Hello! This one is just pure winter fun, so enjoy!
Snow was forecasted for the morning, and Jay was so excited you could practically feel it radiating off of him.
"I do not quite get what the fuss is all about. What is so special about snow?" Zane looked up from his book to see the Lightning Ninja looking excitedly out the window at the first few flakes.
"You're different, you grew up constantly surrounded by the stuff. Plus, you're the Master of Ice. I thought you'd be more excited to be surrounded by your element," Jay glanced back as Zane shrugged.
"Snow is not the same as ice, I suppose. I prefer ice skating over playing in the snow anyway."
"You don't like playing in the snow? Like, making snowmen and snowball fights and all that?" Jay managed to pull himself away from the window. "Like, I get Kai not being a fan, but you can create balls of snow at will! Like, you're the perfect partner for an all out snow war!"
"I don't dislike it, I just prefer ice skating over snowball fights," Zane summoned a little snow in his hands, before making it disappear.
"Have you ever tried skiing or anything?"
"No, I haven't. Ice skating is more accessible to me, usually."
"Maybe you could help us all learn to skate sometime. Cole, Nya, and I aren't very good, and Kai and Lloyd haven't done it at all!" Jay stood in front of Zane, a begging look in his eyes, and the Ice Ninja nodded.
"Perhaps tomorrow, weather permitting."
"Cool! I guess I'll see you tomorrow morning then!" Jay perked up and ran to his room, Zane returning back to his book.
Zane had left the Bounty three hours ago. He had said he'd be back soon, and ditched. Naturally, Jay decided to go find him since he was promised ice skating lessons by the Master of Ice himself. So, that's why he found himself getting pummeled in the face by snow as he was searching for his friend.
The snowstorm had only picked up in intensity, making the foot of snow he was wading through quite unforgivable as fresh, heavy flakes coated his exposed skin and his clothes.
"Zane!" He yelled through the wind for the hundredth time, but was surprised this time when the empty air answered back.
"Jay?" The Ice Ninja turned around, his skates making a small circle in the ice he was standing on. "Jay! What are you doing out here?"
Jay was greeted by a sudden respite from the snow, Zane pulling him under a cover of ice, thin walls keeping out the biting wind.
"I was looking for you, but then the storm got worse and jeez, it's really cold out there and-"
"Why did you go out alone in this? You could've at least brought Lloyd or Kai with you, they can summon fire for goodness sake!"
"I didn't think it was going to get this bad out," Jay shivered, dusting snow off of his face. Zane frowned, and closed off the entrance to the structure, preventing any more wind from reaching the freezing Lightning Ninja.
"I may have a resistance to cold, but you do not," Zane stated, and Jay rolled his eyes.
"Ok, mom. I get it. What are you even doing out here, anyway?"
"I wanted to skate."
"Did you.. build your own rink?" Jay looked around, a flat sheet of ice covering the ground in front of him, the ice walls rising high above. Zane clicked one skate against the ice, and Jay couldn't help but stare. "You made your own skates, too."
"Yes, I did. I realize traveling out here with a pair of skates would only slow me down. Adding blades to my shoes was much easier."
"Aw, man, I can't do anything this cool with lightning!" Jay complained, tracing the swirling patterns on the ice walls with a gloved hand.
"Your element can create light. You can power your own inventions as well. I believe that is just as incredible," Zane offered a hand to Jay. "Would you like to skate?"
"Sure, but I didn't bring my- Oh, right, ice powers."
Zane smiled and knelt, lifting up Jay's left foot and touching his hand to the sole of the shoe. As he ran his fingers down the middle, a thin blade of ice formed, mimicking the ones found on figure skates. He did the same to the other shoe, and soon Jay was gliding around on the ice, albeit clumsily.
"Wow, this is even better than normal skating. I mean, the ice is so smooth," Jay almost wanted to bend down and run his fingers along the ice, but decided against it, knowing that he'd just fall over.
"Being able to produce your own ice does have its perks," Zane admitted, practically skating circles around the Lightning Ninja. "Now, you were promised lessons, and I intend to fulfil that promise."
"Well, we have a while until the storm dies down, so what's first?"
"First, we're going to fix your form..."
It was five hours later that the two returned to the Bounty, and managed to avoid being scolded by the rest by Zane promising to make hot chocolate for the Bounty, and soon everyone's mild anger melted away with the hot drinks. Jay's fingers were still numb, but the mug he was holding was certainly working the feeling back into his fingers. Him and Zane were currently reclined on the gaming couch, watching a holiday special on the TV.
He drained his mug, and set it down on the floor, curling up tighter with the blanket he had wrapped around him. Zane was only halfway done his cup, taking leisurely sips as he watched the program. There the two sat until the show was over, but they were both fast asleep by the time it was over.