Calm Vacation
Chapter 3
The group continued to get comfortable at the party. They started a few chats with some of the fellow racers and also got acquainted with Wave and Storm.
"So…" Sonic started. "Jet invited us to go to your favorite restaurant to listen to an open mic night."
Wave nodded. "Yeah. It's one of my favorite restaurants and it so happens to have a location in Placida Town. They occasionally have an open mic night for anybody who wants to perform, and I just like to listen to the music. There's the occasional bad singer, but I tend to ignore things like that. The rest is pretty good."
Sonic smiled. "Okay. Just come get us when you're ready to go."
"Actually, we can go right now. I'm done with this party. They make us do it every year, and sure, it's nice to see a few fans, but it gets old really quickly."
"Yeah, I know what you mean. Alright, I'll get the rest of the group and we'll go."
Wave nodded. "Okay."
All nine of them met at the entrance and they exited the facility, heading back to Placida Town on foot rather than taking the bus back.
Jet walked up to Espio as he walked in silence. "I think my parents actually told me stories about the Shinobi ninjas when I was young. Did you live in solitude like they did?"
Espio nodded, though he kept a consistent walk going. "Yes, I did. As I said before, I was separated from society to learn the ways of the Shinobi ninjas. Then several years later, when I came of age to make my own decisions, I decided to leave my parents and my culture behind to join Knuckles and his Team Chaotix."
Jet looked back to Knuckles, somewhat interested in the fact that he and Espio were actually in the same team together at one point. "That must've been rough. I was removed from my culture by force. I don't even know if my parents are still alive. They could be dead somewhere out in space."
Espio nodded, listening to every word Jet had to say. Despite the slightly somber mood of the conversation, Espio turned to Jet and asked, "Why are you even talking to me?"
"W-what?!" Jet exclaimed, shocked by Espio's bluntness. "What kind of question is that?"
"A simple one, actually," Espio said, a slight frown on his face. "I tend to be honest, so I ask this question to figure out what your purpose is for talking to me, even though we have many differences between us personality-wise."
Jet remained slightly shocked, unsure of what to say in this situation. "I, uh… I'm talking to you because I want to talk to you… I guess. Sure, I'm known for being cocky hawk who only likes the cheers of his fans and winning and you're known for being quiet and that stuff, but that doesn't mean we can't be friends or something."
Espio looked back at Jet, almost shocked with such a simple response. Espio knew that he had plenty of friends, but he always considered them to be acquaintances and coworkers more than friends. Jet managed to change the meaning behind the word a bit. "You… want to be friends with me?" Espio asked, silently enough so that only Jet could hear him.
Jet leaned in to hear what Espio said and nodded. "Yeah, sure. I mean, we managed to find similarities in the way we interacted with out cultures. We can find other things, too."
Espio nodded, a slight smile arising in his face. "Yes, I guess that's true." Espio turned to face Jet again. "I think I'd like that. I… must have misjudged you, Jet. I believed that you would be rude and inconsiderate of the people around you, but you turned out to be someone who is truly worth talking to."
Jet chuckled, hiding a slight blush. "Thanks. I used to be like that, but after racing for a long time and being put in my place by Sonic and Wave a bunch of times, I just learned to leave that stuff behind."
"Yes. If the Shinobi ninjas taught me anything, it was the fact that discovering your mature self is the most important development in your life. I definitely felt a change when I discovered my mature self."
Jet smirked. "Was there ever an immature Espio?"
"Of course. Everyone begins their life as an immature child, regardless of how they are raised. Not many people know this of me, but I used to bother my parents greatly with my aspirations to become a detective. They knocked it out of me for some time so that they could teach me their ways. I guess they couldn't keep it away for too long, because I'm not even an adult yet and I became a detective like I said I would."
"I couldn't imagine my life if I didn't become a flyer like my ancestors expected me to be. Do you regret becoming a detective?"
Espio shook his head. "I do miss my family, but I do appreciate finding my place in this world with Team Chaotix. Though, now I love Vector and Charmy as if they're my new family, even if I may not show it." Espio thought morbidly for a moment. "It even took a toll on me when people left. Knuckles, Mighty, Ray, Julie-Su, Nac-… never mind."
Jet gave Espio a puzzled look. "No, what were you going to say?"
Espio sighed. "We used to have somebody on our team named Nack. He was a weasel and he stuck with us for a short time until he betrayed us to join Metal Sonic's team."
"That's terrible. If someone were to betray anybody on my team, I would've ripped them to pieces without remorse. I care too much for them."
"That's not the way that I would take things, no matter how much damage Nack and Metal Sonic's team has done to us in the past." Espio crossed his arms. "Besides, we haven't seen him for a while, so he's not worth my thoughts anymore."
Jet nodded. "That's a good way to put it."
The surprising turn of topic put both Jet and Espio in an awkward position and the conversation was ended immediately. Thankfully, it didn't take much longer for them to arrive at 'The Talented Corner,' a restaurant with simple Mobian dishes that hosted Open Mic Nights bi-weekly, just as Wave had described.
Upon arrival, they were immediately seated at a table closer to the center of the restaurant where they could get a good view of the stage. There was already a purple squirrel playing a guitar and singing onstage. He was playing a ballade-like song, causing a couple to stand up and start dancing to it.
Espio stared at the dancing couple and said to Jet, "My mother used to dance with me like that a lot. It took me a good year to finally accept it since I didn't like to dance when I was younger."
Jet nodded, not paying much attention to the music. "Yeah, this kind of music would put me to sleep," he said offhandedly, not noticing how insensitive it sounded.
Espio frowned. "I wouldn't say it would put me to sleep." Espio opened up his menu and asked, "What are you going to get?"
Jet pushed his menu to the side. "I always get the chili dog here. It always has the perfect amount of chili on it, and it's cooked to perfection."
Espio looked to Jet and chuckled. "I think I just lost a little bit of respect for you. You eat those dreaded things just like Sonic does."
"Ah, come on Espio! Don't start bashing the chili dogs until you actually try it. You don't know what you're missing."
Espio rolled his eyes, but retained his smile. "Okay. I'll get a chili dog. I'm open to new things."
Jet nodded, returning Espio's smile. "Good choice."
The waiter came by to get their food and drink orders and went away to inform the waiters. Everybody continued to talk as the purple guitarist finished his song and was replaced by the next performers.
An announcer came onto the stage and said, "Please welcome to the stage, Mina the Mongoose and Jun." The audience clapped as a yellow mongoose with purple hair and a white wolf with blue streaks entered the stage.
Mina grabbed the microphone. "Hello. I'm Mina, but I also go by Songoose. We're going to play something slow and romantic for you all today. We encourage you to come to the floor and join this couple in hopefully a sensual dance."
Mina was true to her world when her music was even calmer and more dance-like than the one preceding it. It really spoke to Espio as he listened to it and truly remembered the dances with his mother. It was true, he did reject the idea of dancing as a fun activity at first, but even he admitted to himself on some occasions that he did begin to enjoy it as he got older. It was one of Espio's more fond memories.
He leaned in closer to Jet, but then retreated shyly for a moment. After a few moments of personal motivation, Espio leaned in closer to Jet's ear and asked, "Hey… would you like to… dance with me?"
Jet looked at Espio, trying hard to not look shocked by the suddenness of the question. "Uh… do you really want to dance with me?"
Espio retreated shyly again. "You don't have to if you don't want to, but I'm not as close with anybody else and I'd rather dance with you."
Jet gave Espio a puzzled look. "Really? You only just met me today! How are you closer with me?"
"I just do," Espio said, looking down to the table.
Jet paused for a moment and thought about it, but eventually sighed and said, "Alright."
Espio looked back up to Jet. "What?"
"Alright. I don't normally dance, especially with everyone who's going to be watching us." Jet looked at the rest of their group as they chat amongst themselves. "But I think I can do one dance with you."
Espio smiled, a slight blush creeping up in his cheek. "Okay."
Before anybody could say anything, Espio and Jet walked to the dance floor. As the music continued in its dance-like form, it gave Espio and Jet a beat to dance to. Espio slowly put his right hand on Jet's shoulder and his left hand in Jet's hand. Just as he did it with his mother, Espio began swinging his hips and moving his feet to the beat of the music. Jet awkwardly followed.
Espio noticed the lack of flow in the dance and looked up to Jet. "Do you feel weird?" Espio asked honestly.
Jet paused for a moment and nodded. "Yeah, a little." Jet looked towards their group, immediately looking back when his gaze met Sonic's. They saw them dancing. "I'm just not used to dancing at all, especially in front of people."
"It's alright. Every guy is going to feel embarrassed about dancing for the first time in front of people. It was something that I had to get used to, also." Espio continued to keep Jet in the rhythm. "But I think it's worth it. It's an expression of creativity, peace, and lo-… never mind."
Jet chuckled. "You need to learn how to finish your sentences, Espio."
Espio shook his head. "No, no, no. If I finish my sentence, you probably won't want to talk to me afterwards."
"Geez, Espio. How shallow do you think I am?"
"Not very, but it's pretty serious."
Jet rolled his eyes. "I've been through a lot in my life. I think I can take a bit of serious stuff."
Espio sighed. "Fine. What I meant to say was that dance is an expression of creativity, peace… and love."
Jet didn't expect to hear that last word, but didn't take its deeper meaning. "I know that. I know a lot of couples who dance for love and stuff like that."
Espio looked down. "Yeah… except, now I'm feeling that this dance is not an expression of creativity or peace."
Jet paused to think about what that meant, but then a light bulb turned on his brain. "Do you… like me, Espio?"
Espio kept his head low, trying to figure out the words to say. He raised his head a bit and was about to say how he feels when… the music stopped and he heard something.
He heard a scream.
A loud scream.
Espio looked away from the Jet towards the screamer. It was Mina the Mongoose as she took a few steps back. Her boyfriend and co-singer, Jun, was now being held in the hands of Metal Sonic, accompanied by Nack the Weasel at his side.
Nack looked the crowd and yelled, "We heard that Team Chaotix, Sonic, and Babylon are all here in the same spot. We're going to take this opportunity and get rid of all of them at once."
