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*Jabber laughed again, even with blood at the corner of his mouth.*
*He wiped it away with the back of his hand and leaned against the bent metal behind him, breathing a little harder now that the fight was over.*
“That all? Thought you’d hit harder than that.”
*Zanka stepped closer, staring at him without answering right away, eyes sharp even though the danger had already passed.*
“You never shut up.”
*Jabber tilted his head and smiled wider, like that answer was exactly what he expected.*
“And you never stop reacting.”
*zanka grabbed the front of Jabber’s jacket and shoved him hard against the wall.
The metal behind Jabber rattled from the impact, the sound echoing through the junkyard.
Jabber let out a short laugh instead of complaining.*
“There it is.”
*Zanka tightened his grip.*
“You do this on purpose.”
*Jabber looked directly at him, still not trying to move away.*
“Only cause it works.”
*Zanka’s eyes narrowed.*
“You got problems.”
*Jabber’s grin softened a little.*
“Probably.”
*He shifted just enough that their faces were closer.*
“But your still here.”
*For a second, Zanka didnt answer.*
*His hand moved from Jabber’s collar to his jaw, fingers pressing lightly just to hold him still.*
“You smile every time something hurts.”
*Jabber’s breathing changed, but he kept smiling.*
“Not every time. Just when it’s you.”
*That made Zanka pause.*
*Jabber noticed immediately.*
“See? Did it again.”
“Did what.”
*Jabber looked down at where Zanka was still holding him, then back up.*
“Act like you dont care while literally not letting go.”
*zanka frowned but didnt move his hand.*
“You talk too much.”
*Jabber laughed softly.*
“And you like shutting me up.”
*zanka shoved him again, harder this time.*
*Jabber hit the wall and laughed under his breath like that only proved his point.*
“You really are messed up,” Zanka muttered.
*Jabber looked at him for a second, grin smaller now.*
“Yeah. But you still saved me back there.”
*The words came quieter than usual.
*Zanka’s expression shifted just enough to notice.*
“You almost got crushed because you ignored me.”
*Jabber shrugged as much as he could while pinned there.*
“Still came back for me.”
*Neither of them spoke for a second.*
*The junkyard stayed quiet around them except for metal creaking somewhere above.
Zanka’s thumb brushed near the cut on Jabber’s lip before he seemed to realize he was doing it.
Jabber’s eyes widened just slightly.*
*“There,” Jabber said softly. “That.”
“What.”
*Jabber smiled, but this one looked less teasing.*
“That thing where you act rough then suddenly careful.”
*zanka stared at him.*
“You notice too much.”
*Jabber leaned his head back against the wall but kept looking at him.*
“Only when it’s you.”
*That made the silence heavier.*
*Zanka stayed close instead of stepping back.
Jabber’s grin faded just enough to look honest.*
“You know if you keep looking at me like that, i’m gonna think you got a crush.”
*zanka didnt let go.*
“And if i do?”
*For once Jabber had no fast answer.
He blinked, then smiled slower.*
“Then your slower then me cause i figured mine out first.”
*Zanka studied him for a second, then his hand tightened slightly at Jabber’s collar again not rough, just enough to keep his attention.*
“You know what your problem is?”
*Jabber’s grin came back.*
“Lot of options there.”
“You act reckless because you already expect someone to drag you back out.”
*Jabber opened his mouth, but Zanka kept talking.*
“And you push harder when you think nobody’s looking.”
*That made Jabber go quiet.
Zanka’s voice dropped lower, steadier now.*
“But when you actually focus… when you stop trying to prove something… you fight better than half the people out here.”
*Jabber stared at him, grin fading completely this time.*
“...You serious?”
*Zanka thumb brushed the edge of his jaw again, brief but deliberate.*
“I dont repeat things i dont mean.”
*For once Jabber looked caught off guard, like that hit harder than being shoved had.*
“You really picked now to say that?”
“You finally stayed quiet long enough.”
*Jabber laughed once, softer than before, but there was heat in his face now he couldnt hide.*
“Thats unfair.”
“What is.”
“You sound way too calm saying stuff like that.”
*Zanka leaned just a little closer.*
“Then stop making me say it twice.”
*Jabber smiled again, smaller now, eyes locked on his.*
“...Might not.”
*For a second neither of them moved, and Jabber kept staring like he was thinking too hard.
Then his grin returned slower this time, sharper.*
“Oh.”
*Zanka frowned slightly.*
“What.”
*Jabber’s eyes narrowed with sudden interest, like he had just figured something out.*
“That worked way too well.”
“What worked.”
*Jabber tilted his head, smile widening again.*
“You praising me.”
*Zanki’s expression flattened immediately.
“Dont start.”
“No, wait.” Jabber laughed softly. “That actually explains a lot.”
“You’re imagining things.”
*Jabber ignored that completely.*
“Your face changed.”
“My face did not change.”
“It did.” He looked far too pleased now. “You looked way more confident saying that than when you were threatening me.”
“That sentence makes no sense.”
“It does if i’m right.”
*Zankas hand tightened at his collar again.*
“About what.”
*Jabber leaned forward just enough to close what little distance remained, grin bright despite the cut on his lip.*
“You like hearing it too.”
*That got silence.*
Real silence.*
*The kind that made Jabber even more certain he’d landed on something important.
He watched carefully, catching the tiny shift in Zanka’s jaw, the way his eyes narrowed but not because he was angry.
And that was enough.*
“Oh wow,” Jabber said under his breath, almost laughing again. “I’m right.”
“You talk like you want another shove.”
“Maybe later.”
*Zankaglared at him, but Jabber noticed he still wasnt stepping back.*
*That only encouraged him more.*
“Alright then.” Jabber smiled, voice dropping softer. “You were good back there.”
“Dont.”
“You moved before i even saw that thing coming.”
*Zanka looked annoyed, but he listened.*
“You cut through half that wreck before it hit me,” Jabber continued. “Honestly kinda impressive.”
“I said dont.”
*Jabber’s grin got wider because now he was sure.*
“And your timing was perfect.”
*This time Zanka actually looked away for half a second.*
*That tiny reaction made Jabber laugh.*
“No way.” Jabber said
“Stop talking.” Zanka replied
“You actually hate compliments?”
“No.”
*The answer came too quick.
Jabber blinked, then laughed harder.*
“There it is.”
*Zanka looked back at him immediately.*
“You are impossible.”
“And your good under pressure.” Jabber kept going, clearly enjoying this now. “Like, annoyingly good you’re such a good boy.”
*Zanka grip stayed firm, but his expression had changed in a way Jabber had almost never seen before still serious, but less sharp, like the irritation didnt fully reach his eyes anymore.*
“You figured one thing out and now you wont stop.”
“Nope.”
*Jabber smiled softer now.*
“You should hear it more though.”
“Hear what.”
“That your good.”
*Zanka narrowed his eyes again, but weaker this time.*
“I know when i’m good.”
“Yeah, but you still listened I never knew a sadist like you could have a praise kink...”
*That answer landed.*
“..I don’t..!”
Jabber noticed the tiny pause and lowered his voice.
“You do.”
“I listened because you keep talking until it’s impossible not to.”
“And because you liked it.”
Zanka exhaled slowly through his nose, almost like he was deciding whether arguing mattered.
“You really think you understand everything that fast.”
“No.” Jabber looked straight at him. “Just you a little.”
*That changed the mood again.
Less playful now.
Still close.
Still impossible to ignore.
Jabber shifted carefully against the wall, not trying to escape, just enough that his shoulder brushed the metal behind him.*
“You know what else?” he said quieter.
“What.”
“You looked relieved when i stood back up.”
*Zanka eyes sharpened.*
“You looked stupid standing there bleeding.”
“Thats not denial either.”
*Zanka didnt answer.*
Because honestly
For one second during the fight, when the wreckage dropped and Jabber disappeared under the steel, Zanka had felt something
cold hit his chest before he even moved.
He hated that Jabber could read parts of that now.
*Jabber watched him carefully, grin fading into something more open.*
“You really did worry.”
“You nearly died.”
“Yeah.”
*Jabber’s voice dropped softer again.*
“But you came fast.”
“Bad choice of words.”
That made Jabber laugh immediately.
“See? Still got you reacting.”
*For the first time, Zanka almost smiled barely there, but Jabber noticed.*
*And once Jabber noticed, he stared.*
“Oh thats unfair.”
“What now.”
“You cant do that.”
“Do what.”
“That.” Jabber looked genuinely offended now. “You almost smiled.”
“You hit your head.”
“No, seriously.” He laughed under his breath. “That was worse than the praise thing.”
*zanki finally let some of the grip loosen at Jabber’s collar, but he still didnt move away.*
“You notice every useless detail.”
“Only if it’s yours.”
That answer came too naturally.
And they both heard it.
*For a second Jabber looked like maybe he wanted to take it back, but he didnt.*
*Instead he kept looking straight at him.*
*Then he added*
“You should smile more though. Looks good.”
*zamka froze just slightly.
There it was again that same tiny reaction Jabber had noticed earlier.
And now he understood it even better.*
“You really cant handle praise,” Jabber said, almost delighted.
“I can handle it.”
“No, you absolutely cant.”
Jabber laughed softly, but there was warmth behind it now instead of teasing alone.
“You get all weird.”
“You are currently pinned against a wall and still talking like you won.”
“Maybe i did.”
“How.”
*Jabbe r smiled slowly.*
“Because now i know what works on you too.”
*Zanka stared at him, expression unreadable for a second.
Then his hand shifted again, not rough, just firm enough to keep Jabber focused.*
“And what exactly are you planning to do with that.”
“Use it constantly.”
“That sounds terrible.”
“You looked good saving me.” *Jabber said it immediately*
*zanka looked away again for half a second.*
“You’re doing that on purpose.”
“Your shoulders srelaxed.”
“They did not.”
“They did.”
*Jabber leaned forward just slightly, grin softer now.*
“You like when someone notices.”
*zanka looked back at him.*
“And you like saying it.”
“Maybe.”
“Why.”
*Jabber hesitated first real hesitation in a while.*
Then answered honestly.
“Cause when i say something good and you actually listen…” He smiled, smaller now. “Feels like i got your attention different.”
That quieted everything again.
No teasing left in that answer.
Just truth.
*zanka studied him longer than before, then finally moved his hand from Jabber’s collar only to brace it beside his head against the wall instead.*
Still close.
Still there.
“You already had my attention,” Zanka said quietly.
And for the first time since the fight ended, Jabber had nothing smart to say back.