Chapter Text
It was supposed to be a simple gather intel mission. A quick grab in and out, but something tricked the alarm. Cole was situated with Jay and Nya as they were on the lookout while Lloyd, Kai, and Zane went inside the building to grab whatever they needed.
The mission was going fine till they heard a loud siren blasting through the building. The deafening noise assaulting their ears as they try to cover it. Worry starts to fill in between the 3 ninjas, the explosion in the distance not helping it simmer. Immediately running out their hiding spot they all sprint towards one of the gate entries, which was slammed shut due to the lockdown.
"Cole open the doors."
"On it!"
The black ninja slams his hands together, his hands and scar glowing, he pushes onto the gate. Not moving. He tries pulling it. Same response. He tries punching it to no avail, cursing as he can't even see a dent in the wall.
"Shit I can't get through."
"What!"
Jay yelled, Nya only nodded before changing directions, the two boys following suit as they tried to find another way in. Unfortunately they were caught by one of the guards. They all got into a fighting stance as the enemies drew closer. Pulling their weapons out as they also charged into them, Jay being the fastest of the three knocks back one of the guards. His hand opened to let out electricity, only for none of it to come out. Quickly pulling out his nunchucks to land the final blow instead.
"Guys I think they have vengestone!"
"NOTED!"
Cole yelled back pushing one the guards off of him, Nya coming from behind pulling her sword up to their head. Forcefully knocking the guard out as she slammed it down, a noticeable crunch right after. Cole stares up at Nya about to speak before closing it immediately, deciding this isn't the best time to talk about the correct amount of force rule. Getting off his back he stands up, his hands re adjusting his hold on the hammer. They continue to look around, being more careful to not draw anymore unwanted attention.
"I think we need to-"
A loud flare interrupts the voice, they all glanced over at the direction of the noise.
"SHIT!"
Nya was the first one moving as they all realized the flare was coming from Lloyd as small green electric like particles danced around them. Stepping closer as they hear more noises ranging from weapons clanging to each other and grunts. Taking them at full speed they attack. Swinging, throwing, punching, kicking, whatever they can do. Getting closer to Lloyd as he was starting to lose his advantage. Trying to use any of what's left of his power but failing due to the vengestone surrounding them.
The fight carries on as more bodies drop to the ground. It felt absolute chaos as they tried to hold their own. Fatigue pooling in as they continue fighting. Cuts were all over their bodies, bleeding. Their ninja suits were torn from all the cutting. Sweat and their opponents 'blood' staining their gi but couldn't care less. The battle kept on going, static filling their ears as they heard someone through.
"W-W….He-...."
Immediately the team recognized Zane's voice through the comms.
"Repeat that Zane you're cutting out….Zane! Zane!...Great guys, I think the comms are broken!"
Jay hollered at the others, kicking an oncoming enemy before taking him down with a punch to the face. Even though they never responded back they all had the same idea. They need back up. Pushing themselves even more they use any tactics to force their opponents down. Even if it meant accidently killing them. Not caring as their numbers were decreasing.
Lloyd looks around him, adrenaline pumping through his body as he knocks down a person in front of him. The army of people was now much smaller. Nya, successfully, took down 3 people at once. A cut with a sword was enough to send them on their knees before dropping. Jay was right behind her taking down someone right before he could swing at Nya. Turning back around killing 2 more people. And Cole… needless to say the group of people he ran towards wouldn't be a problem just by the sound of the hammer reaching and colliding with their bodies.
After one final blow they were down. They looked around for any sign of enemy back-up, relief sighs when they didn't see any. Walking closer together they glanced at each other inspecting. Nya especially as she grabs Lloyds shoulders, making sure he wasn't hiding any injuries. Conforming to herself Lloyd wasn't injured…too badly.
Cole presses his comms again trying to get a signal.
"Hello? Kai, Zane? Anyone copy?"
Static fills his ears. Nothing again.
"We need to go inside, something might have happened to them."
They all nod in agreement. Entering the building, their backs press against each other as they continue down the halls. Checking each corner as they approach one of the sections. Lloyd remembered where they were as this was where he had to split up from the other 2 when the alarm system was triggered. Making a hand signal they all follow the green ninja's lead. Paying close attention to their surroundings as they try to find any evidence of Kai or Zane.
Lloyd stops in his tracks as he looks forward confused,
"H-how?"
Taking in their leaders' confusion they all look at his direction. Only meeting a wall. They look around, checking each corner of the room to find nothing. Panic starts to settle into Cole, before anything can happen though Jay voices the team over.
"Found a vent, I think they crawled through…"
Jay, being the smallest out of the group, crawls into the vent. Backing out moments later.
"Leads up stairs. Can't go much further though it seems like something is blocking the way through."
The freckled boy huffs. Standing back up patting and clapping his hands to get as much dust and dirt off. They all nod as they start moving upstairs. Taking note of what's around them. As they near where Jay estimates the ending of the vent may be. Another alarm starts blazing, this time louder than the last one. Even though it was extremely deafening it also meant that Zane and Kai were near.
Cole was absolutely terrified. This was supposed to be a stealth mission. Nothing more than grabbing new information on how the 'new evils' were supposed to take over Ninjago. His mind racing through hundreds of possibilities about his hot-headed boyfriend. Sadly even if it comes with the job the feeling of the possibility of never seeing the love of your life, just gone, without even knowing scares him. No matter how many times it happens his heart is always beating out of his chest until he finally reunites with the brunette. Showering him with kisses and hugs, making each other safe from the hell they just experienced.
His grip tightens at the thought of losing Kai. He just can't live through the possibility of that happening. Following the alarm they found themselves in an empty conference room, taking a quick glance around seeing nothing out of the ordinary. Until they see a big hole in what used to be a window. They step closer inspecting it,
"There's no way…"
They all look closer Nya sighing as she nods,
"I see footprints leading to the forest…and to the bounty…I think they did…"
Placing their weapons onto their back they start to scale down the building, landing by the footprints. Nya inspects it closer, a hopeful smile on her face.
"It's Zane, his footprints match with… his 'blood' on one of the pieces of glass. Probably cut himself during the fall."
She mumbles the last part to herself, but they understand as they start following the trial. Still keeping an eye out for any hidden dangers as they walk through the brushes and trees. The moon serves as their only source of light but even then it's sometimes blocked by the tall trees and leaves. Lloyd presses on the comm again to see if he can get any signal.
"Zane? Kai? Are you there? Can you copy? We left-"
Lloyd was cut off by a hand on his shoulder, looking behind him to see Jay observing around them. Instantly they all do the same, not noticing anything moving or making noise.
The blonde opens his mouth to speak but stops when Jay put his hand over the comm also.
"Repeat copy copy 1, 2, 1, 2…"
"R-cop-2-2…"
A distorted echo reached their ears. Jay repeats the action as they start getting closer. Their footsteps become faster as the signal starts becoming louder and clear. Their breaths hitched as they started seeing spots of blood from the ground, it was recent, they ran faster. When they finally found the location of the sound it was enough for Cole's heart to drop.
Kai's hood was discarded, ripped all around it leaving its comm besides him. There were cuts and scrapes all over his body. Blood was pooling around him as his gi no longer flashed a bright red but now a darker maroon color. And worse of all…he wasn't awake. No matter how much Cole tried he didn't budge. Panicking he tears up his own hood to make a makeshift bandage to help close the wound…it wasn't enough.
Cole's eyes were already watering, tears blurring his vision. Burning his eyes but he didn't care. He felt tears fall off his face as he looked at Kai's unmoving body. Not even noticing the boy stopped breathing…he's not breathing…he-...
Laying Kai's body down he starts cpr his mouth against his, before moving his face away to try press against the other's chest trying to keep a steady pace as more tears fell,
"Kai please baby…open your eyes for me please…please…I'm so sorry please…I want to see your eyes…firefly please!"
The boy continued his pleas as he tried to revive him… a few minutes passed by, Cole shaking over fire's mouth. Trying to get his own breathing in control before pushing some into Kai's just as he's about to do it a hand on his shoulder stops him. Tugging, signaling its over. Cole freezes and tears fall onto Kai's face. Shuddering a breath, before letting out a mixture of a groan and a sob.
His voice was rough. His body shakes as he runs his hand on Kai's face. Nya was sobbing into Jay, her face hidden in his neck, tears threatened to fall off his face but chose to keep it in. Trying to comfort Nya as she continued to cling onto his shoulder. Lloyd stood right next to them. His hand is still on Cole's shoulder. Not knowing how to react. His mind was still trying to process what was happening…his mind racing,
'He..he can't be…He there's no way…there isn't…kai can't-...but it's been…oh fsm please don't take my big brother away please…'
A sound reaches his ears. Switching himself into defense mode. Instantly pulling out his weapon he looks over at the direction of the sound to only see the silhouette of someone with their arms up. He steps slowly closer, revealing a half face of Zane. Lloyd retreats his weapon, walking closer to the nindroid. Zane puts his arms down, resting one of them on a…bag? On his shoulder.
"Z-Zane we thought we lost you…where were-"
"Zane?"
Shivers run down Lloyd's spine as he hears the tone of Cole's voice.
"What happened to Kai?"
Jay, still trying to support Nya, offers his voice out of concern to Zane while trying to calm Cole down.
"Zane…are you ok? What happened?"
All eyes were now trained on Zane, silent grew among them before opening his mouth.
"The poison was reacting quicker than I anticipated."
Poison?
"The lab sounded an alarm, releasing something poisonous. Effecting Kai. It seems like it only processed faster when he was hit by a bullet by one of the guards."
Lab? Why were they…
"It wasn't helping Kai nor me escape. It was slowing us down so I had to do something."
Zane continues…no emotion attached to voice. His body. His face. It was…neutral.
"The poison was reacting too quick, we couldn't make it out in time. He was going to die, painfully, if I didn't do anything…"
"So I stopped his heart."
…
"You what?"
"I stopped his heart. Froze his body and muscles to keep his heart from-"
That was enough for Cole; he quickly runs up to Zane punching him in the face. Tackling him onto the ground his fists ball up into the collar of his white gi forcing his neck and head up closer to his face. Grief blinding Cole.
"YOU STOPPED HIS HEART?"
Zane's face and voice unchanged, monotone and neutral as before. This angered Cole even more.
"Yes indeed."
Another punch was delivered,
"Y-you kille-e-ed him."
"If your concerned over if he suffered doing the process, I can assure you he didn't."
"YOU SON OF A-"
His fists almost miss Zane as he was pulled off of him by Jay and Lloyd.
"Cole cool it I need you-"
"Cool it! COOL IT? HE JUST SAID HE KILLED KAI JAY, HOW CAN I JUST 'COOL IT?'"
Anger was boiling from Cole as he tried to fight away from his brother's grasp. But they didn't let go, it only got stronger. He tries to get them off but stops. More build up as he let the tears fall. His voice yelling in agony as he slumps his head forward. Burning acid like tears falling from his face hitting the ground. Zane picks himself up, opening the bag to make sure all the contents inside are still fine before looking onwards. Eyes meeting Cole's trailing it up over to Lloyd, locking into his.
"Zane why…why did you kill Kai."
"I didn't. I just stopped his heart."
Cole wanted to punch the fuck out of him but couldn't. He doesn't have enough energy to move. Not alone talk anymore.
"Zane! Why did you stop his heart!"
"To stop the poison from traveling further into the system. The poison was already inside his blood given how fast the poison started taking effect. So I stopped his heart before it could reach further and hit the brain. If the poison reaches that far then, he would be truly dead. But not now. Yes I stopped his heart from beating, but from my scans his brain is still active. Keeping himself alive. Of course this was a risk but it was the highest probability where Kai and I can escape…alive that is…"
They all froze at Zane's reasoning. The 2 ninja's let go of Cole. He looked up at Zane. His eyes were completely red with tear stains crawling over his cheeks.
"Wait so he's still alive?"
Nya asks behind them her voice filled with hope and faith, her eyes watering, tears threatening to spill once more.
"Yes but by my scans he won't be for much longer. He needs oxygen now before he goes completely brain dead, which won't help our situation. I have-"
"Zane, how much longer do we have with Kai?"
"Approximately 15 minutes, luckily he has the elemental powers to keep him going up to this far. If it wasn't for that he would be long…"
The nindroid's voice was blurred out by Cole. Only hearing 15 minutes was the only thing he needed. He switches his body moving over to Kai. Carefully picking him up before running. Not caring nor listening to the voices and yells behind him. 15 minutes…His pace quickens as he runs as fast as he can through the forest. Usually on missions they park their vehicles or the bounty a few miles away. Especially when the mission relies on stealth. Sometimes hiding it further to reassure their safety and the mission.
The older boy hugs the other in his arms. Holding him closer as he runs faster. The speed he was running at felt inhuman. His legs and feet were screaming at him to stop, that they couldn't go on for any longer. That he needs to stop. But he didn't. Cole continued. He felt minutes were passing by too quickly which only fueled him to go faster. He didn't know if the others were even following him. They most likely were but he couldn't stop to look. He focused all of his energy into reaching the bounty.
His breath was out of control, wheezing from the lack of oxygen. His eyes start to feel foggy, with black dots dancing around in his vision. Trying to blink them away. Shaking his head to clear them. Instead it made him dizzy. His body wanted a break so badly…but he couldn't, he couldn't. Not now. Not ever. He can't stop…
Cole's legs almost gave out when he saw a familiar shape in the distance. Reaching closer to see the bounty hiding between a mountain and a few trees. His pace somehow doubles, going faster than he already has. The adrenaline pumping once again, helping him ignore most of his limbs which is practically screaming at him to stop. Readying himself he switches Kai into a one arm hold, keeping the momentum he jumps up climbing the wall of the ship. Holding onto the railing as he pulls himself and Kai up. Landing onto it with a loud 'thump'.
Cole doesn't even leave room for himself to breathe as he readjust his hold on Kai while running to the control room knowing Wu and Pixal would be there waiting. Pushing the door open with his body he grabs the attention of the both of them. Gasping at the scene before going straight into helping. Wu immediately clears the table as Pixal runs over to Kai, scanning him along the way before helping Cole settle him onto the table. Quickly passing by, Wu exits through the side door to get a bunch of much needed medical supplies from the medical ward.
The robot gets to work. Cutting open and taking off Kai's armor and gi. Placing a breathing mask on Kai's mouth connecting it into the machine Wu brought along with multiple other tools and medicine. Wu places the items onto the table as Pixal picks them up inserting into Kai not wanting to waste a second. Cole leans onto the wall. The adrenaline now calmed down but the feeling of his anxiety grew 10 fold as he watched helplessly as his boyfriend was being hooked onto too many wires. Wu softly directs him out of the room. He tries to argue against it, that he needs to be by his side. But the older man stood firm, his stance not letting Cole back inside but his voice and eyes telling him to calm down. That he needed to sit down and take a rest.
Knowing that his master was right he nodded, walking a bit further from the door. Wu glanced over at the poor boy. Saying some words of encouragement, before returning back into the room to help Pixal with anything else she needs. Almost collapsing into the railing, Cole tries to stabilize himself before giving up. His body didn't want to move anymore. He was too tired. He lays down on the floor, his back resting against the railing as he looks around. His eyes wander to nothing particular. His legs were in pain, his arms felt heavy, his eyes lids wanted to close so badly. But he just couldn't.
He looks back at the door then back at the sky, painfully moving his body to make his head facing straight to the sky. Watching the night stars and moon sparkle around him. It was almost soothing. Almost…but it was enough to distance himself from the thoughts of Kai, negative ones of course. He starts to space out,his eyes not leaving the sky. Not noticing the time passing by. Not hearing the quiet and hushed voices nearby. He didn't realize the rest of his team members were climbing back onto the ship till Jay accidentally lands on him. Not seeing Cole laying there till it was too late, his momentum making it impossible for him to catch himself. His arms were too tired to respond quickly enough.
Landing on the boy with a groan, the black-haired boy harshly shovels the boy on top of him off cursing at the other ninja.
"Owww…shit sorry Cole I didn't…"
Jay stops talking, taking the way Cole stayed looking at the sky as a signal to stay quiet. Understanding as he walks over to help Nya up, while Lloyd and Zane walk over to the control room trying to get inside. They wait besides the door. Giving up as Wu gives them a silent look. His head moved downward, shaking his head.
They all decided to sit around Cole. Keeping their distance to not interfere with his boundaries. Silence came between the 5 of them. Nya laying against Jay, her head on his lap. His fingers going through her hair, calming her down. While Zane and Lloyd have a silent conversation, just by using movements of their bodies or mouthing their words. After a while a voice interrupts the silence.
"When we were younger we always saw stars as protectors. The bigger they were, the stronger they were. The brighter they were, the bigger the accomplishments that 'star' achieved."
Nya's voice was softer than usual but still carried a large amount of emotion.
"Kai always told me those stars protect and help us. That whenever I feel lonely or lost I can always look up at the sky. The stars guiding us back home, watching over to make sure we come back safely…The star talk only grew once our parents left us. Kai always looked at the sky every night, saying good night to it before going to bed. Everytime I asked why he always responded with a smile, 'To our parents,'...Now that I think about it, Kai always enjoyed the night sky… maybe a little too much. Always saying if I ever need him, miss him, or just wanna talk and he was never there…just talk to the stars. They'll always listen, making everything feel better in the end…"
Everyone silently listened, their eyes now up at the sky. Not wanting to interrupt Nya as she continues talking,
"When you guys first became ninjas and a team I found him looking at the night sky on top of the roof of the monastery… he seemed…confused, usually it was always filled with wonder but this time it was something different. I climbed over to him, I still remember the look he shot at me, like I was crazy for climbing a roof. But after a while I joined him…just star gazing. Then suddenly the dumbass just goes 'I hope I become a star when I die.' Honestly I thought it was just random talk but now…I think he just wanted me to know that he'll always be there for me…protecting, watching, listening…"
Her eyes began to water as she watched the night sky, her heart skipping a beat when she thought she saw a new star shining. Jay immediately calms her down, bending down to kiss her forehead. Wiping her tears off her face as he whispers soft things into her ear. They continue to sit in a comfortable silence. Laying on the dock staring into the sky, their eyes landing on the brightest star. Hoping, wishing, longing for that they can protect Kai and bring him back to their arms.
Safe and sound into Cole's arms.