Axl's question could not have possibly been more damaging; the impact of those words upheld the equivalence of a succession of stab wounds from the jagged blade of an assassin's knife. 'Unbelievable' would be an extreme understatement for the circumstance. To feel the need to pay for affection and admiration was a truly disheartening notion, especially to someone like Zero. He had often felt alone and misunderstood, but never, not even at the worst of times, had he felt obligated to work for love. Love's presence was never questionable in his life.
"Axl...What possessed you to ask something like that? C'mon, there's no need for you to worry about any..'payment.' Not from something as ordinary as that."
Zero was about to place a hand on Axl's shoulder, as a gesture of reassurance, and hopefully, to create a sense of comfort. Axl's reaction was very different than Zero could have anticipated, though; the youth cowered under the shadow of Zero's hand, and his eyes were ablaze with an immense amount of terror. He then closed his eyes, and fearfully awaited the expected pain to befall him.
"..Don't..." the runaway whispered softly, "I'm sorry, I won't ask any more questions.."
Once those words were spoken, Zero had immediately drawn his hand back; the crimson Hunter was now fighting off the guilt that had begun to engulf his heart. As far as he could tell, Axl had the two terms 'love' and 'pain' confused, or he simply thought them to be the same thing; either way, it was a dismal manner in which to live by. Of course, Zero knew all about the hurt that can accompany love, and the acts it can force one to do.
"No, relax, I wasn't going to.." Zero paused, waiting for Axl's heightened tension to subside. Nothing happened; however, Zero was always known and credited for his stubborn persistancy. "..Hey. Come on over here, kid."
Still, Axl remained stationary, while his fearful emerald eyes followed Zero's slightest movements with an utmost caution; almost as if the youth was awaiting some form of cruel retribution to befall him. However, nothing wicked or harsh had happened. Although, Axl believed that all trust and love lead to suffering, which was not a path he wanted to cross again.
'I haven't done anything worthy of getting his affection. All I've done is make more problems for everyone! The only way he'd be so willing to take to me, was if there was something to gain...Like Red..'
"All right. Since you seem to like promises, I'll make one now," Zero stated, in a final desperate attempt to alleviate the terror that troubled the younger's mind. "I promise that I will not hurt you, nor try to hurt you in any way. Now, I didn't break my promise to you before, right?"
Some of Zero's words were erased, as the indecisive Reploid's blaring thoughts broke his concentration. 'What am I doing! Am I just going to throw away this once-in-a-lifetime chance? Then everything Red said about me was true! I am just a stupid, worthless kid!' Axl's mind screamed at him, urging him to accept the opportunity he was being given. 'But still...Love is murder, isn't it! ...I don't know...I just..'
"It's no different here, either. You can trust me, kid."
Before Axl could completely process what had just been said, Zero was standing right beside him; but, there was one difference in the way the crimson Hunter was, and the way the all the others acted around the young one. Although it had always been rumored otherwise, hostility failed to be present with Zero. It was an inexplicable behavior, especially to one as lost and confused as Axl was. Without warning, a grin was displayed on Zero's features, as he ruffled Axl's matted disarray of hair.
"I think it's about time you loosened up a little. Not that I'm saying what you've gone through is nothing, don't get me wrong. But, rhe last time we talked, you were a whole different kid, you know that?"
For the first time in a long while, Axl was able to smile; granted, it was very weak and lacked the presence of happiness. But, at least he was still able to manage that. At the same time, the emerald pigmentation of the younger's eyes grew glassy as he became more distanced from reality. He could recall the time, that was not so long ago, when he and Zero talked like old friends. However, it doesn't take much to offset an unstable young child. After a somewhat extended lapse of time, he finally regained his grasp on reality.
"Yeah, I guess so," Axl replied shortly.
Zero absentmindedly sauntered over to the now-unoccupied bed, nonchalently sitting upon the white sheets. He then proceeded to stretch all four of his appendages, also releasing an elaborate yawn to finish with. Originally, he had intended on engaging in idle conversation, simply to ease the nerves of the young runaway. But, one glimpse of the remaining lacerations around Axl's left eye quickly convinced him to do otherwise.
"Axl, there's something important I need to ask you. It's all right if you're not ready to talk about it now, since it's still early, so just let me know. I know you were left behind when X and I left for the first Maverick, and you were injured when we returned. During the time we were gone, there was an attack of some sort, and I need any knowledge you have concerning it, if any."
Time seemed to come to an abrupt cease, captivating the two in perfect silence; a silence that only lasted for a minute. Axl's tranquilized disposition suddenly became afflicted with panic and guilt, which was shown through his sharp, irregular breathing. Again, he had begun to shiver, and his synthetic flesh grew abnormally frigid with the muddled mixture of downhearted emotions.
Unsteadily, he backed away from the S-Class Hunter, shaking his head in a wild fashion. Everyone knew about the incident; how it was his fault. If he did not exist, then Red would not have assaulted their base because of him. Everything that was happening, was because of him. And if even Zero knew to blame him for that, and knew about the problems that had aroused on Axl's behalf, then he had to get away. He had to stop causing so much trouble for everyone.
"I didn't mean for it any of it to happen! It was an accident, Zero! I didn't know..." he trailed off from there, taking one last glance at Zero. Without a second thought on the matter, he frantically dashed through the tattered doorway, leaving a very stunned Zero behind.
Running. He was running again, like he had done so many times before. It was the definite answer to all the troubles that could possible come to torment him; just run, leave everything else behind. As long as he was temporarily faster than the problems that could plague him, it was all right. But trouble, torture, loneliness, confusion, hatred, anger, and sadness; they all have their cruel ways of catching up with the one they've chosen to pursue.
Since Axl was now quite familiar with his way around the Hunter Base, he had little trouble navigating his way through the numerous hallways. He took note of indentions that had not yet been repaired, some of the hardened brown smears of dried blood, and the deformities of the paneling created by a powerful, plasma-based weapon. By observing, and recalling, some of these little details, he lost some of his concentration. Thus, he encountered something he had not planned on.
It was, none other than, Megaman X.
X had noticed Axl's crazed running a while ago, and had already prepared to put an end to the child's 'temper tantrum.' In one swift movement, he grabbed one of the fleeing Reploid's wrists. Once Axl had realized what was happening, he found himself being held in captivity by X's far stronger grip. Instinctively, much like a caged lion would, he fought with an animalistic ferocity to regain the freedom that he so desperately needed.
"Please, would you stop! You have absolutely no reason to be running through the base like that!"
Axl continued struggling, still dead-set and determined to make his ultimate escape from the Hunters. Only then, would they stop being hurt by the likes of him. Why could X not see that he was trying to do something for the good will of the people around him?
"Oh, really? How would you know?" snapped Axl, who was now trying to pivot his wrist at an abnormal angle as an escape measure. Like many of his other attempts at accomplishing a goal, he failed miserably. "..Were you spying on me?"
X was taken aback at the particularly offensive comment; never would he become so low, as to resort to eavesdropping on anyone during any kind of private discussion. Unknowingly, he tightened his hold on the youth's wrist, which then caused Axl to wince. "Axl, what makes you think I would ever do"
His inquery was soon interrupted by the voice that called from behind him, "X! What are you doing!"
This quick interrogation was enough to throw X's guard off, and finally, Axl was awarded the freedom he so desired. In less than a second, he was running again at his maximum speeds, knocking over a few of the casual passing Hunters. He was almost certain that he could smell the heavy mists and evergreen scent of the Earth's natural foliage, and was ready to take to it, like a wolf returning to it's homelands.
"C'mon, Zero!" cried X, the volume of his voice increasing with every word. "We've got to follow him! What if he does something he'll come to regret!"
Before Zero could manifest a response, a figure turned from around a nearby corner. His expression was marked with a grin tainted with utmost arrogance, and his golden colored visionaries flashed with a determination. With an innapropriate nonchalence, he strode past X, turning back only to mutter an almost inaudible sentence.
"Don't worry," uttered Rovin, "I'll get him."
..It took a lot of sugary soda to write this last night and this morning...
I'll do the review responses later in an edit, I gotta go to school! Going to be late, going to be late, going to be REALLY late...