#i wrote this in October and never posted it because I'm irrationality self conscious about writing prose 🫣

[dakt37]

I love this "Wholesome Sonic and Tails Wednesday" trend. I don't have any new art, but here's a little ficlet set in my de-aged Tails Boom AU. It takes place before the other one.

~~~

"Never fear, Amy Rose is here!" She announced herself with gusto as she threw open the front door of Tails' house, inviting herself inside. Hearing noises, she immediately looked left to the kitchen. "What are you doing?"

Sonic didn't turn to face her, too focused on his task. "What's it look like I'm doing?"

"It looks like you're scouring a child like he's a dirty coffee cup."

Sonic froze mid-motion, then cranked his head around to glare at her over his shoulder. "Bathing an infant in the sink is perfectly normal. Look it up."

Amy hummed loudly and with much incredulity, walking around behind him to circle the long counter that cordoned off the kitchen alcove. When she got to the opening, she wasn't impressed with the scene inside. "He's closer to a toddler than an infant," she observed. "And you've gotten more water on the floor than in the sink."

Sonic glared at her again, this time over his other shoulder. "Are you here for a good reason, or just to criticize my parenting?"

Amy's eyebrows went up, but she left the label unanalyzed. "I brought food." She retrieved a large glass pan from her flowery tote bag and held it up like a trophy.

Sonic's frown deepened. "He's baby-fied, not dead," he snapped. "I don't need your condolences casserole." He turned back to the sink and poured shampoo into his palm.

Amy's eyes widened, then narrowed. A silence stretched as Sonic pointedly ignored her, the gentle motions of his fingers lathering fur a stark contrast to the emotion twisting his face. Luckily, the little fox under his hands was more interested in the hardware of the sink sprayer than the tension between the hedgehogs.

Eventually, Amy blew out a slow breath. "You know what I think?"

"I'm sure you'll tell me," Sonic grumbled, turning on the tap and checking the temperature of the water. With a plastic cup, he began rinsing suds off of Tails, letting the faucet run between refills.

Amy set down everything she had been carrying, and came to lean against the counter next to the sink. "I think," she placed a hand on Sonic's shoulder, causing him to pause again, "you're doing a great job. But you don't have to keep doing it alone."

Sonic silently watched Tails for another moment as the kid twisted the sink sprayer around in its base, examining the trigger mechanism.

"There better not be celery in that thing you cooked," Sonic finally said. He ghosted a finger across the tip of Tails' ear, watching it flick reflexively. "Because I'll tell you right now, he will know and he won't eat it."

"Never, "Amy retorted imperiously. "I do recall the Potluck Incident of last spring. And I don't imagine he was less picky as a toddler."

Sonic slumped then, resting on his forearms against the sink edge and letting his wet hands drip into the basin. He cocked his head to finally face her again, smiling sheepishly. "Yeah," he agreed, "I know you're smarter than that." His eyes flicked away, guiltily. "Sorry."

"Apology accepted." She gave his shoulder a squeeze and added gently, "We'll figure this out. Our little guy will be a slightly bigger little guy in no time."

"Ah, well," Sonic sighed. "It's not all so bad right now. Is it, bud--"

He turned to address the soggy little fox in the sink, and got a facefull of water. Tails giggled, his tails sloshing the shallow water around him. He held the sprayer in both hands, having successfully wrested it from its base and pulled up enough hose to let him take aim at the hedgehog.

"You little gremlin!" Sonic cried in faux outrage, "Surrender your weapon!"

Tails just laughed again and sprayed him right between the eyes.

Amy giggled as well, then pointed at the main faucet, which was still running between sprayer attacks. "You gave him the ammo, Sonic."

Sonic wrapped his hand around his little brother's on the sprayer, and directed it to soak her too.