X had a long history as a maverick hunter. Although his heroic deeds and righteous personality weren't unknown for most, nobody really knew ho he truly was. The general public seemed to have a very one-sided picture of the blue hero, never bothering to figure out his character as whole or paying attention to little details such as his personal life. Generally reploids aren't believed to have the so called personal lives since they are made to fulfill the task they are created for.
The exploits which X and the maverick hunters were always committed to do were just a small fraction part of him. Although X did everything in order to build a better world for both humans and reploids which is an admirable goal, only a few were able to take a better look into his life and understand his reasons for fighting.
Behind the armour there is a rather sensitive and vulnerable person with a strong sense of right and wrong. His ability to feel empathy was a double-edged sword. One would describe that X was closer to being human than anyone else, he was the original creation after all. However, for a maverick hunter such ability was no other than a curse. Especially since the hunters are expected to lose their comrades all the time.
X would spent time pondering when would be the next time he would have to say goodbye to a friend. When will he experience a miracle such as Zero coming back from inevitable death again. What if there wouldn't be a next time. He knew he shouldn't expect that Zero would always be there for him. There was an end waiting for him, though X didn't know how far in the future that destiny lied. What if the next mission will be his last? These thoughts were fairly commonly filled in his mind as of late.
X did his best to take a good look of everything surrounding him before he left the HQ to go on a mission. He wanted to remember the faces and places which he held close to his artificial but genuinely feeling heart since he never knew which day would be his last.
It was yet another day of field duty. Zero and X were sent off the base along with the 17th unit to investigate yet another case of a maverick ruckus during the same day. The sun was already hiding behind the tall skyscrapers, painting the sky full of different shades of amber.
X kneeled down to pick up a fainted reploid civilian from the fallen debris. A little further away lied a dead maverick which was investigated by the 17th unit's law enforcement reploids. To a scene such as this everything seemed... calm.
Zero's hair was flowing slowly in the air as his red armour painted orange against the sunset. He held his arm tightly around the waist of a survived reploid civilian, sheathing his famous Z-saber which he was holding on his left hand. He raised his free hand against his helmet.
"Zero to the base, mission complete. The maverick's taken care of at time 20:43. The scene is peaceful. We have a two survivors with us." He spoke to the microphone transmitted to his ear component. He was greeted by a familiar female voice which belonged to a certain blonde navigator.
"Brilliant. Zero, X, report to Signas once you arrive back to the HQ. Take the civilians to the infirmary.
"Roger." Both the blue and red hunters replied at the same pace. Zero and X took the civilians to their subordinates as they were preparing to leave.
"Ready for transition." X stated as he watched the messy destroyed place which was a battle scene not until a half an hour ago. He let out a small sigh which Zero noticed. The taller hunter placed his arm gently on the blue hunter's shoulder, flashing him a gentle smile before moving away from him.
"Alia." X breathed out softly as he raised his hand against his helmet once again.
"What is it?" The female reploid spoke through the device, sounding surprised by the sudden call of her name.
"Thanks for everything today. X out." He simply said, receiving a curious glance by Zero who was waiting for X a little further away with his arms folded.
Alia's lips curved into a small smile and she let out a delightful chuckle. "No problem, X. Preparing transition."
In a mere flash the hunters had left the scene.
It had been a long day of work. Alia raised from her desk and let out another soft chuckle catching a few brief glances from the surrounding navigators who were also preparing to leave the navigating room. It was very unusual for X to acknowledge her personally, especially during duty, but whenever he did, it made her unexpectedly joyful - even to her own surprise.
X was very kind and Alia held deep respect for him and it was because of these small moments they shared which had started to make her feel something different for him. She wasn't quite sure what it could be called but it sure did her artificial heart race and maybe a little more than she was comfortable with. Alia had mixed feelings about it. She was a well-trained navigator with a special ability to handle tough situations. She held her composure presumably as one should, no matter the situation. Yet a simple compliment from X was making her feeling uncomfortably drawn to him. She realized she ended up craving for more moments like that. They were fulfilling her days which had become an important part of her simple navigator life.
Alia held a couple of datapads in her hands as she shut down the monitor with a few components. She was one of the last to leave the room as the only ones left were the ones designated for night shift. She made her way through the navigating wing, walking slowly through the spacey hall. The beautiful shades of sunset were peeking from the windows. Alia shifted to hold the datapads behind her back, making her way to her room.
On her way she passed the office of Signas, noticing two familiar figures exiting the room. The red and blue hunters didn't seem to notice the blonde navigator as they were so deep into their conversation about the mission they had just finished reporting to their superior officer.
Alia brushed her blonde hair off her shoulder gently with her free hand as she walked to Zero and X. Noticing how X turned his head towards her after hearing her approaching footsteps made Alia feel uncharastically shy. She glanced to her side quickly before stopping before the two taller male reploids.
"Oh, hello Alia. I didn't see you there." X said with a friendly smile. Zero greeted Alia with a simple nod, observing the two from a little further while leaning against the wall. He seemed to notice Alia's strange behaviour as she kept pacing from one leg to another, tightening her hold on the datapads she was holding on her back. Zero was not as clueless to those signs as his blue friend, he had experience of similar situations after all.
"Hi X." Alia replied in a simple and quick way. She noticed that Zero was staring directly at both of them so she decided to brush off anything she would have wanted to tell, or confess, to X. She handed out one of the datapads to the blue hunter and took a few steps back.
"Excellent work today. And X, thank you for the compliment earlier. It means more than you might think." She replied with a soft smile and prepared to continue. X's smile grew and he he rubbed his neck while chuckling softly. "...You always work so hard so I felt like I should start appreciating you and the other navigators more." He said while looking towards Zero who, in return, raised his brow and gave his friend a smug smile as in mocking him. Teasing was not common thing from Zero but he enjoyed doing it to his former disciple from time to time, especially since X was rather naive when it came to understanding body language and the hints it inflicts.
"I see... well, I hope you know that I appreciate all the work you and Zero do as well. Good night." Alia replied with the same lovely smile from before. "Good night." X replied and watched the female reploid take her leave while Zero moved back next to X.
"This situation seems familiar." The blonde hunter commented as both him and X watched Alia's figure fade into the other end of the hallway. X raised his brow and gave his comrade a questioning look but didn't open his mouth to ask him about this particular remark. Instead he turned towards the window and stared at his own reflection against the glass, opening his mouth to give out a quiet sigh.
The next two weeks Alia spent pondering her feelings toward the blue maverick hunter. She felt extremely stuck with her situation since she wasn't sure if approaching him about her feelings was the right thing to do. She felt extremely selfish for feeling the way she did since X was one of the most high-ranking hunters in the organization and definitely didn't have time for common human activities such as dating. Although X was one of her closest friends, she couldn't help but feel like she was out of her place crushing on him. Not because she was only a navigator but because she was HIS navigator. A romantic relationship between co workers couldn't end well.
Alia brushed her hand lightly through the keyboard and leaned against the table, moving her thoughtful gaze from the computer screen to the ceiling of the navigating room. It had been another day full of work and Alia was in need of a break before the next mission she would be destined to assist. As she exited the room she was greeted by a couple of rookie navigators who passed her and she gave them a small nod with a smile in return.
She moved to a peaceful lounge area in the navigation wing and sat by an empty table, spreading out the data material she had carried with her. Alia didn't mind working in the same room every day but she also enjoyed doing work somewhere more peaceful since the navigation room was mostly filled with beeping sounds and multiple reploids speaking at once. She was able to focus much better while alone.
Alia went through a list of names and pictures of reploids, writing up a few names at times. Signas had assigned her a task of selecting new navigators to assist her after a couple of her assistants had retired from their work. Alia was one of the most important navigators since she worked directly with X and Zero so anyone who got a chance to work with her treated the chance with respect and admiration. However, Alia knew very well that some of the trainees used these chances as stepladders to receive even better work opportunities. Many of the rookie navigators were more interested in having conversations with X and Zero rather than learning from Alia how to become professional navigators for S rank maverick hunters. Nonetheless, she couldn't blame them for their enthusiasm as she was also attracted to a particular blue hunter.
The blonde navigator sighed and tapped her finger against the table, not paying attention to her surroundings. She was so deep into her own thoughts she didn't notice the certain infatuation of hers nearing her table. The other few navigators sitting nearby were curious and their eyes were drilled in X as he was a rare sight in the navigating wing.
"Ah, found you. Do you have a moment, Alia?" X asked without hesitation with his usual cheerful but polite tone, not noticing that Alia's mind was currently drifting through different galaxies. It wasn't not until she felt his soft touch on her shoulder that she came back to her senses. X rested his hand on her shoulder and sat before her, giving her a concerned look.
"You okay, Alia?" He asked and Alia could feel her face paint by soft pink as she registered him being there. "Ah, yes... I'm fine. Sorry about that, it's been a rough morning." She chuckled, trying her best not to break eye contact from X's kind emerald-shining eyes. For some reason Alia felt even flustered as he brought out genuine concern for her well-being. "Would you want me to take you to your capsule?" He continued with his concerned questions.
"No, it's quite alright. How can I help you, X? Did you need anything?" She asked after gaining back her confidence and fixing her posture.
"Not really, particularly no. I just have something to discuss about regarding the selection of new navigator trainees." The original reploid replied and stood up from the table, gazing around him with an amused yet nervous look on his face. "I guess we could do it somewhere more... private." He chuckled and Alia took a look around her surrounding. Everyone's eyes were more or less focused on the two.
"Sure thing. Is my office enough?" She asked, picking up her materials from the table, smiling slightly.
"Quite enough." X replied and gave her a smile in return before following her.
On the way to her office, X couldn't help but notice how Alia brushed her hair softly off her shoulder as she walked before him. To think about it, she used to wear her hair up before but as of recently she started having it down. Although X didn't know much about style unlike Zero who was known for being the more showy one of the hunter duo, X realized he preferred this look on Alia. It made her look more relaxed and youthful which reminded him that Alia could be really enjoyable company to spend time with during his rare free time.
"We are here... please." Alia said and held the door open for him as they reached the small office. It wasn't particularly owned by Alia but it was in use of all the more highly valued navigators such as her. The office resembled any office which is in very little use, tidied up with only a few documents resting on the shelves. The office was generally known for having belonged to X and Zero's former navigator, Iris, who unfortunately had passed.
X walked in the room slowly and gazed around him curiously, scanning through the room with his eyes and paying attention to every small detail. Alia placed her materials on the desk before turning back to him. "So, about the rookie navigators. What was it that you wanted to discuss?" She asked as she kept her eyes on his figure which was standing further from her. X returned his gaze from its exciting trip back on her, giving her another small smile.
"I was requested to assist you in the selection. Zero had contacted Signas and stated him it's better if we participate in the selection. The trainees will be working with us as well." He said, sounding a little enthusiastic. Alia gave him a look of surprise.
"Are you sure? You have been very busy lately... and I heard today is your day off." She said, folding her arms. it was true, it was quite rare for X having any days off but today was one of those exceptional days.
"Don't worry about it. Let me help." He said and moved next to her, looking at the material she had placed on the table. "This is the list, right?" He asked and Alia nodded, still having a worried expression on her face.
If there was one thing she knew very well of Mega Man X, it was that he was persistent, was it viewed as a good feature or not. His determination was so strong it was useless trying to talk him out of something when he had already made up his mind. Maybe that was exactly one of the reasons why Alia had let herself fall for him. She watched him going through the list and chuckled softly, smiling as she admired the sight.
The day was starting to come to its end and the HQ had quieted down. Most reploids had already returned to their capsules for recharging. Alia and X were slowly starting to wrap up the work since they were both confident with the list of the navigator trainees they had selected together for unit 17. Alia looked relieved as she gazed down the list laying on the table. X was looking at Alia with a gentle smile playing on his lips.
"Thank you for the help today, X. It would have taken me much longer if I had done it alone. I appreciate your effort." She said and gathered her materials from the table. "I'm certain Signas will be pleased with the decisions we came up with."
"I'm glad I was able to help." X replied, standing up straight and looking at the door briefly. "I promised to meet up with Zero before I head for charging. It's getting fairly late." He said and moved his gaze to the ground.
"I get it. I won't be holding you here any longer. You already helped me a lot more than needed." She said with smile, crossing her own fingers slightly. She would be lying to herself if she said she didn't feel a little downhearted she had to part ways with him, especially since she felt like they had bonded some more today. She enjoyed his company as he enjoyed hers. X felt odd as fell, not quite sure why his artificial heart felt heavy.
"I will take my leave then, see-" X began but was suddenly interrupted with Alia's voice.
"X. One thing before you go, if you don't mind." She said shyly, staring at her feet. X turned back to her with an awaiting look, resting his eyes on her figure.
"I would like to discuss something else with you later. Come find me whenever you are free again." She said with a tiny smile and raised her head to look at him. X opened his mouth but closed it before giving out a light chuckle.
"Anything it might be, you know I will always try my best to help out my friends." He replied.
"Thanks X, good night."
"Good night. See you soon, Alia."
This was the day - this was the moment she wouldn't be able to back away from facing her own feelings towards X. She had received a direct message from him yesterday stating that he was free to listen to her request later today. Alia had invited him to her office and she was currently waiting by the window, gazing through it down the big hall which served as a public entrance for the headquarters of the Maverick hunters. Her hands were tied together and she could feel how her body was responding to the tension by small malfunctions such as trembling and heating up. Alia was quite sure that those were described to be common features for a human but she didn't know a reploid was able to feel in such a way. But Alia herself was a living example of it happening here right now.
Moments later she could feel knocking on the door and she went to open the door, knowing well that it would be no other than X. The blue hunter's face lit up once he saw her and she welcomed him inside.
"It's great to see you again, Alia." He stated and moved further into the room. "Likewise." Alia answered with a smile and walked to the desk, letting her other hand rest against it as she was trying to gather courage to speak honestly to him.
X was looking at her and he decided not to question, realizing that she was trying to come up with something to say. Judging by her expression, it seemed it was something much more serious than he had expected. He let his arms land on his sides as he waited quietly yet patiently for her to speak.
"X, did Dr. Cain ever talk to you about other features reploids possess?" She asked quietly, turning her gaze to the window. X raised his brow, letting his weight focus from one leg to another. "What do you mean by other features?"
"I have felt a little odd lately. No, I think odd is an incorrect expression. I have had to fight against my own feelings?" She said, keeping her gaze by the window. X grew instantly worried, taking a step forward and raising his hand.
"Are you sure you are feeling fine? It seems this is something you should get checked." He said, feeling genuinely worried for his friend as he had trouble understanding what she meant as well. Alia's hand grew heavy and she dropped it slowly to her side as she positioned herself facing him. "There's no need for that. I'm quite sure what it means." She replied with a tiny smile yet her brows were tightly knitted against each other. X was opening his mouth but he didn't seem to understand where she was getting with this. His worry grew larger every second.
"Mega Man X, I believe I have fallen in love with you." She simply stated while looking straight into his eyes.
The room fell silent as the two reploids kept staring at each other, trying to process what she had just confessed for the first time aloud. Alia kept quiet since she felt instantly quite bad by the confession. She was worried she had not formed the confession quite right and there was a chance X could misunderstand.
"You love me?" He repeated and his gaze fell to his arm which he had raised minutes ago. Alia had no experience of love if you don't include her past with Gate whom she felt intrigued towards. But it was certain that the elite hunter had even less experience of processing these so called human feelings. Of course he had silently watched and supported his best friend Zero falling in love with Iris in the past but he would have never guessed that he would personally receive a love confession, yet alone from someone like Alia.
X didn't even know what love was supposed to feel like. He cared deeply for his friends but that's the most intimate feeling he had ever felt. Yet even he had become very attracted to Alia as of late and he couldn't explain it. He wanted to spend more time with her. Was this the love she was talking about?
"But if you love me, how can you tell? A-are you sure?" He asked with a quiet tone, feeling confused by his own feelings as he could feel his cheeks grow pink the more he processed her confession for him.
"Although I am not human, it doesn't take much to realize this is how I feel. I keep questioning it every day but that's even more reason to judge it's love." She said softly and raised a hand and hugged it against her chest. X raised his head slowly to take a better look of her as she tried to come up with something to say.
"I... I don't know what to say. This is all very new to me. What am I supposed to do in a situation such as this?" He questioned mainly by himself which received a soft chuckle by the blushing navigator. "What I know, usually the one who confesses receives an answer." She said with a tiny smile on her pink lips. She was feeling extremely uneasy despite her peaceful presence, most probably fearing a complete rejection from him.
X looked at her with his mouth opened, his look growing very serious after a moment had passed. "I have felt different way about you for a while. My body feels heavy whenever I am away from you and I'm filled with constant worry, however, when I am finally with you again I feel so light and cheerful." He stated and touched his chest with his hand in a similar way to Alia. "So this is... love." continued and opened his fist to look at his palm. "Why does it make me feel so uneasy yet so happy to hear you feel that way about me." He asked quietly before looking at her once again.
"It makes me happy to know you feel similar way about me as well. Thank you, X." She smiled, her brows in a bittersweet frown as she watched him. "I'm as new to this as you, believe me. But I know that together we can figure this out. We can learn together." The female navigator stated and tilted her head with a relieved sigh.
X sighed as well, chuckling by himself while gazing up the ceiling. "You really think so? Then I guess we can't help but try." He said with a pleased smile.
This was a night like no other for Alia and X. It was the beginning of their brightly blooming love which would make many turns during their life together as a couple. X and Alia decided to keep it a secret at first in order to not cause any unnecessary ruckus in the headquarters. Zero was the only one who X was allowed to tell and to his surprise Zero had known it all along. he was happy for his friend, feeling like that ever since he got together with Alia his life had lighten up.
"-excellent. Remember to shut down the computer once you are done. " Alia said to a male navigator trainee who was trying to figure out the function of the tools he was supposed to master once he would become a professional navigator. Alia brushed her fallen hair off her face as she exited the room. To her astoundment, X was right behind the door waiting for her with a big and welcoming smile.
Alia could feel her lips curl up in a gratified smile as she quickly greeted her new romantic partner. X escorted her to her room, wanting to spend a short moment with her alone before they would be parting ways once again. Alia leaned against the door frame as she gazed into her partner's sparkly green eyes.
X held his hand out politely for Alia and she took it, holding his hand lovingly in her own. The blue hunter watched his lover's smile with deep affection, raising his free hand to caress her light hair. Alia lived for moments like this when she was able to be truly herself around X. His caring and gentle personality was like medicine to her aching heart. And X felt the exact same way about her, feeling like she was fulfilling the darkness he held inside.
"X... I..." Alia breathed out as she leaned in to hug him. "You don't need to say it. I get it." He said gently and wrapped his arms around her body, letting her rest her head against his armored shoulder. X wanted her to know that he was there for her anytime she needed him close. He was reassuring her that he would do everything to make sure she was safe and sound. He was no longer fighting just to save both reploids and humanity, he was fighting to keep her safe. She had become a new source of affection and hope for him.