New Beginnings

Chapter 37 - Overexertion

He really didn't know what to make of this situation.

With a deep sigh Espio stirred, the three poorly-hushed voices disturbing the peace in the living room for a while now falling silent as he blinked up at the ceiling. "Oh, Es! Good, you're awake," Vector smiled at him, the chameleon merely humming in response and rubbing his aching eyes. He had been for some time already, barely refreshed from his impromptu slumber and quietly meditating away his annoyance at having fallen asleep despite his fight not to. The head detective knew afternoon naps only made him groggy and even more exhausted, and yet he always refused to wake him up in the rare moments sleep overtook him during the day, stating he wouldn't have zonked out if his body didn't need it. Espio himself had always proclaimed that thought ridiculous, though this one time he could appreciate waking up after such a nap all hazy and bleary; Silver's quiet flinch and squeak followed by gentle nuzzles against his face the moment he began stirring more than made up for it.

"Greetings," he managed to bring out inbetween the nose flicking over his lips and cheek, smiling despite himself as he ever so gently pushed the hedgehog away and moved into a more upright position. Based on the way the sun coloured the room orange he figured it was already later in the afternoon, perhaps even evening. "Thanks for not waking me, Vector. Surely I will sleep wonderfully tonight," he huffed at his colleague, no real malice in his words.

"Don't sass me, you needed the rest," the crocodile retorted amusedly, immediately getting joined by their youngest member as both grinned.

"Yeah, you look awful, Es! Like you haven't slept in days!"

"Indubitably." He had slept poorly for days, but Espio figured he had best keep quiet about that, lest the psychic staring up at him with such wide eyes got disturbed by that fact. More gently he let his hands run over the other's cheek, scrutinising every ragged quill on his body and suppressing a blush as their eyes met for just a second too long. "Did you sleep too, Silver?"

Butterflies stirring in his stomach by the way he was beheld the chameleon pulled the blanket covering them more tightly around the grey-furred body, golden eyes growing warmer and a smile brighter than the sun could ever be joining on Silver's face. "I did, I woke up just before you," the hedgehog whispered back, snuggling into his chest with careful movements. "You were holding me so close, Espio."

"Really, now? I must have been worried about you getting cold."

If the way the other three people in the room were smirking was any indication it seemed like more things had happened than just him cuddling Silver, but Espio tried to keep his face as neutral as possible as he sat up in full. "We made you some pancakes, Es, but both of you were snoozin' when we got back in here. We reheated them when Silver woke up, but he wanted to wait until you were awake too," Sonic explained, the speedster resting on the other couch with his hands behind his head and something sparkling in his gaze that the chameleon recognised all too well. The other had acted the exact same when he and Silver had went to the beach, returning far too late into the night...

Shrugging the concerned tingle of confusion that look elicited on his spine away Espio nodded. "That is kind of you, thank you."

"I didn't want to eat without you getting something als- ouch," Silver explained as Espio moved him to lean against the couch's backrest so he could have the meal while sitting upright, the hedgehog flinching and grimacing as his injuries got jostled. Worriedly scrutinising the other's state the chameleon murmured some encouragements, though the pained frowning of the other's face dissipated like snow in the sun... as he grabbed Espio's hand manoeuvring him up, fingers curling around the palm and the chameleon freezing on the spot. "I'm okay, I'm okay, I'm not feeble. Just gotta keep moving," the hedgehog assured him, voice stronger than before despite how small and ragtag his body looked.