Work Text:
Tails’s workshop was buzzing with quiet clicks and whirrs, tools scattered in a way only Tails could make sense of. He knelt with his goggles on, drilling away at some metal chunks and melding them together as per his desire. Sonic lounged nearby, comfortably leaned back on the sofa and quietly read a book. Sure, Tails’ science books and pamphlets made for an intriguing read, but the lazy sunny day called for an afternoon of fictional indulgence.
Sonic found great pleasure in losing himself in fantastical worlds of kings, wizards, magic, and evil, definitely not due to the fact of living through similar things or anything (it’s not like the tale of King Arthur was his most favorite story)…but they were simply incredibly enjoyable to him.
All was tranquil. Calm.
BAM!
“WILTING! You hear me? I am WILTING!”
A querulous Amy stormed in, one hand against the door, having just slammed it open. The other dragged her hammer behind her. Dirt smudged her boots and tainted her face, and her quills were more akin to Sonic’s unkempt quills than their usual neatly straightened style.
Tails looked up and blinked from behind his goggles. “Uh...hey, Amy,” he greeted with a timid wave. Amy made a beeline to him and grabbed his shoulders, startling him into dropping the wrench he had been using.
“Tails. I’m actually going to explode,” she stared him dead in the eyes with the most serious expression she could muster. Tails tried (and failed) to suppress the snickers building in his nose. He held up a finger and pushed up his goggles with the other, and hit the most insufferably nerdy pose he could.
“Scientifically speaking, the spontaneous detonation of your person is categorically unfeasible, as the your body lacks both the requisite internal pressure and the exothermic reaction potential necessary to generate—”
”Great. Even the genius has turned against me.” Amy released his shoulders, sighing dramatically. “Why does the world hate meeee~”
Sonic hadn’t even looked up until she reached him.
“Afternoon, drama queen,” he quipped, just as Amy flung herself across his lap in the most over-the-top flop he’d ever witnessed. She even groaned like a dying Shakespearean heroine.
“I’m exhausted, Sonic! Ruined! All my strength—gone! My motivation—evaporated!” she huffed, draping an arm over her eyes. “I’m claiming you as a pillow now. Don’t move.”
He raised an amused brow, tapping the book against her nose. “Was gonna get up and grab a drink, actually.”
Amy peered at him from beneath her arm like he’d just betrayed her and become her worst enemy. “How could you leave me in my time of need? I’m fading, Sonic. Fading!”
“You’re fine, Ames.”
“I’m suffering.”
“Mm-hmm.”
Despite his words, Sonic didn’t actually move anywhere. In fact, he shifted a little to make her more comfortable, letting one of her arms settle more easily around his waist. Sonic wiped at the dirt on her cheek with his finger till it was all clean. Amy let out a satisfied sigh, burying her face into his stomach like he was actually the real couch.
Tails attempted not to laugh, resulting in a strange, hacking noise coming from his throat. Amy being their resident theater kid was no uncommon occurrence. “So... uh... do you want water? Or... tea?”
Amy didn’t lift her head. “Tell the world my story, Tails.” she moaned, her voice muffled.
Sonic chuckled, dropping his book beside him and ruffling Amy’s bangs. “Nah, she’ll live. I think my legs might fall asleep before she does.”
”Darn it Amy, I finally had Sonic around to help me run errands while I work and you stole him from me,” Tails sighed in the same thespian tone as the pink hedgehog had been using. “He can’t do anything with a pink potato sack on him.”
”I prefer the term endearing burden,” she protested, holding up finger hearts in Tails’ general direction, still lazily lounging like royalty on her hedgehog throne.
“Whaddya need lil’ bro?” Sonic called, stretching his arms behind his head.
“Just some more carbon fiber sheets and two nickel-cadmium batteries. You know what to get, right Sonic?”
“Sure do!”
“But you’re kind of occupied?”
“Sure am!”
Tails stared at him with an unamused expression riddled with the resigned air of someone who had long accepted that this was just his reality, and this is just how his two friends were.
Sonic sniggered upon seeing his face, holding up a hand. “Just give me five.”
Amy tried to make herself heavier and pin the blue hedgehog in place with a whine. “Noooo you traitor! You’d abandon your sacred duty as my comfy pillow?”
“Mission comes first, little miss princess.”
”Ugh,” Amy pouted puffing up her cheeks and looking away with crossed arms.
Tails only laughed, standing up and dusting himself off. “Well if you’re both out of commission, I guess I’ll just—”
”Nah we got it,” Sonic interrupted, starting to stand up.
“Who’s we?” questioned Amy.
“Uh, you and me? Y’know like, Amy and Sonic?” Sonic smirked at her, gesturing between them with his finger.
“My legs are out of commission.”
“Fine by me.”
In one smooth motion, Amy found herself slung over Sonic’s shoulder, her face slamming into his back quills. “You’re cargo now!”
”SONIC!” she squealed indignantly. “This is undignified!”
”You’re literally the one saying you can’t walk!” Sonic retorted archly.
“I meant carry me like you normally do, all gentlemanly and charming you dummy!” Amy complained, hanging loosely off her crush’s body.
“Oh sorry,” he replied—not sorry at all—“I’m trying to keep my hands free.”
”You’re enjoying this,” accused Amy.
”Immensely,” Sonic agreed in a puerile tone.
Tails watched his big brother carry his luggage to the entrance, where he turned around and waved at him. “Be back in a few, Tails!”
The fox kit only shook his head in disbelief. “You guys are so weird.”
”We’re literally the best role models ever what are you talking about?” Sonic batted his eyelashes at him.
“Oh you’re one to talk,” Amy snarked from behind him.
“Zip it, luggage isn’t supposed to talk.”
“You are going to hear from my lawyer.”
”I am your lawyer!”
“I’M FILING A COMPLAINT.”
”Good thing I’m also HR!”
”STOP IT—“
”You love it~”
Tails snorted and returned to his workbench as Sonic rushed off, resuming his tasks while shaking his head.
“Older siblings are so exhausting.”