I forced myself to slow my breathing, pressing a hand to my chest to center myself. Panicking wouldn't help. I had to think. Rationalize.
"This isn't something we can afford to lose our heads over," I said finally, voice steady despite the adrenaline still surging through me. "Listen... I can't dive into all the specifics, but — there's this... project. A synthetic entity, something beyond anything we've seen. Thanks to me — but mostly Eggman — it's loose. And now, we're both in deeper trouble than either of us realize."
I exhaled sharply, the weight of it all slamming into my chest. My back hit the cold wall of the sewer as I leaned against it, rubbing my temples with trembling fingers.
"We're fugitives now, Sonic," I whispered. "Officially."
Sonic crouched beside me, studying me with a look far softer than I expected. "Hey," he said quietly, almost like he didn't want the walls to hear, "it's not your fault. You didn't do this out of malice. You hate Eggman's guts more than anyone alive. I know you. I trust you."
I blinked up at him, heart twisting painfully at his words.
He offered a tiny, crooked grin, but there was a sadness behind it.
"I just wish... everyone else could see it too," I murmured. "Now, the entire government — G.U.N, the science corps, even the stabilization committees — they all want to dissect me like I'm just another machine."
There was a beat of silence.
"Even though," I added bitterly, "they're not wrong."
Sonic lowered himself next to me, the soles of his shoes scuffing against the wet concrete. He sat close — closer than he needed to — and nudged his knee against mine.
