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Protoman straightened from his crouch, sword held ready, scanning the area for further enemies. As expected, with even Bass fighting on their side, this invasion of viruses had been relatively easy to take care of. Only the sheer numbers had presented an issue.
Speaking of the Black Shadow...Protoman’s attention landed on the only potential remaining threat in range. Megaman, as expected, had already trotted over to the floating solo navi, expression bright.
Fortunately, it seemed that Bass’ appetite for battle had been sated already. His posture wasn’t aggressive as he responded shortly to whatever the blue navi had said to him
Nevertheless, Protoman tensed as Bass moved towards Megaman, a lethal hand sliding out from under his ever-present cloak. White-gloved fingers slid beneath Megaman’s chin to lift it, clear green meeting cat-slit red. Protoman saw a wolfish grin on Bass’ revealed mouth as the floating navi dipped and-
Fangs flashed as Bass stole a searing, thorough kiss.
Protoman was far too sophisticated a program to crash. But this was probably what it felt like. He heard his operator make a noise like his foot was run over. Megaman’s operator sounded like his PET microphone shorted out mid-shriek.
Lashes fluttered on Megaman’s cheeks as as the dark navi pulled back from the kiss, still smirking. After a second, those green eyes cleared and- “Bass!” Megaman squeaked, scarlet blooming across his face as he realized what the other navi had done.
“I’ll see you soon, Megaman,” Bass proclaimed, running his thumb over the mouth he had just kissed before disappearing with typical abruptness.
“Megaman,” Protoman said, then, words failing him, “what?”
“Holy CRAP, Megaman!” Lan yelled, making Megaman visibly wince with embarrassment. “DID BASS JUST KISS YOU? WHY DID BASS JUST KISS YOU???”
Megaman’s flush deepened. “Well,” he started, scratching his cheek, then stalled. He visibly gathered himself, “We’ve...been getting along better, lately?”
“This has happened before,” Protoman concluded. Megaman had been surprised, but not shocked.
“And you didn’t tell your operator,” Chaud finished, as ever on the same wavelength.
Lan made another squawking noise. “Megaman…” he whined, clearly wounded.
“It’s...it’s not like that,” Megaman protested weakly.
“Like what?” Protoman asked, baffled.
“Uh.” Megaman seemed stalled as well.
Chaud, ever practical, asked, “Have you been meeting with him secretly? How often? How recent is…” he paused, visibly searching for words, “this...relationship?
“...relationship,” Lan wheezed, covering his face with the hand not holding his PET. “With Bass.”
“A few...months…” Megaman admitted, reluctantly.
“MONTHS?!” Lan shrieked, provoking another cringe from Megaman. “YOU HID THIS FOR MONTHS???”
Something in Megaman rebelled at that, his shoulders and chin coming up. “What, I’m not allowed to have friends of my own?”
“...friends,” Protoman had to repeat, infusing the word with deep skepticism. Megaman flushed but stood firm.
Chaud tsked. “He probably knew that you’d react this way, Lan.” While the other netop sputtered, Chaud continued in a more thoughtful tone, “This behavior is unlike anything we’ve ever seen from Bass.”
“With all due respect, Master Chaud, Bass has always been strange where Megaman is concerned,” Protoman cut in. If asked, he could provide a list.
“That’s...true,” Chaud agreed pensively, clearly reviewing previous interactions with the Black Shadow in a different light.
“Megaman, no, of course you can have friends,” Lan said, clearly remorseful. The combination of Megaman’s defiance and Chaud’s barb seemed to have knocked Lan into a more thoughtful frame of mind- truly, his relationship with Protoman’s netop was baffling. “But Protoman’s right, Bass is super weird about you. And also really dangerous,” he added on as an clear afterthought.
“Bass is...special. I really care about him a lot, Lan,” Megaman said in total earnestness.
It was hard to find anything to say to that.
“Just…” Lan said, “just be careful, okay? Twice is twice more than I’ve ever wanted to lose you.”
“Bass is the one that brought me back last time, remember? I think after everything, he’s earned a little leeway, right?” Megaman looked up at his operator, almost pleading.
Lan sighed and yielded. “Yeah, I guess.”
Chaud and Protoman exchanged a glance, silently agreeing that this was not the end of the review for them, but that a real conversation and analysis would happen later.
Bass was too strong of a wild card to leave hanging as a loose end, but the question was: would his relationship with Megaman be a boon...or the prelude to even more trouble?