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Jabber looked up at the sky, the sphere in all its blazing glory falling to the ground as Rudo and the other Watchman series weilders except Zodyl tried their earnest to stop it.
He knew from the sheer size of the sphere the impact would be world-ending, especially with its speed and mass it was currently hurtling towards the Ground. Jabber was many things but stupid wasn’t one of them, you just couldn’t be when dabbling in poisons and toxins the way he does. He knew no matter how far he ran unless those guys stopped it, he wouldn’t be able to escape somewhere remotely safe, let alone a place he’d be able to survive with a similar quality of life he’d previously had been living at. Plus there was no way he could run, Mr Bad Attitude had made sure of that during their fight, his legs were pretty much obliterated to the point the pain he usually chased was no longer pleasure it was numbness, probably from some form of nerve damage. Even with his poisons and toxins he could guarantee he’d get feelings back in his legs for a while. Not without actual medical treatment. So that was great, so all he could do was push himself against the rubble and watch the end move closer.
Speaking of Mr Bad Attitude he could see the other man stumble over, looking worn out, his usual uptight appearance unraveled, to what only Jabber could describe as beautiful, as he held his vital instrument close as he stumbled over to him.
“You give up?” The blond tried to bark at him, as he tried to raise Lovely Assistaff towards Jabber’s throat as a smirk crossed his tanned face, yet he knew it lacked the blissed or even crazed look it usually had.
“Nah, not give up. Just catching my breath is all” He said his own vital instrument returning to their more standard claw-like form causing the paler of the pair’s eyebrow to raise with suspicion. They both knew it was a lie, but truly neither wanted the fight to end.
Their fight ending would put an end to their long standing cat and mouse game, a game they’d been playing for far too long. Chasing one another like children playing tag, never getting enough of their game. Leaving them to confront what they were and what they wanted to be. A masochist and the sadist, dancing around one another leaving wounds instead of affection, to fill a cardinal need they shared. A need neither could really share in its rawest form. It would complicate what already was something so hard to truly grasp, twist them and their loyalties into something that would have to give. Something real and that could have them lose everything.
Jabber blinked as he watched the other start to stumble, the wounds he’d given finally taking effect, blood starting to pool at their feet, it made Zanka look beautiful to him. Any other time he’d have been half hard at the sight but now the numbness he could only watch as the other coughed and wheezed.
“Ya know any other time I’d be half hard man.” He said as Zannka kicked him before he stumbled to the ground, Jabber laughed at the act. Not feeling the kick as his leg, twisted and broken, just flopped to the side.
“Just shut the fuck up…” Zanka hissed as he tried to keep some distance between him and Jabber.
Silence fell between the pair as Jabber laughed, letting his head fall on Zanka’s shoulder, closing the gap the other had formed. His locs falling onto the other’s chest and being seeped in the other’s blood. Blue eyes met pink eyes before looking back at the dust filled sky as it was mottled fire like glows from vital instruments being activated.
“Man, we’re a mess…” Jabber hummed watching the Sphere seem to start to burn as it came closer to impacting the Ground.
“How are you so calm? We’re going to die.” The younger of the pair hissed out as he spat out blood. The light skin frowned as he raised a claw and lightly pricked the other’s skin, giving him enough to take the edge off the pain but not to outright immobilise him. He knew the other well enough he’d want to face the end head on as if he could actually fight it.
“Man, I knew from the minute I saw the Sphere hurtling towards us it was game over…” He said casually as Zanka looked at him in horror. Not the look he usually gives him, the look of anger and disgust tinged with something warmer.
“And you stayed…” Zanka murmured as the sky seemed to turn black in that moment and the only light came from vital instruments and the burning Sphere.
“Yeah… couldn’t leave you all alone.” Jabber said, his voice sounded softer than he’d expected or intended for it to be.
“Did we even have a chance?” Zanka asked the question heavy in the air as wind rushed towards them as dust tangled itself in their hair.
“Mhm… Yeah you Cleaners did…” Jabber hummed, answering the double sided question. The governing body that was the Cleaners always stood a chance but them, the ones like themselves who were twisted and broken in ways that showed humanity’s darkest underbelly, who looked for others just like them for comfort. They never stood a chance. Jabber knew that in the bottom of his heart.
He could feel the other’s body rattle as he wheezed, probably from the adrenaline fading away as broken bones showed themselves that even his toxins couldn’t hide.
“Do you regret this?” Zanka asked, his head finally lulling to the side resting in Jabber’s hair.
“Nah…” Jabber said as he raised his hand as Mankira’s claws brushed against Lovely Assistaff. “Because I’d never have met you…” Jabber hummed looking as their blood pooled together, proving their souls and body were truly linked together. He felt the other chuckle before a cough raked his body. The pair watched what seemed to be the ensuing end as Zanka whispered out.
“If this is the end, would you chase me in our next life?” He said, eyes still focused on the Sphere as Jabber looked up at him, a grim grin reaching his lips.
The black man felt something warm blossom in his chest as he looked down at Mankira and Lovely Assistaff, having returned to their normal forms pressed into their flesh. A hand went to grasp Zanka’s free one. It’s contorted, broken form sitting comfortably in his own, a laugh left his lips as he pressed his face into the other’s neck.
“You don’t have to ask me twice.” He wheezed out pain finally reaching him mixed tantalisingly with pleasure as his ribs stabbed his lungs. “Every life I want to have you beat me bloody.” He said as the air around them began to warm, the winds roaring around them.
“Good, you freak…” Zanka said pale lips smashing into his light brown.
The kiss tasted of dust, blood and something akin to hope. It was short and brief, neither having the energy to let it continue for longer. It didn’t cause sparks but it confirmed whatever it had between them.
He felt Zanka rest his head on top of his once more as his breathing became shallow. Jabber guessed he’d closed his eyes to preserve his energy, or maybe he was watching whatever was happening to the sphere, he really didn’t care anymore as he let out a chuckle. He’d won in the way it mattered most to him
If this was his end so be it, he’d lived the life he wanted and found something tangible. Something he’d chase in this life and the next. Someone who’d give him all the pain and pleasure he wanted. He bit his lip as he heard the wind howl into his ear, he spared a glance at the sphere which was surrounded by a black and red glow but returned his gaze to the bloody and beaten Zanka.
At this point life nor death didn’t matter, after all he had their promise made with blood, pain and pleasure he’ll keep in this life and the next.