How Do You Fight Yourself When You're the Stongest Man In Ninjago?: Part II

DESTINY'S BOUNTY

**Cole's POV

Shutting Sensei's door behind me, I mentally face-palmed for the tenth time since my stupid little squabble with Kai. I don't even know where that came from for either of us, but we'd certainly made ourselves look like idiots in front of Arwyn.

Then when she'd walked off, we were so wrapped up in our pissing contest that we didn't even notice she had left us for a moment. What a great display of our skills of observation…

Now Kai was walking silently ahead of me down the hall heading for the bunkroom, shrugging off his armor as he went. I was really wanting to hit him with a running tackle, but figured that would only make matters worse at this point. I could get him later. And I would.

Following him into the room, I shut the door behind me. His scarred eyebrow raised as he opened the armoire. Running a hand through my hair and pushing my bangs back from my eyes, I started clumsily, "Um, about that…thing…we had…"

"No biggie, we're cool," he responded with a casual wave of his hand and a neutral expression as he put away his things.

"What was that?" I asked anyway with puzzlement, shedding my armor at the same time, just in case this turned into a wrestling match. I wasn't very angry about that any more, though, just wondering what he was getting at when he pulled it.

"Just trying to get equal time with Arwyn, get credit for getting her here." He turned to face me and probably saw 'are you kidding me?' written all over my features.

"You know she's in there right now telling Sensei she wants to join us, right?" he went on while leaning against the armoire with a big-headed grin. "That's because I talked her into it."

"Really?" I said with more than a little skeptical sarcasm. The credit thing was no big deal to me, but I didn't like the other part of his comment. "And what do you mean about 'equal time'?"

He shrugged, still grinning. "Ya know. You and Zane can't be the only ones spending time with the new girl."

That rankled me immediately, but I slowed my reaction time before giving myself away, sternly becoming a bona fide hypocrite instead. "She's not the 'new girl'. She's our new teammate, the prophesied Green Ninja. We will be training and protecting Arwyn, not competing for her attention."

I could not believe that came out of my mouth. I had just spent the last day doing nothing but thinking about her and liking how that made me feel, gradually forgetting to persecute myself for those same unrestrained thoughts, putting the reality of who and what she was to the wayside.

Now it was coming back to bite me in the butt. I had to set a better example for the team, and it had to start now. I couldn't have Kai running after her when I was trying not to do that.

"Come on, Cole," Kai looked at me like I was an idiot. "Don't tell me that's the only way you think of her, I'm not a total fool."

Damn! What am I doing wrong?

I usually had a better poker face, but I was gonna have to work harder to control this. "We have a responsibility to train, respect, support, and protect her. Nothing else," I repeated more determinedly, for his benefit and mine.

Rolling his eyes, Kai walked around me and toward the door, tossing a dismissive wave. "Yeah, yeah. We'll see about that." I reached out to grab him by the collar and haul him back, but Lloyd ran past him and up to me in a tizzy, making me pull up short.

"She's here to stay, isn't she? She's here to learn how to fight my dad!" he rapidly accused. "Why'd she have to come? Why does she want to be the one to kill him?" The expression he gave me was distraught, like he was about to get teary-eyed.

Crap! What else do I have to deal with?

I heaved a weary sigh before rubbing my face with both hands, then placed them on his shoulders, saying slowly, "Lloyd, you know the story of the prophecy. She's not here because she wants your father to die. She just wants to do what's right and help bring peace back to Ninjago."

His look told me he didn't care about all that, he just didn't want anything to happen to his father, even if Garmadon deserved it.

"Look, just give her a chance to show you that she's not evil or anything, okay? I think you'll really like her, I know I do—" I had to cut myself short at that. With my hands still on his shoulders, I guided him toward the hallway. "Come on, let's go hang out in the game room while we wait for Jay to call us for supper. Have you gotten any better at that new video game we picked up last week?"

He suddenly switched gears and started to tell me all about how many worlds he'd already conquered and what it took to defeat each villain as we started down the passageway to join everyone else in the game room. I let him talk my ear off about the game while we and Nya watched Kai and Zane play another one.

After about half an hour of that, Jay appeared to let everyone know that his latest culinary concoction of ramen noodle and tuna casserole with raw carrot sticks was ready to be served.

O-kaay. And they talk about my meals? At least we were having ice cream for dessert.

Right behind him, Sensei finally arrived, leading Arwyn into the game room. Standing immediately, I felt my pulse surge with concern as I took in her flushed countenance. She had been crying, although Sensei looked delighted. Smiling timidly at everyone around the room, her eyes came to rest on me.

Placing a hand on her shoulder, Sensei announced, "Arwyn has decided to join us in our fight and train with the rest of you. Cole, you will be responsible for directing her instruction by the elemental masters." He looked around at everyone gathered, adding, "And I am sure that you will all respect and support her appropriately in her appointed role." Like I needed another reminder.

Everyone welcomed her enthusiastically with the exception of Lloyd, who hung back and sulked, and I didn't try to force him to do or say anything.

Nya hugged her tightly, saying how glad she was to have another woman on board, followed by Kai who did and said the same like he was trying to be funny. To me, he was not.

Jay characteristically offered Arwyn a fist-bump, and Zane welcomed her with an affectionate pat on the shoulder.

When I got to her, I longed to pull her into my arms and only let her go when she begged me to, telling her how I'd been missing her all my life and how ecstatic I was that she was finally here. Instead, I reined in my fantasy and did as I had seen Sensei do earlier, offering her my hands and giving hers a squeeze while saying I was glad to have her join us.

I could have imagined it, but I may have seen a flash of disappointment in her eyes, although it was quickly replaced with a questioning look.

When she spoke, her voice was low so no one else could hear. "You said two days ago that you and the others would teach me to control this power and that you would not leave me." Her gaze locked with mine. "Is that a promise?"

"I would have to be dead, otherwise," I declared without hesitation, surprising myself.

She continued to regard me with a thoughtful expression for a long moment. It took me that long to notice that I had a grip on her hands that would have been uncomfortable for anyone else, but she wasn't even trying to pull away.

Grudgingly, I released her when Kai called to us from the doorway that everyone was heading to the dining room. He had a watchful expression as I walked past him, making me fake a punch to his gut just for the hell of it. Seeing him flinch brought a small smile to my face.

Once in the dining room, we ate our questionable 'welcoming' supper since Kai had not bothered to inform us of Arwyn's attendance, and Jay always opted for meals that took minimal preparation. She was gracious enough to compliment him anyway, and commented that the meal choices took her back to her college days. Jay was totally oblivious as to her meaning.

When he had finished eating, before retiring to his quarters, Sensei let me know that he and Arwyn had agreed she would stay the night with us, but that she had things to attend to in Ninjago City the following day. I assured him that she would be well taken care of as he bid us all 'good night'.

When we had eaten all of the chocolate ice cream with chocolate-covered chocolate cake chunks, Nya was the first to rise from the table. "Arwyn, why don't Cole and I show you to your new room? I'm pretty sure I can find a new toothbrush and a comb and stuff, and I may have something to fit you that you could sleep in." She stepped back and gave Arwyn the once-over as my new teammate fidgeted slightly under the scrutiny. "You're taller than I am, but not much bigger otherwise. Come on, girl."

Kai stood and started to follow us, but was noticed by his sister as well as me. "I think Jay may need a little help with the cleanup, Kai," Nya said quickly, stopping him with a hand to his chest and adding sweetly, "Would you be a dear and please give him a hand?"

He narrowed his eyes at her, but kept his lips together and turned to head into the kitchen, grumbling as he went.

Way to go, Nya! I gave her a grateful look when she glanced at me. Maybe having her know my secret wouldn't be so bad after all.

As soon as I poked my head into Arwyn's new room after she and Nya had entered it, I noticed something that had not been there when I had left this afternoon. Arwyn was thanking us profusely for the effort we had made and commenting on how the simplicity was a metaphor for a new beginning. Meanwhile, all I could see was the large bowl filled with beautiful fuchsia-and-red-orange cactus flowers which was beautifying the room from its place on the bedside table.

Where the hell…?

Nya saw my vexed expression as I watched Arwyn lift a flower the color of a sunset and hold it to her lovely face, breathing in its sweet fragrance with a contented sigh. Her smile to me was apologetic. "Zane spotted the flowering cacti on his falcon's monitor early this afternoon. After you left, he went out to get them, thinking they would help soften the room and welcome Arwyn."

Great. Now Arwyn's getting flowers from Zane. What next?

Excusing herself to gather toiletries and clothing for Arwyn, Nya thankfully left us alone for a few minutes. I leaned against the doorjamb as Arwyn sat on the colorfully-quilted bed and looked around her new bedroom. Expecting her to comment on the room or the transition, she threw me when she came up with something else. "You said you'd explain something about Lloyd. Why doesn't he like me?"

Well, crud. I didn't expect to have to talk about that tonight, but I sat on the mattress next to her and proceeded to give a quick synopsis of Lloyd's relationship to Garmadon, his background, his role in the Serpentine's release, and his awareness of the prophecy.

Flopping back on the bed with her hands to her forehead, she breathed, "Great. No wonder the poor kid hates me."

"He doesn't actually hate you," I defended Lloyd quickly, leaning back to rest on my elbows alongside her. "He just doesn't want you to kill his father."

She moved one hand to look at me with a raised eyebrow. "That's something I'd like to avoid, as well."

"But it's something you'll have to be prepared to do," I answered gently, with all seriousness. She simply responded by closing her eyes with a pained expression.

In the quiet of the moment, I was suddenly struck by how closely we were lying, our bodies nearly touching, our lengths stretched out on the bed, side by side. It was all I could do to resist reaching out and touching her, gliding my fingertips over the thin, purple fabric of the scrubs she wore which looked so soft. I was beginning to wonder what she was wearing beneath it, closest to her skin…

Dammit, Cole! Green Ninja! Green Ninja! Green Ninja! Remember it!

My eyes were squeezed closed when Nya saved me from myself by returning at that point with her treasures and handed them to Arwyn after we both sat up again. "I think this'll get you through the night, then tomorrow you'll get your own stuff." She only gave me a little questioning look.

Arwyn laughed a bit as she accepted the toiletries. "If Kai hadn't been in such a hurry this afternoon, I'd have my own stuff now."

As if on cue, the fire-starter stuck his head in the door. "Hey, the point was to get you here, okay? Now let's get you out of this boring room and check out some expert gaming." With that, he stepped into her bedroom, grabbed Arwyn by the wrist, and pulled her out into the hall and away from me.

I rose quickly from the bed and started to follow them to the game room, beginning to get ticked off with my intruding brother. Behind me, I heard Nya say quietly, "I warned you, Cole." Pausing for a second with my hand on the doorjamb, I nodded silent acknowledgement without turning toward her before exiting the room.

Arwyn wasn't into video games, but politely endured about an hour of watching the guys play from her spot on the couch next to Kai, laughing at the shenanigans and occasionally encouraging Lloyd in his efforts against the game.

I stayed out of the playing, sitting in one of the beanbags flanking the couch, brooding about Hot Stuff's recent competition and watching Arwyn next to him. On the positive side, it was awesome to have her here with us, and I hoped I would sleep better now than I had last night when Zane was with her, but I doubted it.

Soon enough, Arwyn was yawning and begged to be excused to find the shower and get ready for bed. Tomorrow she'd be rising early to get to Ninjago City to resign, pack a few things, and take care of loose ends.

Before I could get up and offer to take her, Nya was dragging her out of the room, telling her she'd be sharing the bathroom down the hall from their rooms. Arwyn waved 'good night' to everyone and disappeared.

Later that night, after everyone else in the bunkroom had fallen asleep, I was still lying awake, staring up at the bottom of Jay's bunk, listening to the snoring above me, my thoughts on Arwyn. She was just down the hall, no more than forty feet or so from me. I had been resisting the compulsion to check on her, but could finally do so no longer.

Throwing back the covers, I carefully got out of bed, checking to see that my three brothers and Lloyd were still sleeping peacefully. Kai's arm hung off his bunk, and I kinda hoped he wouldn't end up on the floor, but I wasn't waking him to prevent it.

Silently leaving the bunkroom, I padded barefooted in my black T-shirt and plaid pajama pants the short way down the hall to Arwyn's room. Upon reaching her door, I quickly noted that it was open a crack and apprehensively pushed it wider while whispering her name.

The room was empty, the quilt missing from the bed, and my first thought was that something bad had happened to her. My second thought was that she had left, although I forgot that she had so way to do so. My heart was racing as I hurried into the hall to check for lights under the bathroom door and Sensei's and Nya's doors, the game room. Nothing.

Surely she didn't leave. Please don't let her have left!

My next place to check was the main deck. Noiselessly running up the stairs to the outside, I stopped abruptly three steps shy of the top of the staircase when I saw her form standing by the starboard railing near the prow about sixty feet away.

Sighing with relief, I stood on the step and watched her for a while. The moon was nearly full and cast a silver light over the deck, so I could easily see her as she leaned on the railing, barefooted, wrapped in the bed's quilt against the chilly breeze that gently blew over the desert. What had brought her out here, and what was going through her mind as she gazed up at the stars?

My own thoughts were disrupted when she suddenly called out, "Are you going to stand there all night, Cole? Or are you going to come and talk to me?" I was stunned. She stood with her back to me and had not even turned her head for the couple of minutes I had been here. I had made no sound.

How did she even know I was here?

Collecting myself again, I covered the distance between us and met her at the railing. Her smile warmed me despite the air's coolness as she pulled the quilt tighter around her. Trying not to get distracted, I leveled my eyebrows, gazing down at her intently. "How…?"

She understood right away. "I can sense your element."

Elation surged through me, but I quelled it, replying with confusion, "But you told me you couldn't."

"I was wrong. I realized that when you left me with Jay and a huge void opened up in me." Facing away from me, she looked out into the desert night. "I knew you had been there then."

I swear I felt like dancing! Somehow I controlled my happy feet. "So, what am I like?" I hoped my query sounded aloof.

Without stopping to think, she answered, "Solid and heavy like rock. A sense of well-being, protection, strength, security. Overall, a nice, comforting feeling. The others are going to take some getting used to." She chuckled lightly. "I'm going to have trouble sleeping with Kai and Jay around. They're way too energizing and kinda irritating."

I could definitely understand that.

"Zane gives off a little too much of a chill sometimes, too. However, I'll have absolutely no trouble sleeping with you." Her eyes widened and she straightened up as she realized what that sounded like and quickly amended it. "Nearby! I mean with you nearby!"

I turned my face to cover my smirk. I was glad that my element didn't disturb her, but I liked the intimate context of her uncorrected comment much better.

Cole! Green Ninja! Green Ninja! Green Ninja, already!This mantra was becoming automatic.

The breeze picked up a touch, causing a little shiver to go through me, sending goose bumps prickling along my arms. Arwyn noticed and opened the quilt from around her, revealing the snug-fitting T-shirt and obviously-too-small capri pants of Nya's she was wearing which highlighted every delectable curve she had.

My eyes raked over her delicious body, and I swallowed hard, wanting to taste it, unable to look away.

"Wanna share the blanket?" she asked with total innocence, apparently having no earthly idea how enticingly seductive she was to me, how hard she was making things for me.

Hastily, I grabbed the edges of the quilt and jerked it closed over her again, putting a wall between us before I lost control.

"Um, no…th-that's okay, I'm not really cold." My mouth had suddenly gone dry, making it hard to talk, and my palms itched to get on her skin. "But before it gets any cooler, maybe we should go on to bed. It's really late." Trying to keep my wits about me, I turned her toward the portal to the lower deck.

Arwyn let me lead her to her door where she unexpectedly dropped the shielding blanket, tossed it onto the bed, and faced me. Standing so near and reaching up, she playfully flicked my bangs away from my eyes where the wind had blown them, saying with a smile, "I'm sorry you have someone else to worry about, but thanks for checking on me. I hope we both get some sleep tonight."

I had to bite back a groan. Dear, God, does she have any idea what she's doing to me?!

Here she stood, close enough for me to slide my arms around her and pull her against me, running my hands all over her, feeling her skin and lips against mine, tasting her, smelling her…And she was completely trusting of me, wasn't shying away.

…Green Ninja?

Summoning every ounce of strength I had, not daring to look down at her, I peered over her shoulder into her room and knew I wasn't going to sleep much.

"I don't mind at all. It's what I'm here to do," I replied, keeping the squeak out of my voice. "Good night." Lightly patting her shoulder, I forced myself to back away and walked down the passageway to my bunkroom, grudgingly giving myself a pat on the back for my amazing discipline.

Treating her like nothing more than a teammate was going to be one of the toughest things I'd ever done in my life.