Work Text:
“He’s a genius Zanka, a visionary! Just you wait and see,” Riyo giggled as Eishia stared at her hesitantly.
“Well I really wouldn’t go that far…”
“Shhh,” the redhead mock whispered, “I know. Just let me ham him up in front of Mr. Newbie!”
Zanka, the Mr. Newbie in question, was thoroughly lost. He had been officially part of the cleaners for a few days now and was only just receiving note of this mysterious uniform made by a visionary artist. A uniform made by Eishia’s brother, apparently.
The girls continued their conversation, dragging Zanka through the not-quite-familiar hallways of cleaner headquarters.
As the trio walked into the common area, he really tried to find any similar characteristics in the clothing surrounding him. The whole point of a uniform was to create a united, assimilated collective. The robes of the Hell Guard academy were unflattering, sure, but they promoted fairness and the image of a common ideology.
The cleaners on the other hand…
As his gaze passed between the girls, a kid wearing a onesie, a man in a large hat, and an overall-wearing baby, he really didn’t know what he was looking for. Aside from the cleaner logo and some grey arm bands, the givers’ uniforms bore no similarities.
Zanka felt a tug on his sleeve. He locked eyes with Eishia, who wore a faraway gaze and an embarrassed smile.
“He’s coming… He’s a bit much but I promise you only have to deal with him once? I’m really sorry if he’s being too-”
“EISHIA!” A blur of blond hair rushed by as the healer was all but tackled into a hug. Zanka was quick to step back, leaving the pair some room.
“I haven’t seen you in days. Days!”
“And who’s fault is that August?” Eishia pulled away from her brother with a groan. “You’re the one who locks yourself up until you get your work done…”
“Well it’s not my fault you givers have all your ridiculous uniform requirements. And this one gave me soooo much trouble too.” August tilted his head towards Zanka, who locked eyes with Riyo in turn. Had they met before?
“He sleeps like a baby! So curled up in his blankets I had to sneak in on two separate nights to get his measurements. Two nights!”
“‘Scuse me?” Zanka stared at the older man with visible concern, crossing his arms as Riyo burst into cackles.
“I do what I need to get those measurements,” he shrugged, “The name’s August, by the way!”
As he introduced himself, the blonde leaned in, presumably to shake hands. Zanka stretched out his hand to meet him in the middle, only for August to side-step him completely and scoff.
“Who cares about those formalities, man? Don’t ya wanna see what I’ve been working so hard on?”
Zanka nodded carefully as August ran to a table at the back of the room, producing a large box and bringing it to the trio.
“C’mon buddy, open it! Open it! I’ve been dying to see your reaction. I put some good sauce into this one…”
“August please! Let Zanka breathe a little,” Eisha grabbed her brother by the arm with a light flush on her cheeks, “I know you’re excited but it’s embarrassing.”
Zanka let the siblings’ bickering fade as he reached into the box, pulling out what looked like some type of coat. He felt it instantly.
Light. Breathable.
He let his fingers roam over the fabric, passing over the cleaner insignia and tassel that he knew must match the colour of his eyes.
Feeling further into the box, he pulled out a pair of pants with even more of that vivid blue fabric around the waist. He lightly traced the seams, feeling a similar light-weight material as the one the coat was made of. Folding them up neatly and placing them to the side, Zanka became acutely aware that the siblings had gone silent and all eyes were on him.
The dark cloth at the bottom of the box further caught his attention. As he reached in, he didn’t miss how August’s light smile morphed into an excited grin. As he pulled it out and held it out in front of him, he quickly understood why.
It was just an undershirt, plain and simple, but the cornered edges of the sleeves and twin glistening rings at either end caught his attention. He knew exactly why they were there and how they’d feel on his middle fingers as he’d manipulate a variety of weapons.
August leaned in, repeatedly pointing at the discarded coat with a smirk.
There’s no way…
Zanka picked up the coat again, fanning out the arms properly with wide eyes. To any passerby, it was just a coat with flared sleeves, but he knew.
It was a terrifyingly accurate mimicry of his Hell Guard Academy uniform.
“I figured,” August appeared behind Zanka, “since you use a spear to fight–”
“A staff…” Riyo corrected.
“A stick,” Zanka bit back.
“Whatever. I figured you’d wanna fight in something you're used to. Since you use your arms to manipulate your jinki, I just modeled the top half of your uniform after somethin’ you know.” Zanka’s gaze jumped back and forth between the older man and his clothing, staring incredulously.
“But how… How did you even?”
“Ah! A magician never reveals his secrets,” August slung an arm over Zanka’s shoulder, laughing playfully. “I take it ya like?”
It didn’t matter how August had found out, not really. What mattered is he wouldn’t go through that prickly period of adapting his fighting style to new clothes. He wouldn’t be hindered by that inconsequential, uncontrollable itch that bothered him when even the slightest thing was wrong about what he wore. Without realizing, August had solved the one problem he was dreading facing by giving him this particular uniform.
It’s perfect.
“It’s very nice. Thank you.”
August pulled away from Zanka, reaching into the box and grabbing something with a faint jingle.
“That aside, I had tons o’ fabric left over from that tassel on your emblem, so I made these.” He held out a pair of blue tassel earrings, shining brightly despite the dull copper colour of the hardware. Zanka gave him a light smile as he waved his hand dismissively.
“I appreciate the offer, but I don’t even have the facilities to wear those.”
“It’s a part of your uniform silly,” Riyo all but singsongs, “you don’t have a choice~”
“I somehow don’t think that’s true. Thanks August, but I’ll pass.”
“Boring…” Riyo whined, discreetly sending a pleasing eye to August, who quickly winked back in turn.
“So you hate them? Wow. No one’s had the gall to tell me that before. I can’t believe you’d embarrass me like this in front of my dear sister.” August draped himself over Eishia’s shoulders, who could only let out a squeak in response.
Zanka raised his arms in protest, but August talked over him before he could get a single word out.
“No no, I get it. You’re mister high and mighty and you think you’re above this. I guess we cleaners just aren’t on your level of grace. Y’know I really think–”
“I– ugh. Fine. Hand ‘em here.” Zanka grumbled, reaching his hand out and glaring at a certain redhead who grinned like the cat that got the cream. August couldn’t help a triumphant smile of his own.
Zanka palmed the jewelry, noting the strangely soft fabric, and quickly placed them in his pocket. He told himself that it wouldn’t really matter anyways. He’d bring the earrings to his room, place them in a nondescript box, and set them in a drawer where he’d never see them again.
Riyo would forget about it all in a matter of days, and he could move on with the important parts of cleaner training. End of story.
-----
They started to taunt him.
He wasn't sure how, but the earrings were taunting him and it needed to stop.
It’s just one of those things, he told himself, if you try not to think about it you’ll end up thinking of it tenfold. And yet Zanka found himself burning holes into his desk with his gaze after a particularly long mission.
He’d quickly grown into the habit of thumbing over the tassel on his cleaner emblem during the rare moments of calm. Threading his fingers through the soft fabric didn’t exactly help anything, but it was a nice feeling that quickly became a symbol of his new life on the Ground.
Late at night, eyes heavy with sleep, he often wondered if the tassels on his earrings had a similar smooth feel to them.
So after his third official mission as a cleaner, Zanka just couldn’t help it anymore. Box discarded, the jewelry was in his hands before he even processed his actions.
This is stupid. I don’t even have the damn holes to put them in.
He lightly traced the curve of the hoops, moving his thumb down to the tassels themselves.
Average Joe grunts don’t waste their time with frivolous accessories. Only the strong and powerful people can dedicate time to such ornamental things. People like Kyouka…
Zanka’s mind supplied him with images of his sister’s own earrings, and what they meant in their world. Real fighters didn’t dare distract themselves or their practice with silly things like jewelry.
Kyouka did, but only because she had earned it.
She had earrings because she didn’t need to be an active combattant, her presence commanded enough authority in herself. She was strong enough to earn the right to not fight. And even if she needed to, she was strong enough to not let a minuscule shift in weight distract her from the task at hand.
Zanka knew he hadn’t earned that right. Not yet. Not ever probably.
He buried the earrings in his drawer as deep as he buried the unease at the very thought of his incompetence.
-----
Of course, after a full two days of abstinence, it was Riyo who brought up the earrings again. Sue Zanka for hopelessly thinking she’d forget.
Enjin had brought them to Canvas town, hoping to give Zanka the full tour of the Ground’s artistic hub since they were already passing by.
After meeting with the cleaners’ resident spellcaster, a sweet man named Gob, Enjin announced that the two were going to catch up and that Riyo could finish the tour for him.
She dragged Zanka through the various winding streets of the town, not giving him much time to appreciate the local art, to his chagrin. It didn’t matter though, as Riyo not-so-discreetly stopped them in front of a piercing store.
“No.”
“Zanka c’mon.”
“I’m not doing it.”
“Look, you don’t even have the earrings on you. Let’s just go inside and ask some questions. The local piercer is a good friend of mine!”
Zanka sighed, motioning to the entrance. Whatever got her to finally be done with this topic.
He had barely pushed through the door before he heard an excited squeal.
“Riyo! My goodness it’s been a while. How’ve you been, sweets?”
A purple haired woman was waving from behind a countertop, and though her features seemed tired, she carried an inexplicably youthful glow. She had maybe five years on Enjin, tops.
“Same old, same old,” Riyo was quick to reply, skipping over to the counter at the far side of the store, “but my belly button piercing didn’t stop rejecting so I had to take it out.”
The older woman scoffed, lightly flicking the redhead as she rolled her eyes.
“Tch, you know how I feel about you doing these things yourself. You should’ve come to see me for a safer removal.”
“Yeah yeah, I know. But I didn’t just visit to get scolded.” Riyo gestured to Zanka, beckoning him closer. “You see my friend here is thinking of getting his lobes pierced, quick n’ simple. He has his own jewelry too, something like this on a hoop.”
Zanka shifted as Riyo grabbed him by the tassel on his uniform, holding it up to the piercer’s face.
“Think you can pull it off?”
“Well mister…”
“Zanka,” he clarified.
“Mister Zanka,” she continued, “I’m afraid I can’t help you here. Piercing you with a hoop will make you prone to irritation, and adding a dangly element to this will only make things worse.” She motioned outside to the bustling street. “I’m sure someone out there will do it for you, but I promise it’s not good practice. The best I can offer you is to change your earrings after you’ve healed them with studs for a few months.”
“Oh uh… No thank you, it’s fine,” Zanka didn’t miss the way Riyo’s smile dropped, “there’s not much point if I can’t wear them right away.”
“Ah well, I wish you the best of luck.”
“Thanks anyways Myura!” Riyo chirped, grabbing him by the sleeve and dragging him out of the store. She led the way to the meeting spot as Zanka’s thoughts settled.
Now it was a done deal, Riyo couldn’t say anything. It just wasn’t meant to be.
-----
“Zanka! I know how we can get you wearing those earrings!”
Zanka stared incredulously as the pair stood outside his room. Riyo waved her arms excitedly, pushing her way into his room with a wide-eyed Eishia in tow.
“I– Do you even know what time it is Riyo?”
“A bit before midnight? Why would that… Zanka, don’t tell me you were asleep?” The older teen could only grumble in response.
“Yer damn right I was.” That sent Riyo into a fit of giggles.
“Oh come on, we’re young,” she wiggled her eyebrows playfully, “we’ve gotta live a little! Plus, you still haven’t heard my master plan yet.”
“Well get on with it, I can tell just by Eishia’s face that she’s looking forward to getting to bed too.” The healer smiled at that, promptly taking a seat on the floor next to where Riyo had gotten comfortable. Zanka resigned and joined them.
“So, I was thinking about what Myura was saying about the healing, and then I realized we have someone right here who can solve that problem! I’ll give your ears a quick poke with The Ripper, we’ll slip the earrings in, and then we’ll use Eishia’s ability to heal up the wound.”
Zanka gaped at the girl in front of him. Was she crazy?
“Doesn’t the healing set your tissue back to its ‘default’? Even if it did work her ability would start to push out the earrings completely.”
“If we stop the healing at just the right time it should heal the skin up to the hole, but not try to close it up.”
“I’m not sure that’s how this works. Eishia, is that even possible?”
“I– Maybe…?” Zanka pinched the bridge of his nose as the girl thought to herself. The whole affair had been ridiculously complicated from the start, but it was now proving to be potentially dangerous too.
“Zanka, just think about it. Remember, live a little,” Riyo goaded, echoing her own words from a minute ago. “You aren’t that same loser I saw rotting at the bottom of the well, are you?”
Zanka snapped up at that, eyeing the girl fiercely. She showed no sign of aggression though, simply raising an eyebrow as he let her words sink in.
He wasn’t the same boy. Something had truly, fundamentally changed in him that day. A part of him died at the bottom of the well, and something new awaited him the moment he crawled his way to the top.
Maybe the thoughts of status, and symbols, and worth, and Kyouka were ridiculous. He could never shelve those thoughts forever, no, but he could throw them to the bottom of a dark well for one night.
Maybe, a pair of earrings was just a pair of earrings. Maybe they’d even look good on him.
“Let’s do it… before I change my mind.”
-----
Zanka was sure all eyes were on him as he walked into the dining room the next morning. How could they not be? He had made the most ridiculous decision of his life and was parading himself around with tassels the size of Lovely Assistaff dangling from his ears.
The matching smiles Riyo and Eishia gave him at breakfast were some consolation at least, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was out of place. None of the other cleaners had earrings this overstated. They all knew the jewelry choice was laughable and impractical on the battlefield.
He ate his meal in silence, dropping off his plate and marching off to who knows where until a firm hand on his shoulder stopped him.
“It’s been a long week and a half Zanka, but I’m finally ready to take you out to No Man’s Land,” Enjin announced with a smirk, cocking his head towards the hallway. Zanka was quick on the uptake, following close behind.
“Ready to show us what you’re made of?” the older man asked, not waiting for an answer before making a sharp turn to the entrance of cleaner headquarters. Zanka beamed, trailing along with a curt nod.
“Glad to hear it! And by the way,” Enjin turned back, tugging on his own ear for emphasis,
“They look good on you.”