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Sonic had a very nice bathroom. Not that Silver had much time to get acquainted with it in his panicked state. According to the blue hedgehog, everything inside of his home was handpicked by him, in terms of design and decoration of course (Sonic had admitted to Silver that taking stuff apart was a lot easier for him than actually creating). Praises may have been sung from Silver if it wasn’t for the scarlet staining his upper muzzle.
It all started when Silver mentioned that he never had a chili dog before. With the way Sonic had reacted you would think it was a national emergency! Hand in hand, he dragged Silver to the outskirts of town and into his very nice home. Silver reckoned it was nicer than his, he should probably ask the hero for deco advice. It was something nice to distract him.
Once situated in Sonic’s kitchen (Tiled in a very nice jade green with trinkets that were no doubt from Amy, judging by the pink), Silver on a stool at the island, the blue hedgehog began pulling out spices, some of which Silver had never tried before. Like cumin, it sounds like something a teen would make up. Sonic was even more stunned when Silver voiced this fact. The amount of pity directed in a single look was enough to make Silver feel embarrassed.
But then, tragedy struck!
Sonic scoured every corner of his spice cabinet, pulled everything out and even checked his pantry only to come up short on chili flakes which he claimed were– ‘integral for good chili!’.
Which is how Silver ended up alone in the kitchen, spices scattered over the counters. Sonic had promised not to be too long, being the fastest thing alive meant that he probably wouldn’t take more than 5 minutes at the store. The house was too quiet without Sonic’s energy. He felt like a stranger, which in fairness he was since it was his first time visiting Sonic’s house. Arms tucked at his sides, he observed the different objects around the kitchen, not daring to touch them. He knew he was clumsy and he would not risk breaking anything.
It was when admiring the professional pink stand mixer tucked into the corner that he felt liquid drip from his nose. A thick red blob was left on his forearm. Nausea hit him like a freight train as several other red dots joined the first, his vision blurring. His palm flew to his face, staunching the flow as he stumbled towards the bathroom.
Why did Sonic have to carpet his hallway in a light beige? Hopefully no blood got on it…
He avoided blood if he could help it. It… brought back not some nice memories. Memories of losing people. Memories of calamity, buildings crumbling down… Their voices bounced around the confines of his brain as he crashed into the sink, head held high.
It was difficult to avoid blood when the one it was coming from is you.
That’s what he was doing now. One hand gripping the sink as the other held his nose. Copper filled his mouth as he choked on the blood going down his throat with his head faced up, his breathing was unsteady and eyes were shut tightly. Minutes felt like hours. Where was Sonic? He should be here by now–
His ear twitched. The front door opened and swung shut. Sonic was back.
“Hey Silver! The line was soooo loooong…” Sonic called. His voice trailed off at the end, footsteps pausing.
Judging by the sound, he stepped further into the kitchen. Then a woosh of Sonic’s super speed in his direction. Silver still had his eyes closed but he could feel Sonic’s gaze on him. Sonic knocked on the bathroom door, the one Silver neglected to close in his haste.
“Silver! Hey… um, look at me for a moment?” Sonic said. His voice was even and his hands were firm, clutching Silver’s forearms.
Silver cracked his eyes open, cringing at the blood staining his white gloves. Not wanting to stare at it any longer, he focused on Sonic’s concerned gaze, the gaze searched his face for injuries.
“I-it’s just a, um, a nosebleed…” Silver stammered, tongue coated in the metallic taste.
Sonic carefully moved Silver so he sat on the lid of the toilet. He fiddled around to Silver’s left and came back with a handful of toilet paper that was pressed delicately to Silver’s nose. Silver brought his hand up, to replace Sonic’s. He didn’t want Sonic to ruin his gloves too.
A surprised squeak left his throat when a hand pushed his head down. Blood rushed from his nose like a tsunami sweeping to shore. The sensation had Silver fighting against Sonic’s hand to right himself.
“Keep your head down.” Sonic demanded. It wasn't angry, more insistent. “You have to drain the sinus cavity. At least that’s what works for me.”
Silver relaxed, and Sonic pulled his hand away. Silver almost whined at the loss of contact, it was so comforting, it distracted him from the blood flowing. At least the blood wasn’t going down his throat anymore. It was slowing, but red stains dried on his fur. His elbows rested on his knees, a shuddery breath exhaled.
“Have you… never had a nosebleed?” The question was tentative, giving Silver full autonomy over whether he answers or not.
“N-not really… it doesn’t help my… that i…” Silver paused, forming his words. “I don’t like blood.”
Sonic hummed, finger tapping on the counter.
“D-did you…?”
“Plenty of times. Fighting with egghead will have that effect sometimes.” His eyes narrowed at Silver’s arm, the one with crusty dots of blood.
“Close your eyes. I’ll change the tissue.” Silver readily obeyed, warmth flooding his chest. He was glad he had such a great friend, one that would help him with his silly fear. Hands moved around him, taking the spoiled tissue and replacing it. Silver could feel that the tap inside his nose had stopped.
“T-thanks Sonic.”
Sonic patted his head. “Course, Guppy.” Silver’s cheeks lit up at the nickname. “I’ll have to clean up the blood.”
“A-ah, no. I can clean up my-my fur.” His blush spread to the tips of his ears at the concept of Sonic washing the red off. Buuuuutttt, the dried spots were getting uncomfortably itchy at this point.
“Hmm? Oh I meant the little trail that led me here.”
Silver forced his eyes open and instantly noticed the spots leading out of the bathroom. “I-i didn’t get anything onto the carpet, did I?”
Sonic looked off to the side, avoiding Silver’s eyes. “U-uh, noooo. Not a drop! Heh…”
Well that made him feel awful. Blood was difficult to get out of bright things, take his experience with white gloves. It did make him feel fluttery that Sonic was willing to lie to make him feel better. Silver squashed that feeling down, he can analyse it later in the comfort of his home.
“So, uh, chili dogs?”
Sonic’s eyes lit up like a child on Christmas. “Yes! Okay, okay, okay– I’ll grab you some new gloves, you clean yourself up and I’ll clean up the ground. Take your time and I’ll get the chilli started!”
Sonic spoke so fast that Silver struggled to understand what Sonic said, but he got the general gist. The blue hedgehog didn’t wait for Silver to respond, skipping out of the bathroom.
Giggles bubbled out of Silver’s throat. Sonic was a great friend. Just a friend.