Title: First Impression
Author: Shadow/Phantomness
Pairing: Championshipping (Lance x Red)
Fandom: Pokémon
Theme: #49, First Impression (Theme Set #2)
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. Zensho-verse

Warnings: Shonen-ai

When Lance first sees Red, he sees a boy with cherubic features and a wonderfully powerful Charizard, and he smiles, because losing to one with a spark of determination in their eyes isn’t a bad fate, especially not if they use another dragon that can defeat his Dragonite.

It’s not like he tried to use water or ice pokemon like all the others, and that ratchets him up a notch in Lance’s opinion.

So he makes his speech, and then watches as Red steps through to challenge Green. Charizard versus Blastoise, starter against starter… that is just how it is bound to end, since all stories had to begin somewhere, and now it winds down.

And Red wins, even with type disadvantage.

And Lance cheers for him inwardly with a brilliant grin, even as he knows two children have beaten him. What does it matter?

Red is… special.

He’ll watch over the boy now, because as Champion, the new Champion… he has to stay at the Plateau. And that night, when Red appears in his doorway, clutching a pillow with his pajamas rumpled, he knows that life just got better.

“Can I sleep with you tonight?”

“Sure,” Lance says, and pets his hair after Red clambers under the covers with him.

Red just grins tiredly, and falls straight asleep, innocent of the thoughts passing through the Dragon Master’s mind.

End Fic

Completed 11/17/06

Groovy!