Chapter Text
Zanka watches as the trash beast falls apart, Lovely Assistaff returning to her original form. Rudo wipes the dust off his uniform while the steel pipe he used becomes dust in his hands. Riyo's scissors pierce the ground as she lands; they too, resort to their original form.
Zanka's body feels heavy from fatigue. Ever since the trash storm, trash beasts have been popping up in the woodworks for the past week, making it an extremely busy time for the Cleaners. He can feel how exhausted Lovely Assistaff is from the constant fighting.
Enjin whistles proudly, clapping. “Well done, gang!”
“Oh, thank you! Thank you so much!” An old woman walks over to them, clasping Enjin’s hands.
Enjin smiles. “Ain’t no problem, Miss. Happy to help.”
Riyo leans against the car, tucking away her vital instrument. “Just be more careful, okay?”
Rudo stays quiet, heading towards the car, antsy. Zanka sympathizes with him.
After all, Amo’s rut had just ended, and Rudo naturally would want to be there to help ensure she's getting the care she needs. And since Rudo himself is an alpha, he understands how draining the days after a rut can be on a person.
The woman nods frantically, “Of course, of course!”
The woman’s eyes glance over to Zanka, her nose flaring slightly. “Excuse me, young man.”
Zanka approaches the old woman. "Yes, ma'am?"
The old woman smiles, hands clasped together. "I have a grandson who's an alpha. I believe you would be a wonderful omega for him.”
Oh boy, here we go
Enjin places a hand over his mouth, failing to hide a humored smile.
Zanka can feel Lovely Assistaff humming, doing her best to soothe his irritation and discomfort. Zanka puts on a polite smile, knowing it wouldn't help to get angry for something he's gotten pretty used to anyway. "I'm flattered, but I'm not an omega."
The elderly woman's eyes widen in shock, her hand pressed against her chest, as if what he said is about to cause a heart attack. The woman looks Zanka up and down, as though trying to figure out if he's really human or an alien in human skin. "B-But you smell so sweet, and you look like an omega!! If you're not an omega, then what are you???"
Zanka says, "Firstly, looks have nothing to do with secondary genders. And secondly, I'm a beta."
The woman's mouth gapes, and Enjin finally steps in. "Apologies, ma'am, but we need to get on our way now. You have a safe rest of your trip!"
Zanka follows Enjin to the car while the elderly woman wordlessly walks the other direction towards the next town that's only five minutes away.
They get inside the car, Riyo climbing onto the back while Zanka sits by the other window. Rudo tilts his head and asks, "What happened?"
Riyo giggles, hands running through Zanka's hair. "Another old lady thought Zanka was an omega. Wanted to set her up with her alpha grandson."
Enjin turns on the ignition and starts driving back to HQ. "You shoulda seen the look on her face when Zanka told her he was a beta. It was priceless."
Rudo tilts his head, confused. “But Enjin’s an omega. Wouldn’t it make more sense to wanna set her grandson with him?”
Enjin laughs. “My scent ain’t sweet like Zanka’s is.”
Zanka lays Lovely Assistaff on his lap, stroking her handle. "I can't help the way I smell. It's not my fault people end up mistaking me for an omega because of it."
Rudo rubs the back of his neck, asking, "Why don't you use scent-alterers? Or do they not have them on the ground?"
Enjin says, as he turns on the radio, "Scent-alterers are expensive as hell here on the ground. And even then, most people don't bother using it unless they're in hiding or something."
Zanka lightly smacks Riyo's hand from his hair, but Riyo ignores this, continuing play with his hair, making soft purring noises.
Zanka sighs, deciding to just let her do her thing and wait until he gets to HQ to fix his hair. He says, "Plus, I got a bad reaction the two times I ever used one." He still remembers Kyouka's icy glare when it became clear that Zanka couldn't even be able to at least pretend to be an omega.
At least, it also meant a permanent end to the talks of arranged matings.
Riyo's collar buzzes, and she presses a hand against it, answering the call. "Hey, what's up?"
"...How long until you're coming back to base?"
Hyo's voice crackles slightly from the collar, a slight edge of worry to her voice. Riyo giggles, twirling a lock of Zanka's hair. "Hey, Hyo. Getting antsy without me?"
Hyo doesn't answer, but Zanka can hazard a guess as to the answer.
Riyo giggles, "Aww, you're so cute." She turns around and lies down in the back. "Don't worry, we'll be at HQ before it gets too dark. And when I get back, how about we could go cuddle in my nest? Wouldn't that be nice?"
"...That would be nice."
Riyo adds, "The Ripper misses you, too. We both can't wait to see you."
Zanka bites down on his lower lip, his hands stroking Lovely Assistaff as he stares out the window. Lovely Assistaff's light dims slightly as the two can't help but overhear bits of Riyo's conversation with Hyo.
How much longer till we get home?
As soon as they make it to HQ, they all stumble out of the car, exhausted beyond belief.
Rudo rushes inside, no doubt to check up on Amo.
Hyo walks out of the entrance, katana by her side. "Welcome back, Riyo."
Riyo grins, already hurrying towards her. "Hyo! Came to great lil ol' me?"
Zanka watches as Hyo takes Riyo's hands in one, nodding along as Riyo recounts how their mission went while her other hand brushes up against the bite mark on the back of Riyo's neck, peeking out from above her choker. A bitter feeling rises when Riyo takes out the Reaper, gently pressing her vital instrument against Hyo's chest.
Enjin chuckles, arms folded. "Look at them. You would think they were still newly bonded."
Zanka’s arms clutch Lovely Assistaff close to his chest as he watches Hyo hold The Ripper. He’s unable to look away from how The Ripper glows softly in Hyo’s presence. Even though they don’t transform, The Ripper is still responding with joy at being cared for by someone who's also entangled with Riyo’s very being.
"Yeah. You would think the honeymoon would be over by now." Zanka smiles, the corner of his mouth straining slightly. Lovely Assistaff hums, a slight sadness seeping into her wood.
Enjin pats Zanka's back, smiling. He says, "Why don't ya hit the showers? I'll be around to bring back dinner for ya later."
Zanka looks up at Enjin and says, resigned, "Okay. Thanks, Enjin."
He walks off, heading inside HQ and towards his room. As soon as he closes his bedroom door behind him, Zanka places Lovely Assistaff on the bed, looking over her. The workload of the past week has been wearing her down, too.
Zanka grabs a clean rag, some wood polish, and fresh bandages. He gets started on freshening up Lovely Assistaff, wiping her down, and then polishing her up before replacing the old bandages with new ones.
He caresses Lovely Assistaff, smiling as he rests her against the wall. "Stay here, alright?"
He leaves for the shower, turning it on and letting the warm water soothe his aching muscles.
After he finishes showering, he heads back to his room when he hears giggling from Amo's room, the door slightly ajar.
Zanka decides that it wouldn't hurt to take a quick peek inside.
Rudo and Amo sit on her bed, the two quiet, but it's a comfortable quiet. Amo reads a book while Rudo fixes a music box, both doing so one-handed. Amo's other hand is busy stroking 3R, her fingers caressing every stitch, every rough edge. Rudo's own hand caresses Boots, his fingers tracing the symbol that their vital instruments share. He sees how relaxed the two and their vital instruments are in each other’s presence.
He turns away, rushing back to his room and slamming the door behind him. His mind is like a hornet's nest, going back to Rudo and Amo, the way their hands naturally gravitate to each other's vital instruments in the same way they gravitate towards one another.
His mind then goes to earlier, to Hyo and Riyo; the way Hyo’s hands held The Ripper gently, knowing she was holding a piece of Riyo’s very being in her hands. He remembers the way sadness stuck to Lovely Assistaff like glue upon witnessing the very scene.
Zanka leans his head against the wall, despondent.
A bond is an inexplicable thing, something that only alphas and omegas can understand, essentially, on a molecular level. Riyo herself has only been able to describe it as ' though our souls have mixed to make a new color.' The bonds also extend to the vital instruments, those that essentially hum and sing in joy whenever near their bonded. And when a bonded pair is both givers...it creates something that is truly something else.
As a beta, he cannot even begin to understand the surface level. As a giver...
Stop wanting what you know you can’t have. You’re just a stupid average beta. A useless giver who can’t even give what your vital instrument so desperately wants
Zanka shakes it off, trying to push his mind towards other, more important matters.
His collar starts crackling, coming to life.
Curious, Zanka answers the call. “Hello?”
”Heeeey Zan-Zan~. Did ya miss me?”
Zanka scoffs, “No, I did not miss ya.”
” Aww, you’re breaking my heart, Zan-Zan. You’re so damn heartless.”
Zanka rolls his eyes, sitting down on his bed. “All ‘cause I don’t miss your masochistic ass?”
He rubs the bridge of his nose when he adds, “And I’ve told ya to stop calling me that.”
"Whatcha gonna do if I don’t?” Jabber teases.
Zanka grips the edge of his bed as he says. “I’mma beat ya until you’re bloody and bruised. Gonna chase ya down, pin ya to the fucking floor before I break yer fingers one by one.”
Zanka’s ears grow warm as he hears Jabber let out a soft purr on the other line.
Jabber coos,” I love it when you talk dirty to me. Come and find me, Zan-Zan~. Oh, and don't forget Assistaff. Mankira misses her too!”
For the past four years, the two have had what can be described as an unconventional, unspoken agreement. Once a week, Jabber would call him through Zanka's collar, itching for a fight. And every time, Zanka would manage to find him in either some abandoned building or a cave, somewhere far enough that no Raider or Cleaner would follow them.
And every time, one would attack the other without fail, starting a fight that won’t end until one of them falls.
Such is the case for their fight right now.
Lovely Assistaff clashes against Mankira, Zanka’s face skewed in concentration while Jabber smiles manically.
How long has it been? Minutes? Hours? Maybe it's already dawn? Zanka doesn't know, and he hardly ever keeps track of the time when fighting Jabber.
The two continue with their fight, Lovely Assistaff aglow with determination and adrenaline. But Zanka can’t help but feel he’s more sluggish tonight, his body still beaten and worn down from the week’s overwhelming workload.
Jabber laughs, charging for Zanka, Mankira ready to slash again. “What’s the matter? Don’t tell me you’re getting soft on me, Zan-Zan!”
Zanka grips Lovely Assistaff, his teeth grinding against each other as he swings her at Jabber. “LIKE HELL I AM!!”
As soon as Jabber jumps in the air to dodge Lovely Assistaff, Zanka seizes the opportunity to kick Jabber square in the chest. He then seizes the chance and punches Jabber directly in the face, hearing a satisfying crunch as he sends Jabber flying.
Jabber lands on his feet and Zanka doesn't waste anytime, pinning Jabber to the cave, Lovely Assistaff's prongs at Jabber's throat. Blood trickles down Jabber’s nose to his lips. The sight sends shivers down Zanka's spine, his ears becoming flushed as he digs Lovely Assistaff further into the rock.
Jabber purrs loudly, his smile wide. "You got me all bloodied up and at your mercy. Zan-Zan, you sick little sadist!"
Zanka glares at Jabber, Lovely Assistaff humming in approval at their success in having pinned down their enemy. "Do ya ever just stop talking?"
Jabber chuckles. "Nope."
Lovely Assistaff's spikes invert, going from outside to inside her prongs, all her spikes pointed directly at Jabber's neck, close to his skin. One spike digs just deep enough into Jabber's neck that a small bead of blood falls.
Jabber laughs manically, purring louder. "Damn!! Looks like Assistaff's got some new tricks!"
Zanka retains his tight grip on Lovely Assistaff, utilizing her long-range to keep himself out of reach of Mankira's claws. "I would be careful if I were you. One wrong move and Lovely Assistaff will lobe your head clean off."
Jabber buzzes with excitement. "Promise?"
Before Zanka and Lovely Assistaff can incapacitate Jabber, his nose is flooded with a near-intoxicating mixture of lavender, smoke, and venom. He sees that Jabber has pricked his wrists with Mankira.
He flinches as the scent becomes harder to ignore, his grip on Lovely Assistaff loosening.
Jabber uses the chance to escape from Lovely Assistaff, charging at Zanka with both of Mankira's claws. Zanka's eyes widen as he tries to prepare to attack again, but the smell-
He feels a sharp pain in his leg, looking down to see a single claw pricking his leg while Jabber has a shit-eating grin.
Shit
Zanka falls to the ground, eyes staring up at the ceiling as a fiery sensation spreading slowly throughout his body. He can feel blood pouring out from his mouth and nose. It becomes harder to breathe, every single breathe bringing forth a new wave of pain.
Zanka never knows how long it affects it but in the end, it all ends as numbness soon comes.
The last thing he sees before total darkness is Jabber's peering over him with a smile. "Night-Night~"
Jabber nuzzles against Zanka's neck, arms wrapped around him as he waits for the poison to wear off.
Jabber loves Zanka's scent. It's sweet and refreshing, similar to a cold drink on a hot day. He plays with Zanka's tassel earrings, Mankira returning to her original form. Though she still longs to come back out, to become claws that slash and tear into flesh, watching as whatever poison she and Jabber cook up takes effect.
But more than that, she longs to return to battle with Zanka and Assistaff. That way her spikes inverted...the threat of his head being chopped off...the sadistic look on Zanka's face when blood fell from Jabber's nose...
Jabber's still hard thinking about it. Mankira shares in that excitement from fighting Lovely Assistaff.
His fingers stroke the scent glands on Zanka's neck, his omegan fangs peeking slightly from underneath his lips. It's so tempting to just bite them right then and there. But unlike an alpha's and an omega's, a beta's scent glands are far smaller and more like a human's tailbone. Jabber watches as Zanka involuntarily shivers at the action.
"...Jabber, it's time to go."
Jabber pouts, sitting up and looking over his shoulder. "Aw, come on, Cthoni. I wanna spend more time with my Zan-Zan."
Cthoni stands in front of a portal, staring at Jabber with an empty expression. "Jabber, come on. Zodyl has another mission for us."
Jabber lets out a loud, exaggerated sigh. "Fineeee. It better be hella dangerous." Mankira comes back out, though he doesn't go all out. Jabber uses Mankira to cut a piece of Zanka's sash, tucking it away for his nest later.
It isn't much, but he'll be satisfied with this.
...Okay, that's a lie. He needs to break into Cleaner HQ as soon as possible so he can sneak in and nab some more clothes. Jabber knows it'll never be enough, though. Not until he can have Zanka himself in his nest.
His eyes then trail to Assistaff. Mankira hums in excitement, her desires spelled out so clearly that Jabber leans down, stroking her handle, Mankira's claws tracing the new bandages wrapped around her.
Jabber chuckles. "You wanna add a bit of her, too, to our nest?"
Mankira's desire echoes so loudly in Jabber's soul that he can't help but oblige, allowing Mankira to cut a piece of the bandages, tucking it away along with the sash.
He stands up, turning around and following Cthoni through the portal. Mankira vibrates with anger, wanting to know why they're leaving Zanka and Lovely Assistaff behind. Why, when they can just take the two with them?
Jabber caresses Mankira, soothing her rage and impatience. He gets it. He's not much of a patient guy either.
Don't worry, I have a plan. They'll be ours soon enough. Zanka and Assistaff don't have any other choice.
Zanka finally awakens, Lovely Assistaff by his side.
He groans, a ringing in his ear as he sits up, rubbing his head. He looks down at his sash, confused about why there's a torn piece of it. Lovely Assistaff helps Zanka stand up, Zanka clinging to her.
Zanka looks around, Jabber nowhere to be found.
Zanka knows, logically, that Jabber probably got whisked away for some mission since he usually sticks around regardless of the outcome of the fight.
But the anger still festers under his skin, wanting to be let out. Lovely Assistaff tries her best to remain level-headed, but even Zanka can feel how she shares his anger. Anger at the thought of being left behind, at very idea of being treated as nothing but an afterthought.
But before Zanka can take another step towards the exit, he smells a faint scent on him. It's Jabber's scent.
Zanka stands there, wondering if whatever Jabber injected himself with to suddenly make his scent so strong that even Zanka was affected by it caused that scent to linger in the cave.
He leans against the cave's walls. Zanka can still feel the aftereffects of the toxin affecting him; it would be best to give him a minute before he returns to HQ.
He takes a deep breath, doing his best to commit Jabber's scent to memory, wanting to do so before it leaves, and he can no longer sense it. He's not doing it for some special reason. He's just doing it so that when Jabber does it next time, he can detect it sooner, and he can put his mask on promptly.
As soon as the scent wanes, Zanka forces himself off the cave wall and heads off back to HQ.
All while ignoring the disappointment dwelling in his chest at how quickly the scent waned from his senses.