Silver Linings

↸ᔑ∷ꖌ ∷ᒷᓭℸ ̣ ꖎᒷᓭᓭ

╎ ᔑᒲ リ𝙹ℸ ̣ ᒲᒷ

∴⍑𝙹 ᔑᒲ i?

╎ℸ ̣ ⍑⚍∷ℸ ̣ ᓭ ⍑ᒷ∷ᒷ

ᒲ|| ⎓ᔑℸ ̣ ᒷ

-ᓭ╎ꖎ⍊ᒷ∷

"This place is cool."

The canary wanders in further, looking around at everything, the posters on the wall, the desk, all of it. It seemed interesting! He flops down on the bed.

-💤

“It is isn’t it!”

I say giggling before carefully opening the book to a random page and showing the child it.

...

Silver didn't say how long he had to stay still, did they?

No. No, they didn't! Quietly, the canary steps in after them on tiptoes, looking around the space in curiosity.

-💤

I was seen rummaging through different shelf’s and drawers seemingly looking for something significant. After a few more moments of searching I fly up to the nook and grab a large book.

I smile at it gently tracing the cover before hugging it tight. Before promptly turning around and spotting the avian child.

"I've never been here before."

The boy mumbles quietly, glancing around. Should he recognize this place? He's pretty sure Scar never brought him out this far...

-💤

“Ah I see, don’t feel upset if you haven’t! I was just curious if Scar had brought you out here yet.”

I say patting his head before finally approaching the opening to Sleepy’s cave.

The scars of my chest itched.

I turn to him and smile carefully placing my hands on his shoulders and looking him in the eye.

He holds the dandelion against his chest as he walks beside Silver, looking around at the trees that surrounded them. Crude, shakily made carvings mark the trees. The boy silently stares at those now, no longer looking to collect flowers.

-💤

“Do you recognize any of this hun?”

I ask calmly glancing down at him awaiting his answer with a spark of hope.

"Okay. I understand. I will take this advice, Silver."

The boy pauses when he spots a dandelion in the grass, bending over to scoop it up, dragging Silver down with him.

-💤

“Oof-“

I huff bobbing in the air as he dragged me down staring at him with an unknown emotion in my eye. Before snickering lightly and patting his head once more.

“Just say once you spot a pretty flower okay? So next time you don’t accidentally drag me down with you!”

...

"But, doesn't that stay in your chest, Silver?"

He glances up at them, blinking in confusion. How could he protect something with his heart, if that was trapped in his chest.

"Doesn't make sense..."

-💤

Instead of getting upset or sighting I simply giggle and shake my head, guiding him through the trees.

“No not like that, when I say with all your heart I mean do the very best you can. And to do it with pride and love.”

“That’s what protecting things with all your heart means.”

To him, it does seem like quite the walk, but that's probably because he hasn't ever gona too far from Trader Scar's.

"Are we going to get flowers, Silver?"

-💤

“Nope! We are fetching something very special to someone I know and I want to protect it. Whenever someone trusts you with something they love you protect with all your heart.”

“Make sure to remember that!”

To emphasize my point I give his hand a light squeeze though I was smiling.

The canary hums, staring at the ground as he walks. He knew two whole flowers: dandelions, and sunflowers. Dandelions, according to Grian, meant you were going to keep your promise. Sunflowers mesnt... Scar.

"I like sunflowers the best."

As they go along, the boy makes sure he searches around for anything that seemed interesting to him.

-💤

“Ah because of Scar? I understand, all the sunflowers always means he’s near.”

Gently running my hand over a flower I couldn’t help but agree with him. The sunflower field had become a sense of comfort to me.

"Sounds like fun, yes. A lot. What will we look for?"

Scar hadn't taken him on a search adventure before! This would be a new experience for him!

-💤

“Pretty stones for one! Or more like rocks to be more specific. But anything you think catches your eye make sure to point it out!”

I hum chuckling a little at the pure wonder in his eyes.

The boy nods, pleased by this idea. He puts the blanket over his head like a hood again.

"Am I like Scar?"

He stares up at them, a strained little smirk on his face.

-💤

I giggle and smile, my expression now light and airy, patting the child’s head lightly.

“Exactly like him! You even have his smirk down!”

Sleepy would have never done that.

I smile and gently take his hand and begin flying slowly explaining what we were going to do.

He looks back up at them, expression back to that blank, emotionless stare from before. Big, empty eyes stare up at Silver, looking to them for guidance.

-💤

“…okay, uh I don’t really do much, and I’m trying to rest…”

I muttered the last part under my breath rubbing my face for a moment before nodding.

"Okay. I am sorry, Silver. I'm not him."

The canary looks down at his feet, hanging his head.

-💤

“Don’t be sorry for being yourself Sleepy, I’m happy to be with who you are.”

I smile gently and ruffle his hair affectionately, smiling bright despite deep down I was screaming.

Screaming because my child was gone.

Because the light didn’t leave, it simply disappeared and this was left in his place.

It was a mockery of my light.

But it still deserves to thrive as all lights do…

He murmurs, before pulling back and looking up at Silver again. The boy smiles up at then once again, little and forced, but there.

"It's okay that you compare me and him, maybe I can make you feel better this way. You can pretend thst I am him, and you will feel good. We can hang out, or play games, or sleep. I don't know what you would normally do."

-💤

“No! Absolutely not!”

I state firmly pulling back to look the child in the eye.

“You are your own person and should be treated as such. Just because I have my own problems does not mean you should try and become complacent in it.”

He scurries cloder and puts his forehead against Silver, then wraps his arms around them. When Sleepy speaks, his voice is muffled.

"This is called a hug, and it's makes you feel better when you feel bad or don't understand feelings."

So strange, so unfamilar. When had Sleepy ever offered to give Silver a hug? When had he ever had any sort of physical affection without flinching away?

-💤

I tense up at the hug before forcibly relaxing hugging him back.

No.

This is wrong.

This isn’t him.

This isn’t him hugging me.

This isn’t STARLIGHT

YOU ARE WHATS WRONG-

He smiles, oblivious.

-💤

….

…hm.

In the very wise words of Copper

‘Is he an idiot or something?’

But I couldn’t say that to his face.