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Even as a superpowered animal-alien from outer space, life in a small town in the middle of nowhere could be pretty boring.
On days like today, when they had nothing better to do, the hedgehogs would mooch about town. Maybe take a walk in the woods, explore the junkyard, or like they were now grab a bite to eat at the local fifties’ diner just down Main Street.
A sad little fox in denim dungarees released a sigh as he picked at his burger. “Why don’t they have Happy Meals here? I wanted a toy...”
His older brother shrugged. “Dunno, bud. I reckon they’d get into trouble if they did that!” Sonic made a show of leaning toward the window and frowning. “Hey! What kind of plane is that??”
Miles Wachowski’s ears perked and the smaller fox left his plate, hurrying to the window. “Where?? What plane???” In an instant, his blue brother shot out a hand and stole a handful of his fries, cackling with mischief as Miles look back. “Hey!!!”
“Hey, relax kiddo! I’m only teasing ya! Here...” Sonic shoved the rest of his plate over, “have the rest of mine.”
That seemed to appease the little fox, who happily dug into the rest of his big brother’s leftovers. Across the table, Shadow picked at his burger while Silver seemingly stared into space. It was early in the afternoon on a Saturday, other kids occupied the tables around them, and the boys were otherwise having a chilled-out day.
Soon, the young woman who worked behind the counter approached the table to collect their empty plates. “Everything okay for you guys?” She said, smiling brightly as she greeted them.
Samantha Monroe was met with an affirmative chirrup from Sonic an Tails, a grunt from Shadow... and a startled squeak from Silver.
“Uh.... y... yeah! Amazing! Awesome!!!” Silver stammered, playing with his hands as he tried to compose himself. “Better than awesome!!! Amazing service!!!!!! RIGHT GUYS????”
The other hedgehogs snickered between themselves while the human girl gave Silver a very odd look, before shrugging and leaving with their plates. Silver visibly deflated and clapped his hands over his face, while Sonic and Shadow smirked at him.
“What’s the matter, Silv??” Sonic said airily, leaning in close to his cousin, “looking a little flustered there, buddy!”
“Shut up!” Silver said between his fingers, while Shadow folded his arms and smirked.
“ ‘wonderful service, Samantha...” Shadow said lightly, “ ‘amazing service, Samantha!’ ‘pay attention to me Samantha!’ ‘Marry me, Sam-“
“Shut uuuuuup!!!!!” Silver’s voice cracked and he tugged at his quills as he snapped at his brother and his cousin, Sonic and Shadow laughing between themselves while Tails merely looked confused. Sonic cackled and wrapped his arms around Silver’s shoulders, shaking his unfortunate and awkward cousin vigorously.
“Relax, dude! We’re just giving you a hard time!” Sonic chuckled, ruffling his cousin’s head fur before reclining in his seat. “Gotta do something to stay entertained around here...” The hedgehogs fell silent, lazily picking at the remainder of their food, before Sonic leaned back over his chair and released a miserable groan. “Oh my God I’m SO BORED”
“Yes, we are aware...” Shadow grunted, irritably glancing at Sonic from his phone, “you’ve only told us, like, a hundred times. Real pain in the ass hearing you whine.”
Sonic leaned forward and jabbed a finger at his cousin. “Hey, don’t cuss in front of my baby brother man, that’s not cool!”
Tails scowled, scrunching his ketchup-stained muzzle up. “Hey! I’m not a baby!”
The fox released a disgruntled yip as his older brother playfully scuffed his head-fur, Sonic grinning mischievously before looking back to Silver. Sonic sighed, the grey hedgehog staring in the direction of the counter once again. Sonic grinned, eyes gleaming with mischief, exchanging a glance with Shadow before slowly - and very quietly, leaning over the table toward Silver. He held his breath, muzzle now very close to his cousin’s triangular ear, Silver completely unaware as he watched the human girl he was crushing so badly on. Sonic waited just a couple of seconds, before bellowing at the top of his lungs. “SILVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Silver squeaked in terror and tumbled from his seat, landing on his butt and twisting his tail the wrong way while the other hedgehogs whooped with laughter.
“Oh my GOD!!!!” Sonic positively cackled, grinning stupidly down at his cousin, “that was HILARIOUS!!!”
“Sh.... shut uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuppp!!!” Silver’s muzzle burned beneath his fur, the hedgehog very aware of other customers looking his way. He shot a glare at Shadow, who was busy silently heaving into both gloved hands. Only Tails seemed concerned, though the young fox smiled uncertainly at his big brother’s example. Silver stood up and brushed himself off. “You know what?? Screw you guys, I’m going home!!!”
“Oh come ooooon Silv!” Sonic groaned long and loud, tossing a discarded French fry at Shadow (much to the dark hedgehog’s disgruntlement), “we’re only teasing ya! Silv! ... Silv?”
The little group watched, as Silver Whipple went still. Sonic looked to see what had spooked his cousin, and his ears flattened at the sight of a battered old truck clattering in to park beside the diner.
“What?” Shadow frowned, then groaned as he saw the truck. “Oh, no...”
“Yeah...” Sonic shared the dark hedgehog’s dismay, “It’s THEM...”
Silver dejectedly flopped back into his seat as the doors to the blue truck swung open. From the passenger side, a pink-furred figure wrapped in a red dress with matching boots hopped out, happily tapping at a pink cell phone. From the driver’s side, a decidedly less well-groomed figure, clad in battered and faded denim overalls and sporting ragged brown fur, slammed the truck door shut and scowled in the direction of the diner, leading her companion inside.
Crazy Carl's girls. Amy and Sticks. The Sanchez Sisters.
“Maybe we can sneak out the back?” Silver said hopefully.”
“Nah dude...” Sonic glanced to the door, where the two girls were just entering, “a little too late for that...”
“Amy!” Tails squeaked, happy to see the pink hedgehog at least.
“Oh, hey Tails!” Amy Sanchez, youngest daughter of local town kook ‘crazy’ Carl, Beamed and sauntered over to the table. She briefly regarded the fox cub before her attention fixed entirely on his blue brother. “Oh... hiiiiiii, Soniiiiiiiiiic!!!!!!”
“Uh...” Sonic raised his head and wore a polite, nervous smile. “H... hi, Amy...”
The pink hedgehog batted her eyelashes and sidled close to him. “Oh, Sonic! I was just telling Sticks how I hoped we’d see you today! Do you like my dress??”
“Uh................................... yeah?” Sonic pretended to inspect her dress with fake interest, “yeaah... groovy...”
Before Amy could do much more than squeak in delight, her companion strode forward with boots clomping into the polished black-and-white floor tiles of the diner. “Watch what ya say to ‘dese guys, Amy!” Sticks, Carl Sanchez’ scruffier other adopted alien daughter, scowled and folded her arms over her battered overalls. “Who knows what SECRETS they’re gon’ leak to their fascist parents!!!!”
Shadow groaned while Sonic leaned his head back in despair. “Oh my God... fascist parents? You DO realise my dad literally fought the government to protect me, right?”
“And our dad probably couldn’t SPELL ‘fascism’...” Silver mumbled.
“You’re just pissed because our dad pulled you over for speeding,” Shadow remarked, raising an unfriendly eyebrow in the badger’s direction.
“THE EVIDENCE AGAINST ME WAS MANUFACTURED!!!” Sticks screeched, glaring daggers at the hedgehog and startling every other customer in the diner, “LIES!! SLANDER!!!!!”
“Sticks!” Amy clenched her fists and whined, pouting at her adoptive sister, “stop embarrassing me in front of Soniiiiiic!!!!!!”
“Oh for the love of... okay guys, show’s over...” Sonic took his younger brother’s hand and stood, almost dragging Tails along with him, “we’re leaving!”
“Good!!!” Sticks bared her teeth at the departing hedgehogs while Amy wailed in despair, “an’ stay out!!!”
The three hedgehogs and their little fox friend found themselves wandering down the quiet Main Street, Tails running ahead and kicking a discarded can while the teens sulked. “Boy...” Sonic moaned, raising his hands and setting them behind his head as he walked, “why won’t that girl LEAVE ME ALONE??”
“They’re called hormones, Sonic.” Shadow grumbled, uninterested in the blue hedgehog’s girl troubles. “It’s a whole thing. Just ask Philbert here.”
“Hey!”
“Yeah well, you’d think after this many years she’d take the hint!” Sonic sighed, kicking an empty can down the street, “Sonic Wachowski don’t swing that way for anybody!”
“Are we sure this is... appropriate to talk about right now??” Silver hissed between his teeth, glancing pointedly to the youngest of their group. Tails didn’t appear to be paying attention but the grey hedgehog appeared painfully embarrassed.
Shadow snorted. “Why, reminding you too much of your girlfriend?”
Silver squeaked and clenched his fists indignantly as Shadow and Sonic cackled at his expense. “I... you... alright, that’s it!” the grey hedgehog’s voice cracked a he spun on his heel and stormed away. “I’m going home!!!”
The others watched him leave, Sonic frowning in confusion. “Huh. What’s eating him?”
Shadow shrugged. “Eh, he’s just a drama queen.”
“True, true. Hey, c’mon lil’ buddy!” Sonic diverted his attention to his little brother, ruffling Tails’ head-fur. “Let’s go find that toy you wanted!”
Tails squeaked in delight, scampering off with his brother as they headed off to the store. Shadow remained where he was, hands shoved in the pockets of his leather jacket. “Oh, alright then. Leave me by myself!” he muttered, looking about the quiet street. He remained silent, considering. “... this is nice.”