HELLBOUND {Sequel}

Thirty-nine

__Tails could feel himself start to shake. He knew it had to come to this, but he was still afraid of this moment. Sonic was always too good at reading him. Tails was still too scared to tell Sonic about Sally. Sonic was still devastated about his mother and sister's deaths, and Sally had always been like a sister to him up until they started dating. This would crush his very soul. They already saw how Sonic reacted when Manic told him about Sonia killing herself. What would he do if he told her now while he was still upset? Sonic may have started taking antidepressants again, but they already knew it wasn't that effective.
__Scourge had flattened his ears as he got up and sat in between Sonic and Tails. He perked his ears back up when he looked at Sonic. "Little disagreement, but they did make up. Don't worry about it."
__Sonic did not look convinced. "I don't know about that." He tried to get a look at Tails, but Scourge kept moving to block his view. That annoyed Sonic. "Dude, I'm not that stupid. Quit."
__Scourge looked rather nervous. "I just..." He then sighed in defeat. "I got nothing."
__Tails looked down as T-Pup walked up to him. It was walking on three legs. Its front left leg was missing its paw. Tails got up to look for it when T-Pup started gagging until it cough up it's missing paw and a bunch of bolts and wires. This happened every once in a while. T-Pup would get bored and start chewing off its paw. It always annoyed the hell out of Tails. He knelt down to pick up all the parts before standing up. "Sorry, this takes priority. Come on, T-Pup."
__Tails left the hedgehogs on the couch as he led T-Pup into his workshop. He shut the door behind him and went to set the parts on the nearby table. He then grabbed T-Pup and set it on the table next to the parts. "I can't believe you right now."
__T-Pup was panting while looking at Tails happily. It then started nudging its paw with its nose before looking up at Tails again.
__Tails rolled his eyes as he went to get all his tools. This was going to take a while since he had to reconnect the wires as well. I swear if he did that on purpose...
__While he worked on T-Pup he began to think about what he was going to do about Sonic. He knew Scourge wasn't going to budge about Sally's death. He would just keep dodging all of Sonic's questions and deny about having any knowledge he did have on the situation. It would eventually become too difficult to keep it up, though. Both of them are way too persistent. They're just going to keep going until the other yields. Tails knew he couldn't keep it from Sonic forever. He did deserve to know. Tails just didn't know how he'd react. He already tried attacking Manic when he told him about Sonia. What would he do to Tails knowing it was his fault Sally was dead? He was so scared. He could already feel himself shaking, which made connecting the wires really difficult.
__Ten minutes later, Scourge burst into the garage and hurriedly walked over to Tails in a panic. "Bro, he's so fucking...!" He stopped to breathe in and out deeply before continuing. "How's he doin'?"
__Tails had just finish reattaching T-Pup's foot. He began fidgeting with the paw. He was making sure the joints and paw were moving properly before he told T-Pup to walk on it. He watched the robot dog start walking along the table slowly before it started hopping and prancing around happily. When Tails figured it was good now he grabbed T-Pup and nodded at Scourge.
__Scourge looked concerned. "You okay? I can tell him to leave if you don't want to."
__Tails shook his head. "I don't want that. It's fine. I'll... I don't even know anymore." He then handed T-Pup over to Scourge. "It's been a little bit since I was at the tree."
__Scourge nodded and watched as Tails left the garage. Tails was trying to ignore Sonic as he went into the backyard and shut the door behind him. He look up at the tree. It was still green and any snow that fell on it was melting away. Tails felt extremely reluctant to walk over to the tree. In truth, he was scared to verbally confront Cosmo after he rejected Cream. He didn't want anything to change, but he had to talk to her. If he couldn't talk to Cosmo, then he couldn't talk to Sonic. He made his way over to it slowly before crouching down in front of it. He then held out his hand to touch it when he hesitated. This hesitation lasted for about twenty seconds before he gently placed his hand on the tree.
__"Tails," Cosmo said softly. "What do you hope to gain in talking to me? You already know it will make you even more upset."
__This was not at all what he expected from her, but he guessed that he deserved it for neglecting to water the tree himself for the past couple of days. "I don't know, Cosmo. I just don't know. Everything is going wrong. I just need something."
__Cosmo was silent for a bit. Tails could feel both love and sadness from her. "Tails, I can't help you with Sonic. I also cannot ask you to throw away your happiness for my sake. If you want..."
__"Stop!" Tails snapped. "You can't just tell me to abandon you after I already promised to keep you with me. I intend on keeping you here. You're all I have left!"
__"You're being ridiculous, Tails," Cosmo continued. "Scourge is right, you know? I am dead, and it was wrong of me to ask you to share your body. I should've known it wouldn't be as simple as that. I've lived my life and you should live yours. This was a mistake. We should..."
__"Dammit, NO!!!" Tails growled. This was why he didn't want to make any contact with the tree. Somehow he knew she would try to weasel her way out of his life again. He loved her. He will always love her. He won't allow anything else to get in between him and her. She felt the same way. He knew she did. Why was she trying to get rid of him now? If he was going to have a happy life, then he needed her. Everything had always been better when she was alive and with him. He didn't want his attraction towards Cream to ruin this.
__"Listen to me, Tails," Cosmo said sternly. "I've admitted my mistake and I want to fix it now. You need your life back. Let me give it back to you."
__"I said no, god dammit! I'm the one that wanted this! I made my bed, so let me lay in it!"
__"You're not thinking straight!" Cosmo made an audible groan before she started to calm down. "I don't want to talk if you're going to act like this. Go back inside and talk to Sonic. He needs to know the truth. Unlike you, he can accept the truth."
__This angered Tails. "I knew coming here was a mistake." He removed his hand and marched straight back inside. He slammed the door behind him and started groaning. You already knew what I wanted, and you do this anyway!?
__Sonic was walking up to Tails slowly. "You okay?"
__"No, I'm not okay!" Tails yelled.
__Sonic leaned back with his ears flattened. "Woah, woah. Okay, 'bud." He carefully put his hand on the fox's arm and squeezed it gently. "Why don't we just talk for a bit? You helped me with a solution. Let me return the favor. This is different from last year. I promise."
__Tails looked down at Sonic's hand on his arm before looking at Sonic's face. He was looking a little better than when he first came in. Too much better. Maybe Scourge did something while he was outside, or Sonic was putting on a front again. Whatever. Tails was gonna take it.
__"Fine. Fine. Scourge." Tails walked over to the green hedgehog, who was sitting on the couch with T-Pup, and pointed to his bedroom with his thumb. "I'd like to be alone."
__Scourge didn't look convinced, but he reluctantly nodded anyway. He stood up slowly and started stretching. "I'll be in the shower then." He patted Tails on the back as he walked over to the bathroom and shut the door. Tails could hear the water start running.
__"Cool then." Sonic went to sit next to T-Pup on the couch. He looked at Tails and patted on the cushion next to him. Tails decided he was hot and stopped to remove his black hoodie before tossing it on the coffee table while walking over and sitting next to Sonic. He didn't look at the hedgehog.
__"What's going on, Tails?" Sonic asked softly.
__Tails went to lay down on his side while he brought his knees to his chest. T-Pup saw this and went to lay down by his back before Tails was able to speak. "It... it hasn't been okay. I'm falling apart."
__Sonic decided to lay down as well. He laid on his back with his knees up while he crossed his arms. "I knew I shouldn't have left..."
__"It's not your fault," Tails muttered. "It's mine."
__"How?"
__Tails grabbed Scourge's pillow and tried to hide his face. "It started after you and Amy left. The moebians had come to me and Scourge with his money and requested we helped them. They wanted to see if those crystals from the cave could be a new power source from them. They were willing to help us in exchange."
__"You... you agreed to help them?"
__"I didn't want to. I knew it was a waste of time," Tails groaned. "Scourge even warned me not to bother with them. But before I could turn them down, Sally... she came in and started nagging me about how I shouldn't waste my time on them and that I needed to forget it. We got into a fight and, against my better judgement, I told the moebians I'd help them just to spite her. We ended up going to that cave even though I said before it would have been too soon."
__"I mean... yeah," Sonic remarked nervously. "It's understandable. I know you two had beef."
__"It's not that!" Tails snapped. He went silent before he continued quietly. "Sonic... it was the worst mistake I could have ever made..." He could feel his eyes watering. He was still too scared to tell Sonic, but there was no turning back now. "...Sonic... she's dead."
__Sonic sat back up immediately and stared down at Tails in disbelief. He started breathing heavily and looking around in shock before he grabbed Tails and forced the fox to sit up and look at him. "What!? Tails! Why the fuck didn't you tell me sooner!?" he shouted angrily.
__Tails just shut his eyes and turned his head away. "I couldn't..."
__Sonic tightened his grip. He was angry. "You should have called me immediately! I would have come back, god dammit! Why the fuck would you keep this from me, Tails!?"
__Tails started shaking again. He could feel his tears escaping him as Sonic's fingers started digging into his arms. "How the fuck was I supposed to!?" He shouted back. "When Manic told you about Sonia you tried to kill us! You were so close to killing Scourge! I didn't want it to happen again! I was scared, okay!? Let me go!"
__Sonic's eyes grew wide as he let go of Tails and backed away. As Tails started rubbing his arms Sonic stared down at his own shaking hands. He looked horrified when he flattened his ears. "I scare you...?" He asked quietly. He clenched his hands and kept them on his lap. "Sorry, Tails. I'm sorry."
__Tails was still shaking. He had to hug his knees to try and calm down, but he was starting to cry. "It was my fault anyway," he croaked. "I got her killed. I should've just stayed quiet and listened to her."
__Sonic had sighed before he carefully went to hug Tails and pull him in. "How? How did she die?"
__Tails regretting drinking last night. "We were ambushed at the cave. Eggman had this giant Death Egg and we couldn't get away. Sally... she lost her foot and I had to help stop the bleeding while everyone else covered for us. They couldn't for long. The robot was about to crush us while I was on the verge of a panic attack... Sally pushed me and had Nicole carry me away... she was crushed, Sonic." Tails hid his face in his knees and started sobbing. "We had just made up, too, right before she died. She just wanted to look out for me... she couldn't let me go... she missed it when I called her Ant Sally..."
__Sonic hugged him tightly. He started to softly rub his forehead against the side of Tails's head. "It's... it's okay. It's okay. I know I yelled at you, but it's not your fault. She was only saving you."
__Tails shook his head and pushed Sonic away. He didn't like that Sonic was now trying to make him feel better. "It is. It is my fault. Just yell at me already! I killed her. Just blame me like everyone else!"
__Sonic moved back and tried holding Tails. "Everyone else? What do you mean?"
__"I mean everyone!" Tails growled. "I can see it! They all hate me!"
__Sonic shook his head in disbelief. "Nobody hates you."
__"Yes they do! I know they do!" Tails was starting to feel hot. Very hot.
__"Tails..."
__"THEY DO! They have every right to hate me! I hate me!"
__Sonic let go of Tails and just stared at him with his mouth hanging open. He looked so distraught. Tails just realized what he said and hid his face again. Emotions. It was always his emotions. He wasn't in control. He hated not being in control. He was never able to think straight. He wanted to avoid telling anyone else. It was hard enough to tell Scourge he hated himself, especially since Shadow had been listening in. Sonic was the last person he wanted to know. This spelt more trouble.
__"Why?" Sonic whispered.
__"Leave me alone."
__Sonic let out a short, harsh breath. He turned to pick up T-Pup and move it right against Tails's side. He then got up slowly and silently walked over to the bathroom door. He knocked, or rather slammed on the door before he let himself in. Scourge could be heard yelling out before Sonic shut the door.
__Tails lifted his head when T-Pup started rubbing its head against him. He looked down and saw that T-Pup was looking straight into his eyes. It wasn't being sad, mad, nor condescending to Tails. It was just being there. Tails felt his headache come back as he started petting T-Pup. Was Cosmo right after all? Tails couldn't take this. He was still burning up. He needed to get out of the house. He stood up and left T-Pup to walk over to the front door. He opened the door and saw Shadow standing in front of him just as he was about to knock on the door. Shadow scanned Tails from top to bottom with a concerned look. "Bad time?"
__Why are so many people coming over today!? Tails took a minute to feel the cold wind before replying. "What is it? Shouldn't you be with Rouge right now?"
__"She's still safe and hidden," Shadow reassured him. "I figured I'd let you in on something important in person."
__Tails nodded and closed the door behind him. He started shaking from the cold, but he needed this. "You wanted to tell me something the other day, too, didn't you?"
__"First things first," Shadow said sternly. "Since the Chaotix failed to do so last time, I tried to reclaim Sally's body and bring her back to us."
__Tails's ears twitched as he uncrossed his arms. "You... Shadow, you didn't have to do that."
__Shadow shook his head. "It needed to be done, however, I could not find her anywhere. No body, no blood, and no stench of death."
__Tails sighed. "Shadow, it's been a while now and it's been snowing like crazy. Eggman most likely disposed of her. The blood would have melted the snow and sunk to the dirt for all this thick snow to cover it. Thanks for trying, though. Now, what did you want to tell me yesterday?"
__Shadow groaned and rolled his eyes. "I'm... ashamed to admit, but... I met with Sage alone a couple days ago."
__Tails was shocked. "What? What happed? Did she try anything?"
__Shadow shook his head. "She was sincere in just wanting to talk."
__"What did you talk about?"
__"She was... strange," Shadow muttered. "She claimed to want a heart-to-heart. She confessed that she doesn't want to fight, but she has to in order to keep Eggman safe. She doesn't want me to fight either."
__Tails grabbed his chin and sighed. "That makes Sonic's story about Sage risking her life for him more believable."
__"I told her I had no intention in staying out of the fight just to suit her own interests," Shadow continued. "She kept trying to persuade me to back out of the war with her so that Eggman could have his chance at victory. I said I wasn't going to let him have his way with this world. She became furious. She said I was being selfish and just left."
__Tails dropped his hand and groaned. "What do you want me to make of this? If you don't want to fight Sage, then fine. Don't fight her. I don't care anymore. Do what you want."
__Shadow tilted his head. "This was a bad time, wasn't it?"
__"I'm stressed and hungover right now," Tails grumbled. "I just got done with two arguments."
__"Look, no matter what I plan to fight alongside you," Shadow changed the subject. "You don't have to worry about a thing."
__Tails rolled his eyes. "That's it? You came here just for that?"
__Shadow shook his head. "I need to make sure now. If for whatever reason I reach a point where I'm about to kill Sage, will you allow it?"
__"I already answered that days ago!"
__"Will you allow it?" Shadow repeated slowly. "Things are different now. If you don't want anymore of your friends to die, you need to be ready to take drastic measures. You already failed that once and it got you killed."
__"So, you're asking if I will able to kill if I have to," Tails infered. He scoffed. "I've already killed, Shadow. I killed Cosmo and Sally."
__Shadow was about to protest when his phone started going off. He checked his phone before he groaned and vanished into thin air.
__Tails was freezing. He decided to head back inside where it was warm. Too warm. He was getting hot again. Sonic was standing with Scourge in the living room. Scourge was practically naked with the wet towel around his shoulders and his fur was a mess. They were both staring at Tails. This made him annoyed as he turned away. "Don't look at me."
__Sonic took a step forward and gently touched Tails's arm. "Tails, you didn't kill Sally," he reassured him.
__Tails backed away. "I pulled the fucking trigger."
__Sonic retracted his hand and crossed his arms. "Just... please, don't hate yourself, man," he pleaded. "You really don't deserve that."
__"It's been made clear since the day I was born that I'll never be accepted," Tails muttered angrily. "I've made too many mistakes; committed so many sins. If everyone wants to turn their back on me in the end, then that's it. I can never repent no matter how hard I try. Maybe everything would be better if I never existed."
__"Tails, stop," Sonic's voice shook.
__"Go home, Sonic. I'm tired."
__Sonic stood there motionless for about a minute. He tried to hug Tails but stopped and kept his hands down by his sides. He then sighed and started walking out of the house, leaving Tails and Scourge to stand there in an awkward silence. Tails was tired and angry. "This was supposed to be my day off," he grumbled.
__Scourge had sighed as he took the towel off his shoulders. "Look, we still have more than half the day left. Maybe some extra sleep will calm your mind? I don't know what else to do for you."
__"Scourge?"
__"Yeah?"
__"How can I be better?" Tails croaked.
__Scourge looked really upset. "I don't know... I don't know."