Actions

Work Header

Rating:
Archive Warning:
Category:
Fandoms:
Relationships:
Characters:
Additional Tags:
Language:
English
Stats:
Published:
2025-08-27
Words:
1,019
Chapters:
1/1
Comments:
76
Kudos:
4,071
Bookmarks:
522
Hits:
20,112

Safe Keeping

Summary:

Enjin notices it first, eyes going wide and unable to look away. Zanka doesn’t say anything, just lets him get an eyeful of the ten, pretty silver rings decorating his fingers and pretending that they’ve always been there, that they belong there.

Zanka takes good care of vital instruments. It’s why he’s considered the best at handling them, after all.

Notes:

(See the end of the work for notes.)

Work Text:

Enjin notices it first, eyes going wide and unable to look away. Zanka doesn’t say anything, just lets him get an eyeful of the ten, pretty silver rings decorating his fingers and pretending that they’ve always been there, that they belong there.

Riyo eyes them up next, watching him curl his hand around a cup of tea, the metal softly clinking against each other.

Rudo notices but doesn’t understand, doesn’t realize the meaning of the pretty rings on his fingers. He glances up at his face, like trying to understand why he’d suddenly be decked out in so much jewelry.

The rings are cool against his fingers, slowly warming up as they absorb the heat from his skin. They fit him snug at the base of each finger, unlike their owner who has to wear them above each knuckle.

It’s a silent question that lingers in the air as they walk around, Enjin and Riyo glancing between each other, trying to make the other ask. Zanka ignores them, chest buzzing pleasantly with the weight around his fingers.

“So,” Enjin finally says, coughing a little, “Uh… I had heard you’d… fought a raider a day or two ago, Zanka.”

Zanka hums in acknowledgment. Rudo blinks, glancing at his hands again. Then his eyes widen, and Riyo covers his mouth before he can say anything.

“How’d it go?” Enjin asks, “I know Eisha had to treat you, when you got back…” his eyes flick to his hands again.

“I lost,” Zanka says, frowning, “Bastard doesn’t hold back.”

“…right. So…”

“The Hell Guard showed up,” he says, “Took advantage of him being all beat up to capture him.” He thumbs at one of the rings. “…they usually destroy vital instruments the moment they get a giver in custody.”

“What?” Rudo gapes, “I thought… only another instrument could—“

“The Hell Guard are very against being givers, not using them,” Zanka interrupts, “They don’t like taking unnecessary risks, either. Destroying one’s vital instrument often results in the giver's spirit being destroyed, as well. It generally speeds up the interrogation process.”

The three subconsciously move to touch their own instruments. Zanka feels the weight of his lovely assistaff on his back, grounding him.

“So uh,” Enjin says, “The raider… gave…?”

“I took them,” Zanka says bluntly, finally lifting his hand to really flash them off, “When my brother wasn’t looking. He doesn’t want anything to do with me anyway, so it was pretty easy to sneak off with them.” He grins then, sinister. “Jabber’s face when I stole them was pretty priceless, too.”

Enjin and Riyo share a look. “What are they gonna do with him, anyway?” Rudo asks.

Zanka shrugs. “They’ll likely spend a bit looking for his vital instrument, then move on to interrogation. They'll have to spend a bit of time switching up their tactics when they realize Jabber likes getting hurt, though—“ all three of his teammates wince behind him, “—and by then that girl with the manhole cover will have probably tracked him down and retrieved him.”

He waggles his fingers around, grinning. “Then Jabber will come running for me.”

“And you want him to?”

Zanka blinks, a flush taking over his cheeks. “Of course not!” He says, turning away from them as Riyo snickers, “It’s just an observation.”

“Uh huh,” Enjin muses, and ruffles his hair, “The rings do look good on you.”

He smiles then, giddy. “They do?” He fans his hands out, examining the way they cradle his fingers. They’re extremely well taken care of. Zanka will need to buy polisher—he wants to make sure they’re in top condition.

“Mhm,” Enjin confirms, “Come on, let’s get back to base.”

“I need to make a quick stop first.”

He spends his time cleaning them, his lovely assistaff already waxed and polished, rewrapped in fresh bandages. He takes care with each ring, cradles them like they’re made of glass.

When he slides them back on his fingers, he can feel them pulse with gratitude. He presses a kiss to each one, then his assistaff, before heading out.

He’s walking back from finishing off a trash beast, wanting to catch a bite to eat while the supporters peruse the town, when a hand grips his waist tight and yanks him into an alleyway.

He’s slammed against the wall. Zanka doesn’t flinch, carefully placing his vital instrument to the side.

Jabber’s eyes are wild. He gently grips his hand and brings it up to his face, pressing his palm against his cheek. He takes a deep breath, dragging his nose back to kiss the rings wrapped around his fingers.

“You took such good care of her,” he mumbles, a pleased rumble in his tone.

“How can I beat you if you don’t have her to fight with?” He asks, a little breathless.

Jabber grins then, wide and gleeful, half deranged and yet so, so beautiful. He yanks him close and presses their lips together, carefully removing each ring one by one to slide back onto his own hands in their rightful place.

Zanka’s hands feel empty, like he’s missing something, so he tangles his fingers in his hair instead. Jabber grips his waist tight, Mankira bursting to life and pressing into his skin—just enough to feel it, but not enough to hurt.

“I’ll give you a fight,” Jabber murmurs into his mouth, biting his lip and drawing blood, “I’ll show you just how grateful I am that you saved her.”

Zanka grins, eyes wild, heart already speeding up in anticipation. They both grin against each other's lips, deranged and insane, together.

“There he is,” Jabber breathes, yanking his hair meanly, “The real Zanka.”

Only with Jabber can he feel like this. Only with Jabber can he let loose, hurt as much as he wants and get hurt in turn. Only with Jabber does he feel like he’s worth something.

“I’ll kill you,” he says, hisses it through his grin, and Jabber grinds their hips together.

“Good,” he growls back in turn, and suddenly they’re wrenching away from each other to start the battle.

Their smiles never falter, not once.

Notes:

My first contribution to Janka and I’m happy with how it turned out!

The idea of Zanka not letting anything happen to Jabber until he beats him and Jabber wanting to fight only Zanka until he sees all he has to offer has a very special place in my heart <3 they will bleed each other dry and smile while doing so.

Hope you enjoyed! (*^‿^*)