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It was a beautiful day outside. From his window in the hospital, Cole could see that the sky was clear and the sun was shining down on Ninjago City. This hospital room, even if it was a single one and he was pretty removed from every other patient, was stifling for…a lot of reasons. He wanted to go out and enjoy the day…maybe if he asked his nurse, they would get him a wheelchair and when Jay and Zane came to see him they could all-
“Cooooole!!!”
Ah, speak of the devil…
Cole turned from the window to the door to his room just in time to watch his boyfriends enter. Jay bounded in enthusiastically, proudly displaying a tray of food, and Zane followed behind, looking at the two of them fondly.
They had initially been glad to get some time to themselves; finally had enough space for romantic activities. Wu, Kai, Lloyd, and Nya were on a meditative retreat, leaving the three of them the entire monastery to themselves. But the cuddling and movie marathon had been rudely interrupted when they were called into Ninjago City to deal with some thieves.
Zane had gotten out of the fight pretty unscathed - part of the joys of being made of metal - and Cole was pretty sure any injuries he had sustained, Jay had probably fixed up in the past couple of hours. Cole knew that ever since they found out Zane was a Nindroid all those years ago, Jay kept a spare wrench and screwdriver on him, just in case of emergencies.
Jay, on the other hand, was a little more beat up. He had a black eye and a split and swollen lip, marring his cute face but making him seem a little tough - or so he had proclaimed upon noticing his injuries.
The only one who had really gotten injured was Cole when he stupidly stepped in a pothole mid-fight and broke his ankle. It wasn’t even because of the fight, he was just an idiot. And now he was stuck in the hospital for the night so they could tell if he needed surgery in the morning. (Which would suuuuuck if that’s what needed to happen).
But his mood instantly lightened when he saw his three favorite things in the world in one place: Jay, Zane, and food. (In no particular order).
“Oh my god, you guys are angels,” Cole groaned as Jay placed the tray of what looked like mac and cheese on his lap. It was hospital food, sure, but food was food at this point. “I haven’t eaten since this morning!” He immediately dug in, incredibly happy at getting something into his stomach with the pain meds.
“Did they say when you’re coming home?” Zane asked, pulling over the chair in the room over to the side of his bed. Jay hovered near Cole’s head, but one of his hands reached out to touch Cole on the shoulder. It was so…them. Zane being forward thinking while Jay needed that tactile support…
Cole swallowed and grimaced. “Not till the morning. They took x-rays and it’s definitely broken but they want to talk to the surgery team and see if I’m getting pins put in or something…”
Jay raised an eyebrow. “From stepping in a hole?!”
“Yeah, yeah,” Cole nudged Jay playfully with a smirk. “I know it’s stupid, huh…You don’t have to tell me. I’m the one sitting here with a splint on my leg.”
“We’re just glad you’re alright,” Zane reassured him, reaching out so he was also touching Cole, placing his cool hand on Cole’s thigh over the blanket.
“Yeah but,” Cole shoveled more of his meal into his mouth. “I don’t want to stay here any longer than necessary.”
“Well, we certainly want you back home as soon as possible,” Zane started but Jay interrupted.
“The bed is going to be so lonely without you!”
“But,” Zane continued, “We also want you to get well again, and if that means staying here until you are able to come home then-”
“This was my mom’s room…” Cole cut him off, hand tightening around his fork. The both of them knew about his aversion to hospitals and why he didn’t like them very much… He’d been trying to ignore the fact that this wasn’t his first time in this particular hospital room. Not by a long shot. “I think…I think maybe it’s the earth master suite or something,” he muttered, scooping more noodles onto his fork. “I don’t…I don’t want to stay here.”
“Oh, Cole…” Jay murmured, squeezing his shoulder.
Cole sniffed. “I’m…I’m fine, but uh…I was thinking maybe we could go for a walk when I’m done with my food? There are too many memories here.”
“I can go ask one of your nurses whenever you’re ready,” Zane said gently and Cole just nodded.
“I wonder…sometimes…if she’d be proud of me, y’know?” He voiced, feeling safe enough to be vulnerable with the two men he loved. He would never usually say something like that. He much preferred to be the rock other people brought their problems to but… The room was doing things to him.
“Of course she would be proud of you,” Jay said, leaning over the railing on Cole’s bed, concern clear on his expressive face. “What makes you think she wouldn’t?”
“I dunno, it’s just…a lot sometimes. Living up to her legacy. Especially after what we learned in the Sky Kingdom. I just wonder if maybe there was someone…better to do this job. Someone stronger or more confident or better at being a hero like her.”
“There is no one better than you,” Zane said firmly, and Cole looked up, a little surprised by the conviction in his voice. Jay nodded next to him, looking just as serious.
“Cole,” Zane murmured, a soft smile curving his lips. “I don’t only say this because I love you, but you are an incredible person. There is no one who has your heart, your compassion, your strength.”
“And he’s talking more than physical strength,” Jay smiled brightly, his hand coming down to grasp Cole’s wrist.
“You’re…” Zane started, then his face turned frustrated. “Jay, you’re better with words than I am.”
“Got you Frosty,” Jay nodded at their boyfriend, picking up where he’d left off. “You’re one of the kindest people we know, Cole. Every day waking up next to you is a privilege. You are the base this team is built upon, steady and solid. How many times have I come to you over the years freaking out, only for you to talk me down? How many times has Zane woken up in the middle of the night thinking he’s back in the Never-Realm only for you to kiss him back to sleep? That’s just who you are. You’re a good person Cole Brookstone. And I think we can partially thank your mom for that, so yeah,” Jay’s grin turned cheesy. “I think she’d be proud of you…even if you stepped in a hole and broke your ankle like a complete dumbass.”
“Jay,” Zane chided, giggling slightly.
“Thanks guys…” Cole murmured, setting down his fork so he could grasp both of his boyfriends’ hands. Jay’s made energy zip up his arm, tingling but not hurting. Zane’s chilled his skin, settling into his bones in a comforting way. “And…for what it’s worth,” he turned to Jay. “I think your mom would be proud of you too.”
Jay’s jaw clenched. Cole knew it was a sensitive subject, but he felt as though he had to say it. He hadn’t known Libber…but his own mother wasn’t the kind of woman to be best friends with assholes who just abandoned their sons for no good reason.
“We’re talking about you,” Jay pursed his lips humorously. “Not me. We can do more about that tomorrow. But for now, you’re our focus. So, let’s see if we can get you out of this hospital and cause chaos in the park outside.” With one more squeeze of Cole’s hand, Jay let go and practically skipped out of the room to go bother the nurses on staff about getting him a wheelchair.
“Damn, I didn’t even ask,” Cole said once he was gone, eyebrows arching in concern. “Did you guys eat?”
“We did while we were waiting for Jay’s eye scan to come back.” Zane leant forward conspiratorially. “He ate five pudding cups. I still have no idea where he puts it all, but…”
Cole guffawed. “And he makes fun of me!” He turned back to his own meal and continued eating. The room might be…oppressive, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t still starving. Plus, if Jay was coming back with a nurse and a wheelchair, he wanted to be done by then.
“We meant what we said,” Zane said softly, rubbing his thumb over the back of Cole’s hand. “Lilly would be proud of you. I know she would be.”
“She would’ve loved you guys,” Cole looked back up at Zane, smiling wistfully.
Zane’s face grew softer. “I’m sure the feeling would have been mutual.”
“Yeah,” Cole sighed, considering his half-eaten mac and cheese. “Do you think I could get cake with this?”
Zane chuckled, and Cole grinned. His mom had been a legendary warrior, and he still felt the weight of her legacy every day. (Being the Son of Lilly certainly came with its own issues and enemies.) But still…he felt certain she would have wanted him to be happy. And with Zane and Jay by his side, he was.