He tried not to toss and turn because he did not wish to wake his mate, but Kai was restless. Too many unwanted thoughts were flooding his mind. He felt like a kid on Christmas Eve waiting for morning to arrive, although what waited at the end of the night was far less joyful for him. Finally, he decided that it was hopeless, and slipped out from under the covers. The cool air in the room caused his arms to tingle with goosebumps, which he tried to rub out. He smoothed out his wrinkled tee and wiggled his foot to get some feeling back in his legs. Zane had given him the spare set of pajamas the day after their forging ceremony, and the long bottoms were rather comfortable compared to his old ones which were silky but a little on the small side. Kai had to bite back a groan at the thought. Did everything Zane gave him have to be perfect?
He shook his head to clear it, then stared out the window at the moon. It was a little less than full now, and was rather close to the horizon. Looking at the clock, it was about three thirty in the morning. A little spark suddenly flickered in the back of his mind. The hunter turned around to see his partner sitting up with the covers draped over his legs. Half of his body was bathed in soft blue light, and the other was still shrouded in the shadows of the bedroom. Still, Kai could see the almost unnatural glow of Zane's cyan eye in the darkness. The glimmer he held in his bright irises was collected, adoring, and even a little bit worried, despite the early hour in which he had been so rudely awakened.
"Darl- Kai, what are you doing up?" the falcon asked groggily. The human decided to tell the truth, for what harm was there in it?
"Can't sleep," he replied simply. "Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you up."
"Nonsense. I have known you were troubled for a few hours now because of our soul link," Zane assured him as he too shed the blankets and stood. The falcon's wings fluttered just slightly as he crossed the room. "Here, we can spend the rest of the morning awake. I do not have work today anyway." With a comforting hold on his hand, the blond led him out of the room and into the living area, where he was then ushered onto the couch. Zane turned on a lamp nearby and settled in next to him, moving his wings behind him so that he was a little more comfortable.
"Now, tell me what is bothering you," the falcon instructed with a soft, encouraging grin. Kai opened his mouth to speak, then slammed it shut again as fear rocketed through his system. He wanted to yell at himself for not telling the truth, especially after the half-bird had been so obviously yearning for his affections.
C'mon! Nya's gonna be here in a few hours! You have to tell him! he screamed in his mind. He looked into his serene eyes again, and found nothing but kindness swimming in those azure depths. The news would break his heart, and Kai never wanted him to feel that kind of pain. He's just too nice. If he were anyone else, I wouldn't be so stupid and I would tell him, but… Zane really cares about me. He loves me. How could I do that to him? He felt tears welling up, but he refused to let them fall.
"I can't," he croaked, throat tightening. The yokai went rigid, nearly diving forward and placing his hands on the hunter's cheeks. However, he immediately let go with a disappointed expression. Kai knew that he had recoiled because of the boundaries that he had established, and because he wished to relieve his guilt he brought his hand up and pressed the blond's palm back on his face. Zane's gaze softened, and his feathers ruffled a tad before smoothing out again.
"Is this about the insecurities that you shared with me yesterday?" he asked in a hushed voice. Kai saw the opportunity and jumped on it.
"Yeah," he mumbled as he nodded. It was a good reason, albeit a lie, and it would have to suffice for now.
"Kai…" the falcon trailed off. "You do not need to worry about your adequacy, you are the perfect mate just as you are. I thoroughly enjoy your company, your beautiful art, your smile, and your caring nature, just to name a few appealing features. Not to mention, you are astonishingly handsome…" The yokai stopped himself, face turning pink as he cleared his throat.
"What I mean is, you share a bond with me, and even if fate did not dictate our partnership, I would still cherish you," Zane went on. As he spoke, Kai found himself becoming enticingly distracted from Lloyd and Nya's upcoming arrival. Once the bird finished, he delicately wrapped his wings around the human's body before opening his arms for him. After a pause for consideration, the brunet scooted towards him and surrendered to the embrace.
At this point, the hunter could not deny that Zane was charming, and his features were quite stunning. However, he reminded himself in this moment that there was a large gap between having your heartstrings tugged by an attractive individual and falling in love. The hug was simply comforting, and he would not allow himself to become attached to the contact. In order to cut it off before he got too comfortable in the falcon's arms, Kai reached for his sketchbook, which he had placed on the coffee table when he last used it.
"Why don't I read while you draw?" the yokai asked. The beast's arms and wings released him, then the blond stood and retrieved a book from a nearby shelf. Kai flipped open to the page he had been sketching on then pulled the pencil from the central fold. Zane returned and leaned over the side of the sofa, opening a drawer and taking out a pair of reading glasses. As the falcon sat back down, his right wing opened and wrapped over the hunter's shoulders. It was a soothing gesture that helped the human relax as he began to make a rough outline of a house.
He drew with intent, at first, and the goal was to practice architecture, however soon he began to dart his gaze to the side at random intervals. Zane's focus was on his novel, which was rather lengthy. According to where he had left off, he had been working on it for a little while. His ice blue eyes were fixated on the words, shifting to and fro as he read. He looked so intrigued, and the glasses caused him to be even more alluring, in a mature and intelligent manner. Suddenly, the half-bird caught him staring. The blond turned his head just slightly and looked back at him with a little smile. Sporting a fresh blush, Kai tensed his shoulders and went back to sketching, now nose-deep in the pages.
Oh my god, what is wrong with me? he thought, absentmindedly drawing while he chastised himself. I don't usually do stuff like that! Is it the stress? The lack of sleep? Whatever it is, I can't let it get to me anymore. He drew a few more houses, then a little stream, cobblestone streets, and more. Kai could hardly remember everything he was doing, and eventually just let his mind blur as he completed the sketch.
Finally, he dared to sneak another glance at Zane, who was still just gazing at him lovingly. That made the hunter flinch and scramble for something to say to dissipate the sudden awkwardness. He noticed the title of the book and shifted his body to be a little more relaxed.
"So, uh… 'Oceanum Vitae', huh? What's it about?" the human muttered, trying to open a conversation. Luckily, the yokai seemed to be happy to talk with him instead of sitting in silence.
"It's the story of a young man who is abandoned in the sea and is rescued by a ship of pirates. They treat him roughly, but along the many stops that they make in their trading business he learns skills like weaving, apothecary, cooking, and even painting. He even falls in love with a siren boy who refuses to sing and lure the sailors into a trap. It's touching. If you'd like, you could read it. Everything that is mine is yours, after all," Zane replied. Kai chuckled nervously and tapped the end of his pencil against the sketchbook.
"I'd never be able to focus long enough. Besides, it'd put me to sleep," he sighed. The bird smiled and adjusted his glasses.
"If it would help you fall asleep, perhaps I should read aloud for you," the winged boy suggested. Kai thought for a minute, then set his materials back on the table.
"Actually, I'd like that," the hunter grinned timidly. Zane nodded and took a deep breath, taking in some of the page.
"The novel is a little old, so the language may be somewhat diverse from what we speak today," his husband suddenly shied. When the human only inched closer to him in anticipation, the partial beast cleared his throat and began to tell the story from his current place.
"Upon the shores of Paris the boy sat, whittling a flute with determination. The hour was near midnight, however his oceanic lover had yet to make an appearance. His heart would have grown heavy had he not occupied himself with the sea-tossed wood and the knife. As if his longing soul had ensnared the fins of the siren, the youthful monster sprang from the foam beside the rocks."
"'Hark!' called the young captive quietly upon the merman's arrival. 'See here, my dearest heart-throb, a gift I carved for thee. For if I can never hear your sweet singing voice, I desire to hear another music from thy precious lips.' To this, the fish produced a magenta coloring upon his lavender cheeks."
"'Ah, but I have never learned the skill,' Atlon murmured, voice akin to the soft lapping of the waves. 'I would regret tormenting thee with unpracticed shrieking.'"
Kai found himself itching to read along, so he shuffled to the side so that he was shoulder to shoulder with the blond. The falcon took notice, and slowly looped his arm around his bonded partner before continuing.
"To this, the boy grinned with reverence and held out the misshapen instrument to the sea creature."
"'Then take this gift as a token of my desires. One day, perhaps I can teach thee to play as you walk with me on the shore,' he said. The bashful Atlon slapped his tail on the surface of the glittering water as he accepted the gift. 'You have spoken with this sea-hag about obtaining a pair of legs, have thee not?'"
"'Indeed I have, beloved Matthias, and the witch hath told me of her plans to prepare me a draught that will replace my tail. I am not a fish fit to brag, but I must say that my prowess as a mummer would be impressive if I were to take up the craft,' the siren simpered whilst he pressed himself into the stone to level his head with the man's. 'The dark woman revealed to me that the price of a pair of legs would be my gift of mystical enticement. I feigned horror, and she cackled gleefully as she shouted that I would regret my love anon! O, how foolish she would feel if she knew how glad I am to be rid of it! I am overjoyed to know my human beau will finally be able to hear my song without a deathly consequence.' The ship-slave grinned and threaded his fingers through his lover's hair, silky it was and grouped in sections that were the width of sea weed. Chocolate eyes met unnatural lime in a heated exchange of silent adoration."
The hunter felt his eyelids growing heavy already. He was grateful that Zane was helping him go back to sleep, even though he promised to spend the entire morning with him if he needed it. Kai yawned, and a moment later a calming hand was running through his locks, only adding to his feeling of drowsiness.
"'Ye need not a flute then!' Matthias laughed. 'I shall cherish thy voice like the most precious of jewels. Not a day shall pass where I do not revel in thy melodious songs.'"
"'But it is a gift ye hath given me, so I shall keep it close to my heart,' the merman replied."
Kai's eyes closed once, and he forced himself to pry them open again.
"'Have ye that much appreciation for a piece of driftwood?' the sailor inquired. 'It warms me to think of thy future love for the house I shall build for thee.'"
The hunter could not fight the feeling any longer, and he let his eyelids shut for good. He did not drift away just yet, however, and was able to hear the last bit of the excerpt.
"'A house?' Atlon gasped. 'May I have a garden and grow these carrots which you have spoken of?'"
"'Anything ye wish, ye may have. I have a family fortune waiting for me back on the shores of Ninjago. We may build a cottage and live as two smitten swains.' The siren smiled and received a kiss on his blushing lips."
"'Then let it be so,' whispered the beast. 'A home in which we shall escape this world of suffering at the hands of the sea.'"
A tiny noise, like hail against a far-off window, pulled Kai from his peaceful slumber. He opened his eyes a little bit to see that he was still being held by his bonded mate, although the blond was fast asleep. The novel was open and rested against his arm which lay limp at his side.
Rustle rustle. The metallic sound rang out again, causing the hunter's head to swivel in its direction. It was coming from the door.
Clink-rustle rustle. The knob. Someone on the outside was trying to turn the knob. Suddenly, the brass lit up with a green glow, and it began to turn in random directions. His heart leapt at the familiar color of that magic. Kai bolted upright, startling Zane in the process. The human gawked at the time that was displayed on the clock. It was already after nine in the morning. Lloyd and Nya were outside the entrance to the treehouse, and they were about to break in.
"Who is here?" the falcon asked, slight fear edging his tone.
"He's breaking the lock," Kai gasped. The winged boy stood, feathers sticking out at odd angles.
"Who is?" Sadly, the hunter could not bring himself to speak, rather he looked over at the coffee table at his still-open sketchbook. Suddenly those buildings and roads seemed so familiar. The rooftops, the stones, the water system, the rough outline of the fountain… He had drawn his home.
His pulse was pounding in his ears, and terror gripped his conscious like icy claws. He faced his partner, then the door, then his partner again. Kai felt his breathing become more labored as he fought a wave of panic. Zane took a small step closer, and the hunter scrambled away from him. He snuck a glance down at his sketch again, watching a single tear well up and fall on the page before he swiftly rubbed at his eyes to clear them.
"I'm sorry," the human hiccuped. The door flew wide open. Lloyd and Nya sprinted in with battle-ready expressions. However they softened when they saw that the brunet was unharmed.
"Kai!" the huntress shouted, crossing over to her brother before crushing him in a hug. "Oh thank god! We were so worried-" She halted and examined his features.
"You were crying," she noticed. Nya wheeled on Zane immediately, and Lloyd held up his spellbook with a threatening gaze when he saw her acidic glare. "What have you been doing to my brother?"
"Nya, stop!" Kai called out, grabbing his sibling by the wrist in an attempt to pull her away from his soulmate. "He hasn't done anything to me! I already told you, I'm fine!"
"Already?" the falcon asked with pure confusion in his tone. "How could she have talked to you? Humans do not possess communication crystals, do they?"
"No, but your friend Jay had one," Nya replied before the hunter could get a word in. "He called you, but Kai picked up instead. He said you were in bed." The yokai slowly turned towards Kai, who's heart was breaking over the bewilderment in his features.
"And then we called him from the Jade Palace," the huntress continued. Zane shook his head, eyes still locked on his husband's. Kai wanted to run from this whole situation, but he knew that he had this coming. He had all those opportunities that he could have told him, where he could have eased the pain a little, and yet he had stayed silent. Now, he was forced to face the guilt head-on. "Looks like your little kidnapping scheme wasn't as well thought-out as you hoped."
"Kidnap?" the falcon gasped, spinning back towards the other two humans. "I would never-!"
"Save it!" spat Lloyd. "Kai, the princess gave us a dragon. We can ride it to Jamonikai, then it'll fly back home when we get there. Let's go before this gets ugly."
"No!" the brunet snapped, yanking his sister until she fully faced him. "Not yet! We have to take Zane with us, at least! He doesn't deserve this!"
"Wake up!" his younger sibling snarled. "What kind of spell did he put you under? Why won't you just leave with us?"
"Because I'm married to him, damn it!" Kai nearly shrieked. "And what's with this spell crap? Zane never did anything to hurt me! He's just a yokai that was looking for a mate! I'm not gonna force him to be alone for the rest of his life! I'm either staying here, or he's going too!"
"Would you listen to yourself?" the noirette hissed in his face. "We're your family! We're all you have left! You can't turn your back on us now!"
"I'm not turning my back on you!"
"If you're not, then you'll come home! Everyone is worried sick!"
"Then tell them I'm fine and move on! I'll visit!"
"You're in yokai territory! You'll get killed before you can visit! You're not trusted here!"
"But Nya-" Before Kai could retort again, something spun him around before enveloping his torso.
"Get your hands off my brother, you-!" The sound of Zane's wings unfolding cut her off. The blond was embracing him, and had fended Nya off by making himself appear larger.
"Zane, what're you doing?" Kai muttered. The half-bird merely shushed him and ran his hands over his partner's back.
"Goodbye," Zane whispered. His voice was heavy, but he did not sound like he was forlorn or angry. Kai realized what he was doing, and immediately wrapped his arms around the yokai.
"No," he said, voice cracking as tears welled up once more. This time, he allowed them to fall. "No, Zane. No, don't say that, I can work this out. Nya's just being stubborn, she'll listen eventually."
"Kai," the beast quieted him as he pulled away slowly. The hunter tried to keep him in place, but then reluctantly released his hold as well when he realized that his bonded mate was standing his ground. "Do not cry. It will be… Go. Take him. I apologize for causing you trouble."
"Zane, please," Kai mumbled feebly. Lloyd and Nya darted forward, looping their arms through his and practically dragging him away. "Zane! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" He reached one hand out to the falcon, but he only received a sad smile and a wave farewell in return.
"Let me go," he tried to shout, but it only came out as a sob. He had never felt so remorseful in his life as they pulled him out onto the deck and shut the door behind them. They hopped onto the dragon, situated themselves so they were in a safe and secure position, then flew off. However, the initial jerk of the takeoff was nothing like how Zane flew, it was rough and rushed. Kai did not like it one bit, but he still attempted to dry his tears.
Do not cry. That was what Zane had instructed him to do. Besides, this was what he had wanted all along. He never wished for any of this to happen and he had always desired to be back home where he truly belonged. The only noises throughout the flight occurred when Lloyd would pet the large beast's head and the dragon would purr deeply with contentment. They zipped past the enormous trees of Kyoboku, over the snow-covered yokai towns at the base of the giant forest, and finally crossed through the woods that spanned the large area of land between the edge of yokai territory and Jamonikai Village. Kai attempted to map out the distance that the sage and huntress had traveled each day as they flew onwards, and was impressed by how determined they must have been to scale so many miles.
It seemed impossible that he was finally going home, but it was happening. Finally, he would see the friends he had missed dearly, and he could visit the shops and restaurants that he loved. He let those thoughts replace his feelings of sorrow, and slowly but surely he loosened up. He was still rather melancholy about the whole ordeal, but it was a start. The dragon eventually grumbled, causing Lloyd to giggle with amusement.
"Are we almost there, boy? Who's a good dragon?" the young sage cooed. To this, the large creature bellowed in delight and excitement. "Who's a good boy? You are! Yes you are!"
"Lloyd," Nya mumbled, elbowing the blond just slightly. "Let's stay quiet… For Kai's sake." The hunter narrowed his eyes at his sibling.
"I'm fine," he growled. "Let's just land already." As if on cue, they began to dip in altitude. He could hear screams coming from all the townspeople who were outside. When the dragon touched down, people rushed to get out of its path.
"We're back!" Lloyd shouted in greeting, waving his arm in the air.
"Son!" Garmadon cried out, sprinting from the temple entrance. "What in the name of Ninjago are you doing on a dragon?"
"He brought us here! His name is Green Bean!" the blond smiled as he jumped off of the creature's back. "And we have Kai with us!"
"Thank the heavens," Wu said as he came down the steps of the monastery. The hunter huffed as he and his sister leapt away from the dragon. People swarmed them instantly, joyful of their safe return. Before things could get too hectic, however, the two village elders beckoned the three weary adventurers into the temple.
"We can talk about what happened over a cup of tea," the older brother told them. "If you don't mind, I'd like to hear Kai's story first."
"And I as well," Wu agreed. While the old men prepared the warm beverages, Lloyd babbled on and on about how he had used so many spells along the way and how he was getting better at casting them. When he mentioned that he was practicing teleportation, his father's eyes glimmered with pride.
"You've done well, my son," Garmadon beamed as he set the cups down on the large kotatsu. The hunter got comfortable under the warm blanket while his sister put down her gear. In the corner of his vision, he could see his bow, which was wrapped in its traditional blanket. If he was going to return to his daily routine, he would certainly need to practice his archery skills again. "Now, Kai, relay the tale for all of us. I see no injuries, so what was this yokai's gain in abducting you?" With a frown, the brunet took a sip of his tea.
"I was hunting on the night that Wu predicted my 'luck with birds' or whatever it was, and because of my coat-" He paused, panic flaring in his mind at the realization. "I left my coat at his house!"
"Oh no," Nya fretted. That jacket meant as much to her as it did to him. It was a gift from their father, after all.
"We have to go get it," Kai declared, although nobody in the room appeared to be on his side.
"No," Lloyd shook his head sadly. "We already rescued you once, we're not gonna do it again."
"But…" The hunter decided to stop himself before he caused another argument. "Fine. Because of the jacket, this guy named Zane believed I was another yokai looking for their bonding partner. Long story short, I passed out, woke up in his house in Kyoboku, he realized I was human and got really sad, and I didn't wanna leave him all alone, so I tried to be nice and told him I'd do whatever this bonding thing was. Turns out, bonding is the yokai version of marriage, but you're matched with your perfect soulmate and 'bonded' on a spiritual level to them."
"Hold on. You are married?" gawked Garmadon. "You are far too young for marriage!"
"That's what I thought, but apparently bonding happens young so the courtship process happens at the ideal time, or something like that? Zane tried to explain it to me, but… Anyway, while he worked, I'd stay at home and do whatever I wanted. He even got me new clothes, which are… Ugh, those are still there as well. And he bought me a sketchbook, which I used a lot. He took me to see this other bonded pair, named Jay and Cole. Jay was part rabbit, and Cole was part bear, which I thought was interesting. Cole didn't like me that much, considering he almost mauled me for accidentally shooting at Jay while I was hunting. Then after that-"
"Wait, Cole almost murdered us too!" Lloyd interrupted. "Well, I mean… We did try to force Jay into an interrogation, so I guess we kinda deserved it? Ripped up my arm pretty bad." The young sage pushed one side of his top to the side, showing a set of bandages that were fairly clean, so they must have been changed recently.
"Good god, Lloyd," his father worried.
"Wounds will heal, brother," Wu reminded him before turning back to the hunter. "Go on."
"After that, we went out a few places,and I learned some things about yokai culture. Then one day Zane was really tired, so I made sure he did not go to work so he could rest. While he was sleeping, Nya and Lloyd called me through Jay's communication crystal. They told me when they'd reach me, and told me not to tell Zane, which I didn't. Then we went to go see these fairies, which was really cool. I got sick the next day and met his brother Echo, and he did not like that I was gonna leave Zane. After that, Zane took me out dancing. Lloyd and Nya called me again from the Jade Palace and said that they'd be a little later than planned, and now we're here." The two brothers eyed each other for a moment, concern in both of their expressions. Finally, they faced him again.
"Kai, do you have… romantic feelings for this yokai?" Garmadon inquired, putting it as gently as possible.
"No. No," Kai stuttered, answering a little too quickly. He did not want to be associated with the falcon in any amorous sense. If he detached himself, it would be easier to forget that he had ever left Jamonikai. The brunet reached for his bond ring, pulled it off without any hesitation, and shoved it in his pocket.
Cole stood by the entrance and watched his mate read. The many children from nearby towns crowded around the book as Jay told the story, and they hung onto his every word. The bunny was very animated, and it helped them stay engaged. The chapter drew to a close, and when the rabbit shut the book the kids were instantly disappointed.
"Aww," they moaned in unison.
"Mr. Jay, that was a short chapter!" a girl made of water whined. "Can't you read more?"
"Not today. Sorry kids," the freckled yokai replied, patting a few of them on the head as he stood. "But I'll be back next week."
"I can't wait that long!" an imp groaned. "I wanna know what happens to him!" A chorus of "Me too!" erupted, causing the partial bunny to laugh.
"You'll find out next week," he assured them as he ushered them to the door where their parents were waiting. "Bye, everyone!" The children said their farewells, then left the two older yokai alone. The bear stepped into the center of the room, finally able to talk to his soul partner.
"Y'know, you're really cute when you read to them," Cole smirked. "You get all excited about it." Jay giggled and collected his belongings.
"Well, I'm just glad they like the book," he beamed in reply. "I think it makes them feel grown up to listen to a short novel. But enough about reading. You said you were taking me somewhere?"
"Only the best noodle shop this side of yokai territory," his mate responded. The rabbit's tail wiggled with joy, and he darted over to the bear, clinging onto his arm.
"Skylor's place?" he asked.
"You bet, hun-bun."
"Then what're we standing around here for? Let's go!" Jay tugged his husband along behind him with glee. Cole chuckled and caught up with him, escorting his little rabbit out of the library. "Oh, I hope she still does her special garden mix. Some of those vegetables are seasonal, apparently."
"C'mon, Jay, you two are good friends. Skylor would make anything for you in a heartbeat," the predator yokai replied. The bookstore was on the outskirts of town, so it did not take long for them to reach the forest. The taller of the two broke away from his partner, then transformed into his fauna form. With a whuff, he gestured with his head for Jay to do the same. His freckled sweetheart smiled wide before leaping forward, reducing to his adorable bunny shape. The rabbit hopped up onto his back, and they were off. Being quadrupedal made it faster for them to get to their destination.
As they made their way along the woodland path, Cole experienced a sensation of gratefulness. Everything was normal again, and his mate was finally out of any sort of danger. He could sense Jay snuggling into the fur of his back, and it felt right to have him resting there. He was happy that the rabbit was safe and sound, and nobody was going to take away that feeling ever again.
They reached a teleport gate, which was a platform of enchanted quartz guarded by a few policemen. Cole returned to his yokai form, but allowed Jay to stay comfortable in his arms as he told them where they were headed. They stepped up to the crystal surface, then were whisked away in a flurry of bright porcelain colored lights. As soon as they touched down at the second gate, the black-haired yokai nodded to the guards and continued along the trail. He petted Jay's fur, scratching along his back and forehead. The bunny put his head down with satisfaction and shut his eyes, signaling him that he was hitting all his favorite spots.
"You're so adorable when you're this small," the bear murmured, pressing a little kiss to the spot between his ears. "And you're more manageable this way." Suddenly, an immense amount of pressure was thrust upon him as Jay transformed back into his humanoid state.
"Don't you like it when I'm unmanageable tho-woah!" The rabbit was cut off as Cole fell backwards into the thin layer of snow. Thankfully, they were well out of range of the police behind them, so they could not hear or see the commotion. "Ouch…"
"What'd you expect?" the larger yokai groaned, feeling his mate shift on top of him. "You can't just change like that without warning, especially not when I'm holding you. You're a lot heavier in this form." A gasp ensued, along with a fist weakly slamming into his chest. He wheezed and looked up at Jay's pouty expression.
"Are you calling me overweight?" the half-bunny demanded.
"What's so wrong with that?" Cole laughed quietly. "That just means there's more of you to love." His soul partner crossed his arms and looked away with furrowed brows, ears pricking with defiance.
"Aw, c'mon now, Jay. You know you're the cutest little thing I've ever met," the bear chuckled. "In fact, I oughta feed you more."
"Well, with your cooking ability, you'd probably make me even thinner. Can't get much nourishment when everything's burnt black."
"You take that back!" the predator roared playfully, sitting up straight and diving his fingers into Jay's sides. His husband began to laugh and squirm, trying to wriggle free. "Say you're sorry!"
"I-I can't! When you tickle- ha ha- me!"
"Say it!"
"I'm sorry!" Cole let him go, and they both took a moment to calm their breathing. The bear stared into his mate's eyes, watching as the shimmering cyan-blue flecks appeared to dance in the pools of cobalt. The freckled yokai began to close the distance between them, so he met him halfway. The kiss was lengthy and gentle, almost reverent of this little atmosphere that they had created. They slowly leaned in for more, but they were interrupted during their third kiss by a white glow emanating from Jay's communication crystal. The partial bunny reached for his pendant, but Cole pushed his hand away.
"Ignore it," he mumbled against Jay's lips before diving back into the contact. The rabbit pressed lightly on his arm before holding up the stone anyway and observing it.
"It's from Zane," Jay whispered between pecks. Cole disregarded that statement and continued to hold his partner close, but was halted when his partner snuck a hand between them, pressing his palm to the ursa's mouth. "I have to answer it. What if it's important?"
"Alright, whatever," the bear pouted as he was released. Jay kissed him once on the cheek in apology before answering the call.
"Hello," he began.
"Jay… I am sorry to bother you but… Kai is gone."