Chapter Text
Jay was... upset.
He expected the visit to Shintaro to be an enjoyable experience, and it had been, until they meant Vania.
Jay wouldn’t lie to himself and say Vania was a nasty person, because she wasn’t. She was kind and welcoming. She had a cheery personality. He wanted to like her, but he couldn’t, not with what he felt for Cole.
Jay couldn’t be certain if Vania had a crush on Cole and vice versa, but what he could be certain of was how much time they were spending together. Cole was his best friend, not hers.
After he and Nya split, he spent almost all of his time with Cole. The two ended on mutual terms and there were no hard feelings, but he did feel like something was missing. Like some one was missing. Overtime, he learned that someone was Cole.
Coming to terms with the fact he had a crush on his best friend was not at all easy. It took a lot of strength to keep his emotions in check around the earth ninja as he did not want to ruin their friendship.
Besides, there was no way Cole was into him, or guys in general for that matter. Still, he wanted Cole to himself, as selfish as that sounded.
With Vania around, she was taking Cole away from him. She obviously favored him and while it could be all platonic, he was still very worried. After all, that’s how his feelings for Cole stared off as- platonic.
After all the time he spent with Cole, those feelings became romantic, he did not want that to happen between those two. He was afraid of losing him, losing Cole.
“And that’s why I’m scared to tell him how I feel.” Cole looked over at Vania, awaiting for her answer.
The two have gotten close these past few days. Cole really felt like he could trust her, like if she was his platonic soulmate. She had taken him to the fountain in the garden, simply showing him around since she didn’t exactly get to do so when he first arrived because of the whole evil-skull-guy-who-turned-out-to-be-her-dad incident.
“Didn’t you say he’s your best friend? Shouldn’t you be able to tell him anything?” The queen genuinely asked, not an ounce of sass or judgment in her voice.
“Well, yeah! But i’m scared . What if he thinks i’m weird or... gross for liking guys. I haven’t told any of them i’m gay.” He sighed, feeling defeated.
Vania looked at him with pity. “Hey, your friends seem like really good people. I’m sure they’ll accept you.” She gave a reassuring smile. “They haven’t said anything to make you think otherwise, have they?” Her smiled wavered.
Cole immediately shook his head. “No! No, not at all, but there’s still a chance. A chance they won’t accept me.”
Vania fell silent.
Cole stared at his reflection in the water, Vania keeping her gaze on the black ninja. Cole didn’t know what to say anymore. There was nothing to say. It’s true his friends haven’t said anything remotely homophobic, but then again, it’s not like the topic has ever came up.
He had no idea about his friends views on the queer community. He’d die to find out, but he was also fearful of what they might say.
“I think you should tell him.”
Cole snapped his head at the girl, clearly stunned by her suggestion. “ Tell him ? Are you crazy!”
Vania giggled at his exclamation, finding it rather amusing. “I’m pretty sure he feels the same way about you that you do him. He just gives you this look .”
Cole was not at all amused. “What look? Jay doesn’t give me any type of look to make me think he might like me even just a little bit.”
“Well duh!” Vania threw her hands in the air. “That’s because he does it while you aren’t looking!” She lowered her arms. “He looks at you like you’re his everything. Don’t tell Jay I told you this, but I get the feeling he doesn’t really like me.”
Cole frowned. “What? Why would you say that?”
Vania rolled her eyes with a smirk. “Cole, if he likes you and I’m always with you, how do you think that makes him feel?”
“That’s if he likes me. A big if. Vania, I don’t know... It could ruin everything .” Cole sighed softly. He felt so lost. “I can’t lose him. If Jay and I ever... If something ever got between us-“
“Cole,” Vania placed a comforting hand on the man’s shoulder. “Remember when you told me about that thing with you guys and Nya? Didn’t that get between you guys? And now look. You guys are still friends.”
Cole laughed at the memory. As embarrassing as it was telling her that story, he was glad he could laugh it off with her. “Yeah, I know, but that’s different. Here i’m gonna tell him I like him! That’s... no. No, I cant.”
“I won’t force you to do anything, but I want you to know that I really do think Jay feels the same. Maybe you haven’t noticed, but he looks more on edge talking to you than he does with the others, and the way he looks at you. I wish you could see it.”
Vania slid her hand off Cole’s shoulder. “Whatever you decide, I hope things turn out well. For you and for Jay.”