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The air around her was still and silent. The thrumming of the soft rain was distant as she sat on the steps of the Monastery. Much like how the Merged Lands are learning to harmonize together, she is learning to come to terms with her new reality. In the court, Jay was currently working on the training equipment. Sora was able to work out the kinks in them, but she could only fix so much without the original blueprints. The only one to have them fully memorized was Jay, and, well, that was currently complicated.
His memory hadn’t completely come back. There were things he remembered here and there, but there were huge chunks missing. The whole team had shown him various things to hopefully trigger something. Some things sparked more memories than others, and some didn’t bring back anything. Nya tried to be hopeful, but it was becoming increasingly difficult with each story retold. After everything with Ras and the Forbidden Five, she was just happy to have him home. She would have to currently focus on the things she had now.
There were some moments Jay remembered from their relationship. He remembered their first date, but only because he remembered when he unlocked his true potential. He had a vague memory of wanting to fight Cole over something about Nya, but both of them said it was better not to remember that time. There was also this weird genie pirate guy he remembered. When he had first brought him up, Jay had tears form in his eyes, but he didn’t know why. Nya was on the fence on whether or not it was a good thing he didn’t remember that awful djinn. On one hand, it was a horrible time for the both of them and she frankly wouldn’t want him to remember his time on that stupid boat. But, it was also a defining moment in their relationship. She was able to open up to him, share something only they knew of. First Spinjitzu Master, his final wish saved her. It was an event that cemented so much in their lives. It was the reason they were together from there on.
“You okay?” Nya jumped at the sudden voice, she hadn’t realized he was sitting next to her now. “Woah, didn’t mean to startle you,” he chuckled. How she missed his laugh.
“Sorry, I was just lost in thought.” Nya proceeded to look off into the distance, like if she stared long enough, she could see beyond the wall.
“I, uh, I managed to remember the equipment blueprints,” Jay stuttered. “It should be running like it did before.” It felt like maybe there should have been more to the sentence, like he cut himself off. Nya turned to look at the man next to her. A soft smile decorated his face; he looked so delicate. She was tempted to lean in and kiss his smile, hoping it would reach his eyes like it always did, but she decided against it. The two of them agreed to take things slow and ease into everything again.
It was a stabbing pain every time she remembered this wasn’t the same Jay from before the Merge. This was someone who was lost much like many were during the Merge. He was alone and learning about himself all over again. This man was rediscovering the world around him, like a baby stumbling toward their newest interest. He was learning to be a ninja; a brother; a yin.
“Can I ask you something?” Nya was taken from her thoughts once more and focused on Jay. “It’s gonna sound really silly after everything we’ve been through these last couple of years, and with me and my memory plus you knowing more than me and so this question would probably sound kinda stupid in previous contexts–”
“Jay.” Nya placed her hand on his shoulder, grabbing his attention. “It’s okay,” she chuckled out. At least he was still the blabbermouth he always has been.
“Okay, um, but I’m warning you, it’s gonna sound stupid.” He shifted in his spot. “How…how do you continue to fight for,” he looked down at their now conjoined hands. He lifted them up and looked toward her, muttering a soft “this?”
The question hit her harder than expected. She could feel the tears brimming her eyes. It was a rather stupid question, but also such a Jay question.
“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to make you cry.” He was quick to her face in his hands, gently wiping the tears as they fell. A familiarity washed over her, like it felt right being held by him like this. She couldn’t remember the countless times he would come up to her and just cradle her face gently. She quickly shook her head, causing him to pull his hands away. She missed their warmth almost immediately.
“No, no, it’s okay.” Trying to gain their warmth back, she quickly pressed his palms back onto her face. He gave her a quizzical look, trying to process the sudden behavior. “I guess it kind of is a stupid question.” Jay let out a laugh, a genuine one this time. But just as quickly as he began to laugh, he stopped. It felt odd hearing it abruptly end.
“Sorry,” he apologized. Nya let out a giggle herself. A hand came to cover his, and she planted a kiss on the inside of his palm.
“It feels weird being the one to fight for this,” she spoke softly.
“What do you mean?” Jay leaned in closer, as if what she was saying was a secret between them.
“It’s just,” she began to whisper, “it’s always been you fighting for my love.” Jay raised yet another brow at her. “Crazy, right? I wasn’t exactly the greatest girlfriend back then.”
“Well, teenage love can be messy.” Nya shook her head once more as she giggled. There was a beat of silence between them. The only noise was the softer pitter patter of the rain beside them. All Nya could do was stare into his eyes. They were soft yet electrifying, like the storm around them. “Can I ask you something else,” he spoke softly.
“You already did.” He laughed once more, but this time he let it fade out instead of cutting it off.
“Can I kiss you?” Nya could feel her eyes widen at the sudden question. “It’s okay if you say no! I know we agreed to take it slow and ease into everything but I just–”
Her lips had crashed into his before he could say anything else. His lips were soft and mellow. She could feel the thrum of his power react against hers. When he kissed back, the feeling intensified. The world around them faded. All they could feel were the touch of their hands on the other, as they pulled the other in. They clung to each other tightly, as if the other would disappear in the blink of an eye. Jay was the first to pull away, continuing to stare into her eyes deeply.
“What’s wrong,” Nya asked quietly.
“I’m sorry for breaking our love.” His tears began to spill over onto his cheeks. Nya smiled softly at the man in front of her. He felt responsible for something that wasn’t his fault. There was a need to right things that aren’t wrong in the slightest. He had asked her why she fought for their relationship, and the answer was simple to her. He fought so long for her and waited so long for her, and it only felt right to do the same. But that wasn’t the reason she fought.
She fought because she felt safe with him. She fought because he was one of the only persons to truly understand her. He was one of the first to listen to her, to try to comprehend her. He was there during her highs and lows. She was there for him during all his hard times. She continued to try and protect him from harm. She fought because she loved him, and, deep down, she knew he loved her too.
“Nothing is broken, Sparky. We’re just a little bent.”