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 4

 

            Lance did not say anything, but his smile made Red feel warm inside. He smiled.

            Lance would take care of him as long as he stayed at the Plateau.

            That thought caught him off guard, and he flushed slightly. He was almost thinking of Lance like a parentc or maybe evenc

            No. Lance was a boy!
            He couldnft like a boy, could he?

           

            Red was fairly sure he was interested in the female gender.  Minimal clothing made him blush red, and he enjoyed spending time with his female friends, though none of them had agreed to be his girlfriend.

            Still, he got fluttery when they smiled at him too.

 

            Lance was kind of likec well, an older brother, or a mom. But that didnft mean he liked Lance in that way!
            He ate dinner with good will and thanked him happily.

 

            < Ifm not sure your plan to seduce Red is working. > Lorelei commented.

            Lance grinned. < I have not removed him from his comfort zone yet. Youfll see. >

            < Ah. Youfre planning to tilt his world. >

            < Of course. But first, he needs a few days to recuperate. >

            < He seems to be taking more interest in pokémon again. >

            < Thatfs useful. Perhaps he will realize how futile his actions have been. >

            < We can certainly hopec >

 

            Red finished dinner, thanked Lance, and headed to his room to do some research. He had to give a talk at Saffron University tomorrow, and he did not want to fail.

            Actually, his notes were ready; they just needed a little tweaking. Red did not like lecturing but since he was using his influence for the good of pokemon, he bore with it.

            It was just the crowds of screaming fangirls that really deterred him. He fervently wished that they would pay attention to the policies he was trying to advocate, instead of his good looks. Unfortunately, their brains were too limited to do both, and they chose to focus on his face.

            What a tragedy.

 

            gRed?h

            gHuh?h Red blinked away, half-asleep over the K to L section of the Pokemon Encyclopedia. Lance was standing there in a dark blue dressing gown with a Dragonair embroidered on the front pocket, holding a mug of tea.

            gItfs two A.M., love. Shouldnft you be in bed?h

            gEep.h Red muttered. gI guess I lost track of time.h

            gWell, come on.h Lance steered him back to bed, and then Red tucked himself in and promptly fell asleep.

 

            The next morning, he gave his talk, ignoring the screaming fans, and really tried his best. He escaped right afterwards, using Aeroy to make a quick exit.

            They arrived back at the Plateau with minimal damage done. Thank Mew. He found that Lorelei and Agatha had gone shopping, and Bruno was missing.

            That was not an uncommon occurrence. Bruno often fled off to the mountains, to harmonize with his pokémon, he claimed, but Red just thought he was lazy.

 

            Lance was sprawled on the couch in only a pair of black sweatpants, watching some soap opera or another. As Red came in, the Dragon Master turned to look at him.

            gSo how did it go?h

            gNot well.h Red sighed, trying not to look at Lancefs bare chest. A bead of sweat slowly rolled down, pooling on a nipple, and he licked his lips before he realized what he was doing.

            Lance appeared not to notice, flicking the T.V. off with a practiced motion. gWant to practice battle then?h

            gSure. It will take my mind off that.h

 

            They headed to Lancefs stadium, and took up their positions. The Dragon Master smiled as he threw Gyaradosfs poke ball forwards, the water serpent flashing sharp white teeth as he was released.

            Red wondered how this battle would go. He decided not to use Jolteon, and countered with Venusaur instead.

            gLeech seed!h

            Gyarados nimbly evaded the attack, before an Ice Beam slammed into the flower on Venusaurfs back. She gave a cry of pain, and Red winced.

            gSunny Day!h

            That would cut the power of Water Attacks, but Gyarados reared up, and rain began to fall, pitter-pattering as black storm clouds boiled overhead. Neither Synthesis nor Solarbeam would be of much use now.

            Venusaur stomped a foot angrily, and launched herself forwards for a Mega Drain move. Gyarados tried to shake her off, but was unsuccessful as she wrapped him in vines and began to leech.

            Lance smirked, as Gyarados managed to turn his head. gHyper Beam.h

            The attack smashed into Venusaur, and she collapsed with a wail.

 

            Red blinked twice, before he grinned. gSo this is how you win when they donft have electric pokémon?h

            gNot always, of course. Gyarados knows Earthquake, but your Jolteon had exceptionally good defense.h

            gAhhhch

 

            He nodded, and calculated quickly. Much of Gyaradosfs health was gone, and unless Lance used Full Restore, it ought to be all right. Now that there was Rain Dancing tooc an electric attack would not miss!

            Red grinned charmingly. gThis should do the trick. Magneton! Thunder!h

            Gyarados crashed onto the ground with a roar, and Lance recalled him with a smile and a eGood Workf.

            gPtera! Earthquake!h

            Red winced. Poor Magneton had not even gotten to launch another attack before it fainted. But playing type advantages was always good.

            They spent the rest of the afternoon and evening battling, stopping every so often for a break, and to rejuvenate their pokémon. Red was slightly envious of Lancefs Viridian Power – all he had to do was touch the pokémon and they would be healed, but apparently it drained his own energy.

            Well, it was a pretty good day, and he slept well that night.

 

End Chapter

Started 9/17/06

Completed 9/25/06

Lance: Youfre coming back to the chapter fic?

Phantomness: I suppose I am

Red: But youfre so busy now that you added a night class too

Phantomness: I know, but I do want to take Japanesec