Title: Salvation
Author: Shadow/Phantomness
Pairing: Championshipping (Lance x Red)
Fandom: Pokémon
Theme: #13, Salvation
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: AU, het

She doesn’t want to be saved, doesn’t need to be saved, but despite her protests, Red still saves her. The Champion is kind, and takes her home, and feeds her painkillers. The Nurse Joy works over her, patching up skin, and she has always been a quick healer so within three weeks she’s back to full health. Red smiles at her, and Lance wonders why he bothered.

She has failed, she couldn’t control Lugia, she lost to Yellow, and if her Clan discovers she’s still alive they’ll kill her. But Red doesn’t mock her, and Red doesn’t have the light of self-righteousness in his eyes, so Lance decides not to kill him. It would be poor repayment for his actions, after all.

She kisses the boy, tasting surprise and sweet innocence, and slips her arms around his waist. Red kisses him back, expression animated, but not protesting, and allows her to take the lead.

Lance does.

She pleasures Red as best she can, for seven nights, and Red whispers reassurances when he thinks she is asleep. They know that this isn’t anything close to a proper relationship and he is pretty sure Lance isn’t in love with him, but it’s soft and nice and he knows how to pretend. Afterwards, she leaves him, but Red knows they’ll meet again, sometime, and maybe then, Lance will be healed, and they can really love each other. She deserves it.

Besides, he knows that it was more than just carnal lust, because he found the rings under his pillow, and the certificate, waiting for his signature.

So he smiled, and followed the instructions.

He has a right to be hopeful.

Three years later, when Lance saves him from Deoxys and Red clings tight to the Dragon Master, he sees peace in those golden eyes and knows that he’s made the right choice. It’s hot and rough when they touch after the battle has ended, and Red purrs, because he knows Lance came back for him, despite her protestations and her hatred of humanity, which might – just might – be a little less.

And he knows he did the right thing, saving Lance.

End Fic

Completed 4/29/07

Edited 11/14/09

Stupid, evil chemistry project…

Red: *Blushes*

Lance: *Smirks*

Phantomness: ^^V 5 minutes~!