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Zanka wasn't a fan of markets. Too many people, too many things that nobody needed to buy. Overpriced paper fans that would snap in a week. Wooden combs with teeth that’d break. Candles that smell worse than polluted zones…
“Tsk…” he groaned as he fidgeted with the tassels of his earrings. “Why’d I even decide to come here…”
Oh, right..
Enjin had practically shoved him out of the gym that morning.
“You’re gonna break yourself Zanka!” Enjin sighed “Kid, you gotta learn how to relax… Take the day off or somthing…” the blond ruffled Zanka's hair.
Riyo slung an arm around Zanka's shoulder
“Yeah Zanka, you gotta live your life from time to time.” Riyo added, “And you can't do that here.”
“Yeah but—”
“Nope! First of all, you're too close to the gym. Second of all, you won't be able to relax here since you and rudo would just bicker 24/7!”
Rudo popped another piece of candy into his mouth. “Well Zanka always starts it!”
“What did ya say!?” Zanka flicked Rudo's forehead. Twice.
“Hey!” the kid rubbed his forehead, while Enjin tried his best not to laugh.
“Pfft— Ehem. Come on guys, calm down.” Enjin snickered.
“As the only amazing, responsible and handsome trusted adult that is in the room I command you to take the day off.” He ushered Zanka out of the gym.
So here he was.
Sigh.
"Hmm… might as well buy Assistaff some polish…”
It would've been fine if it were just a normal day where the cleaners decide that he was a bit too focused on training… After all, this wasn't the first time that they've done this.
Yeah… it would've been—
‘Wait…’
‘Someone's watching me.’
He felt it a while ago.
The other person wasn't exactly…hiding.
Zanka’s jaw ticked. His hands clenched into fists.
He knew who it was.
‘Jabber.’
He kept walking, making sure he didn't look intimidated. He knew what was about to happen next.
weaving through stalls until the crowd thinned. Turned down a narrow alley between two shops.
He could smell it now. Under the sweat and fried food.
The air shifted.
Alcohol, Ozone and strong cologne. It was addicting. Like a drink you knew would ruin you but you’d take another sip anyway— hell Zanka would drink the entire fucking bottle.
Jabber.
Of course it was Jabber.
Zanka stopped at the end of the alley. Assistaff in hand.
“I know you’re there dreads,” he said, voice flat. “Stop pretending you’re subtle.”
Footsteps. Slow and steady.
“Subtle?” Jabber’s voice dragged through the air, low and grinning. “Zanka, baby, I’m not even trying to hide. I want you to know it’s me.”
Zanka finally turned around.
Jabber was leaning against the opposite wall like he owned the alley. Ten rings glinting on his fingers— Mankira, catching the light. His eyes were bright glowing with anima. And the scent. His scent. Gods, his scent hit Zanka like a wave. Thick and sweet, curling around him and making his head fuzzy at the edges.
“Like whatchu see?” Jabber chuckled.
“Are you following me?”
“…”
“Answer me.”
“Hm… following?” Jabber pushed off the wall, taking one step closer. Then another. “No. I’m admiring. From afar. Up close. All angles.”
He shifted his weight. The rings of his dreads clinking against each other like how windchimes work. The sound was sharp.
“You... interest me.”
A beat.
“And I know you want a rematch.”
Zanka’s fingers twitched. He hated that Jabber could read him that easily. Hated more that Jabber was right. The tension in his chest, the heat under his skin — it wasn’t just anger.
It was the pull.
'Zanka. Stop. I mean… he's obviously baiting you into a fight… although a rematch would be— NO. Stop. Uhggg!’
“‘M not gonna fight you.” the boy groaned “You'd like it… ya freak.”
“I would,” Jabber agreed, way too easily. He was close now. Close enough that Zanka could feel the heat of him, he could practically taste the poison in the air. “and you know you wanna.”
Jabber leaned in, and Zanka didn’t move back.
“Fight me, Zanka. Hurt me. I know you want to.”
The alley went quiet except for the distant market noise.
Zanka’s eyes flicked to the left. Then the right.
He's trapped.
‘Right… going into an alley probably wasn't the best idea…’
Jabber loved the view.
Those blue eyes staring daggers into his.
The way Zanka doesn't break even when cornered.
Although…
Jabber wants to see it. Jabber wants to see it so bad.
He wants to see Zanka come undone, what would happen Zanka ripped Jabber apart and ate him whole.
He wants Zanka so bad.
Zanka tried to think through it. Strategy. Distance. If he could face Jabber head on.
But Jabber’s pheromones were already in his lungs. Alcohol and cologne, thick and sweet and wrong. It wrapped around his brain, making his thoughts slow and heavy. His pulse was picking up and he hated it. Hated that his body was reacting when his brain wasn’t giving permission.
'Fuck…’
“Hm?” Jabber took a step closer, “Interesting…”
Zanka covered his face with his sleeve. Well… it didn't really help…
“Can't handle my scent can ya?” Jabber's grin widened.
“Huh?” Zanka's hands tightened around Lovely Assistaff, “Nah man… ya just… stink…”
“I thought you were an Alpha…” Jabber mumbled to himself.”
Zanka clenched his teeth trying to maintain composure. “What did ya say?” It was a sore topic.
“Strong reaction much?"Jabber raised both his hands in mock surrender.
“I said I thought you were an Alpha… I mean— you weren't like… Weak or anything…”
Zanka raised an eyebrow.
Jabber shrugged, “So I just assumed.”
…
“So?” Zanka rolled his eyes and prepared to leave when Jabber's scent suddenly bloomed. It was like being smothered by a blanket covering his entire body…
“GAH! SHIT— stop doing that!”
Zanka put his sleeve over his nose again. Still useless. Jabber's scent just soaks through. Zanka's heart rate spikes, heat creeping in from his neck, dusting his cheeks.
“Come on Zan~ fight me.” Jabber stepped forward, making Zanka step back and hit the wall.
Zanka tried to think of an escape plan, but all his thoughts just slip though! His mind is a foggy mess and all he can think about is Jabber. He despises it. He despises the fact that his body isn't listening to him. He hates how he reacts— He hates the fact that he is reacting, the fact that Jabber's scent is working. He hates this.
Mankira gleams as Jabber caresses Zanka's face, careful enough that he doesn't break skin.
“Oh Zanka…” Jabber hugs Zanka, pulling him into a tight embrace and letting Zanka's forehead rest on his collarbones, letting Zanka inhale his scent.
Despite himself, Zanka takes a deep breath. Letting Jabber's pheromones settle in his lungs before exhaling, as if taking a drag.
Zanka's hands inch up Jabber's back, clinging onto the fabric of Jabber's hood. He melts into the embrace, forgetting the situation almost entirely.
Jabber pulls away slightly just to cup Zanka's face with his hands, Mankira still activated.
“Zan-kaa…” Jabber whispers, “Listen to me right now okay? Focus on me.”
Zanka's gaze stays glued to Jabber's lips but eventually finds their way to his eyes. His blue eyes staring into Jabber's Magenta ones. He admires how whenever Mankira is out, Jabber's eyes gleam vibrantly— FUCK. This is why he hates this. Why is he thinking like this?
Then suddenly.
Jabber leans in and kisses Zanka. It was surprisingly gentle. Zanka's thoughts went silent. He yelped a bit out of surprise, Jabber then took the opportunity to slip his tongue past Zanka's lips.
Zanka's consciousness eventually catches up with what's happening and he bites down on Jabber's tongue. He's a bit upset when the sweet cinnamon taste of Jabber gets replaced by copper… well… he's not that upset, Jabber does taste good.
After a while, Jabber eventually breaks the kiss and lets Zanka breathe, He then takes his tongue over to Zanka's choker and licks it.
Zanka tilts his head a bit. Gosh he wishes Jabber would just mark him right here and now.
Jabber then deactivates Mankira and wipes Zanka's bleeding nose with his thumb, he then swipes the blood onto his choker and licks the rest off with his tongue.
“Call me later Mr. Bad Attitude.” Jabber says before walking away. Giving Zanka some time to process what just happened.