Bonds And Ties

Mixed up

Blaze was on her way to Sonic's house, her steps quick but casual as she made her way down the familiar street. Sonic had called her earlier, explaining that he needed help babysitting their neighbor's kids after Sally bailed last minute. At first, Blaze hadn't thought much of it-just a couple of kids to look after, how hard could it be? But Sonic had sounded so relieved on the phone that she couldn't say no. She liked to help him out whenever she could.

When Blaze arrived at Sonic's house, she took a deep breath, mentally preparing herself. Babysitting wasn't exactly her idea of an exciting day, but Sonic needed her. That was enough of a reason.

She rang the doorbell, and it wasn't long before Sonic appeared, smiling widely as he opened the door. "Hey, Blaze! You're a lifesaver. Sally had to cancel last minute, so now it's just me... and you. Lucky you!"

Blaze smiled back at him, raising an eyebrow. "I don't know about lucky," she teased. "How bad can it be, really?"

Sonic chuckled, stepping aside to let her in. "Well, let's just say you'll find out soon enough." He motioned toward the living room, where she could hear the sound of kids playing.

As Blaze walked into the house, she saw a little boy and girl-twins-sitting on the floor with their toys. The boy was stacking blocks while the girl was bouncing a ball against the wall. They both looked up when Blaze entered, their eyes lighting up in curiosity.

"Hey, kids!" Sonic greeted them, walking over and kneeling beside them. "This is Blaze. She's here to help us out today."

The boy, with messy brown hair and bright blue eyes, stared at Blaze for a moment before speaking up with a grin. "Whoa! Your girlfriend's pretty!" he said in the loud, unfiltered way only a child could.

Blaze froze for a second, caught off guard by the comment. She quickly glanced at Sonic, who was clearly amused by the kid's directness.

Sonic grinned, rubbing the back of his head. "Uh, well, Tommy, Blaze isn't my girlfriend," he said, trying to correct him. "She's just here to help me babysit today."

Tommy blinked at him, confused for a moment, before looking back at Blaze with a smile. "Oh, okay," he said seriously. "But she's still pretty!"

Blaze chuckled softly, trying to keep the mood light. "Thanks, Tommy," she said, giving him a friendly wink. "But I'm not Sonic's girlfriend."

The girl, who had been silently watching the exchange from the other side of the room, suddenly piped up. "I think she's pretty, too!" she declared, her voice filled with a child's unfiltered honesty. "What's your name?"

Blaze smiled warmly at the little girl. "I'm Blaze," she replied.

The girl bounced over to Blaze, her pigtails bouncing with each step. "I'm Emma!" she said proudly, offering Blaze a big grin.

Sonic chuckled at the exchange. "Well, looks like you've got a couple of new fans, Blaze."

Blaze smiled, kneeling down to meet the kids at their level. "Well, thank you, Emma, Tommy. You're both very sweet."

Just then, Emma's attention shifted, and she grabbed a nearby stuffed animal. "Do you wanna play with us?" she asked, holding out the toy to Blaze.

Blaze laughed. "Sure, why not?"

Sonic raised an eyebrow, watching the two kids eagerly try to get Blaze to join in their game. "You're a natural with them. Guess I don't have to do much today, huh?" he said, crossing his arms.

Blaze gave him a playful smile. "We'll see how long I last before I need a break," she teased, though she found herself genuinely enjoying the kids' infectious energy.