I don't own Digimon.
A/N: This chapter will be a little bit of an interlude, but I found it's the best break between POVs to prevent the next chapter from feeling super choppy. Hope you enjoy this little calm before the storm!
Following the Footsteps of Destiny
Chapter 328: A Clue From Within
Masato 'Matty' Takaishi
Net, Northern Hemisphere, Digital World
Unable to concentrate, Matty let out a frustrated sigh before throwing his notebook off to the side, and glancing curiously at him, Celestimon said in his adorably sweet voice, "Something wrong?"
Everything's wrong!
That was, of course, a bit dramatically untrue, but at the moment doing school work seemed like a trivial waste of time compared to the current issues he needed to deal with. Between DarkAngelicmon, the Spirit Chip, Sam, his father's past, and his somewhat frustrating but loveable twin brother, he now had to worry about a suspicious beast digimon who may or may not be working for the Ruler of Darkness and two fallen angels who were driving him crazy with their scare tactics.
Can't a guy get a break around here? Seriously, why do bad things always have to happen all at once?
Since he was unlikely to receive an answer on that front, there was no use in worrying about it. If anything, there were other matters that required his attention, most of which revolved around his brother. The most pressing issue was the relationship between Sam and Mickey, as he was certain if the situation wasn't resolved between the two, it would alter Mickey's mental state in a harmful and negative way. Not only would that prove disastrous with regards to obtaining the Spirit Chip of Innocence, but more importantly, it had the potential to destroy the older twin's heart if the matter wasn't dealt with properly.
It's definitely the kind of thing that needs a careful and sensitive approach, and while I trust Sam to handle my brother's feelings with the utmost care, I still worry that Mickey will take it really hard if he doesn't get the answer he's hoping for. Either that or he'll misinterpret Sam's intentions and cause himself a lot of unnecessary pain when in reality the two of them were on the same page the whole time. Either scenario seems likely, and that's what worries me most of all. No matter what Sam's final response is, I feel like things are going to go downhill either way...
After all, in any situation things always tended to get worse before they got better, but in this case they couldn't afford to let Mickey fall into a pit of despair. If they did, the older twin might not find a way to overcome is own insecurities before it was too late to leave the darkness behind.
This really sucks, but...what can I do? I can't force Sam to love Mickey, and I doubt either one of them would appreciate it even if I tried to make the impossible happen.
"You've got your thinking face on," Celestimon informed him, looking amused. "What's on your mind?"
At the moment, Matty was sitting on his sleeping bag with his back nestled against the icy wall in a cozy room that was located near the rear of Dianamon's large igloo, and wrinkling his nose, he muttered, "I don't care what Yolei says. There's no way I can concentrate on homework tonight."
"Worried about Mickey?" Celestimon asked, his expression immediately growing much more somber at the response he received.
Matty nodded in agreement, and holding the little rookie gently in his arms, he said in a low voice, "I'm worried about a lot of things, but...I guess if you think about it, most of them revolve around Mickey. Right now, the main issue that bothers me is the tension between Sam and my brother. It's probably the most relevant problem that needs solving right at this moment. The other things will have to wait because if I think about them too much and try to solve them all at once, I know better than anyone I'm setting myself up for failure. One thing at a time, right?"
"Exactly," Celestimon agreed. "Right now, there's nothing we can do about that suspicious beast digimon who showed up to poke around the village earlier or the fallen angels trying to intimidate us, and there's also nothing we can do about your dad's past until he's ready to tell us his story. DarkAngelicmon's a lost cause until we at least have a chance to see him in person again, and the same is true for the Spirit Chip. Nothing we can do there until we have an opportunity to get our hands on it. If your aim is to do something other than homework, that means you should focus on what you can do right now in the present."
"Sam and Mickey?"
Celestimon beamed at him, and cuddling close, the little rookie said, "You got it! If you want to spend your time in a meaningful way, that would be a good start. You never know, anything you can achieve now with those two might have a positive impact in the future."
There was some truth to that statement, and glancing around the surprisingly warm interior of their unique sleeping chambers, Matty took note of the other occupants and the activities they were currently engaged in to pass the time before bed. Across the room to his left, Dai and Takara were cuddled together with their digimon partners and their notebooks laying open on their laps. It looked like the female Digidestined was attempting to explain something to her goggle-headed boyfriend, but whether or not the words were actually making sense was another matter entirely. If anything, Dai looked more like he was memorising the beauty of Takara's elegant features rather than solving math problems, which brought a smile to Matty's face. A few feet away to the right, Mickey was curled up in his sleeping bag, and having finished his homework, the older twin was doodling in his sketchbook as he lay on his side with an elbow propped up to rest his chin in his hand. Halomon was snuggled against Mickey's chest, and ever the faithful cousin, Ryoko was sitting up in his sleeping bag with Alopemon, his watchful blue gaze monitoring the older twin's facial expressions for any signs of distress. Wrapped up in his drawing, Mickey didn't appear to notice he was being observed, despite the fact that Ryoko was sitting right up against his back. Since he was splitting his concentration between the older twin and his notes, Ryoko wasn't quite finished with his homework, and turning his attention towards the door, Matty could hear the sound of voices filtering down the hallway from the meeting hall.
They're still going at it?
As far as he knew, Izzy and the rest of the adults, along with Frigimon and their digimon partners, were still chatting with Dianamon and the villagers about the shady beast digimon who had wandered into their territory, but that still left one member of their group unaccounted for.
Where did he go?
Sam had been the first to finish his homework, and Matty had just assumed the raven-haired Digidestined had gone off to join the adults, but maybe that wasn't the case?
Hmm...should I be worried? I don't hear his voice out there...
Before he could contemplate the matter any further, Hawkmon fluttered into the room, and settling himself on a small desk, the bird digimon said pleasantly, "Yolei has asked me to inquire how your homework is coming along."
"Are you acting as her spy?" Dai demanded, sounding suspicious.
Takara laughed at that, and smiling at Hawkmon, the female Digidestined said, "We're almost there. By the looks of it Mickey's already done, and I'm sure Ryoko is well on his way to being finished."
"And what about you, Matty?" Hawkmon asked, ignoring the goggle-headed leader's bold accusation.
Matty jumped at the sudden question, and trying not to look guilty, he said defensively, "I'm getting there! We can't all be fast like Sam."
"Speaking of Sam, where is he?" Ryoko asked curiously, glancing around the room as if he fully expected the raven-haired Digidestined to suddenly appear out of thin air.
That was the exact question Matty wanted to know the answer to, and since he figured it probably would have looked a bit suspicious to Mickey if he asked, he was glad Ryoko had done all the work for him.
If I could just talk to him again...
"Sam informed Yolei earlier that he was going to make use of the hot springs this evening," Hawkmon answered, ruffling his feathers. "Since he was able to finish his homework in a timely manner, Yolei agreed that was fine as long as he took Glowmon with him."
Really? I'm surprised she'd let him go on his own, even with Glowmon. Wait, no! That's perfect! If I go now, I might be able to catch him...
Having decided the matter, despite not putting much thought into what he might actually say or do once he confronted Sam, Matty quickly glanced at his brother to judge the older twin's reaction. Since Mickey was blushing furiously and trying desperately to hide his pink cheeks at the mention of Sam lounging in the water, he figured his twin likely wasn't going anywhere near the hot springs that evening, and since Ryoko and Dai still hadn't finished their homework, there was a good chance if he left now he could have a moment alone with Sam. Takara wasn't an issue regardless of her homework status, which meant now was the perfect opportunity to put his plan, or lack thereof, into motion.
I don't want to do anything dumb, but if I could just get Sam to open up a bit more...
"Is that a good idea?" Dai asked, a small frown appearing on the goggle-headed leader's handsome face. "Not that I'm questioning Yolei's judgement or anything. Are you kidding me, she'd let me have it if I did something like that, but...I dunno. I just don't like the thought of Sam and Glowmon being on their own, especially because those two fallen angel digimon keep hanging around the village. They're like a bad stench that refuses to go away."
"They did leave briefly after we put out the fire, but they're back again now," Celestimon informed the group. "They don't feel close enough to pose a threat to Sam, but still, I agree. It's best to stick together at times like this."
Having just given him the perfect excuse to leave, Matty could have hugged Dai right then and there, and sitting up straight, he said casually, "If you all feel that strongly about it, I can go hang out with Sam. Not gonna lie, I could definitely use a hot bath right about now."
"What about your homework?" Mickey asked, sounding quite timid.
Does he suspect I'm up to something?
It wouldn't surprise him if that was the case, and wanting to reassure his brother that he wasn't up to anything harmful or suspicious, he said warmly, "Can't concentrate right now to save my life. I'll finish it when I come back. A hot soak will definitely help me relax and clear my head."
"That's just an excuse not to do your homework," Ryoko scolded, giving him a disapproving look.
"It is not!"
"I feel like I should discipline you for attempting to skip out on your work, but I suppose I'll let it slide this time and refrain from mentioning the incident to Yolei," Hawkmon said dryly, his tone dripping with amusement. "But only on the condition that Sam is well taken care of."
Seriously!?
Matty beamed at the little bird digimon, and climbing to his feet, he said in a rush, "That's definitely something you don't have to worry about. Thanks, Hawkmon."
"Better leave now before Yolei comes to check on you herself," Hawkmon warned, gazing fondly at him before quickly fluttering back out of the room.
Matty could sense all of his friends watching him with obvious curiosity as he rushed towards the door, though none of them attempted to ask him any further questions. Having abandoned his sketchbook, Mickey looked like he was about to explode with fear and uncertainty, and quickly leaning down to whisper in his twin's ear, Matty said quietly, "Relax, you know I wouldn't do anything to hurt you. I just want to make sure he's okay, especially since I can tell you're not ready to go check on him yourself."
"I know," Mickey whispered back, reaching up to hug him tightly around the neck. "Thank you, I appreciate it."
The warmth and sincerity in those words made Matty feel warm inside, and carrying Celestimon in his arms, he stepped out of the room and quickly headed down the narrow corridor leading off to the left that led to the hot springs. Though he did have an ulterior motive for going, that didn't make his statement any less truthful. For Mickey's sake, he absolutely wanted to make sure Sam was okay, especially because he knew there was no way the older twin could ever bring himself to enter the hot springs on his own. Not now, and not with just Sam for company, especially with their relationship hanging in the balance. Mickey wasn't ready for that yet, and he probably wouldn't be for quite some time to come. As a result, Matty knew he needed to step up to the plate, and while doing so, he figured it wouldn't hurt to see if Sam might accidentally let something slip.
A carefully worded phrase, a slip of the tongue, a spark of emotion in his eyes...I swear I'll take anything at this point.
"You're sneaky," Celestimon scolded, giving him a look. "If Yolei finds out about this, you're going to be in big trouble."
Not feeling the least bit guilty, Matty rolled his eyes before stripping out of his clothes, and shivering like a leaf as he moved to grab a clean towel from one of the cubby holes, he said nonchalantly, "She'll get over it. I'm taking one for the team. What's so bad about that?"
"When I said to focus on Sam and Mickey, I didn't mean at the cost of leaving your homework undone," Celestimon said dryly, shaking his head.
"Actually, you kind of did."
"Not in a forever sense!"
The little digimon was sitting on the edge of the counter, his back reflecting in the mirrors lining the icy walls, and glancing towards the open door that led to the outdoor area where the hot springs were located, Matty chose to ignore that comment. The change room itself was a small alcove jutting out from the main structure, and due to the open door it was cold and required a pair of slippers to navigate the chilly floor. The last thing he wanted was frostbite on his toes, and carefully stepping outside onto the rocky ground surrounding two large pools of heated water, he paused for a moment to allow his vision to adjust to the steam billowing beneath the awning that was meant to protect the entryway from a buildup of too much snow. Luckily, the sky had mostly cleared for the evening, and stepping out from underneath the awning, Matty lifted his head to gaze at the stars. He could see them twinkling brightly in the night sky, and taking a moment to appreciate the view, he almost forgot he was standing motionless out in the cold with nothing but slippers and a towel on. The view was absolutely breathtaking, and shivering in the chilly breeze, he figured it was probably best not to linger too long if he didn't want to freeze to death.
Now, where's Sam?
A quick glance at the hot spring to the left did not yield any results, and turning to the spring bubbling on the right, Matty spotted a flash of pale skin at the far end of the pool. In the darkness, he could just make out a head of raven hair, and having spotted his target, he slowly stepped towards the water with Celestimon hovering just over his shoulder. Sam was lounging comfortably in the hot pool with his elbow resting on the rocks surrounding the spring, and a few feet away Matty could just make out a fluffy white towel and a pair of slippers that were thrown haphazardly to the side a while earlier. At the moment, Sam's eyes were closed and his head was leaning back against the rocks, and studying the raven-haired Digidestined's handsome features, Matty wasn't quite sure how best to approach the other boy.
He did really want to know what was going on in Sam's head, but not at the cost of hurting Mickey.
The last thing I want to do is cause more issues between them, but maybe if I just play it cool, Sam will open up a bit and start talking about Mickey without me having to ask? Ugh, I have no idea what I'm doing, but I guess it's too late to turn back now.
At the end of the day, he just wanted to know if there was even the smallest possibility that Sam could have feelings for Mickey, but how was he supposed to get his point across without sounding like he was trying to pry into the raven-haired Digidestined's personal life?
If I could just give Mickey at least some hope that there might be a chance...
"Oh!" a small voice gasped, sounding pleased to see them. "Have you come to join us?"
Huh?
Matty blinked, and spotting Glowmon sitting on the rocks near Sam's head, he said sheepishly, "Uh...yeah. Sorry, Glowmon. Didn't see you there."
"That's okay. It is pretty dark out here," the little rookie responded, his small body lighting up with pleasure. "I know! Let's all go in the water together!"
"Count me in!" Celestimon cheered, his fluffy ears wiggling in excitement.
Before Matty could stop the little angel, Celestimon dive-bombed into the water, sending drops of water flying everywhere, and giggling in response, Glowmon quickly hopped in after his fellow digimon.
Somehow, Matty managed to avoid most of the spray, and cracking open an eye, Sam looked at him and said dryly, "Skipping out on homework?"
"Hey! How do you know I didn't finish it and that's why I decided to come out here!"
Sam raised his eyebrows at the heated remark, and conceding defeat, Matty quickly kicked off his slippers and threw his towel aside before slowly lowering himself into the hot water. Almost immediately, his shivers subsided, and feeling his muscles relax, he let out a happy sigh and grumbled, "I couldn't concentrate."
"That makes two of us," the raven-haired Digidestined murmured, though the words didn't sound like they were meant to be overheard.
Maybe he's thinking about Mickey?
Attempting to lighten the mood, Matty joked, "What? You too?"
"Nice try, but my homework's done," Sam drawled, sounding amused. "If my mother finds out you bailed on your work, you're on your own."
"Ouch. Talk about cold."
"Not as cold as it is out here."
Though the words were playful and friendly, the smile on Sam's face didn't quite reach his eyes, and uncertain of how to proceed, Matty took a moment to gather his thoughts. The raven-haired Digidestined's cheeks were pink from the heat of the hot springs, and though at first glance everything about Sam's behaviour seemed relaxed and carefree, there was something about his posture that suggested his calm demeanour was more of a facade than a glimpse of reality. The raven-haired Digidestined's pale skin looked almost too white against the snow, and his sapphire eyes were too dark against the night sky. And yet, despite his almost granite-like appearance, the sharp ridges of Sam's tense body did nothing to take away from his handsome features and slender silhouette. It was easy to see why Mickey had fallen so hard for the dark-haired boy, and feeling a little nervous, Matty hesitated to move closer.
Did Sam suspect the real reason why he had come?
If he has, that would explain why he seems so on edge...
Or maybe Sam wasn't tense at all and he was only imagining things?
"Come join us, Matty!" Celestimon called out, his small head bobbing in the water. "It's nice over here near the trees!"
Matty had to admit the snow covered pine trees lining the far side of the pool did look inviting, and carefully wading through the water towards his partner, he patted the little rookie's head before slowly settling himself next to Sam. The raven-haired Digidestined didn't seem particularly annoyed by his presence, and leaning back against the stones, he said lightly, "I'm surprised your mom let you and Glowmon come out here all by yourselves in the first place."
"I don't know if I can really say she did," Sam replied, laughing softly. "It took a lot of convincing on my end. She didn't want to at first, but with a little help from Dad, she finally caved."
"Makes sense. Trust Ken to know when a guy needs some time to himself."
"Yes, he's good like that," Sam agreed, smiling fondly at the mention of his dad. "Were you worried about me again?"
Surprisingly, the raven-haired Digidestined wasn't making any attempt to avoid his eyes, and deciding a bold approach was probably the best course of action, Matty said bluntly, "Of course I was. You don't usually up and disappear on us like this. You should be grateful, you know. I sacrificed my homework for you. I'll probably get in trouble for this."
Plus, that's not the only reason I came out here...
"I am grateful," Sam murmured, turning his head slightly to gaze off into the distance. "I take it Mickey's also worried about me?"
Off to his left, Celestimon and Glowmon were still happily playing in the water, and crossing his arms over his chest, Matty snorted, "What do you think? He's always worried about you when you're not acting like yourself. Nothing new there."
"Am I not acting like myself?"
The question caught Matty off guard, and uncertain of how to proceed, he said hesitantly, "A bit. You seem like...all tense and stuff. I figured it was just cause you have the same fears about Mickey that I do, but...maybe I'm wrong?"
"That's part of it," Sam sighed, his raven head once again falling back against the stones, "But...I guess it's not the only reason."
So what's the other reason?
Matty wanted desperately to ask, but despite his eagerness to know he figured it was probably best not to rush the raven-haired Digidestined. Chances were he would learn more if he let Sam speak on his own terms, and stretching out in the water, he said simply, "All Mickey related, I bet."
I literally can't think of anything else that would bother him this much.
As a comfortable silence fell between them, Matty took note of the way Sam seemed surprised by his words, and studying him closely, the raven-haired Digidestined said quietly, "I'm sure you saw Mickey sitting with your parents earlier. What do you think they were talking about?"
So he did notice. I can't say for sure, but I think I have a pretty good idea what Mickey was saying to them...
That being said, Matty didn't want to assume either, and truthfully he was actually more interested in what Sam thought the trio had discussed by the fire. It was worth keeping in mind, and turning the question around, he said nonchalantly, "I was actually wondering the same thing. Any ideas?"
Sam shifted slightly in the water, and slowly shaking his head, the raven-haired Digidestined said quietly, "At first I thought Mickey was just wondering when your dad was going to tell us about his past, but...the longer they talked, the more Mickey seemed a bit...embarrassed? That to me suggests maybe it was something else, since I don't see why anything to do with your dad would make him act so flustered. I don't even know if that's the right word to use, but Mickey definitely seemed...emotional, I guess, which would fall in line with fretting about your dad's past."
"Are you worried they were talking about you?"
For a moment, Sam simply stared at him in silence, and then lowering his eyes to the water, the raven-haired Digidestined whispered, "Do you think they were?"
Huh, so he cares about what my parents think of him. Not that he wouldn't even if he just wanted to be friends with Mickey, but still...he definitely seems extra sensitive about their feelings towards him...
"Does it matter?"
"What do you mean?" Sam asked, looking suddenly confused.
Keeping his arms crossed over his chest, Matty turned his gaze towards the trees, and feeling strangely comforted by the raven-haired Digidestined's close presence beside him, he said calmly, "Let's say they were talking about you. I don't see why that should give you any reason to be worried. You know my parents love you just as much as they love me and my siblings. They've always treated you like their own son, and you know as well as I do that Mickey would never ever say anything negative about you to anybody, no matter who they are. If anything was said about you, it would have all been positive."
"That really means a lot to me, you know," Sam murmured, his sapphire eyes beginning to sparkle with a hint of emotion. "The fact that your parents care about me so much. Honestly, more than I can say. There aren't really any words to describe it."
Matty could tell from the raven-haired Digidestined's tone that he meant every word of it, and reaching out to put a hand on Sam's shoulder, he said casually, "I'm glad you feel that way. So, now that we've established how awesome you are, is there any reason why Mickey and my parents would be talking about you in the first place? I assume something must have happened for you to think that."
"No, nothing like that," Sam replied a little too quickly. "I just...with the way things have been going lately between Mickey and myself, I figured it might be a possibility."
For the first time since entering the hot springs, Matty detected a hint of a blush on the raven-haired Digidestined's cheeks, and raising his eyebrows, he said, "Speaking of that, how are things going between you and Mickey lately? Nothing I need to worry about, I hope."
"We're fine," Sam assured him, though once again the words sounded a little too hasty. "I don't think anything's really changed since the last time you and I spoke. Mickey and I are still close even if things are a bit tense right now, and I'm still going to protect him. You definitely don't need to worry about that."
"No, it's not that. You know I trust you. I just...wish I could do more for you, I guess..."
Especially if it means you'll find it in your heart to love my brother...
At his words, Sam didn't hesitate to put an arm around him, and leaning into his shoulder, the raven-haired Digidestined said firmly, "You've already done more than enough. I'm sorry for making you worry all the time."
Matty shrugged, and letting out a soft sigh, he said, "No more so than Mickey does. I'm just glad you're not avoiding me anymore."
"I wasn't avoiding you!" Sam protested, his cheeks immediately turning a darker shade of red at the accusation.
The guilty look on the raven-haired Digidestined's face said otherwise, and pulling Sam back as the other boy made an attempt to slip away from him, he said dryly, "You were. Did you honestly think I wouldn't notice? I still don't know why, though. Care to explain?"
I think it's about time you finally told me the truth. You've been better later, but I haven't forgotten the way you were acting so hesitant around me earlier. It was almost like you were afraid to make me angry or something. Even now, it still doesn't make sense to me...
Realising there was no escaping his iron grip, Sam reluctantly settled back against his shoulder and mumbled, "I was...afraid."
"Why?"
What in the Digiworld could possibly make him feel so scared of me?
"This is going to sound silly, but I was terrified of...not hurting Mickey exactly, but of doing something to make you hate me," Sam finally admitted, his expression crumbling with pent up emotion. "If I were to lose you, it would be just as horrible as losing Mickey, and I don't think I'd be able to stand not having you in my life."
"Oh, Sam," Glowmon cried, coming over with Celestimon to join them. "You should know by now that would never happen."
Definitely not. I...don't even know what to say, but I'm glad he finally worked up the courage to tell me at least some of what's been on his mind over the last few weeks.
Matty could feel his heart melting at the raven-haired Digidestined's obvious distress, and forcing Sam to look him in the eyes, he said firmly, "Listen to me. I don't know what exactly brought this on, but I want to make one thing very clear to you. It doesn't matter why you felt that way towards me, nor do I expect you to tell me the reason, because it doesn't change anything. There is only one possible thing in the whole world that you could ever do that would genuinely make me angry at you. Do you know what that is?"
"What?" Sam whispered, his sapphire eyes flashing as he tried desperately to maintain his composure.
"If you were to distance yourself from Mickey in any way for any reason, I don't know if I could forgive you for that."
For a moment, there was dead silence between them, and then letting out a gasp of air, Sam said in a trembling voice, "You really mean that?"
"Definitely, so I'd appreciate it if you would stop acting like I'm about to bite your head off or something."
Sam let out a breath that sounded halfway between a laugh and a sob, and covering his face with his hands, the raven-haired Digidestined said, "Sorry, it's not...you definitely haven't done anything wrong. I just...I can't stress enough how important it is to me that I have your full support on anything that has to do with Mickey."
Matty nodded, and keeping his arm around the other boy, he said dryly, "I'd like to think you're not dumb enough to drift away from Mickey, no matter what's going on between the two of you."
"I won't," Sam replied, slowly lowering his hands. "That's probably going to be the hardest promise I'll ever have to keep, but I swear I won't."
"Good, because if you did it would haunt him forever. He'd never get over it, that much I know for sure."
And I don't think I could stand to see him hurting for the rest of his life...
Despite the seriousness of their conversation, the atmosphere felt comfortable between them, and Matty was relieved to find that the tension hanging over their heads had disappeared completely. Gone was the raven-haired Digidestined's pensive expression, and the minimal space that existed between them no longer felt like a chasm. Instead, the air was filled with mutual affection, and Matty welcomed the sensation. It was a refreshing feeling, and gazing at him in the darkness, Sam said softly, "As terrifying as that sounds, it also makes me feel good inside. It's nice to know he feels that strongly about me."
"You feel the same, don't you?"
The blush was back on Sam's face, and once again lowering his sapphire eyes to gaze at the surface of the water, the raven-haired Digidestined said quietly, "I thought that was obvious."
It's definitely not the steam that's making him turn red like that. If this was Mickey, I'd chalk it up to embarrassment at showing his vulnerability, but this is Sam. Sam doesn't blush over every little thing the way my brother does. That has to count for something, right?
Matty wasn't sure, and hopping onto the stones to sit by his partner's head, Glowmon said soberly, "Feel better now?"
"I do, yes," Sam murmured, reaching up to stroke his partner's small head. "Much better."
"You should," Celestimon insisted, fluttering over to join Glowmon. "Don't let his attitude fool you. Matty always speaks from the heart."
"Jeez, cut it out! Way to embarrass me, Celestimon!"
Sam laughed at that, and looking much more at ease, the raven-haired Digidestined said warmly, "I never doubted that. Honestly, Matty, it wasn't my intention to make you feel like I had an issue with you. I was just worried because I know how much Mickey means to you, and I didn't want to do anything to break your trust in me. I promise I won't let that come between us again, though. It really does mean a lot to me that you want me to stay by his side."
Forget about me. You have no idea just how much Mickey wants that. I really hope more than anything you want the same.
Caught up in his thoughts, Matty almost forgot to respond, and blinking steam out of his eyes, he said lightly, "So, about what I said before. If you want to get through to Mickey, you need to be a bit more honest with your feelings. Sometimes, he's a little clueless, but he's not totally naive. If you really want to get inside his head and find out what's up with him, you gotta be bold. Don't give him a chance to hide from his feelings. They're more likely to come out if you catch him off guard."
"Where's this coming from all of a sudden?" Sam asked, beginning to look a little flustered himself.
"You said you feel the same, right? Well, if you want to clear the air between the two of you before Mickey finds his Spirit Chip then you need to let him know how much you care. He won't be able to hold back what's really on his mind if you can get him to open up. The sooner the better, especially since anything that happens from here on out could affect his heart. And I don't just mean anything you do, I mean anything I do too..."
"I know," Sam said softly, reaching out to place a sympathetic hand on his shoulder. "I'm well aware of that and I'm trying. You need to do the same, though."
"I know, but right now this isn't about me. We're talking about you."
"How is that any more important?" Sam asked, watching him closely.
Matty shook his head, and sinking further into the water to avoid the cold air, he said, "I don't mean it like that. I just...remember what I said to you before? If anything happens to me, he needs you, and I know if he does end up losing his heart to the darkness, you'll have the power to bring him back if I can't."
In response to his heartfelt words, Sam reached out to pull him close, and sapphire eyes sparkling in the night sky, the raven-haired Digidestined said with conviction, "Regardless of what happens between Mickey and I, you know I'll keep my promise. I won't let the darkness take him. If nothing else, you can count on that, so don't worry about it. Please, just trust me."
Sam...
Matty nodded, and letting his head rest against Sam's dark hair for a moment, he said fondly, "I do. Mickey's really lucky to have you. I know he understands that, and you're pretty lucky to have him."
"It would be nice to have more, though," Sam sighed, the cryptic words slipping out almost by accident.
Huh?
Matty didn't want to assume, since there were many ways to interpret that thought, and pulling back slightly, he said mildly, "Who says you can't?"
"W-what do you mean by that?" Sam stammered, looking completely startled by the response he'd just received.
"What do you mean?"
This time there was no mistaking the blush on the raven-haired Digidestined's cheeks, and shaking his head, Sam said weakly, "Nothing really. I just...I assume all the others are still doing their homework or resting, and it's getting late. We should probably head back inside before my mother really does come looking for us."
He's trying to avoid the subject. Interesting...
Deciding it was best to play along, Matty complained, "But I just got here!"
"That wouldn't stop my mother," Sam joked, his smile radiating with obvious affection.
"No kidding. She'd storm in here not caring at all about our state of dress, all while demanding that we get some rest. I don't know about you, but this is about as relaxing as it gets. Not that your mother would care about that. She'd still drag us outta here no matter how comfy we are."
"She's pretty embarrassing like that," Sam agreed, laughing softly as he stretched his arms above his head. "Kind of reminds me of that time the girls caught Mickey standing around in a towel. I still feel bad for him after that fiasco."
"Ugh, same."
"Though I have to admit, Ami's comments about you were pretty funny," Sam teased, poking him in the arm.
Matty flushed at the memory, and groaning loudly, he moaned, "Did you really have to bring that up?"
"Don't worry, Mickey's still cuter than you," Sam joked, seemingly amused by his reaction.
"What!? We look the same!"
Instead of responding, Sam merely closed his eyes before once again leaning back against the stones, and figuring the raven-haired Digidestined was willing to risk the wrath of his mother for a little while longer, Matty figured he might as well do the same. As he relaxed in the water with his golden head tilted to one side, he had to admit the other boy's silence intrigued him. Somehow, he had a feeling there was more to Sam's statement than the raven-haired Digidestined was willing to admit, and if that was the case then maybe there was a chance for Mickey after all.
I can't say I have any conclusive answers from Sam's behaviour, but there were definitely some positive signs there. Is it enough, though?
"Thanks, by the way," Sam said softly, reaching out to give his shoulder a quick squeeze.
Feeling confused, Matty said, "For what?"
"For coming to find me, and just...for being you."
Sam...
For some reason, Matty suddenly felt a little choked up inside, and trying not to let his emotions overwhelm him, he quickly draped an arm around Sam's shoulders and said in what he hoped was a relatively calm voice, "Anytime."
Not exactly the huge revelation I was hoping for, but I don't think my efforts were a total waste of time either. I can't put my finger on anything in particular, but there's definitely something there. Something that makes me think my brother means more to him than just a friend. Don't give up, Mickey. Maybe you have a better chance than you think you do...
And if that was true, then reaching Sam's heart was worth every moment of uncertainty, even if it meant traversing through the darkness to make the impossible happen.