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Blah blah blah Zanka keeps egging Jabber on, and he eventually pulls out Mankira again, but he's thrown off his game. He doesn't know how to feel about whatever Zanka just pulled on him. He's upset, but he's also intrigued. He wants Zanka to do it again.

010

"You liked it." "Maaaan, you gettin' on my nerves now." "Just admit it, you liked seeing her get the attention she deserves." "I ain't admitting jack, not after whatever shit that was!"

Zanka laughed. "Not like that, you fucking freak," Jabber mumbled, avoiding eye contact. "You're weird." Zanka shrugged, but was sad to see Mankira deactivating and retreating into her temple within the rings that sat upon Jabbers fingers.

"Well? Have you?" Jabber remains silent, bottom lip caught between his teeth in concentration. Zanka speeds up the process by running his tongue under Mankira's middle blade, still studying Jabber's face. That seemed to cross whatever line Jabber had, and he ripped Mankira away.

"I-" Jabber cut off with a groan as Zanka rubbed his hands up and down Jabber's wrist. Jabber's gaze was dangerous, like a cornered, starving animal trying to decide if it wants to take the food or bite the hand that's giving it.

"Mmm..." Zanka turned and pressed a kiss to each of Jabber's finger tips, appreciating how Jabber's face morphed into a grimace and how the tremble in his hand increased. "Have you worshipped her like this?" Zanka prodded.

"You tell her too, right?" Zanka asked as he nuzzled his head against the blades, hot breath splaying over Jabber's palm. "You tell her how stunning she is? everyday?" "Yeah," was all Jabber said. His eyes drifted between Zanka's and where their hands were clasped.

Jabber's face was pinched with discomfort, and if Zanka had known this was the way to get under jabber's skin, he'd have done this ages ago. The first time he saw Mankira he wanted to praise her and kiss her. Not every jinki made him react that way. She was just special.

"I just had to show her how beautiful she is," he says with a soft smile. Jabber's hands were still shaking as Zanka cupped the back of his hand and brought Mankira up, effectively pressing her against the side of his own head. He was aware of the danger and did it anyway.

Zanka smirked and leaned back up, caressing and tracing each one of Mankira's blades with care. He gazed down affectionately, tender with his touch. Jabber's hand started shaking, and Zanka could tell that he was torn on whether to stay or rip Mankira out of Zanka's grasp.

Zanka snuck a glance up at him, finally noticing the anguish on Jabber's face. He looked in pain, uncomfortable, and confused. But also curious. That small portion of curiosity is what Zanka suspected was keeping Mankira in his hands and not in his throat.

She's gotten the taste of his blood four times now, but that means that Zanka is also more in tune with her with each strike. Every time she wounds him, he learns a little more about her. "Dude, what the FUCK are you on?" Jabber choked out, sounded broken.

This wasn't about Jabber; it was about Mankira. Her venom was right there, quite literally poised to strike, but she did not do such a thing. As Zanka kept kissing her with reverence, he felt her preen with pride.

He gently ran his fingers over the top of each blade, savoring the slightly ticklish feeling. Unable to resist it any longer, he brought his lips down and lightly kissed each blade. He vaguely registered Jabber's breath-catching, the choked sound that escaped his throat.

"I can't-I cant, I... I gotta..." Zanka groaned, as if it was ripped out of his chest. "She's... she so pretty i cant- can't do anything without..." Zanka looked up at jabber with pleading eyes. "Does she know? Do you tell her? If you haven't I swear I'm gonna bash your skull in!"

But he didn't. He didn't see the way Jabber's eyebrows shot up, how his eyes widened, or how his shoulders twitched. Zanka's whole world was mankira, and the delicate tightrope she walked between beauty and danger. He wanted to follow her on that tightrope, dancing above death.

"Eh? What ya doin'?" Jabber questioned. Zanka ignored him. His vision zeroed in on Mankira, shining up at him. he put Lovely back in her holster on his back, and he cupped Mankira with both hands gently. If he looked up, he would've seen the look of absolute bewilderment on Jabber.

100

Steeling himself, he jumped back from Jabber, who followed him like a magnet, Mankira outstretched towards him. One chance. He'd have one chance. He deactivated, Lovely and tilted her down, displaying his submission. Mankira's claws stopped inches from his face.

100

But he can't DO this. He has to tell her. he has to show her. But he only had one idea for how to get Jabber to stop. And it was a huge gamble, leaving himself vulnerable. But he didnt have any other options.

100

She calls out to him like a siren. She's so pretty. She's in her smaller form; Jabber seemed to be toying with him. He can't do this. He can't focus on fighting. he doesnt miss the way her venom corrupts his body, knows that if he gets too close, it could mean game over.

While nothing could replace Lovely, he desperately hopes that Jabber appreciates Mankira the way she deserves. Their next fight, he's distracted. His eyes constantly follow Mankira and her movements, how she glints in the light, and how her metal makes the prettiest sound.

Mankira scares him, not just because shes dangerous, but because shes also incredibly beautiful. When her second form was revealed, he was stunned in absolute awe. She looked so powerful, so devastatingly powerful.