Velvet Rain
Chapter Two: Just a Walk in the Park
By: Bibly

Rock smiled widely as he ran before Bass to the garden, his black hair rustling in the wind as he went. He looked up at the sky, admiring its light blue color and fluffy white clouds. It was such a beautiful day. The sun would begin to set soon, and Rock couldn't wait. He loved watching the sunset, and loved it even more when he was able to watch it while lying in Bass' tight embrace.

Something hard suddenly came in contact with Rock's body, and before he was able to stumble to the ground, a pair of strong arms wrapped around him, lifting his white t-shirt up slightly, and held him close. He looked up and smiled. Bass was holding him, his eyes staring down at him softly. "How'd you get here so fast?" Rock asked, snuggling up to Bass as he wrapped his arms around him as well.

"You're just slow," Bass stated with a chuckle.

"That's not nice!" Rock said sternly, glaring at him.

Bass smirked. "You're cute when you're angry, you know that?" Rock blushed as Bass kissed him softly, slowly. He closed his eyes, melting into the loving touch. How long has it been now? Three, maybe four weeks since we got together? Rock moaned slightly when he felt Bass' hands move up and down along his back. He slowly opened his mouth, allowing the taller bioroid's tongue the entrance it had been nagging for. It's been so wonderful… Almost like a dream…

Rock remained with his eyes closed even after Bass' lips had lifted off his own. He felt the gentle touch of Bass' hand upon his cheek and gazed up at him, staring into his red irises. He couldn't help but shudder. Even though they were on good terms and hadn't lifted a single finger in any attempt to hurt one another, Bass' eyes still brought back memories from the past. Memories that hurt to remember and think about. Why think about them? It's all in the past. This is the present; the future. We're together, and that's all that matters now. Our stupid quarrels are done with. "Bass…?"

"Hmm?"

"How about…," Rock giggled slightly, knowing what he was about to do would annoy him, "…we eat some grapes?"

Bass blinked then sighed in aggravation. "You know how to destroy a perfectly good moment, you know that?" A large smile was all he got in return. He couldn't help but smile back. "No matter." He licked Rock's cheek, then grinned. "I'll just get you later, is all."

"Bass!" Rock shouted in surprise.

"What? Why're you surprised?" Bass grinned, kissing him deeply for a moment and then pulling away. "You should know what I'm like by now. I won't let either of us go for more then a few days without some good ol' fashion lovin'!"

Rock sighed, slamming his forehead into Bass' chest.

~ * - - - - - - - - - - * ~

"Why did you slam your head into my chest in the first place? That DID hurt, you know!" Bass shouted as he rubbed his chest slightly.

"I didn't mean to SLAM it into your chest; I just wanted to rest my head there!" Rock answered. He picked a bunch of grapes from the vines that had grown over the fence that surrounded the garden and walked over to him. "I really didn't mean to hurt you!"

Bass smirked. "Yeah, well, it dun matter now. Doesn't hurt all that much now, anyway." He glanced at the grapes Rock held in his hand. "So, are those the grapes?"

"Yep yep." Rock ripped off a few and handed them to him. "But you gotta be careful when ya eat 'em. There're seeds inside of 'em. See, watch." Ripping one of the grapes off, he squeezed it slightly, waiting a bit until a small portion of the clear yellow round substance poked out of its purple skin. Putting all but the skin in his mouth, Rock forced the seeds out of the grape with his teeth and then spit them into his hand. "See? The grapes taste pretty nasty it you eat 'em with 'em."

Uh…so…these're grapes…, Bass thought as he eyed the five round objects that had been placed in his hand. Never had grapes before. Memories of his life in Wily's Skull Fortresses suddenly came to mind as he thought. He and all the other Robot Masters rarely ate actual food, not that they needed to anyway. Once in a while, they would sneak into the kitchen and take a couple of things that Wily had a lot of and would share amongst themselves. Well, almost share. They more or less had to fight over everything. Nonetheless, he had tasted only a few things in his lifetime, and grapes were defiantly not one of them.

Bass was brought back to reality by Rock's gentle voice. "Huh, what?"

"Aren't you gonna try one?" Rock asked, his large eyes peering up at him.

"…Of course, Blueberry," he replied. Hopefully these things taste better than them damn tanks. Gasping one of the grapes in his fingers, he did just as Rock had instructed. His eyes widened slowly as the sweet taste filled his mouth. "Wow…these ARE good!" He finished the other four quickly and smiled. "I think I could live off those things!"

Rock giggled as he handed Bass another bunch of grapes. "Well, here! Have some more!"

"Mucho gracias!" Bass grabbed them from him and began snacking away immediately.

A smile appeared on Rock's face as Bass ate. After a few moments, he asked, "How about we take a walk through the forest. I really don't feel like going back into the house or into the city."

Bass swallowed. "Sure!" Wrapping an arm around Rock's shoulder, Bass continued to snack, offering Rock some as he went along. He smirked as he hand-fed the older bioroid. He may have been older, but Bass tended to act more mature then he did. On the battlefield, however, the two acted very much alike.

…The battlefield…

Death.

No.

Rock's death.

No!

Rock's death is coming, and there's nothing you can do to stop it. You can't win, Bass.

You went away before, now STAY AWAY FOR GOOD!

That can't be done. I may have gone away before, but now I'm here to stay. That long period of silence was just to give you a sense of false security. I just waited until the time was right.

Damn it! Just stop it already!

Bass rubbed his temples, barring his teeth as a battle raged within his mind.

"Bass? Bass, what's wrong?" Rock stopped walking and peered up at him. "Are you okay?"

"…Nothing's wrong," Bass answered after a while. He glanced down at him and smiled. Sweat trickled down his brow as he stared at him, but he wiped away quickly with one of his fingers. "Just had an itch."

"On your forehead?"

"Yup."

"…Weird."

"Well, what'dya expect? Being weird is pretty damn fun!"

Rock gasped. "So you mean I love a weirdo?! Eep!" He began to run away from him. "I don't wanna spend my time with any weirdo!" he joked.

"Hey! I'm not just ANY weirdo!" Bass began to chase after him, his long violet hair blowing in the wind as he ran. He laughed as he jumped over tree stumps and ducked under low-hanging branches. Half of the things he had to duck under, Rock didn't even have to move. The two soon ended up in a large grassy field and, using the less bumpy surface to his advantage, Bass sped up and soon reached the little runaway. He latched onto him and the two tumbled to the ground. Rock landed on top of him, laughing happily as he rested his head on Bass' chest. Bass placed a finger under his chin and brought him up so that they could see eye-to-eye. He smiled. "I'm YOUR weirdo." He kissed him under the blood red sky as the sun settled behind the horizon, allowing the moon to shed its soft light upon the two lovers.