Work Text:
Espio has been on Silver's mind a lot.
Not for any weird reason, of course, just- Espio was really cool, and capable, and smart, and graceful, and shiny and–
Yeah, like he said. It’s not weird to be thinking about him.
So, when Espio hadn’t left his house for multiple days, Silver was of course one of the first to notice. He was also the first person to worry.
“Hey, uh, Vector? This is the right number, right?” Silver said, having called the lead detective of the Chaotix to ask about his friend. “I haven’t heard from Espio for a few days, so uhhh…do you know if anything’s up?”
“Oh yeah, y’know. It’s just chameleon stuff.”
“…”
“Don’t worry, this happens like… every two months. Super typical Espio stuff. Aw shit, I gotta go, Charmy broke something–” the line cuts off with a click.
Silver looks down at the blank screen of his phone. Yeah, that didn’t do anything to ease his worries. Vector didn’t even seem to know what Espio was doing– and just because something happened consistently didn’t mean it was easy!
Silver decided then and there that he would go to Espio's house to make sure he’s okay. It’s only the right thing to do! Any of Espio's friends would do it.
Right.
Making his way over to Espio’s house, he picked up a box of tea he thought the chameleon would like. It was supposedly “cinnamon plum”, but they all just tasted like wet leaves to Silver. It was something he and Espio had had long, passionate debates over. He smiles to himself a little at the thought.
When he got to Espio’s door, he hesitated. Was it really a good idea to come barging in on whatever’s going on with Espio? What if it’s private? Was getting tea too much? Is he going to come across as creepy?
He shakes himself out of it. No. Espio’s my friend. I’m not intruding by checking in on him, and if I am, he’ll tell me and I’ll leave.
Silver knocks on the door.
And waits.
After a couple minutes, Silver is just about to knock on the door again, when the door opens, revealing Espio.
Silver is immediately more worried. Espio looks quite a bit paler than usual, his normal shiny purple scales muted and dulled into a greyish color. Bits of his skin also seem to be peeling away and oh my gaia that cannot be good–
“Oh. Uh, hi Silver. Can I get you something–”
“Are you dying?!” Espio is immediately interrupted by Silver grabbing him by the shoulders. Silver winces at the dry crinkle under his hands–what is going on? He quickly takes his hands off Espio, worried he’ll hurt him, and as he does, some skin comes off with his hands. Whatttt the fuck.
Espio looks confused at Silver's reaction, before unconsciously scratching the spot where Silver had grabbed him. Looking down at his own hand, it dawns on him. "Oh. I, uh, take it you don't have many reptile friends?"
Silver is still distressed over his friend's apparent skin falling off but he makes himself pause that panic response until Espio has finished.
“You don’t need to worry. Chameleon skin works differently than other mobians– it doesn’t regenerate in the same way. Where you are constantly releasing skin cells, chameleons do it in single batches. I’m shedding.”
Silver brightens. “Oh! It’s like quilling. Hedgehogs sort of have that when they’re young–like, six to twelve. A bunch of softer, thinner baby quills will fall off and regrow into adult quills,” Silver pauses. “Are you sure you’re okay though? I remember quilling not being fun–super itchy and uncomfortable. I wish I could– oh! Wait a second.”
Silver starts digging in his bag before pulling the box of tea. “I picked this up on the way here–I, uh, wasn’t sure whether you would be, like, alive, so I thought it would be good to bring something– just, ah. Here.” He holds out the box, not meeting Espio’s eyes.
They stand for a second like that, before Silver looks up. Espio seems a bit frozen in place, his eyes wide and scales quite a bit more pink than they usually are, even beneath his shedding skin. The motion seems to break the spell, and Espio reaches out to grab the tea.
“...Thank you. Do you want to, ah, come inside? I don’t know if you can really help with anything, but you can, ah…”
“I can make you some gross leaf water?”
Espio’s eyes crinkle in a smile. “Sure. Thanks again, Silver.”