Chapters, plotbunny, live long…

Disclaimer/Notes: See previous chapter

Now <> for telepathy

*Shonen-ai championshipping*

Chapter 7

“Well, I have twenty-six wins, thanks to you, Lance.” Ash said, as they sat on the grass outside Pallet together.

“Hai. But you’re my Deus and I listen to your commands, so it’s your win.”

“No, we’re a team.”

Lance smiled as Ash ran fingers through his long red hair. “Hai.”

“I’m glad my father isn’t here.”

“Why?”

Ash mind-linked instead of talking, and let Lance read through his memories. He didn’t care.

He loved Lance with everything, why wouldn’t he want Lance to love him back and hold him?

So warm…

He wasn’t just a doll!

Now it was true, but Ash kept his secret because they’d take Lance away if they knew what was true.

Lance purred slightly, pinning Ash beneath him for another kiss. < My Deus… >

< My angel. > Ash thought in return as he kissed back passionately. His fingers slipped upwards, feeling warmth beneath his fingers, not plastic.

Lance was real! So there!

His angel was so cute…

Warm…

Sweet….

Yes…

Delia found Ash asleep on the grass outside, angel doll in his arms, a few hours later. Sighing, she took him inside and put him to bed.

He was still a kid.

At least Jacques hadn’t gotten his hands on him. She’d better accompany him to the tournament tomorrow, though.

Finals.

Lance was dressed in dark blue armor this time, trimmed with gold. It looked lovely, so pretty…

< Is it hot? >

< No, I don’t feel that. > Lance sent back. < I’m ready. Are you? >

Ash nodded, as he waited for the other three finalists.

“Let the finals begin!” An announcer blared. This was a public stadium, not private booths like the preliminaries.

Ash watched.

There was Charlotte, with Flareon as her angel. Veronica, with Clefable as her angel, and lastly, there was Jason with his angel Tyranitar.

Angelic layer had been a girl’s game before pokemon were introduced, but now it seemed more boys played it.

Ah well.

They scrambled matches, and Charlotte faced Ash in the first round.

< I’m not scared, Deus. >

< I’m not either, Lance. > Ash sent. < She usually wins because of Flareon’s Fire Blast move. >

Lance nodded imperceptibly as the opening ceremonies went on.

< Do you remember how to disable? >

< Hai! The points on each pokemon are different, but it can be done. >

< Be careful, Lance. >

< I will be careful, but you are the one controlling me, remember? I won’t fight on my own against your orders. >

Ash still looked slightly worried. The stage was set as a lake, and the battle began.

Lance hovered in the air, while Flareon stood on the strip of ground at the end. Fire shot from his mouth towards the other angel.

Lance dodged, and then countered with Dragon Rage. Dragon Rage was canceled out when Flareon did a nifty little series of somersaults, but unfortunately, then it landed in the lake.

Being a heavy pokemon, it began to sink.

“Flareon!” Charlotte gasped, and then she used Quick Attack to bring it back on land. But now the water weighed it down, slowing its movements.

Lance took advantage and used Dragon Dance.

That was not really a new move, but dragon dance – Ash had thought up hundreds of variations for it.

There were different ones for different situations.

Flareon staggered, one leg buckling when hit at a certain point, then the next. Fire Blast appeared, but Lance dodged again.

Then, he completed the dragon’s dance.

Flareon fell forwards into the water again, and this time did not rise.

“Winner: Satoshi!”

Charlotte collected her Flareon. “Well, it was a good battle.”

“Hai! Thank you!” Ash said, bowing to her politely, which she returned, before she left.

“It’s okay, Flareon.” She said as she petted her own angel. “We tried.”

Clefable had been utterly crushed by Tyranitar; the angel was worthless now. Veronica went off crying while Jason grinned.

“Oi! You have a weak old model! It won’t last a second against my Tyranitar!”

Ash gritted his teeth.

< We should kick him around more just for that comment. > Lance sent, as Ash nodded.

He ran fingers lightly over Lance’s chest, testing the strength of the armor, before he slipped the black cloak around the angel’s shoulders, heavy with protection.

Angel of death…

It wasn’t flesh really, it was metal but metal that felt. But that was fine, Lance could shift and he could learn to live with it.

< Ready? >

< Hai. >

Angel and Deus locked eyes before they walked to the next platform. One win, and then he would be champion.

He didn’t want the fame.

He just wanted to make his own way without his father, and see his mom smile again. The battle began.

Tyranitar was much like Aggron, and got swept into Dragon’s Rage early on. Yet… something was wrong.

< Lance! >

< I-I can’t move! >

Ash cursed inwardly as he realized that Jason, with his mediocre skills, was not fighting fair. Of course! The guy practically couldn’t command his angel!

How else could he have won?

He must have bugged his angel sometime, but when?

Ash’s eyes widened as he realized he had seen Jason pat Tyranitar on the head before putting it into the Layer. Then, Tyranitar had used Headbutt on Lance, dealing almost no damage, but…

< Lance! Run! >

His eyes opened in horror as the Tyranitar used Crunch on his immobilized angel. Sure, that dislodged the microchip he had been using to control his opponent, but…

Lance’s cry of pain echoed through his head and shattered his paralysis, as he quickly ordered his broken angel to use Hyper Beam.

Yet…

Afterwards, when he was crying too hard to put Lance back together, even though it wasn’t as bad as he had feared, really, the Heal-gel was doing its work and the armor had been good protection…

He still hurt.

I broke him…

At least angels didn’t bleed, that was one thing he was thankful for; his detached mind mused. And soon enough, Lance was fixed, and he was holding the angel to his chest tightly, wrapped in a handkerchief, while the programming machine fixed the armor, but…

His heart still hurt.

I could have lost him forever with that careless move…

< Deus? >

< Shh… > Ash whispered, more to reassure him then Lance. < Shh… >

And he believed that everything would be all right, as he lied to his angel, who nodded, and accepted everything.

Pretty little angel, so trusting…

I love you just the same.

Lance fixed worried golden eyes on him, and he dropped a kiss on the boy’s lips as he shifted back.

< Love you. >

No more was said.

Delia found him still petting his angel and whispering to it when she took him home that night.

What was wrong with him?

She didn’t’ know, and didn’t know how to help either. She just prayed he would be all right.

End Chapter

Done 6/7/04