Title: Reaction Formation
Author: Shadow/Phantomness
Pairing: Championshipping (Lance x Red)
Fandom: Pokémon
Theme: #34, Reaction Formation
Rating: PG-13
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. Special-verse

Warnings: Shonen-ai, AU, mentioned Specialshipping (Red x Yellow), insanity

Summary: Lance leaves Red, who goes searching for answers.

"Lance?"

Red poked his head into the room, only to find the Dragon Master missing. Blinking in surprise, he walked to the desk, where he found a note, written in blood-red ink on fine paper.

Red,

Since you're obviously with someone else, I should quit daydreaming, ne? So enjoy your life with Yellow.

In truth, I hate you! I hope I never see you again!

Guess what, Red? I never loved you. It was all a ploy so you would trust the Elite Four… and you fell for it.

I suppose I got the last laugh.

There was no signature, but Red did not need to be a genius to decipher it. He groaned as he buried his face in his hands.

"Honestly! If he hates me so much, then I'm glad he's going away! Really!"

But if he really felt that way, why were there tears on his cheeks? With a sigh, he released Aeroy. The fossil dragon cocked a head at him quizzically.

"Come on, Aeroy. We're going searching."

Aerodactyl nodded, and they took off.

Lance closed his eyes as he ran his fingers along the tips of Ptera's wings. "Do you think he bought it?"

His Aerodactyl shrugged in response. The Dragon Master sighed.

"I did try my best…"

Master…

"Don't say it!" He hissed. " It's painful enough already, but this is for the best."

Aerodactyl did not reply, and Lance said no more.

"Where is he?" Red demanded, after several hours of searching. Aeroy blinked at him, and he sighed.

"I mean, where could he be hiding? I already checked all the major cities… in both Kanto and Johto!" He shivered.

Clair hadn't been pleasant when he had asked her where Lance had gone. Well, maybe he had deserved it, but…

Was he really going to marry Yellow, or was it just a rumor?

He wasn't quite sure any more. He had taken her to the League Ball, and they had kissed, and sure enough, the reporters had pounced.

But… a kiss wasn't marriage yet…

Right?

"He won't come back here." Lance reassured his Aerodactyl. "I know you miss your Ptera, but soon, you'll be able to return to your mate."

And what about you, Master?

Lance flinched. "That is unimportant."

Aerodactyl frowned, and nudged him affectionately, but Lance did not appear to notice. Golden eyes were narrowed in concentration, and the pokemon sighed.

"… Cerise Island?" Red blinked, as he turned to his Aerodactyl, Aeroy. "Why would he go back there?"

The pokemon shrugged.

"Well, it's worth a try."

Why was Lance doing his? Was he that insecure? Red frowned. Maybe Lance did… hate him…

But did he hate the Dragon Master back?

It made his chest ache to think about, so he banished the thought.

He didn't miss Lance!

"He's coming, Ptera. It took him long enough. I must not be very important than."

Ptera looked at Lance worriedly, before he recalled her. Sure enough, moments later, Red touched down.

"Lance." He said.

Golden eyes narrowed a fraction, as he inclined his head in recognition. "Red."

"I found you."

"It took you long enough. Why did you come?"

Red clenched his hands into fists. "Because I wanted to hear you say it!"

"… What?" Lance blinked.

"Y-You said you hated me… but I wanted to hear it and make sure!"

Lance took an involuntary step back, as Red stared at him. He closed his eyes, but it was too late. Red had always been sharp, and in that glance, he had seen…

Red felt as though the breath had been sucked out of his lungs. "M-Merciful Mew… you…"

"No!" Lance shook his head.

"You still love me…"

"That's not true…" The Dragon Master hissed, turning to leave, but Red grabbed his wrist and forced him to turn around.

"Then look me in the eyes and tell me that." He said sternly. "Open your eyes, Lance. Please…"

He felt his fangs cutting into his lower lip, and the pain hurt, but he couldn't… he had to harden his heart and step away, because Red loved another and he had no place loving the Champion now…

A gentle hand tipped his chin upwards, pulling him into a kiss, and he blinked in surprise, staring. Ruby met gold, as Red pushed him down onto the sand, straddling his hips and keeping him pinned.

He tried not to see, he really did, but it was no use.

"Why are you doing this?" Red whispered. "Why are you tormenting yourself?"

He gave his former lover a bittersweet smile. "Because I do not deserve to love you… and it will end here… where it began."

Red stared at Lance in abject disbelief. "What are you talking about?"

"I shouldn't love you, especially now that you have someone else… but I know that you'll feel guilty about it and force yourself to show affection, so I'll just… alter things a little." Lance said, golden eyes beginning to take on a bluish tint.

"I do love you!" Red protested. "Why won't you believe me?"

"No one could love me." Lance murmured. "I'm worthless."

"That's not true!" Red kissed him again, hard enough to bruise, and tasted blood. He was unused to playing the aggressor, but it seemed like nothing else was going to get through Lance's mind. The Dragon Master cried out in surprise as the Champion pinned his wrists securely before releasing his Venusaur.

"Venus, could you?"

The pokemon nodded, as restraints coiled around his wrists and ankles. Red purred, running his fingers down Lance's chest as he moved between his legs.

"Don't worry…" The Champion crooned. "You are worth something to me."

The rest was lost in a blur of pleasure-pain, and finally, Red collapsed against Lance, purring.

Lance said no more, as they cleaned each other up and returned to the Plateau.

End Fic

Completed 12/10/06

Reaction formation involves the presentation of one's thoughts or feelings as the extreme opposite of what they actually are. (Introductory Psychology 7th edition by James Kalat)