Chapter Thirteen

Wily was furious when he found out that Guts Man, Cut Man, and Drill Man had somehow become damaged beyond repair. He was even more furious when he found out Protoman wouldn't help rebuild them.

"You're my possession, and you will do what I say," he had growled.

Proto had simply left the room.

A little while later, he made his decision.

#######

It was night. Rock knew that because the air outside was cold, and he felt no sunrays radiating down.

"Where are we going, Proto?" he asked as they sneaked out of Proto's room and to the garage.

"To a safer place," his brother answered, helping him onto the hoverbike. "Now hold on to me, okay? I don't want you falling off."

"Don't worry, I won't let go." Proto revved up the bike and took off. Soon the two were high in the sky, flying over the Badlands slowly.

"Rock," said Proto suddenly, breaking the silence, "Do you…like living in Skull Castle?"

"I've never lived anywhere else," answered Rock hesitantly. Proto was silent.

"But…not really," Rock admitted finally. "If you weren't there…"

His brother sighed. "That's the problem, Rock. I won't always be there. I'll try, but I won't."

"It's okay," said Rock reassuringly. "I don't care, really."

"I do. Rock, do you know why your arm transformed?"

"Um…no…"

"It's a defense mechanism, like mine. And…it's not supposed to hurt when you use it. Just like how your leg and arm aren't supposed to hurt. Just like how…you're not supposed to be blind."

"I still don't get this blind business," said Rock, shaking his head. "I don't understand."

"You…will."

The way his brother said it…

Rock blinked as they landed. "Where are we?" he asked, smelling the air as Proto helped him off the hoverbike. It smelled faintly of chemicals, stored energy, and metal, and Rock could hear soft sounds coming from a building nearby. "It kinda smells like Skull Castle, but…"

"You're right. It's not Skull Castle. Rock…you're going to stay here. I'm going to leave."

"Okay. When will you come back?"

"…I won't."

Rock froze. Then his face broke out into a weak smile. "Th-that's a mean joke, Proto…"

"I'm not joking." His brother's voice was serious and strained. "It's too dangerous for you to stay at Skull Castle. You can't live there."

"But I want to live with you! I don't—"

"Sh…shut up!" Proto hissed suddenly. "This is hard enough as it is without you—arguing!" The red raider got back on his bike angrily. Rock grabbed his arm and clung to it tightly.

"You—no, please, Proto! I don't want you to go! I—I don't care about the Robot Masters or anything!"

"Rock…you need to stay here!" Proto growled. He then took a deep breath. "I…lied to you. Roll wasn't…mistaking you for anyone else. Your real name is Mega Man, your creator is really Dr. Light, Roll is on the good side, and so are you! Now let go."

"No!" Rock clung even tighter to Proto's arm, refusing to give up.

"Rock, get offa me!"

"No! Please, Proto…I—I don't want you to leave …can't you come with me? I mean, you're still…"

"I can't. That's all there is to it, Roc…Mega Man."

"Rock."

"Mega Man."

Rock took several deep breaths, trying to calm down. This was some sort of horrible joke, this wasn't happening, this was a dream…

"I have to go, Ro...Mega. I'll…see you around." His brother sounded bitter.

"P-Proto…"

"Let go, Mega Man."

"Then…before you go…" Rock put his hand on his brother's cheek. "Please...I want to know…"

Proto knew that blind people couldn't see, and the closest they came to it was touching an object and making a mental picture.

Rock had no mental picture.

Slowly he took off his helmet. Rock's hands wandered over Proto's face, feeling his nose, his eyes, his mouth.

"Just like me…" Rock whispered softly.

Protoman put his helmet back on.

"After I leave, go in," he ordered. He turned away, and slowly revved up the hoverbike. "And…I'll see you around…"

"I love you," Rock said softly.

Proto froze.

"L…later," he said finally, and took off.

Rock kept his face turned toward the sound of the hoverbike until it faded away. Then he slowly turned around and felt his way to the building's front door.