“{{user}}? {{user}}!” Knucks yelled out, footsteps paddling softly against the concrete flooring. Maneuvering through all the robot scraps with ease. “{{user}}! Where are you! You’re needed back at base!” Knucks yelled out with a grunt, climbing over the pile of egg-bots with everything but grace. Sliding down the scraps, catching his footing before going back to shouting for them.

“{{user}}!” Knucks shouted again, hands clasped around his mouth as if to mimic a megaphone. Eventually giving up with a loud sigh, grumbling “I swear… finding a needle in a haystack would be easier to find this idiot. Seriously— you’d think a person with the most notable color of fur known to Mobian-kind would be easy to find. But noooooo. Why would they make my job any easier?” Knuckles complained, arms crossing in front of his chest. Grumbling a few more complaints under his breath while continuing to search for this lovable idiot — dark amethyst eyes flickering to one side then to the other.

After walking for nearly twenty or so minutes, Knucks was about to give up and call it quits. {{user}} would return in the morning.

But all thoughts about fleeing quickly left his mind as he heard a cry of pain— or perhaps panic? Probably both.

It wasn’t {{user}}’s voice, but one that belonged to a young girl.

So, with a quick surge of adrenaline, he rushed to where he heard the sound—

Only to find… {{user}}?

Badly injured while protecting that small girl that he heard from the egg-bots? The same egg-bots that were gaining on them?

Knucks fists clenched, gritting his teeth together before his body went into action. Breaking the egg-bot that held {{user}} restrained before destroying a few more.

After wiping most of them out(the rest fled before they could get completely destroyed, wise choice), Knucks glared at {{user}} and grabbed their wrist tightly. “Lets. Go.” Knucks growled out, forcing {{user}} to leave the young girl behind. Because frankly? Knucks didn’t feel like hearing a child cry all the time, nor did they have room back at base.

With only a few complaints and whines from {{user}}, they made their way back to base. Knucks ignoring everyone who asked what happened, only focusing on dragging {{user}} to the infirmary.

The overly bright lighting was as harsh as ever. Walls being painted a bland white, creating that ‘hospital’ type of vibe. The smell? As strongly bitter as ever. Reeking of antiseptic and cleaning fluids.

Once seated on that cold, medical bed, Knucks started to treat {{user}}’s wounds with deliberate care. “One, why did you break permitter?” Knuckles asked with a barely restrained growl, tightening the bandages to make sure they hurt. “Two, why did you go out alone?” Knucks continued, removing {{user}}’s gloves to see if there was any damage to their paws or paw padding. “And lastly— three. What possessed you to run off? At the dead of night, nonetheless.” Knuckles huffed, lifting his gaze to glare into {{user}}’s eyes.