The following story contains references to homophobia, self-harm, attempted suicide and sexism. Readers discretion is seriously advised and recommended.

Story 31

A Friendly Visit Pt 2

Our story begins in the aftermath of the first Diaboromon attack. For a brief time, things felt as if they were looking up for young Steve. From the outside, at least. Inside, a swirling storm felt ready to come forth and tear everything down.

"Why the hell do you want to play with my dolls, you big creep!" Veronica screeched, taking the opportunity to push her brother away. So what if she had left them out? They were still her dolls. No way that Steve would get an opportunity to play with them, ever. He was a boy after all. His action figures had to be way more interesting than Sailor Moon and her buddies. Or was there something else here that she was overlooking. Most likely.

"What? I can't like stuff like dolls?!" Steve screeched, looking about the room for something that he could use to prove his point. But within these four white walls and the brown tile floor, there were no other dolls in sight. Just his luck. Leave it to his sister to think that she was the only one who could play with dolls. Beyond the kicking incident, he was trying his hardest to keep himself together. Not that anyone could see that right now. At least in his eyes.

"Yeah. Go play with your action figures, sissy." Veronica announced and ran off to her room. Steve crumpled to the ground, unsure of what to do. She was younger than him, why did Veronica have to be so mean?

Regardless of his best efforts, Steve couldn't figure out a reason why. Whenever he thought he had a solution, he doubted himself and found himself back at square one. Getting back up, he headed for the kitchen. Taking a moment to look for any sign of an adult, he headed over the knife block. Pulling a chef knife out, he stared at his reflection within the metal. What would his parents think of him for this? Would they understand the feelings that he wished he could deny? The thoughts that sometimes came into his head whenever one of his male classmates passed by in between classes? Of somehow being more than just friends and having a relationship?

Pushing those thoughts out, he sliced a small cut across his arm. Nowhere big enough to cause any suspicion on his part, it would serve as a good reminder of his fuck ups. Whether or not it would be the only cut or would be joined by others remained to be seen. Heck, things could get better. Wishful thinking on his part as he washed the knife off. He didn't want to worry them too much. At least, Steve hoped that to be the case.

Time marched forward and things still remained awful. Try as he might to smooth things over with Veronica, that only seemed to make things worse between them. Steve couldn't figure out what he was doing wrong. The dolls were long gone and yet… the only reactions he got from his sister was of disapproval and disgust. Whenever he accomplished something, it only got worse.

"Good for you." Veronica muttered, trying her hardest to look away from the trophy. Steve muttered something to himself, not completely sure how to react here. He had put quite a bit of work into earning this trophy, why couldn't she see it? And why did it make him feel so gloomy? He should be happy for his accomplishments and yet, none of that carried through.

"I'm going to my room." he announced and set the trophy down on the table. Storming off in the direction of his room, his thoughts turned to Ophani. She would very much understand what he was going through here. Or at least, would nod along as his partner. She was nice like that. A shame that she had to return to the digital world for a mission or someth-

Turning to a nearby window, that was where Steve saw her once more. Pulling his hand back, he slapped his face. Just on the off chance that he was somehow in the middle of a dream. The pain alone told him everything he needed to know here. For now, it was best to keep this development to himself. Especially with how Veronica usually was when it came to digimon. Somehow, she would find a way to ruin it for him and everyone else. That felt like her main mission these days. As her old brother, Steve wasn't sure why. No one in his family knew. Nor were they trying to figure out what her deal was. If there was a reason for such behavior to begin with. But he pushed those thoughts out for now, trying his hardest to keep the negative thoughts at bay. Easier said than done, but he managed as his room came into view. Picking his pace up slightly, he reached the door and pulled it open. Inside, three walls with a space theme stared back. A white carpet floor meant to resemble the moon's surface went well with the Sailor Moon bedspread and matching doll on top. Right next to the Tuxedo Mask of course. What Steve would give to have a real life version of that come and rescue him from himself. Closing his eyes for a second, daydreams of being King Serenity entered his head. Not that it would ever happen. He was a guy, after all. Stuff like that was meant to be consumed by girls. Especially young girls. Not that it stopped him from looking up online any costume patterns for Sailor Moon's outfit. One of these days he would get the opportunity to be his favorite sailor senshi and no one would be there to stop him.

Opening his eyes up, Steve stepped through and closed the door behind him. Looking around, his gaze turned to the window. Walking over, he unlocked the latch and pulled the window to the right. Waiting a moment, Ophani's gaze shifted over. Loudly stomping her way over, gaze locked fully on Steve. Thankfully she didn't have far too go.

"How have you been?" he called out, trying his hardest to keep his voice down. After Ophani's stomping, silence had gone right out of the window. Not that it would stop him from trying.

"Better." Ophani announced, her voice monotone and robotic. Kneeling down to get a better view, her scythe came close to smashing into the home. Thankfully the grass was more than enough to stop the weapon.

"I'm glad to hear that." Steve cooed and leaned out slightly. Ophani reached out, a finger carefully tapping her partner's hand. Nearly knocking Steve out of his room, he managed to catch himself at the last moment and pull himself in. Dusting himself off, he focused back on Ophani. "I won an award for my drawing, but I don't feel excited about my accomplishment. Is that normal?"

His words spilled out, Ophani looked about. She didn't quite comprehend what her partner was talking about. This felt like a sin. And there was only one thing to do when a sin made itself known - cut it down to si-

"No Ophani, not like that." Steve announced and watched his partner's gaze swivel back to him. Hands already on her scythe, the appendages fell to her side. She didn't understand. It was her job to take care of the things that refused to go away - the sins that held on for dear life and shackled themselves to others in the hopes of reducing them to nothing. Why would Steve suffer in silence for something that refused to give way. Absolutely absurd in her mind. But she kept that opinion to herself. "I get that you're mad, but this isn't the time to lash o-" Steve started, the sound of a large object shattering echoing from outside of his room. Turning around, he let out a deep breath. He had a pretty good idea what that was, but part of him didn't want it to be the case. Just let him talk with Ophani a tiny bit longer. But no, that was asking too much from the world right now. The only thing it had for him was more pain and suffering. Can't have nice things around here. "I'm going to need to go, Ophani."

Ophani nodded and Steve turned around. Heading over to the door, he took a moment to compose himself. Pulling the door open, he stepped back into the hallway. Closing the door, Steve's gaze could already see the damage. A massive pile of pieces, all too small to put back together. Mere minutes ago, that had been a trophy. Now, the only thing it represented was a broken heart. More specifically, Steve's heart.

"Serves you right for bringing her back." Veronica announced and found herself faced down with a look from her brother.

"How the fuck is it my problem?" Steve countered, gaze locked onto his sister. How dare she destroy something of his he had spent a crudton of time over something that was very much not in his control. "You were jealous of my success, weren't you?!"

A chair went flying in his direction. Ducking at the last moment, Steve managed to just get out of the way of the piece of furniture. Hands in his pocket, his knife was nowhere to be found. Because of course it wasn't there.

"What if I was?!" Veronica screeched and looked about for something else to throw at her brother. Finding nothing, her gaze turned in the direction of the nearest window. Flipping the bird at Ophani, she focused back on Steve. "I'm not sure why mom and dad give you so much love when the only thing in your future is getting fucked by a man like the slut you are."

Spitting on the ground, the sound of a scythe pulled back echoed through the house. Before Ophani had a chance to really act on that transgression, she disappeared.

"Better a slut than whatever the fuck you think you'll one day become." Steve announced and stormed out of the house. He just needed to get as far as humanly possible at this moment. Better yet, he should just end it all. Now where had he left his knife? It had to be at that treehouse. Such a klutzy move from someone like him. All the more reason to leave this world in his state.

Making a beeline for the treehouse, a torrent of thoughts surged through the teenager's mind. All of which were promptly ignored. Not much use in thinking about anything right before taking your own life.

"I'm almost there." he thought and watched the tree come into view. Amid the leaves and branches, his destination awaited. All that was left to do was to just jump over the fence and climb up the ladder. There he would find his knife and it would all be over. No one would cry, no one would be disappointed, it was the perfect plan. Or so he thought.

"If you're looking for that knife of yours, I have it right here." a voice called out and Steve came to a stop. Looking in the direction of the tree house, he saw a teenage boy. Short locks of black hair had been done up immaculately, while a pair of blue eyes stared directly. "You just need to promise you're not going to use it to end things."

Steve rolled his eyes. Muttering something at the ground, he jumped over the fence. The walk over to the tree house brought with it a variety of mixed emotions. Something about this mystery boy called out to him like no other boy quite had. In a way, he found himself reminded of Tuxedo Mask. Perhaps the oddest thing to be thinking about right before committing suicide, but somehow understandable.

"Why shouldn't I?!" he countered and began climbing up. By the time he got to the last plank, he was just planning to grab the knife and do the deed right here. Instead, he found his lips met by that of the mysterious stranger. Pulled in, the knife went flying to parts unknown.

"How about that, to start off with?" the boy announced and broke away. Pulling Steve up, he waited a moment for their gazes to meet once more. "I know it's not much after what she has done. But not everyone is like that. Together, we'll make it through. I promise."

His words rolled out, Steve's face going pink.

"Then you better back your words with actions." he muttered and got a nod from his mystery boyfriend.

.

"Would it be wrong of me to assume that boy was Keith?" Lucas announced and watched Steve nod, his gaze shifting to the door back inside. Then it's right back over to his guest.

"Yeah. He was the first person in some time to actually accept me for who I w-" he started, only to be met by a hug from his husband.

"Yep." Keith announced as he let go of his husband, his gaze now on Lucas. A deep breath followed, a million different thoughts coursing through his mind right now. Pushing that all off to the side, only one question remained.

"I'm guessing you're here about Steve's sister?" Keith announced and Lucas nodded, gaze shifting to the ground. Muttering something to the ground, he wasn't sure where to begin. Somehow, he had all the answers and yet… none of them. If anything, there was nothing that he could use to right this ship that was his relationship with Veronica. Part of him doubted that was even possible now.

"Yeah…" he whispered and took a seat on the ground. Taking a moment to think, a thought came to him. Turning to Ophani, Lucas took a moment to compose himself.

"Ophani, was the first time you met Volcadramon at the office building?" he inquired and watched Ophani look off into space. Taking a moment to think it over, her gaze returned to Lucas. A nod followed. Then it's over to

"She's really pretty, would it be possible to play with her again." Ophani announced, silence falling over the group.

"Maybe in the future. But we need to get to the bottom of this mystery." Steve announced and got a nod from Lucas. Heading off, time was taken to wave.

Notes:

That was one hell of a rollercoaster to write. Mostly towards the end for personal reasons.

On the other hand, Ghost Game's opening episode managed to condense all of Adventure 2020 characterization into a single episode. Not a high bar, but still very impressive to see.