Chapter Text
Zach turned over on the couch again ignoring the way tears still ran down his cheeks. He stared up at the gray ceiling as he used to always do and it felt comfortable before but now it just felt so cold. He was the one who dumped Chris so he shouldn’t be the one crying but…he hadn’t wanted to. Now the event played over and over in his head and he couldn’t make it stop. This was for the best wasn’t it? He sighed curling up on himself as he remembered all that had happened yesterday.
It was a couple nights after Chris had invited Zach over to the Tortuga for a dinner with the crew. Zach already thought it was a terrible idea but Chris insisted and Zach couldn’t bring himself to disappoint him. He wished he has because that dinner had gone terribly. Martin made passive aggressive comments while Aviva just glared at him angrily. The worst thing was what Martin said at the end that stuck with Zach,
“Why did Chris settle for you?”
Zach didn’t know. Chris could do so much better than him, he deserved so much better than him. He sighed looking over to the couch where Chris had fallen asleep while watching some movie, Zach didn’t remember, he was too busy thinking. Chris looked so pretty even when he slept in the weirdest positions, looking like a tangle of limbs. Zach wouldn’t wake him up to this but…He knew what he needed to do, Chris would never do it, he’s too nice. He couldn’t explain the why to him either, it’d make things too difficult.
“…Zachbot. Get to work on making a pizza. Don’t forget the extra cheese”
The Zachbot rushed over to the kitchen and got to work on the food The order was burned in his memory, Chris’s favorite. Even when he had access to the fanciest food that was always his first choice. It was silly but endearing…Fuck Zach was going to hate this.
After a while the smell of food filled the room and Chris slowly woke up. He walked over to where Zach sat at a small table and draped his arms over him
“Morning Zach! Why are you up earlier than me?”
“I just got up early. Sit down already”
He teased before scolding himself, acting like usual would just make this hurt more. Chris sat down still smiling brightly, too brightly. Fuck why did he have to do this. Zach gave a half hearted smile ignoring the worried look Chris gave him. Before he could ask what was wrong, a Zachbot sat the pizza on the table in front of them.
“Oh! My favorite! What’s the occasion?”
Chris laughed a little before noticing Zach’s pained look.
“…Zach? You ok?”
“Of course. Of course I’m always ok. Perfect. Let’s eat”
Chris went to ask about it but again was cut off by Zach biting into the pizza. When he got like this there was no way to get an answer out of him so he just ate as well. It was quieter than usual, normally they would joke around, make fun of each other, or just talk but it was silent.
“…Chris… We need to talk”
Chris felt his face pale, he began silently searching his memory for anything he did wrong. His smile faltered for a moment but he tried to keep his happy demeanor.
“About what? Need to plan a special movie marathon or-”
“Chris shut up!”
They both froze, neither of them had yelled at each other in ages, at least not seriously. Zach frowned looking away.
“I’m…I’m leaving you.”
Chris felt his world crash around him at those words, not fully processing them at first.
“…What?”
“I said I’m leaving you! We’re breaking up!”
He didn’t mean for it to come out as angry as it did but maybe… it would help.
“I…I don’t understand. Did I do something wrong? Did something happen”
“Chris just…Just leave”
“I…Zach?”
“Leave! You know where the door is!”
Chris flinched a little trying to look at Zachs face ignoring the tears pricking in his eyes. Zach hated it. The hurt tone in the others voice, the confusion, the way his own voice came out, but he had to do this.
“I…I’m sorry. I don’t know what…”
“Just…get out already”
Chris stepped away now crying more, Zach could hear him.
“…Fine! Fine, I'll go! I’ll leave! You won’t have to put up with me anymore!”
Chris stormed out the door slamming it, that's when Zach broke. He didn’t want Chris to hurt but he had to do this. He deserved better than an ex-villain, an asshole, someone selfish, but that didn’t stop him from hurting.
He returned to the present moment where he had found one of the animal lover’s old shirts. It must’ve been left one of the nights he was staying over. Zach picked it up and held it close and cried again, more than before. He wanted Chris back, he wanted to hear that stupid laugh, for him to ramble about animal facts even though Zach couldn’t care less, to hug him close and listen to his heartbeat in his chest, but he couldn’t. He fucked that up to.
He stayed there for a long time, curled in a ball holding the shirt to his face and crying into it. He planned to stay there longer but a knock at the door stopped him. He bit his lip, he wanted to just let one of the zachbots get it but they were charging. Fucking fantastic. He got up sitting the shirt on the back of the couch as he went to open the door. He didn’t bother checking who it was. He didn’t care. What he didn’t expect was to see the older Kratt brother standing there looking pissed.
“You! You asshole!”
Martin punched Zach who fell to the ground. He didn’t fight back, or even argue with him. He just say on the ground still looking miserable.
“Zach! What the hell?!? Why did you do that to him do you think it’s fun…Were you…crying?”
“Thats not any of your business wild rat”
Zach hissed out but there wasn’t as much hostility behind it as he would’ve liked.
“Why are you crying? Youre the one who broke my brothers heart!”
He felt the words cut into him. He already knew that was probably the case when Chris left crying but it still stung to be reminded that what he did had hurt him.
“…Yeah. I did. Now if thats all would you fuck off?”
“No! What the hell Zach?!? Why did you do that?!? You didn’t even bother to tell him!”
Zach stayed quiet, averting his eyes. His cheek felt sore with a well deserves pain.
“What? You think this is funny? Was this what you wanted all along?”
“Of course not”
“Then why did you hurt him?!?”
“I DIDN’T WANT TO OK!”
There was an odd silence that fell across as Zach finally stood up glaring over at the man in blue.
“I had to do it. You said it yourself. He was settling for me. He deserves so much better and he sure as hell wouldn’t do it. We both know he’s too kind for that.”
Martin seemed confused, as if he hadn’t considered this outcome and he was still trying to put it together. It took him longee than it ever took Chris.
“…Zach shut up.”
He scoffed
“I think thats what I was supposed to say.”
“Yeah No don’t care. You’re an idiot.”
Zach rolled his eyes
“Yeah I know. You love to insult me”
“No. You’re an idiot because you think Chris would just fucking get over you! He wouldn’t. I don’t know why he does but he loves you so much. He’s never loved anyone as much as he loves you and as stupid as that is to me it's how it is. He doesn’t want something better, he wants you. Believe me I’ve argued with him several times over it.”
Zach just stood there. He didn’t fully understand what had just happened. Martin has always hated him, he always complained about him and used to do whatever he could to get him and Chris apart so…
“Why…Why are you telling me this? You hate me”
“Yeah. I do. But I love my little brother, and I want him to be happy. Even if that means having to put up with you.”
He had never felt this dumbfounded before, he was a world famous genius and yet this…this was so hard for him to understand but he didn’t get a second to fully process it before he was shoved, lightly though which surprised him more.
“You better fix this Varmitech. Or I might just kill you for hurting him”
The blue Kratt left, leaving Zach there to think…God he reallt was an idiot wasn’t he. He went back inside pausing at the shirt he had left on the couch. He stared at it before picking it up and heading to the bathroom. He needed to clean up for Chris after all.
Zach fidgeted in the seat of the car he rode in. He was dressed more casual than usual, he still wore eyeliner and a bit more makeup but it was still less fancy than his normal get up. The biggest difference was that instead of a black or dark gray shirt he wore a green one, one that was a little too big on him, one that wasn’t his. He had waited another day after Martin had shown up. The last thing he needed was for Chris to see the red mark on his cheek from where he had been punched. He had it all planned out now. The apology, the explanation, the way he would ask for him back though he didn’t fully expect Chris to accept that part.
He looked over at the flowers he had bought. Chris liked dumb cheesy notions and Zach couldn’t think of one better than an obnoxiously large apology bouqet. It was silly but…he had to make it up to him, even if it meant making himself look like an idiot. The Tortuga entered view and Zach felt terrified all over again. This was such a stupid plan. Martin better not fuck this up again…
The car arrived and he stepped out carrying the bouqet in front of his face. The evening light made them all stand out, lily of the valley, rebirth of a relationship, white orchids, sincerity, pink carnations, I will never forget you, white tulips, I’m sorry, and red roses, …I love you. He was very particular in chosing out each flower. It was stupid but Chris…Chris would like it. That was the important part. He hid his face in the flowers wanting to cry all over again but that could wait. He had to do this first.
Zach heard the tortuga shutter door open and an annoyed and broken sounding Chris and an excited Martin. Hearing the way Chris’s voice sounded made him want to run but that wouldn’t help. He still had to fix this.
“C’mon bro! You’re going to love this surprise!”
“Martin…I’m really not in the mood”
“Well I know grumpy pants but you don’t get a choice.”
They walked down the ramp and turned the corner to where Zach stood, still hidden behind the flowers. Chris suddenly sounded angry at Martin
“Seriously?!? You’re trying to set me up on a date already?!? Martin!”
“Uh…Well you see.”
Zach cut the older Kratt lowering the bouqet and standing there nervously with an awkward smile
“I uh…I hope this one is alright”
Chris heard the voice and took a second to recognize it, he turned around a bit too quickly and blinked in confusion at the man standing there. His voice was softer now as he stared in shock
“…Zach?”
“Yeah…Yeah its me”
“But you-”
“No…No let me talk first.”
He took a deep, shaky breath, readying himself to speak.
“I am so sorry for hurting you. I never wanted to. I never wanted to actually leave you in the first place I was just convinced you deserved better than me.”
“Oh..Zach”
“I’m not done yet. I was convinced you would be too kind to leave me yourself and was sure I had to do it so you could find someone you deserve… but I was wrong. I didn’t help you, I just hurt you.”
He had started crying but he continued to speak not looking up from where he was staring at the flowers in his hands.
“And I am so fucking sorry for breaking up with you the way I did and I am sorry for even thinking that it would be fine in the first place. I am such an idiot and an asshole and I wish I could take it all back but I can’t. I can say this though, I still love you… and…and you can hate me still and I would deserve it but I-”
Zach didn’t get a chance to finish before Chris pulled him into a tight hug, the flowers falling to the ground as he flinched at the sudden contact. He thought maybe he was being attacked which he wouldn’t have been upset about but the hug…that was surprising to him..
“…You are an idiot…but not because of that…but because you think I could ever hate you.”
Those words broke him. He crumbled hugging him back sobbing into his chest not wanting to let go. He held on for a while just sobbing silently before he spoke again.
“You…really are too nice”
“Maybe… but you love it”
Zach half laughed a moment before looking up at the man holding him, admiring the way his face glowed in the evening light and the way he looked down at him.
“…yeah…yeah I do.”
Chris smiled softly before leaning down and kissing Zach who just melted in his arms crying all over again. Chris cried too, neither of them sad anymore though, just relieved to have the other one back. They stayed like that for a while. Zach being held by Chris, both of them wanting to stay like that forever.
“Are you two done yet? Or do I need to go inside?”
Chris suddenly turned a lovely shade of pink and glared over at Martin who had just made the comment.
“Dude…Fuck off”
Martin feigned offense at the term but smirked and went back inside anyways. Chris’s cheeks showed his embarrassment but Zach cupped his face in his hand turning his face back towards him, his voice was almost a whisper
“Thank you”
“…for?”
“Everything. But especially this. Forgiving me. Even though I don’t deserve it. You’ve always been great at that.”
The small man leaned against his chest again, shaking a little.
“…You do deserve it. I promise”
He kissed his head pulling him closer once again. Zach sighed happily, letting them just sit there for a while. At some point though Chris losened his hold for a moment, one arm still stayed wrapped around him as if he might disappear, the other arm though went to pick up the bouquet that had been dropped. He tried to tease the other a little,
“So…Flowers? I thought you hated most of them”
“…I do. They’re gross but you like them and stupid chessy gestures like this so…yeah”
Zach looked away a little embarrassed while Chris felt a little flustered as he looked at the flowers and over to his love again
“…I'm going to kiss you again”
“Huh? Why are you say-”
His question got cut off by another kiss. He laughed a little before kissing back. They almost fell over trying to stay close to one another and laughed as they slowly sat on the ground. The biologist leaned on the inventor this time with a soft smile.
“…I’m glad you didn’t actually leave me…”
“…Me too.”
They sat there for a while, just them and the evening sun as it started to set.