"Be safe."
Kai looked apprehensive and Cole seemed annoyed with the way that Heimdall took to relay any message. Evidently, he was in no rush.
"All of you. Five days you will have."
"He won't suspect a thing," Lloyd said, holding firmly onto his team before casting his gaze onto Heimdall. "We'll be back before you know it."
"Take heed, if you delay," Heimdall paused. "He will look for you."
They'd arrived back in their training compound, although it looked more like a haunted house due to the cold snow and the faded paint on the rotting wooden frames. "H-how long were we gone? Lloyd asked, gobsmacked at the place, as he looked around taking in the dilapidated building in front of them.
"Dude, Zane?" Cole interrupted. "Whats the date here?"
"We have been away for almost a year."
"The date tincan?" Cole repeated, subconsciously rubbing his hands together yet wondering why his shaggy black hair wasn't freezing.
"Apologies, the first of December."
"So, what do you think about reacquainting ourselves?" Lloyd suggested. Trying to cut the tension at not knowing what to do in a realm where their presence hadn't been missed. "The city?" He suggested. "We have five weeks, after all."
"I-I guess we've got a few hours to get some supplies," Kai said quietly. "At least before the shops close up due to this weather."
Lloyd looked around again, sighing. The exhaled breath gave off plumes of breath, giving an idea as to how cold it was. He looked puzzled when he looked at his team, none of them were shivering with the temperature. And this was considering their previous place of residence was warm. "Come on, lets go to the city and get something to eat."
The Bifrost had scorched a pattern onto the ground which was steaming due to the snow around it melting which created an outdoor steam room, Lloyd smiled at it, he knew they could go back anytime, they didn't have to wait the full five weeks...which seemed a lifetime away, "ok look everyone we've gotta stick together here, we can't lose anyone and we need to keep track of days, we technically have roughly five Asgardian days which I think is about...err...five weeks...whoa...what are we gonna do for that long?"
"Cole, I think it would be better if we found someone to run the dojo. At least it will be functional, should we need to come back sooner than anticipated." Zane offered. He looked at Cole, noting he was oddly quiet since arriving back. "It scared you, seeing him like that?"
He nodded, refusing to utter much.
Zane comforted his brother with a small hug. "I must admit, it was difficult not being able to do anything. I just hope he is as strong as Heimdall claims he is."
Cole looked up, staring into Zane's icy blue eyes. "Yeah, me too." He replied, expression remaining stoic. "I don't like what he's doing. The way he treats him is, well, appalling. In fact, the lack of respect for Jay is astounding, but yet, he stays there."
"He hasn't got much of a choice has he?" Lloyd quipped. Why was it always him that remembered the cruel bargain Loki had uttered?
"Shit Zane, I hope he's okay. We fucking left him there...with Loki." There he stood, pinching the bridge of his nose and shaking his head. Cole looked at the ground as he followed his spiky-haired brother's footprints.
"And ya know what, once we find a safe place for her. I'm going back." Cole stated with an air of determination.
"So choices then guys, who should we ask, what options do we have, and who can we truly trust down here?" Kai questioned his brothers. His attempt at trying to keep up their morale whilst they trudged through the cold snowy blizzard made way for grumbles and incoherent groans. He too had noticed that although the icy wind was hitting their faces, the blizzard and cold weather wasn't affecting them as it would have normally. "And of course, we'll need to find a place for Nya to live, so any ideas on that would be great."
Kai looked at his sisters sad and forlorn face. Wondering to himself when she'd be snapping out of this infatuation she felt for the God of lies. How long it would take her to realise how much she had lost by allowing Loki to take her body for himself. Kai didn't have the heart to tell her what she had done in front of Jay, the words she had spoken as they passed in the vast hallways of Asgard's royal palace.
"We need to eat before we decide on such endeavours," Zane noted. "We have much we need to talk about before we even think about that. One of which, should be our attire" He added, now vaguely aware of locals staring at them; specifically Lloyd and Kai who were leading the group with their upturned hands emitting their overpowered elements.
Of course the locals knew who this team were, they were the heroes of Ninjago in past years and the ones that brought down the Overlord and many other foes. This ninja team who had been away for so long were bigger, not just in bulk but also height, each one had a new uniform unlike anything ever seen in this realm...their uniforms looked like the uniforms of ancient times but they appeared to be brand new. The once shining golden and silver weapons they would have used were all but gone and in their place stood jet black shiny black blades which were perfectly hidden in with their darker attire.
One of the reasons the locals were staring was because it was winter and everyone except these long-missing team of ninja were completely covered up as the snow came down heavily around them. The ninja, however, were wearing their uniforms. Oblivious to the extremes of cold. Their hands wore no gloves and no woollen hats were adorning their heads.
How they didn't freeze to the spot was unknown to the local population they passed.
The team walked until they reached a familiar noodle house, now looking somewhat run down.
The place they stood outside had once resembled a grand eatery, owned by none other than Master Chen. Upon closer inspection, Zane noted the windows were largely boarded up. Oddly, noise could be heard from within.
Cole was the first to make a move, he carefully approached the door and opened it expecting to see nothing except maybe dust and debris and a few squatters, but when he opened the doors he looked on in astonishment. The place was buzzing, loads of staff serving patrons, food on the conveyors. "Come on, think we can slip in unnoticed."
Luckily there was a spare booth so the team slipped into the booth. "God, this brings back memories, right guys?" Cole asked, nervously.
"Yeah, but one of them is missing." Lloyd's smile dropped. "I remember making you guys meet me here. I'd kinda tricked you all to believe you were just gonna be meeting me here individually, but I arranged it so you'd all come at slightly different times."
"I remember it too, green machine," Kai muttered softly. "How times have changed, huh?"
Everyone surrounding them was either too preoccupied what with eating or talking to notice that in their midst was a group of forever changed ninja. The so-called heroes of Ninjago had returned, yet no one had noticed nor batted an eyelid. That of course, could be attributed to their odd, modern medieval attire.
"Can I take your order?" A waitress with bright red hair came up to their table and squeaked when she saw who it was sitting before her. "Kai?"
At the mention of his name alone, his startled gaze looked up straight into the eyes of Skylor, the master of form. Of course, he smiled as he took in her beautiful appearance. It had been so damned long since he had laid eyes on her. "In the flesh, l-long time no see." Kai chuckled nervously, blushing.
She took the initiative being that only Kai had spoken. "Wow, well first things first merry Christmas guys." She placed a selection of free starters down.
"Secondly; where have you guys been? You know, it's been almost a year."
"Yeah, sorry about that," Kai spoke for his team. They seemed to be happy for him to talk because he looked happy for a change, they weren't about to stop him.
Skylor looked at the whole assembled team, one of which was missing. "We were worried, especially after Wu passed away. We thought you'd all gone on a journey of discovery or something. Ha, no-one had seen or heard from any of you." She said, looking around the table.
"We, who's we?" Lloyd asked.
"The other guys from the tournament." She replied.
"Oh." Lloyd rubbed his blonde hair. "Sorry, been busy."
Skylor shrugged, her red hair bounced slightly. "Where's Jay, you still keep in contact with him?"
Kai had realised that he hadn't spoken to her since the tournament, she was completely unaware of all that had happened. 'He's out of commission', is what Kai had wanted to say. The truth, however; was much worse.
"Uh, Jay's out of town," Kai spoke up.
Before she had a chance to probe further, he continued. "Not sure when he's due back, but we keep in touch." His mood turned sour at the mere mention of his brother. This trip had only been made possible because bluebird had sacrificed his freedom in order to get Nya to safety. Something he knew Jay was capable of doing as he'd done it before. Kai shuddered at the thought of what Loki might be doing to him because of this.
He was relishing in his freedom, as were his brothers. All sitting eating, drinking and socialising. Jay had been rendered unconscious.
Jay's not coming,
Kai, I'll tell you later, right now we gotta go.
Her voice snapped him from his depressing thoughts.
"You guys look different, what gives?" She raised her defined brow, looking at each individual. Impressively noting their new robes with intrigue.
"I guess a different style for us now that Wu isn't around," Kai replied.
"Well, dare I say it, but you all look a little more intimidating." She looked impressed, eyes scanning the seated men. "Except of course for Nya, you look amazing." Skylor smiled, remaining polite as always.
"Thanks," Cole shrugged, though his eyes were following the little plates and bowls of food on the conveyor.
"So, other than talking, what can I get you all?" She said. " You gotta eat something, otherwise you wouldn't be here?" She laughed, noticing Kai staring up at her dreamily as he had done that first time their eyes had met.
The ninja and Nya who seemingly felt hungry all looked at their menus eagerly, they had been fed well in Asgard, treated like royalty without realising it. One by one, they ordered their food and when it arrived, they ate it just as quickly.
As they ate their food, which still looked enticingly appealing, it had no real taste to it, despite how much they ate.
Cole was the first to notice, his mood turned sour again. He groaned in response when he ate his third slice of chocolate cake, then pushed away the remainder. He didn't want to outwardly admit that there was no taste to it. For starters the patrons of this place would think him mad for uttering such a thing.
No, Cole just sighed. He figured that at this rate; he was going to starve as the thought of flavourless food made his stomach turn. Still, to avoid offending Skylor, he continued to play with the cake, all the while knowing that Zane was watching him. Surely the nindroid must have picked up on this too?
Zane frowned. The black haired master of earth wouldn't last here for more than a few days let alone a few weeks unless Zane found him something to keep his mind occupied from his favourite pastime of eating.
"Cole?" Zane's voice startled the black-clad ninja. "I shall be going to visit Cyrus Borg tomorrow, you are more than welcome to accompany me."
"And what's green machine gonna be doing?" Cole asked.
"Lloyd will be looking for suitable accommodation for Nya so you could go with him. I am offering you alternatives, you seem out of sorts." His head tilted to one side.
"Ahh ok," Cole looked up from his plate. The cake having been chocked down somehow. "Thanks for the offer tinman, I reckon I'll go with Lloyd, he might need help with Nya!"
"You logic seems reasonable. The sooner we get her settled in, the quicker we can return and bring our brother home."
Kai got up to follow Skylor around, they had managed to find an empty table where he took his food and ate with her, she was the manager after all so she took a little time off "So," he started in earnest. "What time do you finish tonight?"
"So forward, just how I remember..." She giggled. "It's an early finish, so probably about seven." Her eyebrow raised questioningly.
"Are you thinking of finally asking me on a date?" She smirked, leaning across the table to whisper into Kai's reddening ear. "I mean, you know where we left this off last time?"
He had a mouthful of noodles, which he tried hard not to spit out at Skylor's suggestion, instead he just coughed and spluttered, making himself look like a fool.
"Ooh Kai, you feel hot, you're burning up!"
He knew what she was playing at. The very last time they saw each other, Kai had been so close to making it official with her, they nearly kissed. But one of his brothers had ruined the moment and then they parted ways.
"S-sure, is that what you want?" Kai pulled at his now tight collar and uniform. "I can take you anywhere you want to go, within r-reason." he stuttered nervously. Why was he so warm all of a sudden?
"It would be nice, like when we were stranded on that island together?"
His breath caught in his throat. Nothing had happened, but they held hands, worked as a team and there was certainly something between the two, that neither had wanted to admit. He was massively attracted to her but lacked the courage to say anything, then it was too late. "You want to go the cinema with me?" he said, a slight hint of bravery behind his words. "I-I mean you don't have to."
"I'd love to. In fact, I reckon these guys have got the hang of this place to not need me here to cash and close up, so what say we head out now, hmm?"
Kai's temperature grew, he stood abruptly, without meaning to. "I just got to let the guys know where I'll be." He coughed, rubbing his hand through his spiky gelled hair. "Be right back."
Kai swiftly left the booth, face flushed after speaking with Skylor. "Hey guys, Nya." He was shocked to see he was trembling too. "I'm gonna spend the night with Skylor."
"Whoa, what?" Cole did a double take.
"Well it's a date actually," Kai bit his lip waiting for more reaction from his brothers, only Lloyd spoke up.
"Haa, you move faster than Cole," Lloyd joked. "We're here for five weeks remember so have fun tonight."
"Thanks, I'm aiming to." He nodded, looking back at Skylor.
"Skylor?" Lloyd called from the next booth. "Please get him some other clothes to wear, he can buy them himself, don't let him fool you." He added sarcastically whilst shaking his head. "Come on guys, he's gonna have some explaining to do tomorrow."
"See you later," Nya half smiled, following her incomplete ninja team out of the noodle house and into the cold night once again.
"Priorities everyone! We need accommodation and fast." Everyone had turned to look at Cole as the snow started to make his hair appear grey rather than black. "Ideas?"
"Well my Dad sometimes stayed at the Ninjago Plaza, so we could stay there." Lloyd offered. "I mean it's a suggestion."
"No that might work, but we'll need a big room, like the penthouse," Cole stated. "How much will it cost though?"
"Hmmm, it will cost 28,000 Ninjago dollars for four weeks. That equates to N$1000 nightly, but it would be adequate for all of us, food is included three times a day!"
"What? We don't have that amount of money." Lloyd facepalmed. "That'll never work."
"Actually Lloyd we have more than enough," Zane interjected. "Kai transferred a large sum of money into the joint account for the dojo after we went to rescue Jay. and because of that, we have plenty enough."
"Urgh so is that blood money then? Was that the money HYDRA gave him when he gave them Jay?" Cole recoiled, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"We have no realoptions do we?" Lloyd grumbled. "I don't reckon we all facing traipsing back to the freezing cold dojo and making up bed's on the floor?"
That thought made Cole's toes curl. He wanted comfort, craved it after being in Asgard. "Fine, lets just do it, I'm tired, we're all tired so let's go."
The ninja made their way back to the city and checked into the large expensive hotel, which was extravagantly decorated with Christmas decorations including an impossibly tall Christmas tree which stretched almost two floors up and took up most of the circular lobby. Zane paid for the stay for the night and chose to pay in advance for their three-week stay, requesting the use of the penthouse suite. The money Kai had banked had also been gaining interest in the banks so Zane was able to check exactly how much money he would need and with this, he found out how much Kai had been paid.
"There seems to be an adequate amount of money" he stated, straight-faced. "I managed to bypass the security systems in place for the bank and have found there to be over 700,000N$. It looks like they paid quite a large sum of money. I can safely guess that they were not planning on letting Jay go."
"Fucking figures." Cole snapped.
"So, we can afford this hotel and I have just paid for four weeks which will take our stay to just over the Christmas holiday."
"Yeah and what about these...I mean have you seen the looks we're getting, we don't blend in at all, we need civvy clothes."
"Lloyd, I know," Cole mumbled. "Tomorrow, shopping for clothes is on the cards too, as well as looking for a place for Nya."
Nya was with them but each one promised to take it in turns to watch her through the first night. Cole took the first shift for four hours and then later it would be Lloyd. It continued like this until all of Loki's essence was removed from Nya, and by essence, they meant not just his bodily fluids but the magic hold he had over her.
Hours turned into days which turned into weeks and before the ninja knew it they only had two weeks left. Nya almost seemed herself again.
Nya seemed peaceful, she was beautiful awake and asleep, Loki had obviously done something to her during her early days with him but Cole didn't know what he'd done or why, he watched her sleeping, her face contented. He was beginning to doze off himself until his communication device buzzed gently. He retrieved it, plugging his earphones in so as to lower the volume and activated it.
His heart almost jumped out of his chest when he saw who it was.
"JAY? Y-you're awake." He frowned seeing recent wounds, he'd never get used to seeing newer injuries. "Is that fresh blood?"
Ignoring the question, Jay would answer it eventually. "Hehe good to see you arrived safely bro," he said, stretching his legs out in front of him, nibbling on his plentiful feast supplied by Heimdall. The look of the food made Cole's mouth drool. "yep I'm still in this damn cell as you can see."
"What happened to you?" Cole asked in a concerned voice. Almost repeating his previous question with more care to it.
"Well, that's a funny question actually because I don't really know hehe, well I kinda do." Jay looked embarrassed with himself. "It all happened so fast, I sorta disabled the force fields in the dungeons, every...single...one!"
Cole's face dropped. "What really? Wasn't that a dangerous manoeuvre, why'd you do it?"
"I didn't do it on purpose if that's what you're getting at and no, I haven't got a death wish either." Jay shook his head.
"Loki came here, he pushed me." He didn't look at the screen anymore. "No, he disgusted me when he told me what he'd done. He's sick and twisted, I fucking hate him."
Jay muttered something under his breath. "I snapped okay? The power outage was caused by me."
Cole's face took in the slightly guilty look of mischief on Jay's face. "Are you alright though?"
Jay shook his head. he wished he could say yes, that everything was fine and dandy. But it wasn't.
"Ugh, I'd kill myself if I could."
"You don't mean that?" Cole thought about it for a few seconds. He'd kill himself if he could? It was a little unnerving.
"This place Cole, it's driving me insane. This only happened because I was focusing on controlling my element and I managed to create a sphere ya know similar to Lloyd's."
"The green energy pulse?" Cole frowned at Jay's overly talkative side, though it was no different to how he usually spoke, there was just a darker tone to it. "What happened?"
"Well, I played with it and it didn't hurt, in fact it hovered when I dropped it on the floor, so I picked it up and it grew bigger until I couldn't contain it at which point I pushed it away." He looked up again. "It was a bad thing to do, all the force fields went down and most of the prisoners escaped."
"WHAT?"
"Some of them were captured," Jay replied, looking sheepish.
"You look all bloodied and beaten, weren't you in solitary?" Cole questioned waiting for Jay's response.
"Still am," Jay nodded. "I look bloodied and beaten, I guess, because I was and, before you ask, it wasn't him."
"Jay, look at me."
He avoided Cole's gaze altogether. "Five of the prisoners were warriors from Vanaheim, they remembered me from when Loki had me use the sceptre on them even though I was being controlled."
"Jay, please."
"I-I couldn't remember them okay. Even though they remembered me."
"Tell me what happened."
"They beat me up, plain and simple, put me in my place." Jay wiped at his face. It wasn't a tear that fell just a rivulet of blood. "They did a pretty good job, I couldn't move. Then Heimdall swooped in and saved the day."
"I think I was quite lucky, got a few bruises and cuts nothing major though."
"When did this happen, a few days ago or something?" Cole questioned, but then realised it must have been more recent judging by the fresh blood.
"No this just happened, like literally a few hours has passed since I had my ass handed to me on a plate." Jay laughed nervously. "But I'm fine honestly, see I'm all good, nothing broken. I'm just going out of my head with boredom down here."
Cole noted he was far more talkative than usual, and how unfair was it that he was stuck there whilst Cole and his brothers were about to celebrate Christmas.
"How are you all though, how's Nya?"
"We're all okay down here. You need to slow down though Jay I'm having difficulty keeping up with you." Cole sighed, "In relation to one of your questions, Kai is with Skylor, they've been together since we got back. And." Cole paused for dramatic effect. "He phoned a few hours ago, he's gonna be a daddy."
Jay said nothing, just bit his lip. It was so good to hear Cole's voice. It was certainly better than Loki's.
"They'll both be great parents," He replied with an air of finality. "Take it he hasn't told her about his supposed immortality?"
Cole shook his head. "I don't think so. And God knows what he'll be like when we return in a week. I told Sellie, she wasn't best pleased."
"I don't think she'll be pleased either."
"Me and Lloyd have had to do all the hard work, we found a place for Nya."
"Good, she's safer there."
"Jay, its Christmas day, literally just gone midnight. I know you don't feel like celebrating but I'm thinking of you, Merry Christmas bro." Cole said moving the device so Jay could see the Christmas decorations hanging from the ceiling.
"Aww cool, I love Christmas and I'm stuck alone in a magical dungeon boo, don't think they celebrate Christmas here they might though...cos the myth of Saint Nicolas originated from Germany ya know, but anyway, Norse gods do a lot of feasting and I mean a lot from December throughout the year, but I've been so busy with running Loki's damn errands I haven't had much time...in fact I've had none." Jay huffed "So Seliel eh? you seen her much these last few weeks?"
"Yeah I spent some time with her yesterday, Christmas eve technically only a few hours ago, she's cute...think she likes me" Cole smiled "I'm seeing her again in a few days, she's going to her Dad's today for her Christmas meal."
Jay couldn't help but feel like Cole was hiding something "Is there someone else, I thought you were serious with Seliel now, I mean not that you brag or anything but you've mentioned her a fair few times."
"Yeah ok there is someone else, she was so familiar like I'd seen her before but in my dreams...and we met her on the day we left Asgard...she blew my mind. Her name was Sigyn and she was cute too."
Jay's blood ran cold at the mention of her name, he knew she was Loki's bride, and if Cole had his way with her; Loki would tear him limb from limb if he could. "M-maybe you should just focus on Seliel, least you won't have a vengeful God hot on your heels if you sleep with her. I mean ya know Sigyn is engaged to Loki?"
Cole nodded. "Yeah, but it's mutual!" He winked.
"It's a bad idea with dire consequences if you get found out. I know her, been in her company more than once." Jay's eyes widened fearfully. "Please Cole, you gotta promise me you won't do anything stupid, at least not with her."
"Yeah okay." He said, loosely shrugging his shoulders. "Are they celebrating anything in Asgard?"
"It's called Jul. Twelve nights of feasting, wine and women and then of course in between that will be the wedding which is the day you're due back. Oh and Merry Christmas to you too, it's been three days since you've all been gone, Guessing you're all okay, obviously Kai is."
"We managed to source a secure location for Nya to live, until she recuperates. Moving in tomorrow, plus we've also managed to find an academy style teaching group to take over the care of the dojo, at least until we get back again."
"Cool, so you guys are having fun then, taking advantage of the free time?" Jay winced as he moved.
Cole winced in sympathy as he saw a small line of blood dribble down Jay's face. "You sure you're alright?"
"Yeah, I just don't know how long he plans on keeping me in here. I could escape, that would be fun."
It would be bad." Cole argued, bushy eyebrow raised.
"I'm so bored in here." Jay muttered. "You've all been away for three days?"
"Three weeks here. Time goes slowly where you are."
"Well I gotta do something, I need to train." Jay said with some urgency. Though it could be construed as boredom.
"Why do you need to train when you're in the cell, you should be relaxing?"
"I wish I could tell you, I really do, but he's sworn me to secrecy."
"Really not even a clue?" Cole whined.
"He's planning something upon your return and it'll be focused after the wedding celebrations. No other clues, y-you'll find out anyway" Jay stuttered as he stopped talking abruptly feeling very uncomfortable with the concerned look Cole was giving him, Jay muttered to himself again. "It's fine Cole I can't tell you so just drop it ok?"
Cole didn't say anything he just stared at Jay for a few seconds wondering what on earth was going through his head, one minute he was normal and talkative but overly so and the next he was very snappy. "Jay I wouldn't be your best friend if I didn't worry. You're the only person I've been thinking about since we left, we came to visit you before we went to Heimdall and you were just laying in your cell, you weren't moving."
"Ahh, sorry about that. It took all of my strength not to move when you came down. I knew you were there, but I had to pretend I was unconscious!"
"What! You were pretending, what a crock Jay, honestly what the Hel?"
"Whoa calm down. I only did it because Loki was due to visit and you needed to leave before he saw you. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you."
"So there was a method to your madness then?" Cole surmised. "Concerned about us, I understand that, but maybe a wink would have sufficed instead of flat out ignoring us."
"Of course, yeah sorry," Jay looked down in embarrassment "I didn't think of that, at least you know."
"Anyway get some rest Jay I'll see you soon, keep in contact bro...Merry Christmas." Cole whispered cheerfully ending the call from his realm in Ninjago.
Jay lay in his cell, contemplating his life up to this point. He put the device down and rested his head back on the sumptuous pillows.
His cell wasn't too bad, it had no privacy to the front, the only complete privacy was the small washroom at the back. Jay wanted privacy badly, he was sick of being stared at by criminals who all got a good look when he was being beaten, they goaded on the attackers until they too were imprisoned again. Jay felt like an artefact on display for all to see so he got off his bed and ate the rest of his meal before the Einherjar could remove it.
Placing his plate down, he walked to the white door and slipped into the washroom which held a large roll top bath. Running the taps he began to remove his clothes, stretching his arms and legs waiting for the bathtub to fill completely before he turned the taps off and submerged himself. He had been in the bath for what felt like hours, the water never seeming to cool down had helped to relax his aching muscles, but he was disturbed from his reverie by none other than Loki who spoke clearly. His voice cutting into the private bathroom like a knife slicing through butter.
He climbed out of his bath and wrapped a green towel around his lower half and a smaller one around his neck, he walked out of the room and straight into Loki.
"Ahem sorry, you been here long?" Jay asked stepping back a little after the impromptu body contact with the God before him.
"It has been brought to my attention that you were assaulted a few hours ago, is this correct?"
"Does it matter? Not like you care."
"Because be as it may, you belong to me." Loki stood firm, domineering. "Perhaps one needs to increase the containment, making it completely impenetrable," Loki smirked. "Least then you would be safer."
"What, I'm not your property Loki."
"Resistance hmm?"
Jay rolled his eyes. "Whatever, increase the magic see if I fucking care."
"Watch your tongue, remember who you are speaking to." Loki hissed closing in on his prisoner. "Ahh yes, the other reason I came, other than to gloat of course. It was to ask about her whereabouts. I know you have knowledge as to where she is at this point in time."
"Like a broken record, you keep repeating the same thing again and again and aga..."
Jay was cut off my Loki's maddening glare and his swift approach as he raised his staff threateningly, daring Jay to continue, he lowered it slowly.
"This staff as you know belongs to my father Odin. Gungnir, in the right hands can cause so much more pain than my sceptre ever could, Indeed, this staff could turn you into a female without the need for magic, and of course that would bring about a whole different approach to our brotherly relationship don't you think?"
Jay shivered, remembering the last time. "N-no"
"You see where I'm heading with this, hmm?" Loki said, leaning over Jay as he spoke. One swipe with Gungnir was enough to make Jay fall over grasping his head in agony. "If you don't tell me where she is, you will be taking her place and your precious team will disown you so fast you'll have no-one to turn to."
"Y-you wouldn't?"
He placed the pointed end of Gungnir onto Jay's exposed back until the points dug in. "I will."
"Can you remember back on earth, the night I was having dinner with HYDRA. You disappeared from my sight and met up with the green ninja? I know you bedded him and alluded to tell me, obviously to save him. Then you bedded Cole, twice no less, in my bed you filthy whore."
Jay's hands came up to his face shamefully. He couldn't take much more of this, it was happening every damn night. "Please. I'm sorry."
"Oh that's right, you did not think I'd find out but I did. Ooh." Loki's face changed to a snide hateful look. "Imagine their faces when they realise it was you all along who seduced them, who bedded and screwed them...who lied to them and has been doing so all along."
"Filthy slut. Did it feel good to bed them, were they better than me?" He scraped the staff, pulling it down Jay's back.
He felt a tear fall, unable to stop it. He only hoped that Loki couldn't see it. "You wouldn't, please. I'll do anything."
"Tell me where she is?"
Jay's heart sank further. "I-I can't, I'm sorry."
The words Loki spoke were a sign of things to come if he didn't say where she was. To do so would place everyone in danger, especially Nya. Jay swallowed hard and stood up, his back sweating and bleeding. The realisation of what was going to happen before he gave his final answer was daunting enough. "I'm sorry, I can't tell you." He repeated.
Loki's hands squeezed around Jay's throat. "Tell me!"
"Sh-she's safe, she's away from you." Jay's heart was beating rapidly, it was hammering as Loki raised his eyebrow astounded at his fortitude despite the fact he would now be humiliated in front of his friends.
"Fine, then one hopes you shall enjoy staying in here at least until the wedding day when the guards will come and dress you accordingly." Loki stepped back admiring Jay's head wound for himself. "After the wedding, we shall let the games begin. You know what they say about the wedding night?" He said walking away sweeping his cloak around him with a big grin on his face..."It'll be painful for you."
Back in Ninjago
Kai was in bed with Skylor, she was playing with his spiky hair and rolled up next to him his arms wrapped around her"why have you all been away for so long and why are you all...so different now" she asked playfully rubbing his chest.
"It's a really long story babe and I'm not sure you'd want to know all the gory details."
Skylor raised her eyebrow "I have ways of making you talk...I know where all your tickle spots are...Kai"
Kai giggled and held her close as he went into detail as to what had transpired over the past few months earning a few gasps from Skylor, he mentioned being teleported from Ninjago to New York and having to fight a battle that the Avengers could have done themselves and then he bought up the Norse gods.
"But what have the Aesir got to do with you and the other ninja?" Skylor quizzed, looking deep into Kai's brown eyes.
"So you obviously know about the Norse god's cos not everyone does, in fact, that's the first time I've heard anyone called em that, Aesir, it rolls right off the tongue!"
"Yeah, I was always the teacher's pet" Skylor said moving her hand down towards Kai's navel.
He gulped, feeling a twitch down below. A stirring, his rising interest for her, beginning to show.
"Well anyway, uh Jay is immortal. Loki turned him, he would have died otherwise because he was fatally wounded."
"Tell me more."
"We got him to the hospital, they stitched him up. We thought we were in the clear until, Loki got him again and performed some spell, removing all artificial things from his body. Honestly, Skylor, he looked so ill before he made his choice. Loki gave him the ultimatum, choose immortality or watch us die" He concluded, pointing to himself.
"Wow. I wasn't expecting that. I mean I had heard rumours. Never heard of their ways or practices. Poor Jay though, having to choose."
"Yeah, archaic ways, but I reckon Jay's accepted it, sort of."
"So, tell me this," She inquired, her hand lowering further, her fingers and palm smoothing over his length. "You look so different, you seem more defined, on edge, tense." She squeezed, earning a gasp from Kai.
"W-well err, when we went back to save Jay, we needed to get the damned device that started all this in the first place...ohhh god..." Kai bit his lip.
"You were saying" Skylor teased as she continued her ministrations under the covers.
"Mmmm...it was kinda my fault but all is forgiven now, we had to rescue him from an evil corporation and Loki couldn't do it...mmm" Kai tried to focus on the conversation but Skylor was making it very difficult for him. "That's it baby, right there."
£COme on, tell me," She whispered into his ears, increasing the grip.
"No he could have done it...mmmmmm...but he chose not to because he wanted us to do it for him...well after we had rescued Jay...mmm god...Loki gave us an ultimatum...he told us that we were immortal too" Skylor immediately stopped pleasuring Kai and listened with a frown.
"So you're all immortal now...even Nya?"
"Yeah, I've been wanting to tell you but could never find the right time," Kai said flustered, a blush appearing on his face.
"But what will this mean for me? and for us?" Skylor said as she pointed at her flat tummy "so are you just going to abandon me, will you even be around when the baby is born?"
"I'll try, I promise I'll do all that I can to be here as much as I can...but you can't come with us and neither can Nya...you'd both be in danger" Kai said as he calmed Skylor down, he rolled her onto her side and cuddled up to her, he could feel her tears "please don't cry...I'm sorry"
"It's not that Kai, I can understand the whole time difference thing and so on but you'll never age, I will and our child will...you'll see both of us die" Skylor sobbed loudly and Kai held onto her fighting back his own tears.
"I'll make it right Skylor...I promise I'll do whatever I can." He sniffed, laying his head down with his hand resting gently on her stomach.
Skylor was asleep in the warm embrace Kai was providing but he was devastated at what this now meant.
Damn it Kai, actions have consequences and getting her pregnant probably wasn't the best move and now I feel guilt because I can't marry her either...I'm so sorry babe.