My brain was telling me "More fluffy fluffy Shadilver bonding pls" and this is what I conjured up, within GUN's headquarters. I hope you like it and are enjoying the story so far!

Thank you very much to: Failsona, randomcitizen12 and Roasted Toast! You're amazing! And thank you to everyone who is reading!

Replies:

Failsona - That is so true! A perfect description of microwaves! Someone should probably tell Silver that, because I think he's idolizing them too much, in this story xD I'm so glad to hear that, thank you! Silver's paranoia is definitely building, even if he's not quite aware of it — it's a looming, ominous presence which will rear it's head, soon.

randomcitizen12 - Aw, thank you so much! Eek, that makes me ridiculously happy! Aw, I'm so flattered that you're reading this in your spare time from medical studies (I wish you the very best with that, it sounds tough!). Yay, I'm glad that this inspired you for your story, that's awesome! Ahh, I hope you're able to get 'round to writing it, but don't worry, I am the worst when it comes to regularly posting XD Thank you, your review made my day! Yes to Shadilver!

Roasted Toast - Thank you so much for your review! Haha, aw, I'm glad the title made you laugh! Whilst I wouldn't say it was Shadilver's 'song', I'm very fond of it and couldn't miss the opportunity to put it in. That's a great idea, Sonic should take some cooking lessons from Amy and Shadow — OH, or maybe a couples baking session, Sonic and Amy with Shadow and Silver, and YES they totally watch GBBO XD I'm so happy you liked the fluff — ridiculously happy! Shadow certainly didn't make it easy for Silver, haha! Thank you! Ahh, I'm so with you on that — I love Unleashed — and I had it on the PS3 as well, but I must admit I still haven't gotten to the end xD Rouge is totally my favourite character in this, can you tell? ;D Thank you so so so much!

Disclaimer: All rights belong to the respective owners!

7. Office Hours

"And this—" Rouge triumphantly rotates the handle and shoves, until the door swings open and reveals the room, "—is our office."

Curiously, Silver enters. Shadow is close behind him, silent.

He can tell which desk is Shadow's and which desk is Rouge's. There are only two in the medium-sized office, both with their short side pushed against a wall. Rouge's is strewn with documents and paper-clips, dubiously organised into random piles across the oak surface and around the computer. She's lined up a row of neon highlighters on the edge, with their bright colours nicely breaking the monotony of beige, manila folders, and there's a set of keys in one corner.

Shadow's desk is meticulously bare. No personal items. Not even any half-finished reports. There's just a computer and a glisteningly-clean coffee mug.

Silver slowly spins, taking in all four walls, "It's lovely."

"It's an office, honey, you don't need to lie," Rouge grins, almost feline, and begins to rummage through one of the paper piles, "Any idea of where the mission brief might be, Shadow?"

Shadow is opening one of his desk's drawers, lips poised in an answer, when the office door slides open and footsteps clunk inside.

Silver gawks.

Rouge straightens up and sings, "Omega! Hello, darling. It's been a while — how was Westopolis?"

The robot — it's at least half a foot taller than Silver, whoa — lowers its mechanical claws and processes the question, "It was adequate. I achieved my stated goal. Thank you for inquiring, Rouge."

"Your manners are getting better by the day, you know. Even better than Shadow's, I dare say."

Shadow rolls his eyes, but the gesture is fond.

Omega whirrs, "I have been researching the aspects of etiquette, as you advised. What is it that you are searching for?"

"The mission brief," Shadow answers, still scouring.

"It is located in Commander Towers' office."

Rouge stifles a laugh, before gently guiding Shadow towards the door, "Well then. Off you pop. It's your turn to deal with that bundle of joy. Hurry back so we can get on with it and remember: don't look directly into his laser-glare, or you'll spontaneously combust."

The Ultimate Life Form frowns, studying the others in case there's something that he's missed, and then leaves.

"Now," With a satisfied lift of her shoulders, Rouge falls back into Shadow's chair, kicking her boots up and resting them on the desk. She deliberately crosses them at the ankles, yanks down the hem of her dress, for modesty, and peers up through her eyelashes, "Omega, this is Silver. Shadow's new bestie."

"His best what?"

"No, bestie. Best friend? You really need to update your slang database."

He can do that? Silver pushes it out of his mind and smiles when Omega turns to him. The robot blinks, slowly, and buzzes, "Should I change my records for Shadow the Hedgehog? Current best friend: Rouge the Bat. Updating to Silver the Hedgehog..."

"Wait, no, you don't need to do that," Silver raises an eyebrow at Rouge, accusingly, "I'm not his best friend."

She muses, then grins, "You're right. I'm still the reigning champion of that title. You're his boy-toy."

"Somehow, I think he'd disagree about that," There's a slight shift in his heartbeat, as Silver rolls his eyes. He knows what that term means, even without Amy's guidance.

"Updating records. Shadow's 'boy-toy': Silver the—"

"No!"

Rouge cracks up, throwing her head back against the chair and letting her ivory hair spill across her shoulders, "Phew! Thanks, boys — I needed that. Tell me, how are the agents, Omega? It's been a couple of days since Shadow and I were last here."

"I do not know. I have only just returned from Westopolis myself."

"Straight from one mission to another?" She winces, "You should've recharged, honey. You can sit this one out, if you want, and take some time to rest. With Silver on the team, we can handle it. I bet the last mission took a lot out of you."

"I will wait until we know the nature of this mission. I am running at a capacity of forty-eight percent. It will suffice. I was not required to revert to attack-mode in Westopolis."

"Just re-building, right?"

"Correct."

"How was that?"

"Energy-consuming. There was a lot of damage. I was also instructed to collect any remaining alien technology, if I located any."

"Alien technology?" Silver repeats, glancing between the two GUN agents, who shift, awkwardly.

Rouge sighs, "Unfortunately. We had an invasion, a few years back, and it basically leveled the entire city. With all the radioactivity and fumes hanging around, GUN have only just gotten 'round to cleaning it up. Omega's been restoring the structure of the buildings, over the past few months, and it should be habitable again, soon."

Silver remembers reading about this, whilst researching Shadow, but jeez, "W-What... how did you get rid of the aliens?"

There's a thrum of silence. Omega rotates his wrists, waiting. Knowing that she's responsible for finishing the story, now that she's started it, Rouge runs a hand through her hair, "Shadow got rid of them."

"All of them? By himself?"

"Basically. It was a difficult time for him, but he came through for us," She sighs again, realising that her answer poses more questions than it answers, "Listen, Silver, it's a very long story and it's not mine to tell. It needs to be Shadow who tells you about it — the whole event brought up some sensitive stuff."

Perhaps this is the cause of the heavy weight which is permanently fixed upon Shadow's shoulders, "Is he okay now?"

"He's Shadow, so he's always got something going on," Privately, she smiles, as if Silver's asked the right question, "But you know what? I think he's the best that he's ever been, right now. He's pulling through."

"I'm glad to hear that. He doesn't seem like the type to be defeated."

Suddenly, the door smashes into the wall and Shadow is storming inside, trying to control his breath.

"What happened?" Instantly, Rouge is on her feet and approaching him. She reaches out to place a hand on his tense shoulder, but it hovers while she thinks better of it. Comfort probably isn't the best thing, right now.

Shadow growls, "Nothing. You need to get a brief about the mission."

"Omega, would you mind going and getting the low-down, for us? It should be pretty quick," Her eyes flicker to the robot, silently pleading, and something loosens in her bones, when he reverses and turns, "Thank you. You're a sweetheart."

"I will return. Presently," Omega reports, utterly casual. It seems that he's encountered this before, like he knows that the only way to placate Shadow is to do as he says and then coax information out of him.

As soon as Omega navigates out of the room, Rouge swings back to face Shadow, intently analysing the glare on his face, "You were fine before you went to Towers."

"The Commander and I disagreed about something," He shakes her off, even though they're not touching, and wanders towards the other side of the office, wearily rubbing a hand over his eyes, "It's fine."

Rouge folds her arms, "What did you disagree about?"

"It does not involve you," Shadow snaps.

"Fine. I'm only trying to help you," The bat presses her lips together, halfway between simmering and boiling. She doesn't seem angry that he won't tell her, only that he won't let her help him, "But you can't go on a mission like this."

"I'm aware. I've been told to stay here. I am forbidden from leaving until I've... calmed down."

She raises her head, apprehensive, and glances at Silver, who doesn't know what to do, "Are you going to be okay with that?"

"I'll be fine," He still hasn't turned around, "I'll train."

"... that sounds like a good idea."

The pause is filled by Omega returning, clunky and careful, as he notices Shadow's distance from Rouge and Silver, who stare back, at a loss, "I have downloaded the mission brief from GUN's system. Are Team Dark and Silver ready to depart?"

Silver jolts back into his state of self-consciousness. Watching Shadow's chained fury had disconnected him — he had separated himself from his mind, merely an observer — but now he's uncomfortably aware that he probably shouldn't be here. This is something deep-seated, purely between Shadow, Rouge and Omega, and he really shouldn't be intruding.

"It's okay! I can head back to Sonic's, don't worry, thank you for bringing—!"

"I'm not going, Omega," Shadow finally faces them, guarded and resigned, "Silver may stay here with me. If he wishes."

As Silver's lips part in astonishment, completely dumb-struck, Rouge rocks back on her heels and softly tilts her head, "Why don't you train together?"

Shadow's crimson eyes flicker to the floor, considering it, and then meet hers, "That sounds logical."

"You never know, you might even have fun," Rouge's tone is testing the waters, nudging to see whether it's okay to return to gentle teasing. Upon seeing Shadow's softening look, she warmly smiles and turns to Silver, "Don't pull any punches. Give him everything you've got."

His heart is hammering in his chest, "Okay."

"Good," Rouge grins, "Don't kill each other while we're gone."

Ngh.

"You're stronger than you were before."

Silver grits his teeth, straining against Shadow's strength. He's keeping the Ultimate Life Form frozen, mid-punch, using his psychokinesis, but he can feel the pressure building in his temples. Now — he releases the hold — and while Shadow stumbles forward, Silver flies to the other end of the training square.

"Not really," He pants, wondering if Shadow had planned for the room to be empty, "I'm not sure what was wrong with me, last time. I've never had headaches like that. Not that I can remember."

Shadow nods, once, and then strikes. His knuckles glance off Silver's forearm, which he's raised in a block, and the kick is just shy of the grey hedgehog's hip. Amused — and somewhat pleased, it seems — by the challenge, Shadow retreats out of close-range combat and throws his hand out with a yell, "Chaos Spear!"

Silver has just enough time to fling himself back, out of the bolt's range, narrowly avoiding being singed.

He's short for breath. They've been practicing for around an hour, by this point, and even Shadow looks mildly tired.

Straightening up and acknowledging that the fight is a draw, the ebony hedgehog strides towards the edge of the room and swipes two water bottles from the ground. He tosses one to Silver, who darts forward to catch it, and takes a sip from the other. Shadow maintains eye contact with Silver, even as his throat constricts, before he pulls the water away from his lips.

"I suppose you're wondering what the Commander said."

Silver blinks. They haven't discussed it since Rouge and Omega left for their mission, "It's okay. You don't have to tell me."

"I do. It was about you."

"About me?" He squeezes the water-bottle a little tighter, thankful that the lid is safely screwed on, "What did you disagree on... about me?"

Shadow doesn't instantly answer, visibly conflicted, "... He made an unreasonable request of you. I refused on your behalf."

Frowning, Silver tilts his head. He's only wondering what the Commander possibly could've asked of him — why would GUN want something from me? — but his furrowed brow is mistaken for disapproval and Shadow glances downwards.

"Perhaps I shouldn't have done that."

Maybe not, but Silver doesn't mind, "What did he want?"

"He wanted... your permission. Permission to conduct experiments. He wanted to know if your biological structure is different, in the future, and where your powers come from. Your arrival has created rumours."

Those must have come from being associated with Sonic, who seems to attract attention wherever he goes. No one had been obtrusive towards Silver, not at all, but they had evidently seen him travelling with his powers and that had flagged up some questions. It must have gotten back to GUN.

And GUN had then asked Shadow to... persuade Silver to agree to scientific tests? Clearly they believe them to be closer friends than they actually are. And Shadow had refused? On what principle? Because of the experiments or because of Silver?

"You..." Silver's mind is struggling to comprehend the idea, "...You stood up to him? For me?"

Shadow is clearly uncomfortable, but he forces himself to return the gaze, "I experienced something similar. I was created, not born, and they asked the same of me, when I first joined GUN. I relented, somewhat, but I never would have agreed to what they asked of you. And I would not want someone else to be forced into it."

"I'm so sorry that they did that to you," And he is. Deeply sorry. But he's also terrified of how Shadow relented and can't bear to think that the Ultimate Life Form might've agreed to something that he didn't want to do.

Shadow shrugs, "It's not your fault."

He clearly doesn't want to talk about it, so Silver changes his track, "You won't get into trouble for saying no, will you?"

"I was told to calm down. Then I was removed from the mission. Nothing else was threatened, so I don't believe so," Shadow places his bottle down and approaches the middle of the arena, "You are a skilled fighter."

He blushes, "Thanks. You are, too."

"Where did you learn?"

That's a difficult question. Honestly, no where. His 'domestic' past hadn't needed any fighting skills — everything was truly peaceful, just as promised — though he'd roughhoused with Blaze, a bit, as young teens. Instead, his fighting technique had returned with the memories of Solaris; he had remembered how to pin down a minion of Iblis, or how to lift rocks in one hand and cars in the other.

But he can't say that, so he says, "Blaze and I sparred together, when we had the time. But when it comes to my psychokinesis, it's just about practice, really."

"I see. You and Blaze are close, then?"

"Yeah, we are," Silver nods, "She's my best friend, but she's like a sister to me."

"There is nothing more between you?"

"No."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm very sure," This question has been asked a lot. First Amy, then Rouge and now Shadow. Does it mean something? But Silver just smiles, snickering at the memory of him asking Shadow this, regarding Rouge, "I think we've had this conversation already."

"I think you might be right," Shadow smirks in return, "I'm glad we understand each other."

Hesitantly, Silver nods. That feels significant, in some way, but he's not sure why. He doesn't try to decipher it, "So, where did you learn to fight?"

"You have not been told?"

He falters, "... Told what?"

"About my past," Shadow frowns, "Sonic has not told you? Nor Rouge?"

"Rouge said something about an alien invasion. But she said that it was your story to tell," And Sonic had nervously laughed, before saying that the story was so complicated that he'd probably get most of it wrong — "besides, Shadow will probably kill me for telling it!"

"That is a different story. A more recent one," Shadow glares down at his hover-skates, faintly trailing one through the sand on the floor, before looking up again, "But my fighting comes from being the Ultimate Life Form, the perfect creature designed by Professor Gerald Robotnik, on the Space Colony ARK. I was built to be a warrior and was trained until GUN perceived me to be a threat. They shut down the project."

Shadow's tone suddenly goes absolutely flat, as he speaks, as if he's disconnecting himself from what he's saying. Something is wrong, but Silver isn't in a place where he can ask what it is.

"How many years did you spend up there?"

"... I don't remember. Five?"

Silver raises his eyebrows, "Wow. That's a long time. Did you get lonely up there, at all?"

"I wasn't alone," He slowly says, "I had Maria."

Silver knows that the conversation has ground to a halt. He can tell by the way Shadow straightens his back, clenches his fists and silently challenges him to ask a question — any question at all — about this Maria, whoever she is.

"It's getting late," Glancing at the clock on the wall, Shadow blinks, "I imagine you're wanting to return to Sonic's place."

"I probably should get back," But now there's this awkward tension, like they've had an argument, and he doesn't want to bolt at the first hurdle, "But I could stay until Rouge and Omega return," But Shadow might want him to leave, "Or I can go. Do you want me to go?"

Shadow idly considers him, "Not particularly."

That sort of sounds like stay, so that's what he does.

It's nearly eleven and they're in the office.

"You truly believe it will last?"

"Why not? You heard what Sonic said," Silver arranges himself on Rouge's desk chair — it's way more comfortable than it looks — which he's wheeled in front of Shadow's desk, at the ebony hedgehog's suggestion. There are two cups of coffee sitting between them. It's the third time that Shadow's refilled them, using the plugged-in kettle on the counter on the far wall, "He's giving it a go. That's as good a sign as any."

"Perhaps."

Coyly, Silver tilts his head and smiles, "Or...?"

"Perhaps his guilt got the better of him," Shadow takes a breath, when he notices Silver's suggestive look of go on, "Sonic tends to be impulsive, especially around Amy. It would not surprise me if, due to guilt, he felt obliged to make her happy by dating her."

"Maybe, but I really hope it does happen for them. Amy deserves to be happy."

"She does."

Silver beams again at Shadow's instantaneous agreement, "And if it made him happy, I think it'd be nice for Sonic to have someone to slow down for."

"I suppose."

"You pretend to hate him, but I know better," He laughs at Shadow's raised eyebrow, "You like him, secretly."

"You're wrong. He's infuriating," Amusement glints in his eyes, as he insists, "I can't stand him."

"Alright," Silver grins, "Since we're talking about it, do you think there's anything going on between Cream and Tails?"

"Not that I'm aware of. Has Rouge said something?"

"No, it was Amy, actually. Does Rouge match-make too, then?"

"When she feels the need. She has attempted it for Omega and I."

The thought ignites residual jealousy, which he's probably been harbouring for a while, "Oh? Who did she partner you up with?"

"Amy. And, on occasion, herself."

"Ah," Silver sits back, slightly mollified, and his lips quirk up in a victorious smirk, "So I wasn't entirely off the mark about you two, then?"

Shadow responds with a small smile, like he knows something that Silver doesn't, "Rouge has flirtatious tendencies. Nothing is meant by it, so my answer still holds true," He gazes at Silver, intently, "There is no need to worry that Rouge and I will become more, I assure you."

Silver panics, but rather than stumbling and stuttering, he throws back, "Yeah, well, you don't need to worry about Blaze and I, either."

"Don't I?"

"No, but everyone seems to be saying otherwise, for some reason." He's not quite sure why he mentioned that.

Shadow lightly nods, before asking in an infuriatingly-measured voice, "Why would I be worrying about that?"

"You wouldn't. Just like I wouldn't be worrying about you and Rouge," Which you totally just baited me about, whether it was intentional or not, so... two can play at that game.

Reclining back in his chair, the Ultimate Life Form folds his arms across his chest and narrows his eyes, scrutinizing Silver, "I don't quite understand you."

"... What don't you understand?"

—Bang! "Crap, that door has no friction, it's ridiculou—oh, good to see that you've been using your time productively, Shadow," Utterly unaware of Silver sighing at her bad timing, Rouge flounces into the room and dumps a wrist-communicator down on her desk, "You better have that kettle boiled and ready, after the evening we've just had."

Omega innocuously moves to stand beside Silver's chair.

Shadow rises to his feet and Silver follows suit. The time traveller offers the chair to Rouge, but she shakes her head in thanks and thrusts her coffee mug into Shadow's hand, "You know how I like it. Want anything Omega?"

"I am satisfactory."

(What would Omega even have, Silver wonders, Motor-Oil-coffee? Is that a thing?)

"How was the mission?" Shadow asks, with his back turned as he prepares Rouge's drink.

"A waste of everyone's time. The Sergeant was just about to call it a night — but then, of course, a truck-load of guys showed up with backup, for some stupid reason. Who brings three jeeps full of gang members to a drug collection point?"

"The gang leader that GUN has been hunting for three months?"

Rouge raises a very unimpressed eyebrow at Shadow, "Omega and I took the leader down, easy enough, though he put up a fight, the son of a..." She sighs and gratefully smiles at the ebony hedgehog, who hands her a steaming cup of coffee, "He said some unkind things about you, Shadow."

"That does not surprise me," Shadow sits again, unaffected by that information, "I have been picking off his leaders over the last month."

"True. Don't worry, we took extra pride in arresting him and telling him you said hi," The ivory bat's gaze runs over Silver and she grins, "What have you boys been doing, while we were gone? It feels pretty cosy in here."

Silver blinks at Shadow, who waits for him to answer, "... Oh, we trained, earlier. Like you suggested."

"I see. Did you kick Shadow's ass?"

"No one kicks my ass," Shadow informs her.

"Ahhh, a close call, then? Interesting! No one's managed that, other than Big Blue," Rouge perches on one corner of her desk, delicately sipping, "I'll have to watch you boys play rough, one day."

After a tentative nod, Silver glances at the clock, "I better head back to Sonic's. I didn't realise how late it had gotten."

"Time flies when you're having fun."

"Silver," Hearing Shadow's rumbling address, the grey hedgehog turns to face him and stiffens as an object flies towards him. Against the odds, Silver catches it in one hand and glances down. It's a GUN wrist-communicator, like the one that Rouge had been wearing, like the one that Shadow always wears.

Silver peers at the three agents, "Why...?"

"Consider yourself an honourary member of Team Dark," Rouge says, resting one hand on her hips and smirking, "This way, we can contact you."

"I...I don't know what to say..."

"Say nothing," Shadow grunts, "If you need to be off quickly."

"Right, I... thank you. You don't know much I... how much it..."

With a knowing gleam in her eye, Rouge sidles up to him and flings an arm around his shoulder, "Aw, sweetie. Go on, get going, before you break your curfew. We know you love us."

He goes to say I do, before he leaves, but he thinks better of it, because even Silver's not that obvious.

The light from the landing seeps into Silver's darkened room, as he enters, before he switches the overhead light on and sinks down on top of his bed. It's Sonic and Tails' second guest room, with Blaze sleeping in the other one, but Silver's honestly starting to get attached to it. Maybe it's the way he can open the circular window, in the morning, and lean out to the hear the chirping of birds in Mystic Ruins. Or maybe it's something else entirely.

He hears someone climb the stairs, close to his room, and traipse into the bathroom. It's either Sonic or Tails, who'd been sitting in the living room when Silver had returned from GUN headquarters. They'd smiled and asked how it went ("Did you have the pleasure of meeting Towers?... She said something similar? Ah, that's 'cause Rouge ain't a fan of him either. He kinda sucks. Waaaay too uptight.") and told him that Blaze was staying over at Amy's, for the night, along with Cream.

"You sure you don't want to stay over too, Sonic?" Tails had joked.

Sonic wrestled him to the floor, in response.

As Silver lies on his back in his room, one arm cushioning the crown of his head and tucked amidst his quills, he wonders if Blaze and he could actually settle into this domesticity. They could try to apply for jobs at GUN, they could find a small house to rent together, they could settle down and be safe and—

BEEP.

Silver sits up, frowning. He looks down at his wrist, where the GUN communicator has an envelope symbol aggressively flashing on the screen. He taps it. A message pops up:

AGENT Shadow: Test message. Attached are the codes for messaging Agents Rouge and Omega. I enjoyed sparring with you and would be open to it again.

Silver swoons, feeling the pit of his stomach tense up in glee. He spends several minutes drafting and editing and re-editing his reply:

- I'd like that :)

(Sonic had taught him that, the smiley face. Silver is very impressed by the creativity of texting in this time.)

Shadow responds fairly quickly, causing Silver's good mood to swell.

AGENT Shadow: What is :) ?

AGENT Shadow: Do not worry. Rouge told me. Good.

Silver smiles. Twice.

- :)

AGENT Shadow: What does :* mean?

- Did Rouge tell you to sent that?

AGENT Shadow: Yes. I presume it's not good?

- It's not bad, it's a kiss, I think

AGENT Shadow: I see. That does not surprise me.

- Me neither, it seems like something Rouge would send

AGENT Shadow: :)

They don't talk again, that night. But Silver lies awake for the next hour, thinking about that stupid smiley face and trying to figure out what it means.

Thank you for reading! Please review and let me know what you thought of it!