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Cole reached out a scarred hand to knock on the door infront of him.
"Hey Frosty, its me, just checkin up on ya." He smiled as he peaked into the room. Quickly spotting Zane sitting at his desk on the far side of the room.
"Oh hello Cole, are the others ready? I will be out in a minute." His partner called, standing from his chair.
Cole closed the door behind him, sticking his hands in his pockets and he walked scross the room.
"No we've still got a while. Just wanted to come hang out with you for a bit."
Zane smiled before turning back to his desk.
The earth elemental rested his head on his partners shoulder as he wrapped his arms around the droids waist, looking down to watch him work.
"Your lantern's looking great! A lot better than Jay's, that's for sure." He chuckled.
Zane rolled his eyes playfully.
"You shouldn't pit lanterns against one another Cole, the quality isn't what's special about them. They are meant to honor lost loved ones."
"Yeah yeah yeah." Cole laughed, holding his partner tighter. Causing Zane to laugh softly.
He glanced away from Zane's busy hands twords a framed photo on his desk. Zane really did look like his father, Cole wished that he could have known him for longer.
His eyes drifted further away, and he examined a small picture messily taped to Zanes wall. Echo had put it there, a blurry photo taken by Kai of the two brothers play-fighting over some petty disagreement they had both forgotten about by now.
His smile faded slightly. Zane's relationship with Echo had been... complicated. His partner claimed that everything was good between them now, but Cole could still see the occasional unease that would fall over Zane when Echo acted out.
Cole hummed slightly as he looked at the photo.
"Shouldn't Echo be here with you? It's her first Day of the Departed since he joined us."
Zane's hands came to a stop, gently resting on the unfinished lantern.
"He... seemed uneasy with the idea of making a lantern for father." His voice trailed off, and Cole could pick up a hint of guilt in his tone.
"Besides, they said they already made plans for tonight." Zane chuckled slightly
"You know how he can be, it's hard to keep him in one place. Especially now that Nya fixed her motorcycle."
Cole stood up, walking over to glance out the open window.
"Yeah that kid's sure hard to pin down. What do you think their up to?"
Zane shrugged.
"I'm not sure, I didn't push about specifics. But he said that he would be back by midnight."
Cole watched his partner work, his eyes getting lost in the smooth calculated repetition of Zanes weaving.
"Well then let's just hope she keeps herself out of trouble. And away from criminals this time." The earth elemental chuckled, turning to stare out the window again.
"He's smart, he will."
○
Echo slowed his bike to a hault. Removing their keys and poping out the kickstand.
He hooked his keys onto his studded belt as she walked twords the door. Hearing muffled music and laughter from inside the building.
They walked past the illuminated sign, its old LEDs flickering in the afternoon light.
Laughy's Karaoke Bar
Echo smiled to herself as she glanced up at the sign.
It had been a hot minute since they had been here. He wondered if the others were inside already.
He got his awnser immediately as he pushed open the door and walked inside.
"E! FSM it took you long enough!" A familiar voice yelled above the bars chatter.
Echo smiled to themself as she glanced up twords the balcony. Pulling a hand out of his pocket to wave as he started making his way through the crowd to the staircase.
She removed her helmet as he walked, running a hand though his long dreaded hair to shake it back into place. Fiddling with their piercings slightly.
Echo was nearly tackled to the ground as she reached the bottom of the staircase. Their shoulders moving rhythmically in a silent chuckle as he playfully pushed his friend away, handing her their helmet so they could sign.
'Ultra, energetic as always I see.'
The woman laughed, lightly punching the droid in the arm as she smirked. Holding his helmet under her arm.
"And you're late as always. Come oooonnn we've been waiting forever!" She grabbed Echo's hand, yanking them behind her up the staircase and out of the crowd.
Echo smiled to himself, subconsciously flicking his thin tail back and forth as the two bikers ran up twords the balcony.
The balcony was much emptier than the rest of the bar. Even if the bikers weren't gangsters anymore everyone understood that this was their space.
"She's hereeeee!" Ultra Violet called out as they reached the top. Dramaticly posing and flaring her arms out to present the droid to the figure sitting at the balcony's table.
Killow chuckled.
"Ultra, all your yelling has made that abundantly clear." He smiled and rolled his eyes, turing to Echo.
"Welcome back buddy, it's been a while since I've seen you around here."
Echo smiled guiltily, walking past Ultra Violet to take a seat at the table.
'Sorry about that, haven't had much time to sneak away 'till now.'
Ultra Violet sighed dramatically, tossing Echo's helmet back to them as she sat down, swinging her feet up to rest them on the table.
"That's whatcha get for joining those goody-two-shoes. They don't know how to have any fun!" She examined her sharp nails as she spoke, picking at some of the chipped purple polish.
Echo and Killow shared a glance and smiled. UV's idea of fun didn't exactly agree with most laws.
"So, did you bring the supplies E?" Killow changed the subject, earning him a sharp glare from Ultra Violet.
Echo nodded, reaching down into the multiple pouches attached to his belt. Pulling out various bundles of material and placing them on the table.
Ultra Violet perked up at the supplies, leaning closer to examine them. Echo glanced down to see the tip of her tufted tail wagging slightly. They smiled, knowing that he would get punched if he brought it up.
Killow reached for some of the paper strips. His large rough hands gently beginning to weave them together.
Ultra Violet watched him work. Attempting to mimic him but quickly getting mad at the paper and throwing her failed attempt from the balcony.
Echo smiled as he watched his friends. They quickly began bickering. Ultra arguing that Killow was doing it wrong, while Killow brought up that she didn't even know how to weave. The comment earning him a swift elbow to the stomach, which he quickly retaliated by striking the back of her head.
The droid sighed, shaking his head and smiling. This reminded her of the old days, back when they were with the Sons before all the chaos. Before those stupid masks. Before Garmadon was resurrected. Before Rumi...
His smile fell slightly. He glanced down at the paper in his hand. He wished that he didn't need to make this stupid lantern.
The others noticed Echo's change in demeanor, both simultaneously stopping their fight and going silent.
Echo felt something bounce off his forehead and glanced up, confusion in her amber eyes.
Ultra Violet chuckled, sliding a drink twords them. Another boba pearl quickly flying from her fingers and hitting Echos nose before bouncing to the floor.
"Here man, on me."
Echo raised an eyebrow at her, smirking.
'So we're just not paying for this one then?'
UV scoffed as Killow stifled his laughter.
"FSM I'm attempting to be nice, isn't that what you're into nowadays?" She scowled, but Echo could see the playful spark in her eyes.
The droid smiled, taking a sip of the drink.
'Thank you Ultra. I've missed this.'
"We've missed you man. Do you know how hard it is to deal with her bullshit by myself?" Killow smirked.
Echo laughed as Ultra shot up from her seat, slamming her clawed hands onto the table.
"You've had to deal with me?!"
"Easy Vi, I'm just teasin." Killow laughed, looking down at the unfinished lantern again.
Ultra Violet growled slightly, jumping around the table to tackle Killow. The larger man being caught of guard and knocked from his seat.
"Hey hey watch the lantern!"
"You stop runnin' your damn mouth first!"
The two wrestled on the floor for a few seconds before Killow got a hold of Ultra. Picking her up and lifting her into the air by the back of her leather jacket. She thrashed and spat like an angry cat, her tail lashing around wildly.
Killow glanced over at Echo, who was smiling from where he sat watching the battle.
"You see what I've been dealing wit-" His sentence was cut off by a swift smack of Ultra's tail across his face.
Echo sighed and turned back to the unfinished lantern and the fight resumed behind her.
By the time his friends had tired themselves out he was nearly done with the lantern.
Ultra slumped against their back, laying her arms over Echos shoulders.
"Man why didn't you help me?! That was such an unfair fight!"
Echo chuckle as he finished weaving in the final paper strip.
"You started it! Don't start fights you need E to come save you from!" Killow called from where he was down at the bar.
Ultra stiffened, leaning her face closer to Echos ear.
"How the fuck did he hear me?"
'Well you certainly aren't the quietest person I know' Echo signed, bracing himself for the strike.
But Ultra just sighed.
"Yeah, so I've heard." She muttered, standing up and walking back to her chair, stretching dramatically before sitting down.
Echo turned when he heard footsteps on the stairs.
Killow was coming back up, with three drinks in his hands.
"Ugh, finally! I'm sooo thirsty." Ultra muttered as she snatched one of the drinks from where Killow set them on the table. It was gone before the other two even picked theirs up.
"The lantern turned out great! Sorry we weren't much help." Killow laughed guiltily.
Echo smiled.
'It was probably easier without your help anyways'
Both horned bikers laughed at the comment, causeing Echo's smile to grow.
Ultra picked up the lantern, examining it.
"Hmm, just needs one more thing." She said, reaching into the pocket of her black jeans.
She pulled out a string of beads, carefully draping it over the lantern.
Killow chuckled.
"Now it's perfect."
Ultra sighed dramatically, standing up from her chair.
"Come on losers, we gotta get going so E can make his curfew." She stated with mockingly exaggerated seriousness, twirling her keys around her finger.
Echo rolled her eyes, he was never going to hear the end of it now that he was living with Zane.
The three bikers made their way outside, collecting their bikes and meeting up at the edge of the parking lot.
Echo carefully held the lantern in front of him as he followed his friends bikes down the road, the three of them cutting between cars and through alleyways as the sun finished setting behind them.
They slowed down in front of an unassuming building, tall and gray, but brand new, having just recently been rebuilt.
Killow got off his bike, looking around the area before gestureing for the other two to follow him as he ducked behind the building.
Echo and Ultra nodded at each other, dismounting their bikes and quickly running to follow their friend. Echo clutching the lantern firmly but gently to her chest.
They rounded the corner, sprinting twords a metal staircase that zigzaged across the back of the building twords the roof. Climbing the stairs as quietly as they could.
When they reached the top Killow grabbed onto the two of them, gently pulling them both onto the roof with him.
Echo looked out across the city, various lights were begining to flicker on as the last sunlight disappeared over the horizon. They continued clutching the lantern as they scanned the city.
Ultra sighed loudly as she sat down along the edge of the roof.
"I forgot how pretty the city is from up here. It's so scummy from the streets." She chuckled, her voice supriseingly gentle.
Echo smiled, walking over to sit next to the purple-clad biker, leaning his head on her shoulder as they watched the city together.
Killow joined them quickly. Sitting on Echos other side and reaching an arm across both his friends shoulders, gently pulling them to lean against him.
Echo looked down at the lantern in his hands. Sighing shakily as he held it closer, curling his legs up twords his chest as he sat pressed between his friends.
His first friends.
Before his brother, before the ninja, before Bentho and Vania, before her new family.
He had these guys, they were messy sure. They were scrappy and wild and unpredictable, but so was he.
They had never judged her like so many before had. Not for his voice, not for how they expressed themself, not for his uneven edges and rough corners.
Echo smiled as he lifted the lantern up. Ultra silently reached into her pocket and pulled out a scrappy old lighter, lighting a small flame under the lantern.
The three of them each reached out to hold onto the lantern as it tried to float away. None of them speaking a word as the lantern glowed and blowed around in the soft wind.
Echo slowly loosened his fingers, and the others followed suit.
The lantern slowly floated up into the sky, getting caught in a breeze and blowing forward into the city.
Echo felt Ultra shutter slightly as she leaned against him. He glanced over to see tears welling up in the corners of her sharp eyes, threatening to spill out and ruin the make-up she had probably spent hours on earlier that day.
Killow seemed to notice to, he held them both closer, rubbing his hand gently on Ultra shoulder as Echo leaned into his side.
They could barely make out the lantern by now and it disappeared amongst the city lights.
Without thinking Echo waved at the lantern as it went, earning a sad chuckle from Ultra.
They both smiled at each other, Ultra shifting to hug Echo as tears started falling from her eyes.
Killow looked down at the two of them, his normally booming voice coming out soft and gentle.
"We'll see her again someday, whether in this realm or another." He chuckled half-heartedly.
Ultra sighed shakily.
"Happy Day of the Departed Rumi."