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As the blue ninja huddled up against Kai for warmth, Kai really had to wonder why in the name of the First Spinjitzu Master it had to be just the two of them on this stupid duos mission. Why couldn’t they have sent Zane?? The master of ice?? To somewhere so freezing cold??
Oh there you go, now you even sound like him.
Kai sighed heavily, making Jay shift a little to look up at him. “Aren’t you gonna sleep sometime?” He mumbled, stifling a yawn.
…He looked so cute like that-
“Wha- Jay! This is supposed to be a stakeout!” Kai protested, attempting to pull his arm away. Jay only clung tighter, letting out a muffled “Mm-!” as he shoved his face into the side of Kai’s shoulder. “Jay, I know I’m warm but you need to stay awake, buddy.” Kai sighed, shifting his position so he could better see his cru- friend’s face.
This wasn’t the first time Jay had been so snuggly with Kai. He was like that when he was sleepy, and doubly so when it was cold in the monastery. Unfortunately Nya had volunteered them both for this… Nighttime mission.. In the middle of winter… Oh. Of course she knew what she was doing, FSM. He was going to have to get back at her for this. If he could only survive the few nights they were spending in a cave that was, frankly, completely fucking freezing, with the human equivalent of a hyperactive puppy clinging to his arm. The same person whose adorable eyes were now looking directly into Kai’s- what-?
Kai jolted back to reality and blinked a few times. “Huh-?” Jay rolled his eyes, a pretend-mad scowl on his face. “I said, that if you don’t want me stuck to your side, then MAYBE you could build a DAMN CAMPFIRE with your ELEMENTAL POWERS-“ His voice was rising too quickly; Kai clapped one hand over his mouth as he shushed him. “Shh! We’ll get caught!! And I can’t build a campfire, because that’s just as good as waving around a neon sign and shouting ‘We’re spying on you!!’” Kai scolded him in a hushed tone, but he couldn’t really be mad. His heart was pounding from the sudden fear of being captured. Or was it because…
Because of how soft Jay’s lips felt under his palm?
Kai quickly let go, feeling his cheeks heating up considerably. He glanced away, hoping that the darkness was enough to cover his blush. Jay didn’t seem to notice, thank FSM, instead huffing and pulling away from Kai, instead wrapping his own arms around himself. “Fine, I get it. But it really is freezing in here.” He shivered, his breath coming in clouds in the air.
Jay hesitated before he spoke again. “…Sorry if I was being too clingy, by the way. You can push me away next time if-“ Jay broke off as a comforting weight fell over him, and a jolt of static electricity coursed through his heart, and across his shoulders. He whipped his head around to stare at Kai; The fire ninja had pulled him closer, though he was still looking away. Jay couldn’t help but notice that smoke was rising from the other man’s hair.
“Kai-? I thought fire would get us caught-“
“Oh- Oh shi- Y- yeah- thanks Jay-“ Kai cleared his throat, feeling his heart hammering against his ribcage so loudly that he thought Jay surely could hear it. Shoot, didn’t the blue ninja have sensitive ears?? Oh this was a bad idea this was a bad idea he would think Kai was weird he would hate him for feeling this way he would distance himself if he only knew how much Kai liked hi-
Kai’s thoughts were silenced when Jay leaned his head onto his shoulder, breathing a deep sigh of contentment. The air grew still, a comforting silence. Jay had closed his blue and hazel eyes, and Kai found his own head tilting until it was resting on top of Jay’s, and with each breath he could faintly smell the cologne Jay used, and oh did Jay have any idea how badly he drove Kai mad? Not that Kai would change it for anything in the world.
Jay was outwardly calm; he was good at appearing that way if he really needed to, despite the fact that he was notorious for freaking out. But inwardly, oh, he could NOT remember the last time he had THIS MUCH gay panic. Leaning on Kai was even warmer than Jay imagined it would be, and it was all Jay could do to stop himself from falling into the fire ninja’s arms and begging him for them to cuddle together. With the warmth from Kai’s arm on his shoulders enveloping him, Jay could feel his shivers subsiding.
Until he felt fingers gently brushing through his hair. When that happened a shiver that felt like lightning itself made its way up Jay’s spine and he couldn’t hold back a gasp. Kai’s hand retreated quickly.
“Sorry-“ Kai began, only for Jay to press closer to him. “No, keep going.. please..?” He pleaded.
Kai smiled at him and returned to brushing his hand through Jay’s soft auburn locks. Jay smiled widely, he knew he should be far more awake than this, but he was just.. so warm.. And Kai was so close, this was what Jay had daydreamed about for months…
Well, shit, thought Kai, upon realising that Jay had, in fact, fallen asleep.
“Jay?” He asked to empty ears.
“Jay?? Zaptrap? C’mon, wake up, we still have a mission to finish.” Kai insisted.
He was answered with a quiet snore that felt louder in the silence.
Kai poked his freckled face. “Bluejay.”
“Mm…”
“Bluebell.” Kai’s cheeks grew warm as he spoke the nickname.
“…”
Nothing. Kai was about to shake him awake but… Nothing was happening out there anyways, he realised. And Kai was still awake, after all. He could probably afford to let Jay sleep for a while without ruining the mission. So he turned his gaze to the spot outside that they suspected Pythor would visit, and let Jay fall into a deeper slumber.
Jay slowly made his way back to consciousness to the sound of gentle murmuring. It took him a moment to remember where he was, but a smile graced his lips as soon as he did. FSM, he was so warm. He kept his eyes closed, savouring the moment, not wanting to be brought back to reality. He wanted to imagine that things could be like this every day…
“-And you’re always so brave when it counts, even though it isn’t noticed as much…” Kai breathed, his voice was so gentle… A hand brushed through Jay’s hair with every sentence Kai spoke, and Jay was pretty sure he was in heaven. Or he was still dreaming. Kai’s voice grew even quieter as he continued.
“Pretty, too, and- and adorable- you’re such a dork and- and I- uhm. I love you for it, really. I just- love you in general-“ Kai was stammering now, and Jay felt the arm around him growing warmer by the second as he processed the words.
What.
What?
WHAT?!
He was dreaming. He had to be dreaming still. There was no way that Kai, beautiful, handsome, impulsive but still brilliant Kai Smith, could ever love Jay back. But… That’s what he was hearing, wasn’t it?? Kai spoke so gently, it was as if his words were made of feathers, made of gentle summer breezes, made of the soft yet strong red string that Jay was sure tied the two together.
“…FSM Why am I like this- practicing how to tell you when you’re actually awake? Nya would tease me till the end of time for this-“ Kai scolded himself, and it was enough to snap Jay out of his thoughts and lift his head to stare at the fire ninja. Kai didn’t notice him, one hand still draped around the back of Jay’s neck, as he continued to drag himself down. But Jay wasn’t even hearing his words anymore, he was staring at Kai’s face, his tanned skin, covered in scars but still so, so beautiful, the way his brown eyes caught the light, the gradually rising blush that was covering his cheeks…
“-Damnit Kai, you need to just get over him already .” It was a thought Kai had so often, yet he could never make himself listen, and now he just wanted to bury his feelings six feet under and make absolutely certain they could never climb out. He was so lost in his thoughts that he was caught completely off-guard by a pair of soft lips connecting to his cheek.
Kai’s breath hitched and he froze as Jay pulled away, before snapping his head around to face him. Jay was staring at him with a face dusted in a pink blush, hair still scruffy after his nap, and his gaze filled with such loving tenderness that Kai swore he almost felt his heart stop. Jay began to fidget with his hands as Kai stared, starstruck. It was as though the blue ninja was second-guessing himself, unsure of whether he should’ve done that. Uncertainty clouded his eyes and he began to stutter.
“Uh- I- I’m sorry-! I just- I heard the last of what you said and- uhm- you don’t need to worry about that! You’re beautiful and handsome and the bravest guy I know and you- we- I- you’re brilliant, Kai, I’ve seen it from the start, I didn’t think it would turn into anything- anything romantic, but- but I guess… I guess it was only- only a matter of time before it did… Uh- but I- I love you- I love you too, is what I wanted to say- I think…?”
Kai’s mind was whirling as Jay continued to stumble over his words. He couldn’t believe it; both that Jay had been awake and had heard him, and that he didn’t seem to mind…? At all? In fact he seemed to feel the same- Kai couldn’t believe it.
The sun was rising behind Jay as the blue ninja continued to speak, his voice rising as he grew more anxious about his actions. Soon he’d be getting too loud again, but this time Kai had an idea on how to shut him up. He hooked one hand behind Jay’s neck, leaning closer and pulling Jay as he did so until they were so close their noses were brushing. He stared into Jay’s eyes, one blue, one hazel, both now filled with exhilaration and hope as the air grew silent and crackled with warmth and electricity.
“Jay Walker, could I kiss you?” Kai breathed, his breath blowing Jay’s hair out of his eyes.
In response Jay squeezed his eyes shut and closed the gap between the two. Kai couldn’t tell you how long the kiss lasted, only that it was probably the best thing Kai had ever experienced. He brought his hands up to cup Jay’s face, and the shorter man wrapped one arm tight around Kai’s neck, pulling him closer as his other arm snaked around Kai’s waist, tugging him forward until Jay was sitting on Kai’s lap and now both arms were around Kai’s neck and he thought he was in heaven.
Once they broke apart to catch their breath, leaning their foreheads together, Kai opened his eyes and stared lovingly at Jay, his lips curling into a smile. Jay did the same, smiling sweetly, until the blue ninja’s brows furrowed and Kai tilted his head.
“Does this mean- are we-“
Kai grasped Jay’s hand, intertwining their fingers together.
“Together? Boyfriends?” He asked. Jay nodded.
“Are we?”
Kai smiled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck shyly. “I mean… I’d like to be- if- you feel the sa-“
“Yes!!” Jay cried, throwing his arms around Kai and snuggling his face into the crook of his neck as Kai tightly held him, smiling into Jay’s fluffy hair. His boyfriend- the thought made Kai’s heart skip a beat- turned his head and kissed Kai on the cheek, and in response Kai just held him tighter and snuggled closer against him.
…This was going to take some explaining when they returned to the monastery, Kai thought, until a much more annoying realisation crossed his mind.
Nya was going to be so fucking smug that her plan actually worked.