Chapter Text
(Kai's POV)
Is it possible for a man to die of happiness?
This question loops through my subconscious as I walk through downtown Ninjago City, my face comfortably sore from smiling so much. And seriously? What isn't there to smile about? Ninjago is safe from the Overlord (Golden Master, Crystal King, whatever moniker he's going by these days), the city is slowly coming together again, the monastery is almost livable again (no more sucky air mattresses, thank the First Master), and my powers are back to full strength. The familiar warmth in my chest only adds to the light, happy feeling bubbling inside as I hop across the street to the front door of my destination.
I peek in through the big frontside window, my heart backflipping when I catch sight of her casually chatting with a customer as she wipes down the counter. Her dark auburn hair is beginning to spill out of its usual ponytail and streaks of flour decorate her face, but her glowing smile and sparking eyes full of fire and life make her look just as gorgeous as ever.
A couple exiting the restaurant snaps me out of my thoughts, and I slip in without drawing attention to myself. My grin stretches wider as she laughs at something in her conversation, and my chest buzzes. Gosh, her laugh is cute. It reminds me of the forge at my parents' blacksmith shop, all warm and welcoming. I tiptoe closer, hoping to surprise her, but she turns her head and catches me before I can get within three feet of her, her cheeks rosy.
“Kai! Fancy seeing you here.”
“Eh, I was in the neighborhood and figured I'd stop by,” I reply, matching her teasing tone and returning her beaming smile with a half-shrug. I whip out the bouquet of pink and orange flowers that I had picked up on my way over. “Got you a little something.”
“Thank you.” She gently accepts the flowers, hiding her broad grin among the petals. After giving them a sniff, she jerks her head toward the back. “I'll go put these with the others. Be right back.” She shoots me a sassy wink before disappearing into the kitchen.
My steps light and airy, I take a seat at our usual booth in the corner. It isn't long after I've sat down when she returns, and I can't help but smile at the way my heart Spinjitzus in my chest when she sits across from me. She mirrors my smile for a moment before it suddenly turns to a grimace, her hands reaching up toward her messy ponytail.
“Ugh. I probably look like a disaster.”
I gently guide her hands away from her hair, rubbing my thumbs over the faded scars across her knuckles. “You've never looked more beautiful, Flambe.”
Her face crinkles as she laughs, shaking her head at me. She sighs, a hand briefly breaking away to swipe some stray hair behind her ear before returning to rest in mine. “So...what're the flowers for this time?”
“Psh. As if I needed a reason to bring you flowers,” I scoff.
She raises her eyebrows at me with a small, knowing smirk growing on her face.
I toss my head to the side and sigh dramatically before meeting her gaze again. “Alright, fine. You got me. Consider them a thank you.”
“'Thank you'?” she repeats, her head cocking to the side. “For what?”
I bark out a short laugh. “Oh, I dunno. Thank you for helping us save the city. For helping piece the monastery back together. For stuffing us with free food. For putting up with my jerky butt the past few weeks. For helping me get my powers back.” I gesture wildly for a moment, straining for anything more before settling on a simple shrug. “Just...thank you. For being you, I guess.”
It's then that I notice her smile has softened and her eyes are shiny and oh geez, I didn't just make her cry, did I? She lets out a breathy chuckle, wiping at her damp eyes. “You didn't have to go through all that for me,” she says quietly.
“Of course I do! You deserve it, Sky.”
She shakes her head, her breath trembling a bit. “That's not what I meant. Back at the warehouse, when I got mad at you for never being around, I didn't mean all of that. I understand that you have a job to do and everything. I was just...starting to doubt if we were really...serious, y'know? I wasn't trying to guilt trip you into visiting me every day. I- I just wanted-”
I take the opportunity to intervene, grasping her hands softly. “But I do want to visit you, Sky. Whether or not you meant any of that, what you said made me realize just how much I've taken you for granted. I guess I always assumed that you knew I was serious about us, but I never really acted on that and I'm sorry.” I cup her face with one hand, tracing a smear of flour on her cheek with a smile. “But I promise things are gonna be different this time around.”
She squeezes my other hand, her smile settling somewhere between relieved and flirty. “I think I like the sound of that.”
I bring her face to mine, capturing her lips in a kiss. I can't explain it, but somehow it's different than I expected. My senses all seem to flare into overdrive at once, and suddenly, I'm aware of everything. The scent of noodles clinging to her hair and clothes. The subtle ridges of the scars across her warm hand. My nerves ignite one by one until my whole heart explodes like New Year's, and yet, I feel more at peace than perhaps in my entire life.
Can a man die of happiness? Heck if I know, but if I am, I'll gladly die a thousand deaths to be with her.