Digitamamon led them through the empty kitchen and up a steep stairwell. Gomamon fell behind, his not-quite-hands unable to keep his balance on the thin steps, and Joe stooped to grab him. He was thin, thinner than when he'd first arrived in the Digital World, from being malnourished and already shaking with exhaustion, his cheek making his whole mouth throb with pain. The tiny seal's ears drooped and he looked deep inside his soul, finding the bond he'd shared with his Tamer his whole life, even before they'd met. He could see it, small and fragile now, just barely pulsing with every beat of his heart. He gathered what little strength he had left and pushed it through the bond, leaving himself drained but giving Joe enough energy to at least get through their next trial.
Gomamon's whole body ached and Joe picked up his pace, following as Digitamamon led the small group to the second floor and down a cramped hall. There was a single small window, casting the morning light on a thick blue door, several heavy bolts securing it in place. The egg Digimon took a ring of keys from within his shell, kicking open the door with the same anger he showed every day. The door squealed open, revealing a windowless room filled with boxes covered inches think in dust. Joe grimaced, already feeling the burning of allergies behind his nose and tightness in the bottom of his lungs as they were herded inside.
"You will spend the day cleaning and straightening this room." Digitamamon motioned to a door on the far wall. "There's a bucket in there, and all supplies will be added to your time. I want it to be perfect for my customers!"
With that the door slammed, and Joe heard the sound of multiple bolts thudding into place. The air was still and hot, and when Gomamon leaped from his Tamer's arms to land heavily on the floor, it sent up a puff of dust that sent Joe into a violent sneezing fit.
"I'm sorry, Joe," Gomamon apologized weakly. "He just makes me so mad! He tells us to clean and then says we can't use anything to clean with. And he knows you get ill! He just wants to charge for your inhaler again!"
Joe waved away the dust motes and gave a small smile, checking his wound for blood. "It's ok. As long as you're here, I'll be fine."
Gomamon frowned as watched as Joe stumbled across the room, wheezing at every dusty step. The far door took more than one good shove to swing open and reveal a huge bathroom, every piece of plumbing in dusty porcelain including a giant claw-footed tub and full-length mirror. There was a bucket by the pedestal sink and rags and soap in the tub that Joe grabbed as Gomamon grumbled, "Digitamamon knew this was up here, so why'd he always make us bathe in that freezing lake..."
"It'll be fine," Joe assured once again, fighting away the tightness of asthma. "Cleaning is easier than cooking, and if we work together we'll have it done in a few hours."
That would have been true, had the pair been in good health. But the drain on both took it's toll, and they did resting than cleaning. Several of the heavy boxes had to be slowly dragged aside just to make room for them to walk, and the clearing space began to show it's true form bit by bit. A huge bed, bigger than the one in Devimon's false castle, rested on an intricate yet scuffed golden frame, and an accidentally toppled box revealed thick down comforters and stained silken sheets. There were curtains, for some reason, spilling out of another box and Joe took it upon himself, with Gomamon's urging, to wash the linens. The water in the tub would keep the dust from assaulting the frail boy and the hot water would help his stiffened muscles. That left Gomamon with the, for such a tiny seal, difficult task of clambering all over the room, seeking out every last dust bunny that no one but Digitamamon would find.
What he found, though, was enough to cause a sinking feeling deep in his chest. There were plenty of scratches in the wooden floors that couldn't be polished out even after years of cleaning, but what troubled Gomamon most were the deep grooves around the mattress, the desperate clawings on the blue door and the ominous fisheye bolt imbedded deep in the wall above the bed. He felt terrible as he listened to Joe struggle to breathe and struggle with the laundry. His own small lungs strained in sympathy for oxygen as he offered everything he had to ease his Tamer's suffering even a little.
Joe was hanging the washed bedsheets over the mirror to dry, ignoring the muddy stains that looked uncomfortably like blood, as the door suddenly flew open. Digitamamon announced his presence like he always did, with loud shouts and wild accusations of wasting money, and stormed inside the room, followed closely by a new Digimon. From the same depths of his soul that housed the bond between Tamer and partner came the knowledge of this new creature, strongly resembling a yellow potato with a large beak and brightly colored leaves atop its head. A sickly sweet smell overpowered Gomamon's senses as it passed by, attempting to lure him closer to those razor sharp teeth, but the smaller Digimon bit his tongue to keep himself grounded.
"What's that Vegiemon doing here?" Gomamon growled as Joe peeked into the main room, leaning heavily against the doorframe. "They're nothing but brutes."
The Vegiemon seethed, tentacles emerging from it's sides, but Digitamamon cut it off with a harsh look. "Since your so-called friends decided to abandon ship and everything that human does is terrible, I've had to hire a new chef. And since it's all your fault," he glared at Joe, making the boy flinch away, "I've decided that half of his pay will be coming from your wages."
"Now that's not fair!" Gomamon cried, knowing Joe wouldn't defend himself. "You're going to make us work twice as hard for something you would have had to do anyway!"
"You sure have an attitude for someone who's being given a special treat." Gomamon started to shout, but Joe shook his head wearily, knowing any more mouthing off would just result in more days. The small seal instead chose to growl as Veggiemon triumphantly reached into the hallway with his tentacles, retrieving two covered dishes. "A special lunch to help you two finish the room by tonight." Joe looked like he was about to thank Digitamamon. "And if it's not finished by tonight, I'll add the meal and a whole month to your tabs!"
Vegiemon offered one plate to Joe, the boy taking it with shaking hands, and the other he shoved at Gomamon, "accidentally" tipping the plate to the floor and scattering its contents onto the freshly washed floor. The Digimon couldn't even offer a false apology, instead laughing as Gomamon bristled and reached for the strength he didn't have to attack. Digitamamon stamped his feet, cursing loudly. "Don't make me wish I'd ever come up here! I could have just let you two starve!"
With that, he stormed from the room, in just as foul a mood as when he'd entered. Vegiemon took a moment to eye Joe from head to toe and gnash his teeth at Gomamon, before hopping after his new boss. Once more, the door was bolted from the outside and Gomamon began slamming his hands (paws?) on the floor as Joe emerged from the bathroom, sinking to his knees next to his partner.
"That guy is a monster!" Gomamon cried, vision blurry. He fought back angry tears, not wanting to upset his Tamer. Joe tried to place his plate on the floor carefully, accidentally dropping it the last inch or so with a harsh clang and no damage. Ignoring the food, though his stomach yearned desperately for it, Joe gathered Gomamon into his arms and held him tight. The small seal couldn't help himself as his hunger, frustration, and self-loathing spilled over with a strangled sob. "I can't take it anymore, Joe! Digitamamon does nothing but abuse you, and I don't have the strength to Digivolve and protect you! Noone's come to look for us and even Matt abandoned us!" Bitter tears drenched Joe's vest and the boy pressed his good cheek to Gomamon's forehead.
"Don't be mad at them," Joe murmured against his partner's mo-hawk, rocking them both with gentle reassurance. "Once Matt finds TK, I'm sure he'll come back. He said he would."