Sonic and Shadow were searching through G. U. N. secret files. They found out that both are pretty high on the list of potential threats to the world, which surprised neither of them. What they were not expecting was that Tails was also there. And was placed higher than them.
i think Sonic would internally know how dangerous Tails is, but his own brain refuses to actually realise that.
Sonic knows how much potential Tails has, for good and for bad. he could bring the world to a new age, or he could be more of a threat than Eggman could have ever dreamed of being— all the intelligence, none of the countless debilitating complexes. however, that is his itty bitty lil baby boy whom he found in a dumpster and raised by himself! Tails? a threat to the -world-?? he appreciates that G.U.N. holds his brother in high regard, but come on. that’s a little overboard.
but Shadow knows how powerful intelligence is when not matched by self-restraint, he’d seen it on the ARK. he just. didn’t think G.U.N. knew that too, and now he’s very worried on the brothers’ behalf.
Or if I may offer an alternative…
Sonic: No way, I can’t believe it!
Shadow: (Trying to reason with him) I know he’s your younger brother, but—
Sonic: How is he not at the top of the list yet!
Shadow: (Staring at Sonic in confusion) What?!
Sonic: Tails should be first. Third at best!
Shadow: …do you not understand the threat here?
Sonic: Oh, I know. GUN clearly hasn’t figured it out yet.
I stand by the belief that Sonic is fully aware and has been aware of Tails’ capabilities. He is canonically supportive of Tails and views him as a partner and equal. In pretty much any situation, Tails is his go to guy and the one he seeks advice and direction from. Tails is brilliant and fully capable of great things. Sonic knows this. Sonic believes in him. It probably wouldn’t surprise him that Tails is more of a threat than himself or that anyone else would notice.
Heck, most of his friends would be considered threats by GUN’s standards and it would be hilarious if they all knew about the list. They could treat the level of danger as rankings.
Sonic: Hey, Amy! You jumped a few spots!
Amy: Awesome!
Shadow: (In the background being ignored) You do know this is supposed to be a concern, right?
Sonic: Knuckles, you got bumped down again.
Knuckles: Good. It’ll mean less of them trying to come around my island.
Sonic: You’re no fun.
Tails: I could hack GUN again and lower you further if it’ll help.
Sonic: Hey hey! We agreed no cheating in hacking the rankings!
Tails: But does it count as cheating if he wants to lose?
Shadow: …what do you mean “again”?
Tails: Don’t worry about it.
orbot and cubot are at number seven and no one knows why
Per the GUN dossier: They know what they did.
