Chapter Text
A clock on a wall hums to its usual tune as team Akuta and Eager meet in front of Semius desk. A long stretch of silence spreads throughout the whole room until a flashy voice speaks up.
‘’Okay sooo what you're saying is that we leave one of our most valuable cleaners alone and watch from the sidelines??’’ Enjin rubs his temple as if he was trying to understand his own conflicted opinion on the matter.
Riyo and Rudo take a look at Zanka and well.. His expression isn't the most reliable. Zanka was doing that weird thing that Rudo points out whenever Enjin praises him or shows worry while also trying to be nonchalant at the same time. It was creepy.
Semiu huffs and adjusts her glasses.
‘’That’s not exactly what I am saying. You will not just watch but also interfere whenever you feel is fit.’’
‘’But why exactly this guy?’’ Rudo blurts and a visible sign of irritation jerks up from Zanka who so badly wanted to call him out but he knew it wasn’t the most professional thing to do in front of coworkers who are giving you an opportunity to prove your worth. Follo lets out a nervous giggle in the background.
Right. Stay cool Zanka. Stay cool. His grip on Lovely tightens. But it softens when Follo places a hand on his shoulder, offering a small smile.
Semiu cracks a grin.
‘’Not to add more butter onto his pancakes but Zanka here is very talented in precision tracking. Since he is still so young me and Corvus agreed that this mission would do wonderful for him in skill building.’’
Semiu looks directly at Zanka. Follo lets go of his shoulder.
‘’And thats exactly what we need, to build his already talented attribute.’’
Zanka's face goes completely red but he keeps his composure. He has never been dogpilled with this much praise from his co workers all at once before. Still even as the experience of being praised is pleasant a pit of guilt fills his stomach. He doesn’t deserve to have a mission dedicated to improving his skill, talents like Rudo could just get it done.
Enjin continues to rub his head. Team Akuta and Eager have conversation about the topic in the background. He tries to gather other people's opinions while still focusing on his own thoughts until he feels an agitating force.
Everyone was talking but Tamsy and Zanka. Zanka not talking is fine in this situation as Enjin predicts hes probably wallowing in his own thoughts but Tamsy? His expression is neutral, staring right at Enjin.
Weird… Wait, no its not weird. Enjin shakes his head, he was probably just waiting for his opinion. He lets out a loud cough, getting everyone's attention.
‘’I agree with the idea. However err… I’m concerned with this giver has in store.’’ He puts his hand onto his chin and looks down at the ground, thinking.
‘’Do you think he’s not capable enough?’’ A voice speaks up. Tamsy.
This bastard.
Enjin rolls his eyes and doesn’t give a response, he doesn’t have time for that second guessing bs. Enjin looks at Zanka and realizes maybe an answer is needed, the boy was practically ogling at him.
‘’Not at all. Zanka is a champ in his own cool unique way. I’m just concerned if his precision tracking is all that is needed. We don’t know how strong this chick is.’’
The chick in question is a giver by the name of Noor Aranea, she has been appearing in multiple cities and has been a nuisance to the general people. Nobody knows what her intentions truly are but they still don’t have enough details on her besides her jinki, a pocket watch.
Semiu sighs.
‘’ If you’d let me finish instead of asking annoying questions I would have subsided this fear.’’
She continues but Enjin and Tamsy tilt their heads. Semiu was keeping information from them?
‘’As you've probably noticed one of our team members is missing’’ She points at a empty space next to Follo, Tomme was nowhere to be found.
‘’I’ve sent her to the most recent city that the giver has visited, to collect intel from locals.’’
Rudos mouth hangs open. Sending a supporter alone? Isn’t that dangerous? He looks around but no one seems to have a similar reaction to him.
‘’She’s still currently at the recent location but she has spoken to me through the collar and has learned a few things about the giver-’’
‘’And?’’ Enjin asks.
‘’Let me finish, damn.’’ She rolls her eyes and continues.
From what everyone collected from the explanation Noor can only awaken her Jinki if someone looks her in the eyes and with Zankas precision tracking he'll be able to fight her without looking at her in the face directly. A huge con is that shes extremely fast, she can trick you into looking at her but the pros? Her ability only lasts for five seconds before she has to make you look at her again. But during those five seconds is what locals called an absolute nightmare. Some say you won’t be able to move, others said it felt like their insides completely dried and collapsed, another person said that their entire body was thrown against a wall and they weren't able to move for days.
So if you're an ordinary person, one look can possibly get you hospitalized, if you're a talented giver you could survive a few rounds if you catch her glimpse more than once. Semiu predicts that the givers talent has something to do with time travel, that since the human body isn’t used to a sudden - rapid change in time it defaults to self destruction. But what does that mean for the few people who didn't feel pain but went completely frozen for those five seconds?
Zanka felt so fucked. This giver was probably to absolutely a natural talent. His grip around lovely tightens again as anger fills his stomach. His mind chants over and over that he doesn’t have the ability to do this mission, it would seriously be easier if someone else did it. Why did he need this anyways? They doubt him, that's why, they all pity someone like him. But if he rejects the offer it would be obvious his own insecurity got to him right? Why would they put him in this situation? Do they hate him? They all think he’s weak, they are ready for him to reject this.
Zanka grits his teeth.
‘’I’ll do it.’’
Maybe this time if he wins, they wouldn’t doubt a mediocre like him.
Enjin gives him a look of concern but then gives him a thumbs up.
‘’Alright! Lets get this started!’’ He shouts and Delmon shouts even louder.
‘’YEAHHHHHHH ZANKAAAAAAAA’’ Riyo and Gris join Delmon as they raise their arms into the air. Enjin laughs and shouts with them as they all start walking towards the vehicles.
Zanka stays behind them as he stares ahead.
I’ll prove to them that I don’t need special treatment, I’m just like one of them, they’ll see. He thinks.
As he walks forward with Lovely in hand, he doesn’t notice the knowing look on Follo’s face.
Follo looks down as he trails behind Zanka and complexity rams into his thoughts. He knows that feeling, feeling inferior, its painted all over Zankas face but why? Why would someone like Zanka feel that way? Doesn’t he realize what hes able to do? How he inspires people? What he has? Follo groans inside his own head. Trying to come to terms that anyone can feel inferior but it still stays, that feeling.
Jealousy.
Follo physically slaps himself and shakes his head. No, dont be that way Follo, everyones experiences are different, uniqu-
‘’Follo?’’ Zanka stops and looks at him. A blush creeps onto the brunette's cheeks.
‘’Uh y-yeah? Whats up?’’ Standing still, he looks to the side to avoid eye contact with his growing frustration.
‘’Are you okay? Ya just slapped yourself dude.’’ Fuck. Zanka noticed that. His cheeks grow even redder, fuck ZANKA noticed that. Oh my god hes an idiot. But hey at least Zanka noticed him? Wait what.
Follo Stares blankly at Zanka trying to come up with a response. Zanka notices his hesitation and places his hand against Follo's coat and traces his fingers up and down.
‘’Ya don’t have to tell me. Its okay.’’ Zanka stops touching his coat and continues to walk forward. Follo follows behind awkwardly.
Follo doesn’t see the smile on Zanka's face that tells anyone hes extremely proud of himself to be able to touch Follo like that. Giving himself an internal fist bump.
‘’YOOOHOOOOO chop chop lover boys! We got a mission to do!’’ Enjin claps his hands together.
Zankas cheeks dust with pink. He wants to say something snarky to Enjin but he chooses to stay nonchalant to ‘’impress’’ Follo. He looks back at the other man who was still acting odd.
‘’You heard him’’ Zanka pauses and looks to Follo.
‘’We have a mission.’’
Follo stops and stares Zanka right in the eyes.
Beautiful.
That focused look, those eyes full of powerful intent all warped so deeply into something else that Follo can’t exactly place just yet but..
Oh how he really wants to know. He wants to know all of Zanka.
Before they know it they were in the car and some time passed so eventually Riyo got bored.
‘’Lover boys huh?’’ She sits up from her seat and looks behind her to look at Zanka and Follo next to each other. Tracing a heart shape and letting out a small wink.
‘’Shut yer trap..’’ Zanka looks towards the window away from Follo and Riyo obviously flustered, there goes the nonchalant persona.
‘’Skipped the whole closet and went straight for the hanger huh? Zanka has priorities!'’ She teases.
‘’Like you can talk.’’ Moving his face away from the window to look at her.
‘’Well well yeah… at least you might have a chance unlike me.’’ She draws her finger to fidget with the seat.
Follo sits there stunned. Did they forget he existed? What did she mean by that? Does Zanka actually have a crush on him? ZANKA? No way.
Riyo and Zanka continue to talk about various topics. Leaving him and Rudo alone, they both stay silent, not talking to the other despite the rest of the car talking ( Including Gris and Enjin at the front.)
The ride continues blissfully.
They had reached the destination including team Eager, which makes Follo think.
Are we really so unsure of the givers strength we needed two teams? A feeling of worry fills him deep as his eyes linger at Zanka.
Both teams scatter, team Eager tries to locate any recent casualties and team Akuta trails behind Zanka hidden.
Zanka beats Lovely's bottom into the ground and in his blind vision he already feels a presence that doesn’t belong to the cleaners. An unfamiliar silhouette was ahead of him but hidden, probably waiting to jump him.
‘’Great.. She’s already on my ass.’’ How could this be? He wasn’t careful enough, thats why.
Zanka continues to walk through the dark crowded area and he hears a confusing sound. It was a mixture of pure exhausted sobbing, whining and laughing. There was no words coming out of the sound besides hiccups, gasps for air, and groaning. It was disturbing.
Zanka closes his eyes to use Lovely again but his senses are cut off. The silhouette was already in front of him.
He looks down to see a woman crouching. She has long purple messy hair with black tips, tan skin, bandages that adorned her body and overly baggy winter clothing. Before he could make more observations he noticed the glowing object with dark blue aura radiating off it. A pocket watch jinki. It's her.
He positions his staff and is already preparing for confrontation.
Noor chokes against her own words with tears running down her cheeks, her emotion that runs through her right now is unknown to Zanka. He’s getting overwhelmed by just hearing her.
‘’No.. NO’’ She grips onto her clock while violently shaking, her other hand in her hand, desperately trying to rip any strands.
Noor looks frantically at her clock as she continues to shrivel and choke. Before Zanka could use his ability to predict her next move, she appears right behind him.
‘’Get out get out get out get out get out get out get out get out get out get out get out get out’’
She whispers onto the back of his neck and he doesn’t swing just yet. He has to predict her next move while she does something. He presses Lovely to the floor again and Noor is already in front of him.
Perfect.
Catching a glimpse at her stomach, Zanka bucks both his legs into her while lifting himself on Lovely. Sending her flying backwards.
She lets out a loud gurgled groan that turns into screaming that’s completely untranslatable.
Noor runs at Zanka full pace and continues the move she did previously, allowing Zanka to block her moves. He thinks if she keeps doing this she’ll grow tired eventually. Another kick to her stomach and atrail of vomit leaves her mouth. She wipes it off without another thought.
‘’No no.. I’m sorry, I don’t know..’’ She stops with her rapid attacks and begins to circle Zanka. She has a calmer demeanor now, it shows in her way of speaking.
‘’It’s okay, it's okay, I can help’’ Noor hugs herself as she continues to circle the man and whisper to herself. Help? Why would he need help? She thinks he’s weak doesn’t she? Of course a talent like her was able to recognize that.
But Zanka doesn’t know if she’s talking to herself or him throughout the whole ordeal but Zanka has a feeling it has something to do with her jinki. Everytime before she speaks or makes a move she looks at her clock, like she depends on it to know how to act. As if it was like the clock didn’t show her what she wanted to see she would lash out in fear. Every aspect of fear, just to protect herself from ANYTHING she sees as a threat. But there was also a dullness he could feel from her. Were all these emotions acted out or sincere?
She was not attacking him currently does that mean she's not scared? Is he not threatening enough?
‘’But even so..Why would you attack me.’’ Her fists tighten as she stops hugging herself. This time it was an actual sentence targeted towards Zanka.
‘’Fear. You know what fear is. Why would you be so violent against me if you knew I was so scared?’’
Zanka stands there and his jaw hangs.
Was this girl reading his mind???
I know you are scared, she wants to so badly say out loud, but she keeps her act.
‘’I was so worried about what you would do with your power, that's why I followed you.’’ Well, at least she revealed her intentions.
‘’ I just wanted you to leave.’’
‘’I can’t help that I get so scared. Please don’t judge me.’’
‘’If I wasn't scared I would die. I know it, I would die. I know you wouldve killed me.’’ What? So she's extremely paranoid and hypervigilant. Got it. Zanka thinks, but he truly doesn't know the half of it and he knows it. Doubt lingers in his mind.
She stands there going on and one but not once did she move or fidget.
‘’Its not my fault. You made me so scared.’’
‘’I can deal with..that.’’ She rambles on.
‘’ I can deal with that!’’ Its as if she found relief not putting the blame on herself.
She crouches down and springs forward, aiming at Lovely. .
If he even survives this.
‘’You don’t understand. I need to kill you before you kill me. There’s nothing wrong with this…I’m doing the right thing..’’
Oh great. Shes trying to reassure him now, as if that would help. Zanka just wanted to win and get out of here.
There is no time for convincing, her attacks are fast and smooth. A real pattern of determination moves around instead of mindless fear. Small scratches from her being able to hit him litter his hands, face, and cut through his pants. Blood seeps through.
‘’Haha…haha….. You do understand though right?’’ Noor touches her face where a bruise placed by Zanka was.
Okay this girl was starting to piss Zanka off. She was talking complete nonsense. Not in a Jabber or Amo way but like actual monkey poop, he couldn't even correlate what she is talking about to anything about the fight.
‘’I’m not that defenseless yknow…’’ Noor whispers.
What? What could she mean? Is he not strong enough for her? That’s not..Thats not what she meant right? Well it doesn’t matter anyways , he knows he shouldn't take validation from his enemy anyways.
Wait-
Before Zanka could locate her again with Lovely he felt his body being thrown into the floor and hands trying to grab to his face.
‘’You are so difficult to read… I can’t think of anything to say to get under your skin.. At least.. Not immediately.’’ She lets go of his face and circles around him. Zankas entire body goes stiff, unable to even finger at the air. Was that comment supposed to make him feel better about himself?
‘’But I think I found something..’’ What? Why is he not able to move? He didn’t even look at her, was this even related to her manipulation of time?
‘’When I first saw you I thought you would be the type to get annoyed at someone distressed, as you appear so high and mighty yknow?’’ Noor continues to walk circles around Zanka as he desperately tries to find any way to move. The bloody cuts in his pants touch the dirt and it stings.
‘’But you never got angry.. In fact the whole time you saw me as your equal or should I say your superior?’’ She goes on.
‘’So I figured out playing the annoying biting back victim was gonna flop. But since you basically wear you heart on your sleeve I was able to see you, see through you.’’ Crap. So was her act of looking into people's eyes a metaphor this whole time? How did she pick up these things on him anyway?
‘’You just wanted to fight me to prove to yourself that you were worthy.’’ Noor stops circling and stands right in front of Zankas kneeling body.
“I don’t like that in a person. It’s sad to think about yourself in that light, you can’t stay in the past.’’ She brings her pocket watch to her lips.
‘’But I’m not exactly the best person to be criticizing you for that.’’ A small kiss was given to the watch.
Zanka was pissed. This giver was analyzing him and for what? What does she get out of this? A sense of control? Whatever her purpose was it made him feel utterly humiliated, he felt naked. Every comment she made about him felt more like an accusation and not a fact but he knows it’s probably because hes so insecure he doesn’t want to acknowledge he already knows all of this about himself.
‘’Since you keep thinking, unable to help yourself in this situation, I’ll bring someone to help you, since you can’t save yourself.’’ Noor dangles her pocket watch back and forth and a dark gray aura swarms around it, suffocating Zanka until his mind went blank.
The pain he felt before he blanked was such an overwhelming force he would never be able to describe. His entire soul felt violated. His heart dropped to his intestines and cold, shivering pain, grew large in his whole body. The sensation wasn’t exactly extremely painful but he had never felt so scared before. His heart couldn’t stop pounding in his stomach and nausea settled itself heavy.
…
Zanka's body completely flopped to the ground. It was pathetic really, the fear of being vulnerable leads you to being in the most vulnerable state there is. Team Akuta appears from the shadows, surprising the curly haired woman.
Enjin tightens his fingers on Umbreaker and points it towards Noor.
‘’What did you do?’’ Trying to remain calm, as he doesn’t want to cause another potential deadly casualty.
She turns around from her walking away position and visible tears streamed down her cheeks, she tries to wipe them off but she can’t stop. This makes everyone irritated.
‘’Cmon you can stop with that act, you know that won’t work on us.’’ Riyo crosses her arms as her patience thins.
Noor perks her head but in a way of genuine reaction.
‘’Um sorry no, this is actually just a side effect of my ability.’’ Enjin lowers Umbreaker, noticing that her intentions seem more sincere.
‘’What part of your ability? Being a big fat liar!?!’’ Rudo digs his feet into the dirt beneath him and his fists tighten. Before he could spring into action Gris hits him on the head.
‘’Not now bud.’’ Rudo rubs his head and sighs angrily.
Follo stands there silent, hovering over Zanka's body and a feeling, a strange feeling, grows in his stomach. Zanka's eyes were still open but they were so gray and dull, tears stayed in his eyeducts, refusing to go down his cheeks. Even while unconscious its like Zanka's body is invincible to being seen.
He doesn’t like this- or enjoy seeing Zanka in such a state but it serves to him as a reminder. The fights that Zanka has lost recently, he knows thats gonna build up soon. Just like the festering resentment Follo himself has deep inside.
‘’Okay uhg I don’t really know who you guys are but it seems you really only attacked me because I was attacking people right? If you let me go I can explain my ability…S you can stop me in the future?’’ Sweat droplets form at the top of her head. Her tan skin glimmers as she tries to position herself into visible light.
It was one of the stupidest propositions that Enjin has ever heard, but since he wants to know if Zanka is alright, he accepts anyway.
Noor explains her ability in detail. Her way of ‘’seeing’’ people is actually her able to catch people feeling an emotion that was present in the worst moment of their life. Once she catches that feeling her Jinki is able to make the person feel the physical sensations of their mental anguish but as a result she feels the mental pain. She also explains she only gets in fights with those she knows that have ‘’been through shit.’’ As her days are dull and uneventful, she tries to get any ounce of ‘’feelings’’ that she can. Which was easy to believe if you saw her. Her eyes were black, no shine, even while having a friendly chat.
‘’But what was with what you said earlier? About sending someone to save him?’’ Follo asks.
Noor lightens up.
‘’Yeah that. Thats where the time aspect of my Sweetie Arable comes from- Everyone knows that when you go through something horrible that you are ultimately the only person that can control your mindset, how you end up, right?’’
Everyone nods, well Rudo lets out a grunt.
‘’Basically in a few minutes or seconds from now a future Zanka will appear-’’ Before she could finish everyone freaks out.
‘’WHAT???? DOESN’T THAT LIKE DISRUPT NATURAL TIME JUNK??’’
‘’HOW WILL THE FUTURE ZANKA GO BACK?’’
Noor stomps her foot on the ground hard.
‘’LET ME FINSIH SHUT THE FUCK UP OH MY GOD YALL ARE ANNOYING.’’ She pulls at her hair in pure rage. Everyone obeyed as they waited for her to calm down.
‘’This usually doesn’t happen- Or Arable doesn’t feel the need to summon a future version unless the person we fought has a deep unresolved issue/issues that affects how they live daily. Even though stuff like that is hard to fix. the future version of yourself well.. Is supposed to help you find a coping mechanism or mechanisms.. ?’’ Noor closes her eyes, hiding herself from everyone's expressions.
‘’I know for some people that have multiple issues, even finding one coping mechanism for one issue worked enough to send the future self away. But it usually only works if they are aware its a coping mechanism.’’ Noor turns down to see Follo still hovering over Zankas body.
‘’So your friend over here might already be doing things on the daily that help him deal with stuff but he might not be aware of why he does it.. Or it could be destructive in which the future self should help console.’’ She fumbles with Arable.
Silence fills the room until Rudo speaks up.
‘’So you basically make people pissed, beat them up, and give them therapy?’’ Gris Giggles at the simplicity of that statement.
‘’Yeah, basically. I mean, thats a good way of wording it.’’ She turns away back to her escaping position.
‘’Wait -’’ Enjin reached out to try and grasp her shoulder but she was already far gone. That’s at least one thing the locals got right, she’s really fast.
Enjins grits his teeth and sighs.
Great, I mean at least they got her info. His eyebrows furrow as he stares down at Zankas body.
What was he gonna do now? Before Enjin could think more he felt a strong hand rest on his shoulder. He looks back and Gris is there smiling.
‘’Its okay, you and the others can wait a while and see if he appears right? I'll go find Team Eager and inform them on the situation.’’
‘’Sounds good.’’ Gris nods his head and runs as he presses his collar to call Tamsy.
Time went on and all of Team Akuta was in silence, agaped at the state of Zankas body.
There were no extremely bad physical signs of pain besides the cuts but there was a noticeable difference in him. It was like he was dead, his skin was pale, his eyes were dull, his breathing was so slow that it made everyone so worried that the giver was bluffing, that he was actually gonna die.
A heavy weight forms in the back of Enjins mind. He knew the younger boy was holding back his feelings, especially what he went through, but was this a true physical representation of his mental state?
His body looks almost alien. Every hint of joy in his skin and veins was trying to drip out of his core, he truly did feel dead.
His body, gray and ill, had a somewhat peaceful look to it. What if Zanka wanted this?
He wonders how Follo feels about this. That boy hasn’t left his side ever since he fainted. He didn’t speak up, he just stared and held the other boy.
Geez, even though what the lady did will have good outcomes, the current result was dull.
Team Eager shows up very fast but at this point both teams don’t know what to do.
‘’I mean, who says we can’t go back? It’s not like his future self will not appear right? She didn’t clairfy if we needed to stay in the same location.’’ Tomme speaks up, she was found when Team Eager wandered throught the city.
‘’I guess thats for the best. We need the other cleaners to be caught up too. Seeing two Zankas oughta freak people out.’’ Enjin rubs the back of his neck.
Follo grips onto Zankas body and picks him up, carrying him in his arms like a bride.
‘’I agree’’ Follo lets out quietly. The rest nod.
Both teams continue in silence as they walk out the city, the silence was suffocating, as if they were already mourning him.
‘’Wait-’’ Tamsy opens his arm and blocks both teams from moving forward.
‘’Someone is following us.’’ They all stop and look around, trying their best to locate who it was. If Zanka was awake he would be perfect for this.
Before anyone could think, a large blue staff throws itself at Rudos head, knocking the boy over but not making him knocked out.
‘’What the hell?’’ He rubs his head as everyone gasps and whispers, then he looks up to see the perpetrator.
‘’Going somewhere without me?’’ Wait- Rudo knows that voice.
ZANKA? Well, that was fast.
He stood there, hand on hip, with Lovely picked up and decorating his side. He looked a lot older but not as old as Bundus, more like Enjn-Gris age. His boots were thicker, his hair was shoulder length but seemed more styled, ruffled in a way but still extremely similar to his current hair. He had an extremely visible large body tattoo, similar to Enjin it goes all the way from his arms to neck, it was a teal blue spiral floral pattern. His uniform didn’t change much besides his sleeves being way shorter, making his arms very visible with his black gloves being sheer, able to see through them. His shoulders were bare making the design choice of his long sheer gloves and short cut off sleeves before the shoulder to be very fashionable. Because of this choice it made his gained muscle very visible, beauty marks trail his arms over the tattoos. A visible scar was placed on his lip and his smeared eyeliner was undeniable.
Rudo glares at the older man longer and notices an eyebrow bridge piercing on his right. More piercings were plashed on his ears but they were ballpoint. He stayed with his blue tassel but on his right ear it was yellow. His nails painted black, complementing his rough hands that adored a golden ring on the fourth finger of his left hand. A few chains wrap around his hip, going over his middle teal cloth but not going over the bag on the other side of his hip, making them dangle only on one side, tools hanging off them.
Interesting. Rudo thinks, isn’t this what August would call ‘’Cunty?’’
Follo was in shock, utter shock. His jaw dropped when he saw the older man but he couldn't help but feel conflicted. The same man with the lowest self esteem possible, was adorned in muscle(Especially muscle, how the hell did he get so swole) and scars, how on anything could this man call himself a mediocrity? What bull shit. His body screamed with how talented he was.
Older Zanka looks around at both teams but he doesn’t know what to say, everyone is too shocked for him to feel at ease. He makes eye contact with Follo, meeting his eyes.
‘’Checkin me out arent we?’’ Zanka spews playfully, trying to lighten the mood. A few giggles left the crowd. Follo goes completely pink, but Gris pats him on the shoulder to lighten him up. That comment surprised him so much that he almost dropped current Zanka.
Tamsy coughs and speaks up before Enjin could say anything.
‘’Why don’t you seem shocked about this? Did this happen in your timeline as well?’’ Everyone turns to look at older Zanka.
‘’Actually, no. I do feel slightly freaked out because the whole concept of this is insane but also in the future a bunch of tremendously wacked stuff has happened that I wouldn’t even believe could happen if you were to ask him.’’ He points at current Zanka.
‘’So.. I’m not gonna let this get to me. I’m just worried how I’ll get back.’’ He looks to the side and visible irritation tenses his body. He wonders if this is related to the Watch Man series at all.
Enjin takes the stage before Tamsy could speak again and explains the situation to calm Zanka down. After the explanation Zanka looks down at the ground.
‘’I mean, I agree with the plan because that's the only way but.. How can an ordinary giver have such a power?’’ He fidgets with Lovely's handle.
‘’ We are not sure yet, but we are gonna keep getting as much entail as we can.’’ Tomme speaks up.
‘’or …’’ Tamsy places his finger on his bottom lip.
‘’Absurdity wins again.’’
Again? Enjin looks at the other man baffled. What kind of shit was he boiling in this kettle?
Before anyone could say another weird thing Enjin and Tamsy nod at each other and lead their teams into the different vehicles. Older Zanka helps Follo out as he notices his arms were growing weak, he carries his younger self to the car of Team Akuta.
It felt artistic in a way. To be carrying an old version of yourself as a new improved version of you stands strongly, holding you with so much care.
Time passed rather quickly in the car, well for everyone besides Follo. He couldn't bare to look at Zanka after that embarrassing interaction, he just wanted to be one with the dirt.
Everyone else on the other hand didn’t leave him alone, they kept asking him questions.
‘’What’s your work out routine?’’ Enjin yells back as he stays steady on the wheel.
‘’Beating the shit out of Rudo.’’ Riyo and Enjin barked out a laugh.
‘’What the fuck man??? I’M NOT JUST A TOY YA KNOW?’’
Rudo sits up in his seat and turns to face older Zanka but Enjin hits a block in the road causing everyone to jump in their seat and Rudo falling backwards, letting out a loud yell.
This made everyone laugh.
Older Zanka's laugh sounded enchanting to Follo. It was deep and hardy. A growing pain finds itself into his heart. Riyo noticed Follos Absence in conversation and grins.
‘’Don’t look so gloomy now. You have TWO Zankas on ya.’’
She giggles behind her teeth and Gris rolls his eyes slightly at the remark but gives a small chuckle and sigh. Rudo makes a confused expression, not catching the hint, Enjin smiles but stays silent.
Older Zanka looks at Follo with a soft smile.
Follo finally looks up at the older Zanka with blush on his cheeks. He tries to mutter anything to defend himself but he digs himself deeper with the amount of bizarre noises he's making.
Oh This was hell.
Older Zanka places his hand on Follo’s shoulder and rubs small circles.
‘’It’s okay.’’ Continuing to make direct eye contact.
This does anything BUT making Follo calmer.
He's unable to say anything back for the rest of the ride. Music blares to make sure there was no awkward silence.
They reach the headquarters and immediately bring current Zanka to the infirmary. Eishia presses her hands against his cold body and was immediately able to tell what's up.
‘’He’ll be awake in a few hours but..’’ a finger meets her chin in worry.
‘’When he wakes up he’ll feel really overwhelmed, his entire body is feeling intense emotions right now. As if his soul was grieving inside him..’’ Eishia rushed people out the room as she stated very clearly that any presence even though he was unconscious, could make him overwhelmed in his rest. She seemed very distressed that even she was there, he needed complete solitude.
A meeting was called to all the cleaners and they all met in the front room. This included Dear, Bro Santa, Guita, August, as well as other un named cleaners. Shikage stayed hidden away.
Older Zanka was the center of attention. Semiu was already informed on what happened so she was just waiting for what the group wanted to do next.
Rudo coughs and breaks the silence.
‘’Sooo…uhm.. What's it like in the future?’’ He rubs the back of his head.
Zanka thinks on this hard. Should he even tell them? What if it influences the way they do things? A sense of responsibility answers for him.
‘’I’m not sure if I should tell you.’’ His lips move. ‘’If I tell you, you might not do what you are already naturally doing and feel a heavy burden to do the proper ‘’outcome.’’ It would make things feel less natural. ‘’
Zanka swishes lovely between both hands as he thinks more.
‘’But I suppose it wouldn't hurt to ask smaller questions, like my appearance or something.’’ He stops moving Lovely and he places her in his left hand, firm on the ground.
Rudo looks at his hand and the ring placed on his hand glimmers.
‘’So what about the ring?’’
The whole room starts to feel tense but also full of excitement. Zanka? Married? Follo’s heart starts to beat fast as a wave of disappointment fills him. Wait! No no no. Follo thinks, he can’t think unrealistically, this is Zanka. Of course someone like Zanka could never be with him. He starts to fumble with his gloves.
A blush forms on Zankas face.
‘’That.. I’m unsure to tell you. It will hinder things.’’ Sweat droplets fall down from his head. Crap, hes said too much.
Why would it hinder things? Wait.. Unless it was someone involved in their everyday lives.. That thoughts clicks in everyone's mind.
‘’ZANKAA!! YOU TELLING US YOU BAGGED SOMEONE IN THIS ROOM?’’ August moves his arms frantically. ‘’THEY GOTTA BE SWEET AS A SUGAR GLIDERS PISS TO DEAL WITH YA.’’ August drags out the ‘’ya’’ as his arms stop moving around. Rudo nods agreeing with August- Wait WHAT? ZANKA? MARRIED. A shocked expression takes over his entire face.
Dramatic tears fall down Delmons face with snot clogging at his nose. Tamsy looks at him with slight disgust.
‘’ZANKAAAAAA.. I KNOW YOU WILL BE A WONDERFUL HUSBAND.’’ Delmon roars out with his hands in the air like he was celebrating a victory.
Enjins mouth hangs open as hes trying to grip onto what Zanka said. That means, it has to be someone in this room- or just someone in the cleaners if revealing it would hinder the future.
Enjin looks around the room counting all the women even though in the back of his mind hes pretty sure that won’t matter, that teasing him and Follo isn’t because of nothing. The odds don’t seem to be in his favor as no one but two girls were around his age. Riyo and Eishia. He already knows that Riyo is not into stuff like that so is it Eishia? Or maybe..
Enjin wiggles his eyebrows. ‘’Is it a certain medic?’’ That was clearly not the answer as Zanka rolled his eyes.
‘’No. Even if you guessed correctly I wouldn't reveal it.’’ So that's a no but that makes Enjin think. Wait, Zanka is probably actually gay because there was no other woman around his age besides Tomme, but they rarely interact. Maybe they could get to know each other in the future?
Enjin stomps his feet even harder because he knows the obvious answer would be Follo but should he say that out loud? What if he's not comfortable with that- Plus he wouldn't even reveal it theres no point in asking-
Riyo notices Enjins curiosity and speaks up shamelessly.
‘’Zan Zan, are you…’’ she limps her wrist. Zanka turns his head and flushes at the question but gives a slight nod. The room began to grow in curiosity but Rudo was confused so he asked Riyo. She whispers the meaning behind the question and Rudo flushes and accidentally says his reaction out loud.
‘’ZANKA LIKES WEINER???’’ People in the room gave awkward laughs while Enjin groaned and shuts Rudo's mouth with his hand. Rudo bites it and Enjin swats him back.
‘’Well, that's one way to out someone.’’ Tamsy rolls his eyes.
Follo felt his stomach almost explode with the amount of butterflies he had encaged. So he actually has a chance? Theres- No he shouldn’t think about it too deeply. But he does begin to wonder how their relationship would work with his own growing resentment towards Zanka.
‘’Rudo, buddy, there's younger kids here.’’ Bro covers Dears ears. Rudo calmed down and apologized.
Before Zanka could say anything the humiliation continued.
‘’YOU LIKE EM HUNG, SPRUNG AND A LITTLE FUN DONTCHA?’’ August flops his hands in a strange motion. ‘’I KNEW I CLOCKED YOU RIGHT.’’
Zanka's blush continues to grow as giggles fill the room. He slides his hand over his face and rolls his eyes. Semiu comes to the somewhat rescue.
‘’Now everyone lets not make a spectacle out of this, it’s important that our co workers don’t feel embarrassed for who they are right?’’ She crosses her arms and whispers something only Zanka can hear.
‘’Between you and I. I already knew the day you set foot in the head quarters.’’ Well, of course she did. She pushes up her glasses.
Zanka coughs and his grip on Lovely loosens as he begins to feel more relaxed.
‘’Alright , lets change the subject.’’