Chapter Text
The weeks after the Trash Beast incident were not easy. Zanka’s limbs still ached, a dull thrum underneath his skin. He sometimes found himself tracing over the faint remnants of a scar on his stomach.
Where Jabber had stabbed him.
Another reminder of his failures, his incompetence. His mediocrity. What’s new?
When he was released from the infirmary, he went right back to training. Lovely Assistaff felt smooth in his hands, and all was right again. He thumbed her grooves idly, noting any maintenance he should do in the near future.
Zanka was tired. Days dragged into weeks, weeks into a whole month. When he was cleared for missions again, he did what was probably the dumbest thing he had ever done.
Second dumbest thing. The first was answering the call in the first place.
After their… scuffle, Jabber had exchanged coms with Zanka, completely unbeknownst to him. That was, until he contacted him. A meetup, a discussion of sorts.
Why not? And here he was, sneaking out of HQ.
Walking wasn’t ideal, but no one would’ve approved of this anyway. His feet dragged him to a small city, down an alleyway.
He leaned against the wall crossing his arms.
A snicker. Familiar. “You actually showed up, wow..!” followed by a giggle.
“I was curious is all.” Zanka glanced up at Jabber standing before him.
They had agreed no fighting, and it seemed Jabber was holding his end.
For now.
“What did you want?” The cleaner looked off to the cracked paint on the wall parallel to him.
A beat.
“You’re much better than this, you know.” Jabber took a step forward, “Better than them. The Cleaners. You have potential. A hunger.”
Zanka scoffed, “If this is some ploy, it won’t work.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment. But no, it’s not one.” The Raider smirked, tilting his head in an almost cat-like way.
No, Zanka. Don’t start comparing the guy that beat your ass to a cat. Stupid.
“Then what?” He began fidgeting with a wrapped bandage on his Assistaff.
Jabber hummed, “You shouldn’t limit yourself to them. Endlessly chasing a goal that only gets farther… But you were knowing of that, hm?” the manic grin was back now.
Zanka shuddered. Only slightly, imperceptibly. But he caught it. Of course he did.
Fucking natural talents.
“Just sayin,” he leaned, in too close for comfort, “Don’t you want more?”
“I-…”
“Think about it. I’ll see you again.” and with that he turned and strolled out of the alley.
Zanka sighed, looking at his hands.
More.
…
He was off at his missions for the rest of that week.
Enjin looked concerned, Riyo had asked if he was alright twice now. Rudo tried to cheer him up but… let’s not dwell on that much. Eugh..
He was antsy. The words had stuck like glue to his thoughts.
Hunger, better, stronger.
More.
More than the Cleaners. A way to be stronger. A way to show everyone just what he was. Show Hyo, show his siblings, his entire family.
Prove himself.
No. No no no. He shouldn’t listen to the words of some manic bum ass loser. Not him. Not ever.
He chuckled at the absurdity, taking out a nearby Trash Beast. Weak, insufficient. Like a little bug.
Zanka felt his eye twitch. The purple freak was single handedly corrupting him, wasn’t he?
He sighed, grounding himself by gripping Lovely Assistaff white knuckled.
Some part of him considered Jabber’s words.
…
Zanka would say that when they ran into The Raiders a month or so later, it wasn’t his fault he tensed. Wasn’t his fault his eyes drew to the smug smirk he came to recognize.
Wasn’t his fault the corners of his own lips upturned slightly. That of which the purple Raider most definitely noticed.
“These guys again?” Riyo spoke from beside him, “Bummer. I was looking forward to a quick job.”
It was supposed to be a quick job. But now? Not so much.
He readied Lovely Assistaff, meeting Jabber’s eyes.
Quickly, the Cleaners were forced to join the clash. The noise of metal on metal was piercing. And then?
“You’ve gotten stronger than in the Trash Beast, Zan-Zan~ I can tell.” He was close now, in reach, yet not making any major attempt at taking the Cleaner out.
Zanka’s eyes widened, his hesitation causing him to need to block an almost fatal blow. Still, Jabber hesitated.
Stronger.
The word echoed in his mind like a mantra.
Their fighting grew more violent.
“I want to.” The Cleaner whispered, barely audible with the commotion around them. “Be stronger. Show them…”
Jabber paused, staring at him, “You… You’re sure?” he blinked.
An out. An option.
Zanka nodded, a simple tilt of his head. He swung hard, Jabber barely dodging. “Very sure.”
The Raider smirked, throwing the blonde off balance.
He hit the ground hard, must have bruised the entire expanse his back. Zanka, unfortunately, felt the slight slow trickle of blood running down his neck.
Talk about deja vu.
He gasped, trying to haul himself up again. Then he saw the colorful blues and yellows of that blue haired girl’s portal.
Oh, and something shouted his name. Enjin, maybe?
Everything was fuzzy. His head hurt. Everything hurt. His veins felt like fire.
The world went dark.