Ben10 & Digimon Tamers

Heroes and Humanity

Part 02: Humanity and Heroes

Presage – Chapter 69

Originally Written: March 20, 2017 518AM to Wednesday, March 22, 2017 101AM

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"Henry..."

Said male shook his head. The doctors had removed his restraints a while ago. His father had got him his bag just a few moments ago. Henry wouldn't do anything else until he or someone else had.

His hands shook as he fumbled with his cell phone. "I-I just need to check something first."

"I..." Janyuu sighed, "I've never heard you scream or seen you thrash like that."

He closed his eyes.

"We couldn't wake you for anything. If it weren't for the scans we performed, I would have thought you fell into a coma." His father still held him tightly, refusing to let him go.

"Is Albedo awake?" Henry's voice shook as he spoke into the phone, to the voice on the other side.

"Now he is. He was sleeping earlier."

Henry sighed, relief filling his person. "What was he doing beforehand?"

His father looked at him. He didn't think he'd explain anything if asked. No, he was sure he wouldn't.

"We were playing the game. Well, I was playing and he was watching." Kazu replied, his voice sounded shaky. "He fell asleep, so I turned the game off and left the room. The guards let me stay."

If he knew his father like he thought he did, he knew he was straining his ears to hear Kazu on the other end.

"Don't let him go back to sleep."

"Henry?"

"Please?" He whispered. "Don't."

"Yea." Kazu sighed, "Kenta told me something had him on edge, but...What the buck?"

"What happened?"

"The lights, this odd cool looking pink energy stuff. He flipped his absolute shit. While sleeping. What the heck was he dreaming?"

"Do not let them drug him to calm him. Don't even let them physically subdue him. They didn't give him anything, did they?"

"Not that I can tell. He locked himself up in the bathroom." Silence fell between the two of them for a short moment. "He wasn't dreaming was he?"

He frowned, and shut his eyes tightly. "No."

"Shit. Last time I heard someone react like that, it was Jeri during that sleepover."

"Yea." Henry shuddered, "Yea. Let me speak to him."

"Course."

He waited patiently. Every nerve felt as though it were on fire. His limbs shook as he shivered. His father holding him provided no warmth. Too real. The whole surreal thing was too real.

He scowled as he heard Kazu protest a Plumber's decision. "Put me on speaker." He took a deep breath. He wouldn't get out of this building if the lights started flickering. He wished so badly he could throw Juggernaut across the room. For an entity who made his and Albedo's and Terriermon's bodies carry out abnormal functions without their consent all so they wouldn't die, it infuriated him that it was just fine with watching dream entities torture them. How many times had it just stood there and watched?

He clenched his phone so tightly he knew he'd leave bruises on his hand later. "If you don't let me speak to Albedo, I'm going to shove my foot up your ass. And then I'm going to beat the shit out of it-"

"Henry!" Janyuu scolded.

"-rip your intestines out your asshole and choke you with them. Got it?"

"-You can't speak to anyone like that!-"

"You could be the Prime Minister for all I care. I do not give a fuck who you are. You let me speak to Albedo. Right. Now."

"I raised you better!"

Henry smiled smugly, despite the fear and uncertainty coiled around his heart and person. He did his best to ignore his dad looking at him in surprise and disappointment.

"What's going on with you, Henry?"

"Albedo...?"

"J-Jenrya?"

His small, wavering voice broke Henry's heart. This was not what his Albedo was supposed to sound like. He could barely understand him over the phone.

"Y-you were-"

"I know." Henry blinked rapidly. His anger and frustration quickly dissipated, leaving him to fight off tears. So many things he could say, but nothing that would help. "I'm...It's ok now." He shuddered, and held in a scoff. Why in the world did he say that? Nothing was okay.

"N-no it's not. He's gonna kill you, and Terriermon, and then me. He's going to kill everyone."

"No he won't."

"J-Jenrya-"

"I won't let him." He closed his eyes. "He won't get near you."

"He's got Plumbers...everyone on h-his side a-and now h-he's in my head Jenrya. You can't fight that."

Henry closed his eyes. "I'll find a way. I promise." His father somehow managed to hug him even tighter. "Albedo?"

"Yes?"

"I'm not in the building right now, but I will be there as soon as I can." He shuddered at the silence on the other end. "I promise."

"No one is safe from him." His Albedo murmured. "Not a single person. I told them all not to give him that watch."

"I know." Henry looked down at his lap. "I know... I'll be there soon." Silence filled the other end.

"Henry." Kazu spoke up.

"Yea?"

"He went to lay down. I'll stay with him."

"Thanks."

"He's my friend too, you know. Course you know."

He could almost hear the male rolling his eyes. He laughed a short, curt laugh. "I'll be right over. Keep them away from him. Goodness knows what they do to calm him down." Henry ended the phone call. His hands shook so bad he was surprised he didn't drop the phone.

"What's going on here?" His father stood in front of him, eyes caring, but stern. "You know where Albedo is?"

Henry shook his head.

"You didn't think to tell anyone?"

"I can't." He whispered.

"Henry...hiding Albedo, again. Threatening physical harm to Plumbers? There's only so many times you can be protected before the law crashes down on you. Most don't get anywhere near as lucky as you have so far." Janyuu sighed.

"I trust you. The other Monster Makers. Yamaki, Riley and Tally." Henry looked him in the eye. "I don't trust who you all work for. I cannot. I will not." He slowly pushed himself to his feet. He could still feel his broken bones, the blood coating his limbs, running down his skin, soaking into his clothes...

"Henry..." Janyuu caught him as he stumbled.

"I need you to trust me. I need you to not look for Albedo. I need you to pretend you didn't hear any of this."

"I'm a grown man who's supposed to know better."

Henry frowned. His father looked so distraught. He swore he'd give the man a heart attack one day without even meaning to. He'd make it up to him, as a son should. "Please?" He smiled a watery smile.

"Is someone attacking him...?" His father spoke softly to him.

Henry shook his head, "I don't know what to think." He flipped through his phone. He stopped at a picture. He showed his father.

"What is that?"

Henry looked down, "I shouldn't drag you into this."

"You are my son, you just woke up from fainting and having an absolute fit over what, I don't know. And right now you are acting as though the Yakuza has put a hit out on your boyfriend." Janyuu raised an eyebrow. "I'm involved. I'm very involved."

Henry sighed, "It's a Cassiopeian Dream Eater. It's an alien that latches onto its victims' heads, and puts them to sleep. It gives them nightmares."

Janyuu looked at him wide eyed, disbelieving. "What? It-what? What?"

"Albedo was attacked by one. He's..."

"When?" Janyuu grabbed his shoulders.

Henry shook his head, "He's not well. And no one..." He closed his eyes for a few moments, before opening them again. "I-I need to go to him. Okay?"

"How do you-?"

Henry looked at the wires attached to him.

"You're connected to him..." His father's voice raised in pitch ever so slightly as he spoke. "My God, Henry. I can't just-"

"No!" He looked at him wide eyed, "I know...it's not good, I know, okay, but..." He shook his head, "He will not be okay if he steps foot in this building again. Not right now. Just trust me, please? I'm going to do what I need to do anyway, whether or not you do, but it'd be so much more helpful if you trusted me."

"You're not even going to rest, are you?"

"Albedo can't sleep. It wouldn't be fair if I did." He watched his father drop his arms. If he didn't think he was crazy already, surely he did now. "Stop looking at me like that. We're not alone."

Janyuu shook his head, "Do you feel alright? Your vitals said you were fine, but-"

"I'm okay."

"Take someone with you at least, wherever you're going. I'll walk you to the exit. No ifs and or buts. And try to refrain from threatening people who can imprison you on the spot."

Henry steeled himself as he put his phone in his pocket. If he couldn't stand up, how could he possibly help Albedo? "Alright."