#not entirely satisified with the ending but when i backtracked and tried to get what i wanted it was not working

[razzle-zazzle]

1356 Words; Divergent AU

In hindsight, maybe Cole shouldn’t have left the monastery.

Actually, no, he absolutely should have. Spending another day in those walls wasn’t something he could handle right now.

But he certainly should have been more careful. The ninja had made plenty of enemies, and more than enough of them were still out and about in Ninjago. Now, Cole wasn’t exactly gallivanting around or trying to announce his presence—

(He wasn’t sure if the others would come after him, or if they’d—

Well. Regardless, he didn’t really want to talk to them just yet.)

—but he hadn’t been discreet enough to avoid catching the attention of one annoyingly unkillable Anacondrai.

Seriously though, why did Pythor keep popping up? Did the guy never age? Would Cole ever live to see a Ninjago that didn’t have the bastard slithering around in it?

Either way, Cole had messed up, and now he was sitting on the ground in a cave, hands cuffed behind him with vengestone—and of course it was vengestone, it was always vengestone. And it wasn’t like he could just stand up and run off, handcuffs and all, because Pythor was a pragmatic little bitch and had hooked the chain around a stone column.

(The column had actually been formed by the unification of stalactite to stalagmite, which was something Cole could very much appreciate. What he couldn’t appreciate, however, was being handcuffed to it.

There were a lot of stalagmites scattered across the floor and an equal number of stalactites along the ceiling, a lot of which were towards the mouth of the cave, giving it the impression of a large, toothy maw overlooking the valley below. Because of course Pythor was extra like that and lived in the scary mouth cave.)

Cole kicked at a pebble in front of him, hoping that whatever stupid villain speech Pythor was going to use this time wouldn’t take too long. He did not have the energy to deal with Pythor’s theatrics.

He didn’t have the energy to deal with a lot of things, actually.

Cole’s prayers for brevity were answered; Pythor slithered into the cave from wherever it was he had gone and removed his cloak, hanging it delicately from one of the stalagmites before turning to Cole.

“Hello, whelp,” He grinned, and Cole sighed heavily, “Are you comfortable? I’d hate it if my accommodations weren’t to your liking.”

Cole made a face. “Do we really have to do this? Do you have to fucking posture or can we just get this song and dance over with, and let me go on my merry little way?”

“Oh, I could let you go.” Pythor mused, slithering around behind Cole. “But I don’t particularly want to.”

Cole scoffed.

Pythor continued, slithering back around to Cole’s left. “You present a very interesting puzzle for me, you see.” He made his way in front of Cole, leaning down to grab Cole’s jaw. “You’ve left the other ninja—” He angled Cole’s face harshly, clawed finger poking at Cole’s nose. “—And you’re not hypnotized, mind controlled, or otherwise under any form of manipulation.” Pythor let Cole go, rearing back to his full height.

“You left the ninja of your own accord, Cole.” His eyes glinted. “And I want to know why.”

Cole stared up at Pythor. “What’s there to say?” He asked, “I got tired.”

Pythor’s eyes narrowed. “You’ll have to forgive me for not believing you.”

“Yeah, well, it’s the truth.” Cole spat. “So forgive me for not having a more exciting explanation.”

If Pythor had eyebrows, one of them would definitely be raised. He stared at Cole for a moment longer, drawing out the tension.

And then he doubled over laughing.

“Wha—hey!” Cole’s face flushed red. With embarrassment or indignance, he wasn’t sure.

“I’m sorry,” Pythor said between giggles, “It’s just—” He managed to rear up straight, though he was still chuckling, “Out of all the ninja, I never pegged you as one who’d leave first. You’re the loyal one, the rock of the team—” He giggled rapturously, “—so how badly did they fuck up to make you leave?”

Cole huffed. “I—I was tired of always feeling like a background character.” He said quietly. “Whether they cared or not, showing it wasn’t high enough on their list of priorities. So I left.” There was something almost bitter in his voice, a soft edge that had Pythor listening intently.

He knew that kind of bitterness all too well.

Pythor hmmed. “They shouldn’t have done that.” He said softly. “Shouldn’t have chased off one of their strongest—even they can’t be that stupid.”

Cole scoffed. “Yeah, well, they were, and now I’m here.” He glared at Pythor. “You’ve got your answers, so let me go.”

Pythor shrugged. “Yes, I suppose I should.” He didn’t move to release Cole, “but I get the feeling you have a few questions for me,” his eyes narrowed down to slits, “don’t you?”

Cole gave Pythor a flat look.

Pythor returned the look.

Well, he did have a question. “What are you planning?” Whatever Pythor was up to, however he was plotting to fuck around with the ninja this time, Cole wanted to be as far away as possible.

Pythor barked out a laugh. “Planning? Dear boy, I was planning on going to the market to restock on food, but then you showed up and piqued my interest. I’m certainly not plotting anything more dastardly than stealing newspapers.”

“Forgive me if I don’t believe you.” Cole said, voice drier than a desert. His eyes narrowed. “You don’t just stop planning, Pythor—you’re too persistent. Always popping up and causing trouble.”

Pythor made a face. “Oh please. I haven’t bothered you since you became human again.” He gave Cole a meaningful look. “You do realize how long it’s been since then, right?”

Oh.

Oh.

Cole shifted uncomfortably. “Then why’d you stop?”

“Same reason you left, I suppose.” Pythor shrugged. “I got tired.” He slithered around behind Cole; with a click, the handcuffs were unlocked.

Cole stood up, rubbing gingerly at his wrists. He made his way to the mouth of the cave, only to pause. This was probably rude to ask, but—

“How did you of all people get tired?”

There was a pregnant pause.

Cole shifted awkwardly.

“The Devourer. The Overlord. The Preeminent. The Sons of Garmadon. The Oni.” There was something almost bitter to Pythor’s tone, a soft edge that, in parallel to earlier, had Cole listening intently.

“All those horrors you ninja have faced—and I barely hold a candle to any of them. I’m no longer the suave, dangerous Anacondrai I once was.” He flopped over dramatically, though his voice was sincere.

Cole raised an eyebrow. Could Pythor really have been called suave? Dramatic, maybe; petty, for sure. But not suave.

“I’m nothing more than a nuisance,” Pythor grumbled, “and I’m tired of it. Of plotting and failing and being little more than a laughingstock.” He snorted. “So I settled down here for a quiet life away from you ninja and all your nonsense.”

Cole frowned. “That sounds an awful lot like doing nothing and dying alone.”

Pythor turned back towards Cole. “And what are your plans, if I may ask?”

Cole shrugged, looking out the cave. “I don’t know. Just… wander, I guess. Maybe help people here and there.” He looked back at Pythor. “Maybe you’ll see me in the area sometime.”

Pythor scoffed. “I would hope not.” He hissed, though there was hardly any malice. “You ninja bring more trouble than you’re worth wherever you go.”

“I told you, I’m not a ninja.” Cole turned his gaze back outside, voice soft. “Not anymore.”

“Well, whatever you are,” Pythor slithered up next to Cole, “you've overstayed your welcome.”

Cole laughed. “Alright, alright, I’ll get out of your scales.” He moved to leave, making his way down the mountain with the sort of grace that only a master of earth could have.

Pythor watched Cole leave until he was but a dot in the valley, before turning around to go lay down.

He didn’t like the sense of worry blooming in his chest.

He didn’t care about the brat, right?