New Beginnings

Chapter 22: Reconcilation

"I don't like this."

"I am aware."

"I really don't like this."

"So you've said before."

"This is terrible."

"As you've brought up multiple times already."

"Can't we just go back to your house?"

"Not until Vector and Charmy are all partied out," Espio retorted with a fond sigh at the stream of complaints, unable to keep a smile off his face at the pouty look sent at him from the corner of the hedgehog's eyes. Silver had sat glued to his side for the entire duration of the hangout already, unmoving and holding the chameleon's arm in a death grip as he glared at everyone having fun in the small valley below, and Espio couldn't help but sigh softly in relief at how vocal and grumpy the other was being. At least it showed he was doing better than when forced to interact with Sonic's friends upfront, the psychic's quiet and wary fearfulness sending a stab through the chameleon's heart at the mere memories. "And that will take long, so you best prepare yourself for that emotionally," he added at the huff of protest, readying himself also for the fact he'd be sitting here for quite some time with his warm, fluffy friend at his side and not minding one bit.

With a grumble said warm, fluffy, and also rather displeased friend pulled up his knees to his chin, leering at the happily-chatting party-goers mingling along themselves in the main square of the village and the fields surrounding it. "Sitting here like this is nice too, I guess... But I'm bored."

"The only solution I can offer for that is doing something," Espio told him as the corner of his mouth twitched up, the ninja not entirely able to hide his chuckle at the glare of betrayal aimed his way. "I know you don't like being around too many people, but it's safe here. You can walk around and talk to them, if you want."

Bristling agitatedly Silver leered at him in full instead. "And then what? Have everyone stare at me again, or make fun of me? Touch me? I'll pass, thanks."

"I'm touching you right now... Or rather, you're touching me," the chameleon couldn't help but point out, a twinge of complaint passing through his arm as it got severed in the psychic's grasp. Not that he minded, his tail pulling the other just a tad closer and their heads barely resting against each other.

"It feels nice when you do it," the miffed response came immediately. "And besides, even if I 'talk to people'-" Espio almost failed to suppress a laugh at how the hedgehog lowered his voice in a poor imitation of the ninja's- "what even should I talk about? I don't know how to 'talk to people'."

Carefully giving Silver's shoulder a squeeze with the hand attached to the arm that wasn't currently at risk of getting snapped in half Espio hummed. "I know this is a difficult topic for you, yes. But you can learn it, remember? Like I said in the forest, and in our attic?"

He could feel Silver's resolve wane at his words, the hedgehog fidgeting slightly before hunching up his shoulders anew. "I suppose... But then who should I talk to in the first place? I already regularly talk to you, and Sonic, and Charmy too, and even Vector... That's a lot of people to talk with, you know."

"...That's four people."

"Three people too many."

"Silver," was all Espio could bring out before chuckling in full at how adorable the other was being, not helped by the hedgehog flopping his entire weight against him with a deep, dramatic sigh. "Really, why don't you just give it a shot? What could go wrong?"

"Other than literally everything? I don't even know who I- oh," Silver spoke up with a grumble before faltering as a bright shade of pink entered their vision in the distance. "That's... Amy, right?"