Time dragged on, as it always does; it answers to no one in its cruel mastery. He could not express how much he wished it would stop, pause, reverse...Anything. The young one had explained base information, such as generalized data about Red Alert as a whole. He told of their progression as a team, their sudden change in motive, and their quick regression into the reckless beasts they had become. But that was the easy part.
Anyone could have told X the basic facts he was given so far. Axl had revealed a little bit of inside information, and had begun to speak about Red. Of course, the youth described him before everything had become so wrong. Naturally, he felt as if he were lying about the Syndicate Leader in doing so; but there was no way he wanted to accept those 'lies' for what they were.
Just another piece of the past; a piece he still could not let go of.
"...I see you've spent a lot of time with them," X said softly, trying to maintain a smooth flow of conversation. Only time would tell how long this placidity would last.
"Yeah," replied Axl, shifting uneasily. "All of us are..."
Silence engulfed the room but a second after. Why had he been so oblivious as not to catch his mistake? There was no 'are' anymore, nor would there ever be again. Change is never an easy thing, or a particularly friendly one. But neither is life, or anything else intwined within it's twisted essence.
Axl mentally slapped himself. He could think later. "..I mean, all of us were really close. Me an' Gungaroo used to play pranks on Splash all the time..."
The former Syndicate member had never thought much of it before, but now it was a cherished memory. It also explained why Splash Warfly looked upon him with such disdain.
X could do nothing but stare at Axl, at a loss for words or a little consolation. Before coming into discussion with the younger, he had known it would be difficult. What he did not know, was just how hard it would be - not only for Axl, but for he, himself, as well. But it was too late to turn back, and abjure to hard times; they could do nothing but continue.
"I'm sure you enjoyed each other's company," the cerulean Hunter pressed, trying to remain focused. "What made you leave all of that?"
'There's the moment he's been waiting for,' the teen thought to himself. 'He just couldn't put it off just a little longer..'
"I..uh..." How he wished he could just lie to X's face. But experience had told him that life never came that simple. "..I had to...I couldn't give Red what he wanted."
"..What is it he wanted out of you? I know you're important to him. He contacted us, and wished for you to return to him."
Axl must not have been conscious when this contact had occurred, which, in a sense, was probably for the best. X's words had made it sound like Red had sincerely cared, but the former Syndicate member knew this was just embellishment. There could be no desire for he, himself to return; just his ability, his 'special gift.' It was anything but special anymore. He could not help but wonder how one little skill could change so many, destroy lives that were once perfect, and alter the fate of everyone involved.
Life is a funny thing; though the humor is disgustingly bitter.
"X, it's not me. I'm nothing. If you'd just let me come fight with you, I could show you what h-"
"No." X's reply was on the fine line between stern and vicious.
Axl's synthetic skin was now supporting a pale, almost pure ivory complexion. Before he could stop himself, he was glaring bitterly at the elder; however, he was more angry with himself for even thinking the response would be any different.
"So that's it? You're just going to say 'no?' It doesn't matter at all what I think?" Axl trailed off from there, his tone distant and airy. How many times were they going to do this?
"I've seen you fight, which is just it. You don't. You run, and that will do you no good in battle," X raised his left hand, noticing how Axl was just about to cut in. "Before you start on me, let me finish. Don't believe or think for a second that I don't understand why you won't fight. I know emotions can hold you back, so don't worry about it. Just remember, your best interest is my concern."
"If my 'best interest' is your concern, why do you keep leaving me out!" Axl just turned away after that, reluctant for any kind of reply from X. In reality, he had known this was all coming; however, he preferred to lie to himself.
"Fighting is something most prefer to be left out of. Don't you realize that this is war? There's going to be bloodshed.."
"I know that!"
"I don't think you do. You're failing to get my point! Your family will die!" shouted X, adding a somewhat nasty accent on 'family' - like Axl was not already aware of this principle. The notion of bloodshed had lingered at the back of his mind from the moment he met Zero, which was probably a natural conception.
"No, X! They aren't my family anymore! People that love you don't use you!" He paused, a sick feeling flooding through his body.
It had taken him such a long time to say those words, and to admit that there was no way around it. The Red Alert Syndicate was now nothing but a dysfunctional group of murderers, set to destroy anything that displeased or disobeyed their whims.
Though they always held a special place, and nobody could ever take that away, he had finally admitted that they were not a functional group anymore. A family. The word itself was more foreign every time he used it...
X sighed heavily, lowering his eyes to the metallic flooring. There was nothing he could say or do to help the younger Reploid, especially since he was still a little in the dark on the matter. Still, he was not so ignorant that he did not comprehend that taking advantage of someone is morally wrong; no matter what the reason may have been.
"Axl, I don't really know what to tell you...I understand some of what you're saying," The gentle Hunter glanced quickly to the other, merely to make sure he was paying attention.
"But I know there's more to it. For whatever reason, you don't want to tell me everything."
Although X's voice had retained its almost harsh tone, he was not as angry as he seemed. Frustration consumed him more than anything, but alongside it, was sympathy. Emotions were both complicated and confusing, sometimes even disturbing. Feelings can easily break the strongest of souls effortlessly, and there is no defeating them, no matter what one could try. Emotions, memories, pain, love; it was all eternal, engraved into your very heart and soul..This is what the Class A Hunter had wanted to say, but it just would not come as he wished...
Though X and Axl seemingly fought about everything, they actually had a lot more in common than it would appear.
"Please understand. My job is to protect you, and I'm going to fufill that." With this, he positioned himself upright, nodded his head once, and turned to leave; just as he had done previously. With difficulty, Axl resisted the increasing urge to scream at the retreating figure, or to do anything drastic. By now, he was entering the point of hysteria. Everything was occurring the same as it had before, despite any menial effort. What happened to 'it's the thought that counts?' At least he had not been as rude this time around, but it did not look as if X noticed that.
'Maybe it's me. It can't always be his fault.' He was in no mood to spend excessive time in contemplation. '..But, whatever. I'm not staying.'
Instinct consumed his mind soon after, his every movement frantic and desperate; as if time was of the essence. Scanning the surroundings diligently, for the first time, his sensories noticed a fragile section of the damaged wall. It was strangely convienient, but he was not about to complain. Finally, the young male materialized his weaponry; it was a sort of sensational feeling to him at moment, since he had forgotten what it was to wield a gun. Clutching his weapons as if it meant his life, he aimed them towards the center of the weakened, tarnished metal surface.
"I'll show you, X.."
---
Ick. It's four in the morning, and I still haven't gone to sleep all day. I'll fix whatever mistakes and stuff I made later. I promise.
Wait I have to vent something.
I swear if I hear, "DO YOU WANT TO ROLEPLAY!" anytime soon, I think I'm going to rip somebody's head off. I can't take it. -hisses- Okay, I'm done. Sorry.