GammaTron: Hi folks. As part of Mega May, a celebration of Megaman, I'm doing a mixture of art for it and either making new fanfics or updating fanfics of Megaman. This one has been on my mind for a bit. It's got a bit of a downer beginning and will be covering events from 3-6 in a big divergence at times.
A pair of dull emerald eyes barely kept open, their owner having not budged in the last three hours. Why should they move? The metal pole took one…the rock that pierced took the other…all that was left was the third, barely struggling to stay.
"H…Hub…"
"Lan…"
"W…We're gonna…gonna get out of this…a-and the girls, t-too…"
'Lies…' Hub thought bitterly, knowing his twin was in denial despite knowing damn well the mess of red hair a barely working hand was messing with was stained red…the once flawless pale skin cold to the touch…that the foul scent wasn't just the dead corpses around but the one he had the head of in their lap.
Cracking noises made Lan tremble and hiss out at the piece of rebar in him staying still through his side. Hub just kept staring off into space. Lan choked back a sob. This wasn't supposed to happen. It was meant to be a simple trip to a piano concert. He would have told her…he would've told her that…that… The ceiling groaned above.
"...Will…Will they be waiting?"
"..."
"To walk to school? I…I can't wait for it, ya know? Maybe I…I can s-surprise Maylu w-with watching the news before sc-school?"
"...They will…Maylu would probably like you being in the know…"
"That…That's good. That's…I'm h-happy…"
Hub nodded before silence fell for a minute outside of the cracking above, "...It will be instant."
"H-Huh?"
"The pain. It will be for just an instant and then nothing."
"O-Oh…"
"..."
"Hey…H-Hub?"
"Yes, Lan?"
"I'll tell Maylu when…when we see the g-girls, a-alright…?" Lan spoke as the ceiling shifted.
"You better…"
"I promise, Hub," Lan promised, giving the head a kiss as he closed his eyes and relaxed, "Wait for me, My Heart…Your Soul is coming."
Hub nodded. He hated himself…he lied to his twin. It wasn't an instant when he died. It was an eternity.
*crunch*
"Remember…while there hasn't been any signs of physical deformities or the development of cancer cells, the amount of radiation he went through may have a strong chance of mental issues…"
A soft beeping stirred in Lan's mind along with the voice droning on. His eyes felt heavy, yet…sobbing…he heard sobs…He struggled with it, but he managed to force his eyes to open to blurry spots. As he struggled, the blurs slowly took shapes, but the most important…the one he solely focused on…was that of a red-haired girl his age…her skin soft and pale in natural tone. The sobs…were from her…sobs that halted upon the tanned hand nestling on her head. She looked up, brown eyes reddened from the tears.
"...L-Lan…?"
"...M…Ma…Maylu…" his voice felt hoarse and struggled to keep awake.
"You're awake," Maylu gasped.
"Lan?!" his mother gasped, turning away from the doctor to look at him.
"M…Mom…" Lan whispered, his hand moving away from Maylu's head to let her grasp it while managing to look at her brown hair and worried green eyes.
"Easy, Mrs. Hikari," the doctor warned before gently speaking to Lan, "You've been quite the worry maker for these two and your father. Not surprised given you've been comatose for a full month. It's a miracle that radiation from the headquarters of Grave…"
"G-Grave…?"
"...Yes. That terrorist organization you just helped deal with. Their people were arrested and their leader willingly complied with the Officials," he explained, "What do you last remember?"
"T…Train…" Lan whispered, his breathing starting to quicken, "T-Train…collapse…no, no, no, no…n-not her…" his eyes grew unfocused as his monitors went off, "M-Maylu…no…I wa…M-Maylu…no, no, no, no, no…"
"Lan!" Maylu gasped before he froze the moment she squeezed his hand before slumping as the machines quieted, "Ohh…Lan…"
"...Ma'am…I…I need to talk to you outside…" the doctor quietly advised, leaving Lan and Maylu alone.
"M…May…"
"I'm here," Maylu whispered, seeing his eyes starting to lose focus.
"..." he weakly smiled at her, tears welling in his eyes from just looking at her, alive and healthy, "H…H…Hea…Heart…"
"Heart? …Oh!" Maylu gasped, "Keep it with you, Lan. Until you're all better, keep my Heart with you."
"Th…thank…" Lan muttered, barely managing to squeeze her hand, "...I…I…l-l-lo…" his eyes grew heavy despite his struggling, "...lo…lo…ve…you…May…lu…" he trailed off as he passed out once more.
'Did…did he just…' Maylu thought before smiling as tears fell once more while she kissed his forehead, whispering, "I love you, too." 'I'll be sure you know that when you get out, too.' she stayed in the chair by his bed, holding his hand and rubbing the back of it with her thumb in tiny, slow circles, until Mrs. Hikari and the doctor entered and saw she had fallen asleep while holding his hand.
"...When can he start?" she asked.
"We'll have him get started three days from now with on-site specialists before switching to another once he's discharged," the doctor assured, "Ms. Saiko is the closest specialist to your home. Easily in walking distance."
"Thank you," Haruka nodded before holding Lan's opposite hand as he rested, "Oh my sweet boy…"
"It's not that simple, Roll," a man with reddish-brown hair groaned, removing his glasses to pinch the brim of his nose and trying to not look at the pink-wearing NetNavi with yellow antennae resembling plugs on the screen to his right, sitting beside Hub as he just sat and stared ahead.
"All I can understand is that he lost his personality, Dr. Hikari!"
"It's not like that. At best, the radiation also affected him and caused key programs to become wiped," he sighed, "Right now, he's trying to repair what's wrong, but it may take years before he's back to the Megaman you knew."
"..." Roll looked over at Hub before sitting down beside him, "You big goofball…" he didn't try to fight back the gentle tug she gave and had his head lay on her chest as she held him close, tears dripping onto the top of his helmet, "It…It's gonna be okay…I won't leave you to do this alone."
"..." Hub…Megaman didn't respond outside of a small nod. He wasn't sure if this was an illusion or what…he wasn't sure if this was his Roll…his Heart…holding him.
Maylu grimaced as she woke up. Three…months. Three long months since Lan woke up after passing out once he and that other boy got out of the building. Yet…Lan couldn't be let out since they were still checking him over, doing several tests…and school just had to keep going despite her wanting to be there for Lan. It had been tricky, but she had managed to rework her piano lessons to be later in the day around an hour before her normal bedtime. She wanted to just drop it entirely so she could spend as much time as possible with Lan, but the boy wouldn't hear of it.
"I don't want to be the reason why you can't follow your dream."
She blushed at the memory. She had promised him a private concert when he was finally released. She couldn't help but wonder if Sonia had told Lan what Maylu wanted to be before she and Geo had gone back to the future. She was honestly thankful to the future pop idol for all the advice and help. Her PeT ringing cut through her thoughts.
"Maylu! It's Mrs. Hikari!"
"!-!" Maylu quickly scrambled to her desk, nearly falling off her ladder in her haste, and answered, "Good morning, Mrs. Hikari!"
"Hello, Maylu. Do you think you could come over as soon as you can?" Mrs. Hikari asked.
"Of course!" Maylu replied.
"Wonderful! I'll have breakfast for you when you come," she smiled before hanging up.
She was quick to get ready, going for a new outfit. It was still in her favorite shades of blue, but she wore a pair of jean shorts with a belt that had her family crest as the buckle, a blue blouse with a darker blue zipper vest over it, a pair of black leggings and red running shoes with magnetic soles to keep a better grip on her scooter. She looked herself over before tying a pink bandana with her family crest on her forehead, a gift from Lan before this all happened. She hoped to surprise him with it on her daily visit today.
"Alright, time to see what Mrs. Hikari needs us for," Maylu noted.
"Right! Maybe she needs help with a virus?" Roll guessed as Maylu walked outside and straight next door.
"Maybe," Maylu replied, "Still…free breakfast." she proceeded to knock on the door before Mrs. Hikari opened it, "Good morning, Mrs. Hikari!"
"Oh, hello, Maylu. Please, come in," Mrs. Hikari greeted, moving out of the way, letting Maylu enter…and paused on seeing a shy-looking Lan, wearing baby-blue pajama pants and button pajama shirt, "He was allowed to come home early, but he won't be back in school until next week."
"H-Hi…" Lan greeted before grunting at the red and blue 'missile' that hugged him, "Called it, Mama." he froze when Maylu kissed his cheek, "!"
"And I called that," Mrs. Hikari noted, an amused smile gracing her lips.
"I missed you," Maylu whispered as Lan wrapped his arms around her waist.
"Missed you t-too," Lan quietly replied, a blush on his face.
"I'll get breakfast finished. You two stay like that, okay?" Mrs. Hikari giggled.
"...Hey, Lan?" Maylu quietly asked once Mrs. Hikari moved to the kitchen and started working on the food.
"Hm?" Lan softly replied as Maylu moved her head to look him in the eyes.
"I love you, too," Maylu confessed.
"...?!" Lan's face blushed, only growing stronger when she gave him a kiss to the lips, "!" he returned the kiss with a small smile, "Th-Thank you…"
"Hm?"
"For…well…being you," Lan explained, "For visiting a-and giving me your Heart through it all…"
"And you are keeping my Heart, mister," Maylu tapped his nose, "No arguing about it."
"O-Okay…b-but if I'm keeping your Heart, then you keep my Soul," Lan debated.
"?!" Maylu blinked a few times before giggling while nuzzling his cheek with her own, "Alright. I'm your Heart and you're my Soul then."
"Oh this is so sweet," Roll whispered, sitting on Megaman's bed as the blue NetNavi nodded.
"He's…earned a chance…at happiness," Megaman quietly spoke.
"..." Roll gently grasped his hand, "This is a moment you should smile, Mega."
"..." Megaman nodded, his lips twitching as he gave an awkward smile.
"A little less teeth. More like…this," Roll gave a small smile at Megaman.
"..." Megaman took a few moments, but eventually he managed to make the same smile Roll was giving him.
"That's right!" Roll beamed before hugging him, "You're doing a great job, Mega!"
"Triggers?" Maylu repeated as breakfast ended, the redhead helping with the dish cleaning.
"Lan's developed several phobias that will make things…difficult…for him," Mrs. Hikari explained as Lan fidgeted.
"Um…I…I get panic attacks when I'm in tunnels for too long and I collapse when I see the monorail," Lan admitted, "Kinda sucks that the fastest way to see dad terrifies me more than anything else." 'For damn good reason, too.' His mind flashed to lifeless eyes that he closed with his hand, never to play again, 'No! No! She's right here! She's alive and right here!' He flinched before relaxing on seeing her eyes and feeling her warm hand in his shaky one, "J-Just thinking of them makes me nervous…the therapist says it's normal for this kind of fear to do that."
"Speaking of, you have medication to take," Mrs. Hikari reminded.
"Ah…right," Lan grimaced, heading for the bathroom, "Pardon me."
"..." Mrs. Hikari waited until he locked the door before turning to Maylu, "It seems the radiation caused intense hallucinations on his way out of there and while he was in it. The biggest one they learned of, and where his mental issues come from, is that he thinks you died in a ride in the metro on the way to a piano recital with him about two, maybe three, years from now."
"!" Maylu gasped, covering her mouth in shock.
Mrs. Hikari nodded, "He had a full on breakdown and passed out after a rather…loud scream…when a doctor mentioned you came to visit once on the new metro line to the area. The doctors say he has claustrophobia-Fear of small spaces-, thanatophobia-Fear of your friends and family dying in front of you-, siderodromophobia-Fear of trains-, and PTSD."
"Oh no…" Maylu whispered with wide eyes.
"But…they noticed something as well," Mrs. Hikari went on, "He really improved whenever you visited in comparison to any other visitor he had."
"He…He did?"
"Yes," Mrs. Hikari replied with a nod, "You have a really strong impression on him."
"..." Maylu gasped, "Wh-When he stayed to confront Grave…I…I said I was giving him…my heart."
Mrs. Hikari nodded, "And did he say anything to you?"
"He…He promised to bring it back," Maylu replied, "He tried in the hospital, but…but I told him to keep holding onto it, that he still needed my heart…"
Mrs. Hikari nodded once more, "That act of kindness may be the biggest reason why he's been able to recover so fast." She pursed her lips after a few moments of thought and then warned her, "If you hear someone call him a 'hero,' make sure to grab his hand immediately."
"H-Huh?"
"Lan…he and Megaman have developed a…um…a strong aversion to being called heroes."
"H-Huh?!" Maylu gawked.
"It could have been part of the hallucinations caused by how much radiation they endured," she explained, "If anyone calls them heroes, you must grab Lan's hand and Roll has to hold onto Megaman. You've seen him have panic attacks in the hospital and how fast they stopped the moment you came into contact with him. This is a thing you need to do when I can't be there." she narrowed her eyes, "Maylu, I'm serious. A doctor called him a hero and it took several nurses to keep him down and away from the doctor. I didn't even know where he learned such language that he threw at the man, either…"
"...I will," Maylu assured, giving a nod and a look of strong determination as Lan came back in, grimacing.
"Why did I have to eat first and then take the pills…?" Lan grumbled before Maylu's PeT buzzed.
"Ah…" Maylu gasped.
"Alarm for school?" Lan asked, earning a nod, "..." he held her hand and smiled at him, "Good luck today and I'll see you later?"
"Yeah," Maylu nodded, "...Do you want to see Dex and Yai?"
"...Not today," Lan replied, earning a nod from Maylu.
"I'll keep it a secret you're back then," Maylu assured, "And I'm not forgetting what we promised for when you got out. A private concert just for you and Megaman. Roll and I have been working hard on some new scores and I've been practicing some older pieces."
Lan smiled at that, "Now you're making me excited for you coming back after school."
"Good," Maylu nodded, giving him a kiss on the cheek before going to the door, "See you later…my Soul."
"See you later…my Heart," Lan waved.
"...You told her at last?" Mrs. Hikari asked once Maylu left.
Lan nodded, wiping his eyes of the tears that were forming, "Yeah…she…she really loves me…it wasn't just a hallucination…"
"I'm so happy for you," Mrs. Hikari spoke, giving him a hug, "You go rest up so you can be awake this afternoon, okay? I'm thinking this little morning talk has probably settled that tired head of yours."
Lan nodded as he gave a small yawn. That was one thing he never told Maylu…the sleep issues. Ever since waking up…he had sleeping issues. Sometimes it came easy enough (often after Maylu visited the hospital)...but others…the hospital psychiatrist said it could be from the PTSD. He wasn't sure, but he knew seeing Maylu, alive and well…the peace that came from that seemed to just make sleep come as easy as it used to. He hugged his mom and made his way upstairs to his bedroom.
"...Lan…" Hub spoke once Lan had closed the door and plugged the PeT into its charger and connected it to the computer, "TetraCodes?"
"Ah…" Lan nodded, "We'll get the school one when Mom and I have to head up to the principal's office on Sunday for me to resume classes with everyone, Hub."
"...We can't go to Yoka…"
"Y-Yes we can," Lan assured.
"Too far on bus."
"W-We can make it work."
"Lan…"
"No metrolines!" Lan firmly stated, "Never again!" his mind turned to those last moments, "Never."
"...Understood."
"..." Lan groaned as he laid down on his bed, "...Glad we met Mamoru sooner?"
"Yes. You made him happy."
"I did promise to visit. He won't fully be alone there like last time."
Hub nodded, "Good. We can probably convince him to do the new surgery sooner than during…that."
Lan glowered at the ceiling, "We're gonna need to stock up on a ton of Fire and Aqua BattleChips just to be safe."
"And a CSlider for Yoka's network. No mercy for that coward."
"I know, I know," Lan sighed, "...You didn't mind the Press program for when Roll triggered it so she could carry around a tiny you."
"..."
"..." Lan sighed, "I really hope you get your emotions back, Hub. I miss you getting flustered."
"I do not like this, either…but it has happened…just like your new…troubles."
Lan nodded, "...You gonna look for the VisionBurst?"
"Yes. We'll have to keep him in Sleep Mode until you get the supplies."
"Yeah," Lan agreed, "Let's give it our all like always, Hub. Because in just a few months from now…shit hits the fan."
"Language."
"Aw come on…"
GT: This one is rather…surprising for myself. I didn't think this would be possible, but as I worked…it just felt…right. This will be something that I haven't done before, so be careful of what comes. I have the whole thing plotted out and made sure several chapters were made in advance for updates.