wait. He didn't like that word. Not for this. Not to refer to...
...her.
BAH! He shouldn't give it that much thought!
Why was he still here, again? Wait. Is he smoothing the wrinkles out!?
Dude.
—OKAY-OKAY, MAYBE he just wanted to wait and see what other funny nonsense she could throw at him!
'Wait- Yeah! That's gotta be it!'
He definitely was NOT looking forward to go back, sit down and stare out that window again! Whatever this girl could come up with, was GUARANTEED to be 100% more worth of his time!
Amy Rose was many things. He had learned quickly, but 'BORING' was definitely NOT one of them!
"Hey, Sonic...?"
Ah-ha! Here we go. Give it to me!
"Yeeeees, Amy...?~" He leaned a little closer, chin rested in one hand. Batting the eyelashes of the —so called— 'beautiful' eyes of his.
"...will you marry me...?"
A
He blinked. "...say what."
She shifted, taking hold of his hand, for it was still over her—OVER THE BLANKET. It was over the blanket.
Why was it there, again?
"I... was just wondering if... you'd —maybe..." She looked at his hand, brushing his fingers lightly. "...like to marry me...?"
Amy's sleepy eyes met his —very awake ones— again. And they stayed like that for a moment.
He finally shook his head, letting out an airy laugh he couldn't contain anymore.
"GEE, Ames!!! Let's go grab a coffee or something first, no!?"
The pink girl giggled in response. A sound he had learned to appreciate, IN SECRET— that is!
"Why, there...!" She teased. "Am I moving too faaaaast for your liking...?~"
Straightening slightly, his free hand found way to his chest as he gawked.
"Ooooh~! You think you DID something there, didn't you...!?" He smirked, rather playfully so.
Chuckling again, she tightened the hold of his hand.
The very same he had made little to no effort to retrieve, mind you.
"Come oooooon...! Why not...!?" She moved her head around. "It would be fun...! —And I'd made an AWSOME wife...!"
Sonic leaned forward again. "Oh, yeah...?" He lifted a brow. A grin still very visible in his face.
"Yeah...!" She looked at their intertwined hands again. "I'd... take care of you if you were sick...! And— I'd made all your favorite meals...!"
"Even chillidogs...!?" He perked.
"ALL the chillidogs you'd want...!!"
"AAahhh...! You are tempting me, now...!~" He shook his pointer finger around.
She giggled again. But as it eased, her tone became softer, impossibly so.
"And..." Through her eyelashes, her eyes found his once more. The tenderness in them almost overwhelming.
"...I'd... make you happy."
His grin flattened for a moment. Probably for the first time in their whole little encounter.
This girl...
"Amy...?"
She titled her head.
"...I have no idea what you are talking about."
The girl burst into laugh again, light and cheeky. She shook and finally retrieved her hands to cover her face. Smile wider, Sonic chuckled along right after.
"You are too tired for this!" Hand free, he took the chance to reach over and playfully rub the funny puff of her bangs.
Something he may —or MAY NOT— had secretly wanted to do for a while, actually. (It was just as soft and puffy as he had imagined. Score!)
He then gently, (gently) pushed her head down with two fingers. "BAAAh—! Go to sleep already!"
Her giggle eased, then stopped all together.
"Only because you say so! My DAAARLING Sonic...!~" And she soon settled under the blanket.
Sonic stayed beside her. Arms crossed rested on the mattress. Looking at her a minute longer, he finally stood up with a final airy scoff.
Making his way out, he stopped by the door and looked back.
That cotton candy pink of her head was the only thing poking out of the fluffy blanket. He could still trace a bit of her body and note the subtle rise and fall of her breathing.
She looked... small, almost fragile. As something that needed to be protected.
'Hah.' Funny thing to say about a girl who could lift a mountain over her head if so she pleased, he thought.
One could say Amy Rose was made of rather endearing contradictions. It was easy to forget either of her sides when the other presented.
Delicate as a petal, fierce as a thorn...
C o r n y .
You'll never catch Sonic The Hedgehog even THINKING something like that!
'Nope! Not in a million years.'
As he gave the girl one last look, a smile drew once again in his muzzle. Gentle as ever.
"Night, Ames..."
He confirmed it, the hallway definitely wasn't as long.
Heh...
Go figure...
"All righty—! She won't be bothering us for a while!" Announced once his teammates came into view.
Tails seemed to flinch. His grip on the wheel grew a little tighter, maybe? He pressed his lips, containing a grin.
Sonic didn't seem to notice, though. He leaned over his own seat and sighed. "She's really something, ain't she...?"
Tails shook and shrugged. This time Sonic did noticed but didn't comment still.
"Hey, Sonic...?" The fox suddenly spoke himself.
"Hmm...?"
He didn't turn, but their eyes met briefly through the glass reflection in front. His little grin had twisted.
"Can I be the best man...?"
3...
2...
1...
"YOU HEARD!???" He shrieked. Bumping onto his little brother's seat. An embarrassing heat quickly taking over his face.
The fox finally let out the laugh he had been holding. The sound of it coming out 10 times more cruel than intended. (And he didn't inteded it to be at all!)
"Sooorry...!~" Tails tilted his head.
"—I just happen to have a pretty good ear!" He wiggled them like so. "Besides— The ship is not THAT big..."
The Blue grunted, palms slapped his face. Letting himself fall on the seat.
"Someone likes you...!~" The fox sang.
"What—!? NO!?" He sit up again. "Sh- she was clearly just sleep-talking, there! Obviously she didn't— mean any of that!?"
"Ohh...! Come on! Is not a bad thing...!?" Tails shrugged, hands still on the wheel
.
"I didn't— say that..."
"Hey! What's wrong with Amy? She's kind and sweet, and super strong!
—If you ask me, I'd say you two would make a lovely couple...!" He lifted a finger.
Sonic muffled something close to: 'don't you ever think of saying anything like that ever again.'
The fox, for once, took his attention off the windshield to try and meet his brother's gaze directly.
"What is it? You... don't like her?"
"LIKE HE—? Wha- NO. I mean—" He coughed. A hand to his quills.
"Well—! I mean, I do—! She's my friend! I think she's... nice, ah-and funny, and cool— of course I think she's cool—
—But that's like... objective, right!?" He spoke fast. Heat remaining in his muzzle as he looked all around.
"But we're friends! She's my friend, and—that's all...!"
"It is not true." A deep voice spoke.
Sonic didn't even noticed Knuckles had made way to him, he stared down directly with that sharp frown of his.
"Wh- what are you talking abo—"
"It is NOT. TRUE." He repeated as he leaned even closer.
Sonic frowned. "Knuckles, what are you—"
The Red suddenly pointed at his face.
"Your eyes do NOT shine brighter than the Master Emerald...!!" He paused before he looked to the side. "That girl. She must be on to something..."
Sonic blinked.
The rumble came back.
"Okay. But seriously, guys...?" Tails suddenly spoke again. His eyes back to the void in front. "If either of you ever get married. I want to be there for you."
As Knuckles took place on his seat again, I guess ignoring the little one's comment?
Sonic looked between them both.
"...You're really something, all of you." He stated, unamused.
"Also shut up! My eyes ARE beautiful!" He said, mostly to himself.