Where happiness are short-lived and sadness reign. Bound to the shackles of my heartbreak as I continue to yearn.
REQUEST STATUS: Closed.
Zanka Masterlist. Masterlist.
Who or what I write for !!
• I currently only write for Gachiakuta characters, I might expand my writing to another fandom if ever I decided to join another one.
• Unfortunately, I only write for male characters and it is still very limited. But once I grasped their character, I might be able to add them on my list.
• Here is the list of the characters that I am currently writing for or is available for requests:
Zanka Nijiku
Rudo Surebrec
Follo Tunito
Enjin
Gris Rubion
Tamsy Caines
August Stilza
Jabber Wonger
Zodyl Typhon
Request Rules: what I approve and do not approve !!
• I mostly write Angst. But can write Fluff and hurt/comfort if that's what my readers want to see and read.
• Requests can be specific or not, I honestly really love specific or very detailed requests as it makes writing easier for me.
• I'm not a big fan of broad requests, like REALLY broad request. Because it's hard to think of what you actually want me to write about. Do you want angst, fluff, hurt/comfort or what? I only want to satisfy my readers that's why I value details.
• I can write gender, body type or race representation if that's what my readers wanted.
• I'm totally cool with writing; gore, suicide, depression, grief, death, mental instability, trauma, violence and so on.
• I do not write smut, but can write slight suggestive fics or with only implication of intimacy. But not literal smut.
• I do not write oc x canon. I only really write x reader fics so I hope y'all understand.
• I will NOT write about SA/R@pe. Well, maybe, I can write/mention it on a fic if it's reader's trauma. BUT I WILL NOT WRITE THE SCENE. The implication would be subtle if It was ever requested.
Enjin couldn't tear his lips away from his pretty girlfriend.
It was perhaps the third or fourth time you'd tried to have a conversation with your boyfriend. Talking about anything would do.
Maybe the weather, how Rudo was gaining weight from eating so many sweets again, or maybe what you'd had for dinner a moment ago.
But here you were, lying on your back on Enjin's bed while he kissed you again and again.
"Enjin," kiss, "wouldn't you like to?" kiss, "talk?"
You could feel a smile spread across his lips as he kissed you. He slowly sat up, placing his hands at your sides.
"I'm sorry, doll," his voice was so deep it made you stir, "but I don't want to talk, I just want to do this."
And he kissed you again.
This time so damn slowly that it made you let out a moan. Enjin smiled again, and his hands slipped under your blouse.
His fingers gently caressed your skin while his tongue sensually invaded your mouth. You didn't know what affected you more, his kisses or his caresses. You could only feel your mind going blank as the temperature in the room rose.
Perhaps just this once, words wouldn't be necessary.
Imagine waking up and seeing Zanka's back in front of you. You would hug him around the waist, clinging to him as he murmurs a few words in his sleep. He would turn to hold you close, and as you snuggle against his chest, he would bury his face in your hair, breathing deeply, pulling you by the waist and slipping one leg over yours.
A high-pitched laugh echoed through the training yard, a sharp, breathless, and completely uncontrollable laugh.
You stood a few steps away, holding a clean towel and a water bottle, watching Zanka cover his face with both hands. His shoulders were shaking violently. Every time he tried to pull his hands away to look at you, a fresh wave of intense blush hit his face, and he was once again overcome by a fit of breathless giggles.
"Zanka? Are you okay?" you asked, taking a step toward him. "Did I say something wrong?"
"N-No!" he squealed, his voice cracking slightly. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to channel his usual stern, battle-ready demeanor. "It's just... you can't just say things like that out of the blue! It's not fair!"
You blinked in disbelief. All you had done was hand him his water and mention how amazing his technique looked during today's session. You had specifically praised the fluid precision of his attacks, noting how his intense dedication made him look utterly captivating and reliable every time he wielded Assistaff. You meant every word, but you hadn't expected the usually stoic Zanka Nijiku to completely melt into a sea of giggles.
"But it's true," you said, a small smile playing on your lips. "You really are the most reliable person here. You're amazing, Zanka."
He let out another loud, stifled gasp behind his hands, his ears turning a bright crimson that contrasted hilariously with his hair.
"Stop! Stop it!" he laughed, the sound bubbling from his chest. He took a deep breath, trying to maintain a tough expression, but the moment he made eye contact with you, his lips trembled, forming a wide, goofy grin. "A-Amazing? Me? I mean, just an average guy? But... hehe... do you really think I look fascinating?"
"I do," you teased gently, invading his personal space. Zanka was practically vibrating with nervous energy, his tough-guy persona completely shattered by a few sincere words. He buried his face in the towel you gave him, letting out a series of muffled, joyful giggles that warmed your heart.
Do I look like him you? (request) Art by remonucha
Zanka had accepted the chemical and dye scent emanating from your room as part of your charm and chaotic attitude.
Every few weeks, you transformed into a completely new canvas. He had learned to decipher your ever-changing identity by the color of your roots, loving the vibrant transition from neon blues to pastel purples.
When you first met Rudo, you sported a striking head of bubblegum pink hair. You leaned forward, letting your bright locks fall as you surveyed the reserved and intense boy, flashing him a warm smile that instantly made him shift uncomfortably. Zanka watched your every move from the sidelines, as you immediately tried to make the boy feel at home.
A few months passed, and your pink hair faded to a muted coral hue, signaling that it was time for a change. You spent an entire afternoon observing Rudo while the group relaxed, your eyes fixed on the unique and striking part in his hair.
"Your hair is great, Rudo," you blurted out, resting your chin on your palm. "The contrast is amazing. I think I'll give it a try."
Rudo blinked, turning a light pink, and mumbled something incoherent about how his hair was just like that.
Zanka, who was sitting nearby, tensed up. He glanced at Rudo's hair and then at you. A sudden, uncomfortable weight settled in his chest. Jealousy. He knew it was a ridiculous emotion, but seeing you so fixated on the Spherine's style wounded his pride.
The next day, you debuted the look. You had perfectly copied Rudo's exact pattern, making the striking contrast frame your face beautifully. When Rudo saw you, his eyes widened, and he gave you a rare, genuine smile, murmuring that it looked good on you.
Zanka, however, nearly choked on his drink. For the next three weeks, every time he looked at you, he was reminded of the guy who'd bathed him in poop. Every time you walked past a mirror and complimented your own hair, Zanka would mutter under his breath, cross his arms, and look away. He missed his girl, not the other version of Rudo. He wanted you to look at him with that same inspiration.
You weren't blind. You noticed how Zanka's jaw tightened whenever you mentioned hair dye, and how he'd stopped running his fingers through your hair when you sat together on the couch. Realizing you'd pushed his patience a little too far, you decided it was time for the next scheduled change, but with a very specific twist.
One rainy Tuesday, Zanka kicked open your bedroom door, exhausted after a long day of dealing with work. The room smelled strongly of hair dye again. He sighed, mentally preparing himself to see the look kept or changed to something more inspired by Rudo.
"Hey," you called from the bathroom. You came out, drying the ends of your freshly washed hair with a towel. Zanka froze, his boots glued to the floor.
The black tips were gone. In their place, your hair was dyed an identical reflection of Zanka's signature style, capturing the exact same tones and attitude he wore every day.
You looked at him through your damp bangs, a soft, teasing smile playing on your lips.
"What do you think? I think this style suits me way better."
Zanka's breath caught in his throat. The irritation that had been simmering for weeks melted instantly, replaced by a burning heat in his cheeks. He covered the lower part of his face with his hand, trying to hide the huge, goofy grin spreading across his face, but his bright red ears gave him away completely.
"You're such an idiot," he muttered huskily as he leaned closer and roughly pulled you against his chest, burying his face in the crook of your neck. Finally, he ran his fingers through your hair again, gripping the strands tightly. "Don't ever change it again. Leave it like this."
You laughed, wrapping your arms around his waist.
"Jealous jerk."
"Shut up," he growled affectionately, kissing the top of your head, finally satisfied that you were matching with the only guy who truly mattered.
bunnyboy!follo and catgirl!reader smut...and catgirl!reader teases follo for being such a soft little cottontail who's all squeak no nibble and he gets all flustered and tries to bite back but you always seem to know how to get his tongue! (you are a cat after all)
then you both go into heat and he's all subby but then it gets to the point he shuts his brain off and just fucks you until you both blackout at the same time...
Get your back blown out by follo while you're using a vibrator. He's just saying the nastiest dirty talk alive to you after being a little brat all day.
Tw: Hurt, mentions of sh, mentions of blood, comfort
Zanka had always perceived you as a happy and calm person. Your presence always brought him comfort, and he was aware that it did the same for many of the people around you. You had many qualities he valued, and although he would never admit it out loud, he was deeply in love with you… and would never allow anything to hurt you.
But he would always blame himself for not noticing sooner.
┈━ ◇ ━┈
The conversation among the team flowed as usual, like always, but something about your behavior began to feel out of place.
You kept glancing at the door repeatedly. You didn’t seem to be paying attention to the conversation. You only laughed when someone said, “isn’t that right, Y/N? Haha!”, and Zanka was almost certain you were on the verge of crying. He could tell by the way you blinked forcefully and how you kept bringing your hands to your forearms and your legs over and over again. Not to mention how hard it was to ignore the glassy shine in your eyes.
Zanka decided to ignore it, thinking it was just in his head. Maybe you were exhausted from today’s mission and were just waiting for the moment to leave —he did the same when he wanted to disappear— but even so, the unease wouldn’t leave him.
Finally, you stood up and walked out.
And even though he felt an almost unbearable urge to follow you, he chose not to.
That was his first mistake.
Zanka tried to keep up with the conversation naturally, but he simply couldn’t focus. Something felt wrong, heavy, and he knew it. It felt familiar… like something he had experienced before… when Enjin found him in the pit.
He couldn’t help but remember the way you touched your arms nervously, running your fingers along your forearms and pressing your hands tightly against your legs, as if something— hurt.
Something in his head clicked. He didn’t know exactly what, he just knew he had to find you.
“Zanka? Where are you going?” Bro asked when he stood up, maybe a bit too quickly, from the table.
Zanka looked at everyone for a second. Several confused gazes were fixed on him. He blinked a couple of times, gripping his staff with a calm he didn’t feel.
“…I’ll clean Lovely.”
Without further explanation, he left the dining hall.
It was his second mistake to have waited so long.
┈━ ◇ ━┈
He walked through almost the entire facility, looking for you. He went to your room first and knocked on the door several times. No answer.
He frowned slightly before opening the door. Empty.
His pulse quickened.
He turned on his heel, moving faster now. He thought of the gym… but then he heard it: a low, uneven sound.
A whimper.
It came from one of the hallway bathrooms.
Zanka froze in place.
For a second, he thought he had imagined it. His mind could play tricks on him, he knew that. He took a step forward to keep going, but he couldn’t.
The feeling in his chest became unbearable, so he turned back.
He stood in front of the door and knocked twice, firmly.
“Hey… uh… are you okay in there?” his voice came out more controlled than he felt. His expression, as always, remained stoic… but his eyes didn’t.
“Yes!” the response came too quickly, and too shaky. He recognized your voice immediately.
Zanka closed his eyes for a moment. “Y/N.”
His hand pressed against the door.
“Open it.”
“No— I’m fine, really—”
“Please.” he didn’t raise his voice, he was too worried in that moment to get agitated.
There was another second of silence. Then, a clumsy, rushed sound: the lock giving way.
The door opened just a few centimeters, but it was enough for him. He let out a heavy breath and gently pushed, just enough to step inside.
The world stopped.
His gaze dropped.
Blood.
Your hands.
Your arms.
The air left his lungs.
He stood completely still for one, two seconds.
Too long.
“…What are you doing?” the question came out low. Cracked at a point that was barely noticeable.
You reacted immediately, trying to hide your arms against your body, stepping back.
“It’s nothing—”
“Stop.” Zanka stepped forward firmly until he stood right in front of you.
His eyes stayed on you, avoiding looking down again… avoiding confirming what he had already seen.
“What happened…?”
You didn’t answer. You didn’t even try.
Your breathing was uneven. Your hands trembled.
“Zanka, no— it’s not what it looks like—”
“Then tell me what it is.”
His voice remained low, controlled, but now there was something else in it.
Something that hurt.
You shook your head, pressing your lips together, as if any word would break you completely.
“I just—”
You broke.
Zanka clenched his fists.
He wasn’t angry at you, he never would be.
He was angry at himself.
“I was there,” he muttered, more to himself than to you. “You were right in front of me.”
He took another step.
His body nearly against yours as his hands lifted, not knowing where to place them or what to do, his staff forgotten against one of the bathroom walls behind him.
“And I didn’t see it.”
You looked away, ashamed, trying to wipe your tears with the back of your hand.
“You don’t have to—”
“Yes.” he interrupted immediately. Not harsh, just certain. “Yes, I do.”
Silence fell between you, heavy. Zanka’s chest ached at the sight of you like this— how could he not have noticed before? You were always so happy, always showing your best face to everyone, supporting them unconditionally… but who was there for you?
Zanka exhaled slowly, as if trying to organize something he didn’t know how to say.
“Let me see.”
“No—” you refused immediately.
“Y/N.” his tone shifted slightly. Softer.
Closer.
“Let me help you.”
You hesitated.
Your hands lowered just a little.
Zanka brought a hand to your arms, looking into your eyes— red, teary, swollen. The most beautiful eyes he had ever seen, filled with pain.
“Can I?”
You nodded faintly.
But that small gesture was enough.
His fingers touched your wrist carefully, as if he feared hurting you more. He turned your arm slightly, observing without looking away this time.
He didn’t say anything at first.
He just breathed slowly.
With his jaw tense.
“…This is going to sting a little,” he murmured.
It wasn’t said with cruelty or threat, his voice was filled with concern and he was doing everything he could to stay calm and not break down crying right there with you, he knew that wasn’t what you needed in that moment.
He took what he needed, improvising with what was available in the bathroom. He cleaned carefully, with a precision that left no doubt: he had done this before.
The silence wasn’t uncomfortable.
Your shoulders began to tremble.
And Zanka noticed, but didn’t say anything right away.
He just finished bandaging carefully before speaking again.
“You don’t have to hide from me.” his words were soft.
You looked up, your eyes still wet.
“…I didn’t want you to see it.”
Zanka held your gaze fully, for the first time.
“I know. But I already did.” there was no reproach, only a raw truth.
He lowered his gaze for a second, as if choosing his next words carefully.
“I don’t understand everything.” admitting it wasn’t easy for him. “But… I’m not going anywhere.”
Your lips trembled.
“Zanka…”
He hesitated just a little.
Then, carefully, he placed a hand on your shoulder.
Sypnosis: Enjin never really cared about birthday's and such, but when he got with you he started to, though he didn't expect for you to cry.
Art by me
You always have been a giving person.
Whenever your siblings, family, friends in general have birthdays or just anything that have to do with celebration like name days or those stupid special occasion were you celebrate friendship day. You will always make sure you got them something big.
And for awhile it felt good seeing them happy as they open their presents, your circle giving you a warm hug for even remembering.
Then came your birthday. And no one showed up, or gave you anything. Just empty happy birthday wishes.
You felt a lump in your throat whenever it happened, because you hated a part of yourself that wished they put the same effort.
You felt selfish and entitled because if you truly just wanted to give them something you shouldn't expect anything back, right?
So you suck it up and continue giving.
Untill well, Enjin.
You walked inside HQ, exhausted from whatever Corvus had sighed you up to do and all you wanted was to sleep. And maybe cuddle up with Enjin as he kissed you until you felt better.
Maybe he got you a slice of cake or something but you highly doubt he will do that since he mentioned he doesn't care much about birthdays and stuff.
After good sleep, you meet Enjin in a rooftop.
You both shared a pack of cigarettes as you both talked about each other's day untill Enjin reached to a bag he had beside him the whole time.
"This is for you," said Enjin.
You opened the bag, and it was a comic series you have been telling Enjin you will buy but kept delaying it because you didn't want to spend too much money. You probably have talk his ear off about how you love the characters.
You just looked at the bag dumbfounded, how did he found the money to get this, you felt your heart tighten maybe it's your fault he got it, because you couldn't shut up and now he probably thought he was obligated to.
You felt your eyes burn, Man how ungrateful can you be?
"Babe, are you okay?" He asked scooting closer to you, "You don't like the gift, I think I got the receipt, you can always—"
You wiped the tears that were falling without your will, "No, is just—" you babbled, "I'm sorry, I will make it up to to you, I will—"
"Hey, no need for that, it's your birthday"
"I know but you said you don't do those birthday thing's and—"
"Yeah, I don't but you do, and If it's important for you than it's to me too," he said "Also probably rudo and the others were ready with their own gifts"
You don't know why it hit you, but it did and you started crying. You felt extremely guilty.
Enjin looked at you and smiled and hugged you, "You really thought I wouldn't get you anything?"
"No one does," you mumbled "People say they will and they don't. And then you did, is it cause I kept talking about the comic series? I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bother you, I will get you something when—"
Enjin wiped your tears away from your face, "Baby, don't," he reassurared," And you know the others have been planning three months early for your birthday. Well, rudo actually."
"Rudo?"
"Yeah, he even accidentally called you mom."
You felt your heart tighten again, and started tearing up again.
Enjin pulled you in to a hug and carresed your hair, "You really should start surroundeding yourself with better people, come more often to HQ after work"
"I don't wanna bother anyone"
"You bother us when you don't come"
You laughed, truly laughed, "I really don't deserve you"
zanka nijiku is safe in your embrace, sleeping comfortably, as you run your fingers through his hair endlessly—massaging his scalp and humming and whispering close to his ear. [ request. / 812 words ]
you had forced him out of the training area, practically begging him to stop overworking himself and just take a break. when you finally urged him to let both him and lovely assistaff to rest, you dragged him to his room and plopped down on the bed with him (after setting lovely assistaff comfortably on the wall, of course).
zanka had fallen asleep almost immediately the moment you took him in your arms. he buried his face in the crook of your neck and wrapped an arm around you.
a couple of minutes in, he’s already snoring softly—proof he’s let himself let loose after all the days he spent killing his body by training excessively.
and while your arm starts to tingle with numbness, you forget about it because of how peaceful zanka looks asleep in your arms.
“you act nonchalant, sometimes harsh, and you’ve got a sharp tongue,” you said to yourself more than to zanka as you continuously ran your fingers through his hair, “yet… beneath that strong facade you put on is a soft heart.”
zanka softly groaned at the sensation of your fingernails against his scalp, but you didn’t seem to realize his waking and went on with your rambling.
“you’re so cute when you fake anger,” you giggled to yourself. “the way your brows furrow, and how your lips pucker… i wanna kiss you so bad, you know that?”
oh. zanka for sure feels like his face is starting to heat up—whether from embarrassment or fluster, he isn’t sure.
“after everything you went through, you’re still so thoughtful to others, and i hope you’d be kind to yourself as well. you’re so strong, zanka. so strong, i admire you for that.”
tears started forming and threatened to fall from zanka's eyes, and his heart flipped a little at your words. how can you say such tender words towards him? he who is always so aggressive on the battlefield, he who only knows to seek victory and the best version of himself no matter the consequences.
“you’re so hardworking it hurts.” you leaned closer to zanka, your cheek lying on top of his head. “i hope you take care of yourself… i’m scared one day i’ll be gone, and you won’t eat properly and on time. i don’t want that. i’ll haunt you forever.”
zanka has no idea how long you've been talking to the asleep him, but he's starting to hear your voice strain—perhaps from the dryness of your throat or maybe… maybe you're about to cry?
ah, he won't let that happen.
with his eyes still closed, he moved his hand to feel and interlace it with yours. he lifted your hand up to his lips and kissed it softly.
“hey, i'll take care of myself, hm?” he says, his voice a little deeper than usual.
“you…” you narrowed your eyes on him. “how long have you been awake?!”
zanka's brain fully awoken after your sudden outburst, your face was a red mess, and you were looking at him so suspiciously.
“uh, some time when you were tellin’ me i'm nonchalant,” he answered slowly, scared of the punishment that would come after.
you slammed a palm to your forehead, cursing yourself for talking out loud.
“what? are you embarrassed i heard ‘em?”
you looked at him with an exasperated expression. “what do you think?!”
zanka chuckled. “you sounded like you were about to cry.”
“i hate you.”
“that's not what you said earlier.”
“zanka!”
he only shrugged at your accusatory tone.
“whatever,” you continued. “don't expect to hear anything good from me anymore.”
“i— you—”
“i'm just kidding.” you grinned sheepishly at him and pinched his cheeks until they became red from the pressure.
you knew he lived on praises and acknowledgement, and he definitely likes it more when it comes from you. you were just a little embarrassed because you were saying things you couldn't bring yourself to actually tell to his face, but you're glad it's done now.
“see now that your brows are furrowed and you're pouting?” you teased him with a smile. “so cute.”
“you're cuter,” zanka mumbled.
“what?”
“i said… nevermind!”
“no, you said somethi—...”
zanka took the sides of your face in his hands and leaned in to give you a kiss long enough to wash away the thought of wanting to know what he just said.
“you can't attack me like that, zanks,” you said as you parted from him.
zanka chuckled. “just so you'd stop glazin’ me.”
“acting like you don't like it, now.”
zanka only feigned offense in response, but you know just how bad he likes it when you go on and on with your praises for him.
The weight of your words (zanka x reader) pt.6 FINALE:c
The morning sun filtered through the small window of Zanka’s room, casting a warm, golden glow across the messy tangle of blankets. The usual sharp scent of his polishing oils and cedarwood was overtaken by something softer—the unmistakable, lingering warmth of the two of you together.
You woke up slowly, shifting against the mattress. Every muscle in your body felt heavy, pleasantly exhausted, and thoroughly loved.
When you moved, Zanka’s arm automatically tightened around your waist, pulling you flush against his bare chest. He was still half-asleep, his breathing deep and even, but the protective instinct was entirely awake. Your skin slid against his with an intimate, frictionless warmth, a quiet reminder of just how little clothing was left scattered on his floor from the night before.
You tilted your head back to look at him. His face was soft in sleep, completely stripped of his usual rigid, duty-bound tension. But as your hand traced the line of his collarbone—noticing the faint, darkening mark your lips had left there—Zanka’s eyelashes fluttered open.
The moment his eyes met yours, reality crashed into his brain.
A furious, bright crimson blush immediately erupted across his cheeks, plunging down his neck and coloring his entire chest. He blinked rapidly, suddenly hyper-aware of the fact that you were completely tangled up in his sheets, straddling his leg, with his arms locked securely around you.
"Y-You're awake," Zanka choked out, his voice incredibly deep and raspy from sleep. He looked like he wanted to pull the blanket over his face, but he refused to let go of your waist. "Good morning."
"Good morning," you smiled, leaning up to press a soft kiss to his jawline.
Zanka whimpered into the pillow, his shoulders shaking with a breathless, giddy laugh. "Please, don't start already. My heart can't take it. After last night, I didn't think it was possible to feel any more flustered, but you... you prove me wrong every single day."
"You didn't seem very flustered last night," you teased softly, brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead. "You seemed pretty confident."
The blush on his face deepened to a near-impossible shade of purple. He buried his face into the crook of your neck, his hot breath tickling your skin as he groaned. "That's because of you. Every word you say to me... it completely takes over. I just wanted to show you how much I love you. I didn't know how else to say it."
You wrapped your arms around his broad back, holding him close. The journey from a flustered warrior who couldn't accept a compliment to the man holding you bare-skinned in his bed was complete. He didn't just hear your words anymore; he lived them.
A heavy, deliberate knock suddenly shattered the quiet room.
"Zanka! Training starts in twenty minutes!" Enjin’s loud voice boomed through the wooden door, followed by a low, knowing chuckle. "The others are already at the hall. Take your time, but don't make it obvious why you're late!"
Zanka froze, his eyes going wide with pure panic as Enjin’s footsteps faded down the hall. He looked down at you, completely mortified, but the sheer absurdity of the moment broke the tension. You burst into a quiet laugh, and after a second, Zanka joined in—a rich, happy sound that filled the room.
He leaned up, placing a firm, lingering kiss on your lips, his hand cupping your cheek with a tenderness that anchored you completely.
"Let them talk," Zanka whispered against your mouth, a confident, soft smile finally breaking through his blush.
You hurriedly got dressed and slipped out of Zanka’s room, heading toward the training hall through the back corridors. Zanka arrived just a few minutes after you, desperately trying to look nonchalant as he adjusted his gear, though his hair was still slightly damp and messy.
The moment you both walked into the main hall, the atmosphere shifted.
Riyo paused mid-stretch, her eyes darting between you and Zanka with a knowing, mischievous smirk. A few other Cleaners exchanged subtle, amused glances. Enjin was leaning against the wall, taking a slow sip from his mug, looking entirely too smug as he gave Zanka a tiny, mocking salute with his eyes.
Zanka stiffened instantly, his shoulders squaring up rigidly as he tried to ignore the heavy silence. He looked straight ahead, but the bright crimson flush crawling up the back of his neck gave him away completely.
Before either of you could slip away to different sides of the room, Rudo marched right up to the two of you. He had his arms crossed, his dark eyes narrowed in a mix of genuine annoyance and confusion.
"Hey," Rudo barked, pointing a finger directly at Zanka. "Did either of you hear that loud-ass noise last night? There was this constant, heavy banging against the wall right next to my quarters. I swear it sounded like a stray Aberrant Aberration was trying to break through the building."
Zanka froze entirely. The crimson flush on his neck exploded across his face, turning his cheeks a violent, impossible shade of purple. He opened his mouth to speak, but only a high-pitched, strangled choke came out.
"I couldn't sleep at all because of it," Rudo grumbled, entirely oblivious as he turned his sharp gaze toward you. "It kept stopping and starting, and then it would get way louder. Seriously, if some junk or equipment fell over in the back storage rooms, you two need to go clean it up right now. It's driving me crazy."
Across the room, Enjin suddenly choked on his drink, turning around to cough into his fist to hide his booming laughter. Riyo had completely given up on stretching and was now hiding her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking violently with silent giggles.
"R-Rudo," Zanka finally managed to wheeze out, his voice cracked and incredibly flustered as he gripped his Vital Instrument tightly just to keep his hands from shaking. "It was... it was just a loose shutter. Or training equipment shifting. It's fine. Don't worry about it."
"A loose shutter doesn't make rhythmic thumping sounds, Zanka," Rudo snapped back, crossing his arms tighter and scoffing. "Whatever it was, fix it tonight. I'm trying to get actual rest so I can train."
With a final, irritated huff, Rudo turned on his heel and walked away to grab his gear.
The second Rudo was out of earshot, Zanka buried his face entirely in his hands, his broad shoulders trembling as a breathless, mortified groan escaped him. You stepped a little closer, your shoulder brushing his as you hid a smile.
"Tonight," you whispered softly, leaning in just enough so only he could hear, "we'll have to be a little quieter."
Zanka peeked through his fingers, his eyes wide and completely undone by your words, a helpless, giddy smile breaking through his ultimate embarrassment.
