Sweet Furball [Sonine] [English Version]

05: Learm To Live Together

A few days had passed since the conversation with those variants belonging to New Yoke.

A few things happened during those days, most of them being related to a certain baby fox and his low tolerance for being with anyone other than Sonic, something they had started working on from the moment they agreed to take care of him.

After all, one of the conditions proposed by Rebel and Renegade was, precisely, to try to correct that character that Nine possessed, mainly because they wanted to prevent him from making a scene when they both went to Sonic's world to arrest him, of course, assuming that have managed to return it to its original age and size at that time.

Although that was still a long way off.

Just as there was still a long way to go before Nine wanted to cooperate, at least with the rest of the team.

--- Come on Nine, I know you're hungry ---. Amy said, bringing a spoon full of porridge towards a certain two-tailed baby fox, who was sitting in a high chair, looking at the hedgehog and the food with an unfriendly face.

They had been like this for a good ten minutes, so it was normal for there to be frustration on both sides.

--- Hmm! ---. Nine turned his head in the opposite direction in denial.

--- Come on little one, you need to eat ---. The jade-eyed hedgehog insisted, bringing the spoon closer to the opponent again.

However, it was quickly pushed aside with a swipe from the baby, which greatly surprised Amy since it was the first time she had done it.

The message was more than clear. I wouldn't eat anything.

Unless...

--- Niiiiiic! ---. The baby fox called, or rather, demanded, turning in the direction where a certain hedgehog was.

Hedgehog, who was sitting at the kitchen table next to his two-tailed best friend, enjoying his lunch, some extra spicy Chilidogs.

--- Nine, no ---. Sonic said, trying very hard to make his tone authoritative but without scaring the baby. --- Amy will feed you today ---.

--- NIIIIIIC! ---. Nine demanded again, raising his voice even more, at the same time that he began to kick while still remaining in his little chair.

---Nine! ---. Sonic also raised his voice a little, enough for the younger boy to understand that he was getting upset.

The message was quickly understood, since the baby stopped his tantrum, although his annoyed face did not disappear, not even when he reluctantly began to eat what Amy was offering him.

Watching him eat, Sonic just let out a long sigh, he didn't really like it or want to be the authoritarian figure, but since Nine only listened and collaborated with him, it wasn't like he had any other option.

--- ... I know it's hard for you, but it's the only one that works... ---. Tails said, placing his hand on the opponent's back as a consolation.

--- I know... I really don't have the stature to be an authority figure... ---. Sonic turned to look at the baby. --- ...I know that I promised those two to try to keep me out of the way so that he wouldn't continue to be so dependent on me and he will adapt to you... But... At the same time, I feel like it's only making it worse -- -. He said with clear concern.

And he had no shortage of reasons to believe that.

Although Nine ended up paying attention in the end, he couldn't help but think that the little boy was little by little accumulating some resentment towards his friends.

--- I understand what you mean Sonic, but there aren't many options ---. Tails sighed. --- Unfortunately, we must choose between him hating us or things not changing... ---.

The "correct" option was pretty obvious.

However, Sonic was sure that there must be a way to do all this in a more organic and less invasive way for the little one.

[...]

Sonic was lying on the grass, under the shade of one of the palm trees that surrounded Tails' workshop, meditating deeply on the situation, trying to find a solution to improve the coexistence between Nine and his friends.

But for this he needed a change of air, hence the reason for going outside the house to get some sun while Tails stayed inside to start working on the plans for a device to return the baby fox to its original age.

Speaking of little Nine, he wasn't very far from where Sonic was lying, only this one, by pure miracle, was focusing his attention on things other than him. being more specific, in all the vegetation and nature that surrounded him; soft grass, flowers of various colors and aromas, Flickys flying, Pockys and Rickys running around, the beautiful blue sky and the rays of the sun.

Things that he could probably see in New Yoke before everything went to hell, but that he had not been able to appreciate because he was focused on his pain and resentment.

Seeing that Sonic had no plans to move from there for a while, Nine thought it was a good time to explore the place a little but without losing sight of the oldest, so he began to crawl, letting his curiosity guide him, anxious. to find something interesting. His wish was quickly fulfilled when he noticed that a certain pink hedgehog was leaving the house where he had been for the last few days, not only dragging a heavy sack, but also wearing a completely different outfit than the one he knew. He was sporting a sporty outfit; red top, shorts and boxing gloves with white details, similar to her dress, retaining only her red boots from her original clothing.

Enough out of the ordinary to draw even more attention from the minor, who crawled towards her to investigate.