Work Text:
A single sentence was all it took for this to happen, one individual sentence, a single thought in the multitude of millions that they’d mentioned. If a single sentence could cause such pain, then why should he form anymore? He trusted them all, he always trusted them, trust was a concept he had only recently learned, and now… all of that was broken, destroyed like the world around him. He looked out towards the fading sunlight, almost certain he saw his friend out there, but his friend wasn’t, he never would be. This was the fate he was built for, wasn’t it?
If he could change fate, if he could just step an hour back and stop this mission, if only he was the one they had chosen. His mind churned with probabilities, what if Zero hadn’t accepted the mission? What if Zero hadn’t left to die? It should have been him, he was the hero, he was the one who should have been destroyed to save the world. It should have been him, Zero didn’t deserve this. All around him were the hopeful cheers of his peers, but he didn’t care, he lost Zero to a fate that should have been his. It was hopeless to want to change it, it was selfish, but X begged the world for it.
A breeze blew through as he stared towards the sky, the sky where Zero met his fate, the distant explosion that cost them the greatest hero. X’s hands balled to fists, the fading sunlight felt like a mockery of everything Zero had done, the one sentence that brought about this fate, the one sentence that ruined everything X loved. Why should he cheer with his peers when everything that mattered is lost now? Why should he care? There wasn’t need for that, care wasn’t something he could afford to give, all he could think of was Zero’s final words.
An echoing, static filled plea through the communication system, right before they lost contact.
“Please X, no matter what happens, I want you to find me!”
A tear formed in X’s eyes, the sunlight faded over the horizon, only the dark abyss that’s Zero’s final resting place to comfort him. Time felt like it moved in slow motion, X barely even heard the cheers slowly end, X didn’t notice the hand that touched his shoulder, X didn’t care, he couldn’t care. Zero was gone now, it should have been him, it should have been him! A voice to his left, one of the others, he looked aside for a moment, seeing Axl standing there.
Axl spoke, “X…? Is something wrong?” But X didn’t care to answer, Axl didn’t understand. They sacrificed the greatest without a single care, all because Zero was the only one who could fly the rocket. Anyone could have taken the role, Zero wasn’t the only who could have done it, X would’ve taken the role at any opportunity. Even if it was just to save the one who mattered most to him.
X’s mind churning with probabilities, his mind consumed by the same void Zero rested within, somewhere up there was his friend. Somewhere up there was the greatest hero, sacrificed because no one else cared, sacrificed for the safety of the world. But does the world matter when his friend is gone? Does the world mean anything when there’s no one left for him? He felt Axl’s hand fall from his shoulder, X didn’t care.
He sighed, the tears in his eyes rolled down his face. The night sky, filled with stars and a lost friend, a distant void that X wished would consume him like it had Zero. It shouldn’t have been Zero, it should have been him, but he couldn’t change fate. No matter how much he prayed for a second chance, time would never give him it, time would never turn back for him. Time moves on relentlessly, X has to accept it, but he can’t. Not without Zero, not without the one who gave him purpose.
X’s hands loosened, he heard the footsteps of those Zero sacrificed himself to save, but it didn’t matter. Nothing mattered now, he lost his friend to a fate that should’ve been his own. He lost all he cared about to the stupid whims of a leader who can’t understand the truth. Lost to a fate that shouldn’t have happened, all because they thought Zero was the only one who could. X stared towards the taunting night sky, the reason they live and the reason Zero’s gone.
“Hey, we need you X… we should report back to b-” Axl was naïve, he didn’t understand the pain, he didn’t know the mission’s sacrifice was wrong. It wasn’t supposed to be Zero, it should have been the hero’s fate, X should have been the one who perished in the void above.
X wanted the world to just stop turning, he wanted to find his friend even though there was nothing left. His voice came next, a soft, fragile sound that X wasn’t sure was even his own, “Stop Axl! It doesn’t matter now!” He interrupted, he heard Axl make a noise, the reploid’s face fell just like the stars. X hadn’t meant to yell, but he heard Axl walking away, just like the rest. Just like everyone Zero saved, no one cared about the lost hero, no one wanted to save the one who mattered. Axl’s footsteps faded to the breeze, no matter who left or came, Zero’s final words never seemed to end.
Zero wanted X to find him, Zero wanted X to save him, Zero wanted X to be the hero who turns back time to stop this ending. But none of that was possible, there was nothing X could do, there was no hope to find the one he loved, even though Zero’s plea echoed in his mind. No one cared about Zero the way he did, no one cared enough to stop it. X was the only one who did, but there wasn’t anything he could do, he couldn't turn back time and stop the explosion.
Before all the pain, before the wars between mavericks, he didn’t even know who Zero was, he was just Dr. Light’s final creation. Following the rules of society, helping humanity when Dr. Light was gone, that’s all he was then. But Zero gave him purpose, he showed him how to save, he showed him how to be someone rather than something. To show him to fight for the safety of humanity, but none of that mattered when Zero was gone, the one he trusted most was lost to a sacrifice.
He didn’t know how long he had stood there, silently staring towards the night sky as if waiting for his friend to return but he never would. X’s gaze fell to the floor, he couldn’t bear to stare at the sky any longer, the tears in his eyes blurred his vision, he could barely see his own hands. Zero was everything to him, and now that all was lost, lost because of a leader who didn’t understand the truth. X didn’t even know if he should trust the other hunters, they all could be against him now.
A beep echoed in his ear, a communication device he forgot he still had, the same one Zero used to beg him to just find him after everything, the same one Zero used when he was injured by mavericks a month ago. A tiny hope flashed in X’s chest, maybe, just maybe, Zero was on the other end, alive and well. A voice came next as the communicator turned itself on, but it wasn’t Zero’s.
The calm, stern voice on the other end couldn’t be Zero, Zero was always happy, always willing to save, always willing to talk or joke around. The stern voice was the same one who ordered the mission that took Zero from him. “X, please report back, immediately. Axl said you were upset.” But they didn’t understand, no one understood the hurt inside his mechanical heart, no one could ever understand what they’ve taken away from him.
“I’ll be back soon.” But, he doesn’t plan to, he doesn’t need to return to a cursed world that took his best friend. X lowered the comms device, pressing the off switch, he didn’t need to keep it when he never plans to return. But he couldn’t, his hand refused to drop his last chance to hear Zero’s voice, Zero always spoke to him using it, especially when they were on missions alone.
The only way he could possibly hear Zero’s voice was sitting in his hand, but he didn’t even know if Zero was alive to answer, there was no way he could be. But X’s heart begged for it, he stepped forward, the destroyed world behind him as he walked onward. He didn’t need to stay waiting, if Zero was alive somewhere, waiting in place would never find him. He lifted the comms device to his face, turning it back on and scrolling through its contacts.
Zero’s name was still on the list, Zero’s name rested there like he was still alive. X’s heart almost skipped a beat, if he even had one. Maybe Zero was out there in space? Maybe, just maybe, Zero survived the impossible once more? X stepped through the dusty remains of the world, the constant war against mavericks slowly destroying it no matter how much they saved, his thumb hovered over the contact list on his comms device, hesitantly pressing Zero’s name. There was no way he could answer, but maybe a miracle spared his best friend once more.
The comms device beeped in vain as it tried to contact Zero, X’s hand shook, he prayed that somehow, Zero would answer his helpless wish. Soon, the device beeped again, a successful contact, X’s eyes widened as he held his breath, a voice cracked out from the other end, broken beyond repair, but undeniably Zero’s own.
“X…?” Zero’s voice murmured as if each sound hurt to form, “Where… are… you…?”
Tears flowed from X’s eyes, he couldn’t believe it, Zero’s voice was right there, Zero was right there on the other end of his comms device. He couldn’t believe he was talking to his lost friend. X choked on his tears, forming a tiny sentence that felt almost natural, “I’m looking for you.” Zero had asked him to find him, Zero had prayed for it, X will find him. X will save him. No matter how improbable the outcome was, X will manage the impossible, just like Zero always had.
Zero’s broken voice tried to speak once again, but nothing comprehensive came out, the comms device picked up only static and the void of space. X gazed at the device's screen, Zero’s name faded out to gray, he wasn’t on the other end anymore, was he? X pressed onward, walking towards the sunlight that had long since faded, the moon high above his head, its subtle glow mocking the memories that flooded in his head. His body shook from the tears that poured from his eyes. If Zero was out there, then X will find him, he will save him, there wasn’t anything else he could do.
He had saved Zero many times over, and now, it was the last request of the greatest hero. He didn’t care how long it took, he didn’t care who or what stood in his way, he would find Zero, he would save the one person who mattered the most. X will find his friend, even if it destroyed him in the process, even if there was nothing left of him, X will keep looking. He had made up his mind the second he heard Zero’s plea, he will find Zero. Dr. Light wanted him to create hope, and now, his last duty was to give Zero’s life a second chance at hope.
Time marched on as X trekked through the ruined world, dust stuck to his once shiny metal body, the comms device had died some time ago, mid plea from his old peers to return, to tell them if he’s okay, to just say anything. But, X didn’t do anything, he let the device die in his hands, listening to their heartless demands. They couldn’t understand the pain, they didn’t know, they’ll never know because they didn’t care enough to feel. He kept walking onward, searching for any sign of Zero, anything that said he was there. Any way to find him amid the darkness of space.
Months had passed by, X still trekked alone. He didn’t need the world that sacrificed his best friend, he didn’t need a world that thought of the greatest as useless, he would find Zero on his own. His dusty body started bearing scratches from nights spent walking, his synthetic skin bore scars, he didn’t care, all he needed was to know if Zero truly was out there in space. If he was, then X would bring him home, no matter what becomes of him.
He had arrived at a human city, bright lights shining through the dark night sky, the stars hidden by their shadows. He huffed as he walked through, ignoring the humans who tried to praise him for a mission he didn’t do, ignoring the humans who tried to brighten his dark mood. He didn’t need them, he just needed to find the greatest hero, that’s all he cared about. X shoved some people out of his way, they stumbled aside as he stepped past, not bothering to apologize, not bothering to look back, not caring if they got hurt. It didn’t matter anymore.
As he walked past a small park, he heard terrified screams up ahead, each one sounded undeniably human. He was tempted to investigate, but he couldn’t care less, Zero wasn’t there, the world let him die because they didn’t trust X could do it. Though, there wasn’t any other direction he could go, so he headed that way anyway. Some humans sprinted past him, X didn’t pay attention, he only walked onward, he didn’t even notice the reploid that chased after them until it was too late to care.
The reploid wasn’t Zero, so why should he care about them?
He kept walking through the city's streets, ignoring the humans’ screams behind him. No one could help him, so why should he help them? The night sky slowly faded as the sun started to rise, the passage of time slowly taking any chance Zero was still out there, taking away any hope he could see his friend once again. X walked through crowds, shoving everyone aside, they all started to run as if he was the maverick. Like he was the reason any of this had happened.
Soon the city faded behind him like all of his peers, the sunlight shining just over the horizon, he thought he saw his friend staring off at the rising sun. X blinked, certain it wasn’t real, the familiar reploid didn’t vanish no matter how many times he blinked. Tears welled up in his eyes, it couldn’t be Zero, could it? Without a second thought to the familiar reploid’s slightly off colors, X dashed ahead.
He ran as fast as he could, his damaged legs ached with protest but he didn’t stop, his hand stretched out towards the familiar, the sunset burned his eyes as the tears rolled down his cheeks. If Zero truly was right there, then what would become of them? He had abandoned everything else, Zero was all he cared about now, not even the world was important. He stopped right before he could touch the reploid, who had turned around to face him. The reploid’s eyes were red, unlike Zero’s dark purple, was this not Zero? Or had he been rebuilt wrong?
The reploid grinned, an eerie expression that looked wrong on Zero’s face, too sharp for his best friend, too friendly for a maverick. X gritted his teeth, staring at the reploid who didn’t feel like Zero anymore, the reploid stepped forward, a mocking voice filled X’s ears. It sounded exactly like Zero’s, yet terrifying, “X! Where have you be-?” X didn’t let them finish, they weren’t his best friend, they weren’t the greatest hero, they weren’t the one he wanted to save.
“How do you know me?” X demanded, the reploid who stole Zero’s form didn’t deserve his care either, no one could be his best friend, no one could be Zero. Only the hero who was lost to a world's sacrifice was Zero, “And, why did you steal my friend's form?!”
The reploid didn’t respond, only laughed with the Z-Saber in hand. Even if they had Zero’s weapon, X wouldn’t trust them, they weren’t and never could be Zero, not even if Zero was gone for good this time. X prepared to fight the reploid who stole his best friend’s form, his heart ached at the thought of attacking what could be Zero, but he made up his mind, he wouldn’t let this fake trick him into believing Zero was here. Zero was in space, there was no way he was here.
Without a second thought, the reploid and X clashed, Z-Saber versus X-Buster. He didn’t want to hurt the reploid, they could be Zero in a poorly redesigned body, but there was no way this was him. There was no possibility that was the case, X had already accepted that his new mission was an endless search, but he wouldn’t stop. He shot the Z-Saber from the reploid’s grip, picking it up with his freehand. It felt unmistakable to Zero’s weapon, had Zero left it behind? Had this reploid stolen it from the destruction in space? Was Zero okay up there without him?
The reploid tried to steal the Z-Saber from X’s grip, but he didn’t let go, he swung the blade down into the fake Zero. Noticing a wrong symbol on the reploid’s shoulder, where there should have been a “z” symbol, there was a mocking omega symbol. This wasn’t Zero, it couldn’t be Zero, Zero didn’t have that symbol on his shoulder. The reploid staggered back, almost falling but stayed standing defiantly. X growled as he dove towards the fake, slashing the Z-Saber into them again. They were too close for his X-Buster to be a good idea, he had no other choice than to borrow his best friend's treasure.
He jumped back as the reploid shot towards him, almost dropping the Z-Saber but he caught it just in time. X thought he heard Axl’s voice somewhere to the side, the reploid in front of him pointed his weapon towards his face, charging energy as X backed into a corner. Zero wouldn’t have done this, Zero would’ve helped him, Zero would have been able to stop this fake. Tears fell from X’s eyes as he stared towards the symbol on the fake’s shoulder, it wasn’t Zero, it couldn’t be him. X’s mind spiraled with probabilities, ignoring the energy that almost struck him, ignoring Axl diving in to shove him aside, ignoring the young hunter’s demands he leaves immediately.
The fake Zero stepped closer and closer, X kept his eye on the wrong symbol, the off colors, the red eyes that should be dark purple. All of it was wrong, Zero wasn’t there for him, this fake stole his form and saber, was there anything left of his best friend now? He barely noticed Axl grabbing his hand, dragging him away from the fake as another blast of energy scorched the ground they once stood, he looked back for a moment, the fake pursuing them as if it was all it could do.
Soon they were running through a forest, the fake slowly falling behind as they dashed through the trees and bushes, X’s hand gripping the Z-Saber tightly, the last remains of his best friend, the only thing he had left, the comms device lost somewhere months ago. Axl slightly up ahead, the young hunter’s left arm scorched from the fake’s blast, rendered almost useless as they jumped over a fallen tree. X glanced back, the fake Zero had lost them entirely, vanishing into the forest like his own heart. He saw Axl slowed, coming to a stop near a small hut, ushering X inside before following behind.
He was so certain that the fake was his best friend at first, but it wasn’t, it never would be, all he had was the Z-Saber, he knew it was the one Zero always used, it had the same scratch from when they first met. His fingers brushed over the small scratch as he looked towards Axl, his old peer peeking out the door before he sighed, “Axl… why did you?” X started, but the words died on his tongue.
“Someone had to come find you.”
X’s gaze fell to the floor, a dim light shimmering through the tree leaves, barely illuminating the confined room. He saw Axl wobble, the hit from the fake’s weapon probably damaged more than just his arm, Zero would have helped him, wouldn’t he? With that thought alone, X set the Z-Saber down against the wall and stepped to the young hunter’s side, feeling the damaged arm with his hands. Axl’s arm was practically ruined, the blast scorched every inch of it, rendering it useless. Just because X didn’t pay attention, he got one of Zero’s friends hurt. X grabbed a cloth he found to the side, “Axl, I’m sorry…” He started, he didn’t know what to say, but Zero would have said something, right? “…But, I’ll get you back to base, then you ca-”
He saw Axl shake his head as he wrapped the cloth around the young hunter's arm. Why didn’t he want to go back even though he was injured? X secured the cloth as Axl spoke. “I won’t go back! I’m gonna help you find Zero!”
Tears welled in X’s eyes, he wiped them with the back of his hand, but they didn’t stop. Why did his old peer want to help after months? How could anyone care about him now? He saw Axl’s face held a confidence that X had lost months ago, Axl was serious, he was determined. It burned like a tiny flame and X could feel it, even if there was a fake, the real Zero was out there. And perhaps with Axl’s help, they’ll find him one day, no matter what it took. “If you wanna help then… I won’t stop you.” X admitted, the words felt foreign yet familiar.
“I’ll do whatever it takes, X!” Axl’s hope, X could feel it on the young hunters face, he wanted to help, he was hopeful of the future. It was what Zero and Dr. Light had tried so hard to create, it was what X had slowly pushed far away from his heart, it felt warm like the sun he once hated. It was friendship, and together, they will find Zero. Even if they must become mavericks to the world, they will find him.