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The highway smelled like smoke and burning steel. X had to shield his eyes in order to see anything in front of him. He let out a heavy cough from the smog. Not knowing what else to do, X moved forward.

"Is anyone out here?" he shouted, barely, as he progressed. "Any survivors?"

Nothing. Only the crackle of fire answered him.

A section of the highway started to give out from under him. At first, X couldn't react until it started to fall entirely. Thinking quickly, X jumped onto the support beam that remained and climbed back up. He found that he was tired after such a feat. If anything he felt more wary.

"This is worse than I thought." X murmured to himself.

He kept moving forward. The heat of the smoke was only growing hotter as he walked. He was getting closer. But to what?

Then he hit the end of the road. Literally. There was no more road to walk on from here. It wasn't even safe to jump down either.

"I've found you, X!" a voice shouted from behind X. He spun around and saw a familiar face.

"Vile?"

The man gave a dangerous laugh. The large chassis he sat in was taller than X twice over. Vile reeled back one of the chassis's arms, prepared to strike.

"Vile, don't!" X shouted as he rushed toward the other. But Vile didn't listen. He let loose a punch that was aimed right at X. Before X had time to react, everything went black.

Then, with it all being nothing more than a dream, X woke with a jolt, sitting upright in his bed. Unconsciously, X reached for his chest. There was a pain there like a phantom memory. His heart was racing a mile a minute. X had to remind himself to take a few deep breaths to calm down again.

A knock on his door almost made X jump a whole foot again.

"Coming." X croaked as he got out of bed. Had he screamed before he woke up? Maybe that was why someone was knocking.

X quickly put on a change of clothes before answering his door. Standing there, rather sheepishly, was Layer.

"Can I take your picture?" she asked in a quiet voice. She was hiding behind her bangs, her body a bit too tense for such an innocent question.

X blinked. "Sure…?" he agreed. "But how-"

Before he could finish, Layer pulled out a small digital camera from behind her, positioned it at X's face, then snapped a photo. The flash went off, causing X to blink for a few minutes to get the spots out.

"S-sorry!" Layer immediately apologized. "I'm still getting familiar with it."

"Where did you even find a camera?" X questioned.

Layer looked a shade more embarrassed at this.

"In the art room." she told him. " There's a whole side room for developing them too."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

The two stood in an awkward silence after that.

"I'm taking photos of everyone." Layer finally blurted out. "Just… just for something to do. You know?"

X nodded. He could understand that much.

"Are… there others you still need to take photos of?" he asked.

It was Layer's turn to nod now.

"I only have pictures of you, Axl, and Aero. I want to get one of everyone else too."

"Which is Alia, Iris, and Zero?"

"Yeah."

Remembering that so few of them remained caused a lump to form in X's throat. Layer knew it well too. She hid even further in her bangs as if she were the one to axe the others. X knew he had to say something to change the mood.

"How about I join you?"

Layer jumped. She looked at X with a slight peek in her bangs.

"Really?" she asked.

"Really." X affirmed with a nod.

"I would like that." Layer agreed. X offered her a small smile.

The two walked out of the dorms and went on the hunt for Alia. They started on the first floor with little luck before moving upwards. Just when they thought that they'd have to ask around to see if anyone's even seen Alia that day, Layer and X found her relaxing on the roof. Alia was sitting by the orchard trees, humming to herself as she simply stared off in relaxed trance.

"Hey Alia." X greeted first.

Alia blinked out of her relaxation, noticed X and smiled.

"Heya." she greeted back. "What do I owe the honor of having both you and Layer here at the moment? Do you need me to move?"

"No." Layer said with a quick shake of her head. "I'm taking pictures of everyone and wanted to see if you wouldn't mind if I did yours as well."

"Of course I wouldn't!" Alia beamed. "Hang on, first. Lemme just..."

Alia adjusted herself a bit- sitting a bit straighter and moving strands of hair out of her face. When she was ready, she brought her hands together to make a heart. Layer smiled as she took the picture.

"Thank you." she said.

"Not a problem." came the automatic response. "Get me involved with your next scheme, alright? Anything is better than staring off into space for too long, you know?"

Both X and Layer nodded in agreement.

With their affairs situated, Layer and X then backtracked through the building to get to Zero, Iris, or both.

"What are you going to do once you get pictures of everyone?" X asked they walked along the halls together.

"I'm not sure yet." Layer admitted. "I want to work on something big after this. Something that will take awhile to finish. A painting maybe?"

"That sounds nice."

Layer nodded. "I hope so." she agreed. "I really hope so."

Somehow X knew that Zero and Iris would be in the same room together. It seemed just as natural as seeing Aero with Axl, or what used to be Marino and Cinnamon. Iris had been winning a game of chess with Zero in the rec room when X and Layer entered.

"Mind if we interrupt?" Layer softly asked after getting fairly close to the couple.

Zero and Iris took a look at each other. They then looked down at the chessboard as if it could decide for them instead.

"I guess." Zero said, folding his arms. "But make it quick."

"I was winning." Iris supplied, grinning. It earned a grunt from Zero in annoyed agreement.

"It won't take long." X told the two. "Layer is taking pictures of everyone so she can work on a big project that has all of us in it."

"Oh, that sounds lovely!" Iris decided. "Yes, go ahead. Take a picture of us!"

"I-" Zero started to object. He was stopped when Iris moved close to him, pressing a cheek against his. The young man's face became a faint shade of red as Iris grinned from ear to ear. Layer snapped a picture of them just like that.

With everyone taken care of, Layer went through her photos.

"These are good." she smiled. She looked up at Iris and Zero. "Thank you."

Iris smiled as she gave a wave. X returned it before he and Layer left the rec room.

"W-wait!" Zero tried to shout. "That wasn't a good photo of me! I demand a reshoot!"

No one listened.

. . .

"Wow, you weren't kidding." X remarked once they got back to the art room. Standing in front of him was a mini darkroom setup, along with a computer to process the digital photos Layer had taken. There really was everything needed to print out a photograph in any time period imaginable.

"I think I'm just going to use the computer." Layer agreed with a little laugh. "I just need to upload them and print them out using the printer over there. I hope it prints in color… I'd prefer color, at least."

"I'm sure it will."

"Me too, but still."

X smiled, but it soon faded away.

"It makes our situation that much weirder." he decided. "The way Lumine keeps providing us with most anything we need without us asking for it."

Layer nodded. "I agree. If we were meant to go Maverick, insane or whatever, then shouldn't we be deprived of all this… stuff?"

Not sure what to say at first, X let out a small hum. His finger skimmed across the cleaning sink as he thought it over.

"Maybe it's meant to make a statement." he murmured

"Of what?"

X shook his head. He didn't want to think about that. Layer very quickly understood, and looked away as her face went into a bright pink.

"Sorry I brought it up." she murmured.

"Don't be." X insisted. "We're just… in a bad situation. But we'll get out of it, together."

Layer slowly nodded, not quite as sure about it as X seemed to be.

. . .

Lunch was spent that day alone. X made a sandwich and ate it in relative peace. It was there that he decided that he should visit the gym. Not that he really thought he needed to work out, but he did know that if he didn't then atrophy could happen. Maybe. It was something to stay motivated with, at least.

At first X thought that he was the only one in the gym. He changed out of his regular clothes and into sweats. As he contemplated lifting weights for a fraction of a second, someone spoke from behind him.

"Came for a workout?"

X turned around to see Zero standing there.

"Or did you come here to take more pictures of me?"

X made a face.

"Why would I do that?"

"Because you were earlier today." Zero reminded him. "Even more than that, you don't seem the gym-rat type."

X snorted. "But you are?"

That got Zero to snort as well.

"Fair enough." he decided. His face became a bit more serious before he went on to say, "But for real, if you need any help with the equipment, let me know."

X absently nodded, taking a look back at the weights.

"I think I'm going for a swim instead." he decided.

Zero gave X a hard look. He looked his peer up and down as he mulled something over.

"Would you mind if I joined?"

X blinked, but his heart skipped a beat. There was nothing wrong with Zero wanting to go for a swim too. It made sense, after all, for someone other than X to take a dip.

What if it was a trap?

X quickly shook his head. Zero wouldn't hurt anyone. Just because his heart was anxious in this moment, it didn't mean that Zero had intentions to hurt X. If anything, it was the opposite. Zero was trying to open up a little. That was fine. That would have been wonderful, actually! So why did X get the feeling that Zero was looking at him a bit too close today?

"I don't mind." X found himself finally saying.

Zero raised an eyebrow, then shook his head. For a moment, X feared that Zero could sense his hesitation.

"Good." he said- relieving X. "I'll meet up with you at the poolside."

"Okay." X nodded.

Zero gave a nod of his own before heading toward the pool. Was… was he just going to swim in the gym clothes he had on?

He wasn't wearing much more than what X was now- just a T-shirt and knee-length capris. Curious, X had to follow him.

Zero didn't seem to notice X as he entered the pool area. He found a lounge chair not far from the pool and started to take off his pants right then and there. X stood frozen in shock as Zero peeled off his shirt in a single motion. X found himself staring at the other's abs as they naturally flexed while Zero tossed the shirt to the side. It seemed like such a departure from the reserved Zero that X had come to know.

When Zero finally realized that X was behind him, his nonchalant expression didn't change.

"Don't feel like putting on swimwear either?" he asked.

X didn't know how to answer.

"You can't swim naked!" X suddenly demanded. "Do you know how unhygienic that is?!"

Zero just stared at him. Then, slowly, he started to laugh. X could feel his heart start to race again. Zero had a nice genuine laugh too- not dissimilar to Aero's.

"I'm not skinny dipping, X." Zero snorted. "I know far better than that."

"Then why-"

"I already said, didn't I? I don't feel like putting on swimwear. Underwear works just as fine. Just as hygienic."

"I doubt that."

"Humor me."

For a moment, X had to hold back a laugh. Did Zero always have to look so serious when he could be telling a joke? That made it just much more absurd when he was saying this in his boxers- and they were boxers, composed mostly of white cotton and gold colored seams. They fit him rather well. X found himself jealous for a moment, his eyes flickered down for only a moment to gauge how… packed Zero was. Then he felt bad about it. And then he remembered that Zero had invited him to strip down too.

Was it just X, or was it getting warm in here?

"Suit yourself." Zero mused, snapping X out of his thoughts. The young man with long blonde hair ran toward the pool, elegantly diving in once he reached the edge. X found himself envious all over again.

Zero had proceeded to act like X wasn't there at all. He started to swim laps without a single thought. X walked over to the edge of the pool and simply watched lap Zero took, he alternated which stroke he used. Once he went through the ones he knew, he turned around and did a few in the opposite direction. X admired him as he dipped his feet into the water. His mind wandered in wondering who would have won a water lap race together- Zero or Massimo? They were both pretty muscular. Zero definitely had the interest in keeping that muscle, but had Massimo? Was it possible to be fit without trying too hard for it?

As X thought it over, Zero decided he was done with his laps and swam over. He hoisted himself back onto the pool's ledge next to X. His long sigh of exhaustion was purposely made just to get X's attention.

The two looked at each other. X could feel his heart start to race again- almost thankful that he wasn't nearly nude like Zero was.

"H-how is Iris doing?" X stammered out, hoping to get some kind of conversation going.

"Fine." Zero simply told him, not getting the hint. "Why?"

X shrugged. "Dunno, just wanted to make sure." He looked into Zero's eyes for a moment. They were a perfectly even shade of blue. "You two don't really spend much time with anyone else anymore."

"Not all of us are trying to make friends with everyone else, X."

"I know, I know." X admitted with a faint blush. "I just…"

"-Have a big heart," Zero finished for him. "That's good. We need people like that here. Though I think we've weeded out the ones who could interrupt the peace now…"

X flinched.

"And there's that big heart of yours again." Zero mused. "You still feel bad that they're gone now, don't you?"

For this, X let out a nervous laugh as he scratched the back of his head.

"That obvious, huh?"

Zero snorted. "Yeah. Just a bit."

Then Zero's face became a bit darker.

"Someone is watching us." Zero said. "And they're not all that shy about it- just using a proxy that calls itself Lumine."

X shrunk a bit in his spot.

"Yeah. It's hard to stay relaxed knowing that."

Silence filled between them after this. X started to drown in his thoughts of who would put them through all of this. Zero kept his eyes straight on X. Something in them flashed, the same way they did when he looked at Iris. A sense of protection that he wouldn't give anyone else. Finally, Zero looked away.

"Watch your back, X."

"Huh?" came the first reaction. "Why?"

"Because someone like you is going to be the next victim."

The words sent a chill down X's spine.

"But how can you-?" he started to say. He got cut off when Zero brushed his hand against X's arm. A breath caught in X's throat before realizing that Zero had just accidently touched him in standing up again. Zero took a few steps back before diving back into the water. He did not immediately come back up- instead choosing to swim away from X.

"H-hey! Don't dive without answering me!" X shouted even with Zero still underwater.

Zero soon popped up on the other end of the pool. He moved around so he could face X, just to shout at him;

"What did you say? I was underwater."

"I said-" X tried to say again, but once more Zero went underwater. X was very quick to understand what was going on.

"Jerk." he mumbled despite the grin on his face. "If that's the way you're going to play…"

Without any second guesses, X took off his shirt and his pants as quickly as he could. He tossed them off to the side and dove right in the water. He didn't have the same muscle mass as Zero, but boy could that X swim. He caught up with Zero so quickly, the other gasped underwater in surprise at the incoming X torpedo. Zero came up for air and feared for a moment that X would attempt to drown him.

Instead, once X broke water, he laughed. It took Zero an honest moment to process the sound. When he did, he smirked.

Either he was just really attracted to the both of them, or Iris and X had very similar laughs.