Fire and Ice
Heating Up
By the Empress of the Eclipse

Disclaimer - I don't own Digimon or the Norse Gods.
Lots of Taito in this part! Hee hee!
A/N A note to Isis Blue, no, don't worry, you don't have to know which one is 'father' at this time. You only know that if you are a fan of Norse Mythology. For anyone who is interested, it's Lokimon.

Tai was woken by Matt's coughing. He was trying to stifle it but it sounded painful.
"Matt?" he muttered.
"S-sorry," Matt gasped "Didn't mean to wake you up."
Another wracking cough escaped him.
"Do you need anything?" Tai asked.
"A drink would be nice."
Tai paused for a moment. Getting up, he walked over and carefully helped Matt up, untangling him from a soundly sleeping TK.
"Come on," he said gently.
He led Matt down to the steam. Matt was obviously still blind. Tai realised quickly how difficult it was to lead a blind person without letting them accidentally bang into something. He still managed to succeed, carefully getting Matt to the stream without major mishap. Matt gulped the water Tai offered him gratefully, still coughing slightly. The water didn't seem to soothe him very well.
"Thanks Tai," he said.
"Has it helped?" Tai said doubtfully.
"A little," Matt said. He shivered.
"Cold?"
"Just a bit."
Matt gulped some more water before summoning up the courage to ask Tai something that was confusing him.
"Tai....why were you so angry with me? You know I never meant for anything bad to happen to Kari."
"I know," Tai whispered "I just....I felt so scared. Kari was hurt, maybe dying and I should have been there! I should have been able to protect her. But I wasn't. I wasn't there to rescue her. And I guess I blamed you for that."
"Do you still?"
Tai winced, glad Matt couldn't see him. He wasn't sure. A part of him still did blame Matt for what had happened. He couldn't help it. Matt had changed to him now, become a new, difficult person that Tai needed to re-adjust to.
"No, of course not," he said.
"Really?"
"Yes."
Tai crossed his fingers and hoped Matt would believe him.
"Liar."
Tai sighed. Instead of saying anything, he gave Matt a slightly awkward hug. They sat there, Tai staring into the fast running stream waters, Matt staring at nothing.
* * * *
"Those two are getting too friendly," Helmon said sulkily "Courage is spoiling my Friendship!"
Fenrirmon sighed.
"Brother," she said, speaking to Jormungandmon "Hurry along to Father will you? Explain the situation. I'm sure he can think of something suitable...."
There was a soft laugher from Jormungandmon. Then there was a slithering splash and he was gone.
"I hope it works," Helmon said, still sounding sulky "It's not fair when perfectly good fun gets spoilt."
"Who's getting Courage anyway?" Fenrirmon asked.
"Father chose him," Helmon said. She scowled "Leaving me with Knowledge. Honestly!"
"Oh he isn't so bad," Fenrirmon said lazily "Besides, it could be worse. You could have ended up with Reliability. Anyway, I did give you Friendship!"
Helmon sighed.
* * * *
"We should go back to the others soon," Tai said softly "They'll worry."
"I like it out here," Matt said "The air helps my cough."
"Just a bit longer then," Tai said.
A cold wind drifted past them, making Tai shiver. Unconsciously, he moved close to Matt, relying on his body heat. Matt leaned against him, closing his sightless eyes. Tai sneezed as some sort of grass seed went up his nose. Matt giggled.
"Oh shut up," Tai said, pulling Matt closer to him "It's not funny."
"Is to!"
"Is not!"
"Is to!"
"Is not!"
Tai rolled his eyes. Trust Matt to get him into silly argument.
"We should go back to the others soon," he murmured.
"You said that before. Please can't we stay out a little longer?"
"Okay," Tai agreed. He looked down at Matt's slightly upturned face, suddenly overcome with the desire to kiss him. Gulping, he forced his head away. What was wrong with him? He didn't want that with Matt, that was the point! He wasn't interested in Matt that way.
"Tai."
"Yes?" Tai managed.
"You're nice and warm."
Tai laughed huskily.
"So're you."
"I'm not warm," Matt said, sounding sad "I'm cold as ice. Everyone says so."
"Oh don't be stupid," Tai said "You're warm as anything!"
Matt cuddled even closer making Tai swallow. What was wrong with him?
"Matt, I...."
"Yes?" Matt said softly.
Tai shook his head.
"Forget it," he muttered "It's doesn't matter."
Matt paused for a moment. Then he reached up and caught Tai's shoulders. Pulling himself up, he kissed Tai firmly. Despite being unable to see, he seemed to know his way round Tai's face perfectly. His lips were soft and warm. Tai couldn't help himself. He responded, kissing Matt greedily, drinking the warmth in. He felt Matt's arms tighten around Tai, pushing himself closer. Tai pushed Matt down onto the ground, his kisses growing deeper, more exploring.
"Tai...I love you."
Tai smiled, then kissed Matt again, leaving no more room for words.
* * * *
"Well, that worked nicely," Lokimon remarked, sitting back with a smirk "Honestly, it was rather easy."
"Well, if it spoils them being happy, I'm happy!" Helmon said.
"Oh it will. When they wake up, Courage will be far from happy. And Friendship will be too when Courage has finished saying whatever he's going to say."
Helmon laughed.
* * * *
Tai's eyes flickered open. It was still dark, still night. He shifted, trying to get more comfortable, then froze.
No. No! What had he done? What had he done?
Pushing himself back, swallowing his nausea, Tai stared down at Matt in horror. Matt was smiling in his sleep, looking very peaceful. Tai didn't feel peaceful at all. What the hell was wrong with him? He wasn't gay dammit! He WASN'T GAY! He didn't like Matt that way! He'd just been....feeling sorry for Matt and when Matt had kissed him, he'd just wanted to help Matt feel better, he hadn't meant to go as far as he had, that was all, he hadn't meant to have sex with him...
But he had. Matt had kissed him and Tai had responded and now everyone would think he was gay when he wasn't! Being like that was disgusting, everyone knew that! And now.....
Tai shuddered and shook his head. He couldn't stay there any more. Pulling on his clothes, he fled back to the cave, leaving Matt curled up, alone.
* * * *
When Matt stirred awake, he was momentarily confused by his seeming inability to open his eyes. Then he remembered. With that memory came another one. Smiling, Matt reached out for Tai.
He wasn't there.
"Tai?" Matt said "Tai?"
No answer. Matt felt around desperately but he couldn't find Tai anywhere.
"Tai!" he cried pleadingly.
A horrible feeling was surrounding him. Surely Tai wouldn't have run off and left him? Tai had wanted him! And even if....he knew Matt was blind, surely he wouldn't have left Matt alone...
Matt pulled on his clothes with some difficulty.
"Tai!" he cried again "Tai!"
But his voice echoed mockingly around him. Giving in to the despair that was swamping him again, Matt curled up and sobbed.
'Not again. Why has he left me again?'
He was unaware of Helmon standing silently nearby, smiling gleefully at Matt's despair.

The End of Part 6.