Aya:  Now every chapter I write I'll compare with chapter 6… sigh.  Well, Gate finally gets some action!  Hee heee. 

Gate: Woo hoo!  What are we waiting for?!

Skew Universe

Chapter 7: Becoming

While X was busy catching his breath, the other X rested his head against the smaller Reploid's stomach, feeling the rise and fall with each breath he took.  His counterpart's gaze was cool and collected, if somewhat amused, while X fidgeted uncomfortably; nervous not at being trapped or his proximity to the other X, but at the fact that the other's touch felt hot and inviting. 

"I wonder if Zero would join us."  The other X said playfully as he walked two fingers up the smaller Reploid's arm.  Zero's name reminded X of something important, and he tried to sit back up.   His counterpart's hand was faster, though, and pressed him firmly back down against the bed.  "Going somewhere?" 

"I have to tell you."  X looked seriously at the other, trying to keep his mind off the other's hand playing with his collar.  "Zero…he was the one who shot you."  The other X tilted his head, slightly curious, then smiled and shook his head.  This reaction was not the one X expected at all.

"I know he shot me."  The other X pressed his forehead against X's chest, while his arms wrapped around the smaller Reploid's body.  "He has his reasons."

"What?  But… does he realize you know about this?" 

"It doesn't matter.  Now that I'm alive again, Zero and I can be together." 

"X?!  Copy?!"  Zero's voice sent a shudder through X's body.  The Red Hunter stood at the doorway to the room, gaping at the two blue Hunters entangled on his own bed.  X opened his mouth to say something, but failed to find words to explain what's going on.  "X… you're…  Copy?..."

"Hi Z!"  The other X said cheerfully.  "Hop in!"  Zero stood in place for another second before collapsing to the ground.  "Oh!"  The other X got off the bed and rushed to Zero's side, allowing X to sit up to get a better look.  "I think he got a little too excited."  The other X flashed a smile.  "Scoot over."  X did as he was told as his counterpart carried Zero to the bed.  "He should be fine in a little bit.  Why don't you keep an eye on him while I go take care of some business?"

 "What?"  X received a kiss on his head before the other started to leave.  "You can't just leave him here!  Wait!"  The other X waved before leaving the room.  X slumped back against the headboard, crossing his arms in frustration.  He glanced over at Zero, who now looked quite peaceful asleep on the bed.  "I can't live like this…"  X told himself before trying to undo the shackles attached to his ankles.  "If he can take off the ones on the wrists that easily…then these shouldn't be a problem either…there's got to be some kind of switch"  Occupied with unlocking the shackles, X did not notice Zero's arms reaching for him until they pulled him against the Red Hunter's chest.  Looking over to Zero's face, he found out that Zero was still asleep.

"X…"  Zero said softly while his hands wrapped around X's arm and chest.  X spent an uncomfortable moment in Zero's arms, wondering if he should try to move.  "I missed…you…X…"  X sighed and closed his eyes.  He was going to be here for awhile.

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"Commander!"  Gate rushed towards the doorway as the other X arrived back at Gate's lab.  He took a second to confirm the commander's height before saying anything else.  "You're up!  Please, let me do a check on you."  The leader of the Maverick Hunters looked over to the pod he climbed out of an hour ago, and saw who he recognized, from his dreams, to be Conan.  He nodded to Gate and hoisted himself atop a nearby work table.  As Gate began scanning him using the machine, the other X called out to the young man.

"Conan, right?"   The leader waved his hand in the air, beckoning the young assistant to come over.  "You are from the same universe as my…counterpart." 

"You're right."  Conan nodded, walking closer to the leader of the Maverick Hunters.  "I need to take him back to my universe; you two are probably having an effect on each other."

"I should thank him and you for bringing me out of my coma."  X extended his hand.  "Now I can fight Sigma again with the other Hunters."  Conan took X's hand and shook it.

"Glad to hear that, Commander.  Gate told me that the X from my universe has gone missing… maybe you can tell me where he might be."

"Oh?"  X raised an eyebrow.  "What makes you think I have any idea where he is?  After all, I just woke up."

"You seem to have already experienced shared memory with the X from my Universe."  Conan leaned against a counter across from where X sat.  "Since you know my name, where I came from, and the nature of X and my arrival.  Maybe you've seen his recent memories.  Where he is, say, yesterday… maybe an hour ago."

"I have seen memories of your X."  He closed his eyes, thinking back to something.  Meanwhile, Gate set down his instruments and studied his commanding officer.  "Nothing I think that is recent, though."  He opened his green eyes and shrugged.  "I'm sorry I can't help."

"That's alright."  Conan sighed and crossed his arms in front of him.  "Can I ask for your help in finding him, though?  Even though so far his being here has helped you, the longer he stays here, the more things might go wrong…"

"Of course, you have mine and the Hunter's full cooperation.  I'll do what I can."  X glanced over at Gate, who was lost in thought.  When he realized his commander was looking at him, he snapped to attention.  "Gate, why don't you help Conan, since you two already know each other.  Inform me if you need anything from me." 

"Yes, commander."  Gate nodded.  "I have completed the scans, and you are in excellent shape.  All systems are functioning at satisfactory parameters."

"Excellent."  X smiled and hopped off the table.  "If you'll excuse me, I have to call a meeting with the other leaders.  Good luck in your search, gentlemen."  The two waited until X was out of the room before speaking to each other.

"Do you suppose what he said is true?"  Conan looked over to Gate.  "He seems awfully calm for someone with a doppelganger running around."

"I think he's lying, too."  Gate set some equipment away as he spoke.  "He must have cleaned off the note I told you about, on the capsule.  But we can't go around accusing him of anything, even if we do have something concrete to go on.  After all, he is the leader of the Maverick Hunters, and has friends in a lot of places."

"So we're on our own."  Conan asked.  His answer was a slow nod from Gate. "I would think you should be able to give your commanding officer the benefit of the doubt, if circumstances were normal… so what did he do to you?"

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X sighed again, recognizing the stage, the curtains, and the seat he sat on.  Another production was beginning on stage, this time inside someone's quarters.  Gate walked out from the bedroom doorway and headed to opening his front door.  X recognized his counterpart standing at the doorway, looking very depressed.  His frame was slumped forwards, and he looked down at the ground.

"Commander X, are you alright?"  Gate bent slightly to meet X's downward gaze.  "What's wrong?"

"Can I come in?"  X looked sadly at Gate, who hesitated for a moment, but ultimately showed X to the sofa.  "Thanks."  The blue Hunter sat on the couch curled up tightly. 

"Can I get you anything, Commander?"

"No, thank you."  X did not look up.  "We're off duty, so please, call me X."

"Of course, X."  Gate was unaccustomed to calling him by this name, but decided to do as he was told anyway.  He sat down next to X.  "Are you alright?"

"I think so…"  X trailed off, eyes still trained on the floor.  "Can you get me a warm towel?"  Gate nodded and headed towards the bedroom.  As the scientist disappeared through the doorway, X got up from the couch, paused, then followed Gate into the bedroom.

"Commander!"  Gate blurted out when he saw X standing in the doorway.  The blue Hunter closed the distance between the two of them.  "Here's… um… the towel you asked for."  X reached for the towel in Gate's hand and dabbed his eyes with them.

"Thank you."  X said softly.  "And please…"  Slowly his left arm wrapped around Gate's body and drew him closer.  "Call me X…"  Gate froze, which gave X the opportunity to walk the two of them to the bed.  When Gate finally got a hold of his wits, he was sitting on the bed, with X's arms wrapped securely around his body.

"Comm… what…"  Gate muttered.  Instead of answering, X brushed Gate's lips with his fingers, silencing Gate's questions.  X smiled and removed Gate's lab coat, tossing it aside. 

"I've seen the way you look at me."  X shifted his weight towards Gate, sending both of them onto the bed.  "I know you want this as much as I do."  He looked expectedly at Gate, who returned a nervous stare.  The scientist looked away, but nodded.  Satisfied with the answer, X kissed Gate hungrily while his hands searched for the latches to Gate's armor.  Gate took a deep breath when X's lips left his.  The air moving across his lips only heightened the euphoria from X's luscious caress.  He gazed longingly at X's lips, silently pleading for more.  Whimpers escaped his lips when X teasingly kissed Gate's cheek, then his neck.  Thoroughly satisfied by Gate's pleas, X returned his lips to Gate's, this time kissing slow and deliberately.  His body tensed as X's hands roamed over his bodysuit.  Partially over his surprise, Gate started to remove X's armor as well. 

X stopped Gate when the two were down to their bodysuits, his hand pressing lightly on Gate's lips as he sat up.  His hand moved from Gate's lips over to his neck.  X rubbed Gate's neck lightly with his thumb, fascinated by the prone position Gate was in, and at the soft, warm skin on Gate's neck. 

"Will you be mine, Gate?"  X asked, shifting his gaze from Gate's neck to his eyes.  Gate's half open eyes, lost in X's gaze, conveyed the answer, but he nodded anyway.  He pawed affectionately at X's chest, hoping for X to continue.  "Good."  X returned his gaze to Gate's neck, still running his thumb gently along the bend.  Gate gasped when X's fingers left his neck, disappointment clouded his eyes.  X did not keep him waiting for long, though.  He scooped Gate up and rested Gate's head on his shoulders.  As he rubbed the back of Gate's neck, his other hand unzipped Gate's bodysuit.

"Ah!"  X's eyes snapped open when he felt his suit being unzipped from the back.  Quickly rolling around, he saw Zero cold eyes locked directly on him.  X shrunk back, trying to get away from Zero, but the Red Hunter clamped a hand over the leash leading to X's neck and jerked, hard.  He was pulled violently back towards Zero.  His eyes flashed around the room, confirming that he and Zero were still alone.  "Zero… what are you doing?"

"Why were you with X?"  Zero's fury was undeniable.  "He finally wakes up and I find you with him, in bed?!"

"Zero, please…"  X pushed Zero away, but the Red Hunter responded by jerking the leash harder than before, choking the Blue Hunter and sending him into a coughing fit.  He wrapped his hands around the collar, trying to breathe better.  Zero got up and grabbed the collar of X's shirt with both hands.

"How dare you try to steal X from me!"  Zero shouted as he shoved X repeatedly against the headboard.  "He's mine!" 

"Zero…"  X's face scrunched up as his head hit the headboard again.  His hands grasped Zero's, hoping to pry them off.   "Please… stop…"  He could hear and feel the metal headboard being dented from the blows.  My head is probably not doing any better…  "Ah!"  He felt something wet trickle down his back, and the room swayed left, then right, in a casual manner.  His hands slid off from Zero's as the Red Reploid continued to attack X.  Darkness nibbled at his vision, and the pain of hitting the headboard faded as well.  Zero finally noticed X body had gone limp, and stopped his attack.  He dropped X back on the bed and looked wide-eyed at the blood soaking through the sheets. 

"Oh god…"  Zero clamped a hand over his mouth, muffling a horrified cry escaping his mouth.  "Copy?... COPY?!"

"Did you break him already?"  The taller X shook his head as he entered the room. "Zero…."  When the other X was beside the bed, Zero immediately wrapped his arms around him, sobbing furiously into the other X's chest.  "Don't worry, I'll fix him.  Just try not to do that again, okay?"

"I…"  Zero braved a glace at X, but his stomach knotted up when he realized what he had done.  "I.. thought he took you away from me."

"No, Zero, no."  The other X lifted Zero's chin up.  "No one will ever take me away from you.  I'm sorry I made you feel that way.  But you know…"  He smirked, looking over at the unconscious body of X.  "Since technically he is also me, I don't see why we can't all be friends."  Zero nodded, then buried his head in the other X's chest again.  

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X stirred awake.  Momentarily, the room around him spun.  He closed his eyes and grasped the bed sheets around him, trying to anchor himself.  Finally the spinning stopped, and X opened his eyes.  Again, he was in bed, but alone this time.  The other X sat in a chair next to the bed, reading through some files. 

"X?"  He called out to the other X, catching his attention.  The other X set down the file and extended a hand to brush X's cheek.  "What happened?"

"I'm afraid Zero got out of hand, just a little."  The other X shook his head.  "He's usually not like this, but I'm sure it's just from the stress of everything that's happened this week." 

"Oh…"  X closed his eyes and let another wave of nausea pass.  This was not the first time he got a head injury, but he doesn't remember feeling this nauseous before.  "I feel sick…"  He grasped the other X's hand.  "Help me…"

"There, there, now."  The other X leaned in and kissed X on the forehead.  "It's just a program that will help speed up the process of healing.  Just hang on for a couple more minutes."  He squeezed X's hand supportively, along with sending a bright smile.  Over the next several minutes, X felt progressively worse, and tossed around in bed, writhing in agony.  The other X tried to hold X still, whispering promises that it will get better while patting him gently on the back.  Then X was still, the nausea and pain finally passed, as promised.  He panted, more worn out than he could remember ever being from the thrashing. 

The other X pulled the cover back over X.  "Just lie still for the next hour.  You made it through the worst of it.  I've already talked to Zero, and he feels just awful about what happened.  I'll stop by with him later, okay?"

"X?"  He asked the other X.  "Do you know anything about how I can get back?"

"No."  The other X answered without hesitation.  "I don't know about that."  X pulled the covers tighter against himself, suddenly feeling very alone.  The other X switched off the lights and headed for the bedroom door.

"Hey…" X called out again.  "What's going on between you and Gate?"   The other X did not answer, and turned to stare inquisitively at X.

"Nothing." 

"But I saw you and him… in my dream…"

"Maybe you like Gate?"   With that, he left X alone in the darkness.

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Mob Member 1: What the heck?!  You stopped the Gate scene right when they started to take it off?!  *bleep bleep bleep*

Mob Member 2:  Gate and X?!  What was wrong with X that he was so depressed?...and should I ever be depressed, can I get me a piece of "Gate Therapy"?  *drool*

Gate: Well, at least I'm not just for plot advance anymore.

Conan: But I am! *grrrr*

Aya:  All in good time, folks, everyone will get a happy scene… um… except you, Conan.  Original characters get no love cuz no one cares. Sorrie.