I'll Be Strong All On My Own

The redhead listened in silence as Proton spoke. Crobat took the opportunity to land on his Trainer’s shoulder, Silver idly reached up and pet the large bat. Why was he listening to this? From a Rocket no less. He didn’t know anything. Yet the words were still hitting him pretty hard. “Scared? Why would I be scared?”

Silver blinked, stunned at the sudden change in the other man. He honestly didn’t know what to say to that. Why would he go back there? Sure he was starting to feel more and more guilty about taking his Typhlosion but surely he’d just get arrested if he went back to the lab. “What’s with you? I don’t understand.” Was he here to mess with Silver or not?

“Shut up!” Oh he hated this man so much. It wasn’t like the Professor would have just given it to him, he was sure of it. He felt insulted that the other thought he was cruel to his team to the point of them hating him. He’d long since learned that it did not help him get stronger. “You want to know if my Pokemon care about me? Why don’t I show you something you could never accomplish!” With that he withdrew the ball that held his Crobat and released it. The large bat gave a cry as he was freed from his ball.

The Trainer scowled at the man’s sick sense of humor. He grit his teeth more and more at every question thrown at him. Unwanted memories resurfacing, he clenched his hands into fists. “That’s none of your business.” He spat in answer to why he refused to work with his father. Being called out for stealing Kai tipped his temper over the edge. “I am not you! I’m not any of you!”

Before he could really process what was happening the bat was coming for him. He barely had enough time to duck out of its way, stumbling to the side. “What’s wrong with you?!” He yelled at Proton. He was struggling to fight off memories of that damned Persian hurting him at his father’s orders.

“You cannot force this on me. I refuse to be a part of it.” The insult to his dear friend made him turn on the Rocket Member. “Don’t you insult her! She’s plenty strong enough to put you on our knees!” He glared up at Proton as he spoke. “And I am alone because I choose to be. Now go bother someone who has time to deal with you.”

“Go away.” Was the first thing out of the younger’s mouth. With his hands in his pockets he gripped tightly onto Kai’s Ball should he need her. “I don’t know where he is, I don’t want to know where he is. Even if I did know I wouldn’t tell you. I want no part in Team Rocket’s affairs.” He shot the man a skeptical look. “Please. You’re all so weak that I wouldn’t have to run.”

The day was quiet for once. He wasn’t sure if it eased or unsettled him. Quiet didn’t always lead to good things. He glanced up from the ground only to stiffen. Unsettled. Definitely unsettled. After the initial shock of seeing the Rocket Member Silver turned around and started in the direction he’d come from.