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"Why are we here again?" Kai asked as they pulled into the peaceful neighbourhood.
"There's been multiple noise complaints coming from one of the homes, and police and residents are suspicious," Zane responded, walking up to the house.
"And we don't have Cole with us because..." Jay added, staring at the nindroid.
"He's spending time with his boyfriend," Nya reminded them, "He told us before he left."
Reaching the door, the group heard muffled arguing from inside, before Lloyd firmly knocked on the door, and it stopped. After a minute, the door was unlocked, and slowly opened.
"Hello?" The person started, before pausing, looking at the group with a surprised expression.
"Cole? What are you doing here?" Lloyd asked, confused.
"Oh, this is Stephan's house," Cole answered shakily, his eyes bloodshot. He fiddled with the long sleeves of his hoodie, "What are you all here for?"
"Noise complaints, quite a lot of them," Zane said, "Know anything about that?"
"Stephan has lots of parties," Earth responded, though they could tell he was lying, "I'll tell him to be quieter, sorry."
"Who is it, dear?" A voice asked, and a tall, copper-haired man, presumably Stephan, appeared behind Cole, placing a hand around his shoulders, "Can we help you?"
"Neighbours have been complaining about the noise from this house," Lloyd stated, and Stephan subtly squeezed Cole's shoulder, and the boy became quiet.
"I host a crap ton of parties," The man told them, giving them a not-so-friendly smile, "I'll tone it down if they want."
"Sure, have a good night," Nya said, "See you later, Cole."
Their teammate nodded, his expression seeming to plead them to stay. However, Stephan shut the door, and they had to start walking back to their vehicles.
"You called them over here, didn't you?!" They suddenly heard a yell, and looked back at the house, "The noise complaints were just a big ploy!"
"I didn't, I swear!" Was Cole's tear-filled response, "No!" he screamed, before something hit a body.
They ran back to the residence, and Lloyd knocked the door down. Reaching the living room, they saw Cole holding his eye and sobbing on the floor, while Stephan stood over him, ornament in hand.
"Why don't you go back to tearing your arms up, you pathetic waste of space," Stephan spat, kneeling down and cupping the Elemental's chin, "You're mine, Cole, and they're not taking you away from me."
"Think again, bitch!" Kai yelled, ramming into the man and pinning him to the floor. Zane knelt down in front of Cole, checking him over.
"Are you alright?" The nindroid asked as the others spread out between the two situations.
"I- I-" Cole stuttered, eyes glued to Stephan, who was struggling under Kai's grip.
"Cole!" He barked, and Earth flinched, "This is your fault! When I get my hands on you-" Kai pushed his face into the floor, silencing him.
Nya wrapped her arms around the shaking Cole, and he finally turned away from the scuffle, burying his face into her shoulder while she calmly shushed him.
"You're okay," Jay whispered, rubbing circles into Cole's back, "You're okay, he can't hurt you."
Lloyd and Kai took Stephan outside, and the others stayed on the floor of the living room.
"I was-as so," Cole hiccupped, "Sc-ared he wo-uld hurt-t you all i-if I s-said any- anything-g," His voice shook, breaking his teammates' hearts.
"Let's take you home, okay?" Zane said gently, "I need to inspect your injuries."
Nodding, Earth allowed them to help him off the floor, making their way out of the house. Stephan had long since gone, taken to the police station by Fire and Energy.
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"Alright, what has he done to you?" Pixal asked as she and Zane finished looking at Cole's injuries, "Only tell us if you're comfortable to."
Cole took a deep breath, before beginning to speak.
"...And he uses me for pleasure," He whispered as he finished.
"You mean..." Zane trailed off, and Cole nodded, tears slipping down his face again.
The nindroids pulled him close, allowing him to lean into him.
"Do you want to see the others?" Cole nodded, and the three of them left the bunker.
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"Cole!" Jay exclaimed as Earth walked into the game room, "How are you?"
"I think I'm okay," Cole responded, sitting on a settee, curling into himself. A pause, then; "Thanks."
"For what?" Nya asked.
"For stopping him..."
"Of course, we're not standing by while you get hurt." The group nodded, joining Cole on the seat.
Surrounding the Earth Ninja, the group embraced again, the silent promise of support in the air.