Zanka just learn how much he loves to tease you (request)
Zanka was completely convinced that you didn’t have an off-button, let alone a sense of personal space.
The rest of the team would always know exactly where the two of you were, and the reason was simple: the loud echo of a confident laugh, an unnecessary boast about how incredibly skilled he was, and, almost immediately, the sound of Zanka complaining or sighing in frustration.
"Look everyone at the great Zanka, the strongest warrior, melting at a simple touch of my hand!" you announced loudly to the entire room, shamelessly intertwining your fingers with his as you walked down the hallway.
"Shut your mouth! I'm not melting over anything!" Zanka shot back, his cheeks burning a bright red that completely contradicted his harsh words. "And let go of me, we're working!"
But you never let go. You loved initiating physical contact, doing so with a boundless, lazy confidence, as if you had every right in the world to him. If he was sitting down cleaning Assistaff, you would slide up behind him to wrap your arms around his waist, resting your chin on his shoulder while bragging about your latest mission. If you were walking down the street, you would catch him by surprise by grabbing his hand, or even spin him around to plant a quick kiss on the back of his knuckles, flashing him a smug smile that always managed to put him on the defensive.
Zanka always protested, grumbled, and told you that you were a noisy distraction, but the reality was that he never pulled away. He had grown so used to your chaotic rhythm that, to him, your constant affection was simply his new normal.
The problem arose one afternoon when the headquarters fell into an unusual silence.
Zanka was sitting on the edge of the common area couch, visibly exhausted after a grueling training session with the team.
His hair was a bit messy and his guard was down. You sat next to him, strangely quiet for once, stretching your arms to relax.
By pure instinct, Zanka braced for the usual assault: the loud arm over his shoulders, the firm grip on his waist, or some self-centered tease. But nothing came. Glancing at you sideways, he saw you were simply staring out the window, distracted.
Aware of how much effort you always put into getting his attention, Zanka exhaled heavily, looked around to make sure no one was watching, and made a decision.
For the first time, he took the initiative.
Zanka reached out, caught your hand on the couch, and pulled you gently but firmly, forcing you to lean back against his chest. Then, almost protectively, he wrapped his free arm around your waist, pulling you into his body in a genuinely sweet and warm embrace.
"Hey..." Zanka murmured in a low voice, trying to sound indifferent. "Since you're so quiet for once, stay like this for a while."
He expected an immediate response. He expected you to mock him, to shout to the high heavens that Zanka Nijiku had finally begged for love, or to boast about your "victory" with that loud laugh that defined you so much.
But all he received was absolute silence.
Zanka frowned, puzzled by the lack of noise. He felt your body go completely rigid in his arms. Tilting his head to look at your face, he froze.
All your wild confidence had evaporated. Your eyes were wide open, fixed on the floor, and an intense, violent crimson blush covered you from your cheeks to your ears. You weren’t talking. You weren’t even breathing properly.
Panic seized him instantly. His mind raced at a thousand miles per hour, assuming the worst.
"What's wrong!?" Zanka exclaimed, his voice rising in pitch out of pure anxiety as he half-released your waist. "Did I hurt you? Did I squeeze too hard?"
"N-No... I..." you began to stammer, your voice so soft and timid that Zanka barely recognized you. You covered your face with both hands, desperately trying to hide your embarrassment. "It's not... you didn't do anything w-wrong, Zanka..."
"Then why are you stammering and shaking like a scared little puppy!?" he demanded, his heart pounding in his chest from the scare. "You're always shouting and acting like you own the place! You're scaring me!"
"It's just... you n-never do this!" you finally managed to confess, peeking through your fingers with eyes shining with pure shyness. "I-I'm always the one who touches you first... I'm not... I'm not used to you being so... so damn sweet to me, idiot. It caught me off guard. But... I love it. I love that you did it first."
Zanka went speechless for a couple of seconds, processing your rushed words as he observed your curled-up, completely vulnerable figure in his lap. Realization hit him all at once, clearing away all the panic and replacing it with a massive, smug wave of self-satisfaction.
A malicious, mocking smirk began to form on Zanka's lips.
"Well, well, well..." he drawled, intentionally leaning closer to your ear, enjoying how you flinched. "So this is your weak spot. You get like this if I lift a single finger?"
"S-Shut up!" you shrieked, burying your head into his shoulder to hide your completely red face.
"No, I don't think I'll shut up," Zanka chuckled, a husky and genuinely amused sound as he wrapped his arms tightly around your waist again, this time with total confidence. "Where did all that confidence you always brag about go? Weren't you going to tell the whole headquarters how I have you trapped in my arms right now? Come on, shout it. I want to hear you."
"Zanka, please..." you pleaded in a whisper, completely defenseless against his sudden change in attitude.
"How silly you are," he murmured, but his tone turned immensely warm as he planted a quick kiss on the crown of your head, hugging you even tighter. "If I had known that a little bit of affection would shut you up and make you look this cute, I would have done it since day one. Get ready, because I plan on doing this very often."
