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Boys can be so stupid. I don't understand them at all.
Like Tai and Matt. They're together. That's not
the stupid part, though, that's the cute part. The stupid part is that
they're
hiding it. Like we'd hate them for it! Maybe Tai thinks Sora likes
him and doesn't want to hurt her... nice thought, Tai, but no way! I know
for a fact Sora doesn't like him. I have it on very good authority.
And Joe and Izzy. They're not even together, but they want to be. I've overheard Joe telling Gomamon in this sad little voice how much he wants to kiss Izzy, and on the very same night, very same time, next clearing over, Izzy's telling Tentomon how much he wants to kiss Joe. Boys, wake up and smell the Digi-roses! I wish they'd just TELL each other and get it over with. And if Tai and Matt weren't hiding, maybe Joe and Izzy wouldn't feel so shy... One of these days I'm going to go around and smack every single one of them.
"Hey, Mimi?" Sora whispers in my ear.
"Yeah, Sora?"
"Got something on your mind?"
I nod. "The boys."
She nods in understanding. "I'm seriously thinking about marching up to Tai and Matt and telling them exactly how I feel about their relationship. They've gotta stop hiding one of these days... It's not like we'll hate them, we're all friends here. Besides, I've said it before and I'll say it again, Tai and Matt are perfect for each other."
An idea forms in my mind. I smile. Sora looks curious.
"Okay, Mimi, what're you planning? You only get THAT grin when you're up to something."
"Sora... why don't you go tell Tai and Matt right now? Joe and Izzy want to be together, so I'll get them together if you bring Tai and Matt around..."
Sora flashes my grin right back at me. "Good idea."
Tai and Matt are foraging for food together. Real subtle, boys, reeeeaaal subtle. You're not even doing a good job of hiding it. Just as well, anyway. If they were, it'd have been harder to see, and I probably wouldn't be doing this. I'm nervous enough as it is.
Matt is collecting berries in his shirt. I suppress a sigh - I'm probably gonna have to wash the juice stains out of it now. I'm still a little shy to just march up and say "Tai and Matt, I know you're together, quit hiding", so I duck behind a tree.
"C'mere, Tai," Matt says in that throaty voice of his. I bet it drives Tai crazy. I've always liked Matt's voice myself...
Sora, shut up. This isn't the time to admire Tai's boyfriend. I watch through the leaves as Tai walks up to Matt. Matt's smiling mischievously.
"Yeah, Matt?"
"Open up." Matt holds up something that looks distinctly like a raspberry. I saw him sampling one or two of those a minute ago.
Tai grins and obediently opens his mouth. Matt pops the berry in his mouth. Tai closes his mouth on Matt's fingers. Matt blushes and I try not to squeak. They're so cute.
They look sharply towards my hiding place. Oops, busted. Guess I didn't quite muffle that squeak. I step out from behind the tree and walk towards them. They look terrified.
"S-Sora, this isn't what it looks like!" Tai stutters.
I regard them levelly.
"Yes, Tai, it is."
"Hiiiiii, Izzyyyy!"
"Go away, Mimi."
What a very warm welcome. I promptly ignore it. "Whatcha writing?" As usual, he's on that computer of his.
"Something personal. Go away."
I grin perkily and lean forward. "Why would I do that?" The matchmaker will not be deterred. I think I know what he's writing about - or who he's writing about. "Is it about someone else?"
He blushes, but otherwise doesn't react. Time to drop the bomb.
"I know how you feel about Joe. Is that what you're writing about?"
The reaction is interesting to watch. He stops blushing and goes white as a sheet. He snaps the laptop shut and clutches it to him, standing up and whirling around to face me. He looks terrified.
"HOW DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT?!"
Well, I think that's a betraying reaction if I ever saw one. Let's see if I can calm him down now.
"Izzy," I say soothingly, "I don't think--"
"How do you know about my feelings for him, Mimi? Tell me now," he says rather coldly.
I sigh. "I guess I overheard you once - not that I was eavesdropping, of course, I just happened to hear it and--"
The look on his face indicates that if it weren't impolite to hit a lady, he'd dearly love to punch me out. Oh my. Maybe I should've been more subtle. "You are not to tell Joe about this, ever," he says calmly. "If you do, I will be forced to find some way of hurting you."
They both look really nervous. I give them a smile to show them I'm not angry.
"I know you two are together. Don't worry, I think you make a great couple. Why are you hiding it?"
Now they're dumbfounded.
"You don't have a problem with it?" Tai finally says.
I shake my head. "None whatsoever. Neither does Mimi. Joe and Izzy won't have problems with it for reasons that will become apparent to you by the end of the day."
"What about TK?" Matt says quietly. "TK and Kari might not understand..."
For some reason, that didn't occur to me.
"Kari might," Tai says. "My parents probably always suspected I liked boys - Mom always used to ask if I had a boyfriend yet. She was joking, but..." He grins and shrugs. "My family's pretty casual about sexuality."
"That's great... what about TK?"
Matt bites his lip. "One of Mom and Dad's many disagreements was on the subject of homosexuality... Dad was tolerant and Mom was homophobic." He closes his eyes, hanging his head slightly. "When they divorced, Mom got custody of TK. Her homophobia might have rubbed off on him..." A tear drips down his cheek, and Tai's instantly holding him and kissing the tear away.
"Matt, don't worry. TK's still young enough to be able to love his family unconditionally. I think he'll accept it."
I want to point out that even if he doesn't, he's massively outvoted, but that might not be too tactful.
"I guess we'll find out," I say instead. "Hey, Matt, I'll carry the berries for you," I offer, taking off my helmet. He gratefully dumps the berries into it. I sigh at the multicolored stains on his shirt, but don't say anything.
"Let's go back to camp."
"I don't see why I shouldn't," I say innocently, "seeing as he feels the same way," I add quickly as his face darkens. The anger suddenly leaves him and an expression of disbelief replaces it.
"What?"
"I'll never understand you boys - you're so stubborn, you never just told each other! I overheard Joe talking to Gomamon - on the same night I overheard you, no less! - and telling him how much he wanted to kiss you. If that doesn't mean he's in love with you I don't know what does!"
"MIMI!"
That wasn't Izzy. That was Joe! I turn around, feeling stupid as I face a very hurt-looking Joe.
"Joe, I can explain..."
"Mimi, how could you just go off and tell him that? I didn't want anybody to know!" There's tears in his eyes. Izzy, you can jump in any time now... "I only told Gomamon because he wanted to know what was bothering me!"
"Joe...? It's really true then?" Izzy asks quietly. Joe hangs his head miserably, shoulders slumping.
"I guess there's no point in trying to hide it now," he says quietly. "Yeah. It's true."
Izzy looks like he's going to burst at the seams. Beaming, he puts down his laptop and runs to Joe, hugging him and almost knocking him over in the process.
I arrive at the campfire with the boys. TK and Kari are there, playing some hand game. They stop as we approach and look up.
There's a long moment of silence as they look at their older brothers, who are holding hands. I get a cold feeling in my stomach - for a moment I think they're going to reject this.
TK looks surprised, but not fearful or betrayed. Kari has this mysterious, all-knowing smile.
"See, TK? I told you they liked each other..."
TK grins. "Guess you were right!"
Matt blinks. "You don't have a problem with this?"
"Nuh-uh!" TK looks baffled. "Why would I? You're happy, aren't ya?"
Matt looks intensely relieved. Tai smiles happily over at him.
"Guess that means we don't have to hide anymore, huh?" he says sunnily.
"Guess so," I say cheerfully. "Hey, where are the others?"
"Mimi went off to talk to Izzy," TK said. "D'you think she likes him?"
You would not believe the self-control it takes to keep from bursting into hysterics right there.
"Ahh... I don't think she does, TK. I think she's trying to help him find the one he likes."
"Oh." That answer satisfies him. Then he giggles. "Kari, wouldn't it be something if he liked Joe?"
Are these kids prophets or something?! Most insightful children I've ever met...
Joe's staring down at the boy who is now firmly attached to him as though he can't believe it's really happening. I giggle. They waited too long for this.
"Izzy?" Joe says uncertainly. Izzy looks up at him with a huge smile.
"Joe, I love you," he says, his voice cracking. Joe's face lights up, and he hugs Izzy. High time if you ask me!
I watch them for a few minutes as they talk quietly at each other, then Joe bends down slightly, bringing his face down towards Izzy's. Much as I'd like to see this, I look away politely. It is their first kiss, after all.
Thirty seconds later, I finally hear them inhale.
Wow. That was a long kiss.
Wonder if Sora could hold her breath that long.
"Well..." Joe says after catching his breath. I turn to look at them again. He's grinning. "I guess I owe you an apology."
I grin cheerfully and wave it off. "Oh, there's no need, I understand completely. I'm just glad you two are finally together."
"Yeah..." Joe holds Izzy close. Izzy looks like he's in heaven.
"Thanks..." I'm not sure whether he's thanking me, or Joe, but I answer anyway.
"You're welcome!" I say cheerily. "C'mon, let's go back to camp."
After we got to camp, Joe unloaded the fish and mushrooms that he'd collected for dinner out of his bag and we had a nice little cookout. Mimi seemed to have done her job well - Joe and Izzy were practically all over each other, snuggling, sharing quick kisses, feeding each other little bits of food. Tai and Matt were more mellow, indicating they'd been together much longer, and watching Joe and Izzy with knowing smiles.
Now, everyone else is asleep - the boys asleep in each other's arms - except for me and Mimi. I smile over at her.
"Mission accomplished?"
"Mission accomplished," she grins.
"Who should we work on next?"
"Maybe TK and Kari when they get older..." She yawns and leans against me, wrapping her arms around my waist. "But for now, I'm too tired to think about that."
I hug her back, kissing her forehead lightly and rubbing her shoulder. I'm feeling sleepy too. "Think we should tell the others about us?"
"Maybe later..." she mumbles. "Let's let them get used to the couples we've already exposed first."
I smile, leaning back onto the ground and giving Mimi a little squeeze. "Sounds good... G'night, Mimi."
"G'night, Sora."
"Love you."
"Love you too."