Sitting cross-legged in front of his Pokegear (which is propped up against a wall), Green finds himself hating the stupid ringtone. The stupid bells and the stupid jazzy tone and…
He's being ridiculous. There's no reason to hate the ringtone, except suddenly he does.
"He probably won't answer," Green says tiredly to the air. With a sigh, he leans forwards to cancel the call-
-and then Red's face appears on the screen.
"Red?"
Red stares at Green, eyes wide. Green narrows his eyes, bracing himself on his hands and taking a deep breath. This is your chance. Now.
"I wanted to say hi," he says carefully. "And to talk."
Red signs Hi and the camera shifts suddenly, showing Red sitting down.
"Hello to you, too," Green says, forcing a smile. It's going well so far. Sylveon pads up to his shoulder and looks at the screen, chirping softly. "What're you doing?"
The camera flips to show Red's Snorlax, lying lazily on the ground surrounded by broken branches. Green laughs, feeling relieved all of a sudden. This could work. This'll go well.
The camera flips back and Green is staring into Red's (funnily enough) red eyes. You want to talk?
Here goes. "Yeah, I do," he says, instinctively crossing his arms. Sylveon nudges him gently and then pads away, presumably heading outside. "How come you haven't been talking - well, not talking - to me? What happened?"
Red doesn't respond, instead shaking his head. Green exhales silently, trying not to be frustrated. "Not an answer, buddy," he says, pitching his voice to be more reassuring. "Just tell me. What's wrong?"
Nothing, Red signs slowly, then signs it again. N-o-t-h-i-n-g.
He hasn't heard from Red in weeks. Right after a volcano exploded and Red had obviously been sad. There was no way it was nothing.
"If it's nothing, then there's nothing wrong with telling me," Green says determinedly. Red stares back, eyes cold and blank.
Stop. Don't want to talk.
He shouldn't. He really, really shouldn't but he's unhappy and frustrated and (scared, his mind whispers but Green ignores it) tired of Red's unending silence.
"Yeah? Why not?" he says, voice rising. "You're always sad or scared about everything. Tell me."
Nothing. Nothing nothing nothing; always nothing, whether rivals or friends.
"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?"
He'll hate you for this, his mind whispers. Stop. Stop. Stop stop stop.
All his anger, all his worry, everything he'd felt in the past weeks, it all comes rushing out like a burst of fire.
"You're just scared," Green snarls. Like me. "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?!"
The last word comes out louder than he had expected and Green slumps slightly, feeling tired all of a sudden. Blood rushes in his ears, filling his head.
Red is staring at him, face blank as always, but his eyes are wide and scared and it hits Green all of a sudden what he had done.
"Shi- Staryu - Red!" was what he was about to say, but the call ends abruptly with a hiss of static. Green stares at the screen for a few seconds, then slumps back onto the wooden floor.
He really, really, messed this up, didn't he. Red didn't deserve all that he'd said. Red wasn't like that. Red was the Kanto champion, the hero. Red was the one everyone respected and loved.
A ribbon touches his forehead and Green looks up, staring into Sylveon's eyes. Sylveon sits down next to him and hums comfortingly, likely already sensing his emotions.
"Thanks, Sylveon," Green mutters, pushing himself up. Sylveon keeps up a steady hum, helping ease away the static filling his head. It's enough to keep him calm for now.
What now? he wonders, turning off the Pokegear and shoving it into his pocket. What do I do now?