Ai is exceedingly bad at the whole being a villain thing, despite his best efforts. Whether it's because his sidekick/minion is small, adorable and thus none threatening or the fact Ai, himself has been doing charitable things around Den City. They're not quite sure, and they're not going to bring it up to him anymore since he refuses to admit it. Saves them a headache.

Since this is Ai, they're talking about. This starts with Yusaku, of course.

Yusaku for all his excellent attention to detail when it comes to dueling and hacking is bad at little things like paying attention to the weather. Or that's how he puts it. Takeru swears it's because he wanted to take a long brooding walk in the rain. He figures Ai has to have gotten his dramatics from somewhere!

Anyway! Back to their resident brood strolling around in the rain.

Yusaku's spent the last few hours since Takeru told him, he had been planning on going home wondering around the city aimlessly. First his partner declares war on humanity and then his best friend informs him, he's only staying in town to fight Ai. Yusaku would be able to deal with Takeru going back home if Ai had come back instead of initiating his crusade. Presently it feels like he's losing both Ai and Roboppi as while as Takeru.

While he's waiting for a random crosswalk signal to change, something stops the rain pelting down over his head. Yusaku glances over at whoever it is expecting it to be some stranger and in way he's right. He's only seen them threatening to take down Sol Tech.

There standing next to him is Ai's Soltis in all his over-the-top glory.

"Sheesh, Yusaku you're so bad at taking care of yourself. Can't you at least remember to pack an umbrella?!" Ai asks holding his cape over Yusaku's head.

"Ai?!" He demands and is meet with fabric being pulled over his head.

"Shush! Don't want to make a scene while we're outside do we?" Ai whispers as Yusaku tries to find his way out of the ridiculous piece of fabric."Now let's get you home and I'll make you some soup. Since Ai can do that now!"

Hearing Ai sound like his old self makes this situation feel even weirder. Why is he even here right now? Shouldn't he be off planning his attack on Zaizen or something?

"Yusaku you think too much. Now allow me get you home and we'll go from there alright," Ai offers giving him a minor push down the crosswalk.

"Fine," he agrees letting Ai escort him back towards their...his apartment.

"Good now if only you could stop glaring so much," Ai laughs and proceeds to whistle the rest of their walk back. He's either asleep and dreaming about this idiot or he's hallucinating. They're the only plausible explanations Yusaku could come with for Ai to be looming over him using that stupid cape of his to keep them dry. Hopefully, he didn't pass out in some random alleyway again...Aoi will have a field day if that's the case.

"Master!" Roboppi cries flying out the front door and landing on him with enough force to knock him back into Ai.

"Roboppi?" He asks hugging the smaller Soltis back. Even if it is a dream, it's nice to have them here with him again.

"See I told you master loves me more!" Roboppi says shifting his head up so he can extend his tongue out at Ai. With the idiot standing behind him. Yusaku can't see his reaction, but he knows Ai is making a weird face and sticking his tongue out too. The initial childish reaction doesn't stop Ai from reaching around him so he can hug Roboppi. Squishing Yusaku between the two of them.

Yeah, he's dreaming, but it's amiable to experience one like this for once.

"Let's get Yusaku here out of the rain," Ai says giving Roboppi and him a slight push towards the door.

Yusaku assumes Roboppi had been waiting for him and Ai to show up for awhile since their small apartment is a lot more sparkly than he left it that morning.

Unfortunately, he doesn't get to enjoy it once he sneezes. The two androids stare at him for a second before Ai hoists him up despite his protests.

"I'm not sick. It was just a sneeze!"

"See this what you get for being out in the rain like that!" Ai chides and then looks to Roboppi, "heat up some soup. I'm going to take Yusaku-chan upstairs and get him settled for the night."

"Let me go! I'm not sick," He tries but him sneezing again seals his fate for the rest of the night. Roboppi hastily gives Ai a salute and runs off while Ai takes Yusaku up to his room. He's not going to be able to get out of this.

"Aww don't look so glum Yusaku. We merely want to make sure you're healthy! A delicious meal and a good night's rest should achieve just that!"

"I thought you wanted to end humanity," he grumbles after Ai lets him go. Maybe his subconscious could come up with a decent reason for Ai to being following in Lightning's footsteps? Ai frowns at him then turns to pull the bed sheets back for him.

"Let's not talk about all that bad stuff tonight. We wanted to stop by and see how you were doing. Considering I encountered you out in the rain I would say we made the ideal choice!" Ai scolds gesturing for him to get into the bed.

"No. Ai what you're doing is serious! You can't go attacking Sol Tech and expect me to play along like it never happened!"Yusaku replies and Ai rolls his eyes before grasping his sleeve and lightly hurling him on the bed.

"And I don't want to get into that tonight so get comfy or I'll leave now."

"Big Bro are you manhandling Master?" Roboppi asks walking into the room.

"No."

"Yes!"

"Argh stop resisting me!" Ai shouts flinging the blanket this time. It lands right over Yusaku's head blocking out his vision for a second while he pulls it off. Somehow in the few seconds it took to get it off Roboppi crawled on the bed too. The smaller android tries to keep the bowl in his hands from spilling when the blanket flys by him. How is he supposed to deal with these two's antics?

"Careful Master you shouldn't waste perfectly hearty soup," Roboppi says handing him the bowl.

"Thank you," Yusaku replies before looking at the much taller, much less subtle AI trying to get on the bed too. It dips, and Ai gives him a sheepish glance when the bowl in his hand trembles before scooting over next to him.

What kind of dream includes him with a bowl of soup stuck between two ridiculous AI? The kind that ends with him ultimately eating the soup while Roboppi cuddles into his side and Ai rests his head on Yusaku's shoulder. He should be demanding them tell him why they were there and what they were plotting to do about Zaizen, but he wants to believe it's a dream. At least then he can indulge in the idea that his family is back together again even if it's not real.

Ai grabs the bowl from him once he's done and sets it on the table by the bed before snuggling up next him again.

Soon after Yusaku struggling to keep his eyes open decides to use the bigger android shoulder as his pillow. Ai makes a content sound and he falls asleep with Roboppi tucked into his side while Ai rests his head on top of Yusaku's. He woke up alone the next morning and found a large purple and black umbrella on his desk alongside a note.

Remember we love you our dear Yusaku-chan!

Love Ai & Roboppi '

P.S. You should check your fridge!

So Yusaku hadn't been dreaming then? They were genuinely here with him last night... and they stocked his fridge full of various kinds of soup while he slept. What the hell is going on? How did they appropriate that much soup? On second thought maybe he's better off not knowing.