Authors' Note: An update! What the hell is wrong with me?! xD I'm on a roll! Anyway, chapters will be short and sweet, but enjoy!
Chapter One
When Red turned eight years old, it became apparent that his need for routine and stability was something of a must have. If the slightest thing was out of place, or if someone ruined his daily routine, he just couldn't deal with it and his brain would go into overload, resulting in hours locked away in his room.
His mother had assumed it was just part of growing up, but when she witnessed how Green behaved around others, she came to realise that her precious boy was very different. Different in today's society wasn't something to be proud of, in fact it led to bullying and torment.
Thankfully, Red had his ever reliable and rather hot-headed best friend to kick ass whenever the local kids used to make fun of him. So what, Red was unlike most kids his age, it didn't mean it was a bad thing. Okay, he needed routine in his life to be able to function properly. Wasn't that a normal part of life?
Green was always so patient with Red, and his weird routines. He knew that he could only see Red on certain days, and at certain times to avoid freaking the crimson-eyed boy out. Those days were Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Not that the emerald eyed youth minded, he got to spend time with Red, and not traumatise him in the process. It was a win-win.
Today was Saturday, a day where Red stayed at Green's place overnight. His grandfather, Professor Oak, was very willing to accommodate the socially awkward boy when his mother needed time to herself. Sometimes things became too stressful, and a little 'me' time was required.
This was the reason why Green loved Saturdays. He got to spend the whole day with his best friend.
It was Red's turn to choose a video game to play today, just like the routine went. First, Green would choose, and then it would be Red. The nervous youth stared at the stack of games that his best friend owned; feeling a little intimidated. He didn't want to choose wrong, and make Green angry.
"Go on Red! Any game is fine!" The brunette assured him, smiling wildly as he swung his legs back and forth on his bed. Crimson eyes flickered from the image of his friend, to the stack of terribly un-organised games. One by one, he began pulling them out, inspecting their covers thoroughly, before creating a neat pile beside him, all in alphabetical order.
"Come on Red! We haven't got all day!"
The raven nervously picked up the next game in the pile and looked at the cover. It was a multi-player driving game, and it looked like fun, so with that decided the smaller boy got up from the floor and plodded over to Green's bed.
"This one…" He murmured, handing over the white case.
"Mario Kart?" Green muttered, emerald eyes looking deeply into crimson ones. Red nodded meekly, before sitting beside his friend, still feeling unsure about his decision, which caused him to chew on his fingernails.
"You do realise I am unbeatable in this game~" The older boy tormented, sticking his tongue out playfully.
"Unbeatable?"
"Yeah! Ask Daisy! She hates playing this game with me. I always throw shells and banana skins at her."
Red's expression changed from neutral to confusion, and then to anxious. In his mind, the words Green said didn't make sense. Why would he throw banana skins at Daisy? Had she upset him, or did he not like bananas?
"Red?"
The raven-haired boy blinked rapidly before realising that Green was staring at him, as if he wanted an answer, but of course, his own thoughts had consumed him. Weakly he shrugged his shoulders, eyes falling to the floor.
"We can play it…"
"Hey…don't give me that look. I'll go easy on you!" The emerald-eyed boy jumped off the bed, and wandered over to the game console, case in hand. Red merely watched the figure of his childhood companion grab a second driver's wheel and put the game into the console.
Right now, Red's mind was nothing more than a jumbled mess of probing questions, and longing answers. He was unsure if Green was being serious about the shells and banana skins, and it scared him a little. Should he be prepared to get hurt if he played this game? Involuntarily the smaller boy flinched when Green sat back down beside him, holding out the driver's wheel.
"Are you alright?" He asked, watching as the crimson-eyed boy nodded weakly.
"Y-yeah…"
With nervous hands, he grabbed the wheel, unsure of what to do, or how to play the game. Green smiled brightly, revealing the small gap in his front teeth, before settling down to play the game. A look of concentration etched on his features, whilst Red seemed to be on another planet.
"Okay, you choose a character first, Red." Green beamed happily, sitting back and letting his best friend pick. This panicked him slightly. There were too many choices, and he was unsure if one of them was the wrong option. He needed to be told this.
"Um…what would…you suggest?" He mumbled weakly, trying to stop his nervous disposition get the better of him.
"Well, I'm usually Bowser, so…you could be any of the others. Maybe Yoshi?" Red frowned; feeling just as confused as he did before he asked for assistance, so he went for the obvious choice. The one who wore red clothing, Mario.
"Okay then and I'll be Bowser!" Green declared, picking his character and smirking in delight. The raven-haired boy bowed his head slightly as Green flicked through the variety of courses to race through. Who would have thought that playing a simple video game would cause so much hassle?
Red understood the concept to video games, and that they were supposed be fun and enjoyable. However, such a simple task was in comparison to climbing Mt Silver, with no supplies, and no equipment. He wanted to be able to be like Green, and enjoy the easy things in life. It just seemed impossible right now.
"Right, you ready?" Green asked, emerald eyes watching the smaller figure of his best friend, who meekly nodded in response. He had no idea how to play the game, or how to stop Green from attacking him with these 'banana skins'. Nevertheless Red decided that he wouldn't learn anything if he didn't at least give it a go, so with bated breath he waited for Green to start up the race.
His fingers started to feel clammy, as he watched the timer clock down before the words GO appeared, and the race had begun.
As expected Green, and the majority of computerised characters were already ahead of the younger boy, who simply tried to get used to the controls, and avoid trouble. He didn't realise that being at the back he was relatively safe from attacks, but his cocky best friend was not.
"Damn you Peach!" Green yelled, when his car became under attack by a blue shell. Red wasn't paying attention to Green's antics, and focused on his own. Slowly he was getting used to the controls, and how to use the items. The crimson-eyed boy obtained a golden star, and before he knew it, he was shining and going faster than most people go on the track.
"Dammit Red! How do you manage to do this?!" Green noted, still leading the rest of the group, but not by much. Yoshi, and Peach were right on his tail. Red was making slow, but steady progress. He concentrated on passing each one, before thinking about beating Green. Now, he wasn't last, he was starting to gain confidence.
"This isn't so bad…" He murmured avoiding a blue shell that someone had carelessly thrown his way.
"You learn fast." Green mused, still keeping the lead, like he had been for the majority of the race. Red just smiled, finally managing to enjoy himself for once. He was making progress, and now was sitting comfortably in fifth place, not too far behind.
"Take that!" The emerald-eyed boy yelled when he obtained the golden star, making his little character invincible to attacks. Even though Green was winning, and Red was a long way back, deep inside he felt happy that his best friend was beating other characters, even if they were all computerised.
Only two laps left to go, and Red had finally managed to pass Daisy, after so long. He used the banana tactic that Green had told him about, and smirked to himself when it actually worked. Now he was in fourth place, and catching up to Green. The brunette's fingers tightened around the controller in concentration as he swerved his car to avoid another blue shell. Thankfully, it missed.
"Hahaha! Stupid Yoshi!" Green called out defiantly, still keeping his lead, not paying attention to how close Red was.
"I can see you." The younger boy murmured stoically, casually avoiding the trail of banana skins that were left on the track.
"What?! What position are you?!" Red shrugged, maintaining his concentration. He could see three more characters, including Green ahead of him and they were coming close to the final lap. Deep in his mind, he already mapped out a plan: grab another gold star to get into third place, get some blue shells to attack Green and Yoshi further up ahead, and hopefully have enough speed to win the race. That was his strategy.
The final lap dawned on the boys, and straight away Red grabbed a blue shell, but decided on keeping it for now. Using it up would be a waste, especially this early on. He needed to get closer to the leaders.
Green was blissfully unaware of his tactic, and continued to use pure speed to gain the advantage. It was too obvious, and predictable. The crimson-eyed boy easily swiped a gold star, and just as planned he sped ahead into third place, not too far behind the leaders.
"Oh crap in a bucket!" Green cursed loudly, not pleased that Yoshi had stolen the lead from him by using a flying shell. For that split second Red lost concentration because of Green's outburst. He was concerned that his best friend was really infuriated, and it caused severe confusion within his brain.
"Are...you okay?" He asked, attempting to keep his car on the road, and not to swerve off. Green nodded, desperately chasing after the green dinosaur that was ahead of him. The crimson-eyed boy knew how infuriated his best friend was, so it was now time to use that blue shell he saved up.
"Green...?"
"What is it now?" The older boy said in annoyance, gritting his teeth. Calmly the raven haired boy drove up alongside his best friend's avatar, and just simply threw the blue shell. Emerald eyes widened when that sinister shell managed to smack straight into Yoshi, sending his car spinning in a daze. The temporary daze helped the boys, and both of them drove past the green dinosaur, going into first and second place.
It seemed Red's little plan had changed from what he originally went with, and he didn't like it at all. Now he was stuck, having no idea how to pass his best friend's car because he was out of items, and ideas. Green had managed to get back into the lead, which pleased him greatly.
"Thanks Red! Who said Mario Kart isn't about teamwork?"
The younger boy frowned with concentration, knowing that the finish line was vast approaching, and right now he was powerless to prevent Green from winning. Then, he had an idea.
Red directed his car right behind Green, speeding up as fast as he could. In his own mind he decided that if he couldn't win, then neither could Green. Soon enough his car was right behind his best friend's, almost shunting him in the back. Green noticed straight away, and became alarmed.
"Red? What are you playing at?!"
Within a matter of seconds Red forcefully smashed his car into Green, sending the both of them spinning off the race course, and losing the lead. Green became enraged, and in anger threw his controller down on the bed. Emerald eyes blazed at his friend, who didn't seem to notice anything was wrong.
"What is your problem?! Why did you do that?!" He yelled, receiving a vacant stare from the younger boy. He shrugged, disinterested, and carefully placed the controller down.
"...you wouldn't let me win."
"Red, the game doesn't work that way! It's a competition! You don't LET people win!"
Crimson eyes flickered away momentarily, trying to understand the concept. So, when he helped Green pass Yoshi, he was praised, but when he spun them both off the course it made Green angry?
"Arceus, you're so stupid!" Green's words hurt Red deeply. The raven-haired boy bowed his head in sadness, not wanting his best friend to shout at him anymore. He didn't think he did anything wrong.
"I'm...sorry..."
"Oh, just SHUT UP!"
Red closed his eyes, feeling a lump congeal in his throat, and tears threaten to fall from his eyes. How could Green be so horrible to him? He didn't mean to make him so angry. He just wanted them both to win, so they could share it.
The older boy stood up from the bed and turned the game console off, leaving the both of them to bathe in awkward silence. Red didn't say a word, just like Green had told him to. He was scared that if he spoke up it would make him even angrier.
Green sighed, picking up the controllers, and putting them away neatly. He never meant to shout at Red, its just he was so close to winning and then it was taken away from him. Maybe he shouldn't have told Red to shut up...it was mean of him after all.
He turned to face the younger boy, who still had his head bowed down so his face was hidden from view. He remained silent, almost terrified to speak up. A small frown crept onto Green's countenance. He never meant to get so angry...
"Red...i'm sorry..." He murmured softly. "I never meant to shout..."
Red said nothing and continued to sit still, and motionless. Deep inside Green felt guilty for upsetting his best friend like that, not realising that he took things to heart. Even if Green didn't mean what he said, Red would always think otherwise.
He sat beside the younger boy, his emerald eyes never leaving him for a second. Gently he placed his hand on his shoulder, feeling the raven-haired boy tense up.
"Red...don't be like this. I didn't mean what I said...I was just angry..."
Again, he received the silent treatment, and Green had no idea how to put this right. If he was ignoring him then what could he do? Did he have to give Red some time to get over it?
"Red...talk to me...please..."
Weakly the younger boy raised his head, so sparkling crimson eyes melted into shimmering emeralld ones. It was obvious Red was upset, and it just made the older boy feel even worse.
"Y-you...told me...to shut up..." He murmured quietly, still scared that Green would get angry with him for speaking, when he was told not to. Green blinked in shock, almost forgetting that when he said things like that Red took them literally. If you told him to jump off a cliff, the odds are he would do it because you told him to. That thought was terrifying.
Without thinking Green hugged his best friend tightly, wanting to make this sorry mess better again somehow. He never meant to get angry, or shout at Red...it just happened. Red closed his eyes, before nervously wrapping his arms around the older boy, pressing his forehead against his neck.
"I never meant it Red...I'm so sorry...!"
"It's okay..." The younger boy muttered, secretly enjoying the embrace. This meant all was forgiven, that Green wasn't mad anymore. He associated hugs and holding hands to happiness, when Green wanted to be around him and liked having him around. Shouting and raised voices were bad times, and he knew he had to keep quiet and hope things just blew over.
"You know...when I say horrible things...I don't mean it Red, I never mean it..."
This was something the raven-haired boy would never understand. Why tell someone to shut up, and then regret it five minutes later when they actually did it? It didn't make any sense to him. Why tell someone to go hide and not come out until they were found, and then get so wound up when they couldn't be found, and create so much un-needed angst and worry?
The world confused the poor boy, and the older and more wiser he became the more things he just didn't understand. Human interaction, and social behaviour would always be his downfall, and Green needed to learn how to handle his best friend soon, for his own sake, as well as Red's.