The Talking Bager

Takeru's fingers hovered over the keys. He should be writing right now, he had finished all of his college work and had some lunch.

It was the perfect time for him to write. Nothing else for him to do, already ate, and no Digital World stuff to take up his time. Yet, Takeru just couldn't write.

Takeru couldn't get his mind to focus, his thoughts swirling around his head. Takeru sighed, leaning back in his chair as he stared at the ceiling. Sometimes he got like this- and he hated it.

Takeru just wanted to write, but he couldn't find it in himself to confront his past to get it into words.

Takeru wanted too, but he still had trouble remembering all that happened. He wasn't even writing anything that traumatic for him! Yet it affected him all the same and he just felt tired.

"Takeru!"

Takeru didn't have time to say anything as he felt a weight on his head, but he smiled.

"Hey, Patamon", Takeru greeted.

Patamon didn't say anything back, but Takeru could feel them pat his head with their little paws before laying down.

Takeru could imagine what they looked like sitting on his head.

Their paws curled close to their body as their wings pressed flat against their back, a little ball of cuteness nestled on Takeru's head.

Takeru wasn't wearing his hat since he was inside his apartment, so Patamon was nuzzled against his hair. It made Takeru scowl a little, his hair was going to look all frizzy when Patamon got off.

Takeru felt comforted with Patamon with him and it gave him some motivation to continue writing, even if it was for a little bit.

The sounds of the keys filled Takeru's bedroom as he wrote about sometime he and the others were walking across the Digital World.

Takeru's legs hurt just remembering it, but all that walking gave Takeru great endurance that was perfect for basketball when he played it. Takeru almost mindlessly wrote, referencing his notes he took when he went to talk with the others.

Takeru got to a part where Patamon, tired of flying, sat on Takeru's head. Takeru doesn't exactly remember the moment clearly, but the others told him they remembered Patamon curling up on his hat.

Just like Patamon was doing right now.

Takeru paused, his fingers hovering over the keys as he reread the line he just wrote a few times.

When did Patamon first start sitting on his head?

It's been happening for so long that Takeru doesn't even remember the first time it happened.

It happened so often that Takeru didn't even flinch when Patamon sat on his head anymore, or almost fall over. The others never batted an eye either, not questioning it when it happened like they used too.

Takeru remembers these things, but he can't remember when Patamon first sat on his head.

Takeru leaned his head back, staring at the wall as he thought. Takeru felt Patamon move up on his head, probably disturbed as Takeru leaned his head back.

"Takeru?" Patamon asked, leaning their head down to try and look at Takeru's face.

Takeru's bangs slightly hung in front of his face, and Patamon kinda just made that worse so he couldn't really see his partner.

"Why do you sit on my head, Patamon?"

Takeru also doesn't know why Patamon did this, sit on his head so often.

If they were tired than that was fine, Patamon always helped Takeru so the least Takeru could do was give his partner a place to rest. Takeru often held Patamon in his arms.

Both arms wrapped around the Digimon as Takeru was held them close to his heart, safe and sound right where Takeru could see and feel them.

However, more often than not, Patamon preferred being on Takeru's head.

Either under Takeru's hat, wearing it as their own which Takeru found adorable, or just on top of his hat not messing up his hair. On rare occasions such as this, Patamon would be on Takeru's head without a hat, just curled up in his fluffy blonde hair.

Patamon's been doing it for so long, since around the time they first meet, but has never given a reason.

Not that Takeru's ever asked why until this moment.

He never particularly cared in the moments, either too distracted by something else or just bathing in the familiar comfort of having Patamon on his head. Even if it make his neck and back sore.

Patamon kneaded Takeru's head again, their little paws griping Takeru's hair a little. It didn't hurt, but it did make Takeru a little worried.

"I like it up here, your hair is very soft", Patamon soon answered.

Takeru laughed a little as he felt Patamon nuzzle against his hair. Takeru didn't think Patamon was lying, Iori always said Takeru's hair was soft when he played with it, but he thought there was something more to this.

Takeru reached up, grabbing Patamon and taking the Digimon off his head.

Patamon only made a small noise of confusion, not fighting Takeru as he brought the Digimon down so they could talk eye to eye. Patamon tilted their head, silently asking Takeru what they were doing.

"Any other reason?" Takeru asked.

Everyone told Takeru he had a bad habit of holding everything inside. Takeru's tried to get better, still trying to get better, and he has, but it seemed his habits might have rubbed off on Patamon.

It made sense, Patamon hated making others sad, but Takeru didn't want his partner to have the same bad habits he did.

Patamon's eyes went wide, and they started pressing their paws together in nervousness. Patamon wasn't meeting Takeru's eyes, but Takeru just waited.

Patamon was never good at hiding something from Takeru, they could be a bit of a chatter mouth at times. It was part of the fact Patamon was a lot like a human child.

"It's because I want to protect you".

Takeru hummed, confused on what exactly Patamon meant.

Of course Patamon wanted to protect Takeru. It was what all Partner Digimon wanted, it's also what all Chosen Children wanted. For them to protect each other- but how did sitting on Takeru's head help Patamon do that?

Patamon squirmed in Takeru's arms, reaching forward to him with their little paws. Takeru brought Patamon closer, smiling as he felt the Digimon grab onto him and nuzzle themselves into his chest.

"When I'm always near you, I can protect you easier", Patamon started to explain.

Takeru nodded, that made sense. The other partners often just stood by their Chosen, and it made it a little easier to always be near them- especially if there was a sudden attack and they could be separated.

Patamon could have a tight grip in Takeru's head at times, sometimes the Digimon pulled out his hair which he did not like. Or just fell off Takeru's head along with his hat, which would sometimes be ripped by Patamon's sharp claws.

Another thing Takeru did not like very much.

Patamon's banned from being on his head for a week if either of those things happens.

"When I can feel that you are close, I feel more safe", Patamon said.

Takeru held Patamon tighter, he felt the same way it came to his partner. "I haven't been able to protect you from everything", Patamon whispered, and Takeru could hear their voice shake.

Takeru felt tears brim his eyes, and maybe he was already emotional from his writing, but he sniffled as he wiped his eyes. "I don't blame you", Takeru felt like saying.

Patamon was right, they haven't been able to protect Takeru from everything, but they protected him from so much else. Without Patamon- Takeru didn't know where he would be or what he would do.

Patamon nodded, but they continued to speak.

"If I'm on your head, I can see anything coming and act before they hurt you- I can protect you better".

Takeru didn't know what to say to that.

The others always said that Patamon was bit of a child and that only grew as Takeru started to get older but Patamon stayed the same.

Takeru knew that Patamon could be mature when they wanted too, but it was mostly when they evolved or during a fight. Even than they were still a lot like a child. It hurt Takeru, sometimes.

It just reminded Takeru of how he used to be, still so hopeful and happy.

He still was, but not in the same way he was when he was child. Before his parents separated and before the Darkness sunk it's claws into him.

Patamon was still so careful and happy, like Takeru wished to be.

That's how Takeru saw Patamon, almost like a younger version of himself. A mirror of his heart. A representation of the deepest part of Takeru that was still there, but was hard for him to find in the Darkness.

Patamon, a representation of how he used to be, was protecting him the best he could.

Takeru used to look down that version of himself. A useless crybaby that couldn't fight or stop anything from taking what he loved from him.

Patamon seemed to be getting nervous, so Takeru smiled down at them as he brought them into a hug. Takeru held Patamon close, and Patamon cuddled into Takeru's chest.

Takeru would never think Patamon was like that.

Not after Patamon was so strong. Yet, if Patamon was strong, a mirror reflection of a younger Takeru, than that Takeru was also strong.

It was admirable. The way Patamon sat on Takeru's head to protect him from everything.

It was also childish. A bit of a silly way to do something serious, but Takeru didn't care. Hearing how Patamon was trying to protect him at all times made his heart soar.

Overall, it was quite adorable.

"Thank you, Patamon", Takeru whispered to the Digimon.

Takeru felt tears come to his eyes, but he blinked them away. Now was not the time to cry over something like this. Maybe Takeru did still hate that crybaby part of himself, still hid all of his emotions, but he just felt so happy right now.

Takeru was thanking Patamon for more than just this. More than their silly little habit of always sitting on his head.

Patamon has done so much for Takeru and they were still doing so much for him. Even if they acted like a child sometimes, reminding Takeru of himself from oh so many years ago, they still looked out for him so much.

Even if Takeru's head and neck always hurt from how much Patamon sat on it, he didn't care anymore.

Maybe Patamon felt that same need to be useful that Takeru did. If so, Takeru would let Patamon on his head whenever they wanted.

"Anything for you, Takeru", Patamon said.

Takeru smiled, pulling the Digimon away and placing them back on his head. Patamon got comfy again, their little paws lightly holding Takeru's hair as they rested.

Takeru's head and neck immediately started to hurt, but he couldn't find it in himself to care as a smile spread across his face.

Patamon really was always looking out for him. Even when it seemed like they weren't. Patamon's way of it was a little odd, but it still made Takeru happy.

What would Takeru do without Patamon?

"Plus, it is really comfy up here".

Takeru laughed a little, seemed that was still a real reason for Patamon sitting on his head.

Takeru could feel Patamon moving around move on his head, even smelling his hair before letting out a content sigh and fully going limp in comfort on Takeru's head.

Takeru laughed, guess Patamon wasn't lying why they gave Takeru their first reason.

Patamon did really like just being on top of Takeru's head. Even if the main reason was to protect Takeru, it was their favorite place to be and more often than not they fell asleep up there.

Takeru loved it as well, even with the pain it brought him comfort in knowing exactly where his partner was. After losing Patamon before, being able to always feel his partner and hold them easily always comforted Takeru.

Takeru just loved it more after learning about this.

He would never take Patamon off his head again- unless the pain was really bad.

Takeru went back to his writing, newfound inspiration with the comfort of the familiar weight on his head and soft snores.

"Than you can stay up there for as long as you like, Patamon". Takeru told his partner.