Netto went home and immediately crashed onto his bed. Within minutes he was fast asleep, Rockman however wasn't so ready to go to bed. He stay up looking at Netto through the monitor link and once he was sure Netto was asleep he took off through a private link that Blues had given him long ago.
He appeared in a rather large room that was Blues' personal homepage. It was designed to have a bed, two comfy chairs, a fireplace and lots of books. Blues loved to read and many of the old classics adorned the cyber shelf's pages. There were only two people besides Blues in the world that had a link to this webpage, Rockman was one and Enzan was the other. Rockman came here only when he needed to talk with Blues in private and he knew that as soon as he went into the webpage, Blues would come.
Sure enough, not a minute after Rockman appeared in the comfortable room did Blues appear right in front of him. "Hey," Rockman smiled.
"Is something wrong?" Blues asked.
Rockman sighed and sat in one of the chairs. "Enzan-san and Netto-kun are starting to worry me a bit."
Blues raised an un-seeable eyebrow. "What brought this on?"
"That bet. Blues you know how competitive they are! And stubborn," he added as an afterthought. "Look, not that it's a bad idea but well…" Rockman struggled for the right words. "The way Netto-kun works is the way he has worked since he got this job. I hate to say this but he works better under pressure and so does Enzan-san."
"It's not healthy, for Enzan-sama or your brother," Blues said softly.
"I know!" Rockman threw up his hands. "Heaven knows I know. I tell Netto-kun day after day to get into a different style of living but it just seems…"
"Rockman, are you worried about their working habits or their relationship," Blues said.
Rockman looked at Blues a bit stunned then smiled. "You know me way to well. Are you sure you can't read minds?"
"Not the last time I checked," Blues gave a wry smile. "If I could then maybe I'd know what Enzan-sama was thinking."
"That'd be nice to know," Rockman said dryly.
"What's your real concern?" Blues asked.
"Blues, you'd have to be a fool to not see that Netto-kun and Enzan-san have feeling for each other," Rockman said.
Blues nodded. "Except them, trust me, everyone knows this."
"Well, my concern isn't the relationship; god knows they deserve each other. But let's say that they do get together, with their current jobs, could they handle it?" Blues opened his mouth and Rockman shook his head. "Blues, you will be the first to admit that Enzan-san works as much as he possibly can because of his high status. Netto-kun regardless of his," Rockman smiled, "Procrastination issues also works a lot. I just want to know if maybe they could actually handle a relationship…"
"You sounds like an overly worried mom," Blues said with a hint of a grin.
Rockman winced, "God, I do don't I?"
Blues nodded.
Rockman took off his helmet and ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. "I don't know Blues! I've worried about this for a long time. It just seems, and trust me this is weird to admit about Netto-kun, but it seems that they are both obsessed with work."
Blues pulled the second chair over across from Rockman's and sat in it. "Maybe they are obsessed with work because they don't feel they have anything else to spend time on."
Rockman gave Blues one of the most skeptical looks he had ever seen. "Netto-kun, not have anything to do?"
"It's a theory," Blues said.
Rockman shrugged, "Well, I can see Enzan-san doing that, but Netto-kun… do you really think that's it?"
Blues shrugged, "Only time will tell. Personally I think that this bet is a good idea. They will be forced to meddle in one another's lives because we know they don't trust each other."
"And with good reason," Rockman muttered.
Blues coughed. "Be that as it may, I'm just putting out the idea that maybe they have so much work because," Blues' lips twisted. "This sounds really cheesy, but because they don't have each other."
Rockman's eyes widened as he fought down laughter. "Wow Blues, I didn't know you had it in you."
"You can stop now," Blues said.
Rockman smiled and stood up. He stretched and got ready to link out. "Maybe you're right; maybe this will be good for them."
Blues nodded and walked over to Rockman's chair. He picked up Rockman's helmet and tossed it over to him. Rockman caught it and grinned sheepishly. "Be patient Rockman, I think our operators have a bit more sense then we tend to give them credit for."
"Netto-kun could have fooled me," Rockman said dryly as he put his helmet back on. "Bye Blues," he said and waved.
Blues lifted his hand and Rockman left the room. Blues stood there for a few seconds with his hand still raised before he gave a sigh and exited the room himself.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Rockman entered his own webpage as Netto was waking up. "Morning sleepy head," Rockman said.
"Shut up," Netto muttered.
"Feeling the aftereffects of last night?"
Netto groaned and flopped back first on his bed.
"Muscles stiff?" Rockman asked.
"Can you feel it?" Netto replied.
"A little," Rockman admitted.
Netto yawned again and sat up. He rubbed his eyes and looked over at Rockman. "Where were you, by the way?"
"I just went to talk to Blues," Rockman said.
Netto grinned evilly. "Oooohhh," he said in a knowing voice.
"What?" Rockman asked.
"Nothing," Netto said.
Rockman crossed his arms and glared at Netto. "What?" he asked again.
"Nothing, nothing," Netto said easily and stood up. "I think I'm going to take a bath," he said. "Can you send Enzan an e-mail telling him that I'll meet him on the boardwalk tomorrow? That is if he wants to come."
Rockman nodded and started to write the e-mail. He sent it and mere minutes later he received a reply. "Netto-kun!" he yelled to see if Netto could hear him. Rockman sighed when there was no reply. No doubt Netto had the radio station turned up as loudly as he could.
/Netto-kun/ he said mentally.
/Yes/ Netto replied.
/Enzan-san said he'll meet you by the Seaside Café tomorrow/ Rockman said while glancing at the e-mail to make sure he got the place right.
/He replied already/ Netto asked a bit puzzled.
Rockman grinned even though Netto couldn't see it/I guess he's looking forward to tomorrow/ Rockman said.
/I guess/ Netto replied.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
An hour later Netto ordered pizza and he and Rockman crashed on the couch and played a rousing game of Racecar. Rockman as always defeated Netto in one humiliating race after another. At his third loss Netto dropped the control and took a furious bite of pizza.
"Netto-kun, why on earth do you play these games against me when you know you'll loose?" Rockman asked while trying not to laugh.
"Because one day I'll beat you," Netto said grumpily.
Rockman snorted.
"It's true! I'll beat you and then you can stop teasing me every time you beat me," Netto said.
"And, after ten years of playing this game you think you'll beat me why?" Rockman asked.
"Shut up," Netto muttered.
It was about 11:30 when Netto and Rockman turned in. Netto flopped onto his bed for the third time that day and Rockman lay down in his own bed. They said good night and all the lights went out.
At 12:51 Netto was lying in bed and still wide awake. He was on his back staring at the ceiling with his hands cupped behind his head.
/Netto-kun/ Rockman asked sleepily.
/Yeah/
/What are you doing up/ Rockman asked.
/I can't sleep/ Netto said.
Rockman blinked. "You can't what?" he said out loud.
"I guess I slept too much today," Netto said sheepishly.
Rockman groaned and pulled his pillow over his head with a loud thumping sound. Only Netto.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Awww, how cute! Okay, nice Rockman being a worry wart, (cause he is) and some exposition and if you look REALLY carefully, foreshadow. Hope you liked it :3
