The Ruby Eyes of Affection

Daddy issues

For a few minutes, there was complete silence. Both hedgehogs seemed impeccably comfortable as they sat softly listening to each other's soft but subtle breaths. Sonic's mind started to drift into some kind of dreamland as the sense of wellbeing seemed eerily familiar. A wellbeing he used to feel a very long time ago.

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The air was quite stale as the scent of chalk roamed throughout the tight yet sufficient gym. Somehow, the bearer it got the more charming it became. It was just enough for the little cobalt who was trying to accomplish the near impossible.

Perfection

He stood at the end of a seemingly long runway as he gently rubbed his chalk filled hands together. He was so tiny and the vaulting table placed eighty or so feet in front of him seemed so daunting. But he knew what he was there for. One reason and one reason alone, to help the desperate and futile place he called home. Jednak had been going through major and dramatic economic and government changes and the lack of funds was very apparent. The bleak area was surrounded with few and barely function apparatuses. But that was no distraction to the little hedgehog. He could feel the adrenaline running through his veins as he took a lengthy step back, preparing himself to dart. He took one last deep breath before exploding down the runway, he ran for only a few seconds before realizing he was obviously going way too fast. Within seconds, he could feel the impact of the table hitting his torso, causing him to collapse at the feet of the springboard, he would have used if he actually had control over his movement. He huffed and puffed a few more times before feeling unbelievable frustration and anger. He had done this vault so many times and made an absolute fool of himself.

"Now now... You're not going to get anywhere at this rate, now are you, Sonic?" A warm male voice echoed as footsteps could be heard approaching the nearly crying child.

"I have told you countless times that the vaulting table is not something to be feared or hated. It's your friend remember?" The warm voice was attached to a short yet slightly pudgy young man with red-ish brown hair and beautiful emerald eyes just like his star pupil.

"I'm not afraid of it... I'm just frustrated... I was doing so well." The young hedgehog mumbled as he brushed himself off before sitting on his knees as he was told to do when listening to his instructor.

"Well mistakes happen, we just need to make sure we fix them before they become a habit. Plus, don't you remember what I said was the most important part of being a gymnast?" He replied gently before giving his little hedgehog student a soft yet sufficient nudge of the shoulder.

"Being perfect under the most immense amount of pressure?" The small azure hedgehog responded as he released an incredibly horrified sigh.

"That may be what other trainers tell you but if you're going to make this dream happen, you need to remember one thing. And that is to enjoy what you are doing. yes, this may seem very frustrating, painful and even torturing. However, you are doing something that very few other children at eight can do. Now get up and let's do this again. Remember to really get your shoulders and hands ontop of the horse. Don't forget to really bend your back but keep your arms as straight as possible so you get a really good block." He smiled caringly before tenderly patting the top of the child's head, as he did so, he walked over to the vault, fixing it with incredible ease to where it was supposed to be.

He lifted Sonic up by his hand and brushed off the chalk and dust strewn across his body. The faintest yet most genuine smile could be seen from the azure as he rubbed his teary eyes with his arm. He then confidently walked over to the end of the runway as he turned around only to see the young red-haired human at the other side of the vault beside the mat. The child took another deep breath before, once again, bolting down the runway. However, this time, he slowed down and concentrated on what needed to be done instead of worrying about failing. He then hopped onto the little springboard which bounced him up to the vault. He swiftly planted his hands down before blocking and doing a front flip. The man watched his star pupil flip near flawlessly before landing on the mat, sticking it cold. It may not have looked hard but for such a young child he was more than impressed.