I hope you liked the first arc. It obviously was based on Tai, it's only logical that Matt comes next XD Fair warning, you may not like the coupling part, but I don't want any flames on it (all two of you reading this)

So, this arc is mostly about Matt, Joe, Mimi and Chip. Lemme explain the Chip thing really quick. So, as I stated in the previous chapter, Chip bears the crest of Loyalty. Well, loyalty is pretty similar to friendship, so this is sort of a split crest chapter. There's gonna be some ups and downs, but I think it'll work out the way I want it to.

I do not own Digimon nor Five Finger Death Punch.

Mirror's Supremacy

2

If I Fall

"I owe you nothing

I've given everything and more

I stand for something

The blood on my hands, the broken bones

I live it!

Knife in my back! You can't take it back!

Eye for an eye, it's cut and dry

I'll do what I know, reap what I sow

While you're waiting for me to fail!

If I fall, If I fall

I'm dragging everybody down!

If I fall, I'll take everybody down!

If I fall, fuck you all

I'm taking everybody out

IF I FALL, I WIN!"

Five Finger Death Punch

If I Fall

American Capitalist

"Ok, so if an unknown concentration of Hydrochloric acid is added to an unknown volume of water so that the overall concentration of hydrochloric acid is 1 molar, what is the pH of the solution?" Joe read aloud as he sat at his desk and, like a good student, did his chemistry homework. "Oh that's easy. The pH is the negative log of the hydrogen ion concentration, so that's -log(1), so the pH is 0." He looked up. "Right?"

Gomamon lifted his head off the little doggy-bed in the corner of the room next to the desk at which Joe sat, not fully awake, but still his snarky self. "Joe, I'm fine with you doing your homework, but do you have to talk yourself through it? Science makes my head hurt."

Joe turned in his chair to face the window and his partner. "You do know that the entire world is part of science, right?"

The seal digimon groaned and covered his head with his fins. "And that's why my head always hurts!"

Joe shook his head and turned back to his work. "If it's that bad, then go back to sleep. That way you won't have to hear me think. Now lets see...if a 500 mL of hydrochloric acid is added t solution of potassium hydroxide, what is the pH of the solution formed?"

Gomamon groaned again and curled himself back up, covering his ears as he tried to hide from the oh so painful science. Why did Joe's dream job require so much thinking and head-hurting?

-/-

"Did you have fun tonight?" Matt asked as they approached her family's house hand in hand. She looked up at him and gave a big smile.

"I did. I don't think I've danced so much in my life."

"How's your head doing?" he asked. It had only been two months since their last fight and Joe had warned against loud noises and high activity, both of which had occupied their evening at a local club, Eclipse.

She nodded. "It's alright. It's almost like it never happened."

"That's good to hear." He smiled at her as they stopped on her front porch. He turned her by her shoulders and looked her over with a hungry smile. She was wearing a tight black skirt that came about halfway down her thigh and a slightly baggy, sparkly pink shirt with a loose neck, such that the material fell down her left shoulder and showed a thin black bra strap. The skirt and shirt, while loose in some places, clung to her body tightly in the appropriate other places. "Good God." he muttered.

Suddenly she became incredibly self conscious. "What?" she asked, alarmed.

He looked into her eyes with an intense stare. "Mimi, you have got to be the hottest girl I've ever seen."

"Oh..." she started with a deep blush. He could be such a passionate animal sometimes, and then so sweet at others. She didn't believe him, but the thought that she was worth saying that to made her happy to be with him.

His hands moved down her back and to her bottom, where he pulled her in close to his body and pushed their foreheads together. "It's almost too much for me to bear." he whispered. And that was all it took to melt her. She pushed herself up into him and wrapped her arms around his neck. He tilted his head as their mouths opened into each other and they pushed pain and caution behind them. Matt's mouth was strong and deliberate while hers playful and dainty. They danced around each other yet again as their fingers moved over the others body. Mimi's hands moved up and into Matt's blonde hair, digging in deep to his scalp, while Matt's fingers slid up the back of her shirt. It was hot and fast and neither knew anymore about the time and place they were in than the other. But to Mimi's dismay, she stopped.

As Matt's finger's had ran down her back, he gave her ass a tight and playful squeeze. This was too fast, however hot it made her, and was enough of a shock to wake her up. She pulled her head away from his and looked at him; a sad expression flashed before she smiled.

"It's late. I should go in."

He looked at his watch. "It's only 2:15. It's not late yet."

"Goodnight, Matt." she chuckled and kissed his cheek.

He chuckled right back. "I guess we'll finish this some other time then?"

She looked at him with mischievous eyes and a sly smile. "I look forward to it." He kissed her lips lightly before turning.

"Goodnight Mimi."

"Goodnight." she repeated before slipping in and quietly shutting the door. Her parents didn't mind her out this late, but she still wanted to be courteous of their sleeping. She tiptoed up the stairs and closed her bedroom door behind her. She then slid off her shoes and flopped down on her bed, turning on the lamp and pulling out her phone. After a little pushing of buttons, her dear friend's voice answered the phone.

"Ugh...Mimi?" it groaned. "Ugh Mimi, it's two thirty in the morning! What are you still doing up?"

Even though she knew she couldn't be seen, Mimi pouted anyways and her tone seemed to reflect the expression. "For your information, I was out with Matt."

"Oh." Sora's voice softened. "Did you have fun?"

Mimi smiled and rolled onto her back, kicking her shoes off in the process. "Oh yes. He's so nice and sweet and funny...ooh he's perfect Sor."

"Well I'm glad you feel so good." Sora laughed.

"He smart and talented- it's so exhilarating!" The two laughed a bit at Mimi's relationship. It was just a simple late-night chat between girlfriends about boys. They each had the other's support on all of their choices, regardless of how emotional they were when they made them. The two had solved so many of each other's problems and in turn, had their problems fixed too. But there were still surprises that one could give, for as they're laughing fit settled, Mimi jumped.

"I have to break up with him."

-/-

Gomamon had finally fallen asleep when an accursed buzzing woke him. He looked up and saw Joe, also asleep, with his head on his books and his cell phone bouncing around next to him. He thought about ignoring it and going back to sleep: it wasn't very loud and he could drown it out. Besides, no one had any right to be calling around after midnight. He wasn't sure on the time, but he knew it was late and that Joe, of all people-well, maybe not all people- needed to sleep. But Joe wasn't the kind of guy to blow people off, no matter how late it was. He would always help whomever needed his help, and while perhaps some of the other partners were oblivious to some aspects of human emotion and relations, Gomamon caught that Joe thought of one digidestined more fondly than the rest.

And if this was her calling at all hours of the morning and Gomamon let him miss it, he'd be pissed.

Reluctantly, Gomamon crawled off the doggy bed and over to Joe's rolling office chair. He ran his head into the side of Joe's leg with a groggy grunt as he called his partner's name.

Joe immediately snapped up. "Molality of .34!" he stammered, struggling with where he was and what he was doing.

Gomamon groaned again under the chair. "God, Joe! Stop with the science and answer your damn phone so I can go to sleep!"

Joe woke pretty quick when he heard the little device vibrating on the desk. "Who would be calling now?" he mumbled to himself, reaching for it. He only gave his new number to a few people for emergency purposes- Tai, Izzy and TK mainly, plus a few peers in his classes- so he didn't know who would be up this late on a wednesday night. He flipped it open, hoping it would be one of his classmates, telling him that their test had been postponed, but the corners of his mouth fell into a scowl when he didn't recognize the number. Quickly, he had an inner discussion.

"Ok, so 2:46 in the morning on a weekday?...better than if it was a weekend, but no one calling now would be up to any good. And I don't recognize the number, so it's safest if I ignore it."

"But there are so many people who could need you whose numbers you don't recognize."

"Yea, and so many people who just mean to bother me or hurt me. I don't want to talk to anyone now!"

"You wanna talk to one person..."

"...what're the odds it's her?"

"Do you wanna take that chance?..."

Joes sighed. He didn't want to take that chance. He did think it was funny, however, that the voice against his better judgment sounded a lot like Gomamon. He sighed again and tentatively answered the phone.

"Uh...hello?"

"Joe?" a voice chirped over the small speaker. "I'm sorry about the time; I'm sure you're busy studying or sleeping or something...er-I got your number from Tai, I hope you don't mind. I just really thought I should talk to you, you know?...if that's alright..."

"...Mimi?"

She giggled. "Who did you think it would be?"

He choose not to answer that. Instead, he rubbed his eyes. "Do you have any idea what time it is?"

"It's quarter to three I think," she said sweetly.

There was a pause as Joe waited for her to keep going, but she had finished. He groaned inward and finished for her. "...Do you not see a problem with this?"

"Well, if you were sleeping, I can-"

"No no, it's fine!" he quickly interjected, actually leaping to his feet. "I was just...Uh...doing some stretches!" He chuckled as he bent down to each toe, either forgetting that Mimi couldn't see him or just getting lost in the moment. "So what's up?"

"I don't want to talk about it." she huffed.

Joe sighed. "So why'd you call?"

"Well...erm, I'm not feeling very good, Joe, and...um...you always seem to make me feel better..."

"Really?" He was shocked. He didn't think that he had that much effect on anyone, much less on Mimi. He'd be lying if he said he never felt anything for her, and even now, he wasn't sure he didn't. Gomamon seemed to know, but Joe tried to push those thoughts from his mind. They weren't conducive to studying or school; not to mention they had gotten Tai, Sora, and Matt into so much trouble in the past. Plus, he wasn't the kind of guy who could justify taking someone from Matt, especially for the second time in as many years. No, he bit down hard on the understanding that he would have to be alone, because being happy would only inconvenience others.

Mimi giggled and Joe smiled. "Well, um...ok." he stammered, trying to come up with something to talk about with which to distract her. "Um...wonderful weather we've been having, huh?"

Again she laughed. "Yes, it's quite nice."

-/-

Chip closed the door to their apartment quietly and sighed as he dropped his keys on the table by the door. He kicked off his work boots and unzipped his security guard's windbreaker. Usually, he would've changed after his shift, but tonight, he was simply too tired to stay in the empty mall he watched. Money was hard to come by around here, but big men like Chip would always be hired to patrol buildings or guard bars. He stumbled forward a few steps into the living room and kitchen of their tiny dwelling. They only had a small couch and table with an equally small tv resting on a milk crate in the corner. From his point of vantage in the hall, he could see the two tufts of hair of his brother and his partner sitting on the couch as a news program played quietly from the tv set. He couldn't help crack a smile before opening the fridge and taking a large swig of milk out of the carton. As tempting as it was, Chip would never drink. He could quite easily get the alcohol, but he needed his mind sharp. Even if that meant re-living the pains over and over again.

He gulped down the milk and moved over to join his family on the couch, but stopped as he approached. His brother and his little partner were asleep with their heads resting on each other's: the sharp, blonde hair of Militiamon contrasted sharply with the raven black hair of Blake's. He smiled again and sighed at the sight, but even though it was their turn on the couch (a system devised by Blake, who never wanted to feel like he was treating his brother unfairly), Chip couldn't bring himself to leave the two there. He bent down and gently lifted his brother up and off the couch and into the single bedroom, laying him down on the single twin-sized bed. Blake stirred slightly, but settled into the bed comfortably. Chip patted his head and went back out for his digimon.

Following the same procedure, he lifted the tiny soldier off the couch and moved him over to the bedroom. Militiamon, however, did not sleep as deeply as Blake did and was awakened by the movement, looking up at Chip with his piercing blue eyes weary from sleep. "Chip, you know we're supposed to have the couch tonight...you've had it for the past month now."

"I know pal, but you two need your sleep."

Militiamon raised an eyebrow. "And you don't?"

"Not as much as you," he smiled.

The little digimon rolled his eyes. "Like hell. You work three jobs, Chip. It's the middle of the night. When do you work again?"

"Don't worry about it." Chip set Militiamon down on the bed and sat next to him. "Just get some sleep and I'll take care of me and you."

Militiamon sighed and gave in. "Fine. But will you sing to me?" He asked, knowing very well that Chip knew what he wanted to hear.

"Alright. Just one though." Militiamon nodded and slunk beneath the blanket in anticipation and surrender to the weight of his eyelids. Chip rubbed his head as he began to sing quietly.

Militiamon's eyes slid shut as the voice of his surrogate father pushed him to sleep with his favorite song. Chip leaned down and kissed both of their foreheads before standing up and closing the door gently behind him. Then, without even changing clothes or turning off the light, he flopped down on to the couch in exhaustion.

-/-

Gomamon covered his ears as Joe laughed yet again. They had been at it for hours; was it even possible for them to sleep? Didn't they know he needed to? It was great to see Joe so happy, but the little seal needed his sleep!

Finally, their conversation ended, leaving them with nothing else to say. Joe never was good with silences. Usually it ended up with the silence making him more awkward instead of giving him anything good to say, creating a loop of awkward until his conversational partner left him in boredom. Luckily for him, Mimi had something more to say.

"I don't know if I ever really thanked you, Joe."

"For what?" He didn't remember doing anything thanks-worthy.

"For my head. You know, when I hit it when Furemon was attacking?" He remembered.

"Oh, really, Mimi, don't mention it."

"No, I will." she said adamantly. "I will because it...it really meant a lot. I mean...I know you would've done it for anyone...but still..."

Joe was cautious. "Still what?..."

She sighed. "Why did you save me?"

Joe was surprised, and he let his face show it, physically recoiling from the shock of the question. "Well...I, er- I..." He of course knew why.

He was infatuated by her. Everything she did and said made him happy. If it was as simple as a hug or as complicated as a smile, it made his heart expand to sizes he never knew before. He would sweat when she was near and find himself breathless when she left, and he knew the cause: it was love. Either that or malaria, and right now, he would've prefered the later. While he loved seeing her and the rare times they had meaningful conversations left him nothing but ecstatic, it would be easier for him to win a fight with cancer than to win her heart. Not only was she with someone else, she had had feelings for Matt for a while. Not to mention his physique and stature. He was handsome and talented and brave and sexy; in short, everything she could want that Joe couldn't be. He didn't want to be the one to disappoint her, to make her unhappy. He wanted just the simplest pleasures for her, so she couldn't know how he really felt. It would only muddy their relationship and likely cause her stress and upset. He would have to think of something else.

"I guess it's cause I love you." he said finally. Going completely against everything he thought to be true and righteous, he spilled his heart. Gomamon lifted his head up in interest. This was better than his soaps. Joe let out a sigh, both of relief and of annoyance. He was going to feel this in the morning.

Mimi was silent for a moment while the weight sunk in. Did he say 'Love'? "What?" she asked quietly. Joe smacked his head against his desk.

"Nothing, Mimi. I'm just tired. I...I should let you go. I'm sure you have a lot to think about." he said coldly as he prepared to hang up.

He did. He said 'Love'. Joe just said he loved her. And now he thought she hated him for it. She pushed through her complications and spoke out to stop him.

"Joe? Wait!"

He pulled the phone back to head, excited that she could have more to say; that she might return the feeling.

"Mimi?"

She was silent for a long moment. "I..." she started, then sighed. "Sleep well, Joe."

His heart fell. "Goodnight Mimi." he whispered and ended the call. He through his phone onto the desk and leaned back in his chair, running his fingers through his hair, clearly distraught.

Gomamon stared at him from the corner. Despite hearing only half of the conversation, he thought he had a pretty good idea of what happened. "Well, you fucked that up."

"Tell me about it." the doctor sighed, too tired and confused to scold Gomamon on his choice of words. Instead, he slipped out of his clothes and into bed, where he hoped he could escape from the hell tomorrow would bring.

Kind of a slower chapter, yeah, but the main event's comin' don't you worry! For now, Munch out!