Chapter Text
“RISE AND SHINE, EVERYONE! WAKE THAT ASS UP!” Enjin yells, opening the curtains in Zanka's room and turning on the lights.
Zanka groans at the sudden bright light infiltrating the room, as Lovely gets up in a protective stance and hisses.
“COME ON, EVERYONE, GET UP!” Enjin continues on in Riyo and Rudo's room, turning on the lights, opening up Riyo's blinds, and tearing off Rudo's covers.
Zanka begrudgingly gets up and heads to his siblings' room with Lovely following behind, to see his dad currently torturing them awake.
“Enjin, da sun isn’t even out yet…” Zanka says sleepily.
“Which is why it's the perfect time to wake y’all asses up,” Enjin says with a genuine smile.
“5 more minutes….” Rudo whines, his hand covering his face as he tries to sink deeper into the pillow.
“Should've thought about those five more minutes when you were up late playin' on that damn video game. Come on, wake that ass up.” Enjin says, gently shaking Rudo awake.
“Enjin, why the fuck are we getting up at…” Riyo looks at her phone charging on the desk next to her. “6:00 AM?”
“First of all, watch your language. Second, it's a wonderful day outside, and y’all have been cooped up in da house for too long. We’re going outside today.”
Everyone opens their mouths, ready to complain-
“AYE, I don’t wanna hear no objections. It's settled. We’re going to the park and having a nice family outing.”
“Nice?” Riyo asks.
“Family outing?” Rudo follows.
“Enjin, you know, outta all people, nice and family don’t mesh well together in this household,” Zanka says.
Enjin rolls his eyes. “Come on, y’all think so negatively. What's the worst that can happen?”
Riyo snickers. “Literally everything.”
“Listen, get y’all asses ready. We’re leaving the house around 8:00 AM. Then we’re gonna head to the park and have fun. Alright? Alright. There, it's settled.” Enjin says as he walks out of the room to head to the bathroom first.
“How much you wanna bet by the 10:30 AM mark, some shit is gonna happen?” Riyo asks Zanka as he makes his way over to sit next to her bed and rest his head on top of the mattress.
“Zero, but I’ll bet ya during the 1:00 PM mark somethin’ gonna happen,” he says as Lovely climbs her way into his lap and starts to purr against him.
“$5?” she says with a smirk on her face.
“Yeah.”
“Bet,” she says as they shake on it.
“UGHH, CAN SOMEONE CLOSE THE BLINDS N’ TURN OFF THE LIGHTS, PLEASE!” Rudo groans.
“DON’T Y’ALL DARE!” Enjin screams from the bathroom.
Everyone lets out a groan.
This is about to be a long fucking day.
...
After having breakfast, everyone felt a bit better, since they were somewhat appeased through food after Enjin's morning stunt.
“Enjin, can you let Semiu drive, please?” Riyo said as they walked to the car.
Semiu starts to chuckle as Enjin sucks his teeth.
“Come on, I don’t even drive that badly.”
“Ya still have to pay the courts for 5 different traffic violations, ya know,” Semiu said nonchalantly.
“Listen, at least 3 of them weren’t my fault. Like, come on, how was I supposed to know I wasn’t supposed to park there?”
“The sign, Enjin,” Semiu said, crossing her arms.
“There wasn’t a sign!” Enjin defended.
“In the picture, there was.”
“Can we just get in the car already?!” Rudo groans.
Enjin sighs as he reluctantly gives Semiu the car keys.
“Thanks,” she said with a teasing smile.
“Yeah, yeah, don’t get too happy. I’m driving the way back.” Enjin said as he opened the passenger-side car door and headed in.
Semiu looks back at the siblings, who had literal expressions of fear at the possibility of Enjin driving them back.
“Don’t worry, he ain’t,” she said with a wink.
All three of them let out a sigh of relief and head into the car.
“Alright, everyone ready to go?” Enjin said, turning back to check on the siblings.
“Actually…” Zanka says.
“Umm, well…” Riyo says.
“Can I get something?” Rudo says.
“Okay, great! Everyone's ready. Let’s go!”
...
After 2 hours of driving and Enjin complaining all along about not being behind the wheel, they end up reaching their destination.
“Enjin,” Riyo said.
“Yeah, what’s up?”
“You made us get up at 6:00 AM in the fucking morning-” Rudo says.
“AYE! What did I say? Watch your goddamn mouth!”
“-to go to a PARK?!” Rudo continues.
“Well, yes, I did,” Enjin says proudly. “Plus, it's not just any park; it's THE park. See? They even have a swimming pool.”
“We didn’t bring any swimsuits,” Zanka says.
“It's about the idea, Zannie. Come on, work with me here, guys.”
“Ngl, the kids are valid in their point, Enjin. Gas prices ain’t cheap these days.” Semiu said.
Enjin groans. “Listen, it's a nice day outside and all of y’all need to touch some grass anyway, so get y’all things and head out, 'cause we’re going to have a nice family outing whether y’all like it or not,” Enjin says sternly.
Everyone froze at Enjin's tone. Though Enjin is used to joking around with his kids and being known as the 'chill dad,' when needed, he makes sure to put the parent role in check.
Thus, everyone complied (reluctantly, again) with Enjin's demands.
As they walked through the park together, they had to admit their dad did have somewhat of a point. The weather was nice, not too hot but not too cold; it was literally just right (Goldilocks edition). The park was alive with people jogging, biking, talking, picnicking, and playing. Laughter and kites filled the atmosphere. The walk was calm, even relaxing, yet to everyone but Enjin, it was utterly boring.
“Where's the ice cream truck?” Rudo asks as they take a break and a seat at the local pond.
“Of course yer fat ass is lookin’ for something to eat,” Zanka says.
“Hey, I deserve a sweet treat for being forced to go through this!” Rudo defends himself.
“Ion think the truck's showing up till later. It's still too early.” Semiu says.
“It's not that early. It's only 10:30 AM.” Enjin says.
“Exactly,” Semiu replies.
“Look, a hot dog stand!” Riyo points out. “Why don’t we get that for the meantime?”
“Ughh, I’m gonna dieeeee.” Rudo whines.
“See, it's not that early if people are out selling stuff. Here, lemme get my wallet-” Enjin says as he reaches for his pocket.
Then he suddenly freezes, and then he frantically checks the other pocket.
Enjin froze again, and then he took a deep breath and faced everyone.
“Please don’t tell us you forgot your wallet at home,” Riyo said.
“I didn’t... but the car, perhaps...”
Everyone groans again.
“Hey, it's not my fault; it slipped out. Plus, the car is right there.”
“Enjin, we spent like 20 minutes walking from the car to here already,” Riyo said.
“20 minutes is nothing back in my day-”
“Alright, old man, so are we going to do anything about the wallet situation or what? Rudo's practically on his last leg.” Semiu said.
Everyone turns to look at Rudo, who is resting on the bench like a Victorian woman diagnosed with tuberculosis.
Yikes.
“Yeah, I see your point…” Enjin said, then he turned to Zanka. “Zannie, my first-born child, will you please do me such a wonderful favor?”
“I’ll get it,” Zanka said as Enjin enthusiastically handed him the keys.
“You're the best, Zannie!” he said happily, as Zanka tried to stifle his smile at the praise.
“It's nothing…” he shyly says as he starts to walk back to the car.
“Don’t take too long!” Riyo shouts.
“Got it!”
...
As Zanka walks back, he takes notice of the scenery again. Along the path they took together, he notices a cherry blossom tree around the track. But due to Rudo's constant complaining that he's hungry and Enjin's nagging, they sped along the track to find a place to rest. Zanka took the opportunity to walk up to the tree.
Back home, before he was disowned and adopted by Enjin, he always loved walking through the gardens and appreciating the beauty of nature that was bestowed upon him.
It was such a bittersweet feeling sometimes thinking back on them, but they were no longer his family anymore. He found a real one, a real home, with real love. Not one he had to earn, but one that was already given from the moment he walked through the door.
He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, not one of sadness but of relief and gratitude.
He’s happy to be where he is. Despite everything he had gone through in the past. It led him all up to this moment, to this place, and to this family. And Zanka wouldn't trade it for the world. Not one bit.
Then suddenly, he hears some footsteps approaching, but he doesn't seem to think much of it until a loud voice breaks through his quiet meditation.
“BABY?”
That voice.
His eyes snap open as he turns around and sees Jabber, who has a big goofy smile on his face once his eyes meet Zanka's.
“Jab?” Zanka says in disbelief as Jabber jogs up to him excitedly.
“Holy shit, Zan, what are you doing here?!” he said enthusiastically, eagerly pulling Zanka into a hug.
Zanka hugs back instantly and lets out a soft snort. “Enjin dragged us along, said we needed ta touch grass or somethin’.”
Jabber pulls back slightly to get a look at his face.
“We?”
“Yeah, my family and I.”
“Oh shit, all of y’all are here?!”
“I literally jus’ said ‘we.’”
Jabber laughs. “Okay, calm down with the sass, Bad Attitude~.”
Zanka scoffs, lightly shoving him, yet Jabber's grip stays firm where it is as he laughs even more.
“So all of you guys are here? Whadda doin’ roaming around alone?”
Then Zanka's eyes widen at the realization he wasn’t sent off to roam around but to get his dad's wallet from the car.
“Oh shit, yer right!” he said, pushing Jabber off of him for real this time, as Jabber complied.
As Zanka quickly walks away from the tree and back to the path, Jabber follows.
“Wait, chill, baby. What's goin’ on?” he said, putting his hand on Zanka's shoulder.
Zanka stops mid-track and turns around.
“I got to-”
Then a third voice cuts through.
“Yo, Zannie, you got the wallet? Oh, hey, Jabber!” Enjin said as he carried Rudo on his back.
“Oh great…” Rudo mutters.
“Hey, Boss,” Jabber said nonchalantly, waving at him.
Semiu and Riyo follow behind.
“Hey, Jab.” Semiu greeted.
“Wassup,” he said with a smile.
“Now I see why our Zannnie was taking so long.” Riyo teased.
“It wasn’t like that-I was jus’-ugh-I was jus’ about to get the wallet,” Zanka explains, flustered.
“By just about to, you mean…”
“I was literally jus’ about to!”
Jabber raises a brow. “So y’all just spending the whole day walking in the park or something?”
“Yeah, unfortunately,” Riyo said.
Jabber snorts, “So y’all have nothing planned like at all?”
“Well, wouldn’t say nothing...” Enjin says.
“Basically,” Semiu says.
“Pretty much,” Riyo says.
“Yeah,” Zanka says.
Rudo groans.
“Damn, so why don’t y’all come and join my family then, since y’all got nothin’ going on?” Jabber suggested. He pointed across the cherry blossom tree to a small hill.
“We're having a cookout right now. Plus, Cthoni has been complaining ’bout we bought too much food anyway.”
“Oh, we shouldn’t. We would hate to intrude...” Enjin says.
“Sounds good to me,” Rudo said, finally waking up from his slumber.
“I’m up for it,” Semiu says.
“So are we good to go?” Riyo asks.
“Great! Just follow me.” Jabber said, instantly leaving no room for arguments, as he wrapped his hand around Zanka's shoulder, pulling him in as he led them to their spot.
“Jabber, are ya crazy? Do ya really think this is a good idea?” Zanka yells-whispers.
“Come on, Zan. It's just a cookout. What's the worst that can happen?” Jabber leans down slightly and whispers back.
“You’ll find out soon enough…” Zanka mutters.
...
“Yo, you're back already?” Hii said as he noticed Jabber coming back.
“Yeah, and I brought something with me,” Jabber said.
Noerde was setting up the table, Momoa was chilling on the park bench, setting up the speaker, Hii was setting up the games, Fu was unpacking the food, as Amo and Cthoni helped set up the grill.
“Oh, hi Zanka!” Amo smiled and waved.
“Hi, Amo.” Zanka smiled back.
The rest of the raiders turned their attention to Zanka and greeted him. Their spot was nice; the grass wasn't too high, and the sun wasn't beating down on them. There are some trees around, providing a shaded spot. Hell, they even set up their own hammock. The air smelled of cooked burgers, meat, and hot dogs.
“So, you went off to get your boyfriend?” Momoa asked, turning to jabber.
“Nah, his family too.”
“His what?” Noerde asked.
“Surprise!” Jabber said, throwing up jazz hands, as Zanka groaned and covered his face. “I'm sorry. I hope it ain't no trouble.” Zanka said.
“Rudo here?!” Amo asked excitedly.
Then, on cue, the rest of Zanka's family pulled up.
“Rudo!” Amo said, running up to pull him into a hug.
“H-hey.” He said as a blush grew on his face as he hugged back.
“Hope we're not intruding too much on y'all's party,” Enjin said, turning to Cthoni.
“Nah, it's alright.” She dismissed.
“Nice grill ya got there.” Semiu said, looking at the 'grill' up and down. (wink-wink)
Cthoni smirked. “Thanks.”
Semiu smiled back.
“So, uhh, I see our kids are familiar with one another…” Enjin said.
Both women turned to him.
“Yeah, sorry I didn't introduce myself. My name is Cthoni. Over here are Fu, his brother Hii, Momoa, Norede, Amo, and Jabber.”
Enjin smiled. “It's nice to meet y'all.”
“I-it's a pleasure to meet you too, sir.” Fu greets
“Yeah.” Hii said
“Nice to meet you,” Momoa said, not looking up from her phone
“Nice to make your acquaintance.” Noerde greets
Amo just stared at him.
“…Right, I assume y'all already met Zanka and know about Riyo and Rudo. My name is Enjin, and this is my best friend Semiu.”
“Well, I wouldn't say best friends…”
“We're best friends.”
“So, are we cookin' or what?” Jabber asked.
“Yeah, let me just start the fire,” Cthoni said.
“Ya need help with that?” Semiu asked.
“Could use some.”
Both women smiled as they headed to the grill together.
“Damn, abandoned me over some puss,” Enjin muttered under his breath.
“D-dad, can I introduce you to someone…” Rudo said as Amo followed behind him, her face emotionless and unreadable.
“Oh yes, so uh, ya must be Amo, am I right?”
“You are right.”
“W-well, Amo and I have been, like, together for a while, so yeah. I just wanted to introduce y'all.” Rudo said nervously.
“Well, it's nice to meet you, young lady, but don'tcha think it's a little too inappropriate to show off all that skin?”
Amo froze.
“DAD!” Rudo yelled.
“What? I didn't say anything wrong.”
“Rudo. Amo needs you to move aside real quick.” Amo said as she tried to push her way to Enjin.
“Okay! Great, y'all met each other. Great, we're gonna go now.” Rudo said quickly as he picked Amo up and carried her away.
“LET AMO GO! AMO NEEDS TO TEACH THAT WASHED-UP BLONDE A LESSON!”
“Jesus…” Enjin muttered. “It's like Rebecca all over again.”
Riyo, who was at the table with Momoa, Hii, and Fu, watched the discourse go on.
“How much y'all wanna bet she's gonna throw a punch by the end of the day?” Hii said.
“$20 if she kicks him,” Riyo said, sliding a $20 bill on the table.
“Oh, little cleaner girl ain't so innocent after all,” Hii said.
“Just because I like to read doesn't mean I'm boring.” Riyo laughed.
“I like how ya think,” Momoa said. “$20 if she throws something.”
Riyo laughed even louder. “Now that's a good one.” Then she turned to Fu. “What about you, little man?” she asked.
“I-I don't usually do bets…”
“Hey, it's alright. What games y'all got there, btw?” Riyo asked, pointing at the stack of games beside them.
“U-Um, we have Jenga.” He said, holding it up.
“Well, set the game up. I'm about to take y'all back to school.”
“We'll see about that.” Hii challenged.
“Hold up, let me get my camera ready,” Momoa said.
As time passed by, surprisingly, everyone seemed to get along. Cthoni and Seimu were chatting by the grill. Momoa, Fu, Hii, and Riyo were playing Jenga, going back and forth. Amo and Rudo were having their own little moment, flying a kite together once Amo calmed down. Enjin and Noreder started talking while setting up the table.
“See, baby, I told ya ain't nothing to worry about.” Jabber pulled Zanka closer to his side as they rested together underneath a sakura tree.
Zanka scoffed but leaned into the touch anyway, resting his head on Jabber's shoulder.
“I guess, but I wouldn't get too cocky so soon.”
“Nah, I'm keeping my cockiness.”
“Yer such an annoyance.” Zanka laughed.
“As long as I'm yours,” Jabber said, his hand coming up to softly pull Zanka up to meet his lips.
Their kisses were soft, unhurried, and assured. Though they had kissed more times than both of them could count, each one felt as special and as meaningful as the last. Like two familiar souls falling into each other to become one once again.
Once they parted, they didn't even open their eyes, just finding comfort within the warmth of one another, away from the park, away from their families, just them, only them.
The world around them seemed to fade into the distance until it was broken with a-
“JABBER, WHERE DID YOU PUT THE BROWNIES?!” Hii yelled, breaking their moment.
Jabber groaned at the interruption. “IT'S IN THE FOIL PAN.”
“WELL, WHICH ONE?!”
“THE BIG ONE!”
“I think you should go and check it out,” Zanka said.
Jabber whimpered. “I don't want to get up, though.” He said, burying his face in the crook of Zanka's neck.
“Yeah, but they want those brownies though.”
“JABBER!” Hii yelled again.
Jabber let out an annoyed groan, and he begrudgingly got up, pulling Zanka along.
As they walked back to the table, Jabber pointed at the foil pan. “That one.”
Amo lifted the covering: “Amo, don't think this is it.”
“Fuck ya mean this ain't it?” Jabber said, lifting the covering. “It said B2- that the brownie-what the fuck?”
There, sitting in the pan, was rice, not brownies.
“What the-Momoa!” Jabber yelled.
“Yeah?” She said as she put down a blue Uno card.
“Did ya put the rice in the brownie pan?!”
“Nah, the brownies were Fu's job.”
“B-but I thought I was in charge of the meat?” Fu said.
Jabber let out an annoyed sigh.
'Their moment got interrupted for this bullshit...?'
'Are you serious?' Jabber thought to himself internally.
“You guys got it?” Cthoni said, making her way to the discourse.
“I think we might have left the brownies at home,” Jabber said.
“How did y'all manage that?” Semiu asked.
“Lack of communication, it seems,” Zanka said.
“I mean, it's just brownies. We can always buy some more.” Enjin suggested.
Amo sucked her teeth. “Like you can afford to buy any brownies.” She said.
“Okay, listen, kid, I don't know what I did ta get on your bad side, but-”
“YOU DON'T KNOW?! DON'T MAKE AMO LAUGH!” Amo said, ready to pounce again, as Rudo tried to hold her back.
“Okay, so who was in charge of the brownies?” Noerde asked.
“Wasn't it supposed to be Momoa?” Jabber said.
“Why tf was it supposed to be me?” Momoa said.
“Because I literally told ya that before we left.”
“No, you told Hii that-”
“Listen, I didn't hear shit, okay?” Hii said, raising his hands in surrender.
“So the brownies are left at home?” Cthoni asked.
“Apparently so,” Jabber said.
Noerde rolled her eyes. “I swear no one in this family has their priorities straight.”
“Uh, g-guys…” Fu spoke up, looking back and forth between the grill and everyone huddled up, arguing.
“So what are we going to do now?” Jabber asked.
“First, get ya kid to chill out,” Enjin said.
That's when all hell broke loose all at once.
As Amo finally got the chance and kicked Enjin in the... well, you know where.
“AMO!” Cthoni yelled.
“He had it coming,” Amo said unapologetically.
Semiu rushed to Enjin's side as he fell to the ground, clutching his wounded area.“Yo, ya good, hun?”
Enjin let out a pained wheeze.
“HAH, I TOLD YOU!” Riyo screamed. “RUN ME MY MONEY!”
“G-guys…” Fu said as smoke began infiltrating the air.
“Dammit, Amo! Ya couldn't punch him or something?” Hii said angrily as he passed Riyo the $20.
“I mean, if you want Amo to…”
“Please, no more kicking or punching my dad, please,” Zanka said.
“GUYS!” Fu yelled.
Everyone froze; the argument ceased to exist as everyone's attention shifted to Fu.
“THE GRILL IS ON FIRE!” Fu yelled urgently.
Absolute fucking silence.
Then everyone's attention slowly turned to the grill where a fire was roaring.
Smoke filled the air, making a huge black cloud hover underneath the tree.
Nobody moved a muscle at the sight.
“Oh shit,” Jabber said, breaking the silence as he started laughing.
“Who da hell was watching the grill?!” Enjin yelled from the ground where he was still...resting.
“Not me.” Riyo, Rudo, Hii, and Momoa said at the same time, as Momoa had her camera out recording the whole thing.
“S-should I get water?!” Fu asked urgently, looking around in a panic.
“Nah, water would only make the combustion worse-it's a gas fire.” Jabber wheezed out.
“So then what do we do?” Riyo asked.
“Pray to God at this point,” Zanka said tiredly.
Noerde sighed as she felt her eye twitch, "...Unbelievable."
She was about to grab a pair of tongs on the table, as if they could somehow save this situation, but then she stopped herself.
"...You know what, no. If someone who knows what they're doing steps in, please. I refuse to be a part of whatever happens next." She said as she threw her hands in the air and took a seat on the bench, deciding to watch what transpired next.
“Hold up, where's my phone?” Semiu asked as she checked her pockets.
“Once ya find it, can ya call an ambulance too while you're at it…” Enjin said.
“You'll be fine,” Seimu said as she continued searching for her phone.
“Next year, I swear I'm assigning jobs. Clearly, going off trust was a mistake,” Noerde says as she combs her hair.
“Wait, guys, do y'all hear sirens too?” Rudo said.
“Rudo, please just don't say anything else,” Zanka begged.
“But-”
“IGNORE IT!” Zanka yells.
“Fine, geez…” Rudo says, rolling his eyes and pouting.
“T-The park rangers are coming?!” Fu said, full-blown panicking.
“F-Fu, chill. They ain't gonna do shit. What are they gonna do, beat us with their baton stick?” Jabber said, trying (and failing) to comfort Fu.
“Jabber,” Zanka said.
“What? Come on, Zan, ya know I can take them.”
“I also know ya ass is gonna head to jail.”
“We're never gonna be allowed in this park again!” Fu started to cry.
“Damn, when I was just starting to like it,” Riyo said.
“I know, right?” Momoa commented.
But then, before shit could turn even worse-
*SHHHUFFFFF*
Everyone froze and turned back to the sound.
Cthoni stood there with a fire extinguisher, putting out the fire on the grill.
Once the fire was put out, everyone froze. Again, silence fell.
Then a laugh, more laughs, as everyone joined in and started laughing, one of relief and actually gratitude and even happiness.
At least they made it out alive for now.
...
Luckily, the park rangers didn’t come by, so they were able to avoid that disaster, and they ended up finding the brownies in the rice foil pan instead. Turns out they accidentally mixed it up. And Enjin got a nice ice pack for…his injury. Everyone ate at the table, telling jokes about the situation that had just unfolded, laughing at the absolute absurdity of the whole ordeal.
Currently, Zanka, Jabber, Riyo, Rudo, Amo, Momoa, Noerde, Hii, and Fu were at the table playing I Declare War.
Jabber lightly nudged Zanka's arm. “Looks like you were right, baby. I guess I owe ya a form of payment.”
Zanka snorted. “Yeah, how ’bout you shutting up.”
Jabber giggled. “Only if you make me~.”
“Please, no flirting at the table,” Riyo said.
“Riyo.” Zanka hissed out.
“What? I asked nicely.” She shrugged. “See what I have to deal with.” She loudly whispered next to Momoa.
“You and me, girl.” Momoa loudly whispered back.
“Hush up and place yer next card,” Zanka said, blushing.
The table laughed as they continued on with the game.
From the grill, the parents watched their respective families. Riyo was yelling, pointing at Rudo, accusing him of cheating, while Hii was sneaking a glance at Noerde's cards. Momoa had her phone out, recording the fight. Fu tried his hardest to calm everything else. Jabber laughs along while he wraps his right arm around Zanka, pulling him back into his embrace. Enjin’s eyes panned to Jabber and Zanka between it all, and he smiled softly.
“Looks like we got ourselves one big dysfunctional family now, huh?” he huffed out.
Semiu wrapped an arm around Cthoni, glancing down and smiling at her.
“Just know once we’re here, it’ll be hard to get rid of us.”
Cthoni smiled.
“Wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Looks like they got their future ahead of them from now on, together-
“YO, WE FAMOUS! WE'RE GOING VIRAL RN!” Hii screamed, holding up the phone.
“DEADASS? LEMME SEE!” Jabber said, laughing as he looked at the video.
“Omg, please tell me y’all gonna delete that.” Zanka groaned.
“Not any time soon with this family,” Noerde said.
Yeah, they’ll stick together for sure.
The End.