#ninjago reader insert

[greenygreenland]

Defeat Alone

Ninjago x reader

Sum: Life after the Merge will never be the same.

The sound of pattering rain woke you in the middle of the night. It quickly turned into a downpour against the monastery roof, loud and unrelenting. You cracked open an eye with a frown, curling into your sheets.

How many hours had it been?

How many days?

You wondered what it felt like to die. What it felt like to be given a chance of peace. Your heart was heavy in your chest, weighing your limbs down like rocks.

The Monastery halls were once filled with laughter, chatter from gaming. The kitchen would smell heavenly as Zane cooked up a nice, comforting lunch. You'd wander these halls, watching your friends--your family--with a smile on your face. They were all you had in this big, wide world.

Without them, what were you?

It was chaos. Strange people, new places to explore. Ninjago City was now known as The Crossroads, a diverse and busy centre of trade and people.

You never wandered far from the Monastery to explore. A part of you just...wasn't the same since every piece and bit that made you you had vanished, gone with a flash of light. You've told yourself not to lose hope, not to forget Wu's teachings, but some days...

...you did.

The rain fell harder against the monastery's tiled roof, a harsh pitter, patter that made your chest heavy and your heart rip in two. You watched the droplets fall, gently hitting your palm as you held it out, filling the courtyard with puddles.

You could already see Nya sitting in the center, eyes closed in meditation. Jay would call her inside, telling her to get lunch. And you would sit here under the engawa's canopy, reading a book Pixal recommended you. She'd sit a little ways away from you, tinkering with a tablet. Then Lloyd would ask what it was, and you'd both listen to her.

And Kai? He'd pester you all to play video games as Cole explained the rules of it. You'd sit there nodding along before Jay joined in. A sigh would escape your lips before eventually giving in, one game couldn't hurt, you'd tell yourself. And suddenly, all of you would be piled in the living room as Sensei watched from afar with a smile on his face.

Would. Empahsis on that 'would'. Those days were far behind you, all but a memory. They vanished, like the droplets seeping through your fingertips.

The rain was cold against your skin. You pulled up your hood, marching down the Monastery steps with only a single bag and your weapons.

You'd find them. You had to.

If there was one rule Wu engraved in your mind since the first day he took you in, it was that ninja never quit.

You were not a quitter.

You trekked down the steps, mud and rain water sloshing against your boots.

The Crossroads were as busy as rumoured, bustling and lively as any marketplace. It was the center of commerce, trade--everything. You spotted a line leading to a tent, where candlelight poured out against the dark. You made your way over, brows knit.

What were all these people doing?

The scent of incense burned into your nose, where nine photos stood solemnly. Your eyes widened, heart clenching painfully in your chest. These were not only you, but your family. Kai, Nya, Zane, Pixal, Jay, Lloyd, Sensei, Cole.

Then there was you. A gentle smile on your face as you sat in a chair posing for the camera.

An elderly woman placed a hand to your shoulder, eyes sad and damp as the rain. "The ninja were here in our greatest time of need. We honour what they have done for us, and will forever be grateful."

You felt like a fool. Why did you hide in the monastery? Why hadn't you come here when the people of Ninjago needed you the most? Even now, with their so called saviours missing, they believed in the ninja--believed in you.

The elderly woman brushed some rainwater from her eyes. She handed you a flower from her bouquet, "Times are changing and Ninjago is no more. Our world may not be perfect, but that doesn't mean we give up hope."

You fiddled with the flower for the rest of your rounds through the Crossroads. The buildings looked sketchy nowadays, jaunty and rickety with age. A hole dug itself in your heart, as if someone had taken their knife and ran it straight through.

Who were you kidding? All that talk about not forgetting Wu's teachings was just a way to make yourself feel better. Consolation for the fact that you hid in the monastery longer than you could remember.

Nya would punch you square in the face if she saw you now.

A sudden shout caught your ears. You glanced to the left, tensing. A boy in orange pointed at you, motioning wildly to his friend beside him. You glanced over your shoulder before pointing at yourself in confusion. "Uh, are you talking to me?"

When the two kids didn't say anything, you decided it was high time to tail it out of here. This was a lot of exploring for one day, especially for someone who had become a hermit.

The rain finally eased after an hour of you mapping out these strange, merged lands in your head. The Monastery hadn't changed its position, thankfully, but was still another hour away on foot. You missed your old beat-up bike. It long stopped working a couple years ago when the engine shot itself out, but no matter. Surely one day, when everyone comes home, it would be fixed like new.

Pixal was great at that, for sure. She always showed you a little thing or two and boy, did you miss her. What you would do to bring everyone home. What you would do to make home feel like home.

The tapping of footsteps sounded along with the rustling of the trees, quiet, yet not invisible. You released a sigh, recalling the two kids pointing at you less than forty minutes ago. "What do you want? I'm trying to get home here."

There was a round of whispers before a boy in orange and a girl with pink hair stepped out from behind the bushes. The girl sighed, shaking her head. "What did I tell you Arin? This is an invasion of privacy, you can't go around tailing randos."

'Arin' threw out his hands. "That's not a rando, Sora! That's (colour) ninja, the Elemental Master of (power)!" The enthusiasm in Arin's voice caught you off guard. You raised a brow, lips pressing into an unpleasant frown. "Beat it, do you know how dangerous this place can get?"

"Not like you'd know." Sora said with a raise of her brows. "You've been in hiding since the Merge, right?"

It felt like you'd been stabbed. You cringed, heart beating unsteadily. The girl wasn't wrong, but that didn't mean the truth wasn't grating to the ears. "I...have nothing to say to you." The exhaustion in your voice made your shoulders droop. "If you're looking for a hero, you won't find any in these parts. Leave, I have no business with either of you."

The two exchanged a look before Arin hesitantly stepped forward. He held his hands together, nervously fiddling with his sleeves. "But you're a ninja. Aren't you supposed to save the day? You have a job to do, to protect Ninjago!"

Bitterness flowed through your veins. You eyed the rolling hills, the random mountains and buildings. They had appeared nearly overnight after everything was nearly destroyed, what was there for you to protect?

"Ninjago is no more." Your jaw tensed, hands tightening around the bag on your shoulder. "What here is left for us?"

The kids seemed at a loss, as if they hadn't expected you to be so...lifeless. Well, everyone is always told to never meet their heroes. You were no exception to whoever these children envisioned you to be.

You were a coward. A runaway who slept on responsibilities and locked the world away. Now, with only the image of your family in mind, it was the only thing keeping you tethered to these strange, unfamiliar lands.

You turned on your heel, stepping forward. It was all you could do when one look back would mean forfeiting all this false courage you made yourself grasp on to.

"Wait!" It was that Arin kid again, rumning forward and catching your arm. You hesitantly met his frantic eyes so full of life, so youthful wigh hope. "So you'd just abandon us? Abandon the world when we all need you the most? What about Sensei Wu's trainings? Everything he taught you?"

A sigh escaoed your lips and you shut your eyes, slowly pulling away. "My sensei was wise. It was unfortunate he took on someone like me as his student. What can I do against something that is so much bigger than all of us? Bigger than me? These realms are not the same any longer, and we must change with it. Even if...it makes us different."'

"So you're giving up." Arin, this random kid you met only five minutes ago, looked as if you had betrayed him. "Ninja never quit, so why did you? This whole time, you were in the monastery! You could have done something, like stop those skeletons who keep kidnapping people off the street!"

The kid was right, even if that thought did make your insides burn uncomfortably. Yoh turned away, marching forward with your head hung.

"This isn't how it's supposed to be! You can't give up, (Y/n)!"

Your feet didn't stop, taking you further and further away into clouds of foggy mist. They hid you from the world, a shield of milky white that protected you from prying eyes, and the heavy responsibilities of your duties.

The kid was right. As much as you hated to admit. Why did you hide? Why didn't you fulfill your duties as a ninja and protect those who could not protect themselves? Zane would have done so if he were here, and by the First Spinjitzu Master would he have sat you down for a year's worth of lecturing.

The steps of the monastery were a comforting sight after a long and confusing day. You flopped down on the engawa, curling up as rain clouds gathered back in the grey skies. The familiar pitter patter filled your ears, puddles forming in the courtyard with every drop.

You shut your eyes, wondering what it was like to die. What it felt like to know eternal peace. Never had you ever felt so alone, and maybe it was because spending every waking breath with your family meant you could never be alone.

You all were a team, solid as rock, fluid as water, efficient as a well-oiled machine. Yet when broken to bits and pieces, were reduced to only scraps and bolts.

The old woman's face from today flashed in your mind, her words ringing clear as the rain upon the stone.

Our world isn't perfect, but that doesn't mean we give up on it.

A long, long sigh escaped your lips and you turned on your back with a dry laugh. Ninja never quit! How funny it was that you were here, curled up again in pure, utter defeat.

[hellfire1991]

cw: suggestive

Making out with Lloyd. It's awkward, you simply lack the necessary experience, he's just clumsy, and his face is so red that you get slightly worried between careless kisses when you manage to open your eyes for a split second. A scandalous "reunion" in a secluded corner of the monastery, panting and pulling at each other's clothes, desperately trying to fully compensate for the long time of separation, to fit as much love as possible into such a short time as you have allotted yourself, dreading the moment when you will be forced to part again and pretend that nothing has happened

[daizedndconfused]

do you have any cole relationship headcanons? hope your schoolwork is going smoothly :D

a/n: do i have cole relationship head cannons?? buckle up my friend home girl has got ideas to share. hahaha also tysmm (can you tell i hate school lmao) i’m struggling out here fr 😭 one more week and i’m free!!! btw—last one is slightly suggestive. sooo barely but still.

cole relationship headcannons

one of his love languages is 100% quality time. he doesn’t care what you’re doing tbh you don’t even have to talk to him he just likes being near you. like when he’s working out he’ll sometimes use you as a bench press usually just for fun but he wants you to feel included in his routine. or if he’s doing pushups he’ll ask you to sit on his back and help count his reps for him. lucky for you he’s trapped and therefore you can rant to him as much as you want. he loves it ofc and he’s always interested in what to have to say

he almost never sleeps without you. throughout your entire relationship you can count the days you’ve actually slept by yourself on one hand. sure the two of you will always start in your own rooms, but at some point throughout the night you’ll either migrate to his room or vice versa. youll always bid each other good night confident you’ll wake up alone the next morning, but then you feel a dip in your mattress and suddenly cole’s got his arms wrapped around you and his face buried in your neck. oh well. maybe tomorrow night.

he’s very protective. cole’s a tall guy if you read my fics yk what i mean. he’s tall and he’s strong, one look at him can tell you that. since you guys live in the city there’s always gonna be that one creep. normally if the guy just catcalls you as you two walk by, he waits a second for you to deal with it yourself. if you decide to call the guy out he’s holding back a laugh knowing the guy wouldn’t dare lay a hand on you while cole’s standing right behind you. however if you’re not confrontational like that, and you’re okay with it, he’ll say something snarky in return but neither of you stop walking. if you tell him to leave it alone and ignore the guy he will—but he'll throw an arm around your shoulders and pull you closer to him just in case.

hates scary movies. he loves you—more than life itself but he will never watch a horror movie with you. hell no. he’s scared of ghosts and everything adjacent irl he’d rather die than watch a movie about them. you always poke fun at him and call him a wuss but no matter the peer pressure—your boy is stubborn. call him a sissy all you want he does not care he will not watch insidious with you. whenever you bring up the topic he either walks away pretending to be on the phone or he kisses you until you forget about it. sometimes you joke about it just for the second option ;)

gives you cute nicknames. we’re all well aware some pet names are cringey and you gotta be strategic about them. for cole his go tos are ‘gorgeous’ ‘my gorgeous girl’ and ‘honey/hun’ seeing as they’re simple and cute. however, he has a few cheesier/sentimental ones. when he’s feeling really lovey dovey he calls you ‘sugar’ or ‘sweet thing’. most of the time he uses sweet thing as a greeting/joke. for example on your days off you’re normally up before him and will go make some breakfast for the both of you. of course, the ninja he is, he’ll sneak up behind you wrap his arms around you and go “morning sweet thing, what’s for breakfast?” you jump nearly five feet out of your skin every time and he dies laughing even as you swat at him with a dish towel

he can never find his clothes. the reason behind this is you. you steal them all the damn time. at this point you have half his wardrobe at your disposal. his clothes just fit so comfy and they smell like him and you love it. one day he was looking for one of his band tees and he quite literally looked everywhere. eventually he gave up and walked back to his room—only to find you cuddled up on his bed with one of his throw blankets, and wouldn’t you know it…wearing the shirt he’d been looking for. he’ll just roll his eyes with a love sick expression and grab a different one. he only says something when he only has like three outfits left in his closet. you reluctantly hand them over—but the secret reason behind him letting you keep them that long is because once he gets them back they smell like you. every once in a while he’ll get a whiff of your perfume still stuck to his clothes and he gets all giddy as if you two just started dating.

you guys are the parental couple. after a few months of dating—you guys were branded the parental/chill couple by the rest of the team. usually if one of your teammates were doing something dumb in your presence either you or cole would tell them to knock it off. of course they don’t listen but they will take their antics elsewhere. the two of you are so low maintenance together that every time you’re together it feels like a date—doesn’t matter what you’re doing

your sparring matches get a little heated. if the rest of the team is around you keep it professional, but on the offhand you two are alone?? it’s fair game. it’s less sparring and more verbal chirping and then maybe some added combat. before you two spar—you place a bet. it can be anything (reasonable ofc) but the first person to pin the other for three seconds wins. you two fight dirty. not in dirty hits but every time you think you’re losing, you trail your hands up his torso and kiss his neck passionately. that normally gives you a split sec of hesitation on his part and you’re able to flip him over, pinning him beneath you as you win again. he’ll pretend to hate it but you see right through him.

[circus4apsycho8]

Hi, I hope you are doing well!! I was wondering if you could write a ninjago Cole x reader where the reader is the teams medic. Cole, being the muscle of the team, usually gets hurt a lot and the medic has to patch him a lot on and off the field. They grow closer and close and eventually become an established relationship. Angst, smut, fluff, whatever, full creative freedom! Love your writing!!

Hey, thank you very much! Love this request! I will be making this a 2-3 part series. One of the next chapters will feature a second related request, I believe. Originally I was going to publish it all at once, but then I decided to break it up a little bit. Also, not sure how accurate the wounds and whatnot are, but I tried :v Hope you enjoy!

Warnings: stab wounds, cussing, mild gore descriptions

Word Count: 11.9k

Masterlist for this Fic

knife to meet you. | cole x reader | chapter i

The clock is going to drive you insane. 

Tick after tick, the hands click on, your sanity diminishing with each passing second. For the millionth time tonight, you rip your gaze from the dragging hands of the clock. Not even three minutes had passed since you’d last checked the time. A frustrated sigh tumbles from your lips, eyes venturing down to stare at the tea supplies scattered about the table before you.   

“Stop looking at it,” you grumble to yourself, returning your hands to your task - bagging tea leaves and ingredients to assemble Mystake’s latest recipe. Her new tea is set to launch tomorrow, and she could be a stickler for keeping fully stocked shelves. The thought makes you sigh, knowing you’ll certainly be busy in the morning. Perhaps the promotion would make the day go by faster. 

The repetitive motions of your hands eventually allow your mind to shift into autopilot mode, hands running on muscle memory as you wonder how much longer you would be here for - you’d come a long way since training as her apprentice, and by helping her with the shop, she allowed you to live with her rent free.

And while you’re forever grateful for Mystake’s kindness, you know this isn’t what destiny has planned for you. Running a tea shop was her dream, not yours. Deep within your heart, you feel yourself growing antsy. You wouldn’t thrive here, and a part of you wonders if you’ll end up stuck here. 

The bell above the door chimes, snapping your body out of autopilot and into customer service mode. The smile plastered on your face masks the annoyance at having to serve someone so late. Who even thinks to buy tea this late at night? 

You hop off of the stool. “Good evening! How can I-”   

The sight before you jerks your body out of autopilot, a horrified expression overcoming you as your eyes process the scene in front of you:   

Three men dressed in gis stand before you, two of them supporting a man in a black gi - his head is drooped, and he’s limp. His arms are strung around the necks and shoulders of two men on either side - one dressed in red and the other blue.   

“Please,” grunts the one in blue. “We need help!”   

“He’s been stabbed, and we didn’t know where else to go,” adds the red one, both looking at you with desperate faces. “You can treat wounds, right?”   

For a moment, you freeze. Mystake isn’t here, and she always takes care of these things. You’ve only ever observed or helped with guidance. She certainly wouldn’t make it back in time to help.   

What would she say right now?   

...She’d tell me not to freeze. Just work and do what you were trained to do. Make a decision. 

You snap out of your stupor, realizing that you’re on your own. This man needs help now, and you know you’ll never become a healer if you don’t start doing things on your own.   

So, you force yourself to swallow your fear. “Okay. Take him in the back; take a right, then enter the second doorway on the left. I’ll be right there.” 

The two oblige without question, immediately making their way to the back of the store. After making your way to the front, you lock the door and flip the sign to ‘closed’. Next, you jog behind the counter, swiping the emergency medical kit you always had stocked. On your way to the room, you swipe a certain tea you know you’ll need later.   

With almost everything you need in hand, you hurry through the maze of tea shelves and doors until you arrive in the medical room.   

The two men have lowered their friend on top of the bed, with the red one pressing down on his abdomen. Blood cakes the lower parts of his arms, eyes wide with fear as he holds the pressure.   

“The blood…it’s not stopping,” the brunet drawls, tensing as he stares at the wound.   

“Here, let me,” you state, immediately coming to take over. He relents, stepping off to the side. “I need you guys to grab me a few towels. They’re in the cabinet to the right.”   

They nod, rushing to gather what you need. You’re quick to start applying pressure to the wound, face twisting in determination as you hold the fabric in place. The stabbed man grunts, hissing as he tosses his head back in pain. Normally a reaction like this would scare you, but you’re too hopped up on adrenaline to care at the moment.   

“I’m sorry. I know this hurts like hell, but I have to get the bleeding to stop,” you sympathize, eyes still trained on his wound. Out of the corner of your eye, you can see the blue one frozen at the side. Looks like he could use something else to focus on. “Hey, blue guy. Can you start steeping that tea bag over there? I know it’s an odd request at such a time, but just trust me.”   

“Tea bag? Y-Yeah, I’m on it.” Thankfully, this snaps him out his stupor and gets his hands busy.   

You note that the red one looks antsy too. A glance at the injured man’s tattered top gives you an idea for another task.   

“And could you get his top off, please? I need to make sure he wasn’t hit anywhere else this badly.”   

“Yeah. Yeah…okay. I can do that,” he replies, eyes lingering over the blood momentarily before he snaps himself out of his stupor. His hands fumble to his belt, where he slips out a small, silver shuriken.   

You shuffle out of his way as best you can without hindering your progress on the wound, watching as the shuriken slices through the fabric. Mr. Red Guy gently pulls the sides off and out of your way, allowing it to drape over the sides of the table.   

After thanking him, you quickly scan the rest of the stabbed man’s torso. There are a few bruises and cuts, but the stab wound seems to be the brunt of the damage.   

From there, the room falls quiet save for his pained grunts.   

“Fuck,” he curses, voice taut. “How...how’s it looking?”   

“You’re gonna pull through, man,” replies the red one, his voice coming out stronger than he looks. “She’s got the blood loss slowing down.”   

The blue one, on the other hand, doesn’t sound as put together. His voice is shaky and his eyes are glassy, but you can tell he’s trying to sound optimistic. “Yeah, Cole, you’re going to be just fine.”   

“How’s the tea looking?” you inquire, trying to distract him from whatever’s making him upset. You need everyone to remain calm until the bleeding has stopped.   

“I think it’s ready. Do you need it?”   

“Yes, please,” you reply. “Have him drink as much as he can, even if it’s only a few sips. It should ease the pain a little bit and help prevent infection.”   

The redhead nods, going to prop his friend’s head up while the other holds the teacup for him. You listen as they speak softly to him, words too quiet for you to hear.   

It takes you a minute, but thankfully you’re able to get the bleeding to stop. Soon enough, the wound is sterilized and bandaged properly with the man now unconscious on the table.   

You find yourself absentmindedly cleaning the last bits of blood off of his torso, realizing that the three of you are all quietly processing the night together.   

“Are you two okay?” you speak suddenly, shifting your gaze to them. “You’re not wounded, are you?”   

“No, we’re okay. Just a little cut up and bruised, but nothing we can’t handle,” the spiky-haired brunet assures. “Thank you. I don’t know what we would have done if you hadn’t helped us.”   

“It’s what we do. I’m glad I was able to help him,” you dismiss, smiling softly as you return your gaze to the task at hand. “Oh, and by the way…” You take a moment to introduce yourself. “I’m Mystake’s apprentice.”   

“Only an apprentice?” the redhead wonders.   

“I thought you were a master medic, what with the way you handled that. But yeah, I’m Kai, that’s Jay, and he’s Cole.”   

You nod in acknowledgement, attempting to commit their names to memory. “Thank you. Well, I wish it was under better circumstances, but nonetheless it’s nice to meet you all.”   

“Likewise,” Kai replies.   

You debate your next question momentarily, but decide to just ask anyway. “And do you mind if I ask what happened? Stabbings are rare around here.”   

“Well, I’d say you’ve more than earned an explanation for us barging in here with a dying man in the middle of the night, then handling it like a pro,” Jay interjects. “We were on a mission to investigate an incident of serial burglaries that had been occurring around a town close to this one.”  

“Long story short, we find the guys, confront them, then things start to get heated,” Kai continues, staring off into the distance. “So, we start fighting, trying to apprehend and whatnot. Cole doesn’t draw his weapon yet because he’s pretty well-versed with hand-to-hand combat.”   

“It was my fault,” Jay interrupts, eyes turning glassy again as he averts his gaze. “One of them tripped me up, and I caught sight of the knife they had. And I…I just froze. I don’t know why. But he pushed me out of the way just in time, and he took the hit in my place.”   

“It’s not your fault, Jay,” Kai assures. “This was a rough job for us all. And it doesn’t help that Zane wasn’t here to help.”   

“The important thing is that you’re all alive and healing,” you say, dumping another bloodied towel into a nearby bin. “And he’s going to be just fine.” 

“I still can’t help but feel bad,” mumbles the redhead, your heart dropping slightly at the sight of his guilt-laced stare. “He shouldn’t have to look out for us when he already takes the brunt of the damage.”   

Their words pique your interest, causing you to glance up with a puzzled expression. “So you guys do this a lot, then? Are you vigilantes or something?”   

“We’re ninja,” Kai responds, gesturing to the symbols on both of their gis. “We recently finished our training with our master, and have been fighting to make Ninjago a safer place ever since.”   

“Oh, I see!” you reply. That certainly explains the strange outfits and weapons. The conversation reminds you of a rumor you had heard from a few customers one day a few weeks ago. “You know, now that we’re talking about it, I had heard rumors about ninjas surfacing somewhere and taking out bad guys. I just didn’t think much of it considering nothing major has happened in our town since.”   

Kai grins slightly at this, eyeing Jay with a small smirk. “Hey, sounds like we’re starting to make waves.”   

“Waves? I think you’re giving us too much credit,” Jay notes, stifling a yawn.   

“But it’s a start,” Kai adds, also yawning. The action makes you realize how late it is, knowing the two must be exhausted from the night’s events.   

“Alright. It’s late, and he’s about as cleaned up as I can get him right now,” you comment. “If you two will just help me move him onto a stretcher, I can get him hooked up to an IV and then he’ll be set for the night. Mystake will want him to stay so we can monitor his vitals and ensure that the wound doesn’t become infected. You both are welcome to stay here while he’s recovering; we’ve got a spare room and extra clothes for times like these. Please, follow me.”   

…   

With Kai and Jay now settled in for the night, you find yourself preparing the IV for Cole in the recovery ward of the shop.   

As your fingers work, you find your gaze drifting to the man before you. Now that he’s stable and your adrenaline rush has passed, you have time to observe him.   

His gi had been black - that much you remember. Your eyes drift across his bare torso, noting that he has a few scars across his chest. His stature is muscular - seemingly more so than the other two.   

You tear your gaze from him, double checking that everything is ready before taking his arm in your hands, flipping it over to find the right vein. Once you do, you insert the IV. 

The action makes him stir, eyes opening slightly. Immediately, he tries to sit up, but your muscle memory kicks in just in time to push him back down.   

“Hey, hey, take it easy,” you say, holding him down gently. “You’re okay, but you need to rest.”   

Thankfully, he settles, eyes relaxing slightly at your touch. Jaded green eyes study your figure as you gaze at him, watching to see if he’s going to try and get up again.   

“Where am I?” he wonders, voice hoarse. “I barely remember what happened. Everything’s patchy for me...I remember that room, Kai and Jay were there...then I couldn’t stay awake anymore.”   

“You’re at Mystake’s tea shop. This is our recovery ward. You were stabbed in a fight, and your friends brought you here. You’re all patched up now, but you need to rest so you can heal properly. Your friends are just in the other room.”   

“Stabbed? Oh…it’s coming back to me now.” He groans, shutting his eyes and letting his head drop onto the pillow again. “Are they okay?”   

“They’re fine, just sleeping now,” you assure.  

It’s then you realize that you still have a hand on his chest. Your cheeks heat up as you snatch your hand away. “Oh stars, I’m sorry! It’s just been, well…a long night. I guess I’m just a bit distracted now that the action has passed.”  

Cole chuckles, averting his gaze. He winces a bit, making his smile fade slightly. “You’re okay. I hadn’t even noticed.”  

“Your name is Cole, right?”   

“Yeah,” he mumbles.   

You tell him your name, words stumbling out in a mix of your default introductory statement and the mush that is your mind at the moment. “I’m Mystake’s apprentice. It’s knife to meet you.”   

Upon processing the phrase you’d added through your post-adrenaline exhaustion, your eyes widen. “Oh my god. I’m sorry, I-I did not mean to say that out loud! That was so inappropriate of me-”   

“Wow,” Cole responds, shaking his head at you with a small grin. “You can’t just cut down the stab victim like that, doc.”   

“I’m sorry!” you squeak before realizing that he, too, made a pun concerning his injury. “Wait...you’re not upset?”   

“Of course not. You saved my life,” he replies, glancing back down at his wound. “And I appreciate your humor. I know the guys have been pretty down about the whole ordeal, so it’s nice to know that you can at least make light of it.”   

“Oh,” you reply, not expecting that response at all. “Well...I’m glad that you’re okay with it. I see so much gore these days that I...” you trail off, realizing you shouldn’t be spilling your innermost thoughts to a patient.    

You shake your head, nervously chuckling as you take a step back. “I’m rambling, sorry. Are you hurting right now? I can get you a bit more of our pain-killing tea. It might help you sleep, too.”   

“That sounds great,” he replies. “Thank you.”   

You nod, standing up. “I’ll be right back, then.”   

With that, you make your way towards the kitchen. You get another cup of tea steeping, taking the down time to drink a bit of water and get a snack.   

A few seconds after you finish, you hear the door to the tea shop opening. You peek your head out from the back, relief coursing through you when you see Mystake behind the counter.   

“Thank the stars, you’re back!” you say, sighing as she turns to you.   

“I am. You closed the shop early?” she inquires, hanging her hat up on its usual spot.   

“Yes. Two people brought in a man who had been stabbed, and I had to treat it and I-” you trail off, the stress of the situation finally catching up to you as tears pool in your eyes.   

Mystake sets her hands on your shoulders, guiding you to sit down. “A stabbing? Oh dearie…I know it’s scary, but you did the right thing. He’s stabilized now, yes?”   

You nod as she takes your hands in hers, sniffling a bit. “Yeah. I was going to give him some of that pain-killing tea so he could sleep.”   

“Very good, very good. Here, finish what you’re doing while I have a look.”   

Your stomach twists, hands coming to fidget as you nod in response. “Okay, yeah. Thank you.”   

With that, you’re left alone once more. Anxiety meshes with your post-adrenaline rush, leaving you lightheaded and nauseous. You can’t help but zone out for a bit, only jerked away from your thoughts when the water starts squealing.   

The tea doesn’t take you long to prepare, and soon enough, you find yourself approaching the recovery ward once more.   

The lights have been dimmed, causing you to wonder if he’s suffering a headache. You can still see well enough to notice that he’s still awake, though. Mystake is nowhere to be seen, meaning she must have finished her exam.   

“Here, this should help,” you say, setting the tray on the table next to the bed. “It should be cooled enough to drink. Try to drink as much as you can.”   

You hand him the cup, keeping an eye on his hands to make sure he doesn’t spill it.   

“Thanks,” he mumbles, hands seemingly steady enough for the time being. He takes a sip, face melting at the relief it must be bringing. “God, this stuff is magic. How does it kick in so fast?”   

You shrug, smiling softly as he takes another sip. “I’m not sure. Mystake’s teas are incredible. She’s a master at her craft, that’s for sure.” 

“Makes me wonder what else she can do with her teas,” he mumbles. 

“You’d be surprised. She’s like a tea witch,” you reply with a chuckle. “Do you need anything else? Extra blankets, another pillow, snacks, water...?” 

“I think I’m good for now,” he mumbles, sighing in relief. “This is already working wonders.” 

“Okay. If you need anything at all, just push the button on the side of the nightstand. We’ll try to check on you shortly after sunrise. Try to get some sleep for now.” 

“Being unconscious sounds great about now,” he mumbles. “Thank you.” 

You nod in response, smiling softly as you take the tray back into your hands, leaving the mug for him. 

Just before you exit the recovery ward, though, his voice sounds once more: 

"For the record, it was knife to meet you too.” 

...   

Mystake lets you sleep through the new tea launch, much to your relief. You don’t think you would have had nearly enough energy to deal with the rush today – not after all of last night’s excitement.   

Once you rise, you stumble through your morning routine. Yawns rake your body as you attempt to wake up, brain foggy as you emerge from your room.   

You can already hear customers chattering in the front, causing you to redirect to the kitchen. Through streams of unfamiliar voices, you can faintly hear Mystake’s voice vividly describing her newest creation. Looks like she’s doing just fine by herself so far. Which is great, considering you need a hot drink before you can even think about the public.   

Upon arriving to your destination, muscle memory kicks in and you start working on your drink without thinking much about what you’re doing. Your hands work in quiet tandem, voice humming a tune while you listen to the distant voices of consumers and employees alike.   

Once you’ve finished, you lean against the counter and take a sip.   

Soft footsteps catch your attention, eyes drifting towards the entrance. Moments later, two groggy and disheveled ninja catch your attention.   

“Morning,” greets Kai, hair frizzy and wild. Jay is in no better shape, eyes lined with circles as he offers a tired nod.   

“Morning, guys,” you reply, setting your drink to the side. “Doing okay?”   

“Yeah,” Kai responds. You gesture for the two to have a seat, and they do. “Thanks. Is it okay if our Sensei drops by with our other teammate today?”   

“Of course,” you assure. “What time will they be here?”   

“Probably about an hour or so,” Kai answers.   

Jay raises a notched eyebrow at this. “An hour? That’s...unusually quick for him, don’t you think?”   

The brunet nods in agreement. “Now that you mention it, you’re right. Although he did say something about a smoke vision and needing to see something for himself.” Kai shrugs, running his fingers through his hair. “You know how he is. Cryptic and old.”   

“A smoke vision?” Jay wonders. “Every time he has one of those, something big happens. What could it be this time?”   

“I don’t know. He didn’t say much about it, just that he needed to come see something in person. Who knows?”   

“I just don’t get why a near-death experience would be something that triggers a vision,” Jay mumbles. “Oh well. His wisdom works in mysterious ways, I guess. It hasn’t failed us yet.”   

Kai shrugs, not seeming too concerned about the ordeal. “Whatever it is, it’ll work out. Anyways, I’m starving. How about we make a breakfast run, huh? Let’s make it a race so we can get some blood pumping on our way there!”   

You raise an eyebrow, chuckling nervously as the two start thrumming with an energy that wasn’t present last night. Maybe resting and seeing their patched-up teammate has brought it back? Then again, you don’t really know what’s normal for these guys either.   

“You’re on!” Jay stands, a playful determination glinting in his eyes as he turns towards you. “Hey, what’s good around here?”   

“There’s a small diner around the block that’s always good,” you note. “But you guys don’t have to-”   

Jay makes an ‘ah-ah’ noise, shaking his head. “Nope. You saved our brother’s life, and for that you’re at least getting free breakfast.”   

“And more upon request,” Kai adds with a flirty smirk and wink combo. You roll your eyes as he dodges a hit from Jay.  

“Kai, you can’t just flirt with the doctor!” Jay admonishes, the two already zipping out of the kitchen. You try to follow them, but they’re flying out the door while yelling at each other.  

All while going the wrong direction.  

You sigh, chuckling to yourself as you shake your head. Oh well; they’ll figure it out. It certainly seems like they’ve got more than enough energy to spare today.  

“What in the world are they so riled up about this morning?” Mystake wonders, staring at the entrance. It seems as if the initial customer rush is over for the morning, but there are still a few milling about and browsing.  

“Breakfast, apparently,” you mumble, shaking your head. “I don’t know. I’m going to go check on Cole. I’ll be right back out to help.”  

“Actually, I’ll need you for something else today. Pack your bags, dearie – I’ve got a job for you that requires traveling.”  

“Traveling?” you wonder, turning towards your mentor. She merely flashes you an innocent smile – even though you’re sure it’s anything but.  

“Yes. You’ve proven to me that you’re ready to start taking jobs on your own. So, we’re going to start trying them out if you’re okay with it.”  

“Do you…do you really think I’m ready?” you wonder. “I know I was able to handle last night, but…”  

“I do not think it is the disease, nor the injuries that scare you. It is the threat of change. You’ve been cooped up in my store too long, and now it’s time for you to work on your own more often.”  

Her words strike you speechless momentarily. A change was what you’d wanted, right? More independence? More time to work on your own? But…this isn’t just any old job. It’s healing, and people’s lives are on the line. People’s lives are in your hands. Is that a responsibility you’re truly ready to take on?  

A part of you wants to say no – to stay within the comfort of your routine, despite its repetitiveness. That way, you would always have help when you needed it. That way, you wouldn’t have to confront the daunting question of:  

What comes next for me?  

Mystake places her hand over yours, sensing your debate. “The leap into the unknown is always the hardest part, but it is one we all must conquer at some point. I know you’re scared – of making mistakes and determining what your next steps are. But that’s life. Mistakes are how we learn, my dear. Heck, that’s why I’m called Mystake!”  

“But mistakes can get people killed,” you reply.  

“They can. But you’re not trusting in yourself or your training enough. What happened yesterday is rare – in my lifetime, I’ve only treated a handful of stabbings. And most of the time, they weren’t as life-threatening as Cole’s was. You’re not giving yourself enough credit – you took action, followed your training, and saved a man’s life as a result. Look at it that way.”  

You nod, watching as her steely eyes twinkle in a knowing fashion. “And truthfully…I don’t know what more I have to teach you. I truly think you’re at the point where experience will be your greatest teacher. Everything will work out for you; you just have to let it all fall into place. Before you know it, you’ll settle into your new normal without batting an eyelash over it. Because by then, it will feel right. And you’ll have been forever grateful that you took the leap.” 

“Okay,” you reply, letting her words steep. “Okay, I understand.”  

She smiles, setting a hand on your shoulder. “How about you take the day off from the store to think about it? Just tend to your patient and make sure his bandages stay clean. We can talk more about it later.”  

“Alright,” you say, nodding in response. “Thank you, Mystake.”  

With her words in mind, you set off to check on Cole.  

…  

Upon arriving, you note that Cole is already awake. Mystake must have dropped by this morning, because he’s reading a book you recognize from her prized collection. You take a moment to observe the way the strands of his dark hair fall around his face as he concentrates, eyes scouring the pages. It doesn’t help that he’s still shirtless, too – you’d been too exhausted last night to notice, but he’s nicely toned. To think you’d had your hand on his sternum, too…  

You shake your head, reassuming your professional demeanor. No checking out the hot ninja patient!  

“Good morning,” you greet, offering a demure smile as you gently shut the door. “How are you feeling, Cole?”  

“Good morning. Definitely better today,” he answers, gingerly shutting the book and setting it to the side.  

“I’m glad to hear it!” you chirp, noting that he’s also got a fresh mug of tea. “I’m going to have to check your wound quickly to make sure it’s not getting infected. I’ll get you some fresh bandages too. Our hope is that you’ll be back on your feet within the next two days or so.”  

“Sounds great,” Cole replies. As you make your way towards the supply chest to the left of the room, he calls: “Going to make fun of me again?”  

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you want me to make fun of you,” you retort, grinning as you pull out a set of clean gauze as well as a special type of antiseptic cleanser.  

“It’s better than being tiptoed around, that’s for sure,” he says as you pull a rolling stool up next to him. You set your supplies on the nightstand next to him, pulling on a pair of gloves. The bands snap against your skin as you wiggle your fingers until they fit snugly inside.  

“Your friends were just worried about you. Really worried,” you reply. “But they seem better today. Way more energetic, that’s for sure.”  

Cole simpers, shaking his head lightly. “That’s good to hear. Speaking of which…where’d they run off to?”  

“They’re grabbing breakfast,” you answer. It’s then notice that his wound is covered by the blankets, so you push them aside. Cole ends up bunching up the sheets, letting them rest over his middle. With the fabric now out of your way, you start peeling the gauze away.  

“Alright, let’s see here…” you trail off, inspecting the wound. Everything looks okay so far – no signs of infection or reopening. Good. “Not infected. Seems to be on its way to healing. That’s good. We’re just going to clean it with an antiseptic and magic-infused solution. Its purpose is twofold: to prevent infection and speed up the healing process. It should help the cut fully close within a day or so.”  

“Great,” Cole acknowledges, watching as you pour a bit onto a clean rag. The solution fizzes, emitting a faint, white light.  

“Fair warning, it’s going to sting,” you advise, waiting for the glow to simmer down a bit.  

“Then I may not be able to handle this.”  

You roll your eyes, unable to help but smile as you look up at him. Grassy green eyes glimmer back at you playfully as you respond: “Now you’re just being a baby.”  

“Do you call all of your patients babies?” he questions, grin faltering to a grimace as you start cleaning the wound. The liquid sizzles angrily against the wound, working its magic.  

After letting it soak for a few seconds, you start wiping the excess off. “Well, considering you’re the first and only patient that I’ve fully tended to, yes.”  

“I’m your first patient? That can’t be true,” he remarks, studying your hands as they rebandage his abdomen with fresh gauze.  

“From start to end, you are. Mystake has let me practice on others before, but only on certain phases of their injury or illness. You’re the first person that I’ve both patched up and tended to during recovery. And all by myself, too.”  

“Huh. I never would have guessed that from watching you work. You’re a natural.”  

His words leave you speechless for a moment, cheeks warming as you finish rebandaging him. “Thank you; that’s sweet of you to say. I’ve still got a lot to learn, though.”  

“But I’d be dead if it weren’t for you. Give yourself some credit.”  

Unsure of what to say, you smile at him in response. Cole returns your grin, pulling the blanket back over his torso. Somehow, the quiet between you two feels…fine. You know he doesn’t mind your lack of response. It’s comfortable; not forced.  

You like that.  

A moment later, you avert your gaze, fingers slipping underneath the bands of your gloves before pulling them off. “Well…I guess I’ll be back with something for you to eat soon. I imagine they won’t be much longer.”  

“Sounds good. Thanks, doc.”  

The nickname makes your heart stumble, but you’re able to play it off. “Absolutely.”  

…  

The ninja return soon enough – not only with breakfast, but with two unfamiliar people in tow. One appears to be around their age, dressed in a white gi while the other is an elderly man donning a bamboo staff and straw hat.  

“Sorry we’re late!” Jay says as they file into the store. “We ran into our master and teammate on the way back and had to catch up.”  

“That’s okay,” you assure, noticing that the two newcomers linger at the front. Kai and Jay, on the other hand, rush to the back. Knowing Mystake will greet them, you elect to follow Kai and Jay to the dining table.  

“We realized halfway through ordering that we didn’t ask you what you wanted,” Kai admits, sheepishly grinning. “So…we just got a bunch of different stuff. Whatever you don’t want, Cole will eat. I assure you.”  

“No worries,” you reply, watching as they unload the to-go bags. A mouthwatering scent floods the air, comprised of all kinds of breakfast foods. You note that they bought many more containers than you would have initially guessed, but factoring in the realization that ninjas probably eat more solves that puzzle. Just how much do these guys eat? “Have you two checked on him yet, by the way?”  

“Yeah, we talked to him this shortly after we woke up,” Jay answers, spreading out a mound of wrapped, plastic to-go cutlery sets. Hungry hands are quick to snatch them up. 

“Good. I just changed his bandages; I think he should be up and walking within the next day or so. We’ve just got to make sure the wound stays clean for now.” 

“Do you think he could come sit with us if we help him?” Kai wonders. “Kinda sucks that he’s stuck by himself.” 

You don’t answer immediately, taking a moment to ponder the decision. “Yes, he can. But we’ll need to use a wheelchair so we don’t risk reopening the wound. I’ll help too.”  

Sure enough, a few minutes later, Cole is successfully relocated to the dining room. Kai makes you pick a container of food before shuffling the rest to Cole. Everyone settles in – including the two newcomers. Mystake remains in the front for the time being. 

Kai starts off the conversation by introducing you, then the other two: “...this is Sensei Wu, and that’s Zane.”  

“It’s a pleasure to meet you both,” you greet, flashing the two a smile. 

“Likewise,” returns the snowy-haired ninja. He seems far calmer than his teammates, and sports a more sophisticated personality. “We are most grateful for your aid.”  

“Why? All she did was stick a band aid on me and call me a baby,” Cole replies as everyone starts passing around food. 

Kai and Jay snicker, both accepting their to-go containers of food with ravenous eyes. Zane’s eyes scrunch in confusion while their Sensei chuckles. 

“Only a band aid?” the icy-eyed ninja wonders. “Perhaps I heard the details of your injury incorrectly-“ 

“It’s a joke, Zane,” Jay explains as he unwraps his to-go plasticware. “The injury was really bad, but she got it under control.” 

“Did you actually call him a baby, though?” Kai wonders, eyeing you expectantly. 

You find your cheeks warming again, with expectant eyes on you. “Uh…I did, yeah. But only because he said he wouldn’t be able to handle the sting of the antiseptic when he’d just survived a stabbing-“ 

At your explanation, Kai and Jay break down in a fit of laughter. Cole shakes his head with a grin, but the mood remains light. It’s such a stark contrast to last night’s atmosphere that you can’t help but giggle too. 

You can see it in Kai and Jay’s eyes, too - Jay’s striking blue eyes are twinkling with mischief, making the bags under his eyes seem less prominent. Kai’s warm brown ones are tired too, but seeing his teammate recovered enough to make light of the situation seems to have alleviated the worry he’d been experiencing throughout the night. 

And, when you look at him, you can see it in Cole’s, too – the way his vibrant, green eyes have almost brightened since you studied them last night. They had been faded and dull yesterday, but thankfully that’s no longer the case. 

You avert your gaze before he can catch you staring, though, electing to focus on your food instead. 

“Regardless of whether or not my pupil was acting like a baby, I’d still like to thank you,” interrupts the elderly man. You note how the ninja quiet down upon hearing him speak, glancing at each to see that they’ve given him their attention. “You saved my student’s life, and for that, we’re all eternally grateful.” 

A chorus of agreements emanate from the ninja as the reality of the situation settles over the group. “Of course. We’re healers; it’s what we do. I’m glad I was able to help.” 

For a moment, it’s silent until Kai speaks up: “Oh, did you guys catch the last suspect? I know I managed to get two before the third slipped away.” 

“Yes, we located him before we came here,” Zane answers. “He’s in custody now.” 

Cole nods, apparently satisfied with the answer. “Good. I’m glad.” 

The conversation turns towards the ninja’s training. While you don’t understand much of what they’re talking about, you’re able to chime in on occasion. They still manage to include you in the chat – namely when Jay suggests you could become a “ninja doctor”. 

Which somehow turns into a debate about the conflicting nature of such a title – a ninja who could heal and hurt. It stuns you how the ninja are able to get so philosophical about something so silly. 

“No, no, Kai, you’re missing the point. It’s like what Master Splinter said in the twenty-twelve version of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” Jay argues before quoting: “’Do no harm, unless you need to do harm. Then do lots of harm!’” 

Kai narrows his eyes, pondering Jay’s claim momentarily. “So, by that logic, are we all healers, then? Because we don’t do harm unless we need to?” 

“Kai’s right,” Cole agrees, starting on what must be his third box of food. “That’s too general to go by. But it is a fantastic quote, though. Sounds like something Master Wu would say.” 

“It does, doesn’t it?” Jay frowns, trailing off. “But she could be like Donatello, though. He fights but also kind of serves as the team medic.” 

“No, no, Donnie’s way smarter than I am,” you counter. “I can’t invent or do anything as scientific as he can.” 

Jay shrugs. “But you don’t have to. You’d just heal one of us and then go smack someone up with a bo staff.” 

This makes you all chuckle, and leads you to another thought: “Hey, do you guys realize how similar you are to the ninja turtles?” 

A collective epiphany dawns on Kai, Jay, and Cole as they stare at each other, eyes widening. 

“Woah,” Jay mumbles. “Wait, wait, guys she’s onto something!” 

The redhead points at Sensei Wu, then trails his finger across the table. “Sensei…you’re basically Master Splinter. Cole’s our leader, so he’s Leo. Kai’s the hothead, which makes him Raph. I’m the funny and cute one, so naturally I’m Mikey. And Zane’s the brainiac, so he’s Donnie. And Nya’s kind of like April!” 

A sound of awe emanates from three of the ninja, nodding their heads at Jay’s analysis. Poor Zane just seems lost. 

“Are you comparing me to a giant, mutated rat man?” Sensei Wu questions, amusement laced in his gaze. 

“So, you do watch modern TV!” Kai cries, pointing an accusatory finger at Wu. “See! I told you he was lying to us!” 

From there, they start to laugh about Wu before comparing the villains they’ve fought to the ones that appear in the show. That’s when you’re not able to keep up as well. 

Regardless, you roll with the flow of the discussion, surprised at how much you’re enjoying it. A few times, you catch Cole’s stare. 

He never averts his gaze, or makes you feel embarrassed. Instead, he smiles. 

You’re not sure that your heart is supposed to be beating so hard every time it happens, but you can’t help it. Even so, you ignore it. 

… 

Shortly after breakfast, the ninja wheel Cole back into the recovery ward. Zane remains momentarily to help you clean up before joining them. 

“I hope they haven’t been too rowdy,” comes the voice of Sensei Wu. 

You shake your head. “No, they’ve been great. They’re…fun, actually. I’ve enjoyed having them around.” 

“That’s good to hear. I’ve been training them for a good while, but even now they can be a handful.” 

The old man quiets momentarily, free hand stroking his beard thoughtfully. “Mystake tells me you’re considering new opportunities to practice your craft. Is this true?” 

“Oh, um…yeah, it is. I’m still not sure what I’m going to do, but…yeah, definitely thinking about it.” 

Sensei Wu nods in acknowledgement, eyes contemplative as he selects his next words: “I see. Well, I heard about how you handled Cole’s injury from Kai and Jay. If you’re interested, I’d like to offer you a position as our team’s medic.” 

Your eyes widen as your jaw goes slack, the unexpectedness of the proposition making your mind whirl. He wants you to become their official medic? 

“What? Really?” you wonder. “But I don’t have any field experience yet! Cole is the first patient I’ve tended to from start to finish.” 

“That’s all right. We’ve all got to start somewhere. The ninja themselves have only just finished their training and are now fighting together on their own. You’re similar to them in that regard. For all of you, experience will be your greatest teacher from now on.” 

That sentence reminds you of what Mystake said earlier – about experience. It dawns on you that they’re absolutely right – you’re never going to get better by letting your fear win. You have to break the confines of comfortability and get out there. 

Then, a question occurs to you: did Mystake know about this? Is this the job that she was talking about earlier – the one you were supposed to pack for? You’d have to ask her later. 

“And if you like, we could even try out, say…a trial. You could come work with us for a few weeks and see how you like it. If it’s not what you’re looking for, then you won’t have to commit.” 

“I…like the sound of that, actually,” you admit. “So…how would that work?” 

“You’d stay at my monastery. Depending on the circumstances, you might travel with the ninja for missions that are riskier or farther away. Of course, you won’t ever get close enough to be in danger. If you like, we could even have you trained to help design our missions. Kai’s sister handles a decent portion of the mission planning, but a fresh set of eyes always helps.” 

You like the sound of that. Traveling? Learning new skills? Working alongside the ninja? Just imagining the variety presented by the job gets you excited! 

“Sounds dynamic and fun – which is exactly what I’m looking for. Let’s try it out,” you reply, offering your hand. 

The old man grins, shaking your hand. “We’re looking forward to working with you.” 

… 

A few hours pass, with the ninja and Wu slinking back to the recovery ward. You take an hour or so for yourself, hanging out in your room while thinking about what you’d take for your trial run with the ninja. After much debate, you manage to get what you need packed while leaving out enough items for the day or so it’d take Cole to get back on his feet. Mystake’s healing antiseptic works wonders, so you know it’s simply a matter of time. 

You wind up feeling too antsy to settle down, so you insist on taking over for Mystake while she takes a lunch break. 

Thankfully, the main rush is over for the day. Once the last few customers pour out of the store, you decide to start restocking. A soft hum sounds from your lips as you climb a stepstool, a box of tea tucked underneath your arm as you make sure to maintain your balance. 

While you work, a soft whistling tune drifts from the hallway, accompanied by heavy footsteps. When they approach the entrance to the shop, you turn your head. 

Kai stands there, checking the shelves with scrutinizing eyes. You huff a silent laugh, wondering what’s he looking for. 

“Need something?” you wonder, stepping down from the ladder. 

“Oh, hey. Didn’t see you,” Kai notes, pivoting around to face you. “Yeah, Mystake was asking for me to grab some kind of tea. Reme-tea, I think she said?” 

You nod, gesturing for him to follow you towards the back. “I know what you’re talking about. Follow me.” 

“Are all of her teas named with puns?” he inquires. 

“A lot of them are. She thinks she’s funny,” you mumble, rolling your eyes affectionately. “But she names others a little more artistically.” 

“That explains a lot of what Master Wu drinks. He must shop here a lot.” 

“I can’t remember if I’ve seen him here before,” you admit, stopping when you reach the correct shelf. You rummage through the tea, frowning upon realizing the shelf needs to be reorganized. “I’ve served so many customers that their faces might as well be a blur to me – especially since a lot of them come during the early hours.” 

“I get that. I used to work at my parent’s blacksmith shop with my sister. Can’t say I miss the work; it got way too repetitive and bland for our taste. I can’t smith to save my life. It was a miracle that we made enough to scrape by.” 

“Blacksmithing, huh? Sounds hard,” you sympathize, glad that someone else understands the pains of customer service. Even so, you wonder why his parents wouldn’t help them out. Knowing that might be a sensitive topic, you elect not to pry. 

“Yeah, suffice to say it…wasn’t for us. I’m glad Sensei Wu found us when he did.” He pauses momentarily as you move your search to a different shelf, wondering where in the hell Mystake moved the Reme-tea. “But that reminds me…Sensei said you’d be staying with us to test out a work opportunity.” 

You nod. “Yeah. I’ve been dying to get out of here, honestly. I’m just kind of scared to get out in the field, but…you know. I won’t find out until I do it.” 

The brunet nods, turning to glance over the other shelves in an effort to help your search. “I know the feeling.” 

“You were nervous to become a ninja?” you respond. 

“Yeah, I was scared, but…I didn’t really have a choice. My sister was kidnapped by a group of Garmadon’s goons who’d come to our village. If Sensei hadn’t saved me, I would have been a goner…but they still got away with her. I had to change because she needed my help. So…I swallowed my fear and just worked. I didn’t give myself a chance to think about it. I went with Wu and didn’t look back.” 

You gasp at the story, frowning. “I’m so sorry…that must have been horrific. I can’t imagine…” 

Kai shrugs, smiling softly. You finally find the tea you’re looking for, reaching to grab it. 

“It was scary at the time. But Nya’s tough, and she ended up being just fine. We saved her, introduced her to the team, and…well, we’ve all stuck together since. I dunno, I guess things just kind of…fell into place for us.” 

You nod, curious at the mention of his sister. “I’m glad to hear that’s she okay. How do you guys like being ninja?” 

“Honestly…” Kai trails off, seemingly searching for words as the two of you linger in the back. “At first, I was only doing it so I could rescue her. But…after we got her back, the thought of returning to the shop just…filled me with dread. I knew I couldn’t go back to the way I was living. Being a ninja is way more fulfilling for me. We get to travel, meet new people from all over Ninjago, fly on our dragons, fight for the greater good…and that’s all I need.” 

“Wow. That sounds…perfect,” you mumble, mulling over his words. 

He nods in agreement. “It really is. I think you’ll like working with us. My sister’s going to love you; as well as we all get along, I think she gets sick of us sometimes. But you’ll know for sure after a week or so. Though, you never know – you might get sick of us.” 

You snicker at this, shaking your head. “I won’t get sick of you. Honestly…it’s been nice having you guys around, even for such a short time. I’ve never felt so…” 

“Engaged? Not in a haze of repetition?” he finishes with a knowing smirk. 

“Yeah,” you say. 

“That’s how I felt too, working with the guys for the first time. It’s safe to say that’s a good sign.” 

You nod, the two of you walking back towards the hallway. Once you’re there, you hand him the tea box. “I think so too.” 

Kai smirks, thanking you before starting back towards the recovery ward. On his way back, he calls: 

“Besides…how else are you going to keep making fun of Cole?” 

… 

The day passes with you dining alongside the ninja again – this time with Mystake. You notice that she’s uncharacteristically quiet through the event, causing you to make a mental note to ask her about it later. 

Cole’s injury is healing faster than you’d thought it would. Mystake’s antiseptic solution combined with a new tea made for a speedy recovery. At this rate, he’d be up and walking come tomorrow. 

As such, the team is preparing to leave. Watching them restlessly discuss what they’d do when they return made you realize your time in the tea shop is drawing to a close. 

And it simultaneously excites and terrifies you. 

While you lay in bed that night, you wonder if this is how Kai felt when he left to become a ninja. He had said he’d been scared. Somehow, that comforts you. Even someone as confident as him got scared too. 

Late into the night, though, your mind gets tired of worrying. Instead, you decide to get excited about trying something new. 

That thought makes you smile as you drift off into a dreamless sleep. 

… 

It seems like you’d only been asleep for minutes when you jolt awake to the vibration of…something. It rocks the building, making your eyes widen. Was that an earthquake?! 

Another one shakes the shop, this time accompanied by…a roar? Your heart races at the noise, wondering what it could be. Especially at this hour – a glance outside tells you that it’s either very late or extremely early. 

Chills erupt across your skin as you exit your room, eyes searching for potential source as you make your way towards the front. It must have come from outside. 

Even before you open the door, you can hear voices outside. They don’t sound panicked at all, which makes you feel somewhat better as you push the door open. 

Immediately, you’re met with the crisp, morning breeze. It makes you shiver, wishing you’d thought to bring a jacket out beforehand. The sky is still dark and riddled with stars, leaving you to wonder what time it is. Regardless, you press on, looking up to see Kai, who is facing the alley and speaking lowly to something. A strange, red glow illuminates his figure. 

Cole, Jay, and Zane are towards the left side of the shop, all speaking quietly amongst themselves. Cole is back on his feet and seems to be doing okay. Even though it’s early, a sense of restlessness courses about the four. They must be ready to get back into action. 

Deciding that you’ve stared enough, you make your presence known. “Guys? Is everything okay?” 

The brunet is the only one to hear you, holding one of his arms out towards the alleyway. “Hey, morning. Sorry, did we wake you?” 

You shake your head, stepping a bit closer. “No, I just...heard something.” 

“Yeah...about that,” Kai lowers the hand that he’d held to the alleyway. “Those noises were our dragons. Sorry, we probably should have warned you guys beforehand. It just didn’t cross our mind.” 

“Dragons?” you repeat, glancing into the alley. “You guys have-” 

A pair of vibrant, neon orange eyes stare at you from the darkness, making you freeze. Out from the alley creeps a dragon. 

A growl rolls from its throat as it studies you, its red head flecked with streaks of orange. Unfurling from its sides are a pair of brilliant red wings that exude a warm, red light. Its underbelly is protected by many rows of thick, orange bands that contrast against the darkened red scales of its body. Beneath the bands, you can see red patches swirling with energy. 

You take a step back, seeing Kai’s arm swing out in front of you when the dragon steps towards you. It snarls again, giving you a mean glare. 

“Stop being an asshole,” Kai scolds, stepping up to the beast while glaring at it. It lowers its snout, allowing Kai to pet it. “It’s okay, boy. She’s a friend.” 

“You...have a dragon?” you question incredulously, heart racing as you study the creature. Its – his? - eyes flutter shut at Kai’s touch, wings furling in so that he doesn’t appear as massive. 

 “Yep. We all do,” Kai replies, gesturing behind you. You spin tentatively, breath hitching as you see three more accompanying each of the ninja. 

“Holy shit,” you breathe, anxiety snowballing into excitement as you take your time studying each of them. “They’re...they’re beautiful. I never thought that I’d get to see one in person...” 

“Wanna pet him?” Kai offers, hand lingering on his dragon’s neck. “Though, fair warning, everyone else except me says that he’s hot to the touch. Not hot enough to burn yourself, but hotter than you’d expect.” 

You nod in acknowledgement, cautiously lifting your hand. The dragon doesn’t flinch, trusting in his master as you gently place your hand flat against his snout. A grumble rumbles throughout his body, seemingly okay with your touch. Through your legs, you can feel the vibrations of the growl. This has to be what woke you up. 

“Wow...” you say, noting that Kai was right – the scales are burning up. It’s almost like they’re containing a full-on wildfire underneath. “Why’s he so hot?” 

“He’s a fire dragon. He was guarding the Sword of Fire when we found him,” Kai explains, smiling softly as he strokes the side of the dragon’s snout. “Same story with the others and their weapons. We realized we needed to fight alongside them, not against them.” 

“Did you guys name them?” you wonder, glancing back at Kai. 

“Yeah. Flame.” 

“Hi, Flame,” you mumble, smiling at the dragon. He huffs softly in response, small columns of smoke puffing from his nostrils. You feel like you’re standing in front of a bonfire; you don’t have to be terribly close to experience the warmth emanating from his body. “It’s nice to meet you.” 

Kai chuckles, taking his hand off of Flame. “He likes you.” 

“I...I’m at a loss for words. This is the coolest thing ever...” you trail off, slowly taking your hand off of Flame as well. The fire dragon shifts so that he’s laying down, snout dropping to rest on the grass. You're reminded of a sleepy puppy. 

Jay’s is the next dragon you greet. 

“Meet Wisp!” Jay introduces, telling your name to the dragon even though he can’t talk. Wisp tilts his head, curiosity flashing in his electric eyes. This dragon is a gorgeous shade of blue, built similarly to Flame with one exception. If you had to guess, you’d say that Wisp is sleeker – made for speed. Wisp also appears to be friendlier than Flame. 

“Wisp. That’s an adorable name,” you compliment, smiling as you approach the dragon. “Hello, Wisp!” 

You tentatively reach your hand out, giggling when Wisp bumps his forehead against the palm of your hand, eager to be pet. Jay grins at the interaction. 

Unlike Flame, you swear Wisp’s scales are tingling with underlying magic. Electricity tickles your skin, making you pull away from the dragon with a giggle. 

“He’s tickly, isn’t he? Poor guy can’t help it; he’s always emitting a low amount of electricity,” Jay explains, gently scratching Wisp in a specific spot under his chin. Wisp hums in content, leaning into Jay’s touch. 

“That’s amazing,” you reply, smiling at Wisp before turning to the next dragon. 

This one is Rocky – Cole's dragon. This guy is certainly the bulkiest of the four, with scales that feel like rock underneath your fingertips. He seems to be made to take and deliver hits. 

“Hi,” you say softly, carefully scratching the area above his nose. Rocky nuzzles his snout against your palm, eager to receive more pets. 

“Oh, you’re a sweetheart, aren’t you?” you coo, watching as the dragon closes his eyes. 

Cole pushes himself off against the wall he’d been leaning on, adorning a disbelieving expression. “Are you kidding me?” 

“What?” you wonder. 

“He’s usually a jerk,” Cole grumbles, glaring at Rocky. You’re not fluent in dragon expressions, but you have a feeling that Rocky is taunting Cole somehow. “He’s always pushing us around, not...cuddling us! What’s your deal, man?!” 

“I think it’s because you’re mean to him,” you retort, laughing when Rocky bumps his snout against your arm. You realize he wants more pets, so you oblige without complaint. 

“Or because he’s a baby!” Jay calls, earning a laugh from Kai. 

Cole rolls his eyes, stepping beside you to pet the dragon as well. You take note of how Cole’s eyes soften upon seeing his dragon. The sight makes you wonder what kind of bond they have, and how it came to be. 

“And now they’re never going to let me live that down. See what you’ve done?” Cole says, turning to you with a smirk. 

“I don’t feel too bad,” you retaliate before moving to the last dragon. 

“Who’s this?” you ask, directing your question to Zane. He’d been sitting quietly alongside the icy blue and white dragon, which is laying down behind him. 

“His name is Shard,” Zane answers, tone soft as he glances up at you. “And I must apologize...he does not like being touched by people he doesn’t know very well. I imagine he will come around in a few weeks.” 

“Oh, that’s okay. I understand.” You smile, studying the dragon a bit longer. You decide to leave him alone for the time being, instead swiveling around to face the other ninja. 

The other two dragons have settled for the morning too, all laying down. Kai and Jay are near the front of the shop now, the two speaking quietly. Zane joins them a few moments later. 

Cole steps beside you, watching the three before answering your unasked question: “I think they’re going to try to get a quick sparring session in before we go. They need to loosen up and let some energy out.” 

“You’re sitting out, right?” you inquire, eyes narrowing in concern. 

“Yeah. I know the cut finally closed all the way, but it still hurts,” he comments. 

“Good. I know that stuff healed your wound pretty well, but Mystake is still putting the finishing touches on that particular formula. So just...take it easy for a few more days, then you can go back to crimefighting and whatnot.” 

“Are you saying you used me as a test subject?” Cole replies, crossing his arms as Jay gestures towards a small clearing across the shop. It’s grassy and spacious – perfect for a spar. You and Cole follow the three there, standing towards the side as Kai and Zane get into position. 

“We try our new teas and potions on ourselves before anyone else,” you say. Just from observing their stances, you can already see how differently these guys fight from each other – Kai's stance is loose, and he’s staying mobile while remaining focused on Zane. The white ninja, on the other hand, adopts a more formal version of Kai’s. He’s not as jittery as Kai, but he’s studying Kai. Watching, and waiting. 

“And then you just...perfect them as time goes on?” Cole wonders, the two of you watching as Kai launches an attack. 

“Pretty much. Once you understand the base recipes, and how different ingredients affect the base, it’s easy to come up with what you need. So, there’s not much risk in involved.” 

“I see,” Cole trails off, cringing when Zane exploits an opening Kai failed to notice. The white ninja lands a kick on Kai’s torso, eliciting a curse from the red ninja. 

“Ouch,” you hiss, your ribs hurting just from watching them. “How do you guys do this? And enjoy it?” 

“It pays off in its own way,” Cole replies with a shrug. “The risk is part of the thrill for us.” 

“I think you guys are just crazy,” you mumble, eyeing the fight. 

Your statement makes Cole laugh, the ninja unfolding his arms as he turns towards you. “You know, most people just call us noble. Or brave. Heroic, even.” 

“I’m sure; I’m just not much of an ass-kisser.” 

“And that’s exactly why she needs to be our medic,” Kai calls, he and Jay laughing at the exchange. 

“I am not familiar with the act of ass-kissing,” Zane says, he and Kai stopping their match. “Is it in a literal or figurative sense? And why is imperative that our medic does not kiss ass?” 

The white ninja’s remark cracks Kai and Jay up. Zane’s expression leaves you feeling a little bad for him, though. 

You lean over to Cole again, making sure they aren’t listening as you ask your next question. “Is he always that dense?” 

“Yep. Don’t get me wrong...he’s really smart, but stuff like this always flies over his head,” he answers before walking towards the others and answering Zane’s query.  

“Figuratively, Zane. An ass-kisser or kiss-ass is someone who sucks up to someone else. It’s usually to win approval or favors; it depends on the context. And it’s not a required quality of a medic, but personally, I think it’s more fun that way.” 

“She’ll be able to see right through our bullshit,” Kai adds. “She’ll do her job, but won’t baby us.” 

Jay pulls himself up from his previous sitting position, stepping over to the group and adding: “Although, she’s not opposed to calling people babies.” 

"Ah. I see now,” Zane says. “Thank you for the explanation.” 

A silence sweeps over the five of you, partnered with a sudden chilly breeze. You turn around to have another glance at the dragons, watching as they all nap peacefully. A few onlookers have gathered towards the end of the street, ogling the dragons with hushed murmurs. 

“We should probably get going soon,” Kai notes upon seeing the crowd. “Wouldn’t want to affect Mystake’s customer flow with our dragons.” 

“Yeah,” Cole agrees. “We can strap your stuff to Rocky. He’s probably the best suited to carry extra weight.” 

You nod in response, realizing that this is the last morning you’ll spend here for at least two weeks – more if the job goes as well as you think it will. A pit funnels into your stomach, hands twiddling with the hem of your shirt. 

“Okay,” you finally say, turning back towards the ninja. “I’m gonna go talk to Mystake, then.” 

Cole nods, bits of understanding flickering in his eyes. “Take your time.” 

You smile appreciatively, leaving the group and passing by the snoozing dragons. The bell chimes as you enter the shop, seeing Mystake at the register. 

A glance at the clock tells you that the shop has roughly forty-five minutes until opening, giving you a bit of time to say your goodbyes. 

The elderly woman looks up at you once you approach, smiling as you greet her. 

“Good morning,” you say. 

“Good morning, dearie,” Mystake says, expression softening as she glances out the window to look at the ninja. “I suppose today’s the day, isn’t it?” 

You nod. “Yeah...it is.” 

She steps around the counter, hand coming to clasp around yours. “Come with me. I need to give you something.” 

Your mentor guides you towards your room, where your packed belongings lay. On top of your bed is a canvas bag. You note that’s it is your favorite color, complete with a crossbody strap, several pockets, and metal clasps. It looks to be built for durability and function – the straps are thicker than you’d expect to find on a regular bag. 

“I’ve prepared this for you,” she starts, sitting on the edge of your bed. You do the same, settling in across from her. “I’m glad you’ll be working with Wu. I always give him a hard time, but he’s a good man. And, since I’ve known him for so long, I had an idea of what you should bring.” 

With that, Mystake tugs the bag into her lap, snapping the clasps open. “This bag contains everything you’ll need to get started.” 

The first object she pulls out is a wooden box – it's handcrafted and painted your favorite color, decorated with floral engravings along the sides. “This box is filled with your basic teas and potions. There should be enough for two weeks. Should you decide to stay with them, I’ve made something else for you.” 

Mystake sets the box aside, hands delving back into the bag to reveal a handcrafted leather journal. The cover is black, painted with pink and purple symbols that seem familiar somehow. The pages are thick and gray, like a stormy sky. 

“This is a copy of my recipe book. Every potion and tea you’ve ever crafted under my guidance can be found here – with the exception of my secret ones, of course. There are also a few blank pages in the back so you can create your own, too.” 

Then, Mystake tilts the bag towards you. You peer inside, seeing various basic medical supplies – bandages, gauze, simple over-the-counter medicines. It looks like enough for two weeks as well. “And, lastly, traditional medical supplies. Enough for the duration of your stay." 

With that, Mystake repacks the bag and sets it aside. 

Your eyes are watering slightly as you stare at the bag, watching as she snaps the clasps shut. “Mystake...I don’t know what to say. I...” 

She chuckles, taking your hands in hers. Wrinkled, steely gray eyes peer at you from underneath her straw hat, just as glassy as yours.  

“It’s okay, because I already understand how you feel. I know what you want to say. I was in your position once, after all. I was standing before my family in my homeland, about to travel into this world so I could fulfill my duty. But I never could have imagined what awaited me in a Ninjago – a land where I could live a mundane life, set up a silly old tea shop. A land where I had the blessing to train one of the brightest pupils that I’ve ever mentored.” She pauses, squeezing your hands. “I’m so proud of you.” 

That does it. You sniffle, letting yourself cry. “You are?” 

“Of course I am,” she mumbles. “You’ve come such a long way since the day I found you. And now you’re preparing to work on your own…” 

“Mystake…” You’re unable to finish your sentence as you envelope her in a hug – the woman who’d taken you in, mentored you. “You…you have no idea how much that means to me. Thank you.” 

Her arms coil tighter still around your figure, and against your arms you can feel the scratchy wool of her handknitted sweater. An herbal scent floods your senses as you soak it in, knowing this will be the last time you smell it in a while. 

It would forever remind you of her. 

“I’m honored I got the chance to mentor you, and get to know you as a young lady. You’re going to do incredible things. The world is yours, dearie; grab it by the neck and throttle it!” 

You giggle, already knowing that you’re going to miss her eccentric self. “I won’t ever be able to repay you for everything that you’ve done for me. All I can say is: thank you, Mystake. I’m going to do all I can to make you proud. I’m forever grateful for your hospitality and mentorship.” 

“You’ve already made me proud. I know you’re going to be amazing. You’ll be the best damned medic in Ninjago, you hear me? Now get out there and make it happen. They’re waiting for you.” 

With those parting words, Mystake stands, pulling the bag she’d prepared into her arms. “Ready?” 

You make sure you have your bags before nodding, glancing around your room one last time. Without your belongings scattered about the room, it seems far too empty. Your eyes soften as you study the area, heart aching when you realize you won’t be coming back to sleep here again for a while. 

Despite your reluctance, you smile, mumbling a soft “thank you” to the room that had sheltered you for all of those years. 

A sigh escapes you as you turn, following Mystake out of the shop. 

The sun is higher in the sky now, and the dragons seem to be reenergized. Jay and Wisp are play fighting where Kai and Zane had been sparring earlier; Cole is fussing over Rocky while Kai is adjusting a saddle on Flame. Zane and Shard are still sitting together, watching the others struggle. 

“You rapscallions better treat my pupil well,” Mystake grumbles, eyeing the crowd still ogling the dragons. “We can hurt just as well as we can heal-” 

“Mystake,” you interrupt, chuckling as Jay’s eyes widen. “It’s going to be just fine.” 

“Here, let me take those for you,” Cole replies, reaching for your bags. You oblige, grinning softly at him as you hand them to him. 

“Thank you,” you reply, watching as he sets them on Rocky’s back. Kai approaches once he’s done, holding a mix of ropes and bungee cords. 

The two set about strapping your luggage to the dragon, making sure that they’re secure before asking Rocky to move around a little. After a few adjustments have been made, Cole nods in approval. 

“Alright, I think we’re about set,” Cole notes, glancing around at the others. “Who’s gonna take Wu back?” 

“I can,” Kai answers, the four grouping together as Sensei Wu emerges from the store. 

“Alright. Then I guess we’re headed back to the monastery, then,” Cole replies. The others nod in agreement, preparing to board their dragons. The black ninja takes a moment to double check the bags before turning to you. 

His green eyes sparkle in the morning light, lips quirking into a soft smile. “Anything else you need to do before we take off?” 

You don’t answer immediately, instead turning towards Mystake again. Wordlessly, you loop your arms around her neck. 

She returns your embrace, voice soft in your ear as she says: “I’m going to miss you, but I’m glad you’re pursuing your dream. Remember what I said. Take care, dear. I’m always here if you need me.” 

“Thank you. I’m going to miss you too.” 

She pulls away from you, lips pressed together tightly as she releases you. “Now go.” 

For a moment, your throat tightens with the things you want to say to her. Despite this, you hesitate, realizing that she already knows what you want to say. 

With that, you turn back towards the ninja before you, glancing up at him through glassy eyes. 

“Okay,” you murmur, nodding briskly. “I’m ready.” 

Always happy to read fresh requests. Read my guidelines before submitting, please!

Masterlist for this Fic

[whenwillyoullearn]

Ninjago x reader headcanons: You suggest (and try!) pegging

This is part 1 with Jay, Kai, and Zane. Part two will have Cole, Lloyd, and Nya. While the reader does not have pp, I didn't write with a gender in mind!

Jay:

Ok, so if anyone’s done this before, it’d be him, but we’re still gonna say he hasn’t.

After you suggest it, there’s the smallest moment where it’s still sinking in, and then his eyes widen, and he blushes

He might stammer a little, and you notice that he’s not really looking at you, his eyes are unfocused, far away somewhere

(He’s imagining it. God help him he’s about to have a systems crash not even Zane could comprehend.)

But you ask him if he’s ok and he comes back. He tries and fails to sound casual when he voices his own interest in the idea. 

Yeah, you can be the first one to open him up, he’ll basically let you do anything (cuz he’s a good boy and you take such good care of him!!!!!)

Even if he’s trying to be quiet, he can’t hold back from whimpering a bit and whining your name, and you’ve barely started.

You better praise him or he’s going to get really needy, really quick. 

He likes it on the bigger side. You both settled on a pretty average size for the first time but it doesn’t take long for this to stop being the case. 

Let him suck the strap! Choke him on it!! Have him keep it nice and warm in his mouth while you do other things!!!

He’s still a switch, but give it to him good enough and he could come untouched. He gets cockdrunk so easily it’s unreal.

And he loveeeeeeeeeessss to eat you out afterwards. Seriously, fuck his brains out and then sit on his face. He’ll die. Nevermind actually he’s already dead because this is clearly Heaven. 

Kai: 

He laughs a little bit, and glances back at you with that smirk of his. And then his face falls, and his laughter pinches off into a nervy little sound, and then nothing

because. Oh. Oh you're serious aren't you? WHAT????

It doesn't matter how many people of whatever sex he’s slept with—this man has never considered bottoming in his life

He’s too much of a Tough Guy (aka he can't imagine being physically vulnerable like that while keeping his pride in-tact)

He gets flustered, and grumbles a bit, and whenever it gets mentioned he has to make a conscious and continuous effort to not just be scowling at you (he's not mad that's just how his face reacts to his hesitance)

But he trusts you a lot, moreso than anybody else he's been with

And he sees how much you want this - not to the point of doing something he really doesn't want, obviously - but you do want it!! And he wants to give you the world!!

So he considers it. Privately.

And he starts… experimenting. Privately.

He realizes that he can get into this

But he doesn't go any further than his own fingers. He’s waiting for you. He wants to surprise you, turn you on. 

But this also has the effect of making him greedy. He wants, and not all of that want can be satisfied with just his fingers!! He needs more!!!!

When the day comes, he will prep himself, but you can watch.

After that he’s gotta be put in his place tho—at least a little bit. Even if you’re more soft spoken or submissive you gotta remind him to behave.

But you could also totally hold him down and rough him up a little and fuck him into the mattress, he’d love it. He’d be egging you on and complaining that it’s not enough.

No restraints or anything for his first time tho

Times after that? 👀 Never say never

Average size preference but he does like a challenge sometimes sooooooooooo

Zane:

Unfazed. He’s a curious mind, and down to experiment if it makes you happy. 

But… the nindrussy is a problem. Because it doesn’t exist.

Like 50/50 shot he’s already got a dick at this point tho, so might as well go all the way.

If you are technologically inclined, you two can work together on it!! New date night activity just dropped!

Or it might become a sort of secret project he works on in his off time… he doesn’t like keeping secrets, especially from you, but he justifies this one as a surprise. (Although he might have to blackmail Jay or something to help him install it RIP)

Nevertheless, he announces the project’s completion to you (in private) with a smile.

He’s excited to try this, but overall pretty calm. He’d ask you if theres a certain position you’d like to fuck him in, to show his appreciation for you giving him this new experience! 

If you want him more unsteady you could prolly surprise him a little by eating him out first. 

Oh, did somebody say self lubricating?? Sorry not sorry, it’s just so much more convenient. I mean we’re building this thing custom here so give me a reason not to I’ll wait. 

Oh look at that there’s no need to stretch him either! You can just get right to the good part! Technology is so amazing😌

There’s also a sensitivity setting, and this is how Zane learns that he LOVES overstimulation.

If you had the time then he’d honestly let you go for HOURS. It feels good and he likes giving his body to you since you already have his heart ❤️

[soundwavesconjunx]

Ninjago X Reader Incorrect Quotes. #1

Krux: You'd better make the apparatus, You know what happens if you don't.

Cyrus Borg: Absolutely not! I will not agree to this.

Also Cyrus Borg:

You: Hey uh honey, Would it be okay if you fixed this..? I hope it's not too much of a trouble—

Cyrus Borg: Of course my love anything for you. <33 *Fixes it and makes it so durable it will never break again.* Here you go darling. <3

You: Thank you! (≧▽≦)♡♡♡

Acronix and Krux in the background: 😡😡

[kaisfruit]

Hi! how's your day going?

I'd like to request the ninja from Ninjago and an older sibling reader if that alright? You know just cute fluffy days with siblings.

Ninjago Older Sibling!Reader Headcanons <3

A/N; Ahhh hi!!! my day is good ty <3 tysm for this ask this is so cute 🥺🥺 i hope u dont mind hcs, but if u do feel free to ask again and i'll gladly make smthn longer :] jus thought hcs fit the vibe

warnings; none! just fluff <3

Kai and Nya

Absolutely the most chaotic sibling trio

Nya constantly getting upset with you and Kai for playing the "i'm the older sibling" card

Nya: WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU GUYS DIDN'T SAVE A PIECE FOR ME?

You and Kai: older siblings get cake first that's just the rule. sorry <33

But Kai gets just as upset as she does when you do it to him

You guys all love each other though so it's okay

Just the vibes of being their older sibling would be the most competitive basic sibling rivalry type stuff yk

Lloyd

Constantly doting over him

You might as well be his parental figure since MISAKO AND GARMADON WERE THE WORSTTTTT

You and Kai take turns mother henning him

You and Kai are bffs btw like. I don't make the rules. Kai is just his adoptive older brother in my head, so you two bond over caring for Lloyd

Definitely his comfort person after a long day <3

You're the one Lloyd trusts the most in his life and he isn't scared to tell you his fears because, despite any assumed sibling teasing, he knows you'll take him seriously on that regard

Jay

You guys make annoying each other a full time job

Constantly fighting over who the favorite is

Y/N: At least I help out at the junkyard!!

Jay: I'm literally out saving the world everyday!!!

*aggressive slap fight ensues*

OMG no. he's definitely the younger sibling to pull the rapid fire kick tactic

His elemental abilities go out the window when y'all fight. Just straight up, falls on his back and starts kicking up at you

All fun n games until you're able to catch one of his legs

You totally embarrass him as much as you can in front of Nya too

As Jay's older sibling, you're legally obligated to be Cole's bestie since Cole is Jay's bestie. you guys lovingly torment the lightning user together <33

Cole

The most chill sibling duo to ever exist

you both didn't appreciate Lou's insistence of the singing and dancing shit so y'all just decided to be ride or dies for life

much like cole, you get along so well with the rest of the ninja

idrk what to say here

nvm i do

You guys play video games with each other and you are infinitely salty at the fact that your younger brother is better than you at most video games

like wtf? isn't it supposed to be a god given right for all older siblings to be better at video games???? the FSM screwed you!!!

but you've never let him live down the one time he lost to you at super smash bros

you have refused to play with him since

Zane

See, idk if you'd be his ACTUAL sibling yk since he's a robot? maybe more like you were supposed to be a protege to dr. julien, but decided to just be a 4 lyfer with zane after his passing

you've helped zane understand human culture so much and he's real appreciative of your existence

the ninja absolutely fucking ADORE when you're around because what's better than one zane? TWO ZANES !!!

well, obviously you're your own person but! i could see zane adopting a lot of your mannerisms so you two end up being very similar

quality time is y'alls bread and butter

working around each other perfectly as y'all both cook in the kitchen

words never need to be shared between the two of you. just hanging around the other is enough yk? like y'all are bonding just by existing near each other and it is magical

ANOTHER A/N; i tried my best to highlight reader being the older sibling but </3 idk if i did it that well. i saw "sibling fluff" and RAN!! im willing to do a pt 2 or like a one shot or anything with a prompt similar to this !! im the youngest sibling myself tho so idk if i can properly portray being an older sibling (only in a mean light. yk like greg heffley and rodrick. do NOT recommend having older siblings y'all /j)

[herioclizard]

[It begins with the main Ninja on one side and the Forbidden Five on the other.]

Rox: The Forbidden Five's plan to unleash Thunderfang will not be stopped!

Y/N: Uh-huh.

Rox: And then, once we have more power we sha-

Y/N: Uh-huh.

[Rox then stops herself and turns to look at Y/N.]

Rox: What is that Ninja's problem?

[Y/N then leans in and whispers to Arin.]

Y/N: Is it werid that I find her strangely attractive?

[This causes a few moment of silence as then Sora then yells out.]

Sora: You what!?

Y/N: Yeah, strangely, the mask is kinda hot, I like women who would kill me.

[This causes Rox to slightly blush even if no one else can see it.]

Rox: Nokt? Can we--

Nokt: No! We are not keeping it!

[greenunoreversecard]

Just general cole in a relationship?

A/N: sorry this took so long, I got sad. Also, the only way I convinced myself was the promised word vomit of general and romantic. So, whoops you get both.

Back in Black->Cole general and romantic hc

General:

Bro is a stoner.

Says it helps get him closer to his element.

Introvert irl, but has the biggest social media presence. (Faceless, obvi)

Half Korean

Has curly as fuck hair

Always tired (lowkey narcoleptic)

Allergic to pollen

Super chill. To the point someone could commit a felony in front of hi and he'll give prolly zero fucks

Ride or die fr

Likes to join kai in doing unhinged shit, but denies if caught by Wu.

Mlm demisexual. I cannot see him with a female. (Which is the only reason I'll write him on this blog, bc it's male/trans umbrella/masc gn readers)

Romantic:

Helpless romantic

Pulls out every stop

Super inexperienced, bc people thought he was really weird when younger, so he's super new and tries to copy the movies

Assure him you love him for him, and he'll calm a bit.

Def wants to boogie in the rain with you

Also: giving love language is Def gifts and acts of service. Hes also touchy, but not as much as expected. His receiving love languages are words of affirmation and acts of service/quality time.

He makes playlists for you

Also, he Def does granny crafts so expect to have a hand knit sweater at some point

Loves to see you in his clothes.

Hes lowkey a gym bro, so expect him to ask you a million times w/puppy eyes to join him at the gym

Very protective of you.

You guys have weekly self care days.

Sends good morning and goodnight texts

Cook with him! Another love language for him (giving or receiving) is cutting/preparing fruit or just feeding each other in general

He has prolly burnt water at some point, so you got the stove stuff, but he can chop really well so he's willing to chopy chop stuff for you.

Loves to cuddle and nap together.

I also feel like he loves to read to you, or be read to. I see him as a book worm kinda

Lets you do his makeup.

Kinda sucks at emotions (motherless) so he's bad with comfort and oftentimes is avoidant of conflict and emotion.

Hes also hyper-independant, so please reel him in when he's going on a streak of angry 'I don't need anyone I can survive by myself'..

He does need others. He's prolly just hungry. Get him some soup and a hug.

[snowii-writes]

I made this picrew a long time ago, so I can't find the link to it 😭 I'll give th link if I find it again,,,

Anyway, Lloyd & Y/n from my fic, Under the Moonlight.

I gave Y/n, or Yin as I call her (1st time I read a fic with Y/n, I read it as Yin and it stuck), the default look, so just imagine her however you want :p

Night & Day vers cuz I'm indecisive lmao✌🏻

Kinda have a lil scenario inspired by this, might write it :>

OH YEAH-

Chapter 3 is almost done, I managed to get out of my funk to finish it! Idk when it'll drag me back down again so ye!!

[firstfirerebel]

𝑆𝑙𝑒𝑒𝑝𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟

Sumary: Lloyd is having a sleepover at the monastery of his father. Reader is close to Lloyd but struggles with the other ninjas

Pairing: Garmadon x reader (platonic), Lloyd x reader (mentioned crush)

Warnings: feeling outcasted, mention of past toxic friends, social problems, fluff

Readers gender/pronouns aren't stated, so read it as you ❤️

Standing in front of the monastery was harder than you first assumed. You weren't too keen on a sleepover with the ninjas. To everyone else, this would sound mad. A sleepover with THE ninjas! Others would kill to have that! It's just that you're not good in groups. You just always ended up being the outcast.

The poor friend that just swang along. Meanwhile, all the others were bffs.

Besides, you didn't even know the other ninjas. You were only close to Lloyd, and he wanted you to be there. After some of his puppy eyes, you accepted.

You were at the monastery before. You even knew Lloyds Father, but that didn't linger your fear. Maybe you could just turn around and go -

"Hey, (Y/n)! I'm glad you could make it!"Lloyd yelled of his window from his room and waved at you.

Great, no turning back now...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In Lloyds room, you unpacked your bag. The others were already there. Kai had his stuff in front of Lloyds bed. Zane was next to Lloyds bed. Jay and Cole slept across, but still near, of Kai. And Nya was next Zane.

You put your stuff in the left corner, near Lloyds bed. You unpacked your pillow and blanket on the small mattress that was prepared for you. The last detail was your favorite stuffed animal, Lloyd gifted it to you when you two were at a funfair together. (Imagine it as what you want, I personally imagined an Eeyore type of stuffed animal)

Your bag with your other stuff was at the end of your sleep area.

"Okay, then let's get downstairs!"Jay screeched like a little kid.

"F-For what?" You asked quietly, but they either didn't hear or ignored you.

As the others ran downstairs, Lloyd turned around. He noticed that you weren't coming along.

"Are you coming (Y/n)? We want to play some video games, " the blonde explained.

Forcing a smile upon your lips worked as you followed him quietly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Okay, guys. What shall we play?" Cole asked into the group.

"How abo-"

"Our Ninja Video Game!" Kai suggested, not noticing that he had interrupted you.

Since only four could play, the plan was to switch the consoles from time to time.

Lloyd, Kai, Jay and Zane were playing meanwhile Cole and Nya watched them.

You sat on the ground a little away from the others. You didn't get this game. But they seemed to love it. Maybe you could change the game later to something you actually liked to play.

"Oh no!" Kai whined as he got shot by the enemy.

"Yes! My turn!" Nya took the controller of her brother and started to play.

Jay got shot next so Cole got to play. As Zane was game over, you stood up to get the controller, but Jay was in your place faster.

"Ehm, isn't it my turn?" You asked, but they played that stupid game so loud they couldn't even hear you. No, all eyes were on the screen.

'Nothing will change. I'm just not cut out to be with others. I should just accept that.' With this thought, you silently left the living room and went to Lloyds room.

You saw how all the other sleeping areas were connected, except yours. It was away from the others. And that's how it was in real life. You didn't belong to them, they were a team and you? You were just someone who was friends with one of them.

As fast as you could, you packed your stuff back into your bag. Expect your stuffed animal. You needed to hug it now.

"(Y/n)? Shouldn't you be down with the others?" When you turned around, you saw Lloyds Father, Sensei Garmadon.

You kept quiet, hoping he'd go and mind his own business.

"You don't look good. Wanna have a tea?",

You didn't want to decline his nice offer, but on the other hand you wanted to get home as fast as possible.

"Come with me, you can tell me what's bothering you", with that he left Lloyds room and obviously intended you to follow him. You let out a sigh and took your plushie with you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"So, what is it?"

"I don't know what you mean, Sensei. I'm fine", Carefully you took a small sip of your cup to see that it still was too hot to drink. Your stuffed animal was on your lap, so Garmadon didn't see it.

"If anything is fine, then why aren't you with the others?" A worried look was on his face.

"Ehm, I just don't like the game, so..." You felt how you slowly crumpled down. You already could feel the hot tears in your eyes. And Garmadon obviously knew that it was a lie.

"You know that you make my son verry happy, right? He loves to spend his afternoons with you, and when he's home, he never stops talking about you. I think you are what makes him feel normal sometimes. Lloyd would never do something to hurt you, so if this sleepover is a problem for you, I guarantee that he doesn't know it, "

"T-that's not it, Sensei. I also really like Lloyd, but bonding with others is really hard for me. I just can't do anything right! If I say my opinion, I'm rude. If I keep quiet, I'm too shy. And it goes on and on. I'm just tired of trying to win a war, I know I'll never win, " It felt good to finally say this out loud. You always had to keep it to yourself, so you wouldn't annoy somebody.

"And I don't even know the others. Lloyd is the one who made me come here in the first place. And now .... I don't know, I just want to go home, "

The elder let out a sigh and took a sip of his teacup before his attention was back on you.

"I won't force you to stay here just because you make my son happy. Making sure that you feel good is more important. If you aren't okay, you can't help anyone else. Alas, nothing will change if you keep hiding your emotions. Bottling up the bad feelings and forcing up a smile just for others will only make you sick. Both physical and emotional, "

As you slowly took a sip of the tea, you tasted a little bit of cherry and cinnamon and some herbals as well. It made you feel warm from the inside, or maybe his words caused this feeling?

"But won't that be intrusive?" You almost whispered. All your past friends said that you were a bad friend cause you wanted to get some advice, help or maybe just talk about it. On the other hand, they never bothered to tell you about their hard life and their problems...

"A true and loyal friend would never call you that. You have a special place in their heart, and friends always have their backs and can trust and rely on each other, "

So Lloyd was a true friend. He never expected you to play a role and just wanted you to be you. Sometimes, he was your reason to smile, and so were you his.

"Thanks, Sensei. This talk helped me a lot. It might take some time for me to make friends with others, but now I know what my worth is, " With that, you drank the rest of your tea, and at the same time, Lloyd came inside the room.

"I've been looking for you, (Y/n)! I'm sorry that we ignored you! It really wasn't our intention! It's just that - "

"It's okay, Lloyd. So! Wanna explain this nonsense making game to me?" You asked as you stood up and held your stuffed animal in your right hand.

"Sure!" With that, he took your left wrist and ran downstairs with you.

Garmadon just smiled at the two of you and drank another cup of his tea.

[greenygreenland]

You: Morro x reader drabble

It's still you.

Despite the way you chopped off every ounce of hair weighing down your head, painted your nails a fresh new colour, and changed your clothes...

...you were still you.

You've left Sensei Wu's monastery, tossed your gi into some forgotten corner in your room, and ran off to search for something you weren't sure to ever find.

"The doors are always open for if you want to return home."

Those words echoed in your head, a faint memory you didn't dare hold onto. Not like the comfort of your teacher's arms as he embraced you, not the sorrow in his eyes as he waved you goodbye.

You've changed your name, your whole look, and now your profession. You're a wanderer, a ronin one would say, and you're rogue, traveling without a destination in mind.

Just something to fill the hole Morro left behind with all these vivid memories still filling your head.

It's still you.

Even when you've begun to dip your hands into dirty work, hide your face behind some old, tattered scarf Wu gave you when you were ten, it was still you.

And even when you finally stumbled upon the one person you thought could patch this emptiness in your heart, this gaping hole in your chest, he's gone. All that greets you are bones and a single letter addressed to you.

You stare for longer than you should have, heart hammering, blood coursing through your veins. A part of you thinks you're dreaming, but the filth and rancid stench of death are all too real.

When you read the letter, tears stream down your dirty cheeks, burning your skin as you crumple in a heap. Sobs wrack your tired and frail body as a chill runs down your spine at this new revelation.

Morro is dead. And despite him being gone, despite him leaving you only a stupid letter telling you he's sorry but doesn't refret anything...

...you're still you.

You can't remember the last time you ate, but even that gawning hunger was nothing compared to the knife stabbing itself mercilessly into your chest.

When you return to the monastery, the one place you swore to never set foot in, you're a skinny little thing that makes Wu break out into sobs. He pulls you close, ushering you inside for your first hot meal in weeks.

And even with the weariness in your haunted eyes, the hollowness of your cheeks, and the dirt coating your nails and skin, you're still you.

The gi eventually finds its way into your arms, dusty and wrinkled from being thrown in the far corner of your room. It's the same as you've left it, and for a moment, you think you see Morro sitting on your bed, smiling, teasing you about looking like an utter mess.

You turn to the mirror with a hollow heart and your reflection stares back at you. Tousled, matted hair, old scabs littering your hands, and dirt smeared across your face. You looked like a madmad.

...Yet this was still you.

Morro would probably laugh at you right now, pointing a finger, falling over his knees just to get a kick out of it. And despite the tears staining your dirty cheeks, the blood bursting from your chapped lips, and the newly formed scars on your skin, this was still you.

Despite everything, this was still you.

[greenbean-4ever]

lloyd x reader

really pretty eyes

you were peacefully walking through the almost empty city. today had been a good day, you went to school, had a calm shift at work, went to the comic store, and now, you were heading home. to finish the day right, you were blasting music in your headphones, and since the streets were practically empty, you were dancing to the music. so concentrated in the music that you didn't think twice about the car that was going too fast to stop at the red light you were just crossing. what sounded like a distant honk was much closer than you realized. there was nothing you could do but close your eyes and brace for impact, but it never came. or it did, but much softer than expected. confused, you opened your eyes and only saw green.

focusing, you saw the most beautiful eyes the color of emerald stones and golden sunsets with lashes that could easily beat you own delicate ones.

"are you alright?" said the stranger in front of you, who was holding you by the waist.

"um, uh- your eyes are really pretty."

the stranger laughed "thank you, but are you okay?" he said as he stepped away, letting go of you.

finding your balance you realized that he wasn't a normal stranger but the Green Ninja himself.

finally reacting, you said "oh my gosh, I said that out loud didn't I? um yes! I'm alright. thanks to you of course, in a bit of a shock but okay either way. reality settling in and still rambling, you said "if it weren't for you I'd be- oh no. I would've have definetly be- your eyes started watering.

before you could say anything else, the Green Ninja said "hey hey! it's okay. breath with me alright?" looking directly at you, he said "inhale and exhale" you were confused, barely processing his words but did so anyway. doing the exercise a few times calmed you down.

"I'm sorry."

"it's okay, you shouldn't say sorry. better now?"

wiping your tears, you replied "I think so yeah"

"is it okay for you to go home?" he asked with concern.

"yes" you sniffed "I'm good now"

"that's great. you should be a little more careful next time even though it wasn't entirely your fault." "I'll catch the driver another day and have a talk with them" he mumbled that but you heard him anyways making you feel a little relieved that he was taking this seriously. you thought that compared to his big accomplishments, saving you was nothing. you couldn't have been more grateful for his timely appearance and comfort.

"thank you again"

"anytime." he said and you thought he smiled? you weren't that sure because of the mask but his eyes were quite expressive. with a nod and a smile of your own, you turned around and started walking.

"your eyes are really pretty too"

you quickly turned around suprised "um, thank you."

"until next time." he said with a two finger salute.

you waved back. "see you then." turned around and started walking again. a soft blush creeping up to your cheeks.

[daizedndconfused]

Friend, you’re about to be known as a Cole x reader blog, lmao….and I might contribute 👉👈. Feel free to ignore but if you’ll hear me out.

Imagine Reader and Cole go to visit his dad bc he wanted to meet Reader. His dad quickly realizes that Cole is head over heels with reader, but reader doesn’t seem to reciprocate. Like reader is kind, warm and polite, but seems more restrained unlike Cole.

So his dad gets concerned that it’s kind of uneven; one party seeming more “invested” than the other and it causes a bit of friction. Then he realizes that Reader is as affectionate as Cole, just that they’re not used to expressing it in front of others, just in private. Then Reader and his dad start over, getting along while leaving Cole confused as to what changed, lmao.

sorry it’s like weirdly specific but it’s been bouncing around in my head. 🫣

eye to eye

a/n: i’m so so sorry this took so long im going through my inbox rn and trying to answer as fast as i can!! but that aside i really loved this prompt because i feel like a lot of people are nervous about meeting their partners parents which can lead to some tension. i am totally fine with being labeled the cole x reader blog that’s what i’m here forrrr

characters: cole x fem!reader

type: fluff

warnings: none/not proofread

synopsis: you meet cole’s dad for the first time and get off on the wrong foot

word count: 3.4k

Your knee bounced up and down uncontrollably as you waited for Cole to enter the kitchen. To your left, Kai and Jay played a game of chess and watched as you panicked silently.

This day had been coming up for weeks–everyone knew about it. Partly because you and Cole had to get permission from Sensei to leave the monastery unattended. Normally if there isn’t an immediate threat or patrol, you need Sensei’s permission to enter the city alone.

Cole, the responsible guy he is, explained the reason for your leave weeks in advance to Wu after bringing the idea up with you first. Unfortunately, that also meant you had been stewing in your own head for the weeks that led up to this weekend.

“What if he hates me?” you blurt out, the suffocating silence of the kitchen finally getting to you.

Kai’s hand paused over a chess piece at the sound of your voice and he looked at you with an are-you-kidding kind of expression.

“What?” He all but scoffed. “He won’t.”

He moved one of his pawns forward.

“You don’t know that,” you countered, laying your cheek down on the wooden table’s surface.

“And you don’t know he’ll hate you.” Kai rolled his eyes then frowned as Jay captured the pawn he had previously moved.

“But–”

“What’s not to like about you?” Jay asked, his eyes never straying from the black and white board. “You’re a ninja, you save the city, you’ve saved his son more times than I can count, Cole loves you, and–”

“Still!”

Jay and Kai traded unimpressed looks as you chewed nervously on your lip.

However, you didn’t have very much longer to stew. Footsteps you recognized all too well had begun to approach the entrance of the kitchen. You shot up immediately, hoping to appear relaxed despite what you truly felt inside.

The sight of your boyfriend had put an easy smile on your face and eased up the tension in your chest. You and Cole had been through so much together, surely you’d be able to handle staying at his father's for the weekend.

Cole ran a hand through his hair and readjusted the black backpack resting across his shoulders that contained overnight clothes for the both of you. His expression mirrored your own as he caught your eyes.

“Everything’s all set,” he told you. “Ready to go?”

You threw on the bravest face you could muster up and stood from the table with a small nod.

“It’s a short flight.” Cole wrapped an arm around your shoulders when you were close enough. “Less than twenty minutes.”

You took a deep calming breath before wrapping your own arm around his waist. “Okay.”

Cole searched your eyes for a moment, as if he sensed your apprehension. Eventually, he pressed a soft kiss to the top of your head and the two of you made your way towards the exit of the monastery.

“Have fun!” Jay called after the two of you.

“Good luck!” Kai offered.

You shot him a glare over your shoulder until they were no longer within eye range.

If Cole caught onto the subtle anxiety swimming below the surface of your mind, he didn’t let on. Instead he summoned his dragon quickly and the two of you mounted easily as you took over carrying the pack for the both of you.

Cole squeezed your calf reassuringly before flicking the reins of his dragon, and you shot towards the sky, your stomach lurching in the process.

The weather was nice for flying. Sunny with a few clouds here and there and little to no wind aside from the usual air resistance due to movement.

Leaning your head back with your arms wrapped firmly around Cole’s middle you let the sunshine beat down on your face. Perhaps it would help ease your worries. Flying always helped clear your head, it was one of the many reasons you and Cole were so perfect for each other.

You’re just hoping his dad sees that as well.

Eventually, you started descending over a neighborhood a few minutes outside of Ninjago City. Below you saw a group of kids playing a game of street hockey and another drawing patterns on the sidewalk with chalk.

As the shadow of Cole’s dragon blocked the sun for a moment, they looked up and pointed at the dragon. You could practically hear the gasps of awe from your current altitude and you waved down to them.

Eventually, they too faded into the background and suddenly both your feet were on the ground in front of a small one story beige house. There were flower beds below the windows on either side of the door and you couldn’t help but admire how well kept they were.

“All good?” Cole asked, squeezing your shoulder.

The anxiety in your stomach said no, but your mouth said yes.

“Trust me, he’ll love you,” Cole assured you. “He can be a bit of a hardass but that usually ends as soon as it starts.”

“Mhmm,” you hummed, never taking your eyes off the door, almost fearing his dad was watching you in front of the little peephole.

Cole scanned you from head to toe before walking towards the door. He raised his hand to knock before shaking his head and ringing the doorbell. A melodic ‘welcome’ came from the little speaker below the doorbell.

You giggled a bit as Cole shook his head with a sigh.

Not long after, the door swung wide open to reveal Cole’s dad. He was on the smaller side and the first thing you noticed was the cane he leaned on heavily as he hobbled forward to embrace his son. Other than that he looked extremely well kept, neatly combed hair and a small mustache with no stray hairs in sight.

“Ah, and you must be the girl my son has been raving on about!” Cole’s dad guessed.

You stepped forward quickly, not wishing to make his father move unnecessarily.

Thrusting a hand out you smiled politely, “That’s me, sir. I’m (Y/N).”

Lou nodded enthusiastically and returned your gesture with the hand not resting on his cane. “Well it’s very nice to meet you. And hey lucky me! I get two ninjas for the whole weekend. How often does that happen?”

“Not as often as I’d like, Mr. Brookstone,” you admitted as he led the way inside.

Lou barked out a laugh before turning back around to look at Cole. “I like her, she’s funny.”

You let out a breath of relief as he turned around. Cole’s arm snaked around your waist and squeezed one of your hips comfortingly. Craning your neck to look at him you nodded.

On the walk to the kitchen you noticed all the pictures of Cole hanging up on the wall ranging from all possible ages. You’d have to ask his dad later for a copy of the one of him pouting while inside what was clearly a dance studio.

The two of you slid into seats next to each other at the kitchen table as Lou went to put on a pot of tea.

“Oh, would you like some help?” You offered. Seeing him do things without help and mostly one handed made your heart ache, but it seemed like he had a good system going.

“Oh no dear,” Lou waved a hand. “If I can’t put on a thing of tea on my own I should be in a home.”

“Dad,” Cole scolded through a snicker.

“Nonsense, Cole and I would gladly come help you out,” you said.

“Pah! Please, you’d have to drag my son here by his hair,” Lou laughed.

“Hey!” Cole sputtered. “You’re making me sound like a dick, I visit.”

Lou turned around, leaning back on the counter for support. “Well sure, now you do. Only took you getting a girlfriend to do so, hmm? Should have fixed you up ages ago if that was the case.”

You laughed as Cole slung his arm across the back of your chair. “Thanks, Dad.”

“Doing my best,” Lou smirked and removed the kettle from the stove before bringing it over to the table where teacups had already been laid out. He placed the kettle on a cloth before taking a seat in the chair across from the two of you and pouring you both a cup of tea.

Cole grabbed a cup and handed one to you. You nodded as a thank you and took the cup carefully from him, your fingers avoiding each other.

Across the table you felt Lou’s eyes watching the two of you like a hawk and you suddenly became aware that you were slouching. You straightened your back quickly and folded your hands over your mug resting on the table. Lou cocked his head at your movement before Cole asked him how he was doing.

Conversation flowed well between the three of you but no matter how hard you tried you couldn’t relax. Not even with Cole’s comforting touches that his father seemed to pay very close attention to. Everytime Lou’s eyes saw his son touch you in some way he’d look back at your face causing you to tense up and bristle away from your boyfriend.

Lou narrowed his eyes at you before turning his full attention to Cole who was telling him about the mech he and Jay have been working on the past couple weeks.

“It’s amazing, Mr. Brookstone,” you chimed in, realizing you hadn’t said anything in a while. “Cole’s been working really hard on it.”

Lou’s proud smile fell slightly when you opened your mouth and he hummed absentmindedly at your input, barely even looking at you.

Your face fell like a kicked puppy and you clenched your fists atop your thighs where they had been for the past hour.

Everytime you tried to add to the conversation, Lou would either pity hum at you, ignore you completely, or look you up and down before turning back to Cole.

What went wrong? Things were going so well when you first walked it. You couldn’t think of anything you could have possibly done to offend him. Hell, you’d barely spoken even when Cole tried to involve you in the conversation. Maybe it was your nerves.

Cole looked between you and his father confused at the rough tension suddenly between you two. He wanted to say something to his father but you shook your head fervently at him when you caught his eye. Reluctantly, he complied with your silent request.

Cole looked at his watch before he said, “I’m gonna go put our stuff in my room.”

Lou nodded as Cole stood from the table. Your heart hammered in your chest as you looked up at your boyfriend.

Don’t leave me! Your eyes screamed. Please for the love of the First Spinjitzu Master don’t leave me alone with him he hates me!

Cole didn’t seem to get the hint. Instead he leaned down to attempt to give you a peck on the lips. You glanced at his father across the table and saw his eyes narrowed into slits. You jerked away from Cole who nodded before planting a quick kiss on your forehead instead.

As he left you heard Cole’s father scoff before he stood from the table to gather all the empty mugs.

“Do you need any help?” You offered weakly, confidence completely shattered.

Lou glared back at you. “No, I don’t think I do.”

You slumped back in your chair, defeated. “Tea was lovely, thank you.”

“Mhmm,” he hummed.

Your leg bounced up and down at his subtle hostility.

“Uh, Mr. Brookstone–”

“Look,” Lou cut you off, “I appreciate you coming all this way and all but nobody is forcing you to stay with my son.”

Drawing in a breath of surprise your mouth popped open as confusion slammed into you like a semi. What?

“Are you really his girlfriend? Or did you just come here to pacify dear old dad because I kept asking when he’d start thinking about getting himself into a serious relationship?” Lou turned his back to the sink and leveled you with a hard stare.

“No, I–”

“Because if there’s one thing I know about my son, it’s how much love he holds in his heart. And I can clearly see he has a lot of it for you with the way he talks about you and the way he is around you, but I’m not seeing the same in you.”

This wasn’t the turn you thought this trip would take at all. To be honest, this was probably one of the worst possible outcomes. You were too stunned to even speak which probably led him to think he was correct and so he kept going.

“If you’re leading him on for whatever reason, just do me a favor and end it quickly after you leave because he’s too good for that.” Lou turned back around to the dishes as soon as Cole came bounding back into the kitchen.

Before he could say anything he noticed your somber expression and made his way over to you.

Okay? His eyes spoke volumes.

You nodded meekly, keeping your head down and your trembling fingers clasped tightly together.

You suffered the rest of the evening in mostly silence. The three of you moved from the kitchen to the living room couch where Cole had his arm around you but you were still stiff as a board, hands folded neatly in your lap.

Again, his father seemed to be glaring holes at you, making the anxiety sink deeper and deeper into your stomach to where it was practically paralyzing you.

Once it got late enough for the two of you to sneak off to bed, Cole prodded you immediately.

“Okay, what the hell?” Cole asked, not bothering to close his door.

“What?” You asked quietly, taking off your makeup in his bathroom.

“I’m not an idiot, you were quiet all day,” Cole said as he walked up behind you, looking at you in the mirror. “Did he say something to you?”

Your lower lip trembled as you shook your head, too embarrassed to meet his gaze. Cole sighed outwardly through his nose before placing a kiss on your temple and turning to fetch your pajamas from your shared bag.

He placed them on the counter next to you as he changed into a baggy T-Shirt and boxers while you put on one of his spare shirts and sleep shorts with little stars on them.

Cole laid down on his bed, splaying his arms out wide for you to fall into. And fall you did. You all but crashed into his arms, the events of the day weighing down on you.

Cole let you lay on his for as long as you needed but he didn’t miss the way you practically clung onto him like a koala. Instead, he waited for you to come around and stroked your hair, planting small kisses on your head every now and then.

Eventually you voiced your concerns to him and the conversation you had with his dad when he left. More of the verbal lashing you got and less a conversation to be honest.

“I just,” you trailed off, biting your lip, “I want you to know that I do love you. So, so much like I genuinely couldn’t imagine my life without you. You know that right?”

“Of course,” Cole ran a hand up and down your back soothingly.

“Am I a terrible girlfriend?” You mumbled into his neck.

“No,” Cole chuckled. “You’re just not big on PDA. Especially when you’re nervous. I guess my dad was just used to being very lovey dovey with my mom all the time and when he saw you weren’t he probably assumed the worst. Don’t take it personally, okay? I can talk to him tomorrow if you’d like?”

“No,” you shook your head. “I don’t want you to fight with your dad just for me. I’ll live. I love you a lot. Just not in front of people. I’m used to keeping our relationship pretty private with all the publicity we receive anyway. It’s just a force of habit at this point.” You wrapped your arms around him like a large teddy bear and placed a kiss to the base of his throat.

“I know,” Cole squeezed your hip again. “Don’t worry about it, okay gorgeous?”

You sighed heavily but nodded anyway, giving him a kiss goodnight.

No matter how hard you tried you couldn’t sleep. You tossed and turned all night and didn’t get more than four hours of sleep you were sure. Eventually you gave up and waited for the sun to rise so that you too would be able to get out of bed reasonably.

As soon as the first light blue light touched the cracked of Cole’s blinds, you quietly peeled yourself away from his sleeping form and exited his room to make yourself a cup of calming tea.

You froze in your tracks when you saw Lou already dressed and ready, sitting at the kitchen table with his own cup of tea reading the newspaper.

You stepped backward, prepared to sneak back to Cole’s room when Lou’s eyes snapped up to you.

Unlike yesterday, his eyes softened and he beckoned you forward. “Come, have a seat.”

Swallowing harshly you forced yourself to make your way to the table. Cautiously, you lowered yourself into the seat opposite him. Lou placed his mug down on the wood and folded his hands on the table atop his paper.

“I owe you an apology,” he said softly.

Your eyes snapped up to his. Well, you hadn’t expected that either.

“Sir–?”

“Please,” he raised a hand, “call me Lou.”

You smiled lightly, worried you were about to be woken up from a dream. “I don’t understand.”

Lou nodded but continued. “I understand I was cold to you yesterday and for that I am truly sorry. Sometimes I get ahead of myself and I can be quite dramatic. What can I say? I had a flair for the theater.” He laughed softly and you joined him. “But that’s no excuse. I jumped to some unfair conclusions. I realize I had expected your relationship with my son to be like the one I had with my wife, but times are different. There weren't people watching our every move when we went out like they do with the two of you.”

You nodded sadly. In the past, you and Cole had some issues with the press which sparked your boycott of PDA until further notice.

“I heard your conversation last night,” Lou admitted. “I was on my way to the laundry room when I heard you two talking. And I know you love my son a lot. He’s lucky to have you.” Lou reached across the table and squeezed your hand.

“I really do,” you assured him. “With all my heart. I love that boy.”

Lou laughed softly. “I know. So, shall we start over?”

“Of course, no harm done. I understand wanting to protect your children.” And that was the truth. Plus, Cole was Lou’s only kid, and after his mother left, Cole was almost all he had left. Of course he didn’t want to see him get hurt.

“How about some breakfast?” You offered, standing from the table.

Cole woke up hours later to the familiar sound of his dad’s favorite record blaring through his record player and the smell of fresh bacon. He also quickly realized you weren’t in bed and judging by the lack of warmth coming from your side you had left a while ago.

Shrugging on some pants, he dragged himself to the kitchen of his home and stopped dead in his tracks at the sight. His girlfriend was at the stove making all sorts of breakfast food, enough to feed his whole neighborhood, while his dad sang along to the record and told a joke occasionally that caused you to laugh.

How long had he been sleeping? Last he remembered you and his dad were on some rocky road. Shifting his eyes to the clock he saw it was only nine thirty in the morning.

You twirled around the music and halted when you caught sight of your bleary-eyed confused boyfriend who kept looking from you to his father and so on.

“Morning, honey,” you wrapped your arms around his waist before leaning up on your toes to press a kiss to his lips.

“Uh, morning?” Cole blinked multiple times to make sure he wasn’t still asleep.

He caught the eye of his dad over your shoulder.

She’s a keeper. Like your mother, his dad mouthed.

Cole grinned and hugged you back enthusiastically, lifting you off your feet and spinning you around as you giggled uncontrollably.

[circus4apsycho8]

Hello! Just wanted to ask for a headcannon of Ninjago characters (the one you usually do) x unnaffectionate reader? It's not like they're mean it's just that affection isn't a big part in their life and they usually forget about it. And then one day reader is like 'oh shit maybe this makes my idiot feel bad' so they try to make up for it by being super affectionate for a day and beginning to show subtle signs of affection more regularly?

Love this! Here you go!

Includes: Kai, Jay, Cole, Zane, Lloyd, Nya, Morro, & Garmadon in that order

ninja, morro, & garmadon x unaffectionate!reader headcanons

kai

he’s very affectionate, so he’ll eventually start getting hurt that you don’t return his advances as much

he understands not wanting to do it in public, but in private is where it hurts him

one day, he stops trying and doesn’t seem quite like himself

this is what makes you realize that he’s hurt

after taking some time to think about it, you make it a point to show even a little bit of affection

so, one day when he gets home from a mission, you shyly take his hand in yours before asking him about his mission

he understands how much it means coming from you, and he appreciates the sentiment

he asks you what changed, and you quietly admit that you should have compromised more with him, seeing as how he respects your wish for no pda and apologize

then, you press a soft kiss to his lips and vow to gradually increase the affectionate as you grow more comfortable

jay

jay would be a little more understanding; he gets not wanting to be touched as he experiences this himself sometimes

so he’s certainly more patient with you

but there are times when he starts feeling especially sensitive about it, and it makes him start overthinking

over the course of a few days, he starts gradually acting different

at first, it’s him wondering if he’s just overreacting

but as it progresses, he starts hurting and worrying - did he do something to make you mad? is he just misreading the situation?

eventually, he goes to cole about this; cole suggests that he just ask you

so, jay works up to the courage to and does

this leads to a productive conversation, and you agree to start showing more affection as you feel comfortable with it

cole

he hides it well, but this man is touch starved

desperately wants to show his affection, but quickly gets that it isn’t your thing

initially pushes his hurt away, thinking that maybe you just need time

quietly tries to figure out why you’re not keen on affection, but doesn’t get too far

he tries to ignore it; he’ll take his frustrations out on the punching bag or on enemies

but there comes a point one night where it all comes bubbling up

the two of you are alone after a mission one night, and you’re patching up some of his injuries

cole is exhausted and in pain

he can’t help it - he tears up

he just wants a hug, or for you to hold his hand and stay with him a little longer. he just needs something

but all he gets is a distant expression - one that opens an old wound in his heart. and he can’t hide it any longer, so he breaks down

alarmed, you immediately sit down with him and ask him what’s wrong

so, he softly professes his hurt to you

once he’s done, you apologize and give him a hug, promising that you’ll try to do better for him

you end up staying with him for the rest of the night, holding him until he falls asleep <3

zane

he doesn’t really mind initially - he doesn’t know much about relationships anyway, so for a while it works

but as the relationship progresses, he observes that other couples - both in real life and in pop culture - are more touchy than the two of you are.

he asks you why this is - he’s not necessarily hurt, but he wants to understand why you two aren’t affectionate. it makes him think he might be doing something wrong

after explaining that all couples are different, and that you’re just not a very affectionate person, he understands

the two of you continue to talk about it, and after a while, you decide to try small things together - like holding hands or light hugging as you both feel comfortable

lloyd

he is so shy when it comes to affection at first

he’s never been in a serious relationship before, so it takes him some time to warm up to the idea

when he realizes you aren’t very affectionate, he has to rethink the situation

he’s stuck between wanting to respect your boundaries but also wanting to show/receive affection

will 100% go to the smith siblings for advice

once he does, he asks you about it one night

after talking about it for a bit, you agree to try some small gestures of affection out together :)

nya

she’s not one for pda, but does want to hold your hand or give you small, chaste kisses when you’re alone or around the others

might go to her brother or cole for advice

usually, she waits for you to initiate contact, and will follow your lead or ask you if you’re comfortable doing/receiving something

after observing your reactions, she’ll ask you about it

morro

not really sure what to do initially; might not even realize that he wants affection

stays silent for a while. probably sulks a lot but shakes it off well most days

he ends up thinking he’s making a big deal out of nothing, so he doesn’t say anything about how he’s feeling

you notice that something’s off with him when starts becoming more distant

after trying a few different things, you end up just sitting beside him one day and taking his hand, quietly asking him if it was something you did

he admits he isn’t sure why he’s upset, but admits your touch is comforting

a hug ensues <3

garmadon (crystallized)

initially understands

as the relationship continues, though, he wonders if it’s something he’s doing

panics and convinces himself it was something he did

terrified that he hurt one of the few people who isn’t afraid of him

vinny ends up calming him down and advises him to open a conversation with you

once the talk does happen, he understands and feels much better when the two of you strike a compromise

[generally-surviving]

A Garden of Flowers and Bones | Fae!Lloyd Garmadon x Reader - Chapter 25: Brushing at your fingers, hoping you'll come around

Y/N is entering simp territory lol here she is getting thrown into simpery (jk jk this is a depiction of chapter 4):