i fight for the sun

flightinthelight replied to your post: Stupid power on!

“How did they know my special ability?”

“But you’re the smartest person I know. Even if you can’t fit seven eggs into your mouth.”

“So they actually have places like this?”

Imagine that. A place designed to give people knowledge. Kind of like a library, but without all the books. That was a pretty cool thing, he wasn’t sure he’d ever heard of such a place. Museum. What an odd term for such a place. Maybe the word had more meaning in another language. Spelling the word must have been a nightmare.

The hedgehog steps lightly, hands behind his back as he takes in all the sights of this first room. It was all instructions and a map, but it seemed like magic to him. He’d never seen a place like this, and to someone who couldn’t read, there was no telling what those informational signs said. For all he knew, they could have had some magic code on them.

That would be cool.

“So, where do we go first?”

“I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to take you to one of these.”

Sure, it wasn’t one he knew, since this wasn’t from his own dimension, but it still stood to reason this was one of the most obvious places to take Silver. Especially during the winter months, when they weren’t doing much else. “I’ll have to take you to one of our homezones. So it’s just a bit more relevant.”

Not that this one was very different from their own dimension. Just one of the billions in the mix. No wonder they hadn’t found a time stone yet. Maybe they did have a deadline. You know, the one of death.

Ray unfurls the map in his hands, scanning the page down below. “Well, there’s a history section, or an ancient hall... Or a “Make-Your-Own-Artifact” exhibit. I think that’s for kids.” Not that he put is past Silver to want to go there. Besides, Ray’s 17. They’d only look mildly weird there.

“Well, you certainly are pretty.”

That was a given. Ray took so much care of his appearance. It wasn’t hard to admit that truth. There was something special about holding someone so close. But it wasn’t something you could do with just anyone. He didn’t really have the urge with anyone. Anyone except Ray, that is.

“I think we should take tomorrow off. I saw this thing on television the other day, they called it a pick. Nick.” It was two separate words, right? “We could fill a basket with goodies, and sit out in the sunshine, and watch the clouds go by while eating yummy things. I think it would be fun.”

He sunk into him, his embarrassment not fading entirely given the position, but his soft chest and comforting arms, and his voice that he had grown fond of...

He could lay here forever. If Silver saw this as normal, as something that was comfortable and not pushing on any boundaries or implications, than Ray thought that maybe he could too. And even so, if not, he could pretend for just awhile.

“Come on.”

Since Ray wasn’t, he makes the first move. Unsure of whether or not Ray could walk, he picks him up, and holds onto him, closely. Not with his power, but with his own two arms. Off to the bedroom, where he gently lays him down, soon getting into the bed himself.

There’s a smile on his face. A smile as gentle as his touch.

“What do you wanna talk about?”

Among other things that made Ray’s heart flutter, being carried into bed by an attractive hedgehog was another one.

He closed himself off for a moment as he was sat down, beyond embarrassed at the gesture and completely red in the face. After a few moments, he simply opts to press his face into Silver’s chest and hide it.

“Would a hug help?”

It’s all he could offer. Silver didn’t know anything about dealing with anxiety. He didn’t even know how to deal with his own anxiety, let alone someone else’s.

“We could get in bed and just lie with each other, and talk about stuff until you fall asleep, if you think that would help.”

That sounded nice, but Ray found such a simple thing was so hard to vocalize. To ask for help in such a sentimental fashion with another boy. Society told him such a thing was wrong. They were being quite unmanly.

... Ray supposed he could hardly put faith in society, all things considered. He doubt typical society would like the way his heart fluttered when Silver smiled.

“Uh, I- I, uh, love you too.”

“Am I so beautiful that you have no words?”

He laughs at himself. He knew he was being silly, but he wanted to tease Ray a little bit. He didn’t generally do that.

“Ha ha. It’s okay. Don’t worry about it. Let’s do something fun tomorrow. Like visit the apple tree! There are lots of yummy golden apples just waiting to be eaten! And we can snuggle with each other to keep warm.”

In every single respect, Ray’s relationship with Silver wasn’t conventional or traditional for two males. He found that should make him nervous, but it was something easy to ignore when he found he enjoyed it so much. He shouldn’t care what the world would think, especially when the world was standing right in front of him.

His face turned red as he put a hand over it. “Chaos, Silver. Of course not- not that you’re not beautiful- I m-mean, you obviously are and I’m sure you know that- I mean it’s pretty obvious-- Chaos, shut up.”

“I’m happy. That I made such a big impact on such a wonderful person. That feels special to me.”

Knowing he’d made such a big improvement for someone would have felt special, regardless, but it felt extra special for Ray.

“I’m glad I could save your world. I’m glad I had that kind of power. You’re very special to me, Ray. I don’t think I’ve ever been so close to someone before in my life.”

His heart warmed.

To even consider he was someone’s no.1 wasn’t something he could understand quite yet. The thought alone was incredible- it felt like a dream. “R-Really?”

“I’m not sure what more I do for you. I know you said I made the world beautiful, but I don’t think I actually did anything to the world.” He shrugs. “Not yet, anyway. Soon, though.”

“... I guess I just always assumed you knew what you did.” He overestimated Silver’s... “Brilliance".

flightinthelight replied to your post: “You’re always thanking me for silly things.”

“Maybe not. But I mean- I don’t know how much I deserve it.”

“Why not? You do nice things for me, I say thank you. What’s the big deal?”

“I don’t know. It’s just a lot of thank you’s.”

“Yeah? What’s up?”

He’d followed the squirrel into the kitchen. He didn’t know what was being taken out, but he trusted this person with his life. He knew it was going to be yummy, whatever it was. It already looked pretty good, based on the picture on the package. But he’d wait until it was done before he judged anything for himself.

The violin is carefully placed in the corner of the room. Safe from harm, so that nothing could hurt it. He didn’t want it to break, and it was probably already weak from the intense heat. Then he seats himself at the table, resting his head in his palms.

“I love you.”

The statement was said amidst the work he was doing, setting out a tray and putting down the dough, not looking away for a few moments after he spoke, until he peered up to sense Silver’s reaction. He loved Silver- not in any way that demanded romance, although he would never deny (at least to himself) his slight, passive interest in being with Silver in those regards. But that was a far off thought that he had chosen to ignore pursuing. Next to saving the world, Silver’s possible disappearance, and his lack of knowledge of Silver’s attractions or lack thereof, he found that unrealistic.

“Sounds good to me. You always make yummy things.”

The kiss was nice, too. Made him smile. Well, he was already smiling, but it was nice, nonetheless. Ray was a good person. Always being nice to him. That was pretty cool. Not a lot of people were so nice to him. He felt lucky, to have such a wonderful friend.

“I’m happy to be here with you, Ray.”

Ray had made it into the kitchen when the statement was said, an open bar and archway into the room keeping him in Silver’s sight and earshot. He nearly stopped in his tracks, jolting from the statement, before looking back at the hedgehog. He didn’t know quite what to say.

“Um. Thank you.”

He paused before returning to his walk, opening the fridge. Something simple would do, something sweet, like cookies. He grabbed the cookie dough and got to work.

“I think I’ll keep it here from now on! I always kept it at my old home, back in my world for safekeeping. But I feel like it’d be even safer here, and the heat won’t eventually get to it here. It’s a miracle its lasted this long.”

The hug was very nice. Made him smile even wider. He was a happy hedgehog right now.

“Thanks for listening. It’s nice to have an audience!”

“No problem. At all. It was a lot of fun to listen to you play.”