Work Text:
Sonic is angry.
No, scratch that — he's beyond furious.
Tails knows this even though the hedgehog hasn't let out a single word. The fox kit has known him for most — well, technically half of his life at this point and knows him better than anyone else. Tails knows exactly what Sonic is feeling even if he doesn't show it, he can always tell. He can always read him better than most people can. He might as well say he's the best at reading Sonic. It's a given too, considering that he practically raised Tails on his own.
They can both read each other best.
And right now Sonic is angry.
Which is pretty rare. Given that it's directed towards Tails.
He hasn't said anything of course, Tails doubts he's going to do so anytime soon but he knows when he's in trouble that's evadable by utilizing the sheer unadulterated power of his puppy dog eyes and when the eyes aren't gonna cut it.
Mostly, whenever Sonic is upset with him the eyes are enough to break him. Tails will apologize with the smallest voice ever with his ears pinned down to his skull and eyes as big and shimmering as the vast expanse of the ocean that's visible from his bedroom's window and Sonic just has to take one look at his droopy namesakes and it's game over for him. The hedgehog sighs and pulls the kit into a serene one armed embrace and with a, "Don't do it again," — which, in most cases, Tails will definitely do again — they're back to normal.
Then they're playing video games and wrestling each other and going back and forth with throwing quips at each other until they laugh and laugh and laugh so much that they become tired and within moments, they'll be found asleep on top of each other on the couch.
Unfortunately, this time, things don't look as good.
Sonic's never been this angry with him.
(It scares him a little but he won't admit that, he's just as stubborn as his big brother after all.)
The hedgehog is quiet as he carries the fox in his arms, extremely careful in the way he holds his little brother with one arm supporting Tails' back and one looped under his knees. Sonic makes sure to keep the kit's head supported on his chest as he runs the distance back to Mystic Ruins.
Tails dares to take a peek at the hedgehog's expression as he opens his eyes through the harsh wind that crashes against his face and forces his eyes and mouth to stay shut, blowing his bangs up and blocking all coherent sound by crashing in his ears.
Sonic is looking straight ahead, he might as well look like he's only mindful of the path he speeds through but Tails doubts he's thinking beyond, "Get home."
After that, there's probably an earful in store for him but in all honesty though, Tails doesn't feel like any of it is his fault or that he did anything wrong. Unfortunately, that's gonna be hard to get through with Sonic and his head feels too heavy for him to argue with Sonic right now, knowing exactly how stubborn his big brother is.
He can be stubborn too.
But maybe after a painkiller or two.
Tails closes his eyes and lets Sonic take him home.
_____
Sonic kicks the front door open in a rush. Fortunately, it's still on its hinges and probably won't need a repair.
He places Tails down onto the couch as gently as if handling a newborn, making sure his head is well supported on the cushion he places adjacent to the armrest. Thankfully, Tails doesn't retaliate when he goes to assess his injuries, keeping one hand firmly on his shoulder to keep him down in case he gets any other funny ideas.
The kit opts to stay quiet and do as his brother wants him to as the older of the two carefully inspects the wound resting at the side of his forehead. Sonic was worried when he first saw it but it looks like it's not bleeding anymore, which means it's not as serious but still bound to hurt. The hedgehog then moves on and lifts the fox's chin up to properly see the worst of his injuries, an ugly gash that marred his golden and white fur a screaming red — it went all the way from the right side of his neck and down to just below his left shoulder.
It almost had his throat.
Sonic lets out a deep breath he didn't know he was holding as emerald eyes lingered on the red clashing against the white of his little brother's chest.
It almost had his throat.
"Sonic…?" Tails calls from below him.
The teen doesn't meet his eyes.
Sonic quickly dashes off to the small kitchen connected to the living room and returns with the red and white first aid kit. He sets it on the coffee table and sits Tails up with a hand supporting his back, the kit groans as he does, before carefully cleaning the wounds with an antiseptic solution and cotton swabs. He then applies antibacterial ointment to the cuts and scratches, before gently wrapping the wounds with sterile gauze and surgical tape.
For the gash on his chest, Sonic carefully applies a larger dressing, ensuring that it is firmly secured with additional tape. Lastly, he applies a small band-aid to the wound on his head. After ensuring that the wounds stop bleeding and that no stitches are needed, Sonic looks over his work, making sure that the injuries have been tended to properly.
Once he's satisfied with his work, Sonic closes the first aid kit with a huff.
Tails is still looking at him.
He still hasn't said anything…
Tails is about to call him again but he leaves for the kitchen once more, taking the first aid kit with him, leaving the kit alone on the couch.
Tails bites his inner cheek, fidgeting with his hands.
He knows Sonic's angry.
He can tell. He can always tell.
But he's never been this mad at him before.
Maybe he should apologize? What exactly for though? He did the right thing. He knows he did the right thing and even if Sonic is upset with him about it, Tails knows he would've done the same if their places were switched. Always the overprotective hypocrite, his big brother is angry about something Tails learned from him.
He protected his brother when he couldn't save himself. What part of it was wrong?
It makes Tails a little angry at Sonic too.
Isn't that the whole point of them? To look out for each other?
Sonic suddenly appears again in the living room, carrying a glass of water and two painkillers in his hands. Tails looks at him as the hedgehog stands in front of him, handing him the glass of water and the painkillers, "Take these."
Instinctively, Tails takes both of the items but it's only when he has the medicine in his palm that he regrets the action. He scrunches up his nose at the mere sight of them, already disgusted by just the thought of having to take them.
Sonic notices his dismay and has to physically restrain himself from rolling his eyes. The hedgehog bends forward to poke the kit's little nose, he says a little sternly, "You have to take these."
This time, Tails doesn't meet his eyes, "I know."
With half a heart, Tails puts them both in his mouth and tries to wash them up with water as fast as he could without choking on them. Still, he ends up coughing once he's done. Sonic takes the glass from his hand and rubs his back till his throat is clear. He keeps his hand on the kit's back when Tails brings his own gloved hand over his chest with his head held low, worried that he might've hurt himself while coughing.
"Does it hurt?" Sonic lets his concern overtake his voice when Tails still doesn't move his hand from his chest, shoulders tensing as he reaches a hand out to the kit. He lets it hover midair when Tails coughs again, although it sounds way less painful than before.
"N-No."
"Tails…"
"I mean it." The kit peers up at his brother through his bangs, "I-I'm okay."
"Lie down," Sonic lets his shoulders relax and goes to push the kit back down on the cushion he set by the armrest of the couch, "You need rest."
"But what about the base?" Tails questions, brow furrowing, "I mean, we didn't fully investigate it because of the attack and if the security measures are really that strict and given that they're still active, it could be dangerous—"
"I'll go run by it tomorrow."
Tails goes quiet when Sonic cuts him off. Well, it's good to know a little accident like that didn't make Sonic completely put off the mission but Tails isn't worried about that. His concerns lie somewhere else, somewhere he thinks they're going to argue about.
Tails raises a brow at his brother in a questioning manner, " Just you?"
"Yes, Tails, just me."
"Don't be ridiculous, Sonic." Tails continues, ignoring Sonic's tone that betrayed the slightest bit of his anger, "Those attacks were obviously specifically designed to take you down. They almost did too if I hadn't—"
"I was fine . I would've been too without you interfering like that—"
Tails cuts him off now, sits up abruptly as he does, not minding his injuries, "That thing was aiming for your legs!"
"Then you flew in and it almost had your throat, Miles!"
The fox flinches when Sonic raises his voice. Flinches because of the sudden jostling his wounds receive, flinches because his big brother rarely ever raises his voice and he flinches at the use of his first name.
Sonic really is angry with him this time, huh?
Tails clenched his fists, looking down to avoid his brother's eyes. It's not fair that he gets to be angry about something he himself does all the time but he is anyway.
And it's making Tails angry.
"Just…" Sonic starts again, his voice considerably lower than last time, "What were you thinking? Why on Mobius would you feel the need to throw yourself away like that, all open wide for a killer machine to— to just…— I don't even want to think about it." Sonic turns away with that, closing his eyes and rubbing a hand over his face. He keeps it over his mouth once he's done but he still doesn't open his eyes and him not looking at Tails gives the kit an opening to observe him.
His quills are all standing on edge and he stands in a way that suggests he's ready to run — ready to fight. As if he still thinks they're in danger, as if he still thinks they're there in that cold dark base with not another living soul aside from the two of them and the giant robot, fast and adorned with blades sharp enough to cut through bone, as if they still need protecting but they don't. Actually no, they didn't need protecting, Sonic did because that thing was after him and Tails did what he would've done in his sleep.
"I was protecting you." Tails replies, making sure his voice is steady with his next words, "I don't see what's wrong with that."
Sonic doesn't look back at him, "Almost had your throat."
"Almost." Tails repeats, "Didn't actually get it."
"If it was even half an inch to the left—"
"But it wasn't!" His head hurts when he exclaims, but he does anyway. If his brother's not backing down, he isn't either, "Plus you would've done the same thing if it were me!"
"What?" That gets Sonic to turn to him fully, surprise evident on his features, "No, that's an entirely different thing."
There's a pause in which Tails contemplates those words, he contemplates what his brother actually is thinking right now — or perhaps the lack of said thinking because it doesn't feel like thinking to Tails at all.
"How?"
"What do you mean 'how'?" Sonic repeats his question, clearly not getting what distresses the kit so much about something that is so obvious, "You're my little brother, it's my job to protect you. That includes doing everything I can to make sure you're okay. That's a different thing."
"Are you serious right now?" Tails stares at him incredulously, "How is it— Are you not my brother?"
"Of course, I am!" It's Sonic's turn to look at the other incredulously because just where did he get that idea from, "Of course, I am… Which is exactly why I don't like what you did back there, Tails… And I swear to Chaos if you ever did anything like that again—"
"Then what?" Tails demands, his own voice betraying his growing anger, "What will you do? Because let me tell you that I'll gladly do it again in a heartbeat because it's my job to protect my brother as well… And that includes everything I can do too. Even if it gets me killed—"
That's where Tails has officially gone too far, that's where Sonic actually gets upset with him.
"Miles Prower." The fur on his tails puff up at the tone — the tone he often jokingly refers to as Sonic's big brother voice, but the absolute authority it holds over his small form never was a joke, "That's enough."
Tails holds his head down again so as to not meet those emerald eyes, he never was capable of doing otherwise when his brother was this upset with him. His ears pin down to his skull and if his breathing hitches or his eyes burn under the weight of still forming tears then no one has to know.
"I don't ever want to hear those words again. Ever. Understood?"
Instinctively, the fox kit nods shakily. It's nothing more than a slight bob of his head but it gets Sonic to pause. A pause in which Sonic's expression melts into something softer and Tails can't help but peek up at him. The hedgehog isn't looking at him though, Tails doubts he's looking at anything at all but with that sorrowful look in his emerald eyes, Tails understands what he's thinking about. It's not long before the older of the two words it as well.
"I can't lose you, Tails." Sonic's voice is much softer now, "You're my little brother. You're — I raised you. That means something, bud… You're all I have. I can't lose you, especially not like that. Not— not for me."
The kit looks at his brother. He understands his concerns, understands that Sonic is worried before he's angry and a part of him is glad to hear just how much he means to the teen, really is. He's so, so glad to have someone who cares for him as much as Sonic does but it makes him a bit sad too. Neither of them had any great experiences with people caring about them but it makes Tails sad that he learned to be cared for but his brother never did.
It makes him feel like he's failed Sonic, like he's not enough as a brother to make him feel like he matters too.
Sonic is upset and Tails is too and maybe both of them have that directed towards themselves instead of the other.
Sonic places a placating hand on Tails' uninjured shoulder and makes sure to keep his voice gentle so as to not startle the kit anymore than he already has, "Promise me you won't do something like that again, okay?"
Tails looks at Sonic, looks at the hand on his shoulder and those silently pleading emerald eyes and replies, determined, "No."
"Tails…"
"No."
The fox shakes his head, unmindful of his own headache because his brother isn't thinking.
"It's always like this with you. It's always like this whether it's some big killer robot or eating on time, you're always like this. You never listen and you're still not listening to me." Tails doesn't waver but when he speaks again, his voice cracks just a bit too close to sounding like a cry. It's so small and so sad, it makes Sonic freeze in his place when Tails says, "Do you think I can lose you?"
Sonic is taken aback when Tails looks up at him with big watery eyes and all his arguments die down in his throat when holds his head low once more, bringing a gloved hand to his forehead. The kit digs the heel of his palm at the side of his forehead in an attempt to reduce the throbbing pain.
The two stay like that for a moment, Sonic with his hand still on Tails' shoulder and the fox looking down to avoid his brother's eyes — he doesn't want him to see how his own are full of unshed tears and how he might break down any second now. It's too much for him, too much for both of them but it's a lot more for one than it is for the other and Sonic can feel it.
He can feel it in the way Tails is so tense yet so small in front of him and how he trembles ever so slightly. He can feel it in the way Tails talks — soft yet desperate like a plea — as if begging someone else to understand what he already does perfectly well himself, as if begging Sonic to understand something that he already does, something that never needing any understanding from him because it was always something that felt like it was hard coded into his very being.
"You're my brother too," Tails speaks again, breaking the silence that was starting to become a bit too uncomfortable for either of them, "You raised me… And that means something. That's the whole problem. That it means something — no, it means everything, Sonic... But you don't understand that it doesn't just operate in one direction; I care about you too. I'm scared of losing you too. Maybe more than you do for me because— because you're you and I'm me. If you can't get it through your head that I care about you just as much as you care about me then at least try to understand that I need you."
A stray tear escapes Tails' eye when he faces Sonic again, "I can't lose you, Sonic, because I don't think I'll be able to go on without you."
And there's so much sincerity in the little fox sitting before Sonic, he isn't sure what to do anymore because until now it was all so clear to him. All he needed to do was to make sure his little brother was safe and happy and healthy and that was all that ever mattered to him. It still does, more than anything in the world but now that he looks at the kit who's not really that four year old child he saved from Westside Island but a stronger, more confident, much more capable (perhaps more than Sonic himself) and still growing fox that he raised by himself, looking at him with determination glimmering in his tearful eyes — those ocean eyes with so much fight in them, Sonic almost questions where he got it from but he knows it better than anyone where exactly Tails got that fight from.
All of it just to get one point through the hedgehog.
"So, no. I'm not making that promise because I care about you and I'll always try to protect you whether or not you like it." Tails finishes with, "You're my brother, my family. I think it's okay for me to want to protect you."
There's a pause in which the kit waits for the hedgehog to say something, anything because he knows he wants to say a lot of things but Sonic was never the one good with his words. So, Tails waits for him until he can because they're both upset and no one's getting anywhere without talking it out anymore.
Sonic heaves out a sigh, deep and resonating.
He looks out the window on the opposite wall, Tails does the same after him. The sun's setting and it's gonna be dark soon, the cold of the night settling in.
Sonic leaves for upstairs. Tails doesn't know what for, he's getting too tired to figure it out anyway.
Turns out that he doesn't have to as the hedgehog returns seconds after with a soft green blanket in his arms. He wordlessly drapes it over Tails' shoulders and pulls it over his chest so that he's properly covered before plopping down on the couch beside him.
"Sonic?" Tails calls, clutching the blanket with a hand.
The hedgehog has his eyes closed. He looks exhausted, "Yeah, bud?"
"You're gonna get cold."
Sonic opens one eye to look at the younger and Tails already has his arm extended along with the blanket, offering to share the warmth of its soft fabric with him.
Sonic chuckles. It's not his usual energetic, playful chuckle that he gives out when he successfully tricks Knuckles into doing something stupid or when he wins in a race against Tails and Amy. No, for it is soft and almost too tired. A bit fond too maybe.
The hedgehog accepts the offer and snuggles close to the fox, taking his side of the blanket from the kit's hand so he won't have to keep his arm around Sonic's back and possibly poke himself on one of his quills. He's hurt enough already as is.
"Y'know…" Sonic starts, resting his head over Tails' with a soft smile, "I don't think I can live without you either."
"Mmm, I think you'll be fine."
"Nah… Can barely keep myself out of trouble without my right hand man." Sonic lets his free hand wrap around the younger boy, pulling him closer in a one armed hug, "Plus I'll probably die from missing you too much."
"Dramatic much?"
"You think they make blankets as fluffy as your tails?"
That drives a laugh out of the boy.
Good, Sonic thinks.
He prefers his brother laughing, even if its exhausted and quiet, he prefers it over him being upset.
For a moment, the two of them just bask in the silence, content with listening to each other's heartbeats and soft breathing. Much better than the fight they've been having previously.
Before either of them could drift of to sleep, however, Sonic speaks again, "Sorry for yelling at you earlier, I didn't mean to lose my temper."
"It's okay. I did it too."
"Still, bud. Sorry about that. I was just worried about you."
"I know."
"And one more thing," The hedgehog adds, pulling the kit closer, "I wasn't… Upset about you protecting me. You have no idea how much you do that. Probably wouldn't have been in one piece without you but… It's just that I wish you were more careful, Tails."
"I know." Tails smiles, snuggling into his brother's chest, "But my big brother isn't really the best role model for that."
"You oughta learn it yourself then, Mister." Sonic lifts his head to look down at the kit, "Just like you did for all your science gizmos."
"Dunno…" Tails raises his head to meet his gaze and with half lidded sleepy eyes, he asks with the faintest ghost of a smile, "Will you learn it too?"
Sonic thinks about it, Tails knows there's gears turning in his head. He just hopes the hedgehog doesn't decline, doesn't say no because his brother can be very stubborn. He knows.
Sonics voice is barely a whisper when he replies but Tails' sensitive ears catch his words anyway, "I'll try to."
"I'll try as well then." Tails replies before he returns to his spot on the hedgehog's chest, closing his eyes. Happy that he at least had the older agreeing with something.
The fox kit feels Sonic's head rest back on his, the teen's free hand coming up to pet the area behind his ear, drawing a soft purr from the kit. Slumber overcomes him in a sudden wave, the petting lulls him to sleep so fast he barely gets the time to mumble out a quick, "Love you…"
Sonic smiles at the kit beside him, injured but still strong enough to talk the so called hero of Mobius down. The kit who he will go to end of the universe for, the kit he will protect no matter what happens, the kit who is his little brother, just as stubborn as he is and who will always be there for him like he will be for Tails.
Sonic smiles and gently touches his lips between Tails' ears.
"Love you too, li'l bro."
_____
It's only the next morning and they're fighting again.
"What do you mean I'm grounded? I'll ground you!"
"Oh? How will you ground me, little brother? Do enlighten me please seeing as I, the older brother who gets to ground you, am not the one hiding radioactive chemicals in our basement unchecked!"
"Brave words coming from someone who can't even name three radioactive elements!"
"Three seconds to shut up before I revoke your mint privileges."