You know what strikes me as slightly odd? The fact that while my favorite fandom is pokémon, often in fics I work more with human characters and scarcely mention their pokémon at all!

Title: Hidden Costs
Author: Shadow/Phantomness
Pairing: Championshipping (Lance x Ash/Red)
Fandom: Pokémon
Theme: #42, At what cost
Rating: G
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

Warnings: Shonen-ai

“Do you think life is fair?”

Lance squinted at Red, putting down the recipe book he had been studying. “What makes you ask that?”

“I don’t know. I’ve just been thinking, I guess. About being Champion… Why is it that I’m here at the top and hundreds of trainers are still struggling along the bottom? Is it because I’m really talented, or did I just get lucky?”

“In my experience, it tends to be a bit of both.” Lance got up, moved to the kitchen counter, and poured himself a cup of raspberry tea. “Are you worried? You didn’t cheat to become Champion, so I see no reason for you to be doubting yourself.”

“Yes, but now that I’m here, it’s not exactly what I imagined.”

“Reality does have a way of being quite brutal, yes.” Lance offered Red a cup, which he accepted.

“I miss my family. And I miss the people I met on my journey here. I … I guess I never really considered what you have to give up to be Elite.”

Lance half-smiled. “Now you realize it?”

“Yes. The cost is so high…”

“If you cannot pay it, you have but to lose.”

“But I don’t wish to lose, either. And it’s all right.”

“Is it?”

“I have you at least.” Red sighed, as he put the cup down and forced a smile.

“Mm.” Lance agreed, pulling him into a hug as the Champion closed his eyes.

End Fic

Completed 9/15/06

Sometimes I feel as though I’m writing on schedule. *Sigh* Well, I think I have to remind myself I’m writing to make my friends and me happy.

Have I mentioned that I hate chemistry?