Author's Note: This is
just a quick little ficclet that I wrote on a whim one night. It's kind of
fluffy with Yamajyou undertones. Yes, that's right, Yamajyou, which means
they're gay. If you don't like it, feel free to leave. Oh, and while I'm at it,
I might as well remind everyone that I *don't* own Digimon, and this was
written purely for fun, so there'd be no point in suing me.
Thank you so much for the
inspiration, Rae-san! I don't know where I'd be without your friendship.
Reviews always apreciated,
flames will be posted on various MLs and laughed at. Enjoy!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
New Beginning
By Rahn Starsnake
"Remind
me again why I'm doing this?" I look at Matt skeptically. "I really
should be studying…" I try to turn back but he grabs me by the arm.
"Joe,
you promised you would spend some time with me and you've been studying all
day. I think you can spare a couple of hours to spend time with your
friends." He gives me an exasperated look and releases my arm. I guess
he's right. A few hours won't hurt… much…
As
we're boarding the subway, I ask him again where we're going. He glares at me
and then smiles that little half-smile of his. "Well, as I've told
you," he elbows me playfully, "I wanted to take you out to celebrate.
It's not everyday my best friend comes out of the closet—" It's my turn to
glare. I may have admitted that I'm gay, but I don't necessarily want the whole
world to know… at least, not until I'm a little more comfortable with the idea
that anyone knows. He ignores my glare and continues, "So, we're
going out. But first we're going to stop by Mimi's new apartment."
"Matt,"
I say, exasperated, "you know what I meant!" He looks over at me
innocently. "Alright, if you're going to be difficult, I'll rephrase the
question. Why are we going to Mimi's?"
"Because
she asked us to come see her new apartment." I sigh and turn away from
him. I know him well enough to recognize when he's being obstinate just to
annoy me. If he's not going to give me a straight answer, I'll just wait until
we get there.
* * * * *
Matt
knocks on the door of apartment B12. Well, I guess this is it. I hope this
doesn't take too long, I know Matt has something planned and I am
curious what it is. Lost in my speculations, I hardly notice when Matt pulls me
into the apartment and the door swings shut behind me.
"SURPRISE!"
I
nearly have a heart attack as several of my friends seem to sprout suddenly
from the furniture like so many weeds. Just as I am about to collapse in shock,
Mimi runs up to me (although how she can run in those shoes she wears…) and
throws her arms around my neck. "Oh, Joe, I just think this is the best!
I'm so happy for you! So, who's the lucky guy?" I blush and pull away,
still slightly shocked. Before I have time to gather my thoughts enough to
respond, I'm interrupted.
"Come
on, Mimi, you can't hog him," the new voice protests. "Let the rest
of us in on the action!" Tai throws his arm over my shoulder and pats me
on the back. "Congratulations, Joe!" I blush again. Why is this such
a big deal? "So, how long have you known?" He grins at me, waiting
expectantly for the answer.
"Oh,
n…not too long," I stutter, finally finding my voice… or some close
facsimile anyway. That's just great. You'd think I would be able to relax
around Tai and the others by now, but here I am stuttering like a two-year-old.
I mean it's been five years since we met in the Digiworld… But I can't. They
always seem to make me more nervous. Especially Tai. He's just so cheerful and
energetic all of the time. Matt's the only one I can really talk to, and he
doesn't count because I knew him before we got pulled into that alternate
universe.
I
sigh, but Tai doesn't seem to notice. He's already redirected his attention
elsewhere. He gives me an absent-minded pat on the shoulder before he moves off
to talk to TK and Kari.
After
receiving congratulations from several more people, I wander over to the couch,
slightly dazed by everything that's going on around me. I've never been to good
at parties, especially surprise parties, although I appreciate the lengths that
everyone has gone through for me. I would have much rather preferred a quiet
evening with Matt… Thinking about him brings me back to Tai's question. How
long have I known that I'm attracted to gu–that I'm gay?
The
real question is, when did I realize that I was in-love with Matt?
We've
been friends for years, but when did it start to mean more? Sure, I didn't see
him much after my dad got a new job and we moved across the bay. After his parents
got divorced and his mom ended up living down the hall from us, he would come
over to play whenever he came to visit TK, but other than that we didn't spend
a lot of time together. Imagine my surprise when he showed up at summer camp
that year. And then there was the whole Digiworld ordeal…
I
guess it was during our adventures in the Digiworld that we really became the
friends we are now. Some of my fondest memories are of that time; the nights
when Matt and I would sit up during watch and talk, with Gomamon and Gabumon
curled up by our sides…
That's
it, I realize suddenly. I've known since the Digiworld. I was twelve then. Can
someone really know something like that at twelve? I guess it must be possible,
because I was very certain when I left Mimi that it was Matt I was worried
about and Matt who was occupying the majority of my thoughts and dreams. I
didn't want to leave Mimi, but it was necessary for her to continue gathering
allies and I felt she was well protected in the event that something dangerous
did attack. She was better at persuading digimon to join our forces, anyway. I
was just in the way.
"Joe?
Are you alright?" Sora's voice jerks me from my thoughts.
"Wha?!
Yes, I'm fine. Just thinking…" She gives me an inquisitive look, but
doesn't pry and moves away to talk to Mimi. I've always felt comfortable around
Sora, which I suppose is a good thing since she and Matt are dating now and
when I'm not busy studying, I'm usually spending time with Matt. They seem so
happy now, but I just know that this isn't going to end well for him. I just
don't want to see him get hurt again.
I
gave up being jealous of his numerous girl- and boyfriends after I realized
that he would always remain my friend, no matter who he was dating. After his
disastrous relationship with Tai the year after we returned from the Digiworld
(that one was doomed from Day One), I realized that he needed me to be a friend
more than anything else. I can't count the number of times he's come to me with
relationship problems…
"Joe.
Here, I made this for you. It's your favorite." My attention quickly
focuses on the cup held in front of me. I take it from Matt and sip cautiously
as he flops down next to me on the sofa.
"Mmm…"
I sigh contentedly. "Where did you get the ingredients for a blackberry
shake?" He flashes a rare grin.
"I
figured, since today was a special occasion… It was Mimi who donated the frozen
blackberries. I saw them as I was looking for the ice crea—cubes. She said she
didn't mind, so… She claims to have picked and frozen them herself, while she
was in America." He shakes his head doubtfully. "So, how do you like
the party?" I try to answer him, but my mouth is full of shake. Before I
can say anything, he continues, "I know you don't normally like
parties, but I figured if it was a small group of people you knew…"
Finally
able to swallow without giving myself an ice-cream headache, I lie, "It's
great. I've never had a surprise party before and I really appreciate that you
guys were willing to do this for m—"
"You're
a terrible liar, you know that?" he smiles to take the edge of his words.
"Well, it won't be too much longer, don't worry. Just a few presents and
then the cake…"
I
sputter into my glass. "Presents?! Cake?! Matt…" but I don't get any
further because everyone has gathered around the couch, each holding a package
of various shape and size. "Oh dear…"
Everyone
chuckles and then piles their presents in front of me on the coffee table. The
first one I pick up is a small box, badly wrapped with a hastily scrawled
"Congrats, Joe! From: Tai" on the top in permanent ink. Letting my
curiosity edge out my doubt, I carefully unwrap it and open the box.
"Tai,"
I pause. I just know my cheeks are bright red, "what use could I possibly
have for this…" I hold up the jar of Vaseline and shoot him a confused
look. He's grinning like a maniac and, much to my consternation, everyone else
bursts out laughing.
"Hey,
you never know when a jar of Vaseline might come in handy." He winks and I
feel my cheeks burn hotter. "Besides, Vaseline has plenty of more…mundane
uses. I'm sure you can find something to do with it…"
Fighting
down my embarrassment, I roll my eyes and pick up the next gift. This one is
carefully wrapped in shimmer-y pink paper with a very elaborate bow. Mimi. I
sigh. This is going to be an interesting evening…
~owari~
