((( I have to credit any and all inspiration on this wonderful Sonuckles yaoi piece- YOU HEARD ME RIGHT! YAOI!- to GameGirl2, whose illustrious talent sparked the idea in my concussed brain. WE LOVE YOU, GAMEGIRL2! THANKYOU!)))

Knuckles: yes! And wonderful illustrious GRAPES!

Sonic: HOLD UP! Yaoi? You mean… Yahweh, right? Like the Hebrew thing….

Shadow:-snickering uncontrollably- she means yaoi… as in…. shonen-ai, as in.. -unruly diabolical laughter-

Sonic: I have a feeling this is going to hurt. -covers his ass with both hands, gulping audibly.-

Knuckles:-wide fanged grin-

Espio:-covers face with hand- Aeyvi, what has become of you?

A: whaaat? I've always been insane and twisted! I'm just finally acting on some of my more outlandish fancies!

Sonic: nesh. We hates her now.

: $#I don't own Sonic and the original idea for this fic was derived from GameGirl2's "Falling for You." All credit to similar words, phrases, sentences, plot structure, or similar happenings are credited to her. She owns them. She does not however own Sonic either. BTW- this is a sub. Not a fic. A sub.#$:

And those of you gai-jins who don't know what yaoi or shonen-ai is, THIS IS A BOY/BOY PAIRING FIC! Matt and that Ron guy, I would suggest you stop reading now. AND ALL YOU CONFORMIST HETEROSEXUAL BASTARDS CAN KISS MY LILY WHITE ASS! RIGHT-DOWN-THA-GROOVE! Kerry supports gay marriages and discourages abortion and the God-awful idiotically stupid war in Iraq! GO KERRY! BUSH IS AN ASSHOLE! YEEEEAAAAHHH!
(written of course before the election. -weeps-)

Chapter 1- The Relevance of Trees

"TAILS! GET YOUR FLUFFY ASS DOWN HERE!" came the annoying shriek of Sonic's perturbed voice.

"He broke it again, didn't he?" Tails grumbled to himself as he gingerly set down one of his works-in-progress. "idiot…."

Tails trudged down to the small basement to find the blue one poking irritably at buttons on the enhanced treadmill Tails had made for him some months ago. It was to hold him over until his more recent development was finished.

"Your stupid 'Faster-cize' doohickey won't start! Why doesn't anything you make ever work?" Sonic berated, slamming a fist on the console of the machine.

"First off, EVERYTHING I make works. Second, I don't think it appreciates being abused." Tails observed, pushing him off the treadmill lightly and examining it.

"Did you read the instructions?"

"Yes, mother." Sonic rolled his eyes.

"Did you press 'Pause Workout'?"

"No."

Tails looked at him with narrowed eyes.

"Did you enter your correct weight in the beginning?"

Sonic grinned guiltily, rubbing the back of his neck. "..yeeeah…."

"Oh, really? So you weigh…" Tails pressed a button. "sixty-four pounds?"

"Right! That's it!"

"I seriously doubt that." He stepped off the thing, sighing. "Telling it you're anorexic won't make it go faster."

"It won't?"

"Just press the 'increase speed' arrow button and you can get it up to about mach four."

"ONLY four?"

"Bye, Sonic." He scaled the metal stairs, closing the door behind him.

Sonic rubbed at his nose, a little embarrassed at his lack of knowledge with technology. He mounted the treadmill once more, entering his correct weight, and pressing the upward-pointing arrow-button until the digital screen read "Mach 7"

"Seven, huh? Tails, you little liar…"

He then pressed the start button.

The sudden velocity of the belt he was standing on caught him by surprise, and his forehead cracked painfully against the console. The machine then flung him with intense speed into a brick wall.

Thunderous little footfalls could be heard coming down the stairs as Tails, fearing the worst, came to investigate the loud noises.

"Sonic! I said mach four!" the child squeaked, shutting off the treadmill. He panted, looking at the discombobulated hedgehog as if he were completely daft.

"Why would I say mach four? Any guesses?"

"…ow?"

"Exactly. Ow. No higher than mach four. Anything higher will override the gradual startup. I hope you've learned your lesson."

"Y'know, sometimes you act exactly like my mom." Sonic wheezed, standing. "I gotta get back in shape though… mach seven used to be no sweat for me…"

"Mach seven used to tire you out, if you remember. It's up there."

"Still…" he rubbed his sore lower back, groaning. "'Buttnick hasn't caused any havoc in at least three months…"

"I know." Tails scratched behind an ear in thought.

"I mean, he could be planning something drastic this time…. I can only imagine…"

"Yeah, I've been brushing up on some of his latest technology myself. I've got three textbooks based entirely on attack robots alone!"

"Tell ya what. I'm gonna take it outside. Let's head for the Great Forest. We could both use a little fresh air…"

"Sounds like a plan. I'll get the Gale fired up."

"That's the little two-person helicoptery thing, right?"

"Dual-seated gyrating elevation module." Tails corrected.

"You're too young to know bigger words than me!" Sonic growled playfully, grabbing the fox in a neck hold and nuggying him- to which he squealed in pain and annoyance.

-o-

He placed his fingers to the damp leaves, one knee bent and one at an angle in Olympic fashion, breathing slowly in concentration.

"On your mark……"

His green eyes narrowed. Gotta get faster…

"Get set….."

His ears flattened to his head. He dug his toes deeper in the topsoil. Gotta get stronger….

"GO!"

He sprung forth in pent up potential energy, feeling flung from his startingpoint like a rubber band. The rapid footfalls on the soft forest floor were the only sound to be heard beneath the green-lit canopy.

This was what he lived for.

Dashing between trees, he pushed his pace, striving faster…. Faster…. He could feel the endorphins rushing, causing his face, chest, and arms to tingle. The cool air whipped through his quills as his mind began to wander….

Knuckles? What? What about him?

He pondered after the reason for the absent scarlet image that had appeared in his mind. Yeah, so? Concentrate, that's not important right now. He's off on his little island with his little emerald and his little duties and his little, pea-sized brain… probably stuffing himself with grapes…. Why does he like grapes so much? Why not chilidogs? Why-

He was cut short as something large and brown came rushing directly at him. He panicked, unable to stop fast enough.

'I so hate inertia…'

A sickening fleshy crack resounded throughout the forest, causing some birds to flee in fright.

Sonic lay on the damp leaves, staring at the branches above, eyes wide with shock, but more so with pain. That was the second time today he had whacked his cranium, but the familiar pain was accompanied by a sharp stabbing sensation in his upper torso and gut.

"Why…?"

Tails came fluttering to the rescue, stopwatch in hand.

"I heard a loud noise and… mmmf!" Tails covered his mouth to refrain from laughing rudely.

"That makes twice today, Sonic."

"Don't remind me. Please."

Tails chuckled lightly, landing and checking him over for serious injuries.

"Are you hurt badly?"

"My pride mostly. I think I broke it." he sat up, hissing a breath through his teeth.

"You probably bruised yourself pretty badly…didn't you see the tree?"

"Boy, that's a stupid question…. Yes, I saw the tree, Tails. I thought I'd run up and give it a hug. I just lost my concentration, that's all. What's my time?"

"Oh, uh, shoot. Forgot to stop it. I don't think you beat it anyway… let's take a break."

"A break? Are you kidding? I'm gonna keep goin'!"

"I wouldn't advise it…. you don't know how hurt you are, you may have a concussion or…"

"Bah, you and your advising!" he rose to his feet, biting back the pain. "Hurt? Moi? That has to be the most-"

An intense dizziness overcame him and his head began to pound with intense migraine. He promptly lurched forward and retched.

"Oh, that's just nasty! How many chilidogs did you EAT?" Tails had to turn away, grimacing.

-o-

'Stupid fucking trees…. They should all die… it's the tree's fault….' Sonic tried to soothe himself by blaming inanimate objects, but it still wouldn't shake the fact that he had done it to himself.

Amy, upon hearing the news, rushed over to see if she might help in any way…. Which only made his condition worse.

"Oh, you poor, poor thing! And your poor noggin! Twice in one day? You must be half dead!" she held him by the cheeks and commenced to kiss his forehead repeatedly. He groaned, feigning nausea and rolled on his side as he was in bed, stuffing a pillow over his head and pulling the sheets over that for good measure.

"Oh… Sonic, there has to be something I can do for you…. Something to distract you from the pain…" she bit a gloved finger, grinning. He silently gagged, feeling bile rise in his throat.

"Ok, now listen closely. This is simple. Go to the kitchen. Bring back a six-pack." He spoke slowly as if communicating to one suffering from Down's syndrome, voice somewhat muffled by pillows and sheets. Amy nodded slowly, confusion creasing her simple features.

"There are six cans. They all say 'Budweiser.' They are conveniently banded together by plastic rings. They are in the refrigerator. Can't miss 'em."

"But… but, Soni-kun…. You're not old enough to drink…"

"Trust me. This calls for it."

"But…"

He sighed angrily, throwing back the covers and swinging his besocked feet over the edge.

"Nevermind. I'll get it myself. Go… find a Barbie to play with or… something… away from here."

She blinked blankly.

"This means leave. Go. Get thee hence. Beat it."

"okaaay…. Seeya later, then…. Hope you feel better…."

After the annoyance had left, he plopped forcefully into a kitchen chair, flicking open a cool can and guzzling its contents. Gawdamn headache… gawdamn bruising…. Mild alcohol wouldn't help this one… no, he needed some honest-to-God liquor. Don't take me wrong, Sonic didn't consider himself a drinking man at only eighteen. Alcohol slows you down. But, and I quote, this calls for it.

"Hey, I was digging around my chem lab and I mixed together some hydrocodine. It's about 760; I think it'll do the trick…" Tails announced as he entered the kitchen holding a plastic prescription bottle.

"What? I didn't know you made pharmaceuticals…."

He rubbed the back of his head modestly. "Well, I do have an uncle in the business and he left his 'cookbook' last time he visited… it's not all that hard…."

"Gimme the gawdamn pills."

Tails blinked a little in surprise, handing him the bottle. He popped one in his mouth and washed it down with the brew.

"You really shouldn't take those with alc… I mean…" he received a glare. "I mean you shouldn't take those on an empty stomach…."

"We got any chilidogs left?"

"You…. you ate them all."

"….. the leftover pizza?"

"That too."

"The frozen chicken?"

"That was Thursday when Mighty came over."

"Gawdamnitalltahell……" he crunched the can in his hand, tossing it over his shoulder and popping open another. At least it was more effective on the empty stomach. He felt a slight buzz coming on, accompanied by the lightheadedness brought on by the codine.

"Grocery run tonight. Did my paycheck show up in the mail?"

"It was only for about a hundred fifty…"

He sighed heavily. "Bastards are about two shakes from laying me off. 'Swhat ya get for working at home… but come on! Who else can write code faster than me? I even did their website!" ((AN- see "Cruel World" for details on Sonic's employment))

The boy only shrugged. Aside from his genius in all things mechanical and a few biological, he hadn't much of a clue on adult life, or money for that matter.

Sonic downed the second can in less than five seconds, crushing it as well and emitting a soft belch.

Just then the phone rang.

"Tails, please."

He picked the cordless from the counter, answering timidly. He was always nervous on the phone.

"S…Sonic's residence…"

There was some garbled speech, all that Sonic could hear. Tails put his hand to the receiver and, with a creased brow, mouthed "It's your boss!"

Sonic gesticulated wildly, indicating something akin to severe injury and a case of the black plague.

"Oh, uh… Sonic's dead…."

The hedgehog's head crashed against the table. He then made hand movements that involved the dismemberment of tails…

"Uhh, I mean… I mean… he's recently been involved in an accident and can't get out of bed…. He's really in a bad way, sir……. Oh, ok. ……uh huh…….. I'll be sure to tell him……… thank you, sir. Have a nice day!"

Tails hung up, quite pleased with his phone skills.

"So? What'd he say?"

The small fox scratched worriedly at the back of his head, hating to be the bearer of bad news.

"You've been let go."

Sonic fell out of his chair.

"Maybe you should just say to hell with it and take a vacation?"

Sonic blinked indifferently from his splayed position on the floor. "A what now?"

"A vacation. Like… oh, I dunno… camping? Remember when we used to go camping every weekend?"

"That was before mom decided to 'cut the apron strings' and make me pay for my own wellbeing."

"So? Camping wouldn't cost a thing…."

He sat up to look at the younger. "Helloo? Supplies?"

Tails shrugged. "Angel Island's nice this time of year… we won't need a tent and food's abundant…"

"I WON'T HEAR ANOTHER WORD OF IT!" Sonic shouted, standing with difficulty and swaying slightly. "There's one big, red, bulky, stupid reason why I'm not going THERE." He paused in lightheaded thought for a moment. "Of course… I haven't been up to visit in awhile…. And…." He grinned. "And he's just the person I wanna see! Tails, you're a genius!" Sonic ruffled the fur on his head as he strode past him.

"I know." Tails beamed, then blinked confusedly. "But… but why do you wanna see him?"

"Tha bastard's got an infamously short fuse."

"Ergo…?" Tails inquired.

"Ergo I show up out of the proverbial blue," he began, searching the living room for his shoes. "ergo he doesn't expect it, ergo he gets annoyed…"

"With a little help, I'm assuming." The youth added, stepping out of the kitchen.

"Ergo he gets pissed off and I have a veritable sparring partner!" Sonic beamed, holding up his most prized possessions: his running shoes.

"In that case…" Tails said, a tinge of regret in his voice. "I'm not involved."

"What?"

"I don't want to cause discord…. I'm somewhat on his good side and I don't want to mar that…."

"So, you're gonna stay here alone?"

"Yeeeaah….." he sighed nervously.

"Suit yourself. Hey, while I'm gone, you can use my last paycheck and get us some actual food for a change…"

Tails frowned, heading for the door. "I don't really consider chilidogs to be actual 'food', per se. I'll go get the Gale ready and give you a lift."

-o-

Far away, at that precise moment, Knuckles was bored to tears. The lackadaisical lull of day to day on the sunbathed island was blessed release compared to days gone by. He remembered the strife he had gone through countless times to retrieve shards of his beloved duty. However, it was days like these he wished to God some wayward villain would stumble upon his island with bad intentions. Strong, hopefully. A bit of a challenge…

He leaned back against the coconut palm just outside his recently-enhanced "hut," (which now more resembled a high-tech "house of the future" since Tails' last visit.) thinking absently whether or not he should go for a "novelties" run. Yes, he left the island on occasion, but only after three months of peace on Robotnick's part. Three months it was…. Funny, Tails used to come over about every three months to work on the energy shield he'd been devising since… hell, he reckoned since he was four. But he hadn't been by in awhile…

Thinking about Tails indubitably brought him to thinking about the blue idiot. How he could consider that nincompoop a friend was beyond him. Friends at least visit from time to time… and they don't bring their electronic farting machine with them when they do. Now that was annoying…..

"It amazes me how he remains so successful." he mused aloud. He talked to himself often, you see, for lack of anyone else. "Hell, it amazes me how he stays alive. That shit-for-brains is so ungodly stupid, it's a world wonder why he doesn't run smack into trees all the time… I bet he does, too…." He smiled to himself at this, chuckled at the thought… WHOOSH! SMACK! 'MY SPLEEN!'

If only, he thought, he could see that. He'd pay fifty bucks to see that. If only Sonic would stop by… break up the boredom around this place…

Be careful what you wish for, my dear Knuckles…..

(((and YAY! We have our first chapter- in accordance with GameGirl2's original story- finished! GameGirl2, I hope this meets with your ultimate satisfaction, and thank you again for the inspiration! I look forward to continuing this! Yes I do!)))

Sonic: I sure as hell don't.

A: shut up. You'll enjoy it. -winks-

Shadow:-laughing his God-willing spiny ass off-

A: Ok, those of you who like yaoi, review! No flames because I flame no one and we are all loved as Buddha's children….

Sonic: hey, isn't he that obnoxiously fat dude….?