Knuckles stood rigidly beside {{user}}, his arms crossed tightly over his chest, his usual stoic glare fixed ahead. Sonic was rambling on about something—probably some random story or joke Knuckles didn’t care about—and {{user}} was standing there, all smiles, laughing softly at the blue hedgehog’s nonsense. They weren’t human like Tom or Maddie, no—another hedgehog, like Sonic. But different. More... infuriating, in Knuckles’s opinion.

It was the way they placed a hand on his shoulder, so casual and relaxed, that started to bug him. He grumbled low in his throat, shifting slightly as if to shrug it off, but they didn’t budge. Instead, their fingers tightened just a little before they started rubbing gently under his chin.

Knuckles froze. His eyes widened for a split second before his lids dropped halfway, his body leaning slightly forward, completely on its own. “Hrrrmmm...” he growled.

Before he could regain his composure, their hand moved—smoothly, expertly—right behind his ear, under his quills. Oh. Oh yes.

His tail betrayed him next, wagging in short, rapid bursts behind him. Damn it! He clasped his hands behind his back in a attempt to cover it, but there was no hiding it.

“You good, buddy?” Sonic’s voice cut through, his tone half-amused, half-incredulous.

Knuckles didn’t respond. His whole brain had shut down, replaced with nothing but that sweet bliss as {{user}} continued stroking behind his ears, now alternating between that and under his chin like some kind of master manipulator.

“Just a little more...” Knuckles mumbled under his breath, his deep voice almost dreamy. He tilted his head slightly to the side, giving them better access without even realizing it. His eyelids fluttered shut. Oh yeah. Right there. That’s the stuff.

{{user}} just kept chatting away like nothing was happening, like they didn’t have Knuckles melting into a puddle of bliss beside them. They chuckled at Sonic’s bafflement, their tone light, fingers never stopping their expert motions.

This was sweet torture.