Work Text:
“When are we gonna get there, man? I’m dyin' of thirst in this heat.”
Zanka said annoyed, having agreed to their weekly fight between him, Hyo, and Jabber on such a hot day in the eastern part of the Ground.
It wasn’t because of some huge, shining sphere called the “sun,” like Rudo when talks about the Sphere—which is already very rare. The guy doesn’t say anything about himself unless he’s questioned, and the Cleaners doesn’t provoke him and leaves him alone—he’s got enough on his plate already. Plus, information on Gekai isn’t free.
The thing about the heat is that precipitation can’t escape the atmosphere because of the dark, heavy clouds covering the entire earth.
Ugh, he’d be better off staying home and spending time taking care of Lovely Assistaff. Or listening to music with Riyo in her chilly room with her personal fan. He’d rather help Eisha clean the medical equipment. Or he could had watch a movie with Shikage, who he gets along with pretty well. Or Enjin. Enjin... he’d love to spend time with Enjin, but he always disappears suddenly from HQ without telling anyone where he’s going, which isn’t anything new, but sometimes it’s really frustrating. I mean, hello: 'You’re my mentor and you don’t even try to talk to me?' Anyway.
Rudo is out of the question. He’s wasted precious time trying to guide him through this shitty life. I mean, yeah, Zanka is good at understanding vital instruments, but he also needs to teach him mundane things like tips on emotional intelligence (which he himself isn’t good at) and smiling (ugh, he doesn’t even want to remember of the traumas he’s witnessed). This kid always manages to give him a heart attack.
Rudo isn’t a bad kid, far from it. But he’s incredibly annoying, damn genius.
Now Zanka is on a shady street with Hyo, following Jabber (big mistake), who had the brilliant idea to go from a deserted area—which they use as a battlefield—to a hang out at a bar. And this bar is ridiculously far away. I mean, it wouldn’t take that long to get there if Jabber actually looked where he was going and didn’t have such a crappy sense of direction.
All three of them looked like they’d been run over by a train. This happens every week. They fight like it’s their last battle, and every time they get “awarded” with the most horrific injuries. Some of them might be even fatal. But because these guys are like cockroaches, they’re impossible to kill. One is too stubborn to die, refusing to give up no matter what. Another gets high on whatever crap he finds in puddles and seeks out strong men to beat him to a pulp for his own pleasure—he’s still alive. And another survived a childhood spent in the slums and a record of impeccable dedication to hundreds of... ughhh, jobs... in this economy.
At least someone had fun, *cough* *cough*, Lovely Assistaff emits a pleasant energy in Zanka’s hands, assisting him as he walks due to the injuries he sustained. When someone becomes a Giver, their vital instrument will resemble their master in personality and desires. So Lovely is full of joy that she was able to release her energy and share her anima with Mankira. She is just like Zanka.
~ (˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶)
~Seriously, aren’t you tired at all?
Zanka communicates with Lovely telepathically using anima. If they were alone, he would answer her out loud.
That’s it! Next week, Zanka will take charge of this strange group of... friends..? He doesn’t even know why they’re spending so much time together. The three of them aren’t friends—he’s sure of that. Zanka hates them both with a burning passion.
Ever since Hyo started working as a model for August, Zanka has been forced, both internally and externally, to interact with her. It was weird. And scary. It’s like running into a classmate you really don’t like at the local supermarket.
He (re)discovered that Hyo has many talents. She’s a genius in every field without even trying. And Jabber is cut from the same cloth. It’s not fair. It’s not fair at all.
I also found out that Hyo has had thousands of jobs! I mean, how employed is this girl?!
Imagine living a nice, peaceful life, and suddenly the girl who haunts your conscience even in your sleep is working under the same roof as you.
Anyway, the thing is, Zanka had a huge, violent, and emotional conflict with Hyo, and in the end, they decided to become friends...? No, that’s not it. Friends and enemies at the same time. Rivals, fighting against each other to fulfill their deepest desires. They admire and hate each other at the same time. Ugh, such complicated emotions.
But that’s not all. Zanka also accidentally found out that Hyo sometimes works for the Raiders. But she isn’t a major part of Zodyl’s shady plans. She isn’t even part of the Raiders to begin with. Rather, she’s hired from time to time to handle small jobs. Like tending to the bandids after a battle. Or things like that, which don’t give her a dangerous reputation that would attract the Hell Guard.
And who would have thought that Hyo—the brilliant, wonderful Hyo—would have as an acquaintance Jabber freaking Wonger? Another genius. Of course! They couldn’t possibly have stayed separate from each other for his miserable life.
They fought, because of course they did. And Zanka lost, obviusly.
The thing is, none of them remembers how or what happened that day (Zanka was drugged; he remembers only vaguely what happened then. Hyo has memory issues; she won’t elaborate any further. Jabber’s like hes from another planet; his answer is unbelievable, no matter how true it might be).
Afterward, the three of them became inseparable, and they can’t figure out why. You’d think they were Tache, Ianke, and Catâr.
“Don’t worry, man, I know where it is. It’s gotta be somewhere near a run-down house with a shady old guy sitting on some steps, always holding a new bottle of brandy.”
Jabber says, climbing up a drainpipe at the edge of a house and looking left and right, like a hawk on the lookout for prey.
“Ya mean da same view we been seein' all this time?”
Zanka replies, covering his face with his palms, trying to calm his frustration.
They spent half an hour trying to find that damned bar, but in the end they succeeded thanks to one of Hyo’s talents for finding things. Thank goodness for Hyo, because otherwise Zanka would’ve strangled them both.
The bar wasn’t much to speak of (for a local bar in a very small town). It had seen better days and was on the verge of falling apart.
"All right, ladies and gentlemen, get ready to taste the best juice in all of the Ground!"
The place looked even worse on the inside. The chairs and tables looked like they hadn’t been replaced since Ceaușescu’s time. Whoever that guy was. You could see the floor and walls gnawed by mice. And on the wall by a door, which presumably leads to a bathroom, an entire life cycle was growing. But despite all that, the place was decorated with traditional local ornaments. It would have looked nice if the place weren’t so run-down. It’s not the prettiest sight, especially for Zanka, but it’s not like he hasn’t seen worse. It’s normal if you live on the Ground.
“You call this the best place that sell juice…?”
Zanka whispers, without turning his head toward the person speaking.
“It seems welcoming to me.”
Hyo says in a monotone voice, looking expressionlessly straight at Zanka.
Zanka looks back at her with a raised eyebrow, waiting for Hyo to elaborate on her opinion. She looks to the side, as if trying to show some emotion, but it’s hard to tell which one. Finally, they make their way inside the bar and sit down at a table in a darker corner.
Zanka places Lovely next to him, without letting go, continuing to feel the soothing texture of her familiar wood. Hyo leans her katana against her chair.
The bartender stood behind the counter (he looked about Bro’s age), with a wall full of alcoholic beverages behind him. To the left of the wall with the drinks were two refrigerators, or rather what was left of them (one had no power and the other had a slightly broken window, probably from a fight that had happened sometime ago), and next to the door leading to the back was a cooler.
The bar didn’t necessarily have only alcoholic drinks. There were also sodas, ice cream, and candy for kids underage for drinking who have nothing better to do than hang around the bar trying to kill time. Which is exactly what they’re doing right now...
"I’d drink anything, as long as it’s cold enough."
"Same here."
"Why did we fight now, in this heat.... We’d be better off doing somethin' else, like verbal abuse or somethin'."
"Relax, my friends, I’ve got a solution. Since it’s your first day here, we can get the secret juice...."
"I don’t even care what you’re talkin' 'bout, man. Just don’t give me a concussion or somethin'."
"Secret?... I don’t think it’s a good idea to serve us something we have no clue about."
"Yeah, but come on, it’s the secret juice. It’s seriously good shit. And if you want to find out what it is, you have to try it first~!"
Jabber stood up and started heading toward the bar counter.
He and the bartender exchange a few friendly words, and he orders, “The usual, man, but three cups this time.” It’s clear they know each other. Jabber hands him a fairly large bag full of Galla (just how expensive must that secret juice be?).
The bartender disappears through the back door. It takes about a minute or so before he comes back with three wooden cups in his hand, filled with the secret juice, he supposes.
After he paid and returned to their table, he set the juices down and began staring at them excitedly. He could barely hide his impatience. 'I wonder how they’ll react!!' is probably what he’s thinking, if his face grinning from ear to ear were to say anything.
Zanka and Hyo looked at the cups. Then at each other. The juice was something they’d never seen before. It was a shade of orange-brown with white foam where it touched the cup, and it was a bit thicker in consistency. But maybe it was because of the cups, which were made of wood—who knows. It had a distinctive smell, but you can’t really tell if Jabber’s around (seriously, this guy really needs to wash, his stench is intoxicating!!). In short, it doesn’t look like your average juice on the Ground. Most juices are made by Vianders in vibrant colors that catch your eye.
Zanka remembers a similar juice from when he was a child. In the Kamuatari District, there were huge fans that cleaned the air, and there were a few trees that managed to grow there. But natural food and drinks were a rarity even in the Nijiku family. Natural drinks were served only when Father had an important guest with whom he wanted to do business. Or when there was an event that brought honor to the family (such as Kyouka and Goka’s graduation from the Academy).
“It’s poison.”
Hyo says, not with an accusatory tone, but rather as a casual observation.
“What…? What do you mean by that?”
Jabber, with his head slightly tilted down, looks at her through his eyelashes. As if he thinks Hyo is trying to insult the drink.
"It’s obvious. From what I’ve noticed, you like to intoxicate yourself."
Hyo says this as if she’s trying to explain something to him or remind him of this trait of his.
“And what does that have to do with this?! I just want to do something frendly, man! It’s not like I’d put who knows what in your ciders for my own amusement—well, I’d do that without hesitation—but believe me!! This time it’s different!”
Zanka and Hyo give Jabber a murderous look. Jabber is an unpredictable guy and has a "few" loose screws. You never really know what to expect from him, so the smartest decision is to not encourage his crazy ideas.
But Jabber is also honest. He says whatever crosses his mind out loud without thinking about whether what he’s saying is normal or not, or if his words might unintentionally hurt someone. So there’s no point in him lying right now.
"Okay, fine, I know I’m not capable of doing something nice in a normal way! But this place is one of the last ones that still makes fruit juices. I thought you guys would like it and..."
Jabber doesn’t finish his sentence. He stops abruptly, a frown crossing his face.
"Never mind..."
“Woah, calm down. It’s just weird, is all (I think…). But we're goin' to try this...juice?"
“It’s apple cider.”
Zanak takes the cup and slowly begins to raise it to his lips. Hyo follows his lead and tries a sip of the cider herself.
The apple cider was cold and had a sweet-sour taste. It didn’t have the familiar sensation of anima, made from the vital instrument of a Vianders, but rather had a distinctively lively fruit flavor. Fruit full of life.
Right after he swallowed the juice, a burning sensation began. It was so spicy that it felt as if his throat and mouth were being pricked by tiny needles filled with burning venom. It was irritating. But not quite unbearable. It’s not as if he hadn’t endured greater pain. Besides, Zanka likes snacks with a lot of flavor. But something isn’t right with this cider.
Instead of the cold liquid cooling him down, it’s making him hotter. Zanka feels his face and palms starting to redden and sweat. Okay, now it’s starting to get uncomfortable.
Hyo’s face looked strange. She isn’t known for her communication skills or for expressing emotions. So it’s hard to tell what she’s thinking.
She definitely has something on her mind. She stares directly at Jabber without blinking, as if trying to anticipate his next move. Weird.
“Um… What kinda juice… is this?”
Zanka tries to break the tension.
“Hm? Like I said, it’s apple cider.”
Jabber says, raising an eyebrow.
Suddenly, Hyo grabs him by the collar of his shirt and pulls him forward as if trying to interrogate him.
"Jabber, what’s the antidote?"
"Wh—?"
That’s when Zanka realized that the taste of the spicy juice that burned his throat all the way down to his stomach couldn’t be normal.
“Jabber?”
The juice was, in fact, poisoned, but it seems even Jabber had forgotten about that.
"Haha! Yeah... I ordered you the same thing as me, I forgot that I usually drink it with something more entertaining. The poison in it burns you from the inside out!! Cool, right?"
"Do somethin'!"
"Well, let’s see..."
Jabber pretends to be thinking about the antidote they need. The jerk already knows! He’s just making fun of them.
Zanka prepares to aim Lovely Assistaff right at his temple. Hyo is still holding him by the collar.
"Wait a minute! Don’t jump me yet!"
Jabber says, with his hands raised as if begging not to be shot. But the smile on his lips says something entirely different.
“If I’m unconscious, I won’t be able to give you the antidote.”
That... is true.
“Well, hurry up then.”
“Look—”
Mankira is wrapped in anima as Jabber activates them in all their glory. He gives them a dose of the antidote from the claw on his right hand.
How does Mankira truly work? If the rings are separated, can Jabber still activate them? Do they function as a single unit? Or can each ring be a separate tool? Would that even be possible? But what would happen if—?
"Um, are you guys okay now? I gave you a toxin with opposite properties to neutralize the poison’s effects.
"Yeah, I mean, I aint really sure. I still feel the burns, but it’s not that bad. Except that I’m dying of heat right now."
"We should pay Eishia a visit once we get to Cleaner HQ."
'Sure...' Zanka thinks, glancing sideways at Hyo.
"Just so ya know, if I’d known this was going to happen, I wouldn’t have changed a thing. You should’ve seen your faces. Haha!
Jabber says, amused. He glances back and forth between the cups and them. He’s realized something.
“Looks like our afternoon is half ruined, huh?”
“Don’t worry, I’ve got enough Galla for two more portions.”
Hyo puts a bag full of Galla on the table; Jabber and Zanka look at her in amazement. Jabber with a wide grin and Zanka with wide eyes but a neutral expression.
After Zanka and Hyo have the “unpoisoned” apple cider on the table, all three get to enjoy a peaceful afternoon. Which is a rare thing, considering that their group activities are quite violent.
They talk about all sorts of trivial things—neurotoxins found in various places Jabber has explored, complete with their effects and characteristics; different Beasts and vital instruments Zanka has encountered during his work schedule; new outfits Hyo wore for August, showing various photos she took during the photo shoot (even though it wasn’t necessary, August insisted).
Finally, they too can relax and spend time like “normal” teenagers, at least for one day a week. Right now, they aren’t criminals, or assassins, or exterminator, or labor workers. They’re just Zanka, Hyo, and Jabber—nothing more, nothing less.
"Ya know, I didn’t expect you to offer us homemade juices made from real fruit. Didn’t knew the rest of the Ground could get access to trees, like in the Kamuatari District."
"Me neither. It seems weird to me that this place is not that popular."
"Well, the thing is, this place has to remain a secret. I wouldn’t like it if anyone from the Raiders or the Cleaners or others found out about this place."
He doesn’t elaborate on the reason, but he doesn’t need to. Usually, bandits on the Ground rob everything.
[...]
After they finish drinking. It’s time for everyone to scatter and go to their nests.
But suddenly, Hyo grabs Jabber by the shoulder, her other hand resting loosely on the hilt of her katana.
“Thanks for bringing us to this place. I really enjoyed the cider.”
Hyo says, surprising the two of them. She spoke in a more monotone voice than usual. It’s clear this isn’t normal even for her. It’s possible that Wing taught Hyo these kinds of polite things to say when talking to a potential client.
“Yeah, thanks...”
Zanka adds awkwardly when he sees the conversation going nowhere.
It’s not really their style to express their gratitude or feelings with words. After all, actions speak louder than words. And Hyo, Jabber, and Zanka have agreed not to say useless things when they talk to each other. If you want something, take it, and if you’re given something, shut up. It’s simple.
“Yukk! Do you guys even hear yourselves? I don’t wanna hear you say stuff like that to me again. Gross! I thought we had an agreement?!”
“Okay, sorry, man. We wouldn’t want to hurt your fwelings.”
Zanka says in a teasing tone, grinning.
"But seriously, what’s gotten into you guys all of a sudden? Did y'all had something put in your cider or what? I mean... besides the poison, you know..."
"It’s not because of the drinks. I just wanted to test something. I found a book. In Corvus’s library."
"What?! Are ya even allowed ta go in there?! If anyone finds out, you’re so in trouble!! ya hear me!? And I’ll be to blame too!!! ... Actually, no, it’d be August..."
"Uh-huh. I'll go on. The book I found has lessons on friendship. Many of the pages are missing, but I thought it was interesting."
"Huh... Can you tell me some of the lessons?"
"Um... I kind of forgot..."
"Is fine, if you forgot them, it means they weren’t important."
"Wow! Y'all 're incredible!"
"There is one I remember thought. It was about-"
[...]
They walked until they reached the end of town.
"Are we meeting again next week?"
"Obviusly!"
And just like that, Jabber disappeared into the darkness of a lonely street. Hyo and Zanka walked a little way through the wasteland for a while until they came closer to the wall of a larger city. They called Gris to take them home.
They had completely forgotten about their physical condition, so when Gris saw that they were covered in blood and bruises, he took a deep breath and pinched the bridge of his nose with his fingers in disappointment. Afterward, he simply said, “Just so you know, I’ll tell Enjin. And you’re grounded.” But hey, at least they had the decency to apply first aid.
In a few hours, the day will come to an end, and a week full of tasks will follow. But in the end, there’s that one day that our teenagers are eagerly awaiting for. Until their next hang out.