Another week rolled by, and Bit and Leena were getting closer by the day.  Leon and Naomi had taken up residence at the Blitz Team's base for the time being.  It was nice for Leena to have a girl around to talk to, and Brad wasn't about to complain about having his girlfriend nearby.

Bit hadn't kissed her since their little incident in the dining room so he decided to take Liger out for a run.

Liger Zero roared across the open countryside, and Bit sighed happily.  He missed piloting his zoid.

"Hey pal, sorry I've ignored you lately.  You know that Leena's been getting better though, but I still should've paid more attention to you."

Liger growled as if telling him that it understood.

"Thanks partner, now let's go!" Bit gunned the throttle, and the pair roared off into the distance.

Bit noticed that their were approaching a mountain range and decided to head back to the base.  When he tried to turn around, Liger kept running ahead.

"Liger, what are doing?  We need to get back!"

The zoid roared and continued heading towards the mountains.

"What's that?  You see something?" Bit questioned.  After a few minutes, they arrived.

"I don't see anything."

Liger Zero growled, and a bright flash of light made Bit close his eyes.

"What was that?"

Upon opening his eyes, the young man saw an entire side of the mountain had disappeared.  In its place looked to be a large stone entrance, and Liger headed into it.

"Whoa, hold it, partner!" Bit ordered trying to stop his zoid.

Liger continued deeper inside the rock face, and Bit was forced to sit back and wait for him to stop.  A second later, Liger did just that and skidded to a halt.

Bit turned on a few of his external lights and saw that they were in a large cavern.  A glint of something caught his eye, and he focused his scanners on that spot.  There was something carved into the wall; it was an engraving of Liger Zero!

"Ah, now I get it, Liger, you brought me here for this didn't you?" His zoid growled and nodded its head.

"Well then, let's see…" Bit turned up his lights, and the glinting got even brighter.

Looking below the carving, he saw a stone platform and upon that platform, were several zoid parts.  A closer examination proved that it was a set of zoid armor.

"Hmm, this must be some type of special armor for you, eh Liger?"

Bit scanned each of the parts, but they did not reveal very much.  The set of components were kind of a cross between the regular Zero armor and the Jager armor.  The parts were black, and some carried silver streaks along the sides.  The largest parts looked to be booster rockets similar to the ion thrusters on Jager, but Bit could not see any visible weapons.

"Well, we found it, and it is meant for you, Liger, so I guess we better take it home with us." Liger growled in agreement, and Bit began to load up the parts.

By the time he made it back to the Blitz Team's base, it was past midnight.  Bit took Liger inside the Hover Cargo and placed the new armor in one of the storage paddocks in the loading bay.  Returning outside, he parked Liger Zero in its repair dock and hopped out of the pilot seat.

"Bit Cloud!"

He turned to see Leena running up to him, and she looked pissed.

"Where have you been?"

"I took Liger out for a run; I said so before I left!"

"That was eight hours ago!" Leena screeched.  Bit smiled at the look on her face.  Her bottom lip was pushed out, and her eyes were glistening.  She'd been worried about him.

"Ah…" Bit sighed and walked up to her.  He cupped her chin in his hand and looked down at her.

"…Were you worried about me, Leena?" She turned away as her face flushed.

"Of course not!  Well…okay…maybe…a little…" Bit wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close.

"Why Leena…I'm touched," he said sarcastically.  She turned her head back towards him and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"I was talking about Liger Zero, you big dope!"

Now, it was Bit's turn to pout, and Liger let out a series of short growls, making it sound like it was laughing.

"Hey Liger, that wasn't funny!" Leena giggled at the fuming look on his face and gently stroked the back of his neck.

"Be quiet, Bit, I missed you too."

"That's more like it!" The smile came back to his face, and Leena smiled back at him.

"Do I need to ask?" Bit said softly.

"Not at all." Knowing what he meant, Leena closed her eyes and waited for him.

Bending down slightly, he brushed his lips across hers before covering her mouth in a long, sweet kiss.  His hands glided down her sides and settled on her hips.  A soft moan escaped her lips, and Bit moved to kiss her neck.

"Leena…" he sighed and moved to kiss her lips once again.

The two were lost in each other's arms, and Leena clutched the front of his shirt desperately.  She'd never felt like this before.  Her body felt like it was on fire, and her skin tingled anxiously.

'Oh Bit, I love the way you touch me.'

His hands didn't grope her like Harry had done.  His fingertips merely brushed across her body slowly tantalizing all that made her a woman.  Unconsciously, her right leg curled around his left thigh and drew him closer.  This pushed him between her legs, and his pelvis brushed up against her junction.  Leena let out a small grunt, and Bit immediately released her suddenly realizing what he'd done.

"Jeez, I'm sorry, Leena, I shouldn't have done that; I shouldn't have touched you like that!" His eyes were filled with guilt, and he waited for her to be upset with him.

Leena had been frightened when he'd parted her thighs, but it had actually felt good when he'd brushed against her center.  She'd groaned in pleasure not in pain.

"Bit, it's okay, I didn't mind; it wasn't painful," she assured him.

"But I heard you groan."

"Well…yes…I groaned because…because it felt good," Leena said softly and blushed.

"Are you sure?  Don't lie about it just to make me happy."

"Bit…" she said tenderly and stepped back into his arms, "…I don't mind if you touch me like that – just take it slow, okay?  I trust you; I know that you won't hurt me."

Liger suddenly growled, and Bit understood what he was trying to say.  The zoid had said one simple phrase, 'Tell her!'

"Leena, I love you."

She drew back in shock; she hadn't expected such a blatant admission from him.  His beautiful, green eyes told her how truthful he was, and her heart began pounding against her chest.  She'd always wondered what it would be like to hear a man tell her that, and to hear it from Bit Cloud, it was incredible!  Tears filled her eyes, and she folded her hands under her chin

"Bit…I love you too," she whispered.

"What did you just say?" The young man wanted to make sure he'd heard right!

"I said I love you too!" Leena said a little more firmly this time.  It felt good to say that to him; she was being honest.

Bit cupped her cheek in his hand, and she nuzzled his palm.

"Oh Leena…" His eyes glistened, and she stared at him in shock.  Bit was actually crying – because of her!

The pilot of Gun Sniper dove into his arms and buried her face into his chest.  Despite her eyes being moist, Leena didn't cry; actually, she started giggling.

"What's so funny?" Bit asked, looking down at her.

"It's just that…I can imagine what everyone's gonna say when they find out about us; they'll think we're both crazy!" He gave her a gentle hug.

"Nah, I doubt it; I have a feeling we've been giving out little hints lately – not to mention that kiss in the break room.  I even got a lecture from Leon and Doc because of that!"

"Oh really?" Leena gasped suddenly very interested, "And what did they say?"

"They were worried that you might be taken advantage of because you were vulnerable and needed someone right now.  They thought I was trying to seduce you because I was the closest to you since the 'incident'."

"I'm gonna kill those two!" Leena growled, while doing a slow burn.

"Cool down your afterburners, sweetie, I set the record straight.  I told them both that I'd never take advantage of you like that; I care about you too much."

"Hmmph, I'm still gonna yell at 'em; I'm a big girl; I can take care of myself!"

"Leena…don't even make me respond to that," Bit warned, and she could see what he was about to say.

"All right, I won't kill them, but they still should've given you the benefit of the doubt."

"They were just worried that's all; it's normal.  After all, Leon's your old brother, and Doc's your father.  They're the men in your life."

"Well…they'll have to take a number; I already have my man," Leena laughed and hugged him tightly.

"I'm flattered, Miss Tauros, that is quite an honor," Bit said sarcastically.

"Yes, it is, isn't it?" she replied with a wry grin.  The two started laughing until their sides hurt.

"C'mon, let's get some sleep, I'm bagged," Bit groaned.  He wrapped his arm around her waist and walked her to her room.

"Want to stay with me tonight?" Leena asked, leaning up against her door.  It wasn't a sexual invitation; she just wanted him to hold her.

"Not this time, all right?"

"I understand." And she really did!  She knew that Bit didn't want to keep babying her; he needed to leave her alone so she'd get her confidence back.

"Goodnight then."

Bit took one, long stride and wrapped her in his arms again.  He caught her mouth with a hungry kiss and left her gasping for air.

"I love you, my trigger-happy, little redhead!" His smile was coy but loving at the same time.  Leena smiled happily and kissed him again.

"And I love you, my arrogant, zoid pilot."

Too soon for both of them, Leena slipped out of his arms, and her door swished open.  She disappeared inside, and it closed with a soft hiss.

Bit took a deep breath to clear his senses; he couldn't keep the smile off his face.  Putting his hands behind his head, his whistled quietly as he headed down the hallway.