So, it's been two years. A bit of an explanation for those who weren't aware. After the series ended, I was extremely disappointed by the ending, and that disappointment became pretty intense after the post-show interviews. I was pretty angry with how things were handled and how it turned out, and it killed a lot of my motivation to write for Darling in the Franxx. To make things even better, around the same time I was diagnosed with cancer, which led to me having surgery and chemo that basically left me feeling like shit for a good 6 months. It was a double whammy that pretty much saw me abandon fanfiction entirely.
That said, back to the present. Enough time has passed that my feelings toward DiTF have mellowed out and I can appreciate the good parts of the series without being reminded of all the bits I hated. On top of that, my life has gotten to a decent place again and I wanted to get back into writing. So here we are. TIO is back on with a bit of a facelift.
Some chapters have been revised a good bit, others not so much. The story is currently posted in full on Ao3, and I'm in the process of uploading and re-posting all of them here on FF. Once that's done, I'll start work on chapter 5.
Werner Frank sighed, staring down at the two children sleeping in the lab below as he considered the events of the last day.
It had been early in the afternoon when his work was interrupted and one of his many assistants informed him that Code 002 had somehow escaped with the help of Code 016. When Werner heard the news he'd been beyond furious, and if he hadn't torn out his own heart and replaced it with cold cybernetics years ago, his rage likely would've been apoplectic and he'd be dead on the floor of his office even now.
It had taken decades of experimentation to create the girl, and she was the cornerstone of all his plans for the future, the culmination of everything he had worked toward for centuries! Yet that stupid boy had ran off with her into a forest in the middle of winter with nothing but the clothes on their backs!
He dispatched a retrieval team to scour the Garden for Code 002 at once, and without even a second thought he gave the order to eliminate Code 016 should he continue to be a problem. The following hours had been a never-ending stream of frustration as APE's soldiers proved their incompetence again and again, until they finally returned with two in tow, the boy unconscious from a blow to his head after a member of the team took his words to heart.
He'd barely paid the boy any notice, more concerned with Code 002 who fortunately was unharmed. However, to his surprise, she had been inconsolable, shouting nonsense while desperately trying to reach Code 016. More than a few of his staff had been injured attempting to subdue her as she did her best to fight them off in a whirlwind of teeth and claws. They were eventually forced to sedate her, and even then the girl had continued to resist until she passed out.
Werner had been absolutely fascinated by the scene, his anger forgotten. In all the years since her birth, he had never seen the girl react in such a way. She'd always been a feral little thing, resisting all of his past attempts at socialization to the point that only her direct caretaker interacted with her safely, and even then the woman had only seen limited success.
Yet somehow Code 016 changed that.
He immediately arranged for the children to undergo a neural interface. The device was primarily used as a means of memory alteration and re-education these days, but it began as an interrogation method to root out traitors when APE was still young. Digitizing and reviewing memories was well within its capabilities, and their minds now held secrets he needed to know.
The interface had taken a few minutes to set up, but soon enough the connection was made and the feed was live, diving into their brains in a shriek of static that left them writhing.
What Werner saw left him riveted. Code 002 had seemingly come alive in a matter of hours, displaying a breadth of emotion that was previously unknown to her while showing a mental capacity he hadn't been sure she'd possessed.
He'd been positively gleeful, and poured over the footage again and again throughout the night, documenting every detail before he finally pulled himself away and contemplated what he might do with the information.
Even now his thoughts swirled around in his head as considered various scenarios and how they might unfold, yet one thing was obvious.
Code 016 was no longer disposable. His actions had opened doors the old scientist had long thought closed, and cleared the way for new possibilities he had never considered.
Dr. Franxx turned to one of his assistants and waved him over with a whirl of his robotic arm. The man who approached was wearing the standard uniform of the Garden's scientists.
"What is Code 016's condition?"
"He is stable, Doctor. The procedure didn't aggravate his injuries, and there were no complications."
Good to know. Losing or damaging the boy because of his own shortsightedness would've been unacceptable.
"Excellent. What of Code 002?" Werner asked, glancing at the girl's still form below.
"As expected, Code 002 is in perfect health, and the sedatives are holding for now. What should we do with her?" The assistant replied.
"I intend to use the interface to make some alterations." Franxx said. "Once I'm finished, move her to the 5th observation room."
"And Code 016? Shall we return him to the Garden?"
"No." The old man shook his head. "I have other plans for him. He has quite an interesting effect on Code 002, after all."
"You're considering keeping them together?" The man asked, his voice confused.
"Yes. Is that a problem?" He raised a brow.
"But Doctor, that's against protocol, APE will-"
Werner cut him off.
"APE is aware that Code 002 is my responsibility, and they have left her care to me. Likewise, all developing parasites fall under my authority, which includes Code 016 as well."
The man looked like he wanted to say something more, but instead, he nodded.
"Very well, Doctor." He said. "Is there anything else?"
"No. Get back to work."
"Sir."
Werner huffed. He would arrange for the man to be transferred elsewhere. The last thing he needed was another weasel reporting his work to Cosmos, and it was obvious now that he was a plant. None of his usual staff would've been so daft as to question him.
"Now then…Time to get to work."
Turning back to the lab, his gaze returned to the two children resting in the room below before he waved a hand, pulling up a holographic display. He began tapping the air, detailing the alterations he required. The interface once again hummed to life, and Franxx smiled.
Hiro blinked blearily as he returned to consciousness, and winced at the dull throbbing in his head. Pulling himself up from the bed, he touched a hand to the bandage pressed against his temple. "What happened?" He muttered uncertainly, glancing around the sterile white room he found himself in. His mind was fuzzy, and it was hard to think. He couldn't remember how he'd been hurt, much less how he'd gotten here, or even where here was.
It looked like the lab, but he wasn't sure. Did he have an accident during one of his tests?
No, that didn't sound right.
Something else happened. He was forgetting something important, but he didn't know what.
Pressing his hands into his eyes, Hiro groaned as the ache in his head intensified, a sound like static screeching through his thoughts.
Why couldn't he remember?!
"Good, you're awake."
Hiro started.
The door slid open and a man entered the room. He was short and old, and the right side of his face was mechanical, giving him an ominous appearance. Hiro immediately recognized him as Dr. Franxx. He occasionally visited the boy during his tests at the Lab, and he was always kind to him. He would know what was going on.
"...Dr. Franxx?" Hiro asked and looked at the man. "What..what happened?"
"Oh?" The old man said appraisingly. "You don't remember? That could be a problem, but it's not unexpected. APE's men were rather rough on you."
Hiro winced as another sharp pain lanced behind his eyes, and for a moment he was outside in the Garden, and he saw a soldier striking him. He heard someone screaming, but he couldn't understand them. He gasped and suddenly the memory faded along with the pain.
"H-he hit me.." Hiro said, shaking. "One of the soldiers...and someone was screaming…Why?"
"An active response to triggers, that's an excellent sign. It's probably just a side effect..." Dr. Franxx muttered to himself and walked up to the boy. Leaning down, he pulled the IV from his arm gently and continued on. "You stumbled upon something and ran off into the Garden. Those sent to retrieve you by APE proved to be….overzealous."
Hiro flinched as the doctor drew the needle free and looked at the man, confused.
"...I...What? What did I do?"
"That is the question, isn't it?" Dr. Franxx said cryptically and began ambling toward the room's exit, leaning lightly on his cane. Turning, he waved for the boy. "It'll be easier to show you, and I have a feeling you'll remember when you see her."
Her?
Something in his mind seemed to twist then, and he remembered a girl in a black cloak, huddled against a wall, terrified.
He rubbed his head again.
Who was that?
The doctor watched him with knowing eyes and he fidgeted.
"We are on the right track then. Good. Now, come."
His legs were shaky and he almost felt dizzy, but he followed behind the Doctor as the man led him through the hallways of the Lab. The corridors were familiar, and he recognized a room to the right as the one where he usually did his tests. They passed it by, and the man came to a stop a few doors down. He pressed a few buttons on its security panel, causing it to hiss open.
The Doctor entered, and Hiro walked in behind him a moment later. It was white and sterile, just like the rest of this place.
"Tell me, do you recognize her?" The Doctor asked curiously, gesturing to something on the far side of the room. The boy looked and saw a bed. On it was a girl, and when he saw her, Hiro doubled over in agony.
Pain ripped through his mind and he remembered.
Eo To!
Eo To!
He remembered the girl with red horns, and how the scientists had hurt her. He remembered breaking her out of the Lab, and the warmth of her hand when she'd taken his. He remembered giving her a name, Zero Two. He remembered exploring the Garden with her, and how much fun they'd had together. He remembered the candy and the picture book, with its sad story of a beast and a prince. He remembered the Mistletoe Tree, blue blood, and the promise they made. He remembered the girl screaming for him as the world went dark.
Dalin!
Dalin!
Her voice cut through him, and he remembered it all.
"Zero Two…" Hiro gasped her name, falling to his knees.
The room spun around him and his head pounded like it would explode, but all he could think about was the girl on the bed.
He needed to get to her!
He had to get to Zero Two!
Hiro pushed himself back to his feet clumsily, and he stumbled forward as he tried to reach where she laid. He nearly collapsed again, but a steady hand caught his shoulder, balancing him.
"Let me go! They hurt her! She was screaming for me!" Hiro rasped desperately, struggling against the man's grip as he tried to get to the girl. After a moment, Dr. Franxx released him and he rushed to her side. He looked her over wildly - she seemed unhurt, but she was still.
Too still.
No!
"Zero Two!"
Hiro shook the red-skinned girl frantically, but she didn't stir. Suddenly he couldn't breathe.
What had they done to her?
Had they hurt her again?
Why wouldn't she wake up!?
"Code 016, you need to relax. Code 002 is fine."
He jerked, looking to the doctor with wide, panicked eyes.
"What's wrong with her? Why won't she wake up!?"
"She's merely sedated, Code 016." The old man answered slowly. "She is unharmed and will wake up shortly."
She was okay?
Hiro met the old man's gaze and searched his face for any sign that he was lying, but the Doctor was calm, steady and the invisible rope around his neck eased.
He breathed out.
Hiro turned back to Zero Two and clutched her hand, feeling the warmth and steady beat of her heart beneath his fingertips. The rhythm soothed him, and for a few minutes he simply stood there, holding her hand as he watched over her. She was calm, peaceful, like she had been in the forest when she'd been resting against him.
She was okay.
For a time, Dr. Franxx allowed Hiro to collect himself, but eventually he spoke.
"Code 016, your condition is far more fragile than I expected." The old man said."But I need answers."
Hiro pulled his gaze away from Zero Two finally and faced him. Dr. Franxx was watching him intently, his sole natural eye serious.
"What did you see that made you run away with Code 002?"
He swallowed, gripping the hand he still held tighter.
Dr. Franxx didn't know? He hadn't seen the man among the scientists that day, and now that he thought about it, it had been weeks since he'd seen him at all. If he didn't know, maybe they weren't supposed to be doing those things?
Maybe he could still help her?
"They were hurting her…" Hiro said, his voice haunted. He could still hear her screams ringing in his ears, and he would never forget the way she'd convulsed on the table. Even thinking of it made him feel sick. "They had her strapped to a table and just kept hurting her, no matter how much she screamed. I tried to make them stop...but they wouldn't listen."
"I feared as much." Dr. Franxx said heavily and he joined Hiro beside Zero Two, examining the girl. "It seems APE has overstepped their bounds in my absence."
Hiro's heart jumped in his chest.
"So...what they were doing was wrong?"
The Doctor nodded.
"Yes. APE has always been too extreme, and I've been careful to keep them away from you children over the years. But they've taken an interest in Code 002, and it seems they decided to act while I was away."
The old man frowned.
"If you hadn't broken her out, there is no telling how long this would've gone on. I'll have to be more careful from now. This can never happen again."
"Really? You won't let them hurt her anymore?"
The Doctor nodded, and for the first time since he woke up, Hiro smiled.
Zero Two was safe.
"You were brave." Dr. Franxx said after a moment. "But why did you do it?"
Why?
He still didn't understand what he felt when he saw Zero Two in the window that day, but it was something special, just like her. When he'd realized what they were doing to the girl, the thought of doing nothing had never even crossed his mind. All he could think of was that he had to save her.
"She was in pain and all alone. I couldn't just leave her in there." Hiro said softly.
"I see…" The Doctor hummed. There was something like a smile on his face, but it was odd. "You truly are an interesting child, Code 016."
"Thank you for answering my questions." Dr. Franxx told the boy. "I need to go...deal with those responsible. For the time being, you may stay here with Code 002. Once she wakes, I'll have some food brought for the two of you."
"O..Okay.." Hiro nodded. Thinking of food reminded him of the forest, and how much Zero Two had enjoyed the candy he'd given her. "Could...Could you send some sweets for Zero Two? She really likes them."
Dr. Franxx huffed, amused.
"I'll see what I can do. We will speak again soon."
With that, the Doctor left the room, and Hiro returned to the girl that had become the center of his world.
Releasing her hand at last, he crawled up on the bed with Zero Two. It was large, so there was plenty of room, and he laid down beside her. After everything, he felt a desperate need to be closer to the girl, so he pulled her into his arms, burying his face into her hair. Hiro breathed in her scent, which still smelled of the forest, and sighed. An indiscernible sound escaped from her lips at the contact, and Hiro smiled despite everything.
He hadn't been able to escape Garden, and he was still just a child too weak to protect her. But they were together, and she was safe. For now, that's all mattered.
"Zero Two…"