Title: Uncomfortable
Author: Shadow/Phantomness
Pairing: Championshipping (Lance x Red)
Fandom: Pokémon
Theme: #2, Uncomfortable
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, het

His legs were cramped from kneeling so long at the keyhole, and his eyes were screaming in pain, but he ignored those minor discomforts, ear pressed against the sturdy wood. He was Skip McKing, the leading journalist at the National Johto Times, and he needed this inside scoop!

Red and Lance had been in private conversation for almost an hour, and so far, he had not heard anything newsworthy, no groundbreaking information, but he was sure that his patience would be rewarded! After all, there were rumors flying thick and thin over Indigo Plateau, about the new legislation that would be unveiled on the twelfth, and he was sure they were fine-tuning whatever their secret was now! Maybe they had discovered a new region or new Pokémon, or perhaps it was an issue that would divide the voters left and right…

“You understand,” Lance was saying, and Red nodded.

“Yes, I do.”

“I trust you.” Something flickered between the two, before Red broke away. “I will see you soon, love.”

That caught Skip’s attention.

Love? Did that mean… oh, this was wonderful! The two highest-ranking members of the Indigo League were secretly in love with each other! Skip rubbed his hands together gleefully, almost chuckling with suppressed laughter.

Wait until the fangirls got a load of this!

He quietly tiptoed away, and bought himself hot coffee and a Danish pastry, rewarding himself for a job well done.

The next morning, all the headlines – with some nicely edited pictures of the two Champions – were screaming.

Lance looked ready to murder anyone who crossed her path the next morning when she stalked into the common room of the Johto Elite.

“How. Does. He. Know?” The Dragon Master grated out.

“Wish I knew,” Karen said, buttering a slice of toast. “We certainly didn’t tell and William has been on the phone all day, trying to defuse the situation.”

Bruno poured himself another cup of coffee. “Maybe you should just make a clean breast of it, Lance.”

Lance fixed him with a glare, but Bruno seemed immune to the effects. With a snarl, she spun on her heel and stalked out of the room, intent on finding Red. She found the Champion methodically tearing the front page of the National Johto Times into smaller and smaller fragments.

“Red.”

Red’s head snapped up as he turned to face his wife. “Lance…”

“Are you all right?”

He shrugged. “I’m fine. I suppose my trip to Mount Silver will have to be delayed. At this rate, we’ll be lucky if we aren’t swarmed.”

Lance closed her eyes. “I know.”

“But that doesn’t mean I think our relationship was a mistake.” Red told Lance seriously. “Besides, I’m legally an adult, so there’s nothing they can do.”

Lance blinked, twice, before his mind caught up with him. “True…” She said thoughtfully.

“Besides,” And here Red’s grin turned cheerfully wicked, “All those girls who have been writing about us online will probably be thrilled.” Then again, he was unsure as to how the slash fangirls would respond when they found out that Lance was female.

His wife choked. “That was a mental image I didn’t need, but you’re right.”

Red walked over, tugged her down, and kissed her, and Lance decided she would ponder a way to fix the situation later.

Will’s Jynx cheerfully slammed another Light Screen barrier around the structure. The masked Psychic wiped at his forehead, before he grinned.

“All done. Maybe we won’t be bothered for a while. And as for Lance and Red’s relationship… who knows? They might pave the way for the rest of us.”

Karen just smirked at him, and nodded.

End Fic

Completed 3/21/07

Edited 11/11/09

Evil, EVIL public speaking midterm *hisses*

Written in 12 minutes. Not that anyone *cares*, I’m just keeping track I guess.