Sonic Series Fan Fiction ❯ The risks you take to be accepted ❯ A few days later ( Chapter 2 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Manic made it back home and checked himself out in the mirror after going super again for the fifth time that week.

 He was finally as slim and toned as Sonic.

 Manic smirked. “Alright, now the rest is maintenance.” He thought. “I can do that without Chaos emeralds.”

 Manic headed to bed. “I can’t wait to talk to Surge tomorrow.” He thought. “I can’t believe Sonic hadn’t said anything, but I’m ready for it when he does.”

 Manic drifted off to sleep.

*

 Manic got up that morning and put on his favorite outfit (black denim vest with a few of his favorite button pins on it and combat boots with fingerless gloves and his spiked wristbands). He combed out his spines with his hand, splashed on his citrus cologne, then headed into the kitchen.

 Apparently, Aleena had to go to work early as Sonic had made breakfast, which was plain pancakes and puréed blueberries.

 Sonic glanced over his shoulder. “Morning, bro.” He said. “Help yourself to coffee. Pancakes will be done soon.”

 “Where’s sis?” Manic asked.

 “Mom had to take her to the emergency room.” Sonic replied. “Bad stomachache, maybe her appendix.”

 Manic flinched. “Oh, man, should we go to the hospital to sit with her?”

 “Mom said she wants us to go to school and let the teachers know what’s going on.” Sonic said, plating the pancakes. “Besides, sis would probably want Shadow with her instead of us.”

 Manic poured his coffee. “True.” He replied. He sat at the table.

 Sonic set the plates of pancakes on the table. “You’re gonna talk to Surge today?”

 “I hope she’s there today.” Manic replied.

 “I don’t think you’ll have trouble.” Sonic said, slicing his pancakes. “You look like you’d be her type.”

 Manic nodded. “Good, he hadn’t noticed.” He thought. “Hopefully, he’ll stay this oblivious all day.”

*

 Manic walked into the school cafeteria that morning. He subtly scanned the room for Surge.

 “Wow, Manic.” Rouge said, catching up to him.

 Manic sighed. “Now she wants me.” He thought. “Whatever. She’s no Surge.”

 “You look amazing.” Rouge said, wrapping her arm around Manic’s arm. “I didn’t know you worked out.”

 Manic rolled his eyes. “What happened to Knux?”

 Rouge bit her lip. “Oh, we… uh….”

 Manic scoffed. “Go work out your problems with him.” He said, pulling his arm away from her. “You lost your chance with me.”

 Rouge frowned and headed back to her friends.

 Manic spotted Surge and Kit’s table, then exhaled slowly as he walked over to them. “C’mon, it’s not a big deal.” He thought. “Oh, man, what do I say? I forgot everything.”

 Kit glanced at Manic. “Hey, cool wristbands.”

 “Thanks.” Manic replied.

 Surge looked up and smirked. “Hey, have a seat.” She said, sliding over so he could sit beside her.

 Manic grinned. “Awesome.” He said, sitting beside Surge. “I’m Manic.”

 Surge played with Manic’s spines. “I’m Surge and that’s my little bro Kit.”

 “Hi.” Kit said.

 Surge took a sip of her water. “So are you new here?” 

 “No, I’ve lived here my whole life.” Manic said. “Well, since I was a year old. I was born in Mobodoon.”

 “Oh, well, it’s a huge school.” Surge replied. “I’m glad you’re not being annoying and trying to make sure everyone knows who you are like that blue idiot over there.”

 Surge motioned to Sonic, who was telling everyone stories about his latest adventure.

 “Uh, that’s my brother Sonic.” Manic said.

 Surge’s eyes widened. “Oops. Sorry about that.”

 “It’s cool, he annoys my sister too.” Manic said. 

 Surge laughed. “I can imagine.”

 Manic laughed. “That’s a relief.” He thought. 

 “So what’re you doing on Saturday?” Surge asked.

 “Nothing unless you’re gonna go out with me.” Manic said, grinning. 

 “Then I guess we’re going out.” Surge replied.

 “Alright, you want to get sushi and go to the mall?” Manic asked.

 “Sure.” Surge replied.

 Kit grinned. “Now, I can play Placid Plastic Duck simulator in peace.”

 “He’s obsessed with a glorified screensaver.” Surge said, motioning to Kit. 

 “It’s funny.” Kit replied. 

 “So you just sit there and watch a screensaver?” Manic asked.

 “Oh, no.” Kit replied. “I put it on while I draw or something, then check on it occasionally.”

 “Makes sense.” Manic said.

*

 Manic walked down the hall, checking his message from Aleena.

 Aleena had sent a group text to him and Sonic saying that Sonia had to have emergency surgery and she got through it well. 

 “That’s good.” Manic said, typing a message to Aleena. He slid his phone into his vest pocket, then looked up.

 Sonic was talking to Sally, Tails, and Knuckles. He looked up at Manic, giving him a glare before saying goodbye to his friends and marching over to Manic.

 “Took him long enough.” Manic thought.

 Sonic reached Manic, then marched him out the door. “Come with me.” He ordered. “I’ll wait until we get home.” He led Manic out the door, to the place where Manic’s hoverboard was locked up.

 Manic undid the lock while Sonic tapped his foot. He got on and started riding.

 Sonic ran alongside Manic.

*

 Sonic and Manic arrived at their home.

 Sonic marched Manic inside the house and shut the door behind them. 

 Manic propped up his hoverboard in the corner. “Okay, so-”

 “You used the emeralds.” Sonic said. “It’s obvious. You got in this shape in just a few days.”

 “No, my hard work finally paid off.” Manic said. He tried to walk away, but Sonic caught his arm. He sighed.

 “They’re dangerous, bro.” Sonic replied. “Is it really worth damaging your body just to impress some girl?”

 Manic nodded. “She probably wouldn’t have gone out with me any other time.”

 “You don’t know that.” Sonic protested. “You didn’t try to ask her out before you did this. It’s a large school and she may have not known you existed. If she’s that shallow, do you really want her?”

 “Not everyone is as lucky as you.” Manic sneered. “Sally always loved you. The whole school loved you before, but me? I was just your loser brother and your friends tolerated me for your sake.”

 “You’re not a loser.” Sonic replied. “You’re an amazing drummer and singer. One heck of a mechanic and artist. The school just doesn’t appreciate you. Yeah, some of my friends may tolerate you, but my inner circle and Sally do care. Shadow’s not my friend, but he’s clearly fine with you if he’s willing to talk about Terminator or Robocop theories with you. He even got you that Neo funko pop figure for your birthday.”

 “That was from him and Sonia.” Manic said.

 “He picked it out.” Sonic replied. “Sonia picked out your trenchcoat. It was his idea to do the Matrix gift theme.”

 “Okay, so they do.” Manic said. “But I’ve heard all the talk. I’m not as cool as you, I get it.”

 Manic rolled his eyes.

 “The ones saying it aren’t cool themselves.” Sonic said. “But that’s not the point. I told you not to use the emeralds.”

 Manic crossed his arms. “Oh, if the emeralds are so dangerous, why do you use them?”

 “I don’t use them every day or week.” Sonic said. “Just when we have major threats, like when Eggman really brings his A-game or… I don’t know, an alien invasion.”

 “Okay, that’s fair, I guess.” Manic replied. “But does Tails even know what the effects are?”

 “Sorta, but he’s still researching them.” Sonic said, leaning against the wall. “He still doesn’t know what the long term effects are, but it clearly alters DNA when used to go super.”

 Manic nodded. “I noticed I get these weird sparks in my irises and spines sometimes.”

 “That means it rewrote your genetic code.” Sonic said. “Shadow and I do it too. Knux kinda does due to exposure to us. That’s why we give off those weird sparks when we power up. That’s a mutation we can possibly pass onto our kids if we’re able to have any.”

 Manic flinched. “What?”

 Sonic shrugged. “Tails said that was one of several possible side effects, but I’ve been too… you know, to get myself tested.”

 Manic sighed. “Well… I guess I can adopt if it messed me up….”

 “Don’t freak out; you may be fine.” Sonic said, leaning away from the wall. “Just don’t go super again.”

 “Fine.” Manic replied. “I can maintain this on my own, right?”

 “Yeah, I think so.” Sonic said. 

 Manic bit his lip. “Hmm….”

 Sonic slapped his hand over his face. “Bro….”

 “You wouldn’t get it.” Manic said, turning to walk away.

 Sonic caught Manic’s arm. “I’m telling you I wouldn’t do that just to impress Sally.” He replied. “I wouldn’t bother with her if she didn’t love me no matter what I looked like.”

 Manic ran his hand through his spines. “F’real?”

 Sonic nodded. “Listen, I hope things work out well with Surge.” He said. “I just think it’s sad you were made to feel like this was the answer.”

 Sonic headed into the kitchen.

 Manic followed Sonic a few minutes later. “It’s not just them, y’know.” 

 Sonic leaned out of the fridge. “What?”

 “It’s not just the girls at school.” Manic said, pulling a box of trail mix out of the cabinet. “You’ve seen all the magazines and whatnot you’re on, right?”

 “Yeah.” Sonic replied. He set a container of grilled chicken out of the fridge. “You know they airbrushed my pictures, right? My spines aren’t that neat and I’m not that muscular. Hedgehogs don’t naturally look like that.”

 “I know it’s unrealistic.” Manic said. “Tell that to everyone else. They buy into it.”

 Sonic nodded. “I know.” He replied. “But remember what I said? The right ones will appreciate you.”

 “Thanks, bro.” Manic said.

 “Now help me make chicken tacos.” Sonic replied.

 Manic got out the rest of the ingredients while Sonic warmed up the chicken.