Work Text:
Puppy Kisses
Zane watched the cloud of whimsical pink fairy dust swirl up and fade away. A little black dog with brown eyes, brown paws, and a brown chest sat in the very spot where Cole had just been standing moments ago.
“Gah! What just happened!?” the little dog exclaimed with Cole’s voice.
“Don’t worry, it’ll wear off soon,” Gandalaria replied nonchalantly as she continued rummaging through a box of potion bottles.
“Cole, umm… You seem to have… uhh…”
Zane trailed off, unable to tear his gaze away from the adorable little dog looking up at him. He smiled uncontrollably at the dog’s charmingly big eyes.
“I don’t wanna be a dog! Change me back! Why do you even have a potion that can do this!? How is this helpful!?” Cole complained.
Gandalaria rolled her eyes and ignored him.
“But at least you are adorable,” Zane cooed.
“I’m a ninja warrior!” Cole argued, stomping his fluffy little paws.
Zane giggled and scooped him up in his arms. Cole yelped and squirmed in his gentle grasp, nearly panicking at the sight of the ground getting farther and farther away.
“What are you doing!? Put me down!” he whined.
“Don’t be upset, Cole. I’m not going to hurt you,” Zane replied with a big smile.
Cole looked around frantically, his eyes wide. He huddled against Zane’s chest and fought not to think about how hard he would hit the ground if Zane dropped him.
“Your fur is very soft,” Zane remarked lovingly.
“U-uhh… thanks…,” Cole mumbled shyly.
“Did you know that it is scientifically proven that affectionately stroking cute animals can reduce stress and improve mood, both for the individual and the animal?”
“You mean… petting?”
“Yes. That. In fact, I feel the urge to do it right now. You’re just so cute, I cannot help it.”
Zane rested the tips of his titanium fingers against the back of Cole’s head and gently stroked down his neck and back. He waited a moment before stroking again, this time using his palm as well. His smile grew at Cole’s complete silence.
“Does that feel nice?” he asked.
“U-uhh…” Cole trailed off and went quiet.
Zane chuckled softly. He cast a quick glance at Gandalaria, who continued rummaging through boxes, and left the area with Cole still in his arms.
“Wh-why are you carrying me?” Cole asked.
“Because you're small and you fit nicely in my arms,” Zane replied.
He carefully stepped over various bottles scattered across the floor, all while holding Cole against his chest. Only until he was a ways away from Gandalaria did he finally stop and return his attention to Cole.
“Can I go back to normal now?” Cole complained.
“Why are you in such a hurry to be human again?” Zane asked in amusement.
“Because we need to get out of here immediately! Bonzle is in danger, Zane! I have to find her and bring her back before it’s too late! I can’t fight if I’m a little dog!”
Cole squirmed in Zane’s arms, his breathing spiraling out of control in a panic. Terrified thoughts of what could be happening to Bonzle flashed in his mind.
Zane frowned in concern. “I understand how you feel, Cole. But, please, do not panic. Sorceress is searching for the potion we need to get out of here.”
“I know, but…”
“I understand. You’re very worried about your friend. For now, though, I urge you to calm yourself and think things over. Panic will only lead to irrational thoughts, and those can lead to irrational decisions.”
“I… Well…”
Zane already decided he wouldn’t take no for an answer. No way he could stand by and watch his dear Earth Ninja be so stressed and panicked.
Instead of saying anything in response, he gently stroked Cole’s back a few times in hopes of calming him. He rested his hand on the back of Cole’s neck and rubbed the side with his thumb. It wasn’t until he moved his thumb up to rub the back of Cole’s floppy ear that the Earth-Ninja-dog finally gave a reaction.
“That… feels kinda nice…,” he mumbled.
“Does this sensation relax you?” Zane asked with a grin.
“U-uhh… sorta… yeah….”
Zane used his index finger to rub Cole’s other ear. Cole tilted his head and leaned it against Zane’s finger. The gentle contact comforted his racing heart that was already slowing down.
A warm and loving smile came to Zane’s face. He slowly paced in a circle, gently rocking Cole as if he was a baby. He continued to pet the little dog, twirling his fingers in the soft fur.
Cole huffed softly. His eyelids started to droop for only a brief moment before they snapped open wide.
Wait… is my tail wagging!?
Zane chuckled at the little stub wiggling in happiness.
“D-don’t laugh at me!” Cole protested in embarrassment.
Zane tucked both of his hands beneath Cole’s body and lifted him up. He planted a soft kiss on top of Cole’s fluffy little head.
“There is no need to be embarrassed, Cole. Physical affection is proven to release endorphins, which promote pleasure and relaxation. From my analysis, this is what you need the most at this time,” he said.
He wrapped his hands around Cole’s chest and lifted him up to eye level. Cole squirmed and whimpered, his hind legs dangling in the air.
“Don’t drop me..!” he whined.
“I won’t, I promise you. Do you trust me?” Zane asked.
Cole paused. His little doggy heart swelled at Zane’s gentle and loving gaze.
“Of course I trust you,” he said softly.
Zane kissed him again, on the forehead this time. Cole’s ears perked up, his tail wagging. He craned his neck and licked Zane on the tip of his nose.
“That tickles!” Zane exclaimed with a chuckle.
Cole responded by licking Zane again. Zane held Cole farther away and laughed.
“I love the sound of your laugh,” Cole said.
“Ahah…. Thank you…,” Zane mumbled, averting his gaze with a big smile on his face.
He held Cole against his chest in a gentle hug. The two nuzzled each other’s heads, their eyes closed in blissful love.
“I think you should stay like this for a while,” Zane remarked with a hint of amusement in his tone.
He rested one arm beneath Cole’s body and held him against his chest. He gently scratched the sides of Cole’s neck, earning more tail wags.
“Aww, why? You sick of dealing with me as a person?” Cole teased.
“As a small dog, I can take you anywhere I want, and I enjoy petting you,” Zane replied.
He stroked Cole’s back, using his thumb to gently squeeze the skin as his hand drifted downward. His smile grew when he noticed the dog hairs that were beginning to accumulate on his hand.
“Do you enjoy that sensation?” he inquired.
“Yeah…,” Cole admitted. “It’s kinda like getting a massage.”
“I can tell that you are calming down, and that makes me very happy.”
Zane continued to pet Cole with a warm smile on his face. He studied the limited data he had on dogs, analyzing for anything that could help Cole calm down even more. With no treats to give or toys to play fetch with, his options were limited.
“Statistically, a dog’s favorite spot to be rubbed is the belly,” he stated.
“Huh? Rub my belly?” Cole asked.
Zane didn’t argue. He effortlessly flipped Cole over until he was lying on his back.
“U-umm… are you sure this is a good idea?” Cole asked with a nervous chuckle.
“Of course it is. If my data is accurate, you will enjoy this immensely, and it will put you in a state of complete relaxation,” Zane answered.
He gently rested his hand on Cole’s fluffy tummy and rubbed back and forth. He said nothing, his smile fading in a thoughtful silence as he studied Cole’s body language. The last thing he wanted was to make his lover uncomfortable.
To his delight, Cole’s entire body relaxed. Cole’s tail wagging slowed down as his eyes closed in blissful silence.
“There you go. Just relax. We will find a way out of here, and we will save Bonzle. I promise you that. But, we must stay calm and collect our thoughts if we want to succeed,” Zane said gently.
Cole nodded slowly.
“I don’t want you to stress. That is bad for you, and it will cloud your thoughts and make it harder for you to make the right choices. I will fight by your side and do whatever it takes to rescue your friend, and stop these villains,” Zane continued, his voice soft and loving.
“You’re the best, Zane…,” Cole mumbled.
“It is my duty to protect those who cannot protect themselves. Not to mention, I have greatly enjoyed being with you again after all this time. I have hoped for this to come ever since I was reactivated after the Merge.”
“Me too. I missed you so much…”
Zane’s Nindroid heart swelled with love. He lifted Cole up and planted soft kisses along his forehead and neck. Cole licked his cheek repeatedly in response, his tail wagging faster.
“Th-that still tickles,” Zane said with a chuckle.
“Why can we tickle you, anyways?” Cole asked.
“I want to partake in human sensations just as much as emotions. I don’t want to be a robot who feels nothing when touched.”
“Oh really ?”
Cole pawed at Zane’s face and gave him more licks of affection. His tiny claws drug across the titanium surface. The laughter from Zane that came in response only encouraged him to lick even more.
Instead of saying anything, Zane went on the attack. He lifted Cole higher and kissed along his chest and belly. He almost relished the fur getting in his face every time he leaned down to plant a kiss. Chuckles and laughs escaped him despite his attempts to suppress them.
Cole yapped and pawed at Zane’s nose. Zane chuckled and brought his face closer, allowing Cole to ever so gently bite down on Zane’s nose with his tiny canine teeth. He continued to paw at Zane’s face while biting and licking his nose as if it was a toy. His tail wagged faster at the joy and love in Zane’s eyes.
“That’s not a treat,” the Nindroid said in amusement.
Cole yapped again. He pawed more furiously at Zane’s face, his paws sliding down Zane’s cheeks over and over again without leaving a mark.
Zane smirked a little. He stared into Cole’s eyes as he reached down and rubbed his fluffy tummy. Cole froze almost immediately, his little jaws still painlessly clamped down on Zane’s nose.
“I know your weakness,” Zane teased.
Cole let out a little whine and let go of Zane’s nose. He gave it one last affectionate lick before relaxing back into Zane’s arms.
“Th-that’s not fair,” he grumbled.
“But it makes you so happy,” Zane countered, kissing Cole on the forehead.
“I’m just….. happy to be with you again…”
“As am I. I could not ask for a better person to be trapped in a magic storehouse with.”
Cole rubbed his snout with his paws, his tail wagging harder.
“Do not be embarrassed, Cole. I want to see your adorable face,” Zane said.
Cole hesitated. He whined and licked his paws shyly.
“Please?” Zane requested.
Cole went still. He slowly lowered his paws, revealing his big puppy eyes. He looked up at Zane in silence.
“Better,” Zane remarked.
He lifted Cole up and kissed him softly on the nose.
Instead of returning the affection, Cole screwed up his face. His eye twitched, and before Zane could ask what was wrong, he let out a tiny little sneeze.
Both were instantly blinded by a burst of pink fairy dust. Zane gasped when the tiny weight in his arms increased rapidly, until he could no longer support it. He staggered backwards and fell on his back, where the weight continued to grow on top of him.
The fairy dust disappeared just a few moments later. Zane lifted his head and gasped in delight to see Cole human again, laying sideways on top of him.
“Cole! You’ve returned to normal!” he exclaimed.
Cole groaned and opened his eyes. He looked down at his body and lifted his hands to stare at them in confusion.
“I’m human again!” he realized.
Without a moment’s hesitation, he leapt to his feet with a big smile of relief. He lifted his feet and stretched his arms as if he hadn’t used them in days. He wiggled his fingers and touched his face, free of all that fur.
“So it seems the spell is triggered by a sneeze,” Zane observed as he stood up.
“Yeah. Guess I better make a note of that,” Cole grumbled.
“Are you happy to be a person again?”
“Yes. Now I can fight!”
Cole punched the air in determination, daydreams of saving Bonzle already running through his mind. His heart pounded in excitement to fight alongside the other ninja again.
“It’s good to have you back,” Zane said.
Cole smiled warmly at him. That smile turned into a smirk just seconds later when an idea popped into his mind.
“Sooooooooo……,” he began with a smug edge to his tone, resting his elbow on Zane’s shoulder.
“U-umm, yes?” Zane asked with a light blush.
“Am I still adorable?”
Zane smiled warmly. “Even more so.”
He held out his hand in offering. Cole took his hand without hesitation and held it gently. The two ninja looked lovingly into each other’s eyes, before leaning closer and sharing one last kiss on the lips together.
The End