KeruKeru: So… I'm kinda surprised at myself for having written this. I've been absent from writing for… almost three years now. I only rediscovered FFNet because many of my current professors teach word-for-word from Powerpoints they allow us to download so I just show up and read fanfics on my laptop. Well, I hope you all enjoy the first chapter to my newest fic.

This fic is rated TV MA for Language, Nudity and Sexual Situations. Viewer discretion is advised.

Also, even after a two and a half year hiatus, I don't own Digimon.

1. How People Tick

"Tai, that's not even remotely the right answer."

"It asked 'what is your favorite thing in the world'!"

"This is math!" This boy was exasperating beyond belief. It took everything I had to keep pinching my nose and not slug him. His calculus book lay in front of me, opened to the page we'd been working on. I had finished each assigned problem not five minutes ago. My brunette mop head, however, had only finished one problem and… "You can't really get 'Yama's dick' from that equation, no matter what kind of calculator you're using."

The resulting mumble of "I bet I could get it without a calculator" earned him his book to the face. Luckily his "OW" distracted him enough so he wouldn't see the blush that was creeping over my face, the same one that occurred whenever he tried talking lewd or being flirtatious with me. I hated blushing, I was supposed to be all calm, cool and collected, not the love-struck teenager he turned me into.

"That was rude!" Tai rubbed his forehead and I just shot him a look like 'really'. "Soooooooorry, you distract me when you're being all smart and doing homework. You stick your tongue out when you're thinking really hard…"

I closed my own book. "Why do you insist we study together, then? Why not study with Izzy or Sora if your grades need that much help?"

"I just told you why!"

Cue pinching the bridge of my nose again. "Tai, I thought you were serious about getting into a good school?" I would never admit that I was flattered, his playful flirting never ceased to put a smile on my face. But it was serious study time! Even knowing that, the edges of my mouth were slanted up.

He fell back onto his bed, staring at the ceiling. I'd opted to work on the floor for… obvious reasons. "I am serious, Yama! I mean, I know I've got great chances, soccer-wise, but I don't want to just be a dumb jock that got in on athletics alone."

"You're not a dumb jock."

He sighed softly, almost like he didn't want me to hear it. "You know what I mean…"

I got to my knees at the side of his bed, chin resting on my now-folded arms. "No, I don't know what you mean." It was really awful to hear Tai, my Tai, call himself dumb or degrade himself.

"You're only saying that because you're my boyfriend." That kinda hurt. I smacked his leg in response, firing an icy glare his way. "Don't give me that look, Ishida!" Oh, he was gonna get it.

Quick as a flash I was on top of him, straddling his hips. My fingers were finding every nook and cranny that I knew was extra ticklish. "Ya-Yama! Hahah! Sto-Stop!" He pleaded with my never-ending torment of that sport-hardened physique!

"Say it!"

"Haha! Ahahaha! M-Mercy!"

"That's not what I'm looking for!" One of my hands hovered over his feet, though sock-covered, they were still his most sensitive when it came to being tickled. It was a wonder he could play soccer with them and they still be completely vulnerable. "Say it or I go lower!" The other hand was busy under his shirt, torturing all other sensitive spots I knew about.

"A-Ahaha-Alright!" I gave him a second to speak before the assault began again. "I'm not… d-dumb." His chocolate eyes were wet from his struggle to breathe, voice hoarse, looking to me pleadingly.

Leaning down, I planted a chaste kiss to his forehead, partially in thanks and partially to help heal it from the book that had made impact. I really hoped it wouldn't bruise. "Good, now I don't want to hear you talking like that. You're not dumb. You never have been."

"What about that ti-"

"Never." Our foreheads met, eyes locking. "You're one of the most intelligent people I know, Tai. Maybe not in terms of books, but your emotional intelligence, that speaks wonders."

He let off a contemplating 'hmm' sound as if he were thinking it over. "That sounds pretty gay, Yamato." He snickered. Moment gone. I climbed off him immediately with a very obvious roll of my eyes and retook my place on the floor, arms crossed in such a childish pout. "Yamaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" He whined, though I know he didn't sit up. I remained sitting indignantly despite the sound of ruffling bed covers. I don't think Tai realized just how in-tune we were…or at least how in-tune I was with him. His presence resonated next to me and I turned to find his head, upside down and eyeing me. The instant I was facing him, he pushed forward and locked our lips. Images of Spiderman and Mary Jane crossed my mind with our noses in each other's chins. I wasn't really kissing back, stunned from his action and still a little miffed. Though, it was a good time for me to notice the light stubble making itself known on Tai's chin. He must have noticed I hadn't returned the affection because when he pulled back his eyes were big and hurt like a puppy who'd just been accidentally stepped on. "S-Sorry, Yama…" He rolled the rest of the way off the bed and cuddled right into my neck apologetically, lips dancing over my neck and firing shivers down my spine. Fuck if he didn't know my weak spots too.

"Are you sure this isn't too gay?" I couldn't stop myself from asking, too busy trying to hold back the moan that was building in my throat as he found my pulse. "Mmmm, Tai…" I whispered when his teeth found that spot. There was homework he needed to do but dammit it he was too good! I was supposed to be the sensible one!

The devious grin I received when he clearly forced himself from my skin was enough to make me want to slap him and jump him all at once. "You're never too gay for me, Yama~" Quite the sentiment, I know.

He tried once more for my neck but this time I had my bearings. My hand met his chest and pushed back, only enough to get the message across. "You still need to finish your homework." I didn't exactly sound convincing, he knew his effect on me and he was too proud of himself for having it.

"What if I decided on a new assignment~?" His voice was husky and wanton against my ear, breath on the lobe making me shiver all over again.

Of course, I knew what he was trying to do. "No, Tai." My hand found his face, encompassing that olive skin and pushing it back. "How about we make a deal, though?"

Those puppy ears would be perked if he had them, much better than the disappointed frown that had been there in reaction to my rejection. "What kind of deal?" The goggle-head eyed me, chocolate irises alight with intrigue and anticipation.

I reached around his shoulders, tugging that math book from its place on his mattress. "For every answer you get right, without my help, you get one kiss." Was I using my body to get him to study? Yes. Would it be effective? I had my hopes.

I'd never seen Tai grab a book and pencil faster, afraid he might ignite from the speed. He only usually traveled that fast when soccer was involved. "Deal!"

Nearly an hour of study later and his homework was complete, Tai had gotten fourteen kisses, all to the lips. A fifteenth kiss I had placed on his cheek for one problem because, despite getting it wrong initially, he back-tracked and discovered his mistake with only minimal explanation from myself. It had been a sold C by himself, but as long as he retained what he'd learned I had no qualms about his ability to pass our next test.

Needless to say our 'deal' had pushed his test results to the back of mind. The second that book closed, my tanned lover as back at my neck, no more being mischievous, his mouth went straight to my neck. I was helpless as we fell back on his floor, covered in my Tai and failing to keep my breathing even. "This… ahhn~" He interrupted me with a bite and tug to my delicate ear. I could only hear his haggard breathing against it before a sudden warmth hit my bare stomach; his hand was crawling its way up my shirt with little restriction. "Fuck, Tai!" His fingers twisted a nipple, another of my weakest points. This was revenge for earlier. And shit, it was working. I was a shivering, groaning mess beneath his skillful ministrations.

Whether to muffle me or for some other reason I didn't care to think about, his lips were on mine, absorbing those heated noises he elicited from my throat. His fingers still toyed with my arching body. I opened my mouth instinctively and his tongue dove in to claim me like it had many times before.

I wanted him closer, if that were possible. My hands found his wild mane, fisting through the brown fire he called hair to tug him in closer, make our kiss deeper. Gods above did I love this. I love him. I love him doing this. My body sang opera every time his hands moved over me, twisted or tweaked something. It always reacted to him. The haze of my lust-caused stupor faded when I heard him growl, not a growl like I was used to while we were doing… that. It was then I recognized the sound of beeping cellphones, our cellphones. His hand left its place beneath my shirt, now much colder without the extra body heat.

My breath was slowly coming back, face hot as all hell and probably redder than a tomato. He didn't move from his place straddling my lap, only texted back while sitting on top of me. "Your brother is lucky I don't have the energy to strangle him." The familiar 'whoosh' of a sent text brought me to my elbows, not really able to get my own phone given my current predicament. Not that I minded. A tilt of my head asked the question. "Takeru just wanted to know if we wanted to a movie with him, Hikari and Sora."

Leave it to my brother to ruin my fun. "Sure, I guess that sounds fun." Not as fun as what we were doing, though.

"Good, because I told him we'd be there in five." Only five minutes?! That didn't leave us any time! "Sorry, Yama, we'll have to continue this later." He leant to kiss my nose sweetly. That passionate light still glowed in his eyes and there was no question we'd pick right up where we left off.

He helped me off the ground with minimal effort and we hastily straightened ourselves. I grabbed a light jacket and slid on my sneakers. Tai chose to forgo a jacket despite the dropping temperatures in Odaiba. The boy was a natural furnace, neither of us ever needing blankets when we slept together. He laced up his tennis shoes and we headed for the movie theater. The whole way there Tai kept chuckling under his breath about something, but every time I met his gaze he'd right himself only to start again when I looked away. What was so funny?

The theater was an older building, certainly built before we Digidestined were ever born, mostly only showing black and white movies. But it was certainly a nice place and much cheaper than seeing a new movie. We paid the man out front wearing the theater's trademark vest and got our tickets for the next showing of King Kong.

Inside the lobby was where we found the others. Takeru, my brother and the Child of Hope, had his arms wrapped affectionately around the waist of Tai's sister, Hikari, resting his chin atop her head. Hikari, the Child of Light, was busy speaking with our fiery red-head Sora, the Child of Love, when we found them. The girls were in deep conversation while Takeru just listened intently.

"… Dai and Ken need to stop fighting for two seconds and just actually talk to one another." I only caught the tail-end of Hikari's rant before she noticed Tai and I. "Oh, they're here!" She waved, grinning as if she hadn't just been in a serious conversation. Takeru shot us a smile from atop her brunette head.

Sora, rather than greet us, was caught up in a fit of giggling. Not from Hikari's words, she'd seemed content and philosophical then as it pertained to love. "Tai." She nodded to my boyfriend, attempting to keep her giggle fit under wraps when she got to me. "Ya-Yamato…" Even the other two were joining in with giggles and snickers of their own.

I shot Taichi a questioning glance and he had that same sneer on his face from our walk over here. "What is so funny?!" Was there something on my face or something? Did I forget pants? Was my hair… Shit. My hand was in my usually-perfect hair to check it in an instant. Sure enough, locks were askew, some pointed up, side-ways or just curled oddly. We'd been rushed out so quickly that I hadn't had time to readjust after our little… bout. "You guys suck." I tugged the hood of my jacket up to hide my… foreplay hair? It worked to hide the hickies that were most assuredly there too.

"That's why Tai's text sounded so mad." I heard Takeru whisper and shot one of my patented death glares at him. He tried hiding behind Hikari but to no avail. The two girls were fighting to keep their laughter from growing any louder, but Tai kept egging them on by wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. That earned him a sharp elbow to the ribs.

I crossed my arms in another pout. Twice a day was a new record. "If we could please be adults." Said the one glowering like a child.

"S-Sorry, Matt." Only our friends and Tai were allowed to call me that. "You both just looked very…" My icy eyes met Sora's, daring her to say something lewd. "Dishevled." She settled on something I could handle.

Nursing the spot I'd jabbed, Tai spoke up. "Yama was helping me study!" I noted Hikari's use of air quotes as she mouthed 'study'.

"To be fair, we did actually study." Among other things. "Tai just needs to learn to focus on things that aren't me and he'll do fine." Who was I kidding? Calculus would need nude pictures of me in the book for Tai to remain interested. The idea floated through my head for a moment before I ultimately shot it down. That wouldn't even be a last resort. Shaking my head to clear it of the image of that particular math book, I turned to Sora. "Jyou not coming?"

Her exasperated sigh was enough to answer my question. "No… He had to work late at his internship." Our blunette friend had received quite the prestigious internship at our local hospital. It was a wonder he ever had time for school, studying, his job, friends and his girlfriend. That must be where the frustration came from. "We're working on it though. He promised we'd go out this weekend." She didn't sound very confident in that.

We all felt for her. The cruel irony of her being the Child of Love and having trouble with her own love life wasn't lost on any of us. But we'd always be there to pick her up if she fell and she knew that.

"We're here if you need us, Sora." Hikari offered a gentle hand and our red head friend took it gladly.

"I know you are, but I think this is more of a problem Jyou and I need to work out."

We nodded in agreement and dropped the subject as the lights in the lobby flashed on and off. It signaled our movie would be starting and we filed into the theater to find our seats.

It had always struck me as odd the way we Digidestined seemed to pair off after our adventures in the Digital World had mostly come to an end. Jyou and Sora, for instance. Jyou I'd always imagined ending up with Mimi the way those two had always… I guess you could call it flirting. They were just by each other's side more often than even we Chosen were, normally. But when the time came, it had been Sora to ask Jyou out seeing as he'd been oblivious, like we all were, to her crush on the would-be-doctor. Mimi, on the other hand, while not out rightly showing interest in anyone, we were all convinced was dating Koushiro (Izzy was his nickname). They were total opposites, one would rather shop for the right clothes while the other would shop for the best computer parts possible. They had been spending a lot of time together, though, so the rest of us were starting to take bets on when they finally announced they were together.

In terms of betting, though, I'd won a ton off Hikari and Takeru, both of whom scolded me for betting on their 'happiness' as they called it. The two were always so touchy-feely with one another, like Tai and I were, but in a less-friendly, more romantic kind of way. They hadn't officially announced they were together so much as Daisuke had blurted out the facts of their relationship, much to the chagrin of his fellow Digidestined. To my benefit though.

It had been a bug surprise when Daisuke and Ken paired off. The two had been practically inseparable after their bout with Daemon, but even then it was a shock. We'd all known of Yolei's crush on the former Digimon Kaiser, but she'd never admitted anything to him. Or if she did, nobody'd heard about it. It would've done her little good though as Daisuke outright claimed their genius friend as his not soon after their generation had started their last year of middle school. Yolei and Iori were the only ones not to pair off, at least not with each other. The latter showed little interest in dating anyone while the former showed interest in dating everyone.

Tai and I. Oh god, that whirlwind. Well, it had been a lot of angst and insecurity from the both of us. The whole "if I tell him it could ruin our friendship" thing. As if we were characters in some tooty-fruity anime. It had taken much longer for us to get together than any of the others. Granted, Sora and Jyou only has a couple months on us. We'd only revealed our feelings to each other in the last month. Not much had changed between us, mind you, except well… We both learned how to push the other's buttons, often in all the right ways. The sex, that was the main difference. Well, we hadn't really had sex. Nothing went past our usual heavy petting, dry humping or jerking each other off. It wasn't bad, by any means, mind you. He'd given me some of the best releases of my life, despite lacking a frame of reference that wasn't my own doing.

He was my everything. God, I sound like a girl.

The credits rolled, bringing me right back to reality and the feeling of warmth cuddled up to my side. Tai was sound asleep on my shoulder. I shook my shoulder, he stirred and blinked his eyes into focus. "Hmmm… That was a good movie." He whispered, the remnants of sleep clear in his eyes.

"How would you know?" I teased as we all stood to vacate.

It was his turn to pout. "I saw some of it!" My eyebrow raised in his direction. "…more or less." His grumble was near intelligible, but had become quite learned in the language of Tai.

The five of us met outside. "Grrr! Me want pretty lady!" Takeru wasn't very good at impersonating a giant gorilla but it got Hikari laughing nonetheless as he wrapped his arms around her and hoisted her lithe frame off the ground.

"TK! Put me down!" It was clear to all of us she didn't want to be put down. "Big brother, save me!" Tai was quick to act, easily tugging his sister away from the 'vicious monster' formerly known as Takeru. That didn't make it better, however, as Tai just threw her over his shoulder like a sack of flour. "Gah! Tai! Put me down!" Now she wanted down.

Tai wasn't going to release her though. "Me and TK got pretty lady!" They both jokingly high-fived in accomplishment while Hikari went about pounding her brother's back with her fists! Little that did to affect him.

"Tai!"

Sora and I just shook our heads at the three. "Just think, that's what you get to go home with." She was kind enough to point that out as Tai put on the most horrendous 'gorilla' face that honestly was an insult to all ape-kind, even humans.

"Don't remind me." A facepalm was how I covered the smile that threatened to break my face. Calm, cool and collected. "Sora." The mention of her name seemed to catch her off guard, turning to me fully now with a brow raised inquisitively. "Take it easy on Jyou. I know you said you don't want our help, but he's not doing anything intentionally."

She was mulling it over. "I know he's not… Believe me, I want him to succeed at everything he sets out to do." Her hazel eyes were looking off into space like she was still thinking. "I just wonder if we were meant to succeed." True, the most I'd ever seen them together was a couple times at our regular Digidestined get-togethers, but supposedly they'd gone out much more than with just our group. "He's always so busy. And far be it from me to distract him…" She cut herself off, possibly in fear of saying something she might regret, as if I'd tell Jyou.

I wasn't good dealing with relationship stuff, I mean just look at Tai and I. We were still in the 'honeymoon' phase. I couldn't say where we'd end up by the time high school was over and then college reared its ugly head. "I don't think you distract him. You're the one who keeps his head on straight." That sounded about right.

My answer seemed to please her. "I suppose. Just, don't tell Jyou about this?"

"What kind of fool do you take me for?"

"Thanks, Matt." She pecked my cheek in gratitude.

When she did, though, we both heard a "That's mine, Takenouchi!" erupt from the other three and Tai was around me in seconds. Sora and I swapped an eye roll at my possessive goggle-head.

We all exchanged good byes soon after. Hikari and Sora had decided on a girls' night, probably more for Sora's sake, and Tai's sister would be staying the night while they most likely watched cheesy rom-coms and did each other's hair. Or whatever girls did at sleepovers. Takeru, much to his own chagrin was being texted by a progressively infuriated Daisuke who demanded my brother to settle his and Ken's newest argument. We were spared the details as he rushed off in hopes they hadn't killed each other yet.

On our walk back to Tai's, the chill in the air had grown, forcing against the walking radiator himself. His arm was around me as we walked. Winter was certainly here by now, I could even see my breath. It would be snowing soon. "I don't know how you stay so warm." The absent-minded words just sort of trickled out, originally just a thought.

"Mmm…Not sure. Maybe it's just my metabolism."

"That's a big word for you." Even if it was in jest, I was greeted with a swat to my hip.

"I thought you said I wasn't dumb."

"You're not."

He seemed to be trying to think up a comeback. "Oh right, I'm not book smart. I'm 'emotionally intelligent'." If I didn't know better then I'd say he sounded offended.

The theater was only a short walk from Tai's home, we were already passing through the lobby. "Yes, very much so."

"What the hell does that even mean, Yama?"

What did I mean by that? As we entered the elevator, an explanation struck me. "You're extremely good and empathizing. Understanding how people work; what makes them tick." He certainly knew how to make me 'tick'. Did I really just say that? "You're more in tune with peoples' feelings rather than math jargon."

My goggle-head 'hmm'-ed as we slipped into the apartment their family shared, shoes off by the door and my jacket hung on the hook nearby. It wasn't uncommon for me to stay over at Tai's, more so now that we were together. It was such a big to-do that I even started stashing clothes in Tai's room. Nothing too extravagant, just pajamas, shirts, pants, underwear. The bare essentials.

I didn't notice the dastardly smile on Tai's face until he had a hold my arm, tugging me back to his room. Lust burned in his eyes as he closed the door, backing me into the nearest wall. "Uh… Tai?" I knew that look and dammit if it didn't make every muscle in my body tense. The realization struck. Our interruption from earlier. Did something I said trigger this sudden change?

He was in my face, the smell of popcorn evident on his clothes after it had seeped in from the movies. "I know how to make people tick, huh?" It was that husky tone, he knew what it did to me. He was next to my ear. "Do I know how to make you 'tick', Yama?" Fuck, yes. The breath on my ear sent blood straight to my groin without question. He never got closer, remaining just so that his breath teased my ear lobe and I could hear his haggard breathing. I was so glad I opted for slim jeans instead of my usually skinny, they had more give for… situations like these. "Know what, Yama?"

"Wh-What?" My knees were about to give out.

I could feel the heat from his nose against my burning ears, he'd gotten closer. "I'm hungry." The words didn't really resonate with me until he was suddenly back in front of me, the most innocent of looks replacing the previous one. His eyes were no longer molten and hungering, but soft and cheery with that child-like wonderment Tai was always known for.

My cock still pulsed uncomfortably. "D-Dammit, Tai!"

He snickered at me before planting a chaste kiss to my forehead in apology. "Sorry, Yama." I wasn't mad, not really. Pent-up would be a better way to explain it.

Steadying my breathing and letting myself 'relax', I returned his gaze with one of my own. "No, it's fine. I've kinda been expecting you to jump me ever since we left the theater." The pressure in my groin was finally gone. We would be revisiting that problem later though.

"Truth? I've been wanting to jump you this whole time." His grin was toothy and infectious, my own lips couldn't help but to turn up in joy at this wonderfully infuriating boy I'd chosen to love. And had chosen to love me. "What do you want to eat?"

"I don't know. Honestly, I wasn't really thinking 'food' just now."

"I could tell." His eyebrows waggled flirtatiously and I just rolled my eyes. "How about we order sushi?"

"That sounds good."

"And then I can take my shirt off and you can eat it off my body like in that one movie!"

"What movie was this?"

"… No movie… I just made it up."

"I mean… I won't say no to your shirt being off." My vision unexpectedly blackened as the fabric of his shirt covered my eyes. "I'll call Mariko's for delivery!" He dashed out of the room.

I swear, one of these days I was going to slug that boy.

KeruKeru: I hope you all enjoyed the first chapter. I have no clear idea where it's headed, right now it's just a bunch of one-shots that connect together into a story with no clear plot. Please review and offer up some constructive criticism, I'm not used to writing first-person and I want to know how to make it better for you guys!