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Description
The battle had long since been underway. Cries of when to dodge, of when to attack echoed throughout the room, the two Pokémon receiving the commands obeying them without fail. Their trainers stood on either side of the large, open room, glaring at one another through the mist and rain that had been steadily falling from a previous attack. Both refused to give in, though the fatigue of having battled for hours was starting to weigh heavily upon them and their Pokémon. They knew what was at stake. The title of Champion of the regions of Kanto and Johto was not something so easily taken or given. If one gave up now due to a little discomfort, the other would win. The current Champion would fall and a new one would arise, or the current Champion would stay and yet another challenger would be crushed.

It was as simple as that, though the softening of gazes, the subtle looks of admiration and pride thrown into the chaotic fray made it all infinitely more complex.

“Eevee, use shadow ball!”

“Dragonite, use hyper beam!”

The balls of energy collided against one another instead of at their intended target, creating an explosion that rocked the room. Both trainers flinched and called out to their respective Pokémon, asking them if they were alright, if they could continue to battle. When they received stubborn, eager cries of affirmation to both questions, the two locked eyes, their gazes revealing the fatigue that they refused to show on their face.

“You weren’t kidding when you said you were stubborn.” The statement, to anyone else, would have been unexpected, out of the blue; to him, it was more than expected.

“Neither were you,” Lance said, raising an eyebrow. “In fact, if I remember correctly, you said you were more stubborn than an entire herd of Tauros.”

[Name] smirked, subconsciously tucking a lock of [h/c] hair behind his ear. “That I am.”

A smirk curled Lance’s lips, making [Name] raise a brow of his own. To anyone else it would have been an uncharacteristic, near shocking sight for such a gesture to be seen on the Dragon-type trainer’s face; to him, it was more than familiar. “I seem to recall that ‘stubbornness’ of yours being easily swayed when I blew your—”

[Name] cut the other man off with a crude gesture of his hand, thanking Arceus that Eevee was turned away from him. He didn’t want his beloved Pokémon’s innocence to be tainted by such foul displays. “You... you...” He scowled, a blush tinting his cheeks a bright, rosy pink. “Bringing that up here of all places.”

Lance chuckled, running a large, calloused hand through spiky, carmine locks. It was an ever constant source of amusement for him to fluster the other. “You love me for it~” he cooed, smirking as the blush on the smaller man’s cheeks became more pronounced.

[Name] sighed, the scowl, after a moment, disappearing, becoming replaced with a smile. “That I do.” He sighed, casting all playfulness aside with that small release of carbon dioxide. “It needs to end here.” A sad smile, followed by a brief gesture towards their Pokémon, both of whom were still waiting patiently for their next series of commands. “Our Pokémon are tired, Lance. I’m tired, you’re tired. I know that this... this battle is nothing more than a procedure. You know it too.”

The Dragon-type trainer sighed, knowing well that the other was right. This battle was really nothing more than a procedure, a requirement by League rules. If it had been up to him, none of this would be happening. Both knew that the other was more than their equal in strength and in mind, and that this little test to see who was more fit to be Champion was superfluous at best. Still, the mere thought that this would be ending here, after years of training, waiting... was a little scary.

“I understand,” he said, matching [Name]’s sad smile with one of his own. “We can’t stall it any longer.”

“No, we can’t.” [Name] bit down softly on his bottom lip, lightly worrying the tender flesh. This was it. This was happening. No more stalling. A winner would be determined here and now. He was both excited for it, and terrified of it. Excited to finally see who would be the best, and terrified of what the consequences of that discovery might be. If he won, would Lance still care for him? Love him? Or would he reject him? Cast him aside as the bitterness of defeat overwhelmed him? He knew that the latter delved into the realm of impossibility. This was Lance, after all. His Lance. He knew the man better than anyone else could ever hope to, and yet his insecurities made him doubt the knowledge.

That was why, before he gave Eevee his final command, he just had to know. “Lance... after this, will we...?”

Lance smiled, nodding. He had been worried about the same thing. “Yes. Most definitely.”

[Name] felt his own lips pull back in a smile, revealing two rows of pearly white teeth. “Okay.” He turned to Eevee, smiling down at the Pokémon that had been his companion throughout it all. “Eevee? You ready?” The Normal-type turned around, smiling at him. He nodded, giving a cry of eagerness. “Alright! Eevee! Use last resort!”

“Dragonite! Use blizzard!”

The cries of the two Pokémon resounded throughout the room as they unleashed their attacks, waiting for one to fall so that a winner may finally be determined. All watched as the balls of energy collided, only for them to ricochet off of each other, bouncing over the heads of the Pokémon and heading in the directions of the trainers themselves. Lance, with a startled yell, jumped to the side, dodging the attack. [Name], as if his feet were glued to the very ground he stood on, could only watch with widening eyes and a pounding heart as the attack drew closer and closer.

Dimly he registered the sound of Lance crying out his name in the background, yelling at him to move, to get out of the way, and then... he knew nothing. Nothing but the cold that left his body devoid of any warmth, the darkness that overcame his entire world.

Description
The battle had long since been underway. Cries of when to dodge, of when to attack echoed throughout the room, the two Pokémon receiving the commands obeying them without fail. Their trainers stood on either side of the large, open room, glaring at one another through the mist and rain that had been steadily falling from a previous attack. Both refused to give in, though the fatigue of having battled for hours was starting to weigh heavily upon them and their Pokémon. They knew what was at stake. The title of Champion of the regions of Kanto and Johto was not something so easily taken or given. If one gave up now due to a little discomfort, the other would win. The current Champion would fall and a new one would arise, or the current Champion would stay and yet another challenger would be crushed.

It was as simple as that, though the softening of gazes, the subtle looks of admiration and pride thrown into the chaotic fray made it all infinitely more complex.

“Eevee, use shadow ball!”

“Dragonite, use hyper beam!”

The balls of energy collided against one another instead of at their intended target, creating an explosion that rocked the room. Both trainers flinched and called out to their respective Pokémon, asking them if they were alright, if they could continue to battle. When they received stubborn, eager cries of affirmation to both questions, the two locked eyes, their gazes revealing the fatigue that they refused to show on their face.

“You weren’t kidding when you said you were stubborn.” The statement, to anyone else, would have been unexpected, out of the blue; to him, it was more than expected.

“Neither were you,” Lance said, raising an eyebrow. “In fact, if I remember correctly, you said you were more stubborn than an entire herd of Tauros.”

[Name] smirked, subconsciously tucking a lock of [h/c] hair behind his ear. “That I am.”

A smirk curled Lance’s lips, making [Name] raise a brow of his own. To anyone else it would have been an uncharacteristic, near shocking sight for such a gesture to be seen on the Dragon-type trainer’s face; to him, it was more than familiar. “I seem to recall that ‘stubbornness’ of yours being easily swayed when I blew your—”

[Name] cut the other man off with a crude gesture of his hand, thanking Arceus that Eevee was turned away from him. He didn’t want his beloved Pokémon’s innocence to be tainted by such foul displays. “You... you...” He scowled, a blush tinting his cheeks a bright, rosy pink. “Bringing that up here of all places.”

Lance chuckled, running a large, calloused hand through spiky, carmine locks. It was an ever constant source of amusement for him to fluster the other. “You love me for it~” he cooed, smirking as the blush on the smaller man’s cheeks became more pronounced.

[Name] sighed, the scowl, after a moment, disappearing, becoming replaced with a smile. “That I do.” He sighed, casting all playfulness aside with that small release of carbon dioxide. “It needs to end here.” A sad smile, followed by a brief gesture towards their Pokémon, both of whom were still waiting patiently for their next series of commands. “Our Pokémon are tired, Lance. I’m tired, you’re tired. I know that this... this battle is nothing more than a procedure. You know it too.”

The Dragon-type trainer sighed, knowing well that the other was right. This battle was really nothing more than a procedure, a requirement by League rules. If it had been up to him, none of this would be happening. Both knew that the other was more than their equal in strength and in mind, and that this little test to see who was more fit to be Champion was superfluous at best. Still, the mere thought that this would be ending here, after years of training, waiting... was a little scary.

“I understand,” he said, matching [Name]’s sad smile with one of his own. “We can’t stall it any longer.”

“No, we can’t.” [Name] bit down softly on his bottom lip, lightly worrying the tender flesh. This was it. This was happening. No more stalling. A winner would be determined here and now. He was both excited for it, and terrified of it. Excited to finally see who would be the best, and terrified of what the consequences of that discovery might be. If he won, would Lance still care for him? Love him? Or would he reject him? Cast him aside as the bitterness of defeat overwhelmed him? He knew that the latter delved into the realm of impossibility. This was Lance, after all. His Lance. He knew the man better than anyone else could ever hope to, and yet his insecurities made him doubt the knowledge.

That was why, before he gave Eevee his final command, he just had to know. “Lance... after this, will we...?”

Lance smiled, nodding. He had been worried about the same thing. “Yes. Most definitely.”

[Name] felt his own lips pull back in a smile, revealing two rows of pearly white teeth. “Okay.” He turned to Eevee, smiling down at the Pokémon that had been his companion throughout it all. “Eevee? You ready?” The Normal-type turned around, smiling at him. He nodded, giving a cry of eagerness. “Alright! Eevee! Use last resort!”

“Dragonite! Use blizzard!”

The cries of the two Pokémon resounded throughout the room as they unleashed their attacks, waiting for one to fall so that a winner may finally be determined. All watched as the balls of energy collided, only for them to ricochet off of each other, bouncing over the heads of the Pokémon and heading in the directions of the trainers themselves. Lance, with a startled yell, jumped to the side, dodging the attack. [Name], as if his feet were glued to the very ground he stood on, could only watch with widening eyes and a pounding heart as the attack drew closer and closer.

Dimly he registered the sound of Lance crying out his name in the background, yelling at him to move, to get out of the way, and then... he knew nothing. Nothing but the cold that left his body devoid of any warmth, the darkness that overcame his entire world.