Ringringringring.
His Pokegear is vibrating. Red pauses from helping Snorlax and checks the device. Green is trying to call him. His hand hovers over the Accept button.
Snorlax yawns widely and bumps Red's arm, smiling lazily. Red fumbles with the Pokegear, managing to catch it before it slips.
"Red?"
Red's heart stops as he stares at the screen. Blinking at him, eyes narrowed, is the exact person he did not want to see.
"I wanted to say hi," Green says carefully. "And to talk."
Red cautiously signs a greeting, setting the Pokegear against Snorlax's outstretched paw and then sitting down.
"Hello to you, too," Green says, smiling faintly. Sylveon peeks over his shoulder in the background, chirping softly. "What're you doing?"
Red flips the camera to show Snorlax, who opens one eye and gives a lazy rumble. Laughter filters through the speakers, bright and clear. "Nice."
The camera flips back and Red is staring into Green's (ironically) hazel eyes. You want to talk? he signs.
"Yeah, I do," Green says, crossing his arms. Sylveon nudges him gently and then pads away. "How come you haven't been talking - well, not talking - to me? What happened?"
Which, Red thinks unhappily, is exactly what he did not want Green to ask. He shakes his head in response.
"Not an answer, buddy," Green says, not unkindly. Red's stomach twists. "Just tell me. What's wrong?"
Nothing, Red signs out, slowing it on purpose to get the point across. N-o-t-h-i-n-g.
"If it's nothing, then there's nothing wrong with telling me," Green says, eyes narrowing fiercely. Red forces himself not to flinch and stares right back, matching Green's gaze.
Stop, he signs. Don't want to talk.
"Yeah? Why not?" Green challenges, voice rising. "You're always sad or scared about everything. Tell me."
Red feels his heart stop at those words because he knows Green is right. Green is right about most things. And he should. He should tell Green about it.
He doesn't. He doesn't because he's scared, scared that people will bully him and laugh at him for it. Scared of the world, scared of everything beyond his little bubble. Scared that their steadily growing friendship will crumble because of him and his problems.
"Why won't you just talk to me!" Green snaps, then his voice drops. "What is it, huh? Am I not good enough for you, the champion?"
White noise is building up in Red's ears and he's scared, he really is. No, he wants to say. No. That's not it please no. He wants to yell, scream. Say something! his mind screams.
But he never had a voice in the first place.
"You're just scared," Green says and his words are knife-sharp. "The hero of Kanto, the kid who defeated Team Rocket. Scared of the world. Like a coward. Is that what you are, huh? A coward?!"
Red doesn't do anything, doesn't sign anything, just sits there and stares blankly at the screen. His heart pounds, blood rushing in his ears.
"Shi - " Green says but Red doesn't hear the rest of it. His arm moves of its own accord, jabbing the Hang up button, cutting Green off with a harsh hiss of static.
The ensuing silence is deafening.
Venusaur pads up to Red and nudges him with an outstretched vine, rumbling worriedly. Charizard swoops down and lands next to him, growling angrily at the offending device. Snorlax does nothing but looks at Red with gentle eyes, while Machamp glares.
Numb. Numb is all he feels. Distantly, he registers the feeling of Pikachu's ball vibrating furiously against his hip but Red doesn't do anything about it, sitting there staring at the screen.
"Red?"
That voice is familiar, he thinks distantly, turning around. Lorelei is standing there, eyes wide with concern. "You've been out here for a long time, Red. What's wrong?"
Lapras, who has been steadily trying to get to him the whole time, finally manages to push its way to sit next to Red and nudges him with one flipper, gesturing to Lorelei with the other. The message is clear.
Argument, Red signs. He hesitates, then adds, With Green.
Lorelei's eyes narrow with rage, before she takes a deep breath and puts on a calmer face. "Let's go inside," she says, holding out a hand. Red takes it and pulls himself up. "I'll get Agatha to make some hot chocolate for you."
Red nods, still feeling a little lightheaded. Venusaur bumps the button on its Pokeball and recalls itself, disappearing in a flash. The rest of his Pokemon obediently follow suit, save for Snorlax who Red recalls on his own.
"Come on, Red," Lorelei says gently. "Let's go."
Agatha is waiting at the door and her eyes narrow upon seeing them. "What happened?" she asks, stepping forwards.
"I'll tell you later," Lorelei says, squeezing Red's shoulder comfortingly.
"Hot chocolate?" Agatha asks.
"Hot chocolate," Lorelei confirms. "Blanket, too."
In no less than ten minutes, Red is sitting on the sofa wrapped in a blanket holding a steaming mug of hot chocolate (topped liberally with marshmallows). Pikachu is curled up in his arms, ears poking out from beneath the blanket.
The reality of what just happened hits him suddenly and Red pulls his knees up to his chest, burying his face in the blanket. Pikachu squeaks, wriggling its way out of Red's arms to sit on his shoulder, nuzzling him comfortingly.
Green was angry at him. Green probably hated him. That thought made his heart sink, filling his chest with emptiness.
"Red. Red, sweetheart?"
It's not Lorelei's voice. Red looks up, surprised, because that was his mother's voice.
Lorelei sits down next to him, holding the Pokegear in front of them. His mother moves closer to the camera, eyes wide with worry. "What happened, sweetheart?"
"Argument," Lorelei says when Red doesn't do anything, too overwhelmed. "With Green."
"Oh no," his mother says, leaning closer. "Oh no. Sweetie, are you feeling alright? Do you want me to come over?"
It's fine, Red signs shakily.
His mother gives him a sad look, but doesn't say anything, instead deciding to change the subject. "How is Pikachu?" she asks. Pikachu jumps down onto Red's knees, squeaking softly towards the screen.
"You're so sweet," Red's mother murmurs. "I'm glad Red has you as a partner."
Pikachu nods firmly, ears twitching.
"Are you feeding Pikachu enough?" his mother continues, looking directly at Red. Pikachu snickers softly, bumping Red's chest with a mischievous look. Red rolls his eyes but signs an affirmation.
"Good," his mother says. "You should eat more, too. You're skinny as a twig."
"We try," Lorelei says, a hint of a smile in her voice.
Red's mother laughs and it's a heartwarming sound. "I'm sure you do. Thank you for taking care of him, Lorelei. I'm very grateful."
"It's no problem, he's a sweetheart," Lorelei says. "You raised a wonderful child."
"Thank you," his mother says. "How is Agatha?"
Red settles back into the couch, letting their voices wash over his ears. Pikachu coils up in his arms.
He's going to have to talk to Green. The thought of that makes his heart pound and Red stares up at the ceiling.
Distantly, he notices that the hot chocolate has gone cold. He doesn't really care.