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In hindsight, Sonic is aware that someone like Knuckles would find this enjoyable. The act of camping is enjoyable for some, but can be mundane, boring, or even downright miserable for others. On the bright side, Sonic thinks, Silver does seem to be somewhat enjoying this, so it’s not a total waste. Even if it were, it’s a rare opportunity to spend time with the hedgehog, busy as he is. That on its own could classify this whole trip as being worth it. The two hedgehogs are situated in a wooded area, a lone tent set up near their campfire. All of their supplies are stored within the tent, give or take a few. Specifically, ingredients to make s’mores lay neatly on the ground next to Sonic’s seat on a stump. Across from him, Silver is similarly seated on a log, gaze locked onto the fire before them. Over the open flame, Sonic is demonstrating the toasting of a marshmallow.
“Really,” Sonic is saying, shaking the marshmallow, “It’s up to you how toasted you want it.”
Silver nods, pure determination as he observes.
“Is that it?” Silver inquires, hand over his chin. “That seems easy.”
With that being said, a single marshmallow begins its ascent from the bag next to Sonic. It’s enshrouded in a teal glow, the telltale sign of Silver’s psychokinesis. It floats steadily over to the fire, before it pauses and remains in place. Trailing after it are two more marshmallows, slowly gliding to join the first over the flame. When Sonic looks back to Silver, he sees that the hand on his chin has moved to command the army of flying marshmallows.
“Simple as that,” he confirms, nodding. He grins, then continues, “Can’t say a lot of people can roast three marshmallows at once, heh.”
The comment makes a small smirk bloom on Silver’s face, before it melts back into concentration. The sheer determination and dedication with which he shows for roasting marshmallows would be funny if it weren’t also such an endearing trait. Once his mind is focused on it, Silver pursues it without faltering, and it’s one of many wonderful qualities Sonic can admire about him. Silence spreads over them comfortably as they wait for their marshmallows to roast, punctuated only by the crackle of the flames before them. Fluffy white darkens into a tender gold, darkens slightly into the beginnings of brown. Satisfied with his marshmallow, Sonic pulls it back from the fire, and begins to go reaching for the graham crackers.
Except, oddly, that they seem further than he remembers. His hand is outstretched for where he swears the box of graham crackers is, but it’s only met with open air.
“Huh,” Sonic murmurs, and his eyes leave the marshmallow in front of him to begin his search.
They’re nowhere in sight, which is strange, given Sonic swears they were just right there. Unbeknownst to him, his marshmallow is beginning to sag off its skewer, precariously hanging on. Humming, Sonic begins to turn to ask Silver about them, before the skin on his chest is suddenly signalling hot. With a wince, he finally returns his gaze to his marshmallow… or, what’s left of it. A section of it, succumbing to gravity, had dropped onto his exposed skin.
“Oooh…” he hums, before Silver is shooting up from his seat. Before he can reassure him, Silver is bolting into the tent to procure what Sonic presumes are napkins.
Rather than only procuring napkins, Silver returns with both the napkins and a first aid kit, rushing with a one-minded focus. When he returns to Sonic’s side, he begins by wiping off the marshmallow. It’s then that he decides to begin his lecture.
“That was careless,” he’s saying to Sonic, “You shouldn’t leave fresh food unattended like that! Or anything hot for that matter.”
To his credit, Sonic is only left blinking at him, bewildered by the sudden shift in mood. When Silver pops open the first aid kit is when he finally tries to put a stop to it.
“Silver–”
“There has to be something in here for burns,” his companion mutters to himself. It’s followed by the sound of agitated rifling through the kit.
Sonic punctuates that with a tentative hand to Silver’s shoulder, which receives him a pointed glare.
“It’s okay,” he tries, smiling all the while.
He shouldn’t be surprised then when Silver’s frown only deepens, the scowl on his features emphasized with it.
“Okay?” parrots Silver. “You just got burnt! That isn’t–”
“No, really.”
Sonic gestures to the area where the marshmallow once was. In its wake, there is a small pink spot that indicates it was even there at all. It’s perhaps a little unpleasant, but Sonic is sure he’s alright. However, he also knows his companion well enough to put two and two together. Burns, fire, a future coated in flame and ash… he may not fully understand, but he does know this reaction is one from experience.
Silver is blankly staring at the pink spot on his chest, almost as though he can’t quite believe it. The burn is minimal, only causing the skin to splotch uncomfortably. Maybe an irregularity to him, all things considered.
“You know…”
His companion’s eyes flick up to his own, still wide-eyed and silent. The forest around them doesn’t even dare to breathe, the rustling of leaves quieting down into barely a whisper. Even the nearby campfire does little to disturb this moment.
“Leaping into action like that, bein’ ready to help out… I appreciate it.”
It seems only slightly flimsy as a reassurance, and Sonic is aware that Silver knows that too. The spell is broken when Silver sighs, his face donning another scowl. Life starts back up around them once it does, and Sonic has to suppress his initial sigh of relief.
“Being able to do that…” Silver says, hand clenching into a fist. “It’s a necessity. Don’t thank me for something so simple.”
Sonic knows it isn’t self-deprecating, and doesn’t bother with treating it as such. He instead pivots the conversation in an ever-slightly different direction.
“Scars and burns…” Sonic trails off with a shrug. “They heal.”
“Burns can spell the end for anyone if they aren’t careful,” Silver retorts.
“I’ll be more careful,” the blue hedgehog promises, tone gentle and warm. “I don’t fully get it, but it means a lot to you.” It means a lot to me too, goes unspoken.
Silver isn’t fully settled, the threat of injury still too fresh. However, it seems that Sonic’s promise and his wholehearted sincerity are enough to soothe his agitation. It’s only then that they both realize Sonic’s hand is still on his shoulder, and the blue hedgehog snatches it back hastily. He clears his throat and turns his head to the side, a half-hearted attempt to obscure the color in his cheeks.
“Listen.”
Silver’s attention is still on him, given that he hasn’t moved away from where Sonic can still see him. He turns back to him, shaking his head, before a gentle smile blossoms on his face.
“Burns, even small ones,” he says, nodding down to his own chest, “they remind me of everything I’ve gotten through. They remind me how great it is to be here.” He continues before Silver can form his own response.
“What’s better than sharing new memories like this?”
It’s immediately met with a soft sigh, and the look on Silver’s expression breaking away from being unsettled. It instead welcomes a look of determination anew, and although the determined set of his mouth isn’t a smile, it’s close enough to one that it makes Sonic’s own grin widen at the sight.
“Nothing,” says Silver earnestly. “We’ll keep sharing new memories for as long as we can.”
It leaves Sonic tinted pink once more, until Silver adds on, “Though, please leave the marshmallow roasting to me.”
(They discover later on that the graham crackers were on Sonic’s other side, and it makes him chuckle despite it all.)