And you are certainly not the pine-scented air.
"So you're the one Ethan was complaining about," the kid mutters, looking at Red as though he scraped him off the bottom of his shoe. "You don't look like much."
Red stares back at the kid, not rising to the taunt. He's never reacted before – Green was the master of taunts after all. So why should he care now when it was only one insignificant little trainer – a kid barely eleven years old and already looking as though he wears the weight of the world on his shoulders.
Red would know. He was – is – the exact same.
He looks as though he expects Red to reply – apparently the kid hadn't gotten the 'the champion is a selective mute' memo yet, but it didn't seem to bother him – before launching into a monologue. The kid obviously had the same talkative tendencies as his father.
"I've never been able to defeat Ethan – ever. We even started at exactly the same time, but I was never good enough. I even tried to get the upper hand on him, but it still beat me." The kid pauses and glares at Red, "...do you even know who I am?"
Red knows exactly who he is, but it's so much easier to just call him 'kid' in his head. It's a much more preferable alternative than acknowledging that this is the son of the man who ruined Red's life.
But Red doesn't voice this opinion out loud – not that he would or could – and nods in confirmation.
"Good," the kid mumbles and shuffles around for a second before steeling his resolve, glaring at the Champion with thinly veiled determination. "I've come here to challenge you to a Pokémon battle."
Without waiting for word from Red, the kid throws his first Pokéball out into the field. A smug Sneasel appears in the snow, its claws outstretched. Red nods and pulls out his own Pokémon, Charizard. No more pleasantries are exchanged as Silver lets out his first command.
It is all rather fitting; a battle between the two of them on the very peak of Mt. Silver.
Ten minutes later, Red watches as the kid shivers against the wind and recalls his fainted Feraligatr. Red silently calls Pikachu back to his side and waits. The kid is quiet for a moment as they stare each other down.
"I didn't expect to defeat you – if Ethan couldn't, then why should I?" He pauses and stares at Red, "I just wanted a reason to meet you."
He stares at Red anxiously as if he expects him to say something – but Red doesn't. He does, however, tip the brim of his hat forward and rub the back of his neck uncomfortably. Red has a hint of an awkward smile on his lips, but the kid can't see.
Without a world, the kid narrows his eyes and turns around, swiftly making his way back down the mountain.
No words are spoken as the two part ways but Red feels that more was said in one battle than if they had shared a million words in one conversation.
Red watches contentedly as Silver – son of Giovanni – leaves the mountain, and Red, behind. The Champion can't help but feel like the weight on his shoulders has lightened for the first time in three years.