Ben10 & Digimon Tamers
Heroes and Humanity
Part 02: Humanity and Heroes
What Happens in Bellwood... – Chapter 56
Originally Written: Monday, January 30, 2017 353AM to Tuesday, January 31, 2017 852PM
. . . . .
"You can take the ID mask off now." A plumber spoke to Henry. At least he thought it was a plumber. They had set the ID mask so he couldn't see anything. It was like those movies where the kidnappers blindfolded their victims so they couldn't figure out where they were being taken. Luckily these were not kidnappers. At least, not in that sense.
The plumbers didn't drag him around like a ragdoll. Instead they patiently led him out the vehicle and to what Henry was starting to think was not Hypnos. He shuffled his feet, trying to get his bearings. Juggernaut helped him a little, but the program was not used to functioning without Henry's sight. In fact, sometimes Henry swore his vision had improved as a result of his interference.
He carefully took off the mask. He instinctively closed his eyes as bright light assaulted them. He felt the start of a headache coming on and he rubbed his eyes with the back of a hand. Eventually he opened his eyes and looked around.
"This is not Hypnos." He looked at the plain gray walls. "This is an apartment complex." He turned around, taking in the view. An elevator off to the side, and a staircase to the left. He wasn't in the lobby of the apartment, but rather, he looked out a window off to the right, a floor or two up he guessed.
He smiled, calmed by the knowledge that if Albedo was here his discomfort wasn't caused by being stuck in a building that was the splitting image of a Plumber Facility.
He looked at the black haired male standing behind him. He narrowed his eyes, studying the brown-eyed person. 'Analyzing...' Juggernaut spoke in his mind. He looked at them for a few more moments, 'Analysis complete.'
"Oh!" He spoke in surprise, "You're-"
They placed a hand on his shoulder, "We are using ID masks for a reason, sir."
"Right, of course." He looked at him one more moment, "Change your stance."
"Beg your pardon?"
Henry grinned, "Males only stand like that in police or military situations. It's too uncomfortable to stand like that for long." He looked off to the side as the guard flushed. "We don't have hips like that. At least, I don't."
"I told them having me pose as a male was a bad idea." The plumber inhaled deeply. They brushed off their slacks, muttering for a few more moments.
Another casually dressed plumber walked up behind them. "Just relax. Only a male would know what to look for." The male placed his hands in his coat pockets.
"Are there only males here?" Henry looked around.
"No. A plainly dressed female with no makeup is a bit more noticeable than male. For this case, it was determined people see only males enter."
"That's interesting."
"Ms. Katou has quite the method to her madness. If you would walk forward up these steps."
Henry walked.
"For the time being, this will be where you serve your punishment. You will not be able to leave this building."
"I see. It's essentially house arrest." He looked around. The door to everyone's apartment on this floor had a casually dressed guard either standing inside the apartment or just outside. He counted three on one side, and four on the other. No doors appear to be locked. The place was eerily quiet for being the middle of the afternoon.
"You're required to be awake at six AM sharp, showered and dressed by six forty-five. Breakfast at eight AM, lunch at noon, a snack if desired at three PM and dinner at six PM. Meals and other necessities will be provided for you."
Henry only paid partial attention to the plumbers trailing right behind him as they explained the on goings to him. He found himself too interested in this overly sterile apartment complex.
From walking around, it seemed quite small compared to the apartments he was used to. He didn't imagine too many people were here. The occasional plant or plain wall hanging seemingly embedded into the wall were just a few indications that this apartment was actually in use. In some way it reminded Henry of the psychiatric ward. Everything under lock and key, stored behind a guard.
He wondered how Albedo was fairing in such a situation. Before he would have assumed Albedo would have handled the situation just fine. Perhaps he wouldn't have even noticed that it was so sterile and guarded. Now... Henry feared these plumbers would not understand the workings of Albedo's mind. He feared they'd let Albedo get stuck there, trapped by whatever hatred and fear of Ben Tennyson the young male had.
'Synchronizing...' Juggernaut alerted him. A little bit more of these occurrences, and he figured he would almost be used to the bland voice in his head.
He heard quick determined footsteps. He smiled a small smile to himself. He looked at the guards, "May I...?"
They looked at each other for a moment, "Go ahead." The female said shortly after. "Don't expect such luxuries often."
Henry was already down the hall, turning the corner. He turned another corner only slowly down when another casually dressed plumber sharply yelled at him. He slowed to a somber slow walk when another guard scolded him. "Slow down. You'll startle him."
"Jenrya?"
He took one look at Albedo's slumped form. Thick black rings surrounded his eyes just as they had when Albedo had first returned to West Shinjuku. He watched the male tug at the sleeves of his signature jacket. Henry wondered if the shivering was a figment of his imagination. He hoped that it was.
"Why are you here?" He tilted his head to the side, stringy, unkempt white hair succumbing to gravity.
Henry swallowed his tears and the lump in his throat. "I came to see you." He smiled, "I wanted..."
Albedo had looked off to the side.
Henry dropped his smile as he closed the distance between them.
"There is nothing good here." The red eyed male spoke.
"Except you." Henry held his hands. He wanted to scream at the plumbers. Ask and demand what they did to his Albedo, but he knew it would be futile. If they had any humanity to their persons, they would say that he stubbornly refused their help. Albedo's hands felt small and frail in his own. "Will you look at me?"
The male did so with ease, looking into silver eyes for just a few moments. Then he looked off to the side, slouching with a cross between distraction and boredom.
'Analyzing.'
Henry looked at the guard and smiled. The tall male dressed in slacks and a button up shirt he didn't look the least comfortable in saluted him.
"Beelzemon is here three times a week. Usually Monday, Thursday and Saturday."
"You haven't lost your touch."
"Obviously, I would not have." The male didn't smirk, but the smirk in his voice was more than enough for Henry.
Albedo looked past him, "For some reason, Rose is disguised as a male. Yckat is a female on the roof. I think he enjoys it. They're only here once a week." He spoke a few more notches above a whisper. "I don't know the one next to her." He scowled.
"Ya probably won't see 'im again." Beelzemon nodded to the two plumbers. "He's only here to bring'n Henry."
"Hm."
Henry watched Albedo look at him once more.
"Jenrya?"
Henry kissed him gently, slowly, on the lips. Albedo froze, his hands gripping Henry's tightly. Henry focused, his mind calming. He focused his thoughts. 'I had no business trusting any aspect of Hypnos' security so soon after the invasion.' He pulled away from Albedo as the male tugged at his hands.
Albedo looked at him, a mix of shock hidden behind boredom. He could not hide his glassy eyes, however.
'I will not let that happen to you again.'
Albedo lowered his head. His fingers twitched in Henry's hands.
Juggernaut silently worked in Henry's head, sending an odd tingly feeling in his brain that he couldn't properly explain to anyone, no matter how hard he tried.
'Even if I'm not next to you, that will not happen again.'
Henry swore he felt the male shudder. He dropped one of Albedo's hands. He ran a hand through Albedo's hair, just as soft and slow as his kiss. He felt a guard touch his shoulder. He scowled, "Punish me later. I won't be moved now." He surprised himself with the snarl in his voice as he spoke.
He heard the guard sigh and the hand move. Albedo lifted his head again, and Henry kissed him once more. 'I'm asking a lot more than I deserve-'
'Y-you're in my head,' Albedo's mental reply interrupted him.
'Should I stop?' Henry cupped Albedo's face with his hands.
'No.'
A feeling of calm washed through Henry, and he smiled against Albedo's lips.
'I prefer you over anyone else.'
Henry grinned, 'Thank you.'
Albedo pulled away and looked off to the side, 'Is this from Juggernaut?'
'Just a little something I picked up. You won't change my mind.'
He rolled his eyes. 'You are human, surprisingly, perhaps stupidly stubborn, like the rest.'
Henry dropped his hands, 'Let me take care of you for once, hm?'
"Go." Albedo spoke, voice soft. He pulled at his jacket sleeves once more.
"Okay." Henry kissed him once more. His heart fluttered as he watched the male lick his lips. He turned around. "This isn't solitary confinement, is it?"
"No. It's not too different from a traditional plumber facility."
Henry watched Rose flinch ever so slightly. He reached back and tapped Albedo's hand.
"It's just more private. More...one on one." The other guard continued. "You'll learn the ropes soon enough."
Henry nodded, "I'm sure." He felt hands press against his back. "I'm ready to be moved now." He smiled warmly.
"This way." The two guards waited for Henry to step forward, then flanked him on either side, as they led him back down the hall.
He breathed slowly and deeply, calming his nerves as he followed the plumber's directions. He would keep Albedo safe. He never wanted to see that look of terror in the males eyes again. No matter what it took to keep it away.