Darling in the Franxx: From Parasites to Parents

Chapter 20:Problem Child

Alright so now that the Mech children and their parents have made friends with the Klaxosaurs the peace Proto and Gaia dream of is starting to take shape! Although it seems Dr. Franxx has made a recent discovery that could turn Plantation 13 upside down. What could this discovery be? Let's find out!
Proto woke up with a yawn as he looked around his room with half-lidded eyes as he tried to get the final bits of sleep out of his system. His body was still recovering from taking away Ikuno's illness, but it was starting to get better. Proto looked down at the sleeping form next to him and smiled lovingly at her; Gaia's hair was a complete mess spread out all around her. Proto always loved watching her sleep because it was nice to see the normally serious princess look so relaxed and at peace. Proto laid back down and wrapped his arms around Gaia's waist as he brought her sleeping form into another hug, Proto let himself drift off to sleep once again cuddling his love like a pillow.
                Dr. Franxx was doing a regular check on Heliconia to see if there was any change in the energy readings from the Franxx's system. After the first battle the mech had ever been in it had been giving off strange readings ever since, but he couldn't figure out what they mean. Dr. Franxx looked up at the Franxx's face with a look of wonder, could that be the answer? Suddenly Dr. Franxx began to notice movement coming from Heliconia as he pulled out his communication device and called Nana. "Nana could you please fetch Proto and Gaia for me I believe I have something to show them." Dr. Franxx said as calmly as he could at the sight in front of him. "Why do you need them Dr. Franxx?" Nana asked confused at his sudden request. "Trust me, you of all people don't want to know." Dr. Franxx said before hanging up.
Everyone was just finishing up breakfast when Nana came through the front door and stared directly at Proto and Gaia. "Proto, Gaia I will need both of you to follow me please. Dr. Franxx say he has something to show you." Nana said slightly stressed out at the situation. The lovers got up from they're seats and followed Nana out of the manor with confused looks on they're faces. "Listen if this is about the concern that the others had from the noise coming from our room on the first night we stayed here. I can assure you that neither of us were hurt during that whole ordeal I swear!" Proto said in a half serious tone as Gaia giggled at her lover's sense of humor. Nana simply sighed as she continued to lead the unique couple to the docking zone in silence.
                Once the trio made it to the door that led to the docking zone catwalk Nana finally turned to face the pair. "Alright just head in through here." Nana said as she began to walk away while rubbing her temples in stress. "You going to bust out that secret stash you and Hachi so sneakily hid in the supply closet?" Proto asked causing Nana to stop dead in her tracks at his words. "H-How did you know about that?" Nana asked in slight fear at her secret getting out. "Well last time you went to get some of that stash, by any chance did you notice anything missing?" Proto asked as he gave her a devilish grin. "Well there was that bottle of Whiskey that was on the top shelf, but I just assumed Hachi took it. Wait you were the one who took it?!!" Nana shouted at the hybrid boy in anger and embarrassment.
Proto began to laugh hysterically at Nana's reaction to him discovering her dirty little secret. "Yeah believe me after a hundred years of hiding and running from anything Virm related, a man kinda needs to just drown his sorrows." Proto said casually as he smiled at Nana once again. "Oh really? Last time I checked you just wanted to sit down and have a drink with me last week." Gaia said as she nudged Proto in the shoulder playfully. Proto laughed once again before wrapping his arm around Gaia's shoulders. "Yeah but my excuse sounds better to the probably pissed off lady staring us down right now!" Proto said playfully as he gestured to Nana who just stared dumbfounded. "Don't worry Nana we won't tell! Just don't be surprised if we raid that supply closet again!" Proto said as he and Gaia entered the docking zone, leaving Nana alone in the hall.
The couple entered the docking zone only to find Heliconia standing there staring at them. "Oh so this is why Nana was heading to bust out the alcohol." Proto said as he stared up at the Franxx with a curious look in his eye. "Hello mother it's good to finally be able to speak with you!" Heliconia said in a happy voice as she smiled at Gaia. Gaia was a bit shocked at this point, but returned her daughter's smile. "Hello sweetheart! It's nice to meet you as well!" Gaia said as she approached her daughter who picked her up and hugged her against her cheek. Although for some strange reason Heliconia started glaring down at Proto for some reason. Proto took a few steps forward before once again looking up at Heliconia.
"Well looks like we're parents now to Gaia! Well it's nice to see that I have such a cute daughter." Proto said as he gave Heliconia a smile. "Don't call me your daughter!" Heliconia shouted, which shocked both Proto and Gaia. "You are not my father! All you have done is caused mother to suffer for years because you were dumb enough to go and get yourself killed!" Heliconia shouted at Proto with venom dripping from each word. "Well I" Proto started, but was cut off by Heliconia glaring down at him once again. "No! You have no excuse! You should have just stayed dead that day, you DEFECT!" Heliconia shouted as Proto felt his blood run cold. Suddenly Proto sprouted his rocket like wings and flew out of the Plantation at high-speeds. Gaia just stared in the direction that Proto flew off to.
"Goodbye and good riddance! It's better that you just stay away you Defect!" Heliconia said once again in complete disgust. Suddenly Heliconia felt something slapping the side of her face as her mother dropped down onto the catwalk with her tentacles sticking out of her back. "M-Mother? Why?" Heliconia asked in confusion as she looked down at her mother, who had her teeth bared and her tentacles were swaying angrily. "How could you talk to your own father like that!?" Gaia roared with a primal rage at her daughter. "B-But mother he hurt you!" Heliconia cried as she felt tears start to run down her face. "That may be true, but I forgave him! Now he's run off because you said something horrible to him!" Gaia snarled once again as she began to shed tears of her own. "You better fix this young lady!" Gaia snarled once more before exiting the catwalk and headed back to the manor.
                       Proto has flown himself far away from Plantation 13 after Heliconia said that word to him. Proto was sitting on the edge of a rock formation with his legs dangling over the edge. "Why did I run away? It's been a hundred years and I still can't get over it? Jeez I guess time doesn't heal all wounds!" Proto said to himself as he stared off into the distance for no particular reason. Left to his thoughts Proto felt some old memories start to ring in his head once again. "Dr. He is supposed to be our ultimate weapon! Why does he have emotions! We told you a weapon has no need for emotions, now we are stuck with this Defect!" A voice in Proto's head yelled out as he shook his head to get rid of the memory.
                      Proto's thoughts were cut short by a sudden shadow being cast over him, Proto looked up to find Gaia's snake servant looking down at him. "I'm guessing Gaia sent you to come find me and bring me back?" Proto asked as the snake lowered it's head and opened it's mouth. Proto climbed into the Klaxosaur's mouth as it began it's journey back to Plantation 13. Proto couldn't help but get lost in his memories once again. "He refuses to follow orders to kill! How is this weapon supposed to takedown the Klaxosaur Princess if it refuses to kill?" Proto once again shakes his head side to side in hopes of getting the bad memory to go away. He could really use a drink right now.
                    After about an hour the snake Klaxosaur finally arrives back at Plantation 13, where Gaia is waiting for them. Proto steps out of the snake's mouth, but before he can utter an apology Gaia already has him in a tight hug. "Thank goodness your okay!" Gaia says as she hugs Proto tighter as if she's worried he'll disappear again. "Sorry love, just needed some time to think that's all." Proto said as he spotted Heliconia standing in the background glaring at him once again. Proto steps forward and looks Heliconia directly in the eye before speaking. "Heliconia you may not love me, but that doesn't change the fact that I'm your father. Just like it doesn't change the fact that you'll always be my little girl." Proto said causing Heliconia's glare to falter.
                  Proto and Gaia sat on the floor of their room talking about today's events. "I just don't know what we're going to do with her! I mean she doesn't seem like she wants anything to do with you!" Gaia said her voice laced with worry as she looked at Proto. "I'm sure she will come around! I mean she can't stay mad at me forever." Proto said as he smiled at Gaia, trying to calm her down. When that doesn't work Proto reaches under they're bed and pulls out a bottle of Whiskey. "Would this help?" Proto asked as he held up the bottle for Gaia to see. "Oh Mister Proto you truly are an evil man!" Gaia said with laugh as Proto poured each of them a glass. The two after having their drinks then drifted off to sleep.

Alright the long awaited appearance of Heliconia has finally arrived! Although will she ever be able to have a good relationship with Proto? Also there is still the case of a certain group of brats lurking around the Plantation. How will the future of Plantation 13 develop? Find out next time!