~Calm Before the Storm~

The next morning was pleasant. It was almost as if Remnant wasn't an inevitable threat. Ridge was just sat on the now-tidy couch, watching some television, and Tawny was in the kitchen making breakfast and tea.

Infinite had only just come downstairs, having overslept compared to the other two, but considering he had stayed up all night previously, he deserved some extra shut-eye.

The jackal sat himself on the couch, which immediately caused Ridge to speak up. "Hey, who said you were allowed to sit on my bed?" he asked, offended.

"It's only your bed at night time," Infinite countered smoothly as he stared at the television, not really paying attention to whatever was on.

"Actually, I decide when it stops being my bed," Ridge argued.

"You guys better not be fighting in there!" Tawny called from the open kitchen. "It's too early for that and we haven't even been here for more than twenty-four hours."

Infinite just folded his arms and sat in silence. He didn't want to start and argument this morning, but if Ridge kept pestering him, then he may just throw him to the floor.

Thankfully, Ridge didn't seem to be too interested in starting anything, either, and also sat silent. The atmosphere remained like this for a good few minutes before Tawny came over and placed two plates down on the coffee table in front of the jackals.

"Scrambled eggs and bacon," she announced proudly.

"Eggs and bacon?" Ridge gasped, taking in the delicious smell. "This sure beats cave fish!"

"Anything beats cave fish," Tawny chuckled as she then looked to Infinite. The dreadlocked jackal picked up some of the eggs between his finger and thumb, as if completely unfamiliar with the dish. He even tilted his head slightly in confusion, but quickly snapped out of his focus when Tawny cleared her throat. "Knife and for, Inf. Use the knife and fork."

Infinite saw that the two pieces of cutlery were on his plate, dropping the scrambled eggs back where they belonged. Why would a knife be needed to cut something so soft?

"A knife is not necessary," he confirmed. "These eggs can be pulled apart with my hands."

Tawny sighed and shook her head. "We've been through this," she reminded him. "There's a little something called table manners. Just use the knife and fork."

Infinite picked up the knife and fork and started cutting, his ears flattening in embarrassment, but as soon as Tawny returned to the kitchen, he immediately started using his hands again. It was just so much easier.

After a few bites of his food, Ridge nudged his shoulder harshly, which angered the younger jackal. "Ain't you gonna go sit with her?" he asked. Infinite lifted his head and looked into the kitchen, seeing that Tawny was sat by herself at the small table. He then frowned and glared back at Ridge.

"Why are you asking me?" he countered. "She's your daughter, isn't she?"

"Yes, but she's your girlfriend," Ridge backfired.

Infinite's ears dropped again and he almost looked horrified, but then he scowled. He wouldn't use the words "girlfriend" and "boyfriend" in a million years. Anyway, why did Ridge know that?

"If you mention either of us that way ever again, I'm killing you," Infinite decided quietly, but Ridge didn't seem at all threatened.

"Enjoy the single life after that, then," Ridge retorted smugly, earning himself yet another scowl from Infinite.

"I'd rather not become like you," Infinite then said as parting words as he chose to stand up, carrying his plate into the kitchen where he sat opposite Tawny at the table. The hybrid canine looked surprised, which is a look Infinite picked up on.

"What?" he huffed. "Sitting at a real table is allegedly more polite than on a couch."

"I mean, yeah," Tawny had to agree, "but you didn't have to come over here or anything."

"Well, I did," Infinite shut down, eating with his hands again. Tawny almost cringed.

"That's so much worse than sitting on the couch," she mumbled.

"Is my eating style affecting your life?" Infinite asked sarcastically. It took Tawny a few seconds to respond.

"Well, no…"

"Then there's no need to focus so much on it, now, is there?"

Infinite kept eating and Tawny just sighed, eating with actual table manners. The air was silent for a small moment as the two ate, but Infinite caught sight of Tawny staring at him with some weird small smile.

"…What?" Infinite reacted to this sight. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Aren't I allowed to look at you?" Tawny responded. "It's an appreciation thing."

"Then stop," Infinite demanded.

"Stop appreciating you?" Tawny queried.

"Yes," Infinite answered before thinking about his reply. "No. I mean stop expressing it."

Tawny shook her head as she finished eating her breakfast. "You're one strange guy," she couldn't resist saying before then winking. "But that's what I like about ya."

Infinite frowned. "Stop," he grumbled, standing up with his now-empty plate in hand. He walked over to the sink and scrubbed it clean, then setting it to dry on the rack before finally washing his hands. His mind was elsewhere for a moment, but he froze when feeling a pair of hands on his shoulders, and he only frowned again when Tawny leaned over his shoulder to look at his face.

"Hey," she said, as if greeting him for the first time this morning.

"What?" Infinite sighed, glancing down at her.

"I've got something cool that you really need to see," Tawny told him with a smile. Infinite just turned around and took her by the arms, moving her to the side so that he could step away from the sink.

"What is it?" he asked without much interest in his voice.

"This way," Tawny gestured as she started walking. "It's in my basement."

Infinite started to follow her and raised one of his eyebrows. "Basement?" he questioned. "I wasn't aware this place had a basement." Really. The building was so small.

"Dude, I've always got a basement," Tawny told him. "Except in the other city. There's no basement in that house. I should really get one installed when I return there."

Infinite didn't even add to that discussion as he soon followed her down some steps which had been illuminated at the flick of a light switch.

"You said you used to use a sword or something, right?" Tawny asked. Infinite nodded his head.

"Yes," he replied. "A long time ago."

"Well, check this out!" Tawny exclaimed as she ran into the basement room, taking something from a rack.

As she turned around, Infinite felt his eyes widen against his will. The sword was a curved crimson one with a blue handle.

It was his.

"I found it not long after I lost my contract to Eggman," Tawny explained. "I forgot I had it here, but I remembered you said something about using a sword, so…"

"That one's mine," Infinite cut in without realising. Tawny's ears perked up.

"Wait, really?" she queried. Obviously, she didn't believe him, or at least she didn't want to. The coincidence was just too bizarre to her.

Infinite merely nodded his head. "It was… my father's." His mismatched eyes then locked with Tawny's as he spoke quietly. "Remember when I told you I killed him in my youth?"

"Yeah?" Tawny responded, tilting her head to the side as she tried to follow where this conversation was going.

"I killed him with that," Infinite revealed. His gloved hand covered his scarred blue eye as he remembered some of those brutal moments.

"Hesitation will be your last mistake in any battle, Zero!"

Those words. Those were the words his father spoke to him before he was struck with his sword.

"You want it back? Then here it is."

And those words, the words of an adolescent, came from his own mouth as he put an end to that man's life.

This sword had been with him ever since the beginning. Ever since he was just a pup trying to understand the world around him. He had been abused by its power, and when he became worthy, he abused its power. He inspired fear into the hearts of anyone who saw him coming.

He almost killed Doctor Eggman with that thing.

Things would have been different if that had happened…

Tawny eyed the sword thoughtfully. "Huh," she could only react with at first. "This sword is certainly a unique design. It must be hard to forget." She then held out blade out to him in her palms. "Here. Take it. I was gonna give it to you as a gift, but… I feel like I'm returning something I stole from you."

"You didn't steal it, it was lost and you didn't know me," Infinite corrected as he reached out and took the blade by its hilt. He lifted it slowly and eyed it, and he really couldn't deny that he felt his heart beat faster with what must have been excitement – or even joy. This was his weapon. This is what he, as Zero, depended on for his survival.

The hybrid canine who stood before him smiled brightly. "This is so cool!" she chirped. "Once you're fully healed and we go back to deal with Remnant, you're gonna kick his butt with that!"

Infinite grinned slightly, almost in a sadistic way. He'd ruined that fox with this sword before, so he could do it again.

"I'm gonna finish cleaning up the kitchen," Tawny then stated. "You can spend a few minutes getting used to that sword, but try not to break anything. There's plenty of space down here so I'll be mad if anything's broken."

As she turned to leave, however, the black-furred jackal suddenly took her by the wrist and swiftly pulled her back to him, keeping his one free arm wrapped around her waist.

And he smiled.

He smiled down at her, still with that somewhat evil look on his face, but all that mattered was that the smile was genuine.

For a moment, the pair lost themselves in the moment. Infinite's smile didn't fade away, and Tawny couldn't help but smile back.

Nothing was said between them, and Infinite found himself closing the gap between their gazes…

"What the heck are you two doing in the basement?!" Ridge could be heard shouting from atop the stairs. "Wait, I didn't even know this place had a basement!"

The moment was lost and Infinite immediately let go of Tawny, practically shoving her away. "Go and make sure that old man's alright," he instructed. "He might fall down the basement stairs."

Tawny was a little slower to react and gather herself, but eventually she chuckled and nodded her head. "Right," she replied. "I'll… check on you when I've done some cleaning." And with that said, she left him, heading back up the stairs to clean everything up.

Infinite gazed back at the red sword, which looked like it had been cleaned well at some point. He could see his own to eyes in the blade's reflection…

That would be the last sight Remnant saw before his defeat.

Infinite would make sure of that.

~End of Chapter~