Championshipping OWNS!
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: Angst, and a lot of it
Chapter 3
Ash was fast asleep. After he had tucked the boy into bed, Lance reached out
and touched Lugia's mind. < Father? >
< Yes, Child? >
< Does Ash really need me? >
Lugia blinked. < Why do you ask? >
< I can't protect him – and he doesn't want me to protect him! My love
is worthless! It’s even more worthless than I thought. I always thought
love was even more despicable than hope, and I was right… >
< As much as he might say that, he doesn't mean it, Lance. He’s young
and confused. I believe that he really does need you, Child. >
< He wouldn't let me call the Sword... >
< That should be all the proof you need. > Lugia sighed. Why was his
child so pessimistic? Perhaps it was the memories.
Lance said nothing more. * He only
wants me now that Paul is gone... *
Lugia heard that but didn't say anything in response.
< How is he, Child? >
< Sleeping. > Lance sent.
< I meant the condition he's in, not what he's doing. >
< ... I'm not sure, Father. In fact, I'm surprised that he is still
alive. >
< What happened? > Lugia was getting nervous.
< Paul hypnotized and raped him for several months. >
< In that case, I hope you killed him! >
< I did. > Lance sounded depressed.
< Good. What did you see when you looked into his eyes? >
< Pain. Despair. Nothing. >
< And his soul? >
< It's in pieces. > Lance's voice was mildly hysterical.
Lugia looked murderous. < Pieces? >
< Tatters, at least. > Lance frowned. Ash had woken up.
< Ah. Bring him to the
Ash watched Lance, rubbing his eyes and yawning.
< Very well, Father. > Lance turned to Ash and took his hands, before
they teleported.
The trainer glanced around with little emotion. His normally vibrant brown
eyes were nearly blank.
Lance closed his eyes. < Father, we’re here. >
Lugia flew down. Honou was there too...
Honou looked at Ash. < What happened to him? > He demanded.
Lance repeated what he had told Lugia tonelessly.
< You were supposed to protect him! > The furious fire legendary
screeched, flapping his wings.
Ash stayed next to Lance, though he backed away slightly at the sight of
the enraged phoenix.
< You can kill me for my failure if you like. > The Dragon Master
half-smiled.
The black haired boy hugged Lance.
Lance kept his eyes on Honou. < I don't mind. >
Ash looked up at Lance. His eyes went wide with fear as he began shaking
his head.
Lugia smacked Honou with a wing.
Lance frowned. “Ash?”
Ash moved between Lance and the legendary birds. His eyes were completely
empty. What life that had been there was now gone. "...Need you..."
He told Lance. It was the voice of a tiny, frightened child.
Lance pulled him into his arms. "Ash..."
Ash looked over his shoulder at Lugia and Honou. Only then did they see
what Lance was talking about.
< … Bad birdie... > He said to Honou. Ash closed his eyes and went
limp against Lance.
Lance looked at the two pokemon, shifting Ash slightly so he could hold the
younger Guardian comfortably. < You see? >
Honou was pissed. < Who? Who did it? >
< An arrogant trained named Paul. He's dead now. >
Both Fathers sighed in relief.
Lugia nudged Lance. < Child... can't you see how he wants you? >
Lance looked up at Lugia then down at Ash. < ... >
< Mine. > Ash murmured, tracing Lance's chest.
Lance couldn't help it. He smiled, before he laughed quietly. < I just
hope that this isn't permanent… >
Honou shook his head. < It shouldn't be. >
< Serebii can probably help. >
< She can fix anything. > Lance agreed with his Father. < So why won't she fix him? >
Ash blinked up at Lance innocently.
< If this is some new trick of hers, I’ll! >
< Maybe I just want you to take care of him. > The time-traveler
said.
Lance glared at Serebii. < And what if I said I were sick of being a
pretty little doll, Serebii? >
< I don't know how permanent the damage is. It might take several lives
for him to heal completely, Lance. >
Lance turned to Serebii. < I understand. >
He stroked a finger down Ash's cheek, his eyes distant.
<You must take care of him, Lance... If you like I could set it up as
that in his next few lives you will raise him again… >
Lance nodded.
Serebii gave him a sad smile. < Shall I? >
< If you wish. >
Serebii left to set it up. * Should I change the Prophecy? Have the
Guardians outlived their usefulness? Is it too late to save the Realm? *
So many wonderings…
Ash looked up at Lance with those blank eyes. < Lance...? >
< It's all right. > Lance told him. < I'll protect you. > *
Because that is all I can do... *
He shielded his thoughts carefully so Ash couldn't hear a whisper.
Ash gave him a small smile. A tiny gleam of hope appeared in his eyes. <
Love you, Lance-chan… Need you... >
Lance just held him and said nothing.
Ash hugged Lance, meeting his eyes with an optimistic, sunny smile. Lance
kissed him on the lips, perfectly chaste.
The boy melted into the kiss. However, the Dragon Master pulled away before
things went any further.
Ash looked down again. Why had Lance stopped? He had liked that!
The Dragon Master stood. < We should go home now. >
Ash nodded meekly.
Lance took his hands gently, and then they teleported. He made Ash hot
chocolate and then put him to bed.
The next morning Ash woke to his alarm. He felt a lot better, strangely
enough.
Lance was making breakfast in the kitchen when he walked in. "Good
morning, Champion."
“Good morning, Lance.” Ash gave the other a smile, a smile that made his
whole face just light up.
Lance slid a plate with toast, scrambled eggs, and bacon over to him.
"Thank you." Ash dug into his breakfast with a good appetite.
Lance watched him eat, but said nothing else. He ruffled Ash's hair briefly
before he slipped out.
Ash looked up and blinked. Why did Lance leave? He finished his eggs and
then got up. He probably had paperwork. Tons of it, now that he thought about
it...
He’d been neglecting his Champion duties for weeks after all.
But when he got to his office, he found that there was only a small stack.
Had Lance...? He walked over and looked at the first piece of paperwork he
had.
It was for a donation to a pokemon orphanage in
Ash read it very carefully, but there was nothing bad hidden in it. He
sighed in relief and signed it, moving to the next form.
The rest of the few papers were also legit. That made Ash happy. He had not
gotten anything that had to do with killing pokemon. Being a Guardian, he was
supposed to protect them. He ran out to play afterwards.
He found Lance in the Plateau’s back garden,
letting his pokemon get some exercise outside of battle.
"Hi, Lance!" Ash called.
"Hello Ash."
“Lance, did you do my paperwork for me?”
The Dragon Master shrugged.
Ash grinned. “There wasn't anything dealing with killing pokemon was
there?”
“I got rid of all of it.”
"Thank you. Humans are such idiots sometimes..." Ash sighed,
letting his own pokemon out. "I feel much better today..."
"That's good." He replied shortly. Ash watched him in confusion.
Why was Lance so... distant?
He smiled as his pokemon run around. He saw Lance walk to his Ptera, and
talk to her, and stroke her crest. He felt jealous.
He had Aeroy, but he'd rather spend time with Lance...
He pulled his knees to his chest and seemed to withdraw into himself.
Lance noticed. He stopped petting Ptera. "Ash?"
"It's nothing..." The quiet reply came.
Ash looked into the sky. Shouldn't he be happy now? He knew he should be,
now that Paul was gone and he was safe again but... He looked over at Lance
again.
Ash almost thought Lance didn't want him there...
No, that wasn't true, was it? Lance loved him! He always had. Something
like that couldn’t just change or disappear!
Ash went up to the Leader of the Elite Four and hugged him tightly,
pillowing his face in Lance's chest.
Lance was a bit startled but hugged the obviously confused Champion. Why
was Ash being so clingy?
"Lance..." Ash whispered.
"What is it, Ash?"
“D-Do you love me?”
"Yes," Lance said quietly. "I love you."
“...Sometimes it doesn't really seem like it.” Ash whispered. What if Lance
hated him? He wasn’t sure what he would do then…
He wanted Lance!
It wasn’t Paul that he loved at all. He’d always wanted the Dragon Master,
but after the rape, he had been too traumatized to admit it to himself. Lance
was kind, and strong, and gentle…
Yes, Ash wanted Lance very much, but would Lance take him? He didn’t know…
But Lance said that he loved him!
Ash swallowed, and then went to make his move.
End Chapter
Started 10/2/07
Completed 10/3/07
Lance is very, very untrusting. He’s been bitten too many times. Also, Lance feels somewhat obligated to love Ash – he did swear that oath several lifetimes ago, but sometimes Ash complains of being stifled by his love. The Dragon Master can be very possessive, after all…
In any case, Lance is an emotional wreck. He’s stubborn, and he’ll take care of Ash because he has to, and he can be gentle, but he can also be coldly still…
Lance is very broken.
Does this make any sense?