Yay, new chappie! - I suppose I could make X fall in love with Zero… but that takes out all the fun and struggle. It will happen, just not now. Heh.

Right. I don't own these characters, otherwise I'd be rich…

And the ideas in this fic are not nessessarily the opinions of the characters.

(Zero: Finally. Somebody gets it right.)

(X: aww, I can't be your pet?)

Anyway… thanks for the reviews! They make me so happy.

The door to the base swooshed open, and Alia instantly lifted her coffee to avoid it spilling from a rush of X. X had been hiding in her office all day, and while she didn't mind, there was a limit of patience one could push with her, and X was quickly reaching that limit, no matter how many times he saved the world.

She was only human, after all.

(I formally apologize for that last sentence. No more puns.)

"X. Out of my office." X waved a hand to tell her to be quiet and shushed her as Zero walked by in the window. X dipped down below the table, trying not to be seen. Alia placed her coffee down gently. "I don't care, X, hide with Signas."

"Can't," X responded, letting a breath of anxiousness escape him.

"Why not?" she demanded, shuffling papers together. She glanced up at him, only to find him still looking.

"He kicked me out," X stated, not at all ashamed.

"Ah," Alia responded, sipping her coffee. Eventaully, realizing X did not get the hint (or want to, for that matter), she pressed the intercom.

"Would Zero please report to the navigation center?" She grinned, self-satisfied as X gave a "meep!" sound and dashed off, presumably to the next victim of choice.

Zero, however, was content in the fact that X was indeed wearing the damnable object, and moreso content with X coming back to his apartment. Almost happy enough not to cut him, but not quite.

X peeked inside, and Zero raised a hand, returning to the book he was reading. Slowly, X shut the door. A false hope filled him, and it fled as Zero placed the book down. He turned to find Zero watching him, hungrily.

"Afternoon, Zero," X tried, hoping for simple conversation.

"I've been waiting, beautiful." X blanched at the nickname. Zero patted to the seat next to him, and X walked over, sighing as he did so. As he sat down, Zero took off X's helmet, causing X to give a slight jump. In turn, this caused Zero to chuckle.

"I don't see what's so funny," X pouted. He turned to see Zero's reaction. Zero lunged at him, knocking him into the pillows of the sofa.

"It's cutting time, X!" Zero stated happily. "Where do you want me to ?"

"Nowhere," X tried. Zero clucked his tongue, sighing.

"X, X, X, you take the fun out of everything! No killing, no blood, no warfare… no squirrels singing songs in the park!"

With this, X glared harder at him. Zero poked a spot on his shoulder. "How about here?"

"How about not?" X stated, still glaring up at Zero. Zero looked him straight in the eye, a serious gaze on his face. X wanted to whimper; that gaze meant nothing good. Swallowing, he looked back up at Zero. "One on each, then, but not as deep."

Zero couldn't have been happier with the response. Double the cutting? His X was asking for his pain? He licked his lips, kissing X as he drew the knife across, causing X to cry out.

"Beautiful," Zero whispered, and moved over to the wound. He lapped at it, increasing the pain, but X had suddenly become numb to the fact. He shut his eyes, trying not to picture Zero actually enjoying this.

I want my Zero back…he thought.

The other shoulder suddenly was engulfed with pain, and Zero moved to that. When he was done, he kissed X again, X tasting his own blood on his mouth.

Sickeningly sweet. Nothing like human blood, but his "blood" wasn't like any other Reploids', either.

"Good, my pet," Zero cooed in his ear. "You've done well tonight." He got up, stretching like a cat. "do you want your reward now or later?"

X looked at Zero. "It's your choice," he stated, and he shuddered, remembering last night.

It had felt so good, and he didn't want to think of that. He didn't want to think that Zero, this Zero could make him feel… happy. Content.

And yet he did.