I don't own digimon.

Chapter 13

Fire

On the walk back home, Blaze tried to process all that happened. Especially when compared to the events that had happened the previous night, this was a far harder challenge. Though, it did bring less confusion with it. Not that such a statement was really saying anything. Which made this the perfect opportunity to go over their story. Don't see why exactly. If anything, this isn't something to lie about. If anything, being honest here should be the best policy by default. Dave seems like someone who has a good head on his shoulders. Sure, he hasn't made the best decisions, but that could be said about all people to some extent. If every decision I made turned out 'right', would I even be here? I highly doubt it.

"After meeting up with Yvonne, we met Bubbles, then Ella." he started, getting a nod from Balamon. "We chased down Madame, got two grunts killed and then buried them. Had a late lunch, now we're walking back."

His partner just nodded. Overall, today had been quite good. Sure, there were a couple of hiccups. Could've gone worse. Which doesn't really explain the skipping and twirls that Blaze was doing at the moment. They look quite good, even if a tiny bit sloppy.

"Getting some practice in at the moment?" Balamon inquired, feeling the nod from his partner. "While I understand that this is part of your dream, do you think you could wait till we're back at home?"

Blaze nodded, his steps going from skipping to a more uniform walk. While not as fun when it came to the actual exercise and building up finesse for more advanced dance moves, he was willing to wait. Especially since it meant getting to show his moves to Dave. Not in a show-off sort of way, more of a demonstration for the former grunt. A way to gauge his interests ahead of a date. Kind of like a diviner to an extent. Sure, most would think to get into the business of telling one's fortune and imparting upon them the possibility of dying. But those diviners are thinking small. A couple diviners I graduated joined up with groups of knights, acting as interrogators and front door security. Of course, I'm fairly confident that they were delinquents who turned their lives around. Good on them.

Blaze's home came into view. Which meant the winding down of the day. The sky is that beautiful shade of orange, all the more ready to fade into a dark purple and bring night upon Aldia once more. Still, the pair cautiously approached the abode. Just in case, even though it's probably not necessary at this point.

"I'm home!" Blaze announced, opening the door. Overall, everything looked the same. I would be more concerned if something was somehow had been messed with. Dave sat off to the side, looking a bit better now. "Sorry about the lack of food. Usually, it's just me here."

Dave just chuckled, his gaze focusing on the leotard hanging up at the moment. While uninterested in really trying it on (thankfully), a question came to Blaze. One big enough to make him put the summary of today's events on the backburner. Maybe. Though, it would probably help if he at least went in order.

"How did your day go?" Dave inquired, the decision being made for the fighter in that moment. I think I'm starting to like him. Though, it might be a bit too early to decide on that. So Blaze cleared his throat and gave his partner a quick glance. A nod followed.

"After Yvonne and I left, we met a little dragon by the name of Bubbles." Blaze started, giving his partner a slight pet. "He's also has one of these."

Holding up his D-Venture, Dave looked it over. Kind of under-designed for what's supposed to be a powerful device. Even the name sounds like a placeholder for something cool. D-Burst? D-Element? No, those sound silly. D-Tector? Nah. That's even worse. Let me stop while I'm still ahead.

"After, we got to see a show of some kind, which was crashed by one Madame Von Strauss."

Dave tapped his leg. Not in a hurtful way, but to get his attention.

"Yes?" the fighter inquired and set his arm down, realizing where the former grunt had gotten confused in his explanation. "She's a legendary thief… I think. Killed one of your teammates, then got a second killed by accident."

The words roll on out, a sigh being his answer. I guess there's worse things you could do in this situation. Not that their guest really seemed bothered.

"If I'm being honest with you, you're really the only person I've actually gotten to know so far." Dave whispered, getting a double take by way of Blaze in return. A chuckle followed. "What? In between the general animosity everyone had to each other and their higher-ups and the general distaste for those who somehow didn't fit. At least they aren't completely awful to the LGBTQ crowd."

Now, it was Blaze's turn to look at his friend. The former had said it without a second thought, but the letters seemed strange together. I'm in the same boat. Something to do with relationships to an extent?

"Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer." Dave explained, taking a deep breath. Oh boy, why does something tell me this was a whole cup of worms brought forth? "Lesbians - women who are only interested in other women; Gays - men who are only interested in other men; Bisexual - people who's preferences align with both males and females to varying degrees; Trans - people who find that their identity doesn't align with the sex they were assigned at birth; Queer - The catchfall for anything this isn't quite seen as 'Straight' by some societies. There's also Cisgender; while not part of the acronym, means your identity matches up both ways (gender and sex)."

A gulp for air followed. A well-deserved one in my book. Which brings us right back to our fighter - deep in thought. Sure, he and I now have a general idea of what the heck this strange string of letters meant. Though, why does something tell that there's a whole lot more to this than just that?

Of course, a new question had come to Blaze in that moment. While it was probably best to continue with his story, this worked just as well. Especially if it results in new information unearthed.

"So uh... where exactly did you come from, Dave?" he asked, finally taking a seat across from Dave. Balamon slithered off, taking a position beside his partner. Took them long enough.

"That's kind of complicated." Dave remarked and took a deep breath. "I guess I can try and explain it to you."

Blaze and Balamon nodded. At this point, they were both ready. Well, they saw themselves as ready. How about that.

"I'm not entirely sure where exactly Aldia itself sits in the multiverse or really the name of the continent as a whole, so I'll just call it 'Planet'. Does that work for you two?"

Two nods. Though, I get the feeling that neither of them actually have an idea what they're getting into.

"A long time ago, some guy had a realization - we are alone in this world. So he began pooling money in order to do the impossible - create a new world."

Judging by the way that his audience was looking right now, it would seem that they had taken a left instead of a right in this description and were now somewhere that wasn't quite on the map. Heck, I don't think I understand it much myself. Sure, spells existed to create places in ancient times, but those were all lost. What is Distant Harmony's secret? Lots of 'technology' in place of magic? No. There's some things that I doubt they would not have access to otherwise. Perhaps a mix of both?

"One world came two, two became four, four became eight, etc. But then things took a turn for the worse."

Blaze tapped the former grunt. I think you should probably use your worlds at this point. Unless you're just confused and trying to process this. Then it's understandable. Not sure if this is the case here.

"Just how badly are we talking?" Blaze inquired, getting a deep breath. That doesn't sound too good. Sure, at any moment things could go to shit on my end. So this can't be that bad. Right?

"First, the founder died Supposedly, too many worlds exist or something along those lines." Dave continued, gaze back on the pair. "Of which, 'Planet' is one of the first on the chopping block."

Blaze gulped, gaze now on the ground. Dave noticed and put a hand on the fighter's shoulder. It felt quite good.

"This was all part of the employee orientation." Dave continued, focus shifting slightly to be back on both audience members. Confused, but still managing to follow what "So take it with a grain of salt. I'm not really certain how much of it is completely the truth."

Blaze nodded. After, he cleared his throat. Sure, the actual explanation was most definitely a lot more complicated than the one on offer by Dave. Just having an idea of what Distant Harmony's deal was better than nothing. Even if it was pretty obvious that his friend had just dodged the actual question in the process. Something for another day. After all, Dave didn't seem to really care about his past. In turn, maybe it's best to

So the fighter focused on Dave. Questions could be held after his explanation. Or small talk. Possibly both. Depends on the words and reactions that followed.

"After the second grunt died, someone calling himself 'the artisan' showed up and told us that he'll show up for real tomorrow." Blaze explained, shifting his scimitar's position to his lap. Please be careful with that. Don't want you to injure yourself while having a conversation. Better yet, put it off to your side. "So we went to the cemetery and buried both of them. After we had a very late lunch and then Balamon and I headed back."

"Sounds like you two had quite a busy day." Dave remarked. "Is there anything that I can do for you?"

The words roll right on out, their meaning not at all lost to the fighter's ears. He just wasn't expecting it to come so fast. Not that the idea is really minded.

What exactly could Dave do in this tiny shack to help? Make him a meal? Provide entertainment of some variety that wasn't dancing? Try as he might, the fighter couldn't seem to quite grasp it. Nor was it helped by the conversation that preceded it. By the definitions provided by Dave, did that mean he was gay as well? Sure, the fighter was certain that dance was not something boys his age dreamed about. Nor did they take up the offer of a date with another guy. Unless it was a double date. Even then, could he really be up to Dave's standards.

So he got up and made his way over to his leotard.

"Uh… let me get changed first." he remarked, cheeks as pink as they could possibly get in that moment.t moment. Dave nodded, turning around in an attempt at giving some level of privacy. Though, I don't see Balamon really doing any of that. Kind of rude on his part.

"You going to be alright?" the snake digimon whispered, Blaze's gaze falling to the floor. What looks like a nod followed. Or perhaps it was just a normal head movement. Hard to tell from here. Even I could, neither of them are really subtle about it. Especially with Dave around.

"I guess." Blaze remarked, his thoughts winding right on through. The more he thought about it, the more confused he seemed to get. That was without the whole 'do I like guys'. Try as he might, it wouldn't let go till he had a proper answer. But none came. It was as if

Eventually, the leotard got on. By that point, the fighter was so lost that he needed something to get his mind of this mess.

"Could I give you a massage?" Dave inquired, getting one more confused look. Don't blame him. This whole last couple minutes has been a complete rollercoaster of emotions. Even more so than earlier.

"Uh… sure." Blaze answered, kneeling down. Dave then got to work. Making an effort to not ruin the makeshift leotard, he kneaded his knuckles across the fighter's back.

"Is this too rough?" the former grunt inquired, getting a head shake. "Sorry. It's been a while since I've done this to someone. Especially someone as cute as you."

Blaze's head went as red as his nice. Just hearing it from Dave though did a bit to soothe his worries for the moment. Not that changed the question swirling about within.

"Not at all." the fighter answered, taking a deep breath. "Thanks for doing this. I'll try to get some food so we can have a proper dinner."

Dave looked down. If his ears were to be believed, this sounded like a start of a potential date. Shame he didn't have anything to write this down. Especially after he had worked up the courage.

"Really?"

Blaze nodded, feeling the work of Dave's hands across his body. Sure, he didn't really have an answer to what he was to an extent. But in this moment, he could see a new possibility in glimpses. Maybe in time, he could see the whole picture.

"Anything in particular that you want me to make?" the former grunt remarked, watching Blaze's gaze shift about. Especially as the realization of the lack of kitchen in his own home. Better yet, what the fuck has he been eating to keep in shape?

"Well, we have a lot of beef thanks to all the orc's here in Aldia. As for things to go with it, potatoes are always good." Blaze explained, making a mental note to search for counters and maybe a proper stove. But that's for tomorrow. Right now, he could just bask in the comfort of Dave's hands.

"Better?"

The fighter nodded, getting back up to his feet. What followed, was the start of a routine. But not before paying the masseuse. Be quite rude otherwise. Even if it's a free massage. Judging by the smile, his bribe was accepted. As for the show, I can't help but be surprised. I guess the difference is night and day. Crap. I'll let this one slide. But not again. If I didn't know any better, you're just trying to bait this out. That, or I'm just that predictable. This might be one of those 'both' situations. Fine by me. Though, I think I'll let these two have their fun.

Notes:

Quite a challenging chapter to write. Mostly by way of having a couple of days where I was unable to really work as much as I usually do. A big thanks to the Challenge Zone discord for helping with the editing process.

Outside of that, I'm heading back to college. Which means that progress on chapters is going to slow down for a bit.

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Next Time: Dawn of a New Day.