Archive of Our Own

“I’m sorry, excuse me- coming through-”

“Hey, you’re Megaman!”

Rock smiled nervously, boxes piled so high he couldn’t see over them. He offered his hand to the stranger, who shook it graciously. “You’re a hero man! Keep it up!”

He went back into the crowd, “Sorry, excuse me, I need to- watch your step-”

His wrist flickered, checking the watch he saw he got a message from Roll. Yes, He’s gotten the shopping done, he’s trying to get to the package transporter so he doesn’t have to carry this all home. Unluckily for him, there was a huge sales event he didn’t know about and he’s in the thick of the crowd. People are stepping on his foot, shoving into him, he winces, a lollipop gets stuck to his arm, and he can barely see over all the stuff he’s carrying. His arms feel sore and heavy with all the items perched upon him.

His foot hits the side of the curb and he trips. His knees scrape violently on the concrete, his palms rubbed and sore. Tears spring to the young teen's eyes, he hiccups and wipes the fake blood on his jeans. It began to rain at that moment. He felt the drops on his head, and then the rumble of the sky. People ran to duck for cover, and he was left alone. The only one left there, with all his possessions circling him. His tears felt good mixing in the rain, and he tilted his head back, inviting them to wash them away.

Although Rock was scarred and painful, although the world was crowded, the sky dark and rain clung to his skin, he could feel each drop roll across his arm.

He would look fondly at that day. It was the last one for a while where everything was normal. Perhaps the sky wasn’t pretty and sunny, but he felt happy and fulfilled. The intense rain washed over him, and he closed his eyes. The cardboard rotted on the sidewalk.

...

A newspaper is tossed at Bass’ head. Wily’s laugh, of childish glee, fills the air. Bass scowls at the man, “What are you laughing about?”

Normally he would have gotten a bitter response, but the man was still gleefully in a supposed triumph. This was alarming to Bass, he picked up the thrown newspaper and glared down at it for only a moment, his eyebrows flew back up in shock.

MEGAMAN: Hero or Zero?

Mega-City Police Department has reported a 50% increase in crime since the unveiling of the blue hero Megaman. While known for his rescues and defeats of Dr. Wily, disgraced roboticist, crime statistics have revealed a shocking pattern. Each time Megaman does good for the city, more crime unfolds. Not to mention how these daring deeds usually do not end well for our city. A string of property damage lies in the wake of these defects of deadly robot masters. One can hardly think of someone as a hero when they’ve cost taxpayers over 100 million in repairs of business, streets, even a school.

“A member of the radical anti-robot movement the emerald spears commented that, ‘we're giving too much power to robots. Soon enough we won't be the ones in charge. They will be. We should all be fearful of that day! Megaman is but a false prophet. Sure, he helps us. But he's only a sign of what isto come. We need to fight for ourselves! If we don't- how will we be able to face them when a new Megaman isn't as sweet and cuddly?’”

Neither Megaman nor the Light Robotics industry has commented on the recent allegations. Of course, this raises higher suspicion as to what exactly is their true intentions.

Bass rolled his eyes. "This is old news. Almost as old as you dumbass,” he threw it at him and Wily threw it back.

“On the contrary! This is but the set up- this is the real article!”

Bass caught the rolled-up paper without a flinch. He tore off the stick holding it together in a tube and unraveled it. The headline smacked him hard in the face.

MEGA CITY: “We don’t need a MegaHero.”

Attached was a photo of Megaman, his gaze vacant as he stared away from the camera. His sister tugging him on one arm, and a glimpse of Light with the rest of his body cut off.

“Officials have reported a ban on Megaman's crime-fighting activities in the area, the controversial bill bans him and all other counterparts from Light industries to fight the city in any way. The radical party Emerald spears celebrated this victory as the controversial bill passed Wednesday. But others are not as enthused. Chief of the department of the police says: ‘I don’t like these new technology types. Not one bit. I don’t like that they have personalities. I don’t like how Light considers them his children. I don’t like that they look and act like kids anymore now that they are teenagers. Why would you age up a robot? It’s all a new kind of world, a new kind of technology and it’s scary. But, I think we’re going to have a hell of a time now that he’s gone. It was a mistake. One that the city will pay gravely for. I hope that this can be fixed before it’s too late.’”

“Of course- it won’t be! I’ll be free to attack the city- and once all the robots are on my side, not even Megaman can stop me!”

“That’s fucking stupid.” Bass threw it to the ground and stomped on it, crushing the paper against his boot. “Did you bribe them or something?”

“Well maybe a little,” the old man gestured with a pinch of his fingers, “But who cares? The city is going to be ours for the taking.”

“Pheh, maybe you care about the city, but the only thing I care about is showing him who’s number one. I’m out of here.”

“When you lose I’ll fill you in on my plan.”

Bass sent him a nasty look. The dark-clad robot scoffed and rolled his eyes in a melodramatic fashion.

“Whatever. Come on ‘Treb.”

The wolf (dog) got onto his legs and barked, leaving behind his plush purple bed and to Bass' side. Bass petted his side, stroking his fingers into his rough fur. Bass pulled a piece of blue scrap from his pocket, he held it out to Treble's nose and he sniffed at it curiously. Then his eyes narrowed and he growled. His nose pointed west and he took off. Bass ran in front of him, crashing through the castle wall. Loose brick and scrap metal fell with a loud crash- bang!

Wily sighed.

“Goddammit not again. Why does he keep pulling that?”

…

Bass liked to run. He once remembered Wily telling him the fastest time for a man to run a mile, and he thought- he could half that time without even trying to.

People that can’t even run that fast shouldn’t be digging their heels in and saying they didn’t need robots to protect them. Robots were the fish in the sea, the birds in the air, digging through the earth. They need their help, don’t they? Wily paying for them or not, they were stupid and greedy enough to take the money and put themselves in danger. What a joke. Seriously… He despised humans with all of his being. This just settled in place how foolish and idiotic they were in his eyes.

Rock lived with his family on the outskirts of Mega City. A strip of industrialized green, all bought up by Light and preserved to be the only sanctuary away from the harsh reflective metal and blinking lights. Despite being partly the reason the world was so romanticized, Light wanted to be away from it. His slice of privacy. If Bass gave a shit he would notice the flower meadow cultivated by Roll. The pair stomped over the lilies and roses, diving further into their madness together.

They ran past the Light's abode. For a second he turned his head and he saw a flash of red.

Roll looked on in the window. The curtains draped a shadow on her head at an angle. Her gaze spanned far and wide. The normally observant girl didn't even blink an eye at the pair running past.

Anyway. He liked running. Everything seemed to just fly by. Flying was faster, but flying made everything feel far away. A delusion he didn't like. He liked knowing everything around him was untouchable. His feet against the grass, and breath hot in his ears.

For a moment he felt alive.

Because even he knew the heart inside his chest was just metal.

He came face to face with Rock in the next town over. His systems flushed and steamed, the white puffs of smoke escaped from the seams in his helmet and rose into the air before disappearing. Now satisfied in his quest, Treble laid beside Bass until he called for something

With all the conviction he could muster, Bass screamed. “Fight me!’

Rock looked down, his gaze stuck to the ground, and the rusted swing squeaked with each slight movement. He didn’t respond, completely ignoring Bass.

And Bass hated that.

“Hey, Hey! What the hell! Answer me! Fucking fight me!”

“..What’s the point.” Rock’s voice sounded hoarse and rough. His voice jittered up and down, and he hiccuped. “They don’t need me anymore. They don’t want me. If we step even a foot into the city limits they’ll chase me out, and let you and whoever else destroy everything… I can’t do anything… I can’t save anyone- I can’t help anyone. What’s even the point…?” he hiccuped more intensely, sucking in a harshly deep breath.

“W-what’s… t-the…” he sobbed, tears rolling down his cheeks, he curled down, sobbing into his knees.

Bass just stared.

He was showing mental distress- sadness he had never seen before. Ever. Wily never had water leaking from his eyes, and the other robot masters never did either. He blinked at him for a few moments and growled to his attention.

“What are you doing?”

“I-I’m c-c-rying…”

“Why?”

Rock raised his gaze to him, his blue eyes shimmered painfully like the clear lake one of WIly’s castles resided over. He sniffed, “Because I’m sad.”

“Sad?”

“Y-you don’t know what it’s like to be sad?’

Bass shook his head, forgetting for only a moment what exactly he was supposed to be doing.

“It hurts… you’re so lucky, Bass. You never have to question anything, you are just so confident in everything you do. I wish I could be like that… I tried my best. I thought I was doing my best… and, I guess not. “ he buried his face in his hands. "They decided they didn't need me. There's nothing I can do.

"..." Bass eased into the swing next to him. Rock looked at him a bit in surprise, Bass ignored the burning gaze into the side of his rase, his red eyes glinted, and his eyebrows furrowed in thought.

"They are trash. Humans, all of them."

"That's not-"

"It is true. They decide they don't care if you saved them. You put your ass on the line for what? They turn their back on you. As if Wily isn't the biggest dick on this planet. All humans suck."

"You don't know any humans besides Wily." Rock pointed out. Bass looked at him, he was still wiping his face, cheeks flushed and red.

“So?”

“You can't judge all of them."

"Hell yeah I can, who's going to stop me? You? I don't think so."

Rock chuckled, his bright obnoxious, kind smile shown through. His defining characteristics that everyone always focused on. His smile.

He understood why, his core always acted strange when he smiled, even from the first time they ever met. He scowled still.

Rock smiled, "I think this is the first time we had a real conversation."

Bass suddenly stood up and growled at him. "Shut up! Go die! Fight me!"

"Sure."

Bass blinked. "What?"

“...You asked me to fight you and you’re shocked I said yes?”

“Of course I am, asshole!” Bass stood up and so did Treble, “You always say no! And you mope, and you whine. Just because I pretended to be your friend that one time doesn’t mean anything!”

Rock sighed and looked away from him. Bass felt... Guilty. That was a low blow and he knew it. He wanted to say sorry, but it would kill him to even utter a single syllable.

“Tch.,” he looked away. “That was Wily’s idea. I didn’t like doing it. Especially since you seemed to be having fun.”

“Bass, I know this sounds ridiculous to you but I did have fun. I know you’re not that same person. I’m not expecting you and me to ever get along. I’ve given up hope for that, but… I just… I don’t know what I want. I-I can’t think about you when I have so much on my plate, and so much to worry about- but I do think about you. I think about you all the time.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know? Why do you want to fight me so bad? Is it just because you think you’re stronger?”

“Watch it, I know I’m stronger. I know I can defeat you. You just think I can’t and I hate you don’t believe me!”

“Wily doesn’t believe you. I believe you, Bass.”

“Shut up! I don’t care what he thinks!”

“I didn’t say-”

“Yes, you did!”

“I don’t like arguing, if we’re going to fight I’d rather it be physical. I’m just so tired... E-emotionally… Maybe for once, fighting would make me feel better.”

His clothes disappeared in a flash of light. Bass felt guilty for making his smile disappear.

"..." Bass' hand turned into a buster, and so did Rock’s, who was now Megaman. For a moment they were both silent, arms stretched and busters pointed, backing away from each other. Treble raised his head in alarm but otherwise did nothing to stop the pair, nor join them in their fight.

Then, Megaman fired first. It burned against Bass’ shoulder. He gritted his teeth with such an intense force they felt like they would shatter. His systems entered what Wily christened “Combat mode.” He didn’t know if Rock had this mode, but it was what made him fight. It analyzed everything, every slight twitch of Rock's arm, and every shift in his foot directed his next move. His next direction. To dodge or attack.

He always overrode those decisions and attacked instead. His buster flew with a flurry of attacks. The bright purple energy was faster than Rock could dodge, they marked the side of his cheek and he winced for a second before recovering. Megaman rushed to him, his buster turned back into his hand and his fist flew to Bass’ face, punching him harshly in the mouth.

“Ow! What the fuck?!” He stumbled back, Treble rushed over and saved him, nudging the robot back to his feet. Bass felt pissed.

"You wanna fight dirty?! You wanna fight like a human- I'll show you a dirty fight!"

Bass swung back, his fist pops Rock right in the eyes. Megaman cries out and and and

Bass didn't like dirty fighting. Occasionally the other masters at base grew bored and restless and sparred each other. The biggest rule was to never fight dirty. It made you look like a pussy, especially if you were losing. The other rule was to never piss off Bass.

It hurts, but… Bass could admit his anger vanished

“You know what… Fighting didn’t make me feel any better.”

“No shit Sherlock, you fought dirty! I don’t mean a fistfight when I say I wanna fight you!”

"I know."

Bass laid beside him, his face felt swollen and sore. His armor was burnt and scorched. It burned against the tender exoskeleton underneath. His breathing became rapid, desperately circulating his systems. “It never makes me feel any better either. Dumbass." He added as an afterthought.

"Why do you do it then?

"I can't do anything else.”

"That's what they always say… I guess I'll never be able to understand that."

"No. No, you won't…"

Rock was silent for a moment. They both stared at the open blue sky. There wasn’t even a cloud.

...Lonely.

Even if he was a mirror of Megaman, just because that asshole was so certain he could build a better Megaman, it didn’t mean that he didn’t like Treble. He would even say that Treble was his only friend.

He hated being outside Wily castle, it made him feel melodramatic and moody and lonely enough to think about how he’s lonely. He wished sometimes that he could be better than Megaman in more than just his strength. Instead of a shitty family, he had an even better family than his. Of course, he never liked these thoughts. Writing them off as just… the fact he even had emotions at all. Shoving them far, far into the back of his mind as he desired most.

Rock spoked up, “I’m sorry. That I fought dirty like that. I didn’t have fun, I didn’t like it. I just felt even angrier, and sadder, and now my whole body hurts. I just wish I didn't even bother at all… but… you do that too right?”

“OI. You’re being a little shit right now.”

“Sorry. But… you… can admit that you do that, at least sometimes. "

"What does it matter?!" Bass got to his feet. "You said you weren't expecting us to be buddy-buddy but you are! You are expecting something to change. Well- guess what? Not going to change! Ever!"

"I know that! But I was hoping you could see me because you wanted to do something other than fight!"

"Like what?

"I don't know! Say you felt sorry for me and wanted to help! Anything but just the fact that you hate me and you always will! Like I don't know that… like you have to keep rubbing it in my face."

"You have so many friends and people that fawn over you acting like you're the goddamn messiah! Why are you so obsessed with me?! Why can't you just accept that someone doesn't like you?

"BECAUSE I LIKE YOU AND IT WON'T GO AWAY!"

Bass stared, shocked. What? What is he-

"It just won't go away, no matter how hard I tried. No matter w-what I tell myself…" Rock was crying again, and it was his fault this time. "No matter how many times you tell me what I already know. That you don't like me. You never will! So why won't they go away? Why do I have to like someone that hates me?"

"W-what do you mean you-" Bass' voice shook and he didn't know why

"Do you need me to spell it out for you?! " Rocks voice was shrill.

"N-no!" Bass shouted, his face turned red. "I know what you're talking about!"

"Then only make me say it just leave me alone… as I asked you to in the first place ."

"You leave me alone!"

"That doesn't even make any sense! You seriously don't care about anyone but yourself! I'm begging you to go away and you're still here- taunting me- how do you think that makes me feel?!"

"...I don’t know.”

“...”

“I don’t know how this makes you feel. I’m never going to know how this makes you feel. I don’t know… how t-to feel like that-” why did I stutter?

“I’m not a human. I’m not like you. I’m nothing- nothing like you Megaman. Don’t let Wily fool you. All he cared about was strength- all I care about is how strong I am! I don't care about anything else. That’s what separates us. We’re nothing alike anymore!”

“Anymore? Did you once believe we were?”

“...” Bass looked away, “Come on ‘Treb-”

“You're not fooling me, Bass. You’re not fooling anyone. I know you care. Because we are alike. More than I want to admit and you want to admit. “

“What is it that you like about me then? The fact that I’m like this-”

“I don’t remember anymore. It’s been a long, long time… It took so long to realize that’s what it was. I guess it was your smile…”

His smile.

Bass wished he could see Megaman’s smile again, instead of his miserable, weeping face. His bottom lip was tight and quivered.

...Bass felt something he never had. But he couldn’t figure out that sugary sweet, twinkling feeling that was cold and warm, sad but happy.

He turned away from him.

“Treb. Let’s go,” his voice, his decision was firm.

Rock didn’t protest when he left.

…

“There you are, you little shit!”

Bass stopped in his tracks. He felt Trebles' nervous glance between him and Wily. He was hoping to sneak in without being noticed, meaning instead of a loud obnoxious entrance with cursing and shouting and smashing stuff. But the old man had eyes like a bat.

He glanced back at him for a moment and realized everything was... Different.

Even Wily seemed different. He always saw him as an annoying old coot, but he was his creator, and sadly, the only one he had.

Even he didn’t understand him.

Only Treble ever did?

“-Listen, before you go on another angsty little bitch rant and storm out of here I need to tell you about my kick-ass plan to kill Megaman- You go into the south park and kidnap a child-”

“I’m not doing that.”

“Let me finish, obviously you don’t hurt the child but you’re unpredictable, nobody knows what you’re going to do. That's why Megaman is going to run in and-” he reached for Bass’ shoulder. His reflexes kick in, his eyes sharp, he seizes Wily's arm before he's able to blink. The pair stared at each other and WIly growls,

“What is your problem?”

“...” Bass lets go and sighs.

“Why did you make me?”

“Why? Are you an idiot? Did your memory get wiped?”

“I know why, Jesus, how about you let me fucking finish for once?”

"Fine then. Finish. "

"...why would you create something that has fucking feelings if all you care about is destroying one fucking robot? Why not make me the strongest mother fucking sniper joe there is huh? Why would you make something that has thought and feelings and shit but is just- just- supposed to act like your mindless machines?”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Wily snapped, “since when have you obeyed orders, when have you sat down and shut the hell up? When have you ever done something without complaining about it to me? I’ll tell you when- NEVER. It never fucking happened! Jesus…”

“But that’s not what I’m saying! You expect me to act like one! You’ve never once said anything other than how you wished I wasn’t the way I am.”

“I think why that’s obvious,” Wily referred to the wall, which was covered up with sheet metal. “But it’s too late to change you now. Besides that, old men also get bored.”

"So I exist because you were bored.”

"No, I created you to defeat Megaman. Do you know how he goes on about how you have a greater purpose? How do you know that's not true?"

He flinched.

"Yours is to kill him.

"So my life doesn't matter. "

Wily drew his face tight. "I don't remember saying that. It's not like I'm going to kill you after Megaman is destroyed.

"But why not?! If I have no goddam purpose why do you think I would want to keep living! "

"If you want to die you can do it yourself. I have no use for a creation that doesn't follow orders anyway!"

Bass stepped back. His chest ached painfully, his words were like he stabbed him through his heart.

Wily’s expression softened. He silently swore.

"I didn't mean that. "

"It sounded like it." Bass' voice was cold. Not spiteful. Not angry. It had none of the passion he was known for. It was so chilly it made Wily shiver.

"I'm telling you it's not. We don't get along- we just can't get along no matter how we try to…"

"You've never tried you fucking liar."

"Yeah, I'm a liar. Want the truth? No, you don't. You don't want the fucking truth.”

“Now I do since you want to assume and insist I don’t.”

“I’m lonely.”

“...” Bass turned away, “So it’s what I already knew,” he shook his head. “I hate this castle. It’s so fucking stupid. If you want no one to know where you are you should get an apartment and we should hide out there. "

"You complain and complain. You only have one home. You know what? I'm done. You can go and do whatever you want. I'll be working on this.”

"You are such an asshole. Fuck off. " Bass stormed off. Treble whined at his heels.

"I know …"

Another whine.

"That's a terrible idea. He thinks I hate him."

Bark!

"No, I don't hate him.”

Since when?

“I don’t know, I don’t remember ever saying that I hated him. Did I?”

You did.

Shit. Bass groaned, “Fuck why am I getting so heated about this?” their footsteps echoed through the empty metallic hall. For a brief moment, he heard murmurs, pricking through his hearing only to vanish.

If you’re lonely, that means I’m lonely too.

“Since when have you been lonely? You don’t need anyone other than me,” he insisted.

Like how you only need me?

"It's not the same thing.”

There's no one like me but Rush. Do you think that he gets lonely?

"I don't know! I'm pretty sure I'm not supposed to talk to you- let alone Megaman's pet. I wish I just fucking left it alone alright? I wish I never talked to him in the first place! Now I'm all confused and thinking about shit and I don't know why!"

Treble jumped in front of him and glared. Bass sighed.

"I was made like this. There's nothing I can do about it, move. I'm not talking to him right now. I'm just tired."

Maybe you like him.

"That doesn't make any sense!"

You just said you don't hate him.

"ARRRGH!" Bass threw his head back and groaned, then snapped back, his arms flew in front of him. "I don't know what I'm feeling!"

The door opened suddenly, and Bubbleman stuck his head out, frowning annoyance. "Shut up already!'

Upon seeing his expression, however, Bubbleman yelped and slammed it back. It was too late. Bass rolled with fury. His feet stomped, making indents into the floor. His hands gripped the edge of the door, he yanked, the door broke off its hinges and he threw it away. Bubble cowered in fear.

"YOU SHITHEADS WERE LISTENING?!"

Crashman screamed back, "WE ALREADY KNEW YOU HAD SOME ANGST FOR MEGAMAN! GET OUT!"

"HOW THE HELL COULD YOU KNOW THAT?!

"YOU WANNA fucking fight?!" Crashman pointed his """hands""" at him. "I don't give a shit! I'll blow this place up!"

"Please don't!" Bubbleman cried tearfully.

"I already lost monopoly!"

Bass eyed the gameboard at the low table. There were cushions on either side and judging by how much cash was near the blue pillow Bubbleman had wiped the floor.

"Whatever losers," Bass said.

"I'm not the gay loser with a crush on Megaman!"

Normally Bass would have stormed over to him and wrapped his fist around his neck until he felt his body's system freeze.

But he didn't. His lips drew so tight he looked like he sucked a lemon.

"...Does everyone think that?"

Crash froze. Bubble just stared. This was even scarier than him being mad.

"Um… pretty much?" Bubble said hesitantly

"I'm pretty sure even Wily picked up on it."

"..." Bass turned to walk away. He no longer even wanted to intimidate them into not talking about what they heard from their brothers.

They had already told him what he was afraid of. The robot master reported to Wily.

"What are you doing back here?"

"What is your plan?" He cut straight to the point, his red eyes cased in a cold glare.

The old man grinned.

…

This plan is just idiotic.

He still despised it. He held the small boy by his shirt. He was just frozen, not even crying, lying there limply in the air while his mother screamed for mercy.

"Please don't hurt my baby!"

"I'm not going to."

Even if he wasn't planning to just lie here until Megamsn showed up, hurting people on purpose wasn't his style. It was only luck they were all evacuated buildings when Megaman and Bass battled, and Bass suspected that Megaman had led him there on purpose.

The robot looked around, other park-goers murmured to each other and watched, police had arrived but seemed uninterested in doing anything to help. No one knew what to do. It was slowly dawning on them that they did need their blue-clad savior. He was now unable to assist.

Of course, he strode through anyway.

"I know you're not going to hurt him."

Bass let go of the boy. He crawled to his mother. Sobbing still.

"You're right," Bass said calmly. "I don't give a fuck about this. I just wanted you to come here."

"..." Rock looked away. "I didn't want to come here."

"I figured. I… I don't know you got me all confused."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm sorry."

Rock blinked at him, slowly he covered his mouth and stepped away.

"Wait hold on-"

"I'm sorry I don't..." Rock sighed. He rubbed his forehead, "Why... Are you saying sorry?"

"Because- because I feel bad, I don't know..."

"Come talk to me later okay? When you do some thinking," he offered his pinky finger.

"I'm tired of doing any thinking." he matched his finger, they curled around each other, and... he did feel a little closer to him now.

….

Bass sat next to Rock, they sat and stared at the stars in complete darkness together.

Well, complete darkness beside the moon, and Rock’s shining eyes, they glowed in the darkness, he blinked owlishly.

Bass blinked back.

“...Why are you here?”

“You’re just now asking me that?”

“Well yeah, I knew you were there, but why?”

“...There wasn't anywhere else I wanted to go.”

“You don’t want to fight me?” Rocks’ head tilted to the side. Bass closed his eyes and shook his head.

“For once, no.”

“I don’t know why, but that makes me happy.”

“You don’t need to lie. you always made it clear you hated fighting. Course you’d like it for once I don’t want to.”

“Very true… But Bass-”

“Mm?”

“Why are you here?”

“...Maybe I just wanted to talk to you. Is that unbelievable?”

“A little. You’ve never wanted to…” Rock sighed. “Is this a trick?”

“No.”

“...Is it bad that I believe you?”

“No. I’m not going to call you a gullible twerp. You aren’t. “

“Why are you being nice?”

“Fuck, I don’t know what you want me to say Rock-”

‘“Rock?”

“...”

“You called me my name….”

“...”

“Bass?”

“S-shut up.”

Rock laughed, “Sometimes you’re really cute Bass.”

Bass’ chest twisted. He looked down and swallowed.

Slowly the robot inched closer to his companion on the roof... His arm, around his shoulders.

Rock quietly hummed and leaned his head against his chest.

“There’s a lot of things I like about you Bass. I’m starting to realize that because you’re finally letting me see those things.”

“You shouldn’t like me.”

“I know. You shouldn’t like me either.”

“W-who said I liked you?! Idiot!”

“See? Cute. You're cute. “

“Shut up! I’m not cute- you are!”

Both robots blushed and fell silent.

“...So you don’t like me?”

“M-maybe I do a little! It’s your fault!”

“For what?”

“Being so likable! I never hated you- never! I wanted to and that’s what I never understood myself! How do I like the person I’m supposed to fucking hate?! I’m really goddamn sorry-” his voice raised to a yell, “I’M SORRY I PUT YOU THROUGH EVERYTHING!”

“B-bass you- you're going to wake up my family! It’s alright! I mean, it’s going to be alright eventually! I forgive you! I already did, because I couldn’t forgive you…”

"I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW HOW YOU FELT! I'M SUCH AN IDIOT! I still don't, not really. How pathetic is that? "

"Bass… you're not pathetic.

"You're the only one who makes me feel pathetic."

"Is that what you like about me?"

"...maybe I do like you."

"Maybe?" Rock leaned in. "You aren't sure?"

"I-I'm not okay!"

"Keep it down goddammit!" Roll yelled at them, "kiss already!"

They both turned from each other.

"...not yet."

Rock nodded, "m-maybe just on the cheek…"

"I wouldn't mind that…" Bass covered his mouth. Did he seriously just say that?

Rock smiled at him, presenting his cheek for him.

"...well fine, since you want it so bad."

Rock closed his eyes, "it feels different...nice."

Bass kissed him on his cheek again.

Rock turned his cheek away and smiled.

"Do you know how to find the constellations?"

Bass shook his head.

"Then let me teach you. This is the major star for Gemini..." his finger trailed across the stars, dancing together images

….

WILY ARRESTED

"Saturday, Albert Wily was arrested for a different crime than his simple destruction and taking over the world. He was arrested for the crime of harming the sanctimony of our local government by bribing several high-ranking officials.

Megaman announced his return to the city, as the old law was annealed. The response from the public has been overwhelmingly positive. It seems all are in agreement that after a previous event in the nearby park Megaman was needed, reports confirmed the robot master by the name of Bass threatened a local child and no other officials would help the mother, except Megaman who calmed the robot and led him away without any violence. The mother was moved by this gesture and pleaded before the court Monday the act be repealed. While technically illegal what he did at the time, no one wants to press any sort of charges against the hero, and thus Megaman will return to his usual crime fighting, wherever they take him next, in any sort of form it takes

The chief of police commented. "Good, we needed some sense back in our offices anyway. Maybe the next politician won't be so corrupt. By the way, this statement is not that I am encouraging any sort of government upheaval. You crazy Emerald Spears caused this crazy nonsense to hope everyone realizes how insane this was in the first place. I'm sick and tired of the mess Wily has made of this city."

Megaman was later spotted holding hands with the same robot master at the park, the self-identified Bass. When questioned on the nature of their relationship, the pair ran off. Could this be Megaman's new lover? Keep reading to find out!