…
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sanguine
Red and the six people who mattered most to him
his mentor
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I was on the outside when you said
you said you needed me
I was looking at myself
I was blind, I could not see
The Professor needs to see two boys. One is a boy he knows like the back of his hand. The other is his grandson.
Neither boy takes very long to arrive at the door to his laboratory. His grandson shows up first, impatient and self-righteous as always. That's how Green has always been, and his grandfather sighs and ruffles his already-messy hair.
Close behind, Red follows.
The details of the encounter fade over time. Oak can't remember quite what he said to the pair, just that both looked so eager and excited that they almost put aside that stupid rivalry they've carried on for a few years now.
The peace doesn't last long, though, and neither does Green's unbroken record; Red crushes him in the brief little battle that follows. Both seem utterly astounded by the outcome of the battle, because Green never expects to lose and Red never expects to win against Green.
Still, Oak is proud. Proud of Red, mostly, for figuring out that, yes, he does have a talent, that he's not just a little boy, and that he can't rely on anyone but himself and his new pikachu anymore.
And, he supposes, he's proud of Green, too, for figuring out that perhaps Red won't be the one trailing behind him on this journey they're about to take.
Minutes go by and they're gone. Oak knows better than to offer advice to the beleaguered Red, or comfort Green about his petty loss just minutes ago. After all, he remembers his days as a youngster. And he knows that the only way for Red or Green to learn is to let them learn – alone. Follow in the footsteps of so many others.
No shortcuts in life.
Oak watches as Red and Green trace out his own footsteps. Gym after gym, fight after fight, tragedy after heartbreak after panic. Not once does he offer assistance or advice unbidden. They have his number, they know to call.
He knows they won't call, though. They are him, in essence. And Oak has never asked for help in his life. Why would they?
Green becomes Champion, followed by Red, who gives the spot back to the League (was it a hollow dream? Or was something else in play?) and Oak's proud of them both, even though he doesn't quite tell them. After all, he remembers his own Champion days, and Champion is not the most important goal in the world.
The boys will follow him to learn that some day.
For years, Oak may be the only one who knows what Red is doing, because he pays attention to the news and to the way the wind blows. Because he follows the ones he cares about. He follows Green too, but that's not so difficult since Green makes a big hullabaloo out of every single thing he does.
Red doesn't know it. Green doesn't know it. But Oak – like any good father figure, like any good mentor – has been following, helping, protecting, for years. They just have yet to see that.
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Author's Note: That was… interesting. Actually, in my opinion, it sort of sucked. I don't think I did a very good job of portraying how Oak feels about his grandkid and his hero. But, then again, it is a new perspective for me. Tomorrow's will hopefully be better.
Whatever you think, please review and let me know! Same with last chapter. It's hard to know what to write, since I didn't get any feedback on that one. Hopefully this one will be different.
Song was "I Will Follow" by U2. I don't own anything.