I...really like writing characters going crazy. And uh, Zero's really, really crazy in this. There are major character deaths in this and a little gore. I got a request to post this, so here you are. Crazy Zero in all his desperate for love glory.
This is a crossover of three Leijiverse series, and trying to get the continuity to work properly was a headache, but I did the best could. I'm really sorry for any mistakes and hope you enjoy your read.
The room felt wrong. There was nothing particularly incorrect about it overall. No, it was simply a living room. It just wasn't a living room Tadashi was supposed to be in, and everything about it was making his skin crawl.
The air was damp with the smell of bleach and other cleaning chemicals, and patches on the carpet had either been stained white or cut out and replaced with different patterns of flooring. It resembled an uneven quilt in a way. Random blotches on the wall had been gone over again and again with completely different paint hues than the original light yellow. It all seemed…off.
The young pirate tugged on the chain binding his wrist again, but it offered no give. Digging through the couch cushions the chain disappeared into showed the other end to be snapped onto a metal bar within. He growled, pulling until his wrist felt close to breaking. Damnit.
It wasn't even as though it was his fault this time. He'd been at a market restocking their food. He'd been doing his job. Then…everything had just started to swim. He must have passed out, because he couldn't remember anything after that.
He tensed in preparation as the only door to the room swung open on the wall to his right, but the man standing there smiled at the sight of him. "Oh, you're up, little one. That's good. I was starting to worry."
Whoever he was, he was taller than the captain. His hair was somewhat unkempt, auburn locks curling messily around his tired, russet eyes. His nose was a bit long, though it fit his face. He was also as broad-chested as the captain beneath the wine-red shirt he wore.
Tadashi thought he might have been intimidating if not for how pale his skin was and how flighty his movements were. His hands couldn't seem to stay in one place for more than a few seconds, and his bloodshot eyes flickered from the young pirate to every corner of the room. He started slightly as Tadashi spoke.
"Why am I chained up?"
The man glanced away as though ashamed. "Well, so you don't go anywhere. It would be dangerous for you to just run off."
"Dangerous? Why? What's going on? Where am I!? Who are you!?"
The man took a nervous step back under the assault of questions. "Y-you're home, little one," he offered, slowly moving toward the glowering pirate. "I'm-"
"Home?" the brunette screeched. "Where's the captain? Where's the Arcadia!?"
The stranger froze, his eyes glazing over. "Ar…cadia?"
"Yes…" Tadashi frowned warily. "The Arcadia – my ship."
The man slowly returned to reality. "Your ship?" he frowned. "No, you live here…with me." He placed his hand to Tadashi's shoulder, flinching as the boy tore away from his grasp.
"Don't touch me! What the hell is wrong with you? I don't live here!"
"You do!" the man pleaded. "You're…You're my boy. I'm sorry, but your mother's resting right now. Please don't play around like this. I-I'll go get her for you in a bit. Just please stop."
"You're crazy," Tadashi hissed. "Let me go!"
The stranger looked close to tears. He clutched his face, messing his hair. "Why do you keep doing this? I don't understand. D-did I do something wrong? Do you need something? I-I'll get you whatever you want, so please stop this."
This guy was almost pitiful, and the pirate wasn't really sure what to think of him. "You're fucking insane," he muttered. "I don't know who you think I am, but my name is Tadashi Monono, and I don't know you. Now let me go!"
The man's eyes deadened. "Stop this," he commanded, his voice suddenly cold.
The air held a suspended note of tension as Tadashi bit his tongue. He was unarmed, and this guy really was crazy. Maybe it was best not to tick him off.
"Listen to me," the boy attempted, his voice calm and careful. "I think you're mistaking me for someone else – your son I guess. I'm not-"
He cut off with a strangled gasp as the man's hand shot to encircle his throat. The pirate clawed at the violent grip, his eyes watering and rolling back against the sudden lack of air. Small choking sounds were all he could manage as his windpipe was crushed painfully shut.
"Why won't you accept me?" the man hissed. "I'll do anything for you, but you just keep pushing me away. I just want to be happy. I just want…"
Tadashi's vision was blacking out. His hands slipped from the one around his neck as unconsciousness began to take hold. This was it? This was his death? No, this couldn't be. How unfair.
The grip vanished, and he was left choking and coughing in a desperate bid for breath. His throat felt raw and ached at the effort of breathing. Bruises had already begun to blossom across his skin.
The stranger too was gasping for air. He clutched the hand he'd almost killed with to his chest, his knuckles white with the effort. "I don't want to have to do this, little one. Please don't make me. Let's not do this again. W-we can be happy. I'll take care of you. H-here." His hazy eyes brightened. "I'll make you something. You must be starving."
Tadashi knew he had to leave. He had to get out or this guy would kill him. "Why don't you let me make you something?" he offered, his voice a hoarse whisper.
The man smiled as though he'd never been offered something so kind in his life. "No, that's alright. I suppose I haven't been taking good care of you lately. I-it's no wonder you've been so upset with me. I'm sorry. Here, let me fix that."
Tadashi was left alone again for some time. He couldn't tell how long. There were no clocks or even decorations of any kind. The room only held the couch in the center and a coffee table in front of it. He'd simply have to wait for some opportunity to make a break for it, because it didn't look like the captain would be coming after him any time soon.
His ears perked up to a low conversation in the other room. He couldn't distinguish anything until the two voices drew closer. The deeper of the two was obviously the same nut from before. He pled softly with the other. "No, you don't need to be upset. It's alright now. I found him. He's back."
But the cold voice of the woman responded with an edge of rage to her calm. "He's not back. He can never be back. You killed him. Stop living in your delusions, Zero."
"I don't know what you're talking about," the man who must have been Zero twittered in a laugh.
The door opened, and he pulled a young woman in. His grip was surprisingly gentle as he held the crook of her arm but she was allowing him to lead her. She reminded Tadashi of Emeraldas somewhat. She had a similar face and that same shimmering waterfall of hair in a golden blond. Her eyes were sea foam green, turned down in anger. When they moved to him, sadness drowned out her anger.
"See?" Zero offered nervously. "You don't need to be so upset with me. He's right here."
"No, Zero," she whispered. "That's not him. I don't know him, but you need to let him go."
The man's movements turned jittery again, and he quickly shook his head. "I-it's him. It is!"
"Calm down," she breathed. "Not in front of the boy. Don't do this in front of him."
"I-I need to go check on dinner," he nodded jerkily.
He left her with the young pirate, closing the door behind him. She strode up to the couch, walking with a graceful ease. "I'm sorry about this," she sighed, bringing a hand up to place against his cheek. "I'm so very sorry."
"It's not your fault that guy's crazy," he huffed, blushing under her touch.
"It's not his fault either. He didn't deserve this." Tears filled her eyes. "Oh, you do look so much like him. I'm sorry."
"Hey don't cry! Uh, I'm sure we'll be fine. My captain will probably show up soon, and he'll save us." His blush only worsened as she leaned down to hug him.
"I hope he does. I hope he'll take you away from here, but I'm sorry. I won't be going with you. I don't have much time left here." She pulled away and took a seat at his side. "I am Maetel."
"Well, I'm Monono," he frowned. "But why can't you come with me?"
She shook her head. "I simply don't have enough time. Let me use what I have to help you, Monono." She sighed deeply. "That man is Warrius Zero, and as long as you act like he wants, you'll be alright."
"I'm not going to act like anything that freak wants me too," Tadashi snapped.
"Just like him," she murmured airily, smiling as though it pained her. "And I'd love to tell you to keep fighting. I wish I could, but I don't want you to lose your life. You don't deserve it. You don't deserve any of this. Now let me explain before he comes back."
Tadashi gave in with a slight pout. She didn't deserve this either, but he decided to let her speak.
"At one time Zero had a wife and child, and his mind has become lost in the delusion that he still does. To him, you are his child, and the more you refuse to accept that, the more he teeters on the edge. He doesn't want to kill you. Honestly, he doesn't want to kill anyone, but he can't help it. That's no excuse of course. He deserves to be punished for what he's done, and I'm certain he'd want to die for all of it if he were in his right mind."
Footsteps approached them, and Maetel's expression fell once more. "So do your best to act as he wishes until you've earned his trust. Then, when you have a clear opportunity, please kill him, Monono. I know it's so much to ask, but I'm afraid you have no other choice."
"No!" he gasped. "My captain will save us!"
"Your captain sounds like a good man," she smiled. "Who…Who is he?"
"His name is Harlock," Tadashi grinned. "I'm sure you've heard of him."
Tears filled her eyes again. "Yes, of course. I'm sure you look up to him."
"Well, yeah. I wish I could be more like him. I bet he could get out of this." The captain would probably be better at keeping her from crying too. Tadashi could only watch as a few stray tears rolled down her cheeks. Had he said something wrong?
"I hope he does come save you," she whispered as the dull, thudding footsteps neared. "I sure hope you get all you ever dreamed of, Monono."
Zero was shaking even more than before when he opened the door. The tray of food in his hands rattled from his wildly trembling hands. "It's getting worse," Maetel murmured, though her eyes held a cold hatred for him. No pity leaked into her gaze.
"What's getting worse?"
"Whatever it is that he fights. He's losing."
The shaking man placed the tray of food out for them, looking much like a young child searching for approval. "I'm sorry it's a bit messy," he offered. "But it does taste good, I promise."
While the presentation was sup-par, Tadashi had to admit that it did look good, and he was starving. Under Zero's expectant gaze and Maetel's slight nod, he took the plate of asparagus and some sort of fish.
"A-are you going to eat, dear?" Zero smiled as Tadashi took a bite of his fish. A bit dry really, but it didn't taste poisoned.
She shook her head. "Zero, you know my name. I told you it."
"Why o-of course. I-it's-"
"Not your wife's name. My name. Maetel."
"Why are you doing this?" he choked, crushed. "Stop, please. Just stop."
"Look at me, Zero," she commanded, standing. "I'm not your wife. I am Maetel! Your wife is dead. You can't replace her!"
The man's movements only became more jittery. He tangled his hands into his hair, trying to block her out. "Stop, stop! I-I don't know why you're saying this! I haven't done anything wrong!"
"Haven't done anything wrong?" she hissed icily. "You killed Tetsuro. You killed him! Don't you remember that? Zero, I'm certain there's still some of you left. Stop living in your fantasy. It may hurt, but you must come back to reality! If you don't, you're going to kill Monono, just like the rest of them."
He stilled, his eyes hidden by his ruffled bangs.
Maetel softened her voice. "Zero, I won't let you hurt anyone else. I know you wouldn't want to. Look at me."
"You're not…my wife," he whispered, his voice trembling.
She breathed a hopeful note. "That's right."
"W-who are you? Who are you!?" His eyes flashed up, shining in rage. His hand shot forward, grabbing a fistful of hair. Maetel winced, but didn't let out a sound.
"Stop!" Tadashi begged, but his voice was drowned out by the sound of a plate shattering against the table. Zero raised the fractured piece of china up.
"How dare you. How dare you!?" He jerked her thin form forward, embedding her stomach on the jagged edge of the white stone.
She gave a slight gasp, while Tadashi stood transfixed. This wasn't…this couldn't be happening.
"Y-You're one of them, aren't you!?" Zero roared, jerking the blade out only to plunge it back in again. "You're one of those machines! You work for her – don't – you!?" His words were punctuated by stab after stab. To her stomach, to her chest.
"Give me back my wife! Give her back!" he demanded.
Tadashi suddenly found it hard to breathe.
Maetel was thrown against the wall where she crumpled to the ground, her eyes shining dully with pain. But as Zero turned on the young pirate in a vengeful rage, she began pushing herself to her feet.
"No, Zero," she choked. "Don't hurt him." Fresh tears began to escape her eyes. "You've taken all that's precious to me, so go ahead. Harm me all you want! I won't let you have him!"
She staggered toward him, blood dripping from her lips, covering so much of her. It painted her black dress in shimmering streaks, but she showed little care. "Make it hurt," she commanded. "It is my penance."
All of Zero's rage had faded to a dangerous calm. His face held no expression as he turned and jammed the blade into her throat, twisting it slowly.
"M-Maetel," Tadashi managed through a sob. "Maetel!"
The bloodied piece of dinnerware was suddenly and mercilessly pulled out. The young woman took a step back, her hand slowly coming up as she stretched it toward the crying boy. The ghost of a forgotten name slipped across her lips as she smiled. Maybe she'd see him soon.
As she collapsed, so did Tadashi, sobbing in agony. This wasn't right. This wasn't how it was supposed to be. There was so much blood. Dear god. He found himself stuck, staring at the gaping gash in her neck.
He couldn't even react as the strong, bloodied set of arms encircled him. "What's the matter, little one?" a confused voice questioned. "Don't cry. It's alright. I've got you."
Ooops, I killed the protagonists of Galaxy Express. Sorry about that... At least they won't be the only ones dying.