Disclaimer: I do not own the Brave series.

Gunmax's Partner:

Roxana - Latin form of Ρωξανη (Roxane), the Greek form of the Persian or Bactrian name روشنک (Roshanak) which means "bright" or "dawn".

Roxy - A variant of Roxana

Xana - A forest and river female fairy in Asturias, Spain.

~0~

I sighed as I rang the doorbell to the boss' house. I told them not to try anything today...Still...At least it's a shorter walk than-

"Oh, Xana-san!"

I blinked and looked at Yuuta. "Boss...? Why are you wearing an apron?"

I could see a sweatdrop forming on his forehead. "Oh, that-"

"Boss, hurry up!" Gunmax yelled. "We can't wait forever!"

I narrowed my eyes at Yuuta. "Yuuta Tomonaga..."

"Don't get mad at the mini-boss. It was all of our ideas."

"S-Shadowmaru-" Yuuta giggled at my expression. Even as a wolf (puppy dog), Shadowmaru still towered over the tallest of humans...which I wasn't exactly, but still- "Sheesh, your like a walking shadow."

"That's the point, rookie. Go on ahead, mini-boss. We'll be there in a minute." Yuuta saluted before running (skipping) to the back of the house. "Your late."

"I didn't realize I was supposed to be early. What the hell did you guys do?"

"You'll find out. Come on, rookie-"

I yelped. "Alright, alright, I'm moving! Get your nose out of my but!"

"Go Shadowmaru!"

"Finally move to second base on your birthday, huh?"

Drillboy spinned around in circles. "Woot! Second base-second base-What's second base?"

I facepalmed while everyone else sweatdropped.

Gunmax tilted his head and placed a servo on his hip, symbolizing that he was rolling his eyes. "About time! We were beginning to rust!"

"Well, excuse me. I can't be blamed if my partner can't show up on time-"

"Not anymore, Roxy-baby. Your a transportation hazzard lately."

"As if I've ever done anything that bad to your baby...So, what? Your telling me I should hitch hike from now on?"

Gunmax grinned. "Can't drive you around forever, baby."

I narrowed my eyes at Gunmax. I moved to get my gun...when I patted empty space on my thigh. I looked up. Shadowmaru was twirling it in his hand, smiling. I huffed and put my hands on my hips. "Your lucky you have a ninja on the team."

"Don't we know it," said Powerjoe.

"But that's not what he meant by 'hazzard,'" said McCrane.

"Then what? If its that I'm annoying you guys for rides, which I get, I'll walk-"

"Not so fast," said Gunmax. "Don't you want to know what your gift is?"

I groaned. "Please don't tell me you bought me a car-"

"For once, your wrong, rookie." Shadowmaru flipped a metal boomerang in the air...which earned an annoyed glance in my direction. I was still whistling innocently when a huge sheet suddenly covered my head.

"Whoa, who turned out the lights?"

The guys chuckled as Shadowmaru lifted the sheet off. "Look north to find out, rookie." I looked up at him. He rolled his eyes. "Try west." I looked in front of me. My jaw dropped to the grass. "Good...God...Gunmax..."

"I know, right?"

"Isn't it sweet?"

"Its..." I walked up to it. I trailed my hands over it affectionately. "Gunmax's..." I looked up at Gunmax. "Gunmax...I...You did this?"

"The guy's been sneaking around like Shadowmaru lately-"

"He got all the parts and everything-"

"Not that the seller really had a choice-"

"Oh, shut up-"

"Thank you." I hugged his ankle. "Really, I love it."

"Don't mention it, Roxy-baby. Now I don't have to drag your aft around."

"Oh please. I'm going to be tailing you with this baby."

Everyone laughed.

"She's got you there, buddy!"

"Cut it out," Gunmax said in english.

"Yeah, let's drink!"

"To Roxana!"

I raised an eyebrow as Shadowmaru handed me a glass. "You expect me to ride drunk?"

"I'll give you a ride." I reached for the glass. He held it out of reach, smiling. "Did you replace my stars with boomerangs?"

I smiled. "Maaaybe..." He tilted the glass. "Okay, okay! Yes! Don't drop the sake! It's precious!" He chuckled before handing it over. "Preccccciousssss-"

"Sssssake makes Roxy creeeeeepy," Gunmax mocked.

"Shut up, Gunmax. Do you want some of this?"

"Heh. I'd like to see you try."

I grinned. "You said it."

Powerjoe and Drillboy poured a cooler full of sake over Gunmax's helm. I giggled and sipped at my drink as I watched the chase that the action insinuated. As the others watched, laughed, and demanded peace to 'avoid an earthquake or property damage', my eyes trailed to the bike. I sat on it. I petted the small parts I could reach with delicate precision. I closed my eyes when my fingertips trailed the speedometer. I sighed, mourning the machine and the work that went into it.

I'm sorry, baby...but you won't be taken on the road.

Not now, not ever.

~0~

Shadowmaru sat in front of the inflatable pool. His tail wagged (in excitement) as a natural, uncontrollable defect of the alt modes programming. I sighed as I finished filling it. "There. All done." I took off my shoes and let my hair down. I ran a hand through my hair as I looked at the sunset. I turned my head when I didn't hear the tell-tale sound of Shadowmaru's glossa (lapping and, in some cases, gulping) delicately positioning the fuel into his system. Shadowmaru was staring at me. I raised an eyebrow. "Bon appetit."

He blushed as he was brought back to reality. "Ah, arigato-!" His helm dived into the pool. I smiled. It was rare when I saw Shadowmaru as shy or flustered. I sat on the edge of the pool with my feet up, sure not to get the fuel dirty. As Shadowmaru ate, my glaze fell on the bike that was delicately placed in the middle of my garage.

What am I going to do with you?

"It is a fine piece of machinery."

My lips quirked. Mind ninja. "Yes...It is."

We stared at the bike in silence until I couldn't anymore. I stared at my reflection in the pool of fuel. Clear tears fell into the white mixture, creating musical circles and tidal waves.

"What are you going to tell them?"

I lifted one shoulder. "Don't know."

"If I may offer any advice-" I nodded. "As impossible as it may be, you will have to tell Gunmax first...if not the commissioner and mini-boss-"

"How can I? I've worked so hard to get where I am. And to think that the thing that will get me kicked out after all this time is...a bike..."

"You have worked hard...But we are a team. We need to know our strengths and weaknesses to function cohesively-"

"'Maru, I'm already the weak link." I looked up at him. "I'm human. They can always replace me."

"So are we. We are machines. We receive upgrades. We are-"

"Machines with feelings that may as well make you human to me and every other human who has known you." I stood up in the pool and walked over to him, no longer caring that I was contaminating it. He held me steady in the slippery fuel pool as I put my hands on his cheeks. "You are irreplaceable. Never forget that."

:You are irreplaceable. Never forget that.:

I smiled, snorting lightly. I looked into his optics and kissed him.

"You are intoxicated."

"I had one glass. One small glass."

"Nevertheless-" He transformed to bot mode, and motioned to the edge of the pool. I sighed, nodding, as I sat back down on the edge. "Sorry about the fuel..."

"No need." He leanned over and licked some of the fuel, along with my feet, with his glossa. "It's still good."

I giggled. "'Maru-"

"Still not convinced?" He licked between my legs. The pool deflated slightly as my grip tightened on it. "Delicious," he purred.

"'M-Maru-"

His servo dipped to my waist. "May I?" I opened my mouth. "For tonight." I nodded. He kissed me. "Suki da yo."

"Suki da yo," I whispered. My voice cracked.

He carassed my jaw. It shook. "Shh..."

"C-Cold."

He smiled, lifted me up, and carried me inside. "Forgive me."

Forgive me.

Forgive nothing.

Forgive me.

Forgive me for loving.

Forgive me.

Forgive me for lying.

Forgive me.

"I will be gentle."

I thought - Be gentle.

I thought - I can't do this.

I thought - Don't hate me.

I thought - Never again.

I thought - Not now.

I thought - Why am I here? Protection.

I thought - Who am I here for? Them.

I thought - If it's between me and them, who would I rather see go?

I thought - Me.

"Don't bother."

Don't bother loving me because I will be gone next week.

Don't bother befriending me because I will be gone next week.

Don't bother saying you're sorry because I will be gone next week.

Don't bother yelling because I will be gone next week.

Don't bother caring because I will be gone next week.

Don't bother with me...

Because I am not worth it.

Because I am not brave.

Because I am blind.

"I will."

Because I love your eyes.

"Why?"

Because...I don't know.

I don't know what makes the world spin.

I only know that, in my life, there is pain and there is pleasure.

Shadowmaru, and the team, are my pleasure.

Without them, without my job, I am the blind lady on the hill.

It is why I risk everything.

For them.

"Because you are fragile."

Because...if it was for me-

"And I love you."

I would've been gone long ago.