A/N- This chapter might seem a little short, and this is because I had to remove a naughty scene to post it here. If you want said naughty scene please leave a review with your e-mail address stated right in the actual review. Please, please do not make me hunt down your e-mail addresses, because I'm going to stop doing that soon. I have dial up so it's slow enough as it is, without having to hunt through profiles and such then be told you've hidden your e-mail and then have to squint and stare and try to make out what your e-mail is though those thick grey bars. This is especially difficult when you have a name like or something hard to remember. So I beg you to please just post it in the actual review. You're doing me a big, big favour when you do that! Posting of chapters for this might go slowly for awhile, I'm working a few chapters ahead but it looks like I might have to rewrite part of the story because I fudged up a little. ;;; nothing that's posted here, though. We shall see. I think I've rattled on long enough, enjoy!

Gimp

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Zero strolled across the field lazily, leaving behind him a very exhausted, very beaten up 17th unit, holding his arm up to his brow to shield his optic sensors from the glaring light. X's unit was soft, their skill mediocre at best. Not that he could fault his lover for that, it was far from X's fault. Nearly all the units had gone this way over time. They were letting almost everyone in these days, and keeping the losers too, regardless of their lack of talent or skill. It was agitating to say the least.

Even his own unit had fallen prey to this. It was a wonder they were still winning battles these days. He hardly saw the point of keeping around a bunch of unskilled idiots with no drive or ambition to improve. He shook his head to himself, reaching the pavement and stopping dead, glaring at the sight that met him. "What the hell are you doing here?"

Dynamo stared back at him, face twisted into his most obnoxious grin possible. "Zero, just the man I wanted to see. Mind if I take you out on a little date?" He offered the blonde his arm, grinning at him. Zero rather obviously did not want to go with him, it was written plain and clear on his face, so he added in quickly before the other man could protest, "My treat, of course. I was hoping to discuss our dear X with you." He saw Zero twitch a little at the thrown in 'our', watching the hunter's internal battle between leaving with him and just cold-cocking him.

The former won out, however, and Zero gave a defeated groan. "Alright, I'll go, but if you came to bug me about a threesome, I already told you-" Dynamo waved his hand, dismissive, and the hunter blinked, quieting down. Okay, it wasn't that. Dynamo looked almost serious for a change, something he immediately decided he didn't like.

The look was gone almost as fast as it had found its way to the mercenary's face, however, replaced with the usual cocky grin instead. "So, how are things on the other side of the fence?" Dynamo asked, winking a little. Girls just don't do it for you anymore?"

Zero scoffed, giving the taller man a good shove. "Like it's a surprise anyway. Everyone knew it was going to happen sooner or later." He was tense, irritable. Why was Dynamo calling on him at the Maverick Hunter Headquarters of all places? The mercenary hadn't worked for Sigma in ages, but it didn't mean he was on good terms with them. In the little time that he had worked for the mavericks, he'd done his fair share of damage. The conversation shifted to X's body, he resisted the urge to punch him out.

Dynamo could tell Zero wasn't listening to his jeers, and opted for silence instead. Zero was going to help Dynamo get his job done a lot faster. He just needed to play the man a little. "So… There's really no chance for a threesome? You asked him, right?" He ducked away from Zero's fist, grinning. They walked on for a few moments in silence before he pushed further. "Hey, while we're on the subject of X, did you piss him off or something? He's been bitchy lately." He expected another swing, but Zero surprisingly did nothing but shrug a little.

"I thought we were cool and everything was going great, but now I'm starting to wonder." Zero gave him a glare that just dared the taller man to laugh. "He's been so morose lately." He frowned to himself quietly, worrying. "I think it has something to do with the humans harassing him."

Dynamo raised an eyebrow. "I've heard rumor that Cain's been keeping him locked up in his office for hours at a time lately. Afraid the man's moving in on your territory?" Zero elbowed him hard, and he doubled over with a groan.

Zero glared down at the mercenary, arms crossed. "I can smell a ruse of yours a mile away. You don't come for visits, so don't even try for a minute to convince me that's what's going on." Dynamo straightened himself up and the hunter blocked the mercenary's path, frowning. "Do you have a hit on X? "

Dynamo wiped his glasses clean, anger flaring up in his eyes. "Not that it's any of your business, but I don't have a hit out on anyone." He shoved the blonde out of his way, knowing Zero would follow. "I'm supposed to be keeping an eye out on X, make sure he doesn't do anything stupid. I figured it would be easier to appeal to you, get you to do half my job."

Zero blinked, surprised, and opened his mouth to protest further. "Why the hell would I ever help you?" His surprised shifted, turning into anger. Who in the hell did Dynamo think he was, anyway?

"Easy. It's for X's sake, so I know you'll do it." Dynamo grinned, smug. He had Zero's full attention now, he'd won his case. He threw a glance over his shoulder, just to be sure, ducking into an alleyway and dragging the blonde with him. He hadn't seen anyone, but better safe than sorry.

Zero sighed heavily, this was starting to seriously get on his nerves. "Are you just an idiot, or are you trying to avoid witnesses?" He wasn't concerned, he could kick Dynamo's ass any day. Dynamo was too busy looking around worriedly to hear his insult, however.

"I'm not working for the mavericks or the humans. I'm working for a neutral source." This seemed to shut Zero up. "X is in over his head, this is hitting way too close to home." He leaned back against the wall, frowning. "I have some rather reliable sources who say the humans are setting your boyfriend up.

Zero frowned at that. "You're paranoid." He grunted, but deep down he was worried about the same thing.

"Just tell him to watch his back. That's all I'm asking."

Zero nodded a little. He'd wanted to have a talk about this with X for a long time now, but hadn't worked up the nerve yet. It was likely to start a war, with the way X had been lately. "Alright. I'll see what I can do, but I want to know more first."

Dynamo shrugged. "Of course you do. Now come inside, you didn't really think we were going to a restaurant." He gestured to the strip club straight ahead. "Don't tell X what I told you, and I can guarantee you I'll forget about this." He disappeared inside.

Zero rolled his eyes and followed the mercenary inside.

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X got up tiredly, tossing his paperwork onto the desk and dropped into bed. He'd worry about the rest in the morning. Closing his eyes, he'd just begun to drift off when Zero let himself into the room, blinking at him.

"What are you doing in bed so early? It's like seven." The taller man asked, sweeping his hair back and clearly sulking. "I was kind of hoping for a little fun." He sat next to X, throwing the covers off him and nuzzling him. "Don't go to sleep yet, I brought you a present to make up for the paperwork."

X rolled his eyes, torn between getting up and just rolling over. No real point in the latter, Zero wasn't that easy to get rid of. Now, his only real option was to just get up and accept Zero's gift- likely a naughty toy, cheap porn or something like that. Most people found flowers appropriate, but Zero always had been different. He'd never admit it to the blonde's face, lest he encourage the man, but he found it kind of cute in its own way. Maybe they had been together too long. "Alright, let's see what you got." he sighed, rolling his eyes.

Zero grinned widely, procuring a small bottle from behind his back. "Oh, don't look so sour, it's something good." He tossed it over his shoulder to X, showing off.

X turned it over in his hands, inspecting it carefully. Massage oil. Wow, Zero was really making an effort today. "For me, or you?" he asked, not wanting to jump to conclusions.

"You of course!" Zero exclaimed, obviously proud of himself. "How else would I get you naked and in the mood? My charm just isn't enough anymore. Take your clothes off and lie on your stomach."

X complied happily, stripping down to his boxers and stretching out on his stomach contently. He heard a faint rustle as Zero undressed himself, rolling his eyes a little. So much for hidden intent. Zero wasn't leaving much to the wind as far as his intentions were concerned. It was already rather obvious where this was going to go. He sighed lightly as Zero started kneading his shoulders deeply, hands coated thickly with massaging oil. Slowly, the hands traveled down and he found himself moaning as Zero reached his lower back.

"Yeah, you like that, don't you?" the blonde purred as he worked his fingers over the tight knots in his lover's back. He straddled the smaller man, working the stress and anxiety out of X.

X moaned deeper, squirming under Zero's administrations and giving small gasps. Zero leaned down, whispering dirty little things in his ear as he gave a small shiver. "God, Zero…"

Zero grinned, sliding off the brunette and pulled on the waistband of his boxers, letting it slap back against X's ivory skin, pleased with all the noise the man was making. "What's this for? I thought I said this was a full body massage."

X sighed softly, ready for more. It was the little things like this that turned him on. "You never specified." A pause. "Just do it already, I'm so hot." He lifted his hips off the bed as Zero peeled his boxers off his body, kissing the back of his neck lovingly.

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X slid back onto the mattress and let his body relax, moaning quietly as the blonde withdrew. He closed his eyes, content with the silence that followed, letting Zero start the slow, lazy conversation to follow.

Zero nuzzled the smaller man's collarbone lightly, kissing it idly, then finally shifted up, lips brushing X's tender lips. "Love you." He murmured quietly, rolling off X's lithe body carefully and settling next to him. He pulled his lover up to him and sighed softly. "God that was good." He nudged X's ear a little, demanding his attention. "My favourite part was when you started hollering and the neighbours started banging on the wall." His voice, though tired, had a hint of smugness to it.

X laughed quietly. "You enjoyed that way too much." Zero's grip tightened around him slightly and he kissed a bronzed forearm. "Love you too." He sighed in satisfaction and relaxed. "Goodni-"

"I'm worried about you." Zero interrupted him with. Where had that come from? "You're letting the humans get to you." He leaned up on one arm, frowning down at him. "Don't do anything reckless."

X sat up, kissing the taller man's cheek. "I'm not the reckless type." He smiled at him comfortingly, but only earned a wry smile in return.

"You are when it's something you're passionate about. Why else would you keep going after Sigma single-handedly?" He ran a hand through X's thick brown mass of hair, kissing his forehead. "Just don't do anything reckless. You can't win everything. Watch your back." He pulled X back down, grip relaxing, and closed his eyes. "Night."