"Was tonight difficult?"

Iris pauses midway gulping down on her E-Tank and tilts her head at Zero's direction.

"Not really. Why do you ask?"

"You have two E-Tanks this time," he remarks.

Glancing down at her nearly drained E-Tank and the full one in front of her, the Navigator blushes. "Oh I'm fine! I just need to have all the energy I can get since I won't be recharging anytime soon," she beams. "My brother is going to visit HQ a couple hours from now and I don't want to be too tired."

Iris has tweaked her recharge schedule here and there all week for it, but she wants to be extra sure. Colonel deserves her full, undivided and unexhausted attention and nothing less.

"Your what is going to visit?" Web Spider interjects from across the table.

"My brother," Iris repeats patiently.

"You've got one of those?" pipes in from somewhere far down on Iris' side of the Zeroth Squad's table so she can't see, but she recognizes the voice belonging to Hilbis. "Isn't that a human thing though?"

"It is…" She says slowly, remembering Double's explanation of reploids and their gap in understanding the concept of family. How can she explain this in a way for normal reploids to understand? "But I have one. My brother and I were built by the same designers and were activated together. We stay in contact even when we're apart."

Iris sees some of the Hunters glancing at each other and shrugging. She can't help but feel some pity that these reploids can't relate.

"Don't intake more than you can handle," says Zero. "That'll do more harm than good to your systems. Excess fuel have nowhere to go and you'll be forced to utilize it to get rid of the extra charge. You may feel energetic at first but you'll crash later."

Iris blinks. "Really?"

Web Spider's large metal fangs click together rhythmically in his way of laughing. "Captain's right. We've seen lots of rookies who think they'll be better fighters if they get the extra boost before a patrol only to rust up spectacularly midway."

"Oh bot, a couple months ago there was this stupid contest between these two C-Ranks," Bukali quips next to Wed Spider with a grin. "Abut and Sacrosse. Smelt me, it was a disaster but it was funny."

The rest of the Unit starts adding in their two zennies into the tale, dropping the entire subject of Iris' brother entirely. Iris isn't really paying attention to the other Hunters. She drums her fingers lightly across her fuel container and enters into her personal channel with Zero.

"Thank you," she sends.

Zero blinks. "For what?"

"For looking out for me." Her face heat up. "I really appreciate it."

"…You're welcome."

The warbot sounds off-footed and Iris stomps down her urge to giggle. Instead she smiles widely and goes back to finishing her current E-Tank, feeling Zero's gaze bore down on her as she does so.

She doesn't mind. She's aware that she's one of the quirkier reploids out there and Zero, being a combatdroid like Colonel is, is a super vigilant person in general. Watching everyone for every subtle movement in case of danger is probably subroutine.

Normally Iris would be a little sad that Zero is always on-guard, constantly reminding her of how dangerous the world is. But when such attentiveness shows itself in care…

She likes it. She likes it a lot.

As Iris guides Colonel around Hunter Base after he finished his meeting, the siblings attract a lot of attention. Every other reploid that the sibling units have passed by gawk at Colonel, flitting to the side of the hallways to give him a wider berth even though there's no need to.

Iris understands. Even when Iris was first activated and laid eyes on her brother for the very first time, Colonel was a very optic-catching robot just from his sheer size and elaborate design alone. Now that she's seeing him again after so long, Iris can see how Colonel is truly slotting into his role as, well, a colonel. He walks with his hands clasped behind his back, chest slightly puffed out, exuding importance and charisma with every step he takes.

And from the stories he's sharing with Iris as they walk between locations, he's definitely living up to the importance that is expected of him.

" – but it turned out that it was a minor misunderstanding. Spiral Pegasus mistook Slash Beast's boldness to be insubordination. In a way, I do appreciate the mess. I never had a reason to doubt Pegasus before, but now I am completely certain that he always has Repliforce's interests in mind."

"Slash Beast sounds a little scary," Iris confesses.

"He can be rowdy at times, but that's because he's not used to the military environment. Unlike the other soldiers, he was designed for another directive and then he was enlisted into Repliforce. But I see potential in him. I see plenty of courage and desire to serve. With some discipline, I can see him become a Captain."

"I'm glad! I hope that he gets along with everyone," says Iris sincerely as she opens a door. "By the way, this entire floor is the Navigators' quarters floor and this here is my room!" Shy, she wrings her fingers together in front of her. "Um, it's really large but it's pretty empty so there's not much to see…"

Asides from the two recharge tubes, the desks, and the closets, the room is boringly sterile. Since Iris only enters this room for sleeping, the idea to decorate never once crossed her mind.

Colonel looks at the recharge tubes and back at Iris with an obvious question in his gaze.

"The Hunters used to have more Navigators before the Third War," she explains demurely. "They still haven't refilled their numbers yet."

"This is a rare instance that I would approve," replies Colonel thoughtfully as Iris leads them back to the elevators. "You're a communications operator, not a soldier. It is not necessary for you to sacrifice privacy for the barracks life."

"I think having a roommate would be neat. It would be nice to share such a large room with a friend. Having it all to myself can be lonely."

"You have comrades," Colonel points out.

"I do! I wish I can introduce you them, but everyone is either busy or at recharge right now."

"Hmm. Can you show me the training facilities here? I'd like to a look and make comparisons to the ones we have back in Repliforce."

"Of course!" Iris chirps accommodatingly.

Thought Iris hoped that she can introduce her brother to Double at least. The yellow rookie is active on day duty and therefore having the highest chance to encounter.

That's why when she opens the doors to the sparring room balcony, she doesn't expect to see Zero down at the ring.

He's effortlessly trapping his opponent in a submission hold, face so blank it borders boredom. It's out of place from the pained, struggling reploid below him who keeps on twisting and pulling to no avail. The scattered members of the audience from the upper floor deck above him snicker, one of them calling out, "Just give up, Kakrin!"

Iris is not as amused. She's already uncomfortable being here. She's very aware that sparring is beneficial – extremely necessary in fact - that it's training.

But it's training to not get hurt. Training to hurt better. It makes her recall all the violence she has seen before. The real battles the Hunters go through that have very real consequences.

She shakes her head.

Stop thinking about it. This is for Colonel. You're here to help.

Zero tips his chin up, gaze instantly locking onto the siblings. When the Hunter chokes out," Y-yield," Zero releases his grip without breaking eye contact. The Hunter called Kakrin rolls onto his back exventing, taking an unspoken break. Some of the remaining audience members leave the upper deck to go down the stairs to check in their exhausted friend. Not without sparing a curious look-over at Colonel as they pass though.

The Zeroth Unit Leader walks to the edge of the sparring circle closest to where his Navigator stands from above. "Iris," he acknowledges from below, volume slightly raised for his voice to carry to the second floor.

"Hello Zero!" Iris greets warmly from over the bar railing. With a more serious tone, she asks," shouldn't you be asleep? It's not good if you're tired when you go out to patrol tonight…"

The warbot shrugs. "I couldn't recharge sufficiently so I'm here."

"Are you having trouble recharging?" Iris asks concernedly. She's a picture of complete, undivided attention. "Is there something wrong with your tube?"

Zero shakes his head. "I had it checked a couple of times and even had a brand new on installed. Nothing helped. That only leaves one conclusion and that is my recharge problem lies within myself."

Iris' brows furrow. "If it's really bad, shouldn't you go to Medbay and have it checked out?"

"So far it hasn't been a huge liability. In general, I require less recharge hours than the average reploid. The reduced hours will not affect my competency."

Iris' hands tighten on the bars. "Zero, I'm worried about you, not your work efficiency."

A strange expression flits across the combatdroid's face.

"So this is Zero," observes Colonel aloud, causing Iris to nearly jolt. She lost awareness of her surroundings for a moment.

Gasping softly, Iris clasps her hands together. "Oh, introductions time! Colonel, this is Zero. He's the captain of the Zeroth Unit and I'm his main Navigator. Zero, this is Colonel, my brother."

As if Iris activated some obscure subroutine, the Crimson Hunter has the sane look in his eyes that Iris recognizes from when they first met. It's Zero scanning his target atom by atom. She glances back to Colonel and sees that her brother is doing the same. Despite the distance between the two combatdroids, the air becomes charged as if they're inches from each other, glaring.

Worrying that she accidentally triggered something unwanted, Iris becomes nervous until Zero tilts his head, breaking the tension. "You're not exactly how I expected Iris' brother to be at all."

"Oh? And what did you expect?"

"Someone shorter," is the blunt reply.

Colonel's military strict demeanor stays unmoved but Iris senses amused mirth coursing through her brother. Anyone else who wasn't Colonel would be throwing their head back, barking out in laughter and even Iris can't hold back the contagious urge to giggle next to him.

"We certainly don't look like we came out from the same line," accedes Colonel.

"Also, Iris doesn't fight." Zero's eyes flash. "But you can."

A sudden spike of intrigue that doesn't belong to Iris shoots through her.

Colonel's lips are quirked at the corner. Iris understands.

She tries not to squirm in place.

"If you have no more opponents lined up for you, how about I take you on?" offers Colonel. "Iris told me of your effectiveness in battle. I'd like to gauge my abilities against – "

The next thing the Navigator knows, Zero is activating his thrusters and jumps twice in the air. Iris jolts as Zero lands cleanly on the upper deck like a cat, strands of his golden hair framing his cool features with the momentum. With the fluorescent lights closer to him, he looks like he's…

Glowing, thinks Iris, mesmerized. Like an angel. A guardian angel.

Colonel whips his head to Iris, face indescribable.

Before Iris can ask what's wrong, Zero is talking again, cutting through the strangeness that unfolded between the siblings. "You have a saber. We can duel."

"We can," agrees Colonel distractedly. "That is if Iris is fine with it."

Hearing her name summons Iris back to reality. "Huh?"

"You don't like the idea of us fighting, do you?" continues Colonel. "I felt your anxiety earlier."

"I'm okay!" Iris blurts with a pasted on smile. "You don't need to think about me."

Colonel levels her an unconvinced look. "You're my sister. I don't want to do anything that you dislike if I can."

Oh bot, Iris really doesn't deserve Colonel as her brother.

Suddenly, the taller bot lifts a hand to the side of his helmet.

"Also, I have to return back to Repliforce Headquarters," reports Colonel. "It seems I have overstayed my visit."

Zero frowns and Iris' core drops to her subtank. "Already?" she says, radiating disappointment.

Colonel lowers his hand but instead of letting it fall to his side, he pats the top of Iris' beret gently. "It's concerning redeployment. It's unavoidable. If my schedule frees up again, I'll see you."

"I hope that'll be soon," manages Iris with a small smile.

Colonel turns to Zero. "In the meantime, please continue taking care of Iris as always."

"I would have done so without you telling me," Zero responds without a beat. "She's my Navigator."

The knowing, split-second look Iris receives from her brother is the only warning she gets before Colonel nonchalantly says, "I'm serious. She's pure and innocent." His eyes narrow incrementally. "She doesn't like weapons or fighting, but she likes you very much."

…What?

Zero blinks owlishly and Iris hasn't functioned as long as most reploids have so she doesn't know much, but she's fairly pretty certain that not exventing is a bad thing and is she broken? She feels like all her circuits have been drenched in oil and set on fire, and it all comes out in a series of stammering noises leaving her mouth and honestly, there's no reason to be this flustered when it's the truth but -

"I like everyone, Colonel!" she manages to say coherently, not quite sure why she needs to correct him because there's nothing to correct. Iris does like Zero, like she likes her brother and Double and Alia and is it just her or is the temperature rising? Is the air conditioning broken or is it her? "And what do you mean I don't like weapons or fighting? I mean - okay, it's true, I don't like them but what does that have to do with me l-liking Zero? I like everyone! Wait, I said that twice, didn't I?" Yes, she did say that twice because she's rambling like a crashed drone, oh fritz, abort abort abort - "Ha ha, um, you need to go right, Colonel? I'll walk you out of Base – see you tonight, Zero!"

Iris seizes her brother's arm, stalking out of the door ahead of her before Colonel – or anyone – can say anything, head bowed with her bangs hanging over her crimson cheeks.

As soon she's out of the room, she nearly flings herself to the nearest wall, a delicate fist balled against her chest. She slides down to the floor and buries her face in her hands, the urge to cut off her own vocals or to release a scream battling for dominance inside her small frame.

Is it possible for a reploid to short-circuit out of sheer embarrassment?

Colonel pulls a face. "Iris, calm down. Yours emotions are all over the place."

"Why did you say that?" Iris cries out. "He's my ranking officer and – and…"

She doesn't know what to say and she doesn't know why she's feeling like this. Why is she making a big deal out of this?

"I can't protect you when we're separated," Colonel continues. "Since you like Zero so much – "

"I said I like everyone!" she repeats automatically.

"You like him more." Sensing Iris' bewilderment, Colonel explains, "You've made a lot of friends, but you talk about Zero the most. Your emotions were potent when you interact with him. It's mixed but overall positive. I'd be worried that he's replacing me as your brother if it wasn't so strange."

"Strange? How is it strange?"

"I'm not sure. I don't know what it is," Colonel admits. "Between the two of us, you're the emotionally in-tuned one. All I know that it's different on how you feel towards me. It's more…unstable. I'd suggest you go have your emotional node checked except it's only towards Zero."

"A different like," Iris echoes slowly, considering.

A like that's different from the like she feels towards other people.

Her eyes widen. Before she entered the Hunters, she studied emotions as much as she could because she wanted to understand other people better. There's this one emotion that she didn't look into because there was just so much. She only grazed the surface because that was all she could handle at the time.

"I like him," she whispers with weight. "I like him."

Oh dear.

"That's what I said," says Colonel matter-of-factly. Utterly unaware that his sister is at the brink of short-circuiting.

When Iris goes to work again, she's a bundle of crossed wires, nearly dreading to put on the headset when the Zeroth Unit enters patrol.

Hearing Zero's voice, calm and professional as always, simultaneously relieves and disappoints Iris.

She feels like she's waiting for something to happen. Like she's on the edge of her seat, a bizarre, warm tension that's wounding her tighter and tighter. If Colonel didn't tell her that she liked Zero differently, she wouldn't have noticed that she's been hoarding such an emotion for a while.

When Alia told me I should care for my Units, I'm pretty sure she didn't mean it like this, Iris moans to herself silently, slumping in her seat near the end of tonight's patrol.

The senior Navigator once told her that this job requires caring enough to pay attention to what their assigned Units require but be distant enough to not let that cloud their judgment. If the Hunters are panicking, the Navigator cannot get pulled into the emotional flow and panic with them. Emotional control is crucial.

Sadly, it's not an uncommon mistake that has Hunters critically injured or terminated in the past.

That's why it's so, so frustrating that Iris is like this. Feeling "so much" as Colonel succinctly puts it, and it's only getting stronger and stronger the more she dwells on it.

"Iris."

Iris jumps so hard her headset nearly falls off. "Yes, Zero?"

Hearing Zero's voice in her head without expecting it is exponentially exciting and wonderful and she wants to hear him all the time and never again because she's not sure her build can handle this.

A beat of silence, as if the person on the other end is suspicious. Then finally, "You heard the man. Can you cross-reference the intel and see if we have anything on it?"

The man. Human man. Who works at the bar by the river facing the north bridge. The man that the Zeroth Unit is talking to because he saw reploids going into the sewer tunnels in the middle of the night.

And this is important because that's the current mission and Iris isn't really paying attention because she's focusing so much on trivial things and she needs to get it together, stat!

"Of course! Please wait a moment…"

This is getting bad.

Iris doesn't know what to do now she's aware. Does she do anything different from now on? Is there an instruction manual on how to address this?

It's fascinating and terrifying. It's overwhelming and Iris feels like she's bursting at the edges of her plating from this compounded awareness and she…

She needs help. She can't overheat every time she's within Zero's proximity – she'd be a useless Navigator!

And she's here to help people. Useless people can't help anyone.

One night, Iris sits curled over a datapad in her opened recharge capsule in the dark of her too-big room, too-lonely room. She types in "what do I do if I like someone," and finds that the top results are…not satisfying. The young reploid doesn't quite understand half of what these articles are saying because it's very orientated towards humans and their biology, and horoscope compatibility? What do constellations have to do with this?

Don't get distracted, Iris chides herself, shaking her head furiously. I can learn everything else later. First, I need to find help for this problem so I can go back helping Zero better!

She pauses. She gently smacks the datapad on her forehead.

Thinking about Zero is enough to get her giddy.

Okay, focus.

Iris glances back down to the softly glowing screen of her datapad, lazily waiting for her to make a move, midway down the third page of her search results. Her hand sits right beneath a result that cheerfully says, "10 Signs that He Likes You Back…"

Zero. Liking her back. The same way that she likes him.

For a moment Iris imagines him. The Zeroth Unit Leader standing before her, his intense gaze locking with hers. Saying," I like you" with every ounce of seriousness that he always shows.

The desire to hear it from Zero is so powerful she bends over, clutching her chest.

How does she get Zero to like her back? How can she know if Zero even likes her at all?

Iris promptly looks it up. She's distressed to discover that there isn't a reliant method to this madness.

An instinctive response when desperate, Iris unthinkingly calls for her brother – then abandons it just as fast. It's nighttime, what is she thinking? Colonel is active during the day, of course he wouldn't pick up! And even if he was awake, Colonel is a super busy bot - what is she thinking, automatically turning to him for help when he has more serious things to focus on? And with romance of all matters?

Okay, who else can she turn to help? Who's someone she knows who's super knowledgeable?

A lightbulb goes off in her head. She knows someone.

Second after Iris finishes writing and sending out a message she instantly receives a response in a form of a call.

"Hey Iris, I got your message! So what's going on with Zero, buddy?"

Double's kind voice floods Iris with relief – which transforms into befuddlement. "Double, it's nighttime. Shouldn't you be asleep by now?"

"My recharge schedule's not consistent. Don't worry about me - what's up with you? What's the trouble with Zero?"

"It's not really trouble per say," Iris starts, blushing in the dark. "It's more like…can you tell me more stuff about Zero? You were the first person who told me anything about him. So I thought maybe you can tell me other stuff you know about him?

"Hmm, I can say a few things, but you're his Navigator aren't you? I thought you'd know that kind of stuff."

"I only really talk to him during work and when we refuel together sometimes. And even then there's the other Hunters." Iris worries her lower lip. "I thought of asking Web Spider since he's been working with Zero and he's nice to me, but…it's weird, Double. Whenever Zero joins us for refuel, it surprises everyone for a moment before they go back to being normal. It's like they're not used to him being around, but that's silly isn't it? They're his members."

"Sure, but Zero's Zero."

"What do you mean by that?"

"I mean he's…y'know, such a hotshot. Fought all the Maverick Wars and only hangs with other people like him."

"You mean Hunters?"

"SA-Rank Hunters, which is only him and X. Him refueling with his own Unit is news to me." Double's voice takes on a mischievous tone. "Though, according to the gossip lately I shouldn't be surprised."

"Gossip? What gossip?"

"That he's getting fond of a certain Navigator," Double sing songs.

Iris shoots forward. "Really? Who?! "

"…It's you, Iris. You're the Navigator."

"WHAT?!" Iris squeaks before she ventilations stop circulating.

"Frag me, did you really not know? I thought that's why you messaged me about Zero! What other reason did you have if not that?"

"Because I want him to like me!" Iris manages, high-pitched. "I never heard about him liking me. Where did you hear that?"

"From every rustin' reploid ever," Double laughs disbelievingly. "Zero never went out of his way to choose a Navigator before until you. He doesn't care to refuel with his own squad unless you're refueling with them – which you do."

Iris' tank grows right with tentative hope.

"M-Maybe he likes me. But I don't think he likes me in the same way I like him."

"What do you mean by that?"

"I have a crush on him, Double."

"...Oh," he says sympathetically.

"And I don't know what to do!" Iris bemoans. "Everything I find online either contradicts each other or it doesn't apply to Zero. I read one that says 'you can tell if he likes you if he's dressing up more nicely.' He wears armor, Double! He wears the same thing all the time!"

"Why don't you just ask him?"

"Huh?"

"Go up to him and ask if he likes you that way. Who needs all those complicated, human advice when you're a reploid? Besides, you're a really nice and pretty reploid, Iris," Double says encouragingly. " Anyone would be lucky to be liked by you!"

"Aw, you're so sweet, Double," Iris smiles before sighing. "I'm a bit scared."

"Why?"

Iris whines, which is an answer by itself.

"That's fair. It is Zero. Why don't you get him a gift? If you get him something he likes or that he can use, that can help."

Something Zero likes or find useful?

Iris gasps.

"Heh, sounds like you thought of something."

"I did! I have an idea." She hesitates. "Hey Double, can you help me with something else?"

As she makes her way to the loading deck, Iris can't stand still in the elevator. The good thing is that she's alone so she can pace around in circles without bothering anyone.

I was talking too much, Iris scolds herself. He only needed to know if there was another way to the tunnels. Why did I go on for ten minutes about the urban legends? What did reploid ghosts have to do with the mission? It doesn't! It was totally unrelated to the mission!

She reaches for the small pouch hooked at the side of her waist, delicate fingers worrying at the opening.

Shaking her head, Iris takes a deep exvent. She's been preparing for this moment the entire week.

She's going to do this!

All of her thoughts wipe away when she fully arrives to the garage just as the gates are parting for the Zeroth Unit transit. Dawn is so young that the only lights from the outside world are the distant orange street lights dotting the roads like floating orbs.

It's now part of Iris' routine to greet her Unit's safe return after each patrol. Operators aren't required to, but ever since her first day on the job Iris continued welcoming her Unit and didn't see the reason to stop.

Though it's been harder to look at Zero as of late.

Once Iris realizes that she has a crush on Zero, - bolts, it's harder to properly function around him sometimes. The major benefit of being an operator is that there's an innate disconnect; it's literally her job to look at the bigger picture and to be the voice centering the Hunters when the action overtakes all of their senses.

But here she is, the young operator tensing up at the sight of red and gold when the van's riders come flooding out. Everyone besides Zero are rotating and stretching complacent joints, yawning out greetings at Iris.

"Welcome back," Iris says as cheerfully as possible over her thrumming core, extremely aware of the small weight by her hip.

Okay she can do this. She's going to tell him right -

Zero points at a lone pillar a couple paces away. "Iris, with me. Alone," he orders stonily.

Iris' smile freezes in place.

She doesn't have proximity sensors like some reploids do and yet she can practically feel the other Hunters around her grow statue-still from the side, their optics boring into her like lasers.

Without another word, Zero stalks towards it, expecting Iris to follow him. Spring green eyes dart back and forth from Zero's retreating back and the other Hunters, who promptly avoid her gaze, acting as if they're not interested in the potential drama.

"D-Did I do something wrong?" she whimpers.

Web Spider's the only one who answers. "Personally I don't think so? You were doing fine to me."

Except he doesn't sound confident.

Web Spider shrugs helplessly with two pairs of arms before scurrying away with the other members out the parking lot, leaving Iris alone.

Step by step, the Navigator stiffly makes her way to where Zero is waiting for her, processor turning blank as the distance between her and the warbot closes.

Zero barely opens his mouth when Iris says," I'm sorry!"

The warbot frowns, but it's in a way that Iris understands is out of being confused instead of being displeased. "Why are you apologizing this time?"

"Aren't you talking to me because I wasn't being professional or helpful enough tonight?" Iris asks anxiously. "Or because I made a bunch of mistakes?"

"If you were making errors, I would tell you as they happen," says Zero. "Also, judgment errors are highly subjective. Your first time on the job is a demonstration of that."

Ah, right.

"I chose you as my main Navigator because you have a completely different perspective from mine and you weren't afraid to say it." Zero pauses, mentally rewinding. "No, you were afraid. But your fear didn't stop you."

More like Iris' fear made her do dumb, impulsive things at the heat of the moment and it's miraculous that they all turned out for the better.

"That's why I'm talking to you. You reverted. You were getting better, but since last week you've been acting the same way as when you first started. You're afraid of me again."

Iris blinks. "I'm not afraid of you?" she says slowly.

Unconvinced, Zero flatly says, "Yes you are. You're not subtle."

That's why Iris realizes that she's trembling and she silently curses at her overworked heart. She wishes she knows how to turn off the connection between her emotions and her physical reactions. Is it really necessary for reploids to express the entire range that humans do? Isn't there a point where it's too much?

"It's not you I'm afraid of," the brunette insists. "It's…um…"

Zero's unblinking stare is making this worse for her.

Needing to do something, Iris fumbles for her pouch and summons a small wrapped box. "Here! This is for you!"

The crimson warbot blinks. He tilts his head, examining her and the present suspiciously. "What is it?" he asks, making no move to take it.

"It's a gift." Iris fidgets in place. "I h-hope you like it."

The combatdroid slowly takes it. Shooting one last look at the squirming operator, Zero picks apart the red ribbon and lifts the lid. He digs through the bubble wrapping and fishes out a small, rectangular device.

"It's a SCR-311 external unit," Iris begins meekly. "I heard from a friend that when a reploid is having trouble sleeping, it's because there are processes running without stopping and they wouldn't stop no matter what." Explaining the use is steadying her. Iris takes another deep exvent. "It causes an infinite loop of memory consumption, making it harder to recharge energy. I know you don't like going to Medbay so if you're still having trouble sleeping, you can use that to help sleep better."

Zero is visibly stunned. "This is beyond your duties as a Navigator. You don't need to do this."

"I know I don't, but I want to because I…" Iris fiddles with the edge of her dress. She opens and closes her mouth, trying to say the right words but she can't trust her vocals to shift through the thousand thoughts storming in her head and picking the best ones.

Why is this so hard?

"I, um…I…you're the one I…"

It's just three words. I like you. I like you.

"I…li-li…"

Iris' processor keeps spinning on those three simple words and yet they're coming out. She feels like she's going to explode and she doesn't know why, this shouldn't be hard and yet she can't take it, she can't take this at all.

She sees Zero move and the words spill out.

"I love you!"

Silence befalls the two of them.

Iris staggers backwards, hands covering her mouth. She turns away, shaking.

That's – that's not what she meant to say. Love? Is she malfunctioning? She's malfunctioning. She must be! She had only one directive and she failed it completely – fritz, even the most basic of all drones installed with a sound recorder could execute her goal!

"Are you going to die?"

Huh?

She looks over her shoulder. Zero's eyes are wide. His lips are lightly parted, brows set in deep confusion. This is the most expressive Iris has ever seen him.

"No?" Iris manages. While she does feel like her systems are burning up from the inside, she's not going to be offline. Well, she hopes.

Looking away, Zero grits his teeth. "The last time I heard that it was before I was going to…" he trails off, lost in some memory that Iris can't access. He shakes his head and faces her again, scowling. "What do you want? What's your goal?"

Iris shrinks. "I just wanted to tell you how I feel," she says quietly, face hot. Her core feels like it's crumbling within itself. "That's all. I've been feeling like this towards y-you for a while a-and…"

Her voice statics. Her vocal box rattles, sounds skipping and she hiccups. Tears crawl down her cheeks.

"S-sorry," she gasps out between quiet sobs, trying to smile as she tries to wipe her tears with the back of her hands. "That wasn't true. I want more. I was..." She thinks back to all those things she read online; the poems, the songs, the articles that lists out her desires like symptoms, and repeats out loud the most basic components that resonated with her. "I was hoping you would like me back. I want to spend more time with you outside of work and know you better. I want you to be mine and I want to be yours."

Zero takes a step back. "You…want to be mine?"

Iris nods, pushing and unsticking her bangs out of her wet eyes.

"Why do you want to be mine? Aren't you scared of me?"

"I did, but not anymore."

"That's a judgment error," Zero whispers harshly. "You should have stayed afraid."

"After spending all that time with you?" Iris laughs brokenly. "How can I? You go out every day, risking your life to fight against Mavericks. You choose to use your power to protect the innocent. How can I be afraid of you when you're a hero?"

Zero's gaze becomes steely. "Last week when Bukali dropped his gun, you couldn't pick it up. That's because you don't like weapons or fighting, correct?"

The change in subject throws Iris off. "Yes?"

Zero stretches out right arm. It changes into a buster, the open end lighting up with contained power.

"When an enemy appears in front of me, I will terminate it," the combatdroid replies to a shocked Iris. "I am essentially a weapon. My directive is to fight. I'm no hero, Iris. You don't know what you're talking about when you say you want to belong to me."

Both androids don't move for a long time.

Then Iris inches closer, raising one shaky hand. She spreads her fingers apart and rests is right in front of the muzzle. The heat seeps into her circuits.

Iris murmurs," I can touch you."

The combatdroid twitches. The buster's charge dwindles down to nothing and flashes back into an arm, resulting with Iris' hand resting on top of the warbot's.

"…Okay," says Zero meaningfully.

"Okay."