Me: What's up guys? Hope you all are doing fine!

Bass: Ok, what's with the chipper attitude?

Me: What ya mean Bass? I'm always chipper!

Everyone else: :I...

Me: Ok maybe not ALWAYS, but I usually am! Besides I am pleased to announce that we are almost done with this story!

Axl: Wow really?

X: I'd thought you'd be sad about that.

Me: Well I sorta am, but I am happy because I haven't completed something in a while thanks to personal issues. Hopefully that will change soon enough. Anyway, they way I figure it, I'd say we have 3-4 chapters left.

Zero: Well you better bust your butt writing them.

Me: You know I will! ^0^


Whoever said, 'Make sure your enemy doesn't live between your own ears' could easily describe what was happening. After what happened last night, it was clear something, that something apparently being Lumine, had been effecting Axl in such a negative way that he resorted to...that. After discussing the whole thing with Zero and Alia, the three of them came to the conclusion that when Axl went to examine the remains, Lumine's final attempt of attack had implanted itself in Axl's forehead, bringing light to the whole situation. Even if it was only by a little. Still, X wondered just how bad was Lumine tormenting Axl. Sighing, X, who was in his office, rubbed his eyes. He stayed up the whole night, trying to get his mind off of last night's incident, but his mind wouldn't rest. "What the hell should I do?" He wasn't much for swearing, but he couldn't really help it right now. A knock at his door came,

"X?" He turned to see Alia, "I brought you some coffee." X nodded,

"Thanks Alia." The navigator walked over and set it next to him,

"Have you gotten any sleep?" X shook his head,

"No not really." Alia frowned, but knew when X had something serious on his mind he rarely got any rest. "Alia, have I been too hard on Axl?"

"Why do you think that?" Alia asked as X leaned back in his chair a little,

"Remember I wasn't all welcoming when he first came here. I thought of him as an enemy at first given where he came from. He tried his best and actually helped us defeat Red Alert, but I never once took into consideration on how hard that must've been for him. He even saw the one person that was pretty much his father die right in front of him." X sighed, "He's still a kid, but he's probably one of the more mature younger Reploids; always pushing himself. Which makes me wonder if he works this hard so Zero and I won't be disappointed in him." Alia placed a hand on X's shoulder,

"I think you've been doing just fine. Axl may complain and act out sometimes, but he always gets his job done. He looks up to you and Zero and that drives him to do better; because you two are his inspiration. You know he's still young, so you know he's going to make mistakes, though I will agree with you on that you could be a little too harsh when he first got here." Alia paused, "As time went on though, you really thought of him as a close friend right?" X nodded,

"Of course I do. I'll admit that I mostly turn to Zero but Axl's still very important to me." X looked down, "I just wish he could see that."

"He should've seen that a while ago." Alia smiled sadly before continuing, "You and Zero really care about him, to the point that I think he looks at you two like older brothers. The three of you kind of act like siblings too." X looked at her,

"Really?" Alia giggled,

"At least that's what everyone who sees you three together think." X looked down in thought. Deep down he had thought the same. Zero, Axl, and him had been rather close during the past years, and Axl was always the one to crack a joke or make other people smile. He was pretty much a younger sibling to X, and even Zero joked about how Axl's actions mirrored X's when he first started, to which X and Zero broke out into a "revealing mistakes" match; Axl laughing all the while. The times spent with the two of them were probably some of the best in X's life and thinking of this made him realize how much everyone needed Axl. He was someone who could lift everyone's spirits in dark times and his heart was always in the right place; always helping others when he could. X chuckled,

"You're right. We kind of are siblings now." His smile faded. "Though I think he is starting to follow...Zero's 'example' more." Alia blinked at his words as she saw X shiver. Was he talking about...? "All those calls with Zero. This is way too similar." He rubbed his temples, feeling all the memories of Zero's attempts and Axl's recent one hit him all at once. "Whatever is happening with Axl, at the moment I can't do a thing about it...These things always happen to the people I care about." He grit his teeth, "I'm never the one this happens to. It's always somebody who doesn't deserve it. It's always the people I'm closest to. It's always the same!" He slammed a fist on the desk, "Damn it!" Tears pricked at the side of his eyes, "Damn it..." Alia leaned down and hugged him close; X letting her hold him.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Once Zero had gotten back from a recon mission, both he and X agreed to go check on Axl. Cinnamon offered to join them, but Alia told her that they needed to see him alone, to which Cinnamon agreed. Approaching Axl's room, X stopped at the door.

"You ok pal?" X looked back at Zero, who was giving him a concerned look. "You know we can come back later if you-"

"No I'm fine. Just need to collect my thoughts." X said and Zero nodded. When they opened the door, Axl was upright looking out a window; his lower arms wrapped in bandages. X remembered how horribly damaged they were after what Axl did and had to take a deep breath to steady himself. Apparently not noticing the door open, Zero cleared his throat which caught Axl's attention. Turning his head towards them, and seeing that it was indeed them, his expression turned to shame and slight fear.

"Oh...Hey guys." Both Zero and X nodded. Zero remained in the door way leaning up against the frame while X sat in a chair next to the bed.

"How are you feeling?" Zero asked and Axl gave a sad grin,

"I could be better. Food could be too." Even now Axl was trying to crack a joke. Seeing that his remark had no effect, Axl fidgeted nervously and started rubbing his wrists. "Look I...I'm sorry about last night. It's just that-""Things on your mind?" Axl shivered at Zero's statement, and X shot him a slightly nervous/glaring look. Zero stared right back, indicating to X that small talk and reassuring words were not going to solve this.

"Axl." The said Reploid refused to look at X. "Just tell me why. Why did you do what you did? That's all I want to know." That's all anyone wanted to know, not just X, and he knew that. Axl gripped one of his bandaged wrists nervously,

"You wouldn't believe me anyway."

"I can't believe you unless you tell me." X responded, still Axl remained silent. X continued, "Is it Lumine?" Axl felt his entire body go cold; his entire mind go blank. Witnessing his response, X knew he had hit the nail on the head, "Axl you need to tell me if it is otherwise I can't help you." Axl grit his teeth,

"What would you do? Send me away to some loony bin if I told you that it was?" X stared in shock at Axl's statement, not because that he admitted that it was indeed Lumine. That was only slightly shocking. What got him was what Axl thought X would do,

"Axl you know I would never-""Tell me, what do I know X? I'm just a kid remember." Axl spat out, the words quite bitter as they left his mouth. X blinked before giving the young Reploid a stern look,

"You certainly are acting like one." Axl glared at X,

"Yes because my thoughts don't matter right?" Axl felt his voice rise, "You and Zero just love to judge me right?!" X went wide eyed,

"You know that's not true!"

"Come on X! We know that you didn't want me here in the first place! I was just a criminal who deserved to be locked up!" Axl exclaimed, letting out a sarcastic laugh as he did so as X felt his own anger rising,

"That was before I saw that you wanted to change!"

"And that was when?! AFTER I killed my family?!" X froze as Zero looked on in shock, "Don't you get it?! I killed all of them! Every single one, every single teammate, who actually gave a damn about me! Hyenard, Gungaroo...Red..." Axl shook his head violently, "They are DEAD because of me! They're gone!" Axl's head hung as tears fell, "They're gone." There it was. Everything Axl had bottled up, every thought and hidden regret, came out. X attempted to place a hand on Axl's shoulder but Axl flinched away. "And you...You come in here asking me why?" He let out a tearful laugh, "Even if I told you it was Lumine and all the crap he's been putting me through, I'd never hear the end of it." Axl wiped his eyes, trying to dry them.

"Why didn't you let me or Zero know? I told you to come to us if something was wrong." Axl shook his head,

"Would you have believed me?" X nodded, causing Axl to look up in shock.

"Axl you are many things, but the one thing you are not is a liar." X thought for a second, "Ok when it comes to messing around, you can be one but you aren't that good at it." X heard Axl give a small chuckle and he felt his mind ease a little before continuing, "Apart from that you never lie about serious situations, and Lumine was quite a serious one. After what happened to you, and seeing how bad the after effects were after the battle with Lumine, then yes. I would've believed you." Axl found himself staring at the blue maverick hunter.

"You aren't just saying that? You aren't lying to me?" Zero spoke up,

"Look kid, after everything we've been through you honestly think we'd lie to you?" Axl blinked before letting out a breathy chuckle,

"I honestly don't know anymore." Axl looked down at his wrists, "Maybe not knowing is for the best."

"What do you mean?" X asked, a little worried where this might head. Axl looked him,

"I mean about everything. Everything before and after joining Red Alert. I never really found out where or how I was made, let alone information about my copy ability. Maybe not knowing any of it is for the better. Maybe I don't want to." X shook his head,

"Axl that's not true. Everyone deserves to know at least a little about these things. Trust me, I know how you-""How would you know X?!" Axl's voice returned to it's angry tone, making X jump, "You at least have an idea where you came from! Me? I'm nobody! I have no fricken clue as to who I am or where I came from! Red might've known but he never told me! Yet you seem to know everything don't you?! Then who am I?! Am I a criminal, a maverick hunter, a murder?! Tell me X!" Axl's words were filled with anger and spite, but after he finished, his voice turned into a small whimper, "Who am I...?" Axl started shaking as he rubbed his wet face aggressively on his arm. X sat stunned; more so out of concern. Axl never really talked about things like this, let alone admit that he was extremely concerned about his identity. Like Zero had said a day or two ago Axl never really let it bother him. That is until A. Randal spat out everything and B. Lumine's mental torture. X thought back on the many times when he was concerned, even worried, about who he was and where he came from. After figuring it all out, he was still a little nervous about the whole thing, but he was more relieved then anything. After a moment of thought, X wrapped Axl in a hug, to which the young reploid tensed up at,

"Axl, it shouldn't matter if your origin is good or bad. What matters is that you are here now and how you act presently. You have grown a lot since we first met, in more ways than one. I know that I must've been harsh when you first came here and I know that I tend to still be sometimes." X sighed, "But that doesn't mean I don't care. You can talk to me or Zero at any given time, we aren't going to turn you away. It may seem like we are unapproachable at times, but that doesn't mean we won't listen. Just...Whatever is bothering you, whatever you're having problems with, we are here to help. Everyone is here for you Axl. Please try to understand that." Axl was wide eyed.

"That's right..." Axl thought, "All I wanted...all I ever wanted...Was someone to listen; to understand. I wanted people to turn to and to accept me..."

"I wanted..."

Axl's thoughts drifted to times back at Red Alert, how even though he was a amateur at first and screwed up a lot, Red always was patient with him, albeit a bit stern, teaching him everything and giving him helpful advice. The same could be said for the others in the group; some more then others. It was a place where he felt safe and secure. Even now, where he was and everyone he met...It gave him the same feeling of peace as Red Alert did. It was home.

"Some place to belong."

Axl felt the lump in his throat grow bigger as tears slowly fell again. He tried his best to hold them back, but to no avail. Finally, he leaned into X's embrace and broke down, clutching X's shoulder with one of his hands; X giving a small sigh of relief and Zero slightly smiling.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

"Feeling better?" X separated from Axl though still keeping a hand on the younger one's shoulder. Axl nodded drying the rest of his tears,

"Ya thanks..." Axl sighed, "Sorry you had to see that guys. I didn't mean for things to get this bad."

"Well it did. And for that..." Zero walked over and bonked Axl's head, "You get discipline."

"Ow!"

"Zero!"

"What? I'm just giving a friendly reminder." X was dumbfounded,

"Of what?!"

"You perfectly know what."

"We are hear to help Axl, not hurt him more!" X exclaimed and Axl started chuckling,

"I'm curious, were you two like this before I came into the picture?" Both blinked before X said,

"Sorta I guess."

"More so him then me." Zero said as X gave a look and said in a sarcastic tone,

"Oh yes because you never made mistakes." Zero gave a look back,

"Hey don't bring THOSE memories up."

"Gees Zero, never pegged you as a screw up." Axl joked as Zero gave an unamused look,

"This coming from the guy who loves to blast everything?" Axl remained silent for a second,

"Point taken." And after that, the three started to talk about, well, themselves. Topics varied from past missions to personal topics to just talking about interesting stories. It was a peaceful talk, where there was no worries or troubles. They all laughed and competed, vocally, like any good friends would. Though like X had admitted earlier, they were more like siblings now then anything.

"Speaking of which, how'd you date with Cinnamon go? Y'know, before the whole issue started." Zero asked and Axl felt a blush rise on his face,

"I-I think it went fine." Axl was looking down at this hands, playing with a small part of the blanket. Zero gave a small chuckle,

"Did ya kiss her?" At that, Axl felt steam blow out his ears,

"K-K-Kiss?! I-It was just a simple date with Cinn!"

"Uh-huh. Something tells me that you were planning to." Axl felt his eye twitch,

"What the heck Zero?!" Axl then pouted as Zero gave a smile and X sweat-dropped, but a chuckle escaped his lips. "Geez, you sound like an older brother nagging their sibling about this stuff."

"And what's wrong with that?" Axl blinked and looked at Zero,

"Oh uh...Nothing I guess." The copy Reploid avoid eye contact, feeling a little nervous about the question. "I guess I..." He paused, "I guess I kinda think of everyone here as family. You two are more like um...Like brothers to be honest." The two stared at Axl was fidgeting nervously, but both were happy that Axl actually said it out-loud. Even though they had a feeling for a while.

"Well you are kinda the bratty little brother who loves pestering his older siblings." Zero joked getting a laugh from Axl,

"I won't deny that." Axl felt tears in his eyes once more, trying to dry them again, "Aw geez not again. I'm way too emotional today." He gave a laugh, but tears dripped from his arm and he tried to hold them in. "S-Sorry just give me a sec..." Both X and Zero walked over; both on each end of the bed. Zero patted Axl's head while X placed another reassuring hand on Axl's shoulder. They knew that Axl was just happy and that was how it should be.


Me: Oh how I had fun with this chapter!

Cinnamon: So many feels!

Everyone else: *Stares at Cinnamon*

Me: *Giggles* Yes Cinnamon! All the feels!

Bass: Oh God, please don't teach her your vocabulary.

Me: *Sticks out tongue*