Chapter Text
All Zanka wanted was to go back to HQ and sleep. Instead, he was wandering around the town. Dipping in and out of alleyways, rubbing his eyes, browsing stalls, looking for *something*.
“Found it. This’ll taste great later”
About fifteen minutes of wandering pass and he’s finally worn out enough to walk back to HQ and fall limp on his shitty mattress.
Zanka’s eyes flutter as his mind blinks back and forth between sleep and frustration before he finally slips into sweet dreams.
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He’s fighting. Swinging Lovely Assistaff around, strong arms dragging her down into his opponent. The sound of bones crunching fills his ears. He can’t tell who he’s fighting until he’s pinning the assailant down. The dizzying smoke drowning the other’s face slowly slips away and comes into focus.
Jabber.
Zanka’s vision oh so slowly begins to fade, all he can do is watch as he, detached from his form, leans down towards the boy pinned beneath him, and right before their lips meet…
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Zanka’s eyes flicked open. He felt warm all over, noting his blankets had been kicked to the floor and his pillows were securely tucked between his arms and head. He’d been clutching his pillow so tightly that the smallest of tears had appeared in the fabric
Sweat trails down his neck as he rubs his eyes, sitting up groggily amongst the darkness of his room.
Glancing to his clock, he notices the time.
2:13.
Zanka groaned and rubbed his eyes, practically jumping out of his bed. Instead of picking up the discarded blankets from the floor, he bolts out his door. Assistaff in tow, he storms out of HQ.
“Can’t. Fuckin. Believe. this shit.” He mutters and grumbles under his breath, letting the cold night air coat his skin.
His attire did not work in his favor; a slightly torn, stained shirt, loose fitting leggings, and a cheap pair of sneakers he’d gotten for the specific purpose of not having to lace up his uniform shoes every day.
“Has t’be the poison.. He hit me with sum new.. Had't've been.. There ain’t no way he’d be.. He..”
Zanka took a sip of some strange liquid before sliding down the wall and burying his face in his arms.
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The next morning, Eishia had found Zanka slumped against the entrance of the Cleaner’s HQ.
“Zanka..?”
“Hey. Zanka..?”
Eishia nudged him a bit, shook his shoulders, and eventually plugged his nose till he woke up.
“F- Oh hi Eishia, sorry sorry.”
His head was pounding, it felt like he’d been slammed into multiple brick walls and stomped on.
“Zanka what are you doing out here? Were you sleeping?”
“Gah- no no I'm so sorry. I don’t know-”
Eishia smiled and nodded softly
“You should get inside before Enjin sees you. Don’t want him having any more dirt on you, yeah?”
“Yeah, sorry again Eishia.”
Zanka stood, wobbly, picking Assistaff up off the ground where she had laid next to him the whole night.
Once Zanka had made it back inside, Eishia had noticed something reflecting the morning sun. A light pink label on clear glass. Picking it up to toss out, she noticed the naming of the product.
‘Gin. Valentine’s Special’
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The moment Zanka made it to his room he locked the door, set Lovely down on his table, and collapsed onto his bed once more. He fought sleep, or more like the feeling of nails being hammered into his skull fought his much needed rest.
About twenty-five minutes of tossing and turning passed until he finally gave up and rolled onto the floor. Ah yes, floor time. Surely this would solve all his problems.
Dragging his blankets and pillows closer to him and onto the floor, he scrunched up in the pile of fabrics and eventually fell asleep once more.
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His window was open, a soft breeze flooded his room, there that boy was again. His surroundings were slightly blurry and while they resembled his room it felt wrong. His vanity was nowhere to be seen, instead there was a desk and a wardrobe, and doors that most certainly didn’t belong in his room.
There was a stranger laying in his bed, dark hands dangling off the side of the frame, wicks following suit, and yet the face of the intruder was once more fogged over.
He could feel himself smiling as he looked upon the stranger, felt his heart swell, felt a flush run up his neck and settle sweetly on his cheekbones. His body phased over to the sleeping boy, everything was playing out more like he was watching a movie than doing the actions himself.
Zanka watched as his own body gently lifted the hair from the sleeping man’s face, and once more, right before his lips could come any closer, the face became clear.
Jabber.
And once more, he faded back into the real world before the dream could conclude.
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The PA system blared.
“All Cleaners to the front. Mission assignments”
Off he goes.
Suited up, Zanka traversed the winding maze of halls he called home, and eventually fell into the crowd of cleaners and supporters alike.
“Alright everyone, listen up. We’ve got thirteen new assignments.”
Semiu’s voice faded in and out, or was it Zanka’s consciousness? He couldn’t tell.
Suddenly he felt Riyo nudge him and he could hear clearly his own assignment. He was to go with Riyo and Amo to investigate new trash beast locations.
“There’s rumor of one of our ‘special’ beasts wandering ‘round this city. It’s abandoned so you won’t have to worry about civilians, but be careful.”
Semiu spoke clearly, strong and confident. Each sentence punctuated with a glance to the cleaners in front of her.
“Zanka, y’all aren’t fightin’ this thing, just investigating. Don’t push yourself.”
Zanka shrunk back slightly, upset at the idea of being seen as something small, something that couldn’t handle a fight, but he knew better than to assume that’s what Semiu meant.
“Thank’s Semi!!” Riyo belted before grabbing onto Amo and Zanka and dashing for one of the cars.
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Tomme and Gris were already in a car, waiting for the three Cleaners to get situated before heading out to the site.
It didn’t take long for them to arrive, it was an abandoned sector just outside the main city. All the more reason to not aggravate any trash beasts in the area.
“Everyone out, c’mon. Tomme, follow Amo and Zanka would ya? Me ‘n Riyo can scout ‘round the bend while y’all check the other side.”
Tomme nodded and threw a thumbs up before heading towards the two aforementioned Cleaners.
“S’good t’me.” Zanka shrugged his shoulders and started walking towards his goal.
“Nice try.”
He felt his blood chill. Firm hands grasped his shoulders as Jabber swooped towards him.
He was yanked into a building and the moment he crashed against the wall, all he could hear was Amo screaming to the others.
“RAIDERSSS”
Her voice carried through the crumbling city but by the time anyone could act, Jabber and Zanka were already underground.
Zanka felt his elbow slam against something sharp as he crashed to the floor. Jabber grinned, wide and toothy, as he charged for Zanka again.
“ZANKAAAAA!! I’VE MISSED YA MAN!”
He screamed as he barreled towards the Cleaner. Claws extended, legs twisting to allow for greater agility
Zanka dodged, as expected of him, but Jabber still slammed into the wall shoulder first, crushing the socket flat against the unforgiving material.
“The hell’s your problem?!?!? Do you just enjoy fuckin with me?!”
He growled as he swung Lovely Assistaff down and sideways, crushing it into Jabber’s half-dislocated shoulder, landing a blow that made him yelp and drool.
“Yeah- hit me again Za-”
“SHUT. THE FUCK. UP.” was all Zanka could say before flipping Lovely and jabbing the hilt into Jabber’s stomach.
Jabber practically flew away with the force generated by Zanka’s jinki.
He crashed into a wall hard enough to shatter the cinder block wall behind him.
Zanka jumped at him, swinging Lovely around and perfectly trapping Jabber’s neck between the prongs.
“What the fuck did you do to me Jabber?! Fucking fix it! I’ve had enough of your shit!”
Jabber coughed, blood and saliva dripping down his chin as he grinned, confused as to what Zanka could mean.
“Huh? Hell you yappin’ ‘bout man?
“The poison jackass! The shit you used on me in the trash beast! I know your slow ass did that just to piss me off!”
Okay, now Jabber was REALLY confused.
“Again. The fuck are ya talkin’ ‘bout? That was a whole month ago. Shit’s done worn off by now.”
Jabber spit a bit of blood at Zanka, hoping to rile him up a bit more.
“Bullshit! You made some fancy ass love potion didn’t you! Fuckin reverse it now or i’m slicin’ your hands off!”
“...”
Jabber sucked his teeth, trying not to laugh as realization struck him.
“Dude, Zanka, again, the poison would have worn off by now.”
He spoke softly, mockingly so. His eyes thinned into slits as he fought laughter.
Zanka ripped Assistaff out of the wall and slowly backed away from the blooded boy on the floor.
“You’re joking. Right?”
Zanka’s voice trembled as a nervous smile spread across his face, eyes blown wide but pupils still shrunk impossibly small.
Jabber couldn’t help it anymore, laughter slipped from his throat.
“All that-” He tried catching his breath between words and wheezes
“BECAUSE ZANKA’S GOT A LIL CRUUUUUSH?”
“THERE’S NO WAY MAN! YOU ARE SO FUCKIN’ FUNNY!”
Zanka charged at Jabber, aiming for his legs, but Jabber was quick, too quick, and it was over before Zanka could register where Jabber had even gone.
Poisoned. Again.
Jabber crouched down to where Zanka had collapsed and whispered, almost reassuringly.
“S’alright man, ain’t no shame. Happens to the best of us right?”
And the worst part? Zanka would have believed it had he not known better.
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It took hours to wake up this time, and when he finally opened his eyes, he was in the infirmary.
Fluorescent lights flooded his vision. Everything hurt. His back stung the worst of all.
Memories flooded back, but all he could think about was the feeling of claws in his back. It was painful, harsh, it would most likely scar, making it memorable, but most importantly, it felt addictive.
Zanka’s mind flooded with that man’s face. His smile, each tooth, the way his eyes thinned when he laughed, when he grinned. The way his shoulders fell limp when he took a deep breath, how he planted his feet before striking.
It was ridiculous. His heart beat so fast it set off one of the machines connected to him, causing Eishia to rush in, finding a rather flush-faced Zanka.
Eishia giggled and handed Zanka a small package
“A lady dropped by, said this was for you.”
The box was held together with a dull purple fabric of all things, tied together at the top with a bow.
“Thanks, Eishia.”
“‘Course Zanka. Shout if ya’ need anythin’!”
With that, the kindest doctor on the ground left his room.
The box wasn’t hard to open, it didn’t smell strange, didn’t seem to have any traps, so he slipped the ribbon off and almost tore the box open.
Inside was a vial, bright pink. A piece of masking tape was stuck on the glass.
‘Jabber’
He picked up the vial, examined it, read the labeling, and exhaled shakily. This was from Jabber of all people. Was it a trick? A gift? Maybe a ‘sorry’ for the atrocious embarrassment Zanka had subjected the both of them to.
Whatever. It didn’t matter.
It didn’t matter so much in fact, that Zanka tied the fabric that held the box closed to his neck and slipped the vial into his pocket.
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It wasn’t long before Zanka was back on his feet, walking around HQ. So far not one person had mentioned the strange new fabric around his neck, maybe they simply didn’t care.
Jinxed it.
Eishia was the first to mention it right after Zanka had thought about it. She didn’t question it, simply complemented the new accessory and moved on.
But Riyo? Enjin? Mother fuckin’ Rudo? Good lord they would not let up.
Zanka had had the foresight to hide the suspiciously pink vial in a fancy box in his room. Said box used to hold a necklace of his mother’s long ago, but now, with soft velvet fabric and cushions, held the most valuable thing Zanka owned. A vial of Jabber’s poison.
Rudo was the second person to ask about his new “necklace”. Zanka brushed him off with an arguably horrible excuse about feeling like he needed something new.
Then Enjin asked, and Zanka struggled to lie to him. How couldn’t he? Enjin was the man that saved him back when his life had done everything short of ending. He couldn’t answer Enjin, just clammed up and stared blankly at Enjin till he got bored of waiting for an answer.
Riyo wasn’t dumb, she recognized where the fabric was from. She had the mind to question and tease slightly but beyond that she knew she wouldn’t get a true answer.
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A few missions later and Zanka hadn’t heard anything from or about Jabber. Nothing. Nada. Zip. And it was really starting to piss him off.
“I mean- what could he possibly be doing anyway? He just has Cthoni drop me a vial of poison and he dips off the face of the ground?”
Zanka had taken to talking Riyo’s ear off all week. Poor red headed girl.
“Zan. Chill the hell out. You and your weird situationship with a RAIDER. Will probs resolve itself soon. Wait for the poor purple freak to get his head a bit more on before ya go freakin out about him skippin town for a bit.”
Riyo leaned back and continued to apply the soft green polish to her nails.
“Paint your damn nails Zan, you’re gonna dry out the whole bottle.”
“Shit- sorr- RIYO. SERIOUSLY? MAGENTA?”
Riyo giggled and twisted the cap back onto her nail polish.
“Paint the damn things! Show some dedication to your enemy lover!”
“You seriously do not need to keep saying that. He’s not my lover, nor my partner. He’s… I’m not even into guys-”
Riyo looked to her left, then her right, before looking Zanka dead in the eyes. Green piercing his very soul.
“Out my face with your bullshit. We both know you’re not into chicks.”
Zanka’s face lit up, scrambling to screw the cap back on the nail polish bottle and make a quick escape to his room.
“At-at. You’re not running before you finish your nails. I’m not letting my brother run around lookin’ dumb. Sit your ass down.”
Riyo grabbed the boy’s arm and drug him back to the floor, yanking his unpainted hand into hers and finishing the sloppy paint job.
“Off you go closet critter”
Riyo smiled as Zanka dashed out of her room.
“God he’s so fuckin’ gay.
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Zanka slammed his door behind him, quickly locking it and positioning Lovely Assistaff so that she could hold the door handle in place.
“Fuck you, Jabber. Damn you for this mess.”
He spent a moment looking for the Gin he’d snuck away with a few days ago but found he no longer had it in his room.
“If it weren’t for you I’d be going about my life, hunting to kill you.”
Zanka opened the box he’d hidden away. The pink liquid swished around in the vial and the shitty tape with Jabber’s name scratched against his fingers.
“Eh, It probably won’t kill me.”
Zanka popped the top off the vial and just as he was going to down it, a particularly familiar shape blocked the setting sun from reaching through his window.
“It will most certainly kill you if you down the whole thing.”
“F- JABBER?”
“Shhhhhh- You’re gonna scare your Cleaner freaks if you scream any louder!”
Jabber yanked the vile from Zanka’s hand and popped the cork back into place.
“Figured your dumbass wouldn’t try somethin’ this dumb. What, d’ya miss me?”
A shit-eating grin spread across Jabber’s face with a slight tilt to his head.
“Is that the ribbon I used to tie your gift up?”
Zanka reached for the vial, but Jabber wasn’t having it.
“Oh hell no! Your ass gonna try drinkin’ it again!”
“Like hell I would! I’m not that dumb!”
“Sure were actin’ it. DUMBASS!”
Jabber pushed Zanka’s head to the floor and leapt over him, attempting to disorient him, but Zanka was quick, almost too quick. (haha)
Zanka grabbed on Jabber’s hood, dragging him to the floor as he himself collapsed.
Jabber pinned him down, still holding the vial just out of reach.
“Saw your little stunt with that pink ass Gin, you looked like an idiot sleeping on the Cleaner’s porch y’know.”
Jabber sat back a bit, straddling the boy beneath him and pulling a glass bottle and a joint from the bag on his hip.
Zanka tried to sit up a bit but Jabber pressed a firm hand to his chest, pushing him back down.
“Gah- can’t ya let me up ya asshat?”
“Caaaaaan’t. Sorry Mr. Bad Attitude. You like that Gin a bit more than you like me. So sad.”
Jabber feigned a pout before grinning wide. He dug back into his back before lighting up his joint. He took a long drag before leaning down, and blowing the smoke into Zanka’s face. Zanka coughed and swatted the smoke from his face. Thank god his window was…. open. Like in his dream.. Coincidence. Surely it was a coincidence.
“C’mon Zaaaaan. You’re so quiet now”
“Well it wouldn’t exactly be favorable if anyone found out you were here.”
“Yeah, fair point. You want this Gin or not, pretty boy?”
“Fuck m-”
“Pfff- when?”
“Not like that-!”
Zanka covered his face and groaned.
“Let me up already-”
Jabber tilted his head again, sneered, and slipped up off Zanka, flopping down on Zanka’s bed, wicks cascading over his face and off the edge of the bed.
He was so… *pretty*… like this.
“You’re staring, Zan-Zan”
“Fuck you, where’s the Gin.”
Jabber rolled the bottle towards him, taking another puff of his Mary and letting it float above him.
“Did I get the right shit, darling dearest Zan-Zan?”
“Don’t fuckin call me that- and yes-FUCK YOU-yes its the right kind..”
Zanka sighed and twisted the cap off.
“Sip it would ya, I don’t wanna deal with your drunk ass-”
“You haven’t even met me drunk!”
“Yeah and I really don’t want to, so sip it or I'm knocking you out.”
“Yeah-Yeah whatever.”
“You want a hit of this or am I just gonna smoke it all on my lonesome?”
“You know I don’t smoke”
Zanka took a nice, refreshing swig of his brand new Gin in defiance.
“C’mon, don’t even wanna try?”
“Don’t know how dickhead-”
Jabber rolled off the bed and snaked his way towards Zanka, climbing back up into his lap again.
“Wanna learn?”