AND we return to everyone's fav bromance

xxxxxxxxx

Not… Every decision Sonic ever made was a stellar one. He could even admit it to himself sometimes, under the right circumstances... Circumstances which he found himself in now. After Sonic parted with Shadow and Amy to find Tails, he had found himself between a rock and a hard place- literally.

Angel Island was a pretty rad place, but it was awfully mountainous, and Sonic had been faced with a decision: get smashed up against a rocky cliff, or run into the water.
He decided the water was softer. Which was both right and wrong. He quickly discovered that when he sped with full force into the oncoming wave.

His plan (He did have one, definitely) was to have shoot right THROUGH the wave and fly out on the top of the water like a flat pebble. The blue hedgehog had held onto this delusion right up until he hit the wave and was promptly swept up and dragged along its chaotic course. He remembered being tossed around, ping-ponging off a few things and the distinct sensation of drowning before the water overcame his senses.

And now he was sopping wet, laying on some rocky surface with waves benignly lapping at his lower body. He ached all over and had barely enough energy to look around… So he didn't.
He simply closed his eyes and let the hot sun beat down on him until he could be motivated to get up

So far this whole Shadow rescue mission was a big bust, he shoulda stayed in his racecar bed this morning.

xxxxxxxxx

The cascade of water felt like it would never end. Tails held on to the column as long as he could, but he still ended up tossed into a giant leafy plant several yards away. When the flood finally drained out, Tails sat up and assessed the situation. He was drenched and dripping, but alive.

What was that strange barrier in the sky? By Tails estimation, it had inhibited the momentum of the falling wave, thereby decreasing the weight of force at impact. And for that much he was thankful. He wanted to know more, but he would have to look into it later. Sonic and Amy were out there somewhere; Tails couldn't sit back knowing they might be hurt, or…Tails clenched his eyes shut and shook the thoughts out.

He took to the air again. In the face of so much green, he hoped he would be able to pick out his blue brother quickly. Sonic…he hated water, maybe more than he hated Dr. Eggman. Tails faltered, and corrected himself: no, that wasn't true. Dr. Eggman was evil, and for a noble person like Sonic there could be nothing more offensive. Even still, it broke his heart to know he wasn't at Sonic's side in his time of need.

And then he saw him, lying dead still in the sand.

It would be an understatement to say Tails was shaken by the sight. He took a nosedive the second he recognized him; and the closer Tails got, the more distraught he became. From the looks of it, Sonic had endured the whole thing. He was beat up. Tails could see that he was sliced in a few places, scraped in others, and wet everywhere. The latter worried Tails the most, because it meant Sonic hadn't moved to shake himself dry. Hadn't moved at all.. Waterworks were ready to spring to his eyes, but Tails held it back. There was still a chance. If anyone could survive that tidal wave, it was Sonic.

The moment he touched down, his legs were already carrying him to Sonic's side.

"Sonic! Oh no," he shouted, dropping beside his best friend. The dirt was soft like mud, "Sonic, tell me you're okay. Say something."

He wished he had never thought to leave. Together, they might have…Tails was on his elbows, as low as he could get to see into Sonic's face.

Sonic had thought he heard the familiar whirring sound of Tails' tails, but still didn't find this a motivating factor to budge. It wasn't until Tails was collapsed beside him, pleading with him, that Sonic let out a pained sigh. He opened his eyes a little, brow furrowed, and pulled a weak cockeyed grin. "-I'm fine, Tails. Just tanning.".

Tails was so happy to see Sonic alive that he laughed at the quip. When Sonic reached for his shoulder, Tails was at the ready, already bent down so Sonic could latch onto him. His friend was not quick to take help unless he had to, so Tails knew Sonic felt as bad as he looked.
Tails, himself, didn't quite understand why he was so bashful about accepting help. Tails felt like he was getting help all the time—in his research, out on the job, and even for small things- like being a good friend. In his experience, the only way to get anywhere was by taking the hand of another.

"Thanks for the save. Lets get away from this puddle, huh? You look like you did just fine." Sonic added at the end with a weary wink.

"I found something to hold on to," confessed Tails, "I tried to warn you as soon as I saw it coming, but something must have intercepted the transmitter. Sorry, Sonic…You'll be okay, won't you?"

"Huh? Oh the walky talky- I lost that thing.. Ng- I lost it before I fought Shadow the first time, Don't worry about it." He said dismissively, holding an open wound on his side. Whatever he ran into had done a number on him. He'd be fine soon enough, but a little rest was needed.

"Yeah I'm okay, Buddy. When have I ever been down for the count?" He said with a sure-fire confidence- it was convincing enough for his friends and it was convincing enough for himself.

Tails was walking at a bit of an angle while trying to keep Sonic upright, and finding it a struggle. His thoughts were beginning to churn. If the bungalow was still standing, they could rest there. Suddenly Tails remembered their third teammate.

"Oh no, Amy! Where is she?"

Sonic he drooped a little. He wasn't really sure what to say, the whole situation was kinda ridiculous.

"Shadow got her before I could. Good thing too, I guess." She probably couldn't have taken the impact of the wave with the same elasticity as he did.

"She wasn't looking so great, Tails- I dunno what Eggman is doing, I don't know what Shadow is doing, but there's something wrong with her and that Faker is doing his best to keep her outta my hands." He said, looking up and hoping that they would find a place to stop soon. If they were headed back to the bungalow, maybe Shadow would return to the scene.

Tails was a bit alarmed to think of Amy out there somewhere, with Shadow and Dr. Eggman. They had thought Shadow changed for the better. Clearly, he hadn't, since he was doing just as much damage as before. And, like Sonic, Tails wondered what either of them would want with Amy. And..she was sick? He didn't quite understand it, but he could guess that some kind of bargain would be involved.

"Did you find Eggman's base?" Sonic cut in suddenly, "We'll crack it open and get Amy lickity split."

"Yeah, his base is just a few miles in. We can go there after we wash up a bit. Well, not like that. You know what I mean, right?"

xxxxxxxxx

Tails could feel Sonic starting to lag, but he didn't say anything. He wondered how much further he would get on his own. There was always the option to fly, but Sonic would protest being carried..He cast a sidelong glance at Sonic, who looked like he was struggling just to keep his eyes open. And that was all the convincing Tails needed.

"Hang on, we'll get there a lot faster if we fly," he said suddenly.

Before the words had finished leaving his mouth, Tails had lifted him into the air and helicoptered away.

"-Hey, come on…" Sonic put up only the slightest fight, feeling a flush of shame dash across his face. He had been thinking about just sitting for a moment and going to get Amy right then. But it seemed that his stalwart friend was having none of that.

"I'm fine! Mhn..."

They set down on the porch of the bungalow and Sonic stepped inside, noticing that the place looked nicer… Cleaner than it had before. The wave must have freshened it up. What was more bizarre was that it looked like a mess of pillows had fallen out of some drawer or closet or something, and had scattered across the floor. They were wet, but festive and cheery.

Sonic, who had decided he did not need help walking into the bungalow, picked a couple of pillows into a corner and flopped over on them with a wince.

"Only a couple minutes, then we'll go take care of-ss… Amy." He said with an edge of insistence in his voice, although his eyes were already closing fast. He had opened his mouth to say something else, but before another utterance could be heard, the blue hedgehog dropped off into an exhausted slumber.