The pair got into a bit of a routine after that night of gaming, spending most evenings after work adding to Ren's new minecraft house. Ren would go back and forth between the Xbox and PC, using the computer to learn how to build something, then trying it out on the Xbox.
On one such night, the tamer was putting a suggestion to Ren.
"So, I had a thought."
"About what, Tamer?"
"Well, since you really seem to be getting into this, do you wanna have the Xbox in your room?"
Ren had gotten into the habit of playing while he chatted, not looking away from the screen. However, the suggestion broke his attention and he looked over to the tamer in surprise.
"My room?"
"Yeah, you know... if you wanted you could just chill out in there and play minecraft. I've got a small TV in my room that I never use. You could have it."
"Really?"
"Sure, why not?"
"Thank you Tamer! That is another thing I owe you for."
"Just promise you won't stay up all night playing Xbox, ok?"
"Yes, Tamer."
—
They made it through another week.
That weekend, the tamer was busy in the second bedroom, sorting through some of the boxes he had removed from his spare room to make space for Ren. He had decided he wanted to move the desk around to make space to store them and thought an extra set of hands would be useful.
He called out down the hall.
"Hey, Ren?"
No response.
The digimon had been in his room all morning and hadn't come out yet. The tamer thought it was a bit strange.
"...Ren?"
Still nothing.
He headed to Ren's door and gave a knock.
"Hey Ren? You awake?"
"Yes."
"Ok... can I come in?"
"Yes."
He pushed the door open and entered.
Ren was sitting cross-legged in front of the TV, wrapped up in a sheet and playing Minecraft again.
"You look comfy... have you been playing all night?"
"Hmm? No."
The tamer gave a skeptical look, but Ren was too engrossed to see it.
"Alright, do you have a minute to lend a hand?"
"Can I finish this first?"
"Can't you just pause it?"
"But... I need to finish this room."
The tamer rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, alright."
He went back to the other room and waited for Ren to join him.
Minutes passed. He was almost about to go back to ask Ren again, but the digimon did eventually come through of his own volition.
Looking over to Ren as he entered, the tamer had to do a double take. He hadn't realised before, as Ren had been wrapped up in a sheet. But now, he couldn't help but notice the unmistakable change the digimon had undergone.
Ren was wearing a pair of trunks.
And not just a pair borrowed from his tamer. These were clearly bespoke trunks meant for a Renamon, matching the colour of the digimon's gauntlets.
"Um, Ren?"
"Yes, Tamer?"
"You're wearing underpants."
"I am."
The tamer gave the digimon a pointed look, expecting some sort of explanation.
"Well?"
The digimon just stared blankly, as if the sudden change was self-explanatory.
"...since when?"
"I had been thinking about it since you first showed me your computer."
"Um, ok. And you look a bit different. Are you...slightly trimmer?"
"Yes, I am somewhat lighter."
"And a bit more... well... fit."
The tamer gestured for Ren to do a little spin, and the digimon happily complied. If he didn't know any better, he would've said Ren seemed to enjoy showing off.
Taking a moment to examine the digimon's form properly, Ren's fur was definitely sleeker and disguised his physique less than it had prior.
Previously, the fur had been thick enough that only a vague outline of the digimon's shape was visible. But now, the sleeker form meant the digimon's athletic build was much more obvious.
"Was he always that fit underneath the fur, or was that part of the change too?"
"...so this is another one of your... modifications?"
"Yes. Over time, digimon have realised humans can be somewhat shallow and often place substantial value in the appearance of their partner. It seems they can find it difficult to form a strong partnership with a digimon they consider...visually unappealing."
"Wow, judgemental much?"
The digimon gave him a pointed look.
The cute and fluffy digimon types were definitely more popular than others. Ren had a point, and the tamer knew it.
"...ok, maybe we can be a bit picky. I guess I am glad I ended up with a cool digimon like you, rather than something like... I dunno... a sukamon."
Ren seemed surprised at the comment.
"You think I am... cool?"
"Well... yeah. You've got this sort of... I dunno... suaveness. Other digimon don't seem to have that. Honestly... other rookies just seem a bit childish compared to you."
"I... thank you, Tamer."
Ren looked away in embarrassment and the tamer noticed his tail was giving a little wag.
"Except when you get all bashful like that. Then you get this sorta awkward shyness. Can't tell if you're blushing under all that fur."
"I am not used to receiving compliments like that. It makes me... self-conscious."
"It's fine Ren, I'm just teasing. Anyway... so basically you changed your appearance to make yourself... what... more attractive to me?"
"Essentially, yes. I wanted to do something to repay you for the Xbox and other stuff, but there was nothing I could think of... except this. I... thought you would like it."
"Well, that's very... considerate of you."
"...and slightly weird."
"Not at all, I simply want to ensure I can be the most suitable partner possible for you."
"Yeah, let's not start with the whole 'serve the tamer' nonsense again. Back to the more pressing issue."
"Ok, but where'd you get the idea I like fit men in colour-coordinated underwear?"
Ren replied without missing a beat.
"Your browser history."
"Oh."
"...did I forget to use incognito last time I was browsing pornos? No, it shouldn't matter. I definitely wasn't looking at hunky men lately. Wait a minute..."
A sudden realisation interrupted his reminiscing.
"...you went through my history?"
"Yes. I was keen to learn about you and your interests, in order to be a better partner. When I first asked about your computer, I noticed you were browsing pictures showing males wearing only undergarments. When you left me to explore the computer on my own later, I noticed you had viewed multiple similar pages in the past few days and figured that you were interested in those images."
"NOSY BASTARD! Everyone knows you don't look at another guy's browsing history."
Internally he fumed, and the digimon obviously picked up on it. Ren's normally reserved expression changed to one of concern, with his brow furrowed in confusion.
"...this... upsets you?"
The tamer's anger dissipated as quickly as it rose. It seemed the digimon genuinely didn't understand some of the common boundaries people had. Ren also couldn't really be faulted for his naivety regarding the unspoken 'bro code'. The tamer doubted most digimon would even know what a browser was, let alone the etiquette of sharing it with another person.
"No... well... yes, a bit. I just... forget a lot of this stuff is still new to you. But yeah, you don't just go flipping through another guy's browser history, ok? Some of that stuff could be private. If you really want to know stuff, just ask, yeah?"
"Understood. I will avoid looking at your history again. However, may I know what particular aspect of these images you find appealing?"
An expression of dread passed the tamer's face. Was he really going to have to explain his porn-viewing habits to his digimon?
He decided at this point it was probably too late to try denying whatever Ren had seen.
"Well... which page were you... uh... looking at?"
"I believe it was called 'Target'."
"Target... page full of men in their jocks?... OH."
The realisation gave the tamer some relief. Target was much easier to explain than... other sites.
"Um, Ren... I wasn't browsing those for... uh... leisure. I was shopping. You know... checking if there were any good discounts on my favourite brand of underpants. I've been needing to get a few new pairs."
An awkward moment of silence passed as the digimon processed what his tamer had said.
...and what that meant for the changes he had undergone.
"Oh... I see."
"Yeaaah... I don't typically look at that stuff."
The digimon's ears drooped in disappointment at this revelation.
"My... mistake. So, these changes... do not... appeal to you?"
Ren's words, normally spoken with calm confidence, were instead timid and uncertain. The digimon was also avoiding looking his tamer in the eyes.
While not intentional, the question sent a pang of guilt through the tamer. Here Ren was, having basically changed his entire appearance to suit what he thought his tamer would prefer, only to be told he'd got it all wrong. It would be like getting plastic surgery and then having your partner tell you they hated it.
"Damnit."
"Ren... I..."
"Please be honest, Tamer. I do not wish my appearance to displease you."
"Ugh, back to the servitude bit."
"Look, Ren. I thought you looked fine the way you were. You don't need to go changing just for me."
"So I should return to my previous appearance?"
"No, that's not what I meant. Just... no more changes, ok? Like, the hands thing was kind of weird, but I can see how it's useful for you. But changing your looks just to... uh... appeal to me... that's just unnecessary."
"But I want to be the best possible-"
The tamer knew what was coming and cut it off.
"Oh-no-no, enough of the 'best partner' crap. You're fine the way you are Ren."
"Are... are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure, Ren. I'll admit, fit fox boy probably wouldn't have been the first thing that came to mind if you'd asked me, but honestly... it's not a bad look."
The digimon's ears perked up again and a small smile crossed his face.
"...although I do foresee one problem."
"What is that, Tamer?"
"Looking like that, you're gonna make all the ladies swoon... and probably a bunch of guys too, actually."
Ren just tilted his head in confusion.