Call them brothers by Regina Spektor and Only Son.
~~~

"You won't get away from me this time, Robuttnik!"

"It's Robotnik you rat!"

A white gloved hand scooped up a few floating golden rings as he tilted towards them, then opting to flick his nose. Green eyes rolled before the hedgehog curled into a ball, zooming around a collection of palm trees. He blasted across a winding, cube patterned pathway (circling Robotnik sat in what was known as his 'Eggmobile') prior to delivering a ferocious hit upon arrival.

"I ain't a rat!" Sonic unraveled to send a powerful kick. "I'm a hedgehog!"

"A pest all the same!" Robotnik sneered and swung his machines large metal claw at the hedgehog, joyously laughing upon catching him in it's grasp.

Sonic struggled and narrowed his eyes when brought closer to the emperor, so he spat in the other's face. Immediately, Robotnik let go of his controls and began wiping over his face in a panic, unknowingly dropping his opponent. The blue speedster landed with a stumble and looked up at the yelling man.

"Ick-! Disgusting low life! Horrific animal! You'll-!" Robotnik dropped to his Eggmobile's floor when it was sent spinning, catching a blue blur zoom past his vision.

"I'm not wasting anymore of my time on you, rodent." He grumbled, sitting up with wonky glasses and reaching for his controls.

Sonic landed and looked to a light grey capsule full of flickies laying on it's side. He had ventured out to this place named Emerald Hill (similar to Green Hills- except it occupied more tracks and less loops) only to encounter Robotnik once again. The emperor had repeatedly taken captive of many flickies, so Sonic was quick to step in. Strangely, the human (upon seeing him) had immediately dropped the capsule and used the Eggmobile's claw since as a weapon.

Sonic shook his head to refocus, quills sharpening when said claw clung onto the capsule's yellow button. He was quick to chase after it, leaping into the air as he reached but was more than surprised by the claw retracting. Simultaneously, a thinner, sharper one slivered out the same hole and whacked him away. Sonic flailed as golden rings danced around him and he watched as Robotnik vanished behind the clouds- taking the crying flickies with him.

"No-!" He landed face first on Mobius' ground but quickly picked himself up.

He readied himself to run yet soon stumbled from hearing nearby bushes rustle beside him. He spun to see nothing suspicious but trees and shrubbery. Odd, but easily could've been wind (despite it being a very warm, windless day) or a shy animal. He shrugged it off, deciding he had more important matters to focus on instead of becoming highly paranoid, and took off in a rapid chase.

—————

He had searched the surrounding area for the rest of day, staying knowledgeable that a rumoured Robotnik factory was nearby. However he was also aware he couldn't take that on by himself, thus he found himself jogging in Emerald Hill's neighbouring forest deep in his thoughts. There was an obvious solution to all this, but Sonic wasn't exactly the best at admitting he needed help.

He slowed to a stop with a grumble, ears twitching yet again at the familiar sound of rustling bushes. It had been more than today, in fact for the past couple of them he'd felt like he was being followed. Bushes moving, exhausted panting and in the corners of his eyes moving shadows (just yesterday a coconut had landed on his head when passing such a tree). Then, he caught a sniffle and sprung into a fighting stance- eyes darting around him.

'I really hope I'm not losin' it.'

Upon a second sniffle his arms dropped and he looked to some nearby shrubbery, where shuffling and short breaths soon followed. He raised a brow and cautiously approached the greenery, slowly crouching and parting small branches and leaves.

There he was stunned to see a rather frail, young fox with wide, glistening blue eyes. He wore one white, one grey ripped gloves and mismatched brown, bandaged shows. His golden orange fur was clumpy and muddy, with a few nasty looking scars to make his appearance dishevelled. His form was shaking and hands covered his mouth, looking like a terrified deer caught in headlights. Sonic opened his mouth to try and calm the other down, but simply delivered a pathetic squeak.

The fox immediately jumped up and scrambled past, accidentally knocking the older of the two down. Sonic shook his head in surprise and lifted himself up to catch the kid attempt to climb a tree. He silently sighed and strolled over, carefully bringing the fox away from the evergreen. He kept a firm but attentive hold on the child's elbow, opting to kneel on one knee so they were eye level. Sonic watched the fox fiddle with his thumbs, looking bashful to have been found and contemplative (no doubt about him).

"S-sorry. I didn't expect you to find me. B-but I didn't mean to m-make you paranoid! Promise! I-I...I only wanted to thank you for saving me those days ago."

Sonic's eyes widened upon the confession. 'He's been following me for days?' He scanned quickly over the other's weak form again, feeling a strong sense of sympathy (and a deep urge to protect). Simultaneously the fox seemed to calm down enough for his fur to rest and shoulders to relax.

"I would've said something but...well...I was scared. A-and you don't talk much. But it's better than being back there." The fox winced upon seeing the other's face warp into concern.

"Sorry. Ignore that. I've heard you talk a little, but only when you're...around him." He shivered, but the other must've taken that as him being about to collapse for the hedgehog quickly held him by the shoulders.

"I-I'm okay. I've eaten berries and coconuts whenever you stop for a break. But I wouldn't mind you having more of them." The hedgehog gave an apologetic, sheepish smile in response.

The fox raised a brow. "Can...can you talk?" His saviour only loosened his hold and looked down.

"Sorry."

Sonic met blue eyes once more. 'He says that a lot.'

"I-I'm Miles by the way. Miles Prower. I don't like the name though." The fox waited for a reply, but was fruitless.

"Oh. I think I get it now. You're mute right? But not all the time. I read about it in one of my books. Selective muteness I think it's called?" Miles scratched his messy chin. "My book said it doesn't have one cause, but usually brain damage or trauma can lead to it." He watched the other sweat drop and bite his lower lip.

"S-sorry. Sometimes I get...caught up in what I'm saying. I-I didn't mean to make you bored!"

Sonic quickly waved his hands, shook his head and tapped the fox's head as if questioningly.

Miles tilted it in confusion. "Um...are you asking how I knew that?" The hedgehog nodded in reply. "Oh. I-I guess I have a knack for learning things. But I've always preferred inventing and building stuff."

Sonic patted the fox's head when he opened his mouth, no doubt to apologise. He gave a gesture for the other to continue.

"I um...I guess that's why those kids you saw me with were erm...not being nice." He gulped, his tattered tail swishing behind him. Perhaps it was safe to...?

He began fiddling with his ruined gloves and shut his eyes, taking a deep breath prior to revealing a pair of large fuzzy tails swaying behind him. He heard the other's breathing briefly still, so took a nervous peak to find the hedgehog staring at them with cartoonishly wide eyes. Miles couldn't help but giggle as he watched the other properly, opting to give his tails a light twirl.

"They call me a freak. The village I stayed at. They say I-I'm a weirdo and that I don't belong. Never felt-."

Miles looked up when he heard a strange crackle and mindlessly stepped back upon seeing a large red exclamation mark bouncing atop the hedgehog's head. He too appeared surprised, stunned eyes watching and hands reaching out to the fizzling punctuation symbol. It slipped between his fingers and soon entirely vanished into the air.

"W-what...?" Miles met startled green eyes and let out a small laugh.

Sonic grinned at the ever growing relaxed demeanour of the fox and climbed up. He didn't feel feel like he needed to be on his guard, nor highly cautious. However he stiffened briefly upon Miles grabbing his glove, blue eyes becoming fearful and panicked.

"Y-you're leaving?"

Sonic was quick to shake his head and freed his hand to pat between the kids ears again. Then he paced, tapping his chin and seemingly trying to gather enough nerve for something. Miles was a little baffled and thought the hedgehog to be a little...eccentric. He didn't find it off putting though, instead giggling in amusement at the other's antics. But soon he realised the hedgehog was trying to muster the courage to carry out some sort of action. Conversation, perhaps?

"What's your name, by the way?" He decided to ask, getting his saviours attention.

The older of the two watched as the fox neared, taking his own hand between his tattered gloves. He watched curiously and-

"Sonic. Sonic the Hedgehog."

"Ha ha!" Miles widely smiled and clapped, seeing the other's face crack into a grin.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Sonic!"

The speedster smiled and rolled his eyes, ruffling the other's fur. "Same here kid. But ya could've introduced yourself sooner."

Miles became bashful again. "Yeah, sorry. But I- woah!" He stiffened as Sonic lifted him up onto his shoulders- craning his head so his spines were out the way.

"Mind the quills kiddo." He set off in a jog. "You got any parents I can take ya to?"

"I um...I don't remember. I-I-."

"Sorry. How's about I get you back home?"

Miles squirmed. "That's not my home. Please don't take me back there!"

Sonic slowed upon them leaving the forest and entering Emerald Hill. "Then where to kid?"

"W-well I was thinking that maybe I could...maybe...you know...stick with you."

His eyes widened and he chuckled in disbelief, but quieted down upon noticing the fox's serious (or desperate) demeanour. "H-hey pal I ain't exactly carer material."

"I promise I won't be a burden! Besides you're the only person that's treated me nicely...."

'Damn it.'

"...You said you're an inventor, right?"

"W-well I wouldn't-."

"You're smart enough to be. Guess I could use the company."

Miles' eyes lit up and he held onto the other's ears. "So you'll let me stay?!"

"Ack-! Yeah yeah, you can tag along." Sonic picked up the pace to sprint. "Besides, I wanna show you something. Trust me, you're gonna love it, Little Buddy."