I don't own Digimon.
A/N: I hadn't actually expected this chapter to be this long, but here it is. Another fast update for you all!
Following the Footsteps of Destiny
Chapter 317: Behind the Wall of Fire
Sam Ichijouji
Odaiba, Japan, Earth
Lying huddled beneath the sheets, the early morning sunshine streaming through the gap in the curtains obscuring the window, Sam Ichijouji stirred slightly, a soft sigh escaping his lips. For some odd reason, the mattress felt ridiculously comfortable beneath his weight, and cocooning himself securely inside the thick comforter that was wrapped tightly around his body, he allowed himself a moment to indulge in the warmth and security it provided.
It had been a while since he had experienced such a luxurious sensation, and burying his face deeper into the pillows, a familiar scent slowly began to invade his nostrils. It was painful and reassuring all at the same time, like a bittersweet memory hovering at the edges of his subconscious, and hugging the nearest fluffy target just a little bit tighter, he felt his heart begin to thump rapidly against his ribcage.
Mickey...
"Sam? Sam! Hey, wake up!"
Huh? What? Who...?
Though it took some effort, eventually Sam was able to pry his eyes open, and attempting to avoid the hand that was pushing incessantly against his shoulder, he let out a garbled protest before rolling over onto his back. In retrospect, that probably wasn't a good move, and squinting at the handsome face hovering above him, the light assaulting his already sensitive gaze, he said stupidly, "You're not Mickey."
"Good morning to you, too," the boy who was not Mickey said sarcastically, rolling his eyes. "Sorry to disappoint, but Mickey's at Dai's house, remember?"
Of course he is, you idiot. Are you trying to embarrass yourself?
Sam slowly sat up, and blushing slightly as he attempted to orient himself, he mumbled, "Sorry, I...I think I might have been dreaming."
"About Mickey?" Matty asked, his amber eyes lighting up with sudden curiosity.
If I said yes, would that bother you?
Thinking back on the events of the night before, Sam wasn't quite sure how to respond. He couldn't deny a part of him had wondered if perhaps Matty had discovered his...unusual feelings for Mickey, but considering the younger twin hadn't once brought up the subject, apparently that wasn't the case.
Which means he wasn't lying when he basically admitted that he asked me to come over because he was worried about whether or not Mickey and I were fighting. And if he was being truthful about that, then he must have meant it when he said his main reason for dragging me here was because he wanted to spend time with me...
All of a sudden, Sam felt wonderfully warm inside, and deciding to take a chance, since Matty had somehow failed to decipher the inner workings of his heart, he said pleasantly, "It might have been. Don't ask me what it was about, though. I haven't a clue."
I think Mickey was holding me, and it felt so right...
"You know, it's kind of cool how you do that," Matty commented, perching next to him on the edge of the bed.
"Do what?"
"What you did just now," a clueless Matty responded, shaking his head in amusement. "Even half asleep, you still didn't mistake me for Mickey. That's actually kind of impressive."
How could I ever make that mistake? Not when my feelings for Mickey are so strong...
Which was exactly the reason why he had hesitated to take over the older twin's bed. He hadn't been lying when he had informed Matty that doing so would remind him too much of Mickey. The older twin's scent was everywhere. On the pillows, the sheets, the mattress...No wonder the other boy had invaded his dreams. As warm and comfortable as it was, making use of the golden-haired Digidestined's personal space had also felt like he was doing Mickey a disservice by not making the older twin aware of his feelings before indulging in such a privilege.
He trusts me, after all, and I want to be honest with him...
"Morning already?" a small voice mumbled from the opposite bed, the words tinged with a hint of disappointment.
Sam was quick to recognise the familiar tones of his adorable partner, and setting the little digimon's inquiry aside for the moment, he turned back to Matty and said easily, "It's not that hard, you know. You kind of make it easy for me."
"Why do I feel like I should be insulted?" Matty asked, looking suspicious.
Sam couldn't help the laugh that escaped his throat, and smiling fondly at the younger twin, he said, "I didn't say that was a bad thing. Speaking of morning, though...what are you doing up so early on a Sunday?"
"Oh, right!" Matty exclaimed, sitting up straighter on the edge of the bed. "Izzy contacted Mom and Dad this morning. Apparently he wants us to head over to his place. You must have been tired if you didn't hear Mom nagging me about it. It's her fault I'm awake this early. She's the one who woke me up."
Interesting...Does this mean Izzy has some new information for us?
Intrigued by the numerous possibilities of what a visit to the Izumi residence could mean, Sam quickly shoved the blankets back, his body filling with renewed energy. Scrambling out of bed, he said quickly, "Izzy did say he was going to talk to Gennai last night. This might be related to that. Who's all coming? Does he want everybody there?"
"Uh, I think he said it was fine if just us newer Digidestined came over and that he would fill everyone else in later," Matty replied, stumbling over his words a bit. "Um...Sam..."
Sam paused in the middle of pulling on his clothes, and glancing up, he realised Matty was staring at him like he had two heads. Uncertain as to why, he said lightly, "Something wrong?"
"No, it's just...you seem a little more...calm today?"
So he did notice my uneasiness around him last night. I guess he could sense how nervous I was, and yet...he never mentioned it until now. I wonder why. I hope I didn't make him feel bad...
Wanting to reassure Matty, since none of what was going on between him and Mickey was the younger twin's fault, he said simply, "To be fair, I feel a lot better today. Sorry if I worried you."
"It's fine," Matty mumbled, looking embarrassed. "I just thought maybe you...never mind. I better wake Goldmon."
You thought I had a problem with you, which couldn't be further from the truth.
Thinking on the matter, something about the younger twin's attitude was oddly encouraging.
It means he likes me enough to care if he loses me.
Sam felt another spark of affection for Matty, and doing his best to hide the sudden surge of emotions coursing through his body, he quickly pulled Glimmermon into his arms and said kindly to his partner, "Did you sleep well last night?"
"I did!" the little digimon responded, beaming at him. "How about you?"
"Better than I have in awhile. You heard we're going to Izzy's place?"
"Yeah, I'm curious about what he has to say."
"Same."
Last night still feels so surreal. I was expecting Matty to scold me, which he did do, but I never thought he would end up asking me to do something that's obviously super important to him. He wouldn't have done that if he didn't trust me. We're talking about his twin here. Somebody who is very precious to him. Surely he wouldn't mind if Mickey and I were to grow even closer...
Even now, he was still having trouble processing Matty's words, and pausing to watch the younger twin shed his pyjamas, a sudden thought occurred to him, one that further cemented the fact that what he was feeling for Mickey was like nothing he had ever experienced before. Though Matty was flitting about the room searching for a set of clean clothes in nothing but his boxer briefs, other than a general sense of overall fondness for the younger twin, Sam felt absolutely nothing. There wasn't anything about Matty's exposed body that interested him in the slightest, and he didn't feel the least bit embarrassed about the situation he suddenly found himself in. That said a lot, since he knew with a certainty he couldn't explain that if Mickey had been in the younger twin's place, the entire scenario would have played out much differently.
But why? How is it any different? If Mickey was the one standing around half-naked, this would be so much more embarrassing. Is this...the difference Makku was talking about?
The thought alone was enough to make him feel incredibly flustered, and having finally found something to wear, Matty said hastily, "Let's grab a bite to eat and get out of here. If we don't hurry we'll be the last ones to show up."
"I don't care about that," Goldmon grumbled, looking thoroughly annoyed at being roused out of a deep slumber. "I just want some breakfast."
Not wanting to antagonise the little digimon further, Sam quickly hurried Matty out the door and down the stairs, and upon entering the kitchen, T.K. motioned to a plate of delicious looking muffins and said, "I figured you two would want to get going as soon as possible so you might as well eat something on the way."
"Thanks, Dad!" Matty replied, beaming at the golden-haired novelist before handing a muffin to Goldmon and shoving the little digimon, breakfast and all, into his backpack. "Where are Mom and Rina?"
"Rina's still sleeping, and I'm right here," a female voice replied.
A moment later, Kari entered the kitchen, and taking extra care to be a bit more gentle with his own partner, Sam tucked the little digimon into his bag and said, "I assume none of you are joining us?"
"We'd like to, but most of us adults need to get caught up on the work we neglected on Friday after Dai went missing," Kari admitted, looking a little sheepish. "It's not exactly easy to concentrate when someone you care about is in danger."
"Tell me about it," Matty groaned, choosing a muffin of his own and shoving it into his mouth. "Mrs. Hanari's gonna kill me when she finds out I didn't get my homework done."
"You mean you didn't finish it while you were in the Digital World?" T.K. asked, raising his eyebrows.
Judging by the horrified look on Matty's face, the younger twin had not in fact come close to finishing, and figuring now was a good time to leave, Sam grabbed the golden-haired Digidestined's arm and said quickly, "We should probably get going. Don't want to get on Izzy's bad side cause we're late. See you later!"
Before either T.K. or Kari could protest, Sam dragged Matty out the door, and hurrying down the street, the two of them made a beeline for the Izumi residence. Thankfully, the roads were pretty quiet at such an early hour, and struggling to catch his breath, Matty wheezed, "Man, that was close. Nice save."
Sam turned his head to give the younger twin a disapproving look, and readjusting the straps on his backpack, he scolded, "You are so going to be in trouble when you get home tonight."
"Whatever, I'll worry about it later. Come on, I'll never hear the end of it from Mickey if even Dai shows up before we do."
Considering there was some truth to that statement, Sam couldn't help smiling in amusement, and allowing his thoughts to focus on the older twin, he suddenly found himself feeling strangely nervous. Though Matty had drifted off right away the night before, it had taken him a while to fall asleep, which was technically Makku's fault. How many times had he mulled over his cousin's words before exhaustion had finally claimed him? The message had been clear. Love between partners and love between friends were two entirely different things, and only the former was responsible for fuelling the fires of attraction.
Is that really what I'm starting to feel for Mickey? The way Makku described the differences in the relationships he shares with Shinji and Noah does sound a lot like how I feel about Mickey and Matty. Matty definitely feels like a Noah, but can I honestly say the same about Mickey? Something about him just seems like so much more than that to me. Is it possible that he's more of a...Shinji?
It was definitely something to think about, especially since much of what Makku described about his relationship and feelings for Shinji could be applied to his own situation with Mickey.
Right down to that feeling of meeting somebody who felt like an extension of yourself.
Just like Shinji and Makku, Mickey and I are always on the same page. We understand each other perfectly despite our differences in personalities, but that's not all. We definitely think alike, and we're always in tune with each other's feelings, even when we disagree. But...most of all...the thought of doing something like kissing him doesn't seem...undesirable? I mean, he's definitely my best friend, but...that level up Makku talked about...Maybe, like him, my heart knows something before I do?
It was an interesting comparison, and once again thinking of Matty, Sam certainly couldn't say he had any desire to kiss the younger twin. That was also true for Dai and Ryoko, as well as for all the other boys he knew. Mickey was the only one who seemed to spark his interest that way.
Is this what Makku meant when he told me I would find out for myself what it feels like?
The difference was obvious. The only question that remained was which of the two types of relationships truly applied to Mickey.
That's why I can't exactly say Makku's advice was all that helpful. If he's right about me, then that definitely complicates things...
And judging from Makku's knowing look, the red-headed teen definitely believed he was right.
Mickey...will you ever give me a chance to find out?
"Sam?" a voice shouted in his ear, tugging impatiently on his arm. "Hey, snap out of it already! We're here, in case you didn't notice. Let's hurry up and get inside."
Much to his chagrin, Sam realised they had arrived at the Izumi residence without him even noticing, and waiting patiently on the step while Matty banged on the door, he murmured to his partner, "How much do you want to bet Taniko's going to answer it?"
"This could fun," Glimmermon giggled, the backpack muffling his sweet voice.
A moment later, the door swung open, and caught off guard, Matty stumbled right into Taniko's arms. Luckily, the dark-haired female was able to catch the younger twin around the waist, and looking amused, she said dryly, "I assume you already know you're late?"
"Aw, seriously?" Matty groaned, slapping a hand against his forehead. "Dai got here before we did?"
"Yep, and he's already gloating about it."
"You've gotta be kidding me," Matty muttered to himself, shaking his head in disgust. "That's only cause he had an unfair advantage. Mickey and Ryoko probably dragged him out the door to get him here on time."
"That about sums it up," Taniko agreed, looking amused. "By the way, as much as I love a good morning hug, we probably shouldn't linger here for too long."
It was only then that Matty seemed to realise he was caught up in the dark-haired female's arms, and turning a deep shade of red, the younger twin quickly scrambled back and mumbled, "Sorry."
"Don't be. I quite enjoyed it."
As Matty stood there gaping like a fish on the doorstep, Sam exchanged a meaningful smile with the young girl and said mildly, "You might as well lead the way."
"Of course, this way."
Dragging Matty along behind him, Sam proceeded to follow Taniko into the house, and entering the living room, he paused on the threshold to survey his immediate surroundings. Mina and Izzy were sitting together on the loveseat with the computer expert's laptop set up on the edge of the coffee table, and their rookie partners were soaking in the sun by the window along with Fluttermon, Iramon, DemiEmbermon, and Palelymon. The armchair was empty, indicating Taniko had been occupying the space only moments ago, and holding hands, Dai and Kara were happily sitting next to each other on the floor. That left Mickey and Ryoko, who were lounging on the sofa, and gazing at the older twin, Sam felt something flutter inside his chest.
Despite the events of the previous evening, Mickey appeared well-rested, and as their eyes met, he could see the older twin's amber gaze sparkling in the morning sunshine. The light emphasised the golden-haired Digidestined's slender profile, and the warm glow radiating from his skin seemed to fill the entire room. In that moment, Sam had never seen Mickey looking so handsome, and choking back the sudden lump in his throat, he managed to say somewhat calmly, "Before you blame Matty, it's my fault we're late. Just throwing that out there."
In response, Mickey's face broke into a beautiful smile, and twisting his hands together, the older twin said shyly, "It's really sweet of you to defend him."
"See? Told you he's embarrassing like that," Matty joked, causing his brother to blush. "So, did we miss anything?"
Sam was having a hard time keeping the red out of his own cheeks, and moving to sit next to Daichi, Ryoko impatiently waved them over to the couch and said, "No, Dai's gloating doesn't count."
"Hey!" the goggle-headed leader protested, elbowing the golden-haired Digidestined lightly in the ribs. "Let me have a least one victory to hold over Matty's head."
The younger twin's response was to roll his eyes at the goggle-head leader before letting his partner out to join the other digimon, and flopping down onto the couch next to his twin, Matty looked his brother up and down before saying hesitantly, "Everything good?"
"Oh, yes," Mickey said softly, his arm going around his twin's shoulders. "Do you really think Dai would have settled for anything less?"
Everybody in the room smiled at that, and giving Kara's hand a squeeze, the goggle-headed leader said boldly, "Darn right. Mickey and I are solid. Nothing to worry about there."
"Well, I figured that," Matty scoffed, scrutinising his brother closely. "I meant more like...you know."
The twins gazed at each other for a moment, their eyes locked in some sort of silent communication, and realising the only seat left was the one on Mickey's opposite side, Sam paused to glance suspiciously at Ryoko. The golden-haired Digidestined didn't look as if he suspected anything out of the ordinary, and thinking on the matter, Sam had to conclude that the blond had likely just assumed Mickey would want to sit with Matty and himself after not having seen them since the previous evening.
It was done out of courtesy, you dummy, and not for any other reason. He couldn't possibly know there's anything going on...
Regardless, it wasn't going to do him any good to dwell on the matter, and conceding defeat, he let Glimmermon out of his bag before moving to sit next to Mickey on the sofa. A quick glance at Kara, who was the most likely to suspect something after witnessing his hand-holding display with Mickey in the waterway, revealed nothing, and allowing himself to relax a little bit, he settled into the cushions.
Mickey was close, but not agonisingly close, and since Kara's smile had been genuine and full of affection rather than suspicion, he figured he could give himself at least a little bit of a break.
But for how long? I don't know if I can hide what's going on inside me forever, and if I can't, sooner or later all of them are going to start asking questions...
"Sam?" Mickey murmured, lightly touching his arm. "Did you...sleep okay last night?"
Only after I started dreaming about you...
It took all of his willpower to ignore the tingling sensation radiating from that gentle brush of fingers against his skin, and attempting to play it cool, he said nonchalantly, "I think so. Considering I didn't hear any of Matty's snoring, it can't have been too bad."
Matty immediately leaned across his brother to whack him in the chest, and laughing softly, Mickey said, "That's good to hear. I..."
He's still feeling uncertain about what Matty and I were saying about him. I really don't want him to think it was anything major.
With that thought in mind, Sam smiled and said gently, "I'm more worried about you, especially after yesterday."
Matty asked me to watch over you, after all.
For some reason Mickey was having trouble holding his gaze, and keeping his face averted, the older twin said softly, "I feel perfectly fine today. No harm done. It's more just...I missed you last night."
He what?
Sam couldn't say he'd been expecting that, and feeling his heart speed up, he had to remind himself that Mickey often said such things without any ulterior motive. Coming from the older twin, those words were likely just a heartfelt display of friendship and not a confession of something much deeper.
Matty did say he talks about me a lot, but even that could mean nothing. It is kind of nice, though, to know he really likes me as a person...
"Oh sure, but you didn't miss me?" Matty joked, giving his twin a teasing smile.
Mickey immediately turned a deep shade of red, and backpedaling on his words, the older twin mumbled, "Of course I did. I missed both of you."
Well, there goes any hope it meant something more. Not that I'm surprised...
On the plus side, Matty hadn't seemed too concerned over the fact that Mickey's statement could have been taken to mean something on a whole other level, which was definitely a good sign.
He said he trusts me. Despite the way he tried to grill Mickey in the waterway, maybe he really wouldn't object if I did show some interest...
It was a nice thought, and once again settling back against the cushions, Sam said mildly, "We missed you, too."
Is it just me or is he acting more shy and nervous around me than usual?
"Sam, listen," Mickey started, looking uncertain of his words. "I..."
He wants to talk to me? Is that it? Probably about what happened last night after Matty and I left.
Now that he thought about it, this was the older twin's fourth attempt to catch his attention, and as a lightbulb finally clicked on in his head, he nudged Mickey's shoulder and murmured, "We'll talk later, okay? I think I've kept Izzy waiting long enough as it is."
Mickey looked like he wanted to protest, but instead the older twin merely nodded his head before focusing his attention on the computer expert.
Smiling at them, his expression indicating he hadn't minded waiting, Izzy said pleasantly, "Sorry to call you all here on such short notice, but I felt it was important to let you know a few of the things Gennai and I talked about last night. I'll fill the others in later, but for now this is a start."
"It's fine, we don't mind at all," Takara reassured the computer expert. "When it comes to the Digital World, we kind of expect that now. I assume you also want to revisit some of our theories about DarkAngelicmon?"
It was kind of refreshing to see the female Digidestined talking so openly about the Digital World, particularly after her reluctance to do so earlier in the waterway, and nodding his head, Izzy said, "Yes, that as well, since it pertains to the new information I have. Gennai and his companions are going to start searching for the next Spirit Chip this afternoon, so hopefully we'll hear back from them soon."
"But before we get to that, I wanna know why Matty was late," Dai interrupted, smirking at the younger twin.
Deciding to take pity on his golden-haired companion, Sam quickly spoke up and said, "He wasn't. I'm the one who slept in."
"Yeah, so there!" Matty shot back, looking to get some revenge. "What about you? When did Joe finally stop chewing you out?"
"Only after Mickey agreed to make sure he didn't drown in the tub," Kara giggled, giving her new partner a fond smile. "At least, that's the story I got."
"Ugh, my uncle can be such a buzzkill," Dai complained, making a face.
Huh?
Sam glanced curiously at Mickey, but instead of returning his gaze, the older twin proceeded to stare at the sunshine filtering through the window, his amber eyes lost in thought.
Sounds more to me like Dai forced Mickey into the job after Joe wouldn't take no for an answer. He must have used that opportunity to reassure Mickey...
"Setting Dai's unnecessary complaining aside for now, let's get back to the topic at hand," Ryoko said dryly, his suspiciously neutral expression indicating he was trying hard not to laugh. "What did Gennai have to say?"
"Let's see, where do I begin?" Izzy replied, sitting back and crossing his arms over his chest.
"Why don't we start with Gennai's theory about how DarkAngelicmon and YukiOnnamon managed to get back to the castle on Cyber so quickly?" Taniko offered, having once again made herself comfortable in the armchair.
"Right, that's as good a place as any."
"So, how did they pull that one off?" Iramon asked, looking genuinely curious.
Izzy took a moment to get his thoughts in order, and then growing serious, the computer expert said, "Gennai's pretty certain that was actually YukiOnnamon's doing. I think we know DarkAngelicmon well enough by now to dismiss any notion that he was responsible. He has never indicated in any way, shape, or form that he has the immense power it would take to pull off something like that."
"Okay, so then how did YukiOnnamon manage it?" Matty asked, exchanging a look with his twin.
"By adding a few new tricks to her arsenal after giving up her existence as Vampiramon," Mina responded, her dark head coming to rest on Izzy's shoulder. "Both Gennai and Izzy believe that after succumbing to the darkness within the Ice Caverns, YukiOnnamon has likely gained the power to open portals to the World of Darkness at will."
"And she used one of those portals to basically teleport herself and DarkAngelicmon back to the castle on Cyber," Takara finished, shaking her head in disbelief. "I have to admit, that concerns me."
You're not the only one who feels that way.
If YukiOnnamon really could open portals to the World of Darkness whenever she pleased, that certainly complicated things. It also indicated she was even more powerful than they had originally first believed.
How do we stop a digimon like that?
"It's really the only explanation that makes sense," Izzy said slowly, a frown marring his dark features. "Which brings me to another point. Based on the hint Lucemon gave Matty in the Ice Caverns, along with what we have observed for ourselves, I believe our angelic friend holds the same ability to move between the two worlds."
"But...how?" Mickey gasped, sitting up straighter in his seat. "Where would Lucemon have gained the power to do...something like that?"
"I dunno if this means anything, but...from the way he spoke, it could be something he learned how to do from his research," Matty said slowly, his handsome face indicating he was struggling to recall the conversation. "Remember, his area of expertise was the Powers of Darkness."
"That's a logical theory," Izzy agreed, sending the younger twin an approving look. "It's also only one of two plausible explanations that makes sense."
Something about that statement made Sam feel uneasy, and doing his best not to look at Mickey, he said quietly, "What's the other explanation?"
"Like YukiOnnamon, Lucemon could have gained the ability to manipulate the portals if at any point he had become contaminated by the very darkness he was researching."
Immediately the room fell silent, and holding even more tightly to Dai's hand, Takara said hesitantly, "Do you think...there's a chance that could have happened?"
"Oh, poor Lucemon," Palelymon moaned, burying his face in a shocked Goldmon's fluffy ears.
"I would say there's a very good possibility such an event could have occurred," Tentomon interrupted, buzzing over to sit next to Izzy on the arm of the loveseat. "AncientMermaidmon insisted the only way DarkAngelicmon could have ended up becoming a victim of the darkness was if he had sacrificed his life for the sake of someone important to him. If at any point the darkness ever threatened Lucemon, I could see DarkAngelicmon stepping in to save his friend from such a terrible experience."
"Which would have allowed the darkness possessing Lucemon to infect him," Candlemon finished, his eyes lighting up in understanding.
For a moment, Sam was unable to come up with a coherent reply, and struggling to find the right words, he finally managed to choke out, "That...actually does make a lot of sense."
"The pieces of the puzzle are finally starting to come together," Mickey whispered, the shocking revelation having had an obvious effect on the older twin's already vulnerable emotions.
Are they ever...
The look in Mickey's amber eyes was concerning, and throwing all of his own insecurities out the window, Sam quickly reached out to wrap a comforting arm around the older twin's shoulders. Immediately, Mickey curled defensively into his side, and soaking up the other boy's warmth, he murmured, "It's okay. Even if that's true, Lucemon's fine now. If we can save DarkAngelicmon, we can set right the wrongs of the past. Isn't that something worth fighting for?"
There was no mistaking the sharp intake of breath against his ribs, and face immediately softening into a lovely smile, Mickey whispered, "Yes, it is."
I'll fight as long as I need to if it means I get to see you smile more often.
Unlike his brother, Matty appeared surprisingly calm, and glancing sideways at his twin with obvious concern, the golden-haired boy said lightly, "Not gonna lie, I can see DarkAngelicmon doing something heroically dumb like that, which is all the more reason we need to save him."
"I agree!" DemiEmbermon spoke up, hopping onto the arm of Taniko's chair. "Although, I guess we can't really judge him too harshly. Any of us would have done the same for our friends."
I know I would have.
"Ain't that the truth," Dai agreed, his expression indicating he didn't feel the least bit guilty about it. "Which brings up another major point. Did Gennai ever offer any more theories on where DarkAngelicmon went when Lucemon couldn't feel him anymore?"
"Actually, he did," Izzy replied, his expression remaining almost too neutral. "After a long and somewhat lengthy debate that took place well into the evening, Gennai and I both agree there's only one place we can think of that could affect a celestial digimon's natural ability to sense those of their own kind."
"What place would that be?" Kara asked, her words bursting with undisguised curiosity.
Sam was starting to second-guess whether or not he actually wanted to know the answer, and hesitating only a moment, Izzy said soberly, "Behind the Wall of Fire."
Oh no...
The reactions were instantaneous. Sam felt Mickey's trembling hand clutch anxiously at his arm, and looking as if he'd just been hit by a nuclear explosion, Matty shouted, "What!?"
"It really is the only explanation that makes sense," Mina replied, sending the younger twin a sympathetic look.
"B-but why!?" Matty stuttered, his own hand reaching for Mickey's shoulder. "What in the Digiworld would he be doing there!?"
Exactly, what reason would DarkAngelicmon have to travel to such a dangerous place...
"Unfortunately, as much as I would love to give you an answer, this is where Gennai and I have come to a standstill," Izzy said, letting out a deep sigh. "Whatever his reasons, I have a sneaking suspicion DarkAngelicmon didn't go alone. Based on what Gennai's sources have since found out, if I had to make a guess, I would say there's a good possibility he may have travelled there with the Ruler of Darkness himself. That suggests their visit must be related to their mission to plunge both worlds into darkness."
"I don't understand. If it's true DarkAngelicmon went behind the Wall of Fire, in the waterway he made it very clear to us that he hated the whole experience and never wanted to go back," Mickey mumbled, his amber eyes growing dark and shadowy. "If he dislikes that place so much, why would he volunteer to go along?"
Sam was having a bit of trouble concentrating thanks to the warm body that was snuggling against him for comfort, and keeping his voice low, he hesitantly slipped his arm around the older twin's shoulders and murmured, "Maybe the Ruler of Darkness didn't give him a choice."
Were they looking for something? Maybe doing some research? Or maybe they were trying to find a way to use the very heart of the darkness plaguing this world to their advantage...
"Hey, Dad, would Lucemon have any idea?" Taniko asked, her dark eyes watching Matty with obvious concern.
She's just as worried about him as I am about Mickey...
"He might, but in order to ask him, we need to find him first," Izzy pointed out, smiling slightly. "And knowing Lucemon, that might be easier than it sounds, especially if he's still tracking Gennai's movements."
"We'll have to let Gennai know to watch for him," Fluttermon interrupted. "Just add it to the list of all the other questions we still need answers for."
If DarkAngelicmon really does hate the Wall of Fire as much as he made out like he did, that would explain why his mood was off. That place would be enough to make anyone lose their playful attitude. It would also explain why he seemed so subdued. Almost...cowed even, if such a thing is possible. Hmm...I wonder if any of this has any relation to DarkAngelicmon's possible dealings with Daemon?
"Sam, what are you thinking about?" Mickey suddenly whispered in his ear, the warmth of the older twin's breath drifting over the exposed skin of his neck.
The exquisite feeling almost made him jump out of his skin, and unable to ignore the fact that everybody was now looking in his direction, he just barely concealed the blush forming on his cheeks before quickly voicing his thoughts. Once he was finished, Ryoko said slowly, "That would explain DarkAngelicmon's change of attitude for sure, but I don't know about the possible connection he might have with Daemon."
"There's not enough evidence to confirm anything yet, but I'll run the thought by Gennai," Izzy promised, looking intrigued at having a new theory to mull over. "In the meantime, it's probably best if we stay under the radar until Gennai has either found the next Spirit Chip or has some new information for us, especially now that the barrier between the human world and the Digital World has grown weaker. We don't want a repeat of what happened with Dai, so all of you keep your wits about you, okay?"
"Really, you had to bring that up?" Dai grumbled, making a face.
Luckily, Takara was able to sooth the goggle-headed leader with a quick kiss on the cheek, and brushing her long ponytail aside, she said, "We promise we'll be careful. In the meantime, what are we going to do for the rest of the day, since I assume we've covered everything important?"
"That's all I have for now," Izzy agreed. "I would say after everything the six of you have been through over the last couple days, you might as well have a good rest and enjoy yourselves before you have to be back at school tomorrow."
"Actually, Dai has a date with his unfinished homework, so we were given strict instructions from Noriko to drag him back home and make sure he finishes it," Ryoko said dryly, sounding completely unsympathetic. "And since I suspect Matty's in the same boat, he might as well come along and join us."
"You're scary, you know that?" Matty accused, looking ill at the very thought of having to confront Noriko.
"Don't worry, Ryoko and I will be there for moral support," Takara teased, giving her cousin a reassuring smile.
Matty didn't look too convinced, but since he had the wrath of his own parents hanging over his head, the younger twin quickly relented and said to his brother, "What about you? What are you going to do?"
"I...um..." Mickey stammered, looking a little bit lost.
Recognising a perfect opportunity to ease some of the older twin's concerns, Sam said boldly, "I wouldn't mind some company, so he can come with me to my house. I'm going to assume he's got his homework done, and I'd like to catch up with my parents."
Not exactly the truth, but it works for now I guess.
At this sudden declaration, Mickey quickly snapped his mouth shut, and letting out a disgruntled sigh, Matty quickly put an arm around his twin and said, "Fine, but only if you're okay. You had me sick with worry last night. It took a lot for me to let you out of my sight, just so you know."
"I'm perfectly fine, Matty," Mickey replied, giving the younger twin an affectionate squeeze. "Really, there's nothing you need to worry about. If I were you, I'd be more concerned about yourself, especially if you don't get your homework done. Mom will let you have it if it's still not finished by tonight."
"Yikes, don't remind me. Okay, I'll see you later then."
"I'll come with you guys," Taniko offered, exchanging a knowing smile with Kara. "Doesn't hurt to have one more person nagging Dai and Matty to get their work done."
"Who needs enemies when your friends are worse than the Ruler of Darkness?" Matty complained as Dai proceeded to gather up their digimon partners before dragging the blond boy out of the living room.
Sam watched the larger group go with a smile on his face, and after listening to Dai's blunt response that sounded something like 'Suck it up cause I'm not suffering alone,' he turned to Mickey and said warmly, "Ready to go?"
"Oh, I-I suppose so," the older twin replied, his words sounding incredibly uncertain.
That's becoming a common occurrence with him. At least when he's around me...
Sam had to admit he was reluctant to separate himself from the warmth of Mickey's closeness, and forcing himself to move, he quickly gathered up their partners before saying farewell to Izzy and Mina. Once they were outside, the air between them seemed to grow much more intense, and settling Palelymon in his backpack, Mickey mumbled, "That was quick. Dai and the others are already well out of sight."
"I'm sure we have Kara, Taniko, and Ryoko to thank for that. Come on, let's get out of here."
The short walk was a silent affair, and feeling very aware of his own body, Sam was careful to remain an acceptable distance from his friend. Truthfully, he doubted Mickey would care, but at the same time he didn't feel right about invading the other boy's personal space unless the older twin gave him some sort of indication that it was okay to do so.
I never used to question stuff like this before, so why am I being so stupid about it? Is this how Makku felt before he discovered Shinji's true intentions?
Feeling frustrated with himself, Sam shoved open the front door of his house with more force than was strictly necessary, and entering the foyer, he almost collided with somebody who was trying to leave. Somehow, he managed to maintain his balance, and blinking in confusion, he said, "What are you guys up to?"
The person he had almost trampled was Noah, and smiling at him from behind the dark-haired boy, Miya said, "Sorry, we were just heading out. I take it you and Mickey are spending the afternoon here?"
"That's right. Uh...where's Nao?"
It was Makku who answered, and grinning at him, the red-haired teen said, "Your mother just took him to Rina's house and your dad's watching the store. We heard you were at Izzy's place, and judging from the look of you, he had some interesting tidbits to share."
"Izzy's going to fill everyone in later," Mickey informed the older boy, having slipped into the house unnoticed. "I hope that's okay?"
"It's fine," Shinji responded before Makku could tease the golden-haired Digidestined. "We can wait. Don't let us hold you up."
Sam instantly felt grateful to the older boy, and glancing between himself and Mickey, his theatrical cousin said mildly, "You two enjoy yourselves, and Mickey, make sure our darling Sam doesn't think too hard this afternoon."
At those words, Sam instantly felt his cheeks redden, and looking understandably confused, Mickey stammered, "U-um...okay."
Can't say I didn't deserve that. Makku knows me too well...
"See, this is exactly why you're so lovable," Makku said cheerfully, draping his arm around Mickey's shoulders. "You're sweet and honest, with a magnificent heart of gold. Sam's very lucky to have a friend like you."
At those words, Mickey instantly turned a brilliant shade of pink, and giving his boyfriend a look before taking the red-haired teen's hand, Shinji said smoothly, "If you're done embarrassing these two, we should probably get going."
"Fine, I'll just embarrass you instead," Makku teased, waving as he dragged Shinji out the door. "Bye, you two! Have fun!"
Sam waited until his giggling sister and an amused Noah had followed the handsome couple outside, and turning to Mickey, he said sheepishly, "Sorry, you know what he's like. He loves getting a rise out of people, including me."
"Oh, I don't mind," Mickey insisted, despite the visible redness in his cheeks. "Everything he says is always really nice, and you can tell he genuinely means it."
Never had a truer word been spoken, and nudging the other boy lightly in the arm, Sam said gently, "Let's go to my room before anyone else comes stomping through the door."
After making sure their digimon partners were settled in a patch of sun, the two of them made themselves comfortable on the carpet, and sitting on the floor with his back resting against the edge of the bed, Mickey hesitated before saying quietly, "I hope...Matty didn't pester you too much last night."
I knew it. He was worried about what might happen between Matty and I if we were left alone together.
Sitting across from the golden-haired boy, Sam proceeded to stretch out on his stomach, and resting his chin in his hands, he said nonchalantly, "What did you think was going to happen?"
Looking startled, Mickey mumbled, "I...nothing. I just..."
"Matty isn't angry with me or anything, if that's what you were worried about. You saw that for yourself this morning."
"T-that's not..."
Though they didn't look as if they were planning to interrupt, both Glimmermon and Palelymon were gazing at Mickey with innocent curiosity, and refusing to look away, Sam said quietly, "I won't deny it. We were talking about you in the waterway, and of course you came up in conversation last night, but did you honestly believe either one of us would ever say anything negative about you?"
For a moment, it didn't look as if Mickey would respond, and lips trembling, the older twin nervously hugged his knees and whispered, "Of course not. I just...I didn't know what to think."
Mickey...let me come closer. I want to comfort you...
Never before had he wanted so badly to close the distance between them, and using every ounce of willpower he could scrounge up, he forced himself to remain where he was and proceeded to speak with what he hoped was a reassuring tone. "Matty's really concerned about you, and so am I. That's all it was. He just wanted to make sure you and I weren't fighting and that everything's okay between us."
"Are...things okay between us?" Mickey asked, his amber eyes sparkling with emotion.
Sam felt his defences crumble completely, and sitting up, he said with conviction, "Absolutely. That was never an issue."
Immediately, Mickey's face relaxed, and without looking at him, the older twin said shyly, "Would you...mind sitting next to me?"
Sam froze, and feeling his heart skip a beat, he had to take a moment to compose himself. It was the very thing he'd been hoping so desperately to hear, and taking extra care to keep his expression neutral, he quickly moved to join the golden-haired boy. It was such an odd question, certainly not one Mickey had ever made a point of asking before, and making himself comfortable against the edge of the bed, he said firmly, "Matty knows how close we are. He wouldn't risk doing anything to hurt you."
"You're right, he's always been supportive of me," Mickey agreed, letting his head fall back with a sigh. "I suppose I was just worried you guys would end up fighting because of me."
Sam allowed himself to shift just a little bit closer, and laughing softly, he said, "That would never happen. You have nothing to feel guilty about."
"That obvious?" Mickey asked, returning his smile.
"If Matty and I ever did fight, it would be no one's fault but our own. It would never be because of anything you did."
"I know," Mickey murmured, looking a little embarrassed. "Sometimes it's just nice to have some reassurance."
Mickey just likes having people close by. You know that, you moron. Don't get too carried away. Chances are, he probably doesn't even notice the lack of distance between us...
Considering he could feel the older twin's arm brushing against his own, that was easier said than done, and doing his best to ignore the pleasant sensation, he teased, "Have I covered all my bases then? Anything else you were stressing about?"
Mickey had the decency to look a bit sheepish, and unexpectedly leaning into his shoulder, the older twin said softly, "No, I'm okay. I definitely feel much better now."
He's just being nice. That's nothing new for him. Don't you dare let yourself think otherwise...
Try as he might, his body didn't seem to want to cooperate with his brain, and before he could stop himself, he slowly slipped his arm around Mickey's slender shoulders. Immediately, he could feel the warmth of the older twin's body soaking into his side, and speaking in those low tones that couldn't possibly belong to him, he said in a voice that was barely above a whisper, "Good, I'm glad I can make you feel that way."
Was it just him or was the back of Mickey's neck breaking out into goosebumps?
Don't be silly. You're just imagining things...
Any further thoughts he might have had instantly disappeared as the older twin suddenly wrapped an arm around his waist, and sounding incredibly shy, Mickey said hesitantly, "Hey, Sam? Can I show you something?"
Huh?
The unexpected question caught him completely off guard, and attempting to hide his confusion, he said earnestly, "Of course you can. You can show me anything."
Mickey pulled away from him to grab the backpack sitting nearby, creating a sudden loss of warmth, but a moment later the older twin was nestled back under his arm with something that resembled a sketchbook clutched in his hands. It looked vaguely familiar, since Sam was fairly certain he had seen the older twin carrying it around before, and growing curious, he said, "What's that?"
Instead of responding, Mickey opened the book to what was obviously a preplanned page, and gazing at the image, Sam felt his mouth drop open in utter astonishment. Though he hadn't known what the older twin was intending to show him, the drawing lying open in Mickey's lap was definitely not what he had expected to see.
It's...me...
The image was a drawing of himself, and gazing in shock at his own face, Sam found himself at a loss for words. Not only had his likeness been captured perfectly, but the colours and detail were remarkably accurate, right down to the look in his penciled eyes and the thoughtful expression on his face.
Unbelievable. I always knew Mickey liked to scribble, but I never knew he was this good...
"Hey, that's me!" Glimmermon squealed in delight, hopping over with Palelymon for a closer look.
Standing next to him in the coloured sketch, Odonatamon looked absolutely stunning, and finally finding his voice, Sam managed to stammer, "Did you...draw this?"
"I did," Mickey confirmed, blushing furiously at all the sudden attention he was receiving. "I...thought you might like to see it."
Sam was still having trouble speaking, and swallowing the sudden lump in his throat, he said quietly, "I didn't know you could draw like this. I mean, I've seen you with that book before, but I..."
"Nobody does," Mickey admitted, holding the sketchbook tightly to his chest. "Nobody except for Matty and Palelymon, that is. I'm not all that confident in my abilities, so I..."
"Mickey, that is the most beautiful drawing I've ever seen in my life, and I'm not just saying that because I'm in it."
I look so...Is that how Mickey really sees me?
Sam was used to people complimenting him on his looks, but none of those comments even came close to what was depicted in Mickey's drawing, and it wasn't just because of his physical features. Somehow, Mickey had also captured his soul.
Mickey...
At this point, Mickey looked thoroughly embarrassed, and ducking his head, the older twin said quietly, "I don't know about that, but..."
"It's perfect, Mickey. You have every right to be proud of your talent for drawing. The only thing you lack is confidence, which I'm sure you're already well aware of."
"Definitely," Palelymon agreed, smiling at his partner. "Mickey's amazing at what he does."
"I...I'm sorry I didn't show you sooner," Mickey whispered, looking a little anxious.
Sam felt his heart melt into something akin to a pile of goo, and keeping his arm around the older twin's shoulders, he said kindly, "What made you decide to show me now?"
"I just...really wanted you to know," Mickey replied, once again snuggling comfortably under his arm. "Last night, when I was thinking about what happened in the waterway, it made me realise there's nothing I want to keep from you. I want you to know everything about me, so...that's why I felt so strongly about showing you my work. Drawing is important to me, and knowing you'll support me and everything I love to do makes me feel...closer to you."
Even if Sam had wanted to get mad at the older twin for keeping such a big secret from him for so many years, that statement alone was enough to quell any uncertainties he might have had otherwise. The words were sincere, which effectively sent his brain into overdrive, and throwing caution to the wind, he pulled the older twin into a tight hug and said, "Will you tell the others eventually?"
"I will, but I...wanted to show you first," Mickey whispered against his chest.
Sam was quite certain the older twin could feel his heart racing, but at that moment he couldn't bring himself to care. Mickey's slim body felt wonderful in his arms, and resting a hand against the other boy's golden-hair, he whispered, "Thank you, that really means a lot to me."
You have no idea.
A moment later, he felt Mickey's arms slip around his waist, and as the room began to fill with a sweet tinge of anticipation, the older twin shifted against him and said hopefully, "Would you like to see more?"
"Definitely."
Mickey's hands were warm against his back, and not wanting to let go, Sam let his own fingers trail lightly down the older twin's side. On the surface, it didn't appear as if Mickey had noticed, but was that the faintest hint of a blush?
He's definitely having trouble meeting my eyes again. What does that mean?
"I wanna see more, too!" Glimmermon called out, hopping impatiently up and down next to Palelymon.
Refusing to allow their digimon to break the spell, Sam moved back a bit to give Mickey room for the sketchbook, and sitting close enough to ensure that their shoulders and thighs were still touching, he said easily, "I'm assuming this isn't your first sketchbook, but we might as well start at the beginning with this one."
I can't tell if there's anything different about his touches or not. They've always been sweet and gentle. How am I supposed to distinguish any sense of possible attraction from that?
"Sure," Mickey replied, opening to the first page and offering him the book. "This is one I drew of Matty."
The slight movement caused the older twin to press more firmly against his thigh, and as a spark of electricity shot down his leg, he found himself thinking back on Makku's words. The smiles, the looks, the touches...
At that moment, Sam felt it was pretty safe to say he was well and truly past the point of no return, and from now on, when it came to Mickey, his heart was likely going to do the deciding for him.