Chapter Text
The clash of metal on metal rang out in their ears. Jabber and Zanka almost immediately fell back into the familiar rhythm of their fights. Clash after clash exchanged but no hits were being made because of how well they knew the other and their movements. They blended together so perfectly as if they were made for each other.
It was a dance of passion that would’ve been easily visible to any onlookers. Zanka should’ve been worried that the other cleaners would notice the familiarity in which they moved together, but Zanka drowned out the world around him in favor of the man he’s currently fighting.
Jabber missed a swipe at the side of Zanka's face but came back with a strong backhand that made Zanka stumble and his head bleed from the impact. “Yo Mr Bad attitude! You can do better than this.”
Jabber’s snarky comments made its usual way back into their fights except, his words a little more hesitant. It feels to Zanka as if Jabber’s trying to make things go back to the way things were. But Zanka refuses to let that happen. He's finally got Jabber in his grasp and he refuses to lose him again.
“Jabber. Why’d you run away from me?” A twitch of his brow is the only thing that shows how he's affected by that question.
“What? I had to do my job and get you here!”
“Im not talking about today, you know that Jabber.” A huff escaped his lips that seemed similar to laugh, but sounded nowhere near humorous.
“You don't know what I think, but let me humor you this one time. You're just like everyone else and I could never be with you.”
The comment stung a place in his chest in a way no other has. But, no matter what, he can't bring himself to believe him. Maybe it was the hesitation before each line left his lips, or the new eyebags forming on his face.
The clashes of their vital instruments rang through the cave, the echoes and vibrations bouncing off the walls that caused little pebbles to fall. The ceiling started chipping slightly because of all the people fighting inside.
A particular hard hit from Lovely Assifstaff sent Jabber tumbling a few feet away, but instead of his usual lewd comments, he immediately sprung back up and launched back into the fight.
“Jabber! Can we just talk it out?” His comment was promptly ignored, the slashes of Mankira being his only answer.
Zanka then realised that nothing he currently said would reach Jabber until he got him under control, and that meant beating him.
Jabber's moves somehow became more wild and erratic, but thanks to how often they met up Zanka could hold his ground.
Lovey Assistaff spun around deflecting most of Mankira's hits, only a few scratches made their way through to tear at his clothes.
A frustrated growl made its way through Jabber's throat. Why won’t this guy just die already!
His frustration slowly made his fighting more sloppy. Jabber pulled his arm and swung in a wide arch that left an opening. Zanka's foot met Jabber's stomach in a kick that pushed the air out of his lungs.
Zanka immediately ran over to pin him down, but Jabber pounced and slashed his leg with Mankira, injecting him with poison. They immediately looked at each other in mutual understanding. They only had a few minutes left.
It’s quite funny, this is pretty similar to their first meeting. Their moves became more frantic in their rush to bring the other down first. Zanka's fighting form stayed more refined but became less thought out and more instinctual. Jabber has now visibly become more sloppy because of the frustration and emotions building up in him.
“Fuck! Why won’t you just go down?!” He’s never heard jabber so aggravated and it was a bit satisfying knowing he was the cause, but he can’t think about that now.
They could only see each other. Not Enjin defeating the trash beast then helping Rudo fight Zoldy, not Gris helping Riyo fight her raider, and not Follo writing notes to give to Tommoe later(bum). The two of them only had one thought in their heads.
Bring him down.
Zanka’s swings began lacking strength because of the poison pumping through him. But thanks to the amount of times he’s been poisoned by Jabber, he’s built up a bit of a tolerance.
He feels a buzz through his whole body and his mouth feels extremely dry. Zanka felt his frustration build with every swing. “Alright. I’ve had enough of this.”
Zanka brought his fist up and smashed it right into Jabber's nose. A wet, sickening crunch echoed as he felt the bone fold beneath his hand. When he stumbled back Zanka pounced to tackle him to the ground.
He grabbed Jabber’s arms and pinned them above his head using Lovely Assistaff. He sat straddling him and stared at him from above. Zanka slowly leaned over to bring their faces closer.
All the rage building up in Jabber suddenly dissipated as he stared at his beautiful cerulean eyes and the feeling of their mingled breaths.
“Jabber..We can make it work. I know we can.”
And the anger immediately came back at full force. “No we can’t! Get off of me!” He began flailing around wildly and bucking his hips to try get Zanka off of him, but he wasn’t budging. Zanka's blood dripped onto Jabber's face, their blood mixing and streaking the side of his face.
Jabber's arms being held down by Lovely, his legs held by Zanka and he felt he was drowning in his feelings…it was too much! His face has a scowl plastered on it that Zanka loved for some reason. It must be those “sadistic tendencies” Jabbers always prattling on about.
Zanka leaned down and kissed his cheek softly before biting harshly. A slight whimper left Jabber's lips without his permission. The look of shock on his face almost made Zanka cackle, but he had to hold it in for now.
“You’re scared, aren’t you? You're scared of people being soft with you, and you think I'm doing that. But I can do both, Jabber. Just look at yourself right now.”
It all came out in a fast rush of air. Jabber laid there with his mouth opening and closing with nothing to say. Kind of like a fish. Before he could get his words out, Zanka kept going.
“I know you like me too. You can’t tell me I don't make your heart race or make you lose sleep.” Zanka’s constant overwhelming insecurity in his daily life also extends to his relationship with Jabber. So he does not believe Jabber feels the EXACT same way about him, but he hopes there's at least something.
But, completely unbeknown to Zanka, his words hit the mark perfectly. Jabber has been losing sleep and his heart races a dangerous amount around the blond man straddling him.
Maybe, just maybe, he could allow himself to stay with him and feel what gentle affection is….
“Jabber.” Zoyld’s commanding tone rang towards him, waking him out of his thoughts. Because that's all this'll be, a dream. He used all his strength to rip his arms free, sending Lovely flying. Mankira slashes towards him but Zanka jumps back in time for her to hit the ground.
The impact of his sends a rumble to the already fragile walls of the cave. A large boulder falls from the roof and heads right where Zanka is standing. Without thinking, Jabber jumps to tackle him out the wall. They both tumble away, as Jabber lands on top and a thud from below him. The boulder crushes the ground a few feet away with a puff of dust around it in a ring.
Why did he do that? Zanka's practically limp now from the poison, so he couldn't be able to move fast enough anyways. That's what he tells himself. He feels something wet touch his hand, but he chooses to ignore it.
“Woah! That was close. Wouldn't want you dying on me right…” There's blood everywhere. Why is there blood? Its pouring from Zanka’s head. It's on Jabber. He can't breathe. No, no, no, no. But… how?
Zanka's head lays on a small but firm rock. “Fuck he mustve hit his head. And he was already affected by the poison so he couldn't move when I jumped on him.”
He can faintly register the chaos in the background and the Raiders yelling “we gotta go!” but it doesn't matter, because Zanka's going cold and his lips are turning blue.
He's gonna die. He killed Zanka. His Zanka is never coming back.
Someone's arms pulled him up and slung him over their shoulder. He assumes it's Cthoni from the blue hair, but he's getting farther away and he can't do anything but stare at his bleeding body.
The other cleaners gather around his body, the Spherite kid having large tears in his eyes. The cave is falling apart and rocks are dropping everywhere.
No no! I need to go back to him! “We have to leave, Jabber.” oh, he must've said it out loud.
All he could do now is watch his limp body and Zanka's blue tassel earrings get stained red. He was planning to steal those someday.
The person holding him jumps into a portal that drops them to the Raiders' den and drops him onto the floor. All the Raiders immediately disperse, most of them heading to the First Aid Room for their injuries. He sits on the floor cradling himself. He'll never see Zanka's smug smile after he wins a fight. He’ll never ragebait him to see his beautiful face when he's mad. He'll never feel those soft lips on him again.
He feels sick. He just hurts everyone and anyone that tries to get close to him. But.. he thought this time it might be different. Die die die DIE! He doesn't deserve to live, someone like him.
His nails rapidly scratch at his arms so hard that blood begins to bead. Someone walks towards him and stops to stand in front. He doesn't even bother trying to identify who. And he's too suffocated by grief to even care when he hears the words that use to make his blood run cold.
“Zoydl wants you in his office. Now.”