I don't own Digimon.
A/N: I hope everyone had a good holiday! I'm back with another chapter and things are going to start heating up!
Following the Footsteps of Destiny
Chapter 326: Goddess of the Moon
DarkAngelicmon
Net, Northern Hemisphere, Digital World
Staring into the orange mist, DarkAngelicmon couldn't stop himself from marvelling at the barrier's majestic beauty, and reaching out to lightly run his fingers over the unbroken seal, he felt a strange tugging sensation pulling at his heartstrings. Deep within the glowing mist, he could sense the Spirit Chip of Innocence pulsing with life, but despite the way it was calling out to him, it was destined to remain out of his reach until its owner arrived to claim it.
An impossible task if he allows Matty to become his weakness...
Unable to prevent a deep sigh from escaping his lips, DarkAngelicmon turned his back on the Spirit Chip in order to survey the surrounding terrain. That was proving a tad difficult, since his vision was blocked by an enormous cascading waterfall, and preparing himself for a cold shock, he quickly darted back through the icy spray to reunite with his two unpleasant companions.
"Well?" Persiamon asked, gazing curiously at him. "Is it back there?"
Despite the fact that every fibre of his being wanted nothing more than to remain silent, DarkAngelicmon landed lightly on the frozen edge of the swollen stream and said shortly, "Surely you were able to figure that much out for yourself? The orange light emanating from behind the waterfall might as well be a neon sign."
Persiamon raised an eyebrow at his curt response, but before she could reply, YukiOnnamon nudged the feline digimon to the side and said calmly, "Then our mission was a success. While we only had Gennai's information to go on, our search was not in vain. A fitting place for an empty heart."
For Mickey's heart if he cannot overcome the darkness within...
It was a sober thought, and frowning as an icy shiver slowly began to creep up his spine, DarkAngelicmon took a moment to study the picturesque view that was aptly named the Glacial Waterfalls. The landscape itself consisted of multiples streams converging into a raging river that flowed through the centre of the icy valley, which was completely surrounded by snowy mountains and gushing waterfalls that were dumping large quantities of frigid water into the streams below. As a result, the fast flowing river and its vast network of streams hadn't frozen over, though the earthy ground mingling in-between was covered in snow and ice.
I will not let things end here in this cold and desolate place. Mickey must survive this ordeal and bring light to the evil that lurks further in.
"Now that we have secured our route to the Spirit Chip, what's our next course of action?" Persiamon inquired, frowning at the female mega who had pushed her so effortlessly out of the way.
"Now, we will investigate whether the information you and Phelesmon received from the villagers earlier this morning is credible," YukiOnnamon replied, her dark eyes sparkling with anticipation. "I suspect our efforts will prove just as successful as this morning's endeavours. I can feel the darkness from here."
There was no denying the truth of that statement, since DarkAngelicmon could also sense the evil from the black abyss pulsing in the distance, and yet despite how much he desperately wanted to flee, he knew there was no turning back without arousing suspicion. Unfortunately, the villagers hadn't needed much persuading to get them talking, and due to their eagerness to chat, they had provided enough scraps of information about the whereabouts of the black pit for YukiOnnamon to figure out its approximate location. As for the Spirit Chip itself, Persiamon hadn't attempted to ask any questions concerning its whereabouts, since the last thing they wanted to do was give the villagers any reason to suspect the feline digimon was not as trustworthy as she seemed. As a result, they had proceeded to search for the Spirit Chip with only Gennai's information to use as a starting point, which had proven difficult, thought not impossible.
It is always when you don't want to find something that it falls into your grasp...
After Phelesmon and Persiamon spent the morning getting the info they needed on the black pit while DarkAngelicmon and his companions used the time to finalise their plans to torture Mickey and start preparations to search for the Spirit Chip, the group had reconvened to share updates before LadyDevimon and Phelesmon were sent back to the village to stalk the Digidestined and the rest of the group had gone on to secure the Spirit Chip. The search hadn't taken nearly as long as DarkAngelicmon had anticipated it would. In fact, they had stumbled upon the Spirit Chip almost by accident, and as a result, he now found himself chatting with two detestable digimon who wanted him to journey to a place he had no desire to visit.
Throwing myself in the icy river sounds far more tempting. Anything to get as far away from that pit as possible...
"Well, shall we go then?" Persiamon asked, flicking her tail to brush off the excess snow. "It should be safe to leave the Spirit Chip for now, since the Digidestined will not reach this valley before tomorrow."
"Indeed, which gives us plenty of opportunity to search for the black pit," YukiOnnamon agreed. "Speaking of the Digidestined, how are they fairing against LadyDevimon and Phelesmon?"
DarkAngelicmon turned his back on the two female digimon, and gazing beyond the waterfall to the Spirit Chip hidden in an alcove behind the spray, he said quietly, "I can sense the Digidestined in the Northern Hemisphere, but they are too far away for me to discern their exact location. The same is true for LadyDevimon and Phelesmon, but all of them feel as if they are relatively in the same area. I assume that means the Digidestined have reached the village and LadyDevimon and Phelesmon are carrying out their orders as planned."
"Excellent," YukiOnnamon murmured, her skirts swishing lightly as she moved to stand at the edge of the stream. "Once we have finished our preliminary search for the black pit, we shall meet up with LadyDevimon and Phelesmon near the village later in the evening. From there, we will set our plans for tomorrow morning into motion."
Matty, forgive me...
YukiOnnamon's expression was cold, and standing off to one side, Persiamon's face displayed very little emotion. Their behaviour disgusted him, and shuddering at the thought of what was to come, DarkAngelicmon said quickly, "As you wish. Come, let us be off. We need to be back at the village before morning approaches. Preferably after midnight, which gives us plenty of time to ensure the plan will work in our favour."
With that, he forced himself to step away from the Spirit Chip, and as the warm glow leaking from the hidden cavern grew cold against his back, it took everything he had to stop himself from turning back. The darkness was calling to him, and for the first time in many years, he felt genuinely frightened.
Not for himself, but for those who were supposed to be his enemies.
Makiya 'Mickey' Takaishi
Net, Northern Hemisphere, Digital World
Shutting the gate behind him after the rest of the group passed through the entrance, Makiya Takaishi paused to take in the breathtaking view of the landscape surrounding the small igloo settlement known as the village of Analogue. It looked like a scene that belonged inside a snow globe, and glancing at a nearby group of digimon who shared a resemblance to Gotsumon, he found himself smiling gently in amusement. It appeared as if the three digimon were building a fortress out of snow, and watching the playful trio, Mickey took a moment to gather his conflicting thoughts.
Despite the cold, his heart was pounding frantically in his chest, but the adrenaline racing through his bloodstream had nothing to do with the two evil digimon who were stalking them from a short distance away. Instead, his inability to remain calm and composed was a direct result of the bizarre incident that had occurred between himself and Sam only a little while ago, and though it shouldn't have warranted so much of his attention, he couldn't stop thinking about what had happened after the raven-haired Digidestined had slipped and fallen on the ice.
The way he looked at me and touched my face...
Mickey had no idea what any of Sam's previous behaviour had meant, and feeling a little lost and confused, he was having a hard time convincing himself that the raven-haired Digidestined's actions were simply those of a concerned friend rather than a hint of something more intimate. Surely Sam only offered in an attempt to make him feel better. It had nothing to do with romance or anything of a similar nature...did it?
I don't know what made me say it, but...he was so calm about the whole thing. My words didn't even faze him in the slightest. In fact, he made it sound like he wanted to hold me close, despite the way I tried to deny my feelings. And he definitely didn't have an issue with me doing the same in return. Is it simply because he's trying to be supportive while I'm struggling, or was there some kind of hidden meaning behind his eagerness to honour my request?
There was no way for him to know for sure, and recognising the fact that he needed to focus on more important matters, like the evil celestial digimon who were currently putting his own partner on edge, he took a deep breath and slowly moved to join the rest of the Digidestined. Unfortunately, that was easier said than done, and blushing as he accidentally brushed up against Sam's coat, he quickly ducked his head and proceeded to gaze meekly at his boots.
He looked so handsome lying there in the snow, and when he reached for me to help support his weight, he felt so warm. I've never seen blue eyes sparkle the way his do, and the snow only emphasises their beauty. Plus, this icy landscape really shows off his dark hair and pale skin. Oh, Sam...you could never do anything wrong...
"It really is gorgeous, isn't it?" a voice suddenly said softly in his ear, the silky smooth tone creating a trail of goosebumps along the back of his neck.
The words had come from Sam, and feeling the blush on his face deepen, Mickey managed to gasp, "W-what is?"
"The scenery," the raven-haired Digidestined said dryly, looking amused. "What did you think I meant?"
You're being silly. It's not like he can read your mind. It's just a coincidence. Nothing more, nothing less.
"S-sorry, I just..."
"Worried about the digimon on our tail?" Sam asked, reaching out to place a gentle hand on his shoulder.
Somehow, Mickey managed to swallow the thick lump in his throat, and keeping his amber eyes averted, he mumbled, "They do have me on edge, especially because I can tell how much they're bothering Halomon and Celestimon."
Sam nodded in agreement, and turning simultaneously to look at the two celestial digimon who were hovering anxiously around Matty, they watched the little rookies in silence for a moment before the raven-haired Digidestined said slowly, "Yeah, I noticed that too. I guess we should be focusing on that rather than the scenery..."
I'm trying, but it's hard when you're standing next to me. Anytime you're close, I can't help but wonder what's going on inside your head. You were having such an intense conversation with Glowmon earlier, and then again with Matty and your parents. All three times, you looked so serious. Is it possible...I mean were you maybe...talking...about me?
Surely that wasn't the case, but if not, what else could Sam have been discussing with so many others?
Even if he was talking about me, I bet it's only because I'm making him worry about our friendship so much. Plus, my fears about Matty definitely aren't helping. If anything, I'm sure my attitude towards Matty is only adding to his fears.
Now that he thought about it, could that be the reason Sam was acting so protective of him lately?
He's being so conscientious of my feelings, and he's acting like he would do anything to keep me safe, but is he acting like that out of love or does he just not want to lose me as a friend? Either way, he's making it obvious he doesn't want to be without me. When he acts like that, how can I not want to grow closer to him?
Which brought him back to the most terrifying question of all. His heart had every intention of taking their relationship to the next level, but would Sam allow that or would the raven-haired Digidestined push him away?
I lied, Sam. Earlier, I hadn't been thinking of Lucemon at all. My thoughts were all about you...
"Mickey, are you okay?" Glowmon asked, sounding timid from where he perched safely in the curve of Sam's arms. "Lately you've been drifting off much more so than you usually do. Is something wrong?"
Mickey quickly shook his head, and giving the little digimon a reassuring pat on the head, he said softly, "No, I'm fine. I'm just trying not to let myself get worked up about our situation until I have to."
"Come on," Sam said gently, tugging lightly on his arm. "All the digimon in the village are heading this way. We should go and greet them with the others."
Realising the raven-haired Digidestined was right, Mickey quickly followed the other boy towards the centre of the village where a crowd that included the three Gotsumon lookalikes had started gathering, and catching his eye, Halomon quickly fluttered over to snuggle against his chest. All of the village digimon seemed eager to meet them, and hopping up and down on his feet, a digimon that looked remarkably like a chess piece said happily, "Humans! Oh, I've always wanted to meet one!"
"Same here," one of the Gotsumon-like digimon butted in. "Are you the one responsible for bringing them to us, Frigimon?"
That caught everyone's attention, and raising his eyebrows, Dai turned to the large digimon in question and said curiously, "You know these guys?"
"Right, we never did get to that," Frigimon chuckled, his tummy bouncing with laughter as he beamed at the smaller digimon beneath him. "It's like this. I know the digimon in this village. I come to visit them all the time whenever I take a trip to the Northern Hemisphere, and because of that I know the area around here pretty well. That's one of the reasons why Gennai asked me if I would be your guide for this mission."
"Nice," Embermon replied, looking impressed. "I guess that means you also know the Glacial Waterfalls area pretty well?"
Looking a little embarrassed, Frigimon sheepishly rubbed the back of his head before saying, "I guess it would be more accurate to say I know of them. I've never ventured in that far myself, but I'm pretty confident I can get us to where we need to go, especially with help from the Digivices and the townsfolk here."
"Is that why you guys came here today?" the chess digimon asked. "Is it because you need to know more about the orange light coming from the Glacial Waterfalls?"
"That and possibly a few other things," Izzy confirmed, smiling at the little rookie. "But the rest can wait until later this evening when I'm ready to get in touch with Gennai and my daughter. You wouldn't happen to know who would be the best digimon to talk to for more information, would you?"
"Sure," the chess digimon said easily while brandishing his small spear at an igloo that stood on a snowy hill to the north. It was larger than the rest and the furthest distance from the village square, indicating it likely housed a noteworthy digimon with strong ties to the surrounding area. "But before that, Frigimon should introduce us!"
"Ah, yes," the large digimon interjected, gesturing with his big hand. "These armoured digimon are PawnChessmon, the white version, and our Gotsumon lookalikes here are called Icemon. The little fairy digimon to T.K.'s left are called Luminamon, and our cold, fiery friends to Cody's right are BlueMeramon."
"It's nice to meet you all!" one of the Luminamon squeaked, bouncing happily in the air. "This is the most excitement we've had in a long time."
"A pleasure to meet you, as well," Hawkmon responded, bowing respectfully at the waist. "Would you be so kind as to guide us to your village leader?"
"Only if you play with us once you're finished talking!" one of the Icemon demanded. "We want to have a snowball fight!"
Ryoko and Matty exchanged looks, and smiling slightly, Ryoko said mildly, "Sounds like a plan to me. We could probably use a little bit of fun and a break from walking."
In response, the villagers all cheered in excitement, and motioning for them to follow him, one of the BlueMeramon said, "This way! I'm sure our village leader will be happy to see you all. Gennai speaks very highly of you, after all."
Mickey felt rather flattered by that comment, and following after Sam and Matty, it was all he could do to stay focused on the current issue. As much as he wanted to meet the village elder, his heart was focused on the two boys walking ahead of him. They were his everything, and he was in danger of losing them both.
I need to focus. Matty's not going anywhere right this second, even if he is frustrated with me, and Sam doesn't seem to have any intentions of leaving me either. I can worry about all of that once we have a plan in place for my Spirit Chip.
And besides, the view was pretty spectacular.
The igloo on the hill was massive compared to the other igloos, and though most of the other digimon remained back at the square, one of the Icemon and one of the PawnChessmon had decided to follow along and join the discussion. Along with BlueMeramon, they had quite a nice little group, and just as they reached the igloo's doorstep, Celestimon fluttered over to Izzy's side and said, "Those two celestial digimon who are following us have moved off again."
"Still continuing their unsavoury tactics, I see," Tentomon scoffed, his disapporving tone indicating exactly what he thought of their enemies. "You were right, Izzy."
"As I said before, I'm pretty sure they're going to be popping in and out all night," Izzy reminded the group. "I don't think we have anything to worry about right now, but best to keep an eye out later in the evening."
Having settled the matter, the group proceeded to enter the massive igloo, and following behind BlueMeramon, they were led to a large room at the back. It was nice to be out of the wind, and holding Halomon tightly in his arms, Mickey was one of the last to step inside the icy chamber. The sight that greeted him made his jaw drop open in surprise, and gazing at the female digimon who stood upon a dais at the opposite end of the room, he had to admit she made quite a powerful sight. Dressed in full armour and wielding a deadly weapon, the female mega carried herself in a way that was both majestic and intimidating, and turning to address them, she beckoned the group forward and said calmly, "Come, sit and make yourselves at home. You have arrived, just as Gennai instructed you would."
Feeling a little nervous, Mickey moved to sit on one of the icy benches that looked towards the dais, and immediately he was joined by Sam and Matty. The two boys were quick to sit on either side of him with their partners in their laps, and glancing at the opposite bench where his mother and father sat with Ryoko and their digimon, he blinked as his mother bowed before taking a seat and said respectfully, "It's a honour to meet you. The digimon here have informed us that you are the village leader and that you may be able to help us?"
"If your intention is to travel to the Glacial Waterfalls, I would be happy to offer you my assistance," the female digimon answered, her armour gleaming in the late afternoon sunshine filtering through the open windows lining the west wall. "My name is Dianamon, and for many generations I have watched over this village in the Northern Hemisphere. I preside over water and ice, two sides to the same element. We are a village of the snow, and when the night falls upon us, the moon is our guide. The light of the Spirit Chip has watched over us for some time now, but the moment has come to return it to its rightful owner. Do not be deceived. An innocent heart is a strong heart. Any perceived weakness resides in those who would underestimate the purity of a single soul that has the ability to shine light within the darkness of humankind."
She's...talking about me?
Mickey felt a sudden lump in his throat, and realising everybody had turned to look at him, he immediately felt his face heat up. There was no denying her compliment meant a lot to him, but even so he couldn't help wondering if she was overestimating his abilities to fight against the darkness.
I know what Matty would say. Even now, I can see it on his face. He thinks I don't give myself enough credit, but I can't help doubting my strength when so much of what's most important to me feels like it's slipping out of my grasp.
"I couldn't have described Mickey better myself," Takara said softly, beaming at the female mega. "Wouldn't you agree, Dovemon?"
"Oh, absolutely," the little bird digimon replied.
Takara and Dovemon were sitting on a bench ahead of Ryoko's group with Cody, Rosa, and their digimon partners, which left Izzy, Mina, Dai, and their partners to occupy the bench at the head that sat closest to Dianamon. In front of Mickey, Yolei and Ken were sitting with their partners, and that left Frigimon, who had the bench to the left of Dai's group at the front all to himself. BlueMeramon, Icemon, and PawnChessmon were all gathered around Dianamon, and speaking in a pleasant tone, the female mega said, "Shall we begin then?"
"Please do," Mina insisted, leaning forward in her seat. "The Glacial Waterfalls sounds like an intriguing place."
It does sound beautiful, but at the same time I have a feeling it's also cold and void of life...
"As lovely as it appears to the eye, do not underestimate the harsh environment of the Northern Hemisphere," Dianamon warned, her steady gaze surveying each occupant in the room. "The path you intend to traverse will not be an easy one, but be that as it may, luckily you have Frigimon to act as your guide. I must say, it is lovely to see you again."
"You as well, Dianamon," Frigimon replied, beaming at the female mega. "It's been a while, and I'm happy to be back. I will certainly do my best to make sure the Digidestined safely reach their goal no matter what dangers await us on our journey."
The snowy digimon's words were sincere, and though that was his cue to start paying attention, Mickey was having a hard time trying to concentrate on the conversation at hand. Most of his inability to focus was Sam's fault, and sensing the other boy's closeness, he couldn't help feeling a little flustered. It reminded him of the way Sam had held him close at the abandoned settlement earlier in the afternoon, and once again the raven-haired Digidestined's warm body was wreaking havoc on his nerves.
No matter how hard I try, I can't seem to stop myself from reacting every single time he touches me, even if it's purely accidental.
Back at the settlement, Sam hadn't hesitated to press right up against him, and despite the fact that a bench that size was typically meant to seat two people, not once had the raven-haired Digidestined mentioned the lack of room for three to sit comfortably together. Instead, Sam had simply pulled him closer to offer support, and that lovely embrace was still tingling through his nervous system.
He's not sitting quite as close this time, but to be fair, our bench is also longer. I don't really have an excuse to move closer, but maybe he won't mind if I inch over just a little bit?
Before he could work up the courage to try his luck, Matty suddenly nudged him over, and succumbing to physics, he found himself brushing up against Sam's side. A quick look at the younger twin indicated the light push was intentional, and blushing Mickey managed to give his brother a shy smile. Clearly, Matty had read his mind, and knowing the younger twin was still trying to support him despite their issues, he couldn't help feeling a bit guilty inside. He truly did feel bad about the fact that he was causing his twin a lot of frustration, perhaps unfairly so, and knowing Matty deserved more from him, he made a mental note to apologise to his twin for allowing his fears to drive a wedge between them. He knew better than anybody he needed to get his act together, but that didn't stop him from wanting to drive home the seriousness of their situation.
I just want to protect you, Matty. I know I'm making you worry about me, but I feel the same about you. How can we meet in the middle to avoid hurting each other?
It was a difficult question, and feeling a pair of eyes on him, Mickey slowly looked up, his heart fluttering anxiously in his chest. Immediately, he locked eyes with Sam, and taking note of their close proximity to one another, the raven-haired Digidestined said lightly, "Everything okay?"
Mickey felt his blush deepen, and nodding, he mumbled, "Same as always."
It was difficult to tell whether Sam was happy or annoyed at the physical contact they were now sharing thanks to Matty, and unable to read the neutral expression on his friend's face, Mickey quickly ducked his head and proceeded to stare miserably at the floor. Just as he was about to move away again, Sam gently slipped an arm around him, and tugging him closer, the raven-haired Digidestined whispered, "Keep making faces like that and I'll never let you go."
I guess that means he doesn't mind?
Feeling somewhat relieved, Mickey allowed himself to relax against Sam's ribcage, and shifting on his lap, Halomon said sternly, "You shouldn't make Sam worry so much. You're going to owe him a lot of hugs after this."
"Halomon!"
"I'll take as many as I can get," Sam joked, smiling fondly at him.
Unfortunately, the cold did nothing to stop the heat spreading on his cheeks, and poking his digimon partner, he mumbled, "If you keep that up you're going to give me away."
"You say that like it's a bad thing," Halomon giggled, squirming away from him to snuggle with Glowmon in Sam's lap.
At this point, Halomon had dropped a couple of hints to Sam, but as far as Mickey could tell, the raven-haired Digidestined hadn't picked up on any of the clues. At least, not yet. Sooner or later, though, he knew his luck would run out, which was why he couldn't help wondering if Halomon would eventually give away his secret before he could say something himself.
Maybe that wouldn't be a bad thing...
"The road to the Glacial Waterfalls has its own set of challenges that you will need to traverse before you reach your goal, but I am confident you will do so admirably," Dianamon continued, her tone indicating she felt confident in their ability to work as a team. "The path is riddled with ice and snowdrifts, and you will have to make your way through the mountains to reach the valley where the light of the Spirit Chip shines brightly in the distance. The orange glow is located in a basin where the icy waters of the mountains join as one. If you head east into the mountain pass, the Digivices will guide you to your destination. There are many abandoned caves and settlements along the way should you require respite from the cold and a chance to rest. The thick trees should also help to conceal you somewhat. Follow the river and your Digivices will do the rest. That is all I can tell you. The rest is for you to discover on your own."
"That's more than what we were expecting," Alopemon commented, looking impressed. "Hopefully we won't have too much trouble finding the Spirit Chip once we reach the valley."
"Sounds easy enough," Candlemon agreed.
"If you don't count the effort required to get there in the first place," Gatomon said dryly, her expression indicating she was expecting a long and difficult journey.
Mickey wasn't quite sure what to think, and glancing at his parents, he found himself studying his father with careful scrutiny. For some reason, the older man looked as if there was something weighing heavily on his mind, and holding Patamon close, the golden-haired Digidestined said quietly, "Plenty of time for our enemies to toy with us."
"Is something wrong, T.K.?" Patamon asked, gazing anxiously at his partner.
At first, the older man didn't respond, and sensing movement, Mickey turned to look at his brother. The younger twin was frowning at their father, and sounding hesitant, Matty said slowly, "Seriously, Dad. What's up? Something bugging you about the Spirit Chip?"
"Not exactly," their father said slowly, sounding almost reluctant to speak. "I just wondered if...they'll try to use me too..."
"You mean because of your past?" Cody asked, glancing sharply at his DNA partner.
His...past?
Mickey felt his heart stop, and grabbing onto Sam's arm for support, he turned to his father and said quietly, "Is this about Devimon or maybe...the Dark Ocean?"
"I don't think so," the older man replied, though he didn't sound convinced. "Then again, I'm sure they probably know about my past. It wouldn't surprise me if they tried to use that information to cause you further distress."
Wait...does that mean...
"You know you can't just say something like that and not tell us about it now, right?" Matty shot back, his gloved hands clenching into tight fists. "I think we've waited long enough to hear your story."
"I know, and trust me, I've learned from experience over these last few Spirit Chips that nothing good comes from hiding the truth," their father replied, a deep sigh escaping his lips. "Better you hear the story from me rather than one of our enemies."
The words were a breath of fresh air, and gazing hopefully at the older man, Mickey said shyly, "Does that mean you're finally going to tell us about your past?"
"I will, but let's leave that for this evening."
"Probably a story best left for after dinner," their mother added, her smile indicating she was glad her husband had finally made the decision to tell his children the truth about his experiences with the Powers of Darkness.
As much as he was afraid of what he might learn, Mickey felt somewhat like a heavy weight had been lifted off his shoulders, and glancing at Matty, he could tell his brother felt the same. On his other side, Sam moved even closer to give him an encouraging squeeze, and taking note of the warm hand that was trailing gently down his arm, he had to bite his lip to stop a gasp from escaping his throat. Chances were, the raven-haired Digidestined's gesture of support was merely that and nothing more, but the molten trail of fire those fingers had left in their wake was almost more than he could handle.
I just want to snuggle in his arms with my eyes closed and escape from all of this...
"So, when should we head out?" Yolei asked, directing her question at Izzy. "Not tonight, I assume."
"It would be best to start your journey in the morning," Dianamon suggested. "As such, I humbly request that you make use of this igloo for the night. It has plenty of space and there are hot springs out back to sooth your tired bodies should you feel the need to do so."
"Not going to lie, that does sound pretty enticing at the moment," Rosa laughed, rubbing her arms in an effort to stay warm.
"No kidding," Yolei agreed, leaning over the aisle to whisper in the younger woman's ear. "She had me sold at hot."
Truthfully, the last thing Mickey wanted to do was bath in a hot spring, especially if Sam intended on joining him.
It's not that I wouldn't love the experience, especially with this gorgeous landscape all around us. In fact, I would love to share that kind of moment with Sam, but I just don't have the mental capacity for such a potentially delicate situation right now...
That was something to worry about for the future. Right now he just wanted the other boy to hold him close and take comfort in the knowledge that the feeling was mutual.
If it's not, I don't know what I'll do...
"As much as the hot springs sound like a great idea, we should probably start dinner," Cody announced, climbing quickly to his feet. "Best to do that before the sun fully sets."
"And while you're doing that, you can play with us!" the little Icemon butted in, his eagerness to start a snowball fight having not been forgotten.
"is there any way to cook a decent meal around here?" Armadillomon asked, looking amused.
BlueMeramon was quick to chime in, and gesturing out the window, he said, "We also have a big bonfire burning in the centre square during the evenings. That's where we cook our meals when we want something hot."
"We'll even treat you to a feast so you don't have to do the cooking!" PawnChessmon offered.
"A hot meal and snowball fight it is!" Gotsumon cheered, his enthusiasm quickly earning favour with Dai who insisted on picking the teams.
Mickey wasn't sure he had the energy to participate in a snowball fight, and turning around to look at him, Ken said gently, "Don't push yourself if you're not up to it. The Icemon will have plenty of extra players if you need to sit this one out."
"Dad's right," Sam insisted, pulling back slightly so they could look at one another. "You need your rest, now more than ever."
Mickey immediately felt a sense of relief in his chest, and shifting so he could place his hand on Matty's shoulder, he said timidly, "Is that okay?"
"Of course it's okay!" the younger twin replied, his amber eyes sparkling with emotion. "Take all the time you need. Whatever you want."
Matty...
Feeling a sudden spark of affection for his brother, Mickey quickly slipped under the younger twin's arm to give the golden-haired boy a tight squeeze, which Matty quickly returned. It made him feel warm inside, and knowing he had the younger twin's full support eased the tension between them somewhat. Chances were, the improved atmosphere wouldn't last forever, but despite that he was going to take advantage of it while he still had the chance.
"Come on, let's head outside and start the fire!" PawnChessmon called out, moving quickly towards the open door.
Mickey was one of the last to leave his seat, and as Halomon fluttered next to his shoulder, he could feel Sam's eyes on the back of his head. There were a lot of things he needed to think about, but as much as he wanted desperately to share his fears with the raven-haired Digidestined, he wasn't quite sure how to do so without giving himself away.
And on top of everything else, my dad has finally agreed to tell us his story. I've been waiting a long time to hear what he has to say, but now that he's ready to talk, why do I suddenly feel like I don't want to know the truth?
He could think of a few reasons, but the most important one made him feel like the truth had the potential to send his heart spirailing even closer to the darkness he was trying so hard to escape.
The same darkness that had the potential to destroy everyone and everything he loved...