Author's Notes; Pre-Day of Sigma AU. Shounen Ai. Action. Dr. Light helps Zero realize that he's in love. Sigma tests Zero, but it ends badly. X begins to harbor clashing thoughts about Zero. Please enjoy.
Zero couldn't even think about sleep that night. He still hated seeing X go away for the night. So much ran through his mind; the tour, X's concern about the elevator, the discovery of his creator, and the strange additions added by his creator from Dr. Light's final blueprints. He no longer cared for the fight that awaited him the next day. He remained on the examination table, holding his chest lens and able to feel his own mechanical heart beating. He still didn't know what to make of all these revelations. He almost didn't register the sound of Dr. Light's AI hologram calling him. He refused to move from the table, turning his back towards the hologram. The hologram sighed. "Zero, I know this is a lot for you to take in. Close your eyes and think about something that made you feel joy." Zero did close his eyes, but he wasn't without his questions. "Why do you aid me? My creator became your enemy, correct? Why aid the enemy?" The hologram smiled. "Your creator was a close friend. I wanted to forgive him and collaborate again just like we had done before. If we were able to collaborate and work together on you, for example, perhaps you would not have such a tendency towards violence." Zero said nothing, crossing his legs on the table. The hologram insisted. "What, if anything, brought you joy today?" Zero sighed. "Going with X on his lunch break. And learning to fly in this armor." The hologram smiled. "Do you enjoy being with my son?" Zero nodded, remembering the time they spent together. "Yes. It is strange to say, but I feel calmed by his presence. He's said he's calmed by mine too." The hologram smiled more. "I daresay this is perhaps more than just friendship between you two. Humans like to describe this sort of thing in many ways. Stars colliding, finding your soulmate, to name a few. This sounds more like the beginning of love." Zero's eyes opened and looked back at the hologram. "I thought love took more time than but a mere day or two." The hologram nodded. "It does, that is for a deeper relationship to take hold. You would need to learn each other's ins and outs thoroughly. What would you prefer? A deep friendship or a surface friendship? Think long and hard." Zero slowly got up, keeping quiet as he came close to the AI. "I want something deep." Light smiled. "Then perhaps we have misjudged Wily's choice in putting a mechanical heart in you. Its primary function may be to pump blood, but its influence in emotions cannot be understated." Zero said nothing, tilting his head. Light chuckled. "Follow your heart, Zero. If this truly the beginning of a deep love between you and Xavier, it will prove very valuable." Zero looked down at his chest lens. "Then...what of...down low? That's almost pointless." Light had to think of the right words. "It has its use. You will know when that will be. Try to get some sleep. You have a big day ahead of you." The hologram soon turned off. Zero felt a little better as he crawled into the recharger pod, slowly drifting to sleep.
X and Dr. Cain found Zero sleeping peacefully in the recharger pod the next morning. X quietly rolled up a chair and watched him, admiring how peaceful he looked. Zero's eyes opened after a good 10 minutes. "Xavier..." X smiled. "Rise and shine, Zero. We have to figure out how to change back to your normal armor for your try out." Zero sat up in the pod. "He never said when precisely. Though I imagine earlier is probably best." X nodded. "I suppose. Why do you ask?" Zero looked at X as he stood up. "I was hoping to talk with you. Your father's AI helped me with a few things." X tilted his head. "Ok, what?" Zero sighed, trying to find the words. "See, your father told me that since we feel safe in each other's presence, its more like we are..." Dr. Cain smiled. "It sounds more like love than just a surface level friendship. I was trying to tell X that last night. Its like the two of you are in sync with each other." X blushed brightly. "Love?" Zero nodded. "I'm sure you were skeptical of becoming friends with a Maverick...I'm sure its even worse now that we know it may actually be love..." X nodded back. "Yeah, you're not wrong...Its scandalous at this stage...Its better as a secret for now...We don't know what will happen with the fight or what Sigma intends to do afterwards. Maybe we need to wait until after the fight to discuss this." Zero nodded, changing back to his old armor. "Fair enough. I'm ready."
In the training room, Sigma and his unit waited. X joined Zero in the room and took a seat on the bleachers. Sigma grinned, spotting Zero in his regular armor. "Glad to see you can at least follow simple instruction." Sigma's unit went to the bleachers too. X had a clipboard, paper and pencil ready. Zero faced Sigma quietly. Sigma grinned. "I'm going to test you with a round of several simulations and watch what you do. Then, we'll see if you can be added to the Hunters. Take your position. Remember, no using that flying armor. Base form only." With that, Sigma cut out the lights and started the first simulation. An angry reploid charged at him, holding his hands out front as if to grab him. Zero giggled in a twisted way and charged at the reploid. He caught the other reploid and slung him over his head and into the ground, repeating in the other direction. Zero did this several times before the reploid split into lots of individual parts, splattered in blood. He laughed maniacally at the mess and the blood on his hands and body. X was beginning to jot something down on the clipboard, growing fearful. This was off to a bad start.
The next simulation was people and reploids running from a building on fire in droves. Zero paid no attention to the burning building nor the smoke. With a familiar smirk and laugh, he began charging and attacking the fleeing simulated humans and reploids. Sigma shook his head. 'He's pure scum!' Sigma then changed the simulation to a mechanoloid attacking the city while people and reploids fled. This time, Zero paid no attention to the fleeing citizens and went after the mechanoloid. He used buildings for wall jumps, attacking anywhere on the mechanoloid that seemed vulnerable. The mechanoloid just swatted Zero away like a fly. Zero was knocked against the wall as Sigma turned off the simulator. "I don't know what I was thinking to imagine him becoming a hunter. Men!" Sigma remarked and called. All the reploids in his unit got up and aimed their busters at the unconscious Maverick. X dropped his clipboard and rushed to Zero, throwing himself into the reploids' line of fire. "No! Stop! Lower your weapons!" Sigma shook his head. "He can't be helped, X. Stand aside." X refused, standing firm. "No, you're being unrealistic in this! He can change! He needs practice and guidance!" Sigma shook his head again. "Get out of the way, X. All we can do for him is put him out of his misery."
Busters whirred, threatening to kill both X and Zero. In but one short moment, Zero woke and tackled the reploids to the ground, including Sigma. He came to his senses when he saw X again, picking himself up. X was confused by what he had witnessed in the simulations and backed up against the wall, watching Zero in fear. Zero drew closer and X ended up in a corner. The blond leaned in close and licked X's cheek slowly. X was even more confused. Zero crawled under X and lifted him onto his back. Just as Sigma and his men got up, Zero started to run out of the simulation room. "Get them!" Sigma yelled.
Zero ran into the hallway heading towards the elevator. He was trying to activate his second armor, but had trouble. He and X raced by lots of confused reploids. With his mind focused elsewhere, Zero had no urge to attack any of them. Finally, he was able to change armors and immediately took flight. Lots of reploids screamed and threw themselves out of the way. Zero flapped his wings as fast as he could, racing towards the elevator. The two reploids already in the elevator panicked and clung to the sides as Zero rushed in. X was clinging tightly to Zero's back, scared and confused. "Where to?" one reploid asked. "4. Hurry!" X told them. The other reploid sent the creaky elevator up. It rattled and clanked up until it soon stopped. "No, no, not now!" X protested. "I knew this would happen!" The elevator had stopped midtrack and could no longer move. Zero panted before looking up, spying the escape hatch on the ceiling. "Xavier!" X looked up. "We need to get them out of here. How strong are you?" Zero mumbled slightly. "I think I can carry two at a time." He flew up and opened the escape hatch before standing atop the elevator. X began to crawl up Zero's body and reached for the reploid scientists. Zero held X's ankles as one reploid grabbed X's hands. The other reploid crawled over them and onto the top of the elevator with Zero. Then the other one did the same. When both were with Zero, Zero hoisted X out of the elevator. X grinned. "We work well together." Zero nodded. "We're not out of it yet. We have to get out of here. This thing is going to drop." He picked up another reploid. "When you're up there, hold the doors open." X nodded as Zero flew with them in tow, prying the elevator doors open. Zero held the doors open long enough to let X and the other reploid off. The two took his place, holding the doors. Zero dove back into the elevator shaft and grabbed the last reploid just as the elevator began to fall. He raced out of there and dropped to the floor in exhaustion. X and the other reploid leapt clear of the elevator doors. X walked to Zero, shaken up by all that happened. Zero panted, looking up at X weakly. "I'm so sorry..." Before he could say more, a horrible crash was heard and the whole building was rattled from the impact of the elevator hitting the ground floor.
Zero clenched his eyes and teeth. X covered his ears. The brunette sighed. "I don't know what to say, Zero. I'm terrified by what I saw in that room. Yet, I'm touched by how we worked together to save those reploids. Can you get up?" Zero shook his head. "I don't have enough energy for that in all the excitement." The other reploids lifted Zero to his feet and walked him to Dr. Cain's lab. X stayed close. "Dr. Cain isn't going to like this."
X and Zero expected an earful from Dr. Cain. They were surprised to learn that Dr. Cain had seen everything from the training room to the elevator falling. "I saw the whole thing. Zero, your training needs work. You two work well together, X. You were very brave in helping save those reploids." Dr. Cain and X eased Zero onto the examination table. Zero could barely move. "I don't know anymore, Zero. I don't know whether to fear you or adore you." Zero understood. "I'm so very sorry...I promised your father never to harm you...though if this is the end of our friendship, I understand." Dr. Cain chuckled. "Perhaps you two need time to simmer down."
Before they had any hope of doing so, Sigma and his men came in, busters aiming at the two boys. "We have you now." Dr. Cain had quite enough and picked up his cane. Zero was in no shape to defend nor attack. All X could do was hide under Zero's wing. As they all prepared to take the shots, Dr. Cain smacked each reploid on the head, knocking them out. Sigma was confused. Dr. Cain gave Sigma a hard wallop with his cane. "Your change in behavior lately has been noteworthy too. Return to the medical bay and make them do full diagnostics. And I want a copy of the results!"
When Sigma was gone, X stood up beside the table. He couldn't help but wonder why Zero was so low on energy. "You shouldn't be so lethargic. Are you not sleeping well?" Zero nodded with a sigh. "If it wasn't for the AI of your father coaxing me, I'd probably be up all night. I sleep a little, but haven't slept much lately." X grew concerned. "Then, what will it take for you to sleep properly?" Zero blushed lightly. "This might sound selfish...and even strange, since you harbor conflicted feelings about me...but would you accompany me in the pod?" Dr. Cain smiled. "To be fair, X isn't getting much sleep either." X sighed. "Its not like that. I just...That urge of destruction and violence is overshadowing you. I want to be shown the real you." Zero nodded. "I understand. Your presence keeps those urges at bay. I think only you will truly know my true nature." X smiled. "In that case, I'll rest with you." He eased Zero off the examination table and walked him to the recharger pod. Zero carefully settled himself into the pod. X crawled on top of him, snuggling against Zero's large warm chest lens. Zero's wings wrapped around him as both of them drifted into a long slumber.