Chapter 1 - Best Friends

The Day had been Long and tiring for the Crimson soldier. He was the Best Maverick Hunter in the Entire HQ and It was his duty to carry out any order and any mission with precise detail. Often going alone to do what ever needed to be done, he neglected to tell X or Axl that He had a mission, not wanting them to burden themselves by supplying their assistance to him.
However upon arriving to Head quarters, thinking he could finally bathe himself and rest, he was called down to the lobby immediately. Blonde was furious. But he hid it back with a tired gaze and a subtle frown. What did Sigma need now? He just wanted to rest. Sleep. Sweet, sweet, darkness. That's all he wanted right now.

Upon arriving to the Lobby it was busy as normal and Sigma was in the middle of a conference leaving the Bot to Wonder what was so important. Oh wait...These people didn't work for HQ. They were in lab coats, with ID's and clipboards. He stepped to the center of the room staying quiet until the group of people finally noticed him. They all smiled. They seemed to be students. They were all taller than him(Definitely not taller than Sigma though). He felt short and annoyed by there Faces. Perhaps that was just the sleep coming closer, and begging him to leave. Unbeknownst to himself he made a strange scowl. they didn't seem to notice.

"Zero." The Commander stood strait and tall showing his rank with pride an ease as he didn't have to worry about anyone over powering that rank. Everyone was just short. Made to look Smaller, so the Taller bot looked stronger. But everyone knew If Zero tried he Could take the commander down in seconds. But in the end he was too loyal. "These People are from the Ministry of Science." 'yeah so.' "I would like you to Show them Around the facility and give them a tour of the Building."

"What an Interesting model." "It Doesn't appear to be one of Doctor Canes..." They all murmered different things about him all though he could only catch small portions of there mumbling. 'Im Zero Ill be your Tour Guide this evening.' He Literally did not have the patience.

Clearing his throat he bowed his head, "Of Course~" He put on his best smile, suddenly becoming sparkly and beautiful to any girl staring. "Please come this way." What an angel. He turned around and they could not see the irritated look on his face. Normally this wouldn't be a problem, but he was tired. Way too tired.

He showed them around the Facility, taking them Down the hallway, where nothing of importance was happening. They weren't learning. They were just confused. Zero on the other hand was about to die. His eyes twitched, his hair drug along the floor as he slightly hunched over. It looked like he was about to tip over. To make it worse, he suddenly felt a little light headed.

'TING' "Zero?" A familiar voice spoke, and his eyes widened realizing he bumped into a very True and Blue Friend of his. X raised a brow looking down at him and the group of students giggling. The females at least. The men just looked a bit Jealous by the fact the Reploids were getting more attention. To the women it was like free eye candy. But X was Oblivious. Poor X. If only he knew. He finally looked back at Zero who straightened his posture and was nervously rubbing the back of his pony tail. He Honestly didn't look his best, but the messy hair was kinda hot. Not going to lie. "Hey are you Okay? Axl said you went out last night and you didn't come back..." He trailed off, letting the sentence hang in the air. He wouldn't respond to that but it was worth a try. "Em...Who are they?"

Zero looked back at the People following, now realizing how short of a distance he was between them and he felt a little claustrophobic. "Ahh...Them...Yeah there from the Ministry of Science Im supposed to show them around..." X smiled his face growing happier by the statement. "Oh! Mind if I help you~?!" Zero shook his head, growing a small smirk, "Hmph...No go ahead." Excitedly X waved an introduced himself, becoming formal with the Humans. He always did have a soft spot for those organic creatures.

X led them All around, Zero lazily dragging his feet behind the blue bot. X wouldn't stop talking about all the great things that HQ did for the World and the fighting for justice stuff. It was annoying to hear people talk excessively when you were dieing to pass out on soft warm bed. He wanted his bed. Even if was just a metal box sticking out of the floor, that had a cushions on the inside it was still a bed. He wanted to lay in it so badly. The more he thought about it the more tired he became(if he could get anymore tired.) But he was willing to see this task through, then he would be free to rest. Little known to him he hadn't realized that he was overworking himself, and the tiredness finally got to him.

The blonde bot finally couldn't walk anymore, he laid his hand against the wall feeling a burning sensation and he covered his mouth. This was weird. He never experienced this feeling before. What ever it was he didn't like it. It hurt...it felt like it was rising...Coughing alerted X that something was wrong. He paused mid scented, turning his head and watching Zero as he began choking into his hand. Worry pooled into his green eyes and he made his way over to the reploid. "Zero Are you Okay-"

The red bot began heaving and some weird taste was rising in the back of his throat. He could smell it to. And the pain in his abdomen seemed to increase. both hands went to his stomach and he hunched over no longer able to fight back the Substance that pushed it's self out of his mouth and into the floor, causing the student's to squeal.(girls always freak out over gross things.) All it was, was whatever chemicals the E-tank had within them. He'd drank more than he should have drank, and now he was paying for it. He panted when he was finished hurling out thick and almost dry liquids, and used the wall for support again, whipping what ever was left from his face, his eyes growing heavier with each passing second.

"Zero!? What the heck- Are you okay whats wrong with you! What did you-ZERO!" The last thing he heard was his friend calling his name before his eyes finally shut, and he fell face first onto the floor. He finally was able to sleep. Though...for not very long.

Later that day the Reploid awoke to a bright room with the covers pulled up to his chest. He felt hot...Really HOT. Why was his face so hot. Was he 'sweating'? He groaned sitting up from the bed he was lying in, and meet with closed curtains and bright lights. Why were they so bright? He rubbed his eye with his hand, pushing the blankets of of him and found that his armor had been removed, and his hair had been cleaned combed and...Braided? He raised a brow bringing the braid into his hands and ran his fingers around the familiar gold streaks. Who ever did this, Made it perfect. So he didn't mind.

Now something Bothered him. The first thing was that he was stripped from his armor and he felt very, very, foreign pains in numerous places. This wasn't the big problem after realizing he was in the Nurses office. The biggest problem was is that he was so freaking HOT! Even with his Armor remove it felt like he was on fire. He was even tempted just to take off his bodysuit. But decided against it. It would be indecent. He whined rubbing his red cheeks and laid back on his pillow. "It's...So hot...Why won't they turn on the Air or something..." He complained under his breathe.

"Now now...Don't get worked up! You'll hurt yourself~" A sweet familiar voice called as the curtain broke the barrier between him and the world. He raised his head looking up to see Cinnamon, the Angel in the flesh. Two other faces poked there bodies inside his little 'room', with concerned eyes and happy smiles. "Dude you Threw up!?" Green eyes grinned hiding back such childish laughter. The other green eyes only held relief and happiness. "Im Glad your awake. You kinda scared me..." He nervously rubbed the back of his head entering behind the nurse, followed by Axl.

He sat up slowly, looking quiet miserable, as the nurse tried putting the blankets back over him. "You gave us Quiet a scare~" She giggled softly. He scared them how?...Oh no..Did...Did X..."X carried you all the way here! He was so worried about you!" Called it. That's what he was afraid of. He always did that...Burdened X with Worry. It must annoy him sometimes.(Even though Zero usually did the Saving.) "Oh I see..." He murmered looking up at X before casually avoiding his eyes. "So...What's wrong with me?" He asked scratching the back of his head. he was obviously here for a reason.

All of them suddenly frowned at him in disappointment. "You overworked your circuts, and from all the E-tanks you drank you poisoned your body. Your running a temperature of almost 200 hundred degrees." If he were human he's probably be dead by now. "E-Tanks Can be helpful but if you take more than you need it can harm the rest of you."

"You Shouldn't overwork yourself like that." X began, crossing his arms and had a small pouty look on his face. How adorable.~ "We all Know your the best And the Elite Maverick Hunter in the entire Base but that's no excuse to Overwork yourself to the point that you start vomitting chemicals in the hallways." It wasn't really his fault. Sigma gave orders and He followed. But it probably wasn't a good idea to stay up for days without sleep like he had been. And Again. Burdening his friends and Making them Worry like this. He sighed.

"So Im sick? and How did you Figure all this out?" Wasn't it obvious Zero? Cinnamon smiled with what seemed to be pride. "Deductive reasoning of course~" He nodded laying hand on his head and ruffling his bangs. "No Wonder why It's so Hot in here..." He groaned, closing his eyes tightly. There was that pain in his stomach again. It was aching him. Cinnamon was trying to get him to lay down but Zero was being a little difficult, with to much of a headache he gave in and laid down. The girl covered him with Blankets, much to his disapproval. "Im stating you bed ridden! You won't be able to get up until I Know your better." She said with a smile. She was determined to get him well rested and healthy again."You two keep him company, and Ill be right back with some yummy flavored Medicine~." In with that she was gone. But her good mood hadn't left the room still.

Axl sat on the end of the Bed crossing his legs while Zero lowered the blanket, at least to he wasn't buried underneath the heat. Poor thing had a fever. "Guys..." He said in a low tone. His eyes were barely open. He looked so exhausted and miserable. it was kinda sad. "Im sorry for making you guy's worry...I guess I hadn't realized I was...being stupid." Sick Zero didn not know how to speak.

"Well hey at least it gave me an excuse to see Cinnamon~" He chuckled, grinning from ear to ear like the Cheshire cat. X frowned lightly smacking the back or his head. "OW! Hey- Geez I was Kidding!" He pouted.

"Don't do that..." X warned, his gaze softening once he meet Zero's eyes. "Why do you say it like that?" He sat on the side of the bed watching him curiously. Blonde didn't have an answer. He shrugged.

"I feel like..I don't want you guys...to feel like you have to take care of me..." He averted his eyes only for them to retrace themselves back to X and Axl when they were snickering. What was so funny?

"Zero...Hehe~ We do it Because We care. Not because we feel like we have to. We do it because we want to." The Blue reploid tilted his head, a smile growing on his cheeks. "It's what friends do!" These Word's Gave Zero some Relief. It wasn't bother them. that was a good sign. He smiled back at the other his eyes closing momentarily. "Thank you for carrying me here..."

"Zero You know you can depend on us right?" Axl tilted his head, blinking at the other as he spoke. "You don't always need to do things alone. We have your back." Zero opened his eyes looking at ether of them. They didn't know how much theses words really lifted the heavy weight on his chest. Most of it was just the stress of everything around him but...they always knew how to make him feel better. Its like they could tell when he was in distress over something.

They would have continued this conversation but Cinnamon had returned with a Bottle full of pink liquid and a spoon. "It's bubble gum flavored~" She sang, making his way over to his beside. He sat up rubbing his head again and watched as she poured the pink liquid into the spoon, and shoved it towards his mouth. He jumped in surprise at her next words. "Open wide~" If his face weren't already red from the fever he would be blushing right now. Nervously he looked over at Axl and X whom were holding back many snickers. Reluctantly he opened his mouth and let her feed him. He swallowed the medicine finding the taste...Delicious, And amazing. He licked his lips at the new foreign sweet taste. He had to get some bubblegum liquid of his own.

He was made to lay back down by the nurse and X and Axl said there goodbye's for the Night and began to Exit the room. Cinnamon stayed behind to clean up a little and make his bed sheets look nice as well as him She left Zero sat up a little again. He grabbed his braid and pointed at it questioningly. "Hey...Cinnamon. Can you tell me who did this?" the girl looked startled, maybe even a a little bit nervous. "What...Uh.." "It's okay who ever did it I would just like to know who..."

The girl twiddled her thumbs and let out what seemed to be a sigh in defeat. "W-well...He asked me not to say but...uh..Look just don't tell him I said anything about okay?" 'He'? He assumed one of the female nurses did this wanting to touch his hair. (every one did. ) "X did it! He was really worried when he brought you in and I told him you wouldn't wake up for a while. So he sat with you for hours combing and braiding your hair like that Until he was called away. He was really worried."

"X did this?!" He as a little shocked. And yet amazed. He didn't Think X was this skilled. He smiled slightly and pressed a finger to his lips, "Okay...I won't say anything." With that out of the way Cinnamon turned out the lights and closed the curtain leaving Zero to sleep.

the blonde pulled his braid from behind his head and used it like a pillow examining it once more before he passed out completely.

Finally, Rest was given.