AN: Hey guys, FanGirl0207 here presenting you with a new neochampionshipping fic. This is my first time writing something related with HIV/AIDS and I know very little of the lifestyle of those who are infected, so I apologize beforehand for any inaccuracy that might appear later.

And if you do spot any inaccuracy, please feel free to drop a review.

And if don't spot anything, drop a review anyway!

Now without firther ado, please read onward!

Part 1

Lance inwardly sighed as he gazed at his best friend with dead-bored eyes. He propped his chin with his left hand, while his right hand absently played around with an empty pokeball. He watched as his friend's mouth moved and produced words, but nothing register in his mind since his boredom alarm was ringing too loudly. He was bored, and everything that came out of Morty's mouth were craps. He wondered for a moment why Morty couldn't keep his mouth shut, but then he remembered that it was he who asked the GYM Leader about his latest holiday in Oblivia with his boyfriend, Falkner.

Well, one's got to live with the mistakes he made. Lance inwardly sighed once again and pretended to look interested. It was never his intention to ask, but the conversation was going that way anyway, and so it wasn't like he had a choice. Morty and Falkner started dating a few months back, and they are the kind of annoying lovey-dovey couple who will jumped at the chance to recount their love story to almost anyone.

Lance would love to tell them how little he cared about their holiday, but he doesn't have the heart to hurt his best friend's feelings. As far as he's concerned, Morty is the best lover-turned-friend he ever had, and that knowledge is enough to make him man up and just suck it up.

"So then, how about you?" Morty finally asked after he finished telling his story. "Do you have someone you're interested in at the moment?"

Lance shook his head, "No."

Morty observed him for a moment, "Lance, I don't mean to pressure you or anything, but... Come on, it's been three years ever since we broke up, and you haven't found anyone else ever since. Do you want me to help you find someone?"

Lance gazed at him, his eyes much more focused this time, "No, thank you... I've had enough of relationships, Morty. I just want to be alone for now. Beside, I'm only twenty-seven, what's the rush?"

"You've been alone for three years, isn't that enough?" Morty sighed. "You're making me feel kind of bad here... I know that I was an ass-"

"No, not going there," Lance raised his hand to make him stop, and Morty closed his mouth. Lance sighed and looked at his ex in the eyes, "It has nothing to do with you, okay? I tried it again after we break up, and you know what happened already."

"You know, it would be so much easier for me if you just blame me already," Morty groaned, "Come, say it! Say that your commitment issue started because of me, go on! I'm a man, I can handle it!"

Lance sighed as he rose from his seat, "I'm out of here."

"Oi, Lance, wait up!" Morty quickly pulled out his wallet and left a huge amount of bill on their table before running after him. He caught up with him soon, and quickly caught him by his arm, "Lance, don't get pissed, okay? I'm sorry if I pushed you too hard."

"Let it go, Morty, my issues has nothing to do with you..." Lance sighed. At that moment, he understood why it's so hard for lovers to turn into friends.

"You weren't like this before we broke up," Morty pointed out. "You used to be more... Optimistic."

They walked down the road of Ecruteak City in silence. Several shop owners and citizens greeted their GYM Leader as they walked by, and Morty returned the greeting with some witty remarks or a bright smile. Nobody paid any attention to their moody companion. When they finally approached Morty's GYM, Lance turned to look at his friend again.

For a moment, they just stared at each other, and by each passing moment, Morty grew more and more anxious.

"Lance..." he gently whipered, "Is something wrong?"

Lance stared at Morty with a conflicted look on his face for a moment, as if he was struggling with his inner demons. Finally he closed his eyes and murmured, "Morty I..." he abruptly paused, and took in another deep breath. Finally, he shook his head and said, "Never mind, I'm gonig back to the League. See you next time." He patted him on his shoulder and turned around to walk away.

Morty, however, quickly caught him by his arm. "You're not going anywhere without telling me anything! Why are you acting like this? You're scaring me!"

For a moment, guilt flashed through his heart. It was never his intention to scare one of the few people he cared about. However, the guilt was quickly consumed by fear and uncertainty.

"Come inside," Morty's voice softened. "And tell me what's going on?"

Lance pulled his arm away and shook his head, "You wouldn't understand..."

"I've been around you for four years, what is it that I wouldn't get?" he sounded more and more anxious with each syllable. "Please," he begged, "I have to know."

"Morty, I..." his voice trailed off as doubts returned to him, but then he decided that he would find out sooner or later anyway. And so, bracing himself, he blurted out the truth, "I got the HIV."

Morty didn't believe his hearing at first. He thought it was a mistake on his part, or Lance was probably just joking. However, he saw the tensed look on his friend's face, along with the pain and sadness Lance would probably never admit is there. "Oh, Lance..." he took a step forward and pulled his friend into a big embrace. He didn't care if anyone else was looking, he just wanted to comfort this man.

Lance weakly returned his embrace, somewhat relieved that he finally told it to someone.

Morty pulled away and said, "Let's talk inside, shall we?"

Lance shook his head, "I've got work."

"Fuck your work."

And without another word, Morty took him by his wrist and pulled him towards his GYM.

X

"The tests came back positive some time ago," Lance grimly recounted as he stared at cup of coffee sitting on the table before him. "Did it thrice in three different place, all of them sent back the same result..."

Morty grabbed Lance's hands and squeezed them tight. "It's alright... It's going to be okay. I know someone else who contacted the virus. I may not know much about the details, but as long as you're taking your meds and adopt a healthy lifestyle, you're going to be okay."

Lance smirked, his eyes still looking downcast, "That's what they all told me."

"Did you see to doctor? Have you buy your medications?"

Lance weakly nodded, "Yeah, I have..." he took in a deep breath, and dared himself to look at Morty. "I'm sorry, I... I didn't want to bother you with this... It's just that..." he paused to blink back the fears and tears, he didn't want Morty to see him looking so vulnerable. "I just need to get it out of my chest."

"Lance!" he scolded, "I'm your closest friend! You should have told me something as important as this the moment you got the result!"

Lance hesitated, but finally uttered the words he rarely used, "I'm sorry."

Morty sighed, "Who else knew about this?"

"No one," Lance replied. "Just you."

"Who infected you?"

Lance looked somewhat reluctant to answer, but he finally said, "I can't remember... I slept around, okay? I haven't been in my right mind ever since..." his voice trailed off.

Sympathy quickly surged through Morty's veins. Lance didn't need to finish his sentence. Morty knew what happened. It wasn't made public, and aside from the people from Lance's family, only he knows what happened. Lance had been disowned from his family for being gay. His family all shuts him out, and he was forbidden to return to Blackthorn. What's worse, they even took Dragonite away from him. Morty had never felt angrier toward someone he never met. The head of the Dragon Clan has got to be the biggest asshole in the world.

"And now you got the disease..." Morty concluded.

Lance tried to laugh, but it was awkward and tense. "Yep, that's my life..." he picked up his cup and downed the content in one go. "I went for a regular check-up though, so you can say I was a bit lucky... They said the sooner you treat it, the better chances I have to survive it."

"Dear Arceus," Morty sighed as he walked behind Lance and embraced him from behind. He kissed Lance on his cheek and said, "Don't worry, no matter what happened, I'm always going to be by your side, okay? If anything happens, don't hesitate to tell me, I'll drop off everything that I'm doing and come to the rescue."

"Even if Falkner's getting down on you?" Lance teasingly asked.

Morty nodded with no hesitation, "Even when he's down on his knees before me." He smiled, "You're my friend. And my first love. You'll always be special to me."

Lance grabbed Morty's hand and closed his eyes, "Thank you..."

And for a moment, he let go of all the burden in his heart, and breathed in the comfort and warmth which he hadn't felt in a very long time.