"I'm your darling little brother~"
Hearing this, Silver's pupils tremble as he stares at Damian in disbelief.
little brother? Me?
I'm his little brother? In other words, this person is my brother?
Silver is utterly shocked; it means he is family?
Silver almost instinctively refuses to admit it, though he is indeed looking for his family, he didn't expect it to come so… simple?
So Silver stays silent.
Meanwhile, Caitlin also looks at the red-haired boy who seems cold and withdrawn with surprise—could this be Damian, the little brother who was kidnapped since childhood?
"What happened? Not happy to see your brother? Or do you want your brother to open his arms and give you a warm hug?"
Damian's smile remains gentle as he teases the silent Silver.
He steps forward with open arms, seeming to want to give Silver a hug.
"Freeze!"
But out of reflex, Silver steps back, warily watching Damian approach.
Damian stops, raising an eyebrow at Silver.
"You say you're my brother, what proof do you have?"
Silver asks in a low voice.
It's not that he doesn't want to admit a family, but his upbringing taught him not to trust anyone easily.
Although there is a flutter in his heart toward this boy, Silver remains cautious.
"Huh? You, this guy, want proof from family too?" Ethan is shocked again and speaks up.
He has never seen anyone this peculiar; family is family—what proof could there be?
And isn't it strange that someone doesn't recognize their own family?
Ethan scratches his head; he thinks the redhead seems a bit odd, or else there's no reason.
"Shut up!" Silver gives Ethan a chilly look; what does this guy understand?
Ethan pouts but stops talking.
"If you say you're my brother, who are our parents?" Silver's vision returns to Damian, his voice cold.
"So you've forgotten, huh? Well, it's been ten years after all." Damian sighs softly.
In fact, according to the Special manga's plot, when Silver was captured he was two or three; thus he would have almost no impression of Giovanni, since he was very young then.
But in this world, Silver was captured at five or six; normally he should still have a little memory.
But forgetful is normal; it was a child, after all.
"Our father is Giovanni, the Viridian Gym Leader; as for our mother, she passed away not long after you were born."
"And I'm your older brother, Damian, how about that? Any memory at all?"
Damian patiently introduces himself.
"Giovanni… Damian…"
Silver murmurs these two names softly, his mind racing with memories.
A few scattered memories flicker; a suited, buzz-cut middle-aged man, not clearly seen; to his right a black-haired boy, to his left himself.
Silver's eyes hazy, could it be true? It seems true.
"That Sneasel still with you? Pokémon memories are clearer than human ones; if Sneasel is still around, it should remember me."
Damian comments to Silver at the right moment.
"Yes! Sneasel!"
Silver quickly releases his Sneasel, his first Pokémon and the one that's accompanied him since childhood.
After he was captured to Johto, Sneasel still protected him.
Sneasel appears at Silver's side, looking up at him, puzzled.
"Sneasel, do you recognize that person?"
Silver points at Damian, whispering to Sneasel; even he hasn't realized his tone has already begun to carry anticipation.
Although he has built a tall wall inside his heart to seal his true feelings, Silver still yearns to find his family.
Sneasel looks at Damian; upon seeing Damian, Sneasel's expression shifts from hesitation to surprise.
"Sneasel~!"
Sneasel becomes a shadow, quickly leaping in front of Damian.
"Long time no see, Sneasel."
Damian's tone is gentle, as he pets Sneasel's head, green motes fluttering.
"Sneasel~"
Sneasel chirps happily, eyes closing in contentment—this is the feeling!
Sneasel excitedly turns toward Silver, calling out.
Silver, watching Sneasel's reaction, understands the result; his expression becomes subtle, reluctant to meet Damian's gaze.
Since fleeing from the masked organization, besides getting stronger, he wanted to find his family like Green.
But now his family is right in front of him, Silver feels overwhelmed and awkward.
He doesn't know how to face this blood-related brother…
Instead, Damian slowly steps up to Silver, his vision and smile warm, his voice gentle.
"Silver, long time no see."
That same sentence, but this time, it lands completely differently in Silver's ears.
"Brother…"
Silver lifts his head; the previously withdrawn, gloomy expression melts away, and he looks at his blood-related brother; Silver bites his lips, warmth flowing in his heart.
"You must have endured a lot these years. After you vanished, Dad and I searched for you a long time, but there was no location."
Damian places his hands on Silver's shoulders, his soft voice sending tears to Silver's eyes.
"But still, you're back now; Silver."
Silver is still a bit dazed, then feeling warm in a brotherly embrace.
Though reluctant to admit it, Silver truly feels an unprecedented sense of security coming from family.
He had decided to abandon his weakness and become strong to protect Green, but now that he finally sees his brother, that weakness seems to return.
"From now on, rely on your brother freely; I'll protect you, no matter who, I won't let you be harmed."
Damian's gentle yet steadfast voice makes Silver's mind go hazy again; tears spill from the corner of his eyes.
Brother…
"So good… so good."
Ethan watches this warm scene and can't help but smile too.
Honestly, this cold, aloof guy who's so tough on the outside being able to find his family might even help him become better.
Ethan quietly leaves Burned Tower; as an outsider, there's no need to stay.
His Pokémon were defeated by Silver just now, so he should hurry to the Pokémon Center to get Nurse Joy to heal them.
Speaking of it… Ethan scratches his head; Damian, that name sounds familiar, but he can't quite recall.
reunite with his little brother, Damian's mood is pretty good.
He brings Silver to the best restaurant in Ecruteak City and books a private room, ordering a long table of dishes for Silver.
"Bro, that's too much. We can't finish this much."
Silver feels the brotherly care, but he still shakes his head to decline.
Raised tight by Masked Man since childhood, Silver has formed the good habit of saving food.
"It's okay; if you can't finish, you can take it home. Today is our long-awaited reunion; eat well."
Damian responds with a smile.
"By the way, you haven't met her yet, have you—this is Caitlin, one of my most important teammates."
Damian introduces Caitlin beside him.
"Hello, Silver."
Caitlin's soft, elegant smile greets Silver with a nod.
"Hello."
Silver musters a smile, then tries to keep his expression from slipping.
"Ten years have passed in the blink of an eye; I thought I'd never see you again."
Damian pulls an old but well-preserved photo from his jacket and hands it to Silver.
Silver takes it and his eyes surge again with emotion.
The photo shows a family of three; in the center stands Giovanni, with Damian and Silver on either side, and Sneasel beside Silver.
Silver's finger traces the photo gently.
"If Dad could see this, I think he'd be very happy," Damian sighs.
"…Father is in Viridian Gym, right?"
Silver still needs to adapt, but he still calls him that.
"Yes, he's busy as a Gym Leader; when you have time, go see him, Silver."
Damian smiles.
"I can go right now! But… bro, won't you come with me?"
Silver can't wait to see his father; he's eager to go.
Besides, Green is in Kanto now; after Viridian City, they can also look for Green.
But soon he senses what Damian means.
"Right now isn't convenient; I'll go back when I have a chance."
Damian's gentle refusal.
"…"
Silver remains silent; he can't understand why Damian resists going home; could there be a conflict with his father?
But that doesn't feel right either.
"Let's eat first, Silver; you look thin, have some meat."
The waiter has brought dishes; Damian serves the biggest piece of meat to Silver's bowl.
Silver eats in silence, feeling incredibly warm—this is the happiness only a brother can give.
After finishing, Damian takes Silver to a nearby mall to buy several outfits and shoes, then to Ecruteak Dance Theater to watch a show, and the three of them stroll and chat while shopping.
For Silver, this day is the happiest and most fulfilling day of his life so far.
The brother is truly the best brother in the world!
Silver even smiles in his sleep that night.
The next morning.
"Silver, when you reach Viridian City, send me a message; travel safely."
Damian tidies Silver's collar, smiling as he pats Silver's shoulder.
"Okay." Silver nods.
"Safe travels."
Damian hugs him and pats his back.
"Bye-bye."
Silver's face finally breaks into a rare smile as he waves goodbye to Damian.
"Bye-bye."
Damian's face shows a warm smile as he watches Silver's silhouette disappear into view, then the smile slowly fades.
"I wonder how this kid will react when he learns his brother is actually a Team Rocket member…"
Damian knows very well that Silver hates evil organizations.
When Silver reaches Viridian City and learns from Giovanni that Damian is now a member of Team Rocket, I wonder what expression he'll wear.
Well, perhaps it will be that "the sky is falling" feeling?
And then?
Will loyalty turn to love and he do something drastic, or will he try to pull himself out of the current "stupidity"?
Poor Silver; he finally found his family, and now his family is the evil organization he despises most.
But Damian can't help it; he has real feelings for this little brother, after all they are blood.
Hm, next time they meet, should he say, "My foolish, naive little brother."
~~~
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