Ben10 & Digimon Tamers
Heroes and Humanity
Part 02: Humanity and Heroes
The Beginning – Chapter 12
Originally Written: Monday June 8, 2015 1207AM to 911AM
. . . . .
"Where is Fri-ank?" Albedo looked around the small apartment.
Hugh sat reading a book, glasses almost comically dwarfing his face. Swamps had just pulled on a sweater looking quite odd at the green garment covering his limbs. Terriermon dozed on the couch, lounging on a pillow, with one of his ears occasionally jerking suddenly.
He spent some time alone in Jenrya's room, sitting on the bed as he tried to get Jenrya's disappointed face out of his mind. He leaned sloppily against the door frame, nearly placing all of his weight on it.
"I think Frank went out to look for work, or to see the sights, a-a little after you woke." Hugh yawned as he pushed his glasses up. "A-and Sean is-"
"Going to meet the locals." Swamps pulled at his sweater.
Albedo looked him over. He wore brown pants alongside the gaudy green sweater. He wished to make a comment about plants, Tennyson, and objecting the entire ordeal one hundred percent, but something told him Terriermon was either not really sleeping, or was a very light sleeper. "What brought this on?"
"Well, we can't lounge on Jenrya's, did I say that right?" Swamps looked at Albedo unsure.
"He'll prefer you call him Henry." He murmured.
"Oooh!" Swamps pointed a finger at him, "Jenrya's a personal name?"
Hugh frowned and placed his book down, focusing fully on Swamps and Albedo, "T-that's not a-any o-of your business."
"Says you." Swamps gave him a knowing look.
Hugh lowered his head.
"I do not even desire to know." Albedo shook his head. "Just," he paused in his thoughts, "don't be embarrassing or noticeable." As much as he objected, he could not say anything with Terriermon laying so close. Especially with Jenrya constantly calling the digimon a snoop.
"Yea, of course." Swamps nodded, "I just don't think it's fair to lounge all up in here, ya know?"
Albedo nodded, "Jenrya is not one to be taken advantage of."
"So, if Frank can't find work, we need to find someone else to mooch off of!" Swamps spoke proudly standing tall.
Terriermon giggled in his sleep.
"That's..." Hugh trailed off staring at him.
"A great idea, I know!" Swamps continued beaming.
"Get out." Albedo snapped. "Of all the things..." He shook his head as Swamps sauntered around the apartment. He supposed he could have picked up someone much worse. A lot of Aliens auditioned for a place in his Ben 10 spoof show. Many of them hadn't been talented in the least, not the way he had needed them to be at any rate. Thinking back on it now, the talent of the actors probably hadn't even mattered. Humans ate up and threw money at anything that was even slightly entertaining, the actual topic be damned.
"Any requests for me?" Swamps asked, reaching through his backpack and grabbing his wallet. His hair stood messily on his head, without a single care to it. Albedo guessed he was trying out the features on the current model ID masks circulating around. Fridge forever praised what he called the realistic features of this piece of technology.
"Bring back some coffee." Albedo spoke as if he were experiencing carrying out a knee jerk reaction. He walked in the bedroom waving a hand carelessly. "If you're not dumb about it, when you mention my name you should be able to grab quite a bit at a good discount. Don't be picky with the flavor." He continued.
"Will do!" Swamps replied.
Albedo imagined him saluting.
"Nothing for me." Hugh spoke up.
"Gotcha."
Albedo laid down on the bed. 'I'm sure I'll receive a good verbal lashing for skipping out on everyone.' He thought as he rolled over onto his side."I'm surprised Mr. Nakamura let Jenrya stay so long." He mused.
"Why don't you come with?"
Albedo closed his eyes and rolled over. He opened them and looked at Swamps.
Swamps looked at him expectantly as he leaned in the doorway.
"I already met the locals months ago."
"Right, but don'tcha wanna make sure none of them smack me upside the head?"
"No." Albedo rolled back over.
"Alright then." Swamps was still giddy as ever.
"Terriermon isn't sleeping. He wouldn't let Hugh or even myself stay here alone." He continued. Swamps didn't respond. "Perhaps after Jenrya returns, I'll take one of your odd...strolls with you."
"Sure thing! I'll see you later."
"Hn." He stared at the dresser set up against the wall. He wasn't looking forward to Jenrya's disappointed look. It went through him, like many of Tennyson's aliens did in his dreams, except it went much deeper into the core of his very being. "I should find something to do before I fall asleep again." He remembered there once being many times he had a multitude of things to look forward to instead of so many things to not look forward to.
He reached for his blinking D-Terminal. "A message from Ryo? Where does he find the time to contact me? He seems like one of the more competent Plumbers the organization has to offer." Despite his words, he was pleased with having found something to do so quickly. He laid on his stomach, fingers flying across the device's keyboard with a bit of renewed gusto.
