Author's Notes
So this is my DITF story, Darling in the Franxx: Havoc. It involves 1 new character and I hope a better development of another. A few things first, there will be no VIRM, they will not be in this story, that does mean the Klaxasaurs' origin story will differ. This is my first attempt at any form of story telling in quite some time, so any suggestions are greatly appreciated, please tell me what you liked and didn't like in the comments.
Disclaimer
I don't own Darling in the Franxx, all rights belong to their respected parties, all that belongs to me are my changes. So without any more delay lets get started.
—
I stare at footprints I had left in the sand behind me, slowly being covered over by the sands of this desert world.
I glance at display in my Franxx, Drokei, the unit's crouched on all fours and in a relaxed pose, the tail laying on the ground. The face plate stuck in its stampede mode, eyes glowing bright with pure energy. The rising sun catching the cool blue streaks on the otherwise jet-black unit and glinting off the two large horns stationed above the eyes.
I glance up to the reason for my excursion, Plantation 13, the location of the Dr's "test group." Even with having access to all the notes and reports I still hadn't found anything to why I changed, why I had grown these red horns, why my eyes had changed, why was I no longer human? Even Annecild didn't have the answer, even with all she knew, she couldn't tell me why I was a beast. Just the thought of her casted the cockpit in a light red glow, and it wasn't due to the sun, having now risen signifying the welcoming day. It was time to reintroduce Plantation 13 to the Klaxasaurs.
—
Who am I? That was the question running laps in Hiro's mind as he stares up at the dome that trapped him, stuck in a prison with no way to escape. He had once been considered the best of the parasites, even better than Ichigo, even with her code being one better than his own.
But that child had long since passed away, he had died in the garden, but Hiro couldn't pick out the exact moment he had lost his wonder, his sense of purpose had been ripped away from him and all that was left of him was drowning in his failures, his lost.
He had dragged Naomi down, she could've been partnered with anyone and easily became a parasite, but she had to have had him. It was all his fault, he was sorry for her, for being her partner. She had to have the failed child who couldn't fly, a bird that couldn't touch the skies.
The beeping in his pocket pulls him out of the state of self-loathing, a quick peak reveals it was Ichigo, the squad leader, pleading his return to the house and talk, no doubt to rethink his decision to leave, having been given special permission to stay. But the die of fate had been tossed and he accepted the results, with orders to return to the garden. Though he knew the garden wouldn't be his destination, whatever was ahead of him, it was the end of the line.
The whirling of engines above causes him to look up at one of APE's transports, one plenty large enough for the Franxx his squad was due to ride later that day, flying overhead. Something about it causes his heart to skip a beat.
A loud bang rips him out of his thoughts, thankful for the excuse to not respond. Walking to the glass dome he is greeted by a stain, a quick inspection with his index finger reveals the answer.
"It's blood."
Turning around reveals the source of the blood, a bird that would never fly free. He felt a great sadness wash over him.
"Your just like me." Reaching a hand out to...
The bird lets out a shriek and makes a move into the tree line, not accepting any of his help. "Hey!" He moves to follow the wounded animal, stepping in a small pool of blood on the way. After a short while the trees part and before him is a large lake, this is new, a place he'd never been. The sight of something unknown makes him momentarily forget the dying bird. Stepping forward some clothing nearby catches his eye.
"A parasite uniform?" but unlike any he's seen before. "Are these," he moves to grab some light pink fabric, "underwear?" Looking out over the lake he sees a silhouette, she must be the owner of the uniform, glancing back at the uniform, and based on what was present she was very fucking naked. 'What is she doing here?' Looking back at the stillness of the lake…
"Wait! She's drowning!"
Rushing the water, he didn't make it 10 feet before a figure burst through the water. What caught his eyes first were the horns, they glistened in the sunlight, and deep down he was drawn to them, like he'd always known them. Next was the fish held captive in her mouth and the patches of red skin below her eyes. Her hair was the color of the sakura petals that he'd only seen in books, but he realizes one final thing, "Y-You're n-naked!" followed but a quick turn of the head and a light blush growing on his cheek.
"Oh, and here I thought you were dead."
What? The hell did that mean? Who was she? "Are you a parasite? Why are you bathing here?"
She gives herself a quick lick on her hand, "I thought ocean water was supposed to be salty."
Who was this strange girl? Why was she so familiar? Why did she seem to think this lake was an ocean? So many questions, and all he could muster was, "Uh, this isn't an ocean."
"I know that much," she said, "but it's the most ocean like place I've found." She cupped her chin with her thumb and index finger. "Are you gonna swim?"
"Huh? Me? Nah, I'm good," he responds while making a move to leave the water, having soaked his pants all the way through.
"Really? But it feels so good, and you were staring so hard. I thought you wanted to swim, too."
Fuck! "Tha-That's because," this was just a misunderstanding, "I thought you were drowning so I jumped in to save you, and then..."
Her gaze made him stop mid-sentence, as she stood there, arms crossed across her chest, she was without a doubt the most beautiful creature he'd ever seen. That was when the drastic difference in their attires came to the forefront of his mind, with a quick turn he utters, "s-sorry, but could you put your clothes on?" The blush growing on his cheeks.
The lack of response causes him to turn back to face the stranger, she was staring at him. She cupped her chin as she thought of the next line to say, "aha!" she taps her fist into her palm and points a finger at him, "I get it, you're a pervert!"
"Wh-Where did that come from?"
She lowers her finger to his hand, to her… oh…
"This isn't what it looks like," as he shoots his hand out to rid himself of his shame. This was it, if there was anything left for him it was gone now, he would be joining the lost from the Garden, at least he'd finally get his answer.
The laugh that followed caught him off guard. She was, laughing, at him?
"Your face was hilarious!" Wait she wasn't mad, was this just a game to her? After a moment she turns and flashes him a massive grin, and, where her canines, enhanced?
"But you jumped in to save me, eh? Well I appreciate it, thank you."
—
Of course, the doctor shows up for his test group, that was expected. What was not expected was his cargo. It had to be her, I had lost her a month ago after she devoured her last stamen.
Does she have a replacement yet? What ride must the unlucky soul be on?
This welcoming ceremony will surely be interesting now.
—
Hiro had sat down by the edge of the lake, back turned to give her what little privacy he could, skipping rocks across the surface.
"That uniform, are you a parasite?" she asks.
"No." He was useless, to his friends and the plantation.
"So, you're not a pilot?"
"I can't pilot. I never could. I even dragged my partner down with me." He bounces a rock in his palm before sending it skipping across the lake, it hopped twice before sinking with a splash. "I don't have a place here anymore."
"Huh, you're just like me."
She was just like him? He turns to face her.
"I've always been alone, thanks to these horns," she continued bringing a headband up to her horns, connecting with a click. They were unlike anything he'd ever seen, but so was she, maybe a tracker of some kind, but why did they connect to her horns?
"If you don't have a place you belong, build a place you do," she went on. "If you don't have a partner, just find another." She raises her hands up like an eagle diving for prey, her face shifting with devious intent. "And if you can't," she reaches out grabbing him by the shoulders, "take one by force!"
With a thud Hiro lands in the lake flat on his back, his attempt to dry off had been completely in vain, and the strange pistil leans forward to lick his cheek, both arms splayed out on either side of his head.
A broken window.
"Wow. Your taste makes my heart race."
A hand extended.
"It bites and lingers…"
A promise made.
"The taste of danger."
Blinking he tries to clear his head of static, of the pain and images just out of focus, to focus on the present.
"What are you…"
"Oh. Would you have preferred a kiss?"
"A kiss?"
"Oh, you guys don't know huh?" she leans in close, "a kiss is a very special thing."
She stands, "I think I've taken a liking to you. Won't you be my Darling?"
Awwi? Awwi?
A picture book.
Yes, and then we can get married, because I want to be with you forever too. That way I can always be, your Darling.
Sharp static pierces Hiro's head, he can make out the words but not those whom said it. It is all he can do but scream in agony. He is overcome with a sense of being, a need to protect, a sense of purpose he hadn't felt for a very long time.
The girl standing above him seems to realize somethings wrong and her face changes to one of concern and longing.
She reaches a hand out, "I can help you. Your powers probably just lay dormant."
Hiro looks up at this girl, one that just gave him something he hadn't felt in a long time, a purpose.
Looking into her teal eyes he reaches up, and with gusto, grabs her hand, and allows her to pull him to his feet. Her reaction changes from one of want, to one of joy, pure, unrestrained joy.
"There you are!" A new voice appears from the woods as a gravely injured stamen along with several guards step out of the tree line. "We've been looking for you! You can't just go running off on your own!"
The one person who now meant more than anything else to Hiro looks at him with wide eyes. His response is a quick nod. He didn't know who this was, but he'd follow her lead.
"It's not like there's anything to do until the welcoming ceremony tomorrow," she snipes back, vocalizing her distaste in being interrupted.
"Yes, but you can't go running off, because, as your partner, I'm the one to suffer for it."
"Partner?" Hiro askes, no louder than a whisper, the new information breaking his determined gaze.
The man turns to him, narrowing his eyes, "are you a parasite cadet? Your welcoming ceremony's tomorrow, right? Sorry she bothered you."
The guards take a few steps towards the pair, the girl bares her teeth and, from Hiro's perspective he can't see, her eyes glow red.
The wounded man seems shocked at this display, as do the guards based on their hesitation. "Please don't make this any harder than it has to be Code 002." He musters.
Hiro squeezes the agitated pistil's hand, "it's okay."
She turns to him and relaxes, eyes no longer glowing with murderous intent, "what do you mean?"
Looking deep into her gorgeous teal eyes, he leans forward, "go with them, I'll find you Zero Two," knowing her name without needing to ask, although he's not quite sure how he knows.
She looks back into his icy blue eyes, "promise?"
"Promise!"
—
"Are you sure you wish to change your decision?" asks Hachi. "You've seen determined to leave. What changed?"
"I've found a purpose."
The man behind the desk raises an eyebrow, "it wouldn't have anything to do with your little run in with Code 002? Would it?" The look on Hiro's face is telling, "no matter, you have been given special permission to remain in Mistilteinn, report there after the welcoming ceremony."
As he stood to leave the young cadet turns back to Hachi, "I need to see her again."
The man looks up from his screen, "that is not your call, and most likely you'll never see her again. She isn't a normal parasite."
Bullshit! He'd find her no matter what it took! But he can't let his emotions get the best of him now, so he leaves with a nod, letting Hachi get back to his work, and him to think.
—
She had finally found him. He still smelled the same. She could smell him from the bottom of the lake. His taste was the same from the bite. He was her Darling from back then. The one who had saved her. The one who would save her again. He just needed to remember. He reacted to "Darling" but it caused him pain. Must be another way.
The Klaxasaur makes a desperate move to remove the stampeding Franxx from its back. It expands to turn its body into a large energy cannon, though it was far from some of the larger Klaxasaurs in turns of strength, this ability set it out as unique, able to deal a tremendous amount of damage very quickly.
Strelitzia is knocked off the Klaxasaur and falls between it and the plantation. Beasts unleash their energy towards each other in a desperate attempt to gain the upper hand. Both machines are forced to deactivate for the time, but the Franxx takes the worst of it, being thrown back into the plantation.
Maybe some fresh air would do her good. Need to get fodder out. Need to find…
"Darling!"
He was leaning down over the deceased stamen. Concern written on his face. Always caring, just like back then.
"Don't worry about him. He's done."
Darlings blue eyes look up at her. The same eyes from the lake. The same from back then.
"What are you doing in there?"
"What does it look like? I'm going monster hunting of course." As she always has been. She makes a move to get back to the controls but can't manage the first step.
"You can't go alone! You'll die!" That was enough to snap Zero Two out of the haze she had been in since disconnecting with the Franxx. "How will I fulfill my promise if you leave me?"
She turns with a sly smile. "What do you propose?"
"Take me with you."
Time to see how committed he was. "Are you prepared to die?"
"I promised you I'd find you. I can't let you go again," he clutches his uniform above his heart, letting the tears begin to fall, "besides I don't have a place here anymore. So, I'm going with you."
She smiled. A true smile, like after he had grabbed her hand at the lake. Maybe this would do it. Maybe this is what it took.
"Alright," she grabs his hand, "let me get a taste of you," and begins to pull him toward the stamen seat, towards her, "you are now my Darling."
When their lips touched she felt as if she exploded. Everything she ever wanted was with her. She had her darling. But he didn't remember. The look on his face confirmed as much. Deal with the Klaxasaur, then his memory.
—
A loud rumbling confirmed the onlookers' fears. The Klaxasaur had reactivated and Strelitzia was still deactivated on the plantation's walkway.
The Klaxasaur smashed into the deactivated Franxx driving it into the hull of the plantation. Out of the hole came a blinding light, as Strelitzia changed from stampede mode back to its normal form, and the Klaxasaur was thrown back. Before it could move Strelitzia was on it, driving her lance, glowing in magma energy, into the Klaxasaur destroying it in rain of blue.
When Strelitzia returned to the hanger to deactivate, onlookers saw a red suited pistil supporting her stamen. They didn't hear her whisper, "I've found you."
—
So, it had been the poor soul's last ride. Even in stampede she should've been more than a match for a Moho class, she must've been distracted. That would explain why she changed forms. It had to be him. That's why the Dr. brought her to Plantation 13.
I wonder if he knew or if the memory suppression held. That didn't matter this moment. What does matter is this bloody war might come to an end sooner than expected. I'll have to stay here and wait this out, bide my time to meet this test group. Maybe they have what it takes, plus it's been a long time since I spoke to a human.