Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Truth or Dare?"

"Truth."

Kai props his hand up on his chin, eyebrows knitting together. He leans back against the couch and grins, showing off his perfect white teeth. "Tell us how you unlocked your true potential. Nya already told me, but I bet the others don't know."

Jay winces. "Do I have to? I mean it's super embarrassing and-"

Kai gives Jay a really, dude? stare. "You dared me to dance around the living room while singing Lana Del Ray at the top of my lungs, and you filmed it. I have every right to ask you this."

I stifle a chuckle behind my palm. That had been pretty painful to watch, but it had been obvious Kai wasn't going to refuse the dare. Even in the face of danger or just plain humiliation, Kai never backed down. He refused to.
I wonder if there's a story behind that.

Jay's voice snaps me back to the present. "

I...I was chained next to Nya on a rollercoaster, and the Serpentine almost killed us there. But then...Nya...kissed me, and that's...how I unlocked my true potential."

The room explodes into laughter. Zane and Pixal, who had been curled up together, Nya, who slung an arm around Jay's shoulder, Lloyd and Akita, who had been sitting side by side, fingers intertwined, and of course, the hothead himself, Kai Smith. Truth or Dare in the Monastery at night was a team-favourite.

"I find the probability of that scenario 78% likely to have happened," Zane said, wrapping his arm around Pixal.

"Wow, Jay," I smile, hiding my amusement. "You're a real ladies man, aren't you?"

Nya leans against Jay, smiling. In the faint moonlight, her Yang necklace gleamed. "Well, he can't deny that, can you Jay?" she asks playfully, nudging him.

Jay scoffs, his face flushing. "H-hey! You're supposed to be on my side!"

Kai guffaws. "Ultimate betrayal, Nya."

Lloyd, who had been quiet up until now, leans forward, smiling. "Well, everyone's had their turn. What now?"

Kai stretches and yawns. "I might head off to bed. It's past midnight, and this man needs his beauty sleep."

"Baby." Nya teases, but she's yawning too.

We all head off to our rooms, except for Lloyd, who's dropping Akita off.

I'm halfway to my room before I hear "Hey, Brookstone."

Before I even turn around, I know it's Kai. Who else would speak in such a cocky tone?

Kai's leaning against the wall, the shadow of a grin playing on the corners of his lips.

"Hey yourself, Smith." I deadpan, letting a smirk play out on my mouth. "You looking to empty this Monastery's supply of hair gel again, or have you already done that?"

Kai winks. "It's a work in progress, Brookstone."

I snort and glance at his 'work in progress'. His hair is so permed, it looks like a massive flame. All he needs is red hair dye to change his soft brunette hair and it could be mistaken for fire.

Kai dramatically sashays out of my room. "Catch ya later, Earth Ninja."

I feel my face slightly heating up-probably from lack of sleep.

"Night, Fire Ninja."

Chapter Text

Before I'm even fully awake, it hits me. No, not Jay's usual wake-up pillow, or Nya's wake-up slap, but the god awful odour of smoke. I struggle out of bed, feeling disoriented as sh-t. Had I set something on fire while I was asleep? I really hope not. I've been doing enough toilet-cleaning duty. I stumble out of my room, rubbing my eyes with my fists. What I see in the kitchen makes me just stop and stare.

Fumes are everywhere, and I mean everywhere. Pots and pans are all scattered on the floor, steaming. And standing amidst it all, looking like a deer caught in headlights, is Cole.

"Brookstone...did you decide you felt like wrecking the kitchen today? Is this a one-time thing, or a everytime thing? Because I don't think the kitchen's gonna survive another day of this," I say, amusement flickering inside me. It's a little stronger than usual, like there's something else. Probably hunger. What else would it be?

Cole rolls his eyes. In the kitchen lights, his hair looks polished and shiny, like a pair of black shoes. He crosses his well-built arms and gives me a haha, very funny look.

"No, Smith. I just...tried making scrambled eggs," he mumbled, his defiance fading into embarrassment.

"This is...an interesting way to go about it, don't you think?" I smirk, waving the smoke away.

He sighs. "Hey, at least I didn't try mixing duck chowder with cold chilli -"

I briefly flick my middle finger upwards. "Shut it, Rocky. Do you want me to help you clean this up or not?"

He groans. "Ugh, fine. But don't expect me to stop bringing it up."

"Fair, fair." I say dismissively, walking up next to him and picking up the kitchenware on the ground.

When I straighten up, I notice how close I am to him. He's about a head taller than me, which he loves reminding me about.

He shifts his eyes away from me and coughs. For some reason, his face looks more flushed. Did he get any sleep at all last night?

"Brookstone, your face is like a tomato. Let's make some real scrambled eggs, and then you should probably take a catnap."

He nods, still avoiding eye contact with me. Did I do something wrong?

And why did things feel so weird now?

Chapter Text

After breakfast (which was actually good, but that's just feeding on Kai's biga-s ego), I wander along the hall to my room, my mind elsewhere.

I can't stop thinking about that incident. Kai's soft brown hair, all gelled up. His intense hazel eyes, looking fierce and gentle at the same time. The slight whiff of cinnamon on his breath and-

Stop.

Why am I acting like this? He's my best friend. And it's not like we're that anyway. I've never found romance appealing ever since-

NO, Cole. We're not going through this again.

I squeeze my eyes shut and take a deep breath. I need a break.

I head off to the living room, and sure enough, slouched on the couch with a controller in hand, scowling at the screen, is the Master of Blabber himself.

"Hey, Jay," I say, plopping down next to him.

Jay merely nods in greeting, his focus unwavering. The screen flashes.

"HAHA! TAKE THAT, YOU STUPID TROLLS!" Jay cackles, jamming the pause button with his finger and turning to me.

I'm just about to ask him if I can have a turn when suddenly, I hear a voice and my blood turns cold.

"Jay, I'm playing now."

I slowly turn around, and there he is, again.

Kai.

Kai glances at me, and the shadow of something flickers across his face before he's all smiles and cockiness again. Why do I want to know so badly what the f-k that was?

"Brookstone can play after me."

I recover enough of my wits to respond. "Nuh uh, Smith. I came first."

Jay snorts. "Relax, you two. You can play as a duo."

I sigh, crossing my arms. It's not like I didn't want to see Kai, but...I just needed a break. From whatever was pounding though me whenever I saw him recently.

Jay seems to pick up on the tension between us, so he tries defusing it.

In the worst way possible.

"I'll pick your team name! What about...FLAMING COMET?! Eh, eh?" he asks, arms spread wide. He's grinning at the two of us, obviously desperate for a reaction.

Kai coughs. "Uh...Brookstone can play first. I'll play after."

Jay looks crushed, and opens his mouth to argue, but I step in.

"Yeah...yeah, that sounds good."

Jay exchanges an uneasy gaze between the two of us before clearing his throat.

"Oh...um, sure."

I avoid Kai's eyes. God, this was awkward.

As Kai picks up the controller, my eyes meet his.

Just for a second.

Then I stand up and dust my hands on my knees, breaking the moment.

"I-I'm going to the bathroom," I say, ignoring the way my body had seized up when I looked Kai in the eyes.

And before I can embarrass myself further, I'm out of there. Only one thought is seared into my mind. A question.

What the hell was that?

Chapter Text

Gaming with Jay doesn't feel...as normal as it should. 

I can't f-king concentrate on the screen. No matter how hard I tried, my mind decides that it just desperately has to keep wandering back to when Cole walked off.

It's clear he just wanted to...cool down, I guess.

So why did it bother me so much?

The pow-pow of the screen cuts through my thoughts. Jay turns around, a sheepish grin on his face.

It's clear he knows I'm busily planning his murder thanks to his little icebreaker.

"Uh...rematch?" he asks, trying for a smile.

"NO. I'm going to the kitchen for a drink," I snap, getting up.

On my way to the kitchen, I hear a teasing voice. An annoying, teasing voice.

"What's gotten Mr.Cockiness so wound up?"

Of course. Nya.

"None of your business," I snark, crossing my arms.

My sister comes into the light, her bright blue hair looking like the ocean on a Summer day (horrible pun).

"If I know my brother, it's that he doesn't march off like a soldier in the army." she states, a grin spreading across her face

I sigh. God, she knows me too well.

"It's nothing...just...I'm just confused."

Nya raises an eyebrow but doesn't push.

She knows I have my limits.

And my limits have been pushed once.

That's once too many.

Chapter Text

The universe really does have a twisted sense of humour.

Because why not, even after relentless near-death missions that I had to go solo in, assign me a partner for this mission?

No problem with that. No problem at all.

Except it was Kai.

Of course it was.

"Cole, Kai, listen, for time is scarce," Master Wu says, beckoning us forward. His sharp eyes fix on us.

"A bank robber is on the loose. Zane's tracked him down to a nearby warehouse on Alley Street, but there are certain reinforcements that only Masters of Fire and Earth can break through. Be prepared for the worst."

Me and Kai silently nod. Usually, we'd give each other our trademark 'let's go kick butt' look.

There's none of that today.

Master Wu sends us off with a nod and a wave of his staff.

The tension between me and Kai seems like a brick wall. Both of us are on opposite sides, separated by a barrier.

And neither of us knows how to break through.

I don't even know why all this sh-t happened.

Actually, I do. 

When Kai had been right next to me in the kitchen, I'd felt something. Multiple somethings. A twist in my gut, a shortness of breath, and the inability to unfreeze.

I still remember every detail. Kai's eyes, locked on to mine. The way his warm breath on my skin had taken my ability to speak. His body, slightly leaning towards-

No.

Kai's a fellow ninja and a good friend of mine. What are all these weird thoughts?

These thoughts never end up well. I need to stop.

We're friends, and that's all we're ever gonna be.

A rustling in the distance reactivated my senses. Me and Kai were in front of the warehouse Master Wu had described.

I tense, feeling the earth rumble around me. 

If there's one thing about being a ninja, it's to never second guess your gut.

Even if you don't trust it.

Kai unsheathes his knife and breaks the silence, turning towards the source of the noise.

"Let's go all in."