Here is my second Megaman fanfiction in English. I chose a subjet that I'm never tired of, the dilemna of Protoman about coming back to his family.
Warning: English is not my native language, I did my best to correct all errors, but there are probably still wrong tense used/sentences too literally traduced/false friends (if you notice about some you can totally put it in a review or PM me about it). I'm sorry about that and I hope this won't be a bother for your reading.
Megaman belongs to Capcom.
Enjoy your reading !
" Why aren't you coming back home ? "
The question made him uncomfortable, even though he expected such subject the second he accepted to enter this café. He was doing what he could to keep his confident smile while trying to find his words. He couldn't tell all of the truth, he couldn't neither lie to the two wide blue eye filled with innocent hope.
" It is not that easy, the things that happened between me and him… We can't act like it never happened. Getting back to what our relationship used to be is not possible. "
Three sentences to tell the same things, he couldn't be more vague. She stared at him with confusion, so he tried to make things clearer.
" You two entered the equation since. Plus, I'm very far from being the one he used to know. "
When he finished his sentence Roll seemed very concentrated, she was of all the Light family the less familiar with her big brother. This seemed so important to both her father and twin, she wanted to try her best to bring Protoman home. But she has to admit that she was also doing it a bit for herself, she needed it too.
Protoman on his side was even more disconcerted by his sister reaction. He took a sip of E-Tank while waiting for the end of what looked like a complex reflection.
The café they were in wasn't usually serving robots, but the Light family has made a name of itself since Megaman became the shield of the city. As the father was often coming to this place, they were always keeping some E-Tanks in their stocks in case one of the DNL were passing by.
So when Roll met the wandering robot in the streets, she didn't allow herself to think too much and before courage would abandon her, she came to him. She thought a calm place would make him more talkative.
Actually, she didn't expect him to accept and was very surprised when he said yes. So now here they were, sitting in front of each other in the café.
" Lots of thing happened. Rock, me, the Robots Masters, Wily- "At that last name she saw her brother tense a bit and decided to move on quickly. "But anyway, those things already belong to the past. Now you are a new robot, you want to let the real you shine trough of this shield you built. You want to become you and I'm sure that this you is a person with a good heart. "
As Protoman had both of his arms on the table and was slightly, unconsciously, getting closer to her, she knew she was on the track. These were the first slightly understanding words he was hearing in a long time.
" Rock and I, we never really got to know you. But now that we are aware of you it always feels like there is an empty place in the house, the family. You know, Rock, he often talks about you. Every time he sees you he is so excited to tell us what happened again and again. "
She could not see it behind the shades, but her words has made their way. If his face was still neutral, all of the conflicting thoughts going through his head were leaked out with his eyes movements.
Roll took a deep breath, not useful for a robot but this was somehow helping her to go on. She was feeling like she could mess up of all this at any moment.
" You may not believe those words, think I am greatly exaggerating. Nonetheless at the moment we learned about your existence we started to love you. We always keep a little place for the day you would come back. Not to live within the Lab, but to be… I don't know how to explain properly. "
Words failed her on this instants and she was in a great distress.
" A normal brother, a perfect little obedient son ? " He suggested with an undertone exasperation. " I think I get the idea. " He added.
Roll panicked and with and answered with a fluttering voice :
"We know your independence and loneliness are very important to you... "
His lips became a thin line and she knew he was retreating into aggressiveness.
" I thought you didn't knew me. "
She grasped her hands together under the table, her lips started to shake, but he didn't stop.
" I think you are seeing this a bit too much with a Utopian eye. "
He didn't want to be mean, but at this instant he had no filters at all. He soon realized he basically told her she was too gullible, which wasn't not necessarily wrong, but maybe delivered the wrong way.
As shame was taking over the little girl's mind, she couldn't stop her face from showing how much she was feeling mocked and ashamed. Just for wanting to see thing a brighter perspective, to make them move on. It was like running full speed into a wall with enthusiasm.
Protoman remarked it and immediately regretted what he said. He always had to be harsh around Wily's robots and even Wily himself in order to have some peace. But Roll wasn't a villainous robot, she was just a child. Even worse, a child that was expecting him to be family.
Maybe that was part of the problem, for him family just seemed like a new over-crushing responsibility onto his shoulders. On top of that, they would try to " fix him ", he didn't need that.
" It's not your fault, I know you're doing your best. But you can't do everything on your own. "
Roll stopped sobbing and he felt a great release, she was now looking hopefully at him, waiting for what he would say next.
" I don't hold anything against neither you or Rock, at least not anymore. It is between me and Doctor Light that things are too complicated. After what he tried to do to me, I'm having a hard time fully trusting him. He-
As she noticed his voice was starting to break she interrupted him:" He told us what happened, you- You don't have to dwell on the past. "
He felt grateful for her intention and as she put her hand on the table to reach his, he noticed it and did as well. It was a surprising contact for both of them, it created some sort of a tunnel of comforting energy that was now flowing through both of their bodies. She was feeling it too, excitement was overtaking her as she felt she was getting closer to her objective. Also, she had to admit it, because she felt privileged to be able to approach her such distant brother.
Protoman on his side realized it has been ages since anyone came to him to share any physical affection. Last time, well, it was from his creator himself. He now wanted this moment to last, he wanted to talk too.
However the slight smile on his face faded away as he touched the core of the problem.
« I can't forgive myself. I can't allow myself to be happy, to be loved. I don't deserve any of that. »
« Time and self-indulgence. »
« What ? »
She added her other hand on the contact.
« We all hate and sermonize ourselves at some point. Of course I never experienced such extreme situation at yours but… I think I understand on a certain level how you are feeling. »
« Really ? »
« Yes, those are just words but… You are right, you are not ready to come yet, you need to make thing clears with yourself. » She feared that her lack of precision were setting the bar too high. She leaned a bit onto the table to get closer, pushing an E-Tank which fell on the ground. It was empty thankfully, but now was not the moment to pick it.
« No one else can do it for you. Nevertheless, we will always to help you going to the right direction. »
« Which one ?» On the instant he feared that it was about « fixing him » again, even if it seemed highly unlikely.
« Forgiving yourself, finally let the past behind you. »
He couldn't stop himself from smiling, not a confident smirk this time, rather pure joy. He could recognize the optimism of their father in her mindset.
« Thank you, Roll. » He broke the contact, but there was no offense in it. He just needed alone time to process all of this now. She seemed to understand it since she asked the robot waitress who had pick the E-Tank on the ground to pay the bill. Protoman was not quite happy about her offering the drinks, but he was broke. Money was being pointless to him.
In front of the café she waited for him to say goodbye but instead :
« What about I escort you to your house ? »
She looked at him with surprise :
« Oh, you wanna see Rock ? »
He smirked.
« No, it's been a long time since I last saw the laboratory. Just curiosity I guess. »
Roll wondered if it was to project himself within the house, but she has been intrusive enough for today, so she kept it for herself. She took a glance at the clear sky and decided that spending a bit more time with him was a great idea. She was convinced that the more time they would be forging bonds, the more he would be prone to come back.
« Do you know still know the way ? » She asked.
« Let me try. »
On the way she made her best to make the district look as great as she could. For the first time she wasn't seeing him in a desperate situation, such as him being a villain or bringing their brother half-dead home. This revealed that having a banal conversation with him was possible and enjoyable.
Finally, she noticed the form of the lab at the end of the street and took a glance at him, he had stopp a few steps behind her.
He seemed embarrassed and rubbed his neck while saying:
"I think I'm gonna let you there, Roll."
"You don't want to get any closer? I wanted to show you the garden..."
"No, it's enough this way."
She was feeling disappointed but didn't complain, what he had done was already a lot considering the situation. She put her hands behind her back while turning to him and with a big smile she said:
"Well, thank you for this nice meet up, big brother. You can be of great company when you want to."
He briefly laughed and crossed is arms, smirking back at her:
"That was agreeable I have to admit." His face became more serious. "I will consider what we discussed about today, little sis'."
"I'm glad you will. Goodbye I suppose."
He nodded.
"Until next time."
The second after he teleported himself and Roll was by her own. She headed back to the lab, her mind was still full of thoughts.
She was proud of herself.