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The fox kit never knew that he was coming back.
In theory, letting a little kid tag along with him for a while didn't seem like such a bad idea. Especially when the kid was as smart as Tails was. Yet somehow they kept having the same misunderstanding.
Sonic always thought he was clear. Wait here, I'll be right back, he'd say with an assortment of gestures before speeding off; leaving the kid in the cover of the jungle, tucked away in a hollowed out tree trunk or sitting on a log while he scoped things out. Normally he didn't do sweeps of new territories. It was much more his style to speed through and take whatever Robotnik had to throw at him in stride. But this little fox kit he decided to bring along wasn't as fast as him. There'd already been a couple close calls where badniks nearly snatched the kid because Tails hadn't been quick enough. In wide, open fields, without anywhere for him to hide, he'd surely get himself hurt or worse if Robotnik had any traps or badnik patrols posted in the middle of a meadow. So while reconnaissance wasn't Sonic's preferred strategy, he'd resigned himself to it while on babysitting duty.
It made sense to Sonic.
Apparently it didn't make sense to Tails.
Every time he'd come back, the fox kit had been huddled up in the smallest ball, trembling like he was in the throes of winter rather than the latter half of October. At the sound of Sonic's footsteps, he'd tense and bolt, disappearing in the nearest tree or bush. Sonic would whistle for the little guy and wait for him to inch his way back out of his hiding spot. His ears would lay flat, tails hugged to his chest as he peered out at him, looking for all the world like he didn't actually expect it to be Sonic standing there. Always surprised that he'd come back.
Discomfort writhed in his chest every time he was on the receiving end of that look, but he'd brush it aside and beckon the kid over with a jerk of his head and impatient click of his tongue. C'mon, time to speed, keed.
Eventually, Sonic figured, the kid would get it. Tails was a clever, resourceful little guy. Sonic noticed that from the start. Spunky and determined; particularly feisty when he wanted to be. Smart and crafty, too.
Before they left Emerald Hill Zone, he'd helped Sonic rig a pulley system out of vines to get the Tornado off the beach and under some cover in the jungle. They needed a few parts for Tails to complete the repairs; Sonic had figured that out without any explanation when the little fox pulled out a blackened and bent crankshaft from the engine. Since Emerald Hill Zone was a no-go for any sort of airplane parts, they'd have to shop around at some of the other towns on the island. So, for now, the Tornado was grounded. Sonic felt better about leaving her knowing she was well-hidden though. He fashioned a cover out of palm leaves that he tied down to protect her, as well as camouflage her. Even Tails did his best to help, seemingly understanding the importance of keeping her hidden while they were away.
Again, smart and crafty. Another bonus: he was quiet. Sonic didn't know if that was because he was too young to know how to talk or if he'd never learned, but who was he to question whether or not someone could talk?
(He didn't remember the last words he'd ever said. It might've been Ray's name. When the last little kid he'd tried to help slipped out of his grasp and he just let him. But he didn't remember. He didn't ever think too hard about it.)
The silence was companionable, at any rate. Tails didn't cry or whine or complain. From what Sonic knew of little kids, that was pretty rare. The worst of it was the scratching and biting, but it was a fair enough reaction all things considered. Honestly, Sonic was pretty impressed the little guy had some fight in him. He'd take that over crying any day.
But the silence was also an unfortunate obstacle when it came to communication. Even if Tails had picked up on most of his signals so far—and Sonic had definitely picked up on Tails's—whenever it came to wait here or be right back, he'd look at him like he was one step from abandoning him on the nearest tree stump or something.
Sonic sighed heavily, slumping forward as his fast and easy plan to pick up some supplies from town suddenly seemed anything but. Tails was already chewing on the edge of his tail, eyes downcast and ears wilted. Looking like Sonic might as well have kicked him when he made the gesture once again for him to wait here.
Something this simple didn't have to be such a big deal. Tails would learn. If Sonic left and came back enough times, eventually it'd click that out of sight didn't mean out of mind. That he wasn't just abandoning the little guy on his own out here. He didn't have to sit here wasting time figuring out how to get that through to him because one day it wouldn't even matter.
But knowing that didn't make leaving him any easier. Knowing that Tails didn't have any faith that he'd come back—that he thought Sonic was capable of something like that—just didn't sit right with him.
If Tails wasn't so skittish, he'd just bring him into town with him. But the last two times they tried to stop in a village, Tails had cowered and hid up in the nearest tree. And given the amount of things Sonic needed to pick up, having to lug around and look after a panicking toddler while shopping seemed like a recipe for disaster.
But Tails needed his own blanket, his own pillow. He'd been using his own tails for cover and leaves they found on the ground, but it was getting colder at night and Sonic hadn't missed his shivering. He needed a toothbrush, too, and a brush more suited to his fur than Sonic's own soft bristle brush. It did nothing for the mats in the kid's undercoat. And he hadn't expected to go through his rations as quickly as he was with an additional mouth to feed.
Sonic really hadn't thought this through. Maybe it hadn't been the best idea. What did he know about looking after little fox kits?
He watched Tails toe the grass with his worn out shoe—something else he wanted to get him, some sturdier kicks that would withstand their journey better and didn't look like they'd been found in a dumpster—his paws kneading his own tail for comfort as he hugged it and chewed harder.
Maybe he didn't know much. Sonic wasn't about to let that stop him from learning what he could about looking after this little fox kit right here. What did he know about Tails that would help him get through to him? Cupping his chin, he tapped his foot to give himself something to do while he figured this out.
He just had to act fast. The kid was already eyeing him with a look that might as well have screamed why haven't you left me yet? Sonic was quickly losing what little ground he'd gained in earning his trust every time he left him on his own for a few minutes.
That was it. Sonic's eyes lit up and he snapped his fingers at the idea. What did he know about Tails? He knew he was smart and crafty. Interested in gizmos and had a good knack of figuring out how they worked. What made them tick.
The fox kit's ears perked up curiously, releasing his tail so both could swish freely through the air while he watched Sonic remove the red watch from his wrist. Sonic held both hands up, palms out and watch dangling from his fingers as he slowly approached him. He crouched down to be at his level and held out the watch for him to inspect on his own. Tails rocked back on his heels, then inched forward as close as he dared to get a good look at it. His fur bristled when Sonic held out his free hand, but he made no move to grab him. His gloves had enough teeth punctures in them at this point, he'd learned.
The kid relaxed after a beat, then hesitantly placed his paw in Sonic's. He tensed when the watch was suddenly strapped to his own wrist tightly. Tails yanked his hand back, tails thrashing even more now as he stared at the offending item. Sonic waved for his attention, then pointed at the face of the clock. Blue eyes blinked, looked at the watch, then blinked back at Sonic again.
With his fingers, Sonic mimed the second hand going around the clock. The minute and hour hands might've been broken, but the second hand would do just fine for what he needed. When the kid seemed to understand what part of the watch he was referring to, Sonic made a full circle, then held up ten fingers. Then ten fingers again. Then again. Thirty minutes, tops.
Tails looked down at the watch again, busy mind putting the pieces together quickly. He pointed to the second hand as it ticked along, then mimicked Sonic by holding up ten of his fingers three times. Sonic grinned and gave him a thumbs up, then drew an invisible line in the air between his own eye and the watch, instructing him to keep an eye on it while he was gone, so he could have something to help track until he got back.
The kid seemed to understand. They both watched the watch until the second hand passed the twelve, then Sonic took off, racing towards town to collect the supplies they'd need.
He went fast. Heart beating in overtime as he zipped into the general store and picked up everything they'd need for the next few days. Blanket, pillow, brushes, food. Oh, the kid needed his own towel and washcloth, too. And a fresh pair of socks. The little guy only had the ones he was wearing. He had to hold off on the shoes though. The village was too small to have a clothing closet full of donated goods, the villagers more likely to just exchange things with their neighbors if they needed something, and new shoes would eat through his dwindling funds faster than the kid could scarf down a chili dog.
Once they got to a bigger city, Sonic would get him a sturdier pair. For now, it was just the basics while they tracked the next Chaos Emerald. He didn't have time to second guess or compromise on anything in the store. Not because he was worried about the fox kit waiting for him. He just didn't want to have to waste more time trying to earn that kid's trust back, that was all. He didn't want him to think that was the kind of guy Sonic the Hedgehog was.
That was the only reason he didn't want him upset or thinking that he'd left forever.
That he was alone again.
Sonic was back in the thick of the jungle and skidding to a stop in front of Tails exactly twenty-seven minutes and eighteen seconds later. His backpack was slightly heavier, stuffed with the additional supplies, but it would take more than that to slow him down. The fox kit was right where he left him, sat on the ground with both tails curled around him, but he perked up at the sight of him. At least, Sonic thought he looked happy to see him. It was still hard to tell.
What Sonic could tell was that the kid had his screwdriver in his hand again. He must've snagged it from the backpack at some point when Sonic wasn't looking. Sonic's mouth quirked up, unable to help smiling. Sneaky little guy.
Setting the backpack down, Sonic gestured for him to give back the watch. Tails scurried over and held out his wrist obediently. Sonic leaned down to unfasten it, but his fingers froze before he'd even made contact. His gaze honed in on the face of the watch. The second hand was still ticking away, but the minute and hour hands were, too. They no longer dangled uselessly on the clock's face, but were affixed to a time—even if that time wasn't correct.
He'd never seen them work before. Sonic blinked at the kid who blinked right back. Then the widest grin split Sonic's cheeks. His throat convulsed around a happy sound and he gave the little fox another thumbs up.
Sonic didn't have a word for what he felt when Tails smiled back. Worth it was the closest he could come to defining the warmth that replaced the uncomfortable writhing from before. Maybe he didn't know what he was doing. Maybe he hadn't thought any of this through. Maybe earning and keeping Tails's trust wasn't going to be easy.
But it sure was worth it.