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The festival was an opportunity to unwind and celebrate their team’s recent successes.
Corvus told them to take some well-deserved time off to have fun since they’d been working hard lately. They didn’t have any new leads on the watchman series or the sphere to investigate, and Enjin agreed that it was a good a time as any to take a break.
So their leader took team Akuta’s combatants and the cleaners’ newest recruits, Fu and Amo, to an event in a city Zanka had visited only a few times. He wasn’t very familiar with its history, but he knew it had a strong connection to music like Canvas town did with art and that it was the home of many popular performers. The festival they were attending was a music festival, the artists playing songs from many different genres to celebrate their city’s rich history.
When they arrived in the dusky afternoon they started exploring, finding themselves surrounded by the smell of delicious street food, party lights, and music. The air was electric, people dancing and singing in every corner. It was a lot for someone more introverted like Zanka, but he couldn’t deny that the cheerful vibe chased away some of the built-up tiredness that was weighing him down.
Chatting casually amongst themselves as they walked, the cleaners passed multiple performers, street food vendors, and stalls selling instruments, accessories, toys, and other random wares. It seemed like many people from neighboring towns took advantage of the large gathering to sell things.
“I’m getting kinda hungry,” Riyo mumbled as they walked, eyes following the food in someone’s hands as they walked by, “we should get somethin’ to eat soon.”
“I wanna check out the dessert stalls, I saw some sweets earlier that I wanna try,” Rudo added, the crazed gleam in his eyes making Zanka pity the unfortunate vendor who fell victim to his sweet tooth.
“Amo could go for some sweets!”
Enjin chuckled at their enthusiasm.
“Alright, alright, we can go find somethin’ to eat. Let’s go raid the food stalls!” He declared, earning cheers from Riyo and Amo. Fu laughed nervously.
“I think I’ll walk around and check out the other vendors,” Zanka interrupted, not particularly interested in eating or dealing with Rudo’s inevitable transformation into a sugar-crazed beast.
“Maybe I’ll ask around to see if there’s any intel on raider activity or unusual trash beasts.”
It’d be good to know if anythin’ odd was happening in the area in case there’s trouble, he reasoned. He definitely wasn’t wondering if a certain raider had been spotted around here.
“Always thinkin’ about work, even when we’re supposed to be taking a break,” Enjin laughed and patted him on the back.
“Okay, I’ll take these four to get some food. I trust you’ll be fine on your own, Zanka?” He threw his arms over Rudo and Fu’s shoulders. Fu squeaked and Rudo grunted, already trying to wriggle out from under his arm.
Zanka nodded. “Yeah, I’ll find you guys later.”
“Alright, call if you need anythin’,” Enjin turned the two younger cleaners in the direction of the food. Amo and Riyo followed behind them, laughing at Rudo’s grumbling as Enjin ruffled his hair.
Zanka watched them walk off in the opposite direction for a second before turning to start asking around for intel. He questioned a few local vendors about whether they’d seen anything unusual in the area recently, emphasizing raider and trash beasts activity, but nobody had any new information.
He sighed, deciding to roam a little and find something else to entertain himself for a bit until he had to meet up with the others.
After a few minutes of walking, the sounds of lively music and cheering reached his ears, drawing him towards a crowd of people that were watching some local musicians perform.
There were four of them, each playing an instrument. One of the musicians, a tall, beautiful woman, sang as she tapped a tambourine on her wrist. She seemed to be singing a duet with a man playing fingerstyle guitar. Another person tapped a hand drum while the fourth played the trumpet.
Some of people from the crowd were dancing in the space in front of them, swaying and spinning with playful smiles. Others stood on the side and watched, singing and clapping alongside the performers.
Deciding to observe for a little while, Zanka stood against a building on the outskirts of the crowd. The dancers moved in a pattern, swishing and twirling with grace and ease. It was a simple dance, but the quick, synchronized movements made it look elegant.
Zanka had never danced before, but he could appreciate the artistry and skill that went into it. To him it wasn’t unlike fighting—both had a sort of choreography with flowing, precise moves. But fighting was sharp edges where dancing was smooth transitions, and Zanka was better suited to sharp edges.
Zanka felt himself relax, suddenly wishing the rest of his team was here to enjoy the festivities. It would be funny to watch Rudo struggle as Riyo inevitably tried to drag them into the circle. He chuckled to himself at the thought.
“Y’know, I really like this city.”
Zanka jumped, a hand darting to Lovely Assistaff.
It was unusual that someone could sneak up on him so easily. His eyes darted to the space next to him, where a hooded man now stood.
When it registered that he recognized the bright pink eyes and irritating voice directed at him, his grip on Assistaff loosened.
Jabber grinned down at him, tilting his head as their eyes met. He had his hands tucked into the pockets of loose pants, posture relaxed and nonthreatening.
Zanka sighed and closed his eyes, willing his heart to steady.
“It’s you.” He regarded him neutrally, turning his gaze back to the crowd.
“It’s me,” Jabber leaned forward, turning to insert himself further into his field of vision. The hood of his jacket fell, his dreads spilling out over his shoulders. Zanka glanced at him before letting out an exasperated huff.
“The hell are you doing here? Don’t ya got trouble to stir up somewhere else?”
“Not much of a point if you’re not there, Zanky,” Jabber shrugged. “I just heard this event is cool and I like music so, here I am.”
Zanka frowned at his answer, not expecting something so.. normal. Ignoring the first half.
“Are you really gonna bother me on my day off?” He raised an eyebrow and Jabber chuckled in response, throwing him a crazed smile.
“Depends. You in the mood for a scrap? I came here for the festival, but I’d never turn down a fight with you.”
Zanka rolled his eyes. “I’m not fightin’ you today. Let’s just enjoy the festival and I can beat yer ass next time.”
Jabber put his hands up in mock-surrender and nodded. “You got it, babe. No fighting,” his smile turned sly, “but we can have fun in other ways, right?”
Zanka looked at him strangely. What does that mean?
These days Jabber had a way of catching him off guard. Their dynamic had become.. complicated. They no longer felt like enemies, but they still were by affiliation.
Over the past few months they encountered each other on occasion during Zanka’s missions, which at first often resulted in a fight that left Zanka bloody and breathless.
He’d improved since his first couple of fights with Jabber, even beating him down a couple times, but it was usually just because Jabber made a reckless mistake in his excitement, giving Zanka an opening to land a solid hit.
But over time the malice in their swings and slashes seemed to fade, leaving something more harmless. Routine. Their rivalry became casual, like meeting up for practice more than anything, their interactions more familiar.
Nowadays Jabber sometimes wouldn’t even pick a fight, instead just teasing him or trying to rile him up with provocative comments before disappearing.
He was annoying, but Zanka wasn’t itching to get away. He never wanted to run before because he never turned down a challenge, but even when they weren’t fighting Zanka humored his antics.
Like right now.
“Do I wanna know what ‘other ways’ you got in mind?” Zanka watched him with guarded expression, crossing his arms over his chest.
Jabber looked at the dancers and then back at Zanka, an obvious question directed at him. Zanka stiffened, shaking his head immediately.
“I’m not dancing.”
Jabber quirked an eyebrow, fire in his eyes and a cheeky smirk forming on his face.
“Nah. No way. I can’t-” Zanka took a small step backwards, his back hitting the brick wall behind him. Jabber stepped forward.
“Come on, Mr. bad attitude!” He put a hand over his heart, a sincere gleam in his eyes. “It’s easy! I can lead, you just gotta move when I move. I’ll teach ya.”
Zanka pursed his lips, hesitating. Dancing with Jabber. He felt funny at the thought.
It was difficult to understand the raider’s motives. Jabber was like a puzzle he’d nearly completed but was missing a few pieces that prevented him from fully understanding the whole picture. He’d picked up on a lot of his quirks and habits during the time they’d known each other, but there were still things he didn’t know or expect. The uncertainty of what dwelled in the holes in his impression made him nervous.
He didn’t like not knowing. Jabber was wild and unpredictable, and Zanka’s mind screamed to get away and distrust him whenever he got close.
But here he was, his heart stubbornly pulling him towards the enemy. Asking him to let himself fall.
The worst part is that Zanka wants to learn more about him. Despite everything, Zanka is drawn to him for some inexplicable reason.
Jabber reaches out a hand, presenting him with an open palm and an annoying smirk. Mankira winks up him in the sunlight.
Without thinking, Zanka takes his hand, the usual bite of his metal rings turned reassuring as Jabber squeezes his hand. He briefly thinks that he likes the way their hands fit together.
The raider’s grin widened, a surprised giggle spilling from his lips as he pulled Zanka along, moving towards the dancers.
“W-wait! Seriously, I dunno how to dance!” Zanka started yanking his arm back, prompting Jabber to pull harder. Anxiety rose in his chest as the music grew louder.
“Just trust me!” Jabber shouted back.
More people joined the crowd as the music crescendoed, bouncing and dipping in time with the rhythm before trading partners. Jabber laughed freely with them, pulling Zanka into a twirl as they reached the middle of the circle, catching him with a hand on his waist. The shorter boy stumbled as he was dragged along, letting out a surprised noise that made Jabber laugh harder.
Zanka glared at him before shifting his focus on trying to imitate the steps he observed earlier when he watched from the sidelines. He subconsciously leaned into Jabber’s hand as the taller boy smoothly guided them through the dance and out of the way of the others.
Jabber smirked at his focused expression as Zanka stared down at their feet, trying to match his steps. Jabber removed the hand on his waist briefly to tilt his chin up.
“Eyes up. Just follow my movements with your feet,” Jabber instructed, like it would suddenly come naturally to Zanka.
“Try not to think too hard about it and just move with me,” he added with a playful squeeze on his hip.
Zanka opened his mouth to respond with a snarky comment about how naturals wouldn’t get the average person’s struggle when someone bumped into him from the side. His eyes widened in panic as he tripped, but Jabber quickly caught his arm and pulled him back towards him, immediately swaying them into another spin.
“I got you.” His eyes glimmered with amusement. Zanka grumbled at Jabber’s cocky expression.
The people around them started clapping again as the song approached the climax. Jabber’s hair accessories clinked against each other as they moved, adding his own music to the mix. Zanka clutched Jabber’s hand tighter as they sped up, the rest of his body slowly loosening as he got comfortable.
Jabber tilted his head back and let out a cheer with the crowd as the spun, loud and carefree. Zanka stared, taken aback at the pure, unadulterated joy on Jabber’s face.
He’d never seen him look like this. Usually his laughter was accompanied by a manic gleam and sadistic edge, never something as innocent as this.
Jabber’s hand released his, fingertips trailing down Zanka’s forearm and guiding his arm over his shoulder. He pressed his hand further down the side of his body before settling it on his waist, the metal bangles he wore pressing against Zanka’s skin through his shirt.
Zanka clasped his hands behind the taller boy’s neck, suddenly very aware of their proximity as the position forced him closer. He could smell lavender on his clothes, mixed with the faint scent of chemicals and iron that made him shiver at its familiarity. Eyes meeting, Jabber smiled his usual smile, only this time it didn’t carry the characteristic wildness.
It was as if everything they’d experienced—the fights, the violence, the pain—all of it faded away and left them in this moment. Jabber felt like a normal person, not a maniac. Not a raider.
He lost himself in the swishing fabric, the warmth of the contact, the pleasant smell. Jabber pulled gently on his hips, guiding his feet with experienced ease.
Zanka’s breath hitched as he was suddenly pulled from his thoughts into another spin. The crowd around them grew louder, their energy seeping into his skin and forming cracks in his composure. His stomach dipped with the movement, the nervous tingle he felt before fading into a pleasant hum.
Zanka’s lips lifted into a small smile, a quiet laugh escaping him. Jabber’s eyes lit up immediately at the sound, giving him his full attention.
“You should smile more often, Mr. bad attitude.”
Zanka blinked, smirking back at him. “Enjoy it while it lasts.”
Jabber yanked Zanka in response, earning a yelp from the other boy and throwing him off balance.
Zanka’s quick reflexes saved him from crashing into Jabber, a hand darting from the taller boy’s neck to his shoulder to steady himself. He glared at Jabber’s delighted expression, his foot darting out to stomp on the raider’s shoe as a warning. Jabber squeezed his waist again in response.
“So quick to anger,” Jabber grinned, “that’s what I love about you.”
Zanka flushed, sputtering an unintelligible response.
His hand gripped the fabric of Jabber’s jacket and pulled back in a tug-of-war of control, causing them to stumble clumsily and nearly bump into a couple.
Jabber giggled at his obvious annoyance, using their momentum to counter Zanka’s attempt to throw him off balance. Zanka huffed, smiling to himself.
The carefree vibe in the air was infectious. It felt fleeting like a dream, but the sensations were real.
Connection like this wasn’t uncommon on the Ground, especially in close-knit communities like Canvas town, but it always surprised Zanka how so many people could come together and share such happiness despite being strangers.
Though it was even more surprising that he ended up dancing with a man who was his enemy, someone who tried to poison him numerous times in the past, someone he thought he hated.
He knew in the back of his mind that when the music ended and they stopped moving, reality would resume. They would go back to being rivals, hell-bent on defeating the other.
Zanka’s heart stuttered at the thought.
It surprised him. The realization that he didn’t want to hate Jabber. That he might even like Jabber.
He suddenly remembered something Jabber said to him during one of their battles.
When you’re with me, you’re free.
At the time he didn’t like what it implied. He wasn’t sure if he was ready to unpack what it meant in this context.
He didn’t know how long they’d been dancing. They were both flushed and slightly sweaty, the air between them heavy with unspoken attraction. The song approached its climax, and Zanka surrendered himself, letting Jabber lead.
When the final note played, Jabber stopped their movements with a flourish, dipping Zanka backwards. Zanka’s stomach fluttered, eyes widening in surprise.
The raider shot him a wink before pulling the shorter boy back up as he straightened, the crowd around them exchanging smiles and laughs.
Zanka panted, trying to catch his breath. He glanced back at Jabber only to find the other boy already staring.
They eyed each other for a moment before Zanka opened his mouth the speak, only to be interrupted by a familiar voice calling him.
“Zanka!”
Zanka whipped around, spotting Rudo waving at him in the distance.
He cursed to himself quietly. I guess it’s time to meet up.
Zanka turned back to Jabber to warn him, but before he could say anything Jabber had already brought Zanka’s hand to his cheek, leaning in to press his lips to Zanka’s palm.
Zanka’s brain stuttered.
Jabber grinned at his dumbstruck expression, releasing his hand to let it fall back to his side.
“That was fun! A nice change from our usual song n’ dance.” He stepped backwards, further into the crowd. “You should run to your friends now.”
“Wait, you can’t just-“
“Zanka, over here!” Riyo shouted, waving next to Rudo.
Zanka let out a frustrated breath. “We’ll talk next time. I ain’t done with you.”
Jabber shivered, earning a scowl from Zanka. “Next time, Zan-zan. That’s a promise.”
Zanka nodded stiffly and turned to walk over to where Rudo and Riyo were standing, their arms full of half-eaten snacks.
He could feel Jabber’s eyes on him through the crowd as he walked away.
When he looked back, the raider was gone.
“Were you dancing?” Riyo gave him a puzzled look, eyes drifting to the musicians as they began playing their next song.
“Nah just.. enjoying the music,” Zanka mumbled. Riyo and Rudo looked at each other and shrugged, dragging Zanka off to where the others were waiting.
Zanka smiled to himself. I think I like this city too.