-Jessica-
The city lights blurred beneath me as I soared, a white and blue streak against the darkening sky. The wind rushed past my pink wig, a constant reminder of the freedom I now felt. This was my time, my purpose. I was Jewel.
I spotted a mugging in progress below, a quick flash of a glinting knife. I angled my flight, a familiar warmth spreading through me. This was what it felt like to be useful, to make a difference.
After that, I broke up a brawl outside a bar. Two guys were really going at it, throwing punches that would have laid anyone else out. I gently separated them, feeling the strength hum in my muscles.
Later, I helped an old woman find her way home. She was lost, confused, and clutching a broken grocery bag. I carried her groceries and made sure she got inside safely. Each small act felt good, filling a hole I hadn't known existed.
I thought about Ethan, my cheeks warming a little. He was so focused on his Digimon and that new company. I wondered if he ever thought about me when he wasn't busy.
Being a superhero felt right, like slipping on a glove that finally fit. The world was bigger, more dangerous, but also more exciting than I ever imagined. It was all a little scary, but I was doing it.
I landed on a rooftop overlooking Olivia's apartment building. It was late, but the lights were still on in her window. I peeled off my costume, the cool night air hitting my skin.
I carefully folded the white spandex and blue sash, tucking my pink wig away. It was a secret I kept close, even from Olivia. She was my guardian, my anchor.
I crept through the fire escape, sliding my window open. The apartment was quiet, smelling faintly of Olivia's strange coffee and something sweet she'd baked. It felt like home, a real home, for the first time in a long time.
I found Olivia in the living room, reading a book. Her black eyes met mine, a soft smile gracing her lips. She didn't ask where I'd been, just offered a comforting presence.
"Rough day at work?" she asked, her voice calm and steady.
I just nodded, sinking onto the couch beside her. I didn't tell her about the mugging, the brawl, or the old woman. I didn't tell her about being Jewel.
I leaned into her, a silent thank you for everything. Olivia just put her arm around me, offering a quiet strength that made everything else feel a little less overwhelming. She was always there, a steady rock in my new, crazy life.
* * *
-Impmon-
I let another little purple flame sputter into existence, then vanish just as quickly. The human walking by jumped, dropping his phone. Heh. It was still funny, seeing them react to my magic. Central Park was my playground, and these clueless humans were my toys.
It wasn't like I was hurting anyone. Just a little scare, a little laugh. Beats sitting around doing nothing, right? This world was full of dumb rules, but at least I could mess with people here without a Tamer nagging me.
Still, sometimes I'd hide in the shadows, watching that girl, Jewel. The one with the pink hair and the silly white suit. She was always flying around, saving people from falling stuff or punching bad guys. It was kind of boring, but also... not.
She looked so serious about it all, like it actually mattered. I remembered how she'd helped me when those agents were chasing us. She actually cared. It was a weird feeling, having a human care.
Anyway, I was just chilling on a lamppost, enjoying a pretzel I swiped, when I saw her again. Jewel. She was down in an alley, swooping in like some kind of pigeon, but a much flashier one. Some loser was trying to snatch a wallet.
Pfft. Amateur hour.
She moved so fast, a blur of white and blue, the thief didn't even see it coming. One moment he had the wallet, the next he was sprawled on the ground, groaning. Jewel, with her pink hair bouncing, stood over him. She looked all heroic, you know, doing the big save.
She bent down, picked up the dropped wallet, and handed it back to the scared human. She even managed a soft smile, probably one of those fake hero smiles. I snickered, a small sound that echoed in the alley.
She looked up, her blue eyes narrowed, searching. She knew I was here. I always liked that she could pick me out of the shadows.
"Having fun, Jewel?"
I let the words roll off my tongue, making sure they had just the right amount of mocking amusement. She looked a little annoyed, but I saw the corner of her mouth twitch. She couldn't hide it from me.
"Just doing my job, Impmon."
Her voice was trying to be firm, but it had that little underlying tone of something else. Something I liked.
"You should try it sometime. Less messy than purple fire."
I just grinned, my tail flicking back and forth. Her job. Right. Like my purple fires weren't way more interesting than her stopping a petty mugging. Still, she was different. A little less boring than the rest.
Jewel walked closer, her pink hair a beacon in the dim alley. She was still holding the pretzel bag, I noticed. Good. She was listening.
"You know,"
She said, her voice a little softer now, not all hero-like.
"Things have been... weird lately. More than usual. Have you noticed?"
I shrugged, nibbling on my pretzel. Weird? This whole world was weird. Humans were always doing strange stuff.
"Yeah, I guess. Some old guy was yelling at a mailbox the other day. And someone tried to pay for a hot dog with a shoe."
It was all just more human entertainment to me. Why would I care about any of that?
"No, I mean,"
Jewel sounded a bit frustrated, her blue eyes looking around the alley like she was searching for answers in the trash.
"It's like... people are just breaking. Like they're not themselves. Small stuff, but it's happening everywhere."
I flicked my tail. That sounded like a human problem, not a Digimon problem. My pranks were harmless. These "breakings" sounded like something a Tamer would fuss over.
"Sounds like fun to me,"
I said, a grin spreading across my face. She just stared at me. Humans and their emotions were so complicated.
"It's not fun, Impmon. It's... unsettling. I can't be everywhere at once, and it feels like there's something bigger happening."
She sounded genuinely worried, her voice getting that tight, stressed sound humans get. It was almost cute. Almost.
"Well, not my problem,"
I said, jumping onto a higher fire escape. I finished my pretzel, licking the salt from my fingers. She was too serious. This was my time to mess around, not worry about human drama.
"See ya, Jewel! Try to have some fun for once!"
I gave a cheeky salute and vanished in a puff of purple smoke, leaving her alone in the alley. The thrill of talking to her, of seeing her reaction, was a good feeling. It beat just scaring random humans. I still had plenty of mischief left in me for tonight.
***
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