Nice…

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 6

Sometimes, Red thought sleepily, Lance was more like a mother than a father. Most fathers did not cook and clean, but who else was there to do it?

His mother had died giving birth to him, or so the rumor went, and Red had never bothered to ask.

He did not miss her.

How can you miss someone you have never known?

Sometimes, Lance looks at him, and he feels that he is the most important thing in the world.

Because his Father thinks he is important and that means he is special, and he will be the last of the Elite Four one day.

He likes that a lot.

Red hugs his stuffed Charmander a little closer and continues to dream.

Lance frowns as he turns his silver earring studs to the side, and calls Lorelei. She picks up in her compact mirror of course, but she really doesn’t know what to do, so he calls Agatha.

Agatha does not know what to do either. She has raised children, certainly, but only until they were five and that was all she could take. The housewife act didn’t suit her, and she went back on her journey afterwards.

Lance was wondering whether he ought to pull out all the stops, but the idea of hurting Red physically or emotionally made him wince.

No, it was not that.

He would take good care of Red, perhaps not smoother him in affection, but make it clear that he loved him.

Satisfied, Lance slipped into a peaceful sleep and was up the next morning making delicious pasties of crisp flour fried thin, dusted with sliced green onions and topped with egg.

Delicious!

Red stayed home for a week before he headed out again, and Aeroy flew him to Celadon and promised to keep an eye on him.

Red felt more confident now, though he still had no fire or electric types, but with a flick of his wrist he released Pidgeotto and took great pleasure watching Erika’s grass pokémon crumple before the bird's might.

Erika smiled, handed him the Rainbow Badge, and told him to follow his heart. Then she offered him a discount on cologne.

He escaped, reeking of rose hips, and wondering what the crazy Gym Leader was talking about. At least he got a badge.

After Erika, it was a choice. He knew that the Earth Badge came last, but in between, should he had to Saffron first, or should he had to Fuchsia?

It was all up to him!

He could even try flying to Cinnabar and fighting Blaine – that might be easier, if the man trained fire types.

Yes, and then he could swing by Seafoam and visit Lorelei, if she was still training there. She might even give him a few tips.

He released Mantine and they flew off together.

Lance watched from Aeroy’s eyes, and smiled.

Red was learning…. Though he would find it difficult to concentrate if his team of pokémon expanded too much. It was hard to devote individual attention to each one when you had scores of pokémon. That was why he preferred having five dragons, and three pseudo-dragons.

The other three were to hide with or to use in case of emergency. Kingdra, and Charizard, and Tyranitar…

Well, they slept the sleep of the innocent, unlike his other dragons.

Their scales were still pure. Only water ever brushed patterns.

Unlike his other dragons, and his own hands, covered in blood…

“What do you think?”

Mantine frowned, not understanding his question. Master Red?

“Do you mind being my pokémon?”

Why mind? Why would I mind? I was given to you after all. Besides, being with you is more fun than the old one.

Red assumed that the old one was Professor Oak, so he nodded.

It was strange though. Why was it that pokémon understood English, but people could generally not understand poke-speech?

Is he your mate?

“Hmm?” Red asked, not really listening. Several Remoraid had risen out of the waters to ride on Mantine, and he was wondering if he could capture one.

It would probably be all right to…

Still, this wasn’t half bad. He would have taken Pidgeotto, but she wanted some rest after Erika’s battle.

Is the one you live with your mate?

Red gaped. “No! He’s my Father.”

Mantine blinked. Oh?

“Yes.”

Why didn’t anyone believe him? That was getting irritating.

Mantine stretched a little bit, fanning his fins. Well, I just thought he might be your mate, since he provides for you and cares for you… although you have yet to bear him any eggs.

Red was sure his face was bright red. “Mantine!”

Are you too young for eggs?

“Mantine! I’m a boy! I can’t… lay eggs or anything! And he’s my Father!”

Mantine just shrugged.

Meanwhile, Lance listened to the tirade with an amused smile. Aeroy laughed quietly in his poke ball. < So perhaps you are not the only one who thinks of this. >

< No, perhaps you are right, Aeroy. >

< Are you going to mate him soon? >

< It depends. >

< Hmm… why? Is he too young? >

< In human terms, yes… they don’t believe in anything until you’re eighteen. >

Lance could feel Aerodactyl’s astonishment. < No wonder you dislike humans. > He finally said.

Lance shrugged. < That is far from the true reason, you know. >

< I know, but I still think it would make you both happy… and he is adorable. >

< Mm. >

The rest of the trip to Seafoam passed in embarrassed silence, and Red was sure he resembled a tomato. Perhaps a cool dip in the icy waters would help him regain his calm, or at least his composure…

But would it really be so bad?

Red growled under his breath softly. Of course it would be bad! Lance was his Father, even if he didn’t look any older than a teenager, and he had pretty long hair and golden eyes… oh no! Now he was turning out…

He closed his eyes, but it didn’t help.

Cold. Yes…

He stripped down to his shorts and spent half an hour in the freezing water before his mind was hopefully clear enough to stop thinking lustful thoughts about his Father. He sighed.

Mantine just blinked at him.

End Chapter

Completed 7/11/06

It’s so nice to have Seven-Eleven! (That’s actually a Taiwanese TV commercial…)

Aren’t pokemon so innocent? *Cough*