Work Text:
Zro let an exaggerated groan escape his lips. He took hasty, shaky steps over to Fifteens worn out couch. With another groan, he flopped down onto Fifteens leather sofa, stretching a tear that would probably earn him a few shouts from Fifteen later. Honestly, he’ll be looking forward to that.
His gaze swept across the floor and made its way to the ceiling. He was expecting to see fake shimmering stars swimming in a pool of darkness, but instead he was met with dampened wood. He hadn't gotten used to that yet. The musty smell of the wood invaded his subconsciously flaring nostrils, a smell he had now associated with his new home . . a smell that was familiarised with Fifteen.
The mention of Fifteen sent a jolt of butterflies up his stomach..
Ohh, Fifteen.
How Zro love love loves that algebralien.
Oh, speaking of Fifteen .. here she comes now!
Fifteen peaked her head behind the living room door frame (she doesn’t have any doors installed . . yet.) to the Psuedo-Zros surprise, her expression was that of a somewhat concerned expression. She was completely devoid of her usual mood today, and that could be said for Zro too according to Fifteen.
Fifteen shook her head, as if it would shake off the wave of thoughts that were clinging to her mind. She then made her way over to Zro, taking slow deliberate steps unlike Zro earlier. She lowered her flank and sat down on the couch, it dipped under her weight, and in turn Zro had fell towards her left side.
”Hey, Zro.” Fifteen greeted. Her tone was .. empty, let’s say. And it had visibly upset the grey algebralien. . despite that, he had greeted the crimson algebralien back.
”Hi, Fifteen!” Zro slapped on a weak, fake smile. Was he even trying? He was, truly. Trying to keep the truth well hidden. And Fifteen mentally well, of course.
Unsurprisingly, the sound of Zroes voice automatically spread a smile across the aliens features. He didn’t know what was so special about it.
But somewhat surprisingly, a moment later her face had darkened and that very smile was wiped off. . to Zros dismay.
“Zro..” Fifteen began to speak, which had left Zro panicking. Shoot, this was it wasnt it? She had found out! Wait—how could she have? That’s literally impossible! .. or.. NO! In no way would Fifteen ever want to break up with Zro. He’d dreamed about it sure — but he knows that’s incredibly unlikely for Fifteen to do!
Fifteen had thankfully made Zroes worried, rushing thoughts come to a halt as she drew out a long sigh.
That gave Zro a moment to apply a mask of composure.
And it also gave Fifteen a moment to collect herself, and continue what she was saying.
”Are you okay..?” She asked, a hint of concern in her tone. She had shifted her position, and she was now facing Zro.
That mask had completely shattered.
”Uhhmm..” Zro redirected his optics to face the wooden floor. He shrunk under the pressure, and sweat began to trickle down his forehead. How was he supposed to answer that? He’s better than ever! But . . How does he say that in a way that sounds convincing? Ughh!
“..the last few months you’ve been acting strange. . and im really worried about you.”
Adding salt to the wound, he supposed.
His eyes flickered back up to Fifteen now and then as he searched for an answer to that question. He didn’t want to go with just a simple “I’m okay!” because in what world would that ever convince her? .. and the longer he took, the more she increasingly got worried.
”Zro, what’s wrong ..?” Fifteen inched closer, and Zro looked like he wanted to evaporate into the floor.
”Nothings wrong..” Zro avoided Fifteens gaze like if they were to make eye contact the entire world would explode.
”Tell me the truth.” Fifteen demanded, yet she had gotten nothing out of the integer.
“I’m telling you the truth!” Zro whined “I’m alright!”
”You’re clearly not!” Fifteen suddenly stood up, towering over Zro.
Zro finally looked up at Fifteen. “Are you sure you’re not just projecting?” Zro raised a brow, and Fifteen gasped at the accusation.
“This is what im talking about.. you’ve been acting so strange lately!” Fifteen said “I’m just worried about you!”
Zro’s lips thinned into a frown, and he tried to subtly move away from Fifteen.. of course, that didn’t go past Fifteen.
Fifteen reconsidered her approach, and sat back down with a sigh.
”I’m sorry..”
”Me too..” Zro curled in on himself, and he rested his face between his palms.
Fifteen had placed her hand on Zro’s back, and her finger began to trace idle patterns. Her goal was to comfort Zro, and it worked like a charm. Zro visibly relaxed, his shoulders were no longer hunched and his posture was slouched.
The corners of Zroes lip tugged upwards, forming a shaky smile in response to Fifteens attempt at comforting him . . even if it wasn’t needed whatsoever. This Zro? He was fine . . the other one? Well.. hah, cant say much for him.
Zro began to pick up on something . . it sounded like.. crying?
Was Fifteen crying?
Zros eyes slowly fluttered open, and he looked up to meet Fifteens eyes.
Yup, he was right .. she was crying.
Tears began to trickle down Fifteens face, and she desperately wiped them with her palm.
”I’m sorry..” Her voice broke into a pitiful sob. This caught Zro completely off guard .. he’s never seen Fifteen cry .. ever!
Fifteen tried to keep herself together, but she couldn’t. She knew she couldn’t anymore. She’d been keeping it all in for months ever since these changes started .. and now, she was going to break like a dam.
Suddenly, tears rapidly trickled down Fifteens features like a raging waterfall. Pouring down like rain during a thunderstorm.
She tried to blink the tears away, but with the great severity there is no way simply batting her lashes would do anything.
Her chest dramatically heaved as she struggled to catch her breath. Beads of tears blotted her lashes, obscuring her vision which made this even more overwhelming for the alien.
”Fifteen!” Zro reached their hands up towards the integer. He curled his fingers around her wrists, locking them in place. A gasp managed to escape past the lump in Fifteens throat.
He began to softly brush his thumb against her delicate crimson skin, attempting to dry the tears even if they kept coming and coming. the gentle touch of his thumb had done wonders, and Fifteen had slowly calmed down.
Her breath eventually evened out, and the tears slowly came down now. She was still crying .. sure. But, she had gotten better.
“Fifteen..?”
“I’m sorry.. i just —“ Fifteen cut herself off, taking a deep sigh before continuing “do you love me.. ?”
Zro stared at Fifteen in pure disbelief.
Did Zro love her?
DID ZRO LOVE HER!?
“Are you joking?” Zro raised an accusing brow. “There’s no way you’re serious.”
Fifteen looked back up at Zro, the leftover beads of tears shimmered in her eyes, making her look like a puppy in a way mixed with that expression she had on her . . what an odd comment, actually.
When she was looking like that, it was clear she wasn’t.
“Fifteen.. i love you more than anything.. you know that right?” Zro searched her features, looking for anything that indicated that this was a joke.. unfortunately, he had found nothing that backed that up.
”I don’t know it’s just..” Fifteens pupils flickered across the room, avoiding Zros gaze. “You’ve seemed so.. different lately and..”
”I’ve been wondering if you even like this life.. with me.. in the forest.. i don’t know.” Fifteen shook her head, the words sounded as ridiculous as the concept. But something in her told her that despite how abstract the idea was that Zro no longer loved her, it was true.
”Fifteen..” Zro pinched the bridge of his nose, preparing to get ready for a whole lecture.
“You are the most beautiful, amazing algebralien i’ve ever known. If i didn’t want you.. why would i marry you in the first place?”
”Remember when i promised you we’ll spend our whole life together? .. we will, that’s a fact.”
”And, i wouldn’t want it any other way.”
Zros words actually felt honest, and nearly completely convinced Fifteen that everything was well with him.
Maybe it wasn’t about her.. maybe it was about him.
Thats it!
“Alright.. you’ve convinced me.” Fifteen said, and Zro warmly smiled.
The integer spread his arms, offering a hug, but Fifteen brought her finger to his lips.
”One last thing..”
Zro nodded .. what could she be asking of him now?
”Show me your arms.”
”W-what!?”
”I said show me your arms.”
”..what do you mean!?”
Zro’s confusion only made Fifteen more suspicious.
Suddenly, her hand reached out for his sleeve and she yanked it upwards.
”..What?” Fifteen blinked a couple times, genuinely confused by the sight before her.
Zros healed scars were completely gone, erased, without a singular trace. It was like they were never there .. and they never had that talk in the bedroom that one day.
”Where’d ..”
“You know what, im going to sleep.” Fifteen stood up and made her way to her bedroom, the wood beneath her making an uncomfortable creaking sound every footfall.
Fifteen left Zro alone with hid thoughts ..
What the fuck is all he could think and all he wished to.
——————————
Somewhere else
——————————
Zro stared at the distorted TV hanging above him. He was tied up in a pitch black void. The TV cast a bright light across the room, his only light source. He uncomfortably squirmed, trying to shift into a position that didn’t highlight the itchy rope tightly binding his wrists and ankles together.
The TV began to flicker on.. to his dismay.
A familiar cabin was plastered on the screen.. Fifteens cabin, that was once his too.. but now, it was shared by an imposter.
The TV taunted him, rewinding clips of the Pseudo-Zro doing things with Fifteen that he used to.
They went to the park that Zro introduced Fifteen to.. they went fishing in Fifteens favourite lake.. they cut down trees together.. hell, they even did new stuff that Zro will never get to experience!
Worst of all.. he knew that Fifteen knew that there was something wrong. Fifteen knew him better than anyone .. but, she will never find out the truth. She will never find out that he’s trapped here and the Zro she’s with is fake.
She can’t save him from his fate like how she saved him from Fourteen.. she can’t do anything and neither can he.
Nothing can be done.