Mega Man Fan Fiction ❯ TENACITY (Zero/X) ❯ The Revolt ( Chapter 5 )

CHAPTER FIVE:

 

X woke up before Zero, so decided to fixed breakfast up for them.

“Morning”, he chirped when Zero joined him as he set the food down. He got no response. But that was the norm.

But X noticed Zero look to him a few times, like he was going to say something important, but backed out of it. As they ate in silence, X thought about how long it'd been since he and Zero had gone on a mission together. The week's break was over, so X had to spend the day's alone again. He was happy at least Zero trusted him enough to leave him alone. Mechloids had been going crazy these days, random attacks for no reason other than destruction. Even construction mechloids were going out of control. The strange thing about it though, they weren't going Maverick. Someone was hacking the system. Talk had started up about it being an inside job. Who? No one had a single lead. But Zero had his suspicions…

 

 

Zero had left X to go fetch his armor, but while washing up X thought about how useless he'd rendered himself. He admitted he'd been feeling better; maybe by having so much time with just him and Zero did that. He enjoyed spending as much time with him as possible. There was nothing to do here, especially since he'd agreed he wouldn't leave the apartment without Zero around.

The last time he'd done that ended disastrous.

 

“Zero…” X began, following him to the other room. Zero looked to him, not really impressed or in the mood for a conversation. “Umm…I…”

“What? Spit it out”. X inwardly frowned when Zero cut him off, quicker than usual.

“I was thinking of getting back to the Unit today”. X trailed off, he was bad at this conversation stuff, especially when he found himself forever intimidated by what Zero would respond with. The blonde shrugged.

“Do whatever”, his tone wasn't as negative as it could've been, so X smiled, nodding and turning to go get his own armor.

 

 

***

 

He was worried going back to being a Hunter again, nervous of how people would treat him after his AWOL period. He didn't want to have to explain himself. No one would believe him anyway.

No one would even care.

 

Getting back into the training routine however was surprisingly…normal. He never really talked to the others in his unit, so nothing really changed there. He's force smiles lightly, trying to avoid how he knew some of the others were judging him, silently wondering why he'd shown up again. But he spend most the day with Zero, so like heck anyone would comment.

 

“You heard some of the rumors?” a soldier asked another. X was in earshot, wondering what they were talking about.

“About Sigma's unit complaining? Hah, yeh I know…” the other replied, lightly laughing.

“They're saying he seems as borderline Maverick these days as that former Hunter, Vile”.

“What became of Vile? I heard he got arrested”.

“He did, he's in the detention center, who knows what'll happen to him; we're only reploids, we're disposable; might scrap him for parts, hah”.

 

X hated hearing them use Sigma's name, only bad memories attached to it, but their conversation continued and was interesting to listen-in on. Vile use to be a Hunter of the 17th Unit too, but he'd been accused of being borderline Maverick, and got arrested for taking a mission too far. Apparently the details were too graphic to be realized, but the team with him that day didn't come back. So people got the picture. And now people were talking like Sigma was the same? If so, that probably spelt more trouble or X, and that left him to worry.

 

***

 

“Hey”, X said, sitting down next to Zero; both of them on their break, and both as antisocial as the other. Zero didn't reply, but again, X was use to that.

“People have been talking about a few of the higher officers here at HQ being borderline Mavericks like that Vile guy. Zero looked to him, only half interested in what he was going to say. “I don't get how people think like that. Reploids weren't created to kill humans. Mavericks are just corrupt units…” X trailed off, not sure if he should continue the conversation, but against better judgment did. “Would you ever defect? Um…you know…go Maverick?”

 

It was quiet a moment, before Zero laughed at him.

“The term Maverick is a cop-out. Nothing to aspire to. The whole thing is stupid. But don't get me wrong, humans are just as—if not more—pathetic. I don't do this job for the `benefit of mankind' shit. Legal killing is the thrill that keeps me here. There's no point in defecting, Maverick ideas aren't anything to be desired”.

X was half content with the reply he got, he was going to press on the topic further when the alarm screamed through the halls.

 

It was another mechloid attack.

“Why do I feel these attacks are just distractions from something else?” Zero grumbled, he said something else, but X didn't catch it. He got up to follow his Sempai. Joining the rest of their unit to depart.

 

 

 

 

***

 

 

 

X ran ahead, the rush of the moment pressing him forward. The other units were firing, losing against the mechloid. He raised his arm canon, aiming for its core. While he hadn't been on the battlefield in a while, he hadn't forgotten the training Zero had given him.

 

The soldier cried out, the grasp of the mechanical arm crushing him.

“Fire X!”

“Shoot it!!”

He aimed, but he wavered. The foreground of what he saw, was the suffering soldier. Behind it his target. But he couldn't get a clear shot. He could stop the mechloid…but it could be at the price of the soldier, pleading for help. He could hear people yelling his name, telling him to fire. Yet the words soon blended and the noise ended up only being more of a confusion. He drew back from his aim, standing there, bemused.

Useless.

“X!? What are you doing, fire--”

“--Out of the way!”

 

Joining the scene was the leading Hunter…Sigma. Drawing a beam saber and bounding forward to gash at the mechloid and tear its core open. The soldier fell from its grasp, an arm lost from the assault. The exact reason X hadn't fired. Sure, the medics were here, the soldier would be okay. But X couldn't bring himself to be the one to wound his own side.

They called it hesitation. A weakness.

 

 

Everyone's cheering over the defeat, to X, just turned to white noise. He froze, while everyone praised Sigma as some sort of hero for stopping the mechloid, though he knew he was anything but. He may do his job right, but he couldn't even begin to describe the evil he'd seen…had shown to him first hand.

“Looks like your AWOL period's left you sloppy, X”. He chilled when Sigma turned from the crowd to look to him, walking closer, adding a whispering sneer for only X to hear when he stopped, a lot closer now. “Or is it, you're just too weak, my cute little X?”

“L-Leave me alone”, he tried, any confidence in his own words fading. Sigma only snickered at him, leaving X to crumble on the inside. Somehow whenever he was around Sigma he lost all his power. Became weak and useless. “And I'm not your `little cute X', either”.

“That's where you're wrong, dear X. I claimed you. Marked you. You are mine”. He enjoyed it more seeing the horrific look on X's face, and the absolute defeat that followed.

 

The more he thought about it the more he realized it was right. He wasn't his own anymore. Be belonged to--

“Oi, X”, he felt a hand take his again, incising his self destructive thoughts. He looked up to Zero, who he knew saw the horrific look and defeat sheathing his expression. “You okay?”

He wanted to nod, but didn't, instead just looked to him silently. Zero sent a deathly glare towards Sigma. “Let's go, X”. X averted his eyes down as Zero lead him away, not wanting to look or be judged by any of the eyes that were cast upon him.

“T-thanks…” X managed in a weak tone after Zero had gotten him away from the scene.

“Hesitation is normal”, Zero said, his voice distant, but enough for X to fight against his will to look up to him. “You did fine back there”.

 

***

 

 

 

When everyone got back they were informed the detention center was attacked at the same time as the mechloid went berserk. It didn't seem like coincidence. However, the reploid recently imprisoned there; Vile, had escaped in this time. It didn't seem like he busted out himself. Rather, someone had helped him…and all of this was organised.

 

Speculation over the idea of other borderline Mavericks within the Hunter ranks brewed over that following week. What happened next was something no one expected though. But those speculations were proven to be truthful.

The next day held the reploid uprising.

 

 

 

***

 

 

There was no way that day could be described. Were humans ignorant when they made reploids? People started questioning, started to regret. Mavericks were one thing, but ironically over half the Maverick Hunters turned on their cause. Revolted against mankind.

Evolution, they said.

 

Just plain ludicrous, other would retort.

 

For those that remained loyal Maverick Hunters, their own city was left in total and utter chaos. Most teams were out dealing with a mechloid incident, but—like Zero originally suspected—it'd been a cover to allow the defects to group and start their attack. Marking the first stage on their path of `evolution'.

 

 

The city was left in chaos. No one knew what to do, the scene too hard to comprehend. More than ever X felt alone. He wanted to find Zero, admits his separated unit in hopes he'd know what to do. A bombing left everyone to scatter, and the comm. links were dead, it was hard to regroup in this sort of anarchy. He ran over to a scene with some of the C-rank 17th Unit Hunters. Trying to ask them what they knew about the situation.

“Have you seen Zero-sempai?”

They shook their heads.

“Apparently the Special Class Hunters all joined Sigma's revolt…word has it, anyway”.

“Zero too?”

They simply shrugged, and X felt himself go faint. He ran ahead without saying anything, he didn't really know where he was heading. But he wanted to find Zero…wanted to prove all this wrong.

 

The riots had the city in flames in sections, so he knew where the attackers were. X moved swiftly away from his unit, detouring through already ruined buildings. The debris was everywhere, some areas powdered in ash from fires that had died. He thrugged through it, trying to pick up the pace. Whatever the riot had done to this sector of the city, had left this place in ruins, and had moved onto where the new fires blazed.

 

X was left panting, running and in a panic too long. What did he even think he was doing? If he found Zero and he'd gone Maverick, he'd just turn on him. Zero did get violent, and if X questioned him, he was sure he'd get hurt…maybe even killed.

He stopped a moment to try and catch his breath, admitting he'd tired himself out now. But X froze to the sound of a chilling snicker.

“Not wise to be out alone today, X”.

He flung around, appearing to the side was Sigma. He stepped back, recoiling as Sigma moved forward.

“I doubt you're revolting with the rest of us. But, it would be a shame to kill you…”

Sigma sighed sarcastically, X bit his lip, trying to maintain composed. He needed to get out of there, but how?

X went to move, to try and get past, but Sigma stepped in his way, making X stop.

“You're mine, remember that. Now do as you're told and come along quietly”.

But X shook his head. Sigma merely frowned.

 

He wanted to cry out but choked on all sounds, frozen on the spot. Sigma had drawn his weapon, pierced X through his side. He pulled it back and X fell down clutching at the wound that now bled. He heard the older reploid snicker at him, moving towards him again.

“I gave you a chance to make this easy, X…one more chance, or else we'll change this to the hard way; my personal favourite, might I add”.

X muttered something, the bleeding wound in his side making him feel sick. He drew his hands away to look at them, smeared in his own blood. He looked up to Sigma, silently staring him down. He didn't want to be weak anymore, didn't want Zero to treat him like he was useless and couldn't help himself. He ended up shaking his head.

“N-no…”

Before he could drag himself to his feet he was hit down, purposely then kicked in his opened wound, making him scream. He was brought to tears in another assault before Sigma finally left him alone a moment to watch him squirm, before he dragged him roughly to stand, X's eyes glazed as he fought for consciousness. He shut them tightly when he was forced into a deep kiss again, but instead of weakening him, it reminded him why he was trying to fight it. He tries saying something but was cut off as he was swiped off his feet and throw against the wall; held there. He knew what was probably going to happen again. And it made him dizzyingly sick. X tried pushing a distance between them, failing. The feeling of a hand run down his body to his hip made him shiver, he closed his eyes in a panic. He knew if it happened again he'd put his weapon to his head and shoot. His…his weapon…

 

Trying to snap out of the fear, he threw his arm forward, firing his arm canon, the force rebounded off Sigma's armor, the force tossing X from his grasp. But because he'd been pressed to the wall before, the recoil when he fired hit back at him in a way that left him winded. X knew Sigma swore something at him, obviously the sudden defiance aggravating his self-proclaimed `owner'. X ignored the pain long enough, scrambled to his feet and began running; where, he didn't know. Panic the only thing driving him.

 

He didn't know if he was being followed, his thoughts too mucked to think straight. He'd forgotten about his fears for Zero turning Maverick, instead dreaded what was in store for him; frightened for his own life. X found himself going light headed though, and his pace had dropped when he became disorientated. Moving so much had only made him bleed faster, and he was worried he wouldn't be found in time to get out this mess…

 

***

 

“Looks like he got away”, Vile sneered, approaching the larger reploid; although the status between them wasn't something to faze the purple reploid. He waited for Sigma to retort, but merely was given an order instead. He sighed, since that wasn't as amusing.

“Go after him, bring him back”. Sigma didn't turn when he spoke, his deep voice controlled, but angry. He'd underestimated X, not think he'd have put up a fight--considering how pathetically easy he'd been in the past--maybe being around Zero too much did that. Vile nodded, and walked on ahead. He could enjoy a game of cat and mouse. “…Vile; Alive”. He heard Sigma add, he wasn't a fool, Vile had a thrill when it came to killing, he liked messing with his prey before he slaughtered it. Only, he saw now he didn't get that fun. Though he figured he could have a little fun before he dragged him back.

“As you wish”.

 

***

 

X had stopped a moment, gasping for breath and clutching at his wounds. He'd calmed down enough for everything to kick back in. Painfully. He forced himself to get up again, but barely did well walking. He may have gotten away from Sigma, but his body was hacked up because he hesitated.

…Hesitated…

Again.

 

Cursing himself he pressed on hoping to rejoin his unit and feel somewhat safer. He wished Zero was here, when Zero was around he felt like that he had control over the situation, so he didn't have to worry. Zero never hesitated like him. Never was weak like he was. X groaned, feeling weaker still. Because he'd dropped his pace it was easy for Vile to catch up, only X had no idea he had been followed so quickly.

 

X got disorientated when a shot was fired at his feet. The blood-loss messing with his head enough that he stumbled back, only, that hurt his bleeding side more.

“Didn't get very far, did we?” Vile sneered, moving into X's sight. X looked up, trying to seem brave best he could. But he was worn out. Vile grabbed him, lifting him up, holding him, seeing as he wouldn't stand on his own. “Sigma said he wanted his little pet back, so will you be a good boy and come back, or are you gonna make my day and struggle for me?”—he broke off in a dark snicker—“Go on, scream for me!”

 

Vile threw an unresponsive X to the ground. X hollered when a gunshot went through his arm, leaving him collecting himself in a heap on the floor. He cried out again when his wrist was stepped on, Vile didn't even know about how raw they still were because of the cutting--two weeks or not, it took a while to heal--he screamed out, tears streaming down as he failed at drawing back. He would've begged or something, but he was beyond words when he felt more gashes rip the rest of him open. Vile dragged him up, hitting him across the face, whacking his helmet from his head. X stumbled, but Vile snagged his hair to hold him up, he grabbed at Vile's hand, but was too weak to even attempt to pry his grip away.

“I guess I can see why Sigma wants you, when you bleed and suffer you look just so cute”, Vile derided, deeply laughing. “Too bad he wants you alive, you'd be so much fun to kill right now~”

He drove him back down into the rubble covered ground of the ruined city street. When he yanked him back several rivulets of blood covered his face. Vile let him go, and X collapsed down. Just about ready to black out. He saw Vile load his gun again, his vision wavered and he was expecting the shot to come. He closed his eyes, giving up.

 

The gunshot echoed till it faded.

 

X looked up, while he heard it, he knew he wasn't that numb that he wouldn't have felt it--hell, he was aching all over--he saw Vile's gun discarded, and the purple reploid in a struggle with another.

 

“Ze…Z…” X failed at speaking as he saw the scene in front of him.

 

…Zero.

 

X didn't see what happened next, his vision gave up after that. His body failed him. But he heard his name; that much he was sure of.

 

X was picked up in Zero's arms, groans fading out into whimpers, futilely clutching at his larger wounds. Vile had fallen back now since Zero showed up. X was only half aware of everything around him, still sobbing, too tired to scream. The pain he felt left him thinking he had to be dying. If he could see what he looked like, he'd probably go to confirm such thoughts. While the rioting continued Zero took X back to HQ, ignoring the fact X's blood had grossly gotten all over him by holding him. The only thing X managed t mutter as he was taken back was Zero's name.

 

 

***

 

When he was lay down on one of the beds in the emergency ward, the noise of people rushing and panicking around him stirred X to consciousness again; although still bewildered. He groaned, his vision coming back enough for him to see the medics around him, and to his side; Zero.

Zero noticed X had come to, who had a strained expression trying to say what his failing voice couldn't. It started to kick in more what sort of mess he was in. X was back to crying, the pain amplifying the longer he was still enough for his mind to properly process it all. They'd gotten rid of his armor, trying to work on patching up his burning wounds. X grimaced and grasped at his sides, wailing. Similar to the breakdown he'd had in front of Zero before, when people tried to talk to him to calm him down, it was as if he couldn't even hear them. Screaming out.

 

He knew this pain would kill him.

 

He convinced himself he was dying.

And only wished the process would hurry up.

 

 

One of the medics tried to pry X's arms away from himself to get to his wound, but he only got violent and pushed them away. They were talking to one another; not that X would comprehend it, let alone his own thoughts. But they knew they needed to calm him down or it'd only get worse.

“Who ever did this knows how to torture without killing…a twisted talent”, one of the medics mused, Zero watched as she looked down at X's wrists. Zero was at least pleased she didn't ask him. She was a medic, and it would've been obvious that those wounds were old. She moved to the side, taking several tablets out.

“X”, she tried. “Take these, please”.

X looked up at her, then to the drugs in her hand. Just staring. He looked like he was in a panic at the sight of them and hit her hand away, she tried again but this time he yelled.

 

She was taken back, not sure why he was refusing. Zero knew. He'd noticed X had been afraid of taking any medication, even the aspirin for the hangover was knocked back. X started up his screaming again.

“X”, still wailing, the younger one turned to the sound of Zero's voice. Zero had take the tablets from the medic, to try his own luck with getting X to take them. “You've got to take them, they won't hurt you”. He shook his head, crying more.

 

X knocked back everyone's attempts, fitting over anyone that tried to force him to.

“Listen you little fuck-wit, take the effin drugs!” Zero rasped, grabbing X's face, forcing him to look at him.

“N-no…” X whispered under his breath, his eyes pleading with Zero's.

Zero looked at the drugs in his hand and put them in his mouth. The medics were about to protest but Zero acted. He pulled X closer, pressing their lips together and forcing his way into his mouth. X's eyes widened, shocked by the sudden advanced.

 

Zero had never kiss him before.

 

The kiss wasn't broken until Zero was sure he'd gotten X to swallow them, who gasped as he was finally released from the spell; not sure if the pain had made him dizzy or if it was kiss.

 

X groaned as he fell back onto the bed—wet in his own blood—the pain still choking him. But he'd at least stop screaming. It didn't take long for the drugs to have an effect and calm him down to the point the medics could help him without him lashing out. X wasn't sure how to react, Zero didn't seem fazed, emotionless like always; even after he'd just kissed him. X didn't really know what it meant, if it meant anything at all. He sighed, knowing the meds who leave him out cold soon. He was still flustered as he replayed the kiss and its sensation over in his mind, but was now feeing stupid for throwing a fit; not that anyone else seemed to care.

 

 

 

 

***

 

 

 

X was kept in one of the recover wards for the next day. Zero was with him most the time, only, he had gone out for a bulk of the day to suppress one of the new Maverick attacks. Already the attack numbers had over doubled. And with half the Hunters now defects, they couldn't handle the congestion of S.O.S. calls. Not like they could even when they were a full force. The stress had been getting the better of anyone headstrong enough to stay loyal to HQ.

 

A few hours after Zero got back from his mission they told him that they thought X was fit enough to leave. One of the medics had tried to bring up `old wounds', which Zero knew had been referencing X's wrists, but he ignored it, and it wasn't pressed again.

“Common”, he said, noting for X to follow. The halls were a lot more deserted now that night had fallen, and everyone was too stressed out to be socializing at all. Those who remained had a huge burden. It wearing away at even Zero, who kept silent and stern on the walk back to the apartment.

 

When they were home, he sat down with a beer like usual. Things seemed normal, but X wanted to thank him. He was informed earlier about how Zero had found him and brought him in. What had happened that day was blurry for X, the panic of it must've had his memories block half of the torture he went through. Which he was very thankful for. But he wished it'd done the same for several other things he'd been through. The mind was a funny thing, he figured.

 

And then there was the kiss incident. They hadn't said a word about it, but it'd been on X's mind for hours now. He sat next to Zero, lost in his own thoughts before he mustered up the courage to speak; even if Zero was in one of his foul moods.

“T-thanks…” he began. “…for kis—ah, for saving me”.

Zero looked to him, then away again. X sighed, embarrassed for crossing his thoughts with his actual sentence. Now he knew he looked like an idiot.

“Moron”.

X frowned. Zero saw the pouted look and rolled his eyes.

“You can't even protect yourself, you can't even run away properly. You're useless”.

 

X found himself fighting away tears.

 

“Don't cry on me, you idiot”. X wiped at his eyes, trying to stop himself, but that only made him feel worse, and then he couldn't stop himself. He wish he had've, because Zero got angry at him, throwing the empty beer can at him, swearing something at him in unison. “It was a game up till now; but half our forces just turned against us. And you're crying because I call you names?” Zero grunted, getting more frustrated when X looked to him, unable to stop his tears still.

 

Zero was just so mean…

he always said cruel things…

 

 

When he told him to shut up the stupid whimpers he let out when he cried, and X didn't, he instead slapped him across the face. X was still sore all over, so any hit hurt a lot more than it would've on any other occasion. He yelled at him when he hit him down again, this time, a strike to plant him on the floor. Zero looked to him, the fear eminent in X's eyes. He knew how much control he had over the younger one. Zero knelt down near him, X trying his best to show he'd submitted to avoid being hit again. Zero cupped X's chin, pulling him closer. X felt chills go through his body when he felt Zero's warm breath on his lips.

“You're obvious”, he leered. “Don't tell me you're actually flustered over that stupid kiss? I used it to trick you into taking those drugs, fuck-wit”.

X didn't reply as Zero moved in closer, he complied and parted his lips as Zero moved to claim his. But before, Zero pulled back with a sneer. Bringing the back of his hand to whack X's face. Amused as X recoiled, grasping his throbbing cheek. Physical as well as emotion hurt taking over him, making it impossible for him to stop crying.

 

Zero swore at him, again. And after another powerful hit was thrown at him, X covered his head, cowering away from Zero. Who only struck at him again several times after. Purposely aiming for where he knew X's raw wounds were. X cried out painfully, grasping at his wounds, sure now they were bleeding again under the bandages as Zero towered over him.

“Please don't hurt me…” he begged, in a shaky whisper. “Please Zero, don't hurt me…I'm sorry”.

 

X was afraid of Zero, especially when he got violently angry. Zero enjoyed inflicting this vehement abuse on X though. And X was never one to stop him. Bored of the trashing, Zero pulled X up off the ground, making him face him, who still begged not to be hurt. But that only left Zero with a dark smile. He gripped X's wrist tightly, making him wince. The scars still tender. He slowly tightened his grasp, X moving his free hand in a failed attempted to pry Zero's hold away. Biting his lip to suppress his crying. Only when Zero got more aggressive in his hold, X was left to scream. Sobbing uncontrollably.

 

After continuing the assaulting grip or a while longer, Zero got jaded of it, and finally let X go. Tossing him away as he turned to leave the room. X felt his knees give way and dropped to the ground whimpering, clutching at his wrist.

 

 

X would never be able to explain why, but after crying there for a while he picked himself up off the ground, moving to join Zero in the other room, crawling into bed next to him. Zero was still awake, pulling X closer to him. While X feared Zero so much, he liked it when he was held like this. And in X's logic that was enough of a reason to stay and ignore the bad-side of things.

He liked being with Zero a lot.

 

 

------

 

Author's Note: Yes, a real glimps of Zero's abusive side there! X however, is blind to the fact he shouldn't stick around to that. That's what low self esteem does I guess, sadly. I know someone who put up with someone after being tricked—she was young after all—into beliving he was the only thing she'd ever get. I think something similar is happening with X and Zero. Oh, and if you're here for the smut, next chapter is going to be your friend!