Chapter Text
“We've got a mission,” Kai nods, looking at the map and the blinking lights on it.
“What's up?” Nya asks, moving to see the lights on the map better. Lloyd steps behind her to peer at them as well.
“The trackers tracked the men that stole the Ninjutsu scroll to here,” Kai points at the map in the location of a flashing red item.
“And where exactly is here?” Cole asks, crossing his arms.
“Chen's mansion, of course. It seems like the Ninjutsu scroll is headed there for the biggest blackmarket auction of the year,” Zane fills in.
“So what are we waiting for? We sneak in and punch the crap out of those guys!” Jay exclaims.
Nya shakes her head, “It can't possibly be that easy.”
“You're right, it can't,” Zane replies, and everyone looks at him as if expecting him to continue. “Everyone at the black market auction is specifically invited by Chen, and his security is top notch. If you don't have an invitation, there's no getting in.”
“Aww, what?” Lloyd groans.
“This sucks,” Kai says.
“How do we get an invitation?” Cole asks. The ninja look at each other, shrugging.
“This is where I come in,” Wu steps into the room. “I have acquired some invitations from some close contacts.”
“What's the catch?” Kai asks.
This seems too good to be true. It can't be this easy, Jay knows from experience.
“Whoever goes will have to make nice for a weekend. They will have to stay in their disguises, selling it,” Wu explains.
“That doesn't sound that bad,” Nya admits. Cole nods.
“The thing is, my contacts have given me specific invitations with certain names on them,” Wu explains. “I have invitations for three women and three men. You all are obviously not those genders…”
“So what you're saying is, some of us may have to crossdress?!” Jay asks, taken aback.
“Yes, and I'm recommending that Lloyd is one of those "women". Many people will recognize him as Lloyd Garmedon or the Green Ninja if not,” Wu states, looking at all of them.
Everyone takes a moment to process this. Jay wonders if he'll crossdress. Preferably not, but he'll do it for the mission.
“I can do it,” Cole says, and Jay snorts.
“Cole, you're five eleven and ripped as hell!” Jay laughs. “You just–” His voice gets cut off by his giggles.
“Maybe you should crossdress then, Jay. You certainly do look small enough,” Cole shoots back.
“Hey!” Nya frowns. “Not all women are small and frail!”
Kai nods, “Can confirm. Nya is the furthest from small and frail of all of us. Well, aside from Cole.”
“So who should do it?” Lloyd asks, “Well, besides me, since I'm obviously required.”
“I'm going as a woman,” Nya shrugs. “Since people so obviously underestimate women.” She shoots a look at Cole who shrugs.
“One more then,” Kai looks at the group.
No one seems to move or respond.
Jay sucks in a breath, steeling himself.
“I'll do it.”
This is how, two days later, Jay ends up wearing a corset and a dress. He's wearing a medium blue dress that highlights his fake curves that the corset gives him.
He feels sweaty and nasty. His waist already hurts, and holy crap, this is intense. He's wearing three inch heels, and his legs have been waxed smooth.
Jay's not going to lie, he feels a little violated.
“Here's the plan,” Nya explains, applying Jay's makeup. She's already added hair extensions to him, so he's pretty sure he looks as much like a woman as he can.
“We pair up as necessary, the invitations are from couples. I'll take Zane, since he's going to be doing the scanning of the location with Pixal. Someone's gotta make it look like he's talking to them instead of no one. Nobody else can see Pixal, remember?”
“Right, so you and Zane are paired up. Who do I get?” Jay asks, feeling like his cheeks are being tickled as Nya applies some sort of powder.
“You're with Cole,” Nya puts down the brush and swipes something over his lips. Jay's going to bet it's lipstick. “You two are going to talk to as many people as you can, making contacts with the other people that may be there. Find out why they came and what Chen plans to do with the scroll.”
Nya caps the lipstick– Jay was right, yes– And looks at his face critically.
“Am I done?” Jay asks.
“For now,” Nya nods. Jay stands up from the chair.
“I'm going to have to do yours and Lloyd's makeup every morning, unless you magically get good at it.”
Jay nods. The silence gets tense, and Jay realizes their breakup is still hanging in the air.
“For the record Jay, I'm really sorry about our breakup. I just didn't feel things for you anymore and didn't want to lead you on,” Nya admits, sheepishly. She's looking at the floor.
“Nya,” Jay waits until she meets his gaze. “It's okay. I'm over it.”
“Really?” Nya asks, biting her lip.
“Really.”
Nya grins.
“Best friends?” Jay questions.
Nya's grin grows, “Always.”
Jay grins back, and he's happy to have his other best friend back. He's ready to take on the world, dressed in high heels and glitter.
They both head into the room, seeing the others.
Kai is wearing a grey tuxedo complete with a green bow tie. Zane is wearing one in white, with a red tie instead.
Cole is wearing a black suit with a blue tie, and it matches Jay's dress. He realizes this is Nya's doing, and it's damn clever. They're all color coordinated with their "dates".
“We've got a boat to catch,” Nya says.
“You're damn right we do,” Kai replies, stepping up. “We'll get Wu to drive us to the port, and then we'll take the ferry to the island.”
“Remember your names, guys,” Lloyd says, and wow, he really looks good. He's wearing a green off shoulder dress with a leg slit. His hair extensions make him look like he has long blonde hair.
Jay's weirdly jealous. Does he look that pretty? Does Lloyd look better than him?
They head out to the black Minivan, packed with trunks and items. The ninja wait outside the van as Wu places some items into the trunk.
The night air is cool, and Jay's heels click on the patio. Lloyd is wrapped up in a conversation with Nya, and Zane seems to be talking to Pixal.
Jay looks to his left and sees Cole staring. Is he staring at him?
Jay's had a crush on Cole for a long time, so this kind of attention is strange. He's resigned himself to the fact that the black ninja is straight. At least he thinks. Maybe.
He can't look that much like a woman, right?
Jay sneaks a glance back at Cole, who still seems to be staring as if noticing him for the first time. Jay feels his cheeks flush.
“Have you always had freckles?” Cole whispers, and Jay flushes. How had Cole not noticed them before?
“They're new,” Jay jokes. “I got them maybe five years ago? Oh wait, no, it was twenty four.”
Cole chuckles, and Jay finds himself lost in his dark eyes. They're gentle and kind, and Jay just wants to drown in them.
“There's something different about you I can't put my finger on.”
“Maybe that I'm dressed like a girl? Wearing a corset? Heels? Does that ring a few bells?” Jay snarks and Cole laughs.
“No need to get defensive, oh wise master of blabber,” He holds his hands up in a surrender.
Jay snickers.
“Uh guys?” Nya interrupts. “You can get in the van now.”
Jay feels his cheeks heat again, and wonders if that's going to happen a lot. Probably. He'd better get used to it.
Cole enters the van and sits next to Kai. Jay sits next to Nya in the back, next to Lloyd on his other side.
What if someone notices he's not a girl? Why hasn't he thought about this?
“Jay,” Lloyd calls, and Jay's attention turns to him. “We're in the same boat.”
Jay smiles weakly, “Tell me about it.”
Nya giggles, “Jay, you'll be fine. Both of you. Please promise me neither of you will sit like Jay.”
Jay looks down at his open legs and frowns.
“What's wrong with the way I'm sitting?”
Nya breathes in, beginning to talk about how women typically sit. Oh boy. This is going to be a long weekend.
The ninja exit the van, taking their respective luggage to the boat. They stand in a line, and the "couples" stand next to each other.
Jay is bouncing on his toes excitedly. This is going to be pretty cool. Maybe even a little dangerous.
But what if they find out he isn't a woman? What if they find out his name isn't Mrs. Quigley, but Jay Walker?
Then it'll be bad. They'll put him in the dungeon. Does Chen even have a dungeon? What if he does have a dungeon?
Would it be gross?
What would be in it?
“Jay.”
Jay looks up from his nervous thoughts and meets Cole's eyes.
“You're going to be fine,” Cole squeezes his hand, and Jay remembers. Oh yeah, they're holding hands.
“We've got this, okay? I've got your back, motormouth.”
Jay feels his lips turn into a smile.
Cole beams at him, and it feels like they're in their own moment. Jay clutches Cole's hand in one hand, and their invitation in the other.
“Next,” The guard demands, and they step up. “Invitation, please?”
Jay hands them the invitation.
“Mr. and Mrs. Quigley I see,” The guard says, boredly. “Enjoy your weekend.”
Jay takes the invitation back and looks at Cole. They did it!
“Told you, bluejay. We're all set,” Cole grins, and Jay has to grin back. His joy is infectious.
“Y-yeah, you did,” Jay replies, his cheeks feeling warm. “Mr. Quigley.”
Cole snorts, “Mrs. Quigley.”
They both crack up as they sit on the boat, watching the water run smoothly through the back. The boat chugs its way towards Chen's island, and Jay has no idea what to expect.