Title: Reversal
Author: Shadow/Phantomness
Pairing: Championshipping/WataShi (Lance x Red)
Fandom: Pokémon
Theme: #27, Reverse
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

Meeting once in Johto was luck – after all, Lake of Rage was a perfectly reasonable destination for a trainer trying to compete in the Johto League. Meeting again on Houen was also unexpected, though Ash trying out for that League as well was justifiable. But when Lance caught Ash in the Blackthorn City nature preserve near Route 44, he was just a tad suspicious.

“What are you doing here?” And for that matter, where were the boy’s traveling companions? Misty was noticeably absent, but even Brock and the two kids from Houen were nowhere to be seen.

“Training!” Ash said happily.

“… I see.” Without a word, the Dragon Master turned back to where his two Dragonair were successfully beating the tar out of a herd of Rhyhorn. “So which pokemon did you bring with you?”

“Um… let me see…” Ash frowned. “Noctowl, Glalie, and Torkoal. I heard there were lots of wild grass pokémon here.”

“A reasonable choice, I suppose. But you are quite misinformed. There are mainly rock and ground-type pokémon here, with a few steel.”

Ash deflated. “I see…”

“I know you beat Clair, so shouldn’t you know what pokémon live around here?” Lance asked. Ash shrugged, before he spotted a Graveler and ran off to engage it in battle, releasing his Glalie.

“I didn’t really train much.” Ash called.

Lance shook his head. No wonder the boy had only defeated the Orange League. He watched for a moment while Ash’s Glalie froze the Graveler solid, before he turned his attention back to his pokémon.

Are you all right, Master? Storm called.

Yes, yes! Tempest added. We know you’re worried about Dragonite and Gyarados’s clutch of eggs.

“It’s not that. You two are doing quite well but the pokémon here are really little match for you.”

Storm preened while Tempest whacked his sister amiably with his tail. Quit showing off!

You like showing off too!

Yes, well Master looks worried!

Still?

Storm flew down and curled around Lance protectively. Do you sense danger, Master?

Lance chuckled at the protective instincts his pokémon had. “No. I am not worried about danger, per se, unless…”

A strange expression crossed his face.

Tempest descended from the skies and joined his sibling. Master! What is it? You can tell us!

“That boy over there…” Lance indicated Ash, who seemed to be up in a tree trying to coax his Noctowl down. “He worries me.”

Is he dangerous? Storm bared her fangs.

“Not except through his ignorance.” Lance murmured. “It’s just that… twice he’s shown up in my investigations and disrupted all my planning. It might just be coincidence, but it might not be.”

I can Thunderwave him and then you can ask the Ghost Master to scan his mind!

“Too invasive.” Lance shook his head.

Why don’t you just ask? Tempest suggested reasonably.

“I don’t have enough evidence yet.”

Well if he keeps following you, then you’ll know, right?

“I suppose so.” Lance said slowly. “Maybe I’m just thinking too much.”

Tempest licked his cheek, and then they went back to training.

Ash collapsed on his bed in the Blackthorn Pokemon Center, feeling his muscles ache like crazy. Who knew there were so many wild pokemon out there who all decided to attack him at once?

He was out of practice. He needed more training. Maybe… maybe if he got better, Lance would like him?

Maybe.

Glalie was pretty tired. He’d use Bulbasaur and Bayleef tomorrow. It only took a few minutes to transfer them over from Oak’s lab.

Lance raised an eyebrow when he saw Ash the next morning, but didn’t comment. After all, the Routes were open to all. Lugia knew the boy’s pokémon could always use more training, though he wondered where Ash’s Pikachu was. Ah, no matter.

After another two days, he made preparations to set out for Mount Silver. It was only open to the Elite Four and Champions, so he was fairly confident he would not be followed. Ash’s presence was starting to become unnerving, and he was not quite sure why…

Besides, his dragon pokémon needed more experience.

It was almost as though Ash was staring at him, nonstop. But he was just being ridiculous.

They were friends of a sort, true, but this felt different.

Perhaps he needed more sleep… he’d take sleeping pills tonight, and have a fresh perspective that did not involve paranoia tomorrow morning.

Ash drew his knees up against his chest as he sighed. It was so embarrassing! But how could he not like Lance? The man had saved his life twice already. And Lance had pretty pink hair, like a girl’s… plus he was the leader of the Elite Four and the Johto Champion!

It would be so perfect. Two Champions together… and they both loved pokemon…so why not?

Ash colored as he realized where his thoughts were going. If only he wasn’t so scared, then he could actually tell Lance, but that was so hard to do!

Pikachu had been left at Oak’s, something that would have been unthinkable, but Pikachu had wanted him to be Misty’s boyfriend and he just couldn’t do that.

He and Misty were just friends!

So he couldn’t bring Pikachu, not when Pikachu might try and break them up. Ash colored again. He was already thinking of Lance as his… oh dear.

But Lance wasn’t, really, and until he worked up the courage to tell him, he wouldn’t be. Ash sighed and dropped his head into his hands, trying to sort through his thoughts. What a mess…

However, when he went out to Route 45 the next morning, Lance was missing. When he asked around, the lady at the Pokemon Mart said that he had bought a lot of supplies so he was probably going to Victory Road or somewhere with more high-leveled pokemon.

It made sense, but Ash still felt nervous as he flew to New Bark Town and then headed into Tohjo Falls in search of the elusive trainer.

Five days later, he arrived at Mount Silver. The man had been hesitant to let him through at first, but Ash was Orange League Champion and did have all eight Johto badges, so he was waved in with a warning.

As he walked through the tall grass, he noticed herds of Ponyta and Rapidash, but no sign of Lance. The water teemed with Poliwag and Poliwhirl – and he tripped over a third Tangela while Noctowl Pecked it to death, feeling slightly annoyed.

At least the horses weren’t bothering him much…

It took him two days to move through the grassland into the cave, and he could have kissed the Nurse Joy on duty at the small Pokemon Center there. The kind pink-haired lady smiled and said that yes, Lance was staying at the Center and would probably be back soon.

He was training in Silver Cave, but Ash was tired and he knew his pokemon were too, so he went upstairs to relax and try and formulate a plan.

How to tell Lance? Hmm…

Lance returned and was preparing peanut butter sandwiches when Ash came down the stairs in only his boxers. The Dragon Master’s eyes bugged out.

“W-What are you doing here?”

“Training my pokemon of course!” Ash chirped happily.

“… In your underwear?” Lance asked, valiantly keeping his eyes on Ash’s face.

“I was hot.”

“Mmhmm.” Lance said, before he made up his mind. “Ash, if you like me, you can just tell me.”

That threw the Pallet Trainer for a loop, and he gaped at Lance, stunned.

“I mean, its not very pleasant being stalked.”

“I-I’m not following you around!”

“Really. Look me in the eyes and say it.”

Ash resembled a tomato as he looked up, and that was when Lance kissed him. In those few days of free time, Lance had done some thinking of his own and decided that he didn’t give a damn what society thought. Ash was cute, obviously interested in him, and had potential. There were far worse matches that could be made.

He felt Ash whimper as he deepened the kiss, and finally, Ash pulled back, looking relieved.

“So you love me?”

“Sure.” Lance agreed, and Ash beamed as he threw his arms around Lance, almost knocking him to the ground, and kissed him again.

End Fic

Completed 1/5/07

Everyone thinks Lance stalks Ash, hai? Well, what if Ash stalked Lance? ^_~ this fic is the result!
Ash: *Blush*

Lance: …

Red: Hey! Lance is *mine*

Phantomness: *Chuckles*