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‘We aren’t going to get along.’
That was the very first thought that appeared in your mind after meeting Zanka Nijiku. It hadn’t been intentional at first, just a normal clash of opinions like any other, but the situation escalated involuntarily within a matter of seconds.
You’d only just arrived at the headquarters that day, after being recruited by Daimon, you carried your newly awakened Vital Instrument in hand, your chest tight with a mix of nerves and hope.
Standing before the massive building that loomed in the middle of the dust and trash plains, you’d been completely breathless. For someone who was accustomed to spending freezing nights huddled on the streets, desperately seeking shelter whenever the trash rains began to pour, this building looked like nothing short of a holy sanctuary.
Naturally, the rest of the crew wasn’t about to let a new arrival go uncelebrated, so they had thrown a rowdy party to welcome you, and amidst the liquor, the heavy smell of greasy food, and the laughter echoing off the walls, you felt like you had finally found your place, quickly making friends with several of the Cleaners and Supporters.
And then, you crossed paths with him.
You both greeted each other and got along over some simple conversation, the problem started over something petty, you had scoffed sarcastically at something he said, swirling the cheap alcohol in your cup.
“I mean, funny how you called yourself ‘mediocre’ when you have the family most people would envy.” You expected him to laugh at the comment, just brush it off and continue, but his reaction didn’t go as you thought.
“I’m sorry?” He paused, his grip tightening slightly around his glass, but you didn’t notice and just continued.
“Yeah, like the Nijiku Family from Kamutari District, right? Must be nice being born into a place that oozes both talent and money.”
A sharp, irritated vein throbbed near his temple, his eyes narrowing into a glare as he turned his full attention toward you.
Zanka snapped, his voice dropping into a harsh tone that cut right through the surrounding noise. “I don’t recall askin' for the opinion of some wet-behind-the-ears rookie who just arrived at headquarters.” This was your time to respond, noticing .
“Okay, didn’t mean to strike a nerve, you don’t need to get aggressive here.”
To the rest of the room, the exchange looked like nothing more than a pair of tipsy members engaging in some lighthearted banter, but both of you knew you were far soberer than you let on.
You stepped closer into his personal space, refusing to back down. “But let me say, I have absolutely nothing to hear from a boy who probably had everything spoon fed to him. Let me guess, you look down on me simply because I crawled out of the slums?”
Zanka’s expression hardened, genuinely insulted by the accusation, and he took a step forward too, using his height to look down at you, his voice cold and sharp.
“What I look down on is that pathetic and narrow perspective of yours if you honestly believe that garbage.” Zanka hissed. “Here, the slums don't mean a damn thing, and neither does a family name, guess someone needs to educate ya on that.”
You were about to respond, but before the argument could turn physical, a whirlwind of red hair crashed between you.
“Alright, alright! Break it up, you two!” Riyo chirped loudly, throwing an arm around your shoulders and dragging you away from him. “Come on, newbie! You’re wasting your energy on Zanka, it’s like he’s always got a stick up his butt. Let me introduce you to the ones that actually know how to have fun!”
As she pulled you toward the other side, you couldn't resist the petty urge of glazing behind you, catching his furious gaze across the crowded room, and defiantly sticking your tongue out at him.
He froze, and his eyes widened in a mixture of shock, utterly stunned by your childish action. He opened his mouth to shout across the room, but you were already swallowed up by the laughing of the group to hear.
The party eventually ended, but the war had just begun.
In the months that followed, whenever you crossed paths in the hallways, the air would instantly freeze. You would purposely step to the side with an exaggerated, mock-respectful bow, and Zanka would pass by, his nose turned up as if he’d just smelled something filthy.
But then, being assigned to the same missions meant sharing the cramped, bumpy rides in the transport vehicles. You would sit on opposite sides, arms tightly crossed, staring out the window into the dusty wasteland.
The only time during the week you tolerated his presence was during training sessions, solely because they gave you an excuse to go up against him without anyone interfering, releasing your anger felt like taking a weight off your shoulders, though the win-loss record was a bit too even for your liking.
You honestly believed the two of you would spend the rest of your days locked in a bitter, never-ending feud. A few well-meaning members of the cleaners had tried to step in and help you get along, but they quickly learned that trying to make you two patch things up was utterly pointless and bound to leave everyone frustrated, so the attempts ended relatively soon.
But as the older folks who had lived their entire lives beneath the Sphere liked to say, life can turn completely upside down the exact second you take your eyes off it.
There wasn’t any other logical explanation as to why, right now, you found yourself trapped in the dimness of one of the headquarters' storage rooms. Your back pinned flat against the cool of the wall and the scent of old iron and cleaning solvents filling the air.
One of Zanka’s hands was hooked firmly around the back of your neck, his fingers tangling into your hair to hold you still. The desperate sound of your lips parting and colliding echoed in the space. Every time you pulled apart just enough to catch a breath, your ragged respirations mingled between you.
You couldn't even pin down the exact second the fuse had blown, one minute you were standing in the middle of the corridor having an argument, and the next, a sudden, blinding spike of adrenaline had taken over.
Driven by sheer frustration, you’d grabbed the collar of his jacket, dragged him forcefully into the secluded room, and slammed your mouth against his, maybe with the idea of shutting him up, but your own sudden boldness was absolutely nothing compared to his reaction.
Instead of pushing you away and looking disgusted like you expected, Zanka had frozen for a fraction of a second before completely taking control. His hands had locked onto you, gripping your waist and pulling your hips flush against his as he marched you backward until the wall cut off any chance of escape.
Inside your chest, your heart was hammering so violently and your mind was a haze of disbelief. You expected him to be proper regarding this kind of thing, but his kiss was fueled by the exact same stubborn, unyielding energy he showed you in training.
There was no anger left in you, just a long-buried hunger that made your entire body melt under the heavy, reassuring weight of his frame pressing you into the wall. That was the moment you realized, you didn't want him to let go.
When your lips finally parted for good, the sudden rush of cool air between you felt like a shock to the system, you looked up, your eyes locking onto his, and a wave of heat washed over you.
It was heavy, dizzying, and it made your chest tighten in a way that had nothing to do with anger. That’s when you felt it, an undeniable blush creeping up your neck and tinting your cheeks a crimson tone.
Panicking slightly, you snapped your gaze to the side, just to try and scramble your thoughts into some kind of order. But the heavy weight of his stare was impossible to ignore, as you could feel his eyes tracking your every movement, watching the rise and fall of your chest, and you slowly turned your head back to meet his gaze.
Zanka was still hovering inches away, his hand lingering at the nape of your neck, his thumb brushing against your skin, and a slow smirk began to tug at the corner of his mouth, when he finally talked, his tone showed a mix of amusement and something you couldn’t quite name.
“What’s the matter?” He murmured, his voice incredibly low. “Seemed like you had a whole lot to say to me just a minute ago...”
Your face burned even hotter, you cleared your throat, desperately trying to summon your usual sharp attitude. “Oh, shut up. I had plenty to say cause you were being a jerk! It sure as hell wasn't my intention for us to end up... like this...” You shook your head, trying to shoo away your embarrassment. “You’re the one who trapped me against the wall!”
Zanka let out a short, quiet huff of laughter, though the flush on his own ears betrayed him. He slowly let his hands drop to his sides, though he didn't step back.
“Right, right. Keep tellin' yourself that.” He said, his expression softening, he rubbed the back of his neck, shifting his weight. “So... what do we do now?”
You stared at his collarbone, your mind spinning. “I... I don't know.” You admitted honestly, looking back up into his eyes. “What do you… want to do?”
He blinked, looking caught off guard for a second before his jaw tightened, and he leaned in just an inch, his voice dropping. “Well, that depends, didn't you enjoy that kiss?”
The directness of the question made you look away again, your cheeks practically radiating heat. For a second, you considered lying just to save face, but looking at his focused expression, you knew it was useless, so you swallowed your pride and gave a small, hesitant nod of your head.
A quiet, satisfied sigh escaped his lips. “Well…” He muttered, his twang returning with a relaxed ease. “'I’d be a liar if I said I hated it, and I wouldn’t mind repeating that.”
“We were just caught in the heat of the moment.” You said, trying to rationalize the situation. “It’s probably just because we’ve been at each other’s throats, the tension just had to go somewhere. It’ll probably blow over in a couple of days anyway.”
“Yeah, reckon so.” Zanka agreed, nodding slowly as if trying to convince himself too. “A few weeks, maybe a month or two, and we'll be back to regular old bickerin'.”
“But we have to keep this completely under wraps.” You warned, pointing a finger at his chest. “If the others find out about... this, it’ll be an absolute nightmare. We’ll never hear the end of it.”
His face immediately fell into an expression of pure, unadulterated horror as the realization hit him. “Yeah, absolutely.”
“Great!" You whispered frantically. “Cause Riyo will never shut up about it, and I don’t wanna live that.”
“Don't even remind me.” Zanka shuddered, his hands dropping to his sides as he shook his head in grim agreement.
“Alright then, it's a deal.” You said, a soft smile returning to your face as you held out your hand toward him. “Let's make it official.”
Zanka looked down at your hand, a quiet chuckle escaped his chest, and he shook his head, his palm slid completely against yours, his fingers wrapping tightly around yours.
“It's a deal.” He murmured, his thumb gently stroking the back of your hand for a lingering second before finally letting go. “Let’s get out of here then.”
Zanka checked the door first, cracking it open just an inch to scan the corridor. “Alright." He muttered, turning back to you with his arms crossed, trying to look completely casual despite the lingering flush on his neck. “You wait here a minute before headin' out. Don't go walkin' right behind me like some puppy.”
You rolled your eyes. “Oh, please, as if anyone would believe we were doing anything. Just get going already.”
He let out a sharp huff, adjusting the collar of his coat. “Just make sure you wipe that look off your face, see ya at drills, rookie.”
With one last lingering glance, he slipped out into the hallway, his boots against the floor as he walked away. You leaned your head back against the wall for a brief second, watching his shoulders disappear around the corner.
You assured yourself right then and there that this bizarre situation wouldn't last long. It was just a phase. A temporary lapse in judgment that would fizzle out in a few weeks.
But you couldn’t have been more wrong.
That afternoon marked the beginning of a strange, thrilling, and completely chaotic routine between the two of you. It was like an unspoken game, stealing glances across the hall and during meetings, mapping out the blind spots of the headquarters, and slipping away from the prying eyes of the others.
The very second you both got into some forgotten corner, all the bickering would instantly evaporate. Before the door could even latch shut, you’d feel the sudden, heavy rush of his presence, his lips finding yours, and your hands desperately reaching out to tangle in his clothes, hungry for the warmth of each other's skin.
One day you returned from a three-day mission in the border plains, you hadn't even washed the layer of dust from your uniform or unpacked your Vital Instrument, the moment the vehicle parked, your boots were moving down the familiar corridors as you kept your head low, checking over your shoulder to ensure no one was trailing you.
When you reached his room, you gave a quick knock and waited.
The door swung open almost instantly, and Zanka stood there, his uniform jacket discarded, wearing only his dark undershirt. The moment his eyes landed on you, a rare smile broke across his face, his Southern drawl dripping with smug amusement.
“I believe you just got back.” He murmured, leaning against the doorframe. “Miss me that much already?”
“Shut up and let me in.” You hissed under your breath, casting a frantic glance down the empty hallway. “Someone’s gonna see us.”
Zanka chuckled quietly, stepping aside to let you slip past him into the organized room, and as he clicked the lock shut, he turned back to you, his eyes scanning your tired posture with a sudden flick of concern. “You look beat, aren't ya exhausted? You oughta be getting some sleep…”
You didn't let him finish, stepping into his space, you grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him down, cutting off his nagging by slamming your lips directly against his.
He didn't hesitate for even a second as his arms locked around your waist, hoisting you against him. The kiss turned deep and desperate within seconds, a fierce release of all the pent-up exhaustion and adrenaline from your days apart.
He backed you up until your legs hit the edge of his desk, his mouth moving against yours with an intoxicating rhythm. His lips began to trail down, leaving a burning path along your jawline before pressing deep, possessive kisses into the skin of your neck. You gasped, your fingers digging tightly into his shoulders, completely losing yourself to his touch.
But just as the friction in the room was reaching a boiling point, Zanka stopped.
His chest heaving against yours, he slowly pulled his head back, his hands lingering on your hips but his movement completely halting.
You opened your eyes, a sudden flash of irritation in your chest as you stared up at him, your breathing ragged and your lips swollen. “Are you serious right now? Why did you stop?”
Zanka let out a rough, strained sigh, rubbing the back of your neck. “I really want to stay, but I told Rudo that I’d meet him to help him with that Vital Instrument of his. Don’t wanna hear him complain I didn’t show up.”
You groaned, throwing your head back in utter frustration, he offered you an apologetic smile, stepping back to grab his coat from the chair. But just as he reached the door, he paused, looking back over his shoulder with a sudden, wicked glint in his eyes.
“Oh, and by the way…” Zanka drawled as he tapped his own neck. “You oughta be careful nobody catches sight of the marks I just left on you. Wouldn't want Riyo askin' questions.”
“What?!” Your eyes widened, hands instantly flying up to cover the burning skin of your neck, and your face showing a clear blush. Before you could even hurl an insult at him, he slipped out the door without another word.
“You little…” You muttered into the empty room, your teeth gritting as a flustered smile fought its way onto your face anyway. “Just wait until our next sparring match, you’re not gonna be laughing then.”
But as the weeks bled into a month, these moments allowed you to notice little quirks about Zanka that you’re sure he didn’t even know about himself. For instance, whenever he snuck away right after a mission, he was entirely different, his usual rough edge softened, his touches lingering longer, almost sweet and protective, but it probably was the exhaustion getting to him.
On the flip side, if you managed to catch him right after training, he was an absolute menace. Whenever he managed to best you in a sparring match, the adrenaline made him incredibly passionate, his kisses were deeper and full of that competitive fire you hated so much.
It was a side of him that was so intoxicating that you may, or may not, have intentionally blown a few blocks during training just to let him take the victory.
But lately, a quiet ache had begun to appear in your chest, because in the beginning, the idea that this was just a temporary arrangement had been comforting, but now, it felt like a countdown.
Whenever you caught yourself remembering the smiles he only ever dedicated to you in the middle of your sessions, or the way his hands cradled your face and the look in his eyes during those moments, a sudden wave of anxiety would wash over you.
The realization that this would eventually end, that one day he would just go back to being the distant, stubborn man who looked right through you, provoked an angst you hadn't expected.
And that’s when it hit you, the fact that you were falling for him, hard, and the expiration date you both agreed on was making you feel scared with each passing day.
Today happened to be one of those days.
You had caught his eye in the courtyard right after a sparring match, and without a word, he’d followed you down the corridors all the way to your room, both of your heartbeats picking up speed because you knew exactly what was coming.
The instant you stepped inside, the door clicked shut, and your body automatically leaned back against it. You didn't even have to look, your eyes closed in anticipation, knowing that Zanka was already moving, his frame advancing to trap you securely between his arms.
“Damn it... I’m gonna wake up with some hell of a bruise tomorrow.” He groaned softly, pausing just inches away, propping his hands on the doorframe on either side of your head, he was referring to the strike to the ribs you had landed on him earlier.
Your eyes slowly fluttered open, sliding down from his gaze to focus on his lips, they were slightly parted, his breathing already heavy and ragged from the anticipation. A slow, knowing smile spread across your face at the sight of him, knowing you were entirely responsible for it.
“Maybe you’ve just gotten soft, Zanka." You teased softly, your voice dropping to a whisper as you tilted your chin up. “Looks like we’re gonna have to start training more often.”
That brought a low chuckle out of his chest, his smile mirrored your own, his eyes darkening with a spike of heat. He leaned down, erasing the final inch of space, and his lips crashed against yours.
The kiss was heavy, wiping away every single trace of the anxiety that had been plaguing your thoughts for the day. Zanka didn't hold back, his mouth moved against yours with hunger, making your knees buckle.
His hands slid down from the doorframe, his palms gripping your waist tightly to lift you slightly, pressing your hips firmly flush against his. You gasped into the kiss, and the sudden intake of air allowed him to deepen it, his tongue tangling with yours in a heat that left your brain completely scrambled.
Your hands eagerly found their way up his chest, clutching at the fabric of his uniform before sliding up to grip his shoulders, pulling him down as if you could never get him close enough. The atmosphere in the room was filled only with the friction of your clothes rubbing together and the desperate sound of your breathing.
Zanka shifted his weight, his knee sliding between your thighs as he angled his head, his lips trailing a path from your mouth down to the skin of your jawline.
A breathless sigh escaped your lips, your fingers digging into his hair as you tilted your head back, completely melting under the feeling of his tongue over your skin, and you pulled him back up by his collar, eager to dive back into his lips again.
But instead of the warmth of his mouth, you were suddenly met with the roughness of his palm firmly covering your lips.
Your eyes snapped open in shock, and you saw Zanka staring down at you, his eyes wide, his expression a chaotic mix of intense surprise and terror. Before you could even twist away or mumble anything against his hand, footsteps were echoing right outside your room, accompanied by the distinct rumble of voices which belonged to Enjin and Gris, deep in conversation as they strolled down the corridor.
Both of you froze instantly against the door, your heart hammering so violently against your ribs while Zanka’s hand remained pressed over your mouth, his entire body tense as the voices outside grew louder, and then slowly began to fade away into the distance.
Only when the corridor returned to absolute silence did Zanka finally drop his hand from your face, and both of you instantly let out a long exhale, sinking slightly against each other.
Zanka let his forehead thud heavily against the door right next to your ear, his shoulders slumping in relief.
“God...” He breathed with the leftover adrenaline. “That was too close for my taste.”
He took one more deep breath, visibly trying to steady his shaking hands, before he began to lean back down toward you, his eyes darkening again as he reached to cup your jaw, clearly intending to pick up right where you’d been interrupted.
But this time, you were the one who stopped him.
You raised your hand, pressing your palm firmly against the center of his chest, and with a steady force, you pushed him back. Zanka blinked, caught completely off guard, and allowed himself to be nudged a couple of steps away from you.
He stood in the center of the room, his uniform slightly disheveled, his breathing still shallow as he stared at you confused, waiting to see what was wrong.
“What’s got into ya?” Zanka asked, his brow furrowing as he looked at you, raising a hand to rub the back of his neck, his thumb mindlessly stroking the short hairs there.
Inside your head, a desperate, frantic voice screamed at you to just bite your tongue, to wipe the serious look off your face, laugh it off, and pull him back down by his collar, you could just keep playing the game, no strings, no messy emotions, just casual, like what it was meant to be.
But you knew with certainty that you couldn't survive another week of this, because every single time you parted ways, a dread settled deep in your stomach, never knowing if that’d be the last time he’d ever look at you that way.
Any day now, Zanka could decide he was done with this, he could get bored, or find someone else, and just walk away, leaving you entirely shattered.
So, you took a breath and threw yourself off the cliff.
“How much longer are we going to keep doing this, Zanka?” You snapped your gaze away, staring intently at the floor between your boots, terrified to see the exact moment his expression might turn cold.
The silence that followed was agonizing, it stretched out between you, and you braced yourself for the worst, expecting him to tell you the joke wasn't funny, or worse, to just agree that it was time to stop, but after a few seconds, his voice finally broke the quiet, though his tone sounded muted, almost hollow.
“I thought you were happy with how things were.” He muttered, his shoulders dropping, and you swallowed the lump in your throat, fingers curling into tight fists against your sides.
“I... I don't think I am anymore.” Zanka’s face fell completely, an expression of disappointment crossing his features, and his eyes darkened.
“Right, I get it.” He said, his voice dropping into a defensive, gravelly rasp as he took another half-step back, his arms locking tightly across his chest.
He looked away, his expression twisting into a bitter grimace. “Reckon I should’ve seen that comin'. It was just a matter of time before you got tired of the mediocre guy, huh?” This made you look at him, now you’re the one looking confused at his words, but he continued.
“Fine, if you’re done with this, then we’re done. I ain't about to force myself on ya if you don't want me around anymore.” The sheer pain in his voice caught you completely off guard, making something inside you snap.
“That’s not it at all, you idiot!” You burst out, your head snapping up, your eyes wide and shining as you stepped away from the door, directly closing the distance he had made.
“I'm not sick of you! I'm sick of this! I'm sick of pretending I don't care when I cross paths with you in the hall, and I'm sick of worrying that you're going to wake up tomorrow and decide you don't want me anymore!” You took a shaky breath, your voice cracking as the truth finally spilled out completely unbidden.
“I’m not happy because... because I have feelings for you, Zanka! I caught feelings, okay? And it terrifies me to death knowing this whole thing it’s going to end someday.”
At that, Zanka froze entirely, his breath hitched in his throat, his arms remaining half-crossed as he just stared at you, his eyes wide, his mouth slightly parted as his brain tried to process the massive bomb you had just dropped on him.
Then, slowly, the tension in his frame began to completely unravel as his arms dropped to the sides, and a massive sigh escaped his lips, blowing past his teeth as a strange softness completely took over his face.
“You’re gonna be the absolute death of me, y'know that?” Zanka breathed, a hand flying up to cover his eyes as he let out a disbelieving laugh. He shook his head, his face flushing a red that extended all the way to the tips of his ears, and when he finally dropped his hand, his eyes were fixed on yours with an intensity that made your knees weak again. “You really are a damn fool if you think you’re the only one who caught feelings.”
You blinked, your heart skipping a beat. “What?”
Zanka took a long stride forward, eliminating the space between you until he was hovering right over you again. This time, he didn't grab you roughly, instead, his hands came up slowly, his fingers gently framing your face, his thumbs wiping away the tears of frustration that had gathered at the corners of your eyes.
“I haven’t been playing this game for weeks.” He confessed, his voice dropping into a soft rumble that vibrated right through your chest. “You think I let just anybody drag me around? Or spend my nights thinkin' about anyone else's stupid smile? I’ve been in love with you for a while, and it’s been drivin' me crazy because I thought you just wanted a casual fling. I was terrified of pushing for more and scaring ya off.”
Your jaw dropped slightly, your hands coming up to rest against his wrists, feeling the frantic thumping of his pulse beneath his skin. “So... you don't want to stop seeing me?”
“Hell no, I don't wanna stop." Zanka muttered, leaning his forehead gently against yours, his eyes closing for a brief second as if just soaking in the relief of having it all out in the open. “I want to do this for real, to make it official.”
A bright, genuine laugh bubbled up from your chest, the suffocating weight that had been crushing you for weeks completely evaporating into thin air. “I would love nothing more.”
Zanka smiled, a real bright smile like you had never seen before, and pressed a soft kiss to your forehead before pulling back just enough to look at you.
“Alright, but listen here." He whispered, his expression turning mock-serious as he looked toward the door. “We still gotta keep this a secret. Don’t want anyone mingling into our affairs.”
You giggled, wrapping your arms securely around his neck, pulling him down into your space. “Oh, absolutely, it stays between us.”
“Damn right.” Zanka murmured, his smug smirk returning full force as his hands slid back down to rest securely on your waist. “Now let’s pick up where we left it.”
Zanka’s smirk widened, his eyes flashing with a playful, teasing glint that you hadn't seen before. He leaned back just a fraction of an inch, crossing his arms over his chest while keeping you pinned against him.
“And now that we’re officially an item…” He drawled, his voice dripping with playful arrogance. “I guess I can go a little easy on you during our drills.”
You let out an offended gasp, shoving his shoulder playfully. “Don’t you dare! Like I need that to kick your ass.”
“I don’t know about that.” Zanka chuckled, his low, gravelly laugh vibrating right against your skin.
You simply smiled, your eyes dropping back down to his mouth. “Shut up, idiot.”
Before he could utter another teasing remark, you grabbed the back of his neck, pulling him down and slamming your lips against his with ferocity. There was no more hesitation holding you back, and he groaned softly into the kiss, his hands immediately gripping your hips, completely surrendering to you.
Moving together, you guided him backward across your room, your knees tangled until the edge of the mattress hit the back of his legs, and Zanka sank down onto the bed.
Without breaking the kiss, you straddled his lap, your knees framing his hips as you pressed your body against his. Your hands traveled from his neck to tangle in his hair, while his palms slid up your back, pressing you closer.
It felt like the first kiss all over again, feeling the pressure of his hands securing you as if he never wanted to let you go.
You were just about to push his shoulders back to claim the rest of the bed when the door burst open with a loud noise, and this time, there was absolutely no time to react.
“Hey girl! Can you give me back my…” Riyo froze mid sentence as her brain processed the compromising scene right in front of her.
You and Zanka were petrified, with you still sitting on his lap while his arms were still tightly wrapped around your waist. Both of your minds racing to invent any kind of excuse, but before either of you could even say a word, Riyo’s shocked expression split into one of the widest grins you had ever seen in your life.
“Yes! Oh, they owe me a hundred galla!” Riyo cheered at the top of her lungs, literally pumping her fist in the air.
You and Zanka slowly blinked, staring at her in confusion, Riyo just crossed her arms, looking incredibly proud of herself.
“I had a massive bet going with Enjin and a few of the others about when you two were gonna finally snap and get together.” She chirped, practically vibrating with excitement. “I’m gonna go collect my money right now!”
After that, she spun on her heel and sprinted back down the hallway closing the door behind her, boots pounding against the floor.
The room fell back into a heavy silence, and you slowly moved your head forward, letting your forehead thud against Zanka’s shoulder, a long sigh escaping your lips.
“We forgot to lock the door.” He said onto the air, completely defeated.
“Yeah, we forgot to lock the door.” You repeated with slight embarrassment, your cheeks still burning. “God... they’re all gonna know. By dinner time, the entire headquarters is gonna know..”
Zanka let out a miserable, dramatic groan, his grip tightening around your waist. “Don't even make me think about that right now.”
Before you could reply, Zanka suddenly threw his weight backward, and you let out a sharp, surprised yelp as you fell with him, tumbling together onto the mattress.
You landed on his chest, the breath knocked out of you in a soft laugh as his arms locked securely around your back, hugging you tightly against his torso.
You shifted your head slightly, resting your cheek against the fabric of his uniform, looking up at his jawline with a soft, affectionate smile. Zanka looked down at you, his eyes softening as he noticed your expression.
“What’s that look for?” He asked softly, a faint, embarrassed blush still dusting his nose.
“Nothing." You teased, your smile widening. “Just thinking this is an interesting way to spend our very first day as a couple.”
Zanka mirrored your smile, a genuine, relaxed warmth spreading across his face as he reached up to gently tuck a stray strand of hair behind your ear.
“Yeah, I guess it is.” He murmured and glanced toward the open door, his chest rising and falling in a quiet chuckle. “Figure we got about five minutes before the rest marches in here?”
Both of you burst into a quiet, breathless laugh, fully imagining the absolute chaos that was about to descend upon you, but as Zanka tightened his arms, pulling you even deeper into his embrace and resting his chin on top of your head, you didn't care about it anymore.