*Gadget POV 3rd person 

Two days… after Gadget yelled like no tomorrow at Zero, he hadn’t been back since. It was now two days later. He admit he was mad and had every reason to be, but was this necessary? Sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee that chilled long ago, these past couple of days have really given him a lot of time to think of things.

Maybe something’s wrong. Like, Zero was never the type to force something like that. He could be pushy from time to time if he wanted something, but back in the orphanage, if Gadget expressed he didn’t want to do something, the jackal usually never pushed it. To be honest, Zero’s pretty different after all these years. Granted, it’s been about ten years before finding each other in this war, and they were kids back then, but still. Something’s off.

As if to answer his concerned thoughts, the front door flew open; making the unsuspecting wolf jump in his seat from surprise. There stood Zero at the door, panting as if he’d just run a marathon. Gadget couldn’t put his finger on it, but as Zero stood straight, and stared at him as if he’d just seen a ghost, he seemed, different… It reminded him of the look Zero gave him in his dream when they found each other in West Sea Town.

“G-Gadget?”

Yeah...something’s definitely up. His face, his tone, even his posture; everything screamed different. What happened? No time to think further was given as Zero desperately ran up to the wolf before falling to his knees and clinging to him.

“You’re safe.”

What??

“Thank goodness.”

“...What’s going on Zero?”

Backing away a bit, the jackal saw a puzzled expression along a bit of, fear?, in those amber eyes. That didn’t settle well in the pit of his stomach, but for now, he released Gadget from his embrace before sitting across from him at the table.

“Um, to be honest, I have no idea.”

“What?”

“I woke up in a break room and it took me a few minutes to realize where I was,” Zero stood from his seat as he started to pace back and forth on his side of the dining area while Gadget just had no idea what to say. “I’m in Eggman’s base, well, one of them. And you’re here, alive… Why am I still here? I thought I quit.”

“What?!”

The two looked at one another, shock on both faces but for different reasons. Wait, when Zero first saw Gadget just now, it was similar to his dream. Infinite didn’t have that reaction in Metropolis. Zero now acted as if he hadn’t seen Gadget for years...for several years.

“What’s the last thing you remember?”

“Um,” the jackal sat again, mind whirling in thought, “I have what I think are snippets of the last few days, like I vaguely recall finding you, but the last day I really remember, was the day I lost my squad. We’d decided to work for the Doctor after he offered us jobs because we’d been having a hard time finding good work lately. I hadn’t expected to lose them though. Wait, do you know about my squad?”

“Yes, you’ve mentioned them before. Keep going.”

?

“Well, on that day after losing them, I quit.”

“What happened exactly?” Gadget pressed, putting together some pieces in his mind.

“I told Eggman I was leaving. There was no point in sticking around as I lost those closest to me. He was pretty pissed off. Kept trying to get me to start a war with him or some bullshit.”

“You mean, you never wanted to be in the war?”

The jackal’s gaze became unsettled after the wolf asked that question. “Of course not! I may not like people necessarily, but I have no reason to slaughter Mobians that I’ve never even met before or have nothing to do with… You make it sound like there’s a war.”

Oh no. 

“That’s because there is a war. And you work for Eggman. You both have nearly taken over the world.”

Jumping from his seat, Gadget saw horror and disbelief filter on his muzzle. It was coming together. Zero… As time went on, he thought it was strange how Zero had became more and more aggressive, odd mood swings, and just crazy; to the point of raping him. The Infinite now was nothing like the Zero of then. Of course things change and people become different over time, but, it never felt right.

“Shit, how did this happen?” Zero mumbled as he paced again, “I remember specifically saying I was quitting, but did I leave? I don’t know. I must not have if I’m still here, but why? What happened?”

He eyes glanced down and seemed to catch something that he hadn’t before.

“What the…?”

Fingers touched the gem on his chest, which Gadget just then noticed was not glowing nearly as much as before. In fact, it hardly shed any light at all. A hard glare formed on Zero’s muzzle before trying to pull at the Phantom Ruby, as if trying to remove it, but failed.

“That fucking bastard!” Gadget flinched in his seat from the outburst, “I told him no! I didn’t want the Phantom Ruby, or to use it, or have any part of this! That son of a bitch!”

The Ruby?...

“Um,” that seemed to stop the shouting as Zero looked at a shocked Gadget, “I think the Doctor did something to you. Maybe with the Phantom Ruby’s help? I’m not sure. The war, has been going on for six months.”

“Six months?!”

Nodding, Gadget continued, “And you’ve been very active in the war, and willing. Trust me… I tried to talk you out of it multiple times.”

Sitting again, Zero put his head in his hands. “Shit. I’m so sorry Gadget. I never wanted to start this war. What the hell did he do to me?... And, I’m sorry if I did anything to you Gadget.”

“...What?”

“I can’t remember everything, but, I have this feeling I did something really really bad to you,” heterochromia eyes looked up to stare at the wolf, “I’m so sorry.”

Tears swelled up in those amber orbs before running down his cheeks, causing Zero to be surprised. Hastily, he got up and sprinted towards the wolf as he then wiped away his tears.

“Gadget? What’s wrong?!”

*sobs*

“I was on the opposite side, opposing Eggman. We were enemies! You kidnapped me once, but I escaped, before getting kidnapped again. We fought, we argued, we struggled… you tried to rape me several days back, but then actually did two days ago…”

Legs losing all energy from that confession, Zero landed on the floor as he sat in horror from learning of his actions. He..to Gadget? Why would he do such a thing?

“Gadget...I-I’m sorry. I don’t remember. It doesn’t make it right, or better. I don’t know why I did that. I’d never do that to you.”

“I know.”

“Huh?”

Clearly his throat, Gadget explained, “I think the Doctor did something to make you willingly fight for him. Maybe, since the Phantom Ruby chooses its host, and it never chose Eggman, I’m guessing he did something to not only make you listen to his every command, but also more aggressive.

“I thought a lot about this, and while there were times the two of us randomly kissed or did romantic stuff to the other without asking when we were younger, we were always on the same page, and if I ever said no or I wasn’t ready, you’d immediately stop and never pushed it. That was a big indication for me.”

“But, but I still…”

“It’s not your fault,” the wolf stated calmly, “When Eggman did whatever he did to make you join him, it must have messed with other parts of your brain, or altered your personality or attitude somehow, causing you to be more aggressive and dominant, and to do things you never would have normally done.”

“But what if I hurt you again?!”

Determined, the Resistance member replied, “Then we just have to make sure that doesn’t happen. Do you recall anything that’s happened the last two days while you were out?”

“I, um… I think I was talking with someone in the break room before falling asleep, but I can’t remember who.”

“Hm…” Gadget hummed, “I’m not sure if we’ll find out anything by just staying here. We’ll probably need to hack Eggman’s database to find more.”

“Guh!” Zero grunted as he held his head.

“Zero!” Sitting on the floor alongside the jackal, he worriedly inquired, “What’s wrong?!”

“M-my head… It feels like...it’s splitting.”

Suddenly swaying, he landed against the unsuspecting wolf. Surprise filtered on his muzzle, but not for long as he checked the other’s forehead. He was extremely hot.

“Do you have a fever? Hold on. There’s a bedroom on this floor I’ll take you to.”

“N-no…”

“Huh?”

“I have to get you out of here. It’s not safe. Eggman’s fucking insane. You’re not safe here Gadget. I don’t want him to hurt you.”

Gaze softened as Gadget stroked his cheek, “You don’t need to do everything. We’ll get out of here, together.”

“Gadget…”

“Let me get you to that room to rest for now. You can’t do much like this.”

Putting one of the jackal’s arms around his shoulders, they both stood before Gadget led them down the nearby hallway and to the open door to the spare bedroom. Entering, he quickly laid the other down as Zero roughly panted and still held his head in one hand.

“I’ll get you a cold washcloth for your face.”

His hand was gently held, “G-Gadget.”

“Zero?”

“I’m alright. Don’t go. What if something happens and I’m not there?”

Zero… This was more of the Zero he remembered. Worrying over him and caring for him. Despite feeling terrible, he still was so concerned over Gadget’s safety. Leaning down, he placed a light kiss on his forehead; making the jackal’s muzzle light up.

“I’ll be careful. The bathroom is right across the way, so I’ll be quick… Love you.”

“I love you too Gadget. So much.”

His eyes closed as sleep seemed to take over and Gadget took that opportunity to grab a wet washcloth while thoughts swarmed with what just happened and how best to kick Eggman’s ass because of it.