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“So there’s this buffet nearby that has this mint pasta, how would you feel about having a group trip and trying it out?” suggests Sonic. He pulls his phone out and scoots down the couch to show him the restaurant.
He shows him the menu which does in fact have mint pasta. It definitely doesn’t look bad; it looks pretty good actually. But its mixed in with peas.
Tails has been able to eat peas on and off for as long as he can remember. He’ll be able to for a period of time–have a bad experience– and then not be able to eat them for months afterwards until he can build up to trying them again.
It’s been hard for him recently, it seems like Tails has only been able to eat less and less foods so maybe it would be a good idea to try something new for a change. He’s pretty much only been eating gum and occasionally making a shake for himself when he gets really hungry.
Tails knows Sonic only is wanting the best for him but a bad feeling arises in his stomach regarding eating something new around others. He’s really only felt comfortable eating around Sonic.
Even with this anxiety in his gut, he still responds with a hesitant “I guess that would be okay,” even if the thought of eating in front of others terrifies him.
“Sick! I’ll mention it to the group and we’ll schedule something soon.” Sonic pulls Tails into a half hug “I’m proud of you, y'know that right” he whispers before releasing him from his tight grasp and giving a hearty laugh.
____
Sonic managed to schedule something within the following days so there they were, driving to the buffet with Shadow, Amy, and Sonic.
It was pretty crowded in the car with all of them trying to squeeze in, they definitely could’ve just walked to the place but Sonic said that it would just be “quicker” than walking. Everyone knew that was bullshit but no one spoke up so there they were– crowded in a too-small car.
“Alright gang! We’re here,” Sonic announces before hopping out of the car and walking towards the restaurant leaving everyone else still buckled in.
Once everyone is inside they sit at their table– which was reserved days in advance since someone got a little nervous that they wouldn’t be able to get a table– and Tails was right. It was packed to the brim and if not for the reservation it would’ve taken up to an hour to just get sat.
“C’mon Tails! Lets go get our food,” Sonic drags Tails by the arm, leading him over to the table of various foods. Of course Sonic goes straight for the chili dogs– leaving Tails to get his own food.
He knows he can get it on his own but the actuality of being here freezes him in place– too scared to go up to the counter and grab the mint pasta that’s in front of him.
In less than five seconds, Sonic comes back and asks “You need some help grabbing it?” in a joking tone– but to Tails he knew that he was being genuine. It was something that no one else would understand but each other.
They could tell the slightest mood shifts or when the other was nervous– as well as knowing when the other needs space or company.
While Tails knew Sonic was uncomfortable with touching the pasta, he put on a brave face for his little brother and a small amount on a plate for him and handed it to him.
Tails held the plate just by the bottom with only the tips of his fingers touching the plate, terrified of getting any on himself– but still he tried his best to stay brave like his brother and returned a small smile to the wide one on Sonic’s face and walked back to the table where everyone else had gotten up and was retrieving their food.
As the two of them sat down next to each other Tails let out a shaky breath he didn’t know he was holding and sat the plate in front of him. To the trained eye there was a slightly noticeable distance between Tails and his food– but Sonic knew that was on purpose– he was terrified.
“Could I try some?” Sonic leaned over with an enthused expression covering his face in a fake paint. People had started returning to their table, grabbing chairs nearby. A lump started forming in his throat and the ghost of tears that were quickly blinked away, lingered.
Tails nodded and Sonic hurriedly grabbed his fork and scooped up some.
“Really Sonic? He barely has anything on his plate and you’re taking some?” Amy reprimands. Being out of words– he just shrugs but Amy doesn’t understand.
“Here tails, I’ll give you some of my fruit since someone here wants to steal yours.” Amy jabs sonic in the ribs while pouring some of the fruit that could only be described as ‘mushy’ and ‘covered in juice’ falls onto the plate, awfully close to the pasta– striking a pang of fear in Tails.
He could feel his heart racing in his chest– Tails almost felt like he couldn’t breathe, but he feels sonic tapping on his knee under the table with his free hand. The reminder they had to tell the other to take a deep breath.
Breathe in through your nose.
Breathe out through your mouth.
Sonic’s voice echoed in his head. Breathe in. Breathe out.
After a second he felt alright, grabbed his fork, and retried. “Let’s eat it at the same time!” They both knew how nervous the other was but Sonic knew he couldn’t have Tails do this on his own and Tails didn’t want to disappoint Sonic.
Tails scooped up a–for anyone else way too small bite but huge for him– bite and took another deep breath before giving Sonic a confident grin and counted down, “3, 2, 1, bite!”
The two of them put the bite into their mouth. Almost immediately Tails let out a small gag, but pushing back any bile that could come out and began work on chewing.
The taste in his mouth was foreign, one he couldn’t tell if it was good or bad but it was peculiar. His body however– thought that it was bad. It told him that he shouldn’t have eaten it and he was going to die.
When he felt the lump getting bigger and that he was going to throw up, he spat out what food was in his mouth and reached for his water– leading him to choke and start coughing on the water.
Bigger tears snuck up and perched at his waterline, threatening to spill out any second.
‘No I can do it, Sonic said I could and he’s never wrong.’ Tails repeated in his mind.
However, his choking alerted everyone else at the table and they were all looking at him. They all saw him mess up and fail. A shadow of anxiety sneaks up behind him as his eyes widen, quickly replaced with a cover– a mask for his nerves and fear– one of confidence and a light laugh leaves his mouth.
“Sorry something tasted off and I choke on my water trying to get the taste out of my mouth,” he lies– Tails knows that Sonic knows what happened. He always does.
“You really can’t eat that,” Shadow laughs, “even a picky toddler would laugh at you.”
Tails knows Sonic’s mad for him, he would be too if someone said that to Sonic. Instead of yelling at him like he wants to, he instead says “Maybe Tails got a bad serving, you don’t have to eat anymore if you don’t want to.”
“I’m just saying, you should man up.” Shadow sneaks in before returning to his own food.
While his heart is already racing and his brain is telling him to go to the bathroom and hide, he wants to try again, to not disappoint Sonic– so with a shaky hand, he picks up his fork again and lifts a piece of food to his mouth.
The damage had already been done after his reaction to the first bite and he immediately gags– spitting out his food onto the plate and running to the bathroom before he can even get a second to chew.
Pushing past the door and forcing himself into the stall, he begins dry heaving– throwing up what never went down. Rather a memory of the experience rather than an actual item.
“Tails?” Sonic’s worried voice calls from the door to the bathroom, echoing off the tile walls.
Tails can only get out a small “I’m sorry–” before he is thrown forward heaving– before tears coat a once dry face in salty moisture.
Sonic runs over to where he’s kneeling and sits down next to him. “It’s okay, you did nothing wrong.”
Once Tails is done gagging Sonic pulls him into a hug and whispers “I’m proud of you, y’know that right?” and what was a small stream of tears floods and he begins sobbing into sonics shoulder.
“I don’t know why you would be, I couldn’t even swallow any of it.” Tails opposes, attempting to hide his face deeper into Sonic’s shoulder–but was stopped by Sonic pushing him back to look in his eyes
“Tails I am so proud of you.” The grip he has on Tails’ shoulder slightly tightens as he encourages “You tried it not just once but twice. Even after gagging the first time you still tried it again. Even someone like me wouldn’t be able to do that in a million years!” The smile that’s printed on his face, infecting Tails’ own– giving his own sheepish smile.
“You put on a super chill face even after choking and after Amy gave her some of her food, and you still tried it again. I’m so incredibly proud of you bud.” While tears stop their descent and dry, they share one more hug.
“I’m going to say that you aren’t feeling well, and that I’m taking you back home, okay?” Sonic asks before leaving to go to the table. To be honest, Tails couldn’t be more glad that he doesn’t have to go back and face everyone after running off.
Tails sneaks through one of the doors to where the car is parked, only having to wait for a moment before he sees Sonic come out and head towards him.
“I gave Amy the keys to the car, I thought it would be nice to walk home.” Sonic explains before he starts walking, leaving Tails only confused for a second before he follows after him.
Walking back is mainly just Sonic talking about whatever crosses his mind like their most recent fight with eggman and ‘is there such thing as too fast’--but the mindless talking soothes his thoughts about the events of the night and he finds his nerves almost completely gone.
_____
“Have you eaten today?” Sonic questions. Sometimes he feels more like a dad than a brother to Tails but they both know that they’re some sort of family.
Tails bashfully shakes his head, almost nothing visible– but nothing can get past Sonic. “Tsk tsk,” he exaggerates. “Would you want a smoothie or do you want ice cream?” He asks.
“I’d like a smoothie please.” Tails’ voice as quiet as a mouse. Sonic has always been one to know Tails’ safe foods– not that they’ve ever changed much– but he’s always felt like a mindreader with how well he can guess and pick up on the small hints he leaves around.
As Sonic begins work on his smoothie, Tails starts drifting off to sleep cuddled up on his couch. Sonic looks back and whispers “I’m so proud of you, you know that right?”