Sonic Series Fan Fiction ❯ The Black Sheep ❯ Seven years later ( Chapter 4 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

Manic sat down at the corner table, across from Sonic, in their local coffee shop. “Hey, bro.” He said, smiling. He noticed this coffee sitting in front of his seat. “Oh, thanks.”

 “You’re welcome.” Sonic replied.

 “I read the interview for your new album.” Sonic said. “You’re an amazing artist.”

 Manic grinned. “Thanks, bro, that means a lot to me.”

 “You’re unusually happy today.” Sonic said.

 Manic handed Sonic a picture.

 “Is this a sonogram?” Sonic asked.

 “Yep, we’re having a boy.” Manic replied. “We’re naming him Glitch.”

 “That’s adorable.” Sonic said. He got up and hugged Manic. “Congratulations.”

 “Thanks.” Manic replied. He sipped his coffee.

 Sonic slid back into his seat. “So are you telling Mom and Sonia?” 

 Manic spit his coffee out and coughed.

 Sonic wiped coffee off of his arms.

 “Dude, don’t tell them.” Manic said. “I don’t want my kid to be treated the way I was. Ma will find some way to criticize it like she always does and Sonia goes along with it. I told Sonia and Shadow not to say anything about my wedding and I found out she told Ma when our Ma was chewing me out for marrying Surge. She still believes I got drunk with Surge that time instead of Shadow. Apparently, it wasn’t obvious after Shadow had to go to counseling.”

 Sonic nodded. “I won’t say anything, but it’s sad that they won’t get to see your kid.”

 “They brought it on themselves, bro.” Manic said, rolling his eyes upward. “I tried. I’m tired of trying to keep a dead relationship on life support just because Ma was obligated to have me and because Sonia ‘meant well’ when she crossed boundaries.”

 “I don’t blame you.” Sonic replied.

 Manic pushed his cup aside. “I wish things were different, bro.” He said. “I really do.”

 “I’m sorry.” Sonic replied. “I keep trying to reason with her.”

 “Thanks, bro.” Manic said.

 Sonic checked his watch. “Sorry, bro. I have to check on Ma.” He said. “She still has a hard time on Uncle Chuck’s birthday.”

 “Please don’t let that slip, Sonic.” Manic said, taking the sonogram back from Sonic. “I don’t want to go ‘no contact’ with you.”

 “I won’t, I promise.” Sonic replied.

 Sonic and Sally helped clean the plates after lunch at Aleena’s.

 “So how’s Manic?” Aleena asked.

 Sonia frowned. “No idea. He stopped speaking to us after his wedding.”

 “Sonic, have you spoken to him?” Aleena asked.

 “He’s fine, Mom.” Sonic replied. “He's told you why he doesn’t call or visit.”

 “No, he hasn’t.” Aleena replied.

 “That’s why.” Sonic said, turning to face her. “You never paid him attention or showed any interest in his life. I was standing right beside him when he said he wasn’t speaking to you again to your face because of how you obviously favor Sonia and he’s barely acknowledged. You keep blaming Surge for the only time he got drunk. Breaking contact was a hard decision for him. He at least cares enough about you as his mom to tell me I could tell you that he’s alive and okay.”

 Aleena shook her head. “I told him that I didn’t have favorites several times.”

 “Mom, I lived here.” Sonic replied. “It was obvious you favored Sonia. He’s been the black sheep of the family for some reason since I can remember. Is it because he looks like Dad and you’re taking your anger toward him out on Manic?”

 “Of course not.” Aleena said. “He’s exaggerating, probably because Surge puts all of that in his head.”

 Sonic smacked his hand over his face.

 “I told you she had nothing to do with him getting drunk, Aleena.” Shadow said. “The last I heard, Manic told her not to say anything to you.”

 “It’s times like these that I feel like I’m betraying Manic for talking to you.” Sonic said. “I gotta go, Mom. We have to go grocery shopping.”

 “Okay, be careful.” Aleena replied. She hugged Sonic. “Love you.”

 “Love you too, Mom.” Sonic said.

 Sonic and Sally got their kids, River and Lola, and headed out the door.

 Shadow followed them out.

 Sonic noticed Shadow, then glanced at Sally. “Can you manage getting the kids in the car?”

 Sally nodded. She walked the kids to the car.

 “I’m sure he’s told you why he broke off contact with you two.” Sonic said.

 “He has, but Sonia won’t do that again.” Shadow replied. “I told her not to say anything and she thought that your mom would try to work things out with him.”

 “He’ll break off contact with me if I say anything.” Sonic said. “It bothers him that it has to be this way.”

 “I understand.” Shadow replied.

 “I’ll talk to him about it again.” Sonic said. “We’ll see.”

 Shadow nodded. “I’m only asking for Sonia. She’s pretty upset about it and we might be having a baby.” He said. “She really would love for him to meet his niece or nephew.”

 “I’ll see what I can do.” Sonic said. “Congratulations if you two are having a baby. See you later.”

 “Thanks, see you.” Shadow replied.

 Sonic headed over to the car and got in.

 “You didn’t say anything, did you?” Sally asked.

 “No way.” Sonic replied. “He’ll cut ties with me too.”

 “Why can’t we tell them about Uncle Manic?” River asked.

 Sally glanced back at the kids. “I’ll explain when we get home.”

 River and Lola groaned. 

 Sonic started the car and pulled away from the curb. “It’ll take something drastic before he ever speaks to Mom again.” He said in a low tone. “He might speak to Sonia because of Shadow. Oh, Shadow was telling me they might be having a baby too.”

 Sally shrugged. “Hard to say. I never imagined he’d cut ties with Shadow, but he did.”

 “Can’t blame him.” Sonic said. “Mom had Manic crying on their honeymoon. Honestly, Surge didn’t help matters by cursing Mom out for how she was yelling at him.”

 Sally leaned closer to Sonic. “I never liked Surge, but at least she does care about Manic.” She said in a low tone.