Chapter Text
Jabber knew that the tunnels seemed like a maze to most, but he'd spent hours memorizing the winding passages and dead ends within the base.
He held Zanka tightly against his chest as he ran, determined to put as much distance between them and Tamsy as he could.
As they ran, his eyes kept darting around, searching for any hidden dangers they might encounter.
Eventually, he reached a narrow passage leading to a secluded nook that served as his private quarters.
Zanka winces and tried his best to fight back but fell into a silence knowing he needed to maintain his energy....'THIS IS FUCKIN BULL SHIT.' he grumbled his head bustling with frustrations.
Jabber could feel the tension radiating off Zanka as they ran, and he knew the boy was probably seething with frustration.
He could practically hear the boy's thoughts cursing him out in his head, and it only made him cling onto Zanka tighter.
Once they finally reached his quarters, Jabber practically kicked his way in and shut the door behind them before setting Zanka down on the small cot against the wall.
He stared down at the boy, taking in the sight of him in the dimly lit room.
Zanka looked so small and vulnerable, slumped against the wall like that, and Jabber felt a twinge of something he refused to identify.
His eyes fell to the blood staining the front of Zanka's shirt, making his guilt come crawling back.
"You're bleeding." He stated bluntly, his voice gruff but lacking its usual sharpness.
"No shit Sherlock." Zanka glanced around, no medical tools in sight.....With a sight of annoyance he tore the blue cloth that rested on his waist, ignoring August would be pissed he used it to wrap the wound as best as he could. Sadly its a scratch and not a bullet wound so to pinpoint all the area was difficult.
Jabber watched Zanka silently, his fists clenching and unclenching at his sides as the boy struggled to patch himself up.
He wanted to help, but he also knew Zanka would likely snap at him for even trying.
He settled for hovering nearby, just in case.
But as the seconds ticked by and Zanka kept struggling with the makeshift bandage, Jabber finally gave in.
"Here." He grunted, grabbing another scrap of clean cloth and roughly pressing it against the wound before wrapping it tightly.
His hands were surprisingly gentle despite his harsh demeanor.
Zanka said nothing, just let him do what he wanted.....There was still an awkward tension between them. The last time they saw each other had been weeks ago.....They both admitted loving their teams more than each other.
He shifted with the make shift bandages watching the door carefully, not afraid of Tamsy finding them....In fact he wanted Tamsy to, just so he knew he wasn't trapped here.
Jabber worked quickly and efficiently, his hands gently wrapping the cloth around Zanka's injury.
There was an unspoken tension hanging in the air between them, and Jabber could feel Zanka's gaze fixed on the door behind him.
He knew exactly what the boy was hoping for, that Tamsy would stumble across them and come through that door any moment.
He hated that thought.
"Stop checking the door." He mumbled gruffly. "He aint coming."
Zanka still said nothing.....It was so confusing.....Tamsy's behavior was completely out of left field.....The touching, the questions and the way he was messing with Jabber? It all was a sick sort of odd.
Jabber secured the makeshift bandage firmly in place, taking a step back to assess his work.
He could sense the confusion and tension coming off Zanka in waves, and it made him feel even more guilty.
"Stop thinking about him." He finally snapped, his voice coming out sharper than intended. "He's not coming, so stop waiting for him."
Zanka looked up narrowing his eyes "You saw him pin me to the wall?" How long had Jabber been watching? In reality Jabber was talking about Tamsy holding his hand, he didn't know about that...
Jabber stiffened at Zanka's words, his hands tightening into fists at his sides.
So Tamsy had already done more than just hold the boy's hand.
Jabber felt something ugly and possessive crawl up his throat, making his next words come out harsher than intended.
"What?" He spat out lowly, glaring down at Zanka with a dangerous glint in his eyes. A dark grin of annoyance coming on his face "You let him pin you?"
Zanka felt stupid for blurting that out instead of asking what Jabber had seen, he scowled back at the glare "Why the hell would I let someone pin me?"
Jabber felt a twinge of relief at the boy's answer, his fists loosening slightly.
"Good." He mumbled, trying to sound nonchalant but the relief still bleeding into his tone.
"Cos if you did, I'd have to kick your ass." He added more out of habit than anything else, trying to deflect from just how concerned he'd actually felt imagining Zanka pinned like that.
"Ya wouldn't get one punch in" He tapped Lovely checking if she was stained anywhere as he turned her over in his hands. Zanka ignored Jabber's excitement thinking Zanka was volunteering to fight with him....No matter what situation that freak is still a freak.
Jabber quirked one eyebrow at Zanka's words, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
He could tell Zanka was trying to act tough, even trying to ignore his comment entirely. It was adorable.
"For real? Finally agreeing to fight?" he bit his lip leaning over to Zanka
"Ohhh yeah~ beat me all black and blue~ I know ya want to, fuckin sadist-" Despite his wound Zanka didn't hesitate to punch Jabber straight across the jaw the moment his face was leaned down.
"YOWUCH! Yeah yeah yeah! More that baby!" he grinned
"Tsk i'm not a sadist. And dont call me baby i aint fightin you freak show" At least Jabber was acting like himself. Zanka shifted uncomfortably he hated he remember everything from weeks ago.....What they had done, what they had said. And worst of all.......Zanka had missed Jabber.
Jabber couldn't help but feel a rush a satisfaction at Zanka's words, despite the sharp pain in his jaw where Zanka had just punched him.
He chuckled at Zanka's reaction, the familiar tone of annoyance in the boy's voice so familiar already.
He watched the boy shift uncomfortably on the cot, noticing that he seemed lost in his own thoughts. Jabber studied the boy silently for a moment before speaking up again.
"What ya thinkin bout?" He asked, keeping his tone soft.
"None of yer business Raider." He said the word like a slur, Raider. That's what Jabber is. All he every will be. Zanka reminded himself as he glanced at the boy and away to the door again. Tamsy please find me....Get me out of here.
Jabber's smirk faded slightly when Zanka referred to him as "Raider" so coldly.
It stung more than he wanted to admit, hearing the disgust in the boy's voice. He had been so used to Zanka calling him by name that hearing the word "Raider" again felt like a punch in the gut.
He bit his tongue, keeping his face neutral despite the anger and hurt swirling in his chest.
"Stop waiting on the cleaner to save you. You ain't going anywhere." He muttered.
"Tsk I'm getting Deja vu." Zanka glared at Jabber, he didn't want to get locked away again. Especially in the Raiders base....Tamsy hurry up. Did Tamsy leave him? Maybe he found a way out and is getting back up....?
Jabber let out a low huff at Zanka's remark, his irritation growing.
He was trying so hard not to lose his temper, but the boy's stubbornness was making it difficult.
"Deja vu?" He repeated mockingly, his grip tightening slightly. "Well maybe if you hadn't run off last time I wouldn't have to do this shit again."
He knew he shouldn't be saying any of this, but he couldn't help himself.
"Face it, yer stuck with me."
Zanka glared more when jabber mocked his accent "Fuck ya. Can't you just face the fact we're on opposing sides. Both loyal to said sides." He shifted remembering the knife that twisted in his gut when Jabber had told him he cared about his team more than Zanka.....It shouldn't haunt him. Hell it shouldn't have hurt so bad.
Jabber’s expression darkened at Zanka’s words, the reminder of their last confrontation hitting him like a physical blow.
He had been so careless with his words that night throwing away Zanka’s feelings without realizing just how deep they ran.
But seeing Zanka’s glare now, hearing the venom in his voice…it was clear the wound hadn’t healed.
For a moment, Jabber hesitated. Maybe he should just let Zanka go. Maybe forcing him to stay was only making things worse.
But then his gaze flicked to the door the same door Zanka kept glancing at, waiting for Tamsy to barge through and his resolve hardened again.
He wasn’t letting that cleaner anywhere near Zanka again.
"Opposing sides don’t matter," he muttered, leaning closer. "Not when it comes to us."
But the moment he said it, he knew it was a lie.
Opposing sides did matter.
And Zanka had already made his choice.
"I have my team you have yers. Neither of us are willing to leave them. So give up already." Zanka laid down as the wound tightens on his side, this hell hole was getting on his nerves.
Jabber felt his chest tighten at Zanka's words, the truth of them hitting him harder than he expected.
He knew Zanka was right neither of them would ever abandon their teams.
And yet...he still couldn't bring himself to let Zanka walk away again.
"Fine." He muttered eventually, his voice rough with barely concealed frustration.
"But I ain't letting that cleaner near you again."
He turned away, pacing the small room like a caged animal before finally stopping near the door.
"...Get some rest." He mumbled before slipping out into the hall, leaving Zanka alone with his thoughts.
The door locked behind him with a soft click.
The wound coxed Zanka into a deep sleep, despite feeling in danger.....He slept and slept.........................tink tink..........?
His eyes blinked open slightly seeing the door opening, was Jabber back?..........The silhouette stepped forward, Tamsy- Zanka sat up wincing as he did. He hated how grateful and relived he felt seeing the man.
"Tamsy-"
"Shh, we must be quiet. Your Raider is asleep outside the door" he lifted the keys he stole.
"Tamsy you- you genius" Zanka didn't care what happened tonight, for now.....He was just ready to leave.
Tamsy couldn't help but smirk as he saw the way Zanka's face lit up with relief upon seeing him.
He pressed a finger to his lips, signaling for the boy to stay silent before stepping closer to help him up.
"Easy." He murmured softly, supporting Zanka as they carefully maneuvered around the small room.
He shot a glance toward the door where Jabber was slumped over asleep his plan had worked perfectly.
Once they were both safely out of the room, Tamsy locked the door again behind them, ensuring Jabber wouldn't be able to follow immediately.
"Let's get you out of here." He whispered, leading Zanka down the dimly lit hall.
And just like that, they vanished into the maze of tunnels leaving Jabber none the wiser.
At least for now.
"..............." That's what Zanka expected to happen.......But when Tamsy entered there was no relief or bliss......His hair was down, draped over his body as he held a book in his hand.......It was too dark to see what it was until it began to glow- A vital instrument!? But that's not Tamsy's- U#IFUWIFIUFG@I^&*()(YGJGYVB&^%$%^876546&**&^%&^&*&^*uyJHGFTYUHJVGYUJkI87
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Zanka's head spun as he blinked........What....? Where was he....? He coughed sitting up......"hmmuh....?"
"You're awake! Oh Zanka!" Eishia squeaked- Eishia? Since when was he back at base....?
"wha.....what happened.....wheres......" he glanced around confused as Eishia quickly stood by his side helping him sit up in the hospital bed.
"You're mission, Tamsy says Jabber kidnapped you after you two had fallen through the ground! It's a miracle he managed to find you.....You're safe now, okay?" She mumbled bringing some medicine and food
Zanka blinked thinking back......He had lost Tamsy, but it was Jabber who he had been with....He winced trying to remember, it all felt drawn over with something. There was a block in his head, was it some raider helping Jabber?
"Thank you.....Where's Tamsy now?" As he asked the man happened to enter, a worried expression.
"Zanka, you're awake.....I'm so relived, when I found you with the Raider he had slashed you're side open" he walked over concerned
Zanka narrowed his eyes.....It was Tamsy? Tamsy Tamsy Tamsy, he just stared like he was trying to remember something but it was gone "....thanks fer findin me...."
Tamsy nodded a pleased smile on his face "Of course, cant let one of our favorite cleaners keep getting kidnapped"
Favorite? Zanka felt a warmth spark similar to when Enjin praises him "Thanks....I need to get stronger." He had to hold back a grin at being called a favorite.
Tamsy's eyebrow raised slightly at the strange expression on Zanka's face could the boy remember something?
He shook away the thought, focusing on what Zanka was saying now.
He chuckled softly at Zanka's declaration, a small hint of pride in his voice as he replied.
"You've got plenty of time to get stronger, I think you're very strong already." He reassured, taking a seat by the boy's bedside. "Just focus on recovering right now. Let your team take care of you for once."
The praise went straight to Zanka's heart as it pounded and he suppressed a fit of giggles and glee. "hm........How'd you get past Jabber?"
Tamsy leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees as he answered Zanka's question.
"Luck mostly." He admitted with a small shrug. "I waited until he fell asleep outside your door, then managed to pick the lock and sneak you out while he was still unconscious."
He hesitated for a moment before continuing.
"Honestly? I was terrified the whole time." He admitted with a soft chuckle. "But seeing you safe was worth it."
All lies of course. Tamsy had used the book on Jabber and that knocked him out, he hadn't feared the rat at all.
Zanka nodded, his eyes wide with surprise. Tamsy had been afraid? It made him feel better, having been fearful many times around Jabber...."Sorry"
Tamsy waved off the apology, shaking his head slightly.
"Don't apologize." He said softly. "You didn't do anything wrong. Just focus on getting better."
He leaned back in his chair, letting out a small sigh.
"And if that Raider comes anywhere near you again, he'll have to deal with me." He added, his tone firm.
Even if Jabber never remembered their encounter Tamsy would make sure he never got near Zanka again.
Zanka narrowed his eyes- the touch. It sent a pulse through him, not a normal one. He blinked, what was that....? His head hurt trying to force memories forward, unable he just nodded.
Tamsy noticed the way Zanka tensed under his touch, the boy's confusion clear as day on his face.
For a brief moment, he wondered if the effects of the book were starting to wear off but no, that was impossible.
He quickly pulled his hand back, keeping his expression soft and concerned.
"Still feeling dizzy?" He asked gently, feigning worry. "Maybe you should rest some more."
Zanka hesitated before nodding again, too tired to argue.
Tamsy smiled slightly before standing up.
"I'll check on you later." He promised before leaving the room.
Once the door shut behind him, his expression shifted cold and calculating.
This was going better than he had hoped.
Now, he just had to keep Zanka under his thumb.