Disclaimer: Still don't own Digimon.
Lessons in Friendship
Chapter 5: Simple As That
Matt Ishida stood in the shadow of a large oak tree, watching the rapidly disappearing forms of the two younger Digidestined. He smiled slightly, his arms crossing over his chest, and gazed up at the cloudless blue sky, his thoughts focused on his earlier discussion with Davis.
Davis might not be the most sensible person in the world, but underneath all that hair and goggles is a deeper conscience then I thought.
Not that it really surprised him. In his opinion, Davis had always been much more than what he appeared to be on the surface, a fact that he was sure the other Digidestined tended to forget, mostly without meaning to.
Though he doesn't help the situation any by putting on the big ego act, even if he is only joking most of the time.
Shaking his head, Matt let out a soft laugh, and then he sighed, lifting his chin to gaze once more at the brilliant sun shining down on the soccer field. Its bright rays created a sparkle in his sapphire eyes, and it made his hair shine like spun gold, though he was completely unaware of this little fact.
At the sound of footsteps behind him, the blond's smile returned, but he did not turn around. "Hey, Tai."
"Do you think Davis finally got the message?" the former leader asked, his words drifting over Matt's shoulder. "He can be pretty thick-headed sometimes."
Kind of like someone else I know.
Matt smiled in amusement at his wayward thought and nodded his head in response to Tai's question. "I think he has. Davis might seem a little self-absorbed, but once you get past his ego, there's a good heart underneath."
The blond could almost see Tai bobbing his head in agreement. "Yeah, I guess you're right. I've always known that, but for the others...sometimes it's easy to forget about a person's good qualities when they start to say negative things towards their peers."
"Especially when their peers are people who are supposed to be their friends."
Like me.
Matt's forehead wrinkled into a thoughtful frown, and his sapphire eyes lost some of their earlier sparkle. He stared at the busy Odaiba street in front of him without really seeing it, unsure of whether or not he should continue speaking. He could not deny the fact that Davis's insults had hurt. Despite his calm demeanor on the outside, he was not invincible to hateful words and harsh remarks, especially when they came from people he cared about.
"Matt? I overheard some of the things Davis said to you," Tai suddenly said quietly, interrupting his thoughts. It was almost as if his best friend had read his mind. "He didn't mean them. I know Davis better than that. He tends to let his anger get the best of him, and then he ends up taking it out on the wrong people."
"I know," Matt replied, his voice soft. "I can understand why he acted the way he did."
Didn't I once act the same way?
Matt was well aware of the fact that he did not spend as much time with Davis as Tai did. Those two had always had more in common than he and Davis did. It was obvious that the younger boy had been upset over his fight with T.K., and his anger had made him say things he normally would not have said.
I was just the one who happened to be there for him to take his anger out on.
"Matt?"
Matt blinked, startled out of his thoughts, and he turned around to gaze at his best friend. To his surprise, Tai's deep brown eyes were unusually dark and he was acting more serious than Matt had seen him act in a very long time. "Everything Davis said about me isn't true either. I'm not like that."
"I believe you," Matt said softly. He winced at his own words, but it wasn't because of what he had said, it was because of what he was about to say. "There is still one question I want to ask."
"What is it?"
Tai's face filled with curiosity, and Matt almost looked away as his best friend's dark eyes continued to stare deeply into his own. The intense look on Tai's face made him feel suddenly nervous, an unable to stand it any longer, he quickly turned his sapphire eyes towards the ground, avoiding Tai's gaze, his hands shoving themselves deep into the pockets of his jeans. "Why do you like me?" he murmured, feeling stupid.
Tai did not answer, and for a moment Matt thought maybe his friend had not heard him, but then the former leader smiled and put a hand on his shoulder. "Matt, there are so many things, I can't even begin to list them all. After everything we've been through together, how could I not want you by my side? Even after all of our fighting, you're still here. Our friendship is stronger than ever. Matt, I trust you with my life. You made me realize how important friendship really is. It's something I have to put my whole heart and soul into, otherwise it can slip away without me even realizing it's gone. You're the one who lends me a hand when I stumble. I always turn to you in times of trouble. Somehow, you always manage to say something that makes everything better."
Matt whirled around, and he stared at Tai in complete shock, at a loss for words. "Tai...wow...I never knew you felt so strongly about our friendship..."
He had to admit, he was stunned. In all the years that they had been friends, Matt had never imagined that Tai would say something like this to him. He had always known that the former leader cared about him, but not as much as this. "Thanks...That means a lot to me."
They both fell silent, and Matt turned to stare back at the street, unsure of what else he should say.
After several moments, Tai spoke somewhat hesitantly. "Hey, Matt?"
Matt glanced over his shoulder at the former leader, but Tai refused to meet his gaze. "Did you mean what you said before?"
The blond fiddled with the cuff of his long-sleeved black shirt and quickly looked away again. "About what?"
"You know...when you were talking to Davis."
Matt's mouth fell open in shock.
Tai...uncertain? This is...new...
Usually, Tai displayed nothing but confidence. He was always so sure of himself, and in Matt's opinion, self-consciousness was not normal Tai Kamiya behavior.
Reaching out, Matt pulled Tai against him and he hugged the former leader tightly, not feeling the least bit embarrassed about his actions, despite the fact that they were in public, standing on a soccer field, of all things. His arms went around his friend's shoulders in a tight embrace, and he felt Tai hug him back. "Of course I meant it," he murmured. "Even when we fought, I always cared about you. You're my best friend. You heard my silent screams for help when no one else could. T.K. was too young to understand at the time, and my parents...well, let's just say I didn't feel as if I could talk to them. Not like I do now. You're the one who made me realize how special I am. I'll always be in your dept."
"I was never going to give up on you," Tai whispered. "It doesn't matter how cold you appear to the rest of the world. I know what you're really like."
"I'm glad," Matt whispered back, his head resting on Tai's shoulder.
More glad than you will ever know.
"Matt? Can I ask you a question now?"
He hesitated a moment before answering. "Sure."
"Are you happy?"
Matt lifted his head to stare at his best friend, and the smile on his face was brighter even than the sunshine streaming down on them. Tai was gazing calmly back, his eyes a warm amber colour from the sun, and Matt could tell the former leader was being serious.
Oh, Tai, if you only knew how happy I really am. It's amazing what a difference a few kids wanting to be your friends can make.
Matt continued to stare directly into Tai's eyes, his smile never wavering. "I'm more happy now than I've ever been in my whole life."
Tai stepped back and returned the smile with one of his own. "Good, because your happiness is important to me."
"I feel the same way about your happiness."
"Now if only Davis and T.K. could have as much luck as we did," Tai sighed, frowning at the busy street.
Matt nodded in agreement and put an arm around his best friend. "I don't think you have to worry about that. Those two will work things out. I'm sure of it."
At least, I hope they do.
"If you say so."
"Hey...don't you have a soccer practice to be getting to?"
The look on Tai's face was priceless.
"I forgot! The team's going to kill me!"
Tai turned to look towards the centre of the soccer field where his teammates were standing with their arms crossed, looking very impatient. Each one appeared ready to drag him back onto the field with force.
Matt let out a laugh, and pushed the former leader towards the field, he said, "Go before they start to get on my case about it."
"Okay. You're still coming to my house after practice, right?"
"Definitely."
Tai nodded and raced back onto the field with a grin on his face. "Hey, Matt? Just so you know, I feel the same way about you!"
Trust me, I know. It's the one thing in my life that I am sure about.
He waved to Tai, and letting out a soft sigh, he started back towards the picnic table, where his other friends were waiting for him.
I wonder if Davis has managed to get through to T.K. yet.
Unfortunately, he did not have much time to think about it, as Mimi and Izzy had started fighting. Currently, the rosy-haired Digidestined was berating Izzy for paying more attention to his computer than to Tai's practice, and shaking his head in amusement, Matt went to break up the fight.
Good luck, Davis...
