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X ran a hand through his hair, sighing as he stepped into an abandoned lab, cautious for anything that could still be lurking around.
He was retired, what on Earth was he doing?
He wanted to go back to his home in the woods, a few miles away from any cities and just outside a small town. Quiet, peaceful, and lovely.
And lonely, but he really didn’t want to think about that.
However, back to the task at hand, X couldn’t ignore the feeling he got from this old lab. It was like he should be here, like he was meant to be here.
X wandered around the large space, littered with junk and abandoned work stations, moldy and dirty after who knows how many years of neglect.
There was one thing that really stood out to him. A singular charging pod half built in the far back corner of the room. That meant that this was likely a reploid lab, which could mean there was an inactive reploid somewhere in the small facility, or just some old research papers that he could find. It was either going to be an exciting find or something that could ruin his day.
X was unfortunately too curious to not find out.
The reploid opened a few cabinets, glancing at dusty robotics equipment. Then, he opened a metal cabinet, grunting as he had to pry it open. Once it was open he found a case. Pulling it out he noticed how heavy it was. It clunked against the floor as X set it down. He opened it, finding two twin pistols of some kind. They didn’t look like a standard gun so they must be meant for someone or something specific.
Another hint that there might be a reploid hidden in here.
He shut the case and walked over to the pod, opening a rusted door to the left of it. His eyes widened once he got a look into the room.
A small containment cylinder was placed at the back of the dingy room. In it an even smaller reploid lay unactivated. Child-like from the size to the synthetic baby fat that was evident on the reploid’s face.
X didn’t understand. Child models were deemed morally questionable at best and predatory at worst. It was taboo to build one, seeing as the reploid would be left in a child’s body yet retain the mentality of a full grown adult.
He almost didn’t want to even try to activate the model, feeling like he’d be doing the child a disservice. However, he sighed and decided to do it anyway. Maybe he could get more details from the reploid about who created him.
He set the case down and flicked a switch in the side of the cylinder and waited.
After a few moments, the cylinder let out a loud hissing noise and opened. X watched as the small reploid stirred and blinked slowly.
The reploid let out a child-like moan of displeasure, seeming unhappy to have woken up from his deep slumber.
”Hey there, little one.” X tilted his head and crouched down to be at eye level with the boy, not wanting to spook him.
The reploid finally opened his eyes fully, revealing green eyes a few shades darker than X’s own, with hints of teal. The young reploid’s eyes widened and he pressed back into his containment cylinder, seemingly fearful of X, who smiled softly.
”Hey, there. My name is X. I’m not going to hurt you,” X said, his tone soft and gentle as he tried to calm the young reploid.
The boy calmed down and reached a hand out. X smiled and reached his own hand out, steady compared the shaky hand of the other reploid. When their hands touched X felt this spark flicker in his fingertips and all the way down to his core.
This is what he was supposed to find.
“Boo.”
X snapped out of his thoughts, chuckling as the boy giggled happily.
“You’re very blue, mister! My name’s…” the boy’s tone and expression sadded and he looked down at the floor, “I don’t know my name, mister.”
X frowned but simply nodded. “That’s okay, I’ll help you find that out. Why don’t we get you out of here and someplace safer?”
The small reploid nodded, shaking off his previous sadness in turn of trying to climb out of the cylinder. X grabbed a hold of the other’s small hand, helping him out. The young reploid wobbled on unsteady legs like a newborn deer. X held onto the boy who clung onto him tightly.
“Mister, I’m tired.” The boy said sleepily, his eyes droopy and X hummed.
”Here, let me hold you and let's get out of here.” X lifted the smaller reploid into his arms, picking the case back up, he walked out of the room and made his way out of the lab.
Axl. That was the name X and the boy came up with.
X woke up to something— more like someone —climbing into his bed. He pried an eye open, seeing a lump under his covers and then finally, a mop of messy hair peaked out right in front of him.
“Axl, what are you doing up so early?”
The boy froze, seeming surprised that he’d woken X up. “Uh, ‘m sorry, X. It’s just, the monster came back an’ I didn’t wanna sleep with it,” Axl said nervously, but X sighed and chuckled.
”C’mere you,” X laughed and grabbed Axl, pulling him close to his chest despite the boy’s squealing. “Now, we both go to bed, yes? I assure you you’ll be tired if you stay up any longer.”
Axl giggled and nodded. The two lay there for a few minutes before Axl finally began to doze off. “I wanna go play in the park, X” he mumbled, burying his face into X’s blue covers.
”Yeah?”
”Yeah. I wanna feed the duckies, and climb on the monkey bars…” Axl’s words became muffled as he let sleep take him. “Night, Dad.”
X stiffened at Axl’s words, unsure of what to say, but decided not to say anything, considering that Axl was already snoring softly. He hummed, burying his nose in Axl’s soft hair.
Dad, huh?
He could get used to that.
“Dad! Dad! Can I go to the park with Susie and Leo after archery practice? I wanna practice some tricks on my skateboard!”
X chuckled as he ruffled the young boy's amber colored hair. “Of course, Axl. You didn’t even have to ask, just be home before the sun sets.”
Axl puffed out his chest with a pout on his face. “Dad! M’ not a little kid anymore! I can do like, three million bajillion tricks on my board now!” He protested, wriggling away from X’s hands.
“Of course, my little Sharp Shot. Now, you be careful now, remember what happens when you stay out too late?”
“I know Dad! The Boogie Man comes and he’ll steal my right shoe, now let’s go! I don’t wanna be late!” Axl grabbed onto X’s hand and pulled him towards the door.
X grabbed his bag and opened the front door, smiling fondly at the boy’s determined expression. “You know, for someone who complains about school, you sure hate being late.”
Axl huffed, crossing his arms in a manner that X had only seen on Zero— he shoved the thought down as soon as he’d thought about it —and began walking down the steps of their home. “I know, school’s boring! Math is boring, I only wanna learn about the Maverick Hunters, how they took down Sigma, how you and your friends beat the bad guys and saved the whole entire world!”
Axl jumped down off the last step, sending a few fallen leaves flying up into the air.
“Well, you need math, Axl. It’s important, and I tell you plenty of stories and you learn about them practically every day.” X followed his child out onto the path that led to the town that Axl’s school resided in.
The boy grumbled but nodded, agreeing.
“And remember—“
Axl cut X off. “Yeah, yeah, Dad. Don’t tell anyone we’re reploids, my name is Axl Hikari, and your name is Xavier Hikari and you work remotely if they ask.”
X smiled as he looked at his son, barely 8 or so years old, wondering how he ended up in this position, raising a reploid child who could actually grow as he aged. “I was actually going to say that I love you, but hey, that works too.” X didn’t know how, but he knew this was what he wanted out of his life.
X held Axl tightly as they hid in their home. He could hear the banging on their locked down doors and windows, endlessly echoing throughout the once quiet cabin.
He knew he shouldn’t have left his armor behind. Now it was working against him at the moment. All he had was his base buster, but without his armor, he couldn’t charge up shots as powerful as he would need, not without risking Axl’s safety.
Axl whimpered with fear, tucking his head under X’s chin. “When are they gonna leave, Dad?”
The older reploid felt his throat tighten. “When the hunters come, Sharp Shot. Until then we have to keep calm, if they come in I need you to be quick and run. Take the weapons I found you with and don’t look back.”
Axl shook his head vehemently, wrapping his arms around X. “I don’t wanna go without you!”
“Sh, little one, you won’t as long as they stay out there. They’re bad people who want you for your abilities. Your copy system is your greatest tool and your biggest target.” X held his son as close to him as he could. “We still have to go visit the lake, remember?” He said, trying to distract him from the noises outside.
“The one with the three old statues?”
X smiled softly. “Of course. You wanted to go there for your 10th birthday, yes?”
Axl nodded, his hair rubbing and knotting against X’s chin and jaw.
A loud bang rang through followed by a familiar sound. The slashing of a saber.
Zero had come.
“You didn’t tell me you had a kid, X. You’ve been gone for what? 5 years?” Zero said, nudging his elbow into X’s side, who scoffed.
”I was trying to lay low,” X argued, but he knew it sounded weak even to him. It still wasn’t much of an excuse for not keeping contact with anyone all these years.
Zero hummed, but said nothing. The red reploid looked around the apartment he and X once shared, well, were now once again sharing, alongside Axl. X sighed and fiddled with his hands.
”I’m sorry, Zero. I should’ve at least talked to you,” he said, his voice filled with remorse.
Zero grabbed one of X’s hands and held it on his own. “It’s okay, X. Besides, I’ll consider it payback for the past two times I died.”
X laughed weakly, bumping his shoulder into Zero’s, who was chuckling alongside him. “Don’t ever say that again!”
Zero shook his head, still laughing. “Anyways, I think that kid’s going to be up soon. I feel like meeting the kid if he’s important to you,” Zero said, and X nodded.
”Uh, yeah. Axl wakes up early, he’s a morning person.” X smiled. He flushed a bit, however, as he realized that his hand was still in Zero’s.
Zero hummed. “Then I guess we better start making breakfast.” He stood up from the couch they were sitting on, letting go of X’s hand in the process, much to the others slight disappointment.
Zero shook Axl awake. Today X was busy with errands and Zero finally had a day off so he opted to look after Axl while X tried to get some stuff done.
Axl woke up instantly, looking around the room before finally noticing Zero, who looked a bit odd out of his armor. “Zero?” He called out, confused as to where X was.
“Hey kid, your dad’s out. I’ve got a day off so I’m going to be here all day.”
The young reploid looked at Zero with interest. “All day?”
“All day. Now c’mon, there’s a few e-tanks left in the pantry and we can go and maybe watch a movie? Go to the park? Whatever you want,” Zero said, which got Axl out of bed and running to the kitchen.
”Yeah! Sweet!” Axl cheered as he quickly consumed an e-tank, turning to Zero, who chuckled, amused as he walked over to the smaller reploid. Zero ruffled the boy's hair, who scowled. “Ugh! You’re just as bad as Dad!”
The older reploid huffed, leaving Axl alone and opting to go get ready. “I’m going to go get ready, once you’re done go and get dressed.”
Axl nodded quickly and returned to the next e-tank he hadn’t finished.
Getting ready was quick work for Axl. The young reploid threw on a simple blue shirt and shorts, running a brush through his messy hair. He walked into the bathroom and blinked as he stared at his reflection.
His hair had always been long, oftentimes sticking up in every direction. Axl had never tied his hair up, however. He never thought about it much. X’s hair was short, the most he’d ever seen his dad do with his hair was putting a headband on to keep his bangs out of his face when doing things like cooking or cleaning.
Axl pondered on it a bit before running out of the bathroom. “Zero! Zero!” After running around for a bit, he finally found the other in his room.
Zero perked up, turning to Axl as he finished packing a small bag. “Yes? Did’ya need something?”
Axl felt a bit nervous but decided to just go ahead with his question. “Do you think you could tie my hair up? I kinda wanna try somethin’ different.”
“Of course. C’mere.” Zero walked over to his dresser and grabbed a spare black hair tie, sitting down on his bed and patting a spot in front of him. Axl smiled, eagerly sitting down.
Zero hummed and gently grabbed Axl’s hair. He pulled it back, combing his fingers through it a bit before taking the hair tie off his wrist and tying Axl’s hair. Once the tie was secure Zero let go of Axl and the boy turned to Zero’s vanity mirror and paused.
“I think it looks good,” Zero said, nodding in approval.
Axl stayed silent for a moment before smiling brightly, giggling and kicking his feet. “I love it! Thanks, Zero!” He cheered, slid off of the bed, and ran out of Zero’s room, who chuckled at the boy’s antics.
Zero waited by the door for Axl, who was tying his shoes. “So, where did you want to go, bud?” He asked as Axl stood up.
“I wanna go to the Maverick Hunter museum!” Axl said excitedly and Zero lifted his eyebrows.
”You sure? Me and X can tell you anything you want to know,” he said, but it didn’t sway Axl’s mind.
Axl shook his head. “Yeah, ‘course! Dad tells me lots of things, but I wanna see it! I wanted to go a long time ago, but Dad said I had to wait ‘till I was 11, and I’m almost 12!”
Zero huffed, amused and he opened the door. “Alright then, let’s go.”
X unlocked the door to the apartment, keys jingling as he pushed the door open. “Axl? Zero? I’m home!” He called out, closing the door behind him and set down his bag. Noting the silent apartment he walked into the kitchen and found a note on the counter. “Huh? Oh.”
“Out with Axl for the day, see you when we get back,
Zero.”
X smiled and set the paper down. He was happy that the two were getting along. X wondered what the two were doing.
X knew they were following. He held Axl’s hand tightly, much to the boy’s confusion. He quickly led Axl around, left, right, right again. X couldn’t just go home, he couldn’t lead the followers to his home.
“Uh, Dad? You okay? You haven’t had to hold my hand since I was 12.” Axl asked, worried as he tried to keep up.
“You’re 13, Axl. That wasn’t that long ago.”
”You didn’t answer my question.”
”I’m fine, Axl.”
Axl narrowed his eyes in suspicion, but decided not to say anything. He waited a few minutes and when X still hadn’t let his hand go, Axl knew that something was for sure wrong.
“You should call Zero.”
“He’s on a mission, besides, I’m fine,” X snapped, immediately regretting it, but he held his tongue and turned into a more empty street.
Way too empty for a street in a city. He only had a split second to react before he felt a shot go through his arm. X bit back a noise as he turned to face the attacker.
“Dad!” Axl cried out, fear filling him as he looked at the wound X now bore.
The attacker was tall, taller than Zero and had a bulky build, hidden beneath a ragged coat. “I see you’ve fallen dull, Mega Man X,” the stranger hissed, his voice low and raspy.
X glared and stepped in front of Axl, who was still frozen in fear. “I might not be a Maverick Hunter anymore, but don’t think I won’t do what it takes to protect my son,” he snarled. Armor or not he wasn’t going down without a fight.
The man laughed, taking his coat off to reveal a grey and red reploid with sharp yet powerful features. He was clearly built for battle, and X watched as two more reploids revealed themselves from the shadows.
“Oh, little X, you’re made to be a strong and powerful reploid, but you’re nothing without your armor,” he mocked, stepping forward.
Axl finally snapped out of his fear, sending out a distress signal to Zero. Hopefully the red reploid would receive it in time.
Zero gritted his teeth as he sped down the empty road. His Ride Chaser was definitely going at least 20 over the speed limit as he tracked the distress signal from Axl. He’d had to call his mission early just to be able to get here. Albeit, the mission was practically over, it was just his unit taking an agonizing amount of time to clear out.
Once he arrived at the signals location he turned the brakes on, ignoring the loud screeching coming from the Ride Chaser as it slammed to a stop.
He snarled as he jumped off the Ride Chaser, pulling out his saber.
Three Mavericks were cornering X and Axl into a brick building. X had multiple wounds on his body, the worst being the large, deep chunk missing from his right leg. Axl was behind X, seemingly safe and thankfully unwounded. Zero ran over, noting that X’s arm was in attack mode, the buster activated but not charged.
The Mavericks had less than a second before Zero quickly sliced them apart with his saber.
X sighed with relief before jerking wildy, sparks flickering from his wound, collapsing into Zero’s arms.
“X!”
“Dad!”
Zero looked at Axl with a serious expression. “Axl, I need you to stay calm, It’ll be okay, I’m here now to keep you safe. Let’s go get X fixed up,” Zero said, standing up with X in his arms. Axl nodded and gripped onto Zero’s arm tightly and buried his face into his shoulder.
“I was too scared, Papa! I should’ve done something to help Dad.”
Zero froze for a moment before clearing his throat. “It’s okay, Axl. You’ll be okay and so will X. I’m here, and I’m never leaving.”
X woke up feeling brand new. His systems were running fine and there weren't any alerts going through his mind anymore.
He turned his head to see Zero and Axl sitting side by side to his right. They were both on low power mode, with Axl resting on Zero, who held the teen protectively.
X smiled. If he secretly pretended to still be asleep by the time they woke up it was no one’s business but his own.
Zero and X stood in the apartment balcony staring out into Abel City. They were both silent, neither wanting to break the delicate tension.
X turned to Zero, who turned to him.
“You know, I thought for a while that I would end up raising Axl alone. And then those Mavericks attacked our old home and you came along.”
Zero hummed. “I never thought I’d end up being a parental-figure to anyone. I always thought I would ruin them, the way I tended to ruin myself.”
X took one of Zero’s hands. “I think you’re doing a good job.”
“You’re amazing, y’know? I still don’t know how you managed to raise Axl all by yourself, he’s a bit rambunctious.”
X blushed, shaking his head. “I’m not that great, it’s been trial and error, mostly. Axl was easier to manage once he turned 8 and joined this local archery club, it got the energy out of him.”
Zero chuckled and silence filled the air once more. They stood still, looking into each other’s eyes.
“Zero I—“
“X—“
They stopped, cutting themselves off and blushed. Zero sighed and X smiled nervously.
Zero huffed. “I can never get this right.”
X tilted his head, confused. “Get what right?”
“This.”
X felt Zero’s lips on his own and froze before kissing the other back gently. He wrapped his arms around Zero’s shoulders and felt the others arms around his waist. They stopped and X buried his face into Zero’s neck. The two held each other silently.
“Does this mean you two are finally getting married?”
X and Zero jumped, scrambling away from each other in shock, their faces were bright red.
Axl leaned against the door frame of the balcony nonchalantly but his face gave away how smug he was. “Took you guys long enough.”
Zero scowled. “You have two seconds.”
Axl froze before sprinting back into the apartment, slamming the door behind him as Zero began to chase after the teen.
X laughed as he followed them inside.
Zero looked down at Axl with a curious expression. “Hey buddy, whatcha doing with that can of beans?”
Axl stopped dead in his tracks. “Uh, nothin’! I was just hungry,” he fibbed, trying to shake off Zero. He knew he should have waited until the other left for work. “Seriously Pops, nothing to worry about!”
Zero hummed in a way that told Axl he didn’t believe him. “You’re hungry? Why not eat the plentiful amount of food meant for snacking instead of a can of lima beans that you told me last week was so disgusting you couldn’t stomach it?”
The younger reploid laughed nervously. “Uh, I changed my mind?”
“Nope, there’s no ‘changing my mind’ with you. Put it back, you need to start getting ready for your Dad to drop you off at school soon.”
Axl groaned but put the can back into the pantry and ran off to his room.
He’d trick his friends tomorrow.
X didn’t know how to feel about Signas talking about him possibly coming back to the force.
He’d been a stay at home parent for the past 10 years raising Axl, who may be 16 now, but X knew the teen would still need protection from any maverick or human that might want to take him for his powers.
But something told him that he couldn’t keep coddling Axl. The younger reploid was beginning to show signs of becoming more independent. He stayed out late, usually claiming he was out with friends, he actually got a job— X even called the place to confirm —and was making a bit of money every month.
Axl just didn’t need X anymore. His Sharp Shot wasn’t a small child anymore, he was taller than X now!
X sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
He just hoped Axl wasn’t getting himself into trouble.
“Dad, I know this looks bad, but I swear, I didn’t mean for it to go this wrong!”
“You’re 17, Axl! You should have thought about this happening when you joined a group of vigilantes! Illegal vigilantes!”
Axl looked down at the floor in shame, still handcuffed with Zero in the corner, a disappointed glint in his blue eyes. It hurt, knowing they were mad. But he had a good reason! They’ll have to understand eventually. Right?
“I’m sorry, Dad. I didn’t mean for this to happen! I just wanted to be like you guys, defeating the Mavericks and saving people,” he sighed, looking up and meeting his parents’ eyes.
X stood still for a moment before tears began rolling down his face. They turned to sobs and Axl froze as he was pulled into a hug.
“I thought I lost you, Axl. When Zero couldn’t contact you, I just…” X’s voice wobbled and Zero walked over and pulled the two into his arms, “I don’t want you to be like us, I want you to be safe.”
Axl sniffled before he too began crying. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you guys.”
Zero put a hand on each of their heads, gently holding X and Axl close to his chest. “What you did was stupid, Axl. However, I know what you were trying to do, but now you’ve made a mess, so it’s time to clean it up,” he said, and Axl hiccuped and pulled away.
“What?”
X sighed as he finally began to stop crying. “Me and Zero have thought about this thoroughly while you were in custody.” Axl perked up, wiping his eyes. “You won’t be joining the Hunters as a full on recruit, but you’ll be Junior Hunter, you’ll go on missions with Zero. You’ll be monitored, tracked, and tested. If you slip up you’ll be cut from this and you’ll be sent straight to HQ where I’ll be helping with logistics and planning, and you will not be leaving my side.”
Axl looked at X in surprise, turning to Zero for confirmation, and promptly nodded once the red reploid confirmed X’s words.
“Of course! I’ll listen, I promise! I won’t let either of you down!”
X and Zero nodded and the two held each other’s hands.
They’d get through this next challenge together.
As a family.
As one.