Chapter Text
It's cold.
Silver lets out an exhausted sigh, his breath crystallizing into a small cloud as it leaves his lips. He's not bothered by the cold thanks to his thick fur, but he is being bothered by something much colder than the weather at the moment.
Solitude.
Silver has friends in the past, sure, but in his own time, he's all alone. Maybe that's why he's always here in this specific spot overlooking the city buzzing with people. With his legs dangling off the hillside, Silver can only watch as people go about their business, oblivious to the hedgehog envying them from above. But no matter how jealous he gets, Silver always finds himself coming back out of boredom.
He hates this.
He hates that all his friends live in the past. And to add insult to injury, his best friend isn’t even in the same dimension as him. And as much as he likes going back to visit them, constant time travel is exhausting and leaving the future for too long can result in unwanted butterfly effects. While the future isn’t perfect, it’s still Silver’s home, and he cares about it whether he wants to or not.
“As much as I love visiting the past, I want to be able to enjoy my future too. It just sucks that none of my friends are here anymore.” Silver laments this thought to no one in particular, each word drifting away in a cloud of water vapor. He crosses his arms over his chest and stares up into the cloudy sky, swaying his legs.
Maybe he’s hoping for the world to give him a sign that helps him figure out what to do.
Silver huffs to himself. What a silly thought, to think the world would care about a single, insignificant hedgehog’s wish for friendship. Stretching out his arms, Silver turns back to stare into the city against his better judgement, the pit of loneliness continuing to grow in his chest.
"I'd give anything to have someone here with me in the future."
Letting out a frosty sigh of defeat, Silver's gaze wanders through the crowds of people below him. Silver’s golden eyes glaze over something black in the city, and at first glance he doesn't pay it much mind. Initially, however, Silver has the brief realization that this black figure doesn't seem to blend in with the rest of the crowds. It's the second time Silver happens to catch a glimpse at the figure do his eyes widen in shock.
No, it can't be.
“Shadow?” Silver immediately perks up, rubbing his eyes to make sure he’s not seeing things. Yup, it’s unmistakably the same ebony hedgehog with those unique scarlet stripes from the past, and he’s casually weaving his way through the crowds with that same stoicism Silver remembers.
But what is Shadow doing here in the future?
Silver internally debates going down into the city and approaching Shadow. They aren’t exactly close, and Silver is certain Shadow only sees him as an acquaintance at most. But… Silver can change that. He wants to change that. Maybe the world was listening to him after all.
Maybe this was his sign.
Silver feels himself getting excited, and a smile makes its way onto his lips. He lifts himself up with his psychokinesis and is about to fly towards Shadow when said hedgehog suddenly stops at a street corner and turns his head towards Silver’s general direction.
Silver freezes.
Silver isn’t sure if Shadow is staring directly at him, and Shadow quickly looks away before Silver can confirm or deny the action. A small group of people walk in front of Shadow, and when they pass, Shadow is gone.
Silver stays afloat for a bit before lowering himself onto the ground. His smile quickly drops, and his sorrow returns.
Guess he missed his chance.
But the world provides Silver another chance the very next day while he's free flying near a smaller section of the city. Silver only ever visits the city for the library, and today he wants to do some research on the past in regards to Shadow’s sudden appearance.
Landing in front of the library, Silver goes to open the glass door when someone inside catches his eye. It’s Shadow again, and he’s sitting at a table near the back of the library, barely visible through the rows of bookshelves.
Silver feels his heart start to race in excitement. He can’t waste this second chance! Silver rushes into the library and makes a beeline towards Shadow, all the while making sure Shadow doesn’t leave his sight. Rounding the last corner, Silver smiles when he sees Shadow sitting at a table flipping through a book.
The sight of Shadow clear as day in front of him suddenly makes Silver’s nerves act up. Silver takes a step back, hiding behind a bookshelf, but keeping an eye on Shadow as if to prevent him from disappearing again. He starts fidgeting with his gold rings, his heart pounding against his chest.
‘Come on, Silver, this isn’t the first time you’ve talked to Shadow. Just… play it cool.’
Silver takes in a deep breath and lets out a long sigh to calm himself down. He forces himself to step out from the bookshelf and strides straight up to Shadow’s table. Shadow doesn’t seem to notice him so Silver places his hand on the table and leans over.
“Fancy seeing you here.”
Shadow’s ears immediately perk up. He snaps his head up, and it’s in that moment Silver realizes he’s leaning way too close to Shadow. They’re nose to nose with each other, and Shadow is staring at Silver with a bewildered expression, which only adds to Silver’s embarrassment. Silver feels his face heat up, and he quickly leans back to add space between the two of them.
Shadow stares at Silver for a bit until his normal expression (or rather lack of) slowly seeps back onto his features.
“Silver.” Shadow closes his book and pushes it aside, keeping eye contact with Silver. “What brings you here.”
“Um… I live here? Well not here in the library, I just mean in this time, you know? But enough about me. What are you doing here?”
Shadow stays quiet and eyes Silver, studying his face rather meticulously. He then pushes his chair back and stands up, picking up his book.
“That’s for me to know and for you to find out.”
“What- Hey!”
Shadow starts to walk away, but Silver quickly darts in front of him, waving his arms frantically.
“You can’t just leave without giving me an explanation as to why you’re here!”
Shadow raises a brow and pushes past Silver, who follows closely behind.
“I can do as I please.”
“Shadow, please.”
Silver grabs Shadow’s arm, making him flinch. The two come to a halt, and Shadow looks over his shoulder at Silver. His emotions are hiding behind those scarlet eyes of his, but Silver can see something trying to make its way through. Something… warm, maybe even soft.
Silver keeps his grip on Shadow’s arm as he walks around to face him directly, fearing that if he lets go Shadow will disappear forever.
“I’m all alone here. I saw you the other day and felt the need to ask you about your stay here. Whether it’s permanent or just a mission you’re on because I just wanted to see if you’d be willing to try getting closer as friends. Please, I can’t deal with this solitude anymore.”
Shadow stares at Silver wide eyed, and Silver notes that Shadow’s grip on his book tightens. Maybe he's struck a nerve because Shadow is left speechless, something Silver knows isn't normal for his character.
Shadow stares at Silver for what feels like forever, then Shadow finally lets out a sigh of defeat and shrugs off Silver’s hand, averting his gaze as he does so.
“If you really want to know why I’m here, then go back and find out for yourself.” Shadow reaches behind his quills and pulls out a green Chaos Emerald. He hands it to Silver before turning away. “And while you’re at it, I'd like to see you try befriending me back then. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to get going.”
Silver watches Shadow drop off his book on a library cart and exit the library. Silver is stunned, and it takes him a good minute to snap out of his trance. He cautiously takes his exit from the library and is not surprised to see that Shadow has disappeared without a trace.
A frigid breeze greets him as he starts walking away from the library, but the Chaos Emerald remains warm in his hand. It’s oddly comforting. Once he's in a clearing, Silver comes to a stop. Smiling to himself, Silver brings the Emerald close and uses his free hand to pull out his own Chaos Emerald. His is a bright cerulean blue and it compliments the bright green of Shadow’s emerald quite nicely. He raises his hands and crosses his arms, holding the Chaos Emeralds up high.
“Chaos Control!”
And just like that, Silver disappears in a flash of light.
Off in the distance, hidden under the shade of a tree, Shadow smirks to himself.