Zero could feel his palms sweating under his gloves as Xero, and he neared dining hall one.
"You okay," Xero asked as they walked through the empty hallway.
A quick but fake smile crossed his face as he turned to her. "yea. Never better," he said as confidently as he could.
Xero suddenly stopped in her tracks and looked at him, sensing that all was not good. She looked at him with a compassionate yet frustrated face.
Zero slowly took a deep breath as he looked back at her. "I'm just worried, is all. When we were down here this morning, Ms. Whitman almost separated us. not to mention we haven't talked about what will happen if Katz sees through my 'human disguise'?"
Xero smiled warmly at her partner as she placed a hand on his shoulder. "I know we've had a rough few days, but I've known Katz for a long time. Heck, I've called him dad on more than one occasion by mistake."
She watched as that comment brought a genuine smile to his face, and she couldn't help but smile even more at him.
"My point is," she continued, "Katz is not Ms. Whitman. And honestly, there is a chance that if he found out about your new appearance, he would help us any way he could."
Zero just closed his eyes and nodded in agreement. "You're not planning on telling him, right."
Xero's hands slowly moved from his shoulder and cupped under his chin. "I'll never tell a soul until you feel ready too."
He looked at her for a long moment, and if he hadn't already, he would have fallen in love with her.
And she looked at him, remembering their promise to one another: pretending to be brave when the other was scared.
Katz watched the clock as he waited for his final guest to arrive.
"You think Susan is going to show up," Jay Poppyfield asked as he leaned against the back room door.
"Oh, I hope so," Juno Poppyfield said from behind him. "That poor boy deserves to know his heritage."
"Remember," Katz said sternly, "it's up to Susan to decide what information she will tell him, if any, today."
"Of course," Juno said, as Jay stayed silent, keeping his objection to himself.
The room suddenly fell silent as steps could be heard outside the door.
Katz quickly pointed to the conjoined room that would be closed off by a door Jay was leaning against. "Wait behind the door," he instructed. "I want to ease Xero to your guyses return."
Katz watched as the Poppyfields obeyed, and he waited for the door to open.
Xero looked at the large wooden doors as they reached the entrance to hall one. She then turned to Zero, who gave her a nervous look. She gave him a warm smile that he quickly and genuinely returned. Xero slowly turned the door nob, unaware of the other occupants in the adjacent room.
As the doors slowly swung open, Katz could be seen from behind the door. it was obvious that he had practically leaped from the table and quickly approached them. "I'm glad you two could make it," he said as he directed them towards the rectangular table."
Xero couldn't help but look at the number of plates laid before them on the table. "How many people are we expecting tonight," she asked as she could sense Zero's concerns rising, as though he were an animal trapped by a hunting party. Her hand slowly reached down to her belt, her heat gun close by.
"oh, just a few more," Katz said casually, unaware of Xero's subtle defensive movements. "Please take a seat while I go check on the chefs. We'll eat in 3 to 5 minutes."
The duo silently took their seats as Katz walked away, but as soon as the door had closed, Xero turned to her partner. "Okay, a few more people may be here than we expected," she whispered. "If you get uncomfortable in any of the conversations, or if they get close to discovering anything, just say 'the weather is crazy' or any variation on that, and I'll come to get you."
Zero just patted her hand as he looked at her with his warm smile. "I love you," he whispered back.
Xero felt her face blush as he said those words, and while it may not have been the first time that he had said those words, she knew she could hear him say that every day of her life, and she would still feel like the luckiest person in the world.
Before Xero could say anything else, Katz reentered the room. "Sorry about the wait. There was supposed to be another guest, but they have yet to arrive. So we'll have to continue with who's here."
The duo looked at him in confusion as he made a small hand gesture. The sound of opening doors could be heard behind them, and without a second to lose, the duo of Xero and Zero were on their feet, their unique weapons in hand and ready to fire.
Xero felt her eyes widen in shock as she looked at the figures standing before them. "It can't be," Xero said as she felt her legs give way under her.
Zero dropped his cold gun to the floor without missing a beat, instead choosing to prioritize easing Xero back into her chair.
The unknown duo moved around the table with looks of concern but also hesitation. Without saying any words, they took seats across from Xero and Zero.
"Xero, are you okay," Zero asked as he poured her a cup of water from the table.
Jay and Juno waited patiently for Xero to look at them as she kept her face buried in her hands. "Zero," she said numbly as she looked directly at them. "These are Jay and Juno Poppyfield."
Zero slowly turned to the duo across the table and looked at them as several invisible lines started to connect. The man possessed a long curled, orange mustache, and the woman had long graying pink hair tied in a bun on top of her head and a pair of blue eyes.
"These are my parents," Xero said as the reality started to set in.
Xero looked across the table as she scooped up another spoonful of soup. Her mother looked across at her as their eyes locked.
Xero's eyes then slowly turned toward her father, who only kept his eyes on Zero.
Zero periodically turned to Xero, hoping not to make the situation worse, and Katz sat at the head of the table, still talking about his and Susan Shaddow's mission to rescue Xero's parents.
"And then Susan and I went undercover into Vain's base," Katz said as she scooped up another spoonful of soup.
All heads suddenly turned to the door handle as Susan quickly entered the hall.
"So-So-S," she stammered as she entered the room, all eyes on her. She looked at everyone at the table, her eyes lingering the most on Zero. Susan slowly took a deep breath as her desire to yell out 'son' slowly dissolved. "I am so sorry," she finally muttered. "I am sorry that I am late."
"It's okay," Katz said with a hint of sadness. "We've all had a chaotic few days. So it's okay to slow things down for now."
Susan slowly nodded her head, instantly understanding Katz's coded language. She quickly found a seat at the other end of the table, with Jay to her left and Zero to her right.
"I was just telling Xero and Zero how we rescued her family," Katz continued as he gestured to the duo.
Susan looked around at the table again, her eyes lingering on Zero, as Xero looked at Susan with admiration.
Susan took a deep breath as she watched Xero and Zero talk out of earshot, dinner having been finished more than half an hour ago.
"You didn't tell the boy anything," a voice whispered.
Susan quickly turned to see Jay standing next to her. "He doesn't need to know yet. Look how happy he is right now. Telling him everything would crush him."
"He looks like a strong lad," Jay said in his defense. "Besides, isn't it better if he found out from you over anyone else?"
Susan let out a sad sigh. "I'm not strong enough to tell him yet. I always wanted him to live a normal life, and right now, this is the closes he is to that life. I can't take that away from him."
"Vain knows he exists," Jay countered, "what's to prevent him from spilling the beans. It will be best for everyone if he's told by you."
"I will," Susan said, her voice edging in frustration. "Just not tonight."
Jay couldn't help but let out a frustrated sigh, which quickly turned into a kind smile as he saw Xero approaching them.
"Dad," Xero said, still surprised to hear those words leave her mouth, "Zero and I are going back home tonight, but we can do some more catching up with mom tomorrow."
"Of course, dear," Jay said as he looked at his daughter. "We are already looking forward to it."
Xero stood in silence for a moment, hesitant to ask her question. "Dad, can you give me a second to talk to Ms. Shadows?"
"Of course," Jay said as he stepped away from the duo and toward his wife and Katz.
Xero took a deep breath before looking directly at Susan. "Ms. Shadows, I just have to say thank you," she said sincerely. "You helped complete my family. How could I ever repay you?"
Susan felt a warm smile creep over her face as she looked back at the young agent. "Keep your family safe. And I don't just mean your blood family," she said as her eyes slowly moved toward Zero. "keep him safe," she finally said as she turned away from the young agent.
Zero exhaustedly threw his coat onto the closest chair he saw as he and Xero exited the Modi-vator, now back on board the Modi-blimp. "So, how are you feeling," he asked her.
Xero couldn't help but beam a warm smile at him. "I feel great," she said as she slowly approached him, wrapping her hands around his neck. "I feel like I am living in a fairy tale. My family is back, we've defeated the bad guys yet again, and right now, I'm holding onto the man of my dreams," she said as she looked into his eyes.
He looked back at her, his heart running faster than olympian athletes. "So, "he said coyly, "how do these fairy tales usually end?"
"Well," she said, her face turning a bright red, her voice as coy as his, "they usually end with a kiss."
"Well," Zero said as he pulled her closer, "should we fulfill the fairy tale ending."
"well, this isn't the end," Xero said as she gently pressed her forehead to his, "but I still want that kiss."
And like that, Xero felt the spark run through her as her lips locked with his. Like before, their breathing became synced. She felt the safety of his arms wrapped around her, and she felt just as protective as her arms stayed wrapped around his neck. She felt a wave of bliss wash over her as their fairy tale reached another chapter.
Vain looked at his computer as the blood sample reached 99%. A labored ding could be heard throughout the base as the machine finally finished its analysis. A long paper roll rolled out of the device at a slow and steady pace.
Lacey couldn't help but jump up and down in anticipation as Vain's long bony hands grabbed and ripped the paper away from the machine.
"So what does it say," Lacey asked as she hovered over her 'father' desperately trying to read the sheet.
Vain quietly brought down the sheet of paper as he gazed straight ahead at nothing. 'What is this agents name," he finally asked.
"Zero," she said as she felt her whole body shaking with anticipation. "He has no surname."
"He does now," Vain said bluntly.
Lacey felt her eyes light up. "So does that mean-"
Vain calmly nodded his head. "I have a true heir to my name." he then turned to Lacey. "I want the boy brought to me. Alive. If you can convince him to join us, then do so."
Lacey felt a ping of concern as she asked, "and what will happen to him if he refuses to join us?"
Vain turned away from her and back to his machine as the unkind words left his mouth. "Not everyone gets a fairy tale ending."