Work Text:
After the Crystal Kings defeat, Ninjago City had to rebuild for the 1000th time. Civilians helped remove the rubble, and raise the buildings to their glory once again. The ninjas helped as much as they could, and tried to balance helping the city and fixing their own monastery. But after a few months, the city looked good again, and the normal life started rolling by.
For the ninja, this meant freedom to do whatever they wanted to. And they grabbed this chance, using it to the fully. Nya and Jay spent a lot of time together to rebond, going on dates to dance lessons and the arcade. Zane and Pixal did the same in their own way, often going out to restaurants and Borg Tower, getting some quality time together. Cole had taken a trip to Shintaro, hanging out with Vania and the Uplys. Lloyd visited his dad, and sometimes he even visited Harumi in jail. And Kai…
Kai was currently walking down one of Ninjago Citys shopping streets, looking for a specific building.
“Where is it…” He muttered to himself, looking at the map on his phone. He finally spotted the small cafe, which was his destination. Kai put the phone in his pocket and walked in.
The cafe smelled like coffee and chocolate cake. Cole would’ve gone crazy in here. Kai looked over the tables, looking for the one that he was gonna meet…
“Kai! Over here!”
The red ninja whipped his head around, and saw a woman with red hair sitting by a table in the corner. He smiled and walked over.
“Hey Skylor!”
Skylor got up from her chair and gave him a hug. After the hug they both sat down. A waitress came over.
“Hi, can I get anything for you two?”
“Yeah,” Skylor looked at the menu. “I’ll take a cappuccino and a ceasar salad.”
Kai took a look at the menu as well. “I’ll have a normal black coffee, and a…piece of chocolate cake.”
“Coming right up!” The waitress smiled. As she walked away, Skylor turned to Kai.
“So, how have you been lately? It hasn’t exactly been busy for you guys.”
Kai chuckled. “No, and I never thought I’d be the one to say it, but I love it. It’s so nice to finally have a break!”
“I get that,” Skylor nodded. “The restaurant has been fixed, so I’m back on track. Giving out food under the battle actually gave my noodles a pretty good reputation, I have a lot of customers now!”
“That’s nice!” Kai grinned. “It’s about time everyone gets to know about your godly noodles. Don’t tell Zane I said this, but your noodles are better than his…”
Skylor tilted her head with a smirk. “Only the noodles?”
“Well yeah, you can’t beat Zane - the master of cooking - at much else.” Kai said with a playful smile.
Skylor gave a mock offended gasp before breaking into a laugh. She then looked at something behind Kai. “Speaking of food…”
The waitress had returned. “Here’s your salad and cappuccino ma’am, and for you sir, your coffee and chocolate cake. Hope you enjoy!”
“Thanks!” Kai and Skylor said.
The waitress put their food on the table, and then got a shy look on her face. “I don’t wanna bother you two, but I just wanted to speak for the whole city that we are eternally grateful for all you have done for us!”
The two by the table smiled at her. “The pleasure is all ours, we were simply doing our job!” Kai said.
The waitress nodded with a smile before walking away.
Kai looked at his piece of cake. It looked mouthwatering, three layers of cake with chocolate cream in between. The red ninja grinned as he got an idea. He took up his phone and snapped a picture, writing ‘Jealous? ’, and then sent it to Cole on NinjaSnap.
As Kai put his phone down, Skylor wiped her mouth from the cappuccino and said, “I’m glad you came to meet me, so we can catch up a bit! There’s… also something I would like to talk about.”
Kai furrowed his brows as he took a bite of his cake (It was just as good as it looked). “What did you want to talk about?”
“Well,” Skylor said, fidgeting with her fork. “It’s about…us.”
“Oh.” Kai didn’t know what to say. He knew that he and Skylor didn’t exactly have the most established relationship, and during the battle with the Crystal King, they had talked about that. Maybe now was the time to clear everything up.
Skylor nodded. “It’s just, I like you. I do. And I’m sure you like me too! But is it romantic?”
Now that threw Kai off guard. “What?”
“Don’t get me wrong!” Skylor said quickly. “I’m not implying that you did anything wrong! Just think about it, now for example. When I invited you here, did you think of it as a date, or as a meet-up with a friend?”
Kai thought about it. When he had gotten Skylors message, he hadn’t really…assumed it was a date. More like it was just what Skylor said, a friendly meet-up. “Uhm… Come to think of it, no, I didn’t really think of it as a date.”
“Yeah,” Skylor said with a sigh. “I knew it. I’ve felt that way a lot lately too. That’s why I texted you. I think that the romantic spark in our relationship has…died.”
Kai straightened up. “Then we light it again! I’m sorry I haven’t exactly been the best boyfriend, but I don’t want to lose you! I really like you Skylor.”
“I know you do, and I like you too,” Skylor replied. “But…”
“What?” Kai wondered.
Skylor looked him in the eyes. “Kai, be honest with me. Do you want me, or do you want me? ”
“I…what?”
The master of amber picked up her napkin, twirling it between her hands. “Well, there’s a difference between liking someone and thinking that you like someone. Maybe you’re not aware of this, but I think both of us are more interested in the idea of dating each other than the dating itself.”
Kai stayed quiet. Skylor continued.
“Now I’m speaking for myself, but every time I’ve thought about you lately, all I see is a friend. And I think that deep inside, you think the same of me.”
“No! I-” Kai started before cutting himself off. Skylor wasn’t…way off. He tried imagining kissing her, but the warm feeling he got from that a couple of years ago didn’t come. “You…might be right actually.”
“That’s what I thought.” Skylor put some more salad in her mouth, and finished chewing before speaking again. “So how about we stop trying to force something that’s not there, and call each other a friend?”
Kai furrowed his brows. “So…we’re basically breaking up?”
Skylor looked at the ceiling. “Yeah, I guess. But we have to stay friends, I really do enjoy your company!”
“Of course!” Kai responded. “We’ll never stop being friends, you’re basically part of our family!”
They both smiled at each other. Then they both returned to their food, and ate the meal in a comfortable silence. Until Skylor broke it.
“I also think you have feelings for someone else by the way.”
Kai almost choked on his cake, and took a big sip of coffee to stop coughing. “What!?”
Skylor rolled her eyes. “FSM Kai. I’ve seen you look at this person, you give them heart eyes I never received from you!”
“Wha- Who are you talking about!?” Kai said, confused as hell. Skylor just smiled and returned to her salad, not saying anything else.
Kai was thinking hard in his head. Who in the world was she talking about? Kai hadn’t given anyone ‘heart eyes’ ? Had he? But to whom?
He got ripped out of his train of thoughts when his phone vibrated. He picked it up and saw that Cole had responded to the cake picture. Kai opened Coles snap, and saw that it was a picture of the black ninja, his mouth open, with the text: ‘Umm, YES IM JEALOUS?’ Kai spotted the gardens of Shintaro behind him. It must've been hot in the kingdom, because Cole was wearing a tank top. Kai felt a warm feeling in his stomach. Cole really fit tank tops…
“And you really wonder who you have a crush on?”
Kai snapped his gaze away from his phone and over to Skylor. “What?”
The master of amber looked at him with a look that said ‘You dumbass’ . “Let me take a wild guess. That snap was from Cole, wasn’t it?”
“What?” Kai said. “Ho-How did you know?”
“Kai,” Skylor rolled her eyes. “Your face is as red as your gi.”
“WHAT?” Kai said rather loudly, getting some looks from other people. He quickly opened his camera app and looked at himself. Skylor was right. He was as red as a fucking tomato.
Skylor chuckled. “I didn’t think you would figure out this soon, but here you go i guess."
Kai had frozen, his mind running wild.
When we were in battle against the Crystal King, and I came to rescue you two, you were protecting him and looking at him with adoration, a look you've never given me or anyone else. Just face it Kai. You have a big fat crush on Cole.”
“I-I-” Kai spluttered. He thought of it. Skylor was saying…something. Hadn’t he just gotten a warm feeling in his stomach from Coles snap? A feeling he used to get from Skylor? And hadn't he just admired Cole in a tank top? Best friends didn’t do stuff like that…
The master of fire slumped back into his seat. “I have a big fat crush on Cole.”