"I have to go soon," Lance says one day while they're all sitting around in the lounge.
Red, feeding Pikachu bits of food, looks up in confusion. Why? he signs.
"The Champion's conference," Lance says. "It's a meeting involving all the current regional champions. I believe it's held in Sinnoh this year." He looks at Red, eyes thoughtful, and then says, "You could go."
Red frowns, petting Pikachu idly. He is the Kanto champion… but he's not sure if he wants to go.
"If you're worried about there being too many people, it will only be the champions," Lance adds. "Five people. That's all."
Five people, Red thinks. That's all.
It doesn't stop him from curling slightly in on himself, gnawing on his lip. Pikachu scampers up onto his shoulder, nuzzling him reassuringly.
"You don't have to go," Lorelei says gently. "Lance can do it instead."
Isn't it my responsibility, though? Red wonders. I'm the champion. But Lance has to deal with all of this.
He's lying on his bed later that evening, staring at the ceiling. Pikachu has dozed off, curled up in a fluffy yellow ball on Red's pillow.
There's a sudden beeping sound coming from his bedside table and Red blinks, sitting up. His Pokegear beeps once more, then falls silent. Red reaches out to grab it and turns the device on.
You have a new message. Swipe to unlock home screen. Tap to read message.
The message is from Green, who is lamenting about how his Rhyperior is sad because Arabella's jerk of a Stantler ate all the Cheri berries. Red smiles for a brief second, and then frowns.
He does want to tell Green about the conference, but at the same time he doesn't want to. What would Green think of him? Uncertainty swirls in his stomach and Pikachu, who woke up because of the beeping, nuzzles him worriedly.
The Pokegear beeps again. 'hey u okay?' Green texts. Red doesn't know how to respond, so he just stares at the screen blankly.
There's a long pause, and then Green suddenly texts, 'k i'm coming over.' There's another pause, and then Green adds, 'that ok?'
Red stares up at the ceiling, still hesitant. Pikachu nuzzles him curiously, and then nudges him firmly.
You want me to say yes? Red signs, giving Pikachu a skeptical look. Pikachu slowly nods its head and nudges Red again, more insistently.
Really? Red signs. Pikachu nods again, rather reluctantly, and nudges him, fur sparking slightly. Red hisses softly at the feeling and quickly texts back, 'It's ok'.
'k. u better unlock the door.'
Red turns off the device and sets it on the table, then gets up and goes downstairs. Lance is leaning against the wall, typing something. It's not an unusual sight, but what really draws Red's attention is the small pokemon curled up on his head. Red can't help but think that he'd seen that pokemon before.
"What's that, Lance?"
Lorelei and Agatha stroll leisurely into the hallway, both laughing when Lance starts. The pokemon on his head jumps off, cottony wings flaring.
Oh, Red realizes. It's a Swablu.
"It's a Swablu," Lance says, closing his Pokegear and reaching towards the pokemon. It lands on his arm and chirps brightly, folding its wings back and curling up into a little cotton ball of fluff. Pikachu squeaks curiously, leaning forward to get a better look at the flying-type.
"I haven't seen those around before," Lorelei says. "I'm guessing they aren't native to Kanto?"
"They aren't," Lance confirms, looking a little nervous.
"Not native to Kanto, hm, Lance?"
"Wonder who it's from. A gift, perhaps."
Both women laugh and Lance presses a hand to his forehead, looking more and more mortified by the minute.
"What's that?" Bruno says, walking in from the kitchen.
"It's a Swablu," Lorelei says. "From someone."
Bruno crosses his arms. "That someone. The someone you were training with."
"Training, hm, Lance?"
"Why, you never told us about this."
Red decides right now that it would be a good time to leave, edging around Lorelei and Agatha and quickly exiting. Green's not in the lobby, so he heads outside to wait. Pikachu climbs up onto his head and stares up at the sky, fur spiking.
Moments later, a shadow appears in the sky. Pidgeot alights neatly in front of Red and Green jumps off, petting Pidgeot for a few seconds and then recalling it.
"Heyo," Green says, giving Red a half smile. "You alright? You're not looking so great there."
Pikachu hops onto Red's shoulder and glares, calming slightly when Red reaches up and scratches Pikachu's ears softly.
I'm fine, he signs.
Green squints at him skeptically, but doesn't argue. "Kay. You wanna go inside, or are we just gonna talk out here?"
Red shrugs, biting his lip, and Pikachu's fur sparks protectively. Green softens, reaching out for a moment and then pulling his hand back. "Sorry. I'm… honestly worried. You seem really worried about something."
I am, Red signs. Can we go inside?
"Eh, why not," Green says, releasing Sylveon. It lands on the ground with a bright chirp and its ribbons flare out in a show of pink. A gust of sweet-scented air blows through the Red releases a breath he'd been unconsciously holding and relaxes.
Let's go, he signs. Green scoops up Sylveon, and smiles, nodding.
"Let's."
They enter the League building together and then the League quarters. Agatha is standing there and raises a brow upon seeing Green.
"Didn't expect to be seeing you here. Good friends, are you?"
"I hope so," Green says. Sylveon jumps out of Green's arms and stares directly at Agatha, tendrils flaring in a show of protectiveness. Red can't help but think that that's rather sweet.
"Well, don't worry," Agatha says. "I trust that you two will be fine. You should have told one of us, though."
Sorry, Red signs, and Pikachu hangs its head as well.
"Sorry," Green translates.
"I suppose it's alright," Agatha says. "I will tell the other Elites. How long are you," she turns to address Green, "going to stay?"
"I… don't know?" Green says. "I guess until Red asks me to go?"
"Well?" Agatha says, turning towards Red.
Red shrugs. He hadn't really thought this through. What time is it? he signs. Green pulls out his Pokegear and checks.
"8:56."
"8:56," Agatha repeats. "It's quite late. Are you going to stay overnight?"
"I have no idea?" Green says. "It's Red's choice."
Red blinks as both of them suddenly turn to him. Pikachu nudges him insistently and Red bites his lip.
Sure, he signs. Green blinks.
"Is that a yes or a no?" Agatha asks. "We can't all read sign language, you know."
"It's a yes," Green says, scooping Sylveon back into his arms.
"Well, alright," Agatha says. "I will tell the others. You two go upstairs and don't cause any mayhem."
"No mayhem," Green says, nodding. Red nods as well, and leads Green upstairs.
Sylveon jumps out of Green's arms and onto Red's bed as soon as they enter his room, stretching out happily. Green moves to sit next to Sylveon, petting it lazily. Pikachu jumps down to curl up next to Sylveon as well and Red shuts the door before going to sit next to Pikachu.
"Okay," Green says. "What were you worried about? I can tell something's up."
Red laces his fingers together and watches Pikachu stare adoringly at Sylveon.
"Out with it, buddy," Green says, not unkindly. "I won't judge. You know that."
There's a meeting happening, Red signs. It's happening soon.
"And you don't know if you want to go," Green finishes. "I mean, you don't have to. You could just get Lance to represent you like he did with the Kanto conference."
It's for champions, Red stresses.
"So?"
Red stares at the wall behind Green and hopes that Green will somehow understand what he's trying to say.
"Okay, okay," Green says. Something gently touches his leg and Pikachu climbs up onto his shoulder, nuzzling him gently. Sylveon looks up and a soft breeze comes from out of nowhere, calming him.
"If you really want to go," Green says, "go."
Red gestures towards his mouth. Can't speak.
"Oh yeah," Green says. "Oops. I should have realized… yeah."
Red nods and an awkward silence falls over them. He pets Pikachu rhythmically, staring at the wall.
"Okay, okay okay," Green says. "I have an idea. Do any Elites know sign?"
Lance, Red signs. He blinks at Green. Do you mean?
"Lance could go with you," Green says. "He could act as a translator. Can he, well, understand you?"
Some of what I sign, Red signs, he understands.
"There we go," Green says triumphantly. "Perfect. You go and Lance goes with you as a translator."
That… actually sounds alright. Red feels himself smile slightly. Pikachu squeaks happily and Sylveon chirps.
"Good?" Green says. Red nods and Green smiles, petting Sylveon. "Good."
They both fall into pure silence. Pikachu jumps down from Red's shoulder and curls back up next to Sylveon, who chirps curiously. Green scratches Sylveon behind its ears and smiles when Sylveon's eyes close and it chirps happily.
"I have an idea," Green says, out of the blue. Red blinks at him.
What is it?
"Let's watch some random movie," Green says. "Something that we can laugh at."
Red tilts his head, eyes flicking to the wall behind Green for a moment. Okay.
"Great," Green says cheerfully. "Monty Python and the Holy Grail is absolutely hillarious. Let's watch it."
Red smiles and goes off to get his PC. How do you know that? he signs.
"I don't," Green says. "But I'm assuming it is."
Red sits down next to Green and gently scoops Pikachu into his arms. Sylveon blinks its eyes open, looks at Green, and then jumps up onto Green's lap.
He sets the PC down and turns it on. Green looks away for a moment while Red accesses his PC and then goes to find the movie.
"Go to ," Green says. Red does as Green says and then finds Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
"Alright, you ready for something stupid but funny?" Green says, grinning. Red nods and clicks play.
The movie opens with 'King Arthur' and his friend pretending to ride Mudsdale by clapping Nutpea berry shells together. Green laughs and Pikachu wakes up, blinking hazily. Red huffs out a small laugh as well, blinking in surprise.
He starts feeling a little drowsy around thirty minutes into the movie, while King Arthur and his gang of trainers try to invade a castle. Red yawns widely, smiling, and continues watching as the odd trainers push some odd contraption towards the castle.
"I think they forgot something," Green comments with a small laugh. Red frowns.
What?
"They're just pushing an empty wooden Buneary towards the castle. They're not going to get in that way."
As it turns out, Green is right. He bursts out laughing when the giant Buneary is thrown off the castle and on top of the poor trainers and Red smiles. Pikachu squeaks unhappily at the sound and curls up in Red's arms.
"Sorry, Pikachu," Green says, softening his voice. Pikachu ignores him, going back to sleep. Red Pikachu gently, then recalls Pikachu and they keep watching.
He falls asleep to the sounds of people singing and Green laughing. The sound puts a smile on his face and as he drifts off, he can't help but think that Green feels pleasantly warm.