Trigger warnings: panic attack, mentions of needles and syringes.
The team were currently fighting Syrrus when suddenly Zap was pinned by one of Syruss' mutant bugs "Zap!" Dex shouted running towards him but a bug flew in front of him stopping the Aussie from going any further.
"Ah if it isn't Zap Monogan" Syrrus showed himself, staring at Zap with a wicked smile while holding a syringe filled with a light blue liquid, as soon as Zap saw it he began to struggle memories started to enter his head.
"Just hold still"
"It won't hurt a bit"
He can feel the cold steel on his back, his breath quickened and he pulled harder if only he could get just one arm or leg out "this liquid will make it easier for me to control you...hopefully it doesn't kill you" Syrrus said his thoughts out loud.
Dex managed to get past his bug and was joined by Jenny and Tung "You two get that bug away from Zap, I'll deal with Syrrus" Dex growled as they ran towards them but it was too late they watched in horror as Syrrus raised the syringe before stabbing it into Zap's arms and injected the liquid only for Zap to yell so loudly everything and everyone around him was blown away literally.
Jenny was the first one to regain consciousness she sat up her head ringing making noises sound far away and she was surrounded by dust and dirt, she slowly stood up "Dex?" She yelled hoping he was alright "Jenny?" She heard a voice answer back a bit to her left when she turned she saw him and Tung walking towards her, they were both covered in dust.
"Do you see Zap anywhere?" Dex asked you could tell by his tone he was worried sick, needles and syringes are one of Zap's triggers as they remind him of his life before Dex, when he lived with his creator. Just then they heard a distant yell that sounded familiar "Zap!" They all yelled before running in the direction Tung heard the yell come from.
When they found Zap he seemed to be having a panic attack "Zap it's okay, you're not there anymore" Dex yelled trying to get Zap to focus on his voice but Zap didn't seem to hear the bug/boy hybrid gripped his arm and grunted before trying to take a step only to yell in pain and fall to the ground.
"Zap!" Dex yelled running towards the Pilot and wrapping his arms around the bug boy "I'm right here, you're not in the labs you're here with me Dex, your loving boyfriend and i need you to copy my breathing" he rambled a little staring into Zap's baby blue eyes that seemed to focus in on Dex a little "that's it just like me, in....and out" he demonstrated exaggerating his own breathing so Zap could focus on the sound and soon enough he calmed down a little but still held onto the Australian tightly not wanting to let go.
"We should get out of here before Syrrus wakes up" Tung exclaimed looking around for the weird octopus/human being, Dex nodded as he picked up Zap like a toddler as they walked towards the ship Dex turned towards Jenny "are you okay with flying the ship back?" He asked giving her an apologetic look "it's fine" Jenny smiled before they all entered the ship and drove home then went to bed.
The next morning Dex woke up and noticed Zap wasn't in the bed which was unusual as it's usually Dex to wake up first, he looks around the room for a cocoon but there isn't one causing him to worry as he quickly got up and walked to the kitchen where he found Tung "hey have you seen Zap?" He asks the frog boy who shakes his head "not since you two went to bed" he answers shrugging "Mkay, if you do see him let him know I'm looking for him and he's not in trouble" Dex got a nod from Tung before he left the kitchen and headed towards Jenny's lab sometimes he likes to learn about what she's making.
He enters the room to find Zap's usual stop empty "Hey Jenny has Zap been here yet?" He asks hoping she's at least seen him but no such luck "he hasn't, I thought you had forced him to sleep in since yesterday was pretty hectic for him" Jenny explained not taking her eyes off the machine she was building "maybe we could check the cams and see where he is?" Dex asks aiming puppy dog eyes towards Jenny he hears her mumble something before sighing "fine" she puts her machine to the side before pulling up the cams.
Dex gets more worried the more rooms they check off until they finally got a clue "Zap's goggles!" Dex pointed out "that's the habitat of the (enter name of a bug that is easily irritated and is aggressive) what's he doing in there" Jenny's words leak worry has they both bolt out of the Lab and towards the habitat dragging Tung along with them after they meet in the hallway.
Dex picks up the goggles and looks into the habitat through the glass "I don't see anything" he says opening the door and standing in the door way "wait is that a little kid?" Tung asks pointing straight ahead of them Dex squinted as he walked forward for a closer look at it only to see a tiny spot running either towards them or away from them but as it got closer it became clearer that one that wasn't a kid and two it wasn't running it was flying and straight for Dex who turned quickly and ran towards the exit with the bug right on his tail 'I'm not gonna make it' he thought but was suddenly pushed out of the habitat just before the bug grabbed him.
"Told you there was a kid" Tung said pointing next to Dex while Jenny looked like she was about to either faint or become a mad scientist. With a confused look Dex turned his head to see a kid sitting beside him, with brown hair, all black clothes, wings and baby blue- "wait Zap?!" Dex was stunned this kid look exactly like Zap only younger said kid flinched back at the volume, covering his ears as he clenched his eyes shut.
"Sorry" Dex apologised softly touching the kids arm he seemed to flinch a bit but uncovered his ears and opened his eyes at the soft touch "sorry for yelling you just surprised me, is that really you Zap?" Dex asked shocked, little Zap nodded his head and smiled a little "he's kinda cute" Jenny mumbles causing Zap to turn pink with embarrassment.
But as Dex checks Zap over for injuries he notices he's a little too skinny and short the kid looks about five years old "how old are you Zap?" Dex asks looking for an answer around 3-5. Little Zap mumbles something that the Australian or engineer are unable to hear "I'm sorry what did you say?" Jenny asks in her Mum voice "he says he's eight" Tung answers for Zap "WHAT?!" Dex and Jenny yell at the same time.
