So twitter kinda reminded me of one my fav AU/theories: Shadow is Silver’s father. All the hints(that would work if it was canon that is) are very well known. But I wanted to think about other thing: with whom. So this is a mix between my preferences and what would work in canon. Despite liking Shadamy, I doubt it would be Amy, since she clearly loves only Sonic and I see more of their relationships to develop. Rouge? Kinda ship her with Knuckles and see between her and Shadow more of sibling relationship. Outside those two there aren’t any suitable candidate. And honestly it’s hard to imagine Shadow getting into serious relationship and with children. At least for now. Which rises a second issue: Silver is from 200 years future which definetely crosses those two out. There can be someone else in the future but meh not my jam. And besides there is another option, that would make sense. Though it’s not really a nice one. Shadow’s route. Someone would want to try another a shot at ultimate life-form/bioweapon. Just in general or because of Iblis/Ifrit. They would snatch Shadow’s DNA sample since he wasn’t really a failure and they need to work with something. And thus will create Silver. In canon the whatever lab was working on this project would be destroyed before Silver was prepared or even informed, since he was still very young therefore forgetting anything about lab altogether. AU/fanon: Shadow finds out about all of this, trashes the lab and researches and takes baby Silver away to raise him by himself(no Iblis/Ifrit), since he can’t just drop the baby and feels responsible for him, genetically he is his father.