Flames Have Spread 「Paused」

Mephiles The Wicked

•Crisis City..•

... He just smiled, though, looking down at the two, his hands behind his back.

"My name's Ray. Ray the Squirrel. But if Mighty comes along, don't tell him it's me, alright?" The squirrel said, his smile going brighter, as his fluffy tail waved around in a bit of excitement.

The duo of Silver and Blaze shared glances, both a bit uncertain.

"Right. I'm Silver, but why'd you help us out back there?" The hedgehog said, standing up and dusting himself off, holding a hand for Blaze to take.

The squirrel shrugged at Silver's question, as Silver helped Blaze up. "I've been doing that for a while now."

Blaze stopped brushing off the dust from her clothes, looking up at Ray, looking a bit serious. "But why is your clothing not affected by the smoke or ashes?"

"I--I don't know, Miss Kitty!" He replied, totally honest, but brought a bit off by his own stutter.

Silver elbowed Blaze's arm lightly, chanting the name, "Miss Kitty!" In a whisper to Blaze.

Blaze elbowed him back, but harder and not playfully.

She walked over to the edge of the roof's platform, looking over for Iblis. "He's gone. He's not done yet, though.." She said fearlessly, turning to Silver, her eyes flashing scarlet again and back as she did. ".. And neither are we."

Ray noticed the seriousness in her stare and tone, so he took a step back, not planning on interfering with this. As for Silver, he stared into her eyes, wondering why it kept happening, her eyes.. Why did they keep turning a gleaming, vibrant red? He stopped looking so confused, and his gaze was also sharing the seriousness now, as he spoke in a bold tone.

"You're not my Blaze.. Are you."

Both of their gazes went to the partly-demolished floor of the roof they were on. Ray transitioned his own gaze between the two.

"You're so naive. I don't know if the darkness is getting to me or not, yet, but I'm surely your Blaze."

Her voice had her royal confidence, and her flaming strength floating with it. Her words didn't reach Silver at all, though.

"Blaze would never, ever, give in, or say such things!"

He yelled, his open hands curling into violently closed fists that stayed by his side.

After a few moments of silence, Blaze nodded. "Continue without me, then. We'll cross paths again later, while I'll not be with darkness.." Silver knew the darkness she spoke of was the belt lingering around her, now line a snake.

"F--Fine.."

He said, hesitantly. How was he going to do it without Blaze? She knew what to do, not him! He's lost now. Blaze began to jump down quickly from the top of the building to the bottom, swiftly jumping and running further from them.

"Hey.. You alright?.." Ray said silently, walking closer to Silver, who had his eyes roughly shut, and his hands begining to bleed from holding his fists too tight.

Slapping Silver's hands open, he spoke again. "Look! Mister Hedgehog, you have a city to save! Once you save the city, you'll see the kitty again, so let's hurry!"

Silver opened his eyes slowly, nodding. "Wait!" Ray said, making Silver a bit startled. "Give me your hands." Without questioning, Silver held his hands open and out, palms upwards. "Stay still." He comanded, placing his gloved hands over Silver's, and letting a green-ish-blue light shine over Silver's wounds. Pulling his hands away, Silver's hands were healed, without the problem of the jab in his hands and no more blood.