Title: In the End
Author: Shadow/Phantomness
Pairing: Championshipping (Lance x Ash/Red)
Fandom: Pokémon
Theme: #11, No Time

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

 

            “There is no time left. You try my patience, Red. Make your choice!”

            Red shivered as he stared at the masked face of his lover. He wanted to explain, wanted to tell Lance that he hadn’t been serious, wanted to say that Gary had raped him, but… but sheer terror held him frozen.

            The Phantom’s cape swirled around him as he advanced closer. Red felt goose bumps rise on his skin, suddenly aware of the chill deep in the catacombs. He still wore only the thin white shift from the Opera…

            “Will you choose to end your days with me, or send him to his grave?” He asked mockingly, staring at Gary, who clawed at his neck, the Punjab lasso keeping him suspended in midair.

            “Don’t throw away your life for my sake.” Gary choked out.

            Red decided.   

            He walked up to Lance, pulled him into his embrace, kissed him, feeling the heart beating too fast against his own while tears trickled down pale cheeks.

            “Shh…” He coaxed.

            Lance’s golden eyes bore into his ruby ones. “Red…”

            “I know.” Red whispered. “I’ll stay. Let him go.”

            For a long moment, Lance simply stared into his eyes. Then he stood, blades flickering into being on his fingertips. One slash and Gary was free. He coughed several times, brushing flecks of mud off his fancy evening clothes.

            “Let’s go.”

            “No.” Red stood next to Lance protectively. “I’m not leaving him.”

            “You’re insane!”

            “I did love you once, Gary, but you broke my trust when you broke me. Leave this place. I’m staying here. My place is with him.”

            Lance shot Gary a wicked smirk, and the aristocrat huffed as he hurriedly fled, not wanting to deal with the mob that would soon reach the Phantom’s lair.

 

            Red turned to Lance. “Do we die together now?”

            “I am not fond of tragedy,” The Phantom shook his head. “And they will not find me easy prey…”

            The timbre of his voice sent a shiver down Red’s spine, and Lance calmly walked over to his pipe organ, pressing a sequence of keys.

            Red recognized them as the opening chords of Don Juan Triumphant, but what he did not expect was for the Pipe organ to sink into the ground, revealing a hidden staircase.

            Of course!
            They walked down, and Red found that his bedroom, furnished sumptuously, was untouched. True, they would destroy the few rooms above ground, but there was nothing worth saving there…

            Lance stroked his hair and held him close as the sounds of breaking glass and the smell of smoke wafted down, but he kept silent.

            It was all right. His choice had been made.

            He would stay with Lance until their time ran out. The thought filled him with unexpected relief, and as Lance kissed him timidly, he responded with an eagerness that surprised the older man.

            “I love you.”

            For once, Lance believed him.

 

End Fic

Completed 10/17/06

More Phantom of the Opera goodness, and this time, it’s shonen-ai~!