Chapter Text
Zero wakes up peacefully on his bed, sitting upright before yawning and doing a stretch. He smacks his lips as he feels his hunger, all while letting his eyes adjust to the light of the plasma spark tower's morning shine. He walks up to his window to look at it for a while before hearing sizzling downstairs, deciding to go down and see what's for breakfast.
He sees his dad, Ultraseven, in the kitchen, frying what looks like egg for breakfast. The rice cooker looks like it just finished cooking too. He decides to go sit down on the table and greet him.
"Morning dad."
"Good morning. Do you want to actually eat something for breakfast this time or are you just going to drink coffee again?"
"Coffee."
Zero answered without a second though, making Seven sigh. He brings him a cup of warm coffee before setting down his own plate, then sits down at the other side of the table.
The two start their breakfast, not really having much to talk about (like always). Seven glances over to the calendar that's on the fridge. Realizing what day it is, he starts the conversation.
"It's valentine's day today, huh? Do you have any plans?"
"Nah, not really. I don't have time for stuff like that."
"Really now? I remember Zoffy complaining so much about you slacking off at work."
"Hey! Slacking off for a few minutes is different from taking leave for vacation…"
Seven laughs and goes back to eating his breakfast. He chews on a spoonful and swallows it before continuing.
"Well, if you did have the time, do you have somebody in mind? You know, a girl you might like?"
Zero goes silent, thinking about the question for a while.
"Or a guy."
"Dad..." A groan left him as he heard the follow-up.
"I won't judge."
"I- I know."
Zero looks at his coffee to ponder, then takes a sip.
"What about that guy that follows you around all the time? What was his name again? Ultraman..... Zett?"
Zero spits out his coffee.
"Oh HELL no. Anyone BUT him!"
The mention of Z's name immediately made him defensive, as if already denying any sort of relations he has with him. His body, however, betrays him, with a hint of red visible on his face and a tone of nervousness audible in his voice. The reaction amuses his father, who decides to mess with him for his reply.
"Anyone but him? Okay, would Belial be a better valentine?"
"Dad!!" The joke made him frown.
"I'm kidding, I'm kidding. So, why anyone but Zett then?"
Zero looks agitated, already ready to rant about him.
"He is so ANNOYING!! He follows me around all the time and won't leave when I tell him to leave! And he keeps talking to me when he does, he never stops complimenting me too!"
"And that's a bad thing?"
"I- I mean, yes?! I know how great I am, I don't need another person to tell me all about it!"
Zero takes a sip of coffee, looking a little embarrassed and annoyed.
"Why not just tell him to leave you alone?"
"I've already tried so many times! I keep telling him how annoying he is, and that he's never going to be my disciple, but he STILL keeps coming back!"
"Hmmm..."
Seven thinks for a while, savoring his food. Knowing his son, he's probably just playing hard to get.
"...Don't you think you're just playing along with him?"
"I- Huh?"
That wasn't the reply he was expecting, nor was it the question he wanted to be asked.
"I don't think someone who got into the Inter Galactic Defense Force can be that dense. Well, I hope not."
Zero's confused, not really sure where this conversation is heading.
"What are you saying?"
"Are you sure you don't just like his company?"
"H-huh?!" He jolts back from his seat.
"W-why would I like his company?!" Zero laughs nervously. "I just told you how annoying he is when he's following me around!"
"If you truly don't like him annoying you, you would've made that very clear, right?"
He doesn't reply back, looking away while looking furrowing a brow. Well, if he had one.
"Okay, if he annoys you that much, I'll go talk to him, tell him to leave you alone. Surely if your dad gets involved he'll stop, right?"
"D-don't do that, old man..." Zero’s blush grows more visible.
Seven cracks a smile as he confirms his suspicion. His son IS interested in someone!
"So you do like him."
"S-shut up!"
Zero's face is becoming even more red, his eye contact growing more distant, which he usually does when he's embarrassed.
"Seriously Zero, you should be more honest with your feelings."
"Okay, fine! He's not THAT annoying, okay?! Besides...."
"....?"
Zero looks away, covering his face a bit with his hand, while his other hand fidgets on his thigh, tapping them in a rhythm as he tries very hard to admit the next sentence he's about to say.
"He's.... a little cute, in a way...."
Zero takes a quick glance back at his dad, expecting a funny reaction. He sees him just smile and go back to eating his food.
"See? That wasn't so hard to admit, right?"
"Ughh!!!"
“You’ve always had an eye for cute things, so I was right on the money.”
“Stop talking!”
Zero drinks the rest of the coffee, chugging it all down.
"H-hey, slow down!"
He finishes his drink, slams the mug down, then wipes off his lips. He gets up and points at his dad.
"I don't have time to think about my ‘feelings’, old man! I'm going to work!"
Zero storms off the house and flies off, stumbling around some of the furniture along the way. Seven stares and looks at him from the window and smirks as he contacts someone.
"What work?"
—
Zero arrives at the space garrison with a slight frown on his face, ignoring the weird looks he’s being given. He arrives at his office, hanging his mantle in the coat hanger next to the door, sitting back in his chair and cools down.
"At least I can take my mind off of things with work."
He sighs.
"I hate work."
Before he could even start working on the pile of papers he left last time, Zoffy drops by his office with a lollipop in his mouth. He knocks on the open door and leans on the doorframe, arms crossed.
"Zero."
"Commander Zoffy?"
Zoffy takes the lollipop out of his mouth.
"It's a holiday today, isn't it? Why are you working?"
"Huh?! Since when did valentine's become a non-working holiday?"
"Just now." Zoffy put the lollipop back in his mouth. "Not for me, though. I still have work today. Anyway, you don't have to work, go home."
Zoffy was about to leave, but Zero was curious about something.
"Wait, since when did you eat lollipops?"
"Oh, Hikari gave it to me as a gift."
"Okay....?"
"What?"
"Nothing, just didn't know you had a sweet tooth."
—
After a few minutes of double checking the stack of papers (in case anything was missing), Zero clocks out, once again setting aside work, but this time he was ordered to. He looks around the street just outside the space garrison, not really sure what to do for the day.
He stares at the different restaurants, clothing shops, all the valentine's themed merchandise being sold around.
"Ugh... Do I really have to...?"
He thinks about what his dad told him earlier today.
"Be honest with my feelings? With him? Pfft."
He keeps denying to himself that he likes Zett, that he has a crush on him, but every time he does, he just keeps thinking about Zett and-
“Ah.”
Suddenly, all his brain can think about is Zett. The things that make Zero like him, specifically. Like how he's always so positive, how much he can talk and entertain his ears. That stupid smile with those beautiful eyes. The curves of his body, and how he towers over Zero even though their height aren't drastically apart from each other.
"God damn it."
He stomps the ground as he tries to get these thoughts out of his head, catching the attention of a few people walking around. He ignores them and calms himself down.
"Come on Zero, you saved the god damn universe! Saying a few sentences shouldn't be as hard!"
Since it's a holiday, he assumes Zett's home and flies towards its direction, only to stop and go the other way around, flying towards the Might Base in another dimension. Once he's there, he once again calms himself, then greets everyone inside.
"Yo, what are you guys up to?"
"Little Zero!"
Glenfire is the first to respond, walking up to him and giving a hug, carrying and spinning him around.
"Oi! Put me down!"
Glenfire puts him down after a bit more protest.
"Good morning, Zero."
Mirror Knight greets him politely, who's in the middle of cleaning the base.
"Where’s the brothers?"
"They're out shopping. We're running out of ingredients so I asked them to go get groceries."
"This early?"
"Ah, no, they already planned to go shopping for other things today, they'll get the groceries later in the afternoon."
"Anyways, Zero! What brings you here?"
Zero settles down on the sofa, Glenfire following and sitting there too. Zero looks at the two before putting his hands on his face, already feeling shame.
"Ugh, I can't believe I'm doing this..."
"Hmm?"
"...I need.... advice."
"What kind of advice?"
Zero puts his hands down and looks away.
"...Relationship… advice..." He says in a low voice.
Mirror Knight drops the feather duster he's holding as he looks towards Zero. Glenfire simply stares at him.
"...What?"
"Relationship with who?" Mirror Knight asks.
"..."
"Okay! Don't tell us! We'll guess!"
"What-"
"MK! You first!"
The two start their little guessing game.
"Hmm.... Ultraman X? You've given him your armor after all."
"What? No! Why are you guys-"
"Okay, what about Ultraman Titas? He's tall and has muscles!" Glenfire imitates Titas' poses, flexing his arms.
"No?! We've never even talked to each-"
"Ultraman Geed? You two were pretty close back on earth..."
"No! Can you guys- Arghh!! It's-”
The two look at each other, nodding, then speak in unison.
"Ultraman Zett?"
"YES!"
Zero, frustrated, didn't realize that he told the truth. Once he does, he puts a hand over his mouth in surprise, eyes wide open as he stares at the two.
"Ah."
The two stare in silence, and then laugh.
"W-What's so funny?!"
The two continue laughing, then calm down.
"We were messing with you, Zero! We knew it was him!"
"Wh- Huh?" His face becomes red from embarrassment.
"I don't know if you've noticed, but you tend to give him special treatment."
"Yeah! Even though you say he annoys you!"
"Wh- What do you mean?"
"Let's see here..."
Mirror Knight puts a finger on his chin, pacing around the room, ready to list it out.
"One, you've asked him if he wanted to train with you when you were bored, more than once. Two, he always somehow jumps and hugs you from behind, despite the fact that your senses are very good for sneak attacks. Three, the New Generation Brooch and the New Generation Cape? You designed it with him in mind at first, you just started giving it to everyone else since you didn't feel like making another design..... Should I keep going?"
Zero's face is turning even more red, covering his ears with his hands.
"Okay, okay, fine! You win! Now stop!"
"Oh! Wasn't the Z Riser named after him because of you? He was the first one you recommended to Hikari!" Glenfire adds.
"Glen!!!"
"Okay, okay! Teasing you is just so much fun, man!"
"Ughhh..."
Zero sulks on the sofa.
"This sucks... Is it really that obvious?"
"Yes."
"How come he's never noticed?"
"You of all people should know why."
"...Shit, right, he's dense as hell."
Zero facepalms and shakes his head.
"Great, now I have to admit to myself that I'm in love with someone that stupid."
"Hey, it's not like you're any better." Mirror Knight takes a jab at him. "Besides, he's got a big heart, that's more important."
"And a huge chest too!"
"GLEN!!"
—
The three friends settle down in Zero's room, munching on snacks as they start their conversation.
"So, what advice do you need?" Mirror Knight goes straight to the point.
"I mean... I've never really, you know, asked anyone out..."
"Seriously? I thought someone as famous with the girls as you would be swimming on dates!" Glenfire banters.
"You think I fall in love with every woman I see? I'm not like you, dumbass."
"Hey!"
"Anyway, I wanted advice on how to... you know... ask him out..."
The other two brainstorm to themselves, finding it hard to think of anything. They barely know Zett personally, so it's hard to know what he would like (aside from Zero himself).
"I feel like something grand would suit his loud personality."
"What do you mean?"
"He's usually very verbal, correct? By something grand, I mean something like a dinner date in a restaurant."
"Or you could throw a surprise valentine's party for him!" Glenfire adds.
"Who the hell throws a surprise party for valentines?! What if he doesn't say yes?!"
"This is Zett we're talking about dude! I doubt he'll say no!"
"Y-you don't know that!"
Zero looks away flustered, crossing his arms.
"Are you... actually scared that he might turn you down?" Mirror Knight asks.
"N-no! I'm just saying... there's still a chance for me to get turned down, so..."
"Yeah you're scared dude."
"Argh!!!"
Zero stuffs his face with a pillow, muffled angry screams coming out of it.
"Being honest sucks."
"Yeah, we can tell." Glenfire teases.
The two snicker at each other.
"I don't think I can do something 'grand'. I mean, sure he has a loud personality, but I've been to his house before, he doesn't seem like the type of guy to like big events."
"Elaborate."
"His house is very clean, which is not something I was expecting from someone as big of a klutz as him. He has... a lot of merchandise of me, I feel like every paycheck he gets he spends a portion of it for them."
"Okay...? But I don't see how this relates to what you said."
"Oh... I just think he's the type of guy to not go out much during his free time, you know?"
The two nod.
"Yeah, come to think of it, I rarely see Zett around after his shift!"
"Right?! Maybe that's why I didn't know about him before he went to me personally..." Zero adds.
"We don't even know where Zett's from, I'm quite convinced he just suddenly popped out of nowhere and everyone acts like he's been here the whole time..."
"You think Ace helped him do it?" Glenfire puts a finger on his chin, ready to hear some conspiracy theories.
But Zero stops the two.
"Hey! We're getting sidetracked!"
"Oh, sorry!"
The three brainstorm for a while, until Glenfire gives up and says his honest thoughts.
"You know what, Zero? I don't think you need to plan anything!"
"Huh?"
"You of all people should know how Zett acts about you! Just go to his house and ask to have dinner with him, confess then and there, and boom! You two will be smooching in bed in no time!"
"I- I don't know about the smooching part, but Glen's right. You're overthinking things. You should tell him you're dropping by for dinner, though, it'd be rude if you just suddenly barged in."
"Do you think I should make and bring food for him...?"
"No." The two say in unison.
-----
Later, after the three's conversation drifted elsewhere, Zero finally decides to send Zett a message that he'll be dropping by later tonight.
"Okay, how should I start the message?"
"Be casual."
"Be cool!"
"...I'm gonna go with MK's idea."
Zero types the following:
Hey, Zett! I'm coming by your place tonight, you better be prepared.
And then he sends the message.
"There."
The other two stay silent, not sure of what to say to Zero's half-assed message.
"What?"
"Dude it sounds like you're gonna beat him up." Glenfire crosses his arms in disapproval.
"Yeah... 'you better be prepared'.... prepared for what?" Mirror Knight scratches his head.
"Well, to have me around?"
"Tell him that! Not us!!"
"Okay, okay! I'll send another message."
Prepared for me to visit, I mean.
"Is that better?"
Glenfire slaps his face.
"Now I see why you've never dated before..."
"What is it this time?!"
"Zero, you are a dry texter." Mirror Knight says bluntly.
"How else was I supposed to say this?!"
"You could've at least shown more enthusiasm! Like 'Hey Zett! I'm going to your place tonight! Yay!' Something like that!!"
"You could've been more considerate too. You should've asked him if he had plans first, or if he's alright with you dropping by."
"Argh!!"
Zero scratches his head.
"Well the message's been sent! There's no going back now-"
Zero's notification sound dings.
"Oh, he replied back. He says he's gonna send a voice message?"
"Play it, PLAY IT!"
“He hasn't sent it yet, dumbass!!”
After a few more seconds of waiting, another notification sound dings. Zero looks at the screen nervously, pressing play on the voice message.
"Okie, master! Oh, by the way! I'm out right now! On a different planet!"
A brief pause, followed by what sounds like whispering can be heard.
"I'm on another planet! So I might not be around until late at night, if that's okay with you! You can stay in my house for a while, though! Um, if you still have the key to my house that I gave you, that is! If you really wanna stay until I get back, you can sleep in my bed if you don't want to sleep on the couch! Okay, I'll talk to you later, Master!!!"
The voice message ends there. Zero looks at the other two, snickering at him.
"Sounds like he's already out on a date!"
"GLEN!!!"