Title: Grieve
Author: Shadow/Phantomness
Pairing: Championshipping (Lance x Red)
Fandom: Pokémon
Theme: #26, Grieve
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfiction belongs to me under international copyright laws and taking it is plagiarism. Thank you. *Phantomness bows*

Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics if a pokemon talks

Warnings: Shonen-ai

“Lance, if I died, would you cry for me?”

“That’s a strange question to ask.” Lance told Red, opening his eyes lazily from his position sprawled on the living room couch. “Why do you ask such a thing?”

“I’m not entirely sure,” Red admitted.

“You’re not feeling suicidal, are you Champion?” Lance asked. Certainly, the stress of handling the responsibilities, especially considering Red’s age, could cause psychological damage, but surely he or the others would have noticed…

“Of course not!” Red snapped, cheeks flushed. “I’m not that stupid!”

“Want me to make you some tea and talk about it?”

“I’d prefer hot chocolate, but sure.” Red agreed, almost too readily. Lance arched an eyebrow but said nothing, and in the kitchen, heated milk in a saucepan and added melted chocolate, careful not to scald the liquid. After a few minutes, he judged it ready and poured cups for them both.

They relocated back to the living room, where Red cupped his mug and took an experimental sip. It almost burned his tongue, and he blew on it several times, wincing.

“It is a rather strange question to ask.” Lance pointed out.

Red nodded slowly. “I know. I’m not very good at explaining things though.”

‘Well, why don’t you try, and if I have questions I’ll ask.”

That sounded good, so Red launched into an explanation. Between the self-deprecating words, Lance managed to pick out something involving a bet with Green and catching his girlfriend Orange cheating on him with Teal.

“That is rather unfortunate.” Lance agreed. “So you say that after Orange dumped you, you’ve been feeling down, and you think even your battling style is slipping?”

Red nodded miserably, taking another swallow of hot chocolate.

“It’s perfectly normal to be depressed after that.” Lance reassured him. “But why do you think it’s affecting your pokémon training?”

“I’m not sure.” Red confessed. “I just feel uninspired.”

“Ah.” That Lance could empathize with. The figurehead status had finally gotten to Red. It was rather fickle, fame…

“What’s the point? I don’t have anything left to prove. I know I’m a good trainer. Maybe I should resign.”

“Stress getting to you?”

Red managed a nod, and Lance frowned. The boy looked younger than his real age, huddled in upon himself, and a strange stab of pity ran through the Dragon Master’s heart. It was difficult to be Champion, and he had suffered through it for many years himself.

He pulled Red into a hug, causing the new Champion to stare at him in surprise.

“I know it’s hard, Red. The Elite Four haven’t exactly been welcoming either, have we? I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault.” Red’s voice was muffled, but he was starting to shake and Lance patted him on the back.

“Shh. It’s all right, Red. Let it out.”

And Red did. He cried for a good half hour, not caring at that point. He most certainly hadn’t been able to talk to anyone about the pressures mounting upon him, and he had reached his breaking point.

Lance simply held him, and finally, when Red’s crying had dulled, carried him to his room and put him to bed.

Red was not the type to garner attention with false accusations, so if he were troubled, it was true. Lance vowed to keep a closer eye on their new Champion, and exert his pull with the Elite Four. True, they were all ashamed, defeated by a child, but it was time to put that behind them unless they wanted a broken one on their hands.

He nodded, before shaking his head. It was… difficult to care. Pokemon were easy to take care of, so surely a child could not be that different.

He was used to being solitary – all of the Elite were, but if push came to shove, he would do it.

Someone had to take care of Red, after all, before he went mad.

Perhaps Red alone would receive the chance they had all lost. It would certainly break the vicious cycle, and maybe…

Maybe things would be better this time around. Besides, even if it failed, Red was quite adorable…

Lance licked his lips, and smirked. Who knew what he future would bring? It might even be interesting.

In his room Red slept on, peacefully, unaware of the plots brewing in the Dragon Master’s mind.

End Fic

Completed 3/29/07

I assume that being Champion is pretty stressful. That would explain why no one cares when they’re defeated *cough* no more paperwork!

Heh, yeah, Lance is a pedophile. *Smirk*