it was all supposed to be a joke. they were supposed to be in steveโs backyard with all their friends and family in shitty lawn chairs, holding cans of budweiser and jamming to whatever song eddie was in the mood for that day blasting through the speakers. steve was supposed to be in front of them all in a tuxedo t-shirt and powder blue dress pants, flowers in his hair that had been teased to high heaven and dark black sunglasses to keep out the bright sun. thatโs how they had planned it all those years ago when theyโd been high and drunk and young and in love.
but somehow instead, the yard is full of flowers and benches that hopper and wayne put together with spare wood for everyone to sit on and thereโs an archway at the end of the aisle and soft acoustic songs spilling gently out of the speakers. steveโs still at the front, that was always supposed to happen, but this time heโs wearing an actual tux, light cream with a boutonniรจre and everything, and his hair is pushed back just so. thereโs no flowers in his hair and no sunglasses but itโs cloudy enough of a day where he doesnโt really need them anyway.
they weren't even supposed to do this. there wasn't supposed to be a grand entrance and a walk down the aisle, no flower girls or ring bearers or anything remotely traditional. but what started off as, "well, i wouldn't mind walking down the aisle," and "i think exchanging rings would be cool," and "who cares if it isn't legal, i'm going to marry you anyway damnit," turned into this beautiful day of friends and family and love.
robinโs standing beside him in a tux of her own, pinstripe grey donning a pocket boutonniรจre that matches nancyโs bouquet, with a few notecards in her hands. and speaking of nancy, sheโs heading down the aisle in a flowing dress, and when her eyes catch robinโs, she crinkles her nose before blowing her a kiss. she stands opposite of steve as eddie's not-quite-bridesmaid and grips her bouquet tightly, her eyes never leaving robin's.
and then there's dustin. he's in a tux that matches steve's and he has his curls pushed back with probably too much gel and a tie that suzie got him for their 3rd anniversary. the best thing he's sporting, though, is the smile on his face and the ring box in his hand and the joy in his eyes as he looks out at the crowd. having him there as best man and smelling the cheap cologne he wears so he seems more grown up calms steve's ever beating heart enough to where he doesn't think he'll throw up from nerves anymore.
all of their loved ones are surrounding them in clothes steveโs never seen before but he couldnโt care at all what theyโre wearing because theyโre all smiling wide and bright at him. he catches himself rocking back and forth on his feet so he shakes out his hands and holds them behind his back to distract himself. his stomach is rolling with waves or butterflies and when he catches joyce's eye in the front row, she mimes taking in a deep breath which he instantly copies. the soft grin she sends in return tells him that he thinks it could actually work to settle him. mothers have that healing way about them.
heโs never been good with weddings, always fidgeting in a too tight suit his mom picked out, but he never thought heโd be this antsy at his own.
steve's just about to give up and sprint down the aisle to get eddie so they can run away together and leave nerves and or butterflies behind him, but then the music stops. he sees lucas changing out the tapes quickly, giving a thumbs up to mike who throws one to will who runs back behind the shed to where he knows eddie is waiting and when will pops his head back out to run back to his seat, it hits him.
he's getting married.
steve doesn't have time to think about it anymore than he already has been for the last 8 years because eddie's coming around the corner of the shed.
'here comes the sun' is playing out over the speakers, soft and perfect, and eddie's smiling, wide and beautiful, and steve can't help but mirror it back to him. the clouds overhead seem to hear them, hear the song and hear their hearts beating in time with each other, because as soon as eddie gets to the aisle, bright warm rays of sunlight peak out and make the rhinestones he demanded line the lapels of his own black tux shine like real diamonds.
steve stops breathing. he swears he does, and he knows his family are all feeling the same way. he can hear a few gasps, hears joyce muttering what she thinks is a silent, "oh my god," in hop's ear, and watches how wayne stands up just a bit straighter from his front row seat.
eddie glides down the aisle like the drama king he is, soaking in the looks from everyone they care about and soaking in the sun that seems to come out only for him. it's like the sun knows he's a star, too, and wants to come out to be with one of it's own. eddie's always been sunshine and starlight and a blinding thing to look at and take in. he's the light, steve's the moth, and a few clouds on their wedding day could never change it.
"well, that was insanely good timing," eddie whispers to steve once he reaches him. his grin softens and he brings up a hand to wipe gently at the tear tracks on steve's cheeks. "hi, baby."
and steve can do nothing but choke out a laugh, catching eddie's hand in his own so he press a kiss to his palm. he thinks he can feel eddie's heartbeat against his lips and, even if it's his brain playing tricks on him, he likes the sentiment that it brings. "i love you so fucking much."
it's eddie's turn to get teary-eyed and the sun glints off the tears that fall down his cheek before heading back behind the clouds, dotting quick-to-fade sparkles on his face like a wedding present.
steve kisses him. he can't help it. it's nothing but a fast press of lips, watery smile to watery smile, and everyone is cheering except for robin.
"hey! it's not time for that yet," she says with a pretend scowl, arms pressing to each of their chests to keep them apart. it's enough to leave nancy giggling where she stands behind eddie, her laugh like bells bouncing off of the trees surrounding them. "just give me like ten minutes and we'll have you married and you can kiss all you want then."
steve swears he can hear mike groan at that which cause him to grin which cause eddie to grin back and then they're holding hands like it's the only way to get through the next ten minutes. and it might just be the only way to get through it. knowing them, if they didn't hold on tight, one of them would make a move first and there'd be hands around waists and fingers tangled in hair and robin would hate them forever because she wouldn't get to do her speech.
it's after vows are shared, after rings are on fingers, after kisses are pressed to lips and cheeks and temples and hands and everything else they can quickly reach, that the two of them get some peace. everyone is inside eating snacks and drinking cheap champagne, and it goes unspoken that they're going to take some time for themselves. take some time to bask in their new maybe not-so-legally real but as real as could ever be in their hearts marriage.
they make their way, hand in hand like they've always been meant to do, to a table set up for them. eddie pops a bottle of champagne that they pass back and forth between themselves as they share cheesy smiles and champagne-laced kisses. and it's as they look into each other's eyes, fingers lacing so their rings clink softly against each other, that the sun peaks out to say hello once more.
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Without One Another
This is a follow up drabble to What Big Brothers Fear The Most, which you can read here if you need context. It's optional but it is required pfffft.
TW: Mentions of death, grief, self hatred, implied/mentions self harm thoughts, swearing
-
Tails knocked on the door three times.
Just three, small thuds with his knuckles against his brother's door.
He hate to bother him, but after what happened a couple of minutes ago, he couldn't help but check up on Sonic.
He needed to make sure he's okay.
"Sonic?" Tails called. "Can I come in?"
After a moment of silence, Tails reconsidered knocking again. But kept moving his glove free hand away from the door, really hating to bother him.
He never bothered Sonic. He knew damn well. But it's two in the morning.
He should be asleep, not knocking at his door and especially not tinkering at his workbench. At least he didn't get scolded for that.
Again.
But it was all just so sudden for Sonic the Hedgehog to say all those things, which, to be fair, was something he needed to hear since forever, out of no where.
He did mention that he had a bad dream, and that he was okay now, but that's about it.
Tails felt like there is more to it than "just a bad dream" and "I'm fine now."
He did had a feeling on what that bad dream was about now.
He knocked again. Just like last time.
"Sonic?" He called, a little bit louder this time. Loud enough for him to hear from the other side, in case the real reason why Sonic didn't respond was because he couldn't hear him the first time.
"Do you mind if I come in and talk to you?" He asked, his ears pinning slowly.
He really didn't wanna bother him.
He's not bothering him. He is not bothering him.
No response again.
...He is, isn't he?
The fox sighed a heavy sigh. A tired one, even. He shouldn't be doing this at this hour. His sleep is much better than-
...Hell no. His sleep is not at all better than his brother's well being.
"I'm coming in." Tails says, before turning the knob and opening the door.
He wasn't ready to go in when he said that, but went in anyways, because he cares.
When the door is fully open, he could see the blue hedgehog himself, sitting on the edge of his bed with an exhausted look on his face, bags under his eyes and some sleep fluttering off his eyelashes.
He flinched slightly, not expecting a bright light coming through the doorway, since he was adjusted to the dark already. "Too bright." He grumbled, rubbing his eyes.
"Oops. Sorry." Tails says, before turning off the hallway lights he forgot to turn off before Sonic went to his room earlier.
"You, uh... You good, buddy?" He asked, a small weak grin rising on his muzzle, relived to see his brother looking somewhat calm, even though he's not asleep.
Though considering what happened, he doesn't blame him for not being asleep right now.
"Just wanted to check up on ya." He continued. "Got kinda worried back there." He scratched the back of his head, not sure on how to keep the conversation going.
He just wanted to talk to Sonic. To let him know that he's here.
"I'm fine." He says, turning his head to face his little brother, a clearly fake smile on his face, that did not match the tiredness in his emerald eyes.
"You sure?"
"I'm sure."
"...Alright then."
The hedgehog let out a loud, long yawn. It went on long enough for even Tails to yawn along with him. After that, Sonic laughed for a bit.
"It's spreading!" He chuckled, despite the tired sounding tone.
Tails giggled quietly. "Oh, noooooo." He "panicked," raising his hands in "fear." He snorted another laughter.
At least they're both laughing together.
"Ah..." Sonic sighed. It felt good to laugh again. "But, yeah, I am fine, little buddy," He reassured. "Just a little tired, is all," He rubbed his right eye.
"And nothing else is wrong?"
"...Nope."
... ...
He exhaled through his stuffed up nose.
"...Just can't sleep, I guess."
Aha. There it is.
Tails knew that Sonic was hiding something from him. He is terrible at hiding things. Very terrible.
Tails walked in his room finally and approached his bed. He stood by him, not sure if he should sit next to him.
"Something on your mind?" Tails casually asked.
"Yeah."
"Mind... telling me what's wrong, then?" Tails asked softly.
"..."
He could read the discomfort from the way his eyes lowered. He knew he didn't wanna talk about it, but sometimes it's better to talk about it than bottle it up.
Sonic kept forgetting about that.
But what ever happened in Sonic's dream messed him up really bad. He's aware that is was a dream, but it was still bothering him.
Must've been terrifying if he's not asleep at the moment.
"You don't have to talk about it," Tails says. "I just want you to know that I'm here in case you do want to talk about it."
The corner of Sonic's lips quivered.
He does.
He looked up at the little kit, his smile gave up and his eyes look sad and restless. Tails frowned slightly, not enjoying seeing his buddy like this.
"It's about my nightmare," he began. "and what happened in it..."
"Okay..." Tails says, sitting down next to him, listening.
"I was fighting Metal and you were in the air fighting some Badniks," He continued. "when suddenly I was caught in an explosion. Infinite was there and... he cut my..."
He placed his hand where his throat is, not wanting to complete his sentence as for a second he remembered how painful that attack was.
Which is absurd, because he's pretty sure he weren't supposed to feel pain in dreams. But sometimes, he does, and it's pretty screwed up.
"I go down and you arrived at a pretty bad time." Sonic says. "I was bleeding out, and you... look so scared." His hands lightly grabbed on hold of the sheets, refusing to look back at the moment. Yet, he did.
Tails was listening to every word he has to say, and he looked more uncomfortable and concerned the more Sonic continued with the story.
"You were crying. You were screaming for me. And... I died right there in your arms. Leaving you all alone..."
He looked away to his right, not wanting to look at his little brother after saying that. He knew that Tails was a little frightened by those words.
And he was.
"I remember you saying something like, 'Don't leave me,' or 'I don't want to be alone.'" His ears pinned down to his head. "But I think the worst thing you said was... 'I can't live without you.'"
Tails' eyes rose.
Sonic sits up and let out a heavy, shaky sigh. He never wanted to tell him what his own brother said to him in his dream. It just doesn't make any sense. It was just a nightmare, so why would it be so stressful?
It didn't happen. It never will.
But...
When he looked back at Tails, there was worry.
Nothing but worry.
Sonic wanted to punch himself in the face so bad for doing this to his little baby brother.
"I was the only family you had, and... you lost it." He muttered out, almost sounding emotionless, yet there was a hint of grief. "You literally cannot live without me. Yet, I know you can take care of yourself, but... I've done so much for you... I never really thought about these kinds of things, but I-..."
He stopped himself, huffing out again and placing his hands on his face, his elbows supporting on his knees. "It's just pissing me off that this nightmare is scaring me this badly." His voice muffled through his hands.
"None of that happened!" He turned back at him, his voice raised. "I didn't die and you weren't saying all those... awful things. I know you would never say that, even if I did-"
"Don't say it."
A small crack in the young one's voice is all it takes to just... break his heart into two.
"You're right about me being independent, but... You have done so much for me, and you are the first person in my life who liked me, and didn't ditch me or hurt me because of my two tails." He says. "And I know I also have Amy, Knuckles, Blaze, everybody... but you... are so important to me, and you always will be, no matter how old I get."
"I know." He often forget that he'll always be important to Tails. Not just for when he's a kid. Not just for right now.
"I know almost every day, we face crazy challenges and go on wild adventures, but we also had some close calls. Like, very close calls. Times where we nearly lost you." Tails continued. "And that one time..." He paused. "...We did lose you."
Sonic exhaled again.
"I thought I could handle it. For the first couple of months. I really did. But..." He sniffled. "Going so long without the one person who will always be there for me, without the one person who changed, saved, my life, without the one person who made me happy to be me... to be alive..."
Sonic shuts his eyes tight.
"Everyone at the Resistance was there, but... you weren't. I thought, we thought, you were dead, Sonic..." He choked quietly. "We believed that for months. I believed that for months. About the third month in, I just... couldn't stand being in a picture that you weren't in."
Sonic hates himself so much right now.
"It's just not the same without my hero." He spoke up. "One night, I just ran away from the Resistance. I was all by myself. Just like my first few years. I wailed, I screamed, I wished that everything that happened around that time was all a horrible, horrible nightmare that I was having, and I would wake up, to you, comforting me, letting me know that everything is okay and that you wouldn't leave me."
You ruined everything, Sonic. The hedgehog scolded himself.
"But..." He continued. "Reflecting on myself after that night, I stood back up and fought on my own, not wanting to have another episode like that... Well, at least I tried to fight back. I can fight back, but... How could I if a part of myself was ripped out of me?"
Dark Gaia...
"I can't say that I can't live without you, but... the world would be a much cruel place without you." Tails says, tears stinging his ocean blue eyes. "If I never have met you, my life would be a living hell. Really. I would never be happy to be me if I never met someone like you. Or just, you at all. I am grateful to have met you, Sonic."
Tails exhaled, not wanting to cry. He couldn't help but shed a few tears anyways. He needed to at this point.
"I'd say that... I would react the same way if you did d- ...you know." He hated saying that word. It felt like if he did say that word, it would happen for real. Which, he knew it's not true, but still...
Sonic placed a hand on his cheek, sighing again. He felt so disappointed in himself, as a brother. If he couldn't beaten Infinite, knowing what he was capable of, then Tails wouldn't have gone through all that mess.
Good Lord, he was only a child. What is up with the universe trying to give this kid hell? He has done nothing wrong!
Why is he failing so hard?
A gross sniffle was heard from Sonic as he covered his face entirely, ready to cry again. It startled Tails.
"Sonic?" He says, reaching his hand out. "A-Are you okay-?"
"No, Tails." He barked. "I'm not okay. I suck! I suck at being there for you when you needed me the most! I knew damn well that I mean a lot to you, and if I could've just kick Infinite's- ...Grrrr!" He nearly failed to hold in his tears, but especially his resent towards himself.
He was important to everybody. But especially Tails.
And he failed to do the most important thing. Look after his baby brother.
"I knew the Eggman War was bad for you, but I didn't know it was this bad... You just didn't tell me these things and- ... ..."
A thought popped in his head. A thought that should never come up to him.
No. He wouldn't. He's too young. He fucking wouldn't.
"Sonic?"
The young voice made him snap back to reality for a brief moment. He turned his head to face him. Sonic was horrified of what he is about to ask him.
"I need you to be honest with me, Miles." He warned, never sounding so serious in his life.
"O-Okay...?"
"Tails... At any point during the Eggman War, have you ever attempted to hurt yourself...?"
" ... ...WHAT?!!"
The question gave Tails a major shock, and even a small jolt down his spine. "ARE YOU INSANE?! Why the heck would y- WHY THE- HOW COULD YOU ASK ME THAT?!" He shrieked, now off the bed and back on his feet, yelling at him.
"Those months were stressful for me, but I didn't try to- What the FUCK, Sonic!!" He sobbed.
Okay, out of ALL the swear words, he should NEVER, EVER use that word, but Sonic was so speechless and scared that he couldn't even give him that warning tone in his voice whenever he swears.
"I-I'm sorry! I was just- I was worried, and-"
"OF COURSE I didn't attempt that! God, just because I can't live without you, doesn't mean I LITERALLY can't! Wh-Why... Oh, my Gaia..." Tails covered his mouth. "I... This is my fault. I should've told you about what I was going through in the first place, but I made you assume... Oh, my Gaia, I'm so sorry, Sonic." He softly cried, crushed from the fact that Sonic was this worried about him right now.
The hedgehog loves him too much.
He hated the idea that Sonic was worried about his own brother doing... that to himself. Granted, that one night was the most stressful of them all, that he nearly thought of it, but he didn't. He refuse to think that way. That's why he kept fighting.
Cause he knew fully well that's not what Sonic wanted, alive or not.
And he was right. Sonic wouldn't want that.
If he wouldn't want that, then neither would Tails.
"No. Don't apologize. Please." Sonic stood up as well, his voice breaking. "It's not your fault-"
"Well, it's not your fault either, Sonic!" Tails croaked. "Neither of us saw it coming! Especially me!"
"I just wished you would've told me about how you were feeling- I mean, you never really told me until we were on the Starfall Islands, but-"
"I thought it wouldn't matter because everything is okay-"
"YOU THINK I'M OKAY WITH YOU HIDING ALL THIS FROM ME?" He roared, tears beginning to stream. "YOU ARE IMPORTANT TO ME, GOD DAMMIT! YOU MEAN THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE TO ME! DO YOU UNDERSTAND?!"
Tails never felt terrified of his big brother's voice.
"I CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT YOU!"
... ...
... ...
Tails hiccuped. Sonic panted. No words can be exchanged. Only looks.
Sad, hurt, protective looks.
The hedgehog huffed. Feeling worse than he already was. But he didn't care. All he ever cared about was his little two-tailed brother.
"You've done a lot for me, Tails." He spoke. His voice was dying out but he couldn't care less. "All my life I thought being a hero is just doing everything yourself and taking care of yourself, but I was wrong. I never realized how wrong I was until I met you."
The fox sniffled, listening to every, little word from his hero.
"Without you, I probably would never have found the Chaos Emeralds, or stop the Death Egg, or save Angel Island, or stop Perfect Chaos, any of that stuff! My life would never be the same if I never met you. In fact, I'm not even sure if I would make it out alive without you."
His voice was trembling, but for the first time in a long time, he didn't care that he was crying in front of someone.
"You made a huge impact on my life, Tails. I owe you everything. Really..." He barely showed off such a sweet smile, but he's so tired and drained from yelling and just, staying up so late, he couldn't find the energy to smile at all right now.
"I am grateful to have you as my brother. And I know I don't say this a lot, but I think about it every time I see my friends, including you... I love you. I love you til the stars twinkle their last shine" A small sob escaped when he spoke the last couple of words.
He meant every word.
"And you wanna know something? Even if, I did die, I'm not really gone, okay? I will remain with you and everyone else forever, whether I'm in person or in spirit. I will always be in your heart and I will always love you, Miles "Tails" Prower."
He held both of Tails' hands as he began to cry. The young fox cried along with him, hearing the last sentence on loop in his head.
He really meant every, single word.
The two brothers embraced in a big hug. The biggest hug they could ever give for each other. Sonic held onto Tails for dear life as he finally sobbed loud enough for even the critters from outside to hear.
Tails hiccuped and cried continuously, not wanting to let go of the one person who changed his life for the better.
For once, they both wish this hug would last forever.
They don't care if they stayed up all night, they refuse to let each other go.
They cannot live without one another.
-
Two things woke Tails up; the sounds of birds chirping outside the window, and Sonic's monstrous snoring.
He tried to open one eye, but it was all blurry and covered in sleep. "Aw, geez... Why did I cry so much...?" He jokingly asked to himself, rubbing his eyes.
He sits up and was about to get off of the bed, but Sonic's snoring startled him a bit and he turned to see him snuggling against one of his pillows.
He looks so goofy, he thought to himself.
He's happy that Sonic's finally getting some good sleep.
Tails looked around to find himself in Sonic's room. When was the last time he slept in Sonic's room?
Old habits die hard, apparently.
"Zzzzzz... n-no chili..." Tails turned his head back the moment he heard him muttered something. "ZZZzzz, no mm chili dogs, 'm full. Thk you fr askin' though, Vanilla, zzzzzz..." He slurred.
Dreaming about chili dogs. Of course he is. Tails snickered.
He looked at the time and it read 11:38. Tails was surprised on how much or the morning is left. Him and Sonic stayed up for so long, just doing nothing but crying and hugging.
Didn't sound like a lot, but it was a long night regardless.
They needed to be there for each other, and it took them this long enough to finally have a moment with each other.
And even after all this time, Tails is still Tails, and Sonic is still Sonic.
And they're still brothers.
What a time to be alive.
"Yo. Big bro." Tails poked Sonic's cheek to wake him up.
"Mmmaybe one more bite wouldn't hurt..." Sonic mumbled before nibbling on his hand.
Tails covered his mouth, quieting down his laughter. Oh, this is his morning coffee. This is entertainment.
He needed this laugh.
"Sonic, wake up. You're dreaming." He hate to ruin the moment, but he needed to wake his brother up. He didn't want him to sleep through the day.
When Sonic's eyes open, the first thing he could see was most of his hand in his mouth. His eyes rose in confusion before he sits up, getting the hand out of his mouth and spitting out in disgust.
"What the heck was I doing??" He cried. Tails was laughing so hard he almost fell off the bed.
"Tails, please don't tell me you saw the whole thing!" Sonic felt so silly. He always known he spoke in his sleep, but this is ridiculous.
"Relax, Sonic. Everyone chews on their own hand in their sleep at some point in their lives." Tails says, getting up and already heading out of the door.
"Doubt that..."
"Yet here it are."
"Shut it." Sonic kept himself from laughing.
He gets up too, putting on his chili dog themed slippers, reading to start the day. "Geez, what a night... I felt like a crybaby."
"Hey. Don't say that." Tails spoke, turning to the hedgehog. "It's okay to cry. I can tell you've been needing to let it out for some time now."
"Yeah..." Sonic said in agreement. He scratched the back of his ear, feeling bad. "Hey, I'm sorry for telling you about all that stuff. I didn't mean to bring you down like that. My nightmare was pretty messed up and-"
"Sonic. It's okay." Tails reassures with a genuine smile. "It's okay to feel and talk about certain things. I'm glad that you get to talk to me about it. Even if it was messy, we still talked it out."
"Yeah." Sonic says, smiling as well. "Thanks. For being there for me."
"I should be thanking you, dude. But, you're welcome. Anything for my big bro!"
He opened the door and walked out. "I'm getting breakfast ready! You hungry?" He called out from outside the room.
"Some waffles sound pretty good!" Sonic replied out loud.
"Okay, cool!" The kit says.
Sonic chuckled softly. He still felt silly after his and Tails' talk, but at the same time, he felt a lot better now.
He may not be used to talking about his feelings, but at least his little buddy was there to listen to him all the way through.
He truly is grateful to have a brother like Tails.
-
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