Inbox: Mask or Menace

[megabytes]

"You've reached the comms device of Megaman.EXE. I'm not available at the moment, so please leave a message and I will respond as soon as I am able! Thank you!"

Comments

[megabytes]

Then you need to get your ears checked!

[microbrobotics]

Uh huh. Nope, I hear juuuust fine.

[megabytes]

And I don't have a single faked or spoofed clearance!

[microbrobotics]

Really? You ever fixed a gap between what you should have had but didn't? 'cause I've done that.

[megabytes]

Of course not! [Unless fighting a system to make it accept a clearance that isn't as specific as it'd prefer in a manner not unlike hammering a square peg into a round hole counts, in which case yes, yes he has.] And you shouldn't be doing that either!

[microbrobotics]

Why not?

[megabytes]

It's hacking, it's illegal.

[microbrobotics]

Doesn't necessarily mean it's wrong.

[megabytes]

Hacking's always wrong! I've never seen anyone use it for something good.

[Normally this would be where a snarky "look at your life look at your choices" sort of line would go, but, uh. Technically he's got a stellar record there. He'll bend over backwards to get into systems he shouldn't even touch for the sake of the Greater Good, but by god he at least does it legit.]

[microbrobotics]

Jeez, okay, okay ... I'll just ask Magicman to teach me.

[ He's joking. Sort of. ]

[megabytes]

Not if I tell Tadashi!

[microbrobotics]

Dude, no fair! That's cheating.

[megabytes]

How is it cheating?

[microbrobotics]

Because you're going outside the rules, duh. Getting my brother involved.

[megabytes]

That's just little brother rules. Big brother rules are different.

[microbrobotics]

Yeah right.

[megabytes]

What, isn't it obvious? We've got lots of special rules to deal with all the extra work we have to do.

[microbrobotics]

You mean cheating.

[megabytes]

I mean having to clean up after the stupid choices made by certain baby brothers.

[microbrobotics]

... Is that what I am then, huh? Your baby brother?

[megabytes]

[He looks up in surprise at that question. He'd meant it more in general terms, but... ]

...yeah. I guess so.

[Partly because of the similarities to Lan bringing out his big brother instincts, partly because Megaman just plain doesn't know how to have an operator that isn't also his little brother. Doesn't make Hiro any less precious to him.]

[microbrobotics]

[ Gosh, he's picking up family all over the place. Once he has that conversation with Baymax he'll have to mention Tomeo too, but for now... ]

You've got your hands full.

[megabytes]

[And it'll be a heck of a chat for these two, when it does happen. If Hiro thought Megaman reacted weird this time...]

Looks like it.

[It's a really strange feeling, realizing that. Not a bad feeling, but...he'd never imagined he'd find himself thinking of someone else as a little brother. Especially not someone who's technically older than he is.

He leans into Hiro, settling his chin on his shoulder and gently wrapping his arms around him. ...and then he lets out the most obviously theatrical sigh ever made by a tiny child. (intentionally, since this one has audio which means he had to pick it)]

Just what I needed, another baby brother. As if one isn't enough of a hassle.

[microbrobotics]

[ Little brothers are always little brothers, no matter how old they are. It's not as though Hiro's more responsible than Megaman anyway.

He leans back gladly, just holding him close. ]

Too bad. No choice in the matter.

[megabytes]

Well, I can't drop Lan and I can't shake you. Guess I'm stuck.

[He can't help smiling. He's...almost painfully happy that Hiro's okay with this, given what happened before. He's not going to give him a reason to think he's just a replacement ever again.]