Disclaimer: I own nothing involved in this story unless I invented it myself. This is written for fun, not for profit. All forms of feedback eagerly accepted. Concrit is loved the most, but everything is welcome.
Fandom: Digimon Adventure 02
Title: Gift of Flight: Chapter 6: Pet
Romance: Ken x Daisuke/Daisuke x Ken
Word Count: chapter: 1,552||story: 9,315
Genre: Drama, Romance||Rated: PG-13
Challenge: This was written for the Advent Calendar Challenge, day #8; Diversity Writing Challenge, section H, #10, a multichap with at least six chapters; One Ship Boot Camp, prompt #6, service
Notes: This takes place in an AU where people on occasion are born with wings. Clearly, Daisuke is one of those people.
Summary: [6/6 chapters; Ken x Daisuke/Daisuke x Ken; 2014 Advent Calendar, Diversity Writing, & One Ship Boot Camp] Daisuke has wings. This makes him the perfect pet for the Digimon Kaiser. At least the Digimon Kaiser thinks so.

Daisuke stared up at the room, not certain if he believe his eyes. He remembered Ken mentioning it on the first day, but he hadn't really thought he'd be brought here.

He said it would be a reward if I didn't disturb him. It hadn't happened that same day, but here they stood nevertheless. Ken's collar still remained around Daisuke's neck, with a length of leash held in the Kaiser's hand. That hadn't changed. Daisuke didn't expect it to. He wasn't certain if he wanted it to.

If the collar and leash came off, it would be because Ken trusted him not to leave. Because Ken knew he would return if he did depart for authorized flying.

Because Ken would've tamed him completely.

Ken reached out and unhooked the leash. "You have one hour." Ken told him, gesturing to the high-ceilinged room. "Enjoy yourself."

Daisuke didn't hesitate for a moment. He hadn't spread his wings properly in nearly two weeks and they ached for proper exercise. He lifted up into the air, spinning around for the sheer joy of it, his wings lifting him as high as he could go. While he could see the sky overhead, he could also see the glass ceiling that prevented him from actually being in the open air.

Two weeks since he'd been captured. Two weeks since he'd flown or been allowed to eat without begging Ken for it. He could beg Ken for anything now and not feel any shame. What did that matter, when shame or not, Ken would simply not give him what he wanted or needed until Daisuke pleased him enough?

Sometimes he watched the other Chosen as they searched throughout the Digital World. He knew they looked for him. They hadn't stopped. At least that was what he kept on telling himself. He couldn't hear what they said. He had only what they were doing to go by.

But day by day as they searched and never found so much as a clue, it did not help his spirits. Ken reminded him regularly that they could search forever and if they did find him, Daisuke knew better than to try to leave.

Daisuke didn't want to think that was true. But every time he knelt before Ken and begged him for food or a drink or for even a few moments in the air, he could feel himself losing ground. He didn't want to be Ken's pet. But what he wanted didn't seem to matter anymore.

He shoved all of that away. He had his time in the air, for the first time in so long. He wasn't going to waste it thinking about Ken. He had to do enough of that on a regular basis anyway.

Daisuke darted and dived this way and that, trying to figure out where the air currents came from, but more to distract himself than anything else. He didn't really care. He rose up until his fingers brushed against the glass, noticing as he did that it was warm, kissed by the sun.

He wasn't all that good at hovering but he flapped his wings a little more, staying there as long as he could, palms pressed against the warmth. He closed his eyes, imagining himself in his own room at home, enjoying the sunshine, with Chibimon tucked up under one of his wings.

Daisuke's throat choked up as he remembered racing against Nefertimon and Pegasumon. There hadn't ever been a winner in those races, but no one had ever cared. Iori and Yamato took part sometimes.

Jun wanted me to bring her one of Yamato-san's feathers. He'd refused; it wasn't molting season, and he wasn't going to yank one of them off of Yamato. If one had fallen off, he might've thought about asking, but that hadn't happened.

Jun. Mom. Dad. Tears pricked at Daisuke's eyes and he tried not to let them loose. Ken would use it against him somehow, and he wouldn't let that happen. He needed to stay strong until he could find a way to leave.

The whole time he'd flown, the fortress continued to move, and Daisuke finally opened his eyes to see a slightly different view than before. When he'd first risen up this high, they'd been in a plains-type area, one without too many trees. Now he saw mountains all around, and... and...

They weren't looking in his direction. His heart twisted when he realized that. They weren't looking and he could call them, he could try until his throat burst, just to get their attention.

But there they were. Iori. Miyako. Hikari. Takeru. V-mon, too. They were speaking to... someone. He couldn't see who, but even they weren't looking in the direction of the fortress.

He traced one hand down the glass, which didn't seem as warm as it had moments earlier. Guys, he thought, not daring to say a word out loud, no matter how much he wanted to. Guys. I'm here. Turn around. See me.

They didn't. He wanted to scream it out loud and cast one quick glance down below to see what Ken was doing.

The Kaiser remained where he'd left him, though his attention seemed diverted to the side. Daisuke couldn't tell what he was looking at, only that he seemed fascinated by it. The Flier turned his attention back to the window, which slowly slipped on by. In moments they'd passed the others, and he knew if they looked, they wouldn't see anything now.

He had no idea of how long he'd been up there, but he couldn't bear it anymore. He slowly dropped back downward. Instead of landing on his feet, however, he slipped to his knees in front of Ken. His heart ached. His soul trembled.

They wouldn't see him. They wouldn't find him. Even when they were so close that just turning around would've done it, they didn't. He didn't know why. But they hadn't.

Ken's fingers slipped underneath his chin and tilted his head up. He knew the tears still gleamed in his eyes, but he was too tired to blink them away. He didn't need to worry. Ken wiped them away with his other hand, a small, approving smile on his lips.

"You've been very good," the Kaiser told him, threading his fingers through Daisuke's hair. "I'm going to have to find some way to reward you."

Daisuke said nothing. The only reward he wanted was the one he'd never be given. Ken didn't seem to notice, or to care if he did. But he did gesture to what he'd been looking at before, and Daisuke's heart shattered more when he saw it.

Ken had seen them. He'd watched them the whole time, knowing that Daisuke could see them as well. Had he sent the fortress there just to put Daisuke through that?

He wanted to ask. He wanted to scream it. But a single glance from Ken stole the words from his lips. He didn't need to know, no matter how much he wanted to.

Ken clipped the leash back onto his collar and started away. Daisuke folded his wings closer and followed, stepping along briskly to make certain the Kaiser didn't yank him along. He didn't look up, not even as they left the room with the wide vaulted ceiling.

"Master," he asked as they drew closer to the command room. The word tasted as foul as ever, but he knew what he had to do to get an answer. "Can I... will I be allowed to go back there?"

"Perhaps. You'll have to stay as good as you are. But I don't think that will be a problem." Ken reached back and took Daisuke's hand in his. "You're learning very well and I'm very, very proud of you."

In a part of himself Daisuke did not want to admit existed, a small spark of pride flared into life. He heard himself speak, and the words made his stomach churn as much as calling Ken 'master' did.

"Thank you, master."

He did not miss Ken's so very satisfied smile. I have to do what he says. Maybe I can get away then. He didn't remember how many times he'd told himself that. There were moments when it seemed to have lost all meaning. Ken kept him collared and leashed and nowhere near any exits he could get through. And if he tried to leave anyway, Ken wouldn't be happy at all with him.

Throughout all of his time here, Ken hadn't done much to physically hurt him. He'd kept food and water from him when Daisuke hadn't begged him enough but that was Daisuke's own fault. He knew better than that now, even when it hurt to say it.

It would only last until Daisuke could get out. Somehow. He didn't know when that would be, but it would happen. He had to keep believing.

Ken settled down into his chair and Daisuke knelt beside him, keeping his eyes down. He was allowed to watch the monitors if he wanted to, but right now, he didn't think he could handle it. Instead, he curled up under the folds of his wings and let his mind drift away.

The Digimon Kaiser rested his hand on his pet's head and smiled.

The End

Note: There will be other stories set in this universe, both before and after this one.