The mask disguising the lower half of his face was a leftover from when Silver had caught a cold and Gold had refused to keep his distance. Despite how Silver had tried to seem nonchalant, he was grateful for Gold having risked sickness just to still keep him company, just to still calm him down after Silver woke from a nightmare. Even if the mask hadn't managed to prevent Gold from catching it, resulting in him whining for Silver to take care of him as soon as the first symptoms had flared up.

---

His reflection stared back at him with saddened eyes, mirroring his sorrow. The good thing was that there was no way anyone would be able to recognize him; not with how grief had ripped all the confidence from his posture, ripped the sleep from his eyes.

And even though he wanted to defend himself saying the golden scarf wrapped around his neck was an extra layer meant to further protect his face from view, or perhaps even a measure to protect himself from the cooling air of autumn, he knew it wasn't true. Just like he needed Gold's sweater to fall asleep at night, Silver didn't think he could keep going without even just a piece of Gold within his reach.

Gold had laughed as he had picked out the scarf in the store. He had thrown Silver a teasing look before presenting the scarf with a wide grin—a bright golden color with a silver gradient at the end.

"The perfect scarf for the both of us," Gold had said, looping it around Silver and pulling him close. And Silver had ducked under it with what he had hoped had been a neutral expression, but he knew his skin betrayed him as he had flushed a bright red.

Silver wished he could laugh now, too, but only a shallow breath made it out through his nose.