Chapter Twenty-Four: Raw

JFK Airport is an ever busy place, but the private terminal is quieter than Mega expected it to be. There's no more press hounding them, too busy dealing with Mitchell Deacon's resignation and upcoming appeal of the Robot Master creation ban. They would have been still trying to gain access to Mega Man, still trying to interrogate him about the events in Central Park, had Dr. Light not put his foot down and forced them—through security robots if a stern lecture didn't work—to keep their distance.

He's grateful for that distance now, as they watch the Cossacks load their private airplane. The sarcophagus containing Pharaoh Man is being carried up the steps by Dive Man and Drill Man. Most of the others are already on the plane already, Ivan and Alexei lingering with Kalinka and Dr. Cossack. They'd refused the help of the airport's robot staff, carrying their equipment themselves. It had seemed like a lot when they first arrived, but it's dwindling fast. It's almost time to go.

"I wish you could stay longer," Roll says, giving Ivan a quick hug. "It's nice to have someone besides my brother to talk to."

"That it is," Ivan replies, shooting Alexei a look. Alexei ignores it. "But I will definitely take you up playing a few games together online."

"Just don't tell Dr. Light which ones," Mega mutters. Roll punches his shoulder, and he ducks away with a yelp.

"I wouldn't mind playing video games," Kalinka says.

"You," Dr. Cossack says sharply, cutting his conversion off with Dr. Light. "Have a lot of studying to do. We'll have to see if any video games fit into your schedule."

Kalinka merely rolls her eyes, and Megas has to wonder if she picked that up from Proto Man. Then again, she has plenty of attitude of her own.

He doesn't want to think about Proto Man right now, anyway.

"It would be nice to stay in New York," Alexei says, his gaze drifting toward the plane. "Maybe if Kalinka had taken her schooling seriously, she would have seen some benefit from it."

"Sasha!" Kalinka cries, outraged.

"But Ptolemy will need a lot of time to recover, and he will need his family to do it," Dr. Cossack says, clasping Kalinka on the shoulder. "And I don't think I'll be particularly welcome in the United States for a good while as it is."

"You will if I have anything to say about it," Dr. Light says firmly. "But you're right. Perhaps for now, this is for the best."

Mega looks away, trying not to sigh. The Cossacks sticking around would've made a nice distraction. He wouldn't be so tempted to think about how it felt to hold Proto Man as he died, how often he can't sleep trying to avoid thinking about it. How often he fails to avoid thinking about it.

Alexei's hand on his shoulder is gentle. "Are you all right, Mega Man?"

Mega shrugs. "It's been a lot, for all of us."

"Yes, it has," Alexei replies. "And we all need time to heal. Be sure to give yourself that time. It does no good to cling to what we cannot change."

Alexei's concern is genuine. The least Mega can do is be genuine in return. "It's hard, but I'll try."

"That is all we can do," Alexei replies.

Toad Man sticks his head out the plane door. "Are you two going to help, or are you going to sit there and schmooze?"

Dr. Cossack blinks at his robot. "Where do my children learn these words?"

"Ivan's movies," Kalinka and Alexei reply in union. Ivan waves them off with a snort, moving to pick up a pallet, and Alexei joins to help him. It's one of the last ones. It's time for the Cossacks to go.

"Come visit, okay?" Kalinka says, giving Roll a tight hug. To Mega's surprise, she also gives him one, and he gently hugs her back.

"It'll be okay," Kalinka whispers in his ear. "I'll make sure of it."

All he can do is smile, not wanting her to pick up on his uncertainty. Kalinka gives them one last wave, and runs off to join her brothers.

"Mikhail, I know we agreed to this, but…" Dr. Light hesitates. "I can't thank you enough. I know it's too much to ask, after everything you've been through."

Dr. Cossack laughs ruefully. "It probably is, but I did bring this onto myself. It's only fair I take on the rest of the burden, rather than dodge responsibility again."

"Are you ready for what's next?" Mega asks quietly.

"I'm not sure," Dr. Cossack says with a sigh. "But I will try, for all of you, and for Kalinka. I cannot break her heart again."

"We'll be there when you need us," Dr. Light says, shaking Dr. Cossack's hand. And then the doctor is off to join the rest of his family, and it's time to leave.

Roll is already chatting with Dr. Light about time zones and gaming times, but Mega keeps looking over his shoulder, back at the plane. He's trying not to be conspicuous, and almost misses the figure slipping free from the empty cargo vehicle, climbing the stairs quickly. He's got a duffel bag over one shoulder and a baseball hat shoved low over his face, but he pauses at the top, turning to look at the Lights.

#

Saving his brother took every bit of effort they had. His death had to seem genuine, the damage real enough to kill, but in doing so it was still life-threatening. The electro-bomb had been destroyed successfully, but it had been dangerously close to his core, and fixing that was no easy task.

The doctors had worked on him day and night for a week. Mega had sat and watched them, often joined by Kalinka until one of her brothers dragged her away. It wasn't just the damage they had to fix. They had to convince the world that Proto Man was truly dead. That meant removing his armor, and turning it over to the authorities. That meant putting on the act that everything in the park had been truly real, and Proto Man was gone for good.

That meant making changes.

The park fight had felt real—and most of it had been, at least on Mega's side. He'd had so much more he wanted to say, so much he didn't have time for. Sometimes, when the doctors were resting and Kalinka was sequestered in an effort to get her to sleep, he would say them, holding his brother's cold, lifeless hand as he made one fruitless confession after another.

When his brother had finally woken up, Kalinka was there to hold him tight, to help him get used to how his body had changed and how it hadn't. Mega was there too, of course, but in the background, unable to say everything he'd wanted to say. It felt like he'd been so poured out, all his emotions drained in wishing his brother to wake again, that when he did, Mega had nothing left to tell him.

He wanted to. He had so much he wanted to say, but he couldn't. Yet again, like every other time, he's too late.

#

Hesitantly, his brother lifts a hand and waves. Mega waves back, and the figure disappears into the plane before anyone else can notice.

Come back , Mega wants to yell. Don't leave me again.

But he doesn't say anything, moving instead to catch up with Roll and Dr. Light. From the safety of the terminal, standing with the rest of his family, Mega watches the Cossacks leave, taking his brother with them.