Author's Notes; Rich Family AU. Mostly Plot. Conflict. Some Shounen Ai. Zero gives himself up for the sake of Dr. Light's life. When found by the cops, the cops want the whole story. Please enjoy..

Early the next morning as X got dressed and Zero put his pelvic armor back on, X noticed part of the rose on his neck. He could see the end of the stem, curling to the front of his neck. "Hey, what's this?" He asked, looking in the mirror. Zero got up once his pelvic armor was on, picking a smaller mirror as he came closer behind X. 'That is my doing. I have affectionately given you a symbol of my love.' answered the voice output on Zero's collar. X blushed, observing the rest of the rose as he could see it in the mirror Zero held. "You marked me? But I thought that was a master's job." Zero smirked. 'Well, technically, you still can mark me. Though my mark on you carries some of my powers. You will sense and feel me with more ease. Not only that, I am one of few demons who can pass immortality to another, based on my feelings towards them. I can pass it through some of my fluids.' X blushed more, looking back at him. "Which fluids?" Zero smirked more. 'Mainly in my blood and my sperm, though some resides in my saliva too. Master Xavier is immortal like me.' He purred. X turned all the way around and hugged Zero tightly. "Eternity with you sounds beautiful."

Zero snuggled X with a grin, purring happily. 'It does. I would try to give my master a happy life.' X smiled and whispered into Zero's earport, 'You already are. I've loved every moment with you. I'm glad you turned around when we let you outside. Papa wanted to see whether you would go back to your old ways if you were left to yourself.' Zero blushed and snuggled X more. 'I still don't agree with the capitalism you and all others here adhere to. For the sake of Master and his father, I won't cause trouble regardless.' X looked up at Zero. 'If you saw another mobster, would you resist the urge to fight and kill them?' Zero looked down at X. 'I would try, but I promise nothing. Though, if they even tried to come towards you or your father, they would be as good as dead.' X reached and held Zero's head. 'Hear me out; I like your rebellious side and I love your possessiveness. However, we would have far more shortages if everyone stole from everyone else. More deaths would follow if people fought for goods and resources.' Zero snuck a lick of X's forehead. 'I am not suggesting stealing and violence are the only ways to get goods and resources. I am not proud of my old ways, I admit. I am only saying there needs to be a means where those who need goods can get them, regardless of how much money they have.' X smiled, licking Zero's cheek. 'I think your heart is in the right place. I feel sorry for those brought up in such a cruel way as you. Abandoned and then made to do crime.' Zero blushed brightly and lost a tear. X smiled sadly, wiping Zero's tears away. 'You're a good boy. I know you are. As do father and Dr. Cain.'

A sudden breaking of glass jarred everyone in the house. X's eyes widened after he and Zero had both jumped startled. "That came from father's room." Zero nodded as he and X ran out of the room and down the hall. 'There are multiple presences in his room with him. They're all familiar to me.' X looked to Zero as they neared X's father's room. "Then, do you think it might be..." Rock, Roll, Iris, and Mr. Hellmuth had followed close behind. Mr. Hellmuth kicked Light's door open. Light was at gunpoint from a tall bald man with scars on his eyes and a white haired young man. The other thug had short brown hair darker than X's, long enough to cover his eyes. He was pointing a gun at the group. The bald man smirked when he saw Zero. "I thought we left you to rot. What are you doing still alive?" Zero growled a little. 'That's none of your concern. Let Light go.' The white haired man tilted his head. "How the hell are you talking? Your mouth barely moves and you weren't even taught to speak." Zero's eyes rolled. 'That's no concern of yours either. Let the man go or you know there's hell to pay.' The bald man laughed. "Look who's all grown up now. I suppose I might be...persuaded to let the old man go. That is, if you've got the money." Rock growled. "We're not paying a cent until you let father go!" The bald man chuckled. "I thought as much. I'm feeling generous all of a sudden. I'll make a deal; I'll let the old man go if you hand over the blond demon."

Everyone in Zero's group was stunned, but Mr. Hellmuth stepped forward, blocking Zero's way. "He's not yours. He's not going anywhere." The bald man turned off the safety on the gun at Light's head. "Then, his death is yours." Zero reached and held Mr. Hellmuth's shoulder. 'Hold it. No bluffing? You'll leave Light alone if I go back to you?' The bald man nodded. "That's right. You were a monster while it lasted. Since you've somehow got your stength back, we could easily become the masters of the whole city, and maybe even farther." X grabbed Zero's shoulders. "No, Zero, please don't! They'll use you until you're back in that terrible condition you were before." Zero looked back and gave X a snuggle. 'I know, X, but I care more about your safety and your family's safety.' X didn't want to let Zero go and Mr. Hellmuth was stubborn too, but the thug leader did as he promised, letting Light be as the gang took Zero away.

All were quiet as Zero left the mansion with the gang. X walked to his father's side. "Father, what are we going to do?" Light took a deep breath, still surprised at the event. "I never would have expected he would give himself up for anyone. You worry so much for him. You love him, is that it?" X closed his eyes and nodded. "Yes, father. I do love him. He thinks and behaves differently, but he has a good heart and soul." Light smiled and nodded. "Yes, I think he does too." X sniffled a little. Light looked up at their bodyguard. "Mr. Hellmuth, I have a job for you."

X wanted to go with Mr. Hellmuth after he was given his job, but Light insisted on X staying home close to him. Mr. Hellmuth kept in touch with Light and X by radio, hiding behind buildings and walls. He was trying to follow where the gang was taking Zero to. Mr. Hellmuth followed them to a dark alley near the butcher's shop. He informed X and Light of their location. X gulped, hating to think about what the gang would do to Zero. Light then picked up his phone and began dialing a number.

Within minutes, sirens of cop cars could be heard. The cops went into the alley Zero had been spotted in. There were reward posters for the gang all over the town. Four cops got out of the car and pointed their guns at them. All but Zero fought back, forcing the cops to shoot and kill the other three gang members. The fourth cop kept an eye on Zero who was on his knees with his hands up, checking a missing poster of him from the orphanage. The poster, even though it showed him as a younger boy, seemed to match what the cop saw, though just as a young adult. The cops called an ambulance to pick up the bodies of the other gang members before looking at Zero. "You're listed as missing. Is your name Zero? Zero Wily?" asked the fourth cop. Zero nodded deeply. "You're listed as having Dysarthia. You are unable to talk or has some effort been put into that?" asked the other cops. Zero nodded again, letting the device do the talking. 'Dr. Thomas Light outfitted my armor that turns my brainwaves into audible speech. I am able to communicate fairly well with it.'

A few taps of a cane could be heard from the street. All the cops looked to the beginning of the alley. "I heard the gunshots. I was asked by my friend, Dr. Light, to investigate." Dr. Cain told them, coming closer. "Good afternoon, officers. I'm Dr. Cain. When he was weak, Dr. Light brought this boy to me to help him heal. The gang had basically let him rot after one mistake. His ankle was broken, he was starving, and I confirmed he has Dysarthia." The cops looked at Dr. Cain. "A heroic story, doctor. However, we cannot ignore the fact that the boy is still guilty of stealing and murder." Dr. Cain nodded. "Indeed. Light and his youngest witnessed one of his killings. Though, in his defense, he killed a mobster that was trying to take Light's son for ransom, threatening to kill him if no money was paid." The cops paused and looked at each other and then back to Zero. Zero kept as still as possible. 'He's telling the truth. All of that happened.' insisted the device output.

The cops huddled and talked to each other quietly as Dr. Cain came closer and stood behind Zero. Dr. Cain reached with his cane, easing Zero's right arm down before helping ease Zero's left arm down. "Relax your arms, Zero. Stand up and let me see that device." Zero slowly got up with a grunt, turning towards Dr. Cain. Dr. Cain observed the collar and the wire attached to it that went up inside the helmet. "A curious means, but effective." The cops then turned around. "Dr. Cain, if its ok with you, we would like to gather you, Light, his son, and this boy in your office for questioning." Dr. Cain nodded as the ambulances arrived. "I'm fine with that. Though in his absence, Dr. Light wants me to keep an eye on Zero." The cops nodded, following Zero and Dr. Cain out of the alleyway and down the street.