Atoner
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Sonictober 2024 23rd: Family
Sonic eyes conveyed an answer that his stony expression refused. His request —if it could be called that— finally registered in the jackals mind.
“You are serious.”
The hedgehog only raised an eyebrow in response.
“You would have a deranged, war criminal with the ability to alter time and space, to look after said criminal's ex-casualty’s little brother; who aided in the demise of said criminal?” Zero raised an eyebrow back at the hedgehog. A frown pulling on his muzzle.
“Yes,” Sonic answered.
The jackal scoffs, “And how do you know I’m not going to do it again?”
Now the blue blur looked genuinely confused, “I assume we both know why that isn’t true.”
This makes the older mobian stiffen, “Is that so?”
“Yes.” Sonic looks unphased, even a little bored as he leans on the wall. “We could do it all again, but one of us wouldn’t make out.”
A low growl rumbles from the jackal's throat, “Is that a threat?”
“Luckily, no.”
“Tch.” Zero rolls his eyes. He leans back into his chair, legs crossing as they stretch out. “I’m assuming I have a choice?”
White and red sneakers lightly tap against the linoleum floor. “You do.”
“And you want an answer today,” more of a statement than a question since the jackal knew the answer.
Sonic gives a curt nod.
The request was odd by all standards, but Zero had already made up his mind. An instinctual part of him had decided for him, while the ration side was catching up.
“Fine,” he sighs, “just don’t expect much.”
The tapping stops, “Of course. No one can take better care of my brother than me.” The challenge was clear as day with the smirk on his face.
The canine easily returns it, “It’s not me you’d have to worry about. The wolf however,” a wistful glance to the door, “he can be too kind.”
The younger mobian takes a moment to let that sink in, the full weight of his words understood. “He’s already spoiled,” he chuckles while pushing off the wall, “And congratulations.”
Zero crosses his arms, “I know not what you mean.” The jackal glares at the hedgehog.
“It’s obvious,” Sonic states, “The two of you.” He rolls his eyes when Zero doesn’t respond. “Gadget doesn’t waste second chances let alone give thirds. He’s tough, and very accepting; however he hates wasting time. And yet all his overtime is spent here, with his ‘dear friend’.” The speedster puts his paws up, air quoting. “I’m not one for stories; but, that much dedication is soap opera worthy.”
A tired sigh comes from the jackal, “I’m not giving you my life story.”
“Don’t want it,” Sonic easily replies.
“There is much more to it.” Zero shifts, leaning on an armrest, his face hidden.
“You could just say complicated.” The blue mobian laughs at the other. His expression is nothing but playful.
A frustrated sigh comes from the ex-villain, “This is going to be an ongoing thing with you, isn’t it?”
His laughter continues, “Yea; yea it is.”
A short knock on the door interrupts the two.
The door moves ajar, behind it appears a red wolf mobian dressed in green scrubs. He steps inside and lets out a relieved huff concern washing off his face. Replacing it with curiosity.
“You didn’t mention stopping by,” he notes before moving to the desk behind Zero. He grabs an assortment of papers that he adds to his clipboard.
Sonic chuckles, throwing his hands up in surrender. “You caught me. Wasn’t sure I would.”
Said canine grins at the hedgehog playfully. “Quickest thing alive caught by a doctor? The world must be ending,” he reciprocates. Gadget moves to sit on the bed beside the window, clipboard in hand.
“Ha, he wishes he could,” Sonic smirks.
Gadget crosses his legs before continuing. “The director wanted to see you before you left. Though he looked impatient,” he gave the hedgehog a knowing look.
Now the hedgehog sighs, “From one evil to the next,” Sonic heads to the door waving at the pair. “See ya.”
He’s halfway out the door before he stops. “Oh,” he turns to Gadget, mischief written all over his face. “Congratulations.” He ignores the glare being thrown at him by the jackal.
Gadget, who looks utterly confused, responds. “…Thanks?”
Sonic leaves out the door chuckling. The room takes on an awkward silence as the door closes.
“…What was that about?” Gadget turns from the door to the jackal who's still glaring at the door.
“Nothing,” Zero answers, finally getting up and stretching. He joins Gadget on the bed, flopping backwards behind the wolf. The motion jostles the unphased doctor.
“Uh huh.” Unbelieving, Gadget turns to the jackal behind him. “What did he stop by for?”
“…He requested a demande.”
The wolf raised an eyebrow even though the other wasn’t looking at him. Still he patiently waited for the other to elaborate.
It took a full two minutes until the jackal gave in. He huffed, “…He requested I watch over the fox, his brother, if something happened to him.” Heterochromatic eyes finally landed on the wolf, their roles reversed.
Gadget didn’t react. His face stays neutral. “Did you accept?” he questions.
Zero grumbled as he shifted away, “Not like I had much of a choice.”
This makes the red mobian physically confused. “Did he say you didn’t?” He taps the jackal who looks back at him. “It wouldn’t make sense to ask somebody who you know wouldn’t take care of your only kin,” he gives Zero a look.
The jackal hums in though.
“Now if he made it sound like you didn’t, that’s just Sonic.” The wolf flips through the packet, jotting down information. “Intimidation works best for him, which can be unsettling; even for me.”
That had Zero lost in thought. The mind numbing sound of the scratch of a pen on paper quickly became background noise. His brain was still processing the hedgehog's request.
The last year had been a lot. A few months ago, he had been waiting for death, only to be resuscitated by a promise he broke a decade ago. Now, he’s here atoning for his family’s death. Life really has its work cut out for him.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
