Knuckles is by N/N's side, not leaving.

He felt guilt squeezing his chest, he didn't mean to punch him...he panicked.

He stared at N/N comparing him to his old memories from before.

He then look at N/N's robotic arm...he wondered...what happened..?

He still have some memories that he can't remember...especially on how they got seperate...and he also wondered where are their parents?

All of these questions left unanswered, it made him frustrated causing him to let out a growl.

He heard a door opening making him look over, he sees Sonic coming in.

Knuckles slowly calmed down seeing his annoying friend as Sonic walk over slowly.

"how is he?" he asked as Knuckles look at N/N.

"...his...fine now..." he said have his eyes starring at N/N still.

He felt a hand on his shoulder making him look over and sees Sonic giving him a bright smile.

"don't worry Knux, I'm sure your brother will be back in shape" he said with still courageous tone, it made Knuckles slightly smile a bit.

"heh...your right..."he said knowing his brother is strong...his just unconscious not dying...

Sonic look over at N/N seeing him personal.

Sonic continue to stare at the A/C echidna, seeing his peaceful face...his A/C fur...

Sonic slightly blushed at the sight, when did echidnas look this cute?

"pardon?"

His mind got interrupted by a femilliar voice, he look over and sees Knuckles looking at him with a confused expression.

"what?" Sonic asked confused as Knuckles raised a brow.

"who are you calling cute?" he asked in a slight stern voice, Sonic blink.

"w-wait you read my mind?!" Sonic asked in disbelief, Knuckles look at him dumbfounded before shakes his head.

"no you moron, i heard you saying cute who do you even call that anyway?" Knuckles asked looking around to see something 'cute'.

"n-no one! I'm just thinking about the flicky that's all!" he lied with a nervous smile slightly scratching his quills.

Knuckles look at him and raised a brow.

"u-uh anyway bye!" he said as he suddenly zoom out of the room leaving Knuckles dumbfounded and his sleeping brother.

Knuckles just let out a sigh and wonder what's wrong with Sonic.

Over past few hours Knuckles have notice that Mighty and Rough have been visiting N/N at first his okay with it.

That is until even Shadow started to visit him which made Knuckles feel uncomfortable, and now he even saw Sonic visiting N/N at night which creeps him out.

Knuckles is confused on what's going on with them, he did asked each one the next day.

But Rough just change the subject, Mighty just said his worried for his friend which find it weird considering his blushing while saying it and Sonic just said some excuses and Shadow ignored his question.

And now his getting frustrated.

His overthinking about this, he have his hand on his chin thinking deeply, today his inside of N/N's room where his sleeping.

He heard some noise looking over and sees N/N turning then sleeps.

Knuckles stared at N/N for a while before placing his hand on N/N's side, smilling slightly at his brother, he closed his eyes and let out a sigh.

Everything hurts, but his fear is very high which made him shakes, infront of him is a tall figure.

He look around and sees his father trying to fight them off while trying to protect his mother that have a injury, he look around more and sees his brother surrounded with the other figures.

Y/N is scared and terrified, he want to go back home, he want to go back.

He let out small hiccups as small tears start to run down his muzzle starring up at the figure, he then sees it.

The figure starring at him as his eyes shrunk in fear, he can't move.

He then sees the figure raises his hand holding something.

"Y/N!" he heard his brother calling out to him making him look over and see him looking at him with fear and worry.

"k-Knochel.." he said in a low tone, he heard a click looking over and sees the figure pointed the thing on him, it made his eyes widen more taking a step back.

"Y/N! Get out of there!" he heard his father warned making him look over but-

BANG

A sudden pain shot through his stomach letting out cries, he stumbled even more but his foot slipped...he quickly grab the edge, holding his stomach that is bleeding out, his breathing heavily wincing from the pain.

"Y/N!!!"

He heard a shout manage to look and sees his brother running to him, a smile of relief got to him as his brother quickly kneel down to get him up.....

His eyes widen seeing himself falling, his brother tried to reach for him as he aswell tried to reach for his brother.

Knuckles got startled when N/N immediately sit up, he was about to speak but slowly closses his mouth.

Seeing his pupils shrunk like dots, sweat running down and his body is trembling.

Knuckles look at his brother with confused but worried look.

"..N-N/N...?"he called for him causing N/N to quickly react...like his ganna hurt him or something.

Knuckles stared with worry and concern he tried to reach for him but N/N tried to move away from him, he doesn't know why his acting like this...

Is it because he punch his head? Did he know?

His confused but he hate seeing N/N like this.

N/N looks around seeing the unfemilliar place, his heart start racing more as he quickly tried to get out of bed.

Knuckles quickly react because of this and tried to grab him.

But N/N is quick running away and kicking the door down with such force startling the young fox that was walking by.

N/N didn't bother to look at the fox as he sprinted out of the room and through the hall, Knuckles just behind.

"N/N!" He shouted running out of the door almost slipping but continued to run off as Tails blink a bit shock.

Espio is walking by until he heard rushing footsteps, he look over but he got bump by someone hitting each other's heads, thankfully avoiding his yellow spike.

Espio forcefully sit down rubbing his forehead, he look over and sees N/N rubbing his head as his eyes widen slightly seeing the echidna awake.

"N-" he immediately got cutted off when the echidna immediately run off accidentally stepping on his hand which cause him to frozed with his tail shoot straight.

"A-Ah!" he yelp in pain holding his sore hand, soon enough he heard another rushing footsteps looking over and sees Knuckles this time and quickly went where N/N run off to.

Leaving the chameleon with a very sore hand.

Rough comes in to visit N/N but the next think she knew she sees two echidnas wrestling at eachother on the floor.

She blink in suprised as Knuckles sees her.

"Don't just stand there! Help me!" he yelled at her which she immediately snapped out of her daze and quickly went over to help him.

N/N is trying to kick Knuckles off him but his limps are weakened, he felt hands under his arms and forcefully lift him as he panted heavily.

N/N tried to struggle out but Rough have her grip on him tight as Knuckles dusted himself off.

"hun, you have to calm down" said Rough in slight worry tone, N/N didn't listen his still in a panick, Knuckles seeing this take a deep sigh.

The chaotix came over after Espio told them and now sees the struggling N/N desperately trying to get out.

"let go of me!" he yelled glarring at them as Knuckles just stared.

"it's alright hun, your safe now" she said trying to calm the echidna but N/N shot a glare at her.

"don't make me hurt you!" he threatened her still keeping his glare.

"you can't hurt me" she said with a smile thinking his jokong but sees him dead serious as she blink and rethinking.

N/N yanked his arm off her grip he was about to yank his other arm until two strong arms wrap around him and pull him in embrace making him frozed in shock.

(yes, N/N wears socks because they took off his shoes before putting him to bed)

Both echidnas don't move and veen in that position, Rough stared at them as she put her hand on her waist, watching the scene infront of her.

Sonic and Tails also came to help but sees the scene making them stop, their beside the Chaotix watching in suprised.

Their been in that position for...about 3 minutes, Knuckles isn't letting go his just...want to make sure his calm now...

N/N is silent, many thoughts came through his head at this time.

"...i..i'm here..." in that single sentence N/N snapped out of his thoughts hearing him speak.

"...you don't have to worry..." he said right after as he slightly let go of him but still have his hands on N/N's shoulders as N/N stared at him with same suprised expression, Knuckles stared at him as both purple eyes look at eachother.

Knuckles crack a smile on his muzzle, almost want to laugh thinking it's another dream but...here he is...alive and infront of him...his real and not a dream...

"...because I'm here..." he said the last part in a soft tone as N/N just stared at him still have the same expression just starring at him like processing what happened, Knuckles only smiled looking at his brother, he cannot describe what his feeling but...for the first time...he felt complete.

"i won't let you go this time..."

"never again..."