Chapter Text
Cole would say his favourite part of the job is a tie between helping people and kicking ass. Maybe the hero worship he gets too, although admitting that out loud would definitely get him yelled at by Lloyd. Whatever. Any career that allows him to punch people and get paid for it is a good one.
One of the bank robbers dodges out into the street, and seeing as all the other ninja are a little occupied, he chases them through a few little alleyways. This part of the job is fun too; the adrenaline through his veins as his footsteps hit heavy against pavement, the satisfaction he'll get once he apprehends this criminal, regardless of the fact that this felony isn't really ninja business.
Don't think about that too hard.
The thief sidesteps left, Cole right on their tail, so intent on catching, that he fails to notice the fact they've run into a a dark alleyway shop, or the way they are both about crash into one said shop's shelves.
An old looking jar smashes after Cole makes the impact, and a strange smoke starts to seep into the air.
It's iridescent and cloudy, getting larger by the second. The smoke gets thicker, and curls around his face, completely obscuring his eyesight. Ordinarily, he'd have listened out for the robber's footsteps, or any other noise that might indicate where they are, but he's entranced by this pretty fog. It sinks against his skin, warm and cosy, like a soft magic blanket made just for him. As he goes to reach out and take it, the smoke dissipates.
Cole blinks, once more able to see the little shop he's standing in, and an amused old woman at the cash register.
They make eye contact, and the woman grins.
"You seem a little dazed."
"Uh. Sorry. For smashing... Did you happen to see which way-?" He cuts himself off after a hot, fuzzy feeling nestles in his chest, and his skin tingles.
"I've been trying to open that jar for twenty years now." She doesn't acknowledge his words at all. "Twenty years, trying to release the cure for heartache, and you just... bump into it."
"Sorry. Again." Cole coughs. His body feels normal now. "Do you want me to like, pay you back?"
The lady chuckles brightly, pushing her large glasses up a little. "No, no dearie. You've - You've done a lovely thing."
Cole looks at the shattered jar on the floor, where nothing lays amongst broken ceramic. "Was it just smoke in there?"
"Just smoke?" Another laugh, combined with the old woman's glittery eyes and wild hair making her seem just a tad crazy. "That was soulmate smog. Sealed in the jar by the gods of the old world, trapped after they grew too jealous of humanity's perfect pairs."
Okay. Definitely crazy.
"That's, uh. That's great. Happy to help, I guess. Do you know where the other guy went? Kind of... need to arrest him."
She continues babbling. "Oh how I've tried to restore our world! But the jar refused to be opened by someone unbound, only allowing a member of a fated pair to make love easier again."
Cole glances around the room, the slowly steps back into the alleyshop doorway. "Okay?"
"Check your wrist, check your wrist, my dear! If the smog was truly released, and you are truly a fated half, your soulmate's mark will be there! Oh, how lucky you are. Such a rare, treasured thing, fated pairs."
For a moment, Cole considers just running. This woman is evidently insane. Maybe he should find a home or something for her.
Then she just stares at his wrist, and Cole figures there's no harm in appeasing her.
His slides his sleeve up, and promptly frowns.
His previously unmarked skin has a small white symbol on it, standing out brightly against ebony skin.
A little drawing, that won't come off no matter how hard her rubs it.
One lightning bolt, enclosed in a jagged rock shape.
Cole gawps at it. It wouldn't take a genius to detect what it meant.
"Did you say.... this'll tell me who my soulmate is?"
"They will have a matching one, and the mark will-"
"He... He's my soulmate? For real? This isn't just some - some fairytale?"
"No dear." The woman smiles kindly. "For you and a few others, you've brought back soulmates. Not everyone has them, but those who do? They're destined to be great together."
Cole's chest flutters, and he doesn't both fighting the smile that creases his mask.
Jay. Jay, Jay, Jay.
His soulmate, Jay.
He can see why the lady's so pleased. Hell, everything seems brighter just knowing he has someone.
Not just someone! Jay!
Fun, pretty, smart, witty Jay. Cole's always been fond of him, always, and Jay and Cole have always been a thing, a unit, a solid duo, other than that time they were fighting over Nya.
They won't have to fight over girls anymore, they have each other.
Soulmates! Fated pairs!
Already, Cole's nearly bursting with excitement. The late nights he's had where he stares at the ceiling, wondering why he feels happier whenever his best friend is around, the dreams where familiar lips pressed against his, the way he struggles to pay attention to anything else when ginger hair is messy in the morning.
It makes sense. It's them, together, it makes sense.
He doesn't even say farewell to the woman before he rushes off, desperate to bring Jay (his soulmate!!), the good news.
When he arrives back at the bank, his friends are all crowded around the blue ninja.
Immediately, his heart's in his throat, and he pushes himself into the huddle.
But Jay's uninjured, he's okay, he just looks very confused.
Zane looks at Cole. "Did you apprehend the -?"
"Oh shit." Cole scratches his head. "Sorry. Got kind of sidetracked. Yknow how it... Is Jay okay?"
"I'm fine, physically. I think?" Jay glances in his direction. "There was this big, like, fog thing. It went inside me? I dunno, none of the others were-"
"Soulmate smog!" Cole can't stop himself from interrupting. "I had - It's... That's what the lady called it. Something about old gods, and jealousy, and fated pairs and-"
"The lady?" Nya frowns.
"Gods?" Lloyd asks at the same time.
"Yeah, yeah, it's like - it doesn't matter. Just... I accidentally brought soulmates back into the world. Jay!"
"Cole?" Jay quirks a brow. "Are you good? Acting a little weird. Did you get hit by the smoke too?"
"Of course I did." Cole puffs his chest. "Look, look, your wrist! Soulmate mark!"
"Do you think there was some kind of... hallucinogen in there?" Zane whispers, but Cole just shoves him.
"No, idiot, soulmate smog is none of your business, sucks to suck, you don't have one."
"Well that seems a bit mean." Kai snorts, and squeezes Cole's shoulder. "You sure your brain's not been knocked loose?"
"Shut up. Jay, look. I'll show you mine!" He peels his sleeve up, and the white mark seems to be shimmering now. Must be because he's in the presence of his other half.
Jay stares at it for a while, Cole practically quivering in excitement.
Kai peers over and also looks, a little gasp as the puzzle pieces click.
Jay then, with a pinched expression, looks at his own wrist. Cole gets even bubblier seeing their mark there too.
"Oh." Nya's voice is quiet, a little breathless.
It doesn't really process, the earth ninja occupied with waiting for Jay to smile and join in the butterflies.
Instead, Jay pulls his sleeve down, and looks at Cole.
His smiles slips as he searches blue eyes for a hint of feeling.
"Jay." Cole breathes out a quiet laugh. "Do you not get it?"
The master of lightning shakes his head a little, and Cole's about to explain, as in depth as his soulmate wants, when he speaks.
"A mark doesn't mean anything Cole. Soulmate smog or whatever... It doesn't matter. This doesn't change anything."
The joyful flame in Cole's heart flickers once, twice, then goes out.