Salamander
Author's Note: Enjoy the story and R&R.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to or of the Digimon series.
Pairing: One-sided Tomoki x Takuya.
Summary:
Tomoki is hit with Takuya's Burning Salamander.
Takuya and Tomoki arranged their wet clothes on the rocks by the fire to dry them. They'd dove into a river again and were pushed downstream, taking them far off their previously planned route.
When it was daylight again, they'd search for the others. For tonight, they'd stay inside this cave for warmth and protection from wild Digimon. After a swim that desperate (especially for Tomoki, who couldn't swim well), neither was in any condition to Spirit Evolve and fight.
Takuya poked the fire with a branch. The water clinging to their hair and skin had largely evaporated, so they were now at the point they could sit around the fire and merely bask in the field of its reviving glow.
Tomoki wished he were cut out for survival. Better equipped, so he hadn't dragged Takuya under. His inability to swim meant Takuya was kicking and paddling twice as much for the both of them, the reason Takuya's strength was depleted the way it was.
The orange light of the fire illuminated Tomoki's angle on Takuya shiny bronze, like he was looking at the statue of a new legend, or a trophy. A trophy you won for doing something exceptional!
But Tomoki deserved no award. He felt only the severity of his dead weight, made worse by the messy bundle of emotions in his chest. Respect for his brother figure, which he'd placed in Takuya due to the frosty relationship he had with his real brother – but that's not all.
At his age, it was the grossest feeling. He didn't know why his heart throbbed – he didn't know why looking at Takuya obstructed the regular flow in his head – but he knew it was abnormal. That the elements screaming out inside him must therefore be stamped out, if he were to continue travelling with Takuya through the Digital World.
That was easy to understand, yet easier (un)said than done. Takuya was fire. Tomoki was ice. It was science Tomoki melt in Takuya's flames!
When their clothes were toasty, they redressed and cuddled up without a blanket to sleep the rest of the night away; Tomoki, more hesitant because of the confession he hadn't yelled.
At least Takuya got some sleep! Tomoki's eyes were open, watching the cave's shadows run and fly on hot feet on Takuya's face.
The fire was nearly out, so Takuya was effectively Tomoki's sole external source of heat. The sole external source of heat…for his soul internal.
Truly, a fire. The same scorching blaze building in Tomoki's chest.
Tonight, Tomoki's Burning Salamander. The red card – his vow of silence – unbroken.