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?”

            “What is it?” Lance asked, as he finished going through another dance. Red was staring at him in open-mouthed admiration, watching as the steel blades in Lance’s hands shimmered and glittered as he moved.

            This wasn’t girly dancing; this was wicked cool!

            “Um… I should get out of bed.”

            “Well, yes, but it’s too cold for you out here, so unless we leave these Islands…”

            Red frowned. “Why can’t you leave?”

            Lance frowned. To lie or not to lie? Either way, it was risky.  Finally, he decided on a half-truth.

            “I am… not a popular trainer.”

            There was enough of a hint in the tone to warn Red not to ask more. Red picked up on it, and nodded.

            Lance frowned. It was a pity that all he had with him was light kimonos and such. The cold did not bother him.

            Lance felt Red’s embarrassment, and blinked. “What is it?”

            “I… um… did you know about any exercises that I can do like this?” Red indicated his position on the bed.

            Lance shook his head. “Not really, no.”

            “Great…”

            Red flushed again, just as Lance began opening his closet and pulling out clothing. Perhaps some of this might fit…

            Red’s eyes widened as he saw a jacket of blood red silk. Something tugged at him. It looked fairly heavy and it had long sleeves.

            “Try this.” Lance said.

            Red pushed the covers back and slipped the jacket on. It really was warm, and he didn’t feel as cold any more. The hot chocolate earlier had helped too.

            “This is really nice, Lance. What’s it made out of?”

            Lance shrugged. “Just silk, layered.”

            “Thank you!”

            Now he felt warm and toasty!

 

            Red got out of bed, but after he had walked around for a few minutes, he felt faint again. Lance looked worried.

            “Maybe I should take you to a hospital….” But then again, Kanto was in ruins, but no, the Pokemon Centers would still be standing…

            Though the other structures would not be.

            Red would be shocked at the sight of the devastation, but there was clearly nothing he could have done. He’d been drugged, after all.

            Lance hid a smirk as Red fidgeted uncomfortably. So. It seemed that the other trainer was feeling a bit… aroused.

            Red shook his head. “No, I’ll be okay.”

            “Are you quite certain, Red? I would not like you to become more injured because of my negligence.”

            “You haven’t been negligent at all, Lance!”

            “Then… what would you have me do to help you?” Lance asked, as he materialized at Red’s side.

            Red almost jumped, but as Lance placed a hand on his shoulder, he felt himself starting to tremble.

            It… he wanted…

            Golden eyes widened in surprise as Red kissed him. A moment later, he had pushed Red back onto the bed with a feral grin. “You are certain?”

            “Y-Yes…”

            “Good. Because I believe this will be quite… strenuous for us both.” Lance kissed him back, and Red mewled.

            This was exactly like his dreams, only better.

 

            It was over much too soon, as they cuddled together underneath the covers. Red yawned as he snuggled against Lance’s bare chest, almost purring.

            That was nice

 

            Soon.

            Soon, he would have Red bespelled enough that he would never want to leave.

            In any case, what would he see? Johto still stood, although Lugia knew how long that would last… and as for Houen… that was out of their jurisdiction.

            He stifled his laughter, hid it deep inside where Red would not hear it, and brushed a strand of hair out of sleepy eyes.

 

            “We should really take a shower or something.” Red said softly.

            “Can you move?”

            Red laughed. “I don’t think so.”

            “I’ll carry you then.” Lance picked him up. The journey to the bathroom was remarkably short. The tub was already filled with blood-warm water, and Red sank down with a sigh.

            He idly wondered why he did not feel hungry, but ignored it.

 

            They soaped each other off, and Red let himself float limply while Lance touched him. It felt so nice…

            Afterwards, they wrapped themselves in fluffy towels. They were sipping more hot chocolate when the sound of footsteps came.

            It was a woman in a red cloak with long dark hair.

 

            “Charlotte,” Lance greeted her. “Why are you here?”

            “Dropping off supplies of course.” She said, unloading a box from her pokémon. Red saw what looked like a portable stove and a water purifier, along with a few other items. “Your father sent me.”

            “Father sent you? How is he?”

            “Recuperating.” She said one word that had a thousand meanings. Red saw Lance bow his head and nod slowly.

            “Well, I shall be leaving now. Ja ne!”

            And with that, she released an Espeon and vanished.

           

            “Friend?” Red asked, as Lance began to sort through the supplies.

            “Of a sort,” Lance agreed. “Not-distant-enough cousin more like.”

            Red laughed. “I see.”

            They lit the paraffin stove, and Lance set more water on to boil. Soon, they had a delicious canned vegetable soup, and everything was going well.

            Red smiled.

            It was… nice here. There were no screaming fangirls, no crazy environmentalists, no anti-anti-pokemon picketers, no rich companies or simpering bureaucrats.

            It was too much for a teenager to deal with!

            Now, all he had to concentrate on was getting stronger, rebuilding his muscles, and… pokemon training could come later.

 

End Chapter

Completed 6/18/06

I don’t think Red is lazy, just that he needs a break from being League Champion.