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“Sonic, may I ask a question?”
Sonic happily tore his eyes from the true crime documentary he was currently watching, grateful Metal Sonic was distracting him from his neverending boredom. Adjusting his head on a pillow, Sonic stared up at Metal. It was a funny angle, making Metal Sonic’s chin look absolutely humongous. The pillow was necessary for their movie nights, since Metal was made out of…well, metal, and that wasn’t the most comfortable thing to rest on.
“What up bud? Everything okay?”
Beeps left Metal, which Sonic has come to associate with the other processing information or nervousness. It seemed to be the latter.
“Everything is satisfactory. I have… asked Miss Rose and Princess Blaze this earlier but they recommended asking you directly.”
Oh, adorable sweet Metal, insisting on referring to everyone but Sonic by their proper titles. Sonic had been invited to Amy’s tea party with Blaze and Metal but had promised Tails to ‘help’ with the Tornado. His help mostly consisted of screeching duets with the fox and making the process last longer than it logically needed to. Tails invited him every time regardless.
Then in the afternoon Metal showed up at his house and demanded they watch a movie, claiming; “Boyfriends partake in what was called ‘Netflix and Chill’. That is what we must do.” And Sonic wasn’t eager to pass up a hangout with the badnik.
“Not sure why they couldn’t answer but sure, go right ahead.”
Metal’s gaze was stationary, so still that not a pixel wavered, a sign of hesitance. He trailed one metal finger down Sonic’s arm leaving goosebumps in his wake. “It’s… well… Miss Rose and Princess Blaze had laughed at the question and I do not want to elicit a similar reaction from you.”
If Metal had a mouth, he would probably be frowning. Maybe Sonic should nag Egghead until he gives Metal one? Yeah, that sounded like a great idea.
Sonic grabbed the hand leaving goosebumps on his skin, warming it in his palms. “I promise I won’t laugh Mets”
After another stretch of silence, Metal Sonic spoke. “According to my research, it is common for Mobians with certain features to wear certain articles of clothing…” Metal poked Sonic’s chest. “Shouldn’t you wear a brassiere?”
“That’s not the only shocking part!” The TV droned on in the background, it was the only evidence that time hadn’t stopped from how suddenly silent the space became. Then Sonic exploded.
“What?!” The screech was high-pitched and not Sonic’s proudest reaction. He was at least glad that he kept his promise of not laughing.
“Your chest… It is quite… prominent. From observation of Miss Rose, Miss Rouge and others, it is common for Mobians with large chests to wear brassieres, is it not?”
Sonic sat up, face burning. “I do not have tits!” He crossed his arms, covering his ‘not tits’ with embarrassment.
Metal Sonic’s digital eyes did the equivalent of a blink as his processor caught up with the situation. “I did not say that.” He tilted his head. “What are… ‘tits’?”
Sonic was not qualified to explain anatomy to a robot. “I- well… uh, they are like… Give me a moment!” He exclaimed, overwhelmed. A deep breath later, he continued. “I don’t know anatomy very well but what the others wear doesn’t… apply to me? I guess… It's different composition I think, they have like glands… maybe. I just have a wide ribcage.”
“So a wide ribcage doesn’t constitute wearing a bras–”
“No!” Sonic said. “Look, It’s probably better to read a book on this. I have a wide ribcage. That’s it.”
Metal was silent for a moment. Sonic, still blushing with embarrassment, rushed to fill this silence. “At least I won’t get a collapsed lung, since there is so much space for my fast breathing.”
“That is not how it work–”
“Oh! Look, the movie ended. Seems like we must find a new one.” That was a lie, they were only halfway through the documentary. Neither were interested in it and neither mourned the loss of switching the show.
◇──◆──◇──◆
The universe was getting a kick out of Sonic’s claim. Or more specifically a swift kick to the lungs a few days later.
The badnik knew something was wrong before Sonic felt it. His legs burned more than usual and metal arms were there to catch him before he went down.
Metal’s emergency systems kicked in. It would have been sweet how panicked he was if his panicking didn’t look intimidating. He had a blank display screen, his red pupils no more than pinpricks. His movements were stiff and robotic, well a lot more robotic than typical for Metal as he avoided jostling the wheezing hero as much as possible. Luckily for the currently nonverbal metal hedgehog, the wheezing told enough to the receptionist.
Nurses and doctors flocked around Sonic, whisking him away into a room. And then another. Sonic took a final glance at Metal before the doors shut, a loading symbol had appeared on his screen.
Time flew, faces blurred. Sonic disassociated through most of it, reacting to any insistent questions about his condition or flinching when he felt pricks in his arms, most likely an IV. It felt like at most an hour went by but Sonic was sure it was probably a lot more, since they came here at night and the sun was now greeting him from the horizon.
In the lowlight of the bleak hospital room, Sonic's mind wandered to Metal. Had he been aware of bringing Sonic to the hospital, or was he confused as to why he was there?
Maybe he went back to Egghead, badgering him awake with questions on how to help. Sonic snorted, wincing at the dull stab of pain that he felt regardless of the painkillers fed to him through the tube. Pain while laughing sounded like literal hell, a hell that was Sonic’s reality.
Or perhaps Metal was sitting politely in the waiting room. Searching his database for what to do when your ‘boyfriend’ (despite Sonic’s constant insistence that they weren’t a couple, Metal still insisted they were) ended up in the hospital unable to breathe without sounding like an oldschool kettle.
On the bright side Sonic now had an excuse to make air related pick-up lines. Not that he would use them on Metal or anything… since they weren’t ACTUALLY together.
When does a hospital usually allow visitors? Probably like… 9am if Sonic had to guess. Regardless, it was that time now, evident by Metal walking in. His eyes didn’t tell Sonic much but his gait was slow and calculated. He was being careful. It would be endearing if it wasn’t strange for the badnik to be acting this way around Sonic.
He handed Sonic a card. It was a card, plain with a big ‘Get well soon!’ scrawled on the front of it in blue bubbly font. Egghead’s messy scrawl filled the inside in a blue ballpoint pen that ran out near the end. ‘Metal Sonic will make sure you don’t do something dumb, blue rodent. Till the next time we fight.’ How… nice?
The soft whir of Metal’s circuitry recaptured Sonic’s attention, he stood at Sonic’s bedside staring down at him softly. It sounded like home. When did that happen? It didn’t matter, it was a welcome sound in the white noise of the IV drip and beeps of other machines. The only beeps Sonic wanted to hear were Metal’s.
“The doctor said the diagnosis is pneumothorax,” Metal said. “... also known as a collapsed lung.”
Sonic wanted to laugh at the irony, but the reminder of pain stopped him. Instead he opted to wink at Metal. “I can’t help the fact that you steal my breath away, Mets.”
Metal Sonic squinted at him, gaze lacking amusement at the hedgehog's antics. “They also said you are stable enough to get dispatched.”
“Awesome–!”
“You are banned from lifting heavy things and exerting your lungs.”
Sonic’s mouth opened and closed, no sound came out.
“She specified no running.”
“W-what?” Sonic asked, startled.
“For at least a month. Doctor’s orders.”
If Sonic was able to scream, he would've. Instead something akin to a disgruntled groan and needy whine bubbled out of his throat. Metal looked at him with pity, but Sonic could see the mirth behind it. The badnik achieved his lifelong goal of being faster than the blue hero, if only for a month.
While his boyfriend was busy processing the horrifying fact that he won’t be able to run for a whole, freaking month, Metal helped the nurse situate Sonic into a wheelchair. It was only when Sonic felt the cool outdoor air hit his messy fur that he realised that he was being wheeled back home.
At least he had a lot of free time to freak out about his situation. Then again, even that was a struggle when he couldn't get a full lungful of air to scream his woes into his pillow. Another factor to consider was that his boyf– Metal, Metal would be taking care of him and Sonic didn't want to scare his robot ‘friend’ off.
◇──◆──◇──◆
Okay. Okay, okay, okay, all things considered Sonic didn’t currently feel like exploding in place. That was a good sign, right?
A week of Metal’s doting and attention? Sign Sonic up! Literal heaven. All in all, it had been going great– Sonic tried to keep himself occupied, he showed Metal his guitar and fantasy book collection. And Metal seemed to actually enjoy listening to Sonic ramble about his interests, despite doing that for hours upon hours.
Then again, you take a robot whose two favourite things are Sonic and learning new information and he’ll obviously love learning new things about Sonic.
Not surprisingly, Metal could read Sonic like a book. He was great at sensing when Sonic was feeling antsy and dealt with it appropriately. Usually by delivering a cup of chamomile tea and getting Sonic to re-binge all of his favourite superhero or action movies.
Metal sat beside Sonic as he read, literally prepared to answer Sonic's every whim and call. Except Sonic couldn't focus on the words in front of him. It was a bad day. The ache of breathing was a little too noticeable, his eyes watery and his leg bounced restlessly. Today would be the type of day Sonic would typically go for a run.
Except he couldn’t.
Sonic registered cold seeping into his knee and the culprit was none other than Metal. Sonic was glad he wasn’t alone right now, because he would have definitely cracked and gone for a run. That probably wouldn’t have ended well. A month was too long, Sonic would go insane if he got himself more hurt and put himself out of commission for longer.
Metal’s hand left his knee and met his other one at Sonic’s face. He cradled the injured hedgehog's face for a long moment, rubbing a thumb over his cheek.
Sonic blinked stupidly into the other’s soft red glow. It was nice, very nice actually but not something Metal had done before. “Uh… Mets? What are you…?”
Metal leaned forward pressing his silver muzzle to Sonic’s forehead in what could be considered a forehead kiss. As much of a kiss as it could be for a robot without lips.
Sonic’s breath hitched and his brain short-circuited. It was only when he realised that he needed to breathe that he gasped, pressing his palms to the ones still holding him.
“Do you feel better?” Metal asked.
“What?” Sonic hasn’t had voice cracks this bad since puberty.
“I read that sometimes a kiss makes an injury feel better. Is that not true?”
“Metal…” Sonic considered his words carefully, not wanting to hurt the other’s feelings. “That’s more for… kids. And– and usually for external injuries. It’s less about healing the injury and more about making the person feel better.”
Metal tilted his head. “Well… do you feel better?”
Did he? He was definitely distracted from the pains and aches. It also felt nice to have a boyfrie– friend, Metal was only a friend, hold him so gently. Sonic also supposed the kiss wasn’t half bad (it was actually really nice but that’s being sealed into the vault of things to never think about.)
“I… I guess I do. Huh, guess it worked, Mets.”
Maybe Sonic should reconsider the vault of things he never thinks about. He had a lot of time after all and some things might need reevaluating. Like the fact that he and Metal Sonic weren’t dating. They weren’t, really, but Sonic was now considering… maybe, pursuing Metal.
“Miss Rose helped me get a gift for you.”
Sonic wasn’t sure whether he should laugh or cry. Because both would hurt a lot.
Metal was looking at him like a puppy expecting a treat after chewing up a pair of his slippers. Which was a little bit how Sonic felt since Metal pulled a BRA out of a paper bag. What was even worse was how big it was and the fact that it would probably fit Sonic snugly enough.
It was white with pink polka dots. A small lace bow sat pretty at the cleavage. It was definitely something Amy would choose.
Nevermind, the vault of things to never think about was staying closed and the concept of dating Metal was staying at the very back.