Chapter Text
In his mission to take down Team Rocket once and for all, as well as make his father turn over a new leaf, Silver had travelled across the world in his attempts to track down Giovanni and end the organisation from the source. However, even Silver and his Pokémon, durable from years of training under the Masked Man’s tutelage, had no choice but to yield to the natural cycle of the seasons.
It was a stroke of luck that he happened to be passing by Johto at the time. Winter was not merciful. The mellow drizzle that had greeted him spitefully froze into sleet, battering at him. Before he knew it, his coughs had turned into sticky, wheezing fits and night chills turned into feverish shivers.
As such, Silver decided to issue a temporary stopover. He knew Gold would be glad to see him. It only took one call on his Pokégear.
--
Silver shivered and snuggled into the kotatsu blanket with Gold, trying to force down another cough as he hazily tried to focus on the action unfolding on the screen. He found himself glad that they owned this (he had to be honest with himself) brilliant piece of technology. It was the best thing in this living room.
Gold scooped up a spoonful of chicken noodle soup and gently blew on it, even though it had already stopped steaming at this point. This time, Silver noted with relief, nothing splattered anywhere.
“Open up, Silv,” Gold stage-whispered over the muffled noise of the children’s show, shuffling closer so his knee nudged Silver’s clammy thigh under the covers. You could hear the grin in his voice. Silver grimaced, reluctantly turning his head from the TV to let Gold spoon the lukewarm remnants of his dinner into his mouth. It was a little humiliating, but he wasn’t in the mood to protest. He was sick, dizzy over his head and damn tired. It was a miracle that Gold’s mom even let him watch TV while she knew he was having a fever.
“There,” Gold said, beaming. As he set the emptied bowl and spoon on the table with a quiet clatter, he pulled the blanket more snugly against their bodies. It was at this point that Silver could feel the soft weight of Gold’s gaze growing heavier, so he purposely turned his head back to the screen.
Basically, letting his friend mess with him was the least he could do to repay his hospitality.
The Pokémon Mansion was better than any Pokémon Centre, anyway. Although he was stuck recuperating in a messy house stuffed with loud, scrambling baby Pokémon, that of which was also home to a known underage gambler and his mom, Silver was still grateful. The beds were softer than any Pokémon Centre’s, Gold’s mom was good—no, amazing—at cooking, and most importantly, they owned a flat-screen HD Sony HX909 TV with absolutely superb graphics, and the Pokémon Centre definitely did not.
Silver sniffled, trying desperately to hold in a sneeze and Gold (having good judgement for once) took this as a signal to pass him a tissue.
“Are you sure that you’re not worried about getting sick? By sitting this close?” he muttered stuffily, blowing his nose. That prompted a laugh from Gold, who only shuffled closer and ignored his words.
“You’ll only be here until you recover, and then you’ll go off on your travels again. That means I have to make the most of our time together,” he said, shrugging as he enveloped Silver in a rough (probably erring on the side of too rough) hug. “Right? So, I think it’s just a small price to pay.”
Silver paused for a while, falling silent, and thoroughly considered this notion. Gold had strangely not teased him about his supposedly childish preference in TV shows for the past few days that he’d been staying here. Not even once, which definitely said something.
“Yeah, okay,” he agreed sleepily, much to Gold’s surprise and delight. He decided he rather liked their current arrangement. “That’s… reasonable.”
At this point, he was growing more and more drowsy, but he didn’t want to miss the program’s ending theme. So Silver, feeling that same weight of Gold’s gaze settle on his face, shut his heavy eyes.
♫ Speeding across the land… Soaring across the sky! Tauriner Omega…
“Goodnight,” he heard Gold whisper, voice soft as down. In the face of his friend’s unexpected tenderness, Silver pretended he’d already drifted off. He didn’t know how else to respond.
“I hope you get better, buddy.”
Gold’s hand was cool against his fevered skin, pulling auburn, sweat-soaked strands off his cheeks and neck where they stuck uncomfortably, drawing him further into his warm embrace. He smelt like the trademark coconut and pineapple scent pumped out into the Goldenrod Game Corner.
Silver believed that he could have comfortably fallen asleep then and there, despite his pounding headache, despite his hyper-awareness of his friend’s body beside him…
…If not for the news segment that immediately played after the show’s ending credits.
Good evening, and welcome to Evening News with DJ Mary. This is an urgent notice. It has been discovered that there may be a Team Rocket assembly on the summit of Mt. Silver in the next few days, in the early evening. We urge all residents of Route 28 and the surrounding towns and cities to be cautious and stay vigilant. If in an emergency situation, please dial triple zero. That’s triple zero for emergency services. Stay safe out there and have a good night. This warning will be reissued tomorrow between all programs…
Silver resisted the urge to open his eyes in pure anticipation. A lead. Convenient, too. Tomorrow, he had to get a move-on.