Silver Redemption

A/N I will be introducing other canon characters within the next couple of chapters.

To say that Silver was excited about his new substitute position was an understatement.  He had been up all night, too anxious to sleep.  What if he didn’t live up to Green’s expectations?  What if he wasn’t good enough?  What if he was just a failure like everyone else had lead him to believe?

Green was different, though.  Silver knew, deep down, that Green wouldn’t be disappointed in him, or think badly of him or anything like that!  Green was... unique.

But now, here the redhead was, waiting impatiently for his first challenger.  He sat on the edge of the raised platform, his legs dangling towards the ground, petting the Sneasel that sat in his lap.  The referee had already approached him and said that a challenger was on their way through to the battle round.

Silver nodded and stood up, putting the Sneasel down next to him.  “I’ll meet them there.”

With that said, Silver turned and made his way into the back of the building, anxiety welling up inside of him as he thought about the many outcomes of this fight.  What if he lost?  What would Green say?  What would Green think?  But if he won?  How would Green react then? 

The boy’s thinking was cut short when the door opened and a familiar cap poked through.  “Hello?”

Silver’s eyes became impossibly wide as his jaw dropped.  His first challenger... Gold...  That... was not fucking fair! Why put him up against the one who was constantly beating him every meeting they had together?!

“Silver?” Gold sounded as confused as the addressed teenager felt.  “Are you a Gym Leader now?”

Silver narrowed his eyes.  He wasn’t about to admit that he was only filling in; it would be too shameful for him to imply that he wasn’t good enough to be a full-time Leader.  “Yes.  This is my Gym.”

Gold grinned.  “Sounds great.  Six-on-six?”

Silver nodded and moved over to his end of the battle field.  “Bring it.”

Gold’s grin only widened as he grabbed the first red-and-white capsule his hand came into contact with.  “We’ll make this one a fun one.”

“You wish,” Silver snarled.  “I’ll beat you down into the ground.  Just you wait.”

“If you say so.”Gold threw the ball, a red aura escaping and forming the shape of his choice.  “I just want to have fun.”

Silver growled inwardly at these words, focusing only on all of the power he could muster.  They had eventually fought each other down to their last Pokemon, Gold’s Typhlosion and Silver’s Feraligatr.  It looked as if Silver was going to win but, at the last second, Thyplosion had used a Smoke Screen, confusing the blue alligator-like Pokemon that was just about to use Hydro Pump. 

The Flame Pokemon used Flamethrower, hitting Feraligatr in the chest, effectively knocking out the exhausted creature.

Silver’s eyes closed as he returned the Pokemon in silence.  What could he say?  Even as a Gym Leader, he still could not beat Gold. 

The redhead turned to leave, ignoring what Gold was saying.  His head was lowered, his chin tucked tightly against his chest as he fought back tears.  Why couldn’t he win?  Why was Gold... so much stronger than he was?  Why were things like this...?

“You lost to him again, huh?”

Silver startled at Green’s unexpected voice.  He looked up, finding the brunet standing on the railings above the platform where audience usually stood to watch the fights.  He shrugged, looking back down at the ground. 

Gold was still standing where he had been, listening to what Green was saying.

“Maybe you should talk to him and discuss what he thinks you’re doing wrong,” Green suggested once he was standing on the ground next to Silver.  “He might have some helpful hints for you.”

Silver shook his head.  “I don’t want to talk to him.”

Green disregarded this and instead called out to Gold.  “Gold, would you mind talking to Silver and telling him what he is doing wrong?”

Gold raised an eyebrow before he took a hesitant step forward.  He saw the way Silver flinched and stepped back, a look of fright on his face.  He watched as Green slowly wrapped his arms around the redhead, only to have them slapped away.  He sighed.

“Silver, what you’re doing is –“ Gold had begun, only to be interrupted angrily by the younger boy.

“Yeah, I get it!” Silver snapped.  “I’m not good enough to my Pokémon, right?!  But I’ve tried so hard to change, and I still can’t beat you!  What makes you so much better than me?!  What?!  Just because you’ve had a dream life, and I haven’t...!  Maybe I made some mistakes in the past, but I’m trying... so fucking hard... to fix them!”

“Silver...” Green put his hand on his charge’s shoulder, gathering the boy’s attention.  His voice was soft as he spoke.  “Silver, I acknowledge all of the hard work you’ve put into this, but don’t you remember the conversation we had?”

“...I...” Silver’s eyes closed as he dropped to his knees, trying his hardest to hold back his emotions.  “...I...”

“You’re doing nothing wrong, Silver...” Gold’s voice was soft, hesitant.  He approached the younger boy slowly, knowing to be careful; Silver was violent and unpredictable.  “...You’re a great Trainer.  I...  I honestly don’t know why I always win when we fight, but...  You’re great.”

“You’re lying!” Silver snapped.

“I’m not.” Gold had finally reached Silver’s side.  He sat down next to the redhead, his Typhlosion following.  “I’m telling you the truth.  You could be a true Gym Leader if you wanted, Silver.”

“Stop it!” Silver shouted.  “You’re lying to me!  You’re avoiding the fact that I just can’t win against you!  I hate you!”

Gold sighed.  He reached out and put a hand on Silver’s shoulder, watching as Green reached down and pulled Silver to his feet.

“We talked about this, Silver.” Green was gentle as he spoke to the teenager.  “You said we were alike.  That you were going to try and trust him.  Please?  For me?”

Silver’s eyes widened as their conversation passed through his mind.  He knew what he had said, and he knew that he wanted nothing more than to be able to at least try and get to know Gold, but why was it so hard?

“...” Silver scrunched his eyes shut tightly as he shook his head.  He grunted and reached up with trembling hands, holding his head as a ferocious ache overwhelmed him.  “...Green...”

“What do I have to do to prove that I will not hurt you?” Gold asked with a weary voice.  “All I want is to help you.”

Silver groaned as he fell to the ground, curling up in a ball.  His head was pounding so badly, it felt like it was going to explode.  “...Green...!”

Gold sighed.  “Let me help.  Please.”

“...” Silver wanted nothing more than this pain to stop; the physical ache and the overwhelming loneliness and anger that ate at him every day.  “...Gold...  Gold...”

Gold knew what he had to do; he just hoped that Silver wouldn’t kill him for it.  He reached out with open arms and pulled the younger boy into them, holding him tight.

Silver’s eyes snapped open at this, not having expected a hug at all.  He sniffed once before tears slipped down his cheeks, returning the embrace.  He buried his face in Gold’s shoulder, clutching at his clothes in desperation.

“Gold...!” Silver moaned in pain.  “...Gold...!”

“I’m here, Silver...” Gold whispered.  “I’m here...”

Silver didn’t know how long he had cried for, but he eventually found himself slipping off to oblivion in Gold’s arms.

-XX-

When Silver woke up, he was back in Green’s bed, tucked in tightly.  He sat up and looked around, rubbing at his eyes.  It took him a second later before he got out of bed and made his way out to the living room.

“Green...?” Silver called, finding the brunet and raven on the couch, conversing softly.  He made his way over to the two and eyed the older teenager warily.  “...Why are you here?”

“Because I wanted to be here to show you that I do care,” Gold said.  “Besides; Green and I were just talking about what we could do for you.”

“You can do me a favour and...” Silver trailed off once he remembered what Gold had done for him.  He ducked his head in shame.  “...Fine...”

Gold grinned happily in his laid-back nature.  “How are you, Silver?”

“...Good...?’ Silver raised an eyebrow.  Was this... how ‘friends’ spoke to each other...?  But... what was the point of asking such stupid questions?  “...I don’t understand why you would ask how I am...”

“It shows I care and have an interest in you, Silver.” Gold shrugged.  “That’s just what friends do.”

Silver drifted off into his own thoughts before he nodded.  If things weren’t going to be too personal... he would give this a try.  “...How... are... you...?”

“I’m great, thanks!” Gold laughed.  “Wanna go grab some lunch from in town?”

Silver looked at Green, not sure how to answer.  When he received a smile in return, he nodded.  “...O... okay...”

Green grinned.  He knew that this was a turning point for the troubled redhead.