Come Together, a Tails fanfic

Getting Caught Up... And Getting A Gift (Tails)

I still couldn't believe that Fox had shown up on my birthday. He'd said he would, but I was expecting some space trouble to get in his way. Fox is awesome when he's around. Cool and fun, but still sweet.

"Wait, Tails, Fox McCloud is real too?" Lusius's question snapped me back to reality. "And you know him?"

I turned to the best of my ability, trying to face my other friend. "Oh, yeah, he is," I confirmed. "Sorry I never mentioned that, Lu. Can you put me down now, Fox?"

He looked down to make sure both my feet were on the ground before letting me go, something Sonic had never done when I'd been small enough for him to pick me up. (I'd never gotten hurt, but it's the thought that counts.) I ran back over to Lusius, motioning for Fox to follow me.

"Who's this?" Fox asked me. "A new friend?"

I nodded my head. "This is Lusius. Why don't you introduce yourself, bud?"

"Oh, sure," Lu said. "I'm... I'm Tails's second cousin and apparently one of his best friends-"

"My absolute best friend," I corrected him. "No offense, Fox."

"None taken. Continue. Lusius is a cool name, by the way."

Lu started up again. "Thanks. It's actually spelled with an S instead of a C, makes it pretty rare. Anyway, I'm here to celebrate Tails's birthday with him and Sonic. And before you ask how I'm related to him, I'm part fox. My ears give it away since I don't have a fluffy tail, or a tail at all for that matter. Don't ask why that is, it's a long story mostly related to evolution.

"This is all just so... overwhelming to me. First I find out my hero is real, then he becomes my best friend, then we discover we're related... and now you, Fox. I think you're pretty cool. Never would have thought you'd like Tails jumping into your arms like that, though..."

That comment made Fox look just a little awkward. He gave a bit of a nervous laugh. "I... guess I've got a soft side, eh?"

"Yeah, you do. I thought it was cute."

"Cute? Me? Now I'm really embarrassed..." He laughed again, but it sounded like he was just trying to lighten the mood.

That was when Sonic finally came outside, presumably to see what was going on. "Tails? Who's this, and what's he doing here?"

I was honestly surprised. "You don't remember Fox?" I asked. "He's just down here for my birthday, I think..." I looked at Fox. "Right?"

"It's a long story," he said. "I'm actually here because I heard you were missing and I wanted to help find you, but I guess I was a little slow... I'd been planning to come down for your birthday anyway, so it worked out in the end."

Sonic seemed genuinely confused. "Fox McCloud? That Fox?"

"Yes, that Fox." I said that with a very slight, if unintentional, tone of irritation.

"Oh... that Fox... right... I sort of remember him now that I think about it. Anyway, Vector's just about finished with the food, I came to tell you two- I guess you three now- to come inside if you were getting hungry."

"Alright." I turned to Fox. "You can come in too, it's fine with me."

I had been able to smell the food from Sonic's front yard even though Vector was in the back (yay, finely attuned senses), but the full power of our reptilian cook's skill didn't hit me until I went to join him. Vector makes the best hamburgers. (Notice how I remember what we ate, something I've never managed before? That's how good they are.)