Chapter Text
The train wheels screech. There's a lurch in Tails' gut and he stumbles a step, ears laying flat. Yet he goes rigid as the robot arm tightens around his torso, stilling him instantly. Sonic shoots him a worried glance under the red lights of the conductor's car, but makes no moves towards him while he locks eyes with the jagged piece of glass pressed against Tails' neck.
Tails wants to apologize, wants to lash out and scream he's sorry because Sonic had been so close. The hedgehog had freed everyone and they were going to shut down the Mirage Express for good. But then a robot arm snuck up on Tails, and all it took was the badnik smashing a soda bottle and holding the jagged shard against the fox's throat for everyone to back down. Now his friends are in their cars, trapped again, and Tails wants to scream apologies for the whole world to hear.
However, he’s scared letting out a single word will be enough for the glass to slit his throat. So he can only stay still while guilt caves in his chest because if Sonic dies—if Eggman wins, it will be all his fault.
"Hey."
The fox looks up.
Sonic is frowning, but his eyes are soft and his voice gentle as he says, "This isn't your fault."
Tails looks away. Yes, it is. He should have realized Sonic was actually hurt or how similar the train's tech was to Eggman's—even Sonic had noticed the similarities, yet Tails, the genius, had missed the obvious.
"Little bro."
Tails' gaze snaps up and surprise ripples across his face when Sonic smiles.
"We're going to make it out of this." Sonic’s mouth hitches up in a smirk. "We always do."
Confidence burns in Sonic's green eyes and warmth washes over Tails like a summer breeze. It's true that no matter how powerful or intimidating the enemy, Sonic has come out on top every time. So soon a smile curves Tails' muzzle, tension unwinding from his heart.
"Oh, isn't that sweet.”
Tails gasps and Sonic's quills shoot up before he glares at the screen above the train controls.
"But you'll all be dead the moment you step foot off that train."
Tails glares up to where Eggman sneers on the screen, and he’s sorely tempted to yell at the man for using him against his friends, when Sonic scoffs, "Yeah, because it's not like all your plans have failed before."
"That may be so," Eggman flashes his teeth in a cruel smile, "But this time is different."
Clanking reverberates behind the car door. Sonic's eyes widen as distant shouts rise among the sound.
"Because I have your friends too."
The clanking gets louder and Tails' heart thumps against his ribs. He can't allow Eggman to capture Sonic—he's seen the damage the doctor can inflict on the world with the hedgehog out of the way. So Tails is about to squirm, bite, and do whatever he can to get free when the robot arm yanks him up.
The fox yelps while he's pulled to the ceiling, the glass shard shaving the fur off his neck.
"Tails!" Sonic cries in alarm, reaching for him.
Yet the vent grate snaps open in the ceiling and the arm starts dragging him inside as Eggman cackles.
"Sonic!" Tails calls, suddenly desperate to say something because this might be the last time he can. "I-I'll find us a way out, I promise!"
Sonic goes to talk when the grate shuts in Tails' face and the fox sees no more while he's dragged deeper into the darkness, Eggman's laugh chasing him all the way.
The train stops at a white, cylindrical metal tower edged by a midnight blue lakefront.
Tails only glimpses his friends, shackled and flanked by badniks of every size yet staring ahead bravely as they're marched down the grassy hill into the tower, before the eggpawn drags him away.
He’s locked in an all-white lab on the upper floors. Sleek metal walls, a high ceiling, and one wide viewing window confine the fox while he paces, the silver handcuffs chaining the ends of his twin tails together rattling with each step. Why is he here instead of in a cell alongside his friends? Is Sonic okay? Or has Eggman already done something to him? And what about everyone else?
Tails sighs, coming to a stop. He crosses his arms over the brown cape coat he's yet to remove, scowling at the metal floor. Eggman must want something from him, and considering he's been brought to a lab…will he make Tails build something?
The fox looks up, searching for a clue. Three long workbenches, a silver-framed whiteboard on wheels, and an offline computer that takes up most of the left wall are all that occupy the lab. However, there are no tools, tech, not even a marker around, and his Miles Electric is back home.
Tails turns to the ceiling, but the vent in the top corner is too high up. With a sigh, he lowers his head and catches sight of the window. His gaze sharpens and he quickly strides to it, raising his hand to test its density.
A red forcefield shimmers over the glass and he hastily pulls back in case it’s electrified. No… He really is trapped here.
"Miles Prower."
Tails jumps, his handcuffs jangling while his head snaps up. Sage stares him down, her ruby eye cold and expression even colder. The fox's mouth parts in shock as the girl floats down until they're almost at eye level.
"It is good to see you."
Tails grimaces. "Um, I wish I could say the same, but considering the circumstances…"
Sage bobs her head, acknowledging his plight, and Tails frowns. Why is she here?
"I requested to have your assistance on a project of mine," Sage says like she read his thoughts and Tails' frown deepens.
"Project?" he asks because what could the A.I. need his help with?
Sage is intelligent, has access to any tools she needs, and Eggman would probably help her build anything she wanted, so what does she need him for?
"I…” Sage hesitates, frowning slightly before finishing, “Wish to ensure a future for the Doctor."
Tails blinks while Sage turns aside. "However, his obsession with defeating Sonic is an obstacle to that." Some emotion sparks in her ruby eye. "Therefore, I have researched potential solutions to their conflict, and have found one viable result."
The kit's brow rises, his tails swishing together in interest. A solution to stop Eggman from obsessing over defeating Sonic? Is that even possible?
"Marriage."
Tails jolts. "Huh?" he exhales because he must have heard wrong.
"Marriage," Sage repeats, and Tails recoils. "Specifically an arranged relationship has traditionally been used to bring two warring parties together."
Tails stares at her. Is this a joke?
Sage stares back coolly, but Tails is still half-convinced the A.I. is joking as he tentatively asks, "Marriage between who?"
"Preferably Sonic."
Tails chokes.
"And myself."
"WHAT!?"
Tails jumps back and his spine crashes into the workbench, but he doesn't feel the pain while he gapes at the girl. However, Sage continues calmly.
"Though since he is legally too old for me, I must wed one of Sonic's friends instead. That is why I require your assistance."
Tails blinks owlishly. "Y-you want me to help you play matchmaker?"
Sage shakes her head. "No, you misunderstand."
She leans forward and Tails instinctively jerks back, but that only pushes the workbench deeper into his spine, so he stops. Sage continues leaning until her pale face is all Tails can see, and then her lips move.
"I must marry you."
Tails inhales sharply, eyes widening. Yet Sage neither laughs nor smiles and she…she's serious. Oh, chaos!
"Y-you," Tails squeaks, voice strangled. "You want to marry me?"
"Yes." Tails' mouth hits the floor as Sage adds, "My body is approximately that of a six-year old while you are nine, which means we can legally enter a romantic relationship."
Her eye narrows. "This also means you are of pubescent age and you’re capable of feeling attraction.”
Heat blooms across Tails' face, and Sage pauses. He flinches as her fingers brush over the white fur hanging from his muzzle while she gestures at his scarlet cheeks.
"Good, you are already reacting. Since love is unquantifiable, you will need to have physical reactions such as blushing for the Doctor to believe we are in love."
"L-love!?" Tails shakes his head frantically, hands grasping the workbench edge behind him. "I can't—"
"You will pretend to love me if you wish for Sonic to survive."
Ice drenches Tails’ head and his expression goes blank while Sage's face pinches slightly.
"By my estimates, the Doctor's plans for Sonic's demise will be completed within thirty days."
Tails’ breath hitches. Thirty days? That's more time than he was hoping for, but still not much time to plan a breakout.
"Do you consent?"
Tails' head snaps up as Sage says, "I read consent is important to all relationships." She frowns. "So do you consent to being my fiancé?"
Tails turns away, brow furrowing. No, is what he wants to say because this is weird—so, so weird—and insane. Yet what other options does he have?
Eggman will have security measures upon security measures monitoring them constantly. And since all of Sonic's friends are here, they can't expect a surprise rescue.
Tails' face wrinkles with reluctance, yet he forces himself to meet her gaze and nod. "Yes." He swallows thickly. "But, um…" He looks away, rubbing his arm. "I've never—"
"Neither have I," Sage says almost kindly, and some of Tails' nervousness fades.
This is still very uncharted waters he's diving into, yet at least he won't be the only one floundering.
"Let us start by practice kissing."
"Wait." Tails turns to her. "What—"
Her lips crash into his muzzle. Tails' namesakes go rigid, her mouth buzzes against his, and a muffled cry escapes him as the world tilts when Sage's taller height tips him back onto the table. Bruises scream along the fox's spine, his heart pounding deafeningly loud, yet he lays there limply until their noses slide past each other and the girl pulls away.
Tails sucks in a breath like a drowning man, but doesn't move as Sage cocks her head.
"Did the kiss make your heart race?"
Tails tries to speak, yet his mouth is sealed by the phantom feeling of her lips on him, so instead he slowly and shakily raises his thumb.
"Did your tails go motionless?"
He again gives a thumbs up.
Sage's expression turns thoughtful. "Then my hypothesis was correct. Surprise kisses are the best way to get a physical reaction from you that mimics romantic attraction, though you will need to pretend to enjoy them."
Tails would normally appreciate the logic behind Sage's actions, but right now his brain is stuck on the fact she kissed him. He kissed someone. He just had his first kiss. With an A.I. created by Eggman.
Sage mercifully notices his distress, and says, "We can continue practicing tomorrow."
In a cascade of red and black digital blocks, the girl vanishes. However, Tails hardly notices while he sits up on the table and stares blankly at the viewing window. He's really doing this… He's getting married to Sage.
Tails blanks out for the next couple of minutes, so doesn't realize he's been led out of the lab until he's walking down a gray circular corridor lined with cells and eerie yellow lights. He doesn't even notice his friends looking up from behind the red forcefields entrapping them or how Sonic's expression falls with concern when the fox doesn't turn his way.
“Tails?” the hedgehog calls, but Tails can't hear anything outside of his own thoughts as he's taken to his own cell and left to lie on the metal bench jutting out from the wall.
Tails frowns at the metal ceiling. He has thirty days to fake a believable relationship with Sage or his brother and friends will die. Can he do it?
Gradually, focus returns to his gaze and his eyes slant determinedly.
Anything for his brother.