Title: War with myself
Author: Shadow/Phantomness
Pairing: Championshipping (Lance x Ash/Red)
Fandom: Pokémon
Theme: #40, War With Myself
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, cross-dressing

I have to tell him.

I can’t. If he knew the truth, he would be disgusted.

But what am I going to die? I can’t keep it a secret forever. Sooner or later, I’ll slip up, and then he’ll know.

It’s terrible, and I keep lying… I hate this.

I don’t want to be… I want him to love me, no matter who or what I am, but I’m scared…

What if I don’t measure up to his expectations?

What if he says he never wants to see me again?

I wish I knew what to do…

“Red?”

Red shot into the air, arms flailing. Lance frowned.

“Are you all right? You’ve been cooped up in your room for days. Are you sick?”

“I-I’m fine.” Red squeaked out. “Um… Lance…”

“Yes?” The Dragon Master asked with a smile.

Red flinched. “I have something to tell you.”

“Go ahead. I’m listening.”

“I’m a girl.”

Red had expected certain reactions – horror, disgust, or even rage, but none of those flitted across Lance’s face. He simply nodded.

“I suspected as much.”

That took Red by surprise. “What? How did you know?”

“Well, you did get touchy around certain times of the month, and once I caught you with blood on your legs but you weren’t injured, so…”

Red flushed, looking down.

“Your disguise is quite cute though.”

“You’re not mad?”

“Do you think I should be?”

Red shook her head. “If you truly loved me, you would not care what gender I was, right?”

“Right.” Lance answered, and kissed her. “I can’t pretend to understand your reasons for the masquerade, but if you wish to continue it, I have no objections.”

Red let out a deep breath, smiling so that her cheeks dimpled. “Lance, you’re wonderful. Absolutely brilliant.”

“Why thank you. I do try to be accommodating.”

“And to think I was worried…”

Lance chuckled, and Red snuggled into his arms, glad that the pretending was over.

End Fic

Completed 9/19/06

Well, back to these…

Red: You made me a girl again!
Phantomness: So I did. And on a note, it must be painful to disguise yourself as a boy, and if you have a boyfriend and need to tell him – well!