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

Chapter 2

So easy to break him, Lance thought, as he ran his fingers through Red’s messy hair. The boy sighed in his sleep, and Lance was against struck by just how very young he was.

Pretty child. Precious child…. I wish this had not happened, but I cannot change the past… and I will not erase your memory.

It had served its purpose though. Giovanni was quite pleased and Surge had had the nerve to whack him on the back with a broad wink and a grin. As if he knew…

Lance shook his head. He would deal with the consequences later. For now…

He was content to let Red recover. He could not risk using Viridian’s Power, and as much as it hurt to see Red battered like this, it was for the best.

The pain-relieving herbs he had laced the food with would have to do.

“He’s doing well, sir.” Sabrina said. “I do not see why you do not trust him. I scanned his mind and there is nothing you should be concerned about.”

“I simply think there’s something wrong with him.”

“What do you mean, sir?”

Giovanni frowned. “He… enjoyed hurting Red.” He mused.

“What if he did, sir?”

“Well, it matters little.” Giovanni waved a hand irritably. “Dismissed.”

Sabrina nodded as she teleported away. After all, the plans to capture the legendary birds were still underway, and her Team was going after Moltres while Koga’s did the same to Articuno. Surge had already netted Zapdos, though if it was luck or skill she couldn’t tell.

Well, she had more important things to worry about. She collected her grunts and they teleported off to Victory Road.

Red woke up, feeling warm and sleepy and almost happy. However, as his mid began to clear, he realized exactly where he was. Deep in the heart of Team Rocket headquarters…

He found a Rocket Grunt uniform in his size laid out on the desk next to the bed, stark black, and he shivered.

Lance walked in at that moment, and Red flinched. Even if they had been cuddly last night, Lance had hurt him first!

“I see that you are awake.” Lance said quietly.

Red considered making a run for it, before he discarded the idea. Lance was physically stronger than he was and he wasn’t sure he could even run. Although the pain had faded away somewhat due to a good night’s sleep, and the chicken soup had helped, he was still not in peak condition.

Lance understood this, but he did not say a word, as he set down the tray.

Red looked at it. Lance had made him toast and tea. He sighed under his breath, but applied himself, and the toast was not bad, especially since there was butter and cute little pots of jelly to go with it.

Lance did not speak.

Red did not really expect him to. What did one say under these circumstances? But as he had no other clothes, he grudgingly changed into the Rocket uniform, noticing with some disquiet that Giovanni had even provided several pairs of black Rocket-brand underwear to go with it. That was disturbing.

“Ready?” Lance quietly inquired. Red jumped. Had he been watching? A moment later, he shrugged. Did it matter?

After all, Lance had already seen him naked, so it wasn’t as if this changed anything… He placed the cap on his head, shading his face, and pulled the gloves on. They felt kind of strange. So did the boots, for that matter, but he supposed he would get used to it.

What he really missed was the feel of poke balls at his belt… the Rocket uniform provided slots for four, but no more.

He felt vulnerable without pokemon there to protect him…

“Follow me.” Lance said, as he stood gracefully. Red could not help staring, before he smacked himself lightly. Lance was a boy! A boy!

And boys did not… do things like that with other boys, right?

That was why it was wrong of him to feel good when Lance had… done that.

Besides, he liked girls, didn’t he? He’d thought Misty was cute, and Blue, and Erika… and Lance was kind of girly, with his long hair, but…

But Lance was a boy!

“Are you going to stand there in the hallway all day, Red?” An impatient voice cut his musings short.

“S-Sorry.”

“Just follow me, all right? It is not a difficult order.” And Red had to learn obedience, or he would not survive long here in Team Rocket.

Much would be lost should he not survive.

Red meekly followed Lance down the hallway, until they came to a room. There, the shelves were lined with rows and rows of poke balls. Red gaped.

So many of them…!

Were they all stolen? A cold feeling settled in the pit of his stomach. The room swam before his eyes and he staggered backwards a step or two.

Lance heard the rustle of cloth and yanked Red’s arm before he could fall onto the slick marble floor, causing a cry of pain.

“What are you doing?” He hissed.

“I-I’m sorry.” Red whimpered. “I…”

Lance frowned as he pushed Red into a sitting position. “Tell me what is wrong.”

“I can’t!” Red burst out. He could not trust anyone here. Lance had hurt him, and Giovanni was evil… and even if he had pokemon…

They would not be his pokémon!

Lance rocked Red in his arms as he began to croon, and Red belatedly realized that it was the same tune that Lance had been humming when he… when he…hurt him.

Lance’s hand moved down to the front of his pants, and Red could not stifle a gasp as that hand closed around him. “L-Lance… what are you doing…”

“It doesn’t have to hurt, Red.” Lance whispered, nuzzling his neck. Red shivered. Why was he feeling this way? Lance was a boy!

But… wait…

It doesn’t have to hurt?

Was Lance trying to tell him something? What didn’t have to hurt? The touching? Or…was he talking about joining Team Rocket?

Shh… Lance whispered, and Red groaned. At this rate, he really would be lost.

End Chapter

Completed 6/24/06

Lance: I don’t think he understands

Phantomness: Well love, you’ve got your hand down his pants. He’s not going to be very coherent.

Red: *BLUSH*