sorakh28 | Beloved Turnabout- A Cold and Broken Praise

(HAD to write this part, perhaps one of the most important scene in BT. Title is derived from one line of "Hallelujah".)

"...Mr. Wright? I..." Red looked at his sneakers. "I'd like it if you three come with me, if you don't mind..."

Phoenix nodded, smiling gently. "We're right behind you."

"Thank you..." Red's smile was too small. "Ignis, Tary, can you keep an eye on everyone else for me? ...I'm going to see Ash."

The young Pokémon Trainer sat in his bed, rubbing the bandage where his IV had been placed, when the quartet arrived at his room. Ash was still a touch pale, and his eyes weren't wide open, but he was awake... alive.

The Champion hesitated before taking a step forward into the room, gingerly knocking twice on the door. Ash looked up, then frowned as he squinted at his cousin. "...Red?" His voice was rough with his rasp heavily accentuated. "What are you doing here? Who are these guys, anyway?"

"It's... it's a long story," Red admitted. There wasn't just a physical resemblance between the two Ketchum boys- there were heavy similarities between their voices, the raspy quality being a big part of it. "You just woke up, I don't want to info dump you in this state."

"Yeah, the nurse didn't talk much, just that I was out for a good while," Ash noted, rubbing his leg over his bedsheet. "And that Pikachu or my other Pokémon couldn't come in while I'm here."

"Human hospitals got restrictions, I'm afraid," Apollo explained, "especially in intensive care."

Ash's eyes got dark. "I was in intensive care." His voice held a lack of a questioning tone.

"You were," Red said. "But you're out of there now." He bit his lip before carefully approaching his cousin, who stayed silent, looking at the bed. "You're alive. That's all that matters right now."

Ash exhaled before looking up to him, expression unchanged. "I thought you were staying on Mount Silver."

Athena winced a bit- she expected to hear some anger from him, but that was a little too sharp for her ears' comfort.

Red didn't need her hearing to notice it, either. He bowed his head. "There was nothing to do there anymore, so... so I left."

"And how long did you know I was here?"

"...I was already in Olivine when you were brought here," Red answered, his voice trembling. "I wanted to see you again."

Ash's hands gripped his blanket. "...Why now?" he demanded. "It's been two years, Red. I haven't seen you in two years. Why now?"

No word came from the Champion.

"...Red?" Ash sighed when his cousin didn't speak. "Red, come on, I-"

He got interrupted by a sob.

His eyes widened. "Red?" He grimaced as he heard another sob. "Red, look, I didn't mean-"

"You almost died." Red pounded his fists against the matress. "You almost died!" Tears began to fall unto the bedsheet. "Don't you understand?!" He finally looked up to Ash. "I almost lost you."

Ash wanted to speak, telling Red exactly what he felt for two years, but seeing his cousin like this quelled any words that wanted to come out. He swallowed. "You know why I'm angry... right?"

A harsh hiccup came out of Red before he suddenly embraced Ash tightly, sobbing madly. "I'm sorry!" he cried. "I missed you so much! The last five days..." He inhaled shakily. "They were the worst days of my life! I was so alone for a while, and it was torment! I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you, I'm sorry..."

Red gave in, collapsing in his tears and sobs, letting them take him over. Ash, biting his lips, slowly brought his own arms around his cousin, his eyes watering as well. "It's okay, Red," he tried to soothe. "You probably had a good reason other than training to go up there, didn't you?" Receiving a small nod as an answer, Ash tighten his hold. "It's okay. I missed you, too." He nuzzled his cheek against Red's. "You had me worried, too."