Authors Note: Hello all! I hope you are all staying safe during this tough time. I thought I would update this fanfic as I now have lots of free time and more ideas :) hopefully, this makes up for the long-ass hiatus! So please drop a review, and also feel free to message if you have any ideas for future fanfic ideas! I would love to hear from you all. Ciao for now!

Chapter Eleven

Even after all the hard work and effort, the amber-eyed boy had put into rebuilding the once fragile Champion, was it still not enough? Was he still to be prioritised second to that scumbag that hurt him? Gold just didn't understand. He would never even dream about hurting Red in this manner or even think about putting anyone before him. Yet, it seemed the same rules just didn't apply.

"You fucking disgust me!" Silver spat at the weak Champion, who cowered due to the raised tone of voice. "You think it's okay to hurt Gold like this and just go back to your precious boyfriend who fucking hurt you?! Get a grip! Gold deserves way better than this bullshit!"

"Silver..." Gold tried, but Silver's rage was too much.

"No, Gold! I have had enough! It's not fair, and I won't stand here and watch this fucking pipsqueak tear your heart apart!" Red's eyes were concentrated on the floor, tracing the circles on the tiles, trying not to focus on the harsh tones ringing in his ear canal. This was too much for him, and it wasn't as if Green could do much given his state.

"I-I'm..." The Champion uttered apprehensively, as the fiery red-head took a step forwards, but was pressed back by Gold's hand.

"Silver this isn't helping anyone."

"Someone has to say something here! I know we haven't always got along, but you are like the best fucking person I have ever met in my life, so if you think I'm gonna be a-okay with someone hurting you like this, well buddy you've got another thing coming!"

Deep within Silver's words did alleviate Gold's heart somewhat. At least someone cared. At least he wasn't alone. Red appeared upset by not only Silver's words; maybe he knew that he was right. He had utterly disregarded Gold as soon as he saw Green again, and that in itself was unforgivable.

"You do care." Gold grinned to which the red-head groaned.

"Okay, you got me. I don't make a habit of it though. I got appearances to uphold! But seriously, this is not okay. This was nothing more than counterfeit love."

"That's not fair!" Red finally found his voice, even if it was laced with pain. His eyes were misty with more tears threatening to fall. "I do care about Gold!"

"Like hell, you do. I can see right through you. It's like your wearing a scarlet letter!"

All the shouting and commotion had caused the door the open, and a few Nurses had entered, all looking exceedingly displeased about the situation. After all, this couldn't be helping Green's recovery, not that Silver cared about that. It was probable that the thought crossed his mind to sabotage the wires or something. He always did have a vindictive streak.

"I think you all need to leave." One of the Nurse's spoke defiantly, keeping the door open. "This is not helping the patient."

"We were leaving anyway," Silver spat vehemently, hooking his fingers in the crook of Gold's arm and tugging him free of Red, whose face almost crumbled. "Don't even think about talking to Gold again after this." He warned the Champion, who didn't even have the energy to respond. Gold just looked broken completely.

He had put so much time, effort and love into rebuilding Red, and for what?

For nothing.

The Champion watched painfully as Silver pulled the figure of Gold out of the door, and felt his chest heave as the realisation suddenly became apparent. What if he never saw the amber-eyed boy again?

XxXx

They walked in silence down the hospital corridor, but the grip on Gold's arm remained firm. It was in an almost protective way. Silver hadn't always been the best of friend's to Gold; he would admit that. But, when he had hit rock bottom, the goggle-head had always been at his side, fighting his corner and believing in him.

Now it was his turn.

Gold in truth didn't have any energy to talk; he just wanted all this pain and anguish to vanish. It was eating him away as if he had a parasite burrowed deep inside and it was destroying him. It was becoming harder to move each foot or even to keep his eyes open. He should have known better.

"Hey..." Silver said softly, turning to face his companion. "You okay?" He received a shake of the head in response, and the red-head sighed deeply. It would take a lot of hard work and dedication to fix Gold, and bring back his usual bubbly self, but he was determined to at least try.

"You're coming back to my flat, no questions asked. You need to heal and be away from all this bullshit." He knew Silver was right, and it would probably do him some good. His mother would only ask unnecessary questions if he went back to his house, and he could do without that for now.

"You're right, thank you."

"What for?" Gold tried his best to smile.

"For sticking up for me back then. I don't think I have ever seen you so angry." A slight blush tinged the red-head's cheeks as he glanced away.

"Well...they piss me off! They are welcome to their toxic relationship, but no way is anyone dragging my friend into their bullshit. I won't let it happen."

Maybe hell would freeze over because Gold was almost sure his childhood friend had human emotions. He decided against speaking further about the issue and allowed the red-head to lead him out of the hospital and on the way to his flat.

Some me time was needed.

XxXx

Back in the hospital room, crimson eyes glistened with more tears that threatened to fall, as the Nurse quickly checked up on the patient, adjusting his oxygen mask. Green was still incredibly weak, and fragile, so all that commotion probably didn't help the situation at all, and Red felt guilty.

It was all his fault.

Everything.

Gold was hurting, his best friend was now on the warpath and to tell the truth, it terrified the Champion.

"Are you okay?" A Nurse spoke to Red calmly, also feeling worried. He nodded weakly, quickly wiping at his flushed cheeks to erase any tears that may have escaped. Sniffling slightly, he took a deep, shaky breath, feeling his heart pulsate pain and anguish throughout his system. The Nurse smiled softly before leaving the room, allowing Red and Green to have some alone time.

"It's all my fault..." Red whimpered, putting his head in his hands, as weakly emerald eyes turned to face the raven-haired boy.

"No, it isn't."

"Silver is angry at me because I hurt Gold... it's like the circle will never be broken." It was true. Green had hurt Red in ways that were impossible to fix, Gold had entered Red's life and had tried his utmost to fix him and rebuild his confidence, and yet the Champion had also succeeded in hurting the one person who had tried to help him.

Maybe he was just as bad as Green?

"You can't help your feelings..." Green uttered weakly, before coughing into the oxygen mask. The Champion's body was still trembling in realisation. He was right. Even after it all, Red's heart was still in the palm of his childhood companion's hand.

"I wish I couldn't feel anything..." He muttered sadly, clenching his hands into fists, watching as they faded to white. A frown flashed upon the older boy's face, but he decided against voicing his opinions. Deep inside, Green didn't have the answers that Red desired, he didn't know if it was due to the brain tumour that caused his outrageous and unforgivable behaviour.

"I-I...don't know what to do..."

"Do you care about Gold?" Red nodded simply, not even giving it a seconds thought.

"Then you need to talk to him." The thought terrified the Champion, especially if the fiery red-head was lurking around. The last thing he wanted was to encounter Silver again.

"I can't..."

"Look, I'm not going anywhere so go and find Gold and be honest with him, Silver will understand." As crimson eyes melted into emerald, he knew that Green was right. Hiding away, or ignoring the problem would only serve to make it worse in the long run. But, he had no idea where Gold could be.

He doubted he would go back home given the circumstances. Maybe he needed to give him some time first? All these thoughts hurt Red's brain, and weakly he closed his eyes and buried his face into his hands.

Why couldn't life just be simple?

XxXx

"Right so you have a choice, Mario Kart or Splatoon?" Amber eyes blinked rapidly as they readjusted their focus on the slim figure of the red-headed male, who stood in front of him, holding the two games in his hands. Perhaps Silver thought taking Gold's mind off what had just happened was the best course of action.

"Mario Kart,"

"I knew you were going to say that." If there was one thing the goggle-head was good at was kicking Silver's ass at this game. No matter what he would always lose, and couldn't understand why, but if it would help cheer him up, then he was willing to let it slide this once.

Silver knelt beside the game console and inserted the disk, grabbed two controllers and hastily handed one to Gold. He weakly took it from his grasp and watched as the red-head sat down beside him. As the game booted up, an uncomfortable silence settled over the two friends, and for once it made Silver feel uneasy. Typically silence was something he enjoyed, but this time it was awkward, and he didn't like it one bit.

"Are you sure you're okay?" He pursued, to which Gold nodded, almost too quickly.

"Oh yeah, I'm fine."

"I get the impression you're lying to me..." The red-head grilled, silver irises becoming stern. "You know you can talk to me, right? Even if it's about sappy crap, or whatever." Amber eyes diverted to the floor for a moment, as a sigh escaped his lips.

"I know Silver, and I think I'm still trying to understand it myself before actually talking about it."

"Do you love Red?" Upon reflection, the fiery red-head had no idea why those words casually spilt out into the atmosphere, or why his heart was straining in pain. Maybe clarification was needed before he could address the issue? Gold ran his fingers through his hair as the main menu flashed upon the screen.

"I wouldn't know... yeah there were feelings for sure, but love? I don't know. I've never been in love." Silver momentarily closed his eyes, almost in relief.

"I vaguely remember a conversation I had with my mother many years ago... I asked her about what love was, and if it was how we see it in movies. She said that if you love someone, then their happiness if your priority and you would do anything to see them smile, even if that meant sacrificing yourself. That sometimes it's hard to love someone because it isn't always sunshine and rainbows, its arguments and cross words.

"It's getting home from work late and not being able to share dinner together and going to bed in a mood. It's forgetting menial things and being stupid together. It's making everlasting memories and sharing your life with someone who makes existing a little bit more bearable. If that is how you feel for Red right now, then I'd say you love him."

Silver's words touched Gold deeply. He was so shocked that the hot-head would just talk so openly about something like that with him. Over the years of knowing Silver, he hadn't delved into details about his mother, and that was okay, but now he brought something up on his own accord. Did that mean the red-head trusted him?

"Wow Silver... I never realised you were this wise." This made the fiery male blush violently, and he glanced away.

"I am not wise! I-I am just telling you what my mother said! Th-that's all!" The amber-eyed boy smiled and gently nudged his friend on the arm.

"Sure, you're not. Have you loved anyone?" As the red-head started to flick through the options on what character to be on the menu, he felt his heart start to race. This was unusual. Why was this happening? Swallowing hard, he responded.

"I'm not sure... maybe, maybe not... but that is not important."

"Of course, it is important!" Gold cried "Did you ever tell them?"

"No-" He snapped suddenly "- and it will stay that way!"Amber eyes beheld his image and Gold couldn't help but smile. Even though many a time during their childhood Silver hadn't been the easiest to get along with, or even to have a conversation with- right now, he was here and actually opening up.

"Are you scared...?" He pursued, watching as the red-head refused to make eye contact and continued scrolling through the options on the television screen. His cheeks were flushed pink, and Gold could tell that his words had affected him to some degree.

"Silv... sometimes you have just gotta be brave and tell them how you feel."

"Oh, you mean like you did with Red?" He shot back sarcastically, and instantly Gold felt the venom from his words seep into his very core. That was a low blow. Silver knew just how this whole mess had affected him and yet he still decided to use it as ammunition.

"You know that's different..." He responded sadly, gripping his controller tightly in his hands. Silver shrugged casually.

"Is it? I saw how hurt you were back at the hospital when you saw Red with Green. Don't you think that the reason I haven't said anything is that... I don't wanna go through that as well?" A slight crack of weakness, of vulnerability, shone through like a ray of hope and the amber-eyed boy grabbed onto it with both hands. His childhood friend was opening up, more and more, and he needed to be the foundation of support he always knew he could be.

"How do you know for sure that it'll end the same way?" The red-head sighed, waiting for Gold to choose his character.

"...' coz the way I feel is wrong, and no-one would ever like me." Is that really how he saw himself? That no-one would return his feelings? Perhaps it was all linked to his past, a cruel childhood filled with neglect and turmoil.

"That's not true. I like you, Silv." He paused. Slowly silver eyes melted into sparkling pools of amber, and the faintest of smiles teased his lips. Gold was just being a good friend, just like he had always been throughout their life. And yet, he was also utterly oblivious to everything around him.

Saying something that in theory was so simple, and nothing to dwell over proved to be futile to the red-head. Gold didn't mean he liked him romantically, and deep within his cursed vessel, he knew this information. It didn't mean it hurt any less though, or that his feelings weren't valid in any way.

"You're stupid." He teased. "Anyway, hurry up and pick your character so I can kick your ass!"

XxXx

Despite Green's protests, Red had decided to stay with him in the hospital. Something was compelling him to stay at his childhood companion's bedside, even though he had been the cause of his mental downfall.

Deep within Red's mind, he saw this as another chance, a shot of redemption in some way. Green was suffering in ways that he couldn't imagine, being so young and fearing the unknown about the prognosis- it must have been excruciating. All the Champion wanted was some form of closure, so he could move on even if the naïve part of his brain desired to salvage their lost friendship.

Was it even possible?

Green's countenance seemed awash with remorse and regret, hating the fact he had hurt his old friend all because he couldn't deal with his own emotions. Was that even a good enough excuse? Was it even linked to the possible brain tumour at all? All he wanted was, to be honest to Red, and yet lying stationary in the hospital bed made it more or less impossible.

"Red..." He managed to mutter weakly, grabbing the Champion's attention. Crimson eyes sparked into life, just like they used to when they were kids. He always looked at him in such wonder, as if he were the most important person in the world.

Why did he destroy that light in his heart?

"...yes?" Swallowing hard, Green inhaled deeply, filling his lungs with oxygen. His nerves felt like they were on fire with anxiety. There was no possible way to make things right or to go back to how they used to be.

Red deserved better than that.

"You do know there's a chance I won't make it out from this... right?" The words cut like a knife, hurting the Champion in ways he didn't even think were possible. Yes, he knew there was a chance that Green's prognosis wouldn't be favourable, but the way he was talking was as if he only had days left to live.

"Stop talking like that..." He scolded, watching as emerald eyes became misty for a moment as he glanced up at the ceiling.

"We have to be real here, Red. Worst case scenario is they won't be able to operate..."

"I don't want to hear it." Again, the defiance was steadfast in his voice, as hard crimson eyes glared at his former friend.

Why was Green convinced that this was the end?

Did he know something that no-one else did?

The mere thought caused the Champion's body to tremble in sadness, as images flashed across his mind- images of the two of them back when they were children and life was so much simpler.

"Red..."

"Please... just stop...!" His voice cracked, as tears painfully trickled down his cheeks, and his chest heaved in anguish. Even if Green had hurt him, and badly at that, the thought of him not being around at all was crucifying his naïve heart. If only he could go back in time, to prevent all of this- to save Green somehow.

"...I-I... don't want to imagine life without you..." Red's voice was small and weak- just like how he felt right now in this vast whitewashed room. Everything was too grand, too much to deal with. Every time his eyes melted into emerald, he could feel his heart become captivated once again and knowing that it could be cruelly snatched away again was just too much to bear.

XxXx

A few painful and precarious days past, dragging on as if they were months, weighing down on the Champion's mind heavily. Every single day without fail, he would be at Green's bedside, ensuring he wasn't alone. Even if this was detrimental to his mental state, he couldn't help but put his former childhood companion first.

It was exactly as they feared. The MRI scan came back. Green did have a brain tumour, and the conclusion was that due to where it was located in Green's brain, they would be unable to operate. They could attempt radiotherapy to shrink down the mass, but that was all they could offer.

So, as far as Red was concerned, his best friend was living on a timer, and the grains of sand were vastly slipping away. He sat attentively at his side; fingers gripped onto Green's hand desperately. Like every day that past, the malignant undertone to his skin became ever more apparent. Emerald eyes looked broken, every single breath was raspy and laboured, and the very fire that once roared in his heart was starting to wane.

"...are you going to accept the radiotherapy?" Red asked, attempting to keep whatever spirits he had left as high as he could. Green nodded weakly into his oxygen mask. Even if the prognosis wasn't favourable, there was no way they could give up.

Giving up meant that the tumour had won and taken Green away.

There was no way he was going to accept that.

Their attention piqued as a nurse entered the room to check on the patient, ensuring oxygen levels were as expected, and he was as comfortable as possible. Surely there needed to be a way of saving him, no matter how difficult it would be.

"Excuse me..." Red spoke up in a small voice, alerting the kind nurse. She smiled warmly, gentle brown eyes melting into crimson.

"Yes, love?"

"Is... there no way of curing him? At all? Or preventing this from happening?" Her face became awash with emotions that clearly she wasn't meant to feel. As she cleared her throat, her countenance returned to that of nonchalance, and that did little to comfort the Champion.

"Perhaps if we had caught this early enough... but unfortunately that wasn't the case. The only possible way this outcome would have been different would be if we had the power to turn back time I'm afraid... and as far as we know, that is impossible."

Red's heart felt as if it were made of lead, weighing heavy inside his chest. Turning back time? Why did the Nurse say something so preposterous? It was almost as if she were trying to mock him in some way.

His brow furrowed as she smiled painfully before leaving the room, allowing chilling silence to shroud the two boy's once more.

His fingers tightened their grip on Green's hand, frightened to let go. Just by looking at his face, he could see the beauty of life draining away, little by little. The grains of sand too fine to grasp to prevent the inevitable it seemed.

The dam threatening to burst seemed to explode within the Champion, and agonising tears fell down his face. Just watching his friend's body lying deathly still in confines of white, to hear the incessant beeping on the machine echoing in his ears- all of it was like a nightmare.

Then there was a thought, a passing idea that he was sure he had heard in fairy tales and legends. Not from Kanto, but from Johto- a being who could time travel resided in a dark, mysterious forest.

Was it merely nothing more than a legend or where there hard facts behind this?

Gears of his mind worked fervently to uncover if he knew any other information about this potential lifesaving idea.

The time travel Pokemon- Celebi was it?

Did it even exist?

Would he even be able to find it, and be able to ask for help?

As crimson eyes drank in the pitiful image of Green beside him, he felt his resolve start to kick into gear. A glimmer of hope, no matter how small shouldn't be extinguished, after all- even though it was a long shot perhaps this was the only way to keep Green firmly anchored to life, and his heart.