Chapter Text
Kai was a lot of things. Hot headed, determined, intelligent, and even mature when he needed to be. But right now he was none of those things. Right now, he was a teenage boy with a crush. And his little sister would not stop teasing him about it.
“I know you like him Kai,” Nya grinned, “just admit it already.” Kai groaned. Was it true? Absolutely. But he needed to focus on what was important: moonlighting as a ninja hero for Ninjago city.
Technically, Master Wu had forbidden the ninja from knowing each other’s identities, but it didn’t take the siblings long to recognise one another’s voices. After all, how could you not recognise the voice of someone you practically raised, one you lived with all your life?
“I don’t have a crush on Ice! He’s, he’s, Ice! And I don’t even know whether he likes boys, or anyone at all!” Kai was lying on a couch staring at the ceiling. Or, was. His sister’s upside-down head entered his view.
“You’ve got it baddddd” she giggled, attempting to whack his face. Kai smacked her hand away. He had worked hard to do his eyeliner today. Nya’s eyes lit up and Kai realised he had fallen into her trap. Usually he allowed her to whack him, opting to chase her around afterwards. “You did your makeup extra special today, huh?” Her wicked smile betrayed her innocent voice. “Would that have anything to do with the team meeting we have soon?”
“No!” Kai snapped, “I just don’t want you touching my face!”
Nya gave in. “Well, we should probably get going anyways,” she said, grabbing her gi off the drying-rack currently occupying most of their tiny living/dining/kitchen/study area. Apartments were expensive with only two part-time incomes and the measly Youth Payouts they were eligible for, what with their parents going missing years earlier.
Kai grumbled the entire way to the meeting point which happened to be on top of a sweet store. (Tuesday was sweet store day, the location chosen by the lightning ninja).
At least Nya only knew about his crush on Ice. He didn’t think he could deal with her knowing he liked all three.
I mean, how couldn’t you? He wondered, Earth was strong and stubborn, always willing to help those in need. Blue was energetic and courageous, trying to make Ninjago a better place and screaming in fear whilst doing it. And Ice? Ice was smart and kind, he believed in saving everyone, no matter what. Although that had left him close to death more than once. Kai was broken out of his souring thoughts once they’d landed on the rooftop of their destination.
The others were already there. “Red, Rain, you made it!” Earth smiled. At least, Kai assumed he smiled. He couldn’t tell from under his cowl.
“You’re nine minutes late, what took you?” Ice asked, his smooth voice immediately shifting Kai’s attention from his black-clad teammate.
“I, uh, lost track of time” he responded, not willing to reveal the real reason they were late. That was between him and Nya, and the couple of passersby that watched him try to do a flip and fail spectacularly.
In his defence, he didn’t have time to warm up.
“Ready for patrol?” Blue asked shivering, it was known among the ninja that Winter didn’t agree with the lightning ninja. It made Kai want to drag him home and cuddle him on the couch in front of a fire.
Focus! What did he say?
“What?” Kai winced internally, that had come out slightly harsher than he meant.
“I said let’s go, we’ve got downtown patrol again. Yay…” Came his unenthusiastic voice. Blue hated downtown, they always found trouble there. Kai made a small ‘o’ with his mouth and promptly realised Blue couldn’t see it anyways. Dumbly, he realised everyone else had left. How long had he been staring!? Get your head in the game!
Unwilling to go on patrol with someone who may or may not be weirded out by his actions, he said the first thing that came to his head. “We can, uh, get a treat first if you’d like?” His voice broke embarrassingly at the end of his sentence. Blue stared. “You know, to warm you up” he said.
Finally, his brain was coming back!
“Uh, sure!” Blue responded. If Kai heard the amused tone in his teammates’ voice, he said nothing. Instead jumping down the side of the store to buy a slice of warm fudge. He finished paying by the time Blue walked into the shop behind him, tipping the waiter more than strictly necessary. He knew how bad the pay was here. Nya had worked in this store before she had become a ninja, and then quit when she thought it was too risky for her voice to be recognised by regular patrons and staff.
“Thanks Red” Blue called as he scoffed the warm treat behind a dumpster in an alley they’d found downtown. His hood was down so he could eat the snack, an action which Master Wu was very strict about not ever taking place. They both knew taking his hood off was risky for many reasons, but they were teenage boys with powers who led a double life to fight crime, of course they took stupid risks. At least Kai had the sense mind to stand guard at the front of the alleyway. Just in case.
Nya was right, he thought sombrely, he was down bad for all of the ninja. That money was supposed to be for- heY WAIT!
Kai made a strangled sound as he caught a young boy in an oversized black and green hoodie trying to sneak past him. “Just what do you think you’re doing little man?” He asked, putting the kid down cautiously in front of him. The kid had dull green eyes, oily blond hair, and bruises all over him. Kai guessed he was about eight. His thin mouth clamped shut, a clear sign he wasn’t going to talk without more work. “Where are your parents?” He asked, switching tracks.
The boy looked almost startled, and then a stormy look passed over his face. “Shut up.” He said, baring his teeth. It was probably supposed to be threatening, but Kai found it almost endearing. “That’s no way to talk to your elders kid, are you lost or something?” He tried. His sixth sense told him Blue was creeping closer to them in the shadows.
“I said shut up!” Without warning, the kid bit Kai’s outstretched arm, shimmying past him and running deep into the alley. Thankfully, Blue caught him, making sure none of his limbs were within biting distance. Kai thinks he knows why the kid bearing his teeth was a threat now. His arm hurts.
“Uh, hey lil buddy, aren’t you a little young to be out on your own?” Blue asked the struggling boy. He relaxed his grip a bit, thinking the kid might be in pain. He doubled over when a tiny fist met his stomach, not letting go of the little perpetrator. “Ow, kid!” He gasped.
“I’m not a kid! I’m Lloyd Garmadon! Son of Lord Garmadon! And I don’t need your help!” He said wriggling to get out of Jay’s grip. Kai’s eyes widened.
Surely this was a joke.
But the way the kid said it made him think it might have a hint of truth behind it. Before he could react, the brat broke free from Blue’s grip and ran down the alley. Blue made to go after him, but one glance at the lightening sky told Kai it was nearing sunrise. “Leave it Blue, we’ll get him tomorrow- or, today I guess. We should head back.”
Kai made it to the apartment just in time for him to pack his bag and head for the school bus. Great. Just great. At least Nya had slept.