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1.
Zanka was acting weird these days. Scratch that these months. Enjin just couldn’t not realize that he had been around the boy for years now.
He wasn’t the team leader for nothing. He knew the members like no one else.
Having been by their side for a long time.
So usually Enjin would just ask, but it seemed to not be that easy this time. He also wasn’t one for going behind the others’ backs to find out what was wrong.
This leads to Enjin being really clueless on what could be wrong with Zanka and what he should do about it.
Now what even let him spiral like that, you may ask? A specific moment, or let’s say moments.
First there was the change in Zanka’s behavior. Usually the boy was an early bird to practice, then have breakfast with Team Akuta, and then go on missions.
However, these past few months there were more and more days when Zanka was the last person to arrive at their breakfast table. And to make it worse, the boy didn’t even look well rested.
That made not only Enjin suspicious but Riyo too. The girl knew better than anyone how much Zanka valued his early practice time and his 8 hours of sleep.
„You look tired, Zanka. Couldn’t sleep?“ She asked.
„Mhm,“ Zanka just mumbled back. The bags under his eyes were prominent.
„Nightmares?“ Rudo asked.
„Nahh“
„Overthinking?“ Riyo tried again.
„Guys, can y’all just let me eat in peace? I just wasn’t that tired, okay.“ Zanka said, a bit pissed off. Which was another indicator that he indeed was sleep deprived.
That’s why Enjin decided not to ask.
He just decided to keep an eye on it, and then he forgot about it for a bit because Zanka was back to normal the next day again.
2.
Another thing that happened more frequently nowadays was Zanka leaving their team for a bit.
Just today it happened again. They were all out to eat something after a particularly long and exhausting mission. Suddenly Zanka’s bracelet made a static sound signaling a call coming in.
Zanka quickly excused himself and left their table. Which was weird since all their calls should be work-related. And if it’s work-related, it was for the whole Team Akuta. But then again, Enjin knew that Semiu would call him and not one of the kids.
That left Enjin thinking about possible callers. And nothing came to mind.
Normally he wouldn’t ask anyone about it because it wasn’t his job to snoop around.
However, he was a curious man after all.
„Riyo, would you know who is calling Zanka?“ He asked because if someone could know, it must be Riyo. She’s the one to hang around Zanka the most in their free time. Them being similar ages and basically like siblings.
However, she just shook her head, signaling she didn’t know, and continued shoving the food down her throat.
Enjin didn’t even think about asking Rudo since he was in a food coma beside Riyo.
Just then Zanla returned to their table looking pissed off.
„Bad news?“ Enjin continued to find clues on who it could be.
„Nah, just a prank caller…“
Enjin just nodded knowingly, though he really didn’t know that was a possibility. The collars needed to exchange blood for a conception after all, but Enjin decided to drop it.
They all went to their car. Rudo swung over Enjin’s shoulder. The boy still in his food coma….
3.
The next thing that happened was Rudo coming to Enjin’s door saying there was a ghost.
Enjin, not believing in ghosts, made his way to the kids room to check under the bed or maybe the closet or whatever Rudo was concerned with.
What he didn’t expect was to hear weird noises too.
Like the rational guy Enjin was, he got Gris to check with him. He wasn’t scared, no no, he just wanted to be safe rather than sorry.
So now Gris was going first with Enjin and Rudo closely behind him to check where the weird noises came from.
They landed in front of Zanka’s door.
After a quick hushed discussion of what to do, they decided to knock. Or well, Gris decided on knocking. Enjin would have wanted to burst in. Surprise effect, he called it. If there really was a ghost, he had to save Zanka after all…
Once they knocked, the noise stopped, and shortly after, Zanka opened the door slowly.
„ZANKA, IS THERE A GHOST INSIDE?!“ Enjin yelled in a high pitch.
„What he wants to ask is if you’re okay.“ Gris translated.
Rudo was just nodding beside the two guys with a deadly grip on Gris’s arm.
„Ehh, yeah, I’m okay? Why are ya three awake?“ Zanka asked them back.
Gris started to explain the situation. Rudo looking a bit embarrassed about his prior conclusions.
„Do you have any idea what the noise could have been?“ Gris asked.
„Hmm, not really. I didn’t hear anythin‘. Probably just the wind outside…“ Zanka answered, his ears growing red.
Like on cue there was a wind-like noise heard inside, though to be honest, for Rudo and Enjin, it sounded more like the said ghost. Going “UUUHHOOO“.
„Well, you heard him, guys. Let’s all go back to bed.“ Gris stated and hushed Enjin and Rudo back in their rooms.
Enjin couldn’t sleep after this incident, though. Not because he was scared but because it was another thing to add to the whole ’Why is Zanka acting weird?’ pile.
4.
Another thing that happened was once again at their breakfast table.
Zanka came running in pretty late. To be honest, the team was just discussing if they should go wake him up or not since they had a mission in a bit.
Zanka seemed to be in a rush. Not that surprising looking at the clock.
He was still in the middle of fixing his uniform when Rudo asked out loud.
„What’s that bruise on your neck?“
That made Zanka freeze on the spot, and Enjin and Riyo were eyeing his neck.
Enjin almost got whiplash from how fast he turned to Zanka.
And wow, that was a nasty bruise.
Like the calm guy Enjin was, he didn’t overreact.
„ZANKA WHAT HAPPENED?! DID A DEADLY MOSQUITO BITE YOU?! DID YOU GET IN A FIGHT?!“ He yelled. A few eyes from other tables are now on them too.
„Enjin, could you maybe turn it down a few volumes..?“ asked Gris. He was sitting beside Enjin and was currently covering his ears.
„Ah, sorry, Gris, heh.“ Enjon just replied, scratching his head awkwardly.
Zanka used the time to cover the bruise up.
„It’s okay. I think I just scratched at a bite too much…“ he said.
„Wow, so believable…“ Riyo whispered to herself.
Zanka just shot a glare in her direction.
„You should let Eisha look over that.“ Gris recommended and Enjin was nodding beside him.
„It’s really not that bad, guys…it will heal in no time by itself.“
Enjin still dragged the boy to the nursery.
5.
So all these things were leaving Enjin’s brain in overdrive.
He decided to talk to Zanka about it in private.
That’s how he found himself outside of Zanka’s room right now. It was pretty late, but it shouldn’t be Zanka’s usual bedtime yet.
Enjin knocked.
No answer.
Hmm, weird. Maybe he’s sleeping already?
Enjin slowly opened the door. Scared to wake the sleeping Zanka and disturb his much-needed rest.
However, what Enjin didn’t expect was to find the room empty.
„What the?!“
„Enjin, what are you doing in Zanka’s room?“ Came Gris‘s voice from behind him.
„AH!… don’t scare me like that!“ Enjin screamed. The ghost story from a few nights before was definitely not the reason for that…
„Huh, is Zanka not here?“ Gris continued asking.
„I wanted to talk to him, but he wasn’t in here.“ Enjin just said. His mind was going over everything that day. Where could Zanka be?
The two of them decided to ask Rudo since he had his room the closest to Zanka’s. The kid didn’t know anything either, though.
Their next stop was Riyo. She didn’t really give them any information either.
„Maybe he’s just on a walk. He tends to do that,“ was all she said.
That calmed Enjin‘s nerves a bit. Because, yeah, Zanka did tend to go on walks when he couldn’t sleep.
They decided to wait for him to return just to be safe. After an hour Gris sends Rudo and Riyo to bed. It being way past Rudo‘s usual bedtime already.
A few minutes later, Zanka actually opened the door. He seemed to be sneaking inside. Which was weird, but then again, he probably didn’t want to wake anyone.
„Enjin? Gris? Am I interrupting something?“ Zanka asked them.
„Huh, no, we were waiting for you to come back.“ Enjin said. His face was turning a bit red at the implication anyways.
„Yeah, we were worried when you weren’t in your room.“ Gris explained.
„Ah, sorry, I just went for a quick walk. I didn’t know anyone would notice. Sorry to worry you two.“ Zanka apologized.
„Oh no, it’s fine. You can go for a walk whenever you want, but now you should rest a bit. It’s late.“ Gris continued.
And that’s how Enjin found himself back in his room. Still unable to fall asleep since he didn’t get his talk with Zanka.
Enjin was determined to find Zanka alone the next day.
+1
The next evening when Enjin was just about to step into the hallway, he saw Zanka sneaking out of his own room. He was talking in a hushed voice with someone through his arm bracelet.
Weird. Really weird.
Enjin waited for Zanka to turn around the corner before following him. What he didn’t expect was Gris behind him.
„YOU SCARED ME!“ Enjin whisper yelled.
„Why are we whispering?“
„Ah, Gris, we need to follow Zanka. Something is up with him.“
„You want to follow him? Isn’t that going too far, Enjin?“ Gris asked while sighing.
„Well, not in this case. Trust me, something bad is happening.“
And that was what got Gris to come along.
He did care about the kids too, after all.
They were currently trying to keep a good distance from Zanka. They didn’t want to risk getting caught.
Zanka was moving swiftly through the city and through some sketchy-looking alleyways. He seemed like he knew the way like the back of his hand.
Enjin and Gris had more problems than Zanka. Clothing getting caught on stuff, and so on.
At one point Enjin was almost kissing the floor if Gris didn’t catch him midair.
That got both of them so distracted that they almost lost Zanka.
Luckily he was just around the corner.
Another person was there too.
Gris and Enjin couldn’t make out who it was, though, since the face was covered by the hood of a hoodie and it was just too dark to make anything out.
Zanka went in for a hug? Or was he starting a fight? Enjin didn’t know.
They seemed to have a fight of some sort, though. Not physically, at least, but they conversed intensely.
Zanka wasn’t usually one for heated arguments. Or arguments in general.
This looked bad. What if he was in some kind of debt and this guy was getting Zanka to do illegal stuff?
Enjin had to admit he was spiraling with his thoughts. Gris seemed to notice that and put a hand on Enjin’s shoulder to ground him.
Enjin looked up at Gris and pulled him behind the wall.
„What should we do?“ Enjin whispered.
„Hmm, honestly, I’m not sure. It doesn’t look like Zanka can’t handle whatever is going on.“
„Yeah, but you saw how tired he always looks, and what about that nasty bruise?“
This debate went on a bit longer till they heard footsteps approaching.
Shit.
Zanka came running around the corner holding hands with the person from before.
And that person was…
„JABBER WONGER?!“ Enjin screamed at the two.
„AHHH! Enjin, Gris?! What are ya two doin’ here?!“
„Guys, calm down.“ Gris tried his best.
Enjin glared at Jabber, pointing Umbreaker at the Raider. The crazy guy was just smiling at Enjin in return. Not even activating his vital instrument.
Who does he think he is?! Enjin thought.
„Is he the reason for you not getting enough rest at night, Zanka?“ Enjin tried to go calmly at the situation. Still pointing Umbreaker at Jabber.
„Huh?“ Zanka just said in return.
„Oh, and I bet the nasty mark on your neck was also from him? Did he attack you or something?“
While Enjin went on, Zanka’s face got redder and redder, while Jabber broke out in a fit of laughter.
„THIS ISNT FUNNY, YOU- you-… wait a damn minute.“ Enjin put one and one together.
„A HICKEY?!“ was his conclusion, which he shared with everyone currently in the alleyway.
That made Jabber laugh even harder, and Zanka covered his face.
„I can explain Enjin…but could we please do that at home?“ Zanka started.
„NO WAY!“
„It’s not what you think it is, Enjin…“ Zanka tried again.
„You made out with this crazy Raider who, by the way, poisoned you two times already?!“ Enjin said what he was thinking.
„Okay, maybe it is what the umbrella guy is thinking after all, Zan-Zan.“ Jabber chimed in. Not helping one bit in deescalating the situation.
„Shudup, Jab!“
„JAB?! Nicknames too now?!“ Enjin was close to activating his vital instrument.
„Okay, y’all gotta calm down now. Let’s talk about this at home.“ Gris tried once again. Putting his hand back on Enjin’s shoulder to hopefully calm the guy down.
„Yes, let’s listen to Gris‘s idea!“ Zanka said he was glad Gris was there too.
„Okay, okay, but we aren’t taking the Raider with us…“ Enjin gives in.
„Aww man, I really wanted to join the conversation. I’m sure it will be funny.“ Jabber really had a talent for annoying Enjin.
Enjin grabbed Zanka’s arm and started pulling him out of the alley.
„SEE YA SOON, ZAN-ZAN! The cleaners‘ HQ corridors have been pretty ghostless these days after all…“ Jabber yelled after the three while waving.
Zanka chuckled at that while waving back.
„Guess we know what the noise was the other day…“ Gris said, also with a smile on his face.
Enjin‘s ears grew hot at that.
„We have to talk with Shikage about this.“