[After a certain rescue mission]

[megadidit]

That poor Nexus tree, it'd been kicked a good many times(with armored boots no less) and Rockman still wanted to hit something. Actually it was a someone he wanted to hit but he had been a good little Rockman and hadn't hit them while they were recuperating

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[firstforged]

Said poor helmet bounced twice, and then was picked up by a gloved hand -- as the owner of said hand padded out of the brush, frosty teal catbot following at his heels.

Blues turned his 'new find' over in his hands a few times, pretending to study it, before quirking a smile at Rockman.

"Y'need to take better care of these things, before you knock the connectors loose."

[megadidit]

"And I bet you know all about 'taking better care' of things, huh. Just what are you doing here anyway?" That certainly wasn't the normal response Rockman would give and he glared at Blues.

[firstforged]

"Me? I'm out for my morning constitutional, or something roughly equivalent to that -- we older 'men', we need to stay active don't you know."

Not that Blues was particularly 'old', mind ...

"I certainly do know how to take care of things, or things would've fallen apart on me. Now what bit you today, mm?"

[megadidit]

The oddness that is Blues was ignored. Okay, so it earned him an odd look, then it was ignored.

"Then I guess I shouldn't worry about you taking care of yourself either," he huffed unbelievingly and crossed his arms. "And nothing has bit me."

[firstforged]

"No, I've been pretty decent for the last few decades or so; took a bit of mutual blackmail, but I'm all better now. Why?"

The smile mutated to something more resembling an ironic little smirk, as Blues mimicked Rockman's crossed-arms posture and ignored Tango coiling around his ankles.

"Are you sure? It sounds to me like the contrary bug bit you."

[megadidit]

He glared some more and dropped his arms to his sides, letting Blues' actions get to him. "Because you don't trust anyone to help you when you need it, you stubborn idiot!"

The tree got punched this time.

[firstforged]

The tree got punched -- and Blues' hand came down firmly on Rockman's head to pull him away from the abused greenery.

"Knock it off, kid. Temper tantrums don't suit you."

"In case you haven't noticed, I got past that little problem; so why don't you calm the hell down and tell me what has you so riled up instead of just flying off the handle at me?"

[megadidit]

He almost took a swipe at Blues but something told him that it wouldn't be a wise decision; so he only made it known that he was displeased with being pulled away with an irritated sound.

"I am not having a temper tant- wait what?" He suddenly looked a lot less angry and a lot more confused. "You got passed it? You're not going to die?"

[firstforged]

"Yes, you certainly are."

Letting go again, Blues walked a bit of a half-circle around Rockman to get a better look at him. And, once hit with the small barrage of questions, let the little smile slip back again.

"Like I said, a little bit of mutual blackmail and it's all good. I've been fine for years."

[megadidit]

Part of him still wanted to deny that claim while the other to listen to what Blues said; he grumbled uncommunicatively.

The smile was met by a worried look. "And you...don't- you don't think everyone will be better off without you?"

[firstforged]

"Rock, if I thought that I wouldn't have bothered, and would be rusted scrap in a warehouse somewhere years ago instead of keeping the family and the labs together."

"In a word -- no."

[megadidit]

"That other Blues said- and it makes no sense but that's what he said." Rockman ducks his head. "He could have gotten help- just had to ask..."

[firstforged]

"What other Blues?"

Tango yowled at Rock to be picked up, as Blues eyed him curiously.

"And what happened, exactly?"

[megadidit]

He blinked at the cat, startled, then lightly scooped her up for pettings. "There was a Tango in the Nexus. She was hurt, so I fixed her. But she was worried about her Blues because something had happened and he'd been hurt and a bunch of Wilybots got him."

He sighed and skipped parts that he didn't find important to the story. "We got him back and patched him up but couldn't fix the glitch. He doesn't trust anyone to go for help, no one even knew until then. He said it was better that way. And that- that maybe his death would make things better for everyone."

Rockman looked hurt, though he tried to hide the fact. That a Blues thought that meant he didn't know how much Rockman cared about him. And it did a lot to the way the blue bot looked up to him.

[firstforged]

Yay for pettings! Whatever might be annoying Rockman or Blues, Tango was a happy kittie now.

Blues listened quietly, for his own part -- or he did until Rockman reached the near-end of his recital. Then he snorted, disdain written plainly on his face.

"How no one knew, I couldn't guess -- different world, different rules, I suppose. And no, I didn't want anyone tinkering around with my innards again for a damn long time, glitch or no."

"But carrying on with 'maybe his death will make things better for everyone', and that it's better that way ..."

He tugged his visor down just enough that a gleam of icy blue eyes met Rockman's gaze.

"Let's just say it's a good thing we haven't met, because I don't tolerate that kind of self-pitying idiocy from anyone, never mind some jerk who's supposedly me."

[megadidit]

Rockman froze at the gaze then lightly nodded in understanding. He didn't like the idea of two Blues fighting -- no matter how much he wanted to hit one of them -- but he knew he couldn't change how Blues felt about his alt.

Starting up his petting again, he shifted as he weighed the chances he'd be answered if he asked his next question. And if he wanted the answer at all.