Mega man ship: Mega man and Bass
I really enjoy it! Even when I was about 12 or older I really considered Rock and Bass’s relationship! Now that I’m older I think about it critically and try to make it a bit more realistic due to Rock and Bass’s age. Rock and Bass have one of the most complex relationship in my version due to this.
Rock doesn’t age, He’ll always be 10 physically and mentally. Psychologically or Emotionally he’s more mature, but that’s due to his constant battling with his own kind, having to try and answer philosophical questions he himself has no answers to, the constant brink of war between humans and robot masters, and trauma Dr.Wily causes him in general. But the point still stands is that Rock is just a 10 year old robot boy trying to get through the day when Wily isn’t causing trouble.
Bass is a bit older, aging around 13. He’s a bit more older than Rock, but instead of being emotionally mature he’s stunted due to Wily’s abuse. He acts out due to feeling like he is a failure at his one goal, he manages to run away but this leaves him to be homeless and even more antisocial.
Bass and Rock don’t agree to cooperate until MM&B’s storyline but this isn’t because Bass wants to feel superior (He lies to Rock saying he does) it’s because he genuinely fears Wily’s chance at taking over the world with King (He actually suspects this fact due to Wily’s constant talk about how he wanted to replace him before he ran away). If Wily wins that means Bass will have to be more obedient to the abuse he already suffered daily.
After King’s defeat Rock tries to keep amends with Bass, but Bass is actually too terrified at the thought of being stuck in the same place as he was before. They don’t meet back up until about a year later during MM10 and this time the reason he joins the fight is more personal.
Bass and Rock enjoy peace for a while and come to this realization that maybe they should be friends now. They comfort each other by visiting one another often, at one point Bass suggests that they maybe should consider each other as something more, but while Rock would enjoy the thought it wouldn’t be possible. Feeling that their mentality wouldn’t be able to process it and what could they even do to purse such a thing at such a young age? They can barely hold hands much less hold a romantic relationship like his uncles.
Bass realizes his need for a relationship was based on trying to get the most comfort for himself, through this process of rejection he values Rock’s comfort and values over his constant need of reassurance. He agrees that Rock’s right and says they should continue to just being best friends, and they do stay best friends until the end.