Enjoy the last chapter of Photograph. All in all, I am pleased with how many people love this despite it being my first ever complete fic in the Drive series. It warms my heart to know I get the characters right without any OOC (to my knowledge) and thus make it enjoyable for others to read. I hope you all like this! My apologies for taking so long as well.

Originally, Gou was going to let the entire 'Chase following him to ask a question' slide. He really had been. However, the fact that he followed him to the wisteria path where there was a crowd already forming that afternoon was wearing on his nerves. It really wasn't the following that had annoyed him now, it was the fact that the other was hesitating on asking him something. It was driving him crazy.

'Just spit out the damn question already…'

Chase was always hesitant about human ways and customs, yet he never hesitated to ask questions to understand them. So why was he stalling? Was it because of the other time in which he had refused to tell him the meaning? Ugh, alright, so he had been harsh before. Scratch that, he had been very harsh all those other times. He tried to kill him too… Gou stopped in his tracks, glaring at the ground. Without a second thought in his mind, he turned on the Roidmude, barely even caring how mixed emotions dwelled in his eyes at that moment, only briefly registering that the other had asked him a question. Whatever he had been preparing to say to Chase in response was lost with what came next.

"I would like a picture."

Those five words stunned him, blinking owlishly at Chase. Did the other just say what he thought he said? A picture… Sure, he had stared at all of the pictures in the Drive Pit, but to ask for one of his own. Other than Prototype, Ride Chaser, Signal Chaser, and his license, Chase didn't have any other material possessions that he held onto, and all of them Gou knew he held dear to him, especially the latter two. For him to ask for something - and he barely ever asked for anything - it meant something.

"Why?" Sure, he should have walked away. That was what he would have done before but now… Gou snorted and glared away at a tree in the distance. It was so easy to understand the meaning in the way the other's eyebrows furrowed and the slight tilt of his head. Pursing his lips, he sighed. Okay, maybe he had to explain more about his question.

"Why do you of all people want a picture?" Confusion again settled over Chase's expression when Gou snuck another look back at him. Funny how easy the other could get like that. He still had so much to learn, didn't he? Not that he cared or anything. Seconds seemed to pass like hours; irritation begun to spread through him as Chase struggled to say something. With how his eyes lowered to the floor, eyebrows drawn taunt, it was just like when he had been reluctant at first when following him. Truthfully, he wasn't even mad, just annoyed. Everyone could tell how he was wanting to learn more about the humans he protected, yet he always was hesitant to ask about anything. If anything, he had to learn that if he wanted to know something, then spit it out and he'd get answers.

It still dragged on, and before an answer could be spoken, Gou got fed up with waiting and walked away, disappearing into the crowd.

. . .

It had been hours since he had last seen the robotic being. Though it wasn't like he had been looking over his shoulder – discreetly of course – to see if he had still followed him, no, not at all. Actually it was a bit weird that he hadn't continued to follow him. Even when he had made sure to peek a glance back after he had walked away, Chase had simply stood there, conflict eerily evident in his eyes. Kicking a stray pebble, his fingers fiddled with his camera strap. The crowds had left quite a while ago, except for a few people here and there. It was already late, although he knew Kiriko would only now just be getting home from doing something.

His stomach growled, reminding how hungry he really was. A smirk flickering across his lips, he turned down a pathway, planning to head back to his bike when wisteria petals drifted past his face. His eyes followed them as they fell to the ground, color vibrant against the dark ground, even with the barely visible light from the post-lamps. There had been a reason why he had wanted to come here, the wisteria and the expressions of everyone as they walked underneath them.

As he happened to glance to one side, he stopped, a frown marring his lips. There seemed to be someone sitting on one of the benches strewn around the place. Were they waiting someone? Although the city was quiet safe even at night, Gou still didn't think anyone should be alone here. Briskly walking over to the figure, his lips had already parted to ask if the person was alright when he realized who it was.

Stiff posture, purple leather jacket, short dark hair…

Chase!?

The question dried up on the tip of his tongue, leaping him gaping in response. The other hadn't gone back to the Drive Pit? But… Honestly he had expected the other to, not sit here and… He wasn't moving. Cautiously, looking around lest there was a Roidmude lurking about that had somehow done something, he crept closer.

"Chase?" It was barely more than a whisper, his voice sounding louder than it should have. Waving his hand in front of Chase's face and receiving nothing, he stepped back, chewing on his lip. The Roidmude didn't respond. Had he shut down or something? Honestly he had never seen him do such a thing, only heard from Rinna that every now and then she came into the Pit and he was sitting there in the corner shut down. It really was as unnerving as she had mentioned. He didn't even breathe, although then again as robots, they never needed to in the first place.

A wisteria petal floated by him, catching on Chase's hair. Instinct made him reach out for it, yet he then paused, staring down at the robot. He looked… so human, so goddamn adorable like that, face softened from his normal stoic expression – his thoughts crashed into a wall like a train wreck. Omg he just called him adorable…

Gou turned around, hands clutching his head and pulling his hair. Nope, he thought nothing, absolutely nothing. Chase was not adorable nor cute nor…. Nor… Gou closed his eyes, breathing in deeply. Fuck. His thoughts were swirling into a cloudy mess again. Why was it the other, who he had hated so much before without any problem make him feel this way? When had he stopped the hate and simply just been annoyed? Was it because Chase had tried so hard to fit in, no matter how awkward it was when he didn't get human customs? Was it after the countless times Chase went to help him, no matter how he yelled at him or tried to kill him? No matter what he did, the cyborg simply wanted to help him, had such dedication to that that he had broken some walls down inside of him unintentionally.

Gou turned back to Chase, noticing that the petal was still stuck in his hair. So peaceful… He couldn't help it. Just like the time in the Drive Pit, he raised his camera and snapped a picture. Even when lowering it, he couldn't look away, not with how the light filtering through the trees seemed to hit Chase just right. Throat becoming dry, Gou leaned over, plucking the petal off and quickly walked away, cupping it in his hand. Things were becoming too complicated for him to process right now.

. . .

Dinner was takeout again. It was ramen, but honestly he didn't care, it still was delicious and he did not – did not – trust his sister's cooking, even if she swore it was better than when they were teenagers. Through his slurping of the noodles, Gou could practically feel his sister's eyes on him. Sighing mentally, and understanding that she would not stop until they talked, he put his dinner down and turned towards her, leaning his hand on his hand with an eyebrow raised.

"Yes, nee-san?" He could tell she was trying to put together what she wanted to say, and he had an inkling on what it could be about. It was best to get it over with. Watching her fiddle with her fingers was only amusing for so long.

"I want to take a group picture again. It's been a while, so I figured why not." Kiriko's eyes widened at what he said, but immediately a frown tugged at her lips.

"Everyone should be in it, including Chase this time. You keep leaving him out of everything Gou, isn't he a part of the team as well?" Gou picked at the dinner table absentminded, before he nodded.

"I don't mind if he's in it." Gou could practically hear how his sister reacted at his nonchalant tone and he hesitated on looking up at her face. Just hearing her chopsticks clatter upon the table, and one rolling off onto the floor below, was enough to speak volumes about her reaction.

"What? He said he wanted a picture, that's all." Under her hard gaze he just couldn't keep his eyes on her. Quickly turning away, his ears burning, Gou began to noisily slurp the rest of his noodles in hopes that Kiriko wouldn't ask about his change of mind. It only took a few seconds until she began pelting him with questions left and right, and no, he totally didn't see the Cheshire cat smile that had spread across her lips.

Gou mentally groaned. He would never live this down; she knew something was up.

. . .

There was no way he was waiting for the damn Roidmude to show up. Nope. And there was also no way that he kept glancing at the alternate entrance to the Drive Pit. No, not at all… Lucky for Gou, no one, except his sister, had noticed his darting glances. It was distracting him, not knowing when the other would be showing up. Funny how Signal Chaser had come back to the Drive Pit by itself; that Signal Bike was always near Chase no matter where he was. Before anyone else showed up, he had instructed it to go and deliver a message to Chase. Stupid robot was probably still shut down in the wisteria park.

Briefly, just briefly, Gou paused in making sure his camera was set up properly and his hand slipped into his jacket pocket. A half-dried petal was safely tucked away. His ears burned at the fact that yes, he was carrying around a petal that had gotten caught in the other Rider's hair… What the heck was wrong with him? The sound of a motorcycle approaching down from the entrance jerked him out of his thoughts and he hurriedly turned to the camera again, trying to look busy even though everything was already set up. It didn't help that his sister was standing right next to him.

Gou suddenly sputtered at something Kiriko had said to him, staring at her wide-eyed. Only half of what he had caught had made sense, losing the context it should have been used with. Biting his lip, he let his sister re-explain what she meant and immediately glanced away. 'Well onto becoming friends with Chase'? Friends? Preposterous. He grumbled a denial and hunched back over his camera, pointedly ignoring his sister who patted his shoulder. Waving a free hand towards the Tridoron, Shinnosuke and Kiriko situated themselves before the camera. Now… How could he get Chase over here without it being such a big deal?

Ugh…

Before the Mach user could think up a solution that would not send Kiriko giggling and Shinnosuke sputtering about the change of mind, his sister called the other rider's name. Oh thank god, he was spared. The sound of Chase walking over was agonizing, simply due to the fact he would be wondering why he was called over, but more so in the way he knew Kiriko would explain why.

"This was Gou's idea. This time, you'll be in the picture too." Damnit Kiriko! Already his cheeks darkened, refusing to look up at all and risk any awkward questions directed towards him. Shinnosuke had already mumbled a 'Gou did?' to Kiriko from what he could hear. Shaking his head to clear his mind, he pressed the timer button and turned around, only glancing at where Chase was before he took his place next to him and his sister. It had been such a quick glimpse but the look in Chase's eyes still sent him in a loop. Confusion, of course, was there, but something warmer that had softened his facial features. Surprise was there too.

His pose was just as simple as his sister's and Shinnosuke's, just a simple haughty smirk and his hand pointing towards the camera screen. As for Chase? He shifted slightly beside him and he had to fight the urge to roll his eyes. Dear god, what was Chase's problem now? He could just stand there looking positively stoic like he was all the time, yet he refused to look over at him to confirm that. The timer counted down and he held his pose, momentarily being blinded by the flash.

As soon as the photographer could see, he rushed over to his camera, trying to not show how eager he was to see the picture. It wasn't like he was beginning to like photographing the purple-clothed robot. Tsh, not at all. Pressing his gallery button, Gou's jaw dropped at what he saw. There was no stoic look, no hesitant expression in his eyes. No, there a smile, a goddamned smile on his face! This wasn't like the one that had been on Chase's driver's license, no… It was warmer, hesitant yet more natural. It was… Kiriko asked if anything was wrong, but he couldn't answer.

The photo shocked his sister too, that much was true. He tried to speak when Shinnosuke came over, but the words kept dying in his throat, unable to form complete sentences or even complete words for that matter. Hesitantly he zoomed in closer to the smile, the two around him flabbergast at it. Swallowing the lump of words in his throat, Gou cleared his throat.

"Y-You smiled…" Closing his eyes before he dared to glance up at the Roidmude, Gou noticed right away how out the loop he looked. Chase's eyes flickered to each one of them, looking like he had done something wrong but was able to determine what it was.

"Shinnosuke had said you normally smile for this…" Gou had to fight himself to not smirk at that. Of course Shinnosuke would have said that. With how hesitant and worried Chase seemed to appear, it made him want to say something, anything. It they didn't mention it was fine, the other would be less inclined to join in the photographs, and that wasn't what he wanted… was it?

"I did say that. You look good when you smile, Chase. You should do it more often." Shinnosuke saved the day as he patted the other rider's shoulder. Gou was able to see the hesitation leave Chase's eyes before he walked away to go rummage through his bag. If he didn't do this now, then he would end up second-guessing himself. Finding what he was looking for, he took a deep breath. When he turned around, the rider noticed that Shinnosuke and Kiriko were busy looking at the picture, while Chase stood there looking conflicted. A perfect opportunity.

Walking with a purpose, Gou grabbed Chase's wrist and practically pulled him over to a corner of the room, away from the other two and hopefully out of earshot. He didn't want this conversation, nor the content of the envelope, to be heard or seen by them. Satisfied that they were not followed, he realized he still was holding the other's arm. Dropping it hastily, his eyes hesitantly searched Chase's. Dropping his gaze quickly as Chase tilted his head, he shoved the envelope towards his chest, careful to not bend it.

"Show anyone this picture, and I really will kill you." Gou glared up at the Roidmude, his cheeks burning hot. Of course he didn't actually meant that, but from the confused understanding in the other's mind, he knew that it got his message across. He released the envelope as soon as Chase took hold of it. He still couldn't believe that he decided to give him that picture, it would only prove that yes, he did take a picture of him… But it was the only thing he could give him without revealing the other one that he took. That one, that one he just couldn't reveal, not yet… Not until he sorted out everything.

The wait while Chase opened the envelope was torturing, every second ticking by feeling like a day was going by. He did pride himself in not looking away as the other found the picture. He wanted to see just how he reacted to his gift. Surprise was a given, shock, a number of other emotions mashing together in a dazzling display, yet there was one that stood out the most. Happiness. There was overwhelming happiness in his face, blindingly bright. Chase asked for a picture, and Gou gave him it, a treasure that could be kept close to his heart.

"Thank you." Those words were filled with such sincerity, such simple joy that Gou had a hard time comprehending how much this action truly meant to the other. And then he smiled, he smiled! It was more noticeable than when he had done so during the picture, and it practically glowed on Chase's face, eyes showing that rare flicker of emotion he always caught glimpses of. Gou's heart stuttered, trying to will his blush away. That little voice in his head admitted that perhaps they needed to make him smile more often… It was… It was nice, even more so since he was the cause behind it.

"Y-Yeah…" Glancing away, Gou bit his bottom lip. Okay fine, he could finally, truly, admit it. Maybe Chase really wasn't so bad after all. Perhaps down the line, they could be buddies. Maybe he really wasn't like the other Roidmudes.