#sonic movie fics

[theartofwoompwoomp]

I never knew we could coexist together 

Shadow x reader

Summary : shadow is surprised to learns that humans understand grief. And he learns it from the human that’s the most tolerable and happiest in his life. 

———————————————————————

“Do you really think you could ever understand.” 

His voice ragged and tight from the anger. There’s no way anyone could understand what he lost. Especially not you…

You have everything. A happy family, friends, a place in this world. 

 he had nothing…

Sure others may have accepted him, yet it has never been the same and it hasn’t ever taken the pain.

Someone as happy as you wouldn’t and shouldn’t ever understand his pain. 

His grip getting tighter in his hand, he can feel himself shaking a bit as he lowers his eyes to the ground.

He feels bad for snapping at you. He wasn’t expecting to have all his pent up anger explode on you. Finally the shame starts crawling it’s way and he was getting ready to leave. He didn’t want to see your face.

Not right now, when he feels so angry with you even though you’re the only one thats stuck around. 

All his emotions are spinning all over his head just waiting for another opportunity to explode, and he does not want you to be at the end of it.

Without saying anything else, he keeps his head down as he turns to leave. 

But just as he’s a few steps away his are is pulled back quite forcefully towards you again.

“What do you think you’re doing—“

You hugged him.

Holding tight making sure you won’t let go of him. He tenses a bit not fully processing what you’re doing. 

Why are still trying? Why do you still care even if he hurt you? He doesn’t deserve you.

Before he realizes it, he’s holding you close as well. 

Nothing is said between either of you, he’s simply shaking a bit in your arms as you rub his back a bit.

Memories come back to him. Those of maria, his actions, and of you.

Small tears roll down his cheeks but he could care less at the moment. “It hurts.” His voice broken and tired from all the pain that never goes away.

You hugged him a bit tighter as you whisper a bit into his ears, “I know shads, i know.” Not daring to let go or abandon him in this moment, you wait it out. Feeling your own tears slowly dropping as well as his cries intensify.

He feels like he just got ran over, but at least you’re still there, holding him. Both of you more calmed down from the whole ordeal. 

He finally decides to let go from your embrace and you let him. 

He sits on the ground and you follow along and sit next to him. Just waiting to see who’ll be the first to speak.

Surprisingly after a few minutes shadow softly starts speaking, “i don’t want to talk about it.” His brows furrow a bit, “i appreciate your kindness, but I don’t like speaking about my pain.” 

He feels you caress his hand. “That’s okay,” holding it firmly when turns it offering you to continue your action of affection, “i understand that pain can be hard to share.”

He turns to see you, eyes glazing over you face wondering what ever could have caused you pain to make that expression.

“You might be surprised but humans suffer from many things. Some of us are just a little better at pretending nothing’s wrong.” 

“Doesn’t it hurt to do that?”

You look over, seeing his worry through his eyes. “Of course it does. Suffering is always painful.” Your eyes and hands never leaving one another. Sharing more emotions this way than any words could describe.

You lean a bit onto him, “but you know,” he reciprocates as you continue, “i think that’s a reason why there’s so many of us in the first place. Maybe so we could  help each other through the pain… it’s too bad many seem forget the value of this”

He shifts a bit as he feels you move again. This time you’re kneeling a bit in front of him. 

“That’s why I’m so glad that I at least have you in my life.”

His heart twinges a bit, feeling guilty for trying to ever push you away. And you notice it before he even says anything.

“Please don’t shut me out,” you’re hugging him again.

And he hugs you back, holding you softly as he feels your breath on his shoulder. Your actions and words melting all the doubt and numbing the pain. He’s comforted knowing that you’re not going nowhere, staying right there with him.

“Im glad that it’s you, and not anyone else at my side.” 

———————————————————————

masterlist

[sparkles-rule-4eva]

"What eventually did the trick was a gentle rock of the swing accompanied by Tom’s quietly singing John Denver. By the third chorus of the second song all three boys and Maddie were asleep. Tom let his head fall back. His best friend and his boys, all jammed together while the crickets kept time with the swing. It really couldn’t get much better.

And they still had three days of vacation to go."

Surprise, I'm back with this piece again, except now ✨ DIGITALIZED!!! ✨ Once again, this is fanart from none other than the lovely fic "Part of the Tribe" by @samthefrank and @humanityinahandbag !! Aka the fic that rewired my brain and that I have revisited at least five hundred times. 💙💛❤️ I am addicted to this family 🥹

[writingtraumaforever]

“There’s Nothing To Talk About.”: A Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Mini-Fic

Notes: Based off this post by @corffee . Minor Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Spoilers!

Summary: He was left disappointed the second those handcuffs were pulled out. Communication wouldn’t be an option, that was clear no matter what the obnoxious blue hedgehog said. He should’ve known better. Should’ve expected as much from those associated with GUN. Still, he was disappointed. And confused as to why he was disappointed. A feeling of betrayal seeping into his core and leaving him feeling even more lost than he already was.

Link to my AO3!

Start:

Shadow has never once met anyone or anything like him.

He was led to believe he was the only of his kind. A creature of mystery. A monster among humans.

Turns out humans were the monsters.

And Shadow was their reckoning.

But this.. this blue hedgehog.

What was he??

Shadow had initially been shocked by the sight of him— well, all three of them, really. A fox, an echidna, and a hedgehog. None human. None of earth. His mind wanted to be open. Intrigued by beings that were more like him than those they lived among. His instinct wasn’t to fight, it was to question. His curiosity led him despite seeing them jump from that GUN helicopter, thinking for only a moment that communication may be possible. That perhaps if anyone could understand, it would be others like him.

Different.

Outcasts.

“Monsters”.

He was left disappointed the second those handcuffs were pulled out. Communication wouldn’t be an option, that was clear no matter what the obnoxious blue hedgehog said. He should’ve known better. Should’ve expected as much from those associated with GUN. Still, he was disappointed. And confused as to why he was disappointed. A feeling of betrayal seeping into his core and leaving him feeling even more lost than he already was.

So instead, Shadow warned them to leave. Not stand in his way.

They didn’t heed his warning, and he put them in their place. Once again warning them to not follow.

He’s learning very quickly that the blue hedgehog is unreasonable. And impulsive.

And fast.

He chased Shadow on foot, keeping up with ease. One glimpse down told Shadow he didn’t need the aid of air shoes, he was simply that quick. Gifted with natural speed, it seems.

He dodged every shot Shadow took at him, managing to disarm Shadow in the process.

Another few moments later and the hedgehog was curled up and rolling alongside him, dashing against his back tire as they made chase down the busy streets.

It all just made them more similar. More the same.

So why was this hedgehog trying to stop him??

Why was he protecting them??

He must not know what they’re capable of.. that humanity isn’t worth protecting.

They’ve made their beds.

Now they must lie in them.

The climax of the rather aggressive introduction came with the two colliding and creating a energy spike that shook the city into darkness. Both hedgehogs are sent flying backwards, hitting the rooftop of the building below like falling, sparking stars. Shadow grunts at the impact, his head throbbing and his body aching..

He’s never been.. hurt. Not from anything more than needles and experimentation.

But this hurt.

This knocked him dizzy.

But he knew he couldn’t let his guard down with his rival still near, shaking his head to try and regain some composure as he pushes himself up on his feet and looks around to spot the blue hedgehog—

He‘s out cold, curled up in a defensive position with blue sparks flickering through his quills weakly.

Shadow sighs at this, releasing some tension in his throbbing body as he rolls his aching neck and slowly approaches what he assumes is the protector of humanity..

That’s what he was meant to be. Their protector.

No.

Their weapon.

Fear prevented this, though. Steering them to instead rid themselves of him before he became what they considered too powerful.

They’ll do the same to this hedgehog eventually.

He’ll see..

Shadow almost pities him.

Standing over him, he uses the toe of his shoe to lightly nudge him in the side and roll him onto his back. The hedgehog groans but doesn’t awaken.

He’s indeed alive. Resilient, it seems.

Shadow’s eyes shift around them, looking for any signs of the two he had arrived with to be following. They apparently weren’t able to keep up, but they’d be coming soon, he’s sure. If the way the fox and hedgehog reacted to the echidna’s defeat was anything to go off of, they obviously cared for one another..

This also intrigued Shadow..

Were they.. a family..?

Shadow’s glowing red eyes fall back to the hedgehog at his feet, sighing to himself before crouching down to take a knee beside him. He lets his gloved hands cradle blue quills, lifting his head up and resting it in his lap so he can rub and rummage his fingers through them. Searching. Assuming they work similarly to his own in ways or storage.

There’s so much junk in this hedgehog’s head— it’s infuriating.

Eventually, he finds what he’s looking for, pulling out the modified handcuffs the hedgehog had flashed him downtown. Popping them open, he moves to clip one around the hedgehog’s wrist, lifting his arm to the attach the other to a nearby pipe. Once this is done, he moves to carefully lift his adversary up from his lap and prop him against the pipe. He’ll come-to quicker sitting up..

He needs to get moving. Find where he came from. Find whoever released him..

He needs to see where he lost her..

But he hesitates. His eyes skimming over the hedgehog before him..

He does look quite similar. Coloring aside, they have similar noses, similar body types..

Shadow wonders if… maybe he came from wherever Shadow came from..

They have differences, though. Shadow’s eyes are sharp and intimidating.. this hedgehog’s are wide and exciting. Like they can’t be quick and big enough to take in the world around them.

Shadow’s fur is long and unkempt, rugged and course from decades of being in that cryo-tank.

This hedgehog’s looks soft and brushed.. clean and taken care of.

Shadow’s face frowns.

This hedgehog’s smiles.

Shadow is dark.

He is light.

Shadow gives off intimidation and fear.

This hedgehog gives off safety and courage.

In many ways, his spunky and obnoxious attitude makes him think of—

He should go.

Moving to shift closer to the hedgehog, he looms over his sleeping form and whispers into his ear,

“Don’t try to find me.”

It’s not a threat. It’s a warning..

It’s a damn courtesy.

Standing from his crouched position, Shadow turns away from the hedgehog and walks to the edge of the rooftop overlooking the darkened city. He sees orange and red streaks dodging through buildings and down streets in their direction..

His brows furrow a bit, turning to look at the hedgehog one more time. Watching him groan and shift slightly with a pained expression..

No..

They’re not the same.

This hedgehog has someone..

Shadow has nothing.

With a trick of the light and a flicker of energy, Shadow vanishes into the night.

The fox and echidna wake the hedgehog.

Shadow is accompanied only by his demons.

[birdsandbeetlesandmoths]

So. Sonic 3. That was. certainly. hoo boy *collapses to the sound of a metal pipe falling*

Spoilers and thoughts under cut (LONG POST)

Well, my pre-movie post was SO WRONG. I think most stobotnik fans were, thinking that Stone would be the one dying. I- truly wasn’t expecting it.

I’ll get back to that in a second, let me get all of my silly things out of the way/the things i was hype about/had to crush my partner and friend’s hands about while witnessing.

The antics between Gerald and Ivo were expected but oh my GOD JIM CARREY. you are a national treasure, have fun in retirement. we will miss you greatly, but this being your final movie (probably) is a great thing to culminate your absolutely stunning career.

Anyway, their dance sequence was fucking insane, and as much as I was cringing, I was grinning through it too. The fight on the Eclipse cannon was also questionable BUT HOLY FUCK NOW I GET THE PRAYING MANTIS/FLY REFERENCE. (Thank god it wasn’t directly about stone and robotnik but i’m already cooking how i can connect them). Spanking? Also in my Sonic movie. But yeah.

Gerald and Ivo could never be more alike in intellect, but different in morals. Evident through Gerald’s fixation on avenging his daughter with no remorse or thought for whoever will get in the way, throwing away Ivo and the whole of the world as a result). He’s willing to kill himself, but as Shadow says and believes, that isn’t what Maria would have wanted.

I used to not like the Wachowskis. I was already a little unsettled when the first movie released by the fact that characters unrelated to previous Sonic media were being utilized as major plot elements, but during the second and third movies, I began to absolutely love them.

This third movie cemented that love. The father-son relationship between Tom and Sonic specifically. My heart was aching in the first scene at their little campsite, Happy BEarthday, and their heart-to-heart in Sonic’s old cave, talking about Choice (an analysis incoming) and that you always have a choice, and that your lungs (heart) will help you find the right one.

I think this movie might’ve done. One of the best jobs of displaying found family. The sibling relationship between Tails, Knuckles, and Sonic was the most heartrendingly beautiful and achingly real thing I’ve seen in a while. And it really hits you, the fact that they’re kids.

And the amount of silly little jokes, Tails having his gadgetry and Knuckles with his blunt personality, Sonic tying them all together with his wit and charm, it all became slightly surreal to see. To see something so happy, so delicately real.

Oh my god, on the trio, Knuckles saving both Sonic and Tails from falling to Earth. I was gasping that whole time, truly being sent into the moment. Movies and media rarely do that to me in the emotional sense.

AND AS FOR SHADOW AND MARIA

Holy fuck at least I was right about that part in my pre-movie wishes. I thought it was interesting how they adapted it, and it definitely made for it to be slightly more believable and less complicated.

But oh my gosh them. Skating around the lab, messing around together, introducing Shadow to that great 70s music and dancing, watching movies together and just being kids!! And don’t even get me started on the rooftop scene. Shadow was so vulnerable and self-conscious, and Maria comforted him in a way that touched me. Understands him in a way that no one else ever has, as everyone else only saw him as the experiment and the subject, while she saw him as his own person, with thoughts and emotions and curiosities.

It paralleled Sonic and Tom in the cinematography too, and the sentiment was all the same. That Shadow can choose who he wants to be. (I Am All I Am and Choice. Trust, it’s coming soon)

Maria and Shadow made me unbearably happy. It was all I could’ve ever asked for and more.

Shadow and Sonic were an absolutely crazy duo this show. Dude, in their fight versus each other? Both going Super and absolutely going at it, and Shadow having the absolute gall to accuse Sonic of not caring about his friends, that he was clearly here alone because he abandoned them, and mention Tom, which caused Sonic to go completely over the edge, and actually punch him straight into space and lose his Super.

Sonic and Shadow reconciling over their shared feeling of grief, Sonic sharing his pain, emphasizing the love that will be able to help them heal, Shadow reciprocating, and then Shadow remembering Maria after looking up at the stars, realizing, from Sonic’s words, that this truly wasn’t what Maria wanted, just that whole moon scene between them is living in my head rent free and I need to see it over and over again.

HOLYYY SHIT THEY PLAYED LIVE AND LEARN WHEN SUPER SONIC AND SUPER SHADOW TEAMED UP AND BEAT THE EVER LIVING FUCK OUT OF THOSE ROBOTS. Me and my friends were going so fucking insane in that theater.

Shadow remembering Maria (possibly for the last time) as he sacrifices himself to push the Eclipse cannon away from the place that Maria loved. Remembering all of the good moments, the love between them, that is all he wanted if he was going to leave the world for good. (Well, I mean, he’s still alive, but the amnesia route is still optional)

Sonic actually going slightly insane this movie was also very interesting to watch. His absolute- like, his vision went RED when Shadow mentioned Tom. That was what set him OFFFF. His abuse of the Master Emerald and even threatening his own best friends/siblings over this— god the emphasis of choice in this film I want to sob.

Also, yall already KNOW I WAS BALLING ABOUT THE AKIRA SLIDE, SNAPCUBE REFERENCES, AND EVERY TIME SHADOW BREATHED OR MOVED. Literally could not contain myself from absolutely sob-cry-screaming at Shadow and (Keanu did a great job btw) his entire story, his joy with Maria and his pain all after. (His Super form looked fuck beautiful, a new colorful hue every time I saw it)

All in all, Robotniks were hilarious, Maria and Shadow were beautifully tragic and just generally so so SO adorable and loving. I’m so glad that Tails and Knuckles got more serious appreciation and screen time this movie as well, because as much as Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles were sidelined in this movie (to put forth Robotniks and Shadow, understandably so), it still felt more fulfilling and real than in the second movie. Super forms continue to be beautiful onscreen, I would like to collapse and die from hearing ONE OK ROCK and Live and Learn.

AHEM. Now, clearly, I will be making a separate post solely about Stobotnik. Along with the multiple Stone-centric fics burning a hole in my brain and the choice and grief analyses awaiting my attention. Bear with me as I have SO MANY THOUGHTS.

We won. . . but at what cost.

My friends, my partner, you already know. We died and were promptly revived together in that theater.

[sleepypuddding]

Sonic Movie 3 Spoilers under the cut. oh my goddd

what they don't tell you is that Shadow protected Ivo from the blast with the Chaos Emeralds and returned him to Earth safely by the end of the movie. and now Stone & Robotnik & Shadow are a happy family right?

right?

RIGHT????? 🥲🥲

[sunsetsandsunshine]

~ 𝚈'𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠…𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚎𝚊𝚖 𝚑𝚊𝚜 𝚊 𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚛. ~

💙👻🩵👻💙👻🩵

(𝙰𝚛𝚝 𝚋𝚝 𝙶𝚋𝚘𝚢𝟸𝟶𝟷𝟾 𝚘𝚗 𝙳𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚊𝚗𝚝𝙰𝚛𝚝)

̩̩̥͙＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚𝚃𝙸𝙲𝙺𝙻𝙴𝚃𝙾𝙱𝙴𝚁 𝙳𝙰𝚈 𝟷𝟸: 𝙲𝚁𝙾𝚂𝚂𝙾𝚅𝙴𝚁˚*• ̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*＊·̩̩̥͙

𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: 𝙷𝚞𝚛𝚝/𝙲𝚘𝚖𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚝 (𝚕𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑, 𝙸 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚖𝚒𝚜𝚎 💗)

𝚆𝚘𝚛𝚍𝚜: 𝟸,𝟼𝟷𝟾

𝙻𝚎𝚎: 𝙻𝚎𝚘 🐢🩵

𝙻𝚎𝚛: 𝙻𝚎𝚘𝚗 🐢💙

𝚂𝚞𝚖𝚖𝚊𝚛𝚢: 𝙻𝚎𝚘𝚗 𝚊𝚌𝚌𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚙𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚊𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚑𝚒𝚖𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛’𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚊𝚗 𝚊𝚕𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚗𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚍𝚒𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢’𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚕𝚕…𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚢 𝚊𝚜 𝚏𝚞𝚌𝚔. 𝙰𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 (𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝𝚕𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙳𝚘𝚗𝚗𝚒𝚎’𝚜) 𝚏𝚒𝚐𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚊 𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚐𝚎𝚝 𝚑𝚘𝚖𝚎, 𝚜𝚖𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚛 𝙻𝚎𝚘 𝚍𝚛𝚊𝚐𝚜 𝙻𝚎𝚘𝚗 𝚘𝚞𝚝𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎 𝚝𝚘…𝚝𝚊𝚕𝚔.

(𝙰/𝙽: 𝙱𝚞𝚝 𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚒𝚖𝚙𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚕𝚢: 𝙳𝚘𝚗’𝚝 𝚋𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚐𝚞𝚢! 𝚃*𝚌𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙺𝚒𝚗𝚔/𝙽𝚂𝙵𝚆 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚐𝚜 𝙳𝙽𝙸!!!)

𝚆𝚊𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜: 𝚃𝚒𝚌𝚔𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐, 𝚌𝚞𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚐, 𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏-𝚍𝚎𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜, 𝚢𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚊𝚛𝚐𝚞𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚜! 𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚛𝚒𝚜𝚔 ☺️🫶🏾!!

𝙸.𝙸. (𝙸𝙼𝙿𝙾𝚁𝚃𝙰𝙽𝚃 𝙸𝙽𝙵𝙾): 𝚁𝚒𝚜𝚎 = 𝙻𝚎𝚘𝚗, 𝙼𝚞𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝙼𝚊𝚢𝚑𝚎𝚖 = 𝙻𝚎𝚘!!!

＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚𝙻𝚊𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚕𝚘𝚞𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚜𝚎 𝚝𝚠𝚘 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚜𝚞𝚙𝚎𝚛 𝚜𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚢😙🩷🙌🏾˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊·̩̩̥͙

“Yeesh…you have a deeper Raph chasm than Raph himself…” The red eared slider lightly joked as he caught a glimpse of his smaller counterpart. 

The younger counterpart in question didn’t even seem…remotely phased by the remark, looking over the city of NYC like it was going to be his last time doing so. 

But the smaller turtle felt like he was being slightly watched…(which, he in fact was) he then looked up and locked eyes with his older counterpart. “…Huh? W-Were you talking to me?”

“Nope. I was just talking to my imaginary friend Mr. Snoozle— of course I was talking to you.” Leon said sarcastically, raising an eye ridge at the other teen. 

Leo blushed slightly at the elder’s sarcasm, rubbing the back of his neck nervously, “Sorry…I-I was spacing out…I do that a lot.”

“Yeah…no kidding. I’ve been talking to you for the past ten minutes and all I’ve gotten from you were six 'mhm’s', three 'yup’s' and seven 'dang that’s crazy's'.” The older one snorted, “If I didn’t know any better, it seems like you don’t wanna talk to me.”

“No! I-It’s not that!” The smaller turtle immediately protested, fiddling nervously with his fingers as he gazed at the streets of NYC once more. 

Which…was really the only thing he could do right at this moment. 

Besides…the city always looked so…pretty in the evenings. 

Well, if there wasn’t crime happening…

…Which was, like, a good 40-50% of the time but still.

“So…what is it, then? Why did you take me to a random rooftop in the smack middle of NY? 'Cuz, no offense…but I was having a nice first place winning streak in Fashion Famous before all of this.” The taller turtle said.

The honey brown teen raised a doubtful brow, “…You play Fashion Famous?”

“Psh…who doesn’t?” Leon scoffed, “But that’s a question worth discussing for another day…” He said as he leaned his shell against the rooftop guardrail as he looked up at the afternoon soon to turn to evening sky, “So tell me..what’s going on, dude?”

“…I…I needed to talk to you…” Leo mumbled. 

“I…can see that.” The elder giggled, “But, what did you wanna talk about?”

The younger fiddled with his fingers nervously again, picking at his thumb’s hang nail slightly as he avoided the other’s gaze entirely now, “…How…H-How do I become a good leader…?” 

Leon blinked in confusion, darting his eyes around the rooftop looking for someone else before letting out a humorless laugh, “Uhuh…whahahat?”

“I-I said…how do I become a good leader…?” Leo repeated, a bit quieter this time.

“…You’re asking me that?” The slider asked incrediously.

“Yes…!” Leo emphasized, getting off of the rail to look at the taller turtle, “How do I—”

“U-Uh…this is…flattering and all, b-but I reheally think you should talk to my Raph about…that.” The red eared slider interrupted, rubbing his arm anxiously and tensing up a bit as the other mutant looked at him with confusion and distraught.

“What? Why!?” Leo asked, getting up from the ledge to look fully at his older counterpart.

“Well, I’m not the oldest turtle in the family like you. I’m the second youngest. Raphalla has more experience, more wisdom and aaaaall that good stuff.” The lime green eyed turtle said as he grimaced awkwardly, picking at a hangnail as well.

Great minds think alike, I suppose…

The honey brown eyed mutant blinked, “I…so? Your still the leader of your team—“

“Welp…this conversation has been fun but I gotta go—”

“But—”

“I have a toooooon of stuff to do now that I think about it…”

“B-But I—”

“And besides, I’m sure your leadership skills aren’t as bad as you think they are—”

“PLEASE!!” The younger shouted as the older tried to leave, making the other flinch slightly at the sudden and random yell, “…Please. J-Just a small piece of advice! A-A hint…! Anything!” 

The taller mutant sighed inwardly, turning around as he crossed his arms— not in a malicious way…but it was really the only form of body langauge he could do at the moment other than picking more at his skin…

…Which, he promised Donnie he would try to stop doing…

“…Why do you want my input so bad…?” The lime green eyed teen asked, mentally cringing at how weak and fragile he sounded.

“I…I don’t know.” The younger mumbled quietly as he sat down against the ledge on the building, hugging his knees to his chest, “I just…figured you would know some stuff…”

“Some…stuff?” The other pressed.

Leo rolled his eyes, “You know what I’m taking about; being a good leader and all that shit!” 

“Pfft— HAH! Trust me, dude…I’m just as lost as you are with this whole 'being a good leader' thing.” Leon chuckled, sitting down next to his counterpart.

“…What are you talking about?” 

“I just became a leader, like…two-ish weeks ago? I dunno…the past weeks have been a complete blur.” The red eared slider explained, holding in an amused snort as he saw how genuinely shocked the other turtle was by his new lore drop. 

“My Raph was originally the leader of the team but after my family defeated the Shredder…my Dad was just all like: 'Blue, you’re the new leader now' and the rest was history…” 

“…Just like that?” The honey brown eyed teenager asked in pure surprise. 

“Just like that.” Leon confirmed. 

“Well, fuck me, then…” The smaller teen grumbled in defeat, burying his face in his knees as the other let out the amused snort he’s been holding in, “I’m good, thanks.” 

“You know that’s not what I meant.” The younger grumbled at the older’s immaturity. 

…He needs to make a mental note to himself to never let his own Mikey and Leon be in the same room with one another…

“I personally think you have nothing to worry about, though. You seem like you’re doing a pretty good job—” Leon tried to say. 

“But I’m not!” Leo exclaimed as he interrupted the older, mentally punching himself for making a loud outburst again, “I-I’m…not…”

“My brother’s don’t listen to me.” The smaller teen explained, his voice either demonstrating frustration or self-depreciation…

…Leon couldn’t tell.

“They always assume I want to be bossy or I want to be controlling but in reality I just wanna protect them!” The honey brown eyed turtle seethed, “I-I just want to be there for them a-and help!!! I knowthat we’re all the same age and I guess it seems like I’m babying them but I kinda have to because they aren’t responsible! They wouldn’t know responsibility if it walked up to them and punched them straight in the face!!”

The lime green eyed mutant rubbed his arm, tapping his fingers on his knees to try and calm himself down; getting overwhelmed was not a good look on him. 

Plus, it clashed with his autumn shade. 

“…Just, uh…trust yourself…?” The elder tried. 

“But I don’t!” The younger shouted, “I’ve tried and tried and tried to lead but they just. don’t. listen! I-I can’t lead people who don’t want to be lead!” 

“…Your Dad picked you to be the leader for a reason—”

“Well I don’t even know what that damn reason is! ” Leo seethed, burying his face into his arms, “My brother’s want Raph to lead…they don’t want…me. They want someone collective and strong and dependent as their leader; someone who they can be relient on…s-someone who they can trust…”

The smaller mutant let out a wet scoff, looking to the side of himself, “…I’m none of those things…” 

Almost on cue to the emotional moment, Leon slapped his younger counterpart upside on the head…hard. 

Leo let out a small squawk, rubbing the back of his head as he glared at the other. 

“What the freaking hell was that for?!” Leo seethed. 

“For saying a bunch of dumb shit!” The older seethed back, “Y'know that’s my job, right?” He said as he crossed his arms, glancing straight ahead as he saw the sun peeking out from behind a building….

…It was honestly giving the Attack on Titan intro and Leo wasn’t complaining one bit.

“Look…I’m not going to lie to you; being the leader isn’t easy.” The lime green eyed teen exclaimed knowingly. 

“Gee, I wonder what gave you that idea.” The other grumbled under his breath. 

“Just let me cook!”

“Well, right now you’re burning.”

Leon just rolled his eyes at the smaller’s sassy remark, continuing, “I get it, okay…? Being the leader is…challenging. Especially when you know the people your supposed to be leading don’t…want your leadership— or at the very least aren’t used to it.”

The lime green eyed teenager got up, brushing his legs off as he looked over the building’s rail, seeming like he was…trying to remember something, “It’s…a lot. Your still a kid but you’re literally forced to manage all of these responsibilities and high expectations everyone has for you…”

The older sighed, playing with his mask tails as he glanced at the ground, wishing it had an answer to his and Leo’s predicament, “A-And you don’t…you don’t know what those expectations are…” 

The taller mutant sighed, looking back at his younger counterpart, “But you just…gotta keep going…y’know? Your Dad picked you to be leader for a reason, I’m sure.” Leon assured. 

“But my brother’s—”

“'Want Raph?'” The red eared slider said, “Wehell, you aren’t Raph, now are you?”

“…no.”

“Exactly. So stop trying to compare. You’re Leonardo. Lead how Leonardo would lead.” The elder smiled softly.

God, he sounded so freaking…wise right now!!!

“But…I don’t know how Leonardo leads…that’s why I’m asking you…!!” The younger said. 

Leon snorted, “You gotta figure it out, then! Only you can determine how Leonardo leads. Yes…we’re both Leo’s in a sense but we’re different people…you feel me?”

“I…I-I feel you.” The honey brown eyed teen nodded slightly, “I just…I just don’t wanna mess anything up, I guess…”

“Hate to break it to you…but you 100% will. That’s the great thing about being, well…you. I don’t need to be an alternate version of you to know you fuck things up constantly.” The older Leonardo joked lightly, his soft smile turning to a smug grin as he saw how appalled his younger self got at the comment. 

“And you’re going to fuck up a lot of things when you’re leading your brothers…I’d be lying if I said you wouldn’t. But…overtime you’ll get better…you won’t be perfect…but you’ll get better.” The elder announced, looking over his shoulder to lock eye’s with Leo, “And sooner or later your younger brother’s will learn to trust you to lead them…but you have to trust yourself first.” 

Leo’s eyes widened slightly, looking back at his older self with nothing but…respect and compassionnow. 

His advice actually made…sense. Which is an actual shock because all the things he usually says is just plain old gibberish. 

“So, you gonna pay me?” Leon asked as he sat back down. 

“Huh?” The younger said as he tilted his head in confusion. 

“I said: Are you gonna pay me?” The older asked again, “Advice doesn’t come for free, y'know.” And in a result to the random question and statement, Leo scratched the side of his head, glancing away nervously, “I mean…I have some Jolly Rancher wrappers in my pocket if you’d like that.” 

The older Leonardo raised an unamused brow, biting back a genuine smile at the younger’s attempted transaction. 

“…I’ll…take that as a maybe…?” The shorter mutant quietly guessed. 

“I’ll pass…but I appreciate the offer.” The red eared slider laughed, wrapping his younger counterpart in a hug as he rested his hand on his side, squeezing it comfortingly, “With you and me as our brother’s leaders…there’s absolutely nothing we can’t solve!” 

The older mutant faltered, scratching his chin in sudden realization, “Besides girls…I still haven’t decoded them yet.” 

Leo randomly let out a laugh at the joke, shaking his head as a couple snorts and squeals followed. 

The older Leo raised an amused brow, chuckling lightly at the other’s giggle fit, “Ohoookay…it was never that fuhunny.” 

“Ihi nehehever sahaid ihat— snrt! Yohour hahahand!!!” The younger Leonardo squeaked, holding the other’s wrists loosely. “Oh.” The lime green eyed teenager hummed, his amused eyeridge raise now becoming…smug, “You don’t happen to be…ticklish, do you?” 

The smaller mutant gulped as his counterpart muttered out…the word; and so casually too?!

“N-Noho! N-Nohoh I’m nohot!” The honey brown eyed turtle squeaked out despretley, letting out a city-wide squeal as Leon pinched his hips with his free hand whilst still trapping/wrapping him in a hug. “Really? Well, last I checked, people who 'aren’t ticklish' don’t usually squeal when their hips are squeezed, bud.”  

“Ihihat’s— snrt! Juhuhust stahap!!” 

“If my memory serves me correctly, you said you 'weren’t ticklish', right?” The elder said as he wiggled his free hand near the other’s stomach. 

Which, in fact, was enough to keep the other boy completely howling with laughter. 

Leo screamed, twisting and turning to try and steer away from the tortuous fingers, “N-NohO nohOHO snrt WAHAIT-!!!” 

“Soooo…you obviously don’t mind this, right?” Leon smirked as he used his left hand to scribble around the smaller turtle’s tummy while his right hand wrapped around his shell and tickled his underarm. “IHI MIHIHIND! IHI snrt MIHIHIND snrt AHA LAHAHAT!” The younger mutant squeaked out in panic, flailing and shouting about. 

“But why~? You’re obviously not ticklish.” The red eared slider shrugged casually. 

“IHI SNRT SNRT AHAM!!” The smaller mutant suddenly confessed, pushing on the taller’s chest, “IHI AHAM SNRT  IHIHI AHAM SNRT SNRT IHI SNRT AHAHAM!!” 

“Oh! So…you lied to me?” The older mutant questioned as he clamped Leo’s thigh repetitively.

The complete audacity of this kid…

It was impressive, honestly…

Leo hiccuped, burying his head in the elder’s shoulder, “NOHO! IHI— snrt! GYAHAHA PLEHEHEASE!!” 

“Noho! You lied to me, you little twerp! Ugh…the betrayal! And here I thought we were having a nice little bonding moment!” The red eared slider cried dramatically as he stuffed his hands in Leo’s underarms.

The younger Leonardo loudly squawked, snorting up a storm as the elder continued to relentlessly tickle him to pieces, “L-LEHEEEEEEEHEON!!”

“Hm~? Yeah~? What is it, bud?”

“PLEHEHEASE!! NAHAT SNRT SNRT THAHAT!!!” The honey brown eyed mutant squealed, his yell bouncing off the walls of the buildings of New York. “Why~? Is it your tickle spot~? Your tickle tickletickle spot~? 'Cuz your tickle tickle ticklish~?”

“SHUHUT UHUHUP!!” The smaller turtle howled as Leon scribbled his nails along the other’s plastron patterns, “OHO MY GAHASH YOHOUR SOOHOH MEAN!!!”

“Mean?” The lime green eyed teenager repeated innocently, “I’m not mean~! I’m just asking you a couple questions.” 

“I-IHIHI CAHANT SNRT SNRT SNRT BREATHE!!” 

“That sounds like a yohou problem, but hey! That’s just me…” 

“OKAHAY!!!” The younger wheezed, happy tears pricking out of his eyes; awaiting to fall, “STOHOP! STOHOHAP!!” 

“Stopping stopping…” The elder teenager giggled, doing as he promised and stopping. He wrapped his younger counterpart in a hug, letting the shorter turtle snort and snicker in his shoulder once more, “You got this…okay?” He assured. 

“W-Whahat…? Whahat snrt snrt doohoo I snrt hahahave??” Leo questioned through his giddy laughs which Leon couldn’t help but huff fondly to, “The…Thehe leading thing, dude. You got it, okay? Just remember what I said and you’ll be fine.” 

“I dohon’t eheheven remember whahat yohou said toohoo beehee honest..” 

“I can tickle you again to help you remember—“

“N-NONOHO IHIHI’M GOOD!” Leo emphasized, hugging his middles and burying his head into Leon’s shoulder deeper. The elder just hugged him tighter, resting his cheek on the top of the younger’s head.

The two didn’t know a thing when it came to leading…

But they were going to try…they were going to try leading…

…Because that’s really all anyone could ask for…

Their best. 

·̩̩̥͙＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚𝙵𝙸𝙽˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊·̩̩̥͙ 

(𝙿.𝚂.: 𝙸𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚎𝚗𝚓𝚘𝚢𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚏𝚒𝚌, 𝚙𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚐!!!)

[myymi]

i love letting them be domestic

[lixel-5]

sonic 3 spoilers

even though i was obsessed with symbrock for 2 years and got me on ao3, i think robotnik’s death hurt me more than venom’s….

[lazypanartist]

Ivo Robotnik isn't used to closeness. Whether that be from his upbringing, his personality, or the nature of his job, he tends not to form lasting connections.

All of this to say, he's not entirely sure what to do when he wakes up one morning, still at his desk, a blanket now draped across his shoulders like some overbearing mother - in his eyes - had decided his conditions were too harsh for his "frail body".

None of his underlings mentioned it. Nobody acted suspicious, and nothing was ever said of the incident.

The first incident, of many.

Several lower-level assistants, come and gone. Some higher lever, as well. Very few consistent figures in his ever-changing staff with clearance high enough to enter his personal office, with a blanket, and enough time or tact to keep the door and their mouth both shut.

He takes it on like any other mission of his, with a small caveat - he refuses to check the security footage or logins to his office. He wants a challenge, not merely a victory.

Every night he passes out at his desk, every morning he wakes up with a small gesture of kindness from one of his underlings, and every morning he goes through any other inconsistencies in his office. Moved papers, books, fingerprints.

All leads come up empty. His perpetrator is smart enough to use gloves, and the only change besides the blanket seems to be his goggles resting next to his face instead of smushed into his forehead.

He chooses not to confide in Stone - his personal assistant, one of many over the years. Nobody received special treatment, nobody was exempt from scrutiny in his personal little investigation.

From job to job he went, waking up with his small token of kindness around his shoulders, a smaller and smaller pool of suspects until he has the overlapping employees narrowed down to two.

His realization only comes with the introduction of Green Hills. Of course, he has a small team, and only one of his two suspects is accompanying him.

And when he wakes up the night after tracking down Wade, blanket over his shoulders and Stone already at work in the lab, he knows he made the right choice in hiring the man, the sycophant - the only human he feels any sort of connection to.

[astramachina]

You will never guess what just dropped on AO3.

I hope you like some classic lovecraftian horror with your stobotnik.

[xx-just-a-demon-xx]

i think the badniks deserve all the love and affection there is in the world actually

[guardian-of-da-gay]

Family Ties

Read it on Ao3

Tails slid the rental skates off his feet.  They were just a bit too small.  He’d have to ask Mom to get another pair.  That was probably okay, though.  She had said to let her know if the size was wrong.  It wouldn’t annoy her if it wasn’t.  Probably.

He looked up and watched as she handed Knuckles his own pair of skates.  Tails noticed right away that the skates had laces.  Knuckles looked at them and Tails could practically hear him thinking ‘what am I supposed to do with these?’  He looked between her and the skates and back, but she was sitting down and pulling on her own.

Knuckles looked out at the rest of the skaters and Tails did too. There were only a few other families (who were obviously trying not to stare at them), but as far as Tails could see, everyone else's skates had laces.  But there must’ve been non-lace shoes, right?  Mom had just accidentally gotten the wrong kind for Knuckles too.

Tails watched closely.  If Knuckles pointed out the mistake, he could probably tack on that he needed different skates as well.  He felt more comfortable with that.  Knuckles opened his mouth to say something when–

“Sonic, wait!  You have to switch your shoes first!”  Mom got up and hobbled off wearing only one skate.

“I wanna see if I can run in place on the ice!”

“I think you’re just as likely to run right into the side of the rink.” Dad steered Sonic away from the ice.

“Aw, come on.  Just one lap?  I’ll go so fast they won’t even see me–”

It looked like this was going to wind up being a debate, Tails thought.

Knuckles watched them, fiddling with one of his backpack straps.  That had been a debate too.  Mom was worried if he carried the Master Emerald out on the ice he’d fall and hurt himself landing on it.  Knuckles refused to leave it behind or even far out of sight.  In the end, she’d allowed him to carry it in a backpack in exchange for him giving in to their other debate: whether or not he should wear a coat.  (Tails didn’t mind having to wear his own jacket and scarf though, it was chilly here and he didn’t have his winter fur yet.)

Knuckles glanced his way.  He watched as Knuckles’ eyes slid down to the skates in Tails’ hand.  At least they were in this together.  Maybe they could solve the problem together too.

Tails hopped down from the chair, sliding his shoes back on.  “Um… I’m going to get some different skates,” he said before he could overthink it.  “Do you want me to ask for snap shoes for you?”

Knuckles scowled and stood.  “I can ask myself,” he grumbled.

But Knuckles let Tails lead the way from the stands back up to the rental counter.  Which was weird.  Usually it was Tails following as Knuckles loudly declared to the cashier: ‘My brother requested NO pickles!’  Instead, Knuckles kept looking around, which made Tails feel like he had to look around too.  One thing he noticed: no one was wearing snap skates.

Tails hated talking to cashiers or… any customer service kind of person.  It made him anxious.  But since Knuckles was being weirdly quiet, it was up to him to do the talking.

“E-excuse me,” he asked, standing on his tip-toes to see over the counter edge.  “Can we swap lace skates for some snap skates?  And switch sizes?”  He set his skates on the counter.  He hoped that was okay.

Humans always either acted like Tails was some weirdo freak… or that he was really cute.  The guy behind the counter smiled real wide and Tails knew that here it was the latter.

The clerk leaned over the edge of the counter so Tails could step back and didn’t have to stand on his toes.  “Hey, little guy!”  He said in a candy-sweet voice.  “You said you want ‘snap skates’?  What’re those?”

“Oh, um… you know… like snap shoes?”

The clerk looked confused.

“Um… button shoes?  They’ve got little magnets in them?”

Now he looked even more confused.  Tails hadn’t expected this.  He glanced back at Knuckles.

“I think they do not have any,” Knuckles said.  “It is alright.”

Tails wrung his hands, his tails twisting around each other.  That wasn’t right… Knuckles never gave up when Tails said he’d just wipe off the pickle juice.  Tails couldn’t give up now!  He turned back to the clerk.  “Aren’t there any skates without laces?”

“Oh, like velcro?  Sure, little guy.  What size do you need?”

Both of them perked up at that.  Tails looked excitedly back at Knuckles.  His big brother stepped forward, holding up his laced skates.  “I require an adult human male’s ‘size twelve’.”

“Oh.”  The clerk leaned back and looked at Knuckles in surprise.  He wasn’t giving him the ‘I think you’re a freak’ look, but he definitely didn’t think Knuckles was cute either.  “Uh… sorry, man, we only have velcro skates in kid sizes.”

Knuckles’ shoulders slumped along with Tails’.  “Um… you don’t have any other kinds of no-lace shoes?”  Tails asked.

Knuckles had already turned and walked away before the clerk could finish apologizing again.  Tails wavered between following and staying to mind his manners and thank the man before he remembered he needed to switch his own skates.  As soon as he had the new size he hurried back to the stands, feeling extra aware of all the strangers glancing his way.

Knuckles was sitting with the family again, his skates on the floor beside him.  He watched Mom watch Sonic tie his skates.  “Remember to get them good and tight,” she said.  “It’ll hurt your ankles if they’re loose.  And tuck the extra string into the lower straps–yeah, like that–that way you won’t accidentally trip on them!”

“Yeah, yeah, I got it Mom.”

Dad looked up from tying his own laces and saw Tails standing there holding his skates.  “You need help, bud?”

“Oh!  No, I’m okay.”  Tails hopped up to sit next to Knuckles and pulled off his shoes.

He thought Knuckles would ask for help.  Or… more likely Mom or Dad would offer.  But Knuckles didn’t say anything and–

“Last one on the ice is a rotten egg–and it’s even a fair fight ‘cause I cannot run in these things!”  Sonic yelled.

“Hang on, let me put my purse in our locker.”

“Should we put our shoes in there?”  Dad asked.

“Oh yeah!”  Sonic said.  “I was just hearing on the news about this ‘Stinky Shoe Bandit’!  Better be careful, Dad!”

“I doubt anyone is going to steal anybody’s shoes.  And even if they do, we can always buy new shoes!  But my wallet is definitely getting put away.”  Mom hobbled off toward the lockers and Dad hurried to follow Sonic.

Nobody remembered to check on Knuckles.

Tails stared down at his socked feet and the skates with their long, skinny laces.  He realized with mounting dread that he might need to offer Knuckles help.  Knuckles!  He was good at pretty much everything… except anything to do with technology.  But other than that, he could do anything!  Except… he couldn’t tie laces. 

But some species just weren’t built for stuff like that!  Their fingers were too short or their claws too long or they had webbed fingers or… whatever!  The point was it happened plenty on other planets and there were usually other options available.  Apparently not here though.  Here, it looked like it wasn’t something people really thought about.  Maybe that was why Knuckles was being so quiet… across the galaxy, people would look at his mitts and his snap shoes and know.

Here Knuckles had to admit he needed help.  And he never needed help.  He was the one who gave help.  That’s probably why Mom and Dad hadn’t thought to offer… and why he wasn’t asking now.  And why he’d probably just get annoyed with Tails if he tried to help.

His conflicted thoughts must have shown on his face.  “What is wrong?”  Knuckles asked.

Tails looked up in surprise.  “Uh…”  A perfect lie suddenly hit him.  “I need help!”

Knuckles perked up.  Always ready to assist.

That thought had Tails plucking up his courage.  “Tying these skates is kind of tricky…” he said.  “Could I practice with you first?”

“Oh.”  Knuckles frowned slightly.  Tails could see the gears turning in his head.  Was tying skate laces really that much different from shoelaces?  After a second, Knuckles shrugged.  He didn’t know enough about tying laces to call Tails’ bluff.  “You may practice on me,” he said.

Tails hopped down from his seat, breathing a subtle sigh of relief.  Knuckles snapped the magnetic tops off his shoes and pushed them aside with his foot.  Then pulled on his skates.  Once they were on his feet, he stopped and looked up at Tails.

“L-leave it to me!”  Tails replied, standing up straight and proud before he knelt down and got to work cinching the laces.

He pulled the strings tight around Knuckles’ ankles just like Mom had said.  “How’s that feel?” He asked.  “Too tight?  Too loose?”

Knuckles rolled his ankle a little.  “It is sufficient,” he said.

Tails got back to it.  It was a little weird tying shoelaces from this side of the shoe.  Plus Knuckles was watching him like a hawk the whole time.  Tails had to restart once, which probably helped sell his lie that he needed practice.  He managed to get the first skate tied before there was a loud thump! on the dasher boards across from their seats.

“Wait, Knuckles, is Tails tying your shoelaces for you?”  Sonic cried as his face popped over the top of the boards.  “Oh my god… can you not tie your shoes?!”

Knuckles’ quills bristled.  “Of course, I can!”  He said too quickly and too loud.  He was such a bad liar.

“Wait, what?”  Dad asked as he came up behind Sonic.

“It is nothing,” Knuckles said at the same time as Sonic announced:

“Knuckles can’t tie his shoes!”

“He can’t?”  Oh dear, Mom was back too.

Knuckles crossed his arms with a huff.

“You can speak like a billion languages but you can’t tie your shoelaces?”

Knuckles gave Sonic a dirty look, but before he could say anything, Tails piped up:  “That’s not nice, Sonic!”

He immediately wilted as his whole family looked at him in surprise.  Oh gosh… he’d scolded Sonic!  He’d just been so surprised that Sonic would tease Knuckles about something he couldn’t change… But of course now he thought about it, Sonic grew up around humans.  He probably thought it was a ‘knowing’ issue and not a mechanical one.

Ears folded against his head he dedicated his full attention to tying Knuckles’ laces as quickly as possible.  If he’d looked up he would’ve seen the very pointed look Mom was giving Sonic.

“Uh… okay, point taken.  Um.  Sorry, Knux?”

Knuckles just let out a grunt.  He was done with this conversation.  But Mom wasn’t just yet:

“I’m sorry too, honey.  I should’ve checked if you needed any help.”

“I don’t need help,” Knuckles said.  “Tails was only practicing his lace-tying skills on me.”

“So… Do you know how to tie laces?”  Sonic asked.

“Do you know how to shut up?”

“Okay, neither of you two talk to each other until Tails has his skates on,” Mom declared.

Oh gosh… Tails wasn’t sure if that put pressure on him to go fast or slow.  He tied them quickly, just in case.

“Fine!”  Sonic huffed and disappeared over the boards once more.

“Fine,” Knuckles grumbled.  He stood from the chair.  And nearly fell over.

“Oh, careful!”  Mom sounded like she was trying not to laugh as she grabbed his arm and helped him stand upright.

“These are hard to walk in!”

“Yeah, they’re not really built for walking in, but they’re perfect once you’re on the ice!”  Mom knelt and checked the lacing on Knuckles’ shoes.

“Good job, bud,” she said to Tails.  She checked Tails’ laces too.  With her back to Knuckles she met Tails’ eye and whispered.  “Thanks for looking out for your brother.”

Tails flushed under his fur.

“What was that?”  Knuckles demanded.

“I said maybe when we get home, we can all practice tying laces together?”

Knuckles frowned.  “No, thank you,” he said.  He didn’t elaborate further, just crossed his arms over his chest and looked at Tails expectantly.

Tails’ eyes flicked between Knuckles and Mom and back.

He didn’t say that Knuckles should explain a bit more to Mom, but he definitely thought it.  Knuckles must have picked up on it; his expression shifted into a scowl.  When he turned back to Mom his mouth was twisted into a grimace.  He held up a mitt.  “These are not really built for tying shoelaces… But they are perfect for punching!  Also digging!  And swimming and climbing too!”  He bumped his fist over his puffed up chest.

“Okay…”  Mom said.  She looked down at Knuckles’ gloves and then her eyes slid to his discarded shoes.

Knuckles must have felt like he’d sufficiently proven echidna capability, because he wibble-wobble-walked off to the gap in the boards with his head held high.

Tails glanced back at Mom and saw her picking up Knuckles’ snap shoes curiously.

“Um… Are you coming, too?”

“Oh, yes. You go on ahead.  I’ll be right there.”

There was a bit of a clog at the rink entrance.  Sonic was taking a little bit of extra time figuring out skating.  He clung to the railing while Dad ran through the basics. Knuckles stood at the threshold, listening in.  Tails came beside him and realized that he couldn’t reach the railing.  Uh-oh.  Well, that was alright.  He could learn without the figurative training wheels.

Knuckles let out an annoyed hum and Tails instinctively cringed.  Was Knuckles annoyed that they’d been caught by Sonic?  That he had to explain himself to Mom?

“You are too short,” Knuckles said.  He grabbed the edge of the baseboard with one mitt and held out the other.  “Hold on to me.”

“Oh… thanks Knuckles.”  Tails took the offered mitt.  Knuckles’ mitt was practically as big as Tail’s whole torso so his hand looked extra teeny tiny in his older brother’s giant fist.  With Knuckles leading the way, they took their first unsteady steps out onto the ice.  It was nice that Knuckles had offered to help.  Made him feel… the opposite of how being scared of annoying him felt.

“Oh, Tails!”  Tom called from where he was trying to get Sonic to stand right.  “Do you want a bucket?”

“What?”  Tails looked up to see another little kid scooting around the middle of the rink, using a stack of upside-down buckets to keep his balance.  The kid was staring at them of course, but a sharp look from Knuckles made him stop.

Tails appreciated the ingenuity of the bucket but… he looked up at Knuckles who looked equally unimpressed with the technique.  “Um… I’m okay,” he said.

“You sure?”  Tom asked.  “The bucket won’t fall down and take you with it.”

“I will not fall!”  Knuckles said, outraged.

He fell immediately.  Then Sonic laughed so hard that he fell too.  Tails avoided the pile-up only because Knuckles let go of him.

“Alright, we will try this again!”  Knuckles said, determined.  “Hold my tail and I can use my arms for balance.”  He turned and pointed his funny crooked tail in Tail’s direction.

“Uh… won’t that hurt if I fall and pull on it?”

“Of course not!” Knuckles boasted.  “The bend is for little ones learning to walk to hold onto!”

“Really?”  Tom and Sonic asked as one.  Sonic’s skepticism was undercut by the way he was slowly and unintentionally doing the splits against the boards.  Tom rushed to rescue him.

“That is what my father said…” Knuckles trailed off like it’d only just occurred to him that might’ve been just a little kid story.  “Regardless, my tail is very sturdy.  Much stronger than yours.  You can pull all you need.”

The little tip wiggled like it was waving to Tails to go on ahead and grab it.  Tails hesitantly took hold.  It felt like a rock covered in bristles… just like all the rest of his brother’s ‘one million percent muscle’ body.

“Okay, I think I’m ready to try again!”  Sonic said.  He pushed forward, moving along with half his usual grace.  Tom kept close to his side, glancing back at Knuckles and Tails and looking around for Mom.

Knuckles took a few experimental steps forward, dragging Tails after him.  

Tails wobbled and bobbed, his tails whipping this way and that as he tried to keep his balance.  Knuckles glanced back at him over his shoulder and he feared for a moment that he was tugging too much.  “You know, you do fly with your tails.  They must be quite strong!  Have you ever tried lifting weights with them?”

“Oh, um…”  Tails' knees shook as he tried to keep his balance.  “I’ve lifted you while flying, does that count?”

And then Knuckles actually smiled!  Tails was so surprised–he could count on one hand the number of times he’d made Knuckles smile.  Distracted, he stumbled and wobbled, trying to keep his balance while his feet kept moving without him.  Even when he thought for sure he would fall, Knuckles’ tail was completely firm and still.

“Lean forward more,” Knuckles said.  “And bend your knees a bit.”

“What he said,” Dad added.  “It helps if you lower your center of gravity.”

Tails thought his center of gravity was easily the lowest in the whole rink, but he did what they said.  It did help.

Knuckles focused his attention on the ice below them, taking smooth, short steps.  Tails watched his feet and tried to move the same way.  Knuckles’ movements became more confident, but Tails was still unsteady.  He looked up at his big brother’s broad back and watched how his dreads swayed from side to side over the back of his backpack,  purposefully shifting his weight with each step.  Tails mimicked his movements, stepping in time with Knuckles.  Immediately his movements felt smoother.  He was getting the hang of it!

Mom skated up beside them.  Like Dad, she didn’t need to hold the wall at all.

Dad looked over expectantly.

“I put Knuckles’ shoes in our locker.”

“Because of the Stinky Shoe Bandit?”  Sonic asked as he did a funny T-pose shuffle across the ice.

“Because I realized his shoes would be harder to replace if someone decided they wanted to steal shoes–”

“Because they’re so stink–”

“Because they’re special shoes from outer space.”

Knuckles puffed up at that.  “My shoes have received a place of high honor!”

Sonic rolled his eyes so hard he lost his balance and had to cling to the wall.  “That’s literally nothing to brag about,” he said.

Knuckles huffed.  “Well then, how about this?”  He let go of the wall and pushed away, skating around Dad and Sonic and pulling Tails after him.

“Woah!”  Tails cried out in surprise and delight.  He hung on tight, keeping his posture like Dad and Knuckles suggested.  Knuckles was going fast enough to blow his bangs back and Tails tummy flipped whenever his balance shifted too quickly.  But it was fun!  Like flying, but even easier!

When he realized Knuckles wasn’t going to return to grabbing the wall, Tails focused on copying his movements.  It was just like dancing with Sonic–all he had to do was follow his brother's lead!  Halfway around the rink, he had it down.

“What the heck, you hadn’t even heard of ice skating this morning!” Sonic said as the two of them passed him a second time.

“I am a fast learner,”  Knuckles gloated without stopping.

“Tell that to our last two microwaves!”

“I cannot hear you because of how much faster than you I am going!”

The third time they passed Sonic, Tails felt confident enough to slowly let go of Knuckles’ tail.  His older brother looked over his shoulder, slowing as Tails came up beside him.  He wobbled a little, but stayed upright.

“You are a quick learner too!”  Knuckles praised.

Tails flushed under his fur.  “Heh, I um… I had a good teacher.”

There was a loud thumping and scuffing sound and they both looked over and watched as Sonic hurried across the center of the rink, pushing an overturned bucket in front of him.  Halfway through he jumped up and sat on top, letting his momentum carry him.

Knuckles and Tails stopped as Sonic drifted to a halt in front of them.  “I have decided,” he said magnanimously.  “Since you two are both so slow off the ice: I will be a gentleman and let you take the W here.”

Knuckles shot Tails a cocky grin.  “Perhaps I should teach Sonic now too.”

Sonic leaned back on his bucket with a frown.  “How come I can’t tease you about the shoelaces, but you can tease me about ice skating?”

Tails suppressed a wince.  Knuckles probably wouldn’t like the reminder.  But Knuckles must have been having too good a time, because he actually answered: “Because my fingers cannot bend that way, but your feet work just fine.”

“Touche.”

“Also I was not teasing that time.  I thought it might be more helpful to receive training from someone more similarly proportioned to you than Tom.”

“‘Similarly proportioned’,” Sonic repeated.  He looked Knuckles up and down then looked at Tails.  “Okay, maybe between the two of you.”

“Tails can help too!”

“I can?”  Tails didn’t think he was that good yet.

“Yes, you are very good at being a helpful brother!”  Knuckles smiled at him and there was a knowing gleam in his eye.  Maybe Tails’ lie earlier hadn’t been that good after all.  But Knuckles didn’t seem mad at all, he actually seemed appreciative!

“Alright, I’ll allow the both of you to help me.  But first!” Sonic tipped his head to the side and Tails followed his gaze to see Mom and Dad skating along the wall, holding hands while Mom showed something to Dad on her phone.

Sonic shifted on the bucket so he was seated squarely and held out both hands.  “You two can pull me!”

“And that will help you learn?”  Knuckles asked.

“Nope, but if you pull me super fast and let go I’ll go flying and it’ll be awesome!  But we aren’t supposed to do it so that means we can only do it once.”

***

“One more picture!  Sonic demanded as they stepped off the ice.

Tails fumbled after him.  It felt weird walking after skating so long!

“One sec!”  Dad said, pulling his skates off.

Mom had already taken lots of pictures (some very sneakily while the three of them had been goofing off on the ice), but she and Dad seemed to be game for any photo opportunity where Sonic would voluntarily stay still.

Sonic was busying himself taking a bunch of silly selfies with the bucket when Tails noticed Knuckles sitting on the bench behind Dad.  The corners of his mouth slipped down as he looked down at his skates.  He probably couldn’t untie his shoes either.

Mom appeared, kneeling by Knuckles’ feet with a smile.

“Let me help you get those off,” she said.

Knuckles’ expression crumpled into a pout and for a second it looked like he was going to insist on doing it himself.  Mom handed him his snap shoes.  “Also here’s these back from the honored locker.”

“Ah!  My shoes return, victorious!”

“What did they win?”  Mom grabbed one of his skates.

“Most important shoes!”

She laughed, undoing the knot and uncinching the strings in quick, smooth motions.  “Dad and I were thinking about getting some hot cocoa, what do you think?”

“I think that I like cocoa.  And it will help to warm you up.”

“Warm me up?”

“Both of you!  You fuss over us to wear these–” he pulled at his jacket “--over our fur when you have no fur of your own!  I worry, you know.”

Mom beamed.  “Thank you,” she said.  “That’s sweet of you to worry.”  She patted his ankles.  “And you’re right, I could use some warming up!  Get your shoes changed and we’ll go get in line!”

Knuckles looked down to see Mom already had his skates undone.  He looked like he’d hardly realized when she’d done it.  Honestly Tails was impressed, but Mom liked to tell stories about vets needing fast hands so he shouldn’t be surprised.

“Hey Tails!”  Sonic appeared in front of him, pushing the bucket into his hands.  In a second he was behind him, hands under Tails’ arms, and zooming the both of them over to Knuckles.

“One last picture!” Sonic ordered.  “Us and Bucket Buddy!”

“I agree, we should commemorate Sonic’s noble steed.” Knuckles patted the top of the bucket.  “Thank you for throwing Sonic into the wall.”

“I’m pretty sure that was you.  Using your strength when I said not to–”

“I did not!  It must have been Tails.”

“What?!”

“Alright, I’m ready,” Dad said as he pulled out his phone.

Sonic leaned in on one side as Knuckles leaned into the other.  The air was quite cool but Tails felt very cozy with his brothers on either side.

“Smile!”  Dad said.

And Tails did.

[nottheweirdest]

I hit 1k followers on Twitter and as a token of my appreciation and gratitude I'm posting this little movie fic a bit earlier than planned. It's a sequel to Unconditional. I hope you enjoy! 🖤❤️💙

Title: Baby Steps Rating: G Summary: Sonic learns that baby steps apply to more than toddlers learning to walk.

[thedarkrebeldesires]

SONIC 3/STOBOTNIK RELATED PREDICTION!!

So seeing Stone saying "That's dark." And in another scene he's on the ground looking up/parted from the Robotnik's and Shadow as they take off, I'd like to put this thought out...

During the movie (with Gerald in the picture), Stone starts to see that Robotnik is getting too extreme and 'un-Robotnik' in his actions to conquer/control the earth (hence "That's Dark").

Then when it comes to the climax, Stone doesn't want to be part of it, seeing how Robotnik has changed to no longer be the Robotnik he served/worked for (potential love confession😲). Robotnik kicks Stone out as they take off. Stone then finds the Sonic team and aids them in stopping the Robotnik's and Shadow, in hopes to bring back his Ivo

So, yes to the divorce arc (but I'm counting it's temporary and Robotnik realises that by destroying Earth, he loses Stone. Who he left behind).

So... yeah.

[the-fastest-things-alive]

Hey!

This blog is centered around our fic, the Fastest Things Alive, which began as a chat fic and is currently spiraling wildly beyond our control. We each write a group of characters, and have thrown together the games, comics(yes, all three), movies, shows and other various media as it strikes our interest. On this blog you can interact with your favorite characters, ask questions about the fic, and generally just vibe with us!

We try to update the fic around once a month, typically on Sundays, but don't expect a particular date. We aren't that organized.

Here's the first chapter! It's about 2k, and a fairly light read. This thing started as a chatfic... yeah. Yeah.

And the hellspawn! Organzied by who plays who! This list stays consistent with the point the fic is at(currently chapter 15), so minor spoilers ahead.

@ivythesnivy

KnightOfTheWind: Modern/IDW Sonic

ClassicVibes: Classic Sonic

X-tremeEscapist: Sonic X

FutureFrontier: someone help this man

ChaoticEquilibrium: a little shit

AberrantAdventure: I think this one's worse

@vixiyne

VivalaRevolution: Archie Sonic

Youshouldseemeinacrown: A post genesis wave au Scourge, he's so depressed I stg

SpaceCop: Zonic the Zone Cop

MachMeInADenny'sParkingLot: Boom two, electric boogaloo. Don't ask. Or do!

@yourfreindlynighborhoodspycrab

NotGonnaRuleYouCantMakeMe: Underground Sonic

@umbrenshadow

SunshineHog: Sunny(Fleetway Super Sonic, post split)

TheUltimateKnightform: Sir Lancelot(SatBK)

VoidHopper: Void Scourge. Scourge of the void... another post genesis wave Scourge. We're starting a collection.

We also have a discord server! Come chat with us! We're building lore archives and post BtS if y'all are interested!!!

https://discord.gg/4xwAXxyG

And with that, welcome to the mulitversal Sonic chatfic to end all chatfics!

[mirror-to-the-past]

Keeping my saltyness out of the tags outside of spoiler tagging so I don't rain on other people's parades, but oooogh the new Sonic movie did not meet my tentative expectations. That was a Jim Carrey dick stroking fest to an uncomfortable degree. Really didn't want Gerald's character to be done by him for a reason. The lack of attention on Shadow despite it being the Shadow movie was so frustrating, summarized perfectly by Shadow's final scene still being overshadowed by Carrey. I don't think Maria even got the fact that she was disabled mentioned whatsoever? Very strange. I had fun, had some laughs, enjoyed with fellow longtime Sonic dorks that were just as excited to see it as me, but we all went out disappointed. :/