Disclaimer: I don't own Cyborg 009
Author's Note: All right, I'm pretty sure where I'm going with this story but I might have a little trouble actually writing it out . . . so I'm going to try as hard as I can to get this one out because I have two new ideas for 003/009 stories that I just can't wait to get out there so hopefully I can work this story out as fast as I can. I don't know if I like how this chapter came out. It might be a little OOC but oh well, enjoy.
"Acceleration Mode!" there was a zip and a gust of wind and he was gone, 003's hand fell limp with nothing there to hold it and as she turned to see where 009 had gone to, she felt firm arms around her, pulling her through the alley at an inhuman speed. She experienced great whiplash as 009 pulled out of acceleration mode, holding her back tightly against his chest. As she went to speak, her words were silenced by an enormous crash; metal scraping against metal, bright sparks from the friction. She looked on wordlessly, where about fifty yards away a large metal beam collided into the ground, a mix of metal and gravel spewing everywhere. Tilting her head upwards, she caught a glimpse at a gaping 009. Looking back again to what was almost her, she couldn't stop tears from rising in her eyes. Even against all she had been through, this still shocked her, it wasn't that she was actually scared as much as just . . . a little shaken up. 009 felt her sharp intakes of breath against his chest as she started to cry. He locked his arms around her and pulled her against him gently but swiftly. Her sobs became smaller just seconds later and she began to hiccup. Seeking comfort, she turned slowly in 009's arms and buried her head in his chest, calm encircling her at the smallest tough from him. Flattening his hands against her back, he felt like crying himself. Seeing 003 almost decked by a metal beam scared him as much as it had scared her. He couldn't even begin to imagine what he would have done if she had been hurt, or even killed. The thought of this just made him hold on to her tighter, as if he kept her in his arms, he could personally ensure no harm ever came to her.
Rubbing her back softly with one hand, he let his chin rest against her forehead, buried in her soft golden hair. Tilting his head down, he pressed his lips against her forehead lightly but tenderly, "It's all right now, you're safe," he whispered half to her and half to himself. He felt her choke down the last of her tears, sighing deeply and contently as her crying ceased and he sensed her body's tension release completely. For a second, he almost worried that she had passed out until he felt her small hand pull a little at his shirt before letting go again, sort of ensuring herself that he was really there before letting herself slip into slumber. Looking down at her, he saw her semi puffy eyes closed in content as she slept. He smiled softly at her innocence before gently lifting her off the ground and soaring into acceleration mode.
By the time they reached the professor's house, he was surprised that she was still asleep even though it only took them about a half a minute to get there with 009 in acceleration mode. Not wanting to bother small talk with the professor and Dr. Gilmore just yet, he zipped into 003's room before pulling out of acceleration mode. Walking slowly to the bed, he laid her down in it as gently as humanly possible. He was about to walk out, but something in him made him turn back to her, he knelt beside her bed. Without really thinking, he reached out to touch her hair, hesitating, he stopped in mid air. Getting up again, he scolded himself for acting without thinking. As he thought of it, he realized he had been doing a lot of that lately. He could hardly count all the occasions where he had gotten lost in the moment, not heeding the possible consequences of his actions – holding her hand, kissing her forehead, and several more; innocent, yes, but for how long? He had to stop this before things got out of hand. Turning, he saw her sleeping peacefully and his feelings of upset melted away. Kneeling by the bed once again he wondered how a cyborg was capable of such emotions. Despite his inner warnings, he let himself touch her hair, taking up the strands in his fingers and brushing them out of her entrancing emerald green eyes. The contact was so gentle and beautiful but he frowned thinking of how inside his fingers stroking her hair, was just wires and metal; metal like the beam in the alley, metal that nearly killed them both.
He sighed deeply and picked himself off the floor, making his way slowing to the door, as to not disturb her. Getting to the door, he went to reach to the door handle, hoping no one would see him coming from 003's room, but before he could leave, he was interrupted by a small, sleepy voice.
"009?" he grimaced slightly and turned to see her trying to sit up in bed. Her eyes were barely opened and still a little puffy from crying. Slowly, bits of emerald green peaked out from under her swollen lids. When she saw him, bits of realization floated into the sea of emerald, "Y-You," she started, sleep still present in her voice, "You saved my life."
Propping himself up against the door, he smiled, "What can I say? I owed you one."
Managing to pull herself from bed despite being as tired as humanly possible, she made her way slowly over to him, images flashing through her mind. If it weren't for him, she would be horribly injured right now, if not dead. She reached up and put her arms around his neck, swallowing hard as she looked up at him, "Well, it looks like I own you one now," she said, as she started to lean in towards him slowly. To his surprise, he found himself doing the same, that is, until they heard the creak of the door swinging open. They could both hardly bring themselves to look and 003 buried her red face deep in 009's chest, hiding her embarrassment. All she heard was 004's smooth and sarcastic voice questioning, "What is going on in here?"
To Be Continued . . .