The Upside of Trouble

By Atreyu452

The female sauntered toward her favorite spot on the rooftop and sat down, her posture an embodiment of haughtiness. She looked around to see if anyone had noticed her entrance, maintaining her aloof expression. Seeing no one to admire her display, she sulked and began to check over her armor, making sure it was still gleaming and spotless.

The one watching her decided now was a good time to make his presence known and emerged from the shadows. “Nice night,” he commented, slouching into his familiar spot.

His companion jumped. “How many times have I told you not to do that?” she complained.

“Your fault,” he replied. “You should have known I was here to begin with.”

She ignored him.

“Nice night, I said,” he repeated. “Do you know where your partner is?”

“Yes.”

“Liar.”

“So?”

The male shrugged. “Bad things happen when he gets out of your sight. My partner took off too.”

“Uh-oh. Did he have his armor on?”

“Yep. Completed by Mysterious Look action.”

“You watch too much television.” She frowned, making a gesture of annoyance. “Come to think of it, he was wearing his armor too. That’s not unusual for him, but…”

“Worried, are you?”

She bristled. “Well, who wouldn’t be?”

He tilted his head and looked at her sideways. “Don’t you think he can take care of himself?”

“Him?” she snorted. “Ha. He thinks he’s so high and mighty, but he would be lost without me. Utterly lost.”

“Is that a fact?” He sounded amused. “Are you sure you’re not just making it all up? He seems like a pretty independent guy to me.”

She shook her head and changed the subject. “Just having both of them out there is bad enough.”

“Have you heard from our third?”

“All quiet with him. He’s probably asleep by now, lucky dog.”

The male chuckled. “He’s missing the monthly meeting.”

“He’s probably better off for it,” she remarked dryly. “I haven’t moved any mountains lately, have you?”

“Not lately, no.”

“How about the old man?” she asked nonchalantly.

“Him? Nothing besides the usual. He wasn’t plotting anything for tonight. What about—”

“You know how my partner feels about him,” she replied sharply. “It’s a non-issue.”

“Again about your partner. Are you sure you’re not worried about him?” He laughed at the look on her face. “Caught you, didn’t I?”

“I…” With a sigh, she looked away. “I take care of him. I have to; he goes and gets into all kinds of trouble without me. Of course I’m worried, especially when he tells me not to follow him.”

“So that’s the problem.”

A moment of silence followed.

“It’s a lovely night, isn’t it?” she said wistfully. “I’d hate to see anything ruin it.”

“Is that a vote to track them down?”

She frowned, considering it. “He told me to wait for him. He doesn’t like it when I disobey his orders. And what makes you think they’ll be together?”

“Oh, please. The two of them taking off around the same time, in the same part of town, and in armor. What makes you think they’re not in the same vicinity causing trouble?”

“True.”

“And it will get you to stop whining. Besides, it’ll be fun. I haven’t gone out with you in ages.”

“This is not a date.”

The male looked insulted. “Hardly. You aren’t exactly my… type.”

She was about to retort when a sound pricked her ears. “Hear that?”

“It’s just a car alarm. There’s nothing—”

The sound of a far away explosion cut through his words. More car alarms wailed through the night.

“It’s them, all right,” she said grimly. “And this was such a nice night, too.”

-ooo-

The explosion heard by the two companions had been window-shattering closer to the source. Car alarms wailed, their screams piercing the night. Amongst the debris, the two responsible for the mess posed, resembling a child’s action figures. Each was sizing up the situation.

Forte snarled, shifting his weight. Glass crunched under his boot, the tiny noise grating his nerves. His red eyes glared at his opponent; the dim light obscured the color, darkening his eyes to match the fury in his expression.

The furious gaze did not penetrate the other’s cool demeanor. The slight light gave his gray armor a black sheen, and his red boots and gauntlets were darker than blood. His shades absorbed the blackness and became part of it. His scarf, tied securely around his neck, hung limply, its normal yellow brilliance dulled by the lack of light.

“Blues,” Forte spat. “Has anyone told you? You’re no fun.”

Blues raised his shield slightly, his expression never changing from the guarded smirk.

“Not in the mood to talk?” Forte asked, snarling. “Fine. I can deal with that.” He fired three rapid shots, taking aim at his opponent’s weak points.

Blues moved, slightly. One shot burned passed his shoulder; another missed his head by an inch. The last shot flew passed his side, sending his scarf flapping. Blues, moving too quick for Forte to follow, snatched the end of the scarf and examined it closely. Burnt fibers were frayed at the end, and most of the scarf was coated with soot marks.

“You,” Blues said, his voice low and threatening. “Are dead.”

“Hey, you can’t blame me for putting a hole in that tattered rag,” Forte shot back. “It’s about to fall to pieces anyway.”

In response, Blues held up his shield and rushed him. The area became lit with plasma fire and shook with new explosions.

-ooo-

“Told you.”

“Shut up,” she snapped. “He looks pissed.”

“That’s his pissed off expression?” he raised an eyebrow. “How do you know when he’s happy?”

“It’s in his voice,” she replied absentmindedly. “You don’t think they’re going to hurt each other, do you?”

“I hope not,” he said. “Merging is so tiresome.”

“Hey, guys.”

The two turned, surprised, to gape at their new companion.

“Bad news.” The newcomer fidgeted. “Things are about to get worse.”

-ooo-

A blue plasma shot interrupted the battle, and the two combatants turned their attention elsewhere.

“Power down!” Rockman demanded, glaring at the two.

“Butt out, blue jerk!” Forte shot back. “This is our fight!”

“While it’s taking place in the city and putting hundreds in danger, it’s my fight,” Rockman replied. “Leave now, Forte.”

“What, or you’ll be forced to lecture me?” Forte mocked, turned his buster toward the blue bomber. “I’ll—Yeeouch! Blues!”

“We were in the middle of something, Rockman,” Blues said, lowering his smoking buster. “Get out of the way.”

Forte seethed, the newcomer forgotten. “That does it,” he snarled. “Gospel!”

-ooo-

“That’s my cue,” Gospel sighed. “See you guys later.”

“Later,” Tango said glumly.

“Later!” Rush chirped.

Gospel gave them a lopsided grin and disappeared with a flash.

“Dogs,” the cat mumbled. “Can’t live with them, can’t find a way to obliterate them off the planet.”

-ooo-

Forte’s purple wolf appeared beside him with a flash and a mournful howl.

“Can’t handle things on your own, Forte?” Blues mocked. “Have to call in extra help when the going gets tough?”

“I didn’t ask for help from my kid brother, now did I?” Forte snapped. “C’mon, Gospel, let’s merge.”

Gospel whimpered.

“Gospel,” Forte whined. “Come on!”

The robotic wolf laid down and rested his chin on his paws.

“Having trouble, Forte?” Blues called mockingly. Rockman watched the scene silently, his buster lowered yet ready.

“That—you little—Arrrrgh! Next time!” Forte snapped. “You win, Gospel. Let’s bail.” With a flash, they were gone.

Rockman sighed, reforming his hand at last, and approached his brother. “That settles that,” he said.

“Who asked you to interfere?” Blues demanded, shoving the younger robot away.

Rockman gave him a doleful look. “When downtown is being blown to smithereens, it’s my job to interfere.”

“You—” Blues cut himself off and looked down. Tango was winding herself around his legs. Realizing she had his attention, she looked up and meowed hopefully.

“All right,” he sighed under his breath. “We’ll settle this later.” Another flash of transportation, and he was gone as well.

“Yeah, well, you’re welcome!” Rockman yelled into the empty air. Rush trotted up to his master and pushed his nose into a dangling blue hand. Rockman sighed. “Let’s go, boy.”

-ooo-

“I told you to stay put.”

“Meow!” Tango butted her head against Blues’ chin, purring. Blues leaned back against the mattress, watching the cat do a little dance as she tried to get settled.

“I’m serious, Tango. I’m not happy with you.”

“Meow?” Tango purred louder.

Blues tried to glare. It was hard to do when the robotic cat was sitting on his upper chest, rubbing her head against his chin. “You’re grounded.”

“Meeeow.”

Blues sighed and began to stroke the cat. “Sitting on me won’t keep me out of trouble.”

Tango feigned sleep.

With another sigh, Blues removed his helmet and closed his eyes. “I wish I could understand you, cat. It would make my life a lot easier.”

You and me both, Tango thought sourly, shaking her head.

Blues chuckled. “You act like a nanny… sometimes…”

Tango purred loudly until she was sure he was asleep. Then she nimbly jumped toward the end of the bed, grabbed a blanket between her teeth, and dragged it over the sleeping form of her master. “I swear,” she sighed. “Sometimes you need a nanny.” She tilted her head to the side. “The least you could have done was to keep yourself out of trouble on meeting day. I take special considerations for you, don’t I?”

Blues shifted his head to the side, sighing in his sleep. For a moment, Tango was struck by how innocent he looked. It was a weird thought. Innocence and Blues did not go together.

“You always have the best comebacks, don’t you? Well, I’m not putting up with it anymore. Don’t think looking cute and innocent it going to get you in my good graces. I can’t protect you all the time, you know.”

Blues’ chest rose and fell slowly, and his hair spilt wildly into his face. Tango nudged a few strands away from his eyes with her nose, and with a sigh rubbed her face against his cheek. “Fine,” she sighed, curling up on the pillow next to him. “You win. I’ll stop complaining. Just stop making me worry so much.”

And don’t blame me when I sit on your face tomorrow to wake you up. Tango smirked to herself. That’ll teach you a lesson. With a last purr of satisfaction at the thought, she quickly fell asleep.

Author’s Note: This is… um… weird. Yeah. Just a little weird. A view on the lives of the commonly overlooked characters in the Rockman world, at least.