Aya: I'm studying for my final exams... really! I totally need a break from that. *_* I've got most of this chapter in my head, so I'm going to update it today ^_^
X: Your other "normal" fic is sooo not updated…
Aya: Ah ha ha! Writer's block.
Gate: *Tosses roses around* On with the show!
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Skew Universe
Chapter 4: Shuffle
"X…" Zero whispered, arms limp at his sides from the shock of seeing Copy gain the personality of his X. "How can this…"
"I don't know exactly how either, Z." X stroked Zero's hair. "Did you miss me?" Zero now had no doubt this was indeed his X. The only times X called him "Z" was when they were alone, and no one else knew about his nickname.
Is it possible this is really him? Zero thought to himself. Did Copy just turn into X?
"O-of course." Zero quickly wrapped his arms around X. "It's just… suddenly you're here." X pulled back and smiled at Zero.
"I love it when you blush." Gloved fingers traced Zero's features. "It brings out the glow in your eyes…" X craned his neck, his lips closing in on Zero's. "…and your lips…" Zero remained still, waiting for X to approach. A shiver ran through X before his green eyes closed, and he fell limply on top of Zero.
"X?" Zero nudged the Blue Hunter. "X?"
"What happened here?" Zero looked up and saw Gate. In the surprise of seeing X again, he hadn't realized Gate approaching. Of course! We're in the middle of a hallway! Zero scolded himself. He quickly got up, carrying the unconscious body of Copy in his arms.
"Copy collapsed again." Zero cleared his throat, but Gate didn't look as convinced has he hoped. The scientist raised an eyebrow, moved his glances from between X and Zero.
"…and you fell with him?" Gate asked. Zero shifted his eyes around slightly. "Well, maybe you should bring him into my lab again so I can look at him." Zero was relieved Gate did not pursue this further.
"That's not necessary." Zero turned and started to leave. "I'll just take him to his quarters. Why don't you check on him later when you've finished with your duties?"
"Of course, Commander." Gate looked hesitantly at X, then started walking back to his lab.
Zero looked at X, sleeping peacefully in his arms. Just moments ago I could see it in his eyes. Zero thought. The same domineering look X has sometimes. That was definitely not Copy. They reached the door marked as Commander X's quarters. Zero read the pass code and the doors opened to a large, comfortably decorated living room. Being the leader of the Hunters, X naturally had the largest quarters.
Zero looked around the room before entering. It had been almost six months since the last time he has been in here. Everything was clean, though, since people came in weekly to dust the place. Zero walked past the large couch and into the bedroom area of the quarters.
The Red Hunter pulled the bed sheets and gently set X on the bed. The smaller Hunter stirred a bit, half opening his eyes. "Zero..?" Zero smiled as he recognized Copy's tone. Zero covered X back up with the sheets, and had to resist the urge to join the blue hunter underneath.
"You're tired." Zero whispered. "I'll see you tomorrow morning. Rest up." X did not resist when the dreams overtook his sense once more, and Zero disappeared from his view.
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"Can you get me that file over there?" X heard the muffled voice of Gate as he woke up. Every muscle in his body cried "Misery" and when he tried to move, he realized he was paralyzed. Moreover, he was inside a stasis pod.
What's happening? X thought to himself, trying not to let the panic take over.
"…arugh…kk…" Was what came out of his mouth when he first tired to speak. "…help…" X finally managed to say.
"What was that?" Gate's voice was closer, clearer this time. X saw Gate's face enter his field of vision. "Commander X!" Gate looked at someone else across the room. "He's woken up again! Hurry, get the readings."
Woken up… again? X thought, but even that was starting to become difficult, as he felt darkness taking over again. At least the pain is starting to go away, too…
All his senses returned in crisp sensitivity. X sat up straight and looked around. He was no longer in the pod he was in earlier, but instead was in a room decorated in warm colors. Hesitantly, he got out of bed, unsure of what to do next. Might as well look around… X thought. Immediately the bookshelf with photos caught his eye. Inside glass frames were photos of Zero and the other X, smiling brightly at the camera. Something inside him ached as he thought about his Zero.
He left the photos and moved onto the living room, which was decorated in the same scheme. I should check the front door! It suddenly occurred to him. He rushed the front door, but an error tone was the only thing he was greeted with.
"Computer, open the door." X demanded.
"This set of doors has been locked with protocol 4908." The computer's voice replied pleasantly. "You do not have clearance to open this set of doors." X bit his lower lip, but brightened up when he thought of a plan.
"I'm Commander X, how could I not have clearance to open these doors?"
"X is no longer on active duty." The computer replied. "All powers pursuant to being leader of the Maverick Hunters have been passed onto the new Leader, Commander Zero." X stepped back from the doors. It was not likely he could break the doors down, without his armor or his X-Buster. He ran his hands through his hair in frustration.
X started walking towards the set of pictures decorating the living room. It was of the other X and Zero again, but this time, Zero's expression looked… more forced. He was still smiling, but something seems to be weighing him down. X had his arms wrapped around Zero, and one eye closed in a wink at the camera. He reached for the photo, wanting to get a closer look at it, but the surroundings melted away from him. A surprised gasp escaped X's mouth as arms wrapped around him tightly, pinning his arms by his sides.
"Hiya… Copy." X heard someone whisper in his ear.
"That voice… that's my voice…" X tried to wrestle out of the grip, but to no avail.
"I'd actually say that's my voice, but fair enough…. How's my little doppelganger doing?"
"You're the other X, inside the pod." X gulped. "What is this?"
"You don't know?" The other X sounded surprised, then laughed. "I guess you lost some of your memory… but you've at least figured out we're having dreams about each other's past, right?"
"We… are?" X stopped struggling to listen to the other X's explanation.
"Yes. According to your memories, Conan explained it all to you. It's one of the side effects of dimension travel."
"Dimension travel?!" X felt the arms loosen around him, and he took the opportunity to turn around, meeting his double, but not quite face to face. X had to look up to meet the gaze of his "twin." He was a clear foot and a half taller than him, but everything else about him, physically, was the same as X. The look in his eyes was completely alien to what X sees in a mirror, though. "I don't know any Conan."
"Conan is Dr. Hilbert's assistant." The other X stepped closer to X. "Did you forget that, too?"
"I don't know…" X stepped nervously backwards, but the other X pulled him back close.
"Another thing you must have realized by now is that we're taking over each others bodies…" The other X said cryptically as he ran one of his hands up X's back. "I got a chance to get close to Zero again… through you."
X looked horrified at the other X, while trying to remember when this could have happened and what they did together.
"Oh, don't worry." The other X leaned close to X. "I didn't do anything with your body. I wouldn't get that close to Zero with your body." X felt slightly relieved, but his reprieve was short lived, as the other X's face hovered dangerously close to X's. "You are my rival, after all."
"Ri..rival?" X tried to pull back, but was unsuccessful. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Can't you see the way Zero looks at you?" The other X turned his lip corners up. "He's smitten…" He leaned in and kissed X. At first, X was frozen by the shock of being kissed by… himself, but then confusion took over. This other X knew exactly how he wanted to be kissed, when to just rub lightly over his lips, and when to sweep his tongue over the roof of his mouth. X almost felt sad when the other X pulled away. He covered his mouth while looking at the other X with wide eyes.
What does he want? X thought.
"I will see you later, rival."
"Wait!" X shouted. "You haven't told me all you know about Dimension Travel!"
"X?" Gate's voice echoed around in the darkness. Suddenly he was back in the room again, with Gate standing in front of him, waving his hand in front of X's eyes. "X? You okay?"
"Yeah." X smiled weakly. "I'm fine."
"Zero asked me to check up on you… when I got here you were just… zoned out like that. Why don't you sit down by the couch?" X nodded, then walked over to sit down, with Gate following. Gate smiled at X. "You both are going to be the end of me."
"Both?" X blinked in surprise. "What do you mean by that?"
"You and Commander X. Before I came to see you, he woke up again, just for a moment." Gate took out some instruments from his bag.
X thought about his dream of waking up inside a pod.
"…we're taking over each others bodies…"
It's true what he said. X thought as Gate examined him. He's taking over my body… and I'm taking over his… He looked up at Gate. Gate doesn't seem to know…and for now I can't trust anyone. Not matter how nice of a room they put me in, I'm still a prisoner here, so I'd better just stay quiet.
And get out of here as fast as I can…
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Aya: How's that for some unexpected X/X action?!
X: Weird….
Gate: Sigh, when do I get my kawaii moment?
Zero: HEY! X! That's MY boyfriend!
X: Ano… but it's me…
Zero: And I don't appreciate you stealing you away from me!
Aya: *sweatdrop* Zero, you're just not making sense. Time for me to study for my finals again!