(Author's note: Thank you so much for reviewing the fic! This is my first one ;u; In the recent chapter, by the way, I meant Lance not Alder. Thank you to the person who pointed that out.)

We arrive at Gold's house. It is decently sized, and it is located in you guessed it: New Bark Town.

"I could never leave my hometown. Too many memories. Besides, Blaze likes it too." He pats the monstrous-sized Pokemon towering behind him. He picks up my suitcase.

"Gold, you don't have to…"

"Well, you're my guest. I insist.", laughs and runs inside.

He hasn't matured even a little all of these years…

I follow behind him. He's waiting for me in the living room. He sees me and walks upstairs. I follow. "I'll label everything. It'll save me some time that way…", he said. He puts my bags in a room with a king sized bed.

"That's a pretty big bed for one person…", I say.

"That's because, well, I just broke up with Lyra recently. As you know, we dated for a while."

I nodded.

"And so I thought it would be easier if we shared a bed, since my house doesn't have enough bedrooms and I only have this bed now…", he replies.

"Isn't that a little… gay?", I ask. I'm of course all in favor of it, but I need to make sure he is…

He shrugged. "I can deal with it."

I try to hide my smile. "Okay. Cool." I pretend not to sound amused. "So, what do you do around here?"

"I help Professor Elm with research. I'm sure he wouldn't mind another helper, as long as you don't steal any of his Pokemon again."

I blush. Memories flood into my mind from when I stole my starter from Elm. I was eventually arrested for a while and forced to return it. All Pokemon I caught using it, however, I was allowed to keep.

"Anyway, are you hungry?" his eyes widen as he realized something. "Wait, how long have you had that bruise on your jaw?"

"I've had it since today.", I say dully. I show no emotion in my words or face.

Gold is still as dumb as a piece of toast…

In a way, though, it's kind of cute. I guess.

I flush again at these thoughts.

"Dude, you okay?", he asks. He goes into the kitchen and lies me down. My cheeks get hot. "You're hair color matches your face color.", he chuckles. I ignore him and take the water gently. However, he takes it back and wags his finger in my face. "No no. Allow me."

Oh dear Arceus, what is about to happen?

He carefully pours small amounts of water into my mouth. He sits me up a little so I can swallow and not choke.

I realize his arm is around me.

"Just relax…", he whispers softly. "Is there anything you need to talk about that I need to know?"

I ignore him again. I don't like talking about my feelings.

Lance had made me feel so cold, so useless. I didn't trust anyone, and I still don't.

I push him away from me and try to walk away. He gently grabs my arm. I instinctively flinch, close my eyes and brace myself mentally for some type of abuse.

But he's still.

I open an eye and see his face full of horror. "I-I wasn't going to hit you, Silver…", he says softly. He looks guilty for scaring me. "I'm just trying to relax you. I can understand that you're overwhelmed by all of these changes in one day. But just lie down and relax for once. Please.", he sighs. He lets go of my arm and I walk over to him. I sit back on the bed and he holds open his arms. I realize there are tears in my eyes.

Screw pride.

I curl into his arms. His arms are welcoming around me, and for once in my life, my frozen stone heart melts.

"If Lance ever even touches you again…", he whispers to me. "I'll protect you. Think of me as your Golden Lining."

"Isn't the term 'Silver Lining'?", I sniffle.

"Well, you're Silver. I'm Gold. So it works better this way."

I stare at him. His eyes are filled with some kind of emotion I can't describe.

Was it… love?

No, it can't be. Gold is straight.

…Right?