(A/N. Possible trigger warning. Maybe possibly)

Silver returned Feraligatr to his Pokéball with a huff. They'd been training for so long! Yet time after time, for years and years, Lyra bested them. He supposed he'd never seen anyone beat Lyra, but losing was still frustrating.

"Silvey?" Lyra called, returning her Togekiss, "Everything okay?"

Silver nodded briskly, "Yup. Fine. Good battle." He said, turning his back to her.

Lyra approached him slowly, "Are you sure?" She asked, reaching out to touch his shoulder.

Silver turned suddenly, raising one of his hands, "Yep. Fine!"

Lyra flinched, pulling back quickly. Silver frowned.

"I...I wasn't going to hit you..." Silver whispered.

Lyra nodded nervously, "I-I know...sorry..."

Silver's previous frustration evaporated, "Lyra?"

Lyra plastered on her usual smile, "Yeah Silvey?"

"Why...did you flinch?"

Lyra's smile wavered, "I don't know what you're talking about!"

Silver slowly reached to touch Lyra's face. She flinched upon contact, but leaned into his hand.

"Why?" Silver asked again.

Lyra sighed. She grabbed Silver's wrist and pulled his hand away. She traced the lines on his hand absentmindedly as she spoke, "H-Have I ever told you about my father?"

Silver shook his head. Not once had he ever heard a peep about her father. Lyra had listened to Silver gripe about his father for years- but she never spoke a word about hers.

"He's um...k-kinda in jail..." Lyra whispered.

Silver raised his eyebrows, "Why?"

Lyra's eyes got misty.

Silver panicked, "Y-You don't have to tell me if you don't want to!"

Lyra sniffled, "I-It's okay! I can do it..."

Silver frowned and nodded. He tried making eye contact with his friend, but she seemed too focused on his hand.

Lyra took a shaky breath, "He used to hit my mom...a lot," she admitted, "One night they had a really big fight...I got too close..."

A mix of emotions filled Silver's soul. He was distraught that Lyra had to go through that. He also wanted to find the prison her father resided and choke the life out of him.

"He didn't mean to hit me," Lyra sobbed, "B-But..."

Silver reached up with his free hand and gently wiped Lyra's tears. She didn't flinch this time, but she was crying a lot. She released his other hand and he moved it back up to her face. He held her face in his hands and wiped all her tears as they fell.

"Neither you or your mom deserved that," Silver said softly, "Arceus, Lyra..."

"S-Sorry..." Lyra whispered.

"Don't be sorry. Please don't be."

Lyra suddenly threw herself into Silver's arms. He was frozen at first, but he slowly wrapped his arms around the girl. He promised himself that day that he would do anything to keep her safe.

No matter what.