Work Text:
In the quiet, darkened lounge of the Chaotix Detective Agency, Espio the Chameleon sat at a chair after leaving his room, awake, staring at the ceiling. The soft hum of the city at night outside was not enough to soothe his frantic mind. His mind raced with images of the Metal Virus outbreak. He was the silent guardian, the one who had to watch his friends—his family- his father and his little brother—become unfeeling, metal monsters at the twisted behest of Dr. Eggman.
Vector and Charmy, his teammates—family, were sleeping across the couch, snoring. They had no idea of what the hell had just torn through Espio's head. So real was the dream that the metal claws and empty eyes of the Zombots became all too real. The screams of terror of those they could not save still echoed in his non-existent ears, as much as the room remained silent.
He had seen Vector and Charmy turn into those brainless drones while he slept. The vision of his friends getting infected by the virus had been a cruel reminder of what they had been through. And yet, here they were, safe and untouched by the cold grip of the Metal Virus.
But as he watched them inhale the rhythm of sleep, his own heart filled with a peculiar ache. It was an ache that came from a love so strong, it felt as though it could shatter him. He had feared that the infection would never leave them, that he would be forever alone and surrounded by metal and cold—but they were all safe.
Carefully, not to disturb them from their restful sleep, Espio stepped off the chair and went quietly over to the couch. With a deep sigh, he lay down in the gap between Vector and Charmy. They'd defeated the Metal Virus; they'd defeated so much together, and they were all safe now.