Chapter Text
Well Thomas Michael Wachowski… Let this be a lesson to you: when your wife tells you to ‘bring a life vest,’ make your life easier and just listen to her.
Tom sighed as he clung to the floating chunk of driftwood. His arms were numb from strain and cold water. His legs were exhausted from kicking. His clothes were damp and soggy, clinging to his skin. His hair felt stringy and smelled strongly of saltwater.
Worse of all though? He lost his lucky fish hook.
A growl from his stomach reminded him of how painfully hungry he was.
All in all? Not one of his best days.
It had started out simple enough: the queen and his superiors had given him a long weekend off, so he was taking today to do some fishing. If not for answering a summons from his mother, Wade would’ve also joined him.
Probably smart that he didn’t, considering that their old dingy fishboat had decided today was its final day to exist before collapsing into a moldy pile of wood. Luckily it left behind a big -and sturdy enough- piece for Tom to cling to. So here he was: floating along the ocean currents, hungry and soaked to the bone, and mentally bracing for the scolding he was going to get when he got home.
If he ever got home.
Who knew where the ocean was taking him? Anywhere for all he knew. He could wash up at any port in any kingdom -if pneumonia or sharks didn’t get him first. At least if he ended up in a port, he could dry off a bit. His wallet was drenched, the cash it contained even moreso. It’d be a miracle if any of it hadn’t yet dissolved. He also remembered that he left his militia ID on the coffee table at home, so he couldn’t prove his status or citizenship should he come across any town’s leaders.
So all in all, a bit of a crappy day.
Tom groaned and laid his chin on the cold wood. He could see the sun setting just beyond the horizon, which meant that the temperatures were going to drop a few significant degrees. As if to prove it, a rather harsh wind blew past, chilling him to the bone. He could feel his teeth starting to chatter.
Great… Just what I need. Okay Universe, I get it! Next time I will listen to my wife! I will never doubt her judgement again!
Though that could only work if he was still alive long enough to hear her say “I told you so.” And the ocean seemed hellbent on making sure that journey would be difficult.
Tom, however, was not a quitter. He was a Wachowski, and no matter what, Wachowskis always got back up after being knocked down. No matter how many times that was. He was going to see Maddie again. He was going to kiss her and love her twice as hard as he did now.
Nothing was going to stop him from achieving that. Not freezing temperatures, or rusty boats, or vicious aquatic predators…
Or that ship coming up just behind him.
…
Wait what?
Tom whipped his head around and felt his eyes widen upon seeing the vessel. It was a galleon ship; a smaller model than the ones he’s ridden on, but still quite large. It didn’t have Soleanna insignia on it. Was it a passing merchant ship?
Either way, he was saved!
“Hey! HEY! HEY DOWN HERE! HELP!!”
He called out as loud as his lungs would allow and waved an arm frantically in the air. His heart felt light and fluttered with hope. Rescue. He was going to be rescued!
Don’t worry Maddie. I’ll be home soon. This isn’t how my story ends!
That hope was immediately dashed when he noticed the color of the sails.
Black.
Tom’s blood ran cold; only one group of sailors used that color.
Pirates.
“Ah shit…” he muttered.
Maybe they didn’t hear me…
“Man overboard!” someone called.
Tom’s heart sank to his stomach.
Nevermind Maddie. If you need me, I’ll be in Hell.
He was dragged onto the deck within minutes. His shoulder slammed into the wood, not hard enough to break, but definitely enough to bruise. He hissed through gritted teeth and tried to sit up beneath the piles of netting over him.
He’ll give the pirates this: they were quick and efficient. Maybe his death will be too.
The netting was pulled back, and he was met with something he did and did not expect. Of course, he was surrounded by pirates, but not by the ones he was used to facing. The ones he had met were scraggly criminals. Mad-cackling, trigger-happy hyenas -both literal and figurative species-wise- who hungered for blood and gold. So much so that they’d fight with even their own crew members. Admittedly some had more class, but the goal was still the same: plunder and kill. That’s why Tom was so dedicated to taking them down; he wanted his family to live in a world where the seas weren’t haunted by bad guys. Where those kinds of monsters only existed in scary stories.
His heart momentarily sank at the thought of his family. Or more importantly, the ones he lost.
Five years later, and the wounds were still fresh. He’d never forgive the pirates who took his son away, or for the defunct empire that swallowed both him and their other two whole.
But back to the present, there was a different aura surrounding this particular band of pirates. Sure they still had the piercings and the clothing, but they weren’t as scraggly-looking. No bald patches of fur, no golden toothed fangs, or sewn-together rags. In fact, Tom felt a little jealous of their casual wear. It all looked so finely pressed.
They looked well-fed too; not a rib in sight, or any sign of malnourishment for that matter.
No drawn weapons either; now THAT caught him off guard. Pirates didn’t usually take prisoners. They’d kill to send a message, but no one -as far as Tom knew- had ever been taken alive.
Tom watched them all with a wary gaze. He didn’t have any weapons on him. Maybe they didn’t see him as a threat yet? He was good with a punch, but if these guys had swords and guns at the ready, he was clearly outmatched. Plus, he was still freezing and hungry, so his own body wasn’t even up for a fight right now.
Won’t stop me from trying, Tom thought as his hands curled into tight fists.
“He’s a funny lookin’ one, ain’t he?” someone commented.
Tom turned to see a white wolf marching up to him. They were the image of what the man expected of a pirate: tough, with a few scars on his arms and ears, and glistening fangs.
“You say that about all humans, dear,” replied a sultry voice.
Splitting off from the crowd was a stunning white bat, with turquoise eyes and a flower necklace around her neck.
Tom was a little taken aback by their appearance and lack of an accent.
The wolf’s dark blue eyes narrowed as they knelt down and took a tentative sniff. Tom tried not to flinch beneath their gaze.
After a few seconds, the wolf snorted and recoiled in disgust.
“He’s also a soldier.”
“Oh?”
Numerous murmurs spread throughout the shop as the bat sauntered forward. She knelt down with a surprising sense of grace and cupped Tom’s chin. The man glared at her, but she seemed to shrug it off, her eyes alit with curiosity.
“Hmm… So he is. From where?”
“Soleanna.”
The bat’s eyes lit up.
“Oh my! Aren’t we far away from home! Shipwreck, I presume?”
Tom kept his mouth shut. The less these pirates could learn about him, the better.
“Not much of a talker, is he?” the wolf scoffed.
The bat shrugged, letting go of the man’s chin.
“Not surprising. Soleannans are rather finicky about folks like us.”
“They also can’t get my nose right…”
“Even so, you must give the artist credit for their… creative liberties.”
“‘Creative liberties’ my bloody tail…” the wolf grumbled, crossing his arms and looking away.
The bat chuckled, and soon a few members were joining in. Tom was surprised by the sudden shift in the atmosphere. One joke was all it took to lighten the tense mood. It reminded him of-
“What’s going on out here?”
Everyone -Tom included- turned to see a black hedgehog marching along the deck. Crimson stripes decorated their curved quills, as well as the left eye. The right one was covered by an eyepatch. Their attire was the fanciest of the whole bunch, complete with a sword and pistol at their sides.
This must be the captain, Tom guessed.
The wolf huffed as he turned to address the new arrival.
“Piece of driftwood from Soleanna.”
A single eyebrow rose. With a nod, the captain stepped forward. The bat stood up to meet his eye level. She gave him a sly grin.
“About time you showed up,” she quipped.
“Move.”
“As you wish.”
The bat did a quick bow and stepped to the side. Tom flinched as crimson locked onto his soft blue. He did not want to believe that anyone could have such an intense glare; not even his superiors could look this intimidating!
“Name?”
“This one’s tight lipped sadly,” the bat sighed.
“Hm.”
The wolf narrowed his eyes.
“What do we do with him, cap?”
Tom braced for the worst. He’s heard horror stories of soldiers killed by the hands of pirates. Some were killed quickly, some were broken. Humiliated before the pirates granted them the final blow. Based on the intense way this hedgehog was looking at him, Tom feared that he might be in for the latter.
A few beats passed between the two. Tom still refused to say anything; whether that was from loyalty to the crown or that damn scary look, the man couldn’t say.
Suddenly, the captain turned and called over his shoulder.
“Hedgehog! Where are you?”
“Coming! Coming!”
Tom felt his heart drop down to his chest. His blood froze until it was nothing more than jagged streams of ice.
That voice…
…That… That couldn’t be…
But it was.
Light footsteps scrambled through the parting crowd and slid to a stop by the captain’s side. Blue fur and emerald eyes blazed in the late afternoon light.
Tom’s throat closed tight.
They had grown a couple inches since he last saw them. Their body was a lot leaner, a little more muscle on the bones, and the quills had been cut to a smaller size. They no longer wore Soleannan green, and the piercing on the right ear was new.
But it was him.
Same cobalt fur shining in the sun. Same lively emerald eyes. Same cheeky grin that could light up even the dreariest of meetings. Same cheerful voice that always found a way to warm his heart.
It was him.
Oh sweet Solaris, please don’t let this be a trick…
Tom didn’t think he could handle this being a trick…
“Sorry!” the hedgehog said, readjusting his bandana, “Was trying to put the maps away for ya. You need a better system for those, by the way.”
He poked the black hedgehog in the side of the head. They glared at him in mild annoyance and growled.
“I do have a system, you just keep messing it up.”
“Yeah, yeah, whatever. Did I hear Gray say something about a castaway from Sol-”
As soon as his eyes connected with Tom’s, the hedgehog froze. His muzzle turned pale and his eyes went wide. So many emotions flashed through his eyes: recognition, fear, love, hope, sadness, pain…
Neither dared to look away. Tom feared that if he so much as blinked, the image of his boy would disappear for good. Or worse, this was indeed a trick, and any moment the illusion would drop.
Silence reigned throughout the deck. The captain glanced at the blue hedgehog, their single eye softening in concern.
“...Sonic…?”
Hot tears poured down Tom’s eyes.
No… Please, please, don’t let this be…
The hedgehog didn’t respond. Their eyes turned misty.
“...Tom…?”
“...Sonic…” Tom choked.
Hot tears blurred his vision. He blinked them away, a wet smile decorating his face.
Sonic’s hand reached out, but he stopped himself. He stepped back and slowly shook his head, fear dominating all other emotions in his eyes. He still hadn’t looked away.
“N-No… No, you’re not… Y-You can’t… You can't be real…”
The wolf tilted one ear and frowned.
“Mate…?”
It broke Tom’s heart to see his boy in such turmoil. Thinking quick, he pulled out from beneath his dampened shirt a custom made medallion. It was a donut, with a bright gold base and rose quartz icing. A pair of obsidian shades rested where the eyes would be while specks of sapphire and ruby acted as glistening sprinkles. On the back, carved into the gold, was the name “Donut Lord” in clear, plain writing.
A special gift from his special boys. The jeweller may have made it, but they were the ones who chose the design. Sonic was the one who spearheaded it. It was the only piece of jewelry Tom ever wore.
Sonic let out a choked gasp the moment he saw the pendant. He walked forward, slowly, cautiously. His hand reached out again. Tom held his free one out. Soft fabric brushed over the man’s skin and he felt himself starting to choke up again.
Sonic’s hand shook. He pounced forward without warning.
“DAD!!”
The hedgehog wrapped his arms tight around Tom’s neck and buried his face into their chest. His body was wracked with sob after sob, his cries echoing across the deck. Salty tears soaked his already damp shirt, but Tom couldn’t bring himself to care. Instead, he simply wrapped his arms tight around his son’s body and held him.
His son.
His son was alive.
He was hugging his son again.
Tears flowed down Tom’s cheeks like twin waterfalls. He let out his own sobs as he rested his head atop Sonic’s. Sonic tried to speak, but everything was incoherent and too broken to make out. Tom just gently shushed him and rubbed circles along his back. The same way he would comfort him after a nightmare. He even repositioned them in his lap like a small child.
He could feel every inch of their soft fur. Every poke of their sharp quills. The ruffled fabric that always got messy from running. This was no trick. His son was alive and sitting in his lap.
“You’re alive,” Tom hiccupped, “My son… You’re alive…!”
At the word “son,” Sonic’s entire body rattled with another hard sob. Tom just held him closer and started rocking back and forth; he didn’t even realize he had started doing it.
“...D-Dad…!” Sonic sobbed, squeezing tight.
“I’m here,” Tom whispered, squeezing back, “I’m right here…!”
“DAD!!”
A second voice cut through the crowd and before either of them knew it, another weight crashed into Tom’s chest. The man looked down and choked at the sight of bright orange fur. Twin tails wrapped around his sides while big, watery sky blue eyes look up.
“Tails! Is that-... By the flame you’ve grown…!”
Tails sniffed. He tried to answer but all that came out was a wet hiccup. Tom rubbed his back in response and planted a kiss on his forehead. He then planted a quick one on Sonic, who simply sniffed in response.
“Father…?”
A third voice. The deepest of the trio. Just as hesitant as Sonic, if not moreso.
Tom dared to look up, blinking the hot water from his eyes to clear his vision. There, standing beside the bat, was an echidna. With bright red fur and amethyst eyes. Eyes that were still just as sharp as the day they met.
Upon seeing Sonic and Tails pressed against the dripping wet man, crying and hugging like the children he remembered them being… they didn’t hesitate. Knuckles wiped his eyes and ran forward.
“FATHER!!”
Tom braced as his oldest crashed into his side. He winced from the impact, the strong arms that wrapped around him the tightest, and the crushing of his ribs. Tom found he did not give a damn how much pain he was in. He simply readjusted his hold so he was hugging all three of his kids.
“My boys… My brave, brave boys…!”
Even with all the tears, a bright, wide smile planted itself on Tom’s face.
Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles continued to sob, hiccupping and mumbling into the man’s shirt. He hushed them all and rubbed their backs. He whispered into their ears and petted their heads. He held them tight and refused to let go.
That had already happened once.
“You’re alive… By the Flame, you’re all alive!”
Sonic sniffed and looked up, his eyes wet and full of so much love and pain.
“I…! We missed you so much…!”
Tom planted another kiss and touched their forehead with his own.
“I missed you too…!”
A symphony of sniffs and whimpers answered back. Sonic wiped his eyes.
“I-I-I-...! I’m sorry! We… W-We couldn’t…! We can’t-”
Tom hushed him again. He moved his hand to scratch him in the special spot behind the ear.
“You’re alive. You’re here. I’m here. That’s what matters. We can fill in the blanks later.”
Sonic nodded, nuzzling his face into his father’s chest.
Oh how Tom missed having that title.
“Ahem.”
The small group turned around to face the captain. Tom felt a fire burning in his chest. Did this guy kidnap his sons? Force them to become part of the crew? He squeezed them tighter against his body. Adults or not, he was going to protect them with his life; he wasn’t going to fail them twice.
A hand patting his arm gave Tom pause. He glanced down, coming face to face with Sonic’s tearful but reassuring gaze. Tails gave a similar expression, his namesakes wagging slowly while Knuckles gave a slow nod.
Hesitantly, the four pulled apart. Sonic turned to the captain first and held his hand out. The captain looked surprised by the gesture. Then uncertain. Tom watched the silent exchange carefully. There was nothing malicious about the captain’s stance. His eye shifted between Sonic and Tom, right ear giving a single flick.
He stumbled forward when the bat gave him a light push. The captain glared at her for half a second before turning back to Sonic. He kept his eye on their hand as he slowly approached the group.
Tom tensed. The captain stopped just in reach of Sonic’s hand. Sonic smiled. He turned back to the man.
“T-There’s a lot to catch you up on,” the hedgehog sniffed, “but first…”
He turned back to the captain and grabbed his hand. The captain jumped and stumbled forward a step, but didn't pull away.
“Dad? This is Captain Shadow the Hedgehog of The Shooting Star. The fiercest pirate to ever sail the high seas!”
Shadow turned away, a small blush dusting his cheeks.
“...That’s an exaggeration…”
“He’s also my boyfriend!”
Tom blinked.
“...Boy…friend…?”
“You gotta problem with that?” the wolf snarled, suddenly nose to nose with Tom.
Out of the corner of his eye, Tails looked up with a fearful expression. Knuckles narrowed his eyes and squeezed Tom’s shirt.
The man snapped out of his stupor and quickly shook his head.
“...No. No. Just… I really did miss a lot, didn’t I?”
His boys visibly relaxed, and the wolf slowly backed off. Shadow cleared his throat again, and all eyes were back to him.
“It’s late and it’ll be cold,” his eye scanned over Sonic, “Lead him down to your room so Cece can examine him. You three can help her if she needs it.”
“Aye aye, cap!” Sonic and Tails chirped.
Knuckles nodded, trying to wipe his eyes.
Tom was a little taken aback by the interaction, but quickly shook it off. His boys really could make friends with anyone, couldn’t they?
Tom had to admit: this might have been one of the nicest ships he has ever been on.
So what if it belonged to pirates?
No rats scurrying around, no mold growing on the walls. The floorboards barely creaked and everything smelled of sandalwood and saltwater, mixed with the occasional floral aromas. It helped to put the man’s mind at ease.
After the introductions were made, the whole crew seemed to relax around Tom’s presence. It probably helped that he didn’t stick around in the open for very long before his boys were dragging him below deck. All three clung to the man’s soaking figure, afraid that if they let go he’d disappear forever.
Sonic’s room was much nicer than he expected. A bit smaller than his old Academy dorm, but still just as nice. Simple too. Furniture wise, all it had was a bed, a clothing chest, and a desk.
Funny, given that he had a whole horde of comics, trinkets, and beanbags before while living with him and Maddie.
The bed was soft and finely ironed. Tom felt bad for soaking it with part of the ocean. Sonic assured him it was fine.
Cece - the ship’s medic- reminded Tom of his wife in some aspects. When in her element, she was focused, efficient, and thorough in her examinations. It only took her about five minutes to locate and treat all the cuts and bruises Tom had acquired from the sea. Unlike Maddie, though, Cece didn’t make much conversation. Or much at all. Tom briefly wondered if that was because of him, or if that was just the type of person that she was.
Not long after the siamese medic left, two other people walked in. One was the white bat, the other was-
“Tom!”
“Amy!?”
Tom laughed in disbelief as the pink hedgehog tackled him into a tight, almost suffocating hug. She cried and sniffed and nuzzled her face into his shoulder. Her hands clung to him like a lifeline.
“I heard you were here!” she croaked, “I almost didn’t believe it…!”
Amy Rose. His sons’ friend from school. She joined around the same time they did, a sweet little girl with a big heart and even bigger temper. Her determination was just as strong as the others.
And just like the others, she disappeared. Presumed dead trying to rescue her friends from a crumbling empire.
Tom felt his eyes water as he hugged the young girl back, rubbing her back in the same soothing manner as his boys.
“Hey Amy,” he whispered, “y-you’ve grown…!”
Amy hiccupped.
Sonic had invited the girl over one weekend for dinner. Tom and Maddie welcomed her with open arms that night, and anytime since. Tom could still remember the amount of times he teased his boy about dating her. He’d get flustered everytime and the man took that as a sign.
…Looking back, perhaps he misinterpreted things.
“I missed you so much!” Amy cried, “how are you?”
“I-I’m doing good,” Tom replied, wiping his eyes, “a little soaked, but-”
A throat being cleared snapped them out of the moment. Tom almost forgot that Amy didn’t walk in alone. The bat stood by the doorframe, a pile of clothes in her arms and a cheeky grin on her face.
“Sorry to ruin this moment. Amy and I figured you didn’t want to walk around in those wet rags, so we brought these.”
She held up the clothes for Tom to see. They were simple: a button up white shirt with brown pants and gold accents. There was even a new set of boots.
“I enchanted these to fit your size. Let me know if they’re too tight.”
“Your the best, Rouge!” Sonic smiled.
The bat, Rouge, laughed as she set the clothes on the edge of the bed.
“Thank you, Blue. Good to know someone appreciates me.”
She purposely eyed Knuckles while saying that. The echidna blushed and glanced away, arms crossed over his chest.
“...I do appreciate you…” he grumbled.
Tom looked between the two and blinked. He glanced at the other three. Tails and Amy snickered. Sonic pointed at the two and formed a heart with his hands.
Well, if that wasn’t a big enough indicator… When did his boys grow up so fast?
Within minutes, Tom was out of his wet rags and breathing in the sweet scent of cotton. The pants were a little baggy, and the sleeves of his shirt a little wide, but otherwise it was all a comfy fit. Even his own boots didn’t feel nearly as nice as the ones he was given.
What are the chances that I get to keep these?
Rouge didn’t stick around for more than a few minutes. She reluctantly had to pull Amy away from the reunion; apparently the captain needed her for something.
“Alright,” she sighed.
She gave Tom one last hug before turning to leave.
“We’ll catch up more at dinner! See you!”
Tom laughed and waved her off. Pretty soon it was just him, Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles alone in the room. The moment the girls were gone, the trio wrapped themselves back around their father and held him tight.
Tails won the spot in Tom’s lap while Sonic and Knuckles sat beneath his arms. Three distinct purrs filled his ears as they nuzzled his body. It’d been years since Tom had just sat down and held all three of his kids. They may be grown up. They may be incredibly strong, fast, and clever. They may be more resilient than any other being Tom has ever met.
But at the end of the day, they were still his kids. They were still his sons.
Tom didn’t know how long they just sat there, relishing in each other’s company. Not that he really cared though; he’d stay in this moment forever if he could.
“How’s mom?” Tails asked, looking up, “is she okay? Does she… Does she miss us?”
Tom smiled at his youngest and patted their head.
“Maddie’s doing fine. And of course she does. We both do.”
His vision became foggy as a lump formed in the back of his throat.
“We miss you everyday.”
“You’re not…” Sonic hesitated, his voice wobbly, “You’re not mad?”
“Mad? About what?”
“...About us not coming home. A-About me, a-and…”
He kept his head low, hands squeezing the fabric of Tom’s shirt. At the same time, Tails and Knuckles avoided the man’s gaze.
“It’s my fault I got captured,” Sonic continued, “I tried to save everyone. I tried to be strong but…”
His hands shook. He sniffed, body rattling with tiny sobs.
“I miss you. I miss you and mom and Wade… I miss Ozzie. I miss Uncle Chuck…”
Sonic’s voice broke. Tom squeezed him tighter at the mention of his uncle.
Charles was an old family friend. He showed Tom the ropes as he climbed the ranks in the military. He was patient and kind, firm and strong. Tom owed much to the old hedgehog. It was through him that the man was even able to meet Sonic and Tails. Knuckles followed suit, and before he and Maddie knew it, they were being called “Mom” and “Dad.” Charles was over the moon at the milestone.
The news of his death hit hard. He was determined to go after his nephews, even against the queen’s orders. Tom wished he had the nerve to join him back then. Maybe…
“...Are you mad we didn’t come home?”
Tails’ quiet voice cut through Tom’s thoughts. He looked down at the young boy and wiped away his tears.
“...No,” Tom finally said, “but… if it’s alright, why didn’t you?”
All three boys pulled away and shared an uneasy glance. A silent conversation passed between them, something Tom was always confused and fascinated by. How could these three always know what the other was thinking with just one stare?
At last, Sonic turned back to him.
“...Promise you won’t tell.”
“I promise.”
“I mean it Dad. You can’t tell anyone. Not even the queen.”
The mention of their queen took Tom by surprise. He studied their expressions more closely, noting the tense furrowing of their eyebrows, the nervous shine in all their gazes. He took a deep breath.
“I promise.”
Knuckles held his fist out.
“Power-bump it.”
Tom smirked at the old gesture and held his fist out. Sonic and Tails quickly followed suit.
The blue hedgehog gulped and wrung his hands.
“Okay, uh… I know this is all gonna sound weird and crazy, and I know you hate pirates, but please just bear with me.”
Tom winced at the comment about his opinion on pirates. Just by their wardrobe he could tell his kids had switched to the life of one. And with the way their eyes darted around, carefully avoiding eye contact with him at times…
Okay, maybe Maddie had a point about keeping such conversations away from the dinner table.
“Hey.”
Tom reached down and rubbed the top of Sonic’s head. The hedgehog looked up, confused.
“Whatever you need to tell me, go ahead. I’ll listen.”
He had to push his own biases aside. It’s clear that a lot has happened in the last five years, and his boys have changed quite a bit. Tom didn’t know how much of them had changed, but if the revelations about Sonic and Knuckles were anything to go by… He needed the full story. All of it. And he couldn’t afford to let his opinions cloud the facts; whatever those facts turn out to be.
Sonic smiled and leaned further into the man’s touch. After a moment, he pulled away and took a deep breath.
“So… that morning, when Queen Elise sent us on that mission…”
Tom stood at the bottom of the gangplank. He was back in Soleanna, dressed in his newly washed and pressed clothes from his swimming trip. The sun had barely risen over the horizon; it would be at least another fifteen minutes before businesses started to open.
Which meant that no one was around to see the man descending from the docked pirate ship.
Tom turned around to face his kids. His tense, anxious kids, who may be grown-ups now but would always be his kids at heart. He knelt down.
“Guess this is where we say goodbye.”
“Yeah,” Sonic murmured, “I guess so.”
Though he managed to keep his voice steady, Tom felt on the verge of breaking down. He just got his kids back, just found out they were alive and growing and thriving in a new world… but now they had to leave again.
They couldn’t stay in Soleanna. The kingdom had a strict policy about magic, something Tom was not oblivious to, and they held some extreme prejudice against certain types. There were even rumors of the Duke conducting experiments on magic wielders in the past, to find a way to replicate that in non-magic holders. That was why not a lot of mages or sorcerers lived in the kingdom anymore.
Queen Elise may be a kind ruler, but she was sadly at the mercy of her peoples’ very vocal opinions. Specifically, the opinions of those within her royal court. Tom was not afraid to say that he despised half of them.
Combine that with the whole pirate thing -which would only fuel the rumors of his kids turning traitors- and that was a political debacle NO ONE wanted to be a part of.
Tails ran forward and hugged the man tight.
“We’ll miss you,” he whispered.
Tom let the tears fall and hugged him back.
“I’ll miss you too.”
Sonic, Knuckles, and Amy ran in next, wrapping their arms around Tom and purring into his shirt.
“Make good choices for your mom and I,” Tom whispered, “okay?”
Sonic chuckled wetly. He leaned back and wiped his own eyes.
“Been doing good so far,” he sniffed again, “tell mom we said ‘hi.’ And that we miss her.”
“I will.”
“Give Ozzie a belly rub for each of us,” Amy added softly.
Tom smirked.
“Belly rubs for Ozzie, hugs and kisses for mom.”
“And let Uncle Wade know we’re alright,” Knuckles added, “I better not hear about him slacking.”
Tom laughed, leaning forward to ruffle the head of his oldest.
“I’ll be sure to tell him.”
The five came together for one last, tight hug. Purrs filled Tom’s ears, melting his breaking heart until it turned to mush.
“A-All of you stay safe. Look out for each other. I love you all.”
“We love you too, Dad,” Tails whispered.
The rest of his kids purred louder in response, holding onto him just a little tighter. Tom returned the gesture, giving them all one last, tight squeeze and kiss on their heads before reluctantly letting them go.
Kisses were usually Maddie’s thing, but screw his manhood, these were his kids!
Tom looked over Sonic’s shoulder to see Shadow and Rouge standing a few paces away. The man stood up and walked towards them. Rouge flicked an ear curiously while Shadow went rigid as he approached.
“Captain Shadow.”
“Captain Wachowski,” Shadow said curtly.
Tom smirked at the courtesy. He had his reservations about the pirate before, but after seeing the way he treated Sonic, and how Sonic talked about him, he knew his mind could rest at ease.
He knelt down again, much to the two’s surprise.
“Look after them,” he whispered, “keep them safe.”
Shadow's eye widened briefly before he managed to school his features again. He relaxed his shoulders and nodded resolutely.
“You have my word.”
“And call me Tom.”
“...Very well… Tom.”
Tom held his fist out. Shadow stared at it, confused, before reluctantly holding out his own. Their knuckles lightly bumped against each other.
With a warm smile, Tom stood and gave the captain a salute. Shadow smiled and saluted him back. Rouge playfully followed suit.
“Red’s in good hands,” she said.
Tom chuckled.
“He’d better be,” he then looked over his shoulder at his blushing son, “treat her well Knuckles.”
Knuckles bumped his fist against his chest twice in response.
Tom walked past the group and down the bridge. He looked at his kids one last time, watching the rising sun shine directly on all their fur, casting them in a stunning, magical glow.
Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Amy stood tall and saluted him. Exactly how they did back in the Academy. Back in the militia.
Tom smiled and saluted back. Then, he turned and walked away. It felt bittersweet departing from his kids, but he knew they’d be fine. They were tough. They were resilient. They were Wachowskis.
That last thought brought a unique kind of comfort and sadness to Tom’s chest as he carried on. And again when he peeked over his shoulder and saw an empty harbor.