#bedtimes

Sonic trying to get Tails to bed after a stressful day

I'll Be There Just for You

It shouldn’t have surprised the Blue Blur as much as it did. He knew his little brother, knew that when some idea sparked in that genius head, he wouldn’t be ripped away from it until he was satisfied or bored… or both.

But to find the twin-tailed kit half-dangling out of a Crab Bot, wrench hanging loosely from his fingers, and little snuffly snores echoing through the workshop, Sonic shook his head in both mirth and exhaustion, heaving a long sigh.

“Come on, Tails, up and at ‘em.” Sonic combed his fingers between the kit’s ears. “As comfy as the Crab looks, its no bed. Come on.” As expected, Tails let out a sleepy grumble and curled his namesakes over his body, snuffling into their fur. Sonic smiled. “Gonna play hardball, huh? Alrighty then, you leave me no choice.” An ear twitching in his direction was the only indication that the fox heard, but it was alright. He’d be listening closely soon enough.

“When you feel afraid,

When you lose your way, I’ll find you,”

An aqua eye cracked, and Sonic pretended to ignore it, continuing his rhythmic strokes through the fur between Tails’ pricked ears.

“Just try to smile and dry your eyes,

I will bring back the moon into your skies,

And ever you will, remember brother, I’ll be there to,”

Sonic opened his arms and Tails crawled out of the Crab Bot, climbing into his brother’s lap and putting his ear against his chest.

“Say to you,

I promise you,

I promise to,

Comfort you and say to you:

Brother, I’ll be there just for you.”

With years of practice and ease, Sonic cradled the fox against his chest and stood, a soft clicking purr he only ever used for the one in his arms soothing the discontented kit clinging to him.

“There’s so much to learn,

And when you want me,

Then I’ll show you,

And through the years, you’ll always be,

The lullaby of the heart of the child in me.”

Some things never grew old or faded with time. As Tails drifted between the waking world and dreams, he curled his namesakes tight around his big brother, a tiny smile on his muzzle at the slight sway and bounce to Sonic’s gait as he walked through the house and up the stairs, cradling him the exact same way he’d done since he was a tiny and frightened kit. A sleepy purr rumbled in his throat, and he nuzzled into the soft fur of Sonic’s shoulder.

“Whenever you will, remember brother,

I’ll be there to,

Say to you,

I promise you,

I promise to,

Comfort you and say to you,

Brother, I’ll be there just for you.”

Sonic gently pried Tails’ fingers from his fur—kit always had an iron grip—and tucked the blanket delicately around him, kneeling beside the little biplane bed, that same soft smile still on his face as his baby brother drifted in dreams.

“Hold it, feel it,

Music is in your heart.

When you need it,

Just keep listening,

Let it sing, let it sing.”

Sonic blinked the tears gathering in his eyes away as he gazed at his brother. He wasn’t one for nostalgia, for reflection, for focusing on the past. He much preferred to focus on the present, to soak in every moment and keep pushing forward. But, looking at Tails, he couldn’t help the surge of pride and affection for the fox. He’d grown so much, become so much—a tinker, an inventor, a hero—since the frightened kit he’d found all those years ago. Sonic was sure, in time, Tails would shake the stars in ways he’d never be able to, and he couldn’t wait to see it… but he was in no hurry for it, either.

“Though you’ve grown away,

No matter how you change,

I’ll know you.

When you tire of life alone,

There will always be one sure way back home.

You just turn on the quiet,

And you close your eyes,

And listen inside.”

Sonic huffed a tired laugh and kissed Tails’s forehead, letting his head rest there for a moment before straightening up and heading for the door. But he lingered in the doorway, watching the moonlight shimmer and illuminate the fox’s orange fur shining silver.

“I’ll be there to sing to you,

I promise you,

I promise to,

Comfort you and sing to you,

And brother, I’ll be there,

Anytime and anywhere,

Tails, I’ll be there just for you.”

💖

we said this a while ago, but the fact that we felt okay with posting it is just. a good positive growth thing for us.