Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Tom knew many things about his sons. He wouldn’t claim he knew absolutely everything, sometimes wondering — what if he knew three anthropomorphic boys from infancy (whoa, what strange thoughts. Is that so called ‘baby fever’?). Downsides of adopting teenagers, he supposed. He was proud to say he got to know witty Tails and fierce Knuckles well, despite them being relatively new in Wachowski household. They weren’t in no world easy kids to handle, but he and Maddie has made impressive progress with getting used to their quirks and habits. If these kids are some universal test of their patience, they passed it with flying colors.

By simple logic alone, they should know Sonic best. And Tom thought that too! In fact, was sure of it up until now. But as confrontation unfolded fear was slowly overcoming him, as well as nasty feelings of doubt and uncertainty.

Tom wasn’t sure when exactly everything had started to escalate. Maybe a few moments ago he could point at sudden concerning clicks of their electronic devices, followed not a second later by darkness enveloping the house. And then followed by Knuckles’ outraged roar from the living room.

Tom remembered a feeling of resignation, a tired and somewhat exaggerated sigh he let out. Perhaps his body had been preparing for a realization just what the power shortage like that means nowadays.

Tom remembered ticking of his eyelid as in the darkness of the room his gaze had fallen to where ominous documents were stored. But for the love of God he couldn’t recall what he felt in that moment. It was a wild cocktail of emotions – anger, disappointment and, looking back, fear. As he had long forsaken acting upon last one, the reasonable reaction had been only fury. Now his mind was traitorously supplying that maybe he should’ve acted upon fear. Done something reasonable – gathered family meeting and prepared for such outcome. Oh, but wouldn’t it’ve been too late already?

Tom had stomped angerly through the halls, meeting Maddie on the way to the front door. Her face had been in a scowl, which he supposed matched his own. Though, she hadn’t been following his footsteps in finding the culprit, but rather had accompanied annoyed to hell and back Knuckles to the bathroom.

Before Tom could open his mouth and ask, she had thrown an agitated glance at him, gesturing towards herself. In his confusion Tom had made a pause in his endeavors, and Maddie had sighed.

 “Someone spilled soda all over us.”

“And that damned hedgehog will pay for this!”

Speaking of the blue devil, Tom had resumed his path past the door, looking around in duskiness for… he hadn’t known then, but maybe for Sonic to utilize his speed correctly for once and be home in the blink of an eye. But seeing no hedgehogs around, Tom had taken a deep breath and shouted at the top of his lungs:

“SONIC!”

Oh, that was when Tom remembered a second time this evening when a ghost of doubt and fear had visited him, when it’d been Meddie who approached him first, and not Sonic. He has to be nearby, he promised! Is he disobeying again, or did something happen? Tom had been nervous for all the right reasons, and now he mused if he had waited a little longer, would his mind led him to the right conclusion?

“I can’t believe him…” Tom remembered how Maddie had grumbled under her breath, pulling cardigan tighter around herself, and he had found himself agreeing with absent nod. “Just how many times— ”

As blue blur had rolled into the yard, his relief was too short-lived to even show on his face. Excuses had followed, as always, and Tom didn’t want to hear any of it. He should’ve pressed. Sonic folds like paper under pressure. He knows it.

The point of no return was probably the sound of a helicopter, something he has grown familiar with to his dismay. He hated how his breath had hitched when beams of blinding light had suddenly poured through windows despite Tom mostly expecting such an outcome. He had still clutched to hope Sonic’s stunt passed without consequences, but foolishly thought they got it handled either way. He had a lawyer and all!

“Where is he?” Tom recalled irritation from seeing their door was once again off the handles. Director Rockwell’s not a question, but a command had rung out as G.U.N. agents crawled in their living room.

“Tails, go get Sonic.” Tom had sternly requested, not tearing eyes from G.U.N. agents with their unnecessary weapons on display. He had planned to put Maddie behind himself, like he should, but Knuckles had beaten him to it, rolling his fluffy chest and glaring at intruders. Tom remembered trying not to be too upset, his eldest is such a brave gentleman and makes his father proud.

“Search the place,” Rockwell had barked orders, no more addressing owners of property she’d invaded, “Cover the perimeter.”

“Good evening to you too.” Tom had hoped his sarcastic welcome conveyed his irritation. “What’s the meaning of this?”

Rockwell had speared him a glance, not yet glare, which surprised Tom, but a look full suspicion, an accusation, as if what she searched for was in his eyes. What it was Tom hadn’t known then, but now he had suspicion.

The Agent’s face had turned towards Maddie and then immediately snapped towards Knuckles, and her face distorted in full-blown animosity. Feeling offended on behalf of his son, both Tom and Maddie had doubled their efforts.

“Maybe we should take this all outside?” Maddie had supplied, putting hand on Knuckles’s shoulder. Action had warranted a nearest agent to point gun at the kid, so from the corner of the eye Tom had watched as echidna slowly and carefully pushed her hand away by small action of nagging it off. Smart boy.

“Look, this is ridiculous even for you! What’s your deal this time? You can’t— ”

“I suggest you stop playing stupid.” Director Rockwell finally had returned attention back to him, but it was hard to count it as a blessing. “Now is your last chance to spill.”

“It’s not Sonic’s fault.” Well, not entirely. “I’m sure you can forgive this, nobody is hurt and no permanent damage is done!”

“I refuse to believe you’re that ignorant.” Rockwell’s stare had hardened. She suddenly turned her head, shouting behind her:

“Anything?!”

“No sighting of the target in the area, miss.” After a quick exchange she’d turned back to Tom. His mind had been reeling from accusations. Was she thinking they’d tried to hide Sonic?

“You guys aren’t letting me just fix this! One call and— ”

“This is not about power surge, and you well know it.” Oh, for fuck’s sake, how many more times is she going to interrupt him? “These aliens have already invoked destruction much greater. Or you still suffer from concussion and forgot what happened to you?” She had asked in a venomous gouging voice, and while she hadn’t said anything Tom hadn’t heard from her before, he still ended up with loss of words at how she said it.

What is she talking about, Tom remembered wondering. He hadn’t been thinking about the cause of his injury often, mostly because there was no need to worry anymore. And he sure as hell didn’t blame Sonic for this.

“Unless another catastrophe appears and you will ask our boys to help again, there won’t be any trouble!” Maddie had defended this time, not missing the opportunity to jab at G.U.N. “Nothing happened to warrant any of this!”

“You can’t guarantee that!” Director Rockwell had hissed back.

“Yes, we can!” Knuckles, surprisingly, had proclaimed. “The hedgehog bows to rules of the house! One word, and you’ll never hear from him again!”

Dramatic much, but Tom had thoroughly approved the statement. Rockwell, on the other hand, seemingly hadn’t approved Knuckles speaking at all.

“And the other one?” And before Tom could ask what the hell she meant by that, the agent turned her gaze to the stairs. Nearby G.U.N. soldiers followed with weapons’ aim there. “Speaking of…”

Third time this evening fear had crept up towards him, but sheer shock and confusion had been stronger as their conversation with Director Rockwell had taken an unexpected turn. Well, Sonic’s conversation, and couldn’t he not draw attention to himself all the damn time? Tom knew Sonic ran his mouth no less wild than himself, so why had he let him do it?!

Now, now, now… what was happening now?

“Knuckles, have you seen an angry black and red hedgehog running around here recently?”

Tom’s mouth was dry when he thought about… him, but he forced his body to relax. Knuckles’ reaction to the line of questioning kind of mirrored Tom’s own state of mind. Why is G.U.N. here, searching for a ghost?

“Tails? Have you seen Shadow around?”

Something about his youngest’s answer rubbed him wrong way. Perhaps it was about sick feeling of doubt or stress from the whole situation. First coherent thought shining through swirls of confusion, though he couldn’t catch it until he looked at Sonic.

“Sonic?”

Sonic’s eyes shone with something deep. Not quite fragile, but hesitant enough, a resolve in the process of settling. Please, Tom all but begged in his head, don’t, Sonic, do not say what I think you are about to say.

No way Sonic would make this bad of a choice… right?

“Search the— are you dumb? Why on earth would we be hiding him here, of all places? Do you think we’re that stupid?” But no amount of attitude could cover for his slip. Tom felt his heart drop and chest ache.

They should know Sonic best. Tom thought he knew Sonic best. Maddie’s sharp gasp when realization washed over her too wasn’t lost on Tom, but only made him feel worse.

Tom was never a detective! Sometimes Wade gets over his head and plays one, but Tom thought himself more self-aware (annoying voice in his head supplied how he has decided to play superhero on multiple occasions already, and had paid the price too. His chest still ached phantomly). Tom is a sheriff, and his job is to maintain order.

Is that where he went wrong? It’s not like he enforced order in the family, or Maddie would’ve torn him a new one. But instead he should’ve focused more on knowing.

All of them had it rough recently. He and Maddie were worried sick for their kids. Of course, no parenting manual on Earth could tell them how to raise three alien pubescent boys with trauma and superpowers, but learning this package is just the bottom of the barrel was chilling. It wasn’t about them, and perhaps, reading through those documents, Wachowski couple had truly let realization sink — how selfless parenting is. Their kids were on the verge of being illegal to exist. And had no allies with actual power over this injustice.

Maddie was vulnerable, as if cursed words, written by G.U.N., left a wound on her heart. She had been reaching towards her family, ever the peacemaker, trying her best to keep their usual mess stagnant. Make moments that will last, so to speak. Tom thought she was successful, but he had to admit they had missed something crucial.

Tails was troubled long before mess had complicated, but it became gradually worse. Tom had approached him recently, after difficult talk about legal actions possible against G.U.N., and Tails had admitted having a hard time communicating with Sonic. Tails hadn’t disclosure what he and Sonic had… a disagreement about? Tom hadn’t pushed it, but the longer he watched guns pointed at them, the more he wished he had.

Knuckles had been part of that conversation too, actually, and had lost track not even half the way in. Tom loved his eldest with all his flaws, but perhaps he should look into SEL classes for him — citizens of Green Hills are quite accepting of his kids! Well, it’s not a pressing issue anyway, all it took was his and Meddie’s reassuring words, and in return they got a promise — to listen to them. And Tom believed Knuckles words like he believed universal truths. Sky is blue, grass is green, his little echidna warrior is set to protect them, including doing what Tom says will save them from G.U.N.

Sonic. His first child. One Tom felt most connection to. One that had acted most off, but also one with worst fate imaginable awaiting him. Tom had given him the space he felt he needed. Sonic ran when he was happy or upset, when relaxed and when nervous. And if running free all day long is what Sonic desired, how could they deny him that? Unless he was grounded, but that’s a punishment Sonic hadn’t brought upon himself until today.

Sonic had been distracted, warry, troubled, dared he say sneaky, which Tom foolishly assumed had been connected to threat looming over him. He had granted Sonic freedom, his favorite way to unwind, something no amount of reassuring words and promises could replace.

Maddie had told him once, long time ago, how after spending nearly a decade running wild, they could traumatize Sonic by forcing him to slow down. How taking away unhealthy comfort of solitude will result in backlash. It had already happened once, and will happen again should they scold kid for having trauma and feeling overwhelmed by constant control.

But he trusted Sonic to make good choices! Isn’t it what freedom requires — trust? What had they done wrong?

Shadow. A new person in this equation. A crucial missing piece… Was it all Tom’s fault? He should’ve known.

“… It is our duty as Guardian Units of Nations to take you, Sonic the Hedgehog, into custody.”

No, he couldn’t go there right now, couldn’t afford sinking feeling in his stomach and heart ache to anchor him down. Tom, unlike somebody, made good choices. Putting his most brave face he stepped before Director Rockwell. He got this.

“Hold on, lady. I don’t think that’s quite how things work around here. See, I am a police officer, after all, so I do know a thing or two about the law, and I also did hire a lawyer for this—”

Tom absently wondered if he got a rambling habit from Sonic, and could only curse himself when his façade didn’t hold up against resolution in Rockwell’s tone, eyes and body.

“This is a little above your insignificant lawyer and your silly, unimportant small-town laws.”

She was right, he knew that, as he knew many other things already, but he was yet to let hopes go. He got this. What was settling on him was new wave of disappointment and uncertainty. Tom let those slip with murmuring “One, ouch, and two, it seems like I’ve wasted money on the lawyer,” and pushed his emotions down to continue. “And three, I’m sorry, but I’m not going to let that happen.”

“Neither am I.” Maddie, as always, stood by his side.

 “You’ll have to go through me.” Knuckles did what he does best — put his strength to display in both his posture and voice.

“And me!” Tails said, not nearly as intimidating, but with admirable bravery.

Director Rockwell did not, however, seem intimidated or caring or even amused. With gesture to proceed forward with whatever order her soldiers carried the room, frozen in tension since Sonic emerged, was set into motion.

“This is exhausting, and quite frankly? Way more dramatic than it needs to be.” Director Rockwell managed to give what was supposed to sound sarcastically a menacing tone. Sonic made careful steps around the room, approaching the exit. G.U.N. agents followed.

Bold of her to say ‘more dramatic than it needs to be’ when it wasn’t her who was about to become prisoner for vile act of existing. Tom didn’t know what was Sonic thinking about, but ears pressed back and quills flaring up indicated he had the same idea.

What was Sonic thinking about? Tom supposed now it all came down to fight, flight or freeze. Make good choices. That was what they asked Sonic. But could good choices fix this? Tom must at least try, so he stepped forward too, exiting the house. The sight that met him made him nauseous.

Sonic looked so small standing alone in ominous spotlight, G.U.N. in a wide but firm circle around him. His sharp senses were no doubt overwhelmed by blinding sharp white projectors and deafening sound of helicopters above.

Tom made his way to Rockwell with what he thought was aggressive, but actually was desperate “Stop this!”

She didn’t even turn to him, eyes on Sonic, and maybe didn’t even hear, but nearby soldiers aimed weapons on him, barking something sharp he didn’t make out. One stepped in front of him, barrel up and pointed first at him, and then behind him. Tom turned to see his family out too, and even with lack of illumination, he could see tears in Maddie’s fearful eyes.

He should’ve known.

Now finally fear took hold of him and didn’t let go. Sonic was out there, and Tom couldn’t do anything to help him if he didn’t want to risk safety of others.

“Enough of this. Surrender yourself, now.”

Make good choices.

As Tom struggled to come up with actually good choice right now, his mind drifted back again. To how it all had begun.

Tom wasn’t sure when exactly everything had started to escalate. Maybe it was power shortage. Maybe it was Sonic’s slip. Or maybe it was when Sonic decided to hide a certain homicidal hedgehog somewhere in this town.

Tom hated how among fear there was also sickening disappointment. And in who? Parenting is supposed to be selfless, it isn’t about him! But how could he protect his family if that family made bad choices?!

What had possessed Sonic to hide Shadow’s survival? Some sort of self-righteous crusade to find him? Thrill of the hunt? Oh God, did Shadow threaten him?

No, it can’t be. Not with how much Sonic defended him, all but hissing at Rockwell for her accusations. He hadn’t thought about Shadow a lot, he should’ve, but his son was sure Shadow had a change of heart in the last moment. Tom didn’t feel anger anymore about black and red hedgehog, but still felt unease, uncertainty, was glad he was gone…

Fuck. Maybe there it was. Where his fault lay.

“If you do not submit, we will use force.”

His poor son looked so lost, surrounded by guns aimed at him. He looked like he couldn’t even see, let alone muster strength to make a choice. His hands and quills trembled.

Shadow. The enemy of the world had survived and followed them home. What for? Rematch? Desire to seek his own kind after showing them no mercy before? Reconciliation?

Well, apology is not accepted, because right now his actions landed Sonic right in the arms of G.U.N. After all, how come G.U.N. had arrived there so quickly?

He should’ve known. All signs were right there, and Sonic isn’t the most subtle and elusive person in the family. Wait, who else knew about this? Tom shifted his gaze to boys by his side. Tails clutched to Knuckles’ arm, trembling and not tearing eyes from illuminated scene ahead. Knuckles sported a scowl, but also very thoughtful look in his eyes.

Fight, flight or freeze, and something told Tom last option was the worst now. But his and Sonic’s inability to make a choice left Tom struggling to place the blame on one of the bad choices in the past.

Are Sonic’s bad choices to blame? Or Shadow’s? Or…

Ignorance, Director Rockwell had said earlier. This, right here, was his failure as a parent. It didn’t matter that he was never a detective. Didn’t matter if Shadow led G.U.N. to them. And didn’t matter why Sonic risked it all for the former enemy…

The air froze.

With projectors sucking light out of the area around Sonic it was hard to make out anything beyond it. But sharp outline of short figure that suddenly appeared was easy enough to make out. And when this mysterious familiar figure stepped into the light closer to Sonic, Tom’s ears rang.

Shadow stood there menacingly, red eyes glowing with animosity as he gazed upon them all.

Tom’s first bad choice was his bias, that much he could recognize. It was in his disregard of Sonic’s feelings towards his foe. In the way he avoided thinking about him. In the way his chest ached from the mere thought of these red eyes and redder stripes.

In the way he flinched when Shadow seemingly snarled something towards Sonic, what exactly — remained a mystery. But what made Tom fear for Sonic’s safety made Sonic himself look… hopeful? Shocked, but a little more confident than before. Don’t tell him…

“Is… is that Shadow?” Meddie’s voice sounded weak, and not because of the helicopter. Her slight touch on his shoulder brought Tom back to reality.

“See, I told you he was alive!” Tail tugged at Knuckles’s arm, sounding a little breathless.

“I didn’t think he’d show his face…” Knuckles mussed. Not other kids too. He should’ve known.

An exchange between two hedgehogs followed, heated too much to make Tom relax. He still didn’t know what choice would be a good one. Could he still even make a difference?

Shadow suddenly stepped closer to Sonic, warranting few warnings from G.U.N. All those fell deaf on his ears as intense eyes fell on other hedgehog and didn’t leave. Tom wished he could hear them, could figure out what ground they stood on. Was Shadow here to aid, or to further harm?

“Project Shadow. How nice of you to join us. We were just talking about you, you know. Your friends here were saying that they had no idea where you were, however, it is clear to me now that they were lying and are not to be trusted… But then again, I already knew that.”

In the desperate attempt to make a good choice Tom supplied nervous “Um, for the record, this is the first time I’m seeing him. Just so that we’re all on the same page about this.” Damn, rambling is not a good look on him.

Rockwell didn’t care. Nobody cared anymore about what they had to say. Who made a fatal choice that resulted in this?

Shadow made the choice first. His gloved hand reached forward, an unmistakable offering. Shadow just took away one of Sonic’s options, leaving fight or flight. But Tom didn’t feel his worry receding. Don’t tell him…

Tom’s second bad choice was pointing fingers, placing the blame. If he hadn’t spent so much time thinking about bad decisions that led to this, could he see neutrality of choices made? Did Shadow deserve to be called faceless ‘project’? To be put back in the cage where he spent his entire life?

Could Tom’s son turn down one who was seemingly his friend and who was seemingly in the same boat in troubled waters? For the first time today, Tom didn’t just know the answer, as he knew many other things already, but actually was sure.

And that brought him to his third, worst choice…

Despite watching Sonic this entire time, making eye contact with him still startled him.

“Sonic…” Maddie whispered, though only for Tom to hear. She either couldn’t find the right words, or came to same conclusion words now won’t reach anybody.

In his son’s eyes was plea. Momentary Tom thought it was silent cry for help, but observant sheriff eye caught his body shift towards black-furred figure. Perhaps it was plea for forgiveness, for understanding, for advice. If this was about choices, Tom realized he wouldn’t be able to help him.

Tom didn’t know Shadow. He seemed more like a ‘fight’ type of guy, but Tom wasn’t sure what kind of choice that was. It would be reckless. Dangerous. Tom didn’t mind Sonic defending himself against some psychos after him, but all these soldiers looked out for blood. If fire broke out… Maybe Shadow would be still standing, tough bastard he was, but what about them? And what would G.U.N. do to them should any of them die? But that left only…

Sonic’s gaze has shifted to his brothers already, knowing look he shared with both of them was like a painful reminder of his third fault.

Last look Sonic threw at him broke his heart. Realization of what choice he would make should’ve felt reassuring but did not. That wasn’t a good choice. None of those were good choices. And it wasn’t Sonic’s fault, Tom wished to tell him. It wasn’t his bad choices that led to this, it wasn’t Shadow’s, but unfair actions of these power-seeking vultures.

Shadow looked at his son like he hypnotized him to take the offer. Like he’d either die or bring death upon everyone if Sonic won’t make a choice right now. Intense gaze was desperate, presence steady and patient, that arm unwavering. Shadow offered him something Tom and other Wachowski couldn’t now, was there under the spotlight instead of here in darkness.

He wished to tell Sonic he forgives him. Tom ignored his own animosity towards Shadow. Tom missed signs that Sonic felt unsafe to tell him about new friend. Tom didn’t notice how all his kids had danced around the truth.

His third, worst choice was ignorance. All the small choices, nothing significant, that rolled down like a snowball until it was big enough to crush him.

Oh, it’s no metaphors that made him ache, but an expression of inner pain on Sonic’s face. And his words that he couldn’t hear but still heard. Chest ached anew like his ribs were crushed all over again, breathing was hard like it had been with punctured lung.

His son couldn’t bear to look at them anymore. Not even at Shadow, otherwise, as he took offered hand, Sonic would’ve seen vulnerable, almost dared he say content look on his face.

Shadow’s posture became stronger and more confident, unlike Sonic’s own hunched and scared. He got what he wanted, and the choice was now his and his only.

Tom didn’t dare assume which it would be. He had a hunch, but he thought he knew many other things already, and he didn’t want to be ignorant anymore. But he was still scared.

Red eyes, darkened by harsh light, landed upon them again, no, upon Director Rockwell and her agents. His expression promised retribution should they attempt to stop them.

And then, just like that, his son blinked out of existence. Pulled into nothingness and to nowhere by one Tom had feared wished him hurt, but actually had done more to help him than them all.

Scared, hurt and emotionally exhausted, Tom shivered, for the first time aware of cold wind outside. Maddie said something, Knuckles and Tails talked about something, Director Rockwell ordered something, her voice the most ear-wrenching, reaching him in faint “Locate… Search… After them!..”.

Maddie’s hug was warm and sudden, startling him out of stupor. Her grip shaked no less than his own hands, and not from cold. He could’ve just lost his son now. He didn’t know if he had already.

And it’s his fault.