"Come on, let's just go home already!"
Zero Two shouted from below. She strained her neck, gazing toward Hiro, still floundering about the trunk of the cherry blossom tree. He was covered in scrapes and bruises, his shirt completely ruined by sap and abraded bark, smudged in large, wide, streaks.
"No. I'm getting up there."
Hiro replied without looking back down.
They had met here 2 months ago, underneath this very tree. Then, it was Zero Two falling and tripping, but now it was Hiro who wore the scars of his stubbornness upon his body and skin. He struggled again, the same way he did the last time, and the time before that, and the way he had been struggling the whole day.
"You don't have to climb it just to beat me!" Zero Two raised her voice again, concerned and exasperated.
"I'm not doing it to beat you!" Hiro breathed out inbetween ragged breaths and labored grunts. "You said everything looks pretty up here."
Zero Two could only frown. There was no stopping this boy when he truly wanted something. She braced herself once again to catch him once he falls, and watched her breath turn to steam as the night falls once more.
"Again."
Hiro demanded, hunched over and out of breath.
"Look, I don't mind racing you, but..." Zero Two responded as she downed another bottle of water. "It's getting kind of late, isn't it? I don't want to miss this episode of 'Robots vs Dinosaurs'."
"One more."
"Okaaaay then." Zero Two crushed the bottle in her hands and tossed it into the trash absentmindedly. She had always been the faster and stronger one since they were kids, but Hiro was a boy entering puberty. The gap had closed steadily throughout the years, and as much as she hated to admit it, that last race was neck and neck.
Zero Two crouched down into position as Hiro did the same beside her. One more lap.
"Three..." Hiro started the count. "Two...one..." Zero Two's legs tensed, her muscles contracting. Storing as much energy as possible, her legs pushed against the hard oval surface. Her entire body tingles in anticipation as the energy stored within brims to the top and struggles to not overflow.
"GO!"
She was off like the wind. Zero Two's lower body unfolds itself, and she can almost imaging her heel digging into the ground itself. Like a spring, the tension is released and she can feel only the air flying past her. Her pupils dilate to take in as much information as possible, helping her to maintain the perfect balance. She falls into a rhythm, one leg after the other in a steady, almost musical beat. One, two, one, two, and now accelerating.
It's a perfect lap, faster than she's ever felt. Only now, on the straightaway before the finish line, does she remember that this was supposed to be a competition. She allows herself a momentary glance to the left, feeling on top of the world, and-
There he is, with the biggest smile she's ever seen, looking back. Their eyes lock and mesmerized, neither look away as they sprint across the finish line, still both gazing across.
"That was awesome!"
Hiro exclaims once he's caught his breath.
"That was the first time I've tied you!" Hiro is practically giddy, walking around in circles with what strength is left. He loops back around one more time and stops in front of Zero Two. He opens his mouth, and pauses momentarily, his eyes darting quickly to the ground and back.
"Yeah. I've decided."
He finally says, his smile now much more subdued.
"Decided what, that you want to be a professional runner?" Zero Two laughed back. "Don't get so excited just from tying a girl. TYING. Not even beating."
Hiro chuckles quietly. Quite a departure from his usual response of indignation or biting comeback, Zero Two thinks.
"You know, that felt special back there." Hiro begins, his hand finding its way to his neck. "We were running side by side for that entire last stretch, completely in sync."
"Yeah, so? I get it, you're just as fast as me, don't rub it in any more."
"No, I mean, you know. I know this sounds stupid, but it felt almost like we were flying, together." Hiro continues, taking a step forward. He raises his head and looks right into Zero Two's crystal clear eyes, his gaze suddenly sparkling with a glint of determination.
"Zero Two. I love you."
"Wha-?" Zero Two stumbles, taken aback. "Where did this come from?"
"I'm serious." Hiro's arms reach forward, taking Zero Two's hands within his own. His grip is firm yet soft, enough to cushion Zero Two's small twitch of surprise. "You make me want to be a better person. Every time I see you do something or help someone, it makes me want to be like you. I wouldn't be who I am today without you. I wouldn't have ever taken up running, I might've never got along with my classmates, and I definitely wouldn't be feeling this way if not for you."
"So?" Zero Two replied, both her grin and blush stretching from ear to ear. "What do you want me to do about it?"
"Will you go out with me?"
"Sure, as long as you never stop being a cute little dork."
The wind whistled past as the pair joined in their embrace.
Took you long enough. Zero Two thought.
Disclaimer: I do not own Darling in the Franxx or any of the characters, this is a fan work.
Author's Note: Ok, I'm so bad at writing scenes with actual substance and changes in character relationships. Thank god this required development is out of the way. Ok, uh, don't expect updates very often, in fact please consider the gap between the first chapter and this one to be faster than it will be in the future. Seriously I'm so slow please don't have any expectations of me ok thanks bye.
