I woke up to the sound of blasting. I felt immense pain in my chest and below. I couldn't feel a thing. I could hear faint breathing. I felt my head bob up and down. It was like I was being carried. I decided it was time to open my eyes. When I opened them I had seen orangish brownish hair. It had almost spiked me in the face when I opened them. I knew right then and there I was being carried by Axl. I felt regret when I thought back to the moments when I had passed out. I decided it was time to speak.
"Axl." I forced out my throat. He turned his head to look at me. I could see blood dripping down his face. He forced a grin.
"So you finally wake up?" Axl said dryly. I made him set me down at that point. We were apparently in a safe zone. I noticed it was a forest. I looked down at my wound to see that Axl had used his whole shirt to bandage it. I wondered if the plasma from the shot was just floating inside of me. I felt like whatever pain receptors I had broke down. I could feel the pain but nothing else. It was a weird sensation. One that I could go the rest of my life without feeling again. I spoke looking at my surroundings.
"Axl where are we?"
"Just outside of monstropolis." Axl answered while resting on a tree. I immediately wondered what happened to the research facility. Had they regrouped with everyone?
"Where are the others."
"I don't know we split up. I know no one is inside of the facility anymore. I'm actually not all that worried. All that's left is to get out of town. Start a new regular life free from the system and watch the city remake itself without the corruption of these games." Axl said exaustedly. I wondered how long I'd been out for.
"Axl...how long have I been passed out?" I asked.
"1 hour and a half. I'm not going to tell you how much I freaked out. I won't complain about how hard it was to carry you around while still shooting guards and police. I just want to know one thing. Why?" Axl asked looking me dead in the eye. I asked myself once again why had I wanted to take my life? It was because I didn't have a life to begin with. They say that everyone exists for some god given reason. I don't have one. Even if there isn't some god-like being out there I was still artificial. I had thought on this for half a minute. All the answers came out the same. I was fake. How did I know that I was really who I am? I'd probably just been programmed to be over an over worry good conscious individual. Fake. The word fake screamed in my mind. I could pretend I didn't know but in the end there was no way to put together all the shattered pieces that had been gone since I had killed my father. Hell since I had even started this tournament of death. This date with destiny... I turned to answer Axl.
"I'm not real." I said looking at my hands. Axl shook his head.
"Your are real." Axl responded right after I finished.
"Axl, you don't understand..." I started but Axl cut me off.
"I'm sure I don't. But I won't let you call yourself a lie. Or kill yourself because you're not technically human. I know this sounds horribly cheesy but your real to me." Axl said as if they were the facts of life. I looked at him oddly.
"I don't know why I'm still going. Everything I believed in has crumbled in front of me. The rest... I don't know how to put into words..." I said not wanting to look Axl in the face. I felt uncomfortable. Like I had a lot to say but I couldn't get it out. It felt weird like a strain in my chest. No it wasn't because of the plasma shot. I finally forced myself to look up at Axl.
"You don't have a reason?" Axl started and then looked at me for an answer. I shook my head no. Then he continued.
"What about all the things you've never seen."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"The town, other places that aren't tainted like Monstropolis." Axl started I remained quiet. He continued once more.
"You must be selfish Rock. Your not thinking of anyone elses' problems. Think about the butterfly affect you'll have one everyone else. Blues and Bass who are practically related to you. All the new people you've met and helped from the this ordeal. Then there's me. The thought of you not existing after I've just gotten closer to you would hurt pretty bad. I don't think I'd date again. Honestly. The shit scared me the whole time you were knocked out. I was constantly checking your pulse. I'd never been so scared in my life."
"I'm sorry." I threw out of my mouth. Axl just shook his head in disapproval.
"Sorry doesn't really cut it. Do you remember how hurt you were from Crashman's death? That would've been All of us times eight, Plus I promise you, if you keep going from this point on. Things will get better." Axl said as he walked over to where I was. I looked up at him and smiled.
"Alright, your right. It wasn't worth it but it really looked hopeless." I said.
"Your right. I almost lost my shit earlier on but I kept going and that's what you need to do. For the record I don't care if your some android who'll one day explode and kill us all. Or someshit like that. I want to witness it. Or at least until you eventually break up with me or murder me yourself. Axl said almost completely serious. I laughed. I knew he was being serious but I honestly couldn't help it.
"Axl. I just don't think I'll get tired of you anytime soon. Seriously. It's something new with you everyday." I said. Axl slightly blushed at hearing this.
"That's so sweet Rock. If we weren't in the middle of killing people I would totally bring it in." Axl said as he sniped a guard from a far. See that right there that's why I liked him so much. I remember pointing that out at that point. We both turned when we saw a familiar patch of red and grey running at us. It was a fully armored Blues. He'd come with a first-aid kit. I felt super relieved to see he was alright. It must've meant everyone was alright as well. When he finally got to us he caught his breath and spoke.
"All of our enemies are dead." He said first before anything else. I was a bit joyed at the news. That meant I didn't have to kill anymore. I knew nothing would ever be normal again. I had accepted that. But to know that I could go the rest of my life without actually have to take another's life again. It was a good feeling. Blues continued as he took off his helmet.
"Also we've erased the rest of the towns memory of the culprits that actually committed this. So everyone knows that Wily died in some freak house accident but no one has any clue who did it. We decided not to give back the hurtful memories." Blues said. This surprised me.
"Why not?" Axl asked.
"Could you picture the whole town in grief all at the same time?" I responded realising their points.
"Look we need to get near a T.V the rightful president is going to make an epic speech of epicness in 30 minutes." Blues siad.
"Who is it?"
"A man named Dr. Cain. He's brilliant." Blues answered.
"So what happens if this guy gets corrupt?" I asked suddenly. Blues and Axl looked at me as if I had suggested something crazy.
"We'll kill him. On the spot." Blues answered. I felt a chill go down my spine. Suddenly Blues looked at me and walked closer to me. He then raised his hand super high and slapped me in the face. It hurt like hell. I was surprised by the sudden action... I couldn't even get angry. He spoke.
"Listen up Rock I heard you tried to take your own life earlier like a little bitch. That slap was to slap the little bitch out of you. Now promise you'll never do anything that fucking stupid again okay?" Blues said as he looked me in the eyes. I nodded.
"Can I just add that you got knocked the fuck out? No? Okay then..." Axl said quickly.
"Where's Zero and X and Bass at?" I asked Blues.
"At my family house." Blues responded.
"Are your parents okay with that?" I asked remembering all the old hate stories about Blues and his parents. They were hard-core believers of the system. They forced Blues to be better than all the other students. They hated their son to death because he was different. I remember meeting them a few times at the yearly open house sessions. There was no way they'd have over a bunch of deviants.
"I'm sure their ghosts are upset." Blues responded.
"What?!" I asked quickly.
"They killed themselves when they found out that Albert Wily was dead. A bunch of fools. It was a fitting end. They wouldn't fit in the new Monstropolis anyhow." Blues said bitterly. I'll remember not to bring them up. Not that I liked bringing them up. Those people were god awful.
"That's...Blues are you okay?" I asked.
"Better than okay." He answered as he started walking away. Something told me that I shouldn't keep on the subject so Axl and I just followed Blues out of the forest. To a car that was parked just outside the forest path. We all got in. I took shot-gun. When we got in the car blues turned on his music which consisted of heavy 80's rock. I recognized it as Billy Idol. He started driving off. After about 15 minutes of driving we got to Blues' house. I had only been here 3 times. One was when I was 11 for Blues' birthday party that went terribly wrong. (That's another story for another time.) and the other's were visits during the rare occasions Blues actually went home. So pulling up and walking into here was sort of weird. The house always looked gloomy it was completely grey. Blues opened the door with a house key that was hidden in his jacket pocket. When it opened it was a bit loud in there. We could hear laughing and talking. I'm guessing that was a good sign.
As we entered the livingroom I had seen all my friends there and some people I didn't quite know that good all in all there was, Zero, X , Bass, Acid ,Crashman , Roll , and two or three other people I hadn't seen in my life. When Bass' eyes and mine connected we ran at each other for a hug. It connected but I felt my head bump into something.
"Dude your okay!" I shouted.
"Yeah the man couldn't take me down." Bass said confidently. I laughed at the ill-humor joke.
"Your too stubborn to die. Even if we killed you ourselves you'd just come back any ways." Blues said. Bass let go of the hug and eyed down Blues.
"Stop being so tsundere Blues and hug me already." Bass said with a smirk. Blues blushed with a look of disapproval at this comment. Bass just pulled him into a hug messing up his hair with a spare hand. Blues was not amused. My eyes wandered to another part of the room. I had seen Axl sit down to Zero and X. Talking cheerfully. Next to them was sitting Crashman. I walked over to him.
"Crashman..." I started. He smiled.
"Call me Kent, Rock."
"Dude. I was so worried about you."
"It's okay. I'm fine now. I have you guys to thank. But more so you." Crashman said. I felt myself wanting to cry but I didn't instead I just felt super happy.
"I was so hurt when I thought you'd died." I started. Axl looked over and put his two cents in.
"He really was. He was straight under the covers sobbing. I was there." Axl added with a smile. I was a bit embarrassed by this.
"That's touching..." Crashman said as he went a bit red. I felt awkward. I looked at Axl and he just let out a devious smirk and turned away.
"But R-Rock there's something I want to tell you..." Crashman said going red.
"Er...go ahead." I shot out my mouth.
"I really like you Rock." He said quickly. I thought my ears must've heard wrong. Did that really just happen. Crashman continued.
"Your so sweet and I can't stop thinking about you." Crashman added. I couldn't process what to say back. Suddenly I heard Axl get up and walk across the room.
"Hold up, Hold up...Rock is mine." Axl said. I was now at a loss for words.
"O-Oh...I'm sorry..." Crashman said.
"Mhm... I was about to get all defensive black girl on you. You don't even know." Axl said smiling slightly embarrassed.
"But I won't give up." Crashman said. Axl's face fell into a frown.
"This is getting awkward..." I said. They both turned to me. Suddenly X walked up and dragged Axl away. I wondered why. X whispered something into Axl's ear and he smirked and walked back over. I was confused.
"So Rock. What's your response to this man?" Axl asked.
"It's no of course. We're already together Axl. I answered truthfully. Crashman looked hurt.
"But don't worry dude. When I eventually fuck this relationship up then you can totally try again." Axl said cheerfully. I could hear Zero laugh from across the room.
"Knowing Axl that won't be long." He said.
"I got faith in him this time." X said. I wondered what they meant "This time"? Blues and Bass joined in.
"Damn Rock you just got the hoes don't you?" Blues said in a troll tone. I felt my face turn a bit red.
"It's a damn shame. Where are all the women at?" Bass said disapprovingly. Zero and X laughed at this.
"That's a good question." Acid said. He remained quiet until now. He'd probably been watching the room.
"I'm here lets not forget." Roll added in as she looked up from the T.V
"Yay~! a female." Bass said from the other side of the room. I facepalmed. Bass' thirst was real. Too real.
"Put some ice on that." Blues said. Bass just glared back. I then zoned out a bit. The people in this room were amazing, I found myself thinking. We had just came back from what was probably the worse event to ever happen to us in our lives and we were in this house joking and laughing with each other. It all felt regular and normal too. We'd actually done it. We won. Things would get better they would have to. It was about 15 minutes later when Cain's speech came on. We all sat and listened. It went like this.
"Hello Monstropolis. The time for a new age is beginning. No more oppression. No more social ranks. Everything you fear about our society has changed over night. As you all know your oppressor Albert Wily is dead. But that's not all. All of his men the people who have put you down for so long are also all demolished. We have our youth to thank for that. New councilmen have already been established. The rules have changed. No longer will you be weighed by strength. But by the real intellect and skills you have. The start of a new era is today. So everyone. Embrace it. That is all." Cain spoke. There were then a bunch of news people who wanted to ask what he meant and various questions, like if he knew who killed Wily and what not. We switched off the T.V.
"This is beautiful. Everyone can have peace now." X said.
"Yeah. It's been a hell of a long way getting here though." Zero added.
"Honestly I thought we wouldn't make it." Axl said.
"Same here." Acid said. Everyone looked at Acid and Axl with disapproving looks.
"Hey you guys don't look at me like that things were getting bleak you know." Axl said.
"I was only doing this because I didn't want Blues to get hurt." Acid explained.
"Seriously?..." Blues asked.
"Well yeah. I was just fine with my position in society. Being a dentist is my dream." Acid added.
"Living the dream sounds nice." Zero said.
"Yeah I don't know what I'm going to do with my life now." Axl said with a sigh.
"I know what I'm going to do." Bass said.
"What's that?" The room asked.
"Work at target until I get my shit together." Bass said. We all laughed.
"What about you Zero?" X asked. Zero thought for a second.
"Learn about robotics so I can find out what I'm made of and my life span." Zero said, then he continued "And get a day job so I don't die."
"I know that's right." Blues said.
"What are you going to do Crashman?" I had the urge to ask.
"Work at some store and figure out what I'm doing with myself. What about you Rock?" Crashman said.
"I want to be a defense attorney." I stated randomly. Everyone looked at me weird.
"You've been playing my Phoenix Wright games haven't you?" Axl asked. I nodded. The room face palmed.
"You know that's seven years of school right?" X said.
"Yeah I'm okay with it." I responded. then I continued. "X what are you going to do now."
"I still don't know myself." X said.
"He's probably going to end up a house wife with the 15 kids that he'll have with Zero." Axl said smugly X on the other hand went completely red.
"AXL!" X yelled in disapproval. Axl just grinned. Zero laughed.
"Well X, How do you feel about kids." Zero said jokingly. X still looked embarrassed.
"E-Erm...I don't think we can have kids Zero..." X said face still flushed.
"You never know..." Zero said walking away. X's face went even more red. The whole thing was just utterly adorable. I saw Acid get up to leave. I wondered where he was headed.
"Acid where you going?" I asked.
"I've got some appointments scheduled this afternoon." He said as he waved off. Blues followed him to let him out the door.
"I think I should go too. I should start looking for applications." Bass said. slowly I saw everyone leave.
"I think we should go as well." Zero said.
"Yeah your right...we've got to find a house." X said. Axl once again put his two cents in.
"You mean love nest right?" Axl said smugly. Zero face palmed.
"Get out of here with that." Zero said. Axl laughed. Zero looked towards me.
"Rock can I talk to you for a second?" Zero said. I was a bit caught off guard.
"Er sure." I said following Zero outside. He spoke first.
"Did you feel doubt too?" Zero asked me. I was confused by the question.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"I mean finding out that you're not a real natural human." Zero asked.
"Yes. I almost took my own life because of it." I responded.
"I want to know to the full extent why we were made and what was our mission...I was feeling empty and artificial myself. I didn't show it at the time because I knew If I slipped up we'd all end up slipping up. I knew there were people depending on me. That's why I kept going. But now since this is all over, I feel like I finally have a chance to think it through you know?" Zero said. I nodded. Then he continued.
"Something still doesn't feel right about this whole thing. I can feel it in my chest. This whole robot thing doesn't really sit right with me...But what can I do. It's my life I'm going to live it." Zero said.
"I feel it too. Zero, I want to know why I'm here and even I never know I still want to try. So I can have purpose." I replied.
"I knew you'd understand. We are in the same boat after all." Zero said.
"That is true." I said.
"Welp I'll see you around Rock." Zero said as he walked back inside.
"See you around..." I said quietly. Being already outside I decided it would be a good time to go home and get some sleep. My chest still hurt and I was feeling the burn. I decided I would bother Blues for a ride home. I walked back inside.
"Blues~! Take me home." I yelped. He looked at me and smiled.
"Alright." He said grabbing his keys off the counter. When we got into the car, Blues once again turned on his 80s music and we drove. The drive home was pretty quiet but suddenly when we were almost there Blues asked me something.
"Do you regret anything from doing this?"
"Honestly...yes. It sounds stupid but I think I wanted to stay ignorant after knowing the truth of things." I said truthfully.
"I know how you feel. Things would've been easier if we just stuck with the system. I thought that throughout this whole thing. But what happened, happened. Plus no one knows it was us. That makes things a lot easier." Blues said as he turned a corner.
"Yeah your right."
"Seems like it's the start of being regular I guess." Blues said.
"That's a good thing right?" I asked.
"Yeah but I'm sure I like the sound of "Regular" ya know?"
"Seems boring." I said chuckling.
"Boring peace? Seems legit." Blues said.
"Somehow I don't think that with the people we know it'll be very regular." I said.
"That's true." Blues said thinking for a second. The he stopped I was at my dorm again. I got out the car with a wave and walked inside my living space. I had the urge to go to sleep. For some reason I feel like if I did I'd wake up and this whole thing would be dream.
But what's the point of dreaming when reality is the dream? I knew right then and there I needed sleep. That didn't even make sense. I walked to my bed and laid down in it. I felt myself winding down. I knew when I woke I'd be on the pursuit of happiness.
The end.
Now I was raised in a sandbox, next to you and her
You was holding the handgun, she was giving birth
To a baby boy to be just like you, I wonder what's that worth
I-I wonder if you ever knew that you was a role model to me first
The next day I-I woke up in the morning, seen you on the news
Looked in the mirror, then realized I-I-I had something to prove
You told me "Don't be like me, just finish watching cartoons"
Which is funny now cause all I see is Wile E. Coyotes in the room.
This whole story was inspired by that verse right there so I'd like to thank Kendrick Lamar, The pimp that lives around the corner all my ratchet friends and My right hand, 0kamiB1ue for them reviews and all that good shit. Hope you guys liked it. Yatta Yatta. Stay on the watch for more fics. They're coming.