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Exhausted.
That is the most prominent feeling Zanka could feel.
He had spent the entire day, from dawn to dusk fighting trash beasts. Every bone, muscle and nerve in his body ached horribly. Roughly 12 hours of dodging, swinging, running, fighting, and blocking. Not a single break from the fighting.
Semiu said that the horde of trash beasts would be small, slow, and weak. That however, was not the case at all. There were several dozen of them in an abandoned town that had no other for miles and miles around. It's even worse that he had been sent completely alone, as ‘It wouldn’t be much work’. And they just kept coming. They were big, and fast. They weren't really strong, but they were quite durable, which was a pain in itself.
After he had expelled the last of the horde, the overwhelming exhausted, and dehydration made itself prominent, and unable to be ignored. The nearby pile of broken cement, and trash felt like hell against Zanka's back, but after what he had been doing, it might as well have been the most comfortable bed in existence.
Luckily for Zanka, Enjin had personally come to pick him up, giving him some heavy praise, though he was still mostly passed out. Zanka was able to sleep a little more in the car, or as much as someone could with Enjin's awful driving skills.
For some reason, nothing sounded appetizing. Zanka thought that after the day he had, he would feel absolutely famished. He drank an abnormal amount of water, but barely ate his food. The rest of which was given to Riyo, who happily took it without question. After a brief , extremely hot shower, Zanka laid down to try and get at least some sleep during the night, which led to his current position: Several hours of staring at the ceiling doing nothing at all. No matter how heavy his eyelids got, he. Just. Couldn't. Sleep.
At some point, he had started hearing things. Like someone saying his name from the hallway, but every time he went to check, nobody was there. Or the faucet in his bathroom leaking, which it was not. He could hear a heartbeat in his pillow that went away after he slammed his fist into it. The rattling of the room below him was faintly noticeable, but still noticed. Eventually, Zanka chose to get even more water, but that meant he had to walk down to the kitchen, due to the fact that the water from his bathroom sink wasn't the best to drink.
Because of the late hour, the halls were quiet, and empty. The faint sounds of people moving in their rooms, and some snoring were the sounds Zanka heard most. That, and the wind knocking on the windows of the corridor. The dining hall was just as quiet. There was still some trash on the tables, but it would most likely be picked up tomorrow, as people do like eating in a dirty room.
Zanka grabbed a glass cup from the kitchen, and filled it generously with cold water. He drank multiple glasses, but for some reason didn't feel better. Things were.. off. For whatever reason something just felt wrong and he couldn't tell what. It felt like there was a presence that just bothered him.
Enjin had loaded him with various praises, such as how he knew Zanka was the strongest, and the best the cleaners have, but ‘It never ceased to amaze him’, Riyo said he was 'totally the best' for giving her the rest of his food, as she seems to have a bottomless pit for a stomach, and Rudo made a passing comment about how he wished he could do something like that. Zanka always loved getting compliments and praise from people, especially Enjin, so why did he feel so.. sad? Disappointed? Maybe Empty?
The walk back to his room felt tense, and uncomfortable. Every few steps he took another sip of the water he had brought back with him. Before the halls were just quiet, now they were eerily silent. His door handle felt unnaturally cold, but Zanka tried to ignore it. As he opened the door, he was greeted by a shadowy presence cast across his own bed.
Their long locs were pulled up in a messy updo. The person in question was wearing loose black jeans with a dragon-like pattern going up one leg, leather boots, half hidden, and a dark pinkish red tank-top that showed off strong shoulders, and a nice, but scarred back.
After a few seconds of silence, Zanka noticed the unmistakable set of 10 rings adorning the person's fingers, which were placed across a very familiar, and completely unwelcome raider. Zanka's face twisted into a grimace, upon realizing that Jabber of all people was laying in his bed.
"Man, you got nothin' in here." He said lazily. "Everything is in order, and clean."
Zanka shut his door a little harder than he meant to, clearly showing his annoyance and exasperation.
The last thing I need right now is to deal with that fucking freak.
"What the hell are you doing here? Does this look like a fucking hotel to you?"
Jabber smiled a twisted grin at Zanka's comment. "Maybe. I mean, it could be with how easy it was to get in." Jabber sat up, propping his body up on his arms while speaking.
Zanka felt his eye twitch. "How did you get in here?" He said, crossing his arms, while keeping the glass in his hand from spilling. Jabber raised one hand to gesture to the window next to Zanka's bed. "You didn't lock it, which is fucking stupid, I could've killed your coworkers and friends easily." The way Jabber looked and sounded slightly upset at the last part didn't go unnoticed.
"Why are you here?" The disdain in Zanka's voice was prominent. Jabber held up both his hands to show off his rings, with a grin. "I'm sure you know what I want." Whispering the words like a prayer.
"No."
Jabber's grin faltered. "Huh?"
Zanka hissed, "Like hell am I gonna fight with you, in my room. I'm sick of your shit, and I'm exhausted. I'd rather drop dead right now." The taller of the two pouted. "Man, that's no fun. I was bored, and thought you and me could make some mad violence together."
"Doesn't your boss have something cruel for you to do? Why'd you gotta bother me?" The taller of the two set his head on his closed fist. "I'm 'not-needed' right now. And I can't really have much fun tonight." Perplexed, Zanka bothered to ask, "What are you talking about?"
Jabber, with his big pink-ish eyes, perked up like a puppy.
"So, I was walking around the outskirts of a no-mans land, right? And there was this weird lookin' flower thingy, so I grabbed it thinkin' that it would make a funky toxin, that would have some mean ass effects, but after I got it to my lab- or like, a room i have to make poisons and stuff- I had a thought. I was like 'I kinda wanna try making a drug to make a vital instruments malfunction, and like, turn against the user-"
Zanka was annoyed, and a little nervous.
"What the hell does this have to do with me.?"
"Man, gimme a minute to finish. I ain't done." Jabber whines. "So, like I was saying, the toxin, poison stuff was meant to make vital instruments malfunction, but I may have made it, like, too strong? I needed to test it, so I used it on myself, but now I kinda.. can't use Mankira..? and I'm unsure when I'll get it back."
Zanka was stunned.
"So, basically, you can't use Mankira at all?"
Jabber's face was non-expressive.
"Pretty much. You up to fight anyway?"
"Hell no." Zanka's exasperation was creeping back into his voice.
"Aw. I'm sure it would be so much easier for someone like you. And besides, you're never really good at hiding how much you love fuckin' me up, Zan-Zan." Jabber grinned like a predator. Hungry and wild.
Zanka's cheeks burned with humiliation. "Don't call me that, you fucking freak." The look of lust flamed in Jabber's eyes. "See what I mean? You must love saying sweet nothings to me. Gonna make me act up." Zanka chose to ignore that comment as he slowly walked over to his nightstand, setting his glass down finally.
"Just get out, dreads. Like I said, I'm tired. And I'm really not in the mood for you." Jabber frowned. "That's not what I wanted to hear. I can't use Mankira, I have no missions or tasks, and I'm bored. You could at least entertain me for a little bit."
Zanka snickered bitterly. "What am I, a jester? I'm not here to.." He let his sentence trail off, upon realizing that if Jabber wasn’t lying, and he didn't have Mankira, then it would mean he couldn't poison Zanka without a syringe, because he sure as hell wouldn’t drink or eat anything that guy gave him.
Zanka tried to keep his face as neutral as possible. "Could you move over? I'd like to lay down." Jabber's eyes had a small look of amusement, and uncertainty, but he did move over, leaving room for Zanka on Zanka's bed. Zanka smiled. "Thank you, cutey." He said as he laid down, directly next to Jabber, who's eyes went wide.
"..huh..?"
"What?
"Wha..What did you call me.?" Jabber stuttered.
Zanka turned to look Jabber directly in his eyes.
"Cutey, ‘cause you're cute."
Jabber's face flushed hot. Zanka was only partially joking. Though Jabber wasn't cute, he was quite handsome, specifically when he wasn't making faces like a devil. Jabber has sharp facial features, and thick nice eyebrows. Zanka liked the slit in them, because it adds to his face. The change of his hairstyle was a good change, even if temporary. Jabber looked beautiful with his hair out of the way.
"Man, shut up. I ain't cute, and I don't want you gettin' all sappy and shit on me." Jabber frowned, moving further from Zanka, who in retaliation, inched a little, reaching a hand out to pull Jabber closer. "You're hella pretty though. And you look extra pretty in my bed." Jabber's hands twitched, eyes wondering and unsure. If this wasn’t Jabber, then Zanka might've thought that he looked nervous.
"Damn Mr Bad attitude, what kinda shit you tryin' to start? You were just sayin' how sick you are of me, and how you wanted me to leave, what the hell changed?" His face was semi-neutral, but his words were anything but. They were all wobbly and nervous.
Zanka sat up. Leaning over Jabber, who was still laying down, though incredibly tense. "You said to entertain, so I am." He snickered. Jabber frowned. "You think this is entertaining me?" Zanka slightly laughed. "I'm not trying to entertain you. I'm entertaining myself." He put his hand on Jabber's jaw, slightly stroking his cheek.
"You're gonna stay the night, aren't you?"
"I wasn't gonna. I just came to get my ass beat. Not.. whatever this is."
Zanka frowned. "That's too bad. I was lookin' forward to keepin' you for myself tonight." He carefully moved down, his lips centimeters away from Jabbers, breath ghosting each other.
Jabber's breath kept hitching, eyes bouncing back and forth from Zanka's eyes, cool, and hungry, to his mouth. Unfortunately, Zanka slid his arm under Jabber's waist, lifting him, and pulling their bodies flush against each other. "You sure you ain't gonna stay the night? You could keep me company? I don't have any work tomorrow, because of my work today."
".. sure, I guess I could.." the older slurred out.
Zanka smiled, fully waiting to use this later to tease him. I mean, a raider, an enemy, was willingly laying with a cleaner in their bed, how could Zanka not make fun of the situation.
Zanka laid on his side, facing Jabber, who mimicked the position. “So, what's with the new outfit? What happened to that raggedy ass uniform you normally wear?” The mockery in Zanka’s voice was prominent, but light.
“I was visiting canvas town, for hair stuff. The bossman told us not to wear our raider clothes unless we’re doing something raider related, ‘cause it might ‘attract more people, and obtain unnecessary enemies.’” Jabber rolled onto his back, waving his hands to show how ridiculous he thought the ‘request’ was. “And also, I don’t wanna hear you sayin’ shit about what I wear, when you might as well be dressing like a fuckin’ nun. Like seriously, don’t you get hot wearin’ allat?”
Zanka felt a twinge of annoyance. “My clothes are perfectly fine. So what I’m covered up all the time, it’s better than being "Immodest". I would never like dressing like a whore like you.” Jabber barked a laugh. “What part of what I wear is ‘like a whore’? I also wear clothes that cover me! But keep talkin’, Zan-Zan. You’re hot when you insult me.” The lustful words rolled off his tongue.
The previous comment was mostly weightless, but Zanka knew where this conversation would lead. It would end up with Zanka continuing to hurl insult after insult at Jabber, which would make him continue to antagonize Zanka. It’s a bitter, endless loop, where neither party really wins. So, Zanka had to steer it elsewhere.
“You down to go out tonight?”
Jabber's laughing was cut short, as he turned to just look at Zanka. Maybe he was really examining him, to see if he was getting played, but Zanka really wasn’t joking. The tiredness had worn off for now, and letting Jabber stay in the cleaners headquarters was inviting him to wake all the others, and Jabber couldn’t be quiet for the life of him.
Jabbers rolled his eyes back, mocking the appearance of someone deep in thought. “Maybe. Where are we going, Sunday school?” The laughing started back up again.
Zanka scoffed with a fake smile. “I was actually thinkin’ we should go to the strip club. I’m sure you would know your way around. Or maybe a back alleyway, where you could get extra money for us.”
Jabber smirked with amusement. “Do I really give off that impression?”
“Yes. I mean, you pretty much get all hot and bothered over any guy that could whoop your ass. That makes you easy.”
“It’s because I’m black, isn’t it.” Jabber huffed, pretending to be offended, and hurt.
Zanka, to be completely fair, was taken aback. How the hell did he get to that conclusion?
“That's not- Whatever. I really wanted to go get food, ‘cause I’m hungry, and there was a place I wanted to try out.” The shorter of the two responded.
What seemed to be a genuine smile crossed Jabber's face. “Where are we goin’? All the poisons I was tryin’ earlier have me starvin’.”
Zanka let out a sigh.
“There’s this joint in a nearby town that apparently serves really good steaks, for a reasonable price. They also are said to have awesome cakes too.”
Jabber hopped up from Zanka's bed, stretching his limbs, which gave Zanka the ability to view his V-line, clear as day. Zanka could feel his cheeks slightly warming, and hoped Jabber wouldn’t notice.
Zanka, also standing, looked up to Jabber's face. “I need to change my clothes real quick, ‘cause I don’t wanna go out in my sleeping clothes. I also don’t really know how we would be able to get to the restaurant.”
Jabber held up his hand, which was now a thumbs-up. “Don’t worry I can handle the transportation issue!” He seemed to take pride in the claim. Jabber stalked his way back towards the bed, tapping and messing with his choker.
Zanka took the time to go get outside clothes from his wardrobe. A simple dark gray and black kimono would work fine. He collected the clothing, and walked to the convenient bathroom, as there was no way in hell he was changing in front of Jabber.
The bathroom was quiet, aside from the bickering he could hear from Jabber and whoever he was talking to with his choker. The words themself were broken, and hard to understand, but the word “Date” stood out. Once again, Zanka's face flushed, when he really remembered that he had invited a raider to go out to eat with him. And now there's the very possible chance that Jabber was convinced that this was a date between the two of them.
Zanka heard Jabber move from his bed to right in front of the bathroom door. Three hard knocks followed. “Mister Bad-attitude! I got us transportation, but you gotta hurry up, before she changes her mind!” He sounded happy, like a little kid on their birthday.
Upon finishing getting dressed, Zanka opened the door slowly, to be greeted with a very close view of Jabber standing directly in front of him, grinning like an idiot. Zanka jumped back on instinct.
“We gotta hurry! The portal’s gonna close soon!” Jabber explained, grabbing Zanka's hands, pulling him towards the bedroom door.
“We can’t go through the building! If anyone hears us, I will never hear the end of it!” A rising feeling of panic crept into Zanka's heart.
Jabber twisted his head to a 45 degree angle. “Do you even know how to scale a wall? You do know your room is on the fourth floor, right?”
Zanka's silence told Jabber everything he needed to know.
“I can be quiet, I swear. Now come on!” Jabber carefully, but forcefully flung the door open, stepping through, waiting for Zanka, who doubled back towards his nightstand, where the half full glass of water sat forgotten, in order to grab his Lovely Assistaff, his bracelet, and his wallet.
Jabber's leather boots made much less sound going through the halls than Zanka's wooden sandals. He had to be careful walking so as to not make too much noise, and risk waking people up, at nearly two AM. Zanka could only pray that the restaurant would be open at this hour, or else he would be stranded outside in a place he wouldn’t be familiar with, accompanied by a raider, who surely would immediately attack him upon getting Mankira back.
The two boys walked out one of the side doors, because walking out the front would be just plain stupid.
About 50 feet from the building, a familiar yellow and turquoise portal stood open, with a very unhappy raider next to it. Though, if Zanka hadn’t seen her before, then he wouldn’t even recognize Cthoni, as like Jabber, she too was wearing different clothing. A pair of basketball shorts and an oversized black T-shirt.
“This is bullshit. You seriously couldn't help but keep bothering me for transportation, Jabber? How about you learn to drive or something? You’re lucky I don’t just abandon you somewhere.” Cthoni gritted through her teeth.
“Thank you Cthoni~.” Jabber cooed, although not sounding apologetic in the slightest.
As the two boys walked closer to the portal, Jabber already halfway through, Zanka turned to look at the incredibly short, but muscular woman.
“Um, thanks for this?” Zanka said, unsure if it would be welcomed. Cthoni just hummed in response.
“Hurry up, Z! I’m starving!” Jabber whined as he pulled Zanka by his hand through the portal.
Zanka felt his sandals make contact with the ground first. After he gathered his bearings, he saw that he was in fact, in the middle of the town he was talking about. How she knew which one, he had no idea, but it really didn’t matter. They weren’t in the restaurant, but they should be able to find it. He heard the sound of the portal close, meaning they were not stuck.
“Hey, so, Mr Bad-Attitude, do you have any fuckin’ clue where we are? Cause I got nothin’.” Jabber spun on his heels, turning towards Zanka.
“The restaurant should be around here, so if we walk around for a little, we should be able to find it.”
Jabber groaned.
Zanka rolled his eyes. “Don’t give me that. Now, pick a direction, and let's start walking. This should be easy!”
~~~
The walk to find the restaurant was anything but easy.
To start, the direction Jabber chose to walk in was completely wrong, and actually did lead them to a back alleyway behind a bar, luckily for the two, there were no creepy people. After that, which wasted 25 minutes of time, they made the choice to go back to where they were when they got there, however, neither could find the place, so they just walked the way they thought they should go, which led them to a random building that sold clothes.
Eventually, Zanka managed to find a map on the ground, though it was dirty, and had a few rips in it. That gem managed to bring them to another back alley, this time having a sneaky can in it that tried stealing Zanka's wallet, leading to Jabber and Zanka chasing this random ass cat through the alley, until Jabber managed to get the wallet back from the cat.
After walking through filth, getting lost, and having a wallet stolen, Jabber and Zanka finally made it to the restaurant, only for it to be closed, because why the hell would it be open, at 3:15 AM.
Zanka nearly collapsed onto the ground, because this clearly was a huge waste of time and energy, until Jabber, in all of his twisted glory, managed to locate a different place to get food from. Granted it wasn’t very fancy, and was a take-out joint, but it was food regardless.
Jabber ordered for the two of them, though paying with the others money. After being out so late, Zanka was tired again, but he was way hungrier, as he hadn’t eaten the entire day. He got two burgers, and lots of fries, with a large soda. Jabber got something similar, although incredibly spicy.
The view from the top of the building the two were sitting on was colorful, as the lights from the billboards, and sighs illuminated everywhere they could reach. The sounds of people moving, and walking could be heard, along with a few cars, and the sounds of eating from each other.
“So,” Jabber started, though his mouth was full. “What was goin’ on with you earlier, like when we were laying down. I’ve never had someone I usually fight call me.. Cute.”
Zanka turned his head, resting it on his knees, which were pulled up against his chest. “I’m not really sure. I guess I wanted to see what you like doing so much. And I admit, It’s fun as hell being the one teasing. I like seeing you speechless. It suits you.” He took a big bite from one of the burgers.
Jabber snickered. “You never fail to surprise me, Zanka. Always makes me speechless.”
Puzzled, Zanka questioned, “Whacha talkin’ ‘bout? You never seem like you care much for me, other than when we’re fighting.” Not to mention how hard it is to pull one over on Jabber and have it work.
“I mean it, Zan-Zan,” He took a drink from his cup. “You’re like, the gift that keeps giving. Every time we fight, you get better. Takes my breath away.” Another bite. Zanka could see Jabber's white, sharp teeth sinking into the food.
“Then how the fuck can’t I beat you If I’m so good?” The question rings in Zanka's mind. He could feel his cheeks warming up at the praise, but he stuffed multiple fries into his mouth anyway.
“Dude, are you like, starving? I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone eat so much, so fast.”
Zanka made the wise choice to finish chewing and swallowing the fries before speaking.
“I genuinely haven’t eaten anything today. I completely lost my appetite for some reason earlier, but just got in back, so yes, I’m fucking starving.” He said, as he took a huge bite out of the second burger.
“Gotcha. It’s not like I’m any better, Zan.” Most of Jabber's food was gone, leaving only the large drink left, which had five shining silver rings wrapped around it. Zanka felt himself staring at the hand, and the rings. It never did cross his mind how big Jabber's hands were, though his hands have been all up in Zanka's face plenty of times.
Jabber seemed to notice Zankas staring. “Somethin’ the matter?”
“It’s nothing. I was just looking at your rings” Jabber seemed to begin wondering deep in thought.
“Aw, does Zan-Zan the nun have a thing for hands?” Though it was meant to be a joke, Zanka couldn’t help but think it might have a little weight behind it. But if he got defensive, then it would only make it worse.
“Maybe.” Zanka took the last bite of his fries, already having finished the rest of the meal, aside from the soda.
Jabber cocked an eyebrow, but said nothing else. The neon lights made him look beautiful. Different shades of yellow and blue and pink. The pink engulfed him the most. It matched his eyes when he was using Mankira, giving Zanka a sense of familiar deja vu.
“Ya know, there's something weird about this city.” Jabber remarked, natural and calm, though there was something further behind the words. Zanka turned his head to Jabber, sipping on the last of his drink. He didn’t have to make a choice of what to say, as Jabber made the choice for him.
“I hate cities. There are too many people around. They will never mind their business. It really gets on my nerves, don’t you know? Makes me upset when people think they know every little thing about you when they really don’t. It’s even worse when someone tries to get to know you even when you don’t feel the same.” The pause he took felt and looked like a contemplation.
“Walking where everyone else goes is so not my thing. Walking in crowds means I have to get physically close to people I don’t know. And the touching, man the touching. I hate being touched by people I don’t know. There's always gonna be someone in a crowd that wants to get a feel of everyone around them..
This city specifically, I’m not sure about. Maybe it’s the way the lights feel too bright, and fake, or the way it never sleeps. Ya’know, that's why I like abandoned places. There's nobody to watch me.”
The last drops of the soda went down Zanka's throat like ice. Something in the air changed, and he was sure they could both feel it. Dangerous, and overbearing. The temptation to reach for Assistaff was overwhelming for Zanka. He knew he had a few seconds to make a choice to do something, but he wasn’t sure what to prepare for.
The tension was unbearable. Jabber and Zanka, a raider and a cleaner, a genius and an average joe, sitting side by side on top of a building with nobody else around. Two people that have absolutely no reason to talk to each other outside of their fights, willingly going with each other, on what could definitely be considered a date.
Jabber examined his hands for a second, looking over the ten rings adoring his long slender fingers. The faint trace of a hot-pink hue ghosted over the surface, letting the two boys know that at last, Mankira was back.
Jabber's eyes lit up with a pink glow as he jumped up from the place he was sitting. “Hey, there you are!” The shape of ten long claws forming along the taller boy's fingertips made Zanka uncomfortable. They were familiar, and not in a positive way. He was sure that in a few minutes, or even seconds, they would clash, and he was also sure that it wouldn’t go well for Zanka.
Everytime they fought, it ended with Zanka on the way to Eisha, and almost ending up in a coffin. That was just the way things had to be. They were on different sides, meaning they would do everything in their power to eliminate the other as competition.
Zanka could feel the terse wood of Assistaff under his grip. He had spent many years taking care of her, honing his ability to wield her, and making sure she was appreciated and gotten the most out of her, but he was sure the same applied to Mankira.
Every time they saw each other while on a mission, Mankira shone bright, clearly showing intense care of the metalwork. It’s really a surprise to nobody that Mankira had so much power, matching the fighting technique and skill of its wielder.
What Zanka had been expecting was a battle, fast and dangerous the second Mankira was reawakened. Jabber had his vital instrument, however he wasn’t using it as intended, nor was we gaining hostility.
Instead, he turned to Zanka and held up his claws, showing them off like a child showing a piece of art. “Look, I got ‘er back!” His grin seemed to be of genuine joy. He really was happy. “And for a hot minute I thought I would never be able to use her again! I thought I ruined her!” He was just about bouncing off the walls, or lack there of, with his excitement.
Along the edge of one of the blades, a semi-clear green and black slimy liquid lapped at nothing, coiling around the word engraved upon the metal. That must be the toxic that restricted Jabber's use of Mankira, which means he needs to keep it the hell away from his skin, and away from Lovely Assistaff.
“Well, this has been fun and all that, but we should go. You probably need your beauty sleep afterall.” The claws dropped to hover above Jabber's stomach, holding onto nothing.
“Yeah.. sure.” He knew all too well that his tone was too quiet, and might spark something to influence the other to revert back to his usual habits of being a total masochistic and sadistic asshole. It was true though that he should go, and that he needs sleep. The complete lack of it throughout the earlier parts of the night will most definitely make up for itself tomorrow morning, when he’s meant to be training, or eating, or doing a task for Semiu.
Unfortunately for Zanka, the universe hates him for an uncharted reason, which is the only explanation for why all his exhaustion crashed over him like a tsunami at once. It’s even worse that instead of hitting the ground like a dignified person, he just had to be caught by mother fucking Jabber Wonger.
If Zanka had the energy, he would’ve complained, or yelled, or something, but he just couldn’t bring himself to do anything but lay in Jabber's abnormally strong arms, and holy shit now it makes sense why he’s so damn strong, feels muscular as hell. Granted Zanka got a brief look earlier, however in the dim lighting of his bedroom, it didn’t do any justice for Jabber's body definition.
It was decided that the best course of action for this situation, being Zanka half asleep in Jabbers arms, basically drooling over his muscles, and with his knowledge, being stranded in an unfamiliar town, was to relax, and allow himself to be carried bridal style until he got his energy back, then he would deal with what's happening. He couldn’t feel Mankira pressed against him, but he could feel Jabber's large, warm hands, so it wasn’t unreasonable to say that Mankira was likely put away, meaning that he wouldn’t get the goop on him.
Zanka could feel every step Jabber took, every rock he kicked along the way, every drag of his feet across the concrete. He could smell the older boy's skin, of which smelled like a permanent mix of chemicals and blood. He smelled slightly sweaty, but that really wasn’t much of an issue. And gods, does he smell awful. It’s a wonder how he manages to make it smell so comforting.
The sounds of a portal opening rang faintly to Zanka's right, but he couldn’t recall Jabber ever calling for Cthoni? A bright yellow, green, and blue light reflected off Zanka's closed eyelids, confirming that they were in fact, with the manhole women.
“I’m never helping you get him on a date again. You can do this shit yourself.” The sloshed words showed the state of sleepiness Cthoni was in. It made sense, as it was like, 4 AM? He was fully sure of the time.
He could feel Jabber step through the Portal, landing on dense metal, which is not at all the ground.
Zanka cracked an eyelid open to see what was going on, and lo and behold, they were directly in front of Zanka's bedroom window. That asshole didn’t need to scale the wall!
Whether it was intentional or not, his window was left unlocked and still slightly open.
He felt when Jabber’s leather boots hit the wood of his flooring, signalling they were now in his room. It really shouldn’t have come as a surprise when instead of gently setting down Zanka, Jabber threw him onto the bed. Still, Zanka stayed quiet, and still like he was asleep.
The sound of wood on wood came from right, where Jabber had set his Lovely Assisstaff, with much more care then he had with Zanka.
Finally, before rushing out the window, Zanka felt a small, gentle kiss place over his temple.
It didn’t really matter what side they were on, afterall, it was just the two of them together.