"All That's Best of Dark and Bright: A Darling in the FranXX Story."
It has been several weeks since the battle at the Gran Crevasse and still no sign of any of the adults. We have been on our own. We still get shipments sent to us, dropped off in the middle of the night. But no letters. No communications. Deathly silence. We have taken to conserving the essentials. Water. Electricity. Food. The future seems uncertain, we don't know if we have been discarded by the adults. Are they still fighting on, without us?
I really enjoy using the pond for bathing. These last few weeks have been the happiest of my life. Zero Two. My Zero Two. How much time have we lost? The time we have spent together now since we have become one has been, well, amazing. All these new sensations. I feel complete. I feel whole again. I would give my last breath for her. The love of my life.
I Wonder where everyone is. It's my day off from detail work. We each get a whole day off to do as we please. Splitting up the tasks at hand to make sure our day to day needs are met. I wonder where Zero Two is.
I peeked my head into her room. She was not there. I can smell her. Her scent lingers in the air. It intoxicates me. Ever since that day it's like the line between where I end, and she begins are blurred beyond sight. Beyond senses. It's kind of frightening. But, strangely beautiful. We even finish each other thoughts and sentences. Where is she?
I peeked into my room. My Zero Two. She lay on the bed. Her feet propped up on the beds foot board. She lay on her back with her red uniform top on. No pants or leggings. Her bare legs are amazing. All creamy and soft in the midday sun.
"Darling. You pervert. Are you stalking me?" Zero Two said playfully.
"I was looking for you. And admiring the view" I said teasing.
"My oh my" she laughed "Darling you are getting wonderful at banter."
I stood at the foot of the bed. I laid my hands down on the foot board on either side of her propped up bare feet. She looked up and smiled at me.
"Went for a swim I see. Sorry I missed you. I would love to have swam with you." She sighed. "I just felt a little off today."
"What's wrong Zero Two?" I asked, "Still having those bad dreams?"
She nodded her head yes but didn't wish to speak about it. Ever since the Gran Crevasse Zero Two told me she has been having these chilling dreams about the black hand that destroyed most of Plantation 13. Something about it seems to scare her terribly. I have tried to talk with her about it. She doesn't seem to understand much about it. And usually just shrugs it off.
"You know I am here for you. If you need to talk about it. About anything. I'm here. You are my life now Zero Two. You do not have to fight alone ever again. You don't have to suffer in silence ever again." I said, like I was giving a solemn vow.
"I know Darling. I love you. You are my whole world too." She said softly. And then she went back to looking at the ceiling. Still lost in whatever haze she was in.
"I bet I can make you smile. A huge smile, ear to ear." I said with much confidence.
"Oh, really Darling?" She said coyly "And just how…."
Before she could finish, I had grabbed her ankles and pulled her feet up to my chest and locked them into a hold she could not get out of. I was quite pleased with myself being so quick that even she was caught off guard. My fingers began tracing up and down her soft soles. She burst into laughter. My fingers were all over her feet. They are so soft. So delicate to the touch. I went all over. Her toes. Arches. Soles. Heels. Tops, bottoms and sides. Her laughing got louder. In between the laughs I could hear her say my name. Even giving off sounds of pleasure. I think she was enjoying this. I know I was. I loved watching her laugh. Watching her smile. Knowing that I was making the bad things disappear, even if only briefly. Her skin was so soft. Between the toes got some of the strongest responses. Her toes were perfect. I loved watching them wiggle and squirm. I decided to playfully nibble on them. It was like a spasm went thru her whole body. Her giggles, like the tinkling of the wind chimes by the greenhouse, were joined by moans. She really seemed to like it.
"Hee hee hee heeeeeee Darling. You are too hee hee hee much for me heeeeeee. I need to breatheeeeeee hee hee hee." She stammered. I let up. But kept her feet in my hands.
"You are way too good at that Darling. I didn't know you were a foot guy?" she teased me.
"Well, with beautiful feet like yours, you make it very easy for me." I said, all blushing "You have Greek feet."
"What's that?" she questioned.
"Well a very long time ago. Thousands of years ago. One of the ancient civilizations called The Greeks were master artists. Sculptures. Painters. Architects. In their artwork whenever they created feet for a sculpture or a painting, they made the second toe longer than the big toe. Just like yours. It was considered aesthetically pleasing. But it was meant to convey activity, creativity and inspiration. It also symbolizes athleticism, encouragement and motivation." I said
Zero Two began caressing my face with her foot. I took it back in my hand and kissed it. She blushed. A rare thing. She held her arms outstretched to me. I crawled on the bed and melted into her arms. Her embrace made the whole world vanish. It was just us.
"You know so much, Darling." She said admiringly.
"Eh, I pick up little bits here and there." I said "The more I began to distance myself from others the more I turned to books. I loved reading and learning about whatever I could. I found books both back in the garden and here in Mistilteinn that opened my eyes to what our civilization has been. And it's very fascinating. I am sure these books were missed by the adults because I'm surprised that they would have let me learn about such things. Histories. Poetry. Literature. Art."
I began to recite a poem to her. One from a distant past. Such a loss. They really knew how to write so beautifully back then. Wish I could write Zero Two something as beautiful. I must try to write something for her. She deserves such beautiful words. Such divine imagery.
"She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that's best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes;
Thus mellowed to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.
One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impaired the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lightens o'er her face;
Where thoughts serenely sweet express,
How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.
And on that cheek, and o'er that brow,
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!"
She was mesmerized. I could see her eyes swelling with tears. But that smile. That beautiful, childlike smile shown thru like a million sunrises.
"Darling. That was so beautiful" she said "No one has ever... You..." she stammered. It's like she had no idea what to say. She collapsed into me. The tears streaming down her face.
"Oh Darling! I love you so much!" She blurted out. "I have never been so happy. Not since we escaped the garden and you showed me all the beauty the world really had to offer. All the time we lost. Why? Why did life steal that time away from us?"
"I know Zero Two. It hurts to think about. But what matters is the here and now. And here and now, I love you. And I am never leaving you again. The future is ours to write. All that we shall see and all we will become is stretched out in front of us. Let's make it everything we always wanted it to be... and more" I said, cupping her face in my hands. Our lips touch. Time fades away.
"Hey love birds!" Zorome said loudly "If you two have finished, dinner is ready."
"Geesh those two." He muttered loudly as he walked down the hall.
We looked at each other. Smiling. All is well. All will continue to be well. Now that we are one, I fear nothing. The future. Klaxasaurs. Not even death scares me anymore. I have Zero Two back. The world and all its monsters be damned.