Sitting with Pikachu cuddled to his chest, Red surveys the room. Cynthia and Karen are next to him talking with hushed voices and laughing occasionally. Karen is ranting about some guy named 'Will AKA Idiot' to Alder, who is listening patiently. Steven is coiled up next to Lance like a Persian.
Speaking of Lance.
Red tilts his head, watching. Lance mutters something and Steven looks up at him. A smile crosses Lance's face. Red isn't sure he's seen Lance smile like that before. It's a little odd.
"Wanna know why Lance is smiling like that?" Karen whispers mischievously, grinning. Red nods. He has his suspicions.
"We-ell," Karen says, snickering, "that's Lance's boyfriend for you. Magic."
Red blinks, looking towards Lance. Ice-blue eyes - Lance's boyfriend's eyes - meet his own, curious. Lance looks up a moment later, frowning. "Is something wrong, Red?" he asks.
Nothing, Red signs, shifting slightly. Lance frowns even more, but Steven's eyes turn sharp.
"Karen, what did you do?"
"I told him," Karen says. "He's your protege, Lance. You shouldn't be so afraid of coming out, especially not to him." She jerks a finger towards Red.
"Lance," Steven says when Lance, looking rather irritated, stands up. "You already told him you had a boyfriend. It's fine."
They share a meaningful look, then Lance exhales softly and sits back down. "Okay," he says tiredly, leaning against Steven. "Don't do that to us, though, Karen."
"Alright," Karen says, stretching the 'i'. "You can't keep it a secret forever, though, Lance."
Lance looks rather mutinous, but doesn't say anything. Steven looks perfectly calm, face unreadable. Red finds that a little creepy and he looks away, scratching Pikachu's head.
The silence is interrupted by the loud buzzing of Lance's Pokegear. Red jumps up, alarmed. Pikachu makes a noise of complaint at the sound, but realizes what it is right after and sits up in Red's arms.
Lance quickly turns on the Pokegear and pauses, staring at the message. "We should get back to Kanto," he says, looking at Red.
Why? Red signs.
"Volcano erupted at Cinnabar Island," Steven says, reading over Lance's shoulder.
"We have to get back to Kanto," Lance says. "Now. Red?"
Red nods, standing. Pikachu jumps up onto his shoulder.
"Hold on," Karen says, standing as well. "Do you need any help, Lance?"
"We should be able to handle it," Lance says. "Besides, it's dangerous. And you all have your duties."
"But - " Cynthia says, standing as well.
"The rangers will be there as well," Lance says. "It'll be fine."
"I'm going with you," Steven says.
"It could be dangerous - " Lance argues, but Steven interrupts.
"That's the point. If it's dangerous for us, it's dangerous for you two as well."
"I will be fine," Lance says, gentler this time. "I'll call you when it's over, okay?"
"Alright," Steven says after a hesitant moment. "I'll get you two to Kanto, though. Claydol can teleport you both to Saffron."
"Are you sure," Lance says carefully.
Steven simply nods, pulling out a Pokeball. "Let's go, then. We'll see you all later."
Red follows them outside of the inn and into the bustling streets of Canalave City. Pikachu nuzzles him comfortingly as he grasps one of Claydol's arm-things.
"Be safe," Steven says firmly. Lance nods, holding Claydol's other arm. A murmured word and the world shifts.
Claydol deposits them roughly in Saffron City, right in front of the Pokemon Center. Red stumbles, feeling nauseous at having teleported so far.
"Thank you," Lance is saying to Claydol while Red regains his footing. "Tell your trainer we will be okay."
Claydol spins in a slow circle, then disappears with a pop. Lance doesn't waste any time in summoning Dragonite and climbing on.
"Let's go," he says. Red climbs on as well and they take off into the air. The setting sun paints the sky in a shade of fiery red.