Chapter Text
Three years ago, a 14 year old, white hedgehog glanced over his world. Family dead. Friends dead. Most of the countries absolutely devastated and destroyed. What few people were left, wouldn't last long. He quit hovering all at once, falling to his hands and knees and wailing in absolute sorrow and grief and shame.
He pounded his fists against the ground again and again as his tears flowed.
He couldn't save them. He had sworn justice for his people. His city. His world. And it was gone. All of it. All that remained were bloody corpses, smoke and stone. Chunks of concrete, metal and debris were everywhere as dust continued to settle.
As he mourned the loss of his entire world and his failure to protect it, a dark, mysterious figure stood close by, watching him. He may act like a hardass, but Shadow had a heart. He had feelings. And right now, his heart was breaking for this boy. They had known each other for nearly a year as they fought in this war together. Taking each battle as it was handed to them, and coming out on top. Winning battles didn't always win wars, however.
And this was too much. Nobody should ever have to have to watch their world die like this. He knew from personal experience, that watching what you hold most dear, die before your eyes, was the most devastating and soul crushing experience that one would ever have to endure.
He finally stepped up to the younger boy, and pulled him to his feet, holding him and patting his back soothingly as the boy's cries became softer. Silver finally pulled away and sniffled, wiping his eyes dry with the heels of his hands. He glanced at Shadow and tried to smile. He knew what was on his friend's mind, but he didn't want to reopen an old wound.
"Thanks Shadow, I'm sorry I acted like such a child."
The black hedgehog reached up then and cupped the soft, white cheek, smiling at the younger boy.
"You are a child."
Silver tried to laugh, but he only cried again. He looked around through itchy, watery eyes and sniffled again.
"Now what? I failed in my one goal."
Shadow grunted as he kicked a bit of rubble, and he crossed his arms as he looked around.
"Come with me. Back to my time. Find a new goal. Stop all of this before it starts."
Silver felt a spark of hope as his ears perked up and his tail wagged excitedly. He threw his arms around Shadow and spoke quickly as he grinned.
"Oh, Shadow, that's a wonderful idea! Thank you! Normally, I would never consider changing a time line, but, if it can possibly save my friends!"
He pulled away quickly and blushed, pulling his legs up to his chest as he began to hover, and he shrugged.
"Sorry. It's just that, you gave me so much hope, immediately after the worst despair imaginable."
He suddenly thought of Maria and he landed on his feet. He wasn't sure why Shadow didn't want to go back and stop Schmidtz before he pulled the trigger, but he refused to fight with him.
Shadow smiled gently, knowing what was on the boy's mind. He knew exactly how to calm him, but it wasn't time. He displayed his chaos emerald, and Silver pulled his out as well.
Once the portal was open, Silver excitedly grabbed Shadow's hand, and they jumped through together.
As the portal closed behind them, they put their emeralds away and looked around. Shadow grunted.
"I believe we're on Angel Island, somewhere North of Hydrocity, and I'd say a bit west of Marble Garden."
From behind them, they could hear a voice, feminine with a deep, southern drawl.
"Where'd y'all come from?!"
Silver smiled when he saw her, despite the laser she had aimed at them.
"Hello, Bunnie, sorry to surprise you. We had to come back."
She sent the smile back as she stepped up to them.
"Y'all had me goin! Di'nt recognize ya from behind. So, why'd ya hafta come back t'the past, hon?"
Silver looked like he may cry again, so Shadow spoke up.
"The war was just too much for only two of us. So we came back to stop it before it starts."
Silver's eyes seemed to spark with white hot lightning then, and he clenched his fists.
"By any means necessary."
The tiny flame that had sparked within Shadow a few months ago, began to burn brighter and he knew what needed to be done.
They followed Bunnie down to the main land, back to where she was staying with Blaze, and Silver hugged his sister, happy to see her again.
"Have you been here the whole time?"
She shrugged helplessly as she pat the seat cushion beside her.
"Last I knew, you had come back to this time, so I came looking for you. I suppose I missed the memo that you had gone back home."
They chatted for a while, and Silver excused himself to take a shower, since he hadn't had one in a few days. His and Blaze's house had two bathrooms. One with a toilet and sink, and one with a bathtub and a shower.
The shower was just an attachment on the wall with a large shower head on the ceiling to drench them like rain, and a drain in the floor. He didn't bother closing the door, as he had no shame in the shower. And why should he? Never wore clothes anyway, so what difference did being wet and soapy make?
Blaze passed by on her way to the other bathroom, when she noticed the way he was dancing in the water and singing, his sweet voice echoing through the room. She had never seen him act like this before. And he had just lost his future. What then, could have him behave so bizarrely? Had the war caused him to go loopy?
Once back out in the living room, she explained what she had seen and expressed her concerns. Bunnie laughed as she poured them all a cup of tea.
"Are ya seriously confused, sugar? He's in love, o'course! I wonder who the lucky gal is."
As she handed Shadow's teacup towards him, he thanked her and excused himself to Silver's room at the end of the hall.
"I'm not feeling well after fighting so hard, then time traveling immediately after. I think I need to lay down."
His hands began to shake as he hurried down the hall, and by the time he reached the room, the cup was rattling on the saucer, splashing a bit over the sides.
He set it on the vanity and closed the door, before leaning on the dresser, his heart hammering at a thousand beats a minute. Silver was in love with him? So it was true? He had his suspicions, but he was never absolutely certain. And it HAD to be him, because they hadn't seen anyone else worthwhile in months.
His mind began to race faster than his heart. He hadn't ever been through this before, and he wasn't sure how to process it. He didn't realize that he had begun pacing until he noticed his reflection. His muzzle was turning red. He had to calm down. But how? He had never been in love before. Well, not romantically anyway.
He soon became exhausted, stressing about what to say and how to act, and he laid on the bed, falling asleep quickly. Silver opened the door and entered a few minutes later, and he froze for a moment, shocked to see someone in his bed. He immediately smiled and quietly tiptoed up to the bed and whispered.
"Please forgive me, but I may never get another chance."
He then leaned over Shadow and kissed his cheek, as lightly as a feather. He then grabbed a pair of clean socks and hurried from the room, closing the door again.
That evening, after dinner, they stopped by Knuckles's house in Sandopolis, at Angel Island's southern peak. Inside of the shack, Knuckles was reading a book and eating some grapes. He glanced up and furrowed his brow.
"How can I help?"
Shadow had to appreciate the echidna's perceptiveness. One look at their future friend, and he knew something was wrong. Bunnie grinned.
"Would it be alright if they stayed on the island? They need somewhere to stay, an' they say they need to find somethin here."
Knuckles glanced the two guys over and sighed.
"If you'll help me guard the master emerald, I'll allow you to live on my island for as long as you're here."
Shadow grunted as he crossed his arms.
"I'll help when I can. I have missions of my own."
Silver giggled and raised his hand enthusiastically.
"I'll help! I'll probably mostly be here with all of my new friends!"
Knuckles nodded, satisfied by their answers, and he set the book down as Bunnie left to go home, knowing they were safe here. Knuckles spoke up.
"Silver can stay with me for now until we find him a more permanent place. I know you prefer to be alone."
Shadow nodded as he glanced at Silver. He calmed his nerves as he uncrossed his arms and took a few steps closer to the other hedgehog.
"Silver can stay with me, I need to protect him. Besides..."
He bridged the gap between them then and gently cupped the boys chin in his fingers , pulling his face close enough for their noses to almost touch.
"We're in love, and we should have some quality time."
He kissed the younger hedgehog then, placing his hand on the slim back to pull him closer. Silver stood shell shocked for a moment before he grasped at Shadow's arms and held him tight.
As their lips parted, Silver couldn't seem to look away from the beautiful, red eyes. He felt himself blush as he pulled his hands close.
"How did you kow?"
Shadow couldn't help but smile as he backed up a step, playfully clipping Silver's chin with his fist.
"How could I not? You've never exactly tried to hide it."
Silver squealed softly as he did a somersault in the air, completely clueless to his shower giveaway.
"I didn't know you felt the same way, or I would have just come out with it!"
Shadow grinned and headed towards the door, his new boyfriend close behind him.
"I wanted to make sure you wouldn't hurt me... emotionally. I now know that you can take care of yourself, and that you would never do anything to hurt me."
Silver wanted so badly to cry with joy, but no. He musn't cry. Instead, he followed Shadow outside as the black hedgehog glanced back at the echidna.
"Thank you, Knuckles."
The echidna smiled as he watched them walk away. He couldn't help but wonder if he had a mate out there somewhere, and he leaned against the doorframe. As the pair disappeared from sight, Sonic, Amy, Tails and Sticks approached from the other side. He couldn't wait to see their expressions when he told them about Shadow and Silver.