SILENCE'S CALL

>>And in the naked light I saw
>>Ten thousand people, maybe more
>>People talking without speaking,
>>People hearing without listening,
>>People writing songs that voices never share
>>And no one dare
>>Disturb the sound of silence

The lone traveller moved deeper into the forest, pushing or cutting down leaves and branches when necessary. It was quiet there, only barely audible noises disrupting the quiet now and then. Even though the sun was supposedly high in the sky by now, as his insticts told him, it was still dark there because of the tall trees' shadows.

He had been walking there for long, too long as he saw it, and he still wasn't getting anywhere. It wasn't like him to give up, though, and so he kept walking at his steady pace. Had he not been so eager to find someone he could talk to, he would have stopped to admire the flowers of a thousand colours or the endless sea of green above him. But there was no time, he reminded himself, and he unconsciously started walking faster.

His efforts were rewarded in less than half an hour, as the light started getting brighter in his direction. The forest's end was near, he would be reaching open space soon. And so he started running, leaves cracking below his feet, sounding like houses collapsing under a giant's weight.

He pushed his way through a bush, and he was suddenly facing a building of some sort. A more accurate term to use for it would be "ruins", but at the moment he didn't care about its appearance. Step after step he crossed the distance, turning his head to all directions. Symbols were carved on parts of the walls of stone and vines covered them, but he did not even pause to glance at any of those details, instead going straight to the building's entrance.

He was surprised to find the Labyrinth's Guardian in the outter part of it, but didn't show it. Kentarumon was currently staring at the symbols on one of the walls, but turned around the moment he heard the sound of steps. He dropped the alertness when he realised who it was. He didn't say anything, just nodded, signifying that he was allowed to enter.

Leomon paused when he was beside the other Digimon, unexpectedly asking "Are they still here?"

He didn't need mention who, because Kentarumon seemed to understand. It had always been this way between the two, and any others that held responsibility over the Digital World's fate and secrets. Mutual respect and understanding, hidden well behind actions that they preferred to use instead of words. Kentarumon's single eye studied Leomon, before he answered "No. They left a long time ago."

Leomon simply nodded, then lowered his head. "I wished to see them just another time after I was reborn, but I guess it can't be helped."

They stood there in the silence for another few minutes, before Kentarumon asked "What are you going to do now?"

Leomon's mouth turned to what seemed like a small smile, and he shrugged. "I haven't really thought about it. Maybe I should start searching for Ogremon once more, to fight him and fulfill my purpose. What are you going to do?"

"My only purpose is to guard this Labyrinth, so I can not leave." His tone didn't let any kind of emotion escape, but Leomon could tell he was not very happy about it by his lowered voice.

"Now that everything is over, perhaps you don't have to stay here any longer," Leomon answered, in an attempt to make him feel better. He would have put a hand on his shoulder as a sign of support, but he knew Kentarumon did not like being touched. Leomon was not the kind of Digimon one would go to seeking support, after all, so it didn't matter.

"It's not over. Not yet," Kentarumon said, and Leomon found himself at a loss of words. They both felt it after all. He didn't know if it was instict or a prosentiment, but they both knew that there was more to follow. Suddenly, Kentarumon continued "You can stay here for longer, if you wish. Whatever it is that's going to be a threat to the Digital World is not going to be here soon."

Leomon considered that for a second. He would not be able to reassure the other Digimon, but he would be able to offer company. To be there as a presence, a -real- presence, unlike the lifeless walls and the mute symbols. Yes, he could do that. And so he nodded, letting Kentarumon lead him into the Labyrinth.

- - -

"This is where you'll be staying," Kentarumon said when they reached a corner of the Labyrinth.

It was rather small, but not littered with objects of no utility or purpose here and there. It made Leomon wonder if Kentarumon had chosen this part randomly, or if he already knew that he preferred rooms to be plain like that. He leaned on the wall in the corner and closed his eyes. "Thank you," he said.

"The least I can do for a friend," was Kentarumon's response before he left the room.

Leomon didn't pause to ponder when they had first met, when they had become friends, and when they had got close enough to be able to refer to each other using that word. It had happened, and that's all that mattered. Maybe in a second, or a lifetime, he had left both behind so he didn't care when. His eyelids were heavy, and he let them close shut as an uncomfortable silence enveloped him.

- - -

He slept better than he thought he would. The open space allowed him to move around as much as he wanted, something he had a tendency to do while unconscious. Sleep also came faster than he expected, so he didn't have to suffer through that shiver-inducing silence. He stretched his arms and stood up, trying to remember the way he had come from. Neither being able to remember nor to stand there and wait for Kentarumon to show him, he started walking in the path laid out before him.

He didn't get far before he heard footstops arriving. Instictively, his hand reached to the hilt of his sword. It turned out he didn't have to use it, though, as Kentarumon's form appeared in the crossroads a few feet ahead of him. He grinned and ran towards him, right at the moment Kentarumon's head shot to his direction.

The world started moving in slow motion for the first time in either of his lives. The thought was rather startling as he recalled it later, realising that it had always been an adrenaline rush for him, or a quiet moment that ended too quickly. At that moment, though, all he knew was that he had never felt so alive.

His feet left the floor. The floor left his feet. Kentarumon reached him in one quick stride and pushed him out of the way. His back hit the floor.

He had been close to death. Kentarumon had saved him. Yet while all this happened, there was no sound.

No sound at all...

- - -

The days that followed the incident were serene, and allowed Leomon to think about what he'd do now that the Chosen Children had accomplished their goal. It didn't take long to decide. As nice as Kentarumon's hospitality seemed at the moment, he knew that he wouldn't be able to stay in the Labyrinth for much longer. His nature was to travel, to go where the road leads him and wait for fate to take action. Still, that didn't mean he wouldn't enjoy his time here.

He had gotten to know the Labyrinth better after the incident. He didn't dare explore it without Kentarumon as a companion, but even so, he had memorised where some of the traps had been placed, or which paths led to a dead end.

Kentarumon didn't push him, or talk all the time about the Labyrinth's history or the kids' adventures. He knew Leomon didn't enjoy listening to stories about adventures in which he hadn't participated. He knew it made him feel left out. Leomon affected Kentarumon too, in a way. There were days he would walk with Leomon short distances outside the ruins, sometimes discussing the creatures' ways of coping with the destructions that had come with the Dark Masters.

Of course, life there couldn't be all light and rainbows. The eerie silence still haunted him in night, reminding him that there was nothing he had to do now that the Digital World was saved. Leomon had never been afraid of death, so the connection that people saw with it and silence meant nothing to him. Instead, it was the reminder that an eternity of being alive awaited that scared him. If he could choose, he would rather have died as a hero in the battle with MetalEtemon than spend his whole life moping about the thrill of the old days.

In one of their walks around the Labyrinth, Leomon had asked the other Digimon: "How can you stand the silence?"

Kentarumon shrugged. "You get used to it. In fact, I think it's the only thing that keeps me sane in this place."

Leomon snorted. "And it's the only thing that's driving -me- insane."

He thought he saw a sparkle in Kentarumon's eye -laughter, perhaps?-, but it faded the instant it appeared. It was the first time the other Digimon had showed any kind of emotion.

- - -

He would be leaving tomorrow. They both knew it, and they both acted oblivious to it. The day flowed no differently than the day before. They took a walk in the Labyrinth, they talked to some fellow Digimon outside, they studied the symbols on the wall, and Kentarumon accompanied him in his way to the corner he slept in. He was about to turn around when Leomon gripped his hand.

"Stay with me for tonight," he said, and embarassed at his bluntness, covered it up with "I'd like to have some company."

Kentarumon nodded, but didn't sit down. Leomon stayed awake for a while longer, thinking about meaningless little things. How there were different kinds of sounds to welcome him every morning. How the tropical flowers varied in each area. How there were patterns in every aspect of everyday life. How the smallest of things could have a huge impact on a person's life.

Him and Kentarumon didn't talk, or even glance at each other that night. The silence didn't bother him as much, though.

- - -

"Time for me to go," said Leomon, as he stood face to face with the other Digimon. "Thank you for being patient with me. I really appreciate it." Oh, how it hurt to be too proud to say what you wanted to, to be too stubborn to break down and cry and let it all out. But there was nothing he could do about it.

"It was nothing," came Kentarumon's answer. "Come visit anytime you want."

Leomon smiled. "I will."

He turned around to leave, but didn't take a step before Kentarumon's voice rang behind him again. "I'll miss you."

Leomon suppressed a gasp and turned his eyes to the Guardian again. He had just admitted he loved him, and they both knew it.

* * *

He had always believed that silence was a reminder of an ancient fear. For some it was death, but for him it was the sense of the unending. He lived taking that belief as a fact, knowing that all others thought the same of the concept. That is, until he met someone who was different.

He didn't talk when he wanted to say something, and he wasn't silent when he didn't talk. He told him about silence that hid sounds in it, and quiet that said more than a thousand words could.

"Didn't you know?" he said, and the world turned upside down.

"No," he thought to himself, "No I don't," but didn't say anything. "Show me."

And he did.

* * *

He thought everything he kept bottled up would come out then, but nothing happened. The sky didn't crush him, his heart didn't explode, and the earth didn't open in two. It was just him and Kentarumon, in the early morning, staring at each other like idiots.

Then, powered by a rush of determination, Leomon ran to the other Digimon and hugged him fiercely. Kentarumon hugged him back reluctantly. They remained in that position for a moment, then things followed their natural flow. They didn't have reasons, they didn't need reasons; that was just the way it happened.

Kentarumon's hands travelled down Leomon's body. He stroked his chest lightly, then proceeded to remove his pants. He ran his fingers over Leomon's length, pressing his thumb on the head. Leomon threw his head back and moaned as Kentarumon rubbed it faster, his long fingers working on all the right spots. He began moving it up and down with one hand, the other firmly holding Leomon's ass. He inserted a finger while continuing to work on the front, almost setting the lion Digimon on the edge. Leomon stopped Kentarumon, cutting his own climax halfway, and motioned for him to turn around.

He kneeled down and got between Kentarumon's back legs. He took his member in his hands and licked the head once, earning a moan from Kentarumon. He licked the head again, then took as much of it as he could into his mouth. He rubbed the rest of its length, while pressing his rough tongue on the head. He began moving faster, and he could hear Kentarumon's moans of approval getting louder. The Digimon groaned as he came, filling Leomon's mouth with his juices. Leomon was prepared for the blow, and swallowed as much of the liquid as he could, licking the rest off.

He stood up and rubbed Kentarumon's fur to give him time to calm down, noting how much softer it was in places. Kentarumon's breathing slowed down after a few seconds, giving Leomon the signal that he was ready. Leomon got behind the other Digimon, rubbing his ass and his own member with the remnants of cum in his fingers. He then positioned himself and slowly entered him, not stopping even when Kentarumon clenched his fists.

The pain softened for the Guardian as Leomon picked up speed, his body unconsciously starting to move with the other Digimon. Leomon slammed his fists back and forth, holding Kentarumon's thighs with both hands. It was so easy to let go now, to forget all about his stubbornness and pride and common sense... His insticts had taken over, and he didn't attempt to stop them. Kentarumon's muscles clenched, and Leomon had started sweating himself, as they both knew that they were nearing release. Leomon's hand reached down to grab Kentarumon's penis. He started jerking it back and forth, moving in the same rhythm as his hips. Kentarumon shivered as he came, spraying his cum all over the ground. That was all it took to push Leomon off the edge. Letting go of all the beliefs he clung to so hard, even for just a moment, he thrusted in one time. They both moaned loudly as the burning semen shot into Kentarumon's anus and trickled along the opening.

Leomon pulled off as they both collapsed on the ground, breathing heavily. Minutes passed, the light became stronger and the clouds parter, but none of them moved. Leomon then stood up and went on his way, this time following the path.

He almost welcomed the silence now.