dear_mun | (no subject)

Maybe you two just haven't met yet.

[Oh strange, another him? His mun should really fill him in on things. : |a ]

That's the thing. Everyone brings up the fact we worked together...

[Yeah, muns often forget to do that. Still, the thought of not meeting Zero, or at least not remembering him, after all they went through together...

It tugged at X more than he would admit. How could anyone just forget their best friend?]

Someone must have tampered with your memory, then...

[X shook his head.]

Look, are you sure you don't remember anything? Anything at all?

Well, I assume whoever fixed me accidentally deleted the files.

[Sure there were other logical explanations by why fix him up to a tee and temper with his memories? He's sure whoever fixed him had no ill-intentions, clearly! ...wow X, stop with your roboPollyannaisms.

He'll stare curiously at X. Why did this whole issue bother him? X couldn't understand. After all, it couldn't be that big of a deal not knowing "Zero" right? It wasn't like he forgot all those battles that's gone down up to this point.]

I'm sure that I don't. At least not things pertaining to this... "Zero".

[But why would someone fix him and mess with his head? That didn't make sense. What would someone -- who wasn't working against X, and why would any version of himself accept help from someone who was shady? ~~X do you even play your own series?~~ -- want the memories of Zero removed? Why would someone take something that precious away?

And on that note, where the hell was Zero in this mess?!]

Accidentally...memories of your best friend is certainly some thing to 'accidentally' delete!

[There's a frown as he brings up both his hands, as if trying to settle X down.]

I'm sure whoever fixed me didn't mean any harm by it. If they did then...they had a chance to leave me where I laid.

[After all he was sure he wasn't in the best of shapes the last he fought Sigma. Granted the details were a bit fuzzy on X's end. Not that he needed to bring that up to himself, right? Not when he already seem this upset over- ...who was it again?]

[It was like talking to a brick wall. No, he had to try to get him to remember. Maybe they were just hidden, or blocked off, like that future-Zero's...

Straight-up deleted?! There had to be some way to jog his memory. Or at least...

...but seriously, where WAS Zero in this whole fiasco? Didn't he have a say in this? Wouldn't he have been just a little upset that X forgot all about him?]

I don't doubt their intentions...I just have to wonder why only Zero's memories. Zero'd died for you, X. And then you searched everywhere to find his parts, put him back together. You fought in wars together, were always together. He even mentored you when you joined the hunters.

Why weren't your memories of anyone else taken?

Died...?

[For a moment X's eyes grew wide. Zero. Zero died- was it possible? Could he be remembering about his brother-in-arms-

Nah, just messing with ya. Of course his memories aren't being jogged in the least. He just couldn't imagine anyone dying for his sake. After all the deaths he's seen were those of the innocents, or reploids who strove of a cause and then there were Mavericks.]

How sad...

[It does seem like he's bothered by the idea but ultimately X continued to treat it like an event not directly involving himself.]

I wish I could answer you that question but I don't know why specific memories were taken away while others remained in tact. I'm not entirely certain on who did it either.

[...Hearing that broke X's heart for Zero. What would Zero have said, hearing X talk like he didn't exist? Like everything they'd been through together didn't mean a damn thing? Like it was something straight out of a storybook or log?

It was frustrating. Infuriating.

But more than that, it was utterly and completely heartrending.]

I...I see.

I'm sorry, I probably shouldn't have reacted like that.

[He couldn't remember. He really couldn't remember.]

[Just because he couldn't remember Zero, didn't make X an insensitive jerk. It was clear that this X was bothered by something he, himself gave little thought to before. It was just too much for X to wrap around the importance of this "Zero" everyone kept bringing up around him.

Who was he? ...actually, it was kind of strange how he really had no urge to look further into that line of thought. Everything he could question and look into, X usually did. On the topic of Zero however, he always kept turning away from it. Instinctively or otherwise.]

No, don't apologize. I should be the one to apologize to you. I didn't mean to upset you.

[X shook his head, forcing a smile. He had no intention of upsetting the other version of himself; really, he should have given a bit more thought to him instead of worrying about everything else.

But...

Zero...]

You're fine; don't worry about it.

[X opens his mouth, a protest on the tip of his tongue. It wasn't hard to tell, X was forcing a smile. Subconsciously he reached to rub at his left arm while deciding not to press the issue.]

If you say so.

[It was rather hard to put any cheerfulness in his smile, considering the circumstances, but he'd at least try. After all...

It wasn't his fault.]

I do say so. Really, it's okay.

I...

[To drop the topic or not. Really, the ball was in his park. To drop it would make things easier, wouldn't it? Too bad life wasn't meant to be an easy one.]

I find it hard to believe you. Not after all of that, and especially not when you're making that face.

[Well, so much for that. The smile dropped entirely, as did X's shoulders, and he let out a heaving vent of a sigh.]

I guess it's impossible to hide something from yourself...

It...kind of is.

[He'll offer a sheepish smile.]

You don't have to lie to try and spare my feelings. It's alright, I understand. Zero is...important to some.

[Just not to him. How can he miss someone he didn't even know to begin with?]

That's...somehow comforting, and at the same time, a little scary.

[Have a sheepish smile right back, X.]

Important...yeah, you could say that.

[Considering all the things X had done for him, all the things they'd been through together...how could Zero not be? He was his best friend. The one person -- other than Dr. Cain, but even then -- who really understood him.]

I think I know what you mean by that.

[He gives a faint laugh. It doesn't last long. The concept of being rather close to this Zero everyone raved about just felt so foreign. There was a strange itch and X didn't know how to relieve it.

Too bad that line of thought doesn't last long. Psssh, Zero? He's not worth any space in his memory banks tyvm.]

I see... ...I'm sorry to change the topic on you, but what's the last thing that you remember?

[X shook his head, genuinely smiling this time.]

No, it's all right.

[Only for his face to melt into a thoughtful frown.]

The last thing I remember?

[Of course, his last memory had to do with Zero. Didn't most of his? It seemed to be a consistent trend.]

Zero and I left the North Pole, heading back to Hunter Base. We'd just beat Sigma and the X-hunters.

I remember that.

[Granted his is the Zero-less edition of said events. So he hasn't fought Sigma or had to deal with the tragedy revolving around Repliforce. Or his utter failure to stop the satellite from falling from the skies. ...maybe it's a good thing X didn't know about that.]

...but of course I don't recall anyone fighting along my side during those events.

[Not have any clue who Zero is? Hold up. Why...?]

... X?

[Hey if it isn't his-

Actually, who is this guy? He seems to know him, but X can't seem to put a name to that face.]

Yes? Can I help you?

[... ... Zero will stare hard at his friend now.]

X.

It's me... Zero.

[You know...that one bot who happened to die for you on more than one occasion?]

So you forgot, X? No matter. You'll be retired before you have the chance to remember.

[That stare makes X uneasy. At the mention of his name, X gave a stare of his own. This is...Z-

Whoops, never mind he's getting a big fat error within his own processor. X winced a bit while placing a hand upon the side of his head. Whatever your name is Mr. Red Reploid, X has nooo clue.]

I... I'm sorry. Don't think we've met before. I don't think you're in my unit, are you?