Chapter Text
The train was unusually empty tonight, Sonic thought to himself, as he waited on the platform with only a few other passengers. It was to be expected that there would be less people so late at night, on one of the last trains heading out towards the edge of the city where he lived. Even then, Sonic would have thought more people would be here. He covertly glanced at the strangers hovering around, wondering if they were evening commuters like him, or perhaps just returning home from a day of leisure. A teenage girl had several shopping bags around her feet, her purse pulled high onto her shoulder as she texted away on her phone. A middle-aged man in a business suit stood stiff, holding onto a folded newspaper in one hand, and a briefcase in the other. He looked tired. There was also a young man, standing somewhere behind him, holding a duffel bag. Sonic had spotted him earlier. He looked a little familiar, but Sonic paid no mind to it. He often recognized strangers he’d seen on the train, and this was most likely the case.
One of his favourite songs started playing on his iPod, so he turned up the volume a little bit as the train pulled into the station. A few people got off, and then Sonic boarded. The texting teenager and the businessman went into different cars. Sonic simply sat next to a window, and placed his messenger bag on the empty seat beside him. There was barely anybody else in the car. Was there a holiday or some kind of event going on that Sonic hadn’t been aware of? It didn’t really matter. It meant he could enjoy his commute home in peace, without sharing space with another person.
Or so he thought.
A few seconds later, somebody else sat down, right in front of him. Sonic glanced up. It was the young man with the duffel bag. The stranger offered Sonic a small smile, and he replied only with a nod, shifted in his seat, and stared out of the window. He bit back a snarky comment about the train being so incredibly full that there was clearly nowhere else to sit. Had it been five or ten years ago, he would have done so, but Sonic didn’t care enough, not even to get up and change seats. He’d be getting off in a little over half an hour, anyway
His fingers tapped against his leg in beat to the music. Just as the song was reaching its crescendo, Sonic felt a gentle touch on his arm. A little irritated at being bothered during his commute home, he looked up and pulled an earphone out.
"Can I help you?' Sonic asked shortly.
The stranger's gaze was so intense, that Sonic almost got up to change seats after all, but then he said, "I didn't mean to bother you, but I just wanted to tell you… that… your shirt looks very nice on you."
The comment was so unexpected that Sonic blinked and raised his eyebrows skeptically. He glanced down at his shirt. It was just a plain, black t-shirt with some purple letter graphics on the front, and nothing special at all.
"Excuse me?"
"Your shirt... well, it looks nice on you, I suppose because of how nice you look overall." The young man said, clutching a little more tightly onto the small duffel bag he held on his lap. He sounded a bit nervous. Sonic actually smiled this time, and laughed lightly.
"Are you trying to flirt with me?"
"Am I being that obvious?"
That generated a genuine laugh from Sonic, and most of his earlier scepticism melted away. So maybe this guy was a little awkward, but Sonic knew he was hot, and he liked being flirted with, so why not indulge? He had thirty-five minutes until it was his stop.
"You came and sat down next to me, just because you think I'm attractive? I have to say, that takes guts." Sonic pulled the other earphone out, wrapped them around his iPod, and held the device loosely in his hand. "Okay, I'll bite. What's your name?"
"Genos." The stranger replied, blinking once.
"Genos? That's an unusual name. I'm Sonic."
"More unusual than Sonic?"
That made Sonic frown, but he supposed his new acquaintance had a point. Neither of them had names that were common. He was still intrigued by this stranger who came over to talk to him, though. From this close, Sonic could see he had hazel eyes, but something about them seemed to be slightly off. He couldn’t really pinpoint it. Maybe it was just Genos’ very intense gaze. His hair was fashionably short, and black, with the bangs spiking downwards. His shoulders were broad, and he looked tall, more so than Sonic.
"So, Sonic. I've noticed you take the train quite often. I suppose you work in the city?" Genos asked. Sonic immediately became more guarded, sitting up straight.
"What's it to you? Maybe I just like going to the city." He replied bluntly.
"It's just... it's not the first time I've seen you on the train at this hour. But this is the first time I've come up to talk to you." Genos explained, looking away. The shy gesture was quite different in comparison to the stern gaze. Then, something clicked into place.
"I get it. You've been working up the courage to come talk.”
“Yes, something like that.”
“You're right, I do work in the city." Sonic watched a few people walk by them, as the train came to a halt at the next station. Nobody sat down in their car. "What's your excuse for taking the train this late, then? You look pretty young, are you a student?"
Genos shook his head. "No, I'm not a student. I live out in a remote area in the mountains. I come up to the city once in a while to get supplies, and other things I need. I don't like driving in the city if I can avoid it, so I take the train instead."
"Mountain man, huh?" Sonic was more intrigued now, leaning forward a little. "I spent my childhood in the mountains, climbing trees and running around."
"What made you move to the city, then?"
"I grew up. As fun as it is to fall asleep in trees, I had to go to school, get an education, and get an actual job."
"Do you miss it? The mountains, I mean."
As Sonic considered the question, the train came to another halt, but only one person walked through their car. Genos eyed that person, until she'd crossed through to the next one. He seemed twitchy about strangers, which was odd, as he’d approached Sonic boldly.
"Yeah, I kinda do… the fresh air, watching the sunsets. But, life happens. The city isn't so bad." Sonic admitted. He only went back home once a year to celebrate the New Year, and last year he hadn’t taken the time to actually go out and walk through forest trails or mountain paths. It was ironic, since in his youth, he'd always been so adamant about how becoming a typical salary worker was just bullshit and he’d never fall into that adulthood trap. Look at him now.
"Maybe you should move back. It seems like you miss it more than you're letting on." Genos suggested quietly, reaching into his bag, and pulling out a packet of gum. He took one for himself, and after a few seconds, he took out another from the bottom of the pack and he held it out. "May I offer you one?"
Sonic took the gum, and shrugged. "I go back when I can. It's not that big of a deal. And thanks." Unwrapping the gum and popping it into his mouth, Sonic chewed it up, expecting a burst of mint flavour, which he got, but there was another out-of-place flavour along with it. It was oddly salty. Sonic must have made a face without realizing it, because Genos looked mildly concerned. No, more anxious than concerned.
"Is something wrong?" He asked. Sonic shook his head, chewing a little more.
"It’s fine, it's just... what brand is this? It tastes weird for just mint."
"Ah. Well.” Genos looked at the packet. “It's a cheap knock-off brand that was on sale, I suppose that must be it."
It did make sense. The both of them went quiet now, although Genos kept staring, occasionally glancing up and around at the near-empty car. It was actually starting to make Sonic feel a little uncomfortable. Oh well, he only needed to put up with it for another twenty-five minutes. This guy needed to learn how to flirt properly if he wanted to successfully hit on strangers on the train.
The more he chewed the gum, the better it was, with the strange, salty taste washing away to just become regular mint. Perhaps it was just a bad or old batch. The train continued its route, and Sonic turned his gaze out the window once more to keep an eye out for the familiar landmarks that signaled his stop. There was a new billboard up, advertising a restaurant Sonic had never heard of. Hmm, he was kinda hungry...
Just as Sonic was thinking of what he should make himself for dinner tonight, he was hit with a wave of drowsiness that started at his head, and then washed down through the rest of his body. What the hell? He'd been feeling fine a moment ago. He shook his head, and pressed the heel of his hand into his eyes one at a time, trying to clear his mind. His thoughts were feeling fuzzy. There was no better way to put it.
"Are you... okay?" He heard Genos ask, and Sonic could have sworn he sounded more curious than worried.
"Yeah, I... my head hurts." He said, having to force his words out. "And.."
"And..?" Genos coaxed, leaning forward.
"I feel sick. And dizzy." Sonic mumbled, as he started to list sideways, before Genos' hand on his shoulder pushed him back upright. He put a hand over his roiling stomach. He wanted to puke.
"Hmm. Spit that gum out." Genos said, handing him a tissue. Sonic did so, accidentally letting the tissue fall with his wad of gum inside. His brain was too foggy to even consider why he was obediently going along with what this stranger said. His iPod slipped free of his hand, clattering to the floor. When he tried to bend down to grab it, he nearly fell forward out of his seat, and was saved by Genos once more, who held onto his shoulders and pulled him up yet again.
"I don't... not good…" Sonic tried to speak, tried to convey that he felt so sick, and he didn't understand why he was feeling so drowsy and disoriented.
"Here, have some water. Maybe it'll help." Genos' voice sounded far away, but water sounded nice, and when a bottle was pushed into his hand, Sonic immediately lifted it up to take a few gulps. It was already open.
The water was cool, and seemed to wake him up for a moment. He lifted his gaze, looking around the train car. His vision was unclear, and he could barely make out the other man sitting in front of him, only a blur of black hair. He drank a bit more water, but his hand suddenly trembled, and the bottle fell to the floor as well, spilling most of its contents.
"I-" He started to say, but Genos was shushing him, saying something, but Sonic could hardly understand anything, now. He leaned forward, resting his head into his hands. A moment later, Genos was straightening him up, and pulling something soft - a sweater - over his head, then tugged his arms through the sleeves. Sonic didn't WANT to wear a sweater. Why was Genos putting a sweater on him? He squirmed, mumbled an incoherent protest, but the sweater was tugged on and down.
Sonic clutched at it, pulling at it clumsily. He felt like a baby, unable to understand how clothing worked. The water hadn’t helped at all. If anything, Sonic felt worse, his breath coming in shallow, and he swore his legs were made of lead. He couldn’t move them, and could barely move his arms.
Genos was kneeling on the floor now, and something was being pulled up around his legs, over his jeans and up to his waist. Sonic grabbed at it. It felt like a skirt. He wanted to wear a skirt even less than he wanted to wear a sweater, but when he started to pull at that too, Genos sat beside him and held onto his wrists, murmuring something that made him stop.
A small part of him thought he should be more concerned, maybe even fighting this, but the way Genos was quietly talking to him seemed to be halting any thought process of that kind. His hair fell loose as the tie was pulled off, cascading down his back and over his shoulders. His vision went even darker when something was put in his face, hooking around his ears. Glasses. Sunglasses. He didn’t need these either! He was having trouble seeing as it was, but again, when he tried to pull them off, Genos stopped him.
The drowsiness got worse. It was as though a thick tar had spread itself over his brain. He was hardly aware of anything, and yet he sensed things around him. A strong arm wrapped around his shoulders, pulling him in. He allowed it, leaning against Genos, brought in by his warmth and a lingering scent of nature. His hand came up, weakly grabbing onto Genos’ shirt. He could see the sweater on his arm, white and knitted. It looked very girly. There was a soft stroke of his hair, and warm breath by his ear.
“I’ll take care of you.”
That was the last thing Sonic was fully aware of, for a long time.
He lost track entirely of where he was, and what he was supposed to be doing. It was like he was in a dream, just going with the flow, unable to control what was happening. He found himself not caring, not while he had Genos’ arm around him. Eventually, he was lifted onto his feet. His legs wouldn’t work properly, and it was a Herculean effort just to walk. The skirt brushed against the ground, making him step on it and stumble several times. Where was his bag? Was this even his stop?
Sonic was losing bits of time. One moment they were on the train, the next moment they were walking in the parking lot. Sonic shuffled along, held up by Genos with an arm around his waist. He heard someone talking to Genos, who replied with, “My girlfriend drank too much wine during dinner. Finished a bottle entirely by yourself, didn’t you sweetheart? We’re celebrating our anniversary.”
Girlfriend? Someone thought he was Genos’ girlfriend. That was funny to him, and Sonic let out a rather high-pitched giggle. Whomever they were talking to lost interest, and he placidly let himself be led through the parking lot. They only stopped when they reached a black car in the furthest corner of the lot, and Sonic leaned against the passenger’s side door, waiting around. His head tipped from side to side, amused by the way his own hair fell, tickling his cheek.
Genos was trying to get him into the back of the car, but Sonic didn't go just yet. Instead, he placed his palms flat against the taller man's stomach, his fingers curling slightly. There was nothing but hard muscle, and he ran his hands up Genos' chest, and back down again.
"You're hot." Sonic tried to get his hands underneath Genos' shirt, but he was stopped. Now he was in the car, laying down on the back seats. He tried to move, but the skirt was restricting his legs.
“Where’re we going?” Sonic asked, the words falling from his mouth like clumps of mud. It was difficult to talk.
“I’m taking you home.” Was Genos’ reply. This satisfied Sonic. Wait, did Genos even know where he lived? He no longer had any energy to talk, or move, or wonder what exactly was happening. The door was closed, and a moment later, the car rumbled to life. The vibrations of it were somehow relaxing. Pop music was playing on the radio. As he lay on his side, the sunglasses pressed annoyingly into his temple so Sonic took them off, and let them fall to the floor of the car. He still felt sick, but the drowsiness was much more prominent, and oppressive, so he closed his eyes. Soon enough, he blacked out.