I don't own digimon.

Character: BanchoLeomon

Series: Returned

Notes:

A 'little' something to make up for a project not working out.

Chapter 111

Prince(ss) and Delinquent

BanchoLeomon wasn't entirely sure what to make of the place he had landed down. Sure, landing in a cafe of all places was not his preferred choice (he would've gone with an alleyway). His head was thankfully not hitting the ceiling, even if his vision felt like it had. As far as his eyes could see were people in dresses. A lot of ballroom gowns, with a bunch of other kinds of dresses mixed in. Everyone here looked to be wearing gloves - some short, others going up to their elbow in all sorts of colors and patterns. Then there was the tapping of heeled shoes and 'swishing' of parasols. Made it nearly impossible to hear himself think. Yet, out of all these people, one person in particular stood out.

In the back corner, a large beefcake of a person was drinking their coffee. Decked out in a massive pink ballroom gown with matching elbow-length gloves and heels, they seemed to stick out in what was already a space full of weird people. Green eyes focused solely on their coffee, which made the barley curls their hair had been done up in all the more noticeable. A light coat of pink covered their lips, the rest of their face left bare for the moment.

"Tyler, is that you?" the lion digimon called out, making his way over to this mystery person. There was no way that this was the same Tyler from back then. That Tyler was the star of the football team, the one guy you can count on to turn the tide of the game. A prime jock, he had just enough smarts to stay on top of his school work. Heck, he had finally worked up the courage to ask one of the cheerleaders out on a date. Hopefully that worked out.

"BanchoLeomon!" their target announced and reached out to the lion digimon. A hug followed, their affection accepted. At least for the moment. "It's been so long. How have you been, bud?"

BanchoLeomon looked away, letting out a huff in the process. There was no way this could be his Tyler. This had to be some kind of cruel twisted joke on behalf of all the forces of the digital world. This was some kind of fake Tyler meant to test him. Yeah. Had to be it. No other outcome come ex-

"BanchoLeomon, are you alright?" 'Tyler' remarked, BanchoLeomon's fist coming his way. Grabbing hold of the stray hand, the gazes of the other customers are already on the pair. So he did the natural thing in this situation - get up from his chair and pull his partner tight out of the cafe.

"Unhand me, fake Tyler!" BanchoLeomon announced, trying his hardest to wiggle his way out from his partner's gloved hand. He was unsuccessful. If anything, the grip on his paw only tightened. Especially as the pair retreated into a nearby alley.

"I'm not sure what exactly has gotten into you." Tyler countered and took a deep breath, gaze focused right on the lion digimon. "I told you that I might be a different person by the time you got back to me. Is this really that hard to imagine?"

BanchoLeomon looked away. Sure, he had heard a couple horror stories of digimon returning to their partners only to find them to be a far worse person. Somehow. But this wasn't one of those situations. Far from it, in fact. No, this was something else entirely.

"Maybe." BanchoLeomon muttered, gaze returning to Tyler. There had to be some kind of reason for his partner's change. "I just don't understand why."

Tyler took a deep breath and loosened the grip on his partner's paw. It was the least he could do at the moment. "Well… I've always liked dresses. Not that I would ever tell anyone that before coming here to Branaka."

His words rolled out, BanchoLeomon freezing in place. How the heck had he managed to not see such large flags? That fact alone frustrated the lion digimon. None of this seemed to make sense in his head. Was this somehow just one more test by way of the digital world? Maybe once they got through this they would actually reach the true Tyler. Not this fake, petticoated one.

"Then why didn't you tell me then?" BanchoLeomon countered and inched closer to his partner. While he didn't want a fight, the lion digimon was more than ready to throw down. "I would've been more than willing to listen to whatever you had to s-"

BanchoLeomon didn't get to finish his sentence, a slap bringing a swift end to that statement as the tears began to roll down. So much for that angle, let alone 'test'. Not that there was ever a test to begin with.

"I was going to tell you…" Tyler whispered, focus shifting to the ground. Ignoring the droplets cascading onto the ground of the alleyway,a deep breath followed. "I had gathered all my courage to tell you after my date… but you were gone. Not even a word on why or a reason for going. If anything, you should be the one answering me. What the hell was so important that it meant abandoning me?!"

Words ringing out, BanchoLeomon looked down. How the heck was he going to answer that? Even if he could, that would just imply he was a bad digimon partner. Though if he didn't answer, Tyler would probably think he was a bad partner that didn't deserve a digimon. Either outcome was a lose-lose for both parties involved.

"Nothing, Tyler." BanchoLeomon answered as he reached out to wipe the tears away. He expected to have his hand grabbed another time. Made for quite a surprise when that wasn't the case. "I didn't want to go back to the digital world. Believe me. There isn't anything there that would be the same as being by your side. Sometimes… the digital world chooses for the digimon. Even if they don't like it or even agree with that decision."

Tyler nodded, a deep breath following. A thought came to him. Sure, this was something that he wasn't quite sure BanchoLeomon would quite be on board with. But if he somehow was… this would be a win-win for both of them.

"I might be able to do something about that." Tyler answered, whispering something into BanchoLeomon's ear…

.

Six months later…

"Are you sure that they'll be fine with this?"

Tyler looked over his handiwork. Yes, the outfits of Miss Cathy's were a lot more conservative than that his partner was used to wearing. But they had both been working towards this moment for some time. Sure, it wasn't all smooth sailing. Both he and BanchoLeomon had their setbacks and by the same token - victories. All of that leading to this one moment.

"I already got the go-ahead from my employers." Tyler continued, watching BanchoLeomon spin around to face the mirror. So many long nights went into this one garment. In between the measuring, sewing and needlework, it had seemed like their goal was always out of sight.

"It's perfect." BanchoLeomon answered, shifting the long blue skirt slightly for the moment. Nowhere close to being that of a crinoline, it was just starting to click with him. Especially with the bat currently sitting on the floor. Yes, giving up his sword for such a blunt object seemed like an odd choice. Even if it was to be in compliance with school rules so that Tyler could have him on as an assistant for work. An opportunity that didn't seem possible a couple of months ago.

Yet, here he was, slipping a pair of striped socks up his long legs. A pair of brown loafers come right after with the finishing touch being a red ribbon around his neck. "Though, do you think I'll be threatening enough for your students?"

For a brief moment, Tyler looked away. Picking the bat up, he placed it in the lion digimon's hands.

"Yeah." the athletics teacher remarked, grabbing hold of his partner's hand.