A/N: I've never written Pokémon before, so I really hope this is turning out well. I love the idea of the calm, cool, & collected Green having a bit of flair and the confident Red falling into silence. They're just so wonderful. c:

Enjoy!

Green hadn't waited.

As Red had turned his back to him, Green had merely shrugged and turned in the direction of the lab. He knew Red well enough to know that he wouldn't have looked back. Quietness had become Red's main personality trait over the course of nearly four years. Barely anyone who knew Red could remember a time where he was passionate, outspoken, and somewhat impulsive.

Green, however, could. He knew that Blue would also remember. The incident at the Silph Co. years ago was the one time he could pinpoint Red's determined, reckless personality. By the Indigo League, he was serious, maturing, but the passion was still there. Since then, Red's behavior had changed drastically.

Green personally blamed Mt. Silver. The freezing air and dangerous living conditions were really no place for a boy of eleven. Red's return several years later had shocked nearly everyone. He had been permanently branded with pale skin, a gaunt face, and a permanent hollow expression to replace the once excited spark in his eyes.

At seventeen, Red looked more or less the same, if not a bit taller, broader, and healthier. He was rather scrawny; he always had been, but Green had felt slightly relieved to see his longtime rival with a bit of color to his face.

As he made his way back to the lab, Green took a moment to reflect back on the years without Red. His life hadn't changed much, he already knew that.

A smirk came to his lips as he realized that without Red, life wasn't ever really interesting.

He entered the lab once more, and the first thing he saw was his grandfather.

"Hey, Gramps."

Professor Oak looked up with a smile. "Green! I thought you should know, Red-"

"He's back. I know."

"Did you see him?" Professor Oak asked incredulously. "His mother just telephoned me, saying he's off to visit someone in Viridian City."

Green nodded. "I did."

"Is he...has he...recovered?" Worry showed in the professor's eyes.

Green hesitated momentarily before shaking his head. "Nope."

A sad smile spread over Professor Oak's features. "Well, his mother is hoping that he'll stay and settle down. It'd be good for him to be out in the fresh air."

Green scoffed. "Red won't settle down. That's not him."

Professor Oak laughed. "You both have known each other for almost seven years now, is that right? And even with your individual duties, you still know each other through and through." He scribbled some notes on his clipboard as he took inventory of the Pokéballs coming into the system. "True rivals, you two are."

After Red's visit with Yellow ("Please come back soon! You're always welcome!") and dinner with his mother, he found himself sitting in his old bedroom as the sun sank beneath the horizon. He glanced out the window, admiring the view he had from his bed.

He felt strangely old again, sitting in the room where he had once planned his adventures and accomplishments with undeniable excitement. Now, he had accomplished his goal of becoming the Champion...but then again, he wasn't a Champion anymore. He didn't have a title to his name, and since Gold had defeated him on the top of Mt. Silver, he had no challenge to work towards, no goal to attain.

It seemed as though the excitement and passion in what he did had all been used up in the beginning, and now he was nothing more than a burnt-out ex-Champion. With each battle, he felt less anticipation and less energy. No matter what he tried, it seemed, he couldn't help it.

Pikachu, seeming to know that something was wrong with its trainer, crawled from Red's pillow to his lap, looking up at him with wide, brown eyes.

Red scratched Pikachu behind its pointy ears. He took notice of the scar on Pikachu's ear from the Elite 4 incident. "Where do we go from here, Pika?" he whispered.

"Chuuu." Pikachu looked up at Red and moved to his battle stance. Proud of itself, Pikachu waited patiently for its trainer's approval.

"There's no one left to battle."

A sad expression clouded over Pikachu's features. The mouse then made a serious, annoyed face, an expression Red immediately recognized as Green's.

Red smiled and allowed himself to chuckle softly. "Green's busy," he replied, patting Pikachu lightly on the back. "He's a Gym Leader. He's found his place."

Red was silent after that. His thoughts drifted to his first encounter with Green. They had met in the forest where they'd both encountered a Mew. Since that very day, Red had learned so much from Green. He'd learned that in battle, you had to know your limits. He'd realized that and utilized it in the Kanto Pokémon League, where he'd been declared the regional Champion.

A little over three years later, though, that position had been taken from him. Red had felt it coming deep down; he'd known he couldn't remain a Champion for ever, after all. Gold was more than capable and he had strong abilities in Pokémon battling. Even though many people considered Gold to be only the Johto Champion and Red the Kanto Champion, Red knew that he no longer had a position at the top. He'd gladly fought against Team Rocket, the Mask of Ice, and even more treacherous people and Pokémon, but without an ambition towards a title or a goal, battling only served to give him an empty feeling.

Red fell asleep that night with that same empty feeling.

The next morning, after a heavy, internal debate, Red set off for the Oak Research Lab, much against his will. He was obligated to visit Green eventually, and he figured that sooner was better than later.

As he walked up the front steps, he felt a pang of longing in his chest. If only Blue were there. Maybe she'd be able to understand the strange, hollow feeling that had been eating up Red for the past couple of years. Girls were good at translating emotions, weren't they? It was even Yellow's power to read minds (of Pokémon, nonetheless), anyway.

He rang the doorbell and shoved his fists in the pockets of his jacket. The collar was pulled up around his neck and the brim of his hat was pulled slightly lower. It was a near impossible feat, seeing how long the spikes of Red's bangs had grown.

The door opened, and Professor Oak stood before him, a welcoming smile on his face. "Hello, Red! Welcome back!" He knelt down and gave Pikachu a warm smile. "And hello to you, too!"

"Pikaaa!" Pikachu bounced happily.

Red nodded, forcing his lips into a smile. "Hello. Thank you."

The professor stepped aside and gestured for Red to enter. "Green is outside. He didn't tell me you'd be here."

Red remained silent. The professor's words were like white noise in his ears. He glanced around the lab at the neatly shelved Pokéballs. He remembered the incident he'd had almost seven years ago. He'd let loose many Pokémon on accident, but his recapture of a stubborn Bulbasaur had earned him its trust and friendship.

The Pokémon, now a Venusaur, had served him well and was taking a well-deserved rest in his PC in Viridian City. A hint of a genuine smile tugged at Red's lips.

Red followed Professor Oak, who chatted away despite Red's reserved silence, out the back door to the lab's ranch. Ponyta and Rapidash ran freely over the fenced plains in the distance. A herd of Tauros stampeded near a grove of pine trees. In large ponds, Goldeen, Seaking, Horsea, Seadra, and more water life splashed.

The sun shone, warming Red's body as he surveyed the atmosphere around him. Like the rest of Pallet Town, it had that peaceful, free feeling to it. It was the kind of place, Red thought, that you'd never want to leave once you'd arrived.

Professor Oak interrupted his thoughts. "My grandson is over there." He pointed to Green, who stood near the herd of Rapidash, standing in front of his Arcanine. Green was silent himself, scratching his Pokémon gently behind the ears as it lowered its head to meet him. Green had grown like a Sunkern in the light of a Sun Stone - he'd grown taller in such a short period of time. His brown hair still stuck out in spikes, some of which fell into his face. Green had matured, obviously, but his green eyes still held the strong, silent vigor that had always been a part of his personality.

Red stayed still, but with an encouraging gesture from Professor Oak, he reluctantly made his way towards Green. He walked slowly, Pikachu leaping about his ankles, and took the time to look around the ranch. Pikachu bounded about the grassy hills, weaving in and out of the legs of Pokémon that stood in front of feeding troughs.

Green noticed Pikachu's cries of delight, and he looked up silently. Upon seeing Red, he merely nodded and focused his attention on his Arcanine once more.

Red stopped a few feet away from Green. He moved one hand from his pocket to swipe at the overgrown, raven-black strands of hair that fell into his eyes.

"I didn't think you'd come," Green stated bluntly. He patted his Arcanine's side, and the Pokémon took off running, its fur ruffling in the late spring breeze.

"That makes two of us." Red was surprised at how quiet his voice sounded in his own ears; if Green noticed, he showed no signs of knowing.

Green snickered under his breath. "Nice. You know, I invited you over so I could have a nice chance to catch up with my old rival. I'm truly hurt, Red."

Upon receiving no response, Green smirked. "If anyone told me that my cocky, loudmouth rival would ever turn into a mute, I'd have told them they were insane."

Not knowing how to respond, Red simply remained silent and confused.

Green turned to face Red completely. The two locked eyes for a moment before Red shyly averted the gaze. Unfazed, Green reached for a Pokéball attached to his belt. "You know, Red, despite the mature, admirable traits that possess me to be a calm and poised trainer, I can be stubborn, too." The Pokéball enlarged in his palm.

Red sighed. "What do you want, Green?" He wished instantly that Pikachu would return to his side to reassure him. The conversation was moving to a level of discomfort; Red hadn't fully expected Green to be so persistent.

Green's Eevee emerged from the Pokéball, its fur giving off a shiny, silky texture in the morning sunlight. Instantly, the furry creature pranced off, probably towards Pikachu, Red thought.

"I just want to know one thing." Green straightened up to meet Red's gaze dead-on. "What the hell happened to you?"

"Nothing," Red retorted, feeling slightly offended. "I came home to take a break for a while. Does something have to be wrong with me for that to be acceptable?"

Green rolled his eyes. "You know what I'm talking about. You've been like this ever since you got off of Mt. Silver." He took a step closer, slightly closing the distance. "Red, I'm not stupid."

"I didn't say you were." Red glared at Green. "And don't make such a big deal out of this. Got it?"

Green smirked. "For a second there, you looked like your old self again. Ah, well at least you're talking. We're making progress, I suppose." He sidled up beside Red and thumped him twice on the back.

Red shrugged Green's arm away in annoyance. "So you only called me over so you could play psychiatrist, is that it?"

Green sighed. "Relax, okay? No need to take this all so seriously. If you really want to live the rest of your life as a mute individual wandering about aimlessly, then by all means, don't let me stand in your way."

Red was rendered speechless against his will for the first time in what felt like ages. After a long and tense silence, Red hissed under his breath, "Green, it's my business. Not yours."

"You'd tell Blue if she asked, wouldn't you?" A triumphant glint flashed in Green's eyes.

"No."

"Liar." Green smiled in self-satisfaction. "I'm your rival. It's been going on for what, six years? Seven? I'd say we know each other pretty well by now."

As disturbing as the thought was, Red had to admit that he was right.

Green continued merrily. "The only thing I don't know about you is what in Arceus's name possessed you to stay on a mountaintop for almost three years..."

"I had to, okay?" Red snapped. "I had to train. I had to wait. I had to be defeated eventually." He was practically snarling at Green now, his eyebrows narrowed and his crimson eyes blazing.

"It didn't do you all that much good," replied Green simply.

"You told me," Red said hotly. "So did my mother. So did Yellow. I hear what everyone says, Green. I'm not stupid, either."

He turned angrily to scan the fields for Pikachu, but a hand roughly grabbed his shoulder. Red looked back over his shoulder to see Green.

"I know that. Of all people, I know that." Green's voice was no longer teasing, it was dead serious. "Just give me one more minute to explain. Then you can go."

"Hurry." Red crossed his arms.

"I have to ask something. Again. Okay?" Green's eyes locked on his again, and Red could still see the boy he'd beaten at the Pokémon League so long ago, only he'd matured and grown about half a foot taller than he was.

"I may not answer."

Green looked exasperated. "Just tell me this, what exactly happened on Mt. Silver that made you come back an emotional wreck?"

Red tried to hide his shock over the fact that Green had indeed pinpointed the moment in which his downward spiral had begun, but his eyes gave him away. Green noticed.

"Well?" Green impatiently raised an eyebrow.

"Isn't it obvious?" Red snapped coldly.

"No, Red, for the love of Mew, you've barely spoken to anyone in years!" Green was exasperated, and the two were close enough to be practically yelling in each other's faces by that point. "Everyone's worried about you!"

Red's frustration was boiling over. No matter how much he tried to evade it, Green would persist. He never gave up. And to make matters worse, he'd probably figure it out on his own. Red felt a surge of discomfort once more at how well Green knew him, and how well he knew Green.

"They shouldn't be!" Red argued back.

"We won't be if you tell us what happened!"

Red snapped. Either way, he was cornered. He spat out his reply to Green, narrowing his eyes fiercely in anger.

"I lost! That's what happened!"

A/N: I really hope I'm getting them in character well enough, even though Red is supposed to have changed some... ah, well. Critique/reviewing is appreciated! Thanks for reading!