Work Text:
Jabber was sent to August’s room. He once again ripped his outfit a bit during a mission. At least it was a real interesting trash beast. It had claws just like Mankira’s.
That’s probably why Jabber couldn’t contain his excitement and went all in.
He found himself outside August‘s door. A sign said he was busy but he always had some extra time to spare when it came to fixing up some stuff.
In addition, Jabber wasn’t really intimidated by the sign. He got along pretty well with August. After he had joined the cleaners, most of them were wary of him and didn’t dare to get close. August, however, came up to Jabber to get the latter‘s measurements.
They hit it off right away; they seemed to be on the same wavelength. Both had loud voices and even louder laughs. In conclusion, they were a duo that could be heard all over the cleaner HQ.
Jabber didn’t even knock. He just pushed the door open with too much force. Though his dramatic entrance wasn’t even noticed by August. The latter had some headphones on and was sitting like a shrimp in his chair. Occasionally bopping his head along to the music, which could also be heard when you just stood near him. He will have hearing problems soon if he continues this.
Jabber slowly walked up to the guy on the spinny chair to get a glance at the sketches on it. August never showed them his sketchbook, so it was the perfect chance for Jabber to look at the super secret files.
„Yo, that’s sick!“ Jabber thought out loud without thinking about it.
August flinched a bit and then quickly shut the sketchbook. Much to Jabber’s dismay.
„DUDE, DON‘T SNEAK UP ON ME!“ August particularly yelled. He must have not heard the volume of his voice because of the headphones he still had on.
Jabber quickly handed August over his jacket that got ripped.
„Again?!“ August looked as if he were about to complain, but then he just got his needle and thread and started working.
Jabber disturbed him again after a few minutes of silently watching August. „You gonna make the sketch into reality?“ He asked.
„Hmm, probably not . I’m not one hundred percent happy with it yet. I’m all out of ideas, it seems…“
„Oh! You know what I do when I’m out of ideas?“ Jabber waited a few seconds for August to answer, but none came.
„Toxins! And then I get like a million ideas at once!“ Jabber answered his own question.
August just stared at him wide-eyed. „So that’s where you get your ideas for new poison mixtures?“
„Yee! Wanna try?“
„Hmm, I don’t know, Jabber…“ August hesitated.
„Just a lil dose, nothin‘ crazy.“ Jabber reassured him.
„You know what? LET‘S DO IT!“ He caved in. Maybe even looking forward to it, based on how quickly he changed his mind. August did trust Jabber since the guy was a pro at this just like he was a pro at creating fits.
„YEAHHH THAT‘S THE SPIRIT!“
Jabber had pricked August with Mankira first. Just a tame thing he had mixed a while ago. Then he also pricked himself with something a little stronger. It had been some time since he did this just for fun in his free time. The cleaners weren’t too keen on finding him tweaking on the floor of his room. So he just did it sometimes when he had to test out something new and knew no one would disturb him any time soon. Which wasn’t often…
At first August didn’t feel anything. Though after a few minutes it really hit him. He was splayed out on the fluffy carpet he had in his room. Jabber had joined him quickly after.
„Any ideas yet? It’s for the upcoming doll fest, right?“ Jabber asked.
„Nothin‘ yet. And yeah, everyone needs some costumes.“
A few more minuets later, August sat up so fast he almost fell back down caused by his spinning head.
„Woah, woah, chill, dude.“ Jabber tried to calm him down while steadying him.
„Gimme my sketchbook!“
Jabber quickly got what the other guy demanded. August snatched it out of his hands so fast and then opened it to the next free page before scribbling down line after line.
Jabber looked at how the sketch slowly, or well, rather fast, was coming together.
After finishing one, he flipped the page and started on the next thing. It started to resemble a scorpion.
„Is this mine?“ Jabber asked. He really liked the sketch and couldn’t even imagine how good it would look in the end stage.
„Yeah! Now I only need one for Zanka hmmm…“ August hesitated. Eyes closed, clearly searching for something fitting, flying through his head.
„That could work.“ He had mumbled to himself before his rapid movements across the page continued.
„Ya know, I was wonderin‘…could ya maybe do a bit less fabric and a bit more exposed skin?“ Jabber butted in after a while of watching another sketch come together.
August was just staring at him for a while. Gears turning in his head.
„Totally, bro. I gotcha!“ He gave Jabber a thumbs up before continuing the sketch.
Zanka was at least wearing three layers of clothes all the time. Jabber really, really hoped to see him in some casual clothes once he had joined the cleaners. Just to get disappointed over and over again.
Zanka didn’t even wear anything remotely casual. Even to sleep he had a proper pajama set that was more layers than anyone could ever need. Even when the other boy said he ran cold, no one could be that cold under two blankets, and sometimes Jabber on top, and he probably equaled another 2 blankets!
So to say the least, Jabber really wanted to see Zanka in something a bit more revealing. And now with this chance coming to him on a golden plate, he just couldn’t miss it.
He had coaxed their designer to give him what he so desperately craved.
„Awesome, dude! Knew I could count on ya.“
Jabber had been even more fidgety the past few days. Zanka really didn’t know why. Maybe it was the lack of toxins kicking in. That was his only plausible explanation.
Jabber had a hard time adjusting to the cleaners rules which weren’t a lot but they did contain the “no testing toxins on yourself“, which was only added for Jabber specifically. Zanka had gifted him a fidget toy at one point, which seemed to help a lot.
What he didn’t expect was Jabber’s fidgeting to be caused by the upcoming doll festival. He had overheard a conversation between Riyo and Jabber about it. Riyo had seemed to have a blast at whatever Jabber was telling her about. Zanka couldn’t hear it though, because both of them changed the topic as soon as he came close enough to hear the details of their heated conversation.
On the day of the doll festival Zanka was waiting outside of August’s room to get his costumes. Normally he would have called him in a few days prior to make last changes. However, this year Zanka wasn’t called. Maybe August had just a lot to do?
It was really weird thinking a bit more about it though. Other people had their costumes on already for said last changes. Zanka knew because it was the topic of the week. Everyone was excited to see what August had cooked up. Even Jabber had a fitting.
Said guy was just exiting August‘s room in the most incredible fit ever. Zanka’s mouth was hanging open, taking in the sight.
Jabber had a costume that resembled a purple scorpion. His usual sash was formed into the shape of the scorpion’s tail. The rest of the costume wasn’t at all anything remotely like what Jabber had on normally for work. It was a lot more fitted, showing off all his good sides.
„Yo Zan-Zan. Like what ya see?“ Jabber mocked while posing ridiculously in front of Zanka to really show off.
Zanka just huffed and pushed past Jabber, entering August’s room.
Upon entering, the guy was all over him right away, pulling his jacket off and then shoving some part of the costume in Zanka’s hands. It all happened so fast that Zanka couldn’t even react before he got pushed into the little changing room.
Zanka was so flabbergasted that he just changed into whatever August had given him without thinking much about it.
Then he exited the little room to be met with an excited August who was looking Zanka up and down, seemingly happy with what he had made.
Only then did Zanka register his reflection in the mirror.
„You’ve got to be kidding me…“
He ha on a fitted shirt in some shimmering blue tone that seemed a little too see through for comfort. Luckily August did incorporate another shirt that covered the shimmering one up a bit, though it was cropped so Zanka still felt pretty exposed. What was even worse were the hip windows showing his skin.
Zanka wanted to argue about it with August, but the guy was already gathering some other costume, presumably for the next person. Zanka didn’t want to risk August blowing up. He knew how stressed the designer was during festival season.
Though exiting the room was a mental challenge. Zanka just knew Jabber would still be waiting outside, not wanting to waste the opportunity to see Zanka’s humiliation in a first-row seat.
Well, he couldn’t change it. Jabber would see him in this outfit sooner or later anyway since they had planned a doll fest “date,“ if you could call it that. Maybe it was best to get it over with while they were alone and not in front of the whole team.
Zanka opened the door a crack to check if Jabber even was there or if he was just paranoid all along. Much to his dismay, Jabber was leaning against the wall and immediately turned his head to the creaking door.
Zanka stepped out into the hallway. Jabber was just staring at him. So that’s how Jabber had felt before… Zanka thought to himself.
„Liking what you see?“ Zanka mocked in the same way Jabber had before. Though, it didn’t sound as confident coming from Zanka. He did feel a bit nervous in the costume.
„Yeah, I very much do, Zan-Zan.“ Jabber answered truthfully. Zanka hadn’t expected that honesty from him. Maybe he should have…
„Man, I’m glad I asked August!“ Jabber spoke without thinking.
„This.“ Zanka moved his hands around in front of his outfit.
„Is your doin‘?“
„Yeah!“ Jabber answered proudly, smiling at Zanka while his eyes were still skimming over the details of said outfit.
Before Zanka could say anything about it Riyo came around the corner.
„Enjin told me to tell you guys to meet up at the car soon- Yo, lookin‘ good, Zanka!“ She yelled over to them.
Once they all gathered at their car, Zanka was bombarded by compliments. Which he could only give back to the others. August really outdid himself this year.
A bit at the side were Enjin and Riyo observing.
„Enjin, are you sure we can let him out like that?“ Riyo whispered into Enjin‘s ear.
„I’m not sure…we gotta look out for him. Though, I’m sure Jabber will do that.“ Enjin said while pointing over to the two boys. Jabber was practically hovering around Zanka, not letting anyone close. Maybe he regretted his decisions by now…