A/N: Thanks for the encouraging reviews, everyone:D Just to address some things:
DarkHybridChild: I intended to leave what was bothering Netto ambiguous until this chapter. Thanks for the correction on Meijin's usual response. I guess a bit of the dub leaked in there since I've seen more of that than the sub, eheh I use the Japanese names because I prefer them.
What I figured was that since Netto is so over-zealous with his emotions, he would overplay that in order to make it seem like he's just being himself and thus hide that something's bothering him. Dunno if that would count as tweaking his character…
Empress: That's quite alright, I had trouble with the Japanese counterparts myself at first. Here's a little reference list to make it easier for you:
Lan: Netto
Chaud: Enzan
Megaman: Rockman
Protoman: Blues
Famous: Meijin
And I'm not a big fan of OCs in fanfics, so no worries, you won't be seeing any here.
Setsu: Haha, bad Enzan indeed XD Nah, this won't go down the lemon path - I don't have the guts to even attempt one. :X As for everything else, well, you'll just have to wait and see!
Now, with no further ado, onto the fic!
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"I'm home, Mama!" Netto called out breathlessly as he stepped through the front door and stooped down to remove his skates.
A short haired woman turned to the new arrival and smiled. "Welcome home, Netto – Netto? Are you alright? You're sweaty, you're panting, and your face is all red!"
"I'm fine, Mama, it was just a hard day today."
"You also left skid marks when you stopped – I didn't even know skates could leave skid marks," Rockman commented softly so Haruka couldn't hear. Netto's only response was a sharp look.
"Alright, dear, go upstairs, clean yourself up, and rest. I'm making dinner now."
"Okay, Mama," Netto answered as he climbed the stairs to his room.
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"That Enzan! Argh!" Netto fumed, roughly shoving the PET into its charger after plugging Rockman into the computer, pacing fervently, rearranging various papers on his desk, picking up stacks of books and slamming them down, not behavior the cobalt navi was used to seeing.
"Netto-kun, calm down! You're going to break something! And Mama might hear and get worried!"
Sure enough: "Netto, is everything alright up there?"
"Yeah, Mama, I just…dropped something, that's all!"
"OK honey. Dinner will be ready soon!"
The sound of grumbling suddenly rose in the air. "Dinner can't come soon enough – I hope it's curry!" Netto grinned, rubbing his stomach.
An eye roll. "You say that every night. Anyway…Will you please tell me what's wrong? And what does Enzan-san have to do with this?" Emerald eyes narrowed. "And don't even think of trying to say it's nothing."
A deep breath as the anxious boy settled down on his bed. "It's just…lately I've had these… these feelings. Like…" The earth haired boy groped blindly for the right words. "Like… like – ho boy, I don't know how to explain it."
"It's alright. Take your time. Although…I think I already kind of know."
Netto's eyes darted to the computer. "Huh? What do you mean?"
"I could very well be wrong, but… I think… you like Enzan-san."
Crimson shot across Netto's face. "Wha…! Me? Like Enzan? What makes you think that?"
"Well, you're getting so worked up right now. Plus your pulse quickens and you face flushes more when you're around him, even when you're just sitting down."
A sigh. "I suppose you do have a point. And… you're right." A pause. "But… I have no idea how to deal with this stuff. I just…" The spike headed boy shot to his feet and pulled at his hair. "Rrgh… It's all his fault, that pompous, arrogant, distracting… dashing… perfect…"
"Perfect, huh?"
Everyone in the room swore the bandanna donning Net Savior would have crashed through the ceiling had he jumped any higher. "Enzan! What are you doing here? Are you some kind of stalker? How long were you there?"
The interrogated acknowledged only the last question. "Long enough."
The blush that had been building up in Netto's face appeared to drain away. "So…you…heard?"
A curt nod was the sole response.
The orange vested boy sank back down on his bed, his eyes finding a safe haven with his hands, the flush rushing back to his cheeks. A heavy silence hung over the room.
Finally, trying to break the ice, Rockman cut in. "Netto-kun, your face is beginning to match Blues' armor."
A voice from behind said, "You called?"
The blue navi's reaction mirrored that of his operator's, except battle experience, particularly experience pertaining to attacks from behind, diluted it somewhat. Plus there was no ceiling to hit. Out of the corner of his eye, Rockman noticed Enzan discretely replacing his PET into its holder while Netto's expression still resembled that of a deer in headlights.
A small chuckle. "Like operator, like net navi. Even your faces are beginning to match."
The aforementioned scarlet deepened. "A-Are not!"
Another snigger. "You're just proving my point, you know." Even more reddening cheeks and diverted eyes were Rockman's only responses.
Both Net Saviors, as Rockman's embarrassed exclamations had snapped his operator out of his shock just enough to look up, had been watching the exchange with amusement. Finally, Enzan cleared his throat. "So… um, back on topic. How long have you felt this way?"
"Um…well, for a-a while now."
"Why has your behavior only become more erratic in the past week?"
"Um, well, that is… I-I don't know, I guess… er, that's because they just… uh, built up so much…" A pointed finger wavered in the air. "Y-you're the one following me, pinning me against a wall, and molesting me! What was that all about!"
"Netto, dispense with the hyperbole and stop trying to divert the attention away from yourself. I really was trying to see if you were sick." A small smirk budded on his lips as he disregarded the snort that he received in response. "And you followed me first, when I was out with Anetta the day after we found her."
"I…was just making sure you didn't get yourself in trouble or anything!"
"You said Meijin-san sent you on surveillance in case there was an attack."
"Same difference. I know what I said!"
Three voices replied, "Uh huh."
Brown eyebrows came closer together. "You guys really need to stop saying that."
"And you really gotta stop leaving that opening for us to say it." A white curtain of bangs concealed sapphires as his voice hardened. "At any rate, I… don't have time for a relationship," he snapped, ignoring the resultant wince. "So just-"
An exasperated voice from Netto's computer cut in. "Enzan-sama, you've told me so many times how you feel for him. Would it kill you to tell him just once?" Right away the crimson navi bowed his head, abashed at his outburst, and cringed, expecting a severe reprimand.
Instead, the camouflage bottomed boy simply stammered, "Blues…!" as his face pinked slightly. A sigh as he raised his head slightly. "He's right, Netto…" A glance and a sly smile at the computer. "Hey, shouldn't you follow your own advice?"
Blues' face started to blend in with his armor. After a moment, he admitted softly, "Enzan-sama's…correct as well, Rockman."
Green eyes widened. "R-Really…?"
A short nod.
"Blues… I…I don't know what to say…"
His operator remained more skeptical. "Hmph. You're just saying that, Enzan."
"Netto, I may be many things, but liar is not one of them." A deep breath. "Well, here's more honesty for you: you're reckless, hardheaded, and irritatingly hyper, sometimes to the point of regressing into a small child. But…" Another breath. "You've also made me smile the most I have in a long time. And you've supported me when I needed it the most. So…thank you."
Netto simply stood in disbelief for a moment. "Enzan…"
"And I…I second everything he just said for you, Rockman. Except you're not quite as hyper."
The blue bomber smiled sheepishly and averted his eyes, again mirroring his operator. "I'm… glad I could help."
The tan boy suddenly narrowed his eyes and leaned closer, a goofy smile on his face. "Alright, who are you and what have you done to Enzan?" He put his hand on the paler boy's forehead. "You sure you're not sick?"
Enzan took a step back and pushed the hand away. "Hey, I'm not you, you know. It's not that unbelievable, is it?"
"Well, it's just-"
Just then a voice rang from below. "Dinner's ready! Netto, ask Enzan-kun if he would like to stay for dinner."
Netto started slightly, but yelled back, "Coming, Mama!" He turned to Enzan. "Well, you heard her."
A smirk. "I believe she said for you to ask me."
An exasperated frown and an exaggerated huff. "You just like being difficult, don't you? Fine, then: would you like to stay for dinner?"
The smirk grew. "I'd be delighted to."
The brunette rolled his eyes and gave the yin yang haired boy a light shove before leading the way downstairs. Before following him, though, Enzan paused and gave Blues an encouraging look.
A/N: Phew! The actual confession scene gave me the most trouble since I wanted them to show some love without getting so mushy as to push them into OOC land which they're probably still in anyway, especially Enzan and Blues. Plus trying to balance two confessions at once… I think I might have bitten off more than I could chew. Hence why this update took so long. I'm still not quite satisfied with the results, but then I tend to be my own worst critic. / And yes, I will give Blues and Rockman more limelight next chapter, so don't you worry. P
And no, I don't have anything against Enzan/Anetta, but, well, this is a Netto/Enzan fic, after all, so... :3