Hiiii, I rlly loved the fic u wrote for Zanka it’s so cuteee, I was hoping u could maybe write a fic where it follows the lyrics of the song perfect by ed sheeran for Zanka I think it would be such a cute idea for a fic. I specifically love the part “We are still kids, but we're so in love, fightin' against all odds I know we'll be alright this time Darling, just hold my hand, be my girl, I'll be your man I see my future in your eyes” but also I don’t want things to like rush in all at once, more like a long slow burn if that’s okay?? Plss feel free to ignore if it’s too much 🫶🥹
Hold my hand when the world gets loud
ㅤㅤ ╰› People usually fall in love in obvious ways like big gestures, dramatic confessions, fireworks. That wasn’t how it happened with Zanka Nijiku, it happened quietly. In the spaces between missions, the silence after arguments, and strange comfort of standing beside someone who never asked you to be anything other than what you already were... And somehow, without either of you noticing when it began, you both stopped standing alone.
zanka nijiku x reader, fluff , slight ooc possible for softness , zanka realizing he's in love , awkward confession , hand holding (if u squint) , internal zanka suffering again lololol , soft ending , slow burn
The first time you met Zanka, he didn’t say a word to you. He just stared, not rudely or even suspiciously, just… quietly. Like he was trying to figure out what kind of person you were? You waved, he blinked once then walked away. You later learned that was basically that cloests thing he had to a greeting ( ◞ ⌓ ◟)
The second time you spoke to him, you were both assigned to the same mission. It was raining, of course it was raining… The sky above the scrap yard had that dull gloomy gray look that meant clouds weren't gonna leave anytime sooner, leading you to standing beside him while waiting for the signal to move. Your shoulder brushed his accidentally, Zanka immediately shifted half a step away, you tried not to laugh. "Relax," you said, "I'm not contagious."
“…Didn’t say you were.” his voice was quiet but sharp… still, he didn’t move any farther away. Which, strangely, felt like progress I guess? (○´―`)ゞ
Time passed, not in a dramatic way but small ones ! Missions, training, stupid agruments over things like who forgot to bring supplies. You finally realized that Zanka wasn't good with people, he didn't say that much or laughed and absolutely hated when people got too close to him that he didn't knew that much.
But he noticed things, small things like the time you injured yourself during a missions, you didn't even realize it— Yet suddenly a piece of cloth landed in your lap, you looked up seeing Zanka was already walking away. ( ˶°ㅁ°)
“…Use it,” he muttered, the others started noticing something before you did. Apparently, you and Zanka were always next to each other. Not intentionally, it just really kept happening like fate decided it… during missions or even those quiet evenings when everyone gathered around to eat.
One night, someone pointed it out. “You two are weirdly attached.” you nearly choked on your drink, “We are not!”… Across the room, Zanka looked deeply unimpressed. “…Don’t lump me into that.”
But later that night, everyone was walking back through the dim hallway, noticing he had slowed down slighty… Just enough so you ended up walking beside him, life where you lived wasn't exactly gentle or something— Things broke, people fought, and missions sometimes went wrong. It really felt like the whole world was against you.
One evening after a particularly rough day, you sat outside watching the sky darken. You didn’t hear Zanka approach, you just noticed him sitting down beside you, neither of you spoke for a while… Finally you sighed. “Do you ever think about the future?” you asked him, “…Not really.”
You tilted your head back, watching the clouds drift slowly. “I think about it sometimes.” Zanka glanced sideways at you "And?", “I think…” you said slowly, “I’d like things to turn out okay.”
A pause, then… “…They will.” you looked at him. Zanka wasn’t smiling, he rarely did but there was something steady in his voice, something certain like he believed it and for some reason… that made you believe it too.
The moment it really changed was surprisingly simple, no fights, no rescues, just a crowded street during some chaotic mission. People running everywhere, shouting, confusion and in the middle of it all, someone shoved past you hard enough that you stumbled.
Your balance tipped, for a second you thought you were going to hit the ground. Then— A hand caught yours. Firm, steady… ZANKA Σ(°□°˶) !! He didn’t look at you, just held on long enough to pull you upright again. The moment you regained your balance he finally let go like nothing had happened.
But something strange settled in your chest. Because for that brief moment, his hand had felt like the safest place in the world. Later that night, you found him standing alone on the rooftop… The wind tugged at his jacket slightly, you walked over quietly.
“…Hey.” Zanka glanced at you, “You’re not sleeping." “Neither are you.” fair point…. ( •̀ - • ) The two of you stood there watching the distant lights flicker in the darkness. After a moment you said softly, “Thanks for earlier.” he frowned slightly. “For what?” “…You know!” he stopped his gaze at you, looking away. “…You would’ve fallen.”
You laughed quietly, “Well, yeah.” another stretch of silence. The wind brushed gently past both of you, finally you held out your hand. Zanka stared at it like it might explode, “What are you doing.”
“Just hold it.” “…why.” you shrugged. “Because the world feels a little less chaotic when someone’s there." Zanka didn’t move, for a long moment you thought he was going to refuse. Then slowly and awkwardly, he took your hand, his grip was careful, like he wasn’t used to this kind of thing.
But he didn’t pull away, the city lights flickered below, the night air felt strangely calm. After a moment, Zanka muttered quietly, “…You’re weird.” you smiled. “Yeah.” but neither of you let go. And somehow, standing there together, the future didn’t feel so impossible anymore… ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ
Zanka didn’t notice it at first, the change, it happened slowly. So slowly it slipped past his usual awareness and at some point, he had started looking for you. Not intentionally, just… automatically. (,,•᷄ࡇ•᷅ ,,)? If there was a meeting, his eyes flicked across the room until he spotted you. If there was a mission, he checked where you were standing before moving. If you were late, he noticed. Which was annoying, because he didn’t do that for anyone else.
Riyo pointed it out, he nearly snapped at her. “You’re staring again.” Zanka looked up from cleaning his lovely assistaff. “I’m not.” across the room, you were laughing at something someone had said… Zanka hadn’t even realized he’d been watching. “…You are,” Riyo teasingly said.
He looked away immediately, “…Shut up.” it got worse after that. Little things started piling up, like how he instinctively stepped closer when a mission got chaotic or how he handed you things without thinking—tools, supplies, whatever you needed… OR how, when you disappeared into another room, the space suddenly felt slightly… wrong. Zanka didn’t like that feeling.
Not at all, then realization came during a completely ordinary evening. Which was somehow worse, you were sitting on the floor, leaning against the couch while sorting through supplies. Your hair was slightly messy, sleeves were rolled up, humming quietly to yourself while working.
Zanka was across the room pretending to focus on something else, trust me… he wasn't (ᵕ—ᴗ—) he was watching you again. You paused suddenly and looked up, “…What?” Zanka blinked. “What.” “You’re staring.” you jokingly said, “…No I’m not.”
You squinted slightly, shrugged and went back to what you were doing, but he didn’t move. Because suddenly, something clicked into place. A quiet, uncomfortable realization settling heavily in his chest.
He noticed when you were hurt, tired, happy. And when you weren’t around, the world felt slightly off balance. Zanka stared at the floor. “…Tch.” that was bad, VERY BAD… ( ꩜ ᯅ ꩜;) he tried ignoring it, for like maybe three days lol.
It didn’t work because every time you smiled at him, something strange tightened in his chest, and every time you stood beside him during a mission he felt calmer. And when someone else stood too close to you he got irritated. Which was even worse, he leaned back against the wall one night, staring up at the ceiling.
“…This is stupid.” unfortunately, it also felt very real. You found him outside later that evening. The rooftop had become something of a shared habit, whenever things were too loud inside, one of you usually ended up there.
Sometimes both, you walked over quietly. “You’re brooding again.” you noticed, “I don’t brood.” “That’s exactly what someone brooding would say.” Zanka gave you a flat look. You sat down beside him anyway, then you nudged his shoulder lightly. “What’s wrong?”… long silence and then finally a short response, “Nothing.”
“Liar.” he exhaled slowly, the night air was cool, city lights flickered softly below, you rested your arms on the railing. “…You’ve been weird lately,” you said. “…Define weird.” he asked for an enlightenment about that, “Quieter than usual.” “That’s impressive.” you laughed quietly.
Zanka didn’t, because he was realizing something important. If he didn’t say something soon, this feeling was just going to keep getting worse. You turned slightly toward him, “…Hey.” he looked at you. Your expression was soft… concerned. You actually cared? That was the problem.
Zanka looked away again, “…You’re annoying.” you blinked confused. ( •᷄ᴖ•́) “Excuse me?” “You talk too much." “Wow, rude.” “and you’re always around!” he shouted at you, but not in a way he wanted to hurt you. “You say that like it’s my fault.”
“…It is.” you stared at him. “…You’re making absolutely no sense right now.” yeah that was true, Zanka ran a hand through his hair, clearly irritated. Not at you, but himself. “…Forget it.” You tilted your head slightly.
“No.” he sighed. “You’re stubborn." “Yep.” silence settled again. Then slowlyyy… Zanka reached out and took your hand, you froze. Σ(°△° ꪱꪱꪱ) Not because he’d never touched you before, but because this felt different.
Intentional, he didn’t look at you immediately… his grip was steady, but there was a slight tension in his shoulders. Like he wasn’t entirely comfortable saying this, “…I didn’t plan this,” he muttered.
You blinked, “Plan what?” he finally looked at you, eye to eye. His expression was serious, not harsh or cold, just honest. “…You.” your brain stalled. “…Me?”
“I didn’t expect to care.” your heart skipped. (,,>﹏<,,) Zanka continued, clearly forcing the words out before he could change his mind. “You’re loud, distracting, and you make things complicated.”
“Wow,” you said faintly. “You really know how to romance someone.” “…Let me finish.” you nodded quickly, Zanka exhaled slowly. Then said quietly, “But I look for you.” the words hung in the air.
“I notice when you’re gone,” he continued. “and when things go wrong, you’re the first person I check on.” Your chest felt warm, “when you’re standing next to me,” he said, voice quieter now, “things feel… easier.” the city lights flickered below, wind brushed gently past both of you. Zanka’s thumb shifted slightly against your hand. “…So yeah.”
“…I think I’m in love with you.”
Your heart stopped, then immediately started racing. Zanka looked mildly annoyed at your silence. “Say something.” you stared at him. “…You just confessed.” “Yes.” “Like that.” “…Yes.”
You laughed suddenly, not mockingly, just overwhelmed. Zanka frowned slightly, “What’s funny?” “You, cuz that might be the most awkward confession I’ve ever heard.” “…Tch.” but he didn’t let go of your hand, you squeezed it gently. Then smiled at him. “Well,” you said softly, “I’m glad you noticed.” he blinked.
“…What.” you leaned your shoulder lightly against his. “I’ve been in love with you for a while.” Zanka stared. “…You’re kidding.” “nope!” he looked deeply offended. “…You should’ve said something.” you laughed again, “You’re the one who hates feelings.” “…Fair.”
For a moment the two of you just stood there. Hand in hand, looking out over the city lights. Then Zanka muttered quietly, “…Don’t make a big deal out of this.” “Too late.”
But this time, he didn’t sound annoyed and when your fingers laced more comfortably with his… He didn’t pull away. ( ˶´ ᵕ `˶ )
Authors note: Hii! really glad u liked the zanka fic, makes so happyyy! thank u for reading itt ,the idea is actuallly so adorable like it tastes like cotton candy heh… Thank u for the suggestion happy readingg! ♡
reblogs, likes, n comments are much treasured .ᐟ ( ˶´ ᵕ `˶ ) requests also open!
