Chapter Text
"Sonic," greeted Silver with a tired smile. He was sitting in a rather uptight position with his back straight and his hand folded neatly in his lap, making it seem like the grey hedgehog was prepared for an interview rather a waiting for a friend.
Sonic was at a loss for words, not sure how to process what he was seeing right now.
Starting from the beginning, Sonic wakes up this morning to find a note stuck on his door, asking for a secret meeting planned by Silver. He was understandably panicked at first until he noticed a heavily underlined statement stating that this meeting was unrelated to the future, rather it was Silver's personal wish. This leads to another question, what on Earth is the time traveler personal goal besides 'for the greater good of the future'? Silver, a person from afar the future, always keeps his distance from the matter that belongs to the past, i.e. Sonic and his friends, and only gets involved if absolutely needed, anything else lies beyond his realm of interests.
However out of the blue it may be, Sonic was no less interested. He was rather bored with boring weeks spent fighting Eggman over petty things and helping the locals with mindless quests, his friends either busy with their personal projects or visiting relatives. Silver's note was a pleasant surprise, doubled so since the meet up wasn't about the sake of the world. Sonic had planned to weasel his way in whatever schemes Silver may have. It'd be a nice change of pace, a little adventure with the mysterious time traveler.
However, his hopeful fantasy was dashed when he saw the pitiful state of his friend. So far removed from the last time they saw him that it kind of jarring. Silver looks horrible. He was haggard, tired, and dangerously pale. The time traveler's usual fluffy hair and grey quills were messy, splitting, and greased. his face was lackluster with sunken cheeks and paled skin and he was spotting with the biggest eye bag Sonic had ever seen. Silver’s clothing wasn't painting a good picture either with his oversized coat being disheveled, stains smeared at its sleeves, and hems. His pants state was similar to the coat and even had holes on both knees and his brown boots definitely have seemed better days with how worn and torn they were. Silver wasn't really known to be health-looking to begin with but he is a tidy sort, always keen to keep himself clean and pristine. For the time traveler to abandon his cleaning principles, Sonic sweats dropped at what could this meeting possibly be about.
"Sonic" Silver called out, his voice notably hoarse. "Thank you for coming all this way, Sonic. Ah, please don't mind my appearance, I want to talk to you as soon as possible. Would you please sit down first?"
"Huh? Oh yeah, sure." Sonic, snapped out of his daze, answered sheepishly, and hurriedly settled down on the opposite bench to Silver with a table separating them.
Looking at the boy, he frowns and asks worryingly. "You look rough there buddy. Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, thanks Sonic." Silver replied with a lopsided smile.
"What happened? I never see you this beaten. You look very tired Silver."
"Just the usual business... it had been roughed." He sighed, his eyes downcast, and said depressingly. "It was my foolishness. the plan I worked so hard for failed and I was driven away."
The boy let out a long and bitter sigh, "I haven't been able to rest for days..."
He looks at Sonic then with a pitiful expression, desperate in his eyes. "Can I seek refuge on your island Sonic? Just a few days and I'll get back on my feet by then."
Sonic didn't waste a second to agree. "You can stay Silver. Not just a few days, heck, hang around as long as you want!"
"where are you going to stay? If you could, why not stay with us, Silver? Nobody going is to mind." He insisted adamantly.
Silver seems relieved by Sonic's answers, a joyful expression on his face, his square shoulders deflated and he was all but slumped. Almost melting into the chair. Was he ready to have a debate battle for his stay here? Sonic thinks funnily.
"Ah, no no that won't be necessary but thank you," Silver says, waving his hands.
"I planned to stay in one of the hotels around here, nothing fancy or crowded. I think I'll just sleep for most of the time to be honest." Silver chuckled when he said the last bit, a listless sound that didn't cease Sonic's worries.
"I'm still worried though. Do you need anyone to stay with you? You look pretty sick Silver, like seriously. I get that you want to avoid the others, I can sneak in to check on you if you want?" Sonic suggested.
"I know my limit Sonic. I promise I'll be alright. It just rest. I don't want to trouble you more than I already did." Silver declined with a small smile, his eyes cringed up into a half-moon as he looked at Sonic.
"It wasn't trouble, I would like you to trouble me more to be honest..." Sonic complained half-heartedly and smiled when Silver busted out a boyish laugh, his eyes bright. Making the time traveler look a lot less lifeless than a minute ago.
"I wouldn't dare but I will keep that in mind."
"You better! Contact me if anything happens okay?"
"Yes," Silver nodded, a pensive expression on his face. "if you want, I could check in on you per day. This is your home after all, and I'm a guest. This is as much as should i do." He offers humbly.
"Well..."
Sonic scratched his head, conflicted. While he doesn't want to come across as overbearing or bossy, Sonic liked that idea as he could check in and possibly hang out with the reclusive time traveler. This is a rare chance to observe Silver The Hedgehog, one of the most competent and mysterious allies in his support rosters.
Deciding to satisfy his curiosity, Sonic throws away his shame and gives a thumbs up on Silver's humble proposal. "That would be great. Do that please."
"Of course," Silver chuckled, and he looked about at Sonic with an unreadable expression. He retracts his gaze when the blue speedster tilts his head in confusion. Standing up, the boy knocks his knuckles on the table two times and bows at Sonic with a grateful smile.
"Thank you so much for letting me stay Sonic. I owe you again this time. If you encounter any problems, please don't hesitate to ask for my help."
"That strange, shouldn't it be the other way around?" Sonic jokes. Knowing it was time to go, he joined Silver and the pair walked out of the shack side by side.
They stopped at the entrance. Sonic's head snapped to Silver, which startled the latter, he put his hands on his hip and spoke with an encouraging expression.
"Don't be so formal, Silver. You are my friend and you already are a big help to us, as you say, this is much I should do. Besides, Seaside Island is a holiday island, you should relax while you stay here." Sonic suggested, showing a big smile.
Silver smiled lopsided and quietly nodded.
Since there's nothing more to speak about and Silver does look really tired, Sonic decides to go ahead and see himself out. "I will be going then, see you around Silver."
"I will see you out."
"Eh? Is that unnecessary though? Relax Silver."
"See you around Sonic."
"Okay, okay. Im goings, I’m goings."
And goes he does, as mild speed as possible. Sonic would turn his head often to see Silver’s wry smile and figure grow smaller and smaller until the fourth time that the boy disappeared from his vision. Gone as suddenly as he appeared to Sonic.