Trying this again.
How long had he been gone now? It was well into the night by now, Dr. Wily had already retired for the day...and the sun was down, moon's up, but he's just not back yet. Why? He wasn't assigned anything difficult today, and he doesn't usually take such a long time getting back, even if he enjoyed slacking off occasionally with that wolf. Treble was its name...I don't like him much, too loud when he's angry, too sugary whenever he's around me in particular for some reason. Even around that Light bot too, the one with a ponytail. I swear I've seen him roll on to his back for her!
...No enough about the wolf, we're talking about Forte here, or Bass as he prefers to be called. So far Dr. Wily's accepted that, but not me. He'll always be Forte, so long as the F in his power gem is there. Still gone, I should probably go look for him. I mean, it's not like he HAS to come back, but it would probably be really bad if he fought MegaMan without a proper recharge. E Cans aren't meant to be a main source of energy, yet he treats them as such. It's as if he's got a drinking problem, how does that even happen, a robot emulating alcoholism. Sheesh... just makes it all the more important I intervene.
I finish up dusting whatever needs dusting in this castle, the various busts of the doctor, the plaques designating which group of Wily numbers go where, the T.V. and it's stand in the living room nobody uses...well nobody aside from Bubble Man right now. He was watching some marine life documentary that he paused so I could get in all the nooks and crannies with my duster. I reciprocated by producing my rag from my pocket and giving the screen a spray of cleaner, wiping it carefully so he wouldn't have to deal with that inexplicable smudge getting in the way of all the visual details of a mudskipper fish's cave. For possibly the most ridiculed number here he's awfully nice.
"Recharging soon?" He asked me, resuming the program and leaning back further into the couch.
"Oh no, not yet. I'm going to go out and search for Forte. I'm worried about him." I responded, coming to the arm rest.
"Piano, I don't know how you can put up with him."
"Well. I don't know how you put up with everybody here." That was a little blunt actually, sorry Bub.
"When it's late nobody's up to bother me, and the Oil's cold, ice cold." He'd respond, half lidded eyes pointing over at me now.
"I hope you don't consider me a bother then." I lean in, loosely embracing his shoulders, pressing my lips to the side of his head. His eyes closed, and a hand came to gently caress my short hair, if I'll say it again, Bubble Man is awfully nice.
"Of course not, if anything you're one of the perks of being up late."
Oh if I had a heart I'm sure it'd be weak right now, but alas I'm just a cleaning robot after all. Soon I pull away, and he reached behind one of the throw pillows, yanking a coin purse out of the cushions. After I took it, I opened it up to see Zenny and...bolts, a few screws. I return a confused look.
"If you're going out to look for Bass, I imagine you're curious as to what exactly it is he's up to. Near Thomas Light's lab his assistant, Auto, runs a shop. I'm sure you're cute enough to make him talk, but if he doesn't budge try giving him some money. The only hint I'll give you is that it's a girl" He told me, soon turning his attention back to the T.V.
Since when does Bubble Man go that far outside? I know his legs don't work right, but he's fast underwater. Maybe I'll see a river or something nearby this Auto's shop. I've never really been that far out myself but I've got an idea as to where Dr. Light's lab is. After thanking him for the money, I head for the door, leaving my duster behind and stepping outside for the first time in a while.
It's cold outside, and I feel cold myself despite wearing a full dress and armor, the only skin showing on me is my face. As I step down the sidewalk I cup the ends of my hair gently, framing my face with lavender locks in an effort to warm up. I was right on my hunch, there was a park here in the city, one with an artifical pond. I gave a little scan and saw that the grates which water ran through were not only large but recently tampered with. So that was how Bubble Man seamlessly traveled here. I remembered what he told me, sure enough I found an odd sort of shack, and you could just barely see Light's lab off in the distance from where I stood. This must be the place, but I don't think any human would occupy such a shabby looking abode littered with boxes of loose parts and scrap metal. I could tell somebody was here despite the looks by the faint scratchy music coming from some sort of player within.
"Excuse me. Is this Auto's?" I called, balling my fist up to bang on the dingy roll down door.
The sound caused whoever it was on the other end to gasp, and then I heard a series of crashing noises. It was only until a few moments after did the door begin opening up. The robot on the other end was big, rotund, green. If you could call a robot fat, that was him. I assumed this was the Auto Bubble Man was talking about, so I straightened up. My voice was a delicate flower, and its petals were suddenly ripped off by this robot's tone.
"It's past closing hours, what do ya want?" He asked, one hand on his hip, the other hand not a hand, more like a tool.
"Well, uhm, are you Auto?" I squeaked out, finding it difficult to speak all of a sudden.
"Who's asking?"
I rub my throat with a knuckle, gulping down some air before looking up at those large red headlights for eyes he had.
"I'm...Piano. I'm looking for a robot named For-no, well, you probably might know them as Bass?"
At that Auto recoiled somewhat, looking down at me with more scrutiny, and I subconciously covered that stupid W on the navel of my dress. It was then that he'd cross his arms, only to gradually slouch in his stance.
"I'm not so sure I should help you. Ms. Roll did say not to say anything to anybody as well...oh...shoot..."
Ms. Roll? The Light Bot? DRN-002? What does she have to do with any of this, it's not like Forte would kidnap her at this kind of hour, right? Even if he's such a delinquent...right? Deciding not to deliberate further with my worries, I reach for the coin purse Bubble Man gave me, presenting a handful of screws to Auto, to which he gave one long, fretful look before taking.
"You didn't hear it from me, but Ms. Roll was the one who took Bass out this time, well, I guess this is the first time actually, the other times he sort of...just ambushed the doctor's lab...maybe he's humoring her." He explained, putting a hand to the back of his neck, or lack thereof.
I think back to what Bubble Man said, about how what Forte was distracted with was a girl...I really don't want to believe that just yet. Maybe he really is just playing along with Roll in order to infiltrate Dr. Light's lab.
"So, I should go to Light's lab then?" I asked, putting the purse away.
I received nothing in response, Auto simply let the door roll down again as he looked down at me with a worried expression you'd only pick up on if you were likewise a robot. Maybe he caught on to what the W on my navel meant and figured he'd said too much. Sometimes I wish I had a different dress to wear, but I'm still just a Wily number after all, and it's starting to seem like I need to remind Forte of that as well. Turning on my heel, I'd pace away from the shop, and start heading towards Dr. Light's lab. Whatever stupid date Roll dragged him out on should be over now, and they'd most likely be there anyway.
My footsteps grow silent as I approach the front door. Compared to Wily Castle, this lab is a lot more home like, a stark contrast. Much simpler too, that would make it easy to threaten the Lights considering I'm not seeing another door other than the front to kick. So, I raise my hand up, and the click of my Buster deploying is deafened by the sound of the lock on said door breaking as my boot impacts it. There I stand, aiming down at a couch with one old man sipping a mug of tea. He's not too startled, but his eyes do pop open and he briefly chokes. My eyes scan the room fast, fast enough to read the area before he can realize I'm here. Off to the right is MegaMan, that red mutt is dozing off at Dr. Light's feet, and I can see Roll with her hands coming to shield her eyes...from me? Gosh, what a compliment, I didn't know I could be as scary as my older brother. Where is he anyway? My answer would be delivered swiftly, and harshly at that. A hand clamped down upon my head, and an arm came to brace against my throat, hoisting me up off of my feet. It was tight, way too tight for comfort, it felt as if my neck was going to be crushed!
"Let...go.." I manage to groan, looking up at the one who usurped me, my brother. Forte.
"I don't remember you being assigned to handle anything outside of the castle, Piano." He'd return, effortlessly nullifying any jostle I gave with a quick shift of his arm.
It was starting to get cold again, and dark, Bubble Man was beginning to make a lot more sense now. How can I put up with this, this hurts so much! I start kicking my legs, my buster disengaging in order to join my other hand in trying to pry off his arm. It wasn't until I heard that blonde bot's voice that his grip was suddenly lighter. When I could finally see straight again, I was looking right at Roll's chest, everything else obscured from my sight, one of her hands had joined my own in prying Forte's arm. He'd huffed in disgust, and then I was suddenly on the floor. Something must have definitely broken in me by then, because I have no other idea why I'd start bawling into an enemy's bosom, dampening their dress as I whine about how much pain I was in...
I like Bubble Man a lot more actually now, he'd pet my head and tell me how much he appreciates me, not choke me out!
AN
So, I'm trying to write something again, something I'd be a lot more satisfied with. Don't get confused, this work is separate from my last concerning these two as a pairing, but if you've read it, then you should know who Piano is. but for those who don't, Piano was a scrapped side character from the Gigamix series created by Hitoshi Ariga. Like last time, I'm writing from her point of view since she was supposed to act as a narrator after all, and that'll stick for the rest of the work. If you've got any critiques or comments, please leave them in the reviews.