Maverick Hunter was a hive of activity. The celebrations marked the first day after the fall of Doppler's Maverick threat, thanks to the efforts of X and Zero. Maverick Hunter HQ had itself been terrorized in the attacks, and now that the offending Reploids, led by Sigma, had been flushed out, Zero and his new partner, X, were being treated to a regal meal and a special ceremony heralding their heroism.

Still, for all the congratulatory handshakes and words of thanks from the scores of admirers that clamoured to meet him, Zero, the man of the hour, was finding himself distracted. He'd even retired to his quarters early, just to avoid being seen in such a despondent state on a night of celebration. Nothing would honour him more greatly than to have Iris return to Maverick Hunter – but could she? Would she?

By now, Zero mused, Iris, having discovered the inherent danger of being associated with the Hunter organization, must have moved on with her life - found a vocation in the arts, perhaps…

Zero shut his eyes and smiled. He'd barely known her enough to be guessing at her hobbies and interests, yet it seemed an ideal fit for one of her beauty and style... Iris, herself, being a work of art.

He had closed himself off from the festivities for an hour now, slouching limply in his chair in the darkness of his room, dozing ever closer to sleep, when an usher Reploid came knocking on his door. Zero was slightly irritated that his tranquility, albeit a sullen one, was being so rudely disturbed, especially when his lights were clearly off. He had been lost in a bottomless sea of thoughts neverending, of the events that had come to pass in the year leading up to this celebration, when Sigma had been ousted a third time as leader of the Mavericks and retreated into seclusion (to where, Maverick Hunter could never know). All that could be known for sure was that he would re-emerge someday, as he had the year previous, continuing the annual cycle of destruction he'd started on that day of induction within the HQ itself. And when next he did, whenever it was fated to be, Zero simply wished that he could keep Iris out of harm's way.

"Yes, what is it?" Zero muttered a little gruffly, the hour of silence clogging his throat, and corrected himself in a clearer tone. "Come in, please."

The doors whisked open as he tapped the release button to reveal his visitors. Without rising from his seat, he looked up grimly, his gaze settling on the unknown figure rather than the familiar usher. He smiled weakly – it was all the hospitality he could muster for this intruder, whose identity he couldn't discern in the unlit room.

He averted his eyes and grumbled, "I'm not seeing guests right now. I'll come back out in a few minutes."

"Zero!" His ears pricked up at the shrillness that strained a soothing, familiar voice. "What is the matter with you, hiding out like this on your big night!"

Zero's eyes fluttered open with a pang of realization. In an instant, the grimness dissolved from his face and his heart. He blinked hard at the girl through the shadows - brown hair swaying just above her shoulders, a tilted beret adorning her head. It really was her!

"Iris!"

"Who else, silly? I promised I would come back, didn't I? And I'm going to need somewhere to stay before they have a room available for me… I thought I would get a better reception than this, honestly." She winked mischievously, but Zero could see that she was a little hurt.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry…" He stood and, in a single stride, had his arms around her. "I'm so happy you're safe, Iris… of course you can stay here, as long as you like." He stepped back to face her. "I've been waiting for you for so long…"

He motioned the usher to leave, and with a swish, the door shut behind them.