Chapter Text
Espio knew something was off. And he had no idea how to approach it.
His job required him to be observant and alert, and while he prided himself on how well he handled his job, some days it came to bite him in the ass.
Tonight was All Of Me’s concert, their first since last year. Normally, the morning of a concert or performance Silver would be spending the day getting his guitar ready or streaming to his fans about what his day would entail. But when Espio walked into the living room and saw Silver staring aimlessly at the wall he knew something was up.
Some would say that he was reading too much into it, or that maybe Silver was lost in thought, but he knew his friends and their behaviors. And he knew he had to help. So he did the only thing he could think of.
He stood in Silver’s line of sight until the hedgehog looked up at him. He ignored the confused crease that formed in between Silver’s eyebrows and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Silver frowned and looked away. “Nothing. Just thinking.”
Espio hummed and pulled out his car keys. “How about you do some thinking at the flower market?”
Silver’s gaze cleared a little. “Right now? I’ve gotta be at the arena in a few hours.”
“You need to get out of your head,” Espio replied, then smiled a little. “And we all know one of your favorite spots to do so is at the market.”
Silver stared up at him for another moment then nodded. Espio stepped aside and followed Silver out of the room but detoured toward Sonic’s room. The door was open but he knocked on the door frame to let Sonic know he was there.
Sonic looked up from where he was lying on his bed and smiled at him. He paused the video on his laptop and hopped out of bed.
“Hey, man! Let me grab that book you let me borrow.” Espio watched as Sonic began scouring through his bookshelf. “It was really good, by the way,” Sonic said as he slid a book out of place and turned to Espio. “I can see why you like it so much.”
Espio nodded his thanks as he took it. His eyes caught the familiar ragged cover The Dilemma, the book that Shadow had written and was Sonic’s favorite. “I’m sure it’s nothing like Shadow’s work,” he said to Sonic. “But I’m glad you liked it.”
Sonic grinned. “Nothing will top his books, but this one was a good contender.”
Before Espio could respond Silver appeared in the doorway. He was wearing a baggy blue shirt and a pair of shorts with a black cap that was backwards to on his head with his quills still sticking out.
“I’m ready,” he said dully, his gaze on the floor.
“You two going somewhere?” Sonic asked.
“The flower market,” Espio replied. “We’ll be back in time for sound checks and whatnot.”
“I don’t doubt that,” Sonic said. “You’re the most punctual person I know, Espio.”
“Unless you’re involved,” Espio replied drily, still a little hung up on how Sonic had made the two of them late to the photo shoot a couple of weeks ago.
Sonic laughed and waved the two of them out of his room. “Have fun! And relax a little, Silver! You’ll do great tonight, you always do.”
It seemed that Espio wasn’t the only one that caught on to Silver’s mood. Silver winced and gave Sonic a half-hearted smile. “Thanks, Sonic.”
The two of them headed to Espio’s car and got in. When he turned the car on Silver wordlessly pointed at the radio. Espio nodded and Silver plugged his phone in and chose a playlist to put on. A soft, steady beat came through the stereo. Lo-fi music, Espio recognized. He knew that Silver enjoyed playing it as background music when he was streaming.
The car ride was silent and so was the first few minutes of Silver and Espio strolling up and down the rows of plants. Even though it was a bright, sunny day there were only a few elderly people that slowly meandered around the tables. Espio remained alert and quiet as Silver stopped at a table of colorful tulips.
“How do you know that you’re good at your job, Espio?” Silver asked, his quiet voice breaking the steady silence.
Espio glanced at Silver, a little surprised by the question. He hummed as he thought about it, his eyes straying to where Silver had a petal in his fingers and was rubbing it. “I do know that I’m good at my job, but I don’t have a choice,” he said slowly. “I have to be good at it. People rely on me to keep them safe, something that I can’t afford to think lightly of.”
Silver nodded as he thought about it. Espio looked around them and asked, “Are you doubting your place as a rock star? Feeling some type of imposter syndrome?”
Silver sighed and stepped away from the tulips. “Something like that. Which is dumb, I know that people enjoy our music and the streams that I do. But sometimes… I wonder if I deserve this. I was just a regular guy who played the guitar and video games. It was thanks to Blaze that I got this position ‘cuz she knew Sonic through Amy.”
Espio nodded to show that he was still listening as he followed Silver to a table filled with succulents and bonsai trees. A couple of people had left, leaving only the two of them and an older man talking to the florist. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Silver lift a potted cactus and inspect it.
“I’m sure there were more talented guitarists than me that were a better fit,” he continued as he gently poked at a spike. “And I’m grateful to Sonic and our label for choosing me, but if I had auditioned instead like most bands do, would they have still chosen me? Or was I chosen more out of convenience than talent?”
Espio reached out and poked at the cactus. “These spines are called glochidia, or glochids. In some parts of the world, cacti resemble endurance and courage due to their environments.” At Silver’s questioning look he gently took the cactus from his hands. It was a Spiraling Cactus, small and still growing.
“This cactus is unique, right?” He asked. Silver nodded. “And yet,” he pointed at the table that held similar varieties of Spiraling Cactus. Some were shorter, others taller, some had more spines than others. “There’s many more like it. But this one caught your eye, even though it’s more round and stout than others. Like this plant, you were cultivated to grow through care and guidance. But you did all of the hard work. You took the initiative to post videos of yourself online and challenged yourself to be a better guitarist by entering competitions and performing gigs. And now,” he held up the cactus to the sun with a smile. “You’ve grown into something to take pride in. Don’t discredit yourself; be proud of yourself and the work you’ve done.”
When silence followed Espio’s rant looked over at Silver who was staring at him with wide eyes. Unease stirred in his gut and he set the pot down. “Was that too much?”
Silver shook his head. “No! No, it wasn’t too much at all. Sorry, it’s just…” he laughed softly. “That was exactly what I needed to hear.” He smiled at Espio, bright and wondrous. “Thank you, Espio.”
Espio nodded, relieved that he was able to help. “Of course.”
Silver looked over the cacti again. “It’s a shame I can’t bring one home. It would look nice in front of the house.”
Espio went back to looking over their surroundings and found that they were the only two left, other than the florist who was watering plants a few tables away. “Did you want to buy something?”
“I might as well, right?” Silver looked around until something caught his eye. His smile brightened even more and he took off toward a table full of bright yellow flowers. Espio quickly followed and watched as Silver picked up a large potted sunflower and hauled it to the register. As Silver checked out Espio glanced over around the area one last time and led Silver to his car when he was done.
“Wait,” Silver said. Espio turned and raised an eyebrow at him, then raised them both in surprise when Silver handed the sunflower to him. “Here. As a proper thanks for listening to my rambling.”
Before he could think about it he reached out and took the plant. “Thank you, Silver. This is… a very thoughtful gift. I’ll take care of it the best that I can.”
“If you need help just let me know,” Silver said. Espio couldn’t help but notice that the dying rays of the sunset made the petals match Silver’s golden eyes. “But I’ve seen your plants at home and know it’s in good care.”
A burst of wind brushed through them. A petal floated through the air and Espio snatched it before it could drift too far. He reached up and tucked it into Silver’s quills.
“Yellow suits you,” he murmured. Silver froze and Espio felt his face grow warm. He stepped away and unlocked the car then carefully placed the pot in the backseat and pulled the seatbelt over it. As he did so he heard the passenger door open and close as Silver settled into his seat. He got into the driver's seat and pulled out of the parking lot, his face still warm.
It wasn’t until they were pulling up into the parking lot of the arena that he glanced at Silver. He was rubbing the petal between his fingers and was staring at the arena with a small smile. Espio felt the embarrassment leak out of him and he relaxed. He had nothing to worry about.