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The golden sun shone brightly above a quaint little cottage. The fresh scent of an apple pie was wafted through dancing breeze as it rested on the windowsill. Floral village felt peaceful in a sunny afternoon, a perfect day to laze about.
Within the village, sitting atop a couple of oak trees, four young teenagers were holding a study group. It was more catching up than actual studying. An amber fox was reciting questions from a calculus textbook for the group.
“The question asks for us to find the sine and cosine of the two triangles above- then calculate them to find the angle, theta, in the third triangle.”
The golden hedgehog sitting next to Tails huffed impatiently and turned her head to Tails.
“I get you already know this stuff Tails, but could you at least give us an easier equation for the rest of us? We're not math smart like you.” The golden hedgehog scoffed.
“This is an easy question, Tania; this isn’t music theory” said Tails as he closed the workbook.
A dusty blue jackal chuckled at the Fox's comment, Tails flashed an "I told you "Smirk at the hedgehog.
“I must agree with Tania on this one. I can do music theory in my sleep -but what's the point in putting letters in math? Why can this question solve its own problem by leaving the alphabet out and replace it with actual numbers.” Said the jackal.
“I’m sorry Melody what’s the highest alphabet a musician can go?”
Tails Poked fun at them just to get under her fur. In return, Mel flicked a pebble in his direction playfully.
“Mel has a point! Calculus is pointless when the alphabet is involved, much less when you're flying aircraft.”
Tania chimed, matching the two energies.
Tails sighed in defeat. His friends were a lost cause; they had all gotten too distracted with their side conversations. Even if their grades depended on it. Tails looked to his friend Cream, who was for the duration of the others bickering, was deep in thought trying to solve the problem.
“Hey, Cream, why don’t we take a break and do something else? I think Tania and Mel are getting bored.”
Cream snapped out of her intense focus to face Tails.
“Mother’s pie should be cooling down right about now. We could have some in the meantime” Suggested Cream.
“I could go for some food right about now” Melody says.
Melody raises their arms to stretch before hopping off the tree branch. Cream follow suit using her long-lopped ears to glide her down landing into Melody’s Arms.
The young teens sprinted their ways to Vanilla’s house ready to eat a delicious pie.
Gemerl was at the door ready for the group to arrive back home. The mech did a headcount for each of them as they filled into the home. Though he couldn't properly express it, it pleased him to see all of them accounted for. Cream being the last to enter, hugged Gemerl before walking to the kitchen. Vanilla smiled at her as she rinsed more dishes and let the young girl tell her about her day out.
The rest of the kids sat in the living room crowded around the small T.V on the console. Tails sat on the sofa hunching over as Melody, sits on the floor between his feet holding their tail like a pillow. Tails brushed his fingers through her long curly crimson hair soothing the jackal. Tania sat on the armrest as she flipped through the channels until it landed on the local broadcast. The celebrity segment was on it seemed. The reporter went on about Honey the cat's latest fashion line “Royal Pop” it seemed to take inspiration from a previous decade of fashion. Lots of animal print, pink, and layers.
“How many clothing lines is this now?” Tania whined.
“Too many to count- if Amy were here, she’d bounce off the walls with excitement.”
“Seems like something Rouge would wear." They thought aloud. "Maybe I should tell her about it after her mission with Shadow and Omega” Melody yawned relaxing to Tails touch.
“Oh yeah you said they are on a mission!" Tails paused. "Hey, how come you’re not on the mission too?”
“Something about it being a 'school night' -But I’ve done plenty during school. Even before I transferred!”
“Well Melly at least you get to hang out with the coolest guys on Mobius. And I'd say that to Shadow's face.” Chuckled Tania, twirling the remote in her hand.
The reporter concluded and the weather report began. The meteorologist went over the basic predictions mentioning a large storm system heading their way.
"Geez looks like it's going to be bad weather all night." Mel scooting as close as she could to couch she possibly could.
Vanilla walked into the living room wiping her hands dry with a dish towel listening close to the weather report. She turns to Gemerl placing the hand towel over her shoulder.
"Gemerl dear could you help Cream set up sleeping bags in the guest room."
Gemerl gave a nod to Vanilla, guiding Cream to the hall closet. Tails heart began to race watching the two walk away. He knew it meant the storm would be bad enough for Vanilla to keep them for the night. Every breath felt uneven despite Tails attempts at self-soothing before anyone could notice. Melody looked up sensing the change in heartbeat just by the smell. Being a Canid had its perks.
Tails caught wind of her newfound attention and forced a smile; she was the last person he wanted to worry about some silly fear he had as a kid. He's a teen now nothing should scare him at all, especially a force of nature that could wipe out entire cities in a heartbeat. Or the fact it was painful every boom of thunder against his ears. Thinking about storms even more made his head spin.
"I recommend notifying Sonic and Rouge that all of you will be spending the night. I don't want any of you children getting in harm's way trying to return home." Vanilla said sternly lighting candles in case the power were to shut off.
The group nodded collectively and went along with Gemerl to make their sleeping arrangements.
"I'll go text Sonic right now!" Tania jumped from the armrest to retrieve her phone from her backpack.
Melody fumbled through her varsity jacket pockets pulling out her small phone. Tails looked over her shoulder as she texted Rouge. Watching her go back and forth, re-typing sentences repeatedly.
"Not sure what to tell Rouge?" asked Tails.
Melody sighs looking up at the fox.
"She's probably going to brush it off. I've known team dark since I was twelve -yet their guardianship is lacking. Sometimes it goes between treating me like I'm a kid to being completely hands off."
Melody puts her phone away giving a dry chuckle.
"I wonder if Sonic is the same way with you sometimes. I mean until you were in high school, you were traveling around the world and have multiple labs in every country on mobius."
"It's complicated-don't get me wrong, I love my brother so much. He's my picket fence. But I do get your frustration. He's just more hands off with me than anything, same with Tania." said Tails.
"Doesn't It get frustrating when you're treated like an adult who can do anything yet at the same time still being seen as some kid?"
"I guess that's what it means to be a normal teenager I guess or at least ones who have no parents." Chuckled Tails.
Melody jokingly sighed as she hoped up obstructing Tails view of the T.V. Tails finally picked up what she was attempting to do. He just couldn't confirm it as fact just yet.
Vanilla cleared her throat getting the children's attention to the dining room table.
"Why don't we sit down and have some pie before dinner? I understand it is very out of order, but I pray it'll be a wonderful experience."
Nothing could be more appetizing than Vanillas cooking, if world peace rested on her cooking wars would cease to exist. Or at least the hope for it is there. Everyone loves her cooking! The first time Tails brought Tania and Melody to her place for dinner they ate ais if it would be their last meal.
As the meal went on, the once sunny sky became a deep grey and navy just as expected. Rain began to pour in sheets beating against the house like a drum. Tails gulped at the thought of what could follow, and the fur on his arms stood up. He wished it would pass over sooner or else he was going to embarrass himself over a childish fear.
Cream and Tania glanced exchanged nervous glances. Cream thought back to when she and Tails were younger that he was afraid of storms. Despite her compassion towards her friend, she just couldn't understand why he was straining himself today of all days. Taking note of Tails discomfort, the other three silently agreed to distract Tails as much as they could.
"So, Tails, can you tell us more about that calc problem we were working on? Tania asked. "-and how that can be used in the real world? y'know since you're the one who knows a lot about that."
"Well sure what do you want to know?" He squeaks.
He then goes along with a mindless explanation of the problem, something about vectors and what it has to do with position and angles. How it might relate to aircraft since it was something he was well aquatinted with. Despite this, Tails felt guilty letting his friends do this for him. He kept telling himself teenagers were supposed to get over silly fears. Who would even be scared of storms? It wasn't going to be him. He was going to push through no matter what he had to. Sonic needed to know his little brother was all grown up and that he didn't need to run and hide in his arms for some thunder. He reasoned.
Eventually, the group moved on and kept themselves busy eventually playing board games while the lights were still on. It was Cream against Tania in an intense game of checkers. It was a close match both trying to corner each other in order to gain the upper hand. Cream managed to get Tania's last remaining checker pieces as she cheered for herself.
"Nice Job Cream! You really beat Tania this time." Said Tails.
Melody jolted awake from the sound of cheering, clapping for whoever won.
The rest of the group giggled at her, being still for so long must have lulled Melody to sleep. It took Mel a minute to process what was going on, giggling out of reflex. Tails smiled softly at her caressing her face only to jump into her arms as a loud boom of thunder shook the whole house into darkness. Tails held on for dear life his grip constricting with each rumble. He felt his whole nervous system panic. It was not what he wanted from a sleep over at Vanillas. Much less ruining a great time by being a coward.
"Maybe we should just go to bed and continue our games in the morning." Suggested Cream.
Tania yawned stretching her arms. "That sounds like a good idea, come on love birds lets go to bed."
Tania was not willing to wait for them to follow she was ready to curl into one of the sleeping bags Cream and Gemerl set up.
Cream giggled hopping behind catching up to Tania holding her friend's hand with glee. Melody smiled softly at their friends before turning her attention back to Tails. He felt heavy against her body- like a weighted blanket, if said weighted blanket was a 4'2 red fox Mobian to her 4'0 jackal body.
"You know I could get used to this if I could breathe properly." Melody teased the fox.
Tails made no comment; his chin is pressed against her back. He was shaking his hand holding her hair kneading the back of her head. Mel sighed lifting Tails up waddling her way to the couch laying herself down. Silence filled the dark room only sound you could hear was the rain outside.
"You know what this reminds me of Tails?"
"What?" He mumbled.
"That time we were staying in one of those old human disaster shelters, during the war"
"War doesn't equal how stupid it is to still be afraid of storms Melody"
"Guess that explained why you looked constipated the entire time."
Tails snorted, surprised at her quip. " I didn't look constipated!"
"Oh yes you did, Mr. I should just hide my fear in front of my friends!"
He was quiet for a moment, realizing the shift in her tone. It was shameful to pretend that he could his his feelings from the girls. Their intuition was sharp, to his detriment.
"It was that obvious wasn't it huh, Mel" he said bashfully.
"Very." Melody said sharply, this time, with no playfulness in her tone. She drew in a sigh. "Almost pissed me off how you thought it was a smart idea to 'hide' your fear of thunder and crap to your friends. Much less your own girlfriend...partner… thing"
Mel shook their head and sat up a bit to look at Tails face properly though the dark. He shuffled uncomfortably on the couch and met their eyes.
"I know we're still new to this whole dating situation. Only becoming official after the war with my broth—Infinite, ended. I hate that you don't trust me. I can handle your emotions."
"Mel it's silly to even be scared of nature. That war- we lost so many. We almost lost Sonic to Infinite. Why should I be scared of this when I have faced worse and am still alive? Both of us could have lost our lives because of your brother. The problem is I didn't act, I just froze, like a coward." He cringed at the memory that was still so fresh in his mind.
"Then, Sonic was taken. I comforted you when you were scared of Infinite back in that bunker because- it was the one thing I could do."
Tails' voice cracked, now realizing the fresh tears on his face. He turned away from Melody, realizing what he done, he took in a heavy breath and faced her again.
"All this and I'm still terrified of storms. I always have since I was little when I had no home or family, then Sonic came into my life and it was different. I hate that I still feel like I need my big brother. That I can only stay in his shadow for him to save everyone over and over again."
Melody held his cheek leaning her face closer, a thought, then she pauses before she can reach his lips.
"We can face your fear together it won't make it go away but I'll prove to you that you're still that brave cunning fox from the rebellion. We're going to turn on that generator in the shed across from the house and get Miss Vanilla's power back on."
"Bu-But Melody it's still dangerous to go outside!"
Melody shimmied out from under Tails walking her way towards the front door.
"Come on Miles? Where's your sense of adventure should be just a short walk"
Color drained from Tails' face as the realization had struck him. As she whipped the door open, the mist of the rain droplets hit his face. The winds were faster than a turbine and the rain drops thick like molasses.
She stared out into the storm, against the forces of nature light glowing from the magic opal within her chest as their one guiding light. Tails knew that look all too well and she took off into the storm. He scrambled from his spot in spite of every ounce of his instinct screaming for him to stay inside. She can't go out there alone, what is she thinking. Her headstrong-ed-ness is what got them into trouble many times, and this time was no different, but he couldn't just let her get hurt. Not if he could help it. Walking against the elements felt like pushing against an invisible wall, but he persisted. He followed her silhouette- whatever he could make out in the dark and shouted against the wind.
"Mel get back here! This is crazy you're goanna get yourself hurt! You hate mud!"
"We're almost there just a bit further Tails come on!"
Lightning turned the air white, then the clap of thunder shook the ground. Tails heard the groan of a tree branch overhead, the same tree they'd peacefully spent time on, now about to crash straight onto Melody. Without a second thought, he spun his tails and zipped to her to shove her out of the way. Melody yelped in surprise, Tails now with her in his arms flew to the shed, dropping her before crashing his shoulder against the building.
"Tails! Are you OK?" Mel shouted.
"Are you OK?! You could have been crushed! Then what could I do? Let you get hurt?!" Coming out here in in this weather was reckless. He was so upset he couldn't help but shout. " Anipee Quartz for once in you life just think before you do something so stupid like walking out into a storm like this!"
She snapped back into reality at his words, and she was hit with a pang of guilt causing that light to dim. She wordlessly opened the door to let themselves in- gently closing the door behind them. Melody reached for a spare rag, instead Tails gently pulled her arm her back to him. He held her so close for a good minute, she could feel him trembling slow down to a calm rhythm. He wiped his tears away before lifting Mel on the work bench wiping off the mud from her paws.
"I'm-I'm sorry Miles, for scaring you like that. I just wanted to help in a way I knew I could even stupid enough to walk through mud despite wanting to hurl from the squishy feeling."
"I guess Amy was right how crazy people can be when they're in love." Tails leaned on the work bench beside her.
"Anipee, my music, I care about you so much. Sometimes, you drive me up the walls yet you're always pushing me to look forward."
"I learned it from you Miles. Even if back home, my country became overrun by attitudes of selfishness and greed, I was so inspired by your heroism I managed to become a hero like you."
"Even if I'm scared of storms?"
Mel looked down at the fox, smirking as she roughly petted his head.
"Of course, dummy. You're talking to the same person who is still afraid of quicksand to this day."
Tails snorted looking up at her.
"Is that why you hate the feeling of mud so much you could throw up?"
"Yeah! Plus, mud is so icky and when it dries it itches so badly"
The two teens laughed among each other, loud enough that they couldn't hear that Vanilla calling out to them. Tails caught his breath and made quick work with the generator before Vanilla swung open the door, her fur-soaked staring at the two, her usual warmth, now replaced with a stern gaze. Gemerl who was right behind her crossed his arms disapprovingly, not even he could save them. Busted
"You two, baths, and bed now. You could have seriously gotten hurt out here." Vanilla said with hastened concern, her hand on her hip.
They looked between each other, giving the same 'oh no' expression; they were really in it now. Gemerl escorted the two back to the house handing them towels as they washed up in septate bathrooms. Vanilla was kind enough to let Melody borrow one of Creams extra night gowns. it was a couple inches above the knee for her, but it'd do for the night. The two young lovers rejoined outside the guest room. Tails didn't realize he was staring at Melody; her hair was out of her usual braid he couldn't help but be in awe even if he's seen it down plenty of times. They thought he was hopeless as she shoved him in the room. Tails tried not to laugh too loud as their friends were already fast asleep. Melody laid on the other side of Cream, Tails right beside his girlfriend.
"Looks like the storm had passed just in time." Whispered Melody
"I'm glad it didn't last too long." said Tails yawning
Mel locked her fingers with his holding his hand firmly. She almost drifted off to sleep before her phone buzzed. She picked it up with her free hand seeing Rouge had finally responded to her text from earlier.
"What'd she say Mel?"
"She's coming over so they could take me back in the morning, but I think it's an excuse to steal some of the leftovers from dinner."
"Let's hope Omega doesn't start a sparring match with Gemerl when they arrive" Tails chuckles taking Mel's phone putting it on do not disturb shoving it under her pillow. He didn't wanna miss out on any sleep he could get now that the storm has passed. Cuddles were just a bonus.
Melody tucked her head under his chin as the two drifted asleep. Cream scooted her way into cuddling her friends. Tania in her sleep managed to crawl and lay across all three of their legs just to be close as well. So much for this being a romantic cuddle time.
Sonic had arrived just before Team Dark; Vanilla greeted him at the door being as quiet as possible as to not disturb the children's sleep. Then Shadow and Rouge arrived next, leaving Omega outside. Vanilla showed the three the sleeping teens Sonic smiling thankful that his brother was alright during the storm. He looked over to Shadow smirking knowing that he too was probably relieved Melody was safe to though would never admit it on a million years out loud to him.
"Guess there was nothing to worry about huh Shads."
"I trust Vanillas judgment hedgehog. You were the one really freaking out about Tails don't play dumb" Shadow chuffs a bit.
Rouge yawns stretching her arms dramatically.
"I don't know about you boys but as much as I love your lovers' quarrels, I'm sleeping on the couch that mission has me beat. Don't stay up too late boys"
Rouge flew off to the couch as Sonic sat leaning against the wall outside the guest room. Shadow hesitantly sat on the other side of resting his head on Sonic.
"They're all so grown up now. Hard to admit that it hurts that he might not need me anymore."
"Tails is always going to need you no matter how grown he is Sonic. It's a part of growing up."
Sonic gave a weak smile chuckling.
"At least tomorrow the sun will be back another day"
"I suppose so. Now go to sleep hedgehog I'm too exhausted to be pestered by you all night."
Sonic grinned down at shadow tussling his head.
"Good night, Shadow"
"Have good dreams Sonic."
Thus, the two hedgehogs fell asleep blissfully keeping guard over the teens. The storm fully had come to pass.