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[attr="class","star2"] He couldn’t help the way he shrunk back further at the snap that bit through Levy’s voice. Eyes wide and hurt, though after a moment he had at least enough audacity to meet it with a clipped, “No,” before he turned away to collect his things. Almost as fierce, but it was all he had the capacity for, really. Just that one word.[break][break]

“Huh? Yeah. I healed someone, and he broke my ankle. But it was better than killing me, which he was trying to do before that.” For a moment, a bitter edge began to slink into his voice, frustration at the situation, at the unknown Felix Gallagher , at his own naivety. But then he recalled the way elijah gardner had helped him, regardless of who he was, and the negativity faded. Empathy still existed in dark places, and not just from him. It had been the right choice. “I don’t regret it.”[break][break]

Wren continued to avoid looking at Levy for too long. Instead, he fixated on Salandit as he darted toward his rightful trainer. Frowned at the question posed, and then he was looking at the other, brows pinched together. “Well, at Littleroot, obviously. At the sinkhole.” Where you fell. “I’d know Sal anywhere.” I’d know you anywhere. He let his unspoken words remain unsaid, heavy in the pauses between his explanations. Let them be the secondary context.[break][break]

It was difficult to move quickly on crutches, but he did as best as he could. If only to avoid the potential for more, awkward and stilted conversation as he mulled over how badly he’d bungled everything. Could he take it back? Say it was just a moment of panic that caused him to kiss his best friend? That wouldn’t work…in Wren’s mine he was too obvious, he’d always been too obvious.[break][break]

“No, she’s at a farmer’s expo with my dad,” he explained as he shuffled around him once the door was shut, so that he could hobble down to the hall to the closet that held all of his mom’s extra stuff. “They wanted to come back early, but I told them not to. It was an expensive trip. Robin picked me up from the hospital, but they won’t be home until way later.” School, then work. Their younger sibling had tried to take time off, but Wren wasn’t about to let them do that either.[break][break]

He knew he was doing his typical, nervous babbling. Over Explaining and over-clarifying simple things. But even then, his tone had dulled some. Try as he might to keep the dejected edge out, and replace it with his typical chipper cadence.[break][break]

Inexplicably, he sort of just wanted to retreat to his room alone, so that he could cry some more. It didn’t make sense—not when he’d been so anxious over Levy’s absence until now. And Levy didn’t need his distancing. Not when he was so clearly out of sorts. Lost in his head, Wren answered the call of his name belatedly.[break][break]

He played it off like he’d been too focused on pulling first aid materials out of the closet. “Mhmm?” he hummed back, without turning away from his task, tone high and thin. All too quickly, he didn’t trust himself to be able to speak without feeding to the lump that had formed in his throat, watery and heavy. Stop being a crybaby.
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Levy Alinsky

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[attr="class","star2"] It was like he could feel Levy shutter closed, and unsurprisingly, that stung. Even if rationally Wren knew that the other wasn’t as good at expression as he was, it still made him wince slightly as he pulled back when there was no physical response. The chill of dread rose like the tide under his skin and he felt the chill of the winter air more acutely. Mistake. He’d messed up, hadn’t he? He’d gotten ahead of himself and misinterpreted.[break][break]

Not the first time that had happened, so Wren wasn’t sure why he’d thought that had suddenly changed. Levy had probably expected him to have moved on, and had been relieved by that. And now, Wren had messed that all up, all over again. A nervous sound slipped free against his will, and his mouth wobbled before he forced a smile. A short huff of determined breath followed, staving off the crumbling panic that was tumbling around inside of him.[break][break]

He was just being nice, even in his panic. Levy was sparing him the harsher rejection. That had to be the case. He shook his head, and pulled his sleeves up over his hands before they returned to the other’s face. “Levy, I-” he bit down on the impulsive words that wanted to jump loose and make things way worse. “It’s okay, alright? There’s nothing wrong with you.” His sweater paws wiped at the tears on Levy’s face, frantic in his need to make up for his blunder.[break][break]

“Let’s just…let’s just go back to my house, okay?” His parents' house, just down the street. Which had been the reason he’d first discovered Levy when they were little in the first place. “It’s cold out here, and…and, it’ll help, okay?” Without waiting for an answer, he let one hand slip down to Levy’s to drag him back. That way he could look away, and Levy would have to see how fake his smile was then. How he’d retreated back into that cheerfulness just to keep it together.[break][break]

Awkwardly, he hobbled back to the crutches and bag that had fallen to the ground. As a result, Juno and Salandit had tumbled out, and it reminded Wren of the whole thing. “I…found Salandit, by the way. He’s been missing you,” he said as he stooped down, not looking back toward him. His voice was thin, quiet. Why was it so hard to breathe suddenly? He didn’t say anything further than that, but it would just confirm what Wren had already put together.[break][break]

But he’d still kissed him, even then. Would that matter? "Let's just go home. You don't look so good, and you know my mom always keeps a full supply kit."
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Levy Alinsky

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[attr="class","star2"] He needed to pull it together. Rein all that excess emotion back in so that he could be something sturdy and reliable again. It was easier to do so, at least, when he demanded Levy’s attention—immediately more concerned with reassuring the other that he wasn’t despised.[break][break]

It wasn’t until after he had Levy’s face cradled in his hands and the other was looking down at him, vulnerable with wild, dark eyes, that Wren’s heart slammed into motion. He sniffled, and his face burned hotter than it already had been from the welled up emotion and tears. He blinked, lashes heavy and face tear-sticky, then frowned as Levy spoke. “What..? You’re not pathetic. Levy, I haven’t been alright without either, don’t you get that?”[break][break]

His bottom lip began to wobble again so he bit down on it. Even though in their correspondence, he’d acted fine. Even if he’d been cheerful and upbeat and positive in the months that had followed his move to Evergrande. Even if he liked the work he was doing on a day to day basis, or if he enjoyed meeting new people who were like-minded.[break][break]

That had never meant he didn’t feel okay without his presence, or that he didn’t keenly feel Levy’s absence when they weren’t together.[break][break]

So now, standing there staring up at him and knowing what he knew about Littleroot, or what he’d pieced together anyway, Wren didn’t care. He just wanted Levy to understand what had been tumbling around inside of his heart for so many years that he’d forgotten what it was like to not feel the imprint left behind by the boy he’d taken a chance on befriending.[break][break]

Before he could think twice about doing the one thing he’d wanted and been too scared to before now, he lifted up on his toes (of one foot because the other was incapacitated obviously,) and pushed himself closer. His head was too full of tumult to sort through his worries and anxieties over toeing this particular line between them. Hands still cupping Levy’s face, he tilted his own and pressed a clumsy, frantic kiss against his lips.
[break][break]
Levy Alinsky

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[attr="class","star2"] If he really hated Wren now, he’d push him away…right? He’d fight against the hold he now had on him like a vice grip. Or yell at him, or something that made sense with the way he’d been ignoring him over the last several days. In the passing moments before Wren collided with him, when he’d twisted around to look at him, he’d looked like he’d been caught. Nowhere to hide.[break][break]

Why did he want to hide? What had Wren done to make him want to stay away like this?[break][break]

Guilt and self-doubt whipped up a nasty storm inside of him, but Wren wasn’t letting go. Not until Levy said or did something to demand that from him. It made his shoulder and ankle ache—a deep bone ache all the way up his leg, but it didn’t matter. All that pressurized emotion crowded his throat and suddenly it became difficult to drag in a breath that wasn’t a snotty, muffled sob from where his face was plastered against the front of Levy’s coat.[break][break]

Wren, despite being a naturally emotional person, had grown accustomed to the act of putting on a brave face. Most everything and anything was met with a smile or some degree of optimistic enthusiasm. There was no room for that here, though. All those negativities and worries that had weighed him down as he’d tried to be positive for his friends and family crowded out his typical sunny demeanor.[break][break]

But it was okay to do that here, with Levy, where it was safe to. Even if he didn’t know where they stood or why, it was still safe. Something that he felt reassured in as the other’s arms finally slotted around him and hugged him back. With just as much fierce desperation as his own fingers knotted in Levy’s coat.[break][break]

I’m sorry.[break][break]

The broken edge in those words made them easier to forgive. When he pulled his face back to look up at Levy, his cheeks felt sticky and hot, and he had to blink the blurriness away as he sniffled. “Wh-” He struggled to gulp down a breath. “What do you mean you lied?” Despite the confusion, Wren shook his head vehemently. So hard it threatened to make his head ache again with the remnants of his fading concussion. But Levy was hiding his face so his hands withdrew from his hold and slipped to hold his face. “Levy, look at me.” Pulling it back to look at him, maybe holding a bit too hard. “I would never hate you. Never.”

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Levy Alinsky

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[attr="class","star2"]He felt too restless to be stuck here in the hospital.[break][break]

But then again, it’s not like he’s very able-bodied enough right now to do all that much about it, and none of his family could make it to Mauville from Petalburg yet to collect him. His younger sibling tried, insisting they had just received their license and could do it, but Wren didn’t want them to miss school.[break][break]

And really, it was sorta miserable, but also sorta necessary. If the doctor thought they needed to stay for a few days, then he’d stay right there. Even if he feels like he’s slowly going stir crazy with every passing minute that his phone doesn’t light up with any sort of response from Levy Alinsky .[break][break]

So he sleeps (or tries.) He watches videos that @foxglove has posted recently of his Pokémon. He tries to cheer up Salandit, who mostly remains despondent and forlorn without his actual partner.[break][break]

When rescue finally arrives in the form of a knock on his door, the small lizard is tucked up beside him in his bed, his hands smoothing over warm, dark scales. Juno isn’t far off. “Oh, hey guys.” The surprise is evident on his face. “I thought you’d be more nurses.”[break][break]

The sight of ollie morales and annalise henderson does well to bring a smile to his lips, but both of them also look as roughed up as he is. A pang of guilt zips through him— they should be looking after themselves, not checking in on him.[break][break]

It’s still a welcome distraction, though, and so he sits up a little more as they draw closer. “Yeah, I don’t think I can eat hospital peas anymore,” he says with a weak laugh. “Thanks for this. And um, for thinking of me.”[break][break]

At Ollie’s question, he forces his smile to widen. His glance drifted from his captain’s sling to his propped up foot, bandaged and waiting for the cast to be set later. “I’m fine! You know, just waiting for clearance.” He’s not fine, he’s a mess of a million different things inside, but that’s not their problem. He’s not sure if that grin reaches his eyes, though, so he reaches for the bag to peer inside of it, rather than continue watching the other two rangers.[break][break]

“Wow, you really must’ve cleared that burger place out.” The joke feels hollow.[break][break]

---

annalise henderson ollie morales  

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[attr="class","star2"]Maybe the amount of times he’d messaged and called Levy could have been considered overkill. But what was he supposed to do? At first, he just wanted to hear from him. Receive any kind of sign that it hadn’t been Levy who he’d seen falling into that large, deep sinkhole. Nevermind the other parts. The part where he’d fought with Wren. Like, did damage to one another’s Pokémon. Like…rocket versus league fighting.[break][break]

He couldn’t even really begin to sort through that and begin to process it yet. He needed to know that Levy was okay. Salandit hadn’t left his side since Wren had found him alone in Littleroot in the aftermath of the battle. Even while he’d been in the hospital, Salandit had stayed right there on the end of his bed, huddled up with Juno. Sure, it could be any old salandit. But he’d know this lizard as immediately as he would Juno. And obviously the eevee knew to recognize him too.[break][break]

His hospital stay had been miserable, even with visits from annalise henderson and ollie morales . The bulk of that time was left to his own worries and guilty thoughts. The things he wished he’d done differently. Staying in his childhood home hadn't been much better. Even with more distractions available to him. And then after the millionth time checking his unacknowledged messages, there it was:[break][break]

Read.[break][break]

It confirmed the fear that was both agitating and relieving: Levy was ignoring him. Why? Or, or maybe…someone had his phone. Someone else had found it, and read the messages and then didn’t bother to say as much.[break][break]

Finally, he thought about the fact that there was maybe one more place he could try.[break][break]

The path to the small pond behind the daycare was familiar, imprinted in his memories from an immeasurable number of days spent seeking Levy out, or playing with him there once he was allowed there freely without having to track him down.[break][break]

Crutches aside, this felt a lot more like those earlier days. Wren, following after the strange, silent boy, and coaxing the trust out of him until he learned that Levy wasn’t all that strange. Just shy and scared. He no longer knew where he stood with his best friend. Not when he was so obviously avoiding him. The reminding thought left him with a sharp pain in his chest. Worse than the ankle or the concussion or the bullet graze. A rending sort of pain, worse than most might feel about an avoidant friend.[break][break]

Of course, he might not be avoiding Wren at all. He might be—[break][break]

The thought stopped in its tracks just as Wren himself did. Because there he was, sitting by the pond with Minnie. “Levy!” Wren’s heart wrenched, and he sucked in heavy breath. “Thought I might find you here,” he tried to stay upbeat and lighthearted, but his voice wobbled too much to be convincing.[break][break]

Then before he could think that maybe Levy didn’t want him there, he was stumbling forward, crutches and bag dropping to the ground as he practically tackled the other. It sent pain shooting through his shoulder and foot, and probably startled Juno and Salandit, who had been tucked away in the backpack.[break][break]

“Why didn’t you answer?” Now he was blubbering like a dissatisfied kid as he latched onto Levy. He felt like an exposed nerve ending, all physical pain and emotional turmoil. All that upset held inside for days now. “I thought- I didn’t know…Levy, I was scared!”
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Levy Alinsky

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