A/N: Did you know Espio is taller than Silver? Cause I didn't

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GUN offers them a ride, so Espio and Silver leave the transport truck and a few police cars behind, the hospitable officer driving the car along a remote, over-grown road through the forest. Silver looks queasy at only the prospect of traveling in a car, and sits and stares out of the window, wiping at his nose anxiously. Espio just sits in the backseat with him, thinking…

It's afternoon when they get back to the city. Station Square looks annoyingly bright and crowded after the solitude of the woods, the sun glaring down and reflecting from windows and wind-shields, flocks of teenagers waiting to cross the road at seemingly every intersection.

Espio glances at Silver, who looks vaguely nauseous. Or maybe Espio is just imagining it, judging by Silver's expression…

Maybe Espio is feeling a bit anxious too.

-Though for that he knows the reason.

The officer, very predictably, drives the car to GUN HQ. Parks outside among the other police cars standing in rows in front of the building, shaped like a giant brick with a simple sign saying 'GUN' above the doors. And so the car comes to a stop, engine fading to silence, Espio opening the door and throwing a glance at Silver.

Silver, who quickly slips out of the car, slamming the door shut with a relieved look.

"Are you meeting anyone here, sir?"

Espio shakes his head, and says, "No. We'll be leaving."

"Well then," says the officer, and stands next to the car. Apparently he's going to stand there until Espio and Silver leave. Or go inside the building. Though they have a meeting in a whole different place… thirty-seven (intentionally) missed phone calls. Espio could already feel all feelings of victory fading away under the looming shadow of anxiety…

Though the longer he stayed away, the worse it would be when he came back. (And besides, Charmy's record for not answering the phone, was at least forty-three)

Silver wasn't sure what to expect. Not that Espio had given him any clues – I'm going to introduce you to someone! – and it wasn't like Silver had any sort of grasp on the past, either. In any case, Silver was quite content in trailing after Espio, as opposed to traveling in a vehicle, and the weather was pleasant; Silver's light fur making him a harder target for the sun to warm uncomfortably.

They walked along some streets they might have walked along before, people talking and looking at their phones, carrying bags and shoving past you, the occasional bicycle making everyone dash to the sides. Silver's limbs felt sore, but it wasn't too bad… I guess

The person who should feel the most discomfort walking, was obviously Espio. Makeshift bandages wrapped around his arms, the cuts… though hey – at least those brutes had had absolutely terrible aim.

-Silver really would rather not know what it'd feel like to be shot like that.

Espio continued walking without showing any pain, though, and soon Silver could no longer recognise anything in the surroundings…

And then they reached the sea.

Turning around a corner, and then suddenly you could see the ocean down below the hills. They were so high up, the street in front of them large and trafficked and continuing all the way down and down and down to the harbour, winding down the steep hill, with tall buildings with windows catching the light, making them sleek and shiny and dazzling, taking up the ground below and reaching for the rise they stood on…

Seagulls screeched, and if Silver looked intently he could pick out the vehicles moving far below.

"We've still got a bit to go," remarked Espio then, and Silver realised they had stopped walking.

…And that's when he finally thought to ask, "So where are we going?"

"To my… office. House. It's down in the harbour."

"Ah," said Silver, glancing first at Espio – who looked at him – and then down at the harbour. He could spot a few ships, but mostly it just looked like an absurdly long sidewalk. With warehouses. And cranes. The sea glittered blue, reflecting the sky, and Silver's eyes trailed up to the horizon, two shades of blue divided by a neat, transparent line. And beyond that…

…he really couldn't see that far. He compared the view to the sea of the future, trying to map things out or… whatever. They soon started walking again, Espio leading the way quietly, Silver trailing after like usual.

They eventually reached the harbour, Espio walking like he knew exactly where he should be going, but like he really didn't want to arrive. And then they finally – the sun was starting to go down – reached their destination.

Which turned out to be a two storey building which certainly didn't rely on gravity to stay upright, looking both misplaced and fitting in at the same time, standing just metres short of falling into the ocean. A sign above the door said something, which Silver – surprise, surprise – couldn't read. The roof was red and slanted. The walls some shade of yellow. The windows were shut, and some ads were plastered to the door. And light spilled out through the venetian blinds, though it wasn't that visible in the light of the setting sun…

"…Shouldn't we go inside?" asked Silver, after a moment of silence.

"Yes," agreed Espio. He finally stepped up to the door, waited, and knocked. Silver took a step to stand beside him, feeling more curious than anxious – since really he had no anxiety left, it had all been used up on criminals and injuries and cases and blood and chaos drives and Blaze and-

Footsteps sounding loudly from the inside, Espio grimacing, and then the door opened and Silver looked up… and up, because this guy was tall. And flitting through his head came the thought: maybe I should say hello and-

"Espio," said Mr Tall loudly, glaring at Espio, like he didn't even notice Silver.

"Hello Vector," replied Espio calmly, just a bit too lightly. They stared at each other for maybe three seconds, Silver staring at them, and then-

"Where the hell have you been?!" shouted tall guy, Vector. "THIRTY-EIGHT times I called you! What the fuck were you doing?! You better have dropped your phone or else so help you-"

"I was solving the case," cut in Espio, somehow being heard while talking calmly.

"The case? THE CASE?! Then why DIDN'T you answer your goddamn phone?! I thought you'd been killed and left in a ditch to rot, you bastard-"

"Or they could've sold your body parts on the black market!" piped another, ridiculously cheerful voice up, a... little kid? poking his head out through the door. He went completely ignored by both Espio and Vector, and instead he spotted Silver, who stood awkwardly to the side and just stared, hand half-raised-

"Oh!" The kid, a bee, apparently, exclaimed, as Espio and Vector continued their rather one-sided argument loudly. "Are you the culprit? You sure don't look like a match." Silver blinked in confusion, but the bee just continued, "Or did you get taken hostage by the baddies? And Espio had to save you?" Silver frowned.

"No, I – who are you even?"

"I'm Charmy Bee!"

…Really informative.

"Yeah, but why-"

-And that's when Vector noticed Silver.

"You-" he started a sentence, but suddenly stopped, gaze falling on Silver and spotting the stranger suddenly standing on his porch. Seconds passed. Painfully awkward seconds. And then he said, incredulously, turning back to Espio, "You brought a hedgehog?"( – why did that sound more like someone questioning why you didn't follow the grocery list, than someone asking who your new friend is?)

"…Yes," replied Espio, eyes flitting to Silver briefly. "He-"

"He isn't the culprit, right?" Interrupted Vector. "I seriously-"

"No, he-" began Espio, but unfortunately Silver spoke at the same time, exclaiming,

"No I'm not!"

They both looked at him again, while Charmy, still hovering next to Vector, said brightly, "Well he certainly doesn't look evil!"

…Silver thought, that if this agency would really operate by judging people based on their looks, then they wouldn't have gotten that far.

-Anyway,

Espio held up a hand, and said quickly, "Silver, this is Vector, my 'boss'. Vector, this is Silver. He's my… friend."

"You…" Vector groaned, leaning against the doorframe. "Okay, nice to meet ya, Silver. This is Chaotix detective agency; best private detectives in the city." Silver nodded, and Vector nodded back. And then he spun around to glare at Espio again. "Well, since the introductions are over…"

"Did you catch the culprit?" Interrupted Charmy excitedly, and Espio answered smoothly, still pretending to ignore the bee's presence,

"The culprits, but yes." Another brief glance at Silver, standing next to him. "Silver was a great help in doing so. He's quite extraordinary."

Two sets of eyebrows were raised, while Espio held up his expression of calm resolution. Silver thought that he himself might have flushed, hadn't he already bled so much though his nose… No, really. Blaze was the only one who had complimented Silver before… (Not that he had met that many people anyway)

At last Vector nodded. Is the shouting going to start again? -Silver's first impression of Vector was tall, green, and loud, and how can Espio even work with this guy? And Silver didn't know what do know, except for hanging by Espio's side like Charmy was hovering behind Vector…

And then Vector shook his head and said, "Next time, you will call, even if you're… having a tea-party with aliens and some robot. Thirty-eight calls! There's time to do some fucked up shit in that time; you can't just disappear like that!"

"Yeah!" Agreed Charmy, Silver's eyes snapping over to him briefly.

"I won't," said Espio then calmly, softly, and Silver realised he might have gravitated closer to him than he planned to. "I'll keep you guys updated, next time."

"Good."

Espio and Vector both nodded, giving the other exasperated looks. Silver felt slightly awkward, slightly left out, and Charmy nodded too, but went mostly ignored. Still hovering in the doorway. And then Silver noticed that he was holding a bunch of papers and a lollipop, and Silver wondered how he hadn't noticed that before. Distractions.

"…Well," stated Vector then. "It's getting late…"

Another hotel it is, Silver thought, and then, but won't Espio stay here?

"Yes," agrees Espio, and his companions start for the door, Espio moving after them, glancing at Silver who- are we both going to stay here? And then Espio gestures for him to follow, and relieved Silver follows, still confused why Espio didn't tell him before, still awkward, still so-

And they go inside, but before Silver can take anything in, Charmy flies past, saying cheerfully to him before disappearing, "If he's complimenting you like that, then he really does like you!" And Silver blinks, confused, the bee shooting up the stairs with a sing-song, "Later!" and Silver is both annoyed, baffled and… hopeful? Happy?

"Hey-!" he calls, but Espio's quiet voice cuts through it and says almost tiredly,

"He's always on a sugar-high; don't bother."

"…Okay," says Silver, mostly to announce he heard, and then he turns to look at Espio, who has his back to him, and instead sees the room properly for the first time.

The walls were much the same fading colour as the sunset he can see through the venetian blinds, a great desk taking up the middle of the room. Technology Silver can't recognise, and a couple of couches looking old but comfortable. Magazines, newspapers, more papers, strewn seemingly without any order on all available surfaces. And Silver tries to fit Espio in among this… But it takes too long, and maybe Silver doesn't know Espio that well after all…

Hah, a few weeks, a few life-or-death situations. Not nearly enough, is it…?

They weren't expecting company, obviously. It's messy, and when Vector looks for something to eat in the kitchen, he ends up with an embarrassing amount of candy and bread. The butter's gone, and somehow there's three bottles of ketchup. Though at least they have tea – Espio keeps that stocked – and the meal isn't too awkward…

"So where are you from?" asks Vector, just a Charmy inquires, "Why is there so much bandage?"

Silver takes a gulp of tea – probably stalling time – and says, "Abroad," to which Espio continues with, "He's just visiting."

"And, uh…" Silver draws a blank at Charmy's question, or at least Espio thinks it's Charmy's question, and so he answers for him,

"We ran into some trouble earlier."

At this Vector points at him with his mug of tea, beverage sloshing around dangerously. "Trouble?" You did run into trouble! If shit goes south, get some back-up!"

But I did. "I have my reasons."

A loud snort, and then Vector says, "Okay, yeah. You like being cool, doing stuff all mystically ninja-style working solo, but we're your team!"

…Did this count as your family embarrassing you in front of friends? "As I said, before, Silver was a great help with this case."

After that, conversation stills a bit. There's silence, and Charmy says something, and Espio just starts to drink his tea to show he's busy. Also, the beverage was getting cold. And also… He should've worded that sentence better, and not sound like some moron ditching his team for a guy who… who's going to leave as soon as he's able. Silver came for a reason, and he will be leaving for the same.

He can't stay forever, of course, that's just absurd to think. If he leaves in just a week though… what then?

"…So you run a detective agency together?" Silver asks, Espio's glance going to him again. It's Vector who answers though, with a 'yeah' before launching in into a story about how he met Espio some – which feels like many even though they're not – years ago. And of course he gets the details all wrong, so Espio has to correct him, and-

"No we didn't! And there weren't any explosions either!"

"You don't remember? All that stuff got destroyed and-"

"That was because of your driving skills, and not some robot-attack!"

"Sure. We fought against roots, and then-"

"Don't listen to him," says Espio at this point, happy but exasperated. "He crashed his car into the restaurant I worked at, and that's it." And then he convinced me to join his and Mighty's agency. That tale had a lot of stupid details, but they sure as hell didn't blow anything up – Vector was just exaggerating.

(Thankfully)

"No, no, no," insists Vector, and Espio is growing tired of your shit Vector. "My car was being chased down by robots, and so I had no choice but to-"

"-to crash your car?" Espio interrupts quickly, but before he can say anything else, Silver – mostly silent – suddenly says,

"But why did you join then? I m-mean," he looked flustered, and held up his hand, swatting away replies. "Why would you suddenly just, become a detective instead?"

Why was Vector the one answering? "Easy – who wouldn't want to join my agency?"

Exasperated, Espio quickly replied, "I just wanted to be a detective – seemed cool. And… I wanted to help people." Chaos, who doesn't? And the satisfaction when you're finally done with the paperwork, closing a case… It's all for justice, really. For knowing you helped society, if nothing else…

Silver seems to take all that in slowly though, nodding and looking like he's considering it, a sort of shine to his eyes as he takes his cup and raises it to his lips, Espio suddenly noticing how his eyes have these specs of ginger colour in them…

-It is rather horrific though, that when Espio glances back at him, Vector winks at him like he knows something is up…

It's almost so that Silver forgets, but then he remembers and hangs on to it for dear life – he needs that emerald, a chaos emerald. ASAP. He can't forget the purpose…

They all clean the table, Silver insisting he should help, and the Chaotix all insisting they take care of it. Espio has to show Silver where to put everything – why does he? It's not like Silver will ever use this knowledge again – and of course the time-traveller doesn't know what most of the appliances do…

Espio doesn't mind teaching him though, and soon they're all done. Charmy takes out another bag of candy, and flops down on the couch, gaming equipment strewn all over the place. Vector closes the last cupboard, mutters something about Charmy which Espio would probably agree on, and turns to him and Silver. Espio closed the fridge, raising an eyebrow, and Vector says, "So Silver; have you ever broken the sound barrier?"

-to which Silver answers with, "The… what? I'm sorry?"

-And Espio quickly explains, "Vector just assumed that you had the same ability as some other hedgehogs we know." …Does he? Maybe Silver could actually run really fast too, but… no. That was just – he would have been running if that was the case. And he hadn't ran that fast back in the city-

"What ability?"

"Super-speed," replies Vector. He grins. "Those two we know? They used to chase each other through the city, just jumping over cars and tearing through the streets."

"Oh," says Silver, looking vaguely like he's picturing it. Vector just grins, leaning against the counter, and Espio glances between them, suddenly overcome with the strange urge to say, but Silver's powers are far more incredible. But he doesn't, stops himself at the last second, because if Silver doesn't want to tell then Espio really shouldn't spill the secret like that…

Vector then leaves the kitchen, and Espio and Silver lingers there awkwardly. What now?

"I should prepare the sleeping arrangements," decides Espio out loud. Silver looks up and nods,

"Yeah, probably… uh. Do you have a room?"

"Upstairs," answers Espio, and then suddenly they're going up the stairs. It's messy, random things strewn all over the corridor, clothes and candy wrappers and case-files, which Espio realises with a bit of shame, have been dragged out from his room. This is the place where he's lived for three years – no, who in their group even remember their parents – and Espio doesn't even have the option of ever seeing where Silver lives…

Which feels like another cold sting, as he pushes the door open. First glance inside, and Espio is relieved to see that Charmy hasn't messed anything up – Espio keeps it relatively tidy. He steps inside, and looks back at Silver.

Silver hasn't ever had a room. Like, I mean – there's barely houses left anymore, and they're just ruins, mostly, and…

Silver follows Espio into the room. Walls: boring colour, same as corridor. There's a bed tucked into a corner, and… yeah, Silver's gonna sleep on the floor – and then there's a closet, a desk flooded with papers… some knives in a bunch, and a poster Silver can't read. A houseplant which looks like it wants to escape its pot, some sort of chair…

And it all, so painfully obviously, feels foreign.

-Not as bad as, well, everything back when he had just arrived in the past, but still…

Espio looks at him, and Silver says, "It's nice." But oh, why does he feel disappointment more than he does curiosity? Is it disappointment? Why are feelings always so much easier to describe in what they aren't, than what they are?

(Maybe he preferred it, when he only knew of Espio as a wanderer like himself)

(Oh Iblis, maybe he should actually focus on now instead of dicking around with all these negative emotions?)

(…Maybe Espio could have revealed that he had a team a bit earlier? Maybe Silver shouldn't be the only one revealing secrets? Hell, why did they end up being secrets anyway? Why-)

"I'll change the bedding so you can sleep on the bed."

…"No, no, I'll sleep on the floor."

"But you're the guest," says Espio, like it has to be said. "I will sleep on the floor."

"I'm used to sleeping on the floor – I'll do it!"

"That would be very unhospitable of me – I can't just do that."

"No, it wouldn't!" says Silver honestly. It's already awkward enough without me stealing your bed. "You've already paid for like, everything I've eaten and done here already!"

"No, I insist-"

-And so they both resolved to sleep on the floor.

Espio just wanted to be polite, but apparently Silver did too. So now Espio had dug up two old futons from the dusty, dark depths of the attic, and then it was suddenly black outside, and they both lay down on their mattresses, Espio to the right wall with Silver to the left one. The lights were switched off, and Espio could just barely make out the outlines of the furniture, seeing a sliver of street-lamp glow through the window…

Silver breathed, but it didn't sound like he was asleep.

Espio felt acutely awake.

Maybe because he was finally home, but Silver was still with him. Or perhaps because he wasn't completely exhausted… Or it could be because he wasn't used to sleeping on the floor…

"Espio…" says Silver quietly, and Espio's senses are way too sharp for him to imagine the sound.

"Yes?" he breathes back, staring into the dark.

"Are – forget it."

"Pardon?"

Exhale. And then he says, quietly, "…Are there any more people I should meet?"

…"No? I… don't have any more acquaintances…"

Silver hums. Espio thinks, and… maybe he could have introduced Silver sooner. It just didn't feel like The Time to do it…

"So this is your home…"

Espio would have nodded, had they been standing in a sunlit kitchen. "Yes… and my office." And he wonders, and says, because he wants to keep the discussion going, wants to just talk to Silver- "Do you work for anyone in your time?"

A shuddering exhale which Espio takes for a chuckle. "Nah," says Silver in hushed tones. "There's no currency, barely any villages. There isn't anyone to work with."

"…Do you live in a village?"

"No." And Silver takes on a softer voice, like he's amused, which Espio notes. "I'm a traveller, remember? Living nowhere, from far abroad… or something."

Oh Chaos, that café really was from years ago.

"And your friend?"

"Blaze? …I've known her for forever, and-" Pause. "People… didn't like her, for whatever reason – she's the best friend you could ever have – no offense though! …like, she's always so calm, and kind, and… she knows stuff. She's saved my life so many times…"

Espio just listened, taking everything in. Silver sure respected her, didn't he? She sounded nice, Espio guessed… He wouldn't swap excited and bubbly Charmy, or loud, sometimes-the-expert, sometimes-the-idiot, Vector, for anyone though…

For almost anyone he thinks, but he isn't sure, and that's another feeling he's starting to hate.

Silver continues his tale, in that oddly soft and accented voice, "She's got powers too – fire. It's so cool – she just spins and then there's flames whirling around her! And it's good for campfires. It's good for burning through obstacles, she's… And… well yeah."

Espio hums as an answer, way too calmly for how he's feeling. And then he asked, because he had to, because-"So what is she to you?"

"Huh? …Oh. She's like a sister to me."

And miraculously they both knew what Espio meant, what was implied, and that the other knew, when he then asked, quietly even for this conversation, "And what am I?"

Seconds passed. And then Silver said, lastly and lightly, "A weirdo." And then he snorted, and Espio could hear muffled sounds as he started laughing but quickly drowned it in the cotton, but he didn't really listen anyway. Why was this so funny. Was it that late in the night? I mean –he managed to hide his face in his pillow before he too could start laughing hysterically, or something equally embarrassing and loud and-

Was it nervousness which made him feel so awful?

"…No, seriously," Espio then insisted, after a moment and Silver's seizure had passed, the other's breathing sounding loud in the sudden quiet. And Silver waited a long time before he answered, with Espio feeling more and more serious with every second, worse and worse...

"…You're my friend." (Somehow Espio saw a conversation for the future, like, have you had any crushes? –once, but he didn't like me back… -wait, you're gay? – no idea) such a short sentence, and Espio stood somewhere between sadness and 'is that all?'…and then, painfully long seconds later, Silver added to that, softly, "I mean – if you consider me as anything else I-" A very quiet, sheepish chuckle, and Espio lay frozen on his futon.

He knew, didn't he? But he couldn't know how Espio felt right now, awful and exhilarated, and how Espio didn't dare do anything lest the moment shatter… or maybe Silver knew he held all the cards, and was just dragging out the moment – but he was too kind a person for that, to-

"…I know," he says.

"Like – shit this is awkward – but… you know."

…And Silver didn't say anything more. And no, Espio did not know, what - besides, now it sounded horrifically like Silver was asleep.

Silver knew.

But Espio couldn't decipher what he meant.

And now he was asleep, and Espio was going to replay this conversation all night, dissect it like a detective, but if Silver said 'you know' then shouldn't Espio know then? Did Silver just avoid the topic? Was Espio just being stupid and illogical and blaming it all on how late it was? And, lastly, worst of all, the darkest, scariest parts of yourself – feelings. To analyse.

And then suddenly, Silver stirs. His head is throbbing, and he rubs at his eyes until they are even more stinging and annoying than when he first woke up. And then he stares at Espio, not feeling exhausted but just sleepy… and then he realises, that Espio is still asleep.

…Like, whoa, Silver woke up before Espio.

-And yesterday night comes knocking on the door gently, which has Silver groaning and trying to repress most of his memories. Though really… he handled that pretty smoothly, didn't he? –or at least Espio should feel just as awkward when he wakes up…

Silver decides to wait. He doesn't particularly feel like getting up anyway, so he just observes Espio's breathing. And his face… until suddenly, his eyes are opening, and he glances back at him groggily, raising a hand to rub at his eyes. And Silver looks away, at the window. The rain is pouring down, and it's dark outside…

Silver uses his psychokinesis to flick the switch, and then both he and Espio groans at the sudden light.

"Morning," says Silver, a bit late.

"Morning," Espio mumbles back. And then that's it, and they get up, and Silver puts on his boots and drags a hand through his quills, and then they set out.

Several streets away from the Chaotix HQ, together underneath the one umbrella they found in the house, after many promises of 'yes I will call' Silver then voiced his one concern. Probably the reason they were even out in this weather. "I still need a chaos emerald."

"Yes," Espio agreed. "I might be able to help you with that." And then he stopped, so Silver had to stop too since Espio was the one holding the umbrella. Which he now handed to Silver, so that he could take out his phone. Silver raised an eyebrow, held the umbrella, and watched as Espio proceeded to call someone…

…Who did answer, after a bit of time, but because of the rain Silver couldn't hear what the other person was saying anyway.

"It's Espio."

"…I was wondering if I could borrow your emerald."

"I have a friend who needs it. –And no, it isn't Sonic."

"…You haven't met him."

"-Because it's urgent and I'm asking you?"

Silver watched Espio's face as he talked, changing expressions – though not much – and took care not to whack the rare but occasional passer-by in the head with their shared umbrella…

"Yes… Oh? Could you please?"

"Thank you."

And Espio hung up, Silver not bothering to ask 'who was it?' because most likely he wouldn't know the person anyway. –Espio put away his phone, and accepted the umbrella, saying as they started walking again,

"The guy I called didn't let me borrow his emerald-" Silver suddenly started wondering what would happen if he stole away an emerald from this time to get to the future, but then remembered that he had already left an emerald from the future in this time, so… "-but he did tell me where I could find another emerald. It's close to this city, in the forest nearby."

Forest nearby…?

"I think that's my emerald."

Espio blinks. "Your…? You dropped it in the forest?"

"Probably," says Silver. "I mean – I'm not a hundred percent sure, but it was there I appeared after using chaos control…"

Everything about that memory was hurt, and Blaze, and urgency, and how the past was so strange and the forest wasn't that lush at all, but mostly he didn't really remember it. Meeting Espio was much better ingrained in Silver's memory, anyway…

"We better get going then," says Espio, and Silver nods, and suddenly they're partners again, un-awkward and determined, faith and purpose clouding over the tension and nervousness. It's still pouring buckets, the water splattering right back up from the street, so they keep the umbrella and keep up their walking, but in a new direction, and just a bit faster…

…Maybe it's the rain, which makes it feel so sad. That the little part of their stories they wrote together, will come to an end, soon…

The future is waiting, back home, and Blaze, having bled and bled and- and he could save her now. And they can't get to the forest fast enough for Silver, he can't get back home fast enough… but then he glances briefly at Espio, and it's not slow enough, so for the rest of the way, he resolves to only look forward, and not ever back…

Shadow gave detailed enough descriptions, but Espio almost wishes he didn't, so that he and Silver could stumble around in the rain just a bit longer…

"You know"

But I don't!

They both stayed quiet, wetness seeped into their boots, and eventually they reached a bus stop. So that, quite obviously, they could travel closer to their destination with a bus…

He was inside another goddamn vehicle.

And in this one, he had to stand, and hold on to some rail up in the ceiling. And lots of others were trying to do the exact same thing, and it was still raining outside.

And had he not been busy 'dying: cause: vehicles' then he would probably have been juggling his thoughts, going from Blaze, to Espio, to Blaze, to- so maybe it was more favourable to cling to this feeble handrail after all, like it would somehow help with this nauseous feeling-

They reached the stop Espio was aiming for, and left the bus, which disappeared down the road, spraying up water after it so that they got even more drenched. But that was not the problem, because behind those rows of houses and cottages and the city's last line of civilisation, the forest could be seen rising like a blue and diffuse mountain, through the haze of the downpour…

Espio unfolded the umbrella, Silver quickly ducking under it for cover, and they started walking again…

Later…

It stopped raining somewhere along the way. And, to Silver's delight, the sun came out, rays coming through the leaves and making everything warm and golden, and shimmering because of the water. Their shared silence has been going on for so long that now talking feels absurd, but then Espio just, suddenly, says,

"What did you mean by it?"

-And dramatically enough, Silver knows exactly what he means, but that's mostly because he's been thinking about it too, and not because of some strange coincidence... But shit, maybe he shouldn't have said it – as in why the shit did I word it like that – because now he has to explain it, and doesn't Espio realise what kind of abyss he wants to shine at with a flashlight?

"I meant," Silver begins, but then. Is it alright to say it now, when it's already the end? Or does he have to say it now, because it's the end?

You know what?

Soon he'll never see this guy again, so he might as well just – crush all those insecurities and doubt and withering self-confidence, and just go-

"I meant, I know what those glances at me mean – or I think anyway – and," Silver takes a deep breath, and Espio's staring at him, wide-eyed, and Silver just throws up his hands and says, "You like me, don't you?"

…This is when you hear the critters in the background, because of all that eerie silence.

Silver thinks that, maybe, he has made another horrifying mistake. Though okay, as soon as they find the emerald, it'll all be over anyway, so maybe not everything is-

"…Yes," says Espio, quietly. And when Silver stares at him, he looks away, and he's fidgeting with his glove, and suddenly Espio is the one anxious and awkward, with Silver… with Silver knowing everything, with Silver being the calm one…

-This is when he should say everything. And so, he says, "...In that way. And… and I kinda sort of maybe like you too but I'm also really bad at this so let's just find that emerald, 'kay?"

Silver doesn't look at Espio, but it's silent for a long moment.

And then Espio says, "Yes," and that's all.

They walk and they walk, the forest nearly glowing in the sheen of water and sunlight.

Espio's silent, and Silver wants to throw something, just take something and hurl it into the woods. Iblis, he is disappointed in himself. And mad at himself. He hasn't decided yet, but he's feeling nauseous either way.

He's going to leave today.

Bye

If there's anything he wants Espio to know, then he should say it right now.

…He doesn't have any words. And that's when he gets The Worst Idea Ever.

He (can't believe he's doing this) just grabs Espio arm, catches his hand, and doesn't let go even when Espio stumbles to a stop and turns to stare at him, so that Silver's stomach does something uncomfortable, lurches through the ground more like it-

"Silver?" asks Espio.

"Do you, uh… want to kiss?"

Yeah, Silver doesn't really regret saying it but – but that sounded so wrong oh my gods-

Espio blinks, and then he's putting a hand at Silver's waist. So Silver grabs his hand tighter, and moves a step closer, trying not to have his face burnt off by blushing before – by the way, did you know that white fur is absolutely the fucking worst if you're blushing; you'll shine like a campfire – before anything, whatever, happens-

"…Shit," it slips out, and then Silver is promptly hiding his face into Espio's chest – he probably doesn't mind. Hopefully – and giggling – or is he hyperventilating? "…Jeez, haha, like, I don't know how to-"

And then Espio is placing a hand under his chin, and tilting his head upwards gently, Silver's eyes squinting because of his uncontrollable laughing fits that he's suddenly very prone to… Deep breaths… deep breaths… And he looks up, and Espio is looking right at him – I probably look like a lunatic – and Espio says – and now he's blushing, Silver notes with glee, "…Can I kiss you?"

"Go ahead," says Silver, and that didn't sound half-bad. And then Espio tilts his head – this is the first time Silver's really noticed that horn he has on his forehead – and Silver leans back in…

They kiss.

Silver draws back; ookay, that felt a bit weird… but nice. And it's Espio. Kisses symbolises something, and he wants to do this.

Espio blinks, but before he can say something, Silver kisses him again. And ooh, it's getting better – he's getting the hang of this…

Crash-crunch-THUD!

…which essentially means that right this moment something will come crashing down through the leaves to interrupt them-

"Sonic!~ Looking for this, are-"

Silver wasn't sure he didn't teleport, so fast he moved away from Espio, hands flying up by reflex – and he stared up at a… human… who stared back at him, glasses and enormous moustache, piloting some vehicle and holding up a-

The chaos emerald

There, there – he had to get it, how to get it, how-

Oh.

He throws his mind after the emerald, which flings itself out of the human's hand and shoots down at Silver, who grabs it triumphantly. The emerald – it's glowing deep blue, and Silver can feel the power radiating off of it – whatever sense he's using for that. The emerald. He's two words away from home, two words away from…

Espio.

Silver's glance snaps upwards, just as the human sputters, "You? Where's Sonic? Why are you here?"

And Espio answers, Silver immediately glancing at him, "I could ask you the same."

The human ignores him though. "He was supposed to fall for my trap! He was- my emerald?!"

Shit, thought Silver. Who is that person? The human looked seriously spooked, his vehicle flailing its… limbs, and Silver clutched the emerald firmer, glancing at Espio… who glanced right back. And Silver had an idea – he dashed the few steps back up to Espio, took his arm, just as the human yelled something which Silver didn't give a single shit about and-

"Chaos control!"

The world rippled, like the surface on a pond…and then it smoothed right back over, he and Espio promptly falling, crashing down onto-

Thud!

"Ow, shit, shit, shit-" groans Silver, mostly because he has to get some of this confusion and feelings and irritation off his chest, and he hit the floor and tries to move – but Espio is pressing down painfully onto his leg-

Dr Eggman!

And then, chaos control?!

And underneath all that, suppressed, but screaming just as loud, just as crucially important, we kissed? …Silver?

Thud!

The scenery is suddenly swapped and it's like a rug has been swiped from under his feet – they both fall into a heap, Espio scrambling to get up, get up – what if it's dangerous – and then he looks around, and it's-

"…My bedroom?"

Silver draws himself to his feet too, slowly, and Espio looks at him as he answers sheepishly, "First place I thought of," holding the… the emerald in his hand.

…He really did it.

Chaos control

It's practically legendary. It would be, if more people knew about it. Shadow brought it to light with a bang, but not many knows about it yet, thankfully… Still, it's like magic, it's got way too much potential… And Silver is able to do it. (It's not about the knowledge; it's about the power) (It's incredible and impossible)

…What about the Doctor? Insists some part of his brain.

His plan failed… whatever he thought he was going to do.

They got the emerald, and they're back… and Espio glances at Silver, because he can look now, right? And his quills are in a windblown sort of disarray, but it looks dashing on Silver, just like his eyes – curious, alive – just like his powers – nothing can match them – and Espio doesn't want him to leave.

But he will, he's going to as soon as he has that emerald now

…It's why he arrived here. He's a traveller. He was going to leave, of course, and Espio knows that feeling of wanderlust, but most of all – the need to be there for someone else. –but it still hurts, hurts, hurts and-

He checks quickly – he has still got that chaos-drive. It's over. He swallows, and turns to Espio, who is looking vaguely in his direction, and says, "…" swallowing again, and he takes a step forwards and hugs Espio, who blinks and freezes. And then he puts his arms around Silver, and Silver definitely isn't looking past his eyes on purpose, as he tries again, saying, "Thank you, Espio. I, well y-yeah, wouldn't have been – thank you for everything."

It's so quiet; "No problem."

"…I should be going now, shouldn't I?"

He steps back, and Espio lets his arms fall. He nods, and Espio nods back, and Silver takes another step back, some sort of resolve coming back to him. He's just doing what he must. He's still holding the emerald, and he raises it over his head, imagining the dark glade in the lost woods where he was forced to leave Blaze…

"Chaos control!"

He was leaving, and Espio couldn't follow, and-

-Wait!

Just go…

It hurt to breathe, it hurt to move, it hurt even when Blaze didn't do any of that-

At least… Silver will make it…

…Okay, really. If she were anywhere else, she would've dragged herself to her feet, have gotten some help. Left this place, healed, and survived this ordeal. Unfortunately she got hit in the lost woods. Lost woods…

Hopefully Silver will make it…

Silver. Friends for so, so long… and now it was all coming to a bitter end completely pointlessly, and she was just so mad- why couldn't she have seen it before it struck? Why did she let it escape with its life? Why did that senseless beast have to attack passer-bys anyway?

Aghhh

She let out an undignified sound, another wave of pain-

Silver better make it…

-and then everything went white.

She almost thought she finally died, but when the light cleared-

"spio!? W-what?! Shit! Shit, shit, shit- why-!?"

Silver was back. Back. Why hadn't he left like Blaze told him too; now he might just- wait-

…Another person?

This was why he usually thought things through. Calmly. Like a detective should do, like a ninja should do.

But he only had two seconds to decide, what the hell, so he just-

Espio, Espio, Espio, his mind kept blaring like an alarm and why the hell did you grab me?! You knew what I was doing! You grabbed me! You-

And then he breathed in a mouthful of stale air and nearly fell over Espio, catching a glimpse of trees and trees and Blaze, and now he had much more urgent things to worry about.

He quickly righted his balance, stumbling away from Espio while giving him a really quick furious look – why – taking out the chaos-drive and turning to Blaze, who stared up at him… Iblis, he had missed her. And then his eyes landed on that wound, and it was a nightmare once again, the blood still seeping and trickling and – it must have only been minutes since he left.

Shit.

He still rushed and feel to his knees, slamming the chaos-drive open against the hard ground, and then he quickly brought it back up and held it all over Blaze's wound, the cat still staring like- like when Silver did something incredibly stupid, or – or…

If this doesn't work, then I… I… can't-

He threw away the empty glass tube to the side. He looked at Blaze, and she stared back, exasperated. Gods, she was exasperated of all things- and then she let out a gasp, and Silver's gaze flitted back… to the wound, starting to close like it was magic- the edges sewing themselves back together, closing so he didn't have to look at that glimpse of bone anymore.

A few light-blue sparks floated up from the wound, rapidly changing into a scar, and Silver breathed a breath of relief so deep he didn't think possible- and promptly fell over to hug Blaze, hold Blaze – she's alive – as she sat up-

"Blaze," he managed.

"…Didn't I tell you to leave?" But she smiled. And Silver didn't know if he was crying or laughing or just spontaneously having spasms-

She's alive, she's alive! She's alive…

And Espio is here.

-Why?

He knew it was a one-way ticket – or technically, at least! – he knew-

Though Blaze was here, and alive; Silver could not be bothered to care.

Later…

"I'm Espio."

"And my name is Blaze."

"I know. Silver talks a lot about you."

She blinked, and turned to Silver, raising an eyebrow.

"And? That's coming from the guy who snogged me."

And now Blaze turned to Espio-

"In my defense, Silver asked me to."

"And in my defense," Silver says quickly, angrily, "Why on Mobius did you follow me?! You're stuck here now! Stuck!"

In Lost woods of all places… in a timeline Espio didn't belong… how could he be so stupid?! It was dangerous! Espio – Espio should be in his own time and his own home with his own friends-

"…I apologise.

"But I do not regret it."

And then Blaze added in, probably confused about – well, everything – but not showing it, saying, "Yet. You haven't regretted it yet."

I will regret it later, I know.

But by then, Silver could probably send Espio back to the past. And right now? Espio's determination wasn't going to falter for anything – and that's what's so dangerous about liking someone this much, isn't it? He knew this was the worst decision he had ever made – but if he hadn't followed Silver… then that would have been the worst decision he had ever made.

Forgive me, Vector…

…But besides, Silver could use a hand here, it seemed…

And he wasn't just justifying his reasons for doing what he did.

"We'll see," he replied vaguely, and Silver gave him a look, Blaze shaking her head. But then Silver smiled, grinned, eyes still a bit red, and Espio felt intensely that he should regret it, but even more so that he just couldn't ever do it…

.

The End

.

Bonus:

"Back already?"

Sonic flopped down on the couch, leaning back into lazily. "Yeah – I ran into Egghead."

"So what happened?" asked Tails, sitting down on the armrest while depositing some half-made device on the table.

"The usual." Sonic snorts. "'Cept that he kept blathering about some 'white hedgehog who teleports'… and Espio being there, too. Guess he finally lost it."

"Espio…" Tails mutters, and Sonic raises his head slightly to look at him.

"Know something?"

"Well… Apparently Espio 'disappeared' two weeks ago, and no one's herd anything since…"

…Oh. Disappeared, huh?

"Think this 'white hedgehog' kidnapped him?"

"No, no. Besides – we don't even know if the white hedgehog is real. And even if he was, we still have no evidence."

"No evidence, well…"