Wild Fangs

(X series AU where Zero is aware of his self being the maverick virus origin and X being his "tamer" as both try to find a cure for the maverick virus)

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Megaman X series characters.

Chapter 1: Promise

The sunlight is clouded by thick fumes produced by a burning city district where a maverick was spotted about an hour ago. The hunters already deployed a unit to control the situation but it seems something went wrong in the data handling which resulted in tragedy.

A lone figure stands at the center of the chaos. His crimson armor grew brighter around the surrounding flames as his thick long golden mane flow freely in his back. He stood in a majestic yet demonic way since his whole appearance is drenched in reploid oil and blood.

"Hm... Done already?" the crimson reploid said as he tossed away a freshly decapitated head over a pile of recently slain soldiers. "Guess you're the last one, let's have some fun~!" he said as an insane smile drew across his pale lips tilting his head as he starred on the reploid soldier who is crawling away from him.

He began to laugh insanely as he crouches down slowly, waiting for his victim to gain distance before striking with blinding speed.

"S-somebody! hel-!"

CRUNCH!

And the last survivor joined the scrap heap.

His joy was short-lived and as soon as he assured his victim's death, his boredom embraced him once more.

"Man... You guys are so boring.." he said as he idly licks clean the hand that effortlessly crushed the head of his last victim. "I wonder where he is?"

Just before he took another step, a familiar light appeared before him. An indicating of someone just teleported in. Without thinking, he crouched and prepared to lunge a welcome attack to the newcomer... But apparently, it wasn't needed. When it materialized, a blue reploid, about two inches smaller than he is, strides immediately towards the crimson's spot.

"... X!" he exclaimed as he hopped in front of the blue one, then landed gracefully like a cat, to shorten the distance between them. "I finished my job, let's play now!" he said with full excitement in his eyes.

However, anger is written all over the blue reploid's face.

"... Zero... Why did you leave the base without permission?" he said at last while giving the crimson a stern look to the eyes.

"...I overheard that you were going to be deployed here... Then I remembered that you hate fighting so I figured that if I finish this before you arrive, you won't be fighting anyone anymore and you can resume playing with me." the crimson said bluntly.

"But why did you slaughtered even our units? Sure, you could have taken out the maverick with such an ease base on your battle prowess... Why?" he couldn't help to tremble due to anger but tried his best not to shout towards the seemingly innocent child in front of him... More like a child trapped inside a demon's body.

"They were too noisy... And the task said end the cause of the uproar... They were contributing to the cause so I figured to eliminate them as well..." noticed the blue reploid's trembling body. "...X, why are you shaking? Are you cold? But there is fire everywhere, how come you're trembling?... X?"

He was about to touch the blue reploid's shoulder when he stops suddenly after their eyes met. Emerald eyes were full of sadness and regret.

"I shouldn't have taken my eyes off you even for a mere second... Zero, you just made a huge mistake..."

"... Mistake?"

"You killed an entire unit and I don't know how will Commander Sigma will take this... For the record, five units were already lost in your hands alone."

"...that bald guy? I can kill him if that worries you. I almost had him if only I didn't get that sudden migraine-"

"ZERO.!"

That instant, the blue reploid got his full attention.

"You kill like it's a normal thing to you..."

"But it IS normal... My sole purpose is to destroy anyway, what's the big deal? I love killing, it brings me relief and joy whenever I tear someone apart! And may I remind you, I'm a maverick under the hunter's custody... You should have killed me if that bothers you."

"..." he was stunned for a moment after realizing what the crimson just said. The part about the crimson being a maverick himself were true. He was unique among them and they've placed the blue reploid as the maverick's guardian since he's the only one who tamed him and have immunity against the virus. Then, he remembered his resolve why he was so attached to the maverick. "For I believe that you're more than that... Beyond being a maverick... I can sense that you're a better person than what you are trying to impose outside..."

"...then, what must I do to make you forgive me?", he said with full honestly in his crimson eyes. "... I don't want the very first person who accepted me... Hate me."

X is surprised at what just Zero said all of the sudden, perhaps he isn't as twisted as he seems to be. It also marked as a progress to the maverick's recovery. But is there really such a thing if he was built to be a maverick in the first place? X shrugged the thought and continue to cling to hope for his friend.

"Promise me that you'll never kill senselessly ever again"

"...Ah, but I can still kill my fellow Mavs, right?"

Fellow Mavs.. He's really that insane, not even caring that he'll be killing his own kind "...guess that's a yes."

"OK! Me, Zero, ought to never slay anyone who isn't a maverick as long as I control chip operates!"

"... Good."

"... Uh, what will happen if I break it?"

"I'll never forgive you."

"... Reasonable enough." he said as he shook his head "... Making you hate me is the last thing I wanna do... So… are you still mad at me?"

"... No, not anymore."

"... Can I go with you when you report with Baldy? This is my fault anyway."

"... Nah, I can deal with him myself. Don't worry." he said as he gently rubs the crimson's helm.

"... Ok, but if he ever touches you-"

The blue reploid gave him a stern look.

"... Ok, ok. I won't do anything."

"... Good, now let's head back."

"OK!"

X held his hand as both engulfed by the light that soon faded away, leaving the ruins made by the crimson demon to the "cleaners" of the crime scene.

Maverick Hunters Headquarters: Commander's Office

"That's all, Commander Sigma." X said as he finished his report about the unfortunate incident.

"A small progress for a price of another whole unit? This is madness!" the commander said as he slammed his hands on the table.

"It's very unfortunate, Commander, but if this will help us understand how to cure the mavericks... I'm willing to pay the price. He is the origin, after all... And that fact is the very reason we must succeed in achieving our goal."

"X... This was the last time I'll let this so-called sacrifice for the future be forgiven. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Commander Sigma."

"If that's all, you are dismissed."

"Yes sir."

As X exits the room, he suddenly saw the crimson demon staring at him with his blood-red eyes just as soon as the door opens. This somewhat sent chills down his spine that didn't wear off even after the two reploids were long gone.

"I really doubt this project of yours, X... And you'll find it out soon", Sigma said as he glances over his tablet "... Very soon."

"... So, how did it go?" the crimson ask as he walk beside his tamer with a worried look on his face.

"It's alright, I told you that I'll take care of it."

"... Are you free today?"

"... HM, now that you mentioned it, I still have some paper works waiting for me in my office.", he said as he takes a glance on the crimson to see his dejected reaction. He moved in front of him and gently rub the crimson's helm before saying "Just kidding~! I already finished it long before the incident happened."

"GREAT! I wanna show you something really neat!" he exclaimed as he took the blue reploid into his arms, carrying him on a bride's carry way.

"Wah? Hey! Put me down!"

"Neah, you're too slow and I don't want to waste anymore time."

"... But!"

All X could do was cover his face and hope that the crimson is fast enough to avoid any of the curious eyes. He heard the crimson chuckled as he held him closer while gaining more speed. After a few moments, the crimson finally made a stop and placed X gently to the ground.

"Where are we?" the blue one asks as he looks around the place.

"Shh... Wait here.", the crimson said as he runs his hand through his golden hair and as if like a magician, his hand is now holding a small bell. The blue one stared at him. "Oh... This? I keep it here since it's so small that I can misplace it if I put it somewhere else."

"... Oh."

"Watch.." he said as he gently shakes the bell to produce a very pleasing jingle.

X took the time to inspect the area with his eyes as he anticipates what the crimson is trying to call. It was a deserted barn right in the middle of a rice field. The structure might collapse easily with just a single shock wave. As he wanders his eyes further, five adorable kittens slowly walk towards them. When they saw the source, they started to purr and encircle both of them. And when they got close, they rubbed their furry body against the massive steel legs of the two reploids. X couldn't help but chuckled.

Who would have thought that such bloodthirsty demon has a soft spot for these adorable kittens?

"Ya like 'em?" the crimson asked which broke the blue one's trance.

"Yeah... Where did you get them?"

"Somewhere... Before the maverick incident..."

"... Wait a second, you mean... You have strolled out of the base without my permission?"

"As long as no one notices, I don't think it's a bad thing."

"... Please, don't do it again." placing both of his hands on the crimson's shoulders.

"... Then what about them?" pointing at the kittens. "Can we take them with us?"

The two reploids share a dorm as part of X's guardianship over the crimson maverick. And there's nothing much of a choice since nothing else could contain the demon once he start his "tantrums" leading to massive destruction within the headquarters. At least, the demon is well behave when he's with him so it didn't bother him at all. Space wasn't an issue either since they got a bigger room for it.

"Well... We can't take them back at the dorms since no pets are allowed there.", X said as he noticed the mood shift on the crimson's face... From worry to a slight form of frustration. "Well we can place them in a pet shop and hope that some good people will adopt them."

"Is that a safe place?"

"Yeah... Much better than here."

"Can we take them there, now?" the crimson said with excitement.

"If we hurry now, we'll make it before the shop's closing."

"Yay! It will not be long now, you guys will surely be adopted by someone and won't be straying anymore.!" he said as he gently pet each kitten.

As if the kittens understood him, they all purr in a merry way. X find it very fascinating that he almost forgot that the very gentle reploid in front of him is the very same demon that slaughter without remorse but out of pure delight. He shrugged off the troubling events from three months ago as they gently place the kittens inside a box for transport.