Chapter Text
Kai woke up. He scratched the outside of his throat, though the itching feeling wouldn't leave. He brushed it off as lack of water the night before as he tried to recall how much pizza he had. There was no alcohol involved, but the drowsiness of morning made it much more difficult to remember than at any other time.
It was during him brushing his teeth that he remembered why he was so flustered. The night before, the four were up late, playing various games on the outdated console they shared. With multiple boxes of pizza stacked on top of each other, they became well fed. Too well fed, as Kai believed, because they all became pretty tired quickly. Kai was certainly a light sleeper but found himself shirtless on his own bed, and his eyes struggled to stay open.
Jay yawned beside him, on the same bed. “Good night Kai..” He started to stand but fell back in his daze.
“‘Night Jay.” Kai yawned in return. He looked over to spot Zane still in his bed and Cole curled up on a beanbag, lightly snoring. “Are you warm?”
Jay was a little confused but he went along. “Fairly, why?” He tried to stand again and felt a wrapper under his foot. “You weren't thinking of heating me up, were you?”
Kai chuckled and regrettably mumbled back. “Your lips look a little cold..”
Jay felt a blush creep onto his face as he tumbled onto his own bed quickly. He lay in silence for what felt like another hour or two. How could Kai be so.. flirtatious. And to Jay of all people?!
But Kai was also flustered. Returning from the sudden memory flash, he spat out the toothpaste in his mouth but noticed a hint of red. Redder than a natural red strip of toothpaste from the tube. He coughed to try to get the itch in his throat out again. There was blue, surrounded by red. It was a tiny petal. Surrounded by his blood.
He panicked and washed it down the sink. He couldn't let the others know that “Kai had hanahaki” - especially for one of his best friends. This meant he hid it for a few weeks while it was only mild. Despite this, he watched countless petals fall into the trash every day.
Eventually, when the irritation went from a mere itch to a bleeding throat, he had to let someone know, so he turned to the wisest guy he knew: Zane (sorry Wu). Zane was great with secrets, and thought logically about everything. He'd know how to help Kai.
And eventually Kai found Zane, cooking lunch. "Good afternoon, Kai." Zane smiled in a cheery manner. “You missed morning by only a few minutes.”
“Really? I never noticed.” Kai took a plate of scrambled eggs and started to savour the fresh food. “I was in the bathroom for quite some time.”
“Jay was complaining before, about you hogging it.” Zane chuckled as he set out another plate, not noticing the suddenly worried expression painted on Kai’s face.
Before Kai could begin to speak, he began tapping his fingers on the table nervously. He’d always been the cool one, the courageous one, the one without issues. But he sought Zane to tell him about his issue, not stall his time with empty words.
“Kai?” Zane turned once he turned off the stovetop. “Are you alright? I sense you are nervous.” He took a seat next to Kai before leaning on the table and facing him.
“I came here this morning, to speak to you about something. I need your opinion and some help.” Kai admitted with a slight look of embarrassment.
“Anything for a friend, go ahead.” The ice elemental put a hand on Kai’s shoulder in a comforting manner. Kai only sighed and coughed a bit.
But then the mild cough turned into a coughing fit, and Zane worriedly gripped Kai's shoulder. Kai opened his palm to a couple of blue petals dripping red. "Rose petals... Kai.. you have.. hanahaki..?"
"I’ve had it for a few weeks.." Kai rubbed the outside of his throat due to the pain. "I was in the bathroom for a while because of it."
Zane stood. "I'll make you some tea to help your throat. Relax for now, then we'll talk." He poured a cup and let the tea bag sit for long enough. He added milk and sugar to Kai's liking, but added some honey too.
"Thank you Zane." Kai said as he took a sip from the cup placed in front of him. He smiled contentedly. "This is perfect.."
Zane sat back down and rested his arms on the table. "It's no problem if it aids you. Now, who do you have feelings for? If you don't mind telling me of course."
"It's.. I flirted with them one night because I was tired and they were so flustered and cute-" Kai coughed a little bit more. “I can’t tell you who though.”
Zane thought for a few seconds. "Intriguing. I think they might reciprocate the feeling if they were flustered by it."
"I'll tell them tomorrow then, when I'm in a better state." Kai nodded, then drank more tea. "Once again, thank you. This is really good."
"Drink up, I hope you feel better during training today." Zane smiled.
Kai rested his head on the table then mumbled, "I forgot that we had tasks to do.. I'll probably be fine though."
"Good to hear." The nindroid stood up and took his apron off. He stretched a little before moving. "I'll be headed off now to do some myself."
"Have a better day than mine." Kai sighed as he drank more. He sighed as he took another long sip.
Once Zane left the kitchen, Kai finished his drink off, and with a reassuring smile to himself, he headed for the door. Though his attempt to walk through it was cut off by Cole and him head-butting each other. Cole shook a little but the guy in red toppled right over without a struggle. The earth elemental offered a hand to him, which was taken gratefully. “You alright buddy?” Kai asked.
Cole paused him. “Me? Bro, you’re the one I just helped off the floor, are you okay?” He leaned on the doorframe as he rubbed his forehead lightly.
“Pretty sure I’m fine, dude.” Kai dusted his pants off and chuckled. “Sorry, I’m just a bit distracted.”
“...By what?” And Kai swore he saw a little glint of hope in Cole’s eyes that wore away with his response.
“I.. it doesn't matter. I’m just, you know.. I kinda like someone.” He explained as vaguely as he thought he could. “No biggie.”
“No biggie?!” The taller male looked, quite frankly, shocked. “You gotta let me know who it is!”
“No.” Kai’s ears burned with embarrassment. “I’m satisfied living a life where I die alone.”
“You won’t die alone, stop being dramatic.”
“I’m not being dramatic!”
“Then how can you say that while being the finest catch in this place-”
“Because I have-”
Both of them had covered their mouths, neither of them wanting to have blurted out anything. Kai turned away shamefully, but only after getting a glimpse of Cole’s bright red face. The silence was thick, and filled with words unspoken.
“Cole, you think I’m the finest catch here?” Kai mumbled out in surprise.
“Kai, what’s up?” Cole was intrigued.
"Cole, you like me?!"
"You have a crush?!”
"No! I'm not a pussy, Cole - if I did, I would’ve told them and then you." Kai exclaimed and winced at how loud he was. “I’m just not ready to talk about it yet.”
“But you just admitted to liking someone.” Cole pointed out smugly.
Kai waved him off. “It doesn't matter, I’ll tell you later.”
“Suit yourself.” The black ninja shrugged before turning. “I’m gonna go train now, you up for sparring if you’re okay?”
“Hell yeah, just wait for me.” Kai hurried off to get proper training gear on. Cole looked at where Kai had stood and was glad he forgot about what he told him. He went outside and strolled over to where Jay and Zane sat.
“Hey Cole!” Jay greeted him with a hug. Cole’s blush went unnoticed by the smaller man. “We were just chatting. Wanna join?”
He hummed, then spoke after a few seconds. “I’m waiting for Kai. We were planning to spar together.”
“I hope he’s alright if we all spar together” Jay looked to the sky.
“I hope you’re alright, Jay.” Zane put a hand on his back. “Nya broke up with you a few weeks ago and you haven’t looked sad at all.”
Then Jay just slumped over. “She realised we were better off friends. I also noticed that, but the thing that moved me the most was that she gave me a rose before dumping me. Call me a romantic, but roses are my favourite flowers.” Zane made a mental note of that, before Cole butted in.
“At least you’ve been in a relationship before.” He put a hand to his head dramatically and leaned back. “What’s a guy gotta do to get guys around these parts?”
“You like men?” Zane seemed kinda shocked at that. The ‘master of blabber’ only giggled.
“I’m surprised you couldn't tell.” Jay nudged the nindroid in the side. “I’ve known I’m bi for a while, and even now I like some guys.”
“Wait, you just said you like some guys. Tell us!” Cole said whilst eating a cookie he pulled out of nowhere (Kai still complains about not having pockets yet he still has an entire scabbard for his sword as part of his gi). “I’ll give you a cookie.”
“My humiliation and you teasing me is not worth a mere snack.” Jay stood up at the sight of the hothead. “Hey Kai! Wanna spar with us?”
“Uh sure. Who first?” The red ninja pointed randomly and he opened his eyes to find Zane looking at him. “Zane first, okay?”
“That’s fine with me.” He propped himself up and got into a fighting stance. Once they started, Cole and Jay were distracted by their own conversation. The nindroid started with a left hook, which Kai easily dodged. The hothead retaliated with a kick to Zane’s side, knocking him back a little. Having a disease that affects your lungs puts you at a great disadvantage, and especially when Zane tries to speak about it during your fight. “So, it’s Jay?”
“Ah-” This sudden truth made Kai get distracted and therefore punched square in the nose. “Yeah, agh, First Spinjitzu Master.. fuck..”
“I’m so sorry, I should have been more careful considering your..” The nindroid lowered his volume. “...Condition.”
“I should have been more alert, don’t worry dude.”
“Kai!” Jay and Cole both ran over at the same time. Cole’s voice prevailed with evident concern. “Are you alright? Your nose is bleeding pretty heavily.”
Then what happened next made Kai’s face grow as red as the stream. Jay leaned forward so their eyes were aligned, and their noses almost touched. He cupped the hothead’s cheek and, with his thumb, wiped away the blood that was about to drip. “You okay?”
Kai coughed. “Yeah.” He coughed even more, and Zane looked at him both sympathetically and apologetically. “I’ll go clean myself up in the kitchen.” And he ran as fast as he could whilst pinching the bridge of his nose and covering his mouth. The sink. He let everything pour out, allowed the crimson flow from his nose and mouth and the petals to land gracefully in the reddened sink as he hacked up more and more. He thought he almost died of shock when someone walked into the room.
“Kai?”
Shit. It was Nya. “Don’t worry about me, I just had my face bashed in by a metal fist.” He tried to wash down the flowery vomit down the drain, but the larger bunches refused to go.
“What are you doing?” She asked as she walked closer. His heart pounded about as much as his sudden headache. “Is that a.. blue rose? Don't those not exist?”
“..Yes.” And Kai hoped she didn't know what hanahaki was.
“Do you have that strange flower disease from fanfictions?” She asked with concern. “Hana- something?”
There was no use in lying to her. “Okay, yes, I’m dying as well as having a pained nose from the punch.”
“I’m guessing it’s for Jay considering that’s his favourite flower.” She picked up the flowers and put them in the trash. “Please tell him. I don’t want you to die or have no emotions towards him.” Kai was silent, so Nya continued. "He likes you, I'm almost 100% sure of it. But you need to tell him or it won't work."
“I will, but I’m kinda scared.” He finally admitted. “I’m gonna die if I don’t tell him in time.”
“You won’t die.”
“Yes I will.” He looked away, expression wobbling with sadness welling in his eyes. “I’m great with flirting, I’m great with looks but I’m not great with actual romance. I’m gonna die alone because I was too much of a pussy to admit my feelings.”
“You’re Kai Smith, the older brother of the already amazing Nya Smith. You'll be okay, because I believe in you." She hugged him tightly as he wept softly. "You're gonna be okay.” They spent another few minutes like that until Zane walked in, offering to take it from there. Nya nodded and patted Kai on the back before leaving.
“I’m sorry for hitting you so hard.. and I didn't expect Jay to do that, I apologise again.” Zane put a hand on his back as he watched the tears and blood trickle down his face. “Tell him as soon as you can, then it’ll get better from then, trust me.”
“I trust you, Zane. I’ll tell him tomorrow, and you can tell the others that I’m gonna do some chores and take a break.” Kai pulled out a roll of gauze. “Have fun training.”
“Have fun doing chores.” Zane laughed a little in an attempt to brighten up the mood. He left and Kai was on his own.
After giving up trying to fix his nose, he got up to clean the bathroom. He had no idea what exactly to do, so he settled on dusting the place. Taking a random duster, he started sweeping to the rhythm of a song stuck in his head. It was surprisingly fun in his opinion, so the hours went by as he moved from room to room. He got to his and the others room, and he proceeded to sweep up the dust. The look on his face brightened incredibly when he checked behind Zane’s bunk to find a small picture of the guys in an old frame.
It was as though nostalgia hit him in the face like Zane’s fist did. It was the original four ninja in their original gi, with their original styles. Kai remembered what an ass he could have been sometimes, but he didn't regret anything that had ever happened between them. He saw Jay and how he used to cover his cute freckles, and was glad that he got to see them daily.
Oh First Spinjitzu Master. His throat was suddenly torn apart from the thorns that rose quickly, and he coughed up crimson and blue all over the floor. He hurriedly tossed the flowers in the trash, and found his red towel to clean up the spill, though someone had already walked in. “Kai? Why’s there an unnatural amount of blood on the floor?”
"I- uh.." He spoke coarsely. He did not want Cole to find out about his hanahaki. "Cole.. I.. was cleaning, yeah, I inhaled some dust, I sneezed and my nose started bleeding again."
"Need help cleaning?" Thank goodness he didn't suspect a thing. Cole took the towel from Kai and made the shorter boy sit down. The taller boy finished wiping, and took his place next to the other. "You look pretty pale, you okay?"
"My nose hurts really bad." He said glumly.
"You've got gauze with you, right? I can help stuff your nose so it doesn't bleed out onto something again." Kai wanted to argue about him being babied, but the weariness that had been brought upon him just grunted and nodded. The master of earth ran out of the room and reentered with the gauze in a professional looking fold. He looked down at Kai, who was on the bed cross legged. “You’re gonna have to move.” And the red ninja shook his head. He was comfortable as he was, but Cole lifted him up with one arm and placed him on his lap in order to get Kai to stop protesting. It worked, but it built up a cough that was ready to be released soon.
To his discontent, Cole wiped a strange smelling cream on his nose, but repeatedly reassured him that he would be okay. Kai would always believe Cole. The tiredness was probably too much for Kai to handle though, as he felt himself drift off to sleep.
He was woken up about an hour later by Cole lightly snoring. His nostrils were stuffed comfortably with gauze, and he took shallow breaths in order to keep the taller man asleep. He tried to move but realised that he was trapped in his arms. His face heated up, but he leaned into the warmth and snoozed again.
It was almost like he'd forgotten about Jay.