Hunters HQ, Harpuia's quarters

[bloodemerald]

It was still strange -- or at least seemed strange -- for everything in Harpuia's life to be quiet, relatively predictable, and above all painless. Not that he didn't remember when that had been the case in his own world, but it felt so depressingly long ago

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[_megaman_x]

There was a chime from the door to Harpuia's quarters, indicating that someone had arrived.

Outside, X waited with Zero for Harpuia to answer the door. He glanced over at Zero. He knew Zero had to be somewhat nervous. Zero had been keeping his distance from Harpuia, since his arrival in their world, because he knew Harpuia had issues with his own Zero.

[zero_saber]

Zero was a bit nervous, but he wasn't about to let that show as he stood waiting next to X. He still wasn't sure how this meeting would go, but hopefully it would go well.

[bloodemerald]

Startled out of him ruminations by the sudden chiming of his door, Harpuia unearthed himself from the texts and scuttled to answer it.

Which prompted a long, long moment of silent, wide-eyed blinking once he saw who stood on the other side.

[_megaman_x]

X smiled, hoping to be reassuring. "Hi, Harpuia. May we come in?"

[zero_saber]

Zero greeted Harpuia, not quite sure what to do. "Hello."

[bloodemerald]

"Hello ..."

Knowing that there would be a visit, and actually getting it, were turning out to be two different things.

Forcing his winglets to stay as still as possible and not give away his anxiety, Harpuia nodded and gestured for them both to come inside.

"Of course --"

[_megaman_x]

X entered the room first. "I hope we haven't caught you at a bad time?"

[zero_saber]

Zero followed X into the room, quietly taking in their surroundings.

[bloodemerald]

"No, it's fine ..."

As they entered, Harpuia tugged chairs away from his desk and cleared space on the bed for them to make themselves comfortable.

He still was not at all certain what this visit would be about, or what Zero wanted -- or what X expected.

Better not to guess --

[_megaman_x]

X was a bit disappointed in Zero's silence. He knew his friend had been upset and unhappy about having to avoid Harpuia because of issues with his alternate. But now that Zero'd finally decided Harpuia had had long enough to settle in and recover to meet him without incident, Zero wasn't talking much.

X took one of the chairs and smiled at the two of them. "I'm sure you both already recognize each other." X smiled a bit wryly. "But, Harpuia, I'd like you to meet my best friend, Zero. And Zero, this is Harpuia." X didn't voice the playful 'Play nice' admonition he was tempted to add.

[zero_saber]

The silence was more out of not really finding much to say, and honestly - it was a bit awkward. Probably on both Zero's and Harpuia's parts, for having preconceived notions about each other.

Of course, that didn't mean that they couldn't get over them. He offered a hand to Harpuia. "It's nice to meet you."

[bloodemerald]

For a few heartbeats Harpuia hesitated. Granted, the Zero he'd known had shown occasional signs of being almost civilized; he had also caused the slaughter of innocents and was called a Demon for good reason.

His eyes locked on Zero's, he accepted the offered hand.

"... And the same, to you."

[_megaman_x]

X smiled at the exchange. It wasn't much, but it was a start. Plus, it looked like he wouldn't have to kick Zero into taking initiative.

[zero_saber]

"... Is there anything you'd like to ask?" Zero rubbed the back of his head, trying not to come off as nervous or too awkward.

"I know you were enemies with the Zero in your world, but I'm not him and I'd like to be friends with you. So is there anything you'd like to know about me?"

[bloodemerald]

Harpuia fidgeted and looked uncertain, as if undone by Zero's own nervousness. Winglets all but quivering, he glanced away and then -- with a squaring of his shoulders -- pointedly and stubbornly met Zero's gaze.

If anything, his expression was somewhere between pleading and desperate.

"Anything! You speak in more than grunted ignorant phrases and parroting Ciel's words, you obviously have your own life."

"Tell me who you are!"

[_megaman_x]

X was glad Zero had made the offer, but what really surprised him was Harpuia's reaction to it. He glanced between them, but then frowned slightly at Harpuia's description of his own Zero.

He couldn't help wondering how much of that description was bias and how much was the truth about that alternate Zero's personality. If it was the truth, it was depressing.