Goliath’s eyes were shut, but he was wide awake and had been static for a while. His poofy blow-dried fur was curled up on the carpeted floor at the foot of the bed. His dampened spirit listening to the clouds weep until the sudden noise of exhaustion entered through the front door of the apartment. A lumbering giant was failing his best to walk on eggshells across the narrow hallway, moving ever closer toward his princess’ bedroom. The beeps from his cell phone were likely notifying him of the thirty-eight more missed calls and voicemails all sent from the same anonymous number. A heavy sigh came out before it was stuffed back in his pants pocket, jingling full of loose change, followed by the subtle turn of the doorknob as he stepped into the room. 

It was a nightly ritual for the father; checking on his sleeping daughter illuminated by the dim-blue hue of a lava lamp on top of her tall dresser. The room’s bed, shelves and everywhere in-between was adorned by various sizes of stuffed animals. Smiling genuinely for the first time since he left home, he approached to kiss her forehead and wipe the tears off her cheeks. And even when Goliath expected it and braced for impact, his head involuntarily jerked away from the feel of the human’s sweaty palm. Thankfully, the father’s whispered apology would always make him seem understanding. But it was difficult for both of them to keep up the facade of slumbering peacefully for any longer, as they eventually heard the man collapse onto his mattress with a loud thud. Goliath promptly stood up and headed into the bedroom on the other side of the hall. The father was lying on his stomach and vertically in his bed, fully dressed in construction clothes, with his feet dangling off the edge. Goliath quickly went up to the bed, pulling the man's shoes off and covering him with the comforter, ignoring the taste of dirt. Returning to his partner by hopping on her bed and sitting there with his usual stiff posture. The girl didn’t respond, but the heartbeat and hair twirling gave her away. 

[color=F3E5AB]“Ellie? You haven’t slept yet either have you?”[/color]   

Her eyes opened and she sat up to look at him, shaking her head, speaking in a hushed tone. [color=00aeef]“No, but — I don’t have school tomorrow...so I’ll just sleep later.”[/color] 

[color=F3E5AB]“Princess, I insist that you get your rest. It’s not healthy to stay up so late-”[/color] Goliath spoke sternly, causing him to be interrupted by Ellie swiftly springing up from her bed. Her face getting really close to his, as she shot him a serious glare that made his straight face turn rosy fast.

[color=00aeef]“Oh yeah?”[/color] Ellie sassed, cracking a smile at Goliath’s surprise, [color=00aeef]“Then why do I always see you staying up, huh?”[/color] 

[color=F3E5AB]“U-um. Well it’s a soldier's job to-”[/color] Goliath sheepishly muttered, sighing after he recognized the playfulness in her voice as she plopped down. [color=00aeef]“I’m fine Goliath. You worry too much.”[/color]

[color=F3E5AB]“But you’re still growing, Princess.”[/color] Goliath pleaded, trying to resume his proud stance.

[color=00aeef]“Well my D-Loader says you’re a child too.”[/color] Ellie rebutted in a teasing manner, scooching over and reaching out to gently stroke his fluffy chest. She giggled as Goliath’s tail wagged much to his own chagrin, choosing to make an offer he couldn’t refuse. [color=00aeef]“If we stay up, [i][b]I can rub your belly.[/b][/i]”[/color]
 
Goliath's ears perked up as he predictability flopped backward and assumed a joyful puppy-like pose in preparation. [color=F3E5AB][i]“My princess always drives a hard bargain...and I suppose it couldn’t hurt. At least she seems calmer now.”[/i][/color]

[color=00aeef]“You’re too easy.”[/color] She teased, before speaking with a certain conviction that surprised Goliath. [color=00aeef]“I’m going to talk to my dad tomorrow, and tell him why I’m upset — do you think that’s a good idea?”[/color]

Goliath gave her a reassuring nod and a happy wag. [color=F3E5AB]“You’re quite mature for your age, Princess.”[/color]

[color=00aeef]“I know.”[/color] Ellie yawned. 

This soon lead to a mutually sleepy and playful bickering about who was more tired. Devolving into the classic retorts of, ‘Yeah-huh and nu-uh’s’, going back and forth, with maybe a ‘times infinity’ thrown in there for good measure, until they both drifted off to sleep. But as a soldier, Goliath was intent on winning the battle, as he muttered while in his sleep. 

[color=F3E5AB]“Yeah-huh, times infinity plus one...”[/color]

[b][center]But a bigger war was on the horizon...[/center][/b]
[hr]
The stench of black coffee and orange juice was the smell of the following morning, as the family had gathered in the kitchen for breakfast. Two simultaneous yawns emit from the duo, as the father began pouring the homemade blueberry pancake batter into the frying pan. Ellie sat quietly and exchanged a look of concern with Goliath. The father was still wearing the same work clothes that he wore yesterday and also slept in. Usually he was talking up a storm, but he seemed to be focusing on the local news station, as it was currently describing the forecast from their kitchen’s small flat-screen television hanging above their fridge. The T.V remote sitting beside his ‘Number One Dad’ mug on the table across from where Ellie fidgeted with her silverware. The father moved quickly, setting a full glass of O.J and water bowl near them, promptly taking out some pills from the organizer and swallowing them, gulping down his entire cup afterward.

[i][color=00aeef]"Everything's okay."[/color][/i] Ellie thought with a smile, glancing at the kitchen’s calendar, seeing today’s date was circled with red pen. The words ‘Called Off Work. Doctor's Appointment.’ written clearly. Goliath was intently watching the father pulling out the pre-cooked sausages out of the microwave. No, it wasn’t because of the heavenly meaty aroma in the air. He soon noticed the warning signs early, as the father grabbed out only two plates to start dishing out the food. Pausing with his one ear lifted to overhear the breaking news, ‘Superdog Sighting? Mugger thwarted.’

[color=F3E5AB][i]“Not good.”[/i][/color] Goliath thought, immediately dashing underneath the table to the other side and jumping up on his forepaws to press the button that changes the channel. The unsubtle shenanigans go unnoticed by the father, too busy inside his own head, putting everything on the plates and checking the time on the T.V screen.

“And foods ready.” He said turning around and smiling at the pair, going around the table to set the pancakes and syrup bottle down by Ellie. She frowned slightly as the father bent down to lay the sausage plate by Goliath’s agape maw. The digi.mon gazed at it, in a moment of brief admiration, [color=F3E5AB]“[i]“It’s beautiful…”[/i][/color] before gobbling the contents up. 

The father stood upright and noticed his daughter’s gloomy expression. “Are you alright? I made some extra sausage that’s still in the microwave. If you’d like it-”

[color=00aeef]“You’re not eating?”[/color] Ellie softly interrupted.

“I don’t have time.” The father answered, his next words spoken with haste. “Oh, and I’ll be back late again. So promise me you’ll go to bed at a reasonable time tonight. And you don’t need to stay up for me.” He said making his way out of the kitchen and opening the front door, ending with his parting words. “I love you.”

Both Ellie and Goliath silently looked back at the door closing before another word could be spoken. It was followed by a short silence and a sudden flood of emotions. Goliath turned to her and witnessed the heartbreaking sight of his princess breaking into tears.
[hr]
It’s the worst feeling in the world to lie to your child. But it was worse to feel like a coward. That's how the father felt, sitting there inside his car, realizing whoever said the phrase of - ‘there’s no such thing as a stupid question’ - was probably not staring at his online search results for... 
[quote]‘Can antidepressants make you hear a dog speaking in their sleep?’[/quote]
[hr]
[b][center]Meanwhile in Toyko...[/center][/b]
This was the first time in months that she woke up to her morning alarm without abusing the snooze button. Mari impatiently paced around her apartment living room still wearing her pajamas. Plopping onto her reclining loveseat, opposite to where her colorful electric guitar sat. Taking a bite out of the cold vegetarian pizza that was inside the open box that had been sitting on her coffee table since yesterday. Missimon was hovering awkwardly back and forth to clean up all the empty soda drinks and fast food boxes that littered the place and dump them into the big garbage can in the corner of her kitchen. Repeating the same phrase with an equally passionate voice every round trip, that Mari was doing her best to ignore, while glaring at the [url=https://i.imgur.com/IkhUJFw.png?1]message[/url] that left her with a cracked cellphone screen.  [i][color=F660AB]“Pick up already. If this number isn’t right. I’m so getting a refund for this.”[/color][/i]

[b][color=C38EC7]“Trash eliminated!”[/color][/b] Missimon said dropping the aluminum can into the bin.

The called number answered. [color=fff200]“Hello?”[/color]

[color=F660AB]“Are you the blonde bloke that met Missimon?”[/color]

[color=fff200]“Oh, uh — yes. You must be Mari.”[/color]

Missimon floated on by with starry eyes. [b][color=C38EC7]“Mari is clever. Secretly interrogating the enemy!”[/color][/b]

[color=F660AB]“Order given. No more talking.”[/color] Mari rebutted. As Missimon scratched his head with his claw, seemingly conflicted whether or not to acknowledge it. As Raiden’s response could be heard sighing in the background. [color=fff200]“I thought I was on his side now.”[/color]

[color=F660AB]“[b]Look.[/b] I’ll pay for whatever damages he caused. But on the condition that you’ll keep this shit to yourself, got it? Sounds like you received one of these things too-”[/color]

[color=fff200]“You don’t need to worry about paying me. I’m not going to say anything — but should you really be calling them [i]‘things?’[/i] They’re living creatures-”[/color]

[color=F660AB]“I’m gonna cut you off there. I don’t care.”[/color] She interrupted, eating another bite of pizza and continuing, [color=F660AB]“In fact, that’s precisely why I contacted you. You actually have the resources to waste on babysitting and you sound far more qualified to raise 'em-”[/color]

[color=fff200]“I’m afraid I don’t follow.”[/color] Raiden uttered with a pause, his voice raised and spoken from a distance, as if he tossed the phone down and put her on speaker. [color=fff200] “Hey. Zues, come on buddy. Don’t touch that.”[/color]

Mari rolled her eyes and started sending texts to her [url=https://i.imgur.com/VP7zmHl.png?1]band mate[/url] and [url=https://i.imgur.com/XMXe2bD.png?1]manager[/url], before he returned. [color=fff200]“Sorry. Zues seems to have a cat-like curiosity.”[/color]

[color=F660AB]“I don’t know who that is.”[/color] Mari spoke with unfiltered disinterest.

[color=fff200]“Oh right. That’s just what I named the digi.mon. Less of a mouthful. Plus, he really seems to like it. Have you named yours yet?”[/color] Raiden’s tone was far friendlier and brighter in contrast. Missimon eyes glanced over to Mari, who was rubbing her forehead in irritation.

[color=F660AB]“I’m not keeping it. I want you to take Missimon off my hands. How much would you be willing to take him for?”[/color]

[color=fff200]““Th-that’s awful. You got the same device that I did right? Missimon is meant to be yours. You can’t just give-”[/color]

Mari hung up her phone and tossed it onto the other cushion with a frustrated sigh, as she leaned back and kicked up her feet. [color=F660AB]“Guy’s so damn preachy that he should be a door-to-door pastor.”[/color] Staring up longingly at her ceiling, as she eventually had to respond to the Missimon sheepishly floating directly above her legs. She then shot Missimon a weary glare and pointed to the pizza box. 

[color=F660AB]“If you’re hungry — eat the rest of that and throw away the box.”[/color]

[b][color=C38EC7]“Order Received.”[/color][/b] Missimon exclaimed, going over and quickly devouring the last half, making a sudden realization. [color=C38EC7]“Missimon made mistake. Permission to speak?”[/color] 

Mari sighed. [color=F660AB]“Granted. But speak softly. What do you want?”[/color]

[color=C38EC7]“Missimon desires ‘Name’.”[/color]

[color=F660AB]“Rejected.”[/color] Mari answered coldly, as she stared at Missimon who looked emotionally unaffected like a robot. [color=F660AB]“I don’t know why this M dude sent you here. But you made my life hell by showing up out of the blue yesterday. And the only reason you’re staying here is because you refuse to leave me alone.”[/color]

[color=C38EC7]“Correct. Missimon not leave Mari.”[/color]

[color=F660AB]““In that case, it’s time to lay some ground rules down...so listen carefully.”[/color] 

[color=C38EC7]“Listening.”[/color] Missimon agreed. Mari started raising her fingers to the corresponding rules that she laid out for the digi.mon.

[color=F660AB]““One, don’t repeat the words and actions of the television and music playing in my bedroom. This world is not actually at war. Two, don’t take my words literally. So I don’t have you crashing through my bedroom window and forcing me to drive in the middle of the night to come pick you up. That follows to three, don’t break anything or harm anyone. When I say I want my asshole upstairs neighbor and his bed that’s made out of balloons to be silenced. That is not a call for you to act upon. Now repeat what I said back to me and tell me if you understand.”[/color]

[color=C38EC7]“What I said back to me-”[/color] Missimon began as Mari groaned on the inside. 

[i][color=F660AB]““This day is going suck too isn’t it?”[/color][/i]