Chapter Text
“Damn, I can’t get a hi from you Mr. Bad attitude?"
Zanka sighed and tried to smother the smile threatening to peek through his nonchalant mask.
He turned to see Jabber leaning on his truck, a smirk on the alpha face as usual.
“That depends, are you going to get the cops called on us again?”
The taller man laughed and zanka tried not to stare at the way his dreads swayed in it’s ponytail as the alpha walked closer, hazel eyes intense as he took in what zanka was wearing today.
Straight legged jeans and a big pullover with Pit College on it.
“Kids nowadays need to see what real courting looks like, you know that real lovey Dovey shit.”
“Yea fist fighting in front of children… real fucking romantic ..idiot.” Zanka scoffed before continuing walking to his car, knowing that the alpha was going to follow.
And sure enough, the sound of footsteps fell in line behind him, a sound he had gotten used to every time he dropped Rudo off to school and ran into the other man who had taken a concerning liking to him.
The darker skinned man smiled and gently grabbed the ash blonde’s hand, halting him from getting to the car.
“You had just as much fun as I did that day, don't lie, Zan-Zan.”
Zanka scoffed in disbelief and tried to yank his hand back from the larger hand gripping it.
He, of course, failed.
Blue eyes rolled and he shifted his weight to the right, not missing the heated gaze watching his every move.
“Don’t you have better things to do than to follow helpless single mothers around? Say like.. I don’t know.. your job?”
Zanka huffed as the taller man pulled him closer, despite his scent turning slightly sour in annoyance.
“First off, I am doing my job. I have been observing the environment around the school and based on my observations, it looks like I’mma get me a fine ass date in the form of long legs and a nasty attitude. He just needs to give me a chance to be the daddy that stepped up. Second,” Jabber looked around mockingly” I know the person who didn’t punch me in the face for a parking spot ain’t talking about they fucking helpless.”
Zanka coughed as he remembered that first meeting between them.
Zanka always had a bad temper, something that’s mellowed out since having his son.
But that particular day, He was already in a foul mood from being stuck in the Early morning traffic and once he finally got to the school and had found a spot to park in, Jabber was also gunning for it, not knowing that it was for parents only, not visiting guest.
Words were exchanged and by time the cops had come to break it up, Jabber was sporting a broken nose, Zanka had a black eye and Rudo was telling any and everybody who would listen how much of a bad ass his mama was.
It also ended with the chemist trying to convince Zanka to go on a date with him.
“Aye.. you should let me show you a good time.” The alpha looked insane with blood covering his white coat and face, and his dreads in disarray.
But Zanka couldn’t deny how appealing the alpha was, with his hazel eyes, tall built frame and handsome face.
Not to mention his scent, he smelled like Tobacco, coconut oil and something undeniably woodsy.
Zanka could easily picture himself under the broader man, wrapped in his smell. Could visualize the picture they would make, but when he opened his mouth all he could say was..
“I can’t Jabber.” He whispered.
Jabber leaned in and let his lips caress the outer shell of a quickening red ear, the cold touch of his lip ring a contrast against heated skin.
Vaguely, Zanka remembered that they were still on the elementary school grounds, in sight of anybody still lingering.
“You can’t what? You been turning me down since day one and you still haven’t given me a real reason.”
The omega’s brows furrowed, tried to turn his head to look the alpha in the eye.
“I hav-“
“Nah you haven’t, you think I give a fuck about you having a pup? Doesn’t matter to me.. I want you princess, bad attitude, feral pup and all. I’m trying to see what I can do for big mama.” He growled playfully.
Blue eyes snapped open at the last part (when did he close them?) and he quickly pushed the alpha away, stomping his way into his car.
A scowl on his face to hide how flustered the alpha had him with stupid, pretty words.
He rolled the window down as he backed out of the parking spot and yelled out to the smirking man:
“Fuck off!”
Laughter trailed after him and so did the alpha words as he sped off.
“Come on Princess, let me wine and dine ya! I’ll show you what a real man is like, fuck your ex for real!”
“Wait why was he at the school anyway? He doesn’t have a kid right? Or Is he like stalking you?”
Blue eyes rolled so hard, he was shocked they didn’t get stuck in his head.
He shook his head and continued to set up his tray, the background noise of the OR and sterile smell almost a comfort.
“I told you, his team is studying the area around the school, it’s some big project that his been assigned. he's an environmental chemist or some shit.”
Riyo raised a perfectly plucked brow.
Even with the other tech fully covered in her scrub suit and mask, he could picture the exact face she was making.
“Zan-Zan you really believe he has been hanging around that snooty uptight school.. for a project?” Disbelief colored every word out of the female alpha’s mouth. “His clearly drawing the shit out so he can keep asking your scrawny ass out on a date!”
The ash blonde gasped and quickly shushed her so the rest of their team wouldn’t hear them.
He’ll never hear the end of it.
“I’m just saying, put the poor man out of his misery and let him take you out.”
“Riyo.. you don’t understand.. I just don’t think I’m really ready to date yet, Rudo is still so young, and I have so many things on my plat-“
“Zanka.”
His mouth closed shut.
She only ever called him by his full name when she was getting serious.
Riyo glanced back, and could see their P.A Enjin and Corvus the surgeon scrubbing in, so they would have to wrap this convo up soon.
“You are allowed to date. You’re 29 years old, and I haven’t heard you actually talk about anybody, let alone an alpha since Rudo’s Dad.”
Zanka cleared his throat at the mention of his Ex, he was lucky he was wearing scent patches otherwise the bitter smell of lemons would flood the room.
At the clear sign of him being uncomfortable, green eyes softened.
“Not everybody is going to hurt you Zanka, just give the man one chance to take you out. Any one of us would be happy to watch Rudo for the night or two, depending on how well the night goes.”
Riyo laughed as the omega hissed at her over the comment, pink peaking out of his mask.
“I’m jus’ fucking with you. But seriously, think about what I said okay?”
Zanka was dead tired as he pulled up to the front of the pick up line where his baby was waiting.
Lemons turned sweet as he saw Rudo waiting beside Gris, his teacher and Enjin’s mate. Even when exhaustion threatened to take every inch of his energy, seeing his son was always like a balm to his soul.
Rudo waved goodbye to his teacher and was quick to hop in the backseat, already babbling about his day.
With a quick wave to Gris, Zanka took off on the way home.
Nodding appropriately whenever Rudy’s story required it, and humming on others.
“Hey mama?”
“Yea?”
“Are you dating that weird guy, jumbo? The one hanging around the school?”
Zanka felt his face flush and quickly cleared his throat.
“First off, his name is Jabber, but Mr. Wonger to you, Second, No I’m not. Why do you ask?”
Blue eyes glanced in the rear view mirror at his son, the 8 year old fidgeting with his fingers as he carefully chose his next words.
“It’s just.. whenever he comes around, your scent gets all sweet like a lemon cake and you always smile.” Here the pup shrugged.
Zanka bit his lip as he pulled into their driveway.
“If.. we were to date, would that bother you?”
Rudo scoffed as if that was a stupid question, and crossed his arms.
A move so similar to his own, that a wave of affection threatened to consume his very being for his child.
“As long as you’re happy mama I don’t care…even if his a bit weird.”
Zanka chuckled and reached in the backseat to ruffle unruly curls, covering up the milky scent that clung to all pups until they presented, with his own lavender and citrus scent.
His laughter was a tad hysterical as relief caused his shoulders to loosen and tension to lose its grip on him.
Zanka mulled over his own feelings on the matter as he happily shuffled both of them inside for well needed cuddles and dinner.
He couldn’t deny that having his son’s blessing did more for his nerves then anything else.
It had been him and Rudo for so long, that even the thought of another person entering their world felt wrong.
He had long cut communications with his blood family, and had instead built his own little family with friends who loved him despite his flaws, mistakes and mediocrity.
But no matter what, his son will always be his main priority, and sole purpose on this earth, the pup’s happiness his single driving force.
But Zanka couldn’t deny that his been lonely since the moment he broke it off with his Ex.
The spot in his bed long grown empty and cold after Rudo decided he was too old to sleep with his mama.
Maybe.. going on one date wouldn’t hurt.
And maybe, just maybe with jabber he doesn’t have to feel so alone anymore.
The next morning he was a nervous wreck, but was determined to see this through.
After dropping Rudo off with a kiss and hug, he marched over to where jabber was crouched in the dirt, collecting samples.
Zanka cleared his throat obnoxiously and couldn’t help but laugh at how the alpha jumped in surprised.
“Hey.”
The look of surprised was quickly replaced with glee as a smirk crossed full lips.
“Hey gorg-“
“Here!” Zanka thrusted a sticky note in dirt covered hands, his face flushed red.
“This is my number, I’m usually free on Friday nights, so if you’re really serious about taking me out, text me for my address and you can pick me up 7:30 sharp!”
With that Zanka turned on his heel and sped back to his car, his heart skipping a beat at the answer jabber yelled:
“Fuck yeah, this gonna be the best date ever princess!”
Zanka slumped against the wheel of his car, a giddy smile on his face.
He couldn’t wait for Friday.