Just in case anyone reading this still hasn’t gotten the point, the main pairing is Championshipping, which is Lance and Red, kk? All clear?

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*

Chapter 20

Lance peered down blearily, wondering who was throwing rocks at his window at two in the morning. Realizing that it was Red, he pulled on a dressing gown and went downstairs.

“Red, why are you awake at this time of night?” He asked, as he let Red in and locked the door behind them.

“I…I saw…”

Lance stifled a groan and tossed Red the dressing gown. What on earth was he doing, running through the streets at midnight in only his undergarments! At least he had the foresight to bring his sword.

Red’s story came out in halts and tumbling sentences, but he got the gist of it, and it shocked him awake.

“You’re saying that you saw the red ‘R’ on her shoulder?”

“She’s your wife, isn’t she?” Red asked in a trembling voice.

“I suppose so.” Lance replied noncommittally. So Lorelei was alive, though masquerading under another name…

He should have expected it.

“Red, you’re still shivering.” Lance pointed out dryly as Red sneezed with a sheepish look.

“I’m sorry, Lance. I didn’t mean to bring this upon you.”

“You’re brought nothing on me save your own foolishness.” Lance retorted sharply. “And if you heeded my warning not, tis your folly.”

“I know…”

“Good. I hope you have learned this lesson of life.” Lance said no more, and for a second, Red did nothing but stare at him. His skin was flawlessly smooth ivory under the flickering candlelight, and his white sleeping pants clung to his frame like a second skin.

Red hastily looked away, red tinting his cheeks.

Lance hid a smirk.

“Well, you should most likely stay here tonight, Red. I’m sure that the Cardinal is watching your house, even if he doesn’t know about the incident with Milady.”

Red imagined Giovanni butchering him in his sleep with a knife and nodded seriously. Surely Giovanni must know about Whitney and the Queen.

What a mess…

Lance said that he would sleep on the couch in the other room, so Red thanked him and climbed into bed, feeling guilty even as he felt hardness between his legs. What was he, eternally hard or something? After that bout with Milady, he was surprised he could still move…

He sighed as he closed his eyes and valiantly attempted to sleep. As he slept, he dreamed, and he woke up in the morning with an embarrassing hard-on and the sheets stained with his cum.

What was he to do now?

Lance was already up, and had produced an excellent breakfast. Red blushed as he changed into one of Lance’s suits, calculating. Of course Lance was rich, as he was the Count of Blackthorn, but why was he here?

Why was he still masquerading as a simple Musketeer? He was an excellent swordsman, but…

Red hurriedly stopped thinking about that as Lance narrowed his eyes, seemingly to hear something that only he could.

Red blinked as Lance got up and flicked his fingers, sending the knives hidden up his sleeves into his hands. They were fine, tempered steel, though Red vaguely wondered how Lance had gotten them. He hadn’t expected knife fighting from nobility!

The door opened and a girl with long bluish hair in a braid entered. She bore a striking resemblance to Lance.

“How nice to see you again, little sister.” Lance said cheerfully.

Clair placed her hands on her hips, feeling irritated. “I cannot believe you sometimes, elder brother!”

“Well, how did you find me?”

“How do you think?” She parried. “The Ring showed me where you were.”

Lance cast a withering glare at the rosewood box where he had put the ring Red had gotten from Milady – no, Lorelei, his mind corrected.

Clair smirked.

“Um… hi?” Red ventured.

The girl – Clair – Lance’s sister, blew him a kiss. She was wearing men’s clothing, he saw with a bit of surprise. It was well cut though, and fitted her frame well.

Lance raised an eyebrow, as if he knew where Red’s thoughts were headed.

“Ne, aniki, ano hito wa totemo kawaii desu!”

“Mm.”

“Anata wa daisuki desu ka?”
“Hai, Hai…”

“Subarashii!”

Red blinked, not understanding what they had just said. Clair made another bow and then she kissed Lance on the cheek before they got into a heated discussion, also in the language he did not speak. After a few minutes, she nodded and waved goodbye, walking out of the apartment without a by-your care.

Red’s eyes early bugged out as she also became a dragon, though hers was light blue. She flew away quickly.

“So,” Lance poured more tea for both of them.

“What are we to do now?”

“There is not much we can do about Milady. Or perhaps you were speaking of Whitney? As it seems, Lorelei has not heard any information from Cardinal Oak on her whereabouts.”

“Or she knows, but refuses to tell me.”

“That is also a possibility. You were quite indiscreet.”

Red flushed, nodding.

“You really do need to work on that, but until then, you will be safe.”

“Safe?”

“Have you forgotten so quickly, Red? The memories of youth nowadays…you leave for the siege of Vermillion in a week.”

Red colored again. Why was it that he was so twitchy?

“In any case, it will be slightly more difficult for Milady to attack you there. It is a pity that we can do nothing for Whitney, but fate can be cruel. Do you understand?”

In spite of himself, Red nodded.

End Chapter

Completed 6/1/06

Started 5/31/06

Yes… Clair said Red was very cute and asked if Lance liked him (love?)