Closing chapter

I think…

Disclaimer: I own nothing, not the personality, not the characters, not the crazy people who probably have created the camera of 24/7. I own the apartment, because I have yet to see one just like this.

Warnings: Sap. I'm in the sap mood. No more violent Zero. Sad X. Yaoi, If you couldn't tell already. If you're just looking for why this is rated "M" you've gone to far, but it's not all that good, 'cause I don't want to get kicked off. The story's not about the sex, it's about the relationship, and sex is just a byproduct. Did I just write that? … I'm slipping.

X stayed huddled in the blanket Lifesaver had given him, shivering at the temperature controlled coldness of the room. The human workers were bundled up in long sleeves and gloves and galoshes; he felt sorry for them. They gave him odd looks as they cleaned the floor and Lifesaver snapped at them. X thanked Lifesaver quietly, but he wondered if there was another motive for such a thing.

He felt stupid. He should have known it wasn't Zero who'd talked. He should have known that Zero wasn't like that. He should have, could have, didn't, and he arrived only in time to see Zero pulled into the operating room. Zero had whispered to him.

"You've made me so happy, pet."

And then he disappeared, and X felt a huge confliction of emotion. Alia had suggested a human grief consular, a human female who dealt with emotions in her life everyday. X refused, sitting down. He was happy Zero was coming back, but he'd miss the…

He'd miss the attention. The knowing he was wanted, the knowing he was loved.

He'd not miss the pain, or the hurting by any means. He was glad to see that go.

The computer beeped with Zero's "heartbeat" and X found himself getting drowsy. He hadn't slept well in two days, watching over Zero, and he'd been sick the night before. Yet, he didn't want to sleep, because what would Zero think? Would he remember?

X still hadn't told anyone about the chip, about the personality beneath it. He wanted to, and he wanted to tell Zero, but Zero wasn't listening. Maybe a quick nap…

"Hurt him and I'll come back to kill you."

These words echoed in Zero's head as he was aware of waking up, knowing somehow that this wasn't after surgery. The darkness that he emerged from sent fear into his systems. He sat up, the room blurry. Blinking, he saw X huddled in a blanket, something wet on his cheeks.

This was, surprisingly heart-aching. He didn't really expect any less, but now he wanted to wrap his arms around the blue hunter and comfort him. X was sleeping, and Zero didn't want to disturb him at all. He inhaled. He hadn't expected these feelings to be so… strong.

X had been crying, he noted, and wiped them away with his blanket. X snapped up. "Zero?" he asked.

"What happened, X? I feel… like this is all wrong, somehow." Zero watched curiously as his friend nodded, but smiled despite the sadness. He cursed, that smile looked just like the way Iris did before she died. He really had hoped to forget about that painful memory.

"It's okay, Zero. Things went a little weary for a bit, but you'll be okay now, I hope." X stood, stretching. He picked up the blanket and left, and Zero had a strong suspicion X was crying.

"What did I do?" he asked the empty walls.

X sniffled as Snuggles the cat crawled on his back. Snuggles just liked the artifical warmth he gave off, like he did the hoods of cars, X knew, but X still needed somebody. He hadn't expected this to hurt this much.

Snuggles perked up and raced past the ugly, molded welcoming cake to the door. X watched, knowing the knock would come. He waited for three seconds, got up, and heard the hands under the door as Snuggles tried to catch them.

"Hey, Snugs," came the heart-wrenching voice. X tried not to cry as the door then opened. Zero knew his password, probably the only one who did.

The door opened and Zero stood there with a small bag of fruit. It was a make-up basket, X realized. Zero knows I love fruit. Zero shut the door, making sure to keep Snuggles in. He offered X the basket. X took it wordlessly and set it by the cake, causing Zero to wince.

"That's my cake, yeah?" he asked. X nodded, looking back at Zero with his green eyes. Blue eyes met his and held up the tape. "I saw, X. And I'm ashamed."

"Don't be," X stated, blushing. He didn't want his Zero to feel bad, to know…

"But if you want, maybe we can try something." Zero shrugged and X blinked, hopeful green eyes meeting reassuring blue ones. "Like… maybe doing this correctly the first time. Going out to eat."

"We've done that," X stated far too quickly. He tugged on Zero's hand. "We've eaten several times together, by ourselves when the Sigma Wars occurred."

"In a capsule doesn't count. Then you might as well say we've slept together," Zero reminded him. His poor choice of words reflected on his face and he blushed, and X looked twice as eager. X tippy-toed up to look Zero in the eye, a move he did when he really wanted something, like a baby-sitter for Snuggles or a day off.

"Let's go to dinner, X."

X gave a happy mew and hugged Zero tightly. "I'm glad you're back, Zero."

Zero smiled. "Me too, X. Me too."