Silence. Everything's quiet, Heath not finding the words for anything. And apparently Wade's fine with the peace because he doesn't try to initiate conversation, the two of them walking in step with their partners as they search out the issue in the virus sector that their Digivices had sent them to. Finally, thoroughly annoyed and itching at the lack of consideration from Wade, Heath stops short and turns to face him, an ugly grimace on his face. "What is your problem?!"
Wade stops short, his eyes furrowing as he takes in the unexpected anger from the ginger. "What are you talking about, Slater? I don't have a problem. Perhaps you should look in a bloody mirror." He's just pushed past Heath, sending him staggering back, when Heath grabs his arm. "Hey!"
"You let me just walk on in silence, not caring about how unnatural all of that was? Not even asking once if everythin's ok? What kinda friend are you?!"
Wade snarls and pulls away, pushing Heath for real this time, both hands planted on the shorter man's chest. Heath stumbles back, only just keeping from falling on his ass in the dirt. "Maybe I was just enjoying the day without constantly listening to your pathetic drawl nattering on about every ridiculous thing under the sun."
Heath looks like he's chewing on his own tongue as he stares up at Wade, taking in what he's just said. "It's better than listenin' to you go on for hours about bein' a king," he snaps. "But I sat here and listened to all'a it, even when you couldn't stop moaning about R-Truth disrespectin' ya." He pokes Wade's shoulder. "Maybe if my voice is such an annoyance to ya, we should ask Luke to give us different partners."
"Sounds like a plan," Wade says, his eyes cool.
Heath scoffs and shakes his head, hurt overwhelming the anger at just how easy it was for Wade to agree to his off-handed suggestion. "Fine then. See ya never." He turns and walks back towards the Digiport, not even having it in him to try to figure out what the problem is in this area. He's barely taken five steps when they hear a rough explosion off in the distance, Heath and Lopmon both freezing midstep. They exchange glances before Heath sucks in a breath and turns to look at Wade.
The Brit doesn't bother to look over at him, though, so he grits his teeth and returns the way he came, stomping away. Not towards the portal, no, instead he heads towards the smoke billowing up into the sky. It's massive, whatever it is, and he feels really vulnerable, leaning over to pick Lopmon up so he doesn't feel quite as alone. Their eyes widen as they get a good look at the cater- it's not just any ordinary explosion, no... This is massive, nearly enough to wipe away a city the size of New York. Heath swallows hard at this thought, settling Lopmon down so he can step closer. "What is this?"
He knows immediately when the cause of this destruction is present, a cold shiver passing down his spine as he freezes in horror. He's never felt a force like this before, not even in the past year of being a Digidestined. It hurts even to move but he forces his head up and stares at the strange shape blotting out the sun, its body massive and strange tentacles of darkness whipping around its form. It doesn't look familiar to the creature he'd come across in the past, but there's just something about its vibe... he knows it innately, recognizes it from every time his fingers brush against the scar on his side. "Arkadimon."
The sound that follows can only be described as a demented laugh and Heath closes his eyes, frozen in fright. The Digimon who had tore into his side, nearly left him for dead, had been much weaker than this one. And then at least Heath had had Wade by his side... but now, now he's alone... He swallows and squeezes Lopmon. "Digivolve," he beckons the creature, not sure what Moosemon could do, but knowing they need to at least try to do something, keep him from ruining another massive section of the Digiworld with whatever attack he used to open this crater up.
Obligingly, his partner leaps from his arms into the glowing light, coming out of it as the much larger Moosemon. He lands hard on all four hooves, staring curiously at Arkadimon's new form. "Hmph," he says, unimpressed as he shakes his head and paws at the ground. "Hanging twister!" he calls out, sending a massive tornado towards Arkadimon. It seems to work, surrounding the motionless digimon and tightening around his prone body... but then the strange dark tentacles slice through it, destroying the tornado as if it wasn't one of the more destructive parts of a storm.
Heath's jaw drops but before he can say anything, the tentacles whip around, rushing past Heath and Moosemon to snag something, drawing them out from behind some rocks. Heath turns slowly, eyes widening when he realizes. "Wade?!"
He struggles, trying to free himself and Lunamon from the tight hold, but there's nothing for it. He looks on grimly as Arkadimon draws him in, hovering him over Heath. "I recognize you," he tells the massive Digimon, seeing no reason to be afraid when he's already in such a dangerous predicament. "You hurt Slater over there and we destroyed you. So why, pray tell, are you back and as ugly and evil as before?" It's suicide, he knows this, but he holds Arkadimon's stare, ignoring Heath's sputtered demands to shut up.
It's hard to tell Arkadimon's facial features from the rest of him, everything a dark shadow, even his tentacles, but Wade's pretty sure he's smirking. More so as a large tentacle comes out of nowhere and rears back, as though it's about to stab straight through Wade's midsection. Held prone in midair, there's not much he can do but watch... as Moosemon leaps up, getting impressive air and crying out as the tentacle tears through his rump, drenching the ground with data. He lands awkwardly on his side and dedigivolves all the way to his baby form, a helpless little lump of data, and Wade gapes as Heath cries out and races to scoop his partner up. "He saved me," the Brit mumbles.
Heath's slumped down on his knees, face buried in the tiny brown Digimon's soft body, shoulders shaking as he feels his partner's weak breathing. "Hang on," he mumbles. "Please just hang on, you're gonna be alright... so's Wade. I promise, your sacrifice won't be in vain..." He gently lays the baby down on the ground and scrambles to his feet, looking up. "Stop it!" he screams out, gripping his hair and nearly tearing it out as Arkadimon taunts Wade with his tentacles, lightly slapping against his chest as if testing the waters for another gouging attack like what he'd done to Moosemon only moments earlier.
"Slater, shut up," Wade's just said, unable to see Heath well from this angle but not wanting the man to say or do something stupid. "I'm going to be fine, just-"
"Take me." It's quiet, it's weak, but it's enfused with a strange amount of surety. "Leave Barrett alone, let Lunamon and Cocomon continue bein', and just... take me."
"No!" Wade exclaims. "What the bloody hell, Slater-?"
"I'm tired of bein' worthless, and bein' ignored because of it. Just take me and leave the others alone. I'm who you've wanted this entire time, right?" For whatever reason, Arkadimon actually seems interested, his hold on Wade slipping as he lowers his tentacles to the ground.
Heath's heavy breathing is audible to Wade once he's down safely, and the Brit shakes his head incredulously. "Slater, don't even think-"
"Shut up, Wade," he says simply. "Take good care of Cocomon for me." He glances towards his barely moving partner and takes a step towards Arkadimon, immediately met by one of his tentacles.
"Heath-!"
"I said shut up." Heath looks towards Wade. "We're not strong enough to take 'em. It was luck that we survived last time, and I ain't standin' by and letting someone else get hurt. Just... no matter how many times we argue, Brit, I trust ya. If there's a way to get me outta this mess, I know you'll find it. But in order to do that, you gotta live so shut up and get outta here with the little ones."
Wade squeezes Lunamon, hating every bit of this even as he hesitantly walks over and scoops up Cocomon, who is only now starting to regain consciousness. "Heath, about earlier-"
"No time." Heath exhales sharply. "I'm sorry too, I wasn't mad at you. Not really, just everythin' else... but you gotta go now. Please."
Wade hates himself more and more with every step he takes, itching to stay, fight harder to get Heath out of there too, but there's nothing he can do. Lunamon, even if she digivolves, isn't enough to fight off this creature, and Cocomon is still struggling just to survive another moment. He has no choice and turns his back just as there's a dark flash of light and Arkadimon roars loudly before... before... his shadow disappears and a sharp laughter fills the afternoon air, sounding like Heath's but... not...
For the first time since he'd met him, Wade finds himself missing his Southern drawl. It makes him walk a little bit faster, not wanting to see whatever's going on behind him. Although his imagination has filled in the blanks. Somehow, someway, the vicious Digimon had possessed Heath, filled his mind and body with his evil essence. "Don't worry," Wade mumbles to Lunamon as she whimpers and buries herself in his neck. "We'll rescue him. Just have to go tell the others."
He hopes that it's that easy, at any rate...
