Digimon were gossiping and spreading news when the strategy meeting let out. News that their lord was acting rather strangely, that his attention was fixated on Wizardmon of all digimon, news that Wizardmon had smacked down Phantomon's plan and delivered a plate of ass-whooping with a better plan, and curious of all, Gatomon had not been punished at all for smart-mouthing Myotismon. Wizardmon liked this rumor the best, because it carried the most truth and his friend had indeed gone unpunished. Hundreds of other rumors deviated from the originals, though; like that Wizardmon or Gatomon had somehow bribed Myotismon to make that happen. The rumors that further spiraled from that made Wizardmon a little uncomfortable because some iterations involved one of them being romantically involved with Myotismon.
Gatomon didn't seem to like any of the rumors spreading. They were returning to Wizardmon's room and she seemed tenser than usual, which was strange considering she'd dodged a bullet moments ago. Once the crowd in the halls thinned out, Gatomon snatched part of Wizardmon's baggy suit's pants and yanked on them as she hissed. "What the hell was all that about?!"
Wizardmon was a little surprised by Gatomon's outburst, but tried to keep them moving. "I honestly don't know, Gatomon." He half lied, prying Gatomon's claws off of his pants and heaving the most exhausted sigh. "Our master's interest in me today was quite…distressing." He worded carefully, lest there be anyone still lurking around to hear him say something bad about Myotismon.
Gatomon huffed, yanking her paws from Wizardmon's hands and throwing them in the air. "Then why would he even do that?" she spat, whipping around and starting to fiercely pace around the same spot in the hall. "What kind of mind game is he playing? He's barely given you a thought since you joined the cause to raise him to power. Is he trying to get to me, or does he really want to mess with you for kicks?"
Wizardmon watched the white cat recede into her mind more, wincing a bit at the word 'kick.' All the excitement had made him forget about the steady soreness in his body and the occasional jabs of sharper pain when he moved just the right way. A gloved hand reached for the back of Gatomon's head and steered her back on course for his room. They usually parted at his room if they weren't going to spend more time together because they'd fallen into that pattern over time.
Gatomon made an annoyed noise and stopped abruptly, shoving Wizardmon's hand away "Wizardmon, this is serious!" she puffed up her cheeks, masking a hurt look with anger. "You could at least be scared for yourself! If Myotismon is looking at you more closely, it can't be good! It's..never good.." Gatomon nearly choked up. She was keeping her eyes dry as she could and her focused glare steady. Wizardmon felt some of that resolve cracking-maybe it would be for the best if he told Gatomon now. Even if she was going to get upset with him.
"Gatomon, I'm not fooling around here." He sighed again wearily and faced her fully "I think I might have an idea of why Lord Myotismon is doing this." Wizardmon started, leaning over and putting a hand on Gatomon's shoulder. "It may be because-"
"'Scuse me, comin' through! HEY!" Wizardmon was rudely interrupted by Demidevimon who had rounded a corner and then flown towards them, flapping furiously in his haste. "Yo, Wizardmon, Myotismon wants to see you in his private chambers. Like, now!"
Normally neither of the two would fret over Demidevimon, but the news he brought along sent a chill down both of their spines. Gatomon promptly covered her weakness with attitude. "What for, birdbrain?"
" For somethin', ya rotten furball!" That riled the little bat up a bit, but no one was actually afraid of that tetherball with wings unless he was tattling on them. Demidevimon puffed himself up and flew a little higher to give himself the illusion of height, giving them a smug, shit-eating cat smirk.
"Just tell us before I decide to use you as a new scratch toy." Gatomon said threateningly, holding out one of her paws to showcase her three sharp kitty claws.
"You're just lucky you aren't worth my time!" Demidevimon barked, lowering back to his normal range from the ground(about even with the top of Wizardmon's hat). "Lord Myotismon says you get a reward for bein' such a special snowflake. Now hurry it up and don't keep him waiting!"
"….When I do, he makes me sleep with the bats.." Demidevimon muttered to himself as he flapped away, his master's message delivered.
As dumbfounding as Demidevimon's message was, Gatomon processed it fairly quickly and still found the presence of mind to grab onto the front of Wizardmon's suit and yank it. "Come on, Wizardmon, let's go." She started trying(and succeeding) to pull him in the direction of the nearest route to the castle entry hall.
"Gatomon!" Wizardmon exclaimed in a muffled wisp. He didn't stop her from pulling him, but he did put his hand on her paw. "Gatomon, where do you think you're taking me?" Her efforts waned as he started talking her down. "If I don't show up, Myotismon will not be in a very pleasant mood."
He looked at Gatomon, wondering what was bouncing around in her skull. He knew she wasn't 'happy,' but pinpointing her exact thoughts and feelings was rather difficult. He had to get her to stop this nonsense though. She could get them both imprisoned, or even killed. He had the impression Gatomon thought their lord was going to do something bad to him, so he tried to use that angle. "Whatever it is, it'll be a lot worse if we do what I think you're trying to do."
That stopped her dead in her tracks, and Wizardmon almost regretted saying it.
"I can't. Lose. You. You don't belong here, anyway..you never did." Gatomon said in a tight, soft voice.
Wizardmon held onto his rebuttal and patted her paw before gently prying it off. He knew she wouldn't have any of it, and that she truly thought she belonged in this awful place. He certainly didn't think she belonged here. "You won't lose me. I promise."
It was quite a feat that those words had worked, and not long after, Wizardmon was off to Myotismon's personal chamber. Kind of wishing Gatomon had been the one to sway him.
Myotismon didn't reward anyone beyond words or a change in rank, so this was as unusual as it was unnerving. Like Gatomon, Wizardmon didn't actually believe this summons was for any kind of "reward." If anything, Myotismon was probably going to bust him up some more and send him to bed sorely in need of medical attention again.
Understandably when Wizardmon reached Myotismon's door, he hesitated outside of it and thumbed his staff for a minute. Finally, reminding himself that if he were tardy Myotismon's punishment would be much worse, he went ahead and knocked on the door.
Myotismon's annoyed voiced barked from the other side. "What is it?"
Wizardmon swallowed uneasily and cleared his throat, speaking as loudly as he could. "It's Wizardmon, my Lord. You summoned me."
"Ah yeeees, Wizardmon. You may come in." Myotismon's voice said on the other side. The tone took on was so pleased that Wizardmon's bruises ached more noticeably to him. He tried to ignore it as best he could and entered the tall ass fancy door. It was made of rare digi-mahogany or something. Just a guess, Wizardmon didn't actually pay attention to what materials went into making new additions to Nightmare Castle, and it certainly wasn't his concern now.
Wizardmon crept in and took in his surroundings; Myotismon's bedroom was quite large. Large enough that it comfortably housed an entertainment parlor within it. Some beautifully carved wooden couches with plush-looking upholstery were separated by a long silver table that sat between them. Beyond that was Myotismon's coffin, a dark-colored desk with a very lavish wood-backed chair that had no business being in an office, a large dresser/vanity combo, a closet, and curious of all, a bed. Wizardmon thought Myotismon only slept in his coffin. Perhaps he was mistaken.
"Shut the door behind you." Myotismon instructed from one of the couches in the parlor, bringing Wizardmon out of his thoughts. "And be sure to lock it." Myotismon added, leaning back and taking a sip from his wine glass.
'That certainly isn't a good sign.' Wizardmon thought to himself as he shut and locked the door behind him. 'Maybe he doesn't want me to escape…'
As Wizardmon turned back around, he became distressed when Myotismon motioned him forward and then patted a seat on the couch for him to sit. Wizardmon carefully approached and started to go towards the couch opposite of Myotismon to try and put some room between them. "No." Myotismon said sharply, looking at Wizardmon pointedly over his glass. "I want you to sit here, next to your master."
Wizardmon's insides felt cold. His attempt to ease his suffering failed, and he'd have to sit next to his assailant. Wizardmon stood there a moment before following Myotismon's orders and hoisting himself up onto the couch in the seat next to his "master." He made sure he wasn't touching Myotismon before looking the lanky vampire king over and raising a question still left unanswered. "Demidevimon said you had a 'reward' for me. What is it?"
Myotismon gave Wizardmon a wide smirk as he set his wine glass down on the table. "Yes, you get a very special reward for being so useful. An honor very few have ever received."
Wizardmon's anticipation and fear were building, but all he could do was sit there and wait for Myotismon to continue, gripping his staff more tightly than usual as he tried in vain to relax on this rather comfy couch.
Seeing Wizardmon squirm was delicious, but Myotismon couldn't stall forever. "You, Wizardmon, may steal a kiss from your master's lips."
Wizardmon's staff hit the floor fast and clattered. Wizardmon felt stunned and acted as if he hadn't heard it or even realized he'd been holding it in the first place. He'd surely heard Lord Myotismon wrong. Surely he was going to get something trivial or a beating. He looked up to see Myotismon's smug face drinking in his reaction. Myotismon, who then slouched severely in his seat. "Well?" he asked, eying Wizardmon.
Oh Sovereign Gods this was real. This was real. Wizardmon couldn't think of anything to say, and he just made a low distressed 'eh' sound while staring at Myotismon as though he'd just said 'Let's donate to charity.'
"Go on and claim your prize." Myotismon said testily, snapping Wizardmon back into focus and forcing him to make a decision.
If he declined, he'd be punished for certain for spitting on Myotismon's "generosity," but if he did, he'd also be beaten, right? Or maybe he wouldn't. It didn't make any sense, but going against Myotismon's will was the worst option. Wizardmon decided to suck it up and just do it. It was just a peck on the lips, and he would probably get thrashed either way.
Myotismon's darkly amused expression came back as Wizardmon knelt on the couch and uncomfortably pulled his cape's collar down. He scooted in closer to Myotismon and leaned forward and up because even with the slouching, Myotismon was ridiculously tall in comparison. Once Wizardmon's stitched lips grazed Myotismon's glossy purple ones, he felt sick in his stomach and intended to pull back and leave. He tried, and to his surprise and horror, Myotismon's hand was gripping the back of his head and forcing their faces closer again.
Wizardmon started freaking out internally as his lord very firmly pressed their lips together and evenly applied more pressure. Oh god Myotismon really wanted to kiss him. He probably expected him to do something. He couldn't even remember the last time he kissed someone!
Timidly, as if he were afraid doing this would cause his lips to turn to glass and shatter, he reciprocated Myotismon's kiss and was startled to find it pleasant. His nerves were still on pins and needles, and he felt a tightness in his stomach. He was anxious for it to be over, and he got what he wanted at last when Myotismon let go of the back of his head.
Myotismon took a few fingers and nonchalantly pushed Wizardmon away from his person with them as he sat up properly again. "Enjoy your reward?" Myotismon asked, reaching down to the floor and plucking up Wizardmon's staff. He pushed it into Wizardmon's arms and picked up his drink again as he crossed his legs. "Well?"
Wizardmon's mind blanked for a moment before he responded. "Uh, Yes sir. My lord."
Wizardmon flinched and felt anticipation well up again as Myotismon touched Wizardmon's chin with his free hand and tilted his head up. "You are free to go, or stay and entertain me." The vampire said without a hint of suggestiveness in his voice.
"I think I will be taking my leave, Lord Myotismon." Wizardmon said politely enough. He was still rattled from the experience, and reeling from thinking about it and the disappointment he'd felt when Myotismon hadn't kissed him another time.
Myotismon let Wizardmon's face go and sat back, looking into his drink idly. "Go then. I am more than capable of amusing myself." He watched Wizardmon ease off the couch and teeter towards the door to the hall with interest. "And Wizardmon,"
Wizardmon stopped dead with his hand on the lock. "…Yes?"
"I expect to see you here tomorrow to take Gatomon's Punishment for her impudence. Six o'clock."
Wizardmon breathed a sigh of relief. "Yes, my lord." He replied before promptly leaving. He made it back to his room without incident other than some curious looks. News of his getting a 'reward' must have spread. At the very least he wasn't physically hurting any more than before, and Myotismon was honoring their agreement. That's what he thought as he wearily reached for his room's door and pushed it open to get some rest, or at least some time to himself.