Chapter Text
Sonic had never felt particularly like a good leader.
Of course, he was, in certain situations – building defenses and offenses against eggman (or any similar opposing groups), kickstarting revolutions, and of course being leader of what other people referred to as “team sonic”.
But, when he had been transported into this world- a story, one sonic didn’t know he was rewriting. He had been here for a few weeks now, and was still on edge. Sure, all the big bads were gone. Arthur, Merlina, Sonic had even disposed of Excalibur’s scabbard, opting to rest his talking sword on a hand-made leather sheath, not-so-expertly crafted by his own two paws. Sure, it might be a little more ‘dangerous’, having his blade hanging out half the time. But, he didn’t particularly care. When did he care for danger?
But despite all that, despite saving the world, again, the same knights who had been hunting him down and wanted his head were getting ready for his coronation later today. And while sonic liked the knights of the round table, it was painful, seeing the faces of the people he loved, his friends, who he’d most likely never be seeing again. While sonic was content with exploring a new world and running to his heart’s content, he did have a habit of going back to his friends. And now, they all didn’t know him. Or at least barely did. But they at least seemed similar – which made his chest churn in a way he didn’t care for when he thought too hard about it. With a slight exception...
Lancelot. His brain screamed shadow, but, well, after further investigation, they were definitely two different people. With somewhat similar pasts, from what he could get out of the knights, and even similar personalities. Somewhat. A very hard somewhat.
Lancelot had brought something out of him. Made him let his guard down, and he basically rambled to him every chance he got. And Lancelot just seemed to get it.
And oh did it make Sonic swoon.
He had harbored feelings for his rival, sure, who didn’t? Shadow was objectively hot. Sleek, dark fur, with striking red accents and red eyes that sparkled with passion, with the absolute will to do anything he set his mind to. And his mysterious personality would draw anyone in. And sonic was no different. It took months to get shadow to open up after he had regained his memories, but, stubborn as he was, he of course managed to do it.
But Lancelot – he was different, yes, but had all the same physical features, the same willpower, the same strength, the same passion. But one of the things that were different… His undying loyalty.
Well, perhaps it wasn’t that undying, since sonic had convinced him to leave him alone temporarily. They did have another heated battle before Sonic had gone off to “kill” Arthur. And Lancelot… he had been devastated when he was revealed to be nothing more than an illusion. It broke Sonic’s heart, while also making him feel awkward. Usually he was good with those kinds of situations, but his usual soft words and slight quips didn’t do anything for him. It had made Lancelot even angrier…
Besides the point. Sonic was conflicted about harboring feelings for another version of his rival, even if it was almost completely justified because his armor accentuated his form in all the right ways, even if his helmet covered his beautiful ruby eyes, he was still just as beautiful and -
Sonics train of thought was interrupted by a knock and the sound of metal clinking against the floor and the harsh sound of it rubbing against itself and leather. Sonics ear flicked.
“Your highness.” Lancelot’s voice rang, causing sonic to immediately turn around.
“Oh, Lance.” He smiled softly, the tension in his shoulders releasing. He silently urged him to continue with a nod. He was happy he and lance had made up. At least for now. Another similarly Lancelot and Shadow had was constant butting heads.
Although, Lancelot seemed far more reserved with his thoughts and opinions – especially when Caliburn decided he was going to be king.
That last tidbit frustrated him. How was he supposed to ever effectively communicate if some useless title that had artificial authority put such a huge gap between him and his people?
He’d have to fix that. Later, though.
“I did wish to speak to thee about thy ceremony. The coronation, sire?” Lancelot said. He had gotten used to Sonic’s strange way of speaking. The vice versa, not so much. But he could usually make it out enough to respond.
“Oh, yeah… ugh, the ceremony. I’m not exactly king material, y’know ! Why’d that stupid sword have to choose me.” Sonic growled the last part mostly to himself, turning back to the window. Caliburn was resting against the wall in the other corner, after all.
“Perhaps thy sword sees something deeper, within thy heart, a desire to help. Help all, and continue to share yond kindness with everyone by granting thee title and power of a king.” Lancelot paused, before continuing. “The very same passion and love I did see, sire.”
Sonic shrugged, glancing at his gloved hand. He was shaking slightly, and he knew his quills weren’t any better if his nerves were this racked up. He looked at his reflection in the window, his suspicions confirmed by the blurred image of himself, quills sticking out.
“Perhaps we should prepare thou for the celebration? I would be happiest to help-“
“Yeah, I probably should get ready. It’s in two hours… ugh, what if I’m a bad king? What- what would you do if I turned out like Arthur? And what if it’s all a big mistake? I mean, you can’t- Lance, promise me you’ll tell me if I’m a bad king. Please.”
Lancelot stared for a moment, his expression blank, from what the little sonic could see from the helmet covering his face. “Your highness. I assure thee thy coronation, the passing of the crown to thee, shall be perfectly fine. The round table shall be there to ensure it, and all of the people adore thee. But, if ‘t be true, to endues thee comfort, I assure thee we shall not allow thee to be consumed by power like Arthur was. Thou are kind. that very kindness hath changed the kingdom.” He said, gently taking Sonics hand and guiding him to sit down at the desk. Sonic did, crossing his legs with another sigh.
“would thou allow me to groom thy quills?”
“groom?- uh, I mean, I guess. If it’s with a brush.”
Sonic brushed a gloved hand through his quills, trying to keep himself composed.
Lancelot paused again before speaking. He tended to do that, unlike Sonic, thinking before speaking.
“What else, pray tell, would I use, sire?”
“Oh- right, you didn’t – ugh, nevermind, Lance. You can brush my quills.”
Lancelot let a hum of acknowledgement out, grabbing a brush and beginning to brush through the slightly unruly quills. Sonic’s quills, despite their roughness, and undeniable sharpness, were decently cared for. Dirty, yes, but that was from all the fighting the past few days, so Lancelot couldn’t blame him completely.
“Sire, you have dust all over you. Perhaps I should have a bath prepared?”
Sonic bristled, his quills sticking out further at the mention of a bath. The idea of it was much worse than it in practice, but any amount of his body in water caused him panic.
“im not so sure-“
“You’re covered in filth. If it’s the wait thou is worried about, I can take you to the river.”
“Uhhhmm.. I don’t – like either of those options.”
“Well, we do not want this dirt to be covering up thy pelt and quills at the coronation. What message would that send to the public? A dirty king, a dirty kingdom.”
“I’m not a king yet.”
“yet, sire. In less than two hours, thou will be.”
“Fine, fine fine- but if we’re going to the river, you’re going with me.”
“of course.” Lancelot stepped away, helping sonic up. For Sonic, it was an excuse to hold Lancelot’s hand. He didn’t know what Lancelot thought of it, but, he decided that he wouldn’t assume anything until he said something.
“then let’s get this over with. I hate baths.” Sonic led the way- despite being new around here, he seemed to always know where to go.
________
Lancelot sighed as he cupped water into and through sonics quills. Sonic, even though the water was a perfectly fine temperature, was shivering like he was freezing.
“Sire, please try and stay still.”
“How am I supposed to stay still-“
A particularly strong push of water made Sonic cling to Lancelots leg, causing him to sigh again.
“Thou art fine.”
Sonic only shook his head,
“sire..”
Lancelot sighed, clicking his tongue. He gently sat down in the water with sonic, pulling him closer and grabbing his chin.
“I will not allow anything to happen to thou.”
Sonic could feel a warmth spread across his muzzle as his nose twitched slightly. Some of the tension in his shoulders released, smiling nervously but nodding.
“O..okay, I trust you.” Sonic stated, taking a deep breath.
“Good. Now, let me wash thy quills.”
Sonic relaxed as Lancelots hands brushed through his quills, resisting letting out purrs. He let out one, though, near the end of it.
“Sire?”
Lancelot sounded worried as soon as the rumbling-clicking came out of Sonics throat, his hands retreating.
“What?” Sonic asked, his ears flicking in slight annoyance at the lack of touch.
“What was… that?” Lancelot asked in return, gesturing vaguely to sonic.
“what was what?”
“that sound.”
“my purr?” Sonic smirked. Did Lancelot really not know what a purr was? What it meant?
“Purr?”
“Yeah. Y’know , the sound you make when you’re happy and comfortable!”
Lancelot paused, and sonic could see his brow furrow underneath his helmet. Sonic giggled.
“I’ve never heard anyone make such a sound.”
“really? It’s a pretty instinctual thing…”
“I was trained for my instincts to be that of protecting the crown.”
“whateevverrr. Thats not even how it works! Here, let me try to make you purr! I’m sure I can do it.”
Sonic reached towards Lance, standing up and grabbing the sides of his head, removing his helmet temporarily. He gently rubbed next to his temples with his thumbs, and behind his ears with his index and middle fingers. Lancelot didn’t fight it, or even flinch away.
“…. What exactly is this supposed to do, sire?”
“ugh, cmon. Relax a bit. Maybe then you’ll purr. It’s not that hard. Or maybe it’s the wrong spot?”
“Sire.”
Sonic stopped suddenly, his hands retreating back to his sides. He blinked at Lancelot. Lancelot’s lip twitched.
“Sorry, lance. I just-“
“It’s quite alright. But we should be getting back. It’s almost time, and you’re not even dressed.”
“I HAVE TO GET DRESSED?” Sonic jumped out of the water, shaking off the excess, pressing down any unruly quills.
“I don’t have to wear any pants, right?”
“Not unless you desire to.”
“do I have to wear that stupid gold armor?..”
“Yes. It is customary.”
“but it’s so… Mmmm.” Sonic tapped his lower lip.
“Sire, thou cannot negotiate this.”
“Fine fine fine. Whatever. Let’s get back, then.”
Sonic grabbed Lancelots hand, and in a flash of blue was running back into the castle, kicking up dust behind him. Lancelot couldn’t keep up, at least not yet, and practically stumbled along as he was half dragged. Before he could even process that they had stopped, they were in the kings bedroom.
“Right… so, the armor, and that cape, probably. I like that cape. Although capes are bad for running.”
“Thou will not need to run during the coronation.”
“I know, but still. Just in case, y’know ?”
“I will not allow any mishappenings.”
“that’s not even- whatever, Lance.”
Sonic dug through his quills for something – Lancelot hadn’t actually cleaned them… not that he expected him to, but there was still debris and such deeper in his spikes. He pulled out the bracelet, putting it on.
“Hows it look? I know it doesn’t match the armor or anything, but it’s important to me.”
Lancelot stared at the bracelet.
“I’ve never seen a jewel like that.”
“Huh? Oh, yeah. It’s… rare, I guess, I got this from a friend. Not too long ago.”
“It suits thou. Why does thou not… wear it more?”
“its safer kept in these bad boys.”
Sonic smiled, ruffling his quills. Lancelot frowned slightly, reaching to fix an unruly one.
“I don’t get why my appearance is so important, though. And why the big party? At least everyone will be having food… mmm, food.."
“Art thou hungry?”
“I can wait. I eat a lot anyway.”
“…hm. Thy appearance is important due to thou representing the kingdom.”
“Ugh, that’s so much to beeee.. aren’t I already enough?”
“that’s- Sire, thou are more than enough, but –“
“yeah, I get it. But it still sucks.”
“…”
Sonic rolled his eyes. None of the knights had figured out his modern euphemisms and slang quite yet. Not that he blamed them, but it was a slight language barrier.
A church bell rang, which caused Lancelot to stand up and pull Sonic up as well.
“Your majesty… it’s nearly time. “
“Ugh, I know... Cant we postpone it a little longer?”
“No.”
“ughhh. Fine.”
As Lancelot clipped the cape around his shoulders, he felt something inside him churn. Deep in his stomach. It hurt. He felt like he was losing something.
....
Was he?