You're Makin' Me

The Time Before The Light

Amy held his hand tightly as she escorted him into her bedroom. "Don't look." She warned as he flopped down on the bed and slowly removed his sneakers.

"No danger, I've no intention of dishonoring your privacy." Sonic had to wonder if those were really his words. . .and chuckled when he realized that they were. He faced the other way, and listened to Amy change behind him. Wow, he thought with amusement. She actually trusts me not to look! He smiled at that, until warm hands draped around his neck. 

Oh! That feeling was heavenly! The warmth was something that felt so good, it almost had a sweet taste. Sonic leaned into the treatment, almost expecting to feel a massive cozy feeling in his belly. But, he kept the cloak around him as Amy released him and climbed under the covers. Sonic gingerly removed his gloves.

There was a silence between them in the darkness of Amy's room. Sonic lay on his back between the covers, arms folded behind his head, staring with wide, bright eyes up into the ceiling, waiting for his starvation and fatigue to drag him into a faint. He had eaten enough so that he wouldn't die, and tomorrow's plan ensured a great amount to fill and fuel him, surely. He was content, knowing that tonight was the last night he would fall into slumber from a faint.

Amy lay there in bed, planning what foods to make him tomorrow. She would have to go shopping first thing in the morning. It would leave her nearly broke, and with nothing in the house for herself, but perhaps she could guilt Sonic into treating her to lunch. Besides, no matter how much she fed him, he would always be able to eat another bite. Especially now. Only. . .this time she didn't think she'd be insulted because of it.

"Sonic?"

"Hmm?"

"Are you still awake?"

Sonic chuckled, wincing because it hurt. "If I answered you, doesn't that mean I'm here?"

"No. It could mean I'm dreaming." Amy replied, hurt, as she curled into herself under the covers.

Sonic reached over a and pulled her against his side. Amy shivered as her back touched against his ribs. She felt her way up his body for his shoulder, and found he'd laid a pillow there. It was rather considerate of him to do that.

"Well, you're not dreaming, Amy. I'm really here." He said at last.

"I know. And that's the hardest part to believe." Amy sighed into the pillow, feeling Sonic move his bony hand down her back. The other one still supported his head.

"I'm here, Amy. And, I'm so sorry. I never meant to worry you, or Tails, or Knuckles. Not even Shadow, if he cares." Sonic closed his eyes out of shame.

Amy sighed and moved her way up to kiss him tenderly against his sallow cheek. "Sonic, I think we need to apologize to you. Tails and Knuckles and I--we knew that you were weak and sick, and yet we didn't help you fight Eggman. I'm sorry I never helped you, Sonic."

Sonic's feet stretched out and his hands came after. He yelped in pain as his skin stretched against his sides, and Amy reached out in alarm to heal him if she could. Sonic waved her off and relaxed again. "Seriously, Amy." He chuckled almost inaudibly. "I wouldn't have let you help me."

"Why not?" Amy pleaded.

"Go to sleep, Amy."

Amy pouted. Sonic used to tell her that when she was little. Back when she was too young to enter the field. Go to sleep, Amy. The heroes are talking. She used to think of it as an insult, but learned that was how he kept things from her.

"Tell me." She protested, poking at his skeleton-akin chest. "Or you can starve tomorrow."

Sonic shrugged dismissively. "Big deal. I've starved for months. One day will be no different!"

"Are you so sure?" Amy teased, a malevolent look in her eye.

Sonic rolled his eyes. "You spent waaaaaaayyy too much time with Shadow while I was away. Now, sleep!"

"But. . .!" Amy protested once again at him.

Sonic yawned himself. The heat of a faint was beginning to affect his head. He couldn't starve it off for much longer. "I promise, I'll tell you one day. Just. . .not right now. Go to sleep, Amy."

"Goodnight, Sonic." Amy answered, leaning down on the pillow.

But Sonic didn't answer. He was already falling into the darkness of another faint.

The last one that would affect him in quite a while.