Chapter Text
Zanka walked into the dining area beside Rudo, who he had just been training with. Their matching footsteps were routine and pleasant, and Zanka had a lightness in his chest that came with the feeling of slight exhaustion after a work out.
Things are good. Well, as they can be, with everything. The raiders are still an active threat, and Zanka is trying to ignore the gripping fear from their latest battle, but when he stands beside his team he is good. Rudo is changing, growing, and Zanka feels less… disgusted at the sight of him. He’s part of the family. When he’s at Cleaner HQ, he’s with his family, and he’s safe.
Rudo begins to pick up speed, smelling something delicious, and Zanka lets the little guy speed off for some calories. Boy, if he’s ever gonna get bigger than pipsqueak size, he’s gonna need it.
Zanka smiles to himself. A calm, relaxed smile. The air is crisp and somehow, within his anxiety, he’s found a calm spot.
Grabbing some snacks, Zanka turns to leave Rudo to gobble what he needs. Zanka, admittedly, hasn’t had a great appetite since recovering. He's trained, surely, just enough to feel good, but he can’t push himself, and it fucking sucks.
Zanka leaves the dining area to go hang out in the living space. He hopes he will see Enjin and drag him into a card game or something, so he can keep his mind sharp.
Walking down the hallway, his collar suddenly crackles with Semiu’s rushed tone.
“All Cleaners who went on the mission to meet the raiders boss, report to Semiu. Now.” Her rushed voice and the mention of that mission immediately sent a shiver down Zanka’s spine. His stomach hurt, and he rushed down to Semiu, as Rudo and Enjin soon joined his side.
The rush of cleaners all entered the room at once, and suddenly, silence hit. Zanka rushed forward to what the group surrounded, only to see a sweating Remlin and strange Semiu.
“Sorry for the rush. Everyone, we have a visitor,” Semiu spoke calmly. The group turned to the door, and Enjin almost rushed to look out, but Semiu held up a hand. “Before we go rushing to meet him, Remlin has something to say to yall.”
Remlin, the cute child, stood mortified. “I… I’m sorry!” Remlin covered their face, paintbrush in hand. “Listen… I…”
Semiu, detecting the confused faces of the group and the lost mind of the child, led Remlin. “Tell them where this all started, with the tattoos, Remlin,” Semiu’s calm voice took on an almost motherly tone when trying to guide Remlin.
“When I… gave you guys the spells,” Remlin hiccuped loudly.
Zanka's stomach twisted. He felt he knew what was going on.
“Well, I, I thought the most serious guy just needed a friend so…” Remlin looked up. “I told you your spell made your arm blow up, but really…” Remlin fell on their butt, and Semiu reached down to pat their head. “I just made you stay with your friend!”
The whole group turned to Zanka, whose face was entirely twisted. So this prankster was not only that, but also a liar. Well, that’s a spellcaster for yeh.
“What do you mean, friend?” Zanka spoke, and the group all nodded. What friend? Amo?
Neither Remlin nor Semiu answered. Instead, Semiu opened the door to HQ.
A loud, boisterous voice broke the silence. “Buddy… Did ya miss me?”
Suddenly in view was the most cheery, evil, sharp smile that Zanka could never have imagined seeing here. In fact, Zanka didn’t want to see him here. And also, he was going to lose his fucking mind. And also, by god, what the actual fuck. Just what the fuck.
The whole group took a mutual breath and readied themselves to fight, as Zanka took an instinctual step back and pulled Lovely Assistaff to his chest.
But before anything happened, from behind Jabber stepped out Arkha.
Enjin raised a brow from beside Zanka, and Rudo couldn’t help speaking out. “What… What's the boss man doing with Jabber?”
Arkha cleared his throat. “Due to the ongoing… situation, Jabber will be staying with us at Cleaner HQ for an indefinite amount of time. I have allowed this based on Semiu’s observations of his intent, and the seal placed upon him by Remlin.”
Seal?
Zanka perked up. “Staying? You mean to say the dude who almost killed me is staying at HQ?” Zanka immediately came on hot. “How could he ever feel entitled to do so, and how could you allow this?” Zanka’s uptight-prude voice became more apparent as he became more indignant.
Semiu opened her mouth to tell Zanka to pipe down, but Arkha held out a cool hand to stop her.
“I understand how you may feel about this. For your comfort and ours, Jabber will be assigned to be watched at all times. But, because this is something unique, we have decided to call a truce in order to understand this matter further.” Arkha gently explained.
Zanka, however, was not feeling any sort of gentle or cool. He violently chewed on the inside of his cheeks as his eyes locked upon one single person; Jabber.
The Raider stood carelessly, hips forward in a relaxed pose, messing with one of his large and well kept locs. He seemed to gain the trust of Semiu and Arkha, but Zanka wouldn’t believe it. When their eyes met, Jabber had a look that screamed trouble, and every ounce of it was locked onto Zanka.
Zanka’s stare seemed to push Jabber into speaking, with his toothy grin opening wide as Zanka stood silent. “Heya, Cleaner boss man, I really appreciate ya talkin’ to my good buddy for me, but I dun really think he’s pickin’ up what you’re puttin’ down, ya feel me?” Jabber’s smile seemed to shine as he stepped into HQ, the border clearly accepting him now.
Zanka was infuriated, but nevertheless, he actually began to listen.
“Listen, from what I’ve heard, my perfect pal Zanka was being reeeaaaal serious to little Spellcaster over here, so he decided my good friend Zanka needed to unite with his pal, Jabber!”
Zanka looked to Enjin, whose mouth was slightly agape in shock.
“What do you mean, unite?”
“Well, I feel like all this goin’ around the point stuff just ain’t doing it, so I’ll tell ya myself. After our little battle, I tried going back with the rest of the team, but I seem ta’ have a nice little leash on me. Well, the leash started dragging me around, and it was really pissing me off. Told the raiders and stuff, and nobody knew what was up, so they just left me behind to deal with it myself. Man, seein’ boss man leave me in the dust is not a great feelin. Safe ta say I was not havin’ a great time, getting pushed around.” Jabber rested his hands on his hips. “So, I started tryna murder like everyyy trash beast in the area. And I like an endless battle, but it was feelin a lil too unendin’. Sah, I’ve been murderin for weeks, an then I’m tryna find people who know what’s up, but they’ve all been like ‘took too many poisons?’ And man, it’s been killing my viiiibe,” Jabber seemed intent when he spoke this. His smile dimmed ever so slightly, and he looked hard at Remlin. “Well, I asked for someone to look on me for some kinda bug or spell or something, and that was it. On my back, I had a big tattoo or something, and I was told it was a spell.”
Jabber now took the time to turn around and pull off his jacket, dropping it to the floor. Indeed, on his back was a large spell, clearly in Remlin’s style.
Zanka was feeling more reasonable, yet still uncomfortable. And the sight of Jabbers… well, nicely made is something to say, back, Zanka’s stomach really twisted.
It wasn’t that Jabber was crazy well built or something, but rather, Zanka did indeed recognize his spell.
He had the same one.
“So, this is why mine never came off,” Zanka closed his eyes, but his eyebrow still twitched. “Alright kid, you outdid yourself with this one.”
Zanka crossed his arms and put on a calm demeanor to dress up the feelings stroked by this whole thing.
Jabber zipped his vest up, and turned back. “Well, a couple visits around town later and I’m here. And I do know what’s keepin’ me around Cleaner HQ,” Jabber lifted a finger. “It’s you, Zanka.”
The uncharacteristically lacking colloquialisms or joking tone told Zanka Jabber actually felt this one.
Zanka glared. “So, ya gonna cut it off my back or something?”
Jabber's serious face broke, and he immediately crumpled over laughing. “Nah, man! Well, I did think about killin ya, but ya ain’t left this damn place in weeks, so I ain’t got much left to do but come here.” A tinge of resent colored his tone, his red eyes looking wild.
Zanka had not noticed, but Dear Santa had run to Remlin to comfort them, and the two now stood together near Jabber.
Jabber jutted a thumb toward him. “Who woulda known this kid woulda been so fun!”
Zanka sighed. “So you’re bound to my location? Well, sucks for you. Can’t you go somewhere else to do whatever it is you do?” He massaged your forehead. “I haven’t forgotten you’ve tried to kill me only, I don’t know, twice now.”
Jabber laughed. “Well buddy, I can go off to do my own thang, but it seems my little leash is getting shorter by the day,” Jabber paced now, his purple tail wagging behind him. “And I think it’s best we figure out how to cut it off before we really become best buddies for life.”
The glowing smile Jabber showed now was one that told Zanka they have to gear up about this one.
Okay fuck. Yeah. He’s got a point.
“Alright,” Zanka sighed, “but I’m not lettin’ ya out of my sight.”
Jabber’s face lit up. “Maaaan, I always knew you was cool!” Jabber’s canines seemed as pointy as ever. “We totally got time ta know eachother!”
Zanka ignored his shit again. “Alright, so, great. I’m stuck with him to babyshit, but what am I gonna do about the spell?”
Semiu then spoke up. “Remlin has an idea, right?” Her guiding tone returned.
Remlin nodded. “Well… ya gotta chill out,” Remlin said sincerely.
Jabber smiled like he had heard this one before, and was amused with it as ever.
Alright, so uh… what does that even mean?
Zanka had no reaction. “Well that’s a great hint.”
Zanka waited for elaboration. It never came.
Semiu spoke up again. “Since Jabber has a past, we weren’t inclined to let him in so easily. But based off of my analysis… honestly, this guy just wants to get back to… his proclivities…” Semiu trailed off, her face a little red.
Alright, we all know you like smut Semiu, please stop making it obvious… Zanka sighed, wishing he could erase when he tried reading her library when he first arrived, looking for something to keep his mind sharp. Rather, he found a lot of erotica… and he wants to forget anything past that.
“It’s not bad to learn about spellcasting, especially since he’s on a leash. We have chosen to collaborate for the reason of mercy, and research. Cleaners, please accept Jabber as our guest,” Arkha held his hand out, and the group, all looking slightly uncomfortable, murmured in support.
Zanka wanted to go to bed and pretend this wasn’t happening. He already felt exhausted.
“Okay well, first things first, in the sight of mercy, make this guy take a shower,” Enjin pinched his nose. “Lord, Jabber, you can’t smell like that if you’re gonna be our buddy.”
Jabber laughed, but Enjin did not.
Jabber did, in fact, stink.