Characters: Daisuke, Ken||Pairing: Ken x Daisuke/Daisuke x Ken
Chapter Word Count: 1,585||Story Word Count: 12,574|Chapter Count: 8/8
Daisuke's wings beat faster and faster, trying to get out of the tangled loop of sticky web that Dokugumon had him wrapped up in. When it came to being eaten by a spider Digimon or going back into the Kaiser's grip...well, at least the spider was honest about what he wanted Daisuke for: lunch.
Slowly Kaiser moved forward, clearly enjoying every terrified twitch Daisuke made.
Dokugumon whirled around, raising up, probably planning to attack the Kaiser, when Daisuke's nemesis tossed the Evil Spiral he held, having it wrap around one wing. Dokugumon flailed for a few moments before subsiding, bowing down, eyes now scarlet.
"Go over that way," Kaiser ordered his new slave. "Don't let anyone come here until I tell otherwise."
The only answer Dokugumon gave was to hurriedly obey. The only thing that made it mildly better was that they weren't headed for the restaurant.
Until it clicked with Daisuke there was probably a reason for that. He jerked around more, trying to get to his feet.
"Guys! Hikari-chan! Takeru! Miyako!" He flailed even more, despite nothing working and Kaiser striding closer with every moment. "Iori! Hurry up! Kaiser's right –"
Kaiser's hand struck hard across Daisuke's mouth. "Keep quiet." He stared down at Daisuke with the sort of expression that the Flier recognized as absolutely furious.
Before he could say another word, the three Gotsumon raced up, babbling Daisuke's name. He shook his head, wanting them out of there. If he couldn't save himself, he could at least save them.
But Kaiser turned toward them and where did he get all of those Evil Rings?
In moments, all three knelt before Kaiser. His orders were as quick and to the point as the ones to Dokugumon: go the way he'd indicated and let no one pass.
If anyone else wanted to come, they were smart enough to back off before Kaiser saw them. He locked eyes once again with Daisuke.
"I don't think I'll untie you until we're back home," he said at last. He didn't sound very angry, but after the last three months, Daisuke knew Kaiser lived in a constant state of rage. "And then you will have to persuade me on why I shouldn't have your wings clipped."
Daisuke found it hard to so much as move after those words. He shook his head.
"You can't..."
That earned him another hard backhand. He'd bruise from these, he knew it. But Kaiser didn't care. He just stared balefully at his prisoner.
"I can do whatever I want to you, Daisuke. If you're not very, very persuasive, I'll see to it that you're grounded until I choose otherwise."
Clipped flight feathers could grow back in. Kaiser wouldn't take his wings away entirely; that could kill a Flier, and Kaiser wanted to keep him. But to never again touch the sky…
Daisuke knew that he had some very serious humiliation ahead of him.
Kaiser's familiar AirDramon hovered there now, and Kaiser brought out the leash, attaching it to Daisuke's collar. He wanted no explanations, tugging Daisuke along, despite the fact Dokugumon's webbing kept him from doing much proper walking. He had to hop instead.
Part of him kind of hoped the hopping would keep them there just long enough so the Chosen would turn up.
Hoping wasn't his specialty but he tried anyway. But he still made it to the AirDramon, hauled up there by the Kaiser, before there was any sign of the others at all.
I'll see you again, guys. I promise. He didn't know when or how. But it would happen. He wouldn't give up until it did.
The same lethargy that had overwhelmed him months before crept back around him as AirDramon turned and made away from the restaurant area. His head drooped, staring at nothing in particular, until Kaiser seized him by the back of his hair and twisted him around so their eyes met again.
"Say it, Daisuke. Say it and mean It and know that this is just the beginning."
Daisuke swallowed, every bit of attention focused on this horrible, evil person.
"I'm sorry, master." He didn't mean it. What he was sorry about was being caught again, not being able to find the others fast enough, not being good enough.
That got another hit. "I said to mean it. Keep on saying it until I tell you to stop. And look at me the whole time. I'm your world, Daisuke: the only one you'll ever have."
Over and over the words spilled out and Daisuke could not take his eyes off the Kaiser. Any time he tried, that got another hit, harder than the ones before. He had no idea of how bruised and battered he was by the time they landed at the fortress, only that it hurt to talk and he wanted to rest so very much.
He didn't think he'd be catching a nap any time soon.
Takeru stumbled into the clearing near the restaurant, breathing hard, his heart pounding. He'd heard shouting that sounded too much like Daisuke for his personal comfort, and seeing the Gotsumon and a Dokugumon coming to attack them hadn't made him drag his feet.
With Hanumon and Pegasumon to back him up, and the rest of the team coming as fast as they could, he'd broken through, hoping against hope to find Daisuke still there.
What he saw was AirDramon sailing away and a glimpse of a familiar caped figure. It took him a moment to realize the slumped form at Kaiser's feet was Daisuke. It had been so long…
He shouted after them, but the wind caught the words and pulled them away: or so he told himself. There was a wind. But neither Kaiser nor Daisuke turned as if they'd heard him.
He wanted now to think they hadn't. That Kaiser wasn't so angry at Daisuke that he ignored him or that Daisuke – who'd clearly just tried to escape, why else would Kaiser be so vividly angry? - would ignore him for any reason at all.
An unexpected hand rested on his shoulder. He looked to see Hikari there, a worried look in her eyes, with Miyako and Iori, and their partners, not far behind.
"They got away," he reported, hating the taste of the words on his tongue. "I didn't get here fast enough."
A thousand regrets flourished. If he'd come sooner. If he'd moved faster. If he'd taken a different route and hadn't met Hanumon. He didn't regret freeing any of the Kaiser's slaves, but in this case…
Hikari squeezed his shoulder. "We'll find him." It was the same mantra they'd used since learning Daisuke had been taken in the first place. Then she frowned. "Do you want to tell V-mon about this?"
Takeru winced at the question, but he thought he knew the answer. "I want to. But I don't think we should. I barely saw him. It would… it would hurt him too much." He hated to think of keeping a secret like this, but telling would be even worse.
"Are you sure?" Iori didn't look as if he agreed and Takeru suspected that he didn't agree with himself either.
"As sure as I can be right now," he said, shoulders sliding downward. "Come on, guys. Let's see what we can do around here first."
It wasn't the best of endings. But at least they knew that Daisuke was still alive. Still fighting in some way.
It was what they had, for now.
Kaiser clipped a strong chain to Daisuke's collar and fastened it against the wall. "You'll only get off this if I take you off," he said, staring down at Daisuke. His pet looked up at him, eyes half-glazed, weariness all over him.
He'd had to work at that restaurant. Daisuke shouldn't work unless Kaiser commanded him to.
"When they come to clean up, even if I take you off of this, if you step out of this room without my permission, I will clip your wings and keep them clipped. Do you understand me?"
Daisuke dipped his head. Then before Kaiser could correct him, he spoke, his voice still weary.
"Yes, master."
Kaiser rewarded him with a stroke of one hand through his hair. "Good boy. Perhaps you don't need to learn as much as I thought."
His hand tightened in Daisuke's hair before his pet could get any ideas. "But I will make certain you've learned your lessons very thoroughly regardless." He never, ever made the same mistake twice. Even now, he'd underestimated Daisuke's desire for freedom.
But he could use that now to his advantage. Everything Daisuke did just showed his master where his weaknesses were.
"My pretty pet," he murmured, staring down into Daisuke's eyes. Defiance faded and flickered in their depths. He leaned forward to rest his lips upon Daisuke's, taking the kiss he so wanted and had held off on for so long.
Shock replaced Daisuke's defiance and trembles ran all through his back and wings. Kaiser moved closer, lips not moving, caressing those wings that he loved so much.
"I keep what's mine, Daisuke," he murmured. "Are you mine?" He knew what the answer would be. He'd made it plain to Daisuke what his position was. This changed nothing.
Daisuke's eyes dropped, but only for a second. Kaiser insisted on meeting his gaze, to establish the proper relationship.
"Yes, master."
Oh, he could tell how much Daisuke hated it. But he didn't care. He kissed him again.
"You're mine, forever."
The End
Notes: Well, that's that, for this one, anyway. Daisuke back in the Kaiser's fortress, and only a slim beam of hope for the Chosen, one they can't even truly count on. They might have to try to move on without Daisuke...but if they do, can they beat Ken?
I'm not telling.
Next week a new story begins, but not in this universe. I don't know which one yet. Something to do with Digimon, but other than that? You got me. But I hope to see you there!
