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It was a normal sparring session between Zanka and Jabber. The masochistic was estatic as always, even with his broken rib. Zanka glared at him, his eyes full of spite, but also something..unreadable. He stopped fighting all together and started at Jabber, not making a move, not talking, nothing.
"...Huh?" Jabber let out a sharp laugh as soon as he noticed Zanka stopped moving. He noticed how he stared at him, eyes full of something he couldn't really read.
"Hey man! Why'd you stop fighting? It was just getting interesting! Ya wanna fist fight? I can punch you right now, Mr. Bad Attitude—" He was cut off by Zanka long strides. Lovely Assistaff laid forgotten against a pile of trash as Zanka got closer and closer.
"Ha! Okei dokiee! We're fist fighti—" Jabber's voice cut off when Zanka cupped his face into his hands. The dread head's hot pink eyes were filled with confusion before turning into panic and anger as he swatted at Zanka and tried to push him off, one hand ending on the cleaner's face.
"Stop it! It's ain't funny anymore, dude! Get your hands off me!" Jabber trashed against Zanka like a wild animal, but the cleaner didn't let go, which only fueled to the raider's panic. He wasn't planning on using Mankira anytime soon now.
"I'm not gonna fight you anymore today, Jabber. You're far from the state to be this cocky about fighting." Zanka's voice was grim and filled of concern as he held Jabber, struggling to keep his hold on him since he was struggling. Jabber kept struggling and swatting to the point they both fell on the ground. The only think to be heard was trash beast's in the distance and Jabber's shaky breath as he tried to pull away, but Zanka's grip was firm as steel.
"I thought we were fighting—i thought—i thought you'd roughen me up like you always do! Not—not fucking boring me man!" Jabber's voice was panicked, his eyes looking crazed and his hands shook while still actively trying to push Zanka away.
"Jabber—"
"We're supposed to fight! And now you're—fuck! You're playing me! What point is it there to call me to spar when—when you're like this—!"
"LIsten to me Jab—"
"Just let me fight! Roughen me up—punch me! Hit me!" Jabber's voice was shaky, looking around for a way to escape, but Zanka's grip was still too firm for his trembling body to fight off.
"Listen to me, Jabber. You don't always have to use pain to cope. I've noticed how you've been acting for the past few weeks. You've been weirder—hell, even more masochistic than usual. So stop trying to push me away when—"
"SHUT UP!" Jabber's voice cut him off, his hands slamming over his mouth, his whole body trembling. He looked panicked, terrifyied even. Zanka had caught up on his matters, a problem he hated to deal with, and now the cleaner wanted to help him. The dread head pushed Zanka to the ground, his breath hitched shaky, his eyes unfocused, but no tears in sight.
"Please—please just let it go.." Jabber cried out, still trying to pull away, blood smeared on his face slowly mixed with dirt and sweat and dropped down. It was a futile attempt as Zanka held him closer, Jabber was too shaken up to process it. His limbs were weak as he slammed his head down onto Zanka's shoulder, both of them laying in the trash, with Jabber on top and Zanka's arms wrapped around him.
"..ugh..nghh..." Jabber sniffles, refusing to let the tears fall down. He simply just let Zaanka hold him, even if he didn't look it as much. The dread head's body was still trembling, but not as much as before.
"You're a big ass, you know that, Mr. Bad Attitude?" Jabber's voice lacked the usual mockness and sass. He couldn't look at Zanka like this, not in this state, and it seemed that Zanka didn't really mind. No, he was more concered than anything, and that's what creeped Jabber out.
"Yeah..let's just...let's get you cleaned up, okay? Then we'll talk about this later." Zanka's voice was soothing, doing a mild effect on Jabber as the tension in his body slowly melted. The dread head nodded softly against his chest, too tired to speak, too tired to fight. It was a start. Small, but it was working.