(A/N. So I didn't edit this. It's five in the morning. Goodnight)

Blue heard a knock on his bedroom door.

"Come in..." The boy said quietly, sniffling and wiping his tears.

His grandfather liked his head inside the room, "Hey bud...How are you doing?"

Blue frowned, "Fine?"

"You sure?"

"Gramps!" Blue exclaimed, "What's going on?"

His grandfather sighed and came into the room. He closed the door behind her and sat on the edge of his grandson's bed. Blue pulled his knees up and hugged them as his grandfather sat down.

His grandfather took a deep breath, "You've been different lately."

Blue raised an eyebrow, "What's that mean?"

"Blue..."

"Gramps! I don't know what you're talking about!"

The old man sighed, "Look...Blue...I know you don't actually like that girl you're dating."

"Was dating..." Blue corrected. He suddenly shook his head and asked, "Wait! I did like her!"

"Really?"

Blue looked down and scratched his knee, "Well...she was okay...Why do you care who I go out with?"

"I want you to be happy," His grandfather said, "And I know you already found someone who makes you happy."

Blue's heart skipped a beat. He wiped his sweaty palms on his pants, "W-What?"

The old man smiled, "I just want you to know that whoever you choose," he said, handing Blue a Pokédex, "It won't change how much we all love you."

Blue frowned and took the Pokédex. He looked at it with confusion and looked at his bedside table. He saw his own Pokédex laying on the birch wood table and open the Pokédex in his hands. His blood ran cold at the ID.

"W-Why do you have Red's Pokédex?" Blue asked, feeling his heart in his throat.

His grandfather grinned, "He was helping me out at the lab earlier and left it behind. I think you should return it to him."

Blue opened his mouth to speak, but the old man stood up and began walking out of the room.

"Go get him."

The door closed behind Blue's grandfather, and Blue tried to process what just happened. He looked down at the Pokédex in his hands.

It's not true. It can't be. Blue refused to admit it. He just hadn't found the right girl yet! But honestly...he was always comparing them to Red. He didn't mean to! It just sorta...happened. He and Red were just friends!

Would people who were just friends have sleepovers almost every night? Yes! But would they sleep in the same bed? Probably. Even as teenagers? Maybe. Would they laugh at each other's jokes? Absolutely. Would they tease and make fun of each other? Obviously. Would they comfort each other? Of course!

But would they wake up in the middle of the night and groggily wrap their arms around each other? Would they fall asleep to the sound of each other's breathing? Would they sleep in the same bed even if two were available? Would they giggle at every little thing the other said? Would they flirt and bicker over little things? Would they immediately rush into each other's arms when they were sad or scared?

If Blue and Red were just friends, why did Blue think about him all the time? Why did he compare his exes to Red? Why...Why did he think about kissing him?

Tears fell from Blue's eyes. He wasn't supposed to feel this way. What was wrong with him? The boy held back sobs.

Red said he loved him. When those words left Red's lips, so many emotions bubbled in Blue's stomach. Red said he'd wait forever if he had to.

Of course he loved Red...but...

Blue sniffled and looked at the Pokédex. The screen with Red's ID picture had Blue's tears on it. The boy wiped the salty water away and looked at the photo. It hadn't been updated in six years- so it was right from when the boys first started their journey. Red had a huge dopey smile on his face- a smile Blue hadn't seen in forever.

Blue mentally groaned. He got up and got changed. He put on his heaviest jacket, a blue scarf, warm gloves, and clunky snow boots. He was ready to go.

~~~

Trying to run in those stupid snow boots was torture. Mt. Silver was torture. Blue's feelings were torture. Worst. Day. Ever!

Fianlly, Blue reached the mountain's peak. He stepped out from the cave and into the blizzard that was raging. He squinted and could hardly make out a figure in the distance.

"R-Red?!" Blue exclaimed.

He didn't hear or see any sort of response, so he shouted, "RED!!!"

In the distance, Blue heard a faint, "Blue?"

Blue hugged his arms and began to run in the direction of the figure. The closer Blue got, the clearer the figure became. It became the clear image of his childhood rival and best friend- Red.

Just as he was in speaking distance with Red, Blue tripped. Stupid snow.

Red instinctively reached out and caught Blue. When Blue realized he hadn't smashed face first into the snow, he looked up. He saw Red's concerned face looking down at him. Relief seemed to wash over Red when he realized he had caught Blue.

Blue felt heat rush to his face and scrambled away from Red.

"Blue?" Red wondered, "What are you doing here?"

Blue's hands dove into his jacket pockets and he pulled out Red's Pokédex, "Y-You left this at G-Gramps's!"

Red blinked and quickly patted down his body. His eyes widened when he realized he did not, in fact, have his Pokédex on him. Red gave Blue a, "Thanks." and took the device from Blue.

Blue's eyes widened. Red was wearing the gloves Blue had bought him.

A few months ago, Blue had seen this crazy ad on tv for these gloves. They were heated, and had a fabric on the palms that was optimal for gripping Pokéballs. They were recommended by nearly every champion, and they were Sinnoh's champion's gloves of choice. Naturally, they were expensive as hell, but Blue used Lyra to pull a few strings. They were still pricey, but ten percent off wasn't terrible!

Since Red spent all his time on Mt. Silver training, Blue immediately thought of him. He pretty much impulse bought them, and realized once they came in the mail that neither Red's birthday or any gift giving holiday were coming up. Even then, what Blue spent on them was generally larger than either boys had spent on each other for anything.

Blue and his girlfriend at the time had gotten into a fight about it. She accused him of some things he'd rather not think about. It wouldn't help the dozens of feelings he was currently feeling.

"Y-You're wearing the gloves I bought you..." Blue whispered.

He didn't think Red could hear him over the wind, but Red answered, "Of course. They're the best!"

Blue nodded. The boys stood in silence for a bit.

"You want to talk, right?" Red asked.

Blue blinked in surprise, "W-What?"

"You're making your, 'We need to talk' face," Red chuckled, clapping Blue on the shoulder, "Let's go inside the mountain. Less windy."

Blue followed Red as Red walked back inside the mountain's cave-like tunnels. The boys both sighed in content as the cold wind and snow no longer hit them.

"I don't have a 'We need to talk' face!" Blue argued, his cheeks red. From the cold air or from embarrassment, he didn't know.

Red smiled, "Your exes would disagree."

Embarrassment. Definitely embarrassment.

Blue tsked, "Whatever..."

Red leaned his back against one of the tunnel walls and fell to the floor, "So what's up?"

Blue shifted his weight awkwardly and sat down next to Red. He bit his lip before he spoke, "Y-You didn't talk to Gramps...did you?"

Red frowned, "About?"

Blue cleared his throat, blushed, and looked away, "About...Y-You know...W-What you said..."

Red copied his friend's blush, "No...I didn't."

Blue groaned, "Then what the hell?!"

"What?"

Blue hit the back of his head against the wall, "He was being weird," he shook his head, "It's nothing..."

"Okay..."

The boys sat in more silence. Red took out his Pokédex and began scrolling through the pages. He really needed to update his picture.

"Did you mean it...?" A quiet voice asked.

Red's heart skipped a beat, but without hesitation, he nodded and said, "Yes."

Red heard Blue inhale sharply.

"Ugh. I have to know."

Red turned his head. Before he could ask what the hell Blue was talking about, his friend pressed their lips together.

Butterfree erupted in both boys's stomachs. Blue pulled away incredibly quickly.

Blue looked at Red, his eyes widened, "W-Wait..." he mumbled.

Blue kissed Red again, for longer this time. It was long enough for Red to kiss him back. When Blue pulled away the second time, he gasped and covered his mouth with both hands. Red saw tears swell in Blue's eyes. Blue began sobbing, and tears rushed down his face like a waterfall.

"B-Blue!" Red sputtered, "D-Don't cry!"

Blue suddenly flung himself into Red's arms. Blue sobbed into Red's shoulder. Red's face dropped and he wrapped his arms around Blue.

"I know..." Red soothed, "I know it's scary...I know you're worried..."

"I-I c-can't!" Blue sobbed, "I-I can't b-be-!"

A few tears escaped Red's eyes. He knew this would be hard for Blue. Red honestly wasn't even expecting this so soon. But here Blue was- terrified and crying in Red's embrace because he was afraid of who he was and who he loved. Red felt how much Blue was hurting, and it was terrible.

"It's okay," Red said, nearly choking on his own sobs, "I'm here. I love you..."

Blue fought a sob and tried to chuckle, "O-Of course you do...I'm the greatest..."

Red let out a single chuckle and hugged Blue tighter, "You asshat..."

After a few minutes of just crying, the boys pulled away from each other. Red took his gloves off and wiped Blue's tears with both hands. Blue sniffled.

"S-Stop fussing over me!" Blue croaked, "I'm fine..."

Red simply shook his head.

Blue sighed, "I don't know how I feel..." he admitted.

Red nodded, "I told you- I'll be here. I'll wait forever if I have to."

Blue took a deep breath, "What if it turns out I don't feel...the same...?"

Red smiled gently, pushing past the heartache that idea gave him.

"I'll be here then, too."