I Fucking Hate You (affectionate)

I fucking hate you (affectionate)

Something Borrowed, Something Kept

A/N: I'm still working on finishing my next chapter of "When the World Breaks," so for now, have a little drabble I wrote I while back as a little something for Tails's birthday <3 Happy Birthday, Tails! This takes place between Chemical Plant Zone and Aquatic Ruin Zone in Sonic 2.

Sonic finally found a clothing closet in the city near the chemical plant. While he’d managed to coax Tails into the now defunct factory thanks to the lack of organic persons, the city had taken a level of patience Sonic wasn’t yet equipped with. So far food seemed to motivate the kid, though Sonic had to admit he had certain feelings about convincing him to do things by promising extra snacks. Having to “be good” to justify being fed wasn’t something he was about. As long as he had the means of getting them both some food, he was going to make sure Tails had enough to eat and he didn’t want him to ever doubt that.

Tails stuck close as Sonic rummaged through the children’s selection of clothes. It was a free service, run exclusively by volunteers, so it wasn’t always as quick and easy to find things Sonic was in the market for. This clothing closet at least tried to organize the mobian clothes by animal, but it was still tedious picking through the different sizes. Sonic grabbed himself a newer pair of sneakers with decent treads first. He didn’t need a new coat this winter, he’d purposefully picked one he could grow into last year and it was just starting to fit properly, if still a little long in the torso. 

Then he could focus on finding stuff for his little tagalong. He took the shoe that seemed to fit Tails’s foot better—one was clearly too small, and it was good he used his tails to keep up because Sonic could only imagine the blisters he’d get if he had to run with it—and used it as a reference to figure out what his size was. Tails padded after him in his socks, occasionally ducking under clothes racks. The first time he did it, Sonic immediately parted the garments to arch a brow at him. Tails squeaked and scampered out, immediately diving into the center of another rack. Sonic stared after him for a beat, then it clicked.

He wanted to play.

After that, he’d stroll past the racks, whistling to himself and casually scanning the donation center in search of Tails. His twin fox tails were always poking out, so he never truly lost sight of him, and they wagged happily every time Sonic got closer. He’d lull him into a false sense of security, let him think he’d escaped detection, then he’d zip back and throw open the clothes like a curtain, his devious grin making the little guy gasp with delight before scurrying off again.

It made the shopping take longer than it needed to, but it was kinda fun seeing Tails act like an actual kid. 

Of course, acting like an actual kid also meant trying on the clothes was an actual nightmare. The shoes weren’t so bad, Tails wasn’t bad at trying shoes on. He found and got immediately attached to a pair of red and white sneakers that didn’t look so different from the pair Sonic picked out. They were a little big for him, but that’d be fine. He could grow into them, like the borrowed gloves Sonic was letting him wear. They’d just find a way to secure them around his ankles so they wouldn’t fall off.

Since picking out shoes had been a snap, Sonic assumed Tails would be just as agreeable when it came to his coat. 

That had been a mistake.

Whenever Tails lashed out, it was clear that it came from a place of self-preservation and Sonic could understand that. But he was doing everything right here. He wasn’t moving too fast, he didn’t grab him, he didn’t get too close. They’d just been having a fun time playing around in the clothing racks until they got a dirty look from one of the volunteers and had to rein in it.

The second Sonic held out a coat to Tails though, he might as well have asked the kid to cut off a tail. 

He balked; staring at the article of clothing with the same amount of disdain he'd shown Robotnik when they chased him out of the chemical plant. He backed away and shook his head when Sonic motioned for him to take it. Sonic frowned and Tails frowned right back.

Though he was fluffier than Sonic, his fur was still really patchy from months of poor nutrition and grooming. His full winter coat hadn't come in yet even though it was December, still too scraggly to offer much protection. Sonic really didn't want to have to deal with a sick fox kit as a result. One, he didn't know the first thing about caring for one, and two, it sounded like the most uncool thing ever. It definitely wasn't something he'd signed up for, and it was bound to happen if Tails got too cold. Sonic had experienced his fair share of sick days when he’d first started traveling on his own thanks to fluctuations in temperature he’d never been exposed to before. He couldn’t think of a lamer way to waste time.

Sonic pointed at the coat and tapped his foot impatiently. Tails turned his nose up at it. With a tch, Sonic rolled his eyes, then snatched Tails by the wrist. A set of sharp, baby fox teeth sank into his hand, but he ignored the pain as he wrestled one of Tails's arms through the coat. With a gasp, Tails released him to stare in horror at the fabric covering his arm. Sonic took the opportunity to slip his other arm through, then took hold of the lapels so he could zip it up. 

There. Sonic stood back, hands on his hips as he looked it over in triumph. It was baggy around the shoulders, but it would give him room to grow into it. It was red, too, like his sneakers. Sonic thought he'd appreciate that since he seemed to like the shoes so much.

But tears collected in Tails's eyes, all the mutinous anger gone in the face of what Sonic could only describe as complete and utter misery. The tears tracked down his cheeks slowly, ears plastered to his head as he fidgeted and tugged at the coat like it was constricting him, both tails limp and dragging on the ground. 

Aw, jeez. Sonic winced, quills bristling as he recoiled at the sight of his tears. It was only a matter of time, really, he supposed. Little kids cried for any number of reasons. Of course he hadn't been so lucky as to find and kinda befriend the only one that didn't.

Tails continued to tug at the coat, his breathing shaky as his chest rattled with each inhale. But he wasn't trying to make a scene. Wasn't throwing a fit. He was just…

Uncomfortable.

Sonic's ears and tail drooped. Of course Tails wouldn't be used to wearing clothes. The sensation of something as heavy as a winter coat was probably pretty weird. And he didn't like being trapped or confined, which Sonic could absolutely sympathize with. Coats could feel a little restrictive—all clothes did really, and Sonic preferred being as aerodynamic as possible for speed's sake. The drag of clothes on the wind was a real drag.

So it wasn't like he didn't get it. If he didn't have to wear a coat himself, he wouldn't. But there was snow on the ground and it was the practical thing to do if they were going to keep traveling in search of the Chaos Emeralds and Robotnik’s bases for the next few weeks. 

Besides, how many times had Sonic been forced to do something for his own good even if he'd hated it? How often had he listened to other kids in the orphanage cry as their wants were ignored in favor of their needs? Though if the adults around them had just listened…

Sonic rubbed a fist over his chest, averting his gaze guiltily as the soft sniffles filled the silence between them. He couldn't do it. Okay, kid, I hear ya loud and clear. With a sigh, Sonic stepped back into Tails's space and unzipped the coat. 

Tails sniffed again, teary eyes watching his hands as he eased the coat open and off his shoulders. Once he was free of it, he blinked up at Sonic. He hung it back up on the hanger and tucked it out of sight, then dusted his hands of it like it was a job well-done.

Tails shuffled his feet and used the back of his borrowed glove to wipe at his nose. Well, maybe not so much borrowed now. Kid could keep it. A genuine smile still curved his muzzle as he offered Tails a thumbs up. We good?

After a beat of consideration, Tails nodded and returned the gesture with his own thumbs up. Sonic heaved a huge sigh of relief, making a show of wiping imaginary sweat from his brow. It might’ve been a bit over-the-top, but it got a giggle out of Tails and that was the goal. With a wink, Sonic picked up their new shoes and led the way out of the clothing closet.

They could deal with winter clothes another day. For now, Sonic was more than ready for some piping hot chili dogs to end the day on a high note. And he needed to stock up on some more of those free mints.

—

Don’t say I told you so. Don’t say I told you so. Don’t say I told you so.

Tails sneezed.

Sonic sighed and stopped running, kicking up a light dusting of snow as he did. He hadn’t been going that fast, snow had a habit of slowing him down, but he still had to wait a minute for Tails to catch up. He shoved his paws in his coat pockets and tapped his foot in the fresh powder as he looked back over his shoulder. Tails trotted up to him, little body shivering too much to properly spin his tails to keep up.

But he was smiling. Sniffling from the cold and rubbing his arms with his gloved paws, ankle deep in the snow with his new shoes and thick socks. Complaining looked to be the farthest thing from the little guy’s mind.

Sonic exhaled loudly and shook his head, breath clouding in front of him. Tails perked up, both tails giving jerky little wags as he opened his own mouth as wide as he could and made his own puff of air. Sonic grinned, then crouched down and beckoned Tails closer with his finger. He came, head tilted curiously. Holding open both of his hands, Sonic nodded for Tails to place his paws between them.

Hesitation crept into his eyes, though it wasn’t necessarily mistrust that he looked at him with. He was still curious, wondering just what Sonic was trying to do, so he offered his paws to him and watched as he sandwiched them between his own. Leaving a sliver of an opening between his thumbs, Sonic leaned in and blew warm air over his paws, then rubbed firmly to keep his circulation pumping. Twin tails perked straight up, his fur puffing up a bit in surprise and Sonic had to bite back a laugh. Tails relaxed though when Sonic blew again, a happy hum escaping him as he soaked up the warmth.

Sonic sat back and gave him a thumbs up. Okay?

Tails gave him a thumbs up back. Okay!

Then he sneezed again.

Sonic hung his head, then glanced up at the clouds as snow continued to drift down gently. It was gonna stick around for a while, it seemed. Tails rubbed at his nose with the back of his glove, then cupped his paws in front of his muzzle and breathed over them just like Sonic had. His gaze snapped up when he heard the pull of a zipper, eyes wide as Sonic shrugged off his jacket. 

He draped it over Tails’s shoulders before he could skitter away, guiding his arms through the too-long sleeves. The dark green jacket nearly swallowed the little fox. Sonic snickered as he zipped up the jacket to Tails’s chin, then sat back and looked him over. Tails stared at the baggy sleeves, his paws hidden inside them. With a tch, Sonic rolled up the cuffs to free his hands. 

Better. There were two slits in the back for his quills that would let in a draft, but it was at least something to keep him warm. Bonus was that this jacket didn’t seem to upset him like the one he’d tried on at the clothing closet had. 

“You good?” Sonic signed to him properly, one of the most basic ones they’d learned so far.

Tails looked over his shoulder at the two gaps in the back, mouth parted in a stunned little “o.” Right, the breeze probably felt a little funny. Sonic tapped his chin as he considered ways to cinch the slits shut. Tape maybe? The tape they’d used for his gloves and socks seemed to be holding as temporary measures.

Sonic’s quills rose fast when the happiest yip filled the air. He blinked at Tails as he slid each tail into the holes of the jacket, the perfect size for them to fit. They wagged quickly, free to wiggle about as they pleased. Tails beamed at the sight of them, then shone that bright smile on Sonic.

“It’s good!” he signed enthusiastically. “Thank you!”

Sonic smiled back, a laugh tickling the back of his throat as he reached out to ruffle Tails’s fur atop his head. You’re welcome, the gesture was meant to say. Along with, you sure are something else, kid.

So he’d be fine with an extra big coat with room for his tails to stick out. Good to know.

Though Sonic had a feeling this coat was about to become yet another something borrowed that wound up something kept. Ah, well. In the grand scheme of things, he found he was pretty okay with that.