Chapter Text
He’s disappearing. Why is he disappearing? Nothing had happened. He’d done everything right. Why was this happening?
“Cole!? What’s happening?!” He heard someone yell. He looked up.
Jay.
They had the same look in their eyes.
Horror.
The rest of the team was trying to figure out what was happening as well, asking Zane for answer. He doesn’t know. Of course he doesn’t. He’s like us, learning as we grow. That’s why he’s loved Zane. He’s always felt more human than us.
Kai was yelling, not in anger, but in fear. In fear of what was happening to his best friend. He’s always adored Kai. His hot-temperedness and skill. He’s always admired the way he took care of his family; it was so sweet. He’s so sweet.
Nya was staring, not being able to say anything. He doesn’t know what she could say in this situation. It was scary, for all of them. Nya was so kind and yet just like her brother in many ways. He’s always seen her as a sister to himself.
Lloyd was panicking, he could almost see the gears turning in his head trying to figure what to do. Oh Lloyd, he’s gone through so many things, he shouldn’t have to go through this as well. He was only a kid. Almost like a baby to him with how young he is. But he’s always been so stubborn. He loves how he preserves throughout it all.
And Jay. Oh poor, kindhearted Jay. He almost couldn’t stand to look at him. His love. Or hoped would soon be. He was going to confess in a few days. Tell him how much he meant to him as he always had this tired, depressing look in his eyes. He wanted to fix that. Make him feel better. He’s always loved him. Ever since they first met.
Guess he won’t have the chance.
Jay has tears in his eyes, soon to spill. He can tell he’s trying to be brave, but he can tell it’s crumbling every second as he becomes more transparent.
Cole looked at his body. Almost gone. He looked up to his family one last time. “...Sorry everybody.” He says with a sad smile as he disappeared into nothing but wisps of dark green.
☁︎
It had been weeks, almost 3 weeks to be exact, since Cole disappeared to only FSM know where. The Monastery has been quiet since with grieving ninjas at every corner. Instead of what felt like home, felt like an abyss.
No noises of videogames or banter because of it.
No complaints about the cake in the fridge disappearing.
No smells of beautiful baking that you could immediately tell was made with love after the first whiff of it.
No look of playful disappointment when he told a terrible joke. Not even the feeling of the brush of fingertips or sight of the fond looks he gave him.
And Jay hated every part of it.
Jay refused to believe that Cole was gone, out in a realm nobody had any idea how to get to. They had no idea what went wrong or what happened. One minute they were just talking, playing around like they usually do.
Then the next…
Feeling the start of tears, Jay shook his head. This was driving him crazy, and he perhaps needed a break. Getting up, he took note of the clock in the basement, he had spent 9 hours down there working on his latest invention, which is an achievement of itself. Usually, Cole would come and get him by the 5-hour mark, making him hydrate and nourish himself while he all but complained about it.
He walked up the stairs of the Monastery taking note in the unsufferable quiet in difference to the loud machine whirring and clanking. As much as he wanted to see how everybody was doing, he wanted to get out of here more. He might already have a clue how everyone was doing anyway as it’s been the same for a while. Sad, angry, and in denial. He was too, so he didn’t bother them with a constantly repeated question. He made a stop for his room first to grab his notebook. He's had this same notebook for a good few years because at some point he stopped drawing and inventing for a while. It was an era. But once he met the ninja, that energy came flowing back into him in powerful waves and he never wanted it to stop. He ended up drawing for many days without end that eventually the others had pull him from his desk to make him play games with them. It may have some dents and singes around, but it's basically treasure to Jay.
Walking outside, he was met with a cooling breeze. It vibrated through his whole body leaving him more relaxed than a few minutes ago. He let out a breath he didn’t even know he was holding and a few more small steps before he took notice of somebody on his left. Thanks to... that event, his vision in his left eye is worse than his right, it took him a bit longer to recognize who it was, but after a bit he could never mistake that red Gi anywhere else.
Kai sat left of the training grounds in a meditation stance. Jay couldn’t lie, he was glad that Kai picked up the hobby. It helped him and lessened the amount of training gear he had to repair. As much as he loved inventing things and fixing stuff for his team, he’s confident he’s seen enough of the training gear. Taking in Kai’s imaginary little circle of peace he’s made for himself, Jay decides not to disturb him, going to sit on the right side of the grounds and start drawing in his notebook, rapidly thinking of designs for new inventions that could potentially help him and his team.
And perchance bring Cole back.
He was on a roll, his thoughts coming and going in a million miles an hour while scribbling and writing in intense fashion, until a hand on his shoulder shook him out of his thoughts. He jerked away violently, his body working faster than his mind, before looking up at the person who disturbed his peace. It took a minute to visualize the individual next to him not as a djinn before he saw the red Gi that he swore was sitting to the left a minute ago.
“Woah,” Kai lifted his hand quickly, “Sorry. I forgot... uh never mind,” He goes to sit down next to Jay instead. They sit in silence for a good few minutes, staring at the sky like nothing was wrong in the world. Jay wanted to believe that. He was sure they both did. He knew Kai missed the earth ninja just as much as he did, matter of fact, those two were the first to immediately connect with each other. Everywhere they went, they talked of the same subjects and interests, like they'd been friends for years. It'd almost made him jealous. Almost. Yeah, they could believe just for a few moments.
“Are you okay, Jay?”
Until that dreaded question popped the nonexistent bubble. Jay continued to stare at the sky, now in his thoughts. In truth, he didn’t know himself. These past 3 weeks have been a blur between the sadness in the air, arguments between members, and the constant aching in his heart. It’s all so mixed up that he’s having trouble deciphering them. Like a jumbled word puzzle. Jay usually loved those but right now he hates them more than anything. He wanted to lie and say he was, but he remembers where lying got him last time (He had lost everything he loved). And besides, this was one of his best friends, maybe it wouldn’t be that bad.
“I…”
They both jolted as a blaring noise went off. It was the alert for a mission. Weird, crime hasn’t been too high lately, but I guess it had to start again sometime. Jay closed his mouth and looked towards Kai, who had already stood up, and saw he was holding out his hand. Taking it, Kai heaved him up and Jay stood tall, ready to face whatever was coming. He only hoped it wasn't too much; a regular burglary would be enough for him.
Little did he know, this mission would change his life...