Chapter Text
Jabber was known for being a restless man, constantly seeking out fights and other adrenaline pumping activities, rarely ever being able to hold still for longer than five minutes.
For the past four weeks though, he was more than just restless, he was going insane.
His favorite cleaner had gone MIA, meaning he hadn’t seen Zanka in four weeks.
Twenty-eight days.
Six hundred and seventy-two hours.
Forty thousand, three hundred and twenty minutes.
A lifetime.
That’s what it felt like to Jabber. He and Zanka had fought at least once a week since their first meeting, it was a routine. A routine that he looked forward to every week. A routine that he loved.
A routine that was now broken.
Jabber tapped his foot rapidly against the concrete ground, twisting his bracelets around his wrists repeatedly. Thoughts scurried around his mind, disorganized and fleeting.
Did something happen to Zanka?
Was he avoiding Jabber?
Had Zanka given up?
Was Zanka dead?
Jabber stopped in his tracks. When did he start walking?
Pushing the unpleasant thoughts out of his mind, Jabber surveyed the area he had apparently ended up in. A tall white building stood in front of him, a few people milling about outside the front but it was quiet besides that.
It was the Cleaner’s Headquarters.
A grin appeared on Jabber’s face, a brilliant idea making its way into the man’s head.
He could find Zanka’s room and wait for him there.
Glee suddenly overtook any other emotion as Jabber spun around and sang to himself.
“I gotta get him a present! Show him how much I’ve missed him!” Resolute in his plan, Jabber made his way towards a market he recalled being nearby. He knew that by the time he got back to the Headquarters once more, it’d be dusk. Which was perfect.
Humming to himself, Jabber activated Mankira, latching onto the outside wall of the HQ.
He recalled hearing something about a barrier that protected the building, but it either wasn’t active, or he was just so amazing that he had surpassed it. The second option seemed more likely to him.
Once he scaled up to the second floor, Jabber peered into a window.
A huge bulletin board filled with tons of papers and drawings adorned a wall of the room, piles of trash were scattered around the floor and a bed that was messily made was shoved in the corner.
This was definitely Rudo’s room.
Taking note of that, Jabber continued to look into rooms on the search for Zanka’s. He passed Riyo’s room next, impressed with the décor she had chosen. He always knew she was cool, even before she shot him.
After two more rooms, he finally found what he was looking for.
Zanka’s room perfectly reflected the man that lived in it, plain white walls were scarcely decorated with a few drawings, Lovely Assistaff was leaning against the wall next to the window and an unmade bed with dark blue sheets was opposite of her.
Lovely Assistaff was here. Zanka was here.
Slow and silently, Jabber opened the window in front of him, crawling inside carefully and closing the window behind him. Standing in the middle of Zanka’s room, Jabber took a closer look at the art that decorated the walls.
Most were nonsensical doodles, likely from some kid cleaner, but one stuck out to him.
It was a picture of Zanka and him. The drawing showed them holding hands, Jabber with a wide smile on his face and his eyes closed as Zanka looked angry, sharp teeth filling his frowning mouth. The paper that held the drawing was horribly wrinkled, almost like it had been balled up angrily. Jabber noticed a signature and some writing in the right corner.
Amo Empool.
Zanka and his beloved!
Jabber felt heat rise to his cheeks. Who was Amo and why were they drawing him and Zanka holding hands? Why did they write that he was Zanka’s beloved?
It’s a joke, the cleaner’s mess with each other like this all the time. Jabber reasoned with himself.
Then why did Zanka have the picture up on his wall?
Focus! Jabber yanked at his wicks in an attempt to pull out all of the thoughts distracting him.
Tearing his eyes from the art, Jabber scanned the room once more before his eyes landed on the bed in the corner, a smile plastered itself on his face.
A few long strides later, Jabber plopped himself down on Zanka’s bed. He buried his face into the pillow and appreciated the soft touch of the fabric. Zanka’s bed was so comfortable and warm.
A comforting scent invaded Jabber’s nostrils, the pillow smelled just like Zanka. His heart squeezed in an unfamiliar way, he hadn’t realized how much he’d missed the scent of the cleaner. He had never cared for the smell of clean linen and citrus before Zanka had come around.
Forcing himself in an upright position, Jabber steeled himself to wait patiently for Zanka. He knew he’d need to act quickly lest the other scream for backup upon seeing him.
Jabber stared into space, lost in his thoughts for what seemed like ever before he heard footsteps and voices outside the door.
“G’Night Enjin. See ya tomorrow.” A familiar voice said, excitement coursed through Jabber so fast he felt faint.
Quietly, Jabber made his way to the side of the door, just out of the way enough that he wouldn’t be hit by it and Zanka wouldn’t immediately see him.
After a few painfully long moments, the door slowly opened, Zanka stepped into the room and let the door close behind him.
Jabber thought he might explode from the amount of joy he felt seeing Zanka in front of him once again.
Reaching out his hands, Jabber covered Zanka’s eyes and leaned in close to whisper in the other man’s ear.
“Guess who.”
Zanka stilled beneath him, no doubt recognizing the cool sting of metal rings on his face.
“Jabber.” Zanka spat, spinning around to face the other man. Jabber grinned in response, “Ding Ding Ding! You’re right!”
Upon seeing Zanka’s face for the first time in weeks, all of Jabber’s excitement left him. He felt odd, like he was sad but also nervous in a way. His stomach churned, what was he supposed to do again?
Zanka wound up to punch the raider, but before he could, Jabber grabbed his wrists and pulled them into his chest. The cleaner sputtered as he struggled against the other man’s grip.
“I’m gonna kick yer fuckin’ ass let me go right now-“
“Where have you been?” Zanka’s threats died on his tongue as he reeled from the change in Jabber’s tone. Looking closer at him, Zanka realized that the other man was frowning.
“What? That’s none of yer business! What are ya-“
“It’s been four weeks.” Jabber looked sad, like the idea that Zanka had been gone for that long had hurt him.
“Why do ya care?” Zanka hated how genuine his question sounded.
“Why wouldn’t I?”
Silence fell over the room as Jabber laced their fingers together. Zanka’s hands were slightly smaller and a lot colder than his own, he liked the contrast.
“I thought somethin’ happened to you. Somethin’ bad.” Jabber couldn’t meet Zanka’s eyes. This wasn’t supposed to happen like this. He was supposed to jump on Zanka, shove his gift into his hands and leave, making the other man want to chase him down for an explanation. Yet here he was, spilling his guts.
“We went to canvas town and painted a mural. Just took longer than expected, nothin’ bad.” Zanka muttered, unsure of how to handle the situation before him. His face warmed as Jabber squeezed his hands.
The room grew quiet once more as Jabber let go of Zanka’s hands, the raider made his way towards Zanka’s bed and sat on the edge of it. Zanka mirrored his actions and sat next to him, unsure why he wasn’t throwing the raider out of the window.
“Got somethin’ for ya.” Zanka prickled as Jabber dug around in his pockets, ready for whatever poisonous thing he produced.
Instead, Jabber handed him a bracelet. It was similar to the ones on the man’s wrist but the color was different, a warm brass instead of a cool silver.
“You look so weird with that choker on your wrist, ya need somethin’ to balance it out. Matches your earrings.” Jabber rambled as he grabbed Zanka’s wrist and put the bracelet on his right arm. His actions were far too soft considering their history.
“And why would I wear this? Probably gonna shoot out a random poison and disintegrate me.” Despite his words, Zanka ran his fingers over the cold metal fondly.
Jabber smiled, it was softer than earlier. He ignored the cleaner’s remark and laid back in Zanka’s bed, staring at the ceiling.
“I missed you, ya know.”
A moment of silence.
“…missed ya too.”
Jabber’s smile stretched wider as his usual excitement made its return.
“Didn’t hear you, can you repeat that?”
“Shut the fuck up I didn’t say shit!” Zanka seethed as he hit Jabber’s leg. This proved to be a mistake as Jabber’s hand quickly grabbed his wrist. The raider hauled Zanka on top of him, his arms circling around the other man’s waist in a vice-like grip as Zanka struggled and silently yelled profanities at him.
Jabber just hummed contently, melting into the soft bed beneath him while carding his fingers through Zanka’s hair, enjoying the way his ashen blonde locks felt.
After a moment, Zanka stopped struggling and began pulling on various loose threads he found on Jabber’s shirt, looking for a distraction. He could feel the thrum of Jabber’s heart beneath him; he was sure his own was beating much faster.
“Oh, and what’s with that drawing on the wall? The one where we’re holdin’ hands?” Jabber grinned as Zanka immediately snapped his head up to glare at him, his face bright red.
“Say anythin’ else and ‘m gonna throw you out the window. Don’t ruin the moment.”
“Oh, so we’re havin’ a moment?”
“Shut up.”