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“He didn’t say you were a hunter.”
“And he didn’t say I wasn’t one, either. I think he likes me. We didn’t even need to retire anyone tonight, I’d say we’re unstoppable.” Axl slurped loudly, making ‘mmm’ sounds in between bites. “Heh, I’m glad you have buddies on the streets. I was dying of starvation. All that talking is more tiring than the shooting, ya know?”
He was right about the negotiating with Mavericks part, Axl might have been right about the Blue Bomber, too. X had softened significantly after Douglas did a full inspection of Axl to make sure he didn’t sustain any major damage from Sigma. Still prickly with his diction, but he wasn’t glaring as much when he spoke to Axl tonight. He wasn’t giving them a hard time about the damage to the city that happened during their mission, either. He even begrudgingly accepted the udon Axl ordered for him.
Zero swallowed before he responded. “Right…They’re not my friends, I just rescued their restaurant from a dishwasher turning Maverick.” It was comforting they still thought fondly of Zero, however. Given the Eurasia and the Nightmare incident, it felt like he could breathe when people didn’t see him and instantly become afraid. These ones, an old couple of reploids running a soup and dumpling stand, saw Zero was nearby and were happy to give him and his ‘brother’ a discount.
Axl not correcting them was another story. He didn’t know what emotion that was bringing himself. Same when Axl went to asking the old swan reploid who brought their food too many questions. What it was like when Zero saved them, did he look cool, was Zero nice to them, how fast did Zero take care of the Maverick back then, did Axl do a better job tonight when he caught the Maverick here, among others that Zero tuned out. The couple was charmed, and the chubbier swan husband happily gave Axl an extra serving of chromate dim-sum.
“I never understood that…” The young reploid spoke with his mouth full this time. He wiped away stray soup with the backside of his hand and reached for a cadmium bun. “Reploids can turn Maverick. Got it, I’ve seen it since I was in training wheels. But Mechaniloids? They get reprogrammed, sure, but…it’s not a conscious choice to turn bad. But I guess that would apply to brainwashing malware, as well…Meh.” He shrugged. “I guess the upside is there’s no extra thinking needed. Just shoot and be done with it.”
“Because you think before you shoot?” Zero didn’t mean to speak so dryly. Actually, he wasn’t planning on responding at all, but the words tumbled out as they often did when this reploid kept talking to him.
“That’s mad disrespectful, Z.” Axl rolled his eyes. “I think quickly, that doesn’t mean I don’t think!”
“Right, I’m sorry.”
He didn’t really apologize that often, either. He saw Signas and Douglas eye him strangely with how easily he did with Axl. It wasn’t stressful by any means watching the reploid pout while pretending to still be upset.
“Not accepted. You’ll have to hook me up with this place again, then maybe I'll consider forgiving you.” He winked. “I want a soda…Do you have Dr. Zeffer’s?”
“Of course, let me grab you one.”
Strange how that was a lot less painful than hearing someone else go ‘Oh I forgave you a long time ago. That doesn’t mean I’m coming back.’ Closing the fridge and walking back to the table made him remember he was awake and this was his body, feelings deja vu crossing his system. Did he do this for Axl yesterday? Or the day before? Alia kept asking him what the plan was for the young reploid now that Sigma was finished for the time being. There were less Maverick outbreaks, meaning less opportunities for Axl to pick up work and get his own place. Not that Axl was looking, he took Zero’s offer that first night to mean an indefinite stay.
He had yet to meet someone so open with their neediness. It was…refreshing? It was the only word that came to mind when the reploid stated ‘Couches are fine, my nanites are pretty good. Oh, you have even have a spare bed? Sweet.’
No asking. No shyness. No pride getting in the way or an argument about exploiting someone's kindness. He bounced into the capsule with a loud clang, and Zero's office became Axl’s room for the time being.
Now the gunslinging reploid registered how much of a mess he had made. He wiped away with a napkin, snickering to himself that he was too tired to eat properly. X would do that when he was overly excited about a subject, eating and talking too loud. He’d blush once he caught himself, usually, but this one had no such shame when it came to looking less than graceful. Zero envied him for it.
Clearing the table after dinner was a habit he picked up from X often being the one cooking. It was a small way he could help, especially on the nights when X was most tired. It was nice that Axl didn’t overdo his thank you’s or ‘you don’t have to do that’.
The small reploid chugged the drink, then crushed it in between his palms. “Ugh, I need a shower…” Axl stood up and stretched. He pulled his arms up overhead, interlocking his fingers and pulling while audible creaking from his joints came out.
“You do—” He was surprised Axl took his helmet off so easily. Scruffy brown hair bounced free, covering the portions of his scar that his helmet had done prior. Less styled than X’s, it was like he had wavy hair but he brushed it out too aggressively, leading to the frizz. He had freckles on the bridge of his nose that were faint underneath his scar. His eyes, like X's, were much larger once the helmet was gone. “...Okay.”
“What?” The gun-slinging reploid was headed down the hallway. “You have an armor cleaning unit, right? I think I saw it here…I’m gross!”
Zero blinked. He really shouldn’t be surprised. He did, however, feel a shiver down his spine at the thought of the reploid going that many days without getting his armor cleaned.
His mind, being the unforgiving menace it was since his second revival, went about pointing out his hypocrisy. The times Zero would go back-to-back hunting and not give a damn about his appearance…How in the world did X put up with him when in his early days, he had caked-on reploid internal fluids that made his red armor look like it had stripes. Zero looked at his own armor reflexively. He could use a cleaning as well, and despite the short time he knew Axl, he trusted him enough to remove his protective gear.
Zero shoved away the part of his mind that would say X would be hurt that it took a year of friendship before he was allowed to see Zero without his helmet, but Axl was getting it after a month. He met Axl in the hallway; the small reploid holding his armor in his arms and looking annoyed.
“Where the heck is it? Your place isn’t that big, am I just stupid?"
“No, you’re not. Give it here—”
While handing Zero his armor parts, Axl took hold of his wrist. Zero was expecting his hair to be what caught Axl’s attention, and yet...
“Dude, your arms are so thin—Well, you’re thin, so—” He squeezed. “You’re a lil guy.”
“I’m not, you just have big hands.” He pulled his arm away curtly. “What’s your point?”
“Nothing, I’m just not used to there being guys like me.”
Guys like him. There weren’t very many. He’d heard that before, too. His emotions were working faster than his head.
“...Pardon?”
“You know. Sure, I look pretty cool with my armor but Red said when I’m like this, I look downright domestic.” Axl huffed. His nose crinkled, “I look younger than Vanishing Gungaroo. You’re taller, so that helps, but I can see why Stonekong thought you couldn’t be older than 21.”
“...”
Personal space was another optional rule in Axl's mind. He got close to Zero's face and frowned thoughtfully. “It’s like you could be a girl and a boy at the same time. Stonekong really liked your design…He gave me my first poster of you. It was inaccurate, though. You’re not actually that tall, now that I look at you.”
It was still awkward hearing Axl bring up Red Alert. Zero’s commentary would come out wrong and he didn’t want to hurt Axl’s feelings by accident. Thankfully, the small robot shifted the conversations quickly.
“Well, since I have time to kill, let’s see what the Robot Police failed to accomplish for the day.”
Clad only in his under-armor shorts and tank top, Axl plopped onto the floor next to the couch and spread himself on the carpet. He sighed, reaching behind himself for the remote that was on a cushion. The television came alive and was welcome background noise as Zero took the metal armor pieces into his office.
It was a hidden door that held his armor cleaner. No wonder Axl couldn't find it, the gunslinging reploid had an assortment of things cluttered in front. Zero pushed them aside gently so he could tug the door open. He dumped his and Axl’s garments, then set a timer. Axl could use a proper armor polish, based on the nicks and dings along his boot parts. Zero went against his urge to tell the young reploid this. He might be the type who took the dents as a source of pride. Axl liked his scar, he probably liked his battle reminders in this aspect, too.
Zero got distracted by one along the heel. Remnants from the fight with Red…a slash that could only come from a beam-scythe. It still amazed him how well Axl handled that fight, up until that last moment when Zero had to drag him away. In a fight, Axl was a true hunter. Once a battle was over…
He was just a boy. Zero’s throat felt tight. They really were lucky X tagged along at the last minute. Without the blue android dealing the finishing blow, Zero wouldn't have been able to save Axl and defeat Red at the same time. Maybe X knew that at the time...
He wanted to thank him but he was afraid. It still stung when his offer at a compliment was met with a harsh 'I have to do it.' X did sound like his old self for a moment. Zero didn't want to get his hopes up but Axl kept pushing it.
Zero went back to the living room to check on the gunslinging reploid.
“Don’t fall asleep on the floor again. I won’t pick you up this time—”
The gun-slinging reploid was already curled up into a ball. He slept on his side, not the optimal position for a recharge. He was hugging himself, arms firmly around himself while his hands were balled into fists and his knees were kept tight against his chest. It made it easy for Zero to lift him. Axl was petite, looking even smaller when put in the guest recharge chamber Zero had in his office. Axl liked blankets, like X. Axl covered all of himself, face included, with said blankets. Not like X. Oxygen wasn't necessary for a recharge, otherwise Zero would worry the reploid would suffocate in his sleep. He was already curling further into the weighted blanket’s warmth.
Zero lingered in the doorway before leaving.
“...Good night…”
The lights were shut off.