A/N: This story is a collection of metonic drabbles. I'll be uploading all future metonic drabbles to this collection. I do take suggestions, so let me know if there are any other metonic drabble ideas you'd like to see!

#01 - I got you a present

Sonic stood, squinting his eyes against the sun's glare, and noting just how light the box in his hands was. But of course it didn't weight much—the box was tiny after all—and yet, it still felt so unsubstantial.

As the sun started to inch below the horizon, Sonic began to pace, kicking up puffs of sand as he walked the beach. It wasn't that Metal was late. Sonic was just early.

After another round of pacing, Sonic sighed and plopped down on some rocks that were far above the line where the tide would rise. He had no idea what time high tide would even occur, but there was no point in taking unnecessary risks.

"Sonic?"

Sonic turned, grinning as Metal walked down from the hill above.

"Right on time!" Sonic said, holding his fist out Metal, who only tilted his head at the gesture.

Sonic sighed. "You're supposed to—you know what? Nevermind."

Metal took a seat next to him and turned his gaze toward the sunset.

Sonic bit his lip. Though the box was light, its weight still pressed down into Sonic's palm.

"Why didn't you just fly down?" Sonic said. He was stalling despite himself.

"If I had used my engine," Metal said, turning back to Sonic, "I would have arrived approximately 15 and a half minutes too early. Such deviance from agreed upon protocol would have been shameful."

"True," Sonic said, now fully aware of how early he himself had arrived. "But why didn't you just leave later?"

"If I am truthful..." Metal shook his head. He paused then gestured at one of the small, purple flowers growing in front of them. "This ecosystem is delicate. Eggman had already destroyed so much. I—"

Metal shook his head again. "It is ridiculous, I know, but given my technical affiliation with the Eggman Empire, I did not wish for the exhaust from my engine to disturb this ecosystem further."

Saying no more, Metal looked back to the sky. The sun had nearly disappeared now.

"Regardless," Metal finally said. "You wanted to see me?"

"I did." Sonic nodded. His stalling was getting ridiculous, and he may as well say it. "Here—"

With a single, swift motion, Sonic dropped the tiny box into Metal's hands and said, "I got you a present."

Metal turned the box in his hands and gently tugged at the bow, though he didn't untie it. "A present?"

"It's like a gift." Sonic smiled. "From me to you."

"Fascinating." Metal held the box up. "And what function does it serve?"

"Open it up and see."

Metal tugged on the corner of the ribbon, sliding it off. He carefully set it on the ground next to him then lifted the lid from the box. Tilting the box aside, Metal slid its contents into his palm. He paused, running his fingertips over the small bracelet.

"You wear it on your wrist. Like this."

Sonic leaned over, picking up Metal's hand in his own. He met Metal's gaze, nodded, then quickly slipped the bracelet over Metal's hand and onto his wrist.

Metal stretched his hand out. Small charms hung from the bracelet, catching the light from the sun as it continued to set.

"I've been thinking about how lonely it must be for you when you have to go back to Eggman all by yourself," Sonic said, leaning closer to Metal. "So I got this for you."

Metal turned, and much to Sonic's surprise, he placed his wrist into Sonic's palm, still wearing the bracelet.

"I have never seen such a thing," Metal said, though his voice was quiet. "Though what are these objects dangling from it?"

"It's a charm bracelet. Those are charms. But they're not just any charms. I wanted it to be easy for you to remember all the fun we've had. Like this one—"

Sonic gestured to a small sea shell fastened to the bracelet. "Remember that time I dared you to try swimming? Except when you went out there, you discovered your engine won't work underwater, and you just sank to the bottom of the ocean? We had to get Tails to pull you out!"

"I do recall that." Metal laughed with his characteristic beep. "I was cleaning sand out of my joints for days after that."

"This shell is from the beach where that happened. And this—" Sonic pointed to a small shard of polished, smooth, green glass. "This is from that time I brought that bottle of wine, except I forgot the bottle opener, so I asked you to help. And then you just smashed the bottle open!"

"In my defense, you technically only said you wanted the bottle open. You did not specify that you required the liquid kept off the ground."

"I know, I know," Sonic said. He gestured to another charm: a bent key. "And this one?"

"This one is obvious. This is from the time we tried, as you would say, to 'borrow' the doctor's Eggmobile. This mission ended with that particular machine's demise as we both realized—midflight, might I add—that neither of us could operate it."

"Yeah, but at least you got to rescue me before it crashed." Sonic beamed. "Now that was something. You got to fly off with me in your arms!"

Sonic clasped Metal's wrist in his hands. "So what do you think? Do you like it?"

Metal paused, growing very quiet and still. He waited a moment, then turned and threw his arms around Sonic, pulling him into an embrace.

"Thank you," Metal said, burying his face into Sonic's fur. "For everything."

"Anytime, Mets." Sonic grinned. His gift had been the success he had hoped for, and he quickly returned the embrace, wrapping his own arms around Metal's back.

"Anytime."