Our Side of the Mountain

Chapter 6

About an hour later, Sonic woke up. Tails was still fast asleep, and they were still in the same position. Sonic smiled to himself and walked over to Tails's room. He put the kit on the bed and covered him up. He looked at him one last time before walking out, and shutting the door behind him. His legs ached to go for a run, but he knew better than to do that.
If Eggman finds me, he finds Tails. We need to stay close to the house.
He looked up at the ceiling.
I wonder what everybody back home's doing.

"Sonic!" Knuckles yelled, pounding on the door. "Open the door!"
No response. The echidna was getting angrier.
"Open up!" He shouted, banging his fist against the wood. "We need your help! Eggman's attacking! I know you're in there!"
When there was no answer, Knuckles punched a hole through the door, and tore it off it's hinges. There was nobody there, so Knuckles stomped down to the hangar.
The X-Tornado was gone too. Sighing in frustration, he pushed a button on his communicator.
"He's not here!" He cried. "Tails isn't either!"
"Well, where is he?" Silver demanded. "He couldn't have vanished into thin air!"
"The plane's gone too!" Knuckles said. "The hangar's empty!"
"So, the faker's gone somewhere?" Came Shadow's voice, who was helping them beat their rival.
"I already told you!" Amy cried through her own communicator. "He and Tails are on vacation!"
"But where?" Knuckles shrieked.
"The beach!"
"But, he hates water!" Silver argued.
"That's what I said!" Amy replied.
"Look," Blaze said. "I'm sure there's a logical explanation for this-"
"Why're you sticking up for him?" Knuckles yelled. "Why're you on his side? He and Tails ran out on us! What's wrong with you?"
"Don't talk to her that way," Silver said sharply. "Don't be a jerk to anyone until we find out what's really going on. Now, come back over here and help us defeat this moron."
Knuckles growled.
"Fine. Over and out."
Knuckles walked out the broken door, looking at it as he walked out.
"Um...Tails can fix that when he gets back."

Sonic, not having the ability to go outside, just went for a run in the house instead. He didn't have much room, but he didn't care. He was running, and he was okay with it.
"Hey!" Tails yelled, grabbing the hedgehog's arm and jerking him to a stop. "No running in the house!"
"Oh, yeah?"
"Yeah!" Tails smirked. "If I can't fly, you can't run!"
Sonic groaned, but realized the logic.
"Fine. Fair enough."
Tails smiled and walked away, his sneakers clicking against the wooden floor.
"As much as I like this house, I hate being stuck here," Sonic heard him mutter.
Sonic, suddenly concerned, followed him into the library.
"What's up, bud? Ya seem kinda sad."
Tails sighed.
"I just....I just wanna fly, that's all."
Sonic nodded in understanding.
"C'mon...you know why we can't do that."
"I promise he won't see me!" Tails pleaded. "Please?"
"No," Sonic said firmly. "It's too dangerous."
"It won't be if he doesn't see me!" Tails exclaimed. "Lemme fly!"
"No, Tails!" Sonic said, sharply. "I'm not taking the risk of him seeing you!"
"But, he won't!" Tails finally yelled. "I can stay hidden, easily! Why won't you let me go?!"
"Because I love you!" Sonic finally shouted.
There was dead silence after that. Sonic had shut his eyes, and he reopened them to see Tails's blue orbs wide with shock.
"W-What?"
"I love you, okay?" Sonic said quietly. "More than friends, more than brothers...I just love you more than I should."
"H-How long?" Tails whispered.
"Alway have, dude."
"Well..." Tails said, looking up to meet his friend's gaze. "That's good."
"Why?"
"Because I do too."
Sonic's eyes widened.
"Wait...do you...do you?"
Tails suddenly reached out and grabbed both of his hands. Their eyes met.
"Yeah. Yes. Gosh, Sonic, always."
And then Tails moved in the rest of the way, closing the gap between them, and firmly planting his mouth on his. Sonic closed his eyes, allowing his mind to be swept away in a flurry of passion – how long had he known? How long had he wanted to do this, to share this special moment with him of all people? When they first met? Shortly thereafter? He couldn't say for sure. All he knew was that Tails was kissing him, and he was feeling utterly satisfied, thrilled, and madly passionate about him...
Sonic pushed more into his best friend, pinning him against the door to the library. Tails moaned, giving Sonic the chance to deepen the kiss even more. Sonic couldn't remember the last time that something had ever felt so good. The kiss was creating fireworks in his mind, and he urgently kissed back. Since Sonic wasn't pinned up against the door, that gave Tails an opportunity. His arms wound their way around his neck and Sonic's arms found their way around Tails's waist, pulling him closer. Tails moaned again and he felt Sonic smile against his mouth. The kiss...was the best thing...next to meeting his best friend...that had ever happened to the him. It just felt...amazing. And kissing Tails...it felt....so right.
Sonic opened his eyes. Tails had moved back about ten yards, looking petrified at his own nerve, at what he had just done and said. His face had surpassed pink and was now a deep crimson – Sonic suspected his own face appeared much the same. He looked so cute and yet so scared, about to cry.
"... Sonic..." Tails quivered, in a small voice, "... I'm so sorry, I-"
But his words were cut off as Sonic moved towards him and kissed him with all the passion he could muster – which was an amount that surprised even him. Tails closed his eyes and returned his energy with all he had. The two were lost in their own world. How much time had passed? A minute? Ten? An hour and a day? Neither of them had an answer, nor were they at all interested in providing one. When the two broke apart, they gazed into each other's eyes with passion and longing for each other. Nothing else mattered to them; they were together and utterly, utterly happy, just Sonic and Tails, Sonic and Tails...just them. And it was right then and there that Tails knew.
He loved his best friend...more than life itself.
And like water, it was crystal clear.
Tails sighed happily and nuzzled into his best friend.
"I love you too...."
"You do?" Sonic asked quietly.
Tails nodded.
"Yeah...I do. know
I always have...I guess it took something bad to happen to me to get it out of both of us."
Sonic smiled and nuzzled back.
The two went silent for a few minutes, lost in each other's eyes.
"So..." Tails began. "Does this mean that were together?"
"Only if you want to."
"Didn't that kiss answer your question?"
Sonic laughed.
"Touché."
Tails sighed happily, looking at his former best friend.
"Yeah...I love you too, Sonic."
Sonic laughed.
"I know you do, ya little nerd. I know you have for years. I just love hearing you say it."
Looking at him, Sonic knew Tails was right; he had loved him. It had just taken him time to realize it, and he was happier for it.
"So...it's official? We're together?" Tails asked.
"Do you still want to?" Sonic asked, looking worried.
But, the fox knew what to do.
"Look...I love you Sonic, and I always have. I'm sorry it took so long to realize that. Now that I know it...I want to be with you for as long as you want me to."
Sonic smiled.
"Miles Prower, you have no idea how happy you just made me."
Tails groaned at the mention of his real name, but smiled.
"So...what do ya say?" Sonic asked.
Tails smiled back.
"I'm pretty sure you know what my answer is."
"Oh yeah?"
"Yep."
"And how do you plan on telling me that?"
"By doing this."
And the two came together, locking themselves together in a tender kiss once again. They knew that this time they had nothing to fear; the two of them were together and loved each other deeply, and that was all that mattered.
"I love you," Tails said once they separated.
Sonic smiled and pulled him back in.
"I love you too. So much."
"More than running?"
Sonic smiled, nuzzling his cheek into the kit's shoulder.
"More than anything."