Title: Same
Author: Shadow/Phantomness
Pairing: Championshipping (Lance x Red/Ash)
Fandom: Pokémon
Theme: #41, Same
Rating: PG-13
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. Zensho-verse
Warnings: Shonen-ai, shota
“You wouldn’t understand!” Red cried, poking his head out from where he was huddled underneath the covers, shaking. His knuckles were white as he gripped the beige comforter protectively, almost as though it would shield him from the world.
Lance sighed as he sat down next to the bed. “I won’t judge you, Red.”
“How can I be sure?” Red mumbled.
“Would you like me to make a promise?”
“Um…” Red said hesitantly, “If you don’t say anything…”
“All right.” Lance acquiesced. “Now tell me.”
Red took a shuddering breath, before he slid out of bed and sat down next to Lance. “You know how Erika and I were investigating the Celadon Game Corner, looking for signs of Team Rocket’s resurgence?”
Lance nodded.
Red took a deep breath. “Well, we were right. They were planning on reusing the base. But when I saw what they had done… all those tanks full of half-dead … things…. And the scientist just laughed and told his Kadabra to attack me, I kind of lost my temper.” He shivered. “I could have used Murkrow, it would have been so quick, but… I used Charizard and Raichu and Lapras and I think I blacked out somewhere in the middle of it, but Erika was shaking me and everything…” He gulped. “Everything was just… gone. The entire base under the Game Corner was a smoking mess, and the Game Corner wasn’t much better. At least they managed to evacuate all the people but!”
Lance patted him on the back as Red began to cry.
“I don’t know what’s wrong, Lance? Am I going crazy?”
The Dragon Master said nothing, simply held the crying Champion close as he listened. Red was still a child, barely fourteen years old, and for him to deal with something like this was devastating.
Poor Red…
“What… what if it’s my fault? All of those cloned pokemon… what if I killed them?” He sobbed. “Then I wouldn’t be any better than Team Rocket, right?”
Lance considered it merciful, but kept silent.
“And… and, what am I going to do? We’ll have to do something, but I don’t know…”
He sniffled, burying his face in Lance’s chest. The Dragon Master sighed.
What a mess.
He waited until Red had stopped crying, before he tucked him back into bed and went to call Erika.
The Grass Gym Leader was grim when she picked up the phone.
“Did he tell you what happened?”
“Most of it, yes. Did he really…?”
Erika nodded over the videophone, and Lance shook his head.
“I shouldn’t have let him go with you. He’s still young.”
“He’s old enough to appreciate what Team Rocket is doing.” Erika murmured. “I feel bad myself, Lance. I led him there!”
“At least all the evidence is gone, right?”
Erika nodded. “Charizard took care of it.”
“Then he doesn’t need to know.”
He heard her suck in a breath. “What are you going to do to him?”
“Nothing,” Lance smiled crookedly. “I did promise, after all. Unless he wants my help, I’ll just listen.”
“That’s the best thing to do in some cases.” Erika said. “If he feels bad, I suggest you take him to Lavender Town.”
“So he can make amends at the Pokemon Tower? That’s a good idea.”
“Good luck.” Erika grinned, before she hung up.
Lance shook his head, amused, and nodded.
Three days later, Red was placing lilies carefully before a row of new graves while Lance watched, and it did help, just a little, and when he looked at Lance, he saw understanding shining in those golden eyes.
Strange.
Did this mean…
“You…”
“Yes.” Lance nodded.
“Oh.” Red said softly, and then hugged Lance, because they were the same and going crazy but at least he wasn’t alone.
Lance kissed him then, and Red let him.
End Fic
Completed 6/20/07
Poor Red *huggles*
Red: At least we get a happy ending?
Phantomness: *Smirk*