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"Hey Zan Zan, I got something good for ya,” Jabber had called Zanka a day after going to the market, "Can I come over?”
"What does ‘something good' even mean? Sure, I guess.”
Zanka wasn't really doing anything, he had found himself with not a lot to do recently. Maybe because Corvus wanted to keep him in contact with Jabber. Who knows? It's not like he was gonna ask.
"Okay! See ya' in a bit Zan Zan!”
"Mhm.”
Jabber hardly ever asked him if they could hang out, he just showed up. Which made Zanka wonder if it was something serious.
It was their one year anniversary, but who was keeping track of it— definitely not that cat of all people.
He didn't really have time to go buy anything, well he did but he always busied himself with something.
Zanka always trained so he'd stay in shape for missions— even though his main motivation was beating Jabber someday.
Sometimes Enjin would want him to help Rudo train, which he did only because Enjin asked, Rudo was really hard to read at times.
Even when they first met, the wolf cub had smirked at him like some mob boss— it still sent chills down Zanka's spine.
An all too familiar knock came from his window. Before he knew it the window was already pulled open. He hadn’t had time to lock the door, not that could because the lock was broken—that how Enjin had got in despite him surely locking it.
"Hey Zan Zan!” Jabber popped in, holding a bag.
"Hey…” Zanka eyed the bag, not particularly obvious. Whenever Jabber came in holding something it was either new toxins, food, or some random other option.
One time he had come in with his hands closed, somehow. It turned out he had a rat in his hand, which obviously made Zanka scream, alerting anyone near his room.
Yeah, he still didn't forgive him for that one.
In short, it could be something basic or practically a bomb in a sense.
“What cha' got there?” He couldn't help but ask.
Jabber smacked his lips, tossing his shoes off and sitting on the bed.
"It's called a surprise, Zan Zan,” He paused before smirking, "Do you know what that is?”
His tail wagged side to side, ears twitching in anticipation.
Zanka immediately started glaring, stomping to the bed and sitting down with a bit too much force.
"Of course I do! I can't help but worry about what you bring in here.” He stated, looking away from Jabber.
“Alright Alright, I’ll show you,” Jabber smiled, “Close your eyes, kay?”
Zanka nodded, following his instructions.
It was hard to decide what to show him first, so Jabber just started with the jewelry. They were what he actually paid for and the main thing he had gone shopping for.
The bag rustled a bit when he took them out. The necklace was in a neat box, one that oddly opened like a ring box, the jade in the middle. The earrings were in a similar one, but a bit bigger.
“You can open them!”
Jabber held out the earrings first, watching Zanka's eyes widen.
"Oh my…” He whispered, trailing off. Jabber handed the box to him.
"I got them the other day at the market,” He scratched his neck, his ears flicking a bit, "I thought they really suited you. I know you wear a lot of blue, and silver would probably make more sense—”
Zanka lunged at Jabber, hugging him tightly.
"They're so pretty,” He leaned away from him, staring at the earrings, "Could you put them in for me?”
Zanka took out the ones he already had in, sitting them on the bed next to him.
Jabber had to scoot a bit closer, carefully sliding the jewelry into his ears, making sure not to stab him in the process. With Zanka’s ears up, they sat a bit high near the side of his face.
It was just as he thought. Zanka looked stunning with them on. The golden chains flowed down like vines reaching down to his collarbone yet not touching it. Those pink flowers contrasted his usual blue, but it complemented the gold of the chains and the light pink in his cheeks.
Zanka got up to look in the mirror, tapping at the masterpieces hanging from his ears.
"Jabber…These are so nice, they must've cost a lot,” He said sorrowfully, "I'm sorry I didn't get you anything.”
Jabber came up to him, holding the other box behind him.
"It's alright Zan Zan!” He chuckled, "It's just our one year anniversary.”
Zanka turned to look at him, looking away from the mirror.
"But it's been a year, you know how much can happen in that amount of time!” Tears had already started poking at the corners of his eyes, "I should've gotten something. You probably spent a fortune on these, and I have nothing to give back.”
His ears flopped down, it was surprising they hadn't earlier. Those tell tale sniffles started rolling out of him as he covered his face.
It shouldn't have been that serious, but it was to him. A whole year of being together, 365 days of being in a relationship. One that was undeniably stable from the feelings and experiences they shared.
Zanka loved him so much, he couldn't bear to leave him. A gift is the least he could've given in his eyes.
"Zan Zan…” The cat cupped his face with one hand, gently moving his hands away. He thumbed away the tears that fell, "Listen. One year is a lot right now, but I want to spend way more than that with you. One year is nothing compared to how long I'll love you.”
He was serious, stone faced even.
Zanka's eyes widened for the second time that night, "Are you…?”
It sounded like a proposal, Jabber knew that himself.
Jabber pulled the necklace box from behind his back, opening it and presenting it to his lover.
"I know one year really isn't a long time to decide this, but uhh… I really like you Zan Zan…”
The necklace sat perfectly in the box, the jade in the middle looked like a ring. It was a perfect proposal without the actual words.
"Jabber, do you know what you're saying? Do you even know what this means?” Zanka furrowed his brow, as if trying not to believe what he was seeing, "Jade is practically a proposal, are you sure you want this…That you want me?”
Jabber nodded quickly, "I know what it means, I wouldn't get it without knowing that.”
"I've never met anyone who puts up with all the dumb shit I do, or how nasty the shit I say is. But you take it all—you actually like me.”
Zanka took the box from his hands, sitting down on the sink and hugging Jabber.
The rabbit held his head up and kissed Jabber, it was warm and calming even. Not a deep one, but one that showed each other that they were there.
Jabber returned the gesture, hugging tighter and rubbing his head into Zanka’s neck. “It’s not just like, I love you so much,” Zanka mumbled, with a small smile.
“I love you too Zan Zan!” Jabber couldn’t help but exclaim it with a grin.
The two stayed in silence for a moment, basking in the realization of what just happened. At that moment, Jabber laid the necklace onto Zanka, locking it in place. You’d think the silver chain with the blue tinted jade wouldn’t pair with the gold chain and pink flowers of the earrings, but they did.
It was just like them in a way—a former rich kid who thinks he’s weak and deserves nothing, and a kid with a poor upbringing that led him into crime. Realistically, they should be on fully different paths, yet fate brought them together.
“How do I look?” Zanka looked at the mirror, as if enthralled by the jewelry he wore. Stuff of this quality was hard to find on the Ground, yet Jabber got it just for him. It gave him a warm feeling in his chest.
“You’re so beautiful,” Jabber spoke quickly, “Sorry I don’t know all those big words you use…Or they left my mind.”
Zanka just smiled, shaking his head.
Later on, the two laid in his bed, the jewelry discarded on the nightstand.
“God, how am I gonna explain that I got proposed to and practically have a fiance now? I never even told anyone I had a boyfriend…” Zanka groaned, the two were cuddled together, Jabber laying on Zanka’s chest.
Jabber just giggled, “You don’t have to explain anything, if they ask, just say how it is.”
“As much as I’d like to do that, how do you think Corvus would think of that?”
Jabber deadpanned, fully forgetting about the arrangement they were in.
“I don’t know…?”
The rabbit laughed at him, those fond eyes looked at him.
“We can both go up there sometime, yeah?”