Author's note: It's finally time to push aside the angst, for a bit, and let the light-hearted fluff take center-stage! WHOO! (Let the awkwardness commence!) I'd love to know what you think, because I'm very nervous (and excited!) about this chapter!
Thank you ever so much to: Roasted Toast, animelover5641 and Failsona for spurring me on and making me grin! :D And thank you also to those who are favouriting, following and reading! Love you guys!
Replies:
Roasted Toast - Thank you ever so much! Ah, yep, that last chapter was pretty angsty, but we're gonna take a break from that, now, and get on with the Shadilver cuteness ;D Yes, Silver definitely didn't need Blaze adding to his increasingly-bad day. Oh, no, that made sense, don't worry! And I'm definitely going to be exploring Mephiles' demise from 06, as we continue, so stay tuned for that, haha! Aw, I'm really glad that you liked Knuckles and Blaze as Guardian-friends! I must admit, I haven't played Rush either, but I think Knuckles is in it, just as a minor role. I don't think they showed much bonding between Knuckles and Blaze though, which is a shame. Haha, oh gosh, I was worried that I'd have to make Tails come in and say "Um, Silver, why are you hacking into GUN?" but I decided not to go down that path xD Thank you so much for your review and I really hope you like this chapter!
animelover5641 - Thank you SO much for your reviews! I loved reading them and I'm so glad you're enjoying it so far! Haha, aw, I'm happy to hear that I got the summary right! Silver is definitely going to experience some tough times, during this situation, but it won't be all bad (probably) ;) Thank you!
Failsona - Aw, that's so nice, thank you! That made me really happy! *\(^-^)/* Hehe, Mephiles is a bit of a mystery at the moment, but things shall be revealed along the way! ;D I really hope you like this chapter and please let me know how I did with the awkwardness/pining! :3
Disclaimer: 'Still own nothing! If I did, Silver would have his own game!
6. Cake (Not) by the Ocean
"Dude. What's with the creepy staring and standing still?"
Knuckles scowls at him, digging folded arms tighter against his chest, "I'm trying to work out how it's even possible that you messed that up."
"Shuddup," Sonic quips back, as he unceremoniously dumps the hamper down on the grass, "How was I meant to know that cupcakes need sugar?"
"Because I told you," Passing one end to Silver, Tails walks backwards until the blanket is fully unrolled, "Several times."
"Well, I was busy preparing for this shindig! And it's no sweat, they'll taste great, you'll see!"
"Don't say shindig. You sound like an idiot. More so than usual."
"Words hurt, Knuckles."
"Besides, exactly what preparing were you doing? It's your girlfriend who's bringing all the food and stuff. Remind me again what you've done to help?"
"Not my girlfriend! And get off'a ya high horse, Knux, you haven't—Blaze, could you hold onto the napkins, for a sec, thanks—done anything either! 'Ohh, I came down from my island and graced everyone with my presence.' Big whoop."
As he bends down to unpack plastic plates, Knuckles shoots a smirk at the blue hedgehog, "Says the one who practically begged me to come, because it wouldn't be the same without me, apparently."
"Yeah, well, I get that some of us don't make friends so easily. Or at all, in your case. And thinking about you, up there — crying yourself to sleep because you weren't with me — was just a major downer."
Tails shakes his head at Silver, with a grin playing on his lips, while he straightens out the patterned blanket and lays it down. Blaze lingers at Silver's side, watching the camaraderie with baffled interest.
"Leave Knuckles alone, Sonic! He makes friends just fine! Now, could you come and give us a hand with these?" Amy arrives with a slight stagger, burdened by the weight of her picnic baskets. Sonic blinks at her briskness, in place of smothering affection, but shrugs it off in favour of zooming over and helping.
"Yes, Ma'am!" His flirtatious grin (because it is flirtatious, Silver notes, with mild surprise) drops, as soon as he carries the weight of the basket, "Jeez! Ames, what the heck do you have in here? Eggman?!"
"Nine people need a lot of food!" She defends, but turns rosy at the fond nickname.
Cream joins Amy's side, after skipping towards the group with a box in her hands and Cheese fluttering, overhead, "Amy and I spent a lot of time baking and preparing the food, Mr Sonic!"
"I'm sure ya did, Cream," Sonic flashes that trademark smile down at the rabbit. Then he turns back to Amy — who's purposefully avoiding his gaze — and shocks them all by dropping a kiss to her temple, instantly pacifying her, "And it smells great."
"Okay. Why is Sonic actin' all weird?" Knuckles grunts, observing the easy-going conversation between Sonic, Cream and a giggling Amy. He doesn't bother to conceal his suspicion. Silver doesn't blame him though — they're all watching, transfixed, "Did Amy slip a love potion into his drink again?"
Lightly chuckling, Tails tilts his head to one side, "I don't think so. This has been going on for a while now. I think something happened between them and he's trying to make it up to her."
"Maybe it's for not going to her house?" Silver suggests.
"Could be, but I don't think so. Something big happened. He won't tell me though; any mention of Amy and he starts clamming up."
"Perhaps he's admitted that he has feelings for her," Blaze frowns at the triad of shocked expressions. She isn't fazed by the sudden attention, but her eyes flicker over to Silver, "Is this not the case?"
"How do you know that he has feelings for her?" Silver asks, slightly stupefied by Blaze's certainty.
She smiles to herself, suggestively, as she returns to watching Amy glomp a grimacing Sonic, "It's quite plain to see."
"It is?" Tails' tone is pondering. Then he clears his throat and thoughts, "I guess I see what you mean, but that really doesn't sound like Sonic. He'd need another whole month of conflict and inner-turmoil, at least, before he confessed. If it's something to do with jealousy, then maybe a couple of weeks, but we'd definitely know if he was jealous."
"Then it's obvious," Knuckles announces, revelling in their curious stares. He proudly puffs his chest up and smirks, eyes closed, "In typical fashion, Sonic messed something up. Put his foot in it or said something wrong, I don't know. He annoyed Amy and now he's tryna win her back. Like I said, typical."
"You know what they say, Knuckie. People who live in glass houses shouldn't cast stones."
The red echidna swivels. He instantly hardens, "What're you trying to say, Rouge?"
She hums in amusement, as she pushes her sunglasses above her eyes, on top of her head. Ivory locks fan out, in different directions, and fly away from her face, revealing more bronze skin, "Simply that you haven't been very nice to little old me, lately."
"Why would I be?" The bluntness is painful.
"Tsk. Chivalry's been dead for some time..." She half-mutters, rolling startlingly-clear eyes and slotting her hands onto her hips. Silver admires Rouge's white dress, with flared sleeves and tasteful lace, quite different to the tight bodysuit she'd been wearing when they first met, "Watch yourself, Knucklehead, or my man might teach you a lesson."
"Your man?" Knuckles' tone is hard to read.
"Shadow is twice the man you are," She beckons off somewhere, for someone to come closer, and Shadow is now striding towards them. Silver flushes, but there's a painful tug when Rouge throws her arms around Shadow's neck and her painted lips curl upwards, "Much stronger. Much hotter."
Shadow and Silver's eyes meet.
Silver starts to sweat.
But Mephiles suddenly flares up in his mind and the fire is extinguished. Because he was asking about a Mephiles, too. Shadow's probably just wondering if Silver will reveal anything else about Mephiles. The Ultimate Life Form (because it's easier to think of him like that, instead of Shadow, who sends electric shivers down Silver's spine) is merely curious. The disappointment and jealousy smash into Silver, like a wave, but he stays upright against it.
Silver looks away.
"—won't you, Shadow?"
"Excuse me?" Shadow mumbles, distractedly. Almost shyly, Silver would say, if he didn't know any better. He thinks he hears an angry growl from Blaze's throat.
"You. Protecting my honour from Knuckles' ruffian remarks. He has no concept of romance! Or manners in general, it seems. Will you teach him a lesson for me?"
"You're capable of fighting your own battles," Shadow detaches himself from Rouge and turns to Knuckles, impassive and monotonous, "Apologise, Guardian, before she takes offence and attacks you."
Rouge glares at the sound of Knuckles' victorious snort, before scoffing and saying, "His dirty talk is much better than his fighting talk."
"Thanks, Bat-Girl, for an image that I really didn't need," Knuckles groans, definitely not victorious.
"Hehey! Get the cameras ready! Knuckles the Jealous Echidna is now our headliner!"
"Rich talk, lover-boy," Grumbling, the Guardian of the Master Emerald light-heartedly shoves Sonic's hands away, which are currently making a square, with one lime eye glittering through the gap. Silver thinks he can see the very light smattering of a blush on Knuckles' cheeks and the thought makes him smile.
Sonic doesn't rise to the bait, instead proclaiming that he's too hungry to talk smack at Knuckles, and goes about setting up the sun parasols which Rouge and Shadow have brought along. The rest of them disperse and unpack, while Blaze leans over and lowly asks Tails, "Are they often like this?"
Tails snickers, before grinning up at her, "You don't know the half of it."
This was a bad idea. Like 'time-travel-into-the-past-and-try-to-kill-something-that-moves-at-the-speed-of-sound' level of bad.
"Is this seat taken?" Silver weakly smiles, shocked that he can form sentences, without stuttering or stammering. Patiently, he waits, though he knows the answer, because he's been carefully watching and trying to pick up the courage to come over, for the last half hour.
Shadow looks up and frowns. Silver's smile wobbles and falls.
After a quick once-over with a flick of ruby eyes (he's either checking me out or checking for weapons, Silver decides), Shadow tosses a hand at the space next to him, indicating its vacancy, before shifting and watching the horizon. Silver obediently sits, leaning back against the tree trunk and releasing his breath, awkwardly proud of himself.
"You didn't fancy the game of tag, either?"
Shadow doesn't respond, instead following the dancing, coloured figures, down on the grassy plain. Red makes a leap for blue, but blue suddenly flashes and shoots forward, joining orange. Pink and cream dance together, not far off.
The faint passing of soft conversation sweeps over them. Rouge and Blaze have also opted to remain in the shade, but they're sitting on the blankets, a fair distance away. Silver is slightly wary of their lowered voices and occasional, knowing laughter.
Silver snatches a glance at the black and red hedgehog. His posture is rigid but, somehow, not unfriendly. He takes it to be a good sign and racks his brain for further one-sided conversation.
"So, what did you think of Amy's—?"
"You ask a lot of questions when you're nervous."
He wets his lips, "I'm not nervous."
"You will not offend me. I make a lot of people nervous," Shadow says it so matter-of-factly that Silver can't help but look, wondering if his expression will crack at all. The frown remains in place.
"I'm sure that's not true..."
"It is."
"... Maybe," Silver concedes, after a long pause, but he settles his gaze on the game of tag, once more, and lifts his shoulders, "But, even so, you don't make me nervous."
In the silence, Silver tries to sneak another look and is startled when he gets caught in Shadow's stare. He doesn't try to fight it. He just stares back and tries to look less longing. They don't mention the heavy intensity between them. Not that it's anything new.
Shadow inhales through his nose and straightens up, as if he's suddenly realised something. Silver greedily waits.
"No. You are still nervous. But it's not for the same reason."
A breathy laugh escapes Silver, before he looks down at the grass. He doesn't know what to feel, "Is that a good thing?"
"I haven't decided yet."
Silver chuckles again, freely loosening his shoulders and very slowly sinking into relaxation. Shadow peers at him — confusion is stamped all over his face — but it's more curious than anything else.
Silver smiles, "Why don't we start over? Except, uh, without the fighting from last time."
"Alright," Shadow nods, satisfied, but his expression is still tinged with hesitation. It feels as though he's trying to break into the time traveller's thoughts and unlock his secrets, if he just stares hard enough.
Something about Shadow's restraint spurs Silver on, "Whatever you want to ask, you can, you know. It's just... you look like you want to."
"What has Mephiles done?"
Silver reddens, "I-I kinda meant a less... um. We should probably ease into a conversation like that."
"I see," Shadow turns away, pensive, but not closed-off, "You meant small talk?"
"Yeah! Like small talk."
"Rouge is keen for me to practice small talk. It is not pleasant."
Silver doesn't know whether to laugh or cry, because really? But he decides that he didn't defeat a sun god, save the universe and go against the forces of nature just to give up now. Not when it finally feels like some progress is being made.
Slightly bolstering with that thought, his mouth runs away with him, "Is Rouge your girlfriend?"
He instantly regrets it.
Shadow's head snaps up, brows furrowed. Silver swallows, trying to remain dead-still because maybe they can both forget that he ever asked that — why did he ask that?! But the Ultimate Life Form gradually smooths out his frown and a smirk twitches against the curve of his mouth.
"No. We don't see each other in that way. Why do you ask?"
"I-I just thought... you guys seem really close and..."
"We are close," Shadow brings his leg up, so that it's bent at the knee, and rests his elbow against it, "We're partners. We live together."
"Partners?"
"Yes."
"How so? If you're not... you know."
Shadow analyses him and, presumably, figures that Silver is trustworthy enough for whatever he's about to tell him, "I am a GUN agent. Rouge is my partner for missions."
"Oh, right! Tails told me about GUN..." More lies. More pretending that he knows less about Shadow than he actually does. A sick feeling settles in his stomach, but he presses on. He really doesn't want Shadow to find out that they were discussing him, as well as GUN, "What's it like living with Rouge?"
Shadow pauses, thinks and then decides, "Enlightening."
"Really? In what way?"
"I was not... experienced, when I met her. There were a lot of things that I was yet to learn. Living and working with her has opened this world up for me," His eyes narrow, as a new thought comes to him, "Perhaps it has given me perspective."
Silver gives him a gentle smile, sensing that Shadow would really like to not dwell on the reason for that, thank you very much. He can relate, "Go on, then. What's one thing that you've learnt?"
"You don't microwave silverware."
Laughter bubbles out of him. That's what Shadow's taken away from life? "Well, it's a good thing to know!" He settles and figures that he should probably admit something in return, "Where I come from, microwaves aren't common. I mean, we know about them, but... I guess they went out of fashion. I've never actually seen one."
Well, he's seen Sonic and Tails' microwave, but it's an odd, built-in-the-oven one and it doesn't quite fit with the bulky stereo-esque device that he's got in mind.
Shadow looks at Silver. At first, it reads as what the heck, you heathen, but then it slides into something like relief, though Silver's not sure why, "Integrating into a new society is difficult."
It sounds like he's speaking from experience.
"Yeah. I forget, sometimes. Then there are times when the gaps feel huge and I remember that I don't belong here."
"... Rouge's microwave is grey. A shade darker than your fur. About twenty-four by fourteen by sixteen inches. The door is black and made of glass. The display numbers are red," Shadow confidently acknowledges Silver's incredulous stare. Then it hits him.
Is he trying to help me fit in?
Silver's heart throbs and he has never wanted more.
"If you really wish to see one, she will show you," Shadow continues, unaware of what he's truly done for Silver. It also doesn't escape the grey hedgehog's notice that Shadow says she will show him; that Shadow will ensure it, "It is an important device. Rouge loathes cooking. She microwaves most things."
"She's not alone. I'm terrible at cooking," Silver beams, too busy walking on Cloud Nine to be ashamed, because cooking doesn't matter in the slightest, not when Shadow is talking to him like this.
"... I don't mind it. There are times when I find it relaxing. When I was first settling in, Amy came to our apartment and taught me some recipes," Shadow ducks his head, lowly muttering, "Do not tell Sonic this. Or anyone at all."
"Of course," Silver is actually giddy, "It will stay between us. And Amy."
The following pause is natural — content, even, and Silver hasn't experienced that with many people, only Blaze — and Shadow stretches his shoulders, pushing blood back through them, and half-turns... before staring ahead and pretending that he hadn't. Silver smiles.
Shadow tries to hide it, "Sonic told me that you retrieved a Chaos Emerald."
"We did," It had been in Holoska, which meant a trip in Tails' newly fixed-up Tornado. Blaze had not been happy about that (she pretends she's fine, but Silver knows that she's a petrified acrophobic). He'd relayed the fear to Sonic, who assured him that they'd fly extremely low. Of course, Silver had needed to pretend that he was the one with the phobia — Blaze is far too prideful to admit a weakness — but the look of pure gratitude on her face had been worth it.
Their rift, from the other day, is healing.
"How many do you need, to return home?"
"We think about two, since the Chaos Emerald needs to be extremely precise in where and when it sends us," Silver's heart grows heavy at the thought. He hasn't been pressing Tails to locate the next one and he's been deterring Blaze from asking. But he knows that he can't keep it up for ever, "We're not rushing to get back, though. Things are... out of sorts, back home."
Shadow nods, firmly, "Sometimes there is a comfort in distractions."
"What's your distraction?"
His muscles tense, but he answers, "Some say I bury myself in my work."
"Do you?"
"That's what I'm told."
"But what do you think?"
"... I enjoy my work. Without it, I would have no purpose."
"Ah. I know the feeling," Silver feels as if his spirit is clinging to Shadow, because this is exactly how he's been feeling! This is exactly what no one else seems to understand! "Lately, I've been feeling like there's something I should be doing, here. There isn't, but I still feel like I'm wasting my time."
"Is this to do with protecting me?"
He cringes. He can't tell if Shadow is amused or bitter, "No! No, it's not. You don't want to be protected. I know that."
"I appreciate the concern, Silver, but I don't need protecting. I manage fine on my own."
"I know. I've kinda seen that, first hand, actually."
They share a smirk, though Shadow falters, before he diverges, "If you feel that you lack a purpose, then perhaps you need to find another distraction."
He shifts forward and, for a ridiculous moment, Silver thinks he's going to kiss him.
Then the sun goes out.
"Hello, boys," The sultry voice lingers, breaking whatever bubble has formed around them. Silver only now remembers that they aren't alone, not with the others being so nearby, "You're both looking very intense."
Rouge moves and places her hands on her hips, forcing Silver to shield his eyes from the sun, as he looks up at her. She's biting her lip in a grin and deviously eyeing them up, as if there's something that she finds amusing, simply because she's the only one who knows that it's there.
Oh no. Does she know? Silver hadn't been restraining himself, in the conversation, because he'd forgotten that any of them could be listening and Shadow's not very astute with matters of the heart. But Rouge is. What if she's worked it out? She'll tell Shadow. He'd said that they were very close, there's no way that she won't tell him—!
"Is there something you want, Rouge?" Shadow squints up at her, innocently, as she merely laughs.
"Way to make me feel welcome, Shadow. No, not exactly — it's Sonic who wants something."
Silver glances downwards, down the slope of the hill, at the others. It seems that the game has digressed, somewhat, as Knuckles currently has Sonic in a headlock, whilst sitting on his back. The blue hedgehog is thashing about and squawking for Shadow: "Get your lazy ass down here! Think of all the things I've done for you! The least you can do is get this maniac off me! It was just a game, Knuckles!"
"I see no need to intervene," Shadow deadpans.
"Fine. But he's going to keep yelling for you. It'll get louder and more annoying and I know how much you love that. Anyway, you need to stop hogging Silver. I'd like some alone time with him."
Shadow gets to his feet, reluctantly, and trudges forward to stand at Rouge's side. She grins up at him, raising one shaped eyebrow, completely unfazed by his unimpressed glare in return.
Turning back to Silver, who's still sitting, Shadow lets a smile flicker on his face, just for a second, before saying, "I enjoyed our small talk more than I anticipated."
Silver pines after his retreating form.
"Hate to see him go, but love to watch him leave, hmm?"
"W-What?" Silver frantically searches Rouge's smirk for any hint as to what she's implying, "What does that mean?"
"Oh, nothing. It's just a thought that I've had about Shadow, a fair bit," She runs her cool gaze over the Ultimate Life Form's figure, confidently brushing the tip of her tongue over her bottom lip. Silver wonders if Shadow can feel the ice spreading across his shoulder blades, his legs, his—
Silver swallows. She's really staring at his ass. There's a small bite of jealousy, but he admits to himself that her stare is justified (whilst keeping his eyes firmly fixed on the ground).
She approvingly purrs, before depositing herself down, scooting closer to Silver's side. Their bodies meet at the shoulders and thighs, "But I'll admit that there are many times when I love to see him go. There's a limit to how many one-word-answers and grunts you can put up with. I'm no saint."
Silver nods, unsure.
Rouge unabashedly looks at him and he can feel her gaze caressing his skin, "Or maybe that's just me. You two certainly looked like you were getting along well. Did he get over himself with the whole 'trust issues' thing?"
"... Were you the one who told him to apologise?" Silver asks, remembering that Shadow had said that his shortcomings had been 'brought to his attention'.
Rouge smirks, "You can thank me later. He just needed some prompting, that's all. I couldn't bear the thought of you being all maudlin and sad, wearing that adorable pout of yours."
Silver laughs, "Thanks."
"You're very welcome. Come on then, tell me your secret. How did you manage to win him over so quickly?"
"I wouldn't say that. He doesn't trust me much."
"Then you clearly don't know Shadow. He doesn't trust anyone. I've lived with the guy for Chaos knows how many years and there's still stuff that I don't know! It's basically impossible for him to fully open up," She taps her lips, as they watch Shadow storming towards the merging of red and blue, moving Knuckles aside and yanking Sonic to his feet, huffily, "But it didn't take much for me to persuade him about you. It felt like he was already leaning towards it. He's taken a shine to you."
"Really?" Don't. Don't get your hopes up. That still doesn't mean he likes you.
"Shadow doesn't have deep conversations with every random that he meets on the street, honey. He certainly doesn't ask questions about them."
That information slams into Silver like an accelerating train, "He's asked about me?"
"You better believe it. I'm almost sick of hearing your name," She teasingly nudges her elbow against his ribs, "Almost."
But the grey hedgehog is still too busy trying to process what he's learnt, "What did he ask?"
"Normal stuff. What you're doing here, how long you might stay for, where you're from. He asked what you were like, when I met you. And he asked what I knew about your little girlfriend, after he met her."
"She's not my—"
"Oh, don't worry, I know now. She just set the record straight for me," She toys with the hem of her long glove, pulling it taut against her skin and wriggling her fingers. It has the same effect as rolling her sleeves up, ready to get to work, "There's something about you that he likes."
"Do you know what it is?"
She bears her teeth in a grin, "Specifically? Not a clue. But if I find out, you'll be the first to know."
"Thank you."
"Silver! Oh, please, come quick!"
He leaps to his feet, dashing down the slope towards Amy's frantic gesturing. He hears Blaze yell something like "What is it?" but he's too busy thinking that this is it, Mephiles has finally made a move and Silver is finally going to end this...
He skids to Amy's side, as Rouge lands and beats her wings beside him, "Amy? What's wrong?"
She grabs his arm, tightly, "Silver, you need to stop them! Please use your powers! Knuckles said something stupid and then Shadow started to get irritated, so of course Sonic had to go and mock him, but I still don't think Shadow's punch was very fair..."
Silver looks down at the three warriors and inwardly sighs, as Knuckles takes the opportunity to noogie Sonic's head, even with Shadow restraining his left arm behind his back. Sonic, sprawled on the ground beneath them, clings to Shadow's legs and yells about stupid crazed echidnas.
Rouge meets Shadow's eye, who silently looks at her, as if to say 'I told you this would happen'.
"Why am I not surprised?" She grins.
Tails manages to settle the disagreement by suggesting that they sit down and eat.
"Told ya they'd be good," Sonic smugly raises an eyebrow, talking around a mouthful of cupcake, "You like 'em, Silver?"
Enthusiastically, Silver nods, as the chocolate lingers on his tongue, "They're amazing!"
Knuckles rolls his eyes, swallowing, "Okay, so maybe they're kinda good. Maybe."
"Pffft! C'mon! Best thing you've ever tasted or what?" Sonic waggles his eyebrows.
"Hm."
"Don't deny it!" The blue hedgehog swiftly leans forward, snatching up another one from the hamper, before smoothly twisting his hips and calling over his shoulder, "Yo! Shadow! Whaddya think?"
Shadow turns, just in time, to casually reach out and catch the flying cupcake. He glances down at Sonic, who's sprawled across the grass and looking hopeful, before examining the dessert, "Must I?"
"Since you're clearly so excited..." Sonic scowls, "It's not poisoned, you know!"
Tails laughs, "I like your cupcakes, Sonic!"
"Bro. Don't patronize me."
Silver watches as Shadow takes a tentative bite. He chews, considers, and then swallows. The black and red hedgehog draws himself up, "You put the frosting on while the cake was warm. You should wait, or it will melt. But overall it is satisfactory."
"Coming from Shadow, that's basically five stars," Sonic scrutinizes the remains of his cupcake, poking at the frosting, "How'd you know about me putting it on too early? Since when are you into baking?"
Shadow and Silver share a look. A smile is spreading on Silver's face and he is shocked to find that Shadow is also trying to hide one.
"I'm not. I just heard it from Amy."
"Speaking of, something you wanna tell us, Sonic?" Knuckles leans in, trying to prompt him, but Sonic just mirrors his movement, with a confused frown, "Dammit, Sonic! I'm talking about Amy!"
Sonic quickly glances around, in case the pink hedgehog is in earshot. She's not: the girls have taken Blaze further into Green Hill Zone, where they'd arranged to have their picnic, to see the great waterfall, "What about Amy?"
"You kissed her!"
"Whoa," Sonic holds up his palms, rocking backwards, "Wait a minute. That makes it sound like we made out. We didn't make out."
"Might as well have!"
Tails lightly smacks the back of his hand against Knuckles' arm, "What Knuckles is trying to say is that we were surprised, that's all. How long have you guys been together?"
"We're not together! Look, Tails, you know I would've told you, if we were. I wouldn't keep something like that secret!"
Shadow huffs his disagreement. He's been standing separately from where they're sitting, but he's slowly and unconsciously drawing closer, interested in the conversation.
"It's true!" Sonic protests, "Okay, so maybe I wouldn't tell everyone, but I'd tell Tails!"
Knuckles raises his hand, "Just... how did this even happen?"
"Nothing happened. I've just been thinking, lately, that maybe I'm doing the wrong thing by brushing her off. I mean, I've never actually given her a chance, so maybe I'm missing out on something. I don't know," He's growing red, "I can at least try."
Tails and Knuckles share a glance. Silver interprets it as this is what we've been telling you for years, because that's what he's gathered, over the last week.
"Never thought I'd hear that coming outta your mouth..."
Sonic returns Knuckles' smirk, "Me neither."
Tails shifts on the blanket and pats Sonic's shoulder, reassuringly, "You're doing a really good thing, Sonic."
"Don't get me wrong, we're not hooking up. I still have no freakin' idea if I see her like that. I'm just... testing the waters. Spending time with her, as friends. That's it."
"Even so, it's still good of you."
Knuckles grins, "You sure 'testing the waters' isn't gonna freak you out? Like it did when we suggested going to Seaside Hill, instead of here?"
"Haha, aquaphobia jokes! Knux, you're SO original!"
Silver can feel Shadow's eyes on him. He stubbornly doesn't turn.
"Right," Sonic flings himself onto his back, crossing his arms behind his head and looking up at the sky, "Let's analyse someone else's relationship. How about, hmm, Knuckie and Rouge?"
Knuckles punches Sonic in the stomach.
"Super uncool," The blue hedgehog moans, after he's recovered from being winded. He rubs his belly, sourly, "Don't be so sensitive. It just proves that I'm right."
Shadow's eyes fall back to the others.
"You're not. As if I'd go for someone like that! She's so—!"
"Choose your words carefully," Shadow warns, in a growl. Knuckles is briefly shocked into silence and Silver admires the Ultimate Life Form's fierce loyalty, even when Rouge isn't around to hear it.
"Sorry," Knuckles gruffly says, "She's your best friend. But she's so infuriating! Does she get off on making me feel awkward?!"
"Newsflash! You're infuriating too. And, anyway, I get off on making you feel awkward," Sonic snickers to himself, like he's already got this sussed out, "But you don't get this het up about me."
"That's because you don't flirt with me. You annoy everyone. But she only does it to me!"
"Nope. She does it to Shadow, too. And she's got her eye on Silver. They're your competition."
"They're not my competition, Sonic," Knuckles glares up at Shadow, who blankly looks at him, before turning to Silver, "You're not my competition. It's different."
"Okay," Silver relents, amused.
But Sonic isn't letting him get away with it that easily, "It's really not. Rouge flirts with everyone. You're the one who's getting all possessive."
"... I can never tell when she's serious," Knuckles admits.
"Aw, is Knuckles scared by someone flirting with him?" After watching Knuckles bristle, in the corner of his eyes, Sonic softens, "Dude, if you just want a simple date, then ask."
"I never said I wanted a date!"
"Your face told me."
Grumbling, the echidna clambers to his feet and mutters something about getting some water out of Amy's hamper, as he stomps over to the tree.
While he's gone, Sonic speedily rolls onto his front, looks up at Shadow and asks, "Does she have a thing for him?"
"It's difficult to tell," Shadow says, "I believe so. But not if he continues to act like this. She will only wait so long."
"Dammit," Sonic chews the inside of his cheek. His eyes are clouded with future plans and schemes.
Tails sighs, noticing it as well, "Sonic. Don't get involved."
"But he's gonna miss his chance!"
"He won't. He'll figure it out in time. But this is something that he needs to do on his own."
"... When did you get so wise, buddy?"
"Heh," Tails glows, "Anyway, if you get involved, then he's got every right to play Cupid in your love life."
"Yep, okay, here's me officially not getting involved. Well, with Knuckles' relationship, at least," Sonic mischievously winks at Tails, who laughs good-naturedly. Then he eyes up Silver and Shadow. Silver burns. Shadow says nothing.
"Hello, Tails!"
"Hey, Cream!" The fox sits up, having joined Sonic's side for cloud-watching, and greets her with a bright beam. She giggles and then he asks, "How was the waterfall?"
"It was beautiful! Miss Blaze really liked it!" Cream faces Silver, who's politely cross-legged and no longer lazing about in the warmth, like they had all been, moments ago, "She said that you would like it too, Mr Silver! That it was peaceful."
"I'll have to go and see it, one day," He suggests, with an honest smile. It grows when Cream nods, vigorously, in response.
As the rabbit turns back to Tails, Amy throws herself down next to Silver, excitedly gripping his arm. She waits until Shadow has wandered over to Rouge — the black and red hedgehog had been lying close to him and Silver hadn't been able to breathe — and waits again until Blaze has joined Sonic and Knuckles, "Aren't they cute?!"
"Who?"
"Tails and Cream! I knew there was something between them!"
Silver smiles. He's not quite as certain as Amy — they're only saying hello, after all — but he does wonder why she calls him 'Tails' yet insists on adding 'Miss' or 'Mister' for everyone else, "If you say so."
"They'd be so good together!"
"But aren't they just friends?"
"Feelings can develop while you're friends, Silv!" She clasps her hands together. Silver wonders if she's picked up that nickname from Sonic — he doesn't mind, not at all, simply warms at the thought of Amy being so smitten and sweet, "Take me and Sonic, for instance!"
He thinks back to what Sonic had said, about starting off as friends and waiting to see if there was something else, "You're right. You're pretty experienced with this stuff, Amy, you know a lot about it."
"Aww, Silver!" She giggles and rests her head against his shoulder, "I'm so glad you came here. You're so kind, with this stuff, and you're the only person I can really talk to about it. Thank you."
"I like talking to you about it," He honestly does. It makes the swooping tugs in his heart feel normal.
"Have you had any luck with your crush?" She asks, trying to be casual (because she's clearly guessed that he's embarrassed) but there's a hopeful shine in her eyes.
"Well... a little, I suppose," He's still replaying it in his head, wondering how he'd gotten Shadow to open up, when they were alone. Wondering how he'd managed to share an inside joke with him. Wondering how he can do all of it again.
"That's great! Are you thinking about making a move, soon?"
He's shocked into laughing, "N-No way!"
"Huh? Why not?"
"We're not really at that point, yet."
"But you two are so close!"
Right. She thinks he's hung up on Blaze. Who, coincidentally, is currently watching Shadow with a sort-of-concealed glare, "Yeah, but... we're not close in that way."
"Ohh. The friend-zone. I see."
He frowns, trying to recall the meaning of the term. He's pretty sure that he's heard it before, "What's that?"
"The friend-zone? It's when you tell someone that you have a crush on them, but they only see you as a friend. So you're stuck like that, liking them, but just being friends. It's ridiculously hard to get out of."
Well, it's safe to say that he's not there with Shadow, "So you don't want to become friends with someone you like?"
"No, you do," Amy pulls a face, conflicted, as she tries to explain, "If you like someone, then you need to get to know them. But you need to let them know how you feel, before you get too close, see? That's what I've done with Sonic."
"Sweetie, you didn't just let Big Blue know. You let the entire world know."
Chaos!
"Rouge, don't sneak up on people like that!" Amy scolds, rolling her eyes, while Silver recovers from his minor heart attack.
"I'm a spy, Pinkie. It's my job."
"You're not on duty right now. Anyway, this is kind of a private conversation...!"
"Then you shouldn't speak so loudly," Rouge winks and settles down next to them, elbows resting on her crossed legs. Silver looks up: Shadow is in a discussion with Tails about something, "Is this relationship advice that I hear? Who's the topic of conversation?"
"You and Knuckles," Amy sticks out her tongue.
"Of course. Who wouldn't be talking about me?"
Silver notices that she dodges the bullet about Knuckles, but he's also wondering if Rouge might be able to shed some light on his dilemma with Shadow, especially since she'd hinted at it earlier, "How well do you have to know a person before you tell them that you like them?"
She grins, "Like them? Are you kidding me? You are ridiculously adorable."
"... Thank you?"
"It depends on what you want, handsome. If you're just after sex, then you don't even need to know their name," She glances between Amy's light blush and Silver's oddly-calm curiosity, "If you're looking for something long-term, then I guess it's easier to know them quite well."
"Is long-term a bad thing?"
"Depends on what your girl wants. Or your guy."
Rouge and Silver's eyes meet for a single beat.
But Amy rails on, oblivious, "Silver, you don't need to worry about this. Like I said, you and Blaze are incredibly close. And, for what it's worth, I don't think you even need to worry about the friend-zone. She mentioned you a lot, while I was talking to her! She obviously has feelings for you. You just need to throw in some hints."
"Blaze? You're talking about Blaze?" Rouge repeats, carefully watching Silver in disbelief. He glitches in panic.
He doesn't say anything, but prays that Rouge won't dig any further. If she does, he'll have to admit that he's head over heels for someone else and then there will be questions.
"Blaze doesn't have feelings for me," He gently tells Amy, vehemently hoping that Rouge will just let it pass and that the pink hedgehog will just see it as denial.
"You should see the way she looks at you!"
"Like a brother," When he's satisfied that Rouge is staying silent, albeit suspiciously, he lets out a genuine snicker, "She can't stand emotional stuff like that. Blaze would never fall for me, not even if the world was ending."
A bit ironic, but oh well.
Amy purses her lips, clearly not convinced, but she drops the matter.
The idea quickly passes out of his mind, not taking root, because Amy has a habit of embellishing things, when it comes to romance. Seriously? Blaze having feelings for him? Never.
Padded footsteps approach.
"Rouge."
"Why hello, Shadow. What can I do for you?"
Shadow waits until she stretches up, onto her feet, "The Commander sent out a message. We're to report to headquarters, immediately."
"No rest for the wicked," She grins at Silver and Amy, before turning back to him, "Towers can't even let us have one day off, can he?"
"It seems not."
"Then I guess we're leaving."
Silver is looking on, in interest, pondering what they might have been summoned for. Shadow notices and reads it as something else — he determinedly tells Rouge, "Silver wishes to see our microwave, at some point."
"Our microwave?" The bat spins, not bothering to stifle her amusement. She raises an eyebrow at the time traveller, "Why do you want to see that?"
"I-I... It's not important. Forget it..."
"He has never seen one."
There's something cunning in her smile, as she quickly steals a glance at Shadow, "If it's new experiences you're after, Silver, I can do way better than a microwave. How about you come to GUN with us?"
Uhh...
"What?" Shadow sounds just as shocked as Silver feels.
"Why not?" Rouge is staring Shadow down, challengingly, daring him to give a reason, "Tails has been there. Big Blue practically walks in and out whenever he pleases. Even Amy's seen our offices!"
"They're really cool," Amy adds, from the sidelines.
"So, why can't Silver come?" The bat is trying to hold back a smirk, but she's failing.
Shadow manages to glare and look bewildered at the same time, "He can."
Rouge purrs, "Perfect," and then holds her hand out and hauls Silver up, when he takes it, "Ready, Silvie? GUN is waiting."
He glances back, over his shoulder, "I should just let Blaze know where I'm going."
"Go ahead, we'll grab our stuff," The ivory bat slings her arm around Shadow's shoulder and whispers something into his ear — he suddenly straightens and turns, striding off towards the parasols.
"Is he okay—?" Amy asks Rouge, nodding in Shadow's direction, but Silver retreats to where Blaze is sitting, before he can hear the answer.
Blaze is with Cream, on a blanket, watching Tails flutter about as he monitors how far Knuckles can throw a cupcake before Sonic can catch it — (Sonic doesn't seem to mind that his cupcakes are being tossed about. Silver later finds out that Sonic had been the one to suggest the game). Silver chuckles to himself, shaking his head, and approaches.
"Hello, Silver," Blaze greets, getting to her feet. She smiles and Silver is struck by how relaxed she seems.
"Shadow and Rouge are heading off to GUN — they've been called to a mission. They asked if I wanted to go with them," He rubs the back of his head, shyly, and then looks up. Blaze's smile has fallen, "I came to let you know that I'm going."
"Do you know when you'll be back?"
He tries not to wince at the obvious disapproval, "No. Don't wait for me, or anything. I'll head back to the Workshop, as soon as I'm done."
"I see," She nods, contemplatively, looking at the floor. Then Blaze suddenly raises her eyes, "Promise me that you'll stay safe."
Silver relaxes, slightly, "Blaze, I'll be—"
"Promise me. Please."
"... I promise."
"Thank you," She suddenly wraps him up in a hug — which is worryingly unlike her — and clings to him for a while. Then she takes a step back, "Show them what you're made of."
He laughs, "I'll try."
When he returns to Rouge and Shadow, they're waiting for him. He attentively takes a striped parasol from the bat, who hums gratefully and compliments his manners, before he glances at Shadow. The Ultimate Life Form frowns and walks on, determinedly not looking back.