metaloverlord: (𝟎𝟎𝟖)
𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐋 𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐈𝐂 ([personal profile] metaloverlord) wrote in [community profile] sranks2024-12-16 11:17 pm

ROLLING AROUND AT THE SPEED OF SOUND

( catchall for some dumb hedgehogs
also seasons tdm link for reference! )
lovesadventure: (Won't compromise)

2/2

[personal profile] lovesadventure 2025-01-05 05:26 pm (UTC)(link)
["Oh, Sonny, you're sweet. You didn't have to! But, well...I have a guest here to see you. You're gonna want to see him."

Sonic looks a little apprehensive for a moment, but he does wait for Dorothea to let in her little guest. He's not sure what to expect, really, but...

When Neo enters, Sonic almost drops the little tea kettle that he's borrowed from Dorothea; it's something she definitely brought with her, but when he sees Neo properly, he's stunned. He didn't think Neo could come back from that, he...]


N...Neo? Neo, is that really you...?!

[Sonic practically darts at Neo and pulls him into a tight hug--mostly to see if this is...if he's real, if any of this is real. It's a shock to the system for him, to say the least, but...

Oh, Sonic's so relieved.]
lovesadventure: (I don't need a reason)

[personal profile] lovesadventure 2025-01-05 05:37 pm (UTC)(link)
[It's real. This is real, this is happening, Neo's...Neo's alive. Neo's alive, in his arms again, just when Sonic thought that it was over, that he'd screwed up royally, that Neo was never coming back...he kept his promise. He kept it, he found some way to keep it, and--]

...I'm sorry, Neo. I'm-- [Sonic sounds completely choked up, honestly. He's trying so hard not to cry, but he's so relieved and holding Neo so tight it's like he fears he'll disappear.] T-Thanks. For...keeping your promise. I...I don't know how you did it, but I'm so glad you're back--

[Dorothea's quick to get around them and grab her own cup of tea; she gives Neo a small wink before she lets them have their privacy. She can come back for her kettle and a few other things of hers in a while, after all. But for now...

For now, Sonic lets himself tear up and start to cry proper. He hates this, but he can't hold it back.]


I'm sorry--I'm sorry I got you killed...!!
lovesadventure: ('cause I only have)

[personal profile] lovesadventure 2025-01-05 07:54 pm (UTC)(link)
[The utterance of his name gets Sonic to pause in his apologies--he wants to apologize for the stupid plan, for getting him hurt, for failing him, but that gentle scritching gets him to stop for a moment and just. Try to calm himself down, listening to Neo's words as he holds him tight. He never wants to let go again.]

...I don't blame you either, Neo. I just...if I'd known that the monster was so strong--if I hadn't been overconfident, we wouldn't have gotten into that mess, and...

[Sonic stops himself. Neo's already asked him to stop blaming himself; the least Sonic can do is try to do that.]

But you've...you've got nothing to be sorry for either.
lovesadventure: (Don't criticize)

[personal profile] lovesadventure 2025-01-05 08:09 pm (UTC)(link)
...I can try to do that, yeah. I...

[Neo's right. He's always had a way of calming Sonic down in the times where he overthinks, and for as much as Sonic's cared for Neo, Neo has always returned it tenfold. Sonic finds himself finally able to kiss one of Neo's cheeks as he wills himself to calm down a bit, still holding on tightly.]

...I'm so glad you're back. I thought you were a goner for sure.
lovesadventure: (Don't ask me why)

[personal profile] lovesadventure 2025-01-05 08:36 pm (UTC)(link)
[Honestly, that scans when Sonic thinks about it. It took them quite a while to actually talk like human beings, and Sonic had just gotten done with his own near death disaster at any opportunity it would've come up. Sonic chuckles a bit; it's still soft, still trying to recover from that week long depression, but it's there.]

Hey, it's alright. I mean...we had no reason to bring it up once we actually got talking with each other, y'know? It wasn't like we were in a situation that'd force us to think about it.

I'm just glad it actually worked. Magic's really weird and finicky, and I still don't get it, but...you're back. You're back, and that's what matters right now.

[Sonic starts to nuzzle Neo properly once all is said and done, though; not abating one inch in his hugging, though. It's as if he's still fearful, though he does his best to keep it off his face. It's all too apparent in how he clings to Neo, though. But Sonic listens while he does that, and...]

...I don't think I've ever heard you do that before. [Sonic pauses for a moment, looking into Neo's optics. He's not sure if this is what this is, but...] You're--you're alright right now, right? Are you...happy...?
lovesadventure: (Well I don't show off)

[personal profile] lovesadventure 2025-01-05 08:50 pm (UTC)(link)
You mean everything to me too, Neo. Always have, and always will. But...

[Sonic's expression seems to brighten a bit, eyes slightly wide but full of light and vigor that he hasn't had since Neo died, and he finds himself kissing Neo's cheek again with a grin on his face.]

Neo, you're...you're purring! That's so cool! I didn't know you could do that!

[Sonic sounds absolutely delighted, like he's several years younger with way too much joy in his little body to contain. Sonic laughs, and it isn't subdued--it's bright, it's lively, and--]

I love you so much, Neo. I'm...I'm glad you're back home. I'm glad you're by my side again, and that I can hear something that cute from ya...!
lovesadventure: (Just living by my word)

[personal profile] lovesadventure 2025-01-05 09:14 pm (UTC)(link)
As if I'd not wanna hear you get to be happy? Neo, this is...!

[Sonic hasn't quite eased this entire conversation, still wondering when the dream's going to be over and fade and leave him lonely and asking if he can hug Dorothea and cry but--no. This is real. This is real, and Sonic couldn't be happier.]

...Neo, I'm so proud of you. I know you ain't had an easy time learning to be yourself, but look at you--you're expressing yourself even more. You've always been trying, but I'm just...

It makes me really happy to see that you're able to seize it for yourself, and let yourself do it. I...gosh, I love you, Neo. If I can make you happy enough to do that, then that makes me real happy too.

[Sonic's laughter continues, bright as ever, and he just kind of finally eases into his boyfriend at long last. He finally feels at ease, at peace in a way he didn't think he'd get the chance to.]

I've missed you so much, Neo. It's...it's been rough without you here, but I'm...I'll get this place back to normal, promise. You should get some rest after all of that, yeah?

[There's...admittedly a lot Sonic's leaving unsaid, unsure if he should even talk about it at all. He still needs to get those blankets back on the couch, after all. And...get Dorothea's stuff back to her. And drink his tea that's likely gone cold now...]
lovesadventure: (A steadfast heart of gold)

[personal profile] lovesadventure 2025-01-05 09:30 pm (UTC)(link)
[Sonic whines a bit when his ear gets flicked, pouting just a bit at that. His gaze averts shortly after, though; it's not like he knows what dying and coming back is like. The only time he came close to it was...]

...All I've been doing since you've been gone is sleeping, the least I can do is...

[It's a weak protest and one Sonic kills off quickly. He's still holding Neo so close, and he knows reasonably he should be fine. He should be fine with this, he's bouncing back so easily now that Neo's here. It's fine, right?

(He's still afraid he's going to wake up from this dream.)

Sonic's ears droop down a bit when he speaks up.]


...Please stay. I don't think I c--I don't want to be apart from you, for a while.
lovesadventure: (Don't criticize)

[personal profile] lovesadventure 2025-01-05 09:37 pm (UTC)(link)
[It is reassuring; it gets a slow, softer bit of purring from Sonic as he finally lets himself settle against Neo, breathing and doing his best to try and center himself. It's funny; he's never needed something like this before, but it's a reminder. A reminder that he's alive, that this is all real. That this is all real, and that Neo's back in his arms again.

Sonic shakes a bit, letting the words settle in the air for a while. He doesn't know if he wants to talk about this, or if Neo even wants to hear it. Neo just got done dying; does he really need to burden his boyfriend with his emotional state, too?

Sonic's gaze averts, but he curls into Neo, almost into a ball, honestly.]


...Thank you, Neo. I...I know I could've probably been fine in a while, but it wasn't...I...

[...]

I didn't know what to do. I'm used to going where ever the wind takes me but...being directionless like that, it was...bad. I'm glad you're back.
lovesadventure: (A steadfast heart of gold)

[personal profile] lovesadventure 2025-01-05 10:11 pm (UTC)(link)
[That--actually gets a surprised noise out of him and his heart hammers for a brief moment, because sometimes he forgets that his boyfriend is actually strong enough to lift him easily? It's. It's very attractive.

Sonic absolutely curls up with his boyfriend on the couch while he flushes up a storm, and it's almost enough to distract him from the fact that his boyfriend does want him to talk to him. It's...well, it's difficult. It shouldn't matter, because Neo's right here. He's right here, and...]


...It still feels like I'm gonna wake up near your charging port alone again, I'm not gonna lie. It...still doesn't feel real. I'm sure I'll get used to it, but...

I missed you. I didn't realize I could miss someone this much. I'm used to people leaving my life and sometimes...sometimes they don't come back. I've always been used to it, but it was different this time.

[A lot of his thoughts were static, or unpleasant. Directionless, vague, pervasive noise that blocked out the world and sapped his near limitless energy.]

...It felt...empty. I think that's what it is. Emptiness that's slowly getting filled back up.

[...]

Don't...I know I can't ask you to stop protecting me. Just like...you can't ask me to stop protecting you. But...I...

[He doesn't know how to word this. Does he want to ask Neo to please stop considering himself so expendable? Does he want to ask Neo to make sure they go together, if they have to go at all? Does he want to make sure they never run into an incident like this again? Realistically, there's no way to prepare for something like that properly if they continue to fight. There's no way to ask either of them to stop either; it's what they do. It's what they love to do.]

...I don't...know. What I want to ask, or how to ask it, but...

...Please don't leave me alone again.
lovesadventure: (Don't criticize)

[personal profile] lovesadventure 2025-01-05 10:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah. I wouldn't ever want you to hurt like that.

[It's something of an apology on Sonic's part, too--he's never really gotten a chance to ever apologize for the first time Sonic tried to take a hit for Neo. Sure, he was overconfident enough to think that yeah, he won't die from this, but...

Sonic finds it in himself to smile, just a bit. Neo's always practical, but it's something Sonic appreciates; tangible actions, tangible ways to do something to help Neo. Sonic's been getting better with his handiness by the day, and Sonic can do just about anything if given proper instructions from Neo now. If that's truly a way to save him...]


...I'll do my best, too. To...to try and make sure that doesn't happen--so we don't get stuck in a position that it does. A lot of our friends were pretty devastated too. None of 'em gave me an earful or anything, but they definitely were concerned.

But I'll fight hard, too. I don't want to leave yours, either...if you're willing to give it your all, then I am, too. I know we can't guarantee it, but we're precious. To each other, and others, too.

[He doesn't want to say if we go, we go together, because neither of them should. He could see it in the way they all looked at him, sadness, anger that they held back, and some of them wanting to make sure he was okay. Some of them will likely come and make sure Neo is, too, he's sure.]

...Please, teach me about it. There's still a lot I don't know about you, but if I can make sure you don't die, I'll commit it to memory!
lovesadventure: (Just living by my word)

[personal profile] lovesadventure 2025-01-06 06:27 pm (UTC)(link)
[Sonic listens to that, purring becoming a little louder in the face of Neo's attention to his quills. He already knows a fair bit about the panel in the back at least, so it at least makes sense to him already given that he's done basic repairs.]

Makes perfect sense to me. I guess in a way, it's like...it's like your head and your heart? [Sonic places a hand on Neo's chest, as if to emphasize it.] Like, that's what it'd be on us. So as long as that can be preserved, you can come back in some way...

[Sonic considers that for a moment. He doesn't know which to think of as which, but it does make sense to him that Neo's memories would be important. After all, memories make a person just as much as their living, breathing body. But Neo's programming...Neo's programming is just as much who he is as his memories.

...Sonic hopes it never comes down to having to choose, because he does worry it wouldn't be the same, complete Neo that he knows without it. Even if he wonders if freeing him from that would be better.

Sonic discards that.]


...I promise I'll keep you safe and learn everything I can. I'll rebuild you from scratch if I gotta. Just means I'm gonna need to really hunker down and start learning more, huh? [Sonic grins just the slightest bit at that.] I don't want you to be anything but yourself, after all.
lovesadventure: (A steadfast heart of gold)

[personal profile] lovesadventure 2025-01-09 06:11 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks, Neo. I'll try to do the same, so you don't ever have to worry either.

[Sonic infinitely prefers concrete goals rather than what-ifs. If he can get himself knowledgeable enough, Neo will never have to worry about dying again. It's something Sonic can do, if he puts his mind to it, and...

It's something he can reach towards, to live a good life with his beloved. That alone is enough.

...Of course, once the silence hits and Sonic's contently looking around the house a bit, he notices the. Long abandoned cup of tea on the counter and sighs at himself a bit. That's probably undrinkable now...]


...Hey, Neo. You mind too terribly if I keep you to myself for the day? [Sonic's awake, at least, but look at all of this moving he's willing to do now that he has his boyfriend back. None. None of it.] I'm not tired, but...I dunno. I don't wanna be apart from you.