A/N: Oops, I forgot to update this the other day. Sorry! Here's the update. I'm starting to think of splitting it into three fics, one for each section of the season. What do you guys think?
20.
The longer they sit in the cage, the more amused Taiki seems to become. It's dreadfully hot for these sleeves, certainly, but that's all that concerns him.
Dorulumon regards this more with concern than real alarm. The look in Taiki's eyes is like Tactimon's often was, but much more relaxed. He swings his legs and hums to himself. Last he heard, humans don't act like this.
"You can escape," Taiki says after a moment. "Can't you?"
Dorulumon blinks, then cracks his forelegs in a shrug. "I could try. But I won't."
"You don't deserved to be caged." Taiki reaches out. He's such a delicate human, from looks alone. Dorulumon could probably snap his neck and devour him in a few bites. He smells the metal and decides against it, however. He lets the slender fingers stroke the patches of fur, tracing over where muscle and vein tend to be. "You're too much for the cage."
Dorulumon tries not to roll his eyes. Flower words, not helpful.
"Dying doesn't put an end to problems, you know." Taiki pauses. "Well, it gets rid of variables, but you dying won't help anyone. Your little bunny would be distraught, and he's quite adorable."
"What about you?" Dorulumon resists the urge to move away the close Taiki moves. He's not sure if the dress is meant to be socially problematic, but it must itch to have all those weapons on. "What if you die?"
Taiki giggles. "I'm not going to die. You won't let that happen. I'm useful to you, aren't I?" His fingers disappear into the large sleeves and come back out with a bottle and a too-large needle. He dips the tip of the needle into the small bottle and it begins to hiss.
"Lovely," he simpers, and tips drops of the liquid onto the bars. They too, begin to hiss. Taiki closes the bottle and puts it away, returning to Dorulumon. However, when he returns, he lays on him, and drifts off without warning. Dorulumon almost throws him off, but the peaceful expression on his face makes him take pause and let the human sleep.
When the soldiers arrive to kill them, Dorulumon takes care to lower Taiki to the ground before breaking through the corroded bars and lunging. Taiki doesn't appear to wake, but that smile on is face is a bit too wide.
"Can I keep him," he asks Akari with pure innocence when they arrive.
"Depends on the body count," she replies.
Dorulumon has the gall to look offended.