Chapter Twenty-Four: For Better Tomorrows
Days were passing by with a laziness that had all the Hunters partly on the edge, and partly caught up in the relaxations. Since Dynamo's defeat, the Mavericks remained quiet, and only small happenings of activity were occurring, just enough for rookie hunters to take care of the issue. This left the higher ranks with nothing more than paperwork, and even Signas was running out of reasons to keep them on the same strict timetables.
Since regaining his voice, Zero had noticed the difference in the way others treated him. Before his depression, they all revered him like some divinely powerful god-like figure to his face, but rumors were spread behind his back. Then, while he was depressed, though they treated him a little more like a comrade, the others still stepped around him like he was a china doll. But now… now, it seemed like his breaking had cracked their perfect image of him, and everyone finally realized the truth: Zero was just a Reploid like everyone else. That realization, and the Hunters' attitudes to him now, was such a relief that Zero himself was that much happier, that much less stressed.
It also helped he was no longer going to be living with these people, as much as he liked the headquarters. When Signas finally admitted defeat to the peaceful times, he allowed the three hunters time to pack up their belongings and move out to the house they bought days ago. Zero smiled to himself as he taped a box shut, picking it up and putting it aside. The blond had called in a landscape company to do a bit to their new yard, and he was sure his boyfriend and adopted son would appreciate it.
"Need some help?"
Zero glanced toward his door, and with a secretive smile, took a picture to later transfer to his digital camera. Alia leaned against his doorframe, one arm raised and her head leaning against it, the other hand on her hip that was just so femininely tilted.
"You know, if you greeted Signas like that more often," Zero teased, "he'd notice you more."
Alia rolled her eyes, picking at a fold in her sundress and lifting it slightly higher up her thighs. "You think he's into eye candy?"
"Signas is a guy… At least we all assume he is under all that armor." Zero smirked, tilting his head to indicate she could come inside. "Besides, out of all the women here, you are the prettiest."
Alia had just caught herself from mentioning she was second to Iris, and it took her several seconds to think of a better response. "Most guys liked Layer."
"How's her reconstruction, anyway?" Zero asked, waving his hand in the air. It was as if he were batting aside all the other memories of the Repliforce incident.
Alia plopped down next to him, folding her long, slender legs under her as she grabbed a box and some tape. "Pretty well, they found all her backups and even got in contact with her creator. By the end of the month, we'll have Layer back… although we're still searching for Palette's memory." Alia taped the box shut. "We're still slowly recovering people… but already a few of them, when activated, asked us to deactivate them and let them go."
Alia sighed heavily at that statement, reaching for another box. "I've tried to reason with them, that things are peaceful now…"
"I don't blame them," Zero shrugged, even as Alia gave him a wide-eyed look. "Every time it got peaceful for a while… well, the longer we have it, the more shocked and dismayed we are when it's disrupted."
"You're so pessimistic."
"You sound just like my boyfriend," Zero gave her a grin. "You're not X in disguise, are you?"
Alia snorted rather unlady-like. "I don't think even I could be as righteous as X." Alia stretched out her legs before propping one up, turning her upper body slightly to finish the sexy pose. "I'm too much of a closet bad girl."
Zero took another picture, more or less for blackmail purposes. "Oh yeah, you should go see Signas and strike it like that."
"You think so? Maybe I should do it on his desk." Alia lifted her arms, hiding her face partially. "Like this, you think?"
Zero tilted his head, smirking. "Maybe with a little arch to your back, and instead of your arms there, put them around his neck."
Alia dropped her arms with a giggle, tucking her legs under her again and blushing slightly. "He'd short-circuit, I think!"
"And another thing…" Zero reached out behind Alia's ear, pulling out the chopstick she used to hold her hair in a bun. The golden locks cascaded down, falling haphazardly around her shoulders. He pulled off the sunglasses from the top of her head, and her bangs fell free. "I've noticed people around here prefer us blonds to wear our hair down."
Alia snatched her items back from him. "Only if your hair is six feet long…" She glanced at her shoulders, where her hair only stretched out another two inches from. "Mine's short enough to get away with being up."
Zero smiled as he taped a box shut. "If a homosexual robot's opinion matters, I say you look better with your hair down."
"Reploids have sexual orientation now?" Alia asked as she put the glasses back on her head. "Humans said we were genderless, you know…"
"I'll go streaking across the city to prove I'm one hundred percent male…"
"I'll so go with you and catch it on tape," Alia smirked. She then burst into a fit of giggles, shaking her head. "Oh, we're so bad, thinking of those things!"
"Blonds have more fun," Zero stood up, picking up a neat stack of four boxes. "Think you can grab one or two and get them to the luggage transport?"
Alia stood and picked up the other stack of four boxes with ease. She shot Zero a satisfied grin, and he only laughed as he led the way out of his room. Thanks to Alia, Zero's belongings were packed and teleported off to the new residence in good time, leaving Zero with a few extra hours before the designated meeting time between the moving three.
"I'll go check with X and Axl," Alia said as Zero glanced at a clock in the hallway outside his now-empty dorm. "You kill the time. Relax. Maybe go do some quick shopping for housewarming gifts."
Zero shrugged as Alia walked off toward X's dorm, and taking her advice, made his way to the hangar to get to his car.
Unlike Zero, who had rather little to take with him, Alia found out X had quite a number of things, namely his book and video game collections. He gratefully accepted Alia's aid, and the Navigator couldn't help but feel sorry for him as he dashed into his closet to get the rest of the things out.
"Any particular order you want these?" Alia called out from his study.
"Ah, nah, I can order them later."
Alia shrugged, grabbing books three or four at a time and putting them neatly in boxes according to size. Tall, thinner books went into the shallower boxes as X's thicker, shorter books filled up the deeper ones. Humming a light tune to herself, Alia skimmed over the titles of the books as she packed them away, wondering how on earth X could handle reading so many bland history books or the goriest fantasy novel ever written thus far.
When she grabbed a nearby trilogy, Alia stared at the cover, swearing she had read these books herself before. She dropped the second and third into the appropriate box, flipping the first over to read the synopses on the back. When her eyes finally fell on the author's name, both the original and that of the translator and restorer, she burst into whoops of laughter that brought X from the other side of the dormitory.
"What's so funny?" X asked, frowning slightly as Alia held up the book. "What?"
"Oh, X…!" Alia went over to him, throwing one arm around his shoulders as the other continued to hold the book up. "I never knew you were into erotic novels…"
X's eyes widened and he snatched the book from her, hugging it to his chest. "S-so what? Just because everyone makes me out to be the innocent prude doesn't mean I have to be one!"
"So you're a nympho?"
"No!" X tossed the book into the box with the rest of its series. "I'm just curious like anyone else." He stuck his nose in the air, facing away from her.
"Aw, don't be like that, X," Alia giggled. "I just couldn't imagine you would read that series. I've read it, and it's pretty raunchy."
X blushed, unable to help himself as he looked at her again. "Yeah, it was bearable at first, but I can't get through the third novel…"
"The… ponies?" Alia leered at him.
X covered his face and raced out of the room, leaving Alia to laugh at his retreating back. She turned back to his bookshelves, pulling the remaining books out and sifting them into their boxes. By the time X returned, Alia had packed up all of his books, video games and consoles. The brunette smiled at her, handing her a Styrofoam cup of hot chocolate he had mixed up while she had been packing.
Alia accepted the drink and sipped it carefully, sitting down on a now-bare coffee table. X collapsed onto the couch, closing his eyes with a sigh.
"Tired?" Alia asked.
"A bit," X muttered. He opened his eyes and glanced at her. "Axl just sent me a message that he's done and will be here soon to help me teleport this crap."
Alia chuckled. "At least he's a good son."
X propped his head up with his hand, smiling at her. "He's still single, and he's a good boy…"
The Navigator nearly dropped her cup, her eyes wide. "What? No way, X, I couldn't get with Axl."
"Why?"
"Because…" she blushed, quickly sipping her drink. "I like… someone else…"
"I know," X flipped himself over to lie on his back, smirking toward the ceiling. "Wish you luck on that, by the way."
Alia sighed, taking a scalding gulp of hot chocolate. "Thanks." She coughed out.
~*~
When she leaned close to him, Axl felt his entire face light up in a blush, and he could hardly look her in the eye when she glanced at him and smiled. Axl shoved his hands in his pockets, letting out a nervous little chuckle.
"H-how're you, Miss Delia?" Axl asked shyly.
Delia tilted her head, looking at him intently, and Axl wished his facial pigments would, for once, fail. The female giggled before wrapping her arms around one of Axl's, a large smile on her face.
"You're so cute," Delia gushed, and Axl glanced away, embarrassed. "But you don't have to call me Miss. Delia works just fine."
"Eh heh…" Axl pulled his other hand out of his pocket to rub the back of his head. "O-okay."
"Good," Delia rested her head on Axl's arm as they resumed walking. "How are your parents?"
"Doin' well," Axl replied, constantly looking between her and in front of him.
"I'm glad," Delia's smile took on a sadder edge to it, and Axl felt sorry for her, although he wasn't too sure why. "I wish X would talk to me again… I'd like to be his friend…"
Axl blinked, looking at her. "Why won't he talk to you?"
Delia sighed, pulling away from Axl and brought one fist to her face, glancing away from him. She was the picture of dramatic, feminine despair. "We used to be together, X and I… but I made a mistake. I let my curiosity get the best of me and did something horrible." She sighed again, closing her eyes. "I know I hurt him deeply, but it's been such a long time, I'd hope he'd forgive me…"
"Well," Axl scratched his head, feeling guilty this beautiful woman was so distraught. "Well, since he got with Dad, and he's happier, he might forgive you. I can… I can talk to him for you."
"Oh, you can?" Delia looked at him, eyes wide and hopeful. "I don't want to separate him and Zero, I just want to be friends… can you convey that to him?"
"Of course!" Axl thumped his chest. "Leave it to me, Delia!"
"You're such a sweetheart, Axl…" Delia hugged him, and Axl's face turned red again.
Axl stared down at her, and when it was obvious she wasn't letting go, he awkwardly hugged her back. When her body leaned against his, Axl couldn't help but smile.
He liked Delia. She was… a nice girl.
~*~
When Zero pulled into the driveway of his new home, the landscape team was leaving. He gave them an appreciative wave as he got out of his car, a little bag in his hand swinging when he jogged up to the door. Inside, boxes were piled in every room, a few piles even taller than Zero. The floor creaked, and when Zero glanced into the main room, Axl was just leaving the downstairs bedroom.
"Hey, Dad!" Axl called, running to Zero and giving him a big hug. "Pops is upstairs unpacking. We got our beds and pods set up already."
"I didn't think I was that late…" Zero muttered.
"Naw," Axl let the blond go, jerking his thumb toward the stairs. "Pops and I got here early and figured what the hell. He loves the garden, by the way."
Zero mussed Axl's hair with a wide smile. "Go get him for me; I got something for you two."
Axl's face lit up and he bounded up the stairs, calling for X as he raced to the master bedroom. A few minutes later, Axl returned with his second father in tow, X's face breaking into a smile when he saw Zero. The two embraced, and despite Axl's whining protests, kissed deeply for a few moments.
Zero pressed his forehead against X's, lightly stroking his boyfriend's cheek with his fingertips. "Axl said you liked the garden…"
X's smile returned, wider than before. "It's beautiful, and all the plants are natural! How'd you find them?"
"I'm a man of many secrets." Zero pulled away and lifted the bag up. "Now… both of you, close your eyes."
When they did, Zero opened the bag carefully and pulled out the three items therein. He haphazardly tossed the bag aside and pulled X and Axl into a tight hug. "This," Zero started, "is the start of us really being a family. This is our home, our place, our sanctuary. A new beginning for all of us."
Zero handed Axl a rectangular box when he let them go. The young Reploid looked at the box for several moments before opening it, and his eyes widened slightly. Inside rested an identification bracelet, the links made of black titanium, the plate itself a silver variation. On it was an engraving--Axl Light.
"Whoa…" Axl gingerly pulled the jewelry out of the box, and X smiled wide when he read the engraving.
Axl was never given a present before, and certainly not one as… personal as this. He reverently put the bracelet on, smiling when it was apparent Zero had, at some point, taken careful measurement of his wrist. It was a comfortable, snug fit.
"Axl Light?" X turned his eyes to Zero, who smiled.
"Well, you put the house under 'Xavier Light,' so I figured that'd be the last name of our little family, since I don't have one…" When Zero said that, Axl felt as if the bracelet just gained a thousand times more sentimental value, and he brushed his fingertips against the plate, his smile even bigger.
Zero turned to X, holding out a much smaller, squarer box. X's face flushed and his eyes went wide. "Z-Zero…"
Zero opened the box, and inside rested a silver titanium ring, the middle inlaid with a blue stripe. The blond plucked the ring out of the box, putting the box into his pocket and grasped X's left hand, slipping the ring onto his finger. X gaped at it, reading the tiny, neat inscription in the blue strip: X Light – I Promise To Never Let Go. When X looked back up at Zero, the blond lifted his left hand, where a similar ring rested. Instead of a blue stripe, however, the middle was inlaid with a deep red one. X could see 'Zero Light' engraved on it, with a similar promise.
"Maybe one day," Zero muttered as he drew them in for another hug, "I'll get the balls to get real rings for X and I, and we'll do it officially. But, for now… I love you two. Here's to our happy future, as a family."
<--- PREVIOUS CHAPTER NEXT CHAPTER --->
Days were passing by with a laziness that had all the Hunters partly on the edge, and partly caught up in the relaxations. Since Dynamo's defeat, the Mavericks remained quiet, and only small happenings of activity were occurring, just enough for rookie hunters to take care of the issue. This left the higher ranks with nothing more than paperwork, and even Signas was running out of reasons to keep them on the same strict timetables.
Since regaining his voice, Zero had noticed the difference in the way others treated him. Before his depression, they all revered him like some divinely powerful god-like figure to his face, but rumors were spread behind his back. Then, while he was depressed, though they treated him a little more like a comrade, the others still stepped around him like he was a china doll. But now… now, it seemed like his breaking had cracked their perfect image of him, and everyone finally realized the truth: Zero was just a Reploid like everyone else. That realization, and the Hunters' attitudes to him now, was such a relief that Zero himself was that much happier, that much less stressed.
It also helped he was no longer going to be living with these people, as much as he liked the headquarters. When Signas finally admitted defeat to the peaceful times, he allowed the three hunters time to pack up their belongings and move out to the house they bought days ago. Zero smiled to himself as he taped a box shut, picking it up and putting it aside. The blond had called in a landscape company to do a bit to their new yard, and he was sure his boyfriend and adopted son would appreciate it.
"Need some help?"
Zero glanced toward his door, and with a secretive smile, took a picture to later transfer to his digital camera. Alia leaned against his doorframe, one arm raised and her head leaning against it, the other hand on her hip that was just so femininely tilted.
"You know, if you greeted Signas like that more often," Zero teased, "he'd notice you more."
Alia rolled her eyes, picking at a fold in her sundress and lifting it slightly higher up her thighs. "You think he's into eye candy?"
"Signas is a guy… At least we all assume he is under all that armor." Zero smirked, tilting his head to indicate she could come inside. "Besides, out of all the women here, you are the prettiest."
Alia had just caught herself from mentioning she was second to Iris, and it took her several seconds to think of a better response. "Most guys liked Layer."
"How's her reconstruction, anyway?" Zero asked, waving his hand in the air. It was as if he were batting aside all the other memories of the Repliforce incident.
Alia plopped down next to him, folding her long, slender legs under her as she grabbed a box and some tape. "Pretty well, they found all her backups and even got in contact with her creator. By the end of the month, we'll have Layer back… although we're still searching for Palette's memory." Alia taped the box shut. "We're still slowly recovering people… but already a few of them, when activated, asked us to deactivate them and let them go."
Alia sighed heavily at that statement, reaching for another box. "I've tried to reason with them, that things are peaceful now…"
"I don't blame them," Zero shrugged, even as Alia gave him a wide-eyed look. "Every time it got peaceful for a while… well, the longer we have it, the more shocked and dismayed we are when it's disrupted."
"You're so pessimistic."
"You sound just like my boyfriend," Zero gave her a grin. "You're not X in disguise, are you?"
Alia snorted rather unlady-like. "I don't think even I could be as righteous as X." Alia stretched out her legs before propping one up, turning her upper body slightly to finish the sexy pose. "I'm too much of a closet bad girl."
Zero took another picture, more or less for blackmail purposes. "Oh yeah, you should go see Signas and strike it like that."
"You think so? Maybe I should do it on his desk." Alia lifted her arms, hiding her face partially. "Like this, you think?"
Zero tilted his head, smirking. "Maybe with a little arch to your back, and instead of your arms there, put them around his neck."
Alia dropped her arms with a giggle, tucking her legs under her again and blushing slightly. "He'd short-circuit, I think!"
"And another thing…" Zero reached out behind Alia's ear, pulling out the chopstick she used to hold her hair in a bun. The golden locks cascaded down, falling haphazardly around her shoulders. He pulled off the sunglasses from the top of her head, and her bangs fell free. "I've noticed people around here prefer us blonds to wear our hair down."
Alia snatched her items back from him. "Only if your hair is six feet long…" She glanced at her shoulders, where her hair only stretched out another two inches from. "Mine's short enough to get away with being up."
Zero smiled as he taped a box shut. "If a homosexual robot's opinion matters, I say you look better with your hair down."
"Reploids have sexual orientation now?" Alia asked as she put the glasses back on her head. "Humans said we were genderless, you know…"
"I'll go streaking across the city to prove I'm one hundred percent male…"
"I'll so go with you and catch it on tape," Alia smirked. She then burst into a fit of giggles, shaking her head. "Oh, we're so bad, thinking of those things!"
"Blonds have more fun," Zero stood up, picking up a neat stack of four boxes. "Think you can grab one or two and get them to the luggage transport?"
Alia stood and picked up the other stack of four boxes with ease. She shot Zero a satisfied grin, and he only laughed as he led the way out of his room. Thanks to Alia, Zero's belongings were packed and teleported off to the new residence in good time, leaving Zero with a few extra hours before the designated meeting time between the moving three.
"I'll go check with X and Axl," Alia said as Zero glanced at a clock in the hallway outside his now-empty dorm. "You kill the time. Relax. Maybe go do some quick shopping for housewarming gifts."
Zero shrugged as Alia walked off toward X's dorm, and taking her advice, made his way to the hangar to get to his car.
Unlike Zero, who had rather little to take with him, Alia found out X had quite a number of things, namely his book and video game collections. He gratefully accepted Alia's aid, and the Navigator couldn't help but feel sorry for him as he dashed into his closet to get the rest of the things out.
"Any particular order you want these?" Alia called out from his study.
"Ah, nah, I can order them later."
Alia shrugged, grabbing books three or four at a time and putting them neatly in boxes according to size. Tall, thinner books went into the shallower boxes as X's thicker, shorter books filled up the deeper ones. Humming a light tune to herself, Alia skimmed over the titles of the books as she packed them away, wondering how on earth X could handle reading so many bland history books or the goriest fantasy novel ever written thus far.
When she grabbed a nearby trilogy, Alia stared at the cover, swearing she had read these books herself before. She dropped the second and third into the appropriate box, flipping the first over to read the synopses on the back. When her eyes finally fell on the author's name, both the original and that of the translator and restorer, she burst into whoops of laughter that brought X from the other side of the dormitory.
"What's so funny?" X asked, frowning slightly as Alia held up the book. "What?"
"Oh, X…!" Alia went over to him, throwing one arm around his shoulders as the other continued to hold the book up. "I never knew you were into erotic novels…"
X's eyes widened and he snatched the book from her, hugging it to his chest. "S-so what? Just because everyone makes me out to be the innocent prude doesn't mean I have to be one!"
"So you're a nympho?"
"No!" X tossed the book into the box with the rest of its series. "I'm just curious like anyone else." He stuck his nose in the air, facing away from her.
"Aw, don't be like that, X," Alia giggled. "I just couldn't imagine you would read that series. I've read it, and it's pretty raunchy."
X blushed, unable to help himself as he looked at her again. "Yeah, it was bearable at first, but I can't get through the third novel…"
"The… ponies?" Alia leered at him.
X covered his face and raced out of the room, leaving Alia to laugh at his retreating back. She turned back to his bookshelves, pulling the remaining books out and sifting them into their boxes. By the time X returned, Alia had packed up all of his books, video games and consoles. The brunette smiled at her, handing her a Styrofoam cup of hot chocolate he had mixed up while she had been packing.
Alia accepted the drink and sipped it carefully, sitting down on a now-bare coffee table. X collapsed onto the couch, closing his eyes with a sigh.
"Tired?" Alia asked.
"A bit," X muttered. He opened his eyes and glanced at her. "Axl just sent me a message that he's done and will be here soon to help me teleport this crap."
Alia chuckled. "At least he's a good son."
X propped his head up with his hand, smiling at her. "He's still single, and he's a good boy…"
The Navigator nearly dropped her cup, her eyes wide. "What? No way, X, I couldn't get with Axl."
"Why?"
"Because…" she blushed, quickly sipping her drink. "I like… someone else…"
"I know," X flipped himself over to lie on his back, smirking toward the ceiling. "Wish you luck on that, by the way."
Alia sighed, taking a scalding gulp of hot chocolate. "Thanks." She coughed out.
~*~
When she leaned close to him, Axl felt his entire face light up in a blush, and he could hardly look her in the eye when she glanced at him and smiled. Axl shoved his hands in his pockets, letting out a nervous little chuckle.
"H-how're you, Miss Delia?" Axl asked shyly.
Delia tilted her head, looking at him intently, and Axl wished his facial pigments would, for once, fail. The female giggled before wrapping her arms around one of Axl's, a large smile on her face.
"You're so cute," Delia gushed, and Axl glanced away, embarrassed. "But you don't have to call me Miss. Delia works just fine."
"Eh heh…" Axl pulled his other hand out of his pocket to rub the back of his head. "O-okay."
"Good," Delia rested her head on Axl's arm as they resumed walking. "How are your parents?"
"Doin' well," Axl replied, constantly looking between her and in front of him.
"I'm glad," Delia's smile took on a sadder edge to it, and Axl felt sorry for her, although he wasn't too sure why. "I wish X would talk to me again… I'd like to be his friend…"
Axl blinked, looking at her. "Why won't he talk to you?"
Delia sighed, pulling away from Axl and brought one fist to her face, glancing away from him. She was the picture of dramatic, feminine despair. "We used to be together, X and I… but I made a mistake. I let my curiosity get the best of me and did something horrible." She sighed again, closing her eyes. "I know I hurt him deeply, but it's been such a long time, I'd hope he'd forgive me…"
"Well," Axl scratched his head, feeling guilty this beautiful woman was so distraught. "Well, since he got with Dad, and he's happier, he might forgive you. I can… I can talk to him for you."
"Oh, you can?" Delia looked at him, eyes wide and hopeful. "I don't want to separate him and Zero, I just want to be friends… can you convey that to him?"
"Of course!" Axl thumped his chest. "Leave it to me, Delia!"
"You're such a sweetheart, Axl…" Delia hugged him, and Axl's face turned red again.
Axl stared down at her, and when it was obvious she wasn't letting go, he awkwardly hugged her back. When her body leaned against his, Axl couldn't help but smile.
He liked Delia. She was… a nice girl.
~*~
When Zero pulled into the driveway of his new home, the landscape team was leaving. He gave them an appreciative wave as he got out of his car, a little bag in his hand swinging when he jogged up to the door. Inside, boxes were piled in every room, a few piles even taller than Zero. The floor creaked, and when Zero glanced into the main room, Axl was just leaving the downstairs bedroom.
"Hey, Dad!" Axl called, running to Zero and giving him a big hug. "Pops is upstairs unpacking. We got our beds and pods set up already."
"I didn't think I was that late…" Zero muttered.
"Naw," Axl let the blond go, jerking his thumb toward the stairs. "Pops and I got here early and figured what the hell. He loves the garden, by the way."
Zero mussed Axl's hair with a wide smile. "Go get him for me; I got something for you two."
Axl's face lit up and he bounded up the stairs, calling for X as he raced to the master bedroom. A few minutes later, Axl returned with his second father in tow, X's face breaking into a smile when he saw Zero. The two embraced, and despite Axl's whining protests, kissed deeply for a few moments.
Zero pressed his forehead against X's, lightly stroking his boyfriend's cheek with his fingertips. "Axl said you liked the garden…"
X's smile returned, wider than before. "It's beautiful, and all the plants are natural! How'd you find them?"
"I'm a man of many secrets." Zero pulled away and lifted the bag up. "Now… both of you, close your eyes."
When they did, Zero opened the bag carefully and pulled out the three items therein. He haphazardly tossed the bag aside and pulled X and Axl into a tight hug. "This," Zero started, "is the start of us really being a family. This is our home, our place, our sanctuary. A new beginning for all of us."
Zero handed Axl a rectangular box when he let them go. The young Reploid looked at the box for several moments before opening it, and his eyes widened slightly. Inside rested an identification bracelet, the links made of black titanium, the plate itself a silver variation. On it was an engraving--Axl Light.
"Whoa…" Axl gingerly pulled the jewelry out of the box, and X smiled wide when he read the engraving.
Axl was never given a present before, and certainly not one as… personal as this. He reverently put the bracelet on, smiling when it was apparent Zero had, at some point, taken careful measurement of his wrist. It was a comfortable, snug fit.
"Axl Light?" X turned his eyes to Zero, who smiled.
"Well, you put the house under 'Xavier Light,' so I figured that'd be the last name of our little family, since I don't have one…" When Zero said that, Axl felt as if the bracelet just gained a thousand times more sentimental value, and he brushed his fingertips against the plate, his smile even bigger.
Zero turned to X, holding out a much smaller, squarer box. X's face flushed and his eyes went wide. "Z-Zero…"
Zero opened the box, and inside rested a silver titanium ring, the middle inlaid with a blue stripe. The blond plucked the ring out of the box, putting the box into his pocket and grasped X's left hand, slipping the ring onto his finger. X gaped at it, reading the tiny, neat inscription in the blue strip: X Light – I Promise To Never Let Go. When X looked back up at Zero, the blond lifted his left hand, where a similar ring rested. Instead of a blue stripe, however, the middle was inlaid with a deep red one. X could see 'Zero Light' engraved on it, with a similar promise.
"Maybe one day," Zero muttered as he drew them in for another hug, "I'll get the balls to get real rings for X and I, and we'll do it officially. But, for now… I love you two. Here's to our happy future, as a family."
<--- PREVIOUS CHAPTER NEXT CHAPTER --->