Zero, Iris, Marino, and any other MegaMan X characters do not belong to me. Oh, how I dearly wish they did….But enough of my crazed mutterings.

February 14, a day of hearts, candy, and sweet love notes. It's the same pretty much everywhere around the world, and the Maverick Hunter's HQ was no exception. Only a certain blonde hunter was depressed.

Zero sat in his room, staring at a picture of a brunette Reploid. Iris…

In the picture he was smiling, an arm around Iris' shoulder. She was laughing and leaning into him. Where had everything gone wrong?

Probably when he had killed her older brother. That can make a rift between two people, you know?

Valentine's day was special though. It was the first time Zero had ever been given something. Iris had gotten him a box of chocolate, which hadn't seemed like much, but it had been everything to him.

Sighing, he looked out the window. X and Alia had a dinner date, while Axl had been with Cinnamon the whole day. Sighing, he stared back at the photo.

"Hey, what's shaking?"

Looking up again, Zero found himself staring at Marino. He had met her only a short while back but she was a good friend. Shrugging, he stared out the window.

Peering at the picture, Marino was intrigued. "Who's she?" She asked, pointing to the picture.

"Oh, that's Iris." Replied the red raider. "She was my girlfriend."

"Was?" Marino sat on the bed. "What happened?"

Gazing distractedly at the picture, Zero was lost in thought. "She died. I killed her."

Taken aback, Marino looked at Zero with new eyes. "I-I'm so sorry…was she nice?"

Nodding, Zero looked over at Marino. "She was wonderful. But…It wouldn't have worked. I killed her brother and then I killed her…" Clenching a fist, he growled. "Sigma turned us against each other!"

"If it was Sigma who did it, then why are you beating yourself up about it?" Asked Marino. Seeing that Zero could not reply to this, she continued. "There's no point in beating yourself up over something in the past." Pausing again, the pink Reploid made a remark. "You know, I used to have a boyfriend."

Curious in spite of himself, Zero raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

Smiling, Marino nodded. "Yeah, he was real dark and mysterious. Tough too. He wasn't afraid to get in a fight."

"Like the opposite of X."

Laughing, Marino nodded. "Yeah, that's it. We were pretty much inseparable. One day he got in a fight with some rival Maverick gang. The wounds he received were fatal. Before he went he told me this…" Looking up, Marino had a small smile on her face. " 'You can't change what's happening Marino. Just live and don't look back.' At first I didn't understand. But after a while, I realized what he meant and I think your girl would've wanted the same thing." Standing, Marino adopted her usual half smile, half smirk. "Don't go chasing after something you've already lost! Go and get on with life!"

Smiling, Zero looked up at her. "Sounds like that quote, 'don't run after a lover or a bus. There will be another one along shortly.'"

"Yeah, something like that." Holding out her hand, Marino jerked a thumb over her shoulder. "So, wanna go use the training holo? With everyone else off on dates it's pretty much deserted."

Taking her hand, Zero grabbed his beam saber from under his pillow. "I'll take you up on that offer."

As the duo ran off, the pillow shifted, and the corner of a dusty, red, empty chocolate box to peek out from underneath.