Author's Notes; Dark Armors AU. POVs. X's POV first, Zero's second. X's is short because of alluding to behind-the-scenes R18..Shounen Ai. Suggested R18. Plot. Zero makes a plan to sack power-hungry Signas. Signas tries to complicate things, but does he really..? We'll know in the next and final chapter..Please enjoy..

Since the previous day and night had been long and hard for both of us, we slept through the hot desert day. The shade of the palm trees and other plants helped keep us cool, though there was no wind.

I found myself on top of Zero when I woke up. I covered my mouth and nose embarrassed when Zero stirred under me, stretching his arms and yawning. I saw his eyes open and a cheeky smirk appeared on his face. His hips pushed me up and down slowly in a teasing way. I watched those demonic hands reach towards me, carefully moving my hands off my face. His smirk grew as he saw the embarrassment on my face, taking my hands in his and locking his fingers with mine as his hips bounced me. I could feel him pulling me back down on top of him. I found myself lying back down against him. His cold breath sent shivers down my spine when it entered the earport of my helmet. Not only were there passionate breaths from him, but also words. Words that detailed an interesting plan to sack Signas.

I respected X's decision to keep his piece short because of the more mature themes and actions that followed before my brain began to craft a plan of attack. I hugged X tight against me as I stepped in.

I began to tell X of a plan that was coming together in my mind to get rid of Signas. First, we would make it look like I had kidnapped X and taken him far away. Then we would record it as such and demand that if Signas wants the Maverick Hunters best hunter back, he would have to meet us in front of HQ in two nights from then. I saw and heard X giggle at the plan and agreeing to it. First though, since neither of us had anything to tie with, we had to be resourceful. We searched for sturdy vines in the oasis we rested in. X finally found some after a while, just enough to tie his arms and legs. I smirked as I tied him up beside a palm tree and then began to record.

'Attention Maverick Hunter HQ Commander, I have your hunter X in my grasp. If you want him back, we will meet in front of your HQ in 2 nights from now. If not, he will rot away in this vast barren desert.' I recorded in the video. X helped sell it by looking a bit scared and sad. I made sure he was ok as I untied him, giving him some reassurance that I would never really leave X to die, especially in a desert, but Signas would never know that.

X clung against me once he was free. I closed my wings around him, shielding him from cold winds that had started up. In the better part of an hour, I received a video file from Signas. 'To the maverick scum who has X hostage, I agree to your terms. However, I have terms of my own I want to add. In addition to handing X over, because of your history as a top tier hunter here, I want you as well. I want you to come quietly and also along with X be rehabilitated. I look forward to the trade off.'

I felt X's eyes look at me in worry. Signas had now made things look more like we were just giving ourselves up. I bet Signas had thought he had won. Well, we were soon to prove him wrong.