I love reading adventure stories… and I love pairing Lance and Red or Ash together!

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 9

He was surprised to wake, actually. He was sure that he had used up all the power Viridian had gifted him healing Red and getting them home safely. Apparently not – but no, the feeling buzzing in his veins was not the bluish magic he remembered. It was red.

Red?

He cast a suspicious look at Red, who blinked adorably as he was shaken awake.

“What did you do?” He demanded.

Red looked down. “I…”

“You healed me, didn’t you?”

“I-I’m sorry! But I was worried!”

“Don’t apologize!” He snapped, before taking in Red’s pathetic look and rephrasing it in a gentler frame. “I’m not angry with you, Red. Just surprised…”

“I… I was afraid you’d hate me…”

“Why?”

“…I just didn’t want you to die!”

This was becoming a recurring and unpleasant theme in their relationship. Lance was not quite sure exactly how to get it through Red’s thick skull. Gentleness hadn’t worked, neither had being cruel, and he had a sneaking suspicion that Red would never outgrow this part of his personality. Ah well.

Life wasn’t perfect in any case.

“You have healing power, like mine?”

“Not exactly.” Red pulled at a loose thread on the coverlet. Lance let him fret, not wanting to impose more. “It’s… a bit different. I can only heal those I am very close to…” He colored.

Lance was surprised to feel warmth at the proclamation. It was nice to have someone who cared about him.

Not that Red knew about what he had done to Kanto, but even so… it was different from Clair’s wary respect. It was freer, almost purer.

He decided that he quite liked the feeling.

“You… want to stay close to me.”

“Yes.” Red met Lance’s eyes, not even flinching at their golden hardness. “I want to stay with you.”

“Even if I hurt you?”

Red shrugged. “If I am anything, I am loyal…”

“And honest.” Lance added.

“That too.” Red agreed, before he dropped his eyes back down to the blanket. “…. Was that too forward of me?”

“No. I… would like to stay with you also, Red.” Lance said hesitantly.

One part of his brain screamed that he was feeling these things for a human, and that was wrong, but Red was different. Red was special.

He would kill for Red, like he would for his other pokémon.

It was enough.

“Really?” Red’s eyes were wide with something Lance barely recognized. Hope? Why hope?

Why would Red choose him?

He could have hurt Red, could have broken him into a mindless doll, but now he no longer wanted to.

He would take care of him and cuddle him and feed him until he got better, and one day, they would return to Kanto.

By that time, Red’s anger and weakness would have faded, or vanished.

He was almost optimistic as he tipped Red’s head up and kissed him tenderly.

“Ohh…” This felt wonderful. Not that earlier it hadn’t, but now it seemed more passionate, more real…!

Lance smiled, as he met Red’s eyes, and allowed the shields behind his eyes to drop one by one. Slowly, Red sighed, allowing Lance to pin him down.

Safe…

“Stay with me?” Red murmured.

Lance smirked. “Of course. You’re rather… stuck with me now.”

“I don’t care.” Red grinned, all thoughts of Kanto far from his mind. “I don’t care. You’re all I need now.”

He meant it, Lance realized. He truly meant it. Without another word, he pulled Red into his embrace and closed his eyes.

Maybe someday the dream would shatter, but not now. And that was enough.

He was content.

End Chapter

END FIC!

Completed 6/19/06

Okay, so I tried to tone down Lance’s uber powers in this fic – I left him Viridian for a bit of healing, and I decided to let him carry holsters of throwing needles on his arms, but that’s it!

Yay for fluff and a happy ending!