New Beginnings

Chapter 27 - Radiance

You love him, do you not?

Suppressing Sonic's voice for the dozenth time that evening Espio frowned, lost in thought as he ambled over the streets with his mind drifting everywhere and nowhere simultaneously. He did, possibly, maybe, hopefully, but surely the speedster didn't know that...

"-and I still can't believe that bat pulled a fast one on us like that! Seriously, did any of us even have any idea-"

"Hm hm," the chameleon mindlessly agreed, hardly listening to the ranting crocodile and cheerfully-singing bee as they made their way back home. The situation was almost exactly the same as any other day they walked like this, Charmy loud and Vector louder as he quietly kept to himself... if it weren't for the adorable psychic snugly resting in his arms, peeking out over the streets with stars in his eyes and a bright smile on his face. The chameleon had immediately decreed that Silver was not to walk on his own, the hedgehog waking up somewhat dazedly in his lap after his food-induced nap with an adorable coo and yawn, and he had deemed it only courteous to offer to carry the other back home...

I can see it on your face, in every single one of your movements when you and Silver are together.

...His cheeks reddened just slightly at the memory of how delightedly Silver had accepted his proposal immediately.

With barely-audible purrs rumbling through the air the hedgehog studied the road they were taken, his arms wrapped around Espio's neck as the chameleon held him close and his ears flicking whenever he saw something that caught his attention. "Look, Espio," he murmured each time, his powers rushing over as the ninja startled up from his flustered thoughts and mumbled something in confirmation. His own eyes were more on the curious person in his arms than anywhere else, studying each movement, each expression that graced the other's face as his eyes lit up. No matter what he did, Sonic's words refused to leave his head... And so far Silver had done nothing to actually disprove the speedster's statements.

Silver loves you too! His heart tells him that, though he doesn't know the words for it.

Stop it, Espio snarled at himself. Mulling the brash statement over again and again would achieve nothing other than tipping his family off that something was wrong – he could only hope he hadn't already – and make Silver worried or frightened. And he didn't want the other to be worried or frightened... He wanted him as happy as he was in his arms, warm and content and safe, studying their world with that curiosity and wonder that made the chameleon feel weak in his knees and his breath catch in his chest... But even that had come to an end eventually, and his tail flicked in disappointment as they made a sharp left to the Agency dooming up in the street.

"Here," he murmured once they had climbed up the porch of their house and Vector opened the door, Charmy racing inside before anyone else with a whoop. "You can walk by yourself now, okay?"

Carefully he placed Silver down, the hedgehog beaming gratefully at him as Espio's hand got shrouded in teal for just a second. "Thanks, Espio," the hedgehog whispered back, still looking a bit sleepy... Directing him to the living room Espio pushed him down onto the soft couch pillows and smoothed out his quills, his gaze meeting amused golden eyes for just a moment too long before he quickly averted his own. His cheeks were going to light up with those eyes on him...

"You rest now, okay? Vector, do you- Careful!" With a growl the chameleon caught the ball of blanket that got hurled at him from behind, scorching the snickering crocodile in a glare. "Don't do that, you might scare Silver," he scolded as he wrapped the fabric around the other, noticing immediately how said hedgehog was grinning also. He probably had seen Vector prepare to throw it... Sighing fondly Espio shook his head, the familiarity of the situation and the other's teases doing more to soothe him than he was willing to admit. "Just what am I going to do with you three?"