Chapter Text
Cole turns in bed, trying very hard to fall back asleep. The missing warmth of the person normally laying beside him at this time of the day caused him to wake up. It’s still dark outside, so Cole doesn’t see a point in crawling out of bed.
But where did Jay go?
This day is going to be exhausting.
Even in times when his mom was still alive, Cole always hated the atmosphere of the day of the departed. He hated that it made him think back on his grandparents, forever lost in time. Hated when telling old stories about his ansestors made his dad tear up. Himself following on the spot. Now that his mom was out of this world too, this day gave him less than nothing. It hurt something deep in his heart.
Cole couldn’t believe that people wished each other a good day, because the day of the departed is never a good day. It was the day his mom died, nearly ten years ago, and it was the day his friends nearly forgot about him, while being trapped inside a ghostly form. Cole shivers thinking about the time he spent in the temple with Yang.
Light footsteps suddenly flood over the corridor's floor. Cole knows exactly who it is, even before the person opens the door and peaks inside.
“I’m awake”, he announces, so that Jay doesn’t have to try to stay quiet. The lighting master seems to always forget about his ninja skills when it comes to not waking people up.
“Hope I didn’t cause that”, Jay answers softly. Closing the door behind him and locking out the soft light, coming from the corridor.
It’s deep dark again, Cole barely making out his boyfriend’s silhouette.
“No, you didn’t. I woke up in the first place, because I missed you next to me. Why are you up so early?”
Jay takes the few missing steps and gets back inside his bed. Cole lifts the blanket to get the blue ninja under and the second he lays down, Cole is all over him.
He doesn’t have to talk. Jay knows what’s up. The day is a national celebration on every calendar, marked in red at the one, hanging in the monastery’s kitchen.
Jay hugs back, the big boy in his arms at least loosening up a tiny bit.
Cole feels Jay’s arms closing around him, locking out every thought of transience and darkness. The soft fingers circling on his biceps, promising to cuddle for eternity.
“Is there anything I can do, making this day less horrible for you?”, Jay asks. He places his head on Cole’s hair, planting soft kisses on the dark curls.
“Don’t let go of me, till it’s over”, Cole murmurs.
“Noted. But I think the day I planned won’t allow that.”
“What do you mean?” Cole doesn’t have the strength to lift his head and there is no need to do it. It’s too dark to read an expression, but if there would have been light, he would have loved to look Jay in the eyes and search for an answer.
“A surprise. But no pressure to start now. We have plenty of time.”
“Jay …”
Another kiss on the head. “Don’t worry dirt clod. It’s nothing big. And if you don't feel like it at all and prefer to stay in bed, we don't have to do it.”
Warmth floods Cole’s heart. Jay planned something, but still gave him a choice to do it or not. He knows him too well.
“Okay.”
They stay like that for an undefined period of time. Cole laying on top - or better burying Jay underneath him - listening to his slow heartbeat. Time doesn't play a role at all when they’re cuddling.
Cole often has to deal with the attitude people connect his element to. Earth is solid, strong and powerful. That’s what he has to be like in public. The big rock of the team, unbreakable and raw.
But when it’s only him and Jay, alone in their rooms, shield by privacy and darkness, he can finally let go of keeping an image.
People are like galleries, full of different paintings. And Jay knows every single one of his, even the dirtiest, darkest ones. Being a tiny ball of comfort in his boyfriend's arms may not be a shady secret, but one he’s willing to keep between the two.
“I talked to my parents and they said I should send you hugs”, Jay tells quietly.
“That’s why you left the bed? It’s probably six in the morning and you already spoke to them?”
“No, yesterday evening after you went to bed.”
Cole had been pretty tired, because Wu sent him and Zane on a long mission for the whole day. He normally loves to play a video game with Jay and the others before going to bed, but yesterday he couldn’t keep his eyes open.
“Ah. I haven’t been to the junkyard in so long. Everything’s alright there?”
“Yeah, pretty much. Dad’s building a new vehicle, because the old car starts making problems. But nothing impressive to look at till now.”
Cole smiles. “Cool. Then it’s a surprise when I get the chance to look at it.”
A comfortable silence falls above them. The absolute absence of noise … but not for long.
A sudden bang on the door destroys all the comfort building up the small room.
“Jay?” To Cole’s surprise it isn’t Kai who wants their attention, but Lloyd.
“What is it?”, Jay asks, trying very hard not to sound annoyed.
Lloyd opens the door slowly. Light filling the room and illuminating the green pajamas of the master of energy. “Is that your pancake dough in the fridge?”
With the speed of lightning, Jay’s out of bed. “Yes. What’s wrong with it? Didn’t the flour connect with the milk? Did I do anything wrong?”
Cole can only assume that Jay being highly fixated on his pancake dough means one thing: It was the first surprise for his day with Cole.
And no matter what happened to the dough - the thought that Jay made it for him warms Cole’s heart.
“Did someone drop it?”, Jay goes on.
“No. But Kai …”
“Kai!”
Lloyd doesn’t have to finish his sentence. The second Jay guessed what’s up, he’s out of the room, storming toward the kitchen.
The green and the black ninja follow with less aggressive speed.
“Kai you stupid idiot. What are you doing with my dough?”
“What you should do with it - make pancakes. Not letting it sour in the fridge.”
The kitchen is a mess. Jay must have left everything he touched to make his dough at the exact place he used it. But that’s no problem, because it’s six in the morning on a holiday - nobody should be awake and there should be plenty of time to clean it, before anyone can complain about it.
But there they all are. Nya and Zane sit on the big table, sharing a first round of coffee. Pixal waters the plants. Kai tries his best not to burn Jay’s dough - because he loves to burn things. Jay tries not to burn his fire breathing friend - because he just ruined the romantic breakfast with his boyfriend. Said boyfriend taking it all in - because the situation is just so unbelievable to think about. And Lloyd - just standing there and probably rethinking on what went wrong in his life to have him end up here.
“I guess that means pancakes for breakfast for all of us”, Cole offers what brings him enlightened faces from all of them. Well, all except Jay.
The others clean up Jay’s mess to make room for breakfast, while Cole takes his boyfriend to the side.
“What?”, the blue ninja asks, slightly annoyed.
Cole doesn’t say anything. He cups Jay’s face in his hands and lets his fingers wander over the freckles, before he pulls him forward, closing the gap between their lips.
The kiss only lasts a few seconds, because the others discover that the two went missing and are now demanding them to help cleaning.
“Don’t let Kai ruin our day. I would have preferred a silent breakfast with you too, but it’s not bad, having all of them here.”
Jay takes his hand. The promise he made earlier, to never let go of it today. “Fine.”