The grass was soft beneath you, cool from the shade of a wide, rustling tree. Just far enough from the Freedom Fighters to feel like outsiders, not far enough to make it seem deliberate.

Silver sat beside you. Not too close. But close enough that he could feel the heat of your presence, and curse his heart for reacting every time you leaned just slightly in his direction.

You were watching the group ahead. Sonic laughed—bright, unbothered, leaning on Tails’ shoulder like the world hadn’t almost ended last week. Blaze stood a little ways off, arms crossed, but a smirk tugging at her lips as she rolled her eyes at the blue blur’s antics.

Silver’s eyes flicked from you, to Sonic. Then back to you.

You were still looking.

He swallowed hard.

“So,” he started, trying to sound casual, but his voice cracked on the so like a cracked vinyl, “you and Sonic... You like him, right?”

Silence. You didn’t even blink, still watching.

Silver’s chest tightened.

“I mean, I totally get it. He’s... cool. Brave. Fast. He’s got that whole hero aura thing going on.” He laughed weakly, fidgeting with a bent blade of grass. “Kinda hard not to like someone like that.”

You turned your gaze toward him for a moment, your expression unreadable.

He smiled back—tight and wrong.

“I think you should go for it,” he said, like it wasn’t killing him. “You deserve someone like that. Someone who—who makes your eyes light up like that.”

He didn’t dare meet your eyes.

From across the field, Blaze caught his gaze. Her head tilted, the faintest hint of a frown tugging at her brow. She knew. She always knew.

He looked away.

“You should... give it a chance,” he whispered.

And you, sweet fool that you were, looked back to the group—not at Sonic, but at Blaze. Your eyes lingered. You watched the way she stood close to Silver in ways you never did, how their bond looked effortless, magnetic. It made your chest ache.

Silver must love her, you thought. Of course he does.

And beside you, Silver let out a long, quiet sigh, more to himself than anyone else.

Two hearts beat side by side, aching in perfect misunderstanding.