Pssst this is the old chapter 6, go re-read it if you haven't already! Sorry for the mistake, is being a big butt. AO3 has this story up and formatted perfectly, so I really suggest you go read it there if you can.

It was two days since Gold had taken Silver to the Game Corner. It was two days since Gold had last seen Silver.

Gold had a feeling he really offended his roommate. Knowing Silver, it was probably something petty. After the third day, Gold was getting annoyed and a tad concerned. Usually Silver at least climbed in during the night at an ungodly hour to sleep or get food, but he didn't even do that. It was as if he was avoiding Gold like he had an STD. Which totally couldn't happen, he used a condom.

He really wanted to go look for Silver.

"Gold! Are you slacking off again?"

"No! I'm just… helping this Elekid!"

The Elekid in Gold's arm bristled, electricity sparking. He quickly set it down and went back to training it half-heartedly. Focusing on the baby Pokemon was hard with Silver on his mind, especially since he left on a bad note. The Hatcher's brain kept coming up with every possible scenario against his will.

It scared Gold more than it should. He knew Silver could take care of himself, probably better than he could. But he couldn't shake off the stone in his gut holding him down.

Since he was tied down by his job, Gold had to improvise. "Don't let me down, buddy!" he quietly lets out his Ambipom and gives it pat. "Silver is missing and I kinda feel bad about it, go find him for me."

Aibo gives the Hatcher a thumbs up with his twin tails before scurrying off. Gold sighs, feeling somewhat relieved. He knew he could count on his Pokemon to drag Silver back, but now he had to think about to do when they met again. He had no idea why the redhead just up and left, but he was smart enough to connect it to what happened after he went to the Game Corner. Why it bothered Silver so much was lost to Gold, though. All he could consider was that maybe he was jealous? Or that the Exchanger was just freaked out by sex, Gold was pretty sure he was 100% asexual.

Whatever the case was, Gold knew he had to apologize. Even if he didn't know what for.

"Man, I hope our friendship isn't ruined," Gold mumbles to himself. He returns to attempting to train the Elekid only to get electrocuted once more. "Why do you hate me!?" the Hatcher wails. The baby electric type just shrugs.

0x0x0

Work passed by fairly quickly after Gold sent out Aibo. He gave up on the Elekid and moved onto a more docile Natu, which seemed to like him a bit too much. When the Hatcher had to head home, the psychic bird started shrieking and Gold got out of there as fast as humanly possible. He dashed to his apartment, eager to see if his Pokemon had returned with a grumpy redhead in tow.

But it was empty.

Gold rubs his face and drops his bad at the door. Now he was worried about both Silver and Aibo. In hindsight, it was a bad idea and he should have thought before acting. But that was a bad habit the Hatcher just couldn't break. Gold decides to take a shower to calm his nerves. The heat helps his aching muscles from work, but his mind is hardly quelled.

"Bah!" The stone in his gut gets heavier and heavier as time passes and Aibo and Silver are still missing. The Hatcher knows he's probably overreacting since it's just been 2 days, 5 hours and 12 minutes since Silver was last in his apartment. But Gold's conscious made him feel like it was his fault that the redhead ran off, pissed off and maybe even hurt. Gold felt weird when he thought about Silver being hurt, it made him mad and scared at the same time.

It wasn't the first time he felt weird when thinking about Silver. Actually, it happened every time he thought about the redhead. Gold didn't know what the feeling was, but now he suddenly really misses Silver. He misses the consistency of seeing the Exchanger every day, battling every week, making pancakes with him, and the way he slowly opened up to him. Gold really felt Silver was considering him as his best friend instead of it being one-sided, but then this happened. With the way Silver holds a grudge, Gold knows he'll be lucky to be considered an acquaintance.

And yet, Gold still doesn't know why. But Gold isn't one to just wait around for answers. He's an action kind of guy.

He quickly dries off and dressed in his jacket and shorts before grabbing his skateboard and riding out into Goldenrod. He has no plan but he doesn't care. He'd search all of Johto if he had to for Silver and his Aibo.

0x0x0

After riding around for hours, Gold finally takes a break in a Pokecenter. He'd covered all of Goldenrod, Ecruteak and Ilex Forest. Every nook and cranny was searched by him, and he'd even found a couple of Silver's ultimately empty bases. Although his search was fruitless, he now knew other hiding places Silver could go if he pulled this stunt again. It was his attempt at staying positive. He considered calling Crys, since Olivine was just a route away from Ecruteak, but he knew she would just tell him he was overreacting.

Gold slouches in the cushioned seat, wiping damp bangs from his face. So far there was no sign of the Exchanger's trail. He hadn't expected Silver to go this far away from him, it was unnerving.

"Are you okay, sir?"

Gold looks up at the feminine voice. It was the nurse behind the counter giving him a worried expression, eyebrows knit and mouth turned downward. "It's three in the morning, what were you doing that left you so exhausted?"

Gold blinks. He didn't know it was that late. Searching for his companions confused his concept of time. "Ah, it's nothing," he assures with a shaky grin. "Just doing some late night training."

The nurse doesn't look convinced. "Its not nice to lie to those who heal your Pokemon, sir."

"Wha-" Gold nearly chokes at the snarky reply. "I-It's none of your business!" he defends.

"You're right," she shrugs. "It's not. But when someone comes in looking like death, I have to worry."

"Do I really look like that?" Gold sulks, dropping his head to his hands.

"Your eyes also have that look. You've lost someone important recently?"

Gold's head snaps back up so quickly he feels his neck crack. He's a little disturbed at the fact that he was read so easily and that the nurse hit the nail on the head. She gives him a sad smile when their eyes meet. "I can sympathize. My father died last year and I couldn't tend to Pokemon for six whole months because of it."

"Oh, I'm sorry," Gold says quickly. "But he didn't die. At least," his voice drops, "I hope he didn't."

"Is this important person in danger, then?"

"Not exactly?" Gold scratches his head. "He's probably fine but I'm just concerned. He just up and left for some reason and I can't help but feel I fucked up."

"I see. Bad breadup?"

"No!" Gold lurches out of his seat. The thought of being in a relationship with Silver never even crossed his mind.

The nurse giggles. "Could've fooled me."

"Wh-wha-" Gold really doesn't like this nurse anymore. He'd rather go all the way to Blackthorn to heal his Pokemon in the future than deal with this.

"Forgive me for my mistake, then," she says sweetly. "Must be a really close friend then, huh?"

"Yeah…" Gold likes the sound of that better. He relaxes back into his seat.

"Pardon me for butting in, but I feel as though you should change that."

"You don't even know me!" Gold yells, pointing an accusing finger at the nurse behind the counter.

"But if a complete stranger thinks this, imagine what your friends think," the nurse says casually.

Gold's finger withers as he mulls over what she said. Her point was valid and the Hatcher was starting to get a little scared. They had only just met and she was talking like she knew him his whole life. But the fact that she assumed he and Silver were a couple certainly made him think, planting a nagging seed in his mind.

"Tell me how you feel about him," she prods, folding her hands under her chin and leaning over the counter. "I won't judge, I just heal Pokemon."

"Why do you even care?"

"Its three in the morning and I don't have anything better to do."

Gold couldn't argue with that logic. He'd probably do the same if he was in her position. And opening up to a stranger did seem easier than opening up to someone like Crys for some reason Gold didn't understand. He planned to resolve these weird inscribable feelings with Silver, but now seemed like a good time as of any. If he figured them out now, it would be less for Silver to deal with too.

"Well…" the Hatcher begins slowly, scratching his head. "I'm not sure? I mean, he's basically been a constant in my life ever since I made him move in with me."

"You… made him move in with you?"

"Yeah, he was kinda like a hobo before," Gold waves her off. "It's a long story, be happy I'm telling you this much as it is."

She lets out another giggle. Gold continues. "Before, we would only see each other when something bad happened and we had to fix it. Its funny, back then we hated each other's guts. I remember feeling mad whenever I saw his face. But now…"

"But now?" she prompts with a coy smile on her lips.

"Now, I guess I'm happy? He's a really closed in guy, doesn't like showing many emotions besides being grumpy. But now he's been smiling a lot more, and that makes me happy. He's been gone for two days now, and I kinda miss seeing him a lot. Its like my schedule is missing a big important chunk. I've been worried sick even though I know he's capable of taking care of himself, yes I know how stupid that sounds."

"Now I'm just a regular old nurse in a Pokecenter, but judging by what you've told me tonight…" she pauses and Gold knows its just for dramatic affect. He rolls his eyes. "I'd say you like this important person more than a friend."

Gold knows the news should have startled him, but he feels almost at peace. The weight that has been pressuring him feels lifted, and his mind is at ease. He felt like nothing changed, which meant that he had the feelings for an awful long time now. It was the most obvious thing in the world and yet the Hatcher was completely oblivious to it. Even though Gold was completely sure he was a straight man, he couldn't deny the facts that he just told the nurse. Maybe Silver was a special exception. He was girly enough, after all.

Gold liked Silver. And he was perfectly okay with it.

His Pokegear suddenly broke the silence. Scrambling and nearly dropping it through frantic fingers, Gold opens the device to see the name he'd been searching for for day and can't help the excited hitch in his breath. "Aibo came through after all!"

"Why don't you go take that outside, sir?"

"Good idea. Thanks a lot for everything, lady." Gold gives her a wave, clutching the vibrating device to his chest. "I really mean it!"

"I just like helping people, hehe. Good luck!"

Gold steps outside and answers as fast as he can. "Silv!"

"Goddamn annoying monkey!"

Gold hears a crash followed by muffled laugher Gold identifies as his Aibo. "Aibo? What's going on?"

"Y-you dialed Gold?" Silver sounds really scared and Gold grows even more confused.

"I don't know what's going on, but you need to come back, Silver!"

"N-no, I really can't- give me back my Pokegear or I swear to god! Weavile, Icy Wind!" There's the sound of a small blizzard and more laughter from his Ambipom followed by an even more pissed off Silver. "How did you miss? It was right in front of you!"

"Silverrrrr," Gold whines. "I really wanna to talk to you."

"I said I can't Gold, now tell your stupid monkey to give me back my Pokegear!"

"Not unless you promise to talk to me."

"Are you deaf? I said no."

"Suit yourself. Aibo, don't let Silver near it!"

"Fine, I don't need it anyways. Take my stupid Pokegear."

Gold can't help the twinge of hurt that blooms in his chest. Silver wanted to avoid him so badly that he was willing to give up his Pokegear just to escape, and it hurt a lot. "Silver… I don't know what I did to piss you off so much, but please just hear me out."

There's silence then a sigh. Gold assumes Silver has given up chasing his Ambipom around. "Gold, you didn't do anything. It's… something just came up, alright?"

"You could have told me!"

"I-It was sudden."

"I was worried when you didn't even tell me," Gold sighs himself and lowers his voice. "And I really missed you."

"D-don't say that-"

"Why not?" Gold cuts off.

"Because," he hears Silver say sternly.

"Look, Silv," Gold begins slowly. "If you never want to see me again for whatever reason… I'll respect that," his heart clenched painfully but Gold continued on, "but please just swing by one more time or at least tell me what's going on? I have something important to tell you, and I'd rather it be in person."

There's silence and all Gold can hear is the claws of Silver's Weavile against fabric, presumably climbing up to Silver's shoulder. It's really amazing how his Pokegear even picked that up. Eventually he hears a quiet, "alright."

"Great!" Gold is straining to sound happy. He really wished it didn't come to this, but he can't have Silver knowing how much the fact that he might never see Silver again hurt him. Not yet, anyways. "Come by ASAP!"

"Fine. Now give me back my Pokegear."

"Ah, right. Aibo, go ahead and give it to him. And make sure he gets here quickly, yeah?" Gold hears a confirming squeak from his Ambipom before he's hung up on.

It takes a second for Gold to realize he's shaking. He squeezes his eyes shut and takes some breathes to regain his composure before Silver arrived.

He had no idea what the fuck was happening. He still didn't know why Silver never wanted to see him again. All Gold knew was that he really really liked the redhead and felt a need to tell him that. It would probably scared Silver off even more, but Gold figured he had nothing else to lose right now.

Rubbing his face, Gold heads back to his apartment and waits. He paces, restless with nervous energy. There was no doubt Silver would come, Gold knew he wouldn't go back on his word, but he couldn't shake the bad feeling off. The feeling of potentially losing the one he cared about the most forever, it really did suck.

Finally Gold hears the handle of the front door jiggle. He holds his breath and Silver walks in slowly, looking angrily at the Ambipom who had a firm grip on his hand. "Mind telling him to let go?"

"R-right, good job Aibo," Gold praises, withdrawing the normal-type to his ball.

"So what did you want to say to me that was so important?"

"Tell me why you hate me first, Silv," Gold shoots back.

Silver adverts his gaze to the floor, unable to look Gold in the eyes. Gold just stares at the unexpectedly submissive behavior from Silver of all people. "I-I really don't think you want to know."

"Why wouldn't I?" Nothing makes sense to Gold anymore.

Silver shuffles a bit in place, still within the threshold of Gold's apartment. "It might… disgust you."

"Disgust?" Gold echoes. "What, you secretly have two dicks or something?"

"No!" Silver looks revolted and Gold can't help but chuckle. He really missed this, talking to Silver and watching his different reactions.

"Can't be worse than that," Gold prods. "So what?"

The Hatcher watches the Exchanger take a deep breath and lift his gaze. His grey eyes are filled with uncertainty, but the ever-present determination Gold loved so much was still there. "Gold, I think I really like you, okay?"

Gold feels like a fish at that moment, opening and closing his mouth. He never considered that of all things to be what Silver was hiding about. It made him the happiest he'd been a while, his chest no longer hurt and his worries were gone.

Silver liked him. He liked Silver.

Gold lunged at the redhead, forgoing all personal space and embracing him as tightly as he could. He heard Silver cough and felt him struggle against his chest. "Wh-what kind of reaction is this?"

"Oh Silv," Gold coos, nuzzling his face in Silver's red hair for the first time. He'd always wanted to do that secretly, and it was better than he had ever imagined. "I think I really like you too."

Silver stiffens in his arms and Gold figures he's overstayed his welcome. He releases the Exchanger, but keeps his hands on his shoulders. Silver is looking at him with wide eyes. "So I agonized myself over you never accepting me for nothing?"

"Pretty much!" Gold grins so wide he feels his cheeks hurt. "So does this mean you aren't leaving?"

"What do you think, idiot?" Gold has to blink to make sure he isn't seeing things, because Silver is smiling. It's small and faint, but the corners of his mouth are definitely turned upward. Gold hugs him again and really wants to kiss him, but he thinks that's going too fast with someone who is still getting used to physical contact. So he settles with another hug, and this time he feels arms slowly wrap around his own figure.

Gold is really glad everything worked out in the end. He doesn't know how he could bear any other outcome and really doesn't want to think about it.