Disclaimer: None of these digimon belong to me.
What My Heart Was Looking For
Chapter four: All the Weakness In Me
The sun rose too early for Gatomon's taste, but the smell she encountered was almost compensation. The fire was still crackling and the air wafted with that divinely salivating smell. She opened her eyes and saw Wizardmon bent over the fire with a frying pan. Gatomon sat up slowly, taking the moment to examine him. Wizardmon was not what one would call good-looking, pale gray skin and ratty clothes, but something about him was very charming.
"Kokatorimon eggs?" Wizardmon offered, turning to her and handing her a plate.
Gatomon accepted it from him, not saying anything. Wizardmon sat on the opposite side of the fire, removed his hat and began to eat his eggs. He was a very surprising digimon. She had never known anyone like him. It was like he had gone through almost everything she had and felt everything she had. He had fulfilled a dream she thought could never come true. He showed her the heavens. Now, he made her breakfast. She had never met anyone who treated her the way he did.
"Flee bag!" came a raspy voice behind her.
Gatomon stood up and turned toward DemiDevimon.
"I ought to string you up by your tail!" DemiDevimon exclaimed.
What was he so sore about? Before Gatomon had the chance to ask, Wizardmon sprang out in front of her, holding out his arms protectively.
"You will not harm her," he warned.
"No, Wizardmon," Gatomon said, grabbing his cape to get his attention. "DemiDevimon is a colleague of mine. He was just being facetious."
"Nice of you to call off your attack dog," DemiDevimon asked.
Gatomon ducked under Wizardmon's arm to get in front of him and asked, "What do you want?"
"If you aren't too busy fooling around with some mon you picked up off the street," DemiDevimon began, "can we get to work so we can get back to where we belong?"
Gatomon rolled her eyes. Not only did she not appreciate the insinuation he made about her and Wizardmon, she also disliked Myotismon's castle being referred to as the place she belonged. If she belonged anywhere, it certainly wasn't Myotismon's castle.
"I'm going to go to Gazi-Gatsu," Gatomon told Wizardmon. "Are you going to be...good?"
"Yes, I'm quite all right," Wizardmon assured her. "I heal fast."
"Bye then," Gatomon said quickly.
She swapped at DemiDevimon, then ran off into Gazi-Gatsu village. She could hear the fluttering of DemiDevimon's wings just behind her. Gatomon found herself wanting to look back at WIzardmon, as if to say one last goodbye. After all, she didn't know if he was still going to be there when she returned. He was feeling better and he did say that he never stayed in one place very long. Who was she to change his ways?
Gatomon and DemiDevimon reached the village square just as the gazimon and gatsumon were heading out of their homes for the day. It was the perfect time to address them in mass.
"Listen up, Gazi-Gatsu!" Gatomon shouted.
They all turned their attention to her in confusion and annoyance.
"We want to make a proposal to you," Gatomon began loudly. "Myotismon is a very powerful mon, and he can offer protection and great rewards if you combine with his forces, and assist him in gaining control over the Digital World. What do you say?"
There was some laughing the crowd. Other digimon gave her looks as if she was crazy. Gatomon knew she wasn't cut out for this job. Speaking really wasn't one of her strengths.
"Hey, if you don't join Myotismon, then you'll all be destroyed!" DemiDevimon threatened.
"Don't waste your breath," Gatomon advised. "They aren't going to be willing to join Myotismon. You'd have to be braindead."
DemiDevimon paused for a second, then exclaimed, "Hey! I joined him voluntarily."
Gatomon rolled her eyes.
"Well, if they don't join him willingly, let's get out the bakemon and cause havoc!" DemiDevimon said, salivating excitedly.
"No!" Gatomon ordered. "You won't do anything unless I say. Myotismon assigned me to this mission. That makes me in charge."
"Myotismon also sent me," DemiDevimon informed. "He wants this village and I am to make sure he gets it."
"He'll get it!" Gatomon hissed. "But he'll get it when I decide he will."
"I told him it was a mistake to send you," DemiDevimon grumbled.
Gatomon sunk her claws into his leg and pulled him into the dirt.
"I told you not to get in my way." Gatomon growled, her paws holding down his wings. "Do you want me to make the consequence clearer?"
"All right! I got it! No messing with you!" DemiDevimon said desperately.
Gatomon let him go. He flew into the air and looked down at her.
"You're getting weak, Gatomon," he mocked.
She swatted at him, but he was out of reach. He laughed and stuck his tongue out. Gatomon tried to ignore him as she started down the street. Was she really getting weak? Sure, she let DemiDevimon go after he begged. That wasn't weakness, it was mercy. If anyone was weak, it was him for begging. She saved Wizardmon. Was that weakness? There's no way she would have saved him under any other circumstances. Why had that been different? What about Wizardmon made him the exception? Gatomon was so confused that she really didn't know what to do or even think. Wizardmon had affected her whether she wanted to admit it or not. Now, he was most likely gone. This thought scared Gatomon. She didn't want him to leave. Quickly, she sprinted down the street. She had to get back to her camp if only to catch him in time to say goodbye.
When Gatomon reached the camp, she was too late. The fire was dying down and there was no sign of Wizardmon anywhere. The spot seemed to alone and empty now.
"Well, I guess that's that," Gatomon said indifferently.
She was trying to act strong. Since there was no one around to impress, it must have been for her own comfort. It didn't work, though. Gatomon still felt terrible loss. She knew she would never meet anyone like him again, but it would be all right. She had gotten much practice in suppressing her emotions and in dealing with pain and loss. It was not big deal to do it again.
"Goodbye, Wizardmon," Gatomon muttered sadly.
"I was going to say quite the opposite," said Wizardmon, immerging from behind the large boulder. "I found more eggs. I thought an omelet for lunch would be nice."
Gatomon was so happy that she ran up and hugged him without thinking. Wizardmon tried to return the hug while keeping a hold of the large eggs he had gathered.
"I thought you had gone," Gatomon cried.
"I would never leave you," Wizardmon whispered.
Suddenly, Gatomon realized what she was doing and backed off. She was not the warm and fluffy feeling type. DemiDevimon was right. She had become weak.
Feeling that the silence was terribly awkward, Wizardmon asked, "What do you want in your omelet?"
Gatomon blinked at him. Omelet? Where did that come from? Of course, he was currently trying to balance three eggs, each the size of a poromon, in two hands. She might as well let him get to it before he dropped one.
"Surprise me," Gatomon allowed.
Wizardmon went over to the fire and began to re-ignite the smoldering coals.
"What's that," Gatomon asked, eyeing a gold ring holding back his long blonde hair, "in your hair?"
Wizardmon gave her a confused look for a moment, then he reached back and laughed, "Oh that! It's just something I've always had. I've had it so long, I didn't even remember that it was anything significant."
"It's very pretty," Gatomon muttered as Wizardmon cracked one of the large eggs into his frying pan.
"It's kind of you to say," Wizardmon said, sounding embarrassed. "I thought you would be in town all day."
Gatomon let out a groan, saying, "Things didn't work out as planned, but I'll get it done tomorrow."
"You've got me awfully curious about your work," Wizardmon voiced, glancing over at her. "Am I allowed to ask?"
Gatomon met his eyes, wondering if she should tell him. It was work she was quite ashamed of. She'd rather that he did not know. Knowing might cause questions, judgment, and distrust. She couldn't have that.
"No," Gatomon said quietly, "and please don't mention it again."
Wizardmon nodded. He returned to the eggs and frying pan. Gatomon watched him as if expecting a shred of disappointment or anger in his features. It was really hard to tell what he felt with that tall collar covering his face. You can only get so much from eyes. Gatomon couldn't help but wonder what he was hiding with such a collar.
Wizardmon pulled a bottle of green chili sauce from his vest. He applied it to the omelet. Gatomon had never had chili sauce in an omelet before. Of course, there wasn't much choice of good food at Myotismon's castle. Eggs alone were a rarity.
"All finished," Wizardmon said proudly as he presented the omelet to her.
She took it gratefully, expecting Wizardmon to go and fix his own omelet. He didn't. Instead, Wizardmon stood there and watched Gatomon intently. She suspected that he wanted her reaction to his cooking. This made her very nervous.
Gatomon took a small bite of the omelet. It was a little spicy, but good.
"Well," Wizardmon began anxiously, "do you like it?"
Gatomon nodded.
"I wasn't sure if you would since you didn't eat that egg this morning," Wizardmon told her. "That's why I made you an early lunch. I figured that you'd need your strength since you're working and all."
It was very thoughtful of him. Of course, Gatomon wasn't about to say so. Compliments weren't something she was raised with. The only time someone would do or say something nice is if they wanted something in return. She knew Wizardmon didn't want something from her. He did things out of pure kindness.
Gatomon finished her omelet, looking up every once in a while to see if Wizardmon was still watching her. Every time she looked, he was looking straight into her eyes, but then immediately occupied himself with something else so he didn't appear to be staring at her. This made Gatomon wonder.
"Why do you keep doing that?" Gatomon asked, agitated.
"Do what?" Wizardmon retorted in confusion.
"Why do you keep looking at me like that?" Gatomon explained, glancing up at him nervously.
"I'm sorry," Wizardmon said. "I know you don't like it."
"But why do you do it?" Gatomon demanded.
"I can't help it," Wizardmon admitted, looking at her that way again. "It's your eyes. I can't stop looking at your eyes.."
Gatomon turned her eyes away from him, feeling near tears. Why did he have to say that? It couldn't have been any other reason.
"I don't care about your personal inability," Gatomon said hardly. "I don't want you looking at me like that!"
"I'll try my best," Wizardmon promised.
Gatomon pulled her knees into her chest and glared at the smoldering fire. If only she had been born with normal eyes instead of one's that everyone had to stare at like a freak in the circus. Couldn't everyone, especially Wizardmon, find some other deformity to gawk at?
A/N: I think my chapters are getting gradually longer. What do you think of my story so far?
What My Heart Was Looking For
Chapter four: All the Weakness In Me
The sun rose too early for Gatomon's taste, but the smell she encountered was almost compensation. The fire was still crackling and the air wafted with that divinely salivating smell. She opened her eyes and saw Wizardmon bent over the fire with a frying pan. Gatomon sat up slowly, taking the moment to examine him. Wizardmon was not what one would call good-looking, pale gray skin and ratty clothes, but something about him was very charming.
"Kokatorimon eggs?" Wizardmon offered, turning to her and handing her a plate.
Gatomon accepted it from him, not saying anything. Wizardmon sat on the opposite side of the fire, removed his hat and began to eat his eggs. He was a very surprising digimon. She had never known anyone like him. It was like he had gone through almost everything she had and felt everything she had. He had fulfilled a dream she thought could never come true. He showed her the heavens. Now, he made her breakfast. She had never met anyone who treated her the way he did.
"Flee bag!" came a raspy voice behind her.
Gatomon stood up and turned toward DemiDevimon.
"I ought to string you up by your tail!" DemiDevimon exclaimed.
What was he so sore about? Before Gatomon had the chance to ask, Wizardmon sprang out in front of her, holding out his arms protectively.
"You will not harm her," he warned.
"No, Wizardmon," Gatomon said, grabbing his cape to get his attention. "DemiDevimon is a colleague of mine. He was just being facetious."
"Nice of you to call off your attack dog," DemiDevimon asked.
Gatomon ducked under Wizardmon's arm to get in front of him and asked, "What do you want?"
"If you aren't too busy fooling around with some mon you picked up off the street," DemiDevimon began, "can we get to work so we can get back to where we belong?"
Gatomon rolled her eyes. Not only did she not appreciate the insinuation he made about her and Wizardmon, she also disliked Myotismon's castle being referred to as the place she belonged. If she belonged anywhere, it certainly wasn't Myotismon's castle.
"I'm going to go to Gazi-Gatsu," Gatomon told Wizardmon. "Are you going to be...good?"
"Yes, I'm quite all right," Wizardmon assured her. "I heal fast."
"Bye then," Gatomon said quickly.
She swapped at DemiDevimon, then ran off into Gazi-Gatsu village. She could hear the fluttering of DemiDevimon's wings just behind her. Gatomon found herself wanting to look back at WIzardmon, as if to say one last goodbye. After all, she didn't know if he was still going to be there when she returned. He was feeling better and he did say that he never stayed in one place very long. Who was she to change his ways?
Gatomon and DemiDevimon reached the village square just as the gazimon and gatsumon were heading out of their homes for the day. It was the perfect time to address them in mass.
"Listen up, Gazi-Gatsu!" Gatomon shouted.
They all turned their attention to her in confusion and annoyance.
"We want to make a proposal to you," Gatomon began loudly. "Myotismon is a very powerful mon, and he can offer protection and great rewards if you combine with his forces, and assist him in gaining control over the Digital World. What do you say?"
There was some laughing the crowd. Other digimon gave her looks as if she was crazy. Gatomon knew she wasn't cut out for this job. Speaking really wasn't one of her strengths.
"Hey, if you don't join Myotismon, then you'll all be destroyed!" DemiDevimon threatened.
"Don't waste your breath," Gatomon advised. "They aren't going to be willing to join Myotismon. You'd have to be braindead."
DemiDevimon paused for a second, then exclaimed, "Hey! I joined him voluntarily."
Gatomon rolled her eyes.
"Well, if they don't join him willingly, let's get out the bakemon and cause havoc!" DemiDevimon said, salivating excitedly.
"No!" Gatomon ordered. "You won't do anything unless I say. Myotismon assigned me to this mission. That makes me in charge."
"Myotismon also sent me," DemiDevimon informed. "He wants this village and I am to make sure he gets it."
"He'll get it!" Gatomon hissed. "But he'll get it when I decide he will."
"I told him it was a mistake to send you," DemiDevimon grumbled.
Gatomon sunk her claws into his leg and pulled him into the dirt.
"I told you not to get in my way." Gatomon growled, her paws holding down his wings. "Do you want me to make the consequence clearer?"
"All right! I got it! No messing with you!" DemiDevimon said desperately.
Gatomon let him go. He flew into the air and looked down at her.
"You're getting weak, Gatomon," he mocked.
She swatted at him, but he was out of reach. He laughed and stuck his tongue out. Gatomon tried to ignore him as she started down the street. Was she really getting weak? Sure, she let DemiDevimon go after he begged. That wasn't weakness, it was mercy. If anyone was weak, it was him for begging. She saved Wizardmon. Was that weakness? There's no way she would have saved him under any other circumstances. Why had that been different? What about Wizardmon made him the exception? Gatomon was so confused that she really didn't know what to do or even think. Wizardmon had affected her whether she wanted to admit it or not. Now, he was most likely gone. This thought scared Gatomon. She didn't want him to leave. Quickly, she sprinted down the street. She had to get back to her camp if only to catch him in time to say goodbye.
When Gatomon reached the camp, she was too late. The fire was dying down and there was no sign of Wizardmon anywhere. The spot seemed to alone and empty now.
"Well, I guess that's that," Gatomon said indifferently.
She was trying to act strong. Since there was no one around to impress, it must have been for her own comfort. It didn't work, though. Gatomon still felt terrible loss. She knew she would never meet anyone like him again, but it would be all right. She had gotten much practice in suppressing her emotions and in dealing with pain and loss. It was not big deal to do it again.
"Goodbye, Wizardmon," Gatomon muttered sadly.
"I was going to say quite the opposite," said Wizardmon, immerging from behind the large boulder. "I found more eggs. I thought an omelet for lunch would be nice."
Gatomon was so happy that she ran up and hugged him without thinking. Wizardmon tried to return the hug while keeping a hold of the large eggs he had gathered.
"I thought you had gone," Gatomon cried.
"I would never leave you," Wizardmon whispered.
Suddenly, Gatomon realized what she was doing and backed off. She was not the warm and fluffy feeling type. DemiDevimon was right. She had become weak.
Feeling that the silence was terribly awkward, Wizardmon asked, "What do you want in your omelet?"
Gatomon blinked at him. Omelet? Where did that come from? Of course, he was currently trying to balance three eggs, each the size of a poromon, in two hands. She might as well let him get to it before he dropped one.
"Surprise me," Gatomon allowed.
Wizardmon went over to the fire and began to re-ignite the smoldering coals.
"What's that," Gatomon asked, eyeing a gold ring holding back his long blonde hair, "in your hair?"
Wizardmon gave her a confused look for a moment, then he reached back and laughed, "Oh that! It's just something I've always had. I've had it so long, I didn't even remember that it was anything significant."
"It's very pretty," Gatomon muttered as Wizardmon cracked one of the large eggs into his frying pan.
"It's kind of you to say," Wizardmon said, sounding embarrassed. "I thought you would be in town all day."
Gatomon let out a groan, saying, "Things didn't work out as planned, but I'll get it done tomorrow."
"You've got me awfully curious about your work," Wizardmon voiced, glancing over at her. "Am I allowed to ask?"
Gatomon met his eyes, wondering if she should tell him. It was work she was quite ashamed of. She'd rather that he did not know. Knowing might cause questions, judgment, and distrust. She couldn't have that.
"No," Gatomon said quietly, "and please don't mention it again."
Wizardmon nodded. He returned to the eggs and frying pan. Gatomon watched him as if expecting a shred of disappointment or anger in his features. It was really hard to tell what he felt with that tall collar covering his face. You can only get so much from eyes. Gatomon couldn't help but wonder what he was hiding with such a collar.
Wizardmon pulled a bottle of green chili sauce from his vest. He applied it to the omelet. Gatomon had never had chili sauce in an omelet before. Of course, there wasn't much choice of good food at Myotismon's castle. Eggs alone were a rarity.
"All finished," Wizardmon said proudly as he presented the omelet to her.
She took it gratefully, expecting Wizardmon to go and fix his own omelet. He didn't. Instead, Wizardmon stood there and watched Gatomon intently. She suspected that he wanted her reaction to his cooking. This made her very nervous.
Gatomon took a small bite of the omelet. It was a little spicy, but good.
"Well," Wizardmon began anxiously, "do you like it?"
Gatomon nodded.
"I wasn't sure if you would since you didn't eat that egg this morning," Wizardmon told her. "That's why I made you an early lunch. I figured that you'd need your strength since you're working and all."
It was very thoughtful of him. Of course, Gatomon wasn't about to say so. Compliments weren't something she was raised with. The only time someone would do or say something nice is if they wanted something in return. She knew Wizardmon didn't want something from her. He did things out of pure kindness.
Gatomon finished her omelet, looking up every once in a while to see if Wizardmon was still watching her. Every time she looked, he was looking straight into her eyes, but then immediately occupied himself with something else so he didn't appear to be staring at her. This made Gatomon wonder.
"Why do you keep doing that?" Gatomon asked, agitated.
"Do what?" Wizardmon retorted in confusion.
"Why do you keep looking at me like that?" Gatomon explained, glancing up at him nervously.
"I'm sorry," Wizardmon said. "I know you don't like it."
"But why do you do it?" Gatomon demanded.
"I can't help it," Wizardmon admitted, looking at her that way again. "It's your eyes. I can't stop looking at your eyes.."
Gatomon turned her eyes away from him, feeling near tears. Why did he have to say that? It couldn't have been any other reason.
"I don't care about your personal inability," Gatomon said hardly. "I don't want you looking at me like that!"
"I'll try my best," Wizardmon promised.
Gatomon pulled her knees into her chest and glared at the smoldering fire. If only she had been born with normal eyes instead of one's that everyone had to stare at like a freak in the circus. Couldn't everyone, especially Wizardmon, find some other deformity to gawk at?
A/N: I think my chapters are getting gradually longer. What do you think of my story so far?