XR can say he likes a lot of things.
He likes his favorite oil from the diner.
He likes his best friend.
He likes his job because he was made for it.
But love was a different story.
He thought he loved 42, until she broke his heart.
He loves a lot of things.
But now he's got a hard time processing his feelings.
Nos-4-a2
His Once enemy turned acquaintance to friend and now… he's become important to him.
Now he's got this conflicting object of obsession to know what his feelings are to the energy vampire. He needed to figure this out because he was drained from the lack of sleep and he's tired of hiding away from Nos after 3 days. Specifically he hasn't had sleep since that day. He keeps dreaming about Nos. At first it was simple hangouts, nothing wild or bad. He even had a dream that they met differently. Even in a dream they were organics being detectives and an ex-crime lord in some weird time without today's tech. But now, he's been dreaming of Nos kissing him! It's been hard working while daydreaming…. The possibilities. Luckily Nos has been too busy to meet up. But what if when they do, XR would want to kiss him but Nos isn't interested?
He had to think what he could do to stop this from interfering with his work life and personal life!
Option 1.: He could erase the memories but he didn't want that.
Option 2.:could just take off the dream programs (?) and sleep…. But then there's part of him that wants the dreams.
Option 3.: He could seek out advice but….. no way from his team.
Not his brother.
He then thought of one person who he could but he needed to talk to him without anyone knowing.
The next day.
XR was making his way to the building in the capital planet, he made an appointment with that therapist he was supposed to meet last time but was eager to work with him. The only way XR was willing to work with him is if Anima kept him anonymous and whatever he needed out. He was in his disguise wearing Star Command's basic uniform clothes but he just felt annoyed having to talk about this to that greedy therapist and wear star command's uniform but he needed a way to control this problem!
He was in front of the building and he entered but saw it was all Star Command theme colors and he felt overwhelmed with each passing second. The hall felt like it was far and he was dragging himself; almost like it was coming to his doom. He knows he didn't do something bad! He felt he was still himself! But then the thought of hiding this side of him was getting to him. He felt his breath was ragged, the thought of everyone turning their backs on him.
He stops by the door.
His friends walked out on him
He felt tremors
Nos being arrested and hates him-
He felt something was wrong now and his body was shaking and his breathing was becoming hard to take in and he's not supposed to be freaking out like this. "I can't!" He ran out the door and out of the building. His system wasn't helping him as he was trying to figure out where to go, what to do but his only idea he took was to get away and far enough from the building.
He dials the office number through his personal device. "H-hey I'm sorry for calling last minute but I can't come in." he hoped his voice didn't sound so shaky as his body ."Something came up." He says as he was walking farther away, not knowing where he was going until he was just wandering until he recognized Ryder's car. He looked around till he found the said agent at a diner. He thought maybe talking to him could help him-
He hides just as he sees Nos walking to sit across from him. He felt his circuits heat up, he felt possessive at the idea of someone by him- he stopped, his mind was processing his thoughts and calmed himself. He knows Nos isn't some casanova, but the dreams and seeing Nos with anyone better, bothered him. If he wants to keep being in his life, he knows he needs to go to that session. He couldn't do this to Nos or to himself if he doesn't get answers. He leaves back to go to that session, but he didn't notice Nos saw him.
Sitting in a different office had some relief and it was on the 3rd level of the building (dr. Anima was on the 1st level). Instead of the Star Command's colors in the halls, they were more autumn themes and he was less anxious but his clothes weren't helping much. He takes a breath and walks into the more homey room. It smelled like cedar that reminded him of Nos and there was a chamomile smell he was familiar with.
"Hello, I am Scarlet Isis. You must be Mr. XR? I thought you were a robot." The therapist looked back into her notes.
"I am a robot, just got a recent upgrade." XR looked to the therapist who was in her mid 30's but unlike Anima, she seemed more social than analytical. He pauses and looks at her. "It's my first time coming to a therapy session, but I need to know that everything here is confidential, right? I don't want anyone to know about this."
"Of course, if you wish to keep this disclosed even from Star command, it is your right." The woman smiles, making XR calm. "What would you like to discuss?"
"…. I've been having dreams lately about someone," this made XR nervous and worried if this lady was like Dr. Anima. "I can't help but wonder what to do or what they mean and I'm a robot- or android." XR was thinking. "I don't know if it's because people say it or it's from me."
"That's quite a change, Mr. XR, when it comes to dreams, they are just a surface of our self conscience that we don't entirely think about. I read on the report that you have a Unimind core so theoretically the core is acting out as a brain and a heart for you. Can you expand more about the dreams?"
And he did. He went on for nearly 30 minutes.
"I just want to stop feeling these things if they keep interrupting me with my friendship with this guy but I don't want to stop at the same time and it's confusing." XR lies back annoyed.
"From what you're explaining, you harbor feelings for this person."
"An Energy vampire, but isn't it wrong? I mean he was an enemy, then an acquaintance, a friend now but it's so confusing because these things started when-" XR stops.
"When?" Scarlet asked him.
"... I don't know?" XR tried to think when it began. Then that question came to mind. "Is it possible that an old program from him could do some manipulation?" He asked, he was too afraid to ask Nos but he didn't want to believe if it's true. That has been the biggest problem he's been having a hard time not thinking.
"Well I can see if you can get a scan but can I ask you a question?"
"Sure." XR was thinking it was possibly the cause of his dreams but then he felt bad knowing Nos hasn't tried to use any of his powers on him.
"Has he tried to manipulate you in the past months?" She asked. "Because your past history with him is interesting and yet changed for the better."
"No. The last time he did that was about 2 years ago. But since then, nothing. I mean he was the one trying to keep away when he got a second chance."
"So he is trying to be considerate? Trying to be good?"
"Yeah! He's been pretty great," XR smiles. "In fact, he adopted and took responsibility as a parent over a little girl who lost her family." 'I couldn't even believe it.' "I thought he hates organic and generally anything, but he's so different now. He's a lot more different than I thought. He even smiles talking about old paintings and non-electronic technology."
"He must have been able to expand his mind." Ms. Isis smiles.
"Yeah, I even notice when he talks about books, he sparks up. When he sees Vanet, his adopted daughter, he talks to her, asking about her day, and she draws him a lot." XR couldn't help but smile how Vanet even became a part of his life. "He even was the one who got me to be serious in being part of his daughter and his life. and he has other friends but before I got annoyed at how close Nos is with his friends, but I like that I'm not in that circle."
"Why is that?"
XR pauses and then talks about it. "Because a part of me just doesn't and I can't explain it. When it's just us, we talk about stuff that doesn't involve work. I like being around him because he's not trying to win me over or tell me what I can or can't be, much less do! Well except gambling. Anyways, I like the time I have with him, I like being around him without thinking I have to be better but the thing is I want to be better! I started getting better…" XR was quietly thinking when he started to feel for the energy vampire. 'It was during the first few months, I was falling for Nos this whole time!'
"Mr. XR?"
"I think I realized my feelings for him. But what do I do about my dreams?"
"Well You could go along with your dreams or turn off the dreams if possible. Sometimes you just have to roll with it, see where it goes. You can't always escape dreams."
"Thanks." XR got up but hesitated. "Do you think falling for someone like my friend is bad? In the eyes of people or in my line of work?"
"The heart wants what it wants." Ms. Isis answered. "Same goes for robots but honestly it is for you to decide what to do. There will be people that will not support you; yet there are people who love and care about you. At the end of the day, it is still your life." Isis answers.
"Thank you." XR was quiet, having a lot on his mind. He got up and left but not without making an appointment in a month with her and not doing the scan. He felt better having to talk about it but wanted to get out of these clothes. He didn't get to think about it when he saw Nos there, waiting outside for him. "I keep taking you away from important stuff, sorry about that." XR spoke but saw Nos held a can of oil.
"I just want to know is there anything you need?" Nos asked, he knows this was a psychiatric building but he also knows his friend can't talk about what he was dealing with.
XR can't help but feel his core vibrate or skip beats and just hugs him. "I'm just tired." He mumbles, he could smell the forest and that cologne he got Nos as a gift. "I haven't been able to sleep."
Nos was blushing and bit but hugged him back. "Do you wish to rest? I have a charger in my office."
XR didn't pull away, being selfish to want to hold him. "I can't ask you that-"
"I rather let you rest than to go and knock out and be taken apart or hurt." Nos pulls away and takes his hand to go to the agency. He knows he's breaking a rule but he cannot let XR be alone. He was worried so much about him.
XR however was feeling calmer and liking the attention, but feels a little bad making Nos worried about him. He couldn't help but like holding his hand so much. He blushes thinking they have a regular charger.
XR knows he was flustered to be in Nos's coffin. "Not that I'm grateful, I really am, but you don't have to do this much for me." He blushes seeing Nos by his side. He had a dream about this yesterday and it ended with him being pulled in.
"Nonsense," Nos stops him from getting up, much less out. "And besides I cannot leave for another 2 hours so you can charge up till then." Nos felt more calm knowing XR was here, but to have him willingly go in his coffin from his request feels different.
"Thanks, I mean it." XR was already feeling drained from the session, he feels tired and a bit relaxed having a break. He didn't know if it was because of Nos or feeling the coffin was charging him. He lies back and sleeps.
XR opens his eyes to find himself in a forest but he was instead a robot, his organic self with light tan skin. He looked up to see a mansion that was hidden in a forest, the thick trees hiding any trace of the path and yet it was near sunset. He would walk but instead ran inside the manor and inside. He closes the door and locks it remembering the past dream Buzz and his team broke in. He turns back and hurries up to the stairs and quietly makes his way to the hall but stops remembering last dream; he couldn't find Nos until Nos approached him and pinned him to the bed. He blushes before thinking and blushing away. He goes to one of the rooms that was purple and blushes before he takes off his coat and vest. He unclips the cross and places it away and goes to lie on the bed. He closes his eyes and blushes thinking what Nos will do. He sits up and sees the sun setting down and XR could feel anxious. "I know you're here Nos! Come on out!" He shouted. He sees the light die out and grumbles thinking this was not the place. He gets up and goes to leave when he suddenly feels hands slip around his sides and pulls him back. He gasps but feels something wet licks his neck. He side glances to see Nos but blushes deepens when he feels Nos kisses just near his lips.
"I heard some Hunters tend to dance close to death, I did not know you were into that, little hunter." Nos smirks and pins XR down to the bed and sits above him. "You came alone? Quite courageous," Nos smirks down at him. "Or stupid." Nos crosses his arms and glares at him. "Why did you come alone? Wanting a chance to defeat a vampire?"
XR couldn't help but like this, like the way Nos looked in a loose blouse and pants. He looked like he just woke up. "I wanted to see you." He sat up, the vampire sat backwards looking confused but glares. He really was in awe of how Nos can look hot.
"What happened to killing all the monsters? You are a monster hunter, and I'm a monster-" Nos was quiet when XR leans forward and kisses him. XR never got to be the one to push forward but didn't expect Nos to kiss back and pull him close. XR moans through the kiss, lying back for the vampire.
"What if I told you I don't like you, but I love you?" XR pulls him down for a kiss. "I didn't know what I felt until I had to think with here." He was going to point to his own chest, but grabs Nos's right hand and lays it on his bare chest. "I want you Nos. I need you." He wraps his arms around his hips and keeps him close. He sees Nos lean in close, hesitates until he kisses him. XR feels Nos wrap his arms around his neck to keep him from stopping, and he pulls him close to keep him from running away. They made out for who knows how long until he was on top of the vampire. He feels invigorated, looking over the vampire who was looking at him with desire and leans down for another kiss until he's pulled off. He looks behind to see Buzz and pales to see the hunters were space rangers. He turns back and tries to pull away to reach for Nos when he sees Nos reach out to him but is steak through the heart. "No!" He watched in horror and shook to see Nos didn't turn to dust, but was bleeding in the chest. He pulls away and goes to Nos and pushes who he saw was Nebula and holds his vampire. "Bite me!" He placed Nos's mouth on his arm but Nos wasn't able to and cups his face.
"Please don't- don't die!" XR held him but he was forcibly pulled away. "No! No-!"
"DON'T!" XR sat up and clung to who he knew was Nos. "I'm sorry I couldn't stop them! Please, I don't want to lose you…!" He cries clinging to Nos.
Nos holds XR close, he recalls Vanet having bad dreams of losing her parents. He remembered how painful it was for her and now she was having nightmares about losing him. Nos hearing XR was scared of losing him, of all people. He has a feeling for now to not go after the tycoon when his family and XR and friends were concerned after months. He could not keep doing this to them. "I am not going anywhere." He comforts XR, a part of him was greedy for this.
And so was XR.
XR felt better after drinking oil at the diner across the building, Ryder made an excuse to go asking a girl out. "Your partner is something." XR looks out before looking at Nos, he feels not entirely embarrassed and not so possessive as before. "I want to apologize for that day. You know when you finally get the chance to hangout with someone, you can't and it just has been draining since."
Nos frowns, he understood that well and he can be honest with XR but not about his feelings. "I do want to hangout with you but it is just with work but it is just hunting down that antimatter vampire was my objective."
XR perked up. 'Wait, was? What does he mean?'
"But each trail leads to a dud and it has been challenging when he has tried to lead trails out of CP. I have been obsessed with taking down the target until I realized who I was becoming after worrying certain people and now you. I was becoming Lightyear and Zurg, two people I hated but I did not want to be like. So for now, I will not continue the search when I need to be with the people I love- and care." He calms himself. "When he comes, I will deal with him later and be ready. Right now, I want to focus on you."
XR was startled. 'M-me?" he felt his core beating like a heart. "W-what's to talk about?"
Nos crosses his arms. "Who is bothering you? What has been draining you?" He calms himself, "I want to help you and be there for you so out with it."
XR was having a hard time talking about it when the very root of his problem was in front of him. He could tell him some of it. "Promise you won't get mad?" He saw his crush nodded and he felt nervous. "This all started when that incident with Rocket. He talked about the winter ball, the one you went to with your daughter. He was talking so wrongfully of you so bad about you that it was pissing me off- I was getting angry because he wasn't telling the truth and at the time 42 was adding on to it she was making it sound like you're a bad guy. I know it doesn't bother you much less annoy you but it bothers me because I've seen you for who you are.
But it gets me so mad and riled up because they've never seen how you are and I'm pretty sure Gravitina told you about the incident a few days before that she was arrested for no reason and I helped her out but what bothers me is that when people brought back about the past about you and telling stories that I'm starting to believe is not fully true I mean don't get me wrong I know you say that and you admitted you're a bad guy and you did wrong and you acknowledged those wrongs but some of the things that they talked about started to not make sense. but then when I tried defending you as Nos-4-a2, They suspected and assumed that I still had that program in me…" he pauses to see Nos calm demeanor had changed. "I don't think I have it, and I'm not sure how it works but I'm pretty sure that it was gone the second you were gone." He looks down, he feels shameful that he is admitting this to Nos. "B-b-but I'm scared that what if they're right or what if I'm just overthinking it because I don't want to believe that everything that we've built up was fake-" He stops when Nos stands up. He felt worried Nos hated hearing this.
"Come with me please, we are settling this matter now." Nos stated.
XR was surprised and got up to stop Nos. "Nos this isn't important-" he yelped when Nos took his hand and he was pulled out of the seat. 'Nostalgia at its finest.'
"I know you are worried about that accusation being true," Nos frowns. "I was worried too so perhaps this is needed to clear out any doubts. For both of our minds." Nos leading the way, pulls him to find Ryder. He scans where he is and sees him hitting on a girl. He walked over and pulled him away.
"What the-! I was busy!" Ryder glares, he sees the girl giggles and leaves. "This better be a life or death situation."
"Can you find in the lab if XR has any of my mind control programs?" Nos drags the bot away, making XR amazed by the energy vampire's strength.
Ryder looks to Nos and then to XR and sighs, "I'll take him to get checked. You stay put." Ryder points to his partner and soon enough Ryder and the space ranger heads to the agency's lab to conduct a scan.
Reaching there XR was amazed by the high tech they had. "So this is the lab? You're up to date."
"We keep a lab to find needed traces over any situation or infection." Ryder shows him to sit and XR takes a seat. Ryder Pulls out a plug and passes it to XR to connect himself in. "Though gotta hand it to you, I never seen Nos this worried, and break a few rules." He mumbles.
"Say what now?" XR raises a brow and shudders When the process begins. He felt he was being zapped a few times, and being scanned over and over. He was then seeing images of Nos and blushes at each one-
"All done." Ryder stated and saw XR was a bit flabbergasted but relieved to find he didn't change. "You never had it in you."
XR was shocked and happy. "Wait until I tell Nos!" He gets off the chair.
"Might need to finish that first." Ryder looked away and XR was looking down to see it was between his legs. "Bathroom down The hall on your left."
"Thanks!" XR shouted as he ran.
Ryder shook his head. He saw through the scans no sign of the program but he sure saw a lot of things he didn't want to know from the bossman. But then he recalled Nos was a blushing mess. Nos told him what happened that day and since then any time XR was mentioned, he would blush. That was when he found out Nos has a type. A really funny type. 'Maybe I can help them get together.' He thought and saw XR finally got out.
"I never experienced that with 42." XR was blushing.
Ryder hums. "You know, I'm pretty sure he feels the same." He can see XR was listening. "Days ago he came in a blushing mess. He asked me to scan his processors. He told me what happened, I learned he found his type. Didn't think it was you."
"He likes me?" XR blushes a bit and grins. "H-how should I, you know, tell him?" He can flirt, but his flirting gets him slapped or threatened even by the mafia.
"You can ask him out on a date. But I advise you to get him to bring Vanet." Ryder walks with him.
"Shouldn't a date be between two people?" XR recalls that but he didn't want Vanet feeling worried or taking Nos from her.
"His biggest weakness is his kid and you know it. If Vanet accepts you, you literally won him over." Ryder and they keep planning until they see Nos waiting against the car.
XR blushes, thinking how but decided to try his charm in a friendly way. He walks over and without a word, hugs Nos. "I never had mind control."
Nos was relieved and hugged him back tightly. "I am happy to hear that-"
"And I want to celebrate by hanging out with you and Vanet tomorrow." He grins.
Nos was wide eyed and blushed lightly. "But-" his face darkens when XR stops him with a finger over his lips.
"Nosy, I ain't taking a no and it can be here in the capital city. There is an aquarium I saw here that looked nice so let's go there tomorrow." He grins and hurries before Nos can say no. "See you tomorrow!"
Nos watched him take off but his core was fluttering.
"Just so you know, I did a deep check and it took 3 minutes." Ryder spoke.
"Yet why did it take longer?" Nos raises a brow.
"He had to fix a personal problem." Ryder answers. "It seems it made him rewatch some things he had in his head for a while."
Nos looks at him and looks annoyed but flushed in the face. 'XR fancy women, that is a given.'
"It's not on that dame or any dame." Ryder can see Nos ears flicker. "What if I told you it's around a guy?" 'Let's play devil's advocate.' He thought.
Nos looks at him surprised. "You are jesting." He had little hope and he cannot truly trust Ryder.
"I forgot, you said you don't have a type so information like that is not important." he sees Nos was taking the bait. "So maybe going out- sorry, hanging out with him could help you hear what happened or learn about this guy."
Nos looked at him and thought about it. He feels ashamed but it was not really using someone, or so he believes. "Vanet does want to see the city again-"
"There you go!" He wraps his arm around Nos who pushes him off. "A perfect chance to sway him. Pardon me, I mean a chance to get him to know the real Nosy more and give Vanet a chance to explore more of the city." He grins. 'He took the bait.'
Nos glares at Ryder but smiles at the thought of hanging out with XR- he blushes a bit when he remembered XR touched his lips. He couldn't look at his friend the same way at all. 'All of this happened before school ended.'
It was 3pm when Nos waited for Vanet and saw her rushing out from school. She runs to his side and hugs him just as he kneels down. "How was school?" He stood up, carrying her.
"It was great! We only have tomorrow and we begin summer school in two weeks." She smiles showing him she made a clay figure of a bat.
"Wonderful, I want to put this on my desk at work." He grins and Vanet smiles. "Which reminds me my dear; we received a hangout invitation tomorrow and I was wondering if you are up to it?"
"With who?" Vanet asked in surprise.
He thought about it and answered. "With Mr. XR-"
"Yes!" Vanet smiles excited. "I like him, he's funny and nice."
Nos smiles. "He asked if you would like to go see an aquarium in the capital city near the beach." It was a good way to end the school day and he requested the day off tomorrow already.
"I can't wait!" She smiles, excited to spend the day tomorrow with her papa and XR!
As they left, Nos stopped and looked out, he did not know why but he felt eyes watching them each time but today it felt morbid somehow. It was beyond disturbing.
"Papa let's go!"
Nos shook it off and got in, but his alertness was high. He had hoped it was nothing and merely just his nerves.
Watching from a distance from the top of the building, the antimatter vampire watches them and smirks
It was great! We only have tomorrow and we begin summer school in two weeks.
"Ah, the beginning of summer, my favorite season." DRAC smirks. "Ode to joy," He expands his wings. "To the coming death of spring…." He smirks and flies off.