"I saw the blast coming, but there was nothing I could do. I tried calling out, tried to warn him, but it was too late. He was still smiling when the bolt of burning plasma struck him in the back of the head. I saw his eyes go wide in shock, then rolled back in his head as he fell. I screamed out his name in horror as I ran towards his motionless body. I didn't even bother to power up my own buster, as the assassin had already fled.

"I dropped down beside him, unable to tell how bad the damage was, the back of his head a mass of smoke melted metal and sparking wires. I turn him over. His face looks so peaceful, serene. The scent of burning metal and vaporized plastics fills the air. I try taking off his helmet, but my hands keep slipping. I can barely see through the smoke, the fumes burning my eyes, making them water even more...

"No, I will not cry. There's no time for that now. Even as I told myself that I found it hard to do. I wanted to cry, but I won't. Too much is at stake to let myself be distracted now. Even as the tears gather at the corner of my eyes, I force myself to hold them back, to keep working at the stubborn helmet.

"Finally it comes free, and I toss it to one side. I go to check his vitals, and see his lips move. He's alive! He's trying to speak, but its too faint to hear. Pulling my headset off, and cradling his head in my arms, I strain to hear what may very be the last words he'll ever say to me...

"'Did you get the license plate of the load-lifter that hit me...'

"He was joking about this?! I couldn't believe he'd actually joke with me after being shot in the back of the head. Didn't he know how scared I was? I punch him in the chest, but lightly. My anger with him was nothing compared to the relief I felt.

"A single tear starts to roll down my cheek, and he wipes it away with his thumb, smiling softly at me. He leans forward bringing his lips closer to mine, while I bring my arm around his neck. He removes his hand from my face as our lips brush together, moving down my neck, to the small of my back as hold him closer..."



Alia and Dynamo from the Megaman X games. I put out a challenge to my friends to give me pairings for sap and fluff pictures that they'd like to see. This was one of the results, which I think turned out much better than one I did of X and Iris. I think the armor came out a bit thinner than it is in the actual character art, but I didn't want the armor to interfere with the *ahem* interaction.