Chapter Text
Zanka felt like he was going to faint at any moment, so uncomfortable and humiliated that he wanted to burst into tears right then and there at the full, painful realisation.
They used him…
They used him to get to Rudo…
How much of what he said was a lie? How much was true? How much was manipulation? How much was… genuine…?
"Young minds are so easily manipulated..." Zanka bit the inside of his mouth when the Raiders' leader spoke, his voice so indifferent and impassive, so firm and authoritarian, so untrustworthy. "Did you really think someone would be unfaithful to me? That someone would betray me?"
Zanka squeezed Lovely Assistaff.
"It was too easy… You're just a naive kid, fooled with a sweet candy…"
Zanka took a step in front of Rudo, tensing his posture, firm, fierce, and his eyes lit up with anger and helplessness at the same time, positioning himself and ready to fight everyone present if necessary, starting with their leader, indifferent, not even intimidated by being challenged to a fierce fight.
"Ridiculous..." he whispered without any fear in his voice. "Do you think you can undo what you did?"
There was no response from Zanka; he wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of making his pain, his rage, his trembling, both tacit and evident. Even though it was clearly visible that his staff was trembling, he was afraid… And he felt humiliated and pathetic... He had been used…
Jabber had used him…
He had been sincere, had revealed and let on too much of himself, had shared exciting conversations and had laughed almost uproariously at Jabber's crazy, unexpected responses... And all that were fucking lies!
Zanka hardened his expression, clenched his teeth.
Focus, Zanka...
"You're not worthy to fight me, being so weak and easily manipulated..."
Zanka wasn't going to let it slide. He subdued the Raider leader, who needed nothing more than a simple evasive gesture to send him sprawling to the ground. Blinded by rage, Zanka impulsively gained momentum to rise, ready to subdue him again, determined to prevent him from laying a hand on Rudo.
His body froze in place at that very moment, his strength waning. He recognised that pain, that paralysis, that sensation, and with the last of his strength before collapsing to the ground once more, he rolled onto his back, his eyes glistening at the claw that had scratched and paralysed him— luckily, perhaps, not poisoned to kill him slowly. Jabber didn't even glance at him, squatting comfortably on the ground and not being stopped by anyone; his eyes were fixed on his leader, who was slowly approaching Rudo, who clenched his fists, ready to fight. A single tear slid down his cheek.
Don’t cry for him, you asshole!
"Death is all that awaits reckless traitors who try to play the hero..." was the booming voice of the leader. "Deaths in vain, pathetic, and ridiculous..." Zanka knew it.
Zanka knew he was pathetic…
His magenta eyes turned to him for just a second. Although it seemed impossible, his face was serious, he would even say tense— regret? That bastard didn't know what that was…
Then returned to his leader, a crooked grin slid through his lips.
“Oi! Boss!” Zanka trembled when Jabber’s cheerful voice echoed in the cave, his psychopathic side seemed to be afloat and in control of his body. “You didn't see that coming…”
Huh?
His companions, who were supposed to be blocking his movements or his approach to him, collapsed like sandbags, inert and motionless, with their eyes wide open, and in a split second a deafening laugh echoed through the cave. Jabber was no longer there, Zanka forced his eyes around, complicated, almost impossible. The echo of the laugh was deafening, movements so sudden and unpredictable that no one seemed to be able to follow them. Not even the boss, looking analytically at his surroundings, or Rudo, completely cowarded and considering using his Vital Instrument to protect himself just in case an erratic movement reached him.
Could it be?
It wasn't a lie?
A sudden movement near him made him shudder, and he felt his body unravel, Lovely Assistaff rolled up beside him. His tensed muscles were able— shakily— to reach it. But he was unable to lift his weight, much less sit down; a groan of pain escaped Jabber's lips, and that had all their attention. He raised his head, being hung up, grabbed by his neck, and apparently disabled enough to be unable to use its claws. His pink eyes were shining, but his claws were not useful. He kicked his legs in the air to no avail.
Rudo was about to act, but fear, and being unable to comprehend the situation made him uneasy and predictable.
“I gave you an opportunity to redeem what you did… You hid from us your interactions with a Cleaner, and all the information he gave you about himself… And that's the pay I receive for a filthy rat as you? Trying to stab me by my back? That's low even for an ethicless psychopath like you…”
“Should I tell you my skin is covered in that acidic, venomous slime over there that somehow it's not affecting me?”
Without even caring in the slightest about what he had just told him, the clear threats that he wasn't going to leave him unharmed, and that fierce cynicism, Jabber laughed as loud and hysterical ad he could when Zodyl let him go, looking at his hand, glisters and burnt reddish hue covered it all his hand, and an undescribed pain drew his face.
“This is because of making Zanka doubt me... And this, because I feel like it…” again, he manically laughed as his Mankira activated and launched himself forward.
Rudo couldn't believe what he was seeing; his red eyes could only lay on Zanka, unable to comprehend how on earth he could be willing to give his life for a psychotic madman like... that Raider… He approached him, initially doubtful, because he didn't know if he would need to fight that psychon in the middle of that ecstatic reverie. However, before he was able to reach for Zanka, Jabber was already at his side, helping him stand, holding with gentleness his arm.
Zanka said nothing, but he dragged back his arm, hiding it attached to his body, unsecure, averting his eyes with distrust, and shame. Rejecting his touch.
“I gotta get you two out of here…” he shrugged, being perceptive enough to understand Zanka was not willing to talk to him, not about what happened. “Follow me! I know the place!” He hummed joyfully.
Rudo didn't trust him, and Zanka couldn't gather the strength to take a step forward.
The sunlight overhead felt like a flash of light in the middle of the night, so unexpected and unpleasant that it forced them to look away. Jabber had been their guide, Rudo had been partially the support on which to be able to put some of his weight along with Lovely Assistaff, he still was weak, and shaky. Jabber turned towards them, the indelible smile on his lips only made the situation more suspicious for both of them. But, suddenly, it vanished as it never existed.
“There's nothing I can do to make you forgive me for what happened…” he began. “But let me tell you, no one was supposed to find out I talked to you… And it was all my fault…” Zanka bit his lip, resisting the temptation to look at him. “Zodyl told me he would kill you to get rid of my distractions, and I gave my life for yours…”
“You were unharmed!” Hissed, not moving his face.
“They healed me…” his eyes were shineless, lowered, regretful… “They healed me the moment you accepted to hand him over… They wanted you to think your sacrifice was in vain.”
“I cannot trust you anymore…” Zanka refused to look at him, he even turned his face completely, he refused to let him see how miserable and crystallised his eyes were. “You lied me once”
“I didn't…” he muttered. “It all looks like one. But all I tell you, and all our conversations… you know it's all true… You know it was genuine… You wanted to hug me as much as I wanted…”
Zanka felt the tears running, Rudo swallowed, stepping back, unable to deal with that, actually, not knowing how to.
Jabber approached a few steps, and gently placed his hands on his shoulders.
“Your voice is even more precious in real life than through the choker…” whispered as if it was a secret between them.
Shit… Don't tell me that…
Zanka turned to him.
“Yours is as annoying as through the choker…” he grumbled.
A laugh escaped Jabber's throat.
“But you enjoy my company…” he grinned. “And I make you smile…”
Zanka blinked and averted his eyes, flustered.
“I said forget it”
A chuckle echoed from his lips.
“Never…” he cupped his cheeks, a bit salvage. “Show me that smile, you, drama boy with a terrible attitude” He tried to force a smile onto his lips, without hurting him.
“Fuck off” he pulled off from his grip.
“Show me”
“No”
“Show me, show me” sounded like a tender tantrum.
Zanka snorted, and shook his head slowly, a tiny, shy grin crossed his lips. Enough for Jabber, who yanked forward and embraced him tightly.
There was an initial resistance coming from the navy eyed one, but after a few seconds, he sighed, and surrounded him back, closing his eyes.
How could a blood drop cause all this?
He was still wondering. But, in perspective, it had been something spectacularly good at the end of the day…
THE END