Chapter Four: In Which there is romance and stuff

(Author Notes: Okay, okay, okay. You guys win. chuckles As some of you may know, I haven't set upon this story in some time, due to a) changing interests, b) a busier schedule, and c) uncooperative muses. So for all of you who've been this patient, give yourselves hugs, pats on the pack, and gold stars. This is for you- apologies if I'm rusty.

And for the love of God, read my other stuff and leave reviews, especially if any of y'all are wrestling fans. I can't help it. I'm a feedback whore. =P)

"Higher, Bass! Go higher!"

Roll wraps her arms around Bass' neck a little tighter, her bell-like laugh rings out in delight as the Wilybot obliges her, dipping low only to rocket up to dizzying heights, making the little robot girl squeal in delight.

Bass laughs. "Well, now, somebody's a closet adrenaline junkie, ain't they? You're just diggin' the rush, little girl."

"Don't call me little girl." She pouts, beaming her unabashed Cute Rays upon the boy at full force. "I'm no more a little girl than you are a little boy." She tilts her head softly, her crystal blue eyes tracing the form and shape of his face. "Hey... I've never thought about that 'till now."

"Thought 'bout what?"

"Wily made you look older. Dr. Light, he made Rock and Blues and me look like 10 year old kids, but you... you look older than that. Fourteen or something, maybe."

"Hm. I never thought about that, either... heh, maybe Wily just thought it looked cool." He smirks. "Hey, I'm cooler than Rock anyway, why not look the part, too?"

"Hey! Cut that out!" Roll pouts again, some genuine irritation lacing it. "No insulting or threatening Rock, or you can just take me straight home!"

"I don't have to do anything. I'm the one flying, not you. For all you know, I can just dump you off at some point in the middle of nowhere and fly off, pointing and laughing while you try an' find your way home."

"You could do that." She smirks a little. "But you won't."

"What the hell makes you assume that, little girl?"

Roll shrugs. "You would've done it already."

Bass opens his mouth to holler out a rebuttal, but snaps it shut just as quickly, a sulky expression crossing his features. "...damn. You're too clever. Heh... I guess that means you trust me, then..."

"I guess it does. I wouldn't have anything to do with you if I didn't, silly."

He grins at her. "So I'm not a bastard anymore then, hm?"

"Oh, you're a rat bastard. Just not to me. I don't know why that is, but I'm glad."

"I'm glad you're glad, and I'm also glad that you've loosened up enough to actually use something as horribly sinful, awful, and wretched as a curse word." He laughs as she lifts a little fist to playfully cuff him in the cheek. "Okay, so you trust me. We've confirmed that, right?"

"Right. Why?"

"'Cuz I'm gonna ask you to trust me right now. Close your eyes and don't open 'em till I say, alright? Promise? 'Cuz if you so much as peek, I'm gonna drop you."

"Gosh, you're a romantic, Wily-boy. Alright..." She closes her eyes. He smiles devilishly and jets forward as fast as he can.

She squeals in excitement, but doesn't peek as the night wind rushes through her hair, rustling the sleeves and skirt of her yellow nightgown, the speed making her giddy even though she can't see the ground whooshing below them, until she feels them slow down, and descend, and feels herself being lowered onto cool, soft grass, leaned back against something cool, hard, and rough.

"Okay... open your eyes right nnnnnnnnooooooooooooo... w."

She slides her eyes open and gasps.

She's on a very high hill, leaning against a big oak tree at the top. Their town is spread out before them like a little miniature model set, lit by street lamps. The forest looks like a thick green carpet from here- there is Skull Castle at one side, foreboding and surrounded by fencing and what rumor has as a mine field. On the other side, there is her own cozy house with its grassy backyard and doghouse for Rush.

A few clanks and hissing of pistons later, and Bass is sitting beside her, and Treble is sitting beside him, stretching out his massive paws after being worn as armor for so long. Bass grins impishly at her, showing his slight fangs.

"Whaddya think? Nice view, huh?"

"It's wonderful, just wonderful... everything looks so cute and peaceful from up here... I'll bet it even looks this nice during the day when everybody's bustling around."

"Cute and peaceful? So you're saying the view looks like you."

There's no teasing edge in the delinquent bot's voice this time. Only firm earnestness. It makes Roll blush, and there's a moment of heavy silence before Roll slides away from the tree trunk, flopping back onto the grass to stare at the sky. "Look at this..."

He copies her, looking up. "Look at what?"

"The sky, silly. All those stars... they're all so pretty. I love looking at them... they always twinkle like pretty diamonds or little silver candles..."

"Yeah..." Bass rolls over onto his side, propping his chin in his hand. "...maybe I'll get you one."

"You'll get me a star." She sounds both charmed and skeptical.

"Yeah, I'll steal one. Hey, I've stolen one of just about everything else, right? I can have Wily build me a rocket, or give Treble's jets an upgrade. I'll fly up there and pluck a star right out of the sky, and nobody'll be the wiser. Then I'll bring it to ya."

"Okay, and then what? What'm I gonna do with it, if you've got all this planned out?" She rolls over to face him, smiling, eyes glimmering with interest.

"I'll... I'll hand it to you. You'll hold it for a while. It'll be all warm and sparkling, so pretty it'll make you cry, and the tears'll glow like little moon puddles. And then..."

"...and then?"

"...then... then I'll take it back and crush it. I'll crush it up in my hands, 'till I've got a big handful of star-dust. I'll reach up and sprinkle it all over you, and you'll shimmer... your hair, your face... your dress and your shoes and even that green ribbon you always tie your hair up with, all of you'll shine. You'll be a star. And then maybe..."

Roll dosen't speak... she waits for him to finish. She's holding her breath. He's trembling a little, and when he speaks, it's almost in a rough, sheepish whisper.

"...then, maybe, everybody'll see you as beautiful as I see you all the time."

She gasps. "Oh... Bass..."

He doesn't talk anymore. He scoots closer and presses his lips against hers, and she leans into it. They kiss, and the moon and stars glow and shimmer above in witness. Treble whufs softly and slinks behind the tree, not really wanting to observe this display of 'straight-up mush'.

They part, breathing synchronized, both trembling and wearing that expression of shock and ecstasy that most people wear after getting their first kiss.

"Oh, man. Oh... man." Bass's expression breaks into a grin, then a laugh. Then she laughs, and they both laugh, and kiss each other again, and laugh some more.

"Boy, if our respective crews could see us now... if they knew... oh, hell, wouldn't they just go nucking futs? I mean, seriously... wouldn't they just flip?" He laughs again, and she laughs again...

"Yeah, wouldn't they now?" Says the stern, angry-sounding voice from up in the tree.