Walking In The Dark
Disclaimer: Digimon and its associated characters, even when set in an AU world, aren't mine. No money made, spent, or rolled in naked.
Warning: shounen ai, i.e.: boys loving boys and wanting to get it on with said boys. Vampires, werewolves, and psychics oh my. Beware OOC and a very overused plot cliché.
Pairings: Various combinations of Daisuke, Ken, and Takeru. Twisted Takeru/Hikari, Takeru/Iori, and Miyako/Koushiro
Notes: I have decided that it is an Unwritten Rule of Digimon fandom that everyone has to write a one Vampire Kensuke fic. (Actually, this is just an excuse to take an overdone fandom cliché and try to do something interesting with it.)
Comments, critizism, and over-ripe fruit thrown at high velocity always appreciated.
"A lot of a horror stories start out this way," Daisuke said conversationally, ducking under the string of barbed wire Takeru held up for him.
"How so?" asked Takeru, letting the wire bounce back into place and following Daisuke.
"Oh, you know; couple of kids, middle of the night," Daisuke elaborated, "An abandoned…um, well, field in this case." He made a dramatic arm gesture over the tight cluster of suburban homes. "And there's an abandoned warehouse just a few streets over and you know how dangerous those are! Potentially filled with axe wielding murderers or maybe legions of the undead looking for a meal!"
Takeru sighed, sidestepping a thick cluster of weeds. "Daisuke, it's barely eight o'clock, hardly the middle of the night. Besides, we always cut through here on our way home. This area is perfectly safe."
"But the warehouse—"
"Was only 'abandoned' last month and is currently being renovated," Takeru said, rolling his eyes at his friend, "Give it up."
Daisuke pouted, hunching under the weight of his backpack. "You always spoil my fun," he whined. Takeru only laughed at him.
They crossed the field and left it to join the little footpath that ran behind the houses, heading in a diagonal fashion for their own apartments. Their parents had been friends since high school and had lived in the same apartment complex for over ten years. The two boys weren't the best of friends, but they had fun together and provided company when traveling home after a late basketball practice (or football practice in Daisuke's case).
"What's got you thinking about horror stories anyways?" Takeru said.
Daisuke turned serious eyes onto the taller boy. "That new freshman is a werewolf," he said with complete sincerity. Takeru stared at him before laughing.
"Hida?" he demanded, sniggering, "The short brunette that all the teachers love and think is Gods gift of the perfect student? The one that just kinda cowered when the senior started razing him?" Takeru shook his head. "That doesn't seem like typical werewolf behavior."
"I bet it's a front," Daisuke said, frowning thoughtfully, completely unperturbed by Takeru's scorn. He was used to other people not agreeing with his ideas. Just went to show how oblivious everyone else was. "I mean, if you were some evil monster, would you go around announcing it?"
"No, maybe not," Takeru conceded after a moments thought, "But that doesn't mean I'd go around letting people beat me up either. Cause that way, you're still noticeable. See, if I was one of the evil undead, I would try to blend in as much as possible."
"Werewolves aren't undead, just evil," Daisuke said with the weariness of someone who knows everything and is bored of everyone else's ignorance.
"But I'm right, aren't I?"
Daisuke frowned at him. "That's assuming you'd know how to blend in. Some werewolves are born that way; what if they never learn how to interact with humans? They'd always be a freak wherever they go."
"Then why send them to human school?" Takeru said, smirking.
"How should I know?" Daisuke demanded, shoving the blond boy when he started to chuckle. "Do I look like a werewolf to you?"
Takeru walked backwards, eyeing the shorter redhead critically. "Hmm…"
"Hey, shut up!" Daisuke yelled, aiming a punch that was cheerfully dodged.
Soon, their apartment loamed up before them, a dark square against the star speckled sky. There was a brief fight over who got to unlock the door, of which Daisuke was the ultimate victor, before the pair charged inside. They ignored the elevator, racing each other up the stairs at full speed.
Daisuke was in the lead. He looked over his shoulder at the lagging Takeru. "Loser! You call yourself a—ooof!" He slammed into the person who'd been walking down the stairs.
The sudden impact knocked their feet out from under them, making them land hard on the treads and start to slither down. Daisuke twisted and lashed out, grabbing the railing to keep from sliding further. He found himself leaning over the other person, a boy no older than himself, who tilted his head up to look at Daisuke. Before an apology could spill out, he was instantly trapped by a pair of fathomless violet eyes.
There was forever in those eyes. Beautiful, mysterious, and breathtakingly dangerous. Amused eyes; they read his soul and fond it lacking. In that moment, Daisuke felt more worthless and insignificant than he'd had in his entire life previously. A voice came to him from a great distance, nothing against the force of that vast gaze. Then, the eyes moved, releasing him.
"Daisuke! Don't just lay there!" Takeru was saying, and Daisuke felt his friend's hands around his upper arm, dragging him backwards. "Are you okay?" he asked, addressing both Daisuke and his victim.
"Fine," Daisuke mumbled, shaking off his daze. The other boy was rising gracefully to his feet, long dark hair hanging over his face.
"I'm all right, just startled," the boy said, brushing off his jacket with slim hands. He was almost as tall as Takeru and thinner, with a pretty, narrow face framed by chin length bangs. Daisuke felt his body stir in response to the boy's beauty and flushed in confusion. What was this?
"Are you sure, you took a pretty hard fall," Takeru said, pulling Daisuke out of the way. Daisuke scowled at being manhandled and violently shook off Takeru's hands. What, Takeru mouthed at him in bafflement.
The indigo haired boy smiled slowly, his elegantly slanted eyes glimmering with humor. "Trust me, I'm fine." He extended one pale hand. "My name is Ken," he said.
Daisuke reached past Takeru and took Ken's hand before the blond could. He shook it firmly. "Motomiya Daisuke. I'm really sorry about running into you like that, 'fraid I wasn't paying attention. Kind of a natural state for me. Oh yeah, and this is Takaishi Takeru." The last said dismissively. Ken's smile broadened as he accepted Takeru's hand next.
"How do ya do," murmured Takeru, staring at Ken. Their handshake seemed to linger longer than necessary. Daisuke felt an irrational surge of jealousy. Damnit, Takaishi was ruining his chances at impressing the new kid!
"So, are you new here?" Daisuke asked with his usual energy, nudging Takeru aside to get closer to Ken. "I didn't notice anyone moving in recently, but I'm sure I haven't seen you around before."
Ken shook his head. "Visiting friends. I live…somewhere else." Another slow, enigmatic smile heated the blood in Daisuke's veins. The unexpected reaction made him fidget nervously; he'd never responded this way to another guy before.
"Yeah, uh, well it's a good building I guess," Daisuke babbled, "I mean, the people who live here don't have any complaints. Neither do I! 'Cause you know, I live here too. Hey, you watch football?" He finished desperately. He could hear, just hear Takeru rolling his eyes.
"Yes. I even play it occasionally," said Ken, swaying close enough to Daisuke that the redhead could feel his breath on his lips. It sent a shiver through his body. He leaned back uneasily, frightened by the feeling. Takeru instantly shifted to fill the space.
"What about basketball?"
"Hmm, not so much," Ken shrugged, and Daisuke had the satisfaction of seeing Takeru's face fall. "But I'll watch any sport with the right…motivation." He let the word trail off suggestively, then continued on smoothly. "Not to offend, but I need to get going. It was nice to meet you Takeru, Daisuke."
"Oh right sure sorry," the two babbled over each other's words, plastering themselves against the wall to keep from interfering with the royal boy's passage.
"Be seeing you," Ken promised silkily as he walked down the steps. They watched him go breathlessly, rushing to peer over the edge of the railing when he descended out of sight. A short while later, they heard the front door open and close.
Minutes passed. Daisuke shifted in discomfort. What the hell was he doing? Staring after that guy like some…some…some love sick girl! He glanced at Takeru the same time Takeru glanced at him. Their eyes met—and both burst into forced, nervous laughter.
"Race ya!" Daisuke blurted as the awkward sound tapered off. He set off for his apartment, disregarding Takeru's feeble warnings to be careful.