Chapter Three: Fumble on the Field
"Well, well, it seems we meet again!"
Dimitri brings his eye up to the voice- and sighs as he sees Julian approaching. The more energetic of the two slides into the opposite chair, a simple book in his hand.
"What're the odds of that? I just ran into everyone else in this same library." Julian asks, with a chuckle. "One in a million, you think?"
"I've never been lucky." Dimitri huffs a sigh, rubbing his temple.
"Yeah, yeah, grump it up." Julian's smile is beaming- almost bright enough to balance Dimitri's dark glare.
"I'm trying to study. I'd appreciate it if you were quiet." He hisses- bringing his gaze back down to his textbook.
"Yikes, homework on the first day? Rough, man. But, you asked nicely, so I'll comply."
Dimitri gives a relieved sigh, as Julian flips open the book. But, he doesn't quite seem to be reading. It doesn't pass by him that he's waving people over- nor does it pass by that the table is beginning to populate.
"I'm not totally blind, you know." Dimitri huffs, closing the book shut. Hiro had plopped down, noisily eating chips, Adam had nervously shifted into a seat, seemingly trying to sink into his chair, and Kiske and Alexis seemingly were mid-conversation before they sat at opposite ends of the table.
"Only halfway, right?" Julian snorts, pressing his hands together as if he were some sort of evil mastermind. "Now that we're all here, however…" Dimitri presses a hand against his good eye and groans as the boy continues. "Let's get to know each other more. Must be fate at this point, right?"
"If you believe in such a… Menial thing." Kiske mutters, hand in front of his mask. Alexis gives the slightest hint of a snort.
"So! How about we talk about hobbies. What are you guys into? How about I start- I like archery and parkour."
… There's a beat of silence, as Dimitri removes the hand from his face to stare properly at Julian. "You're far too optimistic. Ask for my life story, while you're at it."
"Excellent idea, Dimi! How about you start?" Julian claps his hands together and smirks- but winces as he sees the older boy's glare. "Easy, easy! Just kidding! Uh, how about someone else go first? For the hobby thing."
Hiro smirks- "Oh, that's easy! Eating!" He laughs, pushing another handful of chips into his mouth.
It was Julian's time to sigh. "Besides that, if you don't mind."
"O-oh." comes muffled from Hiro's throat, and he swallows. "I like going to arcades, then!"
"Good! That's something new!" Julian smiles. "Let's move on, then?"
Kiske's eyes roll beneath his mask- and he mutters grimly- "If you truly must know, I partake in forging foam armors and interpreting the messages of the stars."
"... English, please." Julian sighs. There seemed to be a hint of regret forming on his face.
"Ah, right… He's just kind of like that. Pretty sure he means cosplay and astrology." Alexis explains. When she looks to her masked classmate to confirmation, a pleased hum emerges from his throat.
"Intriguing. You're learning well, my apprentice." Kiske speaks with a pleased affliction in his throat- which causes Alexis to turn red in the face.
"D-don't put words in my mouth." She pouts- face red from a mix of embarrassment and irritation. "Anyways, I uh… Like watching action movies."
Julian nods, considerate. "That's much better! Now, last but not least…"
Dimitri grumbles something under his breath- "It doesn't matter." And he props up the book in front of his face.
"Come onnn, dude. Don't growl at me!" Julian leans over to Dimitri- and speaks in a teasing voice. "Unless... Widdle Dimi is embarrassed about his hobbies!"
"I don't have hobbies."
Alexis rubs her temple. "Geez, can you two cut it out? He hasn't been social this entire time. He probably hates us by now."
For a brief moment, Dimitri's glare turns… The slightest bit hurt. "That's not-..." He mumbles- but turns to clear his throat. "Fine. Fishing. I used to like fishing." He huffs- and his voice is the tiniest bit softer. "Happy?"
Julian hums and nods. "Very much! That's everyone." He smiles, and leans back in his chair. "It seems we do have things in common, eh?"
A sigh resides from a chair the slightest bit aside from the table- and Adam continues to hide behind a book he's certainly not reading.
"Oh, right! I forgot about you. So quiet…" Julian's smile widens, as he leans over to Adam. "What's your hobby, eh?"
…
…
Adam doesn't answer. Merely staring at his book and pretending he didn't hear.
"Dude, come on. Don't be like this." Julian huffs. "I'm just trying to get to know you!"
Adam mutters quietly- "I'm… Not looking for friends… But, uh… I like sports, okay?"
Julian grumles a sigh, scratching his hair. He's never had such a difficult time just getting people to talk. But, then again, it just makes the end result more satisfying. "Good enough. But, hey, maybe we should-"
He's quickly cut off- by an ear-piercing scream. Alexis looks up, and mutters "Uh, did anyone else hear that?"
Dimitri scoffs- shoving his stuff into his bag. "... Hmph. I'll head alone… None of you follow me." He growls, standing upright and throwing his bag over his back.
"Dude. I get that you're antisocial, but come on." Julian frowns. "What if someone's hurt?"
"What if you get hurt?" Hiro adds on, nervous.
"We would only benefit from being in a group." Kiske is the last to speak up- before Dimitri turns around and glares.
"You're all so annoying. I don't need your help- or your "friendship". Stay out of this!" He barks, and heads off, out of the library and into the hallway. His loud stomps grow father and farther away, as the remaining teens turn to each other.
"How about we just all go?" Alexis asks- irritation growing on her face, as she stands upright. The rest of the teens do the same- and Kiske, Julian, and Hiro follow after Dimitri. She waits, however, looking down to Adam.
"I'll, uh… I'll catch up." He mutters, quietly packing up his things.
Dimitri is the first to reach the football field, the source of the scream- and many repeated screams afterwards. The turf was ridden with crescent-shaped holes, as if someone ran with a giant sickle. A wormhole sat- dead in the middle of the field, warping the land that would have the school's mascot. Instead, an eyeless praying mantis fluttered just above the field, harassing the players mid-track. Its arms were massive, pitch-black sickles, covered in debris. The insect shook violently, as if it were in the middle of a spasm- but its cuts were all the same.
Dimitri scoffs- reaching into his pocket and pulling out his black-shelled digivice. In a series of clicks, pale-blue voxels take the shape of a cloaked, rabbit like creature, in an equally ghastly fur. Its red and black eyes glance from Dimitri, to the enraged Snimon, and frowns. "Man. You only bring me out here to fight, eh?" His partner snorts- cracking white-gloved knuckles.
Dimitri sighs, tossing the digivice in his hand. "Next time, I'll do it myself." He scoffs- but turns around upon hearing approaching footsteps. His gaze narrows to a glare, as the teens approach.
"Oh… Wow." Alexis mutters- the slightest bit surprised at the beast.
"I told you not to come." Dimitri growls- as Snimon does a midair turn- towards Dimitri's rabbit-like partner. He huffs- "Finish this quick, Hecklemon."
The Snimon twitches, its sickle-like hands glowing with energy, and Hecklemon grins. It reaches into its cloak, and pulls out a pair of colorful yo-yos, lined with sharp spikes.
"How'd you bring your thing here?" Julian yelps- as Hecklemon proceeds to assault the insectoid with its "weapons", distracting it enough to stop its charging.
"It's not a thing!" Dimitri growls- but raises the digivice in his hand. "There should be a function called Digihome. Scroll through and find it." His instructions are curt, as he returns to watch his partner. "Make haste."
The skull-faced rabbit was jolly as it spun and jumped- "Come on! Hit me, you can't!" It laughed and cackled, avoiding the swings of its sickles.
"Uhh, right." Julian grumbles, pulling out his own digivice- and the remaining teens follow suit. "You guys all have these things too?"
Hiro nods- "Yeah, long story."
"It's something we can discuss at a later time." Kiske mutters.
In a similar bright and multicolored burst of voxels and binary, a new set of digimon appeared at the teen's sides.
An orange creature with wings atop its head fluttered onto Julian's shoulder. The boy grins- "Not really sure if you've fought before, Ori. But we need your help."
It smiles- eager, and shakes with anticipation. "I got this!" Patamon hops off of its tamer's shoulder, taking to the skies above, as Snimon tried to assault Hecklemon with its heavy swings.
"Hit me! Hit me, come on!" Hecklemon lets out another mad laugh, tail lashing as it continues its assault. Julian's partner swooped behind the bug, body filling with air and inflating.
"Air Shot!" It yells, and it spits out the ball of air. It collides on the Snimon's winged back, and the beast hits the turfed ground. It roars, trying to scrape itself back upright.
Alexis huffs- as Julian gives a little fist-pump. "Well, Candlemon?" She smirks- as a melting candle, hopped along on a chamberstick rolled its waxy arms. The flame atop it smiled, cocky. "We can't let them hog the fun."
"Like I'd let this overgrown roach get away!" Her partner shouts. Its waxy body becomes slick- and the mouth on its second face opens. "Paraffin Paralyzer!"
Like a hose, a stream of wet, hot wax spits from its mouth, spraying down the grounded Snimon. It hissed- and the wax quickly cooled, freezing it in place mid-swipe. Candlemon smirked, its blazing face growing bright with pride.
Hiro's brow quirks curiously at the sight of the fight- and he turns to a grey-furred, bear-like beast- belts wrapped around its claws and a cap placed around its head. "Hey, Bearmon, can you do cool stuff like that?" He asks his partner, excitable.
Bearmon frowns, pressing its claws together sheepishly. "Uh- I'm… I'm not really a fighter, you know…" It mutters, shy. "Besides… I'd- uh… Probably make things worse…"
Hiro's smile widens, despite his partner's grim words "Don't be shy! You can do better than smacking it with toys, at least!" It seems to encourage Bearmon a bit, as it looks to its claws, and gulps, before rushing forwards.
"Koguma Fist!" Bearmon rushes towards the Snimon, as it tried to break free of its waxy prison. It leaps, to the sickle-like claws, jumping into the air, and throwing down its claw. It cuts through its weakened shell, and a sickening snap confirms Bearmon's hit. The beast, however, hit the ground and continued to run- away from the ongoing conflict.
Adam looks down- his dragon-like partner, covered in raven armor and yellow fur. He nods, wordless- but Ryudamon seems to understand all the same, before heading into the foray.
Ryudamon's tail lashes, and it frowns- "May as well put this instinct to good use…" It huffs, weaving around the battlefield, around to the Snimon's other claw. Its maw opens, and it leaps into the air. "Iai Blade!"
A spike of iron shoots from its mouth, piercing down the other sickle to the ground. It roars in agony, trying to escape but with little avail.
Kiske smirks beneath his mask- and a bipedal, bird-like creature lands at his foot. "A feeble opponent that put up an entertaining fight." He raises a hand to his face, and turns to his partner- a black-feathered bird with green eyes, with clawed blue wings. "Diavalmon. Be swift in your execution."
Diavalmon's beak twists to a grin, and it puffs its chest proudly. "This'll be a simple task. I could've handled this beast myself." It says with a laugh, leaping into the air and closing its eyes. "Black Feather Dive!"
Like a spinning missile, Diavalmon crashes- right into the insectoid's dissolving shell. It lets out a final, harrowing squeal, before falling limply to the ground, and bursting into nothing.
Hecklemon snorts- bounding back to Dimitri and climbing atop the boy's head. "Well, look at you! Making friends and working together!" It laughs, hanging in front of its tamers' unamused face. "I'm almost proud of you!"
Dimitri sighs, "Enough from you." Before turning to the remaining teens. They seemed confused as a whole- their eyes on the spot where the wormhole used to be, as their digital partners returned to their sides.
"By the way you acted, I'm guessing that was your first hostile encounter." Dimitri growls- his eye trailing over the teens. "Be warned- this was not the first time. And it will be far from the last."
"Quite the shovel-talk!" Hecklemon laughs, its long tail wagging. "Come on, back home already. I'm hungry."
Julian holds back a chuckle- "It's so easy to not take you seriously with that dude on your head." He snorts, before finally letting the laugh out. It's only met with another eye-roll.