Grin! Beam!

Title: Not alone tonight
Author: Shadow/Phantomness
Pairing: Championshipping (Lance x Ash/Red)
Fandom: Pokémon
Theme: #68, Smile
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: AU, Pre-shonen-ai

A smile is a small thing, but it can sometimes change the world.

Red smiled as he parked his bicycle in the school lot. Shouldering his backpack, he made his way to the biology wing, waving at the few students who crossed his path. It was a bitterly cold day in January, and he was inordinately grateful for his heavy wool coat. His breath steamed out in ice crystals as he quickened his pace.

Inside, the building was surprisingly warm and toasty, and he was more than glad to lay hat and gloves aside as he walked down the hall to Professor Lance’s lab. The professor was already hard at work; inspecting specimen slides underneath a microscope.

“Professor.” The head jerked up, golden eyes narrowed behind green safety goggles. The expression relaxed, identifying the disruption as his Graduate Student.

“I didn’t think you’d come today, Red, what with the weather…”

Red grinned. “Nothing better to do.”

“Well, get started on those samples then. I’ll need the drosophila sorted by gender. Do label the ones with stunted wings if you see any.”

Red nodded, and went to work.

The silence in the lab was peaceful, though Red did wonder – why was the Professor here, alone, of all days? It was Christmas, after all!

Lance did not seem like Scrooge. He was cold and calculating, but Red was sure that underneath beat a heart of gold.

They broke for coffee and pastries two hours in, and then went back to work. It was almost six o’clock by the time the last slides were labeled and put away. Lance glanced at the breeding tanks, nodding in approval, before he turned to Red.

“It’s late. I’ll treat you to dinner.”

Red goggled at him, before hastily thanking him. Lance brushed off the praise with a curt gesture, and soon, Red found himself riding in the passenger seat of Lance’s sleek sports car – an odd choice for a Science Professor, if he did say so himself. Soon they stopped in front of a restaurant he did not recognize.

“Reservations for two,” His teacher instructed, and they were immediately ushered into a private booth.

As Red sat on plush red leather, trying to study the menu, he had to admit that today had been an eye-opener. Professor Lance seemed to have no family or friends… it was almost sad.

However, his circumstances were… much the same. His parents had divorced and never saw each other, and he had no siblings. Coming to the university in Kanto had been good for his education, but all his friends were left behind in Johto.

He sighed, and Lance asked him if he disliked the soup. Red assured him that the clam chowder was delicious. It was.

The main course soon arrived, sizzling scallops sautéed with mushrooms atop a bed of pasta – a dubious combination, and for him, a rare steak paired with shrimp. It was wonderful, and as Lance poured wine for them both, he was starting to wish that the evening would never end.

Regrettably, after a mouth-watering apricot torte for dessert, they left. Lance drove him back home, saying that the way the snow was blowing now, it would be suicidal to ride his bike, and Red had to agree.

Still…

He was glad, and so he pecked his teacher on the cheek right before he went inside his door.

Lance froze, but murmured some pleasant goodbyes. Returning to his car, he frowned. Affection? Well, that was rare.

But he could work with it, and the smile he bestowed upon Red as he drove off was dazzling.

Red waved, feeling a flush creeping up his neck, as the implications hit home.

End Fic

Completed 9/6/06

Reading psychology books is fun! Sometimes…