Ben10 & Digimon Tamers
Heroes and Humanity
Part 01: Heroes and Humanity
Chapter 15
Originally Written: Chapter (29) Thursday May 23,2013 1129AM to Friday May 24, 2013 433AM [Before chapter 13(19) - November 26, 2011 936AM to 1020AM]; Chapter (30)
Friday May 24, 2013 346PM to 552PM
"I'm not gonna sit around and let some homeless guy continuously insinuate that I'm an uncaring dick. You guys can do that, but I have more respect for myself." Rika folded her arms.
"I agree," Takato murmured. He clenched his fists tightly, rocking his foot against the ground. "He doesn't know us like that."
"He's not that bad." Jeri spoke up softly. She rested her arms, crossed over her lap.
"Not that bad?" Kazu scoffed, "He blew off Kenta, called me an idiot, and then practically called us dicks, like Rika said." Kazu held out an arm. "That's much worse than any of our attitude issues after our Digimon had to leave, and that shit was serious." Kazu shook his head.
"But you vouched for him?"
"That was before he went 'All high and mighty' on us like he knew us from way back."
"It's good that he's looking out for Henry's well being." Ryo commented. He scrunched his face up in thought.
"It's creepy!" Riku turned to Ryo. "Only nine months and already he knows about that?" She shook her head, "Henry's not that open."
"Yea, I know. I was gonna say that made it weird. I'm more inclined to believe he doesn't know the whole story yet."
Takato sighed, "Do any of us know?" He shook his head, "We're getting off topic. Henry can't bring friends around that are gonna treat us that way."
"You heard my grandma. Henry decked him in the face and then shoved him to the ground. Maybe it's a sign Henry will eventually ditch him," Rika looked around.
"Maybe it's a sign that we all got on the wrong foot." Jeri stared at her lap. "Who are we to judge someone who's not a fan of Digimon as we are and had enough respect for not only friends, but us, to tell us our faults?"
"We don't know if he did it out of respect for anyone." Kenta took a sip of his drink. "For all we know, he was just pissed 'cause Kazu was acting like an idiot."
"Just me?" Kazu stared at Kenta.
"Both of us." Kenta shook his head, "All of us. We all go to the same mall, and buy food from the same stand. He's been there for nearly a year, and we've all seen him at least once."
"Kenta's right." Jeri spoke up.
Rika rolled her eyes and groaned. "You've got to be kidding me. We can't help everyone."
"But we didn't help him. Even if he was too proud to ask or too embarrassed, it doesn't change how that looks to him. Out of all of Henry's, who is his friend, friends, only Henry said hello."
"That's a bit far fetched. If he was pissed at that, he would have mentioned that." Ryo countered.
"But didn't he, in a way? We're the ones who assumed that he was talking about that. What if he meant something else?"
"Does it matter? It's his attitude that's the problem."
Kenta looked at Takato square in the eye. He glanced away for just a moment before returning his gaze to Takato, "Rika. Remember when this whole thing was just picking up?"
Rika stared at him, "When the hell did you become reasonable?"
Kenta flushed, "Someone's got to keep Kazu in check."
Kazu turned red, "Hey! I can keep myself in check just fine." He folded his arms.
"Anyway," Kenta looked back at Takato, "If that doesn't convince you, I remember Impmon acting way worse than Albedo did in those few moments, and that was when Impon was happy."
Takato sighed, "And who's gonna be there when Albedo-"
"No way Gogglehead." Rika shook her head.
"Yea," Kazu punched the palm of his hand, "We are not letting that happen again. He even thinks such a thought and-"
"Shut up Kazu."
"What?" Kazu looked at Rika. She pointed to her room's doorway. The room fell completely silent.
"You know those moments where you wish you could stop watching or listening, but what you're seeing and hearing is so ridiculously tragic that you can't help but want to see the end of it all?" Henry stood in the doorway holding a few bags of takeout. He shook his head, "If I was still the kind of child who would let someone he knew for such a short time come in between his friends, I'd say something along the lines of, 'You know, maybe Albedo's right about you guys,' right about now." He walked into the room and placed the food on the floor in the middle of the circle of friends. "But I know better than that." He lowered his head, glaring hard at the wood floor, "However, if you think for a moment that any of you in any way have the right to tell me who I can and can't hang out with, you're sorely mistaken." He looked up at that, "Got it?"
"Dude we're just-" Kazu held out a hand.
Henry held up his hand to silence him, "I know what you guys are doing and I appreciate it..."
Takato raised an eyebrow.
Henry sighed, "I'm trying to appreciate it." He slumped his shoulders. "It's really annoying. Stop smothering me. I don't want or need bodyguards. Friends are nice though."
"We're sorry Henry." Jeri spoke up, "We worry about you."
"I worry..." Henry shook his head, "No, we're not going that route. You guys are more shut off from everyone than I am. Someone would have- I'm not doing this. Cut it out. Please." He turned around. "I'm going home."
"Henry!" Takato stood up.
Rika did as well.
"No, lemme talk to him."
"Seriously, gogglehead?"
Takato looked at her, "Let me talk to him alone."
Jeri watched him, confused.
"Don't be silly chumly. You know how he gets."
"He won't do that to me." Takato rushed out the room.
The group looked at each other. "I trust Takato." Jeri spoke up. "Takato says the best, most encouraging things when no one is around to distract him."
Henry turned around, "I'm not sure who's more annoying right now." He folded his arms, "I'm not in the mood Takato."
Takato held up his hands, "I know, I know. It'll only be a minute."
"Takato..."
"Just be careful around him, okay?" Takato dropped his arms.
"A bit late to worry about me, Takato."
"You believe him...don't you?"
"Oh please." Henry rolled his eyes, "Do you even know what Albedo meant when he said that?"
"Well, Ryo's not stupid. If there's one thing the Digital World taught us, it was the power of observation."
Henry stared at Takato, "Something that flew over your head, right?" He shook his head, "Seriously, have a problem with Albedo all you want. Don't bother me about it. Not in the mood."
"I'm just-"
"No." Henry held up a finger, "You don't have the right. Not after what you did."
Takato's eyes widened, "You...you're siding with him?"
"I'm not siding with-"
"You're gonna let him warp your mind like that?" Takato held his arms out to the sides.
"I'm not taking anyone's side but my own. It's the best thing for me right now. For one, you're just assuming what Albedo was talking about."
"Well then, why don't you tell me?" Takato folded his arms.
"Ha ha. No." He shook his head, "Two. I'm speaking just about you. No one else."
Takato lowered his head, "You've changed so much Henry..."
"Hm..." Henry watched Takato clench and unclench his fists. "Listen up Takato Matsuki." Takato lifted his head, "If I've changed that much, it wasn't because of Albedo and you know it."
"That's not what I meant, Henry."
Henry sighed. He knew meeting up with Takato and the others so soon after Albedo's hurtful comments was a bad idea. He had hoped it wouldn't wind up being this bad though. Albedo made a terrible first impression for himself, and hadn't done a thing to repair it. Was Albedo even fully aware he ruined it to begin with? Henry hadn't helped at all either.
"I'm not being warped by anyone. I'm not on anyone's side but my own. That's the best thing for me right now. I will be there for any and all of you guys if you need me. That's how it's always gonna be. But I won't let any of you put me in a situation where you choose everything about my life." He smiled sadly, "I just got out of that situation. I like my freedom. This is my life, and although it's hard right now." Henry watched Takato look away, "I like and want to live it." Henry shrugged smiling wryly, "Or die trying. Whichever works."
Takato looked at Henry, frowning.
Henry put his hands in his pockets. "Ok, that was bad, I know. Sorry." He shrugged his shoulders again, "Give Albedo a chance. You don't know him like I do."
"It takes more than a little under a year to know someone that well!"
Henry smiled confidently, "Exactly."
Takato sighed deeply, "Just be careful, okay?"
"He's not like that. The fact that you think he is, hurts." Henry placed a hand on his chest, "That you'd wish that for me again."
"I didn't wish that the first time and for heaven's sake I wouldn't wish that now! On you or-" Takato scrunched his face up in thought. "You-"
"No." Henry's arms fell to his sides, "No. It's not like that either." The lights in the backyard flickered. Henry turned around. "Night Takato. I'll see you and the others later." He walked off, fixing the strap of his bag across his shoulder. Takato always made situations concerning him and males interesting. The annoying kind of interesting. Henry shook his head. He wasn't sure if he'd be doing it out of anger or spite or something else, but he knew where he was going to spend the rest of the night.