The Promise
"I can't last long in this world, Zero…" I knelt down next to his prone form, placing my hand gently on his head. His face winced as he registered a touch, and I could not resist letting my fingers drift to his face.
"Weil… is not finished yet," I murmured to him, daring and lean down and rest my head on his. He was so solid, so real… it ached to leave that again. "You have to protect the humans, the Reploids… the world. I leave the world in your care, Zero. I know… I know you can do it. I have faith in you."
I closed my eyes, draping my arms around him the best I could. I felt myself fading, my body breaking down into individual strands of data and drifting into the air, but I focused instead on Zero's solid, assured body under me, in my arms, one last time.
"We all believe in you, Zero… but you have to believe in you, too. You asked for a purpose… but we can't give it to you. You must find it… and I know you will, Zero. You're so strong… if anyone can redeem the world; if anyone can bring the peace I wished for… it's you. It was always you, Zero."
I choked at this point, the bottom of my robe spiraling away into ribbons of rainbow lines and blocks. He shifted under me, and when I lifted myself up off of him, he woke up, hissing in pain as he tried to push himself up.
"X…" he grunted; only barely managing to rest on his forearms. "X, what're you…"
I stood and stepped away, his eyes widening as he watched my legs begin to dissolve. "X!"
I smiled at him, folding my arms behind me as they, too, began to break down. "Thank you, Zero… for everything. You may or may not remember it all, but… thank you. You made my life so complete, even in my deepest despair…" I could feel myself crying, but even my tears were spiraling away. "I love you, Zero. I always have and I always will, even if I…"
"Don't say it," he hissed, trying to push himself further up. "X, you're not… going anywhere!"
I chuckled at him, although a few chuckles sounded like sobs. I didn't want to leave him, but neither of us had a choice… in the end I don't think we ever did…
"I have to, Zero. But you… you'll make this world right again. That's… that's what you were meant to do, you know."
"Not without you…" he failed lifting his battered body any higher, and his pain made my tears fall faster. "X!"
I had a little energy left… "Let me care for you once more," I said to him quietly as what remained of me, my chest and up, lowered down near him. "I'll heal you."
"No!" he tried to shove me away, but I wasn't solid, not like him, and he ended up falling on his face again.
I rested my head on his again and he panted heavily in pain. His eye glanced up at me, barely able to see me, and I tried to reassure him with a smile. Zero, as always, refused to share my humor.
"Don't leave me," he grounded out. "Not after all this…! See this to the end, with me…"
"I'll always be with you, Zero, even if you can't see or hear me. Promise me… promise me you'll fix this world." I closed my eyes, focusing what remained of me on my beloved.
"… I promise." He murmured, ceasing to struggle, finally accepting. "I promise, also, I'll see you again."
"…I never doubted you, Zero."
"Wait for me, then," he all but demanded, even as his systems began to shut down, his voice trailing into static. "Wait for me… so I can… tell… you I…"
I wasn't sure, in my last moment, why I never heard his full statement. I wasn't sure if it was because he shut down… or the blackness I fell into swallowed up the words.
"Make my wish come true, let darkness fade to light…
Show me there's still hope; show me it's not over…
Battles we can win, our struggle lies within…
Will we live to greet the dawn?
Love will not leave you; hate will not heal you…
Promise me one day that peace shall reign…"