Always Watching: Hu/AA/R *Finished*

[Neko]

Do you really think I'd be so heartless as to have this as my last chapter?

I'm not that cruel to my readers. Although I'm not above making really ebil cliffhangers >3
_________________
Roses are #FF0000, violets are #0000FF. All my base are belong to you.

Avatar, credit Yakitate@devart

[kuro-kitsune]

Awww...

If you had ended this fic without at least one small kiss, I would cry. ;^; But as it is...

It's so undescribabelly sweet and ... Laika fluff?? o_o;; I dunno, I don't think anything invovling Laika can go past a certain level. Eh heh. Cute update and I can't wait for the next chapter.

~kuro-kitsune~

[Kitty-Chan]

Fluff is good, very good. NVM lives on.
_________________
Need more Zero/X, Netto/Rock, Rock/Netto, Forte/Netto, & Blues/Netto. PLEASE!
Ano sa...could someone please make me a Zero/X, Blues/Netto, or Forte/Netto avatar/banner? I would greatly appreciate it...
Thanks for the avatar, Mandi!
People! We need more Blues/Netto & Forte/Netto on the net. Come on; help me out here! *gives everyone her Super-Adorable Irrisistable Sad Kitty Eyes(TM)*

[Neko]

Netto sighed as he gazed up at the ceiling with a disinterested spirit. Laika had been in his room for an awfully long time and he was beginning to feel a little abandoned by the older boy. ‘Silly,’ he chided himself. ‘Laika can’t be there every second of the day.’ He slowly began to realize how dependent he had grown on Laika over the past few months. When he was sick, or in trouble, or even just hungry Laika was there to help him. It seemed odd that he was just then beginning to realize what an impact Laika had made on his life.

With a sigh he lay out on the couch and continued his staring match with the ceiling, actually letting the long unused perception cogs turn in his head. Slowly, he realized that after living with Laika for a few months he was beginning to feel for the older boy in a way he hadn’t felt about anyone, save the previous year when he had a slight crush on Meiru. He blinked and went over the last thought, ‘when I had a crush on Meiru… huh?’ he asked himself quietly.

Actually, it had taken him months to even admit he liked his pretty friend, and by the time he did he had long since forgotten the feeling. Until then that is. Bit by bit he began to piece together the little signs and by the time he had gotten through he realized that Rockman had known far longer then he had, which in a way annoyed him. His own twin was more perceptive of his emotions then he was. Then again, he wasn’t one to be very perceptive to begin with.

‘Then what about Laika?’ a small voice asked in the back of his mind. Surely Laika didn’t… or did he? Maybe, maybe not. With a shrug Netto got up and walked to the fridge. Like anything else in his life, realizing this didn’t necessarily mean it had the impact that it should have on his mind. He was after all still barely a teen, not even so. Yes he liked Laika and yes, Laika was also a guy but taking into consideration that he himself might not be considered fully human, he wasn’t really one to judge.

Laika chose that moment to emerge from his room, thinking that quite possibly Netto was asleep or doing something else. However when he walked into the kitchen he came face to face with the one person that had been plaguing his thoughts for the past forty-five minutes. “Hello, what are you doing here?” he asked quickly.

Netto blinked and peered at him, “I live her right now,” Netto replied. “Unless you’ve gone insane and are about to tell me I’m allowed to go outside.”

Laika blinked, “No!” he said quickly. “Of course not.” Then he registered that Netto had just said, “You’re not allowed to go anywhere.”

Netto smirked and drank some water out of the bottle he had grabbed. “Take a nap or something? You seem a little out of it.”

Laika shrugged, quickly regaining his cool attitude. “I’m fine,” he replied sourly. Netto shrugged and wandered back into the living room to flip on the TV.

Laika sighed and grabbed a carton of juice and poured himself a glass. He winced at how he must seem to Netto, uncoordinated, scatterbrained, everything a good soldier wasn’t. He put the carton back into the fridge and went into the living room, sitting on the couch by Netto but not next to him.

There was a bad sitcom on the television in Russian, Laika wasn’t even sure if Netto understood it but he wasn’t one to judge as he wasn’t even sure he understood it. Netto’s eyes began to droop and finally he fell asleep with his head propped onto his hand. Laika eyed him and wondered what he should do. A particularly badly placed laugh track snapped Netto back to reality, saving Laika any more worry.

“Tired?” Laika asked.

Netto nodded and yawned. “Yeah, it’s only five but,” he yawned again.

“Guess it can’t be helped until they find the vaccine,” Laika said.

Netto nodded in reply and an almost awkward silence settled between the two. Or at least Laika noticed it, to Netto it was the silence that had permeated almost 80% of his conversations with Laika over the past year. Finally he decided that he was fighting a lost battle and for what reasons even he himself couldn’t figure he laid his head down in Laika’s lap and got ready to fall asleep.

“Netto?” Laika asked, turning a bright shade of red, which Netto didn’t even see because his eyes were closed.

“Yes?” Netto replied.

“Why?”

Netto opened his eyes, looked up at Laika and yawned. “Well, I dunno. Normally you’re the one pulling me into your lap, so I figured I’m allowed right? I’ve already falled asleep like this one anyways. Besides it’s more comfortable then those slabs you call pillows.” He narrowed his eyes and realized Laika was blushing. He grinned, “Why, embarrassed?” he teased.

“N-no,” Laika muttered, his blush deepening.

Netto sat up and looked at Laika. “Are you all right?” he asked. “You seem kinda… touchy.”

“I’m not touchy,” Laika snapped.

Netto raised an eyebrow. “Yeah, and I’m not unobservant,” he replied sarcastically.

“Huh?” Laika asked.

Netto shrugged, “Just because I’m like this doesn’t mean I don’t realize it,” he pointed out. “Now, what’s wrong? Ever since you went back in your room you’ve been acting weird. Did something happen? Did you find something out?”

Once again Laika marveled at how amazingly slow Netto could be even when he was in full realization. He also wondered if Rockman ever got as impatient as he did sometimes. “No, nothing happened. I just needed time to think.”

“Hmmm?” Netto murmured leaning in.

Laika’s blush increased. “What?”

“You’re lying,” Netto replied. “Something is wrong.”

“And how would you know that?” Laika snapped back.

“For one thing you’re not meeting my gaze,” Netto countered. “For another you’re avoiding my question.”

Laika sighed, “Look, even if I did tell you what was going on that doesn’t mean… I mean… well…” he sighed and looked at the floor. “I don’t think you’ll understand,” he muttered.

Netto rocked back and sat down across from his friend. Even though he had just come to his own realization to think that Laika had his own was the last thing on his mind. He truly thought that Laika had some other problems and he wanted to know what and how he could help. “Try me,” he replied evenly.

Laika shook his head, “No, Netto. It’s not something you can help me with.”

Netto’s ears dipped. “Oh,” he said softly.

Laika looked at the dejected looking Netto and felt bad for replying the way he did. “Netto, I didn’t mean it like that. I…” he sighed. “I… don’t know how else to put it,” he said delicately.

“You don’t trust me?” Netto asked, looking at Laika with a slightly pained expression.

“No, that’s not it,” Laika protested.

“Then why not?” Netto replied before Laika could say any more. “If you do trust me then why can’t you tell me what’s bothering you?”

Laika shook his head again. “I’m sorry but… no.”

Netto frowned, “Well then, are you going to tell Searchman?”

“Huh?” Laika asked.

“Searchman, someone. Anyone,” Netto replied. He was honestly worried at this point that Laika was being so guarded. “Laika, even if you can’t talk to me you have to talk to someone. Not talking is probably part of the reason you were like the way you were before we met.”

Laika opened his mouth, then closed it, suddenly realizing that Netto was a right. A huge part of why he was so much more open lately was because he had someone to be open to. And then he realized that he was pushing away one of the only people he trusted, and one of the few who trusted him back. “I’m sorry,” he murmured.

“Don’t be,” Netto sighed. “Just, talk to someone, please?”

“You’re really worried,” Laika noted with slight amusement.

“Of course, you’re one of my best friends,” Netto said softly. ‘Yeah, friends’ a tiny voice said in the back of his mind. He shoved it away and looked at Laika. “Someone needs to be worried about you,” he teased gently.

Laika looked Netto up and down and realized that keeping everything from him could eventually cost him their friendship. If there was any way to avoid it he would but he knew that he couldn’t. Maybe there would be a few months in the future but hopefully they could get over it and return to their old way of living. It was better then pushing away his happy go lucky friend forever. “Netto… I…” he swallowed hard.

“Yes?” Netto asked, thinking that possibly he was getting somewhere.

‘Come on,’ Laika told himself. ‘Just say it, you’re a soldier. You can do it.’ He opened his eyes and looked straight into Netto’s. “Netto,” he said calmly. “I think I like you.”

Netto blinked then burst out laughing.

Laika was slightly hurt at Netto’s reaction. “What? This isn’t funny, I’m dead serious.”

“I know!” Netto chuckled. “That’s why it’s so funny.” Laika gave him a puzzled look. “Only you would confess to liking someone so damn seriously,” Netto explained before cracking up again.

“Oh,” Laika said softly. “Wait, you’re not upset or anything? I mean…”

Netto’s giggles subsided and he shook his head. “Of course not. I mean,” a brief blush passed over Netto’s cheeks as well. “Well…”

A breath of relief came out of Laika as he realized what Netto was trying to say. “I understand,” he replied.

Netto gave him a tiny grin. “Well, I’m not really one to be very… close minded. I mean I’m technically not even completely human am I?” Laika gave him a shocked look and Netto pointed to his tail. “Duh,” he said.

Laika shook his head, “You certainly have an interesting outlook on your existence.”

“Huh?”

“You’re a very unique person, Netto Hikari,” Laika explained.

“Thank you,” Netto said with a grin.

An old action movie came onto the television screen and Laika watched as Netto became absorbed in it and fell onto Laika’s lap in order to watch it. So easily the conversation had come and gone that Laika could hardly believe that they had it at all. Such a person was Netto Hikari, who probably didn’t even realize what he had just confessed to. But as he had told himself so much before, that was merely part of his charm. So incredibly slow and easy going, but still perceptive in ways Laika couldn’t even imagine. Quite the enigmatic character he had chosen to like.

After awhile, he guessed that Netto was asleep. Smiling to himself he began to stroke Netto’s ears and continue to watch the movie. When a commercial break came on Netto shifted under the touch and Laika pulled his hand back quickly. Netto turned his head up to look at Laika. “It’s okay,” he said.

“Now it’s okay?” Laika teased softly.

Netto grinned, “I don’t mind. Just don’t get used to it.”

Laika smiled back and put his hand on Netto’s head. Netto continued to look back at Laika and Laika realized that it was okay. There was no barrier anymore, emotional or otherwise. He didn’t need to be the perfect soldier around Netto. He never had to. There was no rhyme or reason to it, he knew that he could be Laika and that was a freedom he hadn’t enjoyed in years.

On a whim he leaned down and brushed Netto’s lips with his own. When he pulled back Netto was smiling and so was he, one smiles of many that only came around when Netto was with him.

Watching from the hall monitor silently was Rockman and Searchman. Searchman had his arms around Rockman and Rockman leaned into the embrace. “Finally,” Rockman breathed.

~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~

Two days later Laika flew back with Netto to Electopia and returned to the Sci Labs where Netto’s father was waiting. Rockman and Netto were taken off-line for a few hours so that Yuuichirou could make sure that the vaccine went in correctly and that no damage was caused. During the whole time, Laika stayed with Netto’s body, counting down the minutes until he woke up. When he finally did wake up, Laika let out a breath he didn’t even know he was holding.

“Nervous are we?” Netto teased.

“Hush,” Laika muttered irritably.

Netto reached up and to his immense relief he felt a normal, human shaped ear. “Thank god,” he muttered.

“Feeling better?” Yuuichirou asked.

“Much, thanks papa,” Netto said happily.

“Be careful when you’re in danger though. The vaccine may suppress the virus however it did not take it away. Viruses, especially in humans do not just vanish. If your body is in danger something may trigger its comeback.”

“Joy,” Netto muttered.

Laika put a hand on Netto’s shoulder and Netto smiled gratefully back at him. At least he wasn’t alone to deal with the pain of the link on his side any longer. Neither was Rockman for that matter although Netto hadn’t quite cashed in on his teasing rights in that respect.

Once out of sci labs Netto looked around happily. Laika noted this and figured what Netto wanted to do. “Want to go to the park?”

“YES!” Netto said loudly. “Please!”

Laika chuckled softly so that only Netto could hear and Netto grinned in reply. Then, together they walked to the park where Netto could spend his first full day outdoors in months and Laika could sit and watch, always wondering, always watching.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It's OVAH~

I'm fond of this chapter. Long ass it is but hella fun it was to write XD

So, the end. Thank god. Lord knows I've got too many fics going on anyways XD
_________________
Roses are #FF0000, violets are #0000FF. All my base are belong to you.

Avatar, credit Yakitate@devart

[kuro-kitsune]

gah!

Wah, the fluff! It makes my heart go 'toki toki' it does. [/fangirling]

What a sweet way to end this fanfic. Really. Now if it weren't for the music theory homework in front of me, I'd say more, but for now...

*tosses plushies and cookies at senpai and leaves to do homework*

~kuro-kitsune~

[Neko]

I beleive 'doki' is the sound for the hear beating. Toki means time XD

And thank you ^_^ fluff is what I do /o/
_________________
Roses are #FF0000, violets are #0000FF. All my base are belong to you.

Avatar, credit Yakitate@devart

[DarkMega]

Tokidoki means "once in awhile." XD

A very nice closing to yet another wonderful Neko fic. It was very lovely, and I enjoyed every sentence. I liked how Laika was finally able to show Netto his true feelings for him. It's one of those endings that makes me say, "Awww." LOL
_________________

Justice has many faces, but this one just happens to be hilarious.
Thanks for the siggy, Hikari Angel!

"I'm having amnesia and deja vu at the same time. I think I've forgotten this before."

"He who thinks by the inch and talks by the yard deserves to be kicked by the foot."

My livejournal- http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=dragon_denae (Knock yourself out.)

[Midnight]

Horray for the end, Neko.

This final chapter did an excellent job in culminating everything that was building from the previous one, and perhaps even from the other ones as well.

It's nice that you had Laika admitting his emotions to Netto--that stoic persona needed to let it loose at some time...and the chapter in it of itself was quite fluffy and done rather well. No doubt you have earned your title many times over.

Again, I offer you congratulations on another fic well done. As with all of your other fics, I enjoyed every word down to the end, and given one or two of the lines in the epilogue, there may be reason to expect a sequel...but I digress. *flees*
_________________
Today, these three players are after Big Bucks! But they'll have to avoid the Whammy, as they play the most exciting game of their lives! From Television City in Hollywood! It's time to 'Press Your Luck!'--Rod Roddy

The Kingdom of Loathing: An Adventurer is You! // I ♣ Seals

Avatar by Spork. I very much appreciate it! <3

[Plantman]

This was a really wonderful ending for your fic, Neko. The transcition to the ending was well paced and felt like it moved along just fine with the rest of the lenght of the fic.

I think you handled Laika's feelings and reactions very well and fairly true to his actual self.
_________________
Hecha en MÉXICO - Avatar by Me.
"Logic is the Ultimate Weapon."

[Plantman]

This was a really wonderful ending for your fic, Neko. The transcition to the ending was well paced and felt like it moved along just fine with the rest of the lenght of the fic.

I think you handled Laika's feelings and reactions very well and fairly true to his actual self.
_________________
Hecha en MÉXICO - Avatar by Me.
"Logic is the Ultimate Weapon."

[Kitty-Chan]

Wow; just wow. That was an excellent end to a truly great fic. I hope Midnight is right about the sequel part.
_________________
Need more Zero/X, Netto/Rock, Rock/Netto, Forte/Netto, & Blues/Netto. PLEASE!
Ano sa...could someone please make me a Zero/X, Blues/Netto, or Forte/Netto avatar/banner? I would greatly appreciate it...
Thanks for the avatar, Mandi!
People! We need more Blues/Netto & Forte/Netto on the net. Come on; help me out here! *gives everyone her Super-Adorable Irrisistable Sad Kitty Eyes(TM)*