Title: Acceptance
Author: Shadow/Phantomness
Pairing: Championshipping (Lance x Red)
Fandom: Pokémon
Theme: #122, Acceptance
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. Special-verse

Warnings: Fanon, het, dark

Stop…

Sometimes, when she looks into Red’s eyes, so pale, pale crimson against the stark white of his skin and the sheer black color of his messy locks, she wants to scream. She doesn’t deserve it! She wants to say. She does not deserve this forgiveness and she doesn’t want Red to be nice to her because she – Lance – is not and will never be a nice person.

The Dragon Master doesn’t know why Red can forgive, turn enemy one day into ally the next. She would rather suffer for her crimes, real or imagined, and Red has to work hard, very hard, to catch her.

Please don’t look at me like that…

Lance hates pity. She absolutely, positively does not want it and Red would be better off chasing that bit of skirt – Yellow, was it?

But as much as the Viridian Child does not want to see mercy and compassion, she hates the love more.

Red shouldn’t love her! The boy shouldn’t even come near her. She’s tainted and cruel and there’s blood staining her fingertips, so much blood, but Red just won’t let go!

You deserve better…

The Pallet Trainer wraps his arms around the older teen, seeing cold, frozen eyes, like slits in marble. He knows that Lance’s soul is broken, splintered beyond recognition, but he want – wants her.

It makes him sad when Lance hurts herself, and he has to be cautious, so, so careful, because even without blades and sharp fingers, Lance can hurt so easily.

But even if she’s tattered and worn, Red still loves Lance, because love never, ever had to make sense.

Love you…

Lance’s eyes are closed, and Red holds her close, warmth pooling between them, and surrenders.

End Fic

Completed 11/29/07

Edited 3/8/09

Almost the end of the month… and Lance has issues. Yes she does!