Brother Robot

XR cringed in his sleep and jerked slightly in his charger as he was hit with another NOS 4A2 nightmare.  He whimpered a bit in fear.

Normally it was the same: him being turned evil again and unable to fight off the control.  The energy vampire may be long vaporized after XL helped them and turned good but the fear that he could once again return brought on another different type of nightmare.

This one dealt with the new bond he had been getting with XL.  Already they were becoming tight knit and XL took on the big brother role as if he had been created for it.  In this nightmare the scene with the Wirewolf played out differently.  Instead of what happened XL grabbed the vampire and flew up into space with him before self destructing and taking the villain with him in an act of bravery.

"XR wake up!"

The bot startled awake and looked down.  He was relieved to see that it was XL that had come in to wake him.  Not for the first time in the past couple of weeks.  He sighed as he unhooked himself from his charger and hopped down.

"Vampire?" he asked.

XR only nodded.  He was immediately enveloped in an embrace and felt a charger go into his body.  He knew what XL was doing.  The copier came every night to check up on him which was why he knew what to do.  He charged all day so he could share his power with him.

"Its alright little Brother….he won't come back ever again.  I doubt Zurg is stupid enough to bring him back."

XR just nodded as he returned the embrace feeling the nightmare slip away and feeling safe.  

XL sighed as he silently cursed himself.  Unlike himself XR had seen more in his young life than XL ever would.  Just like a flesh ranger he was haunted but never showed it and more than likely while he himself was out gallivanting and trying to be a badass XR kept those nightmares to himself.  He could only imagine what he had put him through while being so consumed by hate and anger.

XL looked at his baby brother and smiled a bit at the fact that he was fast asleep.  "Sleep well XR….all heroes need their rest so they can save the galaxy again tomorrow."

XR didn't hear the fondness in his voice nor saw the soft look in his eye sockets.   He didn't see the loving smile.

He didn't…but a figure in the doorway did.  The figure waited until he heard two sounds of sleep before going in wit ha blanket and draping it over them.  The figure then patted their shoulders and smiled gently.

Then…as quietly as his pegleg would allow…Commander Nebula went to the door before turning around.  He had to hide behind his tough and gruff exterior so as not to raise suspicion.  If anyone of his own personal enemies found out that he actually did care about these two than they're lives would be in danger.  Maybe one day he could tell them but for right now he'd just take care of them in secret.

He left.  He'd just have to be a distant father and keep not looking happy at each "Pop" and "Dad" he was called.  He had to hide his pride at how well they both were turning out.

It stunk but it wouldn't be forever.