Give it a rest, man. HE'S the clone, not you!
As the door shut, Sonic glanced back at the copy, back into his own eyes, perfectly reflected, and was suddenly nervous.
Still…
XXXxxxXXXxxxXXX
As the sound of the enormous door bolting shut echoed through the corridor, Tails glanced up at his brother worriedly. Sonic was staring at the door, his expression unreadable, though the fox thought he might've seen a flicker of fear. He sighed. Sonic wasn't going to like what he had to say. "So," Tails began, shifting, "That was…different." Sonic's ear flicking in his direction was the only sign he'd heard him. The fox plowed on. "I didn't expect him to be so…so…"
"Alive?" Sonic's eyes narrowed, and for a moment, the look of fear intensified.
Tails nodded. "Yeah." He shrugged. "He doesn't seem to be working for Eggman. At least, not willingly…" There was a moment of quiet. Sonic set his jaw, glaring at the door as though it were the cause to all his problems.
Things had changed. Tails knew Sonic was aware of it. They weren't dealing with a robot, nor a mindless slave. This…thing, whatever it was, had a will. It had sarcasm, a sense of humor, and it seemed as rebellious as the hero himself. Before, Tails had been content to knock the copy out, to study it and perhaps find a weakness, in case Eggman decided to build more. But now…
The silence stretched on. Tails knew the clone made his brother uncomfortable. He tried to imagine what it must be like, to look yourself in the face. The fox shuddered subconsciously. It was no wonder Sonic was nervous. Still…Their original plan was no longer an option.
Tails bowed his head, trying to think of a way to suggest this to Sonic without sounding like he was betraying him. He shifted uncomfortably. The tension in the air was tangible. After a moment, the fox set his jaw and looked up at his brother, mentally prepared for the worst. "You know what I'm going to say."
Sonic surprised him by bowing his head. The hedgehog sighed, suddenly looking very tired. "We…" He paused. "We can't keep it here."
Tails blinked in surprise. He'd expected a fierce resistance from the hedgehog, for him to be the fighter he knew he was. He knew how much Sonic was against this, how much he'd loathed the clone…
His brother stayed like that for a moment, staring at the floor, a war raging in his eyes. Tails had never seen Sonic look so unsure. Then, the familiar resolve returned and he nodded to himself. His eyes met Tails. "So, what do we do?" He shook his head, beginning to pace, and Tails realized it'd been awhile since his last run. "Tails, we can't just let it go. How do we know its telling the truth? What if it really is working for Eggman?"
Tails pressed his thoughts aside and nodded seriously. "I've thought of that. Sonic, do you have any idea what his purpose is? Why did Eggman clone you?"
Sonic's eyes hardened. "Why does he ever? He wants to copy my abilities, to make something I can't win against." He paused in his pacing, shut his eyes and groaned. "This is Metal Sonic all over again."
Tails snorted. "Only this one isn't a robot."
"Yeah," Sonic agreed quietly, and his eyes darkened again. "If it was, this would be a heck of a lot easier."
Tails tilted his head, studying him. Normally, his brother was the type to act on instinct. He saw the world through black and white. Either someone was good or they weren't. They either needed saving or they didn't. He was either too trusting or too suspicious. Life was simple. Justice was simple. He was always sure of what should or shouldn't be done. It was his nature.
Now, though…It seemed this clone was a bit of a wake up call. Life wasn't always that straightforward. Sometimes, you got stuck between a rock and a hard place. For once, Tails realized, Sonic was taking time to think things through instead of just rushing in. Part of the fox felt relieved. His big brother seemed to finally be growing up. Another part of him pitied the hedgehog. Now that the doors were open, now that life was no longer simple, things were bound to get a lot harder.
For the next half hour, the two stood there, Sonic restlessly pacing as they discussed what they would do. It was very new to Tails, to be able to have someone else to help him make the tough decisions. Instead of Tails trying to get Sonic to see the big picture, they both tossed ideas around. Either one or the other would suggest something.
Eventually, they made their decision. A mutual agreement. Sonic nodded, not happy, but satisfied, then took off. Tails watched him go, feeling strangely light, like a huge weight had been lifted off of him. He smiled, suddenly feeling very proud. Enjoy your run, Sonic. You've earned it.
Shaking his head, he opened the door to inform Amy and the clone.
XXXxxxXXXxxxXXX
Six days later…
Sonic peered into the living room cautiously, scanning it for any signs of life. Finding none, he darted through it to the next doorway and scanned the hallway. Empty. Perfect. He frowned at the front door a mere three feet away from him. That was bound to make a lot of noise when it opened, but hopefully, by the time anyone noticed, he'd already be long gone.
"Sonic!"
The hedgehog jumped and whirled around, guilty. Amy stood at the door he'd just come from, arms folded, eyebrows raised, her expression reading a dry 'A-hem.' "Ah! Amy! Uh, I was just-"
"Get over here."
He hesitated, looking again at the door. It was so close…
"Sonic."
He sighed, walking over to Amy, his eyes on the floor. She took his arm and pulled him into the kitchen. "Sit," she ordered, pointing to a nearby stool. Sonic pulled himself onto it, grumbling as Amy sorted through the cabinets. She heated up something and he drummed against the counter impatiently. "Look, Amy, I don't really think-" Her look shut him up. He sighed, fiddling with his glove. She was in one of her inflexible moods again.
Amy finished heating her food and carefully poured it into a bowl. This, she set in front of Sonic. "Chicken soup," she announced. "Eat."
Sonic glared at the food warily.
"Sonic, you look like you expect it to jump up and attack you." She raised an eyebrow. "You can't just stop eating."
The blue hedgehog groaned. "I know…," he mumbled, pouting. That didn't mean eating would be any easier, though. The last two times he'd tried to eat, his stomach had done a complete flip and he'd immediately thrown up. Tails mentioned it was probably because of whatever Eggman had been putting into him when he was unconscious.
He frowned, remembering a recent conversation. When asked, Tails had told him how long the hedgehog had been gone. Apparently, Eggman had had him hooked up there for over four weeks, nearly a month. He still felt sick at the thought. Four weeks…Just what had Eggman done to him?
At his hesitation, Amy gave him a sympathetic smile. "Look, this is chicken soup. It's supposed to be good for your stomach," she assured him, then grinned. "If it makes you feel any better, the clone is pretty much going through the same thing. Only he insists we're poisoning him. As if." She rolled her eyes.
Sonic's stomach twisted into a knot at the mention of his double. No, it did not make him feel any better that the copy was suffering the same things he was. He didn't want to be anything like it.
Amy sighed and took out a spoon. "Here, I'll eat with you," she offered, taking a spoonful of the broth and sipping it. Sonic still hesitated. She frowned. "Sonic, pick up the spoon."
"I was just gonna-"
"Pick. Up. The spoon."
He sighed and did as he was told.
"Now take a bite."
"But what if it-"
"Eat."
For a few seconds, the two had a mini stare-down, emerald eyes locked into jade. Then Sonic begrudgingly complied. It actually didn't taste that bad. But then, neither had the turkey sandwich before he'd thrown it up.
Once Amy was satisfied he was eating, she continued sipping the broth. He eyed her, amused. Funny how she was always able to do this: get him to do things he didn't want to. It would be so easy for him to just take off right now, but instead, here he was, eating lunch with her. Only Amy could force to comply. He bit back a grin, smiling again.
Amy gave him a look. "What?" she demanded, suspicious.
"Nothing, Mother," he joked, taking another bite.
She rolled her eyes, though he could see her grin all the same. It made him feel strangely proud.
For a few minutes longer, they ate in silence. Then, Amy put down her spoon. "Oh, I almost forgot. Tails got your test results."
Sonic froze, regarding her with a critical intensity. "What did they say?"
Amy shook her head, frowning in confusion. "Absolutely nothing. Sonic, you're exactly the same as when we last saw you."
Sonic glared at her, frustrated. "You mean Eggman didn't do anything?" he demanded, slamming down his spoon.
She shook her head. "No. In fact, you seem to be in a better shape then you were before. Remember that big scar you got last year, when we battled Perfect Chaos?"
He stared at the counter. "…It's gone?"
"Yeah. So are the many other nicks and scratches you've acquired over the years." She shook her head, bemused. "It's almost like you never acquired them."
Never acquired them. Sonic repressed a shiver.
"Your only scars now are the ones you've gotten since you escaped," Amy continued. "Speaking of which, your bandages need to be changed again."
He groaned dramatically. "Great. Eating and being fussed over. This is just not my day."
She grinned. "Sorry, but they need to be changed everyday." She stood and tossed her spoon in the sink. "Once you've finished, come meet me downstairs. And Sonic?"
He glanced up at her.
"Every drop."
The hedgehog gave her his most innocent look.
"I mean it, Sonic. You were already weak before I rescued you. Now, you're just pathetic. You need food. Promise me you'll finish it."
He smiled affectionately. "I promise," he assured her, watching as she nodded and walked away. Once she disappeared, he turned back to his food, bemused. He'd probably had more conversations with her in the past seven days then he'd had in the six months prior.
Idly, he wondered why. Finishing the last drops of his soup, he frowned and stared at the empty bowl. It was probably because of what he'd just been through. If he didn't talk to someone, he was sure he'd lose his mind, and Tails was always busy. Besides, with the way things were going, he was starting to feel like a different person. Everything was so serious…Making Amy smile made him feel like himself again.
It wasn't that bad, really, talking with her. He smiled at the thought. It was actually kind of fun. It'd been awhile since he'd joked with someone like that.
Shaking his head, he put his dishes in the sink and headed downstairs. Amy was sitting in her usual spot, in a chair beside the couch. She smiled as he came in. "Have a seat."
He complied with a grin.
Amy eyed him warily. "…What?"
"Nothing." At her disbelieving expression, he shrugged. "I'm just in a good mood."
This explanation seemed to satisfy her. She motioned for him to raised his arms and started unwrapping his bandages. "That's good to hear. Any idea as to the source?"
Sonic went quiet as he stared at her. If he was honest with himself, he supposed she was the reason for his good mood. The fact of the matter was, the past few days had been terrible for him. He spent nearly every minute worrying about his double, kept safely in the basement. It wasn't permitted to leave, but it was awake nonetheless, and therefore capable of influencing his friends.
Sonic didn't want that thing anywhere near his friends. He didn't want them to pity it, to respect it, to think of it as anything other than a feared enemy. He knew that wasn't fair, but he couldn't help himself. He felt as though his life was being taken right out from under him.
It also didn't help that his nightmares were getting worse. Just last night, he'd dreamed that he was a robot, like Metal, bound to follow his master's every whim. He remembered feeling the cool metal floor against one knee as he bowed to Robotnik, all the while thinking 'I have to get out of here!'. He'd woken up with a start, and hadn't been able to get back to sleep.
Now, for some reason, he was in a good mood. He smiled slightly. It was Amy. It had to be. While the world crashed down around him, he could always count on the pink hedgehog to fuss over him like she always had, to tease and grin, to roll her eyes at his childish stubbornness. It was surprising how much little things like that could be such a comfort to him.
"Sonic?"
He glanced up. Amy had paused in what she was doing, a bandage lying idle in her hands, and was peering up at him curiously.
"Are you okay?" she asked
"You are," he said, without really thinking.
She stared a moment, then gave a surprised laugh at his random declaration. "I'm okay?"
"No, I mean…" He paused. Telling her she put him in a good mood might give her the wrong idea, make her more clingy. At least, it used to. Sonic internally rolled his eyes. Oh, forget it. Let her misinterpret him. He really didn't care at this point.
He grinned at her. "I mean, you're the reason I'm in a good mood," he clarified, then watched as she flushed and fiddled with the bandage, suddenly self-conscious. What was the big deal, anyway? Why not get her flustered now and then?
He stared at her quietly as she went back to unwrapping his bandages. She'd done so much for him lately, rescuing him, patching him up, getting him to eat…A thought occurred to him. Had he ever thanked her? He doubted it. Sonic frowned. That wasn't right. "Amy."
She didn't look at him, focused on her task. "Hmm?"
"Thanks."
Her fingers stilled. For a moment, she stared at him, her expression unreadable. Then, she shook her head. "You really need to get some sleep, Sonic," she chided gently.
Ouch. He winced. Was his gratitude really that abnormal? He frowned again, feeling that little flame of justice in him flicker. "Amy." He took her wrists, stilling them, getting her to meet his eyes. "I'm serious. Thank you. For everything." He paused, feeling like that wasn't enough, but the way she was looking at him made him hesitant to continue. She stared at him intently, probably trying to see if he was joking. He tried to look sincere.
After a moment, she nodded and went back his bandages. He hoped that meant she believed him.
Sonic watched her quietly the rest of the time she worked. She kept glancing up at him, then snapping her gaze back to her work, as though she still couldn't quite come to terms with the fact that he'd thanked her. He couldn't believe he'd never done that before. She was his friend. What was wrong with him?
Amy finished unwrapping his bandages, tossing them in the wastebasket she'd dragged over. Sonic laid on his stomach without being told as she took out a bottle of ointment. He wasn't sure what it was, but it seemed to really do wonders for the pain. He put his head in his hands and closed his eyes as she started carefully applying it to his sores. They were healing, slowly but surely.
He loved this part. It felt wonderful. He sighed blissfully as Amy's gentle fingers worked through his fur, expertly avoiding his wounds. Sonic nearly fall asleep right then and there, and was disappointed when she stopped. He sighed and sat up as she reached for a clean bandage.
Amy started wrapping it carefully around him, humming slightly as she worked. When she'd finished, clipping it in place, she smiled up at him. "You're very welcome."
Sonic grinned. Yup, he was definitely having a good day.
Me: That little gem sorta jumped out of nowhere, so I just ran with it, and viola! Thinking things through is helping our little hero realize a few things, huh?
Yeah, I had fun righting that. After all the depressing worrying, I thought people deserved a break. ;)
Anywho, go poke the shiny review button!
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