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There was something about his surroundings that didn’t feel quite right. His body felt warmer, which was strange, as he’s typically cold. His bedsheet, blanket, and pillow were all off to varying degrees. There was light coming from a place that would otherwise have no source of luminescence.
Espio cracked his eyes open and had one thought.
This isn’t my house.
It was certainly a house at least, but not his, and definitely not one he recognized. He blinked, rubbed his eyes numerous times, even slapped himself across the face, just to see if he was hallucinating or dreaming. None of his tactics worked at all.
Perhaps he was kidnapped and this was his strangely nice cell. He listed that as a possibility and pushed the blanket off of himself.
If he really was kidnapped, his first order of business would be to explore his surroundings. Feet now on the floor, he could see that he was uninjured and unrestrained. An interest tactic for a kidnapper.
The source of light appeared to be coming from a window, one that took up more than half of the wall it was one. Espio approached it slowly.
Maybe I’m having a stroke. He thought grimly as he noticed that he couldn’t recognize any of the things he saw outside. There was a street, but no cars. Instead, there were strange pods that rolled. There were buildings, but they were peculiarly smooth and monochromatic.
Espio turned away from the window, choosing to inspect anything but that. On the wall, he saw something resembling a calendar. He approached it, but didn’t enjoy what he saw there either.
Perhaps I really am having a stroke. Espio swallowed thickly as he stared at the year in the calendar.
2225.
No way.
That’s two-hundred years from—
The realization hit him like a truck, accompanied by pounds of confusion and undesired panic.
That’s Silver’s year. But how? He wasn’t in Silver’s body, he wasn’t a time traveler, and he hadn’t even touched anything suspicious to get here!
Espio forced himself to breathe. Perhaps his kidnapper was using psychological warfare. It was certainly working.
He sat down on the edge of the bed and attempted to gather his thoughts and facts. So far, he’s concluded that he is in Silver’s time. Presumably in his apartment as well. He had no idea of how he got there, or even a theory.
Espio stood up again and began to pace the lengths of the apartment room. After a bit, he stopped at the front door.
Staying inside was certainly not doing him any favours, nor providing any answers. Perhaps roaming outside would do him some good. He reached out towards the doorknob.
Before he could grab it, it started to jingle and twist open.
Espio froze, then got his bearings. He sprang backwards and crouched down near the kitchen countertop, willing himself to become invisible. Luckily, he still possessed his kunai in the small compartment of his boot. He held it out in front of his chest in a disciplined fashion.
The door finished shaking and creaked open. Firstly, he could see a few boxes lined up. Next, someone walked in.
Silver.
Espio nearly fell over from his low position upon seeing him. The hedgehog was none the wiser that he was in company, which was good. He had strolled over to the other side of the countertop and began inspecting one of his various potted plants.
The chameleon thought about revealing himself, but did this Silver even know who he was? There was no way to tell he was in the correct timeline out of however many, and showing himself might even had started some sort of paradox. He didn’t want that, obviously.
Espio, stealthy as ever, extended his legs a bit and tried to make his way to the front door.
His plan was working until he knocked over potted plant that was situated on the floor. It appeared that being stealthy was a lot easier in his own timeline.
Silver whipped his head around and stared at the space near Espio, hands shrouded in cyan defensively.
“Who’s there!?” He yelled. Slowly, he approached the other. “I know you’re here, show yourself!”
The chameleon was not used to being spotted. As a ninja, it was kind of his purpose not to. He simply took a step forward, hoping he would be unheard.
“You think you’re funny?!” Silver exclaimed, reeling back a fistful of dirt from the fallen pot in his powers.
Espio, in a panic, had no other choice. “Wait, stop!” He yelled, magenta scales coming back into view, shimmering gently. He held his hands up in surrender, fretfully looking at the hedgehog’s face.
Silver put the wad of soil down on the floor next to him, eyeing the other with distraught painted all over his face. Without a word, he balled his hands into fists, inhaled loudly and released the breath through his mouth.
He folded his arms across his chest and parted his lips.
“Who are you?” Silver asked, tone concerningly calm.
Anxiety brewed in his chest. He certainly had no business being here.
“A— apologies, I… do not know how I got here.” He admitted, doing his best to appear confident in the way he stood. “I will see myself out.”
“Wait, no—“
A firm hand was placed on his shoulder. He turned to look at Silver, brows furrowed.
“You’re in my apartment, you will answer my questions.” He demanded.
“See, I really don’t think that’s a good idea—“
“Sit.”
A wooden chair appeared in front of him.
And so, Espio sat.
Silver leaned back on the kitchen counter, drumming his fingers over the surface.
“What’s your name?” He asked sternly.
The chameleon knew the dangers of messing with timelines and stuff, courtesy of his Silver. But, if he could gain the aid of this timeline’s telekinetic, he could find a way back home.
“My name’s Espio.” He said.
Silver scowled, then rolled his eyes. “Are you kidding me? I’m not that stupid anymore.”
Espio flinched at the unexpected response. “…What?”
“I know you’re not Espio, so whatever illusion stuff you’re doing just give it up already.” He snapped.
Things made sense to him now. He did his best to remain composed and explain his situation.
“Silver, listen—“
“How do you know my name!?” Silver resumed his defensive position.
The chameleon put his hands up again. “Look, I’m very confused too, but I am Espio.”
The telekinetic looked him up and down. “Prove it.” He spat.
Prove it? He racked his brain for things he could offer. Then, he remembered a promise he made to Silver a while back.
They had been speaking of what would happen if one day, the hedgehog could not return to the past. Espio had promised him that he would write him letters and bury them under a cherry blossom tree so he could find them. Only the two of them knew about that.
“The letters.” He said. “Under the cherry blossom tree, I planned to write to you in case one day you couldn’t… come back to the past anymore.”
Silver’s body relaxed. He hummed and turned his back on the other.
He felt… odd. His hands lacked their usual senses, instead being tingly and numb. Breathing became manual, chest visibly rising and falling. Behind him, his tail was uncurling and standing out on its own.
The hedgehog turned back to him, quills flared. “How’d you get here?”
Espio’s mind went blank. His mouth was open, yet no sound was coming out. He shook his head and shuddered, ducking down so that his chin was against his chest.
In the blink of an eye, Silver was kneeling in front of him.
“I don’t know how I got here, I swear I didn’t do anything.” He managed to say, forcing air into his lungs even if his aching chest protested. “Gaia, is this how you feel all the time?” Espio grumbled, earning a laugh from the hedgehog. The chameleon leaned back, some residual panic still lingering in his bones.
“Kinda, yeah.” Silver said softly, one hand resting over a purple-scaled shoulder. “So, you have no clue how you got here?”
“Correct.”
“Well then,” He stood up. “Let’s figure it out together.”
—
Espio was once again seated on the bed. It was rather comfortable when he wasn’t fuelled with intense worry and anxiety. There was a plate of sliced apples between him and the hedgehog, which tasted different than what he was used to.
“What was the last thing you remember doing back home?” Silver asked, holding a yellow notepad he had gotten from his nightstand.
“I was simply sleeping.” He responded.
“Did you do anything strange before that?”
Espio thought back, retracing his steps. “No, I don’t think so.”
“Hmm.”
Their search for answers was continuously coming up empty. At some point, he wanted to give up and accept his new life in the future.
“Anything strange on your end?” He asked.
“Are you saying I did something wrong?” Silver accused, jabbing a finger at his own chest.
“No, no, of course not.” Espio said. “But it’s not like we’ve found anything that I’ve done wrong.”
The other huffed in response. Then, the corner of his lips turned downwards dramatically.
“What?” The chameleon questioned.
Silver leaned back onto the palm of one of his hands, the other smacked onto his forehead. “Ugh, I think I did do something wrong.”
“Really? What might that be?”
“You’re gonna think I’m stupid.”
“I won’t think you’re stupid.”
“Fine.” He gave up, flopping down onto the bed. “Something happened a while ago, just some… problem that the timeline wanted me to go fix. I was being dumb and avoided going back, I wanted to fix it in my present, which was… really dumb of me, and a bit selfish, it wouldn’t have solved anything. It ended up working, though, and things over here have been normal, but I’m guessing that at some point back in your present that won’t be the case.”
Espio listened carefully. For one, he was glad that this predicament wasn’t caused by anything that he did. Though, it wasn’t much more comforting to know that he was practically bait.
“So, then I’m here in order to… entice you? To come back next time you’re needed?” He asked.
“That’s the theory.” Silver grumbled, giving Espio an apologetic look. “Sorry.”
“It’s alright. Besides, I got to see what your life looks like. On the more positive days, of course.” He said. Outside the window, the sun was beginning to bleed into the horizon, somehow not reflecting harshly on all the weirdly smooth buildings. Probably some futuristic tech he hadn’t seen yet.
Silver reached for an apple slice. “Yeah. Just wish it were under better circumstances, though.”
“Would any circumstance be a good one, though?”
“…Yeah, not really.”
Espio matched his position, lying down on his back. “Are you stuck with me for a while, then?” He chuckled.
Silver rolled his eyes playfully. “Yeah, looks like I am.” He reached over and interlaced their hands.
Though the situation was weird, it wasn’t strangely calming. Despite the traffic outside, it lacked the noise pollution it would usually come with. The room itself was the perfect temperature, and Espio was somewhere he thought he’d never be. He shut his eyes and relished in the tranquility, knowing that this would likely be the only time he’d see the place Silver called home.
To his side, Silver cleared his throat. “Um, Espio?”
He cracked his eyes back open. “Wh—“ a bright light pierced his sight. The chameleon blinked a few times, then realized what he was seeing. “Oh.”
To the side of the bed a swirling oval of cyan mist had opened up.
“Looks like the timeline wants us back now.” Silver said, sitting up.
Espio couldn’t help but stare at it. He didn’t see it on his way here, it must have appeared while he slept. Looking at it now, it was mesmerizing.
“Espio?” Silver repeated, now standing just in front of the spiralling light. The chameleon snapped his eyes towards him. He briefly scanned the apartment, then stood up. Their hands intertwined once more and they walked forwards.