Chapter Text
Enjin wasn't one for love.
He didn't like the feelings, the commitment, nor the drama that came along with it.
Being in love was never a goal for him, nor did he have any interest in having romantic feelings for someone. The most committed he would ever be to someone would be a friend of his and even then, Enjin doesn't like getting attached to things—except for Umbreaker.
Growing up in the pit made him realise that early on, it's better to keep yourself isolated and away from everyone else. The less connections Enjin had the less likely he was to lose another person and get hurt. After blowing his shot at the orphanage and getting his friends mixed in that…mess, Enjin always kept it engraved in his head not to let himself be bare and open to another person.
Joining the cleaners only seemed to be a bigger reminder of why he never found himself craving a strong romantic relationship. Being a Giver meant always putting the job first even if it meant pushing aside all possible dangers. Trash beasts weren't a force to beckon with nor were they an easy enemy for the cleaners. If that was the case then the ground would be completely clear by now. And Trash beasts weren't even the only issues the Cleaners had to deal with, Raiders were the biggest thorn in their side, a group of delinquiets—as Enjin likes to call them—that only make the Cleaners job harder than it already is.
That's excluding the likelihood of someone getting hurt—which was a lot more often than Enjin would like. And with most of the new cleaner recruits being barely over the age of 15 made the danger levels even higher. What if the kid was trapped and isolated from the rest of the team? What if their injury was too severe? What if they couldn't get any medical attention in time?
Though the possibility of it happening wasn't too high, the fact that the possibility still stood there made Enjin uncomfortable. Most of Team Akuta was crawling with a younger group of Givers and Supporters and he'd rather lose his Jinki then have any of them hit with the same realization and hurt he felt when he lost his friends at the orphanage.
Riyo, Zanka, Follo, Eishia, and Rudo. All of them were still too young to face the harsh reality the world held for them yet still worked to help the cleaners. It was almost funny how Enjin could remember how small each of them was when they first joined the cleaners and how much they've grown since. He vowed to take care of each and every one of them the moment he recruited them into Team Akuta and he's a man that stands by his word. He'll make sure that each and every one of them is promised the life he never had and are able to actually get to enjoy their youth.
Especially Rudo.
Now Enjin didn't favor Rudo over the others but that kids have been through a lot more stuff than Enjin would be comfortable with and along with that, he's a spherite.
A native to somewhere too far for him to go back to. Somewhere every citizen on the ground would practically kill to learn more about. They already have black markets selling dead spherite clothes—those they'd rip from spherites who were thrown into the pit, similarly to Rudo—and sometimes even their own meat and flesh. If the spherites could survive the fall too he wouldn't be surprised to see live spherites being auctioned out as slaves or even worse.
Now Enjin's mission was to find a way back to the sphere—ironic isn't it—to help Rudo and because that would probably clear out a lot of questions they've been grappling with for a while now. Someone else who'd be eager to learn about the sphere was Corvus, the cleaners boss.
Now the bossman didn't talk much or reveal much about himself but one thing was pretty clear to every cleaner, he wants to learn about the sphere. About anything that's been lost in time, something people don't know about. A man with a dangerous thirst for knowledge. But obviously even he had limits. He was aware of Rudo's limited knowledge considering that even he was a lower class citizen with little to no knowledge of the real history behind the sphere
Now they did have one particular lead, or more accurately a loose end to follow. Corvus mentioned that there was a rumor about a woman who has watched people travel between the sphere and ground. Real people, not a hallucination (Enjin obviously asked for clarification since he couldn't believe it) and they were just about to find out if those rumors were true or not.
They needed to get to the area Corvus had predicted where the woman was located. Grouping in a few people from team Akuta and team Eager—mostly givers for obvious reasons—they took the cleaners main car and drove out. They were planning on heading to Canvas Town first though. With a mission like this where the area was practically new for everyone and the enemy they were up against was unknown—for the most part—so being prepared was a must.
Gris had his hand over the steering wheel while his other arm rested over the hand rest of the car between him and Enjin who was sitting in the passenger seat. Riyo, Zanka, Rudo, and Tamys all sat in the middle seat completely passed out while Delmon, Tomme, and Follo were also sleeping at the far back.
Enjin looked back fondly at Rudo's sleeping face before brushing his hair out of his face, his face breaking into a small grin.
“You haven't been able to keep your eyes off the kid all day, Enjin. Any reason why?” The low rumble of Gris’ voice made Enjin shiver a little. He kept forgetting how gentle the man's voice really was, considering his immense strength and height.
“Im just worried about him, that's all.”
“And that calls for a full day of surveillance? You haven't ripped your eyes off him for even a second. It's like he'd fly back to the sphere the moment you looked away.” Enjin rolled his eyes and retreated back into his seat giving Gris a joking glare.
“Acting like you didn't do the same thing when Follo went out for his first mission.” It's true, Gris was practically monitoring the poor boy like a cop, he could barely get a single moment of peace the entire first week he had with team Akuta.
“That's different.” Gris Grumbled before steering away from the bump ahead on the road.
“Oh? How so?”
“Hes a supporter, we're more likely to get attacked.”
“True, but staring is still staring even if it's because you're worried.” Enjin moved Umbreaker near the window, resting it on the dior before he turned on the radio, lowering the volume down before turning on the different stations. He kept his eyes on the song and different news reports that popped on the car scene ignoring Gris' weird stare before stopping at a particular song.
“Thats more like it.”
“Really? Too Lily?” Gris slowed the car down as they reached a bumpier road, his foot lifting slightly from the gas pedal.
“You're acting like you don't love her music too.”
“Yeah, but not while everyone's sleeping.”
“Dont worry the volumes low.” Enjin turned down the music a little just enough for him to still briefly hear the lyrics and instruments in the back, meanwhile Gris only let out a small sigh, the grin on his face barely hid under his hat.
Enjin doesn't know how he keeps forgetting how pretty Gris really looked when he let himself loose. Small moments like these between missions when the two of them could finally talk or even bask in each other's presence. It was wonderful having a friend like Gris.
“We're almost there anyways. What's the harm in a bit of tunes?”
“You're just happy you have an excuse to see Gob again.”
Enjin noticed how Gris’ smile seemed to falter momentarily before he pulled it back on quickly. Gris wasn't one to express his discomfort to someone especially if his friends were comfortable enough with said person to keep around. He knew that Enjin was pretty close with Gob, especially since he's the one who gave Enjin his tattoos and they've known each other since Enjin joined the cleaners, yet, Gris always seemed to falter at the mention of Gob's name.
“Yeah? Well, we haven't seen him in a hot minute.”
“A week isn't exactly too long you know.”
“Well it still felt too long with everything that's happened”
“...True.” Gris leaned back into the car seat before turning the radio back up earning a small scoff from Enjin.
“So much for being quiet.” He chuckled, mirroring Gris’ movement.
“Theyll be fine, we're almost there anyways.” They both fell into a small silence. The music hummed softly across the car.
Enjin didn't know why it felt so awkward between them. Usually car rides were the only times they'd get to have an actual conversation—aside from any breaks they'd have, which wasn't much since Gris took on way too many missions—and get to relax for once. But talking about Gob seemed to shift the entire car mood way too much for Enjin's liking.
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It's been a hot minute since Enjin had stepped foot back into Canvas town and the scenery never seems to fail to impress him. The brick houses were each colored with a different mural, canvas, or graffiti over it. Artists perched over different walls with buckets of paint or colored spray covering a new plain wall with the beam of colors.
The place always just seemed to get more colorful every time they'd come back, and bigger. New artists flocking the area, especially around the art competition season which just recently finished, meaning most people were just taking a break before heading on back home.
Enjin looked back noticing the shine in Rudo's eyes as he glanced around— a small blush evident on his face making Enjin chuckle. Did the sphere not have any art or graffiti around?
“It's pretty neat, right?” Rudo nodded, focusing his attention back to a specific wall that seemingly caught his eyes. Zank and Riyo were also glancing around pointing at a few new walls lined up on the east side of the city. The rest of Team Akuta was also checking out the different paintings obviously trying to be discreet about.
They reached the neighborhood part of the city. A lot less towering building and a little more scrunched down horses with old grandparents on the porch and kids playing in the middle of the sidewalk.
“Wait, are we here just to see all the pictures..?” Rudo mumbled as he walked closer to Enjin's side, eyes drifting away from the painted walls.
“Nope! We're actually here to see a giver with drawing powers. This town is his base of operation. His power is to attach a spell on anything he draws on.”
“For example, he can be like, uhh, how do I explain it?” Enjin drifted his hands over one of the rare empty walls beside him. He snapped his fingers, an idea coming to mind and whirring back to face Rudo.
“Lets say he takes this wall and draws on it, if he puts his feelings and thoughts to it say something like…Nullify any attack towards this wall then that's what would happen, Yeah!”
“Rememebr those guys at the front entrance that couldn't come into the town?”
“They couldn't come in cause the giver used his Jinki to place a spell that ‘noone with bad intentions can enter the city’. Those guys were probably up to no good” Rudo lowered his head thinking for a moment before looking back at the drawings above his eyes a little more interested.
It's no surprise, Gobs Jinki power was one of a kind. Being able to use any spell you wanted on whatever you wanted, yeah that could easily be a pretty scary power if you used it in the wrong way. Luckily enough Gob was a little too nice to think of using his art for anything other than the safety of others—or he was too invested in his art to even consider the thought of the dangerous ways he could use it.
“Wow, so there really are a lot of ways you can use a vital instrument,”
“Yeah, but his vital instrument is a bit…unusual? It's not exactly his, it's been passed down through generations—” Enjin let out a surprised oof as he felt someone bump into his chest, falling back and onto the floor.
As he rubbed his chest he noticed the person was a small kid no older than 14 with shaggy orange hair and…tears? C’mon, what's up with Enjin and his luck finding these weird kids?
“Oops, sorry kid are you alright?” Enjin leaned down, adjusting the Umbreaker to his other hand and hovering his free hand over the kid. They looked up at him with their tear filled eyes and let out a small sniffle before standing up and bolting away from beside him.
He blinked surprised for a moment and a little offended at the action before Riyo spoke from behind him.
“Wow, Enjin, you really made that kid cry.” She let out a small tsk, shaking her head.
“Enjin made a kid cry!”
“Wow so much for the good role model thing.”
“Hey! I wasn't trying to!” Enjin felt himself getting annoyed at the sudden noise from the cleaners. It wasn't out of the ordinary for kids to get scared of his face but crying? C'mon he wasn't that ugly.
“Oh, I didn't think you'd all be here so early.” The Cleaners all turned towards the familiar voice. The mayor exited the same alley the kid from earlier had come from wearing a similar downturned expression. His eyes were furrowed a little and his voice dropped to an octave that was a little too disappointing for Enjin's comfort.
“Yeah, we were hoping to see Gob. We needed another one of his spells for our next mission. Do you know where he is today?” a small sigh left the mayor making the Cleaners—except Rudo—all freeze. If he was implying what they think he was implying, that would mean…
“About that, as of this morning…”
“Hes dead.”
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“...Seriuosly?”
They didn't even let Enjin see Gob's face.
The Mayor led the Cleaners to Gob's house where his cold body was sprawled over an old mattress, covered in a dirty white blanket with his hand sticking out from under. It was green, probably from the polluted areas, and completely motionless.
Enjin didn't know what was holding him in together long enough that he didn't cry in front of the Cleaners but he swore if he stared at the body long enough he'd feel the tears brimming through his eyes.
This was exactly why Enjin didn't get attached. The risk of losing your life just because you were a little reckless at times wasn't out of the ordinary but it hurt how common it was to hear about these types of deaths. You might forget to put your mask on once or twice and bam. Your lungs fill up from the polluted air and you're gone.
Just like that.
Simple mistakes. Simple stupid mistakes that cost you a lifetime.
Gob was reckless with his art but even that idiot knew that breathing in just enough polluted air could ruin your lungs for the long run.
“Body pollution.” The mayor lowered his head keeping his eyes as far away from Gob as possible.
“Gob wasn't happy limiting his art only to the safe zones so he'd draw in some of the nearby polluted areas. I'm sure he must've been so caught up in his art that he might've taken off his mask a time or two.”
“I warned him…I told him so many times…” He rubbed his eyes letting out a small shaky sigh, sitting on the floor and lowering his head. Soon the sniffles became louder, the tears falling from his face and damping his pants.
Enjin kneeled beside him and placed his hand gently over the mayor's shoulders. He knew his hand was also shaking, holding back from also breaking down right then and there but he needed to be strong. He's seen this happen hundreds of times so why…why did he want to cry now?
Enjin couldn't pull his gaze away at all, he couldn't help it. Gob was one of the first people he'd befriended after joining the cleaners and to think that he was gone. Actually gone. Not off at the base covering another wall with a dumb art idea or outside in a new city throwing his mark on one of the old houses. Enjin wouldn't see that snarky smile again or hear the sound of his laugh after he'd monetized another part of the Cleaners Hq. It was all just gone.
“Im.. I'm sorry you had to come all this way to hear the bad news.”
“It's alright.” Enjin would rather be beside the body for now then hear about the death knowing he could have at least been near Gob.
The rest of the Cleaners all stood still except riyo who walked on a little closer to Enjin, he felt her hold back before placing her hand over his own shoulder mirroring his auction with the mayor.
He heard Tamsy reassure Rudo, mumbling something about this being a “Boring and common death on the ground.” As much as Enjin hated those words he knew they were true. It was a boring death, or at least the most original way anyone died down here and probably one of the safest. It's either have your lungs close first or get ripped apart by someone else down here.
But Gob? The one person he warned everyday about the dangers of not having your mask on, the one who knew the cleaners personally and was well aware of how easy the mistake of losing your mask could cost you a lot.
That would explain why he started hanging at the Cleaners HQ more often. It's not like he usually didn't but it wasn't quite often where Enjin found Gob coming in twice a week especially if they haven't headed to Canvas town for a spell in so long. It's like he knew he was dying, he felt his lungs close up and wanted to make sure he stayed close to everyone till his last breath.
“Would you mind waiting a little for your spells?”
That's what he was worried about now?
“Seriuosly don't worry about us, we've got all the time in the world.”
“No..I mean the decision has been made. The next person to inherit his vital instrument.” Enjin perked a little at that. It wasn't too often where the next user would be picked on so early. He knew Gob wasn't chosen until he was 18 and even then the last user didn't die until 3 years later.
“The successor has been named but…there's only one problem.”
“The successor is always chosen by the previous owner. I honestly don't know how they decided whether it's through talent or something deeper. All I know is that they inherit the Jinki, then they develop giver powers and start working on spellcasting every time.” Gob always mentioned wanting the next successor to be someone with his passion, he's been looking for someone who loved art just as much as he did, or at least that's as much as he told him.
Enjin did notice a pattern in the givers though. They were always pretty hectic. Obnoxious, loud, and just so passionate about their love for art. It's no wonder Canvas town was always brimming with a new colored wall no matter how many new people moved in or how many new houses were built. His successor no doubt would probably share that same vision, but who? Gobs never really mentioned a specific name nor has he ever hinted at choosing someone.
“This…is Remlin. The one Gob picked to be his next successor.” the mayor gestures to a kid sitting on the opposite side of the bed—the same kid that bumped into Enjin earlier— Their head lowered and eyes puffy and red from crying.
“Inheriting this pen is…probably the greatest honor any artist in canvas town could dream of but…” They were young. Too young. The successors usually inherited the pen once they were at least 18. Gob at 21, since the precious giver lived on for a pretty long time.
“The spell caster is like the honor of our city. It's a big responsibility for someone of such a young age.”
But Gob never mentioned the kid, but still they were crying. Meaning they've known Gob long enough that his death was sad enough for them to cry. Why didn't Gob tell Enjin about his successor?
“Psst..Some people can become Givers pretty easily.” Follo leaned down besides Rudo whispering—or falling at it, rather.
No matter how easy it might seem for people to become givers there's a difference between becoming one and being chosen to be one. You had to have the quality of a Giver and at least tended to the Jinki for a good amount of time. This kid probably only ever saw it in action. The thought of the becoming a giver, and fast enough that the town doesn't crumble—since some spells falter if they are not reapplied from time to time—its still a pretty big expectation for someone so young.
“Enjin, I'm really sorry, but I think you'll have to wait a while before you can get any spells.”
“Remlin was extremely attached to Gob, he was almost like a big brother to them.” Like a brother?
“I could never draw myself but wanted this town to be a safe space for those guys and that is why I became mayor. It didn't matter if it was for the job or for himself—Gob just really liked drawing.”
“Yeah, I'd always catch him drawing at HQ then running off with that stupid grin on his face. I can't believe I won't get to see it again.” It was true, that smug grin he'd wear whenever he'd run off like a kid getting caught in the act of making a prank. It was endearing, you just couldn't help but laugh.
Enjin took a long sigh breaking the tense silence in the room and stood up patting away the dust on his knees.
“...It's ok, we'll just do a little shopping in town then head back.” It wasn't ok, it was far from ok. Enjin just lost one of his closest and oldest friends, there was nothing that could make this ok.
“Yeah…I'm really sorry about that.” Sorry wasn't going to bring back Gob, sorry wasn't going to give Enjin one last laugh or conversation with Gob. It did nothing. Nothing.
“Remlin, was it?” He needed to take his mind off of that body or else Enjin was going to start crying, he already felt the knot in his throat when he spoke, praying that no one heard him choke back a cry.
“Well, hang out another time. Just take care until then, ok?”
Enjin was just about to try and comfort the kid, reaching his hand over to pat their head before they suddenly leaped up.
“Ok. I'm done!” The redheaded kid quickly rubbed their face, took one last sniffle, and stood up with a bright smile on their face like they weren't bawling their heart out a second ago.
“Done! No more crying!” They turned towards the mayor and snatched the pencil from his hand, then turned to the door busting out and chanting ‘Party!’ over and over again leaving everyone astonished.
No wonder Gob chose that kid as his successor.
They had that same matching grin.
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Enjin was right, those two were identical.
From that grin to their mannerism it's like Gob died and took the body of a child. Except that wasn't the case, Gob was dead and would stay dead.
The kid surprisingly wasn't just mindlessly running off but was planning something with the Jinki. Enjin wasn't expecting their spell to work and the Jink to activate immediately after Gobs death but what could he expect at this point?
He watched the first few spray paint cans burst up into the air like fireworks, the rest of the Team walking out to watch the show. Enjin could quite catch exactly what the kid said, something about ruining Gob's groove in the afterlife—seriously, what's with these artists and their weird personalities—and celebrating his passing on was a better way to make him happy.
Celebrate death.
What a weird concept.
It was so easy for everyone to move on from Gob's death just minutes after it was revealed. It was so easy for them to brush him off because he was never more to the cleaners than another line of information, another resource they needed. Enjin couldn't blame them—they've never taken the time to sit and watch Gob sketch, they never got to see him first get his Jinki and write his first spell, and they'll never get to see his weird stupid grin.
While everyone's focus was still on the fireworks and that manic child standing on the roof, Enjin took the chance to slip back into Gob's room. It was cold. Quiet and cold. Enjin hated it.
He hated how easily he attached himself to Gob, he hated how much everyone didn't care about his death, and he hated how much he wanted to grab that dead body and kiss it. He wanted to press his fingers over Gob's cheek and press his lips against the now cold motionless lips. He wanted to run his hand over Gob's chest, nuzzle his head between his neck and smell the familiar scent of old paint.
Kneeling down on one leg he took Gob’s hand hesitating a little. It was practically rotting, the pollution probably started to affect the rest of his body after ruining his lungs, explaining the odd color over him. Enjin rubbed his thumb over Gob's knuckles before kissing the top of them and resting his head over Gob's wrist.
He waited. Sat there on his knees like a pathetic dog and waited for something. Anything. He didn't know why but he sat and sat expecting to feel a hand ruffle his hair or hear his smooth voice again. Enjin waited like the helpless man he was on his knees for the slightest hint that Gob was miraculously alive.
His knees started to hurt and hands were numbing as he kept his hand rested over gobs. He didn't know when it happened but all he felt was a warm sensation dropping from his eyes down to his cheeks then his pants soaking them. He heard himself sniffle and choke back a sharp sob, his heart finally squeezing and wreathing in his chest. His body shook, the vibration making his throat tighten a wave of nausea filled him. Enjin didn't know how long he was crying and he didn't care how loud he sounded in that empty room. He wasn't even aware of what was happening until a warm hand landed on his shoulder jolting him out of his trance, the familiar weight of it making him cry even harder, his choked sobs growing louder.
Gris hand rubbed Enjin's tense shoulder blades as he dropped down beside him. How long was he watching Enjin cry? Why didn't he say anything? Why didn't he just leave Enjin alone?
Gris moved his hand back and forth on Enjin's back, not saying a word but staying close enough that Enjin knew he was there, offering a shoulder for him to cry on. That's just how Gris was.
Perfect. The perfect gentlemen.
He knew what to say and when to say and how to keep Enjin in line. But this, this felt heavier, this comfort felt more for Gris than Enjin, yet he accepted it like a desperate fool.
He felt himself leaning his head closer to Gris, his hand trailed to his lower back and pulled him into a warm chest head now resting on his shoulder. His body was warm, chunky and warm enough that Enjin felt his heart relax the earlier violent beating turned into a soft Ruth matching Gris own heartbeat. His throat was finally opening up and the choked sobs turned into small sniffles. They sat there not saying a word to each other but just knowing that the other was there.
“I know…I know how hard it is for you, Enjin.” Gris' voice soothed him while his hand was kept on his back.
Enjin kept his mouth shut, not trusting himself not to start violently sobbing the moment he opened his mouth up and ruining the moment. It was odd for ENjin to seek comfort when he was so used to being a place of comfort for others, relying on someone else when he was so used to everyone relying on him. He tried to clear his mind, forgetting about everything, the dead body, his stifled cries and the thoughts about Gris swarming through his head.
That was the first time Enjin let his guard down around Gris and that's when Enjin broke his main rule and motto, never get attached to someone. No matter how much your body and mind seek them, no matter how much it burns your heart to push them away.
He broke it twice that day, once when he kissed Gob's hand and the second when he accepted Gris’ hug. And he knew those mistakes would come to haunt him sooner than he'd expect it to.