Work Text:
Tom and Maddie were looking between Sonic and Knuckles, doing their best not to show the overwhelming emotion that had just washed over them. They were all at the dining room table for their nightly family dinners (well nightly as long as Tom wasn't out of town, or Maddie wasn't working late, or the boys weren't out saving the world). When Knuckles had proclaimed his hatred of owls as one hooted outside, and Sonic argued back that the owl was probably more scared of him. Light brotherly teasing ensued and Tom and Maddie got a little too curious and quickly found out WHY they were arguing about a silly feathered creature in the night.
"Knuckles tribe is who killed Longclaw...?" Tom started softly.
Knuckles furrowed his brow and held their gaze steadily, "Yes....was this not told to you before?"
Sonic grimaced and scratched behind his ear shyly, "Uhhh, I guess it never came up." Tails coughed and fiddled with his fork.
"Oh my god you two, that is DEFINITELY something we should have talked about as a family." Maddie exclaimed in distress. "We adopted Knuckles and Tails over a year ago and we are just NOW finding this out?"
Knuckles held his fist up and shouted "The Echidna tribe are a proud people who were sworn enemies of the Owls." He then slammed his fist back on the table, causing a clattering of utensils and plates, "They all fought bravely and are now in the Battleground in the Sky. That is all there is to know."
Sonic rolled his eyes.
"Knuckles...." Maddie started gently, picking her fork up from the ground, "you realize that Sonic was raised by an Owl? And you family attacked her? And she killed your family? How does that make you both feel?"
Knuckles shrugged and glanced at his prickly brother, "We punched it out." Repeating the words Sonic had said to him before. Sonic nodded, shrugging back with his classic smile.
"This is way too much to unpack right now." Maddie held her head in her hands and sighed, exhausted from her long day at work. She still smelled like horse from her farm visit; she didn't have the mental energy to dive into century old fueds.
"Okay", Tom clasped his hands together, "No more bad talk about owls, they're cute and they eat gross mice, (nonsense! exclaimed Knuckles in the distance) and no more secrets. You guys can tell us anything okay? We want to make sure you all don't feel alone ever again. You went so long without being able to talk to anyone. And right now, that means telling us how in the world are you two just okay with this?"
Sonics eyes softened as he noticed how distressed his adoptive parents were, "Look Donut Lord, Knuckles did try to kill me when we first met. Well, the first several times we met actually."
"And I could have killed him if I wanted." Knuckled was sure to interject through a mouthful of noodles, which he had chosen to eat with his bare fists instead of the large fork the Wachowskis had bought special for him. Maddie made a mental note to make sure he washed his gloves after dinner.
Tails flicked his tail, "Not with me and a cop car around." He stuck his tongue out at the red echidna, who responded "It was a lucky shot, Fox."
"Anywayyyy," Sonic continued, "Knuckles was mislead by deception and misinformation. After we found out we both lost everything that day and that we both had the same intentions with the sparkly god mode jewels, it just made sense to team up. How could I judge him for what he had been taught his whole life? Or what his family did? He had nothing to do with that. I mean he saved my life because he didn't want to owe some Warrior debt to me after I didn't let him drown in front of me. You have to be messed up to think that way (hey! knuckles muffled). Besides, I like having him around to punch stuff that isn't me."
Then it hit Tom and Maddie as they shared a look: they both lost their entire world the same day. Their babies were so traumatized.
"The hedgehog is correct." Knuckles voice pried them away from their internal thoughts, "what our families and ancestors did does not define us. I was unsure how one could be so happy after what happened. But I now have a new family and friends. I get it now and would not want it another way."
"You guys have really grown up." Maddie smiled, wiping away a pesky tear that was forming.
Knuckles and Sonic were born to be enemies. Destined to hate eachother. Decades of hatred passed down on them and born of loss. But here they were, eating spaghetti at the same table... as brothers.
"Yeah....we love you guys." Tom whispered, wrapping his hand into Maddies and squeezing it.
"Love you too!" Tails squeaked back, he was always the first and most eager to say it back.
Sonic gave them finger guns and grinned wide.
Knuckles gave them a small smile and nod.
Their little family had grown so much in the last few years. They both wondered every day how they had gotten so lucky to have such special kids. As horrible as the tragedy of the Echidnas and Longclaw were, it brought life changing happiness and joy the Wachowskis never thought they would experience in their life. It brought them a family.
Maddie squeezed Toms hand back.
"I guess that's settled. Now.....who wants ice cream!?" she shouted gleefully, to which all the boys wooped in response.