Title: Counterglow
Author: Shadow/Phantomness
Pairing: Championshipping (Lance x Ash/Red)
Fandom: Pokémon
Theme: #26, Counterglow

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. Special-verse

Warnings: AU, Shonen-ai

 

            When Red sees Lance again, it isn’t that far off. He pretty much knows from Silver that Lance hangs out in the Whirl Islands, though why he would want to live there Red has no clue, but he figured Lance could use some company, so he brought lots of food and a lantern and his camping gear and went to find the Dragon Master.

            He had to say ‘Thank you’ for saving Pikachu too, after all.

            Lance looks up from his throne, and Red says hi, and since Pika is with Yellow they won’t be disturbed for a while. Lance raises an eyebrow, but they eat lunch together and its kind of fun, especially since it’s not life and death any more.

            Red is training when he notices that Aeroy is hurt, so he asks Lance if he would mind healing the fossil pokémon.

            The smile Lance gives him in response is twisted, and he says quite casually that he doesn’t have Viridian’s Power anymore.

            … What?

           

            “After all,” Lance says, “You can’t get anything for nothing. This is why Yellow refused to bring your Pika back.”

            The price to bring Pika back was his power?

            Oh no…

           

            Lance said nothing else, perfectly content to let Red angst as he cut himself another slice of chocolate cheesecake. Perhaps humans had invented a few things he would approve of, but now…

            His dragons were happy. That was all that mattered, really. They were bound to outlive him anyway.

            “So you’ve… it’s gone? All of it?”

            In response, Lance closed his eyes, what he usually did when he focused his power. Nothing happened, not even the barest sliver of healing light.

            “Yes.”

            “I’m sorry.” Red breathed. “I didn’t know…”

            Lance shrugged. “It doesn’t matter much in any case. I don’t miss it. After all, I hardly battle any more, so there’s no chance for my precious dragons to become injured…”

            His Ptera nuzzled him, as Lance ran his fingers against dark scales.

 

            Red stirred his thermos of hot cocoa in silence, trying to sort his disorganized thoughts. For some reason, it almost sounded like Lance was giving up.

            But why would Lance help him? Why?

            Lance was… the Leader of the Elite Four…

            Even if he was no longer evil now, it was still strange. But as he met the Dragon Master’s eyes, he saw something familiar in those golden orbs. Heat began to rise in his cheeks.

            “It… it can’t be… you…”

            “Why not?” Lance shrugged.

            “B-But I was only ten then!”

            “You’re not ten anymore.” Lance murmured, moving closer. Red tries to resist, but then his back hits the wall and Lance’s lips are on his and oh Lugia his hand is in my hair and everything just kind of loses coherency beyond that point.

            When he recovers, Lance smirks and kisses him again, and Red can’t find the strength of will to protest.

            And Lance chuckles, because he’s found light again.

 

End Fic

Completed 11/17/06

Takes place after theme #47….

Hehehe, poor Red got molested. Whee!