A/N: Writen for the Digimon Flash Bingo, #497 - trial.


Good Cop and Bad Cop

Even in the Digital World, there is a law. Or two laws, rather.

There is the official law, lorded by Leomon and his fists and sword of justice. The fair king, those of good hearts called him. The ones who strove to live a life of trickery called him many other things, but they faced his fists. A rare few, those the main population were content to call truly evil (and that wasn't a term they used lightly) faced the sword.

And then there was the wild law. Those who lived their lives out in the cities did not even know of it, and sometimes it clashed with the official law. Sometimes, the courts of Leomon claimed they could hear two digimon fighting within, growling and punching – and then laughing together and agreeing to disagree and then the swishing of a cloak and then there'd only be Leomon again…

Few who'd lived before the Digital World was remade thought that other, the one who made sure the wild law was carried out, was Ogremon: Leomon's long time rival – and, fewer still said, the one who'd claimed victory in their lifelong quarrel. And that was why Leomon could not stop him – but more believed it was because they'd put aside their differences in the end. The wild law didn't always agree with the official but it wasn't bad. Less merciful, but it caught those who'd lost the sympathy of the general population. Cleaning up the dregs that slipped back the official law was what it was, so those who knew they lived and did good had nothing to fear from it.

And both laws caught injustice. Data, virus and vaccine were equally caught, equally prosecuted. Sometimes a green digimon in a cloak and broad-brimmed hat appeared to watch the proceedings of the official court. It was usually when a virus digimon was in the stand. Not always guilty. Not always innocent and acquitted. But he seemed satisfied with what he saw because he'd vanish again.

And sometimes Leomon would disappear for a couple of days and come back with leaves and foliage in his fur, and he'd also be content.

This was the law their rivalry and their understanding and their encounters with the Digidestined had created.

They'd even gained a name from those Digidestined. Good cop and bad cop.