Sunkissed

The heat wave continued to throb outside, but Douglas paid it no heed. In the windowless confines of his workshop he focused on the project before him. He heard the dull roar of the maintenance bay’s air conditioning unit as it fought to keep the human mechanics working in comfort. It was a relatively peaceful morning around hunter base, so humans and reploids alike took it easy, making repairs here and there while guzzling plenty of rehydrating fluids.

Douglas, however, once he started to make real progress with one of his designs, was loath to put it aside. He readjusted his magnifying goggles and took up his spot laser, cutting the last few notches in the exterior of the tiny gadget he held in his hands. Satisfied, he held it a few feet above his work surface and let it drop, waiting eagerly to see what would happen. The little machine hummed as it bounced and began to emit a blue energy field. Douglas reached out with his hand and found it repelled by the field. He nodded his approval, trying to suppress a sense of childish glee as it rose within him. It would take a bit more tinkering, of course, but he had high hopes that this prototype, which converted impact energy into a protective barrier, could be interfaced with maverick hunter armor to allow its wearer a few seconds to reach safety when he or she was under fire.

His technical musing was interrupted by a knock and a familiar voice hailing him.

“Hey, Douglas!”

He rotated his chair to see the two S-class hunters leaning against his doorway, obviously dressed for the weather. Their new skin upgrades shone under the harsh glow of his worklamps. Douglas had politely declined the offer to have his exterior modified, feeling much more at home in his familiar green body armor.

He lifted his goggles and smiled at his visitors. “X, Zero. What brings you guys down here? Did they finally give you a day off together?”

“Sort of,” X retorted, his hand flying to his mouth to stifle a rogue yawn. Douglas chuckled sympathetically. He knew the two friends had been put on opposite shifts for the last few weeks, a measure taken by the ever short-staffed organization to stretch their expert hunter coverage as much as possible. Judging by X’s appearance, he had just returned from night duty.

“Mind if we borrow a couple ride chasers for the day?” Zero asked as he shoved a wayward blonde strand away from his face. Even out of his armor, Douglas noticed, the Crimson Hunter cut an imposing figure. His striking head of hair flickered around him whenever he moved, making him appear larger than life, and his hardened eyes seemed to take in everything at once.

Douglas consulted his mental inventory. “Let’s see . . . most of ‘em are down for preventative maintenance or signed out already, but I think we have two Sirius models tuned up and ready to go.”

“And you’re sure you won’t need them?” X wanted to know, blinking and swaying almost imperceptibly. Zero placed a steadying hand on his shoulder, and X gave him a wry smile. Zero’s features softened, as was often the case when he was around X, and they shared a meaningful glance before remembering their company.

Douglas hid a smile of his own. It was really something to watch those two together. Decades of living and fighting side by side had left them so completely in tune with each other that they moved as two parts of the same whole. Rumors, of course, had long been circulating the base that the two star hunters were much more than best friends. Douglas wasn’t really concerned either way. He was aware of the hellish trials that X and Zero had braved together, and if they could find any solace in each other’s company, well, they certainly deserved it.

He waved them away good-naturedly. “Go and have fun! Just bring them back in one piece,” he joked, turning briefly to enter their ID numbers, which he knew from memory, on the vehicle sign-out screen.

The two hunters left with a chorus of thanks, Zero scooping his partner up effortlessly in his arms amid X’s sleepy protests that he could walk just fine.

Douglas shook his head and chuckled to himself before turning back to his work.

* * *

X rubbed his eyes with the heel of his hand and managed to keep his ride chaser level. He usually found that having a task to concentrate on made it easier to stay awake, though he had downed an energizing drink on the way out of the base just to play it safe. It had been his idea to plan a mini-getaway for their shared day off, knowing full well that he was on shift the night beforehand. He supposed he’d overestimated his ability to function after a long night patrol with no rest in between, but he was determined not to let sleep deprivation get the better of him. He kicked in the booster engine and the small craft rocketed forward, nearly unseating him as he strove to keep up with Zero.

The location he had chosen was a stretch of beach about twenty kilometers from the base. Years ago it had been a popular tourist trap, but the complete dissolution of the ozone layer had since made sunbathing a fairly lethal pastime. Luckily for reploids, any harmful ultraviolet rays would simply bounce off their artificial skin. The upshot was that the seaside would be deserted and pristine, perfect for wiling away a restful afternoon. As they neared the coast X perceived a marginally cooler breeze blowing in from the ocean. He was relieved that his internal temperature regulator kept him pretty comfortable, even if it had to work a little harder in the intense heat.

The hunters drove in easy silence, Zero looking back every so often to make sure his friend hadn’t fallen asleep at the handlebars. X basked in a warm feeling when their eyes met briefly, Zero flashing him a quicksilver grin before turning his attention back to the shimmering highway. X sensed that Zero had been looking forward to their outing as much as he had.

At length they reached their destination, and X felt a grin spread across his face as he took in their surroundings. Zero hummed in approval beside him. The beach was completely theirs, as expected, the dazzling white sand sprawling before them in wind-whipped peaks and valleys. The only signs of human presence were long abandoned shacks and stands in late stages of decay as nature slowly reclaimed the land. White-capped waves soughed endlessly against the shoreline in a tranquilizing rhythm.

They stowed their ride chasers in the ruins of what might have been a souvenir shack and picked their way through the scorching sand. X settled on a place a stone’s throw from the shoreline and pulled an old blanket out of his backpack. He spread it over the ground and sank onto it with an exaggerated sigh of relief.

Zero chuckled but remained standing, his eyes fixated on the restless waves. X peered up at him, shading his eyes against the sun’s glare.

“Going for a swim?” he asked.

“Mmn,” Zero nodded, his hands moving to the hem of his shirt.

X’s breath caught in his throat at the sight of Zero’s bare skin as he tugged the shirt over his head. Like X, Zero was very pale, strikingly so, since reploid skin was immune to the sun and could never develop a tan. It also reflected light a great deal more than human flesh, betraying the fact that it was composed of an extremely malleable crystalline alloy rather than layers of cells. Nonetheless, Zero looked incredibly human to X’s eyes as he shook out his hair and rotated his shoulders. X couldn’t help watching Zero’s muscles move fluidly beneath his skin, the image evoking a host of exquisite memories. He was also reminded, rather abruptly, that the past few weeks had given them little opportunity to trade more than the occasional kiss, usually stolen whenever their paths happened to cross during shift change.

Zero must have read something in his expression, as he bent and surprised X with a brief, breath-stealing kiss before smirking knowingly and turning to leave.

X’s fingertips flew to his tingling lips as he watched Zero wade into the water and dive beneath the waves. He shook his head to dispel the racy thoughts before they could torment him further and pulled his electronic reader out of his backpack. He had hoped to catch up on his reading and had downloaded some interesting philosophical texts for the purpose, but the words swam before his eyes and he quickly switched it off. Sighing drowsily, he laid his head on his folded arms, allowing the ocean to lull him to oblivion.

He awoke some time later, feeling rested, albeit a bit woozy from the length of his nap. Rolling over, he opened his eyes to see Zero sitting cross-legged beside him, his data reader in his lap. Zero looked up from whatever he was reading and smirked at X.

“Decided to rejoin the land of the living?” he asked, setting the device aside and leaning over him.

X blinked in surprise. “How long was I asleep for?”

“You don’t want to know.”

X glanced around at his surroundings and perceived that the shadows had, in fact, lengthened considerably. A few clouds had gathered as well, brimming with the promise of rainfall.

“Oh,” X said, rather sheepishly. He hadn’t really meant to spend so much of the day sleeping, since he could have easily done that in his quarters. He frowned slightly, wondering why Zero hadn’t woken him earlier, then dismissed the question before he voiced it. Zero had probably just assumed he needed the rest, and as much as X disliked to admit it, he did feel a lot better.

As it was, Zero simply shrugged and lowered himself to rest his cheek against X’s chest, his limbs splayed in a lazy hug. X ran his hands through Zero’s hair as it spilled over them both, relishing the feel of the dewy strands as they glided between his fingers. The soothing sound of the surf filled his ears and he could have easily drifted off again, but he was far too distracted by Zero’s weight against his lower body. With a pang he realized how long it had been since they had last held each other in this way,

He slid his fingertips down Zero’s spine, reacquainting himself with the texture of his skin and the shape of the muscles that coiled dangerously beneath it. Planting a kiss on Zero’s flaxen head, he breathed in a familiar scent intermingled with something more exotic – the sun and sea had woven themselves in his lover’s hair. Zero shifted his weight slightly, drawing a contented hum from X as he slid upwards to claim a long, languid kiss. Warmth pooled in X’s midsection when he tasted the salty residue of the sea spray on Zero’s lips. He couldn’t keep an eager noise from escaping his mouth, causing Zero to pull away with a snicker.

Zero propped himself up on his elbows and stared down at X with bemused blue eyes. “And here I thought you were still out of it,” he teased, taking his lower lip between his teeth suggestively.

X felt his cheeks warm. “Maybe all this fresh air is doing something to my hormones,” he replied blithely.

A doubtful look crossed Zero’s features. “But we don’t have -- ”

“Shut up,” X chuckled as he tried tugging Zero back down again, to seal his illogic with a kiss.

Zero favored him with a roguish grin, entwining his fingers with X’s. Slowly, inexorably, he pinned X’s wrists on either side of the smaller hunter’s body. X tensed as the metal bones creaked in his forearms, then all the fight went out of him as Zero’s voice came warm and throaty by his ear.

“Looks like you’ve missed this as much as I have,” Zero murmured, bewitchingly, grazing his teeth along the delicate curve of X’s neck.

X gasped and shivered. He was hardly able to stutter a reply before Zero moved quickly to seize his lips with another bone-melting kiss. Their tongues met this time, restlessly, trying to make up for too many lonesome, aching nights all at once. X moaned and rocked his hips upward, knowing his reactions would spur Zero on – it was a game they played, and they both took pleasure in it. Sure enough, Zero growled and set upon his neck, leaving X panting in the wake of his ferocious handiwork. He could hear Zero’s own breath rasping in his chest, sending electric thrills down X’s spine. As unsettling as Zero’s barely-controlled bloodlust could be on the battlefield, X found it intoxicating elsewhere, even if he blushed to admit it to himself. He knew it was hardly becoming for a hunter leader of his reputation to enjoy playing with fire.

For the moment, though, X simply looped a leg around his partner’s waist and dismissed all thought from his brain. They grinded against each another urgently, X groaning at the incredible sensation of Zero’s body against his erection. Zero heaved himself up abruptly and leaned back on his heels, releasing his fierce grip on X’s wrists so he could begin coaxing open the buttons on X’s shirt. He gazed down at X as he did so, his lips parted ever so slightly and his eyes dark with desire. X tilted his head and lowered his eyelashes demurely in an expression he knew drove Zero over the edge. He carefully tucked away a smile as he felt Zero’s tongue, warmer than the sun that beat down on them both, tracing maddening patterns over his suddenly bare skin. Now that his hands were free, X could grab handfuls of the luscious blonde hair as it tickled his ribs. He gently tugged on it to guide his lover where he wanted him to go, though there was really no doubt as to where Zero’s impassioned caresses would take him.

Zero’s hands and teeth made short work of the removal of X’s remaining clothing. X drew in an uneven breath, almost lightheaded with anticipation. An exultant cry tore from his lips as he felt Zero’s mouth close around him. Zero worked him relentlessly, visibly enjoying making X writhe underneath him. A dull ache quickly spread throughout X’s lower body and he fought to keep his breathing under control, trying to prolong the unbridled pleasure for as long as he could. Inevitably, though, he heard himself yelping as the tension left him in a rush, his hips bucking in time with the shockwaves of bliss that had commandeered his sensory systems.

X sank to the ground with a shuddering sigh, and through his daze he sensed Zero stretching out beside him. Muscles still twitching joyfully, X clambered on top of his partner and began peppering him with grateful kisses. Zero chuckled softly and snaked an arm around to pull X in for a hug, planting a rough kiss on his forehead.

“Sounded like someone was enjoying himself,” Zero murmured, tilting his head back a bit to get a better look at X. Zero’s eyes shone with affection, though a restless hunger still seethed in their blue depths.

X felt himself blush. His pleasure-addled brain couldn’t supply a witty comeback, so he opted to kiss Zero instead. Now that he had sufficiently caught his breath he was anxious to reciprocate, anyway.

Zero grunted softly as X shifted to straddle him. He cupped X’s chin while they kissed, his tongue demanding and receiving entrance. X reached between their bodies to gently stroke Zero through his clothing and marveled at the noises he inspired. He started kissing a trail down Zero’s chest, pausing briefly to tease an already hardened nipple with his teeth. He grinned just a little to himself as Zero moaned and twitched impatiently beneath his touch. In spite of, or maybe even because of, the deep admiration the two hunters had for each other, X always took secret satisfaction in turning his powerful friend into putty in his hands.

X shifted again, moving downward while he worked Zero’s shorts open. He ran his lips along the hollow curve of his waist as he slid the garments down over his lover’s hipbones. After taking a moment to soothe Zero’s arousal with a few swirls of his tongue, he took him in fully and began using his hands and lips in tandem to guide him towards release.

Zero’s hands buried themselves in X’s hair and X heard him exhale hoarsely. “God, X,” he gasped, his breath starting to hitch.

The responses he was evoking from Zero sent tingles down X’s spine. He started to move faster, moaning a little himself as Zero yanked agreeably on his hair and growled deep within his throat. A few minutes later, the raging lust had subsided and Zero’s relieved gasps rang in X’s ears.

Zero clasped X’s hand and hauled the smaller hunter forward to lie beside him. They held each other loosely, Zero’s breath still whistling in his chest. X gazed into his lover’s suddenly tranquil features and devotion rose fierce within him. He leaned in and kissed him tenderly. Zero raised his eyes and gave him a crooked smile, squeezing his hand a little more tightly. A sigh of pure enjoyment escaped X’s lips as they lay in repose, foreheads touching, a welcome cool breeze gusting over their naked skin.

X wasn’t sure how long they wiled away the time in that manner, but eventually their reverie was disrupted by a rumble of thunder and the startling cold of oversized raindrops. The heat wave had finally broken, it seemed, and they were in for a spectacular summer storm.

“Time to go, I guess,” X chuckled, a little ruefully.

Zero nodded. “Yeah. We still have the drive home to get through.”

They were soaked by the time they had dressed and gathered up their few possessions. Zero’s hair clung wetly to his skin as he yanked their ride chasers out of the ruined shack, but he still looked stunning to X’s eyes. On impulse he stole a quick kiss from Zero and found himself enveloped in a fierce hug. As they parted Zero held him at arm’s length and gazed down at him mischievously.

“Let’s do this again someday, if they ever cut us another break,” he suggested with a wink, before mounting his ride chaser and hitting the ignition switch, the engine’s whine filling the air.

X hopped on his own vehicle and started it up. “Definitely,” he replied, grinning to himself.

The hunters took one last look at their surroundings before engaging the thrusters and racing toward the highway, kicking up a wall of sand as they did so. As the sound of the machines faded away, the seaside was desolate once again, and the waves continued their weary march against the unheeding shore.