Title: Smuggler’s
Rest
Author: Shadow/Phantomness
Pairing: Championshipping (Lance x Red)
Fandom: Pokémon
Theme: #46, Smuggle
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
Warnings: AU, shonen-ai, historical unpleasantness
Lance slips his thick gloves on, pristine white hiding the rough bandages on his hands. Too clumsy last time, he thinks mentally, either that or he really shouldn’t see Red before he heads out. Things prove distracting, and distraction can be fatal.
Red is warm and soft and adorably beautiful, he is, but he’s not stupid, and he knows the risks they run. Lance chuckles, flicking a strand of crimson hair out of his face. He raises his spyglass to the horizon and checks.
Nothing.
Excellent.
Another midnight run; another shipment of brandy and cigars that somehow slipped the Crown’s seal of approval, and then he’s back in port. The passerbies shy away from him when he walks through the crowded streets. He even sees fingers plaiting signs against the evil eye.
He laughs.
Red waves when he sees Lance and Madame Charlotte smiles and hands him the keys. She’s no fool, even rouged out like a whore, and her eyes are sharp and golden just like his. Sometimes he wondered is his sister made the right choice, but she seems happy enough with what she has and what more can he ask for?
“Was it dangerous?” Red asks, cuddling up to him inside the room.
“No.” Lance answers honestly. There was a bad storm, true, but he’s known for taking calculated risks and none of the weak naval pansies would have dared sail in it. He’s quite well off for the next few weeks, longer if he spends his money sparingly, and of course, he has his troves hidden all over the coast of Africa.
It’s not a bad life.
Red smiles, as Lance pets his hair.
“Any news?” He asks.
“Sung Ki has been rather quiet lately.” Red admits, toying with a bit of loose embroidery on the coverlet. “I think you’ve scared him.”
Lance puts on a surprised look, and the boy laughs.
“It’s true. You’ve never lost your cargo, have you?”
“That’s more skill than luck, love.” Lance teases, but says no more. There are more important things to do.
He kisses those soft lips, sliding his arms around Red’s waist. It’s not a new thing for either of them, as they’ve been lovers for several years and Red is perfect.
Garnet eyes stare into gold; and Red smiles.
He’s glad, though, that Lance has come back to visit. It helps keep the unpleasantness away.
All too soon, the Captain wraps his dark cloak around himself and slips off again.
Red strokes the new ruby drop earrings he has, and decides to wear them when he sees Lance next.
The
plantation owners down in
He’s not shy, and his crew sails off. It’s almost criminally simple, and they pack the bodies down tight and pray for a quick wind.
Then it’s another contract, a few had to be thrown to the sharks when they started to spoil, but it’s an acceptable loss.
Yes, Lance thinks. Soon he’ll have enough to retire, and he’ll be able to stay with Red. He smiles.
And he doesn’t think about the misery he leaves in his wake.
End Fic
Completed 12/2/07
Writing while doped up on cold medicine and procrastinating on my stupid anatomy lab final is not the best thing, probably…
And yes, slavery DID exist so writing about it should not be banned!