Despite having known you for a very long time– first as friends, then as something more–Zanka had yet to put a label on the relationship he’d cultivated with you. Though it thrilled him to call you his soulmate in his head, he would never ever mention it out loud. He would keep his feelings tightly wrapped away in the deepest corner of his chest. Right behind his ribs. Shifted a bit to the left. Pressed up against his heart, so he could remember you every time his pulse raced. He would feel like he’d have disappointed you if he didn’t.

Because you might not have wanted his feelings to progress further. Because he wasn’t good enough. Because he was just average, and that was all he would ever be, no matter how hard he tried. Of course. His secret should stay just that.

He thought he was doing the right thing by not telling you anything. That was, until Enjin mentioned one-off in a conversation that Zanka shouldn’t “let you go”. That he should do more “couple stuff” with you, whatever that meant.

He wouldn’t ever admit that the thought of being referred to as your significant other made his thoughts get all giddy.

At first Zanka didn’t think much of it. He immersed himself in improving his physique like nothing was wrong; he locked himself into rigid workout schedules just so he wouldn’t dwell too much on his mentor’s words. If he could escape you–escape the strange impulsive warmth he felt blooming in his chest whenever he saw you–he could try to give you some space. So you wouldn’t have to be associated with someone like him.

But his resolve didn’t last long. As soon as you walked into the training room, Zanka froze in the midst of his push-ups. It was all he could do to stop himself from collapsing; he sputtered to an awkward stop with his arms somewhere between fully bent and fully straight.

“Hey,” he strained, face burning bright red. Still half-dressed, still stuck in his half-plank—yet he refused to drop no matter how loudly his mind screamed at him to relax. A bead of sweat rolled down his tensed back. He could only hope and pray you wouldn’t notice how mortified he was. “A-ain’t you a sight for sore eyes?”

Goodness. He would have to hide from you forever if he kept this up; he was already contemplating dropping off the face of the Ground. He could already hear Enjin and Riyo cackling in his ears like they were in the room with him. And speaking of Enjin…

Zanka felt the need to do something absolutely idiotic. Darn his impulses, he was already speaking–

“D’ya wanna… uh, get on? High time for it, anyway. Oughtta push myself more, if you know what I’m talkin’ about.”

What was that, his mind helpfully supplied. He was confident he could handle you, no problem, but he had been working himself to the bone for an hour straight. He really couldn’t do anything right when it came to you.