Chapter Text
(Y/n) was sitting on the porch steps of their back garden, sketching the scenery and enjoying the late afternoon air when a swirling blue portal opened in front of them; catching them even more off guard was the ivory furred hedgehog that stepped out of it.
Their surprise guest looked briefly confused, glancing around the backyard.
"Whoops, I must've landed at the wrong place again," he said before his golden eyes caught sight of the (a/t) staring at him in bewilderment and he tensed. "Oh! Uh... Hi! Could you... possibly tell me where I am exactly?" he asked, rubbing the back of his head as he gave them a sheepish smile.
(Y/n) lifted a brow, slightly confused at how casual he was treating this situation.
"Uh... Mobius, 2025. And uh... you're in my backyard," they said with an awkward smile, gesturing with their pencil at their surroundings. "My name's (Y/n), by the way. (Y/n) the (a/t)," they introduced themselves with a small smile.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Silver the Hedgehog," he introduced, glancing around the garden curiously. "Well, at least I'm in the right dimension this time," he muttered to himself before looking back at the (a/t). "Could I ask you a question, (Y/n)?"
They lifted a brow, glancing away for a brief moment before returning their gaze to Silver.
"I... suppose so?"
Silver seemed to hesitate before asking his question; "I... haven't visited the present in some time. How is Sonic doing? Is he well and alive?"
(Y/n) perked up at that, ears/tail flicking in interest.
“Wait, wait, wait - you know Sonic? As in, Hero of Mobius, Sonic?! That’s so cool!” they gushed slightly, (e/c) eyes seeming to sparkle in their excitement. They then cleared their throat, calming themselves down as they nodded. “Y-Yeah, he’s still around. Somewhere. You know how he is - doesn’t really stay in one place for long.”
Silver nodded, a soft chuckle leaving him, making his shoulders shake in mirth.
"Yeah, that sounds like Sonic. Good to hear he hasn't changed," he said with a small sigh. He then tilted his head, his curiosity getting the better of him. "How old are you, if you don't mind me asking?"
(Y/n) gave him a confused look, "...Just turned 19 about a month ago... why do you ask?"
Silver shifted his weight from one foot to the other, his gaze drifting to the ground for a moment.
"Do you... know how old Sonic is in this time?"
(Y/n) was taken aback by the time traveller's question, eyes falling to the ground in thought.
"Uh... geez, if I remember correctly, he just celebrated his 20th birthday?"
"And... does he seem... happy?" Silver asked, a hint of concern in his voice. "I know you said he never stays in one place for too long. I'm aware of that, he's always been the adventurous type. But..."
(Y/n) instantly softened at the innocent question, giving Silver a sympathetic look.
"I... I'm afraid I can't answer that. I don't know him personally... but, he always seems happy when he's in public, if that helps? I heard he started a relationship with Shadow."
Silver blinked, a mix of surprise and intrigue appearing on his face. (Y/n) could almost hear the cogs turning in the hedgehog's mind as he processed their words.
"Wait, wait, wait- Shadow? As in, Shadow the Ultimate Lifeform? The dark, grumpy hedgehog?" Silver's eyes widened, his expression almost comical and he couldn't help but let out a soft laugh. "I... I have to admit, I never saw that one coming. Heh, who would've thought that they'd end up together."
(Y/n) couldn't help but chuckle at his bewildered response, nodding in confirmation.
"Yup. That's the one. They seem pretty happy if you ask me. It's... kinda cute actually," they said with a soft chuckle.
Silver's shoulders seemed to sag with relief at their assurance, a weight lifting off of his shoulders. He let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding, and ran a hand through his quills. He couldn't help a small smile tugging at his lips, the thought of Sonic being happy and in love was... strangely heartwarming.
He looked down at (Y/n), an almost shy expression in his gaze.
"Hey, can I ask you one last thing..? It's pretty silly, though."
"I'm all for silly," (Y/n) said, shooting Silver a playful wink. "Hit me with it, Silv."
Silver's heart fluttered a little at the nickname and playful wink, but he quickly dismissed it as simply being a friendly gesture. He chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his head as he gathered his thoughts.
"Alright, alright..." He took a deep breath before his gaze shifted to the ground, then back over to (Y/n). "Promise you won't laugh?"
The (f/c) (a/t) gave Silver a small smile, making a zipping motion across their lips before crossing their heart.
"You have my word."
Silver chuckled at the (a/t)'s gestures; it was almost as cute as it was corny. He fidgeted with the cuff of his gloves as he voiced his question; he seemed embarrassed of himself.
"Do you… do you have a special someone? Like, a girlfriend? A boyfriend...? Someone you're interested in...?"
(Y/n)'s calm expression fell into shock, the question catching them off guard. They shifted awkwardly in place, ear/tail flicking slightly as they thought about how to respond.
"Oh! Um... N-No. Not anymore."
Silver noticed their sudden tension, and a pang of guilt filled his heart. He hadn't meant to make the poor (a/t) uncomfortable. He raised his hands in a placating gesture, hoping to ease the atmosphere.
"Hey, hey, hey, it's all right. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-"
He gently reached out, hesitating for a moment before lightly placing a hand on (Y/n)'s shoulder. They jumped at the sudden touch, as if being pulled from a daydream and looked up at Silver. It took them a moment to process that the hedgehog had said something to them, but they smiled at the apologetic words when they did, shaking their head.
"No, it’s alright… It’s in the past,” they said with a shrug, gingerly placing their hand over the one Silver had on their shoulder. “But… thank you for your concern.”
Silver relaxed at the (a/t)'s response, giving their shoulder a light squeeze before pulling back. He knew that he was most likely prying into a sore subject but his curiosity once again got the best of him, "Can I ask what happened...? You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."
(Y/n) sighed, looking down into their lap where the sketchpad still sat, tapping their pencil against the paper.
“It just… didn’t work out. He wasn’t… good for me,” they explained with a small frown.
Silver nodded sympathetically, listening intently to their explanation. He could sense the pain behind the words even when they were said nonchalantly. He took a moment to process the information, and his expression hardened as he heard the last part. He had a feeling he knew just how 'not good for them' this guy was.
"How... how long were you and your partner... together...?" he asked slowly, knowing the question was personal and had a chance of bringing up some uncomfortable memories.
(Y/n) sighed, shoulders slumping.
"Two years..." they admitted with a frown.
Silver's heart sank as he heard the answer. Two whole years. He could only imagine the pain and hurt that they had gone through. Two years of being manipulated and mistreated. He squeezed the (a/t)'s hand softly, a silent gesture of encouragement to continue if they wanted to.
(Y/n) glanced over at Silver, observing the time traveller quietly before speaking up, "What about you…? Any past romances?” they asked in a clear attempt to move the conversation away from their ex, straightening their posture as they turned to face Silver fully.
Silver paused for a moment, clearly not expecting the question. A light pink flushed his muzzle as he scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"Uhhh... no... I've, uh... never been in a relationship before."
(Y/n) tilted their head, pleasantly surprised by the response.
“Wait, seriously? But you seem so sweet,” they said, (e/c) eyes scanning his form before another question crossed their mind. “How… old are you exactly?”
Silver felt his blush darken as (Y/n) complimented him. He was honestly not used to praise; he was normally told that he was annoying and naïve. To be called sweet was definitely a new experience. He paused when he was asked how old he was, and fidgeted with his gloves once more as he answered, "I'm... 18..."
He shifted his gaze away, feeling almost ashamed of how young he probably seemed to the older (a/t).
(Y/n) nodded, giving him a small smile.
"18, huh? Just a year younger than me, then," they said before their smile turned sly and they leaned closer to Silver. "Newly fresh adult, huh? Welcome to the party, it sucks here~"
Silver couldn't help but chuckle at their words. He rolled his eyes playfully and nudged the (f/c) (a/t)'s shoulder as his cheeks flushed a soft pink.
"Adults, huh? Funny, I would've guessed you to be at least 12 or something," he said, gesturing to the (a/t)'s height - they barely came up to his chin in comparison. They gasped dramatically, placing a hand on their chest in mock offence.
“How very dare you! Just because I’m short doesn’t mean I’m a kid,” they said. “Maybe you’re just freakishly tall,” they added, poking Silver in the chest.
Silver couldn't help but laugh at the (a/t)'s antics, finding (Y/n)'s feigned offense endearing. The (a/t)'s short stature was rather adorable, and the realisation that they barely reached the ivory hedgehog's chin only added to the cuteness.
"Hey, I'm not freakishly tall! You're just incredibly short!"
He teased, poking (Y/n) in the forehead playfully in return. They huffed, puffing their cheeks out in a childish manner.
"Rude!"
"But true," Silver countered, laughing softly at the (a/t)'s puffed-out cheeks, resisting the urge to pinch them. He found their attempt at looking stern rather adorable. He shook his head with a smirk, poking their cheek with his index finger. (Y/n)’s mouth fell open in protest and they lightly slapped Silver’s hand away - clearly not intending to actually harm the other but enough to let their displeasure at the comment be known.
“Shut up…” they said through a slight grumble, ears folding back as they pointedly avoided Silver’s gaze.
"Aww, don't worry, Shorty, being small has its perks~ It makes you even cuter for one~" Silver said with a teasing grin, reaching out to poke their cheek again.
They grumbled again, waving a dismissive hand towards Silver but not making any attempt to move away from the teasing. Unfortunately, the ivory hedgehog took that as an open invitation to go further, reaching both hands out and gently grabbing (Y/n)'s cheeks.
"You're absolutely adorable when you're grumpy, you know that~?" he said with a smirk, lightly squishing the (a/t)'s cheeks.
“Tch- you’re weird,” (Y/n) tsked but finally allowed a smile to cross their face as they looked at Silver. Silver chuckled softly, his smirk turning into a soft, fond smile. He continued lightly squishing their cheeks, enjoying the sight of the flustered (a/t).
"Hey, I'm not weird, I'm just honest~" he said in a mock-innocent tone, still not letting go of their face. The (a/t)'s cheeks were just too soft and fluffy to resist playing with.
(Y/n) huffed through their nose, playfully rolling their eyes and crossing their arms.
“You’re enjoying this way too much,” they said, lifting a brow as their eyes scanned Silver’s face. Silver couldn't help but laugh at their retort. The (a/t) was right, he was indeed enjoying this way too much. The feeling of their soft cheeks squished between his palms, their grumpy expression, the way their ears folded back... All of it was adorable to him-
He shook his head, clearing away his thoughts, before responding, "Maybe I am~ But you secretly enjoy it~" he said with a smirk, still lightly squeezing (Y/n)'s cheeks.
They gave a knowing hum in response, chuckling under their breath. Silver couldn’t tell if the pink flush on their cheeks were from him pinching them or the (a/t) blushing.
“You know, you’re being awfully touchy for someone you met five minutes ago,” (Y/n) said with a huff, though their tone carried no real malice to it.
Silver paused at the mention of the time frame, realising that they were indeed correct. He had only met this little (a/t) five minutes ago, and yet he was already playing with their cheeks and making comments about how cute they were. He thought about this for a moment before shrugging nonchalantly, his smirk returning.
"What can I say? I've always been a bit of a touchy-feely person~ And you, my friend, are just so squishable."
He punctuated his statement by resuming squishing (Y/n)'s cheeks.
They snorted, lightly batting Silver’s hands away.
“Yeah, yeah,” they said, rolling their eyes playfully.
Silver chuckled as they swatted his hands away, finding the (a/t)'s reactions to be extremely amusing.
"Hey, I can't help it! You're just too cute~"
He said with a teasing grin, reaching out to boop (Y/n)'s nose with his finger. Their nose twitched at the simple touch and they sniffed to get rid of the ticklish feeling, rubbing it with a huff.
“Don’t do that!”
Silver snickered at their reaction to the nose boop, finding the (a/t)'s little huff and twitch absolutely adorable. He had to actively stop himself from reaching out and booping their nose again. He then paused, a thought occurring to him.
"Um, this is gonna sound a bit silly, I think. But bear with me, okay?"
(Y/n) tilted their head at the sudden change in tone.
"Uh... sure? What's up?"
Silver was internally grateful for their acceptance, their kind smile and unwavering attention helping to soothe his nerves. He took another deep breath before finally asking the question that had been on his mind for a while now, "Hypothetically... how... open are you to physical affection, exactly?" he asked, taking another pause. He looked down at the ground for a few moments before lifting his gaze back up to meet (Y/n)'s eyes. The (a/t) blinked, caught off guard by the question. They shook their head to clear their thoughts, chuckling softly as they returned Silver’s gaze.
“Well, if it’s with someone I trust, I’m all for it,” they answered with a shrug.
Silver's heart skipped a beat as (Y/n) answered his question. The (a/t)'s response was exactly what he was secretly hoping for; being isolated for so many years and having to grow up on is own had left the hedgehog more than a little touch-starved. A small wave of relief washed over him. He couldn't help a little smirk from appearing on his face when he spoke next.
"And... just hypothetically speaking..." He shifted to be sitting a bit closer to them, their knees now pressed together. "How would you react if I suddenly, hypothetically, asked you to let me hug you?"
(Y/n) matched Silver’s smirk with one of their own, leaning closer to the time traveller with a playful hum.
“Well… hypothetically, I suppose I wouldn’t mind,” they said, playing along with a soft chuckle.
Silver chuckled softly, the small, almost fluttery feeling in his chest growing stronger at the fact that they were playing along with his silly scenario. He scooted even closer to the (f/c) (a/t), their thighs now touching. (Y/n) smiled, a soft chuckle leaving them at the unspoken request.
“You’re such a dork,” they said, their tone fond as they moved forward to wrap their arms around Silver’s shoulders, closing the distance between them and letting their head rest against the fluff of Silver’s chest.
Silver let out a small laugh as (Y/n) called him a dork, though his focus quickly shifted to the (a/t) moving in close and wrapping their arms around his shoulders. He felt the warmth of their body pressing against him, and for a moment he was at loss for words...
He snapped back to reality when he realised that they were now hugging. His heart skipped a beat at the feeling of the (f/c) (a/t) leaning against him, resting their head on Silver's chest fluff. His hands hovered uncertainly over (Y/n)'s back before finally settling down on it, lightly running through the soft fur there. (Y/n) hummed in approval as they felt Silver return the hug, experimentally nuzzling their cheek into Silver’s chest fluff, slightly in awe at how soft it was. It felt like hugging a cloud.
“It’s… so soft,” they confessed quietly, moving one hand down to stroke their fingers through Silver’s fluff. The rest of the ivory hedgehog’s fur was slightly matted and clearly ungroomed but the fluff of his chest was surprisingly well kept.
Silver let out a soft, pleased hum as he felt them nuzzle into his chest fluff. He couldn't help but smile as the (f/c) (a/t) mumbled about how soft it was. It felt... nice to be complimented like that. He gently ran his fingers through their fur, relishing in the feeling of how fluffy it was under his touch.
"And you... your fur is so... fluffy and soft too..." His words came out almost breathy and quiet. (Y/n) chuckled under their breath, shaking their head in silent amusement.
“You’re so weird,” they said, gently pulling themselves out of the hug and collecting their art supplies, standing up. “I’m going inside, are you sticking around?” they asked, tilting their head. Silver's heart skipped a beat as (Y/n) pulled away from the hug, a small pang of disappointment hitting him. He didn't want the moment to end so soon, but he knew that it was getting late.
"Oh, uh... yeah. I'm going to stick around for now," he said with a nod.
(Y/n) nodded, turning and opening the door, gesturing for Silver to enter.
“So… you said you were from the future, right? What’s it like there?” they asked as they walked in after the ivory hedgehog, closing and locking the door behind them. Silver accepted the invitation into the house, taking in the sights of his surroundings. They were standing in the kitchen of the house, marbled counters lining the wall and a table set up in the middle of the room, various art supplies scattered about the surface. He took a moment to consider (Y/n)'s question before answering, "It's... different from this time, for sure. A lot has changed." He paused for a moment, trying to find words to describe it. "Everything is more advanced. Technology has progressed so much further than it is now..."
(Y/n) offered Silver a seat at the table, pulling out a chair for the time traveller in a silent invitation.
“Are you… able to tell me a little about it? I can’t deny I’m curious…”
Silver took the seat that had been offered to him, leaning against the table as he thought about how much he could say without giving away too much information. He looked up at the (f/c) (a/t) and smiled softly.
"Sure... I can tell you some things. What exactly would you like to know?"
(Y/n) took the seat across from Silver, opening a new sketchpad and grabbing their pencil. They pondered the question, tapping the end of the pencil to their lips as they thought.
“Hmm, what are the surroundings like? Are there still cities and stuff?”
Silver smiled at their curiosity, finding their thinking expression adorable.
"Yeah, there are still cities. They're just... different from the ones here in 2025. More advanced and high-tech." He paused for a moment before adding, "And they're much bigger too."
They started to sketch the landscape of a large city, glancing back up at Silver and lifting a brow curiously.
“Advanced? How so?”
Silver leaned forward, resting his chin on one hand as he watched them draw.
"Well, there are these floating structures everywhere... Like these huge towers that seem to defy gravity. And everything's powered by clean energy sources." He gestured vaguely with his hands as he spoke.
(Y/n) looked up from their drawing, turning their attention back to Silver for a brief moment.
“Wow. That sounds… weirdly beautiful,” they said before adding what Silver had described to their sketch. Silver nodded in agreement, watching them work on the drawing.
"It is... It's both beautiful and a bit overwhelming at the same time. I think that's why I prefer to stay out of the cities," he said with a small sigh.
(Y/n) nodded, giving Silver an understanding smile.
“I get that… I can get a little… antsy in crowds,” they confessed, scratching their cheek. “I can’t even imagine how much busier it is in the future.”
Silver nodded sympathetically.
"Yeah... crowds and cities can get pretty overwhelming. I prefer the quiet areas of nature myself," he said with a small smile.
(Y/n) chuckled softly under their breath, nodding again.
“Feel you there, pal. Hey, maybe I can show you some of my favourite spots around here some time,” they offered with a playful wink. Silver's heart skipped a beat at the offer, his cheeks warming slightly.
"I'd like that... I think I'll take you up on that offer."
They smiled, propping their head up on their hand.
“Sure thing… marshmallow,” they said the nickname with a slight purr, smirking slyly.
Silver's face flushed as he heard the nickname; he wasn't sure whether to find it endearing or ridiculous, but either way, it certainly left him flustered.
"M-Marshmallow?" he sputtered in response.
(Y/n) simply grinned in response, nodding.
"Yup! You're soft and sweet. Just like a marshmallow~"
Silver's cheeks flushed an even deeper shade of red at their explanation. He tried to find words to respond but he was still a bit stunned.
"I... uh..." He fidgeted awkwardly, running his hand through the quills on his head.
(Y/n) couldn’t help but coo slightly at the ivory hedgehog’s reaction, finding it adorable. They chuckled before tilting their head as a thought crossed their mind.
“Hey, can I ask you a… kinda random question?”
Silver looked down at them curiously, still slightly flustered by the nickname.
"Uh... yeah. Sure thing, shortcake," he responded with a smirk of his own.
(Y/n)’s smile grew at the nickname Silver gave them, a purr leaving them subconsciously - so soft that Silver almost didn’t catch it. They tapped their pencil against their sketchpad, watching Silver with a curious gaze.
“How exactly do you time travel? Can others do it too?”
"Uh, time traveling... well..." Silver tried to regain his composure before answering their question. "I can time travel through portals that I create using my psychokinesis powers," he said while raising his hand and showing off a small glowing ball of energy.
(Y/n)’s eyes widened at the answer and they leaned forward in their seat slightly as their (e/c) eyes sparkled excitedly.
“Seriously? That’s… amazing! You mean you can like, move stuff with your mind?!”
Silver nodded, feeling a bit proud at the awe in their eyes. It was always nice to impress someone.
"Yeah... that's pretty much it," he said with a small smile.
(Y/n)’s mouth fell open in awe, taking a moment to compose themselves before they spoke again.
“That’s insanely cool. You’re like… a superhero,” they said with wide smile.
Silver chuckled at the comparison, feeling a bit flattered.
"I don't know about that... I just have powers that are pretty useful in certain situations," he said with a slight shrug.
(Y/n) threw their arms into the air dramatically, giving Silver an indignant look.
“You can’t be serious?!” They shook their head in disbelief. “I can’t tell if you’re just incredibly humble or if you’re messing with me.”
Silver laughed softly at their reaction, his cheeks warming up at the (a/t)'s disbelief.
"I'm being serious! I'm not that great, really..." he said with a shrug and a small smile.
“Pfft- whatever you say, wonder boy,” (Y/n) responded with a shrug of their own, still seeming slightly bewildered as they stood up from their seat and started to pack away their art supplies.
"Are you done for the night already?" Silver asked, feeling slightly disheartened at the thought of their conversation coming to an end.
They looked back at Silver from over their shoulder from their position crouched in front of a cupboard. They lifted a brow, smiling softly.
“Nah, just putting stuff away. My roommate will be back from work soon and I need to make dinner,” they explained.
Silver nodded in understanding, a small pang of disappointment filling him as he realised that meant they were likely going to be occupied for the rest of the night.
"Oh... I see," he said softly.
(Y/n) slowly stood up, keeping their gaze on Silver the whole time.
“Would you… like to stay for dinner? I’m making tacos,” they offered.
Silver's eyes widened slightly at the offer, a mix of surprise and gratitude washing over him. He had not expected to be invited to dinner.
"Are... you sure? I wouldn't want to impose or anything..." he said hesitantly.
(Y/n) couldn’t help but chuckle at the time traveller’s response, nodding in confirmation.
“Of course! I’d be happy for you to stay,” they said as they went over to the fridge, opening it and scanning the contents. “My roommate, Mighty, is a really chill guy. I’m sure he won’t mind either.”
Silver's heart fluttered a little at their assurance. The thought of spending more time with the (a/t) was an appealing one, and he couldn't help but feel a bit excited.
"Alright... I guess I'll stay then," he said with a small smile.
(Y/n) smiled, nodding in response as they took out the ingredients they needed and set them out on the counter.
“Great! How do you want your tacos, Silv? You a spicy or mild kinda guy?” they asked as they started washing the vegetables.
Silver watched as they worked, feeling oddly at ease with the situation. He found himself enjoying the sight of the (a/t)'s focused expression and nimble fingers working through the food.
"Hmm… Spicy sounds good. I can handle a bit of heat," he responded with a chuckle.
(Y/n) gave him a wide smile, nodding in approval.
“Finally! A man of taste!” they said playfully, winking at Silver. “Mighty can’t handle anything above a katsu curry.”
Silver couldn't help but laugh at their remark. The (a/t)'s playful personality was definitely growing on him.
He smirked a little bit, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he responded, "Well, I'm glad I meet your standards," he said teasingly.
(Y/n) snorted at his response, shaking their head in amusement as they got out a chopping board and started to cut the vegetables.
“What can I say? I’m easy to please,” they said with a chuckle.
Silver leaned against the table, watching as (Y/n) worked on preparing the food. His eyes couldn't help but wander over to the (f/c) (a/t)'s face, taking in their features and finding himself drawn to them.
"You seem pretty good at cooking," he commented idly. They glanced over, smiling slightly at the comment.
"Not really. It's just something I enjoy doing," they said with a shrug. Silver nodded, silently admiring their culinary skills. He found himself captivated by the (a/t)'s presence and the effortless way they moved around the kitchen.
"So... what else do you enjoy doing? Besides art and cooking, of course," he asked curiously.
(Y/n) paused at the question, slightly flattered that the time traveller wanted to learn more about them.
“Well… I like gardening. Just being out in nature, really,” they said with a small smile. “What about you?” they asked.
Silver smiled at their answer. He could picture the (f/c) (a/t) surrounded by flowers and greenery, tending to a beautiful garden.
"Gardening... that sounds nice," he responded before pausing as his question got thrown back at him. He took a moment to think about it. "I... like music, I guess. And exploring new places..." he said with a small shrug.
(Y/n) hummed in response, moving the cutting board with the finished vegetables aside before taking out another and beginning to prepare the meat.
“That sounds nice. Peaceful.”
Silver nodded in agreement, a small smile on his face. He watched as they continued to prepare the food, silently enjoying the (a/t)'s company.
"Yeah... it is," he said softly before pausing. "Hey... do you think I could ask you one more question?" he asked hesitantly.
(Y/n) glanced over at him, nodding.
"Go ahead, Silv."
Silver took a deep breath, his nerves slightly on edge as he prepared to ask the question.
He looked at (Y/n) for a moment before finally speaking, "Can I... Can I help you with cooking?" he asked, feeling a little silly for asking. They lifted a brow, looking over at Silver with a small smile.
“Is that all?” they asked with a chuckle. “Sure, Silv, I’d appreciate the help,” they said, inviting Silver to their side with a wave of their hand. Silver let out a breath he didn't even realise he was holding, feeling a wave of relief wash over him as (Y/n) accepted his offer. He quickly stood up and moved over to stand next to the (a/t) in the kitchen.
"So... what do I need to do?" he asked, tilting his head curiously.
“Could you get a pan out to cook the meat? I’ll work on the seasoning. Pan’s are in the right cupboard,” they instructed, pointing to the aforementioned cupboard. “Remember to add a little oil to the pan before adding the meat and cook until it’s browned.”
Silver nodded, quickly moving over to the cupboard that they had pointed out. He opened it and took out a pan, placing it on the stove.
"Got it. I'll take care of that," he said with a small smile before grabbing the oil and adding some to the pan. (Y/n) smiled at the ivory hedgehog’s eagerness, chuckling softly.
“Thanks Silv,” they said, turning to the spices to begin making the seasoning for the meat.
Silver nodded, returning the smile before he turned his attention to the task at hand. He grabbed the meat and placed it in the pan, spreading it out evenly across the surface. He focused on cooking as instructed, occasionally stealing glances over at (Y/n) as they prepared the seasoning. After about 6 minutes, (Y/n) looked over to check on the meat, nodding approvingly.
“Looking good, Silv, great job!” they praised, instructing the ivory hedgehog to step to the side as they took the pan off the heat, adding the meat into the bowl with the seasoning and mixing it together. Silver beamed with pride at the compliment, feeling a sense of accomplishment as he watched (Y/n) take over and finish preparing the meal. He couldn't help but steal another glance at the (f/c) (a/t) as they worked, taking in their focused expression and dexterous movements.
A few minutes passed in silence as (Y/n) finished up the preparations before the sound of the front door clicking open had them perking up with a small smile.
“That’ll be Mighty,” they told Silver. He couldn't help but feel a pang of... something as he realised that (Y/n)'s roommate had arrived.
"Oh..." he said softly, his mind slightly preoccupied with the thought of someone else being around.
If (Y/n) noticed Silver’s change in demeanour they didn’t comment on it as they turned towards the front room.
“(Y/n)? You here?” A deep voice called out.
“Kitchen, Mighty,” they called out to the other and the sound of footsteps coming towards the room could be heard. An armadillo Mobian entered the kitchen, greeting on his tongue before he spotted Silver, going still as a look of surprise crossed his face.
“Uh… I wasn’t aware we had company tonight?”
Silver straightened up as the armadillo entered the kitchen, his attention shifting towards him. He felt a mix of nervousness and... something else he couldn't quite pinpoint. He quickly nodded in response to Mighty's comment.
"Uh... yeah, (Y/n) invited me over for dinner," he said with what he hoped was a convincing smile.
Mighty nodded in response, giving Silver a polite smile.
“Nice to meet you, dude. Glad to see you’re making more friends, (n/n),” Mighty said, lightly bumping his shoulder against (Y/n)’s in a playful manner. They simply hummed in response, ears/tail flicking contently at the approval. Silver found himself relaxing a bit as Mighty greeted him. The armadillo's friendly demeanour helped ease some of his initial nervousness.
"Nice to meet you too, Mighty."
Mighty smiled at Silver, moving to lift himself up onto the counter to sit.
“So, tell me a bit about yourself - you must be pretty cool if (Y/n) likes ya.”
“Mighty, get off the counter!” (Y/n) protested, huffing at the armadillo’s actions.
Silver chuckled at the sight of Mighty's casualness, finding it rather amusing. He also couldn't help but find (Y/n)'s protests about it endearing.
He looked over at Mighty before responding, "Uh... not really anything interesting to say about me," he said with a small shrug.
(Y/n) glanced over their shoulder at Silver, lifting a brow in confusion before noticing the other’s hesitant expression, realising that he didn’t want to reveal himself as a time traveller to Mighty for whatever reason. They smiled softly, understanding the conflict and feeling slightly flattered that Silver had been so willingly open with them.
“We met at the café, you know, the one down the street?” they lied, creating a cover story for their and Silver’s meeting.
“Oooooh, yeah. Beanie’s, right?” Mighty said, making them nod in response.
Silver let out a small sigh of relief, feeling internally grateful that (Y/n) had come up with such a plausible cover story on the spot. He shot the (a/t) an appreciative look before nodding along to Mighty's question.
"Yep, Beanie's. That's where we met," he said with a small smile.
Mighty nodded.
“Haven’t been there myself, not really a coffee guy. But I know (n/n) goes crazy for it,” he said, smirking at the (f/c) (a/t).
(Y/n) chuckled, rolling their eyes.
“Frappes hardly count as coffee, Mighty.”
Silver chuckled softly at the exchange between Mighty and (Y/n). It was clear that the two had a close friendship, something that he found himself slightly envious of.
"Well, I'm not a huge coffee person either... but I think Beanie's has some pretty good pastries," he added in an attempt to keep the conversation flowing.
(Y/n) hummed in agreement, nodding.
“It’s a nice place. Makes me feel… safe,” they confessed. Mighty’s expression softened in understanding, placing a hand on their shoulder.
Silver watched the exchange between them, noticing the way that the armadillo's expression softened at (Y/n)'s words. There was clearly a deep level of understanding and affection between them, something that Silver found himself slightly envious of. He couldn't help but feel a pang of loneliness in his chest, realising how isolated he felt in comparison to these two.
(Y/n) soon finished preparing the dinner, beginning to plate up the food and requesting Mighty set the table. The armadillo groaned at being given the chore, hopping off the counter.
“Fiiiine, you’re so bossy,” he said playfully, chuckling as (Y/n) smacked his shoulder in retaliation.
Silver couldn't help but chuckle at the playful banter between the pair, their easy friendship bringing a small smile to his face. It was clear that they were very comfortable around each other. He watched as Mighty set the table, feeling a bit out of place amidst the familiar routine. Mighty went back over to (Y/n) once he'd finished, accepting the plate that was handed to him and going to sit down as (Y/n) turned to Silver with his plate.
“Here, Silv. This one’s yours,” they said with a smile.
Silver took the plate from them with a small smile, feeling a sense of... something as their hands briefly touched.
"Thank you..." he said softly before moving to join Mighty at the table.
(Y/n) sat across from Silver again, Mighty taking up the seat beside them. (Y/n) reached out, snagging the bottle of hot sauce from the middle of the table and adding it to their taco.
“How are you adding more spice? You’re freaking crazy, dude,” Mighty said, scrunching his nose in distaste at his friend’s culinary choices.
Silver couldn't help but laugh at Mighty's reaction, finding the armadillo's distaste for spice amusing. He watched as (Y/n) added more hot sauce to their taco, a small smirk on his face.
"You really like your food spicy, huh?" he said teasingly.
(Y/n) simply grinned at their responses.
“Don’t blame me cuz you two can’t handle a lil kick!” they said, winking at Silver before taking a bite, humming happily at the taste.
Silver chuckled at their words, watching as the (a/t) happily ate their spicy taco.
"I guess I'll have to admit defeat... you definitely can handle your spice," he said with a small smile before taking a bite of his own food.
“Or they're just a masochist,” Mighty said with a grin, chuckling as (Y/n) shot him a sharp look in response.
“Shut up and eat,” they said with a huff, grumpily taking another bite of their spicy taco.
Mighty chuckled, leaning against their shoulder as he finally took a bite out of his own taco.
“Don’t be fooled by their pout, that’s just their way of saying I love you,” Mighty said to Silver, nuzzling the side of (Y/n)’s head with his nose. They sighed, rolling their eyes.
“Mighty, stop.”
Silver watched the affectionate exchange between the two with a... mixture of emotions. He couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy as he saw how easily Mighty could just lean against (Y/n) and show them affection. A harsh reminder that he'd only known the (a/t) for a day and was likely considered an outcast to the pair...
He tried to push those thoughts aside, focusing on his food instead.
Mighty stayed leaning against (Y/n) as he ate, only moving back once he had finished and stretching his arms above his head.
“Thanks for cooking (Y/n), it was as good as always,” the armadillo praised, making (Y/n) smile.
Silver finished up his own food, feeling a sense of... contentment as he looked over at (Y/n) and Mighty. He couldn't deny that the evening had been enjoyable, even if he felt like an outsider.
"Yeah, it was really good," he added with a smile of his own.
“It was nothing special… But I’m glad you both liked it,” (Y/n) said, ear/tail flicking contently as they stood and collected the empty plates, putting them in the sink to be washed later.
“Thanks for joining us, Silv. It was… nice,” they said, giving Silver a small smile. Silver felt a small flutter in his chest as they called him by the nickname they had given him earlier. He returned the smile, feeling a mix of warmth and... something else he couldn't quite put into words.
"No, thank you for inviting me. I had a really good time," he said sincerely.
(Y/n) nodded, chuckling softly.
“Of course. Wouldn’t have offered if I wasn’t happy with you being here, you dork!” they said.
“It’s true y’know. (Y/n) is a biter to people they don’t like,” Mighty said, making the (f/c) (a/t) blush in embarrassment.
“M-Mighty! Don’t tell him that!”
Silver laughed at their reaction, finding the (a/t)'s embarrassed expression endearing. He couldn't help but feel a small flutter in his chest as he realised that meant (Y/n) was... genuinely happy to have him here.
He looked over at Mighty, smirking slightly.
"Well then... I guess that means I'm one of the lucky ones," he said teasingly.
“I guess so,” (Y/n) chuckled sheepishly, scratching their cheek.
“And on that note, I’m going to bed,” Mighty said, standing from his chair.
“Already?” (Y/n) said with a small frown. “But it’s so early.”
“Sorry, (n/n). But it was a long day and I’m shattered, I’ll see you in the morning,” Mighty said.
Silver watched as Mighty got up, a small pang of disappointment filling him. He had enjoyed the armadillo's company, even if he was slightly envious of his friendship with (Y/n). He turned back to them, "Well... it's getting pretty late anyway," he said softly.
“Alright, g’night Mighty,” (Y/n) said, waving the armadillo off.
“Night, (Y/n). It was nice meeting you, Silver,” Mighty said his goodbyes before leaving the room, heading upstairs. Silver nodded and returned Mighty's goodbye, watching as the armadillo left the room. He turned his attention back to (Y/n), feeling a bit nervous now that they were alone together. They turned to return Silver’s gaze, giving him a small smile.
“Thanks for being nice to him… I know he can be… a lot.”
Silver returned (Y/n)'s smile, feeling a bit of relief at the (a/t)'s words.
"Oh, no problem. He was... nice," he said softly before pausing for a moment. "I have to admit though... I felt kind of like an outsider while you two were together," he confessed with a small sigh.
(Y/n) shrugged, chuckling softly.
“He is. Even if he can be a pain in my ass,” they said. They fiddled with their gloves, biting their lip as they fell into thought. “You… probably have to go now, huh? Will… I ever be able to see you again?” they asked, looking up at Silver hopefully. Silver felt his heart skip a beat as he heard their question, the hopeful tone in the (a/t)'s voice making him feel... something. He hesitated for a moment before responding, "I... I can come back if you want," he said softly. (Y/n)’s eyes seemed to light up at the response and they hesitated a moment before stepping forward and wrapping their arms around Silver, burying their face once more into the fluff of the ivory hedgehog’s chest.
“I’d… like that. I’m really happy I met you, Silver.”
Silver's breath hitched in surprise as (Y/n) suddenly hugged him, feeling a rush of warmth spread through his body at the contact. He instinctively wrapped his arms around the (a/t), returning the embrace.
"I'm happy I met you too..." he murmured softly, resting his head on top of (Y/n)'s.
They nuzzled into him with a slight purr before pulling back, a light pink flushing their muzzle.
“I’ll see you soon, wonder boy. Don’t be a stranger, okay?”
Silver's heart fluttered as they pulled away from the hug, a small pang of disappointment hitting him. He nodded in response to the (a/t)'s words.
"Yeah... I'll be back soon," he said softly before taking a step back. "Goodnight, shortcake," he said with a small smile before turning to leave.
(Y/n) smiled at the nickname, walking with Silver out the front door and waving him off.
“Goodbye Silv. Be safe.”
Silver gave them one last wave as he left, feeling a mix of emotions swirling inside him. He couldn't help but feel a sense of... longing as he walked away from the (a/t).
"Goodbye..." he murmured softly before disappearing into the night.