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Since Zanka’s joined the cleaners he follows a similar routine every day, keeping the same schedule every week. That’s never changed even as new people joined, things alter, or new situations arise.
Everyone knows he takes time off to meditate alone or how every afternoon he trains outside. He is predictable in that instance, he knows, but it makes him feel like his life is structured and stable.
And then Rudo came crashing into his life.
Zanka’s seen, met, and even lives with chaotic people, but the spherite takes it to another level. He’s unpredictable, always angry, and refuses to show any vulnerability even when it's clear he is hurting.
Zanka found him rather irritating to be around for the first few weeks. He tried to be calm and rational with him but it always ended up poorly.
Until Enjin talked to him one day a few weeks ago.
“You know Rudo kinda reminds me of you.” Enjin said as he flicked some ash off his cigarette, yellow eyes staring at Zanka. “You were a brat at first too. Never came to people for help, did shit on your own, that type’a thing.”
He waved his hand as he spoke, coils of smoke fading away as he did.
“We are not alike.” Zanka brushed his comment off at the time.
But since then he really and truly can’t unsee the small things Rudo does that reminds him of himself.
And he doesn’t know how to feel about it.
Still, they weren’t exact. Not at all. Rudo would act without thinking, glare rudely, snap and yell.. But then Zanka would observe him trying to be sneaky as he went around helping people without them knowing.
Of course without him knowing Zanka had seen either.
He had watched Rudo fix one of Gris’ doors that he complained was getting hard to open and close. Riyo complained one of her shampoos were getting low and Zanka watched Rudo take out a bit of his own savings, time out of his day during on of their supply trips, to find it. Of course he had just placed it somewhere she’d find it rather than give it to her outright.
Zanka hated Rudo did that because he did those things too. Riyo had thanked him for getting the shampoo and Zanka had to correct her, that Rudo had gotten it this time and not him.
“Oh damn, he really is taking after you, huh?” Riyo teased.
“Not at all.” Zanka grumbled out and walked away, gripping Lovely Assistaff as he did.
He still had a schedule to follow, but even that had changed when Rudo entered his life. Despite how often they fight, Zanka still took time out of his day to sit with Rudo and try to teach him things about the ground, give him books to read, things to study, and even homework to do.
Of course Rudo detests this, but Zanka can see him excited to learn on occasion. He did try to find topics that he thought Rudo would like, but sometimes he couldn’t.
There was also the situation with Rudo’s hands. Usually after a job was complete Rudo would avoid everyone for a day or so. Riyo of course was curious about this and figured out why.
Apparently a lot of times after using his gloves his hands hurt. Not just a little, but to the point he couldn’t do anything; completely incapacitated.
Inevitably, this put his own schedule behind. If Rudo couldn’t do his chores, come to spar, or even study, then his schedule was affected. That’s what he tells himself.
They just finished a job. Enjin’s driving them back to headquarters with Riyo in the front seat playing a Too Lily song. Rudo’s sitting on the opposite side with his hands in his lap as he stares out the window.
Zanka’s been staring at him for a while. He knows Rudo knows he is because they lock eyes in the reflection of the window a few times.
If they were similar like Enjin and Riyo say, this is one of those instances. Both of them are stubborn and refuse to let the other win.
It takes a few more minutes before Rudo inhales and turns to face him. “What the fuck do you want?” Despite his words, his tone is flat and not full of anger, just mild annoyance.
Zanka’s had to learn the language of Rudo. Since he always seems angry, he’s had to deduce when the kid actually is happy, annoyed, or anything else.
Right now he can tell Rudo’s exhausted. That was evident though.
“When we get back home I’m going to bathe you.”
That makes Rudo pause. It was a statement, not a question. He shoots him a glare. “The hell?”
“Don’t give me that look.” Zanka sighs. He has to explain himself.. “I’ve noticed every time after a job you stay in your room a while, but the moment you leave you shower.” Which to him meant Rudo couldn’t bathe until he could handle the pain in his hands.
So, maybe he could help.
He expected Rudo to cuss him out or get angry since it’s such an uncommon thing to do with others, but instead Rudo’s shoulders sagged and he looked back out the window. “Whatever you want to do.”
Was he just that tired, or was it something else? Zanka couldn’t tell. He did know a few things though. Zanka often bathed Dear when Bro was busy, so he figured he could wrangle Rudo to sit and let him at least scrub his hair.
The real question was if Rudo would let him wash his gloves.
When they arrived Zanka gave Lovely Assistaff to Riyo so her would would not be affected by the water and steam and he walked with Rudo into the bathroom and rolled up his sleeves. He started the shower, grabbed a towel and stool, and made sure he had everything. Rags, soap, clean bandages, and a hair dryer.
“You’re so systematic.” Rudo said from behind him, his voice still rather tired.
Zanka looked down at him. Now that he was facing him he could really and truly see how exhausted Rudo was. His hands were trembling, his eyes swarmed with pain, and he looked unsure and nervous.
And yet..
“I can wash myself.”
And yet Rudo lied to his face still.
He wanted to snap back something like ‘prove it’ but knew that was stupid. Rudo was going to hurt himself if he tried. Plus he was still wearing his dirty clothes.
Wait, shit, he needed a change of clothes for Rudo.
“I trust you can wash yourself,” Zanka said. “But I want to help.” He stood in front of Rudo. “Are you able to use your hands at all?” He could see Rudo’s fingers twitch. To his credit Rudo did try to take off his coat, however he couldn’t keep a grip and looked in even worse pain after that.
So the answer was no.
“I’m not helpless, damnit.” Rudo hissed out, glaring at Zanka when he moved just a bit.
“You’re not.” He agreed with him. “But just because ya need help doesn’t mean you’re useless or whatever else you’re telling yourself.”
Rudo went quiet, then slowly nodded. He lifted his arms up to help Zanka take his uniform off where he set the coat in a laundry basket.
“I don’t..” Rudo’s voice was so quiet Zanka nearly missed it. “Regto’s only ever helped me before.”
He understood completely. Often times when Zanka is too injured to move even after Eishia’s healing he needs help. The first times it happened he had been so awkward and embarrassed while Enjin gave him sponge baths in the infirmary.
But that was long past. They were family now, and even if he and Rudo bickered like hell, he still wanted to help him.
“Enjin told me something that helped.” He said as he walked over to him, quoting his adoptive father. “ ‘If I was injured so bad I couldn’t move, would you sit there and do nothing or try to help?’.” It had really opened Zanka’s eyes to the whole situation. That these people did care about him.
He’d often wash Riyo’s hair, brush it, and style it for her. Not because she couldn’t, but because they both wanted to do something together like that.
“It ain’t awkward unless you make it so.” Zanka reached up and ruffled Rudo’s hair gently. “Plus it sucks seein’ ya in pain.”
Rudo tiredly hummed. “You’re so fucking bad at lecturing you gotta quote Enjin of all people..?”
“Shut the hell up.” Zanka quipped back with a grin as he helped Rudo out of his shoes, socks, and pants. He of course left his boxers on, but set the dirty clothing aside. “Sit in the shower a minute. I’m gonna go grab you some clean clothes.”
Rudo looked less embarrassed at least. When he confirmed that the spherite was in the shower he walked to Rudo’s room and slid open a drawer, grabbing some clean clothes and returning.
Zanka would never admit it but it felt really nice to take care of someone.
He set them down and pulled the stool over to where Rudo was sitting on the ground under the shower. Zanka couldn’t help but think he looked like a wet kitten. He sat on the stool and grabbed the shampoo first, lathering it a bit, then nudging Rudo. “Sit up for me.”
He ran his hands through his hair and made a mental note that it was far different from Riyo’s. When he was done making sure his scalp was clean he guided Rudo to lean back under the water as he grabbed a grab and soap, lathering it, then running it across his back in circles.
He was trying to focus but his attention kept being diverted to Rudo’s gloves. They were of course soaking wet, but Rudo still had them and the bandages on. Those were sopping wet and peeling and would clog the drain if not removed.
“Rudo, are you able to take off your bandages?” he saw a slow shake of the head.
It was a bit jarring to see Rudo so quiet, but from how his arms were still trembling he knew the pain was getting worse.
Damnit, did he deal with this every time? Zanka was going to have to keep a better eye on him then. He wasn’t going to let Rudo suffer alone like this.
“That’s alright. Can you lift them up for me?” Zanka asked, thinking he could.
Rudo tried, but for the first time he heard Rudo let out a pained noise so quiet it was almost drowned out by the running water.
Zanka made himself another mental note to get with Eishia about giving Rudo some pain medicine for after jobs. He’d do so after this too.
“Hold on a moment.” Zanka stood up and rolled his pants up then took off his own coat so he was only in a shirt. He moved to sit in front of Rudo, now closer to the water and getting a bit wet because of it, but really that didn’t matter. He was going to change out of these after this anyway.
He took one of Rudo’s arms gently and carefully pulled one glove off though he sat it back in Rudo’s lap. He was not going to wash those right now.
He could see black scarred skin showing from where the bandages have unraveled and torn as well as the trembling first hand. Zanka carefully peeled them off and set them aside until Rudo’s hand was free. Then he did the next the same way.
He wasn’t surprised to see Rudo’s hands back in his gloves when he was done, though now Rudo was sitting with his legs pulled up and arms tucked close in a feeble attempt to protect them.
Zanka went back to washing him with the rag on what he could reach though he avoided his arms. He did his face last and was careful getting the soap around his eyes.
“Do you want me to wash your gloves?” Zanka asked. He watched Rudo stare at him with several conflicting thoughts. He wanted them clean of course, he knew he couldn’t do it himself, but the thought of not wearing them right now made him feel panic rising in his chest.
“I don’t know the proper way to keep them clean, I will admit that.” He grabbed some soap and looked at Rudo. “We can do it one at a time. Soap outside and in, then I wash it off and put it back on you. Is this alright?” He knew being patient was the best course of action, and Zanka was good at that.
Rudo swallowed hard and slowly nodded so Zanka carefully slid one off. As much as he wanted to take his time to make sure he deep cleaned it, he knew that wasn’t possible. So he washed the outside, then in with soap, carefully rinsed it free, and helped Rudo put it back on.
Rudo seemed a lot calmer with the next gloves process. When he was wearing both again he tucked his arms back towards his chest and looked up at Zanka.
He could tell he was feeling slightly better at least. Zanka turned the shower off and grabbed the towel, wrapping it around Rudo and went to set up the hair dryer. From the mirror he watched Rudo stand up and walk over, hair dripping wet.
Zanka took the towel from him and ran it through his hair a bit and set it aside. He started the hair dryer and pointed it at his scalp, making sure to wave it a few times. After a few minutes he was sure it was dry so turned it off and set it aside.
He grabbed the clothes he took from his room which was just a big hoodie and some pajama pants. Zanka draped it over Rudo, unable to hold back a snort when Rudo’s head popped up out of the hood. When he saw him softly glare he took that as a good sign.
Zanka helped him put his arms through, then to step into his pants.
“There, all done. Now you can sleep as long as you like. God knows you fuckin’ need it.” Zanka was rather proud of himself for how efficiently he handled that and for how Rudo acted the whole time.
“..thank you.” Rudo mumbled out as he shuffled away and back towards his room.
Zanka sighed softly and reached to his choker on his wrist and called Eishia, informing her to make sure Rudo would take some pain meds after every single job. When that was settled he took his own shower which took far less time, did the laundry, and visited Eishia.
He got the medicine and a cup of water from her and went to Rudo’s room again, knocking on his door. Unsurprisingly there was no response. He entered anyway and saw Rudo knocked out on his bed not even under the covers.
“Idiot.” Zanka grumbled to himself and walked over to him, sitting on the bed beside him. “Rudo, wake up a sec.” He gently nudged him. Red tired eyes glared at him with no real anger behind them. “Come on, sit up.” When he did he helped Rudo take the pill and water, then pulled the covers back and made him lay on the bed properly, draping the blanket over him when he was done.
“Sleep well, turdface.” Zanka said quietly, patting Rudo’s head before he left to go find Riyo to get Lovely Assistaff and sleep himself.
If Rudo wasn’t going to take care of him then Zanka was just going to have to step up as his brother to do so.
Zanka could not shower with Lovely Assistaff. He couldn’t even have her in the bathroom. The hot water and steam would seep into her wood and make her swell which was not healthy for her. Bacteria could get in, moss could grow (as if he doesn’t clean her religiously), and cracks could form from her wood expanding and shrinking back.
This caused several problems.
Givers really could not depart from their items. Of course technically they can, and under some circumstances, but it was apart of them. The best way Zanka could explain it to a non-giver would be something akin to “It’s like being blind in one eye willingly until you get it back then can see properly again.” You would rather not do it and be less whole, but it is possible.
So whenever he had to shower he always let Riyo or Enjin baby sit Lovely Assistaff because he trusted them.
And after Rudo joined.. He had been hesitant to do the same with him. He had known Enjin and Riyo for years, so of course it made sense he was apprehensive, and it wasn’t like Rudo even knew about this weird part of his routine anyway.
Still, after he changed his schedule to bathe Rudo after every job, it started to make sense to leave Lovely Assistaff with him whenever he had to shower himself.
The first time he did it he didn’t explain it to Rudo in detail. He just knocked on his door and handed her to him with a simple “I’m taking a shower.” Then leaving.
When he was done and went to retrieve her he found Rudo sitting at one of his desks with his staff leaning against the wall beside him. Nearby, in his sights, but not interacting.
That was fine. She was being looked after and was safe so that was enough for him.
Rudo’s come to expect it now since they did this. Zanka was slowly getting Rudo into a routine by accident because of it as well.
About two weeks into this change, he noticed things were.. Different.
When he picked up Lovely Assistaff he noticed she had a new layer of wood polish on her. He hadn’t asked Rudo to do this nor did he even expect it. Still, he did not bring it up and was oddly touched by this gesture. And every time after this he found her with a fresh coat of wood polisher.
A month in Rudo returned her with a new ribbon nearly tied around her along with his usual cleaning.
Zanka couldn’t not say anything now. “Thanks.” He looked down at Rudo who huffed and glared at him, no response or bickering because he had no defense.
He damn well knew it was Rudo’s small way of thanking him.
Not much changed after that. Some days he would get her back with a new bow or ribbon, but most times it was just a clean coat of wood polish.
He found himself bringing her to Rudo more times than Riyo or Enjin.
Though when he was done with a shower one day and knocked on his door he was mildly curious why Rudo didn’t answer. Rudo always did within moments, especially since he had someone elses jinki in his possession.
Zanka curiously opened the door anyways and his eyes landed on Rudo’s bed.
He could see him slumped over, chest slowly rising and falling as he slept with Lovely Assistaff in between his arms with one under and one above her in a loose hold. In one of his gloves he was holding a brush and on the desk beside him was the can of wood polisher he always used.
Zanka slightly smiled to himself seeing Rudo fell asleep taking care of her. He flicked Rudo’s light off and walked over to him, closing the lid up and taking the brush to set aside. Once that was cleaned up he grabbed his staff and tried to slide her out of his hold.
This failed as Rudo tiredly clung to her in a more protective way.
..alright, well, Zanka didn’t want to disturb Rudo and wake him up. He also couldn’t leave without her.
Zanka sighed as he glanced at the time. His routine could wait, he supposed.
Zanka carefully climbed onto the bed and laid beside Rudo, fixing the blanket up and wrapping an arm around him. He was certainly going to tease Rudo later about falling asleep while he was supposed to be on baby sitting duty, but that would be later.
For now he closed his eyes and dozed off into a light nap beside him, feeling rather content.