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You'd think Green would be sick of the wilderness and the cold, but for his birthday he asks for both. Red raises his eyebrows before giving an appreciative nod.
They travel north, so far north it takes four connecting flights before they arrive. Green pulled all of his Mt. Silver gear out of deep storage and is glad for every bit of it as they check into a hotel suite to prepare, the icy wind already nipping at his face.
Red double checks their campsite supplies while Green grocery shops and prepares for camp cooking. They review each other's checklists, signing off on the other's selected essentials: for Red's part, a double-wide sleeping pad, a first-aid kit, and a sturdy camp knife. For Green's part, a camp stove, parboiled noodles, and marshmallows. Green takes over the suite's small kitchen to pre-cut vegetables and make his (according to him, anyway) world-famous hot chocolate mix, adding a small shake of cinnamon and the slightest dusting of cayenne pepper powder into the mixing bowl. Red drops by periodically, distracting Green with kisses for long enough to steal bits of chopped carrots and pop them into his mouth. Green bursts with laughter at the glint of mischievous satisfaction in Red's eyes, and for his part doesn't protest too much when Red decides against packing this or that item, quietly worrying about the weight they have to carry.
Green puts his foot down on keeping the camp mugs, though. He may not be willing to drag a whole birthday cake along when camping, but the hot chocolate is not optional.
The ground is hard, the grass glittering with frost and crunching below their feet as they walk. Kanto is too temperate to ever freeze over like this, and Green envisions himself traveling deeper into the area, and the season itself. They go at a relaxed pace, pointing out sights to each other as they go. To no one’s surprise, Red is drawn towards the sloping hills, documenting a few unfamiliar pokémon on his Pokédex, while Green snaps photos of the scenery and throws in a few selfies for good measure. Okay, more than a few. Maybe a lot.
"Come on, smile!" Green says, flashing a peace sign. Red's mouth pulls into an even flatter line. With a huff, Pikachu throws a small spark at Green's camera. "Hey!"
Discreetly, Red and Pikachu high five when Green turns away to fuss over it. Eevee sniffs disdainfully at them and fluffs up extra-cutely when the camera restarts and Green snaps a few photos of her to test it out.
They pass beneath the branches of an old-growth forest. Ancient firs arch high above their heads and Green's voice drops to a reverent hush. Unfamiliar bird calls echo around them, accompanied by the steady beat of their boots as they press forward. The winding path takes them to a lake, bracketed on all sides by evergreens. The water is covered with a veneer of ice, reflecting the light of the clear blue afternoon sky above. They walk along the lake's edge, boots crunching through the thin layer of snow, less patchy as they've gotten further away from civilization. Eventually the trail ends in a small clearing, clearly meant for campers; there's a picnic table and a fire ring, and Green sets down his pack with a sigh of relief.
Their first priority is the tent, and they work together with the speed of long practice—spreading the tarp together before they separate the work, Red piecing the support poles together while Green gets the large square of the tent centered just so over the tarp. Together they thread the poles through the tent and lift in tandem, the tent ballooning into shape in a swift rush of crinkling polyester. Then the final touches—stretching the rain fly over the structure, ducking inside to hang the lantern from the ceiling hook—and Green beams, wrapping an arm around Red's waist as they step back to admire their handiwork.
Charizard and Arcanine are frolicking in the snow at the fringes of their campsite soon after, the only pokémon on their respective teams that would enjoy the deepening cold. Red and Charizard practice defensive exercises by the lake, Arcanine following along with his tongue lolling before he flops down beside the tent to rest, sides heaving with happy pants. Pikachu and Eevee slide across the lake's frozen surface, too light to be in any danger of breaking the ice. They chase each other around, kicking up small whorls of snow, and darting into Arcanine's fluffy mane to warm up when they begin to tire.
Green sets up the camp stove and prepares his spread of essential ingredients. He pops dashi powder and squares of curry roux into a bubbling pot of vegetables, the smell pungent enough to draw Red and their pokémon away from the lakeside. Charizard swings his tail forward and the others gather around it, the curling flames at the tip of his tail superior to a traditional campfire. Green sprinkles minced green onions on top of two steaming bowls of curry udon with a flourish.
"Camp meals are the best," Green sighs as he and Red settle down to eat their own meal. Red sidles up against Charizard's side, and Green nestles himself into the crook of Arcanine’s sprawl. It doesn't matter that he only has a one-burner propane stove and a single tiny pot: the seasoning of the cold air and the soft wind rustling through the trees elevates it to haute cuisine, on par with any five-star Kalosian restaurant. Red doesn't reply, his attention fixed on the meal as he slurps up noodles and puffs out clouds of fragrant steam. The other pokémon settle by Charizard's fire, snacking on poffins and cut-up berries.
The sky is awash in orange and red now, a brilliant sunset that's a prelude to the show to come. While they wait, Green starts boiling water for hot chocolate and Red finds some thin branches to toast marshmallows with. They’d learned about s’mores in Unova, first trying them while exploring the desert resort. The experience is similar, even though the location couldn’t be more different: the crackling of the fire, the sky yawning above them, and the two of them cocooned together in the wilderness.
Red likes s’mores, but Green doesn’t as much. They’re too sweet for him, sugar on top of sugar. Red makes one for himself before toasting another marshmallow for Green.
“Yeah, this is nice,” Green says, his belly full and his cheeks warmed by the small fire, pouring two cups of hot chocolate. Red looks up at him and he adds, “Spending time, just us.” His lips quirk. “I turned my phone off and everything.”
Red huffs a laugh. He blows on the toasted-golden marshmallow, gently sliding it off the stick before pressing it to Green’s lips. Green kisses him after and leaves a smear of sugar on Red’s cheek. Red makes a face and Green laughs, scrubbing his cheek to remove the stickiness.
It’s at that moment that the sky begins to fill with light.
Red flicks his hand and Charizard’s tail moves away, leaving them in the dark. Above them the sky glows with ripples of color, purples and greens and golds, shimmering and shifting bright enough to wash out the tapestry of stars behind them.
Green’s eyes round with wonder as he stares up. He settles against Arcanine’s back, the pokémon’s warmth suffusing through him as he watches the northern lights dance across the night sky. He’s read about this, watched videos, but nothing prepares him for the reality of it, unearthly and beautiful and stretching larger than his vision can hold.
The appeal of cold, rugged wilderness lost its novelty in general as Green grew up, but at some point he concedes that tonight, for a show like this, it’s worth putting up with. It fills him with a profound sense of gratitude that this is a moment he gets to create, as well as savor.
They’re silent for a few minutes as they watch the aurora borealis. Green settles back, nearly spilling his hot chocolate; he’d almost forgotten it was there. His fumbling stills when he sees Red’s fond expression, and for a moment they just stare at each other, backlit by the veils of color above.
Then Red smiles, wide enough to make his eyes crinkle with it. "Happy birthday," Red whispers.
Green smiles back, the dim light reflecting the warmth in his eyes, and raises his glass in grateful acknowledgement.
