A Thin Line (by Ash-GreninjaGirl)

Reconciliation

After the initial reunion, Greninja and Hawlucha found that neither of them had any idea what to say to each other next. Well, they both knew what they wanted to say, but it was hard to know how to bring it up. Besides, there were so many things they needed to say that it was impossible to figure out where to start. 

As the silence dragged on, Hawlucha began absentmindedly running his talon over Greninja's head. He was hardly aware himself of what he was doing, however, until the frog-ninja Pokemon brought it to his attention. 

"Um, Hawlucha? Is there any particular reason why you're petting me right now?" he asked awkwardly. 

Hawlucha blinked and, realizing what he was doing, blushed and quickly withdrew his hand. "S-sorry about that," he apologized nervously. "Force of habit." 

"It's okay," Greninja replied, although he still looked bewildered. Hawlucha couldn't exactly blame him, though. The last time he had been awake, he wouldn't have come within ten feet of him, unless of course, it was to slap him. 

A heavy silence fell between the pair once more. As the minutes continued to drag on, Hawlucha found himself staring at Greninja. He knew he was probably being creepy, but he couldn't help himself. After months of worrying every day about whether or not it would finally be the day Greninja left him for good, he was awake and talking as if nothing had happened. 

But it almost didn't happen, a voice in his head reminded him. And you were almost the cause of his death, remember? 

Hawlucha blinked, feeling tears starting to burn behind his eyes once more. He sniffled and wiped his eyes across his arm, trying to be as discreet as possible about it. The last thing he needed was to start crying in front of Greninja yet again. 

"Hawlucha..." Greninja murmured. 

"Greninja..." Hawlucha replied quietly. Say something, you idiot! Don't just stare at him! 

At that moment, there were a million things Hawlucha wanted to say to Greninja. He wanted to tell him how relieved he was to see him alive and well. He wanted to talk to him about everything that had transpired while he was in his coma. More than anything, he wanted to apologize for everything he'd put him through. The words were all right there on the tip of his tongue, yet somehow he just couldn't get them out. 

Instead, he simply said, "I love you."