Chapter one

Frost: No this isn't another story, this will just be a collection of one shots that I will write when inspired and I will also take requests, just no Slash or romance stuff, not good at those.

Sonic: So now the fans get to give you ideas on how to torture us?

Frost: Yep, and I can't wait to see what they come up with

Shadow: God help us all!

Frost: Oh do shut up. So yeah, this will also sometimes give you all something to read while waiting for me to update my stories, now someone do the thing!

Tails: Frost doesn't own us, Sega does

Blaze: Please review, send in requests and have a nice day

He ran, he didn't care where he was running to he just knew he had to get away from all the shouting, all the eyes that watched him day and night and most of all away from the expectations thrust upon him. Tears welled up in his emerald green eyes and he collapsed to the floor in a sobbing heap. They weren't the painful sobs but the ones that appeared when you've had enough and just want all the emotional pain to go away.
Looking up through his tears, Sonic could see he was in a forest far away from prying eyes. This knowledge calmed him slightly before the weight that he was forced to carry came crashing back down on his young frail shoulders.

He was sick of being the hero, sick of having to be perfect and show no fear. He was sick of not being able to live a normal life and most of all he was sick of the people of the world. They didn't see a poor orphaned boy who was far too young to deal with all of this. They saw a solution to their problems and an easy escape to their troubles. They all put their problems on him and expected him to solve them and if he refused then he was seen as the bad guy, the selfish, ungrateful brat who they believed had everything.
Sonic curled up into a tight ball under a weeping willow tree and just let the silent tears fall as he grieved for a life he lost the right to long ago. He would never get to grow up as a normal child, would never know the care and warmth of a mother's love and would never be free from the people he was sworn to protect.

A bitter laugh rose from his throat at the thought of the people. He had sworn to protect them and now, now they were slowly killing him. How ironic it was. Such a crude twist of fate to have the hero broken by the ones he strived so hard to keep from harm.

"Sonic" the voice was soft and made the boy jump in fright and turn to face the one to have called his name. Standing not two meters away was Knuckles the echidna. The ruby red male stared at his friend with sad eyes. He knew that Sonic was bound to snap at some point, he just didn't think it would be this bad when it did happen.
The child was a mess, eyes red and puffy from crying, tears still leaking from shattered emerald pools and small thin body trembling in either fear, shock or both. He approached slowly knowing that one wrong move and Sonic would bolt like a frightened deer.

"Knuckles…I didn't see you there" Sonic muttered while trying to discretely wipe his tears away. It broke Knuckle's heart to see one so young like this, to see his friend in such a state. He had known that the youngster wore a mask but to see him trying to act like he hadn't just been crying was heart breaking. He wore the mask so people wouldn't see his pain and all the suffering he was going through cause no one would care, they would think he was just an attention seeker.
Moving carefully and slowly Knuckles pulled the still trembling body of his friend into his arms and hugged him close. He felt Sonic tense at the contact but he just gently hushed him and ran a paw through his quills.

"Shhh, it's ok. I understand, I understand" he whispered and it seemed to be just what Sonic needed to hear for he broke down completely, sobbing on his friends shoulder and clutching tightly at his chest not wanting the elder to leave him alone again.

"I tried, I really did try to save those people earlier but…but…" Sonic broke off sobbing as the memories played through his head. A burning building, screams of fear and pain. He had gone in to save them but he could only save three of the ten people before the building collapsed. The people had yelled at him saying he should have been faster because he was a hero. They said he had failed and it was just too much for him so he ran.

"I know little one, I know. Shhh, shhh, just let it out" Knuckles soothed the child who continued to cry and whimper sadly. When he felt that Sonic had calmed enough he turned his head so he was looking right into tearful emerald pools.

"Sonic, it wasn't your fault. You did everything you could so don't ever think or believe what those people said, they're wrong" he said firmly making the teen nod gently in understanding.

"I'm only human" Sonic muttered before closing his eyes and drifting off to sleep in his friends arms, confident that he was safe in his friends arms and that Knuckles wouldn't leave him.
The ruby echidna looked down at the hedgehog and gave a small sigh and continued to run his paw through the limp quills that could cut through steal. He listened to the slow deep breathing of his friend and gave a small sad smile towards the sky.

"Only human"

Frost: So that's the first one, now I know Sonic is technically not a human but who cares, it's Fanfiction

Sonic: My hatred towards you grows with every story you make

Frost: Love ya to Sonic!

Knuckles: Please review and send in your requests