Taking a stand
The next day, Mrs. Motomiya was put in the psychiatric ward, and allowed visitors. She sat by the window with a housecoat around her. Jun went in first, sitting down on the bed beside her mother. She didn't discuss what they talked about, or even if her mother actually spoke. When she was done, she stood up, and left, waving for Davis to have his turn.
"Hi, Mom." He sat down, watching her haggard face turn a little more away from him. Her eyes were empty, staring blankly at the world through the thick glass. She barely blinked; the only sign of life her slow breathing and the ringing of her hands in her lap. "I came by today to visit you. Actually, I've been here all day. I didn't have to go to school, since I haven't been re-enrolled."
No response. He looked up, meeting Tai's gaze. The older teen was standing out of view of his mother, gently watching them. The brunette gave him an encouraging smile, leaning his form against a wall. Davis smiled back, his eyes red-rimmed. He turned again to his mother, who still hadn't moved.
"Jun and I have a place to stay. The Kamiya's were here last night. Jun and I can share a room at their apartment until you get out. The doctor's say it could be a while, so we may lose our place. I tried calling Dad, but he didn't answer his phone." That was a lie. His father had answered, but hung up when he heard his son's voice. Jun was going to try again, later in the day.
He sighed, looking down at his hands. They were clenched tightly in the bed sheets, and he loosened his grip, trying to keep his breathing stable. The urge to cry was still very strong, and he wanted nothing more than to curl into Tai's arms, and sleep as he had the night before. It had been a peaceful night's sleep, once he had passed out from exhaustive crying. Tai had been there in the morning, getting him something to drink and eat without having to be asked. They hadn't spoken about it, or about anything. In fact, the only words spoken between the two teens came from Davis, when he said that he had to speak with his mother.
"What was this going to do, mother? Were you hoping to make me feel guilty? Was it so horrible, having me for a son? I'm sorry, more sorry than you can ever know. I tried so hard." He swallowed, ignoring the tears that were fighting to leak out of the corners of his eyes. "You never noticed. I did everything I could, and for nothing. If this was supposed to make me forgive you for making my life hell, you've failed."
Tai straightened from the wall where he'd posted himself, eyeing him worriedly. He shook his head, settling his watery gaze on his mother's left shoulder.
"Would it have been so bad to tell me that you loved me? Why couldn't you do that? It's not hard. Three words, mother. Three simple words. You're my mother. That should have been easy for you." He watched as Tai approached them. Davis gripped the sheets again, and felt when Tai sat beside him. He reached his hand out, and Davis latched on for support, his words being pulled around the lump in his throat. "I tried so hard to please you."
He was pulled quickly to his feet, Tai's arms wrapping around him as he led him away from his mother. They didn't say a word, simply stood in the hallway outside of her room as Davis sobbed against his boyfriend's shoulder. Ken stood at the other end of the hallway with Mr. Kamiya and Kari, watching as the redhead wept. Kari's eyes were wet with tears of sympathy, and even Mr. Kamiya looked dejected.
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"If you were to stranded on a desert island, what three people would you want with you?" Davis chuckled softly, shaking his head. Tai merely grinned at him merrily, waiting for his answer. It had been six hours since Davis had been in to see his mother, and the brunette was trying to cheer him up.
"Ken, of course. Someone would have to keep us alive." Tai nodded in agreement, his chin in the palm of his hand. He was resting his elbow on a table in the cafeteria. "Cody, because Armadillomon could rescue us as Submarimon. And Matt, for entertainment."
Tai blinked at him, jutting his lower lip out in a pout. He looked away, turning away insulted. "Fine. I see how you are." He sniffed, ducking his head to hide his slight grin.
"Okay. You can come. I'm sure the other two won't mind having an extra person along." Tai looked back up, raising his eyebrow. "Fine. It can be just the two of us."
"Gosh, that sounds so swell." Tai sighed, letting his eyes rest dreamily on his boyfriend. "We could hunt in the mornings, then spend all afternoon lying indolently in the shade as the world goes on far, far away."
"Our own little fantasy island." Davis reached his hand across the table and entwined his fingers with Tai's. "It does sound fun. Too bad that all the remote islands are inhabited."
"You two planning on running away?" Matt slipped into the chair between them, leaning back casually as he stole the pop Tai had bought for Davis. "Drop a line telling us if you're still alive. Otherwise, have a blast."
"Thank you for your permission, oh stylish one." Davis glared at the blonde who sat drinking his pop casually. Tai pushed his across the table, and the redhead accepted it with a small smile. "What's up?"
Matt shrugged, setting the can on the table. "Nothing much. I just spoke with Jun. She said that things are relatively stable on the front-line. I told her I'd check up on you. She doesn't trust herself to keep from crying yet, and she doesn't want to burden you with it."
Davis sighed, squeezing Tai's hand. "I wish she'd let me help her. Every time I tried to talk to her today, she brushes my concern aside, and tells Tai to take over. Then she disappears. I know she's as upset as I am, but she doesn't want me to know. She keeps playing it cool, as if it's nothing important."
"Kari's been talking with her." Tai reached for his pop, and Davis passed it to him. "She's trying to get through to Yolei's sister. They're friends. So far, though, there's no answer at their house, probably because of school."
"Ah, yes. That wonderful world of academic success and reputation assassination." They looked at Matt with identical expressions of confusion. "Carl was back, having fun as usual. Started in all types of wonderful gossip."
"Nosy little bastard." Tai growled. Davis simply sighed again, his shoulders sagging. "What's he trying to spread this time, besides a bunch of hot air?"
"Before school started, it was that you two had probably gone off to some 'queer colony', where you slept your way through the place together." They rolled their eyes. "Just before lunch, he was talking about how odd it was that the four of you were missing. That's when he started talking about a possible murder-suicide thing, where one of you went off and killed your parents, and then yourself out of grief at being kept apart."
"That's almost too close to home." Davis frowned, his eyes filling with tears as he met Tai's gaze. "Then what happened?"
"Then he was reacquainted with something called 'minding your own business'." He grinned proudly, holding up the bruised knuckles of his right hand. "And then he shut up."
There's a comfort in sleep
Tai watched as Davis slept, his head cushioned by Tai's pillow, his sleeping form curled under his sheets and blankets. They had gone back to the Kamiya residence after visiting hours were over. Jun had gone with Matt back to their apartment to pick up clothes. By the time she returned, her brother was already asleep.
Kari and Mrs. Kamiya had made dinner for everyone, while Tai had led Davis straight to the bedroom. The redhead had crawled into the top bunk without a word of protest, simply falling asleep almost as soon as his head hit the pillow.
The food was cooked by the time Jun arrived, and Matt stayed to eat with them. His father was working late. Ken had gone home from the hospital, promising that he'd visit his best friend the following day. The Kamiya's, Jun, and Matt ate, leaving Davis to sleep. As soon as Tai finished his food, he disappeared into his room with another plate.
He sat the plate on the headboard, and then climbed up beside his sleeping boyfriend. He stretched out beside him slowly, careful not to wake him. He lifted his hand, and let it gently caress his tan cheek, marveling at the way his long lashes brushed gently beneath his eyes.
"Davis?" He whispered it softly, brushing red hair away from the younger teen's face. "Davis. Wake up." He moved his hand down to his shoulder, and shook him gently. He leaned in, and pressed his lips to Davis', moving his hand to cup behind his head.
He felt the lips under his part as his boyfriend responded. He pulled back, watching as dark eyes opened slowly, dreamily. "Hello."
Tai smiled, kissing him softly on the lips before sitting up and away from him. "Hi. I brought food, babe." Davis nodded, rolling into his side, before sitting up also. "Kari made it, so it should be safe."
"Thanks." Their voices were low, as if they didn't want the rest of the world to know that they were there. Tai handed him the plate, and watched as he ate slowly, picking at it. They didn't speak while he ate, simply sat in the silence, enjoying the other's company.
When Davis was done, Tai took the plate from him, and sat it back at the head of the bed. He smiled at the redhead gently, seeing the fatigue and worry still in his eyes. "Go back to sleep, Davis. I'll be in to check on you later."
A tanned hand reached out to him quickly as he moved to the end of the bed. He looked up in surprise at his boyfriend, who was watching him with unfathomable eyes. "Stay. Please." His voice was shaky, his eyes wide with unshed tears.
Without a word, Tai slipped back up beside him, and lay down. Davis stretched out with him, wrapping his arm around his waist. They held each other, Davis' head resting just below Tai's chin. The younger was asleep in minutes, but Tai stayed alert, rubbing his back. It was only early evening, and he didn't have school in the morning, but there was no place else that he'd rather be, not at a party, not at game.
He tilted his head to look down, smiling gently at the mess of hair brushing against his chin. The night before, he had held Davis in a stiff chair, wanting nothing more than to ease his sorrow. Now, he was content to lie beside him as he slept, knowing that the world would wait. He listened to the even sound of his breathing, felt each breath against his own throat.
It was, at that point in his life, the best night of his life. He couldn't ask for anything more than to hold the one he loved in his arms as he slept. Waking up in the morning to his boyfriend was going to challenge it.
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Kari peeked into the room she shared with her brother, moving softly on the carpet. They were lying together, their arms wrapped tightly, holding each other close even in slumber. She smiled, moving quickly to her dresser, where she pulled out her camera.
She walked around to the foot of the bed, and climbed partially up. She snapped a picture, capturing the contented expressions of the boys as they slept. She'd have it developed, then framed for them, as a reminder. They were beautiful together, and she hoped that they stayed that way.
Someone coughed, and she looked to the doorway to see Jun and Matt watching. She held up the camera, and jumped quietly to the floor. Matt ushered both females back into the hallway, closing the door softly behind them.
"They deserve their privacy." They nodded, and Kari sat her camera guiltily on a side table. They entered the kitchen, where the elder Kamiya's were standing at the sink, hand-in-hand. "They're both asleep. I don't expect either one to wake up before dawn."
"Thank you, Matt, for everything." The blonde shrugged as Mrs. Kamiya smiled at him gratefully. "You've been great, and we appreciate it." She turned to Jun, and her smile gentled. "I'll help you make a bed in the living room, dear."
Jun nodded. Her eyes were puffy and red, like Davis' had been earlier in the day. She had lost track of the number of times that she had burst into tears throughout the day. "Thank you."
"I have to go." Matt smiled at them all, and let himself out of the apartment. Jun watched him leave, her eyes shadowed. She let Mrs. Kamiya lead her into the living room, where they pulled the cushions off the couch, and pulled out a mattress tucked into it.
They made it into a bed, getting pillows from a cabinet in the hallway. When that was done, they gave her a pajama set to sleep in. She lay down, wrapping her arms around a pillow, and burying her head in the covers. Kari sat with her, rubbing her back wordlessly until she relaxed and fell asleep.
