Title: Slowly
Author: Shadow/Phantomness
Pairing: Championshipping (Lance x Red)
Fandom: Pokémon
Theme: #16, Words of the Heart
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

“Sometimes I wonder if you love anything at all.” Red said, as he entered the study. Lance glanced up briefly from the economics report on her computer, frowning.

“Do you think I don’t love you?”

“I think,” He said hesitantly, as he perched on the couch, “That I’m the only person you love. I don’t know how to feel about that.”

Lance raised an eyebrow. “Most people would settle for feeling quite honored.”

“I know! It’s not that I don’t appreciate it!” Red burst out. “But why do you love me? You’re the Dragon Master and the Leader of the Elite Four! You could have anyone you wanted!”

“… And you’re Champion of the Kanto League. Your point is?”

“My point is that I don’t know how to love someone like that, and its not fair if you…” To his horror, Red felt tears begin to gather in his eyes.

She got up and pulled him into a hug. “I’m sorry if I’m forcing you to love me, Red. That was never my intention.”

He stuck out his tongue, but his sniffles slowed as Lance held him. Finally, he timidly kissed Lance on the cheek.

“This is all just very new for me. I’m not sure what to do. What if I mess up and you don’t like me anymore?”

“If I were that fickle, I would not have fallen in love in the first place.” The redheaded Trainer paused, handing him a handkerchief to wipe his eyes with. “Shall I go make tea?”

“All right…” Red scowled.

Lance returned a few minutes later with tea for both of them, and a plate of chewy chocolate chip cookies. That cheered Red up, and as he nibbled, he decided that his girlfriend was right.

They could take things slowly, after all. And she wasn’t really pressuring him. In fact, he was the one putting pressure on himself.

He had no experience being ‘manly’, whatever that meant! Besides, he certainly did not want to have sex yet.

She smiled at him, and he timidly smiled back. Maybe he was overanalyzing. Romance took time, right?

Red ate another cookie.

She sipped her tea, amused. He was still immature. He needed time to grow, and experience things, and hopefully learn sophistication. Well, she would be patient and give him time. Otherwise, who knew what might happen?

Growing up too quickly had detrimental effects on the subjects.

He looked at her, but did not really see her.

Lance finished the drink, and then got up to go back to work.

End Fic

Completed 8/18/06

Edited 9/14/09

Ah, I love themes, I do I do I do! And yes, Red can be pretty immature…