Something In The Way
"Alright, we're here," Mega Man frowned at him. He was closed off, suspicious. "What do you want?"
He had every right to be suspicious, but his brother grinned at him reassuringly. Proto Man had been on his best behavior since his heel-turn, but Mega hadn't given an inch. It had been difficult to convince him to even come to the park at all, but he needed to get them away from all the lab's security systems.
"I just wanted some time with my brother." Proto wrapped a good-natured arm around Mega's shoulder in a joking way, jostling him so he didn't notice the chip being planted on his helmet. It had been so easy, despite all of Mega's hostility. Too easy. "You little dope."
"You big goof," Mega retorted, shoving him back. He laughed first, seeming to surprise himself. Proto joined in. He even meant it, but Mega stopped abruptly, his face twisting, and jerked to his feet.
"For a minute, I forgot myself," he said. "You're more twisted than a car wreck!"
Proto got to his feet as well. The hostility doesn't surprise him, but there's real venom in that statement, more than he thought Mega was capable of. It was sharper than any time his brother ever called him evil.
It was also, particularly in that moment, true.
"Hey, I'm doing my best to go straight and you still mistrust me?" It didn't take that much effort to act hurt, raising a fist as he spoke. "You think you're too good for your brother!"
"You've got it all wrong," Mega said with a sigh. He pushed Proto's fist down to defuse him. "I've always wanted a real brother relationship with you."
"Y—y—you do?" Proto didn't have to fake the confusion in his voice. Mega lingered, giving him a chance, but Proto didn't take it, too taken aback. The conversation fizzled out and ended. The rest of Wily's plan played out, right down to the bitter end.
Proto never got another chance.