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Tails opens the door to his workshop, backpack lazily slung over his shoulder. He looks over at the couch to see Sonic had let himself in and made himself at home. Sonic noticed the young fox and gave him a smile as he waved in his direction, being surprised when it wasn’t returned. Tails dropped his bag near the door, trying to ignore Sonic’s attempts to interact with him. He just wasn’t in the mood. He went over to his bedroom’s doorway before he heard a voice behind him.
“What’s up buddy?”
Tails turned around to see Sonic had stood up from his careless lounging and made his way over to him, debating whether to put a gloved hand on his little brother’s shoulder.
“Not now, Sonic.”
Sonic cocked his head to one side. He knew Tails had a small temper, but he wouldn’t usually push him away like this.
“What, you busy or something?”
“No.”
“Then what’s wrong?”
Tails wasn’t happy that Sonic wasn’t letting the topic go. He just wanted to collapse on his bed and not worry about anything. He didn’t want to listen to Sonic’s questions about the Tornado, what new badnik Eggman was cooking up, or where he had found a Chaos Emerald this time. It would have to wait.
“Tails?”
“I don’t want to talk, Sonic. It’s gonna have to wait.”
“Y’know I’m not the waiting type, Tails! Whatever’s on your mind, I wanna hear it. So I can help! That’s why I’m your big bro.”
“I don’t care Sonic!”
Sonic’s eyes widened at this new advancement. This wasn’t Tails. He’d known him for so long, and he’s never been like this. Well, maybe one time before, but that was on an alien planet. ... Okay maybe twice. But still, Tails wasn’t usually like this. It only made Sonic more intrigued about what had happened, dare he say concerned.
“Who are you.”
“W-What?”
Now Tails was the one concerned. Sonic was rarely this serious. What was happening?
“You’re not Tails. Where’s my brother.”
“Sonic, I don’t understand! I’m Tails!”
Sonic pointed an accusatory finger at the fox. He very obviously wasn’t believing him.
“Tails is never this silent. He’d let me be there for him, he wouldn’t go straight to his bedroom all quiet. He’s stubborn, but he knows I’m there for him. So, what’s your plan, huh? Didn’t expect me to be here?”
“Sonic, what are you saying?!”
“Don’t try to keep up the act now! If you’re not my brother, get out of his house!”
“But I am Tails! I don’t understand what’s happening!”
“Don’t make me make you get out of here!”
A moment of silence stung between them. Tails stood there, looking at Sonic. He felt... heartbroken. His own brother trying to kick him out of his own house. Just because he didn’t believe he was the real him. Tails felt his eyes watering up, bringing a gloved hand to his face to wipe it away. This wasn’t a moment to cry. He needed to be strong. He needed to be...
Through his now foggy vision, he saw Sonic relax a bit. Wait, had he realised his mistake? Or was he thinking something else? As Tails tried to stop himself from crying, he felt two arms wrap around him. By Gaia, why did Sonic do that? Does he know how much harder it is not to cry now?
“It’s okay buddy. I... I’m sorry.”
Tails tried to reply but found himself at a loss for words. He wanted to apologize himself, as it was his fault for not trusting Sonic in the first place, but he could only find the energy to let more tears rush onto Sonic’s chest. The arms gripped him tighter, not seeming to want to let go any time soon.
Even then, Tails expected to be let go in 1, maybe 2 minutes but no, Sonic just stayed there. Was he being patient for once? He just started to get comfy on Sonic’s chest before he felt his feet come off the ground. Tails opened his eyes again, coming to realise that Sonic had lifted him up and walked towards the couch once again, sitting down with him in his arms. Once Sonic had sat down, he reached over for a phone on the other side of the couch, turning it on and looking at something. The two sat like this for a few more minutes, with whatever Sonic was doing on the device being a hard decision by the looks of it. Tails took the opportunity to sit and think, slowly becoming calmer until Sonic spoke up again.
“I’m getting takeout. You want something particular?”
Tails sat looking up at Sonic, forming a response in his mind. He knew Sonic knew what his favourite was, so if he wanted something different, he would need to speak up now. Though, when he thought about it, it seemed to be the best option, so he just nodded, getting a smile from Sonic.
“Sweet. It’ll probably be here in like 20 minutes or something. You wanna have some time in your room or...?”
Tails liked the sound of that offer. He did want that time to himself earlier. But then he realised he should probably tell Sonic what the whole issue was now before it becomes another situation later.
“I... I think I should talk.”
Tails didn’t speak very loudly, but it didn’t phase Sonic much.
“Well, then I’m here to listen. What’s up?”
Tails thought over his words for a second before finally answering Sonic’s question.
“I... It’s school.”
“School? But you’re a whiz kid. Wait... You got bullies again?”
Tails shook his head at Sonic’s theory. People wouldn’t mess with Sonic’s brother any day of the week.
“No. It’s not that. It just takes a lot of my energy. Like most days I come home and lay on my bed unless I know you need me for something.”
Sonic nodded his head as Tails spoke, letting it be known that he was listening and understanding.
“Dang. That doesn’t sound all too good. Any way I can help?”
“I... I don’t know. It’s kinda just how it works. I can’t think of how you could help.”
Sonic thought hard about what Tails was saying. He didn’t want his little bro to be struggling with school instead of having fun doing what he wanted. If all his energy was being spent on that, then he wouldn’t be able to make any more cool inventions or whatever he did in his free time. Don’t ask Sonic what Tails did, he didn’t know much.
“Well... Maybe you need a break.”
Time off... Tails hadn’t thought about that. Mainly because he couldn’t do that without getting fined, big time. But with Sonic by his side...
“You would do that for me?”
“Sounds like you need it. No one’s gonna question me anyway, so...”
In that moment, Tails felt an intense weight lift off of him. The mere thought of not having to go to school tomorrow, it was soothing. It calmed him, made his worries wash away so suddenly. Was that really all it took, removing school from the equation? Sonic set Tails next to him before leaning back, staring off into space.
“Y’know Tails, I don’t like this whole school thing.”
“What?”
Why was it always Sonic to be the one to confuse him? He always acted on impulse, so it was basically impossible for him to be predictable.
“School. I don’t really like it. I remember reading a book about how this whole thing was made just to make kids good workers. Like why haven’t we changed that yet?”
Tails supposed that was a good point. If what Sonic said was true, that ideal wouldn’t really fit the modern day.
“I’m pretty sure there’s like... special schools.”
“Doesn’t that just prove it’s possible though?”
Sonic said it so casually, but it was true. If there were schools already changing the system, then why couldn’t all schools do that? Tails tried to think of a reason against it, but he couldn’t fathom one. Sonic always thought so... abstractly. It really was a nice change of pace.
“Letting my absolute genius sink in?”
Sonic smirked.
“No. Well... Maybe.”
“Ha! Knew it.”
Tails sat there for a second, before speaking up with his own idea.
“Do you think we could help change schools?”
“You bet! You’ve saved the world lots of times, you can do it, for sure.”
Tails smiled at that idea. Maybe he could help kids like him. He instantly started to get excited at the new opportunity before Sonic took him out of his thoughts.
“You got any ideas yet?”
“Not yet... But I think I could sketch up something. Let me get my graph paper.”
Sonic watched Tails scamper off to his bedroom, a proud gleam in his eye. He sat in the silence for a second before muttering to himself.
“You’re gonna be great buddy.”