Pocket Moments
i. Distance
He was smiling, and I wanted so badly to touch it. I wanted to run my fingertips along those upturned, soft lips, feel my own nerves thrill at the sensation; I wanted to match my smile to his, lips to lips, breath to breath, but I was denied each possible attempt. My fingers went through him; my lips had no feeling even when I touched them.
And yet despite our lack of contact he smiled. And despite my inability to be there for him, I felt all the more wanted, loved and appreciated.
“I love you, X.” and his smile grew.
I averted my eyes shyly. I couldn’t help it. “I love you, Zero.” My words echoed, as if I were at a distance.
But that look in his eyes brought me back to right where I belonged—with him.
ii. Look
Fingers linked as lips met, slick skin on slicker skin, muffled moans escaping in minute intervals between hungry but patient mouths.
X gasped from the kiss, gripping Zero’s hands harder and tossing his head back with such an intense cry it was silent. Zero’s mouth assaulted that bare neck, down to X’s chest with licks and loving, careful bites. Pleasure was a steady stream from that attention, but explosions of pure bliss originated from their undulating hips.
X’s legs tightened their coiled hold around Zero’s waist, jerking them close together at that connected point of their bodies. Zero let out a harsh, husky moan against X’s skin, staring up with wide blue eyes into X’s own, just for a moment.
The moment proved to be more than X could resist.
iii. Feeling
It was like a droplet of water gliding off my skin, heavy at first but becoming lighter as it ran down my arm, becoming a teasing graze before vanishing completely. I wouldn’t deny the shiver that crept down my spine right behind that soft fingertip’s caress all the way down to my waist. My breath caught as a hand splayed between my shoulder blades, pressing down and moving in a circular motion. Looking up from my resting position, X was smiling serenely, that young face set in his task.
As innocent as this entire ordeal was, a simple massage, I wanted badly to read more into the feeling wanting to come out.
But I hadn’t seen him this relaxed, this peaceful, since before this whole Jakob incident. I opted to stay quiet, to prolong the minutes his hands soothed away the pain and war from me. If only he were more aware of how his presence soothed the war in my own heart.
That was a feeling I hope to share with him, one day… and he’d smile, just like that, when I did.
iv. Knowing
Zero was beyond frustrated. He threw his hands up into the air, glared, his mouth opening then closing as he tried hard to come up with a counter point.
X was just smiling that knowing smile of his.
v. Protocol
This was completely and utterly against every rule in the book. Yet when the backs of their hands touched, and almost by natural instinct their hands turned to clasp, he didn’t care. When their superior’s eyes stared heatedly at their linked hands, how they stood so close, he found himself not caring in the least at the potential consequence. Let the narrow-minded idiots throw them out, so long as they were together, X could weather anything. His hand tightened around Zero’s, and the returning squeeze put his heart at ease.
“This is not allowed.” Signas rumbled.
Zero, hot-headed Zero who could say everything X couldn’t, frowned. “And?”
“You will not display inappropriate affection while within Headquarter walls, on missions, or otherwise when representing this organization.”
“Hand holding is hardly inappropriate considering we have people like Layer sucking face in the hallways.”
X squeezed Zero’s fingers hard, and Zero obviously struggled to say nothing more.
Signas didn’t blink. “Your personal lives are not my business unless it affects your work. I only ask you stick to protocol. People like Layer are, unfortunately, much more expendable than you. The people look up to you, not her.”
“The people shouldn’t look up to someone and believe them something they aren’t.” X protested.
“Image is everything, X. You may want to remember that.”
Zero couldn’t keep quiet. “And what’re you gonna do if we don’t?” he growled. “Kick us out?”
And at this, Signas actually smiled. “I can’t do that, now can I? And separating you on missions would only weaken us.”
Understanding dawned on X, and angrily he threw up his free hand. “What’s the point of this meeting then?”
“Image.”
“Prick.” Zero mumbled. But X was smiling and he leaned closer to Zero.
vi. Hibernation
Zero was wary of any form of rest involving his eyes closed. Perhaps it came from the fact he had slept for a century, or he was just the type who always needed to be awake and fighting. But rest was a requirement to survival, and grudgingly he conceded to Ciel’s pleas. As an older model, Zero hibernated when he recharged, and when he felt his systems shut down there was a familiar sensation of falling into darkness.
Just before he lost all thought and wit, he felt a surge of guilt swallow him just before the limbo of sleep did.
The next time he opened his eyes, however, he was not on the laboratory table he had set himself upon. He rested on a round, over-plush bed within a simply decorated room. The walls were a pleasing burgundy, giving the room a natural soothing dimness. The single large window poured in light that was unreal and unnatural, and the silhouette before it made Zero tense. He struggled to set up, the bed far too soft, and he opted to roll off of it instead.
A chuckle made him freeze. “You always did hate that thing.”
The voice made Zero’s core leap into his throat. Or, if he even had a core, it would have. “X?”
The light from the window dimmed as if on command, and when he could clearly see X’s face, the black-eyed Reploid fell to his knees. Almost instantly X was before him, cradling the blond’s head to his chest, and Zero found himself gasping for breath as if he actually needed it.
It wasn’t the air he needed, however, and he clung desperately to what it was he did. “Am I dreaming?” Zero whispered.
“Yes,” X’s reply was just as hushed, his fingers brushing through Zero’s hair. Only now did Zero realize his helmet, hell all of his armor, was gone. “This is just a dream.”
“I have to wake up…”
“Now?”
Zero shook his head, voluntarily closing his eyes as he hugged the dream close. He had to wake up… but it could be much, much later.