#chaox

Sonic wasn’t going to accuse the little guy of following him, exactly… 

But he has shown up to each zone Sonic’s been visiting. And whenever Sonic camps for the night, the kid – Tails – is always a hundred or so yards away. Tails doesn’t think Sonic notices, but he does. Sonic just does his best not to be mean about it. The island is free now, and part of that freedom means that kids can sleep wherever they want. Even if there’s a perfectly good village a couple miles south. 

Sonic can’t blame the kid for not going back to his initial village on West Side Island, but they’re all the way on the other side of the island now. Surely the kid can try his luck with someone else? 

Sonic will leave the kid to it; he’s not about to decide Tails’s fate. And he doesn’t mind acting as an impromptu bodyguard for now. He just hopes the kid gets where he needs to go. Sonic’s not much for congratulating parents for doing the bare minimum – and he’s known plenty of kids who got on fine without them. But he doesn’t like the idea of a four year old out here all alone, either. 

And – well. He’s not going to leave him to his own devices either. Sonic just wants to make sure the kid’s not out of water, or anything. He seemed too shy to approach the river that Sonic refilled his own canteen in. And even though Sonic’s not responsible for this kid, just keeping an eye on him til Tails gets wherever he’s going… Sonic would feel a little bit bad if the kid neglected his needs just because he was too shy of getting caught. 

Which means Sonic cares enough to check, just this once.  

So when the kid falls asleep, Sonic sneaks over. He’s not much for stealth, but in his experience, kids sleep like rocks, so he’s really got nothing to worry about. 

When Sonic slows to a stop, he tests it by leaning over the kid and straining his ears to make sure his breathing is deep and even like it’s supposed to be – and when the kid doesn’t stir, he breathes a sigh of relief. Then, he gets to work. 

Sonic is quick to refill his canteen, and even leaves a couple fruits in the little blue backpack the kid brought along. Strangely, Sonic’s not really sure what the kid’s bringing with him; he hasn’t seen Tails open it, not even once. Which means it’s probably some of those papers that the little towns value so highly, maybe some toys. Hopefully some toys. Sonic was content playing with flickies and the like, but he’s self-aware enough to know most normal kids need something to keep them busy. 

A cold breeze blows in from the north, then, and Sonic’s quills rattle with a few shivers. Yeah – it’s a burrow-underground sort of night, then. The wind would keep him up all night otherwise, let alone the cold. Better to burrow where it’s a cozier temperature year-round. 

However… Sonic rubs his chin, looking down at the sleeping yellow fox. If Sonic’s got to burrow, that means things don’t look so good for the kid. As if on cue, the kid shivers, practically curled into a ball himself to retain as much body heat as possible. And sure, a blanket burrito’s better than nothing, and Tails is a fox, so he’s got a decent pelt – but Sonic doesn’t like the look of the kid’s shivers this early into the night. 

Sonic frowns and looks around the world around them. 

Then, with a heavy sigh, he knows what he’s got to do. 

Sonic does his best to be quiet, he really does – but he’s pretty sure it’s ultimately the unearthed dirt that wakes Tails. Sonic’s half done burrowing into the dirt – a mix of spin-dashing and more careful excavation with his gloves – when he peeks out to notice a yellow-and-white face looking in at him. 

“Mr. Sonic?” 

Sonic can’t help the nose wrinkle. He’s way too young for that kind of name. 

“Ah – sorry! I didn’t mean to forget your name already, is it something else?” Tails asks, which is extremely unhelpful, since it’s the worst type of yes or no question. No good answer to it. So Sonic chooses an alternate route, and ignores him to keep digging a makeshift burrow instead. 

Despite Tails occasionally interjecting with a, “M- Mr. Sonic? What are you doing?”, Sonic pays him no mind. He’s still got a second burrow to make tonight, and he’s gotta make this one big enough to fit both Tails and his backpack without it caving in. 

But once he’s done, he’s pretty sure it’ll hold. 

Proud of his handiwork, Sonic hops out of the hole, and stands over it with a confident grin and hands on his hips. Now that’s the way to do it. 

Tails, though, doesn’t quite seem to understand. 

Sleepily, the kid blinks at him – and Sonic figures he must be confused, somehow, despite having watched Sonic sleep in holes like these at least once the last few nights. 

Sonic decides to help him out by tossing the kid’s backpack (gently – in Sonic’s defense, it was gently) into the hole. Tails gives him a wide-eyed stare, then takes a few uncertain steps back. That’s when Sonic knows he’s got to ramp up his skills. 

He gestures broadly with his hands – as big of a, “for you!” gesture as he can. Tails meekly points at himself, and Sonic nods. Just to make sure the kid’s getting it, Sonic mimes falling asleep by laying his head on folded hands and making truly obnoxious-sounding snoring noises. 

The kid giggles, and Sonic grins. 

“So you… made that hole for me?” Tails asks, still sounding so uncertain despite clearly understanding. “Why?” 

Sonic mimes shivering. Tails completely misunderstands. Instead, he starts to take off the blanket that he’s now using as a shawl, and tries to give it to Sonic. Sonic’s eye almost starts twitching. The kid’s nice, he’ll grant him that – but no toddler on the planet ought to be that ready to give up their last defense against the cold. 

So instead, Sonic tsks, shaking his finger before curling the blanket tight as it can go around Tails – if he’s careful, he can even get it around a second-and-a-half time, which is good. Means the kid will be extra insulated. 

It does look a little silly, though, the kid just standing there as a blanket burrito with red-and-white shoes sticking out underneat. Sonic can’t help the chuckle that comes out.

Tails starts wriggling his arms to try and balance though, and Sonic realizes his folly. Tails won’t be able to balance and walk his way into the burrow. 

So with a heavy heart, Sonic realizes what he has to do. 

He bundles up the little guy, close as he can, and then tucks him into the burrow himself. 

“Mr Sonic?” Tails practically squeaks – but then he’s in the burrow, snug as can be, and finally Tails gets it. Which is good, since Sonic’s not sure he can maneuver him a second time. The kid’s pretty light, but Sonic’s not exactly the strongest guy around. The kid’s almost as big as he is, despite probably being less than half Sonic’s age. If Tails was any more than four, Sonic would eat his boots. But four or not, at least Tails finally understands what Sonic’s been getting at, and manages a small, “You – you really made this for me? To stay warm?” 

Sonic, realizing the kid can’t see him so well now that it’s dark, and he’s looking up from such a small hole, squats down next to him. He gives him a sharp nod – and a thumbs up for good measure. 

Tails looks up at him, starry-eyed. “Woah…” 

With that, a good deed done for the day, Sonic claps the dirt off his hands. He gives a two-fingered salute – and makes his way off to his own campsite. Only a stone’s throw from the kid’s – and in perfect view of Sonic’s. Though Sonic would hope the kid won’t get up and waste Sonic’s hard work, he’s got a feeling the kid would rather be cold than alone. 

So he doesn’t mind, really – just this once. Sonic can deal with some kid watching him sleep from a couple yards away, even if he’s not strictly the babysitting type. But it’s bound to be temporary, and… hell. Sonic would feel a little guilty if the kid got sick after coming all this way, that’s all. As long as the kid doesn’t freeze, and Sonic’s got time to make his own burrow to tuck in for the night, there’s no problem. 

Sonic finishes his own burrow a lot faster, since it’s just him. 

But, inexplicably, when he curls up for the night… Sonic can’t help but crack an eye open, one last time, to make sure the kid’s still asleep and not shivering. Funny, that. Sonic’s done all he can for the kid already – he’s not sure why he’s so invested. 

It’ll pass, he decides. Soon, the kid will find a nice village with some even nicer villagers, and he’ll go back to being a normal kid, albeit one who can fly with his tails. Hopefully this time, it’ll be a life without bullies. 

That’s all there is to it. Sonic’s not looking to be a babysitter. 

(And yet –