Sighhh... the idea would NOT leave my head.
It's either ship or no ship, and honestly, I'm living for both atp.
Diving more into this, I think espio would feel a bit uncomfortable with sonic around. Not because he finds him annoying, but rather like a "I'm leaving before I crash out on him" because he's like, still not so over the whole metal virus+Mr. Tinker situations. Not that he would crash out just because, but I think that his tolerance just dwindles whenever Sonic is around.
Or idk it also works for angst in a ship scenario. If they ever were to argue, I think espio would criticize Sonic's actions; maybe even asking him if he feels like this is a game, because the chance to live a peaceful life was there and he chose to let Mr. Tinker live.
In which Sonic could argue the fact that even if eggman was defeated as Tinker, starline still would have been a danger later on regarding surge and kit. The zetis could've easily seen the opportunity to attack, and not to mention the loyalty of metal sonic in a way. Even so, any crazy guy could've taken the spot of eggman. Sure, he's genuinely sorry for what happened in the metal virus incident, but that gives espio no right to lash out on him.
But what do I know? I'm just an artist with too many ships on his plate.