I don't own digimon.

Characters: OC

Series: Digital Fantasy

Notes:

Striking while the iron's hot, I guess. Also, is it too early (late November) for Christmas stuff? If it is, oh well.

Chapter 101

Because of Bobo

Rimjaw stared towards the Christmas tree.

All lit up and decked out with ornaments of all shapes and sizes, it made the quite small living room that much brighter. Even more so with all the gifts under the tree. As messy as this year had been, this one moment had made it all worth it.

"Well, is this what you thought your first Christmas as a family would be like?" his husband Silkheart asked, Rimjaw turning to him. A smile formed, getting him a small smooch to the cheek.

"This and more." he whispered, feeling a slight kick to the chest. Looking down to his chest, a young orc baby sat comfortably in his harness. "Soon, little one."

Silkheart chuckled, focus joining his husband's. Even dressed in these 'boyish' shirt and pants, Rimjaw had that motherly look to him. With two little girls from his previous marriage, this little bundle of joy was just as welcome in their family.

'Plop.'

The couple returned their attention back to the tree, finding two digi-eggs having appeared under the tree. Rimjaw let out a deep breath. It was kind of inevitable that such creatures would enter his life in some fashion.

"Silk, do you by any chance remember Bobo?" he inquired, his husband taking a deep breath. The orc saw where this is going. Time may heal wounds, but it

"You don't think he's still out there?" Silkheart remarked, Rimjaw looking out towards the window. A coat of white covered everything with little sign of stopping. Most of the other families in this neighborhood had long turned in for the night. Okay, maybe that albino tiefling and her minotaur 'thrall' (though, it was clear that they were closer to a spouse than an actual slave) might be out.

"Maybe." Rimjaw muttered, making his way over to the door. Slipping his feet into his fur boots, a hat found its way to his head. "I'll be back in a little bit."

Silkheart nodded, looking behind him. His partner - an Ogremon decked out with an quopao and flats gave a wave.

"If you aren't, I'm sending Lion to get you." he announced, his husband pushing the door open. "You know how he gets out there."

Rimjaw nodded, stepping across the divide as the door closed behind him. Outside, it's a winter wonderland. But it's less than a wonderland inside of him. That day runs right through his head one more time.e time.

He's twelve now, a wide-eyed young adult living with his parents in a big scary world. War is just a few years away. Everyone is on edge. And of course, his Monzaemon - Bobo was always there for him.

"Something wrong, Rim?" he cooed, taking a seat on the pier. That particular day had been quite a challenge for the young orc. In between the bullying and general mean-spiritedness of his fellow classmates, Rimjaw just wanted to get away. So they went fishing. Bobo was always up for fishing. But that could be the result of him being a bear - a plush bear digimon, to be exact. Appearing a couple Christmases ago, Bobo seemed insistent on being with Rimjaw wherever he went. It was annoying as it was helpful.

"I just don't get what makes them think I'm less than them." Rimjaw countered, taking the time to bait his line. Then it's time to cast the line out. "What exactly is different enough in me to warrant such things?"

Bobo looked towards his partner. Taking a deep breath, he put a paw on the young orc's back.

"If it helps, I'll always be there for you." he explained, his line threatening to pull the plush bear in. Yet he sat still and slowly reeled his catch in - a small salmon. "Even when I'm gone and you're off in the world. Never forget that."

Rimjaw chuckled, the dock shifting slightly with Bobo standing up. So he let his focus meet his partner. While their conversation had just started,

"Where are you going?"

His partner let out a chuckle. Rimjaw wasn't entirely sure why he did that. There was nothing really funny at the moment. Quite the opposite in fact.

"Gut my fish." Bobo answered, getting a look from his partner. "We can continue our conservation when I get back."

But as the day slowly began its transition into the darkness of night, Bobo still hadn't returned. This was bad. He had been given explicit instructions on how long he could stay out.

"Bobo?" his younger self called out and received no answer. While he didn't remember anyone following them, someone must of. Had to be the case.

Silence, even as he headed away from the lake and into the forest surrounding the area. But still no Bobo.

His parents found him the morning after, curled up in a ball - crying.

Back in reality, Rimjaw let out a sigh. Even with all this snow, traversal was surprisingly painless. Even with a currently sleepy passenger coming along.

"Bobo, are you still out there?" the orc called out, each step bringing him just a little closer to that fateful place. He doubted the ice would be that thick, but more than enough to walk on if he was careful. Not that Silkheart would really approve of him doing such a thing. "Bobo, it's me! Rim!"

No answer came, just the blustering of the wind against the snow this winter night. So he pushed further - the slope down far steeper than he remembered. Sure, it had been steep when he had been a child. But it was really this high of a grade? Or had time had it's way and somehow made it even steeper? Perhaps it was a mix of both and his memory not being as great. Had to be.

"Please, I just want to talk to you - see you. Just one more time!" he continued, stepping just a little bit closer. For a few brief seconds, the orc thought he had missed his step. But he managed to catch himself at the last possible. "Phew."

It was just a little bit further to the lake - the last possible place Bobo could be. If not, then he had been engaging in a fool's errand for the last decade and a half. Something that would be quite the bitter pill to swallow.

But as his feet reached the edge of the lake, the memories came rushing back once more. The days he spent searching the perimeter of the area. All in the vain hope of finding his partner. Bobo always seemed to elude him. A couple times it felt like he was on the right track. Then the trail would go cold and he would be right back where he started. The lake always seemed to taunt him in that regard. Maybe… just maybe what he was seeking awaited him out there.

"I'm sorry, Silk." Rimjaw whispered, carefully stepping onto the ice. Each step brought with it a mix of treachery and caution. The last thing he wanted to do was end up as an icicle trapped in the lake for who knows how long. "Please forgive me."

Nearing the middle of the lake, the ice shifted and groaned under his feet. This had been a bad idea. Rimjaw knew that.

"Bobo, if you're hearing this, things did eventually get better." the orc remarked, holding steady as best he could manage. "It took a long time, but I told them. They disowned me, but I found someone who really cares about me. We're raising a couple of kids and you know what? I'm happy. For the first time in my life, I don't feel like the world is going to kick me down."

Tears began raining down as the ice gave way. Rimjaw held his child up to the best of his abilities, hoping that by some chance for a miracle. Anyone, anything to break through this ice and grab hold. "Because of you, Bobo, I became a better person."

Light erupted from below, hands grabbing hold of Rimjaw. Looking down, the orc found himself staring at a large humanoid. Their skin a very pale shade of lavender, with what looked to be a bear fur outfit and claws.

"Bobo?"

A chuckle echoes out. Well, Rimjaw thinks it is a chuckle. Kind of hard to tell from this particular angle. At least till the humanoid made his way back to the shore. Once there, the passengers are dumped to the ground and get a proper look at them.

"Rim!"

Or would've, if not for the hug Rimjaw was getting at the moment. Though, care was taken to not the little passenger on him.

"Bobo, I'm sorry." the orc muttered, getting a slight head pat in return. "If I knew that you were in the la-"

He got a head shake in return, his partner's focus shifting to him and his kid. Even if one of them wasn't quite awake at the moment.

"It's alright, Rim." Bobo answered and let a smile on his face. "You didn't know I had took a tumble. If anything, this worked out for the best for both of us."

This time, it was Rimjaw's turn to chuckle. Grabbing hold of his partner's hand, they began the journey back up the hill. While Lion hadn't been unleashed to find them just yet, it was only a matter of time. But he didn't care at the moment. He had his partner back. Once he explained what happened to Silkheart, he would understand. Hopefully. If not, a round or two of holiday fun times would more than make up for it...