Duality [INFIDGET]

Chapter Twelve: Memories

Soon, Gadget woke up and Zero released him from the protective box. Gadget had a sore head the rest of the day as Shadow hit him pretty hard, so he lounged around to let his head rest.

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"Hey, Zero! Look at this!" A jackal with a green bandana shouted and held up a large fish.

"It's massive!" Another jackal wearing red laughed and walked up to the other, playfully punching him and recording a video. "Just look at the size of that thing"

"Okay, just put it back" Zero's voice echoed from the video.

"C'mon, Zero! You're no fun" The jackal holding the fish pouted and threw the fish back into the water.

The jackal in red pointed the camera lense at their leader, "Zerooooooo" he smirked and walked up to him.

"Get that camera away from me" Zero held his hand up to block the camera, much to the other jackals' protest.

"A little water won't hurt you, or are you scared?" The jackal teased his leader and ran off to the water when Zero started to chase him.

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Laughter emitted from the video afterwards, as the lonely leader watched it. He sighed and fought back tears, rubbing his head.

"I miss you guys...so much" Zero whispered and turned off the video, he had been given the camera from his friend after the whole chase and kept it ever since.

"Zero?..." A wolf called softly and entered the bedroom, they had moved into the completed base when Gadget woke up from being unconscious.

Zero rested his head in his hands, he sobbed silently, but it was still noticed by the wolf. Gadget sat beside him and rubbed his back, "Hey... what's wrong?" he asked softly and looked at Zero, he glanced at the camera and picked it up.

"I just...miss them" Zero sighed and wiped his tears. "Feel free to watch that video.." he stood up and walked to the bathroom to compose himself.

Gadget looked down at the camera and pressed play on the video shown, he watched it. Once the video was done his ears folded down, "Poor Zero..." he sighed and placed the camera on Zero's bedside table, he then stood up and walked to the bathroom door, knocking on it gently, "You okay?"

"Door's unlocked..." Zero mumbled, though audible for Gadget. Gadget walked inside the bathroom and seen his lover running a bath.

Gadget hugged Zero from behind, "This is your coping mechanism, I see" he kissed his shoulder. Zero nodded and placed his hands over Gadget's.

"Now, I can share it with you" Zero turned to his lover and kissed his forehead, he then turned off the tap and took off his clothes, with Gadget following.

Zero stepped into the hot bath and sighed, he layed down just to where his whole body was submerged other than his upper chest and head. Gadget got in with him and snuggled into his chest, the water caressed both in its warmth.

"That video was taken when I had just formed my squad..." Zero commented.

"How long ago was that?" Gadget looked up at the jackal.

"5 years ago.."

Gadget gasped, "Oh my..." he stroked Zeros chest.

"That's when everything happened, I lost my squad, turned to Eggman and now using the ruby to display dominance over this world" Zero explained. "But with you here, everything seems a lot more bearable"

"That reminds me, any news on Eggman?" Gadget asked.

Zero shook his head, "No, he hasn't bothered to contact me anymore" he answered.

"Are we gonna turn against him?" Gadget stroked Zero's ruby.

"It's a high possiblity" Zero wrapped his arms around Gadget.

"For now, let's just relax" Zero continued and closed his eyes.

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"Orbot! Cubot!"

"Yes, boss?"

"I want you to pay a visit to Infinite, tell him that I'm ready to progress to the final stage."