003 - [Video]

[trainsurdragons]

[The feed clicks on, but at first there's nothing but blackness. The terminal is jostled slightly by someone on the other side, lifting off of a bed it looks like. The sound is slightly muffled by the sheets, but voices can be heard regardless.]

I don't know what your problem is!

Ohooo, MY problem? I'm not the one with the problem here pal! You kid are the one who wants to just- just rush out an' get your stupid, prehistoric butt handed to ya over some- some guy ya don't even KNOW!

[There's a loud rustle over the microphone as the terminal is jostled again before finally a video of some sort can be seen, but for now it's just the floor. Hiccup has it in his fist, but hasn't even had the chance to turn it on himself yet.]

Why wouldn't I want to help, Gomamon? Weren't you the one who tried to tear Monodramon apart for no good reason? What's so different about this, except that you're actually- I don't know- HELPING someone?!

[More movement. Hiccup stumbles back slightly, and there's a loud whine as he suddenly runs into the desk and knocks it back a few inches.]

He- ...That WAS for a good freakin' reason ya- ...ya know what, forget it. FORGET. IT. If you wanna go get yourself AND ME killed by bein' some big hero, go right on ahead! See if I care!

Care? Since when have you cared about anything but yourself in the first place!?

[There's a loud door slam, then silence, save for the sound of Hiccup breathing heavily over the feed. He...somehow ended up in the hallway. He doesn't care much about that right now though, he just wanted out of there. The video is still nothing but the floor as he slides to sit on the floor with his back to the wall. Then, finally, he turns the video on himself for just a split second to realize he was still....recording.

The feed cuts abruptly.]

Comments

[video]

[fuhrinkaed]

[...Hiccup...]

...you okay?

[video]

[trainsurdragons]

[He jumps a little at the voice, his grip tightening around the Terminal. It's taking all he has not to just cut the feed again right there, but something forces him to stay his hand.

He doesn't look at the screen though.]

...yeah. Yeah. I'm fine.

Re: [video]

[fuhrinkaed]

Are you sure..? I saw what happened with you and Gomamon.

You're supposed to be working together... not fighting. What's up?

[Video]

[robotfightclub]

[Nope. She's not even going to give Tapirmon a chance to start off this video feed with his stupid. Arcee snatches the Terminal as soon as she can and pretty much yells as loudly as she can.]

HEY.

[Cut it out.]

[Video]

[trainsurdragons]

[Hiccup jumps- QUITE VIOLENTLY and just drops the terminal altogether to the hallway floor with a loud clatter. Well, chalk that up as his second time nearly busting this thing.

Shakily he reaches back down and picks the device back up, not really checking it for damage this time. At this point, if it was completely broken beyond repair he wouldn't even mind it. He doesn't really feel like talking to anyone right now anyway.

There's silence from the inside of the apartment though, at least. Who knows where Gomamon went. ...Hiccup's just glad the place was empty today.

For the moment though he stays silent. He recognized that as Arcee's voice but....he doesn't say anything regardless.]

[Video]

[robotfightclub]

[Well, at least she got his attention.]

You still there? You can pick it up, I'm done shouting.

Video

[wall_flower]

G-Guys? Are you...Are you okay?

[Have a worried Marley on the D-Terminal.]

[Video]

[trainsurdragons]

[There's a long pause before Hiccup speaks up.]

Yeah, everything's fine.

[No, that's a lie. But he'll lie if he has to.]

[Video]

[wall_flower]

It didn't sound fine...

[Marley sighs. She doesn't want to press the issue, but this sounded terrible.]

If you need to talk or anything, I'll listen. It's not much, but...it's something, right?

[digisincerity]

[Jyou and Gomamon half-watch, half-stare at each other with similar awkward-turtle looks on their faces because jfc... It feels almost intrusive to say anything, but with the way the Digital World is... maybe he could offer advice of some sort? Granted his relationship with Gomamon had never hit lows like this, but it was important that everyone stick together and get along as best they can.]

Ah... Hiccup-san? Is everything going to be alright?

Jyooouuu... were you listening to the same conversa--mmmffff!

[Jyou places a hand over his partner's mouth.]

Not now. Please, Gomamon...

[trainsurdragons]

[Hiccup looks over at the screen, his shoulders slumping slightly when he sees Jyou and Gomamon. His jaw sets a bit at the sight of the Digimon, but otherwise he stays silent for the moment.]

...Yeah, it...it's fine. Really.

[Geeze he sounds like a broken record over here.]

We're just not....agreeing on things right now.

[That...is an understatement.]

[digisincerity]

[He considers the context of the argument. Wanting to volunteer to find "some guy he didn't even know", probably Taichi. He and Gomamon had discussed that, until Jyou pointed out they would probably be needed in the city more for... various reasons.

His voice is soft when he replies, his hand moving from Gomamon's mouth to the hair on his head, stroking it absentmindedly. He hopes that his friend will keep quiet for a bit.]

About what to do with Koushirou-kun's announcement?

[strengthinkindness]

H-Hiccup...Gomamon...p-please don't fight. This...this is difficult for everyone, and...the last thing we need is to be at odds with each other...

[trainsurdragons]

TELL THAT TO HICCUP.

[Comes the scream from the other side of the door, which prompts Hiccup to beat his fist against the door once to get Gomamon to shut up.]

[strengthinkindness]

[The screen shifts, and Lopmon's face appears.] I know you can hear me, Gomamon! Stop being such a jerk!

[video]

[genreawareness]

[Well this has to be one of the more awkward posts to the network]

I take it broadcasting this fight was an accident?

[video]

[trainsurdragons]

Mostly.

[For one thing, Hiccup didn't even know the fight was going to happen. It just sorta...happened.]

I'm sorry. ...Pretty lovely way to get the attention of every last Chosen and Digimon within a five mile radius of here, huh?

[video]

[changelingdude]

Yikes Dude. You alright?

[video]

[trainsurdragons]

Yeah.

[How many times has he said this so far? ..Well, it's nice to know people care at least.]

[digipurity]

[With all the queries and whatever else, Mimi feels like someone needs to offer them a vote of confidence.]

This is...this is good for you guys, trust me! It's better to share what's on your mind with each other than keep it all bottled up inside!

[trainsurdragons]

[Well, that was sure one heck of a show-and-tell back there then if Hiccup ever saw one. He lets out a heavy sigh, resting his chin in his palm.]

...Ok. So you're telling me Gomamon isn't actually stubborn, egotistical, and rude- and that he's really just having trouble expressing himself?

[Ok that probably came out harsher than he meant, and for that, Mimi, he apologizes.]

[Video]

[selfabsorblight]

Oh my, such a vulgar display of savagery on both sides.

[Video]

[trainsurdragons]

[Hiccup makes a face, unintentionally sneering at the screen.]

You have no idea.

[voice]

[howamanlives]

... Look dude, I ain't gonna tell you how you and your partner are supposed to act. The thing about me and Agumon, we chose to fight together. That's different from what you and everyone else gotta deal with, because you got forced together.

But I can tell ya this.

You're in this together. You ain't got a choice. And forcin' your will over your partner's... that's never the right way to go about things. I ain't faultin' you for bein' brave, or wanting to help people, but you got to know one thing. It's you and the digimon together, and you're both each other's power.

And power isn't something that's borrowed or given. Power is combined.

If the two of you are gonna make it in this world, you both gotta remember that.

[voice]

[trainsurdragons]

[Hiccup listens solemnly to the voice coming through his Terminal, and halfway through he sets it down carefully on the carpeted hallway. His hands are shaking too much to hang onto it any longer. Instead he moves to rest his hands on his knees, staring at the far wall as he listens quietly.

Even when Masaru finishes speaking, Hiccup doesn't say anything.

Because he's right. He's absolutely right, and it hits him like a ton of bricks. The pressure he's suddenly feeling on his chest nearly takes his breath away.
In his anger and frustration towards Gomamon, he hadn't even considered that perhaps he was doing exactly what Gomamon probably felt like he was doing to him. Forcing something on him that he didn't want, or that he didn't feel comfortable with. Hiccup knew he'd be feeling the same way, if they ended up getting stuck in the apartment.

It's an...awful feeling, but it was something he needed to hear. He glances back at the door to the apartment before finally reaching down to pick the Terminal back up. He has to clear his throat a few times, because at first he can't speak.]

.....Thank you.

[That....admittedly makes no sense and is a rather silly thing to say, but the gratitude is genuine even in that one word. He's not sure what else to say, but it's made him realize that if he keeps going against the grain with Gomamon, they'll both go down.

Power is combined. ...If he forgets that, neither of them will make it.]